I am starting to go through major Snowing and Clan Charming withdraws! At least I can still write about them and read about them here. As usual, a big thanks to all of my loyal readers and followers.

Chapter 14 Search and Rescue

They decided to meet at Granny's Diner and form a plan. All of their friends showed up to help in the search. Much to Emma's surprise, her father had taken command and was organizing the search.

"Emma, you and Red start at the cave and move north from there. Archie, you and Marco can search along the city boundary; do not get too close though. We still are not sure what happens if someone tries to leave. Snow and I will start at the cabin and work south. Granny you and Team 7 check the mine and town. Blue has offered the sisters as reinforcements if you need extra eyes."

He handed out maps, flashlights and two-way radios to each group.

"Cell phone coverage can be spotty, so we will stay in touch by radio. Be careful all of you. The last time that Henry ran away he went to the mines and got himself into a dangerous situation. He may be in trouble again. If you find yourself in any kind of doubtful situation, call for back up before proceeding. Regina gave us two hours to find Henry. That does not seem like much time, but we can do this if we work together."

He received a mummer of agreement from the crowd.

Emma found herself watching him with growing admiration.

"He is good at this." She commented under her breath.

"You bet he is," Grumpy answered, "I could care less about the fact that he was raised on a farm. That guy is a natural leader." The dwarf went to join his brothers and Granny to review tactics.

Emma silently found herself agreeing.

Red and Snow were packing up box lunches to send along with the search parties.

"I want to have a party later this week to celebrate Henry and Emma's birthdays and I would like to have it here." Snow told her friend.

Red was always surprised at how positive her best friend was. It did not even occur to Snow that they might not find Henry or that Emma might lose him to Regina. She was already looking to the future and making plans.

"Of course, Granny and I would love for you to have the party here. Let us know what we can do to help." Red gave her friend a reassuring smile.

Emma glanced at her father and saddled over to her mother.

"Can we talk?" She asked Snow.

"Always!" She stopped what she was doing and gave her full attention to her daughter.

Red realized that Emma wanted to speak to her mother alone and excused herself, I need to go to the basement and bring up a case of bottled water for the lunches."

"David, go and help her!" Emma instructed. She waited until her father was out of earshot and turned to her mother. "Is there any chance that he is not the father of your child?" She asked seriously.

Snow gave her a shocked look and wondered if her daughter was joking.

"Who else could be the father?" She asked under her breath.

"Could Dr. Whale be the father?" She asked winching with guilt.

Snow's eyes grew large with surprise. "Has someone been spreading rumors? Because there is no way that anyone other than Charming could be the father of this child! I thought we had settled this subject?" She started to angrily wrap sandwiches.

"While you were in the hospital Whale tried to get Dad, I mean David all riled up by suggesting that a DNA test might be in order."

Snow continued you look shocked, but now sadness crept into her eyes.

"Did your father take Whale seriously?" She asked sadly.

"I don't think he did at the time know. I showed how impossible it was and I think he believed me." Emma did not seem convinced.

"Then the technician told us that the baby had possibly been conceived while we were fighting and that raised doubts in his mind?"

"It probably didn't help, but those machines are not accurate when it comes to figuring out how far along you are in a pregnancy." Emma quantified.

"Did you tell your father that?" Snow inquired.

"No, he seems to be a little insecure. He thinks he isn't good enough for you. You have to expect something along those lines. You two have been apart for 28 years after all, there are bound to be a few speed bumps in your relationship. I am a little surprised that things have been going so well for the two of you." Emma Shrugged

"I guess he and I need to have a talk." Snows voice trailed off as her husband returned with a case of water. He looked between his daughter and his wife.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Everything is fine." Snow stated and gave him a forced smile.

"Have you heard some news about Henry?" He asked anxiously.

"No and they say no news is good news." Emma answered.

He turned to the group, "Pick up a box lunch and bottle of water on your way out the door. I always say that an arm marches on its stomach!"

"It was Napoleon who said that!" Emma corrected.

"Who?" Her father asked innocently.

The bell jingled over the door to Gold's pawn shop and he looked up to see King George standing in front of the counter.

"To what do I owe the honor of this visit, your majesty?" He asked in a somewhat biting tone.

There was no really problem between the two of them, but Gold always felt that the King lacked finesse and he often found himself rooting for True Love over Tyranny. Still, if George came to him with a proposition that favored both their sides, Gold was not about to turn down an alliance.

"This is about that spineless creation you gave me to replace my dead son."

"Sorry, no refunds just because it turned out that the boy possessed free will and followed his own heart." Gold turned towards the back of his shop.

"I'm not here to talk about the past. I am more interested in the future. He is going to have another child and I want his baby for myself." George pounded a fist on the counter.

Gold winched but thought for a moment.

"They were in here earlier and I sensed a great power in the child. I doubt that you would know how to harness that type of raw power. Perhaps we can work out a deal whereby I raise the child until a certain age. I will then allow you to take over and raise the child as an heir or whatever you desire."

"I take it you have a plan to get the child?" George asked with interest.

"What that boy of yours needs is a distraction." Gold placed his hands together fingertip to fingertip in contemplation.

"Are you suggesting a woman?" George laughed rudely.

"That is precisely what I am suggesting." Gold nearly cackled with energy.

"Useless, he is so hypnotized by that Siren Snow White that he will hardly look at another woman." George scoffed.

"I am not suggesting an ordinary woman. The female I have in mind has a face that has launched a thousand wars. This woman has the ability to seduce him with two things he will not be able to resist, the chance to lead and raw elemental power."

"That might just work." George agreed.

Charming looked over at his wife, who was silently seated next to him in his truck. She was clearly deep in thought and he at once recognized the look of worry in her eyes.

"Snow, what's wrong." He asked with loving concern in his voice.

"This baby is yours!" She snapped at him, her eyes blazing with anger.

He was slightly taken aback by her tone.

"Of course the baby is mine. Who suggested otherwise?" He quickly glanced over at her.

"Emma told me that you wanted a DNA test?" She asked impatiently.

He frowned, "Emma was supposed to keep that conversation to herself."

"She felt like it is something we need to talk about!" She shot back. "How could you even entertain such a ridiculous notion?" She frowned again.

"I'm sorry; it was a moment of insanity and it was stupid." He said softly. A guilty look crossed his face.

"It was stupid and insulting and I am going to tell you exactly why. After we got together as David and Mary Margaret, you spoiled me for other men!" She shot him an angry look.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, giving her a puzzled look.

"This is probably not the type of thing that any man should ever be told, but after being with you, I couldn't even imagine being with anyone else. Every other guy I looked at failed to turn me on. If Emma hadn't broken the curse, I probably would have ended up becoming a nun!"

He started to laugh.

"It isn't funny!" She scolded. "It is a serious problem because if you ever leave me, I would never be able to be with another man and I happen to like having sex!"

"I never intend to leave you, Snow. I was laughing because I feel the same way about you and you know I love having sex, but only with you."

"So, no DNA test will be performed on our offspring!" She demanded with her arms crossed in defiance.

"I am so glad that is settled!" He stated happily.

"Now, we can discuss why you think that you are not good enough to be my husband!" She shot him another perturbed look.

"Wow! Emma is quite the little tattle tale!" He frowned again.

"She is finally starting to look out for you! How can you even doubt that you are the love of my life, my soul mate and the only man I could ever love? You were the first person who has ever loved me unconditionally. You accept me, despite my faults. You accept my strange friends and believe me they are strange. Your support is unwavering, except when we were under the curse, but that is understandable because you were not yourself!"

He was speechless. Finally he swallowed hard and said, "I never thought about it, but your friends are kind of strange." He stated dryly.

She looked over at him and wondered if he was serious. It was exactly what was needed to break the tension. They both cracked up laughing. They had pulled up to the cabin and he leaned over and kissed her on the top of the head.

"I love you and I need you." He whispered.

"Just remember that when you start getting crazy ideas." She smiled at him lovingly. "Insecurity does not become you my darling. You are much better at taking charge and exuding confidence." She kissed him on the cheek. "Emma slipped and called you dad." She stated.

"Wow!" He smiled.

Snow had not been to the cabin in several weeks and she was amazed at how much renovation work had been completed in such a short amount of time. Most of the framing was complete and the rooms were discernible.

"Do you think that it is possible that Henry is here?" Snow asked with concern in her voice.

"It is doubtful that he would come here if he really is intent on hiding from us, but we have to check everywhere." He husband answered in a disheartened voice.

The 7 Dwarfs and Granny stood on the porch of an abandoned house on the edge of town. They had finished checking the mines and had found no trace of Henry. The nuns had agreed to go door to door and find out if any of the neighbors had seen the boy.

No one wanted to go in the abandon house though.

"I am not going in there!" Grumpy insisted. His brothers nodded their heads in agreement.

"Oh for pity's sake it is not any darker or more frightening than the mine!" Granny scolded.

"There might be wild animals in there!" Doc insisted.

"Or Henry might be in there and he might be hurt!" Granny countered as she grabbed the flashlight and charged through the door.

"Are we going to let a little old lady show us up?" Grumpy asked the others."

"We sure are," Sneezy informed him, "There is probably dust in there and you know how allergic I am to dust!" He sneezed for effect.

"Well, I am not letting her go in there alone!" Grumpy finally stated. He grabbed another flashlight and followed Granny into the unknown.

Red and Emma stood outside of the cave where the family treasure was safe and secure.

"How much time do we have left?" Red asked.

Emma looked at her watch. "About an hour, give or take a few minutes. Can you find any trace of Henry?"

"I think he was here recently." Red stated with a hint of uncertainty.

Emma kicked at some leaves. "He was defiantly here." She picked up an empty Apollo candy bar wrapper. "The question remains, where is he now?"

"I don't know, but someone was with him. There are a set of boot prints over here along with some sneaker prints that probably belong to Henry." Red pointed to a path. "I wonder where the path leads."

A perturbed look crossed Emma's face. "I know exactly where the path goes!" She pulled out the two- way radio and called her parents.

"Emma and Ruby requesting back-up!" She informed them.

"Emma, what's wrong?" She could hear a note of panic in her mother's voice.

"Hopefully nothing is wrong, but can you and David meet us at 1515 Sycamore Lane? I am pretty sure that is where we will find Henry."

"Do not go in there alone!" Snow demanded. "Wait for us outside the gate!"

"I am pretty sure he is harmless." Emma sighed, "But we will wait for the two of you to arrive anyway."

Charming turned to Snow.

"Who lives at that address?" He asked, bewildered.

"Jefferson lives at that address!"

"The Mad Hatter may have Henry?" Her husband seemed alarmed and he rushed out of the cabin and to the truck. Snow followed closely on his heels. She look back at the cabin and deiced she was going to like living there. Castles were over rated. They were dark and drafty and hard to keep clean. She would take a beautiful lakeside house over a castle any day. As long as she had her family surrounding her, she could be happy anywhere.