Warnings and disclaimer: I strongly suggest you not skip reading this.

What these characters represent are near and dear to my heart because in them I have placed myself and some of my past. There are many struggles that go on for both of the main characters, Regina and Emma, which I have spent a great deal of my life working out. The characters are flawed and raw. They are a mix of the adult me and the little girl inside of me who struggled to find where she belonged. There is exploration of that 'need' in here, as well as spanking of a fictional minor by a maternal figure. I do not support nor condone spanking of actual children. Rather I placed the context of that need some adults experience through the emotional healing that spanking can offer as a means to letting go of built up feelings through the eyes of Emma in this story. If that bothers you in a fictional setting, then this story is not for you and please read no further.

I am a bit anxious to share this as I wrote this many, many years ago in a different form, but I have decided it was time to rewrite, edit and share it in a new way. It offered me some healing from my past and I hope it is able to help some others out there who are searching to understand how finding love, discipline, and family can change a life. I hope you enjoy it. I welcome constructive feedback, comments or questions.

Chapter 1 - The Secret

"A doctor's daughter and you behave like this? What would your mother think?" The newly appointed principal asked her wayward student. She had not had the pleasure of having this girl in her office before, but from the rather thick file on her desk she clasped her hands over, the girl was no stranger to being referred here. The ten year old sitting across from her stiffened and angry green eyes glared back.

"I don't know. My mother left me when I was seven." Emma Mills said through gritted teeth. She felt her face flush after revealing that detail. It was a raw spot of heart she never liked to think about—especially lately.

The principal looked down and went over Emma's file again. Somewhat uncomfortable due to her own fault of assumption. The woman shifted in her seat. "I see, well, your Aunt is a doctor then. I assumed she was your mother—"

"Well you're wrong." Emma all but spat in her upset. While the adoption that assumption had caused happened years ago, it was also another tender spot she sometimes struggled to understand her full feelings of. What had set her off today to earn a summons to this office was nothing any one could help her with. It hurt too much. The past sucked that way and its return and the confusion she felt over it only made her tummy ache. She then regretted her tone at the woman's next words.

The principal sighed, leaning forward in her leather swivel chair. "Your aunt then will be notified of your behavior." Emma sank a bit in the chair and the action caused Her eyes to soften. "And your teacher will go over the details of the essay you will be writing as a consequence."

"But—" Emma started to protest.

"Or you may sit in detention during recess next week." Her original consequence intended until the details of the girl's file made her second guess herself. Something about this girl called for patience and understanding.

A pout. "No thanks. I'll write it."

"You may return to class then and I do not want to see you in my office for this again, alright?"

Emma kept her eyes downcast and nodding, slid off the overstuffed chair. The rest of her school day went by slowly and by the time the final bell rang she was slowly becoming anxious. Emma quickly gathered her things into her purple backpack, including the essay assignment her teacher had gone over with her, and headed outside into the bright afternoon sunshine. Despite being the month of October, the weather in Arizona was in the mid nineties. Emma wiped the sweat from her forehead and reached for her water bottle her aunt always insisted she keep with her and realized she forgotten it at home that day. Suddenly, her best friend Ruby waved from the familiar silver van, calling her over.

Since her Aunt Regina often worked well into the evenings at the office during the week, Emma usually went with Ruby to her house where they would do their homework and play until Regina picked her up later that day. Emma opened the van sliding door and slipped inside. "Hey Ruby! Sorry I missed you at recess; I had to talk to the Principal about something."

"It's okay, I can't wait to show you my new video game—" Ruby said excitedly and was interrupted by her Granny.

"Ruby you are grounded from your game box for a few days, remember? Besides Emma isn't coming home with us today." Granny Lucas explained as she shifted the van into gear and pulled out of the school parking lot.

"She's not?"

"I'm not?" The two children asked simultaneously.

"Your aunt asked that I drop you off by her office today." Ruby's Granny explained.

"What'd you do?" Ruby asked in a whisper.

Emma turned her face toward the window to hide the tears forcing their way to tease her eyes. But they never fell. They never did on their own. She focused on counting the palm trees passing to keep the lid on the full bottle of confusing feelings fizzing inside her. One… Two... Three… she was struggling to untwist the cap of it in a way that wouldn't explode like earlier.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Look Mary-Margaret we have been friends for a long time and as Emma's teacher I respect your opinion. I apologize for her behavior and language, and I will be speaking with her about her poor choices." Regina said and sipped on her caramel nonfat latte, and pushed a stray strand of her long dark hair behind her ear.

Today she wore it pulled up off her face and into a stylish twist. Tired brown eyes scanned a list of patients to be seen next week as she listened to the concern on the other end of the line. She had on a pair of burgundy slacks, and a short sleeved cream blouse. Her matching waist coat rested on the back of her chair. Despite all the air-conditioning, after a long day, her office was beginning to get stuffy. She shook her head and tapped her pen against her desk, as was her habit when she was upset over something.

"I know. I am a holistic doctor. I work with children and I have a PHD, I know what the 'experts' think." Regina more than did on the matter of discipline her friend was going on about, though her niece was different than most children. While her approach was considered old fashioned it worked between them. Done with the conversation entirely she sought to end it quickly. "Now, I really do have to get going. Thank you again so much for taking some extra time to fill me in and I will make sure she has that essay done for you by Monday morning...Take care...you too." Regina pressed the end call button on her cell and sighed heavily, resting her face in her hands.

'What am I going to do with this child?' She thought to herself and rubbed her temples to fight off a pending headache. The principal had called her earlier that day about her niece's behavior. After her last patient of the day, Regina had called her friend, who was also Emma's fourth grade teacher to discuss the matter thoroughly. Regina opened her laptop to begin that day's client paperwork when her secretary buzzed her office.

"Doctor Mills, your niece is here," said a voice from the speaker on her desk.

Regina touched a button, "Send her in please."

The large mahogany door opened a minute later and Emma popped a head in. "Come in here Emma, and shut the door behind you please." Regina instructed and took off her dark reading glasses.

Emma eased herself in and shut the door with a soft click, but stayed rooted to the spot. Regina gestured to the blue leather armchair in front of her desk and Emma quietly took off her backpack and went over to sit down.

"Emma, I spoke to your principal and your teacher today. I was not very happy with what I heard." Regina began rather firmly, but lost that tone within the wide eyed gaze across from her. That troubled, veiled look she was more than familiar with. More gently she continued. "Now, I know you and I know that something must be bothering you in order for you to behave like you did. Am I right?" Regina asked and leaned forward, resting her crossed arms on her desk. Her niece was not one to open up readily, nor was she; something they were both working on. Even after three years together Emma was still a puzzle to her in some ways.

Emma bit her lip so hard it nearly bled as she shook her head to her aunt's inquiry, her blonde curling ponytail loosened a bit from its tie.

"No? Well, then I want to hear a valid explanation for your behavior today." When Emma didn't respond Regina stood and went around her desk and leaned against it in classic teacher pose. She cupped her niece's chin in hand and lifted so their eyes met. "I asked you a question Emma and I do not like being ignored." Regina reminded.

"I'm sorry." Emma began and dropped her shoulders as she blew her bangs off her forehead. "Can we go home? I mean, I want to talk to you at home, please?" Emma asked and pulled her face away.

Regina sighed, "Alight we will continue this discussion later, but I need to get a few things done here first and I believe you have an essay to write. Go ahead and get started while I finish up." She said relenting to her niece's request. Regina kissed Emma's forehead and ruffled her hair gently before going back behind her desk to work.

Emma opened her backpack pulling out her notebook and began to write, about different ways she could express herself when she was angry. After a good hour of working Emma stopped and watched as her aunt's slim fingers effortlessly skimmed across the surface of a laptop. Those hands were always manicured, soft and scented with a sweet lotion smelling of apples. Emma marveled at the fact that those same hands could console her when she cried and stroke her hair in affection, but also correct her on some occasions when she had blown it. She wondered if today was such a day.

"I'm almost done here sweetheart. You can put your things away now." Regina instructed, awakening Emma from the daydream. The child gathered pencils and notebook and stuffed them in a back pack while she shut down her computer and put a few files into her briefcase to take home.

Regina grabbed her purse and water bottle and noticed that the corner pouch on Emma's backpack was missing the matching purple plastic bottle. "Where is your water bottle Emma?"

"I forgot it at home." Emma mumbled and opened the door to leave the office.

Regina followed and pulled it tight to lock up. "It's too hot and dry here for you to be without water. It's the desert Emma, and it's very important for you to be properly hydrated. I do not want you getting sick."

"Jeez I won't." Emma snapped her head lost in the emotions of the day.

Regina's brown eyes flashed at the sharp tone. And she frowned at the flash of green returned her way. "Emma."

"It's a stupid bottle and a stupid rule. Just leave me alone about it." Emma crossed her arms and found herself being led to the sofa in the waiting area of her aunt's office. The room was empty except for the two of them as Regina's secretary had gone home already.

The woman seated herself on the sofa and took up both of her niece's hands, "I have a feeling the bottle is not what has you speaking to me this way." Green eyes narrowed at her confirming that thought and Regina continued. "Nevertheless, you will not take that tone with me. It is disrespectful and you know better."

Emma frowned, once again regretting her choice of tone for the third time that day. She could feel hot tears burning below her eyes, and like before they never fell, but her chin fell to her chest. She was surprised she was allowed to keep it there as she felt her Aunt's eyes on her.

"When I tell you or remind you to do something, it isn't because I am being mean, or unfair. It's for your safety and well being." Emma did not take direction well. Especially when already upset over something. While Regina understood and was more than willing to be patient when needed, she also had certain expectations for her niece. "Do you understand that?" Regina asked.

"Yes." Emma answered and thought she did, but it wasn't always easy to. While her aunt's expectations were clear the woman was complicated and hard to read at times. Like she was. They were alike in that way. In a lot of ways Emma thought.

"Are you ready to talk to me about what happened at school?" Regina asked. She didn't think Emma was ready yet, but sometimes a difference in attitude such as the one displayed was an indicator that the girl was struggling with an abundance of emotions that needed coaxing out.

"Not here." Emma shook her head needing more time to think and adjusted her backpack when her aunt sighed and stood. Her hand was taken and she followed along to the elevator of the parking garage where Regina's black Mercedes was parked.

Very quickly they were on route home, as the traffic was light heading north. The ride was silent and Emma squirmed in the back seat, but kept her thoughts occupied with the passing scenery of Camelback Mountain and the dusty, busy road. Soon enough Regina pulled into the driveway of their two story home. The house was rather large for just the two of them, but Regina had decorated it with warm, soft colors. The large rooms felt homey and relaxed. Emma followed her aunt into the house and they shed their belongings by the front door. Regina went into the kitchen and beckoned Emma to follow.

"I am going to start dinner. While I cook, I want you to tell me what's going on with you today, the school matter aside." Regina said, opening the fridge and pulling out the makings for strawberry salmon salad. This was one of her favorites or 'rabbit food', as Emma called it. She tried to cook most week nights if they got home early enough and was able to by prepping meals ahead of time. Having her own private practice was demanding and the long hours of the week caught up to her as she moved about the kitchen. She was tired. Emma upset with the school incident looming without clarity had her a bit on edge, too.

The girl sat at the island counter on a high-backed stool and traced a scrambled pattern on the tiled countertop with her finger. "Nothing is wrong." Emma mumbled.

Regina shut a drawer harder than she meant to at the child's avoidant lie and placed a wooden cutting board on the counter. Emma did not seem phased by the sound, but she tried to explain a little of what she was feeling.

"Emma, tell me that it's hard to talk about... Tell me that you don't know where to start, but don't tell me nothing is wrong. I didn't raise you have tantrums or cuss or talk back to adults."

Cheeks turned pink at the description of her actions and Emma tossed back. "You didn't raise me all the way."

Regina paused and squared her jaw at that remark. Though true for the first seven years of her niece's life she certainly felt differently about the matter. She looked down at the cutting board expecting her heart to be resting there next to the fruit under the knife. "No I did not and you know I would do anything to change that Emma." The child certainly did and her words seemed to reach Emma for the first time that day as she continued. "When you act out like that, especially around other people, I know that something is really bothering you." Regina said and began to slice the strawberries for the salad as she opened up further. "Sweetheart, I just want to help you, but I can't do that unless you talk to me." She finished with the strawberries and set the stove to medium heat to begin the salmon filet that she had already crusted with lemon zest and seasonings that morning.

"But I don't want to be in trouble. And when I tell you, you are going to punish me for how I acted at school." Emma reasoned, looking up at her aunt who placed the filet in the heated pan.

"Yes, I am just like I always do when you misbehave to this extent." Regina confirmed gently, placing greens, strawberries and crumbled goat cheese in a salad bowl and tossing the mixture gently with balsamic vinaigrette. "I am not; however, going to give you a consequence for whatever it is you have to tell me now, just your behavior at school. You still need to learn that throwing fits and cursing are not appropriate ways to express anger. We have steps in place for you to use if you get worked up and if you are upset over something you can always talk to me. I am your m—" Regina stopped herself and took a deep breath before continuing. "We are family and I love you. Just let me in a little alright?" She asked simply and flushed a bit at what she almost said.

On paper and for all legal intents and purposes she was Emma's mother, but here in their close, but sometimes complicated relationship she was still Aunt Regina. She had spoken to Emma about the girl having the freedom to call her mom, if so wished. The choice, if ever, had to be Emma's. The child's biological mother was Regina's younger sister, Zelena, who left Emma on her doorstep, half starved when the girl was just barely seven years old. They hadn't heard from the woman since.

"Okay," Emma started, "It's hard to talk about and I don't know where to start." She tried and hugged herself as her aunt dished helpings of salad and salmon onto two plates and carried them over to the table. Emma slid off her stool and went to get silverware and napkins without being asked.

Meanwhile, Regina poured a glass of milk for Emma and a small glass of Rombauer Chardonnay for herself, loving the rich buttery oak and light hint of peaches that occupied the preferred white wine. "So, let's start with what you are feeling. Are you angry, frustrated, sad…?" Regina asked, remembering what Emma's therapist had told her about helping the girl identify feelings. She was patient in the quiet, not wanting to rush Emma into a response.

Emma pushed the food around on her plate and ate a few bites before responding. "I'm angry and scared a little, I guess." She took a large bite of salmon, savoring the puckering flavor.

Regina sipped her wine, considering her niece's feelings and the root of most of them when they exploded as they had today. "This is about your mother in some sense isn't it sweetheart." Regina asked gently.

Emma scowled and shot a questioning look at how her aunt could read her. That impulsive look quickly faded, as she realized it was wonderful having someone who could help her with all these bottled up emotions. "Yeah, but not like how before. It's different this time." Emma explained. A hard knot forming in her stomach as the ache was forced up from her heart and out of her mouth. "I saw her last week."

'What?!' Regina thought as her spine stiffened. She felt her heart stop and her mouth fight to work. "Where?"

"By the fence on the playground at school."

A whole range of emotions and thoughts raced through Regina's mind at that moment. 'How dare she! After what she did…' Regina's thoughts raced and she swallowed hard, keeping her emotions in firm check even though inside she was screaming. "Are you sure Emma?"

Child shrugged, but in a pitifully dejected way no child ever should be able to do. "Yeah, she knew me and we talked. I didn't want to tell you at first, 'cause you told me never to talk to people I don't know, and I didn't, until I was sure it was her. But then I didn't know how to tell you cause…" Her train of thought jumped sideways. "She looks the same, but she didn't seem as mean as before." Emma said, not looking her aunt in the eye.

"What did she say to you?" Regina asked calmer than she felt.

"She said that she had an apartment here and that she wanted me to come live with her and that things would be different this time..." Emma's voice broke giving way to a hot, bitter heat behind her eyes. "I just want her to leave me alone and I can't get her out of my head. Aunt Regina I don't want to live with her or see her... Please, please don't make me." The tears wanting to slip down fair cheeks were quickly sniffed back as was Emma's habit. Crying did not come easy to her and though she wanted to let go of these feelings they were consuming her from the inside out.

Regina quickly went over and eased the child up so she could sit in her place. She pulled Emma up onto her lap, wrapping her arms around the little girl and rocked as the child struggled to catch a breath. Her heart ached for her niece and over the more than complicated history they shared with the woman who was responsible for bringing them together. Regina hummed a soft melody of some forgotten song that had always had a calming effect whenever her niece was this upset. After a long while the girl's breathing slowed and Emma was reduced to a tight bundle of sniffles in her arms.

"Emma, I want you to sit up a bit and listen to me please. Can you do that?" Regina asked and waited as Emma did so; a fist rubbed an eye as a nod answered. "You do not have to see your mother. And besides, I don't think it's a good idea at this time anyway, and certainly not without my supervision. I will speak to your Principal and some other people to make sure she won't approach you like that again." Regina assured and kissed Emma's cheek. "I am so sorry that you have been going through this by yourself. That's why it's so important that we talk to each other about how we are feeling. I will always be honest with you about everything we discuss and I expect you will learn it is okay to do the same with me."

"I'll try Aunt Regina." The young girl smiled a bit, feeling better now that her secret was out. She had been wound up the whole week since seeing her mother after so many years and under her teacher's redirection for her tone in class she has lost her temper in a way she more than knew better on. She was still wound up and wanted more than anything to let these feelings go.

"Alright then, do you want any more of your dinner?" Emma shook her head no as Regina stood her up. "I'll clean up down here while you go take your bath. I'll be up soon to check on you."

"But it's only 6:30." Emma whined.

"I think you should go to bed a bit early tonight. Some extra sleep will do you some good and besides, you and I still have to clear up your misbehavior from earlier today." Regina said simply and stood to gather up the dirty dishes and the half eaten meal.

Emma pouted a bit as she made her way into the living room and up the winding staircase to the second level of their home. She had her own bathroom and when she had came to first live with her Aunt Regina, the woman let her decorate it any way she had wanted and at seven she had a passion for anything purple so the walls were painted a soft lavender. Regina, this last year, had changed it a bit by replacing the rug and towels with cream colored ones and by added some new framed pictures of horses. There was a pretty one next to the wall pantry of a mare and colt in a spring meadow she liked to make up stories about. Riding was a shared hobby they both loved to enjoy, though with her Aunt's busy schedule that was not nearly as often as Emma liked.

She ran a warm bath, complete with bubbles and slowly stripped off her school clothes, tossing them into the hamper. Emma undid her loose ponytail, instead clipping her hair in a messy bun atop her head and stepped into the soothing water. The girl took her time washing, letting the water soak away the rough day. About fifteen minutes later she heard a knock on the door. She drew her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Come in." She called and her aunt pushed open the half closed door carrying a stack of warm towels fresh from the dryer.

"Nearly finished?" Regina asked as she put away the towels in the pantry next to the lifted tub, leaving one out for Emma to use.

"Yeah, but do we have to? I promise I'll use my steps next time and not say those words." Emma pleaded, hoping against all odds that her Aunt would relent.

"You know better than to even ask me that sweetheart. Now, no more stalling. That water must be getting cold anyway. I'll meet you in your room in 10 minutes." Regina confirmed and left the girl to finish up.

Emma pulled the plug and sat there as the water drained wishing that all her tangled emotions of anger and ache could follow the water. After a few moments she stood and wrapped the towel around her shoulders, heading to her room across the hallway. She found her pajamas already laid out for her. Emma dressed and took out her hair clip, letting her hair fall down in loose waves. She then sat down on her twin canopy bed to wait.

Her aunt knocked twice few minutes later and Emma had butterflies in her stomach as Regina approached. The woman sat on the bed and beckoned. "Come stand beside me here Emma."

Emma eased herself off the bed and went to stand by her aunt's right side as her hands were taken. "Do you understand why I am going to spank you?"

As much as Emma hated this part, she found a certain amount of calm washing over her at the predicable question. She nodded slowly, clenching her cheeks involuntarily.

"Tell me why sweetheart." Regina prompted, always wanting to be very sure her little niece knew exactly why they were here.

"Cause' I threw books and cussed at my teacher?"

A dark brow rose. "Are you asking me or telling me, Emma?"

"Telling you." The girl corrected herself, trying very hard to keep her hands at her sides as her aunt began to work the knot in her pajama bottoms loose.

"That's right, but there's more than just your tantrum. There are other ways to express yourself when your feelings build up like this. We've gone over this so many times Emma and frankly, I am getting tired of repeating myself to you. I am very patient with you young lady, but you need to make more of an effort to control your anger. Tell me some of the ways you can express yourself properly."

Emma's eyes grew teary as she struggled for her words. "I can talk to you or another adult. I can punch a pillow, or sit quietly and breathe like you showed me. I can count to ten or squeeze my stress ball..." She recited some of the things Regina had taught her to do when she felt out of control.

"That's right and I suggest you start using some of the ideas we talk about or you will be finding yourself here again. Am I making myself clear to you?" She asked, taking Emma's hand and guiding the girl across her lap. There was more to it than that. Child was a bound knot of feelings on any given day and this way between them helped Emma be able to let them go when they got to a point of blockage. How and why a journey of three years of trial and error, and while Regina didn't like to discipline, Emma needed this from her.

"Yes." Emma sighed as she felt her aunt's fingers in the elastic waistband of her purple PJ pants.

Regina pulled the fabric down to Emma's thighs. She lifted her right knee higher, and wrapped her arm around that small waist to hold her niece in place. Stiffening her resolve, she lifted her right hand to begin.

At the first swat, Emma squirmed. She felt her bottom go from pale to a blushing pink rapidly as the sting began to build. She kicked her legs as the spanking moved to her untouched thighs. "Nooo…." Emma kicked her pants down to tangle at her knees as her aunt left no part of her bottom and thighs untouched.

Regina didn't spank hard, she never did. Emma got more out of the mere contact of skin to skin, hand to bottom. Only enough to help open the heart to allow her niece a much needed cry. The girl always fought the release of emotions that needed to come out and close to the surface as they were Regina kept on.

Emma began to cease her struggles and squirms. Wanting, but not wanting to really feel. That always seemed to be her internal struggle with everything in her young life. Never easy and always a fight, but here and now she was ready to give into this feeling of letting go.

Almost.

"Aunt Regina." Emma pleaded and dropped her head in her arms as her eyes stung with tears welling.

"Not just yet, sweetheart. A little more I think." Regina said, sensing the shift she wanted was coming and concentrating this last part to Emma's sit spots where bottom meets thigh. Then the damn broke and little shoulders shuddered with a gasp and open. Emma's mouth opened with a wounded cry. Deep and long waiting to come out and child buried head in arms crying. Regina felt her throat close as her eyes misted and paused, rubbing the girls back in slow circles waiting patiently for her niece to be ready for comfort.

After a few minutes Emma started to push herself up and her aunt helped her stand. The woman leaned forward and set the girls PJ bottoms to right. She pulled Emma in to sit on her lap. Regina cuddled and consoled with soft words and kisses as Emma struggled with invisible demons. All she wanted then and there was to make them go away. There were so many bottled up emotions in this child; anger, rage, hate, fear, grief. In the beginning, she didn't know how to help Emma begin the healing process from what her sister had done.

When Emma had first come to her the girl had been defiant and cold; a tough shell wrapped around a tender heart that sought approval and affection. Through trial and error, Regina discovered exactly what her niece needed to start opening up and begin to understanding these feelings. They had come a long way since that first day of meeting and even so, there was a still long way to go. Regina knew from experience the road to healing from abuse was a winding path up hill.

"It's alright sweetheart. It's okay to cry, it's okay to feel what you feel. Just let it all out."After a long while, when most of those little tears subsided, Emma pulled back from her aunt's embrace and wiped her eyes. Regina took a tissue from her pocket to wipe red eyes and a nose before standing with Emma in her arms. She moved to the head of the bed and sat there against the headboard. Little one in her lap and snuggled in under her chin with a yawn. "Do you feel better about things sweetheart or would you like to talk some more?" Regina asked as she stroked blonde curls away from sleepy eyes.

"Uh-huh. Not now, but maybe later." Emma whispered her voice somewhat hoarse from all the crying she had done. Crying always made her so sleepy and drained of all emotion she closed her eyes to focus on the heartbeat under her ear not wanting it to ever, ever leave as the one she had grown under for nine months had. "Stay with me?"

"I'm right here Emma." Regina assured the hint of uncertainty there and kissed a damp cheek as she further murmured the constant promise between them. "Always baby."

Emma drifted off under that comfort into a deep sleep.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The clock on her nightstand read 11:15 PM.

Emma sat up in bed, clutching her baby blanket to her chest. It was one of few things she had from before. She shivered thinking about the time before she had come to call this room hers. A time when she had lived with her mother she longed to forget. While she had been in some trouble with her aunt today she had no doubt she was loved as she loved the woman who had saved her life in so many ways.

Green eyes adjusted slowly to the night as she drew the covers up under her chin thinking many things and settling on one she needed to tell the heart across the hall. But she hesitated to get out of bed. Emma hated the dark and though her nightlight shined bright painting a pattern of running horses across her ceiling it was not enough. She crawled out of bed dragging her blanket for comfort behind her and headed quickly out into the dark hallway. There was a soft light under her aunt's door and Emma crossed the hall and opened it.

"Aunt Regina?" Emma whispered as she came to stand near the high sleigh bed.

Regina opened her eyes a bit to see Emma's silhouette in the soft moonlight against her window. "Emma, what's the matter? Did you have a bad dream?" Regina asked and propped herself up on her elbows, straining a bit with her eyes to see her niece better.

Emma shifted on her feet. "Can I sleep with you? I just don't…" She faltered and bit her lip.

Regina smiled softly, lifting the covers up with one hand and scooting to the far side of her bed to allow the girl some room. Emma took a running leap up onto the bed and snuggled deep under the covers, baby blanket wrapped around little shoulders. Regina draped her arm around the girl, pulling her in close and kissed wild blonde curls while breathing in deeply the scent of cinnamon that followed her niece everywhere. The room was silent for a while; the only noise was their soft breathing.

"Aunt Regina?" The girl sleepily whispered.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?" Regina asked, tucking the quilts around them both.

"For loving me."

Regina gave pause as she watched the signs of the sandman visiting Emma and wondered how her sister could ever not have. She gently kissed the sleeping girl's cheek and said very quietly, "Thank you for letting me."

A/N – Thoughts?

To be updated once a week.