This chapter will be 100% pure, unadulterated fluff. Sorry, not sorry ;)

Chapter Eighteen

In the week leading up to Halloween, Regina had actually managed to convince Snow to let her throw Emma's birthday party at the mansion. As much as Snow wanted to have it at her own home, she had to admit that Regina really did have a lot more space, and also more time and resources to pull the party together.

So they decided on a Saturday afternoon costume party, on Halloween, so that the kids could all go out trick-or-treating together after the party. Snow had wanted a princess themed party, much to Regina's chagrin. Luckily, however, Emma sided with Regina and opted for a villain themed party instead.

"You cannot seriously be considering this," Snow had said, shaking her head in utter disbelief.

"Why not? I thought we were past this whole villains versus heroes thing by now? And besides, she watched the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty and she fell in love with Maleficent. What other child can say they had the real Maleficent at their party?" Regina had countered, effectively winning the argument.

Friday night, Henry had opted to stay over at the loft, so Regina had the night to herself to decorate for the party. Henry had claimed he missed his grandparents, but Regina had overheard him and Emma discussing secretive plans for their next prank, and she had a sneaking suspicion it would be coming on Halloween.

But she didn't have time to worry about that, as she had an entire house to decorate. She called on Maleficent to come over and give her approval, once the house was ready. Her old friend stepped inside and looked around, taking in the decor: purple and green streamers and balloons adorned the ceilings of every room, the tables were covered in black lacy tablecloths, topped with purple plates and green napkins. In the centre of the living room ceiling hung a large dragon shaped piñata which Regina had filled with candy, despite the fact that the kids would get even more trick-or-treating.

"Did you get your design tips straight from Pinterest?" Mal asked, shaking her head.

"How do you even know what Pinterest is?"

"Lily showed me," Mal shrugged. "It looks good, though. Almost makes me wish Lily had been the one to be switched back, you know? So I didn't have to miss everything."

Regina nodded. "I know. But it's not all it's cracked up to be, you know? I'm just trying my best to make it a good experience for Emma."

"Why though?" Mal asked, looking at Regina, seriously.

"What do you mean, why? Why wouldn't I?"

"Why you? She's not… your responsibility, you know?"

"But she-"

"She what? Sacrificed herself to save everyone? Yeah, I know. But you don't see everyone else dropping everything to help her now, do you? Look, Regina, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It's a wonderful thing, really. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?"

Regina chewed on her bottom lip as she processed it. She really never truly had stopped to ask herself why. Leave it to Mal to be able to see right through her, as always.

"Look, Regina, let's just worry about the birthday party for now, okay? You can work out your feelings later. Lord knows you have time," Mal said, smiling at how flustered her friend was becoming.

"I don't have feelings," Regina said, earning herself a sharp laugh from Maleficent.

"Honey, you have more feelings than anyone I've ever met."

The following morning, Regina was up way too early, getting ready for the party. By 10am, she'd baked four dozen cupcakes with green and purple frosting, and magicked up an elaborate dragon cake. She was busy debating with herself as to whether or not making the cake breathe fire would be overkill, when she heard her doorbell ring.

She wiped her hands on her apron as she headed over to greet the unexpected guest. She swung the door open to be greeted by Henry, dressed in his Magneto costume, and Emma, inexplicably dressed in a tiny black pencil skirt, shiney black flats, a white button down and a black blazer, her blonde hair straightened and coloured dark brown -with what Regina hoped was just temporary Halloween coloured hairspray - and a stuffed cat which looked just like Kitty Soft Paws tucked under her arm.

"Trick or treat!" Emma cried, the moment Regina opened the door.

Regina looked back and forth, confused, between Henry and Emma, for a moment.

"She couldn't wait any longer for you to see her costume," Henry said, with a shrug. "Grandma and Grandpa will be here in a little while, but Emma just needed to come now."

Regina nodded, and then looked at Emma again. "And just who exactly are you supposed to be?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"And just who exactly are you supposed to be?" Emma parroted back, trying as hard as she could to match Regina's inflection. It was all Henry could do to keep from laughing out loud.

"I do not sound like that!"

"I do not sound like that!"

Regina shook her head and turned back to Henry. "So, this is your prank, then? Dress Emma up like me? Henry, I expected better from you," Regina chided.

"Oh, you think Emma's being you? No, mom, she wanted to dress up as a crazy cat lady!"

"I am not a crazy cat lady!" Regina said, a little more defensively than she mean to, earning herself giggles from Henry and Emma, who both looked extremely proud of themselves.

"Gina, if you're not a crazy cat lady, then how come you got four cats living in your closet?" Emma pointed out, causing Henry to laugh even harder.

"I don't… those are your cats! Don't pin this all on me!"

"Mom! You're fighting with a six year old," Henry said, once he'd stopped laughing. "About cats, no less. If you weren't a crazy cat lady, you wouldn't be getting so defensive. Now, can we come inside?"

Regina crossed her arms in mock defense. "No. I don't allow other humans in my home. It's a sanctuary for me and my cats."

"I bringed a cat! Can I come in?" Emma asked, holding up her stuffed cat as proof.

Regina smiled and stepped to the side, letting Emma pass, before looking at Henry pointedly again. "Whatever you put in her hair better be temporary."

"It is," Henry said, chuckling again. "Do you think Grandma would have let me do it otherwise?"

"Honestly, I'm surprised she let you do it at all," Regina admitted.

"Well… she might be under the impression that Emma's dressing up as Snow White," Henry said, grinning sheepishly at this mother.

"Henry!"

"What? Do you think she was going to let me dress her up as you, willingly? I'll take all the blame, don't worry! Well, maybe not all… because Ruby definitely had a hand in this one."

"Why am I not surprised," Regina sighed, finally stepping back completely to let Henry into the house. "I wondered how on earth you put together an outfit like that. Ruby might not dress to show it, but she does have good fashion sense."

Regina followed Henry back into the house, where they found Emma standing in awe in the living room, taking in the sight of the decorations and the piñata.

"What do you think, Emma?"

"Oh, she only answers to Madam Mayor," Henry pointed out, when Emma didn't speak.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Madam Mayor. Is the decor to your standards?" Regina asked.

Emma smiled and nodded. "Yep! You can have a raise. You did good."

"Oh, well, I'm very glad it meets your approval. I did work hard," Regina said, smiling. "And I have a little surprise for you, later on."

"What surprise?" Emma asked, excitedly, momentarily forgetting she was trying to imitate Regina as all of her six-year-old giddiness shined through.

"A special guest. You will have to wait and see," Regina said, with a wink.

By noon, guests had begun arriving at Emma's party. Snow and David were among the first of them, Snow donning a long black wig and bell bottoms, and David with a fake mustache and a floral print shirt.

"Wow," Regina said, as she opened the door. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"Sonny and Cher!" Snow said, rolling her eyes.

"Right. Okay, well come in," Regina said, shaking her head. Figures they'd wear matching costumes.

"Where's your costume, Regina?" David asked, as he pulled Neal, dressed in a fuzzy monkey costume, from his car seat.

"I don't do Halloween," Regina said, with a shrug.

Emma bounded into the room at the sound of her parents' voices, and Snow's jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight of her. "Emma! I thought you were dressing as me for Halloween?"

Emma shot her mother a confused look. "What? No, I'm Gina… I mean, I'm not Gina, I'm a crazy cat lady," Emma corrected herself, holding up the stuffed cat as proof.

"It's a costume, Snow, don't take it so personally," Regina scoffed at the younger woman's hurt expression, as she turned to let more guests into the house.

Emma marvelled at the costumes everyone arrived in. Belle arrived with Ruby, wearing black leather pants and a tight black tank top that Regina couldn't only guess was on loan from the werewolf. Ruby had her hair slicked back, dressed in men's pants and a leather jacket reading "T-Birds". Rumours had been spreading around Storybrooke that the two were secretly dating, and though both vehemently denied it, Regina could only assume by their Sandy and Danny costumes that the rumours were true.

Nick and Ava arrived dressed as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, and Henry rolled his eyes as he explained to Regina who they were, before the kids ran off to play video games in the living room. When Grace arrived dressed as Raggety Ann, Regina sent her off to join her friends. She couldn't help but laugh as Jefferson followed his daughter inside, dressed as a full sized Raggety Andy.

"It was Gracie's idea," he said, with a shrug.

The only fairy on the guest list was Tink, who arrived dressed as a ballerina. Ashley and Sean came as Gru and Scarlet Overkill, with little Alexandra dressed as a minion, much to Emma's delight, and Aurora and Philip were Princess Leia and Han Solo, with their little boy in a tiny Chewbacca costume. Emma was too young to get the reference, but she was elated anyway.

More and more guests trickled in, until the doorbell rang one last time, and Emma pulled the door open to reveal an imposing woman in a long black dress and shiney black horns on her headpiece.

"Gina!" Emma cried, at the sight of the unfamiliar guest. "Who's this?"

"Emma, this is my friend, Maleficent," Regina said, smiling.

Emma's eyes grew wide. She knew enough about Storybrooke to know that several people here were characters from stories she knew, but she didn't really know who was who or which characters were real people. "The real Maleficent?"

"Yes, darling," Maleficent said, with a smile. "Regina told me about this party, and I just couldn't resist. I hope you don't mind, I brought my daughter."

Maleficent motioned to Lily, who stood next to her dressed as the Disney version of her mother, complete with green skin.

"Two Maleficents!" Emma grinned.

"I wanted to see if I could out-Maleficent the original," Lily said, with teasing shrug to her mother. "Who looks better, Emma?"

"You both do," Emma said, very diplomatically, before shielding her mouth with one hand and mouthing "you do" to Lily.

"Regina, where is your costume?" Mal asked, as they women headed inside behind Emma.

Regina rolled her eyes. "I put this whole party together," she reminded her friend, "do I really need to wear a costume, too?"

"Yes! You could dress like me," Emma suggested.

Regina hesitated for a moment, before waving her hands to poof herself into a pair skinny jeans, a white tank top and a red leather jacket. "Better?" she asked, raising her eyebrow at Emma.

Emma looked back at her, confused. "No, I said me. I don't get it."

Regina just smiled and Lily and Maleficent laughed. "One day you will. We'll take a picture today, you and me, and I'll show it to you again when you're older and you'll get it."

Emma nodded, not quite convinced, but decided to let it be as Grace and Ava came up to her, asking to see the kittens.

"Can I show them, Gina?" Emma asked, anxiously.

"Yes, but remember, you can't pick them up yet, alright? And don't touch anything in my bedroom. That goes for all of you."

The girls nodded and followed Emma upstairs.

"You let her walk all over you," Mal said, shaking her head.

"I do not! I can't help that the kittens are in my room, that's where the damn cat decided to have them. It's not fair to tell Emma she can't go see them," Regina defended herself.

"Okay, if you say so. She's got you wrapped around her little finger, and everyone can see it," Mal teased.

"Whatever."

The party began to dwindle down as trick-or-treating time arrived. Regina felt a little bad that the kids in attendance were stuffed full of sugar already from the cake and cupcake, and the atrocious amount of candy from the piñata, but it was too late to take it all back. She was in the kitchen cleaning frosting from the counter top when Snow came to join her.

"Regina," Snow said, smiling as she entered the room, "I haven't had a chance to talk to you all night."

Regina nodded. "I know. Who'd have thought these few kids could have made this much noise? Add a little sugar to the mix, and Henry and his friends forget they aren't five anymore."

Snow laughed. "I swear sometimes, Emma is the mature one."

"Okay, let's not go overboard," Regina said, rolling her eyes. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to thank you, for the potion, with the fairies. I know you aren't their biggest fan, but it's made a world of difference in Emma. She's so much happier now, and that's thanks to your persistence."

Regina nodded. "She would have done the same for me."

"Right. Yes, I know. But I still wanted to thank you. Not just for that, for everything. I know David and I haven't always been the most… well, I'm not sure how to put this… I guess I'm sorry for trying to push you out of Emma's life before."

Regina stiffened. Apologies from Snow always made her more than a little uncomfortable, since she had so much more to atone for in their past together. "Yes, well, it's all in the past, and you did have a point. I was overstepping with Emma and I shouldn't have. She's your daughter."

"She is. But she needs both of us, and that's clear to me now. She loves you, and I can see that you love her, too, and I'm just glad we found a way to make all of this work."

Regina smiled. "Me too."

"Did, um, did the fairies happen to mention if Emma's body will still go through the physical changes it did when she went away in her dreams? I mean, I know she will regain her memories still, and grow, but what about when she got the chicken pox again? Will things like that still happen?"

"I honestly don't know," Regina admitted. The fairies hadn't had an answer when she'd asked them, either.

"I mean, what about her tattoo? Will that come back? And what about…"

"Henry?" Regina suggested.

Snow nodded. "Yeah. What if she's pregnant again at seventeen?"

"I don't know. I guess we'll deal with it when the time comes. There's no much else we can do, really. Like Blue said, there's really no precedent for this, and there's no way to know for sure."

Snow nodded, and glanced around the kitchen again. "So… a Maleficent party," she commented, deciding to change the subject to the other thing that had been on her mind lately. "Emma seems to have an affinity towards villains."

"We've been over this," Regina reminded Snow, not wanting to get into the heroes versus villains debate again.

"We have and we haven't. Emma knows who David and I are, I mean, who we really are, but she doesn't know who you are," Snow pointed out.

"I know. I kept that from her on purpose. And I would appreciate if you continue to do the same."

"She's going to find out one day, Regina. It's inevitable. But it would seem to me, right now at least, that she might be okay with it. She spent most of this party fawning over Maleficent."

"Yes, well, Maleficent didn't poison her mother, did she?" Regina snapped.

"No, she didn't. But wouldn't the truth be better coming from you, than having her overhear it at school or something?"

Regina sighed. Snow did have a point, but she wasn't really ready to sit Emma down and tell her about her own sordid past. "Can we talk about this later, please? It's almost time for the kids to go out trick-or-treating."

"Fine. But it's a discussion we need to have. Sooner rather than later," Snow said, as they headed back into the living room.

After some debate, it was decided that Snow and David would be the ones to take the older kids around, while Regina, Mal and Lily stayed back with Neal to hand out candy. Aurora and Ashley had already left with their families, and the rest of the adults in attendance started to head out as the kids set out on their way.

"Who would have thought we'd ever make it here," Mal commented, as she and Regina sat down on the couch, having delegated the task of handing out candy to Lily, who now sat at the front door with Neal on her lap.

"Here? Where?"

"Sitting at your house on a Saturday night babysitting Snow White's child," Mal said, grinning at Regina.

"Yes, well, people change, I suppose. Are you sure it's really fair to leave Lily in charge of the candy and the baby and the trick-or-treaters?"

Mal shrugged. "Well, she's got to get used to it."

"Why's that?"

Mal grinned even bigger than she had been all night, which Regina suddenly realized was a lot. "Because, I'm going to be a grandma!"

Regina's eyes widened. "What? Really?"

Mal nodded excitedly. "Yes! Lily told me last night! She's only a few weeks along, so please don't tell anyone. She wants to wait till three months, but I just had to share with someone."

"Wow, Mal, that's amazing. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you, truly."

"Thank you. And to think, just last night, I was wishing it had been Lily who'd been turned back into a child, and now she's going to have a child of her own! I'm going to get a chance to see that baby grow up. It's not the same but, it's still a miracle, you know?"

Regina nodded. "Yes, I do. It's like a second chance."

After a few hours, the Charmings returned to the mansion with Henry and an exhausted Emma. Emma dropped her bag on the floor and crawled up into Regina's lap immediately.

"What happened?" Regina asked, noting that Emma was now dressed in a fuzzy cat costume.

"Oh, well, apparently she figured out that spell you used to create your costume," Snow explained. "She's on her seventh costume change of the night. She also seems to think she can return to houses in a different costume to get more candy."

"Only the ones who gave out the good stuff," Emma said, defending herself in a tired whisper.

"That's my girl," Regina said, earning herself an eyebrow raise from Snow. "What? She knows what she wants and figures out a way to get it. She's a resourceful child, what can I say?"

Snow shook her head, but couldn't help but smile. "Anyway, Emma would like to stay here tonight so she can play with her new presents tomorrow. I can only assume you're okay with that?"

Regina smiled. "Of course," she said, hugging Emma tight to her. "You know you're always welcome here."

After the Charmings and Lily and Maleficent left, and Henry headed to up to his room, Regina scooped Emma up and carried her upstairs.

"I wanna sleep in your room," Emma said.

"Alright," Regina agreed. "Did you have fun today, Little One?"

Emma nodded as Regina set her down on the bed and helped her get changed into her pajamas. Normally Emma could do that on her own, but she was nearly asleep sitting up at this point. Regina smiled as she tucked her in under the blankets.

Not surprisingly, Emma was fast asleep by the time Regina had gotten herself changed and crawled into bed. She looked down at her, looking like a little angel as she slept, and was so grateful, all over again, to know that Emma wasn't disappearing into some horrible foster home right now. She was just dreaming, just like any other child.

"Good night, Little One," Regina whispered, as she kissed Emma's forehead. "I love you more than you'll ever know."

Did you all hear the news that Agnes Bruckner is pregnant? Grandma Mal is a very real possibility! I'm all for it, tbh

What do you guys think? Will Emma be accepting of Regina's past if she learns that she was the Evil Queen? And what about Regina and Snow's conversation… will Emma magically become pregnant at seventeen? I want to hear your speculations!

Also, some of you have already noticed this, but sometimes you can't leave reviews. That's my fault, because I condensed the shorter chapters into longer ones, and essentially made the story have less chapters, over all. It was at 25 chapters that were all around 1,500 words, and I knew if I kept going like that, the story would likely hit 200 chapters! because of that, though, there was already a chapter 18 before, and if you commented on that one, it won't let you review this one :( Feel free to leave it as a guest, if you want, or PM me, because I love hearing what you think! Until next time...