Trigger warning: mild physical abuse and strong emotional/ mental abuse. Crucial to the story, and not that bad. Typical Cora craziness.

XXX

Two minutes. She and Henry had talked for two minutes before switching to paper. She should've known better, what was this amateur hour? Cora didn't know who this mystery person was, but she knew there was one. ARGH! Why was she born with Cora Mills as a mother? Why did she have to suffer through living every day as though her actions could bring a about the end of the world- or worse. Her actions could bring the full wrath of Cora Mills down on anyone, including her little brother.

"Regina, dear, why don't you sit down?" Cora innocently motioned to the seat in front of her desk. Regina hesitantly sat in front of her mother, very careful with her movements. A lady is always graceful. A lady never fidgets, never fixes her hair, and always crosses her legs while sitting. A lady does not speak to her superiors without first being spoken to, and always disregards those lower than her when they speak first.

"Henry told me you've been having some problems in school." Regina could barely hold back a laugh. Henry would never do that to her. He knew what Cora was like, even though Regina did her best to shield him from their mother. "No, mother. Just a little squabble with one of the girls. I put her in her place, immediately, of course." A lady keeps her tone even. A lady keeps her eyes down while addressing her superiors. Regina thought of every rule she'd ever learned. This was the way it was with Cora.

"Of course. Common folk can be so annoying... Like a bug that needs to be squashed. Like that family, what was their name?" Regina's cheeks flushed, knowing what would come next. "Oh, I remember now. The Stables. Didn't you date one of them briefly?" It was only three years. It was only my first love. Nothing of importance. Regina bitterly recalled how her mother referred to Daniel as "The Stable boy." As though he were not important enough to have a first name.

"Briefly, yes." Regina spat out.

"So who was it? Who was the cause of your troubles?"

"I'd prefer not to say."

"The question was not optional, dear." Cora rose from her chair and walked to her office door, slding it open. It was cruel, but she wanted the other members of the Mills family to see how easily they could be broken. Regina was by far her favorite child, but to let the opportunity to have such a prime example slip through her fingers would be a crime! "Mother, please. Don't do this." Regina begged.

"Who. Was. She." Cora calmly walked towards her desk, but didn't continue to her seat. She stopped at Regina's, placing her iron strong grip on her daughter's shoulder. "Mother, I handled it. The situation is over! It won't be a problem again." Regina pleaded with her eyes. She would beg on her knees if it would help, but that would just make Cora angrier.

The slap rang through their silent house like a gun shot. Every one knew not to make a sound when she was like this. Just stay in your room and listen so you'll know if she calls you.

"Insolent girl! You made me hit your face! Do you know what would happen if it bruised and someone saw?" Regina just sat in the office chair stoically. Who cares if her mother's career is ruined? At least Regina would be out of this house.

Suddenly Cora let go. She stepped away from Regina and smiled. Regina would be lying if she said it wasn't the most terrifying this she'd ever seen.

"It seems you are going to be stubborn today. Perhaps I can fix that." Cora continued smiling in her empty, cold way. Regina wondered how she could wear that face while looking at someone she claimed to love. "Henry? Come down here, please." Cora called for her youngest child, reveling in her daughters blatant fear.

"No!" Regina grabbed her mother's arm. She quickly realized that her outburst would cost her, and collected herself. "No, that won't be necessary." The young girl continued in a more even tone. She looked at a frightened Henry who stood in the doorway between her mother's office and the hall. He had never been hit by Cora, and Regina was going to keep it that way. "Henry, go back upstairs." She commanded.

"Emma Swan. Her name is Emma Swan."

"Now was that so hard?" Cora smiled that heartless smile again, quickly fallowing it with a swift punch to the stomach to Regina."Don't ever disobey me again. Considering the level of disrespect you showed me today, be glad all you got was this. Don't bother coming to dinner tonight. Or tomorrow." Regina took only a moment to recover from the blow. Despite Cora's strength, Regina had years of practice. She knew not to show Cora even a second of weakness.

Cora studied her daughter for a minute before dismissing her.

"You may go." She said with a dismissive flick of her hand.

XXX

The rest of the weekend Regina was miserable. So much for friends. So much for only having one person who hated me at Storybrooke High. After finding out my mother went after Emma because of me, my social life is dead. Regina contemplated running away. Taking Henry Jr. and just going.Cora would find them faster than they could find a place to stay, unfortunately.

On Monday she couldn't even look at Emma, and the blonde returned the favor. She was obviously angry, but Regina couldn't blame her for that. She had every right to be angry. After the first period bell rang, Emma pulled Regina aside and began her ranting.

"Emma, let me explain..." Regina started only to be cut off. "No, I'm talking. You don't get to talk right now. You know, Regina, I had you pegged for a lot of things, but a coward was not one of them. Running to mommy as soon as things get tough? Pathetic. Because of you, I might be moving. Again. They kicked me out of the foster home is was in! I'm being relocated as soon as possible."

"I'm sorry for that, but this isn't my fault! I had nothing to do with it! I didn't want to tell her, believe me. I know what she's like. I had no choice." Regina tried to explain, but Emma just couldn't understand. Her biggest problems where if she should wear the Pravda or the Chanel bag today.

"What did she threaten to do? Cut off your allowance?" Emma mocked. Regina felt herself growing angry. She knew this wasn't Emma's fault, but dammit, she'd had enough of people always yelling at her and never listening to what she had to say! She was sick of feeling powerless in her own life.

"You don't know my mother. You don't know what she's like when she gets angry. She has starved me, threatened me, hit me, ruined my relationships, bugged my bedroom, and you know what? I can handle that. But I will not let her do the same to my little brother for your sake. I'm sorry, but he means more to me than you ever will." After she'd calmed down Regina realized her mistake.

She'd told this person, this stranger, everything. Emma Swan now held the keys to her undoing.

Well this has been a real banner day.

XXX

Emma didn't expect such an outburst from Regina. She hadn't expected any of it. There was a moment of silence between the two of them before Regina spoke. Her tone was low, menacing. The ghost of her confession seemed to be gone, at least if you weren't looking. But her eyes. Her eyes were so, so sad.

"Tell no-one what I just told you." Regina didn't look at Emma, didn't want to see the face of the only person outside of her family and Daniel who knew about Cora. So she lifted her chin and started walking to second period.

XXX

Both Emma and Mary-Margaret were missing from lunch that day. Regina acted normally. Flirted a little with Graham, subtly checked out the new guy at their table (And decided he wasn't her type), sparred with David over which one was better: football or track. She acted like she would on any other day. She was an amazing actress.

XXX

Emma and Mary-Margaret were having a perfectly nice lunch alone instead of eating with their friends. Despite having more friends than they could count, they never forgot who was their very best friend. Ever since Emma moved to Storybrooke five years ago they'd been best friends. Before Tink, David, Belle, before everyone, they found each other. And now they were saying goodbye.

Mary-Margaret was crying and Emma was nearly there. The brunette couldn't believe it! She couldn't imagine life without Emma.

"Why? Why are they sending you away?"

"I... I got into a fight with the wrong person. It's not important." Emma wasn't going to tell Mary-Margaret, no matter how close they were. These weren't her secrets to tell. "It's important to me!" Her friend sobbed.

"I'll be fine. I always am."

"How am I supposed to get through lunches with Kathryn and David without you distracting me? Who am I supposed to movie binge and eat cinnamon hot chocolate with? Who are you supposed to rant about NCIS with? I know you loved Ziva! Who else is going to get that?" Suddenly Emma was crying too. It was all too much. Losing her friends, who were the only family she'd ever know, so suddenly was just too hard.

"I'll call you. Every day. And we'll text constantly. It'll be like I'm right there with you."

"It's not the same."

"I know. But it's the best we've got."

XXX

Mary-Margaret was a woman with a mission. She may be sweet, but she knew how to get what she wanted. No one was taking away her best friend.

She staged her plan in the dining room, where her father would surely see her crying. It wasn't hard to force the tears. All she had to do was think about Emma leaving town, her plan failing, and Kathryn &. David's wedding. Assorted mix of things. Kathryn & David babies. Kathryn & David baby shower. Kathryn pregnant. Uh- oh, the tears won't stop now!

Leopold immediately rushed to his daughter's side when he saw her crying.

"What's wrong my dear?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, fatherly instincts already kicking in. His little Snow White was everything to him, even if she objected to the nickname now that she was older. "It's Emma. She's leaving Storybrooke."

Leopold was very sorry to hear that Emma was like a second daughter to him. They'd been friends since Mary-Margaret was still called Mary-!argaret and not that ridiculous nickname. What was it again? M&M, he thought.

"Her foster home can't keep her anymore and she doesn't have anywhere to staaaaaaayyyy." Mary-Margaret wailed. She peeked up at her father, judging his reactions. "If only she had a family with the financial means to support her that would accept her as their own daughter, kind of like the member of the family she's become for us." Not so subtle, but Leopold was a little distracted by his crying teenager.

"I have an idea!" He said brightly. "How about we foster her for now?" Leopold offered, like it was his idea in the first place.

"Oh, daddy! What a marvelous idea!" The young girl immediately stopped crying and threw her arms around her father's neck. She didn't like lying to Leopold, but the thought of Emma's face when she found out made it all worth it.

XXX

I've been mainly focusing on Regina, but now we're moving into the Snow part. Eventually it'll even out, but I'm giving each major character a minute in the spot light, so we can get a sense of their personalities in this AU. Hope you liked it, review, criticize (constructive criticism. Don't just write "you suck"), float ideas my way, whatever. I love hearing from all of you.