The sun was shining on the city of Mist Haven. After days of constant rain in April, finally the flowers were blooming and May was coming into its own. Two best friends sat chatting away on the front counter of Pixie Hollow Boutique.

"So, you're really not going to give in? Come on, you have to choose!"

"Tink, seriously we're working right now." Regina replied looking over invoices.

"Oh come, indulge me for a bit." Tink, pleaded. She saw that the brunette would not budge. "Fine, you leave me no choice."

"As your temporary boss, and owner of this establishment, tell me!" the blonde demanded.

"No." she replied firmly.

"Tell me or you're fired."

Regina looked up to see Tinks serious face. But knowing Tinks for all those years, she knows better. She's, of course, her best friend since kindergarten, they know each other like the back of their hand.

"You're bluffing, fairy." she bit back.

"Fine, yes, I am but why must you torture me this way?"Regina chuckled at Tinks distress.

"Fine. Kiss Dr. Facilier. Marry Robin Hood. Kill Prince Charming. There... Happy?"

"WHAT? Are you serious?" Tink slammed the desk.

"What, that's what I like!"

"Explain this insanity going through your head, NOW," Tink demanded in disbelief.

"I honestly, don't know why I follow along with kid games with you," Regina said.

"Kiss Dr. Facilier because who doesn't like a bad boy, kill Prince Charming because trust me, after a while the perfectness gets annoying and Robin Hood... hm." Regina sat thinking. "I guess of those three he's the most human, he's good because of the cause. He has to steal from the rich and give to the poor but he's also stealing, that's a darkness in him. I'd like someone like that, someone who understands the light and dark parts of people." Regina said.

"He's a FOX!"

"Well, I was thinking of him as a human! Why are we playing this game anyway? Get to work."

"Excuse me, but I'm the business owner here. I give you orders, not the other way around."

"Oh really? Well, how about you order yourself to get to work?"

Both girls chuckled at each other, this constant banter was what kept their friendship alive and well and they both loved it.

"Excuse me? Can I get someone to help me?" A young blonde girl who looked no older than 15 years old walked up to the counter.

"Of course, names Rosebell, but you can call me Tink. I'm the owner, what can I help you with?"

"I'm Emma Locksley. Well, I'm trying to find my ex-sister in law an ugly gift for her birthday tonight."

Tink's face grew with shock, "So you came here? Are our clothes that hideous?!"

"Oh, no! I love this place. Half of my clothes are from this place in fact." Emma said, attempting to calm Tink's evident shock. "This girl is what you call uppity, and this is the last place she would step in for clothes. So, my plan is to make her miserable and get her what she would never wear."

Regina chuckled at the girl's words, "What do you hate her so much?"

Emma began to explain to them how her brother eldest brother had been in a terrible car accident that left him paralyzed about two years ago. That he was married to Marian at the time and they had a 4-year-old together. That for the past two years her brother had gone into a depression since the doctors had told him that he would most likely never walk again. It had devastated the family and they all had tried to help Robin through it but it was all for not. Marian, his now ex-wife, had been the main cause of Robins depression worsening in the past year since she divorced him. She had given up on Robin and would constantly berate him for not being man enough to walk again.

"The bitch did a number on him that's for sure, in the past year all his caretakers quit. He's horrible with people, barely makes time for his son. I heard her say once to my brother that it was better if he would not have survived the accident, that way Roland would not have a cowardly man as a father. She was ashamed. She comes from a rich family and it hurts her precious image, which she cannot have tainted. So, she divorced him."

"She's the devil incarnate, I'm sure of it. How can someone be so horrible?" Tink said as she began to look for the best outfit for the job.

"Well, I think the accident also affected her, it was something that I think was too much for her to handle and resorted to the worst thing which was to resent Robin. And poor Roland all he wants is his Papa. He cries and cries whenever Robin says no to seeing him. He loves his father so much." Emma sighed. "So that's why I'm here now, because it's no excuse what she had done, and I'm going to make her life miserable. One ugly outfit at a time."

"You're a good sister." Regina said, "Here. This should work."

It was sweet, even though a bit immature, but coming from a 15-year-old girl, it was the best revenge.

Regina held out a pink sparkling top that was backless. She was sure that was the total opposite of rich sophistication. She knew that would do the trick.

"It's perfect! Thank you!"

As she charged Emma for the top, Regina began to think of Emma's brother. She remembered her own mother and how she took care of her on her last days. She was if anything a year or so older than Emma when her mother died. And now it was just her father and her.

"So, have they hired anyone as the caretaker for your brother?" Regina asked as she wrapped the gift.

"I wish! We've exhausted all agencies and none seem to want to work with him anymore. He's just given up." Regina saw the saddened and distressed look in Emma's eyes. Her heart quenched at the sight as she recalled herself also having the same look the days prior to her mother's death.

"Would you consider interviewing me for the position?"

"What?" Both Emma and Tink said in shock.

"I've had experience. I took care of my mother for a while and I need a job."

Yes, she needed a job. But why had she asked for this job? She had sent in many applications for less stress-inducing jobs. She had experience in many office tasks so why in the hell did she ask to be considered for this job. She knew why it was Emma's eyes. More importantly, that little boy. She had been thinking of that man's son. If Emma was this distraught, she could not imagine how that little boy must have been. That little boy deserved to have his father one way or another. She could try to make it happen. She knew how difficult it was for a child to see a parent not be a parent, she experienced it with her mother.

"I really don't know what to say." Emma looked shocked. Perhaps because Regina had offered her services when everyone else she had meet ran from the responsibility.

"Yes. Would be great in my books." Regina smiled hopefully.

"Oh, yes, yes, of course! I was just thrown off is all. I've only told you bad thing after bad thing and you're offering to work with my brother." Emma took the gift bag from Regina and slipped her a note with her address.

"Can you meet tomorrow at 9 am? I'll arrange an interview with my mom and our house manager."

"Sounds perfect!"

"Awesome, see you then!"

As the girl exited the store, Tink turned to Regina with mouth wide open. "And what was that?"

"Trying to get a job is all. Can't work here with the responsibilities I have." Regina casually trying to avoid eye contact with Tink.

"Yeah, okay, now tell me the truth," Tink said shifting Regina so they were face to face. "That's a shit position your putting yourself in, and after everything you've gone through not just with your mom but Daniel, I'm surprised you offered."

Regina sighed. She knew she was getting herself into a position that would hurt her deeply, but something pushed her to try. It was that little boy.

"The little boy, Tink. He deserves a chance at a father, and I know how it feels to lose a parent. His father may still be alive, but I bet that to him it's as if he isn't." Tink's smile grew.

Regina had a big heart, and for the first time in a very long time, she had slightly opened it. The surprising thing was that it was for this man and his little boy she had never met. People would think she'd do it out of people, but anyone who knew Regina knew that it was far from that. She cared about people, truly and wholly she cared, especially when there was a child in the middle.

...

Hello all! I've just started opening up to my passion of writing and I have been inspired by outlawqueen! Please comment and let me know what you think!