Lady Tremaine was taking a walk in the woods when she heard a cry. "Hello? Is someone there?" She followed the sound and realized it was a child's. The little girl looked familiar, but the woman couldn't put her finger on it. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

The little girl looked up, "I'm lost," she said, "mommy said not to walk away but I did. The bunny was so cute."

"Why don't we head back to town to find your mommy?"

The little girl nodded and walked up to the older woman. She surprised Lady Tremaine by taking her hand. Lisa lifted the girl into her arms and carried her out of the woods. She was on her way to the sheriff's station when she heard a familiar voice, "let her go!"

Lady Tremaine turned around, "Ella?"

"Mommy!"

Ella walked over and took her daughter, "are you alright?"

"Yeah, dis lady try help me find you."

Ella looked up, but her stepmother was nowhere to be found.

Ella was living in the house that once belonged to the Mad Hatter. She lived there with Thomas, Alexandra, Clorinda, Jacob, and even Tisbe moved in. "She just disappeared?" Clorinda asked her sister.

"One minute she was there and the next she was gone," Ella said.

"I wonder where she ran off to?"

"I called Granny's and she's not there."

"Is there anyone she could be staying with?"

"Emma went to check out the Evil Queen's hideout. She wasn't there either and Zelena said she hasn't seen her."

"Where could she have gone?"

"I don't know."

Four days later, Ella was taking her daughter for a walk in the woods again when she spotted her stepmother. The older woman looked disheveled and was sitting against a tree. By the way she looked, Ella knew what was going on. She took Alexandra and walked over the Lady Tremaine. "I didn't think I'd see you here again."

Lisa looked up and was a mess. "I find it peaceful here."

"How long have you been living out here?"

"I'm not living out here. I simply had a rough day."

"Well, I think we should talk. Why don't we head over to your house? There's not enough privacy at mine."

"We can talk here."

Ella knew that her stepmother wouldn't tell her the truth, "never mind." She took her daughter and left.

Ella was working on dinner later that night, "it sure is coming down," Clorinda said.

"What is?" Ella asked.

"The snow," Clorinda answered.

"What?" Ella looked out the kitchen window, "when did that start?"

"An hour ago."

"Can you finish this?" Ella didn't wait for an answer. "Thomas, we need to go to the woods."

"Ella, there's a snowstorm. It's not safe to go out."

"We need to go now."

"Why?"

Ella looked at everyone and then back at Thomas, "my stepmother is living there."

"What?"

"I saw her when I took Alexandra earlier. I could tell she had been living there."

"We better take a thick blanket."

Ella and Thomas put on their coats and left. When they arrived at the spot that Ella and Alexandra had started their walk, they stopped the truck and went to search for the older woman. Under the same tree as earlier, Lady Tremaine was holding herself tightly, shivering, and covered in snow. Ella ran up to her and crouched down. "Ella," the woman said as she shivered.

"We're taking you home with us." Ella and Thomas helped Lisa to her feet and wrapped the blanket around her. Ella placed an arm around her stepmother as they walked to the truck. The heat inside was something the older woman was incredibly grateful for.

By the time they arrived home, Lisa was reasonably warmer, "thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," Ella said.

"Why did you do it?"

"Letting you freeze to death was not an option," Thomas said. "As soon as Ella told us you were there, I knew we had to help you."

"Thank you, again."

"Let's get you inside," Ella said. She helped her stepmother out of the truck and into the house. Clorinda and Tisbe rushed to hug their mother. Lisa sat down in a chair by the fire.

"Mother, why didn't you tell us?" Clorinda asked.

"I thought you'd all say it was what I deserved."

"You're welcome to stay here until you get back on your feet," Thomas said.

"Thank you, but I'm afraid that will never happen."

"Why not?" Ella asked.

"I have no money, no skills, and no one would hire me."

"Oh, dinner's ready," Clorinda said.

"Mother, let's go find you some dry clothes," Tisbe said. She took her mother to her room and helped her change into leggings and a sweater. They joined everyone in the dining room after.

"Stepmother, Thomas and I were talking just now. If you wouldn't mind helping out around here and helping with Alexandra, we wouldn't mind if you stayed here," Ella said.

Lady Tremaine was stunned, "you'd trust me with your daughter?"

"Yes, I do."

"Thank you," Lisa said, "we could give it a try."

"Good," Ella smiled.

"Yay!" Alexandra said, "nana stay!"

"Nana?" Lisa questioned.

"Sorry," Ella said, "we figured you'd prefer that to grandma."

Lisa smiled, "you were right about that."

Everyone sat in the living room by the fire after dinner. Clorinda and Tisbe were cleaning up the kitchen and dining room while Ella and Thomas cleaned up Alexandra. Jacob was alone with Lisa and tried to mind his own business since he feared her. He noticed his girlfriend's mother was staring at him, but kept his head down. "You really do love my daughter, don't you?"

His head snapped up, "what answer are you looking for?"

"The truth," Lisa said.

"I love her more than anything. I would do anything for her."

"I guess I never believed in your love because I've never experienced it. As long as you make her happy, I'll support your relationship."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Clorinda walked in, "what's going on?"

"Your mother has given our relationship her blessing."

Clorinda looked at her mother in surprise, "mother, are you suffering from hypothermia?"

"No," Lisa rolled her eyes at her daughter.

Clorinda went up to her mother and hugged her, "thank you."

"You're welcome," Lisa said.

Ella set up a bedroom on the first floor for her stepmother. "I know it's not fancy, but there wasn't much I could do at the last minute."

"It's fine, Ella. My last room had no walls so this is an upgrade."

"If you need anything, just find one of us. You're welcome to anything in the kitchen, library, and bathroom. I'd prefer you didn't try to work the fireplace until someone has shown you a few times."

"That's fine," Lisa said.

"Well, goodnight, stepmother. Sleep well," Ella kissed the woman's cheek.

"You too, goodnight."

After Ella left, Lisa got ready for bed. When she crawled under the covers a smile crossed her face. She was in a warm bed in a warm house for the first time in who knows how long. The one person she never thought would help her is the one who ended up saving her.