I don't own these characters or the games Cards Against Humanity or Trivia Pursuit. I do own Lilith and I hope you enjoyed her.

8: Into the Light

Regina sighed and went to clean up once the Charmings were gone. Henry went to get ready for bed without being told. Lilith helped the cleanup by using magic, of course. Regina did not object and Henry was not around to make a fuss about it.

"How about we sit and talk for a while? I want to try this cider you always brag about," Lilith remarked, making her way to Regina's study.

Chuckling, Regina went to pour while her grandmother sat on her chaise. Regina watched her grandmother for a moment and felt like she could understand why her mother thought she deserved better. Lilith moved like the goddess she was, but Cora did not know about her divine heritage. She had to watch Lilith move and just think she was destined for greatness.

Regina handed her nana a glass and watched as she took her first sip. A small smile tugged at her lips and Regina felt pride flood her. She eased into her own chair and Lilith locked eyes with her.

"I suppose you're not guilty of false advertisement," Lilith quipped, tipping the tumbler to Regina.

"Well, that's a relief," Regina joked, rolling her eyes.

Lilith made a humming sound, tapping her fingers against the cider glass. "Are we all right, filly?"

"You know the answer to that, Nana."

"Yes, but sometimes even I need verbal confirmation."

"Yes, Nana, we're fine. I'm very happy to see you again. It's good to know you didn't voluntarily vanish from my life." She remembered when she was younger, her mother would tell her that Nana did not want to see her anymore because she did not listen, because she was not good. She had done her best to listen to her mother and be good because she did not want her mother to leave her like Nana had done.

"Never, dear. I love you with all the intensity a god can muster. I'm sure I will love your family the same." Lilith sipped her cider. "Have you considered adding to it?"

Gasping, Regina's eyes went wide for a moment. "Nana!"

Lilith laughed lightly, obviously proud of herself. "Not that way, filly. I've seen Zelena the past couple of days."

Regina frowned. "And how is my darling sister?"

Lilith tapped her fingers against her glass again. "A little more subdued than you'll remember. She's ready to settle down. I know you have to work out the details between her and Robin and everything, but I think it's time for you to embrace having a sister."

It was something Regina thought about on rare, quiet moments, especially after defeating Zelena. Something inside of her wanted to accept Zelena. She assumed it was longing from when she was a child, wanting a sibling her mother never seemed interested in providing. Maybe she wanted some kind of familial connection, but that should be satisfied with her grandmother.

"That's up to her," Regina replied. She would not reject Zelena should the impossible happen and Zelena suddenly decided Regina deserved to live and decided they could even coexist.

Lilith sighed and then sipped her cider. "Yes, I assume it is. I know she hurt you, but you seem to be able to move forward. Help her move forward, if not for her then for the baby."

Regina chuckled. "You just want me to do this for the baby."

Lilith smiled. "I really do have a fondness for human babies. Adorable little things. I look forward to kissing chubby cheeks."

"Yes, well, don't suck any of their souls," Regina teased.

Lilith scowled. "Such a distasteful interpretation as to what I do."

Regina nodded. "At least they don't have you cutting the heart out of an eight-year-old for being prettier than you."

With a sour expression, Lilith shook her head. "What the hell is wrong with this realm?"

Regina did not have any answers, not that her nana expected any. Her thoughts drifted to her sister. From the moment she heard of Zelena to now, she never figured out how to feel about her. She should have wanted this older sister, desperately, but instead jumped immediately to wanting to destroy her. But, even then did not have it in her.

"Sort your feelings out after you meet with her and judge for yourself that she's worthy of your time. None of us will judge you if you decide to walk away," Lilith said.

Regina nodded as that was the best advice she had gotten when it came to Zelena. She trusted her grandmother's faith in Zelena, too. Her nana would not have brought this up if she did not believe Zelena wanted to build a healthier relationship between them. It would probably be nice, but she did not want to get her hopes up.

-8-8-8-8-

Emma returned for breakfast as promised and just like before, Henry and Lilith were out the door as soon as it was over. Regina and Emma watched them go. Regina felt good about this for the first time. Her grandmother and son were bonding and she was bonding with Emma.

"You know, maybe one day… I could cook," Emma proposed as they cleaned up the table.

Regina would like to see that. "Or we could cook together again." That had been a pleasant experience she would not mind repeating.

"Yeah, that was cool. This talking thing is cool, too."

Regina nodded, but she frowned slightly "We can't tell my nana that, though. She's hard enough to live with as it is."

Emma laughed. "Yeah, I don't think I'll be admitting anything to her. I was actually happy she asked about the baby's name. I can't believe August told them Neal sent me here and they fell for that bullshit."

Regina moved around Emma to load the dishes into the dishwasher. "After speaking with Robin, I've come to learn that our people will believe and hold onto some of the stupidest things I've ever heard."

"Our people…" This made Emma laugh for some reason. "Do you think I should talk to them about this 'stupid' stuff? I mean, there's all of this crap I don't understand, but I feel like they don't understand so much stuff about me either."

Sighing, Regina looked at Emma. "I'd like to think we both learned the same lesson from Nana's curse."

Emma pouted a bit. "Yeah, talking helps. I know. I know. I'll talk to them eventually. I guess I just needed someone to tell me to do it."

"Okay, then talk to your parents," Regina stated.

With a nod and another laugh, Emma smiled at her. "You need a pep talk of any kind?"

Regina sighed. "Zelena."

Emma flinched. "Uh… she's nuts."

"Yes, she is, but I think Nana really wants us to get on and I think she's gotten to Zelena already. If she has, I don't think I want to be the one to hold us back." Regina was not sure that made sense.

Emma moved, taking hold of Regina and pulling them close. It seemed like it was about time for touching. Emma rested her hands on Regina's hips and Regina held Emma around the waist. And, of course, Emma had to kiss her, which she accepted quite well. One kiss became two and soon, they were making out again in the middle of the kitchen with the dishwasher half-full.

"You make a compelling argument," Regina remarked as they pulled away for air.

Emma brought a hand up to caress Regina's cheek. "Enough for me to take you out on a date? I kinda wanna do this as properly as I can."

"Sounds nice. I'd also like to see how you handle that."

Emma smiled. "Oh, I bet I could plan a date better than you."

Now, Regina laughed. Of course Emma would make it into a competition. But, she was never one to back down.

"We'll see," Regina replied, and she sort had her decision with Zelena. She never backed down, after all.

-8-8-8-8-

Regina stared at the door to Zelena's cell. In the past, she walked in that room with such confidence, even though she knew Zelena would do her best to be an ass and be annoying. Still, Regina had always felt in control of the situation. Now, she felt out of control, hell out of her element and out her mind as well, but she marched in any way.

Zelena's head snapped in her direction as soon as Regina stepped through the door. Immediately, Regina noticed something different in Zelena's eyes, but it was gone fairly quickly. Disappointment replaced whatever the other emotion had been.

"Expecting Nana?" Regina asked.

"She promised to come daily and she hasn't come yet," Zelena replied.

"Yes, she'll be here later. She wanted us to have…" Regina held back a groan. "...time together." She looked around the cell as she wrapped her arms around herself. She let her hands rest against her elbows. "Henry's showing her his favorite comic book store while she babysits for the Charmings."

An eyebrow ticked up for a moment. "She's fond of their son?"

"Fond?" Rolling her eyes, Regina shook her head. "More like over the moon. I imagine your child will have her wrapped around his little finger the moment he's born."

Zelena made a noise and then silence surrounded them for a long while. "I don't suppose you'll be letting me out."

"No time soon, no. But, Nana seems to think we should try to come to an understanding. I'm sure she'd like you out before the baby is born," Regina answered.

There was that silence again. "How do we come to an understanding that doesn't involve killing each other?"

Regina took a deep breath. "I think… we just take it one step at a time, one moment at a time. I've learned… it doesn't always have to be a war."

Zelena shook her head. "Doesn't it? I've been fighting my whole life."

"As have I." And she was tired of it.

Scoffing, Zelena had the nerve to roll her eyes. "Oh, please! You had precious Nana there."

"Until I was eight! After her, I had no one and she wasn't there every moment of every day. What makes you think I had this charmed life? Why do you so badly want to be me? You think you could've pleased Mother or even resisted Rumple's pull to the madness? Did you want to be Queen so badly?" Regina demanded.

This never made sense to her. What part of life was so amazing that Zelena wanted in? Up until recently, Regina felt like she would have probably switched places with dozens of people, yet Zelena wanted her extremely messed up life.

"Mother wanted everything for you," Zelena hissed.

"Mother wanted everything for her. This is why you were tossed aside, why I was forced to watch my first love die before my eyes, and why I had to spend the better part of my life underneath a man who smelled of stale ale and decay whilst being a doll for his daughter. None of what Mother did was for either of us and if you can't accept that small truth then there's nothing for us."

Zelena's jaw tensed, as if she never thought of it like this. Regina could not see how she never thought of it like this. If Zelena knew so much about her life, why would she want it? As usual, Zelena made no sense.

"Maybe you should go," Zelena said.

"If I go now…" Regina took a breath, like she needed to steel herself to say this. "If we leave it like this… I'm not coming back." She refused to waste her time. She had her Nana back in her life, she had revealed her feelings for Emma, and her son was finally happy with her again. There were too many good things right now for her to entertain Zelena and her senseless grudge.

Zelena scowled. "You'll still have to share Nana with me."

"Nana's her own person and she does what she wants. I'm not playing games with you, though, Zelena," Regina replied. At the end of the day, Nana would always return to her and she would have to share Nana anyway, not just with Zelena, but with Henry and definitely Baby Charming.

"If Nana likes me enough, she'll spring me."

Regina chuckled. "Nana's not going to 'spring' you. She'll visit and she might even convince me to put you into more hospitable accommodations once you have the baby, but she'll never let you leave wherever I put you, Zelena. I hope that wasn't your escape plan because it won't ever work." She walked to the door and put her hand on the knob.

"Wait," Zelena called out.

Regina sighed. "What?"

"Did you…" Zelena licked her lips. "Have you… ever wanted a sister?" She looked at Regina for a moment and then had to look away.

Regina let loose a low breath. "Sometimes." Not recently, though. Zelena had taken all the shine off of having a sibling. Maybe an older brother would have been the way to go.

Zelena took a breath. "Me, too."

Regina turned back. "And yet this was our start."

"Nana says we're similar… We lash out when we don't know what to do."

Regina could not argue that, but Zelena seemed to be reaching. Turning around, Regina conjured a chair. She sat down in front of Zelena, staring her directly in the eye.

"So, let's change the pattern. Talk to me instead of hunting me. Let me talk back instead of baiting me," Regina stated.

"Then what shall we talk about?"

"Little things, nonsense things. Like, was green always your favorite color even before the…" Regina gestured to her face.

Zelena sucked her teeth and for a second Regina thought she would not respond. "I've always been fond of green. And you? Have you always had a flair for red or was that after you decided to bathe in the blood of innocents?"

Regina could have been insulted, but this was not a snap. Zelena was actually just teasing, as hard to believe it was possible. Besides, her question had to seem a bit over the line, just as this was.

"I was fond of brown when I was younger, particularly tawny browns or chestnuts," Regina replied and Zelena arched an eyebrow at her. "Horses were once my life, before bathing in the blood of innocents became my hobby."

Zelena actually laughed, without sounding demented. This was how they survived each other for one afternoon, simple questions with simple answers. If anything required more, they changed the subject.

-8-8-8-8-

While Regina managed to get her necessary talking underway almost immediately, it took Emma months. Regina, Henry, and Lilith had to push her into it, too. Henry was especially obnoxious after she and Regina had spoken to him a few times, wanting to make sure he was all right with them being together, wanting to make sure he was all right from Neverland, wanting to make sure he was all right from the Curse breaking, and wanting to make sure his brain was not muddled from two sets of memories. He seemed to be all the better, so now he bugged Emma constantly about talking to her own parents.

Lilith was no better. Sometimes, she seemed as much the child as Henry was. Of course, Regina said the same of Emma. Either way, Lilith volunteered to watch Neal, which freed up the Charmings to meet Emma at the mansion. It would give them some privacy. Regina helped make lunch and then made herself scarce.

"I'll just be in my office if you need me," Regina assured her.

Emma sighed and nodded. She wished she could be in the office, too. But, things needed to be said and she could not put them off forever. It would look especially bad if Regina cleared things up with her psycho sister before Emma cleared things up with her sane, though self-righteous, parents.

"Hey," Emma greeted her parents at the door of the mansion. She had not officially moved in and probably would not any time soon, but she had a side of the bed in Regina's room, a side of the closet, and shows on the DVR. Maybe she did not need to officially move in.

"Hey." Snow grabbed her into a hug and then David hugged her, too.

"So, how's the day going being off and kid-free?" Emma asked as they made their way to the dining room.

"Not really kid-free, now, are we?" Snow countered with smile.

Emma chuckled a little and wondered how the hell her parents could press on like things were normal for so long. She was able to do it from distractions. She focused on Regina and Henry. She could stomach her parents in short bursts, but pretending all was well seemed like too much work.

"So, you wanted to talk?" David said, pulling out a chair for Snow and pushing her in before sitting down himself. He was always chivalrous with her, like it was part of him.

"Yeah. I think we're due," Emma admitted. Well, overdue. Hell, if they were library books, they would probably have thousand dollar fines on them.

They did not look too eager for this, though. Their eyes fell to the table. Emma sighed and figured she would get started. Talking is awesome, she reminded herself. It got her good things and made sure her son was fine.

"Look, there's a lot between us and I don't want to act like it's not affecting us because it does. I mean, you guys may have ruined my friend's life and I have to look her in the face as she walks around town, trying to get to know the mother you guys stole her from and they're both fucking it up left and right because they don't know what the hell to do," Emma pointed out.

"We did that for you," Snow insisted.

"Yeah, but that doesn't make it better. Not to mention, you tried to take away my free will. Sometimes, I wonder if I do the right thing because I want to or because I have to." This was something she and Regina stayed up nights talking about. Did either of them have free will? Was life governed by destiny? Was it all written in the stars, or in some stupid storybook? Most nights, they agreed they had some agency as they were together, developed those feelings on their own, and their relationship definitely seemed more like one from this realm than a "happily ever after." But, still, they wondered.

"We can't change the past," David said.

"No, but you can acknowledge it happened and, oh, I dunno, maybe apologize to Lily and her mom? You guys seem to think being the heroes means never having to say you're sorry. If the ends justify the means, that doesn't make you heroes," Emma insisted.

"We're just trying to do the right thing," Snow replied.

Emma sighed. "And when it goes wrong and you leave destruction in your wake, you should apologize. It's not hard."

There was a long awkward silence. Emma wondered if her parents even knew how to apologize. Did they really think that everything they did was right and that it should end there? I might need therapy after this talk.

"I'm sorry, Emma," David suddenly said.

Emma blinked. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not sorry for putting you in the wardrobe. Regina's men were on me and I was sure they'd kill you, so I felt like that saved you. But, I'm sorry for what you went through in life. I'm sorry you think we took away your free will," he explained and then he looked at Snow.

"Emma, we just wanted the best for you…" Snow started and then David did something Emma never saw before, letting her know he was way more self-aware than he seemed. He gave Snow a hard look.

"Snow, no more," he said. "We owe Emma this and so much more. Despite everything we did, she still grew up into this amazing woman and I doubt it's because we yanked out her darkness in the womb." He looked at Emma. "We're proud of you, kiddo, but you're right."

Emma almost asked him where this newfound backbone came from, but decided against it. Maybe just like she needed months to have this talk, he needed months to come to terms with things. So, maybe he had not been pretending everything was fine, which was nice to know.

Snow sighed. "I just… I just wanted everything perfect for you."

Emma shook her head. "Not good enough." She understood they did what they thought was right, but that would never be good enough. Hell, Regina had done what she thought was right years ago. Most people did. "Here's the thing, you have to be able to accept and admit you made bad moves. If you can't do that, then you haven't learned a thing, you haven't changed at all, and you'll keep doing it."

David took Snow's hand and gave it a squeeze. It was like she could not admit to being wrong, like it somehow made her less "Snow White." The truth was denying it made her less everything and Emma was sorely tempted to tell her.

"I am proud of you, Emma…" Snow managed, but it seemed like there was more she wanted to say. She did not say it, though.

"But, I'm not the kid you imagined you'd have or the kid you wanted. You regret not being able to raise me and you act like it's my fault?" Emma hoped that would help get her started.

Snow's eyes went wide, like she was horrified by those words. "Emma… I…"

"Lie to yourself, but don't lie to me," Emma stated.

"I'm sorry if that's how I've made you feel…" This was a good start. "I love you and I am disappointed that I wasn't able to raise. Maybe it comes across as blaming you, but I blame myself. I blame myself for a lot and I try to block it out. There are so many nights I've stayed up wishing I never said anything to Cora about Regina's stable boy, nights I wish I could go back and change the way I handled things with Maleficent. So much went wrong. So much went wrong…" Snow whimpered and shook her head.

This was all Emma needed for now. Just this admission that the holy Charmings were not perfect and understood they had done wrong in this as well. They could move a little bit and discuss other things. They might even get to eat some lunch.

-8-8-8-8-

"Oh, Hunter, you are so adorable!" Lilith cooed as she took the three-month-old right out of Regina's arms.

"Nana!" Regina huffed, reaching for her little niece. She had barely held the baby for a second, as she had only just woken up from a nap.

"'Gina! 'Gina! Up, up, up!" Neal called, hands up, making it more than obvious what he wanted. Lilith smiled.

"Nana, this isn't over," Regina said, gaze narrowed on her grandmother as she picked up Neal. Neal grinned and giggled all the way up and wrapped around her like a koala as soon as he could.

"Oh, but I think it is… Gina," Lilith replied with a smirk. Regina growled at her. Neal was the only person allowed to call her "Gina" and it was because he could not get her whole name correct yet. The second he could, this "Gina" crap would stop.

"You're getting too big for this, young man," Regina teased as Neal cuddled into her.

"No, I still lil!" he declared. He was only two, but he was getting bigger. Regina worried she only had a couple more years she could carry him like this.

"I got the game!" Henry declared as his whole family gathered in the living room of the mansion. There were snacks and drinks out on the coffee table for Family Game Night.

"No, you don't." Emma plucked the box from him. "First off, we're not playing Cards Against Humanity with you, Mr. Just-Thirteen-Years-Old. Second, even if we were, I'm not playing Cards Against Humanity with my mother, Snow White."

"Plus, we should all be scared of anything Zelena might put down," Regina remarked with Neal still in her arms.

Rolling her eyes, Zelena scoffed from her armchair. "Says you. I dare not tell everyone how you and your blond stud scarred me for life not even two days ago."

"Uh, please, don't!" Henry squeaked, quickly putting his hands over his ears in case Zelena wanted to be wicked.

Thankfully, Zelena had calmed down in the year since Lilith's arrival. She was even living with Regina, but desperate to find an apartment of her own after walking in on Emma and Regina a few too many times. Of course, it was her own fault for always teleporting into rooms instead of knocking like a normal human being.

"Yes, please, don't," Snow begged as she settled on the couch next to Lilith. "We need something kid-friendly." She motioned to the babies and then made a face at Hunter. The little girl smiled back.

"I feel like sitting in a room with the Lilith, the Evil Queen, and Wicked Witch… we sort of bypassed kid-friendly many moons ago," Emma remarked. She took a spot on the floor, close to the snacks and Henry.

The witches all just gave Emma a withering look, which probably would have slain someone who did not spend most of her free time with them. But, then babies distracted all of them and she was in the clear. It was funny to see Zelena had developed this weakness for babies, too, melting at the slightest things Hunter or even Neal did. Maybe that was genetic along with the magic.

"We also bypassed fair play," David chimed in. He was on the floor, close to the chips that he seemed intent to eat all by himself. Emma decided to dive in before the whole bowl was gone.

"Are you calling us cheaters?" Regina gasped, as if she was truly affronted. She looked at Neal with a shocked face. He giggled and covered his mouth.

"Can we help it if we just make an excellent team?" Zelena smirked. Over the year, the bonding was slow between her and Regina, but after Hunter's birth, they seemed to come together a little better. Now, they were an irksome tag team during Game Night.

"An excellent team of cheaters," Henry remarked.

"Why Henry! Always against your mother and aunt." Zelena wrinkled her nose at him.

"I call 'em how I see 'em and we all know how you and Mom won Trivia Pursuit," he replied with a narrowed gaze.

"Uh… through our amazing knowledge of trivia, of course!" Zelena declared.

"Through your amazing magical talent of cheating," David stated.

This was how Family Game Night always went. They would spend at least an hour taunting, teasing, accusing, and deciding on what to play. Then, the game would be chosen and more accusations would be fired, along with tons of playful arguing… and sometimes not so playful. One night, Emma spent more time than she liked as a toad after winning at Trouble. Regina was such a sore loser.

All in all, they seemed to be building a pretty normal family. Over the year, there were, of course, Storybrooke problems. Emma and Regina generally handled those. Zelena actually helped with one when it looked like Regina was about to get ended. It was something else that helped the sisters become closer and showed Emma that Zelena was sincere in wanting to be a part of their family.

The one thing that Emma thought was weird was that Rumplestiltskin had sort of vanished. Belle was seen around town with Will Scarlet for a while, but he vanished, too, and Belle started spending a lot of time with Ruby. Henry had expressed worry a long time ago over Rumple plotting something against Lilith, but he planned for it because… well, that was what Henry did.

Still, Emma felt like this was the happiest she had ever been. She felt like she belonged and she had a purpose. Not to mention, she had love and was loved in return. This was perfect.

-8-8-8-8-

Family Game Night ended the same way it always did. The Charmings went home and Regina cleaned up with some help from her grandmother and sister while Emma pushed Henry to get ready for bed. With everything done, Emma and Regina retired to bed where Regina played the little spoon to Emma's embrace.

Emma was surprisingly clingy in bed and when they were alone. Regina accepted it and opened herself to it, but had to learn when to pull back. Regina wanted to cling when there were people around, for so many reasons and she knew she needed to work through them. Emma soothed her by staying close sometimes. But, she also put space between them to help Regina get comfortable with the idea and learn Emma would always come back.

"So, I notice you like little people," Emma said after a comfortable silence.

"I should. We have two of them in the family and they'll be little for a while," Regina replied. Over the year, she had learned to let one little person go — Roland. Part of it was a punishment from Robin, but more so, she just felt it was not right for her to get close to him after being responsible for his mother's death… the first time. Zelena was not very partial to Roland, so they did not have to worry about him being around her. Zelena was not very partial to Robin either and was not happy that she had to split custody of Hunter with him. Regina made sure Zelena stuck to the arrangement and understood how much this all meant to Zelena by the simple fact that she kept up with it.

"Well, what if we had another little person around here? A yours and mine little person?" Emma proposed, pointing to each of them.

"I do believe he's called Henry," Regina remarked with an amused smile.

Emma laughed. "I don't think he's a little person anymore. He's taller than you now."

"He is." It caused a ping in her, but that did not mean they should rush into having another child. "I only just talked you into seriously moving in and now you want a baby?"

"Well, I'm all in now!" Emma grinned and held Regina a little tighter. "Besides, your grandmother will do the heavy lifting."

Regina chuckled and wrapped her arms around the strong arms around her. "Let's bask in this for a while longer."

"I know. I'm just putting it out there. So, now we can talk about it. Plus, we'll have to talk about it with Henry. Hell, with Zelena because she'll have to be serious about finding an apartment. So, lots of talking. It'll probably take a while."

Regina laughed. They had all gotten better at talking. It helped bring them together and keep them together as a family. So, yeah, there would be talking and maybe it would even be about that. And maybe nothing would come of it, or maybe something would, but the point was that there was an open dialogue between all of them thanks to Nana.

"We'll talk about later," Regina said. Emma just smiled.

-8-8-8-8-

The End.

A special thanks to sailor8t for beta-reading. Thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed the story. If so, please, check out some of my other works. Also, maybe check out my books on Amazon under the name S. L. Kassidy. For now, I'm returning to my padded room. Hopefully, I'll be back and so will you. Thanks again. I appreciate the support.