Sorry for the wait. Getting Emma Swan to open up wasn't easy.
I laughed when I read the review saying Rose is a shit stirrer. That is so true, but that's what I like about her!
Hope you like the chapter.

Chapter 10

This was the first night in a week Rose had slept without any nightmares. She woke up earlier than Regina, and that hadn't happened before, her mother was always the first one up. Emma on the other hand, could sleep until noon if Regina wasn't there to drag her out of bed and as Rose sneaked by the master bedroom she found it odd that the blonde wasn't in the bed, snoozing away, while Regina made breakfast downstairs.

Entering the empty kitchen, Rose decided to take a look in the fridge after something to cook. One quick glance in the fridge made Rose realize that this time's Regina cared just as much about nutrition as Regina in the future did and right now Rose didn't want to cook something healthy for breakfast so she was delighted when she found a large piece of last night's lemon meringue pie in a Tupperware box. She grabbed a spoon from a drawer and started to eat the cake from the box.

"I need coffee for this." She said out loud and grabbed the coffee pot. As the coffee slowly started to fill the pot, she kept eating the pie while staring at the machine. Impatient by the time it took, she rapidly pulled the pot out and poured herself some coffee. Satisfied with her new made coffee she was just about to take a sip when Regina appeared in the kitchen. Rose froze in her movement.

"Rose." Regina greeted. "What are you doing?"

"Mom, I… Made you coffee." She held the coffee cup out and Regina stared at it suspiciously.

"Thank you." Regina said and took the cup from Rose. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. No nightmares."

"I'm glad." Regina blew the hot dark liquid and scanned the girl. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Um…" Rose tried to shield the half-eaten pie on the counter but the movement caught Regina's attention.

"You had pie for breakfast?" Regina questioned and eyed the girl.

"No." Rose let out innocently.

"Rose, there is a half-eaten pie on the counter."

"Oh, I wasn't aware of that."

"Don't try to outsmart me, young lady. You should not eat pie for breakfast." Regina reprimanded and grabbed the plastic box.

"Here-" Rose said and handed the spoon to her mother. "Take this as well."

"Why do I need the spoon?"

"Eat the pie, mom. I know you want to."

"I'm not having pie for breakfast." Regina said and put the lid on the box and put it in the fridge. "Now, what do you want to eat? And don't answer-"

"Pie." Rose finished with a smirk on her face.

"I'm starting to see where you and Henry get your appetite from."

"Everything I inherited from Ma… You say it like it's a bad thing."

"I do not. Now-" Regina looked at Rose. "How about I make you an omelet?"

"I don't like omelets. They taste like eggs."

"It's because there's eggs in it, dear."

"You know what else has eggs in it and taste so much better?"

"No?"

"Pie."

Regina let out a frustrated sigh before she started to smile and looked at her daughter.

"What?" Rose asked innocently.

"You are so…" Regina gestured her hands in a frustrated way.

"Adorable?"

The girl's face expression made Regina laugh. "Yes, adorable."

"Another thing I inherited from Ma."

"Miss Swan is anything but adorable." Regina took out a carton of eggs from the fridge. "Especially in that red jacket she insisted on wearing again." She began to beat the eggs in a bowl.

"Come on." Rose initiated. "You like that jacket."

"On the contrary, dear."

"You like it because she was wearing it the first time you met." Regina didn't answer. She poured a dash of milk into the eggs and put a pan on the stove. "Your silence says it all." Rose let out cheekily.

"I don't like that jacket, Rose. Give it up." The brunette woman was standing in front of the stove with her back facing Rose.

"I know you're lying. You have told me that you like it."

Regina quickly turned around and stared at the girl. "Stop it right now or I'll make sure that I will never get together with her."

"Hey! Then you wouldn't have me." Rose pouted. "You are mean."

"They didn't add evil into my name for nothing." Regina smirked.

"Well-" Rose started and opened the fridge. "The evil queen's daughter is having the rest of the pie for breakfast." She took the pie out and began to eat it in a protesting manner.

Regina raised her eyebrows at the girl who had a satisfied look on her face. "Miss Swan was right. You are too stubborn for your own good."

"For your information, she was talking about you." Rose said between bites. "And I thought you were going to call her Emma from now on."

"I don't feel quite comfortable with being that courteous with her." Regina said and put the now ready omelet on a plate. She took the plate in her hands and started to walk towards the dining room. "I did it for Henry." As she sat down at the table, Rose joined her, still eating the pie right out of the container.

"It's an improvement, mom. But you need to let your guard down. Start trusting people. I know it's hard because you've been hurt, but Henry cares about you. He just doesn't show it very well." Rose took another bite of the pie and met Regina's eyes. "If you start being honest with him like last night, you'll have him back in your life sooner."

"I'm trying to be better. But I don't think they will ever forgive me for what I've done."

"They will. You can't give up."

"I won't." Regina gave Rose a small smile. "Thank you, Rose."

"For what?"

"Being here when no one else is." Regina slowly reached out her hand and gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. Rose looked at the brunette woman and as her eyes met a pair of brown slightly teary eyes, she smiled widely at her mother.

"Anytime, mom." She squeezed Regina's hand in return. "I'll always have your back."

Regina smiled and managed to swallow her tears. She hadn't opened herself up to anyone like she did around Rose. She was grateful Rose was here, but she was worried that the longer the girl stayed and the more she became fond of her, the harder it would be when they eventually would part. Regina wasn't sure how that was going to happen. If Rose went back to her time, would she make it to the time before or after the accident? The latter meant that Rose was going to lose her mother all over again. The thought of it made Regina's stomach turn. She couldn't do that to her daughter, not only because it would break the girl's heart, but also it would mean Regina was going to break her promise not to leave her daughter. She snapped out of her thoughts and watched Rose eat another piece of the meringue pie.

"Give me that." Regina said and coolly snatched the Tupperware from Rose. The girl astonishingly watched as her mother took a piece of pie with her fork and contently ate it. "You were right. Eggs do taste better in pie than omelet." She winked her eyes and took another bite of the pie. Rose moved her chair closer to Regina and they laughingly finished the rest of the pie together.

Rose was standing in the foyer of the house; dressed in blue jeans and the black leather jacket she had borrowed from Emma two days ago. Her wavy brown hair was still damp from the shower she'd taken after breakfast and knowing it was cold outside, she wished she had borrowed a woolen beanie as well.

"Please be careful." Regina said as she came down the stairs.

"I'm meeting my mother for an hour or two in her apartment, what can possibly go wrong?" Rose smiled at Regina who stopped at the last step of the stairs. "Maybe you should teach me how to conjure a fireball, just to be safe?" She chuckled.

Regina, however, was not amused with her daughter taking things to lightly. It was worryingly enough Emma had requested to meet Rose alone, leaving Regina alone in the house. Sure, she was going to keep busy and dig deeper into the time traveling spell, but there was no doubt she was going to miss her daughter's company. "Rose, remember what I've told you. People cannot know your true identity."

"I know. It's not safe." Rose let out uninterested by the cautionary words and rolled her eyes.

Regina looked at the girl and shook her head in frustration. "Please, just don't talk to anyone." She chastised softly and the girl nodded her head.

"I promise I'll be careful."

A honking car sounded from the outside and Rose gave Regina a quick hug. "See you at lunch, mom." She shouted over her shoulder as she closed the door behind her.

Outside the house, the sheriff's police car was running on idle and Rose smiled at the sight of it. She got in and smiled at the blonde woman in the driving seat.

"Hey Rosie." Emma smiled.

"Hi Ma." Rose eyed her mother. "What happened to the leather jacket?"

"Oh." Emma looked down her black pea coat. "It was too cold to wear it today. In fact, it was too cold to wear it yesterday."

"Then why did you wear it?"

"Um… I just… You know…" The blonde stuttered.

"You just wanted to see if mom actually liked it, right?" The question was rhetorical and made Emma avoid the girl's gaze. "Are you blushing?"

"No." Emma let out quickly. "Look-" She started as they drove off. "I know you're used to me being with Regina. But things are still complicated between us. And I guess I like her, but more as a friend. I mean… We're trying to be friends, for yours and Henry's sake. And that's probably it… for now." Emma rambled, her eyes never leaving the road.

"For now?" Rose questioned. "So you admit you want more?"

"Rose. Don't. Can we talk about this when we get to the apartment?"

"Fine." Rose let out. "Is grandma and grandpa going to be there?"

"Yes. But they are going to take Henry out so they won't be around for long."

"I've missed them. I haven't seen grandpa here. How did he take the news about me?"

"He wasn't exactly happy with the fact that his daughter eventually is going to end up with his nemesis. I can't blame him though, I wasn't exactly happy with it either."

"But?"

"There isn't much we can do but to deal with the situation. Besides, you're a good kid, Rose. David's going to like you. I like you."

"Jeez, that's like the nicest thing you've said to me in a week."

"That's why we need to talk."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to be mad at me. So even if I'm not future me yet, I want to clear things out." Rose looked out the window and sighed. "Did you hear me?" Emma asked.

"Yes, Ma."

"What's Regina up to today?" Emma asked after a few moments of silence.

"Why you ask?"

"Trying to small talk here."

"And you asked about my mom?"

"I couldn't think of anything else, ok?"

"So you were thinking about her? That's cute."

"No, I wasn't." Emma defended herself. "And there's nothing cute about Regina."

"I didn't mean that she was cute, Ma. I meant it's cute that you think about her." Rose started to laugh and Emma glared at her over the shoulder. "Do you know what she said this morning?"

"What?"

"Miss Swan is anything but adorable." Rose said in a lower voice, trying to imitate Regina.

"She doesn't think I'm adorable? Then the feelings are mutual."

"Kids are adorable. Grown ups are beautiful."

"Yeah, you're adorable, Regina is beautifu-" Emma bit her tongue and prayed that Rose hadn't heard her blunder. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed the girl was contently grinning at her. "Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to. You have that same content look on your face that Regina has when she's got you cornered."

"So you have memorized her different face expressions? Now, that is cute."

"Knock it off." Emma snapped and Rose suppressed a laugh.

The car parked outside the building where Emma's apartment was located. Rose unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. "Who's the sheriff today?" She asked Emma as she watched the blonde go around the car.

"David is taking the shift from 10." Emma took her phone out of her pocket to check the time. "Which is right about now."

"I thought he and grandma was taking Henry out?"

"They are." Emma replied. They entered the building and started to climb the stairs up to the apartment.

"This family is such good cops." Rose let out ironically and she received a serious look from Emma.

"I'm not even going to comment on that."

"I think you just did."

"Rose, please." Emma pleaded as she stopped in front of the door to the apartment. "I'm getting sick of whatever attitude problem you have with me. Don't make me call Regina."

"Oh, I'm so scared."

"I can have her magic over here in no time, kid."

"I'm sure you will, cause you want to be near her."

"Enough." Emma yelled. "I'm trying really hard here to deal with you being my kid and I'm trying even harder with the fact that I'm going to end up being in love your mom. I mean… It's Regina fucking Mills. So just stop with the teasing, will you?"

"Sorry." She let out, not really meaning it, but Emma seemed to be satisfied with the apology.

The door opened before they had the chance to open it and Snow was standing in the doorway. "Emma! We heard yelling. Is something wrong?"

"No." She brushed past Snow and entered the apartment. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

"Hi." Rose carefully let out and walked past Snow.

"Good to see you again, Rose." Snow said with a smile on her face.

Rose returned the smile and nodded her head.

"So this is my granddaughter?" Charming walked into the room. Rose smiled softly at the man and waved her hand.

"Also known as the troublemaker." Emma sent the girl a sideway glance as she moved to stand beside him.

"Oh, really?" Charming laughed. "Like her mother?"

Emma crossed her arms. "I hope you don't mean me, because this girl's temper is all Regina."

As a response, Rose grimaced her face, looking awry at the blonde.

"Now that look runs in the family. Snow does that too." He grinned but quickly stopped when he saw his wife give him the exact same look. Charming gave an apologetic look and grabbed his jacket. He was just about to call out for Henry when the boy rushed down the stairs.

"Hey sis." He greeted Rose and gave her a big smile. "Mom, why can't I stay with you and Rose?"

"Because I need to speak to Rose alone."

The boy sighed heavily and walked up to Emma. "But you're coming to Granny's later, right?"

"Yes." Emma nodded her head and placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Go with Mary Margaret and David, and I will see you at lunch, okay?"

"Okay, mom."

"What are you guys going to do?"

"We're going to the stables. I haven't seen my horse in a while." Henry answered his sister.

"I thought you were on sheriff duty?" Rose questioned and gazed at Charming. Emma gave her a look that told her to stop.

"Well, I am. But I think we can spare an hour or two at the stables. Besides, nothing happens in this town." Charming explained.

Rose choked a laugh and caught everyone's attention. "What?" Rose burst out. "I think we all know that's not true."

"She has a point." Snow turned to Charming. "Hook, Cora, Henry's father, Regina… To mention a few."

"We have dealt with that." Charming reassured and helped his wife with her jacket.

"Except Hook." Emma interposed. "Wherever he is."

"And Regina's still after Snow." Charming said worryingly. Emma mouthed "don't" to him not to go any further with his accusations, knowing it would probably turn Rose's defense mechanism on, but the motion was too late. Emma held her breath when she heard Rose speak.

"She's not going after her." The outburst made Charming turn his look from Snow to Rose.

"Regina's been after my wife for a long time. She doesn't simply change her mind over a night." He crossed his arms over his chest.

"This is your problem, grandpa. David. Charming. Whatever I'm supposed to call you." Rose looked at him, her green eyes turning slightly darker. "If you're not willing to give her the chance to change, do you think she wants to change?"

David looked puzzlingly at the girl who momentarily reminded him of Regina. "I apologize, Rose. She's your mother, I shouldn't have said that." He coaxed.

"No you shouldn't." She glared at him, her familiar green eyes met his blue and he could tell the girl was hurting.

"I'm really sorry." The sincere tone in his voice made Rose soften her glare at him. "Emma told us she was giving Regina a new chance, so we're trying to do the same."

"Obviously you're not trying hard enough." Rose said in a hard voice, making her sound exactly like Regina.

"David, why don't you take Henry to the stables now." Emma gestured her hand for Henry to leave with his grandparents and he opened the front door. "Bye, kid."

"Bye mom. Bye Rose." He shouted and ran down the stairs in the hallway.

"See you later." David said and walked after Snow out of the apartment.

When the door closed, Emma turned to Rose who stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the kitchen counter. "You need to learn to control your temper." Emma walked towards Rose.

"Everyone needs to learn not to talk idiotic shit about my mother."

"Rose." Emma said pleadingly. "I get that you want to defend her, but it doesn't mean you can talk to people in any way you like."

"So I'm just going to sit back and take it all in? I'm not like that."

"Still-"

"Still what? You taught me to stand up for what I believe in, not to let anyone tell me who I'm supposed to be. If I want to change things, I have to go out there and change them myself. This is what I'm doing. Maybe I can't change my mom's death, but I can change the way you and everyone in this damn town look at her. And if that's the only thing I accomplish here, I'm fine with that. I think mom would've liked that. Hell, I even think future you would like that."

Emma stared at Rose. "I thought everyone was going to forgive her eventually?"

"But do you know how much she struggled? Before she even got you to listen to her?" Rose snapped. "Maybe I shouldn't change things here but I would like for her redemption to come sooner. It kills me that she's miserable. It kills me that you don't even care that she's miserable." She took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving Emma. "It kills me that you were miserable when she died and now it's like you wouldn't even care if she did." Tears started to form in her eyes and she looked away in an attempt to hide her face from Emma. "I shouldn't have come here. This is my price to pay, to have a bigger hole in my heart."

Emma slowly walked towards Rose. "Rose." She reached out her hand for Rose's shoulder but the girl backed away.

"Don't." Rose whispered and Emma put her hand down.

"What you said, about wanting to change things, you have to changed them yourself… Did I really teach you that?" Rose slowly nodded her head in response.

If it was one thing Emma Swan had learned in her life, it was just that; if you want to change things, change them yourself. It was one of many life lessons she'd learned the hard way. She never would've thought she'd teach her kid that. The stories about her past were something she kept to herself. Her parents knew how she ended up in prison and the whole Neal story, but the time before and after that, she hadn't told that to anyone. It was too personal, meaning she had to let her guard down and that was something she wasn't comfortable with. She had fought hard to bounce back from eleven months in jail, making people look at her differently. The countless of times she wanted to give up and surrender into nothingness. Maybe she and Regina wasn't so different after all.

"When I wanted to change… I didn't have anyone who believed in me." She said in a low voice. "I wish I had your fighting spirit. You're stronger than I ever was when I was your age." Emma looked at Rose who still had tears in her eyes. "I'm not good at this... I'm used to running away when I'm confronted with something I can't handle. This past year has taught me I can't do that anymore but… Old habits die hard, right?"

She frowned her head, thinking this wasn't the best time to make jokes and moved closer to Rose. "I don't ever want you to think that I want Regina dead." She looked deep into teary green eyes. "Because I don't. Okay?"

The girl nodded her head and Emma reached out for her. Soon she felt the girl's arms around her and she embrace her. They both let out a heavy sigh at the same time and Emma smiled. "I'm sorry, kid, for everything. I hope your mom figures out a magical solution for all this. I wouldn't want future me to miss out on you."

"I hate magic." Rose whispered. "Or really, really dislike it."

"It's not entirely bad. It gave me you."

Rose looked up, blinking her teary eyes in confusion. "Do you… do you really mean that?"

"Yes." Emma smiled. "I think I did a great job raising you."

"Humble much?" Rose raised her eyebrow. "There were two of you."

"Me and Regina did a great job raising you."

"Come again?"

"Don't push it, kid." Emma smirked. "Why don't we sit down and talk some more?"

"Can we go to the stables? I haven't been there in a while."

"You ride horses?"

"Nope, elephants."

Emma stopped in her step and turned around. She burst out in laughter when she saw Rose's face. "I admit that was a stupid question." She walked over and sat down on a barstool by the kitchen counter.

"It was." Rose shook her head and sat down next to her. "Yes, I ride horses. Mom taught me."

"Regina on a horse? Are you serious?"

"You didn't know? I thought you knew about the stable incident with Henry?"

"David told me briefly about that, but he didn't say Regina ride horses."

"She's from the enchanted forest, how did you expect her to get around?"

"I still can't see Regina on a horse. She's kind of uptight you know."

"You don't know about the man in the stables who attacked Henry, do you?"

"Yes I do. Regina's true love came back from the dead and she had to kill him again. Or something like that."

"I'm just going to make you think about that for a second while I grab something to eat." Rose slid off the chair and walked around the counter. Having pie for breakfast wasn't exactly the best idea ever, she admitted and opened the fridge. Surprisingly, she found it half empty. "Hey, can I make some toast?" She asked over her shoulder.

"We don't have a toaster. Well, we do, but it's broken. You can have cereals if you like." Emma pointed at the pantry.

She watched Rose reach for the cereals and wondered why the girl hadn't eaten breakfast at Regina's house. Rose poured herself milk and cereals in a bowl and sat down next to Emma. "What you said about Regina's true love. You assume I don't care that she lost him." Emma started. "But I don't know if that justifies for everything she's done. Before you start yelling at me, kid, I'm really trying to understand Regina. She's a complex person, she's built up these walls and sometimes I think she doesn't even want anyone to break them down. I get it, because she's been hurt, she doesn't want to get hurt again. I used to be like that. But you don't see me going around killing people?"

Rose had stopped eating and silently studied the blonde. "It's like I get her, but I don't. It doesn't make sense, I know." Emma smiled awkwardly and turned her head so that she gained eye contact with Rose.

"This kind of honesty is what she needs to hear from you."

"I know, Rose. But it's like talking to a brick wall."

"What if I were there when you talked to her, would it help?"

Emma shrugged her shoulders. "We could give it a try."

"I'll talk to her. She's coming to lunch later but I think you need to talk in private."

"Ok, but don't pull any of that parent trap crap on us."

"I won't. Promise." Rose smiled and ate of the cereals.

"Didn't you eat breakfast before you came here?"

"I had pie."

"Regina let you have pie for breakfast?"

"No. But she didn't have a say in it."

"I don't believe you."

Rose let out a small smirk and took another spoon of the cereals. "Oh, don't give me that look." Emma elbowed the girl's arm, causing her to drop the spoon on the counter. Rose gave her a quick stare and grabbed the spoon. "It's creepy how much you look like Regina."

"Did you know I could conjure a fireball?" Rose smirk grew even bigger.

"Nice try. I don't think Regina would teach you that."

"Lucky for you, she hasn't."

"Wait a minute. You would throw a fireball at your own mother?"

"Jeez, it was a joke."

Emma raised an eyebrow. It was funny how much she enjoyed hanging with a teenager. The girl's characteristic weren't all Regina though. Emma reminisced herself being quite the troublemaker when she was sixteen. She pulled out of her thoughts and chuckled. "Let's go down the stables and ride some elephants."

Since David had taken the sheriff's car, Emma and Rose had to take the Bug to the stables. As they walked up to the yellow car, Emma stopped in her steps.
"I forgot the keys in my other jacket." She let out while digging in the pockets of her black coat. "I'll be right back, wait by the car." She told Rose and turned around, half running back to the building. Rose leaned against the car and sighed.

"Excuse me?" She heard a voice and turned around. A man curiously looked at her; his hands were in the pockets of his dark brown coat. "Could you tell me the way to the docks? I'm a little lost."

"Sorry, I'm new here. You should ask someone else." She answered with a smile.

"Just my luck." He said and pulled his right hand out and scratched his head. "The first person I see and she can't help." He let out a small laugh.

"If you wait a minute or two, the sheriff will be right out. She can help."

"Alright then, I will." He smiled at her. "I'm sorry, where are my manners?" He held out his hand. "I'm Greg."

Rose looked at it suspiciously before she grabbed it and gave it a light shake. "I'm Dolly." She answered and noticed he was holding her hand awfully long before he let go.

"Nice to meet you. Storybrooke is such a lovely town."

"You think?"

"Yes, quiet and far away from the big city."

Rose nodded her head and tried to remember if she had seen this man before, but couldn't recall that she'd ever met him. His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket, pressing a button to decline the call. "Excuse me, I need to go. I can't wait for the sheriff, but thank you for your help."

"I barely did anything." She smiled softly at him.

"You did more than enough." He smiled and started to walk in a quick pace down the street. "See you around, Dolly." He turned around and shouted before he continued walking.

When he was out of eyesight, he stopped around the corner of a house and watched the blonde sheriff return to the car. He reached for his phone and dialed the number.

"I told you it was something special about her." He said to the person on the other line, watching the yellow car drive down the street. "They don't suspect anything. Maybe we need to be careful about Madame Mayor but the blonde and the girl are oblivious." He nodded his head and let out a small laugh.

"The girl? Her name is Rose. And she's got magic."

Enter creepy guy.
My main focus is Regina's happiness. I'm getting Emma and Regina closer together, Swan Queen will happen, don't worry :)

Leave a review of what you think so far.