'Once Upon a Time' Season 3, Episode 21: 'Snow Drifts' Recap

A little girl is adopted from a group home, 18 years ago. Young Emma watches her leave, crying.

Emma asks Snow and Charming what to call the baby, but they want to announce his name at a coronation - well, a potluck at Granny's anyway. Henry brings in an ad for an apartment, but Emma sidesteps the idea.

Regina and Robin kiss, celebrating the return of her heart. She explains to him about seeing his tattoo in the tavern, and he thinks perhaps things were meant to happen in their own time.

Gold hides the dagger, while Belle worries about where to keep her fake one. He distracts her with talk of their wedding.

At Granny's, Hook mentions that Emma wants to return to New York and everyone is angry. She leaves and Hook follows to talk with her. Outside, those in the diner notice a column of flame shooting up to the sky. As Gold comes in, he tells them they have a problem - Zelena's time portal is open.

They go to find that Zelena is missing. Regina is suspicious of Gold but he lies and claims nothing to do with it. Charming goes to watch the security tape, which Gold has changed to look like Zelena kills herself. They all agree to avoid the portal until they can figure out what to do about it.

Hook finds Emma in the park and gives her the book, to remind her of who she is. She says she was never a part of any of those stories. She wants to find her home - a place she misses when she leaves. They notice the portal and she runs off to investigate. When she gets too close, she gets sucked in. Hook chases in after her.

They land in the Enchanted Forest. Hook wonders when, and Emma notices a "wanted" poster for Snow, giving them an idea of time. They do not have a way home. Emma suggests they try to find Rumplestiltskin, as black knights ride by and they are forced to hide. Regina, the Evil Queen, stops at the village, and as the two look on, threatens the villagers. She shows them a woman who helped Snow, captured. Emma tries to go help her but Hook holds her, and reminds her they can't change the past.

They steal some clothing for Emma before they go off to find Rumple.

Snow chops down a tree, which stops Charming, who is in a carriage with his betrothed. Emma realizes that Charming is about to meet Snow, and looks up where her mother is hiding in the trees. She accidentally snaps a branch, and, hearing it, Snow looks down and falls from the tree. She runs off into the woods, plan foiled. Charming goes off, and Emma realizes that now the moment her parents first met has not happened.

Hook and Emma find The Dark One's castle, and discuss what to do. He comes up behind them, however, and begins choking Hook. Emma tells him he has to listen, or he'll never see his son again. Emma explains what is going on and he takes them back to his castle.

He's upset that he let Hook live in the future, and when Emma sees Belle and also blurts out that the two end up together, The Dark One is not pleased. Emma takes out the book to try to show him, but many pages are now empty, since Snow did not steal the ring from Charming.

Rumple tells them there is a ball that evening, if they can get Snow there. He looks in a glass and finds Snow trying to buy passage on a ship from Blackbeard. Blackbeard won't do it, however, so they plan to have Hook step in.

They go to a tavern, where the past Hook is playing dice and drinking. They need Emma to distract him, so she goes over to flirt with him (making present-time Hook jealous). Hook sneaks onto his ship, where Smee notes he is acting oddly. He has Smee grab Snow and bring her onto the ship. He tells her he can give her passage, if she steals something for him.

Meanwhile Emma is getting Hook very drunk in the tavern, but he keeps trying to bring her back to the ship. She tries to stall but he brings her to the Jolly Roger. Smee is confused. Below deck, Hook is still there, so Emma kisses the other Hook to give him a chance to escape. That backfires when present Hook knocks out past Hook.

Rumple gives them an invitation to the ball, to make sure things are done correctly. He has a wand that can recreate any magic that has ever been done, and thinks he can use it to re-open the portal. He magics them into some better clothing, and puts a spell on them so they'll look different to others.

They go into the ball, and Hook dances with Emma. They observe Charming with his intended, who doesn't want to dance and complains about her feet. He offers to go get her comfortable shoes. Meanwhile, Snow has broken into the castle and is rooting around looking for the ring.

Regina crashes the party, panicking Emma, but Hook tells her to be calm. Upstairs, Charming finds Snow stealing the ring and attacks her. They fight, and he realizes she is a woman. Unfortunately, Charming's betrothed comes in and recognizes Snow. She starts the call, and the king's guards hunt for her. Snow climbs over the wall and takes off, Emma knocking aside an archer aiming for her.

As Emma falls over she finds the ring; Snow has left it behind. Hook fights off the guards so Emma can chase after Snow, but the guards surround her and bring her to Regina.