TW: Language as always. Bullying mentioned. Child abuse in several forms, not in detail. Overall terrible angst. It was a difficult chapter to write. Most of it in italics so it's easy to skip.

Happy reading.


"Daddy…"

"Hello, sweetheart," her father greeted gently. He was wearing the exact same thing he was when she last saw him. Regina took tentative steps forward as if the wrong move would send this moment evaporating into thin air.

"Daddy, how can you be here?" Regina questioned cautiously. "am I really that tired?"

"Yes, you are tired but your little...friend is very special, Regina. You'll come to know that to the same extent I do very soon."

"Dawn?" Regina asked absentmindedly. She was close enough to brush noses with him. Being this close was the only thing letting her know this was real. She could feel his breath feathering her face and she reached up to touch his face with the faintest of grazes. She gasped and recoiled immediately. Warm. He was warm. She clutched her hand as if it was just in submerged in boiling water. He smiled softly at her and grabbed her wrists. The touch made her shiver. Her father's touch had always been grounding and comforting and it had been a while since she last felt like this. She stated softly, "You're here."

"In a way, yes, I am, a very convincing apparition I would imagine. As I said she's very special. Always has been."

"You know her? You know who Dawn is?"

"I wouldn't say know her. For quite some time you did know her by a name."

"What?" Regina was in disbelief. "How could that be possible? I don't remember her from the past. She's only a child."

"Look closer when you look at her. Really look into her eyes and you may find clues to what you seek?"

"Daddy, please just tell me. I have nothing to go off on. Please."

"You must respect that I cannot interfere but I will say her memories aren't the only ones that have been tampered with."

"But-"

"No. We must not speak on this any longer. The power to alter the veil between life and death shouldn't be taken lightly, I imagine we mustn't waste the time we have," Henry urged her, intertwining her fingers in his. He gave a small squeeze to assure her. It was obvious that in all her days of knowing magic well this was too surreal to comprehend or explain. Regina always liked to be able to explain things but this was far beyond words. Her father, in the flesh, standing in front of her. Dawn had a lot of explaining to do but for now she would relish in this moment of change. She fisted the tears from her eyes and tried to listen.

"I'm sorry for what I-"

"I've forgiven you long ago, my child. You've gained much that I wouldn't want you to regret having."

"I don't regret it. I have a family. I can be happy here."

"That's all I've wanted for you."

"But I want to thank you," she said holding onto his hands tighter.

"Whatever for?"

"You were one of the very few lights in my life before. I owe you everything, Daddy."

"No, you don't but I would like to put in a request." He smiled.

"Anything," Regina nodded.

"Get back on the horse, Regina. Feel free again like you did before when you got on Rocinante." The brunette chuckled. Almost laughed. That could've have been the easiest thing anyone has ever asked of her. Get back on a horse. She wouldn't have to be told if she wasn't so busy. Her father looked at her with all the love any parent could give their daughter and to see her on a horse again would make his smile last forever no matter where forever was spent.

"Okay, Daddy. I will," she said.

"I think my time has come again, my sweet," he announced. He was seeing a crackling, green portal ahead of him. Regina couldn't see it. That's where he was meant to go now. Regina was pained to hear him say their time was up but she knew he didn't belong here anymore. Her tears ran heavier and faster. Her voice wasn't reliable anymore and she just nodded her understanding and her reluctance. Henry rested his hands on his daughter's cheeks and thumbed away the tears before leaning forward to kiss her forehead. Instead of accepting that she grasps him tightly in a crushing hug and it feels so wonderful. He's here. She feels him. Her father one last time, a better last time than before. For some strange reason after a minute long hug she can let go and feels she can let him go with more ease. There's no regret there. No guilt related to him. Seeing him again, saying the things he's said, making her shoulders feel lighter. Makes her feel lighter.

"They're beautiful," he whispers in her ear before stepping back. She frowns at him but he doesn't explain further. But she does catch his glance at the upstairs windows. He must mean Henry…and Dawn she thought. She watches her father walk passed her and towards the house but it's evident that's not where he's going. In one movement he vanishes but the portal that only he saw makes itself visible to Regina.

I really need to talk to Dawn, Regina thought as she leaned against the tree.


Dawn smiled at the waves. Though she had no idea where it had come from, she had finally been able to repay Regina in some way, at the same time she couldn't help the worry that she messed it up somehow and Regina would be left heartbroken. The sounds of the pier creaking under familiar sounding boots brought her out of her thoughts.

"Hey Emma," she said without turning around. Emma smiled at the teen, somewhat sadly, and took a seat next to her, allowing her legs to dangle off the side of the pier as she did during each of their talks.

"That's one hell of a magic trick kid," Emma commented as she stared off into the waves. She had been trying to clean Regina's bedroom, when she had seen the spectacle in the garden, as soon as Dawn had disappeared into a cloud of smoke Emma had guessed where she had gone. Dawn nodded in agreement, and silence fell over the pair.

Five minutes passed with the crashing of waves the only sound, until Dawn turned to look at the sheriff, "You know I can only do it for one person at once."

Emma furrowed her brow and turned to the teen, "What do you mean?"

"If I bring Talia back, then Regina's dad will die," she knew this was a lie, honestly she had no idea how the spell worked, she wasn't even sure if Henry Sr. was truly alive, she just didn't want Emma to actually consider the possibility. It would hurt a lot of people.

Words failed Emma, and she vigorously shook her, "I don't want to bring her back to life, I mean I did...but..." Emma sighed and put her head in her hands. Though her mother knew Talia's name, Dawn had been the only one that she had actually told the whole story to. She even discussed how guilty her current relationship had made her feel, and all she could feel was appreciation towards the young brunette for not mentioning therapy just yet.

"I didn't mean it like that," Emma sighed in frustration.

Dawn offered the blonde a small smile, and nodded in understanding, "You want her to rest in peace."

Emma sighed in relief, thankful that someone understood, but that didn't completely help, "It's been years, I've never felt guilty in any of my other relationships..."

"You've never loved anyone but Talia and Regina, so you feel guilty because you don't know whether you should feel that way."

"That makes no sense," Emma said through gritted teeth.

She is definitely not ready for therapy, Dawn mentally noted. "I'm guessing that every time you're with Regina you think about Talia. Which means you're wondering whether you should be that happy with anyone but her, basically you think you're cheating on her."

Emma thought for a moment, and said, "I think you're in the wrong profession kid."

"This is serious, Emma, you can't keep bottling up your feelings, it'll ruin your relationship with Regina and if you hurt her, I'll have no choice but to end you," she replied with a deathly serious expression.

Emma raised her eyebrow in shock, "We wouldn't want that now would we?" Dawn hummed in agreement, and they fell into silence again.

Ten minutes passed with no words, Emma sat thinking exactly what she should do. She knew her coping mechanisms were less than healthy, but she also was convinced that they had worked pretty well up until this point.

"I guess talking to Talia would help," Emma finally admitted.

This had been something she had been thinking about for a while. She had legitimately looked up spells to contact the dead. As much as she wanted to find the asshole that had taken Talia from her, she was pretty sure that the trail had gone cold after all this time. Besides, she was sure she would end up just shooting them before she got the chance to come back to Storybrooke to carry out the ritual Regina had used for her mother.

Dawn nodded in understanding. The teen stood, and began to walk away. Emma jumped up to follow her, but she was met with a raised hand, "You have about five minutes, the veil to the land of the dead is pretty thick."

Dawn continued her walk, and Emma just stared at her back with a dumbfounded expression.

"Emma?"

The blonde snapped her attention away from the retreating teen, and found herself face to face with another teenager, wearing her patented leather jacket and tight jeans. She looked just as she had before she had left the bench that day.

"Tali?" she asked, genuinely afraid to reach out and touch her slightly translucent form.

The ghostly teen blinked a few times, before she finally allowed her eyes to roam over her first and only love, "God you look amazing."

Emma's expression of shock fell away and she instantly rolled her eyes, "Seriously?"

"What?" she asked with a smirk, "You're hot as hell."

Emma fell back into her seat on the pier and put her head in her hands, the teen did the same and Emma tried not to laugh as she shuffled to test if she would fall through the wooden pier. For a few seconds the blonde just stared at the teen, having a plethora of flashbacks, both happy and sad, before she finally said, "Why?"

Talia reached out, and put her hand on the blonde's arm, surprisingly it felt fully solid, "Why did I die?"

Emma nodded, refusing to make eye contact, "You broke your promise."

"Well to be fair you broke yours." Emma furrowed her brow and finally looked up at Talia, who continued, "Well first there was that Neal guy, and can I just say ew, then that Walsh monkey guy, the pirate...what is wrong with you?"

Emma blinked in shock, "You've been watching me?"

"Of course I have, and I am sincerely pissed that you took fourteen years to get another girlfriend, we both know those guys would never be enough for you."

Emma smiled at Talia's faux outrage, and reached out to move a piece of hair from her face, "I guess I was scared to actually be serious."

Talia took her hand and brought it into her lap, "Well, you are very much no longer my dorky Emma. You need to get over it."

"I have Regina," Emma defended weakly.

Talia smiled and got a faraway look in her eyes, causing Emma to clear her throat, "Oh, so hot," she mumbled, making Emma roll her eyes. "If you don't stop with the guilt shit, you'll ruin it," she finally said seriously.

Emma nodded, with a small sniffle. There was no way to justify her irrationality any longer, but that didn't help to make her feel any better. The blonde smiled weakly, and looked at her own lap, only for a finger under her chin to pull her face up.

"Please, promise me that you'll actually try and move on." With a shaky breath, Emma noticed Talia becoming more and more see through, five minutes, she reminded herself.

"I promise," she finally said.

Talia leaned forward, and placed a light kiss to her cheek, just before her body faded completely, "I love you Em, please be happy."

Emma's hand fell to the pier, and she continued to stare at the spot that the ghost had just occupied. She vaguely recognized someone sit down heavily next to her, and she turned to see the familiar brilliant green eyes, with tears obscuring her vision she said, "Thank you, Dawn."

The teen offered her a supportive sad smile, and brought an arm around her shoulder. Emma let her head fall onto the girl's shoulder as she cried, eventually she calmed down enough to say, "I think it's time to tell Regina."


Regina walked slowly and cautiously towards the sleepy blonde hugging her knees up to her chest. After the panic she heard in the younger woman's voice, she really debated whether or not she should've come here. She already felt out of place being near the place Dawn and Emma shared. Deep down she felt she was intruding on sacred ground and regretted being there. Yet she still continued to ease her way over to the blonde.

Dawn had called her and explained that Emma really needed to talk to her. They had talked briefly about what she had done, and had come to an agreement that it was something to look into later. Regina figured that animating dead souls had to be up there on the list of impossible things that she had seen in her life, but honestly she couldn't find it in herself to complain.

"Emma," the brunette said gently coming up to the woman. Emma noticeably flinched at the sound. Regina sighed to herself. Only Emma Swan would have her outside her property in her sleepwear. Well, not even her own sleepwear. They were Emma's sweatpants and Emma's white t-shirt. She walked over to view the blonde's face and so that she could see her too. "Emma. You're not alright, are you? You haven't been for a while now." Emma only sniffed and continued to stare into the water. It was signal enough for Regina to know they might be here for some time.

"May I sit?" Regina asked. Emma nodded. "Where does she normally sit?" Emma used a finger to point to the spot next to herself. "Do you mind?" When the blonde shook her head, Regina took a seat next to her so that their shoulders were touching. As soon as she settled down she asked, "Is this okay?"

Silence fell over the pair, and Regina eventually asked, "Did Dawn go home?"

Emma nodded, still not making eye contact, "She did a lot of magic today. She needs to sleep."

"I know," Regina agreed, "But we're here to talk about you, not Dawn."

"I'm fine," Emma lied, suddenly feeling as if she had to change her mind.

"No, you're not. I see it, Emma. I see you. I'm the master of smiles that don't reach your eyes."

"It's none of your concern."

"Yes, it is. I heard you on the phone in the background: 'I can't stop thinking about her'? 'I have to tell Regina even if she hates me for it'?"

"Regina-" Emma tried.

"When my girlfriend says something like that, I think I should know what's going on."

"Regina, please," Emma said. She begged and it didn't slip passed the brunette.

"After hearing your words over the phone I should have every right to slap you for cheating but the sound of your voice, Emma…you sounded like you were in pain, serious pain, and because of that I'm not mad at you in any way. I'm not here as your very jealous girlfriend. I'm not here as the mayor. I'm here as Regina, your friend, if you'll let me be."

"I can't…" she said softly through her silent tears, I can't keep this promise, she thought sadly. Regina put a hand to her leg and rubbed a soothing circle into her skin.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me." There was a pregnant pause. "It's okay," Regina assured her. Emma took a shaky breath before speaking in a heartbreakingly soft voice, "I loved her so much but I was young it could've been just a big crush." She looked over to Regina expecting fury or distaste but she instead she found the brunette listening intently, her facial expression unreadable, and she wasn't mad. "You know if my life hadn't have been so fucked up and we could've been together Henry wouldn't exist. Regina, I don't regret Henry and I could never regret that you got him but it hurt that I couldn't have her, too."

"I know the feeling."

"I have nightmares about her. Not every night but enough to scare me. I don't like it when the memory is so fresh when I wake up at night, like it just happened."

"What happened?"

"Expect someone like me to date the girl who was into- I don't even really know what she was doing- but I knew she was selling." Regina frowned. Emma gave a weak chuckle, "Drugs. She probably sold some kind of drugs." The brunette nodded her new understanding and then cracked a small smirk at her, "Of course, you love the bad girls."

"I don't try to find them but I'm a magnet to them I guess," she said grinning and happy for the tension relief. But as quickly as the moment came, it was replaced by a somber atmosphere.

"She died," Emma stated almost so quietly, Regina wasn't sure she heard it.

"How? If you don't mind me asking," she replied understanding completely and obviously what it was like to lose a love. A first love. Before she believed Neal to be the blonde's first love but as bad as it was she was glad he hadn't been. He didn't deserve that kind of title after what he did even if Emma believed otherwise. She looked back up and found green eyes staring back at her with intensity and confusion. Maybe she shouldn't have asked. She already saw how hard it was for Emma to tell her this. It was too soon even if it probably had been years. "Emma-"

"How could you ask me that?" Emma questioned incredulously. Regina still quailed at the questioned and was prepared to apologize for her request but Emma beat her to it. "Why would you ask? You deserve to know. I just wanted you to know why I wasn't happy. It's not your fault."

"How did she die, Emma?"

"They killed her," Emma choked before her crying resumed again. Regina moved to wrap an arm around Emma who had put her legs down with her head in her hands. The brunette rested her other hand on the blonde's bare thigh in her sleeping shorts and zip up hoodie and hanging off her, over a tank top.

"Who's 'they'?"

"I don't know. Them. Other dealers. I just know that they shot her and left her there in the alley. She died in my arms after she gave me that swan pendant I have and a key."

"A key to what?"

"Safety deposit box. We were going to move to Philadelphia together. She had a lot of money stashed away. I took what I could carry in a backpack and ran away…I'm sorry, Regina."

"What for?" The brunette frowned.

"I've been so depressed and I can't make you happy if I'm like this. And then…I still love her but I'm with you and I want to be with you. I don't know how to stop. Just like I can't stop loving Neal even after what he did to me. I'm sorry." Regina intertwined their fingers and that somehow grounded her heartbreak. Had Emma had this anguish in her whole time? Was this why the blonde had been so evidently plagued with fatigue and sadness for months now? All because she was afraid of what Regina would think.

"Oh, Emma. No. Don't be sorry for that. It's okay to love her. It's okay."

"But-"

"No, you listen to me. There is nothing wrong with how you're feeling. After all this time, I still love Daniel and there isn't now and never will be anything wrong with loving your first love. They're a part of you now. A part of you that won't ever go away. So don't be afraid or ashamed of that. Be proud. Be happy that they were special enough to make you feel those feelings for the first time."

"She told me that we would be together forever and that I could love again."

Regina chuckled to herself with tears brimming in her eyes, "I believe our first loves might have met before. Daniel told me the same thing and I'm very open and very ready to do that now."

"Really?"

"Yes and you will be ready, too. I want you to know that you can talk to me about her whenever you need to or if there's anything you need to get off your chest that you can't talk to Dawn about, okay?"

"You're not bothered by it? Hearing about it?"

"No, not at all. If you need to talk about, I will listen." Emma looked up to her from her hands. She sniffles, "How could anyone call you the Evil Queen?"

"We can discuss that another day, darling," Regina said tucking blonde hair behind her ear. She felt the younger woman shiver under her hands. The brunette had completely forgot they were both outside on the docks in their pajamas. Even though it would be summer soon but it was Maine and cold breezes were still frequent. Regina removed the black coat she was wearing over her clothes and draped it around Emma's shoulders. She didn't protest, she just nodded her thanks.

"Is this what has been bothering you all this time?" Regina asked curiously. She really hoped not.

"No. There are other things. My childhood wasn't that great. I've repressed it for so long, all the things that happened, I actually thought they went away," Emma said wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Dawn showed up and then the nightmares started after a week of her being in town. I couldn't sleep. Some memories- I couldn't eat. I just didn't feel up to much anymore."

"Depression?"

"No. Dawn says that, too. I just need to forget again. That's all."

"Emma, that's not healthy."

"I'll be fine."

"You need to see Dr. Hopper."

"You, too? Stop it, Regina. No, I don't," Emma shouted. Regina felt she was about to move and stood up along with her. The blonde was on the defensive. "I'm fine."

"You've just given me several reasons why you need to go. Join Dawn on the days she goes. It will help."

"No."

"Miss Swan, don't be stubborn. Please. Just one session. I care too much to tolerate this, to stand by like your idiot parents and pretend nothing's happening. Like you're not hurting," Regina stood up to the blonde and grabbed her hands. She kissed her knuckles on each hand and gave it one final try, "Just one for me. Dawn's been so much better since she started going. You're not alone anymore, Emma. You have your family here for you."

"I can't, Regina."

"Yes, you can. Open up and I promise I'll protect you when you're vulnerable. Your heart is safe. Just trust me, Swan."

"Just one session?" Emma asked sheepishly.

"Just one," Regina guaranteed. There was silence for a long while. Regina deliberated if that meant no and she would try to be okay with that as best she could. It wouldn't help to push too hard but just letting out to Dawn wouldn't help her heal fully. She sighed quietly before she was suddenly engulfed in a hug by the blonde. The brunette tensed from the abruptness and instantly sobered at the crying into her shoulder. She couldn't pull away to be completely sure with Emma's arms firmly placed around her neck. Regina rested her chin on the sheriff's shoulder and wrapped her arms around her back tightly. Nothing felt better to the blonde than a warm hug from her girlfriend right then. She felt some release from her tension if only for the moment. She didn't let go.

Dawn stood at a distance watching the two women interact for minutes wondering if Emma had told her already. If that was the case she couldn't gauge a reaction the brunette. She wasn't exactly sure how she thought Regina would respond but she knew it couldn't be that bad. Or bad at all really. She was fairly certain Regina would be supportive, understanding especially with what happened to Daniel. Regina had to understand. She had to but that wasn't who she was worried about. It was Emma. Her friends was so torn up about it and she wasn't aware of how Emma would handle it. Talia was a difficult subject to broach.

She watched them with a smidgen of worry. She really debated whether or not she should've maybe went over there to them. Then she watched Emma hug Regina fiercely and the brunette returned it soon after. Dawn smiled at them believing she left Emma in good hands.

She turned on her heel and headed back home. And if she could she would have used her magic to get herself right back into Regina's bed because it was the softest place in the entire house. Though she was awake now and in need of one of those potions Regina gave her last time. When she arrived back at Mifflin she grabbed coffee instead of searching for some hidden magic room somewhere. With a huge yawn, she headed off to bed, figuring she had done enough necromancy for one day.


After ten years, one of her only friends promised her it hurts less and she didn't necessarily lie but it wasn't much truth either. Because when they keep sending you away over and over again, you stop expecting to be loved and cared for but it still stings. It's easier that way, though, if there are no hopes to crush when the mommy yells at you for being hungry and she turns the other way when the daddy wants to be alone with you in a room for the first time at a new home. She could believe that it hurts less but the bruises on her arms and her inner thighs suggest otherwise. In a hard, black plastic chair while everyone around that knew why she was sitting there pretended that she didn't just come from a house where the police arrested her foster parents for starving and molesting her not even five hours ago. Still, instead of pleading for help like before, Dawn sat stock still.

Her social worker, Benny, was taking a long time in there. They both knew it was useless to get people to actually care about an orphan. He was a nice guy, surprisingly. Well…maybe not nice but he was okay. Benny was from New Jersey and he talked funny. Sometimes it cheered her up to hear him yelling at the traffic with his funny voice. Benny was both hopefully optimistic and doubtfully pessimistic all at the same time. He also smoked cigarettes a lot. That was one of many secrets they shared though most of the secrets were her secrets. She promised not to tell anyone he smoked so he wouldn't get fired or nothing.

Benny was bordering on being chubby and kind of round and he had dark, short hair and a thin beard. His suits were always a little wrinkly and made him probably look unprofessional. He wore Chucks all the time, too. She was very aware that no one really liked Benny because he was very vulgar and had a short temper with most people. He always shouted rude things to the foster parents that gave Dawn back. She learned all the bad words she knew from him. Sometimes she wished he could adopt her.

He wouldn't force her to go to school just so her teachers could shout at her in front of the whole class because they thought she was stupid and so that the other kids could beat her up. Or maybe he would make her go to school but when she came home, he would yell at them in the principal's office because she had bruises the sizes of baseballs that she didn't leave home with that morning. She wouldn't get in trouble for being hungry with him because Benny was always hungry. Maybe Benny could love her even though people thought she was weird and stupid because she didn't talk a lot. He had even already given her a nickname. Only people that loved you gave you a nickname that didn't hurt your feelings. At least that's just the way she saw it.

He told her everything going on in his life. He told her about his many girlfriends, a new one every week. He'd tell her about why he didn't like them anymore or why they didn't like him anymore. Sometimes she frowned at that, she liked Benny. He'd given her some advice while they were in the car: "Don't ever fall in love with a woman, they're too much drama." She'd ask him about her friend, she loved Madison and she was a girl.

He had said, "No, not that kind of love. Just don't fuck a girl and fall in love with her. Get it?" She nodded firmly and took it very seriously. He hadn't taught her what that kind of 'fuck' meant, she'd already known and she understood. He'd worried that she knew too many grown up things even though she was still a little immature even for ten years old. She'd known some pretty vulgar things but hadn't been sure what love was when they first met. But instead of telling her those things were bad he told her to keep it to herself for a while. But she told Madison everything and she'd told her friend what he said but she only rolled her eyes, disregarding the uncouth language, and told her to eat her food before they got caught.

She lost her thought when one of the doors slammed shut. Benny trudged over, his mood sour. He was resisting the urge to shovel out his pack of cigarettes. He rubbed his hands through his hair, ruffling it until it was unruly. He looked to her, his expression staying the same. She looked up to him as he reached down to grab her beat up little backpack that had been with her since the Rochesters sent her away for their real baby. That was another thing about him she liked. Unlike the other social workers who dragged her away, Benny picked up her things at least. Other times, when she wanted, he picked her up and carried her. She was still small enough for him to do that and she'd feel like a feather in his arms.

"Come on, squirt," Benny muttered to her as he casted a glare down the hall to one of the doctors he had been talking to. She kept her head down as she stood up. She used one hand to hold up her sagging pants over her malnourished body and her other hand in his. Benny noticed her struggle and looked at his watch. He sighed. "How about we kill some time, kiddo?"

"Sure," she shrugged.

"Alright. We can get you some more clothes and then go for some food. I'm starving," he said. She giggled at him and he raised his shoulders, "What? I'm hungry."

"I know. You're always hungry," the girl stated.

"Don't be a smartass, squirt," Benny said as they made it to his car. A Mercury. He was proud of the thing even though it was falling apart. He defended it confidently when she insulted it.

She gets in the front seat as Benny tosses her bag in the back seat. He gets in and turns the car and looks over to his little companion. She's quieter than usual but she had good reason to be, she had spent two weeks in that terrible house. He grunts angrily in his head. There was no time for a temper, he'd just do his best to make her feel a little better, "What do you say we stop by my place and you can play with Jax while you get out of these ridiculous clothes? Then we can hit the town and pick up chicks."

"Okay, but I don't like girls. You said they have too much drama and I don't like drama."

"Lucky you don't like 'em. They'll be the death of me…Jax wants to see you, y'know? I don't know why he likes you though, you're a little turd." Benny smirked using one hand to get to his cigarette smoking as he drove. She was going to say that everyone likes her but then that wouldn't be true. No one liked her. Other kids didn't like her and grownups really didn't like her. If it were true she would have a family that cared about her. She didn't want to lie so she just settled for, "You're an ass."

"Touché, squirt." She knew what that meant but didn't respond. The man noticed the downturn of her mouth. "Look here, kid, there ain't no changing what happened and I'm sorry for that. But don't ever let people like those sick bastards win. You and me are going to have fun today."

He was a no nonsense kind of guy and he never sugarcoated anything. If something sucked it sucked, but he was nice about it with her. She and Benny had been at this for three years together now, and in that time he proved himself to be better than any other social worker she'd had. He wasn't like the others when leaving a home or getting one. He didn't tell her stop crying and be a good girl or no one will ever want her. He doesn't question why she never has any decent enough clothes so that someone will want to keep her. Benny doesn't tell her it's her fault these things happening to her. He told her to never trust the world because it was of full cruelty and disappointment. He was still nice to her in the end and he let her cry when she felt like it. He told her there was nothing wrong with her even if she was one of those kids that continuously keeps going back to the group home. Back to cold beds in dark rooms that stink of pee and fear and rejection…constant rejection.

Sometimes she just couldn't find it in herself to think it was true. Even when kids bullied her and caused her physical harm Benny would do what he could. Times when her best friend was gone he was the one to yell at the mean kids when they hurt her. A man who claimed to not really have a care in the world for anyone certainly risked angry adults reporting him for something just for this little girl cursed to never have a pleasant childhood for more than a few hours. That was reason enough to believe.

This man didn't look at her funny when she spoke about the woman she met in the forest. The beautiful woman with the fancy, dark clothes and the pretty hats. Her imaginary friend as the doctors called her was believable enough to him. Benny never judged her and even if he did think this person was just made from her imagination he never told her. If anything he got interested, he asked her questions about the woman. "Was she hot?" he asked when she informed him of their first encounter. The girl frowned.

"I wanted her to be my mommy," was what she responded with in a dejected sigh. Benny's smug face fell away.

As Dawn looked out the window she couldn't help how she was feeling anymore. Dirty. Used. Alone. Unwanted. Unloved. Even though she was going to Benny's house where she could play with the overactive puppy and then he would feed her after being starved the past two days, she couldn't find it in herself to be hungry anymore. Her stomach was hurting and full already now. Full with sadness and loneliness. She let her tears finally fall and her stoic expression fall away exchanged with agony.

Bad kids can't have mommies.

Dawn woke up with a heavy breath and a wetness staining her face. She touched her cheeks, feeling the tears streak her face as if she had been sobbing her heart out. When she thought about it, she had. Out of all the ones she'd been getting, this memory hurt the most. She didn't know why that was but then again maybe she did. Dawn had experiences of her past. She was an abandoned child no one wanted. But she knew why she had cried harder than she had when she was in the car with Benny thinking about her life. That moment was defining moment in her life. Now she could feel Emma's pain. Really feel it. All this time she had been experiencing it through memories but that particular one made her feel it. And it was the worst feeling any human being could ever have. Remembering what those fosters did to her. Remembering that her only life lines were people she didn't see for weeks at a time. Her heart swelled in her chest like it never had before. It ached stronger than it had when she locked herself away in the guest room all those months ago or when she had that first glimpse of that family together at the park or even when she had her first conversation with Emma.

She couldn't even remember what Regina had said to set her off that night but it had. Dawn stormed out of the dining room and headed out of the house. Emma was at her heels after Regina had been calling after her with what sounded like sorrow and regret. If she listened close enough she could've heard the woman choke back a sob. The teen was out the door, though, and the sheriff was behind her with something fierce in her eyes. She caught up to the brunette that shared wounded green eyes with herself and grabbed her arm from behind. Dawn turned back to her in a snap, "What?!"

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dawn snapped back, attempting to walk away again. Emma grabbed her. This time with both hands grasping the teen's upper arms, "Why are you acting like spoiled brat that doesn't have to listen to anyone?"

"I don't have to listen to anyone!"

"Regina is trying to help you! You haven't gotten a taste of the life Henry has and you're just throwing it away."

"I can't do it!" Dawn shouted, surprising Emma who tilted her head in curiosity to urge her on. "If you knew even the slightest thing about me you would know that accepting Regina's offers and gifts and kindness with open arms won't make it go away!"

"I know you better than anybody in this entire town…probably this whole damn state."

"Yeah, right," Dawn scoffed combating the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Emma gripped the teen even tighter.

"Oh, I don't know?! Maybe you don't Dawn." Emma was fuming. Completely livid and bordering emotional breakdown. "Do you know the lonely nights in the dark hoping they won't come in and touch you? Praying that your foster brothers weren't perverts this one time? Hoped that your foster mother didn't burn you with cigarettes when she heard your stomach growl because you haven't eaten in days…hiding in the warmest places you can find during the winter because you can't sleep another night there because they enjoy hurting you…getting bullied to no end because you don't have any nice clothes. Because you don't have real parents."

By then Emma was trying to keep her tears at bay but she couldn't stop the build up. Her body was trembling with the flashes of abuse and loneliness taking over everything in her body. Her soul. Though, she wanted to break, she had to stay strong on her feet because the girl in her grasp was falling apart. Even if she didn't remember everything those feelings never go away. Never. And for a moment she regretted bringing up such things as Dawn was going to have a more permanent breakdown but they both were in pain and looking into those neglected green eyes and seeing herself years ago, she'd never felt more connected at such a tragic level with anyone. For so long she'd hoped maybe not every child in the system lived such a terrible life that was all too similar to her own. Witnessing this crushed that hope. It hurt her more to see this child so broken than to relive those horrible moments again that she buried so deep down.

Dawn looked up into her eyes, "It hurts so much," she whimpered.

Emma nodded slowly as she continued, biting down on her lip to stop the quivering. Emma tried to relieve a little ache in her chest, only intending for just a few to fall but an onslaught slammed through her closed lids. Dawn easily pulled out of her grip to turn her back to Emma. Her throat was closing up the longer she tried to hold it in. Her shoulders shook rapidly, finding all her pride gone. It was useless to be brave and not let her guard down. The brunette broken and abused fell to her knees in front of the sheriff. She sobbed openly into her palms, "They'd laugh at me and ruin all my work after I couldn't do the family tree project. My foster parents would beat me when I got home because my bruises attracted too much attention…I'm sorry…I'm…"

Emma dropped down behind her and wrapped her arms around the trembling girl. Another lost girl just like herself. The blonde rested her chin on her shoulder as she cried as well. This one time she wouldn't think of how she was here shaking and crying on the mayor's walkway. She really didn't think about even being caught by the woman either.

"I'm scared," Dawn mumbled through her crying.

"I know," Emma croaked out. The weeping let up a little but her voice would be hoarse for days after this. The feelings weren't going to let up anytime soon. "I won't let go. You're safe with me. You won't ever be alone again, I promise."

Dawn gasped at the stinging in her eyes. She really was an orphan and the realization hit her harder than it had that night and all the other nights she spent with Emma on a bench at the pier at 3 am. All those times the blonde held her tight as she cried over the childhood she'd never have, she craved right then and there.

She suddenly felt complete and utter gratitude for everything the blonde had done for her. She only hoped that Regina could help her as much as she had helped her.