David pulled the cruiser to a stop outside their apartment building. Clouds had settled over the small town during their drive, and the afternoon breeze carried the scent of rain. It was a smell Emma had learned to love as an adult. Rain was never welcome during her years in foster care. It meant she was stuck in the house, unable to escape whatever nightmare she currently lived with. She learned fast not to be afraid of thunder. No one was going to comfort her. Her cries weren't rewarded like they were with the Queen. She risked a beating if her foster parents thought her fears too irritating.

David opened her door and offered his hand. "We better get you upstairs. We don't need you catching a cold too."

Emma grimaced. She didn't want that either. A cold meant bed rest. Sleep wouldn't be bad if it offered a few hours of oblivion. So far, it hand't. Her mind didn't turn off just because her body had stopped functioning. It replayed memories like a movie reel, leaving Emma aching and wanting when she woke up. It was easier to to keep moving, despite the toll it took on her body.

David helped her up the stairs and for once she didn't argue. She knew she had pushed too hard today. Her head was light, the walls shifting with each tilt of her head. She needed to eat something which was easier said than done. She hadn't undergone any form of routine discipline in weeks, but the Queen was right. After a while, she didn't need to. At least not to remind her to obey. The potential consequences stayed fresh in her mind, deterring her from purposely breaking the Queen's rules.

When she did slip up, the severity of their sessions intensified, but the Queen held true to her word. Their evening routine was never a punishment. If she purposely disobeyed, the Queen left no doubt what sins she paid for.

Emma welcomed the evening discipline after her first punishment. Eating without permission wasn't worth the pain her choice inflicted. For a solid week, the Queen tore the flesh from her back. She healed the wounds only to repeat the gesture the following night. What hurt Emma most was the loss of contact. During the Queen's routine discipline, she always hovered close. The Queen was never more than an arms length away, ready to chase away any demons her actions stirred. The pleasure afterwards didn't just soothe Emma's physical pain. It engulfed her, wrapping her safely in the Queen's magic. She hadn't realized how much she'd grown accustomed to the familiar pattern until it wasn't there.

She wasn't sure who she surprised more when her punishment ended. The Queen looked at her with startled affection as Emma kneeled before the fire place, lifting her shirt without being asked. Desire flooded chocolate irises, turning them to the color of burning coals. Their dynamic shifted that night. The Queen didn't just take Emma over the edge. She joined her on the pillows, straddling her thigh. The heat between them smoldered, the Queen's kisses devouring Emma's heart.

Emma shook her head. Thinking about that night wasn't helping. The Queen wasn't there, and no amount of routine discipline would remove the guilt she felt for leaving. Or help her stomach something other than water. The only thing that would help was to forget. She had wiped the Queen's memories. She needed to let go of hers. It was her only choice if she wanted things to go back to normal. Was that what she wanted?

Emma sighed as they reached the top of the stairs. The last if her energy had dissolved. She clung to David's jacket, fingers fisted tight on his leather sleeves.

"Ready?" He asked.

Emma knew he was referring to her mother. She was certain he had filled her in at some point. At the moment, she couldn't find the strength to care. "Just get me to the couch."

David opened the door and pulled up short. The scent of bleach hit them like a brick wall, making Emma's eyes water. The floor shined in the lamp light, a mop and bucket tucked into the corner.

"Wait!" Snow yelled from the kitchen. She rushed to the door, her feet covered by cloth slippers. "Take off your shoes before you come in. I don't want the floors scuffed-"

"You're mopping?" David interrupted.

"I'm disinfecting. We don't want Neal to get the virus, do we?"

"Hun, he's already been exposed to it. Emma was here last night."

Emma is here right now… She thought, rolling her eyes.

She didn't want to be mad at them. She wouldn't want her baby brother to get sick either. She might be faking a virus, but the sentiment was the same. So were at least some of her symptoms. They were lucky she didn't really have the flu or shoes on the floor would be the least of Snow's concerns. "Can we please take this inside? I really need to sit."

"I'm sorry, honey. Of course we-" Snow's eyes finally focused on her, and her mouth fell open. "Oh, Emma." She reached for her shoulder, taking Emma from her father's arm. "Here, let's get you to the living room."

"My boots," Emma grumbled as Snow pulled her through the threshold.

"Your father can get it."

"Of course." He kicked off his own boots and followed them to the couch. Snow propped her up in front of the television as David traced their steps with the mop.

"You don't have to do this." Emma shifted her jacket from her shoulders and settled against the pillow. She felt guilty taking their time and attention, and frankly a little weird. It wasn't that she wasn't close with her parents. They'd just never had 'that' kind of relationship. In a strange way, Mary Margaret's hovering was less awkward before the curse broke. Emma wasn't sure how she felt about it now.

It was nice having their attention. Finding her parents at the age of twenty-eight didn't afford any of them the opportunity for parental affection. None of them knew how to navigate their relationship when the curse finally broke, least of all her. It wasn't like she had a lot of experience with family. She had looked like a deer in the headlights, too scared to flee and too scared to approach. When they'd pulled her to them, she was a combination of elated and angry. She had searched for information about her family for years, always wondering who left their baby on the side of the road?

She hoped it was an accident. She imagined her parents died while camping or in a car crash. Maybe a wild animal had carried her away from them? Or the boy who found her. August. He was an orphan too. Maybe he had take her from them? Maybe finding her on the side of the road was a story he made up?

Adult Emma had scoffed at each scenario her mind created. Each story was less probable than the first. Still, being the lost White Princess from the Enchanted Forest hadn't crossed her mind. The story was a relief and a disappointment. Her parents wanted her. She wasn't just thrown away. They sent her through the portal, hoping to giver her her best chance at life. How could they know the Queen's curse wasn't the worst fate for a child in this world?

And yet, wasn't that a sufficient enough reason not to put her in that tree? They didn't know where she would end up. At least with Henry, Emma was told there was a family lined up for him. A good family. If only the social worker could have known Regina's past. She didn't. Emma put her trust in the system. The same system that failed her, believing with would work better for her son.

They were lucky. Regina was an amazing mother. But was Emma's choice really so different from her parents?

She almost asked Regina once. In Neverland. She studied the map Pan gave them, wondering what her fate would have been if her parents had chosen differently. She opened her mouth, waiting for the right words. They never came. She and Regina sat in silence, reflecting on their own lives. Emma worried she already knew the answer. The Queen would have killed her. Killed an infant. There was no other choice Emma could see to avoid Rumpel's prophecy. As long as she was alive, the curse could be broken.

That didn't make forgiving her parents easier. She resented the lost opportunities. Having her family now was amazing. For the first time in her life she had a home. There were people around for holidays and her birthday. She had someone to greet her in the mornings and eat with after work. It was more than she ever believed possible for her life. But she still ached for what she lost. She had missed out on hugs before school, and homemade lunches. There were very few Christmas celebrations and even less birthdays to remember. There was no one around if she had a nightmare or to protect her from the crap parents she was stuck with. There was no one to love her, and there certainly wasn't anyone to take care of her when she was sick.

Emma could count the number of times her foster family took her to the doctor. They hadn't covered her with a blanket or made her ginger tea to sooth her stomach. Snow's attention was nice. But Emma also resented it. They weren't her parents when she needed them, why should they get to play mommy and daddy now? She learned long ago how to take care of herself. She could get through a stomach virus on her own.

You're not even sick!

Emma lifted her food, removing her own boots. She was the savior in this world. It wasn't anyone's job to look out for her. She was supposed to be strong for them, and they had other responsibilities now.

"Where's Neal?"

"Sleeping." Snow stood, checking Emma's forehead with the back of her hand. "We're keeping him in the nursery tonight. Just to be safe. I've disinfected most of the house. I'm hoping he hasn't already caught what you have."

Emma brushed her hand away. "It's not likely."

Snow's brow creased.

"I just mean, I think it might be something I ate."

Snow nodded, padding back into the kitchen. "Have you been able to keep anything down?"

"Not so far."

"She definitely can't stomach donuts," David called from the bathroom.

"Of course not, Charming!" Snow yelled back. Her hand pressed to her chest in disbelief. "Tell me that's not what you attempted to feed her?"

Emma pinched the bridge of her nose. The scene before her was something out of a 1960s sitcom and completely ridiculous. Donuts weren't really that bad of an option when you were sick. At least in her opinion. As long as you stayed away from the sugar loaded ones. Sure, crackers were a better alternative, but donuts were dry and would do in a pinch. Well, if you weren't still throwing up.

She frowned. She hadn't actually accomplished that yet. Maybe she should eat a few crackers. Or take some Pepto? It couldn't hurt, could it? If she convinced her mind she was sick, she might eventually be able to eat.

"Here." Snow handed her a hot mug of tea and a pack of saltines. "Just try a few. Don't over do it."

There was no chance of that. She had to convince herself each bite she took was a necessity. Her hand wobbled as she brought the cracker to her lips and nibbled the corner. The salt coated her tongue, eliciting a deep rumble from her gut.

"Maybe you'll be able to hold down more than you thought."

"Maybe," Emma agreed. She had finally reached a point where her body was too starved for her mind to revolt against her actions. She swallowed two crackers easily and followed it up with a third. That was already an improvement over this morning. Saltines lacked nutrients though. She should take a few vitamins. Those weren't forbidden. The Queen didn't even know what vitamins were.

You know how I feel about loopholes, Emma.

Her stomach rolled. Just because she found a way around the Queen's choice of words didn't mean she wasn't breaking any rules.

Did you know I would be displeased?

Emma pushed the crackers away and reached for the tea. The ginger settled her stomach but not her guilt. She wasn't sure how the Queen would feel at this point. She was on the fast track to some serious health issues if she kept this up. The Queen was strict but had never once let her starve. Occasionally Emma missed a meal, but most of the time it was Emma's decision, a form of retaliation. She still had food every day.

"How are you feeling?" Snow asked, taking the bag of crackers.

"A little queazy but I don't think it's coming back up."

"That's good. That must mean you're getting better."

Emma nodded. She would get better. Each time she ate with no percussions her body would start to accept the food she needed. In a few days, she might be able to eat something more substantial. Might.

"I'm making you a grilled cheese."

"What?" Emma's head snapped up. Mary Margaret was already pulling butter and cheese from the fridge. "Mom, Mary Margaret, that's nice of you but I barely managed the crackers."

"You don't have to eat it all. Just try a few bites. You might want something more later. Besides, crackers aren't enough for a growing boy."

"Huh?" Neal wasn't old enough for sandwiches and she really hoped Snow wasn't talking about her father. The idea made her skin crawl. She did not need that kind of insight to her parent's lives.

"Henry is coming over."

"In this?" Emma pushed to her feet, rushing to the window. Light streaked across the sky, thunder rolling closer. It wasn't raining yet, but it would be any second. She didn't want her son out in a storm.

She also didn't want him there. She missed Henry more than words while in the Enchanted Forest. He was always in the back of her mind. He was her reason to fight and she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him. She just didn't want him to see her like this. Snow and David worried about her, but they were also easily wrapped up in their own world. Henry was insightful. He picked up on the little things. He paid attention to the nuances in her words and body language. He would notice the hollow look in her eyes or the way her arms no longer fit the same way around him. She wasn't sure she could convince him she was suffering from a twenty-four hour bug.

He's not convinced now if he was on his way over.

Emma was surprised Regina let him. Emma wouldn't have. If she were really sick, she would have told him to stay away for a couple of days. She might not have a virus, but she wasn't well. Why hadn't he called her? She would have told him-

Her phone. She turned off her phone.

Emma dug through her jacket, retrieving the device from her pocket. She hit the side button and the screen lit up. Seven missed calls. She had seven missed calls?

She rolled through them, her heart lodging in her throat. Regina had called three more times after she turned off her phone, leaving a voicemail after each. Henry had called twice and both of her parents had tried to reach her in the last hour.

She bypassed Regina's messages and pressed Henry's name. His voice sounded on the other side and Emma's heart fluttered, a small smile pulling at her lips.

Hey, Ma! Why is your phone off? I wanted to see if you wanted to get dinner tonight? Grandma said you missed Granny's because you weren't feeling well? Are you better? Call me if you need anything.

The second message was shorter.

I guess your phone is still off. Grandma says I can come over for dinner. I hope that's okay. Call me back.

Emma massaged her brow. She hadn't considered Henry when she shut off her phone. She was too focused on her own issues. Maybe she was more like Snow and Charming than she cared to admit.

She eyed Regina's name. She knew she needed to check the Mayor's messages. She was likely annoyed with her. Emma had dodged protocol all day. At some point, she was going to have to face the woman. She dreaded that moment. It wasn't likely to go well. Continually ignoring her wouldn't make it better.

She pressed her name and took a steadying breath as she brought the phone to her ear. Listening to the message was like playing a recording after someone you love passes away. The sound of Regina's voice filled Emma with both longing and sadness. It also comforted in a strange way. If she closed her eyes and focused on the voice alone, she could pretend the Queen was still alive. Deep inside Regina, maybe she still was. But did it matter? Their past together was erased. The Queen was gone from her life.

Emma pressed play again, listening to the words this time.

Miss. Swan! Hanging up on me is inexcusable. I have tolerated your obvious avoidance of my calls, but I will not excuse this. I don't care if you are sick. This town is our responsibility. There are procedures in place you are expected to follow. I expect to hear from you in the next hour.

That obviously hadn't happened. Emma hit the next message and braced for impact. It wasn't as bad as she expected. Still, she knew a threat when she heard one.

One day. I'm giving you one day to pull yourself together and come to me on your own terms. I want to know what exactly is going on with you, and I don't want the excuse you've been giving the Charming's all day. We both know you aren't sick. Don't make me come find you, Emma. Tomorrow. My office. Before noon.

Emma stopped breathing. She stared at the dark clouds closing in on them and squeezed the phone tight, as if the device could somehow save her from the advancing storm.

Regina knew the truth.

No. Regina only knew Emma was lying about being sick. The truth wasn't a conclusion she would easily jump to. There had to be something else Emma could say to explain her behavior.

You know how I feel about lying.

She did. She also knew how Regina would feel about this particular truth. Regina wasn't that woman anymore. She wasn't the Queen. Was she?

It was a question Emma had asked more than once in the Enchanted Forest. She worked hard to keep the two versions of the woman separate, which wasn't always easy. The lines blurred, casting shadows of the woman she knew in Storybrooke. She saw Regina in a smile or tone of voice. The Queen wasn't all bravado all the time. There were moments of caring and vulnerability, which Emma never pointed out. The Queen was likely to claw out a persons eyes for noticing.

But wouldn't Regina do that too? The woman had learned to let her and Henry in, to see behind the masks she wore. That didn't mean no one else was at risk of the woman's temper. She had changed over the years. Enough to use light magic against Zelena, but old habits died hard. There were still plenty of signs of the Queen if she really looked. These days, they tended to appear if Henry was in danger or Regina's happiness was threatened.

This situation was a threat to Regina's happiness. She wasn't sure how the Mayor would react if Emma's time in the Enchanted Forest were exposed. What she did know was that she would never reveal the truth. No one else would ever understand what happened to her or why she still ached for the Queen. She wasn't even sure Regina would understand. There had to be another way to fix this, without telling Regina everything.

She selected the third message and held her breath.

Our son plans to visit you this evening. I assume you won't avoid him as well?

Emma scowled. She probably would have avoided him if she were more prepared. It was too late now. It was almost 4:30 pm. Henry would be there any second. He should have been there twenty minutes ago.

She grabbed her boots and sank back on the couch, fitting them over her feet.

"What are you doing?" Snow asked, glancing up from the stove.

"Henry should have been here by now. I'm going to find him."

Snow dropped the spatula, her hand finding her hip. "You can't go out there. You barely made it up the stairs."

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine. You're father can look for Henry."

Emma zipped up her boot and switched her legs. "David is still in the shower."

"He'll be done in a minute."

Emma stood and tossed her best 'yeah right' expression in Snow's direction. David's showers were never "just a minute." After several mornings of cold water, both she and Snow had demanded he take his showers at night when no one else would be the victim of an ice bath.

"I'm not leaving my son out in this weather. I'm his mother and-"

"And I'm your mother." Snow stepped in front of the door. "It's my job to take care of you."

Emma bit back her retort. It would have been nice if she'd had that mentality thirty years ago. She exhaled slowly. "So we should just leave your grandson out there? You don't need to take of him?"

"That's not what I meant."

"The wind is picking up and-"

A flash of light brightened the room, thunder shaking the house.

"I'm going to find him."

Snow grabbed her wrist as she attempted to skirt passed. "If you go out there right now, you'll risk both of you being hurt. Let me call Regina, if you don't want to wait for your father."

"No way." Emma shook her arm free. "Do you know how mad she will be if you tell her we lost her son?" Emma was not ready for that confrontation. She already had enough to worry about.

"Probably not as mad as she'll be if you don't tell her. Maybe he stopped there first."

"Did he say that?" He hadn't mentioned the mansion in his voicemail. Neither had Regina. Honestly, if Regina hadn't left her the semi-threatening message about showing up tomorrow, she would worry Henry's visit was an attempt to corner her. But it wasn't. Both Regina and the Queen generally kept their promises. They set guidelines and they stuck to them. Regina would give her until lunch tomorrow and then Emma would have to worry. Which meant Henry was really out there in this storm, and already half an hour late. It was one of the few situations that would motivate the Mayor to action. Where their son was concerned, all bets were off.

"Snow, I'm going. So either get out of my way or help me."

"I am helping you."

"I know you're trying, but-"

Snow grabbed her jacket. "You're as pigheaded as your father, you know that?"

"I am not. I'm-"

The door creaked open, brown eyes peeking in from under a wet patch of maple hair.

"Hey!" Henry grinned at them. He kicked his tennis shoes off and closed the door. "Have you seen it out there? Mom said to make sure you know where your candles are. She doesn't expect the power to hold out."

"Great," David replied, stepping out of the bathroom. "We haven't even restored all the power outages the flying monkey's caused."

Henry hung up his coat and Emma pulled him to her. She wrapped her arms around him, leaning her cheek on his head. Emotion bubbled up from her chest, a lump catching in her throat. Holding him after so long felt amazing. There were too many nights she was left wondering if she would ever see him again. She wondered what he would think happened to her, worried he'd believe she abandoned him. Even more terrifying was the knowledge that every day she stayed in the past was a day she might erase their history for good. Henry might disappear. Sometimes she worried he already had. What if the timeline hadn't reached her yet? Maybe Henry was already gone. She would never know.

Seeing him now released a weight from her shoulders. He was safe and home with her, and had no idea why she was squeezing him so tightly.

"Ma. Ma! I'm okay."

She cleared her throat and released him, thankful her stinging eyes hadn't betrayed her. "Kid, you're lucky I don't strangle you. Where were you?"

He met her gaze, his head tilting in an all too Regina fashion. "Mom said I should stop and get some donuts?" He held up a bag. "She said you didn't get yours this morning and that you should have a bear claw on her."

Emma stared at the white bag. Rain drops spotted the crinkled paper like braille. Emma knew there weren't really words etched on the bag, but she got the message loud and clear. She wasn't sick and Regina was calling her on it.

"Do you want it?" Henry asked, lifting the bag. "You still don't look that great."

Emma's stomach thundered nearly as loud as the storm. Regina may have sent the donut to make a point, but in a round about way she had also given Emma permission to eat what was in the bag. She could smell the frosted pasty and her mouth watered, the taste the cream filling ghosting over her tongue. She wanted the donut. It took all of her strength not to rip the bag from Henry's hand. Doing so would definitely blow her cover. There was no way she could eat a bear claw if she couldn't even keep down crackers. That was probably the Mayor's plan. No doubt she would ask Henry about it later.

"Why don't you have it." Her voice was tight, her words forced through clenched teeth as she turned towards the couch.

Henry set the bag on the counter. "What happened?"

She clenched her fist, muscled tightening. She tried to keep her focus on her son, locking her legs in place. She would not take the bag. She wouldn't. "It's just a stomach virus."

"We think it's food poisoning," Snow added. She was back at the stove, working on another sandwich.

The normally delicious scent of cheese and bread made Emma's stomach clench as it mixed with the sweet aroma of the pastry. She knew that didn't make any sense. She shouldn't have been able to smell the frosting unless she stuck her head in the bag. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her, or her starving body heightened her sense of smell, zeroing in on the one thing she was allowed to eat.

Henry's eyes narrowed, his nose scrunched. "Food poisoning? From what?"

Emma shrugged. Yesterday was three months ago for her. She couldn't remember what she ate before falling into the portal and wasn't about to give an answer that would require additional explaining. "Not sure."

"You have to have some idea. I mean we ate most of our meals together yesterday and I'm not sick."

"That's a good point," Snow agreed.

They were headed down a dangerous path. As happy as Emma was to see her son, this was the reason she planned to keep her distance. Henry asked questions she didn't have the answers for and he didn't let things drop. It was a trait her got from her. When she found a trail to follow, she was like a dog with a bone. She was responsible for his persistence, but the look he gave her now was all Regina, a mix of skeptical and dissatisfied.

"I don't know what caused it, Henry."

"Why don't you at least try a bite of this sandwich," Snow suggested.

"I don't want the sandwich."

Henry grabbed a plate. "You look like you've been sick longer than a day, Ma. Are you sure it's bug?"

"No, Henry, I'm not. Did your mom put you up to these questions?"

"No. But she did say to remind you to be in her office by noon. Are you two fighting? She doesn't usually doesn't approve of your bear claw obsession."

"It's not an obsession. And no we're not fighting." She didn't think. Between the voicemails and the donut she was starting to wonder. She knew ignoring the Mayor's calls was a bad idea, but there wasn't any way around it. Facing Regina wasn't an option, but avoiding her might have made things worse. She had run in to too many people today and the walls were closing in with each question she didn't have an answer for. Her palms felt sticky. Her lungs weighted like lead in her chest. She struggled to take deep breath and a sharp ringing sound muffled her ears. She could hear voices, but they were distant, filtered to her through a veil.

"She seemed upset."

"What?" Emma asked. She gripped the counter top, steadying herself. Was she swaying? Or was the world tilting again.

"She was trying to hide it, but I could tell she was irritated," Henry said around a bite of sandwich.

"She didn't like that Emma missed work, today," Snow stated.

"No, she didn't like that Emma missed her calls," David argued.

"Why was your phone off, Ma?"

Too far. The world was tilting too far.

"Emma!"

Snow and David leapt up at the same time, each of them grabbing an arm. Her legs had turned to jello, her muscles wavering each time she attempted a step on her own. She had messed up. She should never have left the Enchanted Forest. She should never have left the Queen. Erased memories meant nothing. Regina would find out. The Queen would find out what she had done.

"Sit down." Snow guided her to a bar stool, helping her climb into place. "Just take a deep breath."

"I'm fine," Emma said, repeating the words in a soft whisper.

"You're not fine." Snow grabbed a plate and pushed it in front of her. "You need to eat."

"I told you, I don't want it. I'm not hungry."

"Emma, I can hear your stomach growling."

"That doesn't mean I feel like eating."

Snow pushed the plate closer. "You need to at least try."

"I said I don't want it!" Emma's hands slammed down on the table, stinging her pain was enough to jolt her out of her panic, though not enough to help her think clearly. Three wide sets of eyes stared at her, and Emma knew she'd blown her cover. They weren't going to believe she was sick. Not anymore.

"I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say. Nothing she could think of would explain what just happened. She pushed from the stool and bolted for the stairs.

The next chapter is the one you have all been waiting for. Emma and Regina will finally come face to face. The chapter will be in Regina's POV!