All magic comes with a price and the dark curse was no different. Regina sacrificed her father's heart to cast the curse. Before she could cast it, someone had altered it. Over time, a dark matter would begin to pollute Regina's brain. Once the curse was broken, she would die. Regina ended up adopting baby Emma once the curse was cast. The girl's name was Emma Snow Mills. Regina just adored the baby. The mayor began to notice herself having difficulty walking on occasion. She found a letter in her vault that read, "you ruined my life, so I'm taking yours. Your daughter will break your curse and then you'll die. Enjoy, rotting in the meantime." There was no signature and Regina had no clue who wrote that. Gold wasn't cursed and Regina took the note and curse to him. "Well, the curse was tampered with."

"What?"

"Whoever it was made sure that you would suffer."

"Can I stop it?"

"No, there's no magic here."

"What's going to happen to me?"

"A dark matter will slowly destroy your brain. Once Emma breaks the curse, it will only be a matter of time before you're dead."

Regina took the curse and the letter with her as she ran out of the shop. She went home and wrote up a will that gave custody of Emma to Mary Margaret Blanchard, aka Snow White. With the will, were two letters. One was written to Mary Margaret and the other to Snow. Regina looked at her daughter and tried desperately to keep her tears inside.

Emma was now almost six months old and her mother was on stand-by for her to start crawling. There was a camera in every room, waiting for that moment. When it happened, Regina couldn't stop smiling. She was once again thrilled when Emma began walking shortly before her first birthday.

Emma enjoyed being outside and loved going for nature walks with her mother. For the girl's fourth birthday, Regina gave her a camera for children. Emma loved taking pictures and hung them all on her bedroom walls. Once she was in school, she was outside less and she didn't like that.

"Emma, you have to practice your words."

"No, I'm good."

"Emma, you'll never learn to read if you don't practice."

"It's hard and I don't like it."

"Emma, you haven't tried. You'll never know unless you try."

"Okay," the little girl said.

Regina smiled, "why don't you get your backpack?"

"Yes, mommy," Emma went to her room to retrieve the bag.

Over the past five years, walking became more difficult for Regina. When Emma was two, she started using a cane when necessary. Each year she needed it more. When Emma returned she sat next to her mother with the book they were learning to read at school. Regina opened the book to the first page and Emma began sounding out the words. The book was Snow White. "Emma, you did very well. Once you learn how to read better, you won't dislike it so much."

"Mommy, can we go for a walk?"

Regina smiled, "sure," she answered, "go get your shoes on."

"Want me to bring your shoes?"

"Yes, thank you, dear."

They put their shoes on, grabbed Emma's camera, and left.

David woke up from his coma with no idea where he was. He saw his wife but quickly realized that she had no idea what he was talking about or who he was. The man kissed his wife and she woke up from the curse. "David, we have to get out of here."

Snow had taken clothes from the lost and found at the hospital for her husband. He changed and they rushed out of the hospital, towards the woods. Once they felt they were far enough away, they slowed down. Snow and David were walking through the forest. "Snow, look," David pointed in the direction of a woman and child. "Is that Regina?"

"Yes, and Emma."

"What? Why is Emma with Regina?"

"Regina adopted Emma after the curse was cast."

Regina hadn't been feeling great all day, but her daughter loved being outside. The mayor decided to take a walk in the forest anyway. She decided to take her cane and Emma held onto her mother's hand. The walk was slow and Emma never complained. "Mommy, I think I see a bluebird."

"Why don't you go ahead and see?"

Emma looked at her mother, "will you be okay?"

Regina smiled, "I'll be fine, dear."

Emma went ahead with her camera. Regina was following her daughter, "Regina!"

She turned and lost her balance. Regina fell onto her left side. "Mommy!" Emma ran to her mother and knelt down. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, dear."

Emma looked up and waved, "hi, Miss Blanchard."

"Hi, Emma," Snow waved back, "this is my husband, David."

"I didn't know you were married."

"It's a long story."

"Emma, I'm okay. Go back to your bird."

"I got a picture."

"That's great," Regina smiled, "why don't you look around? Just stay where I can see you."

Emma looked between the three adults before staring at David, "Mr. David, will you help my mommy up?"

"Um, sure," he said, "I can do that."

"Thank you," Emma said before walking away.

David and Snow helped Regina to her feet, "are you okay?" Snow asked.

"I'll be a bit sore, but I'm fine."

"What the hell, Regina?" David asked. "You need to tell Emma the truth."

"I can't," Regina said in a soft but firm voice.

"Then we'll take you to court. There isn't a judge around who wouldn't give Emma back to us. Not with your history, medical and personal."

"She's all I have."

"That's not my fault."

"David," Snow said softly, "lets you and I talk about this first."

"I want my daughter back."

"David, go so I can talk to Regina," Snow said. The man reluctantly turned and left. "I've never seen your body in this bad of shape before."

"I just seem to be getting worse."

"I don't want to fight you. You know David is right. It may not be easy, but it's the right thing to do."

"I've never been good at doing the right thing."

"You were at one point."

"Let me think about this. We can talk more later."

"That sounds good."

Snow left and Regina slowly turned. She smiled at the sight of little Emma chasing a butterfly.