Extra space. It was amazing how much one took for granted how much space one had when NOT living in a one room house with a two adults and a newborn baby.

But now that the new room was built. Emma sat against the far corner just admiring it. It was small…smaller than a normal room at a normal house from her world but there was SPACE. One could put a bed in here. And a table and chair. That was probably it but her mother would have a place to call her own.

The door opened, Jefferson walked in holding his three month old daughter, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Emma looked at the empty room, "Just enjoying some solitude. It's been quite crowded."

"I could leave," Jefferson looked over his shoulder.

"No," Emma gestured for him to come in, "It's fine.

He bounced his little girl gentle and then slid down the wall until his butt was planted right beside her. Grace shifted but didn't wake up.

"I'll build a room for her," he promised, "When she's bigger."

"This one's fine for now," Emma rested her head on his shoulder.

"Funny though. Enjoying the silence in your mother's room."

Emma smiled, "Just needed a bit of a break is all. It's been a rough couple of months."

"Hm," he rested his head on hers. Cabin fever set in several times. The overcrowding and the heat made everyone a little tense but now that Snow was getting her own room and they would have the main one with Grace…things would be better.

Everyone was just tired. Temperatures were cooling off…Jefferson figured winter would be here soon. It never got cold but it did get manageable. That would sooth some tensions as well.

It wasn't big fights. Just tiffs over little things combined with the fact that Snow really didn't want to be here. She worried about Grace learning to walk and them being so near a beach. She was only two months still…they had plenty of time, but time went quickly and she'd be walking before they knew it.

Emma smiled at her daughter and moved the blanket from her face, "Hi Grace."

Grace opened her eyes and stared at her mother. Her eyes grew and then her eyebrows furrowed like she was going to cry from being disturbed.

"Hey, hey, hey," Jefferson whispered and moved her so she was looking at him, "There'll be none of that!"

Grace relaxed her gaze and then gave her father a wide toothless smile.

Jefferson's eyes grew and he gave her a goofy grin, "Did you see that?! She smiled at me!"

Emma grinned down at her daughter. It was the first time she'd done that to where they could see, "I saw."

"She smiled at me and not you!"

Emma's smile fell, "I don't…think that's accurate."

He stood up, "I'm telling your mom that she likes me more."

Emma bolted after him, "She's my mom to tell!"

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Three Months Later

It was raining, thank God. Emma sat up with her back against the headboard and listened. Jefferson had opened the windows to get it cooler…hopefully it meant a far colder front. Emma wasn't sure how much longer she could stand this heat so many days in a row. It was a wonder Grace wasn't in a rash every day but somehow she had adjusted to it. She loved the heat.

Emma wished she had that child's enthusiasm about being outside.

But she didn't seem to object to the chill. It wasn't even cold, it was just cooler. And Emma loved it. She wanted to savor it, so she and her mother were sitting up together. Jefferson had fallen asleep an hour ago. Emma sat against the bed with Grace sleeping on her chest (She smiled more at Jefferson but she loved cuddling with Emma). Her mother sat in a chair.

"I wonder what's going on at home right now," Snow whispered.

Emma rubbed her daughter's back, "Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest?

Snow looked over at her daughter, "Does it matter?"

Emma shook her head, "Guess not."

Snow looked back out one of the windows, "I miss your father…so much."

Emma reached out and took her mother's hand. She had always felt guilty…since she'd decided to be happy with Jefferson, she had been…somewhat content with her life. It didn't help that Rumpelstiltskin never felt far behind. However her mother…it had to hurt her…knowing that Emma wanted to stay while Charming was home. It hurt her seeing Emma happy with a child knowing that she never had these chances with Emma.

It made Emma almost embarrassed that she wanted to settle down and be a mom because she knew that inside, her own mother was homesick and hurting.

"When I was pregnant with you…you moved around so much and you'd only settle down when it rained. I think that you could sense the turmoil going on."

"Or maybe I was an active baby."

Her mom smiled, "It's true that you've never stayed still since I've known you."

Emma gave a tender smile back at her mom.

"I'm sorry I've been…moody these past few months."

"It's the heat…and the homesickness. I know mom, you don't have to apologize."

"You deserve better than a depressed mother, "Snow looked at her, "I just…I feel so tired of running."

Emma squeezed her mom's hand, "So do we."

"I know," Snow rubbed her hand.

"I'll talk to Jefferson about moving again soon," Emma told her, "When the baby starts walking."

"Emma…you don't have to obey your worried mother, I know you'll keep an eye out for Grace to make sure she doesn't get away."

"I just don't feel that safe here," she told her mom. "One of those mermaids washed up on the beach yesterday and it looked like it'd been in a fight. Jefferson told me that they do that sometimes to lure people over there to grab them…I don't want Grace near that when she can walk. One turned back and that's all it takes to lose your kid. Jefferson agrees with me. It's just the problem of…where we have to go."

"Well surely we've dropped from Rumpelstiltskin's radar by now."

"Or he's even more frustrated and he has even more spies looking for us," Emma rubbed her daughter's back as she stirred, "The question is… 'Where do we go that's safe?'"

Grace yawned and looked around the room. Emma adjusted her so that Grace could see her, "Hi Grace, did you have a good nap. Are you hungry?"

"MAMA!"

Emma froze. Jefferson had been trying to get her to say 'papa' as soon as she was born. But she'd just…

Snow was sitting up, "Did she just-?"

"I think so," Emma grabbed the pillow out from under her husband and hit him with it, "Jefferson, wake up!"

He kicked the covers and sat up, "Where's Rumpel?"

"Grace said her first word!"

Jefferson was immediately lucid and pressed against Emma's side, "What was it?"

"Mama!" Emma said proudly.

Jefferson's scowled and then turned back over on his side of the bed, "I didn't hear it! It doesn't count."

"MAMA!" Grace said again, proud of herself.

"Nope," Jefferson slammed the pillow over his head, "Didn't hear it!"