"Storybrooke First Annual Picnic: Better Than a Town Wide Panic."

"I can't believe she put that on the sign," Emma said, staring up at the large banner that hung over the entry way to the picnic area where the festivities were to occur.

Henry snorted in the loud obnoxious way teenagers had. She shot him her best, most motherly glare, but he just rolled his eyes.

"Shouldn't you just be glad she used your idea?" Henry asked, with a goofy smirk, "Besides, it's true," he replied, nudging her with his shoulder. She frowned at him, but he just grinned up at her and eventually she smiled back. She barely had to look down at all any more. When she wasn't looking, he had started getting the gangly look of a teenager.

She wondered if her nerdy, book-loving son was going to turn out to be one of those jocks she hated back in high school. She couldn't really imagine it, but he had the brand new soccer ball that Regina had bought him shortly after her return tucked under an arm and seemed intent on using it.

Before the curse broke, she'd developed this image of Regina as one of those helicopter mothers that she'd heard about. She'd been right to an extent, but looking back at the freedoms Regina had allowed Henry, she'd had to reconsider a lot of her assumptions.

Emma'd have thought Regina would be against Henry playing any kind of sports even now, but Regina seemed happy to encourage his interest and well, the woman did have inside knowledge of the future or well, one version of the future. She'd always been good at the game so she couldn't really be unhappy about the development.

Back then it had been easy to hold on to her bias, but now it was harder to shine a critical eye on Regina's parenting. Even now, she could still be surprised by Regina in relation to Henry. If Regina hadn't been the Evil Queen in reality…frankly, her actions would have been extremely embarrassing. She acted the way every adoptive parent feared a birth parent would act.

Knowing the truth about Regina justified her actions and for a minute, it was easier, but then she'd gotten a taste of being Henry's only parent through Regina's memories. Suddenly, everything Regina did made sense (to a degree). If someone had appeared out of the blue and tried to take him away from her, she didn't know how she would have reacted… To be honest, she did know. It was kind of what happened.

At the thought of having to share Henry again, she'd been ready to take him straight back to New York. She'd cloaked it in the idea that it was safer for him because who could argue that, but deep down she knew her own insecurities played a larger part in it than she wanted to admit.

She'd used her own son as an excuse for her own selfishness. It was what the worst of her foster parents did. She wanted him safe, but the world had been easy in NY even if her dating life had consisted of a flying monkey. Basically, she'd chosen to take the money the state gave without actually taking care of the boy in her care.

Henry saw her parents before she did. They were setting up a blanket in the shade. Neal was already red-faced from the sun, stripped him down to his diaper and propped on her mother's hip.

Her head was full of her faults, but she threw out her blanket next to them and put on a plastic smile. She flopped onto the blanket after a cursory 'hello' to her parents. Henry kneeled down hugged her from behind, pressing a kiss against her head before running off to join the other kids. Her heart flip flopped and she couldn't tell if she felt guilty or just happy.

She leaned back on her hands and finally turned toward her parents with what she hoped was a convincing smile. They didn't even seem to seem to see her and it set off a whole new set of anxieties.

Sebastian passed them and she gave him a cursory nod. She'd put him in charge of the security since she'd planned to be at the picnic the whole time if he needed her. It was a day time family event so she hoped people would stay sober and pleasant, but it was Storybrooke after all.

Her thoughts already had her wishing for alcohol so she couldn't even blame the crowd that chose to partake. Neal grumbled and her parents alternated between trying to soothe the child and entertain her. She found herself hopelessly searching for Henry in the crowd of children in less than ten minutes and biting back a sigh.45

SQSQSQSQSQ

People crowded around Regina for the first hour after she arrived, asking questions and inquiring about the other Storybrooke. She answered them patiently, but eventually she spotted a familiar blonde head over the crowd. Surprisingly, they let her make excuses and she pushed passed them.

Kathryn's eyes widened just a little when she stopped in front of her and Frederick, but she didn't turn away. Kathryn's lips were tight as she sent her handsome knight ahead of her with assurances.

Regina stepped forward, but hesitated. "Kathryn. Or do you prefer Abigail?"

"I think you know what I prefer," the woman responded, coldly.

Regina looked down for a moment, before looking back up. "Kathryn, then," she said, meeting her eye. "It is different here. You aren't the same."

Kathryn inclined her head toward a bench. "Shall we sit?"

"Okay," Regina said, wringing her hands together at her waist, but followed Kathryn to bench.

Kathryn looked her over carefully after they sat, studying her from top to bottom. Regina refused to fidget.

Eventually, Kathryn said, "The other you never talked to me."

"I didn't think she would," Regina replied.

"Oh?"

"I had my own apologies to make to you. It wouldn't have been right for her to do them for me."

"Hmm. Interesting. I assumed that once you used me you had no interest in me."

"We are friends in the other world," Regina said.

"So you are here because you think we are friends?"

"No. I'm here because I received a reminder while I was over there that I owed you a long overdue apology."

Kathryn nodded and then raised her eyebrows in expectation.

Regina let out a sigh before she straightened her spine.

"I'm sorry. I put you through terrible things in order to get my revenge. I let you become collateral damage when you did nothing to harm me. I am sorry," she said and her head fell momentarily. She lifted it again and met the other royal with steady eyes. "I don't expect us to be friends. An apology doesn't wipe away all the pain I caused you."

Kathryn nodded her head as she looked away. She was quiet for a long moment. "I imagine it must be hard for you knowing the future."

Regina shot a startled look her way. "It's not our future."

Kathryn met her eye. "It is in a way though, isn't it?"

Regina frowned. "In some ways, maybe," Regina said, looking around at the happy people milling around the park. "It's not my place to push it one way or other."

"Before the curse broke, I thought it would be agony seeing Mary Margaret and David, together. I nearly left the state," Kathryn said, looking towards Robin and Marian. "It's easier when you have someone else. Isn't it?" she asked, glancing back at Regina.

"I don't know what you mean," she said, eyes moving toward where Emma, David, and Henry were kicking their ball around.

"Sure you don't." Kathryn said with a little laugh. She pulled herself up off the bench and smiled. "I'd best go find Frederick. Maybe we can do lunch sometime."

"I'd like that."

"I think I would as well," Kathryn said, with a small smile.

SQSQSQSQSQ

IN A DIFFERENT WORLD…

At first, Regina had been reasonably wary of walking around town. She knew she would be a spectacle. Mary Margaret and Emma told her that everyone knew her business. In her world, they kept a lot from the majority of Storybrooke. Apparently in this world, they found that keeping the community informed kept them happy and less likely to fuck things up by forming a mob.

Regina wondered if it would have worked as well in her world. That town hall meeting a few weeks ago showed how quick everyone was to go against her. Maybe in a few years? She didn't know anymore.

When she finally ventured out alone, everyone stared, her neighbors, everyone on Main Street. She'd grown used to the glares and whispers in her version of Storybrooke, but this town was full of unknowns. She didn't know what the looks meant here.

Her anxiety felt at an all-time high she hadn't experience since she was a teenager even though Emma and Henry assured her that she was safe. She didn't feel safe. Her magic lingered at her fingertips, but it didn't feel right. She'd had some meetings with the town council and it built up her courage to face the masses, but this felt different. There was no power in walking through town.

She taken Henry up on his offer to lead her around the town and show her what was different. It hadn't been so bad, but without him at her side she felt insecure and uncomfortable. She wished they had talked to people. Returning to her house wasn't an option though, now that she was out on the sidewalk. It felt like weakness to turn back and she'd promised herself after killing the king that she wouldn't let anyone have that power over her again.

Henry had been the exception to that. She'd learned that weakness for the ones you love isn't the same as giving people that want to control you power. Henry had opened her eyes over and over just by being a child.

She held her head up higher and let her feet lead her to Granny's. She hadn't necessarily meant to go there. Archie's office wasn't far and didn't seem as daunting suddenly as Granny's. She hesitated outside in the courtyard.

Her head tilted up and she took in the sign that she'd seen over and over the last 30 years. It looked the same. She felt like it should have changed somehow in this new world. The town wasn't the same. Why wasn't the diner changed?

Regina pushed through the door and tried to push her concerns aside. After a long awkward moment at the door, Ruby spotted her and smiled. It put her at ease in a way she couldn't explain. She smiled back.

Seeing her smile, Ruby jumped the counter and pulled her in for a hug. She froze immediately, but awkwardly raised her hand to pat Ruby's back. Ruby acted so pleased that she was there that it all crashed in on her all over again. She was in the wrong world. Clearly, Ruby actually legitimately thought well of her in this one. Emma had informed her of her new alliances, but it was another thing to actually see that she had friends in this world outside her family.

Over Ruby's shoulder, Kathryn Nolan, nee Midas caught her eye with a shy smile. They'd had some cordial meetings in the Enchanted Forest during the missing year, but they never spoke and she always read a cool disinterest from the other royal. The warmth in her eyes now was startling. It felt wrong and unfair and she felt herself frown back at the other woman. Her former friend approached anyway.

"Sorry. Probably too much," Ruby said as Regina pulled away from her arms and Ruby took in the bewildered look on her face. "Emma tried to explain, but it's been so long since anything too weird happened here." She looked Regina over. "I'm starting to get it a little."

Kathryn leaned in. "So you are from a different universe?"

"That's the best Henry and I could figure out. It was a spell. Teenagers…"

Kathryn laughed. "I heard about it from Fred. Since the curse broke, being the gym teacher has gotten a lot more interesting."

Regina's eyes widened for a moment. "I can only imagine."

Kathryn laughed. "You came up with a lot of the rules that kept the kids in line."

"I didn't," Regina replied, looking away.

They all fell silent for a moment.

"So, does you being here mean you are finally ready to see the world?" Ruby asked.

"See the world?" Regina said, without any confidence looking between Ruby and Kathryn as the latter settled herself against the bar next to her.

Ruby leaned in. "Yeah! This world. Ready to see what you've been missing? It's obviously different. We should make a night of it."

Regina opened her mouth then closed it.

"Ruby, you should know better than to accost someone before you give them coffee," Granny said, sliding a cup made the way she liked it toward Regina. She took it gratefully.

"Thank you," Regina said, gratefully.

"I apologize for my granddaughter. She usually has better manners," Granny said, swatting her with a dish towel over the counter.

"Not where I come from," Regina replied, shifting her head slightly.

"Hey! That was six years ago. I've matured," Ruby said, standing proudly.

Granny rolled her eyes and gave Regina a look that said she didn't really believe that. Regina smiled at the older woman and Granny gave her a sympathetic look. They shared the secret code parent's had. Eugenia put her at ease in a way the other women couldn't. "Do you want something to eat with your coffee? I can whip up some apple pancakes in no time," Granny said.

Regina glanced around at the staring diners and shook her head. "Just the coffee today." Granny nodded and led Ruby away. Ruby mouthed, "We'll talk later," as she was dragged away.

Kathryn reached out slowly, giving her plenty of time to avoid the contact, but she let the hand find her shoulder. She looked up at the woman that she'd basically sentenced to death. Her first friend since Maleficent.

Kathryn searched her eyes and seemed to read her thoughts. Regina kept her gaze steady. She knew her feelings were all over the place, but Kathryn deserved all the honesty she could give.

Finally, Kathryn took a deep breath. "God," she breathed out, "You really aren't my friend."

"No. I'm not."

Kathryn frowned and led her to an empty table off in the corner away from everyone.

Her usual seat had been right against the front window. She couldn't remember the last time she had sat there and she wasn't sure how she felt about that. She missed the confidence she felt sitting there.

After they took their seats, Regina stared the other woman. She couldn't help it. It was hard to imagine this woman being her friend after what she did. After the curse broke, she had barely spared her a thought.

Kathryn seemed distracted, but Regina felt pretty sure that her staring wasn't going unnoticed. After their last exchange, it felt like Kathryn was giving her a moment to collect herself while she pretended to look for a waitress.

When Kathryn turned back to her, she had an unreadable look on her face. She reached out for her hand, "I didn't mean what I said…" she said, but Regina pulled away. "Regina," she pleaded. Regina shifted in her seat as Kathryn slowly pulled her hand back. Regina pushed aside the hair falling in her face.

"I'm not the one that made apologies to you. I am not your friend. This isn't right."

Kathryn shook her head. "Regina. I know what is in your heart. The other me doesn't yet because you haven't talked to her, but that doesn't matter to me. I know what's there already."

"You don't know me. You know that other one," Regina said, looking down. "She's not me."

Kathryn laughed. "Your eyes give you away. You look the same as the day you apologized to me. You don't know that other Regina."

"Kathryn. I…"

"Don't. Save it for her. I needed to hear the great Evil Queen offering her apologies."

"I'd still like to," Regina said.

"Than do it to the person that needs to hear it." She reached out and grabbed Regina's hand, this time not giving her a chance to pull away. "How about I prove to you why you should offer your apologies?"

Regina shook her head slightly and looked away. "I don't need a reason. Your existence is enough."

"True enough," Kathryn said with a grin, as she squeezed, "but, right now you need friends."

Regina snorted. "That doesn't matter. I…"

"Regina. You will go home to your world. Let me just show you what you could have when you go back."

SQSQSQSQSQ

Regina leaned back into the bench and crossed her legs as Kathryn left. She watched the people sitting and eating. For once, she felt no resentment for any of them.

Even the happy Hood family.

She couldn't see a baby bump or anything to indicate Marian was pregnant, but Robin had this new edge of protectiveness radiating off of him around his wife. Maybe he'd always been like that with his wife. She had no way of knowing.

When he was with her, he knew she didn't need protecting so maybe that's why he hadn't bothered. She didn't know if she would have liked it had he tried. That the hadn't endeared her to him even more.

She lost track of time staring at the happy little family. Her head so full of thoughts of the past, present and future, the little cough next to her made her jump. She blinked up at Marian in surprise. She hadn't even noticed her leaving to come join her.

"May I sit down?" Marian asked.

"I suppose."

Marian sat beside her and folded her hands in the lap of her new jeans. They sat quietly for a moment as Regina absently thought about the "refugee" program her other self had implemented that had allowed the woman to buy those jeans.

"You were staring," Marian finally said, still looking out at the playing children.

Regina took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. "I apologize. I was just thinking. I hope it didn't make you uncomfortable."

"It didn't." Marian shrugged. "Your eyes lack the madness I remember. You just seemed a little lost. Roland wanted to come say hello, but I thought I'd talk to you first."

"To find out if I was still a monster?" Regina asked, turning to look fully at the other woman.

"I was wrong when I called you that," Marian said, turning to look at her as well.

"You weren't," Regina said and Marian's brow furrowed.

"I don't really truly know you aren't a monster now," she said, studying Regina's face. "I've heard a lot about you and was introduced briefly to the other you, but I never had a chance to meet the woman that captured my husband's heart, but I look at you now and don't see what I did."

"What has he told you?" Regina asked, looking away.

"Everything," she said, quietly. "At first, he thought it would be easier for me if I didn't know the truth, but I wouldn't have it. My sensibilities don't need protecting."

Regina smiled, but it was tight and painful.

"He says you are soulmates."

Regina sighed. "If pixie dust is to be trusted."

"Meh fairies…" Marian looked up at the sky thoughtfully, before tilting her head back to her. "Do you want to be with him?" she asked. "With the staring…"

Regina took a deep breath. "He made his choice."

"Yes, but…"

"If you think he would leave his pregnant wife," Regina interrupted, "then you don't know your husband."

A smile started on Marian's face, but it twisted and turned back down. "Oh, I know my husband. Honor is important to him, but so is mine. I won't stand in the way of his happiness. It's not right or good. I would leave him. The best example I can set for my children is to live truthfully and to let him follow his heart just like I would want them to when the time comes."

"I think I like you," Regina said, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head, "But that won't be necessary."

"Really?" Marian asked.

"His heart led him to you," she said, looking down at Marian's stomach. "I've torn enough families apart over the years and you've clearly reconnected."

Marian's hands pressed against her abdomen. "We have, but…"

"If I returned and you were unhappy, perhaps I would have a different opinion, but you aren't. I appreciate the offer, but he made his choice."

"I hope it was the right one," Marian said with a sigh. "I still love him. Even with the years between us, he's still the man I fell in love with."

"I hope it was the right one as well," she said, looking over at Emma. Henry had her in a headlock. Marian's eyes followed hers.

"You know she reminds me of Robin."

Regina's head snapped toward Marian. "What?"

"The Sheriff. We talk sometimes. I think she feels responsible for me. Is she the reason you are so accepting?"

Regina stared for a moment, wondering how much of her personal life had really hit the gossip mill. "What do you mean?"

"Is she helping you? I know you had some kind of falling out, but it looks like that's getting better," Marian said, watching Regina's family as Regina had watched hers.

Regina's eyes fell to her hands. They twisted in her lap. For a long moment, she felt the impulse to lash out, but it felt so very pointless in the end. Marian turned back to her with the guilelessness she'd grown to appreciate from her allies over the last few years.

Finally, she leaned back and said, quietly, "She's trying. Her faith in me in the past has made it easier for me to move forward, but she lost it for a time."

"It's hard to trust someone when they don't trust you. Dr. Hopper told me that."

"Sometimes he knows what he's talking about."

"I think I trust you, Regina," Marian said, softly. Regina decided she liked the way her name sounded coming from this woman. It sounded much better than monster.

"I appreciate that more than you know," she said.

SQSQSQSQSQ

The picnic started to wind down and most families she passed were packing up their blankets. She had gotten sucked up back into their town's version of politicking for most of the afternoon after her many awkward conversations with the women she'd wronged.

Henry and Emma's soccer playing had attracted other kids Henry's age and eventually Emma had been relegated to the sidelines. Regina glanced back at the game of soccer that was still going on and smiled.

Soon outside teams would be visiting Storybrooke. It didn't scare her anymore. She'd read some of the briefs from the town meetings and knew she had a battle in front of her. She expected it to be easier now that she had knowledge of the mysterious 'future', but she was prepared for the worst. It would be hard. The prices in town alone were enough to give anyone from the outside pause. It would require the whole town's support. It was going to be a mess.

But she knew it would be worth it. The good it did for the town to interact with the outside world had been immeasurable. She read all about it and had seen the good. It would take a few months of stability and in the end, she'd need Emma's backing.

Things had improved since their talk with Henry. It had given her the opportunity to hear Emma's side of things a little without any real pressure. Emma directed everything to Henry and she hadn't been put on the spot to respond. Emma hadn't said anything she didn't already guess, but it healed something inside of her to hear Emma admit her wrongs. That had happened so rarely in her life.

Forgiveness. Can you imagine? Learning to live with the unimaginable. Hamilton had really struck a chord with them all. She missed it. She sighed knowing she still had a few years before she could share it with them.

She found Emma standing by the lake. The grass around the water kept her approach quiet, but Emma seemed to sense her and turned as she got close.

"Hey," Emma said, her posture and movements reminiscent of their first meeting.

"Hey," Regina responded in kind, moving to take the space beside her.

They both watched the slow eddies of the pond in silence for a few minutes before Emma broke the silence. "This was a good idea. It was fun."

"Depends on your definition of fun," Regina said. "Felt like work to me."

"Yeah. They jumped me, too." Emma said with a smile. "I'm really not built for the all the political bullshit. You are lucky you were born a politician."

"I wouldn't say I was built for it. Perhaps born to it." Regina shrugged impassively. "My mother may not have known the term, but she raised me to be a one. A politician that is. A Queen."

"I'd like to reiterate; your mom was a real piece of work," Emma said.

"She was," Regina said.

Emma pursed her lips. "Henry had fun."

"Then it was worth it."

They smiled at each other before they both looked back out at the lake.

"Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to grow up as a princess," Emma said, before looking toward Regina then quickly back out to the lake. "I'm pretty sure I would have ended up as one of those awful Disney straight to DVD movies. Pretty sure Ariel's daughter got one of those."

Regina snorted and shook her head. "I don't know. You stand pretty well as your own heroine. I think you'd qualify for at least a limited release special."

"Maybe, but I am probably only worth that because of the way I was brought up. Hard as it was," Emma's chin hit her chest, but then she lifted her head to the sky and smiled. "Given the chance, I would have been a stuck up Princess that pranced through fields of flowers singing about a prince," Emma said to the sky. She turned her head toward Regina. "Or a Queen."

Regina laughed and looked her up and down. "Somehow I doubt you would have gone for all those Princess gowns," she said, skirting around the awkwardness of Emma's comment and bringing them to safer ground.

"You say that looking at me now, but when I was a little girl, I dreamed of those gowns," Emma replied, tucking her thumbs into her jeans.

Regina let out a short breath. "They seem wonderful in all the movies, but reality is as glamorous." She frowned and wished for something to do with her hands. Eventually she tucked them into her blazer's pockets.

"Did you know I was born a Princess?"

Emma shook her head.

"She named me Regina because it means queen. I was taught from the cradle how to be queen. I was low on the line of succession, but it didn't stop my mother from scheming. When I was young, we lost our title after a war with a neighboring land. It made my mother more determined." She looked down at her body. "I was a fat child. She strapped me into gowns with corsets that felt like they were rearranging my insides."

Emma grimaced. "Mary Margaret wouldn't have done that to me."

"Snow White," Regina corrected. "Not Mary Margaret. Snow White. They are different people in more ways than you would expect." Regina looked away. "Her father expected me in corsets every day. Even when he wasn't there. Appearance mattered in that world. I helped your mother into her first corset. It was painful and not for me… She cried," Regina said, somberly. "I almost felt sympathy for her. Almost."

Emma looked at her in disbelief as she continued, "It was what was expected. She would have expected the same of you," Regina said, looking sad for a second before she straightened her face back into an impassive mask. She stared out over the water, clutching her hands against her abdomen. Emma wished she could say something to make it better, but knew she didn't have the words.

Regina continued "When I got to this world, I had all of this knowledge about how things worked, but I had so much time on my hands. I read so much and then the Internet happened in a big way."

Emma chuckled. "I bet that was a shock."

"It was refreshing," she said, with a light smile. "It felt alarmingly like magic, but I liked it. It didn't feel dark." She let out a little laugh. "I finally had new people to play chess against."

Emma looked up to the sky and laughed as well. "Of course, you would discover the Internet and use it for chess."

"You may not remember the early days of the Internet, but things moved very slowly. Chess requires patience so I could tolerate the delay."

"I mostly used the Internet at the library. It wasn't so bad. I mean compared to now… terrible."

Regina nodded. "It was a strange time." She let her hands drop to her sides. "I wish I could say I thought about you much beyond as a future enemy."

"Have nightmares of me as an evil baby attacking you?"

"Can't say that I did, but I did see that movie with that Chucky doll before Henry was born." She smiled at Emma. "Terrifying."

"Seriously," Emma said, with wide eyes. "We got a lot of scary reject dolls in the foster homes so yeah I get that. At least we don't have to worry about murderous cursed dolls here." Regina looked away. She'd read Henry's book and was fairly sure Marco's marionette parents were in Gold's shop. Emma read her face and a horrified look took over her face. "Regina!"

"I did have a dream about you. But it was after you got here, but before you broke the curse," Regina said.

"I'm not going to forget the cursed doll thing," Emma said, narrowing her eyes, "but what happened in your dream?"

"You came to my door and told me that you had come for me. My apple tree materialized in the middle of Main Street and I was tied to it. You threatened me with your father's sword."

"Must have surprised you after the curse broke that I wasn't going to sacrifice you for revenge."

Regina shrugged her shoulders ever so slightly and Emma laughed. "Come on. You didn't expect me to save you," Emma said.

"I didn't," Regina said eventually. "But Henry makes us better people."

"True."

They smiled at each other. Talking like this felt like how it was supposed to be and they both knew it.

"You weirded out Sebastian earlier," Emma said, after a long moment.

Regina scowled. "I smiled at him."

"Many people in this town would find that behavior strange," Emma said, with a cocked eyebrow.

"Should I light him on fire the next time I see him to reassert the status quo?" Regina asked.

Emma laughed. "If you'd set him on fire then the sign would have been all wrong. You would have hated that and as much as you'd like to pretend otherwise, you like Sebastian. And, of course, as Sheriff I'd have to advise against harming law enforcement." She shifted on her feet and she cocked an eyebrow. "Though is it technically against the law? Using magic against someone?"

"I think it would fit under assault with a deadly weapon," Regina said, with amusement playing in her eyes as she held up her hand. "At least in Storybrooke."

Emma blushed deeply at the idea of Regina's hand being classified as a deadly weapon. She coughed awkwardly before saying, "Did you read up on their criminal code while over there in the other world? A few hints would be nice."

Regina shot her a smile that would have made the Cheshire Cat proud. "I read a lot while over there."

"I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Emma said, studying her face with a furrowed brow.

Regina brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It's a good thing. They had the time to figure things out that we haven't been given. I refuse to believe it's a bad thing that I got a chance to peek at their efforts." Emma nodded, agreeably. "It won't be easy. I'll need your support," Regina said.

"Of course. Whatever you need. I've got your back."

Regina nodded.

They fell into an easy silence after that. They watched the ducks and swans float peacefully around the pond. Emma felt more comfortable than she had in a long time. Peace felt nice. Strange, really, because the real world she knew wasn't peaceful. Since fairy tales invaded her life, she'd had nothing but chaos. This peace, though, felt somehow okay. She almost felt ready to deal with more stupid fairytale drama.

She glanced over at Regina, trying to be surreptitious, but knew Regina could feel her looking. They were standing closer than Emma had realized. It felt easier between them than it had in a long time.

When she was with the other Regina, they had an effortlessness that had been lacking with this Regina for obvious reason. Yet, right now, standing next to her Regina felt more real and right than any interaction with the other Regina ever had. She felt ready to fight with this Regina at her side. She, honestly, felt like she could take on the world. She let out a laugh at the realization and Regina finally looked over at her.

Emma shrugged at her look. "You probably won't believe me after everything, but I'm really happy it's you."

"What do you mean?" Regina asked, eyes searching hers.

"That it's you I'm talking to right now. Not her," Emma said. She met Regina's eye. "She knew all these things about me and us, but there was no shared experience. She wasn't the one that stared down Pan's curse and chose to give me everything I ever dreamed of. She probably would have, but she didn't know what that felt like. You…do."

Regina's fists clenched and Emma reached out to stop her hands, but pulled back.

"I like learning about you from you," she continued, "The root beer thing, for example. You like root beer. She looked at me like why don't you know that. I wish I'd seen you order root beer or something. Having the chance to remember your order and bring it to you later would have been… wonderful. I would have loved to have you look at it and think, 'She remembered when I ordered it at the diner.'" Regina's eyes were studying her, but she looked away again. "I was so afraid that you and me would never get where that other future thought we should be."

Regina's eyes stayed on her hands, but she said, "I doubted we'd get there as well."

"I'm sorry. I didn't even try," Emma said.

"Your worries had basis."

"Perhaps, but in the end, my worries outweighed whatever you were dealing with. It was horrible. It was selfish."

"True," Regina said, turning her head back out to the water. "I wouldn't say horrible."

"It was horrible." Emma said as her head fell again, ignoring Regina's head shake. "It was horrible. I took the easy way out. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I took away your choice and your chance to react to Marian. I took away your chance to be better. To show them you are better. You are the Regina that belongs here. You are the only one that has the right to be here. To make decisions. I don't know what it would have been like if you never got sent away, but you should have been the one to react. I let myself get caught up."

Regina reached out and grabbed Emma's bicep. "Stop." Emma turned startled eyes toward her. "Breathe." Emma took deep breaths.

Regina didn't release her, but shifted to give her a little space while keeping a hand on her arm. "Did you think about running when I came back?"

Emma closed her eyes. "Yes and no. I thought it would be better to leave for awhile, but Henry…" Emma felt Regina's grip tighten on her arm.

"I wouldn't have forgiven you if you'd left."

Emma blinked rapidly. Her mouth opened and closed.

"Henry is everything. I told you that. I'm glad you remembered before you…" Regina said.

"Ran?"

"Yes." Regina's eyes fell closed. "He will always matter more than any of our problems." Regina smiled fondly at the thought of her son. "Our love for him is true."

Emma smiled and looked at the hand on her arm. "It is, isn't it?" she said. "We lucked out."

Regina let her smile linger, but she turned her attention back out to the pond. "We did." She let her hand fall off Emma's arm.

They stood in silence for a long moment, both watching the water. After a bit, Emma started to rock back and forth on the soles of her feet.

"You were right to be mad at me," Emma said, without looking at her. "What I told Henry was all true. I was wrong. Deeply and truly wrong."

"I'm glad you understand that," Regina said.

Emma's head had fallen low and her chin was pressed against her chest. She let out a loud breath. "I got so wrapped in to the idea of her. It felt real. Realer than anything I'd experienced in a long time. She knew me. It felt like she really and truly knew me. I fucked up." Emma looked over and Regina nodded her head in understanding and as a gesture to go on.

"But it would never have been real," Emma said. "I should have known. She wasn't you." Her eyes darted back toward Regina.

"It was real in its own way," Regina said. "She wasn't an illusion."

"I guess, but she wasn't part of our reality," Emma said, with a shrug. "This is better. Our reality. Today mattered. You talking to me. Hearing that from you meant something to me. Hearing it from you. Now. Today. It mattered to me. To me. Not the other Emma. To me. I'm sure the other Emma treasured it when she told her." She shook her head. "I was so stupid. Even if it could have been real, it was so wrong of me to do that to you."

"It was."

Regina reached out and grabbed her hand. Their fingers laced together. Regina squeezed her hand before letting it fall. They stood together side by side until Henry called for them.