No force in the universe, and certainly no snarling beast of a man could've kept Regina from her daughter in that moment. The instant Snow reached for her, Regina was there, catching her up and holding on tightly. She stroked a hand over Snow's hair, murmuring her name and kissing her.

Hundreds of times since Snow disappeared, she'd thought of things she wished she'd said, wished she'd told her, but the force of emotion at being who her daughter wanted stripped them from her. Only two words mattered now: "Snow, love."