Regina wasn't some innocent young actress who had just stepped foot into the hills of Hollywood for the first time. She could proudly assert that despite having been propositioned by people in power time and again, she hadn't slept her way to the top.

She wasn't about to start now.

But the stakes had never been this high before. The industry was cesspool full of walking-herp-sore directors and wannabes, and it cultivated an attitude of 'put out or ship out'. Sometimes Regina felt gross by association.

"You seem hesitant, I prefer my leading ladies to have confidence," Gold sat back in his chair, and rocked gently back and forth, producing an obnoxious squeaking sound.

"I have plenty of confidence, I can assure you. I simply don't think it's relevant or appropriate to strip off my clothes during a business meeting."

"Aw, this is not a great setting for a woman of your beauty and grace, true. Perhaps, I can make arrangements for a private inspection at my home?" Gold licked his lips, showing Regina his discolored and sharp looking teeth. His eyes were bright and the lascivious grin he wore made Regina's stomach churn. She was sure that salad was about to make an untimely reappearance (no slight to Emma's cooking.)

The room started to go out of focus and her face felt too hot. This was humiliating, and all she wanted to do was throw some scalding liquid right in Gold's stupid face and get the hell out of there, but she was under contract and she couldn't make a false move. Men like Gold could get away with this perverted behavior because they had power. Regina knew if she didn't do her best to play along, her contract would be shredded and she'd be out of work again.

"I'd rather not. You do realize I've only had one work out with my personal trainer? I'm hardly in shape yet," Regina took in a breath, trying frantically to think of ways to get out of this without jeopardizing everything she'd worked for. It was painfully tense for a long moment while Gold worked out his next move. The chair continued to squeak rhythmically.

A knock on the closed door blissfully interrupted the awkwardness. Gold grunted and his secretary peeked inside.

"Sir, your next appointment is here," Belle glanced at Regina, and perhaps she imagined it but the girl's expression gave away that she knew what was transpiring. She'd probably been victim to Gold's advances herself.

"Very well, Belle. Tell him it will just be another minute," he stood from his chair and Belle closed the door once more.

Regina held her breath.

"You need more time – I can tell. Please be sure to be ready – to show me everything before filming starts. I'll be keeping a close eye on you and checking in with your trainer." He made his way over to her and peered down with a look of distaste spread over his face as his lips curled into a snarl.

Regina's eyelashes fluttered and she looked down at her lap. She twisted her hands tightly together. She flinched as Gold kneeled in front of her; she was forced to look up as his hot stale breath hit her face. He slowly ran a calloused palm down her cheek and hissed, "Cheer up, love, you're my star."

Regina made it out of his office. She practically ran down the hall, took the stairs down to the front of the large office building. She didn't allow herself to cry until she was out into the parking and in the safety of her car. Tears fell from her eyes as she clutched the steering wheel, and she couldn't stop shaking for the entire drive home.

…

The gym Emma had asked Regina to meet her at the following day for their session was one of those fancy private places that boasted state of the art exercise equipment, infinity pools and every type of sauna imaginable. In Regina's opinion it was all for show. She'd rather be

"Whatever happened to plain old fashioned treadmills and dumbbells?" Regina muttered to herself as she took in the sight of the fitness floor. A thousand years from now, after the apocalypse made humans extinct, some alien race would discover this gym and determine it was some sort of torture center. There were inverted gravity tables, TRX stations, and spin bikes that were so sleek they were practically transparent.

Regina stopped at the front desk of 'Savior' gym and asked the leggy brunette, who was obscenely bouncing her ass on a stability ball, where she could find Emma.

"Oh, Regina Mills! Emma's in the locker room, right through that door," the brunette smiled warmly, but never stopped bouncing as she pointed Regina to the locker room. It was mid-morning on a Tuesday as Regina looked around, she was fairly certain that she spotted at least one of the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' training furiously on bike.

She pushed through the door of the locker room, greeted by the sight of Emma in white bikini bottoms and not much else, she was just pulling the matching top over her arms, and for a brief second before she looked away she saw Emma's bare chest as she struggled into her swim top.

Before she had time to feel like a voyeur, Emma said, "Hey, you made it! I was worried."

"Worried about what?" Regina asked curiously. She thought that they had moved passed all the treats of firing and non-compliance yesterday. In the back of Regina's mind she worried that if Gold did plan on checking in with Emma regarding her 'dedication'—as he'd put it—she would tell him that Regina had been difficult to work with. She knew she had to place nice or there would be trouble for her, and she couldn't afford to worry about what that would mean.

"Nothing," Emma shrugged, "So how are you feeling today?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Regina slung her gym bag off of her shoulder and sat it down on the bench across from Emma.

Regarding her with skepticism Emma pulled her hair up into a high ponytail, "Did you know that exercise release endorphins? Endorphins make you feel happy."

"I'm perfectly happy," Regina said with far too much emphasis. She realized she was coming off as paranoid and defensive and Emma didn't deserve her mood. "I'm sorry, I'm just…" she trailed off with a sigh, unable to explain her feelings.

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything," Emma replied in an understanding tone. "For the record, I am here to listen if you want to talk about anything. I'm all about being in a positive mental state in order to achieve our physical goals."

"Ha! You're funny," Regina broke out into a smile, unable to help herself. Emma's energy really was contagious. Once she let herself relax for a minute she found that the things weighing down her mind didn't seem so heavy.

"What do you think of the fitness center?" Emma waggled her eyebrows and threw out her arms as if she was a model on the 'Price is Right' showing off the merchandise.

"It's a little pretentious, but it's…clean."

"Hey, that's not very nice, and you haven't even seen it all yet. Come on, I want to show you the pool—so put on your swimsuit," Emma pouted briefly at Regina's less than enthusiastic response.

"Wait, is this your gym?"

"It's my fitness center," Emma replied proudly. "Just opened, but I'm already building a client base."

"I had no idea you had your own gym, I might not have given you due credit," Regina was surprised that Emma actually owned the 'fitness center."

"What did you think of Ruby?" Emma asked with a mysterious smile.

"Who?" Regina didn't know who she was referring to.

"The hot woman at the front desk. She's a huge fan of yours, said she had a crush on you and wanted to know if it would be weird if she asked for an autograph," Emma laughed. "My members just love her. They want her body, it's a win, win."

"I'd be happy to give her an autograph, but I don't want her body," Regina blushed, acutely aware of what it felt like to be looked at in that way. She knew Emma didn't mean anything about it, and if the impression she got from Ruby was indication she definitely didn't mind being checked out. Regina used to feel that way—enjoyed having a certain power through her physical attributes, but she was starting to think being attractive was more of a curse than a blessing.

"Perhaps, later I can properly introduce you. So anyway, how about you answer my first question? Let's try it again, how are you doing?"

For a brief moment, Regina considered sharing what had happened with Gold, but to admit an experience as degrading as that had been was too hard. Instead she kept it like. Emma was still practically a stranger to her, and she didn't trust that she wasn't in cahoots with Gold.

"I'm good. I've been eating the food," this was a lie; Regina hadn't felt much like eating anything. All she'd had was some black coffee, but she didn't want Emma to know that she was such a failure at life she couldn't even stick to a simple meal plan for even a day.

"Remember what I told you: get your main carbs in the morning and then lighten up, but still hit your calorie target. It's funny, but you have to eat more when you're trying to lose weight. Especially, with the high calorie burning workout we're going to do today in the pool."

"I'll go change," Regina shifted nervously, and took out her swim suit. They had worked out on the beach in normal gym clothes and now she had to work out in the gym in her beach outfit. She disappeared into one of the toilet stalls to put on her suit in private.

"Cool, so just come out this other door when you're ready and I'll introduce you to the Grand Bahama Dual Zone Swim Spa slash Hot Tub."

…

The infinity pool was neat. It was located in a private room that opened up from the locker room and produced a strong current so one could swim laps and really never go anywhere. Again, Regina related to it all too well. She clutched her towel around her body, oddly shy around Emma, despite the privacy.

Emma didn't have that problem, she effortlessly hopped over the hard plastic edge of the pool, and beckoned, "the water is warm, come on in."

She put down her towel and self-consciously climbed the tiny ladder attached to the pool, feeling comfortable when her body was enveloped in the water.

"Let's just jog to warm up. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Emma explained as she moved to the side to make room for Regina to get in against the current. The water was warm and in no time she was jogging and feeling buoyant, allowing her mind to wander as she kept putting one foot in front of the other.

"Are you a good swimmer?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good," Emma moved to her stomach and floated on the water for a moment before she started to flutter kick and move her arms, "try this."

Regina started to swim and found that she was a bit out of practice, but soon she hit a stride and was swimming along merrily, matching Emma stroke for stroke. It was blessedly difficult to talk while both women concentrated on swimming, and it didn't seem like long until Regina was breathing hard and feeling the push back in her muscles as she started to fatigue.

She should have eaten breakfast.

"Regina?" faintly she heard Emma calling for her, but she was lost in her workout, then she felt a pair of hands: one on her stomach and one on her lower back pulling her up to her feet. She looked at Emma blankly. "I said we should take a break and stretch out"

"Hmm? Yeah," she went through the motions, stretching her arms above her head, and following Emma's lead as they stretched their legs using the edge of the pool for push against. She was starting to feel a bit light headed, but she kept her mouth shut through a few rounds of tricep dips and abdominal exercises.

"You seem distracted," Emma commented as they started a set of squats, exploding up from the water each time.

"I'm focused," Regina was decidedly unfocused when Emma touched her a few times, gently correcting her form. She had a body Regina would kill for and the fact that she had to work out like this for the stupid movie was starting to irritate her. By the time they started easy laps to cool down Regina was over it. Whatever these exercise induced endorphins that were supposed to kick in and make her feel happy were noticeably absent. She wanted to curl up in bed, close her curtains and sleep for the rest of her life.

"Let's get in the hot tub," Emma had to help her out of the pool, her legs felt like jelly. "You really pushed yourself."

Regina hadn't even noticed the hot tub in the corner of the room. Emma turned on the jets while Regina got into the hot water. It made her body feel weak. She thought maybe she just needed a drink to rehydrate. The hot tub was small, and Emma got it next to her. "Regina? Talk to me?"

….

The next thing Regina remembered was waking up shivering on the floor. She wasn't entirely sure where she was, but she recognized Emma holding her hand and she squeezed back to let her know she was okay.

"What happened?" She asked as her head started to pound unbearably. Emma covered her body with a dry towel.

"The paramedics are on their way. Shit, Regina, you passed out on me," Emma said in a panic.

"I don't remember…"

"I'm sure you don't. I feel terrible. I should have seen you starting to go. I caught you and got you out of the tub, but damn, that was scary. Do you have blood pressure problems? You should have told me…I'm so sorry."

"You called an ambulance?" Regina twisted uncomfortably on the ground and clutched Emma's hand tighter. She wanted to get up, and get out of there. "No, I can't go to the hospital. I don't want to be on fucking TMZ. Cancel it. I'm fine."

"That's what you're worried about? God, you just passed out after a workout. You could have hit your head or drowned…"

"Shut up. It's my fault. I lied. I didn't eat… I just got a little woozy."

"Don't lie to me!" Emma shouted, her forehead creased in worry and she bit her quivering lip. "It's my job to help you, you have to trust me. No wonder you blacked out- working out intensely with low blood sugar and in the heated water…"

Regina had nothing to say; she was angry at herself and heartbroken for upsetting Emma so much. It wasn't like she was trying to pass out. She'd gone much longer without eating before and had never had a problem, but now didn't seem like a great time to try to argue that excuse with her trainer.

Before she could think of anything to say, a pair paramedics burst into the pool room, and she was bombarded with questions. When all was said and done, Regina had eaten a protein bar and drank a bottle of Gatorade to replenish her electrolytes, and physically she felt much better. Emotionally, she was a wreck.

"I'm not going to the hospital," she crossed her arms and clutched the towel around her body. Of all ways to pass out, she'd probably have preferred to pass out drunk in front of a club, rather than with wet hair and in her bathing suit.

One of the paramedics stripped off his latex gloves and started to load up his equipment, "I don't think she needs to go to the hospital. We see this sort of syncope all the time. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't over do it."

"I'm right here, you can speak to me," Regina demanded her voice laced with anger and frustration.

"Ma'am you may want to follow up with your primary care doctor, just make sure there isn't an underlying problem with your ticker, okay?" He asked, gesturing to his heart to make sure she understood.

"She will make an appointment right away," Emma answered as she stared at Regina to make sure she would indeed make an appointment.

She rolled her eyes, "I feel perfectly fine."

"Yeah, that's what you told me right before you collapsed on top of me," Emma shot back. The paramedics threw up their hands, clearly not wanting to get involved in the bickering between the two women.

"By the way, great gym," the other guy said as they took off through the door, "and feel better, ma'am."

When they were alone, Emma guided Regina back to the locker room, "If you have any plans today, cancel them. I'm taking you to my house to keep an eye on you."

"That's absurd, I don't need to a nurse," Regina said stubbornly. She hated being taken care of, and she wasn't sick. She felt fine now, so she didn't understand the oppressive need Emma had to look after her.

"I'm not going to force you, but just think about it. I will make you food, you can order me around and I'll do whatever you want—foot massage? Done. If you want a special treat, I'll go out and get it. It's really quite an offer, and I don't invite many people over to my house."

The sad thing was Regina really didn't have any other plans for the day, and being around Emma made her forget about her self-loathing and existential, unsolvable problems at least somewhat. "Will I get a little bell to ring anytime I need your assistance?"

"I don't have a bell, but I do have a whistle…" Emma smiled, and Regina knew she was letting Emma win this round. As fun as she was to argue with, she knew that Emma wasn't the type to let things go, especially when she felt guilty even though she shouldn't.

Regina showered and dressed. She dried her hair and reapplied her makeup, happy she had the foresight to bring along her concealer. She couldn't risk looking like death while walking out of the gym. She imagined that the paramedics might have tipped off the paparazzi; anything was possible in this town.

One time someone had taken her picture on her way into a doctor's appointment, and she happened to have her hair up and was wearing a flannel shirt. The rumor mill swirled that she was secretly transgender and going in to get hormone replacement therapy, and the only way the rumor died off several months later when she decidedly did not end up growing facial hair.

"Are you okay?" Ruby asked wide-eyed as she walked out of the locker room passed the front desk.

"I'm okay, thank you," Regina smiled, a new fondness for her, now that she knew she was a fan.

"Ruby, can you please call August and see if he's free to train my 3 o'clock appointment?"

"Sure, boss, who should I expect?"

"Um, some weird name…Maleficence or something goth sounding. I haven't met her yet, but I don't want to cancel. If August can't do it, just let her know I'll be in touch and give her some free infrared sauna sessions as an apology, please."

Regina about passed out again. Emma was training Maleficent too? She sucked in a breath and kept her rising panic to herself. She needed to relax and not feel worried, but she just knew that Gold was behind this move as well.

As they went outside, Regina smiled and tried to make light of the situation, "It doesn't help your fitness center by having an ambulance parked out in front of it, does it?"

"Yeah, that might scare away some potential members," Emma chuckled as they got in her car.

…