"You're sure this will work?" Regina asks. He nods.

"All is set deary. Snow white and her prince will have no idea the child is theirs." He grins.

"So she'll be mine?" Regina checks.

"All yours." He smiles with a laugh. "Do we have a deal?"

"We do." Regina says reaching out and shaking Rumplestiltskin's hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."

*Emma Six Months Old*

Regina sits up as she hears the cries coming from the nursery. She smiles and makes her way to the room. She smiles and lifts the infant into her arms gently.

"Sh, it's ok Emma, I've got you." She soothes rocking the baby back and forth. Regina leans down and places a soft kiss on her daughter's forehead.

The next morning Regina takes Emma into the office with her instead of having Granny watch her. It wasn't often that Regina did this but there were days that she just wanted to keep her baby close to her. She was savoring the time she had with Emma because she knew that if the curse was broken, she could lose Emma for good.

"Mayor Mills." comes a voice from the door.

"David." Regina says forcing a smile. "What can I help you with today?"

"I wanted to invite you over to dinner with Kathryn and I tomorrow."

"Oh, uhm, I'm so sorry I have to decline. Emma's been fussy lately and I'm worried she's coming down with a cold." Regina lies.

"That's alright, another time." The man smiles. "Boy she's gotten big."

"Yes she has." Regina says absentmindedly smiling at the sleeping baby in the moses basket beside her.

"She's adorable." David grins. "I uh, have to get back. It was nice seeing you Regina."

*Emma five years old*

"Mommy!" The little blonde child sobs. Regina's attention snaps to her daughter and she practically sprints to her.

"What is Emma?" Regina asks scooping her small daughter up.

"I hurt my knee." Emma says tearfully. "I falled down." Regina sits down to make it easier to comfort Emma.

"Oh honey, it's just a little scrape." Regina assures the blond, wiping her tears away. Emma buries her face into her mother's shirt. "It's okay Em."

"Is she alright?" Regina looks up to see Mary Margaret standing before her.

"She's fine." Regina snaps, automatically tightening her grip on Emma.

"Hi Mrs. Blanchard." Emma smiles looking up.

"Hi, Emma." The young teacher grins.

"You know what Em, what do you say we go and get some ice cream?" Regina bribes in an attempt to get her child away from this women.

"With sprinkles?" The five year old asks innocently.

"With sprinklers." Regina confirms looking lovingly at her daughter.

*Emma ten years old*

Emma had never gotten in trouble before. But lately she'd been acting out on Regina. She had even called her quote, the evil queen. Regina couldn't figure it out, ever since Emma had been reading those fairytales. Regina feared her daughter would discover the secret.

"Emma." Regina says as her daughter enters the house. "We need to talk."

"You lied to me." Emma states crossing her arms.

"About what, darling?" Regina asks in an attempt to play dumb.

"I was adopted. Right?"

"Yes." Regina says. "Yes, Emma you were, but that doesn't change anything. I'm still your mother and I still love you more than anything."

"I just feel like I don't belong anywhere." Emma says growing teary eyed.

"You belong right here with me." Regina says pulling Emma to her. "Emmy, I love you so much. Don't ever forget that."

"I love you too mom." Emma says, taking comfort in her mother's hug. "Always."

Present time *Emma Age Thirteen*

Emma Mills had a bad habit of walking in on awkward situations. For example this morning, she'd walked in on Mrs. Blanchard and David Nolan arguing. Something about leaving his wife. Kathryn Nolan was a good friend of Emma's moms and Emma knew she should tell Regina….but it seemed so inconsiderate. Besides, her mother always told her she should try and be less nosy.

"Hey Em." Regina smiles when her daughter enters her office. "How was school?"

"Fine." Emma says with a half smile. Regina sees through it right away. She had a way of always knowing when Emma wasn't telling her something or when Emma was upset. It was like her superpower as a mother.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing...I just uh….are Kathryn and David having problems?" Emma asks her.

"Not that I know of." Regina says arching her eyebrow. "Why?"

"He was….he seemed upset." Emma answered. "Anyway how was your day?"

Regina didn't feel the need to worry. In order for the curse to break Mary Margaret and David to fall in love before Emma turned fourteen. But what she didn't know was that David Nolan had just left his wife. What she didn't know, was that the curse was already breaking. The moment David left Kathryn, the moment he first told Mary Margret her loved her, the moment they kissed, the curse broke. Their memories came flooding in and they were faced with the truth. The one person who knew exactly what has happening, the women who not only took their happiness but their daughter. That's where they had to go.

"REGINA!" The mayor looks up to see David and Mary Margret before her."Where is our daughter?"

Realization dawns on the brunette. They remembered. They knew who she was and who they were. Which meant….they knew who Emma was. There was no way she was letting them near her daughter. She had to play it cool, act as if nothing had changed.

"MY daughter is at home. Which is where I'm heading now." Regina lies. Emma wasn't at home. She was on her way to Regina's office. Regina just needed to get Snow and Charming to leave.

"Take us to her." Snow demands.

"And WHY would I do that?" The former evil queen asks as she stands with her hands flat on her desk.

"Hey momma." Emma grins entering the office. "You won't believe what happened today!"

"Emma." Snow gasps with a soft smile.

"Hey." Emma says with a small wave. She passes her biological parents and sits beside Regina.

"Tell her." Charming demands. "Right now."

"Tell me what?" Emma asks looking at her mother curiously.

"Emma, honey, there's a lot of things we need to discuss." Regina tells the teen softly.

"She lied to you." Snow snaps.

"What are they talking about mom?" Emma questions in a frightened voice. Regina places an arm around her daughter in a territorial and comforting manner.

Regina tells her everything. About how Snow had been her step daughter. About Daniel. She tells her about how she wanted revenge and how she'd tried numerous times to have Snow killed. Regina could tell Emma was both confused and unsure but she kept talking. She told Emma about the curse and about taking Emma when she was born. Snow and Charming are glaring at her and waiting for Emma to speak. But she doesn't. She stays silent beside Regina.

"Emma." Charming says softly. The blonde turns and scowls at the prince.

"This doesn't make any sense." The teenager says. "What do you expect me to just accept your my parents and want me to come live you!?"

"Well...yeah." David says in a confuse voice. "Emma don't you see how evil this woman is?"

"She's my MOTHER!" Emma exclaims rising.

"I'm your mother." Snow whispers tearfully.

"No." Emma says shaking her head. "I wanna go home." She turns to Regina. Regina rises but David stops her.

"Not so fast." He says standing. "As sheriff I'm placing you under custody."

"NO!" Emma exclaims wrapping her arms around Regina's waist.

"Emma, it's for her safety too. Now that the town has their memories back, they aren't going to just let her walk out of her. Besides, she, in all reality, kidnapped you. That's a crime. She's going to jail." David says sternly. He reaches for Regina but a cloud of purple smoke appears. When it vanishes, Regina and Emma are gone.

Regina hadn't been thinking. All she knew was that she wasn't going to let Snow and Charming take Emma from her. They didn't know Emma, they didn't know how to take care of her. Emma was HER daughter, and she was going to protect her. Just like she'd always done.

"What was that!?" Emma asks looking around to see that they were suddenly home.

"Magic." Regina smiles.

"Mom, what are we going to do?" Emma whispers with a quivering lip. Regina pulls the blonde to her.

"We're going to figure this out. Go pack a bag, be quick. It won't be long before the show up here." Regina instructs warmly but firmly. Emma nods and races up the stairs into her bedroom. Regina sighs. She hadn't had time to really let reality sink in. She couldn't start now. She couldn't get distracted.

"Ready!" Emma exclaims just as the front door opens. Snow, David, the dwarf, Ruby and the rest of the town stood at the door way. Emma gasps as David grabs her mother. There was no way Regina would poof out of here without Emma.

"What're we going to do with her?" Ruby asks.

"Kill her." Grumpy answers. Emma screams and flies down the steps, only to be grabbed before she can reach Regina. Snow held onto her daughter tightly.

"We can't kill her." Snow replies and David nods in agreement.

"Snow's right, we aren't killing her."

"You have to let her go." Emma cries, still attempting to get away from Snow's hold.

"Emma." Regina softly whispers. She clears her throat and speaks a little louder. "Em, listen okay? It's going to be okay. We'll be together soon I promise, But for now I have to with David."

"But….I've never been away from you." Emma sobs. Snow loosens her grip and allows Emma to hug Regina goodbye. As angry as Snow was at her stepmother, it was clear she was the only one who could comfort last thing Snow and David wanted was for Emma to suffer.

"Be brave Em. I'll be with you before you know." Regina says cupping Emma's face in her hands. Emma nods and sniffles. "I love you."

"I love you too, Momma." Emma says hugging Regina once more before Snow places her hand on Emma's shoulder, indicating it was time to let go.

Regina had been placed in the jail cell. As hard as it was, she knew had to cooperate for now. It was best for Emma. Until Regina could figure something out, this was how things had to be. But as far as Emma concerned, this was worse than anything she could imagine.

"Emma, I made chicken noodle soup." Snow says from the doorway of the room they'd given Emma. Emma looks up, tears still running down her face. It was a wonder that she had any left. "Why don't you come eat?"

"I'm not hungry." Emma replies in a monotone voice.

"Please, Emma." Snow practically begs. Snow crosses the room and sits beside Emma on the bed. "This isn't' our fault. It's Regina's."

"I want my mom." Emma whispers. Snow sighs.

"I'm right here." She insists. Emma shakes her head, reminding Snow that she was NOT her mom. At least not in Emma's mind. "What can I do?"

"Make them let her go." Emma replies meeting Snow's eyes. "It's your fault this all happened. You're the reason her fiancee was killed, you're the reason she had to marry your father, don't you get it?" Snow recoils in shock. "And now it's your fault that she's in jail. Don't make it your fault that I hate you too."

"Emma-"

"Forget it. All you care about is getting your happy ending. It doesn't matter who you hurt in the process. I read the book SNOW WHITE, I think you're the selfish one." Emma rambles in anger. Snow tries to hide the hurt on her face as she exits her daughter's room. This wasn't how things were supposed to work out. Emma was supposed to be happy to be reunited with them. She didn't want her daughter to be miserable. She knew what had to be done.

"Emma." The blonde looks up from her bed. She gasps when she sees her mother entering the room.

"Mom!" She exclaims as Regina crosses the room and envelopes her daughter into a tight embrace. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Regina assures placing a hand on her daughter's. She can tell Emma's been crying for hours. "It's all going to be fine. Whaddya say we head home?" Emma nods eagerly and hurries to grab her things. Once she collects them she follows Regina out the door and down the steps. In the kitchen David and Mary Margaret are sitting at the table. Emma realizes this was their doing.

"Thank you." She says softly. Mary Margaret nods.

"Em, we have a condition to uphold." Regina says gently. "You're going to come here after school until I get out of work. That way you can get to know….them."

"Okay." Emma says indifferently. "Can we go? I'm tired." Regina nods and they make their way home. Things were messy and this was only the beginning, but for tonight they would be okay. Regina and her daughter would be together.