A/N – Here we are at last… This chapter is for a few people.

For FrumiousBandersnatch15 who expects a 'Dinosaur'. Well, here is your 'Raptor' in the kitchen. *Smiles*

For RollyJodger – Hope you are well.

For everyone who has ever felt rejected and like the whole world is against you. Don't let go of hope. It will find you when you least expect it.

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Untitled For Now

Summary

"Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won't have a title until much later."

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Regina came to with a start as her eyes snapped open. The razor edge of past and present she had been riding for several weeks suddenly slammed together into the proper timeline of now. She blinked, but nostalgia blurred the boarder of this new fusion by bringing tears to her eyes. A gasp for breath as if she had been underwater for a long time and her mind began to slow down from its journey across time and space.

The room was spinning and Regina was spinning in endless circles of time, but her body was still. Laying still somewhere, she realized. A woven antique rug came into her vision as the colors began to take shape into solid things. It felt rough against her cheek. She realized she had seen that rug before, just not while lying on it and then the room registered entirely. Gold's Pawn Shop. She could hear the Imp clearing his throat and feel him standing over her near exactly where he had been before the black smoky ropes of magic had coiled in to whisk her and Snow away. Regina tried to still the feeling of vertigo and suddenly more blurry figures became sharper. David was just behind Rumple and even Emma and Henry were here.

Henry.

Regina's heart flew towards him, but her body remained frozen. She blinked up at them and they appeared just as stunned as she. Then she felt the weight in her arms and closed her eyes for who it could be. Remembering how she had left the present world and the why. Braving the light Regina opened them again and looked down to the person in her arms.

Big green eyes fluttered open looking up with an adult body to match and the eyes of her daughter met her gaze. Not the dead sea of blue of Cora's eyes as she had been suspecting. And then the lack of the dark woman in any form didn't matter. On instinct she helped Snow sit up, but for her action feet moved quickly in on them as David and Emma joined loud voices in worry. Regina's head hurt with the crashing of them together. Her throat was as dry as cotton and she couldn't speak to their upset if she tried.

Emma went on about black smoke, passing out, lights flashing and Cora's body disappearing. How she and Henry were near the shop when they saw the smoke pooling in the street and had come in to investigate in time to see them disappear and now reappear minutes later. All the while David tried to tug Snow free of her arms, but Regina held on tighter to her daughter instinctively. Then the barrage of questions Regina had been dreading began raining down like hail stones.

What had Regina done this time? Why wasn't she saying anything? Why and why with blame pounded those stones to dust in between the beats of Regina's heart. Before. Just like before the accusing tones beat down on her. From Emma and from David.

Regina focused on the quiet in the room to try and quell her rising anxiety. Snow safe in her arms, trying to find a voice as she was. Then the Imp. He just looked on at her with a disturbed curiosity mixed with the faintest hint of sorrow firmly planted on his features as if he understood her silence. As if he understood exactly what had happened.

And Henry.

Her son didn't say anything. He looked like he had been doused with a bucket of icy shock laced with confusion. He looked lost. Like Snow had in the beginning of Cora's spell. That was what made Regina's heavy heart begin breaking open. But before it broke completely Regina found she didn't need to respond to any of it.

"It's alright." Snow began clearly, hands going out in a pacifying gesture to her missed husband and daughter. It effectively silenced the room. "We've been on a trip to the past. It's complicated, but I'll explain."

"But she's—" David countered in worry pointing to the Queen.

"My Mother." Easy and sweet the affection slipped from Snow's pink lips. Sure of the words leaving her mouth as they are to be home. "She's my Mother." Snow readily took Regina's hand and squeezed reassuringly. "She won't hurt me, or you." Looking at Henry who peered on with a question in his eyes as he watched them closely. "Not any of us and she never has. She has been wronged in the worst possible way."

"What do you mean?" Emma's superpower was naturally on high alert due to the situation, but no misused words rang in mind to do anything but believe what her Mom was saying. No magic or spell was making those words come out. Unsure because of what she knew to be true in the past and this new truth she felt coming Emma backed up to wrap an arm around Henry's shoulders.

"I mean exactly what I mean." Getting to her feet Snow helped Regina up too. Grateful when the woman's arm encircled her waist in support. A gesture she returned. She glanced over and could see Regina's throat working and amber eyes filling and while they were on her they also moved to the boy across the room. "Cora. It was Cora, all of it since I was a little girl. The curse is not what we thought. Regina saved me. Protected me and all of us. We owe her our lives."

Henry took a few steps forward. Trusted his Grandmother and truly still did the woman who had raised him, he realized. His mind was somehow now clear of the dark fog that had taken over his thoughts the last year since the storybook had come into his hands. Magic, a dark magic he realized was now leaving his mind free of lies and half truths. The black voice pushing him to distance himself from his mother was gone.

He blinked to clear the last of it away and only saw the absolute adoration and love shining from amber eyes on his. How could he have doubted that it ever was anything less? "So she's a hero." Not a question, but his hurtful actions the last year rested on his shoulders heavy and in that weight he asked to be sure. "Mom?"

And when he broke the silence as his voice broke with uncertainty Regina moved for him. Took her little prince tight into her arms in answer. Kissed his sweet cheeks and held tighter still. Her heart filled with an unspeakable joy when his arms in turn wrapped around her neck. Crying, Regina was crying and holding her son. Just as she had held her daughter before the spell broke. Henry, like Snow, wasn't pulling away from her or calling her evil and hugged her like he meant it.

Snow approached them as they pulled back to look at her. She reached both her hands out. One for each of them and together they all joined hands. "Better than a hero Henry she is your Mother. She always has been and Emma too." A fond look to Emma who joined them and David too approached to rest his hands on her shoulders. "I'll explain more. We both will and there are a lot of misunderstandings we all need to clear up. I know the truth now. The whole truth."

And nothing but the truth would really and truly set them all free. Hope or something else had Emma extending a hand toward the Mayor and Queen she'd spent the last several months battling and trying to understand. In those wide knowing amber eyes was a story untold and a longing to be well read like a favorite book. Emma thought she may need to dive in between the lines of Regina head first to find all the answers to her questions. But for now, for the delicacy of the moment, she rested her hand over Regina's in truce. Both blonde and brunette tried a small questioning smile between them that only time would have answers too.

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"Mom. Do I have to?"

Regina looked quickly over her shoulder with a raised brow and smile as she finished dusting the last bit of cinnamon over the pie she had taken from the bottom oven as her child came barreling into the kitchen. Ever since Cora's spell broke and they returned home things had been different. So wonderfully different it still made Regina pinch herself on occasion to make sure this fairytale she found herself living was real.

"You do need to clean your room if you want dessert after dinner."

The child seemed to be thinking about it and asked. "What kind of dessert?"

Regina chuckled. "As if that should make a difference." She wiped her hands on a cloth and took a step toward the door way where her child hovered.

"It does! Trust me, but they will be here any minute and I want to answer the door. Can I do it after dessert? I promise I'll do it then. Please?" Two hands clasped together under a chin with pleading eyes.

Regina pretended to think about it, but had already given in. Especially when said doorbell rang and those little eyes she loved so much brightened at the sound. "Alright. Now go play host for a few minutes while I take dinner out of the oven." She sent her child off with a playful towel flick and a shake of her head.

"Yes!" Henry cheered and scampered off toward the foyer.

Regina watched him go with a light heart. One she never thought she would feel or have again. But Cora's spell had changed that. After they had got back home and many talks had been had Henry moved back home with her. He had wanted to from the first day, but Emma and David still had had reservations. Regina had been patient however and understanding of them. Time travel was a lot to swallow and Snow had been patient too. Together they were redefining what their family meant. Little by little at first and much more quickly lately trust was being regained and now that everyone knew the truth Regina was being hailed as a hero.

When she walked down the street people greeted her with genuine smile and well wishes. Flowers began showing up on Regina's doors step the first week as the truth spread. Then a flood of them on her porch the second week. And more still all along the walk to the gate on the third. At Granny's her favorite booth or bar stool was always waiting for her with coffee and her favorite dish on the house. The townspeople came to her with their needs, praises, and squabbles to help settle. The dwarfs had even surprised her one morning at Town Hall by adding 'Our Queen' to her office door. Regina was respected, not feared and that, along with having her children's love was enough for her.

Almost, or so she thought.

Her heart still hurt over the loss of her little one. The time in the spell now precious for what it had been, had left Regina wanting more of it that no longer existed. While she was grateful to have Henry back and her adult daughter's love and trust, she missed little Snow something fierce. Heart skipped a beat over her promise to the little one about them not ever being separated again. In a way she had kept that promise with her adult daughter. They talked everyday on the phone and made it a priority to spend time together during the week. A lunch out or a walk by the pond after work. They were reconnecting and becoming fast friends as she had always hoped they would be one day once Snow had grown.

Regina had even taken to joining Snow at the stables on occasion to watch the young woman ride. She was almost ready to get back up on a horse herself, but not quite yet. Henry wanted to learn and she'd promised him she would teach him soon. A promise she intended to keep and would continue to do for the one made in the spelled reality to Snow. As she moved to get the pot holders Regina heard the front door open and hoped tonight, their first dinner as a family, went well.

Henry nearly crashed into the front door sliding across the tile on his socks. He unlocked the bolt and threw it open with a huge grin. His eyes sparkled. "This is ssoooo weird. Cool, but still weird."

Emma raised a brow and smirked. "Kid we live in a magic town with a bunch of fairy tale characters and you find this weird?" She reached to tussle his hair. It was long and shaggy, but so suited the kid. Even if it blocked it eyes. Maybe Regina had been right. It was time for a haircut. Or a tiny trim at least. She was getting used to sharing Henry with the Mayor—with Regina, sharing decisions and the kid's adventures. When he'd wanted to move home, Emma had been upset, but also understanding. This was where he had grown up and it had more space than the loft. Henry needed his Mom and since Regina was not the monster she thought, Emma would not stand in the way of what he wanted. The whole joint custody thing wasn't so bad and Regina had been adamant about making sure Emma had adequate time with Henry.

Still, she missed having him around all the time.

He shrugged with a lopsided grin and gave his eyes to the other person standing on the porch. "Are you ready?" A smile from that bright face was enough of an answer for all of them and he ushered them into the foyer.

As Regina pulled the lasagna out of the oven she heard Henry chattering in the entryway and many feet making their way over. She set the hot dish down and smoothed her hands over her apron. A ready smile for Emma when the blonde gave one in return from the door way and then her jaw dropped.

"Hi Mommy." A little wave and little Snow found herself suddenly wrapped up tight once again.

Regina cradled her daughter's head against her shoulder as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her little one. Here. Now. "How?" She managed to choke out as she lifted Snow to her hip and kissed that long missed white cheek. Months since she had and now here like it was yesterday. Henry and Emma looked at each other with knowing grins and high-fived.

"Operation Mr. Thumper." Henry lifted his chin, proud of the code name he'd come up with from his Mom's stories about the spell.

Regina sniffed and wiped her cheek as little one pressed a kiss to her other one. "Who did this?"

"Mr. Gold." Henry said as if it was obvious why his grandmother was now a little girl again.

"He helped us." Little Snow chimed in.

"Helped you how?" Regina wasn't sure how she felt about the Imp's involvement in anything. She didn't trust him and did not want Henry or even Snow as an adult around him. Her less than pleased tone over the idea had an immediate effect on her children. They looked properly chided. "Henry?"

"Mom it's okay. Ma took care of everything and was with me when we went to his shop."

A dark brow rose. "Miss Swan?"

Green eyes rolled over a half smile. "Regina—we've been through too much for you to keep calling me that don't you think?"

Regina shifted on her heels. "Fine, Em-ma. What were you thinking letting our son around that Imp, never mind making a deal with him?"

Emma's heart fluttered over the use of our. "I didn't make a deal. Gold offered a charm as his way of apologizing over his role in your past. It works as long as she's wearing it." Nodding to the silver bunny necklace little Snow was holding up. She did not miss the way Regina held the child version of her Mom closer at the mention of Gold. "He knew you wouldn't accept it from him or ask Snow to do this so Gold came to me. I talked to my Mom and she was more than for it and I knew there was no way to keep the kid out of the loop. Henry picked out the charm and Mom and I picked it up on the way over here tonight. It can be used as long and as many times as you both want."

"Emma I…" Regina began and promptly lost her words as little hope filled eyes shined on hers. Ones she didn't think she would ever see again.

"You both have said more than once that you didn't get enough time in the spell to be together knowing the truth so…" Emma shrugged with a cocky smile to Henry and both of them said, "Surprise!"

Regina's eyes misted and she turned back to look at her daughter. "Do you remember everything?"

"It's strange. I have all my memories, but I don't hear big me's voice like before." Little one explained as her fingers played with the pearl buttons on a silk blouse. Then her tummy rumbled. "May we eat now? Please Mommy?"

Regina lips formed a watery grin as both Henry and Emma echoed that sentiment. With another kiss to Snow's cheek she sent both Snow and Henry into the dining room with a bundle of silverware and napkins. As she cut the lasagna, Emma held up plates for her to put servings on. "Tell me," Regina began as she put one particularly cheesy piece of lasagna onto a plate she knew would end up in front of Emma for the way the blonde was practically drooling over it, "Where is your Dad tonight?" Asking in some worry that David was somehow not pleased with this surprise. A far as they had all come since the truth came out Regina still had some inclinations to doubt it would last. "Is he okay with this?"

"He is okay as long as my Mom is okay and he wanted to come but something popped up. Literally a beanstalk popped up right through Main Street so he and the dwarfs are investigating it, and he refused to let us miss this dinner. He knows how important it is to all of us." Emma assured.

"I see." Regina said, not sure she really did, but that was a safe answer.

One Emma saw right through. She put her hand on Regina's, effectively stopping avoidance from being dished on a plate. "I know this is still hard for you to believe and I know I didn't help matters when you and my Mom first got back, but no one thinks badly of you anymore Regina. We're all so sorry."

Regina shook her head somewhat bitterly. "I am still getting used to that idea. It's not easy after so many years of being blamed for everything."

Nodding Emma squeezed that hand once. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you to go through by yourself—not having the people you love believe you. To believe in you. But I do know what it feels like to be rejected. Over and over again." Emma paused as decades of hurt washed across the Queen's face and she reached out her hand to cup Regina's cheek. Her thumb wiped away a tear falling. "And I promise your family, our family, will never reject you." A slow smile grew for the one hinting at the corners of a red mouth. Emma gestured to the dining room. "Especially those two rug-rats. Between them and me and Dad, we have your back like nobody's business."

Chuckling as Emma's hand left too soon, Regina asked. "You do realize you called your Mom a rug-rat?"

Emma's nose wrinkled. "Yeah. Kid was right. This is cool, but soooo weird. We have one fucked up family tree."

"Language."

Rolling eyes Emma started. "Yes Grand—"

"Don't even—" A finger shot up effectively stilling pink lips.

"Yeah sorry." Emma agreed, now more than done with her own joke as she rubbed the back of her neck as she blushed. "I mean we share a kid and…" She shrugged as her eyes lingered on parted red lips before she busied herself holding up another plate. "I don't think I will ever think of you that way. Like ever."

Regina was quiet for a long moment as she plated the last slice of lasagna. "If I'm being honest, me either."

Emma licked her lips and felt her stomach flutter. "Then how—"

Then said rug-rats ran back into the kitchen to help carry plates into the dining room. Regina poured wine for her and Emma and milk for the children. She sat at the head of the table with her family and watched as everyone laughed and enjoyed the meal. Henry and Snow made a game of who could stuff the biggest bite of food in their mouths. Emma joined in the contest, but abruptly shut it down when Regina raised her brow.

Henry began to tell a story about the time Emma made milk come out of her nose that had them all rolling and little Snow trying to understand how that was even physically possible much to everyone's amusement. "But how does it get up in there?" She asked, looking between the adults and then sourly at her milk as if the idea of drinking it now disgusted her.

That look was not missed by Regina who put a stop to Emma's next teasing comment about 'special milk glands in nostrils'. She suddenly felt like she was sitting at the table with three children, not two. "Honestly Emma. You'll give her nightmares."

"Fine." Emma rolled her eyes as she chewed her food. After swallowing she gave a half smile to the child her Mom was. Still unable to help joking. "I apologize for your delicate sensibilities your highness."

Little one lifted her chin and crossed her arms. "You don't have to tease me so much you know. You're a Princess too."

"Snow." Regina set down her wine, eyeing her daughter and couldn't help gently chiding over the brass tone used.

"Sorry Mommy." And Snow reached for her milk to take a sip to show as much, but her eyes remained on Emma.

That hot little look had Emma sobering her laugh. "Sorry kid. This is new to me too. Sometimes I joke when I don't know what else to say." She shrugged.

Regina added. "Something you picked up from your Mother, I'm sure."

"No doubt she got it from you." Emma snorted and made a face, only hiding her smile by taking another bite of food.

Snow wiggled in her seat softening considerably under the genuine lighthearted banter between the adults. "It's alright."

"Is it time for dessert yet?" Henry asked, his fork scraping his plate.

"Yes." Regina more than thought it was time. "You and Snow both clear your plates and you may bring the pie over from the side board for me to cut." She gestured to the apple one sitting there with dessert plates ready to go. Both children didn't need to be told twice and hopped up to clear their plates and hers with Emma's.

Emma reached for the half empty bottle of wine and topped off Regina's glass before her own wondering over the soft edges of the unsaid between them. Before she knew Regina was technically her step grandmother she had found the woman, what she knew the woman to be because of Cora, insufferable. But also a beautiful storm she longed to get soaked in. Regina was still that way Emma realized; a quiet storm in its perfect glory rolling through the thunder of her heart. A heart she felt pounding blood to her ears and her cheeks turned bright pink for the why and not from the wine.

Regina watched the Savior blush wondering if the wine had gotten to Emma. She thought it was rather sweet when the blonde had refilled her glass and grew warm over the fact with a feeling she had been trying to understand. She had not felt this way in longer than she could remember. Not since… She reached for her glass as her own cheeks grew pink and sipped. Before she had realized Emma was the Savior and not just Henry's birth mother she had admitted to herself how beautiful the blonde was. Striking actually and Regina felt a piece of her heart long dormant wake up. Then she realized exactly who Emma was. And well… Regina took a bigger sip of wine as the children brought the pie over for her to serve.

Dessert, like dinner, was delectable and all forks scrapped plates clean before Henry suggested they all watch a movie. He was reminded about his room and ran up to tidy that as everyone else got settled in the living room. Little Snow picked out a DVD from the basket of many under the TV stand and happily snuggled up on the couch with her Mommy. Henry joined them quick enough and a half hour later just as the movie plot was getting going both children were asleep.

Emma looked away from the TV screen and fondly took in the sweet picture on the couch next to her. Little Snow was lying right on top of Regina. Head against a heart and Queen's fingers were stroking long dark curls. Henry snuggled into that same lap, curled up against Snow with Regina's other hand resting on his head. Both children's feet were in her lap. Somehow Regina's had found their way there too. Emma smiled over the fact and began to gently massage those royal feet. She felt Regina's eyes on her for the gesture but only for a moment before they returned to the movie.

This.

Between them.

Was something newly tender neither one had yet to define or comment on to the other. Regina didn't know what it was exactly, but it felt good and she could tell it felt that way to Emma too for the way that pink mouth turned up. She looked down then at the love sleeping in her lap.

Regina held onto both of her children. Looking back and forth between them in this dawn of hope once upon a time when she thought her ending had been written already. Though, every end seemed to have a way of beginning another chapter.

Emma looked over then with a soft smile and Regina held that gaze with one of her own. Perhaps this chapter held some uncertainty too. But Regina was ready to move forward into this beautiful unknown with her family by her side. She leaned down to kiss the foreheads of her children, resting her lips against Snow's temple.

And while this chapter to be written would tell the story of many types of love, it would highlight the never ending story of one most profound; a love of daughters and mothers.

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A/N – Thank you for exploring this side to Snow and Regina's tale. I hope you found some insight, as I did, within this journey on the complexity of the mother daughter relationship and on this one mother daughter duo that did not quite get their second chance on OUAT. Please consider a review or comment for this work.

Best always & until next time,

LittleSwanLover

For fans of Special Delivery – I am currently 2/3RD of the way done writing part two. Posting for that will happen, I am hoping, at the start of March.