TemperanceTales: I do not own Once Upon a Time in anyway shape or form and I give full credit to the creators.

Chapter Four: Day with the Queen

Henry didn't come to school the next day. Autumn swung on the old fence surrounding an empty field. It was on another side of town where the forest laid not too far off. She was getting a little annoyed; Henry kept skipping school to go see Emma. She usually wouldn't mind him spending time with her, but Autumn was beginning to feel a little left out. She wanted to break this curse but if he didn't start including her, she would have to do things on her own.

Eating an apple, Autumn watched people have fun in the park nearby. Parents were playing with their little children on the swing sets and slides; elderly people were sitting on the benches talking. She had gotten lost in her trance when someone came up beside her and said, "What are you doing here, Autumn?"

Autumn gasped slightly in surprise as Regina stood in front of her. Autumn sighed gently and said, "Just hanging around."

"How come you aren't in school?" Regina asked, frowning. Autumn stared at Regina for a moment and said, "Oh, I don't go to the school in town."

"You don't?" Regina said surprised and Autumn shook her head.

"No, I stop by the school sometimes though," Autumn said softly, "To see Henry and Paige."

"So how is he today?" Regina asked and Autumn was quiet for a moment. She didn't want to get Henry in trouble but at the same time it wasn't exactly a secret he was skipping school. She didn't want to get on Regina's bad side either. The angrier she was, the more she would try prying into her life. Shaking her head, Autumn said quietly, "He wasn't there..."

"He wasn't?" Regina looked slightly angry, which showed only a little of the anger that was festering inside. He was off with Miss. Swan again. Not that she was surprised; she had seen them around town. She would have to talk to Miss. Swan later. Looking at Autumn, she then smiled and said, "Well, since my son has left you bored for the day why not come over? I'm off of work this afternoon so it's not bother to me."

Autumn thought for a moment and nodded. If Henry wasn't going to tell her what was going on, she would do things on her own. After all, Regina knew more about the curse than anyone. Maybe she could find hints. Autumn hopped down from the fence and walked with Regina. Regina then asked, "So if you don't go to school, what do you do for education?"

"Oh, Mom teaches me when she's home," Autumn said, casually, "In fact that's why I wanted to see Henry today. I have to be home for the next few days."

"I see," Regina said with a smile, "So when did you start growing food?"

"I've always grown stuff," Autumn said casually, "I used to just grow flowers but ever since I've been here I started growing food."

"Very nice, is it fun?" Regina asked and Autumn nodded vigorously saying, "It is, I like being outside."

"Hello Mayor Mills," someone with blond hair said as she passed by and Regina smiled saying, "Hello Kathryn. So how come I've never seen your mother?"

"Probably because she's always busy working," Autumn said, shrugging, "She works a lot."

"Is that a reason you stay inside town a lot?" Regina asked as they exited the park. Autumn moved her head a bit and said, "Kinda, I also like visiting Granny and Ruby. She's really nice. They also have really good pie."

"Really?" Regina asked, looking down at the Autumn fondly. It surprised Autumn, but she didn't let it show. She thought Regina only cared about Henry, so why look at her with such a real expression. Autumn snapped out of her thoughts as Regina said, "I have a really good recipe for turnover. Would you like to make some with me?"

"Sure," Autumn said, casually. They finally approached the house and Regina smoothly took her keys from her pocket. Opening the door, Regina allowed Autumn to go in first. Autumn looked around, walking forward slowly. Regina took off her coat and walked into the kitchen saying, "Just leave your things by the table."

Autumn dropped her bag to the floor by the table and slide off her coat. Walking slowly, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Entering the kitchen, she saw Regina get out some various ingredients. Autumn came over, asking, "You cook a lot?"

"I do my share of cooking," Regina as she gave Autumn an apple peeler and set a cutting board in front of her as well, "What about you? I would imagine with all the fruits you have you cook."

"Mhm," Autumn said, taking one of the apples, "When I have the time. So, were you ever married?"

Regina stopped what she was doing momentarily, holding a bottle. She then continued, saying, "No. I never did find that special person, but I don't mind. Being a mother is much more fulfilling."

"Oh?" Autumn said, looking at Regina's face. It always surprised her, Regina's true smile. But she couldn't let it fool her; this same woman had hurt and destroyed so many people's happiness. Going back to peeling the apple and said, "Henry is lucky in that regard, I suppose. So how long have you lived in Storybrooke?"

"Since I was little, I've never really been anywhere else," Regina said smoothly, "I grew up with my father, he was always very supportive of me."

"Does he still live here?" Autumn asked, going along with Regina's lie.

"No, I'm afraid he died a while past," Regina said, sadness slowly filling and leaving her eyes. Autumn was almost entranced; she never thought evil would have such real emotions. She just thought evil was… well evil. Regina glanced and her and began to laugh, saying, "If you peel that apple anymore, you'll strip it down to the core."

Autumn snapped out of her revere and mumbled, "Sorry, spaced out. Do you have a knife?"

Regina opened a drawer by her and pulled out a small but sharp knife. Handing it to her, Regina said, "Now that you've had your intrigues, I'll have mine. Who is your father? I've never heard you talk about him."

"That's because he's not around anymore," Autumn said, chopping the apple with a bit more force, "He died when I was young."

"I'm sorry," Regina said, sympathetically. Autumn didn't notice, but Regina actually had meant it. It was painfully enough to grow up without a parent; it was worse to have known and then have it ripped away. Regina frowned, almost caringly before asking, "Were you close?"

Autumn didn't look up from her apple but said softly, "Closer than you can imagine…"

Regina watched before stirring the mixture together. Glancing over at Autumn, she asked, "Are you angry with Henry?"

"Huh?" Autumn asked and Regina said, "You both seemed very close, he talked about you a lot. But now I've noticed he's been disappearing more and more."

"I'm not angry," Autumn said, as she put down the knife, "Annoyed maybe."

"I see," Regina said, "Well, you'll have to forgive him. I think he's just been a little over excited about finding his biological mother."

"Probably," Autumn said, collecting the apples pieces and putting them into a bowl. Staring, she wondered if they were harmful. If they were, it would mean Regina could bring magic into the world. If not, then it would still be a mystery. Well there was only one way to find out. Taking one, Autumn ate it. Regina looked up as Autumn felt the cold but sweet juices fill her mouth. Regina smiled and said as Autumn smiled, "Is it good?"

"Really good," Autumn said, grinning. There was no harm, which meant she would have to search for anything magical elsewhere. But she seemed to have please Regina, who had taken the bowl of apples. She put the dough on the mat and suddenly the phone rang. Regina sighed and said, "Here, start flattening out the dough. I'll be right back."

Regina left the kitchen leaving Autumn by herself. Autumn took the rolling pin and began to flatten out the dough. She could hear Regina talking firmly in the background. Business, probably, but she couldn't really tell. Staring around the kitchen, she frowned in seeing nothing out of the ordinary. At this rate she wasn't going to find out much. She seemed to have covered all her bases. Regina eventually returned and said, "I'm sorry, Sidney Glass needed to ask me a couple of questions."

"Sidney Glass?" Autumn asked and Regina smiled saying, "Yes, he's the chief editor of the Mirror. That should be good enough; you can stick the roller in the sink."

Autumn did as she was told, pondering this new piece of info. Glass and The Mirror; well if that wasn't a hint towards the story of the genie then she didn't know what would be. Autumn turned around to see Regina adding the apples to the mixture on the stove. Regina looked back and said, "So, when will you have to be home by?"

"Oh," Autumn looked out the window and almost gasped when she saw that it was near dusk, "Soon, very soon."

"Would you like a ride home?" Regina asked, looked genuinely concerned. Autumn shook her head and said, "No, it's still light out. I'll be able to get home in time."

"Well then," Regina said, putting the spoon down in the sink, "I will escort you to the door. This way you can come over another day for a snack."

"Okay," Autumn said politely, "Thank you for having me over."

"No problem dear," Regina said, as they walked out of the kitchen, "I'll tell Henry you said hello."

"Please do," Autumn said, grabbing her jacket and bag. Regina opened the door and allowed Autumn to leave. Autumn walked down the pathway and waved back before hurrying down the sidewalk. Regina smiled and shook her head. Shutting the door, her smiled disappeared and walked back over to the room with the phone and picked it up saying, "She's gone. Now what did you find out?"

"Sadly not too much more than Graham did," Sidney said, looking down at the papers in his hand, "Apparently her foster mother's name is Felicity Doe. She moved into a cabin outside of town three years ago. Nothing really suspicious, I found the chain her mother works at. It looks like a restaurant and bar chain."

"I see," Regina said, taking the phone into the kitchen, "So her story adds up. But did you say foster mother?"

"Yeah," Sidney said, "That's what I found. But the strange thing is I couldn't get a copy of a real birth certificate for Autumn. I only found out through some digging in old records that she was a foster mom."

"I see," Regina said, tapping her fingers on the counter.

"Do you want me to keep looking into it?"

"No, not yet," Regina said, after some thought, "Just keep it on the back burner just in case."

"Why do you want to know about her anyway?"

"Because," Regina said, going over to the stove, "She's the only person Gold is close to, I need to keep him in check."

"Ah, keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer?"

"Yes," Regina said, "Goodbye."

Regina hung up the phone and opened the drawer. She pulled out a bottle filled with crystallized something. It shone in the light that was pouring in through the window, causing it to glisten purple and gold. Opening it, she put some into the sauce smiling to herself. The child intrigued her, and she certainly wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

Hats. Hats were everywhere; tall ones, short ones, round and square. She had never remembered seeing so many hats before. The table was long and filled with many beautiful tea sets. Gasping, the girl walked forward as the cat lead the way. The man at the head of the table looked over, a certain mad curiosity filling his eyes. His tall hat had various items upon it. He stood up and said, "Well, well, if it isn't the Cheshire Cat. What brings your cheerful self with a little companion to my humble abode?"

"I've brought a young mystery to you," Cheshire said, pushing the girl towards the hater. The Hatter suddenly leaped onto the table, swiftly striding down the table. The girl backed into Cheshire, who just disappeared. The Hatter took the girl's hand and said, "A mystery indeed. A mystery I will soon uncover! But first, let us have some tea!"

Her blue eyes stared at him in surprise as he led her swiftly down the table and sat her next to him. Pouring the tea, he said, "It's quite a puzzle, quite a puzzle. However did you get here?"

"I don't recall," she said honestly and the Hatter said, "You must recall, or otherwise you wouldn't be here. But at any rate I need something to call you..."

The Hatter looked at her and reached out. Tilting her chin up, he stared into her eyes with a deep expression. There was no wind, only the sounds of someone messing with the tea pots. Slowly, a mad glimmer appeared in his eyes and said triumphantly, "Alright, I know exactly what you are called. Now that I know, we can be friends!"

"But wouldn't you tell me what I am called?" she asked and the Hatter said, "Oh, no, no, no. That wouldn't do at all. You see it doesn't matter if you don't know who you are becauseIknow who you are. Just like it doesn't matter if I don't remember who I am as long asyouknow who I am."