What Could Have Been

~

Here she was, someplace she never thought she would see again. Standing in Emma's abandoned nursery. Snow sighed. So many missed opportunities and dreams unfulfilled. She wished that she didn't stop The Evil Queens execution which meant the curse was never made and the life she could of had; not stolen from her. Despite being a mother, she doesn't know how to be one. She can't comfort Emma the way she needs. Despite trying she will never be able to as she would have learnt this skill while raising Emma.

The worn out cot stood in the middle of the room there was a chair next to it and the window was wide open allowing the moonlight to shine over the cot. Snow walked over to it. Stroking the wood, she smiled. Remembering how Pinocchio and his Father crafted this as a present and how excited Prince Charming was for this cot to be used by their unborn child. "You would be such a wonderful mother to our child" he would say while rubbing her belly. And how he said he wanted a son so he can teach him how to fight and how to carry his courage but secretly wished for a girl so he can spoil her dearly and protect her from all the evils in this land. Oh how they talked about whats to come. Her first word, her first step, their first holiday as a family and in the near future, a younger brother or sister for their little Emma.

A tear silently fell down her cheek. Snow never expected to see the nursery in this state. Dust and cobwebs settled in. Weeds have crawled in. Dead leaves from the trees surrounding their home have blown in. The life has been sucked out of this place. Just like their dreams. When the curse was upon them, she was just getting used to the idea of raising Emma alone without her Prince Charming. Nothing could be worse than that, she thought wrong. The baby was born. Not out of happiness but out of fear. Anger creeped over Snow as the day Emma was born was not filled with happiness as it should have been. That opportunity was stolen and can never be regained. They abandoned her child. For hope; to give her, her best chance. To become the saviour of them and her people. And for that they both have to deal with the consequences.

"Mary Margaret! You coming?" Emma calls for her. Sadness pined in her as her daughter can't call her Mother. And probably never will. Taking one last look of what could have been. She left the room to join Emma, Mulan and Aurora on their quest to get back to Storybrooke.