I'd say warnings apply for this chapter. Please consider leaving a review, as I always appreciate them. I don't normally request such feedback, but this story actually took a lot for me to write. Thank you for understanding.

(To answer the question of someone who reviewed, this is a Swan Queen story. But we do get some moments of Dragon Queen in this chapter, though they are merely friends with a romantic history, as I imagine them being on the show).


On her third day back in Boston, Regina Mills takes a scalding hot shower, puts on a black pants suit, and drops her son off at school. She's in the turning lane that will take her to work, but abruptly swerves right, and onto the street that leads her home.

The spacious, two-story house seems quieter than usual without Henry, and she makes a point of creating a lot of noise. She brews coffee, and dusts the shelves, and calls Marian simply for an excuse to talk. The chat lasts all of two minutes before she zones out, twirling the phone cord in her hand.

"Regina?" Marian repeats. "Did you hear what I just said? I asked if you wanted some company."

Regina's heart leaps with eagerness to accept, but she catches sight of the circles under her eyes in the nearest mirror. "That's alright," she mutters hoarsely. "It's bad enough that I've been out of the office for a week. I'll just call you later."

She spends the rest of the morning in her study, and just as she's about to climb the stairs to lie down, the doorbell rings. At first, she expects Marian, but it's another familiar face that greets her - an old friend, who strikes a casual pose in a smart grey suit, but sweeps through the door with a frantic energy as soon as Regina opens it.

Mallory Bellamy is as high-strung and tempestuous as ever. "I had a visitor today," she announces, all sibilant twang and over enunciated sass. "A Miss Emma Swan. I thought she was just a jealous girlfriend until I realized she's investigating a crime. What happened?"

"You're a litigator," Regina laughs through gritted teeth. "Surely her line of questioning gave you a clue." She crosses her arms in discomfort under Mal's scrutiny, and then breaks from her stiff posture to lead the way into the living room.

"Do you want to enlighten me as to why she seems to think I'm a suspect?" Mallory growls out. "What did you tell her about our history?"

"Nothing," Regina mutters with a miffed quirk of her eyebrow. "I told her nothing. I'm not even sure how she got your name."

Mallory moves forward without warning and grabs her.

Regina's too stunned by the familiarity of it all to do much more than gape up at the taller, imposing woman. Mallory runs a caressing finger along her cheek, and sympathetically looks into her eyes.

Regina gulps as Mallory spins her around and yanks up the bottom of her shirt to see her slightly faded and sickly, purple-green injuries.

"Let me go," she yelps, sounding far too small and girlish for her liking. Regina regains control and staggers away.

"I could never have done this," Mallory rasps. "Not even with your consent. Did you tell Emma about your previous lifestyle?"

Regina glares hard at nothing. "It's not relevant to figuring out who's responsible, so no, I didn't," she mutters.

"You and I both know that the general public doesn't understand that the types of acts we engage in can be quite loving," Mal curtly explains. "Emma is aware you were a student of mine... But she's not aware that you were also my student in other ways."

"That's none of her business," Regina hisses softly.

"Some judges would rule that you were getting exactly what you asked for that night, because you'd sought and dealt out similar forms of 'punishment' for sexual gratification in the past." Mallory has never been one to hold back her opinions, and Regina's starting to weary of the conversation.

"Did you come all the way over here just to tell me that?" Regina asks in a hushed, even voice.

"I came over here because I figured you could use a friend," Mallory admits. "I brought the girls along, but I made them wait out in the car in case you didn't welcome my company."

"I'm fine with your company," Regina breathes, "But I'm not in college anymore. I keep a tidy home for my son-"

"And we respect that, darling!" Carla Deville calls from the foyer. "That's why we only brought three bottles of Pinot Grigio."

Ursula Martin follows Carla into the living room, takes one look at Regina and frowns. "I'm going to give you a hug," she states, and then wraps Regina in an awkward embrace. "You know I've been wanting to do that for years, but you were always so damn standoffish. Anyway, where's your phone? I'll call and order us a pizza."

An hour later, Regina's sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine. Ursula's the only one interested in the pizza, and perches cross-legged across from Carla with a slice of pepperoni and anchovies.

Carla's drunk enough that she's half forgotten the reason they came over in the first place. "How about a little party game," she drawls dramatically. "Something to cheer you up."

"What do you have in mind?" Mal asks, and Regina wonders if times have truly changed, because Mallory would never entertain Carla's drunken proposals in the past.

"Well, first we invite that snooping little blonde inside," Carla snickers. "Emma Swan, isn't it? She's parked just on the other side of the street."

"Emma isn't snooping," Regina frowns. "It's her job to watch my home. There are security cameras outside-"

"Nonsense," Carla tuts. "She's a snoop."

"She does seem rather invested," Ursula observes. "I mean, you'd expect that, but she asked all of us a lot of questions about your personal life. Fortunately you don't have one, so we didn't have to lie."

"Invite her in," Mallory sedately commands, and there's a glimmer of trouble in Carla's eye that makes Regina feel ill at ease.

Carla skips up from the couch and goes out to chat with Emma, and minutes later they're both walking into the living room.

Emma cheerfully helps herself to a slice of pizza after Ursula offers it. "Thanks," she smiles, oblivious to the fact that she's everyone's focus. "I was just going for my break. Haven't eaten all day."

Regina drinks the rest of her wine. She intends to remain sober, but Mal pours her another glass and she finds herself swallowing down the warm liquid in spite of herself.

"So, Miss Swan," Carla crisply intones. "Are you a lesbian, or do you only dress like one?"

Emma chokes on her pizza and sits up straighter, as if it's her posture that's giving her away. "I-" she stutters. "I don't have the time to get involved with anyone." Her eyes dart to Regina. She licks her bottom lip nervously, and then confidently admits, "But I like plaid, and I like women. Got a problem with that?"

"The plaid, yes," Carla sniffs haughtily.

"Just ignore Carla," Ursula urges, and flippantly waves her hand in the air. "She doesn't know how to make friends."

But it's not Carla that Regina's worried about. Mallory is sizing Emma up in a way that makes Regina shift in subtle discomfort.

"Who said anything about making friends?" Mal asks with a menacing flick of her eyelashes. "I'm sure Emma knows that isn't the purpose of this little chat."

Regina sets down her wine glass and shoots Mallory a wary glare. "Don't," she warns, but Mallory's mind is clearly made up and Emma Swan is reactive. There's no avoiding whatever is to come.

"As you continue with your investigation, it's in your best interest to be discreet," Mal meditatively informs Emma. "I did a little digging myself this afternoon. I have quite a few personal connections in the FBI. Turns out you don't exactly have a spotless record, Agent Swan. You use whatever means necessary to get the job done, and you're frequently careless. You'd better be more cautious from this day forward."

Emma raises an eyebrow and boldly sticks out her chin. "Threatening me just makes it seem like you have something to hide," she shrugs.

"Everyone has secrets," Mallory coyly muses. "Mine aren't as damning as yours. One of my connections read the files on Operation Cobra, and I have to say, you screwed up royally."

Emma's suddenly ghostly pale and straight-faced. "You can't always trust reports," she shrugs. "I take responsibility for my actions, but what was put into writing is very black and white. I'm not going to let you use my past against me."

"I won't, so long as you ensure that no harm comes to my dear friend," Mal caustically replies.

"It's my duty to protect Regina," Emma states fiercely, and then suddenly Mallory's entire energy changes.

Mallory appears pleased but also intrigued, and Regina takes advantage of the break in the tension. She interrupts before Mallory can continue her conversation with Emma. "Henry will be home soon."

She sounds meek and not at all like the commanding woman she considers herself. "I need to make him an after school snack, and you should all get back to work… or whatever it is you people do. " She wants to make a fast escape from this reunion from hell, but Ursula and Carla hastily decline, and she realizes that all of her old friends have come here with a mind to stay.

Henry breezes though the door at top speed, and she's unsurprised to see Marian tagging along after him.

"I picked him up early," Marian explains, and glances over Regina's shoulder at her visitors. "Thought you could use some help around here, and I've hardly seen you since you got back. What's going on? Are you having a party without me?"

"These are just some unexpected guests," Regina admits in a light voice, and her lips twist indecisively, smiling and cringing at once. She rubs her hands together out of nervous habit, and retreats further into the foyer.

Henry seems delighted that Mallory and Emma are in his living room. He throws his backpack aside and carelessly kicks off his shoes. The panic Regina's been experiencing all day begins to subside as she watches her son. She's so wrapped in Henry that she doesn't realize that Marian's reaching for her. She gasps and flinches in reflex and fright. The room around her goes quiet, and she meets Emma's eyes first.

Emma likes to pretend that she knows how to school her emotions, but Regina sees right through her newest acquaintance. Emma's skin turns a shade paler, and she's gawking compassionately.

It's all overwhelming, and Regina shrinks away from the unwanted pity like a tiny critter hiding from sudden light.

"Hey mom." Henry pipes up, looking clever as he angles his eyebrow at her. "You should invite everyone to stay for dinner." He's doing his best to smooth over the awkward situation, and Regina appreciates him for it.

"Of course," Regina quickly agrees, although she'd rather distance herself from everyone, with the exception of Henry. "You're all welcome to stay."

"Why don't we order in?" Emma suggests.

Mallory—who knows Regina better—insists that she, Carla and Ursula will cook. Henry bounces off to help with the dinner preparations, and then Regina's left alone with Emma and Marian.

The two women have already spoken to each other several times over the past few days, so Regina can't even redirect the conversation with introductions or small-talk. She's stuck staring at their solemn, patient faces.

"How are you holding up?" Marian murmurs, and she cautiously steps forward again as if wanting to offer comfort without knowing how.

Regina clears her throat and sinks down into an armchair. "I'm tired," she confesses. "But I'm sure Miss Swan is much more exhausted from the past two weeks."

Marian turns to Emma with a rumpled brow and asks, "did you find out who sent that package to our office?"

Regina's eyes skip curiously to Emma, and she wonders what Marian means. "What package," she finally grates.

Emma freezes up and glances down at her in worry. "I meant to tell you earlier today." Her voice warbles like she's lying, then she licks her lips. "The guys who were responsible for abducting you and taking you to that warehouse - they were found. They're dead, and we don't know who's responsible. Their murder looks like an act of revenge."

Regina gapes up at Emma, feeling irrationally angry that she's been kept in the dark about what transpired. Her sleepless nights might have been more peaceful if she knew that the men who attacked her would never be a problem for her again. She purses her lips, which quiver with frustrated emotion, and mutters a strained "excuse me" before rushing off to the bathroom and locking herself inside.

Left alone, she flips on the taps to let the water run and stares at her face in the mirror above the sink. The woman across from her seems barely recognizable, and she watches the near stranger as if she expects the image to move-to prove that she's not the one with dark circles under her eyes, or tears streaming down her cheeks. She hugs herself, and folds her legs under her body as she sits in front of the bathroom door.

"Regina?" Marian calls a while later, and tries to turn the knob when she doesn't answer. "Dinner is ready. I'm going to wait for you, okay?"

Regina squeezes herself, and muffles a soft sob, which she's been holding in for days. She won't budge, but she knows she's only making matters worse if she stays. All of her friends have already made their own assumptions about her and the situation, and if she has to look at their pitying faces for one more second, she'll have to admit to herself how much she hurts. She can't do that.

Decisively, she forces her legs to cooperate, and stands up to tidy her make-up and brush back her hair. "I'll be right there," she states sharply, and waits it out until she looks composed. When she swings open the door, Marian steps out of her way as she storms straight at Emma.

"Henceforth, you'll keep me informed about any developments in the case that involve me personally," she orders. "If you want my complete cooperation with the investigation, which I know you do, then there won't be any more oversights like this one."

"I'm sorry. I was going to tell you," Emma insists.

Regina's baffled by how easily she wants to accept the apology, but she clings to her self-righteous rage.

"No!" she barks. "Look, Miss Swan. We aren't friends. This is your job, and from day one it's seemed you haven't taken it seriously." She's talking out of anger now. They certainly had a rocky beginning, but since then Emma has been nothing considerate of her, and she knows how invested Emma is in her work. "You're on far too familiar terms with me, and frankly I don't care for it. You should have spoken to me about what occurred, instead of shielding me from it, or whatever it is you thought you were doing-"

"I was investigating you," Emma admits, squaring her jaw. "There's a lot to this whole case, Madame Mills, and it goes way beyond your part in it. You really have no idea what I'm dealing with-"

"I have no idea? Get out of my house," Regina snaps, and Emma hesitates, so she repeats herself louder. "Get out!"

Emma backs away, and then hurries for the door.

Regina sticks her head in the air, indulging her anger as a defense, but she cools when Henry comes to check on the commotion.

"What happened to Emma?" Henry pouts, giving her puppy dog eyes. "Why did you yell at her? I wanted her to stay for dinner!"

"We don't always get what we want," Regina seethes; she's irrationally furious that Emma's feelings are her son's first concerns. "Go and eat, and then I want you to head upstairs to begin your homework."

Marian looks like she wants to interfere, and Regina's well aware that three more sets of eyes are on her-Carla, Ursula and Mallory are watching her with disquieted expressions.

"This isn't fair," Henry argues, because she's always taught him to stand up for himself. "I know the truth about what happened. You're acting crazy, just because those bad guys hurt you—"

Regina grabs Henry by the wrist-gently, but powerfully and guides him into the dining room. "I won't have you talking back to me," she states. "Eat your dinner, and go straight up to your room. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night."

Henry makes a face and picks up his fork. He stabs at his carrots and proceeds to ignore her presence.

She leaves the room, because her son is right-she overreacted, but she feels justified and safe in her fury, even if her heart aches over what she just told Henry.

Ursula and Carla have slipped out in the time it's taken her to yell at her son. With a meaningful glance back at Mallory, Marian steps off to join Henry at dinner.

"You need to get ahold of yourself," Mallory frowns. "He's just a little boy. He doesn't know what he's saying."

"I'm sorry. Is he your son?" Regina snidely asks.

"He should have been," Mallory answers honestly, and Regina hates the look on her face-the genuine, sorrowful look that Regina's only seen in the direst situations.

"You only discouraged me from having children," Regina husks, and goes to pour herself a glass of hard cider. "Don't act like you have regrets over what happened between us."

"I would have been there for you-but I distinctly remember you were intent upon punishing me," Mallory huffs with a quirk of her eyebrow, and takes the drink from Regina's hand. "You don't want to behave this way in front of your son. You need to rest, and I'm not leaving here until you're tucked into bed."

Regina gives Mallory a scornful look and stalks off to her study. She hears Henry scampering by, and Marian ascends the stairs with him. It's still far too early to go to bed, but he'll do his homework, and perhaps Marian will read to him.

Regina settles in behind her desk. Her first instinct is to call someone, but she's indecisive over which numbers to push and her hand falters.

Mallory looms in her doorway, and darkly studies the antique clock. "You shouldn't have chased Emma Swan away," she rumbles. "You want answers? Swan's a sucker. She's emotionally invested in this case, and she'll tell you everything she knows if you're patient enough with her. Then you can pick up the phone and call in a few favors. Deal with any remaining threat."

"I don't need your advice." Regina puts on a show of indifference, but she knows she won't rest until she learns why she's been targeted. "I could, however, use a favor. Will you stay here with Henry and Marian? I need to run an errand. I won't be long."