Henry's late for school because Emma not-so-accidentally threw her clock out her window. In her defense, the buzzing piece of crap would wake her up three hours too early and didn't even wake her up at 6 am like she'd programmed it to.

So, she threw it out the window in a fit of rage and annoyance though admittedly she was a little stressed out from work and she had to take it out on something.

She also forgot to use her cell phone as a backup thus Henry hesitantly knocking on her bedroom door and peeking his head around it.

"Mom?" he whispers because he doesn't necessarily want to go to school. Emma allows him to skip at least once every three months but after his fight last week, she hasn't been too pleased with him. And he hasn't been too excited to go to school each day with Ms. Blanchard looking at him with disappointment.

"What Henry?" she groans with her back to him on the bed. She's curled beneath the blanket with only the tips of her hair glancing from under it.

"Um, it's eight…" He steps all the way into the room now. "In the morning."

The way his mother jumps from the bed scares the crap out of him. Emma sits up immediately almost like she's being exorcised by a demon, especially after she let him watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose a few nights ago on Halloween.

Which now that he thinks of it may have been his unofficial punishment for fighting.

"Holy shit," Emma says as she crawls out of bed. "Holy shit. We're late." She's in her closet now and he stands at the door awkwardly. "What are you still doing here? Go get dressed!"

"Well," he shifts uncomfortably on his feet. "I don't have any clean underwear…"

"I forgot to do your laundry?"

He nods.

"Shit, okay just go put some pants on and we'll pick some up for you on the way to the school." She's already changing out of her shorts and shoving her legs into a pair of tight jeans.

Henry takes his time back to his room, buying himself some time.


When she's finally done getting dressed Emma hurries to the kitchen and packs his books from the kitchen table into his bag and hands it to him when he comes out of his room.

"Ready?" she asks, already expecting him to be anyway. He nods and she all but pushes him out the door, shouldering her own bag.

On their way to Henry's school, Emma stops at a corner store and he changes in the restroom while she runs next door to the McDonald's and picks him up some breakfast.

Not the healthiest choice but oh well, she shrugs.

Henry's waiting patiently, too patiently for her liking, in the car and she hands him the paper bag. "Just go straight to class and have your teacher call me at lunch or something, alright?"

He agrees but it's jumbled as he chews on his McMuffin. "Mom?" he says as she's backing out of the parking lot.

"Yeah, Henry?" Emma answers without really looking away from the road.

"Are you still mad at me about the fight?"

She glances at him and in those two seconds she sees how utterly afraid her son is of her answer. He looks at her with big green eyes just like his father and it reminds her of all the times Neal would ask the same question. Of course it was harder to forgive him.

She tousles his hair before giving him a big smile. "Of course not, kid. You know I can't stay mad at you."

He presses his lips together and studies her for a moment. Emma supposes she passes his evaluation because he grins back at her and pushes her hand away.

"Here," she says when he gets out of the car. She hands him his lunch money. He grabs it and runs to the school's entrance. Emma waits, watching as he temporarily becomes the school's responsibility.


Lieutenant Davis doesn't notice her as she tiptoes into the bullpen trying not to spill her coffee on herself this time but also trying to remain quiet enough to sneak past the door without being noticed.

She's just at her desk when, "Swan!" Lieutenant Davis calls from his office in a voice that doesn't sound like he started his day off any better than her.

She only spills the coffee a little bit on her shirt but enough to annoy her. Emma grabs a napkin from one of the drawers in her desk. She's wiping the stain away with only her spit and no soap as she enters the small office once again on a Monday and feeling like she's in trouble.

"You just get in?" he asks casually, already knowing the answer.

She nods.

"Hmm," he thinks for a moment. "I have an assignment for you."

Emma groans and takes a seat across from him at his desk. She only gets these assignments when she's late or she hasn't turned a report in on time or he just feels like punishing her.

"Don't complain to me, Swan. You're a great cop. It's everything else that needs some work." He presses the button on his desk phone. "Have them bring her in."

"Bring who in?"

"Regina Mills. Storybrooke's Chief Administrative Officer. Wife of Mayor Leo White."

An eyebrow arches questioningly. "Storybrooke?"

He shrugs. "Some town in Maine. Anyways she claims her husband is abusive and has someone looking for her, though we've checked and there are no filed reports against him."

"DVU couldn't handle it?"

Davis shakes his head in the negative and hands her a file. "Unfortunately, there's not enough to go on. She does have some scars on her body that looks like she was abused as a child. And some assault wounds on her abdomen that are barely a week old. Which is the only reason we're taking her claims seriously."

Emma doesn't even bother to open the folder. "What am I supposed to do? I'm better with undercover work, Davis. You of all people know that."

"You are." He agrees as he laces his fingers together in an ark and rests his chin on them, leaning towards her over the desk.

He continues patiently. "But, I think a case like this is enough to show you working in Vice is a privilege. I let you come and go as you please as long as you solve enough cases but you forget your paperwork, Swan. You like the fun part of the job and refuse to acknowledge the responsibilities unless I'm threatening you with desk duty. Now Simmons offered to take the case but I decided he's not as sharp as you in the field. You notice things other cops don't when you're on the street. So you're going to take Ms. Mills in and you're going to figure out who is following her. Think you can manage the responsibility of keeping one person safe?"

Emma slouches in her seat. "I don't really want to." She mumbles. "But I guess I don't really have a choice now do I?"

He shrugs impassively. "No not really. She's down with DVU right now. I wanted to give you time to give all your open cases away. Irvin and Jones want Hyde Park." Emma groans in frustration and he ignores it effortlessly.

"If someone is following her, it's best they don't know you're a cop. We want them to think you're an old friend from college or something so keep your gun and badge hidden."

His strict manner abridges to sympathy. "Emma, I know you don't want this case but I wouldn't have given it to you if I didn't think you were the best for it and needed it. This case will help your career."

She looks at him from beneath her lashes. "Really? Cause it feels like you're telling me if I don't take this case seriously I might not have a career."

He shrugs. "If the shoe fits. Get acquainted with her file and pick her up from downstairs in thirty minutes. We'll have two undercover uniforms at your apartment building by noon."

"Yeah, yeah." She mutters, dragging herself out of the office sullenly. At her desk, Emma opens her left top drawer and takes out all of her ongoing cases to hand out as freaking Christmas presents to lazy, undeserving Detectives that didn't get them in the first place because they weren't as skillful as her.

"Detectives," she walks to Irving and Jones adjoining desks. They're two men that despite being different races and ages have somehow been partners long enough to act like each other. Both wearing suits that hang loosely from their awkwardly tall bodies.

Irving has a white beard since he's the oldest and Jones' is beard is greying rapidly even though he's just in his late thirties. Stress of the job, Emma always assumed.

They both acknowledge her with a grunt as they type erratically at their keyboards.

"Uhm," she rubs the back of her neck, unwilling to give her case away. "Davis told me you're interested in the Hyde case?"

They look at each other first then turn their attention to her in full swing. "You're actually giving it to us?" Peter Irving asks excitedly.

Emma shrugs. "Don't really have a choice." She drops the file on their desk and presses her fingertips to it. "Just…treat it nice, alright? Hyde Park is my baby and I was close to making all the arrests I needed. The other homeless people are going to notice I'm not there so tell them I sent you there from a shelter before getting my act together."

Jones takes it from beneath her hand carefully. "We're not going to screw it up."

"Yeah, sure." She rolls her eyes knowing that's exactly what they're going to do. But that'll give Davis an excuse to assign her back the case. She continues passing out her files to different detectives until she's empty handed sitting back at her desk feeling like she's just given away all of her favorite toys.

Emma thrums her fingers against the wood as she contemplates Regina's file. If Davis says they're taking it seriously then she should too, she decides. It is her job, after all. The whole protect and serve crap. But God does she just want to go back undercover.

It's not that she doesn't want to help this woman; it's just that Emma's not good with battered women. Or women in general for that matter. She's always just been good with being undercover because it's always been easy to be someone else.

Most of her undercover assignments involve her pretending to be the common criminal and considering she used to be one it's not like she's putting a lot of effort into it.

She feels uncomfortable having to protect a grown woman's life. She's never really had to protect someone other than her son. That unsettles her. And personally she doesn't really think she's adequate for the job. There are so many other Detectives way more appropriate for this kind of case than her.

The door to the Vice bullpen opens. "Right this way, Ms. Mills." She hears Davis' secretary tell Regina.

Emma adjusts her shirt and checks how bad the coffee stain is. It's not enough to bother any average person. But when Emma turns around she sees that Regina Mills isn't any average person.

Though it was last week and she wore large sunglasses that covered a large proportion of her face, the Detective recognizes her right away. "Oh you've got to be kidding me."

"This will not do." Regina says at the same time, gesturing to Emma.

Davis steps out of his office. "Is there a problem here?" he asks his Detective in the way he wants her to say no.

Emma glares momentarily before sobering. "No, sir."

"I have a problem," Regina says in a manner that draws attention to her from the rest of the Detectives. "Am I to believe this woman is capable enough to protect me? She can't even hold a cup of coffee properly." She points to the stain.

Annoyance coloring her face, Emma steps closer to Regina. "Listen lady-,"

"Would you prefer someone else?" Davis interrupts her with a silencing look.

"Yes."

"Well, that can be arranged." He says patiently. "However, Detective Swan is our best. Anyone else we assign you will not perform as adequately. We only what's best for you, Ms. Mills and she's it."

She considers it with a scowl, giving the blonde an once-over. "Fine." She decides less than affably.

"Excellent." He nods stiffly with satisfaction. "Detective, why don't you go take Ms. Mills to get checked out of her hotel?"

The brunette looks confused and even a little concerned. "And just where will I be staying?"

He clasps his hands together, assembling some form of patience, and Emma gives him a 'I told you so' look. "I'm sure Detective Swan's apartment is very accommodating."

Regina looks between the two with aggravation. "I suppose I don't have a choice, now do I?"

"No you don't," Emma quips impatiently. "So listen, if someone is following you-,"

"If? I know what I saw Miss Swan."

"I'm not saying you don't, I'm just saying running away-,"

Again, Regina interrupts her with a look of umbrage before stepping face-to-face with the blonde. "It sounds like you're insinuating I'm just running from a bad divorce Miss Swan. I'll spare you the details because I'm sure every scar he has left on me and why and how has been reduced to a few sentences in that file about me. And you won't question why I left my husband. You won't doubt that he is a psychopath that sent someone after me. And maybe then, Miss Swan, you'll do your damn job."

Emma did get a glance at the file and she saw photos of intimate spots on Regina's skin that told a pretty obvious story. Her husband and probably one of her parents used her as something close to a damn punching bag.

So she nods, no longer wanting to take a swing at this woman but feeling shameful. She knows how abusive relationships go. She's been in one herself. Though for her it didn't last very long after he hit her. She had enough self-preservation to get the hell up and walk away but this woman obviously had her preservation torn from her like skin on bones at a younger age. "I'll do my best to protect you." She promises.

"I don't need your pity or your promises, Detective Swan." Regina says to her indignantly . "I need him put away for all he has done to me. For what he's currently doing to my town. Just do your job."

"Fine." She grabs the file at her desk quickly, wordlessly accepting the assignment finally. "Let's go," she says holding the door open for the other woman.


"Here's the thing," Emma says without taking her eyes from the road as Regina sits uncomfortably next to her in her yellow bug. Despite the fact that Emma's probably taller than her by a few inches, it's Regina that looks anxiously cramped in the passenger seat. "Whoever is following you-,"

"Graham." She informs her bitterly. Just thinking he would betray her for Leo infuriates her. "His name is Sheriff Graham Humbert."

"Right," Emma nods in accordance. "He's got to be reporting back to your husband, right?"

"I suppose so." The brunette agrees sighs abjectly. "Though, I don't quite understand it. Graham absolutely loathes my husband. He was never aware of what happened in our home but it was quite obvious to anyone that worked with us that my husband didn't exactly respect me. He never treated me poorly in public but Graham was more observant than the rest of our town. So I don't quite understand why he would agree to come after me."

"Well maybe your husband has a different story going around," Emma gives her a quick side-glance before returning her focus back to the road. Regina looks angry but she also looks wounded and betrayed and Emma gets the sense there was a friendship of some sort between her and Graham. "Maybe he's spinning the story differently and this guy thinks he's helping you out or something."

Regina shrugs, not quite convinced. Though entirely likely because Leo would never admit to the things he's done to her.

But she's not exactly sure which way the story could be told without someone raising enough questions to ask why she would leave town in the dead of the night and not even tell one person where she was going or why she was leaving.

Even though there at least two people that know exactly why she left.

The rest of the car ride goes on in silence until they reach a shack for a restaurant. A poorly lit sign illuminates the words 'Fiesta' and Regina looks at Emma with wide eyes.

"What in the world are we doing here?"

"Calm down," she rolls her eyes and pulls the keys out of the ignition. "We're just going to have a chat. This place is full of cops."

"Interesting," the brunette's jaw clicks angrily as she grinds her teeth. "Hide your operation in a place that looks like it should have been shut down years ago."

The sign hangs loosely from the building as they enter and Regina actually ducks to avoid it in fear that it might actually choose that moment to fall. "Well you don't see anyone really eating here do you?" Emma gestures around the restaurant.

It's true; it's decently busy however everyone seems to be deep in conversation instead of eating.

"Detective Swan," the male-model looking 'host' says with an overly friendly smile that makes Regina roll her eyes ardently annoyed. "What are you doing back here so fast?"

"A case," she shrugs nonchalantly, seemingly oblivious to his flirtatious smile. "The usual."

When they're seated, Emma asks for two coffees while Regina goes to the restroom. The Detective receives a didactic phone call from Davis and it ends quickly when Regina lowers herself into the booth.

The cold wine-red pleather itches her skin.

"That was my boss," Emma begins. "We have uniforms looking for any Maine license plates with drivers matching the description you gave. I didn't see anyone trailing us on our way here so I don't know how close Graham is to you right now. What I do know is that your husband has filed a missing persons on you. Somehow he's got enough juice for it to spread all through New England despite the fact he's the Mayor of a small little town no one's even heard of. You wanna explain that to me?"

Realization hits Regina hard and her head drops into her hands shamefully. "My mother." She explains.

"Your mother?"

"She has very high friends in very high places. I wouldn't be surprised she was behind this."

"Does she know?" the blonde asks almost secretively. "About the…" this is why she thinks herself ill-equipped for this case because she can't even say the damn word. "Does she know about what he-,"

"Yes."

Emma's eyes grow wide with surprise but then narrow in disgust that a mother could allow her daughter to stay in such a violent marriage. "And she's helping him find you." She states, absolutely abhorring this woman without having even met her.

"My mother is a very complex woman." She tries to defend. "She loves me-," but when Emma stops her, it's obvious she has no belief in her mother's love for her anymore either.

"The guy used you as a punching bag and she let him. And I have no doubt in my mind that she conditioned you to allow the abuse for so long."

"It's very complicated." The brunette says quietly. "You wouldn't understand."

"You don't understand, Regina. I don't think you've understood your mother for a very long time you just got used to it and stopped questioning why she treated you that way."

Her eyes narrow. "What would you know about my mother? She has done a lot for me."

"Sure, sure. She's done a lot of good things for you but are you forgetting all she has done to you?"

"It's called Discipline Miss Swan."

Emma snorts. "You know what? You're right. I have no right to tell you about your mother. You wanna believe what she did to you was okay? Fine. Whatever helps you sleep better at night."

Regina purses her lips with growing annoyance for this woman. She obviously has no respect for anyone. "What is your plan to help me, Miss Swan?"

"Pretty simple," Emma pours a few packets of sugar into her coffee. She uses her spoon to stir it and it clinks in the glass mug. "I'm going to let Leo find you."


A/N: I didn't forget about this fic no worries. I've just been trying to figure it out. Writing multiple SQ fics gets confusing because there's different characterization and development for each fic and I have to try to write everyone differently but the same. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and let Emma explain in the next chapter before you jump to conclusions.

Also I may have changed the premise a little bit. I'll write a better description in the morning (the later morning considering it's 3am right now)

Thank you for your encouragement and being patient with me.