Snow didn't know how long they stayed that way, hugging each other on her bed, oblivious to anything else going on in the world. She still couldn't wrap her mind around it; they were really here, they'd come back for her! A warm feeling swelled in her heart as she felt their arms around her. "Why?" she finally asked when they separated, "You should be long gone by now, why did you come back?"

Daniel and Regina stared at her; did she really believe they would just leave her alone with him? Regina almost asked as much, but Daniel stopped her with a almost undetectable shake of his head. 'She deserves the truth,' his expression seemed to tell her, 'but we have to be careful with how we approach this.'

The raven-haired beauty bit her lip, Daniel was right, but what could they do? What could they say without scaring her? There wasn't a doubt in Regina's mind that Snow didn't want anyone to know about the things that her father did to her, but then… Regina thought back to a few nights ago, in the stables. The way she went rigid when Regina had said home, the way she sat there, looking at the brunette in silent contemplation when Regina asked if Cora was the one who hurt her, and the terrified look in her eyes when Regina had wanted to take a closer look at her bruises. She had thought she'd seen something else there too- a sense of longing, of relief that someone finally noticed. She wasn't sure what happened that night, but something, maybe that glimmer of emotion, made her follow Snow back home. She thought back to her own days of abuse and how, though she was never brave enough to admit it herself, when Daniel had asked if her mother had hurt her, it felt so good to let all her bottled up pain and emotion come out.

Looking at Snow, she realized she had been only a little older than the little princess when she and Daniel met, and that she may very well be just as terrified of her own feelings now as Regina was back then. She glanced at Daniel, taking a deep breath before turning toward Snow. She knew this might be going too far, but somehow, she also knew it had to be done.

"Snow, dear?" she finally asked, "May I ask you something?" Snow looked up at her, amber eyes questioning, yet trusting, and nodded. "That night in the stables, when I saw those bruises, where did they come from?" she inquired quietly.

The princess's eyes widened slightly, they knew! But how? Snow was fairly certain Regina thought her mother had done it. She hadn't let them follow her any farther than the woods. There was no way…Suddenly she gasped as a thought occurred to her.

"Did you…follow me, that night?" she remembered thinking she'd seen a shadow at the window, but it was dark and she never knew for sure.

Regina looked guiltily at her fiancée. Daniel leaned forward and cupped Snow's hand in his, "Snow," he said gently, "We came back because we love you,"

Snow looked down at their intertwined hands, "I know," she whispered quietly, trying hard to keep her composure.

"Daniel's right Snow," she looked gratefully at her stable boy before continuing, "but we can only help you if you help us. Can you do that?" she asked softly, leaning close to her precious little girl.

"I- I don't know." She answered honestly, looking down.

Regina sighed, "Let me tell you something." She said, hoping if she told her secrets, the princess would do the same. "When I was younger, my mother used to hurt me."

The little girl's eyes widened. This shouldn't have surprised her; after all she'd seen what Cora had tried to do with Daniel. For some reason though, as cold as that woman was, she couldn't believe she'd have a reason to harm her own daughter, even with the experiences she'd endured because of the King. "She did?"

"Yes dear, she did. She beat me and tortured me with magic spells when I wouldn't behave."

Snow's eyes got even bigger and she hugged Regina close.

"For a long time," the raven haired girl breathed as she ran her hand through Snow's hair, "I was afraid to tell anyone. It got so bad that I…" she shook her head, banishing the rest of the statement. She was already treading on eggshells here. Telling Snow White that well, she didn't have to be a genius to know it wasn't a good idea. "Anyway," she continued, "when I finally did tell someone," she smiled at Daniel, "I felt a lot better. Daniel couldn't take me away from my mother, but at least I wasn't keeping it all inside anymore."

"And this is different Snow," the boy continued for Regina, "What I couldn't do for 'Gina, we can do for you. We can make," he paused, not wanting her to know exactly how much the pair had seen and heard, "whatever, or whoever, it is that is doing this to you, we can make them stop," he finished, determined.

"H-how?" the princess whispered, shifting her curiously tentative gaze back and forth between the two of them.

"We can take you with us honey," Regina murmured, smiling softly. "And we promise to keep you safe, if only you'll tell us the truth."

Snow mulled that over. She wanted nothing more than to let the whole, terrifying truth come out. Not just come out, but come out to someone who could do something, someone who cared. It wasn't that Johanna didn't worry for her, she did; none of the servants were brave enough to face her father though. Not even Johanna. But if she told them…the King was her father. Was it wrong to think he was a bad person?

The princess's thoughtful gaze met Regina's and she remembered that night in the stables. How Regina had tried to stand up to her mother, and fight for the life she wanted, not the one her mother wanted for her. Snow had seen that Regina still loved Cora, but the girl also understood that Regina knew that even though Cora was her mother, she was not the one who knew what was best for her daughter.

Just like the King couldn't know what was best for Snow.

Looking at Daniel and Regina, thinking of all that they sacrificed to help her. She knew in her heart that they were her best chance. Despite the fact that they weren't blood, they were family.

Snow closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before uttering two simple words, "My father. The bruises came from my father."

The couple glanced at each other, their fears confirmed. Regina pulled Snow in for another hug as a few tears trickled from her eyes.

"Shhh, its okay baby," Regina murmured, "Let it out, it's okay."

Snow buried her face in Regina's hair and her lower lip trembled, "Ever since Mother died, it's like-" she cried harder, and Regina rocked her back and forth, "I-I'm s-sorry," Snow murmured.

"Oh Snow," Daniel soothed while stroking her hair, "There's nothing to be sorry for. We won't let him hurt you anymore."

The princess gazed up at him with warm, uncertain eyes, "Really?"

"Really," Daniel promised, kissing the top of her head and wiping her tear stained cheeks.

"But…I'm getting well. Father will want-"

"Don't worry about you're father," Regina said sternly, "Soon, you will be far, far away from him,"

Snow's eyes shown.

Regina laughed, "But first, we must teach you how to ride."

"Ride?"

Daniel smiled, "We'll be traveling on horseback"

Snow gulped, "I haven't been on a horse since…" she trailed off, glancing between the pair nervously.

Regina squeezed her hand, "That's why we're here to help you. We'll be with you every step of the way."

Snow nodded, still nervous, but willing to try. Then a thought occurred to her. "How- how long will it take me to learn? If-if my father finds me and sees I am well…"

"That won't happen," Daniel assured her while catching Regina's eye and smiling, "we know a way to keep you safe." He got up off the bed and headed toward the door. Regina followed, beckoning to Snow.

The princess's brows furrowed in confusion, nonetheless, she trusted them and so trailed behind them and out into the hallway.

"You're highness," Johanna acknowledged, "are you off to you're lessons?"

"Actually," Regina said, "we could use you're help." She was cautious about letting Johanna in on their plan, but they had to trust someone. If not, they may never get Snow away from the King. Quickly, they beckoned her into the bedroom and explained everything.

The nursemaid listened intently, and everyone could tell by her appalled face and constant gasping that she did not approve of their idea. Still they pushed forward, explaining how they wanted Snow to stay in her chambers and act dutifully during the day and then be with them in the servant's quarters at night. During Snow's lessons, they would prepare to leave the castle, little by little. They only had to convince the staff to keep the princess away from her father until they were able to leave. When Regina and Daniel finally stopped speaking, Snow turned to her nanny with pleading eyes.

"Will you help us?" she asked anxiously.

Johanna sunk down in a nearby chair; trying to process all the information they had just shared. "Snow I- what you're asking me to do it's, it's impossible. And dangerous. For all of us. If we were to get caught… I love you like my own Snow, you know that."

The princess shook her head.

"But, I have a family too. I have to support them. If I do this…we could lose everything."

Snow's gaze dropped, and then lit up again, "Then come with us!" she said. "All of you. We're bringing Regina's father along; surely we can keep you safe too. Right?" she asked, glancing backward at Regina and the stable boy.

The couple exchanged a troubled glance. They knew this plan would put a lot of people in danger. It wasn't even a plan really, more of a goal. They weren't even sure what they were going to do once, if they successfully escaped the castle. They didn't want anyone getting hurt and yet, they knew it was impossible to take off with all their allies in tow. It was going to be hard enough keeping the four of them safe.

Johanna saw the exchange and smiled tenderly, taking Snow's hands in hers, "I will help you as much as I can," she decided, "but I cannot come along. My family needs me here."

A bit of the gleam in Snow's gaze disappeared, but she wrapped her arms around the maid gratefully, "Thank you Joanna."

She smiled and ran her hand through the young girls hair, but looked over her head, gazing at Regina and Daniel questioningly. "You cannot leave here without a solid plan," she told them silently, "I know it will be hard, but you must stay until you know exactly where you're going."

Regina and Daniel sighed. She was right. Had it just been the two of them, they could have gotten by. But now they had a child to look after. And they were determined to not let her get hurt again. That meant coming up with a solid plan.

And fast.

As the couple tucked Snow into bed that night, she relished in their warmth. Now that they were here, she was no longer afraid. She could face any challenge that came.

Because she had someone who cared.

She drifted off to sleep, blissfully unaware of the urgent, troubled talk and hesitant planning happening just below her.