Disclaimer: Do not own Once Upon a Time. It will never happen. Only have credit for Ally.


04-The Price of Gold

The weekend was finally over, and despite the unpleasant glares from Regina most of the time Ally and Henry still managed to have a good weekend. Now most people would find it odd that Ally wasn't sent home because of all the trouble that they were in, but Mayor Mills decided that All needed constant supervision in order to be punished properly, something that she was able to provide, not her family.

That weekend the main subject of discussion was whether or not the backstory that Henry's mom had made for Kathryn and David Nolan, was solid enough to keep Snow White and Prince Charming apart. Henry was firmly on the side that true love would win out, but Ally wasn't so sure it was as simple as that.

"Henry just because something's meant to be doesn't mean it's supposed to happen." Ally argues coming to a stop abruptly and looking at Emma. She had been waiting outside of the diner for the kids to show up.

"You're just not a romantic." Henry throws back. Emma steps in between them before it can get too heated.

"Whoa, and both of you are too young to be thinking of things like that." Emma says giving both the kids amused looks.

"You sure we can be out in the open?" Henry asks Emma looking up at her, as the three of them talk down the street.

"Enough sneaking around. If your mom has a problem with me walking you to a school bus, I am more than happy to have that chat." Emma tells him. Ally gives Emma an impressed look for Mayor Mills still intimidates her a lot, but then again, she is only ten.

"You're brave. We'll need that for Operation Cobra. Speaking of – do you think we need code names?" Henry ponders. Ally smirks at Henry from around Emma.

"Isn't 'cobra' our code name?" Emma wonders.

"That's the mission. I mean us. I need something to call you." Henry explains.

"Henry can be Nightwing, since he reads all of those comics." Ally says giving Henry a pointed look. Emma gives them both looks.

"You read comics kid?" Emma asks him.

"Well I don't spend all of my time chasing down fairy tale characters. I do have a life you know." Henry defends. Ally snorts.

"Which is code for he really doesn't." She snickers. Henry reaches around Emma and smacks Ally, and Emma pulls them apart.

"Seriously you two? Why don't you just call me Emma for now?" She tells them, trying to get the pair to refocus.

"Well then I'll be Nighwing if Ally is Wolfpup. I think it has a rather poetic ring to it." He grins. Ally swipes at him, and Henry dances away with a smile.

"Okay. Well then, we'll see you later, Emma." Ally says following Henry onto the bus, and they both wave at her from out the window.

"Emma— god she needs to get an imagination." Henry sighs. Ally shoved him as she sits down.

"Wolfpup. You couldn't have been more obvious genius. I thought the names weren't supposed to be fairy tale related?" Ally demands.

"Well I thought that it fit rather well. We still haven't figured out whether you're going to you know…" He says mimicking a wolf face. Ally rolls her eyes at his pathetic attempt.

"I dunno, the book said that it didn't happen to my mom until she was thirteen. I'm only ten now." Ally says, dancing around the subject since others could overhear them. Henry nods his head but grins at her.

"I think it would be awesome if you do. I'll help train you so that you won't have to be locked up." He promises. Ally scowls at him.

"I'm a wolf not a dog Henry." She says.

"Either way, I'll still help you." He promises. Ally smiles at him gratefully, and the bus lets out at school. Henry and Ally sigh preparing themselves to yet another day at school, when they could be doing much more important things like curse breaking.


After school Ally is hanging back at the diner. Technically she's grounded from the stunts she's pulled with Henry in the last three days, but with her Mom and Gigi, she most likely will be able to go out later. She showed up today at the diner, so that's good enough for them.

Ally watches as her Mom serves customers, and conceals the sigh that she wants to let out. She knows that when she gets older, she's going to have to work at the diner as well. Gigi comes hurrying out of the kitchen with an order that her mom was supposed to pick up minutes ago. She was behind because one of the guys in one of the booths is flirting with her.

Ally scowls and picks up a sugar packet. She lines it up on the counter, and corrects her aim. He's grinning at her Mom like she's a sure thing. That only confirms Ally's decision that this is the right thing to do. She lets out a slow breath, and flicks the packet.

It goes sailing through the air, and smacks the guy clear in the back of the head. He startles and so does her Mom. Ruby and the guy spin around to see Ally sitting there glaring at the man. Ruby crosses her arms and stares her daughter down. This time instead of looking sheepish the girl just glares right back.

Ruby marches over to her daughter and drags her off the stool, and into the supply room off the kitchen. "Ally what the hell? You do not go throwing stuff at customers." Ruby snaps looking down at the girl. Ally crosses her arms and mimics her Mom's pose.

"I didn't throw it, I flicked it. There is a distinct difference there." She growls back. Ruby looks down at her kid incredulously. Ally has never talked back to her before. They've always had a good relationship, never getting into fights.

"Where is this coming from?" Ruby demands. Ally bites her lip, not believing her Mom.

"He was looking at you creepily. It was like what happened with Dr. Whale! You shouldn't be flirting with guys like that!" Ally cries shocking her mother.

"That's not for you to decide Ally! I'm the mother in this relationship— not you! I'm an adult, and I choose who I give my attention to." Ruby snaps. Ally feels tears start to fill her eyes.

"He doesn't care about you! I care about you, but you never give me any time!" Ally yells. Ruby is too caught up in her anger to realize what her daughter is really trying to convey to her.

"It's my life Ally, and I can do with it what I want. I think that you should leave the diner. You obviously need to go and cool down. You can come back when you feel like apologizing." She says opening the door and gesturing for her daughter to exit. Ally looks up at her Mom with a trembling lip.

"I-I just want you to choose me." Ally chokes on her tears. Ruby's expression softens slightly.

"You're my kid Ally, I did choose you. I just need to figure out the rest of my life as well. Then we can all be happy." She tells her. Tears slip down Ally's cheeks and she pushes past her Mom and to the back entrance. She runs into Gigi, who has a furious look on her face.

"Go on child, I have to have a conversation with your mother. She didn't mean what she said dear— she's just unhappy." Gigi tells her great-granddaughter.

"I'm not happy either." Ally cries slipping out of her grasp, and out the door. She makes her way through the back allies and to the Mayor's house. Ally doesn't know where else to go. Henry is the only person that she's ever thought of as safe. She runs over to the side of the house where his window is, and picks up a few small stones.

Seeing as her aim is working rather well today. She throws them up at one of his windows. It takes three stones and a minute before Henry pushes his window open. He leans his head out, and sees Ally standing on the ground. It takes a second for him to realize that something's up.

"Ally?" He asks worriedly. Ally scrubs the tears off her face violently. She looks back up at her best friend.

"I need Operation Cobra!" She yells up to him. It takes a second before Henry smiles, and nods his head. She goes around to the front of the house, when he closes his window.

By the time Henry comes bounding out the front door, Ally is leaning against one of the columns waiting for him. "Okay, my mom's out until five. So I say let's go get Emma, and we'll get working." Henry tells her realizing that his friend doesn't want to talk about it right now.

What he does do is grab her hand, so that she doesn't feel as lonely as she tends to feel. After a minute of walk Ally finally speaks.

"So… where is she staying?" Ally asks him. Henry turns his gaze to his friend, taking note of her red-rimmed eyes, and defeated posture.

"Mary Margaret's." Henry says simply. Ally nods her head slowly, trying to keep out the rest of Henry's unfinished sentence. With her mother, Emma is now finally reunited with her mother. Ally would kill to be with her true mother. A few minutes later they come to Mary Margaret's apartment, and they quickly climb up the stairs, and turn to her door.

The pair can hear voices from the other side. Before Ally can knock on the door, Henry pushes it open, and goes into the place. Ally quickly follows behind him, not wanting to be left out.

"Hey, Emma. I was thinking we…" Henry trails off. Emma is standing in front of the counter eyeing the creepy Mr. Gold. Ally unconsciously takes a step behind Henry. Not much scares her, but there is definitely something off about him.

Ally would almost swear that he's eviler than Regina the Evil Queen. "Hey Henry, Ally. How are you guys?" Mr. Gold asks the kids who had just intruded on their conversation.

"Okay?" Henry says cautiously. Ally nods her head mutely, not wanting to talk. Mr. Gold smiles at them despite their weak responses.

"Good. Give my regards to your mother. And, um, good luck, Miss Swan." He says, and with that he turns around and limps out the door, closing it behind him. Ally lets out a deep sigh after he's gone. A shiver runs down her spine and she flinches. Yeah, there's definitely something off.

"Do you know who that is?" Henry asks Emma curiously. Emma cocks her eyebrow at the two kids taking note of the saddened state of Ally.

"Yeah, course I do." She responds.

"Who? Cause I'm still trying to figure it out." Henry says. Emma sighs and runs her hands over her face.

"Oh. I meant in reality." Emma says flatly. Henry deflates. He looks over to the box that is currently sitting opened in the living room.

"Is that all you brought?" He asks slightly worried. Emma looks at him, trying to figure out what's going through his head.

"Henry, what are you and Ally doing here?" Emma demands finally. Ally startles a little at hearing her name. Henry turns back around to face Emma.

"My mom's gone til five. I thought we could hang out." He explains. Ally nods her head enthusiastically. They desperately need to get this curse broken.

"Ah, kids. I wish I could. But there's something I got to do." She says grabbing her coat, and heading out the door. Ally and Henry share a look before scampering out the door after her.

They catch up with her on the street. Henry grabs Ally's hand again when he senses her thoughts drifting too far away from reality. "Please let us help!" Henry begs, after Emma explains what Mr. Gold had wanted.

"No, no it could be dangerous!" Emma exclaims. Ally gives Emma a look for that.

"The pregnant maid is dangerous?" Ally asks not totally believing that. Emma groans. She doesn't have time for the two of them following her around and questioning everything.

"She assaulted Mr. Gold." Emma explains. Henry and Ally both grin at that.

"Cool!" They exclaim. Emma can't believe the two of them.

"This isn't a game. She's desperate." Emma tells them.

"How do you know?" Henry asks her.

"Because I know." She says.

"Well, then let's find her!" Ally cries, ready for another adventure. Emma stops forcing he two kids to stop as well lest they run into her.

"Oh, no, no, no, no. There is no let's. You guys cannot come with me." Emma declares. Henry and Ally both cross their arms at that.

"Then we'll look for her ourselves." Henry challenges her. Emma narrows her eyes at the pair.

"Then I'll find you and I'll bring you back." Emma counters.

"Then you wouldn't be helping the maid." Ally argues back.

"I am just trying to be responsible here." Emma tries to reason with the kids.

"And I'm just trying to spend time with you." Henry smiles victoriously knowing that he just won the argument here. Henry and Ally climb into Emma's car, and she groans getting in after them.

"Oh, that is not fair." She complains.

"So, the maid. What's her story?" Henry asks. Ally shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

"You're talking about Ashley aren't you?" She says softly. Emma and Henry turn around to look at her. Emma looks shocked.

"How'd you know that?" She demands.

"She's a friend of my Mom's. She's a good person. She's always been nice to me." Ally explains. Emma lets out a long breath of air. This job of hers just keeps getting more complicated. She starts the car and they drive to the diner. Ally starts squirming in her seat uncomfortably. Henry is watching her worriedly.

Emma turns around when she finally sees the problem. "What's up Ally?" She asks the girl softly. She finally ready to address the unhappiness of the little girl. Ally bites down onto her quivering lower lip.

"Um… I kinda had a fight with my Mom. S-she doesn't want to see me right now. I-I'll wait out in the car." Ally says softly. Emma shoots Henry a questioning look, and he shrugs his shoulders. Emma sighs, she's really not cut out to handle all these kid issues. She only just got her one back, and now its like she's gotten another one out of the whole deal.

"Well I'm sorry to hear that kid. I think that you should probably talk to her about it though. I'm sure that she feels just as bad about it as you do." Emma tells her. Ally shakes her head though, and clutches her seat belt tightly.

"Okay then I'll stay here with you as Emma goes talk to yours." Henry says crawling to sit in the back beside Ally. He grabs her hand, and Emma smiles at the two of them. Henry really is a great kid.

"Sure I'll be back kids." She tells them, closing the door, and going into the diner. She's going to have a talk to Ruby about, why she has her daughter near tears in the back of her car.

Meanwhile outside Henry tries to get Ally to talk to him. "I'm sure that everything will be okay Ally. You and your mom have never fought before. I'm sure you two will bounce back." He tells her squeezing her hand.

"I don't think so Henry. She was really upset… she practically told me that she didn't— didn't care about me." Ally admits in a whisper. Henry frowned hard, and pulled Ally in for a hug. Her tears were falling on his shirt, but he didn't care. The thing he didn't understand was Ruby.

She was the coolest mom around. Most kids thought that Ally was lucky. Sure she was a great and cool mom, but when it came to spending time with her kid— well there just never seemed to be time. Henry looked out the car window into the diner, and looked at Emma who was talking to Ruby. Ruby didn't seem like herself at all.

It didn't really help that Emma was glaring at her. When Henry saw her start to cry though, it made him hope that she did feel bad for what she had said to her daughter. A few minutes later, Ruby was drying her eyes with her apron, and Emma was coming back out of the diner, and to the car. It didn't escape both Henry and Emma's attention that Ruby came closer to the window to see her daughter.

Once Emma was in the car she turned to the back seat to look at the kids. Ally was sniffling by now. "Oh kid. Come on now, there's no need to cry. I for one know personally that your mom feels terrible for what she said. She was even crying." Emma tries to comfort her.

Ally pulls away from Henry with a trembling lip. "I-I don't want her to cry…" Ally whimpers. Henry glances back to the diner, and sees Ruby crying again as she watches Ally cry.

"Maybe you should go talk to your mom." Henry suggests softly. Ally bites her lip, and slowly shakes her head.

"N-no… we need to help Ashley first. I won't back out of helping her now." She tells them firmly. Emma looks unsure, but Henry nods his head.

"Okay Emma! You heard her. So what did you find out?" Henry asks leaning over the front seat to talk to her.

"Well— she had a boyfriend…"

"Sean." Ally interrupts.

"As I was saying he left her when he…"

"Found out she was pregnant, jerk." She says again. Emma shoots an amused look at the girl.

"Do you want to tell this? No— okay then. She has a stepmother and two stepsisters that she doesn't talk to…"

"Wait. Stepmom. Stepsisters. And she's a maid? What I know her too somewhat…" Henry interrupts Emma now. She rolls her eyes at the two kids.

"Point Henry?" She asks. Ally's eyes widen and she grins at Henry.

"She's Cinderella!" Ally exclaims giddily pulling on Henry's arm in excitement. When Ally was younger she used to love the story of Cinderella. Emma sighs in fond exasperation and shakes her head.

"Okay seatbelts kids! Let's go pay 'Prince' Sean a visit." Emma says putting the car into gear as the kids scramble to buckle in. As they drive off Henry looks back one time, and sees Ruby looking after them with Granny at her side. She'll come around. He believes that, and believes that Ally will get her happy ending just as Emma will when the curse is broken.


The car pulls up to a stop in front of the Herman house. "You two," Emma looks pointedly at them, "will stay in the car."

Henry and Ally pout, but don't try to push their luck, since coming along is already a huge victory in the first place. They watch as Emma gets out and goes to ring the doorbell. Ally cringes when she sees Sean's father pull up in the driveway. She's only met the man a few times, but she really doesn't like him. Henry and Ally watch as the grownups have a confrontation.

"So, do you think that Ashley's with him?" Henry asks her. Ally scrunches her nose up, and shakes her head.

"No. She wouldn't go back to him. She's already upset enough that he broke up with her. She just feels alone. I don't know why Emma wanted to come here." Ally replies. Henry doesn't like the sound of that. A few minutes later, after the door is slammed in Emma's face she comes back to the car.

"Well that was a bust. I did find out one thing though. Sean's father arranged for Mr. Gold to buy Ashley's baby." She tells the kids. Both Henry and Ally's eyes were as wide as saucers at that announcement.

"Seriously?" Henry asks. Emma nods her head gravely. Ally glares back at the house. Taking the kids' silence as cue to leave, Emma starts back into town, and parks in front of the diner again. Ally looks at it hesitantly, but gets out of the car with the other two.

When they enter, Ruby looks up from wiping down the counter. She freezes for two different reasons when she sees them, but her eyes are mainly on her daughter. Ally finally raises her gaze to meet her mother's and she sees that her eyes are rimmed with red as well.

Before anyone can say anything though, Ally breaks into a run and dashes to her mom. Ruby barely catches her as she plows into her sobbing. Emma puts her arm around Henry as they watch the mother and daughter hold each other. "You did good." Henry whispers to Emma.

She looks down at him shocked, but his attention is already back on Ally. Ally clutches onto her mom tightly. "I-I didn't want you to cry…" She sniffles into Ruby's neck. Ruby chokes back a sob, and squeezes Ally a little tighter.

"Oh Ally that's not for you to worry about. I'm so, so, sorry for what I said to you. You were right, I just didn't want to hear it. Will you please forgive me?" Ruby asks pulling away from Ally, and tipping up her chin so that she can see her face. Ally gives her a wobbly smile, and nods.

"All you had to do was ask." She says softly. Ruby grins at her daughter, and picks her up into another hug, and places her on the counter. She takes her time wiping off the remaining tears with the pads of her thumbs. Seeing that the reunion was through, Emma and Henry approached the pair, and slid onto the stools in front of them.

"I'm glad you two worked things through." Emma says. Ally beams at them, and over her head, Ruby mouths a thank you. Emma nods to show her that she got it. She sighs knowing that she's going to have to end the happy moment.

"So, why didn't you tell me that she sold the baby Ruby?" Emma asks her. Ally looks up at her mom shocked. Why would she lie to Emma? Ruby shifts uncomfortably, and runs her hand through Ally's hair.

"Because I didn't think it was important." Ruby says. She continues to run her fingers through the girl's hair trying to calm herself before the accusations get worse.

"Really? Considering that's why she's running away." Emma counters, not impressed. Ally and Henry cast nervous glances at the adults who look like they're ready to face off soon.

"Look, Ashley's my friend. I don't like the idea of people judging her." Ruby says stopping her hand. Emma glances down and sees the glass wolf charm that Ally's been absently fiddling with. It should be in Ruby's car but its not.

"Ruby, where's your car? You didn't send me to Sean to find her. You sent me there to give her a head start." Emma accuses her. Ruby helps Ally slide off the counter, not wanting her to be around for this argument.

"Look, I'm only trying to help her." Ruby tells Emma. Emma glares back.

"Yes, so am I. Ashley's in more trouble than you know, Ruby. Where is she? Don't make her deal with Gold without me." Emma tells her. Ally looks up at her Mom with pleading eyes.

"I can't talk in front of him. He's the Mayor's kid. Ally can't be here either." Ruby states. Both Henry and Ally send her offended looks.

"Hey! I'm on your side." Henry cries outraged.

"Mom!" Ally whines.

"Henry, Ally, I need to find this woman. And in order to do that, I need you to go home, okay? So please listen to me. Seriously. She's not going to tell me anything if you're around." Emma says to the kids pleaded with them to actually listen to her for once.

"Okay." The kids sigh. Henry starts for the door, while Ally gives her mom an uncertain look. Ruby smiles at her softly and kneels down to kiss her forehead.

"See you later pup." She says. Ally leaves hoping that later actually happens tonight.

Once outside Henry and Ally walk around the corner, but Henry stops Ally before she can get far. "We're not leaving. Emma didn't lock her car, she what she can't keep out, can come right in." Henry says mischievously. Ally gives Henry an unsure look, but follows him anyway.

The two kids crawl into the back of Emma's car and wait for her to come back out. "At least you and your mom made up." Henry whispers. Ally smiles softly, happy with the results of the day, even if she had to have a major fight with her mother.

A few minutes later Emma comes out to the car and gets in. She starts the engine, and she plus the two stowaways start out again. A minute later though Henry pops up from the back seat, Ally with him.

"What'd she tell you?" Henry asks, causing Emma to swerve the bug slightly in shock.

"Henry! Ally! What the hell? I'm going to Boston. You can't come with me." Emma says, slowing down the car slightly.

"You can't go to Boston! She can't leave. Bad things happen to anyone who does." Henry urges her.

"Then why could your sister and Ally, since they came with you?" Emma challenges.

"They are both in a modified curse. Everyone else but the two of them and me don't age. All that's wrong with them is they can't remember." Henry explains.

"I was one, I highly doubt I can remember that." Ally mumbles.

"I don't have time to argue with you over the curse. I've got to get you home." Emma says finally, going to make a U-turn.

"We have to stop her before she gets hurt! We're wasting time! If you drop me off, we'll never catch up to her." Ally cries. Emma sighs loudly.

"Guys…" She sighs again.

"And then Mr. Gold will call the police, and he'll have her sent to jail." Henry adds, playing off of Emma's morals. With a groan Emma keeps going straight, out of the small town and into the woods to leave it.

"…Buckle up. Ashley, what did you get yourself into?" Emma mutters from the front. Henry and Ally share worried looks. Everyone is looking out the window when suddenly Ally is pointing.

"Our car! She crashed our car!" Ally cries. Henry bounces beside her.

"Its her car! I told you!" He trumpets. Emma pulls over, and all three of them race out of the car, to go and inspect the other one that's in a ditch. Ally groans to herself, since that car was hers and her mother's favorite possession. Oh well, at least she managed to save the wolf charm.

"Ashley?" Emma shouts looking in the windows. A moan is heard from a few feet away, and the kids run over to the sound to see, a heavily pregnant young blond woman in the grass. She moans in pain. Ally drops to her knees beside her, grabbing her hand.

"Ashley!" Ally cries. The young woman looks up at the sound of the girl's voice. She sees the three people around her.

"Ally! My baby! It's coming!" Ashley yells out in pain. Ally winces from the force of the hand gripping hers.

"Okay come on quickly." Emma says. She and the two kids manage to help Ashley to her feet and into the passenger seat. Henry and Ally look on worriedly in the back, as Emma turns the car around back to Storybrooke.

"Is the baby really coming?" Henry asks slightly scared now. Ally's eyes are widened in shock. She's never doing that— ever! That looks horribly painful.

"Ohh yeah. Don't worry – the hospital isn't that far." Emma says. That gains Ashley's attention again.

"No! No, no, no. Take me to Boston. I can't go back there." She cries out.

"Oh no, we don't have four hours. Trust me – I know." Emma tells her, sounding like she remembers her own time.

"I can't go back there. Please. He's going to take my baby." Ashley begs her. Emma tightens her grip on the steering wheel.

"I won't let that happen. Do you know what you're asking for? If you keep this child, are you really ready? It doesn't just end the minutes they're out of diapers." Emma says gesturing to Henry and Ally in the back, who are both still wide eyed.

"Yeah." Ashley answers.

"Are you sure? Because I wasn't." Emma says. That shocks Ashley.

"You weren't?" She asks.

"Nope. If you want to give this kid its best chance, it's going to be with someone who's ready, so know what that means. Your whole life is going to change and once you decide that it's yours, this 'running away' can't happen. You have to grow up and you can't ever leave. Understand?" Emma tells her. Ashley gives Emma a determined look.

"Yes, I want my baby." She says. Henry and Ally grin from the backseat, and Emma gives a solemn nod. Okay time to bring on the baby.


An hour later brings Emma, Henry, and Ally sitting in the hospital's waiting room. Henry and Ally are playing Go Fish with a pack of cards that one of the nurses had slipped them. Emma was keeping one eye on them, and the other eye on the door for the doctor or Mr. Gold.

"You know, Emma. You're different." Henry states out of the blue, shocking her. She turns her full attention to the two kids at her feet.

"What's that?" She asks.

"You're the only one who could do it." Ally says catching onto Henry's trail of thought quickly.

"Break the curse? Yes, I know. You keep telling me that." Emma says impatiently.

"No. Leave. You're the only one who can leave Storybrooke." Ally says.

"You guys left, came and found me in Boston." Emma argues. She honestly doesn't know why she bothers fighting them anymore.

"But we came back. We're ten – we had no choice. But if anyone else tried to go, bad things would happen." Henry explains. Emma shakes her head. This thing again, she sighs.

"Anyone except me?" She says to make sure she really understands. Ally rolls her eyes at Emma's stubbornness.

"You're the savior. You can do whatever you want. You can go." Ally tells her not exactly wanting her to know this incase she wants to leave. Before anyone else can say anything a doctor approaches them.

"Miss Swan. Baby is a healthy six pound girl and the mother is doing fine." He informs them. Henry and Ally sigh relieved, and then smile at each other happily. Another little life has just joined Storybrooke.

"What lovely news. Excellent work, Miss Swan. Thank you for bringing me my merchandise." Mr. Gold says, coming up behind the small group. The smiles slip off their faces, as they turn to face the evil pawnbroker.

"Guys, give me a moment with Mr. Gold, then we'll go in and see Ashley." Emma tells them, leading Mr. Gold down the hall, and to the vending machines. Henry and Ally share a worried look.

"No one ever breaks a deal with Mr. Gold." Ally says worriedly. Henry bites his lip, and shakes his head.

"Emma's here. She's changing everything. Ashley will get to keep her baby." Henry says sure that everything will turn out okay in the end.

A few minutes later much to their shock, they two kids watch as Mr. Gold limps away out of the hospital. Emma walks up to the kids with a grim look on her face. "Come on kids. We've got a baby to see." Emma announces. Ally and Henry grin at her, and they follow Emma to the room where an exhausted Ashley lies, with her small baby girl tucked away in her arms.

"Hey. What's her name?" Emma asks, alerting Ashley to their presence.

"Alexandra." Ashley replies with a joyful sniffle. Ally and Henry beam at her remembering in the book that Alexandra is that name that Prince Thomas— Sean wanted to name the baby.

"It's pretty." Emma says softly, as all four of them watch tiny Alexandra.

"Thank you for getting me here." Ashley thanks her sincerely. Emma and the kids smile at her.

"Mr. Gold was outside. I took care of it – she's yours." Emma assures her. Ashley lets out a sob of relief, and cradles Alexandra closer to her.

"She is? What did you do?" She cries.

"Made a deal with him." Emma says simply. Ally and Henry share a worried look, as Ashley thanks her profusely.

"Oh, hey, kid. It's almost five. We got to get you home." Emma says glancing at the clock. Ally and Henry race out of the room, and Emma says goodbye and runs out after them.


A few minutes later, the three of them are in the car, and making their way back to Henry's house. They're silent, until Emma breaks it.

"Pumpkin. My code name. I was thinking in honor of Cinderella. Pumpkin." Emma says nodding her head. Henry shakes his head at that, and Ally makes a face.

"You got a better one in mind Nightwing? Wolfpup?" Emma questions, and teases slightly.

"Yep." Henry says unperturbed.

"Well?" Emma asks.

"We're not sure if you're ready yet." Ally tells her, and Henry nods in agreement. Emma scoffs, and shakes her head fondly. Those two are really beginning to grow on her. Emma pulls up in front of Henry's house and the kids do their handshake before he gets out.

But before he can get too far away, Emma calls out the window. "Henry! About what you said at the hospital. About me being able to leave?" She says. Emma has both kids attention now.

"Yeah?" She asks.

"See you tomorrow." Emma says. Henry grins, and runs the rest of the way to the house. Emma sighs, and pulls away from the curb, and heads back to Main street. "Okay Ally time to get you home as well. She announces.

Ally nods her head, and soon they pull up in front of the inn. Ally climbs out of the car, but pauses before she closes the door. "I know you talked to my Mom. Thank you… for what you said." She tells Emma softly. Emma smiles at the kid, not realizing that she's beginning to grow attached to the young girl as well as her son.

"You're welcome Ally, and she does really care. Sometimes grownups just have a hard time showing it. She'll get there kid." Emma tells her. Ally smiles at her and closes the door, waving as Emma pulls away. With a sigh, Ally turns and heads into the inn.

After a long evening Ally is getting ready for bed. As she pulls back her covers to crawl into bed, there's a knock on her door. She cocks her head quizzically for Gigi never knocks on her door at bedtime, just comes in. "Come in." She calls out. The door opens, and Ally's lucky that's she's already sitting down on her bed, or she would have fallen.

Standing there is her Mom. "Mom!" Ally cries shocked. Ruby smiles softly at her daughter and comes into the room.

"Hey pup. I was thinking that I could read to you tonight, before you go to sleep." Ruby says. She holds her breath for a second unsure how her daughter is going to react. If it were her, she'd still be upset. Ally though, is definitely not her mother.

"Awesome!" Ally cries, scurrying under the covers, and scooting over close to the wall, so that there's room for Ruby to lie down as well. Ruby grins at her kid, and sits down beside her, and stretches out on the bed beside the girl. Ally curls into her Mom's side and rests her head on her chest.

"I was thinking that we could read one of the stories you liked when you were little." Ruby says softly, stroking some of Ally's hair off her face. The girl nods wordlessly, and just snuggles up to her tighter. "Okay well this one you should practically know by heart now." Ruby says softly.

Ally glances at the book's cover, and grins softly seeing Cinderella in her large, puffy, blue ball gown. If only her Mom knew. Ruby started reading, and Ally let her mom's voice float over her. Halfway through the story Ruby glanced down to see if Ally was following along, and smiled at the sight of her slumbering daughter.

She softly closed the book, and placed it on her bedside table, before rubbing her hand on Ally's back. This caused the girl shift closer. After a few minutes, she extracted herself from the child, and tucked Ally under her covers fully, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

When Ruby turns around she sees Granny standing in the doorway. She slowly makes her way over to her, and exits the young girl's room, closing the door behind her. Both women look at each other for a charged moment, before Granny pats Ruby's shoulder and walks away.

Before she gets very far, she speaks. "You doing good child, but that child still needs more." And with that admission the residents of Granny's Bed and Breakfast retire for the night.