Long chapter and a bit intense!

Chapter 6

After preparing for an early night, Regina frowns at hearing a knock at her front door. Walking over, the brunette checks through her spyhole then pulls the door open quickly revealing two officers. "Hello?"

The officer in charge nods in acknowledgment while the other has his pad at hand. "Evening, Miss Mills, we sorry to bother you but we need to ask you a few questions"

Looking in shock, the young teacher drops her mouth open. "Erm..okay?"

"Do you know of a Emma and Henry Swan?"

Gulping in fear, Regina nods. "Yes, Emma is my pupil and Henry is her younger brother..has something happened?"

"We received a phone call this evening to inform us that the two children in mention are currently missing. When was the last time you saw them?"

"Well, I saw Emma at school yesterday..she..seemed okay, have her parents said anything?" Looking concerned, the brunette looks between the pair.

"Only to inform us that the two children are missing" the officer scratches his neck awkwardly.

"Since when? How?"

"From their home..a few hours ago.."

Placing a hand to her chest clearly worried, the young teacher swallows hard. "I..I will let you know if I hear anything.."

"Of course, thank you for your time.."

Watching the two officers leave, Regina glances around her home in a predicament then grabs her keys and coat before heading outside.

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Having searched the streets for the missing pair more or less through the night and into Sunday, the young teacher walks back through her doorway looking defeated. Slumping down on her couch, the brunette's lip begins to tremble at the horrible thoughts running through her head. Standing up once again, Regina heads towards her bedroom to change then walks back out the front door.

Strolling up the path to the Swans house, the young teacher pauses by the door then knocks sharply. Watching it open and seeing a distraught looking woman, Regina raises an eyebrow curiously. The woman rolls her eyes and drops her act almost immediately. "Oh its you..what do you want?"

"Have you heard anything?" Getting straight to the point, the brunette tries to remain calm.

"No, what's it to you anyway!" Scoffing, Emma's mother crosses her arms.

"Clearly a great deal more than it is to you. Call yourself a mother, if you were a real one, you wouldn't be sitting around indoors, you would be looking for your children who right now are probably scared and alone!" Annoyed, Regina glares then shakes her head, walking back down the steps with a mutter. "I'll find them myself..."

Returning home for the second time, the brunette deflates as she walks through the door. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Rubbing her head, feeling sick through lack of sleep, Regina heads towards her room and lays on her bed after making sure her phone was by her side in case.

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Pacing her classroom, not in the right frame of mind to teach, the young teacher sighs as she leans against her desk.

"Well arn't you a sight for sore eyes..."

Glancing across to the doorway, Regina bites her lip seeing her mother. Cora steps inside and gestures to the woman's appearence as she has come to school in a usual floaty dress, this time blue but her hair shoved into a side ponytail which was a little messy at the current time. "Really Regina? Smarten yourself up.."

Standing taller, the brunette watches her mother closely. "What are you after?"

"Just came to check on the room before you start your lessons. I dare say some of the children will be upset by the disappearence of their classmate, but then again, you would know all about that.." The older brunette smirks.

"You gave me no choice..I was 6 and hungry..you locked me in my room for 3 days..and everytime I even asked for water, you hit me"

"Because I told you how many times as a child, that you only speak when you are spoken to? I did not speak then therefore you should not have opened your mouth..but you did. Suitable punishment..you simply used your mouth for back chatting than eating.." Cora circles her daughter while explaining the story.

"I was still just a child. I was still learning..give me a timeout yes, but not lock me away!" Trying not to get teary at the memory, Regina avoids looking at the woman. "Anyway..right now, I have a class to teach..and a missing pupil to deal with so please excuse me.." Heading towards the door, the young teacher pulls it open as her class gathers outside in a line, then she looks towards her mother in a gesture for her to leave.

Cora straightens herself out from the shock of Regina actually standing up to her then leaves the classroom. The brunette watches with caution then puts on a small smile as her children begin to walk in and take their seats. Closing the door, Regina looks down at having Ruby stand before her while fiddling with her hands. "Ruby what's the matter?" Touching the girl's shoulder, the young teacher also covers the small brunette's hands to stop her fidgetting.

"I was...I was at Granny's at..weekend and she...she told me..Emma..has gone away..." Pouting, Ruby gives a small sniffle before adding quietly. "I want my friend back..."

Pulling the girl into a hug, Regina looks sad. "I know Ruby..we all do" moving back, the young teacher looks to the girl then her classmates who are all sat with sad faces. "How about..instead of our spelling test, we all make a nice picture or card for Emma? For when she comes back?"

Ruby nods slowly as the rest of the class agrees. Walking over to her teachers desk, the small brunette takes a stack of paper and hands it out along with a pot of crayons for each group while the young teacher moves the desks around so they can share.

Sitting back at her desk, the brunette watches the class as they talk quietly and draw their pictures. Seeing Ruby raise her hand, Regina looks over. "Yes dear?"

"Are you going to draw Miss?"

"What could I draw Ruby?"

Tapping her crayon to her chin, the young girl smiles. "A rainbow cat! Emma said she always wanted one.."

Not being able to help but smile, the brunette nods. "Okay then" taking a sheet of paper, the young teacher draws out a rainbow coloured cat.

Once the class had been given enough time, Regina asks them one by one to bring their pictures to the front to place in a box to await the blonde's return. Ruby holds her picture up at the woman's desk with a grin. "Look Miss! Its me, Emma and Henry playing. I don't know what Henry look like but I guess like Emma!"

Nodding, the brunette stores the pictures safely away then dismisses her class for recess.

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Rubbing her eyes sleepily, feeling weak, Emma sits up slowly so she does not knock Henry who had fallen asleep as it grew dark, then she walks over to a large stack of boxes. Climbing up carefully, the blonde peers through the tiny window and sighs.

"Emm..."

Shuffling back down, the blonde looks sadly at her brother who hiccups. Walking back over, Emma grabs the blankets and wraps them around him tightly then offers him a biscuit and a tiny drop of milk as she could only take one bottle and it had to last. Sitting down, she coughs then searches through her bag to check what food she has left and makes sure Henry gets the majority of it. "We need more food Henry...I need to find some.."

Nodding, the boy hugs her as she stands then pouts with a tear as he watches Emma walks towards the door. The blonde looks conflicted and pulls at the door. "Henry I be back I promise..please don't cry.."

Letting his lip tremble, Henry nods again but sniffles, beginning to sob as his sister leaves.

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Revelling in the quietness of a still, empty classroom, Regina sits back in her chair with her desk lamp on to look at the box of pictures her class had drawn that morning. Not wanting to go home just yet, the young teacher sighs wishing she could do more. Hearing the door to the school squeak then slam, the brunette looks wary and stands slowly. Everyone had gone home a couple of hours ago and for some odd known reason Cora never locked the school. Probably because everyone was too scared of her anyway. Taking a deep breath, Regina looks around the classroom and takes hold of the broom as that is all thats available to use.

Walking along the corridor quietly, the woman glances into the classrooms to check for an intruder. Jumping at a loud noise of what sounds like pots and pans, the young teacher frowns and makes her way slowly to the kitchen. Pushing one of the double doors open quietly, Regina takes a shaky breath then gulps before walking inside then holds the broom high and ready in case she needs to use it. Peering around the fridge, the brunette freezes seeing the small blonde kneeling on the kitchen surface and attempting to take some food from the cupboards. Lowering the broom in shock, the young teacher drops her mouth open as the oblivious girl continues to pull stuff out of the cupboards while making sure it is left how she found it.

"Emma!"

Jumping with a gasp, Emma falls to the side and bangs her head against the cupboard door before screwing her nose up and letting out a small 'ow'. Standing still not wanting to scare her anymore, Regina bites her lip feeling guilty and waits for the child to respond. The small blonde looks over scared and climbs down, shoving what little food she took into her pockets. Watching carefully, the brunette keeps eye contact as Emma walks along a little way, breathing heavily before she darts across to the fire exit to run outside. Eyes widening, the young teacher drops the broom and runs after her in a panic. "Emma wait!"

Running around the corner, the blonde hurries down some steps and flies through the door to Henry then closes it quickly. Turning towards her sobbing brother, Emma coughs then walks over to hug him. "I'm back Henry its okay.."

Stopping in the playground, Regina looks around concerned. "Emma?! Please I am not going to hurt you!"

Glancing towards the small window hearing the woman, the blonde sits down and pulls her brother into a hug. Biting her lip, Emma looks at a loss. She wants to see Regina but then that would mean showing her hideout and soon enough her and Henry would in no doubt either be seperated or sent back to their house.

"Emma, I will search every room and closet in this school if I have to! I have been so worried about you! Please show yourself, I am on my own!"

Looking towards her brother who sniffles and shakes because he is cold, the blonde takes a breath then stands. "I'm sorry Henry.." Walking back towards the door causing him to scream, Emma opens the door and heads up the steps into the playground.

Giving a sigh of relief at the girl appearing from the basement, Regina walks over then kneels in front of her. The blonde looks sad and coughs. "I..I only know..how to walk here..."

Taking hold of the girl's face getting teary herself, the brunette quickly pulls her into a hug. "Where's Henry?"

Hugging back with a sniffle, Emma clings briefly. "Down there..." Moving back she points towards the steps. Taking hold of the girl's hand, the young teacher follows her into the basement and to a screaming Henry.

Biting her lip at their surroundings of blankets and empty food packets, Regina quickly lifts Henry up and holds him to her. The boy calms a little and buries into her shivering. "Emma bring your blankets..we are going to go to the classroom.."

Doing as she is told, Emma picks up their bags and blankets then follows her teacher to her classroom. Sitting Henry down on her chair, Regina pushes it in to the desk so he doesn't fall then switches the heating on before grabbing her coat and wrapping it around the boy who now babbles and slams his hands on the desk. Turning towards the small blonde who has her head hung, the brunette sits on another chair and holds her arms out. Emma shakes her head then backs up causing the woman to stand again, worried that she will try to run. "Emma.."

"Stay..away...I..not safe..dad said so.."

Frowning, the young teacher holds her hands up as she steps closer. "Emma..please..I don't know why he said that but its not true..."

Beginning to get upset, the blonde looks to her brother. "I..I..tried to go..without him..but..I couldn't leave him...alone..but..he needs looking after and..I..I'm scared.."

Hearing her own voice break, Regina shakes her head as she reaches the girl. "Don't be scared its okay.."

"I...will..hurt you.."

Confused, the brunette stops for a moment. "Why Emma? Why will you hurt me?"

Looking towards Henry who is staring at her because she is walking backwards, Emma confesses. "I got upset..at home and..mad and..the light broke..and..it was me. It..just broke, I didn't touch it but it was me.."

"Honey that doesn't make sense.." Not sure what to make of what the blonde is saying, Regina moves closer to her again.

"No!" Panicking, the blonde shakes her hands then freezes when the light bulb in the classroom smashes causing Henry to scream.

Looking up, Regina's eyes widen. "..wha-" glancing back down to Emma who has tears rolling down her face, the young teacher quickly follows her as the blonde runs back out the class. Giving her no choice, the brunette grabs hold of the girl's arms and forces her to stop by pulling her close to her as she kneels down. "Emma! Its okay!" Despite Emma's attempt at pushing her away, Regina holds onto her until she stops. Sobbing and making the lights flicker in the corridor, the small blonde falls against the woman and clings. Rubbing her back, the young teacher guides the girl's head to her shoulder and continues to calm her. "Its okay..I will help you..its okay.."

A/N: she was in the basement! Awww! Where will she go now?