Chapter 16

Once Regina had finally overcome the shock of what she had been told, the brunette pulls back from Maleficent's hold and gives a teary smile. "Looks like I will be able to give Emma and Henry what they need after all.."

Shaking her head, the blonde strokes her hand. "You already have..they were treated terribly by their parents but you, you gave them the love and care they need.."

Nodding, the brunette wipes her face. "I know but..at least now I can think about a proper home with their own rooms and.." Stopping, the young teacher shakes it off before she gets tearful again through happiness.

Chuckling at her response, Maleficent squeezes her hand in a comforting manner. "How about once the children are in bed, we can discuss what you want to do..where you want to move?"

Regina nods with a smile then looks over at the children in question coming to view from the corridor. Emma looks wary then hops up on the couch while Henry shuffles around the table on his onesie covered feet with a happy babble. "Are you moving Gina?"

"At some point but there is a lot to sort out first" the brunette answers as she lifts the girl over onto her lap because she can see the small blonde itching for a cuddle.

Crinkling her nose in thought, Emma looks up at her curiously. "We come too?"

"Of course you're coming with me! I'm not leaving my prince and princess behind am I?" Raising an eyebrow playfully, Regina mimicks the girl when she shakes her head with a grin then rubs their noses together gaining a giggle. Looking across the table, the brunette holds her spare arm out to Henry. "Come here Henry"

Stamping his feet around the table to the couch, the small boy grasps his hands together to be picked up. Lifting him up and settling him on her other knee, Regina kisses each of their heads and holds them close. "I love you both so much"

Emma smiles again then bites her lip sadly as she confesses quietly. "No one said that before.."

Feeling heartbroken, the brunette cups both their cheeks despite Henry being too young to understand but gains a smile anyway from her touch. "Well get used to it because I am going to tell you every day and its forever"

"Even if we are bad?" The small blonde questions while reaching for the woman's hair to play with it as Henry fidgets and decides to slide off onto the couch to meet Maleficent and clap onto her open palmed hands.

"You Miss Emma could never be bad okay? No matter what happens you will always have me and I will always love you, both of you. We are a family" Regina states seriously while rubbing the girls back.

Watching with a smile, Maleficent continues to hold her hands out for Henry to slap excitedly then notices Emma look over at her with a frown.

"Mallie too?"

Looking embarrassed as to which statement Emma is questioning on regarding the blonde woman, the brunette stutters. "Oh..well..I-"

"I will always be here for you aswell Emma. You, Henry and Regina" Maleficent quickly replies seeing the young teacher get stuck.

The small girl accepts this and smiles. "Okay. Can we eat now?"

Chuckling, Regina nods. "Of course and I think we should get a takeout so we can watch a movie together?"

Nodding happily, Emma gives her a squeeze then hops down to check what movies they have. "I like chinese by the way!"

Shaking her head, the brunette laughs aswell as the older blonde then stands to order the takeout.

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Watching Maleficent return from the kitchen, Regina raises an eyebrow at the woman who holds out a glass of wine. "I can't..the children.."

"Are in bed and I am not drinking. I think you deserve a small wind me down after the day..no week you've had" the older blonde places the glass down in front of the brunette at the table then resumes her spot beside the woman on the couch. "Have you thought about what you are going to do?"

The young teacher turns to face her while curling her legs underneath. "Yes. The school I will just..somehow learn how to manage it..as for the house..I.." Taking a deep breath, Regina bites her lip. "I can't live there..there are more bad memories than good so I would rather start anew which is why I am going to sell and buy another house. One that we all like.." Catching herself with the 'we', the brunette clears her throat. "Myself and the..children. As for the money..its never too early for a college fund?"

"Good idea. Starting over sounds like the right thing to do" the blonde admits with a smile.

"You..you will still be there won't you? I mean..the children like you being around and..and so do I.."

Giving a teasing look, Maleficent nods her head. "Unless you move and forget about me.."

"I could never forget about you" Regina answers seriously while looking directly at her. "I feel like I've depended on you too much and it scares me...but..its scares me even more the thought of you not being there"

Staring back, the blonde smiles. "I will be here as long as you'll have me"

Not trusting herself with acting on her feelings, the brunette quickly leans forward and wraps an arm tightly around the woman's neck, pulling her into a hug. Hugging back, Maleficent gives a sad smile as she picks up on Regina's fears. Moving back after a while, the blonde stares once again at the young teacher wondering how she will react. Watching the brunette stare back once again, Maleficent decides to take the plunge and closes the gap between the pair with a soft kiss upon Regina's lips. Despite letting a small gasp slip from shock, the young teacher kisses back, allowing her feelings to come flooding to the surface and take over as she shifts closer in her seat then grips onto the blonde's hand. Realizing her situation, the brunette then pulls away abruptly and shakes her head. "I'm sorry..this...I can't...its just.."

Letting her mouth drop slightly, Maleficent glances down. "..oh...no I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..I.." Standing quickly, the blonde makes her way to the door feeling hurt. "I will see you tomorrow.."

Watching the woman hurry out, Regina deflates and rests back on the couch with a pout at probably making the biggest mistake of her life.

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"Mommy?"

"Mommy?"

Turning her attention towards the pair sat at the island, Regina blinks while looking towards Emma. "Yes dear?"

Pointing at her dry cereal bowl with a lip bite, the small blonde mumbles. "I need milk please..you forgot.."

"Oh I'm sorry baby" grabbing the carton off the side, the brunette pours some into the girls bowl then plants a kiss on her forehead when Emma looks up with a grin to say thanks.

"Mama 'uice!" The small boy beside the blonde shouts out as he eyes up the beaker that is just out of reach of his out stretched arms.

Handing the beaker over, the young teacher chuckles while ruffling his hair lovingly. "Someone's learning.."

"He sits with me when I read my stories" the girl explains while munching on her cereal. "He knows my name now too"

"Clever boy" Regina praises him then passes over some toast for him to chew on. "Mary Margaret is going to come and look after you for a little while today okay? I have to sort out some paperwork for us to move"

Scrunching her nose, Emma frowns. "I like her Gina but why is Mallie not looking after us?"

Hitching her breath, the young teacher gulps. "I don't think she is coming over today..you'll see her soon.."

"But she's always here..."

"I know pumpkin but-" hearing a knock, Regina silently gives a thanks as it gets her out of answering the small girl then pulls the door open to reveal the short haired woman she just spoke about. "Hi..sorry we are a bit behind today they are still eating and in their pajamas.."

Waving a hand, Mary Margaret steps in with a smile towards the children. "Don't worry about it..I got it covered"

Placing a hand on her friends arm, the brunette smiles. "Thanks, hopefully I won't be too long but..we'll see.." Setting her coffee mug in the sink, the young teacher then grabs her jacket and keys before kissing both her children's heads while gaining a smile from Emma and a frantic wave from Henry. "See you soon, love you!" Rushing out the door, Regina gives a deep sigh to prepare herself for what she is about to it.

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Having felt guilty over her actions, Maleficent knew it that although she was hurt, it must have pained Regina to see her leave after all they spoke about and how close they had recently got ,even if the brunette didn't want anything more than a friendship. Turning up at the woman's door, the blonde takes a deep breath then knocks. Seeing it open to a short haired woman, Maleficent raises an eyebrow. "Hello? Is Regina here?"

Mary Margaret shakes her head and goes to question who is calling but is prevented by the children flying past her with Emma shouting the woman's name and Henry squealing excitedly.

"Mallie!" Crashing into her legs, the small blonde grins up at her. "Gina said you were not coming today..."

Giving a sad smile, Maleficent wraps an arm around her while lifting Henry up to give him a hug. "I'm sorry sweet girl..I didn't think I was.." Looking towards the woman warily, especially as she is watching the children, the blonde grips onto them more. "Are you a friend of Regina's?"

Nodding, the short hair woman smiles. "From college, I also teach and have been helping at the school..you must be Maleficent. Regina has mentioned you once or twice..aswell as these two"

"Oh..yes sorry, she told me about how you are helping her. Where is she now?" Stroking Henry's head as the boy hugs into her, the blonde then glances down as Emma taps her.

"She gone to see about us moving!"

"Oh right..well I shall come back then. Be good okay?" Maleficent hands Henry back to Mary Magaret with a smile as the small blonde hugs her again.

"We will Mallie. See you later" Emma releases her grip and skips off to play.

Saying goodbye, the blonde leaves the apartment and pulls her phone out to call Daniel.

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Feeling her nerves get the best of her, Regina bites her lip while ringing her shaking hands together. Staring through to each room, the brunette inhales sharply as she is met by the study. Her father's study, or what it used to be. Now it was simply turned into a spare room used for everything and anything. Stepping inside, the young teacher can feel her eyes gloss over as she moves some boxes and finally empties the space in front of her, revealing her father's old writing desk. Running a hand along the cold wood, Regina sniffles then leans down to the bottom draw before pulling it out to show its contents. Drawings, lots of drawings that she had made over her young years. He had kept them all and the brunette knew it was a special place as the man himself asked his daughter when she was the age of 7 to use her pencil to mark the draw. Lifting up the wooden box, Regina smiles to herself as she spots the markings. 'Regina Mills' followed by an arrow and an older person's writing that spelt, 'Daddy's Princess'. Staring for a while, the brunette then frowns hearing footsteps before glancing over her shoulder and meeting blue eyes belonging to her blonde friend.

Maleficent smiles slightly at seeing her. "Hello..I hope you don't mind the intrusion but I went by the apartment and your friend informed me, actually no Emma informed me you was looking into moving and..so I called Daniel.."

Giving a coy smile, Regina turns back to put the draw back while unsure on what to say. Heading back towards the door, she gestures towards the desk. "I was just..looking..it was my fathers and he kept some..sentimental items in his bottom draw.."

"Better make sure you take it with you then..when you sell up"

Nodding, the brunette bites her lip confused then walks past the woman to head upstairs. Hearing footsteps close behind her, Regina opens a door, knowing her Maleficent had followed. "This was my room..only thing that is the same here is..the wallpaper"

Chuckling lightly, the blonde looks to her after scanning the room. "Of course..pandas..."

Realizing that it is only proving more difficult, the young teacher leans against the door frame while staring inside. "..I'm sorry..for..last night I-"

"No, Regina its okay it doesn't matter now..its in the past.."

"No because I just freaked out as I have a lot of responsibility now and I couldn't ask you to take on a ready made family but then when you left, I felt as though something was missing and I hated it because truth be told you already are a part of my crazy little family..not just as a friend but as someone who I could see myself being with.."

Coming up close to the brunette from behind, Maleficent places a hand on her shoulder to calm her and whispers. "Regina, its okay..we should have discussed it instead of me just throwing myself at you because-"

Turning around quickly to face the blonde, the young teacher cups her face and kisses her softly. Watching the brunette part briefly as if seeking permission, the blonde leans forward and takes hold of the woman's waist before kissing her again.

A/N: its a rollacoaster! Should Regina sell up or make new memories in her father's house?