This is another AU based on an amazing prompt. I don't know what I'd do without these prompts! Again, AU, so doesn't follow the show other than names and some situations. I'm not sure how long this will be, but probably not more than 2 or 3 chapters.

Read~Enjoy~Review

Chapter 1

Sometimes Storybrooke Maine seemed like a large town while other times, it seemed it wasn't big enough. That's how Emma Swan felt from kindergarten to 8th grade. Now, being in high school, she started to feel like this town was finally feeling bigger. She had found out that her lifelong school bully was going to the private school for high school while she was more than happy to stay in public school. Maybe without Regina Mills constantly picking on her, she could finally relax and just take care of what was important. Maybe her and Ruby could finally make other friends since the others wouldn't have to worry about the wrath of Regina, Kathryn, and Cruella. Three months in and everything was going amazingly well.

Growing up, Emma knew she was different from the others right away. She only had her father since her mother died after giving birth to her. Though her father worked hard, they didn't have much, but Emma never cared because she had what she needed and loved her father for that. She was always a tomboy and stuck out like a sore thumb. Emma was happy though and did her best to ignore the other girls who would laugh at her. Ruby lived with her grandmother and though everyone seemed to love Granny, Ruby was also the subject of much teasing. Ruby and Emma hit it off on day one and had been best friends ever since.

When Emma was in fourth grade, she hit it off with Ms. Blanchard, her teacher. The woman was so kind to her and stood up for her against the others. She always checked on Emma and made sure the girl was okay. Even after being in her class, Ms. Blanchard would check on Emma and be there for anything she could be. When Emma got her first period, she went to Ms. Blanchard for help. When Emma needed a woman to talk to about life, she went to Ms. Blanchard. Because of this, her father and Ms. Blanchard met, and the chemistry was undeniable. They married when Emma was in 7th grade and the blonde couldn't be happier.

The only negative in Emma's life was Regina Mills. She had no idea why the girl had instantly picked on her from day one. Emma could do nothing to make the girl happy, so she stopped trying. She honestly hoped that by ignoring her and her friends, it would go away, but it just never did. For nine years, Emma was constantly teased, picked on, humiliated, even slapped a few times from Regina and her two friends. Emma did her best not to show how much it bothered her at school, but once home, she'd hide in her room and cry. She didn't want her father to know because she didn't want him thinking it was his fault. However, after the last incident, Emma couldn't keep it to herself and one night when her dad had the night shift, she told Mary Margaret everything. She sobbed and yelled and let everything out, and in the end, she let her stepmother hold her as she had become emotionally exhausted. It took a lot for Emma to convince Mary Margaret not to go to the school about it, but she was adamant that it would only make things worse.

Mary Margaret just wasn't sure what to do, feeling she owed Emma her loyalty, but also knew her husband should know. Finally, she told David about Emma's struggles and when he went in to talk to his daughter, he had found her passed out on her bed with an empty bottle of pills next to her. David's heart broke and he picked her up, rushed her to the bathroom and forced his finger down her throat so she'd throw up the pills. As Emma lay in the hospital after getting her stomach pumped, it took all that he had not to go over to the Mills residence and let them have it. He knew he couldn't though, knew the mayor and his wife would simply have him arrested and Regina would make Emma's life even worse. When Emma was released, David told her she had to do therapy because he admitted he didn't know how to help her. Emma agreed, but the monthly sessions with Dr. Hopper weren't really working. That was why she was currently pacing back and forth, working up the nerve for what she had to ask her father.

"Emma, I can hear you out there. Come in and talk to me." David called from the living room. "You know I'm not going to bite your head off."

"I know, sorry. Is Mom home?"

"Right here." Mary Margaret said from the corner where she was working on her computer. "What's up?"

"I've been doing therapy with Dr. Hopper for six months and guys…it's not working. He just…he doesn't get it, doesn't get me and I don't feel like I'm getting any help."

"Honey, we had a deal." David said, though he wondered how good it would do if Emma wasn't feeling it.

"I know, but dad I found this online." She said, handing him a paper. "It's a bully help line, but you can chat with them on a computer. It's peers my age, helping others. I honestly think since Regina, Cruella, and Kathryn won't be at school things will be better and I can always talk to someone here if I'm having issues."

Mary Margaret came over and looked at the paper. "I've heard of this group. Mal, my guidance counselor friend who is at the private school, has three to four students that help on this and she's right there to make sure everything goes the way it should."

David took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Emma, if I agree to this, do you promise me that you'll come to one of us if you're ever feeling overwhelmed again?"

"I swear dad. I told you before how sorry I was, and I meant it. I won't do that again."

"Okay, okay. I love you, Emma. I love you so much and I can't…" He shook his head.

Emma felt terrible when he'd get like this, and she felt tears in her eyes. "I know dad. I'm so sorry."

David pulled Emma into a hug. "So am I, Princess. Okay, let's move on from this. If this is what you want to do, then I'm fine with it."

SQSQSQSQSQ

Regina had decided that a new school meant a new start to be different that what she had been before. Sure, with Kathryn and Cruella there, it was a little difficult, but she found she slipped away from them easier than she thought she would. She wanted to get good grades and wanted to stop being known as a bitch. If she were completely honest with herself, she hated people thinking she was just another mean girl. Because of this, she had signed up to help the counselor Mal with the Storybrooke Bully Helpline.

Regina knew she had been a bully in the past, but she didn't think she was that bad really. Sure, she picked on Emma…a lot, but she didn't really pick on anyone else. Sure, she told people if they became friends with Emma, she'd make their lives hell, but other than Ruby, Emma had no friends. It was easy to pick on Emma because Emma had everything Regina wanted. She had a father who loved her and lived for her while Regina felt her parents knew nothing about her, nor did they care. She figured Emma would be okay because she had a dad who was there for her.

Regina had heard rumors that Emma had been in the hospital for taking pills, but she never found out for sure and even if she was, she figured it had nothing to do with her. In any event, it was easy to just not think of Emma as Regina went on with her life.

"Regina, it's so great to see you." Mal stated as Regina entered the after-school program. "Ready to get started?"

"Yes, I'm very ready."

"Great. You've had the basic training; you know how to use the system and have gone through the book to find topics. You also know what needs to come to me immediately, right?"

"Yes. Anything that sounds like they may harm themselves or others goes to you right away."

"That's right and it's common, so please don't think you're coming to me too much." Mal slid the laptop over to Regina. "Now, we stay anonymous because some cases may be people in this town. That being said, if you do find there's someone you bond with, that's okay, but please come to me and discuss it before it goes further. I don't stop you all from making friends, but I want to make sure it's in everyone's best interest. Also, our branch is here from 230 until 9 Monday through Friday and 9am to 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Do you know what days and times work best for you?"

"I'm pretty open so long as my grades stay up, though I can only do Sunday's as my parents don't want me to do both weekend days. Can I do Monday, Thursday, and Sunday for now?"

"Yes, of course. We're covered Sundays from two on, but if you could possibly do nine to two, that would be amazing. We have more starting next week, so we'll get together and figure out an actual schedule."

"That sounds great." Regina stated, feeling really good about this. "When do I start?"

"Now? Give it a couple hours and see how it goes? I'm here with the others until nine." She said, motioning to three others in the room who were typing away. "Remember, you can do homework between chats, but once a chat is routed to you, please do your best to give it your attention. Oh, and while you can post on social media what you're doing, please do not give any details about chats. If you need to vent about anything, please vent to me."

"Of course." Regina said, feeling a bit nervous. "How do I pick a name?"

"Do you have any nicknames?"

Regina shrugged. "Gina, but that's obvious."

"Hmm, well some here use names like 'here4u' or 'SupportingYou'."

Regina bit her lip. "What about 'AnEar4u'?"

"I like it." Mal said with a smile.

Regina typed it in and then pressed ready. "Okay, here we go."

Mal smiled. "It may take a while to get one, but remember, I'm here if you need any help." She then went and checked on the others, knowing Regina was ready.

SQSQSQSQSQ

Emma sat in her room at her desk, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "It's just a name." She told herself as she tried to figure out what to sign in under. "Swanprincess? Nah, too obvious." She thought a bit and then typed in 'PickedOnPrincess'. No one but Ruby and Mary Margaret knew her dad called her Princess. She filled out the rest of the registration and then clicked 'chat'. She bit her lip as the wheel spun and the 'finding a match' showed on the screen.

Chat: You have been matched with AnEar4u. Please remember there is no judgment here and you can be honest.

AnEar4u: Hello PickedonPrincess. I'm glad you've decided to chat with me today. How are you?

POP: I'm okay…this is my first time doing this and I am a bit nervous.

A: Welcome to the chat. It's okay to be nervous. You are in charge here and you decide what we talk about.

P: Thanks. Um…I'm not sure where to start really. It's just that I…well I let my bully get the best of me a few months ago and now my dad is forcing me to get some kind of help. I tried a therapist, but it didn't really do much.

A: I hope that we can help you out. You said you let your bully get the best of you? Do you want to talk about your bully? How long did you suffer and are you still suffering?

P: It went on from kindergarten through eighth grade. Luckily it stopped this year because she goes to a different school. There were three of them, but the one was the worst. She was kind to others, but for some reason, she just constantly picked on me.

A: I'm so sorry to hear that. That's a long time to deal with someone picking on you. Did you ever tell anyone?

P: Not until it was too late. I told my stepmom, but made her swear not to tell my dad. She did though, and when he came to talk to me, I had swallowed a bunch of pills. Don't worry, I don't want to do that again. I'm not going to hurt myself.

Regina bit her lip, feeling terrible for this girl. No one should ever feel like her.

A: I'm glad that you're not feeling like hurting yourself anymore. I know we don't know each other, but I'm confident in saying that I'm glad your father found you in time. No one should ever feel like the world is better without them. It's not a good feeling at all.

Emma bit her lip at that. Had this person ever felt like that before?

P: Have you ever felt like that before?

A: Yes. My parents pretty much ignore me. It took a while for me to realize it was their problem and not mine. Honestly, I reached out to a crisis line as well and it helped to know that I wasn't alone.

P: Yeah, it sucks thinking you're alone. The thing is, even though this girl is no longer at school to pick on me, the damage is done, you know? I have no self-confidence, I have nightmares, my therapist said I have PTSD from it and I have no idea how to get over it.

Regina looked in the book for some assistance and then replied.

A: I know you said you don't think your therapist is helping, but do you think maybe you should still see them and give it a try? I think talking here will help, but if he can assist you with the PTSD, you'd be doing even better.

P: I guess. You're probably right. I just…I think I needed to talk to someone my age. It helps to get it off my chest to someone who understands.

A: I'm glad you know that I do understand and I'm here for you. Sometimes it helps to talk about specifics. Do you think you can do that?

Emma thought for a bit.

P: Not yet. I want to, but…I'm just getting to know you. How does this work going forward? Can I request you or will I have to talk with someone new each time?

A: I understand completely. Yes, next time you log on, it will ask you if you've talked to anyone before and if you'd like to talk to them again. You just put my name in and if I'm here, you'll be connected to me. As of now, I'm here Mondays, Thursdays, and Sunday mornings.

P: Would it be okay if I requested you? I know we just started talking, but I think we have a connection.

A: It's completely okay. I agree and I think we can really do something good here. Can I ask you something? Do you feel any better talking to me?

P: Great. Yes, I do actually. I am really glad I did this, but we've been chatting for over an hour, so I probably should go get some work done and let you talk to someone else.

A: I'm always here for you, Princess. (Sorry, I just shortened your name a bit)

Emma smiled at that.

P: Thank you, ear. :P

Regina chuckled at that.

A: You've got jokes?

P: Nah, I'm pretty lame actually. But I do have to go. I'll talk to you on Thursday. Thank you.

A: You're very welcome. Oh, and you are not lame.

Regina smiled as the chat ended and Mal came over. "How did it go?"

"I think it went okay. She was new and just feeling it out." Regina said, showing her the chat.

Mal glanced over it and smiled. "You did great. She needs someone to talk to and you were there. Good job, Regina."

"So? Did you like it?" Mary asked, coming into Emma's room.

"I did." Emma said with a smile. "I think I'll still keep going to Archie for the deeper stuff, but I think this chat will help with other things. It's just nice to talk to someone my age who doesn't know me and who won't judge me. I know Archie doesn't judge, but he hasn't been in school for a long time."

"I understand, Emma." Mary said, stroking her hair. "I love you, baby girl."

Emma smiled and hugged her stepmother. "I love you too."

Regina got home and sighed as she locked the door. No one was waiting up for her, no one cared if she was home or not. She turned the lights out and went up to her room, getting ready for bed. She smiled a bit when her sister came in. "Regina? How did it go?"

"I love it, Zelena. You were so right about it. What days do you work?"

"Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. You?"

"Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays. So we'll work together."

"Great." The redhead said. "Night, Gina."

Regina hugged her sister. "Good night, Zelena. I love you."

"Love you too, sis."

Regina went to bed that night thinking maybe life wasn't so bad. Maybe this chat line would actually help her as well.