Dedication: There is a love out there that pushes against seams of the fabric of what we are in a society full of labels and judgments; it is self defined and indefinable, raw and refined, free and leashed. To those of you that have ever had who you choose to love challenged, or the way you live your life judged. And to those that have had the joy in finding your family of choice… and for those still searching…

This one is for you.

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Disclaimer & Tags: This is not a stand alone fic and I strongly recommend you read the first part of their journey: The Do Over before this. I own nothing, but my own ideas. This work will contain themes of the following – family feels with angst, healing from the past, self discovery and acceptance, unconventional exchange of power, undertones of authority/obedience dynamics and some age regression of an adult – not play (mental). This work contains no romantic themes or sex between Regina and Emma. There will be spanking of a consenting adult and an adult in a minor's body. Don't like = don't read. I encourage reviews, questions, and constructive feedback, but bashing or cursing this work will not be accepted.

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From The Do Over…

"Promise?"

"I promise. We will work through this together… as a family."

That word, though she'd used it freely enough in either life now meant so much more with Emma's claim on her. They had found each other years ago in the messiness of their present life and again under the spell of an alternate reality; two souls in disarray, each seeking to belong to someone that meant home.

Their real life was about to get complicated, but it had never been simple. Not for them; Regina and Emma, the Mayor and the Sheriff, the Queen and the Savior, or Mama and her sweet little swan.

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Emma leaned back against the couch in the study watching as snow fell gently outside the window, not allowing the arms around her to fall away. They were home again and it was the end of November just after Henry's wedding. The newlyweds had left for their honeymoon the day before and they'd toasted that send off before consuming their potions and beginning their journey. The cider still had ice melting in the crystal goblets resting on the table at their knees. In between their hug of return and celebratory toast ten months of another life had passed for them and Emma blinked hard hoping to wake up back in the lavender room she'd come to love and a life she was not ready to say goodbye to.

It was a funny thing to be back to where the power struggle had started between them when Henry had run away to Boston seeking her out. The same formal room, same white couch and yet this time they were sitting side by side without struggle between them; the power was there, but it had morphed into an easy tug of peace not war. They had changed significantly, their dynamic and relationship, in the three years leading up to the spell that gave her a do over at childhood. Finding that path with each other and walking it had not been easy. Emma wondered how to find her way back to that road again with the woman sitting beside her, a woman she had come to love in this present life in a way their world did not have a name for. Their exchange wasn't romantic, wasn't sexual, and it wasn't traditional or even understandable from the outside. She knew what it wasn't and wondered now what it was with this unexpected shrinking effect that had followed her home.

Within the spelled world in the months they were together Emma had gained a new understanding of herself, what made her tick and what mattered most to her. What she needed and wanted was to belong to the woman who held her and in return to have a claim within a heart she'd never imagined was so big. She had accomplished what she had never thought possible. The little girl had found a home within the beating walls of Regina's heart too, and she wasn't ready to move out.

Not in the least.

Regina had given her what no one else had been able to; a home and to feel loved when she had been at her most vulnerable and mistrusting. When she had fought, argued, and pushed, the brunette had been patient, understanding, and absolute. That was true in both realities. When the Queen accepted the role of being her parent in the spelled world the brunette had not asked it, or even taken it. Emma had pushed, had asked and the little girl she was had taken the Queen as her Mama.

Emma had known the transition home would be hard on both of them and they had discussed that ahead of time, but she didn't think it would be this hard and the torn piece inside of her upon returning was not expected. She wanted both lives, needed both lives. It wasn't fair.

'But how will that work and does she want that too?' Emma thought, head beginning to cramp with the weight of so many what if's.

Green eyes found the clock. It was near midnight, way past her bedtime. That thought made her shiver; she was an adult and didn't have a bedtime anymore. The strange idea made her throat thick with grief.

"What are you thinking about?" A husky voice filled the quiet.

"I was thinking about being home again and all the stuff that comes with it and that I'm up past my bedtime, but then…" She shrugged, sinking down in the couch.

"Well… it is late." Hesitation seeped in where it wasn't before. "How about we both turn in? We will look at this with fresh eyes in the morning." Regina stood, startling for just a moment when Emma did the same as their shoulders touched for the first time in so long. Gaining confidence, she offered a hand out of habit and what she saw in green eyes as a need. "Come."

Grateful for the routine still flowing between them, Emma took it, marveling at how they still fit together despite being the same size now. She was led upstairs and to her bedroom door.

"I hope you don't mind, but I did a bit of redecorating before I took my potion and we left." The Queen opened the door, heart full as she watched Emma take in the space.

"How did you… Jasper!" Emma dove into the room and went to the familiar white bookcase now housing a mix of her adult items and ones from their spelled life, leaning down to greet her fine finned friend swimming among the yellow gravel. "He's here and… Stitchy." Feet traveled to the white bed, now queen sized and pulled the blue alien into her arms, inhaling the scent of home still lingering on his fur.

Regina bit her lip with hope that she hadn't over stepped. "You can change it back or anything you want, but I thought you might need—"

"It's perfect." Emma sank onto the bed, running her fingers over the familiar duvet. "You're right I need it, at least right now. Thank you." Wet eyes met brown.

"You are welcome. Your clothing and personal things from before the spell are still in the desk, drawers, and closet. Change and I'll be back to say good night." Smiling softly, Regina left the room and went to the master suite.

The realization that Emma didn't need direction on getting ready for bed, or even to be tucked in forced a hand to cover her mouth as eyes flooded, already missing the little girl she'd come to love as her own. She leaned her head against the wall near the door, a sob escaping. Cutting the cord in her heart that belonged to the child was a painful reality upon returning, it was inevitable, or had been in her mind. She was not expecting to see that little face again in the flesh when Emma had shrunk so suddenly. A gift, but letting go of that life would be so much harder now, if not impossible. When Regina chose to love she loved hard and with everything that she was. In their spelled life that had been no different.

Her head hit the wall again as another quiet sob took her, as if that would wake her from this dream. The rattling of something that hadn't been there before when her forehead hit, caused her to draw back. A red and purple cast print hung there, one Emma had made in another life for her birthday. The spelled trunk transporting and placing the items had done its' job well. Too well. Regina brought her hand up to trace the small palm and the word above it. She swallowed thickly, more tears falling as a finger finished the last letter.

She had tried not to become attached to the little girl's gift of title or the feelings that came with it. Role of Keeper and mother had blended when she hadn't intended them to. It had been easy, and Emma with her sweet smile, little giggles and trusting eyes had made it so. And now her little girl was gone. Sitting in that pain for even a moment left her shaking and she shook her head quickly in chiding. The little blonde had been Emma, was Emma, her girl in the little one she had come to love all along. They were one in the same. Still her heart ached and wished to return to the spelled reality. Home was here though, would always be here and no matter how hard that transition would be they would navigate that rough sea together. She breathed through that small comfort and changed into silk pajamas.

Feet padded down the dim hall a few minutes later after drying eyes and washing her face. She schooled her distress and entered the replica of the lavender room. Emma was curled up under the duvet, Stitchy sat on the pillow as pale fingers stroked his fur, but the blonde sat up when the Queen entered as if caught. Regina's mask slipped and she saw all of Emma then in those wide green eyes; two halfs now one.

"My necklace and bracelet… Are they here, too?"

A purple mist settled around that long neck and slender wrist. Emma smiled at the cool heaviness of silver resting against her skin. "Thanks." She lay back down as the brunette approached and sat on the edge of the bed. Now that sleep was near a part of her wanted to fight it and she gave in even as tired as she was. "Sooooo what do you think the shrinking means?"

Regina raised a brow at the stalling tactic she knew well and was unable to help her next words. "It is time for sleep Emma."

"But what about my magic? I feel it back now. Do you think it's causing this?" Pushing back like always against redirection.

The Queen smiled softly, expecting no less. "I'm not sure, but until then I don't want you using your powers. We need to be careful until we know more. Alright?"

"But my magic feels fine, like it always has."

"Even when you shrunk briefly?" Brows arched, but not in surprise.

Emma shifted her legs, drawing the covers up under her chin. "Kind of. It was there, but almost like it was out of reach or going in and out like a light bulb."

"That is exactly why I want you to wait until we can practice together when… when you are that size again. We need to test your magic in general before you go poofing off who knows where."

"Okay, I'll wait." Emma agreed and yawned.

An elegant hand absentmindedly reached to run through blonde curls, but became uncertain for just a moment.

"It's okay Gina, it's still me." She breathed again when that hand settled firmly and fingers massaged her scalp making eyes heavy. "G'night."

"Good night my dear girl." The Queen kissed her swan's forehead and turned on the swan light out of habit before remembering, but Emma's eyes were already closed, so she left it.

Grief found her again in the solitude of her room as Emma slept soundly down the hall. She couldn't help it. Ten months of tucking in a child version of Emma flashed across her mind. Reading in the rocker, making sure little teeth, hands, and face were clean before bed had become ingrained. Even with pieces of their ritual that had been carried out tonight, it felt too fragmented, but hope whispered that maybe not everything would change, maybe... Three words tugged at her mind and allowed her to at least attempt to get some much needed rest.

It's still me…

Sometime in the early morning hours among the dawn breaking, a charade of dreams and restless sleep in the vastness of the master suite, Regina felt the bed dip and a warm body curled up along her front. Warm breath mingled with hers and her fingers found the ends of blonde hair. As Emma settled into sleep, the smell of cinnamon and melon brought enough peace to Regina to begin to feel sleep teasing behind her swollen eyes and she found it with an arm wrapped around her girl resting at her side.

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A/N - I am traveling international for the next few weeks and will most likely not be able to post but once or twice. I will try to get a chapter a week between now and June 17. After that I will be back to my usual 2-3 posts a week. Hope you liked this first peek!

Thoughts?

Next time - Game plan for how to deal with their current situation is discussed and Emma runs into Snow... :-) Let the drama begin!