Hey! I was so excited to get in new reviews! Both positive, negative and inquisitive ones! Because I could not directly respond to the Guest in a message, I will say that I promise Charming is not trying to sacrifice anyone! It'll be better explained! I promise! Hope you enjoyed everything else though!

Disclaimer-Everyone except for Ella. Thanks!

Chapter 10

"Are you certain that this kid is even a boy?!" Regina spat as she looked into her mirror, rage in her eyes. Patience expired and immediately had been replaced by anger as the due date of the child had passed its time. Or at least as far as she was concerned.

"Oh-are we doubting my abilities, dearie?" Rumpelstiltskin inquired as he leaned against the wall of her large chamber.

Regina turned to face the dark one with a grimace of mistrust. "Not so much your ability to see the future-" she took a random vile of elixir that she'd received from Rumpelstiltskin to complete her plan to destroy Snow White and all that she loved. She fondled between her fingers before she placed it back onto her vanity and looked at the dark one once more. "No-it's your ability to deceive that grants me pause, dark one."

Rumpelstiltskin cackled with amusement. "Now what could I possibly gain from lying about the simple gender of a child?"

"Of course, I wouldn't know that." she replied. "But then your methods of obtaining-your version of trade and pay-of compensation is very much different to that of a simple merchant or thug." she commented. "You're the dark one-there's always a catch to every deal."

The dark one looked at her with a small smile. "You have pegged right, dearie." he grinned. "Still-" he smiled. "This time-I have no deceiving ideas of the situation-in fact, this wish in particular is deal free."

At that comment, Regina's eyes shot up into his direction. "Free?" her eyebrow rose in distrust and curiosity. A grin entered her features as she approached him closer. "I have never known you to do anything without a price."

Rumpelstiltskin snickered. "Exactly-but this one will be-amusing to play out."

"And why-is that?" Regina returned.

"Well-there's a certain part of this vision that I cannot access-but so far as I see-in me doing nothing-I lose nothing-"

Incredulously Regina looked at Rumpelstiltskin. "And wha-why didn't you tell me this before?" before the dark one could respond, she continued in angst. "And what exactly is going to happen to me?"

"Now that-my dearie-is the question."

"So that is the deal." Regina came to the conclusion. "I go through with this-not knowing whether I will survive?"

"Why yes! That is exactly it!" he laughed.

"So you weren't going to tell me whether this would actually work." Regina stated more so than asked. The dark one only smiled and shook his head in amusement.

When he saw the look on her features he rolled his eyes and turned away from her. "I don't see why you have chosen this way in particular to kill the boy anyway." he said and turned back around and looked at her. "It's more dangerous than it's worth."

"And what makes you think that?" Regina said. "Did you see me die?" she asked. "Did you even really see the kid's gender? Did you see the kid at all?"

The dark one's finger rose in the air for her to pause. "Uh-yes-I did see the child-and yes it was a boy, dearie-" he said and then continued. "And-No-I couldn't see that far but-you were alive and kicking from what I could catch." he grinned in a mocking tone. "But if I can't see the future then something is disrupting my vision dearie-something powerful." he added. He didn't finish the rest of his sentence, insinuating that she would read in between the lines.

"And you think it's the kid." she concluded. She scoffed when she saw Rumpelstiltskin shrug his shoulders in a 'don't believe if you wish' sort of way.

When he saw the disbelieving look in her eyes he shrugged. "Do you have another explanation?"

Regina thought it over; and to be quite frank she did not have another explanation. Still, she refused to believe that a child was so powerful as to disrupt a future before even being born. Instead she cast the thought aside. "I don't care of the future." she spat, coming to terms that she had lost all she'd ever loved in the first place. As long as Snow White lived in misery as she had, that was all that mattered to her. "As long as I see the light and love leave her eyes as that child dies in front of her-the hope fade away." she relished in the thought of the ensuing never ending pain that Snow and Charming would soon understand. A chilling smiled appeared across her evil and fair features. "That-is all I need.

…

She sat there at the desk watching the young girl sleep in the small bed of the cell. Something about the girl bayed her to stay there in the office. She was an impeccably defiant and bullheaded young girl. But she possessed a power that reigned similar to that of Regina and Emma.

"It's getting late, Snow."

Snow didn't turn gaze to her husband. She kept her eyes on the young Ella. "Annabella Frost." she whispered. "Beautiful name." she mumbled.

Charming watched her watch the girl in the cell. He was very much aware that Snow felt a certain obligation in looking after her because of the guilt correlating to her abandonment of Ella as an infant. He allowed for another moment or two before deciding to take her home. "Yea, I guess it is pretty nice." he replied. In fact, it was a very nice name; 'Annabella Frost' he thought. It was actually quite a beautiful name. He looked at the girl for a moment as she continued to slumber. "It fits her."

Snow's eyes never left the girl as she continued conversation with her love. "You seemed quite adamant in keeping her here."

Caught off guard by his wife's sudden suggestion, Charming replied. "I don't think that I was, what you would call adamant." he said, placing his holster around his shoulders.

Snow nodded. "Seem to me that you were."

"I was only doing my job, Snow." he replied, suddenly tired of the subject at hand.

Snow turned around and eyed Charming suspiciously. "Yea-still-you seemed more in the 'just doing your job' mode than usual." she teased.

Charming turned around to look at his wife. He sighed, realizing that he may have been slightly less permissive and understanding than usual. "I guess-I've had time to think and I've realized that sometimes we act as if we are still in the enchanted forest." he shook his head. "And we're not." he simply replied. "We are in this realm now and in past problems we have had with mysterious strangers we never took correct precautions, which ultimately lead to someone getting hurt."

Snow got up from her seat took his hand into hers'. "We've always made it out of situations with the old way. Why change it?"

"Because one day, the old way won't work, Snow." he reasoned. He looked down and exhaled harshly. "I almost lost Emma-we almost lost Emma the last time we didn't take precautions and-"

Snow wordlessly stopped her husband by placing her finger to his lips. She nodded her head in understanding to his actions. "I understand." she smiled and kissed his lips.

Charming felt a little more relieved. "I don't believe that the girl is here to harm anyone more so than to just find out who she is. But Regina, along with everyone else in the town would not be so kind as to accept that the sheriff has allowed a powerful stranger to roam the streets. Specifically one that cannot control her abilities." he added. "Just for now-we go along to get along. And besides, I feel that maybe she's alright with having a warm place to sleep at night."

Snow neglected to think about that upside. "Yea-"

"I'm not a baby-and I couldn't go anywhere if I tried." a voice intervened. Snow and Charming turned around to see Ella staring at them with a furrowed brow. "Not smart to have a kid out so late; especially in a sheriff station of all places."

"The kid's right." Emma broke into the conversation before Snow or Charming could reply.

"She shouldn't be here alone, Emma." Charming input. "We've all witnessed what she can do."

"That's why I'm going to sit here and watch her." Emma responded. She heard Ella scoff and mumble something under her eyes. "Can it kid."

"I've had about enough of this 'kid' business." Ella blurted.

Emma started to respond when Snow intervened. "You sure you should be here-alone-with her?" she inquired. "I mean-you two don't exactly get along." she chuckled nervously.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Look-we'll be fine." she spat. "Now go home and get some rest."

Charming reluctantly eyed his daughter and then glanced at the seemingly annoyed girl, now standing up in her cell with her arms crossed. "I can stay with you."

Emma smirked at his protective fatherly instinct to spend the night with her. "I think I can handle it dad." she snickered.

"But you need just as much if not more rest than we do."

"I-am fine." Emma assured. "Besides, I don't have a kid-or ya know, mine isn't a-you know what I mean. Just go already." she pushed, ushering them to the exit of the room.

Knowing full well that they would not be the least bit capable of convincing her otherwise, they hesitantly gave in. "Fine-but be careful-" Snow said, hugging her.

In a teasing manner, Charming grinned. "Listen to your mother." he kissed her forehead and then followed his wife out of the front door with little Neal.

"How sweet." Ella mumbled in subtle envy. "and weird."

Emma grimaced and headed back to the front desk and sat on the edge of the small table. "My mom and dad are the same age as me-yea-I know it's weird."

Ella smirked. "Yea-well at least you got family."

Emma recognized the hidden pain in her words. She nodded in agreement. "Yea-and I'm thankful every single day of my life to have found them."

Ella acknowledged what she'd said and found it relieving to see that she was thankful for such a caring, albeit unusual family. "So-what's the deal with the kid?" she asked, referring to the one they called Henry. "Ya know-the one hitting puberty." she said, making it quite clear that she was not referring to Neal.

"What about him?" Emma asked, in a defensive tone.

"Well." Ella started, looking out of the window for a moment before returning her ominous eyes to Emma. "I noticed he calls you mom-"

"Yea-"

"But it seems that he has a tendency to call the 'Regina' lady that too." Ella continued. "So-what? Is that a thing here? You guys just like to throw the word around?" she asked, and then thought better of the situation. She then hesitated before she inquired further. "Or-like are you two? Do you have some lesbian thing go-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa-no!" Emma cut her off. "No! Of course not."

"Hey-no need to be embarrassed." Ella replied. "No judgment here. Whatever floats your boat-"

"No! Are you kidding me? No! It's nothing like that."

Ella resigned with her arms in the air. "Just asking."

Emma shook her head. "No-she's-its a long story." she mumbled.

Ella looked around her cell. "Do you see me going anywhere?" she asked rhetorically. "Anytime soon at least." she added.

"Tell me something." she said catching the attention of young Ella. "Your powers have been returned to you-" she scoffed. "Way before anyone left the jail." she said. "so why haven't you blown the wall away?"

Ella grinned. "And what makes you think that I can?"

Emma snickered. "Kid-if it's one thing I know, it's that you don't have to have control of your powers to cause damage." she got up from the desk and grabbed a chair, dragging to the front of the cell. "So-why are you still here?"

Ella sat back against the wall. "And why on earth would I tell you the reason for that-when you won't answer my question?"

"Because my question is more important than yours." Emma simply answered.

"That opinion is based from your own feelings so of course you feel that way; as I feel my question is just as valuable." Ella informed. "Now, I fear we're at an impasse." she smiled. "So-you tell me about your kid and I tell you why I did not leave."

Emma's face turned up in a scowl at her proposition. "Why do you want to know so much about my kid?"

"So he is your kid." Ella stated.

Emma sighed. "Yea-technically."

Ella gradually began to understand. "But not legally." she scoffed. She shook her head. "So let me guess; you gave up your kid, and somehow years later after someone else has raised him, you get to come back and play mommy." she harshly chuckled. "Wow-I'd think someone with such a familiar background as mine wouldn't be so hypocritical."

"You don't know me!" Emma snapped.

"I know people like you-I know that while you are quite thankful for your family, you still have a small bit of contempt for them giving you up as a baby, and now giving your brother a childhood that you never got a chance to experience. All the while, your past consists of the same fate that your parents delivered upon you as a child."

"I gave my kid his best chance." Emma hissed.

"And so did your parents-or at least that is what they would like to think; and judging by your mom's characteristics, I'm betting giving you up was a last resort for her. Yet, you still carry resentment, am I right?" she scoffed and looked away, knowing that she had struck a nerve. "All I'm saying is-if your kid can love you unconditionally without resentment-you should show your parents the same courtesy too."

"A little late for that pep talk kid." Emma spat. "We've crossed that bridge."

"Have you?" Ella reiterated. "You are more at home with them now, because you have adjusted yourself to your newfound family, just as any foster kid does. But deep down-you still feel like an orphan. That small parent less child in you never experienced a stable and nurturing family environment-so you'll always wonder what you missed out on-what you couldn't experience during that time of your life." she smirked. "You can never get rid of that feeling." she looked at Emma. "You know what I'm talking about, Emma."

Emma thought to open the jail cell and sock her one good time in the mouth, but truth of the matter was, she was telling the truth. Every single thing she said was true to an extent. Instead, she decided to change the subject. "Well, you have your answer-now give me mine." Emma demanded. When Ella did not respond, she gave a knowing smile. "You might think you know me, Ella. But I do know you." she grinned. "I know why you haven't left that cell."

"Oh do you?"

"It's the one place that you feel stable-the one place where you don't have to think about your next meal-the one place where you have no responsibilities." she smirked. "This is somewhat of a little vacation paradise for you." Emma said. "You have your powers."

"Oh, do I now?" Ella grinned.

Yes. You do. I noticed your massaging the tips of your fingers earlier. Trying to settle them down." Emma said. By the caught off guard look, Ella gave her, she could tell that she guessed right. "Although, I'm sure a full twenty-four hours haven't passed yet." She muttered. After thinking about Gold's failed binding spell, she returned her gaze to Ella. "So, you're obviously powerful enough to escape, so-I must be right."

Ella, at first thought, was pained and somewhat offended. But she realized that she was only relinquishing what seemed a large truth. "You forgot one minor detail." she teased.

"Oh? And what is that?" Emma curiously asked.

Ella gave Emma an unwavering stare before she got up from her bunk and started to walk around. "Your mom."

Now curious, Emma replied. "What do you mean?"

"I like talking to her-" she replied. She turned around realizing that thought she'd just spoken into existence was entirely too expressive. Nevertheless, she felt after calling the young woman a hypocritical orphan, she could relinquish some sort of emotion. Besides, as far as she was concerned, things couldn't get any worse. "This is, I guess you could call it, somewhat of a vacation. Not having to escape authority because my hands suddenly went haywire and blew up a building-or going to a bed and breakfast, to only have blown the roof off of the place while in my sleep." she looked at Emma again. "I know this town thinks I'm the 'next evil' conundrum. I heard your parents talking-your father was right to side with you and Regina, in leaving me here. I don't fault him." she paused and looked down at her simmering small fingertips. "Your mother and Red are the only ones that seem to feel that they can trust me. I owe them that-and the only way to prove that is to stay here." she smiled. "Otherwise, I would have gladly lived up to your expectations of blowing this place to bits."

"That's a surprising bit of truth that you willingly shared." Emma grinned. She could not help feeling that this kid reminded her of a younger considerably more immature version of Regina. 'Alriight-and maybe a little of myself' she thought. Either way, she was certain that while it would not be spoken verbally, they shared a mutual understanding.

"Ah-I called you a hypocratic orphan-" she simpered. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to release a little truth about me. After all, you have my most sacred of secrets."

"Oh? And what's that, Annabella Frost?" Emma asked.

"You just said it." Ella replied. She perced her lip as a grimace slowly appeared on her face. "And it's Ella."

I hope you guys enjoyed. Please review! Thanks!:)