I've definitely missed writing so here's another chapter. Happy Wednesday everyone. Don't forget to review. 3

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The school day seemed to drag on for Snow and Emma. They would catch glimpses of each other in the hallway or in the lunchroom. Snow fought the urge to run over and scoop Emma up. She wanted to keep Emma close all day, well actually she wanted to keep Emma close every day.

Emma wanted to run over to Snow every time she saw her, but she thought maybe it was too soon to get attached. She just had to make it till Wednesday, then everything would be known. She'd either have two of the best parents ever, or she'd be back to living with bad families.

David was having a hard day. He had already done three surgeries and they wanted him to do two more. He knew if he did the second one he wouldn't be able to get out of the clinic till 4 o'clock. He hoped that he could either wait till Monday or get someone else to do it for him. All he wanted to do was get through the day so that he could see his beautiful wife and daughter. Was that so much to ask?

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Three o'clock came, the bell rang and Emma ran across the hall into Snow's classroom. Her teacher ran after her, "I'm sorry Mrs. Nolan. Emma you need to go outside to the bus. Mrs. Nolan is busy. Come on let's go."

"Oh actually Ms. Thatcher Emma is going to be coming with me this afternoon. I have a note from her social worker. She dropped it off earlier today." Snow took hold of Emma's hand, hopefully telling Ms. Thatcher that she could leave.

"How nice. Ok well then, I'll leave you two. Have a wonderful weekend Emma. Please do your homework, you can't miss anymore or your grades will start dropping again."

Emma looked down, she didn't want Snow to know that she had trouble in school. "Yes, ma'am."

"She'll get it done, don't worry Ms. Thatcher." Snow squeezed Emma's hand and gave her a gentle smile. Emma squeezed back. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah."

"Yes?" Snow raised one eyebrow toward Emma.

"I mean yes." A questions popped into Emma's head and before she could stop it, it came out, "How do you know that I'm going to finish my homework this weekend? I can't do it without your help. That's the only reason I turned my homework in today, because you helped me this morning." After Emma realized that she asked a question so boldly she looked away from Snow hoping to find an easy exit.

"Sweetie, look at me. No matter what happens, I will help you with your homework whenever you need help. I talked to Emory when she came by to give us the paperwork so that we could bring you to the hospital. She said that she was going to see what she could do for you so that you don't have to go somewhere you don't want to. Everything is going to work out, you just have to have faith."

Emma took a deep breath, "I don't know if I can have faith. Everything doesn't usually work out for me. I've never been lucky like you."

"Well, now you are because I'm right here with you. Forever."

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David made quick work with his two operations and was able to get out of the clinic by 3:15. He figured Snow would have a little work to do so hopefully she wouldn't be waiting too long for him. He drove over to the school and was pleased when he got there and Snow and Emma weren't outside. He went and found them in Snow's classroom. They drove over to the hospital together. Emma was extremely quiet in the back seat. Snow was fiddling with her ring. David was trying to take deep breaths. Snow and David both knew that Emma was theirs, but for some reason they were nervous. What was going to happen?

They pulled into the hospital and found the right entrance. Emma pointed out Emory, but she didn't run up to her like she usually did. Emory noticed how much Emma looked like Snow and David, a perfect combination. She also noticed that Emma was almost glued to Snow's side, she had the bottom of Snow's shirt in her hands - little knuckles almost white from holding on so tightly.

"Hello, Emma. How are you doing?" Emory looked into Emma's eyes and for the first time didn't see the relief she normally did when she went to pick Emma up from other foster homes. This time Emory saw fear. Emma was scared that Emory was going to take her away, this was new.

"I'm good. How are you?" Emma tried to remember her manners.

"Actually, I'm very excited. How about we go and get that DNA test so we can find out what I already know." Emory knew she shouldn't give Emma false hope, but these two people looked so much like Emma. Already the changes in Emma were good. She just knew that this was where Emma was supposed to be, who she was supposed to be with.

Snow and David both looked relieved for a moment. Emma didn't really know what Emory was saying, but she could feel Snow and David relax so she relaxed a little too. Emma slipped her hand into Snow's and then carefully put her hand out for David. She wasn't so sure if he would want to hold her hand or not, the smile on his face took that fear away. David took Emma's hand and they all walked down to an examination room.

A nurse came in a few moments later and explained what she was going to do. She showed Emma the swab. Emma told her it looked like a really long q-tip. The nurse demonstrated on David and then on Snow. By the time she got to Emma, Emma's mouth was already opened ready to be swabbed. The nurse chuckled at how cute Emma was.

They all left the hospital and stopped outside at a small park. "Emma, why don't you go play for a minute." Emory tried to shoo Emma off to the playground.

Emma clung to Snow tighter than she had ever clung to anything. "We've been telling Emma everything that's going on. We don't want to keep any secrets from her. Can she stay?" Snow began stroking the back of Emma's hand with her thumb in hopes that she would relax a little.

"I guess that fine. If something makes you upset Emma, you can always get up and go play. Ok?"

Emma relaxed slightly, "Ok."

"First things first, I got your background checks and everything looks good. I'm going to give you a stack of paperwork that needs to be filled out before Emma can go home with you."

"I'll get started on that." David extended his hand to grab the stack of paper Emory had. She handed him the paper along with a pen.

"It might take you a few hours. It's a lot. I don't know why they need to have so much, but they do. Sorry."

"It's ok. I used to be a police officer I know all about paperwork."

"So if we're able to get all of this paperwork filled out before you leave would it be possible for Emma to stay with us this weekend, Monday and Tuesday? At least until we find out the results of the DNA test?"

Emory sat up a little straighter. It wasn't normal to have the child in on the conversations she usually had with the prospective parents. It just seemed weird. Emma was looking at her expectantly. "Well, I'll have to rush them in. As long as my boss is still in this afternoon, I should be able to grant you emergency custody."

"What time does your boss leave?" Snow was looking at her watch.

"Usually around 5:30. So we don't have much time."

"I got this. You two talk about all the logistics and I'll get the paperwork done." David looked up for a second and then back at the paperwork.

An hour later David had finished the paperwork and Emory and Snow had worked through the logistics. Emma had gotten bored with all the logistics and decided to play on the playground with a few other kids. At 4:50, Emma got into the car with Emory - with a lot of coaxing from Snow and David. Snow and David followed behind Emory and they made their way to the social services office. The traffic ended up not being too bad and they made it to the office at 5:20.

Emory rushed into the office with Emma. She went straight to her boss and pleaded with her to sign the temporary custody papers. It didn't take much pleading and soon Emma was allowed to stay with the Nolans.

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The next few days flew by quicker than any of them could imagine. On Saturday the little family of three went to the realtor's office and signed their paperwork for their house. They got the keys and were promised they could move in on Monday. Saturday afternoon they went out and got anything and everything a house could need - pots/pans, dishes, towels, bedding, clothes, and toys. Emma was a little overwhelmed, but she was having fun just being with Snow and David.

On Sunday Snow took a few hours helping Emma with her homework and then they went to a park to have a picnic.

Monday came quick and they all went to work and school. Emma was nervous the whole day, she wasn't sure why. Monday afternoon, they got into their new house and the furniture was all delivered. They managed to do quick work of organizing, it was easy with the help of the deliverers. That night Emma got to sleep in her new bed. David didn't have to build any of the dressers, which he was very excited about.

Tuesday came bright and early, Snow hadn't been able to go out and get groceries yet so they went out to breakfast. When they got to school Emma didn't want to leave Snow. "Please can I just stay with you? I won't talk or anything."

"Baby, why do you want to stay with me?" Snow knelt down so she was eye level with Emma.

Emma twiddled her thumbs, looking anywhere but at Snow. "I just… I don't want to lose you."

"Oh baby." Snow pulled Emma into a hug and swayed gently back and forth. "You're not going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. After school we're going to go out and get some groceries, then by the time we're done Emory should be ready to meet with us. She's going to look around the house and then we're going to find out about the DNA test. Even if for some weird reason it says you're not our daughter, you're still going to live with us. We already told Emory that we want to keep you. You're not going anywhere."

Emma held Snow as tightly as she could. "Promise?"

"I promise sweetie." Snow released Emma from the hug and got her bag back on her back. "Ok, now, are you ready to go to class. I'm sure Ms. Thatcher is excited to see how well you did on your homework."

Emma took a deep breath. Ms. Thatcher had been really excited yesterday when she had done all her homework. She was even more excited that Emma had understood everything and was participating in class. "Ok, I'm ready." Emma turned to leave, but turned right back around. "Can I come to your room right after school is over?"

"Of course my love." Snow stood up and kissed Emma's forehead. "Have a good day."

"You too!" Emma skipped over to her classroom with a big smile on her face.

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David got off work and headed to the school, Emma and Snow were waiting outside for them. Emma looked as though she was contemplating running and jumping into Snow's arms. David could see the fear in his daughter's eyes and he felt for her, but he also knew that everything was going to work out. "Hey Em, how was school?"

"It was pretty good. I just want it to be tomorrow already."

David buckled Emma into her seat and kissed the top of her head, "Everything's going to be alright. How about we go get some oreo's, rocky road ice cream, and lucky charms?" Emma's face lit up and David knew he had her attention. "Then, we're going to unload all the food and maybe we can sneak some sweets before Snow realizes. What do you say?"

"I'm very good at being sneaky. I think we could get some oreo's before she even knows they're missing."

"Sounds good." David closes her door and gets in.

They drive to the grocery store and get two carts full of food. Emma likes when Snow asks her what she likes to eat the most. Emma gets to choose a few cereals, David and Snow watch as their daughter's face lights up brighter than a Christmas tree. They do quick work and head home. Unloading isn't quite as hard as everyone thought it would be. Snow gets to work and organizes all the cupboards before David has the last of the bags on the counter.

Emma is sneaky as she promised and is able to get the oreo's without either David or Snow figure it out. David is very surprised when Emma brings him the oreo's.

Just as David and Emma start in on their second cookies the door bell rings signaling Emory's arrival. Snow walks into the living room and gives David and Emma a disapproving look. She takes the cookies and puts them back in the kitchen. David winks at Emma and goes to the door to answer, "Hello, Emory. How are you today?"

Emory steps inside the house, "I'm good. How are you all doing?"

Emma walks over to Emory and puts her hands on her hips, "We're nervous, can we please start this?"

"Emma, come here." Snow motions for Emma. Emma hangs her head and walks toward Snow. "I think you owe Emory an apology, that wasn't a very nice greeting."

Emma stood next to Snow and looked up at her. Snow raised her eyebrow. Emma looked back at Emory, "I'm sorry Emory for being rude."

"Thank you Emma, I forgive you. Now, how would you like to start. Do we want to do the inspection first or go over the DNA results?"

David walked over and guided Snow and Emma to the couch. He motions for Emory to take a seat as well. "How about we hear the DNA results."

Emory couldn't contain her smile, "I was hoping you'd say that." She pulled out a sealed envelope. "I haven't seen the results, it has taken everything in me not to open that envelope. I need for you to sign this piece of paper saying that the envelope is still sealed and doesn't look to be tampered with in any way." She hands David a piece of paper and a pen.

David flips the envelope around a few times and then signs the paper. He hands the envelope to Emma. "You want to open it princess?"

Emma's eyes get really big and she shakes her head vigorously up and down, "YES PLEASE!" She rips the top of the envelope open and then pulls out the papers. She looks at them for a moment and then hands them to Snow, "I don't know what any of that means. Can you tell me what it means?"

Snow takes the papers and reads through the first few pages quickly, "This is just the process that they used in order to find out. Here we go this is the page we're looking for. Read that sentence right there, Emma." Snow pointed to the middle of the paper, above a graph that showed their specific DNA.

"It says, 'Based on testing results obtained from analyses of the DNA listed below, the probability of maternity and paternity is 99.9999%. The alleged mother and father has concluded as the biological parents of the minor child, Emma Swan.'" Emma stared at the paper and then looked at David and Snow, "You're… it's real… you're my parents?"

"We are princess! We're your parents." David took the papers from Emma and placed them on the table. Emma jumped up and turned around launching herself at both David and Snow.

"I don't ever have to leave you?" Emma asked while hugging her parents necks.

Emory had heard Emma and spoke up, "We just have to do the inspection and if everything checks off then you can stay here forever Emma."

Emma turned around and sat on Snow's lap, "Ok, what do we have to do for an inspection? I helped put everything away and I made my bed this morning so that it was all pretty for you."

"How about if you give me a tour of the house and I'll just check everything off the list? If something's missing we can figure it out later."

Emma jumped up and extended her hand to Snow and David. "Ok, let's go!"

They took the next hour and walked around the house. Since they had just moved in everything was extremely clean and in place. Emory checked everything off her list. When they made their way back downstairs she signed a piece of paper and handed it to David, "This is the last piece of paper you'll need. I will stop by in about a month to make sure everyone's settled, Other than that, there's nothing else to do. Emma you get to stay here forever."

For the first time since the hospital Emma smiled at Emory and ran up to her to give her a hug. "Thank you Emory. Thanks for finding my mom and dad." She whispered the last part because she still wasn't sure what she was supposed to call David and Snow.

Emory hugged Emma back and then bid everyone farewell.

After the door was closed Snow turned to Emma and smiled, "How about we celebrate with some grilled cheese and then maybe after dinner we can have some of that ice cream I saw you put in the cart?" Snow turned around to leave as she heard Emma gasp and then giggle. It was nice to hear Emma laugh, now they were a family, officially.

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This isn't the ending, it just seems like it… but wait there's more! See you all in 3 days! 3A