Chapter 7

Not wanting to waste any more of her time than she had to, Emma left her family in the early hours to pass on the money and order the guards to follow Henry's parents until they were gone.

Back at the castle the rest of the family were still in bed with Regina watching her children who were still sleeping beside her. With a smile at seeing her son start to stir, she leans over kissing his head gaining a smile straight away. Lifting his head, Henry peered around then over his sister at his mommy while rubbing his eyes. "Mommy where mama?"

The brunette gave a little tickle under his chin. "She had to go into the village, she will be back by the time we have breakfast"

The boy smiles again and looks to his sister, tilting his head down in front of her face. "Lottie wake up..."

Regina hides a chuckle at the nickname her daughter landed with thanks to Henry as he could not say her full name when she was born and so it stuck. Henry looks to his mommy for help so she trails her fingers up the girls arms like a spider gaining a small smile to appear on the tiny blonde's face.

The brunette raises an eyebrow and leans over starting to tickle her. "Wakey wakey.."

Scarlett goes into full blown belly giggles as she shoves her teddy into her mouth to stop the noise. Henry grins joining in with tickling his sister. "Come on lottie!"

Regina laughs as Scarlett cannot stop herself giggling, screwing her face up in the process.

"No Enry!"

Henry stops and lays back in the shape of a starfish while his mommy lifts Scarlett up and on top of her to lay down. The tiny blonde glances up pursing her lips together for a kiss. "Kissy!"

Regina gives her a peck then smothers her face in kisses receiving another giggle. Gesturing with her head to Henry, Scarlett nods as the pair then lean over and start smothering the boy in kisses.

Henry starts laughing then flaps his arms. "Eeeeew! No kissy!"

Emma who had now came back, watches from the doorframe of their chambers and chuckles. "No kisses huh?"

The Queen and two children peer over with smiles as the blonde makes her way over onto the bed, helping her two girls to attack a protesting Henry with kisses.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Walking across the field, heading towards the stream, all four members of the family held hands with Scarlett giving her usual big steps and Henry giving a little skip excited for the day ahead.

"Mommy? Do you know I went on horse?!"

Regina raised an eyebrow, looking down at her son who stared back with wide eyes eager to tell his story. "Oh?"

"Yes! Mama let me when come home"

The brunette realizes what he means and smiles, sharing a look with Emma. "Oh right, well I suppose this once would not have harmed"

The blonde grins then lifts Scarlett up princess style. "Come on kiddo last one to the bank has to help Joan in the kitchen when we get home!"

Henry gasps and starts running as he watches his mama take off before pulling on Regina's hand quickly. "Come on mommy!"

Halfway through the run, the small boy lets go of his mommy's hand and runs ahead making it to the bank with Emma and Scarlett. "Mommy lose!"

The brunette stops in front of them crossing her arms and purses her lips together. "So you expect me...the Queen...to help in the kitchen?!"

Henry giggles knowing she is only joking and nods. Emma chuckles and pokes her. "He's right, you can wash your crown while you're at it too"

Regina scoffs then chuckles at her wife's cheeky grin. "There is only one time I allow you dear to give me any orders and now is not it"

The blonde smirks and sets Scarlett down to lay out a rug before all four sit or more so collapse onto it. Henry reaches over into one of the baskets they brought and passes his sister her teddy before getting out his toys to play. The girl hugs her teddy then flops across her mama's lap encouraging the blonde to stroke her hair.

The Queen watches them while leaning back onto her elbows, enjoying the peace and quiet that surrounded them. No orders, no responsibilities or going out on business, just a day with her family. Looking towards her wife and daughter again, she smiles to herself at their interaction as they enjoy a mini conversation that eventually leads to Emma tilting her head down and rubbing noses with the girl. She truly loved moments like this, especially compared to before when the blonde was too scared to even look at their daughter, let alone show affection. Unaware that she had zoned out on them, Regina blinks and looks towards Henry who had been tapping her knee. "What is it my prince?"

The boy bites his lip. "We go in water?"

The brunette thinks for a moment then gets up, helping her son to his feet with a playful smile. "Come on!"

Henry takes her hand and walks carefully down to the stream that leads to the river. After removing their shoes, they step into the water till it reaches their ankles with the boy squealing. Regina watches him adoringly, keeping a grip of his hand with one hand and her sun dress with another. Emma looks down the slight hill at them then glances down to her lap at her daughter. "Lottie go in water?"

The girl rolls off her mama and stands, holding her hand out. The blonde smiles and gets up helping the tiny blonde down to her mommy and brother. Once reaching the water, Scarlett cautious steps in with the support of her mama and giggles, splashing around. Emma laughs at how crazy the girl has gone then looks over to the other pair.

The Queen looks to her wife in awe then gasps in shock when Henry splashes her leg with the cold water and laughs. "Hey!" Swishing some water back at him, the boy grins then turns himself reaching for Scarlett's hand.

The girl grabs his hand with a grin and continues to giggle. "Enry splash!"

Henry smiles cheekily then looks between his mommies. "Love mommy and mama and lottie!"

Emma chuckles. "We love you too Henry, both of you"

The boy bites his lip. "Another soon?"

Regina frowns at the questioning boy. "Another what Henry?"

Henry looks up at the brunette while screwing his face up concentrating."Another lottie?"

The brunette raises an eyebrow trying to understand. "Another lottie?...oh.."

Regina realizes by how pale Emma has gone what he means. Then watches as the blonde lifts Scarlett up. "Let's..go get you..dried" the blonde steps out the water, taking the tiny blonde with her back to the rug.

Henry looks over at the loss of contact as his sister's hand disappears then sees the sad look on his mama's face and pouts himself. "I upset mama?"

The brunette swallows a lump in her throat and lifts him up. "No my prince, your mama is just remembering..before"

The boy looks down. "when she was not mama self?"

Regina kisses his head and steps out to follow her wife back to the rug. Sitting down beside them, she looks over to Emma who is hugging Scarlett tightly to her. Henry watches and heads over on his knees before snuggling into the blonde's side. "Sorry mama"

The blonde puts an arm around him and hugs him too. "Nothing to be sorry for kiddo, mama's just being silly!"

The Queen smiles slightly at her wife's attempt to hide her pain for the sake of the children then works her way around them so she is behind her wife, resting her head onto the blonde's shoulder and kisses her cheek with a mini pout. "We all love you"

Emma chuckles and glances over. "I know you do" the blonde gives her wife a wink to reassure her she is okay.

Henry sighs at the silence then grins. "What bout puppy?!"

Scarlett eyes light up and she claps. "Puppy!"

The older pair laugh together at their son's determination for some new addition to the family. The blonde looks at him. "well I would say yes?"

All three then look to Regina who rolls her eyes. "Maybe..."

Emma looks to the children then with a nod of her head, they all jump on the brunette for a hug.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Once the children were tucked in bed, it didn't take long for them to fall asleep after their hectic day of playing. Emma looks in on them one last time then heads downstairs now leaving their bedroom door with an assistance of a guard.

Heading towards the kitchen for a drink before bed, the blonde stops seeing Joan sat in the stairway leading to the kitchen with shock and amazement all over her face. Reaching the same step that the cook is sat on, the blonde glances down at her. "Joan? Are you okay?"

Joan merely shakes her head slowly lost for words "I...just..I never thought I would ever see..a Queen..doing my job.."

Emma raises an eyebrow confused then follows the cook's gaze to see Regina standing at the sink in a mountain of bubbles and washing the contents of the basket that they took on their picnic. "Oh..my..wow"

The brunette hears her wife and looks over to the pair desperately as she is getting more bubbles on her than the items. "Please help me!"

The blonde bites her lip and walks in. "What..the..why?"

Regina huffs and glares at her wife. "Remember your little wager? I lost remember? And I am not going to let Henry down as he knows I was last! Now help!"

Emma walks over and grabs her wife by her shoulders as the brunette looks at her with strands of hair all over the place from the braid she wore for the day. "Okay breathe...how much liquid did you use?"

The Queen looks confused. "The..whole bottle?"

The blonde covers her mouth quickly to stop herself laughing. "Oh dear no..Gina! Your only suppose to use the same amount as a pea! If you keep pouring that water, the whole kitchen will be flooded!"

Joan stands at this and holds her hands up. "I am not cleaning that!"

Emma bursts out laughing causing Regina to throw a load of suds over her. "Don't laugh at me!"

The blonde looks back at her, mouth wide open in disbelief of what she did. "Oh you are so paying for that!" Lifting some suds of her own from the sink, Emma being taller places it on top of the Queen's head with a proud grin.

The brunette glares and throws some more then squeals as the blonde grabs her and holds onto her back embracing her with a chuckle, both completely covered in bubbles. "Truce?"

Regina nods with a smile while pulling Emma into a kiss, raising her arms up and around the blonde's neck. The blonde kisses back and turns her wife so the brunette's back is against the sink for some leverage.

Joan at this point looks around awkwardly as they have clearly forgotten she is there and backs up the stairs chuckling to herself with a shake of her head at the happy couple. "They were so meant to be"

A/N: just fluffiness that! :)