Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.

Humming quietly to herself, Evie continued to pick apples from their mother's prized tree. The poor thing had been recovering, if a bit slowly, from Emma Swan's chainsaw attack. Personally, Evie would have pressed charges, had she been in her mother's shoes. As it was, she could content herself with spitefully watching the tree's recovery process with a smile.

Once the basket was filled, Evie returned indoors to find her mother in the process of baking her famous turnovers. Regina's normally immaculately made up face was blotchy from tears, and Evie felt her heart stutter in sympathy for her poor mother. Graham's death had been hard for the Mills family - the man had meant so much to all of them, especially Regina.

It also didn't help that Henry wasted no time in blaming the Evil Queen for Graham's death, Evie though in irritation. Her brother had his charms, but subtlety was not one of them. Setting the basket of picked apples on the counter, Evie opened her arms, embracing her mother as the fresh tears welled over. Carefully, she maneuvered her shaking mother to the table, whispering comforting nothings in her ear.

Within a few minutes, acting like nothing had happened, Regina resumed baking. This time, Evie contented herself with peeling and dicing the apples. Her mother wasn't the easiest person to talk feelings with, especially when they concerned her own. As she measured and mixed the dry ingredients, Regina tossed her daughter a grateful, appraising stare.

The girl had risen to the occasion beautifully after news of Graham's death had broken. Almost all of the town had descended into mourning the beloved Sheriff, including the newest arrival, Deputy Swan, Evie refused to let it beat her. The funeral earlier that week had been difficult to get through, though even lost in her misery, Regina had noticed the nearly inseparable figures of her daughter and that dock urchin, Harry Jones.

The idea that her daughter, daughter and granddaughter to Kings, had fallen in love with the get of a lowly pirate had been one of Regina's biggest disappointments. After Snow's banishment, Evie was the only heir to the throne of Leopold's kingdom. While not the child of Leopold's first queen, Eva, Evie's paternity had all but guaranteed that, while the people might not have loved their Queen Regina, they had adored their Princess Evie.

Regina had been in the process of narrowing down choices for her daughter's choice of husband - Prince James from King George's kingdom had been one of the top contenders - when the foolish girl had run off with her ruffian. Harry Hook's heart had rested in her vault prior to the Curse, and still did to this day. For Evie's part, the girl had turned on her mother the first chance she got, running off to side with her half-sister and her charming prince.

What became of Harry Hook, Regina was never sure. Now, knowing that he had been picked up by the Curse with the rest of them, made her wish she had crushed the boy's heart when she had the chance. Even now, her fingers itched to wrap around the heart and crush it to dust. Only the thought of Evie's tear stained face as she begged her mother to let him live stopped her.

Only the knowledge that she would be no better than her mother, if she killed Harry Hook, stayed her hand.

Even so, it was a struggle to bite her tongue and not berate Evie for deigning to sully herself with the sea urchin. As it was, she turned a blind eye, rationalizing that nothing could come of it. Harry Jones did not have his heart, and therefore could never offer her daughter anything but lust. The sooner Evie learned that, the better.

Thought of her daughter turned, inevitably, towards her son. The moment Regina announced Graham's death, Henry had disappeared into his room for hours, refusing to allow his worried sister and mother to grieve with him. Soon after, he had accused Regina of causing the Sheriff's death, despite her vehement protests.

Since then, he hadn't spoken a word to his mother, or even his sister. Evie knew she could blame that on her defending their mother, but couldn't bring herself to care. Let Henry pout and complain about the 'Evil Queen' and spend all his time reading that stupid book. He was welcome to it, as long as he stopped reducing their mother to tears every chance he got.

It didn't take long for either of the Mills women to finish with their respective tasks. Regina shaped the turnover, allowing Evie to fill it with the caramelized apples before placing it in the oven. Baking was a stress relief for them, moreso whenever they managed to do it together. It reminded Evie of the days when she was a little girl, Henry toddling along after her, as their mother patiently let them help her as she baked.

"Who do you think will become Sheriff now?" Evie wiped down her side of the counter, hoping her attempt to break the heavy silence worked. It was never easy to tell with her mother.

"Hmm. According to the town charter, two weeks after a Deputy becomes acting Sheriff, it falls to them."

Evie shared Regina's black scowl. "Which means Emma Swan has another root in the town."

"Exactly. Which is why, I'll be pulling my rank as mayor and will be appointing a new Sheriff." She caught sight of Evie's surprised expression and smiled wickedly. "You don't really think I'd let that interloper have that much power in my town, did you?"

Mirroring her mother's expression, Evie twisted in her seat when the front door slammed open. Henry's heavy footsteps led him into the kitchen, where he paused at his mother and sister seated at the small kitchen table.

"Uh, hi?" His eyes darted warily between them.

Smiling to put him at ease, Evie opened her arms when he looked ready to bolt. "Henry! Come in, I have something for you."

While he still looked seconds from bolting, his curiosity gave Evie hope. He settled as far as he could from them, but shrugged off his book bag and coat. Rising quickly - she didn't want him to make a break for it - Evie rifled through her satchel before letting out a triumphant "Aha!". Pulling the gift from the bag, she held out the silk-wrapped package.

Henry took it gingerly. "Is this grandpa's handkerchief?" He asked, losing some of the defensiveness at the sight of the red silk with the gold embroidery. "I thought mom hid it after I stole it for the hundredth time."

"Actually, it's not grandpa's." Evie said, relishing the looks on her mother and brother's faces. "I copied the pattern and embroidery and made you your own. And, that's not all I did. Open it."

Visibly excited now, Henry did as she asked. Tucked within the confines of the silk was a finely crafted pocket watch. The front detailed a tree with sprawling branches - the Mills family crest. Wide-eyed, Henry ran his fingers across it before looking up at them, lost.

"What is this?"

"I know the past couple of months have been hard for you," Evie said, rising to kneel before him. "It's been hard for all of us. But, I just wanted you to know that you're my brother. No matter what, you will always be my brother and I love you."

Teary-eyed now, Henry launched himself forward and knocked the two of them to the floor. Laughing past the tears, Evie returned the embrace and shifted so they sat on the kitchen floor. A soft, muffled sob came from the table before Regina joined them on the floor.

Face pressed against Henry's neck, Evie sighed in contentment when his arms tightened around her. Nothing was fixed, she had no illusions on that score. All three of them still had quite a bit to work out between them. But for now, this right here in the kitchen, it was enough.

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