CHAPTER 8

Regina was having the time of her life. She'd found her place in this new world. And she was loving it.

Life was so very different than it had been before. She was starting to slowly realize that the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her Mother, then Leopold, and even eventually by her own son wasn't how things should be. As miserable as she had been before she had become 10 times happier now that she'd let go of the past and moved forward onto accepting life.

Gizmo added so much joy and happiness to her life. She had thought that this feeling was one she'd never have again. When she'd left home it hadn't even occurred to her that she could become a Mother again. Now she didn't know how she'd lived so long without him. He fit so easily into her life it was like he was born to become her son.

She'd learned that he did talk but he preferred not to. As angelic as his singing voice was his speaking voice came out garbled. It made him shy about speaking in front of others. So they developed a pantomime between them so that they could communicate. She helped him with speech therapy, Spanish, and sign language as much as she could but he was still too shy to use any of it in front of others. For now though keeping him supplied with pencil and paper went a long way.

And it wasn't just her heart he'd worked his way into. Her father doted on the boy and her newfound extended family accepted them all as they came. Gizmo was officially her son in every way as far as everyone was concerned.

She'd asked him details about his life but he only seemed to get upset by all of it. She didn't want to press him too hard but she hoped she was doing the right thing by taking him in and prayed that it wouldn't end up as another Henry situation.

Her Father was happier than she'd ever seen him. Although his own father had passed away shortly after they had come home, he'd told Regina he was at least glad that he'd been able to say goodbye and spend some time with him in the end. He'd thanked her repeatedly for the gift she'd given him of his homeland.

Professionally her life was excellent. Fernando was the brother who'd ascended to the throne. And he and Regina had grown extremely close. She was basically his right hand. He'd even invited her to sit upon his council.

He'd given them all their own space in the castle. Regina even had her own private garden on the grounds. She'd replanted her apple tree and she, Gizmo, and her father would often take walks there in the late afternoons when the sun was low in the sky. Her father would either play with Gizmo while she tended to her tree or Gizmo would regale them with a song while they spent time lazing away with the cool winds blowing over them.

It was on these walks that Regina had made many important discoveries about their Kingdom. They were walking along when she noticed the fruit that had fallen from the trees and nearby bushes. She'd stood stunned unable to believe her eyes. When her Father asked her what was wrong she'd burst out in tears and laughter. She'd shown him the fruit and told him that it would change all of their lives.

Her father had looked at her nervously afraid she'd lost her mind. He'd explained that this was a useless fruit that just happened to grow wildly throughout the kingdom. But Regina had quickly gathered as much of the fruit as she could before making her way back to the kitchens. She'd set about getting to work cultivating the fruit. Once she had the seeds hulled, dried, crushed, and refined she'd spent the next day cooking up a storm. She presented her creations at dinner to the entire family.

They'd all been amazed at these things she referred to as chocolate and coffee. Fernando had immediately insisted that cacao trees and coffee bushes be planted all across the kingdom. People traveled far and wide to try these new delicacies. Trade between the kingdoms boomed which brought wealth and goodwill in some and jealousy in others. But with the new incomes rolling in the kingdom had been able to increase their armies multiple times over.

She'd been tidying up her things when her phone had fallen out of her purse. Gizmo had picked it up and she'd let him fiddle around with it some. After a while she'd taken it from him and showed him how it worked. Gizmo had been amazed at the music he'd heard flow through and asked her for more and more. And being a doting Mother she'd obliged him.

At first she'd tried to keep that part secret. But eventually talk had started going around the castle and she'd had no choice but to explain the gadgetry to her family. She knew from the looks on their faces that they thought the time travel elements of her story fantastical. But they couldn't deny the strange things that she'd allowed them all to experience were nothing short of amazing.

She'd brought 3 laptops with her, a camcorder, a digital camera, and a couple of tablets plus all the accessories they needed to run. She'd loaded them all up with everything she knew would help advance her in the Enchanted Forest. Things like movies and music and even old home videos. She had her phone and an ipod with her. She'd enchanted it all before leaving home so that it didn't need electricity to run. She showed them the basics of the devices and they'd been floored.

Fernando had gotten her specialists in different fields to help try and reproduce many of the astonishing things she'd shown them. She worked with carpenters, doctors, woodworkers, miners, plumbers, and basic tinkerers to help bring their kingdom closer to the 22nd century than anyone had ever gotten before.

As of now there were men working on installing plumbing in the castle. She'd been able to help come up with plans to rig up a cooling system and now there were fans inside all of the rooms of the castle.

She still worried about Rumplestiltskin. She knew he was still skulking around and not to let her guard down under any circumstances. She kept her Father and son close to her at all times. And she trusted her Tio Fernando's sworn public allegiance to her and her family.

For the first time in her life she was happy. And she allowed herself to embrace it and just be without reservation.

CF

Emma grimaced as she heard her Mother getting sick behind her.

She watched in a detached fashion as Snow rose from the toilet and began to clean herself up.

Emma had seen the signs and knew exactly what they meant. Snow was thicker around the middle and sick almost always. And it wasn't just from stress. Snow was obviously pregnant. And Emma's dark hair was a result of her new parentage.

She wasn't sure how to feel about this turn of events. On the one hand it was horrifying. But on the other hand the baby was obviously her. Of course she hadn't wanted any of this anymore than she'd wanted to be thrown out into a world alone to become the Savior. But what could she do? Was she supposed to try and help her mother get rid of herself?

Her phantom status afforded her little to no recompense. She no longer had any of the usual human needs. She wore the same tight skinny jeans and sweater along with knee high boots that she'd been wearing the night she'd entered Regina's crypt. She could hold or carry nothing. She was able to slide through doors but there really wasn't much that interested her outside. So she occupied herself with watching Regina.

She spent hours mesmerized by the woman. In another life, under different circumstances she would even have gone so far as to say she was in awe of her.

Regina had obviously prepared for this for a long time. Even though in her father's Kingdom she was nothing more than another princess she was still basically running the show. And Emma was envious.

She envied the fact that Regina could move on from Henry so quickly. Emma herself could only get through the days by forcing herself not to think about him. It was the only thing that held her together. Because if she looked at the photos and videos of him on her phone, she wasn't sure she'd be able to keep herself from falling into madness.

This was worse than when she'd given him up. At that time she knew she was doing what was best for him and she could sit for hours imagining the perfect family and perfect life that her son would obviously have. But she hadn't asked for this. This like most things in her life was a nightmare that had been thrust upon her by people who didn't have to suffer her pain.

She was watching Regina and trying to control the rush of emotions that flooded through her when she heard the voice she would never forget. It still sent chills throughout her spine despite the fact that she was obviously a ghost of some sort and couldn't be hurt. The hairs on the back of her neck literally stood up straight. A chill ran through her core as goosebumps broke out on her body.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my daughter's private chambers?!"