AN: Anna is a 22-year-old girl who is as normal as they come. She has lived most of her life in the worst parts of the foster system where she befriended Emma Swan, until events occurred to estrange the two girls. Years later, she's grown up and alone with a child of her own. When she bumps into an adult Emma again at the end of season 5, Anna is thrown into the world of Storybrooke where magic exists and the past she spent her entire life searching for, falls into her lap. Follow Anna as she discovers new friends, a family of her own, ... and maybe a little pixie dust along the way!

This is a collaboration story co-written by skatergirl94 and bjames238. They can also be found on twitter at Chicka024 and sjcarter23 respectively. The two have combined forces (and also brains) to bring this wonderful new fairy tale to life.

Featured and mentioned characters include: Emma, Regina, Snow, Charming, Zelena, baby Robyn, Captain Hook, Henry, Robin, Cora, Rumpelstiltskin, and other familiar faces as well. There is also new people in our favorite character's lives – including our two main characters of Anna and her young daughter Mia. Romantic pairings are mentioned but not entirely integral to the story – this is mostly a family/friendship story.

Here are a few things you need to know about this story before you start:

It takes place within the storyline of season 6! So everything up until then stays true to what happens within the show. (besides a few tiny things. Which will be explained) and you may recognize quite a few scenes!

The story begins right in the middle of all the chaos and will be flashing back (just like in the show and you'll know it's a flashback if the chapter is in italics) to explain how everything came to be. So if you're confused at first, you're suppose to be! It'll all make sense as the pieces come together.

We plan to update this story once a week! Friday's seemed fitting since the show has now been moved to that time slot. Hopefully a new story will help all of us get through the next few months until the show returns!

Alright! You're ready to go! Enjoy the journey! Shelby and I hope you fall in love with Anna and her story as much as we have fallen in love with writing it.

Chapter One

Smash

"I don't understand!" Regina cried as she shot up off her grey studded suede office couch. "How could she just escape!"

Anna, a young woman with striking blue eyes and dark brown hair sighed heavily. Her chin rested on her arms which hung lazily over the back of the couch. With a glass of red wine in hand, she watched as Regina paced frantically around the office. Her arms moved from her hips to her sides and came up to cross over her chest. Anna frowned at the sight of her. They'd been at it for nearly three hours trying to find an answer as to how the evil queen escaped from her snake cage.

She let out another breath, honestly getting a bit dizzy and not just from the Mayor's constant pacing. She was now caught up in the various shenanigans of Storybrooke ever since Emma arrived in town and even most of the history of before thanks to what Regina just told her today. As a "civilian" non—fairytale character though, it was still a bit much to process.

Listening to their stories and trying to help them strategize against their next big villain was like having dinner with the Avengers. She just hadn't been expecting this much information all at once. She was trying to be understanding and helpful for Regina's sake, but she was so exhausted. Her three year old daughter had been up all night afraid from nightmares and the kid was just too active for her own good.

She loved spending time with Regina – really though, the woman was amazing and so . . . so regal. It was just really hard right now trying to balance the exhausted single mom part of her with the excited, childhood Disney fan who wanted to fangirl out over the larger—than—life woman in front of her.

When Regina first invited her to her office for a late lunch chat (plus wine), Anna had initially hesitated. She'd been in her Mayor's office only once before to confront the Evil Queen, but she didn't really pay much attention to what the office actually looked like. That hadn't been the most positive of experiences. Nor had her first interaction with the Queen back in Regina's vault — hence her hesitation. In the end, she realized she needed to get over it sometime so why not start by having lunch with her friend? So today when she'd walked into Regina's office for the what felt like the first time, she had initially been so overwhelmed by the grandeur of the decorating – because, really, who else would decorate like this but a Queen? She really must have been terrified to miss all this. Her eyes scanned the enormous black and white themed room again, deciding that the birch wallpaper was her favourite feature.

"Regina, I know you're a little on edge but you may want to calm down." Anna finally broke the silence after the echo of clanking heels threatened to drive her insane. "The nerve on your forehead is doing that throbbing thing that happens when you're angry. I'm a little afraid it might actually burst at any moment if you don't take a second to breathe."

Regina rolled her eyes and gave the younger woman an unimpressed stare before focusing her gaze back to the floor.

While Regina wasn't looking, Anna let out a bit of a quick secret smirk. She'd just sassed the Mayor/Ex— Evil Queen for crying out loud! – and got away with it. She was pretty sure there weren't many who could boast the same. Although . . . Anna had learned her sassing skills from Emma when they were younger so . . .

Regina seemed oblivious to Anna's secret joy, only appearing to become more angry. Anna knew, though, what a good heart lay in the formerly Evil Queen. She'd heard all about the town's fascination with hearts and the obsession with how much black was on them, but she didn't care. She'd seen Regina's kindness and light in the short time she'd been there.

She needed only to witness the interaction between her young daughter Mia and Regina to see what good there was in the Mayor. When Emma first brought Anna around, the Regina she'd been introduced to – while polite and cordial if not a little suspicious of Anna – had seemed to be down about something. She found out later it was because she'd just lost the love of her life.

From the moment Regina had met Anna's daughter Mia, there was something different in the way the Mayor was around them. A kinship of single motherhood of sorts developed – and Regina absolutely adored spending time with Mia. The son that Regina shared custody of with Emma was in high school and he spent half of his time living with Emma and her boyfriend Killian. Anna was still processing that her best friend from foster care shared true love with Captain Hook, her parents were Snow White and Prince Charming, and they were all the same age!

Anyways, Mia was only a toddler and ate up every bit of attention that Regina gave her. The tot was much like her mother in that way. Anna had noticed that Regina seemed to light up anytime Anna and Mia were around her – spoiling both of them like a mother hen. Even with all the drama surrounding the discovery of her Evil Queen half wreaking havoc with Mr. Hyde and the new characters that showed up in town, Regina still made time to shower Anna and Mia with motherly affection.

That was until Regina disappeared shortly after Emma had gotten herself stuck in – what had Regina called it? Oh right, — the "Wish Realm." Then they came back with the other version of Robin that Anna still couldn't figure out and Regina's focus was mostly on him.

Thus Anna lost a bit of the hero – worship she'd had for Regina. Not much though. Anna realized that while Regina was a Queen, a Mayor, and essentially a fairy tale character, just like Anna and Emma she was still human.

"There is no time to breathe, Anna." Regina's harsh tone pulled the younger woman back to the situation at hand. "There never is in this town! If it's not a huge, abominable snowman with spikes created by ice magic storming the streets, it's an army of Dark One's marking the living for sacrifice!"

"Wait. Ice magic? Elsa?! She's real too?!"

Regina nodded.

"Okay," Anna announced after taking a large gulp of her wine. "We are not telling Mia that one. She may have a heart attack. She had herself convinced that because my name was Anna I was the real life version of the cartoon princess. Took me four months to beat the idea out of her."

Regina shook her head in annoyance. "My point is that there is always something lurking in the shadows."

"Which is exactly the reason why you need a break." Anna tried to convince the older brunette. "Ever since you've come back from the wish realm you've been spiralling like a tornado about Robin. I know you're hurting. I can see it. You can't hide from me, Regina. I may not understand how this world you live in works, portals and magic and evil villains rising from the dead, but I understand you. And I know you're worried about the Evil Queen but I really don't think you're going to find any answers until you take a second to clear your head." She let her suggestion linger in the air for a moment, watching closely as Regina continued to pace about the room and took another swig of her wine. "I know a place where we can go. It's out of town but not too far. I can ask Snow if she'll continue to watch Mia for the day. She adores her so I'm sure she won't mind. We won't be gone long. Just long enough for you to clear your head. We'll head right back here and spend all night looking for the answers you need."

Arms crossed tightly around her chest, Regina paced her way towards the desk and leaned on the wooden edge. She kept her gaze straight ahead, doing everything in her power not to look at the pout she knew Anna was wearing.

"Please," the younger brunette pleaded. "You left me to go to some alternate reality and I didn't know if I would ever see you again."

Anna's words pulled Regina's view away from the open door. Feeling as if the oxygen had been sucked from the room, she finally allowed her gaze to fall on the young woman sitting to the right of her. Anna's head hung low, her eyes fixed on her drink. Regina felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach. With a heavy sigh, she made her way to the couch and took a seat, laying a gentle hand on Anna's leg. "I didn't leave you," she tried to sooth. "I had to bring Emma back. I had to reverse the wish the Evil Queen made."

Anna twirled the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. "Speaking of her, did you really wear those ridiculous costumes back in the Enchanted Fortress?"

"Forest," Regina corrected, unable to hide the faint hint of a smile that lingered on the ends of her lips. "And yes I did. They may be ridiculous to you, but back in that land I was a different person. I was a Queen. I was regal and well —evil."

"Jeez," Anna drawled. "No wonder she's so uptight. Those tight leather pants can't be comfortable."

Regina smirked with a cocked eyebrow. "Those jeans don't seem to be giving you any room to breathe either."

"Touché." Anna agreed in surrender. She reached for the wine glass Regina had set down in anger and held it out to the older brunette. "Listen," she began as Regina accepted the drink. Holding it delicately by the stem, the Mayor brought it to her lips and took a sip. "I know why you left. It's because, regardless of your past, you are a hero now. But that doesn't mean I wasn't scared or that I didn't miss you. So please, spend the day with me. Let me help you. Besides, you kind of owe me. While you and Emma were away I had to spend most of my time back at the loft with Snow. And as lovely as Snow White can be, there is only so many rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers a girl can handle."

Regina chuckled to herself at Anna's use of her own phrase. The memories of her and Snow on the Jolly Roger flashed through her mind. Her jaw twitched for a second where Snow had struck it with her fist in anger. It still amazed her to think about how far they'd all come since then. They were finally the family they always should have been. If only they hadn't wasted so much time being enemies, she wouldn't be in this situation now.

"So? What do you say?" Anna's soft tone pulled Regina out of her wandering mind. The young woman sat waiting for a response, her eyes filled with hope and longing for the Mayor to say yes.

Regina sighed at the sight. "Alright." She finally caved after a long pause. She really couldn't resist her.

Anna quickly hopped to her feet, a wide smile on her face. "Great! I'm driving. Give me your keys."

Regina narrowed her eyes. "You are not driving my car."

"Oh yes I am." Anna crossed her arms. "You are going to relax today. Which means I'm doing all the work. Including driving. Besides I've been dying to get behind the wheel of that Mercedes since the first day I saw it!"

"And that's the part that scares me."

"Pleeeeeease!" Anna begged, her lip pulled down in a pout.

Regina narrowed her eyes at the younger woman's attempt at an innocent puppy dog look. She could see so much of Anna's little daughter in her features. Same bright blue eyes, same nose, same adorable pouting bottom lip that Regina couldn't refuse. Rolling her eyes at Anna's now added batting eyelashes, she reached into her blazer. "One scratch—" the older brunette warned.

Anna's eyes lit up as keys were tossed into her hands. "And you'll release Zelena's flying monkey's on me. I got it. Let's go!"

Regina was thumbing through her phone as Anna drove past yet another exit on the highway. She'd texted with Henry for a while, telling him she'd be out of town for the rest of the day but to call her right away if he needed her. He assured her everything would be fine and he'd be safe with Emma, Hook, Zelena, Granny, the dwarves, and his grandparents so she should stop worrying. Honestly that child of hers . . . apparently Henry had gotten Emma's sassy attitude as well.

She really was worried about leaving him behind, even if it was just a short trip out of town. He'd scared her half to death when he'd taken off to New York, just like he had when he'd taken off to Boston to find Emma. She may have been an evil queen before but, since she'd split herself from her dark side, she found she was still getting used to all the emotions that came along with it. She still cared about the people she loved – more so now that most of that evil was out of her system. Just because her son was growing up didn't mean she'd ever stop worrying or caring about him.

She suddenly realized the radio was on. Was she so caught up her worry that she hadn't realized it had been on the whole time? Either way, she didn't recognize the song. She hadn't kept up much in her time here, but she did notice Anna humming along. She smirked, recalling all the times the girl had music playing in the mansion. Mia always seemed to enjoy it too.

She was just sending a text to Emma telling her she'd be out of town and to make sure to call her if anything came up. When she looked up, she realized they'd passed yet another exit. This one was for a town that was miles and miles away from Storybrooke.

How long had she been staring at her phone? Regina turned to glance at Anna who was still driving. The younger woman seemed alert so she obviously knew where she was going.

As they passed another exit, Regina could feel the anxiety work its way down her spine. She hadn't wanted to be gone this long or this far away from Henry or the town, not with her evil half missing. Not to mention whatever Gold and his son could get up to.

She adored Anna, but she just wanted this "side trip" to be over so she could go back to Storybrooke.

Raking her fingers through her hair anxiously, she let out a unsteady breath. "I thought you said this place was just past the town line. It's been over forty minutes."

"Did I say it was just past the town line? I don't recall—"

"Anna, where are we going?" Regina's tone was harsh.

Anna winced a little. "Portland."

"Portland?! That's two hours away from Storybrooke!"

"It's fine Regina, really." Anna tried to settle the Mayor's nerves. "Snow knows where we are going. She said she'd have Emma call us if anything popped up. They can handle it while we're gone."

"No. We have to turn around." Regina ordered. She had never been one to be out of control. She'd had enough of that growing up with her mother. She certainly didn't want to deal with that now. She trusted Anna, but not knowing where they were going wasn't helping her anxiety issues.

"Uh—uh. I'm driving remember?" Anna pulled her eyes from her road for a moment to glance at Regina, who levelled her with a dark glare. "Oh don't give me that look."

Regina pursed her lips. "What look?"

"That look! The 'When I get out of this car you're dead meat look.' It's going to be fine. You're supposed to be relaxing. So sit back and relax!"

"I'd relax more if you focused on the road and not on the apparent looks you think I'm giving you," the older woman scolded. "Which you're correct about. You are dead meat once I get out of this car."

The car fell silent as the tension lingered in the air between the two. Regina returned her vision to the road. Despite the fact that her magic had completely faded away now that they were miles away from Storybrooke, she did feel a sense of peace. She couldn't deny that it did feel good to get away from all the chaos that came with being the mayor of that small town.

The Charmings were quickly becoming family to her but sometimes they could be quite a lot to handle – even the blonde Saviour. Plus, being around them was a constant reminder of all she'd lost. All was forgiven now, of course, and they'd moved past it but it didn't make things any easier on a daily basis.

Which was a big reason why she enjoyed being around Anna and Mia so much. Sure Anna was connected to Emma's past but she was far away enough from it that it didn't trigger anything for Regina. Plus, it felt good to have someone or rather someones to dote on again. Mia was an absolute joy – young and innocent and just so happy with life. She knew nothing of Evil Queens or curses or town grudges.

Even though Anna knew Regina's history, it didn't matter to her. She didn't judge her for her past actions or mistakes. Much like Henry, who never failed to surprise her with his unconditional love – even now with all this separated–Evil–Queen stuff.

They passed a sign that said Portland was near, just a few dozen miles. Regina's curiosity grew and she wondered where Anna was taking her. She cleared her throat and tucked short pieces of hair behind her ears. "So, where are you going?"

"I told you, Portland."

Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes but what are we doing in Portland?"

Anna allowed her thoughts to wander before responding. "Something I haven't done in a very long time but once gave me a sense of hope when there really wasn't any."

Regina huffed a breath. "You're being very vague."

"Do you trust me, Regina?"

The Mayor raised her eyebrow, skeptical for a moment. Then sighed and relaxed back into her seat. "I do."

"Good. Now get comfortable. We still have a while to go."

When they finally arrived at the destination, Regina was still unsettled about leaving Storybrooke in the first place. Finally out of the car, she gazed around but remained skeptical. Less than a foot from Anna's side, she followed her into whatever gaudy building it was that the young woman led her into.

"What is this place?" The Mayor inquired once inside, shouting over the noise. Covering her ears and scanning the warehouse like room, she cringed at the loud crashing and banging that echoed off the walls.

"A smash room," Anna said matter of factly, almost skipping towards the front desk.

"A what?" Regina shouted again, pulling her gaze away from the chaos and following closely behind the younger woman.

Anna let the question linger as she ordered two stacks of plain white plates.

"Stall five is available." The gentleman behind the counter pointed the direction and Anna thanked him as she slid the first pile carefully off the counter and shifted them into Regina's arms. With the second pile balanced close her to chest, Anna led the way down the long path.

Regina eyed her surroundings along the way. The Mayor of Storybrooke never envisioned herself in a scenario where people paid to throw plates and other breakable objects against a wall. And she'd thought those flimsy thin comic books barely containing a mere twenty pages Henry always begged for growing up had been a waste of money. She preferred shattering mirrors. Something she could do for free with magic back home in Storybrooke where she really should be right now.

She cringed again at another loud crash. She'd spent over thirty years in this world, the curse having given enough knowledge to go about her days in her small town. But there were still things about this world she couldn't understand and found utterly barbaric. This was one of them.

"I used to come here as a child back when I was in the foster system." Anna called over her shoulder as they arrived at their stall.

"I thought Emma said you both grew up in Boston?"

"We did for the first couple of years. Foster kids get shifted around a lot. I've lived in almost every state on the east coast."

Both women laid their pile of plates down on the wooden ledge.

Regina stood awkwardly in front of hers. "I really don't think this is a good idea."

"Oh come on," Anna drawled. "I know in this past life you were some regal Evil Queen which makes you—" She lifted her hands and extended her fingers in air quotes. "—a bit more refined—but it could be fun. Here, I'll go first." She took a plate and tossed it. When it hit the wall with a loud crash and shattered into tiny pieces, Anna stood proudly.

Regina cringed. "Really, Anna we should get back."

"See this is what I'm talking about!" Anna's voice raised above the noise. "All you've done is stress and worry since the rooftop in New York. You need to relax a little. Release some frustration. I'm telling you this is really therapeutic." She playfully nudged the older brunette with her elbow. "Puts Dr. Hopper to shame."

Regina's face contorted as she rocked anxiously back and forth on her heels. She looked from the pile of plates to the wall.

"Oh come on!" Anna pressed. "Try it!"

"I don't kn—"

"Regina."

"Seriously, honey. Let's—"

"Don't honey me." Anna cut Regina off and shoved a plate into her hands. "Just take the goddamn plate and throw it at the wall."

Regina glared at Anna for a minute before her gaze fell to the plate resting on her palms. She fingered it gently at first and closed her eyes. With a heavy sigh she turned to face the wall and tossed the plate towards it with little to no enthusiasm. The plate spun through the air about a foot before stopping dead in its tracks and tumbled to the floor, only smashing once it hit the hard cement.

Anna rolled her eyes.

"What?" Regina glared.

"Nothing," Anna shrugged. "I'm just thinking that poor Walt Disney must be rolling in his grave knowing the Evil Queen really has gone soft."

"What?"

"Seriously?" Anna huffed. "You cursed yourself to this world for thirty years and never once heard of Walt—"

"I know who Walt Disney is!" Regina almost growled. "And let me tell you I'd love to have a nice long chat with that man about how he chose to portray me. Hating Snow White because she was prettier than me?" Her face crinkled in disgust at the memory of having to read the tale to Anna's daughter one night before bed. "As if."

"Ha!" Anna bounced on the tips of her toes. "There's that fire! I knew it was still in you! Here." She shoved another plate into Regina's hands. "Throw it!"

"No."

"Why not!"

"Because this is ridiculous. I need to go back ho—"

"No. We are not leaving this place until you throw a plate properly against that wall!"

Regina crossed her arms and glared at the shorter woman in front of her. "Why does this even matter to you?" She had her eyebrow raised. "Why do you care?"

"Because!" Anna threw her hands up in exasperation. "I'm sick and tired of watching you mope around and fret over the state of that town. I know in your world things are more...magically complicated?" She said, scratching her head. "You've been to hell and back. Literally. You split yourself from the Evil Queen to try and better yourself. I understand that she's now back, terrorizing everyone and that your true love is back from the dead somehow?" Anna was still having a little trouble grasping the concept of magic.

"He's not my true love." Regina almost whispered but Anna was far too into her own rage to hear the emotion in the older woman's tone.

"After Emma insisted Mia and I come to Storybrooke, you were the one who told me about magic, that it was real and that the stories I'd grown up reading weren't just stories. You told me that my daughter and I would be the first strangers the town would ever allow within its limits. You asked if I could trust you, if I'd be willing to leave behind everything I thought was true and live a life filled with adventure. You did all that after only knowing me for a few hours. I found it a little strange but I said yes anyway. I agreed to move to Storybrooke with my daughter. And it was the best decision I ever made. Mia is so much happier there. Well, she was until you stopped paying attention to her."

Regina shot her another glare.

"Don't look so defensive," Anna huffed. "I know you love my daughter. If she's the reason why you wanted us to move in, you should've just told me. I would have allowed you to see her whenever you wanted. It would have been a lot less painful than watching you toss me aside like yesterday's trash."

"That is NOT fair!" Regina shot back. "You know how much I care about you. About both of you!"

"Well you've done a really shitty job of proving it lately." Anna snarled angrily at the evenly mad older brunette, who narrowed her eyes dangerously. "You can't deny that you've been pushing her —and me— aside for a while now." She took a step forward and pointed her finger at the wall. "So take the plate and throw it because I would really like to stop fighting for your attention." Regina furrowed her eyebrows and Anna threw her hands up in frustration again. "Fine," she sneered. She grabbed a plate and tossed it at the wall. Then another and another, desperate to release a bit of her own aggression. New fragments fell to the ground to join the old and Anna felt better with each toss.

Regina cringed at the sound of each one crashing.

"See, not that hard." Anna stated once her pile was finished. "If it helps, pretend that the wall is responsible for every terrible thing that ever happened in your life." She stepped closer and pointed at the wall again. "The wall forced you into a life you didn't want. The wall made you kill your father. The wall killed your mother. The wall taught you dark magic. The wall forced you to become the Evil Queen. The wall spilled your secret. The wall killed you're stableboy boyfriend. Hell that wall killed Robin!"

And with that Anna knew she'd stuck a nerve. She barely had enough time to regret her words before Regina grabbed a plate and whipped it through the air at lightning speed. Anna jumped at the loud smash when the it crashed a second later, smashing into an infinite amount of pieces. She stood bemused for a moment, mouth agape, eyes glued to the dust particles of ceramic that littered the stall floor before she shook the shock off. She straighten her posture and crossed her arms over her chest, eyebrow raised and smirking proudly. "See, now how did that—?"

Her smirk morphed into a frown when she found herself standing alone.

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