A Beautiful Swan

[Quatro]

"Mother I'm fine!" Regina said as she cradle the home phone receiver to her ear. She could see Mary Margaret go in and out of the living room pretending to be cleaning the house, but she knew the truth. The old woman is probably still apprehensive of her leaving. She had been with the Swans for six straight days now, one more day and she could celebrate her first week in the town.

But what she's probably really be celebrating is her ability to be away of SD for one week without urges to run back and put herself in a hole she dug for herself and keep on reading about her ex-husbands day to day – or hear news from their common friends; the Locksleys.

And yes, it took her six days to have the strength to actually talk to her mother over the phone. She did send her messages, over phone and emails, recounting some of the things she had done as soon as she arrived at the small town. Bulk of her messages though contains her excursions with Emma and Henry.

"I know you are, but I am a mother and I still need to ask the question." Cora Mills said, probably rolling her eyes on the other end. "And by the way, your father is bawling since you started talking about this young boy Henry. Now he is pressuring me to come to Storybrooke with him."

"I thought you have a gallery to open?" she asked with a frown. She loves her mother and father very much, but, she's not really happy to be rejoining them in here, what with her mother's quirk? Her father was fine, he is a quiet man but when he is with her he tends to become the joker he is and the two always sees to it to have fun in her expense.

"I told your father that, guess what he said?"

"Forego your gallery opening?" No answer which means she actually guessed right, "He is serious?"

"As a heart attack," there was a sigh, "Anyway he won't accept a no, and reasoned he'd be missing his unica hija since you'll be gone for three months, or maybe longer since you seemed to be enjoying your time there with this Emma and Henry Jr..."

"Junior? Mother..."

"Don't get mad at me, your father coined the term not me." A huffed, "Anyway, we made an agreement that we'll be flying to Maine the week after my gallery opening."

"That's in a month!"

"I know. Anyway dear, your father wanted you to ask your land lord... or is it land lady-"

"You can just call her Mary Margaret, you are older than her."

She could feel her mother rolling her eyes once again, "There is nothing wrong with being polite-"

"Yes but she is not here talking to you, it's me, Regina your daughter remember?" There was a chuckle on the other side. "Are you talking through speaker phone?"

"Yes dear, you only noticed now?" she didn't wait for her daughter's reply as she continued, "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," The brunette assumes her mother is giving her father a death glare, she shook her head. "Will you ask Mary Margaret if she has another room available for your dear old man and mother?"

Regina's eyes widened, "No! There is a B&B inn though near here..."

"Dear you haven't asked her yet, are you insinuating that I and your father should go stay indefinitely in an inn instead of be with you? Besides, your father was right, room renting with family in an unknown place is safer!"

"And you don't believe that before, Mother!"

"Your father wants to be close with Henry, can you blame him? Besides, it seems this Swans is a nice family we can actually get along with." The younger brunette suspects a smirk on her mother's face. "Besides, didn't they need financial support for their daughter Emma? If we rent with them like you do, it's an additional income for them. It will help dear Emma greatly."

Argh, now her mother is using Emma to get to her?

"By the way dear, from your messages, I got this question in my head that I just needed to ask you."

Regina pulled the receiver away from her ear for a while, looked at it with dread and replaced it, here it goes... "What?"

"Does this mean you are finally able to move on from that no good Daniel with Emma?" Good thing the brunette was not drinking anything or she would have spilled it all over the table top and into the carpeted floor.

"Mother!" She almost screamed, and whatever tirade she wanted to add to her mortified outburst was stopped because Mary Margaret decided to stop pretending and just stood in front of her, behind the large couch. "Okay, stop this insanity and I'll ask her, I'm going to message you the answer."

"I still have questions..." Regina put down the receiver in a hurry, looked up at the older brunette standing in the living room, and smiled. "I'm still staying Mary Margaret, no need to be worried." a smile on the smaller brunette and a nod of head was her answer, "Actually my parents wanted to ask you if there's another room available-" she sighed in resignation.

"Wait, your parents wants to visit you here and stay with us?" The older woman's eyes were large. "Oh my god... when?"

"In a month," She has her head lower down, "This is embarrassing, I told them they can stay in the inn but when my parents made up their mind, there's no changing it." she winced, "And I might have told them about Emma and Henry, and my father wanted to meet Henry already and he's not taking no for an answer." she rolled her eyes and sighed, "...parents,"

Mary Margaret laughed, "They must missed you too, but yes, Henry does have that effect to people – adult people."

Regina laughed as well, "Have I told you that my father's name is also Henry? Now he's calling Henry junior."

The other woman shook her head, "Well that would benefit all of us when they come here."

"Mary Margaret, from what I understand you don't have an extra room. You only have that one where I am right now."

A nod of dark head, "True, but David and I could share the cabin with Emma if they truly wanted to stay here. Besides, if they wanted to rent here too..." she suddenly had an embarrassed look, "I know I might sound a bit materialistic, but we do need the extra income for Emma-"

Regina smiled, "Actually my mother thought of the same thing, she thought their renting here would help, and I quote, dear Emma greatly."

Excited nod, "Your parents are wonderful people-"

The younger woman waved a hand, "Once you get to know them you'll probably have second thoughts about calling them wonderful."

"If they raised you, then yes, they are wonderful people." That earned the older woman a blush from the younger one.

"Be as it may, I don't want to put you out of your room." she frowned, "If they really do come I'd give my room to them, no problem with that. I can probably ask Henry to share his room with me." she said smiling.

"Or we could convince Emma to share room with Henry and your parents can rent her cabin."

Chocolate eyes widened and then she shook her head, "We can't do that Mary Margaret, we agree that Emma needs stability in her life and changing her routine is not good for her."

Mary sighed, "True, but we can't give your room to your parents and expect you to share with Henry when you paid your three months in full!" The older woman stepped around the large couch and sat on it, "David and I on the other hand could sleep on the cabin's living room, it's cozy and large for the two of us-"

"We can't have that and my parents won't have that." Regina reiterated and then she grinned, "Maybe I could just convince Emma that I can stay at her cabin while my parents take my room."

There was no answer at first, "Emma will probably like that," a smile.

"There's a month to think this over anyway, I'll talk to Emma when we are sure my parents indeed is coming here and planned on staying with us."

"If they are, they have no idea how much they will help us-" Both women eyed each other before laughing.

-0-

The bell rang at the Storybrooke Elementary school that signals the end of the day. Amongst the throng of children running out was Henry, a smile on his face which drops when three other boys met him halfway. One boy has sandy blonde hair, freckles on his face and he was the tallest of the three. Another was a blonder boy who stands up to the first boy's shoulder and the last was a brunette, shy looking boy with light freckles on his face.

"Hey Peter, Felix..." Henry greeted nervously before eyeing the last of the boys, "Nick..."

"Hey Henry," Peter greeted with a grin, "You got away last week, lucky that dwarf came to your rescue."

Henry fisted his hands beside him. He tried fighting before but with their size? He has no way of winning. Nick, his ex-best friend doesn't lift a finger to hurt him, but he doesn't lift a finger to help him too. So he was a no go. "Yeah?" he said, there really is nothing he's going to say that would get him out of this predicament anyway. These boys always come to him when they know there's no teacher that might pass by the school ground.

The two stepped menacingly towards him making him step back. Nick just followed, as usual.

"We heard your crazy family got a cool woman renting, and a lot of people talk, they said she's loaded."

"I don't know what you mean," and before he could move, Peter pushed him hard causing him to hit his back to the tree trunk behind him. "Hey,"

"She dresses well, someone told me and a little bird also said that she has taken to you. Just like every adult in this neighborhood despite having a monster for a mother."

"My mom is not a monster!" he shouted and got a slap on his right cheek

"Listen Swan," He said invading the little boy's space, "I got a proposition for you." Henry just frowned, "You want us to stop? Then do something for us-"

"I'm not going to do anything for you!" Henry said and tried to push the bigger boy away from him but he held on before Henry could escape. The Swan boy was struggling to be let go when they all hear it...

"What are you doing to Henry?" it was growled, voice cold and menacing. The three boys looked behind them and Peter let go of Henry, then backed away along with Felix and Nick.

"Aunt Ruby!" Henry called and ran towards his auntie.

Ruby glared at the three boys, "Are you hurting my boy Henry here? You three-" she said pointing a finger on the three of them, "... are in such a bad situation. If I see even a single bruise in my boy's body, whether you did it or not, you all are going to answer to it." she growled as she pulled Henry to her back, then eyed Nick. "And you, you were Henry's friend before, so now you choose to be with bullies like them? Your father will hear of this..."

"I didn't hurt Henry!" Nick shouted and got an elbow to the side from the tallest of the three.

"Maybe... but you're just standing by. I thought Michael taught you better than that." Then she turned and knelt before Henry. She turned her focus on the three, "Scoot!" the three boys ran away. She returned her focus on the boy. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he smiled and hugged his aunt. "They didn't get to bruise me this time, I just got a slap."

Ruby shook her head, "Whether its a slap, a punch or a noogie, they are still bullying you. How long had this been going on?"

Henry shrugged his shoulders, "It's not everyday, just when Peter is in bullying mood. No big deal Aunt Ruby."

"It is a big deal. Does my mother knows about this?" Henry shook his head,

"Mom knows though, she got into trouble a lot because of it so I tried hard no to let her know anymore. I don't want them taking her because she tried to rescue me."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't want you to get into trouble too. Besides, you're not living with us anyway, there's no use bothering you about it." he said sounding dejected. The woman pulled the boy to her chest and held him tight as she closed her eyes.

"You're not a bother, you should know that." Henry nodded but said nothing. She stood and held the boy's hand. "I took my afternoon off, and tomorrow I won't be going to work, why don't you and I go have some ice cream? Snow Queen Dairy have new flavors out."

Henry beamed, "I like that, but..."

"What?"

"You can't tell grandma, she doesn't like it when I spoil dinner with junks."

"Promise I won't tell. This will just be between me and you." A nod and the two walked out of the school premise.

-0-

Emma's 5'o clock client had finished and Aurora took over the blonde's station and start her time. Emma's work time starts at exactly nine and ends at exactly five, there's no over time in her vocabulary and she gets agitated when five strikes and she still have a customer, so the diner decided that at exactly five, the person taking over will start whether Emma finished making her customer's coffee or not.

Emma's loyal customers knows this so they always make it a point that they get their coffee before clock strikes five. So now Emma is free to go, she took the apron off her and put it in her locker. She then took her body bag, put it on her and walked out of the diner. She usually walks from the diner to the house, sometimes her father would get her from the diner if he happens to pass by during his routine town inspection.

But today Emma got a surprise when outside, sitting on one of the outside chair was Regina. She was smiling and patiently waiting for her. "R-Regina!" she called excited as skipped towards the elegant woman. "You-you're here! You-you want coffee? But I am done!" she frowned and then she looked back inside the diner and then at Regina and back at the inside of the diner again.

"Emma," Regina stood and stepped closer to the blonde.

"I... I can go back, I get you coffee!" The blonde turned but was stopped by the brunette.

"I'm not here to get coffee." she explained smiling and got a deep frown from the other woman.

"You don't like my coffee?" she asked, the beginning of a pout was on the younger woman's face.

"Oh of course I like them!" Regina put a hand on the small of the other woman's back, "You make great coffee, there's no way I won't like it."

"Then I get you coffee!" Emma said excitedly but then frowned again at Regina's shake of head. She bowed down and a foot started digging on the ground (if it could dig into hard cement).

"Emma," she put two fingers under the blonde's chin, "Look at me," Emma did, "I love your coffee but I'm here because I was thinking we could both go out and have ice cream." she smiled when realization comes to Emma's head and she beamed.

"Rocky road?"

"You like that don't you?" Emma nod excitedly.

"Can we get ice cream at the Dairy? The owner always gives me extra scoop!" Emma said grinning, "Maybe if she knew you're with me, she gives you extra scoop too!"

"That would be great isn't it?"

Another enthusiastic nod and then again with the frown, "Regina,"

"What is it?"

"Don't tell mom!"

"Don't tell mom what?"

"We eat ice cream. She'll get mad, she doesn't want me spoiling my dinner." she pouted and Regina laughed.

"Alright, this is between you and me then. It's our secret."

Emma grinned, "We got lots of secret!"

Another laugh, "Yes we have."

-0-

"Henry!" Emma called out with wide eyes as she saw her son sitting on one of the Dairy's table eating ice cream with his Aunt.

"Mom!" Henry almost dropped his ice cream cone.

Emma and Regina stepped beside the boy and the other brunette's table. "You're spoiling your dinner, mom will be mad!"

Henry frowned, "Well why are you here?"

Emma grinned, "I'm getting ice cream, Regina going to buy me rocky road and I'm getting extra scoop!" She's saying this while Regina and Ruby eyed each other, both sporting an amused expression on their faces.

"You're going to spoil your dinner, grandma will be pissed!"

"Henry!" Ruby called, "Mom already thinks I'm spoiling you, if she hears you speaking like that, she'll think I'm corrupting your manners too!"

He grinned, "Sorry Aunt Ruby," then he looked at Regina, "You're not telling my grandma about it?"

"Well it seems I'm also keeping buying your mother an ice cream with extra scoop a secret, what's one more to add to it hm?"

Mother and son nodded enthusiastically.

"Go get your ice cream mom!" Henry urged and that brought the two women to move towards the counter.

-0-

[Dinner at Swan Household]

Regina was biting her lip as Mary Margaret looked at her daughter and then at her grandson who both were playing with their food.

"Emma, Henry..." Mary said frowning, "You two asked me to cook this so I did, so why is it that it seems you are not interested in eating your dinner?"

"They're probably tired Mary," David tried to explain for his daughter and favorite grandson.

"Tiredness doesn't made them not eat ever," She said looking at her husband. She then saw mother and son looked each other and tried to stifle a chuckle. Then their eyes tried to covertly look at Regina which when she focused on had put on a poker face, so impenetrable that she already knew something's amiss. "Regina? Do you have something to tell me?"

Regina looked at Mary Margaret with wide eyes, "Me?" then she looked at mother and son who have their eyes so wide and their head shakes violently. "Well..."

"Regina?" The older woman was trying her hardest to stifle her laughter at the look her daughter and grandson sports. She can't help but let the two stew though, it's fun. It's been long since their house had had fun like this.

"It seems Emma and Henry are hiding something from us..." David asked getting his wife's modus. "So Regina?"

"This is great, I mean, I've never had such a delicious fried chicken before, it's out of this world."

"Yeah! This is so great grandma!"

"Ye-yeah!" Emma agreed too.

"Really? So why is it that you two aren't eating?"

The duo eyed each other again and then took their forks and was about to dig in when the door of the house suddenly opened and Ruby entered without preamble. All eyes turned to her. She grinned and raised a bowl... "Ice cream anyone?!"

Emma put a hand on her mouth, stood and turned to go to the rest room while Henry started laughing hard, followed by Regina which left Mary Margaret and David bewildered. They looked at their youngest daughter...

"What did I do now?"

TBC