"Were you sleeping?" The young girl asked clutching to her white robe

"No dear, not yet." Regina relaxed back down at the end of her bed.

"Um… can I…. may I…. sleep with you?" Her eyes began to tear up as she covered her face with her hands. Regina jumped off her bed and crouched down to meet the girl face to face.

"Snow, what's wrong?" She asked moving the girls hands from her face.

"I had a dream about my mother again. She was bleeding all over and I couldn't stop it. I herd a woman laughing at her when she died." She sobbed into Regina's shoulder, clinging to her as if she was the only thing keeping her sane.

Even through Regina despised this little girl for everything she'd done, there was still a small part of her that had grown to care for her. Snow was so innocent of everything, Regina missed that in herself.

"Shh." She tried calming the girl, "You can stay with me." She rubbed Snow's back before standing to her feet again. Snow shuffled to the bed as Regina moved into her regular side, and Snow into the other. Snow had loved Regina ever since she saved her from the wild horse. Though she didn't understand why the Stable Boy Daniel left her. She was beautiful and snow hopped that one day she's be just liker her.

Snow White wiggled herself in until her back cuddled into Regina's stomach. A small smiled moved across Regina's lips as she wondered if her own children would do this with her too. She didn't want children from the King, nor did she really want Snow White either, but one day she dreamed of her own kin… she knew she'd make a great mother.

Regina's eyes fluttered open as the sun began to peek through the open window. Snow's face was just inches from her own with her mouth slightly open breathing into Regina's face. She quietly moved out of there bed when she noticed the green light emitting from the lounge chair before Tinkerbell poofed into her human size.

"So….?" She asked before Regina hushed her and pointed to the sleeping form in her bed. "Jeesh you move fast!" Tink winked at Regina before moving to see who was in there.

"Oh hush! It's not him, it's Snow." Regina rolled her eyes pulling Tink further from the bed.

"Did you kill her? I don't see movement Regina." She looked back at the seemingly motionless form.

"No, she had a nightmare and asked to sleep with me."

"Love is making you soft." Tink grabbed her shoulders, "What's he like?"

"Hardly love dear. He seems like a gentleman, he wants to see me again tonight." She smiled at her new found friend.

"Eek!" She squealed, "You may not think you're in love yet but he is!"

"We just met!"

"Oh sweety that's all it takes. So what are you going to wear? Can't wear the same thing twice." She asked linking their arms together as they walked towards the vanity across the room.

"I don't know if I should go."

"What? Are you kidding? Regina I've never seen pixie dust fail. He's your true love just give it a chance. You have to go!" She said shaking Regina.

"But what if someone see's me? What if the King finds out? What if he doesn't love me?" Thoughts were spewing out of her mouth as worry moved across her lips.

"What it? … Regina what if he is the one, your true love. You can not give up on this. Think of it as an adventure. I won't let…." Regina quickly covered her friends mouth as Snow began to stir in Regina's bed.

"You've got to go." Regina whispered. "I don't know what she would do if she saw a fairy."

"This isn't over." Tink smirked before shrinking back into her fairy size before flying out of the castle window.

"Regina." Snow muttered looking around the empty bed.

"I'm here." Regina said as she sat down by Snow's feet."

"Thank you." Snow said reaching for Regina's hand and pulling it close to her own body.

"For what dear?" She asked puzzled. She only let the girl sleep in her bed. Maybe Snow knew Regina wanted her dead.

"Being perfect. Somone once told me that all stepmothers are evil."

"Oh Snow, I'm not perfect, trust me on that." A feeling of guilt swept over Regina's face. Clearly Snow didn't know her true feelings, not how she had mindlessly planned the demise of this young girl.

"Well you do snore?" Snow smirked trying to remain serious about her comment.

"What? I do not!" Regina laughed tossing a pillow at Snow hitting her dead in the face, causing them both to erupt in laughter.

Their laughed masked the loud knock at the door, but they both froze as Regina's door swung open with a loud bang.

"Your majesty." Regina bowed as the King entered her bed chambers.

"Father." Snow curtsied beside Regina knowing protocol.

"Snow my dear, we didn't know where you were. I feared the worst. What are you doing in Regina's room?" The Kings words were soft as usual, he never known to raise his voice.

"I…um…." Snow struggled with her words.

"We had a sleep over your majesty, I apologize, I should have asked your permission first." Regina spoke cutting of the young girl who starred at her.

"No, that is quite alright. I'm glad you two are getting to know one another more." He smiled at his daughter then back to his new wife, "I do apologize for barging in Regina, I was worried. I'll leave you two." The King bowed then left the room with a smile across his lips.

"Why did you say that?" Snow asked after her father had closed the door.

"Men don't need to know our fears, especially our fathers, they worry enough as it."

"You're truly amazing." Snow hugged Regina catching her off guard. "What is a sleepover?"

"Haven't you had one with your friends?" Regina asked shocked at the question. Her own mother was strict but still allowed a few sleep overs when she was younger.

"I don't have friends my own age." Snow shuffled her feet as she starred at the ground.

"Well how about you and I have a real sleep over then?"

"Really? Tonight?" Snow practically jumped out of her skin with excitement.

"Um, how about tomorrow night? This way I can get everything ready and we both are rested?" Regina lied. She tried to keep her night free incase she decided to meet with Robin after all. Her mind wasn't made up yet, though she knew her heart was.

"Ok!" Snow exclaimed hugging her stepmother again.

"Now go change dear, I'm sure you're needed for your lessons soon."

"Bye!" Snow waved and smiled before skipping out the door. Regina flung herself back on the bed and muttered,

"What have I gotten myself into?