Chapter 1

Snow lay in bed wincing in pain from a contraction, but with a smile in her heart. Just twelve hours ago, she thought she'd never smile a genuine smile again. But that was when they hadn't had the Evil Queen locked in a cell similar to the one holding Rumplestiltskin. Just twelve hours ago, she thought she'd have to say goodbye to her soon to be daughter just after meeting her; to have to put her into a wardrobe so she could save them all. Snow thought back to the day before.

...
Prince charming rushed to her with the news; their scouts had sighted the Evil Queen in the northern part of the enchanted forest. He had already sent a troop of soldiers to head her off, and he was going to join them right after he gave Snow the report. He didn't want to tell her. He knew that if he did, she would like to join him, and she needed her rest, but she only agreed to stay in the castle if he'd keep her updated. After telling her what was going on, he set off at full gallop on his faithful steed and quickly joined the troop. As he was riding, he started thinking dangerous thoughts; what if they didn't make it in time, what if they couldn't overcome the Evil Queen. He tried to calm down, reminding himself that the wardrobe was complete, and if Snow saw the curse coming, she'd go in escaping before it was too late. Within a few hours, they had made it to where the Queen had been sighted and saw her feverishly working on completing the curse. They had gotten there just in time. They charged in and, with only some difficulty, managed to overcome her and bring her in.

...

Snow thought about all this while she awaited the birth of her soon-to-be daughter. She looked around and saw Doc and the Blue Fairy standing near her. She smiled at them, and all of a sudden, she felt a sharp pain. Doc came over to her and realized that the young princess was about to make her debut. Ten minutes later, Snow was sitting up in bed with her daughter in her arms.

"Welcome to the world, my little princess," she whispered into Emma's ear. Then turning to Blue, she asked, "will you be her fairy godmother?"

"Of course," Blue responded, "is that even a question? It would be my honor to protect her."

"I can't help but worry that something will happen to her. I know that the Evil Queen is locked up and can't hurt her, but still, I worry."

"That's completely normal. You've gotten so used to having to be fearful for your life. It'll take time to get used to peace again."

"I suppose you're right. Is Charming back from making sure the Queen is secure?"

"I'm right here, my love," Charming said as he entered the room. "Let's see her then, our little princess."

Snow handed Emma to him. He took her in his arms and softly stroked her beautiful blond hair.

...

Three years later

Princess Emma was running around in the castle garden, enjoying the fine spring day. Snow watched her daughter lovingly, a smile on her face. She remembered that Blue promised that she would pay a visit to the young royal. Her thoughts were interrupted, however, by the voice of her daughter.

"Look, mommy, look," Emma called out, "a butterfly." Emma continued to run around, chasing the said butterfly. Her gaze drifted upwards as it flew higher and higher. Then all of a sudden, she saw something that momentarily drew her focus away from the butterfly. "Look, mommy," she called out again, "Blue is here."

Snow looked up and that the fairy indeed had arrived. "Oh, Blue! How wonderful it is to see you. It has been too long since I've seen you last."

Blue grew to human size and curtsied to Snow. Snow curtsied back.

"Yes, I've been busy training Yellow," responded Blue.

"Oh, is she new?"

"No, she isn't. She's actually one of my best students. I'm training her so she can take over some of my responsibilities."

"I see, but-," she was interrupted as Emma ran over to them, knocking into Blue before wrapping her arms around the fairy's knees.

"Good day, my little Princess," she said as she curtsied to Emma. Emma tried to curtsy back but lost her balance and fell over.

Emma walked away, looking for the butterfly again, she couldn't find it. "Mommy, where did the butterfly go?"

"Perhaps it wanted to see the flowers on the other side of the garden, but we can't go there now," she said, answering her daughter's inevitable request.

Emma didn't seem to mind; she had an idea running off to one of the flower beds nearby. She plucked two petals from one of the flowers and found a thin Y-shaped twig on the ground. She placed the petals on either side of the twig. The princess had made her own butterfly, now if only it could fly. Emma focused on her creation, and slowly it started to lift from the ground. Amazed by what she had done, she tried again, this time making the petals flutter. She caught her creation and ran to show it to blue and her mommy. "Look, I made a butterfly, and it can fly."

"Oh really," Snow said with a mischievous grin, but she was then taken by surprise as Emma caused the butterfly to lift into the air. She and Blue looked at Emma in wonder as they realized the young royal had magic.