She was so small when Regina found her, drenched from the thundering rain and huddled underneath a playground set at the park. Regina had been observing the girl for two hours, looking out for some sign of a parent or legal guardian, before it began to rain. Regina huffed, making her decision. With the umbrella in hand, she walked over to the little girl, her sad honey eyes reminded her of a painful time riddled with hardship. She crouched down next to her.
"Hello, dear." The little girl backed away, her wide eyes wary.
Regina smiled warmly, "I just wanted to get out of the rain. Do you think you could share your space with me?" Regina didn't care if she looked ridiculous. She just wanted to keep her safe.
The girl wrapped her arms around her legs and nodded fervently, her pigtails bouncing. Her hair, matted and soaked by the rain, looked to be filthy, most likely unwashed for weeks. Regina introduced herself to the little girl, who sat a safe distance away from her.
"Hi, Gina. " The girl whispered from her corner, her body shivering violently.
"Are you cold, darling?" Regina asked, already shedding her thick coat and placing it on the ground in between them. Hesitantly, the young child took the coat and let it engulf her body in its warmth.
"Where are your parents, darling?" Regina asked, watching as the girl stiffened, "Are you lost?"
The girl shook her head but remained silent, trying to gauge the older woman. She seemed safe. With another nod she continued, pulling the coat tightly around her as if it could protect her. "I ran away ." She mispronounced, clearly having trouble with her 'r's.
Regina raised an eyebrow. How the hell could someone not know that their child wasn't with them? How was the little girl able to run away unnoticed?
As if sensing the brunette's questions, the girl whispered, "I don't have a Mama and a Papa."
Regina could feel her heartbreaking at the girl's words. But then who did she run away from? Regina stored that question away for later. She needs to get her warm and dry before inquiring further.
"Do you know what happened to them, darling?"
"They crashed in the old forest. The horsies got scared."
Regina's brow furrowed, the old forest? She had to be referring to the Enchanted Forest. So she arrived sometime during the last curse? Regina shook her head to clear it. Focus Regina.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" Regina asked quietly, not wanting to startle the
already frightened girl.
"Rebecca," She leaned toward the brunette woman slightly and held up a few fingers, "I'm four."
Regina nodded as she attempted to coax the child from underneath the playset, "Rebecca, darling, are you hungry?"Surprisingly, the girl unconvincingly shook her head. Regina quickly masked her shock as she glanced down at her watch, "Well, dear, it is well past the lunch hour and I am starved ."
She was halfway to the car, subtly turning to check if Rebecca was following her when she felt little hands tug on her pant leg.
"Regina," Rebecca looked up at her with those wide hazel-green eyes, "Don't leave me."
Regina picked the child up, swallowing back tears, "Alright, darling, let's go."
Rebecca sat at the kitchen island, swinging her legs back and forth while eating a chicken sandwich that was cut into four, manageable triangles. The four-year-old yawned loudly, her eyes watering slightly as her mouth slammed shut. Regina chuckled to herself when the girl blinked sleepily and tried to eat a sandwich triangle, completely missing her mouth and smearing mustard on her cheek.
"Are you tired, darling?" Regina asked as she picked up the plate of half-eaten triangles, covered it, and put it in the fridge.
The girl's eyes widened comically, "No, I am not tired," she insisted.
"Okay, okay," Regina laughed, putting her hands up in mock surrender, "But let's get you cleaned up. How does a bath sound?" Regina carried the sleepy child to her bathroom. I should really call Emmett. Regina shook her head. Baby first, call the sheriff second. I'll call him after she's asleep.
Bath time turned out to be a success. Whatever home Rebecca came from, they didn't physically abuse her. Regina had double and triple checked as subtly as she could manage while bathing the child and washing her hair. The exhausted girl was curled around one of Henry's old teddy bears in a magicked up pink onesie.
After calling Emmett and inquiring about their son, confirming that he would come over first thing in the morning, which was 12 o'clock in Emmett time, Regina curled up next to Rebecca. I wish I could keep her. Henry would finally have a sister. With those final thoughts, she fell asleep with Rebecca wrapped tightly in her arms.