Disclaimer: Just a fan writing some stories.

Welcome Home

Regina sighed as she opened the front door to her home and drug her suitcase in behind her. Dropping her keys and purse on the entryway table, she kicked her shoes off underneath it. She was so happy to be home. The week-long conference in Chicago had been long but worth it in the end. She was hanging up her coat when a tiny gasp in the hallway caught her attention. She grinned to her daughter's silhouette in the doorway.

"Mommy!" The three year old exclaimed and charged towards her. The brunette barely had time to get her footing before the toddler flung herself into her mother's waiting arms. Regain scooped her up and held her tightly; the little girl wrapping her arms and legs around her as if clinging to a tree. "I'm supposed to say 'welcome home'." She smiled proudly.

She pressed a kiss to her daughter's hair before saying. "Thank you! Were you good for Mama while I was gone?" She asked quietly.

"Yes!" Smalls hands came up and cupped Regina's cheeks, "We counted the sleeps until it was time for you to come home!"

"You did? How many sleeps was it?"

"Eight!" The girl said proudly. "Eight sleeps is a long time."

"I know baby girl. I'm sorry that I had to be gone so long, but I'm home now."

"I'm glad you're home, Mommy."

The mother smiled again as her daughter pressed her face into her neck. She stood there for a moment, eyes closed, as she enjoyed the weight of her daughter in her arms. This was the longest Regina had been away from her since she'd been born.

Before Regina could move into the other room, she felt a hand on her back and lips on her temple. "Welcome home," her wife said soft as their eyes met.

"It's good to be home." The brunette smiled. She leaned in and pressed her lips to Emma's; an act that she had been dying to do for days.

"How was the conference?" Emma asked.

"Good. Productive."

The parents were about to move further into the house when their son entered the room.

"Hi, Mom." Henry said. Regina could have sworn that he voice was deeper than it was then when she had left and that he had grown another foot. He was already taller than her by five inches and was still growing.

The teenager hugged his mother the best he could while she was holding his sister. "Hi, Henry. Are you staying out of trouble?"

He smirked, "No."

Regina could tell by his tone that he was being sarcastic – just like his mother. "Did you finish your homework?"

"No." This time he certainly wasn't kidding.

"Head upstairs and finish. We can catch up when you're done."

He sighed dramatically, "Ok." He was about to turn upstairs when he stopped and kissed her cheek. "Welcome home, Mom."

She grinned as she took the stairs two at a time up to his bedroom. She turned back to her wife who kissed her again. When their lips finally parted she asked, "Is she asleep?"

"Yes." Regina answered simply.

Emma rubbed the little girl's back as she spoke, "She has been fighting to stay awake for the past hour. I promised her that she could stay up to see you. Do you want me to take her upstairs?"

"No." The brunette didn't say anything else but took a step forward to the living room. Emma followed without question and smiled when her wife paused by the couch. She knew exactly what Regain wanted.

The blonde took a moment to rearrange some pillows at the end of the couch before settling against them; one leg stretched along the couch and the other bent on the floor. Regina carefully lowered herself onto the couch. She moved with grace and ease even with a sleeping toddler in her arms. She leaned back into Emma's embrace and held her daughter against her chest. Neither of them spoke. There wasn't a need. Emma dropped the occasional kiss to Regina's head and the brunette smoothed her hand down the toddler's back when she shuffled in her arms. Henry eventually came downstairs; portable gaming device in hand. He settled on the carpet in front of the couch and allowed his brunette mother to run her hands through his hair as he battled whatever fictional war that was ranging on the tiny screen.

Regina closed her eyes. Happy and content to be surrounded by her family. Yes, welcome home indeed.