"Hi, can I help you?" David said somewhat awkwardly as he rested his arm against the door frame.

The young man smiled. "Hello, my name's August. Is there any chance I could speak with Emma and Rose?"

Both girls were struggling to look past their father to see the man's face, but David wasn't budging. His eyes narrowed at the young man as he stood straighter, ending just about the same height as the man.

"And what do you want them for?" His voice wasn't threatening, just protective. Something that made August smile.

He held up a small box. "Just returning something."

Without an invitation, he stepped past David to find a woman who may have gone by Mary Margaret and Snow White at some point the epiphany of a mother bear. The girls had grown a lot since the last time he had spoken to them. They seemed to grow into their large eyes a bit more, but still looked as strong as ever.

"Hey munchkins," he said with a smirk. "Remember me?"

Emma was still hesitant, but Rose's face softened. "Umm... I'm not sure... You look sorta familiar," she told the man, taking a step toward him despite her mother's silent protest.

Of course, Rose would be the one to even vaguely recognize him. He held his gently smile as he studied the girl. "It's been a long time. Last time we saw each other I was your age, seven years ago and you were dripping wet."

It was Emma's turn to flash into realization. "Oh my God! August? The boy from-"

Rose's face turned to embarrassed horror as she covered her face with her hands and stepped back toward her mother. "Oh my God..." she moaned sounding as though she wanted to disappear.

August bit back a laugh at the dark haired girl's reaction. "Yes, that one."

Feeling a little better, just a little, David closed the door and stood beside his wife making it obvious that there was going to be absolutely no chance at the man hurting his girls. "Is there something we can help you with?" he asked with authority.

August gave him an odd look, before relaxing back on his heels and smirking at the girls. "So it's true. You've already been concurring the curse." He smirked at the two girls who seemed completely baffled by his knowledge yet proud at the same time for the recognition. "Don't look so surprised. Rose was trying to cast me as a fairytale character years ago."

Again her cheeks burned crimson, but she stood strong. "Seriously, how did you know about the curse? How'd you find us?"

August glanced around the room. "Maybe it's best if we all sit first."

The girls made their way to the couch without much hesitation and Snow and David joined them showing their fierce protectiveness. Emma snickered at her sister's pink cheeks as August pulled a beaded bracelet out of the box. "Remember this?" he asked her.

"Yes..." she muttered, still extremely embarrassed. She even made a point to divert her eyes away from it so she didn't have to be reminded of her youthful indulgences.

"Of course she remembers," Emma chuckled. "You pulled her out of the creek that time when Francis What's-His-Face kept pulling her under. She thought she was going to drown."

Rose shot her sister a fiery look. "At least I got in the creek! At least I could swim! You sure weren't helping me!"

"I could swim. I just wasn't stupid enough to jump in a creek!" Emma shot back unable to hide her grin.

Snow and David always felt a little sad when they heard about the adventures their daughters had without them-before them. It was just a reminder that they had missed all those little things, like teaching their daughters to swim for example.

Rose could almost feel her parents sadness and leaned over a little into her mother. Snow was very impressed how easily Rose just melted against her as well as how perceptive she was. Those big hazel eyes looked up into her mother's and Snow was wondering when the girl got used to saving other people.

"But thank you," Rose replied taking the beaded bracelet from August and slid it around her wrist. She remembered that it was too big when she made it. The purple, white, and red beads circled all the way around had lost some of their vibrant color with age, but they were still brilliant in her eyes. The colors inspired by her and her sister's baby blankets.

August turned slightly more sober as the girl seemed to absently play with her bracelet. "I know it seems very odd that a stranger rolls into town to offer his assistance, but I wasn't expecting you to be-um- aware, Your Majesties."

Both Snow and David just watched the man as he uncomfortably rubbed his hands together. Both girls recognized the face of wanting to say something, but not ready to face the consequences of the words.

"It can't be that bad," Emma said with a smile. "After all you did save Rose's life." There may have been a hint of sarcasm in there, but after all this was Emma.

Rose gave her sister a stern look. "I was terrified! You wouldn't even help me!"

"Why would I help you when August was there to save the day?" Emma replied, her smile turning more into a grin. "What did you call him for pulling you out of the water?"

Rose's eyes widened in horror, then narrowed in a very threatening way. "If you dare say it I will-"

"You-you saved me!" She dramatically pressed the back of her hand to her forehead and leaned like she was fainting into her sister. "You're my hero."

The death glare Rose was casting at her snickering sister warned her parents not to do any snickering of their own. The girl was living up to her name as the red in her cheeks moved from her cheeks down to her neck. "I was seven!"

"And so caught up in those fantasy books you put August right into it," Emma smirked. "Who knew it was actually our subconscious telling us that we're somehow related to fairytales."

Rose gritted her teeth. "So. Funny."

August just smirked. "I see you two get along about as well as you did then too."

Both girls looked at him, slightly embarrassed, but not embarrassed enough to stop snarling at each other. Emma was the first to purse her lips and change the subject a little. "So... who are you suppose to be?" Emma asked bluntly.

"Umm," August had been dreading this part. "Just think of me as someone who was suppose to look out for you in this world."

The girls seemed to shy away from him then. Obviously he didn't do a very good job and he just admitted he was partly to blame for the horrible childhoods he was already fairly aware of. After he grew up a bit, turned seventeen, he began to realize that the only way he could get what he wanted was by doing the job his father had asked him to do. The girls were the only way home and . He rubbed the back of his neck as the guilt was obvious in his expression. "And I apologize that I didn't exactly do my job. I was selfish and young. Even the time I did end up helping you it was a complete coincidence. But... I want to help now."

Charming kept his arm around his wife. "You already admitted you didn't do your job the first time, why should we trust you now?"

Emma looked at her father. No one had ever sounded so angry about someone hurting them. Normally if they commented at all, it was very passive. But her father sounded angry... he sounded like a dad.

"Because it's for my benefit too for the curse to break," August explained wearily, realizing that he was still living in the selfishness that had gotten him into trouble in the first place. "The curse has to break so I can be reunited with my poppa."

No one said anything, but at least they weren't attacking him now. He had their attention and had already made the connection. They all knew what it was like to be looking for family and to be without them.

"I don't know how to break the curse any better than you do, but I'm another ally. I'll do whatever I can to help you. I owe you that."

August stood suddenly realizing that he was quickly wearing out his welcome. "I'm sure it's not too hard to find people around town, but I'm staying at Granny's if you would like to accept my assistance."

He mumbled some sort of goodbye before escaping to the door.

Emma was the first to talk. She slid down deeper into the couch and lazily turned her head to her sister. "Is it just me or do you also feel like we have to be the weirdest people on this planet?"

Rose just sighed and shrugged as her eyes fell upon the bracelet he returned to her. She pulled at it a little, testing its flexibility before sliding it onto her wrist. It fit perfectly. It didn't try and slide over her tiny hand anymore, but fit like she wished it would have so many years ago. One bead for Emma, one bead for me, and one for Mommy and Daddy where ever they be. She could remember singing the sad little song in her mind as she pieced the bracelet together in her second grade art class.

"I don't think we ever fit the bill for normal though," Rose replied finally as she stood and headed back toward the kitchen. "It's a good thing we're from some fairytale land because we wouldn't have stood a chance in this world."

Emma also stood and followed her sister, watching her as she rested her elbows against the island. "You would probably be a foster parent for dogs and teach sign language to elementary kids."

"You forgot to mention the fact I better make enough to survive you mooching off me," Rose added grabbing another cup of hot chocolate and smiling at her sister. "You may think you're clever let's face it, if it wasn't for me you'd forget to eat."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I would be something awesome. We'd never make it if I didn't pick a few pockets now and then. Just call me Robin Hood." Then she stood a little straighter. "Plus, let's face it, I was the one who got the looks."

With that, Rose tossed a grape at her. "Whatever. Not everyone likes blondes."

At that Charming looked at his wife. "Just when I was going to say they're your children-"

"Emma shows her 'charming' characteristics?" Snow offered with her own smile. "You better be off to work before Graham thinks we've all been kidnapped."

With that he kissed her lips and smirked as the girls obviously averted their gazes. "I won't be far if you need me. Have a nice... mental health day."

Snow walked him to the door as the girls gave him a half hearted goodbye. If he didn't know better he would have sworn they were a little upset about him leaving. Snow looked up at him as he stood by the door. "We'll be okay."

"I know," he replied weakly. He looked back to the girls who seemed to be glancing at them oddly. They weren't anymore used to having people care about them than Mary Margaret and David were used to having people to care about. It was a learning process for all of them.

"You're starting bad habits. Letting them skip school," he teased.

Snow just grinned. "I've missed out on fourteen years of spoiling my girls. I think a day of playing hooky isn't all that bad."

He pecked her lips again and kept his head close to hers for a moment longer. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied easily, knowing just how much he meant it. "Now go!"

With that she giggled as she pushed him out the door and turned around to see the girls had already made themselves comfortable on the couch, oddly enough leaving a spot in the middle for her. There was a movie already playing and though she wasn't sure what it was, she didn't really care. Today was her day with her girls.

She sat down in the open spot and was not one bit surprised fifteen minutes later when both girls were no longer glued to either side of the couch but almost touching her. Emma absently twisted her hair as the plot thickened in the movie, but Rose seemed caught up with the bracelet on her wrist.

Suddenly she reached out and gently picked up Snow's hand, sliding the beaded band over their held hands and onto her mother's wrist. They didn't speak. Instead Rose offered her a small smile and leaned into Snow's side.

In a way the bracelet always belonged to Snow in Rose's mind. They were suppose to make the bracelets for someone special in their lives. She had given it to August that day because at the moment he was the only person, other than her sister, that ever did anything good for her. But if her mother had been in her life then, there was no doubt the bracelet would have gone to her. One for Emma, one for me, and one for Mommy and Daddy.

Rose ran her fingers over the beads on her mother's wrist and was slightly surprised when Snow caught it. Her mother's hazel eyes were glassy with tears as she intertwined their fingers before pulling both girls into her for a sort of hug.

Emma wasn't exactly sure what she had missed, but she decided not to fight the contact. Instead she rested her head against her mother's shoulder as her sister did the same on the opposite side. Tomorrow they would go back to school, tomorrow they would start focusing on the curse again, tomorrow would be another challenge in their seemingly endless quest. But today they would curl up on the couch and watch movie after movie. Eat overly buttered popcorn and drink a little too much hot chocolate until Charming got home. Then he would also join the fun. Tomorrow would have to come eventually, but the girls were learning to enjoy today.

August walked toward Granny's Inn and wasn't overly surprised when someone stopped him. He knew who she was, if only by reputation, but he wasn't scared of her anymore, at least not here. The last time he saw the woman he was six, at the royal wedding. She had made quite the entrance. That was fifteen years ago.

"I've seen you around town," Mayor Mills commented with a smile. "But I'm afraid we haven't been introduced."

The man smiled. "August." He extended his hand. "I'm a writer. Just came here for a quiet place to write."

Regina smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Storybrooke is most definitely quiet. I'm Regina Mills, the mayor. I trust you'll be staying out of trouble."

August shrugged a little. "I'm not the one that's in trouble."

With that, he moved swiftly past her toward the Inn. He had no intention of pretending to be friends.

Regina stared at him as he entered the building, completely dumfounded. She took a deep breath and bawled her hands into fists. All her control was being taken away. Everything she wanted, everything she sacrificed was going to be for nothing all because of two little girls.

For some reason she hesitated in her silent hate. She thought of that girl who sat in her kitchen eating Rocky Road ice cream. The girl that helped her with the door then waited to be invited in.

Snow White's daughter.

Snow White, the one person in the world she hated most for destroying her chance at true love.

Gold was right. The only way she would win was if she took something just as precious away from Snow and made sure she never got it back. Like her sweet little children.

"You know, it's not wise to plot on the sidewalk." Regina turned to see Gold walking toward her with his cane in his hand. "It's usually much more efficient to plot somewhere quiet and where people won't stare at you while you're grinning like a madman."

Regina just continued to grin. "I want Snow White to live the rest of her life without her precious little girls and know it was me that took them away."

Gold said nothing and gave nothing away on his features. "If you kill them the curse will be broken."

She simply shrugged. "I don't plan on killing any of them. I want them very much alive.