So there might be some strong reactions to this chapter but it's been in the plan since the beginning so just know that there is a plan for this and it is an integral part of the plot. So enjoy and Happy New Years.
Let me know what you think.
"Emma get a move on." Daniel sighed. He felt like he always seemed to be waiting for her lately. "At the rate you're moving we're only going to have a half hour to ride before we have to return for dinner.
"I will be ready shortly." Emma called as she rounded the corner, nearly colliding with a guard. "Oh I'm…"
"The fault is mine princess." The guard said.
"But I ran into…" Emma looked up and stopped. "you."
"That you did." Nickolai nodded.
Emma regained her composure, measuring him up. "I thought you refused to call me princess."
"Well we are in public." Nickolai pointed out. "I would be quickly reprimanded if I disrespected you."
"I do not think it is disrespectful to call me by my name." Emma said. "Half the guards do now."
"Half the guards that are familiar with you." Nickolai continued.
"Are you not familiar with me?" Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Not according to most of your family and friends." Nickolai corrected. "And I'd like to keep it that way."
"Why?" Emma regarded him skeptically.
"Well that is … privileged information."Nickolai said simply.
"Is it because you want to stay under the radar because of your grand scheme to target my parents in this war?" Emma asked boldly.
A flicker of surprise flashed across Nickolai's face before it returned to its normal resting state. "So your memories are returning to you."
"A select few." Emma nodded. "They always seem to come to me at the most interesting times and they are most unusual. Disconnected, isolated, random… but always very insightful.
"But you're not going to say anything." Nicokali's comment wasn't a question.
"It's not in my interest to." Emma said simply.
"It's not in your interest to protect your family?" Nickolai raised an eyebrow.
"Right now I'm concerned with what is best for me." Emma shrugged. "I don't want them knowing I'm having memories. They'll only push me to try to reclaim a life I'm not sure I want. A life I'm not even sure belongs to me anymore. So I don't want them asking questions, and neither do you."
"You'd side with me over your own family?" Nickolai clarified.
"I'd side with me over my own family." Emma corrected.
"Is that what they teach you in that world of yours?" Nickolai asked. "To not care about anyone else?"
"They taught us to protect each other, but that ultimately everyone will let you down so you need to protect yourself first and others second." Emma said coldly.
"She'll be glad to hear that." Nickolai laughed darkly. "That's not something you would have learned here."
"And what exactly would I have learned here?" Emma asked.
"Your parents are big believers in sacrificing themselves, protecting their loved ones first and themselves second." Nickolai explained.
"Yea well." Emma shook her head. "I've never exactly been in love."
"You wouldn't have had to been in love to understand that kind of sacrifice." Nickolai pointed out. "Even children understand that feeling."
"Well I've never really felt love either." Emma glanced at the ground.
"Not that you can remember." Nickolai countered.
"Who's side are you on?" Emma glanced up with a confused look on her face.
"Someone who's interests best serve mine." Nickolai answered.
"Right." Emma nodded, crossing her arms. "Well I had better be going. There are people waiting for me."
"I would imagine people have been waiting on you your entire life." Nickolai said, his comment having multiple meanings, all insulting.
"Right." Emma began to walk away. When she reached the corner she turned and glanced back at him. "Who's she?"
"Hm?" Nickolai looked up.
"She." Emma elaborated. "You said she'll be glad to hear that."
"I had wondered if you would pick up on that." Nickolai smiled. "She has been very intrigued by you. She wants to meet you."
"Who is she?" Emma repeated.
"You will find out if you show up." Nickolai remained cryptic.
"Where would I show up?" Emma pressed.
"The place where this all began ten years ago." Nickolai said. "At midnight. Tonight."
"What do you mean you're sneaking out?" Daniel whispered in a hushed tone.
"Would you keep quiet?" Emma hissed. "I'm not going anywhere, well not permanently. I just need to figure this out."
"Figure what out?" Daniel asked. "The ravings of some mad guard who you have memories of stealing your fathers war plans? Oh that seems like a safe and brilliant idea."
"I just have a feeling that this is something I need to do." Emma insisted.
"Oh because your feelings are always so safe." Daniel rolled his eyes.
"They've saved your life a lot of times." Emma pointed out.
"Yea and they've also almost gotten you killed a lot of times." Daniel countered. "You don't even know who this woman is."
"I'll be fine." Emma grabbed her sword and sheathed it. "I'm not going out unarmed and I'll let you know if I need help. Just cover for me if anyone asks where I am?"
"And what am I supposed to tell them?" Daniel shook his head in disbelief.
"I don't know." Emma shrugged, pulling on her cloak and tying it around her neck and tucking her hair into the hood. "Figure it out. You were always better at lying than I was. The cover story was your department."
"Sometimes I think being friends with you is more trouble than it's worth." Daniel muttered.
"You love it." Emma grinned before climbing onto her balcony ledge. "See you soon."
"I hate my life." Daniel sighed, blowing out the candles in Emma's quarters and slipping out into the hallway.
Emma dropped onto the balcony below, keeping watch for the night guards as she slowly made her way down the various balconies and across the castle grounds, finally slipping through the castle gates. She didn't know exactly where she was headed but she let the feeling inside of her guide her movements through the forest. She finally came across the ravine where she had almost slipped in a few weeks before. She made sure to stay far enough back to not repeat the mistake. It was almost midnight and she needed to find a way across the river.
Emma glanced around, making sure there was no one in sight. She stretched out her hand and the earth began to shudder. To her left the earth began to move, forming a bridge across the river. Emma moved across it, continuing to move in the direction her gut was pulling her.
She finally reached a clearing and stopped, knowing this was the place she was supposed to be. Something felt so important about this spot but she couldn't quite place it. In the center of the clearing she saw a circle of scorched earth that seemed to call to her.
"Ah I was wondering if you would show up." Emma spun around to see a woman with black hair and eyes as dark as night walking toward her. "But I believed you would be intrigued enough."
"Intrigued enough by what?" Emma asked.
"Well clearly you have questions or you would not be here." The woman said simply.
"And what would these questions be about?" Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Well about your past my dear." The woman said as if it were obvious. "I mean clearly you must be wondering what happened in the years of your life you have no recollection of."
"What would you know about my past?" Emma asked coldly.
"Well my dear I am your grandmother." The woman gave a disgenuine smile. "I know all about your life."
"My grandmother…?" Emma looked confused. "Regina?"
"So you have heard about me." Regina smiled.
"Bits and pieces." Emma nodded carefully. "They do not really speak of you. For obvious reasons."
"And what would those reasons be?" Regina looked amused.
"Oh you know, trying to have them killed, sleeping curse, other threats to my family's safety." Emma said pointedly.
"They told you all of that?" Regina raised an eyebrow.
"Not really." Emma shook her head. "But I have a way of finding things out. I find knowledge is most extraordinarily valuable."
"Oh you are most entertaining." Regina gave a dark laugh. "Tell me my dear granddaughter have you yet figured out why you left this wonderful place you once called home."
Emma pursed her lips and strengthened her stance. "Not exactly."
"That is what I figured." Regina smirked. "Otherwise I do not believe you would still be on such good terms with your family."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Emma sounded offended.
"Well my dear. Why don't you let me help you remember?" Regina offered.
"And how would you do that?" Emma asked.
"Well my dear I was there for the event that catalyzed it all." Regina explained.
"You were?" Emma didn't sound like she believed her. "Well then why don't you tell me about it."
"Then how would you know if I'm telling the truth or not?" Regina pointed out. "No you need to remember for yourself."
"And how do you plan on helping me to do that?" Emma crossed her arms.
"Well my dear I guess I can only encourage you to go back to the place you were found after the siege." Regina said simply.
"The siege?" Emma looked confused. "What siege."
"When you were five years old my dear granddaughter and I attempted to take over your parents kingdom." Regina explained.
"And this is supposed to get me to trust you?" Emma asked.
"I don't care whether you place your trust in me or not." Regina shrugged. "I just simply want you to know the truth Emma. I think you deserve that much, don't you?"
Emma was quiet for a moment. "I suppose I do want to know what caused all of this."
"That is what I assumed." Regina nodded. She reached out her hand to touch Emma's shoulder. "Here, allow me to help you see just where you need to go."
Emma tried to back away but before she could a picture appeared in her mind. She looked at Regina "What was that?"
"Magic." Regina shrugged. "I hear it is not all that foreign to you."
"Yes well our magic is very different." Emma replied.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Regina laughed. "You overestimate yourself Emma. Your power was not earned. It was given to you by those two pathetic individuals who stake claim to you, just as they stake false claim over what is rightfully mine. Your power is an illusion, you do not deserve it."
"Oh because power that is not innate is so much more valuable." Emma shook her head.
"I worked for mine." Regina snapped.
"You stole yours." Emma fired back. "Mine is a part of me. It is who I am. And you hate that because I am everything you want to be but never can and you cannot stand it."
"I will have your power." Regina threatened.
"Well that is what I thought this was about." Emma smirked. "But see you cannot have it. You cannot take something that is a part of me. That is what you do not understand about true magic. It is not something I wield or need to have spells to create. It is in me and can never be inside someone who is not truly worthy of this gift."
"Any brat that comes from Snow White and her Prince Charming is not worthy of true power." Regina sneered.
Emma looked at Regina with pity. "You know I feel sorry for you."
"And why would you feel that?" Regina asked.
"Because have let this quest for power consume your entire life so you have nothing left, no love, no happiness." Emma said simply. "You are empty."
Regina set a steely glare on Emma who didn't even flinch. "You've said that to me before."
"I have?" Emma seemed surprised.
"When you were young and I tried to kidnap you." Regina said slowly.
"Then I must really mean it." Emma shrugged. "I take it you weren't entirely successful with the kidnapping attempt? Maybe everyone is wrong to fear you."
Regina looked furious. "You will pay dearly for your parent's crimes Emma. I will have your power, and your life."
"Ok." Emma laughed. "Whatever you say."
"You do not fear me?" It was Regina's turn to look surprised.
"Not even a bit." Emma shook her head. "I know I am much more powerful than you will ever be. You can't beat me Regina."
"Well, well, well." Regina seemed slightly amused. "Maybe you are different from your parents."
"I'm my own person Regina." Emma told her. "And I will not spend my days being scared of sad, lonely, power hungry individuals. This war you plan on waging is useless. Your magic will be neutralized by me."
"Well maybe I'll just have to get rid of you." Regina suggested.
"Good luck with that." Emma said doubtfully and began to walk away.
"Oh Emma." Regina called.
"What?" Emma turned around. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"
"Don't forget why you came here." Regina reminded the girl. "That memory is still waiting for you." And with a laugh she disappeared, leaving Emma to wonder just what Regina's purpose of calling her to this spot was.
Emma slipped back into the castle undetected. Instead of taking the staircase back up towards her quarters she ducked into a back stairwell leading down into the lowest levels of the castle, where a relatively unknown back entrance into the castle lay. It took her a while to navigate the back hallways but she finally found the location Regina had given her. Emma looked around, there was nothing remarkable about the area. It seemed like a routine hallway to her. The candle light made it a bit difficult to see but Emma thought she saw a difference in color of the stone walls. She walked forward and put her hand over the divide and immediately her head began to throb. She put her hands to her head and cried out as a flood of memories rushed back into her head. The pain was overwhelming and crippling, bringing her to her knee's as she tried to withstand the onslaught. Finally one in particular stuck out clearly among the rest.
"Mama what is that?" Emma looked up at her mother. The young girl had been having trouble sleeping lately because of her new brother's cries. Her parents did the best to keep Emma as far away from the sound as possible but neither wanted their daughter too far from them. Sleep for the five year old was a precious thing and the recurrent nightmares keeping her from sleep had concerned her parents further. The one thing Snow could count on getting her little girl to sleep was a warm cup of hot cocoa with a sprinkle of cinnamon before walking the halls until Emma fell asleep in her arms. When Emma had appeared in their room that night, dragging her blanket and clutching her stuffed bear tightly, Snow had headed straight to the private family kitchen with her daughter. That's where they had been when the crash had startled them both. They could hear people running and shouting to each other out in the hallways.
Snow looked at her daughter. "Wait here Emma, ok?"
"Ok." Emma nodded, looking frightened. It seemed like an eternity before her mother returned. Snow rushed into the kitchen and scooped her daughter up, holding her tightly. "We have to go now Emma. I need you to hold tightly to me ok? You can't let go."
"What's wrong mama?" Emma's lip quivered in fear.
"Everything is going to be just fine sweetheart." Snow promised her daughter. "You don't need to worry. Now hold tight to me and keep quiet."
Emma did as she was told, wrapping her arms securely around her mother's neck as they raced through the hallways, guards hurrying along with them, keeping the assailants from them. She buried her head in her mother's shoulder, trying to keep from seeing the clashing of swords or hearing the cries of fallen soldiers. Her mother took a staircase down into the lower levels of the castle where she knew there was an exit that hopefully would deliver the two of them to freedom.
"Run my queen." Someone shouted as the two of them continued to move. Suddenly she felt her mother come to a stop. "Will."
"Mama what is it?" Emma looked up at the worried face of her mother.
"Your brother." Snow said. "I need to make sure he is safe."
"Mama I'm scared." Emma whimpered.
"I know my love." Snow set her daughter down, the stone cold against her bare feet. "You are almost out, but I need to go make sure your brother is safe as well."
"No mama don't leave me." Emma grabbed onto her mother's hand. "I'm scared."
"I need you to be strong for me right now sweetheart." Snow said gently. "I need you to be my big girl. Can you do that for me?"
Emma nodded tearfully. Snow called to the nearest guard. "What is your name?"
"Hans your majesty." The young guard seemed surprised the queen was talking to him.
"Hans I need you to get the princess to safety." Snow commanded. "I must go make sure Will has gotten out. The exit is just a few turns away. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes your majesty." The guard looked scared by the responsibility. "But wouldn't it be better for you to get the princess out yourself? I am sure someone has rescued the young prince and she looks so scared."
"I cannot be sure he is safe." Snow insisted. "When you have children of your own you will understand the need to protect them no matter the danger." Snow knelt in front of her daughter. "Emma, sweetie, I need you to go with Hans and do exactly as he says"
"Mama." Emma choked out between tears.
Snow took the necklace off of her neck and handed it to her daughter. "I need you to give this to me when we see each other again. Can you do that?" Emma nodded tearfully. "Good." Snow tried to muster a smile. She looked at the guard. "Protect her."
"I will your majesty." The guard promised. "We all will."
"You will be rewarded for this." Snow promised. She looked back at her daughter and kissed her forehead. "I love you so much Emma. I'll see you very soon." With that Snow put Emma's hand in Hans's and stood up, hurrying away before her resolve gave in.
"Mama! Don't leave me!" Emma cried, struggling against the guard to run after her, but the guard was too strong.
"Come on princess." Hans looked at the young girl. "We must move now. Stay close behind me ok?" When Emma nodded the group began to move as fast as they could toward the exit.
They turned the corner and found their way blocked by soldiers clad completely in black. As the guards began to fight, Hans turned to the young princess and pushed her behind a stone pillar. "I need you to hide and stay quiet princess."
"Ok." Emma whispered as she ducked into the shadows. The whole scene was a horrific blur of clashing swords and falling guards. Emma watched in terror as her parent's soldiers fought valiantly but were slowly cut down by Regina's men. It seemed that blood from both sides was everywhere, staining the stone such a deep red she wasn't sure it would ever come out. She was too scared to cry out, Hans's warning ringing in her head.
Suddenly in a flash of purple smoke a dark sorceress she knew to be her step grandmother appeared. She had only seen Regina once from afar, but she had been terrified enough then to remember who she was. Emma watched as Regina took each of the remaining soldier's hearts out one by one and happily crushed them in front of them leaving them to fall to the ground lifeless.
To ensure no one else escaped through that exit she held her hands out, causing the walls to rumble and begin to collapse in on themselves as she and her soldiers quickly moved away. Emma tried to dive out of the way of the falling stone but a piece caught her head on its way down sending her falling to the ground unconscious as wall continued to fall around her.
Emma was unsure of how much time had passed when she began to wake. There was dust and rubble everywhere, her head throbbed and the blood flowed from her head made it difficult to see. Many lifeless forms lay scattered around but there was one individual walking slowly and purposefully towards her.
Regina swept her dark skirts out of the way and knelt before the young princess. "Well, well, well look who I have found here. I may be leaving without what I came for but this may be better."
Regina gave a sinister grin. "Wait a minute. Where are your despicable parents?"
"Left me…" Emma managed.
"They left you?" Regina seemed both surprised and amused. "They left their little girl all alone to fend for herself? Tell me my little granddaughter, why did they leave you?"
"Brother." Came Emma's weak response.
"They abandoned you for the young prince?" Regina seemed almost gleeful. "Well this is an interesting change isn't it?" Regina pondered before looking back at Emma. "Well my dear you are in luck. I had planned on taking me with you as punishment for your dear mother and father but it seems that their apathy towards you could be a much more powerful weapon."
Regina gently moved a lock of hair that was stuck in the blood on Emma's head. "It must be so hard to be unloved by your mommy and daddy."
"…love me…" Emma muttered.
"Do they really?" Regina asked. "If they did why aren't they here with you now instead of outside, unscathed, with your little brother, their favorite child? Why haven't they come looking for you instead of leaving you to lie here in pain? No my dear I'm afraid your dear mommy and daddy do not love you like they think you do. If they did they would have never left you here on your own."
"But don't worry." Regina's voice was dripping with false sympathy. "Your grandma Regina is going to do something that will take away all the pain. I'm going to take your memory of all of this bloodshed away until the right time. And when your parents once again prove how little they care for you, you will realize the truth and leave on your own. When that time comes my dearest Emma I want you to know that you will always have a home with me. I will protect you like they will not. But until then, sleep."
Emma's eyes grew heavy and she watched as her hand fell limp, sending her mother's necklace tumbling to the floor as she descended into darkness.
The next thing she remembered she was waking up in the medical wing with a dull throb in her bandaged head and her parents sitting by her bedside with red rimmed eyes telling her how much they loved her and how glad they were she was safe.
Emma straightened as the pain from the memories subsided. She remembered it all, why she had left. This was the memory that had come back to her the night she had left, the night her parents had been too occupied with more important things than to be with her when she needed them most.
Anger coursed through her at the thought of the blatant lies that had been told to her since she returned. Emma clinched her hands, trying to keep her anger in check when the one person she was most angry at appeared.
"Emma there you are." Snow pulled her night robe tight against the chill of the basement corridors. "I have been looking everywhere for you. What in the world are you doing down here at this time of night."
"You." Emma whispered accusingly as she turned to face her mother. "It was you."
"Me?" Snow asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Look around mother." Emma said the word harshly. "Don't you recognize where we are? What the significance of this place is?"
Snow reeled back as if she was slapped. The venom in Emma's voice was not how she hoped her daughter would again call her mother. "Emma you're upset, what has gotten into you?"
"You know for everything you hoped I remember I bet this wasn't one of those things." Emma shook her head. "I imagine you hoped this would stay buried forever, your dirty little secret."
"Emma." Snow held out her hand, realizing what her daughter was talking about. "Sweetheart, it was an accident."
"An accident?" Emma asked incredulously. "You accidentally abandoned me? Yea I'm sure it was a huge mistake."
"It was a mistake." Snow insisted. "It is the biggest mistake of my life."
"No I think that distinction goes to having me as a daughter." Emma said in disgust. "I became exactly what you didn't want me to become because you pushed me away."
"Emma please." Snow begged.
"I've never known real love because you pushed me away." Emma accused. "Everyone has told me how great you were, how much you loved me. But it turns out even that is a lie because you had no problems leaving me for dead."
"Emma I didn't." Snow started.
"You did!" Emma snapped. "You left me right here, alone, with no one to protect me to go save your precious son, the child you so clearly loved more. You didn't even care enough to get me out of the castle, no you had to go check on Will. But he was already safe. Not me though, I almost died. To bad I didn't though, right? You still had to figure out a way to get me away from your precious favorite child. The one you chose over me."
"I didn't choose him over you." Snow insisted.
"You did." Emma said in disbelief. "You left me with some untrained guards to go after him when you had no clue if he was alive or dead. And it wasn't the only time that happened. I heard you that night everything happened, the night I disappeared. You refused to go out into the forest with me because you were scared I might kill you and leave Will motherless. You didn't care if I died. You probably would have preferred that. Because then you, Will, and everyone would have been free from the burden that was me."
Emma turned away, shaking her head, trying to compose herself before she turned back. "Well mom, looks like you got your wish. You got to raise your precious son away from my influence. You protected the kingdom from me. Congratulations. I hope you're happy."
"Emma it was a mistake." Snow explained, pain in her eyes.
"No the mistake." Emma spat. "Was believing you could love someone like me. I'm a monster."
"No you're not." Snow shook her head.
"Yes." Emma nodded. "I am. And you helped create me. You turned me away, no you feared me because of my magic. Something that wasn't my fault, something I couldn't control, something you gave me. I didn't ask to be magic. You made me that way. You drove me to the only place that accepted me, that took care of me, that raised me, that turned me into a killer." Emma saw the horror register on her mother's face at the revelation. "I've never taken a life with magic. But my bare hands? With a sword or a bow an arrow? I can't even count anymore. They taught me how to kill, and I was good at it. They sent me to start so young because people wouldn't suspect me in assassinations and I was an asset in war. Sure I saved countless lives, but I also have ended many. So I guess you were right to fear me. I am a monster, but you, you're partially to blame. Because it was your refusal to accept me that pushed me to become what I am."
"Emma." Snow begged.
"Just shut up!" Emma yelled. "I'm sick of it, all of it! All the lies and deceit, I don't even know what your purpose is. What do you want from me?"
"Hey, hey, hey." James appeared around the corner, finding his daughter furious and his wife devastated, both looking near tears. He walked up to the two and put his hand on Snow's shoulder. "What in the world is going on here?"
"Perfect." Emma gave a cold look to both her parents. "Now we're all here. We can stop all the lies and pretending and you can tell me what the hell you really want from me."
"Emma what are you talking about?" James looked bewildered.
"Cut the crap." Emma said in disgust. "I know, everything. I remember, all of it. Every last thing that she did to me."
"Hey!" James reprimanded his daughter. "You do not speak to your mother like that. What is wrong with you?"
Emma looked between her mother and her father. Her mother looked devastated and remorseful, a pleading look in her eyes, while her father just looked confused. Suddenly the realization hit her. "You don't know, do you?"
"Know what Emma?" James was thoroughly confused. "I have no clue what you are so upset about."
"She never told you." The pieces began to fall together for Emma. "She lied to you."
"Emma what did your mother lie to me about?" James asked in exasperation.
"So what?" Emma turned to her mother. "You just thought because I woke up with no memory you wouldn't tell you husband what you did to his child? That you'd just keep it your little secret. Worried he may not love you same way after he realized what you were capable of."
"Emma there is nothing I regret more in this life…" Snow pleaded.
"Emma what are you talking about" James cut in.
Emma looked back at her father. "Let me fill you in father on what your pinnacle of perfection wife and my oh so loving mother of your children has really done. Do you remember that siege when I was five? When Regina tried to attack our castle and suddenly disappeared. When you couldn't find me for hours but then finally discovered my unconscious form under rubble? How your wife seemed so worried and relieved. That was the guilt, over what she had done to me."
Emma crossed her arms. "She knew where I was the entire time. In fact, she was with me. We were together when it all began. She was the one who got me down here in the first place during the escape. Only I didn't get to escape did I mom? No, she realized that she didn't know if Will had gotten out, even though there was a plan for him and those watching over him to get out, even though he was a top priority, clearly I was not. Because she abandoned me, when she knew I could be safe, to go after her other child. She trusted guards she barely knew to get me out, someone who she was supposed to love me more than anyone in this entire world."
Emma shook her head, trying to remain as calm as possible. "She left me to die. I watched countless soldiers slaughtered that night. There was so much blood, it was everywhere, death was everywhere. Their hearts, ripped out of their chests and crushed before them, every, last, one. No wonder I have no problem killing people. I watched so many die that night at the hands of my grandmother." Emma pointed an accusatory finger at Snow. "She left me for Regina. All Regina had to do was take me, but she didn't. Because after the explosion she found me lying in the midst of that rubble. I remember her walking towards me, bending down to speak to me with that terrible grin on her face. She realized then it would be more satisfying if Snow knew I left because of what her own mistakes, because of how she abandoned her daughter. She cleared my memory, but left the seed there for a time when it would come back to me. I woke up remembering nothing, and your wife just went along with it, pretending to care. I'm not sure why, maybe out of fear that she might lose you. Regardless, it looks like Regina was right. Because that's why I left. When I heard you guys discussing what to do with me that night, how no one really wanted to be with me, it triggered my memory. So that's why I left. Because my own mother didn't even want me. I hope you were very happy when you finally got what you wanted. A life free of me."
"Emma please." Snow begged.
"Just stop." Emma held up her hand. "I'm done listening."
"Emma." James called as his daughter began to walk away.
"What?" Emma whirled around.
"You can't just leave." James insisted.
"Actually I can." Emma said coldly. "You lost any authority over my life when your wife decided I wasn't good enough to be part of this family."
"Emma." James started after his daughter.
"No!" Emma held out her hand sending both her parents flying backwards. She looked at her hand in horror, realizing her emotions had taken control of her abilities. She took a deep shuddering breath before whispering. "I'm done." With that she disappeared, leaving her shocked father and sobbing mother alone in the corridor.
James stared at the spot his daughter had just been in utter disbelief. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He slowly turned his head to his wife, fearfully asking his question. "Is it true?"
"Yes." Snow tearfully admitted.
"You've known all along why she left?" James asked in shock.
"I wanted to tell you Charming." Snow said. "I did, but I just couldn't bring myself to admit what I had done, the horrible thing I did to our daughter."
"You left her." James said slowly, anger filling his voice. "You risked our little girl's life? You left her alone when Regina was here? When you knew Regina wanted to hurt us? To hurt her? How could you do something like that?"
"I was scared Charming." Snow admitted. "Regina wanted to hurt both of our children. I didn't know if Will was safe."
"But he was." James insisted. "He was already out of the castle."
"I didn't know that." Snow put her head in her hands. "I just knew I didn't know where my baby was and she wanted to hurt him."
"But you knew where one of our children was." James snapped. "She was with you. She was safe, with you. But before you got her to safety you left her."
"I made a mistake." Snow miserably admitted. "There is nothing in my life that I regret more than that decision."
"But it doesn't change what you did." James said angrily. "It doesn't change the effect it had on our daughter, on our family. And instead of telling me about it so we could find a way to fix it, you lied to me, you told me you had no clue where she was. You let us wander for hours trying to find her when she could have died from her injuries. All so you could cover up what you had done."
"I didn't know what to do." Snow cried.
"Well what you chose to do was wrong!" James yelled. "You could have taken my daughter from me that night. You did take her form me. Maybe not that night but the next year when she left us because she didn't feel loved. Why did you do it Snow?"
"I was so scared." Snow shook her head. "He couldn't protect himself, he was a baby."
"She was five!" James yelled. "She was a baby! And you left her to fend for herself."
"I am so sorry." Snow pleaded.
"I don't care." James stepped away. "I lost my daughter because of what you did. And you lied to me about it. You said you had no clue what happened. We promised to tell each other everything and you lied to me about the biggest thing in our lives. You deprived me of ten precious years with my little girl and maybe the rest of her life, because she hates us, and rightfully so." James ran his fingers through his hair and put his hand to his mouth, trying to keep from breaking down. He looked at his wife, realizing how much of the past decade had been a lie. "Was any of it real?"
"Was any of what real?" Snow asked.
"These past ten years?" James asked. "The pain you were in, the crying, the inability to get out of bed. Was it all just a lie to keep what you had done a secret?"
"Charming no." Snow insisted. "The moment we found Emma in that rubble I realized how big of a mistake I had made. I vowed to spend the rest of my life fixing it."
"That's why you couldn't leave her after it happened." James said in realization. "It wasn't because you were worried. It was because you felt guilt. Or was it because you wanted to make sure she didn't remember what you had done."
"No, Charming, no." Snow shook her head. "You know I'm not like that. That's not the woman you married."
"Neither is the woman who would abandon our child." James said in disbelief.
"I made a mistake." Snow repeated. "And it cost us everything. I paid dearly for my decision, and so did you. I am so sorry for the pain I caused you, the pain I caused her. I can't even ask for forgiveness because I can't forgive myself. I will never be able to forgive myself for what I've done. I'm worse than my step mother because I hurt the people I love, and that isn't something I can ever take back."
James put his hands to his face, trying to sort out his emotions. One part of him was so angry at his wife for the what she had done and her deception, but the other part of him had seen the pain she had been in for the past ten years, the agony he knew was real, that couldn't be faked. He finally looked up at her. "I don't forgive you for this Snow."
Snow hung her head. "Nor should you."
"But I love you." James continued, shocking Snow. "Despite everything I love you and I see how much this is hurting you. So I'm going to do what I promised I would all those years ago and I'm going to stand by you."
"Charming." Snow said in disbelief.
"But I will put Emma first." James continued. "No matter what I'm going to put her first."
"I wouldn't want you to do anything else." Snow nodded.
James closed his eyes, trying to stop his tears. He walked forward and pulled his wife into a hug as she sobbed into his shoulder. "We'll figure this out. We always do."