Seeing the mansion again sent a plethora of emotions, both good and bad, through Roni. There, she had memories of being isolated and alone, but also Henry's first steps; memories of being attacked the day the curse broke, and seeing Henry off on the first day of school. Now that she thought about it, how would he react to her being back? She wasn't quite the same person as when she left, but would it matter to him? Would it matter to anyone? Or would she forever be seen as the Evil Queen?
"Ready to go in?" Emma asked, having seen the dilemma in Roni's expression.
"Not really." Roni unbuckled her seatbelt anyway and exited the car. She pulled out Lenny's carrier from the back seat and turned back towards the mansion.
It still looked the same, except the hedges that used to give her yard privacy were gone. In their place were brightly colored flowers in various shades of pink. A baby's swing hung from a branch on one of the trees out front and toys littered the yard.
"Sorry it's messy. Neal leaves a toy explosion everywhere he goes." Emma explained before leading the way to the front door. The inside felt different. It smelled different. More toys sat in the corners and under tables, like they were swept to the side as someone walked.
"My room is up in the attic." Emma said. "You can put your cat there for now. Feel free to borrow whatever you need." Roni nodded and climbed the stairs up to the attic.
The attic wasn't like most attics in regular homes. It was practically a one bedroom apartment, complete with a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. It was basically like the apartment Roni had back in Seattle. She could see why Emma made it hers, rather than claim one of the guest rooms. It offered her more privacy and the illusion of independence. Roni set Lenny's carrier in the living room and opened the door.
"Welcome to your new home, boy. We're going to be staying here a while." Roni said as Lenny sniffed around, aquainting himself with the new area. Emma came up and dropped off the supplies they bought after arriving on the east coast: just the essentials of a litter box, kitty litter, and cat food.
"Thanks." Roni said.
"No problem. Hey, I'm going to go pick Neal up from day care. Your food is on the table and I'll be back soon, okay?" Roni nodded and continued setting up Lenny's things. The litter box was filled and put in the bathroom and the food was put away in a cupboard. Lenny had claimed the back of the couch, just like he had back home, and curled up to sleep. Roni sniffed and realized both she and Lenny smelled like smoke.
"Ugh. We need a good wash." Roni filled up the sink with warm water and did her best to wash the ash from Lenny's fur. When he was washed, dried, and annoyed, Regina stripped and stepped into the shower. The smell of smoke was quickly washed away and replaced with peaches and honey.
Freshly washed, Regina grabbed a towel and wrapped herself up. She then realized she had no clothes to wear. Poking a head out of the bathroom, she checked to see if anyone was there. Seeing no one, Roni padded to the bedroom and borrowed an outfit from Emma's dresser. She then went downstairs to eat her meal.
"Cookies!" The high-pitched voice squealed as tiny feet pattered across the hardwood floor.
"I promised one cookie!" Emma's voice called out. "And you can't tell mom!" A little boy with adorable blue eyes and curly blonde hair skidded to a stop upon seeing the strange woman sitting at their table.
"Emma, who dat lady?" Neal pointed to the woman. Emma walked into the dining room and saw Roni, hair damp and wearing a tank top and yoga pants that Emma recognized as her own. Hot damn.
"That is my friend, Roni. She's going to stay with us for a bit." Emma explained. Neal cocked his head and stared up at Roni. She smiled at him.
"Hello, Neal. My, what a handsome boy you are." Neal smiled bashfully.
"Here you go, Cassanova." Emma returned from the kitchen with his promised cookie. Neal jumped up and down in excitement and grabbed the cookie. He looked at Roni, who didn't have a cookie, then down to his cookie. He broke off a little piece, only about the size of two of his fingers, and offered it to Roni.
"Thank you!" Roni smiled and accepted the piece of cookie.
"Wow, he must really like you. He never shares with me." Emma commented.
"Neal, does Emma get a cookie, too?" Roni asked.
"No." Neal took as big a bite of his cookie as he could and Roni fought to hide her laugh.
"See?" Emma exclaimed.
"Well, at least one Charming likes me." Roni commented.
"Two." Emma corrected. "Seriously, what am I? Chopped liver?" Emma watched Roni wipe the smeared chocolate from Neal's mouth. He didn't squirm away from her like he did to everyone else. Psh. He was just showing off for a pretty girl. He was never so angelic with Emma.
Neal toddled off to play with some trucks in the middle of the foyer. Roni watched him play happily and was reminded of a simpler time. When a little brunet boy would play with his blocks, making towers and knocking them over, laughing his adorable belly laugh when she'd looked surprised that it fell over again. She's only known him for three minutes, but Roni already loved him. This was going to hurt when she inevitably had to leave again.
"Kitty!" Neal's attention was on Lenny, who more than likely heard all the new sounds and came to investigate.
"His name is Lenny." Roni informed the toddler.
"Inny." Neal repeated, or at least tried to. He toddled towards the animal. "Inny Inny Inny." He not-too-gently patted the cat, who retreated into his owner's arms. Neal giggled and ran after him.
"Kitty!" Neal made grabby hands towards the cat in Roni's lap.
"You have to be gentle, like this." Roni held Neal's hand and ran it gently over Lenny's fur. He seemed to get a hang of it because his next attempt was much easier on the creature.
"Do you want to help me feed him?" Roni asked Neal.
"Yah!" Neal jumped in excitement and ran off to the kitchen.
"No, dear. We have to give him cat food, not people food. Come with me." Roni led the little boy upstairs to feed Lenny. Emma stayed downstairs, happy that someone could keep her brother occupied. Most days when she watched him, he was a screaming pain in the neck. She didn't know how Roni did it. Did Neal just not like her? Emma tried to be a good sister, but truth be told, she had no idea how to do that. What was she doing wrong?
"Ugh. This why I don't want kids." Emma sighed. She got up to get herself a cookie because God dammit, she deserved it.
Emma lost track of time and realized it was past Neal's nap time. She went upstairs looking for the two and surprisingly found them on Emma's bed, both fast asleep. Emma shrugged and went back downstairs to catch up on her shows.
...
"Por que, Alejandro, por que?" The woman on the screen cried.
"Yeah, Alejandro! Why'd you gotta be suck a dick? Maria loves you and you cheat on her with Felicia? Hell no! Where's Jorge when you need him?" Emma heard the door unlock and quickly paused her show. This was it. Her parents were going to know who their new house guest was. And possibly disown her.
"Emma!" Snow exclaimed when she, David, and Henry walked through the door. "You're home! How was Boston?"
"Ma!" Henry ran up to hug her.
"Hey, guys." Emma greeted. "Um... there's something I have to tell you." Just channel your inner Shia and just do it! "I didn't go to Boston. I... have a friend who will be staying with us. Her name is Roni."
"Roni? And where is your brother?" Right on cue, Neal slid down the stairs on his butt until he could run into his mother's arms.
"Mommy, kitty!" Neal said, pointing upstairs.
"Oh, and she has a cat." Emma added.
"Well, we'd love to meet her." David replied.
"Youalreadyhave." Emma muttered.
"Emma? I'm sorry Neal got away from me. I was busy cleaning Lenny's litter... box..." Roni paused in her tracks upon seeing Snow, David, and Henry.
"Regina?" Snow said, clearly in shock.
"It's Roni now." Roni clarified.
"Surprise!" Emma added weakly.