"Don't bother trying to escape," Cora instructed to Snow, who was tied to a chair. "Those ropes are enchanted to tighten the more you resist, or if anything should happen to me. Struggle enough and they'll constrict to the point where your hands will rip off at the wrist."

Snow stayed perfectly still, though even merely breathing caused her restraints to constrict around her. She looked at Cora, guilt flooding throughout her as she watched the woman. There were so many times she thought about what she had done, and how much she wished she could take it back. And now that Cora was literally standing mere feet from her, those feelings of guilt increased tenfold.

"I'm sorry," she softly spoke.

"What did you say?" Cora asked as she turned around, sure she had misheard the younger woman.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you; for casting the curse that killed you. I shouldn't have…it was wrong of me and I'm sorry."

Cora let out a small laugh, shocked at what she was hearing. "You're actually apologizing to me, for stopping me from killing your family? Yes, I hate you for what you did and will kill you in return without losing any sleep. But this is why you so called 'heroes' are infuriating. You don't have the spine to do whatever is necessary to achieve your goals. If the roles had been reversed and I had killed you I'd have felt no remorse for my actions."

She glanced at the door as she heard the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. "That's probably my daughter now."

"It could be Emma or David coming for me," Snow said in spite of herself.

"That's doubtful. I had Killian distract them so it would just be the three of us here." Just then the door opened and Regina stepped into the room. "Regina. I see you received my invitation. Though I have to say I don't exactly approve of your choice in outfit."

Regina glanced down, realizing she was still in her Zatanna costume. With a wave of her hand the outfit was replaced with trousers and a silk blouse. She then looked at her mother, unable to hide her surprise even though she had prepared herself for this moment. "So it really is you. You're back."

"In the flesh, as they would say."

"And given that Snow White killed you and is now tied up," she said, nodding her head toward the captive Mary Margaret, "You're going to kill her so you can remain in this world after tonight. I'm guessing, what, you brought me here so you can have an audience?"

"No child, that's not why you're here," Cora explained. "Since in actuality Snow White is only partly responsible for my death. You're also to blame for my life ending."

Regina glanced downward, unable to look at her mother through her guilt. "I thought I was helping you. She tricked me into putting your heart back in your body."

"Yes well, that doesn't change that you still played a part in my death, meaning if I'm to remain here I would have to kill both of you."

"What?" Regina said in shock, taking a step back.

"Oh, I'm not here to kill you," Cora reassuringly told her. "It's not necessary because there is a loophole. It seems that in the event two people are directly responsible for one's death, if one of them kills the other then the deceased can come back with only one person needing to die. So for me to be alive with you-"

"You need me to kill Snow," Regina stated as she figured out her mother's plan.

"Regina, please don't do this." Mary Margaret pleaded. "You've come too far. You don't have to-"

"Stop talking," Cora exclaimed as she waved her hand. Snow gasped, but no sound came out of her mouth as she was rendered mute. "That's better." She smiled before looking at her daughter. "Whenever you're ready dear."

Regina looked at Snow, truly unsure as of what to do. "Regina," her mother continued, sensing her hesitation. "I know you've thought I've treated you terribly for most of your life. But I can honestly say that everything I've ever done has been for your benefit. I pushed you to be your best, to fight for what you deserved. Because of me you became a queen and have power most can only dream of. With me by your side we can rule this land, together as mother and daughter." Her face became more serious as she pointed to Snow. "Don't forget all this person has done to you. She took your kingdom, drove everyone to rise against you. Which pales with the fact that she killed your own mother. She deserves to have her heart crushed, by you. You deserve to have the happiness you've always desired, but never allowed yourself to have. And I can give you that happiness. So take your revenge on the woman who took everything from you, and let me be the mother you've always wanted."

Regina contemplated her mother's words, torn on how to proceed. She remembered everything her mother had done, both to and for her. And God help her, there was truth in what she had just been told. Her mother's methods, while cruel on the surface, led to her becoming far stronger than she ever thought she could be. And despite everything she had been through, a part of Regina still hoped she could have a mother who loved and appreciated her. It had been that hope that caused her to stand by her mother's side when she originally came to Storybrook. And her mother's dying words, 'this would have been enough', haunted her in the possibility they held. Now her mother was offering her a chance for them to be a real family. And as much as Regina had been let down by her mother, she'd be lying if there wasn't a part of her that still hoped that version of their mother/daughter relationship could be a reality.

Regina looked down at Snow, thinking about what her death would mean. If she killed Snow White, she got her mother back. But she would also lose (while not exactly a friend), someone she had begrudgingly grown to, at the very least, not want to see die. David would be devastated, and would stop at nothing to hunt and kill her. And Henry would never forgive her. She almost lost him forever when she ripped Snow's heart out after Cora had first died. If she did it again and actually crushed it, he would hate her for killing his grandma. And she didn't want to risk losing him, especially now that he both loved her and believed she was capable of goodness.

And then there was Emma. If Regina killed Snow, she would lose Emma forever, in every way possible. Despite the two of them being bitter enemies when she first came to town, Emma had in time grown into the truest friend that Regina had. She stood by her, many times when everyone else was ready to form a lynch mob against her. And now Regina was on the verge of possibly finding something with Emma she'd hoped to obtain for a very long time; true love and a happy ending. She had already run from love all those years ago with Tink outside that pub. Was she really ready to run from that possibility again?

She eyes darted back and forth between her mother and Snow. One person represented a life she was somewhat familiar with, while the other represented one that was entirely new territory. And that's what it finally came down to. Was she brave enough to take a chance again on love and the path of goodness, or did she side with her mother for a life she already knew?

Regina walked over to Snow as she made her decision. Mary Margaret's eyes widened in fear as Regina rolled up her shirt sleeve. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice soft yet thick with emotion.

With that she raised her arms and pushed at Cora, causing the woman to magically fly backwards.

"What are you doing?" she gasped in shock as she dug her feet into the ground.

"Making my choice," Regina said as she gave her mother another push. Cora flew through the air and smacked into the wall, where she slid to the floor unconsciousness.

Regina took a deep breath, her hands shaking from what she had just done. Knowing she didn't have a lot of time, she made her way over to her mom as she pulled the shackles from her bag.

"Regina!" Snow yelled as her voice came back to her.

"In a moment!"

"Please, you have to free me. The ropes are constricting on their own and they're tightening, they're going to cut my hands off," Snow gasped. Regina groaned in annoyance as she made her way over to Snow. Sensing they were impervious to direct magic, Regina conjured a knife and began cutting at the ropes.

"Thank you," Snow said as the ropes began to loosen. "What you did, it couldn't have been easy."

"No it wasn't," Regina simply stated. "And I didn't do it just for you."

"You did it for Emma," Snow said knowingly.

"Yes, she was one of the reasons I didn't kill you."

"You did it because you love her."

"What?" Regina said in surprise, ceasing her cutting of the ropes. "I have no idea what you're implying."

"Regina, if there is one thing I'm an expert on, it's knowing when someone's in love. And you're in love with Emma. Just like she's in love with you."

"She is?" Regina asked while trying to keep a smile from forming on her face.

"Yes she is, even if she's having trouble admitting it. Though I was hoping if you two were alone she might finally tell you how she feels. Why do you think I had the two of you walk to the dance tonight?"

The two of them both smiled at one another before they were suddenly thrown through the air in opposite directions. They both hit the opposite walls, Snow with enough force to break her chair apart and free her from her restraints. Regina looked over as her mother magically lifted the knife and threw it at Snow, having the blade sail straight into her stomach. "No!" Regina cried out as Mary Margaret gasped in pain.

"I'll deal with you in a moment," Cora hissed before turning her attention to her daughter. Before Regina could react Cora plunged her hand into her daughter's chest and pulled her heart out.

"Mother please," Regina pleaded. "Please don't do this."

"You said it yourself, you made your choice. And you chose them over me," Cora said, the pain in her voice clear as day as her hand tightened around the heart. "If you won't help me come back then I'll just have to do it myself."

"Stop!"

Regina and Cora both looked up, seeing Emma standing over them holding a gun to Cora. "Put her heart down right now."

"Oh look, it's the savior."

"I said put her heart down right now!" Emma yelled.

"If that's what you want," Cora said as she stretched her arm out, holding Regina's heart out over the hard floor.

"I swear if you hurt her-."

"You'll what? You'll shoot me?" Cora taunted. "I'm already dead. So run while you can, because after I kill my daughter I'm killing your mother. And then I'm coming after you and everyone you-."

She never finished her sentence as a piece of wood cracked her over the head, knocking her unconsciousness. Without hesitation Emma dropped her gun and dove to the ground, her hands outstretched as Regina's heart slipped from Cora's hand. It sailed in the air before Emma managed to catch it with extreme care.

She and Regina got up as they saw Snow swaying over Cora's body, a piece of wood from the broken chair in her hands. "Mom!" Emma yelled as she caught Mary Margaret and saw the knife sticking out of her stomach. "We have to get her to the hospital."

"I'll take her. I can get her there in an instant," Regina said as she took her heart and put it back in her chest. "Just give me one moment." She went over to her mother and put the shackles on her wrists, rending her powerless. She then conjured a chain that attached itself from the floor to Cora's ankle, so she couldn't leave the room. "Go and find David, and then meet us at the hospital." With that Regina took hold of Snow's arm and poofed both of them to the emergency room.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The front desk receptionist at Storybrooke General Hospital looked up as Emma and David burst through the front door. "May I help you?"

"My wife Mary Margaret was just brought in. She was stabbed in the stomach. We need to know how she is," David frantically explained.

The receptionist quickly looked up the info on the front desk computer. "She was taken by Dr. Whale, and is currently in surgery. If you'll take a seat we'll call you once she's out."

"Thank you," Emma responded as she and David sat down in the waiting area. "She's going to be fine. She's a fighter."

"I know she is," he said, even though he couldn't help being scared.

They both sat there, not saying much to one another, before they saw Dr. Whale walk over to them. "How is she?" David asked as he and Emma stood up.

"It would seem Mary Margaret is going to make a full recovery." He continued as David and Emma let out sighs of relief. "The knife punctured her small intestine and needed to be stitched up, but I was able to fix her up and she should be awake soon. She'll need to stay here on bed rest for a day or two, and I'd advise her to stay off her feet as much as possible for the next couple of weeks."

"Thank you," David said.

"Yes, thank you very much," Emma told him. "Would you happen to know where Regina is? I was with her before she brought Snow here."

"Our 'illustrious mayor'?" Dr. Whale said with a scoff. "She ran out of here as I was bringing Mary Margaret to surgery. Though you didn't hear it from me, I could have sworn I heard her say something about town hall as she left."

He looked up as a page was made over the PA system. "Excuse me."

"I'm going to call Henry and tell him what's going on, then I'm going to find Regina," Emma told David. "When Snow wakes up tell her I'll be back to see her as soon as I can."

"Okay," he said. "If you need anything, please call me."

"Don't worry, I will."