A/N: Thank you all for all the reviews, follows and favorites...you guys are awesome! I'm still working on the reunion between Henry and Anna, but I'm hoping to have it finished ASAP. Thanks as always to McEvoyer for her continued help and support. :)

Back on the beach, Emma walked Anna up to the castle. Snow decided to hang back and give them some space so she sat down on a log that had drifted up onto the beach, a little ways away. She watched as Emma took a seat on the play structure, leaning her body back onto her hands as her feet dangled. Anna soon followed suit. The sun was setting and the colors off the water were beautiful, but Snow found the only thing she could focus on were her daughter and granddaughter.

She watched as Anna scooted closer, little by little, to Emma, until they were shoulder to shoulder. Snow secretly wished she was close enough to hear their conversation. What happened next took Snow's breath away. Just as their shoulders touched, Emma reached her left arm around Anna, pulled her close and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Emma held the kiss for a little longer as both her and Anna simultaneously closed their eyes and took in the moment.

Snow wasn't prepared for the tidal wave of emotions that crashed on her at that moment. She felt extremely happy, a bit jealous and a little hurt all at the same time. She felt her heart would burst from the pure joy she felt as she looked at her daughter and granddaughter. Unfortunately, jealousy reared its ugly head as she was reminded that she never got to experience that with her child. Snow tried to cast those thoughts out but was met with the most painful emotion yet...heartache. Snow looked at Emma and instantly remembered everything she missed and her heart ached because of it and what's worse is that Snow knows that that throb will probably never go away. While her relationship with Emma; was better than it ever had been before, she longed for the moment when her daughter wouldn't flinch at her touch or the word 'mom' would be said casually. So much about her daughter was a mystery to her, but she craved to know more. She wanted Emma to trust her completely and know without a shadow of doubt that she will always be there for her and will never leave.

Snow knew that it wouldn't change overnight, it takes time to build that trust, but as she watched Emma and Anna interact she couldn't help but wish that moment would come sooner rather than later. She was ready to knock down the last of Emma's walls that remain and finally know her daughter.

Emma sat down on the castle and waited for Anna to join her. It was a beautiful sunset and she was so grateful to have her daughter with her. Emma glanced over at her mother who had sweetly stayed back to give her and Anna space, but in a way Emma wanted her mother close to her more than ever. It had been a long road, but they were finally back together; everyone together. Despite all the emotional tolls of the last year, Emma couldn't believe how lucky she felt and would do it over and over again if it meant she would have her mom with her. Emma trusted Snow more than anyone in the world and yet she was the one person she was the most scared to show her full self to. Emma's insecurities and walls had been taken down one by one by her mother, but still she couldn't allow Snow to completely shatter whats left of her psychological armor because if her mother were to leave she would never recover. That last little bit of protection she had was for survival because every one in Emma's life at some point or another went away and those barriers are what helped her move on after they left.

As she sat there and thought about how her view of her parents changed over the years from 'they'll be back to get me, I just know it' to 'I'm going to find them just to tell them I don't need them.' Truth is, that little girl who always had hope still remained despite the emotional scars that tried to cover up that part of her. Along her drive to Boston, Emma had a lot run through her mind and one thought in particular resurfaced as she sat on that castle structure. Did Anna still have hope? Emma was riddled with grief over the fact that her little girl had suffered the same kind of childhood she did; however, for Anna her childhood wasn't over and Emma was determined to give Anna the family she deserved.

"I still sleep with my baby blanket." Emma stared forward and noticed Anna slightly scoot an inch closer. "It's the only thing my biological parents gave me. I was found wrapped in it on the side of the road. For the longest time I had hope that they would come back for me, that I was just in foster care for a little while they sorted things out. Eventually, I grew up and my view of them changed." Anna scooted another inch. "However, as much as I would deny it, I still wanted them to come back and take me home." Emma took in a deep breath as Anna scooted once more, a mere inch away from her now. "I always told myself that if I ever had a child I would never let that kid grow up as I did. Anna, I'm so sorry." Emma paused for a moment as tried to hold back her tears. "I will do anything and everything to make it up to you."

Anna scooted one final time and as their shoulders touched she replied in a soft whisper, "I forgive you." Emma's heart started to race as she continued to listen. "I've always dreamed of what you would be like and that one day you would come back for me. I can't believe my dream came true."

Emma leaned over and pulled Anna close to her and just before she kissed the top of her head she whispered, "I love you so much."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As always your opinions and feedback help immensely, thank you all for reading! :)