New York

It took Emma less than an hour to find Regina's location. Trina's alter ego had become a famous family judge in New York City. There, she was known as the 'heartless judge'. There hadn't been a case that she hadn't won before she was appointed as judge and most of the time the result was a little too harsh.

"Well it looks like your other self is a bitch on heels." Emma said entering the kitchen and placing her laptop on the counter. Trina, who was making something for them to eat, turned around to look at Emma with a worried smile.

"Is she?" Her voice coming out full of concern and stress. It wasn't as though Trina was expecting anything else from her clone. She was a piece of work. Most of the time she had to be sedated in order to take some blood work or a simple test. If it wasn't the punches thrown in the air it was her quick, sarcastic, sharp tongue that was hard to keep in check.

"Let's see!" Emma said clicking at an article and starting reading it. "Judge Mills has participated in most of the famous family cases in New York, leaving usually one of the parties with nothing, making unfair decisions without taking the jury into consideration, and had place around 10 children in the system in the last month, claiming that either side wasn't responsible enough to take care of the minors" She smacked her hand on the counter and looked at Trina. "Is that is not a bitch on heels I don't know what she is then, no wonder they call her the heartless judge. Are you sure you are related to this person?"

Trina nodded with resignation. She knew that the only person that kept Regina at bay was her. She was her support, her balance she was the light of Regina's darkness. However, when she was listening to Emma she couldn't believe that it was the same person. She had been difficult but now she was despicable. So Trina wondered what happened to her from the point they were separated a little bit after they arrived to the hospital to take care of Trina's wounds 15 years ago.

"Are you sure you want to go alone? Actually, are you sure you want to go at all? She could kill you, you know."

"Emma don't be ridiculous, she is not going to kill me. She may not be welcoming but I am sure I can handle her." That was her positive self talking, Emma was right, Regina could kill her on the spot and no one would dare to say anything. But this was another reason for her to go and find her. Her clone needed her, she had been lost for far too long. It was time to show her who she really was.

MR MR MR

Tom was working that week so it was easier for Trina to get out without too much of an explanation. She hoped to not take more than a week to convince Regina to come to Chicago with her. But judging for what she had read about the formal judge she knew it was not going to be easy.

Trina checked in at the hotel near the firm. She found out that there was a public trial going on that afternoon and Regina was going to be there. So the brunette put something more formal and went to the New York National Court.

She got there and was surprised to see the long line of people waiting to be allowed to enter the building. As soon as the crowd notice her presence they got out of the way leaving an empty path before her. Her brows frowned in confusion, but she didn't hesitate and started walking until she reach the entrance of the court where she found a security checkpoint.

"Good afternoon!" She greeted them with a smile. As soon as they saw her their eyes winded, bowing immediately to her.

"Your honor." They said with a trembling voice. It took time for Trina to understand what was happening. They thought she was Regina. She didn't know what to do at that point. Pretend to be Regina or just be silent and hope for the best. She was pretty sure that if the guards were to suspect something they wouldn't dare to speak up. So she opted for the silence treatment and a semi-hard stare.

"Your honor, what are you doing in this part of the…" The guard stopped abruptly when his eyes met hers. Trina had taken Regina's personality in the few seconds that it took them to greet, bow and talk. Her eyes were cold and one end of her lip was lifted showing a toothy smirk.

"Uh… Never mind, come in."

"That's what I thought. You don't get to speak Travis. I don't need to give explanations to anybody. Is that clear?"

The guard nodded.

"If I want to poof myself here, go through the back or front entrance or crash my car into the building it is not your business. Now get out of my way before I put you in jail."

Travis was out of her way in less than a millisecond. Trina looked at the other guards daring them to say a word. When nothing came out, she walk pass them, the door closing behind the brunette. Trina breathed a few times blinking her eyes. 'What was that?' She whispered to herself and went to the restroom.

MR MR MR

She was driving her Mercedes to the Court House. Another case, more idiots that she had to hear and a few reporters that she had to take care off. It was getting boring, her life was getting boring all together. She needed a change, more than a change, a vacation away from the life as the heartless judge. She was proud of the title, but that was just a masquerade, she wasn't like that but after all that happened, that was the only persona that helped her through.

Driving in front of the courthouse she saw the big crowd waiting to get in. "Those idiots don't have anything else to do?" She whispered to herself while taking a right and going around the building. She put on her coat and got out of the car.

A guard, her mentor and her assistant (a young woman, white as snow with blue piercing eyes and dark brown hair) were waiting for her at the door like always. Every step that she took towards them she was feeling lighter, a warmth in her heart coaxing her cold dark organ. She couldn't stop the smile that form in her face and the wave of her hand.

"Good Afternoon!" She said hugging her assistant who didn't know how to react to it. The guard was a little throwback by the kindness of the judge and her mentor was looking at her in disapproval.

"Oh come on Robert don't be an old cranky bastard. You should smile more often." She winked at him and focus her attention to the guard whose mouth was slightly open. He was confused at first when Robert asked him to step outside and wait for the judge. When a few seconds before he had received the news that Regina was spotted in front of the building.

"Claude you look like you have seen a ghost dear. Stop with the staring and close your mouth."

Her voice was warmth and kind, something that the three people in front of her weren't used to. Her mentor knew about the change of moods, but today was out of control.

Robert made a gesture for her to follow him, at that she nodded, smiling at the other two. When the door closed behind her Regina closed her eyes, a cold and raging sensation invading her body like an epidemic. She opened her eyes and looked at her mentor.

"Welcome back, I thought I've lost you for a second dearie."

"What the hell just happened?" She whispered, not looking at Robert leading herself to the judge chambers.

MR MR MR

Trina waited a few minutes before getting out of the restroom. She didn't want to cause any more misunderstandings with the people. She peeked through the restroom door to see if it was clear. There wasn't a soul walking so she got out and started walking to the courtroom.

The room was average; it could hold approximately 150 people for sure. Most of the people were seated, so she chose to stay in the back, isolated for the crowd. She sat in silence, but she could hear the people whispering and murmuring some words in front and next to her. When she was going to say something Trina was interrupted by the bailiff voice.

"All rise!" The audience stood up.

"Department two for The New York Court is now in session! Judge Regina presiding. Please be seated."

Trina's heart jumped in her throat when she saw her clone walking to the bench where she sat. Her hair was longer than hers and was made into a beautiful braid, she was wearing a long black robe and black stilettos, her red lips were the center of attention. She was beautiful but so cold and sad. She could see it in her eyes and expression, she was broken inside.

"Good Morning ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of Jefferson Hatter versus Alice Wonder. Are both sides ready?"

Both sides stood up saying a 'Ready for the plaintiff your honor or ready for the defense your honor'. Regina nodded and told the clerk to swear the jury in. Trina didn't know what was happening but she found it interesting.

MR MR MR

What she could gather about the case was that Jefferson was trying to modify the amount of child support for his daughter Grace. Alice, the mother, just got a big promotion and she was able to pay more than what was established when they got a divorce a year ago. The mother was refusing stating that he was able to take care of the child without her help, when Jefferson was just a custom tailor and his job wasn't as stable as Alice's.

Trina was on his side. Alice was a marketing consultant, and now she was vice president of the business. A few more dollars wouldn't make much of a difference for her. On the other hand, her clone was clearly taking the defense side. Her reasoning was that Jefferson was a lazy man who could go out there and get a better job and his only reason to ask for money was to use it for himself. After a few objections, evidence and more words that Trina didn't understand, the jury was dismissed to make a decision. Trina was sure that Regina wasn't going to accept the jury's decision either way. She was going to do what she wanted to do.

After a few minutes the jury got back to the room but Regina had already made her decision. Everyone in the audience knew that either the case was going in favor of the defense or Grace will be taken away from his father. He couldn't take care of her by himself and her mother didn't want her.

"I have made my decision." She smirked looking at both sides.

Trina's heart was beating so fast that she was sure that the people next to her could hear it. Her eyes were burning with tears. Her clone couldn't be this cruel. She needed to make justice and this was far from it.

"Please Regina, have mercy. Please Regina don't do this." She whispered. She couldn't contain her tears when her eyes found Grace in the first row. The girl was shaking, fearing that she was not going to see her father again. When she turn herself to look at Regina she was surprise at the sight of the judge.

Regina's features soften and she was wiping away her tears. She look at Grace and smile gently. And then turn her head to look at both parents.

"Ms. Wonder, the child support document signed after the divorce will be void. You will need to provide Mr. Hatter with $1000 a month to take care of Grace. Court is adjourned." With that said Regina dismissed herself to the judge chamber's leaving a very confused audience.

MR MR MR

She was pacing the room confused of what just happened.

"What was that?" The voice of her mentor felt like a knife going through her stomach. "Don't tell me that you are going soft dearie. I taught you better. You can't go weak on me now."

"I AM NOT WEAK!" She screamed looking at Robert with furious eyes. "I wish to be alone now Gold so if you don't mind. GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

"Very well. But this is not over." The old man turned around and was approaching the door when he heard Regina's assistant's pleads approaching.

"Mrs! Mrs! She is not going to be happy!"

"I'm sorry, Mary…" The brunette stopped thinking about the young woman's real name. She look so much like Mary Margaret that if she didn't know any better she would have thought that they were related. "Martha, but I need to talk to her."

The brunette was ready to knock on the door when Gold opened it and found himself face to face with Trina. She was the spitting image of his student. Her hair was shorter and her eyes were filled with love and kindness, two things that Regina's were lacking. Gold look at the brunette in front of him and then turned his head to look at the one pacing left to right. Regina felt his eyes on her.

"Did you lose something dear?"

"I didn't but maybe you did."

Regina's left brow went up in confusion.

"Whatever do you mean?"

Gold stepped aside gesturing Trina to come in.

"Hello Regina!" Trina said holding the other's brunette hard look over her. She didn't flinch, but she couldn't hide the fear creeping in her body when she saw her clone's expression. She was sure Regina's was going to jump at her and kill her in front of everyone.

"YOU!" Regina said through her teeth, her forehead vein threatening to pop at any minute.

Thank you for reading the fic. Hoping you are enjoying the story.