A/N: Here we are, lovelies, chapter 6! We just saw Regina and Henry spend some quality time together, but I think it's time for something a little darker, don't you? Here we go...

Rain. A soft sigh escapes red lips as the brunette peers from the doorway of her vault. Why is it always raining in Maine? She wanted those idiots to suffer, but rain didn't seem to be biased. When it rained, everyone was unhappy.

"It's just water." The voice, too close to her ear for comfort, makes her startle for the briefest moment before she turns to give the culprit a verbal lashing but her words die in her throat. The blonde watches her from the other end of the doorway, a mere 4 inches separating them. "Hello, Regina. Did you miss me?" Her voice is silky, but tinged with undeniable darkness and it sends shivers down the back of the former Queen.

"Where have you been, Emma?" She almost whispers the words despite the rain pelting against the stone roof of the mausoleum. "It's been weeks since you disappeared. We thought..."She's interrupted by that cool voice again "I know what you thought. I've been watching, observing. " Green eyes turn back to watch the rain soak the ground, a slender hand reaching just enough to catch a few drops and watch them slip through her fingers. "Why are you trying so hard, Regina? I'm finally out of the way."

"Out of the way? Emma, you were sucked up by a vortex of evil. Our son has been worried sick, I've been..." she stops then because it's too close...she's too close. "It's been hard on all of us." She turns away, brunette locks swaying as she retreats back into the privacy of her vault.

She doesn't have to hear her footsteps or feel her breath nearly on her neck to know that the once great Savior has followed her back into her sanctuary. "I'm not giving you the dagger, Emma. It's not safe." The blonde waves a hand carelessly "I have no use for the dagger. If I wanted it, I would have taken it when you left it unattended two nights ago. Or when you and your true love were fighting. I've had my chances, you just haven't paid very close attention."

For a moment, there's only silence...heavy, stifling silence until Regina forces herself to speak. "You've been here? You've listened to me fight with...how much have you heard, Emma?" "Enough. I became interested when you began talking about your time as the Evil Queen, about Henry...about me. " Green meets brown and there's a mixture of emotion between them.

"Those moments were private..." "Nothing is private, Regina. You were speaking to my dagger, to me. Does Robin know? About these thoughts you have?" It's not mocking or even cruel...it's something softer. Understanding. "Does he know about your infertility because of...of my grandfather? My mother?" "No." The word is shaky but loud enough to be heard. "He doesn't know anything about me."

More silence. Followed by the soft ruffing of papers being moved and a quiet sigh. "You have to know this is never what I wanted for you, Emma...for anyone. I've been in that darkness. I know how powerful it can make you feel, but I also know the price it comes at and it's never an easy one to pay..." The blonde nods slowly in agreement "This was my own choice. I was never really built to save myself, just everyone else." Green meets brown once more before the pale blonde speaks again "I saved you, now save me."

The pressure and need behind the statement is felt in every fiber of her being, but a queen never admits when she's frightened. "I'm trying. " The words are heavy in the air between them as they survey each other. Regina, eyes rimmed with dark circles from lack of sleep, swallowing thickly to keep her composure. "I meant what I said...my apologies.

Emma moved slowly around the vault, fingers skimming over the walls and shelves of various trinkets. It's several minutes before she offers any kind of response. "I know. I can always tell when you're lying, since the day I met you." Something akin to a smile forms on her own vividly red lips " Do you remember, Regina? The way you looked at me that first day? You were...well, horrified doesn't begin to cover it, does it?" They both share a bitter chuckle before the brunette nods. "I thought I was going to lose everything I worked for. My son...my power...instead, I gained a friend. Several, if I'm being honest."

"Honest..." the word is quiet as the blonde smiles a little bigger "You were always good at being honest, brutally so. I remember thinking I'd never met anyone quite like you. Conniving, sneaky, brash...but you were so good to Henry. Even when he thought you were evil, you were everything he wanted." Brown eyes widen as they lift to meet emerald ones. "Really? He...Did he say that?" "He never had to, Regina. You're his mother. He wanted you to be happy."

"Happy...I forgot what that felt like until I adopted Henry. I forgot what it was like to have someone that I didn't have to hide my real self from." Emma looks at her with a slight tilt of her head,her eyes filled with understanding "It does get lonely in the shadows, doesn't it?"

Regina moves closer, just a few steps "Emma, I need you to promise me something. Whatever you do, don't give into the darkness, no matter how tempting. Evil isn't born, it's made, but it's only made if you give in to it like I did. I had nothing. I had no family left, no friends, all I had was my anger and my hatred. You...You have parents who love you. You have Henry, who wants so desperately for you to come back. You have me."

The silence that stretches between them is almost palpable, each surveying the other. Emma's voice is soft when she does speak "That's all I wanted since I set foot in Storybrooke. I'll fight, Regina, but I need you."

A/N: And there we have it! Our Queen and her Savior, together at last...well, sort of. Soon enough! Review and follow!