Unspoken

Snow White

Snow White rolled her eyes as she watched Mulan and Emma continue trying to one-up each other. Mulan's tactic of choice was blunt, verbal intimidation, while Emma's combat her with dry, witty sarcasm. Snow was fairly certain that half of what Emma said didn't make any sense to her opponent.

"Don't let her get to you," Snow told her daughter once Mulan walked off, "she's just trying to rattle you. Whatever happens out there, I can protect us. Just stick to the plan."

"What is the plan?" Emma asked. Her frustration was evident in her voice. "You haven't told me anything."

Snow glanced around to make sure no one was listening. For some odd reason, Aurora was watching them like a hawk, but she was out of earshot. Snow White made a mental note to apologize to the girl when – if – they returned.

"The wardrobe," Snow told Emma.

"The wardrobe?" Emma repeated. "You mean the wardrobe – the wardrobe that brought little, baby me to Maine?"

At her daughter's words, Snow was hit immediately with two back to back flashbacks. The first was telling Charming to put her daughter in the wardrobe twenty-eight years ago, and the second was the day before, when Emma told her that no matter what the circumstances were, she had grown up alone because of Snow's choice.

"That's the one," Snow said and tried to mask what she was feeling.

"You think it will work?" Emma asked.

Snow could hear the awe in her voice. She was completely oblivious to how Snow felt, which was what Snow wanted. If Emma had been only her best friend – not her daughter, Snow would tell her how many times over the past day she remembered that she would never hold her infant child again. She would tell her that all she wanted to do was have a moment to be alone and cry. But now was not the time to mourn. She had to be strong for Emma, because no matter how capable Emma thought she was, Emma was in danger – perhaps more because she didn't realize it.

"Let's find out if the wardrobe survived, and then we'll worry about getting it to work," Snow told her.

"Where is it?" Emma asked.

Snow took a deep breath and said, "My place…you wanted to see where you're from Emma? Now is your chance."

Something about Snow's tone must have alerted Emma that something was off about her. There was immediate concern in Emma's eyes.

"What's wrong, Mary Margaret?"

Snow flinched at the sound of her old identity's name and wanted to kick herself for dropping her guard.

"Nothing," Snow said.

"I know you're lying," Emma said bluntly. "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but don't treat me like I'm an idiot just because I didn't grow up in this place."

"So, she's still mad about that," Snow thought and wondered if pride was an inherited characteristic. "Maybe she got it from Charming's side of the family."

"Emma, you're one of the most capable people that I know. If I'm not telling you what's wrong, it's because I don't even know yet."

"Whatever," Emma mumbled.

Snow watched as Emma sped up so that she wouldn't have to talk to her anymore.

"Well, this is going to be a fun trip," Snow thought and forced herself to concentrate on the journey that lay ahead. They could deal with their issues once they got back to Storybrooke.

Mulan suggested that they stop for a few minutes to rest and eat something. Snow got the idea that the woman was doing that more for their benefit than her own. Emma, who hadn't said two words to Snow since they'd left the village, nodded and walked away to rest alone.

"Don't go too far," Snow called out before she could catch herself.

Emma's only response was an annoyed glance in Snow's direction and a silent wave goodbye.

"Don't worry," Mulan told Snow once Emma was out of earshot, "she is close enough for me to protect her if something happens."

"Emma is my responsibility," Snow said without thinking and then sighed when she realized who Emma had gotten her stubborn pride from.

Snow sat down next to Mulan feeling far more emotionally exhausted than physically.

"Thank you," Snow told her. "I know we aren't acting like it, but we appreciate your help."

"I understand why the two of you would be upset with me."

Snow smiled but it was the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It isn't you, Mulan. Emma and I would be upset no matter what circumstances we found ourselves in, and for the record, I understand why you didn't trust us. I would have been just as cautious."

"You are not like most royalty I have met. I like that."

"Thank you," Snow said.

"Aurora could learn a lot from you."

Snow White thought about the scared, timid girl who had accompanied them earlier. "I think I was just like her when I was her age."

"I find that hard to believe."

"It feels like a lifetime ago," Snow said. "I guess it was."

"What changed you?"

"The short version of the story is that I made the wrong person angry and was on the run for years because of it. I had to learn how to rely on myself and to make friends in order to survive."

"Where was Emma?" Mulan asked. "She is your younger sister, correct?"

Snow laughed. "Not exactly."

"I apologize. I just assumed from the way the two of you are together that you were family."

"Oh, we are, but Emma is my daughter not my sister."

Snow had the strangest feeling someone had asked her this before, but she couldn't remember who. The almost memory didn't make sense because Snow had only remembered her identity the day before.

The shocked look on Mulan's face distracted her from the odd feeling of deja vue that she was quickly becoming accustomed to.

"How can that be?" Mulan asked.

"Her father and I created a way for her to escape the curse; so when all of us were frozen for the past twenty-eight years –"

"She grew up," Mulan said.

"Exactly – hence the complication."

"That was a very noble sacrifice."

Snow looked over at Emma who was now unsuccessfully trying to skip rocks in a nearby stream.

"She grew up alone because of it," Snow said. "There's nothing I can do to fix it. I lost her, and she lost me."

"I know what it is like to lose someone," Mulan said.

"Phillip?" Snow asked.

Mulan nodded. "He and I fought side by side in many battles. Phillip was like you – of noble birth but also of noble heart. I aided him in his quest to find Aurora, but I was unable to protect him from his fate."

Snow saw the pained look on Mulan's face, and suddenly Mulan's initial anger toward them made sense. She had loved Phillip.

"That's how you met Aurora?" Snow asked.

"Yes, I am responsible for her now that Phillip is gone. I would protect her with my life."

"She is lucky to have you," Snow said.

"Just as Emma is lucky to have you. She might have grown up alone, but you are here now. Deep down, she knows that."

Snow felt her eyes fill with tears. "I think she has been alone for so long that she doesn't know how to recognize that she isn't anymore."

"Some people are better at loving others than they are at being loved. I think your daughter is like this. The good news is that she loves you, and that is the first step to learning how to be loved."

"How do you know she loves me?" Snow asked.

"Because she shows her love the same way I do."

"And how is that?"

"More than anything, we protect and take care of those we love. I am not good with expressing how I feel, but my actions speak for me."

As Mulan's words sunk in, Snow watched Emma walk back to them.

"Are you two ready?" Emma asked.

"Yes," Mulan said and sent Snow a knowing look before she walked away.

Emma held out her hand to help Snow off the ground. It was a small gesture, but it reminded Snow of Mulan's words.

When they were face to face, Snow smiled at Emma.

"What?" she asked when Snow didn't saying anything.

"I love you, Emma. In case something happens to me, I want you to know that."

Emma dropped her hand and took a step back.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Snow grinned at her and thought, "You might not be ready to say it, but I know you love me too."