Chapter 4

Emma's frustration was rising with every passing moment spent talking to her parents. She could appreciate their concern, but this new obsession with sounding like a parent every two minutes was growing old, and frankly a bit ridiculous.

Snow pulled a chair up next to Emma's desk at Sheriff's office. "Honey, all we are saying is that you should take a few days off. The past few weeks have been rough, to say the least, and we just want to make sure that you are healthy enough to do this job."

Emma sat back in her chair and looked at her mother in disbelief. "Seriously? I haven taken care of things in a lot worse situations than just dealing with a Snow Queen, and on much less sleep might I add. Or do you not remember my leading everyone's ass to safety in Neverland? So I suggest you keep the parenting and nagging for Neal and leave me alone to do my job, Madam Mayor." As the last sentence left her mouth, she couldn't help but marvel at how just a short while ago, those antagonizing sentiments would have been pointed at Regina.

Mary Margaret looked in disbelief at her daughter and shot a glance at a worried looking David. "Fine, Sheriff Swan, if this is how you are going to take some well placed advice, then as Mayor, effective immediately, you are on probation until I find you fit to serve your post again. David will stand in as active Sheriff until otherwise noted. Is that non-parenty enough for you?"

Emma stood up with such force that her chair fell backwards. "You have GOT to be kidding me? There is a crazy woman running around town, freezing people at will and trying to kidnap both me and Elsa and you want to put David on the job? This isn't even your problem. I am the one she is obsessed with, so in my book that makes me the most fit to protect everyone in this town from her dangers. You haven't had a problem in the past getting behind my role as Savior, so what's the issue now?"

David stood and put a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Emma, a lot has changed, and you know it. Let us take care of you for a change. Let us protect you; we are family."

Emma jerked her shoulder quickly out of reach from David's touch. "Oh my god, it's because you don't trust that I can control my magic. What, you think that with one bad day at work I'm going to run around town like a crazy person, putting everyone at risk with my WILD magic? That's really all the faith you have placed in me?"

Tears formed in Mary Margaret's eyes. "Emma..."

"No, save it Mom. I get the picture. Fine! You want me out of here, that's what you'll get. Good luck protecting the town with your trusty sword Dad." And with that Emma grabbed her brown leather coat and stormed out of the building. When she got to the street, she nearly plowed into Regina and Henry. Regina had her arm across Henry's shoulder and looked inquisitively at the blonde, trying to assess the situation at hand. Regina noticed that Emma's skin was flushed and that she had a wild look in her eyes.

"Hey Mom, what's wrong? Has the Snow Queen done something again?" Worry laced Henry's questions. His Mom had so not been acting like herself lately, and it scared him.

Regina also heard the worry in Henry's voice, and couldn't help but mirror it in her own. "Emma, tell me whats going on. Maybe I can help; especially if you are going after the SnowQueen. You know our best chances are together."

Emma looked at both faces in front of her and could see the concern. Before she knew what was happening, a fireball appeared in her hands. She looked down at it and reveled in the power that possessing it produced. "I'm going after the Snow Queen right now. I need to end this so our lives can go back to whatever normal is for this town. So if you want to help, join me and be my equal."

Regina took a step closer to the blonde and spoke in a calming tone. "Emma, we talked about this. It's not the right time to just go blindly running after this woman. You are letting frustration seep into your magic again and that is going down the wrong path. I thought we were past this? But clearly we are not and you certainly aren't ready to be wielding fireballs around anyone, let alone near our son. Get a hold of yourself Emma."

"Mom is right. Listen to her and put the magic away. This isn't like you! Come have lunch with us and we can all figure it out as a family. That's what family is for."

She expected the doubts from her parents, but seeing the lack of trust in Henry and Regina's eyes was almost too much to bear. Did they really have no faith in her? She looked at how Henry clung to Regina and couldn't help but hear the Snow Queen's voice in her head...See, Henry finally has the Regina he always wanted as a Mom. Look how close they have become. She shook her head violently as if to dispel the ugly thoughts and doubts from creeping in. No, she thought. It's a good thing their relationship has gotten stronger. We are a family, Henry is right.

Regina hesitantly reached a hand out and rested it on Emma's arm. "Emma, look at me. Henry is right; this isn't like you. Something is definitely wrong. Let me help you."

Emma backed away; her head was still shaking and her hands were desperately clawing at it as if to get voices to stop playing in her head. "NO," she screamed at the top of her lungs. "I've had enough of your help. In fact, it wasn't help at all. You are just trying to control my magic. You said it yourself that I was one of the most powerful practitioners of magic that you had ever seen. Well this time you won't win Regina. So just get out of my way."

Before Henry or Regina could protest, Emma disappeared in a cloud white smoke. Henry shook his head in worried disbelief and looked up at his Mom. "Do something Mom. Please!"

Regina took her son's chin in her hand. She smiled softly at him and wiped a tear away from his cheek. A small thought arose from her subconscious that all she had desired was coming true; Henry was looking at her in the same hopeful way he used to look at Emma. "Okay Henry dear. Don't worry; Everything will be fine. I'll go find her. Go back in the station and stay with Mary Margaret and David until I get back. Wouldn't it be nice if the biggest thing we had to worry about was what to have at one of our family dinners?" She moved a few strands of hair out of Henry's face, kissed his forehead, and disappeared in her usual cloud of smoke. Only, Henry noted that it seemed to be the slightest bit lighter in color.

Emma was pacing back and forth, worried about her next move when a voice startled her out of her thoughts. "Well Emma, Henry is sufficiently upset, so if that was your goal, you achieved it with flying colors."

Emma quickly turned around and found herself face to face with Regina. "I hated seeing the look on his face, but I had to say what I did. Do you think everyone else bought it though? David and Mary Margaret were more convincing that I thought they would be."

"I think it worked. I saw a lot of noses pressed up to windows watching the scene unfold. It was necessary to keep Henry out of the loop to ensure the plan worked. Don't worry, he'll be fine and probably more disappointed than anything that he was left out of a secret mission," said Regina with a twinkle in her eye.

Emma laughed and knew Regina was right. Henry would probably even have a code name for this mission. But he needed to be kept in the dark for his own safety. "Alright Regina turn me into you. I know you've always been dying to change my wardrobe, so here's your chance."

Regina laughed and with the flick of her wrist, enchantments were in place making Emma appear as Regina to the outside world. "Do you always have to wear heels Regina? How am I supposed to run after someone wearing four inch stilettos?"

"I always say superior results occur when one is dressed at their best. Okay, do you feel ready enough to do the same to me? Do you remember the enchantment I taught you?"

Emma took a look at herself in the mirror of the crypt and was intrigued at seeing Regina's face in place of her own staring back at her. It was powerful and disconcerting all at the same time. She turned to see how Regina was taking this and saw a similar look on the other woman's face. She concentrated hard, and with a flick of her wrist, Regina was transformed into looking like Emma.

Regina scanned down at her own wardrobe change and scoffed at the feeling of jeans on her body. Jeans, ugh. Why any woman would wear these on a regular basis is beyond me. "Well Ms. Swan, I guess I don't hate this leather jacket as much as I thought I would. It reminds me of some of the things I would wear when horseback riding. But how you dress down so much on a regular basis is beyond me."

Each of them stood in silence taking in the appearance change and how odd it was to feel like themselves, but to be looking like each other. Emma was the first to break up the uncomfortable staring match and started to laugh uncontrollably. "Everyday in Storybrook brings out another surprise event that I NEVER thought would happen! Annd this one is right on up there at the top of the list."

Regina smiled and tossed aside the blond hair that was covering her eyes. "It's the only way to beat the Snow Queen at her own game. She can't play my emotions the way she can with you. And while I waste her time having an emotional heart to heart, you can get the magic jar in place for which to trap her inside. By the time she ascertains that we have played a trick on her, we can trap her before she plots out her next move. Being a chess move ahead of this woman seems to be our only chance."

Emma took a deep breath. She was fairly certain this plan would work, but was worried about putting Regina in harms way. "Regina, what if she sees through the enchantment and figures it out before I get things set up? I know you are powerful, but so is she, and I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

Regina took a step closer to Emma and took one of her hands into her own. She stared their hands intertwined for a moment and then looked back up at Emma. "Then you will just have to make sure that you are quick enough so that doesn't happen." As soon as she touched Emma's hand, she felt that familiar bubbling of magic under the surface. He magic wanted nothing more than to reach out and connect with Emma's. The feeling produced a deep, almost unbearable ache inside Regina. But she couldn't risk compromising the enchantments in place by letting their magic mix. But she had to do something. Hungrily she lunged for the other woman and captured her lips hard into a deep kiss. It wasn't lost on Regina that through appearances it seemed she that she was kissing herself. But it was almost as if she could see through the enchantment to where Emma's nature lay beneath. The kiss started out as frantic and rough, but soon both woman slowed it down to a soft battle of tongues and interspersed moans escaping each of their mouths. Regina dared to let her hands explore all surfaces of Emma's body as if she couldn't possess enough of this woman's being.

Regina broke the kiss first this time and stepped back. She was out of breath and her heart was racing. Emma's magic must be powerful to make her feel this way. Yes, it must be the magic making us feel and act this way.

Emma was surprised that Regina had kissed her. Neither one had discussed the events from the other night, but being how guarded Regina was, she hadn't expected this to happen. "And making out with myself just jetted up to first place on that list I just mentioned." As soon as the words left her mouth she could see Regina stiffen and withdraw somewhere deep within. She silently cursed herself for using humor as a way to deal with situations. "I'm sorry Regina, I use humor at the most inappropriate of times. Don't put any walls up, please. I like you best when you are all human and raw. I'm not unhappy that you kissed me, I promise. I just think we need time to process this after we successfully defeat the Snow Queen."

Regina sighed deeply. "It's hard to argue with perfect logic being spoken by someone who looks exactly like me. I do look fabulous making a good point," she said as a tenuous smile crept across her face. "Okay, Emma, let's finish this Snow Queen off already. I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to a family dinner with you and Henry when this is all over. It feels like forever since I've made you my lasagna."

Emma grinned widely and squeezed the other woman's hand, "I'm going to hold you to that!"

They both transported out of the crypt and headed to the mission at hand.