A/N: Thanks again for all the support! I'm really loving it! Slightly longer chapter this time to make up for not updating yesterday. As always, th OUAT characters do not belong to me.

It took Snow a few days to begin to settle into life in this new world, and even longer to adjust to sleeping in a bed without Charming. Emma moved more often in the night now, as if she too missed Charming's presence. Still, she didn't do very much sleeping and the sleeping she did do brought to her dreams of happiness—filled with Charming and a beautiful toddler Emma—that always seemed to turn dark. Dense green fog would snuff out any and all light and Regina's laughter was always omnipotent.

Snow, come out wherever you are.

"Snow!" A voice called for her and she opened her eyes to find Katie peering over her with a smile. The younger girl had given her the nickname, not knowing how fitting it was. Still, it warmed her to be called by her true name, however unknowingly.

"Yes?" She asked as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"My mom wants to know if you can drive us to school." She giggled. "Well, if you know how. If not, we can just walk."

Snow's cheeks warmed, embarrassed at her inability to do much in this world, and she nodded. "Walking would be best. Let me just change." Katie nodded, satisfied, and left the room as Snow began to change into a sweater and jeans.

Gone were the gowns and even breeches of the Enchanted Forest, replaced with these gender neutral clothes. She still found the pants—jeans—uncomfortable, and was determined to buy different clothing as soon as she was able to. Still, Vicky had kindly bought her these and she appreciated the gesture. Snow's gratitude for the woman seemed to grow daily and she had no idea how she would ever repay her for her kindness.

She was on her way down the stairs when the first contraction hit, and she gripped the railing, knuckles turning white from the pressure. She took a deep breath and the pain of the contraction cut it short, turning it into a soft whimper. She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on taking slow, shallow breaths. She could hear one of the girls at the bottom of the landing asking if she was alright, but she couldn't reply. She simply shook her head and the voice faded away, calling for Vicky. One hand still gripping the rail, she moved the other to her belly. As painful and hectic as the contractions were, she could only imagine what Emma must be going through inside of her.

"It'll be okay," She assured the baby fighting to get out of her, though she wasn't so sure of that herself. She didn't fight back the tears that pricked at her eyes as she thought of Charming. He was supposed to be there with her, by her side. An image of him popped into her head, his smile bright and happy, his eyes filled with concern for her and Emma. She imagined that he was beside her now; that it was his hand she was gripping instead of the stair railing; that she was back in the Enchanted Forest without the threat of Regina and her magic looming over everyone's heads.

She imagined all of this and a faint smile found its way to her face. It lasted just as long as she went contraction free, and then she let out a shriek made entirely of pain.

As curious as she was about all of the beeping noises and people running around in white, waves of pain crashing over her forbid her from speaking. The only sounds she could manage were screams and muffled whimpers and she made plenty. Vicky stood beside her, mahogany hair fixed into a rushed bun that was already falling out, tendrils of hair spilling into her face. Snow's own was already drenched with sweat and plastered to her face and the pillows propping her up. Gone were the sweater and the uncomfortable jeans, now she wore only a parchment thin gown that opened at the back. She would have flushed to be so under dressed in public were she not in such pain.

Later, the memories of the time leading up to Emma's birth would come back to her in snippets tempered by pain. The questions the people in white tried to ask her, the reassuring feel of Vicky's hand in hers, the sting of the needle stuck deep into her back. Reality mixed with memory as the drugs in the needle began to affect her and her screams of pain were tempered with murmured names and places.

"Enchanted Forest…Regina…Charming." "Charming…the wardrobe…two people." "Emma." "Charming."

The first sharp cry chased away the fog that had ensnared her mind and when her eyes landed on her daughter for the first time, on Emma, time stopped. As they handed over the small, squirming newborn everything and everyone faded away. Deep did she feel the ache of Charming's absence from the happy moment, but the weight and feel and smell of the newborn in her arms did much to remedy it. She smiled tiredly, sweetly, down at her daughter and spoke to her not as the future savior, but as a baby who was very much loved and wanted.

"Hi, Emma. It's so nice to finally meet you."