A/N: I feel so badly that I haven't updated in a little while! School just begun, but it's really starting to pick up, plus on top of my 5 classes, I now have an internship and a job. Also, sims 4 just came out. So I have little time for anything besides homework, the occasional meal, and a few hours of sleep a night. I might not update nearly as often, but I have no plans of abandoning you all, or Snow and baby Emma! Also! Room 103 is in dedication to the 3rd episode in the first season, Snow Falls, when Snow and Charming meet! As always, the OUAT characters don't belong to me.
At the sight of the tall brunette, Snow was filled with a hope and happiness that had mostly remained buried inside of her ever since she had come to this world. Even the joy she'd felt at Emma's birth had been dampened by the absence of Charming and the threat of Regina. Seeing the Huntsman had been one thing—a familiar if not entirely friendly face in this world of strangers—but seeing Red, her best friend, was different. It was like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, but much so much brighter.
Or it would have been had she resembled the Red that she knew. This Red, Ruby as she informed Snow rather unkindly, belonged entirely to this world. Strips of red colored her hair, dark makeup shadowed her eyes, and her clothes…Snow flushed and averted her eyes.
"Can I help you?" She sounded bored and, as Snow had guessed, unaware of who she was. Snow bit back her bitter disappointment and fixed a small smile on her face as the light at the end of the tunnel flickered and then burned out completely.
"Hi. We need a room for the night."
"Just tonight?" Her eyes flickered briefly over Snow and the girls, lingering on Emma. "Cute baby," She complimented, offering a bright red smile. "What's her name?"
"Thank you. This is Emma." It felt good for her to introduce Emma to someone from the Enchanted Forest, not just someone but Red, and she resisted the urge to offer to let Ruby hold her. In another world, Red and Emma would already be well-acquainted and Emma would recognize her by now. The thought made her sad.
"Cute. So, name?" Ruby's eyes were back on Snow now, waiting.
"Sno—I mean, Mary Margaret."
"Last name?"
Snow blinked. She'd never really thought of one. Vicky had never asked for one and at the hospital, Vicky had done everything regarding the paperwork since it had confused Snow to no end and the pain she'd been feeling at the time hadn't helped. It would have to be one that she could remember easily. Something similar to her real one. She thought back to her French lessons from when she was a girl, to how her French tutor had called her Mademoiselle Blanche. "Um…Blanche…Blanchard," She stammered and then gave her a smile, satisfied with her alias. "Mary Margaret Blanchard."
Ruby nodded and typed some things into the computer before handing her a skeleton key the color of tarnished silver. An elaborate keychain hung off of it, almost like a charm, made from the same silver as the key itself. A tiny apple made up the center of the design and the branches of trees, skeleton-like in their appearance, stemmed out from it in all directions. Snow shivered a little as she took it. "Okay, Mary Margaret. Room 103."
Snow nodded and led the sleepy girls down the hall to their room. It was small, but cozy, and reminded her a bit of the Enchanted Forest with its quaint and cottage-like design. In fact, it looked a lot like Granny and Red's home had looked, or the home she had shared with the dwarves. The memories pricked at her brain and formed tears that pricked at her eyes, and she rubbed them quickly away as Katie turned to face her.
Her brown eyes darkened with fatigue and a pout on her lips, she sighed. "We're going to miss the campfire."
"And the s'mores!" Lauren piped her, adding her disappointment to the mix.
Guilt added itself to the long list of emotions that Snow was already experienced and she gave both girls the most apologetic of smiles. She had tried, she had tried so hard to repay the kindness that they had showed her and Emma, but all she had done instead was disappoint them. She didn't know exactly what Girl Scouts was, but she knew that they both enjoyed it and she had been eager to see them engaged with their friends. Instead, all they got was her, a small town, and an even smaller hotel room.
"I am so sorry," She apologized genuinely. "Hopefully the car will be fixed by tomorrow and we can make the rest of the trip. If not…" She was at a loss for words. She could offer to make it up to them by finding something in town for them to do, but she had a feeling that they would be even more disappointed by the selection of things the Storybrooke residents did for fun. Not to mention how quickly she wanted to leave the town. Seeing both the Huntsman and Red was no coincidence, nor was their lack of recognition of her, and she was sure that bumping into Regina wasn't too far behind the longer she stayed.
"Just try to get some sleep." She finished lamely. "It's been a long day."
After sullen nods and a quicker version of their usual bed time routines, the girls climbed into one of the full sized beds, their soft snores quickly filling the room. Snow relaxed and glanced down at Emma who lie in the middle of the bed, tiny limbs flailing happily as she took in her new surroundings. She seemed to be more active here than she'd been at home, but Snow chalked it up to her being more awake and alert after her nap in the car.
She smiled down at Emma, tickling her little tummy. She giggled, flailing her limbs some more and smiling brightly. Already she looked so much like David. Snow leaned down and kissed the top of Emma's head and nearby a clock chimed, calling out the hour.