Regina does everything in her power to force Emma and Harry out of Storybrooke and out of her and Henry's lives forever. Fortunately, Emma has more allies than Regina realizes.

**A cast's main quote is in this chapter, but it's spread apar. It's fairly easy to find, this is just a warning.**

***

Regina approached the class that was sitting in the shade of a big tree, and watched as Mary Margaret taught her class about photosynthesis. Regina cleared her throat and Mary Margaret stood and approached her. "May I speak with my son?" Regina asked.

Mary Margaret looked at her class, then back to Regina. "We're in the middle of a lesson. Is it important?"

Regina narrowed her eyes. "Do you think I'd be here if it wasn't!?" She walked away from Mary Margaret, and Henry followed her away from his classmates. "Henry, sweetie, I have some bad news. The woman who you brought here... she's been arrested. She broke into Dr. Hopper's office and stole his files. She's a con woman. She's trying to learn about us in order to take advantage of us. That's why she's sticking around. I'm sorry, sweetie."

Henry scoffed. "That's a lie! And you're not sorry! You're never sorry!"

Regina sighed. "I know you think otherwise, but all I'm doing is trying to protect you. This is gonna be good for us, you'll see. Things will be better." She looked up as the school bell rang.

Henry shoved past her, eyes on the ground. "I gotta get back to class."

***

Emma stared defiantly into the camera as Graham took her mugshots. "You know the shrink is lying, right?"

"To the right, please," Graham gestured, and Emma huffed as she rotated to the side. "Why would he lie?"

"The mayor put him up to this," Emma answered. "She's gotta have something on him. He's terrified of her, like everyone else in this town."

"To the left," Graham pointed, and Emma rolled her eyes as she turned again. "Regina may be a touch intimidating, but I don't think she'd go as far as a frame-job."

"How far would she go?" Emma asked as Graham removed the pictures. "What does she have her hands in?"

"Well . . . she's the mayor," Graham shrugged. "She has her hands in everything."

Emma raised an eyebrow in challenge. "Including the police force?"

Graham narrowed his eyes, but the door to the station suddenly burst open before he could answer. "Mum!" Harry ran inside.

"Harry?" Emma stared, only to balk when Henry barreled after him. "Henry?"

"Henry?" Graham frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"His mother told him what happened," Mary Margaret answered as she entered at a more leisurely pace, visibly more timid than Newt and Queenie. The witch and wizard, in comparison, were glaring at the mugshots Graham had placed on the table nearby.

"Of course, she did," Emma sighed and turned to Henry. "Henry, I don't know what she said - "

"You're a genius!" Henry grinned widely.

Emma's mouth hung open, her previous train of thought now derailed. "What?" she stammered.

"I know what you were up to," Henry beamed. "You were gathering intel." Emma blinked, and Henry whispered quietly, "for Operation Cobra."

Graham frowned. "I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost."

"It's need to know, Sheriff," Henry told him bluntly, making Graham do a double take. "And all you need to know is that Miss Blanchard's gonna bail her out."

"That's what we came to do, too," Queenie held up her hand.

"You were gonna do that?" Emma looked at Mary Margaret in surprise. "Why?"

"I, uh . . . " Mary Margaret gulped before shrugging, standing tall under the inquisitive look given to her by the sheriff. "I trust you."

A cunning smirk formed on Emma's face. "Well," she turned to Graham and extended her cuffed hands. "If you could uncuff me, I have something to do."

***

Regina's calming day of paperwork was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a loud motor whirring from outside her window. She stood from her chair and looked out her window, and rage erupted in her at the sight of the blonde woman, uncuffed and not locked up in the sheriff's station, taking a chainsaw to her prized honeycrisp apple tree. As one of the branches fell to the ground, apples rolled across the grass, and Regina snarled and stormed for the door.

When she made it onto the grounds, Emma had cut down another branch, and the woman's vicious grin of satisfaction made Regina increase her pace. "What the hell are you doing?!" she yelled.

Emma looked around at her handiwork and dropped the chainsaw in favor of brushing off her hands. "Picking apples," she answered.

"You're out of your mind!" Regina shrieked.

"Actually, I think that's you." The voice made Regina jump, and she turned to see the lanky, curly-haired man from Emma's room leaning against another tree. He was absently juggling three of her apples, and he expertly caught two before biting into the third one. He hummed appreciatively and looked at the apple before pushing off the tree trunk and walking forward. "Honestly, no one in their right mind would try to frame Emma. She dealt with those daft idiots for a living for years."

Regina scowled at him. "How the hell is this any of your business - ?"

She faltered, fuming when she realized she had no idea of this man's name. "Newt Scamander," he supplied for her with a thin smile. "And you're fighting my sister. It's definitely my business."

"Lady, after the last years I've had, a shoddy frame job's never gonna scare me off," Emma smirked. "You're gonna have to do better than that. Your little article said nothing about what I've been up to since I adopted Harry, right? Well . . . if you come after me one more time, you'll find out exactly what I'm capable of."

She turned on her booted heel, and Newt took an intentional, loud bite of an apple before turning and following Emma off the grounds, leaving Regina to angrily fume.

***

When Queenie, Emma, Harry, and Newt got back to the bed and breakfast, Ruby greeted them with a rueful smile. "Granny's gone up to try to kick you out, Emma," she warned.

Emma stopped walking from where she was on the stairs and turned, narrowing her eyes at the woman behind her. "Excuse me?"

"I'm so sorry, Emma. the Mayor called and told us it was a 'city ordinance' that we didn't house felons," Ruby told her, her anger clear in her voice.

Queenie narrowed her eyes. "And you said your grandmother was the one who is to tell Emma?" she asked, her deceptively kind face showing an anger that could only rival her anger with Dumbledore. She must've read Ruby's thoughts on her grandmother.

Ruby nodded, sighing. "She's already upstairs, but I already tried. I'll try again, though, if you want?"

Newt nodded. "We would appreciate that, Ruby. Thank you," he smiled at her.

Ruby smiled in return. "Of course!" she called as she walked up the stairs, the four following her.

Granny's voice came from a room to the left of Emma as she got her key and turned the knob to her door. "Ms. Swan?"

Emma turned around, planting a fake kind smile on her face. "Yes?"

Granny sighed. "Oh my, this is terribly awkward. I need to ask you to leave. I'm afraid we have a 'no felons' rule. It . . . it turns out it's a city ordinance."

Emma smiled sardonically. "Let me guess . . . the Mayor's office just called to remind you."

Granny nodded. "You can get your things, but I need your key. Your family is welcome to stay, though," she told them.

Newt crossed his arm, eyes like glaciers and his displeasure clear as Ruby walked in front of Emma, defiantly crossing her arms. "Granny, I told you earlier. You had no trouble housing Leroy after his house burned down and he's been in jail more times than I can count. You housed other 'criminals', too, so it's hypocritical for you to kick Emma out."

Ruby's scowl deepened as Granny shook her head. "I never should have, it was against the city's demand, and I could get into serious trouble," Granny defended.

Ruby growled angrily at the argument, and Queenie's hand shifted to hold back Harry as he went to grab her hand. She didn't want him in that crossfire. "Granny, you'll be in trouble either way," Ruby argued. "Because I will tell the sheriff you've broken that 'ordinance' multiple times. At this point, what's one more?"

Granny scoffed. "My granddaughter, the troublemaker, of course would advocate to house a felon."

Ruby's face twisted in fury. "I'm advocating to keep a family together . . . just like you've done by letting me stay with you. All I have seen from Emma while she's been here is that above all else, she cares for her family. She hasn't done a thing to place them in danger . . . and before you say what I know you want to say, anyone could have slid on wet pavement and crashed into the sign. Her first concern was her child. She's Henry's biological mother, and everything I've seen from her says she cares for him and would never harm him, like Dr. Hopper claimed when she 'stole' his files. For God's sake, Granny, smack Regina's grubby paws out of our business!"

"She is the mayor, Ruby," Granny hissed. "Show some respect!"

Ruby scoffed. "I'll show her some respect when she respects us. So let me know when hell freezes over. In the meantime, I stand by my point. Leroy has committed far more crimes - hell, he was in jail just the other day - and you've accepted him without hesitation." She leaned in and narrowed her eyes. "Look me in the eye and tell me one good reason to kick Emma out without referencing the stupid ordinance you've already violated so many times."

Granny stayed silent, and Ruby smirked at her. She turned around to face Emma and her family with a grin. "You're staying here. Let me know if you have any issues with her, okay?"

Behind Ruby, Granny huffed angrily and walked back down the hallway and down the steps, heading back into the diner. Queenie smiled warmly at Ruby in reply. "Don't hesitate to let us help you should you ever need it," she told her, and despite Ruby not being able to do what Queenie could, she still seemed to hold an air of sweet, but dangerous.

"I won't," Ruby promised. "Come down to the diner tonight, yeah?"

Emma nodded before she took off down the hallway and steps. At Newt's dark look and Queenie's narrowed eyes, she stopped and smirked. "Regina's in trouble, isn't she?"

"Oh yes, she is." Newt snarled.

Emma sighed and rubbed her forehead. "How did I get stuck with the people who look and act like cinnamon rolls, but can actively kill you with a simple swish and flick?"

Queenie's reply to Emma's words made Harry and Emma look wide-eyed at each other comically.

"I've always loved the idea of not being what people expected of me."

***

Graham watched from his place at his cruiser as Regina picked apple after apple and placed them in a basket. She looked up and caught sight of Graham as he walked over, careful not to step on the apples near his feet. Regina regarded him coolly, rearranging her apple basket. "She destroyed city property," she huffed. "I want her arrested."

Graham sighed. "Again?"

Regina glared at him. "What are you waiting for?" she snapped.

Graham shrugged. "I'm just not convinced arresting her is the right plan. And I'm not talking about your tree. We both know she didn't steal those files, Regina."

Regina angrily clenched her jaw as she worked to keep from punching the man. "Oh, do we?"

Graham nodded, ignoring her anger. "I mean, she looked pretty shocked when I leveled the charges against her."

"That's because she doesn't like being caught," Regina scoffed as she kneeled, ready to collect more apples for her basket.

Graham raised an eyebrow. "Or because she was set up. And if she was, that means Dr. Hopper was lying. If he's lying, that means that someone asked him to." He tilted his head, watching as Regina angrily stood. "Are we really confident that the man's conscience won't eventually get the best of him?"

Regina shook her head, scoffing. "I think your schoolboy crush is clouding your judgment. Remember, I made you Sheriff. And I can take it away just as easily."

Graham sighed, running his hand through his perfect CW hair. "You want me to arrest her again? I will."

Regina smiled coldly. "Good," she told him as she knelt back down.

Graham crossed his arms. "But she is gonna keep comin' at you. And I know you, you are gonna keep comin' at her. You will do whatever it takes to get her out of here. And you may succeed, bu-"

He was interrupted by Regina's angry scoff. "I will succeed!" she yelled at him. "He's my son! It's what's best for him!"

Graham sighed again. "I know that's what you believe. But if this escalates, it seems to me the only one who will get hurt is Henry."

Regina huffed, stalking back into her house.

***

Emma felt her phone buzz, and she nearly screamed in frustration when she saw the ugly yellow boot on her front car tire as she picked it up. "What?" she growled.

Regina chuckled. "Ms. Swan, I'd be happy to continue demonstrating my power, but am I right in guessing your resolve to stay is only growing?"

Emma scowled, but waved off Queennie's concerned look. "You have no idea," she told her.

Emma could hear Regina's smile. "Well then. I think it's time we made peace. Why don't you drive over to my office. . ." Emma slammed her car door in frustration as Regina kept talking. "Or walk—whatever suits you."

Emma rolls her eyes heavily and hangs up, slamming her fist onto the hood of her car. She nodded as Queenie questioned if she was okay, and sighed when Queenie gave her the 'disappointed mom look', which Newt had dubbed when he saw it being directed at Emma for the first time. "I'm going to go meet Regina and meet you back here, okay?"

Queenie sighed, but nodded. "Just be careful, please." She walked over and hugged Emma tightly, kissing her head. "Call if you need us, okay?"

Emma nodded. "Always do," She sighed into Queenie before she pulled back and made her way to the Mayor's office, already regretting agreeing to go see her.

***

Regina smiled at her as she walked into the office ten minutes later.: "I'd like to start by apologizing, Ms. Swan."

Emma glanced at her as she took in the black and white room, then she did a double take and looked at Regina in shock. "What?" she asked, watching as Regina lifted her glass to take a sip before answering.

Regina smiled. "I just have to accept the reality that you want to be here."

Emma nodded firmly. "I do want to be here."

Regina continued on as if Emma hadn't spoken. "And that you're here to take my son from me."

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Okay, let's be clear: I have no intention of taking him from anyone!" she threw her hands out as Regina raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well then, what are you doing here?" she asked, playing coy.

Emma sighed. "Henry may not be my son, and I don't want to take him away from you, but my son is his brother, and they want to get to know each other. Henry got in my head and I just want to make sure he's okay. The more you try to push me out, the more I want to be here, especially after seeing how. . ." She paused, trying to find the right word. "Troubled . . . he is."

Regina raised an eyebrow, looking at something behind her, but it didn't peak Emma's interest enough to turn around. Yet. "You think he's troubled?"

Emma didn't nod, but she didn't shake her head either. "He's in therapy, and I only got through a couple pages of his shrink's notes before you had me arrested. . . but putting all that aside, he thinks everyone in this town is a fairytale character."

Regina tilted her head, playing the perfect picture of curiosity. "And you don't?"

Emma threw her hands out as she looked at Regina. "How can I?" she huffed. "The kid can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality and it's only getting worse. It's crazy."

She scrambled to stand and turn around when she heard Henry's voice. "You think I'm crazy?" he asked, shaking his head in denial.

Emma shook her head. "No, Henry! That's now what I-" He ran out of the office before she could finish her sentence. Emma stood, as if to follow, and then turned again to address Regina. "How long was he there?" she asked, an air of danger slipping into the undercurrents of her voice.

Regina shrugged, sipping on her wine. "Long enough."

Emma's eyes widened when she realized. "You knew he would be here, didn't you?"

Regina scoffed. "Did I know that my son comes to my office every Thursday at precisely five P.M. so I can take him for dinner before his therapy session? Of course I did. I'm his mother. Your move."

Emma snarled at her as she made to leave. "You have no soul. How in the hell did you get like this?" She gave Regina no chance to answer her as she took off running out of the office.

***

Mary Margaret's needleworking was interrupted by a knock on her loft's door, and she frowned in confusion as she set aside her work and headed for the door. It was getting dark outside, and she rarely ever had visitors. Who would be knocking on her door at this time of night?

She had her answer when she opened the door and found a sheepish Emma standing outside. "Hey," she greeted with a small nod. "I just wanted to say thank you and, um . . . " She held out a small envelope. "Pay you back your portion of the bail money."

Mary Margaret took the envelope in surprise, not having expected that gesture from Emma. The blonde fidgeted in place, then turned to leave. "Wait!" Mary Margaret held out her hand, and Emma blinked her green eyes at her. "You look like you need to talk."

Emma hesitated and looked towards the stairwell, then she sighed and nodded. "Yeah," she agreed. "Preferably to someone who can't read me like they can a book back to front."

Mary Margaret held the door open wider, and Emma walked into her loft. "Back to front?" she repeated as she led Emma into the kitchen.

"It certainly feels like it," Emma snorted as she took one of the chairs at Mary Margaret's table. "Harry has never clicked with an adult like he did with Newt when they first met. I met Harry under . . . not ideal circumstances, and while he trusted me, it took the day for it to happen. With Newt?" She snapped her fingers, and she jumped when white sparks flew from the contact point. She looked at Mary Margaret, hoping the woman hadn't seen; the teacher had poured cocoa mixture into two mugs, and she restrained a sigh. "Then again, Newt's a very trustworthy person, so . . . no surprise that he's Harry's favorite. He's the brother I never had, and he loves Harry like his own child. If something ever happened to me, I made it clear his guardianship would go to Newt."

Mary Margaret giggled as she worked on their cocoa. "And Queenie?"

"Well, they're a package deal," Emma shrugged. "Not romantically, of course, but they've been inseparable for years. Queenie's a godsend, honestly. I wouldn't know half of the things I know about taking care of a kid if it hadn't been for her . . . and yeah, I know she could read me like a book." She smirked as Mary Margaret slid a mug in front of her. "She's basically a mind-reader."

"I wish I was one," Mary Margaret sighed. "That could come in handy in school. I'd know who was paying attention or not."

Emma held in a snort as she picked up her mug and took a sip of her cocoa. Why wasn't she surprised Mary Margaret was thinking along those lines? Spice burst on her tongue, and Emma blinked and looked at her mug. "Cinnamon?" she asked in surprise.

"Oh," Mary Margaret blushed as she placed a plate of cookies in front of her. "I'm sorry, I should've asked. It's a little quirk of mine. Do you mind?"

Emma smacked her lips appreciatively. "Not at all," she shook her head, holding up her hand to politely refuse the cookies. Count on the isolated town of Nowhere, Maine to have others who shared her taste in cocoa. "When you helped bail me out, you said that you trusted me. Why?"

Mary Margaret blushed and looked down at her drink. "It's strange . . . ever since you arrived here, I've had the oddest feeling, like we've met before. I mean, I know it's crazy."

Emma chuckled. "I've been reevaluating my definition of 'crazy' ever since I took custody of Harry," she shared. "Now I'm starting to do it again."

Mary Margaret smirked. "For what it's worth, I think you're innocent."

"Of breaking and entering, or just in general?"

Mary Margaret grinned. "Whichever makes you feel better."

Emma laughed and sipped her cocoa again. "It doesn't really matter what anyone thinks I did or didn't do." Mary Margaret tilted her head, and Emma sighed. "I'm considering leaving," she confessed, making Mary Margaret blink. "I mean . . . I have you on my side, Ruby has gone against her own grandmother to let us stay at her family's inn, and don't get me started on Newt and Queenie . . . but Regina has the rest of the town on her side. If I stay, Henry's only gonna keep getting hurt. That means Harry will get hurt, too. How the hell do I choose?"

Mary Margaret traced the rim of her mug as she thought. "You said what would happen if you stay . . . what happens if you go?" Emma bit her lip, and Mary Margaret smiled at her. "I think the very fact that you think you should leave is why you have to stay. You care about him. Who will protect Henry if you won't?" Emma looked down and swallowed hard, and Mary Margaret hesitated before laying a careful hand on her arm. "The way you ran for Harry is kind of the talk of the town," she shared, making Emma blink. "If any mother had half the devotion to their child as you do for Harry, they would be amazing. That's exactly the kind of help Henry needs. Who better to give that than you?"

***

Archie sighed as he watched Henry. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Henry said nothing as he fiddled with Archie's umbrella. "You know, that umbrella is kind of my good luck charm." Henry remained quiet, and Archie attempted a new tactic, one that had normally worked in the past. "Is that why you think I'm Jiminy Cricket?" he asked softly, watching as Henry shifted.

"I don't think you're anyone," Henry mumbled as he set his umbrella down.

A soft knock came on the office door, and it opened to reveal Emma, holding the storybook pages in her hand, a sad smile on her face. Archie stood immediately, wincing in discomfort. "Ms. Swan. Look, I can explain. The mayor forced me–"

"I know," Emma interrupted, holding up a hand to stop Archie from continuing. "Don't worry about it. I get it." She turned to talk to Henry who refused to look at her. "Henry, I'm sorry, kid."

Henry lifted his head to glare at her. "I don't want to talk to you!"

Archie tried to interrupt. "Ms. Swan, if she knew you were here–"

"To hell with her." Emma snarled, and Archie recoiled at the sound. She sat on the couch Hnery was on, and sighed, folding her hands in her lap. "Henry, there are two simple reasons I stayed here—you and Harry. I wanted to get to know you, and so did your brother-"

Henry cut her off angrily. "You think I'm crazy!"

Emma shook her head. "No, I think the Curse is crazy. And it is. . ." she sighed. "But that doesn't mean that it isn't true." Her eyes widened when she realized how she'd said it. "I'm not saying it is real, Henry, but It is a lot to ask anyone to believe in. But there are a lot of crazy things in this world. So, what do I know? Maybe it is true." She sighed as Henry looked at her skepticaly.

"But you told my mom–" he started.

Emma interrupted. "-What she needed to hear. What I do know. . .is that if the Curse is real, the only way to break it is by tricking the Evil Queen into thinking that we are nonbelievers. 'Cause, that way, she's not on to us. Is that what Operation Cobra was all about? Throwing her off the trail?" she asked cheekily. She may not belive it, but that didn't mean she was going to destory Henry's belief system again.

Henry nodded in awe. "Brilliant!"

Emma smirked, and then let it drop as she looked at Henry seriously. "I read the pages, and Henry, you're right—they are dangerous. There is only one way to make sure that she never sees them." She'd debated on taking her wand out to light them on fire, but she couldn't since it was a very big risk she was yet ready to reveal, so she took the pages and placed them into the fireplace, watching as they turned to ash. "Now we have the advantage," she told Henry, who grinned at her.

Henry got up and raced to hug her. She oomphed as he crashed into her. "I knew you were here to help me!" he said excitedly.

Emma nodded, placing her hand on his head. "That's right, kid. I am." She broke the hug to kneel infront of him, taking him by the hands. "And nothing, not even a curse, is gonna stop that."

They hugged again and said goodbye to Archie, who smiled at the duo as they left his office.

***

A scowling Regina narrowed her eyes as she tended to her apple tree, cursing and rueing the day Emma Swan was born. From behind her, a Scottish accent spoke up, causing her to spin around to face its owner. Mr. Gold smiled brokenly at her as he carefully made his way through the carnage Emma had left behind. "What a mess," he remarked with a gesture to the apples and branches all over the grass.

Regina sighed then brightened with a smile. "Not for long. What can I do for you, Mr. Gold?"

Mr. Gold shrugged, chuckling. "I was just in the neighborhood, thought I'd pop by. Lovely to see you in such high spirits."

Regina chuckled."Well, it's been a good day. I just rid the town of an unwanted nuisance."

Mr. Gold raised his eyebrows. "Emma Swan? Really?"

Regina nodded. "Yes. I imagine she's halfway to by now."

Mr. Gold smirks from where he's picking an apple from the tree. "Oh, I wouldn't bet on that," He grinned when Regina scowled at him. "I've just seen her strolling down the main street with your boy. Thick as thieves, they looked."

Regina stiffened. "What?"

Mr. Gold smiled crookedly. "Perhaps you should have come to me. If Ms. Swan is a problem you can't fix, I'm only too happy to help. . . for a price, of course."

Regina scoffs. "I'm not in the business of making deals with you anymore," she said as she turned her back to him, returning to her apple tree.

Mr. Gold chuckled. "To which deal are you referring?"

Regina spun around to give him a look. "You know what deal."

Mr. Gold nodded, placing a hand on his chin like was just remembering the thing he'd eaten for breakfast. "Oh, right, yeah. The boy I procured for you. Henry. Did I ever tell you what a lovely name that was? How ever did you pick it?"

Regina turned back around to face him again. "Did you want her to come to town?" she demanded angrily. "You wanted all this to happen, didn't you? Your finding Henry wasn't an accident, was it?"

Mr. Gold looked at her innocently. "Whatever do you mean?"

Regina stalked towards him. "Where did you get him?" she asked. When Gold remained silent, she growled. "Do you know something?!"

"I've no idea what you're implying, dearie," he replied impishly, and Regina narrowed her eyes.

"I think you do," she accused. Gold didn't say anything; he just smirked at her, fanning the flames of her anger. "Who is this woman, his mother, this. . . Emma Swan?"

"I would say you think you know exactly who she is," he replied, turning to walk away as Regina stared. "I really must be going, now."

He made to start walking away, but she hastily moved and blocked his path. Regina narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "Tell me what you know about her, Gold!" she growled.

Mr. Gold simply looked at his pocket watch. "I'm not gonna answer you, dear, so I suggest you excuse me," he said as she refused to move from his way. He smiled at her sarcastically. "Please." She moved reluctantly, and he took a bite of the apple in his hand and walked away, leaving a stunned Regina to turn and watch as he pitched the apple over his shoulder.

***

Regina closed her office door with a sigh as she took in the air conditioning. She walked to her desk, setting down her basket as she took off her over-blazer and set it on her chair. She whipped around when she noticed a noise from her right, and her eyes widened when she saw a display of blackened apples sitting on her couch's coffee table.

She backed up slightly when she noticed the woman sitting next to them, dressed in pink and white, with blonde hair and a sweet but dangerous smile on her lips. "Oh, good, you're here!" she straightened and smoothed out her skirt. "We need to talk."

Regina raised an eyebrow at her when she smiled. "Can I help you?" She asked, now realizing that this was the final member of Emma Swan's family . . . the surrogate sister. Why were they all congregating at her office to disrupt her day?

Queene shook her head. "I would just like for you to know that if you even attempt to hurt our sister, you will be facing some . . . very unpleasant and very unhappy people. Are we clear?" Regina nodded uninterestedly. She had work to do. "I said, are we clear?"

Her saccharine sweet tone caving to sharp barbs like shards of glass brought shivers to Regina's spine, and she barely repressed them, not wanting to give the other woman the satisfaction. Regina nodded, narrowing her eyes. "Crystal."

"Good!" Queenie grinned as she looked down at her watch. "Oh, I must be going, I have dinner to attend. Bye-bye, now!" She waved sweetly and scampered off the couch and through the door, leaving Regina to stare after her in wonder.

Who is this family?

***

I, uh . . . I think that may even the score for now? I really have no idea who won the start of the "mother wars," but it definitely did not go according to Regina's plans. Too bad, right?

In other news, we love Ruby. Is it too obvious? XD

Next up is "Snow Falls" . . . and someone desperately missing from the story finally makes his long-awaited appearance!

~ Miss Moffat

***

Now we're talking XD Finally, some action. I was starting to get bored with all the fluff. I always need me some action in my books. How about you? XD

How'd we like this chaper?

Next up we 'watch' "Snow Falls", where we finally see an important figure come into the picture XD

As always, stay safe, stay cool, and stay reading xx

~Miss Singer