I am SO sorry it has taken me so long to write this chapter. I've been incredibly busy with work, so I've kinda fallen behind. I haven't given up, I promise! Thanks for sticking through this and reading.
Usual disclaimer: I don't own OUaT or the characters. It's a fanfic. Of course.
The Price We Pay
"I need your assistance, I'm willing to make a deal." Emma said as she leaned on the counter.
Gold grinned deviously, "Well then, dearie, you've come to the right place." His grin grew even wider as he moved around the counter. The sound of the cane hitting the wood floor sent a shiver through Emma's spine. She grit her teeth hard. No matter what it took, she'd do anything to put her family back together. Gold tilted his head, "Hmm... Now I really see it. Just how much you look like your parents. You've got a certain spark to yourself, Miss Swan. It's so very... Charming."
"I'm not here for your stupid jokes, Gold." Emma snapped.
The old imp chuckled, "Quite feisty, aren't we? What seems to be the trouble?" Emma took a deep breath, but before she could answer, Gold was speaking again. "This wouldn't happen to be about that little girl you and the Queen have been taking care of and play happy family with, is it?"
Emma narrowed her eyes at the man, "What are you playing at? What do you know about Alice?"
"Oh, nothing, dearie. She's a special little girl, isn't she? I've heard the town quite adores her." He waved his hand in the air. Emma half expected something to appear in a cloud of smoke, but nothing happened. Gold smirked. "What is it you would like for me to do?"
The bell of the shop rang as the door swung open. Emma spun around to see Belle and Ruby standing in the doorway. Gold's jaw dropped slightly, "Belle..."
"Emma, what are you doing?" Ruby asked as she fixed her eyes on Gold. The Sheriff shook her head, "They took Alice... they took her back to the orphanage."
Gold lifted his hand out towards Belle. The woman looked up at him sadly. "Belle..."
She sighed softly, "Rumple, please... don't drag Emma into one of your schemes."
Ruby moved towards Emma, pulling her away from Gold towards the front of the store. Gold stuttered, "I... but..." He closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath, then plastered on his usual grin, "She came to me, dearie."
"Belle, relax. He's right. I need his help to get Alice back... Regina's upset with me, she won't even let me in the door," Emma said, stepping forward again. She was pulled back by Ruby, who was nearly at the door in case they needed to make a break for it. Gold wasn't supposed to have magic left, but there was no telling with the old imp. Even Regina had faint traces of magic still hovering about her, barely enough to light a candle or turn a page in a book. Gold, however, was always a wild card.
The young librarian turned to Emma and shook her head, "We'll find another way, Em. But not like this."
Gold sneered and slammed his cane on the floor, "Is this how you want to play the game, Belle?! Just cast me aside after everything we have been through together?!"
Belle spun on her heel and sauntered up to him, staring intently into his dark eyes, "Yes, you greedy beast! You disappointed me, Rumple. You had a chance to make a difference when the curse broke! But you stuck to your same schemes and deals. I had faith in you and you didn't do anything to become a better person. Even Regina changed, why can't you!?" she snapped back.
"Because I'm the Dark One!" he shouted. Emma and Ruby backed up towards the door, almost feeling the heat of the angry fire that sparked between Belle and Rumplestiltskin.
"You're a coward!" Belle spat back.
"But Ruby-" Gold started. Ruby's eyes shot upward, threatening to burn holes into the man's head.
Before Ruby could pounce on him, Belle was on him again with a sharp tone, "It has nothing to do with Ruby! I know you're not a monster, so stop acting like one!"
"You chose a real beast over me!"
Belle's eyes shifted from anger to sadness in a moment. She shook her head, her eyes misting slightly. "No... you were a man once. A good man who was just too afraid to be stronger. All you had to do was let go and have faith in this world, in this life... in us. You were a good man who was too afraid to stray from the easy path. Ruby is much stronger than you, Rumple. Her heart is far stronger than yours ever could be. I can't be with someone who can't stand on their own two feet." She turned away from him and walked towards the door.
"Belle, wait..." Gold hobbled forward, lightly tapping his cane.
"I'm sorry, Rumple..." she replied before taking Ruby's hand and leaving the shop with the werewolf and the Sheriff in tow.
Gold stood in the center of his shop, gripping his cane hard, desperately fighting the tears that would weaken him.
Ruby, Belle and Emma walked down the street toward's Granny's where Emma had left her car. She stopped suddenly and looked at them, "How did you two know I was at Gold's?"
"We saw you go in. We were on our way for a walk after breakfast when we saw you go in. Mulan... kinda told us what was going on. She's beating herself up over it." Ruby explained.
"I shouldn't have yelled at her," Emma sighed. "I was just... Belle, Ruby... what am I going to do? My ex took Alice away, Regina's pissed off at me and she's upset. I know she's hurting and I can't even get in the door."
"Where's your key?" Belle asked curiously.
"I usually keep it in the flower pot outside of the house. But since I have a bad habit of losing my keys, I'm always supposed to put them on the table in the entry when I get home. I kept the house key outside in the flower pot in case Henry needed to get in if we're not home. I think Regina moved it after she kicked me out." Emma sat down on a bench outside of Granny's, holding her head in her hands. "I can't... I'm worried about her and Alice... I haven't been to my parents' place yet. I'm sure my mom already knows. Was Henry still with her?"
Ruby nodded, "We got back early this morning so I could hit the breakfast shift. Henry was still sleepy, so Snow said she'd take him home after a nap. I don't think Snow knows what happened with Alice."
Emma shook her head, "My dad was there...he's just as gossipy as my mom is. I'm sure he told her already." As if by clockwork, Emma's phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out and frowned at Snow's image and number on the screen. "See?"
Belle and Ruby exchanged a look before stepping away from Emma so she could talk on the phone. Ruby shuffled her feet awkwardly and kept her eyes on the ground. "Are...are you okay, Belle?"
The librarian looked up into Ruby's eyes and smiled. "I'm fine, why?"
"It's just... The thing with Gold...are you okay after that?"
Belle shrugged, "That was past. I wasn't joking about wanting to be with someone who's strong, Ruby. I don't find weaknesses attractive and overcoming your weaknesses shows strength. Rumple had his chance...then I fell in love with you." She reached up and pressed her hand to Ruby's cheek. The brunette smiled softly.
"I love you, too. I love it when you read to me, when we spend our quiet time together, even when we're just sitting at home and watching television. I just like being near you. It's all I need." Ruby leaned forward and met Belle halfway in a soft kiss.
A small cough behind them caused Belle to pull back and peek past Ruby at Emma. The Sheriff frowned slightly, "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's okay, Emma. Is everything all right with Snow?" Belle asked quietly.
"She's a blubbering mess. My mom really took to Alice as much as Regina did. I think she really liked being Grandma to her and Henry."
"We love your kids, Em. Whatever it takes, we'll help you get Alice back. I'm sure Mulan and Aurora will help, too." Ruby added.
"Thanks. I'm going to go back to the house and see if Regina at least picked up breakfast. I'm worried about her."
Belle and Ruby nodded. Emma said her thanks and goodbyes before heading back to her car. "Do you think they'll be okay?" Ruby wondered aloud.
"We have to help get Alice back. Emma and Regina live for their kids...they're not the same without them." Belle replied. "Let's go talk to Mulan and Aurora. I'm sure they can help."
"You're so smart, I'm way too lucky to have you."
Belle laughed before turning to Granny's front door. "And don't you forget it, Ruby Lucas."
Slamming the door on Emma was the last thing Regina wanted to do. But it felt as if her body acted on its own, taking out her frustration and anger in the form of making sure her girlfriend was hurting just as much as she was. She slid down against the door, wrapping her arms around her body as if it would protect her from the overwhelming pain. It wasn't just in her heart. The pain reached every inch of her body, traveling on the faintest tendrils of magic that still existed beneath her skin.
This pain was one she knew all too well. The pain of loss, which Regina had seen many times in her life, was something she had become used to dealing with alone. But she knew that on her own, she made poor decisions when faced with the same conflict. She wanted Emma beside her. If there was anything worse than having to suffer through this, it was having to do it alone.
She felt the pounding of the door against her back and heard Emma's stubborn voice as she insisted on staying on the porch. Her lover was incredibly hard headed. But two could play at that game as Regina pushed herself off of the floor and dragged her tired body to the bedroom.
Passing by Alice's room, she stopped in the doorway. It was too soon, too fresh in her mind for it to not hurt. Regina turned sharply away from the door and into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. The walls shook slightly and the small digital frame that sat on the dresser fell over. Regina uprighted it, frowning at the small crack that had formed on the corner of the screen. Her own strength surprised her at times, completely unaware of the physical power she could put out on occasion.
She peered out of the window and saw Emma walking back to her car. Regina was slightly disappointed that the blonde Sheriff didn't continue to guard the front door of the house. A part of her wanted to see Emma continue to fight for her. She wanted to see Emma struggle to protect what they had. Her parents had done it countless times, why could Emma Swan do the same?
Regina ducked out of view as Emma turned and looked up at the window. Regina scolded herself for being so childish. Having no appetite, no desire left for anything, Regina collapsed on the bed, stretching across the entire width as much as she could. The room was lonely without Emma. The house itself felt as cold and empty as her castle had been in the Enchanted Forest. Regina rolled over and slipped out of bed to peek outside the window. Emma was nowhere to be seen, but the yellow bug still sat in front of the house.
Frustration built up inside of Regina's head as she curled up on the bed again, wrapping her arms around Emma's pillow. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of Emma's shampoo on the pillow. She wished that they could go back, even twenty four hours back, when Alice was still with them, Emma didn't have some mysterious ex-girlfriend and their family was together. Just when Regina felt she had it all together, her world shattered around her.
It was the rumbling of her stomach that woke Regina in the early morning. She had fallen asleep in her suit, makeup smeared across her eyes and the bedroom lights still on. Her body ached from the stress and she felt exhausted, even though she slept.
She searched for her phone, finding it on the floor beside the bed where it had fallen in the night. She called her secretary and let her know she wasn't coming in for the day. The mayor was in no mental condition to focus on work. All she wanted was to go down the hallway and find Alice and Henry asleep in their rooms, to roll over on the bed and curl up next to Emma. But she was alone, unable to ignore the coldness that had settled within the house. She slid out of bed and peeked outside. Emma's car was gone. Her phone buzzed with a reminder that she had a missed text message.
Can we talk? I'm sorry about yesterday. Regina, I miss you. I left you breakfast on the porch. Call me?
Regina frowned at the message, glaring intensely at the screen as if it were an offensive light in her hands. She wanted to call Emma right away. Her chest hurt from the loneliness, but her heart raced to know that Emma was missing her. Clutching her phone to her chest, she decided she'd call Emma later. If there was one thing devious thing she still did regularly, it was keep Emma Swan baited on a string. It wasn't that the Sheriff hadn't caught on to her game, but they had continued this on and off teasing as a part of their flirting. Emma had admitted one time that she enjoyed it; it made her feel like there was always a challenge. And a Charming can't resist a challenge.
After changing into a pair of Emma's track pants and a t-shirt, Regina quietly went down the stairs to the front door. She peeked into the peephole to see if anyone was outside before opening the door to find a white paper bag with oil stains at the bottom. It had to be a greasy pastry from Granny's, a tell tale sign that Emma was trying to get her to eat something.
"Seriously... that woman and her ridiculous diet..." Regina mumbled to herself as she picked up the bag. She opened it up and looked inside at the bearclaw. "It's so very Emma Swan..." A tiny smile crept up on her face as she retreated into the house with the bag.
Although depression normally left her without an appetite or a desire to do anything except lie in bed, this time was different. She didn't want to lie in bed, half of it still smelled like Emma's perfume. She didn't even want to walk down the hallways upstairs so she wouldn't have to see Alice's empty room. Just thinking about the girl made Regina hurt. In her heart, she had already made Alice part of her family, thought of her as one of her children. Despite that, she knew that Alice would've had to return to the orphanage or wherever she had come from. But that was neither here nor there. When Regina Mills decided on something, god forbid anything get in her way to accomplish her set goal.
She made herself a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen counter, staring at the excessively sweet and large bearclaw on a plate in front of her. Regina toyed with her phone in her other hand, debating on whether or not to call Emma. She wanted someone to talk to. The phone began ringing in her hand, causing her to fumble with it to keep it from falling on the ground. Without looking at the screen clearly, she pressed the answer button and put the device to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Regina!" Kathryn's voice came through the phone in a bright, cheerful tone.
"Kathryn..."
Quickly picking up on the strain in Regina's voice, Kathryn pressed for more information, "What's wrong? You don't sound like yourself."
"They took Alice."
"What?! Who?"
Regina sighed. She thought she wanted to talk to someone about what happened but now that she had Kathryn on the phone, she felt exhausted. "One of Emma's exes."
"I don't understand. Why would Emma's ex take Alice? Where is she? Wait, where's Emma?"
Pushing the bearclaw to the side, she laid her head on her arm as she listened to Kathryn's voice on the phone. "Alice's social worker is Emma's ex. She took Alice back to the Portland orphanage. But... I don't know, I was pissed off with Emma because she didn't fight off her ex or tell her that we're together. She just stood there like some imbecile while that harlot, Mulan and Mother Superior took Alice away from me."
"Emma didn't do anything? That doesn't sound like her at all, Regina. She's usually so... sorry to say this, but a bit obnoxious. Kind of like her parents."
"I know. I think that's why I was so angry with her. Emma's usually the type to fly of the handle and the one time she doesn't is when I wanted her to. But she actually held me back!" Regina sighed in frustration, "I just want my family back, Kathryn."
The woman on the phone seemed to audibly nod, not fully understanding Regina's pain but at least understanding enough that she could sympathize. "We're friends, Regina, and I'm going to help you as much as I can. But I really think you should talk to Emma. You can't just be mad at her."
Regina huffed, "She let that woman take Alice!"
"You're usually so level headed. Think clearly, Regina! Oh god, if you're this worked up, then I can only imagine what sort of insanity that Emma might resort to." Kathryn sighed through the receiver.
"What do you mean?"
"Regina, we're talking about the woman who pushed you out of the way to save you from a wraith and it sent her into the Enchanted Forest. I wouldn't put it past her to be halfway to Portland right now." Regina paused, letting Kathryn's words sink into her head. She was right, somewhat. Emma did tend to make irresponsible decisions. Thinking back on the day before, Emma was the one thinking clearly, not her. Regina knew Emma stopped her from fighting for Alice to preserve their chances of adopting her. But at the time, all she could think of was how angry she felt and how hurt she was. This morning, everything made a bit more sense. "Hey... Regina, I know you love Emma. Just stop being so stubborn and give her a chance. You both can do a lot on your own, but I've seen the two of you together. As a couple, you and Emma are amazing. It's like the whole town exists on your combined ability alone to be leaders."
"I don't want to be responsible for all of these peasants." Regina snorted arrogantly, her tone reverting to her haughty Evil Queenliness.
"You know what I mean. Talk to Emma, work things out between you two and then put a plan together to get Alice back. Just... do me a favor and don't get caught up in her family's way of doing things. Running in head first into Portland and breaking down doors is not going to get anyone anywhere."
Regina rolled her eyes, "It's almost as if you're the one dating her, not me."
"Well, with everything you share with me, sometimes I think I am."
A small laugh found its way past Regina's lips, "The Savior belongs to me, Kathryn."
"I know, you can keep her. She's not my type."
"Thank you, Kathryn."
"For what?"
Regina smiled, "For being my friend... and talking to me about this."
"Well, actually I called to see if you were at the office and wanted to get lunch. But I think you have more important things to take care of."
"I do. But still, thank you."
"Anytime, Regina. Call me if you need anything. I'm here to help."
After hanging up the phone, Regina looked at the bearclaw on the counter. She smiled as she picked up the plate and put it into the microwave to heat it up. She hated using the machine, but it did help once in awhile. She felt better, knowing that what Emma decided to do yesterday was to protect them, not to hinder her. For once, Regina admitted to herself that she was wrong. Her stomach growled as the microwaved beeped, letting her know that her bearclaw was at nuclear temperature. She decided that after she ate, she'd call Emma. There was nothing more she wanted at that moment than to have the blonde with her and her children at home.
Belle sat in the library with Aurora, nursing a hot cup of tea. The princess tilted her head curiously, watching Belle contemplate the thoughts that garbled themselves in her head. Aurora looked down at her own cup and frowned. She was off from the diner today, eager to see her friends. But after yesterday, she wasn't sure what sort of state their little group would be in. Belle was clearly lost in her own thoughts. Mulan had been exceptionally emotional and upset after having turned Alice over to the social worker that the young deputy had thrown herself full force into work. Especially with Emma being relatively useless.
"We have to help them." Belle said suddenly.
Aurora jumped slightly, shaken by Belle's clear voice. "I..I beg your pardon?"
"Emma and Regina. We have to help them get Alice back."
The princess's eyes fell down to her cup again. "Oh... I don't mind helping Emma...but Regina..."
Belle shook her head, "She isn't as bad as she seems, Aurora. I heard from Ruby that she said some pretty rude things to you when you first met her...and well, Regina can be like that sometimes. But once you get to know her, she's really a nice person."
"She insulted Mulan and Phillip!" Aurora argued. She folded her arms across her chest and turned her head away from Belle in defiance. Belle stifled a giggle behind her hand and she watched Aurora's tantrum unfold. "What?"
"Nothing. It's just..." Belle giggled again, trying to keep a straight face. "It's no wonder that you and Regina didn't get along right away. Listen, Aurora, if you're really going to fit into Storybrooke, you're going to have to do away with the 'princess' act."
"It is not an act, I am truly a princess."
Belle smiled and raised her hands in a nonchalant shrug, "So are Emma and Ashley. Regina and Snow are queens. But we don't hold on to any of that here in Storybrooke. Everyone's just living, no royalty, no archaic laws."
"I don't understand, Belle. If our royal heritage means nothing, then what is the purpose here?"
Belle raised her head in thought, "The purpose? Well... I think we all like it because for once, no one is above anyone else. We're essentially equal. Even though Regina is the Mayor and Emma is the Sheriff.. or that Gold is influential, it doesn't make them any less human than the rest of us. That's the beauty of it."
Aurora unfolded her arms and placed her hands delicately in her lap. She rolled Belle's words around in her head, trying to process the idea. No status, no lineage... none of it mattered here. It wasn't a terrible idea, but it certainly was a foreign one. Aurora looked up and frowned, "If Regina is not Queen, then why does she feel she has the right to be so condescending?"
"Regina... is working on her social skills. Emma's helped her come a long way." Belle smiled, "I'll let you in on a little secret, Aurora... Don't be afraid and hold your ground. She'll respect you more. Also, Regina likes talking about books and art, but she won't ever tell you that. It'll be a way to get on her good side when you get the chance."
Aurora nodded, wondering if the chance would ever come up. She wanted to have friends in Storybrooke. Even Mulan had no trouble finding somewhat equal footing with Regina. However her chance came sooner than she expected.
The doors of the library swung open quietly and Regina Mills poked her head into the room in the most uncharacteristic manner. Belle stood up immediately and moved towards the door, her face contorting in concern. Firstly, no one expected to see Regina out of the house so soon after yesterday. Secondly, the timid way she let herself into the library was so unlike her that Belle almost thought the woman standing in front of her was a doppleganger of the Mayor of Storybrooke. Third... well, Belle was quite shocked to find that Regina was wearing track pants, sneakers and a blue Storybrooke Police Department t-shirt. Belle smirked, Regina was still wearing Emma's clothes.
"Um... hello, Regina." Belle said softly.
Regina straightened her back and held out a children's book. "I... Alice borrowed this from you, I believe. I didn't want it to be late." Belle took note of how Regina's neck moved as she swallowed a dry sob that had eased its way up into her throat. But the usually proud Mayor held her head up and fought the emotion that threatened to control her. She held the book out again. "I take it the entire town knows what's going on, then?"
Belle shook her head, "Actually, no... I only found out this morning because Ruby and I found Emma at Gold's."
Regina's brown eyes went wide for a moment before her lips curled up in a sneer, "Emma was at Gold's?!"
"Wait, calm down, Regina..." Belle started.
"Listen here, you little bookworm... you're going to tell me where the hell Emma is right now or I will end you and your little library!" Regina barked. She caught Aurora shrinking back in her seat in the corner of her eye.
But Belle was quick on the return, "No, you listen, Regina! You can't just come storming into anywhere and making demands. That isn't how things work here anymore and we're not in your kingdom! Now sit down!" She snatched the book from Regina's hands and with one foot, slid a chair in front of the older woman.
Regina glared at Belle as she sat down. She wanted information, specifically about what Emma was doing at Gold's. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good. Catching Aurora's movements again, Regina snapped her gaze over to the princess. Unlike before, although Aurora was near trembling in her seat, her eyes were focused and watching the other woman carefully. Regina took a breath and held her head high again.
A steaming cup of tea was suddenly in front of her face in a delicate white cup and saucer. She looked up and saw the face of Belle smiling at her. "Drink this."
"What... are you doing?"
The librarian rolled her blue eyes and smiled as Regina took the cup. "Serving you tea, Madame Mayor." She watched as Regina gave the tea some careful consideration before she brought the cup to her lips. After taking a drink of the warm liquid, her shoulders visibly relaxed and she leaned slightly back into the chair. "There now. Better?"
"I apologize for yelling at you, Belle. I really only meant to return the book." Regina said quietly.
"Emma was looking for a way to get Alice back." Belle answered without being asked. Regina's head snapped up as well as Aurora's.
"Ruby and I convinced her not to do anything with Gold. When she left this morning she said she was going home, presumably to check on you."
Holding the cup in her hands, Regina lowered her head. As much as she wanted to inquire more about Emma, there was still the issue of Aurora staring at her intently. They had gotten off to a rough start, the blame all falling upon Regina's shoulders. She couldn't say why she was so hostile in the first place. There had been quite a few transplants from the Enchanted Forest to Storybrooke over the last year, but none had really encroached upon her personal circle until Aurora and Mulan showed up. She respected Mulan, to an extent, since the young soldier was able to stand her ground against the Mayor. But Aurora had shrunk under Regina's icy gaze and it was her weakness that irritated Regina the most. Looking at her now, the princess was much more settled than the first time they crossed paths. While she was still slinking back in her chair, her head was high and her eyes focused.
"Aurora," Regina began quietly. "I... want to apologize for the way I addressed you. I'm not very good at establishing relationships with others."
The princess's eyes shifted slightly as the shock ran through her body. She was not expecting to hear an apology from Regina Mills, of all people. Aurora lowered her head slightly. "I was rather upset that time. But... I do want to make this place my home and I would not enjoy it so much if you disliked me, Madame Mayor."
"You may call me 'Regina," the woman interrupted.
"Regina... would it be all right if we started over? Umm..." Aurora nervously held her hand out to the woman, though her hand shook as if she were reaching out to pet a spider. "I'm Aurora."
Taking a slow breath, as such a gesture was far below what she was used to doing, Regina took Aurora's hand in her own. "Regina Mills, Deputy Mayor of Storybrooke. Welcome to town."
Aurora's eyes lit up as she smiled, appreciating the effort that the woman with the notoriously hardened heart was putting forward. "I want to help you however I can."
Belle smiled and nodded, "We were just discussing what was going on yesterday. Regina, we all adore Alice and we think she belongs here in Storybrooke with us. So whatever we can do, just tell us."
Regina's eyes darkened as her face reflected the sadness in her heart. "I don't know what to do..."
"Mulan is very upset after yesterday. She feels guilty and has been pacing the apartment since she came home." Aurora added.
"Well, she should be!" Regina spat. "Not only did Emma let her ex-lover say whatever she wanted, she let her subordinate take Alice. That girl belongs in my family, there isn't anything that anyone can say that will convince me otherwise. She must have something against us."
"Regina, Mulan already feels terrible. I don't think she wanted to do it, but I think it was also her dutiful nature that made her." Belle said softly. "We really have to work on your paranoia."
The brunette put her cup down on the desk and folded her arms across her chest. "I am not paranoid."
Aurora picked up her cup of tea again and took a sip at it, frowning that it had gone a bit cold. "Mulan isn't the type to want to hurt others. She respects both you and Emma."
Regina frowned. Perhaps they were right. She was always suspecting that everyone was out to get her. It came from years of being the target of angry mobs, assassination attempts and general animosity. While she had brought it on herself by the crimes she committed, she never really felt the effects until now.
All of this emotion was getting to her. Regina was well acquainted with people hating her. She wondered how she and Belle had come to some sort of friendly terms after she imprisoned the girl in a hospital room for twenty eight years. Now Aurora, who had been asleep under the effects of Maleficent's sleeping curse, was offering her friendship to the once Evil Queen. She picked up her cup again, but instead of drinking the warm tea, she simply held it in her hands and sighed.
"First things first," Belle spoke up with conviction. "We get you and Emma back together. There won't be a family for Alice to come home to if you two don't make up. You're what she knows is her family, right? You two have done a lot in these past few weeks to build that with her, no point in letting it go now. Unless... Emma didn't cheat on you with that woman, did she?!"
Regina shook her head. "No, it's not that... that woman was from before Emma came to Storybrooke. I spoke to Kathryn this morning. She said I needed to speak to Emma."
"I agree with her." Belle said firmly. "You've got to get this stuff out into the open, Regina. No good will come out of you holding it all in and expecting Emma to understand."
"I do miss her..." Regina admitted quietly. Belle was surprised to hear the honesty in the older woman's voice. "But I... I kind of kicked her out of the house. I shouldn't have but I was so angry that I couldn't stop myself."
"Wouldn't it be simple enough to just open the door for her again?" Aurora asked.
Belle couldn't help but grin. The ridiculously simple suggestion was more than enough to make Regina flap her mouth open like a fish as she processed the thought. It wasn't easy for Regina to understand that things could be handled through a simple gesture. Not everything in the world required careful planning and scheming, that some things were solved with a few words. Regina stood up suddenly, setting the teacup down on the desk again.
"I.. I have to go. Thank you, for the tea, Belle." She tilted her head upwards, regaining her usual regality. "Have a good day, ladies."
With a playful smirk, Belle raised her hand and waved. "Take care, Regina. Give me a call if you need anything." Aurora waved shyly as Regina left the library. "That was easier than I thought. You're pretty good at this."
Aurora narrowed her eyes at Belle, her brow showing all signs of confusion. "I don't understand."
"It was coincidence that she came over here, but I was hoping to run into Regina anyways. I have an idea to help them get Alice back, but I'm going to need everyone's help. Including yours. But the first step is to get Regina and Emma to make up."
Aurora nodded slowly, not quite understanding what Belle was getting at, but at least appreciating the involvement in whatever this plan would consist of. "So what do we do now?"
The librarian smirked, her blue eyes shining brightly. "Let's finish our tea and find Mulan. She's got the most important role of all."
Emma had driven up and down every road in town, trying to buy herself time before she parked in front of the familiar white mansion. Any time she fought with Regina, volatile sparks definitely flew in the air. She knew coming face to face with her girlfriend now would likely end up causing an unnatural fire or something like that. Sighing heavily, Emma rested her forehead on the steering wheel of the old bug.
Everything felt so natural in its course that Emma never took the time to pinpoint exactly why she was with Regina. When she first arrived in Storybrooke, she immediately felt the seething hatred that hovered around Regina like some sort of hostile cloud. But somewhere down the way, between solving murders that never happened and jumping through magical portals, she had begun to care about her son's adoptive mother. Or rather, she at least made the effort to ensure that no harm came to Regina Mills. Was it when she found her at the base of a tree, smiling up at her as she climbed out of the well? Or was it during one of the many nights that she dropped Henry off for dinner at the house? Whenever it occurred, Emma had decided that she couldn't imagine a day without Regina in it.
It had been barely a day but Emma was definitely feeling the tug of loneliness at her heart strings. First off, sleeping in her car was not fun, now that she knew what sleeping in a California king felt like. Under some billion thread count Egyptian cotton with the warmth of someone at her side. That definitely beat out sleeping in her bug, although she had done that plenty of times. Second, she hated that things went unresolved. Emma Swan was a doer, a fixer, a job finisher. She never left things hanging. But when it was something important, here she was half-assing it.
Emma banged her forehead on the steering wheel. She hated that Regina didn't even give her the chance to explain herself. But despite her frustration, she knew she still loved her. She loved the little family they had built together with Henry and Alice. It was all Emma ever wanted and she wasn't about to let all of that fall to the wayside. Grabbing her phone and yanking the keys out of the ignition, she got out of the car and stalked to the door. She checked the planter to see of she had possibly missed the key that was usually hidden there. Not finding what she was looking for, Emma turned towards the door.
"Regina, open the door!" she shouted to the wood blocking her way. "I want to talk. I can't just leave things like this!" She was pretty sure that if Regina was still pouting in the bedroom, she'd hear her through the window right above the porch. Emma sighed. "Look, I know you're mad at me and that Justine took Alice away. But I couldn't... I couldn't do anything! You have no idea how badly I wanted to take down Justine and Mulan so they wouldn't take Alice, but if I did... Blue was right there! She'd have reported it to the judge and we'd never be able to adopt her." Emma leaned forward against the door, "I went to Gold this morning to try and find a way to get Alice back. Nothing happened, Belle and Ruby showed up and Belle kinda got into it with Gold, so I didn't make any deals with him. I'll do anything for this family, Regina. You and Henry and Alice... you mean too much to me. I don't want to lose any of you. I don't care what it takes, but I'm going to make sure that everything gets put back together."
"Emma, what are you doing?"
The Sheriff spun around, nearly losing her footing and ended up with her back against the door. Regina was standing on the porch behind her in unusually casual clothes.
"You... weren't home?"
"Does it look like I was home?" Regina snapped back, folding her arms across her chest. "I decided to walk to the library. I had to... Alice borrowed a book from Belle, I wanted to make sure it got returned. You haven't answered my question. What were you doing?"
"I was trying to talk to you. Well, trying to convince you to let me in. Wait, how much did you hear?"
Regina shrugged, "Everything. I was coming up the street when you started yelling at the front door. Why didn't you let yourself in?"
Emma frowned, "You hid my key. The one in the planter?"
The older woman sighed, "No, I didn't. You put it on your keyring when you moved in two weeks ago." Emma blinked a few times in confusion before she reached for her keys in her pocket and pulled them out. There, nestled between her car key and office key, was the house key that used to sit inside the planter. She had forgotten that she pulled it out of her pocket one night and made a show of adding it to her keyring to make the move somewhat official. Regina sighed. "Is that why you didn't come in last night?"
Looking up sheepishly at her girlfriend, Emma nodded slowly. "I'm sorry... I... well, I was just so used to getting it out of the planter... and since I moved in, you've always been home first so the door was unlocked."
Regina stepped closer to her and Emma expected to go head to head with the one person who could get under her skin. She was a little surprised when Regina pressed her body against her, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying her face into Emma's neck. "You're an idiot. But I'm sorry, too... about yesterday. Emma, I can't do this without you. This family isn't the same without you in it. I reacted too quickly yesterday. I was so upset about them taking Alice that the thing with you..and the social worker.. it just pissed me off." Regina sighed softly. Her breath tickled Emma's skin slightly, but the blonde put her hands on her girlfriend's shoulders and pushed back gently. Regina scowled from the separation.
"I want to get one thing straight, Regina. There is nothing between me and Justine. That was years ago. I was shocked yesterday, but that doesn't mean that what we have is nothing to me. You piss me off, you make me laugh, I smile when I see you, you raised our son, you made me a better person, even if you didn't do any of it on purpose. Let's face it, you really are my True Love and I'm totally banking on the fact that my dad said that true love is never wrong." She wrapped her arms around Regina's shoulders, drawing the other woman against her body again. "Jesus Christ, Regina... it's only been one night and I can't even begin to tell you how much I missed you."
Regina remained quiet as she slipped her arms around Emma's waist again. They stood there together for some time with the morning sun beginning to rise higher in the sky and warming the world around them from the cold chill of early winter.
Emma finally broke the silence between them with a goofy smile. "I see you picked up breakfast. Did you actually eat it?"
"No. I was going to... but I got turned off by the amount of grease on the bag."
"Those bearclaws are great, aren't they?"
Regina laughed quietly, "Your eating habits are terrible, Miss Swan." She looked up and shook her head at the familiar crooked grin on her lover's face.
"At least Henry and Alice don't eat like me."
"Henry tries to," Regina pointed out. "But at least he finishes his vegetables, unlike his mother."
Emma laughed this time and kissed Regina's forehead, rising slightly on her toes. Resting her head on the crook of the sheriff's neck, Regina sighed softly, tickling the sensitive skin below the blonde's ear. She kissed the same spot, smiling to herself as Emma tilted her head slightly to allow her better access to continue. "I love you," Regina whispered.
"I love you too, Regina." Smiling proudly to herself, Emma wrapped her arms around the other woman even tighter. The former Queen had always returned Emma's declarations of love in equal measure, but it was rare for her to say it first. They fought and bickered frequently, constantly nagging at each other and nitpicking at every little thing. But they hadn't had a fight like this one in quite some time. It was the times like this, in the aftermath of their storm-like quarrel, that the quiet affirmation of love was all they needed. A reminder, in their darkest moments, that the other was still there, still in love and holding out her hand, waiting to pick up and move forward together.
Regina slowly pulled away from the Sheriff. "Let's go inside. There's a California king bed waiting for you because knowing you, I don't think you got much sleep last night in the car."
"You saw that?"
"I know you saw me in the window."
"I kinda know when you want to be alone." Emma shrugged.
Regina watched as Emma stood there with her hands in her pockets. She cleared her throat loudly, "Miss Swan, you have the key."
"Oh! Right... I forgot." As she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door, she felt Regina's hands slide around her waist and up the front of her shirt. "Um... we haven't even gotten into the house yet."
"Then hurry upstairs. Your mother sent me a text, she'll be bringing Henry by this afternoon. You have approximately four hours to make up for me sleeping alone last night." Regina smirked as she followed Emma inside, her hands still working her way up the blonde's blouse.
Emma glanced over her shoulder at the other woman and smirked. "You're on."
Mulan sat nervously in front of Justine Reyes as the social worker read through each letter in the large dark yellow manila envelope in her lap. The warrior had finished her tea and was patiently waiting to hear what the woman had to say. It had been two days since Alice was sent away to Portland and Mulan felt responsible. She wanted to help Alice come home, so she sought out Ruby and Belle to give her advice. With Aurora, the four women had gone around Storybrooke to people they knew who had seen Alice with Regina or Emma and asked for a letter of recommendation regarding their parenting status.
Justine's eyes flew over the letters one by one. When she received the call from Mulan, she wasn't sure what to expect. She had thought that this would be one of Emma's half-baked plans to get her way, but after reading through the letters and watching the town before she arrived at Granny's, she had the gut feeling that neither Emma nor Regina knew what was going on. Justine read carefully though a letter written on expensive looking paper.
To the Department of Child Welfare Services,
My name is Archie Hopper. I am a psychiatrist in the town of Storybrooke. While I have seen many strange things and cases in my years, none have been quite as profound as the situation of Alice Chesshyre. As a psychiatrist, I see where she suffers from social anxiety disorder and finds difficulty in trusting others. However, in the short time that she lived in Storybrooke under the care of Mayor Regina Mills and Sheriff Emma Swan, Alice has quickly changed from being a shy, scared little girl to a fascinating child who adores the women who love her. It is in my professional opinion that Alice remains in Storybrooke as the ward of Mayor Regina Mills and Sheriff Emma Swan until further adoption arrangements are made. I feel that it is within the best interest of Alice's education, social interaction and well being that temporary custody be granted to Miss Mills and Miss Swan.
Sincerely,
Dr. Archie Hopper, PhD.
Justine moved on to the next letter, reading each line carefully. She didn't notice Ruby peeking out from behind the pair of doors that separated the kitchen and the dining room of the diner.
"What are they doing?" Aurora asked from behind Ruby. She and Belle were hiding in the kitchen while Ruby kept a lookout.
"Mulan is literally twiddling her fingers. The social worker is reading the letters." Ruby explained. "Looks like she's reading Snow's...why did she have to use pink paper?"
Your Honor,
As a schoolteacher and parent, I have seen many children in very different families. When Alice came to us in Storybrooke, she was silent, disconnected and essentially a very sad and hurt child. But the love and devotion that Emma Swan and Regina Mills have given this girl have significantly changed her in a very short time. Alice has amazing artistic ability and is a bright and curious child. She has so much potential that can only be fostered in a home that supports her fully. I have looked into Alice's education level and while she is behind in some essentials such as mathematics, she excels in literature and art. I honestly believe that Regina and Emma are the ideal parents in order to cultivate her potential.
I highly recommend Regina Mills and Emma Swan as the designated foster parents of Alice Chesshyre until adoption is settled.
Sincerely Yours,
Mary Margaret Blanchard
Justine put the letters down and looked up at Mulan. "I'm impressed. You got all these together?"
"I would not have done it without the help of my friends. The people of this town care greatly for each other and they are all eager to help Mayor Mills and Sheriff Swan," Mulan replied, stiffening in her seat.
After nodding slowly to indicate that she understood, Justine sat back and folded her arms. "So you want me to take these letters to the judge in the child welfare office and convince him to let Alice live here until she's adopted? You do know that Emma and her girlfriend applied to adopt her, right?"
"I am aware."
"You do realize that this look suspicious, like they're behind this rather large amount of letters." Justine picked up the letters one by one, "I'm surprised at the diversity of the people who have given letters. A psychologist, a school teacher, a handyman, a nun, two waitresses, and business owners? It's not that I don't believe you, but to a judge who doesn't know anything about what's going on, it's going to look like Regina and Emma put all this together."
Mulan stood up, pushing her chair back and leaning forward across the table. "Then I shall swear my honesty on it!"
Justine smiled, "Actually, that's what I was about to suggest."
"I do not understand," Mulan replied slowly as she sat down in her chair again.
"I want you to come to Portland to me to the courthouse to testify that these are not fabricated by the adoption applicants." Mulan tilted her head in confusion and Justine sighed, "I need you to go to the judge yourself and tell him that Emma and Regina have nothing to do with this. Can you do it?"
Belle, Ruby and Aurora burst through the kitchen door with Granny scolding them from the back of the kitchen. Justine's eyes grew wide as the women made a beeline for the table. Ruby clapped her hand on Mulan's shoulder. "Yes, she can do it. Mulan, I'll cover your shifts at at the station."
The warrior looked up and frowned, "But Emma shall become suspicious and I do not feel comfortable leaving my princess alone here in town."
"I'll be fine, Mulan," Aurora said as she smiled. "Emma and Regina are our friends and it's important that we help them. Everyone wrote the letters, but it will be up to you to make the judge understand how desperately we all want Alice to be here."
After watching their exchange, Justine laughed lightly. Four pairs of eyes fell on her as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I've seen parents go crazy and do some really insane things for their kids, but I've got to say that I've never seen a whole town gather together for one kid."
Ruby pulled up a chair and straddled it beside Justine. "You don't understand. That kid is special. Emma, Regina and Henry... they were already a family, but then Alice came along and it was like... you know, one of those things that just looks like it was supposed to be that way."
The Hispanic woman titled her head slightly, "But who are all of you?"
Belle blushed a little. "Oh... I guess we forgot to introduce ourselves since we were so preoccupied with this. I'm Belle, I run the library and this is my girlfriend, Ruby. She's a part-time deputy and she and her grandmother run this diner." Ruby grinned at Belle's introduction and waggled her fingers at Justine in a friendly gesture.
"I'm Aurora. I work here in the diner. Mulan and I just moved to Storybrooke." Aurora said quietly. "I know this may seem a bit strange, but all of those letters have been written by sincere people who honestly want to see Alice happy in a town that adores her with a family that already loves her. I like it when she tells others that I'm one of her big friends."
Justine gave some quiet thought to the situation. In the three years that she's been Alice's social worker, this was the first place that was actually fighting to keep her. All the other homes she's been in had desperately wanted her out, now this one didn't want to let her go. There really wasn't any argument to be made. Emma had reported finding Alice, but it was an administrative error that caused the report to go unseen. In two weeks, this town and that little family had managed to get Alice to put on some healthy weight, give her very nice clothes, a warm home, friends, and most importantly, had gotten her to open up and communicate. Which was something that no one had done in a very long time.
"You don't have to convince me," Justine said. She raised her hands up in a shrug and smiled, "Just need to convince the judge. He'll make the final decision. This kind of thing doesn't happen often, giving special privileges to parents to care for a foster child. But given the circumstances, I think the judge will be lenient."
"I shall accompany you where ever it is necessary." Mulan said with conviction. "I do not drive a vehicle with confidence, however I believe Mushu and I can meet you with only two days time."
"Mushu?" Justine's eye brow crept upward with confusion.
Ruby laughed, "Her horse. Not to sound stereotypical, but Mulan's a horrible driver. But she's really good with horses."
"I am able to drive the large black... um, what was that called again? Oh! The sport utility vehicle."
Belle rolled her eyes, "Just around town, Mulan. I don't think you're ready for long distance driving."
"I... see..." Justine answered slowly. "How about I just come pick you up and we'll go to Portland together? It's not that bad of a drive."
Mulan stood up again, "I am prepared. Let us leave immediately!"
"Woah, slow down there, cowgirl. I'll make the arrangements to meet with the judge. I would need to get Alice's paperwork together. I'll need some old files in order to show the change in Alice's behavior." Justine gathered up the letters into the envelope and stood up. "I'll be back in a day or two to pick you up, as soon as I get the appointment set with the judge." Mulan nodded, feeling better that the plan was falling into place.
"Can I ask you something, Justine?" Ruby asked. The social worker nodded. "Look, we all heard the rumor that you dated Emma awhile back. You're really helpful, despite her being with Regina. Why is that?"
Several emotions passed over Justine's eyes before she spoke. "I'll be honest. When I came to get Alice and I saw Emma, I missed her more than I realized. She helped me a long time ago and was like a hero to me. But after seeing her and Regina... it's like you said earlier about how you look at something and you just know it's supposed to be that way. I can't get in between that. There's something about just seeing the two of them that says that it's solid. I'd rather see Emma happy then try to ruin things for her. I think she's a lot better off here than back in Boston with me." There was a hint of sadness in Justine's voice, although her face hid the emotion with a smile. "Like I said, I'll be back in a few days. Just let me make some arrangements and we'll be set."
Mulan escorted Justine out of the diner while the other girls sat at the table together. Belle frowned, "Did you really have to ask her that question, Ruby?"
The wolf woman shrugged, "It just seemed weird. Both Emma and Regina were kinda upset about her coming around, so I thought maybe there was still some kind of spark. But I was totally off the mark with that one."
Aurora shook her head, "I think Justine has feelings for Emma still. But she's right. There's just something about Regina and Emma that makes them seem so... perfectly mismatched."
Belle laughed, "I've never heard a more true statement from anyone. Anyhow, we've done most of our part. Now we've got to coach Mulan on what to say to the judge and pray from there."
Henry was remarkably understanding and mature about Alice leaving. Emma assured him that it was temporary, as the disappointment was clear on his face. It was Snow who took the news almost as hard as Regina. She spent the next few days being depressed and making it a point to check in on Regina and Emma daily. They had done their best to adjust, but every so often, Regina would pause in front of Alice's room and just stand in the doorway, staring at the empty bed. Emma had taken to playing games with Henry or reading comic books with him, just to keep herself from thinking too much.
After missing a day of work, both women returned to their jobs and did their best to continue their daily lives. Regina found it difficult to be out of the house, considering that everyone she interacted with daily began asking immediately where Alice was. They had gotten used to the Mayor bringing the small girl to her office, so seeing Regina show up to work alone gave them cause to worry. Although she wanted to tell every one of them to jump off a cliff, she just quietly explained that Alice had to return to Portland. To her surprise, the townsfolk were supportive of her.
Emma, on the other hand, found herself buried in paperwork and having to pick up Mulan's patrols. The warrior hadn't explained where she was going, but only that she needed to go away for a few days. The Sheriff found all of this unusual, since Aurora was still working at the diner. The young princess was hardly ever separated from Mulan, so seeing her in Storybrooke with Mulan gone was definitely out of the ordinary. She decided to get to the bottom of the situation.
It was late in the afternoon when Ruby got off her shift at the diner and was making her way towards the apartment she shared with Belle above the library. Her face became flustered as she walked towards the stairs, finding Emma sitting on the last step waiting for her.
"Hey, Em... what's up?" Ruby asked casually.
"Oh... just wanted to come by and visit. Regina and I have been trying to stay out of the house lately." Emma replied nonchalantly. She stood up as Ruby approached, shoving her hands in her pockets. She shivered slightly at the autumn wind that picked up. It'd be winter soon with the holiday season around the corner.
"So you made up? That's good. I was getting worried for a moment there." Ruby said with a slight smile. "Don't tell me, Regina made you make up for lost time."
"How did you..."
"I said don't tell me." Ruby smirked. "Did you want to come inside? Belle should be home already."
Emma shook her head. She wasn't here to socialize, she wanted information. "Actually, I was wondering if you knew where Mulan went. Aurora's still here in town, so I thought it was a little weird that Mulan left without her."
Ruby knew that the question was coming. She had warned Belle and Aurora that Emma would be suspicious. Obviously the Sheriff was unknowingly proving her right. The wolf-girl shrugged, "I think she's out camping. Some sort of warrior training thing she insisted on. Told her it wasn't a good idea to go alone, but she said it was a ritual and she couldn't be convinced otherwise."
"I see..." Emma muttered slowly. Ruby wasn't sure if her friend accepted that explanation, but it satisfied her all the same. "You're gonna help cover her patrols, right? My dad said he's help, but Regina asked him to give a hand at the community center. I guess the dwarves need another pair of hands to repair the roof before winter starts."
Ruby gave a toothy grin, "Of course! I already planned on it when Mulan said she was going. Ashley's gonna pick up a couple shifts at the diner to help out. I think between her and Aurora, they've got it covered." Emma kicked the dirt at her feet. It was clear to Ruby that her friend was still struggling with the inevitable dismantling of her family. The brunette held a hand out towards the other woman. "You sure you don't want to come inside for a bit? Want to talk?"
"About what?"
"Work. True Blood? You and Regina? Anything to get you off this mopey mode." Ruby smiled.
"Regina and I are fine." Emma snarled. She realized she said the words with a bit more venom than she had intended. "Sorry, Rubes... I think I should go... Gina and the kid are waiting for me."
"Suit yourself," the wolf-girl replied. "But don't be surprised if we all show up on Miflin Street to try and bring some life into you two depressing sods."
"Very funny. See you later, Ruby." Emma said with a smirk as she turned to leave. She waved her hand in the air, walking away with one hand in her pocket.
Ruby waited until Emma was out of sight before she scrambled up the steps to the apartment and let herself in. At the opening of the door, Belle hurried to get away from the window where she had been listening in on the conversation outside. Ruby laughed as she caught her lover flopping onto the couch with as much grace as a minotaur. "How long was she out there?"
Belle rolled over on the couch and looked up with an exasperated sigh. "Since I got out of the shower. I didn't know she was there until I heard her talk to Regina on the phone. She didn't even bother to come to the door."
"So she was specifically waiting for me... Emma's gonna catch on real fast that Mulan's off in Portland, if she hasn't already. Especially with that weird internal lie detector ability she's got." Ruby sat down on the couch next to Belle's head and leaned back. The blue eyes librarian scooted her body around on the couch until she comfortably used Ruby's leg as a pillow.
"Well hopefully by the time she figured it out, Mulan's already on her way back with Alice. What's this about invading their house?"
The brunette shrugged, "I dunno. It was something to distract Emma. Why?"
A playful grin appeared on Belle's lips as her eyes sparkled with another idea. "That's not such a bad idea... Find out when Mulan is coming back and we plan to be at the house when she arrives, if everything goes smoothly in Portland. That way, Emma, Regina and Henry don't have an excuse to leave and Alice comes home to a full house."
Ruby stretched, trying to work out the kinks in her back from the day. "Regina will have a fit if we all just show up randomly."
"She's just going to have to deal with it." Belle said as she sat up. "That's the price you pay for having friends that actually care about what happens."
Belle disappeared into the kitchen and Ruby smiled, wondering when it was that she herself started realizing she had real friends in Storybrooke. Not just Snow, who was her friend in the Enchanted Forest, but more people who were now like family to her. It was a surprise to herself that she even wanted to leave Storybrooke in the first place. Ruby's gut silently thanked Emma for showing up to town as she got up from the couch and followed Belle into the kitchen for dinner.
Mulan was fidgeting. The courthouse office was much more intimidating that she had realized. It wasn't as if she hadn't been inside government buildings before. The Emperor's palace was large and intimidating as well, but there was a welcoming quality to it. Perhaps it was the alignment of the room that made her uneasy. Whatever it was, between the room and the intense gaze of the court official at the other end of the table, Mulan was nervously toying with her deputy badge.
She jumped slightly when the judge in casual clothes spoke but realized that he was addressing Justine, not her. The woman beside her sat back calmly. "Miss Reyes, you know that what you're asking is not how we do things here."
"I know that, sir." Justine answered. "You know as well as I do that there are special cases all over the place. This is just one of them."
"Who's this you brought with you?" the judge asked. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair, tiny rimless glasses sat on his large nose and dressed in a pair of brown slacks and a slightly pink shirt. The top button was undone and he didn't wear a tie; Mulan could easily tell that this wasn't a normal meeting. Justine must have some sort of pull in order to get a private meeting with a government official.
"I am Mulan Fa, sir. I work and live in Storybrooke as Deputy in the law enforcement division. I..." she paused, wondering what it was she was doing there. Mulan was sure that the letters that the townsfolk had written were more than enough to accomplish their goal. But she remembered the talk she had with Justine on the way to Portland. "I am attending today as a witness to the documentation Miss Reyes has brought. In order to verify that none were forged."
Justine nodded, satisfied with Mulan's answer. She learned quickly that the deputy could be a bit too honest or a bit too blunt with her commentary and had trained her on the road. She was grateful that Mulan picked up quickly. The judge opened the folder in front of him containing the letters. He leafed through them for a moment before looking up at the two women. "So what is it that I'm looking at here?"
"Letters, your honor. The townsfolk have written testimony to Mayor Mills and Sheriff Swan's relationship with Alice Chesshyre."
The judge sat back, looking at the papers. He had received the file a day before the meeting so he could look over the documentation. At first it seemed like other child custody cases he had seen. A troubled child from a broken home who was just incompatible with the foster homes that she was placed in. It wasn't unusual. What was different was that she had run away and found this tiny town of Storybrooke. He hadn't even heard of it, but then again, he wasn't the type to drive around Maine for fun.
Between the various reports Justine had kept over the years and the analysis from the child psychologists, it was clear that Alice had severe social anxiety. But when he read the letters, it didn't sound like a they were talking about a child with a hard life. He picked up one letter from a waitress with the signature "Aurora" at the bottom. Attached to it was a highly skilled sketch of lilies and orchids with colored pencils. He held it up and looked at Justine. "What's this?"
"That's a sketch that Alice drew." Justine explained. "For the few years I've been her social worker, she's always been artistic, but this is the first time that her art hasn't been incredibly dark or angry."
The file in front of the judge was overwhelming. There were at least ten letters, each one from someone other than the Sheriff or Mayor who were the applicants to adopt Alice. Even for an impartial judge, it was difficult to say no to a situation like this. The judge closed the file and took off his glasses.
"Miss Reyes, Deputy Fa... like I said, this case is highly unusual." Both of their shoulders visibly fell, a sense of dread began to dig itself into Mulan's stomach. "However, from the documentation you've brought me there's a clear improvement in Alice's behavior. I want to grant the applicants interim custody until adoption has been approved." Mulan's eyes flew open wide as she prepared to stand and salute the man. He held his hand up and continued.
"There is a condition. Because this is a special case, I can't just sign off on it and let it go. Due to the excessive number of foster families Alice has been in and given her mental condition, this case will need to be monitored. Miss Reyes, you will have to do a frequent follow up, at least once a month with a full review and report. Also, we require mental evaluation for the child from an accredited psychologist. This... Dr. Hopper will do, if he is the local psychologist. If you can do this, then I'll see what I can do about speeding up the adoption."
The judge stood up and walked the file over to Justine. She stood up and grinned. He held out his hand to her and she took it eagerly.
"Thank you, your honor. You've just made an entire town happy."
"That's the one thing I don't get." he said as he watched Mulan stand up and position herself in a sharp militant stance. It reminded him of his days in the Air Force.
"What's that, sir?" Justine tilted her head curiously.
"How does a whole town get involved with one adoption? I've never seen that before."
Mulan realized that this was something for her to answer and she found herself smiling, "If I may, your honor... I just recently moved to Storybrooke. The people are kind hearted and charitable. They are uniquely unified. Everyone, from the mine workers to the Mayor herself, are so closely knit that they were not hesitant in supporting the efforts of Mayor Mills and Sheriff Swan. They are our town leaders and it is with great pride and respect that I, as well as many others in town, follow them."
The elder man was not expecting such a heartfelt answer. He laughed and smiled, placing a hand on Mulan's shoulder with approval. "I may have to come visit some time. I'm sure you two have a long drive back. I've signed the letter of request and approval. Make sure you stop by the processing department to get it sealed. I suggest getting several copies because that orphanage likes to keep documents of everything and you'll need one or two copies in Alice's file for record."
Justine nodded, "Thank you again, your honor."
"Anytime, Miss Reyes. I'll see you in three weeks for that other case you've got." He said with a slight smirk. "Deputy Fa, it has been a pleasure to speak with you. Good luck to you in the future."
Mulan was unable to stop her respectful salute. "The honor is mine, sir." She did her best to remain straight faced, but the smile that had taken over her was showing as she imagined the looks on everyone's face when she returned with Alice. There was definitely a happy ending in sight.
After nearly a week of being depressed, Regina sat alone in her study, casually reading and trying to relax for once. It was Saturday afternoon and after the week her family had, they were well deserving of the break. Henry and Emma were out in the yard throwing around a football. Emma thought it would be a good idea to teach her son some sort of athletics, but the boy would rather read than run around with a ball. Still, Emma was insistent and Henry found it hard to say no to his pouty blonde mother.
Lounging across the loveseat in the study, Regina nursed a glass of cider and was reading a novel with her red framed reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She shifted slightly in the chair as her novel came to an unexpected steamy turn. Caught between throwing the book to the side for its overly suggestive themes and continuing to read, Regina only found herself blushing furiously at the pages. She scolded herself at being embarrassed by the book when she was fully aware that she wasn't unfamiliar with what went on between the pages. Before Emma, there were a handful of other lovers and with that came the experiences. However, reading it on a page in front of her brought about a whole new sense of awareness she never experienced before.
The doorbell rang, causing Regina to jump slightly and glare towards the door. She put her drink and book down. The bell rang a second time as she exited the study. With a look of irritation, she opened the door to find Ruby, Belle, Aurora, Snow and David standing on the porch.
"If you're an angry mob, you're missing the torches and I didn't do it, for once," she snarled. Of all the people who could be disturbing her relatively quiet afternoon (with the exception of Emma and Henry running around the backyard), it had to be this group.
"Don't be that way, Regina," Belle said with a smile. "We decided to come by for an impromptu get together."
"We aren't bothering you, are we?" Snow asked as she fidgeted beside her husband. David was holding a large aluminum tray covered in foil.
"I was reading," Regina answered with a slight sneer.
Ruby leaned in close and smirked, "What were you reading? Your cheeks are all red."
"That's none of your business, Miss Lucas," the Mayor snapped. With a laugh, Ruby shrugged off Regina's snarl.
David held up the tray, "Just let us in, Regina. I brought food and I'm more than willing to help make everyone something to eat."
"How kind of you to invite yourself over and go through my pantry." Realizing that there wasn't any getting around their presence, Regina stepped back and rolled her eyes. "Emma will be glad for the company, at the very least." The others filed into the house. Ruby immediately hurried to the backyard to find Emma and Henry. Aurora smiled shyly at Regina who returned the gesture with a wary glare. "Were you in on this scheme, too?"
"Not at all," Aurora replied. "It was Belle and Ruby's idea. But Mulan is still out on her training ritual, so I didn't want to stay home alone. Also...I brought you something." She reached into the bookbag that was slung over her shoulder and pulled out a thick book.
"It's Affinity, by Sarah Waters. Belle showed it to me and I couldn't put it down."
Regina took the book as she closed the door behind Aurora. She stared at the dark cover with the woman in white contrast. "What is it?"
"It's about a young woman who visits a prison and befriends a suspected psychic murderess. It's written all in diary entries. It was quite intriguing and thought you might enjoy it as well." Aurora smiled as Regina flipped through the pages. Since she and Regina had begun to reestablish their relationship earlier in the week, Aurora spent her off time trying to find a way to bridge the gap between them. She didn't want to admit it, but she was a bit jealous that her other friends had some sort of cordial relationship with the Mayor. It seemed as if she were the only one who was the odd one out.
As they moved into the kitchen, Emma, Henry and Ruby came through the back door. There was a big smile on Emma's face as she moved past her parents and straight to her girlfriend. "I didn't know everyone was coming over." She leaned in and kissed the older woman's cheek.
"I didn't either until they showed up at the door. Since when did our house become the community center?"
David laughed as he unpacked the tray. It was filled to the top with barbecue skewers. "Since you two decided to not leave the house anymore. We figured that if you didn't want to come out, we'd come to you."
Emma walked over to the fridge and pulled out a six pack of beer that she recently convinced Regina to let her keep. It was some brand from Spain with a shiny red label that she stumbled upon while visiting the grocer. How the tiny town of Storybrooke was able to bring in imported beer was beyond her comprehension, but she appreciated it nonetheless. Emma popped open three beers and handed one each to Ruby and David.
"What'd you make, Dad?" she asked.
David beamed proudly, "Your mother suggested we do a barbecue before the weather gets too cold. These are tequila-lime marinated beef skewers with onions, peppers and heirloom tomatoes."
Regina sighed, "I suppose I'll make some macaroni salad to go with that."
Aurora hurried to Regina's side as the woman pulled out a box of macaroni. "I'll help." The brunette's eyebrows rose slightly, surprised that Aurora was so eager to do anything with her. The young princess received a quiet thanks as she nodded and continued to take ingredients from the other woman.
"So... Mulan's not back yet?" Emma asked as her father carried out the skewers to the grill in the back. Henry slipped out the back with him, leaving the conversation he was having with his grandmother and Belle.
Ruby sipped at her beer and pointed the bottled towards Emma. "No, but she said she'd be back today. She'll come by and join us. She's gotten better at driving, so I let her borrow the SUV."
Emma nearly choked on her beer, "The station SUV?! Ruby, what if she crashes it?!"
Belle laughed from her seat the dining table, "It's fine, Emma. Ruby and I drove around town with her. She handles that gigantic thing better than you do."
The Sheriff pouted, "What? My driving is fine!"
Regina snorted, "Or so you think. You can barely sit in the driver's seat without trying to change every station on the radio or fuss with the iPod."
"That's because you have every channel programmed to smooth jazz! I can't drive to that stuff, I'll fall asleep! I need some real beats when I'm behind the wheel." Emma folded her arms across her chest.
Although Regina was snippy at first with everyone showing up, she and Emma were both beginning to feel better than they were that morning. Emma, who didn't have many friends until she moved to Storybrooke, was glad to have the company and the distraction. On the other hand, Regina, who's circle of acquaintances weren't necessarily people she would call friends, found that having this ragtag group around actually lightened her spirits.
Henry came back into the house, holding a plate of skewers. "Grandpa David couldn't figure out how to turn on the grill at first. But these things are cooking pretty fast." He put the plate on the counter and looked over at Regina. "Mom, can I have a soda since we're kinda having a party?"
Regina frowned. She hated the idea of Henry and Alice having soda, especially after the hyperactivity they were prone to. Picking them up from Ruby and Belle's not that long ago was more than enough evidence that her children should stay away from sugar. But given the circumstance and her current mood, she shrugged. "Fine, but only one. Since your mother's decided that it's time to break out the beer."
Henry cheered and hurried to the pantry where Emma was hiding a case of Coke. Snow laughed and joined the other women around the counter, placing a wine bottle between them. "I brought something, too."
Belle nodded with approval, "Australian Shiraz... nice choice. Where'd you get it? I haven't seen this at the grocery."
"Neither have I." Regina commented as she picked up the bottle to inspect it. She set it back down and turned towards the cupboard to pull out wine glasses. She stopped beside Aurora who was adding salt to a boiling pot of water. "Not too much, dear. I always add a little salt to the macaroni salad so the pasta doesn't need too much." Aurora nodded, quite pleased that Regina was comfortable enough with her to give cooking tips.
"Doc gave it to me. Not sure where he got it, but he promised it was worth it."
"Moms?! Come here!" Henry called from the top of the stairs. He had gone up to his room to retrieve a new comic book to show to Belle (since the girl loved reading anything and everything). He caught a glimpse of the black Storybrooke Police Department SUV outside and a familiar blonde head of hair leaning against the door. He rushed to the bottom of the stairs just as Regina and Emma came running out of the kitchen into the foyer.
"Henry, what's wrong?" Emma asked frantically. Her son brushed past of the them as he ran to the door and yanked it open. The blonde looked down the pathway to see Mulan walking around the SUV to open the side door. "No way..."
"Oh my god..." Regina muttered. She covered her mouth with her hands as Mulan helped Alice out of the SUV. The girl rubbed her eyes sleepily but the realization of where she was quickly registered on her face. Regina pushed past Emma and Henry and stepped onto the porch before falling to her knees and holding her arms out to catch the small blonde girl who ran towards her with her white rabbit in one hand and a small backpack around her shoulders. As soon as Alice was in arm's reach she wrapped her arms tightly around her.
"Alice, I thought we'd never see you again."
Alice hugged the brunette woman. "Mommy, I didn't want to leave. You said I can stay."
"I know, sweetie. We promised you could and we mean it." Regina felt her heart pounding hard in her chest as tears welled up around her eyes. "I'm so glad you're home." She felt Emma's arms around her and Alice as the blonde bent down to hug her family. Henry was suddenly at her other side, joining his family's reunion.
Mulan casually walked up to the porch and clicked the remote on the car. She smiled as she heard the secure honk of the alarm and shoved the key in her pocket. Emma looked up at her. "Did you do this, Mulan?"
The warrior shrugged, "I had help. There is documentation in the car. I must apologize, Sheriff. I have asked my friends to lie to you."
"I know you did. I can tell when people are lying, even if they're as good as Ruby. I know you weren't training in the woods. You'd have taken Mushu with you." Emma said with a smirk. "But you brought Alice back, so I really don't care if you lied about it."
Mulan beamed, "I did not want to raise suspicions. The social worker was quite helpful. She took me to Portland where a kind government official has given the approval for the young one to live here."
Regina looked up, still not releasing her hold on Alice. "What? You mean..."
The warrior woman nodded, "Yes, Madame Mayor. The judge has decided that you and Sheriff Swan are the young one's parents until she is adopted. I hope you are able to forgive me for assisting Mother Superior. I did not want to remove Alice from your family, however I felt that it was my duty to obey the law."
Alice turned and wiggled out of Regina's grasp to hug Mulan's waist. She was slightly confused at first, but her face slowly warmed up and she patted Alice's head. The girl looked up and smiled. "Thank you, Mulan."
"Think nothing of it, child. Family is made of people who love you." She crouched down and placed her hand on Alice's shoulder. "Not all families are blood related. It is the ties that bind us that make a family. I do not believe there is any other place in the world where you belong except here."
Regina smiled. All her doubts, worries and fears seemed to disappear. Emma caught the grin on her girlfriend's face and wrapped her arms around her waist. Regina returned the embrace, feeling nothing more than true happiness that her family was back together.
Henry took Alice's hand. "Come on, Alice! Grandpa David and Grandma Snow are here. We're barbecuing! Oh, and so are Belle, Ruby and Aurora! Everyone's here today."
Alice's eyes lit up. "Everyone?" She looked down at Henry's hand around hers and nodded. Clutching her bunny to her chest, she let Henry guide her into the house where the others waited.
Mulan, Regina and Emma followed the children into the house, finding Snow with her arms around Alice as she cried happily. Ruby bumped her shoulder against Emma's as the blonde picked up her beer again. The Sheriff smirked. "You knew she was coming home, didn't you?"
"Yup."
"That's why all of you came over, isn't it?"
"Yup."
"You know I knew you were lying about Mulan being on a training ritual."
Ruby shrugged. "Yeah, I know. But we decided that if you and Regina knew what we were up to, you'd want to get involved. The social worker said it was best if you didn't 'cause it'd look like a desperate attempt on your part."
Emma smiled. "Thank you, Ruby... seriously, you guys are the best friends ever."
The tall brunette laughed. "Yeah, we know."
Stepping back to observe the commotion in the kitchen, Emma smiled. For the first time, her heart was content. She had friends that she realized would go to all sorts of lengths to support her and her family. Their loyalty was immeasurably valuable. She had her parents and for as goofy and ridiculous as they may be, they were genuine and accepting of all the good and bad that had crossed her paths in life. Most importantly, she had her family. With Henry, who was as ambitious as he was curious, Alice who was opening up and showing incredible potential for almost anything and Regina, whom she loved more than anyone else in the world, Emma decided she didn't need anything more than this. After almost thirty years, Emma Swan finally found the home she longed for all her life.
This ended up being a really long chapter. Sorry. Hope you all stuck with it. You don't honestly think this is over, do you? :) hopefully the next chapter won't take as long for me to write. My restaurant is open now and I won't be as crazy busy.