A/N: As always, I love to death all the people who have reviewed, favorited, and followed! Thank you so much, and like all authors say, reviews keep the motivation going. So if you don't review me, review someone else - it's the currency of fanfic :)

Chapter 10: Confrontations

Once the door to their bedchambers was closed and Snow was reclined in bed, Charming spun around to her future self. "How did you get here? Why am I not with you? Why are you here?!" It wasn't anger, just David's typical protective alarm.

Mary Margaret chuckled and took the former version of her husband by the shoulders. "Just breath, mmkay? This is... a mess. But a fixable mess."

"We hope," added Emma, earning a look from Mary Margaret. She knew her daughter didn't know Charming like she did, but a little guidance was necessary. Emma didn't exactly have a soft touch.

"We will get home," replied the brunette. "Good always wins."

Charming's shoulders relaxed. This was most definitely his Snow; changed, but his Snow.

"Well, I have to say, I expected to look worse in my 50's," joked Snow from the bed.

Mary Margaret smirked. "As did I."

Emma raised an eyebrow at the scene. Yeah. Weird. A "Twilight Zone" weird that was way beyond meeting five year old Snow and her dead grandmother.

"Is that why you're different? Your age?" asked Charming.

She leveled a look at him. "Calling your wife old now?" The playful smile undercut any tension.

Charming couldn't help himself however. "No, I-"

Mary Margaret held up a hand. "Relax, it was a joke. A... jest," she finished, to clarify, as she found a word more appropriate for this world. It was strange to think how much Mary Margaret colored her language, and probably, thought process. She took on a more serious tone as she settled in her old favorite chair. "But, I don't really know. Maybe it's the years. Maybe it's living a whole other lifetime in an entirely different realm, as a largely different person."

Snow frowned. "So, I'll - we all will - cease to exist?" she worried.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "No, no. I'm still you. But I'm... her, Mary Margaret, too, I guess? I'm both." At Snow and Charming's alarmed expressions she tried to give a reassuring smile. "We're both. Just as life experience changes a person." She looked at Snow. "Just as living a life on the run, in the woods, as a thief, changed us." She turned to David. "Or becoming a prince. Our life experiences shape us, but we're still ourselves. And so, yes, everyone we know is a little different. All of us. Even... Regina."

"The Evil Queen?!" exclaimed Charming.

Mary Margaret cocked her head to one side. "Don't get me wrong. She's still quite unpleasant. But she nurtured that cursed town for 28 years. It seems to have mellowed - er - calmed her considerably. She's learned to love again, after a fashion."

"She's still a piece of work, though," added Emma. Mary Margaret gave her a 'not helping' look that Emma acquiesced to, and the exchange was not lost on the soon-to-be parents. Despite the subject matter it was comforting to see the pair shared such a nonverbal connection as one would expect with family, even after being separated for 28 years. Snow unconsciously rubbed her belly. They would be a family.

"Right," continued Mary, "But being without magic for so long... I think it helped her to, you know, not go on murderous rampages. That, and Henry."

"Since when has her father done anything but stand by and let her get worse?" asked Snow.

Mary Margaret thought back to all the times that man could have helped Regina back onto the right path. "Well, he certainly was an enabler." She decided not to stop to explain the terminology of the other realm. "But I was referring to her son."

"Her and my son," corrected Emma. Charming and Snow's eyes went wide as saucers.

"What do you mean your and the Evil Queen's son?!" exclaimed Charming.

"We... kinda share?" said Emma. The blonde glanced to Mary for backup but she simply threw up her hands. She had no idea of the story behind Emma's giving up Henry.

"What?!" cried Snow and Charming in unison.

"You have a son?" added Snow.

Emma shrunk back. "Uh... yeah?"

"My baby... has a baby?"

"Well, I am 28. Not exactly a baby," was all Emma could say to that.

"And you let him into the clutches of the Evil Queen - to raise him?" said Snow.

"Wow. Got the the mom voice even before you've even given birth," snarked Emma to Mary Margaret. The brunette simply shrugged, though there was a small smile hidden in her lips, as if to say she didn't know where Snow's tone came from. If she were honest with herself, had she not known Henry as Regina's kid, and been in her past's self's position - of course she probably had been and couldn't remember, and not Mary Margaret, she'd have probably reacted exactly the same way. But now, she knew that Regina loved Henry, and deep down somewhere he loved her too. It could have been worse. He could have gone through what Emma did growing up. "She does love him," she finally offered.

"I was 17, in jail, no money, no prospects, and in no position to raise a child," replied Emma defensively.

Mary Margaret knew she had to speak up. "It was his best chance." Charming and her past self looked at her like she was insane. "No, really. Emma didn't know who he was going to. The world that the curse takes us to - it's not like here. And... believe it or not, Regina was a loving, if strict, mother to Henry. And he is the most amazing grandson I could ever wish to have."

Her warm smile was almost immediately mirrored by Snow's. "I'm - I'm a grandmother? At this age?"

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Blows your mind a bit, doesn't it?"

Snow nodded, getting the idea if not the slang. "And he's okay? Safe? Even with her knowing that he's related to, well, us?"

"She would move heaven and earth for that boy," replied Mary Margaret before her visage darkened. "Unfortunately, that has still meant evil acts. But I think 28 years in self-imposed purgatory has... well, I don't know. She's less the Evil Queen, and more simply a broken, vindictive woman. I mean, she had all that time to kill me, when I didn't know who I was, but never did."

"Yet you don't wish us to change things? With what you know, we could stop the curse," said Charming to Emma. "Or at least make certain Snow goes through the wardrobe with you."

"I will not erase my son," replied Emma sharply.

"Even after growing up parentless; a criminal?"

Emma shook her head. "Would you erase me if it meant erasing the terrible turns in your lives that led you here?" It was a half genuine question. She knew what Mary Margaret would say, but these people hadn't even seen their child. Well, until meeting her now.

"Of course not!" the couple replied in unison. There was a beat of silence before Charming and Snow met eyes, sharing a mutual understanding.

Snow narrowed her eyes at her grown daughter, a smirk on her lips. "How did you become so wise?"

"Uh, I don't know - nobody's called me wise before," the blonde replied with a nervous smile. Emma glanced at Mary Margaret before returning to her previous expression. "Good genes, I guess. Uh, that's bloodlines to you guys, I guess." She shook her head. "Damned cultural barriers messing up my quips," she muttered.

"As to why we're here," said Emma,"Henry made me promise not to let any harm come to Regina. And I keep my word." Her parents, all three of them, wore proud smiles at this, even if they were a little sadly bemused at the thought of their daughter protecting the woman had not only caused so much strife in their own lives, but also caused her to have such a hard life.. "When the curse broke, Gold, er, Rumplestiltskin sent a wraith to kill her."

Mary picked up the story from here. "We came up with a plan. David would hold it off while Regina opened a portal to send it into this realm - which we believed destroyed. Which must be correct as we were sent to the past."

"Why here?" asked Snow.

"It wasn't here," replied Mary Margaret. "I, we, landed alongside a road, not far from the summer palace. It was when we were five." She gestured between herself and her past self. "Father took us back to the palace and then Mother helped us. Took us to see a man who could help get us home."

Snow's eyes widened. "The two strange women... the ones mother went on an adventure with? They were myself and Emma?"

Mary Margaret nodded. "Well, technically me, but since you'll eventually be me... yeah."

Snow was still trying to wrap her brain around this. "The short haired brunette. The blonde. Gods, I fell asleep, cuddled in my daughter's lap. And I was so rude in front of-"

Mary Margaret chuckled. "Don't worry yourself over it. I'll tell you what mother told me: childhood is for learning, and she's very proud of the way we turned out."

Snow blinked back tears. "Mother told you that?"

"She did," replied Mary Margaret softly. She knew, obviously, how important it was to hear that.

"But how did you end up in the portal?" asked David.

"Like I said, I made a promise to my son that no harm would come to Regina," replied Emma. "The wraith was about to take her, I knocked her out of the way, it latched onto me as it was getting sucked down."

"And I couldn't lose her again," added Mary Margaret. She knew her husband well enough to anticipate the question. "And you tried to follow as well, David, but I suppose it closed before you could get to it. But that may be a blessing - someone needs to be there to watch over our grandson until Emma gets back."

David shook his head, smiling. "Grandson... that's - that will take some getting used to."

Mary Margaret smiled back before taking Emma's hand. "Well, we always knew that day would come, or, hoped for it anyway. It just... came a little sooner than we anticipated. At least, from our perspective."

"Ooof!" grunted Snow loudly.

David quickly rushed to his wife's side. "Are you alright?"

Snow gave a brave smile. "Yes. The baby just gave me a mighty kick."

Emma cringed. "Uh, sorry?" It was apparently karma for all the times she'd snickered at Mary Margaret having to apologize for her little self.

Snow broke into laughter. "Somehow, I don't think you're trying to hurt me in here. However, thank you for the thought." She paused, brow furrowing. "And yes, this continues to be tremendously strange."

Snow gazed at Emma after it passed though, as if trying to take in everything about her daughter that she needed to know through visual osmosis. Emma could feel David's eyes on her too and she suddenly thought she knew what it was like to be a zoo animal. She cleared her throat before thinking of a way to get the attention off her. "Hey, would you like to see your grandson?" she offered. Just as she'd hoped, faced with this new opportunity, their eyes lit up, and weren't so fixated on her.

"Absolutely!" said David.

"I'd love to," replied Snow simultaneously.

Emma quickly pulled out the school portrait she kept with her at all times. Even with the change of outfits, she'd made sure it was on her. She was glad for it now. She passed the small photo to her parents.

David grinned wide, in a way Emma had never seen in him under the curse, except with Mary Margaret. "He looks just like you Snow! Even your ears!" he laughed. Snow slapped him playfully for the remark. "What? You know I love them."

"And you know it took us a long time to be fine with them too," offered Mary Margaret as backup. Snow shot him a devilishly satisfied smirk. Maybe having a doppelganger around had its benefits.

"Two Snows against one Charming hardly seems like fair odds," he remarked.

"Since when did having the odds against you stop you?" said Mary Margaret.

"Indeed," added Snow.

"Such flattery from miladies. Now I know I'll never win. However, there is no one I'd rather lose to," he said, turning to kiss Snow lightly on the lips, then her belly.

Emma's eyes almost boggled. This was certainly no David Nolan. He was a prince in every sense of the word, and even though she knew, from Henry's book, that the nickname 'Charming' was sarcastic, he seemed to fit the bill anyway.

David settled, sitting on the bed next to his reclining wife. "We will do all we can to get you home. After all, you're my wife and daughter."

He said daughter in a such a sweet way it made Emma want to squirm. "Thank you David. Thank you both," replied Emma, trying to not let her discomfort show.

David shrugged. "This isn't entirely selfless. As much as I'd love to spend much more time with you, I'm certain my future self is worried sick. But in the meantime, until Blue gets back, perhaps we can have some family time?"

"How about evening meal then?" he asked.

"Uh, sure," replied Emma. If there was anything in this world she didn't take for granted it was a free meal.

"Sounds wonderful," said both Snow and Mary Margaret in unison. Snow pulled herself a little more upright. "Perhaps you could notify the staff that we'll be eating a little earlier than usual, David? And show Emma around the castle?"

Charming got the hint. She wanted to be alone with Mary Margaret for some reason. He knew better than to deny his wife's wishes, especially in her current state; pregnancy had left her emotions on a perpetual swing.

"Of course. Follow me, Emma?" he said, gesturing to the doorway.

Emma glanced back at Mary Margaret, who gave a reassuring nod. The blonde wasn't exactly comfortable letting the woman out of her sights, nor being alone in this unfamiliar world. But, she supposed, if there was anywhere she would be safe it would be with her parents-to-be, and clearly there was somethjng else going on. So, she'd play along for now. "Okay, I'll, uh, see you later."

After they crossed the threshold out of the bedroom, Charming offered up the crook of his elbow, clearly expecting Emma to take it like in one of those movies set in Victorian times. "This isn't Downton Abbey, so no thanks."

At his slight frown, Emma realized she was being rude by this world's standards and found herself flustered. He was just trying to be polite, not sexist. "Um, that is, it's not a custom in the world I grew up in and I'm fine walking on my own."

Charming gave her a small smile, but she could see the sadness behind his eyes. "I understand. If it makes you uncomfortable then I wouldn't want you to do it." They made their way downstairs he seemed to be contemplating something, and near the bottom of the stairs a twinkle had appeared in his eyes. "You know, I'm not one for pomp and circumstance either. Perhaps you get that from me?"

Emma was pretty sure it was growing up in foster homes that she got her informality from, but she decided she'd let him have his moment. "You just might be right," she offered with a smile, making his grow.

"So..." he asked as they made their way to the kitchen staff, "Why do you look at me differently than Snow?"

"Well, cut right to the quick, huh?" replied Emma.

"I haven't been known for my oratory skills, no. But the question still stands... though I don't want to press if you're uncomfortable."

Emma sighed. This was just like when the curse broke and they were walking down the street. Except now she had more of a feel about things; it wasn't mere minutes later. Besides, she reasoned, he wouldn't remember any of this, so there was room to open up and be honest. "Look, here's the thing. I get that cursed you isn't you you. But you still look like you. So what I see is David Nolan. A guy who wakes up from a come - that's like, your head was badly injured and you slept for a long time - and the way the curse set it up was that you were married to Katherine." She threw up her hands. "I think the book said she was Abigail in this world?"

David furrowed his brow but remained silent, letting his daughter finish, even as he didn't ;ike where this was going.

"Yeah, so, when you woke up - it was Mary Margaret and Henry who managed that one." David did smile at this. "Anyway, you cheated on Katherine, with Mary, and then couldn't seem to make a decision between the two. Then turned your back on her when she was accused of murder. Look, it seemed like you wanted to do the right thing, and I get that the curse made you guys your... not best selves. Hell, I never even hated you for it. But I did try to protect Mary Margaret from you, because you were hurting her. And I've been there, with no one to shield me. So, y'know..." She shrugged, almost embarrassed at the admission of such sentiment.

David recognized when a person didn't want physical comfort, but still felt the need to do something. He stopped as they reached the kitchen. "Well. Apparently I cannot stop such repellent actions, but I regret them nonetheless, and am deeply sorry that you had to do such a thing. I'm certain my future self will say the same when he gets a chance." At his daughter's subtly raised eyebrow he smirked. "And there will be a when. I guarantee it," he finished, resting a hand on Emma's shoulders.

After the kitchen had thrown together a quick meal of meats, cheeses, and some wine, which father and daughter would have to carry back to the royal bedroom, Emma threw her hands up in mock disgust to lighten the mood. "What? No grand feast in the dining hall?!"

David chuckled, recognizing she was no spoiled princess who actually expected such a thing. "I'm afraid I'm just a simple shepherd's son. Humble fare is all I require."

When father and daughter had vacated the room, Mary raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"What do you mean?"

"We're the same person, remember? You sent them out for a reason. So, what did you want to talk about that you couldn't in front of them?"

Snow didn't answer for a moment, instead shifting herself into a more comfortable position. Mary handed her a pillow, propping it behind the small of her past self's back. "Can't say I miss being only halfway mobile."

"What happened to your, our, hair?" Snow asked finally.

Mary crossed her arms. "That's not what you wanted to ask. You're stalling."

"I'm starting with the easy one," Snow replied.

Mary shook her head, even as a small smirk played on her face. "Okay, well, it was the curse. I just... woke up like this. Under the curse I just remember ... well, that I'd had this haircut for as long as I could remember. A lot of things were like - 'for as long as we could remember' - that is that before Emma came to town," she added, Snow noting the pride in her counterpart's voice. Mary ran her fingers through her short bangs. "I rather like it though. It's freeing to not have to worry about it tangling in the wind, and quick to wash and dry and so on. I suppose you don't like it? Sometimes it's hard to tell which opinions are mine and which came from living as Mary."

Snow cocked her head to one side. "No, no. It's unusual, but I suppose page cuts are normal in this new realm. I can see the appeal - I should have cut it when I was on the run from Regina. It would have made hunting and such easier."

"So, are you going to ask me what you really want to know?" Mary felt odd confronting her own self, and knowing she had already probably been on the other end of the conversation, but it had to be done.

"So, we've turned into Charming? So blunt?" replied Snow. Mary Margaret just gave her a sarcastic look. Snow threw up her hands. "I concede. So it's true what they say about married couples turning into one another," she said with a wry smirk. Mary's look stayed put and Snow sighed. "Yes. Well... I suppose foremost on my mind is that Emma calls you Mary Margaret. Not only is that not our name, but what about Mother or Mama, or... I don't know."

It was Mary Margaret's turn to sigh. But it was followed by a rueful smile. "We were best friends - like us and Red - and lived together for around nine months..." She turned her head to the side, considering something. "Almost the same as a pregnancy." She shook her head to clear her thoughts back to what she was saying. "Anyway, the point is that the dynamic between Emma and myself... she was like a big sister to me. She helped me break out of the shell Regina's curse had trapped me in."

Snow furrowed her brows at this. Mary Margaret was quick to jump in. "The curse buried all the fight in me. Us. That is, until Emma came to town and helped me dig it back up," she said with a smile. "And now? The curse only broke a few days ago, by our perception." She sighed. "She needs time. I've hardly had the chance to be anything like a mother to her, yet. But I have faith..."

"Sounding like Charming again," replied Snow.

"You're sounding like Emma," shot back Mary Margaret.

"How do you mean?" asked Snow, though the leap in her heart at the thought was apparent in her voice.

"A little skeptical. A little cautious. Not that there's anything wrong with that," replied Mary.

"And I suppose you're not now?"

Mary laughed. "Not by a long shot! That is, as full of unblinded faith like David. But I want to believe. And frankly, seeing my little girl find us and break the curse, all while still not believing? Maybe it's made me a little more like David in that way. But then, we're the one that makes the choice to send Emma through the wardrobe alone. So, perhaps that faith started then. Of necessity." Snow looked at Mary Margaret in horror. Her future counterpart simply nodded sadly. "It's the toughest, most awful decision you'll ever have to make. Even worse than not saving Mother."

Snow teared up at this reference, but Mary continued. "But it's the right one. Or else... Emma would be stuck as an infant for all time. And knowing Regina's curse? Probably not even living with us. If she didn't kill her even before the curse was enacted..."

"Would you do it again?" Snow asked suddenly. "Send her through the wardrobe alone?"

"If I'd had any other choice, then no. Emma didn't have an easy life, and she has trust issues, but for all that, she's turned out wonderfully. She's truly a marvel," Mary finished, smiling more motherly than Snow could ever imagine looking.

Unknown to her, she was a mirror of her future self as she rubbed her belly. "So I've gotten to see."

"See what?" asked the blonde, unknowingly the subject of discussion.

A/N: I know. I'm terrible. But I wanted to get an update out. More to come soon.