AN: I apologize for how long this took me to get posted. I accept the fifty slashes with the wet noodle for penance of my misdeed. ;)
5 1/2 months later…
The lock clicked green to signify it recognized the key card before Henry shoved the heavy door open and entered the villa. His eyes were bright with unbridled excitement as he gazed upon the animal-themed room.
"This is awesome!" Henry cheered as he threw his bags down and quickly explored all the rooms. "Oh my god, the balcony overlooks the animals! There is a giraffe outside right now! Come look!"
Regina chuckled at her son's enthusiasm as she rolled two suitcases into the room, followed by Emma holding a sleeping Sofia nestled in one arm while she heaved the diaper bag and portable crib in the other.
"Let me take her while you set up her pack and play," Regina offered, not wanting to admit she missed the feel of her soon to be one year old daughter in her arms.
Emma wordlessly transferred Sofia over to her wife before she set the diaper bag down. Placing the pack and play on the floor, her tongue jutted out from the corner of her mouth as she unraveled the crib and started to lock it into place.
Emma would be the first to admit that when it came to manually setting anything up she was cursed, but as her daughter aged, she managed to put be quicker about opening the stroller, not pinch her fingers as often when she locked the car seat into the car, and she was even able to get the portable crib set up within ten minutes instead of the thirty minutes it used to take her.
Laying the bottom piece down inside the pack and play, Emma stood up and smiled at her quick work.
"Regina, it's ready for…," Emma trailed off when she realized her family was nowhere to be seen. "Gina?"
Stepping into the master bedroom, Emma smiled when she saw mother and son on the balcony watching the wild animals nearby as Sofia rested in Regina's arms.
Sliding the balcony door open, she stepped out into the warm air and smiled when she noticed that Sofia was actually awake. Lifting her head from her Regina's shoulder, Sofia gazed upon Emma with her big brown eyes that matched the russet shade of her brunette mother's dark irises.
"Mama," Sofia babbled as she grinned at her blonde mother.
Emma felt her heart flutter, the way it always did when her daughter looked at her with such adoration and called her Mama.
"Hey boo bear," Emma cooed before she kissed the auburn waves that now covered their daughter's head. "I just put your crib together, but I guess you're done with sleeping for now, huh?"
"Mama," she stated again and Emma chuckled.
"Sofia, look at the giraffes!" Henry encouraged as he realized his sister was awake.
Emma gently wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and she watched in amusement as her daughter moved her head to nestle it under Regina's chin. It was Sofia's favorite spot, resting her head against her mother's chest as she gripped the material of Regina's shirt in her chubby fist. Sofia sighed in content before she smacked her lips and Regina's smile widened at the noise before she started to rub tiny circles on her daughter's back.
"Henry, did you see the gorilla?" Emma questioned before she pointed to the far right.
He looked in her pointed direction and grinned. "Wicked! I'm glad we decided on staying in the Animal Kingdom. We're gonna have such a great time, since it's a first for all of us, right Mom?"
"That's right, dear," Regina answered. "I find it quite refreshing to be out of Storybrooke. I may not want to return."
"Maybe someday we'll move out of Storybrooke, but for now it's a stable home for our kids. Besides, I kinda like having a permanent residence and I don't think you're ready to separate from your magic just yet," Emma indicated before she stepped around Regina and gathered Sofia from her. "I'm gonna go make up a bottle and feed her. Spend some time with your son," Emma hinted before she planted a kiss on her wife's cheek and disappeared inside.
Regina walked over to stand beside Henry before she rested her hand on his shoulder. "So what park shall we explore first tomorrow?"
Henry looked up at her and quickly answered, "Magic Kingdom."
"How did I know you would pick that one first?" Regina mused with a raised eyebrow. "You've been yearning to see my reaction to our flawed replications, haven't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Henry quipped as his lips twitched to keep the smirk off his face.
"Of course you don't," Regina chuckled before she slid her hand across his shoulders and wrapped him up in a half hug.
Emma and Henry were practically bursting at the seams with anticipation as they passed through the Magic Kingdom gates with a less than amused Regina following behind as she pushed Sofia in her stroller. Being that it was on the cusp of winter, the weather was beautiful and the park wasn't overly crowded.
Making their way down Main Street, Regina couldn't help but shake her head at people's awed expressions and excitement over the castle they were heading towards.
"Pathetic," Regina chastised as they got closer. "Prince Thomas and Princess Ella's castle was more glorious than this flimsy excuse for a castle."
"Regina," Emma said in a warning tone before she sidled up to her wife's side. "You promised."
The brunette huffed before she quipped, "I'll behave."
Henry snapped several pictures of the castle with his newly acquired digital camera just for this trip before he turned to Regina and asked, "Did Cinderella's castle really look like this?"
Emma gave Regina a glare that screamed 'be nice' and the brunette deflated before she cleared her throat and answered, "Close, but not quite."
"How big was your castle, Mom?" Henry asked.
"Compared to this one? My palace was immense, at least triple the size of this so-called castle," Regina indicated with a glint to her eye before she cocked her head towards Emma. "Ask your mother; she's seen it."
"Was it really as big as Mom says it was?"
Emma looked up at the castle and couldn't help but sigh as she nodded her head. "Regina's castle was definitely bigger than this one."
Regina flashed Emma a smug expression before Henry caught sight of two costumed characters in front of the castle and shouted, "Look! It's Cinderella and Prince Charming!"
"Wait, why is Cinderella with my father?" Emma questioned in confusion.
"Maybe Mr. Disney had an inside scoop," Regina teased as they followed after their son.
"Hey, wait a minute! Are you saying my dad is a cheater?"
"If the shoe fits," Regina responded with a wry grin.
"Oh, hardy har har," Emma quipped before she playfully bumped her shoulder against Regina's and smiled.
"Ma! Take my picture with them," Henry ordered as he handed his camera over to Emma and ran to Cinderella and Prince Charming's side.
"Well, aren't you a handsome young prince," Cinderella greeted as she cupped her hands together. "Don't you agree, Prince Charming?"
"Indeed he is," The prince answered as he clapped Henry on the shoulder with mock pride.
"If only they knew," Regina scoffed under her breath before she flashed a grin towards Henry and shouted, "Smile for the camera, darling!"
Emma snapped the picture and checked the image on the digital screen before she gave Henry the thumbs up to indicate that it came out good.
"Thanks Ma! Let's head for Tomorrowland first then make our way around," Henry suggested as he took his camera back. "We'll go to the Monster Inc laugh floor. I think Sofia will love it."
As the sun started to dip low in the sky, the Swan-Mills family had completed exploring most of the park. They decided to retrace their steps and visit the few rides they had missed throughout the day before heading back to the hotel. Henry and Emma insisted on going on the Mad Tea Party ride and Regina took the opportunity to sit on the sidelines and just absorb her surroundings. She hadn't admitted to it out loud, but it was evident that Regina was having a great day at the park with her family.
As she sat on a bench with Sofia in her lap facing out, Regina couldn't wipe the uncharacteristically cheesy grin that was plastered on her face as she watched her loved ones spinning in the tea cups and laughing.
"Your mama and brother are silly," she murmured as she gently brushed her hand over Sofia's fine hair.
Regina let out a hearty laugh when she witnessed Henry's head flop back as he fell into a fit of giggles when Emma gave the wheel a good spin, but something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye and she abruptly stopped laughing as her gaze snapped to the path on the right. Regina's body immediately tensed up as her eyes landed on the one character that Henry had been searching the park for all day; the Evil Queen herself. Regina couldn't help but glare at her supposed replica as she scrutinized the way she portrayed Regina to be.
The happiness she had felt all day started to be replaced by the old familiar feeling of rage until Sofia suddenly shrieked out a high pitch squeal. Regina glanced down in panic, only to eye her daughter in disbelief as she watched Sofia stretch her little arms out towards the approaching villain. All the anger she was feeling towards seeing this mockery of her existence instantly vanished as she observed her daughter's antics.
"My daughter likes the Evil Queen," Regina mused with a sly grin. "Imagine that."
The intimidating villain made her way over to the mother and child while Emma and Henry stared wide-eyed in the background as they scrambled from the now-stopped ride in order to save the poor costumed woman.
"Why is that child looking at me like that?" the Evil Queen asked as she stood before Regina. "It's as if she actually likes me."
"That is because she does like you," Regina answered. "She knows you aren't the villain. That title belongs to Snow White."
"Not many people realize that truth," the Evil Queen sneered as she took Sofia's hand into her own. "I've never been idolized by a child so small. Most children run from me. This admiration makes me feel uneasy."
"I know that feeling all too well. Trust me, just go with it."
Sofia continued to reach out as small frustrated grunts sounded from her until the Evil Queen finally took the baby into her arms. Emma and Henry paused behind the villain with slack jaws at the scene before them until Henry remembered his camera and started snapping pictures like crazy.
"My family is behind you and would like to get a picture of us together, if that's alright with you," Regina indicated as she watched the Evil Queen fight to stay in character at the unusual warmth Sofia was providing her.
Henry waited patiently as his mother stood side by side with the Evil Queen who still held his elated sister. It was comical and yet endearing as he captured a few pictures before he watched his mother take Sofia back from the villain.
"May I ask your name?" the Evil Queen asked.
"It's the same as yours," Regina answered with a rueful smirk.
"People just call me the Evil Queen."
"People used to refer to me by that name as well, but my family changed that for me. I now go by Regina, which I discovered is Latin for queen."
"Regina, it was a pleasure to meet you and your offspring."
"Your Majesty," Regina addressed as she gave a regal bow as best as she could with a giggling Sofia in her arms.
The Evil Queen also bowed. "Your Majesty," she replied in kind before she continued her way down the path through the park.
"That was so worth waiting for!" Henry cheered. "Ma and I saw her walking towards you when we were on the ride and we thought you were gonna smite her on the spot, but you didn't and then Sofia made the day by showing that she prefers the Evil Queen over any character we met so far. That was hilarious!"
"I'm glad I was able to provide ample entertainment for you two, now if you…"
"Goodness me! Have any of you seen the wicked old Evil Queen come this way?"
Regina stiffened at the voice that came from behind her before she half turned and noted with disdain that the character version of Snow White was standing there. Even though she made some sort of amends with her former nemesis, something about this Snow White grated on her retired villain nerves.
"She went that way, but can we get a picture of you and my Ma first before you go? She's a huge Snow White fan," Henry indicated before he pushed a reluctant Emma towards her mother's character.
"Oh, how simply delightful! If I didn't know any better, I'd mistaken you for Rapunzel with those beautiful golden curls," Snow White crooned before she wrapped an arm around Emma's waist and smiled as Henry took the picture.
"And who is this delightful girl?" Snow White questioned as she approached Sofia in Regina's arms. "Aren't you a beautiful little princess."
Regina watched as her daughter's bottom lip started to quiver before big crocodile tears spilled out from her chocolate eyes. Her little body quaked in her dark-haired mother's embrace until the inevitable wails escaped the baby girl's throat. Regina quickly pulled Sofia up, letting her daughter rest her head on her shoulder as she rubbed her back soothingly and held her close.
"Oh princess, I am so sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry," Snow White pleaded.
"She'll be alright," Regina murmured. "She prefers the villains over the princesses, especially the Evil Queen; she's her favorite."
"Oh," Snow white quipped as she straightened up. "Well then I'll leave you be in peace, little villain."
The character skipped away as the family stood quietly together for a few seconds until Emma burst out with laughter. Henry and Regina soon followed which caused Sofia to perk up at her family's sudden happiness.
"My little villain," Emma cooed as she scooped Sofia out of Regina's arms and blew a raspberry on her daughter's cheek, making the baby to giggle.
"Now I wish I had made her that Evil Queen costume," Regina indicated.
"I'm sure we can find a villain shop and get a t-shirt for her or something," Emma offered as she wiped the drying tears from Sofia's face. "So Henry, where to next?"
"Um…a Small World and Peter Pan's flight."
"Peter Pan?! Is that some sort of twisted joke?" Regina questioned with a shocked expression.
"What's wrong with Peter Pan? He's just a boy who flies around and never wants to grow up," Emma countered with a shrug. "He's harmless."
"Harmless?! Walt Disney may have led you to that conclusion, but believe me when I tell you that Peter Pan is anything but harmless," Regina stated as she neared her family and lowered her voice so only they could hear her. "Peter Pan is a shadow with soulless eyes that scours the countryside to kidnap boys from their beds in the dead of night. Neverland is said to be filled with the deafening cries of the imprisoned boys as they plead to be returned home to their families."
Henry and Emma stared wide-eyed at Regina for a long moment before the blonde turned to her son and stated, "We're not going on that ride…ever."
Henry didn't argue as he simply replied, "A Small World it is then."
Emma sighed as she collapsed unto the bed before turning over and resting her head on Regina's stomach.
"Both kids are out like a light," Emma mumbled against the brunette. "I'm exhausted."
"It has been quite a draining day. Did you have a good time though?"
Emma lifted her head to look up into the russet eyes of her wife. "I had a blast today. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I had so much fun, can you?"
Regina ran her fingers through Emma's hair before she answered, "Honestly, I cannot say for certain when or if I had ever had quite an entertaining day."
"I never thought I would have this, you know? The kids, a wife…a family to go on vacations with…it's almost surreal."
"I have to agree with you on that one," the brunette murmured. "I love our family, so much it almost hurts."
"I know the feeling," Emma agreed before she crawled up Regina's body and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"We should get some sleep. Our little villain will be up in five hours," Regina indicated with a smirk.
"Only our daughter would prefer the villains over the princesses. I mean the whole thing with the Evil Queen and Snow White was hysterical, but then Cruella De Vil comes along and Sofia was dazzled by her, only to cry when Jasmine approached her a few minutes later," Emma chuckled. "She's curled up in her crib right now with her Evil Queen plush doll clutched tightly in her arms."
"Do you think she knows it's a representation of me?"
"I don't know, maybe, but that doesn't explain why she adores all the other villains we saw today."
Regina frowned. "You don't think…is it possible I may have tainted our daughter?"
Emma saw the sadness cross her wife's features and she quickly reached up to cup Regina's cheek. "Hey, none of that, okay? Our daughter is pure and good. Stop thinking you passed some evil gene on to her just because she prefers the bad guys to the good guys."
Regina gave a tight smile. "I'm just afraid that one day our daughter will become like I was, like my mother was, and I don't ever want that to happen."
"Stop it; Sofia will never become evil and if, and I mean a big if, she were to turn to the dark side, it'd be her own doing and not by anything we did or didn't do," Emma indicated. "Besides, her actions today is because she takes after me, not you."
"Oh?"
"Yup, because I love villains; especially the Evil Queen and her sexy dresses," Emma growled before she attacked the brunette with love bites as she tickled her sides, causing Regina to yelp with laughter.
Their time in Florida passed by quickly and before they knew it, the family of four was back in Maine, where the weather was cold and damp. Emma wasn't surprised to see the scenery was blanketed in a thick layer of snow as they drove over the borderline and entered Storybrooke. She glanced to her right and noticed her wife, along with their children in the backseat, were all sound asleep as she drove through town and pulled up in front of the mansion.
Turning off the car, she unbuckled her seat belt and carefully leaned over the passenger seat before she tucked a lock of ebony hair behind Regina's ear.
"We're home," Emma whispered.
The brunette tensed up for a minute before her dark eyes blinked open and focused on the blonde in front of her. Emma placed a quick peck to Regina's cheek before she opened her door and stepped out.
"Holy shit, it's cold up here," Emma cursed as she pulled her coat tighter around her body.
She watched as Regina bristled when she also exited the car before they both opened the back doors and unbuckled their slumbering children.
"You sure you don't want to trade?" Emma gritted out as she hefted Henry's dead weight into her arms and kicked the car door closed.
"As much as I miss holding my little boy in my arms, I doubt I could even make it to the front door with him," Regina confessed before she wrapped Sofia up in her blanket and pulled her out of her car seat. "You know dear, you could always wake him up and let him walk himself into the house."
Emma shifted her preteen son's body before she shook her head at her wife. "Nah, I only have another year or two before this is no longer an option."
Regina smiled in understanding before they made their way to the front door and entered the house. Emma quickly scaled the stairs and placed Henry in his bed while Regina placed Sofia in the pack and play that they kept in the living room.
The couple worked in amicable silence for a few minutes as Regina started the fireplace while Emma brought their luggage in. By the time the car was emptied, Regina had the fireplace roaring and was already working on making dinner.
Checking on Sofia, Emma wasn't surprised to see her daughter's chestnut eyes blinking up at her as a toothy grin appeared on her face. Her small arms reached up and Emma took the silent queue to pick her up.
"Hi boo bear," Emma greeted as she brushed unruly auburn curls from her daughter's face.
Sofia blinked sleepily as her smile increased before she let out a soft sigh and dropped her head to Emma's shoulder. Wrapping her free arm around her daughter, Emma cuddled with her youngest child for a moment before she headed towards the kitchen.
Regina had just placed dinner in the oven when she looked up to see her two favorite girls. Emma couldn't help but notice the way Regina's entire frame oozed with such adoration every time she was in the presence of their children.
Removing her apron, Regina made her way over and kissed Sofia's crown.
"Good morning, sweetheart. Did you have a nice nap?"
Sofia perked up at hearing Regina's voice and she immediately shifted, twisting her body and practically dropping against her brunette mother's chest. Emma laughed as she handed the baby over.
"Spoiled girl," Emma murmured as she started to lightly poke Sofia's ribs, causing their daughter to wriggle.
"Go check on our son," Regina ordered as she swatted Emma's teasing hand away from Sofia.
"No need, I'm awake."
Both mothers turned to see Henry enter the kitchen and sleepily approach them. He leaned against Emma's side and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders to steady him.
"Dinner is in the oven," Regina indicated as she reached her free hand out and brushed Henry's hair off his face. "Why don't you go get washed up and set the table."
"Okay Mom," Henry mumbled before he turned and left the room.
"I can't believe we're home already," Emma sighed as she sat down at the kitchen island. "It was fun while it lasted though, right?"
"I do believe it was a successful trip, yes."
"That's not what I asked," Emma chided. "Regina, tell me the truth while Henry's out of the room. Did you have fun?
Regina's eyes glinted with what could only be described as mischief and possibly excitement.
"I had more fun than you could possibly perceive me to be capable of," Regina answered as she placed Sofia in her highchair. "I find myself already planning another trip somewhere in the near future."
"Oh? And where would this future trip destination be?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I know for certain that it won't be anywhere near here."
Emma got up and slid her arms around Regina's waist before pulling her close. "Maybe one of these future trips could be a little getaway for just me and you."
"I would like that," Regina murmured before she leaned in and kissed her wife. "I would like that very much."
"Mama!" Sofia suddenly cried out, causing her startled parents to separate and face her.
A grin broke out on Sofia's face as she looked between her two mothers. Emma gave the child a mock glare before she embraced Regina once more. Just as she was about to kiss the brunette, Sofia yelled "Mama!" once again.
"Why you little c-blocker," Emma playfully chastised before she scooped the giggling girl up into her arms. "You're doing that on purpose."
Emma lifted her daughter up high into the air before she brought her down and blew a raspberry on her belly. Peals of laughter echoed throughout the kitchen and both women couldn't help but smile at the sound. Setting Sofia on her hip, Emma looked over at Regina pointedly.
"She keeps this little game up, we'll definitely be planning that trip for just the two of us sooner rather than later," Emma indicated.
"Indeed," Regina agreed with a smirk before she leaned in and kissed Emma.
"Mama!"
Both women laughed as they broke apart and gazed upon their daughter.
"Our little villain," Regina mused before she planted a kiss to Sofia's head.