A/N: Original- Wanted to address a couple of questions (that were asked in reviews) quickly. Maggie's birth name is Margaret, it's one of many signs (more will be revealed) that convinced Emma to adopt her. Also Regina and Emma are friends at the beginning of this fic so Regina is not Emma's second choice. Thanks for the reviews and follows, I seriously appreciate them! Edit- If you missed the original author's note explaining things, I've added some things to this story so if you've already read it, you'll find some extra scenes along with the original ones until chapter 8, I apologize for the confusion and I hope you enjoy the additions.

Disclaimer: See Chapter1 & 2.

Regina turned her head toward her side table and picked up her phone. We're almost there read Emma's most recent text. Regina smiled softly and typed her reply. Well I'm glad you didn't manage to kill my goddaughter with your horrendous driving skills.

She received a picture of a face with its tongue sticking out as a reply. She chuckled softly and put the phone down in favor of sitting up and rising from her bed. She slipped into her robe and slippers and headed to the bathroom.

One quick glance in the mirror showed that while her gorgeous face was still quite beautiful, the past ten years managed to afford her a few new wrinkles and some silver strands of hair. Regina sighed a little before doing a quick spell to hide the gray. She could live with the slight wrinkles. Though She aged slower than normal, the curse still allowed for some signs of her aging. She was surprised to find it brought her a little comfort as the mundane sameness was not something she looked forward to much anymore.

After showering and getting dressed, she headed into her kitchen and made some coffee. As the water heated, Regina considered her home thoughtfully. It was in some ways so different from the mansion she once occupied but still very much a place no one could deny had Regina Mills' handprint on it. It was a spacious three bedroom home with beautiful hardwood floors (Robin's original idea) in the living and dining room while the bedrooms and study harbored cream colored carpets. It still had high ceilings and a beautiful wooden staircase leading up to the bedrooms. It was tucked away just a few miles from the main part of town, closer to the woods. It was originally meant to be a home for Regina, Robin and Roland but as a couple of years went on, Regina realized that the kind of woman Robin wanted could never be her. While she had no problem being a passionate lover and a loving mother, her past would always follow her. While she eventually came to make peace with that, Robin revealed that he could not.

Regina followed Robin into the house sighing as she dropped her keys on the table near the door and shrugged off her coat.

Granny smiled at her fondly as she let her know that Roland was in bed but waiting for them to tuck him in. Regina smiled back and thanked her.

Regina found Robin in the living room slumped over on the couch with his head in his hands.

"How much longer will they do this to us?" he asked.

"Do what dear?" Regina replied.

"Treat us like this" he replied. They'd come from a school meeting in which the other parents weren't very excited about having the ex-evil queen's almost stepson in class with their children. When Robin tried to defend his fiancee, it mostly fell on deaf ears. Regina remained mostly silent knowing that trying to reason with them was pointless and the real point of the evening was just to meet Roland's new teacher who seemed quite competent despite the opposition from the other parents.

Regina sighed and joined him on the couch. She shook her head and thought of all the ways she'd tried to explain this before. That people were hurt. That it didn't matter how many times she tried, they may never see her differently. That she'd given up a long time ago on being forgiven. That all that really mattered was her family and living a life she could be proud of. She'd said all of that in so many ways but she didn't think there was much more she could do to help him understand so instead she said "They may never stop"

"And you're just ok with that?" he said as he stood up and stared at her.

Regina stood up and folded her arms. "Of course I'm not ok with that but Robin there is nothing left for me to do. I have fought against every evil this town has seen in the last six years including my own family members and yet there are people who question me at every turn."

"Well maybe you could-"

"Could what?" she cuts him off before he can continue,"Volunteer for the PTA? I've done that, bake a something for the class party, I've done that. Plaster on a smile and pretend I give a damn, I've done that. They still see me the same way."

He shakes his head and says "I don't think I can handle this."

Regina squeezes her hands into fists and fights back tears as she considers ignoring this. She considers letting his comment go and coming up with ways to fix this but instead she voices what she finally acknowledges has been coming for some time. Since Emma and Hook set a date and Robin keeps putting it off. "Maybe you won't ever be able to".

"Perhaps you're right" he replied and left the room. He moved out three days later taking Roland and her dream of having a happy ending with him.

Regina pulled her coffee cup to her lips as she thought 'Maybe I should redo the floors'. Regina would have moved out if it weren't for the seclusion the location of the house offered and Emma's insistence that she keep it. When Emma first saw the house she'd commented on how it suited the "new" Regina so much more. When Regina asked her to explain, Emma went off on a tangent of how the home was much warmer, an easier place for Regina to garden and made sense to downsize with Henry moving out soon. She also explained that while it was still impressive in size, it wasn't as intimidating. In fact her actual words were "People already know they shouldn't mess with you, your home doesn't have to say it too".When Robin left, Emma stated that Regina was really the one who put her "heart" into the home and it didn't make sense to just uproot herself again. Regina agreed and within the next few years came to truly appreciate the new space. She liked the quiet and it was easier to manage. Regina put on her apron and started to assemble ingredients and utensils to make breakfast. Just as she was finishing her egg white omelet, her phone rang. She smiled at the Caller ID as she picked it up.

"Well hello young man" she said.

"Hey Mom" a voice she swore got deeper and deeper every day replied.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your call? You've been so busy with your research, I feel you've forgotten your favorite mother."

"I don't have a favorite mother" Henry replied. Henry had started his graduate work in library science recently at Rutgers after studying English at Yale. Regina couldn't have been prouder of him and was not at all surprised at his desire to study library science considering his great love of books.

Regina could tell by his tone that Henry was shaking his head at her. "Well I feel you've forgotten your smartest mother then"

"You know I could just hang up" teased Henry.

Regina dropped her spatula and exclaimed "Don't you dare!"

"I'm just kidding. I called because Ma told me that she and Maggie are in Storybrooke and I thought I'd head up next month during Spring Break." laughed Henry.

"That would be great Henry!" replied Regina as she fished a clean spatula from her utensil drawer to replace the one she'd dropped.

"Can I stay with you? It'll be too crowded at Grams" asked Henry.

"Of course dear" said Regina. She heard someone call Henry's name from the other line and before he could say it, she said "Sounds like you're in high demand, call me before you leave?"

"Sure Mom, love you!". He hung up before she could answer. She made a mental note to ask how Henry felt regarding his other mother's impending divorce when he arrived next week.

Regina had to admit that she was a little surprised that Emma was finally getting a divorce considering she'd come so close so many times. As if she could summon the presence of the blonde with her thoughts she heard a knock at the door. She turned off the stove and went to answer it. The door was only half way open before her lower half was assaulted by a very excited little girl. Emma smiled apolitically to Regina before saying "Mags, can we announce ourselves before we assault Aunt Regina?"

Regina wrapped an arm around Maggie ushering her inside and opening the door wider for Emma. "Won't you two come in?"

When Emma was inside and shut the door behind her, Regina bent down to give Maggie a proper hug. "Hello darling" she said.

"Hi Aunt Regina. I'm sorry I didn't ask before hugging but I missed you!" said Maggie as she gave a little jump for emphasis.

Regina ran her fingers affectionately on the girl's face, the gesture reminding her of another time with another young girl that Maggie seemed to favor more with age. She replied "That's quite alright dear, you never have to ask to hug me." It struck Regina how much Maggie seem to look like Snow as she aged. She thought it would probably be harder to take if Maggie didn't differ so much in personality (whereas Snow was so excitable as a child, Maggie was more reserved though not much with her Aunt) and also have just slightly darker skin, much more akin to Regina's.

Regina turned to regard Emma and asked "I thought I was meeting you at Granny's later, what are you doing here so early?"

Emma shrugged a little before asking "That offer to stay still stand?".

"Of course", then she laughed a little and asked, "Couldn't take your mother's meddling?" Maggie ran ahead of them into the kitchen.

Emma threw her hands in the air and said "God Regina it was so bad!"

"Well why don't I make breakfast and we can talk about it?" as she ushered them into the kitchen.

Emma gave Regina an affectionate pat on the shoulder before saying "How are you so perfect?"

"Yes well seeing as how you're always eating I thought you may appreciate the offer of food" said Regina, earning her a light punch in the arm. She grabbed Emma's fist giving her a mild magical jolt in return.

"Ok I take back my compliment. See if you ever get another one from me." said Emma indignantly as she rubbed her fist.

"Oh how will I ever go on" said Regina dryly as she and Emma made their way into the kitchen.

Maggie appeared from behind the pantry door holding up a small garment and asked "Aunt Regina, will you help me?"

Regina smiled at her and replied "Of course sweetheart. I take it from your choice of attire, you would like to help with breakfast?" She tied the small apron around Maggie's waist. Regina had sewn it herself for Maggie's last birthday. It was purple with Margaret's name across her middle. It matched the one Regina currently wore.

"Yes please" Maggie replied.

"I'll grab your stool" Emma offered and disappeared into the small broom closet in the kitchen. She was glad that Maggie picked up her Aunt and grandmother's love of cooking, she was becoming quite the little chef. Both Regina and Snow had no problem nurturing her growing skill.

"Thank you Mommy" said Maggie.

"So tell me Margaret, what shall we make?" asked Regina curiously.

Maggie looked at her thoughtfully for a minute before exclaiming "Cinnamon pancakes!"

"I think that's a great idea" said Regina as she stepped to the side to offer Emma room to put Maggie's stool down so she could stand next to Regina.

"You'll get no arguments from me" Emma said as she stood up and helped Maggie step up on her stool. "I'll leave you to it. Coffee?"

"Already brewed, just grab a mug" said Regina as she handed a mixing bowl to Maggie and continued to move about the kitchen for ingredients.

Emma nodded, made her coffee and moved to the living room to offer the two some alone time. She sipped from her mug and sighed thinking 'I missed this'. No one could make a good pot of coffee like Regina. Emma tried multiple times being gifted Regina's expensive blend a few times but it never tasted as good. She smiled thinking of Regina. If you'd told her several years ago that she'd find great comfort in anything related to Regina, she would have called you crazy. Maybe it was her relationship with Maggie or even with Henry but Emma had come to not only find Regina a great person for parenting advice but also a great friend. Regina had been her greatest supporter while adopting Maggie and a great listener while Emma was struggling with Killian. The same concerning the latter could not necessarily be said about Snow right now. She thought of their conversation just an hour ago.

"Of course you can stay as long as you'd like Emma, you know that." said Snow as she placed a hand on Emma's forearm. "I just think maybe you're being a little negative about Killian."

Emma shook her head and dropped her voice to a whisper so Maggie, Neal and her sister Ava couldn't hear "Mom you know it's been bad for years and as much as I wanted and hoped for it to work it's not."

"Have you tried a couple's weekend" Snow asked as she looked at Emma curiously and clearly ignoring Emma's protests.

Emma balled her fists and counted to ten in an attempt to calm down before saying "I thought when I told you we were moving here you understood. I've tried everything and I'm done. I know relationships take time and work but there sound be something worth fighting for, something to show for it all. I can't say that I have that."

"Maybe if you just-" Snow tried

"Mom I love you ok but I can't stay here when this is your attitude. Regina offered her place and I think it will be a little better for us." Emma called for Maggie then turned and kissed her mother on the cheek. "We'll see you at lunch."

Snow just nodded and let them go.

Emma sighed again, not looking forward to having to re explain herself to Snow again. 'At least this afternoon I'll be with Dad' she thought. David had asked her to spend the afternoon going over her duties and her new schedule. He mentioned that Ruby would probably appreciate the extra set of hands as she was needed more and more at Granny's. She smiled at the thought of getting back into her old job. She liked her job in New York with a youth center but she did miss having to break up fights in the small town and her trashcan basketball skills were waning.

"Mom it's ready!" she heard from the kitchen. She picked up her mug and headed back toward the kitchen.