A/N – They begin exploring this new world… Some fluff and angst.

Title

A Sweet Lie For a Hard Truth

Summary

"Its hard to accept the truth when the lies were exactly what you wanted to hear."

:::::::::::::::

A little mouth grimaced. "What are we doing here?" Snow asked as she batted cobwebs from the low hanging branch in the Storybrooke graveyard on the edge of town. She hated cemeteries. Creepy and never full of life they stank of unhappy endings. And right now she was being reminded on one ending in particular she wished she could forget.

Regina pushed open the door to her family mausoleum, glad it opened with the key in her hand. It was where she had always kept it in the mansion even in this cursed land. At least something was going right today. The adult mind Snow had been in since breakfast grumbling behind her wasn't making anything easier. Just getting them here had been quite the ordeal and Regina had to practically wrestle Snow into the curse created car seat that was in the back of her Mercedes. It wouldn't due to be pulled over for having an insisting child riding in the passenger seat or raising any questions in their direction should anyone see them and thankfully no one had.

Yet.

"Regina?"

"Snow I told you." Turning only partially with a raised brow Regina reiterated what had been said one too many times for her taste. "I need to check on something."

"But why did you have to bring me here?" Last word shook at the edges and little Snow shivered, more than a bit scared of the ominous feeling consuming them as they entered the dim stone room.

"Like I would allow you alone in my house, especially in this state you are in." Whirling around Regina snapped, done with being questioned. Failing to add what hovered in mind as that small face winced. 'After what you did.' That seemed to get the Princess to pipe up and so, she pushed her Father's coffin aside. Going down the narrow steps, Snow followed not far behind. Down the hall Regina went to turn left into the main chamber of her vault, but something new caught her eye just beyond the archway.

Ice crystallized in her stomach just as the room seemed to grow chilly and small. Regina took a step back. The coffin was made of marble in rich copper tones with gold accents. How and why it was here were the questions ballooning in her mouth. Her hand found the wall behind her as a support and eyes, unblinking read the name plate at the base.

~Cora Mills~

Beloved Mother

Regina leaned against the wall in full willing it to swallow her up. The coffin was all Cora in grand elegance and statement. It was exactly what her Mother would have chosen, but that simple gold plate affixed at the base, those were her wishful words. Regina felt them, owned them and she wanted to break wide open all over again to be rid of them. This is real. Too real and now real spoke.

"Regina what is…" Trailing behind big Snow stopped just shy of the archway Regina stood across from, pupils dilated and instinctual she stepped back several paces at the sight laying entombed there. Daring a look up, she tried the Queen's face and saw a single wet streak falling there. Then those eyes were all consuming. On her. And she shrank under them. "I'll just go—"

"No." Regina straightened and reached.

Sleeve caught Snow was pulled to stand close with her back to Regina. Two hands gripped her shoulders keeping her from moving and there with what was looming in front of her, Snow wanted to run. Wanted to get away from the damning stillness. She started to close her eyes to the vision swimming before her. But the hands on her, so heavy, did not let go and so she couldn't not look for the weight of them. Cora—Regina's mother—her Grandmother lay there. Dead in a box.

And it was all her fault. Snow tried to move away then, but she was held fast. Under the next words said she couldn't move again even if she wanted to.

"No. You will not run away from me again." Voice void of emotion though Regina felt way too much of it. Shook with it her hands did on those small shoulders. There was more to say, but no more would come from her mouth. She looked down at the child Snow was under her. One so still and the past flashed of standing this way once before when Snow had been fifteen on the day of the King's funeral. It pooled up behind her eyes and in the heat Regina stood with Snow now as she had then.

Regina looked down over her balcony at the sight below. Red rose petals lined a stone path to a dais with steps in the court yard below. Upon which a white coffin rested. A figure shrouded moved as if in trance along this path and up to the resting place of the dead King.

Turning away from the scene Regina descended from her chamber. Following the same rose lined path, but with purpose. Her heart was numb, had long been since Mother's taking of it. Still she felt some things. Always sensitive to Snow and ever would be she slowed her approach when she saw a single white rose come to rest on her husband's coffin.

"Goodbye Father." Broken they sounded those words from Snow.

And Regina felt a phantom tugging deep in her chest where her heart had once been. The magic spell she had learned in secret from one of Rumple's spell books to prolong feeling even after a removal of heart she'd cast years ago before Mother had come to take it from her chest. Now her emotions fleeting over time only lingered at best. Some days she felt more. Those were the better days. Others nothing at all. Today was a mix. Soon any and all feeling would be gone entirely. Regina feared what would happen when it did.

"I cannot believe he's gone." Dead the statement had sounded from pink lips. Dead dressed in black Snow's skin looked too white.

"I'm so sorry Snow." Closer Regina gently squeezed the shoulders in front of her, holding there against custom. Damn the secret eyes about she knew were watching them. She was long tired of their judgment. Snow needed comfort and comfort, what the Princess allowed of it now a days from her she would give. Regina was surprised to have the girl turning to tuck into her arms.

"I loved him so much." Snow's voice crumbled. "I know you did too."

Almost a question from Snow and then Regina felt it. The hot pull forcing her lips to move against her will. Mother's words came out next using her voice. "I did dear. I did so much."

And Regina bit her tongue to blood after she spoke and her eyes smarted for the effort. Eyes looking over Snow's shoulder for the ones she felt on them watching. The heat of dark magic pulled again painful and fighting it Regina lost as she always did and her body pulled back as the puppeteer's voice in her head forced her to move away.

But hold onto Snow's hands Regina managed to as the string mistress spoke for her. "The loss I feel for my husband is nothing compared to the loss you feel for your Father. He was a loving man and I will miss him terribly." Snow's tears always got her and there must have been some defying magic in them now. Unsure how, but she did, Regina was able to cut the strings that were forcing words that were not her own from her mouth. For a precious moment her own voice spoke to her daughter. "If there is anything I can do please let me know. I know you only see me now as your Mother through marriage, but I am here for you Snow." And adding with a kiss on the cheek a promise she was fighting to keep. "Always and always."

And Snow had fallen into her. Fallen right into her arms with abandon to cry as so often had been done as a child. Trusted her to make everything all better and Regina was fighting to make it so. She was almost ready to be rid of her Mother for good and then she would be able to being mending things with Snow, but she needed a little more time to get all the ingredients together.

Then footsteps entered the courtyard. Echoing and in their commanding arrogant pace Regina thought she knew who they belonged to. Letting Snow go and stepping in front of the Princess to block she turned, a little surprised to see the court physician walking over to them instead of her Mother as she had suspected. Her eyes widened in question at the small jeweled box she recognized as hers tucked under his arm. He bowed lavishly almost in mock deference and she tilted her head in wonder at it.

"I have disposed of the vipers your Majesties." He pinched the end of his curled mustache as he looked over them.

Snow gave a delicate sniff and ever polite said. "Thank you for your care today. My Father would have been pleased with your presentation of him."

Regina gestured to the box in question. "Why do you have that box?" One she used to keep letters in and other important documents from her private library off of her chamber.

"Is it yours Majesty?" Physician stood from bow, eyes glittering. "The box the vipers were found in at the foot of the King's bed?"

Then Regina connected the dots as Snow appeared to take in the box under that arm for the first time. Framed she was being framed and Regina opened her mouth to say as much but the fierce pain pulling string was back, stronger and a phantom chain held across her lips prevented her from quelling the horror rising in Snow's eyes. Dead, Regina had wished the King dead on more than one occasion for all the torment he had inflicted upon her.

But acting on that wish was another thing entirely and she would have never—then a memory crashed in, one she was not aware that she had. Of her hands magicing the snakes in that box. Carrying the box into his chamber. Opening the latch and watching as the slick black death vipers slithered up under the sheets. Watched as fangs sank into his thick neck and his eyes bulging. And of the wicked laugh that had come from her lips.

No, not her lips. Her lips pleaded now with her daughter to be believed and Snow ran from her. Away from her reaching arms…

Regina blinked as present brought her right back to the chill of the room. Cold her hands were resting on Snow and she squeezed once reflexively in reassurance.

Too many times in the past had Snow run away from her—she had shielded too much away for them to ever get to the root of truth needing to be said between them. Regina was tired of not being believed, already in this life and their other one. And when Snow began trembling under her hands that completely broke her focus. She let go, but before Regina could turn away a pair of little arms turned and wrapped around her waist in a death grip. The one holding her like this was not the child though.

Part of Regina didn't understand wanting to hug this Snow back, part of her more than did. But in the moment she left her arms loose at her sides. Then very gently and brief, Regina ran a single hand down those cascading curls. At her touch Snow seemed to snap out of something and let her go.

For lack of something better to say Regina said something. "We need to keep moving." As if that would solve everything.

Stepping away Regina continued down the path to the heart of her vault. More than done with the moment they just shared as tears pushed to spill. She had cried more than enough for today. Child followed along after keeping in the shadows along the walls of the room. Little fingers trailed the side of the wall too. As they neared the main chamber Regina hesitated, taking in all the delicate bottles and magical knick knacks in the domed display niches in stone.

She gave direction. "Don't touch anything."

Regina heard a little one sniffling after her command signaling a shift in that curly head and lost her stern resolve. The switches in Snow were lightening fast and exhausting to keep up with. Turning, she was about to explain more of her reasoning when a little hand poked about colorful glass bottles on a low shelf. One teetered and fell. She sprang forward and yanked Snow back by the scruff of a pink coat. A mini explosion rattled the walls and made the lights flicker. Coughing Regina waved a hand in front of her face and stood up in the clearing fumes, helping Snow to feet as well.

"Are you hurt?" Getting a small head shake Regina took up Snow's shoulders again and leaned down to be eye level. Naturally as breathing, she corrected. "I said not to touch anything for exactly that reason. There are dangerous things down here. Do you understand?"

Snow nodded. "Sorry. I won't." And she meant it. Flustered too by her innate response to want to dissolve the reason for the scold she was under. "I didn't mean to break it."

Letting go and standing to her full height Regina took a long breath and let it out slowly. "Still that does not fix what is broken." Echoing again what had already been said that day, she turned away and pointed to a stool near the door. "Sit there and try to stay out of trouble for a few minutes."

Snow plunked down where she was bid, resting elbows on knees and chin in hand. Thoughts drifted to the last time she had been in this vault. Guilt ate her skin and she began to bite her nails in worry over it. Regina had found her here just after she had cursed Cora's heart. After she had said words filled with hope that had Regina eating out of the palm of her hand. Had lit the candle that could have been used to save Eva's life so long ago when the blue fairy had visited her. Offered her that dark candle to trade a life for a life and then she couldn't do it, but the adult she had grown into could. That difference registered and she wondered that the difference was.

The easy answer, Snow thought, was that she had done it for Neal, for Emma. She had done it for her family. Fed herself that syrup of truth and now she was choking on it. Still she kept putting the spoon of denial to her lips. She had to do it to stop the Mills' women from getting the dagger. For Henry, for everyone. Snow knew what the cost of her words would be for the amber eyes that had pleaded with hers in this very vault for understanding. Snow closed hers then as they began to sting.

And for what?

Regina's words echoed in Snow's mind.

"You have no right to be here." Regina's black glove pointed to the heart in the golden box in her hands. "And you have no right to that."

"I was going to give it to you." Truth and not so sweet fell from her mouth.

"What?" A surprised question.

Snow swallowed at how that single syllable from the Queen broke clean in the middle with hope. "She can't love you. She doesn't have her heart." Snow held the box up. "That's why you never felt she loved you." Smiling and nodding to the box. "But maybe with it she can."

Queen questioned, full of uncertainty and something else. "You're doing this… For me?"

Then the lie that made those hands take the offered hope from her. "For you and for us, Regina. Maybe once you find peace with your Mother we can begin to find peace with each other..."

Snow opened her eyes. For Regina, no. For everyone else it had to be done. Or so she'd rationalized. Regina had taken the heart from her and Snow had sat, much as she was now, soaking in her guilt outside the mausoleum door until Charming found her and reminded her that this choice was not her. Horrified she had run back to town...

Still horrified over what she had done little Snow felt the adult mind backing up and pushing her forward. And little one she was wanted comfort in the dark feeling chewing her heart from the hard truth. Eying the woman searching in front of her Snow was not so sure she would get it from Regina. But another thought came into her mind from the adult hiding inside her. Bouncing up suddenly with an idea little Snow went over to Regina and tugged on a coat sleeve.

Regina regarded Snow with less than patient eyes as she cleaned up the mess on the ground caused by that little hand. "Why are you up? Go sit where I told you." Moving Snow gently back away from the glass shards.

Girl stepped forward again. "I have a question."

"And you may ask me when your timeout is over. Now go." Returning to the glass, Regina shook her head.

Confused little Snow asked. "What's a timeout?"

Dark eyes flicked over a shoulder, a bit surprised at the question, then considering who was asking and what life they were in, Regina explained. "It's like a period of reflection."

"Oh." Considering. "Like part of our way?" A step then of the formal ritual Regina had crafted and held her to in the Enchanted Forest whenever she had done something serious she shouldn't of.

"Yes, like that." Something soft flashed across Regina's eyes briefly and then hid away again. "The period of reflection I set you to for repeatedly putting yourself in danger which it seems you are still prone to doing. It won't do either of us any good if you get hurt. It will just distract from us getting out of here and the more you choose not to listen to me and cause trouble the longer it will be before we can go home."

"But Reg—"

Quietly. "I said no."

A foot stomped. "I only want—"

Then Queen replied, firmly resolute. "Must I complete all the steps in its entirety for you here?"

Lips rolling inward, Snow's curls shook.

Regina sighed. That comment had come too easy between them along with Snow's response. That feeling confused the hell out of her and in her confusion Regina began to speak to the little one watching her. "Good girl." Sighing. "Go back then and sit. I'm nearly finished." Praise also easy had her biting her tongue.

Unable to help herself Snow started again. "But—"And like it was yesterday Regina turned her right around and sent her off with a firm pat to the seat of a coat to hurry her along.

Snow shuffled back over to the stool and sat down again. It hadn't hurt in the least, but it got her attention and she remembered back to the times Regina had corrected her that way when she had pushed too far one too many times in the past. Blushing she sighed and waited. And waited and waited. Time sure moved slowly when there was nothing to do but think. Finally Regina had seemed to find what was being searched for and beckoned her over.

Snow pointed to the old small leather bound book under the Queen's arm. "What's that?"

"Something that belonged to my Mother." Throat thick and working. Snow remained quiet at her feet, but Queen sensed another question wanting to come. Regina shook her head and swallowed feelings down, adding without emotion. "And none of your business." Then softer. "Time to go." She turned Snow around by the shoulder and steered the child towards the exit of the mausoleum.

Pushing the coffin back into place Queen thought about the other new one under the stone her feet were resting on. Promising herself she would return later to have a few last words of her own with Mother, but she hoped to do it in the real Storybrooke. Snow trailed slowly behind and she stopped at the cemetery gate for the girl to catch up. Then remembered that Snow had wanted to ask something else.

"What was your question earlier?"

Child stepped through the iron-gate held open and big eyes watched as it was shut tight behind her. Blushing over the comment about the child side of her Snow answered. "I just wanted to know if you thought Charming was here… If this is the Storybrooke before Henry, like you said, then he would be." Teeth tore lips too dry. "Right?"

"Perhaps." Continuing to the car Regina paused when Snow failed to follow. Turning back she gave expectant eyes. "We need to keep moving Snow. I have no intention of spending one more minute here than I have to." With you. Went unsaid, but they both felt it equally heavy in that moment.

A small boot kicked a rock. "I want to try and find him." Need to see a comforting face, one that was not frowning at her growing. "I know I don't have any right to ask you for anything right now." Vulnerable and hating it, Snow begged. "But please Regina." Trying what she hoped might get her a few minutes of searching.

"You are right. You don't." Snow's eyes went wide again and Regina's heart snuck up on her in them. Sighing. "Later if…" If they were stuck another day. Stupid curse and those little eyes would be the death of her. "Ten minutes. That is all I will allow us to be side tracked for. Where do you think he is?"

First smile of the day hard won bloomed between them as Snow quick footed over. "The hospital."

:::::::::::::::::

The moment the Benz pulled into the Hospital lot, big Snow rushed from the car, across the crowded parking lot and into the building. Bursting through the double glass doors of Storybrooke Medical, right passed the nurse station check point and curious adults watching. Passed Dr. Whale who called after her and right into the glass encased ER room she had spent 28 years volunteering in before the curse broke.

Out of breath and right to his side Snow took up a hand where Charming lay on his back in bed. Tubes connected him to a heart monitor and pumped life giving fluid into his body. Pale, but not as ill looking as she thought he would be. Charming was all her hurting focus big Snow could see and she failed to register the commotion behind her or the other adults pushing into the room.

"Snow."

Snow shrank under that royal tone, but did not take her eyes off of Charming as Regina's heels came her way.

"Madam Mayor she can't just barge in here. This is a sterile environment." Dr. Whale insisted as he walked along side a clearly irritated Regina. "That is the policy. You should know… You wrote it."

Regina gave him her classic just shy of tolerant Mayor stare and a knowing nod. "I well understand that Dr. Whale. Snow was just excited to see the hospital and thought she recognized your John Doe." Keeping to the story of the original curse was second nature, but for Snow obviously hurting this would prove to be much harder it seemed. "Snow, come here." Calling and hoping the Princess wouldn't create a fuss. That is the last thing they needed; unnecessary attention.

Setting her true love's hand down oh so gently big Snow circled back around the bed to stand just out of arms reach of Regina. Looking up at Whale and then the Queen. "I didn't mean to rush in… Like Regina said I was excited to see Charming…" She wrinkled her nose under the Doctor's odd look at her slip. "I mean he is rather charming isn't he? For a John Doe I mean." Then trying something else. "I'm sorry?" Thinking that's what he was waiting for.

Regina cleared her throat and tried to take up Snow's hand, but the girl pulled away from her. Ignoring the rebuff she tried again and succeeded. That small hand tucked into hers felt like yesterday. "Say good bye dear. We need to get going." At this rate Snow would spill the beans of their circumstances and it would not do to have people questioning or sniffing about while she tried to figure this curse out. Child eyes looked up at her and pulled away from her hand only to rush back to the bed.

"Wait! I have to do something first."

Snow closed her eyes murmuring as if making a wish on a birthday cake and leaned over. One kiss to the man's forehead, she gave. Pulling back she waited. And waited. Not so much as a blip registered on the heart monitor. "But it's supposed to work." Whining as her eyes filling with tears she looked back at Regina. Little one spoke to wake the man who she was sure would give her some comfort the adult inside of her screaming said he would. "Make it work. Please?"

Dr. Whale took a step forward to explain. "He's in a coma. It's unlikely he will ever wake up." Spelled memories spoke for him and he turned back to the Mayor. "As it is visiting hours are over for the day." Hint clear that they needed to leave, he gestured to the door.

"A moment please." Regina moved away from him towards the bed where Snow wept openly, once again holding Charming's hand. If Snow hadn't looked completely crestfallen, and the adult inside certainly deserved to be, Regina would have scoffed at the display of emotion. But she couldn't when her dau—little eyes looked back up at her begging.

"Make him wake up. Use your magic. Please." Whispering through tears and her childish logic that what she was asking should be possible. In her world of the Enchanted Forest it was and the woman looking down at her had that power.

"Snow. We need to go now." Tone low and kind Regina began redirecting. The child side of Snow was in control at the moment and Regina found it easier to speak that way when that was the case. It nipped at the hurting muscle in her chest to open up.

Dark wild curls shook. "Not until you wake him up. You can." Sniffling hard Snow pleaded again. "I've seen you do magic before."

Regina leaned down to be eye level with little green ones. Whispering back. "It's not that I won't Snow, it's that I can't. Not here it seems."

Truth. Snow knew it was and something shifted the little girl back inside. Sniffing back tears again she took a step back and big words spoke. "I'll stay with him then. You go work on figuring this out and I'll wait here."

Seeing the shift, Regina stood back up and tightened the waist sash on her jacket as she whispered. "The hospital is closing for visitors and we need to leave before there is trouble. Barging in as you did only gained us needless attention."

Giving pleading eyes at the truth and impossibility of staying as she wanted to, Snow asked. "Promise we will come back?" She half expected Regina to laugh in her face or say no or even walk away leaving her there, but the Queen did none of those things. Instead a hand found the back of her shoulder and unknowingly she leaned into it.

"Another time, we will." Regina promised and gently led Snow towards the door. They left the room as the monitor's steady beeping echoed behind them.

::::::::::::::

Back at the mansion Snow shrugged off her coat and watched Regina do the same. Hanging it in the closet as directed and kicking off her boots, she straightened them neatly and followed Regina into the Study, looking around in curiosity. It reminded her of the small library off of the Queen's main chamber at Castle White. She used to enjoy spending time there as a child.

This room also had walls full of books and was decorated in dark coffee woods and cream accents. Two couches sat opposite each other with a small table in between. On the far side of the room a desk sat in front of a window and chair with a view of the fireplace. Formal and cool the room was. More than it should be. Cold like it had been in the vault and Snow shivered in it.

Regina went to the wall switch and turned on the gas heat, taking a moment to enjoy the warmth pooling into the room before going to her desk. In the routine she had almost forgotten the Princess in the room until Snow coughed reminding that she was not alone. Sitting behind the desk and pulling her glasses out of the case Regina cracked the jeweled cover of the book she had brought back from her vault.

Beginning to skim she questioned when she felt Snow staring. "You need something?"

Shuffling feet against a round rug Snow shook her head and was promptly ignored again. She took a step forward; hands clasped in front and gave another little cough. Getting dark eyes for a moment she tried again sweetly. "I want to help."

Regina considered that request for a moment and then realized who was asking. "You may help by sitting there quietly or going upstairs. I don't need you underfoot."

Rolling big eyes Snow gave a huff and plopped face first on the couch. "I was just trying to be useful." Mumbling into a pillow.

Three different responses rolled right to the tip of Regina's tongue and she left them hanging there as she went back to the book. Her mother's handwriting had always been so elegant and perfect. Finger traced the great swoops and dives of a quill remembering back to when she was a little girl and tried so tediously to mimic the fluid script, but she was never able to get hers as perfect… Hot breath on her neck jerked Regina's attention upward and left. Snow stood right behind her shoulder and gave her an unsure smile while a little finger tapped the book.

"Find anything yet?" Book nearly snapped closed on her finger and Snow jumped back at the Queen's irritated gaze. "I was just…"

Catching a pointed chin. "What did I tell you in the vault about the book?"

Snow bit her lip, and tried to move her face away. "That it was none of my business."

"And that has not changed. I need to concentrate and you are not helping in the least." Letting go and Regina gestured to the door. "Go…play or talk to a bird or something."

Green eyes narrowed. "I'm not child. We will get more done if you let me help."

Regina regarded the adult Snow was pushing to be with a raised brow. "Are you able to translate Elfish?"

"Um… No, but—"

"What about understanding the interactions between elemental magical properties as they relate to emotions and incantations?"

"Well, not exactly."

"Then you cannot help." When little shoulders sagged Regina shook her head at more than Snow's dejected look. Much softer she said. "I know you want to help, but magic is my strength. Let me work on it."

"Fine, I'll just go talk to a bird or something." Snow, frustrated, left the Study.

She went up to her room and decided to explore the space. If she was stuck with Regina for a little bit she was curious what other things from their world were here. Spying the stuffed bunny she had thrown in her fit of temper that morning Snow knelt down and picked him up, unable to help hugging it to her chest. He smelled the same; of lavender and ever so faintly of apples. The ones that grew in the orchards behind Castle White in particular.

Planted from seeds from Regina's prized tree and she had long suspected nurtured to grow as well as they had with the aid of Magic. They used to walk the rows together every morning in the spring after breakfast. She had never minded the scent as an actual child, now it only filled the adult she was with angst, but mixed with the lavender it was a different experience entirely.

It smelled like home.

Home before the curse, before her father's murder. Hate bubbled in her gut. Never caught and never admitting, she was more than sure Regina had done the deed. His passing was too perfect, too well timed, but in it and broken she had failed to see the truth of the Queen's crime in full until the next day when she had put all the pieces together. By then it was too late. Regina had been named Queen Regent to rule in her stead until her 18th birthday or marriage—whichever came first. And at fifteen when her Father had died Regina never would have allowed her to marry that young and they had had more than one argument about the fact.

'Regina's mad at me for tricking her about Cora, but she killed my Father…' Trying to let her anger go, to remain kind and forgiving even when she didn't want to be. It was so hard. 'Far as I'm concerned we're even.' Snow's heart paused and started again.

Little one shifted forward then. Mr. Thumper's brown button eyes stared back as if reminding of better and simpler times. She reached for him.

And threw him across the room.

::::::::::::::

A/N – Thoughts?

Next time – Tension mounts over two different versions of the past and Regina shares the truth with Snow about Leopold. A long lost affection between them surfaces.