Regina's hands holding the book were shaking.

Emma slowly closed the book and stared up at Regina.

For Regina the intensity this girl was looking at her with was too much, her eyes started to pool with tears and she looked away. A small hand used her shoulder to pull herself up, and placed a kiss on Regina's cheek.

"I'm sorry she made you so sad. Did you find your happy ending?"

The beauty of children, they seem to accept everything. Regina relaxed.

"Thank you Emma. I-I'm working on it."

Emma snuggled back into bed.

"Good."

Emma was pretty soon asleep with her duckie and had a thumb in her mouth. Regina stayed and was running her fingers through Emma's hair so she would drift off to sleep. That accomplished, she figured she would head to bed. She put a nightlight in Emma's room and turned the hall light on. She slowly made her way to her room, brushed her teeth, splashed water on her face and went to bed.

She awoke at 2:34 in the morning. She glanced at the clock and ran her hand through her hair. Great. She hated nights where she couldn't sleep.

She glanced around the room and her gaze landed on her door, she thought she had closed it. Her eyes wandered down the door till she saw something on the floor. She grabbed her rob and walked across the room, upon further inspection it was Emma. The little girl must have woken up scared and stopped just shy of telling Regina she couldn't sleep.

Regina once more picked up the little blonde bundle and tucked her into the big bed. Regina snuggled in next to her and put her arms possessively around the girl.

"Good night Emma."

….

Emma awoke to the sun shining in through the window and warming her little face. She felt something across her body and smiled when it was the nice lady from yesterday's arm. She snuggled closer into her. Maybe life was going to be ok.

Regina felt the little blonde wiggle and slowly started to wake her up.

Regina kissed the little face next to her, "Good Morning, Emma."

"Morning!"

Regina loved how bright her voice sounded.

"Ready to get up sweet girl?" Regina lightly laughed when Emma frowned and buried herself under the covers.

"Hey," another laugh, "Emma, if you sleep all day then we can't go and do other things."

Emma peeked her eyes out from under the covers, Regina thought she was truly the cutest in all of the lands.

"What kidna stuffs?"

….

They had picked up food an hour later from Grannies. Regina was taking Emma to have a picnic in her old office with MM and Henry. But before they could make it Emma had dragged Regina into the animal shelter, where she had found the most adorable black kitten with grey-blue eyes.

Regina told Emma they couldn't get a kitten, they left hair everywhere. But she quickly found herself in a closed room playing with the kitten, with Emma.

Regina only had a horse growing up and was not accustomed to having some furry thing climb all over you, but today she was learning from Emma it could be quite enjoyable.

Regina watched as the kitten climbed up Emma's jacket and onto her head, then falling off into Emma's hands. Regina was looking at the time, they were going to be late. That's when she felt the little warm fluffball curl up in her lap.

"She likes you." Emma giggled.

Regina pet the little thing and it started to vibrate and make a noise, she quickly took her hand back.

Emma's hand grabbed hers and placed it back on the kitten.

"Gina, it means she likes you."

Regina was already falling for the little thing.

"Emma, we can't take her home today, we have so much to do, you understand?"

"And what will we do with her when you grow up…"

Emma's face grew confused, "When I grow up?"

Regina glanced up realizing what she said. She hadn't told Emma she wasn't really a child anymore.

"Oh nothing dear, we need to get to my office… maybe we can play with her again sometime."

Emma nodded took the kitten and handed it back to the shelter worker.

She then skipped off to the bathroom.

When they finally made it to the office MM had all kinds of board games set up, and they all had fun during lunch.

"Emma could you stay here with Snow for a while, I have to do some work stuff."

MM looked sideways at Regina but Regina gave her a firm glare.

"Sure Gina… You promise to come get me?" Emma looked up only slightly hesitant.

Regina held Emma's hands in hers, "I promise."

Snow brought Emma home around seven after she took her and Henry out for pizza. Henry went back to help with baby Neil and finish the weekend at his grandparents.

Emma bounced around telling Regina about the pizza they had and the games she had missed while Regina heated up some tea.

"I wish you could have been there, Henry was so funny…." Then she hugged the brunette, "I missed you."

Regina's heart swelled she wanted to raise Emma, now more than anything she wanted a daughter.

…..

That night they settled in and finished the story book. She saw that Regina almost had her happy ending but once again it was taken away.

"Why did the mean lady do that? You were happy!" Emma shouted angrily, "I don't like her." She pouted not realizing it was her who had brought Marian back.

"Emma, my story isn't over yet, I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Don't be so upset if it worked… maybe I wouldn't be sitting here with you."

Emma sighed. "Ok, I am better." She huffed.

Regina scoffed and laughed, "Yes Emma, yes you are."

Emma snuggled into bed. Regina kissed her forehead.

"Good night Emma." Regina went to turn at the door,

"Hey Gina?" Emma's little voice called out.

"I don't think you're a villain."

Regina put her hand over her chest and leaned on the door,

"Thank you Emma. Sweet dreams, sweetheart. If you get scared come on in."

Emma nodded and closed her eyes.

….

Regina went off to bed hopefully to a full nights rest, though she didn't mind not sleeping so much with little Emma around.

"Gina…GINA!"

She jolted awake, someone was holding her. Emma was stronger than she looked.

"Hey calm down, k? It was a dream." Emma wiped at Regina's face. Regina's hand mimicked Emma's and she found her face wet. She must have had another dream about Leopold. Just the thought of his name sent a shiver through her spine.

Emma noticed.

"Hey, it's ok. The bad guys can't get you anymore." Emma wrapped her arms as far around Regina as they could go.

Regina hadn't even noticed she was hyperventilating till she started to slow her breathing.

Then taking a deep breath, "Emma I am so sorry I woke you up." Trying and failing to rapidly blink back her new tears.

Emma stayed attached, "S'ok. Do you want me to stay with you?"

Regina really didn't want to be alone, "If that's not too much trouble…" Emma scooted under the covers.

"It's ok, I like sleepovers with you." She laid her head on Regina's chest once she lay back down again.

"I love you Regina." Emma yawned at the end.

"I love you too Emma."

….

Regina woke at 5am a few hours later, feeling safe this time. When she rolled over she noticed Emma wasn't in the bed anymore. Had she gone back to her room?

She lightly padded down the hallway to check up on Emma. The little girl's light was on…

"Emma…."

A/n: why did Emma leave? Guesses/?