Chapter 17

Returning home after making a decision, Regina walks through her front door with a smile while biting her lip shyly at something Maleficent had said. Keeping a firm grip on the woman's hand, the brunette closes the door then looks towards her dearest friend who glances over from her positiion, sat in the kitchen. "Hey, thanks again for looking after the children"

Mary Margaret raises an eyebrow at the pair then simply nods with a smile. "No problem. Emma is currently drawing quietly in your room while Henry is having his nap. It would appear that even though I am here, she won't stray too far from her brother...she is very protective"

Nodding proudly, the young teacher smiles again, this time with her eyes gleaming which her friend has not seen in a long time. Picking up on the brunette's gaze, the short haired woman rises from her seat and walks towards the door. "I shall leave you two..to it..if you ever need me to babysit again, give me a call..although I can't promise David won't be with me"

"Yes. Thank you..oh and Mary Margaret?"

Mary Margaret turns towards her friend with a curious look. "Yes?"

Still smiling, Regina takes a breath. "If you are ever fed up of supply work..and you know, if you enjoyed your time covering my class, there is always a permanent job waiting for you at the school"

Smiling back, the short haired woman nods. "I think I would quite enjoy that..Principal.."

Sniggering, the young teacher also nods then watches her friend leave as her blonde friend-slash-newly found girlfriend wraps her arms around the brunette's waist from behind with her own smile at how happy Regina seems.

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Noticing something different in her mother, Emma purses her lips together as she watches Regina and Maleficent manuver around the kitchen to make dinner. Placing her small hands onto her hips, the blonde looks towards her younger brother who stares confused at the couple. "Henry..I think, maybe...Mallie could be our mom too.." Scratching at her locks, the girl then grins as Henry claps despite not fully understanding. Yes he may be young, but he could still pick up on the current atmosphere in which his mother and close friend were happy and that was good enough for him.

Peering over the counter, the brunette smiles at the pair and then heads over leaving the blonde to finish off. "What are you two smiling at? Or should I say planning? Do you forget that I am a teacher Emma and I know the look you are currently giving me very well..." Squinting playfully at the pair, the young teacher tries to hold in a chuckle as the small blonde looks wide eyed having been caught and the boy simple giggles at the face Regina is pulling.

"Nothing mommy..we are just happy Mallie is here...she move with us?" The blonde asks innocently as Henry looks intrigued at his sisters question.

Holding her arms out to the pair which they willingly accept, the brunette answers truthfully. "I don't know dear but..I am sure she will be around most days..if not everyday. You see we..Maleficent and I..we want to be a family with you but its still very..new and so I do not want to push anymore than I have to because..I like her very much and I know for a fact she likes me and most importantly you two, but..we need to give it time..do you understand Emma?"

Hugging into her while peering over at the older blonde in question, the smaller blonde nods. "Yes I do..but I know Mallie will want to be with us forever so we can wait"

Smiling at her reply, Regina kisses her head then tickles Henry not wanting him to feel left out while unbeknown to her, Maleficent had watched and heard the entire scene with a smile.

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Slipping into somewhat of a routine, Regina finds Maleficent waiting for her as she returns to the living room, having put the children to bed. Looking towards her hands, the brunette glances away with a small, nervous smile. "I guess this is where you need to go home.." Feeling embarassed, the young teachers looks around the room before settling on the blonde's stare. "I mean its not like I can offer you a bed..."

"Yet.." Seeing the wide eyed look she receives, Maleficent realizes how what she said, sounded and clears her throat awkwardly. "I meant..when you move, you'll have the extra space..not that I.."

Biting her lip, Regina smiles with a nod. "Of course..then I definately won't want you to leave.."

Smiling back, the blonde then teases. "You know, your couch is quite comfy..."

Raising an eyebrow, the brunette chuckles. "Not really but thanks for trying.."

Standing up, Maleficent walks around the table and towards the young teacher before taking the woman's hands within her own. "If you want me to stay, then I will stay"

Nodding slowly, Regina squeezes the blonde's hands then closes her eyes with a contented sigh as she feels Maleficent press a kiss to her forehead.

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Within the next few days of her decision, Regina took the children to see her old house before finalizing anything. Having watched their faces light up in amazement over how big the house was, the brunette proceeded to sign the papers and collect the keys straight away. Waiting until the weekend, she checked to see if Mary Margaret could look after them once again while her and Maleficent set the house up.

"I suppose one upside of mother living here meant no clutter or junk.." The young teacher states as she places a few more items into a box which would be sent into storage for Cora to then decide on.

"True but it doesn't look very well lived in..its too..empty" the blonde responds as she seals up a box then stands it by the front door.

Smiling at the thought, Regina nods in agreement. "It won't be empty for long.."

Pulling the woman into a hug, Maleficent also smiles as she rubs the brunette's back prompting the woman to kiss her cheek. "I will take the rest of the boxes and will be back shortly.."

"Okay" reluctantly releasing the woman, the young teacher watches her leave then turns to head upstairs.

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Hearing the front door fly open, Regina heads out of her bedroom and peers over the banister to see Emma already running through the empty rooms and Henry trying his best to follow while stumbling slightly. Holding back a laugh at her friend's shocked face, the brunette then walks down the stairs to greet her. "Mary Margaret?"

"Your house is huge!" The short haired woman looks amazed then smiles at her friend. "I'm glad it all worked out for you"

Hugging her quickly, the young teacher then turns her attention once again towards the children.

"Come chase me Henry!" The small blonde shouts across the living room then skips off in the direction of the kitchen.

Seeing as she is too fast, Henry stomps his feet on the spot and pouts. "No..no..no!" Glancing over to see Regina and Mary Margaret stare at him, he slowly gives a cheeky smile then runs in their direction and crashes into his mother's legs. "Mama hug!"

Seeing him hold his arms up while gripping his hands together, the brunette smiles and lifts him up into a tight hug. "Is your sister too fast for you?" Seeing the boy nod sadly, Regina plants a kiss in his hair. "Oh dear..shall we see where you are going to be sleeping?"

Nodding again, Henry grips onto her neck and presses his cheek onto hers to hug more. Rubbing his back, the young teacher looks over towards her friend. "Thank you for all your help"

Mary Margaret shrugs it off then smiles. "Well I gotta keep the principal happy don't I...I heard she can be quite bossy"

Dropping her mouth open, Regina taps her arm playfully then watches her leave. "Emma come and see your room!" Hearing hurried footsteps, the brunette gestures towards the stairs then follows the girl up. As they walk along the corridor, the woman stops. "Okay. My room is going to be this one at the end then you are going to be on either side of me"

Eyes widening in surprise, Emma grins. "We get our own room?!"

"Of course you do! And we can decorate tomorrow. Any way you want" the brunette smiles at the excited face the small blonde gives.

Wriggling to be put down, Henry then bolts into his room and jumps along the floor with a giggle. As Emma and Regina watch closely, the girl then frowns in thought while taking her mother's hand. "Mommy?"

"Yes Emma?" Glancing down towards the girl, the brunette squeezes her hand then crouches to her level, noticing the conflicted look on Emma's face. "What is it dear?"

"Where is Mallie going to sleep? I don't think she should sleep on the couch anymore.."

Laughing lightly, Regina nods. "I don't think so either.."

"She can stay with me if she wants!" The blonde announces happily.

"Thank you baby but I think Maleficent will want her own bed" stroking the girls cheek at her kindness, the young teacher proceeds to wrap her arms around Emma's back as the small blonde wedges herself in between the woman's thighs and hugs into her.

"So she is staying forever?"

"We shall see.." The brunette looks up seeing the woman of topic appear at the top of the stairs with a smile of her own. "Talking of..."

Pulling back, Emma looks over her shoulder then grins. "Mallie's home!"

Both women share an adoring smile at the sentiment of what the girl had said. Rising to her feet, Regina walks up to the older blonde and pecks her lips as Maleficent runs her hands up and down the young brunette's arms as the new house owner replies.

"Yes she is..."

A/N: what next for the family?