Special thanks to dance_of_pales for the awesome sequel idea! This one's for you, dear. :)
For new readers, I highly recommend you read the first story "It Shouldn't Have Been You (But I'm Glad it Was)", otherwise a lot of this is not going to make sense to you. Plus, the original focuses a lot more on early Emma/Regina development and all the feels, whereas this sequel encompasses Swan-Mills-Charming (and all the extended Swan family, including Daniel.) Hope you enjoy!
Update: Oh, silly Anon troll! I can't tell if you're being misogynistic or not. Their surname is 'White' because Snow White is the rightful Queen, and 'Nolan' is just David's curse name. Regardless, there's nothing wrong with a man taking his wife's surname; that does not make me anti-Charming. If you knew my work at all, you'd know that Charming is one of my favourite characters. And as to the debacle of Regina and child abduction, none of the characters have ever once said that what she did was okay or forgivable. I have never justified it or said it was acceptable in any way; I'm merely writing it through the POV of the characters who are in this difficult situation, and it's entirely reasonable to think that Emma would still love the woman who raised her and loved her for her entire life, despite how that came about. If you really want to debate the issue with me, why don't you log into an account to properly message me instead of spewing insults and rude comments behind an Anonymous mask? And they say Rumplestiltskin is the coward. ;)
"Where are you going?"
Leo winces, shoulders hunching up as his mother's voice rings out across the loft. He'd tried to be quiet, but sneaking out of the creaky old building is almost always impossible. With a too-wide smile on his face, he slowly rotates to face her where he hadn't previously seen her in the kitchen.
"To the library," he says, flashing teeth.
"Uh huh." Snow White takes a slow sip from her tea mug, narrowing her eyes at him from over the rim. She's mellowed out over the years, no longer spending every day afraid that Regina may return to steal her second child as well, but she's also began retraining herself in archery and swordplay, in the hopes that one day she can find a way to cross the town line and rescue her daughter. Leo loves how badass his mother is, but it also means he's terrified of getting on her bad side.
"Belle said she found a stash of comic books in the library and said I could go take a look," he offers, which isn't exactly a lie. Belle did offer the comic books to him. He just hadn't planned on visiting her this evening.
"Oh." Snow's posture relaxes and she gives a little smile. "Well, that's fine, then."
When Leo turns for the door, she quickly snags her wallet from her purse on the counter and pulls out a ten.
"Here, sweetheart. Why don't you treat yourself to an ice cream while you're out?"
She pads over and hands him the bill. Leo's thin lips pull into a grin. "Sweet. What'd I do to win myself an ice cream?"
"I heard you aced your math test this week." She runs a hand through his short cropped blonde hair, styled much like his father's. He's fourteen and growing far too quickly, and she's pretty sure she's going to have to start going up on her tiptoes to reach his head pretty soon. Leo's green eyes scrunch up as he ducks away from her hand, cheeks dimpling with his laugh.
"It's just a math test, mom. Geeze. Thanks for the ice cream." He stuffs the bill into his pocket and shoves his feet into his sneakers by the shoe rack. When he swings the door open, Snow clears her throat expectantly.
"Leopold Charming," she chides. Leo rolls his eyes a little at the moniker - He's Leopold White, but the "Charming" nickname has stuck - and returns to press a quick kiss to her cheek.
"See ya later." Then he's gone, thumping down the stairs with all the grace of a baby elephant.
"Leo!" Snow calls out after him in a reproving tone, because god forbid that boy not cause an earthquake every time he takes the stairs. She shakes her head a little at the retreating sound of his laughter and pads over to the dining room table where her paperwork is spread out in a mess, sighing heavily as she drops down into a chair. She's been mayor for fourteen years and she still hates every minute of it, but with the 'original mayor' gone and with her own role as the rightful Queen of the White Kingdom, Snow had no choice but to take on the position.
"Where's Leo?" David asks as he appears from the bathroom door, freshly showered in jeans and a plaid shirt that hugs his built form. He's thrown himself into training ever since taking over the Sheriff's department with Graham as his Deputy, just as dedicated as his wife is to someday be prepared to battle the Evil Queen. Rumplestiltskin and the Blue Fairy have (separately, of course) been searching for ways to safely leave Storybrooke without losing their memories, but despite the lack of headway so far, the Charmings are still hopeful.
"He went to the library. Belle found some comic books for him."
Snow takes a moment to appreciate David's physique before grudgingly returning to her paperwork. David presses a kiss to her head.
"Has Belle said anything about-?"
"No, no." Snow sighs, setting down her pen as David's hands land on her shoulders and begin gently massaging away her stiffness. "Still nothing. Just like there's been nothing for fourteen years."
Her eyes fall closed as his thumbs knead the tense muscles in the back of her neck. She still remembers the day the curse broke fourteen years ago; it haunts her dreams at night, the sight of her ten year old daughter, the way she'd watched her little blonde head in the window of Regina's car, speeding off into the distance, stealing her child away once again.
"She turns twenty four this week, David."
"I know." His voice is low and somber, hands stilling on her shoulders. After a moment's silence, he leans over to hug his wife from behind, resting his cheek against the side of her head. "We'll find her one day, Snow."
He's not in the mood to visit Belle today, so he heads straight to the ice cream store and orders himself three large scoops of cinnamon vanilla on a waffle cone before taking a long walk out past the toll bridge, happy to get away from the townsfolk for a while. It's not that he doesn't like them - he is their rightful prince, after all, and thus they are his people - but he's sick of hearing the same thing over and over again. It's all Evil Queen this and abducted Savior that. It's not that he doesn't want his sister at home and safe with them; he hates that the Queen took away his only sibling who he's never been able to meet or grow up with. But to hear the people moaning and groaning about something that no one can do anything about - what the hell is the point of that?
The trail comes to an end and, not wanting to head back just yet, Leo shrugs and continues ahead into the woods, licking away at his ice cream cone. His mother would have a conniption if she knew, but everyone else knows the woods are safe. There's nothing dangerous in Storybrooke, and nothing ever enters the town except for the occasional lost tourist. His father and Graham set up some sort of volunteer group that always keeps an eye out for such people and makes sure they exit town without catching a glimpse of magic, and ever since Belle was rescued from the hospital basement, Rumplestiltskin hasn't been a magical threat anyway.
No, the only danger is the town line, and he doesn't have to worry about that because the dwarves had taken it upon themselves to spray paint an orange line around the entire town's perimeter. So long as he doesn't step foot out of it, he'll be fine. Though Leo has to admit he's wondered what effect it might have on him, and he pauses to scuff his sneakers and kick some dirt at the orange line just a few feet away. He was born in this world and had never been cursed. He doesn't havea cursed personality to revert to.
"Dangerous thoughts, dearie."
Leo nearly jumps out of his skin, whipping around to find Rumplestiltskin standing nearby, leaning casually on his cane. He's dropped his half-eaten ice cream cone and stares down at it with a bit of a pout before glaring at the man in an impeccable suit.
"What are you doing out here?" he asks in an accusing tone. He likes Belle, but like his parents, he knows better than to trust the imp. Rumple just smiles ever so slightly.
"On a walk, same as you."
"Shouldn't you be…" Leo waves a hand haphazardly at the town line. "-working on fixing that?"
"I've been trying to find a way to leave this town for the entire fourteen years of your existence, boy." Rumple's lips curl into a bit of a sneer and Leo feels a shiver creep up his spine. "You'll excuse me if I've decided to switch tactics."
"Switch tactics?" Leo repeats warily.
"Indeed. I've tried every spell and potion and curse I know and yet here I am, still trapped in this little town. It's led me to one very annoying conclusion, I must admit."
Leo really doesn't want to know, he doesn't even want to be here anymore, but it's obvious the imp expects him to play along. "And that is?"
"Your sister didn't truly break the curse."
That is not what he expected to hear. Some flicker of defensiveness flares up in his chest. Leo is sick of hearing the stories, but Emma is still his big sister. "Of course she broke the curse! She's the Savior! She's the reason everyone remembered who they are!"
"Yes yes, she brought back everyone's memories." Rumple gives a dismissive wave of his hand as he casually strides closer. Leo holds his ground. "But prophecies exist for a reason, and mine specified the curse breaking on her twenty eighth birthday. So despite returning our memories those many years ago, she could not have possibly broken the curse that traps us here."
"So you think the curse won't be truly broken until she's twenty eight?"
"That is exactly what I think."
Leo thinks it over for just a moment, then shrugs. "Then I guess we're all waiting another four years."
"Yes," Rumple agrees, glancing away as if distracted. "Be that as it may, there is still the problem of your sister's absence. Regina running away with her was not the plan…"
He trails off and Leo narrows his eyes at the imp in a manner most like his mother. "What plan?"
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about, dearie. What you need to worry about is how we will get your sister back. Surely the Queen won't let her return here on her twenty eighth birthday to break the curse for us."
"You have an idea?"
Rumple smiles. "Of course."
The man gives a little wave of his hand and the next thing Leo knows, he's sailing through the air with a yelp of alarm. The ground meets him quickly and he lands with a cry, rolling and skidding until he comes to a painful stop against a tree trunk. The jumper his mother insists he wear whenever he goes out has, thankfully, taken most of the damage for him, though he's not sure how he's going to explain the torn elbows and dirt stains to Snow White.
A groan escapes him as he struggles to his knees, sore and bruised all over. He glares up at the man only to find Rumplestiltskin smirking at him.
"What the hell was that for?" he snaps.
"You remember who you are, boy?"
Leo scrunches up his face into an angry snarl. "I'm your prince! How dare you use magic on me like that? When my parents find out-"
"Look where you are, prince Leopold."
Leo glares around himself, ready to rip Rumplestiltskin a new one when he realizes-
He's across the line.
Leo freezes as if expecting to get struck down by magic. When nothing happens for a long few seconds, he lets out the breath he's been holding, green eyes wide and confused.
"I still have my memory."
"Indeed." Rumple grins a predatory grin. "Well, young prince, it looks like you have the power to do what I cannot."
As he expects, the boy looks at him with peaked curiosity. Rumple chuckles.
"Youcan rescue your sister from the Evil Queen."
Leo jumps to his feet with a new burst of excitement. "How? Tell me how! Where do I find them? Where are they?"
Rumplestiltskin holds up a hand to halt his ramblings. "I took it upon myself to make a call to the cab company that drove through here when the Evil Queen appeared those many years ago. I believe the 'Swan Ranch' just on the outskirts of Boston is where they came from."
Leo's nodding along, already stepping back over the town line, his eyes sharp with concentration. "I'll need a weapon. I can take my dad's sword! And I'll need a ride. Mom can call in a taxi for me-"
Rumplestiltskin laughs. Leo glares at him.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Do you really think your parents will let you leave town on your own? You, the young, pampered prince?"
"I'm not pampered! My father has trained me in combat since I could pick up my sword! I was raised to be a hero!" To Rumplestiltskin's great amusement, the boy actually stomps his foot in indignation. He supposes he shouldn't be surprised; Charmings are easily manipulated.
"Oh, I believe in your skills," he says airily. "But your parents, they would never allow you to go on this quest alone. They don't think you're ready to be a hero."
And there it is - that glint of a challenge in those green eyes. Rumplestiltskin gives an innocent shrug and turns to walk away, waving his goodbye over his shoulder, already certain that the boy will do as he expects.
"Good luck, little prince. I should think you'll need it."
"C'mon, Grams, really, I don't need a birthday party!"
"Nonsense, child. I've never missed a year yet and I don't intend on starting now!"
It's ridiculous how agile Pearl is for her eighty-some years. Emma is literally chasing after the old woman as Pearl scurries around the main house with her phone tucked between her ear and shoulder and bowl of cake mixture in her arms as she whisks away.
"Grams," Emma whines between exasperated laughter. "Save the birthday parties for my little cousins."
"No," Pearl says cheekily. Into the phone against her ear she says, "Charlotte, tell Emma that she's gettin' a birthday party no matter what."
Emma grabs the phone shoved at her and continues to trail after the old woman through the house. "Hey, aunt Charlotte," she greets warmly.
"Don't even try to stop her, Emma. She's already on a roll," Charlotte's voice laughs on the other end of the line. "Besides, she's already called in the family. We're all coming over for the weekend. Even most of your cousins."
"Okay, I love you all, but this family is getting huge. How are we all gonna fit in this house?" Emma can't help but laugh at the thought. Pearl has six fully grown and married children, seven when you include Regina - and ten grandkids, eleven including Emma. Half of those grandkids also have partners and young children of their own at this point.
"Your Grams will figure something out I'm sure. We're on a farm, after all. Where's your Ma?"
Emma follows Pearl into the kitchen but immediately turns and leaves again when her grandmother swats her across the ass with a spatula.
"Ow! She's out riding with Danny. I just got in a half hour ago, thought I'd surprise her."
"Oh, that's right! You just finished up your internship, didn't you? We're so proud of you, sweet pea."
"Thanks, aunt Charlotte." Emma grins, a light blush coloring her cheeks as she wanders into the study. Her grandfather Walter is sitting at his big oak desk with a newspaper in hand and spectacles balanced on his nose. He smiles warmly at her as she takes up residence on the old sofa on the other side of the coffee table.
"Well I'll let ya go. We're just packin' up here and then we'll be making the drive over, probably arrive sometime tomorrow mornin'. Let your Grandparents know for me?"
Emma promises she will before hanging up, stretching out across the worn couch. Walter sets his newspaper down and plucks his spectacles off his nose.
"You grow another inch since last I saw ya?" he asks, squinting comically at her from across the office. Emma laughs.
"Last you saw me was a few months ago, Gramps."
"Still too long ago. All done with your schoolin' and whatnot, huh?"
"Yup."
"You gonna stay awhile?" He looks hopeful. Emma grins over at him.
"I heard there was an opening for an equine rehabilitation therapist just in the next town over. Thought I'd apply, see if I get the job. It's just a half hour drive away from here, so…"
Walter actually does a little jig in his seat, causing his adoptive granddaughter to laugh. "Pearl and I miss having young'uns in the house!"
"I'm not exactly a young'un anymore, Gramps."
"Little enough for us, seein' as Danny and your Mama won't give us any grandkids-"
"Gramps!" Emma complains loudly, scandalized.
The squeak of the front door and the thump of boots on the entry mat get both their attention and Emma jumps to her feet immediately while Walter guffaws.
"Speak of the little devils," he says. Emma bolts out of the study, a smile splitting her face at the familiar sight of Regina and Daniel Swan-Mills standing in the afternoon sunlight pouring in through the front door. Regina is radiant as always, her hair cut shorter than Emma remembers and tied up in a soft ponytail, in fitted jeans and a purple plaid shirt that Emma had bought her three Christmases ago. Daniel looks much the same, ever the lean and gentle-faced cowboy she'd first met when she was eleven.
"Mom," Emma calls out, walking towards them with a grin. Regina looks up, startled surprise quickly turning into a wide smile as she throws open her arms and hurries to close the distance.
"Emma!" She squeezes her daughter to her, laughing as Emma lifts her up and spins her gently before setting her back down on her feet. "I thought you weren't going to be back until tomorrow!"
"Finished a little early, thought I'd come straight down and surprise you." Emma grins as her mother peppers her face with kisses, blushing and simply allowing the affection. She hadn't had much time to visit since Christmas and Regina was only able to make the trip up to her campus a few times since then, so her mother's excitement is understandable.
"Hey kid," Daniel says, smiling warmly and shuffling a little closer. Regina releases her daughter so that Emma can go give him a greeting hug.
Hey Danny." Her head collides against his chest as she steps into his embrace, his free hand resting against the back of her head for a moment before they release each other. He's become like a father to her, especially after he and Regina married - almost a decade ago, now that she thinks about it - but he's always been 'Danny' to her, and he likes that just fine.
"Did you know what Grams had planned for this weekend?" she asks them both, arching her brow in a way that is entirely Regina. Daniel laughs at the reminder of how freakishly in-sync the Swan-Mills women are while Regina gives a little scoff.
"You know Pearl. I couldn't stop her if I wanted to. Oh, Emma," she sighs, hugging her again. "I'm so glad you're finally home. Have they called you about the job yet?"
"Jeeze, Mom, I only just sent in my application." Emma laughs, slinging an arm around her mother's waist. "Alright if I have my old room back? Or should I take one of the guest rooms?"
"Of course you can move back into your old room! I've kept it exactly as you left it."
"Exactly as you left it," Daniel teases. "I tried to tidy up your desk and I swear she just about smacked me into next Sunday."
"Mom," Emma chides, her green eyes crinkling with a smile. "What have I said about abusing the stableboy?"
"Oh, hush. He likes it." Regina shoots Daniel a coy smile and he ducks away blushing as Emma pushes away from them both with a dramatic groan.
"Gross. I'm gonna go unpack."
She leaves her mother and Daniel laughing together and retreats out the back door to the guest house - more of a second house after all the renovations they've done - and drags her bags up to her bedroom on the second floor, shoving her duffle and suitcases against the wall and dumping out some clothes so she can change into fresh jeans and a grey v-neck. Her bedroom is exactly as she remembers it since she last lived here almost six years ago; the worn red wool blankets at the end of the bed, her custom riding saddle slung over the back of her desk chair, the photo of her horse positioned in the middle of her desk - her mare Destiny had been an older horse and she'd passed away shortly after Emma finished high school.
There's a photo out of place on her shelf. Emma is generally organized in a chaotic way but her family photos are the one thing she has lined up to perfection and she can tell one's been moved. She gently plucks it up, cradling the bronze frame in her hands as she examines the photo. It's a black-and-white profile shot of her and her mother, their foreheads and noses touching, their eyes glistening and smiles stretching across their lips. Walter had taken it with his old camera - it had been one of those massive, heavy beasts with the blinding flash of light - on the day she and Regina returned from visiting Storybrooke.
Emma remembers the moment like it had been yesterday. They'd pulled up in Regina's new Mercedes Benz and Pearl had been waiting on the porch, wringing her hands together, a look of utter relief on her face at the sight of her basically-adopted daughter and granddaughter returning. Emma had been ten at the time, climbing out of the vehicle and sucking in a lungful of warm air that smelled of horses and farmland and home. Regina had ducked around the car to scoop her up into her arms and hold her close, overjoyed to be back together.
"You're sure this is what you want?" she had asked, brown eyes so full of love and hesitation and uncertainty. Emma had pressed their foreheads together, her tiny nose brushing against Regina's, a smile stretching across her thin lips as her mother placed a feather-light kiss to her cheek.
"I'm sure," she'd promised, arms gently looped around the brunette's neck. "I want to stay with you, Mom. This is home."
A flash of light had blinded them then, proceeded by Walter's watery laughter as the man clutched his camera and Pearl rushed to embrace them all with stubborn tears in her eyes.
"I love that photo," says a soft voice from the doorway. Emma smiles and strokes her fingers over the glass as Regina steps up beside her and rests her chin on the blonde's shoulder.
"Me too," Emma agrees.
"Thank you- for choosing me." Regina says it all the time and Emma replies with the same two words every time, the little exchange something of a loving mantra between them now.
"Always, Mom." Emma sets the frame down to turn and pull her mother into a hug again. Regina sinks into the embrace, always just a little taken by surprise that her baby girl is taller and stronger than she is now. She can hardly believe it's been almost twenty four years since they first arrived in this world.
"Have you ever thought about going back?" she asks after a moment, her voice small against the crook of Emma's shoulder. The blonde kisses the side of her head before releasing her.
"Well, yeah; to visit, I mean. But I've been so busy and time just flew by." Emma shrugs, perching herself on the edge of her desk and stuffing her hands into her jean pockets. "I've thought about making peace with Snow and David - explain why I chose to leave, why I stayed with you. Thought maybe they would eventually come around to the fact that you're my mother, and we could all learn to get along for the sake of being in each other's lives."
Emma chuckles as Regina's nose scrunches with distaste. She's never faulted her mother for hating the Charmings, and it even took her a while to come to terms with her own emotions after Snow had made it clear she'd wanted Regina dead. She understands now, of course. No one could fault Snow for wanting to kill the woman who stole her newborn child and raised her as her own. But that's just the way things worked out, and Emma wouldn't trade the woman who raised her for anyone else even if given the choice.
"I don't think she'll ever want anything to do with the Evil Queen," the brunette says simply.
"You're not the Evil Queen anymore," Emma huffs for the millionth time with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, it doesn't matter now. I've kinda let go of the idea these past couple years. I've got a life and a career now, and I've got you and Danny and everyone. I'm happy. Why dig up the past? It's not like they've come searching for me, anyway. They've probably moved on with their lives too."
"I don't think they would ever give up on you, Emma," Regina admits slowly, sitting down on the edge of the bed with her hands in her lap. "I kept expecting Snow to show up and take you away for so long. I never stopped worrying, even when you left for university. I think the only reason she hasn't is because she can't. Storybrooke was made by the curse - perhaps they're trapped there."
Emma's brow furrows with this new knowledge - they had never really discussed it in length since escaping Storybrooke - but after a moment, she just shakes her head, shrugs her shoulders, and smiles that lazy easy-going smile of hers. "Doesn't matter anymore. I'm happy, and I don't want to do anything to change that. I won't risk my family."
"You do have a very large family," Regina says after a moment, humour laced into her voice despite the little furrow in her brow. Emma goes to sit next to her, bumping their shoulders together.
"I do. I also have you. You and Danny."
"And we're enough?"
Green eyes crinkle with a genuine, heartfelt smile. "You're more than enough."
The Swan family keeps multiplying. All of Pearl and Walter's children - Regina's siblings - have made the trip in, bringing with them most of their children - Emma's cousins - and even some of their young children. It's a chaotic madhouse and yet Emma can't help but love every moment of it. Daniel had set up the big tents in the yard between the two houses and Walter had filled up the inflatable kiddie pool, so there are young kids playing underfoot and adults spread out among the food tables and dogs chasing each other around because apparently everyone has a dog and thought to bring them along.
Emma actually has to sidestep to avoid her aunt Lauren's Saint Bernard as it stampedes past her, chasing after uncle Charles's Beagle and cousin Teddy's Boston Terrier. She has a paper plate in hand, piled high with chips and dip, and a juicy burger clutched in her other hand as she picks her way across the yard to where Regina lounges on a lawn chair chatting with Lauren and Pamela.
"Whose dog is that?" she asks as she approaches, noticing a nervous looking Whippet cowering beneath Regina's chair, narrow head hidden just under the brunette's legs. Regina reaches down to stroke the anxious creature and it relaxes slightly under her soothing touch.
"Teddy's, apparently," answers Regina, giving the Whippet a gentle scritch under the chin. It shivers and whines happily at the attention.
"What a weird little thing," Lauren laughs, shaking her head at it. "I can't imagine ever having such a tiny dog. Besides, she's already got that yappy Terrier, why does she need another one?"
"I think it's cute," Pamela croons at the Whippet. "We're probably going to get a small dog soon. Jordan's been begging for one, and when he begs for something, his sister copies him…"
The women laugh as they share stories about their children. Emma purposely offers up chips and dip to her mother to distract Regina from telling stories about her.
"Did you ever harass your mother for a dog, Emma?" Lauren asks, amused.
"I tried," Emma admits. Regina scrunches her nose at her, a chip halfway to her mouth.
"Oh, you did more than try, darling. I still remember the look on Walter's face when he found out you'd snuck a stray into his study. Pearl gave you such a swat."
"Only because it had gotten loose and left pawprints all over the kitchen," Emma grumbles, reminded of the sting of a rolling pin to her ass when her Grams chased her and the stray dog out of the house. She loved her grandmother but by the gods, that old woman was terrifying when people messed with her kitchen.
"I'm just glad you grew out of it," Regina says, nibbling at another dip-covered chip. "Horses are a far better fixation when you live on a farm with a stable full of them."
"Like mother like daughter," Emma grins, biting into her burger while playfully leaning into Regina's side. Lauren and Pam "aww" dramatically at them.
"You two are so close," Lauren says enviously. "Rachel won't even hug me if there's anyone within a mile radius to see it. She's too cool for her mother, apparently."
"Angela's getting to that stage too. Too cool for mom," Pamela sighs. "And she's only twelve. I thought having girls was easier than boys."
"Well, Emma and I have been through some extenuating circumstances." Regina smiles, feeling Emma's head press a little firmer against her shoulder in response, but then she notices the tiny splatter of grease on her pant-leg and rolls her eyes fondly. "You still eat like a child, dear."
"Sorry, Mom." Emma blushes and holds her dripping burger away, trying to dab at the spot with a napkin. Daniel appears just behind them to plant a kiss atop Regina's head and peer over her shoulder at Emma's handiwork.
"Oooh. Someone's in trouble."
Emma tosses the balled up napkin at him as Pearl approaches the group, rolling her eyes because honestly, children.
"Emma, someone's here to see ya."
"Hmm?" Emma twists around with a confused tilt of her head. Everyone who's supposed to be here is here, and she knows none of her friends from university are in the area. "Who?"
"Dunno, he didn't give his name. Seemed awful intent on talkin' to ya, though."
Emma and Regina exchange an odd look before the blonde stands. "Front door?" At Pearl's nod, she strides off to go greet her mystery visitor.
There's a sudden unease in Regina's gut that she hasn't felt in a long time, not since she first came home after their visit to Storybrooke and spent a month fretting that Snow White would show up and take Emma back. It twists around uncomfortably when she watches Emma disappear into the main house, and she lets it sit for only a few seconds before she jumps up to follow her daughter, hot on her heels. Everyone's out in the yard so Emma hears Regina's harried approach and throws a quick smile over her shoulder.
"You didn't order me a birthday stripper did you? Because that would be hilarious and wrong on so many levels-"
"Of course not," Regina scoffs, pink dusting her cheeks at the very thought. (Lauren, Charlotte, and Pamela had gotten a stripper for Regina's birthday a few years back and she can still remember the shit-eating grin on Emma's face when the "police officer" had barged in through the front door and tore his pants off right then and there, greeting the women pelvis-first with his very large package in a neon pink G-string. Pearl had nearly choked herself, she'd been laughing so damn hard.)
"Uh huh. I bet it was aunt Charlotte. She threatened to send a stripper to my dorm last year."
Emma chuckles, half expecting to see a smirking cop or a sexy fireman outside - up until she swings open the door and is greeted by a lanky blonde teenager standing on the porch. He's baby-faced and tall for what she assumes his age to be, but he's still shorter than her. Emma straightens up a little, arching a brow to cover up her mild disappointment.
"Uh… Can I help you, kid?"
"Emma?" he questions, an excited smile spreading across his face and his green eyes widening.
"Yes…?"
"It's really you!" He's beaming, leaning closer with his arms extending as if prepared to hug her. There's something oddly familiar about his eyes, almost like looking into a mirror-
His gaze snaps onto Regina as the brunette comes up beside her and before either of the women can really react, he's unsheathed a sword from behind him and points it at the brunette, a furious glare on his face. "You!"
"Whoa!" Emma immediately yanks her mother backwards and behind her, putting herself between them and baring her teeth in a snarl. "What are you doing?!"
"Why are you protecting her?" he shouts in disbelief, the sword immediately drooping so that he's not pointing it at Emma. "She kidnapped you! She's the Evil Queen!"
The accusation stuns Emma, her eyes widening in shock even as she remains firmly planted between them with her arms held out protectively. Regina, for her part, clutches silently at the back of Emma's flannel shirt, her expression tight and withdrawn.
"What-" Her voice cracks and she clears her throat. "Who the hell are you?"
"My name's Leo." He glowers, but the effect is lost because his lower lip juts out a little in a pout and his dimpled chin quivers momentarily, and oh god, she realizes why looking at him makes her feel like she's looking into a mirror. "I'm your brother."