Rose walked her way to her father's shop instead of having Regina drop her off. Regina had gotten a call from the Sheriff's office to stop by for something. Seeing that she didn't have to be home until lunch, Rose made a detour around town. It was a nice day out and she wanted to enjoy it. She couldn't help but feel she was being watched during her walk.

The bells were heard when Rose walked into the shop. She announced herself coming in but froze when she spotted the Charmings with her father and Belle. Looked like a confrontation from her view.

"I'm guessing you guys aren't here for lunch." She said.

"Shouldn't you be in school?"Emma asked.

"Home schooled." Rose made her way to her to stand between Belle and her papa. Sensing something bad was happening.

"Since when?"

"Since everyone woke up from the curse."

"But why?" The sheriff didn't stop asking questions. Completely distracted from the reason why they were all here.

"None of your business!" Gold step in, not hiding the fact that he wasn't in a cheery mood for interrupting their family lunch, accusing him of murder, and now questioning of Rose's life.

"Rumple" Belle whispered to him to calm him.

"It's ok, Emma. I was home schooled when we lived in Fairy Tale land. I'm use to it." Rose explained. Not wanting Emma to get more suspicious of her papa. After seeing everyone calm down a bit

"So what's going on? Last time I checked, none of you like each other." She said.

Emma hesitated on letting the teenager in on the news. But David didn't.

"Dr Hopper was found dead this morning in his office. All evidence points to Regina." None taking his glaring eyes off Rumple.

"So you're assuming my papa did it." Rose concluded, understanding everything now.

"It's frame job." Emma stated.

"It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try to hurt her." Snow added. Her father smirked.

"Nice to see your memories are still intact, dearie. Bit this time, I'm afraid I'm gonna disappoint you. It wasn't me." Rumple said.

"Why should we believe you?" Charming didn't believe him at all.

"Because I can prove it. Ask the witness."

"No one was there." Emma was getting tired of this.

Rose gave Emma a "are you serious" look. "Yes there was." Rose said.

"Who? You?" Rose rolled her eyes. Was she really this dumb.

"No! Pongo, duh!" Emma was confused.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jim walked in with Pongo on a leash and notice all the people in the room. He got a call from Ruby that Emma needed Pongo to help investigate. Seeing he was sent to Gold's meant magic would be involved and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Especially since he saw not only Gold, but Rose as well.

Pongo however, felt different and ran up to the Golds. Jumping up to play with them. Rose couldn't hide a yelp and a giggle as her father continued to pet the dog to ease a bit.

"Good boy. Good boy." Rumple softly told Pongo. Smiling himself.

Jim didn't expect to see how calmer and nicer the Dark One looked. He also couldn't help but feel soft inside after seeing Rose smile too.

"I...uh… I didn't know you were such a dog person." Belle spoke up. Everyone silently agreed.

"Well, a long time ago, in another life. I got to know a sheepdog or two. Especially when your kids keep bringing them home. Begging to keep them." He chuckled of the memories

"They were soft and fluffy!" His daughter defend herself. Gaining a laugh from Belle. Jim did his best to not show his smile.

Gold showed Emma a dream catcher and explained that it can take memories. He had her perform the magic herself on Pongo to see what he saw.

Rose was pretty amazed to find out and see for herself that Emma really did have magic. But got a cold feeling of goosebumps when seeing Pongo's vision of Regina killing Archie with her own hands.

"You were right all along." She heard Emma say to her parents. But Rose remain still, conflicted.

"No. No. That can't be her." Rose said. The adults felt sorry for her. Knowing how close she is with Regina.

"I'm sorry. But you saw it yourself." Emma reminded her.

"B-but I was with her last night. I stayed over!"

"Wait. You were with her the whole night?"

"Were you awake?" Snow also asked. If Rose was proof that Regina didn't do it, then maybe the memories were fake somehow.

"We-Well no… I accidentally fell asleep while doing my homework. And I woke up this morning still at her place." She nervously explained.

"So you don't have any proof that she didn't leave. How do we even know your telling us the truth? You could be helping her to kill him!" Charming accused her and started to tower over her. Even Emma wasn't liking where David was going with this.

"David!" She warned him.

"I'm telling the truth!" Rose told him. Gold prevented her from getting closer by holding her back close to him.

"She is. I got a call from Regina last night, asking permission for her to say over because she was already asleep and didn't want to wake her." Rumple defend his daughter. But David wasn't buying it.

"Again, how do we know she didn't-"

She's not lying David! I can tell when people lie. She's telling the truth. They both are." But Mr Prince Charming was still not convinced even if his daughter was. He refuse to stop threatening the girl with his eyes. Jim was not liking this.

"For all we know, Regina would have slipped a sleeping pill into Rose's food to knock her out. So she could leave and use her as an alibi." Jim spoke up. Emma and Charming both believed that theory. Regina did have a habit of putting people to sleep. Rose was startled that Jim was helping her.

After the Charmings left, Jim awkwardly left with Pongo. But Rose followed him out.

"What was that?" She had to ask.

"What was what?" He asked playing dumb.

"Don't pretend. You know what you. Why did you cover for me?"

"You act like it's a bad thing."

"Depends on your reason." She crossed her arms. He shrugged his shoulders.

"You looked like you needed help." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You are really confusing."

"Because I helped you?" Rose grabbed his arm to stop him from moving. Forcing him to look at her.

"Yes! First you don't like me 'cuz I'm my father's' daughter. Then you have us re introduce ourselves, leading me to believe we were starting over. But then you still act weird! And angry at me even after I saved you from a bleeding leg. And now you defend me from being a suspect? W-Why are you doing this?"

Jim wasn't sure what to say. He just stood there, mouth open but no words coming out. She had a point, and the right to feel perplexed.

"I-I don't know…"

"Oh yes you do."

"No! I don't."

"Yes you do!"

"M-Maybe I felt bad. Maybe I got a feeling you aren't that nasty to do something like that."

"Something like what?"

"Like killing someone. You might be other things, but your not a murderer." He said sounding honest. Rose took in what he was saying and felt a little content to know he didn't think so horrible of her.

"Really?" She asked shyly.

"If you were, you would've left me bleeding to death." He didn't notice he was giving her a cheeky smile. Causing her heart to beat faster. Feeling embarrassed, she looked down at her feet and tug a hair behind her ear.

"Well, thanks. For not thinking I'm a murderer."

"Your welcome."

Pongo barked. Gaining the teenagers attention. Pulling the leash to continue moving.

"I- uh… I should go. Pongo needs his walk." Jim aid. Pulling back a step. He didn't realize he was close to her.

"Okay. Um… Enjoy your walk." She said and turned away. Jim only took one step, then looked back at her and debated to say something or not.

"Rose?" He called out. The girl looked back at him, pleased he called her by her name.

"Yeah?"

"...Be careful. With Regina, I mean. I know you've been close with her lately. But-"

"I'll be safe. Thanks." She promised. He smiled back and continued walking away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was night and chilly by the docks in Storybrooke. Rose was standing in the dark by herself. Thinking over the events of that day. News fled fast about Emma's confrontation with Regina. And how Regina disappeared. She got a call from Henry devastated about Archie's death ect. How did things turn out so bad?

Rose looked down on the ring Regina gave her. It was still placed on her finger. Rose was afraid to touch it. But after a few attempts, she finally rubbed it three times.

In a poof of purple smoke, there stood Regina Mills in a flesh. She stood only a few feet away from the girl. Regina's eyes looked glassy, trying to prevent more tears to fall. Her face was filled with sorrow. And her hands looked like she wanted to move them, hold the teenager, but she didn't. Afraid that Rose would pull away.

In a whisper, Rose only asked one question. "Did you do it?"

"No." She weakly answered. Shaking her head slowly. Uncertain if Rose would believe her.

But Rose hugged her. Holding Regina tighter. Regina couldn't believe that Rose would believe her so easily. She was so stunned she couldn't move.

"You believe me?"

"I find the evidence too obvious to be you." Regina smiled and finally hugged her back. Feeling more relieved.

The whole town might be against her. Henry might be taken away from her. But one thing she has now that she didn't have in the Enchanted Kingdom was Rose. She has her support and that's all she needed for the moment.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So guess why I've been MIA? Got in a car accident and ended up with a broken ankle, then had to have surgery.

Been recovering during this past month or so. Totally sucks, but it gave me time to write. I hope to update as much as I can.

Thank you for reading and so happy to see more readers liking this story.