New information usually begs for new problems.

Emma felt like she couldn't even blink, never mind speak at this moment. Her gaze was fixed on the woman in front of her and she still wasn't capable of grasping the image. She silently thanked Lucas that he broke the silence.

"Pardon us for barging in!" He said in a theatrical way and bowed. His hand forced the petrified Emma to do the same, though she was still staring at the brunette. "We are travelers who got lost along the way, please forgive us!"

Snow's expression softened, but remained suspicious. "Travelers of what kind? And what are your names?"

Lucas spoke with confidence. "My name is Lucas, my lady, and I am from Wonderland. This young lady here is…"

Emma forced herself to interrupt. "Swan. Just call me Swan... And I'm from a land far, far away from here…" Snow's look wandered to the blanket in Emma's hand and her eyes narrowed.

"What an interesting name." She took a step closer to them. "Though you still haven't answered my question. How did you get into my daughter's room?"

Lucas nudged the blonde. "Her daughter's? But didn't you just say it's your-…"

Emma kicked his ankle and whispered through her teeth. "It is."

Lucas eyes widened with realization. "Oh… Ooh, I see…" He looked at the brunette, back at Emma, then back at Snow again - who was still leering at them. He slowly nodded and continued as if nothing had happened. "As I've said, my lady, we got here by accident. Our disturbance is not intentional. We shall continue our journey as soon as our portal is ready." He showed her the ring, but it didn't convince Snow - her eyes were full of suspicion.

Out of desperation, Emma said the first thing that came to her mind to save the situation. "Merlin sent us! I mean… He didn't want to send us here, but we're his friends… He wanted to help us get home. "

"Merlin?" Recognition passed over the brunette's face and she seemed to accept the explanation. "He used his gift to help you?"

The brunette said the word with a tone that assured Emma that this moment was essential, she had to answer the unasked question. She cleared her throat and tried to speak as convincingly as she could. " Some may call it a gift, others may call it a curse." Emma hoped she had quoted Merlin correctly. By Snow's soft expression she knew she did, which made her more relaxed, too.

"By all means, his friends are my friends." She sighed. "I'm sorry for being so cautious. Times have been difficult lately…"

"We understand, my lady. May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking?" Though Lucas' theatrical performance started to annoy Emma, she didn't mention it. She she had bigger problems at the moment, like breathing properly.

"My name is Snow White and I'm queen of the Enchanted Forest." She said it with such grace only a real royal could have done it. Then her face lightened a little. "But my friends just call me Snow." With that she nodded which made it clear that they could call her that.

"The queen?" Lucas' smirk turned back to Emma. "I didn't know you were a pr-…"

"Do you want me to kick you again?!" Emma hissed at him. Since he didn't say anything more, just giggled, Emma turned back to the brunette. The silence was slightly awkward and she felt like she needed to say something. "Congratulations on… you know." She pointed at her belly. Snow nodded and kept her gaze on the blonde. Emma felt a bit uncomfortable. "And do you know… what it's gonna be?" She had absolutely no idea why she asked it. It just slipped out, but Emma was somehow happy that she couldn't take back her words. However Lucas threw her a weird look. He almost looked worried.

Snow didn't take her eyes off her, but stroked her belly. "A girl." She couldn't help but smile. "Though we don't really have a name yet… I can't decide between Hope and Pearl…"

Emma's eyes widened and this kind of shook her out of the numbness. "What?!" Then, she realized the situation. "I mean, I know it's none of my business, but…" She took a deep breath. "Can't she have a normal name?"

Snow answered her with a sarcastic smile. "Like Swan, right? Well -…"

She might have wanted to say more, but Lucas interrupted. "Your highness, forgive me, but can my friend here and I have a moment? There's an urgent matter that we need to discuss... privately, if possible."

The brunette was a bit taken aback, but nodded. "Of course, do as you wish."

Lucas pulled Emma onto the balcony and threw her a disapproving look. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What?" Emma asked simply. "I'm not doing anything! And do you mind…" She wrested her arm from his.

"Actually I do!" He whispered with anger. "You're changing the past!" He paused for a second then added firmly. "You cannot change the past!"

But when Emma understood his words, she didn't listen to him anymore. She shut herself in her thoughts. This whole time a silent thought had been waiting to be noticed and now Lucas' comment made Emma realize something. She couldn't grasp it yet, but a hazy idea started forming in her mind.

What if…

She had used this term in her mind countless times.

She had thought about it for a very long time, toyed with the possibilities... What would have happened if she had really had a family? If she wouldn't have been abandoned - or as she knew now, saved.

Maybe she would've had a proper children's room, filled with photos of her family. Her own, warm, comfortable bed surrounded by a hundred stuffed animals, where her mum would have read her bedtime stories. Then she wouldn't have had to steal the fairytale book from another kid in kindergarten if she wanted to read them. Her mother would have kissed her goodnight each and every evening and checked under her bed for monsters without being asked to do so. Maybe that way she wouldn't have had so many nightmares as a child that the monsters hurt her and there was no one to protect her.

And after that, she would have had her mother accompany her to pick her dress for her first ball. They would have argued a little, but in the end her mom would have told her how beautiful and grown up she looked. How proud she was of her.

Emma had seen all of this by watching the other kids in her school and even though she hated herself for it, she caught herself wanting to have the same. Her own, loving family. And her heart broke every time when she realized that that was one of the many things she could never have.

But... What if... What if I can?

Emma didn't say a word aloud, but her thoughts were most definitely written on her face, because Lucas' eyes widened in a whole different kind of realization than before.

"Oh no... No, no, no, no, bad idea! Forget it!" He shook his head as her dreamy expression wandered towards the brunette inside the nursery. Snow was gazing at the baby blanket she now held in her hands and even from the balcony Emma could see her smile.

I could have my mother... I could have both my parents... All I have to do is...

Lucas snapped his fingers in front of her, stepped closer and shook Emma's shoulders as he looked in her eyes.

"Emma, no! You can't! You cannot change history!"

But Emma, still with a dreamy look on her face asked him a rather naive question. "Why not?"

Lucas froze as he realized she wasn't joking. She would really do it.

"Because! Because it's the past... Look! History - it cannot be changed! That's why it is impossible to travel in time! Or at least I thought it was..." He became confused.

All his life Lucas was told to always remember the three rules of magic. First - it always comes with a price. You have to be careful and use it only when it's really needed. Second - dead is dead. Resurrection is impossible, once you die, there's no way to come back. And third - what's done is done. You cannot change the past or travel in time.

But then again they just did it. And Emma was in the other woman's belly, yet also stood next to her. And this brunette queen was left in Lucas' place, in his world. Oh, now I remember pixie cut... She killed that ogre, what the heck...

Lucas wasn't sure how they managed to get there, but he was certain of one thing.

Change anything, and maybe there would be no future to go back to.

"Emma! Do you even understand what I'm saying?!" His desperate look searched for traces of sanity in her eyes. She had become obsessed with a thought and Lucas knew exactly how dangerous that could be. "Please, listen! I don't know exactly what you want to do, but you cannot! Trust me, I know!"

Emma finally seemed to pay attention to the man's words. She replied slowly. "You don't know me. You don't know what I've been through." She smiled. "But I don't have to. All I need to do is take a few steps, talk with Snow and I'll have everything I ever wanted. "Her distant eyes filled with tears. "I could have my family. I could have always had them."

Lucas finally understood her motives. Emma was probably separated from her parents. She most definitely grew up alone, and based on her words, her childhood wasn't exactly a fairytale. And now she saw an opportunity to rewrite their story. But it doesn't matter!

"No! You can't!" He yelled at her. "If you do, you will never become the person you are now! You will lose yourself!" He pointed at Snow. "And she'll be different, too! You'll change her personality! Not to mention that maybe there won't be any future for us to go back to! You can't see what your actions could cause! The consequences could be catastrophic!"

Emma narrowed her eyes. "I don't care about the consequences. I need my parents. I just... need them. I always needed them." And she started walking towards the door.

"No! I won't let you do this!" Lucas shouted at her and stood in between the door and the delusional blonde. "You'd ruin everything! I'm warning you, Emma! Don't try to do anything stupid! Hurting ya isn't an attractive option, but I'll stop you if I have to!"

But before either of them could say anything more, Lucas heard a strong voice behind his back interrupting the argument.

"I don't care who you are, but you won't hurt her! Not while I'm here!"

He turned around and a sword held by Snow was almost touching his nose.

Damn it!

Sorry for the late update! I had to work with this and the next chapter a lot, since it'll be kind of essential for the ones after them. I try to keep the story line interesting, so I tend to twist the story a lot. But I hope it's not hard to keep tracks.

oldmcpiper, I know you probably have a million other things to do, but I can't thank you enough for being me beta. But, well, thank you! Again ;)

Mama Snow's not letting her daughter get hurt, even if she doesn't recognize her. She's awesome like that. :D

And who do you think Lucas is? You'll never guess his true identity ;) Also, I'm interested in your opinion about his relationship with Emma!;)

Your reviews are always welcome :)