Summery: AU SwanQueen: Emma is 17 and is going to yet another foster home. Regina is Emma's new foster mom's sister, and is also married to Robin. Emma is finally feeling what its like to have a family again and isn't sure how to handle it. Luckily, Regina is also very familiar with being misunderstood and not belonging. This also features Olivia Benson and Amanda Rollins from Law and Order: SVU.

Authors Note - This story starts after Emma has been with her new foster family for three weeks and it begins at a family dinner for Thanksgiving. Emma's parents died when she was eleven in a car accident. Olivia and Amanda are married and they have two adopted children. Noah is nineteen and has been with them since he was four, and they have a five year old little girl, Charlie, and she has been with them since she was born. Regina has been married to Robin for three years and Roland is not in the story to begin with but will most likely show up later on. This story takes place in New York. This is my first fanfic so please feel free to give any feedback, even criticism. Enjoy.

Chapter 1

Sitting around a table with a family and actually enjoying herself is a feeling Emma has long forgotten. Her time in foster care has been an up and down journey. Her life before her parents died had been a fairytale. In one afternoon everything had changed and Emma didn't know what to expect when it did. She had no other family besides her parents. Her mom had been an only child who had also lost both parents. Her father had a brother who he wasn't sure what happened too. He claimed to have never known his father and his mother has died when Emma was just a baby.

Her first family she had gone to were the best by far but they ended up moving to Florida after the husband got a better job. She had been with them for a year and they had treated her like an actual person. They weren't very affectionate but they provided her with everything she needed and tried to help her with dealing with the grief of losing her parents. After that things went downhill. Not all the families were terrible but the ones that were, had done some damage that Emma didn't know how to fix. She was not the naive little girl that she had once been. She knew that the world was cruel and she kept up many walls to keep her heart protected from that world. If she really thought about it she knew that she had once been a care free child that thought that the world was just rainbows and unicorns. It took a lot remember that Emma had ever been that child. She hadn't been that person for a long time now.

Sitting at the table and watching this family she was having a hard time keeping her emotions in check. She had only been with these people for a few weeks but she had caught herself actually smiling a handful of times and that wasn't something she was used to doing. She had made the mistake of thinking that she could be happy with another family before and she wasn't going to do it again. They were nice enough people and they were trying to make her feel welcome but she knew that it wouldn't last.

As dinner is wrapping up and everybody is talking and joking Emma is finding herself enjoying their company. She forgets for a second that she isn't supposed to like these people. That she doesn't belong here. She begins to feel a little unsettled and panicky. While no one is paying attention Emma subtly gets up and heads to the balcony. Standing there letting the cold air slowly calm her down she starts to feel her nerves settle again. She let herself get wrapped up in the feeling of the love these people have for each other and forgot that they weren't her family. She forgot that she didn't belong here. So wrapped up in here thoughts she doesn't hear someone else come outside.

"Hey" Regina sees her jump a little but decides to ignore it.

"Hey" Emma replied with a small smile.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"No, go ahead." They sit in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the city lights.

"Want one." Regina offers up a cigarette.

"No thanks." They both go silent again. Regina studies Emma for a moment and ask "Are you okay?" Emma looks at her and kind of huffs out a laugh.

"Yeah. Just a lot to take in. Its been a while since I have lived with a family. I was in a group home for a long time before this. I just forgot."

"Forgot what?

"What a real family looks like." Not to sure how to respond Regina nods and gets quiet again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make things weird."

"No, you didn't. I was just thinking that you have no idea. Don't get me wrong I love my family but we have issues. Not nearly as picturesque as we seem." She gives Emma a small smile. Not wanting there to be an awkward silence again Emma blurts "So do you have a mom?" Realizing how it sounds she quickly amends. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so blunt. I just meant uh." Stumbling for the right words her face is burning a bright red.

"Its okay. I'm a lawyer I appreciate blunt. And I did. She and I had a falling out and I haven't talked to her since I was nineteen. I think Liv talked to her a few times after that but I don't think they've spoken for a few years. Zelena hasn't talked to her since before that. She and my dad got divorced when I was pretty young."

Emma nodded "So Zelena is the oldest right? Then Olivia? Then you?"

"Yeah, Zelena is nine years older than I am and then Liv is seven years older."

Emma just nodded again.

Regina pauses for a second and the ask "So, how are you liking it here?"

Emma thinks about how she respond obviously not wanting to offend. "Its okay. Olivia and Amanda are great. I really like Charlie and Noah."

"That's good. Amanda told me that Charlie really adores you."

"She is a really sweet little girl. She reminds me of a little girl that I knew a few years ago. Really free spirited. She is such a good dancer."

"Yeah, for a five year old she really takes it serious and loves it. She was the lead in her class recital a months back. I know in a group of five, six, and seven year olds its not too exciting but there are a lot of girls in the class so we were all very proud."

"No, that's great. I can tell that she is gifted for her age. Way more graceful than I was at that age." She says with a small laugh.

Regina tightens her jacket around herself. "I am going to head inside."

"Okay, I will be in soon."

She nods and joins everyone in the dining are.

Later on Regina goes into the kitchen to help Amanda with the dishes. She hands Amanda the rest of the dirty dishes and picks up the dish cloth to

"Emma seems like a great kid."

"Yeah, I think she is. I know she has had it rough but what kid hasn't in the system."

"Thats true. I haven't gotten to talk to Liv about it since we have all been so busy with work and other things. What made you guys to decide to want to foster?"

"Well, It was kind of a sudden thing. Liv ran into the social worker that was the case worker for Charlie on a case not to long ago and she and Liv got to talking and I'm not sure how it was brought up but Carol said that she had a kid, which of course was Emma, that she was desperate to find a decent home for. Emma had been in a crappy group home for a long time and it was really hard to find her any foster homes because Emma had an incident with one of the fathers when she was fifteen so she isn't allowed to be in homes with males. She knew that Noah didn't live at home anymore so she just asked and we talked it over and decided that it wasn't a terrible idea."

"Oh wow, that's really great of you guys. What grade is she in?

"She is a junior."

"What school does she go to."

"She goes to Monroe right now but we thought about asking her if she wanted to switch school during Christmas break. Monroe is such a long commute for her. From what Carol says Emma doesn't think she is going to be here long. She is so closed off and doesn't talk much. Liv and I really think staying here for a while would really do her some good."

"Well hopefully she will start to feel at home here. I am going to go play cards for a while."

"Thanks for the help with the dishes."

"No problem."

Regina walks back into the dining room and can see her husband has a large glass of some amber liquid. She knew that it wouldn't take him long to startup.

"Hey, how many have you had so far?"

He looks at her with a grin and glassy eyes. "Not nearly enough."

"You never do" Regina lets out a sigh and looks around the room. She sees Emma in the corner playing with Charlie and she starts to think about the life that Emma has had to endure. She wonders for a moment what kind of incident she had with a previous foster father. Emma looks up and catches her eye. Regina gives her a smile and quickly looks away embarrassed that she had been caught staring. Emma smiles back and goes back to playing with the little girl.

Its about twelve and Emma is feeling boxed in. She really wants to go to bed but she doesn't want to ask to leave just yet. She decides to see if there is any way to get to the roof. She makes her way up the stairs of the building and gets to the door. She pushes open the door and props it open. She walks over to the edge and and has a great view of the city. She thinks about the day and the people. Everyone was so nice and it leaves her feeling sad. Sad that it won't last. Sad that she doesn't get to have a family. She stays up there for about an hour when she hears someone coming up the stairs. She turns and sees its Regina.

When Regina gets to the top steps she looks up and sees Emma. "Oh, hey. Sorry, I didn't know you were up here. I'll give you some space."

"No, its okay. I wouldn't mind the company."

Regina walks over her and leans against the barrier. They stay like that in silence for a long while then Regina breaks the silence first.

"I love to come up here at night. I usually end up here at the end of the night when we have parties like this. About this time is when everyone has drunk enough to want to strangle them."

"Yeah, I saw your husband loudly debating the elections coming up, with some other guys. He is very outspoken and opinionated." Emma kind of laughs.

Regina rolls her eyes and sighs. "I try to stay as far away from him as I can when he starts drinking. He loves to debate. It used to be endearing before we got married."

"How long have you guys been married?

"Three years. We dated for three before we got married."

"That's a long time."

"To be married or to date?" Regina says it in a joking tone

"Both."

"I'm guessing you don't believe in happily ever after then."

"Hmmm. Not quiet." She says with a grin. "No I do. I just feel like its going to take a miracle for someone to want to put up with me forever."

"Oh, whatever. You seem like great person."

"Regina, Other than today we have met one time and we have only had two conversations. How would you know what kind of person I am?"

"I am a great judge of character!"

"Well, I will make sure to prove you wrong about that one."

Regina laughs and shakes her head. "You do that." Her phone starts to buzz in her pocket. She rolls her eyes. "Looks like its time to go for me." She answers the phone and quickly hangs up after Robin yells he is ready to go. "My better half awaits." Her words dripping with sarcasm.

"I should head down there too."

They make there was back down in silence. As they get to the door Regina gently grabs Emma's arm before she can open the door.

"If you ever need a friend or just someone to talk too feel free to call me. Liv and Amanda both have my number and I only live a few blocks from their apartment. I'm not just offering in fake kindness you really do seem like a great person."

Emma gives her a small smile. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

As they walk in Robin almost barrels over Emma.

"Come on honey time to go home so I can make my wife a pleased woman." He slurs as he grabs Regina waist and lands a sloppy kiss on her.

"Robin I have to get my things." She gives him a small shove and apologizes to Emma.

She quickly gets her purse and heads to the door. Emma is still standing close by and she gives her a small wave. "I hope to talk to you soon."

"Okay." Emma replies with a smile and a nod.

As they are walking to the street to get a taxi Robin is going on and on about this and that.

"So why did your sister and Amanda take in that Orphan?"

"Robin, don't call her that and because they are great people, that's why."

"Oh don't tell me your going to want an orphan too are you? Maybe we can get one from China."

"Robin, you are an ass. Now shut up or I will leave you here." She isn't sure when he become so mean when he was drunk but she was always having to treat him like a child who didn't know any better.

"I'm sorry. I'm Just kidding honey. Maybe we should have a kid though."

"You're never even home. Why would you want a kid?"

"I love children." He trips and nearly falls on his face.

"No, you are a child."

"Ginaaa don't be mean to me."

"How many times do I have to tell you don't call me Gina."

"I'm sorry babe. I love you."

"Of course you do." She grumbles.