Chapter Two

"We never spoke about the curse. What exactly is going to happen to you when you cross the town line? Isn't it something bad? That's what Henry used to say?"

Emma tries to think of something meaningful to say to Regina as she shifts the roadside safety and fix a flat kits from the sheriff's cruiser to the tiny storage compartment in the front hatch of her beetle.

Regina is still fuming at her for insisting they take the 'yellow monstrosity' instead of her Mercedes, but Emma knows that car is her good luck charm and she never goes anywhere without it. After an hour of sitting in silence while they 'air it out' with the doors open at Regina's insistence, Emma's patience is wearing pretty thin and she's almost spoiling for a fight.

Regina smarts at the question. She can't recall Emma ever having been curious about her well being.

"I suppose it might sting." Regina jokes, goading Emma for a response.

Emma looks at her and rolls her eyes, one corner of her mouth rising in a smirk.

"In all honesty, I'm not sure..." Regina says, returning to the question.

"I've never left before... But unlike the others, my memories are one in the same. There's only one Regina."

Emma secures the hatch and checks the lock before coming around to the drivers side and climbing in.

"Fancy that." She checks her mirrors as she takes off her jacket and throws it in the back seat. As she spins her head forward again, her lips and nose skim Regina's face. Emma happens to inhale just as Regina's dark tresses graze her nose and cheeks. A shiver runs down her spine and then up again. She looks forward and grabs the steering column with both hands trying to center herself again, finding it difficult to think for a moment.

"Alright, you're good, we can go?"

Emma can see Regina nodding out of the corner of her eye, avoiding eye contact. She pops the clutch and they're on their way.

Did she feel that too?

Four hours in and Regina's only complaint so far, was that they were taking the busy highway instead of the scenic coastal road.

"Regina, the coastal highway adds three or four hours to the trip!"

Emma half expected Regina to insist, but instead she just replied, "Oh, I didn't know that."

Regina reached over behind Emma's seat and pulled something from the chair pocket.

"Do you mind?"

Emma broke eye contact with the road to glance over to Regina who was holding up an old issue of M.A.D. Magazine that looked like a cat peed on the cover.

"Jeez, Regina, do I mind what? That's been there for ages. It's not like Henry's even seen it!" Emma barks out before Regina interrupts her.

"No, I mean, do you mind if I look at it? Unless you would prefer me to watch the road with you."

Emma swallowed and looked back at the road before answering. Why am I so agitated. I'm acting like such a fool. Breathe Emma, breathe.

"Um, no, yeah. You can read it. Sure. It's humor. It's a humor magazine. Jokes and stuff." Shut up Emma. I'm rambling now too, jeez.

Emma continued to drive but she couldn't help but sneak sideways looks at Regina with her brows furled.

Regina picked up on this and glanced up from the magazine, "WHAT?"

Emma quickly turned back to the road.

"You should watch the road. Please."

Emma pulled to the road shoulder and cranked up the break handle.

"Please? Since when do you say please and thank you? Is that even you, Regina?"

Regina huffed at the notion that she had somehow been replaced by her mother.

"Yes its me. Thank you very much." She let out a large huff and started digging in her purse, finally pulling out a small envelope and handing it to Emma.

"Just read it. Please."

"Alright. Hold on." Emma pulled the note out of the fine stationery. Noting it was addressed to her made her want to laugh but she supressed it out of fear of Regina's reaction. She took a moment to inspect it:

Dear Ms. Swan,

If you are reading this note it means Ms. Mills has accompanied you to New York against my advisement. has been my patient since shortly after your departure with Ms. Blanchard. She has asked me to write this letter for you, in case she should find herself having difficulty communicating with you regarding the changes she has undergone while you were absent from Storybrooke. We have been engaged in behavioural therapy for several months. has been advised not to pass judgement on others and not to exert her influence in situations. She's attempting to be less controlling and by doing this, she may potentially recover a part of herself that has been lost to her for a long time; a glimmer of the person she was long before she cast the Dark Curse.

I implore you to use your strength of character to see Regina with new eyes, if at all possible. She has been trying very much to fix the mistakes she has made regarding Henry, and regarding you, most of all, Ms. Swan. Though I cannot say I know the reason why she has fixated on you as much as she has. Anyways. I digress. I can only hope this letter can serve on her behalf as an 'introduction' to the new Regina Mills. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. Please keep this letter confidential. Even Ms. Mills does not know what it contains. She has trusted me enough to allow this, despite our earlier disagreement. I think you should see that as proof of her intent.

Best Regards,

Dr. Archibald Hopper, MSC

"Ok." Emma finished the letter and nodded. She hadn't quite processed it yet, but she didn't want Regina to think she was stupid for taking so long with it.

"I get it. Nuff said."

She avoided making eye contact with Regina as she let the brakes go and pulled back out on the highway. As Regina returned to the magazine, they drove together in silence.

When dusk and sleep finally overtook her, Emma paused to take a long sideways look at the woman beside her.