Killian leaned against the door of Emma's room, trying to understand what had just happened. How a moment of such relief and joy could manifest into something so heart-breaking. It must be some sort of cruel joke. The universe trying to put him and his family through never ending trials; seeing how long till they were ripped apart at the seams. Well he was determined that he would not let that happen. He would fight for those he loved with his last breath. He winced as he heard Emma sob from inside the hospital room. Oh how he longer to walk back in there and comfort her, make her world seem right again. She was clearly in so much pain and her walls were being re-built higher by the second. He needed to figure out how to bring her back to him, back to her – their – family, back to their daughter, so that their future could begin. Pulling himself together he started off down the corridor, more determined than ever to fix all that had been broken.

When he reached his daughter's room Killian knocked on the window, startling Snow out of her trance; a trance that had been brought on by this precious baby girl. She smiled softy when she saw him, but her expression quickly soured as she took in the look on the pirate's face. Sparing one more glance at her granddaughter, Snow stood and made her way outside.

"Killian, what's happened? I thought that you said Emma had woken up, that she was going to be ok-" Her heart started raising as she imagined what could have gone wrong.

"Aye, she's going to be ok." Snow visibly relaxed at Killian's words, although she could tell that he had more to say. "Physically anyway."

"What does that mean?" Snow asked harsher than she intended to. She gave Killian an apologetic smile, which he reciprocated.

"Honestly, I don't know. Emma woke up and I told her about our daughter. You should have seen the look on her face. At first it was as if she couldn't quite believe it then she seemed to fill with pure joy. She demanded to see her so I showed her the pictures I took earlier. For a few moments everything was perfect. The both of us marvelling over the beauty that is our baby girl." Killian chanced a glance through the glass at the new-born babe, his baby, and his words caught in his throat. Snow sensed his discomfort and reached forward, placing her hand on his arm. He took a deep breath as he tore his eyes away from his daughter. "Then she found out that I…we named her Hope and she shut down. She wants me to change it back, to take away her perfect name without even so much of a reason. I could almost physically see her building her walls back up. I just…" Killian blinked back tears as he saw Snow doing the same. "I just thought that the hardships had passed. That our happy ending was finally going to begin. I was foolish to hope…" He stopped himself as he realised what he had said. That word. Hope. That word that meant so much to all of them. That was meant to mean so much more in the form of his daughter. Killian didn't know that he was crying until Snow wiped a tear track from his cheek. He leaned into her touch, seeing her more as a mother now than he ever had before. For this he was grateful as he really needed some motherly comfort right now.

"Oh, Killian." Snow spoke softly, her heart aching for him as well as her daughter.

"I just don't know what to do." Killian sighed, moving away from Snow's embrace to run a shaky hand through his hair. He could usually read Emma like an open book, knowing exactly what she was thinking and therefore how to help her. The only other time he hadn't been able to get through to her was when she was the dark one. This thought made him shudder, and he forced himself to dismiss the memories of his Emma being that monster. He didn't think he could cope with having her be so cold to him again.

"Maybe I should go and talk to her." Snow offered, causing Killian to raise an eyebrow out of uncertainty. It wasn't that he didn't trust Snow, he just didn't want to make the situation even worse. Pushing Emma right now would most likely end with her pulling away further. Snow sensed Killian's hesitation and smiled softly. "Even to just keep an eye on her. Killian, you deserve to spend some time alone with your daughter. Much the same as I need to with mine." Before Killian could say another word, Snow walked down the corridor intent on getting to the bottom of her daughter's distress. Killian watched her walk away, praying that she could succeed where he had failed. With a heavy heart he went to sit by his daughter, hoping that he never failed her like he had her mother.

As the lift doors opened Snow's eyes immediately latched onto her husband, who had been waiting anxiously for the lift to arrive. "David." she breathed out, rushing to give him a hug before he'd properly registered her presence. The prince quickly returned his wife's embrace, trying not to worry as her grip on him grew tighter. The lift doors closed and the carriage left without them, but the couple didn't take any notice.

"Snow." David pulled away slightly so he could see his wife's face, her sad expression causing his heart to twinge. "Snow, what's happened? Is everyone ok?" He struggled to keep his voice calm as his mind was racing so fast.

"Everyone's fine. Well…um…not fine exactly but healthy. I think." Snow started rambling as she tried to explain the situation, which she didn't really understand herself. David rubbed his hands down her arms comfortingly. She took a deep breath. "Emma told Killian to change Hope's name, and then she completely closed off to him. He said it was like she was going back behind her walls. After all she's done to get rid of them, how long it took for us to break through them, I just don't think I can handle seeing her like that." She lay her head on her husband's shoulder as a few tears slipped onto his shirt.

"Is Killian with Emma now?" Snow shook her head in response. "So he's watching over Hope–their daughter?" Although she had only just come into being, David had already gotten into the habit of using his granddaughter's given name; he hoped that Emma would be persuaded to keep it. He felt Snow nod into his shoulder and he smiled sadly, sensing how tired she was. "Right so at least she's got someone with her. Regina has Henry at hers and Belle is looking after Neal. Now with Emma–"

"I'm going to her." Snow croaked out pulling back from David's embrace and wiping her eyes.

"As I was saying. I'll go to Emma" He laid a hand on his wife's shoulder as she moved to protest. "and you, my darling wife, will go home to rest."

"But she needs me." Snow argued weakly, knowing deep down that he was right. "Our daughter needs me."

"That's right, she does. She needs you to take care of yourself so that you're able to take care of her. I promise you I'll look after our baby, and call you if anything changes." David kissed his wife on the forehead, letting his lips linger. "

"Ok I'll go home. Only for a couple of hours though." Snow relented as she hugged her husband once more before turning towards the exit. "Remember David if anything happens, I mean anything…"

"I'll be straight on the phone to you." David called after her, not being able to help having a small chuckle at his wife's persistence. As he walked towards Emma's room his mood turned graver, the uncertainty over what state he'll find her in made him anxious. He knocked on her door lightly. Hearing no response he slowly entered her room, closing the door gently behind him as not to disturb her. However as he moved closer to her bed, he saw that she was wide awake staring at the ceiling, with tear tracks stained to her cheeks. David's heart broke as he took in the despair in her red puffy eyes. "Emma." He spoke softly as he sat in a chair and took her hand in his. She flinched slightly at his touch, but other than that didn't acknowledge his presence. "Hey princess, how're you feeling?" She still didn't say anything, so he reached up to turn her head towards him. "Emma…"

"I'm fine." Emma mumbled, pulling her chin away from his touch. When she saw her father's hurt expression, she chastised herself for bringing pain to yet another person she loved. Plastering a smile on her face, she squeezed his hand. "Really, you don't have to worry about me." Emma refused to look him directly in the eyes, knowing that they would give her true feelings away. Because honestly, she hadn't felt this far from fine in a long time.

"Sadly Emma, as your father it's my job to worry about you. I'm never going to stop worrying about you, especially when you're in the hospital." David did not for one second believe that his daughter was fine, but knew that pushing it was not the way to go. "I'm so relieved that you're ok." Emma just smiled weakly before turning her attention back to the ceiling. "I was so scared, Ems, we all were. We didn't know what was going to happen, to either of you…" David trailed off as he saw Emma squeeze her eyes shut, her hand leaving his to grasp at her hospital duvet. He knew she was trying to stay in control, and he hoped that she would soon let him in. He reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, softly grazing his thumb over the apple of her cheek. Emma shook her head at the gentle gesture, her eyes remaining firmly closed.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, not being able to imagine what her family must have gone through.

"Sweetheart don't apologise. None of this is your fault." David unknowingly repeated the words that Killian had said to her earlier. Emma didn't believe them any more coming from her father's lips than she had done from Killian's. The more people who came to see her, the more people who were putting their lives on hold for her, the guiltier she was feeling. She had to remind herself that they weren't just here for her. They were here for her daughter in ways she couldn't be and for that she was grateful. Her daughter had so many who cared for her, so many who could genuinely help her.

"Have you seen her?" Emma asked as confirmation for her thoughts. She needed to be sure that they would be there for her daughter.

"Yes I have. She's so beautiful Emma. You did good, kid." David's voice was filled with love and sincerity, as he was sure that love was the way to melting her walls.

"Not just me. Killian played a part too." Emma tried to joke, hoping that bringing up her and Killian's intimate relationship would distract her father. His wince at her words signalled that they'd had the desired effect.

"I don't want to ever think about the part that he played in my granddaughter's existence." David grimaced as he attempted to block any further thoughts on the subject from entering his mind. Emma forced out a small giggle to keep up the happy pretence for her father. "Although, I am grateful for the happiness that having Killian in your life has brought you. That's all I want for you, Emma. All I've ever wanted is for you to be loved and cherished as you deserve." He started to stroke her hair as he saw tears glisten her eyes. "Well, I'm sure you understand that wish. Given all you already do to care for Henry, and now your new born daughter who I'm sure you'll give the world to. That's what our family does right? We give our children their best chance." David shot his daughter a watery smile as he made himself comfortable in his chair. He knew that he wouldn't be leaving her anytime soon. As they fell silent, Emma thought about what he had said. He was right. No matter how hard it was going to be, she needed to give her children their best chance.

Emma had decided that the sheriff's station would be the best place to do this. She was on her own seeing as her dad was spending the day with Neal, so she knew that she wouldn't be interrupted or questioned. However she had never realised just how small her work's bathroom was, that was until she tried to pace to lessen her anxiety; a task that could not be done seeing as a step in any direction brought you to a wall. Dejectedly she sat on the closed toilet seat and begun tapping a random rhythm into her thigh, trying to sort through her thoughts one by one. The most important question was did she want it? But that was one which she was too scared to answer. Had they planned this? Well not exactly, but surely this was something that the future was eventually going to bring. They weren't married, he hadn't even proposed yet. Did that matter? Not to her; she did want to get married at some point but the order of events didn't really bother her. This was the 21st Century. Would it matter to him? He was a three hundred year old pirate after all, and the Enchanted Forest had stayed pretty traditional. Oh god she hadn't even thought about her parents. Their love story might not have been the most traditional, but they were married before they had her. She didn't even know if they'd had sex before marriage, honestly she didn't want to know, but she imagined people were more careful in their world seeing as methods of contraception were limited. Her mother would probably be ecstatic, but her father might vow to kill Killian for impregnating his daughter out of wedlock. Never mind the fact that she was hardly innocent in that area, seeing as she already has a teenage son. Speaking of, what would Henry think of all of this? She herself knew from watching her parents with Neal, how hard it is to see a sibling get the childhood that you never did. Her parents didn't love her any less; neither would she with Henry, but she worried that he would feel replaced by a new baby. Emma's thoughts sped round her head, making her dizzy and she felt like she was going to throw up. Standing up on unsteady legs, she leant on the sink and splashed cold water on her face. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she came back to the most important question, the question she had left unanswered. Did she want to have a baby?

The timer going off on her phone rang loudly as it shocked her out of her thoughts. With a shaking hand she picked up the test from the sink and flipped it over.

Positive.

Emma stared at the answer until it became completely blurred by tears, a sob escaping her lips. Yeah, she thought, looking back at herself in the mirror. Yeah she definitely wanted this baby.

Emma shook her head at the memory. Did she still want this baby, her daughter? Of course she did. But most importantly she wanted to give her child her best chance. Was she her best chance? No, she definitely wasn't. Giving Henry up was the hardest thing she had ever done, but she had done it because she had to for the sake of her kid. Now she was going to have to do the same. Turning her head slowly she saw her father had his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open and a light snore sounded with each breath. His jacket was slung over the arm of the chair. Leaning over him she gently reached her hand into the sheriff's pocket, until her hands grasped around his keys. Emma knew that she'd have to move quickly, that any noise would wake her father and then she would lose her only chance. So as quietly as possible she unhooked herself from the machines and propelled herself up from the bed. She let out a soft gasp as pain ripped through her, steadying herself on the side table as her vision blurred. Squeezing her eyes shut she attempted to breathe through the pain. When she opened her eyes, her vision had returned and she had calmed down enough to magic up a change of clothes. A spell which was normally cast with just a simple flick of wrists, required great concentration and the majority of her strength to undertake. She knew that it would be impossible to magic herself out of the hospital in her current state, so Emma started towards the door. As she reached for the doorknob she froze, hearing her father stir behind her. If any of her family found out what she was doing, they would never leave her alone again; or they wouldn't fall asleep when charged with keeping an eye on her. After a few seconds she turned her head, letting out a sigh of relief as she saw that the prince was still firmly asleep. With that she slowly turned the handle and gently opened the door, checking the corridor was clear before putting up her hood and making her way towards the exit. She left the door to her room open, not wanting to chance waking up her dad by shutting it. She knew she didn't have long before she was discovered, either her father when he woke or the nurses coming on their rounds would see that she was gone. She needed to make sure she was far away by that point. So breathing through the pain she staggered into the cool evening air. Spotting her father's truck parked not too far away, Emma took a deep breath and forced herself to walk towards it. The only thing keeping her going was thoughts of her children, and how she was doing this to give them their best chance.