Hi everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to update, I've been out of town for the past few days!
Regina smiled as she saw Lola sitting happily at the kitchen table. She had a piece of paper in front of her, surrounded by crayons of all colors. Her school project was to draw a picture of her family, and she was doing a very good job.
"How's it going?" Regina asked, walking up behind Lola and kissing the top of Lola's head.
"Good!" Lola said excitedly. "You're in purple, just like your favorite color! And Ma is green, like her eyes. Henry is red for his backpack, and Ava is orange for her favorite dress. And I'm pink, like my sparks." To demonstrate her point, Lola showed Regina the sparks that she could make with her magic.
"I see that," Regina said, smiling. "No magic at the kitchen table."
Lola rolled her eyes and went back to coloring. "I have to finish before Ma comes home. She's gonna be so happy to see this!"
"See what?" Emma asked, walking into the room.
"Nothing!" Lola said, quickly picking up her paper and crayons. "I'll be in my room if you need me. Bye!"
Emma stared after Lola in confusion. "What was that about?"
Regina shrugged and walked into the kitchen to begin making dinner. "She's making something and doesn't want you to see it yet."
"What is it?" Emma asked.
"I'm not going to spoil the surprise for her," Regina said, getting out ingredients. "You're just going to have to wait and see."
"But I don't like surprises," Emma whined. "Just tell me."
Regina laughed. "You'll survive. Why don't you help me with dinner while we're waiting?"
Emma sighed. "I guess. What're you making?"
"It's a surprise," Regina teased.
"Not funny," Emma said, glaring at her.
Regina leaned over and kissed her gently. "I'm kidding. Let's get cooking."
"Mommy? Ma?" Lola called. "Can I show you my drawing now? I finished!"
"We would love to see your drawing," Regina said. She turned down the burner on the stove. "I know that your ma has been anxious to see what you were making."
"You bet I have been," Emma said, wiping her hands on her apron and walking over to Lola. "What'd you make Lo?"
Lola proudly held up her drawing for Emma to see. "It's our family!"
Emma froze for a second before plastering a smile on her face and taking the picture from Lola. "It's beautiful Lo. We'll have to hang it on the fridge after you turn it in."
Lola smiled and took the drawing back. "I'm gonna go put it in my backpack so I don't forget!" She ran from the kitchen back to her room, leaving Emma and Regina alone.
"What was that about?" Regina asked once Lola was out of the room.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked, walking back over and continuing to chop up the vegetables for the soup they were making.
Regina reached over and gently took the knife out of Emma's hand. "I meant where you froze as Lola showed you the picture that she drew."
"I didn't freeze," Emma argued. "I thought you wanted me to help with dinner. I can't do that if you confiscate the knife."
"Don't change the subject," Regina scolded her gently. "Now come on. What was that about?"
Emma sighed. "I drew something like that once. I felt super close to my foster family, and drew a picture of all of them with me. My foster mother took it from me and tore it up, telling me that I was only a temporary part of their lives."
"That's awful," Regina said. "How could someone say that to a child?"
Emma shrugged. "Wasn't like I hadn't heard of it before. But I haven't seen a drawing like that in a long time. It just caught me off guard."
"Well I think that it's good to see," Regina said. "To show you that you do have a family now. And they're not going anywhere."
Emma smiled. "I know."