Terry Moore, who created the amazing story, Strangers in Paradise, once said that he thought it ridiculous that all sorts of violence could be shown on movies and television, but then he couldn't show a romantic scene between two women. In that vein, when he wrote and drew violence, it was terrible. There's some violence in this next section, and it isn't pretty. I don't think it's gratuitous, I researched the type of wound I wanted to describe what it would have been like. I imagine it could be disturbing to people who are particularly sensitive, or to those who don't like bad things happening to their favorite characters. I didn't enjoy writing it. Snow is one of my favorites and she's little here. I don't enjoy seeing her suffer. It does serve a purpose though, that I hope I made clear. Thanks as always for the reviews, follows and favorites.

Emma gasped into the sudden silence. She could hear Henry sobbing and she automatically pulled him to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his head on her arm. She needed to think. She had to figure out what to do next. Protect Henry. Find her parents. She could feel her entire body sparking with energy and she cursed her inconsistent magic skills. Her magic was tied to her emotions and in this kind of situation it was worse then useless…it was dangerous. She took deep breaths. Her parents weren't dead. They weren't. David had been breathing, and Snow…Oh, G-d, Snow had been bleeding so badly. And Regina had taken her. Where? Where!? Emma felt her breath coming fast again and she tried to slow it down. To concentrate. She needed to focus. She could find them again. She closed her eyes and reached out for her parents.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The slight weight of Snow's body seemed as insubstantial as air. Regina had dared to look down only once, before she was banging on Rumpelstiltskin's door. He had done something to make it impossible to magically appear within the confines of his ridiculous little store.

"My, my, what do we have here?" his tone was calm, even mildly amused as he looked down. Regina shouldered him bodily aside as she made her way into the shop.

She looked around, trying to find a place to put the girl. She felt warmth running down her arms and looked down. The swathe of blood across the child's chest, covered the bib of her overalls. Snow's eyes were bright with pain, although she hadn't so much as whimpered. Without thinking about it, Regina used her hand to remove the hair that had been plastered against Snow's face with sweat and blood. She remembered with ridiculous clarity that the little girl had confided in her last week that Emma wasn't as good at braiding hair as she had was. Instead, the sheriff had bought a dozen homemade barrettes covered in lace and lined with ribbons to keep her hair from falling all over her face. They were a ridiculous expense, Regina had told her. Spoiling a child who was already quite spoilt. Snow had ignored the remonstration and had squealed with delight. Then she had given Regina a sidewise glance, and said they would look especially nice with the elaborate braid Regina had perfected. Regina had snorted and shook her head, ignoring the little girl's mock pout. "Snow has been injured," she said, her voice sounding far away, her eyes unable to leave the bloody line she had just made on the girl's cheek. "You must heal her."

"Must I?" Rumpelstiltskin's voice was silkily dangerous.

She should have braided the little girl's hair when they were at the apartment. It wouldn't have taken long and now it wouldn't frame her dangerously whitening face like – "What?" Regina blinked at Rumpelstiltskin. "Why wouldn't you?" anger sharpened her thinking and she glared at the smug man in front of her. "Snow and David have been your pets. For years and years!"

Mr. Gold shrugged casually, brushing by her to move to the counter and rub at an imaginary spot. "That's so," he sighed, "And what have they done for me lately? Nothing. I fear our partnership must come to a close. Now's as good a time as any."

Regina's laugh felt hollow, "You would have me believe that, after all our time of knowing one another? You must think me a fool."

"I've always have," Rumpel's voice was cutting. "You're as big a disappointment as they are. Take this one," he moved his hand toward Snow and Regina jerked them away. "How long have you been after her? Nearly half a century? Now a simple common soldier, not even one of George's best has managed to kill her."

"She's not dead," snarled Regina.

"Not yet. Really Regina, you should be embarrassed at how easily this feat was accomplished," his tone was that from long ago, when he had been her master and she his apprentice.

It made anger, both hot and cold run across her body like waves. "I didn't try to kill her when she was a child. What kind of victory would that have been? She was so small," her breath caught unexpectedly as she looked down, Snow gaze still on her. The little girl was beginning to gasp and her face had a blue tinge in addition to the paling complexion.

"Well, tell me at least that you are at least gaining some satisfaction in having you enemy's blood on your hands. At last," sighed Rumpelstiltskin. "And your clothing…and my floor," he looked down disdainfully and sniffed, dropping the rag he had been using on the counter to the floor, using it to soak up some of the blood dripping there.

Snow's blood on her hands. Regina blinked slowly, her eyes feeling like they had weights on them. The blood was actually pooling on Snow's shirt, then flowing to the floor in a steady river. She was wearing the lavender play suit that Regina had bought her. She had known Snow would love it. Snow's favorite color may have been white but purple suited her personality better. Oh the courtiers and peasants may have talked about Snow's purity but Regina lived with her. The little girl who sang to the birds, slid along the freshly waxed hallways, and snitched pastries cooling on the windowsill was the embodiment of mischievous – Snow coughed suddenly, blood spraying from her lips and the wound expanded with grisly suddenness. Jagged flesh and pink tissue peeked out from the wound. Regina focused on Rumpelstiltskin. "I choose to cause her suffering in whatever way I desire," she snarled. "This is not it."

Rumpel looked bored, "And why is that dearie?"

Regina's thoughts were painfully sluggish as she tried desperately to say what she wanted. "I want her…"

"To suffer? Sword wounds are incredibly painful, or so I'm told," he tittered in that shrill, off-putting way that Regina so hated.

"She needs to…"

"Die slowly? I believe that's happening. My guess is that she'll asphyxiate before she bleeds to death," he turned his head to peer at them as though observing a new and particularly rare form of bird.

Snow's eyes were beginning to glaze, but she had yet to cease looking at Regina. There was no pleading in them, either for mercy or relief, but simple trust. Blood of her foe. Her mortal enemy. Snow. Horrible, hateful Snow. Destroyer of happiness and the ruination of her life. She was dying. Regina was startled when a drop of wetness fell on Snow's face. Her voice was thick when she turned back to Rumpelstiltskin. "Heal her now Rumpel." When he still did nothing she raised her voice to a shout. "You cannot heal the dead, Rumpelstiltskin! Once they are dead, they are gone!"

"I know," his reptilian eyes never left her face, and his hand gently reached out to touch Snow's baby-soft cheek.

Regina looked at him, breathing hard, her hatred and her agony rolling off of her until she closed her eyes in surrender. "I offer a deal. Not Henry's life. Not hers. Anything else. "Heal her and I'll…" her tongue stuck in her throat, "I'll owe you a favor," she swallowed.

He held her gaze and the little girl in her arms struggled feebly, suddenly energized as she tried to speak. One hand hit the underside of the counter with startling strength. Blood ran in a thin line out of her mouth.

"Be still," commanded Regina in glacial tones, not looking down "Don't speak." Not daring to lower her eyes to the man who stood in front of her. Rumpelstiltskin looked at her for several beats and Snow's breathing became more labored as the blood continued to drip incessantly to the floor.

"Done," he said simply, and smiled as he raised his hand.

Regina felt the warmth and the stickiness of the blood leave her skin. She looked down to see that Snow was looking up at her, dazed. Regina glared at Rumpelstiltskin, then shouldered the door to the shop open. She cradled Snow as she had never done before, the same way she had cradled Henry as a toddler. As soon as they were outside, Regina put Snow down. "Snow," she began.

"What did you do!" Snow asked in an incredulous tone, shaking her head to reduce the dizziness caused by standing.

Regina's eyebrow practically hit her hairline. "Excuse me," it wasn't a question.

"You made a deal. With Rumpelstiltskin! He's evil!" Hands on her hips, she looked at Regina like she had lost her mind.

Regina felt her temper snap, "And just who do you think you're speaking to?" she demanded in irritation. Snow had barely mustered the courage to speak to her like that as an adult, much less a child.

"My impetuous - mother!" yelled Snow, a flush rising up in her cheeks, making her look more alive then ever. Her words echoed in the still air as the two glared at one another.

Ominously, Regina took a step forward. The idea that she was impetuous, compared to the whirlwind that was Snow White was ridiculous. She crossed her arms and straightened herself to tower over the little girl. Snow scowled and tilted her head upwards. She refused to back down. She wasn't going to let her mother get away with making a deal that could put her in danger. Regina gave her the type of glare she had given grown men when they had failed her. Snow was a brave girl, but she was only eleven. She wilted a little and dropped her head. "I apologize," she mumbled.

Regina made an indistinguishable noise, almost a snort. Snow peeked at her from behind a curtain of hair. She leaned into Regina and hugged her tightly. Regina stiffened, then let her hands rest lightly on the girl's shoulders. Her hand automatically stroked the girl's hair out of her face. "Thank you for saving me," said Snow softly.

"I-,"

"Snow!" shrieked Emma running towards them with Henry close behind. Emma pulled Snow into her arms, hands running down the child's arms, and face, and touching the place where the wound had been. Henry slung his arm around Snow's waist as well. Without hesitation, Emma kissed the little girl's cheek. "I was so afraid," she managed, before she was choked with sobs. She buried her face in the little girl's hair and wept.

Henry looked worried, and patted his mother's back until Snow's little hand took over, then moved to his other mother. "Is she really okay?" he asked her. "Did Rumpelstiltskin heal her like he healed me?"

Regina nodded, "Yes," she said simply, omitting that there had been both a price and a deal struck.

Snow looked at them, opening her mouth as if to say something, then shut it. Instead she stroked Emma's hair, as indulgent as she had been when was an adult and known that Emma was her child. "I'm well. I'm well Emma. Please don't be upset."

Emma put Snow down, but she held the little girl's hand tightly. "We need to get back. There's some people there that need help. Ruby went to get Dr. Whale but I think I can help too."

Regina nodded stiffly, Henry's hand in her own. "Let's go."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The damage wasn't as bad as it could have been. No one was dead. Red and Granny's lupine strength lessened the severity of their wounds. Grumpy was hurt the worst but Dr. Whale had been able to perform emergency triage and combined with Emma's fledgling magic, he was expected to recover within the week.

The damage to the apartment was worse, the door completely unusable. Even with magic, it was unwise to risk staying in a place that had been breached already. Regina volunteered to take them to her home after they had packed up some things. She used several charms, hoping that because it was her only and original dwelling, whatever magic George had been using would not fare as well. The children were unusually silent after Emma had told them they needed a plan of attack before rescuing David. Emma spent a lot of time on the phone, talking alternately to Ruby and the dwarves. While the children set the table, Emma updated them on the situation. David was being held at George's house. It was surrounded by guards but Red was mapping out a possible entrance. Granny was sure that he was receiving help from the fairies, or at least one of the fairies (she recognized the woman that had followed George) and was trying to obtain further information from Blue, if she could find her.

Regina served dinner and Snow poked at her soup thoughtfully, after eating a bite, finally looking at the two adults. "Did you lie to me too?" she finally asked, her voice low. "Is my father dead like David's mama is dead?"

Emma couldn't look at her mother, so afraid of what she would see when she met her eyes. She looked at Regina, but saw no real help there. "It's complicated," she admitted slowly.

Snow took another bite of soup, then put the spoon down and folded her hands neatly on the table. "I think you should tell me Emma," she said, sounding so much like her adult self that Emma raised an eyebrow at her.

She took a bite of her roll, chewing while she tried to think about what to say. "You know that Storybrooke is different from the Enchanted Forest," she said slowly.

"Yes," Snow let her elbow rest unconsciously on the table while she gazed at Emma, then looked sidewise at Regina and slipped it off again.

"But that's not the most recent…oddity."

"David and I came here," Snow asserted.

"You and David were already here," said Emma. "You were just…different." She too a breath, "You were adults."

Snow nodded her head, lips pursed. "We're supposed to be grown-up. We became little again."

"Yeah," said Emma, her blue eyes scanning her mother anxiously. Her gaze flickered to Henry who was watching his mother and grandmother with a tense avidity.

"Who are you to me?" Snow asked, turning the conversation in a new direction without pursuing the first.

Emma's breath caught. "What do you mean?" She felt herself shift nervously in her chair, and wiped her hands on her pants automatically, even though they were dry.

The little girl tilted her head, a half-smile of her face, "You aren't just my friend, nor David's. I've seen the way you look at us," she waited patiently. Expectantly.

"I'm," Emma licked her lips, feeling the weight of the words in her mouth. On her heart. She looked at the table, then her mother's familiar green eyes. "I'm your daughter."

Snow took a deep breath with a slow nod. She pushed away from the table, and circled it to reach Emma. Her mother's intense scrutiny made Emma as nervous as the first time it happened. Snow cupped her hands, and held Emma's chin gently, peering at her face from different directions. She looked at Regina, her face soft with awe. "Emma's my baby?" she asked.

"Daughter," corrected Emma gruffly, letting her eyes flit away nervously.

"Yes," Regina said simply.

Snow nodded, letting her hands fall gently from Emma's face, and brought something out of her pocket. She handed it to Emma, "This is you?" she said more than asked.

Emma reached out and took it. It was a photograph of her from when she was at…the Winters' home maybe? The yard looked like it. She would have been around nine. It was a Polaroid, she couldn't remember who took it. Her blond hair was blowing half over her shoulder, and there was a bandaid over her knee covering a cut she had gotten while roller skating. She was a little bit grubby and she seemed half-wild. The look on her in her eyes was slightly sad, but the photographer must have said something funny because there was a half-smile on her face. "Where did you get this?"

"I found it in a box that had photographs and other things," said Snow coolly, as if she hadn't committed an egregious breach of etiquette.

"Snow!" Regina's voice was censorious.

Snow gave her the same assessing look. "You weren't telling us things, and neither David, nor I are stupid. We had to understand what was transpiring."

Emma tried to be more irritated, but ended up shaking her head. Her mother wouldn't have dared such a thing as an adult. She, like David danced around the minefield that was parenting an adult child. Little Snow had no such trepidation.

"You look like David and me," Snow said frankly.

"Yes," said Emma honestly.

Snow's smile dimpled her cheeks. "You're quite beautiful," she said with the easy assurance of a child, of a mother.

Emma felt herself blush. It wasn't like she didn't know she was attractive. Hell, she had used it to her advantage as a thief…as a bounty hunter. But being called beautiful meant something different. Her mother was beautiful. She was just…she was just Emma. "I-," she began.

Snow reached out and touched her lips with her fingers. "Can we please talk about how we're going to rescue David?"

"No," said Regina.

"Yes," said Emma at the same time, grateful of the reprieve and ignoring the warning signs from her brain telling her she needed to continue discussing the other matter with Snow.

"Miss Swan," began Regina with a heavy sigh.

"I want to know too," Henry spoke quietly from his seat. He had been watching the interplay of his mom and grandma without speaking, not wanting to interrupt the magic, but the pleading in his voice was unmistakable. How was he ever going to learn to be a knight…a prince if he couldn't rescue his own grandfather?

Regina looked at her son's pleading face. "Very well," she acquiesced. "If-," her gaze was warning. "If you both eat the rest of your dinner."

Henry nodded eagerly. He had already ingested over half of his dinner, but Snow nodded more slowly. She could be a picky eater, especially when something was taking her attention away from the food.

"Snow," Regina warned.

Snow's gaze fluttered to hers, surely realizing that with the amount of trouble that had happened today, it was unwise to test her further. "Yes ma'am," she agreed politely. Then her face brightened. "If we eat all of our food, may we all have hot chocolate while we discuss David's rescue?"

"Very well," Regina picked up the spoon and dipped it into the soup.

Being as it was so late, Regina insisted that the children wash and change into pajamas before any talk happened. Henry grumbled but did as he was told. After her bath, Snow walked over to Regina, smiling a little as she held a brush and a hair elastic out. "Braid my hair please?" she requested.

Emma watched Regina's face settle in lines of concentration as she plaited the girl's hair quickly and carefully, catching stray wisps of hair and tucking them in with ruthless efficiency. Snow saw her watching them. "Did I do as nice a job as my mother braiding your hair?" she asked guilessly.

Regina's hands stilled a moment, flashing a look at Emma. "Let's go make the hot chocolate, Snow," she said abruptly.

Snow looked between them, frowning a little. "But-,"

"We're making hot chocolate now, or not at all," said Regina without hesitation.

Snow gnawed her lower lip, until Emma nodded towards the kitchen. "Go on, kid," she said. "I really want some hot chocolate."

Snow nodded, "Very well."

By the time the hot chocolate was done, Henry had bounded down, hair wet but smelling clean. He cuddled against Emma. Emma finished talking to Ruby and clicked the phone off. "Are we really going to get Gramps back?" he asked.

"Yes," said Emma. There wasn't any doubt in her mind.

Snow walked over to the living room, carefully balancing a tray of hot chocolate covered in whip cream and sprinkled with various colors. She wore a pleased smile. "Mother has all sorts of little candies to go on the whip cream. She said I could use them as long as it was sparingly."

"Very generous, Julia Child," Emma said dryly as Regina reappeared. The other woman frowned at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"What's with all the sprinkles?" she asked, making room for the mugs on the table scattered with rough diagrams of George's house.

"Christmas cookies," Regina returned, giving her a judicious frown.

Emma frowned right back, "Shouldn't Halloween be more your thing?"

"I put chocolate sprinkles on Henry's, and chocolate shavings on yours Emma and a little bit of cinnamon on both. I put mint on Mother's and extra cinnamon on mine," Snow interrupted as she passed out the large mugs.

Emma sipped her hot chocolate, closing her eyes as she did so. Damn, but it was good. Snow wriggled impatiently. "Can you tell us about the plans now Emma?" she asked.

"Okay," Emma balanced her mug on her knee as she pointed to one diagram. "Red's almost positive that David's here," she indicated a room. "There's guards all around, but they're especially concentrated here and here," she indicated two places.

Henry nodded, "So how are we going to get in?" his mug was already half empty.

Regina and Emma debated various plans while the children listened quietly. Henry had finished his hot chocolate and was beginning to nod. He put his mug carefully on the coffee table, and leaned into Emma. She stroked his hair automatically as he closed his eyes. He was so tired. Maybe if he just took a quick nap…

Snow asked quiet questions, trying not to interrupt the flow of the adults. "What if…she began pointing to an area on the diagram and accidentally knocking over the mug, "Oops!" she said.

Both Regina and Emma made a grab for it, "Snow!" Regina scolded. Then froze as her fingers touched the mug. She looked up and saw that Emma was frozen too, staring at her fingers as the blue magic covered them.

Snow began carefully backing away from them. "I'm sorry. I really am," the little girl said, hands spread wide in supplication.

"Snow…" Emma's eyes were wide. "What are you doing?"

"David and I have to fix this," the little girl continued backing her way to the door, where their things were piled. "We have to do it now. We have to make it right."

"Snow!" Regina's voice was rigid with fury. "How did you…?" she could feel the familiar binding sensation and she cursed fairy magic in all the languages she knew

"I'm sorry," said Snow again. She rummaged through the suitcases, pulling out the sling, a short sword, and a set of bow and arrows. She shed her pajamas, revealing the clothing underneath. The sling and sword went on her waist, the bow and arrows across her back.

"Snow," Emma's voice was choked with emotion. "You can't do this."

Snow's face was full of tenderness. "I must. We must. You're our daughter Emma. Our child. We can't let anything happen to you." She looked at Regina, at the sleeping Henry. "You're our family."

"Henry!" called Emma hoarsely, praying he would wake-up and stop his grandmother.

"He'll be asleep for a while. It's a simple draught. He wanted to come too, but he's my grandson. I have to protect him," Snow said simply.

"Snow," Regina's voice was gaining power and the little girl stepped back automatically at the tone. "I forbid you to leave this house. I absolutely forbid it!"

The child's smile was full of both sweetness and sadness. "I suppose you'll have to catch me then," the words were sassy, but the tone was not. She opened the door, and looked longingly at her family. "Good-bye. I love you."

She blew them a kiss and Emma could swear she felt the caress brush her cheek as the door clicked shut.