What?! An update?! No need to pitch yourselves, readers, this isn't a dream. I actually got a chapter written in a reasonable amount of time. I would really like to keep this up, because despite my busy schedule, I love bringing this story to you all.

Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed/favorited/followed the last chapter. It is good to know that even when I haven't been around for a while, people still are invested in this story.

Now, I must say this one more time. After this, however, I will not comment on this issue again.

I adore baby Neal on the show, I really do. I think he is a very important part of their family, and I love him. I also have nothing against his namesake on the show, and I miss Neal. But, my story is not canon. As much as I love these two characters, the universe the writers have created and mine are completely different. I write Rumplestiltskin's son as a villain, because I believe that Baelfire could have become dark after the trials he went through. Does this mean that is despise Neal Cassidy? No, the characters are just different. The show chose for Snow and Charming to have a son, and I did not. Does this mean that I hate baby Neal? No, the plot is just different. I am telling my story and my story alone, and it is not anything close to canon. This fic has been going for over two years, and a lot has been planned from the beginning. Just because things changed in the show does not mean that my plot is affected. I will continue to tell the story that I wish, and I apologize if that is not to everyone's liking.

Now, to those of you who are worried about Emma's death: hold out until the end. I know what the finale/epilogue of this fic will be, and I really hope that you all like how I conclude this story.

Thanks to ladywolf101 for being awesome, as usual.

Now, read away!

No one moved or made a sound as Emma gasped for breath. They couldn't. They were all just staring at her in unbelief.

Emma started choking on the tube down her throat, causing her body to convulse against the bed. The machines hooked to her started beeping uncontrollably, and nurses rushed into the room. They pushed August and Henry out despite their protests. David moved to reach his daughter, but as the nurse finally got him to the doorway, Snow felt a hand grip her arm to do the same.

That snapped her out of her trance.

Her eyes narrowed as she shoved the nurse away from her. "I swear to the gods, if you try to make me leave my daughter, I will rip you to shreds."

Dr. Whale approached her just as David returned to her side. "Your Majesty, we need you to leave while we check her vitals and make sure she's okay. I'm sorry, but I have to insist. This is what's best for her."

David gripped her hand and pulled her to the door, but she pulled against him. "I'm not leaving her," she stated as she looked into her husband's eyes.

"We will be right outside, Snow. Please, just cooperate so that the doctor can do his job."

Snow couldn't believe that David was siding with them. He should want to stay, he should be fighting to stay just as much as her. Their child had come back to them, and she couldn't understand why he would want to spend a second away from her. She just couldn't leave her baby behind, even if it was what was best.

"David, I need to stay with her," she told him. "I can't go. If I take my eyes off of her for a second, she could slip away again and we could lose her forever-"

He pulled her into his arms and guided her out of the room, and this time, she didn't fight him. As soon as the door was shut behind them, she buried her head in his shoulder and he wove his fingers in her hair. He lead her towards the chairs, and she didn't move away from him even as he lowered them into a sitting position.

She was just so terrified. Happy that Emma was awake, no doubt, but still terrified. She should be thrilled right now, but she just had a sinking feeling in her gut that something wasn't going to be okay. That this was too good to be true. That's what she was afraid of. After losing her daughter for months she couldn't bear to be separated from her again, she just wasn't strong enough for that.

David kissed her forehead over and over. He had a sixth sense when it came to her. He knew that it was killing her to be apart from their child, and so he was holding it together for the both of them. "It's going to be alright. They will make sure that she is alright, and then we can immediately see her. I know it's hard. Believe me, as soon as she opened her eyes, I tried to get to her. But, sometimes we have to step back for her sake."

"I don't want to. Something could be wrong-"

"Shh, Snow. Don't think like that. She's awake and is going to be fine. Our daughter is home, and we should be happy about that."

Snow opened her mouth to speak, but the door to Emma's room opened and the doctor stepped out. She rose to her feet, her husband following her lead. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed August and Henry's heads had perked up.

"Well? How is she?" Snow asked without any hesitation.

Dr. Whale gave a small smile. "She's going to be fine. Her vitals look good, and she's wide awake. The next few days are going to be hard on her, though. She will really feel the effects of her accident, and she is now and will continue to be in a bit of pain. But, she's wide awake and that's all we can ask for. And you all should be happy to hear that she's been asking for you since we took her breathing tube out."

"Can we go see her?" David inquired as he squeezed Snow's hand.

Dr. Whale nodded and stepped to the side. Snow moved without a second thought, and in an instant, she was feet from her daughter, her husband right behind her.

Emma was sitting up in bed, and she looked exhausted. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her skin was incredibly pale. Her breath seemed shaky and labored, which was to be expected from someone who was breathing on their own for the first time in months. Emma didn't look good, but she was awake. She was conscious, and that was more expression than they had gotten in months, so Snow would take it. Her daughter was gripping the bed sheet in her hand, and it was obvious to her that her child was trying to hide her pain. Emma was good at that, but Snow could see through it. Her eyes remained glued to her girl as she tried to soak in everything at once. After months of speaking to a lifeless body, seeing Emma alive and functioning was the only gift she could ever want.

Emma turned away from the nurse and her eyes locked with Snow's. Her face lit up as her eyes became clouded with tears. She tilted her head to the side as the widest smile spread across her face. "Mom."

Snow crossed the room and over to Emma's bed. Before she had a chance to do anything else, Emma flung her arms around her in a tight hug. She felt the tears fall as her daughter sunk into the embrace as if she had never felt safer. "Oh, Emma," she choked out as she kissed the top of her daughter's head. "I'm so glad you're home," she breathed. Emma's fingers gripped the fabric of Snow's shirt, and she could feel her daughter's lip quivering as she held her baby girl like there was no tomorrow.

"I missed you so much, Mom." She shifted, and Snow saw her look over her shoulder. Emma dropped one of her hands and held it out towards her father. "Dad."

David joined their hug, and they held their daughter in between them. Now that she was awake, holding her in their arms gave them the chance to breathe a sigh of relief. Emma was alive and awake and here with them again, and Snow knew that as parents, there was nothing better than having that knowledge. She watched David as his hand cupped the back of their child's head, and she was brought back to the first time they had held their daughter. There had been a moment of peace thirty years ago today before their world had been shattered. Snow had held their tiny and perfect baby in her arms, and her Charming had cupped their infant's head in his strong and protective hands. That moment was the only chance they had had to be a family and feel an overpowering surge of love. And despite everything that had happened, their feelings had not changed a bit. Even though she was much bigger now, they still held her like she was the most precious thing in their life, which she was. She was still their perfect baby girl no matter what, and she was home once more. Their family was together again, as it should be.

Last time they had held their child like this, their world had been shattered moments later. This time, holding her was what was putting them back together again.

"Don't ever leave us, Emma," David quietly told her. "We aren't strong enough to lose you anymore."

"I won't, Dad. I promise. I'm here forever, and you can't get rid of me." Emma pulled back and took each of their hands while looking them both in the eyes. "I love you both, so much. I don't say it enough, and I almost lost the chance to ever say it again. Now that I'm home, I won't let you forget it. Ever. You are my parents, and you are everything that I have ever wanted and more."

Snow gave her a watery smile as she rested her hand on her daughter's cheek. "You mean everything to us. Everything."

"I know. And that's the best part."

A soft knock at the door caused Emma to look away, but Snow's eyes remained trained on her daughter. Emma's eyes softened and filled with tears, and Snow knew exactly who she was looking at. The amount of love in her child's eyes was reserved for one person.

"Mom?"

"Come here, kid," Emma whispered as Henry walked into the room. Snow backed away and grabbed David's hand as they watched their daughter hold their grandson just has she had held them. She looked so peaceful as he buried his head in her neck, and the love radiated off of her made Snow tear up more than she already was. Mother and child together again as they should be, and there was nothing she understood more.

"I missed you so much, Mom," Henry stated. "This whole time I've been trying to get you back."

Emma's hands cupped his cheeks as her thumbs brushed away his tears. "I missed you too, Henry. So much. But I never really left, you know. I may not have really been here, but I am always with you, right in your heart," she quietly told him as she placed a hand on his chest. I know how you must have felt while I was gone. I know you probably felt abandoned. And I can promise you that that will never be the case. Because I will never leave you as long as you keep a piece of me right here, okay?" She patted the space above his heart a few times before she pulled him back into a tight hug.

Snow noticed how the roles were reversed. Henry now clung to Emma just as Emma had clung to her just moments ago. Watching her daughter be a mother warmed her heart in a way that she could never even begin to describe.

"You look at her the same way she looks at Henry, you know," August quietly said to her, breaking Snow's attention from her family.

She looked over at him and gave him a small smile. "You looked at your daughter the same way too."

His eyes grew sad, but his smile remained. "There's nothing like loving a child. I'm glad Henry has his mother back, because those two need each other."

"I couldn't agree more."

August grinned at her before turning his gaze towards Emma. Snow couldn't help but noticed how he looked at her, it was how her father looked at her mother and how her Charming looked at her. August was completely head over heels in love with her daughter, and though she was protective of her baby girl, she couldn't be more thrilled. Emma deserved to have someone look at her the way that August was at this very moment.

Emma raised her gaze from her son, only to look straight in the eyes of her man.

Snow shared a look with her husband as Emma blushed and tried to hide the grin that was fast morphing her face. Their daughter was in love, and not just a little bit. She was completely and totally head over heels in love with this man, and nothing made Snow happier.

"Hey, you," Emma said as Henry turned and grinned before slipping out of his mother's arms.

August slowly made his way towards her, the room silent except for the click of his crutches. "Hey, Em. Back already?"

"I just couldn't stay away." She was sitting up straight in bed, her anticipation evident on her face. Snow didn't know if she had ever seen Emma acting so...vulnerable with someone outside of their family.

Henry walked to Snow and David, and his grandfather looped his arm around the boy's shoulders. "Are they going to kiss, Gramps?"

As if on cue, Emma and August directed their attention to Snow and David. After a moment, David gave them a small nod, causing their smiles to widen. "Yeah, Henry. They are."

Emma reached up and placed her palms on August's cheeks before slowly pressing her lips to his. It was so gentle and loving, and it was the type of kiss shared by people who were in it for the long haul. And despite the fact that Emma was one of that hardest people to get close to, her daughter had let her walls down for someone. And August had proved himself time and time again, and Snow completely approved. She approved of his intentions and she approved of Emma's decision to let him in. As a mother, this was what she had always hoped for for her daughter. True and complete and wonderful love.

August let one of his crutches fall as one of his hands moved to weave through Emma's hair. He pulled away and moved his lips to her ear. Snow couldn't hear a word of what he said, but judging from the way Emma's dimples became exceedingly pronounced, it was something completely loving and something Emma needed to hear. He turned his head once more and they shared a series of quick but meaningful kisses. She didn't know for sure, but she could have sworn that she heard a few whispered 'I love you's exchanged between the couple.

While she had a huge smile on her face, it wasn't hard to see that her husband and grandson weren't as thrilled by the public display of affection. Henry's nose was crinkled up, and David's jaw was locked enough to show that he was uncomfortable but not enough to show that he was angry. She knew that he was happy for their daughter, but he was always going to be extremely overprotective.

After a few more moments, David cleared his throat, causing the happy couple to break apart.

"Sorry, Dad," Emma said as she bit back a smile. August picked up his crutch, but he remained leaning against the bed with one of his hands entwined in Emma's.

David let his face break into a smile as he walked forward. "It's alright, kiddo. For now," he teased, causing Emma to laugh. Snow had forgotten how wonderful that sound was.

Snow took a seat in the chair beside Emma's bed, instantly reaching out and grasping her daughter's hand. She felt David move behind her and rest his hands on her shoulders as Henry claimed the foot of the bed. She marveled at how right this felt with everyone here together, August included. He was part of the family now. And right now, their family was reunited once more, and it was wonderful.

Emma cleared her throat. "There are a few things that I would like to know, and I don't want anyone beating around the bush, okay? I...have been through a lot, yes, but I can handle the truth. So, here it goes. Number one, what day is it? And number two, what happened while I was gone? That is, other than the obvious," she stated as she gestured towards Snow's large stomach.

Henry excitedly took the lead answering Emma's first question. "Well, we actually are all here together today because it's your birthday!"

Emma's mouth dropped open, and Snow could tell that Emma was calculating just how long she was actually asleep. Her daughter covered well, and she quickly broke into a smile. "Well then, where's my cake? It's not every day that someone turns twenty nine."

Henry laughed. "You're thirty, Mom."

"Nope," Emma told him as she shook her head. "My parents are too young to have a thirty year old, and I don't really want out of my twenties. I'm just turning twenty nine again."

That earned a chuckle from everyone in the room. "Let me guess, you'll be playing this card for years," David said, causing Emma to stick her tongue out at him. "Yeah, you're not mature enough to be thirty." Emma laughed and rolled her eyes, and Snow shared a smile with her husband. Their daughter certainly was home, and she was acting happier than ever.

And Snow wanted to keep it that way.

But, she needed a moment alone with her daughter more than ever. She had some explaining to do, and she needed to do it as soon as possible.

"You know what, let's save the catching up until Emma has had a proper birthday. This is her day, and we have a bigger reason than ever to celebrate," Snow told the group, earning a smile from her daughter. Emma could see through her plan, she could tell, but her daughter didn't say a word.

So could David, but he played along. "We can go pick up her presents from home then swing by Granny's for some cake and ice cream. Henry, I'll need your help carrying things, and August, you can help with the food." He turned to his wife, a smirk that only she could read across his face. "Snow, why don't you stay here and keep the birthday girl company?"

Snow grinned. "That sounds like an excellent plan. Let me know when you're on your way back."

David nodded and gave her a look that wished her luck. He knew what conversation Snow was planning on having, and he knew that it wouldn't be easy for either his wife or daughter. He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before kissing Emma's cheek and exiting the room, followed by the rest of the family.

As soon as the door clicked shut, completely silence filled the room, only broken every few seconds by the soft beeps from Emma's monitor.

"You're quite sneaky, you know. Next time you want to have a private conversation with me you can just ask," Emma stated. She adjusted the tube in her nose before dropping her hand down to the sheets.

"Does that hurt?"

"The tube? Oh, it's not pleasant but it's better than having that huge one down my throat. That one killed."

"Did the doctor give you any painkillers?"

"A few mild ones." Emma shrugged. "I didn't want any that were going to put me to sleep. Not after all that I went through."

"Let me know if anything hurts, alright?"

Emma sighed. "It all hurts, Mom, but that isn't what you wanted to talk about. So come on, stop stalling. You'll have to say it eventually."

Snow ran her thumb along Emma's knuckles as she tried to figure out what to say or even where to begin. She had to explain herself and she had to give Emma a chance to open up about her feelings. Last time hadn't gone so well, but circumstances were different this time. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking up at Emma and finally saying exactly what was on her mind.

"I am so sorry."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because...this is unfair to you. I didn't mean for it to happen, I really didn't, but I was careless and it did. Please don't hate me...but if you do I'll understand."

"Hey," Emma softly said as she placed her free hand over their already joined ones. "Mom...I don't hate you. I'll never hate you. And I'm certainly not angry or hurt. Surprised, yes. Curious, yes. But mad? Not in a million years."

Snow had let her head fall, and she raised her gaze to meet her daughter's. "Really?"

"Really. So stop beating yourself up about it, because you didn't do anything wrong."

"You've changed," Snow stated. "You're different...but in a good way. Your walls aren't up anymore."

Emma gave her a small smile. "Let's just say...I've seen the light. I have realized what I have been doing to myself and to others, and it's time for that to stop before it's too late. I won't ever get my happy ending if I shut the ones I love out. I've embraced that and I intend to live by that principle." She cleared her throat as she gave her mother's hand a squeeze. "Now, tell me about this baby, from the beginning. I want to know what I've missed out on. Especially the fact that there is a baby safe and sound...tell me how that is even possible."

Snow ran her hand down her belly before taking a deep breath. "We found out a few weeks after your accident. I hadn't been thinking straight and I was extremely upset over everything, and I was careless. Your father and I had planned on holding off until we found a cure for the poison, but we got pregnant and it was absolutely terrifying. I felt...helpless. You were in here and this baby was in danger and I felt like I couldn't do anything about it. It was horrible. And I just hated how I couldn't be a better mother and protect my kids-"

"Mom," Emma cut her off and gave her a stern look. "Don't ever say that you are a bad mother again. Just...don't. I know what a bad parent looks like, and you most definitely are not it."

She gave her daughter a watery smile. "Thank you for saying that, but I still felt that way. There were two impossible situations facing my children, and I was completely out of control. When it came to you, all we could do was wait. And every day when I looked at you and you were so lifeless, I hated it. I hated that I couldn't wake you up. I hated how when I would go home, other problems were waiting for me there. And that is why I haven't been a very good mother lately, and I've accepted that. I'm trying to be better."

Emma sighed, and it was obvious that she could see the doubt on her mother's face. "But, no matter what happened with me, you protected this baby. That's a success, Mom."

Snow shook her head. "I didn't find the cure...Belle did."

"Rumplestiltskin's girlfriend?" Emma asked as she perked up.

"Fiancé, now. As of a month ago. Which, by the way, I've been asked to be her maid of honor. After I have the baby, of course."

"Really?" Emma questioned with a smirk. "Where did that friendship come from?"

"She helped us do research...and then she found the cure. Rumple had been hiding it for some reason, which we found out later." Snow smiled. "After I took it, we were forever in her debt. And we wanted to repay her. Your father and I went with her when she told Rumple that she had taken the cure. He hadn't been pleased, but they worked it out. And, believe it or not, they are a lovely couple to spend time with."

"You guys are friends with Rumplestiltskin?" Her eyes were wide as her mouth dropped open. "I wasn't gone for that long!"

Snow nodded. "Belle mellows him out. Plus with our long history, it isn't hard to be civil with someone like him. And Belle is just lovely and one of the kindest people I have ever met. Just wait and see. You may not know her well or even at all, but I guarantee you'll realize how great she really is."

"Well, if she really saved my sibling, then I already love her," Emma stated as she smiled at her mother. "I can't promise I'll be buddy-buddy with Rumple, but Belle has good marks in my book now."

Snow bit her lip as she looked over her shoulder then back to her daughter. "Your father and I have decided how to repay her, but so far no one knows except Granny. But, I trust you to keep a secret."

"I'm listening," Emma said as raised an eyebrow.

"You're getting a little sister," Snow told her daughter as she placed her hand lovingly on her baby bump. "She's a healthy little girl who's going to have a marvelous big sister."

"A sister," Emma whispered in awe. "I'm getting another sister?"

Snow happily nodded. "That's not the secret, though. What we are keeping quiet is that we have, in fact, already picked out the name. Granny only knows because she's making a blanket for us."

"So, what is it?"

"We wanted to choose a name that honored people, as we did for you. We named you after my father's mother. I loved her very much, but she passed when I was very young. She's where I get my eyes. She taught me a lot in the very little time I knew her, and your father and I wanted to honor that. We also named you after his mother, who gave her life to spare me from the first round of poison, a sacrifice we will never be able to repay."

Emma stopped her for a moment. "I have a middle name?" she asked, her eyes full of surprise.

"Of course you do, Emma Ruth."

Her daughter's eyes clouded with tears as her face broke into a smile. "I...I never knew. I love it."

Snow reached forward and wiped away the lone tear that had started to trickle down he daughter's cheek. "Your father and I decided long ago that all our daughters would have his mother's name somewhere in their own name. Ruth is the reason we were able to be parents in the first place, other trials to the side. Your little sister will share that name as well."

"And what will her full name be?"

Snow grasped Emma's hand before hesitating for a moment. She slowly pulled Emma's hand towards her and rested it over her stomach. "Emma, meet your sister, Ruth Isabelle Charming."

There was a soft kick right where Emma's hand was resting, and Snow watched her daughter's face closely. She was looking for some sort of emotion, anything.

Emma let out a soft laugh. "That's...that's really my little sister in there." The baby kicked against Emma's hand, causing the big sister to grin as she looked up at her mother. "She likes me."

"She's heard all about you, and she's been waiting to meet you for a very long time."

"I love her already."

"Really?" Snow asked, her eyes filling with tears. "You aren't mad we are having another baby?"

"How could I be mad? I get to be a big sister. I get to have a little sister. You guys aren't going to forget about me once you have her. There's just going to be a lot more love and we are going to get to be a family. What's there to be mad about?"

Snow breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought that you were going to wake up and feel replaced. I've been worried this whole time."

Emma shook her head. "Before, maybe. But now? Never. I'm really really happy, and I can't wait to meet this little girl." She gave her mother the biggest smile she could. "I mean, I could choose to be upset. I could be offended and hurt. I could convince myself that you were trying to replace me. But I have realized that in doing that, in being angry, I would only hurt myself and you guys. You have every right to want more children, and you shouldn't have to worry about tiptoeing around my feelings in order to do that. Before...I was wrong. I still had a lot of emotions to work through and I handled things badly. I wish I could take that back. But now, I'm different. I am grateful to be a part of this family and I will never take that for granted."

Snow felt her eyes water up, and she quickly wiped them. Her daughter was handling this news so incredibly well, and now she wondered why she had ever been scared to tell Emma. She had been so busy convincing herself that her eldest daughter was going to hate her that she never stopped to think that that might not happen. And here Emma was, being so understanding and loving about everything and Snow felt like her heart was going to burst. Her daughter was absolutely incredible. Her daughter had every right to feel replaced, and yet she didn't. Her daughter had chosen to not only support them on having another child, she had chosen to embrace and adore her baby sister. Snow had always loved her child more than anything in all the worlds, but right now, words couldn't even describe how much she truly loved Emma.

"You...are amazing, you know?" Snow said as she continued to wipe at her constantly tear filled eyes.

"Yeah, I do. You never let me forget it."

"That's because you never should. You are my child, and it is my job to make sure that you know how much you are worth. To your father and I, Emma, you are everything. You are our world. To your son, you are his hero and his best friend. He needs you and he loves you. To August, you give his life hope and meaning again. You give him purpose, and that man would crawl through Hell for you if he had to. And, to your sister, you will be who she looks up to more than anyone. I know without a shadow of a doubt that she will grow to become a wonderful young woman because of the influence you will have on her. You are so special to your family, Emma, and we would be lost without you in it."

Emma's face had fallen, and there was something in her eyes that Snow had never seen before. She couldn't place it, but she had a feeling that something was bothering her daughter. She wanted to comment on it more than anything, but her maternal instincts screamed at her not to. She had slowly learned to read her daughter, and Emma was not looking to share whatever was going through her head. Snow did not intend to forget this, however, because as a mother, she would always be concerned for her child.

Her daughter ducked her head and wiped at her eyes a few times, and Snow passed her a tissue. "I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you, you did just wake up from a coma," she told her as she brushed some of Emma's hair out of her face.

"It's okay, just a lot of emotions to deal with. It's exhausting."

That wasn't what was bothering her, but Snow wouldn't bring that up. "Well, how about we liven things up. We can talk about whatever you want."

Emma nodded and gave her mother a grateful smile. "Alright, let's talk more about my new sister. Tell me where the name 'Isabelle' comes from."

"Belle told me that that was her real name. 'Belle' is a nick name from her mother that has stuck for her entire life. We wanted to name this little girl after the person who saved her life...and your father and I knew that Isabelle was to be part of her name from the moment we heard it."

"It's beautiful." Emma bit her lip and took a deep breath before asking her next question. "Have you built her nursery yet?"

The weight in the question was obvious to Snow. Emma said that she didn't feel replaced, and that may be true, but she would always have a little bit of hesitation, even if she hid it well. Emma was always going to have to wrestle with the realization that this child was getting everything that she didn't, and it was Snow's job to make sure that she always felt completely loved.

However, she was still nervous about this new reveal to her daughter.

"Well...we bought a house. Your father found it in the paper one morning and we fell in love with it. We knew that we needed the room, so we bought it and moved in a month ago."

"You found a new home?" Emma tried to hide the flicker of hurt in her eyes, but she couldn't fool her mother.

Snow shook her head. "Our home is wherever our family is. This is just a house. We have kept the apartment for you if you would like. Your father and I thought that if you still wanted it, it could be yours. We recognize that you are an adult and might want your own place, so you have that option. But if you want to stay with us, we have a room for you."

Emma's eyes lightened up. "I want to stay with you guys. The apartment...it was my first real home and I love it there, but you're right. Home is where family is and I am not ready to give that up."

"Good, because we are giving you the entire basement."

Emma's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Snow said with a nod. "Once again,your father and I recognize that you are an adult and you need your own space. The basement is yours. It isn't huge, but it's bigger than all the bedrooms. There is a full bathroom down there, and while the rest is intended to be a sort of living room, we have set your bed up on one side and a couch and tv on the other. It's nothing special, but it kind of like a mini apartment." Snow cleared her throat. "Which...if you hate it we can change everything. But, your father and I have not started your sister's nursery because we wanted to finish your room first. You never got to spend a night in the nursery we built for you, and we wanted to give it another go. We wanted you to have a place in our home that was completely yours and a reflection of how much we want for you."

"You...you built me a room?"

"Yes. And this time, Emma, you'll get to use it."

"I'd like that." Emma smiled at her mother. "All this...this togetherness, this is what I missed the most. I've been fighting to get back here because this is where I belong. I belong with my family, and I will never take that for granted again."


David had never had to fight his wife so hard on something before. Sure, they argued and had had some toxic disagreements, but usually they each saw the light. But not now. He should have expected this from the most stubborn woman in the world.

"I can spend the night here with her. I don't want to leave her side, you can't make me," Snow told him as she crossed her arms in front of her.

He ran his fingers through his hair as a nurse quickly passed him. He would have liked to find somewhere private for this particular discussion, but this hospital hallway would have to do.

"Snow...you are eight months pregnant and need your rest. I cannot let you spend the night here, let alone sitting in a chair."

"But I am her mother and I don't want to let her out of my sight-"

He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "I will be here all night. Nothing is going to happen to her, not on my watch. She is my child too, and I will stay with her and watch over her. Can you please just let that be enough?"

She locked her jaw and looked to the ground. "I don't want to go. I need to be sure, for myself, that she's okay. I'd never be able to sleep at home because I'd just be worried the entire time. Can you understand that?"

He sighed and moved his hands to cup her cheeks. David tilted her head up so that she was looking at him once more. "I know how you feel, believe me, I do. But it will do you no good fighting me on this. I will stand out here as long as it takes and bicker with you because I cannot let you stay here. You need to go home, Snow, and you need to understand why."

"I understand why you think I need to go home, but I think you're wrong," she shot back as she stepped away from him. "I will be fine, I just need to be with her. We lost her again, and I have to make sure she is still with us in the morning."

David pinched the bridge of his nose. His wife was the most difficult woman alive. "Snow, I need you to take care of our unborn child. That is a job that I cannot do, no matter how much I wish. I can, however, look after and protect Emma tonight. I am not asking you to give up your role as her mother, I am just asking you to work with me as a team. Our job as parents is to know when to split up the responsibilities in order to work together. I know you need to be with her...but for tonight, can't I be enough?"

She tilted her head to the side and sighed. "You are enough, and you are a wonderful father...but I need to be a mother right now. I just do."

He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. Even though she wasn't very happy with him, he felt her sink into his embrace and and hold him back. "I know what you're feeling. Believe me, I do. Our daughter needs you, I know that. But...it's okay to let go for a few hours. If you hold on too tight, nothing good can come of it. It is alright for you to take a step back and leave her in someone else's care for a moment. You need to think about our second child and yourself. They need to be taken care of too. So, I just want you do go home, get some sleep, and then you can come right back here in the morning. Alright?"

Snow was silent, and he could almost feel her disapproval. He didn't expect her to be happy about his request, he just wanted her to see things his way. She wasn't thinking straight right now, not that he blamed her. Their child had just woken up from and eight month long coma, and he hadn't expected his wife to act any different. They had lost Emma twice now, and he understood why Snow was having such a hard time letting her baby into someone else's care. He painfully remembers the first time she had placed their daughter in his sole protection, and he is haunted every day by the sound of his wife crying out for her minutes-old baby. He, more than anyone, understands what Snow is going through. He feels it too. But for now, he is the only one who is being rational, and all he needs her to at least accept his request, even if she doesn't agree with it.

"Alright," she whispered as her face nestled into his shoulder. "I'll go home for the night. But I'm coming back first thing in the morning."

David kissed her cheek before cupping the back of her head with his hand and holding her tight. "Thank you, Snow. I know this isn't easy for you."

"It's not," she told him before pulling back. "Just...keep her safe, Charming."

He leaned his forehead against hers and placed his fingers under her chin. "Always."

After convincing Snow to retreat home for the night, the rest was easy. Henry gave his mother a bear hug, while August opted to kiss her forehead. Snow's goodbye was long and drawn out, but he gave her her space and let her say whatever she needed in order to make it through the night. Before he knew it, he was driving home with three exhausted people in the car. This hadn't exactly been the most mellow of days, and it showed. Henry passed out on August's shoulder mere minutes into the drive home, and David was forced to pry the kid away when he dropped the man off at his own home. He ended up having to carry Henry up to his bed, and while the boy was heavy, he didn't mind.

By the time he finished tucking his grandson in, he discovered that Snow had already changed and was moving to retire to bed. She didn't look happy at all, but he had accepted that she would feel this way. He gave her a few quick kisses before making sure that she was in bed, and he wished that he could stay here with her to make sure she got some sleep. He knew she wouldn't, so he decided to focus on the task at hand, his daughter.

He changed and grabbed a few necessities, and soon he was headed right back to the hospital. They hadn't been gone long, but by the time he returned, Emma was fast asleep in her bed, and she looked as peaceful as ever.

David sank into the chair next to her bed and got comfortable. He would be awake all night. He wouldn't rest, not while he had someone precious to watch over.

He decided to get some work done, but he only got through two files before Emma began to toss and turn in bed. He immediately set his folders on the nightstand and shifted closer to her. She kept fussing, and he reached out and lightly grabbed her fingers. "It's okay, Emma, your dad is here."

She almost immediately calmed, bringing a smile to his face. When he tried to move back, however, she tightened her grip on his fingers. It looked like he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, not that he minded.

He didn't know what compelled him to, but he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her temple. He was instantly brought back to the first time he had done that. It should have been the first of many, but minutes later, that dream had been shattered.

The first time Snow's screams of pain had mixed with cries of his newborn child, his heart had melted. He had loved her for months and had spoken to her countless times, but that sound had changed everything. Doc had immediately passed her to him, and that moment and that feeling of holding his child changed him. He had become a father. He had someone to protected and nurture and adore, and he loved her so much. She had fit in his two hands, but he still had felt like he was carrying his entire world. When he had kissed her forehead, he had been certain that that had been true love's kiss, just as much as the one that had woken his wife. He loved his daughter, and for that moment, it was just them, and she had him wrapped around his finger.

He only wished that that hadn't been taken away minutes later.

As he sat here now and watched her sleep, he couldn't help but grieve for the little girl he never got to know. Losing Emma for the past few months had only made that pain more raw. He was supposed to protect her, and yet, he had lost her twice.

"Never again," he murmured to her sleeping form. "We will not lose you again. You are here to stay, Emma, and I will not let this family go another day without you. I swear to the gods, you will never be lost again."

He reached forward and brushed some hair out of her eyes. She was just as beautiful as her mother. She was his perfect daughter, and he couldn't be more proud.

"Everything I do, I do it for you. That's my job. My job was to be there for you, and for the first part of your life, I wasn't. I let you down when I put you in that wardrobe, and I couldn't be more sorry. You grew up without knowing how wonderful and special you are, and I will never forgive myself for that. All I can do now is try to make it up to you, even though I know I never can. Every day I try to be the father that you need, whatever that is, but more importantly, the father you deserve. I wish I knew what I was doing, but I don't. I don't know if I'm a great parent, but I really am doing my best, and I hope you know that. I don't know if I will always say or do the right thing, but no matter what, I'll be here for you. And at the end of the day, I love you more than you will ever know and more than you will ever understand. I will always protect you. I will always cherish you. And more than anything, no matter how lost you are, I will always find you. Because, Emma, you are everything to me. I adore you. I love you."

"Thanks, Dad," Emma mumbled as a small smile spread across her face.

He gave a small gasp, as her response had startled him. "I thought you were asleep."

"I woke up a few minutes ago, but I wanted to listen to you for a bit," she said, her eyes still closed. "And for the record, I love you too, and you're a great dad." She gave his fingers a squeeze before opening her eyes and shifting to a sitting position.

"Hey, it's late. Go back to sleep. I'll be here."

She shook her head. "I don't want to sleep. I didn't mean to drift off before. Yeah, I'm tired, but I can't go back to sleep. Not after what I just went through."

David nodded as she spoke. He understood where she was coming from, because this wasn't his first time dealing with something like this.

"After your mother woke up from the sleeping curse, she had no desire to sleep for days. As soon as I proposed we went and set up camp, and by the time we were finished, night had fallen. We said goodnight to one another and went to our separate tents, and not even an hour later she woke me up. If it was anyone else, she would have put a face on, but not with me. She didn't want to go back to sleep, so we didn't. We stayed up all night talking. Later on, when she did sleep, she had horrible nightmares and would wake up screaming. It was a side effect of the curse. When that happened, I would light a candle for her, and I told her that it would capture her nightmares. Believe it or not, she always slept better when I lit her a candle."

He let go of his daughter's hand and picked his bag up off of the floor. He noticed the curiosity on her face as he rummaged through it. "What are you looking for?" she quietly asked.

He gave her a smile as he pulled a candle out and set it on her nightstand. He proceeded to light it, and the two of them watched the flame flicker before he turned back to her. "There, that will chase your nightmares away. Plus, I'm not going to leave your side all night," he told her with as much love in his voice as he could fit in.

Emma smiled at him as she shrugged her shoulders. "I'm wide awake. Why don't we just talk for a bit?"

David knew she needed her rest, but he could never pass up an opportunity like this. "Alright, what would you like to know?"

She looked away as she thought, and he couldn't help but notice how much her expression resembled his own mother's. After a moment she glanced back up at him and grinned. "I would like to know why you never wanted me to call you by your real name. Henry told me that you were posing as your brother, but why did you never correct me when I used his name?"

He shifted in his seat as he itched his stubble. There was no easy way to answer this question, because he didn't have a good response. He wished he had a reason behind posing as his brother in front of his own family, but now that he thought about it, he didn't. He wished that he could go back and change that, because Emma deserved to know her father for who he really was. It had been unfair to her to not truly be himself, and he regretted that.

"Your mother and I agreed long ago to keep up that appearance. She didn't want people to look at me differently. I was standing in for a prince, and telling the truth would break the trust of her people. They needed someone they could rely on and believe in, so being James became my life. Your mother was the only one that knew, and eventually my brother's identity stuck. I was him, just a better version."

"You still didn't answer my question."

David sighed. "I was posing as James in front of everyone except your mother. It just became easier to keep that up rather than juggle between. I still acted as myself, I just held a different name. I should have told you, I know that. I guess that deep down I thought that you would feel betrayed if you knew the truth."

"Henry told me a long time ago who you really were. I just wanted to hear it from you," she quietly said.

"I should have been honest, I'm sorry. Can you forgive me? From now on, it's not a secret anymore, and I won't keep anymore secrets from you."

Emma bit her lip as she grabbed his hand once more. "You're my father, and I trust you. I'm not mad that you kept the truth from me, and I understand why. I think that no more secrets is a good deal to make." She held out her other hand, and he slowly shook it. "There. It's a deal."

"It's a deal," he promised. No more secrets. No more.

"Good."

"You're one of the reasons I came clean, you know. There are a lot of reasons why I thought it was the right thing to do, but in the end, you set an example for me. You inspired me to be my best self, so that it is what I did."

She gave a small laugh. "How did I inspire you? I've never revealed that I've been posing as my long lost twin before."

David couldn't help but chuckle. "That you know of," he teased, earning a pointed glare from his daughter. "What? I doubt you remember your birth...we could have easily traded your identical twin with Rumple in exchange for a farm. You don't know your mother's and my needs..."

Emma lightly pushed his arm as she shook her head. "You are such a dad."

"I try," he proudly stated with a smirk, earning anther laugh from his daughter. He would never tire of that sound. "And, if you must know, your actions are far more inspiring than you think."

"Oh really? What did I do to be so influential?"

"When you were trying to become sheriff, you came clean about how Mr. Gold set that fire that won you a lot of praise. You didn't want people to think you were something that you were not. You took the hard path, but you did the right thing. That is what made me want to be my best self. It should be you looking up to me as your father, but really, I look up to you." His voice had grown serious as he looked straight not her eyes. He needed her to know how proud he was of her. He needed her to understand that.

Emma has grown quiet, but she never broke his gaze. After he finished speaking she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "Why did you become mayor in the first place? Did you feel like that was the right thing to do?"

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I...I don't know why I did it. When the election was announced, Thomas suggested it and your mother agreed with him. I never really stopped to think why, I just went for it. I'm glad that I am in charge of the well-being of these people once more, because I genuinely like this role, but at the end of the day, I did it because it made sense. Prince Charming as a leader once more, who doesn't like the sound of that?"

"So, you never wanted to be mayor?"

"I did...I just never had a true reason why. It's something that kind of fell in my lap and I ran with it."

"That's what happened when Graham asked me to be his deputy. Now look at me. A Savior and the Sheriff."

"And you excel at both," he stated, a proud smile on his lips. "You should hold your head up high, Emma. You've accomplished so much and you've grown into a remarkable woman. I count myself lucky every day to be able to call you my daughter."

She blushed and looked away. She was still learning how to accept limitless praise, and David knew that. One day she wouldn't shy away when hearing how wonderful she is, and he couldn't wait to see that moment.

She looked back up at him. "Dad?"

"Yes, Emma?"

"Thank you for staying here tonight."

"Anytime."

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

She bit her lip, and he could tell that there was something she wanted to ask him, she was just holding herself back. After a moment, the little girl that needed her father won. "Will you make sure that I don't go back there? Back to where I was during my coma?"

"And where would that be?" he asked, his curiosity peaked.

She stalled for a moment before she started to answer, and it gave him the impression that she was maybe keeping something to herself. "I wasn't anywhere, just away. It took me a long time to get home and I missed you guys a lot. I don't want to go back because I don't want to risk not coming back to you guys. I want to stay."

He had a few questions for her, but he opted to keep them to himself. After all, if emma wasn't sharing something, she had a reason to. He hoped that one day she would never shy away, but that was just who his daughter was. Instead of making an inquiry, he tucked some hair behind her ear. "I have fought off knights with you in my arms, Emma. I am willing to protect you from everything. I'll be here all night, and I'll watch over you."

She leaned forward and pulled him into a hug. Having his daughter initiate this would never cease to make his heart soar. "Thank you, Dad."

He moved his hand up to cup the back of her head, just like when she was a tiny baby. "Anytime, Emma."


August thought that he would have to fight Snow off for a chance to talk to Emma alone, but luckily his girlfriend's mother had been quite understanding. Sure, she was right outside, but she had allowed them some privacy. He felt like that was accomplishment enough speaking as the woman hadn't left her daughter's side since the sun came up.

As soon as the door closed behind Snow, he turned to Emma with a large smile across his face.

"Well well, alone at last," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"So it seems," he murmured as he slowly made his way across the room. Once he reached her , he leaned his crutches against the wall and took a seat right next to her on the bed. "Now, where were we?"

She reached forward and grabbed his shirt, pulling him towards her. Her lips fell against his, fitting together so perfectly. She sighed contently into the kiss as his hands trailed up her arms only to weave into her hair. She pulled away to catch her breath, only to crash back into him moments later.

He loved how enthusiastic she was being, and he was happy to meet every movement of her mouth and tongue with motions of his own. He had never known someone like this before, and he doubted if he ever would. After all, he was completely convinced that she was his one and only soulmate. And, judging from Emma's eagerness around him now, he was optimistic that she felt the same.

Emma pulled back, her hand still gripping his shirt. Her other had moved to his neck, and he felt her fingers digging into his skin. It was as if she needed him, and that she was holding onto him for dear life. She licked her lips as she rested her forehead against his. "The second I'm not completely sore all over, we are totally getting under the sheets."

She winked at him, and he laughed. "Is sex the only thing that you've missed about me?"

"I have missed you and everything about you and not a moment went by that I didn't want you. But...it has been eight months...and I need you. As soon as possible."

He smiled and placed a few kisses along her jaw. "Good. I was beginning to think that I don't offer much to this relationship other than keeping you completely satisfied."

She chuckled as her hands moved to the top of his neck. Her fingers stroked the stubble on his chin, and he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. He had missed her. He had missed these moments where he felt her skin against his and it made his pulse quicken. The moments when it was just the two of them, and nothing else seemed to matter.

"I love you," she told him, her voice low but thick with emotion. "It taken me a long time to really admit that about someone, but it's true. I love you so much. My time away made me realize that."

He nuzzled the tip of her nose with his own, making her bite her lip. "Well, it's a good thing that I'm here for the long haul. You don't have to worry, we won't be separated ever again. Not if I have any say about it. I love you too, Em."

"I want you. I want a life with you. I realized that. My heart is yours and yours alone, and I am ready to love you for the rest of my life."

He kissed her, and they each smiled into the kiss. "You, Emma Swan, have my heart. Completely. And I can't wait to see where our future takes us. Because we are going to have the best life together...simply because no matter what, you'll be by my side and I'll be by yours."

"August?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't jump in front of magic ever again. I don't want to hold you in my arms like that. I thought...I thought I had lost you, and I can't go through that again." Her voice was thick with emotion, and when he looked at her, he saw complete fear in her eyes. He could tell how shaken up she really was over what had happened, but that didn't mean he would change what he did.

"Em, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you. I did that to save you, and I'd do it again if I had to."

She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. "There's only one of you, and that needs to be kept safe. I'm not strong enough to lose you, and I don't ever want to."

He held her in his arms as he rested his chin on top of her head. He would gladly give his life for her, even though separating was the last thing he wanted to do. But, at the end of the day, he felt it was his duty to make her happy. And if saving her life was how to do that, he wouldn't hesitate. He had lost so much in his life, and now that he found her, he would cherish her and love her so much that she wouldn't know what to do. That meant a lot of things, and now that she was home, he intended to spend every minute of his life showing her how loved she was. She had given his life meaning again, and he would never take that for granted. She was his world, and he was never going to let her forget it.

"You aren't going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good, because neither am I."


Henry had been forced to go to school against his will. Not by his grandparents, but by his mother.

Grams and Gramps had told him that he could take the day off and spend it at the hospital. After all, it's not every day that his mother wakes from and eight month long coma. He agreed with them, and he thought it was fair. But as soon as he walked through the door to Emma's room, she had shooed him away.

She had said something about being a good mom, and he was ordered to go to school.

She used to be so fun. Not that he loved her any less, but still. One day of school was nothing compared to a day with his mother. But she didn't listen.

As soon as the bell rang to end the day, he sprinted towards the hospital. He made it there in record time, and even though he was wheezing as he hurried down the hallways, he was excited. He was going to get to spend time with his mom.

Her face lit up when he burst though the door. He skidded to a stop right by her bed, being careful to avoid hitting his grandma. "I did it. I went to school and I even tried to pay attention. But you owe me big time," he told her between his gulps for air.

Emma laughed as she held her arms out to him. "Get over here. I'm proud of you, kid."

He threw his arms around her, and as soon as he broke the hug, his grandma offered him her chair by Emma's bed. He happily sat down and scooted closer to his mom while Grams gave them their privacy,

Henry pulled his book out of his bag and set it on the bed next to Emma. "I read to you, you know. A lot."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Henry."

"I also went to the library a lot and did research for Operation Lion."

"And what was that?"

He gave her a pointed look. "Duh. Getting you to wake up. Belle and August were in on it. Belle because she helped me gather intel, and August because he covered for me. I didn't want anyone else in on it, because it was my thing, you know? It was my mission and my turn to be the hero."

She reached forward and ruffled his hair before placing her hand on his cheek. "I'm very grateful that you tried so hard to get me to wake up. Really, I am. But I want you to know that it wasn't your responsibitly to make that happen. You shouldn't have had all that weight on your shoulders, kid."

"It's alright. It gave me something to do, and something to think about," he said with a shrug. "And even though I didn't make you wake up, I still worked hard. I deem that operation as a success."

"Good." Emma was quiet for a moment, and he could tell that there was something she wanted to ask him. "Henry...a lot happened while I was gone and I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry for that. But I'm here now, and I want to know how you're dealing with things."

He didn't really know where to start, because a lot had happened. Luckily, after catching up with her yesterday, he had developed a list of things that she would want to hear about, so he decided to just roll with it.

"Okay, here it goes. I'm excited to be a nephew but I was weirded out at first. Didn't like the news of the baby, but now I think it will be kind of cool. I'm mad that Gramps is mayor, but I'm glad he is going by his real name. I like the new house but I miss the apartment. I'm sad you missed my birthday, but it could have been worse. Grams made it a good day. I am glad to be done with elementary school and I like junior high so far. I like hanging out with August and I really would like him to be my dad. And...I'm happy you're home. I missed you. I think that's all," he finished. He took a second to catch his breath, mainly because he had being talking fast while he filled his mom in.

Emma's face had fallen, and he wondered what part she was sad about. "Henry..."

"What? Did I miss something?"

She gave him her mom eyes, a look that she was starting to get really good at. "Henry, something big happened and we need to talk about it. I know that you know what I'm referring to."

"Nope. I covered everything."

"Henry...we need to talk about Regina's death."

He became quiet and started to shake his head. He didn't want to talk about it. That had been a really hard time, and he didn't want to bring that up again. He still had a lot of emotions when it came to his adoptive mother, and he didn't want to lay it all out in the open. He was twelve years old and he could handle it by himself. Getting Mom involved would just make things even more difficult than they already were, and he didn't want to do that.

"That's okay, we don't have to," he told her while he avoided her stare.

"Henry."

"Really, it's fine."

"Henry, no it is not," she sternly said, getting his attention. She was never like this, so she must really mean it. He guessed that he didn't really have a choice, because if Emma wanted to talk about it, they would.

"But...I don't want to," he mumbled. She reached out and tilted his chin up so that he was looking at her.

Emma looked so concerned, and he couldn't help but want to talk to her about it. She was just easy to talk to, and she always had been. "Henry, something tragic happened. The woman that raised you passed away, and I need to know how you feel about it. As your mother, I have to be aware of your feelings. I'm trying to be a better mom, and this is part of it. So please...please just talk to me."

He couldn't really say no to that.

"Okay..." he started, but he didn't really know where to go from there. He figured he would start from the beginning. "Grams took me to her funeral. Not very many people were there. Grams was sad because Regina was her stepmother, and I was sad because there used to be good times. Grams gets it. We both love her despite the horrible things she's done."

"Did talking to your grandmother help?"

"Yeah...she said it was okay for me to be sad and to feel bad. It was good to know that she understood. I felt really bad for a while, but Grams said that I shouldn't."

Emma looked puzzled. "Why did you feel bad? It wasn't your fault, I hope you know that, Henry."

"I know. I feel bad about shutting her out and pushing her away. I still loved her, I just wanted her to be good and she never knew that. Grams and I talked a lot about that, and she told me that I didn't have to feel that way. I try not to think about that too much. I know I made a mistake. Instead, Grams says to think about the good times, and that helps whenever I get sad."

"Your grandmother is a very smart lady. Are you sad a lot?"

"Before and after the funeral I was, but after that it has started to get better day by day. I'm okay now."

His mom chewed on her lip before taking his hand. "Henry, there is something you do need to know. Regina's death...it is my fault. I...I...I am the one who killed her," she admitted, her voice small and shaky.

Henry's eyes widened as he stared at his mother. He hadn't known that.

He pulled his hand away and stood up. "I have a lot of homework...I need to go," he told her as he picked his backpack up and started to move towards the door.

Emma's eyes were filled with tears as she reached out to him. "Henry, I'm so sorry. Please come back, please come talk to me."

He pushed open the door and left. His grandmother said something to him, but he ignored her. He just had to get out of this place.

He didn't know what to think. His birthmother had killed his stepmother. Someone he loved had killed another person that he loved. He had always known that Emma and Regina hated each other, but he had never thought that it would go this far. He had been the one to label Regina as the Evil Queen, and after that, everything had spiraled out of control. Emma had taken him because he hadn't wanted to be with Regina. He had lived in a home where they hated his stepmother. And while he had been upset with her, he had never hated her. But he had never thought that he was living with someone capable of killing the woman that had raised him. Emma was good and he loved her, but he didn't know that she could do this. He didn't know that she was a killer.

As Henry ran home, he didn't know what to think. All he knew was that he could be furious or accepting of what Emma had done. He just didn't know which side he would choose.


Emma barely had a minute to herself, not that she minded. She liked the constant companionship. She liked being surrounded by the people she had missed more than words could describe.

She felt like she was truly home, finally.

But in her few minutes that she had to herself, rare as the were, she thought through where she had been and all that she had learned. She thought about her late family, the ones she had grown to love. And she thought about the one job that she had to do.

She had originally planned on staying alive for a few weeks and getting closure. Graham had wanted her to live, but as soon as she had seen her family's faces, she knew that staying would only make her grow more attached. She had to leave before it hurt too much, even though it was already the hardest thing she would ever have to do.

But...talking to them and seeing their love for her made her want to stay more than anything. She had just found love in her life, and a lot of it. How could she ever want to give that up before she had to?

She wanted to be there as long as she could before she had to sacrifice herself. She had to at least try for her own happy ending, because she deserved that much. It hadn't taken her long, but she had seen the potential that time had. And now, time was her best friend. Time was the best gift that she had ever been giving. Because of time, she had a chance to be happy and loved as she deserved...as she had missed out on for years. Time would give her her very own happy ending.

Emma had made that decision, but with it, she had made a few.

She would not tell them that her mind had been elsewhere while her body stayed still.

She would not tell them that she had been in the land of the dead.

She would not tell them that she had been with their dead loved ones.

She would not tell them that she had met her lost siblings.

She would not tell them that she had interacted and gotten closure with Regina, the Former Evil Queen.

She would not tell them that she had learned and accepted her role as the Savior.

She would not tell them that she would be dying.

Emma had decided to live, but she had also decided to die. And no one would ever know. That was her secret, and she could not burden anyone else with it. After all, her happy ending wouldn't be the same if her family knew that their time with her was running short.

No. All Emma wanted was a normal, happy family.

And so, her happy ending consisted of living her life with a deep, dark secret.

Yes, that chapter was mainly fluff, but I haves missed all of these interactions and I wanted to touch on Emma's relationships with everyone. I will say, now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, I am ready to get this plot moving. Buckle up!

For some reason my chapters just keep getting longer and longer...this is by far the longest one to date. Woohoo!

Let me know what you thought! As always, thanks for reading! :)