The night the mines opened, Snow was already in bed. She'd been fighting a small stomach virus that one of the children had given to her. For 28 years, she was practically immune but now that her body had changed (Nothing smelled or tasted the same), she was susceptible to illnesses that were minor in this world.

When Snow had first started throwing up in the morning, she'd had a horrific fear that she might be pregnant. But Rumpelstiltskin, who took care of her, promised her over and over again that that was impossible. Their bodies had been frozen at the time…they never changed except for…when bodily adjustments were needed in getting the deed done.

Of course Regina would want that function in the men working, if she was using Graham like a slave again.

Of course she'd want it working for them if it was her sick game that they were happily married to each other despite not being in love.

He promised her that she couldn't conceive his child.

If something happened now," he'd told her, Then a pregnancy might occur, which is why it's best for both you and I that we stay in control at all times.

It was a task easier said than done, Mary was itching to get at him again. Snow didn't tell Rumpelstiltskin, some things were best left quiet.

Rumpelstiltskin came into her room late that night. Since she'd gotten sick, he'd taken to sleeping in there with her. He slept on the couch; it was the most comfortable one in the house.

He already wore his silk pajamas; his clothes for the next day were in his hand. He leaned on his cane and watched her for a few seconds, "Snow? Are you awake?"

"Yeah," she turned over to face him, "I thought I felt a tremor…was that real or did I imagine that?"

"You did not. There's now a crater at the old mines."

Snow sat up, "What?"

"Your daughter was there, I was told….she's taken a position as a deputy tonight, did you know that?"

Snow did. Emma told her everything. Snow had been proud that she was laying down roots for her son. Apparently her old job had been a lot more glamorous before she left it and the fact that she was taking a lesser paying job for Henry meant so much to Snow.

Her daughter had walls, but this world hadn't completely destroyed her. She still knew love, she still had compassion…

"What does this mean?" Snow asked.

"The curse is weakening," he told her, "It's because Emma's making decisions that'll get her to permanently stay."

"So the whole town might be collapsing?" Snow asked, "What happens if she wants Henry back and gets him? We all fall down a sinkhole?"

He smiled at her sarcastic joke and went to the couch, "Perhaps there's something down there."

"Then we should go find it, right? Get it out….maybe Emma will believe then!"

"With that thick head? I doubt it," he muttered.

Snow scowled at him.

"Besides, neither you nor I should be down there," Rumpelstiltskin stretched his bad leg out, "There's someone in the crowd that's missing…someone that Regina would've brought over just as sure as you or I."

"Who?"

"Did your husband ever tell you about the dragon he fought to get my assistance on finding you?"

Snow nodded, "Yeah, he said that she-."

Rumpelstiltskin raised an eyebrow.

Snow's eyes widened, "No!"

"She did."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"It is."

"How could she be a dragon if there's no magic?"

"Well, you don't need magic to be a dragon, dearie. Just look at your stepdaughter! Maleficent is just more…literal in her form. She just has no magic, she can't change back. So…there she is."

"There's a dragon under Storybrooke."

"Indeed."

"And there's a crater at the mines?"

"It's opened up tunnels."

Snow felt a chill, "What would that mean for us, then?"

He lay down on the couch, "Bad things should she ever wake up enough to get out."

Snow didn't sleep well that night.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Everywhere Snow looked, she was surrounded by things that Mary Margaret liked. She couldn't eat her favorite foods because they didn't exist here, she could seek out her friends as they were…or her daughter because they thought they were friends of Mary Margaret's and even her job was Mary Margaret's. To keep dominance of her mind was an uphill battle every day.

So, she spent more and more time at the hospital with her husband. He was a blank slate and he didn't remember so she didn't have to completely lie to him. That was a relief as everything else about her existence right now, she had to lie about. She was afraid that when everyone woke up, she wouldn't know who she was anymore.

Emma was already going to hate her for spending all this time just blatantly lying to her face.

It had to be done though. Rumpelstiltskin even encouraged the hospital visits; he was usually doing whatever it was that he did in the basement. He'd asked politely that Snow and Emma stay out, that was his…sanctuary or whatever it was. Emma respected it; she had no reason not to. However, Snow was a bit more worried. If he wanted to be Rumpelstiltskin and not Mr. Gold, what did that meant for everyone?

She tried not to think about it as she stared at the game of Hangman in concentration…David was awake and growing stronger. Keeping him entertained was a full time job, "I don't know…. 'M'?"

"Mmhmm," David moved and placed them on the paper, "Two of them. Get it yet?"

Mary laughed when she saw the only word that the first word could be and put her hands over her face in embarrassment, "Yes. And I'm completely mortified. I almost hanged myself on my own name."

David grinned, "Don't worry – I would never let you hang! I would've added toes, a hat, maybe a horse…."

A horse…Snow felt a pang of homesickness and she cleared her throat, "Is this a game you played a lot? Uh, before?"

David shrugged, "I don't know."

"It'll come back," Snow said hopefully, but she wasn't talking about his false memories, "They're sending you home in a week. They have to think you're progressing, don't they? '

"Physically," David muttered.

Yeah, he was going home to a woman that wasn't his wife and Snow couldn't even warn him about what he was doing.

He was going to be with her…in every sense of the term and Snow couldn't stop it. Would Charming hate her for that? Would he forgive her for having to stand by and let him go home with this poor woman to play house?

He could hold that against her, but he couldn't hold Rumpelstiltskin against her. If Emma wasn't in the room, they never even touched. And when they did, it was all based on strategy.

"Well," Snow said, her time here with him was running out and when he went home, then what did she do? Take a bow and arrow and go to the forest? "You're making new memories just fine."

David gave her a flirtatious grin, "Maybe I'll like these better."

Snow felt her heat pounding in her chest, she was certain he could hear it. That smile he gave her was almost the one that Charming gave.

Try and remember.

Snow looked down and cleared her throat, "Okay, play again?"

"Can I guess, too?"

At the sound of Kathryn Nolan's voice, Snow felt herself freeze. What was she doing here? Snow thought she had to work! Then she looked at her watch and realized she'd lost track of the time, "Oh Mrs. Nolan. I, uh….Oh, its noon already. I didn't realize! I should go."

Kathryn smiled at her. She didn't have suspicions about Snow's time with David. She was too appreciative that Snow had saved him; she thought that's why there was an attachment.

Snow went to sign out and gave one last look over her shoulder.

"Honey," Kathryn reached into the box and pulled out a photo of a dog, "I brought more pictures. Maybe it'll jog something. It's our old dog – Ajax. Remember?"

"Yeah," David said slowly, but it was clear he didn't remember, "Yeah, Ajax…"

Snow lowered her head; the curse had done a fine job with making sure everything was authentic enough to be possible. Even in the house there were photos all over the place of Mr. Gold and Mary Margaret that they'd never had taken. Snow was sure of it because her hiar fell slightly past her shoulders instead of the harsh cut it was at now. It was all part of the curse. There was even a marriage certificate in the file cabinet in the study. Rumpelstiltskin had found it and shown it to her.

Everything was a lie and she was playing along with it to survive.

If only her loved ones could see her now….

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000

Snow knew that Emma had a lot to deal with, being a new deputy. She had fears to address for people over the crater as well as her regular duties.

Though, those seemed to be few because she was sitting at home when Snow returned. Snow was glad for it, her…irritation over David going home to his wife and not her was something she was far more comfortable talking about to Emma.

"I'm the worse person in the world," Snow muttered after telling her what had happened.

"Really?" Emma raised her eyebrow, "The whole world?"

Their world at least. Regina was a monster, that was true. So was Rumpelstiltskin. They'd captured Rumpelstiltskin but she'd spared Regina because Snow's own guilt. It was because of Snow's own choices that her family was now ripped from her. It was because of her that no one was happy…everyone was split up from their families and had no free will. It was her fault.

But, once again, she couldn't tell Emma.

"If Kathryn was horrible, it'd be easier," Snow said. It wasn't a complete lie. She wasn't completely covering for herself. Kathryn was always pleasant and respectful. Snow couldn't be jealous without hating herself, "But she's so…nice."

"And what exactly would be easier?" Emma asked.

For him to remember and come back to her.

But once again, everything was a lie and she couldn't be fully honest with her own daughter, "Nothing."

"'Nothing' is a good idea. You're smart – you know not to get involved with a married guy. You're married yourself. It's not worth the heartache – Trust me."

There was something there. Like Emma was speaking from personal experience. Snow started to ask her what that meant when they heard a knock at the door.

Always interruptions!

"I'll get it," Emma went to the back door and opened it.

Henry was standing there…his eyes were red and puffy and he was breathing hard.

"Kid?" Emma immediately took a protective edge in her voice, "What happened? Come on."

He went inside and hugged Emma. Emma returned the hug and gave a concerned look to Snow.

Snow shut the backdoor and they took Henry to the living room.

"My mom got to Jiminy."

Emma raised her eyebrows, "What happened?"

Henry wiped his eyes, "He said…he said I was delusional and how it all wasn't real. He said that what I had a psychosis and they were going to lock me away. He said I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't."

The more Henry talked, the angrier Emma visibly got, "Well, that's certainly different to how he was acting last night."

"That's why I think she got to him! She's manipulating him! She threatened to hurt him, she had to have! He's my friend…he would- he would never do this by himself."

Emma gave another look at Snow, "Kid…there's some ice cream on the counter, why don't you have some before we go?"

"You're not taking me back!" Henry demanded.

"I have to take you back to your mom's, but don't worry…the therapist's office is exactly where I plan to go to next. We'll get this figured out."

He reluctantly went to the kitchen. Snow grabbed Emma's shoulder, "Emma, don't do anything in haste. You'll regret it."

"I won't regret this," Emma hissed, "She's using other people to hurt him, that's how she used me when I decided to stay initially. I'm not going to let that happen to him again."

Snow nodded, "And I'm not saying you don't have a right to be angry. I'm angry. But if you do something without thinking, then Regina could use that."

"Don't worry; I'm not going to do something that lands me in jail here," Emma hesitated, "Again."

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000

"He said what?"

Snow watched Rumpelstiltskin circle around the table he kept in the back of the pawn shop, "That's what Henry claims he said."

"To a child?"

Snow nodded, "He thinks it was Regina. I'm inclined to agree."

"Gods, that's her son," he took a drink of whatever alcoholic beverage was in his hand, "Crushing who he is to fit her own mold…I would've never-."

He stopped and looked at Snow.

"Never mind," he said and placed the drink down, "Emma is fixing this?"

"Emma can't fix what's already been said," Snow muttered, "But she's confronting him, yes."

"What do you think that will lead to?"

"I wish I knew," Snow whispered, "Regina thinks she can….break someone if that means making them into what she wants."

"As unfortunate as it is to those being broken, that's usually the best method of getting results," Rumpelstiltskin muttered.

"Is that what you did?"

"Countless times," Rumpelstiltskin put the drink down, "But never to those I claimed to love."

That didn't make Snow feel better.

The phone rang; Rumpelstiltskin went to the front of the shop to answer it. Snow waited for him and played with Charming's mother's ring. She wanted to think of something to do to make everything right, but she couldn't.

When Rumpelstiltskin walked back through, his face was set….there was something grim about it, "Snow, there's been an incident."

Snow straightened, "Emma?"

"Emma's fine," He promised her, "It's Henry. He went into the mines. Archie followed. The entrance collapsed and they're trapped."

"Oh gods," Snow whispered.

They weren't alone in those mines…

Snow grabbed her purse and started for the door.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going there; Emma has to know that Maleficent is down there with them! They have to get them out!"

"Regina's there too!" he told her harshly, "Are you truly going to blow your cover by telling Emma something that she won't believe?"

"There's a dragon down there with them."

"The tunnels that lead that far out are small," he told her, "I examined them myself this morning. If they stay close, there's no way Maleficent can reach them."

"What if they go further down, then?"

"You will do no good there," Rumpelstiltskin told her, Snow realized he didn't answer her question, "It'll be best if you stay away, you will just give yourself away if Regina sees you this upset."

"She wouldn't suspect anything, that boy is in my class."

"Well, you're not exactly in Mary Margaret's mindset right now, are you? You're in Snow's," he reminded her, "One wrong look…to either her or Emma when you're upset and she'll know it's you."

"Then what am I supposed to do? Just sit here waiting?"

Rumpelstiltskin thought about it, "Go to the hospital. Everyone will be at the mine…this is your chance to work on your husband without prying eyes. You'll need this distraction, it could benefit you."

Snow clenched her hand. She wanted to argue, she wanted to fight, she wanted to go down to the mines to support her daughter.

But all she could do was wait …

At least with David…she could do something..

"Are your spies at the mines?"

"Of course," he nodded, "I'll let you know if anything's happened."

Snow reluctantly nodded.

She wanted to go to the mine, but strategically it would be unwise.

She choked back her anger and went to the hospital instead. After all, she didn't have much time left to spend with David before he had to go home

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00

Snow could barely concentrate as she worked with people in the hospital, but no one noticed. There weren't that many people here anyway, now that time was moving again, they were healing.

And the small slip ups, she could easily attribute to her worry about Henry down in the mines. No one questioned it; everyone was worried about the mayor's son and his therapist in the mine.

She took care of most everyone, but David was in physical therapy and she didn't see him. She was starting to think that maybe this visit had been all for naught and she prepared to pack up her things and head to the mine.

"Hey!" she heard her husband's familiar voice behind her, "Where are you going?"

"Home," Snow lied, "I'm done for the day. Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Ah, actually, Dr. Whale wants me to start physical therapy. I'm supposed to walk thirty minutes a day on a treadmill or outside with an escort. But they were kind of short on personnel because of that thing that happened at the mine."

Snow missed the side of him that would pick up a sword and go down there if it meant saving a child, "Oh…."

"So," David smiled mischievously, "Maybe if there was a volunteer willing to help?"

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

There was a quiet place by the water that Snow liked. It wasn't far and so they walked there. It was slow going; David's last outdoor journey had nearly been too much for him so Snow had to be patient.

"I'm trying to remember this place," he broke through the silence, It's like…it's like I woke up in a strange land."

"Is there anything coming back?" Snow asked hopefully and then covered, "What about when you're with her? You remembered your dog."

"Yeah, I lied," he said.

As if she didn't already know, "You did?"

"She's so…loving and I didn't want to disappoint her. But none of it feels right. You know, a dog name Ajax? Who would name their dog that? None of it makes sense. None of it….None of it feels real."

"That sounds lonely," Snow whispered. It was lonely. It was lonely knowing what she knew and seeing all her friends not recognize her…seeing all these people not recognize anyone.

"Actually, one thing does feel real," he moved to stand in front of her, "You."

Snow felt her heart leap, "What?"

"I know it's crazy," He said quickly, but it wasn't, "But I swear, you're the only thing in this whole place that feels…that feels right."

Snow almost threw her arms around his neck right there, but she didn't. Was he fascinated with her because she was her? Or was he fascinated with her because he felt that connection? Did it even count as love if he didn't fully understand why there was a connection in the first place?

"Kathryn….," Charming started.

And Snow was brought right back in reality, "Right…"

"Kathryn!" David greeted behind her, "You're here!"

Kathryn was behind them, with a large smile on her face. There was a basket in her hands, "I know it's outside of visiting hours, but, uh, I needed to see you. I made some cranberry muffins. They used to be your favorite."

She held them out to David.

Snow had sort of hoped that after Emma took the job as deputy that maybe the curse had weakened enough so that they wouldn't be interrupted…that progress could be made but Snow supposed the curse wasn't ready to allow them to be together yet.

Time could move, dragons could come awake but she couldn't have a conversation with her husband.

"I should," Snow nodded and turned to leave, "Leave you two."

"Wait, Mary Margaret!" David called after her, "See you tomorrow?"

He wouldn't though…he'd be going home in a week…so why should she even remain? There was no reason to stay with the hospital after he was gone; Regina only had her do so, so that she could stare at him every day and wonder why there was a connection.

She would wait until everyone was gone tonight and then she would resign her position. There was nothing there for her after David was gone.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00

Snow was back in the pawn shop after she was done at the hospital, it was closer than the mines and she needed a drink.

Snow usually didn't like alcohol, it tasted weird. Even Mary Margaret never cared too much for it, but she didn't need it for the taste right now.

"He feels drawn to me," Snow told Rumpelstiltskin, "That has to be something, right?"

"Feelings are only feelings until they're acted upon," Rumpelstiltskin told her, "He can feel everything in the world for you, but it will mean nothing until he makes the move to take up and leave."

"And if that happens," Snow started.

"Regina won't like it," he told her, "She'll do what she can to stop it. If Kathryn's false memories couldn't, then she'll rely on more drastic measures. Something could happen."

"I can protect David."

"You can only do so much in this land with these laws," he reminded her, "Making such a drastic move if he wants to be with you could be unwise at this stage. And I can't sit by and watch it happen, I promised you that no matter what happened, I would protect you."

"So you want me to stay away from him?"

"I want you…to be careful," he told her after a moment's hesitation, "I know I am hardly the ideal man you want to share a room with…and I know you are extremely lonely and want any semblance you have of your life back….but caution is the key here. Always remember that."

Snow was quiet, "I don't know how much more I can take before risking losing control to Mary. I have to do something."

"I know," he said quietly and took her hand "But…Snow…don't be stupid about it."

The phone rang in the front; Rumpelstiltskin moved to the front and answered it. Snow took a second to shiver; there had been a small pang in her stomach of longing. That'd been Mary's not her's. Every time Snow was pushed aside for Kathryn…every time Kathryn came into the room, it felt like Mary got a foothold.

When Rumpelstiltskin came back, he was smiling, "Wonderful news, Snow. They saved them. Emma went down and rescued them from an elevator shaft."

Snow's eyes widened and she smiled, "They're okay?"

He nodded, "Indeed."

"I should go…go see them."

"Snow?"

She stopped.

"Just remember what I've said about caution."