Chapter Seventeen- Caterpillar

Regina watched the toddler in amusement as she practically painted her face against the glass window as she waited for Ruby to arrive. She was standing on the couch in a little yellow and white romper that had ruffles around the waist with her hair in two curly pigtails. The little purple hearing aids stood out more with her hair pulled back, and it caused Regina's attention to turn to several of the pamphlets that she was reading. There was dozens of them covering the table. Once she was satisfied that Emma wasn't going to fall, she headed to the kitchen to make the kids a quick snack.

"Mama can we have NutterFluffers?" Henry asked eagerly, running in after her.

"Henry remember we talked about not eating peanut butter in the house anymore because it made Emma sick." Regina reminded him

"Well can she go to Nona's then. I want a NutterFluffer!" Henry huffed, crossing his arms.

"Henry, that isn't very nice. You have to think of your sister's restrictions." Regina frowned as she turned to her son.

"Maybe I don't want a sister. At least not a broken one." Henry sassed back.

"I not broke!" Emma's eyebrows furrowed as she stood at the doorway.

"Yes you are! You can't hear with out those! And you can't have peanut butter! Broken!" Henry turned to the younger girl.

"Mama I not broke!" Emma shook her head, her ponytails bouncing.

"She's not your Mama. Papa said you killed your Mama." Henry retorted, causing Emma's bottom lip to quiver.

"Henry!" Regina admonished.

"Why you be mean to me?" Emma sniffled as she tried hard not to cry.

"I want a NutterFluffer! But I can't have it cause you are here! Can't have Reese's or M and M's or peanut butter crackers!" The six year old stamped his foot.

"That is enough young man!" Regina cut in firmly as the two children glared at each other.

"I don't hurt my Momma! She felled sleep after Daddy left." Emma hissed out in a tone that surprised Regina. Never before had she heard a child that jaded, that angry.

"Your Daddy died when my Daddy died." Henry argued as Regina's eyes widened. How had even known or remembered that?

"Nu uh." Emma denied.

"Both of you stop this right now! Henry, sit down at the table right now! We need to have a discussion!Emmalyn go wait by the door for Carsyn and your Mommy please." Regina instructed the children. Both were reluctant to fill the request as they dragged their feet but eventually it was met. Regina sat in the seat across from her son as she studied him.

"The things you just said to your little sister were uncalled for and hurtful! She looks up to you and loves you so much, and lately you have been nothing but down right mean to her." Regina chastised, watching her son soften.

"I love her too." Henry mumbled, wringing his hands together

"Really? Because you haven't shown it. Refusing to play with her and calling her a baby? Or all of the hurtful things you just said because you couldn't have a sandwich? I never ever want to hear you repeat any of the nasty things your grandfather said, do you hear me young man?"Regina's voice raised slightly.

"Yes Ma'am." He hung his head low.

"Now as for your punishment, when Ruby gets here I'm taking your toys from your room. You will have to earn them back. You will be sitting out the next couple of teeball games on the bench until you can learn what being a team player truly is." Regina watched her son's bottom lip quiver

"I'm sorry Mama" Henry apologized as big crocodile tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I may be disappointed in you Henry, but Emma is the one you hurt. You are apologizing to the wrong person." Regina shook her head disappointingly. Henry opened his mouth to reply when Emma's screech rang out.

"MY MOMMY HERE!" Emma screamed in excitement, and Regina could see her finger tips trying to gain purchase on the door knob but not being quite able to reach. Huffing to herself, she walked over to the front door and pulled it open. She could see Carsyn pouting as Ruby signed with her hands while talking to her.

"Mommy!" Emma took off running, her feet catching the end of the stairs as she almost went flying face first off the porch.

"Bug be careful!" Ruby warned a wide eyed Emma who was holding onto the banister.

"I missed-ed you." Emma replied as if that was an explanation. Ruby scooped the four year old up before setting her on her hip.

"I missed you too, I just don't want you to get hurt. Can you say Hello to Carsyn?" Ruby prodded.

"Hi Car-Ree." Emma mumbled before burying her face into Ruby's neck.

"What's crack-a-lacking Ems?" Carsyn smirked at her, but was genuine with the greeting. She couldn't explain it, but she desperately wanted the toddler to like her.

"Quack-ka Lacka." Emma giggled.

"Thank God you're here. I need to have a conversation with Emma for a moment. Do you think you can mind Henry for me?" Regina held out her arms to take Emma back.

"Sure, it's no problem." Ruby nodded as they transfer kids.

"Car, come on. I'll get you something to drink." Ruby gestured for the six year old to go into the house.

"We have to go grocery shopping after I'm finished, so make sure they stay ready to leave." Regina called out, receiving a murmured response that she ignored in favor of sitting with Emma on the porch swing. She let a comfortable silence fall, with the two of them simply swinging slowly back and forth.

"Baby, you know I love you right?" Regina asked her daughter softly, feeling the little girl nod.

"I need you to look at me sweetheart, so I know you understand what we are talking about." Regina gently pulled Emma back to look at her before she repeated herself.

"You know I love, don't you Princess?" Regina asked again, what surprised her was the way Emma's lip quivered slightly before she nodded.

"I love you too, Mama." The blonde's eyebrows furrowed together as she looked at her mother.

"You know I would do anything to protect you, that I wouldn't let anyone hurt you." Regina had a hard time keeping her voice even as she plowed on.

"Mama I wanna go play." Emma squirmed in her lap, not liking the nature of the conversation.

"In a minute, princess. Mama has some questions for you." Regina shuddered at the unsure/mistrustful look Emma shot her, but the four year old stayed put.

"I need you to tell me what happened when your Momma went to sleep in the bathtub , okay honey? Regina held her breath when she felt Emma's nails start to dig into her trousers.

"Her went to sleep. Then RooRoo came and got me." Emma shrugged, averting her eyes.

"Can you tell me a little more baby? So that Mama can know how to help you." Regina prodded.

"Don't need help. Momma not here no more." Emma pursed her lips as Regina tried to absorb what Emma wasn't telling her with words.

"Did you need help before? When you were with your Mama." Regina rubbed Emma's back, hoping it would help the toddler loosen her grip on her legs.

"I dunno. Sometimes." Emma shrugged again.

"Emmie made her sad, sometimes her-" Emma stopped herself by physically clamping her hand over her mouth.

"Sometimes what baby?" Regina asked, prying her fingers away.

"Not supposta tell. They take me away." Emma shook her head.

"Baby you can tell me anything. Nobody is going to take you from me." Regina promised but Emma ignored her.

"Did your Momma hurt you?" When the question was asked, Emma's grip increased tenfold.

"Emmie is a bad girl. She gots to be pun-ish." Emma deadpanned with the most lost expression that broke her mother's heart.

"You are NOT a bad girl. You are the sweetest, kindest, generous, and beautiful little girl that I have ever known. And I'm so proud to tell everyone you are my daughter." Regina could feel her eyes burning but she didn't realize she was crying until Emma pulled a horrified expression before trying sloppily to wipe away the tears with her tiny clammy hand.

"I sorry ! I sorry! Don't be sad!" Emma pleaded.

"I'm not sad honey, I promise. Why don't we finish this conversation later?" Regina smiled before doing something she knew would cheer up the child.

"We have to go to the grocery store, and I know a certain little someone who wants those chocolatey cookies but I forget whom." Regina pretended to tap her lips with her fingers.

"Is it me? I like cookies!" Emma exclaimed wrapping her arms around Regina's neck.

"Well lets go get you some cookies!" Regina scooped her up before walking inside of the house. Ruby was looking troubled as she washed the cups that the kids used so Regina set down Emma and walked over.

"What's that look for?" She bumped hips with the taller woman.

"Henry told me about what happened before I came over." Ruby murmured before rinsing the dishes and putting them on the rack.

"Yes, when we return home all of his toys are coming out of his room and a lock is going on the play room." Regina sighed deeply.

"Okay...you know Granny's diner serves sandwiches right?" Ruby peered down at her.

"Are you hungry? I can make you something before we leave." Regina turned to the frig before Ruby lankly walked up behind her and shut it.

"No I um- what I'm trying to say is that I can take Henry out sometimes to get a sandwich to avoid any meltdowns like this in the future. This way there aren't any peanuts or tree nuts near the house." Ruby stammered, watching a small smile break out on the shorter woman's face.

"Once he earns back his privileges, we can try it out." Regina nodded slowly.

"OWWWEEE!" The sharp cry came from the living room, causing Regina to huff slightly before going to check it out.

"Not cool dude!" Carsyn frowned, rubbing Emma's red hand, while Henry crossed his arms.

"I told you not to give it to her!" He argued.

"What is going on in here?" Regina frowned looking at the scene.

"Bubby hit me!" Emma's face was slowly turning red as she held back her tears.

"Henry Daniel Mills!" Regina started

"I told her not to give Emma the candy! Her trying to kill my sister!" Henry exclaimed, pointing to the Crunch bar on the floor.

"No I'm not! You were the one being a jerk and you slapped it out of her hand!" Carsyn argued.

"Both of you cut it out. Carsyn and Emma go with Ruby to the car." Regina shot a disapproving look to her son.

"I've already told you about this numerous times young man. We do not hit in this family. You are one strike away from a spanking." Regina warned. Henry scuffed his way out of the door after the girls.

"Nobody ever said this was gonna be easy." She grumbled to herself before grabbing her purse and keys..

AN: Let me know if you want to see the grocery trip or n