AN- WARNING there is mention of harsh child punishment (Child abuse) It's in Italics so if that is trigger you may want to skip below.
THANK YOU AGAIN... For all the Reviews, faves, and follows. You guys are the best!
Three year old Regina stood frozen in horror as she looked down at her soiled bed and nightgown.
She began to bite her lip. Her governess was on a holiday which meant her mother would be getting her for breakfast soon. Regina climbed onto the big bed and tried to pull the sheets off.
"Regina, darling" Cora's voice cut through causing the three year old to freeze.
The stench hit Cora's nostril's before she even entered the room all the way. "Regina. Get over here now!"
Regina let out a slight whimper as she scurried off the bed and ran to stand in front of her mother. She cringed when she was the anger and disgust all over her mother's face.
"Regina" Cora's voice was shrill sending chills down the little girl's spine. "Did you wet yourself, and your bed?"
Regina winced as she looked down at her feet wiggling her toes slightly on the cold ground. "Yes, mother" She swallowed hard "I didn't know, mommy I am sorry."
"You are a lady Regina" Cora knelt in front of her and lifted her chin with her finger so their brown eyes met. "Ladies do not wet the bed."
"I am not a lady yet" Regina shook her head as she looked at her hand and counted three fingers before holding them "I am only this many."
"You are, a lady in training." Cora corrected her "And it's my job to teach you what that's like. We've talked about this before Regina. You are old enough to get yourself to the restroom. Only animals urinate where they sleep. Not ladies."
Regina blinked in confusion. She didn't know she had to use the restroom. She just woke up wet. "I didn't mean to, mama. I am sorry"
"We need to make sure you remember this, so it doesn't happen again." Cora shook her head "Nobody is going to want a princess that urinates on herself."
Regina didn't like the sound of this. She took several steps back. Wishing her father was here, but he was away on business. Nobody would be able to protect her. She looked back up at Cora, and decided to try and run from the room, when she was quickly halted by vines that grew out from under her bed wrapping them tightly around her, preventing any movement.
"No" Regina sobbed "Mommy, please" She begged
"Do you think trying to run, from mother was a good plan?" Cora asked grew closer to her daughter.
"No, mommy" Regina whimpered "I am sorry"
Cora stood back and stream of glowing light came from her fingers before it moved to Regina's back, hitting it just a whip would do, only a magical whip, that left no mark.
Regina let out a howl as the light connected her back, before she let out a horrified gasp as fresh urine now rolled down her legs, enraging her mother more.
"Oh, you defiant little girl!" Cora gasped "Listen here young lady, this behavior will get you nowhere with me. You will understand what I do is for your best. Defying me is not."
Another beam hit Regina's back, she let out a shrill scream, and it happened again and again. Her back was burning by the time the vine's disappeared and she fell to the floor. Tears rolling down her cheeks, snot was falling down her face getting into her mouth as she sobbed and hiccuped looking at her mother. "I am sorry mama, I'll be good. I'll be good."
"You will be" Cora warned as she waved her hand and Regina's bedding was brand new, and Regina found herself clean in a fresh dress.
"Your meal will be brought up to you, while you working on getting control of your emotions dear, there is no need for such dramatics over a silly little behavior correction. I do not want to see your face until tea time, am I understood."
Regina gasped as she tried to reign in her sobs while she gave her mother a nod. "Sorry mommy, I'll be good. I'll be a very good girl"
"You say it, however I have yet to see it" Cora crossed her arms over her chest "I'll leave you to think about how a good girl acts" With that she turned and left the room.
Tiny sobs racked Regina's little frame as she pulled herself from the ground and headed over to her freshly made bed. She plucked her beloved bear down and pulled him into her arms as she began rocking him. "Lyonal bear" She whispered "IF you were my child, I wouldn't punish you for wetting the bed" She whispered to the bear. "I am never gonna be like her." She promised the bear before she placed a very wet kiss on the bears stuffed nose.
Regina was jolted awake at the vivid dream of a memory she once lived. She let out a horrified gasp as she felt something warm and wet between her legs and on the sheet. "No" She whimpered. "No, no. No"
The bedside lamp by Emma's bed flickered on seconds later as the tiny blonde sat up in her big bed. "Regina?" She asked quietly.
"Go, back to bed, Swan" Regina said coldly as she looked down at her lap. Her body instantly began to shake as she tried to keep herself calm.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked ignoring the tone as she slid off her bed. "Are you going to throw up again? I'll get the bowl" She offered seeing the bowl on Regina's nightstand.
"Go back to bed" Regina hissed "Emma, please."
Emma frowned "Regina, you're not looking good."
"Emma" Regina's voice cracked as she tried to keep herself from crying. "Leave me alone"
"You're upset" Emma pointed out as she crossed the room anyway getting over to the bed.
"Go away!" Regina gasped but it was too late. Emma saw the wet sheets and nightgown."
"Hey, it's okay" Emma stood on her tip toes and placed her hand on Regina's hand. "Your body is that of a small child, and you're running a high fever, this isn't your fault. Nothing to be ashamed of."
"Says the girl, who yelled at her mother today, when she found out Auntie Zelena gave her a baby wipe bath, the night before?!"
Emma sighed "I know, I am not saying this isn't hard. I am just saying it's okay"
"No it's not" Regina snapped "It's not okay, Emma!" She tried to pull the sheets off the bed but was stopped when Emma grabbed her arm. "Regina, stop. You're still really sick, I can feel the fever just by touching your arm. You need to rest. Let me go get my mom. She'll help us."
"No!" Regina snapped as she pushed Emma's arm off her. "No! She's been up with Neal several times tonight, she was up all last night. Let her sleep."
"She wouldn't…."
"NO" Regina hissed as she pushed Emma slightly "Emma, I said no."
Emma sighed "Regina, you can't reach the washing machine, what is your plan here?"
Regina looked down "I don't know, but it doesn't involve waking up your mother."
Emma sighed "Alright" She headed to Regina's dresser drawer that held the clothing Granny had gotten for her, and found another night gown and fresh underwear.
"What are you doing?" Regina demanded as Emma grabbed the baby wipes that had been left upstairs since the cotton candy mess.
"Here" Emma said quietly "Why don't you clean up, I won't look." She promised as she pulled up the covers on Henry's bed while she waited for Regina to change.
"Now" Emma placed her hand on Regina's back once she had managed to clean herself up a little. "We're not waking up my mom, but you're still sick. All of this can wait until the morning.
She guided Regina back to her bed. "Climb in."
"Emma, I can't."
"You will" Emma narrowed her own eyes "Or I go get my mom."
"And people call me evil" Regina grumbled as she crawled up in to Emma's bed.
"I am actually surprised my mom hasn't come up here yet" Emma whispered as she crawled next to Regina. "The loft is not sound proof."
"She's exhausted, from taking care of us" Regina grumbled
"Well" Emma nodded "Yeah, okay. We have been a little rough on her."
"A little?" Regina scoffed. "I don't think your mother will choose to have any more children after this little stint. Neal is going to look golden."
"Mmm" Emma mused out loud "I wonder if the curse hadn't happened and my parents had me, if they would have had a second one, after me. Or if I would have driven them crazy."
Regina sighed "I didn't mean it like that, Swan. Your mother would have loved every second of your wild self, even if you didn't fit the perfect princess mode. She would have never forced you to be someone you weren't meant to be, and she would have had more kids, she's got a big heart, lots of love to give."
"She loves you" Emma curled her legs up as she rested her head on her pillow and looked at Regina. "She wouldn't be upset, if I went down and woke her up."
"No" Regina repeated as she covered her face with her hands "I can't."
"You can't what?" Emma asked as she sat up "Regina, what's going on? I know having an accident would be hard, but…."
"But nothing, Emma" Regina grumbled "Ladies don't wet their beds!"
Emma shrugged "Sometimes they do, it's not overly talked about. You know for privacy reasons, but trust me after having a child your body changes. Sometimes if I sneeze I pee my pants. Seriously"
Regina scoffed "Emma Swan."
Emma sighed "Regina, you've got to believe me. You didn't do anything wrong."
A hot tear rolled down Regina's cheek causing the tiny Savior to wince. "I just need my sister to fix this. Like now."
Emma nodded in agreement "I want this fixed as much as you do. I also know Zelena said it was going to take some time."
"I know" Regina sighed. "I know."
"Are you sure, you don't want me to go get my mom?" Emma asked "Maybe she can get you some more Tylenol? You might sleep better."
Regina shook her head "No, I don't want to go back to sleep." She lay back on one of Emma's pillows. "Maybe I'll just watch another movie on the laptop. Wil that keep you up?"
Emma shook her head as she got down and went and retrieved her father's laptop that was in their room and brought it back to the bed. She passed it to Regina before crawling back up.
"I'll be here all night long" Emma promised "If you need anything. Let me know? Please?"
"I am fine" Regina promised "Just go back to sleep, and leave me alone already."
Emma held up her hands "Okay, ok" She rolled over so her back to Regina as she closed her eyes.
"Emma?"
"What Regina?"
"Thank you."
Emma nodded "Of course."
Emma felt the warm sun streaming the window, she rolled over in bed to stretch to find Regina sitting next to her fighting to keep her eyes open as she watched from the sounds of it some kind of documentary.
"Have you really been awake all night long?"
"Good morning to you, Miss Swan" Regina rubbed her eyes.
"Regina" Emma's eyes got big "Why are you not sleeping? You're sick! Your body needs you to sleep."
"I am fine, dear" Regina grumbled
Emma sat up in bed and sniffed she air she could smell coffee brewing, her parents were up.
She threw the covers back and started to climb down her big bed.
"Where are you going?" Regina demanded reaching for her.
"I have to pee!" Emma crossed her legs and did a dance.
Regina rolled her eyes "Go, don't be dramatic."
"I know where my mom hid the cookies" Emma said as she headed for the door. "Do you want me to bring you back one? Or will that make you puke."
"Could you sneak me up a cup of coffee?"
Emma frowned "Well that may be trickier, but yeah I'll give it a whirl."
"You're a gem" Regina nodded rubbing her eyes.
"Though I don't think you need coffee, I think you need sleep."
"No" Regina snapped "I don't need sleep! I need a damn cup of coffee."
"Alright, keep your shorts on" Emma held up her hands before she darted down the stairs.
"Walk, Emma" Snow's voice called out to her without even seeing her. Emma groaned but slowed down and held the rail as she made her way down.
"Good morning, my sunshine." Snow smiled from the corner of the loft where she was rocking Neal, and giving him his morning nursing. Most of the time Neal now took a bottle throughout the day. However Snow liked to nurse him still first thing in the morning, and right before bed to make sure Neal was still getting the nutrients he needed, since he was starting to become a picky eater like his sister, and spit out every strained veggie his parents gave him, and he'd only his rice cereal with fruit mixed in. Emma didn't blame him though. The baby veggies looked like mash death, and the rice stuff was like white baby tar.
Emma gave Snow a smile her back was to the kitchen. Getting coffee would be a little bit easier. "Morning" Emma greeted her as she waved to Neal. "Where's dad?" She asked scanning the loft.
"Shower"
Emma groaned "Of course, when I have to pee" She crossed her legs and sighed.
"He shouldn't be long, baby" Snow promised "But if you can't hold it, let me know. I can get him out for you."
"No, I have full control of my bladder. Thank you very much!" Emma blushed, besides now was her chance. "I am going to go grab a bottle of juice and a banana, before breakfast."
Snow glanced over at her with a smile "Okay, I am going to make scrambled eggs and toast so don't fill up too much on juice, I'd like to try and get something healthy into you today."
Emma rolled her eyes as she headed into the kitchen she opened the fridge to make it sound like she was going to get a Sunny D. She waited a second before quietly climbed up onto the counter with her eyes on her mother. She was talking to Neal about something and he was cooing back at her.
"Thanks baby bro" Emma whispered as she lifted a mug slow and carefully to make sure it didn't make any noise as she carefully put it down. So far so good.
Emma carefully lifted the pot very slowly to make sure the glass didn't hit the burner on the bottom as she lifted it. She grinned proudly as she managed to get the pot up without a noise. She checked on her mother once more and saw her still rocking her brother and talking to him. She was just glowing as she looked down at her youngest child, clearly enjoying every second of his babyhood. Emma closed her eyes for a second to gather her thoughts before returning to her mission.
"Alright, success" She whispered as she slowly started to pour the hot liquid into the mug.
"Honey, if you go shopping today can you pick up..." David's voice called out as he opened the bathroom door which was in clear line of vision of the counter.
"Oh, my God" He gasped causing Snow to jump as David's quick footsteps were heard running across the loft, towards the kitchen. Though he wasn't fast enough and Emma's hand slipped holding the heavy pot of coffee and it crashed down to the counter, before hitting the floor spraying Emma with scalding liquid and glass.
"Emma!" Snow gasped as Neal began to scream after being startled by the coffee pot crashing his mother's gasp.
Emma hissed in pain, as the hot liquid hit her skin.
"Shit" David cursed as he assessed the floor there was glass everywhere, and both he and his wife were barefoot.
"Snow don't came any closer, there is glass and coffee everywhere." He instructed stopping her from rushing to Emma. "Can you get to her from the other side of the counter?" Even he couldn't walk through all the glass to reach her. He was going to have to put on shoes to start to clean up the mess.
Snow nodded as she kissed Neal's cheek "It's okay baby" She assured him as she managed to fix her shirt and settle Neal in his playpen
Neal continued to cry as Snow headed to the island
"Emma, sweetheart can you crawl up here" Snow asked as she held out a hand. David coming around to join Snow so he could see if his daughter was alright before worrying about the floor.
Emma looked away as she shook her head and stayed frozen.
"Honey, we know you got burnt by the coffee, can you come to me? Please come to me." Snow asked as David stood on his toes and reached over managing to get his hands on her arms and carefully pull her back until he was able to lift her and placed her in front of them.
Both David and Snow began checking over her arms and legs. Snow carefully brushed glass out of Emma's hair wincing while David checked on a small welt on Emma's arm.
"Sweetheart, what were you doing?" David asked as he shook his head "Snow she's got glass down her pjs." He noted as some glass fell out of her shirt.
Snow winced for the second time. "Hand me that towel and turn around" She instructed her husband.
David handed her the towel from the counter and turned around while Snow helped Emma stand on the counter and carefully stripped her down to nothing before wrapping the towel around her.
"We're good" She told her husband.
David turned back around. "Emma" He said a little louder as he stepped in front of her. "What were you doing? I know you're not really four, but your body is. Coffee is not good for you, not to mention the pot is heavy and hot! You could have been seriously hurt!"
"I am sorry" Emma winced as Snow found another burn on her thigh, with her finger. The shock was wearing off and she was really feeling the pain. She tried to not think about it as she looked at her dad for a second before averting her eyes. "I was trying to help Regina. She's upset." Knowing her dad was upset now go to her. Tears began to fall as Emma wiped them away. "I just wanted to help her, honest."
David stroked Emma's cheek before leaning in and kissing her forehead. "Emma, you scared me to death. I didn't mean to sound harsh, I was just scared"
"I am sorry, dad" Emma sniffed as she began to cry harder.
David closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her holding her close, careful of the towel. "I just love you, baby."
"Why is Regina sad?" Snow asked joining Charming hugging him with Emma between them.
"She had a bad dream and an accident" Emma whispered "Now she doesn't want to sleep. Its all my fault she's this little. I just wanted to help. I am so sorry"
"She had an accident?" Snow asked raising her eyebrow "What kind of accident?"
Emma swallowed hard as she chewed her lip. "She wet her bed" She whispered.
David cringed knowing how upsetting that would be for Regina, while Snow gave Emma a sad smile "You should have come and got me, I can help her."
"She's my friend, I wanted to be the one that helped" Emma mumbled as more tears fell.
Snow nodded "Lets get you cleaned up, and burn cream on those burns while dad cleans up the kitchen, after I'll sort Regina out okay?"
There was a knock on the door before Zelena poked her head in, after being told the last time she was there to just come in.
"Good morning, Charming..." She started to say when she saw the kitchen. "Did I miss an earth quake?" She asked coming into the kitchen as David stood in front of the mess assessing where to start.
"May I?" She asked David who gave a nod.
Zelena waved her hand at the mess, and with in a second the coffee was gone, and the pot materialized on the counter fixed. She winked at Emma. "No, more tears tiny Savior" She winked "All fixed."
Emma rubbed her eyes as she looked at the pot before giving her mom a smile "I guess I don't have to buy you a new one?"
Snow moved Emma's towel to look at her thigh where the worst burn had been to find it completely gone. "You stay away from the coffee pot, until you're big again. Understand?" She looked to Emma. "I am serious... If I see you near it you won't like what happens next. Got it?"
Emma rolled her eyes "Mom..."
"Emma!"
Emma's eyes fell to her hands as she nodded "Yes, mom."
Snow turned to Zelena "Thank you for healing her."
Zelena shrugged it was nothing, I did it for selfish reasons, I can't stand to see the Savior cry." She gave Emma a little smile trying to play it off.
"Alright, Emma you have clothes in the laundry basket on my bed that's clean, go get dressed and go potty."
"Mom!" Emma groaned as Snow put her on the ground. "Potty? Really?"
Snow pointed "Go"
Emma let out a huff as she stomped away while Snow went and lifted a still crying Neal from the playpen "Emma's alright, the mess is all gone, everything is fine baby." She assured him as his tears stopped. "Why don't you go see Daddy, while mommy and Auntie Zelena go check on Regina."
"Auntie Zelena?" Zelena raised her eyebrow.
"Well" Snow shrugged "You are my stepmother's sister...So that makes you my step aunt...And Neal's great step aunt..."
Zelena couldn't argue that as she headed for the stairs with Snow "What is going on with my sister today, is she feeling better?"
"I don't think so" Snow shook her head "I think she's got a lot going on this morning." The pair made it up the stairs the stench of drying urine assaulted their noses the minute they got upstairs, however both did not re-act to not embarrass Regina. However when they saw the small queen they did exchanged a worried glance. She was very pale, with dark circles under her very blood shot red eyes.
"Good morning" Snow sang out as she fluttered across the room and opened the window before moving to Regina. She placed her hand on her forehead and felt that she still had a fever. "You're still burning up, I am going to do a load of laundry and grab you some Tylenol."
"Take your perky level down, dear" Regina grumbled "I can't handle it this morning."
Snow bent down and kissed her forehead "I love you too" She sang out before heading over to Henry's bed as she quickly pulled the sheets off the bed.
"Emma blabs just as much as her mother." Regina grumbled while Snow left the room quickly trying to not make a big deal out of it.
Zelena took a seat next to Regina and tilted her head to the side as she studied her little sister.
"Where's Robin?" Regina asked trying to ignore her sister's gaze.
"With Belle, while you've got a fever I thought it would be best to not expose her, however I can't pass up on my chance to check in on you, and see how my baby precious sister is."
"Don't call me, Precious" Regina grumbled "And I am fine."
"That's what you want me to think" Zelena nodded "But why don't we cut the crap, and you just tell me what's going on, and it's more than an accident. It's deeper."
"Accidents as a grown adult is very humiliating."
"Maybe" Zelena agreed "But this is deeper, and you are not a full grown adult right now sis, and you know it. Your body is that of a child, and its acting as it should at that age. Sometimes accidents happen. Nothing to be ashamed of."
Regina scoffed "Ladies don't have accidents!"
"Who cares what ladies do, you're Regina."
Regina rubbed her eyes "You don't get it."
"Help me understand" Zelena tapped her leg "Talk to me, I am your sister."
Regina closed her eyes "I had a dream last night, but it wasn't a dream. It was a memory."
Zelena nodded "From your childhood, something mother did to you, I suppose?"
Regina nodded as she fought back tears. "She used magic, to whip me, when I peed the bed."
"Magic as whip?" Zelena frowned "So it didn't leave a mark, and nobody would ever have known, of the harsh punishment." Her voice sounded disgusted for a second. "How old were you Regina?"
Regina held up three fingers not saying anything.
"I am sorry, sweetie" Zelena winced "I am so sorry. I am sorry I wasn't there with you, and I wasn't able to protect you as big sister's do." She reached out and tucked some hair behind Regina's ears. "You do know that mom didn't have her heart, and you know if she could do it all over again with her heart, it would be very different. She loved you. She had a horrible way of showing it, but she loved you."
"I know" Regina began to cry "But, I told my bear, that I would never be her!"
Zelena raised an eyebrow. "I am sorry, I am not following..."
Regina wiped her eyes "I told my bear that day, that I would never be mother." She took a deep breath "And after Daniel died, mother actually had given me a gift in the tragedy, that I missed, a big one. One of being a queen and a mother to a child who just would have loved me. I could have had it all...But I was so driven by anger and revenge, I did it. I became her. I treated Snow as she treated me, and even when I got my second chance I treated Henry just as mother did. I became her. Don't you see that?"
"So did I" Zelena reminded her "And I have to point out, that both you and I figured out a lot quicker than she ever did. We have both started on new paths." Zelena held her sister's face in her hands and used her thumbs to stroke the soft little wet tear stained cheeks. "I want you to know something, both and I am going to say both here... Both of your children, realize what you lived with, and overcame, and both of them LOVE you." She got even closer. "I only hope, that some day Robin looks at me the way Henry and Snow look at you."
"Snow's grown, with invisible scars that I've given her, just as mother gave me." Zelena nodded "And you two have had to work hard to get to this point. Each of you had to let go of the hate and the anger, and look deep into the other person's soul to see who you really are, and that means more. That girl down stairs is fighting for you. Not just because you're her friend, because you're the only mother figure she has in her life. She looks to you, as Emma looks to Snow."
Zelena leaned in and kissed her sister's forehead "And Henry worked with you as well, and he thinks so highly of you. He thinks you hung the moon and Emma hung the stars. His two mothers are his true heroes in life, each for who you are. I am telling you Regina, you've come a long way, and you've got these two kids that love you."
"I love them." Regina admitted "I've struggled saying it, but my heart loves them. They're my second chance, I always thought marriage would be my happily ever after but it's being Henry's mother, and Snow's step mother."
Zelena nodded "You've got a family here Regina, children, sister, niece, and dare I say it step grandchildren"
Regina groaned "Never say that again, I am not a grandma."
"Emma and Neal love you. Even if you don't want the title of grandma. You've got them" She gave her a smile "I know mother was hard on you, and I know being this small you've got challenges and monsters you're battling, but don't do it alone. Let me in. Let Snow in. We'll fight with you, for you."
Regina swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded before she rubbed her tired eyes. Before she threw her arms around Zelena and hugged her tightly for a few seconds before pulling away. "Alright, enough of this feel all the feels, I am thirsty, and actually hungry. Lets go find out what healthy thing Snow is going to shove down Emma's throat."
Zelena laughed and nodded as she pulled back the blankets and helped Regina up "After a healthy breakfast, and Tylenol, you need to take a nap."
"Just because you're my big sister, doesn't mean you're the boss of me."
"Oh, I am too" Zelena laughed as she placed her hand on Regina's back and led her down the stairs "Get used to it, sis. You're never going to be rid of this family."
"Good' Regina said quietly as she held onto her sister's hand as they made their way down the stairs.