Chapter 15: The Mills Family

Regina smiled as she placed the laundry basket full of Lillian's things into the trunk of her car. It wasn't everything, just the essentials to get her through the next couple of days until they came back for the rest and moved her in oficially. Regina closed the trunk and grinned at the thought. Her daughter was coming to live with her, and for tonight at least she would have both of her children. Lillian stood on the porch with Marie. The two held hands as they said their goodbyes.

Regina walked up the path and joined them. She smiled warmly at Lillian. Despite everything that had happened Regina felt afraid that Lillian might have changed her mind. She fought hard to keep that fear out of her voice.

"Ready?"

Lillian looked up at her adopted mother who smiled and nodded encouragingly, and then over at her biological mother. She took a moment to admire her, noticing the small scar above her top lip. She would have to remember to ask about that later. It still didn't seem real that she had finally met her mother, something she had dreamt of since she was a little girl. She had imagined the woman who had given birth to her many times, but the reality surpassed the fantasy in many ways. She had always imagined her mother to be beautiful, and Regina was certainly that, but a Queen and a powerful sorceress as well... Lillian never dreamed of such a fantastical lineage. And now they were together, never to be separated again. It had all happened so quickly... maybe too quickly she paused. But as she stood there and saw the love and happiness in Regina's face she knew it was right. It would be new and different and maybe challenging at times, but she was excited for the adventure. "Yes," she said softly. "I'm ready."

Regina exhaled slightly, relieved that Lillian still wanted to come with her. Marie hugged them both and waved them off with tears in her eyes. She couldn't help feeling emotional at the sight of them driving off to start a life together. She had loved Lillian as her own for many years, and with the return of the true memory of her birth, her motherly affection for Regina had returned as well.

Mother and daughter drove in silence the short distance to Regina's house. Their house. Emma's yellow bug was parked out front. They both felt butterflies in their stomachs as they pulled into the driveway. Not much intimidated Regina or made her feel unsure of herself, but this had her shaking with nerves. Lillian hopped out of the car and walked toward the front porch where Emma and Henry were waiting. Regina took a deep breath to calm herself before she got out of the car. She wasn't used to getting everything she wanted, and was surprised at how unprepared she felt for the reality of it. She retrieved Lillian's things from the trunk and joined the others on the porch.

Henry took the keys out of his mother's hand and unlocked the front door. They all went inside. Emma stood awkwardly in the foyer holding Henry's things, unsure where she should put them.

Regina noticed, "Henry," she nodded toward Emma indicating that he should take his things from her.

"Oh, sorry" he took the box and pillow from her and went to set them on the floor when Regina stopped him.

"Uh uh, in your room please." She smiled to show him she wasn't cross. Henry returned her smile sheepishly and ran upstairs to deposit his things in his room. Lillian stepped forward and took her laundry basket from her mother. " Thank you dear. You can just put that on the table for now, we'll get your room set up in a bit. "

Emma and Regina followed Lillian farther into the house. "So," Emma asked Lillian, "how did everything go with Marie?"

"It went fine." Lillian's smile showed that it had gone very well indeed.

Emma returned her smile, "Good. I'm glad." Henry came bounding down the stairs. "Well," Emma continued, addressing the group, " What do you say we meet tomorrow morning at Granny's for breakfast?"

"Actually," Regina replied quickly, " I was thinking of inviting you and your parents to join us here for breakfast. The kids and I could make us something special." Emma looked unsure, so Regina turned to Lillian and Henry, " What do you say guys? Does that sound like fun?"

The siblings responded with such enthusiasm that Emma didn't feel like she could insist they meet on neutral ground. "Alright," she agreed.

Lillian and Henry began discussing what they could make for their special breakfast. Regina took a step closer to Emma and spoke quietly, "And afterward there's something we all need to discuss."

Emma narrowed her eyes slightly, skeptical of Regina's intentions. "Ok... 9 o'clock?" Regina nodded and then walked back to stand between Henry and Lillian. " I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning, kid. Have fun tonight," Emma added as she pulled him into a hug. " Goodnight, aunt Lillian," she said with a wink.

Lillian laughed, "Goodnight."

Emma let herself out and as she closed the door behind her she heard Regina say happily, "I'm starving. Who wants some pasta?"

The children agreed and the Mills family went to the kitchen to fix a late supper, while Emma stood on the porch feeling anxious about the next morning.

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Emma opened the door to her apartment and was immediately greeted by her mother's warm smile. She stepped inside and threw her red leather jacket on a chair after she closed the door.

Snow was putting a kettle of water on the stove to boil. "How did everything go for Lillian? Was her mother upset?"

Emma trudged over to a barstool and plopped down. "She said it went fine."

"Good." Snow 's smile faded as she noticed her daughter's gloomy face. "You ok?"

" Yeah," Emma replied, not very convincingly. "It's just hard to let him go."

Snow put her hand on Emma's reassuringly, "He'll be fine."

Emma shook her head, "Its not that. Regina wants to have us over for breakfast tomorrow."

"Thats nice," Snow replied ccheerfully.

Emma rolled her eyes. "She said there is something we all need to discuss."

"Well, I guess that makes sense. A lot happened today."

"You don't think it's about custody of Henry?"

"Did she say something like that?"

Emma looked down, "No, she didn't say what it was about."

Snow considered this, "Then why are you worried about that?"

Emma looked up at her mother, "I'm just so tired of fighting with her over Henry! Ever since we came back from the Enchanted Forest I've had him all to myself. I guess I got used to it." Emma paused, fighting emotion that suddenly rose inside her. "I don't want to share him anymore."

Snow sensed the emotion Emma was trying to hide. She knew how deeply her daughter had come to love Henry, and how difficult it had been trying to share him with his other mother. " Let me ask you something," she began gently. "Why did you let him go with Regina tonight?"

Emma thought about the question. "Because I knew he wanted to."

Snow nodded slowly. "He wanted to be with her. He's happy to have her back. And you want him to be happy, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Then you're going to have to share him," Snow said sympathetically. When Emma didn't respond she continued, "And anyway, I don't think it will be like it was before."

"Why is that," Emma mumbled doubtfully.

"Tonight in the vault Regina wanted Henry to come with her but she didn't push. She let you make the decision. That's different." Emma shrugged. Snow went on, "And there's something else that is different now."

"What," Emma replied half-heartedly.

"Lillian." Emma looked up. "Now that she's in the picutre Henry is no longer the only person in Regina's life. I think she'll loosen her grip on him a bit."

Emma raised her eyebrows as she considered this. "I hadn't thought about that."

Snow smiled slightly, happy that Emma had cheered up a bit. "She just got back into Henry's life, it wouldn't make sense for her to start a fight with you now."

"I guess you're right. I was being paranoid."

"You were being a mother. Worrying is what we do."

They both laughed. "I guess we'll just have to find out what Regina wants tomorrow." Emma sounded tired.

"I guess so." The kettle on the stove began to whistle, Snow pulled it off the heat. "Want some hot chocolate before bed?"

Emma had to admit, sometimes it was really great to have your mom around, especially when she also happens to be your best friend. "Alright," she agreed, feeling a little better about everything.

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Henry, Regina and Lillian worked together stirring, chopping and measuring as they assembled a delicious dinner: angel hair pasta, garlic bread and a green salad. It was nice to have something familiar to do. Regina didn't know when she'd get another chance to have both of her children for the night so she felt a certain amount of pressure to make the evening special. She had to keep reminding herself to relax, enjoy it, and let things happen naturally. Cooking for her children felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Regina asked Henry to set the table. When dinner was ready she and Lillian brought the food out to the dining room and they all sat down to enjoy their meal. Lillian put some salad on her plate and then offered the bowl to Regina, "Would you like some salad mother?"

"Yes, thank you," Regina replied with a smile as she took the bowl from her daughter.

"Why do you call her 'mother'," Henry asked curiously as he nibbled on his garlic bread.

Lillian considered his question and responded playfully, "I guess that does sound a little old-fashioned, doesn't it?" Henry scrunched up his nose and nodded. "Well," Lillian continued, "I guess because that's what I would have called her, back in the Enchanted Forest." She looked at Regina who smiled softly, understanding what the girl meant. Lillian turned her attention back to Henry and went on, "So, I guess it just sounds right."

Henry nodded, satisfied with that answer, and went back to eating. Without saying anything Regina placed her hand on her daughter's which rested on the table. Lillian looked up at her mother again and squeezed her hand once.

After a few moments of silence Henry asked another question, this time it was directed at both of them. "Do you guys miss it?"

"Miss what," Regina asked.

" The Enchanted Forest, do you miss it?"

Regina thought about how to answer; she didn't miss her life there at all. She had been miserable, which is why she had cast the curse that brought them to Storybrooke. But there were pieces of the old world that she had loved. "I miss parts of it," she replied.

Lillian was quick to give her answer,"I do. I loved it there."

Henry's eyes widened, he was fascinated with the Enchanted Forest and was excited to hear more about it. "What was it like?"

Lillian sensed his eagerness to hear about their magical land. "It was so beautiful: giant trees, and mountains, meadows of wild flowers...And so many adventures and dangers."

"Dangers?!"

"Oh yeah. Ogres, trolls, dragons, sea monsters..."

As Regina sat listening to Lillian talk about their home an idea struck her, a soultion to the problem that had been bothering her since she had talked to Rumplestiltskin. For the next several minutes she tried to work out the details of her plan so she could discuss it with the Charmings in the morning.

After dinner they cleared the table and went upstairs to get cleaned up and settled in. Henry jumped in the shower first, so Regina and Lillian went to work getting a guest bedroom set up for her. Regina showered next, so Henry took the chance to show his sister his room. Then it was Lillian's turn. While she showered mother and son snuggled up on Regina's big fluffy bed. They talked about school and Henry showed Regina the book he had been reading, but mostly they just enjoyed being together.

Henry let his mother hold him like she had done when he was a little boy as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. After a little while the comforting motion soothed him to sleep. Regina rested her cheek on the top of his head. It has been months since she has been this close to her son, and it felt wonderful.

Lillian peeked through the partially open bedroom door and saw her mother and brother snuggling on the bed. Regina was wearing elegant white silk button up pajamas and Henry was in similar blue flannel ones. They looked so peaceful, she didn't want to disturb them. When she turned to leave she accidentally bumped the door, pushing it open slightly with a soft creak. Regina looked up and saw Lillian looking apologetic at having disturbed them. She smiled and held out her right hand, inviting her daugher to join them. Lillian agreed at once and climbed into the bed on Regina's right side and rested her head on her mother's shoulder.

The three of them stayed that way for several minutes, feeling completely content. Lillian hadn't forgotten about the question which had prompted her to go through the portal in the first place. Now that Henry was asleep, it felt like the right time to ask her mother, but she didn't want to wake him.

"You know what would make this day even more perfect?"

"What's that," Regina replied with a smile.

"Ice cream."

Regina laughed out loud, which made Lillian laugh too. It wasn't hard for Regina to see that Lillian wanted some time alone together and, despite the fact that she was exhausted, Regina wasn't ready to let the day be over.

"You don't have any, do you," Lillian asked playfully.

Regina responded playfully back, "As a matter of fact I do. And I have some apple pie to go with it."

"Oh, even better!"

The two of them slipped out of bed and went downstairs. Lillian got the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer while Regina cut two pieces of the apple pie she had made the day before. It was such a nice night out that they decided to have their dessert on the back patio. They sat on a white wicker bench with a black and white cushion near the apple tree.

Lillian took a bite of her pie and immediately recognized the sweet taste of a honey crisp apple. She smiled and turned to look at her mother, "These apples, they're from your tree, aren't they?"

Regina looked up at the tree proudly, "Yes, they are."

Lillian nodded, "They taste just like mine."

Regina turned her head quickly to look at Lillian who was looking at the tree now. She wondered how much her daughter knew about the connection between their trees and was about to ask when Lillian spoke again.

"I remember, you know. When you came to our farm and brought us the apple trees. When you gave me the sapling." Her eyes were very serious, almost sad, as she recalled their brief encounter many years ago.

Regina mirrored those emotions in her own eyes and put her arm around Lillian. "I didn't think you would remember that."

Lillian reached up and took Regina's hand that was on her shoulder. "I had forgotten about it, until I saw a picture in Henry's book. It was a picture of you by an apple tree that looked just like mine. When Henry told me that it was your tree and that it was here in Storybrooke I asked him to take me to see it. That's when I decided to go through the portal and see you." Regina squeezed her hand. Lillian continued, "I felt...connected to you somehow. I didn't expect to feel that."

Regina smiled and pulled Lillian into a little side hug. She let the silence between them linger for a moment. She was in awe once again, as she had been when Lillian came through the portal earlier that day. She was amazed at how easily Lillian could love; something that was so difficult for her. It had taken her 16 years to tell Lillian she loved her but it took Lillian only hours. She had meant it when she told Henry that she didn't know how to love very well. Regina felt humbled, an uncommon emotion for her, and she resolved to try to be more like her daughter.

"This tree and I are old friends," she said gently. "I had it brought to the palace when I married the King. It was a reminder of the life I wished to return to; a symbol of the love I had lost." She was quiet for a moment, a little emotional at the thought of Daniel. "Then when I decided to give you a sapling from it, it became a symbol of you. Every time I pruned the branches or picked apples I would imagine that you were out there doing the same thing for your tree. And for a moment I felt like we were connected."

Lillian was touched that their trees had connected them, just as her mother had intended them to. It was a beautiful gesture and she loved that Regina had thought of it, but the fact that something external was necessary to conect them only underlined the sad reality that Lillian had grown up without her mother. It also prompted questions: If Regina had wanted to feel connected to her so badly then why didn't she ever reach out to her? Why did she wait so long to tell her the truth? And most of all, why did she adopt a child when she aready had one?

Her eyes began to fill with tears. She needed answers. "Mother," she started without looking at Regina, "why did you..." Her voice trailed off. She lost her nerve, suddenly afraid that her question would offend her mother. "Nevermind," said quickly, turning her face away as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Why did I what," Regina said encouraging her to ask her question.

" It's nothing, forget it."

Regina could tell that Lillian was upset and that whatever she wanted to know was very important to her. "Lillian," she said softly as she placed her hand under the girl's chin and turned her face toward her. "It's alright. I owe you and explanation you want from me. Ask me... please."

As Lillian looked into her mother's eyes she was unable to stop the tears from flowing. With her voice full of heartache she finally said aloud the question that had been weighing on her mind since she learned Regina was her mother, "Why did you adopt Henry?"

Regina knew that Lillian would ask this question eventually. She understood why she needed to know the answer and why it upset her so much. She understood because it was one of the things Regina herself felt the most guilty about, and it pained her to see how much it hurt her daughter.

She took Lillian by the hands and tried to explain. "When I was pregnant with you my father warned me that someday I would come to regret my decision to give you up. I didn't believe him because I thought that I was doing what was best for you, and I still believe that. But he was right, I did come to regret it very much.

"When we came to Storybrooke I thought I would finally have my happy ending. And I was happy, for a few years, until I realized that I was alone. There was no one in this world or the old one who really cared about me. There was, however, someone who I cared about very much, but couldn't be with. You. You were right there in front of me, but I couldn't undo what I had done.

"For 18 years all I could do was watch you, and wish that things could have been different. Until finally I couldn't stand the loneliness anymore. I wanted the chance to be the mother I never got to be for you. So, I went to Mr. Gold and asked him to help me adopt a baby. He brought me Henry."

Lillian shook her head, trying to understand. "But why didn't you just talk to me? Why didn't you tell me the truth? We could have been together."

Regina hung her head, " I didn't think you would believe me."

Lillian was a little angry now. "But you didn't even try! You didn't give me the chance! You just went out and found another kid because it was easier."

Ouch. That hurt. It hurt Regina that Lillian felt that way, but it hurt even more that she was right. She had been a coward and had taken the easy way instead of doing the right thing. Tears of shame filled her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She turned her face away and closed her eyes for a moment.

She turned to face Lillian again and looked her in the eye. "Lillian, even if you had believed me I thought you would hate me." Emotion rose into her throat and she paused, unable to speak. When she did speak again her voice quivered, "I hated myself! I knew I had been so selfish you would never be able to forgive me. I never dared to hope you might actually want to be with me!"

She paused to collect herself a bit. Lillian didn't know what to say, she was surprised by her mother's honesty. After a few seconds Regina spoke again, more calmly. " I know that what I did hurt you, and I have no excuse. I was selfish. I brought us all to Storybrooke because I wanted my happy ending. I didn't tell you the truth because I didn't want you to reject me, and because I was ashamed of what I had done. I adopted Henry because I was lonely and I wanted someone to care about me... Everything I've done has been for selfish reasons."

Lillian felt bad. Her mother was in tears; she hadn't wanted to upset her like that and she regretted being so harsh. She thought about what Regina had said about being lonely and ashamed and she realized that as much as this hurt her, it hurt her mother as well, maybe more so. Regina was truly sorry for the way she handled everything.

But what she said about doing everything for selfish reasons, Lillian knew that wasn't true. Regina thought it was, but in fact she had done several selfless things that had had a huge impact on Lillian's life and the lives of many others. Her anger and hurt were gone. She understood now why her mother adopted Henry, and honestly didn't blame her for making that choice. She had never known lonliness like Regina had experienced and couldn't imgine how awful that would feel.

Regina's head hung low and she continued to cry softly. Lillian gently reached out and took one of her mother's hands in her own, and Regina slowly raised her head to met her daughter's eyes. "Not everything," Lillian said plainly. "Keeping me would have been selfish, hiding out and letting other people put themselves in danger to face Cora would have been selfish...keeping your apple orchard at the palace and letting me starve would have been selfish. You were protecting me. You've always protected me."

Regina took Lillian's other hand, "And I always will."

Lillian nodded, " I know. I'm sorry mother." She threw herself into Regina's arms, hugging her tightly.

Regina hugged her back just as tightly. "No, you have nothing to be sorry about. You were right. I'm the one who's sorry."

They held on to each other for a few moments then pulled back, each wiping tears away. Lillian looked into her mother's eyes, "I'm sorry you were so lonely."

Regina smiled, "Well, I won't be lonely anymore." Lillian smiled back.

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Regina spoke again. "Lillian, there's something else we need to talk about."

Lillian could tell by the tone of Regina's voice that whatever it was, it was something serious. " What is it?"

" When everyone went through the portal and I stayed behind to talk to Mr. Gold, he told me some things that concerned me."

" It was about me, wasn't it?"

Regina was taken back, "Yes, it was. How did you know that?"

"Snow told me that in order to convince him to come and help us she had to make a deal with him. His price was that he wanted to know my name. She said that that would give him some sort of power over me... What does that mean exactly?"

Regina hadn't been aware of this, and it further confirmed her suspicions about Rumple's intentions. "It connects you to him, ties your fates together, in a way."

" I don't understand. Why would he want that?"

"Rumplestiltskin likes to collect powerful people. Particularly those who don't yet know how to use their power. He trains them, mentors them, and then manipulates them into using their powers for his own purposes. It's what he did with me."

" Powers... You mean magic."

"Yes."

Lillian was beginning to understand. She pondered on what excatly Regina was saying, and then, as if someone turned a light bulb on, she understood.

"He thinks I will be able to use magic? How would he know?"

" When you can use magic you develope the ability to feel it around you. Even sense it in other people. That happens to be one of his specialties."

" What about you? Can you sense it...in me?" Lillian asked the question tentatively, as if she wasn't sure what she wanted the answer to be.

Regina replied carefully, " I'm not as sensitive to it as he is, but yes... I can feel magic in you." Lillian's eyebrows knitted together as she considered the implications of what her mother just told her. She looked worried so Regina wanted to comfort her, "Just because you have magic in you it doesn't mean you ever have to learn to use it, unless you want to. And you certainly don't have to learn it from him."

Lillian's face still seemed worried, " He doesn't seem like the kind of person who will just take no for an aswer."

" He's not."

Lillian's worry was evident in her voice, "Then what can I do?"

Regina was ready with her plan. "You have to go back to the Enchanted Forest."

"But... He can go there. He'll just follow me through the portal and come after me."

" He can, but I don't think he will. Not yet anyway."

" Why not?"

" He's looking for something here, in this world. It's the reason he wanted me to bring us all here."

" What is it? "

Regina shook her head, " I don't know, but whatever it is it's very important to him. I don't think he's going anywhere until he finds it. If we left soon that would give us a head start. There are lots of places we can hide from him there."

"We?" Lillian thought she must have heard wrong. " You're coming with me?"

Regina was surprised that Lillian thought she was suggesting she should go alone. " Of course. I told you, I will always protect you."

Lillian smiled. " And this is the best way to get away from him?"

" It's the only way."

" What about Henry? And snow? And..."

" That's why I invited them to come for breakfast tomorrow," Regina interrupted. " We'll tell them our plan and, I'm hoping, that they'll agree to come with us. All of them."

" I hope they'll come too."

Regina put her hand on Lillian's, " But even if they won't, you and I will still go."

Lillian nodded, grateful that her mother would agree to go with her. She thought for a minute about what it would be like to return to the Enchanted Forest, and what it would be like to learn to use magic. " I think I'd like to," she said, following her own train of thought.

Regina didn't follow, " What would you like to do, dear?"

"Learn to use magic." Regina looked surprised. "If that's alright," Lillian added.

"Of course, I think that would be wonderful."

" Could you teach me?"

Regina looked conflicted. " I think it might be best if we find someone else to be your teacher."

Lillian felt a little confused and disappointed. "Oh...ok. That's fine."

"It's not that I don't want to," Regina explained, "It's just that... magic is different for me than it will be for you, because of how I learned it and the way I used it."

Lillian was quick to her mother's defense, "But you've changed, you won't use it for bad anymore."

" I wouldn't want to." Regina struggled with how to say this right. "But ... Magic is almost like a drug for me. I just have to be really careful. Do you understand?"

Lillian nodded. She respected the fact that her mother was trying so hard. Regina put her arm around her daughter, "Come on, we'd better get to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow."

They went inside and put their dishes in the sink before they headed up the stairs. As Lillian turned to go into her room Regina grabbed her hand.

"Hey," Lillian turned back to look at her mother. "Welcome home."

They shared one last matching smile and then Lillian replied, "I'll see you in the morning, mother."

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Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know that in the show the apple tree is behind City Hall, but that always seemed so silly to me. Why wouldn't Regina keep it at her house? So, because it works better for my story, I moved it to their house. Please forgive me on that :) Please review and let me know what you think. Long live Regina!