Goal

Snow stared at the scale and grinned. Twenty pounds! She placed her hands on her almost-flat belly and giggled. The sunlight lit up her white bathroom almost as much as her smile did her face. She grabbed her fuzzy robe and left the bathroom, still towel drying her hair. David sat on their bed with Neal, playing a game of peek-a-boo.

The princess leaned over and kissed her husband's cheek. "Twenty pounds," she whispered in his ear.

David smiled as he shook his head. "You know I don't care how much you weigh. You look-"

"Beautiful, I know." She sat at her vanity and pulled out her blush.

A half hour later, the mother of two was ready to go. David balanced the six month old on his hip as the brunette tried to grab for his mom. Snow bent down and rubbed her nose against his.

"Mommy will be back for lunch. You be good for Daddy, okay?"

David kissed her on the cheek before she left. "He always is. Go have fun with Ruby."

Snow shouldered her bow and arrows. "I always do," she left their apartment. Ruby was already waiting for her in the forest, tossing apples in the air.

"There you are!" the waitress called. "I thought you were gonna be a no-show."

Snow hooked an arrow on to the bow and shot one of the apples in the air. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Since having her child, getting together with old friends was more of a challenge than she hoped. At least David was understanding about her need to have some time away from the baby. Considering he was going back to work soon, she would repay him in full when she was with Neal all day. I'll have to find ways to get him out and about. Maybe a play date with Aurora's daughter? She was a few months younger than Neal, but age wouldn't matter once Sesame Street came on.

Once they were a few apples in, Ruby asked how long it took for Charming to propose.

Snow squinted as the sun caught her eyes. "I don't know, really. That sleeping curse messed with my perception of time. But it was a while. Why?"

Ruby shrugged as she tossed another apple. "I've just been thinking lately."

"About Whale?"

The wolf-woman nodded. "Does it sound crazy if I don't want him to propose?"

Snow hit the apple dead center. "No. Marriage isn't for everyone, Red."

"Granny would freak out."

Snow lowered her bow as she stared at her friend. "Since when does it bother you what Granny thinks?"

Ruby shrugged. "I don't know. I just think about how she's done all this stuff for me since I was little and I think if I settled down, had kids, went the full nine yards, she might be happy."

"Has she told you she isn't happy?"

"Not exactly, but I can tell she doesn't approve of my relationship with Whale. Whenever he comes for dinner she acts really cold to him and the conversations are really awkward. I kind of hate it. Like, a lot." She ran her hand through her long hair. "I don't know what to do."

Snow put down her bow and walked over to the stump her friend sat on. "Let me tell you something about pleasing people. It never works. You have to do what's right for you, Red, or you'll never be happy." She took the woman's hand. "You're my best friend. All I want is for you to be happy."

Red smiling. "Thanks Snow. Maybe you can come to the next family dinner and explain that to Granny."

Snow White laughed. "As long as she doesn't bring out the crossbow."

By the time she got back to the apartment, she was twelve minutes behind schedule. Snow jogged up the stairs and burst into the room, apologizing profusely. She noticed David sitting on the ground across from Neal. She gasped.

"Is he really standing?"

David nodded as he stretched out his hands in case his son fell. "He just started a few minutes ago. Sit," he urged.

Neal was shaky on his feet, but he got this determined look his older sister had when she set her mind on something. The boy took a few solid steps before he fell into David's hands. Snow hadn't realized she was crying. She smothered the boy in kisses.

"Mommy is so proud of you," she whispered.