Snow Falls

"Hey, Mom," Emma said, walking into their temporary room and dropping down on her bed.

"Emma!" Snow exclaimed with excitement evident in her features.

Emma, however, appeared exhausted. "What's that?" she asked, noticing her mother's enthusiastic demeanor.

"I found your dad," Snow replied.

Emma's eyes widened with anticipation. "What? Where is he?"

"In the hospital," Snow informed her, her tone taking on a more somber note. "He's comatose."

Emma's brows furrowed with concern. "Well, didn't you kiss him?" Her mom nodded in response. "And?" Emma pressed further, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and anxiety.

But the look of desperation in her mother's eyes told her everything she needed to know. "But you're true loves..."

"I don't know, Emma," Snow admitted, regret clear in her features. "Maybe we're in two very different places in life."

Emma's heart sank as she processed this new development. "Maybe he doesn't know who you are..." She contemplated the situation, her foot tapping anxiously on the floor. "His memories are not intact. You need to remind him."

Snow looked at her daughter with uncertainty. "How?"

Emma sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "I don't know," she confessed, her frustration evident.

Snow reflected on their complex situation. "Well, I guess if true love were easy, we would all have it."

Emma's empathy for her mother's predicament shone through. "You already have it," she assured Snow. "Meanwhile, we have an apartment to find so that we can stay permanently."

Snow, still processing her feelings about her true love's current state, asked a practical question. "You found a job?"

Emma nodded. "Yeah, at the high school."


Henry's class visited the hospital the next day to see the patients. Snow sat beside David, engaged in a conversation with him, desperately hoping to jog his memory somehow.

As Henry entered the room, his young eyes locked onto his grandfather. He approached Snow and asked, "Grams, is Mr. Doe going to be okay?"

Snow offered a warm smile to her grandson. "Oh, honey, that's not his name. That's just what they call people when they don't know their name."

Henry peered at her, his curiosity evident. "Do you know who he is?"

A sense of sadness washed over Snow as she replied, "He's your grandfather."

Henry's innocent wisdom shone through as he suggested, "You should kiss him."

"I've already tried," Snow admitted, her voice tinged with disappointment. "True love's kiss didn't work this time."

The young boy didn't waver in his belief. "Maybe you should try again. Maybe he doesn't remember like everybody else."

Snow considered his words, her arms folding in front of herself. "That's what your mother says."

"What do you mean?" Henry inquired, eager for answers.

With a hint of uncertainty, Snow revealed her inner turmoil. "I mean that maybe I've changed. And maybe I just don't love him the same."

Henry, still holding onto the unwavering belief in true love, countered, "True love is unchanging."

Snow pondered her grandson's words, considering the possibility that love could indeed transcend the boundaries of time and memory. "Maybe... maybe."


Henry and Emma met later at the playground in his castle. The weight of their family's situation hung heavy in the air.

"Grams found your dad at the hospital," Henry began, his young voice carrying a sense of gravity.

"I heard," Emma replied, her expression somber. "True love's kiss didn't work."

Henry nodded in understanding. "I guess finding out your true love is in a coma is hard."

Emma sighed, her thoughts racing. "I know it's hard. But they weren't meant to break the curse either. I just wish there was a way to wake him so that he could help us."

Henry's eyes sparkled with determination. "We need to remind him."

Emma looked at her son, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "How?"

"You have to get her to read your story to Grandpa," Henry explained, his voice filled with optimism. "And maybe he'll remember who he is."

Emma took a deep breath, considering the plan. "Okay. That might actually work. Let me ask her." The possibility of rekindling David's memories gave her newfound hope, and she was willing to try anything to break the curse and bring back the happy endings.


When Emma returned to her room that night, Snow greeted her with a big smile and exciting news.

"I've got news," Snow began with enthusiasm. "I ran into Rumpel today. He owns a building across from Granny's, and there's an apartment for rent. It's a loft, and it's lovely. I put in a deposit, and we can move in tomorrow."

Emma raised an eyebrow, impressed by how fast things were progressing. "That was fast. I guess he's ready for this curse to lift, huh?"

Snow's smile faltered as she replied, "What do you mean, he isn't awake."

Emma tilted her head, her expression filled with curiosity. "I wouldn't be so sure." She decided not to share the conversation she had with Rumpelstiltskin earlier, keeping her suspicions to herself. "Anyway, we figured out a way to get Dad to remember you."

Snow's eyes brightened with hope as she asked, "How?"

Emma smirked and began to explain the next step in Operation Cobra.

"You want me to read to a coma patient?" Snow questioned her tone a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

"Henry thinks that will help Dad remember who you are," Emma replied matter-of-factly.

"Our story? From his book?"

"It's worth a shot. We have nothing to lose here."

"And everything to gain."

Emma smiled in agreement. "Exactly. I told him we will all meet for breakfast tomorrow at Granny's, and you'll give a full report."

"Well, I guess I better get ready for my date," Snow said with a chuckle.

Later that night at the hospital, Snow sat next to David's comatose form, holding the book in her hands. She gently stroked his dimpled cheek, feeling a mixture of hope and doubt. He looked so young, and she felt so old. She began to read, her voice carrying a blend of love and longing.

"I know this is strange, but I'm doing this for our family. Your daughter Emma, and your grandson Henry think that if I do this, you might remember who I am. You might love me again. I hope they're right. I've pined for you for 28 years. I hope it wasn't all for naught."

Snow continued to read, immersing herself in the story of her love with her charming prince. She marveled at August's skill as a writer, feeling the magic of the tale as it unfolded.

"They didn't need words to express what they felt in their hearts. It was here, in the shadow of the troll bridge, that their love was born. Where they knew that no matter how they were separated..."

Suddenly, Snow felt a hand clasping her own. Startled, she stopped reading and looked over at the man in the hospital bed. His grip wasn't strong, but he was holding her hand. Snow's heart raced with hope and disbelief. She stood and hurried to find a doctor, hoping there was a sign of awakening.

Dr. Whale arrived and examined David, but his diagnosis was disheartening. "Everything is steady, the same as it's always been. What were you doing in here?"

Snow struggled to convey what had just happened. "I was just reading him a story."

The doctor attempted to dismiss her experience, saying, "Well, perhaps you dozed off. Perhaps you imagined it."

Frustration welled up in Snow. "No, I didn't imagine anything."

Dr. Whale continued, "Look, sometimes there are normal fluctuations in the readings. Perhaps you heard the machine register something and misunderstood. Look, why don't you go home and get some rest? If anything changes, we'll be right here to watch him. Are you okay?"

Snow turned away, her anger evident, and left the hospital room with the book in her hands. The hope of a breakthrough had been shattered, but she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to David's condition than met the eye.


Regina was at home and cleaning up her kitchen when she got a sudden phone call from the hospital. She scrunched her face and she looked at the caller ID. "Why is he calling me now?" The mayor picked up her phone and answered curtly "Yes?"

" It's Dr. Whale, you told me to call if there was ever any change with John Doe? Something's happened."

Regina felt a mix of urgency and concern as she listened to Dr. Whale's report. This sudden development, a possible awakening of John Doe, was a significant threat to her carefully constructed curse. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to prevent a true love's kiss from happening.

"What happened?" Regina inquired, her tone sharp and commanding as she paced around her office.

Dr. Whale continued to relay the details. "One of the volunteers said he grabbed her, and the monitors caught some brain activity."

Regina's brows furrowed at the mention of a volunteer being grabbed. It was unusual for a comatose patient to exhibit such physical actions. But what caught her attention more was the description of the volunteer.

"And who was this volunteer?" Regina asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.

"I don't know, never seen her before," Dr. Whale replied. "She was older, maybe in her 40s… Either way, she was new in town."

The mention of a volunteer, an older woman in her 40s who was new in town, sent shivers down her spine. It couldn't be a coincidence. She had managed to keep the curse intact for 28 years, and she wasn't about to let a true love's kiss break it now.

"I see," Regina replied, her voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. "Thank you for letting me know, Dr. Whale. Keep a close eye on the situation, and if anything else happens, inform me immediately."

As she hung up the phone, Regina's mind raced with possibilities. She needed to find out who this volunteer was and why she had appeared in Storybrooke. If she was indeed the missing piece to breaking the curse, Regina had to stop her at all costs.

With determination in her eyes, Regina began to formulate a plan to keep the true love's kiss from happening. She couldn't allow her carefully constructed world to crumble now, not when she was so close to achieving her ultimate goal.


Snow couldn't contain her excitement as she rushed home. The prospect of her plan working filled her with hope and joy. She couldn't wait to share the news with Emma, who had been a pillar of support throughout their quest to break the curse.

As she burst into the room, Emma, fresh from the bathroom, looked up in surprise. "It worked!"

Emma's eyebrows shot up as she processed her mother's words. "What?" She couldn't hide the astonishment in her voice.

With an ear-to-ear grin, Snow recounted the events at the hospital. "It worked. Whale tried to gaslight me, but your dad grabbed my hand at the end of the story. When I got to the part of the troll bridge right before we kissed. He grabbed my hand."

Emma's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean he tried to gaslight you?"

Snow explained, her voice filled with conviction. "He told me everything was the same. But I know what I felt, Emma. Your dad is waking up."

A radiant smile spread across Emma's face. "That's great! At least we'll know where he is."

Emma couldn't help but feel relieved and excited by the news. The possibility of her father waking up was a glimmer of hope in the midst of the curse that had held Storybrooke captive for so long.

"That's amazing, Mom," Emma said with genuine happiness. "Maybe we're getting closer to breaking this curse after all. It's about time."

Snow nodded, her smile bright and hopeful. "Yes, it is. We need to keep going, Emma. We can't lose sight of our goal."

"You're right, Mom," Emma agreed, her eyes filled with determination. "And maybe Dad waking up will help us in ways we can't even predict."


The next morning, both women were filled with excitement as they prepared to meet with Henry. Emma was buzzing with anticipation and arrived at the diner early. However, her excitement got the best of her, and she accidentally spilled cocoa all over herself. Just as she was about to react, Henry entered the diner.

"I can get you a shirt, I'll be right back!" Henry exclaimed, darting out of the diner before Emma could respond.

"Henry, wait!" Emma called after him, but he was already gone. She sighed, knowing that she had to wait for his return.

Henry returned not long after, holding a silken smoke gray shirt. Emma glanced at it in passing, grateful for the gesture, and then proceeded to feed her growing appetite. She excused herself to change into the shirt he had fetched.

Snow emerged from the restroom and sat across from Henry, a warm smile on her face as they waited for Emma to return.

"Thanks for the shirt," Emma said as she slid back into her seat, "Is this your mom's?"

Henry replied casually, "She'll never miss it."

Curious about Regina's whereabouts, Emma asked, "Where does she think you are anyway?"

"Playing whack-a-mole," Henry replied matter-of-factly.

"And she bought that?" Emma couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. She knew she would need to have a talk with her son about the consequences of lying to his mother. This newfound alliance couldn't be built on deception.

Changing the subject, Henry got to the point of their meeting, eager to know how the previous night had gone. "So, Grams, how did it go last night?"

Snow shared her exciting news, "He woke up."

"I knew it!" Henry exclaimed with enthusiasm, his face lighting up, "We have to go back! You have to read to him again!"

Emma chimed in with a note of caution, "Wait, wait! What if Regina finds out you're here?"

Snow looked at her daughter with determination and shook her head. "If your father wakes up and I'm not next to him, I will never forgive myself."

Emma sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation, and nodded in agreement. The three of them headed straight for the hospital, determined to continue their efforts to awaken David from his coma.


The room was filled with a sense of urgency as they arrived at the hospital. The sheriff stood guard by the door, ensuring that the situation remained under control. Snow, Emma, and Henry hurried to the room of their concern.

Excitement coursed through Henry, and he couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "You're right, he's waking up!" he exclaimed, darting into the room.

The sheriff intervened, blocking Henry from entering further. "Henry, step out," he instructed firmly, making sure the young boy didn't disrupt the situation.

Snow approached the sheriff, her concern evident. She had a history with him, one that she couldn't reveal. "What's going on?" she asked, carefully avoiding any sign of recognition or acknowledgment as she looked at him. She had grown skilled at this since her arrival in the town. "Is it John Doe? Is he OK?"

Graham, the sheriff, delivered the troubling news. "He's missing."

Snow tried to maintain her composure, knowing that her presence was essential in the situation. Just beyond the sheriff stood the mayor, Regina, observing the situation with a mix of emotions. Her sworn enemy, Snow White, was standing right there, alongside her son and his mother. Regina was a master of concealing her true feelings, and she knew that her town was undergoing changes that she couldn't control.

Regina understood that alienating these women would push her son further away. She realized that her time as the reigning power in Storybrooke was nearing its end, and if she played her cards right, she might survive whatever was happening.

Regina's words carried a mixture of curiosity and suspicion as she glanced between Emma and Snow. Her posture remained regal and slightly standoffish as if she were a queen addressing her subjects. The delicate balance between her usual hostility and the gravity of the situation hung in the air.

"What are you doing here?" Regina directed her question at Emma, her tone laced with a hint of incredulity. She observed the blonde woman with a discerning eye, trying to gauge her intentions.

As her gaze shifted to Snow, Regina's expression remained inscrutable. She couldn't help but notice the older woman's striking beauty and elegance, but any warmth that might have existed between them was long buried beneath layers of history and rivalry.

Regina then shifted her focus to her son, Henry, who stood before her with a mixture of apprehension and defiance. Her tone toward him was a complex blend of concern and a mother's authority. "And you, I thought you were at the arcade. Are you lying to me now?" she inquired, clearly expecting an explanation from her son.

Emma intervened, addressing Regina's accusation. "What happened to John Doe? Did someone take him?"

Graham provided what little information they had. "We don't know yet. His IVs were pulled, but there was no sign of a struggle."

Henry couldn't help but accuse his mother in this chaotic moment, and Emma scolded him for it. Regina responded with a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "You think I had something to do with this?"

Emma couldn't help but point out the mayor's presence. "It is curious that the mayor's here..."

Regina clarified her presence, her voice laced with tension. "I am here because I am his emergency contact."

Snow finally gathered the courage to speak to her stepmother directly. She couldn't stop staring at the elegant and beautiful woman she once wanted to befriend but who now despised her. "Do you know him?"

Regina answered carefully, not revealing the truth about her past with David. "I found him on the side of the road years ago with no ID and brought him here."

Whale came to Regina's defense, trying to defuse the tension. "The mayor saved his life."

Snow, concerned for John Doe's well-being, asked the most pressing question. "Will he be OK?"

Whale's response was far from optimistic. "OK? The man's been on feeding tubes for years and under constant supervision. He needs to get back here right away, or quite honestly, 'OK' might be a pipe dream."

Emma's sense of urgency was palpable as she urged everyone to stop talking and get on with searching for her dad. "Well, then let's quit yapping and get looking."

Regina, equally determined to maintain control over the situation, made it clear that she intended to keep her son away from Emma. She couldn't resist adding a touch of snark, her voice dripping with a hint of sarcasm. "That's what we're doing. Just stay out of this, dear. Since I clearly can't keep you away from my son, I guess I'm just going to have to keep my son away from you. Enjoy my shirt, because that's all you're getting." She pulled Henry with her as she left the room, leaving a complex mix of emotions in her wake.

Emma couldn't help but feel the tension in the room. She knew she had to make peace with Regina, but that fire inside her just wouldn't let her relent. "I know I have to work with her, but there's just something about that woman that makes my insides burn."

Before leaving, Regina addressed the sheriff, emphasizing the importance of finding John Doe quickly. "Sheriff, find John Doe. You heard Dr. Whale, time is precious." She wished for her magic, something that could make things easier, but she had to contend with her current powerlessness.

In the security office, Emma was focused on reviewing the surveillance footage, determined to find any clues about her father's disappearance. When she realized they were watching the wrong tape, she wasted no time pointing out the mistake and emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "We're looking at the wrong tape. This is the ward where Henry's class put up decorations. If this was really the tape from last night, you would see the banners the kids hung."

The janitor couldn't resist taking a jab at the security officer. "You fell asleep again."

The security officer shot back defensively, "You selling me out?"

The tension in the room escalated as they exchanged accusations. "I'm not taking the fall for this!"

"At least I don't drink on the job."

Graham, the sheriff, finally stepped in to restore order. "Gentlemen, enough!"

He looked around the room and asked the crucial question. "Where is the real tape?"

Finally, the real tape was inserted, and Emma was able to review the footage. The room fell into a tense silence as they all watched the screen, hoping for any clue about John Doe's whereabouts.

Snow's relief was evident as she watched her husband stumble out of his bed. "He walked out on his own. He's OK!"

Emma's sense of urgency wasn't quelled. "Four hours ago. Where does this door lead?"

The janitor, with a grim expression, replied, "The woods."

The realization of the dangerous situation set in. The cold and damp woods were no place for her father in his weakened state.

They rushed out into the woods, with Graham leading the way. Snow, with her superior tracking skills, closely followed, watching the woods intently for any signs of her husband's escape.

Emma couldn't resist a teasing comment when Graham's tracking led to a dead end. "You sure? Because I thought tracking was one of your skills."

Graham, undeterred, assured them that he could handle the situation. "Just give me a second. This is what I do, I got it."

Emma couldn't help but smirk as Graham walked away. "I'm sorry," she quipped, finding some amusement in the situation.

Snow and Emma were left alone in the woods, their determination to find David undeterred. Snow scanned their surroundings and voiced her thoughts. "He's right; the trail does run cold here. What could he be looking for out here?"

Emma contemplated her father's state of mind as they followed the trail. "What were you reading to him before he woke?"

"It was just the part about the kiss at the Troll bridge..."

Suddenly, the sound of a crack in the woods caught their attention, and they turned sharply to see Henry running toward them.

"Henry!" Emma exclaimed. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at home."

"I can help!" Henry insisted. "I know where he's going."

"And where is that?" Snow asked, her curiosity piqued.

"He's looking for you," Henry replied.

Emma quickly grasped the situation. "Of course! The Troll Bridge! He's looking for you at the Troll Bridge." She turned to her son. "Where is the bridge, kid?"

"Come on, Grams, you need to stop moving! You need to let him come find you."

"We will, Henry, we just have to get to the bridge. I know that's a better way to go," Snow assured him.

Emma tried to reason with Henry. "Kid, you need to go home. Where's your mom? She's going to kill me, and then you, and then me again."

"She dropped me off at the house, and I ran right out," Henry explained defiantly.

"Well," Emma stated firmly, "We need to get you back immediately."

"No!" Henry protested.

The sheriff, Graham, called out from down the path, grabbing their attention. Emma shone her flashlight on something on the ground — a piece of plastic with bloodstains. "Is that... blood?"

Dread filled the air as they turned back toward the bridge. They knew time was running out, and they needed to find David before it was too late.

When they reached the bridge, the atmosphere was eerie. The floor was wet, and the cold and the howling wolves added to the sense of urgency. Then they saw him, unconscious on a rock in the middle of the stream.

"Oh my God!" Snow exclaimed as she rushed toward David. "Oh my God, oh my God."

Graham quickly called for an ambulance under the Troll Bridge. Both he and Emma waded into the water, grabbing David's body. They struggled to pull him to safety, and Emma voiced her concerns. "Hold on, I'm slipping. Slow down, slow down, slow down."

Snow was frantic as they laid David on the ground. "No, no, no, no, no! I found you. It's going to be OK!"

Henry, standing on the sidelines, was scared by the situation. "Is he OK?"

Emma held her son close, shielding him from the distressing scene. "Henry, don't look, OK?"

Snow began performing CPR on her husband while anxiously urging him to come back. "Come back to us!" she pleaded, leaning close to his face. "David, please come back for me."

She continued her efforts until she was about to give up, but just as she was about to say her goodbye, David spit up water from his lungs and started breathing again.

Emma's heart skipped a beat when she heard her father's voice. "You saved me," he said, looking disoriented.

"She did it!" Henry announced proudly from his mother's arms. "She woke him up."

"Yeah, kid," Emma said, overwhelmed at seeing her dad alive. "She did."

"Hey," Snow said, helping him support his head above the rocks. "Who are you?"

"I don't know," he replied, closing his eyes again.

"It's OK," Snow said, trying to hide her disappointment that he didn't remember. The curse still had a hold on him. "That's OK."

They rushed him back to the hospital. His recovery was nothing short of a miracle, but now that he was awake and cursed, what was going to happen to him next? As they watched over him, a blonde woman, whom Snow recognized as Abigail, ran through the hospital doors.

Snow scoffed when she saw her. David had never been fond of this woman, and now she was here, doting on him? Where was she when he was in a coma all these years? Whale pulled her out of the room. Emma couldn't help but ask, "Who is that?"

"His wife," a feminine voice came from behind them. The trio turned to see Regina.

"His name is David Nolan," Regina explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "And that was his wife, Catherine. The joy on her face has put me in quite a forgiving mood." Regina looked at the two women and then back at her son. "We'll talk about your insubordination later. Do you know what insubordination means?" She asked Henry, who shook his head. "It means you're grounded."

Just then, Catherine approached the heroes who had saved her husband. "Thank you, thank you for finding my David."

Snow, struggling to accept that Catherine had been married to David all along and yet hadn't been there when he needed her most, moved closer to her. "I don't understand. You didn't... You didn't know that he was here in a coma?"

"A few years ago, David and I were not getting along," Catherine explained, recounting her reasons for believing David had left for good. "It was my fault, I know that now. I was difficult and unsupportive. I told him if he didn't like it, he could leave, and he did. And I didn't stop him. It was the worst mistake I ever made."

"You never looked for him?" Emma questioned.

"I assumed he left town all this time. Now I know why I never heard from him," Catherine continued, laying on the guilt thick. "Now I get to do what I've always wanted: say I'm sorry. But now I get a second chance."

"That's wonderful," Snow stated as Whale came out of the room.

The doctor talked about David's miraculous recovery and the uncertainty about his memory. They didn't know what had awakened him from the coma, as comas were a medical mystery.

Emma, still skeptical, watched as Henry left with his mother, heartbroken because of Catherine's return. She knew she needed to talk to Regina.

"Madam mayor!" Emma called out, determined to catch up to them.

"Wait by the car," Regina said to Henry before turning to face Emma. Their encounter had an air of tension. "Miss Swan, I'll let you off the hook back there, don't press it."

"It's Doctor Swan," Emma reminded her again as they squared off. Her attraction to Regina notwithstanding, she still found the woman irritating. "I'm sorry, but Mrs. Nolan? I think that story sounds like a load of crap," Emma stated bluntly. "All this time, John Doe lay in a coma, and nobody claimed him? It doesn't hit the news, nobody goes looking... Something's not right here."

Regina furrowed her brows and took a step closer to Emma. "Well, what else makes sense to you?" Her smile turned cocky. "Why would Mrs. Nolan lie? Do you think I cast a spell on her?"

"I think," Emma said, matching Regina's stance, "it's rather strange that you've been his emergency contact all these years, and you only found her now."

Regina shifted into a defensive stance, crossing her arms over her chest. Emma mirrored her stance, not backing down. "Well, this town is bigger than you know. It's fairly possible to get lost here. It's entirely possible for bad things to happen."

"And just when it's convenient, you manage to solve the mystery?" Emma asked, convinced she had caught Regina in a lie.

"Thanks to you," Regina replied. "That tape you found was a stroke of genius. So we went back and looked at past tapes. Turns out, Mr. Doe has been talking in his sleep. He's been calling out for a Catherine. After that, it wasn't hard to put two and two together. And here I thought you and your mother would be pleased. True love won out." Regina began to walk away. "So bask in the moment, dear. Were it not for you, they would have lived their lives completely alone. That's why I'm so willing to forgive your incessant rudeness. Because all of this has reminded me of something very important: how grateful I am to have Henry. Because not having someone, well, that's the worst curse imaginable."

Emma watched the infuriating woman walk away, her mind racing with doubts and questions. She and her mother went home that night with their thoughts consumed by the idea of David being with somebody else. Of course, David couldn't possibly imagine that he would have a love that was twice his age. Naturally, he would think that Abigail, or whatever the cursed name was, Catherine, was his wife because their ages matched.

"She knows you're here now," Emma said to her mother, her voice laced with concern. "What are we gonna do?"

Snow took a deep breath, her resolve unwavering. "You break the curse, Emma, no matter what it takes." The determination in her eyes reflected her unwavering commitment to reuniting with her true love and breaking the curse that had torn their family apart for so long.