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On with the show!

...

The next few days were a mixture of confusing and annoying, as loved ones tried to find each other and those like Rose who'd had a sad life back home tried to adapt to their memories and come to terms with the fact that the happiness they thought they had was a lie.

For Rose, it was especially hard knowing that the only thing that had ever brought her happiness wasn't even hers. The memory she had of giving birth, holding her baby and naming her were all just malicious memories planted in her head by a woman she'd had the misfortune to enrage. She wasn't stupid; she knew that Regina had deliberately given her Grace knowing that should the curse ever be broken, Rose would be devastated, but she didn't think Regina had banked on how sweet Grace truly was, the young girl even more adamant Rose was her mama after hearing the story if when she was Goldilocks.

"Mama, are you okay?"

Rose smiled down at Grace, who was looking at her with her big doe eyes full of concern. It seemed wrong, and Rose hated that she'd put the look on her daughter's face.

"I'm okay Grace, I'm just thinking about some things is all."

The first time she'd called her Grace had been a couple of nights earlier. It was hard for Rose to stop calling her Paige, but she had understood without being told that her daughter needed the comfort of hearing her own name. It stung, not calling her the name she believed she'd so lovingly picked out, but she did it for her daughter. She could see Grace didn't entirely believe her, so she crouched down with a warm smile on her face.

"I've had an idea to help you find your papa."

An hour later, Grace was sat at the table with her colouring pencils while Rose stood to answer the knock at her door, only relaxing when she saw it was Mary Margaret. She opened the door and stood aside to let the other woman in. She was immediately embraced and smiled as she hugged the shorter female back.

"I can't believe it's really you! I thought you were dead!" Mary Margaret exclaimed.

Rose smiled warmly at her old friend as they parted and indicated for her to follow her to the living room, pausing by the dining room so Mary Margaret could say hello to Grace. Once they were seated, Rose reached over to take her friend's hand.

"How are you, Snow?" she asked, seeing the unhidden worry in her dark orbs.

"I just can't believe this is real, that the curse actually happened."

Rose let out a breath of air, half in agreement and half in amusement.

"I know, but in a way I'm happy because if I was back in the Enchanted Forest, I would be dead, whereas here, I have a daughter that I love more than anything else."

Mary-Margaret's gaze turned to one of sympathy at the mention of Grace and Rose knew it was because like her, she was fully aware that Jefferson would come for his daughter sooner or later.

"It'll be okay" Mary-Margaret said, but Rose knew she was comforting herself as much as she was the blonde.

They fell into companionable silence until Grace came bounding into the room to show her masterpiece. Rose fondly kissed her daughter's head as her eyes skimmed over the words 'Have you seen my papa?', ignoring the stabbing pain in her chest. Grace settled on to the seat beside her and wrapped her arms round her mother, nuzzling into her side. Mary Margaret smiled at the sight, hoping and praying her friend would be able to keep the happiness she'd found in the young girl. She'd had such a terrible life and yet, when Snow had met her in the forest while on the run from the queen, she'd not once judged her and had provided her with a safe haven, showing a compassion lacking in those who hadn't been through even half the pain she had. If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was Goldilocks.

"I didn't ask, is everything okay? I assume this isn't just a catch up visit." Rose said after a few moments.

"Actually, it is. Ruby mentioned she'd scented you and I had to make sure you were really here as I was so sure Regina had killed you. I wasn't expecting you to have a daughter, but I'm so happy for you."

Rose looked down at Grace, her eyes filled with a warmth Mary Margaret had only seen in her own mother's eyes. She knew about the child Goldilocks had lost and also knew the other woman had wanted nothing more than to have a family someday. Seeing her now, Mary Margaret knew that she was every bit the devoted mother she knew she would be and it made her smile to see the glow motherhood gave her.

"Has anyone seen Jefferson around town?" Rose asked.

A shake of the brunette's head, sympathetic eyes falling on the child whose face had fallen at the news. Mary Margaret knew she should tell the pair about the time he'd captured her and Emma, but as he had vanished shortly after, she didn't want to risk disappointing the little girl who held so much hope.

"We haven't heard anything, but I promise we will all keep looking. A lot of people are lost right now; he probably just needs to find his way home."

Once their visitor had left, Rose and Grace made their way to the one place Rose wanted to avoid; the mayor's office, however, it was the only place she knew of where she could copy the poster her daughter made. As the mayor's PA, she had full access to the facilities, so she had to swallow her pride and get on with it. She breathed a sigh of relief to see the room was empty and walked in with Grace trailing behind her. It didn't take long to finish the posters and as they packed up to leave, Rose grabbed the staple gun from her desk to put up the posters. It was as they moved to leave that a cool voice spoke.

"Not even a hello for your boss, Miss Brown?"

Rose slowly turned to face the person she hated more than any other, her fists clenching.

"Grace, stand outside please." She said through gritted teeth, desperately trying to control the anger in her voice.

Grace didn't want to leave, but the tone of her mother's voice left no room for argument, so she left the room, stopping to pick up the bag they'd placed her precious posters in. The moment the door clicked shut, Rose glared at Regina.

"You really expect me to be civil towards you?" she spat.

A flicker of surprise in the other woman's face, quickly hidden by her usual superior sneer. She didn't even flinch when Rose moved closer to her.

"I suggest you refrain from doing anything to harm me, Goldilocks. You may find child services knocking on your door if you so much as touch me and I assure you, they will not hesitate to take your daughter, especially when they discover that biologically, she isn't even yours."

Rose stopped as if she'd been slapped in the face. She looked torn between enraged and heartbroken. After a moment, she finally responded, her voice strained.

"Fine."

She turned to follow Grace, pausing with her hand on the doorknob to look at Regina over her shoulder.

"Oh, and one more thing. I quit."

The door slammed behind her and Regina finally allowed herself to breathe. She honestly didn't enjoy threatening the blonde woman, not now she knew the fear of losing your child to their biological parent, but it had been the only thing stopping a punch to the face or worse.