Chapter 22

After Henry's birthday had been and gone, Regina found herself rather excited to go to work on Monday as she had informed Mary Margaret that she would be taking over her class for the morning while the fellow brunette sorted through her papers. Settling down in bed Sunday night, Regina glances over towards Maleficent who had been intently watching her as soon as the pair had gone to bed. "..what?"

The older blonde smiles with a shrug. "Look at you..you literally are like a child at Christmas. All giddy and excited"

Biting her lip in a coy manner, the brunette grabs the covers and pulls them up. "I haven't taught a class in 3 months..I can't help it if I love my job"

Kissing her cheek, Maleficent slips her arm across the young Principal's waist. "I'm glad you do because then that means you're happy and to me, you're happiness is everything"

Looking at the blonde in awe, Regina leans closer and kisses her before whispering against her lips. "I love you" with a final peck on the lips, the brunette then buries her head into the woman's shoulder to go to sleep with a smile on her face.

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"Lunchbox?"

"Yes!"

"Book bag?"

"Yes!"

"Gym kit?"

"Erm..." Looking around, Emma leaves the kitchen to run into the hallway and pull her coat off the stand which reveals her kit underneath. "Got it mommy!"

Appearing in the doorway, Regina smiles then helps the small blonde with her coat before passing the rest of her bags over. Reaching for her own coat, the brunette looks down to her phone ringing. Biting her lip seeing its Daniel, the young Principal shakes her head and cancels it as she is already late. "Come on baby lets go"

"Okay,. Bye Henry! Bye Mallie!"

Walking out of the kitchen while holding Henry's hand, Maleficent smiles at the girl then goes and kisses Regina's cheek. "I'll drop Henry off to Belle in half an hour"

"Thank you. See you tonight" pecking the woman's lips quick and then kissing Henry's head, the brunette guides Emma outside so they can head to school.

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Leaving Emma in the playground to catch up with her friends, mainly Ruby, after being off for a week, Regina leaves her belongings in her office then heads towards her old classroom. Seeing another missed call from Daniel, the young Principal sends him a message informing him that she is working and will try to ring lunchtime as she cannot talk right now. Entering the classroom, she smiles seeing Mary Margaret grab her papers. Peering around the room, Regina raises an eyebrow. "Wow..its different..I'll give you that.."

Looking worried, Mary Margaret gulps. "I can change it back..its just the children had done this project and I thought-"

"Mary Margaret relax..I wasn't expecting the class to stay the same forever..besides it shows that you are doing your job properly and that the children are eager to learn through all of their work you have displayed.." Smiling in reassurance, the brunette rubs her arm.

Nodding slowly, the short haired woman sighs in relief then heads towards the door. "Well enjoy but I would like my class back..I know you and how attached you get..but now, you run, I teach"

Chuckling, Regina nods then watches her go. Strolling around the room to set up, the brunette then heads towards the door hearing the bell go then waits as the children begin to file in with shocked faces at seeing her. Walking past with Emma, Ruby gasps. "We got Miss Mills back?!"

Hearing the girl, the young Principal smiles softly. "Just for this morning..." Closing the door while the children pack away their belongings then find their seats, Regina continues to explain her presence with a playfully stare. "Besides I wanted to see how you were all getting on without me?"

"I could say the exact same thing..dear"

Freezing to the spot, recognizing the voice as a few children gasp, the brunette glances across slowly to see her mother standing in the doorway before attempting to find her voice."..what..what are you doing here?"

Cora smirks then steps inside the classroom before heading over towards her daughter's desk where the fearful looking woman is stood. "Simple? I've come to take back whats mine..I built this school up...I was the one who grafted and sacrificed late nights!..you can have the house for your pathetic little family..but this building..is mine"

Gulping down a lump, Regina glances briefly towards the children also noticing the look of fear on Emma's face then turns towards her mother. "You're supposed to be in jail.."

Beginning to chuckle darkly, the older brunette shakes her head. "No..dear..no..you see, they let me go. Not enough evidence apparently.."

"We can discuss this matter in private.." The brunette states not wanting the children to witness anymore. Looking towards her class, the young Principal nods. "Work on your textbooks until page 5. If you finish, you may draw.."

Scoffing, Cora rolls her eyes as she heads towards the door and out into the corridor.

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Having gone into the office which Regina knew was a big risk given their past, the brunette stood beside the door in case of any need of escape. Cora watches her intently with a smirk. "You know you're too soft to them little brats.."

"They are not brats.." Regina replies while staring at her mother.

Raising an eyebrow, the older brunette laughs. "Oh..I see finally getting some back bone are we?

Crossing her arms, trying to show she is not affected by her words, the brunette sighs and decides to get straight to the point. "You are not having the school back mother. Not now. The children are finally happy and free from your fearful behaviour..I will not let you take that away from them"

Inhaling sharply, Cora steps closer. "How dare you speak to me that way..I am your mother and you will listen and obey. You will do as I say or else this will not be the only threat you'll have to worry about!" Throwing her hand out, the older brunette then raises it above her daughter causing Regina to instinctively step back.

Storming into the office, having been informed by her brother over the situation after dropping Henry off, Maleficent looks across just in time to grab Cora's wrist. "Lay one finger on her and I will make sure you'll regret it!" The blonde announces with a cold glare.

Yanking her arm free, the older brunette looks surprised as Maleficent shifts herself in front of her girlfriend. "You're still about then..how do you put up with her?"

Gritting her teeth, the blonde also grips her fists. "I don't have to put up with her. I love her"

Glancing down, the young Principal steps closer to her girlfriend and covers the woman's fists with her hands to try and calm her. "Mal..she's not worth it.."

Cora looks between the pair then heads towards the door. "I'll be back..I garantee it"

Watching the woman leave, Regina then pulls the blonde round and hugs her. "Thank you..but I am not going to let her win I promise you..not now I have so much to lose.."

Hugging her back tightly, Maleficent kisses her shoulder. "Daniel said he had been trying to contact you to tell you she was out because no one else will stand up to testify..they are all to scared of her..I am so sorry"

Pulling back, the brunette cups the woman's face within her hands to look at her. "Its okay..I'm okay and right now..I have a class waiting for me. I will see you tonight okay? And before you say anything, yes I am still staying to sort through the newsletter"

Giving a pout, the blonde sighs then kisses her. Kissing back with a smile, the young Principal then pushes her off playfully and heads back to her class, immediately having all eyes on her. Remaining quiet to encourage the children to work, Regina bites her lip upon seeing Emma's hand shoot in the air. "Yes Emma?"

The small blonde looks wary then speaks. "Are you okay Regina?"

Noticing the girl's concerned look, the brunette nods with a smile. "I am absolutely fine Emma. Thank you"

Breaking out into a grin which Regina finds hard not to recipricate, Emma then turns back to her textbook happily.

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As Mary Margaret kindly offered to take Emma back home, knowing Regina was staying behind and Maleficent had probably gone to get Henry, the young Principal heads into her office and slumps down onto her chair with a deep breath. Scooting closer to her desk, the brunette begins to file through the newly printed newsletter before hearing a bang outside. Rising from her seat, Regina makes her way out of her office warily then sighs at seeing the fire exit door at the back open. "If the caretaker leaves this door open one more time.." Muttering to herself as she closes it, the brunette makes her way back to her office and returns back to the task at hand.

Within half an hour, the young Principal finds herself surrounded by papers and begins to wonder why on earth she decided to do this now. Yawning and then giving a sniffle, having felt increasingly tired since returning to her office, the brunette frowns at smelling something not quite right. Standing again, Regina makes her way around her desk then looks wide eyed at seeing smoke seep in through the cracks of her office door. Rushing over to trigger the alarm which alerts the fire brigade, the brunette hurries over to the door to get out. Finding the door stuck, Regina begins to shove her shoulder into the door to try and prise it open. Peering through the keyhole, she gasps seeing a key on the outside turned into the lock position. Starting to panick at the amount of smoke as the alarm blares out, the young Principal then turns back to her desk and calls Maleficent. "Come on..please..pick up"

"Regina? Finishing early?"

"Mal, I'm stuck! There's a fire and I..I can't get out of the office, its locked! Please call for help..I sounded the alarm but I can't do anything else!" Shaking, Regina gets teary as she coughs while she looks around the now smoke filled room.

"What?! I'm on my way. Try and find something to block the door..and cover your face! Leave me on the line!"

Lowering her phone to her desk, the brunette splutters and tries one more attempt to break the door open. Slamming her fists on the door, Regina then slides down defeated and begins to sob. Hearing muffled voices from her phone, the young Principal manages to reach it before falling back and resting her head against the wall as she lifts the phone to her ear.

"Regina?! Don't you dare give up on me! Or the children! You need to fight for your family! Stay awake!"

Despite the pleas, the brunette lets out a choked breath as she begins to close her eyes and allowing the phone to slip from her hands.

A/N: sorry sorry sorry...