Regina's POV

Regina just looked at the woman in her arms, wanting to keep the bad away, but how can you escape the past? You can't … I know that better than anyone, Regina thought. She pulled the blonde closer still. Neither of them could outrun their past. Tilting her chin down, the brunette planted a soft kiss on the top of Emma's head.

As they both realized what had happened, they froze. Shit! What did I just do? Fuck! Emma looked up at Regina, the urge to run again showing clearly in her eyes. Oddly, the look rapidly changed to confusion, but then her wall was back up and any glimpse the brunette had into the other woman's mind was gone. She must have seen me panic … damn it all, Emma! Why can't I control my emotions around you? This is ridiculous.

Regina's emotional wall once more intact as well, she decided to take initiative. "I suppose we had better get you home, Miss Swan. I'll tell Graham you need some time off." She watched the blonde's reaction carefully, but Emma just nodded tiredly and attempted to stand.

"Thank you, Regina." Emma murmured as the brunette helped her up. The use of her name, their closeness as she supported the usually strong woman – it all gave her butterflies, but she kept her expression blank and focused on making sure Emma didn't fall.

While Regina's house was closer, she doubted that was what the blonde wanted. No, Emma will want to be with her moth- … with Mary Margaret. Swallowing past the lump that appeared suddenly in her throat, she tried not to think of how Emma, just like everyone else, preferred Snow White to her. No, not Snow White. Mary Margaret. she mentally corrected herself. I can't blame them though. Whether they are aware of it or now, I cursed them all. The brunette sighed in resignation, but was quickly ripped from her thoughts as Emma's legs gave out again.

"Shit!" whispered the exhausted blonde. They were halfway down the street from their destination. Not seeing a better way of getting there, and not caring if there was one, Regina lifted Emma into her arms in a fireman's hold and started walking. Immediately, protests were flung at Regina about the brunette's lack of shoes, and that she could make it, she's fine, really, she didn't have to be carried … but the protests were weak, and Regina just tuned them all out. Of course she's protesting. She argues with me like she's being paid to do so. She said as much, and was rewarded with hearing, for the first time, Emma laugh. Regina stopped walking for a moment, staring at the blonde in amazement.

Having stopped walking at the bottom of the driveway, Regina looked up to see the front door fly open and slam shut again as Mary Margaret ran to them. "Oh my god, Emma!" In spite of Emma's quiet assurances that she was fine, Mary turned furiously to the other brunette. "What happened?" she asked, half concerned for Emma, half threatening toward Regina.

"Could you get the door, Miss Blanchard?" Regina, staring at the ground, refusing to meet Mary's eyes, replied so softly it was almost inaudible. "Perhaps I could set her on a couch before I drop her?"

"Oh yes, of course." came the startled and disbelieving reply.

As Regina set Emma down, their eyes met. The blonde's eyes seemed to probe hers, searching … for what, exactly, the brunette couldn't say. Unable to hold Emma's gaze any longer, she looked away quickly. She could hear Mary Margaret fussing over Emma already, even as she quietly closed the front door behind her. Well, I guess that's that then … at least she'll be well looked after …

"Wait, Madam Mayor! Wait!" a breathless Mary burst through the door yet again. Regina turned around expectantly. "Thank you. From Emma, and from myself as well. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. What DID happen though?" As painful as Regina could tell the apology was to make, it was sincere. Impressive. I didn't think she would ever willingly apologize to me for anything …

"I think, this time at least, Emma should be the one to tell you." Mary Margaret was once again baffled – Poor thing will probably remain baffled for quite some time if Emma explains what happened … – but Regina didn't care. She was too busy thinking about the day's events and the best way to heal her cut, bruised feet.