I learned really early that I have to act older than I am (school time sucked). I just don't know how an 8 year old behaves so sorry if Melanie jumps a little bit with her behavior:/

Well, I'm making Melanie very smart, so that's my loophole:)

Anyway, enjoy!:)

"Melanie…",Regina almost whimpered. "I'll get her back.",Emma said and ran after Melanie. Regina wanted to protest and ran after her but when she saw that Emma and Melanie were to fast for her she went back to Henry who just looked out of the window and ignored her completely.

"Melanie! Wait!",Emma called after Melanie but that just let the girl ran faster. Emma finally caught her and held the girl when she cried. "Sshh. It's okay." "It's not. Henry is treating Mom like shit…"

"Where did you get that word?",Emma cut her off. "From Mom. She screamed one time at dad that he has to stop treating her like shit if he wanted her to sleep with him. I don't understand the last part because Mom and Dad always sleep together but afterwards she cried and she would never tell me why… and I don't even know why I tell you this because you are destroying my family!" "I never wanted to!",Emma answered and Melanie looked at her with her blue cute puppy eyes.

"Why does he have to ruin everything? We could've been happy…" "He'll come around." "No. He is so focused on Mom being the evil Queen that he doesn't see how he breaks her every time when he calls her evil. She has such a pure heart and did the best to raise us all the years and then you come along and she is nothing worth for him…",Melanie said and Emma kneeled down in front of the small child. "Everything will be good, okay? I promise you.",Emma said and took Melanie's face in her hands.

Melanie just sniffed and Emma wiped her tears away. "Hey… I promise you, okay? And now we should head back because your mother is worried and did you forget what you promised her yesterday?" "No… I promised her that I wouldn't run away… Will she be mad at me?",Melanie asked and put her hands over Emmas. "No. She won't. I think she understands. She loves you both and knows how difficult it is for you."

"Thank you.",Melanie answered and hugged Emma. "No problem, Melanie.",Emma just answered and rubbed circles over Melanie's back. "We really should head back now." "Okay." Melanie grabbed Emma's hand and they went back.

Regina and Henry were waiting outside when Emma and Melanie came in their view again. A man approached Regina and gave her a peck on the lips before he ruffled through Henry's hair. "Oh…I thought both of your grandfathers are dead." "That is my father.",Melanie replied and Emma froze. "What?"

"Melanie!",Regina interrupted their conversation and hugged Melanie. Leopold and Henry trailed after her. Leopold held his hand out for Emma to shake. "Leopold Mills. So you are the savior my son always tell me about?",Leopold introduced himself and chuckled. "Emma Swan.",Emma just answered and shook the hand. "Well, after you brought us our son back I think dinner is the least thing we can do.",he said and pulled Regina against him.

The latter seemed uncomfortable but didn't refuse the contact. Emma narrowed her eyes but kept the mouth shut. "I wouldn't mind a good meal.",she said intended to find out more about the relationship between Regina and her husband. She actually found Regina hot and studied Regina's body what Leopold saw. "That's good. Dinner will be served at 7 pm.",Leopold said and kissed his wife possessively. "Henry, do you want to hang out a little bit?",he asked his son who nodded and went with his father. He didn't saw the hurt in Regina's and Melanie's face.

When they climbed in the car and drove away Emma sighed. "Ehm… maybe we could do something too.",Emma suggested to light the mood and Regina shook her head. "No…I have to start cooking soon." "It's just 1 pm.", Emma said confused. "Yeah but Melanie wished to eat goose today and that'll take 5 to 6 hours." "Oh…It was just a suggestion… nothing more…" "I appreciate it, Miss Swan. Really. Thank you but I don't have the time and I won't let Melanie alone with you. For that I don't trust you." "Yeah, totally understandable…"

"She could come with us and play with me soccer in the garden.",Melanie said and Regina smiled at her. "Just if you both want to." "Sure… I never really played it but it won't be that bad, right?",Emma said and smiled too. She laid a hand unconsciously on Regina's lower back while looking down at Melanie. Regina stiffened a bit but relaxed when she saw that Emma didn't want to harm her."Well. We should get going. The goose doesn't prepare itself.",Regina said and they went to the house.

"You should put your sport clothes on, Melanie.",Regina said when they arrived and she unlocked the door. "Okay, Mom.",Melanie said and stormed in her room while Regina led Emma in the kitchen. "So… how long are you and your husband married?",Emma asked when Regina gave her a glass water. "12 years…",Regina answered and Emma gasped. "How old…" "I'm 30, Miss Swan… don't bother to ask me how old he is… I know that it's strange but it's how it is.",Regina interrupted her and Emma chewed on her lip.

"I don't judge you, Regina. But you don't seem so happy." "That's judging, Miss Swan.",Regina just answered and Emma sighed. "You are the mother of my son. If I want him happy you have to be happy too. A sad mother can't raise a child properly…" "Thanks for your concern but…" "He doesn't abuse you, does he?"

Regina froze for a second but shook quickly her head. "Why should he do that? We love each other. I would appreciate if you wouldn't raise more of this nonsense. Especially not in front of my children.",Regina snapped and Emma sighed. "I'm just concerned…" "It's alright… just don't say this in front of my children. They have a grudge against me, they shouldn't mistrust their father when there is nothing.",Regina said and sighed.

Melanie ran into the kitchen to her mother and hugged her. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Mom!",she said and Regina smiled. "I hoped you would like your present." "It's fantastic, Mom. I love you." "I'm glad you like it. I love you too, Meli." "Emma, are you ready?",Melanie asked Emma then but still hugged her mother. "Just waitin' for you, little one.",Emma said smiling and Melanie led her out to the garden.

Cora came to the house two hours later and saw Emma and Melanie playing in the mud. "Melanie, get here this instant!",she shouted angrily and both looked at her. "But Grandmother…",Melanie whined. "No, you come here. Now!" Regina got out of the house. "Mother let her play. It's her birthday." "She has to learn how to behave as a lady. Playing in the mud isn't a ladylike behavior.",Cora said disgusted. "It is her birthday and I won't allow you to destroy it.",Regina argued and Cora glared at her.

"Don't you want a smart well behaved kid?",Cora asked her and Regina swallowed the lump in her throat. "One day won't hurt her.",she defended her decision and Emma came with Melanie to them. "Misses Mills…" "Mayor Mills.",Cora cut Emma off. "Mayor Mills, it's the decision of your daughter and not yours how to raise Melanie and Henry. If your daughter thinks that playing in the mud isn't going to ruin her than you have to accept that."

Regina gasped when she heard the slap Emma received and saw how the blonde stumbled into the apple tree and hit her head. Regina was immediately by Emma's side and helped her up again. "It would be better if you came later to the dinner and leave now, mother.",Regina said over her shoulder. Cora growled but went.

"I'm sorry for my mother…" "Nah, someone had to tell her that she has no right to say something against your parenting.",Emma said and held her head. "You are bleeding. I'll clean it up.",Regina said and Emma nodded. "Meli, would you shower and change your clothes, please?" "Sure, Mom.",she answered and ran in the house.

"She is a tough woman.",Emma said laughing. "Who?" "Your mother. She definitely has a strong hand." "Yeah…",Regina answered and bit her lip. "Why did you defend me?" "It's what I'm thinking.",Emma said and shrugged. "Stay still or I can't clean the wound." "Sorry. I have my problems with commands." "I noticed that issue.",Regina smiled and put a tissue in the trash can before getting a paving.

"I hope you like pavings with horses.",she said and Emma grinned. "What, no little pink princesses?",Emma asked with fake shock and Regina laughed quietly. They looked each other in the eyes and both their breaths hitched. Emma put her hands on Regina's hips and slowly pulled her against her. Regina put her own hands on Emma's shoulders and glanced down to Emma's lips before she shook her head. "Are you alright?",she asked and stepped away from Emma.

"Yes.",Emma replied slightly disappointed. "Ehm… I should look after the goose.",Regina rambled and Emma nodded. "It smells delicious." "Yeah but it still has to be 2 hours in the oven before I can do the rest.",Regina answered and started to prepare the red cabbage. "Can I help you?",Emma asked and Regina looked up. "I read that you got fired by the kitchen chef because your burnt half of his kitchen down, so no." Both laughed about that. "You could teach me.",Emma countered. "Well… maybe when I'm not so stressed.

"Okay. Great.",Emma said, happy to spend time with her. She couldn't say why but she had a strong connection to Regina and felt something in her stomach. When Emma studied Regina cooking she smiled. There was this glint of happiness in Regina's eyes which wasn't there when she spoke with her mother or Leopold. "Do you like cooking?",Emma asked her and Regina looked up. "Yes, I don't have much to do. My mother wants me to candidate as mayor and my husband wants me as a housewife and I hate politics so I'm rather be a housewife than a mayor.",Regina explained and Emma looked sad.

"What would you like to do?",Emma asked. "Mhm?" "If you could work as whatever you want to. What would you like to do?" "Oh, I think I would like to be a teacher in elementary school or in kindergarden.",Regina answered. "Why don't you just do it?" "My mother would do everything to stop that. I tried once, when Melanie was 4. She threatened the boss and he wouldn't employ me." "That's terrible." "Well… I'm used to it." "You shouldn't.",Emma said and stepped closer to her.

They looked each other in the eyes and Regina handed her another glass with water. "How old is your husband?" "Why do you want to know?" "Dunno. Just curious." Regina sighed and looked down. "He is 64 years old." Emma almost choked as she sipped on the water. "That's… eh… an interesting pairing.",Emma stuttered. "I knew that you would react this way…" "Hey… as long as you feel good, it's great.",Emma said and placed a hand on Regina's shoulder.

They shared a tight smile. "Uhm…I need my things and a place to sleep tonight… uhm…" "There is a Bed & breakfast down the street where the diner is.",Regina said and Emma looked at her grateful. "Do you think Melanie would mind if I leave to buy some things?" "No, she has to make herself ready and I think my mother would appreciate it when you would wear things without mud.",Regina said chuckling and when Emma heard it she swore to herself that she would try to make her laughing more. Emma giggled and went to the door. "I'll see you at 7." "Yeah, Good bye Miss Swan." "You know that you can call me Emma?" "A lady always speaks with respect to others.",Regina just said smirking. "Well, being a lady the whole time sucks.",Emma said and waved a last time before she left the house.

TBC…?

PS: In this story Regina never met Daniel but was forced into the marriage with Leopold.

Preview: the dinner

Mistakes are mine, if anyone likes to beta read please just write me.