Sorry for the wait guys, but here you finally have a new chapter! Special thanks to my wonderful beta Courtney!

Regina lead Emma through the house, with Emma's hand tucked firmly within her own, as she shared stories about all the rooms and some of her favorite memories. Emma listened intently with a broad smile on her face.

She could really tell that Regina felt so free, being able to talk about her Daddy, and how much this place meant to both of them as she was growing up.

Walking upstairs was tougher for Regina than she expected, but Emma just laughed and lifted the pregnant girl bridal style, as if she weighed nothing, and carried her up for the stairs.

Regina giggled at the move and kissed Emma passionately as she was placed back on the ground, but her mood turned more serious before she opened the door to the master bedroom.

It had been her Daddy's before. She froze for a second, but relaxed when she felt Emma's arms circling back around her, and her lips placed against her neck. Emma's embrace calmed her significantly.

"This house is really beautiful." Emma whispered in admiration.

"Yes, well I love it, and it's mine. Daddy left it to me in his will when he died." Regina said and turned around to meet Emma's surprised look.

"You own this place? Wow." Emma grinned but her smile faded when she noticed Regina's eyes tear up. "Darling, whats wrong?"

"I can't keep this place if mother disowns me. I have always seen myself living here full time with Rocinante outside, able to see him from my window, but if, Mother, disowns me, I can kiss that dream goodbye. I still have a few months before my eighteenth birthday, but if she were to sign this property over to anyone else…. I would have to wait until after my birthday, then take the new land owner to court. I'm confident that I would win my land back," Regina sighed "but it would be a major inconvenience." Regina nervously traced her swollen belly "One that I can't afford in the near future."

"Regina.." Henry breathed. He had been laying in bed for days, and the doctor had told them he didn't have more than a few days left to live. Regina hadn't left his side since.

"Yes, Daddy?" she replied and moved her chair closer to the bed. His body was literally shutting down, and he was so thin and pale. Without the doctor saying anything, Regina knew her father's time was quickly running out.

"Our little paradise..." he started, then coughed deeply. Regina winced, then held out his water glass. The man hadn't really been strong enough to hold it on his own over the last couple of days, so Regina aimed to let him sip from the straw. After taking a few sips of water, then taking a few steadying breaths, he began to talk again. "Our little paradise, dear, the cottage, it's yours."

Regina couldn't believe her ears. She didn't want anything more than to give her Daddy a gigantic hug, but she knew it would probably hurt too much for him right now.

"I don't know what to say, Daddy." Regina stuttered and Henry took her hand, then gave it a gentle squeeze. His weak attempt at a squeeze anyway.

"You just have to promise me that you fulfill those dreams you have told me about, okay? That Rocinante is gonna be just outside your bedroom window, and you will live there with your future wife, and a bunch of children! Eating apples from all of the trees we planted, Okay?"

"I promise, Daddy." Regina's lip trembled. How many more times would I be able to tell my father that I love him? "I love you." her voice came out strong, but she knew the sobs would soon follow.

"That's my girl!" he smiled and weakly stroked her cheek. "I love you so much, Regina, and I'm so proud of you. You will have everything you desire."

It took quite some time before Ruby had finally gotten Belle to bed. She always behaved so childishly when she drank. It was like Belle had a completely different personality! Ruby couldn't help but laugh, and as Belle laid next to her, still giggling, she just rolled her eyes.

"You're so stupid when you're drunk." Ruby grinned as Belle closed her eyes then moved closer to Ruby and got comfy.

"I can't be the smart person all the time..." Belle shrugged and let her hand find its way under Ruby's tank top. Ruby moaned and pressed her body tightly against Belle's, then grabbed her ass.

"Mm. So warm….. So hot" Belle's fingers brushed against her girlfriend's breasts and their lips smashed together.

When their lips parted Ruby pushed away the stray hair Belle had in her eyes and smiled at her.

"I love you, Belle. You know that, right?" Ruby asked and met her girlfriend's eyes.

"Of course, and I love you." Belle smiled and kissed Ruby's cheek. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, my beautiful Ruby."

Regina felt her heart beating hard in her chest. Emma was laying next to her in just a tank top and boxers. Regina bit her lip and felt the arousal spread through her whole body, almost like lightning.

It seemed that being pregnant just made her feelings more intense. She knew she shouldn't push or make Emma uncomfortable, but she craved Emma's touch. Regina needed to feel loved, to feel like she at least had Emma, to fill up the void in her heart, left by Henry.

Regina turned around and met the blonde's eyes. She pressed her lips gently against hers, and moaned as Emma deepened the kiss.

Their hands were clumsy and eager, but at the same time, it felt like they belonged where they were. Regina loved the feeling of Emma, and quickly got too carried away.

She had a slight grip around Emma, holding down her arms and the blonde suddenly tensed up. She was reminded of her rape. It came to the forefront of her mind suddenly.

Emma didn't say a word, as she quickly untangled herself from Regina's grip. Regina felt terrible as she realised what she had done. Emma was sitting on the end of the bed, shaking like a leaf. Regina bit her lip and froze.

"Emma. I'm sorry, please I… I didn't.. I didn't think straight I…"

"Leave it…" Emma growled with a shaking voice as she tried to get her breathing under control. Regina frowned and moved to Emma's side and met the blonde's eyes. She had never seen Emma so scared, so afraid, so broken.

"Emma, I'm so sorry." Regina whispered, but the blonde didn't answer. She was too caught up in her memories. "I'm sorry. I'll leave if you want me to. I can go sleep on the sofa or something…"

Regina's eyes filled with tears as she held her breath awaiting an answer from the stoic blonde.

"I want to stay here, and sleep with you." Regina held a sob in as Emma finally nodded in her direction. "Just sleep this time. I really want to blame this on hormones, but I know it was me losing control...like an asshole. Please forgive me? I can't ….not be close to you." she finally let loose the emotions she felt, as sobs racked her body.

Emma was laying in her bed, just staring up at the ceiling. Her foster dad had left her naked and crying after he had raped her. The little girl honestly didn't know what to do, or what to say. She has heard stories about this stuff. Had even been warned that as she got older it was more likely to happen.

She was just frozen. She felt used, disgusting and dirty, and as the days went by, she realised that the countless showers she had taken, didn't help at all. She couldn't wash away all the anxiety, and the scars from the ropes he had used to bound her were also a constant reminder.

Her foster brothers and few friends in school wondered what had happened to her because she disappeared into herself.. She didn't speak. She didn't answer. Emma just shrugged and said she didn't want to talk. This was one of the "better homes" and no one would even believe he did it.

The school's principal sent Emma to the school therapist, but Emma didn't say a word to him. She chose to ignore the world around her, as it had never helped her before. People who were supposed to keep her safe, had always done the exact opposite.

Emma started to have trouble in school, and even if she had not been doing good earlier, the teachers wondered what was happening.

Emma was sent, once again, to a therapist. It was a female therapist this time, but she still choose to keep her mouth shut. It was for the best.

Since that day, at 12 years old, Emma decided she didn't want to let anybody near her, neither her foster parents or anybody else in the whole world. It was for the best. She just didn't want to get hurt again. Especially not like this. Emma was 12 years old and was already thinking about suicide.

Regina could only watch as Emma broke down into millions of pieces right in front of her. It was her fault. She had forget what Ruby had told her that day, out in the woods for what felt like ages ago, that Emma wasn't like them.

Suddenly, Emma did something that surprised Regina. She turned around and seeked comfort in her arms. Regina embraced her within seconds and placed a kiss on her head.

"I love you, Emma. I love you so much," Regina whispered and started to hum the song her Daddy had always sung for her when she had been down. "and our son is gonna love you so so much, too!" Emma fought every muscle in her body, but couldn't hold back her smile. Our son.

The next morning Emma woke up without Regina by her side. She had gotten through the terrible anxiety attack from yesterday, but she had hardly gotten any sleep.

Emma realisera this, as she tried to sit up, as her body didn't want to cooperate, and she missed the warmth of Regina next to her. It took a long while before Emma finally got the strength to actually move.

The blonde sat up and rubbed her eyes and decided to find out where her girlfriend was. She found her sitting in what looked to be a study.

"Good mornin'." Emma greeted and Regina looked up from the book she was reading. Emma leaned down and kissed her then sat down beside her on the sofa.

"What are you reading?"

"I found Daddy's journal." Regina answered with a low voice. "He always had a plan to get it published, but he never did. He lead….a pretty interesting life." Regina smiled as she continued "Anyway, I found a side note that I think, mother needs to read."

"Read it to me." Emma replied and Regina nodded.

"Every parent's dream is to see their children grow up to be happy and successful. Even find someone to love. We dream of grandchildren and marriage, and sometimes without thinking about what our children want.

We simply don't usually consider the child as a person. If your child doesn't wish to get married, or isn't able to have children, that doesn't mean your dream can't come true.

Suddenly, sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, and that is what has happened with my daughter. My precious Regina.

She may look like a ordinary and normal girl to the naked eye, but she is special. She doesn't like boys. She likes girls. Some people may think that's wrong, disgusting or unnatural, even a sin. I've heard and ignored it all.

I do not care for such talk. The only thing I care about is that my little girl finds someone who makes her happy. Someone who deserves her.

So be it, if it's a person of the same sex. I don't care. I never have. The only thing I care about is that my daughter finds someone who makes her laugh, makes her smile and stands by her side when life gets hard. My dear Regina is soon 14, and I have just been diagnosed with cancer." Regina paused to wipe a tear from her eye.

"Life is sometimes unfair, and even though I may not ever meet the girl who steals my daughter's heart, I hope she hears Regina read this to her, and if so, I have some words for you."

Regina paused as Emma looked disbelievingly at her. Regina chuckled as she actually showed Emma the passage then began to read again.

"Regina is my pride and joy. She is a fantastic and caring person, a mirror image of her dear old daddy. Love her with all of your heart and make sure you remind her every day of just how much you love her. If my daughter has fallen for you, you are truly special.

I love you Regina. Don't let your mother make you deny who you are. Fight. Don't be afraid. You can show her who you truly are, and perhaps she will share herself with you as well. Just be yourself.

Always and forever,

Henry Mills "

Regina put away the book as she broke down. Emma embraced her and felt the tears sting in her own eyes. She understood why Regina missed her daddy as much as she did.

With every story Regina shared about him, it made him just grow in Emma's eyes. Even though he was dead and she had never met him, it was almost like the blonde missed him too.

When they finally made their way down stairs, Granny and Ruby were in the kitchen making breakfast. Belle was half sleeping on a chair. Regina chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"I see your girlfriend still can't handle her alcohol.." Regina teased and Ruby shrugged.

Emma sat down next the Belle as Regina walked into the kitchen and helped with the breakfast. Emma suddenly started to feel anxious and her mind started racing.

Though she really didn't understand why, she knew she needed some air, so she stood up and headed for the exit. When Regina heard her close the door behind her,frowned but decided to follow.

"Emma!" Regina shouted and the blonde stopped and turned around with tears in her eyes. "Emma, what's wrong?"

"I.. I… I don't know.. I just… What happened… You know… Yesterday… I just need to be alone.." Emma said and bit her lip. She knew how terrible Regina felt for what had happened the night before, but when Emma felt like this, she didn't want anything else but to be alone.

"Oh." Regina shrugged and turned around. Emma grabbed her arm and placed a kiss on her girlfriends lips.

"I love you, and I'm not running away from you. Or us. Or our baby. I just need some time for myself, okay?"

"I love you too." Regina replied with a sad smile as she watched Emma jog away.

Ruby and Granny were standing on the porch examining the exchange between Regina and Emma.

"And here I thought they had made progress" Ruby groaned and dragged her fingers through her hair.

"Don't worry, Ruby. They have. They're gonna make it through. We just need to give them time." Granny smiled and swung an arm around her granddaughter.

"Let's go inside and make some coffee, huh, and wake up your Belle?"

"Yeah, that sounds good." Ruby replied as they walked inside.

Emma ran straight into the woods, not even thinking about her where abouts. She was too anxious to think so she ran until her body almost collapsed.

When she finally stopped, she cursed at herself for forgetting the water bottle, as always. Emma sunk down on a big stone and tried to catch her breathe. Her mind was still racing and she screamed like she had never screamed before. Really brain?

Emma thought of that night she had stumbled into Granny's diner, the time with the Swans, but the memory that was taunting her the most was the rape, and the thought about Regina had been raped made her anxiety just rise.

Emma groaned as she thought about all different foster homes, where she had been beaten and treated like nothing. She was nothing cause she had nothing.

Now though, that was different. This realization caused her to look at her past differently. She had a family now. A life. But even though she had all that, it could easily be ripped away from her.

Emma thought of Regina's mother, Cora. She had power. She had money, and she could destroy Emma easily. She could probably even place her in another foster family with the power she seemed to have.

Emma hid her head in her hands and started to cry. She couldn't relax. She couldn't enjoy the moment, because she was worried about what was, or what was not gonna happen. As she worried...no. Was terrified, about the future, she was taunted by the past.

How the hell am I gonna be able to me a mother?

Emma remembered the first time she had seen Regina. How her heart had skipped a beat. She remembered their first kiss. How she had been brave enough to show Regina all her scars, and how she had broken down almost every one of Emma's walls. Something no one else had or had been allowed to do. Emma laid down and sighed.

She didn't know what the hell she should do. Emma had never loved anyone like Regina, and had never thought she would have the opportunity. It felt almost too good to be true and it probably was.

Emma had never even met someone like Regina. Henry was right. Emma must be special if Regina had already fallen so deeply in love with her.

But do I even deserve this? I want this life with her, but will it be a non-stop uphill battle? And if it were, would it be worth it to put Regina through that?

Regina ate a quick breakfast before she went out to greet Rocinante. She wished she could just jump up on his back and take a galop in the forest, but she couldn't. Instead she leaned against the fence and scratched his neck. The horse huffed air in her face when Regina suddenly noticed a familiar car park in the driveway.

"Mother…" Regina breathed and bit her lip. "No no no..."

Granny looked up from the dishes, and Ruby walked up to the window, where she almost lost her balance.

"What's wrong?" Granny frowned as Ruby turned around, looking as pale as a ghost. Granny walked up to the window and saw Cora's car pull up in the driveway, but she wasn't afraid of her. Instead she felt the anger rise in her.

"Go tend to Belle, I'll handle this." Granny said with a low dangerous tone, and Ruby nodded then practicality ran up to the guest room where Belle was sleeping.

She obviously just went up there and woke Belle so that they could both spy.

Regina walked down to the car and tugged on her bottom lip.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Regina asked as Cora walked up to her.

"Wow, look at you. How far gone are you?" Cora asked carefully and laid a gentle hand on Regina's stomach.

"Six months..." Regina answered with a cold voice as she took a step back. "but you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?"

"I had to come home to see if you were okay!" Cora growled, and whipped her head around as she heard the door to the main house open. She shot Regina a glare and walked up to the porch.

"And what are you doing on my property, Mrs Lucas?" Cora asked through gritted teeth "Didn't you listen to a word I said the last time I talked to you, hm?"

"I was invited here." Granny shot back,ignoring Cora's obvious attempt at threatening her.

"Is too." Ruby and Belle said simultaneously and walked out on the porch.

"I don't care. I wish you to leave as soon as possible, or else I'll have no choice but to call the sheriff and have you charged with trespassing." Regina gritted her teeth.

"This place is mine, mother, you can't do that!" Regina shot back to her mother.

"Oh, yes I can. You may have inherited this awful place, but as you are still underage, this belongs to me, and I don't want either street rats or homosexuals on my property!"

Emma heard a commutation from the cottage and wondered what was going on. She started to run faster and did almost not believe her eyes when she came up to the house.

"Well well, Miss Swan." Cora huffed as the blonde jogged up to them. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Mrs. Mills," she greeted coldly "what do you want?" Emma snapped and the woman walked up to Emma, her face was just inches away from hers.

"I own this property and that means that I also have the right to determine who and who doesn't have the right to be here." Cora spat as

Regina took Emma's hand and made sure her mother saw it. She was tired of hiding who she was. Done. She was Done! She and Emma shared a quick look and Emma's grip tightened.

"Let's go home now dear, and…" as soon as Cora saw the two girls hands intertwined with each other's she froze.

Cora remembered that day perfectly. They were young and innocent. Only just 15. Cora and her best friend were racing and jumping around the barn like they normally would. Hiding, then jumping out to scare each other.

"Ha!" Lilith, with her long black hair and beautiful Native American features, tackled Cora from the back. The two landed on a hay bale in laughter, then Cora giggled as her friend began to tickle her.

"Stop..stop!" the slightly shorter girl begged through obvious fits of laughter as she turned so that she was laying on her back. Cora smiled up at the locket that always hung from her friends neck.

She was so close that the heart shaped pendant tickled her nose. Cora's breath started to shorten and strengthen.

"We...we shouldn't…" she acknowledged aloud as the taller girl released her hold but moved her body closer

"I know, you're probably right." Cora felt the pendant shift from laying on her cheek to fluttering across her collarbone. Her breath caught again as the girl above moved slowly towards her face with her own.

"You'll have to stop me. It seems that I simply can't control myself." she whispered and Cora felt her stomach tighten.

"It's not…" Cora began as she moved to sit up and create some distance "it's not that I don't wish to, I just don't feel right about sneaking around like this. Perhaps my parents will be more accepting in the future.." Cora knew she was grasping at straws, but it was true. Her parents loved her, so surely they will love her even if she loved another girl!

"I really don't think that's how it works, Corie. At least not with any girl I have ever liked. If we are to be together, it must be in secret. From everyone. My parents as well." the taller girl stated as she placed her hand over Cora's. "I don't wish either of us to go to….one of those places."

"Those couldn't be real. Surely, those places don't really exist. It has to be a scare tactic. Perhaps your parents left them out on purpose to scare you away from me." Cora suggested like it was obvious and Lilith shook her head with a smile.

"Then I guess they weren't scary enough, but I don't want to chance it." she placed her free hand on Cora's available thigh, just below her uniform skirt. Cora smiled as she wrapped her hand around the girl's neck to play with her necklace.

"I love this." she stated as she traced the chain

"Well, I mean…." Lilith sat straight "Would you like to have it?" Cora was stunned

"Oh! I um….I couldn't. You've had it for a long time. You've worn it everyday since I've known you."

"Corie, I think...that even if we don't grow old together...or even stay friends," the girl smiled as she look the locket off. "that we would ever wish to forget each other. I want you to have it. You don't even have to wear it. It will just always remind you of me, and when I wonder where my locket is, I'll always think of you." she placed the heart shaped locket in Cora's hand.

She smiled brightly in acceptance. After a final look at the item, she placed it in her jacket pocket, then finally leaned in to give her friend what they had both wanted. As they pulled back from the small sweet kiss, the barn doors flew open. Everything happened so quickly that all Cora could do was cry with confusion.

Cora's father burster through the barn doors and promptly dragged Lilith out by her hair, with orders for his daughter to wait in the barn and not to move. After a while he returned without the other girl. Cora was terrified and confused.

"Father, where has Lilith gone?" she whispered and the man sighed. She was honestly afraid of the answer. It didn't matter because the man never told her anyway. The man took a moment to examine the girl before him.

"I send ya to private school cause you wanna learn from the best, and that's what you're learnin'? How to be a fuckin' fag? Is that what they teach ya?" he asked angrily and delivered a solid smack to Cora's face. Cora fell to the ground, but he didn't stop. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and it made her sick.

Cora still seemed to be in a trance while staring at her daughter's hands. While one held onto Emma, the other was placed protectively over her stomach.

"Regina isn't going anywhere with you!" Emma growled and Ruby watched as her little sister's eyes turned dark.

Oh shit she's pissed. Ruby thought to herself. Way to go Swan!

"Don't you dare take that tone with me, Miss Swan!" Cora tried to say with a low growl. "You and your disgusting…" Cora paused, seemingly to think about what she was saying. She placed her hand over her chest as it constricted.

"You are not even…..worthy of being in Regina's presence, and you think you can be with my daughter? You're nothing Emma Swan, NOTHING!" Cora tried to speak with venom, but even to her own ears it sounded dull. Like she was lying, even to herself.

Ruby didn't care though. She almost lost it. She couldn't just stand by and watch as Cora tore her little sister apart.

Just when she was about to take step forward, she felt Belle grab her arm. Ruby frowned and met her eyes as Belle shook her head.

"Let her handle it herself, Rubes." Belle whispered and Ruby groaned. She had always wanted to give Cora a piece of her mind, but she knew Belle was right. Emma had to do this on her own.

"Oh, that was really original." Emma shrugged and let go of Regina's hand, now their faces were merely inches apart.

Emma was tired of being told she was nothing. She had heard it her whole life, but never fought back, but now she could. She had a family behind her back, and a pregnant girlfriend she would die for.

So Cora didn't scare her. Cora was just the one who was the final straw.

"Oh, I can continue if you wish, Miss Swan." Cora snarled. Regina watched them with anxious eyes and even Rocinante seemed nervous as he neighed and wanted to 'help' Emma from his pasture.

"Oh, you can't tell me something I've already heard a thousands times over, Cora. So let me beat you to it!" Emma snapped and felt how all the years of abuse were coming up to the surface.

"I've been raped, I've been beaten unconscious, I have been thrown out in the middle of the winter because I didn't do my choirs on time. And I've been tossed around homes like a fucking football.

Until I stumbled on to Granny and Ruby I thought that was what I was, a worthless... nothing. A broken and worn out piece of space. But they don't care about my background or my scarred body, or my other baggage. They care about the afraid little girl who never had someone to care for her, and making sure she's happy. Ruby is fiercely protective of me and I finally have a mother that loves me unconditionally. I have that now, but I'm still gonna be looked down on, by rich idiots like you!"

Granny almost lost her balance as she heard Emma mentioned she'd been raped. She had never heard that story and both Belle and Ruby were fast to grip her sides so she didn't fall down. Her eyes teared up, then she and Ruby shared a quick look, before they turned back to Emma and Cora. Oh, my sweet girl! Granny thought to herself.

Regina watched Emma as she was putting Cora in her place. She had never seen Emma talk like this, and she knew she needed this. And her mother also needed to hear this. But how would she react? That was the real question.

So far Cora wasn't reacting at all. And that had Regina more worried than anything else right now.