"We are going to get a Cesar salad and maybe some spinach!" David declares grinning.

Emma's eyes pop up from behind the waffle house menu. "What? No!" she gasps. "Oh, you are just kidding. I want the waffle with the chocolate ice cream and sprinkles and a cherry on top..." Emma's order goes on and on.

Snow smiles at David from across the table. After Emma's quite reasonable complaint that they spent way too much time on Ella's case and they didn't always come home for dinner, they planned several activities with Emma including this two day visit in Water-world, the famous Underwater vacation resort on the edge of Atlantica, King Triton's kingdom. And Emma is absolutely ecstatic. For the past two days they've ridden seahorses and gotten mermaid makeovers- Emma's hair is streaked purple and pink, Snow has a few pearls threaded in her hair and David is wearing a cool merman hat. He refused to get blue streaks in his hair no matter how hard Emma tried, to Snow's great amusement. They've also and gone on bumper boat rides and incredible squid roller coasters and watched underwater jellyfish light up the ocean at night and now it's the very end of their weekend and Emma requested they visit the Waffle house one more time.

"I couldn't possibly eat another bite," Snow declares and David laughs and orders an extra scoop of ice cream on his waffle because he suspects that Snow might end up eating half of it.

"I'm serious," Snow tries but once the food is on the table she shrugs. "Maybe just one bite... We are going to have to catch our ride soon," she checks the time in her magic mirror.

"We are good, our ride doesn't live for another forty minutes," David replies.

"Can't we stay one more night and watch the Jelly fish lights?" Emma pleads.

"We could," David nods, "but then if we do that, you are going to have to miss school tomorrow and then I will hesitate to plan things for the next weekend. I can't be the cause of you missing school..."

"Never mind," Emma is quick to reply. "What are we doing next weekend?"

"Can't tell you yet," Snow sings. "But it's going to be amazing..."

"What if someone got lost in one of the rides and they hired you guys to find them!" Emma brightens up again. "We could spend the whole week looking at every single ride..."

"Oh, if that happened they'd have to shut down the park and evacuate everyone. I don't think this place would be all that fun with all the rides closed and everyone gone..." Snow replies.

Emma sighs and takes another bite of her waffle. She is going to school tomorrow. There is no getting out of it.

"Oh, don't be sad," David elbows Emma gently and she elbows him back. "We had so much fun, didn't we?" David pulls out the magic mirror and shows Emma a few pictures of them enjoying the water slides.

"You know from this angle you kind of look like a mermaid..." he says showing her a picture he must have taken by accident. It's just a picture of an elbow, nothing else.

"Do I?" Emma is intrigued.

Snow catches David's eyes and smiles brightly at him. It's been only a few months since they found each other and yet, his bond with Emma is so strong and Emma's never been happier. And Snow leans back on her chair, inhaling deeply. In this perfect moment she feels peaceful, in harmony with the whole realm.

"Do you want the last bite?" David pushes his plate towards her.

"But I already had too much..." she protests mildly because the pistachio ice cream is half melted, just the way she likes it.

"It's yours," he smirks watching her as she puts the last spoonful in her mouth her enjoyment quite obvious.

And then she spots someone in the distance and she frowns. David turns to see where who she is looking at. "Something wrong?"

"It's probably nothing, just Blue Knights, doing their job," she tries her best to sound unconcerned .

There are three Blue Knights heading towards them.

Snow raises her eyebrows. What if Emma was right, what if Triton's kingdom has some sort of emergency and they ask for their help with a case?

"Sir Nolan?" the Blue Knight walk up straight to David. "Sir, David Nolan? Would you come with us please?"

"What is this about?" David asks casting a quick glance Snow's way.

"Would you follow us outside quietly please Sir?" the Knight tries again.

David stands up.

Snow shakes her head. Don't!

"Please Sir," the Knight is insistent, his hand already on the tip of his dagger.

"What is going on?" Snow is standing up, her eyes blazing. "What is this about?"

"Are you sure you want to do this, Ma'am? Are you sure you want to put your daughter through this..." the Knight hesitates.

"What is this about?" Snow asks again.

"I'm afraid that Sir Nolan is under arrest..."

"Under arrest for what?" Snow is perfectly calm, her voice clipped. "What are the charges?"

The man sighs heavily shaking his head. "Fine," he says, "have it your way!" The knights surrounding them pull out their daggers while he places his hand on David's arm.

"Sir Nolan, you are under arrest for the murder of Edward, we have a warrant and a request for extradition to the Southern Kingdom..."

"Edward is dead?" David's eyes open wide.

And Snow doesn't mean to but she gasps. "The Southern Kingdom? No! This can't be happening, you can't send him there!"

David turns to face Snow.

"We need to go," the Blue Knight is looking increasingly uncomfortable as every restaurant patron has frozen in place watching the drama unfold. And the world is moving in slow motion while Snow is watching, helplessly. The two knights are pulling David's hands behind his back, handcuffing him and Snow clenches her fists to keep her hands from trembling.

"It's alright," she nods, her eyes locked on David who is glaring at the knights looking both furious and lost. "It's alright, we'll sort this out... I'm on it..." even though she knows that David being sent to the Southern Kingdom is the worse thing that could possibly happen. Because it was the White Knights of the Southern kingdom that first recruited David to impersonate his brother and then erased his memory and sent him to the ends of the realm. And since then David and Snow together exposed King George and his heir, Baron Edward, causing the King to resign from his throne and run away and the Baron to get arrested for Snow's abduction. And there is no doubt in Snow's mind that the former King is somehow behind this arrest, pulling the strings. Which is why David cannot get extradited to the Southern Kingdom.

David is being led out the door.

"Daddy!" Emma screams, and David turns to look at her one last time. Snow places her arms on her daughter's shoulders and shushes her.

"It's alright," she whispers, "it's going to be alright..."

And she means to remain standing in place while David is being led away, but at the last moment, something inside her cracks. Snow runs out of the restaurant door, with Emma in tow, just in time to see David disappear inside the sea pumpkin squad.

"David," a scream inside her swells, but Snow covers her mouth and stand there looking at him, as the pumpkin drives away.

"David" Snow's screams echo inside his head as he is being led out of the diner. He feels like he is having an out of body experience, this isn't at all how he envisioned today going. And Snow is standing there, looking calm and steadfast and she is not screaming at all, which makes no sense because he can hear her voice inside his head, clear as day.

"David," she screams again and again, her heart broken. And he has to do a double take to make sure but Snow is just standing there looking at him, her hands on Emma's shoulders. And as much as he wants to know what is happening, it really doesn't matter, because he's being led to the back of the sea pumpkin squad and there is nothing more he can do to help himself.

"David," Snow is now crying and screaming, "David look at me, you know who I am, David please... You know who I am, you can't forget who I am" she sobs And David is desperate for her kiss, he needs her to chase the fog away, the darkness clouding his mind, but he is being dragged away, and his mind is getting muddled. He hears baby Emma crying and that doesn't make any sense because Emma is ten years old, she is not a baby. But he still hears baby Emma crying.

And David wishes he could rub his eyes, to make sure he is awake, and not dreaming things up. Because here, in the back of the sea pumpkin squad, that is taking him who knows where, he is hearing things that cannot possibly be happening. Snow is no longer here yet he hears her voice in his mind loud and clear. Emma is ten years old, but he hears her newborn cries.

Snow is standing outside the diner, her hand already in her pocket, reaching for a magic bean. She turns to face Emma.

"Mommy what are we going to do..." Emma is crying.

Snow wraps her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "It's going to be alright," Snow replies. "Of course your father didn't murder anybody... we just have to sort this out... I need to go..."

"Mommy, I want to come with you," she says and this is so unlike Emma to be clingy.

Snow wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. What is she thinking? She can't use the magic bean. There are age restrictions on magic bean usage and even is Emma is almost tall enough Snow can't take any chances.

"I'm going to have to call Ruby," she starts and then she looks in her daughter's eyes. Here it is, the past, repeating itself. David and Snow and Emma were together and then unexpectedly David was dragged away. She's grateful that Emma can't possibly remember the last time this happened.

"Mommy, please," Emma whimpers.

"You are certainly coming with me," Snow nods. She places the bean back in her pocket and raises her hand to hail a taxi clam carriage.

"Are they going to hurt him?" Emma is crying.

"No, of course not, " Snow is quick to reply, even though she knows that "accidents" happen in dungeons all the time.

"I need to go straight to the Blue knight force headquarters," Snow tells the clam carriage driver and then she steps inside that carriage and holds Emma close. Snow has already pulled out her magic mirror and is about to call Blue when the mirror rings.

"Are you home? Where are you? David needs to come to the headquarters instantly!" Jiminy exclaims. "An interrealm warrant was issued for David's arrest. He needs to turn himself in. And then I'm going to stall as long as I can and have Blue work out the details to block the extradition order first thing in the morning... Snow? Are you there?"

"Jiminy!" Snow sighs. "You are too late... We were at Water-world. They picked him up twenty minutes ago..."

"Oh! But how? The Baron was murdered in the middle of the night, if you were in Triton's kingdom, that's a solid alibi..."

"I don't know, they didn't ask any questions, they arrested him on the spot..." Snow replies. "I'm guessing that they wanted to get their clutches on him. The truth wasn't that important..."

"Well, it's simple. Use whatever means you have to make them hold back on the extradition order... If he remains at the Blue Knight Force headquarters he is not in any danger... I'm about to call Blue now. I'm sure she can pull some strings... Don't worry Snow White!"

"Thanks Jiminy" Snow replies.

Snow is calling the Crimson Fairy next.

"Council woman Snow, what can I do for you?" he sounds so official. As if it's not already in bed with his night capon about to blow out his candle and go to sleep.

"We were in Waterworld and the Blue Knights just arrested my husband. I need you to contact the Blue Knight force right now," Snow gets straight to the point. "Explain that there is a conspiracy against my husband and demand that they keep him in their custody. Under no circumstances are they to deliver them to the Southern Kingdom..."

"Certainly," to his credit the Crimson Fairy doesn't offer a word of protest. "What is the charge?"

"Murder," Snow practically chokes on the word. "Baron Edward has been murdered."

And Snow expected Crimson to ask more questions, but he doesn't. "I'll keep you posted on my progress, Councilor," he replies. "I'm sure the'll see reason..."

"Thank you," Snow replies feeling incredibly relieved. And then she looks out the window. This must be the Blue Knight Force headquarters because there is a small building above water, an entrance and a few offices above, reflecting on the calm waters and then the rest of the building is submerged inside the water just like everything else in Triton's kingdom. It is an engineering marvel just like every other building in Atlantica. And if it was any other time Snow would stop to admire it with Emma. But not today. Today they carefully walk on the stepping stones that lead up to the entry. A small sign helpfully explains that humans are to use the door,mermen are to dive in and swim straight to the underwater elevator.

"Come on," Snow urges and Emma pushing the door open. A young Blue knight greets them behind his desk. He blinks a couple of times disbelieving his eyes.

"Snow White?" he gasps. "Oh, Ma'am it's such an honor... what can I do for you... I am at your service."

And Snow evaluates the situation. It's getting rather late and this star struck young man is here unsupervised. She can see the wheels turning in his mind, he is wondering of it is completely unprofessional to ask her to sign his dagger. This will certainly work to her advantage. Why, he may even let Snow visit David.

"I need your help," Snow starts using her most polite tone possible. " I need to see my husband and I need to formally request that you do not extradite him to the Southern Kingdom. His life might be in danger there...you know what's happening down there..."

Because there has been riots and civil unrest ever since King George's resignation and Baron Edward's arrest. The succession of the royal line is unclear and at least three of the court families have set their eyes on the throne and are amassing followers.

"Your husband?" the man looks so worried.

"David Nolan, my husband, he was arrested thirty minutes ago..." Snow replies. "Please...tell me that I can see him..."

"Yes, Ma'am I'm going to see what I can do..." the man waves his hand and a clear magic mirror appears out of nowhere. Under any other circumstances Atlantica's incredible technology and magical advancements would fascinate both Snow and Emma, but not today.

"Ummm, David Nolan," the man shuffles through virtual files mumbles and then he turns to Snow, an apologetic look in his eyes. "Ma'am I'm afraid that your husband was never brought here. He is being delivered straight to the White knight Force Headquarters in the Southern kingdom and I don't know where they will send him..."

"No!" Snow closes her eyes. "How is that possible? That is highly irregular..."

"You are right," he replies. "I've never seen that done before..."

"Well, can you cancel that order? Can you bring him back? I have good reason to believe that he cannot receive a fair trial in the Southern Kingdom. Our lawyer will be filing for an injunction first thing in the morning. You can't just let that happen... "

"Ma'am you don't understand. Our Knights were intercepted by White Knights with extradition orders. They had magic beans. Your husband is already in the Southern Kingdom!"

Snow gives Emma a couple of coins and point her to the vending machine. "Would you get me a drink sweetheart?" she asks quietly. And as soon as Emma is further away she leans against the desk glaring at the Blue Knight.

"You realize that you just described an abduction!" she snaps at him.

The young man is a bit shocked by her change of tone.

"Ma'am, they had extradition orders!" he protests.

"This isn't procedure!" Snow yells back. "I don't care if they had a hundred papers insisting they were right! Procedure is there for a reason, you don't break the rules! It's Sunday night, there is no judge to even look over the extradition orders and make sure they are in order, you do not cut corners. Not when it comes to a Knight of the Northern Kingdom..."

The mans swallows hard. She is right of course, but what can he possibly do? Nobody asked him on the matter. Besides, it's too late.

"This situation is above my pay grade Ma'am. It's not up to me. We are just following orders. You must understand..."

"Understand this. If anything happens to David Nolan while in White Knight custody I will hold your department responsible! Make sure your superiors know that. You will be hearing from my attorney... And the 'I was just following orders' doesn't cut it as an excuse. If you know what they are doing is wrong then you stand up to them!" Snow hisses at him.

The man blinks a couple of times. He expected a quiet uneventful shift, instead he is getting reprimanded by Snow White.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" she asks.

He nods a couple of times in a hurry. "Yes, Ma'am I do," he replies.

"And now it's too late," Snow mumbles mostly to herself. "They didn't say where they were taking him?"

The man looks through his records and shakes his head.

Snow takes a deep breath and she manages to look calm and composed because Emma is back with two bottles of soda.

"Thank you so much for your help," Snow manages, her voice barely audible. "Come on Emma..."

David is sitting on the ground, his back against the dungeon wall. "YOUR LIFE IS OVER," someone has carved on the wall of his cell with large angry letters.

David shakes his head and closes his eyes. This is all happening so fast. He is in the high security dungeon under the King's castle. He wonders how long it will take for Snow to figure out where he's been taken. He wonders who is going to watch Emma tomorrow. He wonders exactly what sort of evidence they have against him that they just arrested him without even interrogating him first. He closes his eyes because there is no use in staying up and worrying, this isn't doing him or Emma and Snow any good.

He lays on his side and closes his eyes.

"David!"

David sits up but the room is dark, he thought he heard Snow's voice.

"Snow?" he cries out, his voice reverberates on the dungeon walls. Nobody protests him disturbing the quiet of the night. The surrounding cells appear to be empty. No one is around, no one is talking to him.

He lies back down.

"David," Snow is now crying and screaming, "David look at me, you know who I am, David please..." and David sees Snow on a white gown smeared in blood is leaning over him, crying. He looks at his surroundings to recognize Snow's cabin in the woods. No, not just Snow's cabin. Their cabin. This isn't a vision. This is a memory. Snow is looking younger, tears and blood smeared on her face, her white nightgown is bloody. "David, you know who I am, you can't forget who I am" she sobs, and she leans in to kiss him. And he is desperate for her kiss, he needs her to chase the fog away, the fog clouding his mind, but Queen Regina is standing over him and a troll and two men are dragging him away, and his mind is getting muddled. He doesn't recognize the two men dragging him out of the cabin, he hears baby Emma crying and then he sees the dwarf following the group. And he is not just any dwarf, he looks quite familiar. Because the dwarf who led the attack on him and Snow, ten years ago, on the very day of Emma's birth was none other than the Rod Troll. And the Rod Troll is looking at him, a twisted smile on his face.

"It's time!" he says laughing.

David opens his eyes drenched in cold sweat. This wasn't a dream, this was a memory. A fraction of a memory, not even the whole thing. He looks around for Snow, he looks to tell her that he finally remembered something. But he is alone in his cell, Snow is not around. Snow and Emma are hopefully safe back home. And he is both overwhelmed by loneliness and comforted by that thought. Emma and Snow are safe. Emma and Snow are home. And then he remembers the dwarf's face in his dream. The dwarf they called the Rod Troll, the dwarf he tortured when he was desperate to get answers about who had kidnapped Snow White is the same dwarf who stormed their cabin and pulled him away on the very day Emma was born.

David leans back, wondering what exactly prompted this sudden memory. Snow remembered things when she was being painspelled. Maybe they both remember things when traumatic events happen to them. Well, even a distant heartbreaking memory is better than this overwhelming darkness. David closes his eyes and relaxes, willing his mind to remember more.

"David!" Snow is crying and screaming and David manages to push his attackers off long enough to run to Snow White. This is a dream after all, his wounds aren't hurting as bad when he is dreaming. And this is just is a dream so the memory spell isn't taking effect. "David, you know who I am, you can't forget who I am" Snow sobs, and she leans in to kiss him.
"I know who you are," he whispers, letting her wrap her arms around him and she looks so relieved."I will find you one day I promise... Snow, this is not the end..."
Snow nods and he is not certain that dream Snow understands what he is saying. Dream Regina is screaming orders, the Rod Troll and his goons are advancing on him and Snow is looking terrified.
"He is going to pay for hurting us,"David continues, pointing at the Rod Troll. "They are all going to pay."
And then baby Emma cries and Snow tugs on his arm and rushes to their small bed in the corner. She lifts up the baby and places her in his arms. And Emma stops her crying long enough to look at him.
"Emma," he rasps."My Emma..."
Snow is tearing up, David is crying, holding his daughter tight, marveling at the wonder of ten tiny fingers, and puckered lips and eyes that are watching him. His Emma.
Regina is raging, the Rod Troll is yelling but in the dream they are not listening. Nothing can pull them apart, nothing can distract them. Snow places her hand on his back and he buries his face in Emma's blanket and weeps. A tiny hand finds its way around his forefinger.
"Emma" he says one more time.

And then he opens his eyes.


Thank you fore reading, thank you for reviewing.

Just a quick reminder the Rod Troll showed up in 13.(the case of the forgetful princess) He was the dwarf David tortured when he needed to find out where Snow White was taken.

Baron Edward shows up in 20 (the case of the forgetful princess) He was the heir to King George's throne. He urged King George to relinquish his throne when David accused him of conspiring with Queen Regina and of kidnapping Snow. Buuuuut in 21 (the case of the forgetful princess) it turned out that Edward was behind Snow's kidnapping. He was hoping that King George would get blamed. He really wanted King George out of the way so he could get the throne sooner. Blue arrested him and he's been locked up until now...

Jennifer Baratta chapter 34 Never ever will I make Tinker bell mad at me. Outstanding chapter

Haha! Good thinking Jennifer!

NaomiBlue chapter 34 This interlude was great. I'm so happy for Sneazy and Tink.

:) Thank you!

Alexa chapter 34 Oh my! LOL! Sneezy and Tink are too adorable and perfect together! His enemy lists were hilarious! It was so sweet when he mended her wings and she convinced hin to fly with her. Maybe Tink can use her magic to help him be less allergic to everything?!

She should totally help him. She does find his constant sneezing adorable...

Bella1296 chapter 34 Good job!

Thank you Bella!

Guest chapter 34 What a cute chapter. I did wonder if we would get to see Tink making a move since their dance at Snow and Davids wedding. I'm happy that we got to see that. Maybe pranks wasn't the way to go? But with a little help it worked so. I like the bond between David and Tink. But also the one between Tink and Snow.

Thank you!:)