A/N: I wanted to thank a new reader, Andria, whose lovely reviews all day long have made me smile and push my way through my writers block in order to write this admittedly shortand boring chapter! Of course, all OUAT characters do not belong to me.

"Did you get the board games?" Lauren asked when Snow reentered the room. She was sprawled out across the bed now, playing a game on her phone as Katie colored at the room's small desk.

"Hmm? Oh, um, no. Sorry. I forgot." Snow forced a faint smile and hoped that her eyes weren't too red or puffy. "But I do have a change of plans. Emma and I adore you girls and your mother—you've treated us like family when you certainly didn't have to. I don't know how we'll ever be able to repay you, but I just want you both to know how thankful I am."

Katie's tiny dark head popped up from where it was bent over her coloring page and she looked at Snow in alarm. "Are you leaving?" She asked worriedly.

"Not leaving." Snow smiled softly at her. "But Emma and I are going to stay for a little while, I think. Just to get out of you and your mom's hair, and so that I can try and find a job." She fibbed. She felt badly for bending the truth, but the truth in this case wouldn't be believed, nor did she think it was safe to tell them anything about the Enchanted Forest with Regina around.

To Snow's surprise, Katie's lower lip began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. She ducked her head, letting her hair hide her face, but Snow walked over to her and wrapped the little girl in a hug. "We'll be back." She assured her. "Besides, we'll still together now, right?"

Katie sniffed and nodded.

"Right." Snow kissed the top of her head. "So, don't cry. Let's try and have fun while we wait out the storm, okay?"

Lauren wiped her eyes, having gotten a bit teary-eyed herself, and smiled brightly. "Okay! Let's order pizza and watch a movie."

"Yes!" Katie chimed in, brightening. Even Emma cooed happily and Snow laughed, feeling herself relax and some of her guilt assuage.

"Pizza and a movie it is!" She agreed.

Snow lie awake long after the movie had finished and the girls had gone to sleep, staring up at the ceiling. Emma, blessedly, was asleep at her side and while she knew that she ought to sleep when she did, her thoughts were in too much turmoil to sleep.

Catherine. David's wife, at least according to Regina's curse. With the shock of it gone, Snow realized that she had recognized Catherine, formerly known as Princess Abigail. She had actually been engaged to Charming before they had met—Snow had robbed their carriage. She gave a faint laugh at the irony of it all and Regina's wicked sense of humor. Emma stirred, cooing sleepily, and Snow pulled her closer, studying her in the faint moonlight that crept in through the blinds.

Snow had memorized her daughter's every feature and though her eyes were closed, she could recall the bright grey-blue of them and the joy that filled her own heart whenever those eyes fixed on her. Her hair was much lighter than her own dark locks, and even lighter than Charming's hair; soft gold tresses that curled where it brushed the tips of her ears. Her small lips were the color and shape of a rosebud and turned up in a faint, sleepy smile. She was a perfect mixture of Snow and Charming. She brightened, coming up with an idea. Maybe if he saw her, he would remember!

As quickly as her excitement appeared, it faded. She had no idea where Regina was in this town—she could be anywhere—and she didn't want to risk her catching sight of either her or Emma if they went to the hospital. Snow softly, listening to the slowing patter of rain against the window. When the storm ended, she would call Vicky and meet her halfway so that she could get the girls. And then she begin trying to make everyone remember who they were, starting with Charming.