Emma woke to a painfully familiar sound. Her heart was thudding in her chest so madly it hurt as she leaped off her bed and stumbled to her sister's aid.
Rose was flailing in her bed, tears streaked her cheeks and her entire shaking body in a cold sweat. Another cry for help came with more sobs as Emma grabbed her sister's shoulders. Even though this was something Emma was familiar with, it did not mean she was used to it. Nightmares were more common in the foster system, they came and went since they arrived in Storybrooke but this was the first really bad one since they had arrived.
"Come on, Rose," Emma groaned, tossing a nervous look over her shoulder to the stairs. "Wake up!" Giving Rose a firm shake, she knew her words were pointless. It wasn't like Rose could hear her.
The last thing they needed was to wake up David and Mary Margaret downstairs, but she just let out another hard sob that shook her entire body.
"Dang it, Rose, don't make me slap you," Emma muttered under her breath. The sound of footsteps rushing up the steps made her groan as she glared at her sleeping sister. "See? Now look what I have to deal with."
"What's wrong?" Snow asked moving toward the girls, but stopping short by the harsh glare she received from her oldest daughter.
"Nothing. I can handle it," Emma replied shortly. It was harsh, but it was better than saying Oh, you know, the years of trauma catching up to her in her dreams thanks to you shoving us in a wardrobe and getting us shipped into the foster system, basically an express lane for abuse. Emma was tired, and cranky, and she was in no mood to deal with these people on top of it.
Both Snow and David watched as Emma touched Rose's face, willing her to wake up, but it only resulted in panicked cries and Emma's hands getting pushed away.
"Let me-" David began but Emma held up her hand.
"No offense, but I've been doing this a lot longer than you," she fired at him.
Offense taken, blow received, causalities caused.
Emma's words sent both her parents retreating a step. This was why it was easier to talk to Rose. Rose expressed her hurt with harsh words as well, but they weren't meant to cause the downright pain Emma did. Rose could be blunt if needed, but Emma was cold and raw. This was especially true when it came to someone getting too closer to her little sister.
All this was their fault anyway. So what if they were sent through some stupid portal to break a curse, they had their own curse and it had already broke them.
"Come on, Sis, wake up," Emma almost pleaded reaching out and wiping her sister's tears. "Just wake up, it's just a bad dream."
David felt Snow move into him more as they watched, feeling like complete outsiders to the sister's worlds. They wondered if Emma would ever really let them in, or if Rose would trust them the way a child should trust her parents.
Hazel eyes blinked awake, but only started to cry harder when they landed on her sister. She threw her arms around Emma's neck and sobbed. "I just want him to stay away!" Rose cried. Emma held tight to her sister, completely oblivious to the two people watching her fall apart. "I kept yelling but no one came. No one ever came..."
Emma held her sister as tight as possible as if to silently say I came for you. I will always come for you. Because they were all they had.
David tugged on Snow's hand, signaling that they should leave now before they were noticed by Rose who would only be more upset that she was seen at such a weak moment.
But even after the nightmare, no one slept that night. Emma and Rose were busy thinking about those moments when no one saved them, when they needed help and there was no knight in shining armor, or mommy or daddy, or anybody that gave a damn. Emma was the tough one because she was the one that couldn't stand to feel it anymore. Rose was the strong one because she could survive the feelings that overwhelmed her.
David and Snow. They were the villains of their children's story. No matter how many times they tried to blame Regina, it still fell on them that in a way they chose themselves over their children. Even if it was something they never meant to do, it still happened and it they could never do it again.
Regina woke to the sound of someone pounding on her front door. She grudgingly rolled over and looked at the alarm clock on her bed. It was barely past six in the morning and there was only one person she could think of that would be knocking on her door at this hour.
She opened the door and was surprised when the normally spunky happy-go-lucky fourteen year old girl throw herself into Regina's arms and cry. Regina held the girl, gently shushing her as she cupped the girl's face and pulled her back just enough to look her in the eye. "What's wrong, dear?"
Rose just shook her head and held onto Regina tighter.
"Honey, I can't help if you don't talk to me," she told the little girl hugging her close.
Regina moved them out of the doorway so they could at least close the door. "I don't want to be angry, but I can't help it," Rose told Regina as she took a step back and Regina wiped away her tears with the pads of her thumbs. "They chose their people over their children and we're the one that got hurt."
A wave of guilt washed over Regina as she realized in some respects she was the one that caused this. She was the one that cast the curse that made this girl feel like this. She never cared before the way others felt, much less the way one person felt.
But as Rose cried into her chest, all she wanted to do was make it better. Regina hugged the girl a few moment longer before letting her go. "How about you tell me what happened and I'll bake us something to sweet?"
Rose wiped her eyes. "But-but it's six o'clock in the morning."
"I'll make apple turnovers, they're sort of breakfast-y," Regina replied returning the smile she received from the girl.
Rose liked being in the kitchen with Regina. Her kitchen was also much larger than the one at home, and she would never ask Rose if she'd like to help, but expected her to. From the first time she was in a kitchen to then she had learned a lot. Of course Mary Margaret would ask if she wanted to, but Rose always felt the need to decline because she didn't want to look dumb. Regina would show her how to do whatever was needed.
"Go ahead and get some of the apples out of the fridge," Regina told her as she pulled out the flour from one of the cabinets and a large bowl. "Grab the sugar too."
Rose obeyed. She was very familiar with every function of the room by then, maybe even more familiar than her own kitchen. She found the cutting board and the knife and began her duty of slicing the apples.
The entire time they talked, really talked. Rose admitted her feelings toward her parents and her sister. By the time they had sat down to eat the turnovers, Regina had been doing too much thinking.
"Rose," she said quietly, poking at her turnover with the fork, "Do you like living with your parents?"
Rose opened her mouth to answer, but hesitated. She took a moment to think on this. "I-I love them," she replied nervously.
Regina could feel there was something missing in her answer. "But?"
"But they're so perfect. Emma and I aren't perfect. We've done bad things, really bad, and had bad things happen to us. It doesn't seem possible that Snow White and Prince Charming are our parents."
And that was all she needed to hear. "Rose, why don't we go ahead and make your parents a turnover as well?"
Rose gave her a funny look.
"Call it a peace offering. I'm sure it will help you realize your parents aren't as perfect as you think you are." Regina offered the girl a sweet smile before gently patting her arm. "You run to the bathroom to get cleaned up and I'll start getting everything ready."
Rose's baffled look spread into a smile as she threw her arms around Regina's neck. "Thank you."
Regina held Rose for a few moments before giving her a kind smile and sending her on her way. For a moment Regina sat there, smiling to herself before she stood up and reached for a very special apple, tucked away in the cabinet. She had used Jefferson's hat and every ounce of magic she had brought to this world to retrieve the apple. Though, she didn't know what she was going to do with it at first, she now had a very clear idea.
The twins would have no real reason to break the curse after their parents were cursed to a sleeping state. Rose would come running to her and Emma would eventually follow. The curse would live on, and she would have the saviors.
Regina cut into the apple.
Emma sat at the island in the kitchen, eating her bowl of cereal even though it was ten in the morning already. Rose walked in not long after she finished.
"Where's Mary Margaret and David?" she asked as she carried the neatly covered turnover to the kitchen counter.
"They went to the store, they said they'll be back soon," Emma replied disinterested in anything that had to do with her parents. "Where have you been all morning?"
"Talking. With, uh, Regina," Rose said carefully knowing that Emma held very similar feelings toward Regina than their parents.
"Talking? Just talking?" Emma asked giving her sister a hard look. "What's that?"
Rose stood a little in front of the plate. "It's a turnover that Regina and I made for David and Mary Margaret. A peace offering."
Emma was stunned to silence, her eyes widened a little with shock as she shook her head. "Are you honestly that dense? Don't tell me! It's apple!"
"Well-"
"Oh my God, Rose! It's a trap!" Emma snapped, reaching for the plate.
Rose grabbed it and held it out of her reach. "Come on, Em, Regina is not as bad as everyone makes her seem! She talks to me, she's nice to me-"
"She put our mother under a sleeping curse that nearly killed her, she cast a curse on all the fairytale characters-"
"She's trying, no one wants to give her a chance," Rose argued.
"It's a trap, Rose, don't be stupid," Emma snapped roughly.
"I trust her!" Rose fired back, pulling the wrap off the plate and turnover. "I'll prove it to you."
She took the turnover in her hands and before Emma could stop her she took a large bite of the turnover. She held a smug look as she stared back at her sister until something hit her. Her head started spinning.
Emma lunged to catch her sister as she fell, but she didn't get there quick enough as Rose hit the floor hard, the treat still in hand.
"Rose! Rose!" Emma cried falling to her knees beside her sister. Her breathing was shallow and her skin was already getting cold. "Rose!"
She jumped up and grabbed the phone off the desk and dialed a familiar number.
"Hello?" Mary Margaret's voice answered making Emma want to start crying.
"Rose! She ate something and she just fell and-" Her voice was fast and panicked, so much so that Snow was having a hard time grasping what she was saying.
"Emma, you have to calm down, I can't-"
Emma groaned. "You have to get here now!" she nearly shouted, tossing the phone aside and looking back to her sister. "Why can't you ever just listen to me?"
This time, Rose had brought the nightmare among herself.
Emma took a deep breath and grabbed Rose's arm and managed to get her sister's weight across her shoulders enough for her to stand. Yeah, she was about to carry her sister down the steps on her back, but her sister had just taken a bite of some type of poised turnover and she wasn't sure how long she was going to keep breathing.
Her steps were shaky but she had never been more happy to open the door of the door of the building and see Graham pulling up.
"Dear gods, Emma! What happened?" he asked throwing the car into park and pulling Rose off Emma's back and into his arms.
"She ate a turnover Regina made for Snow White and Prince Charming," she replied with a bit of an eye roll. "I would be angrier if I wasn't so scared."
Graham gave Emma a look as he gently laid Rose in the back of the car. She sounded thoroughly pissed already so he was wondering how mad she would sound if fear wasn't an issue. "You're parents called me when you called them, and I got here as soon as I could," Graham told her as they both got in the car as well.
"Yeah, because they have you pretty well babysit us anytime they're not around," Emma snapped. "Not that I'm particularly angry about it right now, since it's coming in handy."
Graham pulled his cell phone out of his shirt pocket and offered it to Emma. "Call your parents and tell them we're taking Rose to the hospital."
But Emma held her hands up. "Uh, no. I do not want to make that call."
Graham gave her an incredulous look. "What?"
"You're David's friend, you tell him."
"You're his daughter. Rose is his daughter-"
Emma glared at him and he rolled his eyes. "But I will make the life altering call that his daughter is unconscious and unresponsive and is being rushed to the hospital because she ate something prepared for them by the evil queen. Thank you, princess."
Of course the addition of "princess" to his statement was only to grind her nerves a little more, something he sort of enjoyed doing because she had a way of doing it to everyone else. It was a way that almost earned respect with her. If you were able to pick on her a the same time that she needed a breather, it usually ended with Emma being a little more relaxed.
Graham quickly dialed David's number as he flipped on the sirens and lights. "David, we're taking Rose to the ER... ... She's unconscious from something she ate.. ... No, not an allergic reaction. Well, Regina made it." Graham and Emma exchanged nervous looks as David's panic blew up through the phone. "We'll meet you there."
The phone was stuffed back into his pocket as he glanced at Emma in the passenger seat. "Do you and your sister make some sort of bets on who can take the most years off your parent's lives?"
"What?" Emma replied as she held onto the "oh-shit" handle and Graham took a turn a little faster than needed.
"Look, your dad and I are friends so I have a pretty good idea of some of the stuff you pull. You should really consider going easier on them, they're trying their best," Graham replied this time keeping his eyes on the road.
"Us? God, why does everyone think we should go easier on them? Maybe they should go easier on us," Emma snapped. "Rose, my little sister, is the only thing that we should be worried about right now. She's the only thing that really matters right now."
Graham didn't say another word as he pulled up to the front doors of the hospital. He jumped out of the driver's side and scooped Rose back into his arms just as David's truck pulled up behind him.
"Oh my gods," Snow gasped as Graham passed Rose into her father's arms and her head fell back limply.
"She said that she and Regina had breakfast together and then they made you two a turnover as some peace offering," Emma explained as they all rushed in behind David and Graham. Snow just held Emma's shoulders as Graham called for a nurse.
One of the nurses was there immediately with a bed and Dr. Whale was in there in moments as well. Now the true panic was setting in. Emma turned into her mother and clung to her shirt. David was moving with Rose, calling urgently to his little girl as they wheeled her back.
"Rose, open your eyes," he called to her, shaking her slightly. "Rose, Daddy's here. Daddy's here."
Snow hugged Emma to her as they both watched the scene unfold. "She ate Regina's turnover..." Emma kept whispering, repeating it over and over again as Snow held her held her tightly.
Dr. Whale looked at David. "Mr. Nolan, you have to take a step back."
"I'm not leaving her!" he shot back looking down at his dark haired daughter. He ran a hand over her wild curls. She woke him and he would be right there when she woke up.
"Regina..." Emma whispered again making Snow look down at her.
Regina did this to her daughter...
Snow spun on her heels and marched toward the door leaving Emma baffled. Finally she took off after her.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Emma called, following her mother out to her father's truck. "Where are you going?"
"Stay with your father, Emma," Snow replied shoving the keys into the ignition and giving her daughter a glare as she climbed into the passenger seat. "Emma-"
"No! You don't get to leave right now! You don't get to walk away from her when she needs you!" Emma nearly yelled. "You don't get to leave!"
Snow gave her daughter an alarmed look before she realized what Emma was saying. Her face softened and she gently touched her daughter's face. "Emma..."
"People always walk out on us. Please don't be like them. Please don't leave because Rose needs you!" Emma told her mother as tears sprung to her eyes. She reached for the hand that was on her cheek and held it. "She believes in you. I believe in you."
"Sweetie," Snow said softly, pulling Emma into her arms. "Sweetie, I'm not walking out on you. I would never do that, I would never leave you. No matter what."
Emma cried into her mother's shoulder. "Even after the things I said last night?"
"Emma, no matter what, I will always be here for you and your sister. Just right now, I need to have a chat with my step-mother."
"Then I'm going too," Emma said with finality, sloppily wiping her face on her jacket sleeve.
Snow gave her daughter a meaningful look. "Emma-"
"No. You've told me that family sticks together and right now David is with Rose and I'm with you. We stick together." Emma offered hand out for her mother. "Right?"
Snow smiled as she reached out and accepted her daughter's hand. "Absolutely."
Emma glanced back toward the hospital as the car pulled out of the parking lot. This was for Rose. She would believe in her parents for her because she would never stop believing in Rose.
It did not take Emma long to realize that no one messed with Snow White's kids. As soon as David's truck was thrown into park, Snow was out of the car and marching toward the door with Emma trying to keep up.
She did not knock like Mary Margaret would have. She did not hesitate like Emma would have, no. Snow White barged into Regina Mill's home without so much as batting an eyelash.
"Regina!" she called, standing in the middle of her longue. "Regina!"
The older woman appeared from the kitchen, drying her hands and looking completely thrown. "What is it? Why are you intruding into my home and yelling like a madman?"
Snow White charged the Evil Queen and shoved her into the wall with her hands nearly around her throat. "You have taken my father, you have tried to kill me and my husband multiple times, you have made my life hell, but so help me if my daughter dies-"
Regina pushed Snow's hands away. "What are you talking about?"
"Rose took a bite of that turnover to try and prove that you changed," Emma told her, taking a step up. "Turns out she was wrong."
Regina physically paled. "What?"
"Rose is in the hospital because of you!" Snow clarified. "She has done nothing but try and probe you are a good person! She adores you and now-"
"It was meant for you! I would never hurt Rose!" Regina argued.
"Hurting her parents wouldn't hurt her?" Snow scoffed.
"I would be there for her! I'm the one she goes to when she's upset anyway. I'm the one who dries her tears. That's me, not you."
"I'm her mother!" Snow snapped.
"And you dumped her in a wardrobe!"
"But we love Mary Margaret!" Emma cut in stand up for her mother. "We love David too. We wouldn't want anything to happen to them."
Snow gave her daughter a gentle smile before turning her glare back to Regina. "You need to fix this."
"I can't. It's the sleeping curse. The same curse I used on you," Regina explained angrily, but not being able to hide her own concern and sadness.
"That was broken by true love's kiss," Snow replied.
"And how are we going to do that for Rose?" Emma asked feeling suddenly hopeless.
"Lucky for you-"
All three women spun around to see Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin standing in the open door frame of Regina's home. "I have a solution."
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