Snow White paced the chamber. Red just watched her, helpless to stop her. Snow mumbled to herself, trying to work things out.

"Snow," Red said. "Talk to me."

"Regina must have cast some spell on her," Snow said. "There is no way. Emma could be in love with her. It's just not possible."

"Have you ever known Emma to say anything she doesn't mean?" Red asked.

"That's why it has to be magic," Snow said. "Emma can't love a woman."

Red crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you saying?"

"Emma is supposed to marry a prince and become queen," Snow said.

"Snow if you're saying she can't love a woman- regardless of who that woman is- of her own free will, I'm leaving," Red stated. "I will not have you subtly attack my relationship with Belle by denouncing your daughter's love. Regardless of what Regina has done you need to at least acknowledge that Emma has feelings for her. Whatever you decide to do will affect your daughter. Think about that."

At this point, Red was too angry to stay. She took her red cloak off the chair and stormed out of the room. Snow had never liked the idea that Red had developed a relationship with Belle. Snow seemed to see something wrong with the idea of Red loving a woman. At first Red had thought it was simply because she was worried about Red being in another committed relationship after Peter had died. But as time went on Snow started making subtle comments about marriage and children and settling down. Red had thought they had moved past this, but apparently not.

"Red!" Emma exclaimed as she almost crashed into the woman as she turned the corner.

"Emma," Red replied. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

"It's fine," Emma said. "I understand." She looked at the older woman for a moment. She put her hands on Red's upper arms. "What's wrong?"

Red shook her head. "Nothing. I just need to get home to Belle."

"My mother said something again, didn't she?" Emma asked.

"Not directly," Red said. "But she implied it through talking about you."

Emma squeezed Red's arms comfortingly. "I'll take care of it." She gave a smile to the older woman. "Now, go home to your woman. But tell her that she owes me dinner?"

"For what?" Red asked.

"Bor being the best niece ever," Emma said.

"You're our only niece," Red replied.

"Sh, that's a side note," Emma said.

Red smiled and kissed Emma's cheek. "You're amazing, kid."

"Let's see if you say that a few days from now," Emma said before parting from Red. She headed the way Red had come, intent on finding her mother.

Emma pushed open the chamber door. "Mother!" she called.

Snow turned to her daughter. "Emma," she replied simply.

"You can't kill her," Emma said. "She's not evil."

"She is, Emma," Snow said. "She committed unspeakable crimes against our people. She killed my father- your grandfather. She tried to kill me on several occasions."

"That was the past," Emma said. "She has never tried to hurt me. Even after she got her magic back."

"How long has she been back?" Snow said.

"Since the day after my birthday party," Emma said. "Since I wished for my true love."

"So that's why you think you love her," Snow said. "It's just coincidence. I'm sure he'll come soon."

"No! Mother, just listen to me," Emma demanded. "I love her. I know I do. You can't tell me it's not. I've spent my whole life listening to you talk about your love for father and that's how I feel when I'm with Regina."

"How can you love her?" Snow asked. "You were both lying to each other."

"And you and father weren't when you first met?" Emma asked.

"That is completely different," Snow said. "I was running from the woman you claim to love."

"I do love her!" Emma practically shouted. "And I fell in love with her because she didn't know who I was. She treats me like a normal person. Every person I meet loves me because I am your daughter not for who I am. They don't care to even fall in love with who I am in my heart because they can't see past the princess title or the fact that I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming."

"And does she love you?" Snow asked.

"She does," Emma replied without hesitation.

"How do you know?" Snow asked.

"She told me," Emma answered. "Because she genuinely cares about me. When father let me out for the day, I went to her and talked to her. I tried to tell her the truth but she told me it didn't matter."

"Of course it didn't matter," Snow said. "She already knew who you were. She was just using you to get close to your father and I so she could kill us and take over the kingdom."

"No!" Emma shouted. "No!" The anger that was boiling within her almost became too much to bear. Just the thought of her mother executing the woman she loved made her so mad she considered drawing her sword on the woman. She kept her anger in check, through, and stormed out of the room.

Emma stalked around the castle like a caged animal. She knew the guards that were now on the entrance to the dungeon would not let her down there. She also knew the guards on the castle walls would not let her out. Not that she wanted to leave. She needed to be here, just in case the council reconvened.

What she needed to do was come up with a plan to free Regina. How was she going to convince anyone that Regina wasn't evil? Regina's past spoke louder to them than any of the things she did in the present. But to Emma, it was as if Regina and the Evil Queen were two separate people. The horrors that the latter had caused on her people were things that the former never could have done.

The only way Emma could think of to process and plan would be to go to the archery range. She went to her room to collect her bow and quiver of arrows.

As she left her room, her father was coming down the hall. "Emma," he said. "A word?"

"Yes, father," she said as she hooked the bow over her back next to the quiver.

"Your mother tells me you shouted at her," he said.

"I did," Emma replied. "She deserved it. She seems to think Regina is using magic to make me fall in love with her. She also insulted Red and Belle."

"Red can fight her own battles with Snow," Charming said. "There is no reason to shout at her."

"She still thinks I'm a child who can be manipulated and needs protecting," Emma said. "I can handle myself and make my own decisions."

"She's just trying to look out for you," Charming said. "It's her job as your mother."

"She can stop at anytime," Emma said. "Especially if looking out for me means killing the woman I love."

"So you really do love her?" Charming asked.

Emma nodded. "I do. I love her so much that the thought of her being executed so angry." She gripped the hilt of her sword, trying to calm herself. "I am so angry I just want to kill things. I want to go hunting but if I leave you'll execute her and I won't even be there to there to tell her I love her. Even in death, I will always love her."

"As of now the council is at a stalemate regarding her execution," Charming said. "She's not going anywhere any time soon."

"A stalemate?" Emma asked.

"Pinocchio is fighting for you," Charming said. "Red thinks that there's a catch to Regina coming back. She thinks that we should spend time interrogating her. Grumpy already sides with Snow. The rest of them are torn on where they lie- with Snow or with Red."

"And you?" Emma asked.

Charming sighed. "That's difficult. I'm being asked to choose between my wife and my daughter."

"Well, I'm expecting you to choose mother," Emma said. "Can I go?"

Charming gave a stiff nod. "I have someone to find you if the council reconvenes."

"I'll be on the range," Emma replied before pushing past him.

Regina was ignoring Rumplestiltskin's taunts. He knew he was safe from execution because no one wanted to absorb the Dark One's powers. Regina, on the other hand, was bound to be executed. It was just a question of when and how.

But Regina just sat in the corner and ignored him. She sat with her back against the wall, legs tucked underneath her, staring at the cell door. She had no idea what was about to happen. Emma was trying to break her out. Snow White was trying to kill her. She was fairly certain that if Snow succeeded in executing her, Emma would become a monster like she had. Both of their loves were killed at the hands of their mothers. Both mothers claiming they wanted the best for them. She could not let Emma walk the same horrible, lonely road she had.

Regina jumped up and practically threw her body against the bars. "Guard!" she shouted. "Guard!"

Grudgingly, the guard approached her cell. "What?"

"I'd like an audience with the queen and her council," Regina said.

The guard grumbled. "I'll let them know."

"Thank you," Regina responded.

The guard was surprised. He had heard the evil queen was only about making demands. He did not expect a 'thank you' from her. "You're welcome," he said, before leaving her to pass on her message.

Regina smiled to herself, noticing the abrupt change in the man when she was polite to him. She'll have to try thanking people more often.

Regina's request for an audience was accepted, mostly on Charming's request, and within an hour Regina was brought up to the council's chambers.

Snow and Charming had argued about summoning Emma, but ultimately they decided not to, unsure of why Regina was requesting an audience.

Regina's hood was only lifted once the council was fully assembled. She had been seated in a chair only hearing the movements and murmurs of the people she sought.

"Regina," Snow said. "Why have you requested us as audience?"

Regina slowly stood, but was prepared to be pulled back into her chair. When that didn't happen, she took a small step forward. "You need to know," she said. "Emma is trying to break me out. If she can't stop my execution, she's going to free me."

"This is no place for threats, Regina," Charming said.

"It's not a threat," Pinocchio confirmed. "Emma told me."

"I accept that I am to be executed for my crimes against you, against your people," Regina said. "But the one thing I cannot accept is knowing that with my execution, another evil will rise. If you want to execute me, do it. All I ask is that you do everything you can to protect Emma from becoming the same monster I was."

"She won't," Snow said.

"She could," Regina said. "She and I are not much different. She has the potential to be just as evil as I was."

"How do you know?" Snow asked.

"For me," Regina started, "it all started with a girl on a runaway horse."

Abruptly, Snow stood up. "Don't you dare!"

As if Snow hadn't shouted at her, Regina continued: "My mother set that horse wile because she wanted me to marry the king. What she didn't know was that I was in love with another."

"Daniel," Snow said.

"Yes, Daniel," Regina replied. "My mother manipulated that little girl, like she did every other person in her life. She thought she was doing the right thing by telling my mother. But my mother killed my true love right in front of me. I could not cope with that. I was so angry about his murder. My anger at my mother was displaced onto you- Snow. I hated you. I hated you because I could not hate my mother. But if I'm right and Emma becomes like me, she won't have someone to cast her anger onto. I do not want her to destroy what she has because of her anger. Protect her or let her run. Give her whatever she needs. Please."

Snow White stared at the woman who had been so many things to her: savior, friend, step-mother, nemesis and now she was back to trying to protect Snow and her family. What had happened to her? But then again, Regina had tricked her before. This might just be another trick.

"Regina," Red's voice came, cutting through Snow's thoughts. "Why should we trust you?"

"Because for once in a very, very long time I'm thinking of someone other than myself," Regina said. "Because without knowing it, I fell in love with Emma and now all I want is her happiness and I would do anything to make sure she does not become a monster because of true love."

Snow continued to stare at Regina. Now she had dropped the words 'true love' and she really had no idea what to do. Finding her voice, she said: "Take her back to the dungeon."

Regina didn't try to fight the guards or argue with Snow. She just let the guards throw the hood over her head and lead her out of the chamber.

Emma was coming down the hall when she saw the guards leading the hooded figure out of the council's chambers. She knew it had to be Regina. She ran to intercept them. "Regina," she said, pulling the hood off her head. "What are you doing up here?" When the guards moved to separate the women, Emma held out her arms to them. "Don't."

Both guards looked into the council room. Snow gave a stiff nod to give them a moment.

"What are you doing here?" Emma asked again, taking Regina's face in her hands.

"I'm trying to protect you," the brunette said. "I love you and I don't want to see you hurt because of me."

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked.

"Emma, I have done horrible things," Regina said. "For that, I deserve to die. So please, stop trying to find a way to get me out." She took Emma's hands in hers. "I love you. But when I'm gone, don't get mad at Snow. She's doing what is right. And someday, maybe years from now, I want you to love again. I did and I don't regret a moment of it." She leaned in to kiss Emma. "I will always love you."

"I love you too," Emma said. "But I can't let you die. You are not that person."

"Maybe not since meeting you," Regina said. "You made me a better person."

"So you should be able to become that better person," Emma said.

"It doesn't work like that," Regina said.

"Take her back to her cell," Snow called to the guards.