A/N: You guys are so funny. This most recent round of comments has been so fun to read. So as thanks for making me laugh (evilly) all day, here's what you've been waiting for. There's probably going to be a bit of a wait before I can post the next chapter, since 16 and 17 took a really long time to write and I'm still working on the next. But I think this will hold you for a few days.

I would apologize for skipping the actual birth, but like Maleficent I'm a little grossed out by all that stuff.

Red brought one hand to her hip and one to her throat, freeing her dagger and her red cloak simultaneously. It was still too early for a transformation, but she could feel the pull of the moon shifting something inside her. Her eyes glowed amber, her senses heightened, and the strength of the wolf made itself known as she shouldered her way past the King hard enough to knock him on his back. She threw herself into the fray, burying her dagger to the hilt in one soldier and leaving it there. She might not have sharp teeth or claws, but she fought unarmed with superhuman strength. Familiar smells reached her over the stench of blood, and when she identified them as Belle and David she fought harder, tearing limbs and crushing throats in her need to get to and protect them.

Snow noticed Rumplestiltskin running up the stairs and followed, but she hesitated halfway up and turned to take in the battle. She could see David and Belle making their way through the front door, staying close together and lashing out with swords. Regina's cries reached her ears, but she grabbed for her bow as she saw Belle nearly overwhelmed. She fired off two quick arrows, hitting both soldiers perfectly and allowing Belle to move on unimpeded.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Leopold had gathered himself and made it to the step below his daughter. He ripped the bow from her hands and broke it over his knee, his expression angrier than any Snow had ever seen on his face.

"You are killing your own men," he told her.

"They are not my men," she replied, keeping her voice level despite his destruction of the only weapon she had. "And if they are, I'll call them off immediately."

"Where's Regina?" Leopold asked, changing tactics when it became clear that he wasn't going to easily talk his daughter into returning to his side.

"She's not here." Snow had never lied to her father before, and she couldn't help a pang of guilt even after all that had changed.

Regina cried out again, louder and longer, and both father and daughter ran the rest of the way up the stairs at the sound of her voice. Snow easily beat the King, not only much younger but fit from months of dangerous living. She stopped at the top; as much as she wanted to see Regina, she wanted even more to keep Leopold far away from her stepmother.

"Let me through," Leopold bellowed. He recognized the sounds of labor and drew his sword, seeing his window of opportunity nearly fading away. Killing Regina would be excused now that he'd painted her as traitor and kidnapper, but killing an heir to the throne was a different matter. The only chance was to attack before the birth was complete, and his blade was laced with a fast-spreading poison that was sure to rid him of both mother and child.

Snow's voice was similarly laced with venom as she responded to his order. "You'll have to kill me first."

"I am your father and your King, Snow White," Leopold said, raising his sword. "You must obey me, you ungrateful child."

"Ungrateful?" Snow toed the edge of the top step, bringing herself closer and forcing him to look up to see her. "You stole my innocence," she spat. She'd never acknowledged the abuse to him, never spoken of it to anyone but Regina. "You made me believe that it was my fault, that I was doing something wrong. Regina risked her life and her child to get me away from you. She's the only parent I have."

Leopold had never raised a hand against his daughter, but the same blind rage that had driven him to batter Regina for years brought his sword down on Snow in the desperate need to shut her up. He didn't realize his mistake until Snow stumbled backwards, looking down at the line he'd slashed diagonally across her torso. She fell to her knees, and Leopold watched in horror as the bloody wound foamed yellow with the poison. It was the last sight the King saw before David ran a sword through him from behind.

When the baby let out her first cry, Regina, too, broke into tears. The relief that they'd both survived, that her daughter was healthy, was already overwhelming. The sight of Rumplestiltskin holding her child drove her over the edge, and she sobbed into Maleficent's shoulder, emotionally and physically drained.

"I'm surprised you're still here, Maleficent," Rumplestiltskin said, cradling the newborn carefully but paying no attention to her. "It would ruin your reputation if anyone found out you were so soft."

"I would do anything for a friend," Maleficent shot back. "You wouldn't know, seeing as you have none."

Rumplestiltskin gasped in mock hurt. "I'm absolutely wounded, dearie."

The door to the room suddenly flew open, and all three looked up to see David with a blood-soaked Snow in his arms. Regina cried out in horror, and David hurried her over to the already bloody bed and set her beside her stepmother. "Snow," Regina whispered, bringing a hand to the girl's cheek. She couldn't lose both daughters, one after the other. She hovered her free hand over the festering wound, trying to summon enough magic to heal Snow, but her exhaustion and despair were too much to overcome.

"Father," Snow said weakly, her eyes searching Regina's, desperate to impart the message.

Regina's heart sank even more at that one word. She didn't need for Snow to call for her in her final moments, but the thought of her wanting the very man who had driven them to run in the first place was unbearable.

She gathered what little strength she had and turned to Maleficent. "I can't heal her," she said, her expression that of a woman who was utterly broken. "Please, don't let her die."

"This will really destroy my reputation," Maleficent grumbled, even as she gave Regina a reassuring smile. She reached over the Queen to bring magic to the Princess, her hand trembling with the effort of healing not only the gash but the damage from the poison.

David stayed standing at the side of the bed, watching in relief as the sorceress worked her magic. No longer fearing Snow's death, he watched the sad, pale face of the Queen. "She's not asking for her father," he said softly, and Regina raised her reddened eyes to see him. "Believe me. He's the one who did this. But he's gone now."

Regina's initial reaction was shock. She couldn't believe that Leopold had it in him to fatally wound his beloved daughter.

And then she realized what Snow had been trying to tell her and sat up quickly despite the pain. Maleficent, confident that she'd stabilized the Princess, drew her hand back, and Regina rose shakily on her feet, holding onto a bedpost as she fixed her gaze on Rumplestiltskin.

"Give me my child."

The Dark One looked at her quizzically. "And why would I do that?"

"The contract," Regina said, wishing she could find solid enough footing to go to him and take the baby immediately. "I added that Leopold could never cause harm to Snow. I'm pretty sure this counts as harm."

Rumplestiltskin went pale. He'd forgotten about the amendment, thought of the deal as finally complete.

"Now!" She shouted the last word, and Snow's eyelashes fluttered at the sound. The Princess focused her eyes just in time to see Regina take her daughter into her arms for the first time.