Snow hadn't been sure what she should expect when the large purple cloud came at them. Maybe she had expected pain or…a light breeze…something. But as the cloud overtook them, nothing happened. There was a purple fog and it lingered in the air for a bit before it dissipated.

Snow felt confused and looked at her husband, "What's happening?"

David grinned, "Let's find out."

The smoke continued to dissipate around them and they both walked down the street. People were awake. Everyone was confused and wondering around. They would have problems with their double personalities; Snow would have to show them how to deal with it.

This meant that she was going to have to face her daughter and her husband and let them know that she had been awake this whole time.

Snow saw Red; her best friend hugging her grandmother and she let out a small gasp, "Oh."

Red turned, her eyes filled with tears, "Snow?"

Snow ran to her friend and wrapped her arms around Red's neck. Red returned the embrace and sobbed.

"Your Highness."

Snow turned and saw the dwarves; her brothers in bond staring at her. They all bowed. Snow really wished they didn't do that. They were all past formalities now. She walked forward and embraced all of them

It was over. It was over.

"The curse… It's broken?" Grumpy asked.

David smiled "Well, it appears so."

"So, what do we do now?" Red asked.

"Now?" Snow smiled. She could face her daughter; she was ready, "Now I find my daughter."

"So, it's true."

Snow turned at the voice behind her. Her daughter looked so very tired. Like she'd aged fifty years overnight. Her eyes held disbelief and anger but in some strange way, a small bit of acceptance.

Snow walked forward and took her daughter's face in her hands. She didn't have to lie anymore, she didn't have to pretend. Emma could see her for who she was now.

Though, that might not always be the best thing.

At least now she could be her mother.

Snow took her daughter's face in her hands. Emma looked uncomfortable but Snow didn't let that dissuade her. She just wasn't used to it. She wasn't used to someone loving her and with time…she would learn to accept it.

Everyone was awake and her baby was safe. They could be a family again

"You found us," she whispered.

Emma still did not return the gesture. Even when David crept in and wrapped his arms around both of them.

"Grandpa?" Henry asked

It was so odd to think about that.

They both gave a quiet chuckle. Snow pulled him in for the embrace too. Emma had brought him back, that was the only logical explanation. She pulled him into their group hug. She made sure to hold him as tightly as possible. They'd nearly lost him because of Regina.

David ran a hand through the boy's hair

"Yeah, kid. I suppose so."

"She did it," Henry pulled away and looked at all of them, "She saved you."

Snow gave a confident look to her daughter, "She saved all of us."

Emma looked terrified at the very concept, "I… Well…"

"Uh," Leroy cleared his throat, "Then why are we still here?"

David looked at Snow, "That, my friend, is an excellent question."

Sneezy looked around, "Well, what was that smoke?"

Blue walked up, "Magic. It's here. I can feel it."

Henry tilted his head, "Magic? In Storybrooke? You're the Blue Fairy. Do something magical."

Blue shook her head, "It's not quite that simple, Henry. No wand, no fairy dust… Matters are complicated, now."

Leroy started forward, "Let's go to the person responsible for bringing it – the Queen."

"No, wait," Emma stopped them; "It wasn't Regina."

Snow nodded, "It was Rumpelstiltskin."

All eyes settled on her.

"Your husband here," Emma noted.

"No, Emma. Not for a while."

Emma tiled her head, "That one time you made sure to tell me that you hadn't been with him for months….I never understood why you ever wanted to tell me that but now it makes sense…"

"Emma," Snow whispered.

"Were you…awake this whole time?"

"Emma," Snow started again.

Pain crossed Emma's face, "And you didn't tell me!"

"Emma," Snow pleaded.

Emma turned, "Let's find Mr. Gold. He's the one that released magic."

"Yes," Charming tightened his hand into a fist, "Lets."

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When Rumpelstiltskin thought he could have everything, he hadn't expected Belle to be part of the equation. Not after he believed her to be dead, killed by her own father.

Well, he owed him an apology now…

He was still trying to wrap his mind around it after the smoke dissipated. Now that he looked back on it, he had been so stupid for trusting Regina like he had. He'd let her stay in a prison for four years and an asylum 28 years after that because of his own blind self-pity.

He turned to her and took her hand. He never took his eyes off her. He was worried that if he did then he'd lose her, "My darling Belle… You have to tell me what happened to you."

"I was abducted."

He didn't bother to hide the rage in his voice, "Regina."

Belle nodded, "She locked me away until her curse, and I've been in the asylum ever since."

"For twenty-eight years?" at her nod, he continued, "All these years, you've been here. Alive."

"Is… Is that… Is that why you did this?" Belle looked back at the well and then at him, "Why you wanted magic? For revenge?"

"No, no," he assured her and grinned viciously, "But it might come in handy."

"No," Belle shook her head, "No."

"I cannot let this stand, Belle," he told her firmly, "I will not let this stand!"

Regina forced him to be with another man's wife unwillingly and she kept Belle in a small room for almost 30 years. Vengeance had to be taken because the others didn't have the stomach for it."

"Look, promise me. Promise me you won't give in to your hate. Promise me you won't kill her."

He scoffed and looked away. He couldn't promise that.

"Promise me, and we can be together."

He cringed at that. How could he refuse her when he just got her back? When the ultimatum was that he couldn't be with her if he continued?

"Sweetheart…" he took her face in his hands, "I promise."

Belle stepped forward and he kissed her passionately. His curse didn't leave, the magic was different here.

He stared ahead though. He didn't have to kill her; he could send something else to do it.

And with Regina gone…And with Belle at his side, and magic and going to get Baelfire…he could have everything.

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It was a tense walk towards the pawn shop. Emma wouldn't even look at her, much less talk to her. Snow knew she deserved it, she deserved everything. And the first thing she was going to do once they got everything straightened out was go to Kathryn's house and make it right with her.

But first she wanted to make it right with her daughter.

"Is there anything that you want to ask us? You must have questions," Snow started,

"The only questions I have are for Mr. Gold. Why did he double-cross me, and what did he do to this town?" Emma snapped, "Well, I guess you could be asked the same thing."

Snow cringed, "Uh… Shouldn't we talk about 'it' first?"

"What?"

"Us, your life, everything?"

"Can we do everything maybe later?" Emma asked awkwardly, "Like, with a glass of wine. Or…several…bottles."

Snow looked to David and he spoke up, "I know it's a lot to take in – for all of us."

"And we don't want to push," Snow told her, "but we've waited for this moment for so long-"

"You did everything you could to speed it up, didn't you?" Emma spat.

"Emma."

"I've waited too," Emma turned, "I've thought about this moment my entire life. I've imagined who you might be. But, of all the scenarios that I concocted, my parents being… I-I just need a little time. That's… That's all."

Snow nodded. She understood that her daughter wanted time but she also knew that by asking for time she was trying not to deal with it.

There was shouting. They all looked down the street as Doctor Whale and several others ran down the street. What was all that about?

"Snow."

Archie raced up. He was breathless, "There you are. Come with me. I need your help. Dr. Whale's whipped everyone into frenzy. They're going to Regina's house. They're going to kill her!"

"Great," Grumpy muttered, "Let's watch."

"No. No, we cannot stoop to her level. No matter who she is or what she's done, killing her is wrong."

Says the man that wanted to execute her before all this happened.

"He's right," Henry begged, "Please. She's still my mom."

Emma nodded, "We have to stop them."

David looked at Snow, and then at everyone else, "If the Blue Fairy is right and magic is here, Regina could have her powers back. They'll be marching into a slaughter."

At that Snow and everyone raced through the street.

No more death. Not because of Regina.

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Everyone was reuniting in the street. Rumpelstiltskin made sure to take Belle a way that didn't pass the florist shop. He took her to the pawn shop. There would be a crowd gathered at his house. He was safer here surrounded by his magical objects.

He checked behind them before he slipped into the shop behind Belle. HE looked her over. She was dirty and her hair was tangled. She deserved better than what she was wearing, "You, uh… You wait here, Belle. I'm going to find you something to wear. You've spent enough time in these rags."

Belle smiled, "Thank you."

HE slipped through the curtain, There were some dressed she could wear until he bought her better.

He spotted one that would probably fit her by glancing at it. Now that he was alone he could get this done. HE pulled on his gloves.

The Wraith was as good as any punishment he could think of.

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There was always a crowd already gathered outside and they'd dragged Regina out to face their anger. Whale had her slammed against the column when Emma and the rest of them fought their way through the crowd

"Let her go. Let her go! Let her go!"

She shoved Dr. Whale away from Regina. Whale didn't back down, he got in Emma's face, "Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I am still Sheriff," Emma told him boldly.

"And because she saved you," David looked at the crowd, "All of you!"

Charming had always told Snow that she was better at talking and he was better at fighting. And there needed to be control before everyone ripped each other apart, "And because no matter what Regina did, it does not justify this."

There was a difference between a trial, execution and then there was vigilantism out of vengeance."

"We are not murderers here," Emma told them.

"Well, we're not from this world," Whale sniffed.

Emma looked back at him, "Yeah, well, you're in it now."

David pushed Whale back away from Emma, "Okay, Whale. We're done."

Whale got in his face and Snow prepared for the testosterone fight that was bound to happen, "Back off. You're not my prince."

David tilted his head, "Who are you, Whale?"

Whale smirked, "That's my business."

"Well my business, is making sure this town doesn't go to hell," David told him, "So, whether or not I'm your prince, isn't the issue. We have a lot to figure out, and this isn't the way to do it."

Snow nodded. The last thing she wanted to do was have to clean up more spilled blood, they had to get this under control. She wrapped her arms around her grandson protectively, "And Regina's death won't provide any answers. She needs to be locked up. For her safety and, more importantly, for ours."

And she hated herself the minute she saw Regina smiling like she'd won.

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Rumpelstiltskin had left Belle to take a bath at the house and rest for the afternoon. She was so exhausted, it made sense. She'd probably done more walking today than she'd ever done in 28 years.

All the better to get everything done. She wouldn't like what he did but he hadn't gone back on his word. IT was for everyone's benefit.

He waited in the jail. He knew they would take her there. They didn't have the stomach for doing what had to be done. He waited in the closet and listened as Regina blatantly lied to their faces and left to go find him. When he came out, he saw Regina trying to summon the magic to break open the lock

"Magic is different here," he told her and gave a sneer, "Dearie."

Regina glared, "I noticed. I assume this is all you're doing."

He smirked proudly, "Most things are."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Get to it, Rumpel. What do you want? You're here to finish the job?"

"No, no, no," he smirked, "You're safe from me."

"I feel so relieved," Regina half snarled.

"I made a promise to someone that I won't kill you."

Regina narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Who could elicit that from you?"

Oh, that was just what he was waiting on, "Belle."

Horror crossed Regina's face, "She's alive."

He started shaking with rage, "You are….a dreadful liar."

"I could've killed her," Regina told him, "but I didn't."

Didn't she know that made it so much worse?

"Yeah, you did much worse than that," he walked closer. She stepped away from the bars, "You kept her alive, so you could kill her when it suited you. A fate worse than death. Which, incidentally, is exactly what I've got in store for you."

He grabbed her arm and forced her against the bars. Regina struggled to get away but he was too strong for her. He pressed the medallion against her hand and heard her gasp, "Is that…"

"Yes, dearie," He raised his voice to the nasal pitch just for old times' sake, "The one thing no one can escape – destiny. And, I promise, yours is particularly unpleasant."

He let her hand go and watched as terror crossed her face as she stared at her hand.

Justice was done.

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The first moment that Snow and David got alone was when Emma was standing with Henry, talking to Ruby.

Charming looked at her, "You were…married to Rumpelstiltskin."

She stared ahead, "Yeah."

"Like married in every sense of the term?"

Snow couldn't look at him, "When I was cursed, yeah."

He bristled, "I'm going to kill him!"

"He was cursed too," Snow said quickly, "It stopped once we woke up."

He looked hurt, "You were really awake all this time?"

She couldn't look at him, "Yes. I couldn't tell you because…you weren't you."

He looked sick, "What David Nolan did to you."

"That wasn't you!" Snow took his hand, "I know it wasn't you."

"I should've fought it."

"You were cursed, you didn't know."

"I'm sorry," he told her, "I'm so sorry."

"David," she said quietly and touched his hand, "I'm sorry. I played both of you and I'm not going to forgive myself for it."

"Snow-," he started.

She closed her eyes, "I'm sorry."

"You did what you had to to survive. Especially living with Rumpelstiltskin."

"He's not so bad."

"He didn't hurt you?"

Snow shook her head, "No, he didn't hurt me."

They both looked over at Emma as she ushered her son into the car, "Our baby is all grown up."

"She is," his voice broke."

"We missed everything."

"Snow-."

"We missed everything and she doesn't….she doesn't even seem to realize anything. She doesn't realize that we love her and wanted to protect her, she thinks we abandoned her."

"Snow," he warned again. His voice dropped to a whisper when Emma walked over,

"Don't push it, Snow.

"I'm not…," she whispered.

"You guys ready?"

Snow started in, "We need to talk."

Charming sighed and hung his head.

"I… Well, I don't… I just… I don't want to talk," Emma told her sharply, "You lied to me

"Because I had to, okay? You wouldn't have believed the truth."

"We don't have time."

"All we have is time, Gold can wait. I can't. I mean," She looked for the right words to say, "You're my daughter, and… I want to talk to you. I know that we have talked. But, you didn't know that we were talking. And we talked about things we probably shouldn't even have talked about…like you…questions about my intimate life and the like."

"Snow!" Charming exclaimed, "Please!"

Snow waved her hand at him, The point is, you did not know that we were mother and daughter and, now, you do. And, so… Please, let's talk."

Emma looked at both of them and realized she was trapped, "Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

Snow sighed, "We're together – finally. And I can't help but think you're not happy about it."

"Oh, I am. But, see…," Emma hung her head, she didn't want to say the next words, Snow could tell, "Here's the thing – no matter what the circumstances, for twenty-eight years I only knew one thing. That my parents sent me away."

"No, Emma no, we did that to give you your best chance."

"You did it for everyone, because that's who you are," Emma looked miserable believing that they picked everyone over their own daughter, "Leaders, heroes, princes, and princesses, and that's great. A-And amazing. And wonderful. But it doesn't change the fact that, for my entire life, I've been alone."

Snow reached for her daughter, but Emma drew away, "But, if we hadn't sent you away, you would've been cursed, too."

"But we would've been together. Which curse is worse? Come on."

She didn't know what she was saying. She didn't realize that her life would've been over before it began because Regina wanted to kill her, "Let's just… Let's go find Gold."

Snow stared at her leaving daughter. She looked at her husband and slipped her hand into his.

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Rumpelstiltskin had expected to see Emma hours ago; he was pouring tea for both him and Belle when they all walked in.

"Oh, it's my beloved stepdaughter and her family," he mocked and let the lid of the kettle fall, "What can I do for you?"

"What you can do is tell us what you did," Emma snapped.

"I'm sorry. You're going to have to be more specific," he told her with a smirk.

"You know what we're talking about," David snapped.

Snow glared at him as well, "You double-crossed Emma, you lied to her about how the magic would help Henry, you, uh, took your…potion egg thing from her."

"And did who knows what to this town," David finished.

Emma gave him a deadly glare, "And, worst of all, you risked Henry's life."

Rumpelstiltskin looked at Snow but she didn't defend him. He'd already risked enough of her family.

"Well, that is quite a litany of grievances now, isn't it?" Rumpelstiltskin mocked.

"Maybe I don't need answers. Maybe, I just need to punch you in the face," Emma snapped.

Her defiance and anger made him laugh, "Really, dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own, alright?"

He circled around the counter, he watched Emma wrap her arms around herself, "Did your dear boy Henry survive?"

"Yeah," Emma said reluctantly.

"Is the curse broken? And let's see. Uh, Miss Swan. How long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you're reunited. Seems like, rather a punch in the face, I deserve a thank you."

Even though he had nothing to do with any of that, he wanted her to think that she did and it looked like it worked.

"Twist my words all you want," Emma snapped, "What was the purple haze that you brought?"

"You know…," he gave a hand flourish, "Magic."

"Why?" his wife of this world demanded.

"Not telling," he gave her warm mocking smile

A loud explosion rocked the building. Charming caught Snow, Emma braced herself.

"What was that?" Emma demanded.

He watched they ran to the window to look out,

"That… Is my gift to you," he told them. This was how he redeemed himself for the trouble he caused them and Belle, "That… Is going to take care of Regina."

He saw Snow's hurt and he didn't understand why. HE saved her from more suffering. She walked toward him.

"Snow, come on," David called, "We need to go take care of this."

"Why?" she asked simply.

"Cleaning up my mess," he told her.

Understanding flickered across her face, and then shame, "We're not done."

"Oh, I know," He told her, "Emma still owe me a favor."

Snow sighed and turned to join her family. Rumpelstiltskin smiled and watched her leave.

Belle walked through the curtain. He cursed when he saw the betrayal in her eyes, "Hey."

"You lied to me," Belle accused.

"No, I-I kept my word. I, will not kill her."

It wasn't a proper excuse and he knew it, "No. You toy with words like you do people. You're still a man who makes wrong choices. I thought you'd changed."

"What?" He scoffed without thinking about it, "In the hour you've known me?"

He hurt her. He always hurt her with his words. Her eyes filled with tears and she headed towards the door.

He cursed himself and turned, "Belle, I… I'm sorry. Belle, I'm sorry. I am."

She gave him another hurt look and left him alone.

Oh he hadn't changed. He was still the monster that hurt her.

And he hated himself for it.

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The thing…the cloaked figure was already attacking Regina when they ran in.

"Hey!" David screamed. He smashed the wraith with the chair. The Wraith turned, threw him, and then started tossing the furniture around

"Over here!" Snow found a lighter and an aerosol can that Henry had hidden for 'emergencies'. She lit it up and the creature screeched and flew out the window.

"What was that thing?" Emma demanded.

"A wraith," Regina pulled herself up, "A soul sucker."

"Did I-," Snow started.

"Kill it?" Regina demanded, "No, it's regenerating. It'll be back. It doesn't stop until it devours its prey – me."

"So, how do we kill it?" Emma asked

"There's no way. Can't kill something that's already dead," Regina leaned on the bars.

Emma looked at all of them, "Then, we have a problem."

"No, we don't. Regina does," David snapped.

Regina had the audacity to look offended, "What?"

"You want to let her die?" Emma said in horror. This wasn't the Prince Charming that she'd heard about.

"Why not?" David looked at both of them, "Then it goes away and then, we're safe."

"That's quite the example you're setting for your daughter, there," Regina snarled.

"No, you don't get to judge us," David screamed, "You made sure you took her away."

"There's no time to argue," Regina pointed to the window, "Let me ask you something. Where do you think that thing came from? Gold."

"I made a promise to Henry," Emma told them, "She's not dying."

But the undead couldn't be killed. Even when she was a baby, she knew that, "If it can't be killed, what do you suggest?"

Regina straightened up, "Send it somewhere it can't hurt anyone."

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The plan had been a simple one. Ward off the Wraith long enough to get the hat activated and send it to oblivion since their home world didn't exist.

If it didn't exist, Snow wasn't entirely sure if Regina was lying or not. Their home world may not be there, it might also be there, she didn't know. She didn't even really want to save Regina, not after what Regina had forced her into. But it was important to Henry, so it was important to Emma, so it was important to her.

The lights went out…the wraith came in. Regina started to spin the hat.

Nothing happened

"Regina, any time now," Emma told her

"I know," Regina yelled and spun the hat again.

David lit the broom and swung it at the wraith. It backed it up for a second but it wouldn't be enough. Snow grabbed the alcohol from the nearest table and poured it on the railing, "DAVID!"

He ran behind the barrier and lit the railings on fire, "Hurry Regina!"

"It's not working!" Regina shouted.

"What is the problem?" Emma demanded.

"Magic… It's different here," she screamed, "I already told you that!"

"Now would be the time!" David looked over his shoulder.

Snow watched as Emma put her hand on Regina's shoulder to urge her. The hat moved for a second…like the wind hit it and then it was spinning.

Emma got it to work.

"It's coming!" David screamed

Regina was too busy staring at her hands to move.

"REGINA!" Emma moved to shove Regina out of the way

The Wraith was sucked into the portal and Snow drew in a relieved breath.

But the thing caught her ankle. Snow screamed in horror as she watched her daughter fall through the hat, "NO!"

David was screaming too.

I'm not losing her again!" Snow screamed and jumped through the hat. She fell through a tunnel of purple light. She didn't know if she was going to die, she was supposed to go into oblivion if Regina was right.

Oh God, David and Henry are going to be alone.

And then another more random thought.

I never got to make it right with Kathryn.

Then the fog and light and tunnel was gone. It was dark. Snow was falling. She slammed her head on something.

And then there was nothing.

The End

I'm not going to do a sequel for this one. The experiment of this story was to see how much dialogue I could keep the same but have the situation be entirely different. But now that everyone knows what's going on now, I'm sure that pretty much everything that happened in season 2 of the show will be the same. Maybe if Rumpel, Snow and Jefferson were all close to each toher in the first half of the season maybe but they're not. And since the last half of the season was so Charming lite and Regina heavy, I don't know why I'd be bothering.

Thank you all for your reviews.