Author's Note: Ok! I honestly was considering which direction to take this story and I finally decided what I'm going to do. Some of you may love it…some of you may hate it. Hopefully more will love it than hate it! The next chapter will be the turning point for this story…so see if you can figure out where I'm taking the story!

Little Snow couldn't help but suddenly feel apprehensive.

Regina asking her to speak in private left her feeling weary.

"I need to tell you something. And I need you to listen before you say anything." Regina instructed as she slowly turned to look at Little Snow.

Little Snow frowned but nodded her head all the same as the door behind her swung closed. Feelings of worry bombarded her. As strange as everything had been in this land, she had felt a sense of safety because of Regina's presence.

But after having met her sister ~ she had a sister ~ that was apparently Regina's and her father's...she didn't know what her future truly held. Regina had told her that she was in love with Daniel - but her sister was living proof that maybe Regina would choose to stay with her and her father.

Focusing on Regina's agitated behavior, she tried to push her thoughts aside. She'd only seen Regina like this when she had made her promise not to tell anyone about Daniel.

"Your mother's here." Regina cringed as the words fell from her mouth. She had wanted to ease Little Snow into the news - not shock her with it. Which she knew she had done as Little Snow's mouth dropped open.

Little Snow shook her head side to side. "That...No. No. Mother... She...she's not..." The deep breaths she was taking as the news sunk in turning into hyperventilating, revealing just how shocked she was.

Regina rushed over and grabbed Little Snow's shoulders. "Snow calm down. Breathe Snow, breathe."

The coaching from Regina did help as Little Snow slowly closed her eyes and slowly evened her breaths.

"Is she angry at me?"

Regina's eyes widened slightly at the whispered question Little Snow asked as the little girl opened her eyes and locked with Regina's. The worry and fear there leaving Regina unprepared as she had never once considered this reaction.

"What? No! Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?" Regina answered instinctively. Something in her was trying to protect Snow from the idea that her mother was mad at her, strange as it was that she felt the need to protect Snow from her own mother.

"Because...because I let her die. I couldn't...I couldn't do it Regina! I couldn't kill someone else to save her!" Little Snow shook her head as tears began to make their way down her cheeks, her face morphing into one of misery.

Regina's brow furrowed at the confusing confession. What was she talking about.

"Snow what are you..."

"The blue fairy told me I could save her if I lit a candle and said another person's name. But I couldn't. I told her I couldn't right before she...right before she... I couldn't..." The tears and gasps accompanying her words as she be became hysterical at the thought of facing her mother after what she had not been able to do came back to haunt her.

Regina's eyes narrowed as the information about the candle made her realize that Blue would have never done such a thing. Whoever had pulled the little stunt was most certainly not a person that practiced white magic.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts she calmed Snow down.

"Snow she doesn't know anything about that. She came here with the baby. She's from the distant past...you don't have to worry about her being mad at you. To her Snow White is a little baby. It's alright sweetheart. She won't be angry at you."

This wasn't going at all like Regina thought it would. She had expected Snow to have been excited! To want to find her mother immediately and jump into her arms and never leave them.

Instead she was wiping away Snow's tears and removing stuck hair from Snow's round face trying to settle her down.

Little Snow's eyes slowly brightened at she took in the news. Her mother didn't know...and she was alive! And here!

"She...she is?"

"Yes. And I know you might want to talk with her and be with her...but I'm afraid if you do it will...it might ruin everyone's future."

Little Snow sniffled as she looked up with confused eyes at Regina s.

"If she finds out about the future...she..." Regina stopped herself as anger at what was happening once again hit her. Her trust in this little girl almost nothing. Then inspiration hit her of how to make sure Little Snow would do as she asked.

"If she finds out that she's in the future and know's what happens... Sarah might never be born."

The brightness in Little Snow's eyes dulled instantly at the words.

Regina watched in amazement as Little Snow slowly thought about what she said - not saying a word as she aimlessly let her eyes wander as she thought.

"I love my mother...but I don't think I could live with myself if Sarah's never born. Is that...Is that bad? That...I let mother die...but I want to make sure Sarah lives?" Little Snow asked with a furrowed brow and a confused look at Regina.

Regina's throat constricted. Tears sprang to her eyes as the proof that Snow really did love Sarah showed itself in her question. For Little Snow to ask her - HER - about her moral judgment meant that she was torn between what was right and what her heart wanted. Something that Regina had thought had only been reserved for her love for Charming.

"No...No it's not bad. It just means you love your sister. And I...I'm so glad you do." Regina's throat tightened closed as she fought to say the words. Emotions getting the best of her.

Before she could say another word, Regina found her arms full as Little Snow threw herself in her hold and squeezed tightly.

"I'll make sure nothing bad happens to her Regina." Little Snow whispered.

Regina opened her eyes and realized they were blurred from tears, wrapping her arms around Little Snow she closed her eyes and fought hard to believe the little girl who betrayed her.

Rum walked behind Eva, knowing that he had no choice but to do the one thing he had always feared. It would ruin every relationship that he had ever made.

Watching Eva walk towards the town he felt himself berating himself for not doing it sooner. Confessing his sins to those he loves most might have brought him forgiveness if he had done it immediately.

But he hadn't.

He was afraid even now to think of the reactions. Of the blame.

And they would be right.

He felt a strong dark magic as he passed a small building, but instantly knew the only person who could possess such magic here.

Forcing himself to move faster towards Eva he knew he couldn't let his other self stop him.

Years of lying to those he loved had darkened his heart slowly and tortuously. After what they had done for him…he at least owed them the truth.

Even if they never spoke to him again, he had to make sure his other self did not use the people of this realm.

Seeing the familiar faces in the distance he glanced at Queen Eva and saw the look of anger on her face as she glanced at what was happening in the room.

Glancing back to where the others were he realized why.

How was he going to tell her.

Heart clenching, his mind brought him back to the events that led him to this day.

****************************Fairytale Land Past****************************

The screeching of the small baby echoed loudly through the forest, causing all the nearby animals to scurry and hide.

Birds flew through the limbs of trees, as if the sound could not be bared.

Holding the small child in his arms he knew that there was no going back from this moment.

This one moment would determine everything.

Every single vision that he had pended on it.

How long had he waited for this?

Years of waiting and planning all boiling down to these precious seconds.

So why was he finding it so hard to leave with this child in his arms?

This child...who's fate would lead him to his son.

The baby let out another wail, squirming in his hold. Almost as if it knew what was happening was a huge injustice. Not an hour old and the child had responded to the sobbing of its mother.

He tried not to turn and look behind him. Tried to forget the fact that on the ground less than 5 yards away was the mother of this new born.

Holding the baby as it cried, he found himself staring at its features - trying to reconcile the baby for the adult it would become.

The baby's cries had increased in volume as the sound of its mother's pain and heartache slowly died down.

The baby's arms and legs protested to his hold. Maybe trying to find its mother who no longer cried but slept from the magic potion he had given her. Something that could allow her to live and not know the loss of her child, replacing memories as it made it's way through her veins.

Everything in him warred against what he was about to do.

As despicable and evil as people thought him to be, he knew that this one act would seal his fate. One way or the other what he did now would condemn him.

"I've waited...so...very long for this moment. I knew you'd be born today. I even knew what name she would call you. What...the world would call you..."

The baby continued to cry and squirm as it sought it's mother's comfort to no avail.

Something in him in that moment made him think of the day he first met his son.

Suddenly he found himself slowly bouncing the baby.

"If I don't take you from her...both of us will never get what we want. Never have our happily ever after..."

He was trying to convince himself that despite what he was doing it was all for the best.

Not but a few feet away, a young girl who was still technically a child herself, would be risking her life and the life of the baby in his arms if she hadn't made the deal with him.

He had felt sympathy for her as she had named her child, and then watching her say her final goodbyes.

Rumpelstiltskin looked down at the dark haired child and knew that he had no choice.

"Everything will be alright, you'll see. You won't be in danger, or use the magic inside you like your mother will. Strange though...I never knew why she'd name you that today. But now I do."

Rum's eyes scanned the sparkling white flakes circling him and the child with a slight smirk. "It seems the name really does suit you…Snow White." He whispered the child's name as he caressed her pale white cheek with his fingertips.

His smirk stretched out into an evil smile as the baby once again began to cry, both vanishing in a puff of purple smoke.

*************************Back To Storybrooke Present********************************

David had been leading Dreamy and Astrid towards the town, after of course having told the others to follow. But Dreamy being Dreamy had been asking about Sarah and Snow.

"What does the Queen think about these people? Is she sure they haven't harmed Sarah or Snow?" Dreamy asked as he walked behind David, helping Astrid over a fallen tree as she held onto the bundle in her arms.

David had to smile to himself at the question. "Yes Dreamy. Regina is quite certain they haven't harmed them."

"Can you imagine Dreamy? Another version of us! Do you think they're as happy as us?" Astrid asked excitedly.

David's smile vanished at the question.

"I hope so Astrid. I mean…can you imagine if I never met Snow? We never would have been together if the Queen hadn't intervened between Blue and Doc! We never would have gotten married…or had our little one here!" Dreamy said with a huge smile on his face as he tickled his daughter's little cheek.

The little girl squealed, having inherited her mother's voice and attributes, producing a delightful merry sound.

Smiling once more at the laughs of Dreamy and Astrid, David glanced back to see them smiling down at their little girl.

" Regina knew that you can't stop love. No matter how against the odds it may be. When Snow told her what had happened, well, I felt sorry for Blue. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of her anger. I wouldn't wish that against anyone!" David laughed and turned back to continue walking towards the town.

Dreamy and Astrid laughed and continued to follow David.

As they all continued to walk there was a scuffling sound coming from a huge bush off to the side.

Immediately David drew his sword and Dreamy pushed Astrid and the baby behind him, brandishing a knife out in defense.

"AHH!" Pinocchio fell through the bushes startling David and Dreamy. Recognizing him before he could bring down his sword David fell out of his fighting stance and let out a heavy breath.

"Pin! You scared us half to death!" Dreamy exclaimed and placed his knife away.

"Sorry. Got tangled in the bushes." Pinocchio said as he straightened and brushed and pulled leaves from his clothes.

David shook his head at the grown man before him. Age didn't seem to affect his childish ways.

"So are you sure it's our Sarah and Snow?" Pin asked as he continued to remove leaves from his clothes.

David shook his head as he watched Pin try and make himself decent. He had noticed quite a while ago how Pin's eyes seemed to linger on Sarah over the years, and how they had begun to shine when he would first see her.

His suspicions had been confirmed when Sarah had become of age to court.

Sarah's beauty had been known through out the kingdoms, any many had come to see her. It only took a second for men to see her before making fools of themselves.

Pin had become very verbal about his dislike of each man that had presented himself before the Queen, seeking to court Sarah.

Of course Gina had immediately known exactly why the long time friend had been so against any suitor for Sarah. It had been painfully obvious to everyone BUT Sarah. And of course Snow.

When David had asked about Pinocchio's growing hatred for the suitors to his sister and his wife, Gina blurted out 'he's obviously in love with Sarah.'

Of course David had nodded in agreement, but Snow had looked shocked.

Convincing Snow that she couldn't tell Sarah had taken quite some time. Especially since Snow couldn't lie to her sister.

Eventually Snow realized the only person who could tell Sarah about Pinocchio's feelings for her...was Pinocchio. From that moment on she had teased Sarah about how Pinocchio reacted to her without saying too much.

As the years had passed David and James had both kept a close eye on "Pin", as Sarah so affectionately called him. James tortured him more than he did, but he threatened Pin thousands of times more than he would ever tell James. Odd...but true.

Many would think that he would be the one that could understand what it was like to be helplessly in love.

But Sarah had never had a father in her life, and as the years had passed when she was little he found himself falling into the roll. There were times when he would look at her now and wonder where the little girl who use to beg him to take her to see the goats and pigs went.

Sarah would always hold a special place in his heart. Not just as his niece, but for saving him and Snow's relationship. If it wasn't for her, he honestly didn't know if Snow and he would have actually been able to stay together.

Shaking his head, he brought himself back to the present.

"Yes Pin I'm sure. Why may I ask were you trying to go through bushes?" David tried to keep the smirk from his lips, but on thinking of who he was laughing at couldn't help but let his smirk form into a full fledged laughing smile.

Pink looked up at the question with a blank look on his face and a open mouth. "I ah...I was..."

The blush that slowly began working it's way up his neck made David grimace suddenly as he realize he really might not want to know the answer.

"Never mind, just...make sure you're presentable by the time we make it into town." David said with a grimace.

Pin nodded and quickly stood up straight, following Prince David along with Astrid and Dreamy.

Snow's smirk fell when they appeared in the woods with a fully wooden Pinocchio stumbling back as they appeared.

"God I need to get use to magic again." August said as he shook his head and slowly tried to pick himself off the ground.

Sarah closed her eyes and shook her head. Opening them back up she went to help August up.

"You would think a wooden boy wouldn't need to get use to magic." Sarah grumbled to her sister as Snow assisted her in helping August up.

August glared at Sarah.

Snow looked between the two and had to remind herself that this was obviously not their Pinocchio. But at the moment she could have sworn she could see the same connection that Sarah and Pin had with each other.

Reminding herself of the promise she had made to not reveal Pin's secret, she found herself biting her lip at the way the two were looking at each other.

Sarah turned suddenly and caught the look on Snow's face before she could cover her look of concern.

Snow tried to smile the look away, but Sarah just looked at her with a furrowed brow. Thankfully she didn't mention it.

"So where exactly did you transport the evil duo?" August asked Sarah.

Sarah smirked and turned her head to full on smile at August. "I sent them to Rum's store. I figured it's the one place Rum would have magically guarded."

"Sarah! You know he's the dark one here! Do you have..."

"YES! Yes I do but I'm protecting our family. Anyone that is trying to hurt Baelfire is not someone who's well being I worry for!" Sarah said as her spine stiffened and she glared at her sister.

"Well that maybe true...wait...hurt Baelfire?" Snow was shocked for a second but shook her head and pressed on.

"Honestly Sarah you don't mean that. You're the kindest and most sociable person I know!" Snow said as she walked over to her sister and wrapped her arms around her.

Sarah pouted. "Well I don't want to care! Bae is too sweet and sensitive to have people messing with his feelings. And that woman did just that. AND I think she was going to kill him!"

At this Snow pulled Sarah from her hold. "What? Are you sure?"

"Well...not really...but...August saved them from getting hurt from me because they apparently were carrying these strange weapons." Sarah hesitated at first but grew confident as she explained why she had sent them to Rum's store.

Snow's eyebrows furrowed at the news. Turning her head she addressed August for the first time.

"Do you think they were..."

"Yes I do. Let's just say that I've met one of the two before...and there is no way that she was here by coincidence and not scheming to do something." August said staring into Snow's eyes.

Snow slowly nodded and then looked August up and down.

"Well you've really done it this time Pin. Most of the time Sarah seems to be able to stop you from turning completely into wood. Looks like you've been lying and doing things you know you shouldn't be."

August didn't correct Snow about his name...as her words made him realize that as much as he tried to distance himself from who he really was...fate had finally caught up with him. In more ways than one.

"Well we need to fix him before Gepetto see's him. God knows that man's been through enough. So...first things first...you need to start telling the truth." Sarah said as she crossed her arms and glared at August.

Snow's face broke out with a huge smirk. It was always funny to see Pinocchio squirm.

"Wait! You know how to turn me back to..." August's eyes widened as it dawned on him what Sarah was suggesting but was cut off by Snow.

"To a real boy?" Snow's smirk widened into a satisfied smile.

Sarah tried to not to laugh but failed miserably at the look on August's face.

August gave Snow a glare, even as Snow continued to smile at him.

"I see the Evil Queen has definitely influenced you over the years." August quipped.

"Don't call her that!" Snow's face instantly dropping into a scowl and her voice hardening at the title.

August raised his hands immediately at the commanding tone. "Whoa...calm down. I just mean you act a lot like your mother."

As the words left his lips his eyebrows furrowed. "Ok...It's just weird referring to her as your mom."

Sarah couldn't stifle her laugh. "Sometimes she acts more like her than I do."

Snow turned and backhanded Sarah with a dropped mouth at the 'evil' dig again.

"Ah! God! Always the same breast!" Sarah complained as she held the abused appendage, looking down at her chest.

August's eyes widened slightly at Sarah's action, which thankfully Sarah did not catch, and unfortunately Snow did.

Quickly Snow jabbed her finger into August's side, making him grunt out at the unexpected pain.

Sarah looked up at her sister and August glaring at each other. "Did I miss something?"

"No!" "No." Both August and Snow said at the same time.

Sarah rolled her eyes at the obvious cover up. "Snow your a horrible liar to begin with, and Pinocchio needs to start telling the truth!"

August was about to speak when Sarah raised her hand in a stop motion. "As much as you try and deny it August - you are Pinocchio. The first thing you need to do is not just admit it to us...but to yourself! If you don't do that you're never going to be a human boy again. And I know that's what you want more than anything!"

August stared at Sarah and then at Snow, who nodded her head at Sarah's words.

"She's right Pinocchio. You can call yourself what ever you want...but you need to admit who you really are."

August looked down at his hands, turning them and staring at the wood that had once been flesh. How he had so easily forgotten who he really was.

"It's not that easy." August finally murmured.

"Yes it is. Look. Lets...just start by telling me your real name." Sarah moved closer to grab his hand that he was still staring at. "What's your name?" Sarah whispered the questioned as she looked at him with such kind eyes, acting like she was meeting him for the first time.

August couldn't help but stare back a little awed at her.

"Pinocchio."

Sarah slowly smiled and squeezed his hand.

"What's your father's name?" Snow asked with a small smile of her own.

August looked up and smiled slightly at Snow, obviously having forgiven him for his earlier indiscretion.

"Gepetto."

"Where were you born?" Sarah asked.

"The Enchanted Forest." And that's when he realized he could actually start to feel Sarah's hand against his...not just feel the weight of it...but feel her skin on...

Looking down at their joined hands he saw his once wooden hand was becoming flesh and bone once more.

A breathy laugh left him as he looked back up at Sarah.

"See...all you have to do is tell the truth. It will always set you free Pin." And with that Sarah gave him a crooked little grin.

Snow said nothing as she saw the way the two looked at each other. Worry flooded her again as she realized that Sarah was acting way too friendly with this Pinocchio. She would have to remind Sarah later that this Pinocchio was not HER Pinocchio.

"Ok..." August nodded his head, "ok, let's do this."

Sarah smiled and looked over at Snow who smiled as well.

August saw the smile on Snow's face and noted the little evil glint in her eye. Suddenly he was worried what he had gotten himself into.

"Well then...I guess it's only fair that both me and Sarah ask you some questions that you have to answer honestly to. After all...she might run out of questions to ask by herself." With that Snow smiled widely at August, making him swallow slowly at the implication.

She most definitely is like Regina, was the last thought he had before Snow asked her first question.

Mary Margret continued to bounce the baby version of herself, making sure that she wasn't touching the welt on her little legs.

Princess Emma removed her cloak and folded the clothing up and walked towards Mary Margret and placed it on the baby like a blanket.

Princess Emma smiled as Baby Snow turned her head and buried her nose into the crook of Mary Margret's neck and cuddled down even more as the cloak enveloped her in warmth. Princess Emma rubbed the baby's back over the cloth, amazed at the sight of a baby version of who was essentially her mother.

"I can't believe how small you were." Princess Emma said as she looked up and met Mary Margret's eyes.

Mary Margret laughed slightly, afraid the noise would wake the baby, "well I definitely was."

"I don't know about small...look at those chunky little legs. Definitely loves to eat by the looks of it." James finished his teasing with a huge smile, proud of his provocation of his sister in law.

Queen Regina as well as David hit James in the back of the head with looks of distaste on their faces.

James immediately grabbed the back of his head in pain, but by accident knocked over the sugar dispenser from the counter.

Even though he did have fast reflexes and managed to have his fingertips on the dispenser... he didn't manage to get his hand around the container, allowing gravity to pull the glass cylinder to crash onto the ground.

Immediately the sound of the crash caused the sleeping baby to be startled awake.

Mary Margret held tightly to the startled child but oddly Baby Snow didn't immediately cry.

Instead, Baby Snow jerked up blinking rapidly up at Princess Emma. Her head then swiveled and looked straight at Mary Margret.

Emma, James and even the two Cora's moved towards the startled child, somehow knowing the it was the silence before the storm.

Unfortunately they were right.

When the baby looked over the adults approaching, Mary Margret noted that it seemed like she was looking for someone.

Then the baby's face broke and the crying began, her pacifier once more falling to the ground.

Mary Margret immediately started bouncing and tried to calm the baby, "Oh it's ok. It's ok Snow."

The crying turned into wails almost immediately. Her face once more turning red.

"What's going on?" Regina's voice rang out as both she and Little Snow came out of the kitchen at the sound of the baby's cries. Regina quickly moved around the counter and towards Mary Margret.

Baby Snow already had tears streaming down her little face when Regina reached her and upon sight of Regina stopped crying and dove out of Mary Margret's arms and towards Regina.

Both Mary Margret and Regina were unprepared for the sudden action and both tried to catch the baby. Thankfully Regina was able to catch her and quickly straightened and adjusted the baby on her hip.

Little Snow once more grabbed the pacifier from the floor and quickly went to rinse it.

"She just got startled. Uncle James knocked over something by accident." Emma said as she shoved her hands into her pockets with a grimace that almost seemed like an apology.

James smiled as he looked over at Emma after having referred to him as 'uncle' by her. " At least someone respects me around here."

Ruby quickly moved to clean up the mess, afraid someone might get hurt, and the smell of blood might make her lose her senses when Queen Regina came to her aide and helped her clean up the mess.

Regina wasn't listening or paying attention to anyone, but instead was checking over the baby to see if any glass had made it's way onto her. Irrational as it was, since she knew Mary Margret had been holding the baby.

Mary Margret watched as the baby looked down to where Regina was examining her legs and marveled at how the baby had stopped crying the instant she had seen Regina. It was as though she had been more upset that Regina had not been there than being awoken soo abruptly.

It occurred to Mary Margret then that maybe in the very short time that Baby Snow had come in contact with Regina, she had become attached to her.

Little Snow quickly rushed over and offered the pacifier up to the Baby, who took the pacifier in her tiny hand and popped it into her own mouth.

"Are you ok?" Regina whispers to Baby Snow finally looking up to the baby's face. Baby Snow looked up and smiled at Regina with the pacifier still between her lips. And even though the pacifier hid most of her smile, Regina could clearly see it.

Without wanting to she returned the smile, until she heard the distinct sound of Baby Snow's stomach growling.

Both Regina and the baby looked down at the sound.

Baby Snow brought her little hand down and patted her belly then looked up at Regina.

"I guess she's hungry." Princess Emma stated obviously, but something in Regina reacted harshly at the knowledge that she was so hungry that her stomach growled. Along with the fact that she obviously hadn't been changed in days and the bite like marks on the inside of her upper legs, Regina felt a surge of hatred towards Queen Eva.

What kind of mother allowed something like that to happen to their own child. If she had ever found a person had mistreated her son - they would be dead before the day was over.

Regina quickly moved to the counter where Granny kept a glass tray of muffins and removed the lid. Adjusting Baby Snow onto her hip with the hood covering her bottom, she grabbed a muffin and ripped into into a smaller piece and brought it to the baby's lips. Instantly Baby Snow opened her mouth and took a bite out of the food.

Normally Regina would never let Henry eat sweets without having eaten something healthy, but she was not about to let a baby starve.

"Mmmmm." Baby Snow hummed her approval with her mouth full, her little hand running through her own hair in the back of her neck.

Regina removed the nuts, from the muffin and continued to feed her the soft bready muffin.

Emma couldn't help but smirk at the scene in front of her, she shook her head and approached Regina.

"You'd never let Henry eat that without having eaten a reasonable meal."

Regina looked over to find Emma with an upraised lip, showing she was joking.

"Well..." Regina looked back at Baby Snow and fed her another bit of muffin, "if she hasn't eaten as long as she hasn't been changed, I wasn't about to make her wait any longer."

Emma's face fell at the thought. The idea that someone was mistreating her mother as a baby causing something in her to instantly harden.

Ruby and Queen Regina had finally collected all of the fallen sugar container and had walked behind the counter to dispose of the shards of broken glass under the counter when the sound of the front door bells chimed.

Crouched beneath the counter they didn't see that Queen Eva and Rum walked through the door, thankfully both were hidden from view.

The second that everyone turned to look at who had walked in, Regina felt baby Snow tense. Immediately she turned her gaze to the baby to find her looking at Queen Eva with a lowered head and a furrowed brow, leaning towards Regina as if she wanted to hide.

Regina instinctually shifted and placed Snow against her chest and wrapped her arm around Snow and patted her back, frowning as she tried to comfort the suddenly stiff child. Regina found herself whispering words of comfort to Baby Snow as she kept her head turned to keep her eyes on Queen Eva.

"It's ok sweetie. It's alright."

Baby Snow lowered her head onto Regina's shoulder and then turned her head towards Regina's face, looking up at Regina who placed the pacifier that she had taken out of the baby's mouth earlier so she could feed her and placed it to the baby's lips who instantly accepted it and started sucking away.

Regina felt more than heard Queen Eva making her way towards her and looked up to see Queen Eva doing just that - but the sight of Little Snow with a open mouth and her eyes watering caused instant worry.

Fear gripped Regina. Moving quickly towards Little Snow she wrapped an arm around Little Snow jolting the little girl making her look up at Regina.

"Are you alright?"

Little Snow looked quickly over at Queen Eva and then back at Regina and slowly nodded her head and curled herself into Regina almost mirroring the way Baby Snow was situated.

Regina automatically tightened her hold on both, she felt an emotion surge in her and found herself kissing the top of Little Snow's head. As worried as she had felt seconds ago, she knew that seeing her mother had made it all real.

"You see my Queen, Gina does have experience. You shouldn't have worried." Rum's words jolt Regina back to the woman that was most likely staring at her.

Composing herself, Regina lifted her dark eyes and stared directly into Queen Eva's blue eyes without blinking. She wasn't going to allow the woman to try and intimidate her, as she thought she could do back in the forest.

It just wasn't going to happen.

Queen Eva's cool eyes twitched from Regina's to Little Snow and then up to Baby Snow.

"If I had known she had a daughter I would have been secure in the ability of her caring for my little princess." Queen Eva reached up and rubbed Baby Snow's back.

Regina felt Little Snow stiffen at the words. Squeezing her to her tighter, she watched as Baby Snow made no move to go to her mother, and her little fist held firmly to the fabric of her shirt under her neck, noting how odd it was that Baby Snow had basically leapt into her arms - but wasn't moving at all to reach her mother.

Eva saw that the baby wasn't making a move and slowly lifted her hand from the baby's back.

Looking down at Little Snow, she smiled slightly. "A bit shy I see."

Little Snow had buried her face against Regina's side, frightened to even look at her mother.

"She's normally not. She's very sociable." Regina said softly as she caressed Little Snow's back to comfort the child. Trying to go along with Eva's presumption of Little Snow being her daughter.

"What's her name?" Queen Eva asked.

For a second Regina panics, not prepared for Queen Eva's question, when Rum saves her the trouble of coming up with a name.

"Bianca. Her name is Bianca."

Eva nods her head.

"It's a beautiful name. I do love her dress. Such fine clothes for a handmaiden's child."

Regina's eyes blazed as she looked up at Queen Eva in anger. The insult coming with a small satisfied smile on Eva's lips.

Little Snow's face furrowed against Regina's side. She wasn't sure who her mother was referring to, but she felt Regina tense. She just couldn't face her mother at the moment. It hurt too much to look at her.

Before Regina could sting Eva with a tongue lashing, Eva passed her hand through Little Snow's hair.

"I can't wait for my daughter's hair to grow. To braid and brush her hair and place a tiara on her head."

Regina swallowed down the fear that Little Snow would crumble at these words.

Little Snow took a deep breath and slowly turned her head to look at her mother, trying to stop herself from crying.

Finally Little Snow turned and stared up into the younger face of her mother.

Queen Eva smiled at Little Snow. The tightening that Little Snow had been feeling in her chest dissipated after seeing that her mother wasn't angry at her - as irrational as the idea was.

Regina felt Little Snow relaxing against her and felt a surge of jealousy as she smiled back at Queen Eva.

"You have your mother's eyes."

Eva's words shocked everyone in the room. Little Snow hesitated in responding to the 'compliment', looking up at Regina to look into her eyes and see what her mother had seen to say such a thing.

Regina was shocked by Eva's words, and faltered as she looked down into Little Snow's brown green eyes. Suddenly her heart pounded wildly as she looked into the eyes of the little girl she blamed for the love of her life's death.

That's when Queen Eva said something that made Regina want to rip her throat out.

"Was she born out of wedlock?"

"What?!" Regina's eyes glowed with anger and her mouth hung open from the audacity the 'kind' Queen had to say those words.

Little Snow looked between the two women not knowing what her mother meant, but the way Regina suddenly wrapped her hand around her head and closed off her hearing she knew that her mother had said something Regina didn't want her hearing.

That's when Baby Snow jerked with the sudden motion and let out a little whimper with a furrowed brow.

Mary Margret who had been in shock at the first instant her mother had entered the diner finally shook herself out of her revere and shock of seeing her mother as the cruel words she was saying registered.

Looking between her mother and Regina, who held a baby version of herself and a child version by her side, she knew by her stance that Regina was ready to use magic.

She quickly moved towards Regina and said the first thing that came to her mind.

"Her husband passed away my Queen."

If it wasn't for the fact that Regina had wrapped her arm around Little Snow's head, Queen Eva would have seen the shock and pain on Little Snow's face at the words. Instead her eyes jerked up to look at Regina at the words.

Baby Snow's little hand patted down a few times on Regina's chest and then bunched up in the shirt, her little eyes fascinated suddenly on the material of the shirt. Then she settled her little face back down against Regina and continued to suck on her pacifier.

Little Snow looked at the action of her baby self and slowly let out a huge sigh. Her posture relaxing against Regina in a way that she seemed...relieved.

Wrapping her arms around Regina's waist, Little Snow settled against Regina in a much more intimate posture.

Regina felt the sigh and looked down to see a complete opposite facial expression on Little Snow's face.

Peacefulness.

In that instant Regina knew something was completely wrong. The Snow White that she had seen grow up had been completely devastated at her father's death.

But now that she thought of it...Snow's reaction after her father's death was...strange.

All these years later, looking back on everything that had happened, Snow's words from the letter she had given to The Huntsman rang clear in her mind. Words that at the time had enraged her and made her want to hurt the Princess even more. But now as she embraced Little Snow tightly against her with one arm, the very reason that the letter had angered her, was the very reason why Little Snow's reaction was odd.

Dearest Stepmother,

By the time you read this I will be dead.

I understand that you will never have love in your life because of me, so it's only fitting I'll be denied that same joy as well.

For the sake of the kingdom I hope my death satisfy your need for revenge, allowing you to rule my father's subjects as they deserve. With compassion and a gentle hand.

I know what you think your doing is vengeance. I prefer to think of it as sacrifice for the good of all.

With that in mind I welcome the end.

I want you to take my last message to heart.

I'm sorry and I forgive you.

It was those final words that had enraged her.

The audacity of Snow to have been so high and mighty at the end. Like she had needed to be forgiven for something.

But the 'I'm sorry.' The 'I'm sorry' had angered her because she had never told her the real reason that she needed to be sorry.

And now after all these years did she realize that not only had Snow known that she had planned to have her killed, but she had appologized for not letting her have love in her life.

She hadn't known about Daniel, and when she was a child she had told her that Daniel had run away and that her and her father Leopold were going to be a family together, yet she had known that she didn't have love in her life.

But how could she have known?

Yes, she had a separate bedroom from King Leapold, as is custom for King and Queen to have separate quarters. So how did Snow White know that there was no love in her life.

Acting the part of a doting wife and keeping suspicions from her real motives had been taxing, but she had thought she had acted the part so well that no one was the wiser.

Snow had known though. Snow had somehow figured out that she had Leapold killed and was going to have her killed as well- and still she apologized and forgave her.

Something did not add up.

Snow had hugged her so tightly after her father had died, opened her arms to her for comfort, maybe even knowing that the man had been killed because of her.

And now even as a child she clung to her, tears built up in her eyes but would not fall, taking comfort from her yet completely at peace with the news.

No...something was wrong.

Snow had loved her father, of that Regina was sure. But the way Queen Eva was acting made her now think that the loving Queen may have been the biggest actor of them all.

The sudden fierce urge to protect the children in her arms surged through Regina.

Despite the history she had with Snow, these version of Snow White were children.

Even at her most despicable self she had never harmed a child.

"They say it's ill mannered to speak ill of the dead." Cora moved toward Queen Eva as she spoke the words, knowing first hand the true nature of the Queen.

Queen Eva turned, and her eyes narrowed. "You seem familiar to me. Have we met before?"

If it were not for years of having no heart, she would have halted her steps at those words.

"I don't believe we have. I'm the mother of the one you just accused of being a loose woman." Cora slow eerie small smile formed as she stared at Eva.

Eva stiffened and raised her head slightly, "Yes...well I find it odd that any woman claiming to be a handmaiden yet obviously dabbles in the dark practices would have a child by her side if not for...a mistake made."

Cora bristled at the words. Knowing exactly who she was referring to by her very choice words, and all the same dismissing the urge to rip the woman's heart out.

Zelena also stiffened at the words, along with the rest of her family, knowing full well the Eva had been referring to Cora and herself.

Little Snow pulled away from Regina at the last words, clearly understanding what her mother had said this time.

"I'm not a mistake. How could anybody be a mistake?"

Little Snow turned and looked at Regina with a furrowed brow, her innocence showing itself with the question.

A little laugh escaped Queen Eva. "There are many things your mother has yet to teach you Bianca. As a mother should. I intend to teach my daughter to always be good. To not do things others may tell her to do, but to always do the right thing."

With these words Eva moved towards Baby Snow and lifted the baby out of Regina's arms.

Regina saw Baby Snow's face furrow and then as if the baby understood she was being taken away from Regina, instantly her face crumbled and a fraction of a second later began to cry.

"Oh there's my girl! There's my girl!" Queen Eva tried to adjust Baby Snow into her hold, but the awkwardness of having to hold her own daughter was quite visible to everyone.

Regina felt like her heart had been ripped out.

The instant she realized what Eva was doing she had wanted to strangle Eva for touching the baby after having not given a damn about her well being when she had been crawling around the forest with stickers wedged into the baby's legs.

And when the weight of Baby Snow was lifted, Regina had felt like something that was hers had been taken from her.

Baby Snow continued to cry as Eva tried to make her stand up on the counter top.

Emma seeing the reaction that both Mary Margret and Little Snow were having to Queen Eva until that point had not moved or said anything. Observing her grandmother, who until that moment she had thought to be a kind and sweet woman but in fact was acting worse than even Cora had turned out to be- it was making her glad that despite having thought that she had missed out on knowing her grandmother because of Cora - it might not have actually been a bad thing.

Emma saw the way Regina looked panicked as Queen Eva took Baby Snow out of Regina's arms. Emma had seen that look on Regina's face before, and knew she had to diffuse the situation before Regina did something that they couldn't reverse.

"Um...Eva why don't..." Emma said as she approached Queen Eva as she still tried to calm a very loud crying Baby Snow, when Eva turned and glared at Emma.

"I don't believe I've given you the confidence to use my Christian name. You are to address me by my title." Eva's cold blue eyes interrupted Emma.

Emma's jaw clenched shut. In that moment she wanted to strangle the 'Queen,' and if it wasn't for the fact that she was her Grandmother she would have.

Exchanging a look with Mary Margret, Emma saw the look of shock on her mother's face that let her know she didn't even know what to say to how the Queen was treating everyone.

Eyes moving back to Eva, Emma straightened her spine "yes well...I was about to offer to show you around the town since I am the sheriff and I can imagine you'd like to find a place to rest."

Queen Eva's shoulder's dropped and her holier than thou attitude seems to retreat as she saw the sincerity in which Emma spoke.

Emma tried to not let the continued crying of Baby Snow get to her, but she could see the melt down that the baby was having. Toes still pointing, she wasn't standing on her own yet and Eva was obviously getting frustrated with the baby, now paying more attention to her as her crying had gone up in volume.

"Just...stand up! Why won't you stand up." Queen Eva's furrowed brow and shaking head at the baby soon morphed into a look of determination.

Baby Snow continued to cry, huge tears cascading down her face, and her her hands were gripping the Queen's as she tried to steady herself unsuccessfully.

"Stand up!" Eva's anger at her daughter's inability to stand on her own breaking through her soft features.

That's when the Queen did something that shocked all those around. Even Cora was horrified with the Queen's actions.

Queen Eva grabbed baby Snow by one arm, and proceeded to pinch the baby's skin on her inner upper thigh. "STAND UP!"

The wail that sprang out of the baby's mouth was immediately followed by Mary Margret and Emma restraining Regina as they saw the look of rage fill her face and motion of her about to pounce on Eva.

Baby Snow's cries intensified ten fold, as the baby tried to get away from her mother's hold.

Mary Margret couldn't even look in the direction of Queen Eva and the baby, her mind trying to block out what she had just witnessed.

Emma didn't know what to think, but she knew she couldn't let Regina hurt Queen Eva. It could ruin everyone's future if she did.

"She never listens to what I say." Eva said as she picks up the baby and places her on the ground, where Baby Snow promptly falls on the ground and continues to cry.

Everything in Regina telling her to get to the baby and away from Eva, but Emma and Mary Margret held her firmly and stayed in front of her to keep her from charging the woman.

"Why did you do that? You hurt her. She's just a little baby. How can you be so evil?" Little Snow's voice causing Regina, Emma and Mary Margret to freeze. The disgust in the little girl's voice showing just how shocked she was to see her mother do such a thing.

Regina saw Eva tilt her head angrily towards Little Snow and knew instantly what the Queen was going to do.

She felt as though everything was suddenly in slow motion when she saw Queen Eva raise her hand about to strike Little Snow. That's when something happened that she never would have thought she would have done.

Using magic to move from Mary Margret and Emma, she placed herself between Little Snow and Eva.

The Queen's hand had already been in flight towards Little Snow when Regina grabbed the Queen's hand.

Regina's nostrils flared and her eyes glowed with purple magic. With gritted teeth and a fierce grip on Queen Eva's wrist Regina growled out, "Don't you dare touch my daughter you pathetic excuse for a woman. If you so much as look at my daughter with ill intent I will rip your heart out."

With that Regina threw Queen Eva's arm away from herself.

Cora and Queen Cora looked on with smirks as her daughter stood up to the one woman that had ruined her life.

"I don't care if you are a Queen. I've never hurt a child in my life, and what you've just done to your own daughter proves that as much of an evil witch you think I am...I've never harmed an innocent child like you just did to your little girl." Regina then bent down and picked up the crying baby and shushed her.

"Shhh. It's ok Snow. It's alright. She's never going to hurt you again. Shhhhhh." Regina couldn't stop herself from kissing Baby Snow's cheeks and cradling her close to her body. The effect was immediate.

Though Baby Snow's eyes were blood shot and still glossy from tears, little murmurs escaped her lips and motioned with her little hand towards Eva, as if she was trying to explain to Regina what had happened or how it hurt.

Little Snow was still in slight shock but wrapped herself around Regina as her own tears began to form.

Regina instantly wrapped her arm around Little Snow and moved them away from Eva, not in the slightest worried that the woman would try to stop her or hurt her.

"Where are you going?" Queen Eva asked as she watched Regina walking towards the back where the others were. All of them were looking at her with anger in their eyes.

"Somewhere you won't be able to hurt them." Regina said the words as she opened the back door and walked out.

Prince James, David, and Zelena followed Regina out. The siblings showing their loyalty towards their sister by doing so.

"She's MY daughter. I'M her mother. She has no right to tell me how to raise her." Queen Eva began to rant by herself, her eyes never leaving the door.

"My Queen forgets that Gina was sent by Leapold himself. As I said my Queen, Gina is an excellent handmaiden. She would protect the Princess with her own life. Is that not what you would want for a caregiver for your daughter?" Rum's rough voice reminded the Queen.

Eva's back straightened and her head turned to stare at Rum. "Of course it is. But she has no regard for me as her Queen."

"Maybe you're not HER Queen." Princess Emma said suddenly, really not liking this woman one bit. Grandmother or not...Regina had been her Nanna since she was born, and not once had she seen her Grandmother treat any child like that.

Yes spankings had occurred, but not until they were much older. And it wasn't even really spankings. More her mother slapping their behinds once and then crying and saying how disappointed and upset she was.

This was completely different.

Queen Eva had the specific intent to hurt.

"She is still my daughter! Mine! Do you have any idea how long I've waited for my little girl? Do you have any idea what I've had to do?" The suddenly crying dramatic Eva threw everyone for a loop. The way Eva's eyes teared over, her wild hand gestures showing how out of control she was.

"That doesn't give you the right to hurt your daughter and expect her to learn from it." Queen Cora said the words as she berated herself in her mind.

Queen Eva finally looked at Queen Cora and then at Cora.

It was as though for the first time she was noticing that she was seeing double.

Swiftly turning her head she looked at Princess Emma and then Emma.

Slowly her head turned back towards Rum. "Where exactly am I?"

"Let's not worry about where we are, and worry about getting you back to where you and the Princess need to be." Rum answered swiftly, a face that showed he was trying to hold in his anger, and moved to grab hold of Eva once more.

Eva looked down at the hold Rum had on her, and looked up into his face.

In that moment she knew not to try his patience, after all, she did know who he really was.

"I think It's best if we find you a place to stay while here." Rum's voice leaving no question to the matter.

Mary Margret shook her head as if to shake out her memories of her youth, and stepped towards her mother. Even after such a display, the fact remained that Queen Eva was her mother. Knowing for a fact that her mother had somehow changed, because she didn't remember ever receiving a slap from her mother, she knew her mother would become a great and kind Queen.

"She can stay with us." Mary Margret said looking at Emma, who shot her a wide eyed shocked look, and then back at Eva and Rum. "That is...if the...Queen...finds our humble home to her standards."

The smile on Mary Margret's face as she made the offer was in no way faked. The idea of spending time with her mother once more after so long of wanting to see her and talk to her once more overwhelming her and making her heart beat at the thought.

Emma on the other hand was more than weary.

After having witnessed what Queen Eva had done to a poor defenseless baby letting her know that she was not just a little off...but quite dangerous.

Even after the first time she met Regina she hadn't gotten the sense of dread that she did when she first saw Eva...and that was saying something with all that had happened with Regina.

But she recognized the look on her mother's face.

Sighing heavily, she decided then and there she wasn't going to say anything.

Emma said nothing as Eva nodded her head at Mary Margret accepting the invite.

Emma braced herself.

She had a feeling things were going to become extremely complicated.

When Regina and the others reached her home, she didn't bother saying a word to anyone as she proceeded to wave her hand and a diaper appeared on Baby Snow. Dropping down onto the ground she placed Baby Snow up against the wall of the foyer.

Instantly Little Snow pointed her toes and began to let a cry out.

"Stand up Snow." Regina said firmly.

"Regina!" Zelena couldn't believe after what happened that her sister was doing the same thing as Queen Eva.

Regina swivled her head and looked up at those who had followed her, "I'm not letting that woman have the opportunity to ever do that to her again! I don't care if it takes all night...she's going to learn how to at least stand up on her own today."

Turning back her head to Baby Snow who's face was furrowed with sadness, and placed one hand on Baby Snow's stomach and pressed her against the wall, and with her one free hand moved her feet to lay flat on the floor.

Though Baby Snow cried, it wasn't nearly the kind of in pain crying of earlier. It was more a 'not again' kind of crying.

Little Snow still held the pacifier that the baby continually kept dropping in her hand and watched as Regina tried to coach the baby to keep her spine straight against the wall and not fall over.

Biting the corner of her lip she made a decision.

Getting down on the ground with Regina she placed the pacifier once more in the Baby's mouth and helped by locking her hands around the baby's ankles to keep them straight.

"Stand up Snow." Regina said softly this time, moving her hand holding the baby against the wall away and keeping them right in front of the baby in case the baby fell forward.

Which not three seconds later did happen.

Regina caught her immediately and once more placed her against the wall.

"Stand up Snow." Regina repeated firmly.

Baby Snow's face furrowed and once more began to cry pitifully, her pacifier once more falling out of her mouth.

"Stand up Snow." Little Snow repeated as she once more locked her hands around the baby's ankles, keeping her feet flat on the floor.

"It's ok Snow. We're right here. We're not gonna let you fall. It's ok." Regina said the words soothingly.

Baby Snow continued to cry, but this time everyone knew that she wasn't really being harmed.

"Is this really a good idea?" James asked as he watched Regina try to teach the baby to stand.

"Would you rather allow her 'mother' to try and teach her? Want to guess how many more welts the baby will have before she actually stands by herself?" Zelena quipped.

David said nothing. His arms crossed as he fought to keep his mouth shut. After what had happened at the diner every muscle in his body was tense.

He had to restrain himself like never before in his life. His first instinct had been to get his wife...the baby...away from Eva instantly.

If it wasn't for the fact that James had literally grabbed him from going after Eva, he was certain he would have done something he would have regretted later.

Seeing Regina...his sister...be more like a mother to Baby Snow then her own mother made him realize just how different his sister was from the person she was inside to the person she made people believe she was.

At the moment he was still fuming over what Queen Eva had done and wasn't paying attention to anything his siblings were saying.

"It's ok! It's ok Snow." Regina's voice softening as she saw the fear lining the baby's face. "It's ok. I'm right here."

Little Snow's eyes were fixed on Regina, and the sense of calmness that filled her as Regina said the words.

Regina slowly lifted her hand away from the baby's stomach, slowly easing away from her as the baby remained standing.

"Let go of her ankles slowly...but stay close so she knows you're not going to let her fall." Regina whispered the words to Little Snow, afraid she would startle the baby and cause her to fall.

Little Snow nodded her head and turned her head back to the baby and slowly removed her hands.

Seconds passed...and Baby Snow was still was standing.

A huge grin spread across Regina's face. "Good girl."

Baby Snow seeing Regina's smile moved and was about to fall flat on her face when Regina swooped in and grabbed her.

Baby Snow laughed as Regina lifted her up and kissed her chubby cheeks making the kissing sound noisy. Regina didn't know why she did it, she just knew that if felt right to do it.

Everyone smiled at the sight and laughed themselves.

"You taught her to stand." Little Snow said with a smile on her face.

"No. We taught her to stand." Regina said as she held the baby up in the air still as the baby laughed at the sudden new game. Turning her head she looked at Little Snow with a smile still on her red lips.

"Do you want to see if we can teach her to walk?" Regina asked with a calm gentle voice that she had used when she had first met Snow. For some reason she felt at peace at the moment. Like this was suppose to be happening.

Little Snow's face broke out into a wider smile and nodded her head vigorously.

Regina let out a little laugh, making Baby Snow laugh at the sound. Regina turned her head up and kissed Baby Snow a few more times, making the baby laugh even more and then slowly brought her down onto the marbled floor again.

Holding onto Baby Snow she adjusted herself enough so that she could stand while still holding onto the baby. Letting go of the baby for one second she shrugged out of one side of her grey coat and immediately grabbed baby Snow's hand again. Repeating the same thing for the other side she tossed the coat at James - who caught it with 'that's the best you got' face.

Regina smirked and turned back to grab Baby Snow's other hand.

"Ok...I'm gonna stand behind her and hold her." Regina held up baby Snow's arms keeping her upright.

Zelena moved over to where Little Snow had stood up, "We'll try and get her to come to us..." Looking around she tried to find a toy or something that the baby would be enticed to get and found nothing.

Grimacing she waved her hand and a sudden stuffed animal appeared in her hands.

Little Snow couldn't help but stare in wonder at the way Zelena made the toy appear from nowhere. "How did you do that?"

Zelena smiled and nudged the little girl with her hip. "When my sisters not around I can show you."

"Lena!" James scolded with a no nonsense voice.

Zelena rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Please! Like you're one to tell me to behave."

Little Snow laughed at Zelena's little wink her way. Bending down Zelena waved the stuffed dog in front of Baby Snow.

"Look Snow! Look! Do you want to play with the doggie?" Zelena enticed the baby.

Regina held the baby's hands with her fingers and part of her wrist in her hands to make sure the baby didn't fall. Seeing the toy made the baby laugh, and moved her torso towards Zelena.

Regina allowed for the movement, but didn't move the baby towards Zelena, wanting the baby to move her feet.

Baby Snow laughed at Little Snow and Zelena, enjoying their antics as they moved their hands and smiled at her.

David and James watched the scene with smiles as Baby Snow bounced but didn't move her feet. "This is going to take a while." James quipped to his brother.

David laughed then his face froze in shock as he witnessed baby Snow move her legs forward.

"GOOD GIRL!" Regina exclaimed with a huge smile.

Little Snow clapped her hands, and Zelena laughed.

"Keep going! Come on Snow...don't you want the doggie?" Zelena continued to tempt the baby into walking.

Baby Snow bounced up and down again as she continued to smile at the duo in front of her.

It didn't take long...maybe half an hour at the most. But soon, Baby Snow was trying to walk. Regina continued to hold onto her, since her stability was still questionable, but baby Snow was trying to walk.

The doorbell ringing was what disturbed the group from it's activity. Regina's smile vanished as she looked up towards the door, and then at her siblings.

Zelena lifted a shoulder up and down, showing that she hadn't a clue who knew where they were.

Regina lifted baby Snow up into her arms, and walked towards the door. Little Snow following closely by her side.

Opening the door she found Princess Emma, Emma, and Henry.

Without a word Regina widened the door and stepped out of the way to let them in.

Princess Emma was through the door first and with a smile kissed Baby Snow, who scrunched up her nose with a huge smile on her face. Laughing at the reaction, Princess Emma quickly gave a peck to Regina's face and made her way into the house.

Regina was shocked for a second, but quickly recovered as Henry replicated Princess Emma's actions with a huge smile on his face.

Regina couldn't help but smile when Henry pecked her on the cheek after having kissed Baby Snow.

Baby Snow leaned forward so swiftly reaching out for Henry, that if it wasn't for Henry Regina was certain she would have dropped her.

"Woah!" Henry exclaimed as he caught Baby Snow.

"I guess she likes you." Emma said with a smirk as Baby Snow settled again Henry.

Henry smiled as Baby Snow began to babble towards him, as if she wanted to tell him something.

Henry smiled and nodded his head at the baby version of his Grandmother, enjoying the fact that she was trying to talk to him.

Little Snow made her way over to the two, and removed the baby's pacifier. "We've been trying to teach her to walk. I think that's what she's trying to tell you."

"Really? You taught her to walk?" Henry asked his mother.

"Tried. She's at least standing on her own now." Regina answered her son.

"Henry, why don't you take both Little Snow's here up to your room and show them some of your toys." Emma made the suggestion.

"Ok. Come on Snow. I'll show you what I taught Sarah." Henry motioned for his head for Little Snow to follow.

Having only stepped away but a few feet when the baby began to squirm in Henry's hold as she kept her eyes trained on Regina. A few more steps and then she began to cry.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked worried, not understanding what the baby wanted.

Little Snow knew immediately though, because her own first thoughts had been that she didn't want to leave Regina's side.

"She doesn't want to be away from Regina." Little Snow informed the others.

With that Little Snow lifted Baby Snow out of Henry's arms and walked back toward Regina...the second the baby saw Regina she stopped crying as she looked at Regina. Little Snow smiled as she placed the pacifier into the babies mouth...proving that the sight of Regina and not the pacifier calmed the baby.

"Oh dear God." Regina said with a look of disgust on her face.

Little Snow's smile vanished at the look. "You protected her when no one else would. She knows you love her and she loves you. She doesn't want to be away from you and I don't blame her."

Regina looked at Little Snow curiously. The word 'love' made her stare at Little Snow. The little blush on the preteens face letting her know she wasn't just speaking on behalf of the baby.

Out of everything that had happened in the past few days...this scared Regina the most.

"She should stay with you." Little Snow said fighting the blush on her cheeks and lifted a very willing baby who wiggled and laughed as Regina reached out automatically to take the baby in her arms.

Regina didn't realize that her face broke into a smile of her own when Baby Snow laughed and moved her arms and legs trying to get in her arms - but Emma noticed.

Emma also noticed the way that Baby Snow was delighted at being held in Regina's arms. Despite every act of evil that she had ever witnessed Regina commit...the moment she saw a smiling Baby Snow and Regina smiling at each other...she knew that something had gone horribly wrong if Regina could forget herself and feel like smiling at the baby.

Little Snow smiled as she reached over and again placed the baby's pacifier back in her mouth. Turning back towards Henry she took his hand waiting for him to guide her. Henry smiled at the gesture and immediately began to take her upstairs to his room.

Baby Snow let out little huff's of laughter around her pacifier as her fists closed around Regina's blouse.

That's when Sarah, Snow, and August suddenly appeared in the entryway.

Sarah and Snow were both doubled over laughing with August looking positively angry and at the same time blushing.

"Ok! Alright! Enough already!" August said as he crossed his arms and turned around without saying a word to anyone else and left the house.

Sarah couldn't stop laughing even as she pulled herself off of Snow still clutching her stomach from all the laughing.

"Oh God I needed that." Sarah said as she finally calmed.

"Mooom..." Princess Emma whined. She hated it when her mother and Aunt had an inside joke. Growing up the one thing that Sarah had always made sure of was that she was always included. If there was one thing that turned her back into a little girl, it was when her mother and Aunt were laughing without her.

"Oh...I'm sorry Emma. I really am...but you know how funny it is when we have to help Pin turn back into a boy" Snow explained as she wiped the tears of laughter from her face.

Princess Emma immediately smiled as she immediately understood why they were crying.

"Oh Emma...you should have seen her. She was in rare form. Now I know why people think she's me and I'm her. I know she looks more like mom then I do...but when she acts like this I can see why people assume she was born from mom's womb." Sarah laughed a little bit more until her eyes took in the sight of Baby Snow in Regina's arms.

Sarah quickly dashed over to Baby Snow and titled her head and began to make 'num num num' noises against the crevice between the baby's neck and shoulder. The result was a squealing laughing squirming baby who's laughs became louder when Sarah began giving raspberry's once more.

Pulling back from the baby Sarah reached up and removed the dangling pacifier from the laughing baby's mouth.

"Can I get a kissy? Can you give your sissy a kissy?" Sarah asked and then gave the baby a big kiss on her lips making a huge 'mmmwah' sound.

Baby Snow smiled widely as Sarah leaned in again and continued to give her sister kisses, then placed the dangling pacifier back into the baby's mouth.

Snow blushed and smiled at the way that Sarah was carrying on.

It reminded her of when Emma was a baby. Sarah had lavished Emma with affection almost as much as their mother had. Sometimes she would catch the look of longing and pain in her sisters eyes when she would look at Emma.

Since the day she had reappeared at the castle she had rarely ever spoken of the 'dream' that she had had. If anything Sarah would sometimes say things, reference things about her dream like it had really happened. Sometimes she would give such details that she couldn't help but think it had been real...at least for Sarah.

"You wanna come to your sissy now? Come to sissy. Don't you know my mommy's a bad mommy. My mommy is a bad mommy...she's bad." Sarah's voice and face changed as she pointed at Regina with a 'scolding' voice.

Baby Snow's face went from laughing, to scrupulous, to what appeared to Sarah as angry.

"Oh my God...look at her face." Sarah said without moving her lips, trying to keep up the charade of scolding her mother.

"She's a bad mommy! Bad bad bad." Sarah said the last three words with a slap against her mother's arms.

Baby Snow suddenly moved what everyone had assumed were uncoordinated arms and slapped Sarah's hand.

"Ahhh!" Sarah screamed and jumped back and hid behind Emma with a huge smile and a laugh.

"Did she just slap you?" Emma asked with a wide eyed look at Baby Snow.

"Yes. Can you believe it? She's defending her from me." Sarah said with amusement as she shared a look with Princess Emma who was smiling wide with amusement herself.

"Ah ah ah. No! No. Absolutely not! We do not hit." Regina scolded as she shook her head, grabbing Baby Snow's arm as the baby turned from scowling at Sarah and ready to hit her again.

"I wouldn't of believed it if I hadn't seen it." Emma says as she watched Baby Snow look at Regina that was scolding her.

The sight of Baby Snow turning and pointing at Sarah...as if to say...'it's her fault'...along with little sounds like she was talking to Regina with this little scowl on her face.

"Yes I know what she did. But we do not hit." Regina said shaking her head at the baby.

Emma closed her eyes and shook her head. Opening her eyes again the image of Regina pulling Baby Snow closer to her and hoist her closer to her chest. Speaking softly but firmly to the baby with the baby looking down at Regina's chest with the most adorable pout as Regina continued to scold the baby.

"God you even got mom in trouble before you were even born. That has to be a record." Princess Emma quipped.

"How I've managed to put up with her for this long is a miracle." Snow quipped along with her daughter with a smirk.

"I do believe I remember a certain little girl constantly snooping and eavesdropping where she shouldn't, and that was when a certain baby was being toted in her arms without the ability to speak. " Zalena's voice accused with a raised brow as she looked at Snow.

"I did not eavesdrop..." Snow tried to defend herself but failed miserably as both Sarah and Emma laughed and tried to stop immediately and covered their mouths.

Snow glared at them, then turned and witnessed something so very sweet she had to smile.

Baby Snow was resting her head against Regina's chest as Regina spoke softly to the baby, caressing her back as she did so.

Suddenly the baby pulled back and pointed once more at Sarah with a scowl on her little face.

"Looks like someone's still upset." Emma said with a raised lip as she looked over at Snow.

"Yes. Yes I know. But she's your sister." Regina said to the baby.

Sarah walked back towards her mother and Baby Snow. "I'm sorry Snow. I shouldn't have done that. I won't do it again. I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" Sarah asked the baby.

Baby Snow's face was rumpled with scrutiny as she looked at Sarah. Then as if checking for permission back at Regina.

Sarah smiled as she understood what the baby needed to see. Leaning over she gave her mother a peck on the lips. "I'm sorry mama. I won't ever do it again."

Something inside of Regina's chest exploded at the peck. The intimacy and innocence of the kiss causing the small voice that had been making her doubt her actions and feelings to suddenly disappear.

"Am I forgiven now?" Sarah asked Baby Snow.

That's when Sarah and Regina witnessed something awesome. Something that showed that Baby Snow understood them and indeed cared for Sarah.

Baby Snow reached up and removed her pacifier and leaned over and gave a slobbery kiss to Sarah and then leaned back and popped the pacifier back in her mouth and continued to suck away as she gazed over at Sarah.

Regina's shocked eyes at the action spoke volumes of how much she couldn't believe that Baby Snow understood.

Sarah's huge smile and happy eyes looked up at her and then back at Baby Snow.

"Does she get a kiss? Don't you want to say sorry to her too?" Sarah asked Baby Snow.

Baby Snow's brow furrowed and then looked back at the woman holding her and again took out her pacifier and leaned over and gave Regina a slobbery kiss and then leaned back and placed the pacifier back in her mouth and began to suck away as she looked down at Regina's blouse and played with the ruffles going down the shirt. As if now that it had been settled she could go back to playing.

Regina couldn't explain the feeling in her chest at the action. It was the same feeling as when seconds before Sarah kissed her...but amplified by a hundred. The innocence of Baby Snow kissing her was beyond the kisses that Henry had given her as a child. Yet for some reason...something felt right about the kisses that she had just received. They felt as if they were suppose to be.

And unlike her first days with Henry, there was an ease to which Baby Snow had taken to her.

Baby Snow looked up suddenly with a huge smile hidden behind the pacifier and laughed at something...and her heart swelled at the sound and sight that words popped out of her mouth were most definitely not words she had ever spoken out loud.

"Son of a bitch."

Sarah's eyes widened dramatically at the words. "What...what's the matter?"

Regina turned stunned eyes to look at Sarah.

"I think I love her back."

Sarah just smiled at her mother's horrified look and laughed ducking her head as she did so and then looked up at her mother. "Of course you do. She's your daughter."

Regina held back tears at the words, something about them striking something deep insider her.

"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting..."

Everyone turned at the sound of Rum's voice.

"Where's Eva?" Regina asked immediately, fear gripping her suddenly.

"She's with Mary. Which is why I came to speak with you." Rum said staring straight into Regina's eyes.

Emma felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at the words.

"Why? What's the matter Rum?" Sarah asked with a furrowed brow and worried eyes.

"I...I need to speak with your mother Sarah...in private." Rum said cryptically.

"Queen Regina was at the diner the last..." Emma said with a furrowed brow.

"I meant...this Regina...if you don't mind." Rum said pointing at Regina as Baby Snow patted on her chest to get back the attention that Rum had stolen.

Regina and Emma shared a look, but Regina nodded her head at the request.

"Here...I'll take her." Sarah said as she reached out and lifted Baby Snow out of Regina's hold and immediately started blowing raspberries on the baby's stomach, immediately making her squeal with laughter.

Regina couldn't help but smile at the two as they made their way over to Princess Emma and Emma.

"What do you think Rum needs to talk to Nanna about?" Princess Emma asked as she watched Regina walk out with Rum.

"I don't know...but I'm gonna find out." Emma said as she made her way to the door, but a hand grabbing her stopped her.

"She's safe with him Emma. He's not the dark one...remember?" Snow said to Emma.

Emma took a long look at Snow then at Princess Emma and Sarah. Looking back at Snow she gently removed Snow's hand from her arm.

"I know you have no reason to fear or doubt your...Rum's intentions. But I don't have the luxury of not being worried for the woman that raised my son. So...please understand it has nothing to do with your Rum...and more to do with my son's mother."

At first Snow had been offended by Emma's gesture, but her words made her understand that Emma was actually concerned about Regina.

"We understand Emma." Sarah assured as she patted baby Snow's padded diaper bottom, "Just please remember she's my mother...in whichever dimension. Without her I wouldn't exist. And without Rum I wouldn't exist either."

Emma started as Sarah moved towards her and placed a kiss on Emma's cheek. "And I love you all no matter what you say or do. Just because we disagree with each other and think differently doesn't mean we don't love each other."

Emma felt her chest tighten and couldn't help but reciprocate and give her Aunt Sarah a kiss to Sarah's cheek.

Zalena moved forward and cradled Emma's face suddenly and placed a kiss on her forehead and then quickly looked deeply into Emma's eyes. "If you need me just call out my name...I'll be there."

Emma blinked her eyes as Zalena let go of her. "Ok...I didn't expect that."

Zalena laughed. "You should of seen me when this one here appeared out of nowhere in Oz. That was unexpected. Learning to be part of a real family...I know how hard it can be. And I never want you to doubt that I'm with you too. Sarah and I are your Aunt's...and we love you as much as if you were our own daughter."

"Where is Merida? I would have thought by now she'd have yelled our ears off with what's happening." Snow suddenly looked worried.

Zalena rolled her eyes and Emma had to try not to laugh. "I told her to stay at the castle and watch over her brothers until I sent word that everyone was alright."

"And...you...actually thought she'd listen?" Sarah said with one perfectly arched brow raised.

"Merida?" Emma asked.

"Your cousin. My daughter. So much like her father and I she does nothing but try to get in trouble like these two use to."

"Hey!" "Hey." Came the double reply from Sarah and Snow.

"So I have...a cousin?" Emma worked out the family tree in her head.

Zalena smiled. "Four to be exact."

Princess Emma laughed. "And trust me...they're as crazy as the rest of us."

Emma smiled as her heart swelled with an ache she had lived with since she was a child. Oddly the pain ebbed when she would hear that her other self had been in a happy family...and then she would ask why she had had to grow up so alone and so miserable.

Realizing that the reason had just left with Rum quite a while ago and quite mysteriously, she decided she was indeed going to go after them.

"Go."

Emma was shocked when Sarah gave her the order with a smile on her face.

Sarah laughed "Your concerned about her. That's a start. Maybe once you both realize that you're more then just connected..that you're family...you won't be as suspicious of her actions. And hers of yours."

Emma looked at everyone else's face, and saw that none of them were angry at her for snooping.

Snow reached up and pushed Emma's hair behind her ear, "Go ahead sweetheart. We understand."

Emma swallowed and straightened. With a little nod she turned and left the house and made for the cemetery. Something in her telling her to start there.

"So...anyone going to tell me why we haven't hopped back to our own world?" Zalena asked with a raising of her own manicured brow.

Sarah huffed out a sigh as Baby Snow played with the flaps of the dress she was wearing. " Snow and I were discussing that a few days ago...and we think we know why we're here. Why we ended up here...that is."

"And why exactly would that be?" Zalena asked with a furrowed brow. She instantly didn't like the way this was sounding.

Snow and Sarah shared a looked and then looked at their aunt.

"I think you should sit down." Snow said with bouncing hands.

Zalena's anxiousness quadrupled at the sight...she was certain now...she really wasn't going to like what they were about to say.

"Where exactly are we going?" Regina asked as they made it a short distance from the house, when shocking her, Rum used magic and transported them to her vault.

Regina's instinct was to form a fireball in her hands at the sudden seclusion, but Rum instantly raised his hands.

"No. No. I wasn't...I'm not going to hurt you. I've...done enough of that in our past. I'm not about to start again."

Regina continued to look suspiciously at Rum...but slowly lowered her hand and the fireball extinguished.

"Now...I know...that you don't trust me. Him. And I understand that." Rum nodded his head several times as he lowered his hands. "And honestly...you shouldn't trust him."

"Yes...I'm quite aware of that." Regina answered in her regal manner, "Was there really a need to use magic to bring me here? It's not that far away from my home."

Rum tilted his head with a little smirk, "To tell you the truth...I couldn't remember how to get here."

Regina face broke out into a smile at the confession. Her earlier words of ridicule of his aging coming back to mind.

"I...I need to tell you something. Something that I haven't even been able to tell...MY Regina. And...it's something that I know will change...everything...for everyone." Rum couldn't even look her in the eyes as he said the words.

Regina's curiosity piqued. Whatever he was going to say had to be something incredibly big for him to declare something like that.

Rum's eyes raised and her heart stopped as she saw the tears in his eyes.

"I know that you...and the others might never forgive me. For...for what I did. Despite everyone always saying that the past is the past...we...both know...that some things...can never be forgiven."

Regina began to worry now. Rumplestiltskin had never been this...human in front of her. Not ever.

It scared her.

"What is it that you need to tell me? What are you going on about?" Regina asked in a worried tone.

Rum lowered his eyes and then looked back up at Regina, "I didn't come here to tell you...I came here...to show you. I...I'm afraid of showing her...afraid of what I'll lose if I do. So...I...I figured if I showed you first...I'd know how to show her."

Regina didn't want to yell at Rum for the implication of him doing a 'test run' on her. Especially not after seeing him be completely different from the Rumplestiltskin she knew.

"Who exactly is this about?" Regina asked, not really sure if she wanted to know.

Rum took a deep breathe and gave her a half truth.

"Snow."

Regina's brow furrowed. "What could be so horrible about the loved Princess that would make you so afraid?"

Regina voiced the question before she had really processed the words herself.

Regina watched as he took some of the objects from her vault. Rum turned and walked out into the main hall, Regina followed wordlessly.

Regina said nothing as she noticed the items Rum had grabbed.

"Why are you..."

"Just watch." Rum stopped the questions from coming as suddenly Regina was faced with a vision portal that appeared before her.

And what she would see...would truly change everything forever.

Author's Note: I know. I know. It took forever for me to update. But I hope it was worth the wait. So what did you guys think? What did you think of Eva? What did you think of her knowing Rum? How about Baby Snow's affinity for Regina? Or maybe you want to know what Rum is showing Regina? Any ideas? Review and let me know!