A/N: Things are going to start happening all at once as the various characters start converging. Hopefully the timeline won't be too hard to follow, but just know that everything after the first scene is happening on the same fateful afternoon.

Hello to the guest reviewers! I don't get to respond to you personally, but I so appreciate your feedback and support. And I'll take this moment to answer a few of your questions.

1. What does David look like in this story? This David is definitely shepherd-David, not Charming-James-David. However, I laughed so, so hard when we saw his old hair in The Shepherd. So maybe picture him as slightly less scruffy? I choose not to picture him at all because I just can't with that hair.

2. Can Snow and the Huntsman end up together? (This is for several of you, not just the guesties.) He's about twice her age, so no. It would be a really cute idea if she hadn't been abused by an older man already. Sorry.

3. Why yes, I am evil.

Red had circled the building more times than she could count, but her repeated efforts were futile. There was only one human scent inside Rumplestiltskin's home, and no sounds to indicate another presence. She was about to give up, to slink back to camp, when she caught an unfamiliar sound. She cocked her ears, listening carefully to the new female voice and catching the woman's smell.

She slunk around the house again, body low to the ground. Whoever it was, she must have gotten in by magic, since there was no chance anyone had approached without Red's awareness. She crouched beneath an open window, closing off all her other senses so she could focus just on sound.

"You need to take her back," the woman was saying. "Nowhere in our agreement did it say she was going to give birth in my house. I won't allow it."

She recognized the distinctive voice of the strange man she'd dealt with months ago. "This is the critical moment. If you bring Regina here, there's a risk that she'll be found. The whole army's out searching for her."

"Now, Rumple, don't be so melodramatic. I'm bringing her here tomorrow night, and if you don't welcome her with open arms I will make you very sorry."

"And I'm the melodramatic one? Fine, bring her tomorrow."

Red took off like a shot, moonlight glinting off her fur as she crossed the meadow and slipped into the forest. So Regina wasn't here, but she would be, and with just enough time for the group to prepare.

She badly wanted to wake everyone with the good news, but when she returned to the camp all were sleeping peacefully. She couldn't bear to wake them, especially when she saw Belle with the red cloak over her like a blanket. She was clutching a handful of fabric to her chest, but the cloak was spread far enough for Red to nose her way under it. She transformed beneath the fabric, her human head the one that slipped out the top, and she curled against Belle and slept.

They sat just inside the shelter of the forest, waiting out the seemingly endless afternoon. Snow ignored the others, keeping her eyes focused on the dark building and fidgeting endlessly. This search had taken so long, and the thought of waiting for another hour, even another minute, was unbearable. She just wanted it to finally be over, to see Regina again and know that she was safe. It wouldn't be the end of their running, but the comfort her stepmother brought her would ease the path ahead.

She got to her feet, unable to sit any longer. "I'm going," she announced. "I want to talk with Rumplestiltskin and find out what he wants with her."

The conversation between her traveling companions stopped abruptly, all staring at her for a moment before David stood beside her. "You're not going alone."

Snow sighed, watching David put his hand on his sword. "I probably shouldn't, no, but you're not coming with me." His expression fell, but this moment was too important for Snow to sugarcoat the truth. "You're too impulsive, especially when you think I might be in danger. You're not going to be much help in negotiating."

"I only want to protect you," he said softly, not meeting the Princess's eyes.

"And you will," Red added gently. "Just from out here." She got up, turning to Snow. "If you want someone with you, take me. I know what we're dealing with, and it's my fault we have to do this in the first place."

Snow had felt no great love for Red when they'd first met, especially once the girl confessed the role she'd played in Regina's capture. After a few months watching Red wrestle with her guilt, though, she'd offered forgiveness. The guilt was still there, but it only assured Snow that Red sincerely wanted to help. "All right," she said. "Belle and David will stay here and keep watch. If we're gone too long, come and find us."

There had been rumors of the King's approach for days, but no one in the small militia camp believed it until they saw the golden carriage for themselves. Leopold spared no attention for the soldiers, instead pressing straight on to the commander's tent.

"I hear you've nearly pinpointed my wife's location," Leopold said.

The commander looked at the King in astonishment, as did the breathless woman who had previously been talking to the officer. "Your Highness," the commander said, and they both bowed low. "I've just received even better news."

The woman straightened up and met the King's eyes. "I've just come from the scouts, Sire. They saw the Princess and the fugitives watching over Rumplestiltskin's home."

Leopold's expression softened at the mention of his daughter. "Did they capture her?"

"We believe the Princess is there to find the Queen," the commander explained. "We are merely watching her until we know for certain."

"We have no time to waste," Leopold barked, all softness gone. He was unsure when Regina might have conceived, but as the months flew past he knew that his window to prevent the birth of the child was waning, if it wasn't too late already. He strode back out into the camp and ordered the small militia to prepare to move.

"Mal!"

Maleficent didn't budge from her vanity. She finished applying her lipstick carefully before turning her head to shout a response. "Can't this wait, Regina?"

Silence, and Maleficent smirked at her reflection, glad that Regina had backed down. Before she could reach for a makeup brush, however, the answer came in the form of a pained, wordless cry. She got up with a sigh and made her way towards Regina's room.

The blonde hadn't seen her prisoner since breakfast, and it seemed Regina had crawled back into bed soon after. She was there now, face pale and eyes wide with fear. "What is it?" Maleficent asked, the intended snap going out of her voice in response to her genuine concern for the young woman she'd become surprisingly fond of.

"I've been in pain all day," Regina admitted. "I thought it was nothing, but…"

"But?" Maleficent came closer to the bed, leaning down to get a better look at Regina.

Regina didn't speak, just grabbed Maleficent's arm tightly enough to leave bruises and crying out as the next contraction hit.

"Stop it," Maleficent said as she realized what was happening.

"Stop what?" Regina asked breathlessly, her grip loosening as the pain temporarily subsided.

"Having your damn baby in my house."