The Heart Knows No Bounds

Chapter 1. The Beginning of the rest of our lives

6-year-old Emma swan sat in the passenger seat of a grey car while her social worker Marion drove her closer and closer to what she hoped would be her permanent home. The rain beat down against the windows and the occasional rumble of thunder jolted Emma from her thoughts. The little girl was always jumpy around sudden and loud noises, a classic sign of abuse. She was bundled up in jeans that hung off her small frame and a thick jumper about four sizes too big her- a hand-me-down from a previous foster sibling. On her feet were a pair of trainers that were a size and a half too small as none of her previous families had deemed her enough of a priority to buy her a new pair of shoes. As well as keeping her warm in the dismal weather, the clothes have a dual function- they hid her scars.

Marion took her eyes off the empty road and glanced at Emma beside her, the girl had now settled down and was snoring softly but she jumped and startled awake. A grimace came over her face as she winced when she jumped. Marion knew that sometimes families hid their true intentions very well but she already felt that this family was different. She hadn't been able to meet this particular couple due to the distance between their home in Maine and Marion's office in Rhode Island but these people had expressed a particular interest in the little blonde girl. Marion cleared her throat gently and Emma stopped gazing at the road in front of her and diverted her attention towards the woman driving.

"Not too much further Emma. Are you excited?"

Emma sighed softly before she replied: "I guess so. What are they like?"

Marion took a moment to think and then answered: "I can't say for sure Emma, but I've spoken to them over the phone and they can't wait to meet you. Remember that it's two ladies and their daughter who I think is called Lilly. There isn't a daddy"

"that's good. I don't like daddies, they hurt me and they hit me" Emma breathed out

"not all daddies sweetheart, but these women are called Regina and Mal"

Emma wrinkled her nose: "Mal?" she asked

"I think it's short for Malory or something honey. Her friends call her Mal, do your friends call you Em?"

"I haven't got no friends. Kids don't like to play with me because I'm a foster kid. Their mummies and daddies say that I'm a bad girl because my real parents didn't want me. Marion do you think I'm a bad girl?"

Marion was shocked that a six-year-old knew already that she was so different from her foster siblings and classmates. Emma had known nothing but neglect and broken promises all throughout her short life but Marion was confident that these women would change all that.

"No sweetness, I don't think you're a bad girl. I think you're a lovely little girl who has had a bad life that she didn't deserve. I think that all children deserve a good life with a good family."

Emma seemed satisfied with the woman's response and returned her gaze to whatever was shooting by the window, as she was driven closer and closer to her future.

Meanwhile, in Storybrooke.

Mayor Mills put down the phone and picked up her car keys, ready to return home to her wife and daughter to prepare for the newest arrival to their little family- a small blonde girl called Emma. Regina knew that the little girl had been moved around a lot in her short life and hoped that her and her wife would be able to earn this little girl's trust and love.

Maleficent and Regina had met decades ago in the Enchanted Forest when they were both sent away to the same boarding school and ended up being put together as roommates. The pair hadn't gotten along well in the past- in fact they had downright hated each other on sight. It was only when Regina had been given the heart-breaking news of her brother's sudden and tragic death that Maleficent had stepped in to comfort her and their friendship grew from there. Then on their final day of school, Regina couldn't ignore her feelings any longer and confessed to Maleficent that she had fallen in love with her. Much to Regina's shock and surprise, Maleficent confessed that she too was in love with Regina and their relationship blossomed.

Whilst living in the enchanted forest, Regina had acquired some of the most powerful magic that she could get her hands on and after talking it through with Mal, they decided that they wanted to have a baby together. Regina used her powerful magic to fertilize her own egg and place it safely inside Mal's body in preparation for the curse that whisked all the inhabitants of the forest away to a new realm- present day Storybrooke in Maine.

Regina and Mal's baby was born in Storybrooke- a beautiful little girl called Lilly-Rose. She had Regina's dark hair and brown eyes but she developed Mal's fun-loving personality and knack for caring. Although Regina was thrilled at her job, her wife and her daughter, she still felt as though something was lacking. She wanted a second child. Not a baby; she didn't have the strength to have another baby, but perhaps a child who had been abandoned or neglected. Someone who was around Lilly's age and would fit into their little family.

Thus, Regina and Mal had been put in touch with the foster care system and it's many social workers. After countless meetings, home inspections and interviews, the family was finally approved to become foster carers and after putting their application in, they were successfully matched with six-year-old Emma Swan from Rhode Island. Regina and Mal were only given the haziest outline of the little girl who had previously been living in a group home. They knew that the child was abandoned in a gas station bathroom at only hours old and it was assumed that she was the child of alcoholics and drug addicts who couldn't care for her and she was put into the system. Regina had initially been hesitant at bringing Emma such a long way from everything that she was used to but one look at the little girl's blue eyes and blonde hair had won her over.

Once it was confirmed that Emma would be living with them, Mal and Regina had thrown themselves into making everything suitable for the child. They turned one of their many spare bedrooms into a safe haven for her, and bought wardrobes of clothes in all kinds of styles and bright colours. They prepared Lilly for being a sister to Emma and how to behave around the new girl, how to make her feel at home and comfortable with coming into a busy household. Lilly couldn't wait to meet her new sibling and was prepared to share all her clothes and toys with her.

Regina Mills walked through the door and was immediately greeted by her daughter who let out a delightful cry of "Mommy!" and wrapped herself around her legs. Her wife walked elegantly down the spiral staircase dressed in a pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a figure-hugging blue shirt. Her thoughts of ravishing her there and then were interrupted by her daughter tugging at her coat sleeve.

"Mommy, how long until Emma gets here?"

Regina glanced at her phone and noticed that the time was 6:08, so Emma was due to arrive any moment.

"soon my little flower, soon enough. Remember what we told you though, you will need to be very gentle with Emma for a while until she gets used to having a family like us"

Lilly sucked in her breath and ran into the living room and perched on the back of the cream sofa facing the bay window to watch for the arrival of her sister. Regina and Mal walked into the kitchen and embraced properly with a passionate kiss. Once they broke apart, Mal laced her fingers inside Regina's and softly stroked her thumb with her forefinger.

"Are you sure that you want this love? If there is even a part of you that isn't sure then just tell me and we can figure something out with both kids..." Regina held up her hand and her wife stopped talking

"I'm absolutely sure dear, I've never been surer. This little girl needs a loving home and a loving family. We have plenty of love to spare and a home with more space than we could fill in four lifetimes"

Suddenly there was an excited whoop from the direction of their living room.

"Mama, Mommy, she's here!"

Regina looked into Mal's bright blue eyes and whispered "ready?"

Mal smiled "As I'll ever be."