Thank you for reading! This story is almost complete, but I need your help to finish it. PLEASE review and let me know how you would like to see the story end, and what you think of this chapter. What loose ends do I need to tie up? What do you still want to see for these characters? Do some things still need explaining? Thanks for your feedback :) Long Live Regina!

Chapter 14: The Other Mother

Regina stood in front of the portal, unable to move; she was too stunned. Rumplestiltskin had just told her that he intended to take Lillian on as his new protégé. She couldn't let this happen. She knew that Rumple had been suspicious that Lillian was her daughter and that once he found out the truth he would want to see if she possessed untapped power; that is why she had tried so hard to throw him off the trail. Regina understood, better than just about anyone, the way Rumple sought out young people with potential who he could train, manipulate and corrupt into pawns he could use for his own purposes. She had been one herself, and she would not let that happen to her daughter.

The others were waiting for her in Storybrooke. She took a moment to steady herself, not wanting to worry everyone else with this new problem just yet, and stepped through the portal. The first thing she saw when she appeared in the vault was two smiling faces, her children Henry and Lillian were waiting for her. They both came over to her and took their places at her side. Regina put an arm around each of them and pulled them close to her. She still couldn't believe this was real, both of her children together and happy to be with her, it was everything she had wanted for so long.

Snow and Charming stood closest to the stairs; they were ready to go home after such a long day. "Well," Snow said with a smile to Emma, "you ready to go home?"

Emma was ready, but she could see that Henry wasn't. She didn't know how to tell him it was time to go when he so obviously was enjoying being with Regina, this parenting thing was still new to her. She awkwardly walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. "You ready kid?"

Henry looked up at her while still holding onto his mom. He knew Emma wanted him to come home with her, but he didn't want to let go. He had been living with his birth mom since she had returned to Storybrooke from the Enchanted Forest because they had been unsure about trusting Regina, but now that she had proven she had changed their living arrangement would have to as well. He wasn't sure how to express this without hurting Emma's feelings or making her angry, "Um… I'm not really sure where to go." Emma was a little surprised by this and didn't respond right away.

Lillian had been feeling the same thing as Henry. She wasn't sure where she should go either: back to her house with Marie or maybe with her mother? "Me too," she said, turning to face Regina. "After everything we've been through today I would feel weird just going back to my house."

Henry was relieved that Lillian was feeling the same thing, "Yeah, it feels weird."

Emma didn't know what to say. Of course she understood that Henry was happy to have his mom back, but ever since she came back from the Enchanted Forest she had become very protective of her son. Part of her still couldn't stand to have him out of her sight. "Oh," she started, "well…"

Regina knew that Emma was struggling to let Henry go, which she completely understood, so she decided to jump in. She put a hand on each of her children's shoulders and bent down to look them in the eyes, "It's alright, we'll figure out how we can spend lots of time together. You are both welcome to come with me anytime you want." She smiled warmly at them, trying to be happy despite the fact that the thought of being separated, even for the night, made her heart ache.

Emma listened to Regina and was impressed by her selflessness. This new Regina was going to take some getting used to. She suddenly felt very selfish and guilty for not having been willing to let Henry go, even for one night. "You know what," she said putting her hand on her son's shoulder again, "why don't you guys go with your mom tonight."

Henry looked at Emma with a huge grin, "Really?!"

Emma returned the smile; she could see that this is what he really wanted, "Yeah. You guys deserve some time alone, just the three of you."

Henry and Lillian both laughed happily and hugged Regina tighter, almost knocking her over. She laughed and returned their hugs. She could not have been happier. Looking up at Emma she said sincerely, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Emma replied with a smile.

Lillian pulled back a little. "Well, then I guess I'd better grab some stuff from my house, and tell Marie." Marie. She hadn't thought about her adopted mother. She suddenly felt nervous about seeing her. "What am I going to say to her?"

"I'll go with you," Regina offered, easing Lillian's nerves.

"We should probably swing by the loft and grab some of your stuff too, kid. I can drop him off at your house in half an hour or so," she said to Regina.

Regina nodded and the group headed up to the surface.

Lillian and Regina had a nice walk to Marie's house. They didn't say much, instead they just enjoyed being together as they walked arm in arm the short distance to the little yellow house. When they arrived Lillian stopped at the little path that led to the front door. She looked up at the house and thought about the drastic way her life had changed that day. She still couldn't believe everything that had happened and that she was standing here with her real mother, Regina, the former Evil Queen. She meant what she had said in the vault: the idea of going back home, back to her life before today, felt strange. Actually, it felt impossible. She loved her adopted mother, and always would, but now she had the chance to be with Regina and she didn't want to be separated from her again.

Regina lovingly placed her hand on her daughter's back, "It'll be alright. I'll lift the enchantment and she'll remember who I am. Everything will be fine."

Lillian turned to look at her mother, "It's not that." She paused for a moment, unsure how to express what she was feeling. "What happens after tonight? How do we go on with our lives? Now that we've found each other, what do we do?"

Regina had been asking herself the same questions since Lillian had saved her from Cora's curse. She knew what she wanted, to finally be with her daughter, to be a family. But she wasn't sure that was what Lillian wanted, and she wouldn't force her to do anything. "What is it that you want," she asked gently.

Lillian looked into her mother's eyes; she could feel the burning in her chest, just like she had before she broke the cure that nearly killed Regina. She answered with a smile, "To be with you."

Regina grinned and kissed Lillian on the forehead. "Then we'll be together." Lillian smiled back and hugged her mother tightly. After a moment Regina pulled away, "Come on," she said nodding toward the house, "let's go in." Lillian nodded in agreement and together they walked up the path to the door.

It was late but the house was not dark. Marie was sitting at the kitchen table drinking another cup of tea. She had been waiting for hours for Lillian to come home or call, but had heard nothing since she left that afternoon with Sheriff Swan. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard someone put a key in the door and turn the lock. She hurried to the front room to meet Lillian at the door. "Lillian," she began firmly as the door opened, "I was worried sick! Where have you been?"

Lillian looked up at her sheepishly, "I'm sorry. It took longer with the Sheriff than I thought it would."

"That's no excuse," Marie scolded. "You should have called at least."

"I'm afraid it's my fault," a woman's voice spoke from behind Lillian. Marie startled a bit, not having been aware anyone was there. She thought it could have been Emma, but it didn't sound like her. She opened to door wider and moved to see who had brought her daughter home. She gasped when she saw Regina standing there. "The Queen," she said quietly. Panic started taking over as she tried to figure out why the Evil Queen was at her door with Lillian. She slowly started backing up into the house, thinking she would try to get to the phone and call for help. Lillian and Regina came into the house and closed the door behind them.

Lillian held out her hand as she spoke, trying to calm Marie, "It's ok. You don't need to be afraid. She's not going to hurt us."

Marie stopped backing up and looked from Lillian to Regina trying to decide if it were true. Regina smiled, trying to assure her and said warmly, "Hello Marie."

Marie suddenly became very defensive and she took a step closer to the Queen, "What do you want with my daughter?" Her fierce defense of Lillian oddly made Regina feel happy. She liked that Marie loved her daughter and was willing to stand up to her to protect her.

"Mom," Lillian said calmly trying to diffuse the situation a bit, "it's alright. You don't remember, but she is my real mother."

"What are you talking about?! Your mother died giving birth to you." Marie shook her head; obviously Lillian had been enchanted to believe this witch's lies.

Regina stepped forward and held up her right hand. "It's alright Marie. You'll remember in a moment." She waved her hand and black smoke flowed from Marie to Regina as the enchantment was lifted and the false memory was removed.

Marie blinked a few times and shook her head as the true memory of Lillian's birth came back to her. She looked up at Regina and smiled, "Your Majesty!" She bowed her head in respect.

Regina grinned and took Marie by the hand, happy to receive her old friend's kind affection again. "Please, call me Regina."

Marie raised her head and nodded, "Regina. It's so good to see you." The middle aged woman pulled her into a warm hug and the two laughed at the joy of seeing each other again. They pulled apart and Marie looked at Lillian tenderly, "Oh child," she cupped the girl's cheek in her hand. "Your mother has found you!"

Lillian smiled and let Marie pull her into a hug as well. "Yes, she has."

The three women went into the kitchen and Marie put a fresh pot of water on the stove to boil. They all sat down at the table drinking tea as Lillian and Regina filled Marie in on what had happened earlier. Marie was amazed and so happy that everything had worked out. She looked at Regina, "I always knew you would change," she said warmly.

Regina smiled, "How?"

Marie looked into her eyes, "I knew how much you loved Lillian. A mother's love is a powerful thing; it can bring you back from the darkest abyss."

Regina nodded and looked lovingly at her daughter, "It did." Lillian returned her look with a warm smile and then excused herself for a moment. After Lillian left the room Regina spoke again, "Thank you for teaching me about what it means to be a mother. And thank you for taking such good care of her. She is wonderful; I never could have done such a great job raising her."

"That's not true," Marie said kindly. "Henry is a lovely boy and you raised him."

Regina scoffed, "I think that is despite the fact that I raised him, not because of it."

"No mother is perfect," Marie said gently. Regina nodded slightly. Marie could see that she was feeling guilty. "Lillian adores you, you know? I can see it."

That made Regina happy, "And I adore her. I just have to figure out how I am going to fit into her life," Regina said thoughtfully.

Marie put her hand on Regina's and said, "You're going to be her mother."

Regina's eyes filled with tears; would Marie really give her that chance? "Are you sure," she asked sincerely.

"Of course dear," Marie replied with a chuckle. "I love Lillian so very much. She has brought such joy to me and soothed my broken heart of the pain of losing my son. But she is your daughter, not mine. It's time for you to be together."

Happy tears spilled onto Regina's cheeks and she took Marie's other hand, "Thank you, my friend."

Marie's eyes were also filled with tears as she replied, "It was my pleasure, Regina."