I had a request from Kamloth to have Penelope join a hockey league (an all boy's one) and then I got a very descriptive (and beautiful) prompt from dance_of_pale about the family vacationing at a lake house during the winter. So, combining the two because I think they fit perfectly. Henry is 18, Roland is 14 and Penelope is 8. (Okay, wow. How did our little squish get so damn old? I need to write another when he's little soon!) Btw, I'm half Italian and I basically turned Odette into my aunt here. If you're Italian (or any culture where food is a big deal), you have at least one relative like this. Also, I just want to thank you guys for all the support you give this little series. It makes my day so much brighter! I love the SwanQueen fandom to bits.

The feel of the ice beneath the blade, the smell of the cool winter's air. It brought her back to her childhood. Her father had brought her out onto the lake after strapping on her very first pair of skates. They held hands and slowly, but surely, she was off on her own.

"You're doing it, baby, you're doing it!"

A big smile on her face, her blonde curls bouncing beneath her winter's cap. She had never felt more graceful. Her father always said she had been, she was a swan after all.

She did a twirl, landing just as she had since she learned to do one. She was getting up there in years, but it was a hard habit to break.

It was late December and the Swan-Mills family had joined Emma's parents on their home on the lake. Growing up, Emma would go at least twice a year with her family, if not more. It was only a 2-hour drive from their apartment in Boston. Summers, she'd swim, winters, she ice skated. After marrying Regina, her parents still extended the invitation to all of them. They couldn't except every time, the women being the sheriff and mayor, respectively, of their little town. But it was the holidays and they had managed a small getaway. It was important to them. Henry would be going off to college soon. Their little squish, all grown up and ready to take on the big bad world. Roland was 14 and opportunities to spend with him were fewer and fewer as well. He was so busy with soccer, friends and even his first little girlfriend. That was something for the mothers to get used to…their boys being independent, not needing them as much.

Luckily, they weren't near empty nesters. They still had their little girl. At all of 8 years old, her mothers still hung the moon. She missed spending time with her big brothers too. Luckily, the house didn't get wi-fi or very good cell reception, so the boys were forced to interact with family and they were actually enjoying it.

"Mama!" Henry came out of the house, his siblings following behind, they were all bundled up for winter. Emma stopped with her twirls and smiled at them. The boys had on matching jackets and thermal jeans, skates slung over their shoulders. She noticed Henry had two pairs, the smaller ones with little pink sparkles on them, clearly meant for Penelope. The little girl in question was trailing behind, she found it hard to walk in her boots. "Nona sent us outside, she said we were getting in the way of dinner."

Emma laughed. Her mother was a true Italian. She loved to cook for everyone, but Heaven help anyone who tried to assist her in the kitchen. That was her domain and hers alone. You want a snack? That's fine, but you better eat it elsewhere. "Sounds like her."

"Can we join you?" Roland asked.

"Of course." The boys had learned previous winters and were almost as good as their mother. "Lace up, Henry help your sister. You wanna learn to skate, Ladybug?"

Penelope nodded, excitedly. "Yeah, Mama." She had always wanted to learn, but Regina the forever helicopter parent had held her off. Emma finally put her foot down and said that winter had to be the one, Henry and Roland had both learned around age 6.

Speak of the devil, Regina made her way out onto the back porch, staring out at the beauty. The snow had fallen on the ground, but had cleared from the sky. She was all bundled up, a nice hot cup of hot chocolate that her mother-in-law had insisted on making for her. In her mind, Regina and Emma were far too skinny. It seemed to be her mission to make them 300 pounds a-piece. A 20-year mission that had yet to work.

She watched apprehensively as Henry gently guided his little sister on the lake. Their first winter there had been shortly after they were married, a time before children. Regina had flipped out, worrying the ice would crack and her beloved new wife would drown. But Derek had assured her it was perfectly safe, he would never let his daughter skate unless he knew it was thoroughly thawed over. It was sort of amazing to watch her move. Like a ballerina, just on ice. Emma had offered to teach Regina, but the mayor was having none of that. No, she was perfectly fine watching from the porch with her cup of hot cocoa.

Emma took Penelope's mitten clad hand and carefully showed her how to move. The little girl nearly fell a few times, but Emma always caught her. Meanwhile, Henry and Roland freely guided around, goofing off a bit. As her wife made another loop around the ice, making sure their baby girl wouldn't fall, Regina saw a look in her daughter's eyes, one she had seen many a time over the years. Usually it was when she wanted the last cookie or to pick the show that they watched. Being the youngest of three, especially with brothers who were very active and to the little girl, inspiring, she constantly wanted to be on the same level. Sometimes, she forgot that she really was only 8.

"I wanna do it on my own," Penelope told her mama.

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Well, honey, maybe when we go out tomorrow…"

"No, now. I can do it."

The blonde recognized the determination in her daughter's voice. She had it back when she learned how to ride a bike. While Henry and Roland had both insisted their mothers hold onto the back for a while, she was ready to go straight off. She got her stubbornness from both Emma and Regina, despite not sharing their DNA, they knew this. "Alright Ladybug. But I'm going to be right here."

Penelope nodded and Emma gently let go of her hand. The little girl made it two feet before falling down. Regina tightened her grip on her mug, trying to remind herself that her daughter was bundled up so tightly, it would take a harder fall than that to hurt her.

"Ooo, I give that a 2!" Henry called from his side of the ice.

"Are you okay?" Roland asked, concerned. He was so protective of his baby sister. Henry could be too, but he knew that she was alright. In his opinion, everyone babied the girl too much, despite her being such a free spirit.

"I'm okay," Penelope replied. Emma helped her back up. "I wanna try again."

"Alright, you can." Emma let go of her hand once more and watched her. She made it the same amount of steps before falling again. This time when the sheriff helped her daughter up, she noticed a more determined look in her eyes. She wasn't going to give up, despite the heart attack she was imposing on Regina and Roland.

At that moment, Odette made her way onto the porch, smiling at her daughter and grandchildren. It was so sweet to have the whole family together.

"Dinner's ready!" She called out. "Hope you skated yourself into a large appetite, I made chicken parmesan!"

Henry and Roland whooped and made made their way off this ice. Emma went to help her daughter, but Penelope stood firm.

"I wanna try again."

"We have to go eat baby, plus it'll be dark soon. We can try again tomorrow, okay?"

Penelope let out a long dramatic sigh, but agreed. She allowed her mama to help her off the ice and change back into her boots. Once they got up the porch, Regina wrapped an arm around her little girl.

"You did a good job, angel," she praised her.

"No, I didn't. I fell down a lot," Penelope replied with a pout.

Regina and Emma shared a look, sighing. As much of a free spirit and how competitive she could get, Penelope was her own worst critic. If she couldn't master something right away, she beat herself up about it. It was nothing her mothers had done, they praised her for every little milestone. At the same time, Regina was also the same with herself. No one else could criticize the mayor better than the person in the mirror. As much as she tried to shield that from her wife and kids, some of it had seeped through. When a bill she vetoed got passed anyway or when she screwed up in a meeting, she'd constantly think and rethink ways she could've done differently. Regina hated to think she had somehow passed all of that down onto her daughter. She also knew that she hated talking about it and if anyone tried to tell her otherwise in the moment, she shut them out. Her daughter was the same way, the talk could wait.

Dinner was a loud, lively affair. Odette hadn't just made a simple chicken parmesan, she had also made massive amounts of noodles, vegetables and garlic bread. Oh, the garlic bread, covered in gooey cheese. The kids got soda (curtsey of Derek, who felt it was his job to spoil the kids), while the adults enjoyed their wine. The only quiet person through the whole thing was of course, Penelope. They all got massive helpings, as no one was allowed to say no when Odette would ask "Oh, you need some more, don't you?". Then there was dessert, cheesecake. To everyone's surprise, Penelope didn't even finish hers.

"Don't you like it?" Odette asked.

"It's good Nona. I'm just tired," her granddaughter replied, quietly.

Regina exchanged another look with her wife. "You know what, I think she needs an early bedtime. I'll handle it."

Odette went to speak when her daughter gave her a look letting her know she needed to let it drop, that she'd explain it later.

"Well, sweet dreams Penny," Odette said instead, lovingly.

Everyone else wished her sweet dreams and Regina lead her upstairs. She gave her daughter some privacy to change into her pajamas before going inside. The house was huge with 4 bedrooms. Roland and Henry shared one and Penelope got her own, the same one that had once belonged to Emma when she was a little girl. It made the little girl feel special to sleep where her mama once had.

Penelope was under the covers in her huge bed, looking quite small in it. In her arms, she was clutching her ladybug lovey, otherwise known as a blanket with a ladybug head. Emma had bought it for her when she was a baby and while most children outgrew them before kindergarten, it was the child's comfort item. Regina and Emma would never dare to take it away from her, she could sleep with it until she left for college for all they cared. The boys had their own comfort items that they hid, not that they'd ever admit it.

Regina made her way over to the bed and tucked her in nice and tight before laying down beside her. "So, I still think you did very well today."

"I stank."

"Not true. It was your first time."

"Roland didn't fall that many times his first time."

"Sweetheart, you were 2. Do you really remember?" Her silence meant no. "I know it's hard, but sometimes it just takes practice. No one is perfect, not everything comes naturally to everyone." Penelope shrugged. "You don't have to be so hard on yourself. You are an incredibly talented girl, you can do so many things."

"I'm never going to learn."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "What is your name?" Penelope gave her a weird look. "I asked you a question."

"Penelope?"

"Penelope, what?"

"Penelope Victoria Swan-Mills."

"Exactly. You are a Swan-Mills. Do you know what that means?" The little girl shook her head. "We don't give up. Ever. We are stubborn to a fault. It's why your mother and I drive each other crazy so often." That got a giggle out of the little girl.

"You love Mama."

"I do. And I love you. I also know you. And from the minute you were born, you have never given up. You never let your size or anything stop you from doing what you want to do. You learned how to ride a bike, a horse, you've done ballet and you can beat Roland in arm wrestling." She left out the part that the older brother always let his little sister when. One day, she'd be able to beat him on her own accord. "So, you didn't master ice skating in one afternoon, that doesn't matter. Because as you just told me, you are Penelope Victoria Swan-Mills."

Penelope smiled. "I am."

"Now look, you don't have to try again if you don't want to. You can drink hot chocolate with me tomorrow or we could ask Grandpa if he can drag out the sleds."

Her daughter was silent for a minute. "I think I'll try skating again."

Regina smiled. "That's fine, more cocoa for me." She kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, my little princess."

"Night Mommy, I love you too."

"I love you more."

She got up and switched on the nightlight before turning off the overhead light, heading out of the room, shutting the door.

"Great speech, coach."

Regina nearly jumped out of her skin and spun around, seeing her wife standing there. "Damn it Swan! Between you and the kids, I'm going into an early grave."

"You ain't leaving me alone to raise these monsters." Emma smiled, pulling her closer. "And to think, you used to be scared that you wouldn't know how to comfort her."

"She's my daughter, I will never let her give up on herself."

"Just know I'm never giving up on you either."

Regina smiled, resting her forehead against hers. "How does that song go? Tell the grave digger he better dig two?"

"Oh yeah." Emma kissed her. "Now, if you're interested…you can be my coach. I think I need to be reminded of my spot on the team."

"Yes, as I recall I wanted to give you some private practices…"

"Oh my God, you two are so disgusting," Henry said as he passed them. "Get a room."

"Your mother and I are in love," Regina shouted after him. "Be grateful."

"I envy children of divorce," the overdramatic teen muttered, walking into his room.

Emma laughed. "He loves us."

"Totally. Now…. I was serious about the private practice…"

"Lead the way."

The next day, Emma asked her father to take the boys with him to the store so she could be on the ice alone with Penelope. Regina assumed her spot on the porch, her hands wrapped around a mug filled with cocoa. The 8-year-old had that determination back in her eyes and she was ready to get out there. To start off with, Emma did lead her around the lake a few times and then let her go. Penelope fell, but got right back up, even refusing her mother's hand. She tried again, nearly fell over but caught herself and kept right on doing it. Regina smiled from behind her mug as she took a sip. Emma was beaming proudly, watching in amazement.

"You're doing it, baby! You're doing it!"

It didn't matter that the mothers were immensely proud. What did, was that Penelope was proud of herself.

A Few Months Later

"I still can't believe you convinced me this was a good idea," Regina said, freezing her butt off as she sat next to Emma on a bench in Storybrooke's indoor ice rink. Roland and Henry were nearby, the older boy holding his camera. He had offered to record the moment, so his mothers could actually experience it in real time.

"She's an excellent skater," Emma assured her, linking arms. She could see Penelope getting ready, that same determination in her eyes.

The rest of their vacation, Penelope practiced skating every day. She even got into competitions with her brothers. When they returned to Storybrooke, Emma continued to teach her at the local rink. One day while leaving, Penelope saw some boys coming in with sticks and jerseys. She learned what hockey was and started watching it on T.V. It wasn't long before she was begging for lessons. She was still in the beginners but was the only girl in her class. Every month they had a competition, splitting the class into two sides. This would be Penelope's first one and she was super excited.

The game soon began and everyone was out on the ice. Regina cuddled closer into Emma as they watched their baby girl go. She really was good. She had set her mind to it and accomplished it. The boys had never even bothered to give her grief. They had older siblings, who knew Roland and Henry. It didn't hurt that the first few lessons, Roland was the one who brought her, glaring menacingly at the little boys, almost daring them to make fun of his baby sister. Henry would do the same, though he knew Penelope could take care of herself.

The game went on and Penelope's "team" didn't win. The family was a little nervous as they headed down to where the families were to collect their kids. Of course they were so proud of her, she had done a great job, especially for such a short time with lessons. However, they knew Penelope and suspected that wouldn't be enough. But, to their surprise, they were greeted by a very happy little girl.

"Did you guys see me? I shot the puck in the goal three times!" She said, excitedly.

Emma smiled. "We sure did, baby girl. You did a great job."

"I think this calls for hot chocolate," Henry announced, picking up his baby sister.

Well, who could argue with that?

As always prompts are accepted, in the comments or message me on here or my Tumblr: swanfirecaptainswanfeels.