A/N: I want to thank everyone for the positive reviews! I'm trying my best to update often. I have a clear idea of where I want the story to go, and what the endgame is going to be. It won't be long now, my friends. Things are going to get heated and much, much darker. *Evil laughter* *Fades to darkness*

Also, sorry for the different formatting on the last chapter...

Warnings: Language, mentions of abuse

"But there's a big difference this time. This time you have someone you care about.

This time, you have a weakness."

-Regina

Emma knew what she had to do. She couldn't avoid the situation with Gold any longer (which she had been doing since the party two weeks ago) and had to face him head on. He had pulled a gun on her, for crying out loud, and Regina was still wrapped around his nasty, malicious little finger. Honestly, it bothered Emma that it had taken this long to come up with a plan, but midterms had been a bitch and Emma was finally, relatively stress free.

Emma left school with a confident air about her, ready for the week long break which lied ahead. Before she could enjoy her well needed days off, though, she had to see someone, someone who was the key to getting Gold away from Regina. That someone was at the Storybrooke City Hall. It was a large building that loomed over all that stood before it and gave Emma an uneasy feeling. Emma parked her car and stepped into the shadow of the ominous building, staring up at the tall pillars in front. She walked up the stone steps and was met with a cool breeze and the ding of a bell as she entered. A rather flustered looking woman sat at a large desk, phone to her ear as she typed furiously on an old computer. Emma put her hands in her back pockets and waited for her to finish. She hated buildings like this. The authority the pristine walls and floors commanded reminded Emma of her more juvenile days.

"Excuse me, is it important?" The receptionist suddenly asked, placing a hand over the end of the telephone and looking at Emma the way most adults did, like she was there to cause trouble.

"Um, Regina Mills sent me with a message for the mayor." Emma lied smoothly. The woman nodded.

"Go up ahead. Knock before you go in."

"Thanks." Emma told her, then made her way up the staircase. The mayor's office was at the furthest end of the hall. Emma could hear voices inside and knocked loudly at the door. The voices stopped. Emma watched a shadow grow on the door, then it was opened and Cora Mills revealed herself. She looked as breath taking as ever, and Emma found herself lost for words as she looked at the powerful woman.

"Emma, what a surprise." The mayor indeed looked caught off guard by her unexpected visit. Emma hesitated.

"I need to talk with you." She spat out, rocking on her heels. Cora paused, then opened the door wide for her to enter. She followed Cora into a large, very intimidating and well decorated office. A man in a suit was there, and Emma had the prickling reminder of being in a court room.

"Emma, please take a seat on the couch. I won't be long with Dr. Spencer." Emma did as she was instructed and went to the other side of the room. The couch she sat on was quite comfortable and Emma found it easy to wait. There were plenty of interesting artifacts in the room for her to study. Mayor Mills and Dr. Spencer talked in hushed voices, but they were soon done and Cora was leading the man out of the office. "Would you like a drink?" Cora offered, heels clacking as she walked to a small bar area.

"Uh, just water, thanks." Emma answered, watching the woman from behind. Cora poured herself a small glass of wine and brought Emma over a bottle of water. Emma was thankful for something to wet her throat. Cora sat next to Emma on the couch, crossing her legs as she sipped from her glass, then bending forwards to place it on the coffee table.

"I take it this is about my daughter." Cora stated, lips in a firm line.

"Yes..." Emma didn't know where to start.

"She is still seeing Richard Gold. There is only so much you can do as a parent, but she knows I disapprove." Cora's tone was icy and precise. "What are you here to tell me?" Emma uncertainly relayed the events of Jefferson's party two weeks ago, leaving out minor details like her shared kiss with Regina. Cora was silent as the grave as she listened, drinking from her glass again and staring into the distance with a hardened expression. "My daughter was willing to step in between you and a gun?" Cora repeated once Emma was finished.

"I wouldn't have let anything happen to her," Emma reassured, picking at her nails absentmindedly.

"And it took you two weeks to come to me?" Emma hesitated once again.

"I didn't know what to do." She admitted. Cora's face softened, though her eyes remained dark.

"Yes, of course, what would I expect a child to do in a situation like that. Come here," she reached out her arms and Emma rested her head on the mayor's shoulder. Cora brought her firm hands up to Emma's hair and patted it down in a rhythmic manner. The act was foreign to Emma, who had never had someone to show her motherly affection before.

"I care- for your daughter, Mayor Mills."

"Call me Cora."

"Cora. I don't want her with a guy like Gold. I think she'd be much better off with someone else, anyone else-"

"Like you?" A pregnant pause passed between them.

"Anyone." Emma finally responded. Cora's hand stopped.

"I appreciate you telling me this. I'll find a way to rid us both- of Richard Gold." They rested there a minute. Emma didn't know why, but Cora didn't let her go and Emma liked being held by this woman. As they sat there comfortably, the door to Cora's office opened and a loud gasp filled the space. Emma turned and saw Regina placing the two cups of coffee on the end of Cora's desk and staring at them both like she had caught them having sex. Emma was the one to break the contact, and practically threw herself away from Cora. Cora was very calm throughout all of it.

"Mother, what is Emma Swan doing here?" Worry filled Regina's voice, rather than rage. Cora stood and wiped at her pants legs. She made her way to Regina and picked up her coffee casually.

"Don't fret, dear, you'll get worry lines." Emma sat still on the couch, but realized she should get up, as well. "I was just inviting Miss Swan to dinner, wasn't I Emma." Emma shivered slightly as she joined the two women. She was definitely caught off guard.

"Yes." She answered affirmatively. Regina was looking at her with disgust. Emma wanted desperately to admit to her it wasn't what it looked like. Emma would be freaked out too if she walked in on Regina in the arms of her own mom, if she had one.

"Well, leave. My mother and I have matters to attend to."

"That we do, Regina." Cora's eyes met Regina's and an understanding passed between them. Emma noticed Regina looking less cold and much more anxious.

"Oh, yeah, I have to leave, anyway." Emma said. "Thanks for having me, Mayor Mills."

"Anytime." Cora placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Come to the house at seven tomorrow, for dinner. My treat."

"Yes, ma'am." Emma replied, then left the mother and daughter to whatever business they had. Emma hoped she hadn't gotten Regina in trouble, but Cora seemed to understand Regina's intentions with Gold. Maybe this was just what was needed to bring a family closer. Yeah, that was it. Emma let this happy thought occupy her thoughts as she made her way to Granny's to meet up with Ruby and Mary.

Emma waited nervously outside of the Mills home after she rang the doorbell. Mary had insisted that she borrow a dress to wear, so Emma was wearing a pale pink dress that came in at her waist and tapered out. Emma was sort of regretting at the moment of her decision to let Mary and Ruby be in charge of her styling for the evening. Ruby had given Emma a high ponytail with a bump and had done her makeup, which actually didn't look that bad, but felt heavy on her face. The heels they had made her wear were uncomfortable too. Mary and Ruby both considered the evening to be a date, even though Emma had told them otherwise. Emma tugged at the end of her dress a little as the door opened. Regina greeted her with an annoyed smile that quickly faded when they heard, "Don't leave Emma standing out in the cold all day, Regina!" Emma smiled awkwardly as Regina opened the door further.

Emma remembered the beautiful house and nothing had changed. Cora greeted her at the end of the hall, and was clad in another black pantsuit, that paired well with Regina's simple black dress. "Emma, how lovely to see you again," Cora smiled, coming forward and giving Emma a light hug. She smelled of red wine and cinnamon. "Why don't you and Regina wait in the foyer while Henry and I complete dinner?" Emma nodded, then Regina's hand clasped around hers and she was led off to a different room. It was decorated much like Cora's office. Regina was like a princess, Emma thought. She couldn't believe Regina actually grew up in this beautiful home. Emma went to the window, mostly to remain standing, and had a wonderful view of the garden. An apple tree caught her eye.

"Beautiful tree," Emma commented, just to make conversation with the quiet Regina that she was sure was throwing daggers at her back. Regina looked over.

"I planted it when I was a child."

"That's cool." Emma replied. She could never have a tree like that because of how much she moved homes, but she was glad Regina could have a symbol of her childhood. Maybe she would see if Mary Margaret wanted to plant a tree together. Emma turned back to Regina, who was staring into the empty fireplace. "I'm sorry if it seems like I'm barging in on your family dinner."

"It's alright. We hardly ever eat dinner as a family... Mother gets home from work so late... That's why I always meet her at the office, after school." Emma sat down on the sofa across from Regina.

"I always eat with Mary and Johanna. Mary's dad is in the hospital, you know."

"Yes. She's very lucky- Mary Margaret." Regina stated, throwing Emma off.

"Her dad is in the hospital." Emma restated.

"She visits him often, though, doesn't she? They love each other, as does Miss Johanna. And Mary has David and Ruby... And you." Regina sounded so lonely when she spoke.

"You have all of this. Your mother is mayor, your father is the principal. I mean, your life is so perfect you try to rebel by going out with Gold." Regina went stiff in her seat.

"I do not try to rebel." Emma shrugged.

"I never thanked you, for stopping Gold the other day." Her words were sincere as she tried to touch Regina's heart so the conversation wouldn't be so damn awkward.

"Gold is all show, he wouldn't have done anything." Regina stated simply, as if it weren't a big deal.

"...Right. Well, that would have bought him a one way ticket to jail, anyhow." Regina was obviously ignoring Emma as she turned her gaze to the apple tree that was seen clearly through the window.

"Do you know why I'm so fond of that tree, Miss Swan?" Emma shook her head, past the point of correcting her on calling her Miss Swan. "Neither of us can leave, yet neither of us belongs...You think I have everything, Miss Swan? The first thing you must learn about me, if you are so insistent on being a part of my life, is that all of this," she motioned to the room, "social standing, power, my good looks, even, mean nothing without happiness."

"You're not happy?" Emma wasn't that surprised, she supposed, when she stopped to think about it. Regina was just the type to not have a happy home life, but to hear the confession from Regina herself, was something she never thought she'd hear.

"I'm surprised you haven't guessed by now."

"No, I-" Emma paused. "Is this...about Daniel?" Regina's head snapped up.

"Who told you about- him." She struggled to even mention him. Her face now, instead of being a numb wall, showcased many conflicting emotions.

"I was going to find out at some point."

"Don't talk about him. Don't you ever mention his name, do you hear me?" Regina stood from her seat in her distress, and turned away from Emma. Silent, filled moments passed between them and Emma was thankful for Cora's call to dinner. Emma saw Regina's back straighten almost involuntarily at hr mother's voice and they both left the room silently. There was a lovely dinner set up in the dining room.

"It's nice to see you again, Emma." Principal Mills smiled, shaking her hand.

"You too." Emma returned. Cora took her place at the head of the table, with Henry to her left, which left Regina to sit by Henry and Emma to sit to the right of Cora. "It looks delicious." She commented, staring down at the cooked chicken and other foods.

"Thank you." Cora smiled. They passed around the food, and soon the noise of clinking silverware filled the dining room. Emma was trying her best to use polite table manners. "So, Emma, what do you plan to do after college?"

"Um, maybe go into law enforcement? I know Graham is interested in that, as well, so maybe we'll go to Boston together." Cora's face lit up at the mention of Graham.

"Sounds like an ambitious power couple you two make. I keep telling Regina to find someone like that."

"They're not a couple, mother." Regina spoke up haughtily from her side of the table.

"We've only gone out a few times, Madam Mayor." Emma explained. Cora smiled.

"Ah, well."

"Have you decided on your senior project?" Henry asked. Emma poked at the carrots on her plate.

"No, sir. I'm close, though... I just need a little more time to think."

"Tell her what you're doing, Regina." Cora ordered.

"I'm working with D.A. Albert Spencer in court." Regina answered, sounding very unenthusiastic about her work. Emma recognized the name and remembered it as the suited man she saw yesterday in Cora's office. No wonder she got yucky feelings from him, he was a district attorney.

"She's doing much more than just that." Cora corrected, with a stern glance to Regina. "A brilliant idea just came to me, Emma. Why don't you work with me for the next few weeks and we can find something for you to write about."

"Oh, no, I couldn't, Madam Mayor."

"Of course, you can, dear. Why don't you start coming to my office after school?"

"Mother, that's when I'm in your office." Regina said indignantly.

"I suppose you'll have to just drop off my coffee and leave then." Regina's face fell. Emma felt bad about this. It sounded like Regina hardly got enough time with her mother as it is.

"I really don't feel comfortable taking your time away from your daughter." Emma tried again. Cora's eyes suddenly bore into hers and she knew she was facing a woman who always got what she wanted.

"Nonsense. That is your time now, Emma. I'll shape you into the perfect student, yet." Emma nodded, looking over to Regina who was focusing very hard on cutting a small carrot in two with her fork.

"Well, thank you."

"There's no need." Cora smiled. "Perhaps, we'll get to know each other even better."

The news came the next day that Gold had been arrested.

"You can't be serious?" Emma asked over the phone. She was on her way to her bug after a lunch date with Graham (which she didn't know why she agreed to, but nevertheless) when Ruby had called.

"It's in the paper. The police went to his cabin and found tons of illegal and weird drugs." Ruby replied. She was off today, so was calling from the Storybrooke Mall. "Go to her."

"What?"

"Regina. She's probably a mess."

"I thought you hated Regina."

"I do, but she's going to need someone right now and that someone isn't me. It's you. Go." Ruby promptly hung up the phone. Emma was deep in thought as she started up her car. Ruby was right. If Regina had any clue about this, any at all, she would be devastated. She made up her mind then and there to drive to Regina's house.

Emma parked outside and walked up the pathway to the large house. It took a while for Regina to answer the door. It looked like Emma had just caught her taking a nap. She was dressed in a silk night gown (that stopped midway down her thighs), slippers, and had a pore strip on her nose.

"Miss Swan." She looked surprised, then shut the door quickly. Emma didn't have time to react because Regina opened again just as fast. Her her nose was now red, but had no pore strip.

"Is anyone home?" Emma asked, making a terrifying decision. Regina shook her head no. At the brunette's answer, Emma pushed into the house and grabbed the sides of Regina's face, kissing her hard. She shut the door with her foot and began trailing kisses down Regina's neck. Regina moaned at the advance.

"W-what brings this on?" She gasped as Emma trailed further and further down.

"Celebrating." Emma's hands roamed down Regina's body as she came back up to bite at Regina's collar bone. This elicited an excited yelp from the brunette as she replied.

"You heard." Emma knew this meant Regina returned her feelings. She had known since that night Regina had kissed her, but now she was truly certain. "I know where Mother keeps the apple cider... And Miss Swan?"

"Yes?"

"You're wearing far too much clothing."

Regina led Emma to her bedroom, the door with the horse stickers on it. "Mother was furious when I put those on, but if she took them off now it would destroy the paint." She explained, a small victory behind her voice. Regina's room looked like it belonged to a princess. A large bed dominated the black and white room and the furniture was all white. Large windows poured light into the room and over a desk in the far corner. Regina pushed Emma onto the bed after she set the two bottles of apple cider on the nightstand. Emma laid back, now clad only in a shirt and her underwear. It was cold in the room, something that was made very clear by the fact that Regina wasn't wearing a bra. Regina busied herself with trying to open a bottle and Emma had a chance to look around a bit more. Not one thing was out of place in the room. It honestly looked like a guest bedroom. There were no pictures or posters on the walls, no stuffed animals. The only thing that indicated that anyone lived in the room was a picture frame on the nightstand of Regina and a young man. He was cute. His arm was was wrapped around Regina and they were both looking at each other. He was smiling down at her, and Regina looked like she was in mid-laughter.

"Is that Daniel?" Emma asked, rolling onto her stomach to pick up the picture.

"Mhm," Regina nodded, finally getting the top off the cider with the little bottle opener she had brought with her.

"What's that in the background?" Emma asked. Regina took a long swig of the cider and closed her eyes.

"That day we were at the stables. That's where I first met him." Emma set the picture down and Regina passed the bottle to her. "I have a horse at the stables, Rocinante. I've been riding for as long as I can remember and I went to the stables every week... And suddenly one summer he began working there." Emma enjoyed the taste of the cider. She passed the bottle back to Regina who declined it and began working on opening the next bottle. "Do you know what the worst part about his death was?" Regina suddenly turned to Emma, her hands stopping their work on the bottle. Emma shook her head. "Not the fact that he died in my arms or that he was my one true love, but that we were both virgins when he passed." Regina's hands shook and she placed the bottle back on the night stand. Emma did the same as she saw Regina's shoulders begin to shake. She wrapped her arms around Regina and brought her close as they laid back on the bed. Regina began to cry in earnest then. "When I was with Daniel was the only time I was ever truly happy." She cried. "I-I'm miserable, Emma. I'd rather just die than feel like th-this."

"No, no don't ever say that." Emma whispered, running her hands through Regina's hair.

"Do you think I'll ever be happy again?" Regina sniffed, looking up at Emma with big, puffy eyes. Emma kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Of course, Regina."

"M-mother once said I don't know how to be happy. A-and I'll never be happy because of that."

"Your mother isn't right about everything, Regina." Regina looked at Emma in such a way then that Emma knew she would do anything to protect the woman in her arms. Her hands traveled up Regina's arms, until Regina tensed and took in a quick breathe. Emma didn't know what was wrong but looked down to see a bright blue bruise on Regina's arm. Regina quickly spoke before Emma was able to ask.

"I'm sorry I seem so bipolar. I need to see Gold. He was the only one who know how to help me." She said carefully.

"Regina, why is your arm bruised?" Emma asked. Regina rolled out of her hold and reached for the cider again.

"Yard work." She answered swiftly and well rehearsed. "Don't worry about me. Are we going to drink, or what?" Emma didn't quite believe Regina, but could only let it go. She nodded, taking the cider from Regina's hands.

Gold looked exactly the opposite of how Emma imagined he would be behind bars. Instead of angry and defensive, he sat on the metal bed with his legs crossed and hands clasped together in his lap, calm and patient.

"I've been expecting your visit, Emma." He greeted in a sultry ton as Emma stepped into the jail. She walked forward and stopped just before the bars, taking it all in.

"You'll be sent to Boston soon. You won't be seeing Storybrooke for a long, long time, Gold." He smiled back at her, a move that set her on edge.

"I do believe I have seven days left, and that's if I don't win my trial." He responded, very collected, despite the circumstances.

"You won't." Emma was sure of it.

"Frankly, that's my concern, not yours. Now, tell me what you're here for, Emma." Emma hesitated. She wasn't sure why she had came. Maybe to see for herself that Gold was really held captive.

"I just wanted to make sure that Regina was safe." A cold laughter hit her ears.

"This entire thing is hardly about Regina. You still haven't figured it out yet, have you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, if you need a little push to believe, than I suppose I'll have to be the one to provide it." There was a very important pause. "You haven't noticed anything weird about this town?"

"The only thing that's suspicious is your relationship with Regina."

"Well, that's just disappointing, Emma. I expected more from you."

"What are you talking about?" She was ready to just walk out and leave.

"Storybrooke isn't all it appears to be. Time has been very mundane until you arrived to set things back in motion... A very long time ago, in a different land, an Evil Queen was going to cast a curse for a mythical being known as the Dark One, but when the time came, she was tricked by her mother, the Queen of Hearts-"

"Sounds like a Disney movie." Emma interrupted, not impressed and starting to feel a little sorry for Gold.

"You would know these characters from the foolish movies every child in this realm has seen, yes. The Queen of Hearts cast the curse instead of the Evil Queen. This curse was the curse to end all curses. It ripped everyone from their lives and brought them to a little town without magic. There the Queen of Hearts would be able to rule without question. Only, there was a prophecy of a little princess, who was sent away before the curse, who would return at the age of eighteen, and break the spell."

"Are you high?" He ignored the jab.

"I could not foresee that Regina would be your true love. That was very interesting, indeed, but I've done the best I know how to prepare her for you."

"Gold, this is fucking crazy."

"It isn't if you would just open your eyes. Don't you see that I'm not the one abusing Regina, her mother is? Cora rules with an iron fist in this land and you're falling into her web."

"You're wrong."

"Believe it or not, a small part of my blackened heart cares for Regina, and I've tried to pick up the pieces that Cora keeps leaving, but if that woman knows anything, it's how to destroy people."

"Go to Hell." Emma turned to leave.

"Swan! Swan, wait!" Gold sounded so desperate that Emma actually turned back towards him. he was clinging to the bars now, his arm reaching out to her, gesturing for her to stay.

"Now that you know, the book will show itself to you. Read it and you'll know everything."

"Bye."

"Wait! You still owe me my favor."

"What do you want? A sandwich?" Emma smiled at her own joke. Gold was completely serious, however, when he answered.

"The mayor keeps a set of skeleton keys in her office. Bring me one."

"That is all kinds of illegal, and it's better for me if you stay locked up."

"No one breaks a deal with me, Emma." He warned.

"Looks like I'm about to." Emma finally had enough of his antics and began walking away from the cell. As she left the station she could still hear his shouts.

"You'll regret this! I'll make you pay! You'll pay, Swan!"

Emma laid on her bed later that evening, all thoughts of Gold's silly story gone from her head as she read about abuse on her personal computer. She knew plenty about it herself, but needed facts. She thought about Regina. Could Cora really be hurting her child? She heard a knock from her door and Mary Margaret poked her head in.

"Hey, Emma." She greeted, coming into the room. "What are you doing?" She climbed onto Emma's bed to look at her computer.

"You don't think Cora would abuse Regina, do you?" Emma asked. Mary thought about it for a moment.

"She has incredibly high expectations for Regina, ones I don't think can ever be met, but abuse? Of course not. No one could do that."

"Hate to break it to you, Mare, but people are very capable of hurting their children."

"Oh." Mary went quiet. She never knew what to say when Emma brought up her past.

"Regina admitted to me that she was unhappy and Gold told me Cora abused Regina, but I don't know if I can believe him."

"You visited a criminal?" Mary gasped. Emma shrugged.

"Yeah..."

"Emma!"

"It was fine. I just wanted to see if he was really locked up. Anyway, I don't know what to do about this." Emma groaned. "And yes, I've actually seen bruises on Regina."

"I don't know, Emma. Could you talk to Regina about it?"

"I've tried, but I never push her. Our relationship has come so far, I don't want to scare her away. But I know something is wrong." Mary rolled off the bed and nonchalantly went to Emma's closet as Emma groaned on her bed.

"Maybe time will work things out, or you should suck it up and be a good girlfriend and talk to her- Ow!"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Emma called. Mary came out of the closet rubbing her head and holding a large book on her hands. She tossed it onto the bed.

"Your book fell on my head." Emma eyed it with suspicion. Her conversation with Gold came back to her. It couldn't be... She picked up the dusty book and scanned it's cover, 'Once Upon A Time.'

"It's not mine." Emma said.

"Oh, maybe it's Father's." Mary said, going back to the closet. She came back out with a pair of skinny jeans and a black leather jacket. "What do you think?"

"Of what? My clothes?"

"Yes, I want to change up my look."

"Go for it." Emma smirked, going back to the book. Mary squealed.

"Thanks! See you later!"

"Be careful with David." Emma pointed out.

"I'm just going to the library." Mary blushed.

"Alright, alright. Plunging necklines really help me read too." Mary cringed.

"Plunging?"

"When I met you, you were a top button kind of girl. Just make him wear protection." She nodded, ready to leave the awkward conversation.

"Bye, Emma." Then she ran out of the room. Emma closed her laptop and began to read the book in earnest. She stayed up all night, reading what she discovered was a book of fairy tales. Surely, Gold wasn't right?

A/N: Your comments and thoughts are super important to me and really encourage me to work hard on this story! Please share your thoughts with me in a review or through a pm. This is now the longest story I've written. Yay!