One day a year

Chloe xx asked for a oneshot of Regina making it so that during the first curse, Snow would regain her memories just for Emma's birthday.

Snow's parents had always taught her that there was always an opportunity. That wallowing in self-pity never achieved anything. That simple life lesson had got Snow White through so many of her trials with the Evil Queen when she was in the Enchanted Forest. So now they were in the land without magic, Snow would continue to use it. Regina was cruel. She wanted Snow White to suffer as much as humanly possible for causing- in her view- Daniel's death. So, for three hundred and sixty-four days in the year, Snow White was Mary Margaret Blanchard, and was as clueless about the curse and her true identity as the rest of the town's inhabitants. But for one day every year, Snow remembered who she truly was. One very specific day: her daughter's birthday. Starting with October twenty-third nineteen eighty-four, Snow woke up. Seeing Regina in the diner, the Evil Queen had taunted her, telling her to enjoy it while it lasted. Knowing this was temporary, Snow made the most of her time properly awake. She took a notebook and scribbled down the information she found out. She found Charming in the hospital, but true love's kiss did not work. There was no magic in the town yet. Snow knew then that it would be their daughter that would reunite the family. Snow would be damned if she was waiting twenty-eight years for it to happen. No, she wouldn't hide away on her baby girl's birthday each year. She would work harder than ever to find her.

So it came about four years later. Little Emma Swan was confused. Why was she getting a new foster mommy at night time? Why wasn't Debi, her social worker, here like she normally was? Why did it all have to happen on her birthday? The Stevenson family had promised her a birthday party with a bouncy castle and everything. Had she been a bad girl?

Snow done her best to reassure Emma that she hadn't been a bad girl, that she'd been a very good girl all year. Snow wanted desperately to tell her that she was her real mommy, and that once they were home, Emma would never leave ever again. But that would take up too much time right now. They only had twenty hours to get home and break the curse. Once the curse was broken, Snow and Charming could explain everything to their baby girl, together.

Snow drove as fast as she would allow herself to with Emma in the car with her all the way back to Storybrooke. Her heart was pounding. If Regina saw them, then there was no telling what she would do to Emma. Not that Snow would allow the Evil Queen to take her baby girl away from her. Never again.

"Ok honey, I need you to trust me."

"I don't know you." The little girl piped up. It broke Snow's heart to hear her say that. She was her mama. Snow bent down and took the little girl's shoulders in her hands.

"Emma, I promise you, I'm going to look after you forever and ever now. You'll never leave anywhere ever again. This is my husband. He's going to look after you too. He's just a bit sick just now."

"Oh." Emma said. "Is that why he's at a hop-ital?" Snow smiled at how cute she was trying to say the big word. She nodded.

"That's right honey. But I don't think he needs a doctor to make him better. Know what I think he needs?" Emma shook her head. "Has anyone ever kissed a boo-boo you had better?" Snow asked her. Emma thought for a moment before she shrugged.

"Sometimes." Emma said. "Depends on what they're like." Snow nodded, holding back the tears.

"Ok, well I think he needs you to kiss him better. Think you can do that for me?" Emma shrugged. She didn't think it would work, but she didn't mind trying. She hoisted herself up onto the bed beside the strange man and got onto her knees beside his elbow. Hesitantly she pressed her lips to his forehead. Emma gasped. She felt a rush of air pass by her. Suddenly, the man was sitting up. Emma just about fell off the bed in shock. Snow caught her just in time. She picked the little girl up and attached her to her hip.

"I'm sorry." Emma said, seeing the woman was crying. "I didn't mean to make you cry." Snow shook her head, kissing Emma's head.

"I'm crying because you've made me happy." Snow told her. Emma was confused. Why was she crying if she was happy.

"Snow?" The man asked. Snow looked at Charming, a watery smile on her face. He pointed at Emma. "Is this?..." Snow nodded. It was. It was their baby girl. Charming leapt off the bed, pulling both Snow and Emma into his arms.

"You found us!" Charming announced. Emma didn't understand.

"Did I do good?" Emma asked. "Can I stay." Snow's arms instinctively tightened on Emma.

"You're never going away again." Snow promised her. Snow and Charming looked at each other, sharing a silent conversation. "Actually, we have a little story to tell you all about that…"