Author's Note:After the atrocity that was the ending to GOT I realized just how much I care about writing a good story. I'm way too disgusted with tv show writers destroying incredible stories. I've been writing for years and have waited to finish this story because I have no deadline and I want to put on page what I see in my head. So I write...and rewrite...and rewrite again and again until what I see in my minds eye comes to life on page. I might have typos abound but I'm doing this on my own in the little time I have to myself...to say the least I write for the love of writing and love of story telling. Taking existing characters and writing them into your own story and have people cheer you on encourages you, and it's this that keeps me going. I know I can't please everyone...but I thank everyone for the opportunity. And now...on with the story.
*********************************Alternate Enchanted Forest Past**************************************************
Snow covered her ears tightly and squeezed her eyes trying to shut out the sound of Regina screaming out in pain. The sound was heart wrenching and terrifying. Hearing her mother ...because Regina said she was her mother now...hearing her scream like that frightened her that she wouldn't make it through the birth of the baby.
After hiding from the royal guards for weeks, scrounging and scavenging for food, the bulging of Regina's stomach had confused Snow to no end -since her stomach had shrunk and was constantly growling for food.
Regina had been just as shocked to find out she was with child as Snow had been.
Snow had known that Sarah was not her father's child...and Regina didn't deny it to be Daniel's when Snow had asked if it was.
They were utterly alone in the world...together.
Regina trusted no one...and kept them as hidden in the woods as she could. Both of them learning quickly how to make due with very little.
But Snow worried with each passing day that Regina's stomach grew.
Regina was already weak as she insisted she eat more of the food that they were able to find.
Snow knew she needed to find them more food and soon found herself risking capture to take bread, meat, cheese...things that she knew a woman carrying a baby needed for nourishment. She had been fishing and gathering more from the forrest by herself than ever before as Regina became bigger and more difficult to be as agile. Snow started risking capture to get things more and more.
They never stayed in one place for long, especially with the royal guard still looking for them, it wasn't wise to stay still.
It wasn't often that in the woods she would find others hiding, but when she came across a group one day she realized they had an abundance of items because of how large a group they were.
Another scream pierced the air and Snow pushed against her ears trying to erase the sound, but it was no use.
The baby was coming.
"Snow come sit here with me."
Snow looked up to find Robin looking at her with a look of understanding on his face.
Really she had been lucky that she had been caught by Marian. She had immediately been kind and understanding to her, despite her trying to steal things from the group. When Robin and Marian had seen Regina bulging with pregnancy and hidden away between trees as they had asked her to show them where they had been camping, they knew they had to help.
Marian's face when she saw how they had been living had made Snow's face as red as a strawberry from shame.
From that day forward they had been living with Robin and Marian along with the hidden village they had created.
When another scream came Snow dashed over to Robin and quickly engulfed the poor man in a huge crushing hug.
"She's alright. It's perfectly normal. Soon you'll have a brother or sister to watch over." Robin said to her with a little smirk on his face.
It wasn't that Snow didn't believe him, it was that she had never heard Regina yell that way. Not even...
Snow stopped herself from thinking about that night.
Another scream came too quickly after the last and Snow couldn't help but spring up and run towards the tent she knew Regina to be.
"SNOW DON'T!" But it was already too late, Snow had stepped into the tent and saw what Regina was going through. The initial horror was overridden by the sudden cry of her name from Regina's lips.
Snow found herself diving and grabbing Regina's outstretched hand. The incredibly tight grip knocked the breath out of Snow as she sank down next to Regina hoping that her hand would not break under Regina's hold.
The groan of pure pain that came out of Regina's mouth making Snow's eyes widen and look at Marian, who was between Regina's legs, to see if something was wrong.
"Regina I can see the head! Now I know it hurts...but your child is not but a few pushes away."
Regina's head was moving every which way as she fought the pain. Snow knew that Regina needed encouragement when Regina shook her head no. The thought of the baby being with them soon made Snow's hands grab back at Regina's tightly.
"You can do it Regina! You're the strongest person I've ever known! The baby's almost here!"
Regina heard the excitement in Snow's voice and knew that she had no choice but to push, though the pain was great, she needed to push and bring this child into the world. Bring Daniel's child into the world. As freightening of an idea as it was, her baby needed to be born, and she would spend the rest of her life on the run with her children trying to protect them both.
Regina pulled herself up, and Snow positioned herself behind Regina to give her body support as she doubled over and began pushing as Marian yelled to 'keep pushing'.
The sudden silence that filled the room and the quick motion of Marian as she placed the new baby onto Regina's chest was obliterated only a second later as baby Sarah's scream was heard by all in the encampment.
Snow felt the tears form instantly at the sound, and looked to the woman she called mother as her eyes were filled with tears as she looked down at the obvious little girl wailing her lungs out.
"It's a girl." Snow whispered as tears fell down her cheeks and she looked down at the quivering newborn.
Marian was quickly cleaning the child as Regina's tired body let out laughter at the sight of her baby girl. "Yes she is. God she's so beautiful..." Regina whispered out with a hoarse voice.
Both watched as the new life turned towards the sound of Regina's voice and began to lower her crying to barely lamenting.
"Look at that...she's trying to talk to you." The elderly woman that had helped Marian during Regina's birth said as the baby continued to hum and mumble at Regina.
"She is?" Snow asked with a wrinkled nose and brow.
"You have a talker on your hands Regina. I don't think keeping her quiet is going to be a possibility."
The voice made the smile on Regina's face vanish and tense instantly as she looked to the entrance to the tent.
There with tears traveling down her face was her mother.
"Mother..."
Regina watched as Cora moved down onto the ground to caress her daughter's face and stare at the baby that was being covered with nothing but a cloth after just having been born.
"Sweet heart I'm soo sorry..." Cora began with her newly replaced heart on her sleeve.
Regina was still frightful of her mother's sudden presence after not having seen her for months after the mirror she had pushed her through, but seeing her mother cry made her ease the tension in her body as Cora looked between the new babe in her arms and her.
"She's beautiful."
"How did you..." Regina was about to ask the question when none other than Rumplestiltskin walked into the tent.
The grip she held her daughter with intensified.
"Don't worry dearie." Rumplestiltskin's usual cheer at saying the words gone as he looked between Regina and Snow. "I came with your mother as a gift to you."
"I don't WANT anything from YOU." Regina's firm and unyielding voice filled with disgust.
"Regina...he didn't know..."
"HOW CAN YOU DEFEND HIM?!" Regina screamed startling her new baby and instantly grabbing the baby to console her for the yelling.
"I swear on Baelfire's life ...I didn't know what he was doing... to Snow" Rumplestiltskin shared a look with Snow who quickly looked away in shame.
"I'm soo sorry Snow. I...I never thought that he could have..." Cora whispered the words as she looked at Snow, looking away she shook her head not able to comprehend what Leopold had done.
Snow couldn't look at anyone in the room, even Marian remained quiet at the implication that was being thrown out.
Marian had convinced Robin to help Regina and Snow...despite everyone in the kingdom looking for the two.
Cora reached out slowly and caressed Regina's face. "I'm sorry I wasn't there...but I'm here now...and I won't let anything happen to either of you." Cora looked between the new baby and Regina with a look of love in her eyes Regina had never seen.
"Mother...Snow's my daughter...if you want to help us...she's as much mine as this baby in my arms." Regina said firmly though her whole body shivered as the after effects of giving birth were starting to set in.
Cora looked over at Snow who had huddled herself behind Regina as if to shield herself from everyone in the room. Glancing up and away repeatedly as if seeking acceptance from Cora.
It had been years of hate and revenge that had made Cora want to destroy Queen Eva's daughter. Now...that Rumplestiltskin had helped her after she placed her heart back...she felt an incredible wash of empathy fill her being at the sight of the girl.
Cora looked at Regina and nodded her head. "Of course she is dear. And you'll be an incredible mother to Snow and..." Pausing Cora looked expectantly at Regina for the name of her new granddaughter.
Regina looked at her baby and the smile was instant. "I hadn't decided on a name...but I was thinking..."
"Sarah..." Snow said suddenly...everyone looking at her in mild shock. "You said you liked it. Marian said it means princess."
Cora looked at the small baby and delicately ran a finger over the child's pink skin. Pink like rose petals.
"She looks like a little rose Regina. She's beautiful."
Regina looked between Snow and Cora and then the little baby in her arms. A happiness filling her at the sight of her perfect little girl.
"That sounds right. Sarah Rose..." Looking up at her mother Regina gave a small smile. Cora slowly raised her hand and caressed Regina's face as she felt her heart expand with love she didn't know she could feel.
"I'm soo sorry sweetheart...for everything." Cora said softly as Regina's lids began to grow heavy from exhaustion.
"Let me clean the baby while you rest." Marian finally said as she moved to take Sarah and gave a pointedly look to Snow, making Snow follow her out of the tent without a word.
"King Leopold's men are still trying to find you. It will take more cunning and wit to make sure you and the children survive." Rumplestiltskin said as the flaps of the tent closed behind Snow.
"What's going on?" The scared tone of the new mother causing Cora to glare at Rumplestiltskin.
Turning back to look at Regina, Cora's glare disappeared.
"Don't worry sweetheart. I have an idea. But it won't be simple...and it will take time."
"Mother...I can't keep running with a newborn baby. If they find me...I...I need you to take Snow and Sarah and leave the realm. Hide...just...do everything possible to keep them away from them."
The desperate and pleading in her daughter's request making her eyes water. "It won't come to that. I promise."
"Mother..." Regina began to cry, "please don't make promises you can't keep."
"She may not be able to keep them...but I can dearie. And I promise...no harm will come to you," Rumplestiltskin's eyes went to the entrance of the tent again, "or your children."
*********************************Storybrooke Present********************************
Things were very confusing in this place.
Of this Queen Eva was most certain. Having been left alone for quite some time she knew that it was her chance to look around this strange place without anyone being the wiser.
Though Rumplestiltskin had threatened her...she knew he would protect her to keep his secrets.
It was the one sure thing she knew about him.
And Eva was good at keeping secrets.
Secrets were like currency.
If ever one found oneself in need of something...vital...a secret was better than gold.
Especially if they were in a position of power.
Her eyes gazed with curiosity at the things that she had never seen before. Carriages without horses moved past her as she turned and followed them with her eyes as she walked to the side of the main road.
Wherever she was...it was nothing like her home. If anything it was filled with more magic she had ever seen.
From the ground she walked on, to the way the people dressed, and the buildings surrounding her...she knew there had to have been a reason to want to keep her locked away in that house.
Of course she had waited until everyone seemed to have forgotten about her.
Then she took her time. She had scanned the home of it's contents, seeing pictures of a boy and the woman she had called Gina. The coldness of the home intrigued her.
It was when she realized the home held no real secrets did she leave. Determined to see for herself what they had been trying to keep from her.
She had strained to hear what had been said from a distance...knowing better than to stay close to the door.
But she had heard nothing but mumbling.
Everyone always assumed she was just some stupid princess...that she didn't know when she was being lied to.
She knew.
Growing up in a castle one learns the deceptive nature of man and women.
Watching she had learned how her own father had manipulated and wooed people to himself. All the while discarding her as just to be used as a tool for the union of his kingdom and her husband's.
Her husband...a man that had not even wanted her, had snubbed her for an older woman...and how her father had ridiculed her of the embarrassment had made everything in her turn to stone.
Vowing that she would take back the man that had scorned her by making him hate the very woman he claimed to love. That... and make him a slave to her and her alone.
And she had.
Planning and manipulating from a distance. Watching...and of course...waiting.
And she had achieved everything that she wanted.
Queen of a realm, and practically worshiped by her husband.
All she had to do was watch and wait.
So if that is what she had to do now...she would.
She would.
Eva smiled at her thoughts as she watched a group of women and one Rumpelstiltskin enter Granny's.
Rumpelstiltskin walked into the diner with Lilly, Maleficent, Ursula, and and was met with what he could only be described as pitying glances by those in the diner.
His family.
He would have laughed had the situation been anything but soul shattering.
"Your mom's out back with...um...Grandma." Emma winced after she said it. Thinking that she shared Grandparents with Rumpelstiltskin hitting her.
Cousins.
They were first cousins.
Which meant that Neal was her second cousin.
Emma grimaced. Looks like her mother and her were truly royalty. Marrying into your own family was a dead giveaway.
Thankfully Rumpelstiltskin said nothing but just gave a curt nod, moving towards the back, when his mother was suddenly running in from the back.
"Jason! Bring Dr. Whale here immediately! Snow! Mom fainted!"
It took a few seconds for the words to sink in...but when they did people began to move swiftly to the back to see what had happened. When Snow, Mary Margret and Mrs. Charming walked outside Sarah was already moving towards Richard who was still on the ground with Regina trying to hoist her up into his arms.
"This is a most unfortunate way to meet your mother and family Sarah. I'm sorry for whatever has caused your mother to fall ill." With that he braced himself and hauled Regina up into his arms as he stood.
And the second he did...all of the Snow's faces became like her namesake.
All three of them had widened eyes as they stared at a face that no amount of time could erase...no matter how brief a time she had seen it.
It haunted one of them. The other two were merely shocked to see a face that knew had caused her life to spiral out of her own control.
David shared a look with Mr. Charming.
Both knowing who the man was and knew without a doubt that they had to stop the union of Sarah and this King Richard.
Because they both knew what Daniel looked like...and the man standing before them was the spitting image of that man.
"How..." came the squeaking voice of Cora as she looked at the man holding her daughter in his arms.
Not able to understand how it was possible for the man to be standing before them.
"How do you do?" Queen Cora asked, trying to cover for her other self, even if she herself was incredibly shocked.
"Everybody. This is King Richard...my fiance. Richard...this is my..." Sarah stopped as she saw the look of shock on her sisters' faces'. Oddyly it matched their mother's before she fainted.
Instantly Sarah knew something was very wrong when from beside Snow her mother Queen Regina and Mrs. Mills fainted.
"MOMMA!" Sarah screamed as James and Prince David caught the two women, but just barely.
Emma and Princess Emma immediately were worried about their Grandmothers.
"Please tell me Jason left to go get Doctor Whale." Sarah asked with a desperate look towards her family.
"He did." Came Baelfire's voice.
"What's the matter with them?" Richard asked as he looked to Sarah for an answer.
"They're just stunned about the sight of you." Snow said slowly, shaking her head and looking at Sarah.
"Snow...we talked about this..." Sarah said in a low voice, not wanting Richard to overhear her.
Snow blinked and thanked God for small miracles - like her words being interpreted by her sister in a completely different way then she intended.
Mary Margret was the next to finally comprehend what EXACTLY was going on and she finally moved towards the Regina in King Richard's hold and looked to make sure she was fine. And then looked up into the blue eyes of the King.
"This isn't exactly how I imagined meeting Sarah's sister...sister's..." King Richard smirked as he corrected himself and looked past Mary Margret to look at Mrs. Charming and Snow. "I'm sorry it's under these circumstances...but from what Prince James has told me...I should get use to - how did he put it - the 'excitement' Sarah would bring to my life."
James laughed as did some of the others that had no clue who King Richard was.
When King Richard looked back at Mary Margret he was shocked to see a look of anger and bewilderment on her face.
"I'm not going to let you marry my sister!" Mary Margret said with such conviction it shocked the royal man. He had known that the three women before him were Snow White from Sarah's description of her sister.
And indeed Snow was beautiful and fair as her sister had described. Big green eyes and a child like quality to her face. Somehow...she looked...innocent.
But hearing her protest his engagement to her sister by just the sight of him, he had expected, but the look of what he could only call disgust on her face...he had not.
Without being asked David moved to take his sister out of Richard's arms without any protest from the King.
David looked at his sister's face and then back at Richard and gave him a little nod.
Richard nodded back, not knowing what to say at the moment.
Sarah though...looked at her family and shook her head with a look of distaste. She moved towards Richard again and grabbed his hand firmly in her own.
"It's not up for debate Snow! I'm marrying Richard and that's the end of it!" Sarah said with a confidence that Mary Margret had not seen before.
"Sarah..." Mrs. Charming tried to reason with Sarah as she finally understood what was happening without Sarah's knowledge of who Richard looked like. It didn't matter that she barely knew Sarah. It didn't matter that her own insides were jumping at the sight of the man. Sarah was apparently her sister and she was not going to just stand their and watch something obscene happen.
"No! You haven't heard what Grandfather has done! You don't know while everyone came looking for me and Snow how Grandfather took the opportunity to march towards the castle with his men!" Sarah said in exasperated.
"My men had been stationed near your castle to alert me of any threats since Sarah came to me with the arrangement. I wanted to make sure that King George wouldn't try anything while we...discussed our alliance. When you began to make your way into the enchanted forest, one of my men spotted King George's banners. He immediately sent a pigeon with the news. I immediately came to make sure Sarah and her kingdom was safe."
King Richard shared a look with Sarah, then Sarah looked at Mary Margret who hadn't moved from in front of Richard.
"His men are guarding YOUR castle at this moment. King George has set up his men around the town and castle! And if it wasn't for my agreement with Richard there would have been nothing stopping Grandfather from sacking the city!" Sarah said with outrage at her sister.
"Sarah! You need to listen to me!" Mrs. Charming whom was flanked by Mary Margret and Snow. "You cannot...and will not marry this man!" The way Mrs. Charming shook as she pointed at King Richard was mirrored in the head nodding of both Snow and Mary Margret.
"Sarah. I think it's best that I leave you to discuss this with your family. I will come see you tomorrow to see if our alliance still stands." King Richard said as graciously as he could. The very fact that he was being so courteous in front of Sarah's very rude family was saying alot for his character and kindness.
"Thank you Richard. Your chivalry knows no bounds. And I can attest to it after this day." Sarah said.
With that Richard leaned down and Snow, Mary Margret and Mrs. Charming tensed as they thought Richard about to kiss Sarah on the mouth...but relaxed slightly as Richard pressed his lips to Sarah's forehead.
Looking into Sarah's eyes once more he gave an affectionate smile and turned to leave.
"Mulan!" Snow noticed her old friend first.
Mulan gave a quick smile and nodded at Snow, but did not move forward. Instead she followed King Richard and left with him without saying a word.
Once Richard was out of sight...Sarah exploded.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"
"Sarah! You can not...under any circumstance marry that man!" Cora said with a firmness that betrayed her watering eyes.
"WHY?" Sarah screamed.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE MARRIED TO ME!"
Everyone turned and stared open mouthed at a much more cleaned up Malcolm.
The yelling jarred all of the Regina's as they slowly began to wake.
Regina opened her eyes to see David looking down at her making her almost jump from his arms, when he immediately said "Don't or I'll drop you. Just...here."
David slowly let down Regina's legs and continued to hold her as he helped stand her up.
"Are you ok?" David said with the most serious face she had ever seen as he crouched his head and stared into her eyes.
Regina didn't remember what had happened as she had woken up in David's arms...but as he looked into her eyes the event that had occurred earlier came rushing to the forefront of her mind.
"DAMN IT MALCOLM! THIS ISN'T ABOUT US! THIS IS ABOUT MY KINGDOM BEING INVADED!"
"YOU'RE MARRIED...TO ME SARAH! I DON'T CARE WHAT IT'S ABOUT!" Malcolm yelled back as the other Regina's finally were helped up as well.
"HEY! Would someone please explain what the hell is going on?!" Ms. Swan screamed out herself, her own anger and frustrations clearly heard.
By then Regina felt herself shaking at the reality of seeing the face of the man she had loved since her youth in front of her after all these years. With tears forming in her eyes she found herself staring back at David's light blue eyes unable to hide not one single emotion from his gaze.
David felt his heart squeeze at the sight of Regina's pain. She couldn't hide what she was feeling from him. It was obvious in her eyes. He just had no clue why she was in such pain.
Without a word to his wife David grabbed Regina's arm and Madam Mayor while Mr. Charming grabbed Queen Regina following his younger self's move and they began to walk back through the diner and out the front door.
The sound of Regina crying hit David hard as he continued to pull her down the sidewalk and towards Regina's house. It sounded like her heart was shattering.
"How is it possible?" He heard her whisper the question to herself, but David answered her anyway.
"I don't know."
"HIM?! SHE'S SUPPOSED TO MARRY HIM?!" Madam Mayor screamed with eyes bulging out of her skull as she finally made the connection of what the hell had been going on and began hyperventilating.
David stopped and held Madam Mayor steady as she bent to try and breathe.
"She can't marry him! She can't David! He looks exactly like..." Queen Regina finally gasped out with tears cascading down her face, her composure as bad as the younger versions of herself.
"We know. And we won't let it happen. No matter what! I'm not going to let my niece marry a man that looks identical to her father. I wasn't going to let her marry a man twice her age anyway!" David said with a head turn towards his Regina.
"I barely know what's going on...but I swear I won't let them get close to each other. Wait...did...did you just say niece?" Mr. Charming asked hesitantly as he looked from Queen Regina to David and then Regina.
Madam Mayor suddenly stopped gasping and went eerily still. Straightening up she looked at Queen Regina and then at Regina with wide eyes silently begging for the information to be denied.
"David...is my brother?" Madam Mayor asked the question with a mixture of emotions that one would have expected.
Regina looked at David who suddenly squirmed as Madam Mayor looked over at him and then at Queen Regina.
The older of them gave a little nod, and Madam Mayor suddenly found herself staring at Mr. Charming...her David.
"How is that possible?!" Madam Mayor chocked out the question that both of them had instantly thought.
David slid his fingers from the side of his eyes towards the bridge of his nose and squeezed. He was already exhausted. And it was barely afternoon.
"Can we please discuss that later? I honestly don't think I can deal with much more...and I don't think my sister can either." David said as he moved to cradle a very confused and sad looking Regina against him.
Madam Mayor said nothing as Mr. Charming moved to hold on to her as David hugged Regina against him, not saying anything as they continued to make their way towards Regina's house. The other three not hearing the whispered words that David was saying to Regina as she silently cried against him, following the two that somehow were acting more like a family then any of them had ever really known.
Her bent head of red locks contrasted drastically with the black blue smoke that surrounded her face and body. Her normally blue eyes glowed a firy yellow as she stood before the portal before her.
The smirk on her face showing the sinister thoughts that permeated her head.
"Explain to me again why YOU weren't able to control her powers?"
The yellow eyes dimmed back to blue and with a tilt of her head glared at the one who voiced her...complaint.
"I haven't merged with anyone yet. This will be the first time." She responded.
She watched as the two women exchanged glances and then back at her.
"You mean to tell me this is the first..." One began to speak.
"Yes!"
Again the two exchanged a look.
"How is that possible?" The other asked with a look of anger and suspicion.
"She's much more powerful than she was back then. And I was..." she looked away with a snarl and a slight side tilting of her head and back, "too weak." The words said in disgust.
"But this will make us stronger than her." One spoke with a smirk.
"Not nearly! We need more...much more!" She said - and her eyes began to blaze yellow once more.
A nod of her head, and both women nodded back and approached her slowly.
Extending their hands with their own eyes glowing yellow they approached her and touched the hands extending towards her.
The two women seemed to be sucked into the woman's hands as if sucked into her body.
The glow of yellow eyes consumed the room as beams of light shot out from her form illuminating the entire space around her for several moments and the light seemed to be sucked back into her form.
Opening her eyes once more a small smirk stretched across her lips.
Lifting up one hand she snapped her fingers and before her appeared two mirror images of herself once more.
"That's so much better." The smile mirrored on the other two's faces as her lips formed her joy.
"Oh Sarah...I've longed for this day for too long."
Everyone had thought the story was at it's climax...but it was just the beginning!
Author's Note: I know! I KNOW! It's been forever! But I promise I am working on this story and it hasn't ended for me! Hopefully I can get a lot written this month with all of the craziness happening!