Chapter 14

Rushing into the station, Maleficent reaches the counter to ask the whereabouts of her brother.

"Mal? What are you doing here?"

The blonde looks over her shoulder to see her brother, feeling annoyed. "Well I wouldn't have to be if you answered your phone!"

Daniel sighs then looks around with a frown. "Where..where are the children?"

"Gone" Maleficent takes a shaky breath feeling guilty. "The social took them away because of what happened"

Eyes widening, the officer rubs his head. "I will give them a call, I informed my partner that there has been a mistake but they are still interviewing Regina"

Frowning, the blonde crosses her arms defensively. "Why are they still interviewing her? She didn't do anything wrong. I may not have been there but she doesn't have a bad bone in her body to hurt anyone"

Pulling his sister to the side as he is not suppose to talk about a case to anyone, Daniel whispers ."Because when my fellow officers cuffed her and her uncle, he blurted out what her mother had been doing so now they are investigating..its not looking good for the mother as there are a huge amount of hospital reports for Regina..right from the age of 8"

Shaking her head in disbelief, Maleficent looks down. "She was just a child..." Moving towards the seats by the front desk, the blonde sits herself down. "I'm going to wait until they let her go..you need to contact the social"

Nodding, the officer heads back through a door to his job. Looking around anxiously, the blonde clasps her hands together while she waits.

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Watching the officer across the interviewing table who is writing on a notepad, Regina sighs. "Please, I have told you everything I could possibly tell you..I need to go home the children-"

"Are not at your place Miss Mills..they were collected about an hour ago and taken to the nearest care home.." The officer explains while finishing his statement.

"What?! You can't do that! They will be scared, I promised that I would keep them!" The brunette looks in shock and moves to stand.

"Sit down please Miss Mills..we will sort the situation out shortly.."

Swallowing hard as she becomes teary, Regina slowly sits back down, practically jumping with the door flies open.

"Okay, thats enough for today thank you." Daniel heads over to the table while staring at the officer with a slight glare.

"I'm not finis-"

"Yes you are, I heard you, you're treating Miss Mills like a criminal when she is the one who needs support" glancing towards Regina, he nods. "You're free to go"

Looking between the two officers, the brunette stands and walks over towards the door then hurries out into the corridor.

Seeing the woman emerge from the side door, Maleficent stands looking extremely guilty. "Regina, I'm sorry, I tried to stop them but there was nothing I could do.."

Looking back towards the blonde, Regina remains silent and steps forward, making the woman look at her warily. Stopping in front of her, the brunette quickly wraps her arms around the woman into a tight hug, grateful to have a friendly face after what she just went through. Surprised, Maleficent slowly holds onto Regina's back.

Walking through to the entrance, Daniel sees the pair and clears his throat to announce his presence. Pulling away, Regina looks towards him in concern and subconciously takes hold of the blonde'a hand. Giving a smile, Daniel rubs her shoulder. "You can pick them up"

Letting out a sigh of relief, the brunette gives a teary nod prompting Maleficent to squeeze her hand.

"We will contact you on any further development regarding your mother. Unfortunately for now we have to keep your uncle in custody for his behaviour but considering the reasons behind his actions, I would take a guess that it would merely be overnight and that is all"

Regina smiles slightly. "Thank you Daniel.."

Also smiling, the blonde tugs lightly on the brunette's hand. "Come on, lets go get Emma and Henry"

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Keeping her eyes peeled as they enter the home, Regina waits by the door as Maleficent continues on to ask for help. Watching as the woman in charge heads off through to a room, the brunette takes a deep breath, getting fidgety before looking down nervously. "This is it now...no more hesitation..they are my children and they are coming home.."

Glancing over, the blonde smiles in awe at the woman's announcement. "Rightly so..we all know how much you love them, even if you denied it for some time.." Bumping her shoulder playfully, the blonde nods down the corridor where a door is opening, revealing a sleepy Emma who is holding onto the woman's hand relunctantly and Henry who is desperate to be put down as he only likes certain people to hold him.

Turning towards the door, Regina gives a teary smile upon seeing them then quickly kneels down when she sees Emma look over.

Gasping as they were not told where they were going with the woman, Emma drops her hand, waking up immediately and runs in the direction of the brunette with a grin, near enough crashing into Regina as she meets her. Allowing Henry to walk the final distance, the woman places him down. Wrapping her arms around the pair once the small boy toddles quickly with a squeal, the young teacher keeps them close and presses a kiss to each of their heads. "I am so sorry this happened..."

Shifting back to look at her but keeping within the hug, Emma looks wide eyed in hope. "We going home now mommy?"

Letting out a teary chuckle at what she's been called, Regina nods as she runs a hand through both their hair. "Yes baby we are" rising to her feet, the brunette takes Henry with her who clutches onto her while shoving his face into her neck.

The small blonde peers past them to see Maleficent and grins again. "Mallie!" Walking over, Emma launches herself at the woman for a hug then whispers in her ear, even though it is loud enough for everyone to hear. "Thank you for keeping promise, I knew you help us.."

Rubbing the girl's back with a smile, the older blonde looks up to see Regina watching in a daze after listening to what Emma had said. "Of course I was going to help you dear. You belong with Regina"

Letting go, the small blonde then leans up and kisses her cheek before skipping back to Regina who is trying her best to hide a smile at Maleficent's current shocked face.

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Having gone back to her apartment, Regina for the second time goes to put the children to bed despite it now being about 4 in the morning. Watching as the small blonde pulls up her top and wriggles out of it, the brunette raises an eyebrow as she tucks Henry into the bed. "Emma what are you doing?"

"Changing my pajamas? Not want these on anymore, I've been outside!" The small blonde explains as she puts another top on over her head with a struggle due to her curls which causes her brother to giggle.

Reaching out, Regina pulls the top down properly then smiles as she pats beside the boy. "Sleep now"

Climbing into bed, Emma crawls onto her knees to hug the woman first. "Night mommy"

Giving an extra squeeze at hearing her, the brunette kisses her head then tucks her in before kissing Henry on the head. "Goodnight" Turning back to the door, Regina goes to hit the light while glancing at them one more time.

Henry kicks his legs out as Emma wraps an arm around him to sleep. "Mama!" Attempting a wave with a grasped hand, the boy grins.

"Henry..." Giving him a playful scold, Regina blows him a kiss then shuts the door behind her, letting out a long sigh as a wave of tiredness hits her.

Appearing in the doorway, Maleficent bites her lip. "I was going to make coffee but that is the last thing you need right now.."

"Yes..we should get some sleep although all I can offer is the couch but..I'd feel better if you..stay. Its early morning as it is..and you have gone through a hell of a lot too.."

Shaking her head in disbelief, the blonde walks up to the woman and puts an arm around her to guide her back to the living room. "And you're still thinking of others...don't ever change Regina Mills..and if I were to stay, where will you sleep?"

Pointing to the arm chair, the brunette gives a small laugh. "I really need a bigger place.."

Also laughing, Maleficent leads her to the couch. "I'll take the chair..now sleep"

Pouting, Regina gradually lays on the couch as the blonde pulls a blanket over her before settling into the chair. "Thank you for...everything.."

"No problem.." Resting her head against the arm, Maleficent watches the brunette for a moment to make sure she can get to sleep then closes her eyes herself.

It wasn't long before two pairs of small feet padded there way into the living room with Henry climbing up to cuddle into the blonde on the chair and Emma lifting herself up to wedge between the back of the couch and Regina before going back to sleep.

A/N: whats going to happen to Cora and Gold? Are Regina and Maleficent ever getting together?!