~~~ 5 months later ~~~

Another bench. Another woman sitting silently; this time a redhead. Regina walked around before taking a seat and crossing her legs. A slight difference occurred this time; the already seated woman actually looked to her right and acknowledged the brunette with a small smile.

In front of them, a few feet away, sat two girls picking strands of grass and talking softly to one another about whatever it is little girls discuss.

"How long has she been here?" the brunette asked.

Her sister turned towards her. "Not long. Half an hour tops."

"Half an hour?" Regina exclaimed. "Zelena, why didn't you..."

She was promptly cut off with a raised hand.

"Well, I had to wait until she had calmed down first and then I had to find my phone. Besides, if I recall correctly, I called Emma, not you."

Regina looked at Emma's daughter, Liza, talking to Zelena's girl, Robyn. They were almost three years apart but always seemed to get along well. Now it seemed they would have something important in common.

"She sent me."

Zelena gave Regina a pointed look. "Are you the good cop then?"

"Good cop? What are you talking about? There's no good cop, bad cop. No one's in trouble."

"From what she tells me, she is." The redhead placed her hand on her sister's knee. "What happened? I tried to ask but she just cried her little eyes out so I changed the subject to baking cakes. Which reminds me, Robyn wanted to bake after school. Perhaps I'll take her inside and leave you two alone."

"Zee."

Zelena stopped in her tracks, turning back slightly.

"Thank you."

"She's always welcome here, sis."

The redhead knelt down and spoke quietly to the girls before she stood, taking Robyn's hand in hers. As they walked back towards the cottage, Zelena gave an encouraging nod to her sister. Once the pair were inside, the mayor looked back towards the girl who remained seated on the grass. Liza gazed at the seated woman on the back porch, before her head lowered slightly.

"Elizabeth," Regina called softly.

The girl was slow to rise before dragging her feet on the trek to the bench. Her head remained hanging down until the mayor's fingers tilted her chin up. Regina's gaze took in the child's dark locks (from that no good pirate) and beautiful hazel eyes that matched her mother's and their son's. When said eyes started to look glassy, the mayor's thumb stroked gently across a soft cheek.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Elizabeth shook her head slowly.

"Please."

The head movement turned into a single nod before the story began. It all started at kindergarten, a girl had been bullying Elizabeth's friend and also harassing Elizabeth herself. Apparently today hadn't been the first altercation. The girl's eyes remained glassy but she began to speak passionately about how it wasn't right to bully others and that she hadn't meant to do anything but the next thing she knew, she'd turned the bully's face green with purple spots.

"Green with purple spots?" Regina asked in shock. "But how?"

"I don't know 'Gina. I was mad and I just wanted her to leave us alone and I never done nothing like that b'fore I promise and I was sent to the principal and then and then ... then..."

The little girl burst into tears. "Mama came and she was so, so mad. She yelled at me and the lights blew up and she ... she... mama was so ..." Elizabeth struggled to go on.

"Oh sweetheart." The mayor lifted the girl into her lap and held her close. "Your mama is so very sorry. She didn't mean it."

"But why she yell at me? She...she...don't yell at me."

"I know." Regina placed a kiss to the top of the girl's head. "I know. She's just had a rough time lately."

Rough didn't even begin to cover it. Emma had been covering for David at the station due to Snow becoming very ill during her pregnancy. The hoodlums who were repeatedly painting graffiti on shop windows and towns people's cars, and not to forget the shoplifting, just couldn't seem to be caught. Then to add to that, three days ago, an out of the blue phone call came from the pirate, who hadn't spoken to the sheriff or their daughter for almost four years. It also hadn't helped that the sheriff's sleeping regime for the past week had consisted of mainly 2-3 hours of broken sleep a night.

"So you turned a girl green, huh?" Regina attempted to lighten the mood. "Bet she looked pretty ridiculous, hmm?"

Elizabeth's sobs turned to sniffles as a small smile formed.

"Didn't give her a pig nose or make her go cross eyed too?" Regina crossed her eyes and scrunched her nose up.

The girl giggled. "You're silly, 'Gina."

She hummed in agreement before rubbing her nose against the girl's. "Maybe and you have magic."

Elizabeth nodded with wide eyes.

"It's nothing to be frightened of." Regina promised softly. "Aunt Zee, Robyn, your mama and even I have magic. You can ask questions and talk to us at any time, OK? How would you like to join Robyn in her lessons?"

"Could I?"

"Of course you can."

The two shared a smile as Regina wiped the last of the girl's tears away.

"Liza?" The strangled word slipped from the mouth of the distraught mother who had materialised a few feet away.

Elizabeth leaned further into Regina, clutching her blouse for a moment before awkwardly slipping from her lap. Regina rubbed her back in encouragement before she moved warily towards her mother. It was a very slow journey until the sheriff dropped heavily to her knees with a whispered, "Baby."

That was all it took for the child to run into her mother's arms. Quiet words of "I'm sorry," "Mama," "Forgive me," "Baby," "I love you," flowed between the two. When small arms refused to unwrap themselves from around the sheriff's neck, the woman held onto her child firmly as she got to her feet; bringing the pair over to the bench on the back porch. Once seated, with the girl enfolded in her mother's arms; Emma rested her cheek on Elizabeth's head and mouthed the words "thank you" to Regina. The mayor's concerned features softened before she gave an imperceptible nod.

"Mama," Elizabeth's voice broke the silence.

"Yes, baby?"

"Can we go home?"

"Sure we can," Emma softly responded.

"And watch a movie?"

"Of course."

The mayor added to the conversation with a gentle, "that sounds like a wonderful idea. Spend some time together." After mentioning that she would see what her sister and niece were up to, she positioned herself to get up.

A small hand shot out halt her movements, paired with a firm, "no, mommy, stay."

Brown eyes flicked back and forth between mother and daughter; the woman not knowing what to do or say.

Emma broke the tense silence, "can't we all go home?" Her expression was hopeful.

"Home," Regina whispered before leaning down to place a kiss on the girl's forehead.

~~~ Later that night ~~~

The sheriff lay between the legs of the sated mayor; the mayor's fingers still tangled in her hair as her head rested on the woman's stomach.

"Could I ask you something?" Emma murmured against warm skin.

An affirmative hum sounded above her.

A tentative voice questioned, "Would you move in with me?"

Regina propped herself up on an extra pillow before answering. "Shouldn't that be my question?"

Emma turned her head; chin resting on the mayor's stomach. "Why?"

"Let's face it, you and Elizabeth spend more time here than you do anywhere else. You've got clothes and other items here. She has her own room for goodness sake. Not to mention the tree house in my backyard."

"You mean the castle?" Emma smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"Well," Regina crossed her arms defensively, "she wanted a castle so she got a castle. What was I supposed to do?"

"Hey, relax." The sheriff gently stroked the mayor's side. "You know it's the best tree house ever and Liza thinks it's awesome. I'm definitely thankful you did it," she smiled warmly. "If it'll make you feel better, you can ask me to move in."

Regina scoffed, "aren't you so giving?"

"Well if you want to use my lines first, yeah I am. Go on then." Emma waited patiently.

With an eye roll, the mayor asked, "Miss Swan, will you move in with me?"

"Ooh, Miss Swan, so official. Should I be signing somewhere."

The comment earnt her a flick to the nose from an unimpressed mayor.

"Be serious."

"On one condition."

"And what's that?"

"You don't steal my next line."

As the sheriff raised herself and slid up the body beneath her, until they were face to face; a breathy voice asked, "What would that be?"

She felt a warm tingle on her palm before something small but solid, slid from her relaxed hand. Looking down, she grasped a ring between her fingers.

"Em?"

The sheriff started a hasty ramble. "No, no, you're not taking this. I don't care if you have the perfect proposal planned out or whatever, I'm asking first. I know we only just did the moving in thing but you know, engagements can be a couple of years, no pressure. I mean, after a year or so you can decide you've had enough, you've trialled the living together. Even before any plans are made you know? You can just walk away or you well. . ."

Regina's dug her fingers into a sensitive spot, switching their places immediately, to stop her lover's speech.

"Breathe, dear," the mayor placed her hand on the woman's cheek. "Can you please stop pulling apart, what should be a special moment?" She leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss to the corner of the sheriff's mouth.

"Sorry, I just. . ."

"I know. I wouldn't get sick of you."

Emma breathed a sound of amusement as her hands pulled the woman closer.

"I would like to discuss this with our son and your daughter. . ."

"Our daughter," Emma cut in. "She did call you mommy; which I'm totally cool with so don't argue. Unless you don't want her to call you mom? I can talk to her." Emma bit her lip in worry.

"Stop," the mayor smiled, "that sounds wonderful. I would like to discuss this with our daughter. Our children," she closed her eyes as an overwhelming sense of love for her family took hold of her senses.

Eyes snapped open when the sheriff whispered, "who do you think I asked permission from?"

Regina gazed at the ring in the hand of the arm that was propping her up, before turning her attention to the woman lying beneath her. The woman she adored with her very being.

"What I don't understand is why you haven't put the ring on my finger or even properly asked me yet?" Regina questioned, with her best 'take-no-shit' mayor expression.

Emma laid there for a moment, confusion creasing her brow. "You mean?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

Regina nodded her head at her loveable idiot.

"You'll marry me?" the sheriff appeared to be in awe.

"If you put the ring on, yes I'll marry. . ."

She never got to finish her sentence. Emma had rolled them, holding her love to the mattress as she peppered kisses over expanses of skin; whilst sliding a ring onto the woman's finger.

No more words were required.