Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do not own Once Upon a Time/the characters (except for Ava - shes mine)
Warning: Coarse language
Apologizing for any spelling/grammar/punctuation errors in advance. (just in case)
"How did you grow up to be so smart?" Regina asked smiling through her own tears
"I've always been smart" she replied jokingly (even though it was the truth) "but I'm definitely not grown up" she finished- slightly embarrassed when remembering last night's antics – they seemed like distant memories with everything going on –so much so that Ava had forgotten that she felt like absolute crap.
"You're still grounded by the way" Regina stated in a motherly tone.
"I figured" Ava replied rolling her eyes.
Regina shook her head and smiled at her immature teenage daughter. Things were looking up.
After about an hour of enjoying each other's company, Ava decided she'd head over to the apartment to talk with Emma, Snow and Charming about her living arrangements.
She knew they wanted her to stay at the apartment –just as a safety precaution, which was understandable, but Ava just wanted to stay at home.
"Hey, so, I'm gonna go to the apartment for a while, but I'll be back later. I just need to talk to everyone and let them know I'm ok and what's happening." She told her mother.
Regina insisted on driving her to the apartment, but Ava didn't want to risk having her out in the open with so many people wanting her head.
"I'll be fine walking, don't worry" Ava said as she stood from her place at the dining table.
"Okay, but be safe and don't talk to strangers" Regina said as a cliché mother would.
Ava rolled her eyes and headed for the door.
Just before pulling the front door closed behind her, Ava finally replied with a playful "yes mom".
Ava really enjoyed walking.
It was how she got away from Rumple back in the Enchanted forest (though never for long periods of time).
He always made her walk long distances to get resources he needed for his potions.
Ava – well, she went by Belle then, but preferred to stick with Ava- never had a problem with this because it allowed her to escape the misery of his dark castle- even if it was only for a short while.
While thinking about her past life, Ava stumbled into someone.
"Oh I'm sor-" she began and stopped when she saw who it was.
"Ava…" Nathan breathed.
Ava rolled her eyes.
"Look, I don't have time for this" she stated knowing full well what he was going to try and do – try and apologize for what she saw at the party.
"Please, just let me explain.."
"There's nothing to explain. It's fine, honestly. You don't like me and I don't like you." She lied.
Nathan didn't believe a word she said, but due to the glare he received, he decided he'd let her go.
But not before he blurted out a small, and rather pathetic apology.
"I'm sorry for what you saw"
"Sorry for what I saw, but not for what you did? Nice.." Ava cut in sarcastically as she moved past him.
Though Ava couldn't see it, Nathan turned around to watch her leave.
She could feel his eyes clinging to her back. She thought- If he liked her this much, why did he kiss that girl - what was her name again?
Oh yeah, Charlotte.
In no time, Ava had reached the apartment which now belonged to the Charming's collectively.
She walked up the stairs and towards the door.
It only took a few seconds after the first knock for the door to be opened by Snow.
"Oh Ava!" She brought the teenager into a tight embrace.
"Jeez…lady…I can't…breathe" Ava said in an over dramatic tone.
Snow giggled as she pulled away. "Sorry" she then replied shyly.
"I was just…"
"Worried?" Ava replied mockingly before she continued"Are you ever not?" she grinned.
"Hey!" Henry pushed his way past his grandmother and practically threw himself into Ava's arms.
"Hey kid, you have no idea how glad I am to see you out of that damn hospital bed." She said smiling from ear to ear at her completely healthy little brother.
"She did it! She broke the curse!" He shouted excitedly.
Ava looked up to Emma.
"I know". Ava smiled at Emma, who returned the gesture.
Snow spoke up once more. "Come on in, I'll make us all some hot chocolate"
After everyone at the table had finished their drinks, Snow got up and took all the cups to the sink.
It was only Snow, Emma Henry and Ava there at the time –as Charming had gone out to get his sword from Rumplestiltskin.
Emma seemed to be a lot more relaxed then she was at the hospital and Ava waited until Snow headed towards her bedroom and was out of earshot before she asked "How are you feeling?" with a sympathetic smile.
Emma smiled and tilted her head slightly. She then whispered.
"To be honest, it's a little – actually no, It's unbelievably weird, but I-I don't know, it just kinda feels…right, I guess"
Ava smiled, then joked "see, I was right – I am older than you, therefore you should have to listen to me" She grinned cheekily.
"Yeah right kid, you still have the mind and body of a teenager, plus I'm sheriff –so either way, I'm the boss" Emma winked as Ava rolled her eyes.
Emma then noticed Henry was playing a game of snake on Mary-Mar- Damn it- Snows- phone.
"Hey Henry, can I have a game" she said innocently, but Ava knew she had something else up her sleeve.
Playing along Ava asked "Snake? Really?"
Emma looked at her.
"No – I had a better idea."
Emma fiddled with the phone for a while before handing it over to Ava.
"Check the contacts list" she stated simply, unable to hide a smirk.
Ava did as she was told and couldn't help but snort when she saw what Emma had done.
She had changed every person's picture in Snows contact list to a picture of their corresponding Disney characters.
"She's going to flip out and It's going to be fantastic" Ava stated.
"I have another idea" Ava then began playing around with the phones settings.
After a couple of minutes, she had changed the ringtones for each individual contact to that of a song from their respective movies.
She showed Emma what she has done and they both began to giggle.
Henry had no idea what the two women were laughing about, but he enjoyed simply being in the presence of his family and enjoyed watching them interact.
"What on earth are you two giggling at?" Snow came back into the room.
"Uh – nothing..." Ava responded a little too quickly.
Snow eyed both girls and decided she'd leave it for now.
She sat back down at the table and elegantly linked her hands together before placing them on the table – while looking up at Ava.
"Ok, so – about living arrangements, I know it's going to get pretty cramped in here, but – "
Ava interrupted her
"Oh, that's kind of why I came.." she said, remembering the discussion she had with Regina earlier.
Snows eyebrows rose –as did Emma's and Henrys.
"I- well – I was thinking, that – maybe – I would just stay at Reginas.."
"Ava –" Emma began to speak but was stopped by a sound which made her and Ava begin to chuckle.
"Some day, my prince will come. Some day we'll meet again - and away to his castle we'll go - to be happy forever I know" rang through
the apartment and Snow looked around confused for a moment before her eyes landed on her phone on the table.
'David' - Decline or Answer.
A picture of the prince from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in the place where Charming's picture would appear when he (as David Nolan) called.
Snow looked to both women who put on innocent smiles and shook her head before answering.
"Charming, is everything ok?"
The woman went silent for a moment, listening intently to the man on the line.
"Yeah ok I'll send Henry down."
The woman then hung up the phone, put it on the table and looked at Henry.
"Henry sweetie, would you go down stairs and help your grandfather bring up some things for me."
"Yeah Sure!"Henry smiled at his grandmother.
He didn't mind helping out –in fact, he loved the idea of being with his gramps- even if it was only to help bring up some stuff from the truck.
The boy left and Snow turned to glare at Emma.
"Really?" She raised a single eyebrow - and tried to sound serious.
"Oh come on! It was funny – Plus, I only did half of it – it was Ava's idea to change the ringtones"
Snow then turned her glare to Ava.
"Was it now?"
Ava looked down at the table pretending to act like a child who was ashamed of them self after being scolded by their parent.
She then looked up and said "We changed my picture and ringtone too"
She couldn't contain her laughter any longer.
After a fit of laughter enveloped the room, Ava spoke once more.
"You know what's funny? As Ava, my favorite movie has always been Beauty and The Beast – although the movies story line is way off"
Ava said this jokingly and only realised the seriousness of the statement when she saw the two woman looking at her with widened- sadness filled - eyes.
"Oh, I didn't mean –"
Lucky for Ava, Charming and Henry walked into the apartment – David carrying a long black case – with what was most likely to be his sword inside of it -while Henry carried a smaller box with a couple of random items in it.
Charming set the case on the floor and walked over to his wife who was now standing.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Hello my Queen"
Snow giggled before replying "Hello my love" then she went in for a kiss.
"Ew" Henry stated from where he was standing near the counter.
"Yeah, I'll second that" Emma said while moving away from where the canoodling couple stood.
"I'll third it" Ava then added laughing as the two deepened the kiss simply in spite of the three.
"All right, seriously guys, that's enough – I know I'm an adult but there are some things people never need to see their parents doing – canoodling like a couple of lovesick teenagers is on that list"
"I'm here too…" Henry piped up.
Snow and Charming both smiled on each other's lips at Emma calling them her parents and snuck one final kiss before finally pulling apart.
Snow sat back down next to Emma and playfully nudged her shoulder.
"Don't mess with my stuff and I'll consider keeping your father and I's lovey-dovey-ness to a minimum – but I make no promises."
Emma made a face before giving in.
"Fine" she said, rolling her eyes.
"What is this stuff?" Henry spoke up from his place on the floor as he went through the box.
"Just a couple of other things Gold took from us" Charming replied.
Henry pulled out the small glass unicorn mobile.
"Cute" he commented, as Snow walked over and took it in her hands.
"This was yours" she said – directed at Emma, but she kept her eyes on the delicately crafted object.
"It used to hang above the crib in your nursery." She stated, tears welling up in her eyes.
Emma shifted uncomfortably in her seat and tried to take the spotlight off of herself.
"Yeah, maybe you could use it again if you ever have another baby" – The statement came as a shock for both Snow and Charming who shared a look before Charming spoke up.
"No, Emma – it's yours."
"No, I insist. What goods it going to be for a grown woman anyway" she stated bluntly, not realizing the impact her words would have on her parents.
Luckily for her, Ava stepped in – "sorry to interrupt, but uh… I might head back to Regina's- she's probably worrying since I've been gone for a while…"
"I'll take you" Emma offered a little too quickly – her relief noticed by everyone as Ava nodded gratefully.
Emma was never good with emotional stuff and although she wasn't thrilled by the idea of Ava staying with Regina, the girl was right. Regina wouldn't hurt her - and she is still her mother. Not to mention giving Ava a ride would allow her an easy escape – for now anyway.
As the car pulled into Regina's driveway, Ava thanked Emma for the ride.
"If you need anything – and I mean anything at all, you call me ok? Anytime, day or night -I mean it Ava."
"I will- stop worrying so much, you sound like Mary-Mar.. Snow" Ava corrected herself mid sentence.
Emma rolled her eyes making Ava laugh.
"I'll see soon, tell Henry and the others the same" Ava smiled before getting out of the car.
She walked to the front door and turned to wave one final time at Emma.
Pushing through the door, she yelled for Regina.
"Mom, I'm back"
No reply.
'Weird' Ava thought.
She had a quick look around the bottom level of the mansion, before she padded her way up the stairs to check the rooms.
'She must have been here somewhere' Ava reminded herself.
She checked the bathroom, and when there was no sign of her, she headed towards Regina's bedroom.
The door was shut, so Ava put her hand on the knob, turned it and pushed forward.
The site she came across was one which she was definitely not expecting.
"Oh my god…" she squeaked at the scene.
Her ears had failed her just minutes ago, but they were definitely working now.
Her mother was making noises she had never heard, nor ever wanted to hear again.
"Ava!" Regina then screeched while pulling a blanket up, and over her own and someone else's naked bodies.
"What the hell's going on? Wait, never mind..don't answer that!" Ava stated quickly, with her eyes squeezed shut as she backed out of the room.
"Sorry, I should have knocked…" she said as she darted to her own room and shut the door.
She sat on her bed and breathed.
"What the actual fuck"
muahahahahahha! thoughts? This is a bit of a random little chapter.. I'm kind of lacking in the idea department at the moment, hence the late update - i've had part of this chapter written for a while, but not even I know where i'm going with this sooooo... roll with it ok haha! :D