Emma was pacing up and down by the kitchen counter, glaring at her father and raising her voice. It was not how she had pictured spending time with her birth parents, even as a teenager.

"Of course I'm upset. Mary Margaret just killed someone. I'm the Sheriff, that means I'm supposed to arrest her."

"Your mother did it…"

"Don't even try to defend her!"

"Cora was evil."

"Do you think maybe that was because she didn't have her heart? Did Mary Margaret even consider just popping it back in to check without taking her life?"

"Rumplestiltskin must have tricked her…"

"Mr Gold, didn't give Regina her mothers heart so that she could watch her die in her arms seconds later."

"His name is Rumplestiltskin, and your mother clearly didn't feel she had another choice. She is Queen…"

"This is Storybrooke. Not the Enchanted Forest. We don't have Kings and Queens and fairies and leprechauns…"

"If you'd let me finish my sentences…"

"Emma's right." The quite, whispered voice of Snow White interrupted them both.

"Snow, she doesn't understand."

"She's seen Henry's book. She knows as much as we do about Regina and Cora. And she's right. This is Storybrooke and the laws are different here. Emma I…"

Emma backed away from her mothers approach. Pain flashed in Snow White's eyes as she registered the rejection and Charming instantly went to comfort her.

"I can't deal with you right now. I still need to tell Henry what's happened. I'm sorry." Emma grabbed her coat and tried not to run as she left the apartment.

When she had gone, they stood there in silence.

The lights were still on in the mansion. It was 1am and Emma was sitting in her car conveniently in view of the upper windows. She had left Henry with his grandparents, figuring his calm reaction to the latest news regarding his mother had yet to settle in. There was some worry that he secretly shared David's opinions, that now everyone knew the truth about Storybrooke he accepted the books claims that Mary Margaret had a pure heart. Emma knew from past experience that no-one was that good.

What was Regina doing?

She pulled the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. She'd seen too many reactions to a loved ones death to know Regina shouldn't be alone. It was time to stand up and be the Sheriff. To check on a certain resident who might be in trouble. There was no answer when she knocked on the door. Perhaps she could say she heard something break and a voice calling for help and go inside?

She reached out for the door handle, just to test it. It wasn't locked. She let the door swing open on its own, waited a second, then looked around her.

"The front door was open, I thought someone had broken in." She tested the lie under her breath as she stepped inside.

It sounded plausible enough to her.

"Regina? Hello? Anyone home?"

She decided to check upstairs first, none of the lights were showing downstairs. In the second room she tried she found her. Regina was lying on top of her bed, fully dressed, and fast asleep. Emma tried to back out of the room as quietly as she could, but she heard Regina mumble something and, thinking she was awake, moved back into the room to listen. Before she could give her excuse for intruding, Regina's words became clearer. It appeared to be a spell of some kind.

"Regina, what..?"

The shockwave sent ripples out from the centre of the bed, forcing Emma to her knees.

AN: So these first two chapters were written in about 1hr at a ridiculous time when I'm half-asleep. I have no idea where the chapter breaks should be in stories so bear with me. I may write more if I can stay awake... Hope you liked it.