Writing is way more fun than being productive, so here is the next chapter. Hopefully it'll answer some questions. Thanks for the reviews!

*I tried to post this last night but my computer was being special and not loading. My apologies if some you got notifications for it, and then I took it down.


Enchanted Forest:

Regina had been looking for her daughter for over an hour now. The tutor had informed her that Elizabeth failed to show for her studies, again. Regina, let out a frustrated sigh. Why couldn't her child just do as she was supposed to. Suddenly, she heard giggling coming up the corridor. "About time," Regina thought, as she made her way to find her six-year-old.

"I really thought we would find one, Mary." Elizabeth said sadly. "Miss, I really think you should be a little more quiet," the young hand maid suggested, while looking around nervously. "It's fine," the younger girl replied. "We're not going to get in trouble," Elizabeth said, with a giggle.

"You might want to rethink that." Regina said, sternly, as she came around the corner and stopped in front of the young girls, crossing her arms. Regina saw the hand maid's eyes open wide in fear. The girl couldn't have been more than ten and she looked absolutely terrified to have been caught. Regina's eyes then traveled to her daughter. Elizabeth stood in front of her mother with a mischievous smile on her face. "Do I even want to know what you were doing?" Regina questioned, as she took in the sight of her six-year-old. Elizabeth was covered head to toe in dirt, with twigs and leaves caught throughout her dark brown hair. Her dress torn in several places.

"Hi Mumsie!" The younger child said with a sweet smile, while twirling the hem of her dress innocently. "Oh no. Don't 'Mumsie' me. That's not going to work, Elizabeth." Regina said as she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips. "You missed your lessons, yet again. That's two days in a row." She reprimanded.

"But mommy, I was looking for something that's much more important!" Elizabeth exclaimed, quickly dropping the sweet innocent tone she had been using and changing to a more serious one. The young girl, too, place her hands on her hips and Regina could tell she was preparing to defend herself. "Oh really? And what was so important?" Regina questioned, slightly amused.

"We were trying to find fairies." The small girl explained, with a serious face. "I heard one of the kids in the courtyard talking about them and I wanted to see one for myself. The boy wouldn't tell me where they were at, so we had to search everywhere!" The young girl emphasized the last word by moving her hands in a circular motion, but then placed them promptly back on her hips.

"Wait, did you leave the palace grounds?" Regina questioned, anger seeping into her voice. The hand maid was visibly shaking next to Elizabeth, but the small child simply looked up at her mother. "Mommy, fairies aren't going to be in the courtyard." The girl stated matter-of-factly. "Watch how you speak to me," Regina scolded. The younger girl looked unfazed so Regina squatted down to be eye level with her daughter. She grabbed both of the girl's hands and pulled her right up in front of her. Elizabeth held eye contact with Regina, her grey eyes boring into her mother's dark brown. The young girl knew she was in trouble, a lot of trouble, but she wasn't scared.

"You know better than to leave the grounds unattended, Elizabeth." Regina chastised. "Mommy," the girl huffed. "That's why I took Mary with me." Elizabeth explained as if this justified everything, her voice annoyed and full of attitude. Regina raised an eyebrow at her daughter. She finally saw a little worry creep into the younger girl's eyes, but also felt her tense her muscles, ready to keep arguing with her mother.

"An adult, Elizabeth," Regina clarified. "You know the rules. You need to ask permission to leave the castle." Regina was clearly frustrated with the child. "You shouldn't have even been in the courtyard, let alone, running throughout the country side." Regina said as the young girl squirm in her hands, trying to break her mother's grasp. Regina tightened her hold and made Elizabeth look at her.

"We were in the forest! and besides, I would have just been told 'no' if I had tired.." Elizabeth started to defend her actions, but her mother quickly cut her off. "You could have been hurt, or worse, taken by someone!" Regina said with anger and worry in her voice. "You left the grounds knowing it was wrong! Just because you knew you'd be told no, doesn't mean you just go and do it!" Regina fiercely stated, while also addressing her daughter's horrible justification for not asking permission.

Elizabeth squirmed again and started to purse her lips, taking on a spitting image of her mother, clearly planning her next move. Regina let go of her daughter's hands and grabbed the side of her arms. Regina repositioned the younger girl so that she was even closer, their faces just centimeters apart. "Oww, Mommy you're hurting me!" Elizabeth whined. "Then stop moving and listen. Now!" Regina snapped without room for argument. Elizabeth froze, realizing her mother indeed was angry at her and she wasn't going to be able to talk her way out of this one.

Regina looked to the hand maid. The poor girl still looked terrified and worried. Regina softened her voice and said to the older girl, "run along. I know none of this was your doing." The maid didn't need to be told twice. She quickly scampered down the corridor, and out of sight, without a sound. Regina looked back to her daughter.

"No riding lessons for a week," the young girl's eyes widened in shock, but Regina continued, "You will not be attending the ball tomorrow night, and your studies will be with me for the time being. Is that clear?" Regina demanded as more of a statement, rather than a question. "Mommy! The little girl gasped, "You can't do that! I, I…" The child was visibly upset and fumbling over her words. "You don't even know how to teach!" the six-year-old argued.

"Excuse me?" Regina responded, clearly unimpressed. "You're not a teacher, just a mommy!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She was quickly making her situation worse and went to continue, but Regina had had enough. "That's it! Two weeks no riding, and I promise you, you're going to wish I was just a mommy." Regina said, clearly done arguing with the young girl.

Elizabeth suddenly looked at her mother horrified, not at her mother's words, but by her realization. "Wait, but tonight is when father returns! Tomorrow is the ball to welcome him home! Mommy, I have to be there!" Elizabeth stressed. "You should have thought of that, before disobeying the rules. I'm tired of you thinking you can come and go as you please, young lady. You are a child. Not an adult." Regina emphasized and continued, "you will not be attending the ball tomorrow night. I can guarantee you, that once your father hears of your behavior, he'll agree with me. Especially, when hears that you left the grounds, and that you're behind on your studies." Regina said, knowing that the young girl would try to sweet talk her father into getting her out of trouble. Elizabeth had opened her mouth the argue back, but quickly shut it after Regina's last comment. "We are done discussing this." Regina stated as she stood back up. "You need to get cleaned up, and then we are starting your studies." Regina informed her daughter.

Elizabeth let out an annoyed sigh, but turned to head to her chambers. "Oh no, you're not leaving my sight. You can't be trusted to do what's asked of you. Let's go." Regina said, as she grabbed the young girls hand and started to her own chambers. Elizabeth willingly went along with her mother, already busy planning all the ways she could sneak down to the ball tomorrow night. The argument obviously having no real impact on the girl.


Storybrooke:

The next morning my head was pounding, as I was trying to get ready for school. There was no way I was going to make it through the day if I didn't take something. As I was rummaging through the cupboards and drawers, looking for medicine, my mother appeared in the doorway of the bathroom.

"Have you seen you brother?" she demanded. I gave a small laugh and said, "well, this seems like Déjà vu." "This isn't a joke, Madelyn," mom said in a tired voice. I stopped my search and looked up at her. Clearing my throat, I said, "Sorry, no. I haven't seen him this morning."

"I knew I shouldn't have let that boy out of my sight," my mom stated, turning to leave. Following her, I stopped at the bathroom doorway and asked, "Hey mom, do you have any ibuprofen?" I leaned against the door frame as my mom stopped at the top of the stairs. She looked back at me. "Why? Are you not feeling well?" She questioned, in a somewhat worried voice. "I'm okay, I just woke up with a headache." I said hoping she wouldn't make a big deal of it.

I watched as my mother walked up to me, and placed her hand on my forehead. She started moving it around my face, feeling for a fever. Shaking my head, I back up and in an annoyed voice, I whined, "Mother, stop. I'm fine." My mom dropped her hand and eyed me. I raised my eyebrows, holding her gaze. "Really." I said, assuring her with a small smile.

Finally, she sighed and said, "there should be some in my bathroom. No taking more than two."

With that, she turned to leave. As she was walking down the stairs, my mother called back, "I'm heading to the sheriff's station. Make sure you go to school." I managed to stop myself, as a snappy comment almost escaped my lips. "What are you doing?" I thought. I was never sassy with my mom. I yelled to my mom, "I will! Love you."

The front door open and closed, so I headed in search of ibuprofen. As I was crossing my mother's bedroom, something on her dresser caught my eye. I looked over, but all I saw was her jewelry, perfume, and the pictures of us that were always there. Nothing out of the ordinary. "Mads, you're losing it," I thought as I continued on to the bathroom.


I was thinking about Henry, as I was walking to school. I knew where he was, well most likely, but my mom didn't ask me that. She simply asked if I had seen him.

"Mads, wait up!" I heard Ray calling from behind me. I slowed down my pace as she ran up next to me. "So your mom was pretty pissed, huh?" She questioned. "You could say that again. Last night was a mess" I responded. Ray gave me an understanding look, "How long you grounded for?"

"two weeks." I groaned. "The messed up thing is that Henry didn't even get in trouble!" I continued.

"Huh?" Ray stopped walking and looked at me. "I'm confused, Mads. What does Henry have to do with you getting home late and failing history?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. "I didn't get my test signed," I said with realization. "Back up. What happened last night?" Ray asked giving me a concerned, questioning look.

"Coffee, I need Coffee," was my only response as I turned to head to Granny's. "…But what about school?" Ray called after me. "Mr. Noll never takes role first period. No one will notice," I yelled back. I heard Ray grumbling behind me and then heard her feet slapping the pavement, as she ran to catch up to me.

We walked the rest of the way to Granny's in silence. Entering, my mind was going a hundred miles an hour, and I felt my headache getting worse. We walked to a booth, and plopped down. Ruby came over and asked for our orders. I ordered a black coffee and Ray asked for tea.

"You know your mom will get upset if she finds out you're drinking coffee," Ray stated. I let out a humorless laugh, "me drinking coffee is the least of her problems." Ray gave me a puzzled look.

After Ruby brought over our drinks, Ray squared herself in front of me and said, "So, you going to fill me in or just leave me over here very confused?" I took a sip of my coffee and let out a long sigh. "Alright," I said and proceed to give her a recap of the evening.

"So let me see if I have this straight – Henry ran away and didn't get in any trouble, but you did for simply getting home late?" Ray questioned. I nodded and she proceeded to ask, "Then he turned around and ran away again this morning?"

"Yeah, it's totally stupid", I growled.

"I really don't get your mom lately. She's strict, but she's usually fair about it." Ray said. "Yeah… I think she's being harder on me because she doesn't know what to do with Henry anymore, and well... I am older." I said as if that justified everything. Ray rolled her eyes at me, "You know it's normal to be mad at your parent, right? You don't always have to defend your mom." I decided not to respond and drank my coffee.

"I think Henry has a death wish. Don't take this the wrong way, but your mom is terrifying. I mean, I'm scared to even sneeze in the same room as her, because I feel like she'll ground me, and she's not even my mom!" Ray exclaimed. I gave her a disapproving look in return. "Hey, I'm just saying." Ray said, putting her hands up as she defended herself.

I could feel my body tensing. I was tired, frustrated, and done. Done with the drama. "This whole thing is beyond crazy. Everything was fine until Henry caused this whole mess. It's his fault, and yet, I'm the only one that's ever gets in trouble, and it's usually for some stupid reason!" The words were leaving my mouth faster than I could stop them. It felt good to voice my frustrations for once.

We both sat silently for a second. "So he really found his birth mom?" Ray asked softly. I could hear the curiosity in her voice. I didn't blame her; it was intriguing to think about. "I guess." I said with a shrug.

"Well?" Ray asked curiously. "Well, what?", I replied back. "Come on, Mads! What'd she look like?" Ray begged for details.

"I only saw her from a distance. She had long blonde hair, wore a nice, red, leather jacket, and drove a yellow bug." I said trying to make it clear that I didn't want to talk about this. Ray started laughing and I quickly glanced back to her. "And what do you find so funny about that?" I snapped. "Calm down" Ray said between snorts. "I'm just picturing your mom's reaction to this. The lady drives a yellow bug?! Come on, I can only imagine the unimpressed look your mom gave this gal!" Ray kept giggling at her own thoughts. It might have been more funny had my head not felt as if it was going to explode.

Once Ray had calm down, she looked at me again. "Okay, sore topic. Got it. So what are you gonna do about the test?" She asked. My eyes dropped to my backpack. I reached over, zipped it open, and pulled the test out. "I keep forgetting about this dang thing." I replied back. "Well, if you tell Mrs. Arnold that it's not signed, she'll call your mom to discuss your grade." Ray stated, sympathetically. I looked up at her. "What? She wouldn't?" I questioned, hoping she was just kidding. Ray gave me a tight smile and nodded her head, causing looked back down at the test with dread.

I made a hasty decision, and as I pulled a black pen out of my backpack, Ray said, "Uh, you're not about to do, what I think you're about to do, are you?" I didn't answer her. I was busy trying to visualize my mom's signature in my head. The nice thing about her being the Mayor is that her signature is on everything. Taking a couple deep breaths I steady my hand and signed Regina Mills at the bottom of my test. "Dang, that looks pretty legit." Ray said impressed. I looked up at her, as she gave me a big smile. "What now?" I pressed.

"Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" Ray said jokingly. I have her an annoyed look, indicating that she should continue. "Maddie, you're perfect. Or the closest thing to perfect that I know. You're like the dream child. You never break the rules, except to occasionally come over to my house after school. And we both know that takes a lot of begging on my part." My eye's rolled, once more, as she kept speaking, "normally you get straight A's. You're a teenager that basically never lies or talks back." She let out a chuckle. "But, here you are skipping class, forging a signature on a failed test, and lying." Smirking at me she said, "I like reckless, Mads."

I felt a smile on my own lips, but I rolled my eyes at her and said, "let's go. It's almost time for 2nd period." I shoved the test in my backpack and chugged down the rest of my coffee. "Please just let this day end quickly," I thought as we headed to school.


Until next time, folks. :o)