A/N: I'm sorry this has taken so long! I promise I haven't abandoned it. This chapter has been rewritten 7 times and I'm going crazy so I'm going to post it. I hope you enjoy it!
DAY 31 POST QoD (Conversation in Regina's office)
R: Thank you for lunch. You really didn't have to you know.
E: I know but I wanted to. I needed to get out of the office for a bit.
R: Ruby again?
E: Yeah, I mean I love her to pieces but she never stops talking. I've literally had to start stockpiling aspirin in my desk drawer.
R: I can suddenly discover there isn't enough in the budget for a second Deputy if that helps?
E: God no! She's driving me nuts but I haven't had to do a night shift in ages so it's totally worth it.
R: One of the few benefits of hiring a Child of the Moon I suppose. Have you decided what to get your mother for her birthday?
E: Not yet. I'm terrible at buying gifts. Have you got her anything?
R: Yes.
E: Well? What is it?
R: The new book by her favourite author.
E: How the hell do you know who her favourite author is?
R: She has an entire bookcase full of his books. It's hardly a difficult deduction.
E: I've never noticed. Maybe I should get her some perfume? People like that sort of thing right?
R: I'm sure she'd appreciate that.
E: What perfume does she wear?
R: You're delusional if you actually expect me to know what perfume Snow White wears.
E: But you're observant!
R: That's hardly an advantage with scent now, is it?
E: Fine. I'll think of something else.
LATER – DAY 32 POST QoD (text)
E: A spa day?
R: Storybrooke doesn't have a spa.
E: Underwear?
R: FOR YOUR MOTHER?
E: Okay 4get I said anything
LATER - DAY 32 POST QoD (phone)
R: You should paint her something.
E: Hello to you too, Regina. I'm having a lovely day, thanks for asking.
R: Do you want my help or not?
E: With what?
R: A present for your mother. You could paint something for her. I know you've only got a couple of days but she'd love it.
E: You really think so?
R: A parent loves receiving something made by their child, no matter how old that child is.
E: What should I paint?
R: I'm sure you can think of something, I'm not doing all the work for you.
DAY 34 POST QoD (email)
E: Mom wants us all to be at hers for 7 tonight. Is that okay?
R: Of course. Do I need to bring anything?
E: She says no but I totally wouldn't argue if you wanted to make some more of that awesome chocolate cake…
R: When do you expect me to make this "awesome chocolate cake", dear? I'm at work. You should have mentioned it yesterday.
E: I suppose I'll stick to birthday cake then :(
7 P.M - DAY 34 POST QoD (text)
R: Henry and I are at your mother's but you most definitely are not. Where are you?
R: It's rude to be late, Miss Swan.
R: If you aren't here in the next 5 minutes, you don't get any of the chocolate cake I made.
R: Emma, are you okay?
E: I need ur help.
R: What's going on?
E: Can u pick me up from the Station?
R: I'll be there in 10.
E: Make an excuse plz? Don't tell any1 where I am.
12 MINUTES LATER - DAY 34 POST QoD (conversation in Regina's car)
R: Care to explain why I'm saving you from jail instead of eating chocolate cake with my son?
E: Not really. Thanks for bailing me out though.
R: I have to admit that I'm reasonably impressed Ruby had the courage to arrest the Sherriff.
E: She's a werewolf. She knew I wasn't going to argue with her. What did you tell everyone? Is mom mad?
R: I said your car had broken down and you needed a ride. It seems that yellow abomination you drive has finally come in useful; it provides an excellent cover story.
E: Hang on, where are you going? We need to go back to the apartment. They'll figure out something is wrong if we don't get back soon.
R: The Uncharmings may not have been burdened with an overabundance of learning but even they will notice if you arrive with a split lip and bruised knuckles. We need to clean you up first.
E: Can't you heal me?
R: Only Henry.
E: How come?
R: Because healing requires light magic-
E: And he's your light.
R: Mmmhmm.
15 MINUTES LATER - DAY 34 POST QoD (conversation at Regina's house)
R: I have some ointment in the upstairs bathroom we can put on that bruising, it should stop it from getting any worse. Come with me.
E: You really don't need to do this.
R: Yes I do. We need to clean those cuts on your knuckles so they don't get infected and maybe strap your ribs up while we're at it.
E: There's nothing wrong with my ribs.
R: Really? Lift your arms over your head.
E: I…
R: Exactly. Now let me help you.
5 MINUTES LATER - DAY 34 POST QoD (conversation in Regina's master bathroom)
R: This is going to sting, I'm afraid.
E: Go ahead. It's okay.
R: None of this is okay, Miss Swan. Who did this to you?
E: If I was the victim I wouldn't have been arrested would I? I started it.
R: I refuse to believe you started a fight for no good reason. Who was the other participant? Are they badly injured?
E: I sure hope so.
R: Emma!
E: He fucking deserved everything he had coming to him!
R: Why?
E: I said I don't want to talk about it, okay?
R: Alright. Stand up so I can take a look at your ribs.
E: They're fine.
R: Emma, stop! I won't ask questions about what happened if you don't want me to but I am not letting you walk around with potentially broken ribs. Stop being so stubborn!
E: They're not broken. It's only bruising.
R: Will you please let me strap them up?
E: Okay.
R: I'm going to call Snow and ask to reschedule dinner. I'm sure Henry won't mind spending the night with them. You can stay here.
2 A.M - DAY 35 POST QoD (conversation in Regina's bedroom)
E: Regina? You awake?
R: Emma? What's wrong? Do you need more pain medication?
E: No, I wanted to talk.
R: Now or can it wait until morning?
E: I was hoping now.
R: Well if we're going to talk, you might as well get in.
E: In your bed?
R: Yes, Miss Swan. Unless you plan on standing by the door all night.
E: As long as you're sure... Holy crap! Your bed is super comfy!
R: So are you going to tell me whose blood I had to wash out of your jacket tonight?
E: Hook's.
R: You attacked your boyfriend?
E: He's not my boyfriend!
R: Okay…
E: Why didn't you ever tell me, Regina?
R: Tell you what exactly?
E: What he did to you! He fucking helped someone torture you and you never thought to mention it to me?!
R: How…? What…?
E: I overheard him. It turns out he's pretty proud of the fact that he nearly killed the Evil Queen. He couldn't stop boasting about everything that happened to you and how he got away with it.
R: Oh please, he didn't even have the courage to stay and watch.
E: Goddammit, Regina! Of course that's the part that you focus on! You nearly fucking died and he knew where you were the entire time! We nearly lost you and the man who claims to love me is partly to blame! None of that seems even a tiny bit important to you? How could you let Henry anywhere near someone like that? How the fuck could you let me date him?! What's wrong with you?!
R: He wouldn't have hurt either of you. You were happy with him, I had no intention of ruining that for you. I really don't understand why you're angry. Surely ensuring you still have your happy ending despite my personal feelings is what a good person does?
E: You think I want my happy ending if it's with someone capable of doing that to you? For someone so smart you're thick as shit sometimes, Regina. Whatever, I'm going back to bed. I was wrong, I really don't want to talk about this after all.
R: Emma!
8 A.M - DAY 35 POST QoD (conversation in Regina's kitchen)
E: Good morning.
R: Good morning.
E: Look, I'm sorry I stormed off last night. I was seriously mad but that doesn't give me a right to act like a child.
R: I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I really thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't want to be the cause of any more unhappiness for you.
E: No, I had some time to think last night. I think you were actually worried that even if you told Henry and I the truth that we'd still side with Hook and say you deserved it.
R: I did deserve it. I ruined Owen's life.
E: And people ruined your life before that. We can play the blame game going back generations but it doesn't solve anything.
R: That's a very convenient attitude to take.
E: What does that mean? You want me to blame you for everything?
R: Of course not but I don't need you to justify it all either. I want to be forgiven, not excused. What I did is literally inexcusable. It shouldn't just be swept under the rug.
E: That's not what I'm doing!
R: It is, Emma. I don't think you know how to reconcile the side of me that's Henry's other mother with the part of me that did all those terrible things. It's easier for you to just pretend that side doesn't exist.
E: You said you wanted people to see you as Regina, not the Evil Queen.
R: But there will always be a part of her in me. I'm the person who caused you to grow up the way you did. I'm the one that made your life as difficult as it's been and one day I hope you'll be able to forgive me for that, but first you need to accept it.
E: I know all that! But in a weird way, you're also the reason that Henry was even born. If I'd grown up with my parents, we wouldn't have him. I know for a fact you'd go through all the shit in your life twenty times if it got you Henry and so would I. So stop blaming yourself for the past and let's just move on. All I need is for you to be honest with me, I can't deal with any more secrets, not from you.
R: Are you going to tell Henry about Hook?
E: I'll make up an excuse for last night but you really need to tell him. If you think I'm bad, just wait till Henry finds out. That kid is insanely protective of you.
R: He shouldn't have to protect me.
E: That's what you do when you love someone.
R: I suppose you're right.
E: Look, I'm going to go home and change. I'll be back later with Henry to pick you up for our day out. I think we could all use some fun.
R: Okay, I'll see you both later.
10 P.M - DAY 35 POST QoD (text)
R: Your jacket is still here.
E: I'll come get it 2moro morn
E: Is Kid asleep?
R: Yes, he was exhausted. He really enjoyed today, thank you.
ONE MINUTE LATER - DAY 35 POST QoD (phone)
R: Hello?
E: I couldn't be bothered to type my answer so I thought I'd call instead.
R: That's probably a blessing, your spelling is abysmal.
E: It's how the cool kids speak, you should try it sometime.
R: Emma, you're 30, I don't think you're one of the cool kids.
E: Pffft you're just jealous.
R: You keep telling yourself that, dear.
E: Anyway, back to what I was going to say before you started doubting my street cred; has Henry really never been to a funfair before today?
R: No, we obviously haven't ever had one in Storybrooke and I used to be the only person who was capable of taking him to one out of town.
E: But you never did?
R: No.
E: I'm sensing there's a story there…
R: Not really, I've just never liked heights. Nearly every ride seems to require me being miles off the ground.
E: The mighty Evil Queen is scared of heights?
R: I'm not scared. I simply have a healthy respect for the danger they pose.
E: Riiiight…. You should have said though, I could've picked something else for our Family Day of Fun.
R: Is that what Saturdays are officially called now?
E: Yep. Or FDF for short.
R: Oh good, another abbreviation I can look forward to receiving via text.
E: Stop pretending to hate it, you know you love my texts.
R: I'm going to bed now.
E: You love me, you want to hug me, you want to kiss me. Wait, please tell me you've seen Miss Congeniality otherwise that reference will make no sense at all.
R: Of course I've seen it.
E: Good. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit in love with Sandra Bullock.
R: I'm hanging up now. Goodnight, Emma.
E: Night, Regina. Sweet dreams!
A/N: Bonus points to anyone who recognises the Firefly reference!