A/N – Here is Emma's first day of school and there are about three chapters until the spell is revealed for what it really is. I'm super excited to share it with you! Oh, and for those of you that asked for a sick Emma comfort and Regina cuddle scene, I've worked it in, but it is several chapters off.
Enjoy!
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Previously...
A few minutes later Regina eased into the guest room. Out of habit she picked up and folded the discarded clothing neatly before placing the pile on the dresser, much as she did for Henry. She watched Emma sleep, eyes in wonder over the woman curled up like a question mark.
'What if Emma's wish is possible?' The Queen pondered that thought. 'Perhaps I'll make a trip to the vault and see if there is such a spell.' Knowing investigating the idea wouldn't be a one trip research project, but an undertaking of immense proportions and that even if she found a way, it would not be her choice to make; it would be entirely Emma's.
Her fingers found the light switch. "Good night Miss Swan."
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The school uniform was the worst.
"There is no way I'm wearing that thing!" Emma spoke from under the bed skirt and scooted under further when Regina's heels approached her face.
"Emma, come out from there. We do not have time for games this morning." The Queen patiently tried coaxing the child out, not beyond offering a bribe when coffee waited for her downstairs. "I made scrambled eggs with cheese just how you like it. As soon as you are dressed we can go have some."
"Not gonna happen Gina." Big eyes widened as the heels walked away.
'Did that actually work?'
"HEEEYYYY!" Emma screeched as she felt her ankle grabbed and pulled from behind out from under the bed. She huffed rolling over onto her back to gaze up at amused brown eyes.
"You were saying dear?"
The blonde tried to kick off the hand from her ankle and received a raised brow in warning. "I don't want to wear it! I'll look like the poster child for a quack private school."
Regina pinched the bridge of her nose, desperately in need of caffeine. "I will compromise with you on the shoes. You may wear whatever shoes you want and pick your hairstyle. How does that sound?"
Emma chewed her lip and eyed the purple bench. The navy pleated skirt, black wool tights, collared long sleeve blouse and crested navy sweater had been laid out for her upon waking along with the horrible mary-jane doll shoes to match.
Little eyes looked up at the Queen. "Fishtail crown?"
"Yes sweet one. Which shoes?"
"Red Converse." Big Emma answered and stood, knowing her little side would choose the ladybug boots if she wasn't quick enough.
Regina quickly wove the complicated braid, wrapping it around Emma's head before instructing her charge to get dressed. Ten minutes later Emma sat at the kitchen counter sulking over her food.
'I can't believe Monday's still suck.' Emma thought as she pushed the cheesy scrambled eggs around on her plate. Butterflies flew in her stomach making her nauseous and she pushed her half eaten plate away, knowing she'd had just enough to avoid Regina commenting on it.
She tugged on the cuffs of her sleeves nervously as Regina finished her coffee. The Queen eyed the partially eaten plate as she stood to retrieve an odd shaped bundle she'd hidden in the pantry that morning before Emma came down for breakfast. She set the box in front of the sulking blonde.
"What's that?"
"Open it and find out."
Little hands tore at the red wrapping to reveal a white swan figurine. "Woah!" It was hand painted and obviously expensive. Emma turned it fully around to get a better look at it and noticed a neat slot of the back of the swan. "It's a bank… Why do I need this?"
"It is never too soon to start saving and you will need something to keep your allowance in."
"I get money?" Her eyes widened at that idea. "Sweet!"
Regina smiled at how a simple idea brought such joy. "You will have to earn it of course, doing chores like keeping your room clean, clearing your place, setting the table, etcetera. Six dollars a week will add up fast. You can start earning your allowance today, but this is for your tooth." She handed a folded five to the girl who eagerly stuffed it in the swan. "Now use both hands to walk upstairs and put it in your room. We need to get going."
After breakfast had been cleared away Emma was hurried into her (now clean) red pea-coat and given a sunny yellow leather backpack with her new school supplies neatly labeled with her name and classroom number. She was secretly in love with the creamy leather, enjoying the way it felt under her fingers.
"Go stand by the front door and let me get a few pictures before we go." Opening the camera app, Regina quickly turned on the portrait filter.
"I don't want to, I look stupid Gina!" She hid behind the coat rack to avoid the lens.
"Emma, do not refer to yourself as stupid. You look sweet. Please do as I ask."
With a dramatic sigh, Emma sulked to the door and stood awkwardly. She smiled lamely, showing the gap in her bottom teeth. When the phone was put away she made a dash towards the Mercedes.
The drive was quick and Regina was grateful not to have to resort to the Jaws-of-Life to get Emma out of the car. A raised brow had the same effect when the child had pushed down the car door locks after she'd unlocked them. She insisted on walking Emma into school after that.
They hovered outside of the classroom, each suddenly becoming anxious at the stretch of time that would separate them. Regina knelt down to be eye level with Emma. "Your lunch is in your backpack and an extra sweater in case you get cold. I will meet you right on the front steps of the school at 3:30 sharp. Listen to your teacher and the adults on campus. They are in charge—"
"Not me…I know." Emma confirmed and allowed herself to be hugged good bye. She watched as the Mayor's heels disappeared down the corridor before turning towards her classroom. "Alright Swan, you got this."
'How bad could it be?'
The start of the day was both confusing and uncomfortable. She liked that her desk was off to the side and in the back row, but she hated the constant attention of little curious eyes staring at her; the new kid. She stared back at them, sticking out her tongue at a few in hopes they would stop gawking.
Ms. Gold had greeted her warmly and quickly went over the morning agenda so Emma would know what to expect. The petite brunette then went to the front of the room to address the class. "We have a new student today and to help her learn our names I will be taking attendance aloud this morning. When I can your name, raise your hand and say 'present'. Rodney Axel…Kayla Cattle…" And on it went.
When Emma's name was called she smirked and shot her hand up. "I'm President!" The class erupted in giggles and the girl received a tolerant look from the teacher. She shrugged, maybe being the class clown wasn't such a good idea, but it was all her big side knew to use to as a way to cope with school.
As she waited for Ms. Gold to finish taking roll, she noticed markings on the whiteboard and recognized the first half of the word December followed by the number 5. 'It's December already? That means winter break is….10 days away or 12?' Her mind struggled with the mental calculation. Math hour was first and was soon distracted as she discovered she quite liked learning about different strategies to add and subtract besides the standard algorithms.
Reading was next and she struggled through the story assigned in the reader. The words blurred on the page and familiar tears soon clouded her eyes. Her teacher saw the anxious expression and Emma was embarrassed to be pulled to the back table with two other students to work directly with Ms. Gold on sight words, blending, and lines of practice. By the end of the hour she was surprised that she could read a few new words without help and was reassured that it would get easier the more she practiced. Printing was next and by the time lunch rolled around at 12:30 her hand was cramping.
A few children asked her to sit with them and she agreed just so she wouldn't be alone. There was a boy with reddish blonde hair and the bluest eyes Emma had ever seen across from her at the table. He introduced himself as Gabe Cobbler. She recognized that he was the shoemaker's son and his family owned the store they'd visited last week. He chatted at her about his family as she opened her red lunch bag. Emma hungrily un-wrapped the cheese sandwich that was cut neatly into triangles, grapes and milk, grinning when she spotted a single cinnamon cookie with a smiley face drawn on the bag in red sharpie. She soon found herself responding to Gabe's questions about her favorite things and enjoying the simplicity of his company.
Recess was a tease. Her little legs itched to run and play with the other children, but the adult in Emma forced herself to sit on a bench and watch. Gabe asked her to play, but she shrugged him off. It was nearing the end of their playtime when she heard the sound of footsteps coming near.
"Hi Emma, how is your day at school going?"
She whipped her head around at the familiar voice. "Mary— I mean Ms. Blanchard. Hi… Good, I guess."
"Are you ok from last week? I was worried when you nearly got hit by that car." The woman sat down on the far end of the bench.
"Um…I got in trouble, but I'm fine." Emma swung her legs, cheeks turning pink as she stared at the patches of winter grass peeking through the left over snow.
"How so?"
The conversation was becoming too familiar and made her stomach bubble. "I don't wanna talk about—"
"The Mayor expects a lot from you, huh?"
Emma shrugged, conflicted on that notion. Regina was both strict and affectionate.
The pixie haired woman cast her gaze back to the field of playing kids, opting for neutral topic of conversation. "See that boy with the red stocking cap? That's my son Neal. He's eight and in 3rd grade."
Emma followed the pointing finger and saw that Neal was indeed swinging from the monkey bars. 'How did I not see him?' Her jaw dropped… 'Did that mean…' She swallowed. "Are you and Dav—I mean Sherriff Nolan married?"
Mary-Margret cocked her head, "We are. Have been for as long as I can remember; high school sweethearts." She chuckled. "Not that you know what that is."
Emma bristled. "I know what that is. I'm not stupid."
Concern filled MM's eyes, "Oh, no Emma… I didn't mean it like that."
Big Emma dropped her shoulders, but felt further confliction as she watched Neal play. She thought back to her conversation with the Queen about there being different types of reality and wondered if this version of Mary-Margret was maybe getting her own second chance at a happy ending by proxy. 'And if she is, what does that mean for me?'
"Are you happy?" Green eyes darkened with the loaded question.
"What a funny question." MM squinted her eyes at Emma, trying to understand what the little girl was getting at.
"Are you?" She pressed, beginning to grow hot with agitation.
"I—"
The bell signaled the end of recess.
"It's time to go inside. I hope you enjoy your day Emma."
"Wait!"
"The bell rang. You need to go line up with your class." The teacher stood, glad for the reprieve from such intense little eyes.
Red faced, Emma stood up on the bench, angry at being dismissed yet again. She never got a straight answer when she asked MM about her feelings on something. "Just answer the damn question."
"Emma—"
"No! You don't get to push me off. Just tell me!" She stomped her foot.
"Yes, I'm happy Emma, but why does it—"
"What's going on here?" A new voice jutted in. "Ms. Blanchard your class is waiting for you."
Emma blinked up at the former sleeping beauty, known here as Ms. Rose, Principal of Storybrooke Elementary. "It's none of your beeswax!" Little hands slapped over a big mouth.
Auburn brows shot skyward. "We will see how much of this, is in fact my beeswax, Emma Mills." Turning to Ms. Blanchard, she nodded towards the building. "Go to your class, but I expect a referral on my desk in the next fifteen minutes."
'Damn it!'
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Emma sat on the bench outside of the Principal's office biting her nails. She was furious at MM. 'Why couldn't she just tell me? Why does everything with her have to be so—' A sharp clicking caught her attention and she shrank when a pair of red heels came to a halt nearby. She suddenly was extremely interested in her shoe laces and then she felt her chin being lifted, forced to meet a pair of questioning brown eyes.
"Hi?" She squeaked, trying to cut the tension.
Before Regina could comment, Principal Rose stepped into the hall. "Good afternoon Madam Mayor, if you'll both just step in we can meet and get Emma right back to class."
Emma let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. 'At least I'm not being suspended. Maybe Gina won't kill me after all.' She followed the adults into a spacious office and sat next to Regina in a padded chair across the great oak desk.
"Thank you for coming so soon I realize how busy you must be." The principal smiled at the Mayor and shuffled a few papers on her desk.
"Of course, I am always available when it comes to Emma. What is this specifically about?"
"At recess today I encountered Emma speaking rather rudely to a teacher who was trying to get her to line up. She was refusing to listen, so I stepped in and was told to mind my own beeswax."
The Queen tightened her jaw and peered down at the girl through thick lashes. "Is this true?"
"Kinda."
"Emma."
"Maybe."
"Emma Swan M—"
"Yeah." She flinched at the deepened tenor.
"You mean 'yes'. Why were you being rude? Did the teacher upset you in some way?"
"Yeah… I mean yes, but—"
"Who is the teacher that made the referral?" Regina turned sharply to Ms. Rose.
"Ms. Blanchard."
Regina looked upwards counting to three before responding. "Of course it was."
Principal Rose softened, knowing that the two women had a strained relationship in the past. That was not a secret, but a fact the whole town knew. "Madam Mayor, I understand school is new for Emma and that she needs time to adjust to other adults having authority over her. This is why we called you to meet and we are not giving her a consequence this time. We just want you to be aware. I also will not have any child at this school thinking it is alright to use crude language with a teacher."
Regina raised a brow, not aware of that fact and turned to look down at Emma. "What did you say precisely?"
"I-I said… just answer the damn question."
A 'tsk' followed; grateful it wasn't the 'F' bomb, at least. "I gave you one instruction today before I left. Do you remember what I said?"
"To listen to the adults."
"And did you?"
"Noooo."
"No what?" She pushed, needing some form of acknowledgement to her authority. They'd discussed cursing many times and she was determined to rid Emma of the foul habit.
Emma blushed and whispered. "No Ma'am."
"We will be discussing this further." The Mayor turned back to the Principal and stood to shake hands.
Mary-Margret chose that moment to step into the office unannounced. "Ms. Rose I have your... Oh! I'm t-terribly sorry." She stammered, realizing she'd stepped in on a private meeting.
Not missing a beat Regina turned swiftly to regard her former enemy. "Are you Ms. Blanchard? I'd appreciate it if you would give Emma some time to settle into school and allow her to choose when she engages in non-academic conversation with you. I'm assuming that is what caused this whole disruption, is it not?"
"I—I didn't mean to upset her."
"Whatever your intentions you have, indeed, upset her." She turned back to the Principal, a brow raised. "I believe my request is reasonable and I expect it to be heeded going forward." Regina waited until both women nodded before turning back to a stunned Emma.
'What the fuck just happened? Did Gina just defend me?'
"Come along. I will walk you back to class, dear." Regina took Emma's hand and squeezed in a reassuring manner, before leading the way out of the office.
Outside of the classroom, Regina once again knelt to be eye level with her charge. "I want you to go back to class and have a good rest of your day. I'll be back in a few hours to get you."
Emma nodded, peeking at the Queen from under hooded eyes.
"Look up at me, please." She waited for little eyes to brave their way upwards. "I want you to know that Ms. Gold called me when you went to lunch and told me what a wonderful morning you had. She said you didn't give up on a task that was challenging for you and hearing that made me so proud." Emma's little smile made her heart float.
"I actually didn't mean to get in trouble." Big green eyes pleaded.
The Mayor stood and tucked a loose curl behind a little ear. "I know. We will speak about it more, later."
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"Do I have to actually do this?" Emma thumbed her pencil against the workbook on the coffee table of the Mayor's office.
Regina looked up from her laptop, eyeing the girl over the rim of dark glasses. "It is called homework for a reason, dear."
"I don't get it." She dropped the writing tool, taking a bite of the carrot sticks and ranch Regina had given as a snack. She chewed on the left, careful to avoid the new tooth poking through her gum line.
Pushing back from her desk, the brunette joined the hunched form on the couch. "Let's take a look." She skimmed the directions and noted where in the noun sort worksheet Emma had gone wrong. "Remember nouns refer to people, things, and places. Look at the list here. Is Maine a place?"
"Yeah... Yes."
"Then it needs to go in the last column."
Emma erased and made the same correction to the last few words on the sheet, sighing happily at having completed the blasted thing. She lost her smile when Regina looked over her homework calendar for the week.
"It says here you also have some flash cards for sight words we need to practice. Get those out from your backpack."
Groaning, she did as she was told and handed her keeper a pile of white cards, each with a printed word on them. She chewed her lip. "I know them already. This is pointless."
Calling the bluff Regina held up a card. "Then we will be finished in no time. What is the first word?"
"Ginnnaa."
The Queen tapped the card. "Word."
"M-aake."
Another card.
"Th…th-aaa-t. That."
A nod and a new card flashed.
"Aaa-ww…"
"Try again."
"Aaawwaa…This is stupid!" She pulled the card out of Regina's hand and ripped it in two.
Frowning, the Queen stood and went to her desk, returning with a fat marker and a few note cards. She wrote a word and handed the marker to Emma with a new blank card. "Copy it."
Huffing, Emma did and her slanted handwriting was held up. "Repeat after me, Aaa-w-ay."
"A-w-ay…away?"
"Good girl. Next word."
They went on like that for ten minutes, making their way through the cards three times until she had the fluidity of the words. Adult Emma was surprised at the patience she'd been granted despite her poor attitude. The Queen never once scolded nor showed pity at missed attempts; she simply expected effort. Regina signed the calendar and put it with the cards back in the yellow bag.
"Can I play now?" She pointed to a basket of puzzles, coloring books, and building blocks in the corner of the office that she learned last week was hers.
Regina chuckled at the earnestness in that voice. "Not yet. We need to discuss your behavior at school first. Tell me what happened."
One shoulder popped up and down. "You know already."
"I only know what others told me. I want to hear about your experience."
'So she was defending me, after all.' Emma's eyes found the ceiling. "The same that always happens when I ask a question, Mary-Margret avoids me."
Two fingers found a little chin, drawing it down eye level. "Explain."
Adult Emma launched into the details of recess and how she'd reacted to being shut down—again—when she tried to ask MM about her feelings. "She always turns it back on me or doesn't answer and it pis—makes me angry."
An eyebrow rose. "Good catch."
"I didn't mean to get in trouble or be rude to Ms. Rose." Emma whined, purposefully leaving out MM.
"Being rude is one thing, though I understand that old emotions were activated by Ms. Blanchard. You are not in trouble with me for that." She assured, letting go of the pointed chin. "I am, however, displeased by your word choice with two different adults to whom you owe respect because of their roles at the school."
"But she—"
Regina held up a hand. "Words have power Emma. Your choice of which ones to use in a situation, can take away from that power if they are crass. People get hung up on them and can miss the purpose of what it is that you are trying to express. Does that make sense?"
"I guess… I mean yes."
"We have discussed cursing a few times now. I will not tolerate you using coarse language, especially at another person. That ends today." She watched Emma begin to squirm, but pressed on. "I will be patient if you catch yourself like you did just now, as I understand habits are hard to break. However, from this moment forward intentional use will earn you a swift correction."
Emma's face blanched. Stammering, "W-What if there are other p-people around?"
"Then they will see that I do not abide your use of foul language. Do we understand each other?"
She fought not to roll her eyes, her little side realizing the seriousness of the situation. "Yeesss."
"I also want to be sure you understand the boundaries I set in place at the Principal's office in regards to Ms. Blanchard. They are meant to protect you, not keep you from engaging with her." Regina wanted to be very clear on that point; she was not stopping Emma from having a relationship with Snow. "As a teacher she does have authority over you and while on campus you need to listen to any adult who asks you to do something. However, it is your choice to engage with her if the conversation turns into something personal, like it did today."
"She wouldn't leave me alone about the car thing last week and I didn't want to talk about how I got in trouble with you." Small cheeks turned pink at the memory.
The Mayor sighed, annoyed at Ms. Blanchard's lack of tact. "I understand how frustrating that was for you. If there is a next time, kindly tell her you do not wish to discuss it and walk way. You can always ask your teacher to call me if your wishes are not being respected. Ms. Gold knows to let you and she won't question it."
Emma relaxed knowing there was now a system in place to help her with MM, suddenly grateful for Regina's forethought.
"One more thing; that choice to connect goes two ways. Sometimes people do not want to answer personal questions and when they choose not to, you need to be respectful of that."
"But she—"
"Is a person, too."
Purple shoes toed the white tile. "It's hard with her."
Red lips pursed. "Don't I know it."
Their eyes met and they both smiled faintly.
"Alright, you own me six minutes for your word choice at school. Then we will consider the matter closed."
Sighing, small feet obeyed and found themselves touching the corner where the toy basket was kept.
Regina returned to her desk to finish the e-mail draft, curser flashing as she watched the little blonde fidget. 'She looks adorable even when she is sulking, especially in that uniform.' Tapping her pen to refocus, she hoped for Emma's sake that Mary-Margret heeded her directive in the Principal's office. In the emotional state the savior was in, she lacked the impulse and vernacular control that the adult in her was used to. It would be a learning curve, a tough one, if big Emma didn't learn to control her temper. Regardless, the Queen would hold Emma accountable, as they had promised each other they would years ago.
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Next chapter another flashback and a fun trip to the Doctor for vaccinations...