TemperanceTales: I do not own Once Upon a Time in anyway shape or form and I give full credit to the creators.

Chapter Seven: First Snow

"Look Emma!" Henry said, excitedly, "It's snowing!"

Emma looked over at him as Mary Margaret put the kettle on the stove. Walking over, Emma smiled softly to see snow falling to the ground. She then said, "Would you look at that? The first snow of the season."

Mary Margaret looked at the two smiling. As she was pulling the cookies out of the oven, she heard a knock on the door. Mary Margaret put the tray down and said, "Coming!"

Maneuvering around the counter, the teacher made her way to the door. Mary Margaret opened the door and saw Autumn standing there with a flushed face. Mary Margaret moved aside as Autumn hurried in saying, "Sorry, I'm late. I had something to take care of at home."

"That's alright," Emma said, walking over to the cookie tray, "We haven't started yet. So did you find Regina?"

"No, I haven't," Autumn admitted, frowning, "She wasn't at the house so I'm guessing she is still working."

Autumn took off her winter clothes and allowed Mary Margaret to take them. Walking over to Henry, she said down and said lowly, "I don't like this, what if she comes over and finds us? She won't be happy with either of us."

"Just tell her that you couldn't find her and came here because you were bored," Henry said shrugging. Autumn bit the inside of her mouth gently as she looked unsure. Emma said loudly, "Don't worry, Kid. If Regina really gets pissed at you for having fun, then it's her loss. Besides, Henry should be the one worried. It's not like she's your mom."

"Lucky you," Henry said to Autumn resentfully.

Emma took a cookie from the tray and took a bite. Mary Margaret swatted her shoulder and said, "Emma! You should let them cool off first!"

"Nah, they're better nice and hot," Emma said winking at Henry and Autumn. Henry snickered and Autumn rolled her eyes with a smile. The kettle blew its whistle clear and loud as Mary Margaret turned off the stove. Henry looked at Autumn and asked, "So did you get all the food picked in time?"

"Yeah," Autumn said, as Emma came over with a plate of cookies, "Just in time too. I've got an abundance of stuff this year, I'm gonna have to give it out soon."

"You should give some to the Nuns," Mary Margaret said, "They are always looking for donations."

"I usually do," Autumn said, "But I don't usually stick around there, I'm not fond of Mother Superior…"

"Oh?" Mary Margaret said, pouring the hot water into her mug, "Why not?"

"I just don't get a good feeling around her," Autumn said, taking a cookie from Emma. Grinning, Emma asked, "She intimidate you?"

"I guess," Autumn said, shrugging and Emma chuckled. Sitting by them, Emma asked, "You mother works a lot, doesn't she?"

"Yes," Autumn said, slowly, "She does."

Emma watched her for a moment before her pager went off. Sighing, Emma picked it up and said, "Sorry, guys I have to go. There's been a call down at the station."

"Oh," Henry said, as Emma walked over to the coat rack. Taking the coat off the rack, she slipped it on as well as her other winter items. Autumn watched her hurry out the door and suddenly felt a pull at her hand. Turning back, she saw Henry's facial expression. It was filled with curiosity, eagerness, and slightly mischievous. So Autumn was not at all surprised when Henry said this next sentence.

"Let's follow her," Henry said in a hushed tone. Leaning in closer, Autumn said, "Why?"

"What if there is something curse related?" Henry said urgently, "Emma won't tell us if we just ask!"

"True," Autumn said and almost yelped as Henry dragged her hand saying loudly, "Autumn and I are going to hang out in the snow! We'll see you later, Miss Blanchard!"

"Make sure you're all bundled up," Mary Margaret said, sipping her cocoa. Autumn pulled her coat back on as Henry hastily got his things on. Opening the door, he hurried out of the door with Autumn. They went down the stairs of the building complex to the cold outdoors. Autumn gasped as she swallowed the icy wind blowing on her already flushed cheeks. Snow was coming down thickly, but not enough to completely white out their vision. Feeling pressure on her wrist, she felt Henry pull her through the snow saying, "Come on! She went this way."

Autumn followed Henry down the streets. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. The snow and the cold surely did not help their venturing. After fifteen minutes of taking wrong turns and getting stopped by various people, the two finally found the scene in which Emma had been called to. Emma, Sheriff Graham, and ambulatory personnel were hurrying to get what looked equivalent to a small figure into the ambulance. The park field was filled with snow, old footprints gradually getting covered by the fresh snow. Rammed into a tree by the road, a car's front end was smashed. Hiding in the bushes, Henry and Autumn heard Sheriff Graham walk near them. Serious tones captured both Autumn's and Henry's attentions and they listened to them attentively.

"These roads are dangerous; we should probably get a warning out that people should stay off them."

"I think that's a good idea," Graham said, with a sigh, "Poor kids, they'll be in the hospital for quite some time."

Autumn felt a funny tingle in her throat as she repressed a cough. Henry glanced at her before looking back in the direction towards the two adults. Emma sighed and said, "We should head back to the station and get the word out."

Henry sighed as soon as soon as Graham and Emma were out of ear shot. The wind blew Autumn's loose hair about as Henry said, "I was hoping that it would have something to do with the curse."

"Only if they were trying to leave Storybrooke," Autumn said, cold air seeping into her throat. Coughing, Autumn heard Henry say, "We should probably go to the castle. I mean we can't just go running back to Miss Blanchard's house yet. She'd get suspicious of us."

"Yeah," Autumn said with a nod. The two of them crawled out from the bushes and stood up brushing the snow off. Trudging through the snow, Autumn looked around and said, "It's weird that the snow just came on like this. Yesterday was really warm too."

"Well, I mean it is December," Henry said, "And it is almost Christmas, so I'm actually kinda happy it finally snowed."

"Mm," Autumn watched the snow fall around them. They walked in silence for a while heading slowly towards the shore. Everywhere was decorated with lights and colors of the holidays. Joyful talking could be heard from everyone on the streets. Some of the shop owners grumbled as they shoveled off the snow on the sidewalk. The snow completed the scene and children of all ages were throwing snow balls in any open area. As they got towards the shore the people grew less in number until finally Autumn and Henry were alone. Climbing up on his castle, he brushed the snow off the railings as Autumn said, looking up at the sky, "As pretty as it is, I don't like snow."

"Why?" Henry asked and Autumn said, sitting by the opening in the fencing to dangle her legs, "Because it feels so…dead. I'm more of a spring, summer, and fall kind of person."

"I guess that makes sense, you can't really grow much in winter," Henry said, looking down at her. Leaning against the railing, he felt the icy ocean breeze hit his face. It sent a slightly cold shiver down his spine, he heard Autumn ask, "So what are you doing for Christmas Henry?"

"The Evil Queen is having a Christmas Party," Henry mumbled, almost angrily, "She has one every year and I have to go to it."

"I see," Autumn said, "Hey, Henry. Is there any place in your house that you aren't allowed to go?"

"What?" Henry said, baffled.

"You know, like someplace you're not allowed to go or something you're not allowed to touch," Autumn explained, staring up at him. Henry pondered this for a moment, before saying, "No, there's nothing like that. I mean, I've never gone into her actual office. But she never said I wasn't allowed to go in there. Why?"

"Last time I was there, I was trying to see if there was anything suspicious," Autumn said, looking back down at the rocks in the sand for a moment, "Anything she might have brought back from Fairytale Land."

"Oh," Henry said, surprised, "I didn't think she would bring things from there hear. I mean, magic doesn't work in this world."

"Not that it doesn't work," Autumn said, "Just that there is no magic in this world. I would imagine she would be able to bring some magic with her."

"Maybe," Henry said, a tinge of excitement seeping into his voice, "I can check during her boring Christmas Party. That way she's too busy to realize I'm missing."

"That sounds like a good idea," Autumn said, pulling her hat down further to cover her ears. She coughed briefly, the snow falling steadily. Henry wrinkled his nose as the cold snowflakes fell on his nose. Autumn looked out on the sea and saw something that made her jaw drop. She turned, grabbing the hem of Henry's jacket and said, "Henry, look! Over there."

Henry watched her point at the horizon of the sea. He looked and saw what she was looking at him. It the midst of the stormy looking clouds there was a rather decent sized ray of light. It was breathtaking really, the scene with the snow falling around him. Autumn watched on as Henry glanced down at her. She looked rather nice with snowflakes gently sticking to the uncovered hair. It was spread out over and down her shoulders; much like the ocean waves not that far from the castle. He barely felt himself do it but he said softly, "Pretty…"

Autumn then stretched, snapping him out of his trance. Shaking his head, Henry said, "We should probably head back. I mean, the clouds are coming in and they look rather dark."

"What time is it?" Autumn asked suddenly. Henry looked at his watch as she stood up near him. Looking back up at her and said, "It's 3:24. Why?"

"I have to go home," Autumn said, firmness creeping into her voice. Henry looked at her surprised and said, "What? Why?!"

"I have to come home before mom does," Autumn said, jumping down from the castle, "I told her I would."

"But the snow is getting heavier! And my mom said that it isn't safe!" Henry said, as she started to walk away. She turned and looked back up at him saying, "Isn't safe to drive on the roads. But I'm not driving. I'll be fine, I'll see you later Henry!"

"Autumn, wait!" Henry called out but he was too late. Autumn was sprinting away from the beach, back into the towns. But instead of heading back into the main streets, Autumn stuck to the alley ways and back roads. As she expected, she ran into fewer people and the people she did come across she wasn't as familiar with. Making her way to the other side of town, Autumn didn't dare look at the clock. It was late, already late and that wasn't a good thing.

Finally, Autumn found herself hurrying along the fences of the stables to the edge of the forest. Finally stopping, she stood to catch her breath. She looked to her left and brushed off some of the snow on the fence before grabbing some. The cold snow grew compacted as Autumn gripped it tightly. Throwing it in the air, it hit the trees noisily, causing some snow to fall to the ground. It was not snowing here but the snow was deep and icy cold. It showed no signs of melting even as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. The aura around her was light and mysterious as the woods, now sparkling like diamonds, drew her in.

Autumn hurried through the woods being slowed down only by the deep snow. As she got deeper and deeper into the woods, Autumn felt a growing feeling of uneasiness. She slowed down, staring around the forest in confusion. Where was Excalibur? He usually was here, waiting for her. Feeling something fall on her nose, she looked up through bleary eyes to see snowflakes. Stepping back, Autumn breathed in, smelling something cold. It wasn't like the icy cold of the air. No, this was more of the icy water that seeped into people's lungs and drowned them in it. Her head went light as she fell back, hitting the snow soundly. Her eyes started to go blurry as she heard nothing but wind and the sound of crunching footsteps fill her ears. However, her vision black out as did her consciousness the moment he stood over her.

S.C.

"Where's Autumn, Henry?"

Henry, who had just shut the apartment door, looked over to see Emma and Mary Margaret sitting at the table together. Pulling off his items slowly, Henry said, "She had to go home. I guess her mom wanted her to come back early today."

"Really?" Mary Margaret said, glancing out the window with great concern. The snow was being blown around heavily by the wind outside, causing quite the racket. Emma looked worried as well and said, "She should have just bolted up here tonight, the weathers gotten pretty bad outside."

Emma stood up and Henry looked over at her as she walked promptly over to the coat rack. Mary Margaret watched her concerned and said, "Emma, where are you going?"

"After her," Emma said, promptly grabbing her jacket, "There is no way she should be walking in this storm by herself."

"But Emma, she could be halfway in the forest by now." Mary Margaret said, standing up, "How are you going to find her?"

"The traditional way," Emma said, zipping up her jacket, "Look."

"But Emma-," Henry started only to hear a bang on the apartment door. Emma stared at it and opened the door there stood Regina looking quite harassed. Henry shifted slightly as Regina said, "So, this is where you have been. Miss Swan what have I told you about-?!"

"Not now Regina, I've got more important things to handle," Emma said, roughly pushing past Regina. Staring after her surprised, Regina looked back at the two saying, "What is so important that she would be need to be so rude?"

"Henry said Autumn was walking home," Mary Margaret explained, "Emma was going after her."

"She's going home in this mess?" Regina said, in extreme disbelief, "And you let her go?!"

"I didn't, she left before I even knew-," Mary Margaret started and Regina snapped, "Henry stay here with Miss Blanchard. Do not leave or there will be extreme consequences."

Regina shut the door and Henry had a confused expression. Why had the queen been so angry to hear that Autumn had gone home? Why would she care? Henry would have pondered more on it if Mary Margaret hadn't said, "Come on, Henry. Let's call Sheriff Graham and tell him what's going on."

"Miss Swan!"

Emma looked back as she saw a form through the thickly falling snow. Emma's grip on her flashlight tightened as Emma snapped, "Regina, I don't have the time for this!"

"You can't go into the forest!" Regina yelled above the wind, "It's way too dangerous! Let me deal with this!"

"We need to follow her now!" Emma retorted, turning to walk away. Regina face turned sour as she grabbed the other woman's arm shouting, "Miss Swan I am your superior, now listen to me and go back! I will deal with this!"

"No!" Emma snapped, ripping her arm out of Regina's clutches, "You are not my superior, Graham is! Now you do me a favor Madam Mayor and let me do my job!"

Emma ran off without another word or hesitation. Regina swore, before hurrying away. There was no choice; she had to go to him. Why, why had that child gone inside the forest with the weather so foul?! Regina gritted her teeth as she blocked the wind with her arm. Damn this weather and all because she had a deal with that stupid woman.

S.C.

Warmth. That is what filled her conscious before she was even awake. Her brain was slowly beginning to register things as she opened her eyes. The hues of the room were all she could see, everything was too blurry for recognition. Closing her eyes, her other senses kicked in slowly. It was soft, the material under her back. It was soft and comfortable, the scent of heavy spices that were both different yet familiar. Opening her eyes again, she was able to see more than before. The ceiling was deep burgundy, a golden dim light cast upon it. Turning her head on her side, Autumn saw herself lying on a bed with a think fluffy blanket. She moved her legs, heavy from both the blanket and another feeling she couldn't explain. Looking around once more, it finally clicked that it was in a bedroom. The room she was in was not hers, not by a long shot. The curtains, the size, and that heavy near unbearable smell, nothing at all was hers.

Breathing in deeply, Autumn heard a rustling in the corner. Looking towards the noise, she found herself looking into a corner that she had overlooked. He stood there, whoever he was, watching her as he put his cup on the dresser. A tea cup, she noticed, a tea cup she could have sworn she had seen before. Moving slowly, as if to blend with the smoothness of the room, the man came towards her. As he got closer, she could make out more of him. His hair swooped back and his eyes seemed dark in the dim lighting. Sitting on the bed, he finally spoke in a low gently voice, "Don't move, it needs to settle in."

Autumn breathed in, which was more difficult with the heavy scent. He reached out, pushing back her hair as he said, "We must get rid of that nasty toxin in you."

"Toxin..?" Autumn slurred, her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth as she did so. He shook his head and picked up a glass of what looked like water. Autumn barely noticed him get closer, barely noticed him slip his other hand behind her head as he leaned over saying, "Don't worry, you'll be perfectly safe soon."

Autumn felt her head being pulled up and the glass being pressed to her lips. Opening her mouth, she felt it slowly enter her mouth. He was patient, waiting till she had enough of it. He put the glass down saying, "You should sleep some more, once your body has the gas the toxin won't harm you."

"What toxin?" Autumn said, struggling to stay awake. He leaned in, resting her head back down on the cushiony pillows. He smiled and said, resting his forehead against her, "No more questions, just sleep. Sleep and soon it will come back to you."

Autumn couldn't even ask him what he was talking about because her consciousness slipped from her. Falling into a deep sleep, she dreamed of things that she had thought long ago was reality.

"Daddy."

Looking down from his newspaper, the man saw his little girl staring up at him with her wide eyes. He smiled and said, "What is it, Lisie girl?"

"Will you always love me?" she asked, innocently causing him to do a double take. He turned more fully towards her and bent down. Kissing her forehead, he said stroking back her hair, "Of course I will, Lisie. Why would you ask that?"

"Because," she said simply, "I wanted to know."

"Silly," he said before kissing her nose lightly. She smiled warmly as she reached up. Picking her up, he said, "I will always love you, no matter what. You are my Lisie girl, and that's never going to change."