A/N – For those that voted on the sub-plot line of Ruby coming out, here is your chapter. Thanks again for your input! Fan Art on my Tumblr.

Review notes – For the guest reader who asked why Snow is even considering Gold's words about Regina hurting Emma… There's foul play on his part involved and it is not all Snow's fault… Give it a few chapters and you'll see.

For the guest reader who asked about my other fic – Darkness is Not Black – yes I am still updating it, just did Thursday, though less frequently than Home Again. Expect three updates a month on Darkness until it is done. I am editing one fic and currently writing three other ones (two of which are not published yet, one of which is the last part of The Do Over series)… Still taking prompts for that, so please toss them my way.

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Emma hummed as she looked out the car window at the passing homes leading up to their own. Today had been a much better one than yesterday all around and included her Kung-Fu class she chatted happily about until she saw someone she recognized. A little finger pointed to the front porch as the Benz rolled into the driveway.

"Look Mama!"

Regina followed Emma's direction and saw Ruby pop up from a sitting position on the front steps, waving at them. The child scrambled out of the car seat and ran up the walk, throwing arms around the waitress as Queen smiled in greeting.

"Hey Ruby! Did you bring me a bear claw?"

"Emma." Red lips chided softly.

"Ah, it's okay Regina. Not today little swan." Big eyes complete with a teasing pout. "Am I enough for you?"

Rolling green eyes and a grin. "Duh, I'm just hungry!"

Regina cracked a smile as she keyed them into the house with a wave to Ruby to follow. "You are always hungry sweet one. Let's go in and you can have some grapes."

Hesitant. "Green or purple?"

Ruby laughed as she shed her coat along with her hosts. "Don't they taste the same Emma?"

Serious face regarded the wolf in shock. "I have a 'fisticated plate. It so does matter. A lot."

Taking Ruby's coat to hang up, Regina offered clarity. "What she's trying to say using her big words so well, is that she has a sophisticated palate." Running fingers through curls and giving eyes to green. "I washed some purple ones this morning. They are in baggies on the bottom shelf in the fridge. You may have one bag. Dinner will not be long off." Happy little feet took off for the kitchen as Regina led Ruby into the living room.

"Swan has a palate?" Ruby sank into the couch.

"A very picky one. Everything is about color, shape and texture with this version. Taste is just an added bonus for her." Settling nearby in a winged chair. "I suspect you were not waiting on our porch to talk about a six year old's eating habits."

"Not really." Shrugging in wonder. "Does she still have her adult awareness anymore?"

"In some capacity though that's leaving more and more in her altered states, but it still comes and goes. She is self aware and has all her memories, but she can not control exactly how she accesses them. Often she just gives into whatever impulses and emotions come with the age she is."

"Three Swans is a neat idea."

Chuckling. "Tell that to my washing machine."

"She's adorable and sassy. I love it." Sighing. "I hope I didn't catch you both at a bad time. I've been sitting on this for a while now and I need to run something personal through somebody and you two came to mind."

"Why us?" Emma trotted into the room all smiles popping a grape in her mouth, making a beeline for a lap she wanted to sit on.

Royal hands lifted the girl up. "Did you wash your hands?"

Thinking then nodding. "Uh-huh." Offering the bag to Ruby. "Want some?"

"So polite, but no thanks Emma. You guys are my friends and I just thought you might be able to give me some tips on a conversation I need to have with Granny."

"We'd be happy to help or just listen if that's what you need." Regina adjusted a wiggling Emma around to better see the redhead.

"Thanks… um, you know two years ago when you were working on the potion for the town line and that rat Gold had been holding out on all of us and finally he broke the spell on it?" She paused wondering why Emma turned to hide in the Queen's arms. "Uh, she okay?"

"Just sensitive." Rubbing a little back with a sigh in return. "And yes, I well remember." Wishing she didn't.

Palms sweating as she broached the reason she was here, Ruby rubbed her hands together. "Anyway that was a really tough time for me for a lot of reasons and in watching you and Emma these last few years and more so recently I realized how much I've been missing out on. I want that same freedom you guys have." Licking lips as curious green eyes lifted up from dark hair. "You don't care what anyone thinks and you just live your lives how you want to. I see it more now with this side effect and it's really refreshing."

Emma scrunched her brows and went back to chewing grapes thoughtfully. "Do you need a Mama too?" Looking from Regina and back again as the adults laughed kindly. "Cause sharing is good, but I don't wanna share Mama and me time, so maybe when I'm at school you can borrow her."

With a wink to the Queen. "No I don't little swan, but that is super sweet of you to offer. You get to keep Regina all for yourself. What I need is to be real with myself and learn to live my own truth." Deep breath and holding. "I've only told one other person this and… that didn't work out so well for me, but I'm ready to try again…." Shoulders bunching. "I'm a lesbian."

What she was expecting Ruby wasn't sure. There were no explosions, no fireworks either. Her chest pounded wide open at finally verbalizing what the last heart she trusted betrayed her on. In between green and brown there was a soft acceptance and smiles on two faces. Water ran downhill and it took a full minute to process the taste of her own tears. Emma came first on her left and Regina joined on her right, a trust sandwich. Little lips popped against her cheek as Regina spoke for both of them.

"Your truth is brave and beautiful. We are honored to hear it."

Emma nodded. "What my Mama said."

Sniffing as a tissue box made it into her hands. "I hope Granny is as easy to share with as you two. "She's so old school though about a lot of things. She still freaks out whenever a skirt I wear is above my knee."

Regina chuckled. "She is about some things, but she is also a wise woman who is not afraid to speak her mind and that is a skill she passed onto you."

Emma chimed in. "She can do voices in stories almost as good as Mama and she listens good, too." Remembering a conversation had over pancakes near Christmas.

"But what if she doesn't see it the way I need her too? She's my only family, all I've got and I couldn't stand her looking at me… how she used to, during the curse." Hand finding Regina's. "You and I have made amends and I'm not mad at you anymore for that. I just don't want to be on the receiving end of those disappointed eyes again."

Regina swallowed thickly, remembering the dark part of her heart. "Granny loves you and if she can look at me with kindness and acceptance after the dark curse, as you do, what more for her own flesh and blood?"

"Mama…" Emma scooted off the couch and nearly tackled her Keeper, cupping an ear to whisper an idea. Pulling back. "Can we please?"

"Yes baby, go ahead and ask."

Grinning. "Ruby, you and Granny can have dinner with us tonight, okay?"

Regina nodded, as the red head looked thoughtful. "Emma thinks you might want our support and I more than owe you two a nice dinner for all you've done for us. It might be a way for you to ease into the conversation. What do you say?"

"That would be amazing, yeah. I'm off already and Granny is too since we hired on more staff for the winter season."

"Yes!" Bouncing on the couch Emma did a fist pump. "I help cook too!"

"Careful Emma." Catching the excited child mid leap to the floor. "You have homework to do first, but yes you may help. Go get your school folder and come into the kitchen. We will meet you there."

Emma ran to get her folder and pencil as Ruby followed Regina into the kitchen. A quick, but nervous call to Granny had the wolf on the way to the mansion. As the fixings for a salad and a pan of cold pre-layered lasagna was brought out from the fridge, the girl completed her grammar worksheet and flashcards with help from Ruby. Once the lasagna was cooking, little hands and wolf ones helped make a salad when the doorbell rang. The redhead nearly dropped the bowl as Emma squealed happily in her ear.

"MAMA! I GOTS IT OKAY?"

"Emma—" But the child was already in the foyer hopping up to open the lock, bouncing circles around their new guest as Regina entered wiping her hands on a dish cloth. "Baby let her get in the door. Hello Eugenia."

"She's alright Regina, thank you." Smiling as her coat was taken. "How is my favorite little cook?"

"Awesome! I made the salad." Puffing up with pride. "Ruby was my shoe chief."

"Sous chef, baby." Laughing Regina led the way into the kitchen. "Dinner is nearly ready. May I get you anything? Cider perhaps?"

"Please." Nose turning up. "Is that lasagna?"

A dark brow rose. "Yes."

"Red pepper flakes?"

"You know it." Regina poured a glass of cider into a crystal tumbler before beginning to ease the bubbling pan out of the oven when the timer went off.

"Thanks." The old wolf rested elbows on the counter, sipping. "I should, it's my recipe."

"One I altered. So it is more like my recipe, dear."

"You two still at it over that stupid recipe?" Ruby rolled her eyes, joining them from the bathroom off the kitchen.

Granny looked down her nose at her granddaughter with a sly smile. "We are. It's a matter of principle."

"More like stubborn pride." Regina teased lifting Emma up so the child could carefully sprinkle a three cheese mix on top of the pepper flakes. Grinning when Granny stole a pinch and tasted it.

"Is that Gouda with the sharp cheddar and..."

"No, and you'll never guess what it is. I have this blend imported specifically." Opening a drawer and extracting silverware, she handed the bundle to Emma with napkins. "Go set the table please."

Looking between the adults and wanting to listen in least she miss out on something. "But Mama…" Small whine earned a smaller pat to a behind in the right direction. Obeying Emma went to complete her chore.

Ruby snorted as a wrinkled face harrumphed then paled when that face turned to her in question.

"So, what am I here for besides a wonderful meal with good company?"

"Uh…" Red brows shot up as big eyes darted anywhere but the ones looking at her.

Emma, unable to help keen little ears, popped her head around the doorway trying to be helpful. "You're here 'cause—" Muffled as her Mama's soft hand came to rest gently over her mouth.

"Let's finish setting the table together." Regina eased out of the room with the grumbling child as Ruby caught her breath. "Join us whenever you both are ready."

"I… Emma invited us." Tight smile as Granny's lips pursed.

"For a wolf, you are a lousy liar, sweetheart."

Ruby rolled her eyes, dropping her arms. "Fine. I need to tell you something that's kind of a big deal and for the record, Emma did invite us." She grabbed the salad bowl and tongs to carry into the dining room as Granny followed with the pan of lasagna.

Emma looked among the adults registering the grumpy nature between the two wolves as she slid into her place. "You guys gotta play nice or Mama will put you in timeout."

"Ha! I'd like to see her try." Granny smiled fondly at Emma and helped Regina dish everyone up a plate.

Little shoulders shrugged dramatically at the obvious. "Okaaay, but she's the boss." Emma inhaled the scent of her favorite meal, but waited until everyone was ready to eat before grabbing her fork. She sighed and held up the blue plastic cup in her place. "Mama?"

"Your yellow one is in the dishwasher Emma."

"Please? I just can't." Pouts and lashes fluttering followed.

Ruby smirked as Regina stood to take the cup. "Whose the boss?"

Scoffing. "Until Emma, I never thought the color of a cup could spoil the taste of milk." She returned quickly after washing the child's favorite yellow mug and sat back down as Emma happily sipped from the right color.

"Ruby was the same way when she was that age. Wouldn't eat anything on her plate that touched something else."

"Granny." The waitress whined.

"She also used to cry whenever I made broccoli thinking I had killed all the baby trees in the Enchanted—"

Ruby cut in. "Okay, enough cider Granny." Reaching for the half empty tumbler as a wrinkled hand found hers.

"I'm stone cold sober. Now, are you ready to tell me what you need to say?"

Flustered at the blunt edge. "I… I thought we could finish dinner first."

"Ruby, sweetheart, whatever it is just tell it to me straight—"

"Can't." Nearly choking on sudden bravado, but going with it. "I'm a lesbian."

White brows furrowed as glasses slipped down a nose. "Who is the lucky girl?" Gesturing to the bowl on the other side of the table. "Pass the salad."

Ruby jerked back. "What?!"

"I said pass the salad not toss her salad, who ever she is." Smirking at her granddaughter.

Regina nearly lost her wine through her nose and groaned. "We have a child present you two." Reminding that Emma was not in her adult mind.

Said child blinked in utter confusion. "Mama what's that mean?"

It was Ruby's turn to burst. "It means Granny is getting that timeout from your Mama after all little Swan."

"When Emma gives up bear claws." Granny shook her head accepting the bowl with amused eyes. "I had a feeling you were sweetheart for a long time now."

"How could you know?"

"Oh come on Ruby." Plating greens. "All those Victoria Secret catalogs you used to hoard under your bed stated the obvious. Why do you think I got those catalogs to begin with? Can you imagine me in a V-string? There are some fine tails in there."

"Eugenia, really." Biting a lower lip to keep from laughing, Regina shook her head as Ruby flushed ten shades of red gaping, but Granny was on a roll.

"Give me some credit. I used to go chasing plenty of tail when I was your age and for me, it never mattered what pronoun the tail was attached too."

Sputtering, Ruby turned to the Queen. "Did she just…?"

"Yes, she did." A royal nod accompanied with a much bigger sip of wine.

Emma scrunched her nose. "What's she mean by chasing fine tail?"

Sighing, Regina rubbed a temple. "Eugenia you owe me free coffee for a year for all the questions I now have to answer tonight."

"And Mama who is Victoria and what's her secret?"

Brown eyes scolded both chuckling wolves. "Make that two years, with pie and it had better be apple."

The conversation turned to the past holiday and the diner there after. Emma begged to tell Granny about Jasper's latest adventure after dinner in her room. That left Ruby and Regina to clean up the dishes in the kitchen.

Taking a sponge to the pan, Ruby grinned. "That went really well! I don't know how I can repay you two."

"You don't owe us anything, but I meant what I said about the coffee and pie, especially after the thong visual that will haunt my nightmares." Running a cloth over a glass to dry.

"I have to live with her. You should have seen her on New Year's. Her and Leroy were matching shots and had the whole diner roaring making cracks about the Nun's and their forbidden fruit." Ruby shook her head smiling. "Thank you. I really needed this."

"You are most welcome." Hesitating. "Might I ask you something personal?"

"After tonight, you could ask me for the moon and I'd snag it for you. Shoot."

"The first person you told you were a lesbian, was it Belle?"

A low growl in the back of a throat couldn't be helped. "Sorry. I…" Eyes closed fighting the brimming heat. "I know she asked you for the potions, but I didn't think she told you it was for both of us."

"She didn't, in a very roundabout way."

Grimacing and scrubbing harder than necessary. "Doesn't matter anyway. She's with Gold. Left me waiting at the town line and then had the nerve to show up with him to rub it in my face that she loved him." Tears fell, heart burning, knowing by blue eyes that night that some part of Belle had been remorseful.

Resting a hand to a shaking shoulder. "It matters more than you think."

"Regina, I can't…" She threw down the sponge.

"You have to because I cannot do what needs to be done as I am now if you want your happy ending back." A scented trail to follow for a well adept nose.

Ruby turned sharply, searching brown eyes carefully. "What do you know about my happy ending?"

Careful words. "That a beautiful pawn in a twisted game is within your reach. Chess can be a wonderful game. While the King has to take one step at a time, the Queen may do whatever she wants with the right backing. I need a Red Knight with a set of teeth to put the King wearing a Gold crown in check." Nodding as recognition came glittering big eyes. "The moon you spoke of snagging me is in three weeks and I need your wolf to retrieve a bottle or box with this scent." Palm up she summoned her magical essence to surface with a puff of purple smoke as Red nostril's flared.

Inhaling and assessing as a slow wolfish grin bloomed, canines flashing. "Let's knock off that Gold crown your Majesty."

Red grinned in return.

Later that night after the Lucas women left and Emma was in bed, in the privacy of her room, Regina sat surrounded by journals, magic books, and her lock box. Slim fingers brushed over a skeleton key before returning to the page in Cora's old book of spells about wards. Pen made quick notes and her eyes popped up when little ones that should be asleep peered at her from the hallway.

"Emma?"

"B-bad dream Mama."

Opening arms. "Come here baby."

A little head shook, curls sticking to wet cheeks. She couldn't move feet anymore on her own. "I didn't mean too…" Thumb found a mouth.

Regina stood in concern, padding over to kneel down in front of the sniffling girl. She smelled it before seeing the PJs clinging to skinny legs. Wide leaking green eyes studied hers. "Oh my little sweet love." Drawing child in for a hug.

Clinging and whispering. "Accident Mama."

Soft eyes. "It's alright Emma." Pulling back, a thumb wiped a tear path as lips kissed that same cheek. "Let's get you washed up and into some new PJs."

Taking a hand, she led the child into her bathroom. Water ran in a shallow bath as she quickly stripped the soiled clothing off before depositing the girl into the warm suds. Emma's hands went to play with the conjured duck as a washcloth was ran gently over skin. After the girl was cleaned up, Regina sat on the edge of the tub, watching Emma skim the duck back and forth across the water.

It had been months and not since their spelled life, that the little one had a dream triggering an accident. Wondering what it was as she recalled the first few times this had happened. The tears and fear that had come from Emma in the upset of wetting the bed never failed to pull her heart apart. Without prompting in that quiet moment pink lips began sharing thoughts.

"Mean man took me away from you…" Failing to elaborate more.

Regina stiffened at the very idea, but raked fingers softly through blonde tresses. "Who was this man?"

Emma splashed the duck down underwater and let it go to bob up a few times before answering. "Mr. Gold but..." Nose wrinkled in pause. Dewy green looked up. "Snow was there too, but it wasn't her." Sighing as the drain was pulled and she was beckoned to stand.

"That must have been a scary dream for you, but you are not going anywhere. Mama wouldn't ever let anyone take you away, baby." Wrapping a fluffy towel around little shoulders, the Queen lifted Emma out of the tub and carried her right back into the master suite. 'Over his dead body.' A dark thought leaked from the chained door in mind and she slammed it shut by replacing it. 'There is another way.'

Sitting on her bed she stood Emma between her knees. Summoning a clean pair of yellow PJs. Hesitating as child rubbed sleepy eyes, but knowing better than not to as a repeat was usually the case on nights like this. Another subtle wrist flick brought forth a small pair of purple GoodNites. More than sympathetic when a little foot stomped.

"Noooo." Tight lipped Emma crossed her arms.

"I know you don't like them. They are just for tonight and only in case. I've spelled them to disappear by morning for you." Holding out the pair for Emma to step into with an expectant look.

"Not a baby." Wilting and slowing bringing hands to her Mama's knees to balance as a foot lifted up. She hated wearing them, but hated waking up in cold wet even worse. Far and rare in between these nights were, they were still something that occurred. Never once had she been made to feel shamed or in trouble, only loved through the occasional more than rough nightmare.

"No you are not." Reassuring and kissing a cheek as she helped Emma into them followed by PJ bottoms and finally a matching top. Lifting the girl to her lap, consoling the last few tears away as Emma began to relax. Another wave of her hand left the bed in Emma's room made up with clean sheets. As if reading her mind the little one shook a head.

"Stay here with you."

"Alright sweet one, in you go." Shifting the child and pulling back the covers before tucking in. She rested a cool hand on a little brow. "It's a shift night. Did you remember to take your charm off earlier?" A bracelet encased wrist was held up in answer, initial charm missing. "Such a good girl."

Yawning. "I am, huh?"

"Oh yes." Nose rubbing little nose.

Little fingers tugged at sheets. "What if he's in my dream again?"

"Do you remember the special safe place we made together?"

Dimples in pale cheeks as a chin nodded. Readily recalling the first night she had sought comfort from her Keeper after an accident. The adult mind little body had possessed at the time had struggled to accept the offer of arms and understanding. Now she knew not what she would do without them. "Our fort in your apple tree."

"Nothing and no one can come into our safe place without our permission. I'll be waiting right there in your dreams for you." Thumb stroking blonde brows as green fluttered.

Hopeful murmur. "All of me?"

"Every single one of you, baby."

Drifting off. "Not a ba-by..."

Kissing between sleeping eyes. "Always my baby."

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A/N - Still taking prompts for PART 3 of this series, so please toss any ideas you have for Regina/Mal and Emma interactions my way. :-)