Regina didn't want to hurt her anymore. She remembered the lonely young woman she had first met and wondered what would have happened to her if she hadn't interfered in her life.

She was saved from answering by the sounds of yelling coming from outside. Elsa turned away to look, raising her hands to call her magic as she realised that her snow creature was under attack.

"Don't." Regina moved to stop her, spotting a familiar figure in the snow.

"I remember when you didn't care about anyone." Elsa's powers began to leak out from her hands, ice growing around the windows.

"They don't have to fear you. You can have a second chance here."

"What if I don't want one?"

Slowly, knowing the risk she took, Regina reached out her hands and lowered them over Elsa's. Elsa's eyes widened a little in fear, but she conquered it and tucked her magic back away, leaving her hands safe to touch. Regina ignored the chilly feeling and maintained the contact.

"You have a good heart, Elsa. I know you can make a home here too."

"I had a home, remember. So did you."

"Now I have a new one."

They heard the sound of the ice doors opening. Regina recognised Emma's voice calling for her.

"Give me a reason to trust you." Elsa tried distracting her.

She realised Regina's skin was colder now she didn't use her magic to warm them, and felt disappointed. Elsa turned her hands so her palms were touching Regina's, and stepped close enough to feel her breath on her skin. She could tell Regina's mind was on the voice calling her, but she wasn't ready to give up yet.

"Show me that you care about me." She whispered, rubbing her thumbs over the back of Regina's hands.

"I.."

Elsa moved in, pressing her lips to Regina's and stopping her words. She watched the blonde-haired woman enter the room, saw the hand raised with magic ready to attack and smiled at the look of surprise and hurt on her face.

Regina shook her head as Elsa ended the kiss. "I told you, I love…"

"Regina?"

At Emma's voice, now so close, Regina spun around. "Emma!"

She realised her hands were still holding Elsa's, looking down at them and back up at her, quickly pulling her hands away. "It's not what it looks like."

"Then why are you holding hands? Why were you kissing her?"

"She was kissing me, we used to…"

"You know her?"

"Very well." Elsa smiled and put an arm around Regina's waist.

Emma looked between the two women. From the blush staining Regina's cheeks there was no mistaking what Elsa had meant. Eventually Regina tried to step aside and Elsa released her.

Emma turned away. "I should go."

"Did you come to rescue her?" Elsa tilted her head as she studied the girl Regina had called Emma.

Surely this couldn't be the one Regina claimed to love?

She smiled as she noted a few similarities between them. Did Regina go after her for those reasons? Of course, her own hair was much lighter than Emma's, and she clearly had better taste in her attire…

Emma turned back to look at Regina. She looked like she wanted to speak. Elsa glanced at Regina. She could tell the woman was torn between wanting to go with Emma, and wanting to stay and finish their conversation.

"Emma." Regina sighed, knowing it was unlikely she would hear her.

Their relationship was still so new. She wasn't sure what she should say to explain things to Emma to make her understand. It was so hard to think when it felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out of her lungs. She knew how she felt about Emma, though they hadn't discussed it. Her heart ached at the thought that Emma might misunderstand what was going on. Now Elsa's return had complicated things. She needed to make things right and help Elsa, to make up for the past. Even if she didn't love the other woman, she needed to let her know that she cared about her. She understood all too well the effect of loneliness on a heart.

Elsa took advantage of the situation and slipped her hand into Regina's. "I guess she doesn't love you."

The sudden, cold touch shocked Regina enough to pull her out of her thoughts. "I should go after her. I need to explain…"

"If she cares about you, she'll come back."

"I care about her."

Elsa sighed. "Then why did she leave?"

Because that was what Emma did. She ran from problems. Emotional ones, at least. She could face a dragon without fear, but this… Regina knew her.

"Elsa, I…"

"Fine, then go." Elsa dropped Regina's hand and turned away.

Regina saw the icy walls thicken in response to Elsa's emotions. She was torn between leaving and staying.

"I will come back."

Elsa shook off Regina's hand on her shoulder. "Sure."

Knowing that nothing else she could say would persuade Elsa that she was telling the truth, Regina left.

Emma kept her head down as she fought her way against the wind towards the diner. She had to get back to Ruby and let her know that they didn't have to worry about Regina. Apparently the mayor had gone there willingly.

She didn't hear Regina calling her name.

A few seconds later, a snowball hit a tree to her left, just missing her head. Emma spun around, expecting to see Elsa. She frowned when she saw Regina, hands on her hips, struggling to breathe.

"What the hell was that for?"

"I was calling you, couldn't you hear me?"

"No." Emma turned as if to keep walking.

"It is freezing out here." Regina called to her. "And these are not the right shoes for walking in the snow."

"I'm sure your friend is missing your company."

"You're an idiot."

Emma spun around, taking a step closer to Regina. "Why? Because I thought you liked me?"

Regina matched the step, her shoes sinking into the snow. "You know how I feel about you."

"Then how could you kiss someone else?"

"Elsa kissed me."

"Who is she?"

"We knew each other a long time ago." Sensing Emma was prepared to listen, Regina began moving towards her again. "When we were both Queen's of our kingdoms."

"Does that mean she's one of the bad guys?"

"Can we talk about this somewhere warmer?"

"I have to get back to the diner, to let the others know you weren't kidnapped."

"I was."

"Didn't look that way to me."

Regina just shook her head, rubbing her hands along her arms, trying to keep warm. "It's complicated."

"Fine, this way." Emma pointed it out to Regina. "Try to keep up."