Well, I don't know who the principal in Henry's school is so in this story it will be Kathryn. Regina and Kathryn aren't friends yet.

A little bit childish Regina and Emma, bad Cora

Enjoy:*

The next day Emma and Regina met at the diner for lunch. "Hey Regina.",Emma greeted Regina friendly and Regina smiled. "Hello Emma." They sat down and ordered lunch. "So, how was your morning, Regina?",Emma asked and Regina sighed. "The usual. Henry ignoring me and Melanie being sad. I failed completely…",Regina said and hid her face in her hands. Emma took Regina's hands and squeezed them. "You didn't. They are the most adorable children I've ever met and I grew up in many foster homes."

"I wish I would've been raised by a foster family… I hate my mother.",Regina whispered and Emma smiled sadly. "Foster families aren't better. Or at least the ones where I lived." "Did they abuse you?",Regina asked and Emma nodded softly. "I know how it feels…" Emma sighed and squeezed Regina's hand.

"We shouldn't think about that any longer. It's in the past.",Emma said and Regina looked into her eyes. "You're right. We wanted to meet to have fun not to discuss terrible childhoods." They smiled softly and Ruby put their food on the table. "Thank you, Miss Lucas."Regina said politely and Emma looked up at Ruby. "Yeah, thanks." Emma gave Ruby a charming smile before she left them and Regina felt jealously rising in her stomach.

"Everything ok, Regina?",Emma asked concerned when Regina didn't started to eat. Regina snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. "Yeah, was just thinking about my schedule." "And what's on the list?",Emma asked smirking. "Feeding children,lunch with Emma, getting children from school, feeding children, play with children, put them to bed, doing laundry, going to sleep, start another day.",Regina counted.

Emma shook her head. "You definitely need a job." Regina nodded and played with her salad. "I'll help you.",Emma said and pointed at the salad. "Eat so we can go." Regina laughed softly. "A lady doesn't shove food into her mouth.",Regina quoted her mother and Emma smiled. "She is indeed a tough woman.",Emma said and they shared a laugh again.

After they ate Emma and Regina walked around town until they arrived at the elementary school. "What are we doing here?",Regina asked and looked at Emma surprised. "Wait and see.",Emma just answered and pulled her into the school. They went to the principal office and Emma knocked. "Come in.",they heard and Emma opened the door. Regina looked at Emma surprised and followed her in the room. "Ah… Misses Mills. Miss Swan. I expected you 20 minutes ago.",the principal said and Regina was confused. "I didn't even know something about a meeting.",Regina answered and shook the extended hand.

"Well, Miss Swan told me that you want a job as a teacher and I need a teacher. I know from Melanie and Henry that you handle children pretty well and I heard that you made your teacher exam 5 years ago.",the principal said. "That… really?",Regina asked surprised and the principal nodded. "That… that would be great, Miss Nolan." "Well. I expect you Monday at 7.30 am." "I'll be here.",Regina answered and they shook hands again. "Good bye Misses Mills. Miss Swan." "Good bye.",Regina and Emma said and they went out of the school.

When they were on the school playground Regina hugged Emma and laughed softly. "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Oh I can't express how grateful I am, Emma.",Regina said and Emma smiled. "You don't have to thank me. I told Miss Nolan about the relationship between you and your mother and that I'll take the aftereffects on me." "You really would go through hell just that I can work?",Regina asked amazed and Emma nodded. "Yeah, that's what friends do.",Emma said and shrugged. "Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me.",Regina answered and hugged her again. "I'm glad you're happy.",Emma said and Regina grabbed her hand.

"Let's do something stupid.",Regina said and Emma laughed. "That's not ladylike." "Well. I just want to enact some revenge." "Okaaaaay, that does sound a little bit like a Evil Queen." Emma saw the hurt in Regina's eyes and stopped her. "Sorry. I meant it as a joke. I'm really sorry. You are the clear opposite of evil, Regina. I hate evil people and I don't do friendships with them. And I like having a friendship with you Regina."

Emma placed her hands on Regina's cheeks and looked her deep into the eyes. "I don't think that was Henry thinks.",Emma said and Regina sighed. She tried to look down but Emma didn't allow it. "I'm really sorry and now let's enact some revenge because I'm dying to find out who made you angry enough for that.",Emma said and gave Regina a weak smile.

"Okay.",Regina whispered and Emma wrapped an arm around Regina's waist. "So. Who? What? Where?",Emma asked. "My mother,cut something down, city hall.",Regina answered. She couldn't be long angry at Emma and they both grinned. "We need a chainsaw." "Geez, Woman. What do you want to cut down?",Emma asked laughing and Regina smiled. "You'll see."

They got a chainsaw and went to the City Hall. "I think we have to run afterwards.",Regina said and pointed at the apple tree on the lawn. "But you like apples.",Emma said confused. "Yeah but from my own apple tree. Mother put something in her own tree and makes Henry every time ill with that…" "Well, when it's a danger for people we have to cut it down.",Emma said and started the chainsaw. She cut one branch when Cora stormed out of the house.

"What the hell are do you think are you doing?",she screamed at them and Regina backed away. Emma just looked at her coldly and turned the chainsaw off. "Well, People got ill from this tree. It's a danger to the community. You want to protect your city, don't you? We had to do that.",Emma said with a bittersweet smile and Cora formed fists. "I would stop that, you have no idea what I'm capable of." "Well, I'm waiting for your move.",Emma said and turned away from Cora.

Regina and Emma went away from the city hall and laughed. "Did you see her face?",Emma asked Regina who nodded. "She looked sort of like Godzilla.",Regina answered and they brought the chainsaw back.

"You know that she will do everything to ran you out of town?",Regina asked her and Emma nodded. "She can try. It's nice here and I like a good challenge." "Thank you." "For what?" "Being here for me… My mother never allowed me friends… or just friends who were mighty… She chased everyone else away. You are the first person who stayed." Emma pulled her in a hug and held her. "I won't leave. No matter what."

Melanie and Henry had their third lesson in the meantime. They sat next to each other and listened to what Miss Blanchard told them until Melanie started to speak with him. "Could you please be nice to her today? I… I want to go to the park and…" "Yeah… I'm sorry, Sis… I… you always endured my moments and were always patient and I was a complete idiot yesterday… I love you…" "I love you too, Henry.",she whispered back and hugged him. "I don't want to interrupt your hug session but could you please follow the lesson now?",Miss Blanchard scolded them and they both nodded.

"But the curse is real, you have to believe me.",Henry whispered quieter now. "I don't want that the curse is real,Henry. Think about Mom. What would happen to her? The people would kill her. She would be alone, sad and hurt. No… I don't think there is a curse because if there would be one than the nicest person on earth would be punished for something she didn't do.",Melanie snapped and blinked her tears away.

"I think I'll go alone to the park today." "Meli…" "No. I can't believe how you treat Mom. She loves you. She loves you probably more than me because you are her first child. You are her biggest wish. She neither hurt you nor me, Henry and as long as you don't understand that I won't do anything with you.",she said too loud and everyone was silent.

Melanie grabbed her things and ran out of the class. "You all stay here.",Miss Blanchard told the class and ran after Melanie. "Melanie!",she shouted after her and saw how the young girl tripped over a branch and fell. Melanie scrambled to her feet and ran again but Miss Blanchard caught her. "Let me alone! You are destroying my family!",Melanie screamed and struggled to get out of Miss Blanchard's grip.

"That wasn't my purpose. I thought that Henry needed something… he was a loner and…" "I was there! I was the whole time there and asked him to play with me. To do something with me and when he finally agreed you gave him that damn book and he stopped playing with me! I hate you!",Melanie screamed and pushed Miss Blanchard away from here.

Cora who got a call from Kathryn who told her that she needed more money for a new teacher went with the contracts to the school when she saw Melanie and Miss Blanchard standing by a tree and arguing. Cora went to them and both went silent. "Why aren't you in class, Melanie?" "I had to get away from Henry… He is just speaking of the curse who is supposed to break…",she said angrily. "Why don't you come with me later? I bring Miss Nolan the contracts and then we get some ice cream? Doesn't sound that like a plan?" Melanie nodded and Cora smiled. "Miss Blanchard please go back in the class. I'm paying you for teaching not for staying under a tree.",Cora said and Miss Blanchard nodded. She hurried in the school building and in her class.

Melanie went to Cora's car and waited there. Cora came 5 Minutes later back and they drove to Granny's where Emma and Regina were sitting again. "Mom!",Melanie shouted and Regina startled. "What are you doing here?",she said surprised and hugged her daughter. "Grandmother brought me. She said I could have ice cream.",Melanie said and Regina sighed. "You had ice cream yesterday, Meli." Melanie sighed. "Could I have fries then?",she asked and Regina sighed.

"Why don't you try a salad?" "Because there is this disgusting dressing in it.",Melanie answered and Ruby laughed what startled both. "We could make you one without dressing, sweetheart.",Ruby said and Melanie thought about it. "But there mustn't be plums, peanuts,walnuts,mozerella and cinnamon in it.",Melanie said and Ruby nodded. "Well, I don't think that they put cinnamon in the salads.",Emma said smiling. "Better safe than sorry, Emma. I'm allergic against these things.",Melanie explained. "Okay, how about a carrot-apple salad?",Ruby asked her and Melanie nodded. "Sounds nice." Ruby gave the new order to Granny and Melanie sat down.

"Your daughter has a bad day and can't even have ice cream?",Cora asked and sat down too. "She had yesterday. She has to learn to eat healthy.",Regina answered and Emma nodded. "Yeah, it's to cold for ice cream anyway.",Melanie said and took Regina's hand under the table and smiled at her warmly. "Why do you have a bad day, Meli?",Regina asked her and brushed some hairs out of her face.

"Henry was talking about the curse again and I didn't want to hear it and ran out of the school. I wanted to run at home but Miss Blanchard caught me after I tripped over a branch.",Melanie explained and Regina sighed. "Did you hurt you?",Regina asked and Melanie shook her head. "No." "The only good thing today.",Cora muttered and Regina sighed."What were you even doing there?" "I brought the contracts for the new teacher to the school.",Cora answered. "I have actually to work, not like some other people here."

"You are keeping her down, Madame Mayor. How is she supposed to find a job if you ruin her every chance." "She should start in the City Hall. We have still jobs for her." "But what is with the job SHE wants to do?",Emma snapped and Cora hit the table. "Enough! I won't take parental advices from someone who abandoned her own son. You better get the hell out of this town or you'll regret to been born.",Cora threatened and Emma growled. "No, because then Regina never has a chance to work as that what she wants to be. Maybe you scared her other friends but you can't scare me."

"I did what was the best for her.",Cora answered and Regina laughed hysterically. "The best! The best? You did it for yourself. All you care is power! The best would've been to raise me with love and not with a belt.",Regina screamed and quickly ran out of the diner. Everyone were silent like the people in the school.

Melanie ran after her mother. She knew that she couldn't catch her but she knew where Regina would ran to and used a shortcut. It was a lake in the forest where her mother often would go when she argued with Leopold or her mother. Soon she saw the familiar body and ran faster. "Mom!",she shouted and Regina turned around. "How did you find me?",Regina asked confused and hugged her.

"When I was 5 you showed me this lake, Mom. I know that you always return here when you have problems." "It calms me.",Regina answered and watched the water. "I love you, Mom and I'm proud that you didn't become like grandmother." "I love you too. I don't know what I would've been if I wouldn't have you and Henry.",Regina said. "If the curse would be real… would you tell me and Henry that?",Melanie asked her and looked deep in Regina's eyes. "I think… if I would be the caster… I would… better I tell the truth as seeing the disappointment when you would learn it from someone else."

"Okay.",Melanie answered and hugged Regina again. "Who are my biological parents, Mom?" "I don't know, Meli…. It was a closed adoption. No names, no places, No everything." "Well, to bad for them. I found my real Mom.",Melanie said and snuggled closer to Regina who smiled. "You should return to school.",Regina said and Melanie sighed.

In the meantime Cora and Emma left the diner and were arguing outside. "Why do you have to criticize your daughter every time? She is wonderful and smart.",Emma said and Cora laughed. "She is just smart because I forced her to learn." "That isn't the same. Someone can be smart without learning because they are just smart! And I think that your daughter didn't need to learn. She is a natural in everything."

"Well, she is to dumb to make friends and you need friends as a mayor." "She doesn't wants to be mayor!",Emma argued and Cora shook her head. "You don't know nothing about her." "Apparently I know more than you right now. She told me that she hates politics and she hates being a housewife but she thinks better be a housewife than a mayor. What does that say about her?" "That she is really ungrateful for the marriage I paid and arranged."

That got Emma. "You… you arranged it?",Emma asked disbelieving and Cora nodded. "He found her attractive, he has money and influence.",Cora said. "Did she even wanted to marry him?" "Why would she marry if she didn't want to?",Cora asked sweetly and Emma growled. "You are a bitch.",Emma just said and went to the bed & breakfast.

Regina and Melanie came half an hour later back to the school to get Henry. Henry came out of the building and looked down. He looked guiltily at his sister and then at his mother who both watched him with surprise. "What's up, Henry?",Regina asked him and cupped his cheek.

"I…I'm sorry." "For what?",Regina asked shocked. "That I called you evil…",He whispered and Regina hugged him. "It's alright, Henry…"

Together they went back home and Regina prepared dinner while Melanie and Henry were sitting in their rooms and doing homework. Regina heard the bell and dried her hands on a towel before she opened the door.

"Emma. What are you doing here?",Regina asked surprised and Emma sighed. "You're in a arranged marriage.",Emma said and Regina looked ashamed. "Yes… my mother forced me with 18 when Leopold and I first met. His first wife died and he searched a bedwarmer.",Regina said sadly and Emma hugged her. "I'm so sorry.",Emma said and Regina led her in the kitchen.

"Don't be. It's not your fault." "But why don't leave him?",Emma asked. "I would lose Henry and Melanie. I would lose everything, Emma. I can't leave him.",Regina said desperate. Emma cupped Regina's cheeks. "You can because I'll protect you." "I…I can't.",Regina whispered and Emma wiped Regina's tears away.

"Whatever you need. I'll get it for you, okay?",Emma promised Regina who nodded. "Miss Blanchard is his daughter.",Regina said and Emma gasped. "She isn't much younger than you.",Emma said surprised. "No. She is 28.",Regina answered and sighed. "Why wasn't she at the dinner yesterday?" "Leopold doesn't want her around because she got pregnant with 16 but lost the child. He was furious and said that he didn't see her as a daughter anymore. That's why I never raised her.",Regina explained and Emma sighed.

"That's all so messed up in this town." "Yeah. Do you planned to stay for dinner?",Regina asked her and Emma shrugged. "I don't want to intrude, Regina." "Leopold takes Henry and Melanie to his house in the forest. They are just packing some things and than I'm alone…",Regina explained and Emma was confused. "Why?" "We are doing that every week. One weekend he takes them to the house and one weekend I take them. There isn't much space in the house and we go there to have fun with them…" "But as a married couple… shouldn't you do that together?" "Well… We have different opinions of fun. We would argue more than playing with the kids."

"Well. I have time.",Emma said and sat down onto a chair. "You need a job, too.",Regina said. "Yeah…" "I could ask Sheriff Graham. He has a little crush on me." "My, my, Regina Mills can be a bad girl." Regina stepped closer to Emma that they could practically breath each other in. "I'm full of surprises.",Regina said smiling and Emma grinned. "I hope I can see all of them."

TBC…?

Preview: the dinner for two, Regina's and Emma's first work days.

Mistakes are mine.:)

I'm in writing mood so probably two chapters on one day:)