In Another Life

By LockedSoulsAM

A/n: I did not expect for so many people to be interested in reading. Well, I've neglected my study time for finals to bring you another chapter.

Enjoy =)

Chapter 2

There is only one happiness in this life, to love, and be loved -George Sand

"Oh shit," Emma's mouth dropped. "What did I do?"

Her mouth snapped closed at the glare Regina was sending her way. She would not allow Emma to use such language around a child. This was Henry. There was no denying it. She could place him to be about seven years old. His shaggy brown hair and big brown eyes. Regina missed his little smile and loud laughter but hadn't planned on ever seeing it again. At least, not in actual human form.

Meanwhile, Emma was at a loss for words. The little boy standing before them was one she'd only seen in pictures. Her false memories from the second curse only provided her with bits and pieces of Henry at this age. It all looked so familiar, but she'd never experienced his childhood firsthand. He grinned up at them, but his smile immediately turned into a look of confusion. Neither of them had responded to his questions.

"Are you going to work?" He asked, noting the clothes that Regina and Emma were wearing. Only then did they look down at themselves. Clothes that were meant to be worn at Snow and David's anniversary party. "You promised we would have a day together."

Regina stood stock still as she watched the way he spoke. He knew who Emma was, so she could guess that he wasn't from the past. None of this made sense and she could not wait to give Emma a piece of her mind. To not further confuse the boy, they had to think and fast.

"Mama, we're hungry and it's breakfast time," Henry spoke again. This time he was addressing Emma and her heart soared. "Are you guys okay?"

"Henry, why don't you go down and watch tv," Regina suggested. "We will be down to prepare breakfast for you in a bit." She didn't really have a plan on how to handle this situation, but she didn't want to upset him. The last thing they needed was an upset child before they got to the bottom of this.

Henry seemed to like this idea. They never let him watch television before breakfast. With a nod and a smile, he quickly ran out of their sight. Regina stood to face Emma and the other woman had to take a step back at the fierce look in her eyes.

"Start talking now." Oh, she was pissed.

"Well, I may have made a wish." Emma grimaced. She made a gesture. "It was only a teeny tiny one. No big deal."

"No big deal?" Regina crossed her arms. Her eyes flashed, and Emma found it kind of sexy. With a shake of her head, she tried to clear her mind of impure thoughts. This was her best friend, Regina. Her best friend that she only had platonic feelings for.

"Emma, there is a little boy right downstairs that looks exactly like our son as a child. I don't know if I can consider that tiny. Who granted this wish?"

"Destiny, the redhead at the party." She confessed. At Regina's gaze, she knew she messed up.

"I knew that slimy fairy was up to no good."

"She seemed innocent enough for me." Emma shrugged. "Just a pest."

"Haven't I taught you not to trust anyone with a bad dye job and split ends," Regina growled. "The black fairy should have been lesson enough."

"She didn't have split ends." Emma tried to change the subject. Her hair wasn't dyed either now that she thought about it. Or was it? The only attention she'd ever shown to the black fairy was to stop her.

"What did you wish for?" Regina continued to pace. She needed to know what exactly Emma wished for, so she could send Henry back home. Wherever home was for him.

"I wished for you to be happy on your birthday," Emma said. She scanned her eyes around the room before they landed on a picture on the side of Regina's bed.

"So, this wish was granted, and we were sent Henry?" Regina tried to come up with a reason why he was sent to their world. She didn't exactly have a deep desire to see little Henry. She was perfectly satisfied with the older one. Her life was going well actually. No curses, no evil villains, and no magic. Well, except for this little mishap.

"Regina, I don't think that's how it worked," Emma said absentmindedly. She picked the picture up from the nightstand. It couldn't be more than a few years old. Regina was sitting in her lap while they were gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. This was more than a simple wish. She turned to show Regina the picture, but Regina was busy looking at one of her own. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

"Henry said we," Regina whispered in wonder as her finger trailed the three little faces in the picture. She was mesmerized and terrified all at once. Wherever Emma's wish sent them was not Storybrooke. This would only end in hurt. She knew it.

"What?" Emma asked. "Let me see." She peeked over Regina's shoulder. There she was, with Regina by her side, little Henry and two little girls that she didn't know. One was blonde with green eyes and Emma could only think she looked like the spitting image of her when she was younger. The youngest girl was all Regina with her hair and eyes. A family portrait. Emma questioned if they made that their Christmas card. "Where the hell are we?"

Regina quickly set the picture down and began to pace again. "Henry, just a few minutes ago he said, 'we are hungry'. There are more children down there."

Ignoring the implications of what all of this meant they couldn't just leave the kids down there. They'd been sent to another reality. That much she could guess right now. It was still a mystery why they were sent here. They couldn't stay up here forever, and they had to face reality; even if it wasn't theirs.

"I don't know how long we are going to be stuck here." Emma began. "and you can yell at me later, but we have to go down there and see what's really going on. Then maybe try to find Blue or Gold. If they even exist in this world."

"Wait," Putting a hand on Emma's chest, Regina attempted to poof them downstairs. They still had their memories, so she could only assume that they had their powers. When nothing happened, she sighed in frustration. Shaking her head, she decided to keep her spirits calm. "I'm going to change out of this dress. You can go down and keep the children busy."

"What why me?"

"Do you really think I would care for a child in my Versace dress?" Regina raised a brow. "I may be high maintenance but I'm not stupid."

"Right because that would be absurd." Emma rolled her eyes.

Regina walked into the closet leaving Emma to take care of the kids. She needed a moment alone. Regina always found herself becoming attached to children and she was afraid to meet the ones downstairs, especially if they were her own. Hers and Emma's it seemed. She'd become attached to Snow, Hansel and Gretel, Owen and even Roland rather quickly before. The list was long, and she didn't know if she could handle that again. Becoming attached and then having them ripped from her arms in some way or another. A world where she and Emma were married was just icing on the cake and she didn't wish to think about it. Feelings that she had long locked away were being thrown in her face. The pictures and the clothes and the children. It was a lot to take in

Regina filtered through her walk-in closet only to see that it wasn't the same. Her fashion choices were impeccable but nothing she would wear now. There were jeans all folded on a shelf while jackets and coats lined one side. She assumed some of this stuff belonged to Emma. Married. In this realm, she and Emma are married; with three kids. This wish was more than just a magical mishap. She had an inkling that Destiny wanted this to happen.

"Moms said we can watch it I promise." Henry's voice drifted from the living room. It had taken Emma a little longer to reach the first floor. She'd been astonished by the number of toys left around. The subtle changes to the otherwise immaculate mansion unsettled her. Everywhere she looked there were signs of a happy family living in this house. It was warmer than usual. Not that in their world it wasn't warm, but this felt different. It felt lived in.

Emma's eyes landed on the television first as the screen flicked back and forth between Netflix screens. Henry was seated next to another child who couldn't be much older than five. She was bad at guessing ages, so she didn't even attempt to. The girl was curled into Henry tiredly with her thumb in her mouth. A small bear was tucked in between them. It was the pure vision of cuteness.

"Hey guys, what are you watching?" Emma asked. She didn't know if this world's Emma would say that. She should be acting natural.

"Super Why!" Henry supplied. "Annie wanted to watch." Annie. That was her name. Annie's eyes flicked to Emma and back to the tv. "When are we going to eat?"

"As soon as your mom comes downstairs," Emma answered. "Do you guys want anything special?"

Would they find this weird that she didn't already know? Henry looked over to Annie, they shared a look and he declared "Apple pancakes."

"Apple pancakes will do." She nodded. "Let's go ahead and get started on breakfast."

"We can help?" Henry asked excitedly. He jumped from his seat and raced into the kitchen. Annie swiftly following behind him. Emma followed them into the kitchen where she watched them grab their own little aprons from a hook in the corner. Henry helped Annie tie hers and then tied his own. Emma was curious about Annie not talking but didn't want to ask. She let Henry do most of the talking as they prepared to make apple pancakes.

"Look who I found." Regina greeted. Striding into the kitchen with a baby in her arms wasn't the weird part. She had quickly stepped into her role as mom. It was easy for her.

"Hi, Maria." Henry greeted his baby sister. He was practically bouncing off the walls which was a huge contrast from his sister. Regina remembered that Henry from her realm was always like this. Back then she would provide him with a task to keep him busy. Something stimulating and fun.

"Maria?" Emma asked as Regina passed the baby to her. She carefully cradled the baby to her chest. Big doe eyes looked up at her with glee. "Yes, dear, that's what we named her." Regina reminded her. Emma needed to play along. Even if this entire situation was crazy they needed to stay calm. "Annie, sweetheart, would you please set the table for me?"

Annie quickly nodded and went to clean the breakfast table. She loved when her mom gave her tasks. It made her feel like a big girl.

"Henry, go ahead and help your sister while your Mama and I make breakfast," Regina instructed. Emma leaned against the counter and watched Regina turn into Supermom. She knew what to do and Emma didn't want to be in the way. In ten minutes time, she'd already had the table set and the food prepared to be cooked. In all her years of knowing Regina, she'd never tasted her apple pancakes. This had to be good. In Emma's daydream, she'd forgotten that she was holding baby Maria. She grunted against her mother and slapped her tiny hands against Emma's face.

"I think she's hungry." Emma looked down at Maria. Her delicate features screwed into an expression of discomfort. Emma looked around the kitchen in search of formula. Regina stepped away from the stove to help her when they spotted a breast pump right against the coffee pot. Emma looked at her own chest and then to Regina's.

"Oh no dear, I can assure you there is nothing in there," Regina said wide-eyed. Of course, Regina would be pro-breastfeeding. Not that Emma was against it but in this moment, it couldn't be more inconvenient. Rocking Maria in her arms, Emma tried to soothe the fussy girl.

"Here." Annie tapped Emma's leg. Emma looked down at the bottle that she was shoving towards her. They hadn't thought to check the fridge yet. "For Maria." Those were the first words Emma heard her speak since they came downstairs. She had a beautiful voice.

"Thank you, Annie." Emma felt out of her element in this moment. Annie flashed her a smile before going back to sit with Henry. Emma rocked her while aimlessly walking around the kitchen. As she pressed the nipple of the bottle to the baby's lips she felt even more overwhelmed. She felt heavy in her arms. Maria drank greedily while leaning her head against Emma's shoulder.

"This is…" Emma lost herself in Maria's eyes as she attempted to describe what she felt in that moment. The only other baby she'd held was Neal. On the rare occasion Robyn but she was very inexperienced. She immediately felt a bond to Maria that she couldn't explain.

"I agree." Regina finished the pancakes. She carried plates to the dining room where both Henry and Annie were waiting.

"Do you think we can somehow reverse this?" Emma asked when Regina returned. "I know I really messed up, but I didn't mean for us to be sent to another realm."

"For once, I don't know." Regina was frustrated. They both felt out of place. Helping the children was easy but who knows what else they would have to do. "Taking it one step at a time is what we can do best. The children need us and I don't want to upset them."

"Right." Emma shifted Maria. "We will eat breakfast and after that, I have no clue." They nodded in agreement before separating. Emma went to put a now sleeping Maria in the play pen she saw in the living room. Everything was so different in this realm. Being married to Regina she could handle, but kids were another story. Her earlier conversation with Regina wasn't just something she was saying to make conversation. Her fears were real. Whether it was with Hook or in this world. She didn't know if she could be a good mother.

Emma watched Maria sleep for a minute longer before joining the rest of her family at the breakfast table. Regina was helping Annie cut her pancakes while Henry was shoveling food into his mouth. She snorted and sat next to him.

"Hey kid, slow down." She laughed.

Henry gave an apologetic look before setting down his fork. He made it a point to chew slowly. Once she was satisfied with his eating, Emma began to eat her own food.

"Can we go to the park today?" Henry asked. "You promised since you weren't working today that we could."

"I think that would be fine for a little while." Emma looked to Regina for confirmation.

"First, we have to go and see Mr. Gold," Regina said. "You will both be on your best behavior while we talk to Mr. Gold. No touching things, Henry no running. Am I understood?"

Both children nodded and continued to eat. Breakfast went smoothly. Smoother than either of them thought. Henry was animated and excited while Annie barely spoke. She would supply her opinion when needed but she was insanely quiet. If Regina realized it, she didn't mention it. She would laugh at Henry's jokes and help Annie when needed. Emma engaged in conversation and happily learned both of their personalities. She was nervous but didn't let it show. If Regina could handle this so well so could she.

Once breakfast was done, Emma took the dishes while Regina offered to help the kids get dressed for the day. This gave her time to think and reflect on what had happened in the last few hours. Dish after dish was washed and dried. She put them in their respective places and finished in no time. A chirp from a cellphone on the counter caught her attention.

Rubbing her hands-on a nearby dishtowel, Emma set the towel down and unlocked the cellphone. Upon further scrolling, she could tell it was hers. Or this worlds' Emma's. She didn't know what to call it. The wallpaper was an incredibly cheesy picture of Regina. Emma studied it for a second. The smile Regina was sporting was genuine and big. A smile Regina usually reserved for Henry and on the rare occasion Emma herself.

Emma tapped on her iMessage to see that Red had text her. She was asking if they were still on for drinks next Friday. Hoping that she would not be there Friday, Emma left that message thread and instead scrolled down to Regina's name. Tapping on the name, Emma's heart fluttered as she saw how domesticated their other selves were. A few texts asking for milk, or if Emma had remembered to pay their phone bills, reminders of doctor's appointments. As she went back to texts dating two weeks ago she found a short video. Pressing play the kitchen was filled with a baby's laughter as the video began. Henry would repeatedly bash himself in the head with a teddy bear much to Maria's enjoyment.

"Do the dance, Henry." Annie encouraged him as she came into view of the camera.

The camera pulled further way to show Henry begin to do the chicken dance around his younger sisters. Annie's laughter soon joined Maria's and a louder one soon follows. Emma was surprised to hear Regina in the background laughing at their son's antics. It was a deep and rich belly laugh. It warmed her to hear and she would play it repeatedly if she could. The camera suddenly turned, and Regina's face was now the center of the video. Her hair was curlier than usual and she sported a black tank top. Her face was free from makeup and her eyes were shining.

"Emma, we cannot wait for you to come home," Regina spoke to the camera. "We love you and miss you. Come, children, say bye to your mother."

"Bye Mama, we miss you." Annie wrapped her arms around Regina's neck. Henry appeared behind them only continuing to do the chicken dance. Regina laughed once again before giving a final wave to the camera.

As the video ended, the melancholy silence that followed broke her heart. She locked the phone but kept it in her hands.

"They seem happy," Regina said.

"Yeah, they do." Emma cleared her throat.

"I must admit I checked Regina's phone, well my phone," Regina stood next to her. "There were some pretty interesting pictures of us in the photo gallery." If the blush donning Regina's face was any indication, she did not want to see what those pictures were.

"I just don't know why we were sent here." Emma folded her arms. "If it was a wish about your birthday this world would have nothing to do with it."

"There are many things we don't know but we will soon find out." Regina sighed. "The children are ready. I promised them we could go to the park for an hour after we visit Gold's shop."

"I guess that would be fine."

"Hopefully that will tire them out in time for a nap so that we can get back to our lives."

"Right." Emma agreed. "Our lives." Emma offered to carry Maria to the car as Regina helped the other children. When they stepped into the garage Emma's eyes zeroed in on her yellow bug parked right next to a 2018 Honda Odyssey.

"I can't believe I still have it in this world." She walked around it. There was a familiar dent in the passenger's side door and the same license plate.

"Emma you love that thing. In either world, I wouldn't have made you give it up." Regina buckled Annie into her car seat. Emma took one last look at the bug before setting Maria in her own seat. The baby was still sleeping peacefully, and she hoped that the car ride wouldn't disturb her.

"It's nice to know that." She whispered to herself. The ride to Gold's took ten minutes. This Storybrooke looked the same except for a few odd shops here and there. Pulling in front of the shop was easy, the difficult part was getting all the children out of the car.

"Gold, Gold!" Regina called. She was conscious of Maria sleeping in Emma's arms.

"Ah, if it isn't the lovely Swan-Mills family." Mr. Gold entered the front of the shop. His cane swinging in front of him as he took each step. He smiled down at Annie before telling her that Gideon was in the back. She and Henry quickly hugged him and went to the back of the shop to play. "What can I do for you today?"

"We need answers." Regina didn't know if she would ever trust Gold around her children but in this world, she did.

"Sure, is it about the playset you bought for little Maria?" He flashed a smile.

"No, we need to understand why we were sent to this world," Emma said. "I made a wish and a genie or fairy or whatever she is granted it. Regina and I were sent here."

"I can't say I understand." Gold scanned their faces for any sign of a joke. "Did Belle put you up to this?"

"No, dammit Gold, we don't have time for games," Regina growled. "Do you know how to reverse this or not?"

"No, I don't. As I've said before, dearie, I have no clue what you're talking about." Gold remained his cool composure which ticked Regina off even more.

"He's telling the truth." Emma interrupted. "He doesn't know." If her other powers didn't work in this world at least her superpower did.

"But if I did, I would tell you to find the person that granted the wish to reverse it." He called the children from the back. "I've watched enough Disney with Gideon to know that much."

Gold watching Disney? Emma snorted. This really was an alternate reality.

If he didn't know what was going on how were they supposed to find Destiny?

"Where do you think she could be?" Emma asked as they sat on a park bench. Henry and Annie were already playing tag with a few other children. It was January and quite cold but an hour in the snow wouldn't hurt any of them. Maria was bundled up inside of her stroller. She had been napping for an incredibly long time and would probably wake up looking for food again.

"If she knows what's good for her she will find us." Regina grouched. Being here any longer than she had to was not something she wanted to do. She wanted to be angry at Emma for wishing for her happiness, but she couldn't. This was not her fault. Wish or not.

"We were sent here for a reason Emma." Regina turned back to her. "Until that wish is fulfilled we may be stuck here. The sooner we find the fairy the sooner we get back home."

"You're surprisingly calmer than I thought you would be." Emma followed Regina's gaze to where Henry and Annie were attempting to build a snowman.

"Well, I don't think there is much to panic will find a way home." Regina shrugged. "There is just a matter of time before we do. There is no sense in making the children suffer along with us."

Emma tried to ignore the hurt that Regina's comment caused. "You haven't held her since you came downstairs."

"What?"

"Maria, you haven't held her since you handed her to me in the kitchen." Emma accused. She turned to Regina only to be met with a blank look on her face. "I know that this is all really sudden but she's your child too. Well, you know what I mean. You won't hold her. I don't know what I'm doing with a baby, but I know I need help." Emma didn't know why she was so angry about it. These weren't really her children and they weren't even married.

"Emma, I apologize." Regina offered no further explanation. "I just have been a little preoccupied with Henry and Annie."

"Yeah, I get it, but we are in this together." Emma bumped her. "If we work as a team we will find Destiny in no time and have her fix this crazy mess."

"I just hope its sooner rather than later," Regina muttered.

It had only been a few hours and Regina didn't know if she could handle any longer. Not when she was risking everything.

A/n: Why do you think Regina won't hold Maria? Do you think Gold was lying?

Seriously your response to the last chapter was amazing. This will be confusing at first, but pieces will be put together as the story goes on.

-LSAM