The Imperfect Storm. The one where Regina gets her ducks in a row. Or sorts through her ducks. Or ignores her ducks. This may seem filler, but it sets the Regina-tone for what is to come.

Thanks, friends, for all your support and feedback a few months ago when I started this project. Hope the winding conversations aren't too much. Sorry for the wait and if this is boring…? Keep the comments rolling because I love to hear your creative ideas and opinions!

TWO

Regina flew out the door and down a number of paved steps at breakneck speed—a feat done in stiletto heels—that frankly, awed Emma, who quickly followed after her.

"Wait up, Regina!" The blonde woman huffed and puffed but did not stop. I really need to lay off those bear claws. They're killing my ability to 'save'.

Whirling around, the brunette woman snapped, "What do you want, Miss Swan?"

"Hold up for a second." After bracing her hands on her knees and inhaling some deep breaths, Emma straightened up once again. "What I want- What- Slow down because I'm trying to be your friend right now."

"Is this supposed to be a hilarious repeat of the night Marian returned, when you came chasing out after me then too? Good lot of help that did!"

Seeing Regina's tight face that completely lacked visible emotion (other than irritation) and her coiled posture, Emma knew she was in for a fight. But it would be worth it.

"No, Regina. This is me caring about you." Emma wanted so badly to reach out to the other woman, so clearly in pain, and hug her—a feeling typically foreign to Emma's closed-off nature and reserved for only the direst (or happiest) of times.

"Thanks for the sentiment, Savior, but I didn't want your brand of rescuing then, and I don't want it now." Regina turned away but stayed standing where she was.

Emma was not about to give up. The former Evil Queen was just like the former foster kid. They were both broken. She knew from experience that broken people had jagged, delicate edges; all Regina needed was a person brave enough to paw at that damaged shards to help fix the soft, vulnerable person at her core. And Emma would be that brave person – if only for this moment.

"Just talk to me. I will not let you go into a reckless rampage – or God forbid, heartbreak – and drive like a maniac and kill yourself. Or else the Sheriff will have to handcuff you." Emma offered an untimely smirk.

The effort at humor (if somewhat truthful, still) managed to knock some sense or at least pause into Regina. Where Emma would have expected at least a raise of an eyebrow or a returned smirk any other day, Regina replied dryly: "I'd like to see you try, Swan. And I really think you have some prejudice against me—on the road, that is. You have given me EIGHT tickets for speeding since you came to town and became the law."

"Huh…" Emma exaggeratedly tilted her head, tapped her head with a forefinger, and feigned deep thought. "Nothing against your driving, Madam Mayor. That first year it was everything against YOU. We were enemies then, remember?"

If only Emma could keep up the distracting conversation, then maybe she had a chance of talking Regina down from the ledge – of irrational behavior, of her emotional upheaval, and of who knew what else. Maybe the Evil Queen would not emerge. Maybe Emma (not the magical, prophesied Savior) could save the day. Maybe she could actually be a good friend just this once.

"The first year only accounts for five of those tickets." The brunette's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What about the other three tickets since then?!"

Emma shot back, "Deserved. You really did speed those times, Gigi."

"I most certainly did NOT. I'll have you know that I am the most law-abiding driver in this town. Except for maybe Snow White when she was Mary Margaret. I know what it is! You're prejudiced against my car! Admit it, Swan."

This sanctimonious act of Regina's, which had evolved from a genuine superiority complex and become an entertaining game of hers, really made Emma love this woman. Hopefully the appearance of the cheeky mayor was a good sign.

Emma jumped back in, "Never, Your Majesty. But you have to admit, a car like yours is just asking for it."

"HA! I knew it!" Regina exclaimed. "I call for a reelection! SHERIFF WANTED, CITIZENS OF STORYBROOKE!"

Emma felt it bubble up and rise up into her throat. The laughter made it out, and she couldn't reel it back in. When was the last time I really laughed? And it's all because of Regina! Imagine that. The fact that this drunk-sounding, farcical yelling came from Regina cracked the blonde up, as it was so far from the straight-laced mayor she had met only a few years ago.

"Zip it, blondie. I'm guessing you don't really want to have to campaign for Sheriff in another election. So out with it, but first… Don't think I didn't catch that horrendous name you called me. And do not call me 'Gigi' ever again." Madam Mayor (she was back), bossy and demanding in all her glory, pinned the laughing Savior with her signature death stare.

Emma would swear she caught a mischievous gleam in the former baddie's eye for a split millisecond.

"Okay, Gigi."

She managed to keep a straight face – until she cracked up, again.

"I see that look, Reggie." I better change tactics. Emma would need to be a serious adult for a second. Oh, great! I've never done this part. "Okay. Okay. Regina. Let's talk this out."

Regina considered Emma with skepticism and annoyance. Emma pretended to not notice. Regina went along with it and decided to slog through whatever aggravating and potentially soul-sucking conversation was coming.

Emma let it roll. "So you met the Robin Hood in the Enchanted Forest, fell in love with him, forgot him because of another Dark Curse, and then met him again in Storybrooke. You were reunited with him again. You started hitting the sheets with him and being a family until his dead wife shows up. Robin chooses you over her, but she is still always around. She plays mother to Roland and "friend" to your guy. Robin believes her. And trusts her. You're forced to play nice. You go out of your way to be "friend-ish" with her. You finally think you're getting her out of your hair when she announces her marriage to another guy that is NOT your guy, until BOOM! Robin Hood stops her wedding with a ton of emotion that you worry means he is still in love with her. Am I about right?"

"Seriously, Emma?" Regina just stared at the blonde as if Medusa's snakes were coming out of her head. "You have the tact of a child. Perhaps even worse, you could even take a lesson from Leroy – at least his outbursts are concise. I am now leaving."

Imperiously, the former queen whipped around and strode to her car.

Emma followed.

Regina opened the door and seated herself, ready to leave this monstrosity of a wedding.

Ker-CHUUNK. Miss Swan had entered the car. Without invitation!

At this point, Regina Mills the scorned woman did not care. Her companion had barely shut the passenger door when Regina put the car in gear and then stomped on the gas.

"Sheesh, Regina! No wonder you collect speeding tickets!"

No response – not that Emma really expected one. The time for banter was over. Now, Emma would have to bring out the big guns, those harder tools she had scarcely accessed during her life. Emotional tools… Just my luck! Years in the foster system and then in prison had hardened her; the shields she had built against predatory people and careless attachment made vulnerability and softness in relationships difficult. However, Emma owed Regina, but more than that, she truly did love her as a friend and a fellow mother to their son. She wanted to stand by this woman in her time of a pain, as she would have wished someone would have genuinely comforted and assisted her in childhood or the dangerous prison yards.

"All teasing aside, I used to do some street racing myself when I was a teenager. Loved it! Is that what we're doing?" Emma asked a bit nervously.

Again silence. Apparently, the Queen did not feel she needed to speak.

Regina rolled her eyes. Who is this Emma Swan? She certainly was her mother's daughter. This could almost be Snow who was sitting in her car. Emma was actually going along with Regina and trying not to further agitate her, but she was also slyly attempting to manipulate Regina and get some answers.

"Hey! You're passing everything. What are you doing? Where are you going?" Emma still couldn't coax an answer out of Regina. "We're no longer in the center of town. We're not headed in the direction of your house. Mine isn't this way either…Oh!"

Emma was not liking this. The only place this path led to was… Oh no! Out of the town! She was LEAVING Storybrooke!

"Regina, stop the car."

Nothing.

"I don't appreciate your telling me what to do, Miss Swan," Regina said robotically. Muttering under her breath, "…treating me as if I was some kind of ill-brained, lunatic child… just like a Charming…"

Is nothing I tried to do working? Emma couldn't believe a woman who thrived on power binges (Queen) and exercising authority and composure (Mayor) could do such crazy things in such a calm fashion. But then, she had signed up to hang around these fairytale loons for life when she had decided to stay in Storybrooke a few years ago, had she not?

This is it, Emma resolved. I must be firm and direct and make her see sense. This is my last chance, or I'll be stuck as her Louise going on a road trip and over a cliff soon!

"REGINA! STOP. THIS. CAAAARRRRR! NOW!"

Well, that did it. Apparently, Emma did not need word games and banter and child psychology. She just needed to scream.

Regina slammed on her brakes, and the car lurched to a halt.

She just HAS to do what I say EXACTLY when I say it, doesn't she? Emma rubbed her bruised head in the aftermath of the severe whiplash that the maniacal stop had caused.

Regina turned, with an eerie stoicism, and considered Emma. "What, Miss Swan? Tell me, Emma. Tell me. WHAAAT."

"Umm… I'm in the car. With you," Emma gulped. Regina was really making her flustered. She didn't know how to deal with a non-cool-and-composed, un-mayor-like Regina. "We're in the car together. You… uhhhhhh… you are driving like an off-her-meds Danica Patrick and kidnapping me to places unknown. We can't up and leave! Our son— HENRY! You remember him? You would've stolen me over that town line, and then he wouldn't know what happened to either of us! So I need you to stop for a moment, and be cool and think. Think about him and this situation. Yeah, it's crap. Robin was a major moron and turned this day into a wreck. But don't make it any worse. You haven't let yourself process it all. Just go home and rest. Hug Henry. Talk to Robin. You need to do that and… Yeah. You just need to slow down and do that."

Regina stared and stared. Or was it glared and glared? The blonde's wild gesticulating and maze of a speech were making her dizzy and nauseous. Honestly, Emma Swan, you have no idea who you're dealing with. I'm always in control. You apparently are not.

"Emma." Her voice alone sucked all attention to herself. Even the inanimate elements of the surrounding environment would heed her command. "Emma, look at you. Look at me. You are rambling like an idiot and giving one of those overly ridiculous Snow White speeches. Look at me. I am perfectly calm and in control. It did appear I was going over the town line… at least to you? I guess maybe I should've just dumped you over…"

"Yeah, but Regina… Henry!"

"You think I'd forget my own son?!" Regina was so galled by Emma. It was just like the Savior of legend that had tromped into town and hacked into her life.

"Well, it would be understandable after—"

"No. Do not finish that sentence. I would NEVER abandon Henry!"

"All right! I believe you!" Regina is tired of me? I am soooo done. Emma redirected to what was important. "Since Henry is so important, why don't we get back to him, huh? Yeah, he probably wants to see you, and you could probably use getting back home. Let's go."

Emma re-buckled her seat belt and turned to face the window.

"Emma."

Meeting Regina's eyes, the exhausted Savior saw something different. Peaking through the dark hues of the woman's eyes, through the shuttered barricades to her soul, Regina projected an intensity. So mixed and so complex. Like the woman herself. She was sad and hurt, but more than that, she needed. She was so vulnerable and needing of hope, of love, of friendship, of comfort. And more.

Sadly, it was more than the Savior had to offer. More than she could even begin to approach.

"Emma, I know it doesn't seem like I wanted you here. And I don't. But really, it does matter what you've done here today. You did the best that you could by me, and even if I do not like your methods, you care. You may not be the Savior of legends and overinflated expectations, but you can be rather heroic when you push past your discomfort to help people. People like me. Your own messed up fairytale family." Regina wryly chuckled and almost seemed to release the watery torrent gathering in her eyes. She turned her head.

Emma knew that Regina was desperately trying to escape the embarrassment of breaking down in front of another. She respected that. All she cared about was the great honor of the former queen's words.

Regina continued, "I will think on everything you said today, Emma. I will. So we may go back now. I'll drop you off at the church, and then I'll go see Henry at home. But know this." Regina once again met Emma's gaze with a binding solemnity. "Henry is our son. Ours, and no one else's. He is everything. He is the most important thing. I trust that you will treat him with every ounce of love I have tried to show him."

"You know I love him, Regina!" Emma declared.

"Emma," Regina recaptured the blonde's attention. "Promise me, Emma. Promise me that he is. That you will take care of him with your life. That you will not pass him off to Neal. Not to your parents. Not to Gold."

Emma shuddered.

Seemingly reading her mind, Regina continued, "Well, he is Henry's grandfather and one of the most powerfully persuasive beings – with or without magic – in all the realms. Promise me that you will try to give him all the things you and I never had growing up. Protection. Care. Kindness. Consideration. Respect. A voice. Rules. Support. Guidance. Promise me to love him for always, to not take him for granted, and guard his life as the most primary responsibility in your life. Be everything he needs, Emma. Be the best that you can be for our son."

"But—"

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Regina received the confirmation she needed. With a nod of her head, she released a puff of air and some of the internal disquiet she had been harboring like a cancerous growth of worry. Grasping Emma's hand, she confided, "You truly can be a good friend. At least in small doses, Swan. And you know how little friends I have. Thank you for what it's worth."

The shock of that admission choked Emma up. She was already full to the brim with emotions of her own and thoughts on Regina's situation and worry for her and… She was overloading.

But she did have some clarity. And a few things occurred to Emma. Emma had made that promise to Regina – with all sincerity. She loved Henry and would die for him this day – now – if she had to. But the promise made her sick. It was a feeling in her gut – one that gnawed at her. One that she did not like. People only talked like this on their deathbeds. Regina most certainly was not dead or dying and never went down without a fight. Why was Regina behaving this way? What fight was she gearing up for? Why did Emma feel as if she was standing upon the top deck of the Titanic and only Regina had any clue of what monstrous cataclysm was to come?

She felt so sick. But like all of the other times in her life that made her recall that sickness, she could do nothing.

Suddenly, the Mercedes jolted to life. Regina was bent over the steering wheel, commandeering her automobile like a hellion.

Regina did not want to talk. Emma knew it. And Emma knew that she had too many confused emotions and question that Regina did not want to hear. Whatever Emma could say would be lost because Regina was determined to go on mount whatever pain-driven crusade she had already begun.

"REGINA!"

When Robin crossed through their bedroom and into the doorway of the master bathroom, he had not anticipated the sight he would come to find. That which left him breathless. His lover. His love. She was magnificent.

Regina lay stretched out in their bathtub – her olive skin glistening, peaking out amidst the mountain of bubbles. Graceful arms curving and resting along the rim of the tub. Her long, shapely legs that drove him to distraction. And at the waterline, he spied his spot – the place where her neck met her gently sloping shoulders. That place where he loved to caress and kiss, which caused her to sigh in just that glorious way of hers. His eyes slowly fell to her perfect collar bones, then lower, to her lovely…

"Robin!"

His eyes snapped up. Oh, how he loved the fire that danced in her eyes! She was so beautiful – so like a goddess, beyond the confines of human perfection – when her soul was aflame. When she was a warrior queen.

"Robin," Regina repeated, this time steadily measured and waiting to strike.

"Regina."

And he just stood there. With feral eyes and yet a hesitancy.

Normally, he would immediately be at her side. And hug her. Or kiss her. Or even join her in the bath. But he remained absolutely still in the doorway.

Robin was both hopeful and scared. Regina was disgusted. He had no qualms about going to Marian. Charging up the aisle and declaring his love in so many words. Now he's like an insecure little boy. Not so brave now, huh, Thief?

"Regina," he muttered again, clearing his throat. "Regina," he boomed.

Mustered courage, I guess. Go on. Play the game and tell the lies you have to tell. Regina wanted to be done with this. Just seeing him hurt her.

"Regina, you must know how foolish I was. What happened at the church… I cannot even explain to you what that was. What I did… I am at a loss. I do not like that Hatter. Jefferson-"

Yes, indeed. Regina knew his feelings about Jefferson. Jefferson was perfectly fine—now. He was a gentleman. Good father. Friend. All Jefferson did wrong was go after her. Marian, the woman you still love but won't admit to loving.

Robin looked to Regina, but she said and did nothing. He continued.

"Anyway, let's please forget today, sweet. I love you." He sounded so sincere, but Regina suffered in trying to keep the revulsion to a minimum. "I love you, my queen. Please believe me."

This time, Robin was stayed by no anxiety. He marched over to the tub and grasped Regina, lifting her up and out of the bath.

Robin pulled her into his loving embrace. His soft lips kissed down her neck. His hands groped her buttocks. He was pulled into the familiar current, the internal rhythm of their hearts beating as one, their love and shared passion.

The only problem was that Regina was not consumed. No longer was she swept away by his supposed love. His betrayal – even if, by his admission, it was only a momentary lapse in judgment – had cut her. Cutting her until her love was the evaporating remnants of something once real, a captive to the broken trust.

Regina was closed off. She accepted his affection. Like a one-way transaction. But she could give him no more of herself. He had taken it all.

She felt hopeless. There was no Snow to be found here. No pick-me-up speech on hand. No hope to be found.

Does Robin REALLY love me? …did he ever?

The second—that was the real question. And Regina was not sure of the answer.

She could no longer depend on him. Believe in him. Trust him. NO.

Could she trust herself? After all, not so long ago she had folded before this man and given the man her heart and soul to be his. Then today happened. What was real and what was false?

Who was Robin really? And did it really even matter after all of this?

All she could do was survive.

Robin suddenly swung Regina into his arms, cradling her as if she was a most treasured goddess. He was entirely unaware of his supposed love and her inner turmoil. He kissed and caressed and headed toward the bedroom. His eyes were clouded with lust and repentance. He was ready to start anew.

But his dark beauty remained silent. And unavailable. Frozen by her fear of Robin and the world that only seemed to want to harm her.

At this point, all she could do was survive.

Perhaps the morning would bring something better.

Perhaps.