A.N I know I said no update but then my email kept going off with review alerts. Twelve in total at the writing of this and I was floored. The most for a chapter so far! I was completely gob smacked. Also… and this was totally weird considering I work in a casino but I saw it as a sign. There were fairy tale characters EVERYWHERE at work tonight. Snow White, Robin Hood, Elsa, Dorothy, Alice, The mad hatter… Just to name a few. They were all staff members and I was like, this is just telling me I should go home and write… So I left work a little early and stayed up way later than I should (I'll probably regret it later but *shrugs* that's later) and here it is and its a biggun.

To the guest reviewer who suggested calling in sick to work to write more… I wish I could. I'd much prefer to write all the time. Unfortunately I need to pay the internet bill so that I can continue to post… So it's a necessary evil.

Kama: I have no idea how long this story will be. I do tend to go with the flow and let it tell itself. I've never been one for chapter outlines. The story never sticks to them anyway. I have an idea of where this is going but no idea how long it will take to get there. I'm not going to predict how many chapters are left but I think there's a fair few still waiting to be written.

Anyways, on to the chapter! As always, my heartfelt thanks to those of you who reviewed. You guys rock my world! It's what got this chapter up here so early. Reviews are totally like crack to a fanfic author, just warm, fuzzy crack.

Charlie


Chapter 8

A startled Mary Margaret cried out at the sudden appearance of the two women in her kitchen. They appeared in a swirl of the same lilac they had left in, though, again, neither noticed, too intent on scowling at each other. Regina thrust Emma at the other brunette. "Keep your daughter the hell away from me, Snow."

Emma stumbled into Mary Margaret who grabbed at her to keep her from falling. Light bulbs exploded in the kitchen as a swirl of purple sparks encompassed Regina and she was gone. "Are you ok, sweetie?"

Emma shrugged off her mother's hands, and took a few steps away. She said nothing, trying to reign in her temper and swallow the nausea the unexpected trip has caused at the same time.

"Emma?" Snow White's eye brows were furrowed in concern.

Emma swallowed, took a deep breath and let it explode from her chest. "Of all the…" She started pacing, her rage still bubbling despite her efforts to cool it off. "I can't believe she just did that. Of all the stupid idiotic things… And she calls me a fool?" She whirled to Mary Margaret. "Did you see what happened? She thinks she can handle this on her own." She huffed out a laugh free from humor. "She's going to get herself killed and she expects me to just sit around and wait for that to happen?"

She slammed her hands down on the kitchen table making Snow jump. "She's all about, I don't want anyone else to get hurt, blah blah blah like it wouldn't mean anything if something happened to her. Like she's expendable. That it wouldn't just about kill me…" She frowned, quickly moving on and hoping Snow hadn't caught her admission. "Like it wouldn't devastate Henry if something happened to her. She is not expendable, she is necessary!"

Emma started pacing again, her fists clenching and unclenching as if she wanted to reach out and grab Regina within them, whether to shake her or hold her close was debatable at the moment. "She can't get rid of me that easily. What does she think? That I'm not going to head straight back over there?" Emma stopped as she realised something. "She still has my car! And my boots! Oh for fucks sake."

"Emma!" Snow exclaimed at her daughter's language. She was having trouble following what had happened. She understood that, once again, her daughter had had an argument with Regina and it seemed to be over Emma's safety. David had only voiced suspicions the night before that something was amiss and Emma hadn't been forthcoming on the phone. She knew there was something going on with Regina and that Emma was obviously concerned but to hear her talk of the other brunette getting herself killed only made her concern grow for both women.

"Sorry. I just… She's…" Emma didn't know what else to say. Her anger drained out of her and she was left feeling a jumble of emotions she couldn't sort out. "She's wrong, Snow. She's wrong and stubborn and annoying... She can't do this on her own. Why can't she see that? Why can't she see that people care about what happens to her? That I care, damn it."

Snow tilted her head to the side, studying her daughter. To hear her admit she cared about Regina was an interesting development but she ignored it for the moment. "Regina hasn't had anyone care about her in a very long time. I tried… But you know our history. She's used to doing everything on her own."

"Yeah and look how great that turned out." Emma sighed, "She doesn't have to do that anymore."

"Maybe it's best if you give Regina some-"

Emma held up a hand, silencing her mother. "No! Don't you say it. Don't you dare take her side! You don't understand what's going on."

Snow walked over to where her daughter stood, "Then help me understand."

The blonde slumped, "I… I don't even know where to begin. Has it really only been a day? There's so much happening and I don't know if even I understand it."

Snow wondered if they were just talking about Regina's problem. "Well just sit down and tell me what you know and maybe I can help with that." She moved away and swept up the broken glass then began to make coffee, waiting patiently for her child to start talking.

Emma did as her mother had asked and sat on one of the kitchen stools. She got lost in her thoughts, trying to sort them all out so they made sense but her emotions kept getting in the way of making sense of anything. She was angry and worried, it didn't help that her heart ached at being away from Regina and realising that ache only made her more confused.

A cup of coffee appeared in front of her and she looked up at Snow, a small smile on her face. "Thanks." She wrapped her hands around the warm mug and just started talking. "It all started when Henry turned up at the station…" Emma spoke about almost everything, it felt good to share her worry over the other woman, even if she kept some of it to herself. She glossed over the memory she had shared with Regina, keeping the actual details to herself. She also avoided mention of Regina snuggling back into her but couldn't help the blush that spread over her face when the thought had crossed her mind or the fact that she stumbled over her words when she spoke about being in bed with the brunette.

Snow looked thoughtful, "So you spent most of the night in the same bed as Regina?"

"Yeah but it's not like it sounds." Emma bit her lip, trying to keep any reaction off her face. Well maybe a little bit how it sounds.

Snow waved a hand, "Whether it is or it isn't really isn't any of my business. What I'm more interested in is the affect you seemed to have had on her while she slept. You say that when you put a hand on her, she calmed down immediately?"

To say Emma was a little shocked over Snow's response, or lack of, to the fact that she had spent the night in Regina's bed would be an understatement. She had expected anger, disgust or even just disappointment but it was like the former bandit couldn't care less if she shacked up with the Evil Queen. Not that we're shacking up or whatever. Still, she wasn't quite sure how to feel about that so she pushed it aside and concentrated on the rest of what Snow had said. "Yeah, I thought it was kind of weird too but if it worked…" The blonde shrugged.

"I suspect there's something else at play here, but first let me say that I think you did the right thing. Everyone needs comfort at those times, but especially Regina. I know she's done a lot of terrible things in the past but she's also had a tremendous amount of pain inflicted on her too." Snow paused, considering her words. "I don't think a lot of people understand that. They look at her and they see only what she wants them to see and for a long time, that was the Evil Queen, so now she struggles to be seen as anyone else. There is still a woman underneath all of that Evil Queen bravado, and that woman is terribly alone and so afraid of being hurt."

Snow sighed, "I know that she has been trying to be good and I think she keeps failing because of her fear, her fear that she can't change or even if she does, it still won't be enough for everyone else. I worry that if she truly believes that, she will eventually give up."

"Screw everyone else. It would be enough for me."

Snow smiled at her daughter's words, "It would be enough for me too but I don't think she sees it that way. She has grown used to everyone thinking the worst of her so that's what she expects them to continue to do and if they already expect the worst, what good is there in not performing to their expectations? If she is continually treated like the Evil Queen that is all she will ever see herself as."

"How do you know all this?" Emma was stunned. How had Snow seen all along, what she was only just beginning to realise?

"Because I knew her before she became the Evil Queen, when she was simply Regina. When we first met, I thought she was the most wonderful person in the world. I loved her… I still do." Snow smiled, "I can't let go of the girl I knew all those years ago. That girl is still there, I've believed it all along. She's just buried so deeply that even Regina has forgotten she exists. It's why I gave her chance after chance. It's why I still hold out hope for her." She reached out a hand and took hold of her child's. "She can be good, Emma. I know it. She just needs to truly believe it too. More importantly, she needs us to believe even when she doesn't."

"I do believe!" Emma said passionately, "People change, I know that better than anyone. I also know it's hard and that you still screw up even if you're trying not to. I don't care if she fails a hundred times, as long as she keeps trying." Emma let out a sigh, taking her hand back. "What I don't get is why she's fighting me so hard on this? Why not let me help?"

"You care for her? Want to protect her?"

Emma hesitated, then replied. "Of course. She's Henry's mother. What sort of person would I be if I just let something happen to her?"

Snow smiled, she suspected there were more reasons her daughter cared but she didn't push the matter. That would only cause Emma to shut down and it had been a long time since they had been able to just talk like this. "She's trying to be good, Emma, trying to do the right thing. Also, is it really so hard to imagine she feels the same way you do? That she doesn't want to see you hurt?"

Emma frowned at her mother, "Okay, I get it. Still, I'm not the one in danger right now."

"Not directly, no and I must admit, what you've told me doesn't sound good." Snow bit her lip, "Especially when you add in the exploding lights here. Regina is right though," Emma started to protest but the brunette held up a hand. "It's not safe there but I understand why you have to go back." She paused, arranging her thoughts. "There was something strange when you both appeared."

Emma frowned, "Like what?"

"Well normally Regina appears in a swirl of dark purple smoke but when the two of you appeared here, minus exploding lights I might add, the smoke was a pale purple. Almost like her magic had been mixed with white magic, yours, I imagine."

Emma started to catch on, "But when she left, it was dark purple again… No wait, it wasn't smoke, it was sparks and the lights went boom."

Snow nodded, "When you arrived you were touching and when she left…" She shrugged, "If you add that to what you told me about Regina being calmed by your touch and that you managed to break through, what I personally know to be, an impenetrable barrier without even noticing… "

Emma mulled this over, "Somehow our magic is what? Connected?"

"It's possible. When you are in contact with her it seems to have a positive effect, both on her magic and Regina herself. Now I'm not a magic user so I don't know all the ins and outs, I could have it completely wrong but there's something going on with the two of you and that's why I believe you have to go back. Maybe if you explained this to her…" Snow smiled wryly at Emma's scoff. "I know, but you have to try. I could come with you if you like."

Emma laughed out loud at that, "Thanks, but I think the reception is going to be bad enough if it's just me. If you show up too she might just bring the house down on us out of spite."

Snow grinned. "You do have a point there. Just know both your father and I are only a phone call away. The Evil Queen doesn't scare us either."

"Duly noted." Emma stood up, and headed towards the stairs. "Thanks, Mom."

Snow smiled brightly, "That's what mothers are for. One last thing, you say all this started after the two of you destroyed the trigger. Could that be the reason?"

Emma stopped and turned back towards her mother. "Maybe, but it still doesn't explain how her magic got so messed up in the first place. It can't have been the trigger or mine would be all with the crazy shi… Err stuff too."

"Mmmm, true." She left Snow White deep in thought and headed up to her room.

Emma grabbed a backpack out of her cupboard and started shoving clothes and toiletries in haphazardly. It had been a good talk with Snow, a bit of insight to the woman she… liked a lot and hopefully some useful information. Just let her try and keep me out now. If I can stop all the crazy shit from happening just by touching her… I'm just not going to let her go. Who needs subtle flirting? Now I have a valid reason for getting my hands on her. Way to look for the silver lining in all this, Swan. She grinned to herself, feeling better now that she had, at least the beginnings of, a plan to help Regina.

After putting on another jacket, she hunted for a pair of boots she could wear. Finally finding a pair, she slipped them on and headed back downstairs. She spotted Henry's bag and walked over, feeling in the front pocket for the set of key's he always kept there. Finding them, she slipped them into her pocket. She turned back to Snow, "Tell Henry I'm still working on Operation A.T. He'll know what I'm talking about. Also that I have his house keys." She was almost out the door when she remembered something else, "Do you mind asking David if he can hold down the fort until this is sorted out?"

Snow nodded, "Of course, honey. I'm sure he won't mind. I'll get him to text you if there are any issues that need your attention. Please be careful."

Emma ran a hand through her hair and tried not to look worried, "I'll be as careful as I can."


Regina arrived back at her house with a bang. The TV exploded, sending more glass across the room. Henry is going to be so angry with me for destroying the Television. It hissed and smoked but luckily didn't catch alight as the brunette was in no state to put a fire out. She grabbed at her head as the pounding intensified, a groan forced from her lips. She put a hand on her stomach as nausea rolled through her, a gift of the pain ricocheting through her skull. She felt a tickle under her nose and reached up to swipe at it. When she pulled her hand away it was smeared with blood. She stared at it lifelessly for a moment, not recognizing it for what it was. Finally the image got through her aching mind and she moved slowly down the hallway to the powder room. Just another thing to add to the ever growing list.

All the energy she had garnered from a night asleep in the blonde's arms had been wiped away in such a short amount of time, leaving her more exhausted than before. She looked at herself in the mirror, noting the dark smudges under eyes black with pain. She saw her normally olive skin drained to a sickly white. The smear of red under her nose was the latest edition to her complexion but one she could do something about.

She wet a hand towel and slowly wiped away the blood, dropping the towel in the sink when she was done. It was something she would never normally do but she found she didn't particularly care right in that instant. She continued to look at herself. What was she going to do? Sending Emma away had been the right thing to do, even if it had cost her as much as it had done but she missed her. It was a gnawing ache in her heart and she wasn't sure how to even begin processing that feeling. She tried to ignore it, all that mattered was that the blonde was safe and she could focus on sorting out the mess she found herself to be in, her feelings in all this did not matter. The problem was, she had no idea where to even begin and her head was hurting so much that she couldn't concentrate even if she did. I need to rest. Her heart hurt even more in that moment because what she really wanted was to rest with Emma by her side. But I sent her away. It was the right thing to do. The good thing. I will manage without her.

She left the bathroom and headed for the stairs, one hand holding her head as the other gripped the bannister to haul herself up. She made it as far as the landing before she lost consciousness, a memory, its imminent arrival buried beneath the wall of pain the brunette was feeling, dragging her down into the dark.


Emma walked towards Miflin Street. She wasn't happy about having to walk but it was a nice enough day, even if it was on the chilly side. This made her think about her jacket and shoes that were much better suited for this sort of weather and she grumbled unhappily to herself. Had to show off and take me home. Couldn't have made sure I had my jacket and shoes first… No... Go straight for the grabbing and the teleporting. She felt a little spike of guilt. Ok so I did piss her off. Maybe rubbing her face in it wasn't the smartest move but still… No jacket and shoes makes me… Her thoughts trailed off as she passed Granny's and she caught the scent of food. Her stomach growled in response so she made the decision to quickly nip in for a grilled cheese to go.

Toasted sandwich and a cup of cocoa in hand, she continued her walk in a much better mood. Is there anything hot chocolate and cheesy goodness can't fix? Nope! Don't think there is. She hummed appreciatively as the warm liquid slid down her throat and warmed her from the inside followed closely by a mouthful of cheese.

Once she was finished her breakfast and had tossed the rubbish in a bin as she passed, she let her thoughts wander back to Regina. She didn't know how the brunette was going to take the news that there was a strong possibility that their magic was somehow connected, that her magic was stabilising Regina's when they were in contact. In the end it didn't matter how she took the news, this was a temporary solution to at least one of the issues plaguing the queen. Regina will just have to suck it up. She's stuck with me for however long this takes and I really don't mind that at all. She grinned to herself at the excellent reason to get nice and cozy with the brunette. Subtle flirting be damned, I'm just gonna get my hands on her and make her see the light…

As she walked down Miflin Street, she started to get the feeling that something wasn't quite right. She didn't know why but she felt unsettled so she picked up her pace a little. The feeling kept growing and she was flat out running by the time she hit 108. She ran up to the door, grabbing Henry's keys out of her pocket. "Regina?" She jammed the first key into the lock and growled when it didn't fit. She pulled it out and tried the next one with success. She opened the door, "Regina?" She yelled as she rushed in, slamming the door behind her. She dropped her bag, looking left and right but the brunette was nowhere to be seen. Finally she glanced up at the stairs and her heart stopped dead before it resumed beating erratically. "Regina!" She raced up the stairs towards the unconscious woman. "You stupid woman, you stupid, stubborn woman. I told you I shouldn't leave. Why don't you ever listen to me?" She reached the landing and stopped dead.

Purple sparks flittered over the prone woman, and then, almost as if they sensed her presence, they shifted on Regina, crowding on to the side of the woman that was closest to Emma. As she moved closer, the sparks became a frenzy, zipping back and forth and she frowned as she felt a tug on her own magic. She looked down to see her hands were glowing with a bright white mist. Well don't really need to confirm Snow's theory now. She thought wryly. Seems like they've got a hard on for each other.

Emma knelt down next to Regina, not quite touching her. She watched, fascinated, as the sparks tried to connect with her. Unsure what to do, she held her hands out over the other woman and the purple magic almost leapt, trying to get to her.

Last time she had touched the unconscious woman, she had been dragged into Regina's memory. Was that going to happen again? Did it really matter? She sighed, Nope. Doesn't matter. If I can help… that's all that matters. And there's only one way to find out.

She lay down on her side facing Regina and reached out, tugging the woman towards her. As soon as her hands touched the brunette, her magic surged out to mingle with the sparks almost like they had missed each other. She just managed to roll back, Regina's head resting on her chest before everything went black, the combined magic moving to cover them both.


A.N Just a quick note. If any of the slang sounds weird, blame it on me being an aussie. I try not to let it slip in there but occasionally it does.