A/n: Hello all! Hope you are having a good summer, or winter if you are in another part of the world. This one will be a bit shorter then my others, I have been mulling around this story for a bit and finally sat down today and cranked out 25 pages :D so excited that's the most I have ever written in one go. I hope you enjoy, I hope the feels get you and I hope it makes live a little sweeter in the end :)

This story is the tale of a vengeful Regina loving again and then really learning how to get back to the world. She has been held in a cell for years that is enchanted so she does not age, as explained in the story. Lil Emma ventures down on a dare not knowing that what she finds will have a profound impact on her life forever. Happy adventures! 3 PP19

"Emma I bet you can't go this far." Neil was smiling proudly as he took a step further into the dungeon. Him and his father came by on occasion since they owned the lands to the west. His father was the most feared creature in all the lands, Rumplestilskin. But Neil didn't care his daddy was always good to him, and princess Emma was never afraid of anything. It made their games of dare all the more fun.

Every time they were together they would try and one up the other in bravery quite the game for the two five year olds. Their games had started with sneaking off from their parents and playing hide and seek, to getting caught too high in a tree, to now the dungeons.

Neil crossed his arms and sat into his hip as he looked at Emma.

"I dare you Em-ma. All the way to the back, but you're to chicken, bakahhh" He started to flap his wings like a bird.

Emma scrunched her face and pouted. She would be six tomorrow and she wasn't a baby. She wanted to kick Neil for laughing at her, but she had done that once before. She smiled at the memory of him crying like a baby and bending over to the ground in record time. She had gotten a long lecture about how we don't hit boy's in their special jewels.

Emma shook her head her long curls tousled. What a baby, she had been hit in the crotch before with a ball and not even cried.

Emma raised a brow, uncrossed her arms and raised her head. Strutting past her stupid friend. She would win this bet… she always won.

She keep going as Neil waiting for her to freak out and run or for her to stop so he could take his turn. But Emma continued out of his site. It was a bit darker down here, they had brought lanterns that sat at the base of the stairs for light.

She jumped a little as she heard wind whistle down the way. The cells were all empty, she had only ever seen uncle Grumpy get thrown in a cell for the night before her parents found out, something called public intoxination or something.

She started moving quicker, the sooner she got to the end the sooner she would win and they could leave the creepy dungeon. Neil would also owe her a prize and she wondered what it would be this time. She hoped it was another crystal like last time, she loved crystals.

The dark stones glistened with moisture like a cave and she wondered where the rest of the place lead to…

She froze in her tracks when she heard a huff. Could that have been an animal? She jumped again as she felt like something was crawling up her skin, and she nearly shrieked, if she did though she lost their game.

The sound game again from the cell on the end to her right and she approached it with caution. When she neared she set down the lantern against the bars and pressed her face in looking around. There was a cot with something breathing in it, a stack of books that looked long untouched, a pail, a bowl of water and what looked like gruel that they fed to the animals outside.

She heard the noise again and saw the thing in the bed throw the covers off with a huff and put human hands to cover a face.

Emma stood fascinated with her mouth open. So the legends Neil told her were true, the dark queen really did dwell in the dungeons far below the White Castle.

The woman groaned. "Would you stop the insistent light!"

Her voice sounded low and raw, like she didn't use it often or know how to regulate it for speaking to another person.

Emma slowly moved the lantern back a few feet and then returned to the bars.

"I'm sorry." Her voice was small and quite.

The brunette registered that the guard was not a guard at all but a child and slowly lowered her hands.

"What… are you doing down here?" Her head cocked to the side.

Emma looked back towards where she had come then back at the woman.

"I was proving that I was brave. I had to get to the end of the tunnel."

Regina rolled her eyes. "You shouldn't be down here."

Emma nodded, "No, that's why it's part of our game."

Regina studied the young thing, long golden curls, bright green eyes, she looked familiar somehow.

"Do you have any idea who I am little girl?" She didn't sound mean, she sounded almost indifferent.

Emma set her face and nodded. "Yes. I think so."

Regina pulled up and walked to the bars, a little uneasy on her feet, using the tall pipes for balance.

"Well then, you know you really shouldn't be here." She glanced down and made contact with little green eyes chastising her life choices.

"I could rip your throat out you know." Crossing her arms and leaning against the bars.

Emma made a face, "Ew that's gross."

Regina nodded, "Isn't it? Didn't your mommy and daddy tell you not to talk to strangers?"

Emma shook her head. "I know everyone…."

Regina glanced down the darkened way, why was no one coming for this child? She must not be very important.

"Kid get out of here."

Emma seemed to ponder leaving for a second and picked up her lantern. Then turned back.

"Tomorrow's my birthday."

Regina's face was one of surprise why was the girl still talking to her.

"You really aren't scared of me are you." She sounded intrigued.

Emma shook her head, "Why would I be scared of you? And no not really."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Thanks kid… I used to slaughter multiple villages, wage war, control a kingdom."

Emma sat down and listened intently.

Brown eyes turned again to hers, "What are you doing."

Emma shrugged, "You were telling a story, I was listening…."

Regina blew out a breath, "Well at least you are someone to talk to I guess. But seriously kid, leave." She turned and walked back to her bed, using her hands to try and keep herself warm.

Emma hadn't noticed from her adrenaline rush but it was indeed pretty chilly down here.

"Are you cold?"

Regina sat on her bed and brought her knees to her chest.

"I survive."

Emma stood as the woman again went silent.

"I'll come back to talk to you, for my birthday."

The blond walked down the hall only a couple paces before she heard a reply.

"What's your name kid?"

Emma turned around beaming, "Emma, my name is Emma."