"Untouchable, like a distant diamond sky.
I'm reaching out and I just can't tell you why."


The turnout was surprisingly large.

The small church, Storybrooke's only place of worship, was completely full of the town's residents, all wearing dark clothing, eyes lowered, heads bowed in mourning. Every last pew was occupied.

When word had gotten out that Regina was willing to sacrifice herself to save the entire town, Storybrooke's citizens had felt extremely grateful. They had started to believe that the Evil Queen truly had taken a turn for the better. And now that she had actually sacrificed herself to save her son, a beloved child within the small town, everyone knew it was true. Regina really was a good person, a noble savior. And so because of this, many came to pay their respects to the courageous woman at her funeral.

The Charmings occupied the very front row, the ones most devastated about their recent loss. Charming and Snow sat squeezing each other's hands, tears falling down Snow's pale white face. Next to Snow sat Henry, his face contorted with pain and heartbreak, and next to him, with an arm comfortingly around his shoulder was Emma, wearing her solemn black pea coat, her mouth pressed in a straight line.

The past few days had been a nightmare for Emma. She couldn't seem to get her emotions under control; she couldn't even comprehend them. Right away, she felt sick with grief, which was unexpected. She hadn't realized how much the brunette meant to her until she was gone.

At first, Emma had attributed her grief to sympathy for Henry, since he had lost his mother, and she hated seeing the kid so depressed. And it was really extremely difficult for Emma to see him that way. She hated herself for letting Regina give herself up, for allowing this to happen. But then Emma realized it was more than that.

Whenever she thought about the brave mayor, she felt a painful stab to her heart. She thought back to their last conversation in that tiny room in Hook's ship. Their sarcastic yet light jibes, then Regina's fleeting vulnerability. In the past week, Emma had seen the true Regina. The raw, legitimate core of the woman, without the magic, without the pressure, without the evil. She saw her true colors, and they were indeed beautiful. Regina was ultimately an amazing person with a spectacular heart deep within. She had just been covered by so many thick layers of evil and torture, but those layers were finally starting to peel off. She was finally becoming good again, only to have it all taken away.

That's what hurt Emma the most. That's what made tears prick her eyes whenever she was reminded of the woman's death. Regina's end had come way too soon. Just when she and the brunette were starting to… what? Connect? Emma didn't know. But something had changed between them after they saved the town together with their joint magic.

They had had potential. For what, Emma had no clue. But for something. Something other than fighting over Henry, or throwing insults at each other. But now, there was nothing. No potential, no hope, no future. Regina was gone. And she wasn't coming back.

Again, tears threatened to spill over but Emma dogmatically forced them back, knowing she had to stay strong for her son. Henry couldn't see her break. She tried to listen to Archie's kind words about Regina, but hearing them only worsened Emma's pain. So she tuned him out. She couldn't think about Regina, about what could have been. She had to stop dwelling on this, it was eating her alive.

"…not only a stellar mother and a caring town mayor, but an amazing friend." Archie was saying.

What was this? The entire town hated Regina, even while under the curse, and now that she was dead all of a sudden she was a "caring mayor"? Emma made a subtle noise in disbelief. Regina would have laughed if she could hear Archie's words. They were ridiculous. However, Emma's spite could be explained by the fact that Emma was still spiteful and angry at Regina for dying.

"At this time I would like to ask anyone who would like to come up for the candle lighting."

Emma watched as people walked up to the front, lit a candle, then held it over Regina's coffin, saying a quick prayer or a simple sweet send off. Many were most likely thanking her for her sacrifice.

"Emma, honey, it's our turn," Snow whispered, nudging her daughter gently. Emma looked up, her mouth slightly open, her eyes red but cheeks tearless, and followed her parents and son up to the front of the church.

They each lit a candle, then passed by Regina's body. Watching Henry say goodbye to his mother was heartbreaking, but having to say goodbye herself was worse. God, why was she such a wreck over this? She hated the woman, didn't she? They were arch enemies. So why did Regina's death have such an intense effect on her?

Emma finally walked up to the open coffin hesitantly. There lay Regina, beautiful as ever. She wore a simple gray dress, but it hugged the curves of her body and showed off her toned legs wonderfully. The woman looked absolutely regal even in death. Her chocolate colored hair was styled perfectly, framing her face in the most flattering way, and seemed even darker than usual in contrast to her pale, lucid skin. In an odd way, the fairness of her skin made the mayor look even more beautiful. Her eyes were closed peacefully, her long black lashes still, and her full red lips were set almost in a small tranquil smile.

She was stunning, and Emma wondered why she had never noticed it before. She mentally kicked herself for taking the woman for granted. But then again, had she really not noticed the older woman's beauty before this moment? Her mind flickered to the day at the mines, when Regina had stepped right up into Emma's personal space, her face inches from the savior's, and all Emma could do was stare at the woman's plump red lips.

Lips that would never move again. They would never again part to allow for the sound of that sultry, musical voice.

Before Emma knew it, a tear slid down her cheek and dropped silently on Regina's forehead. She hadn't even realized she was crying.

"Emma, it's time to say goodbye." Snow's voice was quiet and full of sympathy and sadness. Emma looked up, surprise written all over her big eyes as she remembered where she was. She sniffled, quickly swiped her tears off of her cheek, and looked back down sadly at the immobile former queen.

"Goodbye, Regina," Emma whispered, another tear falling as she took a deep breath and walked away.

Tough would be an understatement to describe the next couple of days in the Charming household. Although Snow White was the fated mortal enemy of the Evil Queen, even she had grown to accept and even cherish Regina. Her selfless willingness to save the whole town proved her sincerity and good heart, and Snow was finally beginning to think of Regina as family, something Regina had wished for many years ago. So the loss was hard on Snow as well.

Henry spent hours in his bed, tears glistening in his youthful eyes, weighed down by the knowledge that his mom had died in order to allow him to live.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he kept whispering to himself, to no one in particular. Both Snow and Charming tried to comfort him as much as possible, and he seemed to enjoy having his grandparents just there with him, it took a tiny bit of the pain away.

Emma, however, was a different story.

Ever since they had arrived home from the funeral, she had stayed in her tiny bedroom with the door shut, talking to no one, doing nothing except lying on the bed. She had barely kicked off her tall black boots, and hadn't even changed out of her slim-fitting black mini dress. She felt… numb. So she lay there on her bed, eyes trained on the ceiling, trying not to think of Regina.

The next morning, Charming and Snow sat together at the kitchen counter, eating matching plates of eggs, sausage, and toast. The mood in the house was still somber, and Henry was still laying in bed. His grandparents discussed in hushed voices over breakfast, trying to prevent the kid from hearing.

"Seeing him like that breaks my heart," Snow murmured, pushing her eggs around with her fork.

"Me too," Charming said sympathetically, placing a hand on Snow's arm. "I wish there was something we could say, something we could do, anything to make him feel better."

"There isn't," Snow sighed. "He just needs time. She was the Evil Queen to us but she was a mother to him. And if there's anyone who understands about losing a mother, it's us." Snow looked into her husband's eyes sadly.

Charming nodded. "I guess all we can do now is just… be there for him."

"Yes, exactly. And cook for him whenever he decides to finally eat something."

"Yeah, if that happens within the next year," Charming said sarcastically.

"How long has it been now since he's eaten?"

"Ummm..." The former prince chewed on his lip, thinking deeply. "I think he had a pop tart yesterday morning."

"You think?" Snow cocked her head.

"Or at least a couple bites of one."

"Well, maybe it'll work again. I'll stick a couple pop tarts in the toaster, maybe by some miracle Emma will want to eat one."

"I doubt it. She hasn't even left her bedroom since the funeral."

"We can try." Snow shrugged. "And stop talking so loudly. The last thing I want is to upset Henry."

"I still don't understand it, though," Charming pressed on. "Why isn't Emma out here being with him? He just lost one of his mothers, you'd think his other one would want to comfort him as much as possible."

"I don't know," Snow sighed again, shaking her head. "But Emma needs time of her own. She's still fairly new at being a mother, not to mention her reaction to Regina's death has been somewhat of a mystery."

"You could say that again. I mean, they weren't even friends."

"Yeah…" Snow mulled it over in her mind, tilted her head, then got up. "I'm gonna go talk to her."

Emma was laying on her side, her arms tucked under her pillow, when she heard a soft knock on the bedroom door.

"Emma? It's me."

Emma showed no sign that she heard her mother's voice, she just closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Emma, honey. Can I come in?" When no answer was given, Snow cracked open the door and peeked in the room. When she spotted Emma laying dejectedly on the bed, still in her dress from yesterday, she entered the room and closed the door behind her.

"Oh, sweetheart."

"I didn't say you could come in," Emma said crossly, finally sitting up on the bed, bringing her knees to her chest.

"Emma, why don't you change." Snow ignored Emma's cross words. Emma rested her chin on her knees, refusing to speak. She didn't want to confess that she didn't have the energy to put on a change of clothes.

"Emma, are… are you okay?" Snow's voice was soft and searching.

"What? Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, Mary Margaret. I… I don't even know why you sound all pitying and stuff, I'm just… I'm just taking a rest. I'm fine."

Snow let out a small breath and closed her eyes. There was that wall again.

"Emma, you can talk to me. I know Regina's death has had a great effect on you. And I just want you to know I'm here for you."

Emma glanced up at her young mother, biting her lip, not sure what to say.

"I… I just…"

Snow gently sat on the bed next to her daughter, hesitantly putting an arm around her. After a few seconds which seemed like an eternity, Emma finally gave in and leaned into her mother's embrace.

"Emma…" Snow wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say. "Did you… were you and Regina…?" Her voice trailed off awkwardly.

"No," Emma whispered before she could finish.

Snow rubbed her daughter's arm comfortingly.

"Nothing ever happened." Emma took a breath. "But…"

"But what, honey?"

"I wanted it to," Emma cried out, as if the statement came bursting through her hard shell, finally surfacing as it wanted to.

"Oh, Em…" Snow brought her daughter in even closer, holding her head to her chest as she stroked her hair comfortingly. Emma let the tears fall, finally voicing what she had been feeling for the past couple weeks. She sobbed into her mother's hug, letting herself be comforted and embraced.

"Why did this have to happen," she whispered sadly. "Right when she was changing. Becoming a better person."

"She was a hero, Emma," Snow murmured, planting a kiss on the top of her daughter's head. "She died so Henry could live."

Emma let out a stifled sob, then abruptly pulled away from her mom, getting up off the bed.

"I, um… I have to go," Emma muttered, her nose red and her voice still nasal from crying. She went into her closet, pulling out a pair of jeans and a blouse.

"What? Go where?" Snow asked, confused.

"I don't know. Just… out. I have to clear my head."

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine Mom, okay?"

Snow gave a small smile at the usage of the word "mom," and nodded slightly. "Be careful, okay?"

"Yup." Emma was distracted, still wiping the tears off of her cheeks, trying to erase that minute from her life. She hated being seen as vulnerable and sad. "I'll see you later."

She quickly stumbled out of the apartment, trying not to make eye contact with her father on the way out. Finally, she was outside in the chilly morning air, and it felt good, her hair whipping wildly around her face.

She didn't know what was happening, she didn't know what she was feeling, and she didn't know what she was doing. She just began to walk aimlessly, no destination in mind. She just had to get away. Away from her confusing emotions, away from everything. After a lot of walking, however, Emma realized there was no escaping her feelings.

She looked up for the first time in several minutes to realize that she was on Mifflin street, somehow. Damn, she thought. She had walked pretty far without even realizing it. The tiny voice in the back of her mind nudged her, telling her she was a few feet away from the late mayor's house.

"God, I can't get that woman out of my brain," Emma muttered to herself, sadness etched on her features.

The big mansion on the end of the street seemed to magnetically pull her, and before she knew it she was climbing the steps to the front door. She didn't know why, but all of a sudden she had her hand on the doorknob. Without thinking, she slowly turned the knob. Surprisingly, it was open. The door easily clicked open and without giving it a second thought, Emma slipped inside.

God, why the hell am I here? Emma asked herself as she walked slowly into the big empty living room. What am I doing? What am I searching for?

She didn't know. She didn't have answers. And being in Regina's house, reliving a myriad of memories, both good and bad, wasn't helping out her mixed emotions.

Am I strict? ...I suppose. But I do it for his own good. I want Henry to excel in life. I don't think that makes me evil, do you?

Oh, I'm... sure he's just saying that because of the fairytale thing.

What fairytale thing?

Oh you know, his book. How he thinks everyone is a cartoon character from it.

I'm sorry, I really have no idea what you're talking about.

...You know what. It's none of my business. He's your kid. And I really should be heading back.

Of course.

Emma closed her eyes as the memory floated back to her. Their first conversation together. Even then, she wasn't truly evil. She never was. It was all making sense now. Regina was a misunderstood woman. Yes, sometimes she did less than noble things, but she always, unconditionally loved Henry, and always wanted the best for him.

Emma glanced up the staircase, then as if being pulled again by some unknown invisible force, she traipsed up the stairs, turning into Regina's bedroom. She bit her lip and a tear rolled down her cheek as she breathed in the scent of Regina. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and it was as if the beautiful brunette was right there in the room with her.

"Oh, god," Emma whispered to herself, sitting down on the large bed. She took one of the soft pillows and hugged it with her strong arms, stroking it gently, squeezing her eyes shut as more tears fell out of them.

Why did you come back for me? Why would you risk your life, everyone's lives, just to make sure I lived?

You weren't ready to die, Regina. You didn't deserve to die.

But I was ready. If it meant Henry could be happy. I still am. I would gladly give my life for Henry. Every time.

Regina's courageous words swam back to Emma's mind in a haze, jabbing painfully at her heart. Why did this all have to be so difficult? If Regina hadn't been transforming into such a brave, good person, if only she had remained evil, then this wouldn't be so painful.

Emma shook her head of the unwanted thoughts, then took a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure.

That is, until a scarily familiar voice woke Emma from her thoughts.

"What the hell are you doing in here, Miss Swan?"

Emma's eyes snapped open, and she gasped as she took in the unbelievable sight in front of her eyes.

Regina Mills was standing in the doorway.


A/N: Guys, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback to the first chapter. It's honestly what keeps me writing. Your reviews/favorites/follows really make my day!

If you haven't guessed, the title of the story is a reference to the Taylor Swift song (call me cheesy) although I thought of the song after I had already come up with the premise of the story and had written a couple chapters. But the song goes with the story so beautifully and I will be using some of the lyrics as inspiration in later chapters.

Also, sorry for the cliffhanger! Next chapter should be up soon! Love you guys!