The Second Year
"Milady!" Graham called in a hurried voice. "Sire, come quickly! It's finally happening!" The king and queen come running from the dining hall as quickly as their feet can carry them, as Princess Emma hoists herself up using the corner of the table.
"I was worried she'd never be able to do it!" Snow cried happily, hanging on her husband's arm.
"I always knew she'd walk when she was ready," David said, his eyes never leaving his daughter. "I didn't doubt her for a second." The proud parents looked on as their daughter took a shaky step towards them. She laughed gleefully and took another step, before she lost her balance and fell down. David walked towards his daughter with his arms outstretched, but Snow held him back.
"Wait," she whispered. They looked on as their daughter struggled to get back on her feet. With nothing to pull herself up with, Emma was having quite the time. Finally, the toddler sighed, and looked towards the table. The table started sliding across the floor towards the tiny princess, who giggled and stuck out her hand. The shocked monarchs could only watch as the table came to a stop just within reach of their child, who proceeded to use it to lift herself up off of the ground. The child continued walking towards her wide eyed parents, and she did not fall again.
That Evening
Snow White hurried down the stairs to the cell that held the most feared monster in the kingdom. She looked through the bars at the woman who had almost ruined her life, with a scowl on her face.
"Regina!" the queen shouted, "What did you do?" The woman looked up at the young mother standing before her.
"Why Snow, I did nothing. How could I, imprisoned here like I am?" she replied with a snarl on her face
"Don't play dumb with me Regina. You know exactly what I'm talking about. What did you do to my daughter?" Snow White shouted angrily.
"I did nothing to your daughter," Regina replied. "Whatever you are talking about, your daughter did it all on your own." The Evil Queen laughed as an extremely aggravated Snow White walked away with more questions than answers.
As Snow White and David lay together in bed that night, all they could think about was that night, two years ago, when they had put the Evil Queen away for good. The words she said tormented them as they tried to sleep. Finally, David whispered, " We're going to have a much harder time keeping track of her now that she can walk aren't we." Snow chuckled lightly and replied, "I think that's a worry for another day." She leaned over and kissed her husband's cheek before finally nodding off to sleep.
David sighed contently, listening to the steady breathing of his wife next to him. He gently unlatched her arms from around him, and put his feet on the floor. He stretched his back, and got up, treading lightly so he didn't wake his sleeping wife. He made his way to Emma's room, and opened the door carefully. He looked at his daughter's sleeping form and took a deep breath.
"I know in my heart, that you Emma Ruth Swan, are destined for great things. No matter what Regina says, no matter what anybody says, you won't be our kingdom's undoing, you'll be our salvation." He whispered into the night. He watched as a shining white butterfly flew in the open window landed on his daughter's bed frame. He had a feeling, that it was there for a reason, and didn't bother shooing it away.