Author's Note: I waited this long to update because I wanted to see where the writers of the show were taking our characters. I'm disappointed with how the show has been progressing - how they've moved away from the core of the story (Snow and Regina). It feels like the writers went...'ok the've come to an unspoken agreement, let's just move on' - when really there was nothing that has truly brought them together. There's just been way to many things that have been said in the show and no one's explained them. I plan to do just that...I just hope everyone like's the way I explain them. GIVE ME TIME TO EXPLAIN THINGS!

Alternate Fairytale Land Past

James had traveled during the dead of night by moonlight alone to not be seen.

After all...he was going to assassinate a Princess.

Someone that he had never seen, and had never done anything to earn his cold blooded hand. Yet he found himself on the outskirts of Queen Regina's castle in the Enchanted Forrest near the river that naturally divided the kingdoms.

The instructions that had been left in the saddle had been followed, and now he found himself hiding until this Princess would ride her horse around the field near the river.

Maybe it was because he had ridden all night to arrive to his current location, maybe it was the soft breeze that drifted through the trees and field, but he never realized he had fallen asleep against the massive tree until he heard a giggle near his ear.

Jumping awake he was about to extract his sword from it's sheath when the sudden bright light of morning blinded him from seeing who was there until he heard the very girly little giggle again. He shook his head trying to get his eyes to see correctly.

"What are you doing sleeping under the tree?" The very young girl asked him.

Finally able to see he saw that indeed it was just a little girl.

Looking around, searching for the girl's parents he suddenly felt his heart stop when he realized that his horse was gone.

"I ah..."

The little girl laughed at his face of worry, "Are you going to be in trouble?"

The question threw James off completely.

"Why would I be in trouble?" He asked suspiciously.

"Because...you're not home where you're suppose to be."

James couldn't help but smile at the very natural assumption. "Well it does seem that I fell asleep under this tree and lost my horse. So I won't be able to get home when I'm suppose to. What's your name?"

The little girl laughed as if he were making a very funny joke.

"We can take mamma's horsey back home." The little girl said pointing to the black horse that was in the distance.

James' brow furrowed at the girl's words.

"Where's your mamma?" James asked, suddenly worried that this little girl seemed to be very much alone.

Suddenly the little girl's face fell. "You're not going to tell mamma that I took her horsey are you?"

James couldn't help but smirk as he realized what the little girl had done.

"Is that why you're out here so early and alone?"

The little girl nodded her head.

"Well," James couldn't help but smirk, "I'll tell you what...I won't tell if you don't." He gave a little wink to the girl and was shocked when she laughed and launched herself into his hold.

The sudden worry that this child was acting very familiar with him sprung to mind, but was pushed aside when he realized he indeed needed a horse to flee the scene later when he would finish his deed. Perhaps he could use the child's horse.

He wasn't about to strand the young child here by herself though. Especially since it was indeed on the outskirts of the town and the castle. It could take hours for her mother to learn the girl was gone. Something or someone could attack her.

He wasn't about to let that happen.

The little girl pulled back.

"Will you let me ride mamma's horsey before we go home. I know she says I'm too little...but I want to be good like her and sissy."

James couldn't help but laugh.

"Now where would the fun be if you snuck out and didn't get to ride him." James joked.

The little girl squealed and jumped up and down with happiness.

James' eyes quickly darted around them to see if anyone heard or saw them.

"Now don't get us caught by making so much noise. We don't want anyone telling on us now do we?"

The little girl nodded her head with a sudden serious face.

James smiled. He wasn't really a child person...but this little girl brought out the instinct to protect her. Whatever the reasonings for the way he felt, the moment she placed her hand in his James knew that he was a goner.

She led the way to the black stallion and James' curiosity piqued at the sight of the fine horse.

"Did you ride him here?" James asked as he patted the horses back to show him he was no harm, but the animal didn't flinch at his touch at all.

The little girl nodded her head.

James couldn't help but smile as he realized just how tall the animal was compared to the young girl. "How did you get on him?"

"You won't tell mamma will you?" The little girl asked with a furrowed brow.

James looked at the little girl and couldn't help but smile broadly and shake his head.

The little girl nodded and then went to stand in front of the horse.

"Rosey...can I sit on you?"

James couldn't stop smiling at the name of the very male black horse.

The horse nuzzled the girl making her squeal and giggle, and then slowly backed up and to James' amazement, sat down to allow the little girl to climb onto of him.

Which she did. Scrambling onto the horse and holding on to it's mane as it sat up.

James couldn't help but smile and chuckle as the horse began to walk.

"Rosey likes to go fast. I like it too. He loves it when we sneak out and play together."

"I bet he does. But I don't think its a very good idea for you to be riding him without a saddle. That's not very safe." James said as his worry for the girl began to grow as he realized the horse's slow trot began to speed up. He tried to remain calm and tried to keep in step with the horse.

"I tried to put it on...but I couldn't lift it up and I got in trouble the last time mamma saw what I did." The girl explained, and then suddenly the horse took off and James panicked.

Instantly his legs were running after the squealing child and the fast stallion.

"Weeeeee..." the little girl squealed as the horse began to run around the field with James trying to keep up.

James suddenly understood why the horse had begun to run. In the distance was his white horse, who was also running towards them. His very female white war horse who he had help raise since she was a filly.

It seemed the two animals were attracted to each other.

Slowing to a stop as the horses came together, James couldn't help but shake his head.

Even his horse was getting more admiration from the opposite sex then him lately.

Realizing that the morning sun was giving way to the afternoon, James sobered. He would need to make sure the girl wasn't anywhere near the field when he would have to do as his father commanded.

"Shouldn't you start heading back home? It's getting late and I'm sure your mother will be worried about where you are?" James asked as a means of trying to get the little girl to start heading home in fear of being caught.

"But I want to ride Rosey! Plleeeaasseee!" The little girl pleaded and then gave a pout that made James crumble faster then he thought possible.

Reaching for his horse, he found it funny when she pulled back on her reins to stay close to the stallion.

"See! Even your horsey wants to play with Rosey!" The little girl said with a smile.

James couldn't help the huge grin that spread across his face. "Well I think my Daisy fell in love with your Rosey."

"Her name's Daisy?" The little girl's eyes sparkled and widened at the name.

He wouldn't realize it until much later...but it was that smile that had sealed his fate.

"Yes. And she's an incredible jumper! She's like a Pegasus! She flies through the air!" James patted the horse and was awarded with a whinny.

"I want to learn how to jump with Rosey!" The little girl stated as she patted the stallions hair down.

"I think you're a bit young for that...but I can teach you a few things if you'd like." James offered as a way to keep the little girl from attempting to try jumping with no one around...or at all.

Mounting his horse he was slowly able to get Daisy to pull away from the dark horse and follow his command as he used the reigns and his heels to get Daisy to start moving towards a fallen tree close to them.

"Now the first thing you need to learn is that...if your not confident...your horse knows it. They can feel it. When you're riding a horse you become one with it." James said as he readied himself and his horse a good distance away before he kicked his heals and started racing towards the tree stump.

If it wasn't for the fact that he glanced up at almost the last second to see a horse in the distance he might of been able to clear the tree stump...but all it takes is one second...and everything can change.

The last thing he would hear would be the little girl screaming out to him, he just wouldn't remember that she yelled out the words 'Uncle David.'

**********************************************Back to Storybrooke*********************************************

Neal was trying to hold in his anger, he truly was. But after having confirmed that not only was Tamara a secret agent, she was also involved with the other man. He honestly understood why Sarah had tied them up after having talked with them.

"Are you alright?" Rumplestiltskin asked his son, knowing that after the interrogation of the woman he was suppose to wed had truly hurt him with the truth that was revealed.

"They were going to try and kidnap Henry...how could I possibly be alright?" Neal gave his father a cold stare.

Rumplestiltskin winced but didn't turn away from his son. "That was their new mission Bae. Before that they were here to hurt you...and the Evil Queen. Not really too upset about that though."

Neal's anger flared. "Well you should be! That's my child's mother Papa! Do you have any idea how Regina's death could have hurt my son?"

Rumplestiltskin kept his lips shut at seeing how those words had angered Bae.

Neal looked at his father and knew that he didn't really care about his son being hurt. Huffing he spun away and flailed his arms in frustration and a second later turned back to his father.

"Tell me something Papa. If someone had hurt me as a boy...what would you have done?"

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes darkened to complete black at the mere thought.

Neal pointed his finger at his father. "That's how I feel when someone talks about hurting Henry."

And in that second Rumplestiltskin felt doubt creep in on him. Doubt of his plans, of keep himself alive by sacrificing Henry.

"Sarah is Regina's daughter...and she's protecting us...not just me...but you...from those two. How could you possibly want someone to hurt Regina if it would hurt the one person that's protecting us?"

Rumpelstiltskin felt his hair's raise. "That doesn't mean anything. I still don't trust her. Why...Why would she protect us without something to gain?"

Neal shook his head at his father. Even he knew the answer to the question from the small time he had been in her presence.

The look in her eyes as she looked at him and Henry.

He knew the reason.

"Because she loves us Papa. Because the Bae...the Henry...and the Rumpelstiltskin in her world are her family. And she'd do anything to protect her family. Just like you and me."

With those words Neal turned and began walking towards the diner, leaving his father behind with a blank look as he thought on his son's departing words.

Suddenly a sight that made his own heart stop beating for a moment greeted him.

"Hello Rumple." Cora greeted with a small smile. Right beside her Queen Cora looked worriedly at him.

It was the first time in a long time Rumpelstiltskin felt fear.

Two Cora's...could ruin all of his plans.

"Well well well...I must say this isn't a pleasure to see you again. Especially since I'm seeing double." Rumpelstiltskin tried to keep his cool and calm exterior from showing how edgy he was.

"We need a few answers from you...as I'm sure you can understand we're both a bit confused with what's going on." Queen Cora said without preamble.

Trying to keep his cool he smirked, "And what makes you so sure that I know exactly what's going on?"

Cora's smiling face turned cold as she responded. "Because I just had to tell David that he was my son."

Rumplestiltskin lowered his head as he couldn't stifle the laugh.

Both Cora's looked at each other before looking back at him.

"What's so funny?" Queen Cora asked with a glare.

"That you would need to do something as foolish as that. I know it's not true." Rumpelstiltskin responded.

"I did give birth to him." Cora responded on the verge of anger.

"That may be...but we...three...know that he's not really yours." Rumpelstiltskin said with an evil smirk.

"You and I both know that it doesn't matter...what matters is I told him you were the one to...'procure' him for me." Cora said with a smirk.

Rumpelstiltskin's face fell.

"As you now understand...that's why we're here to ask you how exactly you managed to do that?" Queen Cora asked with a stoney face, somehow afraid of the answer that he would give

Rumpelstiltskin said nothing but turned sideways and raised a finger, "Now that...I'm afraid I cannot tell you."

Cora felt herself about to use magic, had it not been for her other self asking her next question she knew she would have lost control.

"What can you tell us?"

The evil smile that spread across his face made both women know he was about to strike another deal.

"I can tell you...the person I...procured the twins from...is a very powerful person. Someone whom you wouldn't think would have...succumbed...to such a thing...but she was more then willing to give me the babies...in exchange for something. Now...what that something is...that's what I think would interest you...but to learn this information,"

Rumpelstiltskin paused as he looked between both women.

"I'm going to need a bit of information myself."

Because of the amount of information that he had freely given...both Cora's knew that whatever he was hiding...it had to be something incredibly important.

There was no need to even discuss it. They knew whatever information he needed...she would give it.

David and James may not be her blood...but they were her sons.

Both women nodded. "Deal." Both confirmed.

Rumpelstiltskin smiled.

Mary Margret couldn't help but smile as she watched her mother look around her apartment.

It didn't matter that she had a look of disgust on her face as she looked around the small abode. It didn't matter what had happened earlier in the diner.

All the mattered at the moment was that her mother, Queen Eva, was standing in the middle of her home after all of the years of wanting to talk to her mother one last time.

"I suppose this will have to do. Since that flax-wench has banished me from my own child's presence."

The smile that had been on Mary Margret's face crumbled and she winced at the term her mother had used. Not only had she never heard her mother use that language, but something in her instantly wanted to defend Regina.

Taking a second Mary Margret shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut before looking at her mother again.

"Is there anything you'd like to eat...my Queen? Anything that I can offer you to make you feel more at home?" Mary Margret asked with a want to give her mother anything she wanted.

Despite everything the offer made Queen Eva give a small smile to Mary Margret. "Thank you, but I'm fine."

The tiny smile was enough to make Mary Margret smile once more.

Emma had left a while ago with Princess Emma and Henry. Really she had barely noticed. Focusing all her attention on Queen Eva, she felt as if everything around her didn't matter at the moment. Because she didn't know when she would wake up and this would all be a cruel dream.

When Queen Eva neared her bedroom and touched the curtains to look out the window, she stopped and held the curtain open as she looked down at the street.

"Where does Gina live? Nearby?" Queen Eva asked.

The question caused Mary Margret's smile to falter. "No my Queen...she lives quite a ways from here."

Queen Eva turned her head and gave a huff of aggravation and anger, "Then why is she down stairs?"

Mary Margret's face showed her instant fear at those words as she moved to look out the window herself.

Mary Margret's heartbeat returned to normal as she realized it was Queen Regina downstairs, along with Ruby who was pointing up at her window - obviously showing Queen Regina where she was.

Mary Margret's eyes caught with Queen Regina's and could see the concern in her eyes. Queen Regina lowered her eyes and proceeded into the building.

Knowing that this was about to become a very awkward and horrible experience she still rushed to the door and looked down the stairs to let Queen Regina know where she was.

Walking up the stairs towards Mary Margret, Regina saw her immediately. Once at the top of the stairs both stared at each other.

"I wanted to know if you were alright. I...couldn't check on you...earlier." Queen Regina said while her eyes stared through the open door behind Mary Margret.

Mary Margret turned and stared into the opening, seeing that Queen Eva was standing in the doorway looking between the two of them.

"I would think after your retreat earlier that you would be caring for my daughter." Queen Eva said with a dead stare at Queen Regina.

Queen Regina said nothing, not even acknowledging what Queen Eva was saying. Instead her focus was solely on Mary Margret.

"Are you alright?" Queen Regina asked this time.

Mary Margret had been about to open her mouth to say yes when Queen Eva stepped forward. "Who did you leave my child with if you are here?"

"My sister. And I assure you...she's more competent and loving then you have shown yourself to be." Queen Regina snapped and traces of what Mary Margret knew to be the Evil Queen were heard in the way she responded to Eva.

Mary Margret felt herself tense, feeling as if this was about to come to blows.

"The way I discipline my child is my business and no one else's! Her well being is my utmost concern! What would you do if you saw your daughter still not walking or crawling at nearly a year old?" Queen Eva's angry rant made Queen Regina's anger ebb...but only slightly.

"She's a baby! And the future heir to the throne! I assure you it is not only MY concern, but the concern of the people who she will lead as a Queen. As for her not walking or crawling...yes...yes I'd be concerned...but I wouldn't hurt my child and cause more fear then sense of safety!"

Mary Margret felt herself blush at the way the two were speaking about the baby version of...her. She couldn't really bring herself to speak against either of the two.

Too conflicted by too many emotions and memories to really pick sides.

"Please! Can you both not...not fight." Mary Margret kept her eyes closed as she hoped her plea would make them stop.

Shockingly both women seemed to step back from the other, as if a greater distance between them would stop the verbal battle.

Mary Margret opened her eyes to the quietness and let out a sigh. "Thank you."

Queen Regina said nothing, but the worried look in her eyes made Mary Margret's heart clench.

"I'm fine. I promise." She tried to assure her.

And it would have been enough for Queen Regina to leave it at that if Eva did not try to get in one last insult.

"She should be worrying about her own child since it seems no one has disciplined her."

That's when the proverbial bomb Mary Margret had been fearing dropped.

"Leave MY daughter out of this! And if you ever try and discipline her in my stead again, I'll de-stroy you." And the venom that she said the words with making Eva immediately stare at Queen Regina with a squinted stare.

Mary Margret could see the Evil Queen simmering in Queen Regina's gaze.

The fact that she was defending her was...shocking to say the least.

"Just remember that I am Queen...and my husband loves me. Any assault on me is an assault on the King himself." Eva said with a dead stare.

Mary Margret jerked her head towards Eva as her mother's underlining threat rang loud and clear. And the fact that it was indeed a threat made Mary Margret's heart stop.

This was not the mother that had raised her.

Sarah looked over at David and then at her Aunt Zalena...knowing that telling him how they came to be there could more than just freak him out. It could ruin the very fragile relationship she was building with him.

"Uncle David do you mind finding August for me? I really need to apologize to him, and to tell you the truth...I don't want to freak you out..."

David raised his hand. "Understood. I'm just glad that you're not trying to just get rid of me and make me suspicious."

Sarah smirked and again reminded David of Regina. "Yes yes...I'm still the 'Evil Queen's Daughter.' Don't go spreading it around that I'm a pushover."

David laughed and turned and went in search of August.

Sarah waited until David had closed the door behind him before turning to her family.

"It's my fault that Snow and I came to this world."

The statement caused everyone to shut their mouths and listen to what Sarah had to say.

It didn't take long for her to let them know her theory of what had happened.

It took as much time to convince them to stay in Storybrooke as it had to tell them her theory.

In the end Sarah had won the argument, and they all agreed to stay as long as was needed.

It was just enough time for David to come back into the house with August.

"Did you guys have enough time to talk?" David asked.

Sarah nodded and then grabbed August's arm, dragging him out the door again. Zalena having taken Baby Snow in her arms distracting the baby with magic and the stuffed dog toy to allow Sarah to leave without fuss.

"Thanks Uncle David. If you need us we'll be at Gepetto's...once I figure out where he lives."

"Sarah I can't..." August was about to protest seeing his father when Sarah spoke right over him.

"Was he heading to the woods again?" Sarah continued dragging August to the door as she asked the question to David.

David couldn't help but smirk. "Yep. And Gepetto is on the opposite side of town."

"Of course he is. I'll be back!" Sarah stated as she opened the door and dragged August with her.

Not even a few steps off the porch Sarah looked up to find another person was approaching the house.

"Hello Blue. Took you long enough to come hunt me down."

Mother Superior's eyes furrowed as she looked from Sarah to August.

"I'm sorry...I don't think we've met before."

Sarah pursed her lips, " Your Blue then." Of course she was concluding this out-loud with August.

Reaching out her hand Sarah introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you Blue. I'm Sarah, daughter of King Leopold and Queen Regina."

Mother Superior's shocked face switched from Sarah to August to confirm what the woman before her was stating.

August nodded his head, confirming her identity.

Sarah kept her smile in place as she shook Mother Superior's hand as the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

"I'm sorry...did you say Regina's daughter?"

"One and the same." Sarah fought hard to keep her voice even as something in her suddenly told her to keep her guard up.

"That's...well...that's very shocking. I wasn't aware that Regina and Leopold had...a daughter together." Blue stated, looking for all the world like the information was shocking...but something didn't convince Sarah that she was truly shocked.

Sarah's instincts were telling her to snatch her hand away from the woman, but tried to remain calm and act normally - the way her Grandmother had taught her if she felt something was wrong.

"Yes well, I'm finding a lot of things different here. I actually just helped August to become human again. Like you always say...the truth always sets you free."

As Mother Superior withdrew her hand and continued to smile at Sarah she said, "Well I'm glad August is back to himself. Can I assume that's your doing?"

Sarah smiled. "Guilty. Well...Snow and I really."

Mother Superior smiled. "You said guilty as though you're quite accustomed to saying it."

Sarah's instinct was to lash out at the statement, but pushed it down. "You could say that."

"Well if you'll excuse me I needed to speak with Madame Mayor." Mother Superior began to move passed her.

"Who?" Sarah asked with a confused face.

"She means your mother...or...Regina." August clarified for Sarah.

"Oh...well she left with Rum a little while ago." Sarah didn't mention that the others were in the home, but watched how Mother Superior eyed the house behind them.

"Well I'll just leave her a note inside to reach me. It was a pleasure to meet you Sarah Rose."

It was a miracle that Mother Superior had moved passed them as August's face clouded with confusion. It was another that as Sarah grabbed his hand and squeezed he kept the question he was about to ask to himself.

Instantly at the grab August looked at Sarah and watched her barely shake her head no.

Dragging August away from the house with her, August kept his eyes on Mother Superior as she entered into Regina's home.

As soon as she entered into the home August immediately asked.

"How did she know your name is Sarah Rose?"

"I don't know. But something's telling me that she's not who she's claiming to be." Sarah informed August as they began to walk away from the house, Sarah's mind working over time to figure out what this new information meant to all of them.

"Well she did remember who I was when I came to Storybrooke..." August began causing Sarah to stop dead in her tracks and turn and grab August to look at her.

"What do you mean when you came to Storybrooke?" Sarah asked with the serious face that she had used when interrogating Owen.

"I went through the wardrobe with Emma. I was...out in the real world. After I made sure that Emma made her way here I was able to come into Storybrooke. Before...the magic that had brought everyone here kept it hidden from outsiders. When I got here...Regi...your mother as well as Rumplestitlskin were highly suspicious of me. I went to Mother Superior...Blue...to see if she could help me."

"Wait! If everyone was cursed into forgetting who they were...how could she remember? Why wouldn't she try and help everyone remember if she did? Out of everyone Blue would know how to access the limited magic because fairies can move between realms." Sarah's mind worked over time to try and come to terms with the fact that a person that had always held her trust could possibly be an enemy to her family.

August looked a little pale as what Sarah was saying as what she said had never occurred to him. He had just always assumed that there was no magic...and without magic and without Emma...Blue could do nothing but wait. But how could she remember when everyone else forgot? Why would Blue do nothing but wait?

"Because Emma is the savior...she had to believe for magic to come to this world." August tried to work out what they were just learning.

Sarah shook her head.

"Didn't you hear what Owen and Tamara said. They KNOW that magic exists...that out in the world beyond the town there is small amounts of magic. That they want to destroy it! Something's not right Pin...none of this is making sense now. If magic existed in this world in small doses...why would Emma believing bring magic permanently to this land?"

August immediately knew the answer. "The dark curse. It must be...what? Why are you looking at me..." August noticed how Sarah had looked at him as he named the curse.

"Not the Dark Curse. It can't be the one...no...mom could never..." Sarah stopped muttering to herself as realization of the exact curse used made her blood run cold.

"What?! What?!" August didn't realize that Sarah hadn't known which curse that had brought them all to this realm.

"August...who enacted the curse?" Sarah's words coming out in a whisper.

"The Evil Queen." August said bluntly.

Sarah's face hardened. "I need to talk to Owen and Tamara again. I think I know the truth about what's happened to everyone."

With that Sarah turned and in a cloud of purple smoke vanished before Augusts eyes.

August knew that something huge had just happened. He was just at a completely loss as to what.

Sarah appeared before a struggling Owen and Tamara...obviously trying to break their binds.

No doubt from the smell of magic in the air Rumplestiltskin had already been here to question the duo.

"I see you two haven't figured out that you're not going to break your bindings. I touched them with just a bit of magic...there's no way you're going anywhere any time soon."

The look of hatred that both captives gave her made her anger flare.

In a second Sarah's magic surrounded and jerked both Tamara and Owen up into the air.

"How did you two know about magic? Who...enlisted you?" The swirling black magic in her eyes left no mistake to Owen that he needed to answer and fast.

Sarah listened carefully as Owen explained and at the end can't help but roll her eyes.

"So you mean to tell me that you don't actually know who you're working for..."

"All we care about is that they want to destroy magic. Whoever they are doesn't matter." Owen's voice never wavered in his conviction.

"You idiot! That bracelet you had was MAGICAL! Whoever you're working for has been using you! Now tell me what you were really here to do!" Sarah's eyes blazed red before turning completely black as she looked at Owen.

Emma was in a haze.

Tears wouldn't stop spilling down her eyes as her world just became flipped upside down.

Out of everything that she had expected following Regina and Rum...what she had seen had not been anything that she had ever expected.

She didn't know what to do.

Closing her eyes and sniffing she allowed a few more tears to fall before she let out a huge breathe and decided to wait.

Wait and let herself come to terms with what she saw.

What Regina saw.

Emma's eyes widened.

"Oh dear God."

Suddenly Emma knew she could do absolutely nothing.

As much as she wanted to...as much as she knew it was the right thing to do - Emma knew it wasn't her right to say a word.

Wiping away her tears she tried to calm down.

She needed to think this through before she did or said anything.

Continuing to wipe away the evidence of her crying, she went back to Regina's house, at the moment wanting to see Henry more than ever before.

Knowing that the coming hours...and days...would be the hardest she had ever faced with her family.

Walking through the door of Regina's house she stopped when she noticed that Sarah wasn't there, and Mother Superior suddenly was.

Her father was there, looking at her worriedly. He could tell she had been upset.

"What happened? Are you alright?" David asked as he instinctively walked over to Emma.

Emma looked at the others and slowly smiled. "Yeah...I'm ok. Just...some stuff from earlier today."

David looked at her curiously.

Snow walked over to Emma and couldn't help but try and comfort the older version of her daughter.

"Are you sure? You look really upset. Does my mother have anything to do with this?" Snow brushed back Emma's hair and looked concerned that Regina could have caused Emma pain like this.

Emma kept silent but shook her head. No...Regina had most certainly not been the cause of her being upset. It was how all of this had started, how they had all come to be in this town and torn apart.

Manipulated.

All of them.

Emma shook her again. "No. She didn't do anything."

James shared a look with Zalena, both understanding that Emma was hiding something.

Both kept their mouths shut. Sometimes being a good aunt or uncle was knowing when to NOT talk.

"What is is Emma?" David asked, still showing concern for his daughter.

Emma shook her head again. "It's nothing...just...something that happened earlier."

"Ok. If you're sure." David said as his instincts told him to hold Emma in his arms and comfort her, but he read her body language and could tell she didn't want to be held at the moment.

Emma's mind kept replaying what she had seen, replaying the events the portal had shown Regina of the past. Looking at her father made her wince.

"I think I'll go up and see how Henry is doing with Little Snow White." Emma didn't wait for anyone to respond before going up stairs towards Henry's room.

Regina wiped the remaining remnants of vomit with the back of her hand away as her tears continued to fall.

A whimper escaped her as she tried to hold back the agony in her body...in her very being. The trembling from toe to head coming in waves as shock set in.

Everything...everything that she had held to be true had been ripped from her.

A hand touched her on the shoulder from behind. "Are you alright?"

Regina's anger flared and she ripped herself away from his touch and turned and stared daggers at him.

Rum stepped back...knowing that he had absolutely no defense for what he had done...for what he continued to still do today. Except one thing...one thing that he kept saying to himself over and over again.

"I saved her life."

"Get out."

The coldness in which Regina said the words to Rum making him instantly bow his head in shame. Tears springing to his eyes as he saw the disgust on her face.

"GET OUT!" The roar of anger sprang out from Regina's soul like nothing ever had before.

"She would have killed her..." Rum said the words as he cried and turned to leave Regina.

Regina could do nothing but let the anger give way to the tears and sadness that engulfed her. Her eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth to cover the whimpering that was suddenly coming out.

She stared at nothing as her mind thought back on every moment - every action that she had taken.

What she had done...she closed her eyes...knowing she would never forgive herself.

Thoughts plagued her and it was as if she became a living statue as they did.

An hour passed before her cellphone rang startling her out of her thoughts. Quickly reaching into her pocket her mind began to recognize the sound of the ringtone.

"Henry are you alright? What's wrong?" Regina asked immediately hearing a loud wailing in the background and having her heart stop when she realized it was the baby screaming her head off.

"Mom! Queen Eva's here..."

Before Henry could say anything else her magic whirled around her and she was in her home once more.

The piercing sound of Baby Snow screaming filled the house.

"Mom!" Henry jumped slightly but a second latter ran to embrace her.

"What's going on?" Regina hugged Henry briefly but moved to go towards the sound, but Henry quickly blocked her.

"Mom you can't! The other you is down there." Henry held his hands up and slowly lowered them when he made sure she wasn't going to go downstairs. Having heard the other her arguing with Queen Eva he knew her going downstairs was a very bad idea.

"What happened?" Regina asked as she heard other voices.

"I don't know exactly. But it has something to do with Queen Eva. At least that's what I think they called her. A few minutes ago she made her way over here with Grandma and she just started yelling at the other you. Little Snow heard her and I told her to stay in here with me but she didn't listen." Henry said aggravated that the younger version of his grandmother had not listened to him.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY MOMMY LIKE THAT YOU UGLY HORSES ASS!"

Immediately following the scream was the distinct sound of a slap and crying.

Regina knew immediately what had happened and without thought promptly found her magic dissipating as she stood before Queen Eva who had a look of anger in her eye fading to shock as Regina appeared. Not waiting to turn and confirm what she knew had happened her magic surged through her fingers and Queen Eva was pushed with the invisible force against the front door where her head connected with the wood and promptly fell to the floor unconscious.

"REGINA!" Mary Margret screamed and quickly ran towards Queen Eva to see that she was still breathing.

Regina said nothing at the sight and immediately turned and felt her heart ache at the sight of Little Snow's bright red cheek and the tears running down her face.

Not second guessing herself she swooped Little Snow up and hoisted the eleven year old into her arms and started to shush her but Little Snow just held on tighter and started to let out shuddering sobs against her.

Regina was unaware of the others staring at her as her focus was solely on Little Snow.

"It's ok sweet heart. Shhh. I'm right here Snow. I'm right here. It's ok now. "

It was these words that made even Mary Margret turn and stare at Regina comforting Little Snow.

Snow looked between Queen Eva and Regina as she held Little Snow in her arms and comforted her. Yet she couldn't stop herself from turning and looking at the unconscious figure of her mother on the ground next to Mary Margret. A hand on her back made her turn and see Queen Regina looking at her with a saddened but understanding look - nodded her head for her to go.

Snow could see the pain that her indecision had made to the woman that had raised her as a young girl, but was thankful that she understood that she needed to go to her. Quickly pressing a kiss to Queen Regina's cheek she turned and ran to Queen Eva to see if she was alright along with Mary Margret.

Regina saw the way David was looking at her and his quick glancing behind her, as if he was torn between what she had done and why she had done it.

Still holding Little Snow in her arms with her head tucked into her neck, Regina turned and felt her heart tighten at the sight of both Mary Margret and Snow checking Queen Eva over.

Regina turned and couldn't stop her eyes from watering and kissed Little Snow's head. "Are you ok?"

Little Snow nodded her head and sniffled loudly as she tried to stop the tears that the slap across her face has caused to come out. When she pulled away Regina sucked in her breathe as she locked eyes with Little Snow's. In that moment Regina wanted to cry herself.

"I'm sorry Regina. She...she said something very mean and ugly about you...and...and it made me very angry." Little Snow sniffled as her words stuttered out. Then lowered her head in shame for having said those things to her real mother. But she couldn't stand to hear her mother talk about Regina in that way.

Regina blinked and shook her head slightly to stop the wave of shock of having looked into Little Snow's eyes had caused. She tried to remember what she had heard being yelled out.

When Little Snow's words of anger came back to her she couldn't help but feel a swell of love and affection for her, but knew that she never wanted to hear something like that from the young girl ever again.

"Snow you know better than to use that kind of language. And quite frankly you're better than that. When someone makes you angry you shouldn't resort to calling them names. Especially an adult...let...let alone...her. Do you understand?" Regina's voice never raising or even sounding like her normal self as she explained to Little Snow.

Little Snow sniffled and nodded her head, still keeping her eyes hidden from Regina.

"She said something mean about you. And...and she kept calling you my mother...but she's my mother...and I just got so angry that she kept saying bad things about you. It's...It's not right that she talks about you like that."

Regina shifted to allow herself to continue holding Snow but to allow her to tilt Little Snow's chin up to look at her.

The sight of her eyes locking with her own almost stopped her short again. The tears that still continued to travel down her face hurting her in a way she never thought possible. But the sight of the red inflamed skin becoming darker on her left cheek made Regina determined to make sure nothing like this ever happened again. Especially if she was not there to protect her.

"I know she made you angry speaking about me like that, but I never want you to fight my battles for me. You...you are..." Regina felt her heart swell as she looked at the young face before her, "you are a Princess. And you have to hold yourself to a higher standard. You need to set the example for the whole kingdom. And I know you can. I know how good you are. And I am very proud of you! Very proud of you Snow! I know you'll always do the right thing. Never...never doubt that voice inside you. Ok?"

Snow lowered her head an sniffled again but nodded her head. Then leaned back into Regina and wrapped her arms around her.

Regina felt herself take a huge sigh of relief and squeezed Little Snow tightly and she herself tried to stop her own tears.

Emma watched the whole scene with a heavy heart. She was at fault for getting Little Snow upset at Queen Eva.

When she had been upstairs with Henry and Little Snow she had spoken only two sentences to the child version of her mother. It was only when Queen Regina and Queen Eva had entered the house practically yelling at each other - with Mary Margret trying to calm them down - that Emma had immediately known to go downstairs and defuse the situation.

Emma had heard the very end of Queen Regina warning Queen Eva about saying anything about 'her daughter' when Little Snow had suddenly appeared next to Queen Regina. Emma watched as Little Snow grabbed Queen Regina's hand and tried to pull her away from the other Queen.

Mary Margret looked as though she was being torn in two as she tried to calm down Queen Eva.

Emma had also focused on Queen Eva. Knowing that if Queen Regina had any kind of magic she was very likely to use it. Her best course of action was to get Queen Eva to safety.

"Queen Eva this is her home. Please..."

But what the woman said next had even her stopping short.

"It's a shame such of beautiful child is the daughter of a woman as yourself." Queen Eva eyes blazed with anger towards Queen Regina, then her eyes had turned to Emma. "Tell me, is she the local harlot? Is that the reason the child has no father?"

Emma felt like she herself had been slapped. The child she was talking about was HER MOTHER!

Emma's anger surged through her, but before she could respond Little Snow's gasp filled the space before she whirled around from dragging Queen Regina away and yelling out her insult to Queen Eva.

Closing her eyes she tried not to feel guilty for not stopping Queen Eva. Emma knew from the look on Eva's posture that she was going to strike Little Snow.

But seeing how Regina was comforting Little Snow, and the way Queen Regina was crying as she watched Little Snow attach herself to Regina, she knew that it was better this way.

Taking a deep breath she slowly approached the two as Regina finally placed Little Snow on the ground and lowered herself to look up at the little girl.

Emma couldn't help but feel a tug at her heart as Regina leaned up and kissed Little Snow as she then straightened out the girl's hair.

"Is...is she ok?" Little Snow asked as her eyes glanced to her mother on the ground.

Regina didn't even turn to look, but nodded. "She just hit her head, I promise I'll make sure she's fine. Alright?" The little smile she gave Little Snow making the child feel better, assured that she would make sure her mother was alright.

"Good. Now why don't you go upstairs and have Henry show you his toys or books. I know you'll find something to keep you occupied until I make supper."

Little Snow's face slowly became amused. "You...are going to make supper? Why not have the cook make it?"

"Ah...well because you are looking at the cook to this castle." Regina smile in a way she hadn't smiled since before Daniel had been alive.

"Really?" Snow's eyes twinkling with amusement at this news.

Regina nodded her head as she made a noise of certainty.

"Are you sure she will be fine?" Little Snow asked again as she saw that Mary and Margret began hoisting Queen Eva over to the furniture to lay her down.

The worry in Little Snow's voice making Regina feel wounded, but turned to see what was worrying the girl so much, then seeing and understanding why the girl felt such guilt.

Turning back Regina saw the worry and guilt radiating from the young Princess' eyes and knew she could do nothing but take Little Snow's hand and guide her over to Queen Eva.

Mary Margret and Snow stepped away as Regina held out both of her hands on either side of Queen Eva's head. The magic soon glowed from her hands, and slowly Queen Eva began to twitch as though waking.

Little Snow watched in amazement as Eva's eyes slowly opened.

"What happened?" Queen Eva asked groggily.

Regina held her temper in check as Mary Margret assisted Queen Eva into sitting up. "Your majesty had an accident."

"I did?" Queen Eva asked, still in a fog about what was going on.

Little Snow slowly reached up as she stared at Queen Eva and took Regina's hand.

Regina wanted to cry the moment the little girl's hand encircled and squeezed her own.

When Queen Eva blinked a few times and looked up at Regina, Emma could have sworn the woman was trying to remember not only what had happened...but how Regina's attire had changed.

After all, Queen Regina stood behind the Queen in her royal gown trying not to be seen by the insufferable Queen.

"Yes. And I'm sorry to say my daughter yelled at you seconds before you fell. And I believe she has something she wants to say to you." Regina looked over at Little Snow and made a motion with her head.

Looking up into Regina's eyes she knew that she was right. Swallowing down her fears and her shame, she looked over at the woman that she had grown up calling mother and said what she had never gotten to say before.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you. I...I wish I could take it back...but I can't. Will you...would you please forgive me."

Little Snow looked from Queen Eva to Regina who smiled a soft smile at her. Letting her know that the words were perfect.

Though Queen Eva didn't remember how she had hurt her head, she saw the expecting faces of the others in the room and nodded her head and winced.

"Yes my dear. I'm quite sure that you didn't mean to cause me harm."

Snow's smile was so bright that even Queen Eva smiled at the sight.

"Now why don't you go up and play with Henry?" Regina asked.

Little Snow nodded and before Regina could say anything quickly leaned up and kissed her cheek before running upstairs. For once...happy that she had gotten to know she was forgiven by her mother.

Regina didn't realize she was smiling until her eyes once more made contact with Eva's accusing eyes.

"Where's my daughter?"

Regina felt herself stiffen. Her eyes quickly finding Baby Snow in Zelena's hold.

Zelena who looked like she had seen a ghost.

Regina moved to take the child from Zelena and seemed to startle her into looking up at her with her huge blue eyes in confusion.

"Are you alright?" Regina found herself asking, barely having admitted to herself that this woman before her was her sister. But in that moment something internal could see that something was very wrong if a sister of hers was looking at a baby the way she had been.

"What? I'm..I'm just...I'm sorry did you say something?" Zelena asked, making everyone look at her with worry.

"Is something wrong with my daughter? Bring her to me!" Queen Eva commanded the last part as she rose to take Baby Snow from Regina, but immediately found Regina on the opposite side of the room.

"You are not touching her until I deem you can. I don't care who you are or how anyone else sees you. You will not touch her!" Regina kept her voice deep and menacing making sure not to scare Baby Snow as she laughed and slapped her hands down on Regina's clothes as she held a small stuffed toy in her tiny baby hands.

Queen Eva's eyes blazed. But Regina was not going to back down. Not to this. Not ever.

Especially after what Rum had revealed to her.

"She is MY daughter." Queen Eva's angry tone did nothing to Regina. If anything it made her remember the very act that had made her swear that the woman would never touch this baby ever again.

"No she is not." Regina's eyes blazed as she said the words, making her whole family look at her as she said the words missing the look of shock on Queen Eva's face.

"Not until I know you can be her mother." Regina forced the words out of her diaphragm. Her chest tight with all of the emotions of earlier. Regina couldn't help but look down at Baby Snow's smiling pacifier filled mouth as she played against her.

Kissing her chubby little cheek Regina lifted the baby up and placed her on her hip. Showing everyone just how happy the baby was. Waving her baby hand with the stuffed animal around as she looked up at Regina smiling up at her with the binky close to falling out of her mouth smiling and giggling.

Emma's eyes had been wide with shock until Regina added the last nine words, allowing Emma to release the breath she didn't know she had been holding. Now as she saw just how Regina was looking at Baby Snow she couldn't help but smirk at the way Regina seemed to glow.

In that moment she felt a sympathy for Regina that she had never felt before. Having worked through things earlier as she watched over Henry and Little Snow playing. What was going to have to happen to make sure history repeated itself and they all existed?

What was that was going to mean for everyone? What would it mean for herself. Her mother. Regina. Especially Regina.

Emma needed to talk to her. Despite not having enough time to process everything that she had seen. She knew she needed to talk with Regina.

"Are we interrupting anything?" Neal asked at the opened door staring at the group.

Zelena had finally snapped back to herself enough to move her fingers and move her sister away from the line of sight of Queen Eva, making Queen Regina grab Zelena's arm at the sudden movement. A look of scolding was aimed at Zelena when the look on her older sisters face stopped her from saying anything.

The look screaming silently at Queen Regina that they needed to talk...and immediately at that - making her hold any kind of scolding she would have normally given her sister.

It was a testament to how far they had come since they had first met.

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

"I SWEAR mamma she was right behind me!" Snow screamed as she watched her mother pace from one side of the room to the other. The way that her mother was gripping her hands she knew exactly how she felt.

Her sister had hardly ever been out of her sight. Normally she would have noticed right away that her sister wasn't behind her, but she had been concentrating more on David then she was Sarah.

The moment that she had noticed that Sarah had not said a word while she and David had talked she had felt a sinking feeling in her stomach and a sudden raising of hairs on the back of her neck.

When she had turned to where Sarah should have been, the empty area made her hands lose the grip on the flowers she had been holding, causing them to fill the empty space of where Sarah was suppose to be.

In the days since she had not only told her mother what had happened, but had informed her that she had been in the city square with David. Her guilt about what she and David had been secretly doing had been so plainly written on her face that her mother had taken a few seconds to look between her and David to understand exactly why Snow had missed Sarah not being there.

The look of shock on her face would forever remain with Snow. But the look of anger as she looked at David stung more than she could have thought.

"I wanted to tell you..." David looked at his sister pleadingly, reaching out to touch her when she jerked away from him.

"Don't! Don't you dare ask for comfort when my daughter has been taken. Your NIECE DAVID! YOUR NIECE'S SISTER! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING TOUCHING MY DAUGHTER?!" The glow of magic in her clenched fists making David back up as the backlash for trying to be with Snow came out in the worst way possible.

"We don't know if she's been taken. She could have just wandered off." David knew he had to calm his sister down some how. Assuarance that Sarah was just being adventurous

"No she wouldn't have." Snow said as she shook her head as she looked down and let the tears fall. "Not when I'm with her."

Looking up she looked up at David and breathed in deeply. "It's my fault that I didn't tell you sooner. Why...why Sarah is more important than us."

David hated seeing Snow soo upset and tried to move towards her, but Snow immediately moved back.

"What are you talking about Snow?"

"Snow don't." Regina had begged. Begged with crying eyes that she not say the words that were tumbling through her head every second Sarah was missing.

"I wanted to tell you so many times...but I thought if I just..." Snow closed her eyes as more tears fell, "If I just kept it from you you wouldn't look at me differently. You wouldn't ask more questions that could...knowing will endanger all of our lives if it ever..."

"SNOW!" Regina's yell making Snow jump back and close her mouth and look at her mother.

The tears in her mother's eyes telling her not to tell him. Not to let him know what she had kept secret for 9 years. And memories. Memories that would haunt Snow some nights, where nothing could calm her but sneaking into Sarah's room and making sure she was alright.

She would always find herself running to her mother's room and waking her. It was those nights when startled awake she would say nothing but look into her eyes and allow her to sleep against her as her mother's hands passed through her hair whispering comforting words.

As years passed and Sarah became older, the memories and nightmares increased, and her mother had become extremely worried how often her grown daughter was being comforted from her nightmares...when David had entered their lives.

David had...changed her view on many things. Especially with how he treated Sarah. Snow had been weary of ANY man near her baby sister. Weirdly it had been her Grandpa Henry to give David a chance.

And she had.

But she had never bared her soul to him. Never told him the secrets that had bound her to her mother and sister so tightly.

"Regina please. You're my sister and I love you. Neither James or I would ever betray you or our family. Please..." David pleaded as he turned from Regina and back to Snow.

"Snow...please...I love Sarah too...you can trust me. And nothing...nothing could ever make me look at you differently."

Snow knew in that moment that David was the love of her life. Because in that moment...she believed him.

Regina cringed as the words of romance were said to her daughter. But the coming fight about the two of them would have to wait. Everything would have to wait as she moved away from the two and looked out the window - hoping against everything that she would see her little girl running towards the castle.

That's when David was finally told of Sarah's true parentage. About the circumstances that had led them to flee the castle and into the woods with the help of Cora and Rumplestitskin. About Sarah's birth and the return to the castle. Snow told him every secret that she had been keeping her from being with David fully.

For his credit David said nothing even as his jaw began dropping at the story that Snow had weaved.

In the end David had found the only chair in the room and had slowly lowered himself into it as Snow told him things he knew cost her a huge amount of trust.

"That's...that's why Sarah would never wander off without me. Her entire life we've told her to be weary of everyone that she didn't know."

David felt as if all of his energy had been drained out of him.

Looking up he saw the blood shot eyes of the woman he knew he loved, and could not fault her for what she had thought as she distanced herself from him.

Everything made sense now.

"She'd never go with a stranger David! She wouldn't...which means..."

"Which means someone had to take her." David said this as he dropped his head and closed his eyes.

And now days had passed since the moment David understood just how critical it was to find Sarah, and her mother continued to pace and search the Kingdom for any trace of Sarah.

Her mother had not looked at her since she had begged her not to tell David all of their secrets, and it had been driving her slowly into the most horrible depression and guilt she had ever felt since she was a little girl.

"PLEASE Mama! I can't stand you not looking at me! I...I swear it was only just..." Snow couldn't help but cry as every horrible thought of what could have happened and could be happening to her sister passed through her head.

Regina turned and looked at her daughter with pain clearly visible in her eyes, "It's my fault this happened."

Snow felt shocked by the words. For days she had hated herself - blaming herself for not watching over her sister - and her mother didn't blame her.

"If I had noticed...if I hadn't been denying the fact that you were looking at him more...I would have never let you into the village with him and Sarah by yourselves."

Snow felt like a bucket of cold ice had been dropped on her.

"I should have seen what was happening and stopped it before it went too far." Regina said the words as tears began to fall.

Snow couldn't respond to her mother, her guilt so high at the moment she couldn't even fight for her love for David, not when Sarah was missing and her mother was in so much pain.

"Momma...I...I'm sorry. I...I love him." Snow couldn't stop herself from crying as the truth sprung from deep inside her.

The tears refused to stop coming, especially when she saw her mother's eyes slowly grow hard.

"Your love killed your sister."

Snow felt like all the air in the world had been sucked out. Her heart feeling like it stopped as the words felt like they were a sword being embedded into the organ.

Regina felt herself crumble as she clamped a hand against her mouth after the words left them.

Whimpers began screams as the words of her daughter's death penetrated her mind. Frantic and desperate pleadings left her mouth as she begged God for her baby to still be alive.

Arms tried to hold her still as she thrashed around on the ground, but she fought them but soon allowed the arms to wrap around her and rock her as she cried out for God to take her instead.

Snow felt herself breaking as she rocked the woman that had raised her. Her eyes void as the words 'killed' and 'sister' rang in her head over and over again. Cold filling her as the horror of those words sank in.

Of how those words could truly be a reality now.

"In this life...you'll have not greater responsibility then protection your sister. You may not understand what that means right now...but others will try to divide you from each other. Turn you against one another. Never let them Snow. From this moment on you will always be her big sister. She will always look to you as her compass of what is right and what is wrong. And that makes her as much yours as she is her mothers. She will always be yours to love and protect."

Tears traveled down her face as the words of the man she had called Grandfather bombarded her with the memory of that night.

She had failed to protect her sister. And the thought that she could no longer be breathing at the moment...

Snow didn't realize she was gasping for breathe until the woman she called mother wrapped her arms around her and began to sob against her as they both rocked back and forth on the ground.

Slowly both began to feel numb as all of their energy drained.

When Snow's eyes once more were able to focus the look in them showed something that had never graced her features before. A look of menace and determination.

A thought of vengeance formed in her mind.

She would find the people responsible for taking her sister.

And she would kill them.

None would know it until many years later - but in that one moment - the gray spot in the middle of Snow's heart began to turn black as night.

Zelena looked through the portal at the sight of both women on the floor sobbing.

Not a few weeks ago the sight would have made her beyond happy and victorious. Now - she knew she had to bring Sarah back to them.

The thought of losing the little girl hurting her more than she could and would have ever thought not a few days ago.

But Sarah had a way of getting under your skin and in your heart.

Years of having no one but herself being bulldozed as the tiny terror had laughed and giggled her way into the hollowness she had always felt.

The never belonging and not knowing why.

Sarah made her feel like first, for the first time in her life not only did she belong - but all things happened for a reason.

"Aunt Lena what are you looking at?"

Zelena quickly waved a hand to make sure Sarah didn't see the scene of the people she loved hurting.

"Nothing princess. Just trying to figure out a way of getting you home." Zelena smiled though it didn't reach her eyes, the title Sarah had given her hurting in it's irony.

"I can't wait until Mommy and Grammy meet you! I've never seen anyone with red hair like Uncle James and Uncle David have." Sarah said as she jumped up and down at the idea.

"Settle down now." Zelena said with a true smile she couldn't stop from forming on her face.

"But you have such pretty hair! I wish I had your pretty hair! Mamma's always brushing my hair and putting pins in it...but they always fall out. She says it's because my hair has curls...but it's not as curly as your hair!" Sarah's smiling becoming a pursed face of displeasure.

Zelena leaned down and tugged on the braids she had made out of Sarah's hair this morning. "I think your hair is beautiful just the way it is."

Sarah gave Zelena a big smile and before Zelena could do anything Sarah launched herself into Zelena's arms.

"I believe it when you say it. Sometimes Mommy says it and I don't believe her." Sarah said as she leaned away from Zelena with her hands holding onto Zelena's neck.

Zelena's eyes darkened at the admission of the child.

"Well you should believe her...because you are one of the prettiest...most beautiful little girl I have ever seen."

Sarah blushed but giggled and shook her head. "Uh -uh...my sissy is the prettiest most beautiful girl. I heard Uncle David tell her so."

Zelena's eyebrows raised at that but said nothing as Sarah continued to giggle. "Well that's just not possible."

"Sissy is beautiful like mamma...and we both think mamma's beautiful...but mamma doesn't feel beautiful sometimes." Sarah's frown returning as her mind continually returned back to her family and how much she missed them.

Zelena found that over the last two days Sarah would mention not just the nice things about her family...but the bad as well. When she asked her why she was remembering the sad things she said simply she was sad she wasn't there to make them feel better.

"Why doesn't she feel beautiful?" Zelena asked curiously excited at her sisters misery and a small part saddened it affected the young girl.

The little girl shrugged "Sometimes mommy comes in my room when I'm sleeping and wakes me up. She thinks I don't see her crying but she says she's not feeling beautiful and needs to sleep with a little more beauty with her and sleeps in bed with me and we snuggle."

Zelena's elation ebbed as the idea of this little girl wrapping herself against her mother- hearing her crying against her as she tried to sleep formed into a perfect picture of the act.

Learning who Sarah had been had made her realize that the hate she had for her sister Regina did not transfer to her daughter. As hard as she had tried to hold this child accountable for her mothers faults...she was always thwarted by Sarah's goodness and willingness to be kind. And even loving towards her.

"You're not green anymore. Does that mean I'm not pink?" Sarah asked with a scrunched up face as she looked at Zelena.

Zelena looked at the mirror that hung across from them and noted that she indeed was not green.

The sight of her flesh being cream once more shocking her a bit. Usually it took a huge amount of self control to revert back to her natural coloring.

"No...it just means that we don't make a flower anymore" Zelena said as she turned back to a now pouting Sarah.

"But I loved being a flower together." Sarah said referring to when Zelena had first held her hand and she noticed that it looked like Zelena was a green petal and she was the rose flower.

"Well then maybe we could still be a flower together. One with cream and pink petals!" Zelena said with a raising of her eyebrows and widening of her eyes.

Sarah nodded as she laughed. "I'd like that."

"Good...now let's get some dinner. I seem to remember someone saying that they wanted apple pie for desert! What? What's the matter?" Zelena asked immediately seeing Sarah's face darken with sadness once more.

"I miss mommy's apple pie. When Grammy's not in the castle, mommy takes me and Snow into the kitchen's and we bake mommy's apples into a pie."

Zelena couldn't help but feel the tug at her heart at the little girl's fallen face.

"Lena I miss my mommy."

Zelena felt jealousy course through her, but the next second Sarah was hugging her and tucking herself into her hold.

Zelena caressed Sarah's hair and began to rock her as if she were a baby.

"I know sweetheart. I know. She misses you just as much I bet."

"Grammy always sings to me when I miss mommy when she goes away. Can you sing to me Lena?"

Zelena was taken aback at the request, but only floundered for a second before she remembered the song her mother would sing to her when she was a little girl to put her to sleep.

"My mommy use to sing me a song when I went to bed. Would that be alright?" Zelena asked as she remembered fondly the woman that had raised her.

Sarah nodded but her stomach growled letting Zelena know that she was hungry.

Smiling Zelena placed Sarah back down and sternly said. "First you need to eat dinner and then I promise to sing."

Sarah looked disappointed but nodded.

"Good."

Zelena waved her hand and the food appeared before them making Sarah laugh.

"Mommy would never let me use magic for food."

"Well what would mommy let you use magic for?" Zelena asked as she led Sarah to the small table and let go of her hand to allow Sarah to sit down.

Zelena had discovered Sarah used magic when she first had arrived at the castle and had thrown a fireball at the little girl without knowing who she was and Sarah had used magic to block the fireball.

It had immediately alerted Zelena of the girl's magical powers to be able to do so.

"To protect myself...mommy says she doesn't want me to use it all the time because she doesn't want me using it for everything like Grammy use to."

That made Zelena stop placing food on the girl's plate at the mention of her 'Grammy.'

"Grammy used to use a lot of magic?" Zelena asked even though she had been able to look into the past and see how she had been conceived...she had not really seen much of her mother. She had most definitely seen what Rum had said to her sister about choosing her to be his apprentice.

The jealousy that had boiled in her veins had immediately ebbed when she witnessed what had caused Regina to take Snow and flee the castle. Stopping the lessons that Rumplestiltskin had been teaching her.

But the little voice in the back of her mind that told her she had been tossed aside by her mother burned her in a way that nothing could calm.

And her anger had fueled her for soo long...until Sarah had appeared out of nowhere.

Sarah nodded as she chewed on a piece of chicken Zelena had placed on her plate.

"Grammy says...she used it...too much. That...mommy...didn't like magic. Grammy says she used magic so much that it made my mommy sad."

"My father didn't like magic either. He thought I was evil because I would always..." Zelena stopped talking as the correlation between what the man who had raised her would say compared to what her sister would say about her mother connected in that moment.

Sarah looked sadly at Zelena. "You're not evil. You're nice. You're trying to help me get back to my mommy and sissy."

Zelena slowly smirked at Sarah, knowing that her thoughts from earlier of keeping Sarah for herself were now causing her guilt.

"Eat your dinner now! As soon as your done we'll get ready for bed. And then someone will get to hear me sing."

Sarah smiled and quickly began to eat the rest of the food on her plate.

When night came and Zelena was tucking Sarah in bed, Zelena couldn't help but move Sarah's hair out of her face.

"Are you going to sing now? I like how you talk...I think you can sing pretty."

Zelena laughed at the words but quickly said. "Well I did say I would didn't I?"

Sarah nodded her head smiling.

Within a few minutes the little girl was sleeping.

Zelena convinced herself in that moment that she was taking Sarah back to Regina.

Not for Regina...but for Sarah.

And just maybe to be able to confront the woman who had abandoned her. In the days that Sarah had been here she had learned what it would be like to have her own child. To care for them, provide for them, and even how she would love them.

She wanted to know how the woman that gave birth to her could have done it.

And if she didn't like the answer...she would destroy everything her mother loved.

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

Neal entered further into the home and heard the little girl in the room gasp. Following her eyesight he noticed the way his father stared at the little girl and quickly moved towards her blocking her view of his father.

"Don't be scared. I promise I won't let him hurt you." Neal said as the child continued to back up from him as he approached her.

"Why...why does he look at me like that?" Little Snow whispered her question.

Neal turned to look at his father, giving him a glare forcing Rumple to raise his hands in surrender and back out of the house and close the door but not before his eyes landed on Regina, who had quickly moved the baby against her to hide her face from him.

The glare they shared telling the other there was going to be a confrontation and soon.

Neal turned back around. "See...he can't hurt you."

Little Snow visibly relaxed and Neal finally smiled at her.

"I've never met you have I? You look familiar."

Stiffled laughs were heard from James and Zelena but Neal didn't notice as Little Snow extended her hand and curtsied. "Snow White."

Neal took her hand but immediately looked up to Emma in shock. Emma shrugged her shoulders and smirked at the confusion on Neal's face.

Neal smiled down as Little Snow looked up and smiled up at him.

" Hello Snow. My name is Neal. Pleasure to meet you." With that Neal bowed and kissed Snow's hand.

Snow laughed at the feel of the small scruff that brushed her hand.

Regina couldn't help but smile at the sound of Little Snow smiling and laughing. Adjusting Baby Snow once more she walked towards Emma with Baby Snow and gave Queen Eva another warning look before placing the baby into the shocked arms of Emma.

Emma's eyes widened as she looked into the baby face of her mother who smiled with the pacifier in her mouth at her.

"Could you please take her with you and Henry to get something to eat. She hasn't gotten to eat that much."

It took Emma a few seconds of opening her mouth before the word "sure" came out.

Baby Snow laughed and moved her toy dog at Emma.

Emma couldn't help but smirk and then fully smile at Baby Snow.

"I'll come with you." Neal said as he moved towards Emma.

Emma couldn't help but keep smiling as she stared at the baby face of her mother, nodding her acceptance.

As Emma adjusted Baby Snow on her hip she looked up at Regina and couldn't help but feel her heart go out to her at the way she was looking at Baby Snow.

Baby Snow turned and reached for Regina, but Regina just smiled and kissed the baby's hand.

"You go with Emma."

Emma gave Regina a nod as she adjusted Baby Snow on her hip and couldn't help but feel a little bit of happiness at the look on the baby's face.

"Ok. Wait...um...can I talk to you...privately?" Emma said after the shock of having Baby Snow in her arms pass.

Regina's face showed confusion at the request but nodded none the less.

Queen Regina took the opportunity to use magic to wisk them out of the room together with her magic as not to be seen by Queen Eva.

"I'm sorry." Queen Regina immediately said as soon as the magic dissipated and Regina and Emma holding baby Snow in her hold looked over at her after realizing they were just outside of the house.

If it had been anyone else both women would have been annoyed. But considering the circumstances understood why she would have done something like this.

"It's ok. Um...do you mind if I speak with um...my grandmother alone?" Emma asked uncertainly.

"Of course sweetheart. I can take her with me and feed her if that's ok?" Queen Regina said with a smile as she went to retrieve a still smiling Baby Snow.

"Oh...ah...yeah. That would be great." Emma said as she lifted Baby Snow up and couldn't help but smiling up at the baby and bringing her down to give her a big wet kiss.

"MMMah" The sound of the kiss loud making the baby laugh happily.

Both Regina's couldn't help but smile at the sight.

With that Queen Regina took a still laughing baby into her hold and adjusted her in her arms and moved to the door that Regina pointed to.

"I know." Emma said as soon as the door clicked shut behind Queen Regina and Baby Snow.

Regina turned with a confused look. "Know what?"

Emma had her head lowered and wouldn't meet her eyes.

"I know about...what's making you so protective...of that baby and that little girl in there." Emma said finally looking up into Regina's eyes.

Regina said nothing, waiting for Emma to continue with an accusation of something absurd that she must think she was planning.

"I'm not protecting them because of some ulterior motive..."

"I saw what Rump-Rum showed you. I was...following you. I thought...I thought you were...planning something." Emma stammered as she usually did when trying to justify what she was doing or thinking. But when Regina said nothing she finally looked directly at her.

The look of horror in Regina was something that she never thought she'd see. She looked as white as a ghost.

Before Emma could say another word Regina finally spoke.

"You can't tell her."

"I'm...I'm not. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I think it should..."

"She can never know Emma." Regina cut her off as she moved towards Emma grabbing her arm.

"She...none of them can EVER know." Regina's eyes burned with tears as she said the words.

"You can't seriously be considering not telling...she...they have a right to know!" Emma tried to reason with Regina.

Regina lowered her head and squeezed her eyes closed as she took in a deep breathe.

"I've already taken so much from...them...if...if I were to tell her it would...devastate her. She'd question her entire life. I...I can't do that to her. After everything that I've already done...I...I can't."

Emma tried to work through the reasoning, but in the end her mind continued to scream at her that she NEEDED to tell her mother. This was too big to keep secret. There was just no way she could consent.

Regina looked up and swallowed before uttering words that would make her understand. "I'm your Aunt, Emma."

Emma though didn't react the way she thought she would.

"I know and she still deserves to know. Especially because we're family. We're family Regina...and that's not going to change. You need to tell her."

Regina shook her head no, tears falling down her face. "I can't do this to her. I've done enough damage for ten lifetimes."

"You won't be damaging her..."

"Yes IT will...I've...I've done things to her that you don't even know about and I wish I could take back. I wish I could take it all back Emma...but I can't. From this moment on I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure she has as normal and happy a life as possible. Even if it means I stay miserable for the rest of mine. Please...you can never tell her."

Emma saw the conviction in Regina's eyes and knew that there was no convincing her. And she knew that it was something that she could never tell her mother. It wasn't her place to.

"I promise I won't tell her." Emma found herself saying, and the relief in Regina was visible. "But she's going to find out one day. I think it's better now then latter. Especially with what's going on. I'm not going to keep pushing you...but...I know it was hard. I've been there...you know."

Regina suddenly understood exactly what Emma meant and wasn't prepared for the tears in Emma's eyes.

"I know you did what you thought was right. I know that with everything inside me. And I know once she knows...she'll think the same thing too. And as far as I'm concerned we've all been manipulated. And...if you...just need...to talk...I'm here for you." And with that Emma took a few seconds of awkward movements before she decided to act on her instinct and moved towards Regina and enveloped her in a hug.

Regina felt extremely awkward with her arms to her side for a few seconds but almost immediately wrapped her arms and squeezed Emma close to her and held tightly to her as more tears fell.

Both had closed their eyes and held as tightly to the other as possible.

Then suddenly Emma was laughing, making Regina loosen her hold, but Emma immediately began to voice the thought that had entered her mind.

"We'll get through this Grandma."

Regina groaned and shook her head at the joke.

"Sarah's right, it's fun to mess with you."

"Don't start!" Regina warned as she pulled away and gave Emma her 'glare' that made Emma chuckle as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Weirdly a second later Regina reached up and wiped a tear that had been running down Emma's face.

"I'm serious though. We're gonna get through this. Together." Emma said firmly as she smiled at the woman that she had thought took everything away from her.

Regina felt the loneliness from earlier drain away as she now felt she had Emma on her side.

Emma linked her arm though Regina's and they naturally fell in step to walk back inside.

"UNDO whatever you DID!"

Both Emma and Regina instantly went on alert at the words Queen Regina said to Zelena.

"I didn't do anything! I swear! I thought you told me you and Rum taught her magic!" Zelena's wide eyes showing her innocence of whatever she was being accused of.

"SHE..she doesn't!" Queen Regina remembered to keep her voice down as they were still within earshot of the others in the living room. "You must have done something!" She accused once more before looking worriedly at the still smiling and playing baby. Baby Snow still had the stuffed dog toy and was playing with it with both hands as Queen Regina kept both hands around the child as she sat on the counter.

Regina understood immediately that this other version of herself is scared. Very scared.

"What happened?" Emma asked as Regina's immediate reaction is to walk over and see if anything was wrong with the baby.

"Regina you can't hide your head in the sand! You saw her do it with your own eyes!" Zelena exclaimed waving her hand around, ignoring Emma completely.

"I know." Queen Regina whispered as she caressed Baby Snow's hair.

Zelena's anger evaporated as the defeat in her sister's voice was heard clearly, as was the fear.

"Again...what happened?" Emma asked this time looking directly at Zelena.

Zelena let out a huge breathe and moved towards Queen Regina and the baby. Picking the baby up with a 'up we go' making the baby laugh, the baby left the stuffed animal on the counter.

Zelena moved towards Emma facing Queen Regina and Regina.

"This is what happened." With that Zelena used magic to make the stuffed animal appear in her hands.

Baby Snow laughed and reached for the toy.

Zelena then looked at Regina as she used magic to place the doll at the end of the island of the kitchen.

"What are you..." Regina was about to ask what they were arguing over a toy for when the toy disappeared again and appeared between Baby Snow's hands. Immediately giggling and laughing at the game the lady with red hair was playing with her.

Both Emma and Regina's faces dropped with what they had just seen and the look on Zelena's face seeped into their brains.

"Waitwait...that's not...possible." Emma said as her eyes looked between Baby Snow and the stuffed toy.

Regina felt like she couldn't breathe. "No."

Baby Snow just looked up at Regina and Queen Regina and continued smiling and waving her toy around.

"I was just playing with her in the living room and made the toy disappear...and then she made it reappear." Zelena explained how she had discovered this very unexpected and very incredible development.

Emma took a second before the words left her mouth.

"She has magic."

"She can't. It's impossible!" Queen Regina said as she began to cry.

Baby Snow's smiling face fell the second she saw Queen Regina begin to cry. Instantly her little face crumbled into a pursed pouting lip.

"You can't let her see you cry. She's getting upset that you're crying." Zelena said as Baby Snow let go of the toy- dropping it to the floor - and began to reach for Queen Regina, her own lips trembling.

Queen Regina instantly reached for the baby and kissed her chubby little cheeks.

Regina's mind began to work over time.

If a young Snow had had magic, then she would have been a threat to her mother Cora.

Her mother would have killed the child without thought if she had ever known Snow could wield magic. Or worse...corrupt her.

"This doesn't make any sense. Mary Margret has no magical abilities...well...as far as I know." Emma murmured the last part almost to herself.

Regina watched as Baby Snow's hands patted Queen Regina's face as the Queen sniffled and kissed the baby's hands.

Queen Regina turned and looked at her other self.

"We need to bind her powers." They both repeated the same thought out loud.

"What? No! No! Why do we need to bind her powers. They are as much a part of her as they are a part of me." Zelena exclaimed, clearly upset at the idea of suppressing the child's magical abilities.

"If we don't bind her powers...I might never be born..." Emma said slowly as she turned to look at who was essentially her Great Aunt. After watching what happened in the past she was almost certain that she was right. Looking over at Regina they shared a look for the first time communicating without words.

Regina turned and watched as Queen Regina continued to cry with a Baby Snow giving the cutest sad pout that she had ever seen.

Leaning over she whispered something into Queen Regina's ear that made the Queen suddenly stop crying and look at her with bright eyes.

"That could work." Queen Regina said with a spark of hope in her eyes.

"What could work?" Zelena said suspiciously.

"Binding her powers from working in The Enchanted Forest, but allow them here." Regina explained her idea.

"Is that possible?" Emma asked looking between the two Regina's.

"The same way I was bound from hurting your parents in The Enchanted Forest...we can do essentially the same thing by binding her powers from working there...but allow them here." Regina continued to explain her idea.

"Wait...Sarah told us this was a land without magic...I know I felt the lack of my full powers. How is that fair to her if the magic here is minimal at best." Zelena tried to argue the fact of how unfair it would be to Baby Snow...but it couldn't sway the two Regina's.

"It's the only way we can protect everyone from what this could mean. I know you think it's cruel Lena...but..." Queen Regina began.

"It won't work Regina! She's incredibly strong with magic! It takes an incredible amount of magic to do what she does without using her emotions! She's causing it to happen at will! Her magic will only grow with age Regina...you can't bind something so strong without it breaking eventually!" Zelena said heatedly.

Regina forced herself to calm as the words her...sister was saying. The idea of that word still sounding beyond odd for her...but with the way she was acting and how it annoyed her...she was most certain that Zelena was indeed her sister. Yet another thing that she had yet to discuss with her mother.

"We have to risk it. If we don't...Sarah might never exist." Regina said as she looked directly into Zelena's eyes, hoping that like the others...her sister was close with Sarah.

With the way Zelena's face slowly fell at the implication Regina was relieved to know that just like all the others, Zelena was attached to Sarah.

"We have to bind her powers...because I'd do anything to save my daughter." Regina's words made Emma swallow as she nodded her agreement.

They would bind Baby Snow's powers...and maybe...that would preserve the future.

Author's Note: Just watched finished watching the episode tonight, and I hate to say I guessed where the show was going and am disappointed with the writers. In all honesty I was expecting something more from them. SMH. Well...What do you think of my little twists in this story? Do you think you have things figured out? REVIEW and let me know! Yay! Or Nay? REVIEW REVIEW!