A/N: I know that Emma and Snow White were exhausted after their time in FTL and that their posse in Storybrooke was relieved to have them back and David awake, but did anyone else think the lack of a proper debriefing between Snow White, Emma, Regina, and Gold bordered on the negligent given that Cora and Hook weren't killed? This story fulfills my selfish need to think more highly of the characters' strategic commitment.

"So, your mom is seriously scary," Emma stated.

"Yes," Regina replied with a mirthless chuckle.

"What do we do when she makes it here?"

Regina had wondered why Ms. Swan had left her happy family reunion at Granny's to speak with her. Here, it seems, was her answer. Unable—or unwilling—to suppress her spite at facilitating such a joyous reconciliation for a group of people who once again excluded her, she snapped, "Why ask me? I'm sure your precious parents can handle it. After all, as Henry is so fond of telling us, Good always triumphs over Evil."

"Because," Emma explained with effortful patience, "You know her better than anyone else here."

"Ha!" Regina scoffed humorlessly. "Like that's going to help."

"I know that she scares you. David told me that you and Gold were working together to prevent her from getting here, and, having just made her acquaintance myself, the woman is clearly bad news . . ."

Regina could not believe Emma's naiveté. Bad news indeed.

"But," Emma continued, "There must be a way to stop her."

"Do you think we would be in this situation if I knew how to do that?"

"Well, maybe you didn't before, but," Emma sighed, "I have some new information for you."

"Really?" Regina's voice dripped of skepticism.

Emma once again debated the wisdom of telling Regina the details of her encounter with Cora. The woman had, after all, attempted to poison her not to long ago. That was hardly what one looked for in an ally. But, Emma knew that Cora wasn't defeated . . . merely postponed—and they were going to have to fight magic with magic to survive the next round.

That left Emma with two choices. Mr. Gold. And Regina. Neither scored high on the trustworthiness meter, but Emma knew one important thing about Regina: she would do anything to protect Henry. And what else did Emma really need to know?

"Ms. Swan?" Regina asked, impatient with Emma's internal debate. "Did you have something to tell me?"

Resolved, Emma responded. "Yes."

"Your mother tried to take my heart," she stated.

"Hardly surprising," Regina responded. Silly girl—she thought Cora ripping out hearts was news?

"No, I mean, she tried to take it," Emma emphasized, "but couldn't."

Regina's quirk of an eyebrow was the only indication of her astonishment. "When you say that she tried to take it, could you be more specific?" Maybe Emma just meant that she had beaten Cora in a swordfight or something.

"I mean, she shoved her hand in my chest, grabbed my heart, and yanked." Another eyebrow quirk. "Repeatedly."

"And yet, you still have your heart . . . " Regina said in wonderment.

"I do." Emma nodded. "Then, some kind of force—magic, I guess—propelled her away from me. Not sure what happened after that—we took the opportunity to jump through the portal, and, well, here we are."

Regina took a moment to internalize Emma's story as it all clicked into place. Slowly, the smile that Emma had come to think of as The Evil Queen Smile spread across Regina's face.

"Well," Regina said with a conspiratorial grin, "this changes everything."

A/N: Please review. I'm not sure if I should keep writing for this fandom, so if you appreciate my silly blurbs, I'd love to know. Constructive criticism is also welcome. Flames will be used to make gluten-free s'mores. ;) Thank you for reading!