Chapter 3

Few weeks later...

"That tasted delicious, Regina." Emma said and wiped her mouth. Regina looked at her with a genuine smile. "Thank you." She answered and they cleaned the dishes. "So? How is work with Nasir?" "Tried to ride him today but well... Gold missed to tell me that he never was ridden before." "Oh. Did you hurt yourself?" Emma asked and Regina shook her head.

"No. I know how to fall down without hurting myself." Regina answered and they chuckled. They walked into Regina's living room where Regina got them two glasses of the cider. "So. Did you find something out about his earlier life?" Emma asked and Regina nodded. "Yes but it's not much. Gold told me that Nasir was a unicorn back in our land. One of the rarer."

"I didn't saw any unicorns when Snow and I were there." "That, my dear, is because most of them were hunted and killed because of their horns. I forbade it in my kingdom. Snow didn't probably because she was used to eat their flesh..." Regina growled. Emma gasped. "They ate them?" "Well, it's like horse flesh but it also heals your wounds. That was something for the royals. I have a soft spot for horses. Even back than. Everyone who killed a unicorn got sentenced to death." Regina explained to her and Emma nodded slowly.

"Well. Nasir had to watch how his family was cruelly killed in front of his eyes. People caught him and wanted to get control over him because he was the last dapple-gray unicorn. Gold killed the men and took Nasir under his wings. He grew up rather protected until the ogre wars. Gold had to abandon him because otherwise Nasir would have put himself in danger. I think that Nasir isn't over it yet..." Regina told her and Emma looked at her sadly.

"Poor Nasir..." Emma said and Regina nodded. "Good that he has you now. You both seem a lot happier." "I think we both are." Regina said and laid her head on Emma's shoulder. It was something they were used to after the weeks. It gave Regina a sort of security and Emma a feeling of being needed. They looked out the window and just enjoyed sitting together. "And how will you make him used to riders?" "Like you do with every horse. Give him time and training." Regina answered.

They just sat there in silence until Emma heard Regina sobbing softly. "Want to have a sleepover?" Emma asked her and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist. Regina looked up surprised and Emma wiped the tears away. "We can take chocolate upstairs and watch some crappy movie." Emma said with a soft smile and Regina nodded. They stood up and Regina took Emma's hand to lead her upstairs.

When they arrived upstairs Regina handed Emma a oversized shirt and sweatpants before she took her nightgown and went into the bathroom to change. Emma quickly changed and than sat down on the bed. Regina came back from the bathroom and sat down next to her. "I never had a sleepover..." Regina admitted and Emma smiled. "Me neither. Would you like to play a game?" "Well, as long as it isn't a pillow fight." Regina answered and slipped under the covers. She lifted the other side and Emma slid under too.

"You know truth or dare?" Emma asked and Regina nodded. "We could play just the truth or just the dare part. However you like." Regina looked at her. "Normal rules." She said than and they settled on their sides facing each other. "Start." She told Emma who smiled. "With or without dirty questions?" She asked. "With. But with avoiding. I mean when not truth then dare, an acceptable dare." Regina answered and Emma nodded. "How many people have you already slept with?" Emma asked her and Regina counted. "2. The King and Graham." Regina answered and Emma looked at her surprised. "And you?" Regina asked her back with a small smile.

"Lost count. Probably around 30-40 people." Emma answered. "Did you ever kissed a woman?" "No... That was forbidden in the Enchanted Forest..." Regina answered and looked down. She felt Emma's hand pulling her chin up and kissing her. "Voilá. First kiss with a woman." Emma said cheekily and Regina playfully hit her arm. "What's your favorite color?" Regina asked her and Emma thought about it. "I think red. But blue isn't that bad too." Regina chuckled. "I suppose." She answered and snuggled a bit closer to Emma.

"When was the last time you had sex?" Emma asked. She almost could hear Regina thinking about it. "A week after you came to Storybrooke." She answered and Emma nodded slowly. "You?" "Surely a year by now..." She answered and traced pattern on Regina's exposed shoulder. They locked eyes and then smiled softly. "Want to watch some movies?" Emma nodded.

Regina stood up and walked over to the TV which stood on the other side of the room. "What would you like to see? I have almost everything. Even TV shows." "Do you have Rizzoli & Isles?" Emma asked and Regina nodded delighted. "My favorite show." Regina said and put on the first CD.

She climbed back in bed and snuggled closer to Emma. They watched all 3 seasons before they watched the few new episodes Regina had copied. Afterwards both still didn't feel like sleeping and Regina put on Lost Girl. Around 5am they had watched also every available season of it and put a movie on where both fell asleep in each other arms. The alarm went off an hour later and Emma groaned. "Who the hell gets up at 6am?" She asked Regina who laughed. "Well. I try to get as early as possible to the stables to spend as much time as I can get with Nasir." Regina answered and stood up. "But you haven't slept that much."

"You neither." Regina answered and grabbed some new clothes and vanished in the bathroom. When she came back she was dressed in a blue jeans and black blouse. "You really look good in jeans." Emma said smiling and Regina just lifted an eyebrow and smiled friendly. "Thank you. Like I said all the times before. You don't look that bad yourself." She said and Emma stood up. "Coffee?" Emma asked her hopefully and Regina nodded. They went downstairs after Emma had changed and made breakfast together. "Why was kissing women forbidden in the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked.

"Well. The royals always wanted heir. A gay woman couldn't produce an heir. It was looked as disease and mostly there was a heavy punishment..." Regina started. "What did the royals do when they found out?" Emma asked her. "Well, there were different things. Either the women got raped to prove that it's just an illusion. A trick of your head. Or they got killed because they brought shame over the family... I allowed gay partnerships in my kingdom. Even gay marriage was okay for me as long as they would fight for me. I mean... not fighting with a sword but that they didn't hid your mother." Regina explained and Emma nodded.

"That was nice from you." Emma answered. "I think many stayed because they wanted to be free although they disliked me... I made myself a peasant for a day to look what they thought about me..." Regina stopped and bit her lip angrily. Emma took the pan out of her hand and sighed. "It's alright." Emma whispered and put the pan to the side before she hugged Regina softly. "They hated me... even when I was just the Queen... they hated me. Thinking I was together with the king because I wanted his money... And I never could tell them that I was together with him because I was forced... because my true love had died at my mother's hand..." Regina sobbed and Emma just held her.

"It's different now, Regina. It's the past." Emma whispered and rubbed her back softly. "I hate this..." Regina mumbled. "What?" "Being so pathetic and vulnerable in front of you..." "You are a human, Regina. It's alright to need someone to cry on." Emma answered and Regina nodded softly. "I can't describe how grateful I am that... that even after all this... crap... you still help me." Regina whispered and Emma laid her head on Regina's. "You don't need to. I know." They stood like this for a bit longer until they heard Emma's stomach growl. Both chuckled and stepped apart.

"Granny's?" Emma asked and Regina nodded. They quickly cleaned up the things which wouldn't taste now anyway and then made their way to the diner. They talked like usual until they arrived at the diner where a small crowd stood. They were angry and shouted. "Kill this bitch!" "She has to die finally!" "We won't let her kill another man!" "How many people need to be killed to show that she can never change!" The people shouted and Emma looked at Regina who got more and more resigned.

"There is the killer!" A man shouted and pointed at Regina. The group walked towards them. "STOP!" Emma shouted and stepped in front of her. They ignored her and made their way around her. Emma pulled her gun and shot in the air. Everyone was still. "I SAID STOP." Emma growled angrily. "So. What is going on?" "She can't change. She killed Archie. This bitch killed Archie." Emma saw the shock in Regina's face. "Why should she do that?" Emma asked. "Because Archie accidentally told Ruby about her therapy and they had an argument. And now he is dead." Emma looked back at Regina.

"I didn't kill him. Yes, I was angry that he told her about my therapy but that's no reason to kill. Do you know how hard it is to change when EVERYONE is pointing at you, saying bad things and then order you to get better on your OWN? Archie was there and helped me. One of the few people who believed in me and didn't expected from me to do it all ALONE. I almost considered him as my friend..." Regina said to the man who had spoken to Emma. "When did Archie die? And why are you so sure that Regina is the murderer?" Emma asked "And how did he even die?" Ruby spoke up.

"He had bruises around his neck. Probably strangled. But it didn't looked like a hand but more like a rope or something. And I saw Regina entering the building yesterday at 11pm. Afterwards no one entered anymore and Pongo brought me to Archie who was already dead when I entered..." Ruby spat. "It's impossible. I was with Regina the whole evening and night." Emma said and they looked at her confused. "We were talking and then watched some movies." "She cursed you..." A man said disbelieving and suddenly a man grabbed Regina from behind and pressed an arm against her throat. Regina struggled and trashed against the hold until she was unconscious.

"STOP!" Emma screamed and someone knocked her out too. In the meantime was Nasir making an escape plan. He had felt that Regina was in danger and he had to help her until it was too late and a part of his soul would die. He kicked the door of the box until it broke and flew against the wall on the other side. He raced out of the box and almost knocked David over who had come to see what was happening. David tried to stop him but Nasir was too fast. He ran as fast as possible into the city. Hoping that he wasn't too late to save his soulmate.

The people just heard hooves on asphalt and a furious loud neigh. They already had tied Regina to a post and started hitting her unconscious body. Emma saw the hurt and the anger in Nasir's eyes and shoved both her "guards" away before she tackled Regina's attacker. Nasir came to an halt in front of Regina and nudged her scared. She didn't move or laughed or did anything. "Nasir..." Emma called him and he turned to her. Both locked eyes and both saw the fear in the other's eyes. He bit into the collar of the attacker and lifted him up angrily. The man kicked against him but was just thrown into a car. Nasir stomped angrily and did fake attacks while Emma checked on Regina.

"Come on. Don't be already dead." Emma whispered and cupped Regina's cheeks. "Regina... come on!" She shook her body and then slapped her cheek. Regina's eyes weakly fluttered open and she looked at Emma. "Em-Emma... I... didn't... do it..." She said and Emma nodded. "I know, Regina. Hold on, okay?" Emma asked her and Regina weakly nodded. "Nasir..." Emma called him and he came to them. "I know that no one ever rode you but today you have to let it happen. She won't survive otherwise." Emma told him and he sank on his knees. Emma undid the ties and lifted Regina up. Quickly she sat down on Nasir and gripped his mane while he stood up once again.

A path was built for them and Nasir directly galloped through it. But when he should have turned right he just galloped straight ahead. "We need to go to the hospital." Emma said and tried to stop him. "No. I know who can help her." A deep manly voice in her head told her. "What the... Did you talked to me IN MY HEAD?" "Don't shout. I have a good hearing, Emma... Yes, I'm speaking with you. But that is an one time thing." "Do you talk with Regina like that too? And where are we going?" "No. Regina doesn't even know that I can do that... when she knows than she will probably leave me..." "She never could leave you, Nasir. She loves you. More than anything on the world. You are her whole world." Emma said and he came to a stop in front of Gold's shop.

"I don't think that Gold will help her." "He will. He owes me." He kneeled down again and Emma climbed down with Regina in her arms. Nasir opened the door with his teeth and entered with Emma. "Gold!" Emma shouted and saw how the man came from behind. "Well. Normally I would forbid animals in my shop but today is obviously an exception. What can I do for you?" "I don't know. Nasir brought us here." Emma said and carried Regina to him softly. Gold looked over Regina's body and then quickly led them to a room in the back. "Lay her down." Emma obeyed and Gold quickly started to heal her.

"Why are you helping her?" Emma asked. "Because I owe Nasir this one..." "Why? Why do you owe him?" Emma asked angered. "Because I was the man who killed his family..." Emma gasped and looked at him shocked. "That's why Nasir hates you..." "Yeah. He killed my family when I wasn't older than 8 months... he made me to his slave. And then... then his precious Belle was half dead and he needed my help. He offered me freedom. I declined. He then offered me a wish. And I accepted. Knowing that one day I maybe find my soulmate. That my soulmate maybe needs his help..." "You... you ripped him from his family and made him to his slave? And I thought Cora would be evil..." Emma answered and Gold looked up.

"How...?" And then he understood. "It should be impossible for you to hear him. Regina is his soulmate." "And why can I?" Emma asked him confused. "Because you love Regina like I do. You try with all the strength you have to protect her. You are her other half. Her other soul." "I can't be anyones second soul..." Emma said and Gold shook his head. "You can when you are..." "The true love..." Emma whispered and looked back to Regina. "Yes. And that's why you can hear him. When your soulmate is under the protection of an unicorn you are also able to hear it. Regina is under his protection. Since her birth. She is bound to him..." Gold said and Nasir nodded.

"Ask him what the meaning of his name is." Emma looked at Nasir. "Protection." "Protection? That means Nasir?" Emma asked surprised and Nasir nodded. Gold looked down. "Well... that means that he will live as long as Regina." Gold said and Emma looked confused. "The name of an unicorn explains it's destiny on earth. His destiny is to protect Regina." "Well... that worked out pretty good... didn't it?" Emma asked sarcastically and saw Nasir's angry eyes. "I got born when fate thought was the right time. When I was needed. I don't have any influence in that. Every unicorn 'awaits' his birth in a middle world. Already seeing what his soulmate is doing and then you get born without memory but the feeling in the heart to get this special memory back if the time is right."

"So fate needed her to become the Evil Queen?" Emma asked and Nasir and Gold nodded. "Otherwise Regina never would have found you." Gold said. "But she could have been together with Daniel." "Daniel had an incurable illness. He would have broken Regina's heart one way or the other... And he wasn't her true love. You are. Daniel was just a pawn in fate's game to get you two together." Gold explained. "But... but that's cruel? Why didn't fate just give birth to Regina later?" Emma asked. "Because Regina was destined to be the Evil Queen for something in the future... Destined for something you have to help her with." "What? Is this not enough torture for her already? Does she really have to endure more?" Emma asked angrily and Nasir nodded sadly.

Gold sighed. "Everyone has his destiny. Regina's is the only destiny I couldn't see..." Emma looked down at Regina who was still unconscious. "I know that it's hard to accept... but I can assure you that if we two stick together. Regina never will be harmed again. That's my task. I'm here to protect her. To keep her family save like she tried to do with mine. But she can't know about it yet." "Well, I don't know anything either..." Emma declared. "I'm here because... Regina is destined to kill her grandfather... a man more powerful than you, Rumpelstiltskin and Regina together... I'm here to take her place..." "Because she... she has to die?" Emma asked and Nasir nodded softly.

"She won't die. She is under my protection. The whole reason I'm on earth is... that I'm destined to die when the right time comes..." "And that's why she can't find out yet... because there are things which have to happen first so that Regina is ready to meet him..." Nasir nodded again. "It will rip out a part of her soul... and that's when you come into it. You are the one who has to fill this part again. That's why you are the savior. You aren't the savior of the town. You are the savior of Regina's soul. Of her life." "Who is her grandfather? If he doesn't know her we could kill him before it comes to that... and neither you or her would have to die."

"That, Emma, is something I can't tell you. Not because I don't want to disturb the fate. I can't tell you because I don't know either. But I have a feeling that it will change soon. And we have to be prepared for it."

TBC?