I don't own any of these characters. Please don't sue me.


Chapter 1 - Shock


Regina's head lifted and she looked out through tear-clouded eyes after the wave of light passed through her. Her heart stopped and she waited, watching Emma hover over her son's head.

"I love you, too. You saved me," she heard Henry say.

With a wail Regina fell to her knees and bowed her head. For a long moment her racking sobs were all that could be heard in the room.

Emma looked down at her son, "Henry, what's going on?"

"The curse... I think you broke it!"

"That was true love's kiss," Blue whispered in shock. Shaking her head she turned and looked down at Regina on the floor. "If I were you, your Majesty, I'd find a place to hide."

Her sobs ceased abruptly and Regina's head snapped up. She looked around quickly as if suddenly realizing where she was. Clamoring to her feet she locked eyes on Emma and took a single step forward. "That won't be necessary Blue," she replied, her eyes never leaving Emma's.

Taking a deep breath, Regina spoke slowly, "This war, between me and Snow… I almost killed my son." Regina choked back a gasp, tears streaming down her cheeks. "This can't go on. I can't just hide."

Taking another step towards Emma, Regina swallowed hard and extended her arms, hands closed, palms up. "I surrender."


"Surrender," Emma asked, suddenly startled by the change in the room.

Regina nodded mutely as she collapsed on a hard plastic chair, her elbow resting on her knees with her wrists still exposed.

Emma furrowed her brow. "You're giving up?"

She could see the despair and hopelessness in her eyes as Regina looked up. "Nothing in this world is more important to me than my son. I know that things will not end well for me…" Regina paused to turn and cast her eyes on Henry, laying still in the hospital bed, "but things have to end well for him."

Regina turned back to Emma, "I'm counting on you to keep him safe and loved." With that the tears began falling again and her head fell to her chest.

In that moment, as Emma stared at Regina, only one thing passed through her mind, "Not a single family who ever took me in, not a single person I've ever met, would have done this for me."

Regina looked up to see Emma standing right in front of her, handcuffs dangling from her fingers.

Emma dropped to a knee to bring herself to eye level as she snapped the cuffs around Regina's wrists. "I have no idea what's about to happen, but I promise you this. I will not let Henry lose his mother."


When Snow and David found them, little had changed. Regina was still seated with her head bowed and eyes downcast, Emma was pacing nervously near the door to Henry's room, and Henry laid sleeping on the hospital bed.

"Emma," Snow cried out as she rushed in and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Feeling suddenly awkward, Emma carefully lifted her arms and patted Snow on the back slowly.

Snow pulled away slightly to look her in the eyes, "You did it. You saved us."

David smiled at the scene before gazing around the room, seeing Henry first he sucked in a quick breath, then his eyes fell on the brunette sitting silently against the wall. "Regina," he spat.

All eyes turned to her, including Henry's as he stirred from slumber. She raised her head slowly, as if tired, and looked first to Snow and David, before her eyes settled on Emma. She said nothing, but she didn't have to.

Emma cleared her throat, drawing attention to herself. "I have accepted her surrender," she announced awkwardly.

Snow looked back and forth between Emma and Regina in confusion before settling her eyes on Emma. "She surrendered? Why?"

Emma let out a tired sigh. "She doesn't want to risk Henry getting hurt." She left the "again" unsaid.

It was David who eventually broke the silence. "So what do we do now?" He turned to face Regina. "She has to be punished for what she's done."

"I do," Regina replied, finally speaking. "I have a few thoughts on that."

"Do you really expect us to let you pick your own punishment," David asked incredulously.

"Let's just hear her out," Emma replied, trying to keep everyone calm. As she watched, the brunette's eyes looked to Henry and then out into the hall. Taking the hint, Emma continued quietly, "But not in front of the kid."

Snow and David stepped into the hall first, followed by a tense Emma and a dragging Regina.

"So what kind of slap on the wrist did you have in mind," David asked.

"David," Emma chastised. "You seriously need to chill out."

His lip curled in distaste, but he took a deep breath and released it slowly before nodding at Regina.

"It has to be public," Regina began. "In the town hall perhaps. Somewhere that a large number of people can gather to watch." She looked to Emma. "People have to know that justice has been done."

Regina turned to Snow. "You'll need to make some sort of statement. Something about the crimes I've committed." Regina paused. "Then I'll express my sorrow for the harm I've caused and plead for mercy… Then you'll pass judgment."

Turning to David she continued. "You'll tie my hands and secure them above my head. Taking a knife or scissors you'll cut through my upper garment, exposing my back." Regina swallowed hard. "Then you'll take up the bull whip."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Emma exclaimed, waving her arms back and forth. "What the hell Regina?"

Regina closed her eyes briefly before turning back to Emma. "This is the way it has to be. I have to pay for my sins. I have to know pain. I have to know humiliation. And I have to be broken."

Emma's eyes widened in stunned silence.

Turning back to David, Regina continued, "And it has to be you that does it. You have the motive to punish me, the physical strength to carry it out, and the townsfolk will have no doubts about you going easy on me… and yet… You're an honorable man whom I trust not to go too far."

"How many lashes," he asked.

"As many as needed," Regina replied, considering. "Two hundred perhaps?"

This time it was Snow's eyes that widened as she exclaimed, "I don't think anyone's ever received more than fifty!"

Regina swallowed again. "Those that would have deserved more were executed."

The word hung in the air as all four lost themselves briefly in their own thoughts.

"When it's done," Regina continued, "you'll let me down. I will renounce all claim to the throne. I will swear fealty to you both. And I will kiss your boots."

Emma, Snow, and David all visibly deflated at the words.

"Fuck," Emma said quietly. "This is barbaric."

"I'm a monster, Emma. It has to be barbaric."