Disclaimer: I still own nothing!
A/N: Hey, there was a new episode, now let's have a new chapter. I'm so sorry this has taken me so long to post, I have been having a hard time with various RL things. I wanted to finish the entire story before posting another chapter, but I've only written about 500 words of chapter 40 and you guys have been waiting far too long for another chapter. I apologize in advance that this chapter is shorter than the last one. Full disclosure: it's also not my favorite. HOWEVER next chapter is probably my favorite, so think of this as just an intermediate act.
Thank you so, so much to everyone who made my day by submitting a review. I truly appreciate all of your thoughts and compliments and love. Enjoy the update!
Much thanks also to Melissa for betaing.
Snow didn't realize something was wrong until she was nearly halfway home.
She was startled by the sudden weakness in her legs that sent her stumbling to the ground. Snow picked herself up quickly, not wanting to attract any attention. She leaned against a tree, gasping for breath and rubbing her legs, trying to bring some feeling back into them. It was as though they had gone numb.
Her mind was clear. She had a headache, but only a small one, nothing too serious. No apple taste. She blinked several times. The world stayed still.
After a minute, Snow set off slowly, all too aware of the feeling that her legs would give out again any moment. Air barely filled her lungs and left them much too quickly. The lack of oxygen made her dizzy. Was this it? Had she used up all her remaining time with James?
You have to make it back, she told herself. Emma is waiting for you. Emma. Emma. Emma. Snow chanted her daughter's name in her head with every step. She knew Emma would send her to the hospital when she came home, but first she had to make it there. Things would be a lot worse if someone found her unconscious on the street.
Her head was spinning by the time she saw the house, but a smile of relief broke across her face when she saw the lights on inside. Almost there, Snow thought. You can make it. You've survived worse than this.
The second time she fell, it took much longer to get up. Snow managed to push herself into a sitting position and then dropped her head into her hands, frustrated by this weakness. Why was this happening now?
"Mary Margaret!"
She looked up and saw Emma coming toward her. "What happened?" Emma asked as she knelt beside her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm…" Snow tried to say fine, but she knew it was futile. Emma's worried face swam in front of her. Snow forced herself to stay awake. She was terrified that if she fell asleep again, she would never wake up.
"Can you get up?" Emma's voice seemed to come from far away. "Hey, hey!" Emma snapped her fingers. "Stay with me, Mary Margaret. Give me your hands." Snow felt Emma take her hands. "Come on." She felt Emma pull her to her feet and then wrap her arm protectively around her shoulder. "Let's get inside. I'll call an ambulance. It's going to be okay."
Snow was too weak to protest. She leaned against Emma as her daughter led her back to the house. "I'm sorry about this," she mumbled. Snow felt an unnatural cold spreading through her body. She was stunned at how quickly she was deteriorating; she'd been fine at the hospital barely half an hour before? She wondered if this was dying and suddenly wished Emma weren't there to watch.
"It's okay," Emma said again, and this time, her voice didn't sound as far away. "Just a bit farther."
They reached the house. Emma pushed open the door and led Snow over to the couch. Snow reached for the blanket, feeling Emma's eyes on her. She couldn't stop shaking.
"I'll bring you some more," Emma said. Snow realized that Emma probably had no idea where the extra blankets were, but before she could call out to her, Emma returned, her arms full of bedding. Snow smiled. Smart girl.
With trembling fingers, Snow began unfolding the blankets. Even under all the layers, she didn't feel any warmer. To her horror, the cold only seemed to spread, this time accompanied by the taste of rotten apples. She gagged as the putrid taste filled her mouth.
"You okay?" Emma asked, sitting beside her on the couch. "Do you need water?"
Snow didn't think water would help, but she nodded anyway. Anything to give Emma something to do. She tried to stop her hands from shaking while Emma went to get the water. By the time Emma handed her the glass, Snow was actually able to take it with steady hands.
"I called the hospital, too," Emma said as she sat down next to Snow again. "They're sending over an ambulance."
"Okay." Snow took a sip of water. As expected, it did nothing to dissipate the disgusting apple taste. She handed the glass back to Emma as her hands started shaking again. It seemed the weakness in her legs was spreading.
Emma took Snow's hands. "You're freezing," she murmured, trying to rub some warmth back into them. "How did this happen?"
"I – don't know," Snow replied. She grit her teeth together to keep them from chattering.
"You shouldn't have gone to the hospital," Emma said. "You weren't strong enough. It only made things worse."
"No," Snow corrected her, thinking of the conversation she'd had with James. "This would have happened anyway."
She closed her eyes and wondered how long it would take for the ambulance to arrive. Even if she made it to the hospital, she knew the doctors wouldn't be able to fix what was wrong with her. There was only one way to stop it – but what if it was already too late?
"Hey, hey, Mary Margaret!" Emma was snapping her fingers again. "You stay awake, do you hear me?"
Snow tried to open her eyes, but they were too heavy. The feeling of dizziness was overwhelming. She felt Emma shifting her weight beside her and then her daughter's arm around her shoulder. Snow leaned into her, inhaling her shampoo, which no longer smelled like strawberries.
"My book," Snow murmured. "Where is it?"
"The book you wrote for your daughter? It's here," Emma said. "I brought it in for you."
"Thank you," Snow replied. She sighed, her breath a slow, rattling gasp. "I want you to have it."
"Oh, Mary Margaret…" She couldn't see her, but she imagined Emma biting her lip. "I couldn't possibly – this is yours. You wrote it for your daughter."
"No. Take it," Snow urged. "If something happens to me, I want you to have it. It's yours. I wrote it for you."
"Nothing's going to happen," Emma said gently.
"But if it does," Snow pressed. She could feel herself growing weaker. She had to make Emma understand. "Promise me you'll read it."
"I promise," Emma said, squeezing her hand. "Don't worry, Mary Margaret. I'll take good care of your book."
"Your book," she corrected. "Please, Emma, you have to understand. I wrote it for you." Snow forced herself to open her eyes and look at her daughter. Emma's eyes were filled with concern. "You're so beautiful," Snow murmured. "Smart, brave, and kind, just like your parents wanted you to be."
She saw the flicker of confusion across Emma's face, but her daughter smiled anyway. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Emma." Snow sighed and closed her eyes again. It took too much energy to keep them open. She didn't know how much time she had left, but she knew that if this was her last chance, she couldn't let it go to waste. She had no idea if Emma would believe her, if she even had the strength to tell her the story now, but Snow knew she had to try. At this point, there was nothing left to lose.
"Emma, your book is very special. I didn't just make these stories up in my head." Snow drew a shaky breath. "These are stories of things that actually happened. These are my memories, from another world." When Emma didn't say anything, Snow continued, "I wrote this book for you when you were young. We came to this to escape a powerful and terrible curse. Everyone else in our world, including your father, was cursed. I wrote this book so that one day, you would share my memories. You need them to break the curse."
"Shh, Mary Margaret," Emma said soothingly. "It's going to be okay. The ambulance will be here soon."
"No." Snow opened her eyes again. Emma looked more worried than confused now. "You have to believe me. I wrote this book for you, you have to break the curse. You're my daughter, Emma. I'm your mother."
"Mary Margaret…"
"I named you Emma. Your father and I discussed names for such a long time, but the moment I saw you, I knew. It had to be Emma."
"Your daughter's name was Emma?" A look of comprehension dawned on her daughter's face.
"Yes, Emma," Snow said breathlessly, her eyes closing again. "Emma. Emma. Emma. Everything I did, I did for Emma. Keep the book safe, Emma. Keep it a secret. Promise me you'll read it."
"I promise," Emma said. "I will, Mary Margaret, I will read the book. I'll start now, while we're waiting for the ambulance. Is that good?" Snow squeezed her daughter's hand with her remaining strength. It's what she'd always wanted. She heard Emma start the story just as her world went black.
"Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a young girl named Snow White…"
A/N: It's the beginning of the end, no turning back now! Next chapter is all written, beta'd - totally ready to go. I promise to post that by the end of the week. My goal is to have posted the entire story by the time Once comes back in three weeks (!) Anyway, please review and I'll update again soon!