A/N - - I will specify for this chapter and future ones that I am a Rumbelle fan and a Rumple fan in general. That being said fans of such may not like how he is portrayed in this story, at least initially. I am also a Redbeauty fan. :-) So that's a hint for you later on in the plot, Thank you WannabeBarbie for the idea! There is a reason Gold is the way he is and it's plot specific and my goal by the end is a happy ending for ALL characters regardless if what ship Belle gets on. A challenge I'm up for. This is also A/U so how they get there will be different than cannon.

*To the guest reader that asked how often I post it is every 2 to 3 days.

That said, enjoy!

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Emma didn't grow the rest of that evening, or by the next morning, sleep that somehow seemed to help reset her height did not this time. She stared at the ceiling of the lavender room with a smile as sunlight danced through the crack of her drapes. Sighing in relief that she wouldn't have to face work at the station or a chance encounter with Snow who usually had lunch with him on Wednesdays, knowing Regina would not entertain the idea of her playing Sheriff at all this size.

Sitting up with more joy than she'd felt since returning home she flung off the covers and quickly made up her bed, folding her baby blanket to put at the foot. With a smile to Jasper and Stitchy in arms, she went to find the Queen who was still in the master suite sitting on the vanity bench getting ready for the day. Their eyes met in the mirror as a gold earring was fastened and arms opened in greeting. Emma dove into them, enjoying the morning cuddle she had come to miss.

"How are you this morning, sweet one?"

"Good, I'm glad I woke up small cause that means I get to be with you today, huh?" After her adventure at the mausoleum yesterday she had no desire to stray far.

"It does, and we will have to call in your absence to the station after breakfast. There are some of your clothes this size on the right side of your dresser." There were now after a wrist flick. "Go get ready and when you come back I'll do your hair."

"Okay Mama." Emma grinned when that title brightened that regal face and left to do as she was bid.

Regina finished the final touches on her own hair and thought about what the day would bring. Each one since they were home had been harder than the one before in some ways and easier in others. Emma needed consistency and a routine to thrive which was easier here when the adult was present and in their other life school had helped to provide that. She wondered if that was somehow an option when Emma had little days but was not sure how, if at all, that could work. For now it wouldn't, there were too many variables outside of their control. Maybe joining a class here instead would help? One Emma could attend no matter what size she was. She made a mental note to check around for options.

How would the town respond to those ideas and would the Savior be ridiculed or welcomed for something she couldn't help? Archie had seemed accepting, but what about the rest of the town? The Queen decided to test that idea, if the girl was keen by going to the diner for lunch, willing to bet money that both Ruby and Granny would be open to the child Emma was today. Though, her secretary Ashley who had taken the job a few months ago would be the first test upon their arrival at Town Hall.

Little feet returned with a hairbrush and rubber bands, asking for twin braids. "Can we have waffles for breakfast?"

"We may and while I'm cooking I'd like you to pack a bag with a few things you would like to do today." Fingers quickly finished one braid, tying it off just past the nape of Emma's neck and tilted the blonde head left for the other.

Emma tugged at her green sweater. "I can do that, but…" Now quiet at the reality of the day before her. Shoulders were turned around when the twin plait was tied off.

"What is the matter?"

"What if people make fun of me or don't understand?"

"Then we will help them understand. Regardless I will not allow anyone to hurt you and I have a feeling many people will be accepting like Archie was the other day. Speaking of which, how do you feel about the idea of lunch at Granny's?"

Teeth nibbled a pink lip. "Maybe, yeah… if there's ice cream, too?" Little brows wiggled up and down.

"A scoop yes, after your meal."

"Sweet!" Emma bounced and ran off to her room to pack.

Breakfast was a quick affair which Emma inhaled in her happiness. The little blonde looked out the window as they drove to Town Hall and traced her finger against the frost on them that brought the promise of snow to the little town soon. When they walked hand in hand to the main building the custodian stared, but one look from the Queen had him doing a Fantasia version of sweeping much faster than should be humanly possible. Upon entering the Mayor's foyer leading to the office Ashley looked up over the top of her computer and stood to get a better look at the now pint size Savior.

Emma waved shyly and waited on edge for her friend's reaction.

"Wow, Emma… just wow."

Green eyes scrunched. "Crazy, huh?"

The former blonde maid shook her head. "I heard you were shrinking and growing from some spell, but I didn't expect to see you here like this."

"Gina's taking care of me. I'm too small to drive around patrolling or to go around kicking butt to fight crime so…" Shrugs.

Ashley nodded towards her boss, a woman she no longer feared, but respected for the friendship she knew the two before her shared. "That's a great thing you are doing Regina. Let me know if you ladies need anything today."

Emma remembered to breathe and followed the Queen into the office, stopping at the sofa to empty her backpack. "That was easier than I thought."

"I had a feeling it would be." Regina set her purse on the desk and watched as Emma opened a coloring book. "You may enjoy that for an hour and then I want you to work on a few things for me."

"What things?" Shoulders dropped and eyes rolled knowingly.

Purple smoke swirled on the coffee table leaving a neat stack of papers with Emma's pencil and grip.

"But I'm not in school and this is supposed to be a fun day!" Falling back on the sofa after eyeing the reading and writing sheets, Emma groaned.

"It will take you a few hours, tops. We will space it out throughout the day and you will have plenty of time for fun in between. You need the practice and you are not in school, which is why it is not negotiable. I will let you know when an hour is up." Setting a timer on her phone and settled into her own work for the day.

The girl pouted for a while, wasting ten minutes over the idea, but eventually the urge to play took over and Emma lost herself in the pages of her coloring book. She took to the idea of the reading assignment with plenty of coaxing and finished the story questions without issue. Writing wasn't as bad as she remembered it to be, especially with her special pencil. She was rewarded with praise and a hug upon completion that brought a familiar joy to her heart.

Later when they walked into the diner for lunch Emma had completely forgotten the worries of the morning about people accepting her until all eyes turned on them. The room became smaller and her chest tightened. Out of habit she ducked her head, hiding her face against the Queen's coat. A matriarchal voice sounded though the diner, snapping every person's attention one way. Not theirs. For that Emma was beyond thankful.

"Alright you looky-loos get back to stuffing your faces and leave the Savior and Mayor in peace. There's plenty of fresh pie for your open mouths." Eugenia made a beeline for them and ushered them into their usual booth.

"Thanks Granny." Emma whispered and accepted the menu offered.

"I'd always wondered what you looked like at this age. No one will bother you on my watch." Glasses dipped down a nose and cracked a smile at the Mayor's grateful look. "Ruby will be right over to get your order."

Emma brightened considerably after that and smiled up at the she wolf that came to kneel near the booth.

"Hey Regina and Swan, or should I say little swan, how are ya?" That wolfish grin was a sight for sore eyes.

"I'm good, just glad that no one is staring anymore."

A nose wrinkled under big eyes. "Bet you've been getting that a lot lately."

Emma blew out a hot breath. "A Polaroid lasts longer. I'm waaaayyy over it."

"What can I get for you two today?" Eyes turned to the Mayor, having caught Emma's glance that way.

"A grilled cheese and side of coleslaw for Emma. I'll have my usual salad." A regal hand gave menus back, eyeing the folded color mat in the waitress' apron and flicked her eyes toward the child.

Taking the hint. "Coming right up. Hey Swan, do you want one of these?" Ruby tugged the sheet out with a crayon pack. Seeing the girl's want mixed with hesitation she switched tactics. "I need the room in my apron for my order pad, so you'd be doing me a favor."

"Sure, you can leave them here, if you want to." The tone was nonchalant, but little hands snatched up the colorful wax and folded page the second they hit the table.

"Thanks for helping me out. I'll be right back with your order."

Regina folded her hands under chin, resting her elbows on the table and watched Emma happily complete the word search on the mat, red crayon circling with confidence. Three more people, now four with Archie on their side. Maybe it wasn't about sides at all, but about being open minded. She hoped that was enough for their little family to sustain a state of normalcy, their sense of it anyway in their crazy lives, for Emma.

When their food arrived, Emma's thoughts turned to the one person they both shared as her sandwich was quartered before being set in her place. "Do you think Henry will be as understanding?"

"We raised him to be and in a town full of fairy tale character's I'd say he is about as open minded as you get. You cannot help what is happening anymore than you can breathing. He will understand that." Regina began to pick at her salad.

"Can we FaceTime him and Paige like we used to, but when I'm big again so we can tell them?" Wanting the familiarity of her adult form to have this conversation with their son.

"Of course." A tight smile.

"What's wrong?"

"I miss him. It feels longer than a week since we have seen him at the wedding."

"Technically it's been longer than a week, much longer." A crayon dropped and an open hand reached palm up across the table, offering a smile of her own when the Queen took it and squeezed gently in return.

A familiar tapping came towards their table and they both looked up as a cane paused. "Well, well dearies, isn't this a pretty picture."

"Hello Rumple. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Regina sat back unable to help the mistrust seeping into her veins and kept a hold of the small hand.

His brows rose and chin lifted. "I heard about a spell with a side effect that went awry."

Green eyes rolled. "You and the whole town have been enlightened by Snow's tale. So say what you gotta say about magic having a price and blah, blah, blah, and move on."

"Emma." A small rebuke and not for the usual reason.

Blonde head cocked in confusion. "What? It's Gold!"

A gloved finger wagged in front of a little nose. "Careful dearie, your Keeper has a point."

Both sets of eyes drilled into the Imp with wonder. Regina nearly swallowed her tongue and jaw set as the knock against the dark door she kept a dead bolt on pushed to open when his finger came too close.

Pink lips parted in shock. "H-how did you know that's what she is?"

A tightly controlled and rusty laugh in place of a giggle came from the man as he leaned in closer so only they could hear. All too aware of how a royal hand tightened on a small one. "I know because I wrote the spell."

He stumbled back as a little arm engulfed his neck unexpectedly, tickling something human in him he thought he had lost and had until he met his Belle and had again, nearly two years ago, when that relationship had been threatened. Very carefully, and for the briefest moment, he ran a hand lightly at the end of a braid. Then stiffened as he locked eyes with the Queen, who was unreadable to anyone else at that moment.

Almost.

He pulled back, making sure to keep his hands visible to brown eyes. Now was not the time for the talk he knew they would soon have. Patient as she was, he had all the time in the world, along with a few other things.

Emma felt tears she didn't fully understand roll, but she knew what grateful felt like and this was it.

"Thank you." A whisper was all the girl could manage as she sat back in the booth. "I know you didn't intend it for me, but that spell changed my life."

"As spells are wrought to do." The man mysteriously confirmed. "Especially when they are mine. A piece of advice; sentiment is consequential, be careful of the use of yours." With an appraising nod to the Queen and one to the little Savior he continued on to the far end of the diner where Belle waited for him in a booth.

"What's he mean by that?" Emma watched him go, confusion clouding her face.

Regina loosened her grip on a small hand as he stalked away. "I am not sure, but I will find out."

"You mean we right?" Jerking her head back to Regina.

"Not in this case, no." Lips set in a firm line. "At least when you are this size and untrained in your powers." Shaking her head as her thoughts raced. "I don't want you anywhere near him without me."

Confusion returned. "But he is the reason we had that spell to begin with."

"Yes he is and that means something. I am just not sure what yet." Watching as the gears turned in that blonde head she sighed, catching a little chin in hand across the table, deciding something. "You are not to investigate alone no matter what size you are. Am I quite clear on that?"

"Yeah… but, did you know it was his spell?"

"No, I did not." Russet eyes searched green. "Does it change the significance of your experience because he wrote it?" An inkling of doubt crept into her mind, as it always did when the Imp was involved with anything. Despite the man's oiled appearance of sincerity to little eyes, he knew something else he wasn't letting on as always and that left her with unease.

"I thought it might for a second, but no. I don't think so." Emma moved from her side of the booth and plopped down next to the Queen. "I don't care where it came from, it brought us together this way and I wouldn't trade that for the world."

And neither would Regina and a part of her was grateful to the Imp for that, but something wasn't right. She thought more about Rumple's words as Emma rested against her shoulder, little fingers stealing bites of feta from her salad. Knowledge that the Imp was behind the spell's existence was significant. Regina quickly went through the order of events in her mind since discovering the spell's existence and when she first began to craft it in regards to things that were happening at the time in Storybrooke. Something important was hiding there, she'd bet on it with certainty. Questions came next. If the price paid for casting it was set by him, why the price of magic and memories of true love? And did that mean he was the one who collected the debt?

And if so, what did he do with it?

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It took another day to pass before Emma awoke her adult size again Friday morning. They had used the time she was small to start dabbling in beginners magic, which frustrated Emma to no end when her little fingers wouldn't cooperate, but she made progress under the Queen's patient explanations and examples. The morning she came downstairs an adult they decided to set up a time to call Henry that same evening.

The day at the station went quickly and there were even some interviews for the assistant position lined up for that afternoon at Town Hall where Emma poofed after work. David, as deputy, was invited to be in on the interviews. Things were still strained between them, but much less so since the meeting on the porch. As the three of them settled around the table in the conference room off of the Mayor's main office, Emma noted the return of respect with which David greeted Regina. When he settled into the chair next to hers, she softened more towards him after that fact.

He was trying and that meant the world to her.

There were a few young applicants who wanted a foot in the door at the station and one in particular, a former crew member on Captain Hook's ship that reminded Emma of Graham. He had a sweet scruffy earnestness that landed him the job. As the Mayor went over the final parts of the hiring process with Will Decker the blonde's mind wandered to their pending conversation with Henry and as her mind began to worry the now familiar tingle swept over her body. She fought it and lost. Again.

With a sigh she turned to the Mayor and the new eyes of her employee who seemed thoughtful, but definitely shocked by the now little blonde with a sheriff badge on the pocket of denim jeans.

Will scratched his chin, having already known about Sheriff Swan's recent debacle. "So if this happens at the station are you still my boss? Or…" Pointing at David. "Is it him?"

Emma bristled, face reddening. "Listen puppy, I am still the Sheriff." Little fingers lifted the badge in proof, looking more like a disgruntled child playing dress up.

David decided to break the tension by showing their new team member out the door while he was still breathing, with instructions to meet them the next morning bright and early to start his shift. When David returned to the room Emma had stood and was pacing quickly with the Mayor looking on.

"Where did he get off asking that?" Blonde curls flew as she whipped around, finally seeing David sit back down.

Regina caught hot little eyes and gently opened the door to a conversation they all needed to have. "Emma he has a point."

"What point, Gina?" Arms crossing, defensive.

"I know you do not like idea of sharing your responsibilities as Sheriff and I recognize what a big step it is for you to accept an assistant, but with our current reality being that half the time you are small that may be something we need to consider—"

"Don't patronize me…please" Added when a brow rose at her less than respectful tone.

"I am doing nothing of the kind. I am simply concerned and with good reason."

"Regina is right." David interjected, wanted or not, he had the same worry at the moment.

Emma's eyes narrowed, still hurt over what she took as an implied suggestion that she couldn't do her job. "Whose side are you on? One open conversation with Regina doesn't give you the right to step into our relationship."

"I'm not trying to. I'm worried about you and Will does have a good point. When you are… this way, you are unable to act as the law of this town." He tried to be gentle, but wasn't sure how his words were taken when misty meadows met his eyes.

Green cracked further and found the Queen's. "This is not my choice, huh?" Slowly making her way over to open arms, accepting the hug.

"I do not think it is about anyone's choice, just a fact we need to work with, baby." Regina whispered the affection and felt the child relax.

Emma processed that and let go, stepping back towards David. With great reluctance she fingered her badge and went to unhook it from her belt. Her hand was caught, startling her and stopped the motion.

"That's yours and that won't ever change." David knew what that badge meant to his daughter and he would never accept it from her.

"So what does change then?" As his meaning washed through, she looked between the adults.

Regina offered the only practical solution. "When you are small David will take over your responsibilities and Will can step up as deputy, once he is trained. When you are big we operate per usual. Does that sound alright?"

"I guess. Yeah." Surprised by the lack of fight in her at the suggestion and with her acceptance the tingle returned and she grew into an adult again.

David's eyes widened briefly at the shift and he smiled seeing his daughter's relief after the fact. "I should get going." He stood and turned to the door. "It is taco night and I have to pick Neal up from basketball."

"Wait." Emma bit her lip as her feet refused to move, but offered one step more in the right direction. "Thank you."

Regina smiled softly at the exchange as they watched David leave and accepted Emma's arms around her neck from behind. Blonde curls spilled over her shoulder and her hand twirled the ends.

"Can we have tacos too, Gina?"

A bubble of laughter passed red lips. "You and your stomach. Yes, we may, though we'll have to stop by the store on our way home, we are out of tomatoes, lettuce and a few other things."

Emma licked her lips at the idea. "We are out of rocky road, too. And the little dark chocolate squares you keep in the tin on top of the fridge I'm not supposed to know about."

"How did you—" The Queen started and spun the chair around to catch the fleeing blonde by the hips.

"I kinda saw you one night when we were in our other life when I was supposed to be in bed. Sssoooo when I had a craving last night when I was also supposed to be in bed I dove into your stash since it was in the same place." Feeling cheeky Emma smirked mischievously.

"You know what this means Miss Swan."

"I do?" Squeaking as her ribs were attacked mercilessly and with her current size she was able to tickle back. Laughter and shrieks rolled through the room, echoing about them.

"You win Emma!" Calling off their banter when the blonde popped a heel off to get to the bottom of a curled foot.

"Ha! Finally!" Emma stood from where their knees had found the floor and offered a hand to assist Regina. Then she broke into a happy dance, spinning about the room. "Yes! I win, I win, I win!"

"You do, this time." A small challenge as the Queen became dignified again. "While I get my things, please start a list for the store."

"On it!" Emma followed heels into the main office, swiping paper and pen from the Queen's desk. Still smiling she penned the items they'd discussed. Laughter had been the dose of medicine she needed to let the worry of the future go for the moment. The feeling of gratefulness returned that even with all the upheaval they were facing, some things still were just as simple between them and beautifully so.

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A/N - So Gold wrote the spell... hmmmmmmm? :-)

Next time - A not so charming grocery store showdown followed by a tough question about what forgiveness means. Henry learns about the spell and surprises both Queen and Swan with something unexpected. Emma realizes something important about Snow that may be the key to understanding the woman's actions.