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David sighed as he walked into the station as he did every time he walked into the station since the day Emma had disappeared. It had been almost exactly four years since they'd gotten the call from Regina saying Emma never came home from her shift and since that day, all they'd ever found was her car and her phone. It drove him crazy that life seemed to go on, though those close to her would say it was never the same again. Magic couldn't even help to find her, and they had used every magical character there was. Blue, Gold, Maleficent and Lilly, even Cora and Zelena had tried to no avail, while Regina almost lost her life using so much magic. It made absolutely no sense at all as Emma was happier than she had ever been, and she and Regina had just celebrated their first-year wedding anniversary by singing the paperwork to be foster parents. A week later, she had just vanished, and they hadn't any witnesses, no clues, and no idea on what happened. In three days, it would be the four-year mark and they were still no closer.

"Boss, did you hear me?" Thomas asked as David seemed to shake his head clear.

"Sorry, was miles away."

"We have to go to the woods. Archie was out with Pongo and found a baby. Seems like a very new baby." He chewed on his lip. "He found it where we had found Emma's car."

David swallowed and gave a nod, grabbing the keys to his cruiser. "Who's would it be? I can't think of anyone that's pregnant."

"I don't know boss. I know we don't know everyone, but you're right in that I have no idea who was expecting."

The two drove out and arrived just as the baby was being taken into the back of the ambulance. "You take Archie's statement and I'll go to the hospital with the baby." David said, handing Thomas the keys. "Meet me there when you're done here."

"Sure thing, boss." Thomas said and headed off to see Archie.

David went to the ambulance and was let in just before they left. "How is the baby?"

"She's a fighter." The paramedic stated. "She's small and the cord is badly cut, but she's been fed at least once and once we get her warm, she should bounce back. She's lucky the snow hasn't started yet. I just can't imagine who would leave a newborn in the woods like that."

David couldn't help but think back to how Emma was found in much the same way as a baby. "You just never know the full story. I try hard not to judge until I have all the pages. I've made mistakes in the past and misjudged so many." He shook his head. "Anyway, she'll live?"

"Yes." She said, checking over the baby. "She'll live. Once she's warmed up, we can take a blood sample if you'd like."

David nodded, looking at the little one with the wisps of blonde hair. She reminded him so much of his Emma the day he put her through the wardrobe. "She's tiny."

"I'd say she's premature." The woman stated. "Maybe two hours old at the most. It's very lucky Dr. Hopper was taking a walk when and where he was."

At the hospital, David waited to talk to Dr. Whale and once it was determined they'd send the results to him, he and Thomas left to go back to the station. "They'll send the DNA results over as soon as they get them. It's a good thing Regina agreed to having everyone entered into the database after the curse broke."

"That's thanks to Emma. It's a lot easier to find a suspect if everyone is on file." Thomas said, adding information to their board. It had been a while since they had an active case like this, and he didn't want to mess this up.

David looked at the information. "So Pongo got loose and found the baby?"

"Looks like it. Archie said they usually go for a walk, but not so deep into the woods. He said it was all normal and then Pongo's ears pricked up and he broke free. I think he heard whoever took the baby there."

"The real question is why would anyone leave a baby in the middle of the woods in the middle of December?" David asked. "Especially since we have that new order passed that anyone can drop an unwanted baby off at the hospital, here, or the library with no questions asked." That had been another one of Emma's ideas and one that had actually been used a few times. Though the town was small, it wasn't unheard of for people to end up having babies they didn't plan for and Emma wanted to make sure they were all properly taken care of.

"I don't know, boss, but I reckon we'll find out once we find out who she belongs to."

They only had to wait another hour before the DNA results were in and Thomas could run them against everyone in town. He ran it three times before running his fingers through his hair. "Uh boss? You may want to see this."

David came over and stared at the screen. "That can't be right." He said quietly. He tapped the keyboard and ran it again, sitting down when the same results came back. "This makes no sense."

"It's only bringing up one parent and says the other is not in the system, but David, it is right. Look at the matching."

"I just don't get it. How? What does this mean?"

"It means she's alive, David, and she just had a baby."

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Regina sighed as she bit her lip looking at the woman sitting next to her on the sofa. "I'm sorry. I…I thought I was ready but…"

The woman gave a soft smile. "Hey, it's okay. Regina, I'm sorry if it feels like I'm pressuring you."

"You're not. I just…" Regina looked down. It had been four years since she'd last seen Emma, but some days, it felt like just minutes ago. "I know she's not coming back and I do really like you, Brooke, I just…it's hard."

Brooke put her hand on Regina's. "Hey, I get that. I'm not at all asking you to do anything you're not ready for. We've been friends a long time, Regina, and that's what is most important." Brooke was the parent of one of Henry's best friends and after Emma disappeared, she was there for Regina when the woman needed her. Lately, things had started going down a more romantic rout and while Regina knew she had every right to move on, she just couldn't seem to do it.

The year after the curse broke had been an eventful one. Emma had been the only one to believe in Regina and she used that and became the woman she'd always wanted to be. It was on their trip to find Maleficent's daughter Lilly that the two had a deep conversation and came back a couple. Snow and David had been happy and to Regina's surprise, welcomed her in and the family became one both women wanted. When Cora and Zelena showed up, things got even better. It was good that Zelena and Cora met and hashed out their issues before coming to Storybrooke because once here, it was easy to see how much they wanted a relationship with Regina. The beginning of the next year saw the Swan-Queen wedding and life had certainly taken a turn for the better for everyone. Emma vanishing brought that happiness crashing down around Regina and she was glad she'd had her family and friends there to keep her from sinking too far gone.

"Thank you for understanding and I'm so sorry if it feels like I'm leading you on." Regina said, glancing at the clock. "I really should get going. Snow and Henry will be home soon."

"It's fine, Regina." Brooke stood and walked Regina to the door. "I'm here for you for anything." She said, smiling as she opened the door.

"Thank you." Regina then headed out, down the three houses to her own, just as Henry and Snow pulled in the drive. She smiled and hugged her son. "Good day at school?"

"It was okay. Lots of homework though." He said, going into the house.

Regina sighed watching him. He had not been the same since Emma left and while she understood it, she wished he'd let her in more. At first, he blamed her for all of it. Even if she didn't do anything to Emma, it was her fault because of who she used to be. Maybe he was right and maybe that was why when he said he was going to stay with Snow and Charming, she didn't stop him. It wasn't until he came home to get something a couple weeks later and found Regina slumped on the floor sobbing for the loss of her wife, that he realized how wrong he had been about her. Regina had tried everything she could think of to find Emma, but nothing had worked. The magical bond they had shared seemed to have been broken and everything she read said that meant either Emma was in another realm or dead. Regina had no idea how or why Emma would have gone to another realm, but she had held onto that hope over the thought of her being dead. At least she had for the first three years. Over this last year, she started thinking that the only logical answer was that Emma was in fact dead, or she would have found a way to reach out to them.

"He's just having a hard time since it's so close to the anniversary of Emma…disappearing." Snow said, standing by Regina and watching the now sixteen-year-old boy go into the house. "It's always hard for him this time of year." She then looked at Regina. "You were at Brooke's? How's she doing?"

Regina looked down as she always felt shame when Snow would bring up her and Brooke's friendship. "She's fine."

"Regina, it's been four years. It's okay to move on. Emma wouldn't want you to be lonely."

Regina felt the tears in her eyes as she knew Snow was right. Emma would hate to see Regina be sad and lonely, but she just didn't feel right about it all. "I just…it feels like the biggest betrayal Snow. Like it's the last thing before we all just turn our backs on her." She wiped her tears and shook her head. "I can't close that book yet. Have you?"

There was no malice in her voice, just general curiosity and Snow shook her head. "I never will, Regina, but that doesn't mean you have to be alone forever. It doesn't mean we can't find a new normal. We can 'move on' and still keep her in our hearts." She turned to her daughter in law and put her hands on her arms. "Regina, give yourself permission to try and be happy."

Before Regina could say anything, David pulled up in his cruiser and got out. Regina sighed. "Is this some weird family intervention thing?"

"I didn't know Snow was here, actually, but that's okay. Can we all go in and talk? Something came up today that…well Regina you need to know about."

"Come on in." Regina said and went inside, taking her shoes off at the door. She still had Emma's boots on the shoe rack and once in a while, when she was alone, she'd slip her feet in them and think of her wife. "Anyone want coffee or something? Cider?" She asked as she opened the door to her study.

"No thank you." David said, sitting down and folding his hands.

Snow sat by him. "What's going on?"

"Did you two hear about the abandoned baby today? Dr. Hopper found her in the woods."

"I heard a little something." Regina admitted as she had gotten a text. "To be honest, I haven't had time to really look into it."

Snow just shook her head and looked down. "Why would anyone do that when we have orders in place?"

David sighed. "The thing is, we took the baby's DNA to compare to everyone in town. We wanted to make sure the mother was okay since no one we know had been pregnant. The results came back, though only a match for the mother, meaning the father wasn't part of the DNA collecting process we did."

"But it was required, and I thought Emma made sure everyone did it." Regina said.

"She did. The father must not be from town." David said, feeling as though he was getting off track.

"Who's the mother?" Snow asked quietly, hating the hope she had in her heart.

"It's…we ran it ten times, and it's Emma's baby." David stated, looking at Regina. "It was born just today and it's her baby."

Regina felt the air escape her lungs and the room seemed to grow dark as she took in what David was telling her. She hadn't even known she passed out until she opened her eyes and saw a wet-eyed Snow looking at her. "It's okay, Regina, just take deep breaths."

"I'm sorry to have shocked you like that." David said, and Regina knew he meant it.

"I'm sorry. I…Emma's baby?" Regina sat back up and held the blanket around her shoulders. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know yet." David stated, his voice soft.

Regina shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "She…she's alive. But no…no, she can't have a baby because she told me…she told me…" Regina started hyperventilating.

"She told you how she never wanted to be with a man again? How she hadn't even wanted to be with Neal, but was…forced?" Snow said, remembering the conversation she had with Emma before the curse even broke. "After her childhood, the thought of being with a man again made her physically sick."

Regina let out a sob as she nodded. "You know what that means, don't you?"

"It means she was forced to have this child."

"It means she's being forced to be with this monster." Regina said, standing. Her hands in fists as she thought about her beautiful wife being held prisoner. It was something she had contemplated before, but now…now there was evidence. "Why can't we find her?"

"Snow also stood and put her arms around Regina, holding her. "We will. I swear we will. I can't help but think we were meant to find her baby. Maybe…maybe she sent her to us."

Regina hugged Snow back, finding that calm she often did from the woman and letting it ground her. "I want to see the baby. I want…I want her with me, with us."

Snow smiled and gave a nod. "I think Emma would want that too. I'll be here to help in any way that I can, Regina. We should probably tell Henry."

"Right…Henry." Regina sighed. "I want to tell him, but I'm scared to give him hope if we never…" Regina closed her eyes, still finding it hard to talk about Emma never coming back.

"I know, but he's going to wonder about the baby and it's better he hears it from you than around town." David stated. "I will do my best, but this news will spread."

"You're right. I just need a minute." Regina said, folding her arms around herself and going to the fireplace. She looked at the picture she could never bring herself to take down of her, Emma, and Henry all smiling into the camera. Emma was still alive. She was out there somewhere, and Regina wanted to just find her. "Can you ask him to come down?" At sixteen, Regina knew she couldn't and shouldn't hide anything from Henry, but she did worry about giving him false hope. However, he'd want to know, and David was right, he'd be upset if someone else told him about the baby.

"Mom? What's going on?" Henry asked. He had noticed how everyone had teary eyes and was terrified they'd found Emma's body. "Is she…did you find her body?" He asked, trying to blink back tears. He was sixteen now and tried hard not to show his emotions, but the day Emma vanished was the day he no longer felt like a child. He had idolized his mother and loved her fiercely since the day he found her in Boston. She had taught him to love Regina again; had brought him and his mom back together when she had every right to keep them apart. She had been the only one with the balls to tell him what a brat he had been to Regina and because of that, he respected her even more. When she was gone, a part of him went with her and he tried so hard to find her. He blamed Regina at first because it had been so easy to do. It was easier to blame her than to think Emma left him until the day he found his mother on the floor sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her and cried with her and knew this wasn't a case of Emma leaving them willingly. That was almost exactly four years ago and every year since, he'd hoped one day she'd come back to them. The last year, however, he just wanted answers. If she was dead, he wanted to know. He wanted to know if he should move on, if his mother should move on. How do you mourn someone if you don't know for sure they're dead?

"No, son." Regina said, sitting down and pulling him next to her. "They didn't find her body. They…they found her baby."

"Her what?" He asked, shocked as hell.

"They found an abandoned baby in the woods and the DNA shows it's hers."

"That means she's not dead!" He said, his happiness only short lived. "But why isn't she home?"

Regina sighed. "I'm going to be honest with you Henry. What I know of your mother tells me that she doesn't want to be gone. I don't at all think she left us willingly. I think she was taken from us and is being held captive."

"And having things done to her." He said, tears filling his eyes. "She doesn't deserve that, mom. She had a terrible childhood and she was supposed to be happy now. She finally had everything she ever wanted; you finally had the life you deserved. I'm glad she's alive but this…this is like ripping off a scar to an old wound."

Regina held her crying baby boy and let her own tears fall. "You are right about it all, Henry. I promise we're going to find her."

"What about the baby?" He asked, sniffing. "What will happen to it?"

"I want to bring her home with us, Henry. She's your sister and a part of my wife and she belongs with us. Are you okay with that?"

He looked at her and gave a nod. "I think that's the best thing to do."

They were all in the waiting room at the hospital when Cora came in and pulled Regina into a hug. "I just heard from your sister about what is going on. How are you?"

"I'm okay. Still in a bit of shock I think." Regina admitted.

"Regina, this is good. I can…well with everyone's permission of course, I can run some magic over her and see if she was born in this world or not. It won't hurt her, she won't even know I'm doing it, but it could give us at least one answer."

Regina bit her lip and looked at David and Snow. "I have to ask them. I…she's more theirs than mine and I find myself lucky they're letting me take her at all."

Snow heard the last part and came over. "Regina, we don't feel like that at all. I know this has to be so difficult, but she is Emma's baby and I know Emma would want you to take her." She looked to Cora. "Is there anything you can do to see where she was born? Anything that wouldn't hurt her?"

Cora gave a nod. "I was just telling Regina that I can do that. It won't affect her in the slightest. I just need permission."

Snow looked at Regina. "She has my permission."

Regina nodded. "Thank you. Yes mother, when she's settled, you can do that. I don't know if she's even able to come home today, but I had to see her."

"Regina? Did you want to see her alone first?" Maleficent, who had become a healer for the hospital, asked as she came out.

"I think Snow and David should see her first."

"Are you sure?" Snow asked, slightly surprised.

"She's your granddaughter. Go see her."

Henry came over and put his arm around Regina. "Let's go get a coffee."

Regina, Henry, and Cora went to do just that while Snow and David headed back to the nursery. "You know it's weird." David said as they walked. "When I was in the ambulance with her, I couldn't help but think how she was found much like Emma had been. Now to know she's Emma's daughter just…well it's ironic."

Maleficent stopped in front of the door. "I'm not sure there's anything ironic about it at all. I think Emma had something to do with this little one getting here. I just hope it didn't cost her too much."

"Why do you say that?"

"Come in and I'll show you." Maleficent opened the door. "Thomas was just here and got a picture of this. When I was changing her, I noticed something on her skin. It wasn't any kind of birth mark or anything natural, so I took a closer look before just wiping it away." She lifted the blanket of the tiny baby and pointed to something on her leg.

The two leaned forwards. "Is that…a swan?" Snow asked.

"I believe so." Maleficent answered. "Forensics is going to come carefully remove it, but I think it's mud and I think Emma put it on her as a way for us to know who she is in case we didn't do DNA testing. That sounds like something Emma would do."

"It does." David agreed, watching as the baby wrapped her fingers around his thumb. "I just hope she doesn't get punished for it."

As soon as the technician came and got a sample from the baby's leg, Snow picked her up and cuddled her close. "Where is your mama, little one?" She asked softly as she rubbed the baby's back. "We miss her so much."

Maleficent came out about an hour later and got Regina. "Snow wants to hand her to you and then they'll give you privacy."

Regina just nodded and went into the room. The baby was tiny and when she was put in Regina's arms, she looked at Regina with Emma's eyes and Regina's heart was overflowing. She had been nervous about how she'd feel about this little one, knowing she wasn't a part of her, but seeing those eyes completely made her fall in love. "You have your mama's eyes." She said, tears in her own. The baby reached out and when her hand touched Regina's chest, it was as if she was touching her heart. "I'm going to love you and care for you and keep you safe." She whispered. "I promise."

After Regina fed the baby, she said everyone could come back and she let Henry hold his sister. "She needs a name." He said, smiling at her. "Gods she looks like Mama."

"She does." Regina agreed. "And she does need a name." She looked at Snow. "Had she ever said anything to you about names?"

Snow thought for a moment. "Before the curse broke and she had a rough day, she…well she got a bit drunk honestly, and started talking about when she was pregnant with Henry. She said she tried hard not to think of names because she knew she was going to be having the baby adopted, but that she had one picked out for either gender. She would have picked Jack for a boy and Chloe for a girl."

Regina looked at the little one and gave a soft smile as she stared right back at her. "Chloe. I like that."

Henry looked down at her. "I know Jack is traditionally a boys name, but what about Chloe Jack Swan-Mills?"

Snow smiled and gave a nod. "I love it."

"Me too." David said and Regina nodded in agreement.

"Is it wrong to name her without Emma here?" She asked.

"No. Ma wouldn't want us calling her Baby Girl forever." Henry said.

Regina took the baby and kissed her forehead. "Welcome home, Chloe Jack Swan-Mills.

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Emma sat back against the concrete wall and smiled for the first time in a long time. Though her body hurt, and she was still bleeding, and she had no idea if it was real or a delusion, she knew her baby was where she was supposed to be and was being loved. She then grew tense as she heard the door opening and footsteps on the stairs down to her prison. He was back. She thought she'd have more time. She laid down and closed her eyes, trying to breathe steadily so he'd think she was asleep. The lights were turned on and he was breathing hard.

"How the fuck did you do it?" He asked, kicking her arm. "Where is she?"

Emma groaned. "I didn't do anything. I can't do anything. You have me chained to the wall with magic proof cuffs. I literally cannot do anything."

"Then where is our daughter?"

"I thought you had her." Emma lied. "I fell asleep and then she was gone." In reality, she had sent her baby with a being she wasn't sure she could trust. Over the last four years, she'd come to realize she was in a different realm that had magic. A being she would call a fairy but was told was a sprite had somehow been able to come through the bars and into her cell. At first, she thought it was a trick, but the being had come back over and over bringing her food and helping her in any way it could. It couldn't free her, but it tried it's best to help her. When Emma realized she was pregnant, she had broken down and begged the being to end her life claiming it was better than having him use the baby as more torture against her. The being shook its head and flew to her ear, whispering to her.

"I shall not end a life, Princess, but I will save one. The baby will not be shackled, and I will come and take it where it needs to be. I will take it home."

Emma had relied on that and when the baby came early, she fed her and marked her with mud from her cell before kissing her and crying as the being took her away. "Take her home." She whispered before falling asleep. When she woke later, she smiled knowing her baby was okay and there was nothing he could do about it.

"You lie!" He said, kicking her again but harder. "I do everything for you, and you lie! I love you and feed you and this is how repay me?"

There was a time Emma would fight back, but after years of beatings, torture, and rapes, she didn't have it in her. "I'm not lying. I love you too and I wanted to raise her with you. I thought you had her." She tried hard to swallow the bile that came up every time she said something like that, but she had to survive. She could only hope that her family could find her now they had her baby girl. "Sir, I'm in pain and bleeding still. I will die if I can't see a doctor."

"There are no doctors here, only healers and I cannot risk losing you to them."

"Then you'll lose me to death." Emma said, knowing he could see that as defiance.

He looked at her and then went to the adjoining room. He brought back a bowl of water and a rag and started cleaning her. She couldn't even find it within herself to be ashamed as he cleaned her. It did nothing to help the pain inside of her, but she knew he would think he was doing right by her. "There. You'll be fine now."

Emma shook her head and pulled her blankets up. "I'll die and you don't even care." She said quietly as he went to the other room to dispose of the bowl.

His black eyes bore into her as he came back into the room. "Better to lose you to death than to lose you to her." He spat, looking at her. She was right, however, as even he could smell infection growing. He left and came back with a new mattress, new blankets, and a new sleep shirt for her. As he made her move, he saw she was still bleeding. "Damn woman, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I just gave birth!" Emma said, gritting her teeth. "I gave birth and had no one here to help. I need medical help, Jackson, don't you see that?" Maybe using his name would wake something up inside him.

Emma remembered the day almost four years ago when her life had changed. She had been out on a call and parked her car before heading more into the woods. The report was that kids were out there starting fires and she knew it would be a quick call and could get home to her wife and son before dinner. However, no kids were in the woods and instead, she felt something prick her neck before turning and seeing a mad she'd never see before, but one that would haunt her for the rest of her life. She awoke in this cell with the chains on her and realized right away she couldn't access her magic. He had been one of the men Zelena had brought with her from Oz and had fallen in love with Emma upon first sight. She had never even known who he was. He wanted her, needed her and couldn't stand watching Regina with her. He had finally gotten his hands on a magical bean, gotten Emma, and took her back to Oz. She was locked in a magic proof cell with magical chains that would keep her from being able to access her magic.

He knew right away he wanted a baby with her as he thought that would keep her tied to him the way she seemed tied to Regina. Though he knew she hated him at first and hated when he'd have his way with her, he figured she'd grow to love him eventually. He had to break her, of course, as she was strong willed and far too violent at first, but after about a year, she calmed down. When she still hadn't gotten pregnant, he was livid. She explained she had a device that would stop her from getting pregnant and that it lasted for three years. He said they'd have to just keep practicing and when she finally did become pregnant, he was ecstatic. He had seen his daughter and then went to get some supplies for her. When he came back, Emma was asleep, and the baby was gone. He knew exactly what happened as he'd seen the sprite helping Emma from time to time. Maybe that was for the best though, as he didn't want to share Emma with anyone. His only fear was that the baby would somehow reveal where Emma was.

He looked at her when she yelled his name and for a moment, went soft. "I don't know what to do." He confessed. "I can't let them take you from me."

"I will die, Jackson. Is that what you want? Because if it is, just kill me right now so I don't have to suffer."

He shook his head. "I won't!" He sighed. "I'll be back in a few days and if you're not better, we'll go from there." He said and stood.

"Please. I'm hurting."

"Get your sprite to help you." He said as he closed and locked the door.

Emma curled up, wincing at the pain, and started crying. She couldn't do this anymore and welcomed death, but she just wished it would hurry up, so she wasn't in so much pain.

Three days later, Jackson came in and almost threw up. It was obvious Emma had a bad infection as he watched her gasp for breath, her skin pale and a sheen of sweat layering it. "I've been bored anyway." He said as he came over and undid her chains. "I'll give you a week before I start hunting you again." He said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Emma didn't know if it was the fever or the sweet release of death, but the next thing she knew, she was placed on the ground outside as lights seemed to dance around her. No, not lights, Sprites.

"We've got you, Princess. We're taking you home." The sang and Emma let herself fall back into darkness.

SQSQSQSQSQ

David sat at his desk looking at the newest pictures of his granddaughter. Regina had been able to take Chloe home that first night and since then, she sent daily updates and pictures to everyone in their family app. Chloe was the distraction they all needed as the case was literally going nowhere. His desk phone rang and when he answered it, his world stood still.

"Sir? Are you there? I said they found Emma in the woods."