Oh my gosh! I cannot get over the amount of reviews/comments I got from the first chapter of this story! I am absolutely stunned and completely appreciate the love! This was given to me as a prompt and even I'm not sure on where it's going, but I'm enjoying the ride.

Same Trigger Warnings apply throughout the story

Read~Enjoy~Review

Chapter 2

Cora rubbed her temples. "Will you stop pacing?! You're driving me crazy."

"I'm sorry. Cora, I feel so helpless. I want to hold my daughter in my arms, I want to rip Charming and Snow apart, but I can't do that because I'm still so weak. What if Emma doesn't want me? What if she doesn't believe Regina? What if she does, but is already so hurt and disappointed by every other dammed parental figure in her life that she refuses to know me?"

"But what if she doesn't?" Cora said softly, taking her friends hand. "What if she cannot wait to meet you and have you hold her and love her? What if she loves you so much that neither of you can contain it? I told you back then that I would help you and I intend on keeping my word."

"Cora, you know I never blamed you. I understand why you did what you did, and you had no idea that they'd come after my child."

"I know, but I still owe it to you; hell, I owe it to Emma…Lilly. What will you call her?"

"I have a feeling she's always going to be Emma, and that's okay. I'll call her whatever she wants me to call her."

Cora sat up straight. "Go, I sense Regina has someone with her."

Meanwhile

"Emma, I know that you've been forced to believe so much in the last few weeks, but there's more." Regina stated as the two sat at her counter after Henry left for school. "I…I know why Snow and Charming are treating you like this."

"What? Why?" Emma asked, desperate for answers. "How did you find out? You said last night you had no idea."

"I know, and at that time, I didn't. I…Emma, my mother told me."

Emma gasped. "Your mother? But you said…"

"I know what I said but things have happened." She put a hand up to stop Emma. "She came to me a few days after the curse broke and had be put her heart back inside her. Until I fully trust her and figure out a way to make the town trust her, she's staying in my vault." Regina bit her lip. "I was hoping you'd come with me to see her because she can explain everything better than I can."

"You don't fully trust her, and you want me to go visit her in your vault full of magic?"

Regina swallowed and nodded. "Yep, pretty much." She took Emma's hand. "Do you trust me?"

Emma took a few breaths and nodded. "Yes." The next thing she knew, they were at the top of the vault and Emma watched Regina go down the steps. She closed her eyes for a few moments, taking breaths before following her.

Maleficent hid deep within the shadows as Regina and Emma made their way to see Cora. The former Queen of Hearts had used her magic to make the room more comfortable. "Regina, dear. I'm so happy to see you." She said, standing and kissing her daughter's cheek. "Oh, and you brought Emma." She said with a smile.

Emma just sort of waived awkwardly and Regina smiled. "Yes, mother. This is Emma. I figured it would be easier if you told her the story."

Regina and Cora sat, but Emma stayed standing, her eyes focused on the shelves of different bottles. "It's kind of embarrassing, you know?" She said, but neither woman knew what to say. "I mean, having so many people know that your parents treat you like crap, that they hate you, it kind of sucks. Especially since I have no idea what I even did wrong."

Both Cora and Regina could feel the pain in Emma's voice and it took everything Maleficent had to not come out and comfort her daughter. "Emma, dear, come sit down and let me tell you the truth." Cora said softly. Once Emma was seated, Regina laced her hand with the blonde's and Cora told her the story.

Emma blinked tears. "So they…they're not my parents?" She honestly didn't know if she felt relieved or heartbroken. Relieved they weren't her parents, but heartbroken because of what her real mother went through. "I wasn't even meant to be the savior? I wasn't meant to be Emma?" She started breathing hard, rubbing her arms. "I don't know what I'm supposed to feel." She said, her tear filled, scared eyes looking at Regina. "I don't even know who I am."

Regina wrapped Emma tightly in her arms, wanting so badly to sooth her. "You are Emma Swan; bad ass people finder, curse breaker, sheriff, mother, and friend. You are a strong woman who loves her son with all her heart, who has a mother who wants and loves her, Emma." She nuzzled into the blonde's hair, her lips ghosting on her neck. "You are loved, Emma. You are special and wanted and loved."

Emma closed her eyes tight, her tears falling as she held onto Regina and listened to her. It meant so much to her that Regina was saying these things to her, even if she didn't believe them herself. She worked on her breathing, so that she'd stop crying and after a bit, she pulled back from Regina and wiped her eyes. "Thank you." She said softly, but meaning it. She then looked at Cora. "If my mother loves and wants me, why isn't she here telling me all this?"

"Believe me, Emma, she wants to be." Cora said softly. "Let me tell you about your mother. Is that okay?"

Emma nodded, using the tissue Regina got for her. "Can I maybe have something to drink? This is a lot of information."

Regina couldn't help but chuckle. "Sure thing." She produced three glasses of her cider and Emma took one, almost downing the whole thing.

"Okay, I'm ready."

"Your mother, and yes, she is your mother even after the terrible thing the Charmings did, is one of a kind…well two of a kind I guess, but…anyway. Her father was half dragon, half human and her mother was a fairy. It was not uncommon for those with dragon blood to mix with other…for lack of a better word, breed. Finding a full-blooded dragon is very rare, so they had to mix. However, because Dragon and Faye were usually enemies, most dragons would mix with humans or wares. However, your grandmother defied her kind when she fell in love with your grandfather. They had two children together; Fiona was born first and though she had dragon blood, she could not shift but had much Faye magic in her. Your mother came two years later and was the first ever to have both Faye magic and dragon shifting abilities."

Both Emma and Regina listened with rapt attention, finding this extremely interesting.

"Fiona was always jealous of Maleficent and did what ever she could to shame her. Maleficent did her best to ignore her sister, but one day it had become too much. She was in love and Fiona outed her. You see, while it was accepted amongst the Faye to mix with others, it was not accepted to love the same gender."

Emma looked down. "Did her parents disown her?"

Cora tilted her head. "Her mother did, but her father did not. Unfortunately, because her mother was head of the Faye, that meant she was publicly disowned and humiliated. She was forced to shift to her Faye body and have her fairy wings ripped off. To a Fairy, having their wings ripped off is the worst punishment. She was banished from their land, but her father took her in. He taught her all about the dragon life and helped her dragon to grow. Though her wings were ripped off, she was still Faye and still had their magic; that was something Fiona could never take from her."

"This is really interesting, but I still don't get why she isn't here."

Cora sighed. "I'm getting to that, Emma. Actually, I think I'll skip to that because I think your mother should be the one to tell you about how you came about. You are the daughter of a dragon, 'birthed' in an egg to ensure you carry on the dragon legacy. When a human dragon hatches from the egg, the first thing it sees is its mother. When that happens, a bond is made, and both shift to dragon t complete the bond. If the baby sees anyone else, it will not shift, but as soon as it sees its mother, nature takes over and they both shift. People used to tear babies away from dragons, so they'd never shift. It was horrible. Any way, we don't know if what the Charmings did affected any of that, but if it didn't, and you were to see your mother now, nature would take over and you would both shift. Because she is in a weakened state after you freeing her, she cannot shift right now and that would badly affect her. She wants to see you, Emma, to hold you and love you and take all your pain away, but she can't yet. She has to grow stronger."

Emma sat back in the sofa, trying to process all of this. "So, you've both seen her?"

"Her and I have been keeping each other company." Cora stated. "Regina only saw her last night."

"Does…does she know about me? I mean…of course she does, you've already said that, but does she know about my past? Maybe, maybe she won't want me after all." She blinked a few times.

"I do, Emma." Came a voice from the shadows. "I can't just sit here and not say anything. We can't see each other yet, but Emma, I want you and love you. I swear it."

Emma closed her eyes, not daring to hope. "But I've been told that so many times." She said, her voice cracking. "No one has ever meant it or kept their word. I can't…I can't handle another rejection. I honestly cannot mentally take it. I'm already hanging on by a tiny thread, I can't take more."

"I know, my child. I promise you that no matter what, no matter who you've been, no matter what you think you've done, I love you and always will. As soon as I am strong enough, we will meet face to face and Emma, I promise you'll feel it in our bond. You just have to give me a little more time."

Emma's eyes were still closed, her tears falling. "Will you love me as Emma? The only thing that has ever been mine is my name."

"You are Emma. My Emma." Mal assured her. "I will find you as soon as I am strong enough and we will begin our lives together. I just need you to try to believe me."

"I do." Emma said quietly. "I do."

The rest of that day, Emma asked to be alone in her room as she processed everything. Though Regina didn't want to, she left her alone, opting to spend the day with her mother while Mal decided to pay someone a visit.

Icey eyes watched as the blonde locked the door and flipped the sign over to closed. She wasn't going to do this, but she needed answers. "How are you here?"

The woman jumped and then looked into the eyes that once held nothing but love and warmth. "Mal? You..you're alive?"

"Afraid so, dear. Now, how are you here? You weren't in our realm when the curse was cast. What are you doing here?"

"What I've been doing for the past twenty eight years, Maleficent, trying to find our daughter!"

"Our daughter?" Maleficent rose from against the wall. "You mean the child you denied and abandoned as soon as you heard about her?"

Ingrid sighed. "I admit I didn't handle the news well. I was shocked and needed space. I came back but you were gone. I searched and searched for you, but never could find you. You were always good at hiding if you wanted to. Eventually, I found your sister. She told me you sent our baby to a world without magic so that she wouldn't be dragon or Faye and so she would be here when the curse brought everyone. I didn't believe it, but she showed me the piece of eggshell she had, and I knew it was yours. I knew of this world and knew that a baby alone in it was not a good thing. I came as soon as I could and started searching. I never found her, Maleficent, and I had hoped that you had. I made a life for myself out there, and I did happen to find Emma, the savior. I wanted to hate her just because of her parents, but I didn't. There was something about her. Anyway, I messed that up and she left me. However, I knew what her destiny was, so I kept up with her and followed her here. I thought if I could find you, we could find our daughter. Of course, I had to take Emma's memories away so she wouldn't know me, but I couldn't find you either. Then, when the curse broke, I heard you had been slayed by that little brat and…I have felt so depressed."

Mal felt her exterior cracking and she lowered her arms that had been folded. "Ingrid, Emma is our daughter."

"What? No, she belongs to them."

Mal shook her head. "No, she's ours." Maleficent sat and when Ingrid sat across from her, she told her the real story. "She doesn't know you're her other mother, but she should. She needs love from a parent, and I can't do that just yet."

"But how do I do that? She won't believe me, and I don't want her hurting more than she is."

"I can't risk seeing her again. It took everything inside me not to hold her." Mal said. "I can write it all down. I'll write it down and have Cora get it to her. Then, she can contact you if she's ready."

Ingrid nodded and put her hand on Mal's. "Maleficent, I'm sorry I left that day. Honestly, it's the biggest regret of my life – and you know I have many of those. I tried so hard to find you, to tell you I made a mistake."

"As soon as you left, so did I. I should have given you a chance, more time, but I just felt rejected, and I wanted to give all my attention to our baby. I'm sorry I didn't give you more time." She looked at Ingrid. "Our baby is beautiful. Ingrid, were you at least kind to her when she was with you?"

"Yes. I was going to adopt her; she called me mom. I loved her, even if I thought she was theirs."

"What happened?"

Ingrid sighed. "I tried pushing her to use magic. I lost her trust and that was everything. She ran from me. Of course, I found her and followed her and tried my best to protect her; but I couldn't always do that and every time she got hurt, I felt as though I betrayed her. The things people in this world do to others – to innocent children…" She shivered. "I'll never understand it."

Mal wiped at her eyes. "Our baby has been hurt so much. I need to get that letter to her so you can comfort her."

"I just hope she lets me."

The moonlight lit the balcony Emma had basically forced Regina to help her make with magic outside her room as she stared at the burning ember in the ashtray in front of her. She didn't smoke, not anymore, but cigarettes were still her tool of choice when she needed an outlet. She knew she shouldn't feel this way, she shouldn't have the need to hurt herself. She should be happy, ecstatic even. Those terrible people were not her parents and she has a mother who actually loves and wants her. So why was she doing this? Why was she burning little circles into her skin? Emma sighed and picked it up, pressing it against her arm again. "I'll never be good enough. No matter what she says, what she promises, she won't love me." She lifted the cigarette and blew on the burn before putting the cigarette out. She then sighed as she noticed some of her older burns had green and yellow puss built up and knew she had to deal with it before it became infected…worse.

Emma went into the house and searched in her room and the on-suite bathroom for anything to help an infection. Regina had to have a first aid kit somewhere, right? Quietly, she went into Henry's bathroom and the guest bathroom down stairs but found nothing. She was digging in the cupboards in the kitchen when a harsh light turned on.

"Emma? What are you looking for?"

Shit. She had her tank on and didn't put the bandage back yet. She kept her arm in the cupboard. "I um…I cut myself shaving my legs and need a band aide. I was looking for a first aid kit."

"It's in my bathroom." Regina said, sighing. She knew the woman was at least partly lying to her.
Come on, I'll help you."

"No. I mean…I can do it, I just need the kit."

"Emma, I'm not stupid so please stop acting like I am." Regina said, going up the stairs.

Emma was shocked and followed her, turning the light off. "I never said you were stupid, Regina, I'd never say that."

"Yet you're treating me like I am. You think I don't know you're lying? You think I'm so dense that I don't smell smoke on you? I don't smell the mixture of tobacco and burning flesh?" She closed the door to her room and gestured for Emma to sit on the bed. "I don't know how to help you with this and maybe this is the wrong thing to do but give me your arms." Emma was about to say something, but Regina shook her head. "Give me your arms." Emma did so and Regina swallowed, seeing all the burns and marks. It tore her heart apart and shattered her to the core. "Is this it? Are your arms the only place you hurt yourself?"

Emma swallowed her shame, unable to look at Regina. "You mean this time or ever?"

"Ever."

"No. It was always my thighs before, or my sides."

Regina's tears overflowed and she used her magic to strip off Emma's shirt and jeans, leaving her in just her underthings. "Oh, Emma." She gasped, for what she saw was much worse than what she had pictured. Her legs went weak and she knelt in front of Emma. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so fucking sorry."

Emma was in a bit of a shock. "What? Why are you sorry? Regina, please don't. I…I want my clothes back."

"My curse! My curse is the reason for all of this! All of these scars mark all the pain you've had in your life and it's all my fault!" Regina's chocolate eyes locked onto Emma's sea blue. "Please, please let me heal you. I know it won't take away the pain, but please, let me try."

Emma sniffed and swallowed the lump in her throat. She'd never blame Regina for any of this and hated that the woman blamed herself. "Only if it means you'll stop blaming yourself for this."

"How can I do that? It was my fault!"

Emma shook her head. "You didn't hurt me physically or emotionally, Regina. None of these scars are because of you."

"You may believe that, but I don't." As Regina started healing Emma's scars, she would wince or gasp, but try to hold it in.

Emma realized what she was doing and tried to stop her. "Stop! You can heal them, but don't take the pain! It's not your pain to take."

"It's not a pain you should have ever felt either!" Regina cried out, healing Emma's sides and then her arms. "I deserve this pain, you never did!"

Emma watched Regina as she healed her and when the woman was done, Emma pulled her into her arms. "Why would you do such a stupid thing like that?" She asked softly, wiping Regina's tears.

Regina clutched onto Emma, letting the pain subside. She opened her chocolate eyes and gave a small smile. "Because I love you, you idiot. Please, please don't hurt yourself again."

Emma's breath hitched. "You…love me?"

Regina nodded. "More than anything. Don't worry, you've got so much going on in your head that I don't expect you to say anything back. Just know, you are loved, Emma Swan."

Emma opened and closed her mouth a few times, not trusting her voice or her brain to produce words. Finally, she took a breath. "I'll try my best not to hurt myself again, Regina. I promise I will because…because I love you too and I want to be good enough for you."

Regina stroked Emma's cheek. "You're already far too good for me. Come now, no more talking. Let's go to bed."

That night, with Regina's arms around her, Regina's and Maleficent's words in her head, Emma finally had a restful night's sleep. When she woke the next morning to Regina softly kissing her bare shoulder, she smiled. "It wasn't a dream?"

"No love, it wasn't. I want to lay here and talk to you all day, but I have a very important meeting to get ready for. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. I must get to work anyway. We'll talk later?"

"We will." Regina assured her and pressed a kiss to her lips.

Neither of them noticed the small shutter in the ground, but both Cora and Maleficent felt it. Cora smiled over to her friend. "It's about damn time."

"You said it." Mal said with a smile. She folded up her letter, sealed it in an envelope, and handed it to Cora. "Please make sure she gets that. Her other mother is dying to see her."

"I will." Cora said, taking the letter. "What are we going to do once you're strong and you two bond? Can you really live here with them knowing what they did?"

"I'll have to talk to Emma about that. We could go back, but she's got Regina now and I doubt Regina will go back. We have to figure out how to out the Charmings. Right now, though, I just want to get stronger for my daughter."

"You're getting stronger each day."

Ruby sat back in the booth and shook her head. "Emma, I don't even know what to say."

Emma had just told Ruby everything, needing to get it out. They were at Granny's for lunch and she wiped her eyes. "I know she's your friend. I just…you're my friend too."

"Emma, I had no idea! I never would have let her do this had I known. You know, now that I think about it, both she and David would say things that would confuse me. They'd always seem to put down 'half breeds' and then look at me and say I was an exception. I think they hate anyone who's not 'pure' in their eyes." She sighed. "What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, are you going to let them get away with it?"

"I don't know what to do, Ruby. How do I expose them and have people believe me?"

"I'll tell you what I'd do." Granny said, bringing Emma a refill. "Wolf hearing. I heard everything and I'm so sorry, Emma. If I were you, I'd announce it to the town and if there's doubt, that's when you and your mother meet for the first time. When you transform, everyone will have to believe you."

"That's not a bad idea, but what if them putting Emma inside Snow alters her ability to change?" Ruby asked.

"What if…what if we see about that first?" Emma said. "If we wait until my mother is strong enough and she and I meet alone and I transform. I can tell the town, tell them we haven't yet met and then shift in front of them."

"That's not a bad idea because honestly, you wouldn't be able to shift at all if you weren't hers. But Emma, if what they did does affect this bond, you still believe Maleficent is your mother, right? Because it makes total sense."

Emma looked at Ruby and gave a small nod. "I do. I can't explain it, but I do."

"Then it's settled." Granny said with a nod. "If it has affected your bond, we figure something else out."

"We?" Emma asked, smiling softly.

Granny smiled and cupped Emma's cheek. "We. I'm on your side, baby girl. What they did to you was terrible and you deserve so much better."

Snow looked at Charming who grit his teeth and took a deep breath. They'd heard everything and knew their time was limited. They snuck out the back and went home to discuss what to do next.

Emma got back to the station and sat at her desk, surprised to see an envelope. She opened it and realized it was from her mother.

My Dearest Emma,

I'm sorry I am not yet strong enough to see you and comfort you, but I will be soon. In the meantime, it's time you know your story. As you know, I had fallen in love with a woman – a human woman with magic named Ingrid. Once my father taught me all I needed to know, Ingrid and I started living our lives together. I loved her and she loved me. She has her own story to tell, but because of it, she never wanted children. I respected that and figured it wouldn't be a problem. Little did I know just how strong our magic was. When I realized I was pregnant, I was happy and excited and told her about it. She wasn't so excited or happy and instead was scared and left. I didn't know until recently that she tried to come back, but I had already gone into hiding. She regretted leaving and was told you were already sent to this world. Of course, you weren't yet, but she came anyway. She looked for you, but because she didn't have the full story, she didn't quite know who she was looking for. She found you once, loved you once, and though she made you forget, you loved her too. She is here, Emma, and wants to see you. Please give her a chance; let her love you again. Her name is Ingrid, and she owns Every Given Sundae, but you would know her as Sara…

All my love,

Your Mother Maleficent.

Emma closed her eyes, gasping. Just reading the name made her remember and her heart was pounding. Her biggest regret was leaving Sara – even if in that moment she was terrified. She always wanted to go back to her but was never allowed to. She locked up the station and headed to the ice cream shop. It was empty when she opened the door and when Sara – no Ingrid – turned around, Emma felt as if a part of her fit into place. "Sara…"

"Emma. Oh, my baby girl." Ingrid said, coming over, a bit hesitantly. "Did your mother tell you about me?"

Emma nodded, tears falling. "I loved you…I mean, I still do, I just didn't remember. I'm sorry I ran away. It was the biggest mistake of my life."

Ingrid wrapped her arms around Emma, enveloping her in her love. "It was the biggest mistake of my life, Emma. Well, the second. I didn't even know you were my daughter and I loved you. I love you so much, Emma and I always wanted you."

Maleficent smiled as she watched from the shadows. Her baby girl could start healing now. As long as the Charmings kept out of her family's business, everything would be just fine.

Fiona watched as well, not seeing Maleficent. She knew her sister was alive somewhere and as soon as she found her, she'd get rid of her. If she had to use the little blonde half-breed as bate, so be it.