I do not own OUAT. Warnings: mentions/ allusions to abuse. Also, I have decided to change the way sleeping curses effect the cursed person/their true love slightly : )

Snow is only snapped out of her stupor by a furious cry and the image of her husband storming towards the queen, only to crash into a table that is shoved his way and fall on the ground. She blinks, twice, then quickly jumps to her feet and cries out "HEY" to distract Regina, and avoid Charming being incinerated by the fireball Regina already has summoned.

Except now Regina is looking at her. Smirking really. And usually Snow would be able to concentrate, to jump away from a fireball and shoot an arrow in one seamless motion –

But Regina is still green-tinted. Snow's eyes are stuck on- well on everything. On Regina's harsh make-up, and lips appropriately blood red. Regina's hair- long and done up in a complicated hairstyle. Her clothes- leather pants so tight her legs must feel like they are going to fall off and a long coat with corset. It is all so different from that girl Snow once met, whose clothing and face and everything just screamed at Snow that she was gentle, soft. Sure she was passionate, she could probably become as enraged as everyone but she was the opposite of this woman.

Snow ducks, feeling the heat of the fireball against her back, and rolls before jumping to her feet. She half-heartedly shoots an arrow at Regina- who catches it and lights it on fire in one motion. As Regina stalks to her, Snow realizes what really is so different. It isn't the clothing, the make-up or the hairdo's - it isn't even how Regina moves different, and even her voice is different.

It's the eyes.

Regina stalks towards her, and if Snow just looks at the clothes, it is still this person she loved so much stalking towards her. Same if she focuses on the words ( the voice is different sure, but it is still the same one that used to sing lullaby's for her, and allow her to cuddle against her while telling a story ) or the lips ( there is still that scar she used to touch a lot, and she still hasn't gotten Regina to tell where she got it even if fourteen-year-old Snow had sworn she would get the story). But that feeling, the nausea and how her hands start to tremble- it only stops when she looks at Regina's eyes.

It isn't just the outright, crazy, desperate hating. There is a lot in those eyes and it is so very different that Snow finally snaps into focus again and moves away from the fireball before firing off several arrows. One even hits Regina-

Snow stumbles and gapes at the fireball that very nearly melts her face. A second fireball forces her back, and all her arrows are easily caught by Regina , so she grabs a candle holder and suddenly surges forward. It is insane and sudden enough that Regina actually takes several steps back, and her fireballs even shrink.

Snow screams and drops the candle holder when the dripping tallow falls on her hands, and all the candles are suddenly on fire. Regina just kicks it away, and once again throws several fireballs at Snow. She manages to dodge them, but her breathing is heavy and she keeps having to take steps back ( several more, and she will be with her back against the wall)

She grins at Regina. " Is that all you can do? "

" It seems more than enough to beat you " Regina sneers.

" Really? " Snow says, grinning and suddenly kicking another candle holder so that Regina stumbles and the fireball in her hand scorches one of the walls. Regina almost immediately rights herself and sneers as she throws another fireball.

" It just seems like you do not have anything better to me" Snow says, watching Regina closely. The woman rolls her eyes, and slowly extinguishes the fireballs. Snow kind of wants them to come back when instead the ground starts to shake and she topples over, then sinks through the floor like it is quicksand and gets stuck.

Regina smirks, takes a step towards her. Snow can't free her arms, but she struggles and tries anyways. Regina takes another step , and very slowly starts to kneel. Snow tries to yank her head back, but Regina grabs her chin again and yanks her really close.

"I am going to enjoy this "

" You already made me miserable for years- is that not enough to finally let it go? "she spits. It is easy to be furious because she still has that image of Emma, and Maleficent's taunts that suggest her little girl had a horrible life because they were forced to let her go.

" You have nowhere been miserable enough. I was lenient enough to keep your shepherd alive, and your little brat –".

" She got away. You did not spare her life, she had to flee- " and oh gods, how crazy must Snow be to even consider accepting this woman as her daughter's true love. How could she accept the woman who made them all miserable, who ruined Emma's childhood and murdered-

The woman who saved her life, and used to stay up with her whenever she had nightmares and was in pain already when she was still the most beautiful and gentle person Snow had ever met. You are insane she tells herself, and it is probably true. Or maybe she is just delusional, because Regina can't be saved anymore.

" You still have no idea what it feels like to lose the only person that has ever been good to you, and lose a future you have spent years secretly building, just when you were so close and so happy" Regina sneers, and Snow gasps when the hand presses against her chest again.

" Regina- ".

" You have no idea what is like to be trapped in a castle with a little princess that thinks you are an oh so fun new plaything , when all you want is to run away but the only person you could and wanted to be with is gone"

" Re- ".

" GONE" Regina's fingers around her hard feel like shards of glass in her chest. Snow shivers, and her eyes tear up. She has to stop her, Emma needs her mother.

" You are my daughter's true love"

Regina's smile drops, and she suddenly becomes very still. " What?".

Before Snow can say another words, Regina's eyes widen and then she slumps. Snow cries out when Regina's grip on her hand loosens, and she can feel her heart move a little ( it hurts like someone is cutting into her chest). She looks through her tears and-

" Red"

Red smiles grimly, and drops the large shield she has used to knock the queen unconscious. Snow doesn't miss how she can't look at Regina, how her eyes are slightly wet and when she touches Regina to get her away from Snow, the touch is almost reverent.

She can finally breathe again, and she blinks the tears from her eyes. It is also the first time she really pays attention to the room, and she kind of wishes she hadn't. She quickly turns her head Red's ways again, but it isn't quick enough to miss the soldiers with swords sticking out of them and worse- the ones with teeth marks and chunks of flesh missing, their bodies ripped-

" Snow!" Red calls, kneeling down to her as soon as Snow gags. It is only once, but Red doesn't move away from her and stares at her with soft, worried eyes- Snow's own eyes flit to the hand on her arm. It is coated with blood.

Red snaps her arm back. " Right. I will get your husband "she says.

Snow clears her throat, manages to grab Red's arm and use it to gently pull her closer. She takes her hand, squeezes it, and smiles. " Thank you. Really, thank you".

Red's shoulders drop and she slowly smiles ( what is that on her lips, and between her teeth? She was helping you, don't think about it) and squeezes Snow's hand as well. " You are welcome. I am your friend, am I not?".

Snow nods. "Always"

Red looks at Regina, and Snow understands it. She really does.

" Always".


Regina is used to waking up, and feeling awful. Her mother's punishments had been very inventive, and she had woken up with a growling stomach, burning eyes, sore throats, bruised ( only the feeling, her mother never left marks lest she became less attractive to princes and kings) body and screams still ringing in her ears. And even when she had been liberated from her mother's all-controlling presence, Regina still had plenty horrible wake-up moments. The day next to her wedding night for example, with the king's arm trapping her and the –

She shakes her head. It has been a long established rule that she does not think about that. Not that she has ever been very successful, as even magic seemed no help and the memories kept replaying randomly. At least, now that the fool was gone, she no longer had stomach cramps whenever the time passed and she knew she would be summoned to his chambers again. Although she still-

" Regina?" the all too familiar voice interrupts her musings. She is almost glad. She is almost thankful. She scowls fiercely, and gracefully picks herself up from the cot she is laying on to stare the woman down.

" Snow white" she hisses, and summons a fireball. When the familiar heat does nit comfortably press into her palm, she glances at her own hand. And nearly stumbles when she sees what is around her wrist, before feeling her cheeks flush with comfortable hatred and her throat close up with fea- with more hatred. " You little pest " she growls.

" We have to protect ourselves, Regina. And it might be better if you don't- "

" I will find some way to make you pay for this. How dare you- ".

" I am sorry Regina" Snow whispers, and Regina has to remind herself of the spoiled little princess that had so enjoyed having Regina around to do her bidding, lest she might actually believe Snow's fake remorse. " I truly am, but I can't have you hurting people even more"

" When have you ever been sorry? " she throws back. " And do not pretend to be the perfect princess around me, I know what your true nature is ".

" I wanted to help Regina, I never meant for you to get hurt" Snow argues, sad and hurt and angry and arrogant all at once.

" I was not merely speaking off your betrayal. You have hurt all those who supported you, because you never surrendered yourself. They would have been fine, if you had truly been so selfless"

" You would have hurt them anyways" Snow says, and Regina smiles when she notes the princess' eyes are teary and she is hunched over like she is trying to accept a blow.

Regina arches her eyebrow. " At least be honest to yourself, Snow. I love my people, so I would not have made them suffer had they not betrayed me. The same goes for you. Had you never betrayed me, I would- ".

" You love me?"

She is almost tempted to say yes, to use Snow's gullibility against her. Pretend to love her, win her trust, and rip her heart out in the middle of a cordial dinner. But surely, even Snow is not that thick and just the thought of having to pretend again makes Regina's nauseous. " I loathe you".

Snow opens her mouth, then slowly closes it and stares at the wall of the dungeon for a moment. There isn't enough light down here to read her expression properly. She looks back at Regina. " It ends now. This fight between us – " Regina hears Snow's breath catch. "It hurt so many, and it costs us and everyone else everything. That has to stop ".

"So you are here to offer me a chance to ask the gods for forgiveness? " she mocks. " I thought your little fairy friend would be here, or perhaps a priestess. What does Snow White know of repentance?"

" Are you saying you feel bad about what you have done? That you finally know it was not justified, that it was awful "

Regina surges forward, grabbing the bars between them and glaring at Snow with all her might. Snow just stares at her, and Regina feels her wrist heat – the restrained magic making her skin feel sunburnt. " You took my true love from me, and forced me into a life I did not want – my desire to make you suffer the consequences was more than justified. It was the only right way to react".

" Hurting people was the only right way? Separating families? Ripping out hearts? " Snow says, voice sweet and saccharine and horrified. Regina wants to shake her, wants to scream at her to stop pretending. Snow is just another spoiled royal, who thinks they own people and are selfish – no matter how kind and gentle they pretend to be to the worshipping masses.

" You have no right to judge me, or to pretend you are so pure".

" Regina- "

" Leave, Snow. That is my last request, to just leave me alone if I cannot rip your heart out. I do not wish your presence to taunt me".

" Last request?".

" Before my execution".

"We are not going to execute you "Snow whispers, and Regina does not know whether she wants to slap the princess until she loses the pretence and shows her true colours, or applaud her for her superb acting skills (odd. When she was a child, Snow had never been able to hide her feelings) She looks so sad, almost like she doesn't want to kill Regina.

"You have already banished me. I doubt your pretty toy shepherd, or the moronic dwarfs that cling to you, will allow you to send me away again. Are they not all demanding my death?".

Regina smirks when Snow's shoulders slump. " They are " she whispers, and the next moment she gathers herself and raises her head. " But I am their queen, and I will spare your life".

Regina is about to laugh in her face or snap at her, when she narrows her eyes as a sudden memory comes back. Just before someone ( do not think of that traitor, you were not truly anything to each other) knocked her out, Snow had said –

Snow stares at her when she bursts out laughing. It doesn't last long and before Snow has the chance to speak, Regina already is. "Do you truly believe that? " she says, smirking

" I – " Snow blinks. " I don't understand".

Regina leans in, Snow takes a step forward – has to take a step forward, for Regina's voice is low and quiet. " That I am your daughter's true love "

Snow swallows, looks away. Regina revels in everything the princess doesn't hide quickly enough- the pain, the uncertainty, the anger. It is delicious, and her smirk widens. She almost expects Snow to shout 'it is not fair! My daughter is supposed to marry someone good and pure and who will make the choices for her'. But she just nods.

" That is ludicrous".

" No. Pixie dust, we used – ".

Regina narrows her eyes. " You asked that overgrown moth for help, I assume?"

" Don't insult Blue, she is- ".

" A deceitful snake with an agenda "

" She didn't even want to help. When I told her I needed to know my daughter's true love- ".

" Are you so eager to plan the wedding, Snow? My my, you truly enjoy forcing people into marriage , do you not?".

" That isn't what this is about " Snow snaps

" No? I would have expected you to have already planned the wedding, the honeymoon and how many children you expect them to have. You did chatter on about how a little sibling would be 'lovely', even before the charade that was my wedding ".

Snow's cheeks flush. Regina doesn't know whether it is out of shame or anger. She doesn't particularly care, as she is too busy regretting bringing it up. She would slump against the bars, squeeze her eyes shut and try to ban the images from her head , but she will not appear weak in front of the spoiled life-ruiner.

"I was just so happy- I thought you were the most wonderful person I had ever met, and - "

" Shut up"

" You never loved my father, did you?"

"Obviously "

" He was kind and good, but you did not love him".

For some reason, Regina bites her lips. She could tell Snow what her father was really like, what he was like whenever she was alone with him in the bedchambers, what he was like when there was anyone she got along with, what he was like when she asked for small things such as the permission to go out riding. She could shatter Snow's illusions, and quite easily break her heart. But for some reason, she doesn't.

"Is imprisoning me not enough? Now, you are also torturing me with both your voice, and the memory of that – " she cuts herself off, annoyed by the emotion in her own voice.

" Don't speak off my father that way! " Snow protests.

" I will speak of him however I want"

They are both silent for a while, Snow obviously stewing in anger and Regina studying her to figure out what exactly is going on her, when Snow calms down and inhales deeply. "You are imprisoned for the moment yes, but we will treat you well. You will be fed, and can even request baths and clothing"

" You truly have the heart of a saint, to not merely let me rot in an empty cell" Regina drawls

" The magic cuff will stay on, however, and don't try breaking it. Blue made sure it is indestructible"

" Of course the loathsome little insect did"

Snow glares at her, but maybe she does have some sense because she does not bother correcting Regina. " How is your head?".

Regina glances at her. Seriously? " Fine. Am I really supposed to believe you care?".

" I didn't want to hurt you Regina, I never did. No matter how awful you were, I never wanted to hurt you. I just wanted it to stop".

Regina scowls. " So you could live out your happy ending with that empty-headed – "

" No, because you were hurting people. Because everyone I cared for was constantly in danger, and you seemed- " Snow shakes her head. "I still don't understand what happened. I don't understand how you could change so much".

" I made the worst mistake of my life" Regina ignores the hopeful look in Snow's eyes. "I saved you".

Snow turns around. " I will sent someone in a few hours. Goodbye, Regina".

And before Regina can even hurl another insult at her, the princess is already gone. She suddenly realizes she still doesn't know what is going on with Snow's – probably equally insufferable- daughter. She doesn't know whether she cares-

True love. She remembers Daniel, bright and sweet Daniel who ignored her status and broke all the rules when he kept trying to make her smile and laugh. Funny Daniel, who saw the mark mother had left that day, and made her forget all about it with self-deprecating humour. Caring Daniel, who embraced her and didn't tell her lies about how it would be all right or how she shouldn't cry, but just held on to her like he was trying to prevent all her broken pieces from falling. Daniel, who once said he could kiss her forever and who had approximately a million ways to tell her she was beautiful.

That was true love, and no one can be that. Daniel was it – and Snow is an even bigger fool than Regina thought, if she thinks her spawn can ever come close to what Daniel made her feel.


Regina wakes from the nightmare, gasping and clutching her heart. For a moment, she actually thinks mother really did take it but then she feels it beating furiously and relaxes. She leans against the wall and is just starting to calm down when the familiar voice makes her stiffen.

" Bad dream?"

She looks in the direction of the voice, and spots Maleficent sitting cross-legged with her back against the wall. She is arching her eyebrows and if Regina didn't know her so well, she would think she were indifferent. But she spots the concern, the same way she did whenever she woke from a nightmare in Maleficent's ( and sometimes, her own) bed.

" What are you doing here?".

" Your enemies decided to imprison me" she sounds vaguely amused. Which Regina is not surprised about, as Maleficent is often amused by humans. They have had discussions about it – mostly when Regina was still the eager student fascinated by a dragon- and most dragons seem to think humans are amusing. According to Maleficent , it is mainly because they have no fire and waste their lives on 'silly' things.

" They should not have been able to. You could have easily burned them" she comments, knowing it sounds accusing but not really caring. The dragon could have easily spared her this particular embarrassment.

" I did not wish to deprive you of the pleasure of hurting them " Maleficent casually comments.

" That is a bold lie. You did not support my revenge" she throws back.

Regina is frustrated by how little emotion Maleficent shows. Just a year ago, the dragon would still have been honest about what she felt, but now she is back to what Regina thinks of as 'her teacher mask'. " I saw what it was doing to you".

" It was making me strong" she says

" No. It was making you unhappy, and it is foolish that you lost yourself to it like this Regina".

"You should understand. Did Briar Rose not take away your happiness? ".

Maleficent sighs. " You are not going to convince me Regina. My revenge was short-lived, and I realize it changed nothing. It did not give me the thing I wanted most, and all you will have if Snow perished, would be emptiness and regret".

" You have become weak" Regina accuses

" It is quite the opposite, my little fireball " Maleficent says, and Regina bristles. Maleficent has not called her that in years, not since she was a young woman looking up to her.

" Do you not care that your enemies are free to regain their happiness now?"

Maleficent shrugs. " You made them miserable for ages, and I appreciate the gesture but I no longer wish them pain like I once did".

" Does it not infuriate you, that they have love and happiness while you have lost?".

Maleficent chuckles " I do not feel like I have lost "

Regina throws her a disgusted look. " You have. She is married. And her daughter has found true love".

" Just like your enemies"

Regina grits her teeth. "Her marriage and happiness will not last, I can still – ".

" It is your last chance. The dark curse- it did leave a terrible emptiness inside you, did it not?".

Regina stills. If she could use her magic, she would likely throw a fireball at Maleficent. " I am fine, dear".

" You are a gifted liar, but I have been around you during the dark curse" Maleficent says, arching her eyebrow.

"You know nothing " Regina spits

" The boy helped. But you were still unhappy, were you no – ".

" You are weak and pathetic. Are you siding with them now? Attempting to deceive me, to convince me to surrender and allow Snow to enjoy her happy ending?".

Regina raises her head and glares when Maleficent gives her a glance and remains silent. Regina hates it when she does that, when she just sits there and looks at Regina with slight amusement or exhaustion or things Regina cannot even name-

It makes her feel nineteen again, locked up in a room with a million expectations and duties and no one to understand her, or even listen.

"What has she promised you? What can she possible possess that you would want – surely Snow's little charade will not allow her to hurt that princess of yours?".

Maleficent is still silent, so Regina continues. She uses insults, sharp barbs, accusations. She knows some of Maleficent's deepest pains, has talked enough to her that she knows parts of why Regina found her beaten down and hopeless that first day, and she almost prods the wounds. At the last moment, she gives up and just settles down.

Waiting. Thinking. Wondering- and she starts pacing again, trying to channel her magic even though all it does is make her wrist feel like its bones are snapping. She refuses to believe this is it. Snow has to suffer. That is what she has lived for, once upon a time.

And she can't allow herself to wonder whether it is the right thing to live for.


Her hair is sticking to her forehead, her cheeks are flushed and she feels like she is wearing three layers of clothing in the midst of summer. She snaps her eyes open, and nearly jumps back. Fire. Fire everywhere, and for single glorious moment she thinks it is Maleficent, that Maleficent has escaped and set everything on fire-

But she is alone. Alone in an odd room with fire everywhere-

She thinks of the stories someone, a servant or perhaps a visiting nobleman or woman she doesn't really remember, used to tell about women and men who made terrible mistakes and would go to a land filled with fire after their deaths. She can't stop thinking about that when she takes careful steps around the room and –

Loud, interrupted coughs thankfully make her stop thinking of all the tales she has ever heard about rooms on fire and prices to pay. She squeezes her eyes, tries to see through all the wildly jumping flames in front of her. She gets little more than a glimpse, just enough to be fairly certain there is a person on the other side.

" Hello?" she calls out

The coughing stops. She manages another glimpse, and sees the person is standing up. She still can't really make out any features. " Hi " someone calls back, and Regina decides the voice is female.

" Did you bring me here?" it is meant to be a question, but Regina does not appreciate opening her eyes and being in a situation where she has no control and she is hot and possibly in danger. It comes out accusing.

She glares in the person's direction when she snorts. " Uh no. I am not exactly here because I like the sight of flames either lady".

" You could be more respectful " Regina snaps

" Because you are obviously made of respect and kindness".

Regina glares in the general direction of the woman, and turns around. Her dramatic exit is kind of ruined- which happens when you mutter a curse and have to jump backwards to avoid losing your eyebrows to fire that is blocking your exit.

" Everything all right? "the voice suddenly asks, slight amusement and irritation replaced with concern.

" I believe so".

" I believe- I am going to try to come your way "

" That is inadvisable unless you are incombustible"

Regina hears the sound of footsteps, which is when she realizes the insane woman is actually going to try. She turns around quickly, taking a small step back. " Do not be- " the fire reacts as if someone has poured oil on it before she can finish the sentence and she is thrown to the ground, annoyed and incredulous but fine otherwise.

" Uh. So that still doesn't work" the voice says, just when Regina is pushing herself up. " Are you okay? Sorry"

" I warned you it would not work, and you had me thrown on the floor as well ".

She expects the person to argue, so she stares in their direction when they instead say " I just- I am stuck here already for a while, and it is starting to get on my nerves. I don't like being locked up, I really don't " in an almost timid voice.

Regina's anger slowly drains away. " Why were you imprisoned? " she wonders. She looks around the room again, trying to decide where they are exactly. It is obvious that magic was used, but she is uncertain which spell or cursed was used exactly. Several come to mind.

" It sounds kind of stupid" the woman mutters

Regina rolls her eyes. " Just tell me".

" It is kind of a long story, but I was kind of running from a creep when this woman offered me a place to stay. Never look a gifted horse in the mouth, right? Except – I don't know how I missed it, but there was something off about her. And by the time I realized, we had already had dinner and she obviously put something in my drink because I passed out. Woke up here"

"Did you anger her?".

She can hear something. She grimaces; she is almost certain that the woman is gritting her teeth. "Listen, it is not my fault some asshole- ".

"Do not be daft. I am not accusing you, I am merely trying to understand why she did this".

" Look, don't ask me. I didn't really expect it, and my lie detector didn't go off so I thought- "

" Lie detector?".

" Yeah" the woman says.

" Lie detector " Regina repeats, perhaps with a bit too much annoyance but she does not like repeating herself. Queens should not have to repeat themselves, or wait for explanations.

" It's nothing. Just this – I am really good at telling when people are lying. I get this feeling, and even when people are generally being dishonest, I can usually tell"

" Is it magic?".

The woman snorts. " Nah. I like to think of it as my superpower, but it is not like I am using tarot cards or shit. I don't believe in any of that"

" You do not believe in magic?".

" I never did. I know there are magicians and psychics , but that is all tricks and deceit to get money".

Regina thinks of Rumpelstiltskin, and the dozen times he knew things he really shouldn't. Her best guards and most advanced magic couldn't usually keep things from him. " The gift of prophecy is rare, but it does exist".

The person is silent for a moment, then says "Hard to believe. Did the lady knock you out as well?"

" I have no idea. I am locked up, however ".

"Well, sharing misery is supposed to make it suck less, right?".

" I have no idea" she really doesn't. Her misery has never lessened, only been overpowered by emotions like rage.

"Guess we're going to find out"

They are both silent for a while, until Regina decides she has enough of the noises the other woman is making. " Will you desist making so much noise ?" she snaps

" I am trying to get comfortable".

" On what? The hard, cold floor or the unforgiving, scorching flames? "

There is a quiet snort. "Good point"

There is another silence before the woman talk again. " Maybe we should make an escape plan".

"I do not have impervious skin, dear, and I prefer my face without gruesome scars".

"Okay, but we can't sit here forever either"

"If you are inclined to stand, fine, but refrain from pacing "

" Maybe I can try- "

" No. I do not wish to be thrown on the floor again".

There is a slight groan. " I want to get out of here"

" So do I, but I will not abandon common sense"

"Common sense would be getting out of here".

" Common sense would dictate that we do not carelessly throw ourselves in flames".

" Well what's your idea then?".

" I assume that someone will have to visit this place to give us food, which is when you will attack them".

" Why- fine"

Regina arches her eyebrow when , after a long silence, she hears what she identifies as clothing being torn off. " What are you doing?".

"Getting rid of some of these layers. It's way too hot".

There is something weird about the way Regina's stomach reacts. She pushes it down, and decides it is rage and annoyance at being stuck here. " Do not bother being polite, and not removing any clothing".

" You can't even see me".

" It is courteous to not remove your clothing in the presence of- ".

"Seriously what are you wearing that you can stand this heat?".

"Perhaps I just undergo difficult circumstances more gracefully than you"

"oh fuck, is it one of those corsets that a lot of people here seem to wear? That doesn't seem comfortable"

Regina glances down at her own chest. She is actually wearing the same garb Snow has forced her into the other time she was a prisoner, except her hair is loose this time. " No. My usual clothing has been taken from me"

"I hate that about prisons. You can't even have your own clothing".

"You have been imprisoned?".

"Yeah"

" Why?".

" I used to be a thief. It's a long story actually".

" Well, my schedule seems to be cleared as I am imprisoned in a fire-filled room currently and thus slightly unable to attend to my usual duties".

The woman laughs. Regina has the odd impression that this woman doesn't laugh often, or doesn't often have reasons to laugh. " So my tragic life story is just because you've nothing more important to do?".

" Saying yes would be rude".

" So yes. That makes it less awkward to tell, I guess".

"Then tell, dear".

Emma clears her throat. "Well, I am an orphan. My parents dumped me at the side of a road somewhere, either not caring that I could die or were just too stupid. I had a family until I was three, but they decided an actual, biological child was better so they sent me back"

Before the curse, Regina's chest was always tight. Her dreams were not dreams, but nightmares. Every woman with dark hair made her teeth grit and her skin burn, and every woman with even the slightest resemblance to her mother made her suddenly clumsy. Maleficent made her heart beat harder and her smile come a lot easier.

After the curse, everything was less.

(there was only one thing that came close to being anything meaningful, and Regina knew it was still muted)

Now, there is this strange woman and suddenly Regina feels something again. Something more. It's in her chest and in her throat and she absentmindedly pushes her hand against the pressure points while she listens to the story.

" Anyways, things weren't so good after that. Sometimes, I had to stay in a foster home for a long time. Those are already pretty bad, because there is never enough. The food is gross and sparse, usually, and the clothing is the wrong size or there are no new ones until you are literally wearing rags. Everything is a fight, because that's the only way you get anything "

" Why would you stay there?".

" At first, I was too small to run. Later, I ran a few times but camping on the streets isn't good either. It depends on what home you're in, but usually the streets are worse " there is a short silence, before a quiet " you can't really sleep. You're never safe" is added.

And Regina gets that. She understands fear and apprehension and staying up partly because you are waiting for it and partly because you can't sleep knowing that it will happen as soon as you close your eyes.

"You are always waiting. You teach yourself to be silent during the moments you can sleep, but you never truly rest" Regina says, in a tone that is hopefully indifferent.

"You sometimes wake up, and you've to check yourself for injuries in case you passed out afterwards and the nightmare wasn't just that".

"You sleep curled up, already protecting your insides as much as possible".

" You don't sleep at all, or try anyways".

They're both silent before the woman snorts. "Wow, aren't we a depressing bunch?".

" I suppose we are". Regina actually smirks, and it's easier than usual to think about her mom ( an art she has perfected is never thinking about Cora. A mantra she has adapted is to never think about whether her mother was a good person)

"So you an orphan as well, or were you just unlucky?".

" I have parents" is all Regina offers, only barely keeping herself from keeping to her habit, and tearing into the stranger for daring to suggest her parents are – that they- that she would be unlucky to have them

" Yeah, I should have them too but I guess they didn't think parents actually should hang around and raise their bundle of joy".

Regina arches an eyebrow, and smirks again. " They seem like idiots".

" I mean, I have never met them so it's hard to say but probably".

" They abandoned their daughter, so it is obvious"

The woman's voice is oddly hoarse when she answers. " Yeah?".

"Most definitely"

" That's – yeah, I agree. They're kind of idiots"

That's when it happens. One moment, Regina is actually more invested in a conversation with another adult than she can remember being for ages when the fire behind her suddenly parts, and a familiar voice makes her veins run impossibly cold.

" Regina" just the word, and it is more terrible than any dark curse and more effective at destroying happy endings as well.

" Mother?" she questions, staring at Cora. She is dressed in a dress Regina hates particularly, as it brings back memories of hay and soft lightning and a hand buried into his chest, and Daniel's lips cooling beneath hers.

"My dear, you did not think I would ever leave, did you silly girl? You need me to make the right choices for you, and I will always find you so I can make sure you do not just throw away the life I have worked for".

" Mother- "

"Are you okay?" it is the mysterious captive's voice that makes Regina capable of doing anything but stare, horrified, at her mother and think 'no no no' . She struggles to put on the face she uses for royal balls, and rides to another town, and nearly every other activity. Everything in her is the opposite of indifference and boredom, everything is bad memories and 'yes mother, please mother, don't use magic mother'-

"Regina, why are you failing me? After everything I did for you, why are you failing me?".

Regina nearly flinches, but manages to keep herself together. " You cannot be here, I ba- it is impossible" she says

" Oh darling, stupid girl. This is why you need me"

"No, I – "

Cora is coming closer and Regina wants to hug her and wants to run and wants to apologize and wants to push her away. She just stares, lost and confused – qué qué qué? – as Cora gets closer and closer, until she is reaching out-

There is a loud curse, and Regina's body is thrown back and she just has time to realize what happened when her entire body jolts and the fire room disappears. There's straw on the ground, a cot in the corner, a small bucket with water, and something that is probably meant to be used as a lavatory but she would sooner die than subject herself to the embarrassment-

Her inner monologue is interrupted when the heavy door of her cell is suddenly pushed open, and rough hands grab her arm and pull her outside. She looks at prince Charming, and chuckles. "Never thought you would actually think for yourself, shepherd. Or has the rabble voted for my execution, and you are just here for what your little wife cannot- "

"Shut up" he practically growls, and his grip tightens until it hurts. She could raise her voice, and Maleficent would wake and possibly destroy the fool. Or Snow would hear, and no doubt withhold a 'happy ending' for the shepherd for a while. Except Regina resents needing help, or appearing to need it.

And the fool really is disgustingly chivalrous, usually, so he likely will not hurt her.

She realizes she is wrong when he drags her through the castle, ignoring her remarks until finally covering her mouth with his palm and pulling her to a room that he pushes her into. She nearly falls on her knees, quipping 'Is that how you treat your daughter-in-law"

He gets in her face, so close that she cannot not notice the dark bags beneath his eyes, and the tears in them. " I will never accept a monster like you for my daughter" he grits out

She shrugs, and tries to push him away. He grabs her hand and pulls her closer, and she smirks. "Looking for a little fun that isn't quite as vanilla as your playtime with dear Snow must be?".

" I would never touch you".

" Well. Considering your little brat is- " she wishes for a million fireballs. She wishes for the power to make the ceiling give in, or grow stalactites that impale him. She wishes for the magic that would put him to sleep forever, or possibly turn him into a statue again.

He just pushed her to the ground, and got his sword out. The steel is now pressed against her neck, and her skin immediately goose bumps. She focuses on that instead of the pain of her knees hitting the floor, or her anger.

" You will help my daughter. Right now"

" No"

She nearly loses control but manages to keep her indifferent smirk in place at the last moment when he takes a handful of her hair and yanks her head back. The sword digs in a little more. " Snow won't want a prince with a darkened heart" she taunts

" You will help her" he insists, but his voice is feeble and she knows his hand is trembling.

"You are not that gullible"

For a moment, the sword is digging in and there's pain. She fully expects it to be the end, but then there is a strangled sob and a clang! From the sword falling. She stares at it, and gently touches the bleeding cut on her throat.

She is alive.

And next to her, 'prince Charming' is crying noiselessly and not paying even the slightest bit of attention to his sword. It is the perfect opportunity, and she only needs five seconds to stand up and take the sword. The prince is looking up, she is raising the sword, ready to cut-

She makes the mistake of glancing to her left, and sees her. She is nothing like Regina expected. Even asleep, there is something stubborn about her, and something deviant. She wears an odd kind of armour, made of leather and a furious shade of red. She seems more knight than princess, although she does have the cliched blonde curls. She is gorgeous.

Regina even forgets the curse when her grip slackens, and the sword falls. Even with the magic cuff impairing her, she feels her magic buzz beneath her skin, like it's waking up. Her heart rate slows down, and her shoulders drop. Her pulse is steady when she slowly walks towards the princess, leaning over her.

She wants to know her eye colour, suddenly, desperately, crazily. And her laugh- she wants to hear that. And- she wrenches her head back, then laughs cruelly. She brushes away some of the blonde hair falling into the woman's eyes, more tenderly than she meant to.

" I will never wake your daughter" she says, pretending like she was baiting prince Charming all along. He buys it, like she knew he would, and she slams her foot down on his at the exact moment he tries to drag her back. He lets out a howl of pain, but his grip just tightens. He drags her back, away from the princess whose presence she can actually feel

She allows herself one look over her shoulder.