Hello, I'm sooo sorry about the wait. I've just been feeling uninspired lately, but I'm back and I'm here to stay. I decided this story will probably be updated every Tuesday so tune in weekly. If someone wants to be my beta and/or help me finish writing this story, please PM me! I'm going to have a time jump after this chapter so, enjoy! X

Chapter 12

The next day was Emma's first day at the Elementary school. As much as Regina had wanted to be the one to take her and see her off, she knew that it was crucial that she kept their relationship as far from familial as possible. Also, she thought because Emma spent so much time with her it would be good for her to spend time with Red. Putting the finishing touches on her makeup, she walked into Emma's room to wish her a good first day at school.

"Good morning little one," She pulled the young girl into her arms for a bone-crushing hug, "I am so proud of you for starting school and I know you will do amazing; you are so very smart." Regina beamed at the little girl, the truth evident in her voice. She kneeled down so that she and Emma were eye-to-eye and pulled something out of her coat pocket. "This cell phone is for you. I'm not sure if it's one you'll like, it was the only good one at the store. If anything should happen, feel free to call me. Alright?"

Emma nodded and pulled Regina in for a little hug. Giggling, she said, "Relax, Gina. Nothing is going to happen. Besides, you're a call away."

Listening to the girl's reasoning, Regina calmed herself. She's right, Regina…nothing will happen. The queen stood up and gave Emma a key ring. "These are the keys to the house. The blue key is to the front door, the pink is to the back door. Please lock up or have Ruby lock up once you leave." Giving her one last kiss she added, "I love you." And she did. It may not be in a romantic way yet, but she loved Emma with all her heart and she always would.

"I love you too, good luck at work!"

Regina had to pull herself away from Emma to keep herself from tearing up and ruining her face. Even though she hadn't known Emma for a long period of time, she'd become so accustomed to having her around all the time that she couldn't imagine spending the day without her. However, there was work to be done and a blessing to be lived out.

She walked out to her car and drove down the road. Luckily, Rumpelstiltskin had informed her that the town hall was down the street from her home so that she didn't have to use the GPS. Still having no idea what it was and exactly why she needed this GPS person, she drove to the town hall and her eyes lit up when she saw how large the building was. Built for a queen, she thought. Her glee only increased when she took note of her very own parking space and elevator. Once she got up to her office, she felt truly satisfied when she saw how spacious it was and how closely it matched the theme of her castle back in the enchanted forest. "Now this I can work with," she said.

Regina walked over to her desk to see as promised, there was a purple potion sitting in front of her. She felt reluctant to swallow the potion because she didn't trust that imp in the slightest, but she had no choice because living in this world gave her anxiety she didn't even know she had. Making herself comfortable, she took the cork out of the vial and quickly downed the potion.

In an instant, she felt herself begin to unlock knowledge she felt she'd had all along. Laws, protocol, traffic rules, modern technology, history, all of it came to her. She felt as if she was the smartest woman in the world and suddenly, running a small town in another dimension did not bother her so much. "I can do this," she said to herself. She didn't even have time to finish her pep talk because a man burst into the room.

"Madame Mayor!" Sydney Glass came bursting into the room as loud as ever.

Regina couldn't believe the man she'd imprisoned in a mirror was finally free. She didn't know whether to be angry that one of her best spells had been undone or happy that she still seemed to command power in this new world. "Mr. Glass, show some respect. After all, this is my office and you did not so much as knock before entering. Gods, you'd think the zombie apocalypse were happening."

Sydney at least had the nerve to look sheepish. "My apologies, Madam Mayor, I just coming to inform you that you have a meeting in an hour with the town council."

Rolling her eyes, she dismissed him with the flick of her hand. "Thank you, Mr. Glass. You may see yourself out." It was times like these that she truly hated having no magic. If a guard had barged into her chambers or throne room like that, she would have crushed his heart in an instant and fed the dust to his children.

The queen sighed, it was going to be a long day.

Emma was having a blast at school. Even though she had to deal with her awful excuse for a mother, she had already made so many friends and she loved learning. Her favorite friend was named Lilly. She was so kind and shared Emma's love for reading.

It was lunch time and she was missing her Gina more than ever. The little girl made her way to the bathroom and sat in one of the stalls. She pulled her phone out and sent a text to her favorite person.

Emma: I miss you.

She did not expect a response, but then again, she didn't think about the fact that the queen may have worried for her safety and checked her phone thinking something was amiss.

Regina: Emma, you had me so very worried. Of course, I miss you as well, most likely more, but only use your phone during school for emergencies. I am in a meeting so I will see you later. Red will pick you up from school. I love you.

She was both disappointed that she wouldn't be seeing Regina right away, but she was also happy that she was going to spend time with her godmother. She made up for what her biological mother wasn't. Putting her phone away, she headed back to the lunchroom only to see that lunch had ended and that everyone was out playing. She had been about to join them when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Emma, is everything alright?" The little girl turned to see it was only none other than her mother, Snow White.

"Yes, Ms. Blanchard, everything is okay." She tried to hurry to get away from the woman but Snow just didn't know how to end a conversation.

"Well, if you ever need anything you know where to find me. Every child deserves to be happy!"

Emma couldn't help but bite back a smart remark at what her mother had said. If only the real Snow White believed that. She had made Emma miserable when they lived in the Enchanted Forest. Nodding at the woman, she turned on her heels and walked out of the room and outside. That was weird, she thought.

After school, Emma went to Red's house and ate dinner with her and Graham. She missed Regina, but she had a lot of fun with her godmother. Whenever her parents made her sad, Red always knew how to make her laugh. That was what she loved most about the woman.

Now, it was 7 pm and they were driving back to her house. She could not stop her heart from beating excitedly in her chest at the thought of seeing Regina. Part of her wondered why this was, but she figured it was just because they shared true love as friends. Emma tried not to bounce in her seat as the large, white mansion came into sight.

Before the car was even in park, Emma grabbed her bag and rushed out of the car and into her house. "Gina, I'm home!" Not even bothering to take off her shoes, she ran into the open, waiting arms of her best friend, holding on for dear life. "I missed you soooo much!"

Regina grinned from ear to ear. "I missed you too, Emma. Why don't you go upstairs and take a bath before you come down and tell me about your day? There might even be milk and cookies waiting for you when you come down." The queen laughed as the girl excitingly ran up the stairs to rush into the bath tub.

Turning towards the waiting werewolf, she sighed. "Why don't we finish this conversation in the living room?"

Serving them both a glass of her famous apple cider she said, "I think this routine is what's best for Emma… don't you?"

Ruby nodded. "I do, keeping you from being anything close to familial is what's best for Emma. She is too young to understand that you two are romantic true loves and that destiny will bring you two together as a couple, so its best that we limit your time together to avoid those familial feelings from developing."

"I agree, Red. Thank you for doing this. I am so happy that Emma still gets a mother despite all of this." And she was. She would always want the best for Emma.

Ruby truly couldn't see the evil queen that had tried to kill her supposed best friend for years. All she saw was a woman with a warm, kind heart that was willing to do anything to protect the people she loved. Squeezing Regina's shoulder, she added, "I'm so happy we're on the same page, Regina. You are completely right, Emma does deserve what's best." Every day, she felt less guilty for allowing Emma to be neglected and emotionally abused by her parents because now, she could give Emma the family she needed.

Regina looked hesitant to say this, but she knew it needed to be done. "I think Emma should stay with you during the week and only see me on the weekends," Ruby looked surprised at this, but motioned for the queen to continue, "You are right, I do not want her to see me as anything more than a friend right now and for you to be the mother figure that Emma needs, she should stay with you." The queen took out two pieces of paper from her briefcase and set them down in front of the wolf. "I own two properties that would give you more than enough space to accommodate Emma and I will give you $1500 a month for any expenses she should need. I wouldn't ask this of you if I weren't thinking of Emma's best interest."

For the second time that night, Ruby did not recognize Regina as the Evil Queen that everyone knew and feared. She knew that Regina wasn't trying to pawn Emma off on her, but was really just putting Emma's well-being first. "Regina, I don't know how to properly thank you for caring about Emma way more than Snow ever did. I know she was supposed to be my best friend, but I can never forgive her for how she treated Emma and I am so grateful that Emma found you, because she will finally learn what it means to be loved for who she is." And Ruby meant it. The love that Emma received from her parents was not unconditional, it was a cold, conditional, and constrained love that had left Emma wondering whether she truly mattered to anyone.

Looking the queen in the eyes, she said, "I would be honored to have Emma during the week. I will bring her to you on Friday night and pick her up on Sunday night. I am so grateful to you for caring about her."

Tears threatened to escape her eyes as she replied, "It's the way she should have been cared about her entire life."

Little did the two know, little ears were listening to their entire conversation. Emma herself had to silence her cries as she finally realized that there were people who loved her and wanted her to be happy.

Although she had gained more love (if possible) for the two most important people in her life, she also gained a hatred for the people she once referred to as her parents.,