A/N: Hope those of you who do partake in Halloween festivities have a Spooktacular night! I unfortunately will be at work all night and unable to give out candies like I wanted. Anyways, here is the next chapter. Thank you for your continued interest in this. Let me know what you think if you feel so inclined! :)
Calliope sat under a tree watching the other kids run around for recess. Today was a nicer fall day where they could play outside for recess. While it was windy the sun was shining high in the sky and her classmates were just happy to outside and able to run around. Calliope didn't really feel like running around today, she really hadn't wanted to come to school this morning but after taking her temperature Emma had deemed her well enough to go to school. "Hi." Calliope turned looking up at the person who'd spoken to her.
"Hi." She responded to the little boy who smiled.
"Why aren't you playing? It's recess." Calliope shrugged before tucking her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around them before setting her chin in between the top of her knees.
"I don't feel like it."
"Can I sit with you?" Calliope shrugged once more as the boy sat down next to her and copied her position. "I'm Roland Locksley," Calliope looked at him, he had medium brown hair that nearly framed his round face and eyes that matched his hair.
"I'm Callie Swan, how come you're not playing Roland?"
"I guess I don't feels like it either, and I saw you over here and you looked sad." Roland pointed out as Calliope sighed.
"I miss my other mom, she died from the war." Roland eyes widen looking at his new friend.
"My mommy's gone too, but I have my papa." Roland pointed out as Calliope looked at him.
"I have my other momma, and R'gina and Hen-tree's."
"Then whys you sad? Papa tells me that mommy is in a better place, she died of cancer when I was still really little. I don't remembers her much but papa has pictures of her and he shows them to me when I misses her or don't remember what she looks like." Roland spoke as Calliope rested her chin back on the top of her knee's, her momma had said her other mom was in a better place too and that she would always be watching over them.
"I just miss her." Calliope whispered as Roland leaned into her but lost his balance and ended up putting all his weight onto the girl causing them to both fall over. Roland looked horrified and opened his mouth to apologize as Calliope started giggling as Roland pushed himself off Calliope and joined her in laughing.
"You feel better now?" Calliope nodded as she sat up and was wiping at her eyes.
"I like you Roland, want to be friends?" Roland nodded with a smile as she launched herself forward and hugged him. "Awesome!"
zZz
Emma looked down at her scrubs and sorely wished she'd brought extra clothes with her. They'd all been running late this morning and Emma in her haste to get Henry and Callie to school on time had her forgetting extra clothes to change into. Walking into the station Graham looked at her raising a brow in amusement.
"Don't laugh, this is what we wear at the hospital." Emma spoke as Graham couldn't help the chuckle that escaped.
"It's probably more comfortable than this uniform." Graham pointed out standing up and grabbing the deputy's uniform as Emma looked at him like he was joking.
"I'm not wearing that." Emma blinked as Graham handed it to her.
"We only have to wear it when there is official business. As you can see I'm not wearing mine." Emma nodded as she inspected the uniform, it seemed to be brand new and never worn.
"Have you not ever had a deputy? Or I guess one my size? Cause this looks like it's never been worn." Emma commented as Graham looked at the uniform and then shrugged.
"I don't know, not to my knowledge since I've been the Sheriff has there ever been a deputy." Graham spoke as if trying to remember something that just didn't seem to be there. "Anyways, here, you do have to wear this though." Graham tossed her a badge and she caught it clumsily as he chuckled and she glared at him and muttered asshole under her breath but he heard her and just continued to chuckle.
"I'm going to wear it on my scrubs for now." Emma smirked causing him to roll his eyes as she lifted the shirt and she hooked the badge onto her pants. Emma looked at Graham and chuckled herself. "Maybe this is how I'll patrol the town." Graham snorted just as the room began to shake. Emma's eyes widen as she grabbed onto the desk near her to try and steady herself as Graham braced his self against his own desk. As the shaking stopped the Sheriff and his newly appointed deputy stared at one another before Graham's phone interrupted the deafening silence.
"Sheriff Humbert," He spoke answering his cell phone as Emma could hear the muffled voice of the Mayor on the other line. As he hung up he looked at her then shook his head. "I need to go patrol, make sure nothing got too shaken up too bad. I'd offer you to come along…" He looked her up and down once as Emma shook her head.
"No way, I don't technically start until tomorrow, I'm tired and going home to my family." Graham raised a brow at this as Emma felt her face flush slightly at calling Henry and Regina her family.
"Your family huh?" Emma glared at him playfully as he just chuckled. "You interested in Dr. Mills?" Graham questioned as Emma's phone gratefully interrupted her answer.
"Oh, I've got to take this." She said apologetically as he raised a brow in amusement knowing that she wasn't in the least bit sorry.
"Right, get home to the family, I'll see you tomorrow bright and early to go over some things." Emma nodded as she picked up the uniform and clicked the green answer button as she headed for the door.
"Emma? Are you alright?" Emma smiled as she could hear the worry in her housemate voice.
"I'm fine, I was at the sheriff's station when the earthquake happened. Is everyone alright there?" Emma could hear the hesitation from the older woman. "What's wrong? Are Callie and Henry alright?"
"Oh, yes, the children are perfec—"
"MOMMA! IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!" Emma winced jerking the phone from her face as she got into her car.
"Calliope Rozalyn Swan." Emma chuckled as she heard Regina have a firm tone with her daughter. Emma could hear Callie apologize and soon she heard Callie yelling for Henry.
"Did you give her sugar?" Emma questioned as she heard Regina sigh.
"I retract the previous almost statement and I think her brother did." Emma turned on her car as she put it into reverse.
"But everyone is alright? Anything fall from shelves or break?" Emma questioned as Regina didn't say anything. "Regina?" Emma seemed to pull her from her daze.
"En serio, en este momento? I—I have go...mother just pulled into the driveway." Regina clicked off the phone and rushed from the kitchen to her front door as she heard it click open. "Mother, what are you doing here? Especially unannounced." Regina breathed as Cora looked at her daughter.
"Am I not allowed to be worried about my only daughter and grandson?" Cora spoke as she began taking off her jacket but left on her shoes knowing she wasn't going to be here long. The quake, or second shift had given her a proper excuse to come and see if what she'd been told at the pawn shop a few days ago was true.
"MOM!" Regina closed her eyes letting out a deep sigh as she could hear the pounding of feet as she knew they were running from his room and soon down the stairs. It seemed both of the children in her home were in rare form today and having a complete disregard for the known house rules of yelling inside.
"Henry Ignacio Daniel Mills." Regina spoke when he and Calliope reached the bottom of the stairs. Henry stopped immediately, not from seeing his grandmother but for the simple fact that his mom had used his full name.
"You're middle name is Ignacio?" Calliope questioned as Henry slowly looked to his sister before nodding. Calliope looked at him before looking over to the two adults and soon started laughing so hard that she ended up on the floor with tears in her eyes.
"It's not funny Calliope Rozalyn! And it's Ignacio Daniel!" Henry spoke which only seemed to make the six year old laugh even harder.
"Ig-ignacio!" Calliope muttered within her laughing fit as Henry just glared at her before looking over at his mom.
"Great! Look what you did mom, she is going to make fun of me forever now!" Henry whined as Regina looked at her mother who clearly looked amused as she watched the little girl on the floor slowly sit up now only giggling as she wiped at her eyes.
"I-I'm cr-crying." She hiccupped as she began to giggle a little harder which in turn made Henry start to chuckle.
"Calliope please get up from the floor," Regina breathed as she hiccupped again as Henry held out his hand to help her up.
"Henry Ignacio," She muttered before starting to laugh again.
"Mooooom," Henry moaned as Regina just looked at the laughing girl. Regina wondered if she'd ever laughed that hard before as Calliope continue to wipe at her eyes.
"Calliope stop laughing at your brother's middle name, it was his great-great grandfather's name." Calliope's eyes widened as she looked at Regina.
"That was someone's first name?" Regina nodded as Calliope bit her bottom lip and tried not laugh but failed as soon as she looked at Henry. "Oh H-hentree you gots lucky!" She stammered as she continued to laugh as Regina just sighed and looked at her mother.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Cora looked from the laughing girl to her daughter.
"Unfortunately I'm not, although I would like to reschedule, it seems like it would be quite the affair with this one present." Cora smiled as Calliope wiped at her eyes once more and realized that Cora was there.
"Mrs. Mayor why you here?" Calliope asked after regaining her composure.
"I came to make sure everyone was alright after the explosion in the mine." Henry looked at his grandmother upon hearing this. "The Sheriff found that an explosion at in mines is what caused the earthquake. He is currently in the process of sealing off the area until some qualified experts check it out." Cora explained looking from Callie to her own daughter.
"No one was hurt were they?" Cora shook her head.
"Not that I am aware of, I'll have the official report tomorrow. But as far as I know the mine is abandoned and no one was near it. But the mine is old, it was bound to happen." Cora commented as Calliope tilted her head slightly.
"Why was it bound to happen Mrs. Mayor?"
"My name is Cora, dear, not Mrs. Mayor."
"Oh, my name is Callie." Calliope pointed out as Cora nodded with a slight smile at the girl's cheekiness.
"I thought it was Calliope." Cora remarked as Calliope nodded this time.
"Yep, but Callie is a nicks-name. Is Cora a nicks-name?" Regina was surprised how inquisitive Calliope was being. From their last interaction Regina figured that Calliope would not talk to her mother.
"It is short for Coraline."
"Both our names start with the letter C." Cora nodded at the observation as Calliope looked at her brother. "I thought we was getting a snack Ignacio." Henry groaned at the smile Calliope now had on her face.
"Sure she can say Ignacio perfectly fine, but can't say Henry." He spoke looking at his mom. "Can we get a snack mom? We're hungry."
"I want an apple from the tree with peanut butter!" Calliope declared as the three were now looking at her back as she ran to the back door.
"She does know that those apples won't be good right?" Henry questioned as Regina inclined her head to the back door.
"Please go make sure your sister doesn't eat an apple from the ground or peanut butter, she seems to forget that she's allergic. Give her some caramel, please and there are some good apples in the kitchen." Regina breathed as Henry nodded looking to his Grandmother.
"Hi Grandma."
"Hello Henry." Henry smiled before heading in the direction his sister had just disappeared to. "You're babysitting?" Cora questioned as Regina sighed walking past her mother into the living room where she'd been straightening up from the quake.
"You know well enough mother that they live with us. Emma already told me that you know." Regina spoke as she was fixing photos on the entertainment stand.
"Yes I was informed. So you are playing house with Ms. Swan and her daughter, are you and Ms. Swan engaged in an intimate relationship?" Regina's eyes widen as she turned and looked at her mother.
"Excuse me?"
"Are the two of you sleeping together? Because why else would you offer the woman a place to stay if you weren't interested in sleeping with her? This isn't too out of character for you Regina, you were seeing that one high school teacher shortly after you adopted Henry." Cora spoke frankly as Regina couldn't believe what she was hearing from her own mother.
"Mother—"
"She's an attractive woman, I see why you would want to bed her. I already know that Ms. Swan is interested in women seeing as how she was married to a woman." Regina shook her head as she looked at her mother still slightly in shock.
"Not that it's any of your business mother, but no, we are not sleeping together. I offered Emma a place to stay when she considered moving here so that Henry and Calliope could get to know one another and form the bond that siblings do." Regina spoke as she moved a photo back into place. Regina felt highly irritated at her mother and what she was insinuating. Yes, Emma was rather attractive, her body was fit from being a bounty hunter, she had a beautiful smile that lit up her—no, she would not entertain these thoughts, especially with her mother present. She felt the urge not to give her the satisfaction that her slight attraction was one of the reasons she'd offered Emma her home as an option to live.
"Did you plan on telling me that you'd taken on renters in my home?" Regina sighed looking at her mother.
"This is not your home, Daddy left it to me; it is my home." This had Cora flinching at the mention of her late husband. Cora also noticed that this second shift had affected her daughter even more. She was no longer the docile young woman who would not talk back to her mother or show her annoyance in her presence. Before her now was a slight piece of the woman who'd pushed her through a magic mirror to gain control of her own life, the curse was weakening and her daughter, the Evil Queen was returning.
"Regina?" Both Mills' women turned to the entryway of the living room and looked at blonde who was standing there in scrubs holding the deputy uniform and had the badge clipped to her scrubs. Cora now understood the entire cause of the second shift, being the deputy was a permanent and important job. It cemented her place in the sleepy town.
"Well, I have a meeting I must prepare for, I just wanted to make sure that you were unaffected by the s—quake that the mine caused." Regina nodded her head.
"Yes, we are, thank you for checking on us, mother." Cora felt her lip twitch as she turned around and looked at Ms. Swan.
"I'll expect you to have the proper training before you carry a gun." Emma blinked with a nod as Cora walked past her. Emma looked at Regina as they both heard the door shut.
"So what was all that about?" Emma questioned as Regina sighed before going to plop down on the couch rather ungracefully.
"Don't ask," Emma raised a brow.
"I already did."
"Then don't expect me to answer." Emma chuckled as she looked at brunette who looked rather exhausted.
"Long day?"
"Yes the clinic was rather hectic today, and a visit from my mother with an inquisition on our relationship with one another did not help it." This intrigued Emma as she continued to look at the woman before her. "Not to mention that it seems our children have a blatant disregard for house rules when it comes to yelling."
"How hectic?" Emma started off asking.
"It was one appointment after the other today, people getting their animals the shots they need before winter hits." Emma nodded listening.
"So…what exactly did you mother asked regarding our relationship?" Emma wiggled her eyebrows causing Regina to chuckle slightly.
"She thinks we're sleeping together and it was the reason I offered you to stay with me." Regina breathed shaking her head. "Apparently that's not too out of character of me." Regina rolled her eyes as Emma raised a brow.
"Oh, are Calliope and I living with the Tavern Harlot?" Regina shot her a glare which caused Emma to laugh out. "I'm kidding Regina, but c'mon we're two hawt momma's. I'm pretty sure everyone thinks were a couple and if they don't, they probably will the longer Callie and I stay here." Emma shrugged her shoulders showing that she didn't really care if people thought that.
"I…I didn't of it in that way."
"Yeah, it's whatever though, we want our kids to bond and be siblings. If people think we're a couple because if it, oh well…and speaking of the gremlins…they seem a little too quiet now." Emma commented as she looked around and listened to the quietness of the large mansion.
"They are having a snack. I should probably check on them seeing as how they are being too quiet." Emma shook her head as Regina moved to get up.
"I've got it, you take a minute to yourself; you seem exhausted."
"Yes, it seems nightmares that I can't remember don't—ignore me. I'll be in my office if you need anything before I start dinner." Regina spoke as she moved to stand up and Emma shook her head once more.
"I'll cook tonight," Regina looked at Emma.
"No, you don't have to do that."
"I know that I don't have to, I want to. You go rest and I'll send the kids for you when dinner is ready." Emma smiled as Regina returned it.
"You're lovely." Emma chuckled as Regina blinked realizing what she'd said.
"Go relax, sweetheart." Emma winked and Regina nodded this time afraid of what she might say if she opened her mouth. Emma watched her as she disappeared from the living room before Emma made her way into the kitchen.
"—he was nice to me but I thinks he in kindergarten." Emma caught the tail end the conversation Henry and Calliope seemed to having.
"Hey kid, hey munchkin." Emma spoke as Calliope and Henry looked at their blonde mother with smiles.
"Hi momma, you wants some of my apple?" Calliope asked picking up her plate and offering some of her apple slices. "Ignacio sliced them for me with a slicer!" Calliope spoke excitedly as Emma shook her head.
"No but thank you for offering baby girl." Emma looked at Henry who was shaking his head. "Why is she calling you Ignacio?"
"Cause it's my middle name." Henry grumbled taking a bite of his granola bar.
"Seriously? Ignacio? Henry Ignacio Mills?" Henry nodded as Calliope started giggling.
"Henry Ignacio Daniel Mills, I have two middle names. Ignacio was my great-great grandfather's name or something. I'm named after my grandfather and my great-great grandfather."
"Not your great grandfather though?" Emma questioned as Henry shook his head.
"I don't think grandma liked him too much, the only thing I know about him is that his name was Xavier." Henry pointed out as Calliope looked at her mom.
"So where does the name Daniel come from?" Emma questioned as Henry shrugged.
"Who am I named after momma?"
"The Grecian Muse of epic poetry and Violet's grandmother, Rozalyn. She passed away before you were a year old." Emma explained as Calliope smeared her apple into glob of caramel on her plate.
"Why is she named after a Grecian muse?" Henry questioned as Emma leaned on the island that they were sitting at.
"Violet was heavily into Ancient Greece and the history surrounding it. When we found out that Callie was going to be a girl we were between the names Thalia and Calliope. Thalia was the muse of comedy and idyllic poetry." Emma explained before looking between them as they continued to munch on their snacks.
"What would you named me if I was a boy?"
"Violet really liked the name Ezra and I liked Zahir. I think we would have named you Ezra Zahir Swan." Emma smiled as Henry looked at her.
"Why Zahir?" Emma shrugged.
"I don't know, I know it means helper but I've always liked it."
"I like being Callie." Calliope added as Emma chuckled shaking her head.
"I like you being Callie too." Emma winked. "So what do we want for dinner tonight? I'm cooking."
"Why not R'gina?"
"Yeah, why isn't mom cooking?"
"Wow. I see how it is. Alright, starve then." Emma pushed herself up from the island and started walking away as both children protested and she returned. "So, am I allowed to cook now?" Calliope nodded taking a bite of her apple slice.
"Can we have breakfast?" Henry questioned as Calliope's eyes widened as she nodded her head furiously before swallowing her bite.
"Yes please? Can we momma? You makes the bestest French toast!" Emma chuckled as she nodded. It was easy to make and it wouldn't take any time at all.
"Alright, so French toast, fried potatoes, ham and cinnamon rolls?" Emma winked as both children nodded especially at hearing the last part. "I want homework done before anyone eats a cinnamon roll, understood?"
"Yes, Hen-tree you help me?" Henry got up from his seat and threw away the wrapper from his granola bar.
"What do you need help with?"
"I have to read to you, and then you mark on my paper that I read the book to you." Henry raised a brow that reminded Emma so much of his adoptive mother she just smirked to herself watching the two of them.
"What book?"
"Katie goes the grocery store." Calliope answered sliding from her bar stool leaving her unfinished snack there as they started to leave.
"Why is Katie going to the grocery store?" Henry questioned as Emma watched them leave clearly amused.
"I don't knows, Katie is also a cat. Cat's shouldn't be going theres." Emma leaned over picking up an apple slice and biting into it as the kid's conversation became muted to her. Sure it was Friday and they would have all weekend to do their homework, but Emma would rather have them do it now and not have to worry about it come Sunday night. Finishing the rest of her daughter's snack Emma tossed the plate into the trash before heading upstairs to shower.
Regina sat in her office realizing that she was too tired to get anything done. The consistent nightmares had her tossing and turning at night only to wake up and not remember anything she'd dreamed about. However, she did remember that last night's dream had Miss Blanchard in it much to Regina's dislike. It seemed that she'd been talking to a heavily pregnant Miss Blanchard before the woman seemed to go into labor. It was a weird dream and a part of her wondered why she would be dreaming of a pregnant Miss Blanchard.
Shaking her head she ran her fingers through her hair looking around her office. She wasn't going to get any work done, not today at least. Regina made her way upstairs and was going to her room until she heard the muffled voices of the kids in the room that had been given to Calliope.
"—ink that's him." Regina head Calliope as she stopped in the doorway.
"Being good?" Regina questioned as Calliope and Henry were sitting on her bed with the fairytale book and a lot of other papers around them.
"Yep," Calliope answered as Regina looked to Henry who had a sheepish almost embarrassed looked about him.
"What's wrong Henry?"
"I—I want to apologize mom." Regina blinked as she looked at Henry.
"Why—what for sweetheart?"
"I shouldn't have called you the Evil Queen when that's not who you are." Henry spoke and Regina felt a lump in her throat. "I…I still believe that the curse is real, and I'm going to help Emma break it, but I know that you're not evil and I'm sorry that I believed that you were. This book only tells parts of the story, and I know that some of it is incorrect or missing." Regina just stared at him and tried to blink back the tears she felt welling in her eyes but couldn't hold them.
"Come here Henry." Henry got off the bed and walked over into his mom's arms as she held him tightly for a few moments and kissed the top of his head. "Thank you honey, and I'm sorry that I allowed grandma to talk me into putting you into therapy. You don't have to go anymore if you don't want to." Regina said her voice thick with emotion as she let him go and he shrugged.
"I think I'll keep going for now." Henry smiled as he reached up and wiped away the tear that had slid down his mom's cheek. "I love you mom."
"And I love you."
Preview: Violet had the biggest smile on her face as she looking down at Calliope. Her hair was a wild mass of curls that reminded her of the munchkin who was currently downstairs watching cartoons and snacking on apple slices. Regina set the photo down and picked up another of Violet in her officer's uniform. It surprised her how much Calliope looked like the woman.