Chapter Text
I don’t own these characters; Disney/ABC does.
A/N: Folks, I totally forgot to credit the person who requested this! Special thanks to JolLeen Z., as this is a request from her. Yes, folks, I still do requests when I get the time to do my writing. Enjoy.
A/N the second: just wanna give a shout-out to some awesome people: Kara Zor-el, Kristina, Sarah Longbottom, Chke, Mel, nyrdqueen, Knzi, Angel Simmons, N, Lauren S, Persephone the dreaded one, jelli_tots, JoLeen, MaxximumRide666, HR…, Jennifer B, Starkitty23, 88WWitch, K D, Susie, Sally C, Sketchy Raccoon, Mary, MamaSaucy, Katherine L, Nick K, EchoJuliet, and Matts. You all rock. I can't thank you enough for your support.
How to Be a Good Neighbor
1: Introduce Yourself
Regina was on the verge of a breakdown. It had been building for months now. Hell, maybe years, or even longer than that. She was Regina Mills, after all, and life had not been kind to her for the most part. If it was not one thing, it was another, from birth. Unfortunately, this mess was her own making, and it caught up with her at this moment as the sun was out and the air was crisp.
She had not been allowed to have this long-coming breakdown because there was so much more going on in her life, also from birth. Now, things had slowed down enough for her to breathe, like she did not have a tightening barbed wire around her ribs. It was like she had been falling, and now the ground was in her face.
There was no reason this was the breaking point, but it was. She sat out on the front porch of her new home, buckled over like a broken pillow, bawling her eyes out in her new neighborhood. It should have been embarrassing, humiliating really, but she was too overwhelmed to care. She was drowning, and her tears were air. The only way she would live through this was to get it all out, or so she hoped.
“Uh… hi?” a voice called.
Regina’s head shot up to see an attractive blonde standing at the end of her short walkway. Oh, great. Now, someone saw her having a breakdown. Well, of course, someone saw. You’re practically in the street! Taking a deep breath, Regina tried to compose herself, but failed miserably. Her face was hot, so she could guess she looked a mess, especially since her makeup had not been immaculate to begin with. It was too much energy to put her usual effort into her war paint, especially since the war was winding down. Technically, she won.
“Hey, um, if you need any help, I can help. I’m a sheriff’s deputy. Deputy Emma Swan,” the blonde said.
Regina opened her mouth to speak, but only another sob escaped her. The claimed deputy rushed over and halted right in her tracks. She stared, hands out, ready to act if Regina would only say something. Regina put her hand over her mouth to cover up her wails. Stop crying, you fool!
“Uh, it’s not the baby, right?” Emma asked, her eyes darted to Regina’s swollen abdomen. “But, if it is, tell me. I can radio it in!” She pointed behind her, where a sheriff’s cruiser was parked at the curb in front of the house next door, so maybe she was a deputy. She could have also stolen the cruiser.
“I’m fine,” Regina finally managed through a series of hitched breaths. Her still-falling tears said otherwise. But, it was reasonable for the deputy to assume it was the baby. Regina was almost eight months along. She was quite obviously pregnant.
“Are you sure? I can get an ambulance or something. I can help. Even if it’s something minor. I have a first aid kit. Plus, I live right there.” She pointed to the house next door.
And, of course, this would be her neighbor. She had embarrassed herself moments after arriving, and now the whole neighborhood, including her closest neighbor, knew there was something wrong with her.
“If it’s not the baby, please tell me how I can help,” the blonde said, refusing to just go away, apparently.
“It’s… it’s… it’s…” Regina was not sure what she might blurt out since it was everything. “It’s the cat litter.” Damn. This was the worst thing she could blurt out, even though that was the thing that brought her to tears.
“The cat litter?” Emma echoed, twisting up her face. “Oh, wait!” Realization lit up her face. “You’re pregnant! You shouldn’t be handling kitty litter.”
Hence the problem. Or at least the immediate problem. There was so much more wrong with everything, but Regina would never tell a stranger. It was bad enough, she said this much. A true testament to how much everything crumbled around her. No, things will get better. Getting away from that bastard is proof of that.
“I can definitely help with that,” Emma said with a grin. “If you don’t mind, anyway.”
Regina did mind, but she could not do it to Rocinante. He stood by her and helped through so much of this drama when it would have been easier for him to slip out of a window and become a stray. It would be a less emotional life for him. So, she took a deep breath to regain some control. “Please.”
Emma’s grin widened. “You got it. Is it inside?” She nodded toward the door.
Regina could only nod, but she picked herself up and wiped her face. She had to let out a breath and put her hand on her stomach. Emma was kind enough to glance away, as if she understood Regina did not want to appear weak in front of her. Regina opened the front door.
Emma glanced around as she stepped into Regina’s living room. “You got a lot of boxes, too. You need any help lifting those?”
Regina shook her head. “Not right now. I’m…” She was not sure how to describe her mindset at the moment, so she did not bother to try.
“I know how that can be,” Emma replied with a kind smile.
“Moving men brought them in, though.” Regina needed it to be known that she was not irresponsible about her pregnancy. She cared about this baby. She wanted this baby so much, despite all she had gone through to get to this point. You are loved.
Emma nodded. “I figured. But, yeah, if you need help with anything heavy, I’m here. I also got a ten-year-old who needs stuff to do, so feel free to give him chores. We’re right next door.”
“You’re okay with a stranger assigning chores to your son?” Regina arched an eyebrow. She then pointed to the cat box. “It’s over there.” She pointed toward the second bedroom door. It sat right outside. Rocinante poked his head out of the room, as if checking on them, but then disappeared back into the room he seemed to think was his. His heart would be broken when the baby arrived.
Emma snickered. “I’m sure it’ll help him build character. Also, feel free to offer him candy first. I wanna see if the stranger danger talks really worked.” Emma laughed, and then she made her way to the cat box. She pursed her lips, as if she did not quite know what to do.
Regina smirked. “Need some instructions?”
“Uh, yeah, actually. I mean, I can do it. I just never have. Never had a pet.”
Regina held her tongue from saying anything insulting. She needed Emma’s help, after all. Plus, Emma did not have to do any of this, even if she did not know how to do any of this. So, Regina gave instructions. Together, they were able to clean Rocinante’s litter box.
“Thank you for the help,” Regina managed to say. She was not one who usually expressed thanks, but she needed this. Rocinante needed it.
“No problem.” Emma threw her shoulders back. “Remember, if you need any help, I’m right next door with a ten-year-old who needs chores to do. Let either of us know if you need anything, especially the litter box thing.”
“I might have to take you up on that.” Regina hated to do so, but she was unable to handle the litter box. And she had no plans to get rid of Rocinante, which was the other option… if it could be considered an option. If she dared, she would never hear the end of it. She would never dare, though. She loved that damn cat. He was amazing. Ugh, damn pregnancy hormones.
Zelena had offered to help with the cat litter, but had an emergency that kept her from doing so today. Regina would have to make do without her for a few days, so this was the best thing to happen to her. She was wary of kindness, though.
Emma went into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. How it fit in the pocket of her skinny jeans had to be witchcraft. Her deputy badge was on display for a second before she yanked out a card from the front pocket. She shoved the wallet back into her pocket and held up the card.
“This is my work card, just in case, but I’ll give you my cell, too,” Emma said.
“That’s quite gracious of you.” Regina accepted the card and took out her phone.
Emma’s phone was already in her hand. They exchanged numbers, making sure they had it right by calling each other. Then, Emma hopped the picket fence between their homes and went into her house. Regina disappeared into her own home and hoped she could avoid overthinking what had just happened. It’s not a big deal. Focus on your new life.
-8-8-8-8-
“Hey, kid, you home?” Emma shouted as she entered the house. The noise from the living room, which she faced upon entering the door, answered that question for her. He was playing his game, focused on the large television she had splurged on when she got her job. It was a treat for both of them.
“Right here, Ma,” Henry answered from his spot on the couch, waving at her without taking his eyes off the screen. He had a tiny butt groove in the space, which was hilarious. He was already in his house clothes, comfortable after a long school day.
“How’s my little latchkey kid?” Emma stepped over to him and mussed his hair.
Henry dodged, or at least tried to. He could not escape and keep up with his game, so he suffered through having his head rubbed. “I’m fine. And, you know, latchkey kids aren’t things anymore, right?”
“Impossible. You’re a latchkey kid, and you exist.”
Henry chuckled, and Emma smiled. She tended to feel guilty over Henry being a latchkey kid, especially since she was a sheriff’s deputy. It was not safe to leave a ten-year-old alone, or at least it was frowned upon. He was responsible, though. And, since his school offered after-school, he was only home by himself for an hour unless something held her up at work. He handled it well.
“You get your homework done at school?” Emma asked as she went down the small hallway to her room.
“Of course I did.” That was the point of the after-school program. They had time for homework and then a choice of activities.
“Just checking. Trying to be a halfway decent mom here.” It was a joke, but it was the truth. This parenting thing was difficult, but she was doing her best. Sometimes, she was certain her best sucked. Still, she would not trade Henry for the world. She hoped she did not mess up too much.
Shaking that away, Emma stripped out of her “work clothes” and took a shower. She threw on a tank top and black sweatpants before joining Henry on the couch. He glanced at her, but then focused on the television.
“How was school? What did you get up to?” Emma asked.
Henry shrugged. “School stuff.” This was typical of him.
“Make any friends?” This one was hard for him, and it never failed to break her heart. Still, she held out hope. Someone would realize her kid was special.
He made a face. “Not really. It’s always the same kids, you know?”
Emma made a face. “I’m sorry, bud.” She bumped her shoulder against his.
He shrugged. “It’s whatever.”
Emma hated how Henry was treated like a weirdo by most of his classmates, mostly because his hobbies included reading and writing. The writing part was stories. He wrote some good ones, but none of his classmates seemed to care. Emma got it, but it sucked.
“What are we playing?” Emma asked as she turned her attention to the television.
“You wanna play some Mario Kart?” Henry countered.
“It’s always fun to kick your butt with Princess Peach.”
He laughed, but it was true. He put on the game, and they got to playing. They always shared a comfortable silence before jumping into casual conversation. She often hoped his willingness to talk to her showed she was doing something right. She also hoped it did not change as he got older. She loved knowing what was going on in his head and about his day.
“You know we got a new neighbor?” Emma asked.
He shoved her with one hand and chuckled. “Mom, I told you about the moving truck yesterday! They pulled out so much stuff. I thought it was gonna be a huge family, but I don’t think it is.”
Emma shook her head. “Yeah, I don’t think it is either. I met the woman, and she’s pregnant. Maybe there’s a dad, who’ll come in later.” It was not unheard of.
He wrinkled his nose. “I dunno. How’d you meet the neighbor?”
“When I was coming home, she was sitting out on the porch.” She did not mention the crying. He did not need to know that, and the neighbor deserved her dignity. “We gotta help her if there isn’t a dad in the picture.”
His face twisted. “Help her how? And why do you keep saying a dad?” He gave her a hard look. “What if she has a wife?”
She laughed. “You got me there. I don’t think she has either, really. She needed to clean her cat box and was worried about it outside because pregnant women shouldn’t handle kitty litter. That’s where we come in, bud. I volunteered us to help with that.”
His brow furrowed as he processed everything she said. “Pregnant woman can’t handle kitty litter?”
“Nope.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You didn’t need to know it until now. I didn’t learn it until it came up on the job. She’s gonna need our help, and we should be good neighbors.” It seemed like the proper thing to teach her son. Plus, Emma liked to be the good she once needed in the world. Good neighbors would have been a godsend when she first had Henry, and then she got good neighbors when they moved to Storybrooke. It made life so much easier and better.
He gave a strong nod, as expected. “I got it. How pregnant is she?”
“I didn’t ask. It feels rude to ask someone I don’t know.” Like, even though a pregnancy was obvious after a certain time, it was never her business to ask. Hell, she was a little awkward just pointing out there was a baby when she checked in about the neighbor’s distress.
“Why?” He was a question machine, and she did her best to answer his questions to make sure she never accidentally killed his curiosity like she was certain had happened to her when she was a child. She was not sure when she learned to stop asking questions, but she had learned that lesson well.
She shrugged. “It just seems like a personal question. I mean, imagine asking someone’s shoe size when you first meet them.”
He made a face. “That seems weird.”
“Yeah, and that’s just someone’s feet. This is growing another human being inside of you, and it hurts your back and presses on your organs and makes you uncomfortable…” She stuck out her tongue as if she had tasted something disgusting.
He chuckled. “Why are you always so overdramatic?”
“Why are you such an old man?” She nudged him with her elbow.
“Oh, yeah? Would an old man beat you at video games like this?” He focused on the television, and the race was on.
Emma yelped and focused on the television to teach Henry, who still reigned supreme in their household. At least when it came to Mario Kart. He was improving, but he would never beat her.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina looked around at the many boxes in her new home. She should get to opening those and putting things away, but she did not have the energy to do so. It would mean clawing through her failure and sorting through her shortcomings. No, not my failure or even shortcomings. I did what I was meant to do. She would not take on his bad attributes and absolve him. This was on him.
“No, don’t think about him,” Regina said aloud to make sure she focused on settling into her new home. She was not sure how she would go about that, but she needed to figure it out.
Rocinante had to know she was about to fall down a rabbit hole. He came out of nowhere and rubbed up against her calf, his tiny black back arched as high as it could go. He wrapped his little tail around her leg. He was still a growing cat.
Regina resisted the urge to bend down and pet him. Her knees screamed at her for daring to think it. Instead, she made her way to the sofa, and he joined her. In that position, she was able to scratch under his chin. He locked eyes with her and gave her the slowest of blinks.
“Have you used your new litter yet? Our neighbor came to the rescue, or I was going to have to train you to go outside until the baby came,” Regina said. He gave her what had to be a deadpan expression, calling her bluff. “Yes, I would’ve had to do that. You think I’m risking the baby to clean your poo? You’re not that special.”
Rocinante rolled his eyes, which was normal for him. He always knew the right time to roll his eyes. He probably learned it from her. He also always soothed it with a slow blink. Now, she rolled her eyes.
“You don’t fool me, buddy. But our new neighbor is a sheriff’s deputy, Emma Swan. She volunteered to help around here. She also volunteered her son. That was kind of her.” Regina was not used to kindness. “People typically aren’t nice to me. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
She did not doubt Emma, considering how calm she remained while Regina fell apart and how she did not make a big deal about Regina’s problem. She did not brag after doing Regina the favor either. She did not make it seem like Regina owed her. This almost did not compute, as history had proven to her that those types of people did not exist. Except that she had heard tales of such folks. Perhaps, she had met one of these mythical selfless people.
Rocinante raised a paw and batted at her hand with a soft touch. Regina was not sure how to take that. What she did know was that usually when Rocinante cuddled up to her to make sure she felt better, she would scratch under his chin just the way he liked to make him feel better. She should do something to make her neighbor feel good. Ugh, I’m learning how to deal with people through how I deal with my cat. That can’t be healthy. Still, it was a thought.
Regina was not sure what she could do to make Deputy Emma Swan feel good. She mentioned she had a son. It sounded like he was young. Young children liked cookies. Regina was extraordinary at baking, and she had things around the house to bake a platter of cookies. She might even be able to make a pie. With luck, that would be a good start. Or so she hoped.
“Well, Rocinante, I’ll have to cut our cuddle time short. I need to bake,” she announced. Rocinante glared at her. “Fine, fine, fine. We’ll snuggle for a little longer. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
Rocinante tucked in close to her, ear against her stomach. He often did this, like he was listening out for the baby. Every now and then, he moved his head. The baby liked kicking him. She was not sure if the baby knew he was out there, but it never took her long to knock against Rocinante’s head. Regina hoped this was a form of bonding and not sibling rivalry from the womb.
Eventually, Rocinante grew bored with their company and rolled off the sofa. He disappeared behind some boxes that she was certain held his things. She would have to open it sometime soon. She might not care for sifting through her items, but he deserved his things.
Regina baked oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Oatmeal in case Emma and her son ate healthy. Chocolate chip cookies because most people ate chocolate chip cookies. As she put them in plates, she turned to Rocinante.
“Wish me luck,” Regina said with a sigh. It had been a long time since she had to try to make a friend or be nice. Of course, she had it in her… about fifteen years ago, anyway.
Rocinante gave her a slow blink before disappearing into his multiple-level cat tower in the middle of the bare living room. She gave him a little bit of food, in case he got hungry while she was out. She did not plan to be gone too long.
With a deep breath, she stepped outside into the chill autumn air, pleased she had grabbed a cardigan, and went to the house next door. She had to take another breath before gathering the courage to knock on the door. Laughter echoed within, and she swallowed hard, interrupting something.
“Told you not to bet me,” Emma’s voice sounded close.
“You cheated! I’m gonna call Sheriff Humbolt and get you fired!” a young boy’s voice shouted.
Emma snickered as she opened the door. “Hey, neighbor!” She grinned.
It was at this point that Regina realized she had never introduced herself to Emma. How rude of you. “I’m Regina. Regina—” She stopped short, about to give her married name, but that was not her name anymore. Or it would not be her name soon enough.
Emma arched an eyebrow at that awkward introduction, but she did not say anything about it. She just moved on. “Good to meet you, Regina. What can I do for you? Need help lifting any of the boxes?”
Regina’s eyes fell to Emma’s bare arms, and her stomach flipped. Behave. “No, no, thank you. I actually came over to thank you again for your help earlier. I made cookies.” Regina held up both covered plates.
Emma’s eyes fell right to the plates, but her son’s voice rang out. “Did someone say cookies?”
Emma sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes, but she smiled at Regina. “Come in before you freeze on the porch. Plus, you can meet the kid.”
Regina nodded and walked in as the cold nipped at her cheeks and nose. She took a glance around to get an idea of what her house would look like when she got things organized, at least in size. Her things were more expensive and would be better arranged. But this house was certainly warmer than hers, covered in personal pictures, knick-knacks, and clutter.
“You said cookies?” a boy asked as he practically appeared before them. His eyes twinkled as he stared at her, an adorably hopeful expression on his cute, round face. In his smile, she immediately identified his mother.
Regina chuckled. “I have cookies, yes.”
Emma frowned and ruffled his hair. “Come on, kid, pretend I taught you some manners, especially in front of a new neighbor, who doesn’t know we’re feral yet.” She winked.
He smiled wider. “I’m sorry. I’m Henry, and I hear you have cookies.”
Regina laughed even more. “Obviously, the important thing here is that I have cookies. These are thanks because your mother helped me a great deal earlier. So, I have chocolate chip and oatmeal as I wasn’t quite sure of your diets.”
Emma snickered and rubbed her hands together. “Our diets are we eat cookies.”
“All kinds of cookies,” Henry added with a raised finger. “Especially those types of cookies.”
Regina smiled. “Well, I hope you enjoy them. Oh, and I’m Regina. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Henry.”
“Especially since my mom already volunteered me to help you, even though we’re both strangers to each other.” He gave Emma a side-eye that Regina approved of, but he had a little smirk on his face that cost him some effectiveness.
“You’re not strangers to each other,” Emma said. “You just introduced yourselves, and Regina made us cookies. That’s friend materials if ever I heard it.” She clapped Henry on the shoulder.
Henry’s eyes lit up, which Regina chalked up to the cookies. She tried to hand the plates over to Emma, so she could get back home and leave them to whatever they were doing. Except, Emma turned away, eyes going to the kitchen, which had the remnants of fast food fried chicken on the counter.
“Good thing we ate dinner already, right, kid?” Emma said with a grin.
Henry nodded. “Yeah, we can go right to cookies.” He rushed to the countertop that separated the kitchen from the living room. “Miss Regina, you can put the cookies right here.” He pushed the boxes and napkins aside to make space.
“Yeah, I’ll get us some cups. You want milk, too, Regina?” Emma asked.
“Oh.” Regina squeaked, earning stares. “I wasn’t expecting to stay. I just wanted you to have the cookies while they were hot.”
“You can stay. We could use the company. It’ll keep my son from having his fat mouth write checks his tiny butt can’t cash,” Emma remarked.
Henry gasped. “You cheated!”
“You can’t prove that,” Emma said.
Henry looked to Regina. “You sure you wanna be friends with her? She cheats at games and then lies about it, to your face no less.” He spoke as if he were dead serious, but his eyes gave away his glee. This was a routine for them somehow.
Regina chuckled. “Maybe I’ll just be friends with you then.”
Emma made a dramatic face. “He’s just using you for your cookies.” Then she frowned. “Forget I said that.”
“I see how you work at the sheriff’s department,” Regina said. Law enforcement could be so immature.
Emma only smiled. Regina put down the cookies and removed the cover for both. She could have sworn both mother and son hummed at the sight, but maybe she was hearing things. Emma hurried to pour two cups of milk. The second she passed one cup to Henry, he jumped on an oatmeal cookie. Regina was surprised by that. Before she processed it completely, though, Henry turned to her. He sipped his milk before asking a question.
“Do you know what your baby is gonna be?” he asked with a glance at her stomach.
Emma yelped. “Kid!”
Regina smiled and rubbed her stomach. “A girl.”
He nodded. “Yeah? Is that what you want?”
“I don’t mind. I only found out when my doctor offered to tell me. I figured it would help me plan for what type of gifts I might get for her. But, no, the sex never mattered. As long as my baby is healthy, I’ll be happy,” Regina replied.
Henry nodded and started on his next cookie. “Mom said that with me. Still says that with me, actually.”
That was odd. Regina glanced at Emma, who had a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie. Emma shrugged.
“People will ask me if I wanted a girl because girls are easier, or they think women shouldn’t raise boys on their own,” Emma explained.
Regina nodded. “Ah, a nice case of not minding their business.”
Emma’s face lit up. “You get it!”
Regina definitely understood wanting people to mind their damn business. Mother and son smiled at her. Henry pushed the plate of oatmeal cookies closer to her.
“You should have one. They’re so good. You’re good at baking,” Henry said.
“Thank you.” Regina took one. She ended up staying at the Swan household longer than she expected, but it was much more pleasant than she expected.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: Regina and Henry grow closer.