A/N: From a gif that I saw on twitter. More soon, depending on your response. Rating subject to change.

BREAK

So much food. Emma's stomach growled angrily as she explored the corner store. It even had a bakery counter. Unable to resist, she swiped a bear claw and shoved it in her basket. She was really trying to cut down on the luxuries, she had two mouths to feed and a crappy job working security. The cashier was busy watching something on his iPad (porn, probably) and there were no other customers so Emma took her time. Stores still made her feel like a thief, even though she hadn't stolen a thing since she got out of jail and got the kid back.

Emma couldn't really remember not being hungry. There had never been enough food in the foster homes, even when the bigger kids hadn't helped themselves to half her share. These days, food went to the kid. Henry. He was 18 months old and the light of her life. His social worker was one of the good ones, she'd been very supportive in the first months when Emma was in jail, making sure he was safe and happy, and she'd helped Emma get her apartment ready and tick all the boxes to bring him home. She'd even helped out with the job, she said it was surprisingly common for ex-cons to work in security.

Emma looked in her basket. Fruit, vegetables, eggs, flour, syrup, pasta, soup… She'd been craving grilled cheese recently; she reached for a loaf of bread-

There was a blinding flash of light, knocking Emma to the ground as she scrambled to keep everything in the basket.

"Fucking generator," she heard the cashier groan. "It's knocked out my wifi."

Emma staggered to her feet, hitting herself on the side of the head in an attempt to stop the ringing in her ears. She checked the eggs. Not broken. She sighed with relief.

She reached out for the bread again, eyeing the light fittings in the next aisle warily, when her eyes met a pair of chocolate brown ones that had definitely not been there before.

They belonged to a girl, a woman, around Emma's age, with long, dark brown hair, wearing a giant marshmallow dress that belonged in a fairytale wedding. Emma's curiosity got the better of her; she shoved the bread into her basket and went to get a better look.

"Some explosion just then. I thought I was a goner."

"Excuse me?" the girl asked daintily.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Goner. Dead. I thought it might kill me."

"Oh. I… I am glad there were no fatalities." The girl looked around. To Emma's horror, she seemed to be about to cry. "Would you mind telling me where I am?"

Emma laughed. "Some trip you're on there, babe. You're in Boston, Massachusetts, in a shitty 24 hour grocery store."

"Is that some kind of market? I do not think I should be here, it is not appropriate. I am in my wedding dress!"

"Wait, you're a runaway bride? That's kind of awesome. Where did you run from?"

The girl seemed affronted. "I did not run from anywhere. I do not know how I got here, but I can assure you, I would never shirk my marital responsibilities!"

"Okay, lady, cool it!" Emma said, holding up her hands in surrender.

"I apologise." The girl held out her hand. "Lady Regina Mills. It is a pleasure to meet you, and I would appreciate your assistance."

Emma examined the hand. It kind of looked like Regina expected her to kiss it. She fist bumped it instead.

"Emma Swan." She put on a silly voice. "How may I be of service?"

Regina frowned. "Miss Swan, are you making fun of me?"

"Never. Okay, look, you seem like a nice kid so I'm just gonna grab one more thing and then we'll figure out what to do with you, okay?"

Regina nodded, though she was still frowning. Emma grabbed the cheese slices she needed, roused the cashier enough to pay, and grabbed Regina's hand to pull her out of the store.

"Unhand me, peasant!" Regina squealed. Emma let go halfway down the street.

"Peasant? Are you for real?" Were her jeans and tank top really that bad? Her wild blonde hair was actually having a pretty good day, or so she'd thought.

"Are you not a peasant, Miss Swan? It is clear from your attire that you are not of noble birth. In fact…" she let out a little gasp, "are you some kind of… lady of the night?"

Emma laughed loudly. "Fuck me, Gina, you're hilarious. You mean a hooker, right? I'm afraid not, though with you I might make an exception."

"You are despicably vulgar."

"My apologies, Your Majesty."

"There is no need for that. I am not the Queen yet."

"The fuck… You're going to be the Queen? Of where?"

"Of the White Kingdom, obviously. I am marrying the king later today… Only… We are not there, are we?"

Regina was looking around. Now that they were outside, it was obvious she was in a different realm. It was loud and dirty and packed with dangerous machines. She shuddered, then coughed at the fumes in the air.

"Wait, you seriously think you're from a place called the White Kingdom? Are you some kind of nutjob?"

"I am entirely in control of all my mental faculties, thank you very much. I am simply… Displaced."

"Okay, well, good luck Regina… I gotta go."

Emma paused. She felt weird leaving her. Regina was keeping it together with regal grace, but Emma saw the way she jumped every time a car went past. Emma thought about Lily, screwing up her life over and over, about all the families she'd tried to care for only to be kicked to the kerb. She didn't do people, they only led to heartache and pain. She had Henry, and he was all she needed. She couldn't risk letting anyone else into their lives just to mess everything up.

Decision made, Emma turned around, walking towards her car, Neal's one contribution to her livelihood.

"Miss Swan, wait!"

Emma kept on walking, though she could feel herself slowing.

"Miss Swan, halt, I command you!"

Emma wheeled around. "You have no right to command me to do anything-" Emma began, but she cut herself off when she realised Regina was crying.

"Hey, hey, stop it," she said. As a kid, she'd thought crying was a sign of weakness. She would have been the first to mock someone for tears. But since having Henry, it was as if her nurturing instincts had been awakened. She hurried to Regina's side.

"Look, my car's just around the corner, I can give you a lift somewhere."

Regina gathered herself, mortified at her display of weakness.

"That will be quite unnecessary, Miss Swan. I have no place to go. I must simply find a way back to my wedding."

She didn't seem keen, though.

"You love this guy, the one you're marrying?"

Sadness flickered across Regina's face, but she brushed it away instantly.

"Marriage is not a matter of love."

"Right. Uhm… Look, not to sound mean or anything, but why should I believe any of this? I don't think this is a scam, I have nothing worth stealing and you really don't seem to be a sexual predator, but-"

Regina snapped her fingers. There was some purple smoke, then a handkerchief appeared. She used it to blow her nose. It was the fanciest nose-blow Emma had ever witnessed. Not that she registered it.

"HOLY SHITBALLS!" Emma squealed, jumping back. "Was that-"

"Magic. Yes. I am becoming quite proficient. I was not sure it would work here."

"But if you can do magic, can't you just, like, magic yourself back home?"

"It is not that simple. My skills are still limited, but in fact even the most powerful sorcerer could not cross realms without a portal."

Emma thought about this. "Then… couldn't you go back through the portal you came with?"

Regina shook her head. "No. I am not sure exactly what it was, but it closed before I could return."

Emma took another moment to think. "Are you hungry?" she asked suddenly. Regina seemed confused by the question.

"I… I suppose so. But I will be quite alright, you may take your leave."

"I know that I may," Emma said, rolling her eyes. "But if you want, bossypants, you can come too. I'm making grilled cheese."

"What is grilling and how do you do it to cheese?"

Emma laughed. "You're gonna love it. Come on."

Regina followed cautiously. She knew better than to trust this vagrant, but the realm was huge and terrifying and Emma made her feel safe, somehow.

Emma unlocked the bug and opened the driver's door, tipping the seat forward.

"You're gonna have to sit in the back, I'm afraid."

Regina touched the metal. She was dubious to say the least.

"Is this some sort of carriage?"

"Uh, I guess? It's a car, people drive about in them."

"I can see them… Miss Swan, I do not mean to offend, but this one seems rather… Battered."

"Oh, yeah," Emma said, banging the roof affectionately. "She's a wreck. But she runs like a dream."

Regina did her best to be elegant while clambering into the back seat. She was unsuccessful. Emma shoved the rest of her dress inside unceremoniously, then passed Regina the bag of groceries.

"Look after those, yeah?"

Regina seemed fascinated by the M&Ms Emma had grabbed by the till as a last minute treat. Emma clicked her seat back and jumped into the car.

"What is that contraption?" Regina asked. Emma looked in the mirror; she was pointing at the carseat.

"It's a seat for a kid, so they're safe. Oh yeah, seatbelt. You should put yours on."

"You have a child?"

Emma grinned, leaning around to show Regina how to put on her seatbelt. "Yeah. He's 18 months old. He'll probably scream at you. Fair warning. He doesn't like strangers."

"Where is he now? With your husband?"

Emma guffawed. "Do I look like I have a husband to you?"

"Why shouldn't you?"

"Well, I'm 19, for starters!"

"I am also 19. And you have a son…" Regina trailed off, blushing. Emma tried not to laugh at her.

"Maybe in your world it's different, but here, plenty of people have kids when they're not married. It's not that weird. Being married at 19 would be way weirder."

"So, the child's father is-"

"Not important."

"He does not support you?"

"I wouldn't let him if he wanted to," Emma said firmly.

Regina stayed quiet, not wanting to let on that she was impressed. She would never have been brave enough to live unsupported, and that was alone. She couldn't imagine trying to raise a child without a man's support. In the Enchanted Forest, she considered such a thing to be impossible.

"Right, stay in the car, I'll be two minutes," Emma said, leaving before Regina had a chance to protest.

Regina forced herself to stay calm. Pinned down by the seatbelt, she felt incredibly trapped.

Emma charged into the daycare. She didn't care that this place took half her paycheck - it was worth it. Henry was so smart, she would never leave him somewhere crappy. If she couldn't be with him all the time, she could at least make sure he was always with good people.

"Momma!" Henry squealed. It had been his first word. Emma beamed with pride every time she heard it.

"Hey there, big boy! Let's get your coat and get out of here. How do you feel about grilled cheese for dinner?"

"Hunwy." Henry announced. "Want more."

Emma chuckled. "Me too, kid. C'mon."

She helped him into his jacket then hoisted him onto her hip.

"So, kid, there's a friend of mine in the car," she said as she walked outside. "Be nice to her, okay? She's gonna stay for dinner."

Henry didn't answer. Emma ruffled his hair. They reached the car and she set him in the seat. He immediately stood up and turned around, staring at the newcomer. He grinned.

"Pincess!" he exclaimed. "Look, Momma, Pincess!"

Regina blushed. "I am not a princess, dear."

"Pincess," Henry declared happily. Emma chuckled.

"Come on, in your seat kid, so we can get home and make dinner."

Henry settled in the seat and Emma strapped him in. Regina leaned forward, enthralled by the child, if a little lost as to how to communicate with him.

"Hello," she said gently. Henry giggled

"Ello, Pincess."

Emma began to drive. "Kid, why don't you introduce yourself to the princess?"

Henry reached out to proffer a rather sticky hand to Regina. "Henwy," he said cheerfully.

"Remember what we practised," Emma whispered.

"Henry," he said slowly, being extra careful with the 'r'.

"Good job, little man!"

"Good afternoon, Henry. I am Regina Mills."

Henry frowned.

"Give him something he can call you," Emma suggested.

"Regina," Regina said slowly. She held back on My Lady. She had a feeling Emma would laugh.

"Dee-nuh," Henry managed. Emma chuckled.

"Hard sounds are easier. Apparently, when they have a dad, kids usually say Dada before Momma, because 'm' is more difficult to say. But Henry didn't have anyone to call Dada, so he went straight for me."

"You seem to be very proud of him," Regina commented.

"I am. I know what you're thinking, I'm too young, I'm single, I'm poor, I must be a terrible Mom, but I've witnessed a lot of bad parenting in my life and-"

"I was not thinking that," Regina interrupted. "In fact I was thinking the opposite."

Emma paused. She'd had a lot more ranting to do… "Really?" she asked quietly.

"Yes. He obviously loves you, and you him."

"Well, uh, thanks," Emma said awkwardly. "Hey, look, we're here."

She helped Regina and the shopping out first, then grabbed Henry and locked the car.

"I'm guessing you grew up in a palace?" Emma asked as she unlocked the main door of her grotty apartment building.

"It was more of a small fortress really," Regina said. "But I am grateful for your hospitality." She wrinkled up her nose.

"Yeah, it's, pi- uh, pee. You get used to it," Emma said. "Elevator's broken, we're on the eighth floor. Keeps you fit, though."

Regina was gasping for breath by the fifth. Emma, carting groceries and Henry, hardly noticed the climb. She leaned against the railing, waiting.

"I… am not used… to such… vigorous activity," Regina panted. Emma grinned mischievously.

"Couple of nights of marriage," she teased with a wink. She wished she could take it back, though, when she saw Regina's face.

They proceeded up the stairs in silence. Emma had been imagining the king as a cute, rich, young guy, kind and handsome, like a fairytale prince charming. But she realised as they walked that there was no reason why he should be.

They got inside and she set Henry on the carpet, surrounded with toys. Regina stood just inside the door, entirely out of her element. Emma figured she must be used to servants fetching everything for her. She didn't want to make a habit of it (habit? that suggested crazy lady would be staying) but she decided to do what she could to make Regina feel at home.

"So, you can sit right here," Emma said, shoving her book, blanket, glasses, and the newspaper to one end of the couch. "Unless you need to use the restroom?"

"What is that?" Regina asked. She sounded stern, but Emma was beginning to realise the more threatening Regina sounded, the more uncertain she probably felt.

"The bathroom, you know, if you need to, like, powder your nose?"

Emma was suddenly blushing. She thought she saw the hint of a smirk on Regina's face.

"Perhaps you would show me where it is?" Regina suggested.

Emma led the way, opening the door and then, for some strange reason, following Regina inside.

"So, I dunno what bathrooms are like in your realm or whatever, but there's the toilet, and you flush it with the little silver handle, and here's the washbasin."

Regina pointed to the faucets. "What are those?"

Emma turned one on. Regina gasped at the rush of water.

"Is that magic?" she asked.

"Uh, no, it's a faucet."

"But how is the water there?"

"Pipes," Emma said, hoping this would be the end of the questions because while she was quite sure indoor plumbing was scientifically explicable, she didn't have a clue how to lay it out for Regina. "Oh, and to get the soap, you push the top of the thingy and it comes out into your hand."

Regina looked around the room, bemused. Then she waited. Emma was still hovering.

"I think I will be alright on my own now, Miss Swan," Regina said.

Emma felt her cheeks turn crimson as she hurried out of the room.

"Oh, God, Henry, could I be more awkward?" she said to her son. Henry giggled.

"Pincess in da baffroom."

Emma loved his sentences. They were pretty much limited to something in or on the something, but that was still advanced for his age. Advanced. She grinned. Her kid. Advanced.

"Right you are kid. Princess Dina's in the bathroom. Even princesses gotta go potty."

Henry giggled again.

"Time to get started on that grilled cheese!" Emma announced. She took out the ingredients and assembled the sandwiches. She hoped grilled cheese would be alright for a fairytale princess - okay, not actually a princess, but close enough. She knew from experience that anything was alright if you were hungry enough, but she wasn't sure Regina was quite there yet.

"Sssss," Henry imitated when the first sandwich hit the pan.

"Yeah, sss. It makes that noise 'cause it's frying. Making it all toasty."

"Snake."

Emma looked over at Henry, who was now with her in the kitchen area of their one main room.

"Yeah, you're right, snakes go sss too."

Regina appeared from the bathroom. Emma had heard the toilet flush. Welcome to modernity, princess. She grinned.

"It's almost ready."

"SSSSS!" Henry hissed at her. Regina looked perturbed.

"He's a snake," Emma said helpfully.

"Oh. Uh… Please do not bite me?" Regina said nervously, looking at Emma for reassurance.

"Say whatever you want to him, as long as you don't curse. I do. I mean, I don't curse. I don't think you would either. Do you even know any curse words? Maybe there are different ones where you're from anyway."

Regina smiled. "I know some curse words, as you call them, Miss Swan. And I also know not to use them in front of an infant. I am not a fool."

Emma rolled her eyes at the now-cooked sandwich. She flipped it onto a plate and started the next one.

"Why don't you tell us about where you're from? Henry loves stories, and you have such a fancy way of speaking, I'm sure he digs it."

"Excuse me?"

"God, you don't know anything, do you? Digs means likes, it's slang, I guess."

Regina held back the snide remarks that came to mind, largely for the sake of the child. "Very well," she said, seating herself primly at the table. "I am from the White Kingdom. I was aware that there were other realms, but I had never been to one before today. I do not know how I got here, though it is fascinating. Much of what happens here seems like magic, though you do not seem accustomed to my forms of the craft.

"There are a few thousand people in the kingdom. The poorest are peasants, slightly below farmers… We do not have any buildings like this one. Most houses are all on ground level, though wealthier families have better structures, and some of these are built higher. The palace I was to be married in, and had already moved into, had four levels, not including the dungeons.

"I had never ridden in a carriage like yours. I rode horses. I have not seen a horse here." She said the last part a little sadly.

"You like horses, huh? We have them, not so many in the city, but in the countryside."

"I used to ride a great deal. Horses are majestic and intelligent creatures."

"I haven't ever met one, but they look awesome, I'll give you that."

Emma finished the last of the sandwiches and laid out the plates, cutting the coldest sandwich into bite size pieces and putting it on a plate along with some carrot sticks.

"Time for your chair, kiddo," she said, swooping down and lifting Henry into his chair. He grinned.

"Gilchy!"

"That's how he says grilled cheese. Here's yours," Emma said, putting a plate in front of Regina. "I can get you some silverware; we usually just eat with our fingers."

"Silverware would not go amiss."

Emma chuckled yet again at Regina's language, and produced a mismatched knife and fork. Regina ate like a queen as she watched the Swans devour their food. She tried not to judge them, reminding herself that manners were different in different realms, and also that she was not her mother. Yes, they were peasants, but Emma seemed kind, and was helping her though she had no duty to, and Henry seemed sweet and well cared for. Their home, apartment, Emma called it, while tiny and cluttered, was clean and somehow… Welcoming. Cosy. A place where one liked to be.

It felt bizarre, trying to explain her land, to justify her existence in a place she shouldn't be. She wondered why Miss Swan was helping her. Had their positions been reversed, she was fairly certain the woman would have been hastily escorted to the dungeons and never spoken of again.

The food was good. It was unlike anything Regina had ever eaten, though there were many dishes in her land she had simply never been allowed to sample. She had to maintain her figure, though she was not supposed to exercise too much, as that would make her look "manly". The answer was a strictly controlled diet, which her mother had enforced since she could remember.

"Want another one?" Emma offered.

Regina looked down at her empty plate. She hadn't realised she'd finished.

"Henry's going to have an ice pop. It's just frozen fruit and water, I get the healthy ones. They turn him into a sticky mess, but he's getting a bath after… I'm gonna have one too. Want in?"

Regina assumed the question was an offer of the frozen fruit dessert.

"How do you keep them frozen?" she asked, eyeing the magic box Emma took them from with suspicion.

"I'm afraid electricity is a magic even more complicated than plumbing, but it's all the science kind, again."

"Perhaps science magic is not so different from mine. According to my tutor, my magic comes from emotional energy."

Emma thought back to the few memories she had of physics class in high school. "Makes sense," she said in the end. She gave Henry his ice pop, then held one out to Regina.

"It's strawberry. Go on. You pretty much have to try it, it's like, a delicacy."

Regina did not roll her eyes, because rolling one's eyes is not ladylike. She accepted the ice pop and watched as Emma tore into hers with her teeth then sucked on the hole she had made.

Regina just about managed to eat the dessert with some semblance of dignity. Emma stuck to Henry's evening routine, bathing him and putting him to bed. She showed Regina her bookcase, but while the woman expressed an interest in reading, she didn't take any books. When Emma left Henry in the bedroom, Regina was sitting on the couch, her back straight, her posture perfect, and her eyes tired.

"I've been thinking," Emma said.

"Do not strain yourself on my account, Miss Swan."

Emma laughed. "You made a joke. I like it. Anyway, I don't work tomorrow so you can hang out with us, and you pretty much have to sleep here, unless you suddenly got your Earth legs and you wanna skedaddle. The kid'll freak if I don't sleep in our room, so I'm afraid you'll be stuck with the couch, but we can make it into a pretty swell bed, though I say so myself."

"You are too kind, Miss Swan. I value any hospitality you can offer me. I hate to be an imposition. I really… I do not know why or how I am here. Or why you believe me."

"It's too crazy to be a lie, and too provable to be crazy," Emma said with a shrug. "And why not help you? You're funny. And beautiful."

At this, Regina seemed to shrink inside herself. "If you expect me to earn my keep by pleasing you I-"

"Wait, what the fuck? I was kidding, Princess."

"I am not a Princess!"

"Sorry. It just suits you. But uh, look, I…" Emma sat on the couch, twisting her hands. "I don't want anything from you. Nothing."

Regina looked at her, eyes glistening with unshed tears, and she almost said something kind. Almost. But that would have been weak.

"Quite right too."

"Right, well, tomorrow I guess we can look some stuff up online, maybe figure out how to get you home, and I dunno, at least sort you out with some shoes that aren't glass slippers."

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind, bad joke."

Emma collected half the pillows and blankets from her bed and set them up on the couch. Regina watched. Emma wanted to snap at her, to ask her to help, but it didn't seem right somehow. She was so lost, she didn't have a clue.

"I, uh, brought you something to sleep in, too," Emma said, holding out a pair of leggings, a grey t-shirt, and some granny panties. "It's all clean. If you're thirsty there's water in the fridge, the magic cold box thing, the less cold one. Help yourself to food, too. Uhm, books, if you're bored, TV."

"What is TV?"

Emma groaned. "Ya know what? Let's leave TV for tomorrow. Just get some sleep, okay? You look like you could use it."

She turned to leave, but just before she reached her room, Regina called out, softly, instinctively aware of the sleeping baby.

"Miss Swan?"

Emma turned, a question in her eyes.

"I realise this is a rather odd request, but I… The design of my dress is such that it is nearly impossible for me to remove it on my own," Regina said hurriedly, trying not to blush. Emma might have been a peasant, but she was far from a ladies maid, and she was also… Stunningly beautiful. Regina's desires had never even been worth acknowledging in her own world, but from Emma's jokes, this realm was far freer when it came to same sex romances.

Emma grinned, but controlled her expression as she walked back across the room.

"Sure, what do you need me to do?"

Regina gave directions, glad she was facing away from Emma while they were executed. With delicate, nimble fingers… She checked herself. She could not go down this road, she was alone, in a strange place, and Emma was all she had. She could not let her weakness get in the way. She would accept Emma's help, and she would be civil and polite, but if Emma were to know of her preferences, they would almost certainly be exploited, or even worse, she would be cast out to fend for herself.

There was something about Emma that soothed Regina, something about her easy familiarity and willingness to trust - trust with her head, though, not her heart. She was clever, and despite her clear poverty and lack of status, Regina found herself respecting the young blonde mother.

Emma undid the dress as fast and as neatly as humanly possible. Her face was burning, she tingled all over with forbidden desire.

"There," she said when all the corsets were loosened and the only thing holding the dress up was Regina's hand.

Regina sighed with relief.

"It was so tight!" Emma commented.

"Oh, it was far from the worst of them. I insisted, since I would be wearing it all day, that the corset was one of the looser ones."

"That's looser? Shit…"

Regina smiled weakly. "You get used to it."

Emma made a face. "I'm glad I won't have to. Hey, I forgot to give you a toothbrush."

"A what?"

Emma sighed. "Go get changed, I will too, then I'll meet you in the bathroom and explain everything."

Regina, feeling apprehensive, did as instructed.

Explaining tooth brushing took far longer than Emma had anticipated, but Regina's delight with the clean feeling in her mouth when she was finally done was more than worth the wait. Emma found herself longing to kiss her, to see what it would feel like. Right. That's how it would feel. Just, right.

She gave herself a shake. This was ridiculous. She was responsible for Regina, she was looking after her in a strange place and she couldn't possibly take advantage. There was a lot more Emma wanted to know, especially about the exact circumstances of the wedding day Regina had apparently disappeared from, but she could tell Regina was exhausted.

In leggings and a t-shirt, the brunette looked so young, so… So normal. Emma watched her curl up on the couch to sleep and wondered what the hell they were going to do with her.

BREAK

A/N: Thank you for reading yet another of my stories. Please review! Much love.