Rocking Melora softly in her arms Regina watched as her little one slowly drifted off to sleep. Humming a sweet lullaby as she rocked her in her arms Regina gently brushed her finger across her daughter's chubby cheek. It was slightly cold due to the snowstorm raging beyond the walls outside but Regina had finally managed to get both her little ones down for an early morning nap.

"Are the girls okay?"

" They are finally asleep but the cold is starting to interfere with their rest," Regina said not taking her eyes off the twins. She had noticed Raphael enter the girls' room moments ago but didn't address his presence at first.

"You are still upset with me," Raphael said as he removed a strain of hair from her face. Despite the irritable expression on his love's face, Raphael couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked. No matter what time of day it was Regina always looked floorless.

"You think?" Regina said sarcastically. Swiftly picking up a blanket nearby Regina left the girls' room only for Raphael to swiftly follow after her. Last night had been difficult for the both of them as they struggled to agree on the right next move. The argument didn't last long as the cold night had focused them to agree to disagree but now the morning was here and round was just around the corner.

"Regina, please. I have to settle this and the only way to do so is-

No, Raphael! Regina said as she swiftly turned to face him. Her anger was clear as she spoke. " I will not agree to your death wish to meet Sigrid just so you can save Tiana from her own mistakes. What about our family Raphael I will not raise our daughters on my own."

Pulling Regina closer to him he took a deep breath before staring back into her deep brown eyes. Seeing the frustration but also the deep fear he understood her feelings. He didn't want to lose her either. " Regina, I am thinking about our family." He said calmly. " We discussed this Regina, I can't have you get hurt."

" I also told you I will not stand by and do nothing or watch you suffer. If you do this we will do it together," Regina said sternly. Raphael knew he couldn't change Regina's mind she was too stubborn for him. She was determined to fight together and to be honest, he loved that fighting spirit she had. Sighing Raphael excepted his love's wishes.

"Okay," Raphael said softly, pulling Regina into a soft kiss that washed away the tension between them. Caressing her cheek Regina leaned into his soft touch. " We will do this together...as a family." Looking at his love Raphael thought about what she said, together as a family. Pondering Raphael still wasn't sure when the perfect moment for a proposal. He wanted to plan it out and give Regina the most perfect night to pop the question but looking at her and hearing her words he knew he was wasting his time. He would never find the perfect day he just had to make it.

Regina playfully smirked as she place a hand on his chest where his heart rested. For a moment I thought I'd have to take another approach."

"My heart already belongs to you," Raphael placed his hand over Regina's as he too smiled at his love's cheekiness. " Which is why after this mess is over I want us to finally make our love...our family official."

"Official?" Regina looked confused but Raphael continued and pulled a tiny box out of his pocket.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our daughters. To build a life that only is filled with love, joy, and any threats that come our way we will just as you said deal with it together." Opening the tiny box and getting down on one knee Raphael said the words he had thought about for 10 years, " Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Regina was gobsmacked at the gesture and touched by his words to the point tears threatened to fall. Only when she composed herself for a moment did she finally give him an answer. "YES!" Watching Raphael put the ring onto her finger she took a moment to look at the beautiful amethyst gem. " Raphael, it's beautiful." It didn't bother her that Raphael hadn't popped the question even after 10 years of being together but not now that he had she was completely overjoyed. She loved the man with all her heart and now to finally become his wife made her heart soar to the heavens and back. Her marriage to Raphael wouldn't be like her first marriage to the king in fact it would be a thousand times better. She chose him and he chose her out of love, not status or power.

"I had a little help from Grandma Odie, The amethyst stone symbolizes magic, Royalty, and good judgment and is known for bringing back balance to one's life, removing any obstacle that happens to be in our life," Raphael said as he watched Regina admire the ring closer.

"It's perfect."

As the lovebirds shared a moment together in each other embrace still in the cold hallways of the mansion it wasn't long before they remembered that time was of the essence. The realm was in great danger and the rest of Regina's family was still in the thicket of the snowstorm that spend across Maldonia and the enchanted lands. " We better get move on before Snow Queen makes her move," Regina said as she moved out of Raphael's embrace.

"Yes, we better."

Since Tiana's arrival at the mansion last night Regina and Raphael had argued about what was the next right move when it came to Tiana.

Alone in an unfamiliar room left Tiana alone with her haunting thoughts. She hadn't been able to sleep and with each passing hour of the night, Tiana deceased deeper into her despair. It was simple really the Snow Queen wanted her dead and it was her fault for making a deal that lead to her kingdom suffering.

As a Queen, she had let her people down and now she had to face the reality of her choices. Pulling back the bedroom curtains Tiana watched the cold snow fall down from the sky. This was her doing and no one else. she had unleashed the biggest threat to her realm and the only person she could turn to for help was the Shadow-man. A man who she still hated with every fiber of her being. The snowstorm made it difficult to see the sun but as a new day began to start Tiana began to ponder how to turn her mess around. Her kingdom as well as other realms were in danger and she had to fix it no matter what it cost. Even if it meant working with Shadow-man.

As Tiana continued to let her mind ponder as she watched the snowstorm rage on, she was suddenly interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Opening the door she was greeted by the man she loathed.

" Good Morning Tiana," Raphael said as he entered the room. " I hope you slept well?" Looking at the young Queen it was obvious that she hadn't slept one bit. The bags under her eyes were deep and puffy like she had been crying for a long period of time. " Regina and I are leaving for your kingdom in an hour when the time comes please meet us in the foyer."

" I'm guessing we will be traveling by magic," Tiana said tiredly.

Raphael nodded at the young Queen. He could tell that Tiana was battling with her inner demons and as much as he wanted to make her pay for her foolish crimes against him. He had changed. He Knew that the demons she was dealing with would be her undoing if she didn't get the help she needed.

" What did you do to the Snow Queen? Why...does she want you...dead?" Tiana watched as Facilier shift uncomfortably. She had to know why the woman hated him, even more than she did.

" It's a long story."

" Well, we have an hour."

Flashback...

As the night turned cold and the wind began to rustle the trees in the palace gardens Sigrid sat by at her vanity table peacefully. As she brushed her long hair Sigrid pondered her coronation which was only hours away. Tomorrow everything was going to change and she was nervous but also excited. She was finally able to make choices for herself. Checking the mirror one final time Sigrid was suddenly interrupted by a palace guard. The guard had burst into her room with nothing but horror on his face.

" The King is dead!"

Sigrid felt her blood turn cold at the sudden news. She was confused, He was perfectly fine the last time she saw her father. " This can't be."

Yes your majesty it is true he was found dead in his bed chambers. I'm tasked with leading you to safety your majesty.

A sinking feeling took over her body as the man's word washed over. Her father was gone and a murderer was loose within the castle. Her home. "what about my sister? where is she? Sigrid demanded.

"We don't know your majesty. we are still trying to find her," The guard could see the stress of the new queen but hearing the shouts of running guards within the hallways, he needed to get a move on. After all, he had a task to do. " Quickly your Majesty we don't have much time!" Quickly ushering the young Queen out of her rooms they made their way down the secret pathways of the castle. Hoping not to bump into any enemies on the way out. However, when they reached the courtyard of the castle Sigrid was shocked to witness a familiar face surrounded by armed soldiers blocking their path.

"Peter?" Sigrid said in a shaky tone. She couldn't believe what she was seeing in front of her. Peter the man her sister was destined to marry stood before her holding a blade covered in blood with nothing but a stone face expression. Staring at her Peter moved closer as he pointed his bloody blade at the guard that stood between them. "No, don't hurt him." Sigrid pleaded. However, her pled did nothing, and with one quick swing the guard that had tried to protect her bled to death in front of her

Shaken by the sudden action, she was lost for words, the sweet man that had wooed her sister was gone and the man in front of her was drunk with power and hungry for war. Making sure the man was dead Peter brought his attention back to the young queen and moved closer to her which only made Sigrid move back. "Why?!"

" Your father was nothing but a liar and cheat," Peter spat as he continued to move closer to her. "He robbed my kingdom of riches and status leaving my father penniless and me without a throne to sit on.

What are you talking about my father allowed you to stay within our castle walls since you and I were children? He look after you and even allowed you into our court." Peter smirked at the young queen as she moved away from him in fear. Even laughing at her as he spoke about her late father.

"Brainwashed! You and your stupid sister were raised behind closed doors, unaware of the crimes your father was committing to making his kingdom great. He focused on me playing along with his sick games and acting like a sweet prince for his precious daughters that knew nothing about the outside world. If I didn't he would torture me or threaten to kill the ones I truly loved. Not anymore, I will take what is rightful mine."

"No, your lying... my father was a good man and king."

"enough of your whining you would have found out for yourself once he handed you the crown. His goal was to mold you into a better version of him but he failed to see you were weak!" Pointing the blade at her face Sigrid froze in fear. She didn't want to believe the poison that fell from Peter's mouth. If she did her whole life would have been a liar and that was harder to swallow.

"PETER!" The young man turned at the familiar voice from behind him and his soldiers. Running from the opposite side of the courtyard Annette came into view. "What are you doing?" The young woman looked terrified as she witnessed Peter and her sister.

" Great another problem, I thought I told you to get rid of her!" Peter yelled at one of his soldiers. Dropping his blade to his side Peter moved towards Annette, grabbing her tight to hold her hostage against him. Placing the blade against her neck Peter watched as Sigrid yelled for her sister to be free. However, he ignored her wishes once again. " Did you this blade is enchanted with dark magic, one single small cut and you bleed to your death, and nothing can heal it. isn't it fascinating?" Peter explained as he pushed the blade closer to Annalise's throat. " The man who gave me the blade told me I would be the master of death."

"Peter please just let us go and you can have everything you want: my crown, my kingdom, and my throne!"

Peter's expression darken and his smirk grew into a sneer, " The thing is I want you both dead." With a swift movement, Peter sliced Annette's throat and Sigrid watched as her sister fell to the floor in a pool of blood. Her eyes were still open but lifeless.

"NO!" Sigrid screamed at the top of her lungs. She felt her whole world crash around her and the more she stared at her sister's lifeless body she felt something rise inside. Something powerful took over her and the only thing that she could feel was coldness. A burst of magic came from her and took the form of ice which rapidly spread across the courtyard grounds and castle. turning everyone around her into statues made of ice, except Peter who held the blade. He watched as the ice magic spread to every corner of the castle and ground. Even the weather began to change as the winds picked up speed and a strong chill rushed over him.

Sigrid's cries fuelled her magical outburst and the more she let her emotions run wild the more her powers intensified. Falling to the frozen floor Sigrid looked back at Peter with a tear-stained face. He looked afraid of her and rightly so but the more she took in his presence the more her sadness turned to rage. She felt the urge to place her hand on the ice floor and in doing so more of her power rushed out of her and traveled toward Peter. Freezing him in place.

"Who gave you the blade!" Peter remained quiet out of fear or out of sheer pride until she let the ice travel further up his body.

" Wait it was...the Shadow-man!"

"I was responsible for the chaos that had fallen upon her kingdom. I was young and stupid I knew Peter's true intentions but I didn't care. A blade like that shouldn't have fallen into his hands. I was in for the money and I didn't care about the mess I left behind." Raphael sat opposite Tiana who listen from her bed. She sat quietly as she listened to the story in complete bewilderment. The man had predicted the Snow Queen's fate and didn't even care to intervene.

"Did you know she had powers...like that?"

"No," Raphael said quietly. " I didn't know the whole picture only parts of it, I would have never guessed the betrayer would unlock her powers." Raphael let the story of his past settle with her for a couple of moments before he made his way to the door. It had been an hour but didn't feel like time had passed at all. Tiana finally realized that the Snow Queen would never rest until the whole realm was destroyed if it meant the Shadow man had failed. She was hungry for revenge and wanted the man in front of her to suffer.

"This is why you wanted to change, isn't it? "

"I wanted to change because I wanted to do better and protected Regina and now my girls," Raphael rubbed his temple in distress. "Like Regina, I had made enemies and now I will pay for my mistakes."

Tiana could see the Shadow-man's determination to end everything but also the weight that rested on his shoulders. She understood a little more about Snow Queen and a lot more about how far the Shadow-man had come to be better.

Ice began to creep its way into the castle walls and windows as the storm raged on through the night. As morning approached the ice had now crept up the ceiling and door frames becoming thicker with each passing hour.

Back in the nursery, a tried Ella watched her sick baby boy in his crib. he struggled to breathe through his fever, He was almost too hot to touch now. Like he was made of molten rock from the bottom of a volcano. Brushing the small boy's hair out of his face, Ella tried to keep her hopes up. She had to remain strong for her family through the night but as the morning approached things only got worst. Ella's strength was fading with every passing hour as her whole body shook from the intense cold.

Ben's health was declining dramatically and there was nothing she could do about it. His small body could only take so much.

Lost in her own mind Ella hadn't noticed Henry walk into the room with a warm blanket, "you have to rest," Henry said softly placing the warm comforter over her shoulders.

Drawing her eyes away from Ben for just a second Ella appreciated the gesture. " You know I can't." Ella's voice was quiet. She was exhausted from the cold and the extreme anxiety rattled her thoughts. Henry, however, understood and pulled Ella into his arms. He was also exhausted and worried for their son.

"Our Ben is a strong boy I have faith he will make it through," Henry said and Ella nodded. She wanted to believe so bad but only time seem to know the answer. They continued to stay by their son's side as the maids did their best to bring down the fever. As minutes began to pass by Ella began to notice the hair of her baby boy was beginning to turn white like snow and his face was drained of every warm colour of him.

"Henry look! Ben's hair... it's white?!" Confused Henry gently picked up his little boy to remove his swaddled blanket.

" His fingertips are turning blue Ella?!"

However, before they could voice their concern, The nursery doors swung open to reveal a guard and four familiar people. "Henry!" Regina said as noticed her son holding his child in his arms. She immediately saw the white hair and pale skin of the baby and without thing rushed over to him. "What happened to Ben!"

"It's the cold from the storm. I think it must be enchanted or something? Henry Explained as Regina used her magic to detect any foreign magic on the boy.

"The Snow Queen's Magic." Regina sternly as she turned to look at Zelena and Raphael

" So now she's attacking children?!" Zelena said in disbelief

"Shit! She getting more powerful," Raphael said with frustration. Seeing the new visitors shocked Ella but hearing the Shadow-man's voice made Ella's skin crawl.

" What is he doing here! I don't want him anywhere near my children," Ella spat with what was left of her energy. Henry had tried to calm his wife down but Ella shot him a deadly stare. She wasn't in the mood to hear his nonsense.

"Ella?!" Henry tried again but Ella ignored him. " He's the reason the Snow Queen is hurt our son!"

"No, I am!"Tiana said. She had kept her distance from the rest of the gang. Ashamed to even look her best friend in the eye. Ella only stared that the woman in disbelief and confusion. " I am the reason the Snow Queen is after us. I was blinded by my rage and grief to see that she was using me to get her own revenge. Now every one of us is in danger."

Ella didn't want to believe what Tiana was saying but the more Tiana explained the more it began to make sense. Tears overwhelmed her vision as it was too much to handle but Henry quickly wiped them and reassured her that they could fix this. They still hand time.

Regina began pacing the room. " We need to make a move on this cold-hearted bitch before Ben gets any worst."

Can't you heal him or slow it down? Zelena suggested.

"No, Whatever magic this bitch has used to create such a curse can't be broken so easily."

Sitting on a chair nearby Raphael thought about his next move. Regina was right, the Ice Queen's curse of winter wasn't going to be easy. The only way to destroy her magic was to destroy her or make a deal. Her magic was different just as his mother had said and couldn't be contained. Looking at everyone as they tried to come up with a plan Raphael rose from his chair it was clear what he had to do. The Snow Queen couldn't be saved not anymore.

The snow outside was beautiful to watch fall from the sky. As the winds swirled the snow around, Lucy wanted nothing more than the swirl along with it.

Like her father, Lucy was a curious soul, and when the palace guard wasn't looking she had snuck out into the courtyard to get a closer look. Dressed in her warmest dress and wooly boots and gloves she ventured out into the freezing cold outside.

The morning had once again been strange as she hadn't seen her parents but instead, the maids telling her to stay put in her room to keep warm. However, the snow was just too hard not to ignore. A couple of minutes would hurt right Lucy thought as she picked up the snow in her hands.

"It's beautiful isn't it."

Lucy jumped at the sudden voice beside her. Looking at the woman who was dressed all in white and had red hair that was pinned up into a bun. Lucy was completely bewitched.

"Who are you?" Lucy murmured.

" You sweet girl can call me Sigrid. I am a dear friend of your family." The Snow queen said in a sickly sweet voice. "I need your help, Lucy, can you help me?" As the Snow Queen placed a cold hand on the girl's own, Lucy felt a painful cold shiver run up her arm toward her head. Within seconds Lucy's eyes had turned white just like the snow she once held and her lips had turned a shade of dark purple. Sigrid smiled at her work, the girl was under her control now.

"LUCY?!"

Sigrid swiftly turned towards the loud noise behind her. Two maids had witnessed the Queen's power unfold on the young girl in horror. With one flick of the wrist, one of the maids turned immediately into ice which cause the other to rush back inside the castle to alert the others. Sigrid frowned at the other woman's escape but she didn't have time to waste. Picking up the girl Sigrid poofed herself away back to her frozen wasteland. Only leaving their footprints in the snow behind.

"You're going to the wasteland to face her without a plan?" Zelena said silently judging her sister's boyfriend's intelligence.

"Yes, I need to put an end to her before she makes permanent damage," Raphael explained.

" But the Snow Queen's magic how are you going to get closer enough without turning to ice yourself," Said henry as held his son closer to his chest.

"Pixie dust," Regina interject. Raphael smiled at his love's genius idea. " It will keep her place just in time for you to deliver the final blow," Regina remembered the same plan used on her when the charming had done the same to her, back when she was the evil Queen.

"one tiniest little problem...where are we going to find fairy dust in this realm?" Zelena said but Raphael shut down her doubt.

"Luckily I have some still stored in my lab." Finally, with a plan coming together the group was beginning to feel some hope again when until a maid burst through the door. The woman was out of breath and tears ran down her face.

"The Snow Queen took Lucy!"

Author's notes:

Disclaimer All characters belong to ABC once upon a time except baby Ben, Melora, and Chiara xxx Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, life just got in the way, and alongside that I lost my notes for the story which delayed it further. Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter x