The Swan Princess

Tender Heart

Chapter 2

Tender Heart

The queen appeared in her bedchambers and she walked to her bed. Before she looked, she felt the presence of Snow White's firstborn child.

"Hey there little girl" The Queen may have done a lot of evil, but ruining a little girl's life because of her mother's mistake wasn't on her plans.

Emma only moved her chubby arms and kicked her legs around while looking directly at Regina, never leaving her deep brown  eyes. "How about you stay here with me?" The baby only looked at her while her eyes closed slightly. "At least until I can send you to the land with no happy endings safely...but I'll make sure you are alright. You will be protected, I promise little Emma." Regina took the baby in her arms. Emma cuddled closer to the Queen's chest and fell asleep. Regina heart threatened to melt with the sudden contact, beginning to doubt herself. Should she send  the beautiful baby to a place where there are no happy endings?

Minutes and hours passed and she sat on her bed and watched the baby sleep peacefully in her arms while she planned what her next move would be. She couldn't keep Emma as much as she intended to form the moment her eyes had seen baby with skin as white as snow.

"GUARDS!" Regina called still holding the baby close to her chest.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard entered the room bowing to the queen.

"Go find my huntsman." The queen never took her eyes of her pretty little Emma. "I wonder..." she whispered to herself.

The huntsman was the man without a heart. A pet for the queen. He roamed the castle,moments later, looking for Her Majesty. The Queen was nowhere to be found even though she had called for him. He walked to her bed chamber, but the she wasn't there. As he intended to leave, he heard a sweet cry come from the bed. He walked closer to get a closer look and his eyes widened. A baby girl.

Her bright green eyes stood out against her pale skin. She was small, no doubt newly born, but her arms and legs were chubby and moving around. She was crying so loudly, he couldn't help, but take the baby in his arms.

"Why are you here little one? This is no place for a beautiful child like yourself." He whispered tenderly. Emma looked at him with wide, tear-shedding eyes, her sobs subsiding. The huntsman looked at the baby for a while and looked around. He had a thought. "Let's go home, little girl."

The huntsman took Emma with him. Not aware than the queen was watching the scene right before her eyes. "Goodbye, beautiful swan." Regina said silently with a tear rolling down her cheek.

The huntsman was full of joy. He had a sleeping baby girl was in his arms, while he rode his horse to the cabin, where his dear friend awaited.

"Red! Red! Where are you, darling?" The huntsman happily called for his Red riding hood.

"Hey! What is all this commotion about?" Red walked as fast as she could. She had not yet seen her, but she smelled her. A baby.

The huntsman was awaiting for Red to come outside and when she did, he happily showed her the baby.

"Isn't she an angel?" The baby's scent hit Red like a thousand brick. She smelled just like Snow White, but  there was something else there, not quite so familiar. Red looked at the sleeping baby and felt her heart melt.

"She is in fact an angel, but why is she here?" Red asked never taking her eyes off the pale skinned baby. "She's ours now, I found her in the Queen's bedchambers. God knows what would had happened if I didn't take the little angel with me." Red couldn't believe her ears. Red was helplessly in love with the huntsman. He didn't have a heart and only saw her as his dear friend, just as it had been when h=they met. Listening to him saying that the baby was theirs was like a dream come true for her.

"She is beautiful, pale skin and big green eyes. She has a swan's beauty." Red said as the huntsman handed her new daughter to her.

"That's it Red! Her name is Swan! Our Swan." He looked at Red with tenderness.

"Swan," Red says out loud carrying the baby inside. The huntsman followed closely behind, his daughter in her new mother arms. Red started to inspect the baby until she noticed something. There was a name in the baby's blanket, a name embroidered in a deep purple color.

"Emma."Red whispered. "Her name is Emma. Emma Swan, our new pup." The huntsman hugged Red tightly, chuckling. The he kissed Emma's head.

"Now we are a family" Red melted at his words, wishing with all of her heart that could really be true.

In the Dark Kingdom, the Evil Queen watched the heartwarming scene from her mirror. Regina was overjoyed  that Emma would have a loving mother, but she was also in pain because she would be nothing to the child. She could not get close to beautiful little Emma.

I don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be happy, the Queen thought to herself. All she did now was roam her lonely castle. The dark halls were becoming overwhelming for the first time in her life. She walked with no direction. That is until she stumbled upon her huntsman.

"It's a nice day, isn't it, Your Majesty?" The huntsman asked, cheer clear in his tone. The Queen had never seen him so happy. She stopped wondering why she wanted to keep Emma. It was clear the child with just a look at those green eyes gave hope and joy.        The Queen became very fond of the baby in just hours and the Evil Queen's heart was not easily won.

"Indeed. But you look extremely overjoyed huntsman." Regina looked at the horizon.

"I am, Your Majesty. I found myself a beautiful pup and I shall raise her with Red." The huntsman was all smiles for the Queen, something she was not used to.

Perhaps Emma is in good hands, Regina thought to herself.

"Oh, I was unaware you two were in a romantic situation...Perhaps I shall give your heart back." The Queen wanted Emma to have all the love she deserved and a man with no heart could not love.

"My Queen, that would be a great honor. Have I earned your trust enough for Your Highness to return my heart?" The huntsman clearly could not believe his ears. The Queen, returning his heart. He would be able to love Emma and Red as they both deserved.

"I shall give it to you, but on one condition. You shall stay at the palace for the rest of your miserable life. Remember you are my pet, my property. Do we have a deal, pet?" The Queen looked at the huntsman waiting for an answer. The huntsman thought about it and with a nod, he agreed. The Queen with just a flick of her wrist returned his heart to his rightful owner.

"Now run off, I dislike your presence." The Queen said and he, bowing gratefully obeyed.  The huntsman had never been happier than he had been that day. He had everything. A companion, a daughter and his heart.