The hospital lights were harsh and sterile, but for Snow and David, they barely registered. All they could see was their daughter—bruised, battered, and unconscious—lying on the hospital bed. Emma stood at the edge of the room, her arms crossed, face tense with worry as she watched over them.

Snow held Mia's hand tightly, her thumb brushing gently over Mia's knuckles. She tried to blink back tears, but they slipped down her cheeks anyway, her heart aching as she looked at her daughter, so still and vulnerable.

"She was so brave," Snow whispered, her voice breaking. "But… she shouldn't have had to be."

David placed a reassuring hand on Snow's shoulder, though his own expression was shadowed with guilt and anger. "This is my fault. I knew what George was capable of, and I still didn't see this coming. He went after Mia because of me."

Emma stepped forward, her voice calm but laced with anger. "None of us saw this coming, David. And it's not your fault. George chose to do this."

Snow took a deep breath, steadying herself as she looked at Emma. "Did… did you see it, Emma? What Scarlett said—about the light?"

Emma nodded, her face thoughtful. "Yeah. It sounds like magic. But how? I thought I was the only one in our family with that kind of power."

David looked at Mia, his voice filled with a mixture of wonder and worry. "If Mia has magic… she didn't even know. She must have been terrified."

Snow brushed her fingers gently across Mia's cheek, her heart twisting as she thought about everything her daughter had been through. "Terrified and hurt. And still, she protected her friend. She was willing to sacrifice herself to save Scarlett."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their daughter's courage and pain settling over them. Snow looked at David, her voice steady but filled with resolve. "We need to find George before he can hurt her—or anyone else—again."

David's expression hardened. "I won't let him get away with this. But first, we'll make sure Mia is safe."

Just then, a faint movement caught their attention. Mia's eyelids fluttered, her hand twitching slightly in Snow's grasp. Snow held her breath, squeezing Mia's hand gently.

"Mia?" she whispered, her voice soft and hopeful.

Mia's eyes opened slowly, her gaze unfocused as she blinked against the bright lights. She looked around, confusion and fear flickering in her expression as she took in the unfamiliar room, the wires attached to her arms, and the worried faces surrounding her.

"M-Mom?" Mia's voice was weak, barely a whisper.

Snow's heart swelled, her eyes misting over as she felt a rush of pure joy. This was the first time Mia had ever called her "Mom," and it filled her with a warmth she hadn't expected. But before she could say anything, Mia's gaze sharpened, her expression shifting as she seemed to come to her senses.

"Snow… what's going on?" she asked, the familiar walls slipping back up around her. Snow felt a small pang in her chest at the change, but she forced herself to smile, just grateful that Mia was awake and safe.

"We found you," Snow said softly, pushing back her own emotions. "You're safe now."

Mia's eyes shifted from Snow to David and Emma, her brows knitting together as the fragments of what had happened came flooding back. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her arm, and she winced, sinking back against the pillows.

Emma stepped forward, her face a mixture of relief and concern. "Take it easy, kiddo. You've been through a lot."

Mia looked at her, still visibly shaken. "What… happened?"

Snow brushed Mia's hair back from her forehead, her voice soft. "You were hurt, honey. But you're safe now. We found you in the cabin."

Mia's eyes widened, memories flooding back in pieces—the cabin, George's cold smile, the feel of the ropes digging into her wrists, and the bright light that had come from… her. She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "That light… it was me, wasn't it?"

David nodded, his expression a mixture of pride and worry. "Yes. Somehow, you… you used magic."

Mia's heart raced, her mind reeling. She looked at them with growing disbelief, her voice rising slightly. "Magic? I… I don't have magic. I didn't even know fairytales were real until, like, a month ago! Now I have magic too?"

Emma sat on the edge of the bed, her voice steady. "I get it—it's a lot. But sometimes, magic shows up when it's needed most. Maybe your powers were triggered by the danger."

Mia shook her head, trying to process it all. "So, let me get this straight… I'm not just some girl from Boston, I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, and now I… I have magic? How am I supposed to deal with this?"

Snow reached for her hand, her tone gentle and reassuring. "We'll help you, Mia. You don't have to go through this alone. We'll teach you about your magic, and we'll figure it out together."

Mia looked down, her thoughts racing, the enormity of everything threatening to overwhelm her. "This is insane. First, I'm thrown into this town of fairytales, then I get kidnapped and nearly killed, and now… magic?"

David placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice calm. "You've been through so much, Mia. More than anyone should ever have to go through. But you're safe now, and we'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

Mia let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing slightly. She glanced over at Emma, Snow, and David, the weight of the day's events settling over her.

"I… I thought he was going to hurt Scarlett," she whispered, her voice filled with lingering fear. "I couldn't… I couldn't let that happen."

David's hand tightened on her shoulder, his voice firm but tender. "You were brave, Mia. Braver than I could have ever imagined. And we're so, so proud of you."

Mia looked down, swallowing back the surge of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. She hadn't felt proud or brave in that moment—just scared. But the warmth in their eyes, the fierce protectiveness she felt radiating from them, made her feel something she hadn't expected.

For the first time, she felt like maybe—just maybe—she belonged with them.

After a few minutes, the doctor entered, checking Mia's vitals and assessing her injuries. Her bruises, cuts, and exhaustion were obvious, but he assured Snow and David that with rest and care, she would make a full recovery.

As the doctor left, Emma moved closer, her voice low. "Mia, I know this is a lot to take in. But whatever this magic is, we'll figure it out together. You don't have to do it alone."

Mia nodded, a mixture of relief and uncertainty flickering in her gaze. She had always been so used to handling things on her own, but here—seeing her family rally around her—she felt a warmth she hadn't realized she'd been missing.

Snow leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "We love you, Mia. And we're not going anywhere. We're going to keep you safe."

Mia's eyes grew heavy as the exhaustion settled over her again, but this time, she didn't fight it. She let herself sink into the warmth of her family's presence, her body finally relaxing as she allowed herself to rest.

As she drifted into sleep, Snow, David, and Emma stayed close, each silently vowing to protect her at any cost. They knew that King George was still out there, his threats still looming over them, but for now, they focused on Mia, on their daughter, and the small sense of peace they'd managed to reclaim.

But as they watched her sleep, a new worry stirred in the back of their minds: if Mia had magic, just like Emma, what would that mean for her future? And what other dangers would she face because of it?

For now, they had no answers, only the hope that, together, they could face whatever lay ahead.