A/N – So I have been trying my hand at different takes on dynamics. This story is based on age play between two consenting adults. MD/lg. Emma is an adult throughout this entire fic—but mentally/emotionally regresses. As an age regresser at times myself, this genre is very near and dear to my heart. It is highly under-represented in this fandom and others for that matter. I tend to write what I know based loosely on feelings and experiences I have had. This is one of them.

Series of loosely connected chapters. Contains fluff, some hard feelings to work through, fun, love, and spanking. Always appreciative of feedback and perspectives.

This one was also inspired by an incorrect SQ quote on Tumblr between Regina and David I saw ages ago and I can't remember who or the content exactly (it is referenced below) and just needed to work out in this space. Enjoy.

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Chapter 1 - Oops...

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David: [Emma's phone rings, looks at caller ID, picks up] Hi Snow.

Regina: David? Where's Emma?

David: Regina? Why are you listed under Emma's phone as 'Mommy'?

Regina: ….

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Emma stared red faced and mouth gaping. She had taken a pee break. One damning two minute pee break at the station and left her phone on her desk. He was trying to be helpful, he said. Thought it was Snow, he said… And now he was staring and waiting.

"Emma?" David tilted his head trying to see his daughter's face.

She sighed.

Thoroughly embarrassed Emma face palmed and bit her lip. She felt like laughing and crying and stomping her foot. All at the same time. Careful she had always been. And now everything was ruined because she had to pee. Conflicted, shoulders hunched and then dropped. It was kind of funny. But not funny ha-ha. She stole a glance at him through the cracks of her fingers. Funny like his pink face and big eyes begging her for a logical answer and funny like the way her stomach was twisting up into a tight ball.

"Emma, did you hear what I said?"

"I…" She dropped her hands and forced her chin up.

"Why is Regina-"

And promptly hid her face again. "I heard you the first time Dad and..." Shit fuck. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe it was time to rip off the band-aid. "Regina and I…" Maybe not. "I can't do this right now…. I gotta go."

And Emma grabbed her phone and coat before her feet were flying out of the door of the station. Running now to the bug. Running like she was not allowed to do when things got hard. Her skin tingled. Car door slamming, Emma jammed the keys into the ignition. 'Slow down...' Emma heard the familiar velvet husk of a reminder in her jumbled head and promptly ignored it. 'Take a deep breath...' And that one too as she jerked the stick into reverse. 'Emma listen...' Then she backed out of her designated parking spot like a speed demon on coke. 'Baby.' Her foot tried for the break but the rear end of the bug slapped right into a fire hydrant on the curb.

Thrown off but not hurt, Emma scrunched her shoulders and slowly looked in her side mirror at the red metal hydrant tilting away from her back bumper. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Nothing.

She let out a breath. "Okay, maybe—"

Water burst, shot straight up into the air like a bullet and rained down thunder onto the roof of the bug. Emma blinked sitting back. She felt tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Then suddenly there were too many people surrounding her. Too many eyes and mouths moving.

Dad too and Archie with Pongo and Ruby and Granny from the diner across the street. Talking, asking questions, hands pulling her from the bug and she pushed them away and ran. Always running, running was her go to. One of her habits when the world fell apart or was too much of everything like it was right now. Lungs burned and she couldn't breathe right. Her boots slammed the concrete, an easy sprint five blocks to the big yellow building she found herself staring at. Into it through the double doors, up the stairs and past the secretary's questions and right into the glass frosted door of her wife's office. Emma closed the door quickly and stood panting just past the door frame. Words gone.

"Do you have an appoint—" Then Regina looked up. She had been expecting a call back from Emma, but not this.

But green eyes said this was something and Emma burst into tears.

The blonde felt magic securing the room from unwanted visitors and she was wrapped up right where she needed to be between the beats of a heart. Held in the arms that always promised to fix everything, that promised to love her no matter what and never let go. Emma buried her head into Regina's shoulder thoroughly soaking the pretty black silk blouse with the little pearl buttons she liked to play with. Crying still and sniffling, her fingers went to one automatically and ran the tip of a pad over the shiny white button.

Then a hand covered hers and led her to the couch to sit. No, not on the couch Emma realized, but on a lap, the lap she had ran to and needed to be in right now. She sat sideways and curled up against Regina and hid her face in a chest. Ear right next to the heart she belonged to the steady pattern began to soothe her raw nerves. Her thumb itched to go in her mouth, but she fought the desire. Home. She needed to be home for that, but it crept up anyway and rubbed her bottom lip teasing to enter.

"It's alright Emma."

Three words made it so and because of who they came from Emma listened and slipped the digit right into her mouth and sucked. Instantly melting and now her thoughts slowed down. Listened like she should have done. Should have to the voice reminding her in her head before… New tears rolled fresh down a wet cheek and were wiped away with a conjured tissue.

"There's my sweet girl." Regina murmured and kissed where tears were no more. "Talk to Mommy Emma. Tell me all about it." Worried when her words only caused more tears to fall. Again she kissed them away.

Her girl never came crying, not like this, for comfort and the first time in a public place had her chest constricting for the sweet bundle she was holding in her lap. Emma was guarded with their play, engaging in this space only in the absolute privacy of their home. Behind closed doors the tough talking, sword wielding, and action oriented sheriff who took nothing from nobody hung up the armor of those boots, red leather, and metal of badge and sword at the end of the day. Emma replaced them with soft cotton cartoon print PJs. Red leather became a cream and purple baby blanket. Sword transformed into a stuffed unicorn called Uni. And all was right with the world, but right now the world of her little one had fallen apart and it was up to her to put it back together.

Regina gently lifted Emma's hiding chin. "Baby, use your words please. What happened?"

Red eyed and nose running. "He knows."

Brown eyes closed and sighed. "I thought as much, but I had hoped…"

"Dad. He…" Her throat was closing but she tried to get the words out. "He s-saw my phone when you called and…" Wanting to burrow away again, but Mommy's hand would not allow her too. It did not allow a lot of things.

"And what sweet girl?" Soft and sensing she knew.

"The c-caller ID." Swallowing. "He saw it and said you asked why he had my phone and then mentioned the caller ID and I just couldn't…"

Regina shifted her hips and moved Emma up a bit so she could better see her girl's face. "That is your choice entirely not to answer him. It is none of his business regardless."

She personally did not have an issue with some small aspects of their play being semi public, such as Emma's little F-U to the world with the caller ID. It had been a small thing when her girl had asked to code her name that way. Special and safe it made Emma feel, so she allowed it knowing Emma didn't share her phone with anyone. Or at least it appeared that way until today.

"Why did he answer your phone baby?"

Rule clear Emma was not to leave it laying around in case something like this happened or if there was a safety concern as there often was in this town and she needed to get a hold of Emma. When she called she expected Emma to answer or at least return the call in a reasonable time frame. In today's case it had been a simple mid day check in. Emma had been cranky that morning and off in more ways than one and she highly suspected it was due to the last week of late nights they had both had at work. Play had not been regular and when that was the case it built up in Emma's system and came out in bursts of emotions, like now.

"I had to pee."

Regina would have laughed at that simple explanation form something that wasn't so, if her girl wasn't so distraught over it. Rubbing Emma's arm, assuring as she nodding. "I see and where is your phone supposed to be when it is not on you at work?"

"In my desk or jacket."

Kissing again a wrinkled forehead. "And why is that? Tell Mommy."

Trying to hide away but the fingers cupping her chin wouldn't allow it. Emma whispered. "Sssooooo this doesn't happen."

"Exactly Princess."

Big green eyes blurred. "I'm sorry."

"It was an accident Emma. An avoidable one, but still an accident." At least in part it had been. Rule broken, she could not bring herself to discipline for this infraction, not this time.

Emma breathed easier until she remembered the hydrant and was about to speak when the phone rang on the desk, but Mommy made no move to answer it. Voice more her usual tone. "Um… You might want to get that."

Seeing the shift from little one to adult, Regina went with it, but not before giving her girl one more squeeze and asking. "And why is that?" She gently tapped Emma's hip for her now wife to get up.

Emma hopped to her feet, running palms over her jeans. "Cause there's kinda a flood on Main Street right now." At Regina's wide stare she shrugged helplessly. "Oops?'

"What 'oops' Emma?" Regina picked up the phone, sharper than she meant to be, and regretted her tone when Emma winced as she got an ear full from a worried pedestrian that a car had hit a hydrant and the street was flooding. Too that it was the Sheriff's car and that said Sheriff was nowhere to be found. "I see. I will send dispatch to have it towed and the fire department will be right out to secure the water break…. Yes, thank you." And hung up. Face flushing she quickly took in Emma for signs of being hurt from the run it.

Emma gaped at that knowing look and then muttered. "I'm f-fine. Really I am."

And shifted from foot to foot, palms sweating again rubbed the front of her skinny jeans and she wondered how long those jeans would remain there. The Mayor looked pissed. Her wife looked concerned, and then her Mommy was looking at her like the time she climbed and fell out of the tree in their backyard to get her stuffed toy Uni that had decided to grow 'wings' and experiment with flying. Unsure of who to address for the situation at hand Emma put her hands in her pockets and waited for the love of her life to make a move. To lead and she would follow because that's how they worked and what she needed.

Regina felt a lot of things at the moment but overarching concern was the one most prominent. Mayor wanted to rave to her employee who should be helping to fix the messes around town, not cause them. As Emma's wife and Mommy she was grateful the blonde was clearly not physically hurt from the bug's run in with the hydrant. And as both she was worried about the why behind the event and then Emma looked at her without saying anything and she knew then just who she needed to be for both of them this moment.

Emma held her breath. 'Anytime now would be….' One royal finger pointed to a corner behind the glass desk where the black curtains joined birch tree wall paper and she responded naturally. Emma slumped. "But Mommy!"

"Do not 'but Mommy' me Emma Swan-Mills. Corner. Now."

Regina waited until Emma was planted nose touching the wall before she went to make the promised calls. Ten minutes later and many sniffles as those calls were wrapped up Regina hung up the phone and sighed. Eyeing the clock, it was near time to be done for the day anyway and Emma seemed to need this one to be finished. Standing and rounding the desk she began gathered her belongings to leave.

Emma sighed dramatically. Thinking about why she was currently holding up the wall with her nose had come and gone in the first five minutes and now she was just bored, if not a little anxious, as she heard movement behind her. She hated the corner. Timeouts sucked in her opinion. But Mommy did not ask her opinion and rarely did when she had done something she shouldn't of. Emma fidgeted. Maybe this would be it. Maybe Mommy wouldn't…"

"Emma, come here."

And her tummy knotted again as she turned around and promptly went over to the woman she adored. She was wrapped up in another hug and began to relax all over again.

"I put you in timeout because you and Mommy both needed a chance to think and calm down. Do you understand that?" Always she tried to be consistent and sometimes that meant taking a step back to think. Emma, her sweet little Emma was sensitive and needed to know the why of things. It was part of the very foundation of trust between them. Vulnerable and raw her girl was in this state and it was a great responsibility she took seriously to keep Emma safe, healthy, and well when little one was present.

Easy and high. "Yeah." Batting lashed quickly. "Am I in trouble?"

Regina chuckled softly. Amused at the ever question always asked when little Emma knew she was displeased in some way. "I'm afraid so sweetie, but we need to talk about it first before anything happens."

Emma's hands automatically began twisting themselves. "Here?" Oh gods she hoped not.

"Of course not." Slipping on her coat Regina explained. "At home. We will go over what happened and then have dinner."

At the promise of food Emma's tummy growled and she grinned sheepishly.

"Perhaps not in that order." Tapping a pink nose Regina got the smile she hoped for. "Alright, let's go my love." And hand in hand they walked out of the building.

On the drive Emma was quiet as always when something was stewing under those blonde curls she loved to fuss with. Regina glanced over occasionally watching her girl process the day through green eyes looking at the wonders of the world out the window of the Benz. This, what they had, was special. Unique like the unicorn Emma loved to drag everywhere at home.

It hadn't happened overnight or even over a few months. They had been married for five years before Regina even knew about this side of her wife. Then Henry began collage and his visits home became sporadic at best with the load of credits he was taking. Very and so slowly over the course of a year after Henry had moved out, little Emma began to poke a head out of the very private deep place big Emma had kept her locked up in. Like unlocking a door to the past only she, Regina, had the key too, was how Emma had described the transition to her.

She began to realize it was even before that transitioning year for them that Emma hadn't been hiding her little side so much as the blonde not knowing it was there. Like Emma's PJs. Always one for comfort at the end of the day, Emma always changed right when she got home into boxers and a T-shirt. Silly ones with cartoon animals and cute says Regina would roll her eyes at for anyone else daring to wear them, but found sweet on Emma. Only and ever on Emma. Fuzzy mismatched socks were another one. Never intended, but Emma's socks never matched. Not even when Regina folded them matched precisely and put them in their shared dresser and that's what made her laugh.

In other ways too with food and meals. Emma loved food and tore into it with gusto every single time with pleasure. Pale fingers tore apart sandwiches into little bites and always cut meat into the tiniest of pieces to chew. Sauce drowned everything even when the meal didn't need it. Yes, her Emma ate like a child because in a dark corner hidden away under all that brass and bravado Emma fronted was a little girl who needed love and attention. Who had never gotten her needs met. Who was told she was wrong, stupid, and worthless. One who did not have a home.

Regina's hands tightened on the steering wheel. Hard. Knuckles white over the thought as she turned onto Mifflin Street and let her mind wander briefly again. Now Emma had a home, with her. And a Mommy who understood what it felt like to be not feel wanted or loved or understood by the world. Regina understood all too well and had recognized the need in Emma to let that little girl out even before the Savior did.

It had happened naturally one Saturday at breakfast. Emma had come tumbling into the kitchen after waking, hair a nest of wild curls in a long blue sleep shirt with Cookie Monster on the front and panties. With one long striped knee sock and the other missing as those long pale arms wrapped around her waist where she had been cooking at the stove. It began with Emma still half asleep, and rubbing an eye along with a simple greeting on her part.

"Good morning baby."

"G'morning Mommy."

And turned into the beginning of the path they were now on. Regina parked. The last six months little Emma had been allowed out by the big part that had kept a closed door on that cage of past had been the richest of their marriage yet. Many, many long talks and nights full of them had been their starting point after. Emma realized she was in a safe and accepting place to explore this need and Regina realized how much she adored caring for her wife this way. It wasn't sexual for either of them when they were in this space. It was about being vulnerable; about being real and able to be safe doing so. In a way Emma was finding healing in being able to feel what childhood may have been like had she had someone to love her, hold her accountable, and protect her.

Regina moved away from these thoughts and back into the present as Emma fumbled with the seat belt. She reached over and undid it, getting a small smile in return. She lived for that look. Emma trailed her into the house. "Take off your shoes and put them in the caddy."

Emma looked down at her lone boot lying on the polished wood floor of the foyer as she hopped about yanking off the other one. "Okay."

Getting a good grip and pulling she managed not to lose her sock doing so this time. Lining them up as told she took off her jacket and hung it up. Turning she saw Mommy's hand out and ready. She took it and suddenly the day was better than it had been. Taken upstairs and past the master bedroom she was led into a special room that was only hers. The paint was still fresh to her little eyes after all these months. A sunny yellow they had picked out at the hardware store and had spent most of one weekend covering the four walls of a room. Just for her.

Little Emma's room.

Growing up she had never had her own room before and expressed that as a big milestone she had missed. And suddenly they were at the store picking out paint and then another one for bedding and sheets, both purple. And one more for a white washed furniture set. Canopy bed fit for a princess with all the frills and lace along with a book shelf and toy chest and her favorite, an old fashioned rocking chair with an embroidered seat cushion with her name stitched on it. Regina had done that. All of it.

For her.

The tug on her hand brought her mind back to present as Emma was led to the bed. Regina went to the dresser and returned with a long sleeved purple night shirt with a little rainbow unicorn print and a pair of matching purple socks and panties. Emma smirked. It was the only time she ever matched was when Mommy dressed her, which was more often than not lately, she realized.

Sitting on the bed Regina beckoned Emma over. "Come here Princess."

Blushing at her nickname and one when she'd first heard she was not sure she liked, but spoken with a smile on red lips, it had grown on her. Emma shuffled over and was undressed. As she often did she began asking questions. "What are we having for dinner Mommy?"

"Step out." Regina waited for little feet to move and neatly folded the skinny jeans. Setting them aside side she slipped a pair of white briefs to ankles. "I was thinking about making spaghetti and meatballs."

"Yummy!" Emma bounced and clapped her hands. Then prompted to step into new panties. Mommy stood and she giggled when the sleep shirt was tugged over her head and her hair stood out supported by static electricity.

Regina smiled and easily smoothed the long hair with her hands before sitting again on the bed. She tapped her knee, eyeing Emma's foot and pale hands found her shoulders for balance as she tugged a sock into place and then again on the other foot all the while Emma chattered about why spaghetti was better than lasagna, but only just and that was because of the funny noise one could make when they slurped up the noodles.

"Shall I go make those noodles you love to slurp so much?" Little one's winning smile further melted her heart and she offered her hand like she ways did and Emma took it.

"I wanna help you cook too. Okay?" Asking to make sure that became a fact. She wasn't allowed near the stove, but there was a lot of other jobs she was allowed to help with. "I help?"

"I need my special helper to roll the seasoned ground turkey into meatballs. Do you think you can do that?"

"Yep yep yep!" Skipping now Emma followed heels into the kitchen and was helped to wash her hands, and much to her displeasure with soap, before she was allowed to help roll.

Together they made quick work of the meal and Emma was even allowed to watch some TV while everything cooked. The best part was that Mommy watched with her and she got to pick whatever she wanted, well almost with permission, for them to see. Finding an age old favorite of a Toy Story rerun, Emma settled back on the couch, resting her head in Mommy lap.

This was Regina's favorite time of the day. Time with Emma in any capacity always was, but right now with her little one care free and safe in her arms away from the busyness of the town they lived in. Running nails gently along a scalp got just the response she wanted as Emma's eyes grew heavy and deep. Green open and trusting. Willing to allow her to lead the way of this journey they were on. They looked at her now like she hung to moon and for Emma she would do that and so much more.

A thumb, easier this time than last slipped into Emma's mouth and gently it was taken out and she whimpered. She was allowed earlier and she wondered why then and made the connection as magic filled the air. Something else pressed against her lips. Lips she closed for what it was and why she fought it she was unsure, but she did. Sitting up or trying to, but Mommy held her close, brown safe eyes expectant, and in them Emma was not able to disobey.

"I know Princess." And Regina did understand the brief look of frustrated want pass over her little one. Sucking a thumb was not sanitary and she'd only allowed Emma the comfort earlier due to the need of the moment. At home and away from the world, Emma knew her expectations and one they had discussed at length for the comfort needed. Pressing again with the yellow pacifier soother fit for an adult mouth for the little one it belong to, she had ordered especially for this reason. Introducing the idea of a paci to Emma, who needed the comfort of sucking a thumb for the freedom it brought, had been balked at.

"I'm not a baby Mommy."

"You are my baby and that is not what it means Princess."

Had been said and the issue taken with less of a fight after the fact. Regina held the soother up to a pink mouth now and waited, seeing if Emma would obey or need some coaxing. Glad when that mouth opened and the nub slipped in, she was. As well by the sigh of satisfaction when sucking began. Emma never regressed quite as young as Regina suspected was needed at times. Usually about the head space of a four or five year old. Now with sleepy eyes and flushed cheeks from tears earlier Emma looked much younger to her than that chosen regressed age. That was a conversation for another day she mused as they continued watching the movie.

A half hour later the oven beeped and Emma lost the soother as she hopped up from the couch. Into the kitchen quick socked feet carried her right to the window of the oven. She didn't touch and was back far enough to avoid a ready scolding is she was as Mommy came in. Told to set the table she did and a bowl of her favorite dish was made up with exactly 3.5 meatballs, cut up on a bed of very red saucy noodles.

Taking her seat at the round dining room table on the right of her Mommy Emma waited as a napkin was placed in her lap and tucked into her shirt before she dug in. Twirling a forkful of noodles around and around and around and one hung out the corner of her mouth. She slurped it right up, the end catching the tip of her nose on a journey into her mouth. A hand reached over and wiped the sauce from her nose and Emma reached for her red sippy cup. Milk hit her taste buds and she grimaced, effectively putting as much distance between herself and the cup as possible.

Regina, for as amused she was at the face, was not at the action and hid both well from her expression. "What's wrong Emma?"

"No milk."

A dark brow arched as Regina took a sip of her wine, swirling the liquid in glass before taking another taste and setting it aside as Emma's tongue poked out. "Put that back in your mouth where it belongs. Would you like water instead?"

"No." Fingers stretched across the table to nudge the cup even further away.

"Manners Emma."

"Please no thank you very much." Said as a little nose twitched.

Patient, Regina restated. "Milk and water are your choices."

"Juice?" Hopeful.

"You've had that today and it's too much sugar before bedtime."

Emma's face screwed up. Whining. "Awwwwww, but pleaassseee?"

Regina didn't answer the whine. She never did and simply continued eating her meal as Emma tried once more before dropping the request altogether. She would not reward such efforts with attention, and little one was still learning that. A few minutes later she looked up from her plate to a tapping on the table space between them.

"Mommy look." Emma held up her empty bowl with a ready grin.

"Clean plate club will earn you a sticker on your chart as long as you finish your milk." Moving the sippy cup back closer. "You are two away from picking a prize out of the treasure chest Princess." Special box actually an old shoe box of Henry's Emma had decorated with way too much glitter to resemble a gold brick. Sticker chart up in little Emma's room was usually enough incentive to get foods and liquids girl was less than enthusiastic about consumed.

Mulling over the idea Emma took a moment eyeing the cup. It was always her choice when it came to food, a trigger they had learned the hard way existed when she was in this head space. She could finish what was offered or not, but try everything she was expected too and rewarded when she chose to consume things she less than liked. Picky eater at this 'age' was an understatement. More like a borderline food critic with something to prove. Mommy always made sure there were foods she liked, but sometimes there would be included she did not and it was polite to try it and then say no thank you as Emma had learned.

She disliked milk today, but she didn't hate it today. Shrugging as she made her decision she finished the half full cup and popped it back on the table. "Sticker now?"

"Yes baby as soon as you finish helping me clear the table." Direction got little feet moving to assist and together they got the dishes into the kitchen and soaking. Eyeing the clock and seeing it was getting late Regina sighed. Little one had a set routine and went to bed at 8:30 and there was still one thing looming over their heads.

"Now Mommy?" Emma asked as her hand was taken and she was led upstairs to her room. Smiling with a happy bounce as the promised yellow star sticker was peeled for her to stick on her chart. A finger then moved from sticker to sticker. "One, two, three, four… I need one more before I get my prize!" Proud of herself for counting and doing mental math. Numbers sucked, but Mommy made them fun.

"That's right you do and I am proud of you for making such good choices to work toward your goal." Little one beamed up at her and Regina nearly lost resolve to finish their earlier conversation, but knew that Emma needed her too and get closure on the matter. Regina sat on the side of the twin bed and pulled Emma over to sit on her lap. "We need to finish our discussion from earlier about the call I got when we were at Town Hall."

Settling into a warm spot, Emma looked away and traced a figure eight around one of the unicorns on her shirt. "Do we hafta?"

"Yes, we have to Emma." Beginning with the reason for the time out. "Mommy was upset what she got that call because she was worried you had been hurt."

"But that was big me's fault Mommy."

"It was partly I think." Acknowledging the fact. "And sometimes big you needs to go away for a while and process things that happen through little you. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah…" True and not liking it at the moment, Emma tried doe eyes again. "But I didn't get hurt."

"No you did not physically, but I suspect that big you was hurting in another way that made it hard for her to listen to my words about slowing down and being careful. Also, about running from people and situations when things get overwhelming." Searching green for understanding. "We have been working on that quite a bit, haven't we Princess?"

Nodding.

Regina waited.

"Yes Mommy."

"Good girl." Praise brought light back to those eyes she so adored. Then digging at the root of the matter. "Sometimes when that happens you both can't decide whose turn it is to come out and play. That's why Mommy tells you to slow down, think, and then act. You've been hurt or almost hurt a few times because you chose not to listen about the things we speak about when you are more than capable of doing so."

Two yellow socked feet crossed and rubbed together. "It's hard though."

"To listen or decide whose turn it is?" Regina asked.

"To listen."

She suspected it was both, but Regina went with that answer. "And why is that?"

Wide eyes looked up. "Cause I never had to before you."

And effectively melted Regina's heart. Swallowing the grief to the more of the why down, she prompted for what mattered right now between them. "And you do need to listen now because Mommy loves you and wants her little girl to be always, always safe and well." She leaned in kissing a temple, lingering there as Emma hugged her tighter. Pulling back after a moment, she continued. "And we have some rules to help you with that don't we?"

"Uh-huh." Emma wanted her thumb again, but settled for holding the pendent at the base of a royal throat instead. A pretty gold crown with a swan wearing it her big side had gifted for an anni-ver-sary. Big words made her head hurt and she frowned at the following prompt.

"And what is our rule about running away from our problems?"

"Not to."

Patient, Regina tried again. "What is that rule Princess, specifically?"

Thinking and twirling a pendent. "To call you or text if I feel like runnin' away and to find a quiet place to think if you don't answer right away."

Nodding. "That's right and you did neither of those things today. Instead you ran and what happened?" Reason for running she was not upset with, it was the actual act of it that needed airing.

"I or big me got in the car and went too fast and into the hydrant and the whole town flooded."

"Not the whole town, just Main Street." Again Regina flashed a small smile for the imagination present in the room. "I think a little bit of both of you were present at that time, am I right?" Needing to be sure.

Emma bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah… We were and we heard you in our head too."

"And?"

Emma shrugged dramatically and then thought better of it for the serious look she got. "I ignored it." Her chin was lifted.

"Are you allowed to do that? Ignore Mommy or our rules to help keep you safe?"

Small. "No."

"What happens when you do?"

Smaller still. "Hugs?"

Cute her little one was, but Regina was not buying the act. "Mommy isn't playing right now my love. Answer me please."

Wilting entirely. "Spankings."

"Yes a spanking." Correcting and tapping a hip for the second time that day for Emma to stand up, but her girl only turned around fully to straddle her lap and hug her neck. She'd never deny comfort when it was needed so she rubbed slow circles along a back and raked her nails as Emma liked. Allowing the distraction for the hardness of the day for a few minutes more before prompting again. "Alright my little Princess. Up you go."

Slowly as she could Emma stood up between the knees that hugged her thighs. Right now she felt ever so small, and loved. She had ran again and Mommy had talked to her and would correct so she would do better next time. Safe she felt, so safe too as her hands were taken and held.

"Why is Mommy going to spank you Emma?"

Wiggling as she met those unwavering eyes. "Cause I ran when I know better to and was almost hurt a little bit and I didn't use our rule I know to when I feel like doing that." Tummy fluttering with a guilt butterfly she longed to be rid of. The bug of accountability was flapping in her throat to be free. "And cause you love me and want to help me make better 'cisions."

A glow for that sweet after thought graced Regina's face. "Mommy does, so much, and sometimes that means giving you a consequence when you make certain choices so you think twice before making them again."

She guided Emma over her left knee, tucking her girl right up close to the apex of her stomach and hip as her right leg secured both of the pale ones dangling gently in place. Emma was a squirmier and kicker by nature and she did not want to lose her grip once they began.

Emma sucked in her lower lip when she felt Mommy's hand resting on her bottom and that arm wrapped snug around her waist. Unable to help it, she always was, she whined to be anywhere else but where she needed to be right now. "Mommy, please I'm sssorrrry."

"I know you are baby and when we are done you will feel so much better after the fact." Knowing how worked up Emma got when something was done to get them here, but that sweet after, that is exactly what her girl needed and it was her responsibility to get Emma there no matter the whine from that mouth. Firm she began as she always did, giving one crisp spank to each cheek over a night shirt.

Emma dropped her head as it began, hips beginning to wiggle as the slight sting was felt through her layers. Layers it always was with them; the physical and the metaphysical. Mommy always knew just how to remove her hard fought layers one at a time so she was receptive, willing and able to let go. And warm up brief, the first one was lifted up onto her back leaving her panties under that firm palm. Sniffling Emma waited for the next part to begin and it did with a two quick firm cracks to the middle of her bottom.

Squealing, she fisted her covers. "Noooo."

"When you run away your problems do not go away Emma." Confirming as much by giving careful attention to the creases where the bottom meets the thigh. Emma began bucking at that, but she easily held her girl close in their well practiced positions. "They only become harder to face when you turn back around and I will not allow you to run away anymore young lady. Do you hear me?"

Panting Emma turned her face from the blanket to the light. "Y-yesss."

"Yes what baby?" Pausing Regina briefly ran her forearm across a panty seat, easing the burning heat she knew was building.

A tear slipped from green begging for more wet friends to join it. Close she was to letting go, but not yet. Trying again when her behind was patted. "Yes Mommy."

"We have discussed this a few times now Emma and I have been more than patient with you over the fact." Declaring so and the reason for her next move.

Emma tried kicking her legs, but she couldn't. Not when she felt two fingers hook in the waistband of her unicorn panties. Her lucky panties she had proudly declared when she opened the package for her birthday. Her luck ran out when those panties were tugged down to her knees and left there as a reminder of her not so good choice and where the one today had landed her.

Regina took a deep breath, watching Emma carefully as she always did for cues. Glassy eyes and sniffles prevailed. Girl was so deep in the moment, right where little one needed to be. Time to bring Emma home. She raised her hand and brought it down in a back and forth pattern on pink skin, talking done, she focused on getting her girl to the point of release, and squirming and tears leaking, they were almost right to the edge of it.

Emma reached an arm back to cover, only to have her hand taken and held to the small of her back by a quick and ready hand. She fought, both physically and mentally against the dam trying to break. She needed to be on the other side of it already. Needed to be done and back in the arms she knew were waiting, but first she had to let go. Had to give in and bare herself in a way that no one had ever seen her do save for the one guiding her there.

Calling then for the one. "Mmmoommy!" And sucking in a breath after.

"Right here." Upping her tempo, Regina held onto Emma, anchoring them both to the moment. "It's alright baby. It's just us. You can let go."

And Emma did with one great big wail that left her lungs along with the tears that needed to be free. Down her cheeks and down onto her fists, now loosening. Down into her grief for what had been stolen from her decades ago. Spiraling into the darkness of her pain untapped save for the rare moment she could get there like this. She hit the bottom of herself. And sat there, crying. Crying like the little girl she was over the knee of the one who loved her unconditionally when she couldn't be big. Couldn't adult, be the Savior or Sheriff or even Emma.

"Good girl." Regina praised and gave one more spank to each blushing cheek to make sure those tears kept going. "Mommy's good girl."

Emma was good. She could be a good girl. That's all she wanted to be right now and her Mommy assured her she was. Wails turned to soft weeping as the burn in her bottom pulsed. Mommy rubbed her back, stroked her hair, but Emma knew her behind would be left alone for a good while yet. Aftercare was never rushed between them, and the hand that guided was the same that soothed her now. Her panties were returned to place. Legs released she was eased up and over onto that lap face up. She winced when her weight rested on a knee and she quickly buried her face into dark hair. Somehow, and Emma never knew if it was magic or something else, Regina was able to lift her up and carry her to the rocker in one sweep.

Re-seated in their place as Emma liked to refer the corner of the yellow room, Regina cradled her little love and rocked. Calmer Emma was becoming in her arms as the night sky rolled in through the curtains and stars began peeking out to say good night. Still she rocked and when her girl was merely sniffling and all the tears that had visited went home for the moment Regina summoned a tissue and held it to a very pink little nose.

Blowing, Emma had her face wiped up and sighed when a cool cloth was ran over her skin after. "Thanks Mommy." For more than the cloth she was so grateful.

"You're welcome Princess." Grinning when a yawn nearly tore a little mouth in half. "I think it is someone's bedtime. Your bed or mine, my love?"

"Hmmmmm. Yours." Wanting to stay close even though she adored sleeping under the lacy canopy on nights she was small. Again Emma was picked up and taken to the master bedroom. Covers drew back and she was tucked in. "Blankie and Uni?"

"Of course." Royal fingers snapped and both appeared on the bed. Regina draped the crocheted blanket over Emma and tucked the stuffed white unicorn under a little arm.

Emma snuggled down, now very sleepy and warm. A chaste kiss her lips was given and her temple was tucked into a warm cheek as Mommy gave squeaky kisses that tickled her ear. She giggled. Whole and content Emma was and nothing and no one would take that feeling from her as long as Mommy had any say in it. Mommy said a lot of things and asked something now that was ritual between them.

"How much does my baby love me?"

Small smile bloomed and Emma put her arms out to the side as wide as she could. "All of it." Dropping her hands to hold Uni again, she took one of her Mommy's in her own, joining their palms together. "We fit just right, huh?"

"We do." Regina easily confirmed.

Then it was her turn to ask. "How much does Mommy love Emma?"

Eyes sparkled as she rubbed noses with her little Princess. "Always I love my Emma, all of her, for always and always."

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A/N - Originally meant to be a one shot, but your feedback and PMs changed my mind. More to come! Thoughts?