A/N:

So... I hate my internet... it decided to not save my edits to this chapter that I had made... and that included the really fucking long note I had written.

Well... I guess... the gist of it was: I hate everything, and I've had no motivation for anything, and I feel completely horrible about it... and yet give no fucks. I'm really hoping this doesn't turn into one of my Castle Fics (not updated in over a year) and I'm really trying, but I don't have Ch. 9 done yet... and don't know when I will.

I hate my internet, I hate everything, I'm pissed off and angry and sorry and upset and want to smash both my computer, and the router because both have been fucking with me this whole week and making me lose things and it's pissing me off and not helping my 'no motivation' stretch that started about Saturday.

I am really sorry that this took forever, and I'm sorry that I don't know when Ch. 9 will be up. I'm sorry.

There are a bunch of things that I had changed in the chapter, but I'm so pissed off and angry that I'm not going to change them again... and maybe will change them later... I don't know... but there are some typos and if you catch them... well, good for you.

I'm sorry.

Hope you enjoy... maybe even a little. :|

Love lots,

CBC

Trigger warnings:

mentions of abuse

semi-graphic cutting scene

PTSD like reaction(s)


Have A Heart 8

Regina scurried around the kitchen, quickly gathering what she needed to serve dinner, when a throat was cleared, and she almost dropped the porcelain plates. She spun around quickly, eyes wide with fear, to find Katherine standing in the doorway, "Miss. Regina."

"Katherine," she spoke, her voice shaking.

"Would you care for a hand of help?"

Regina shook her head vehemently, "No, you are the guest, Katherine, there is no reason for you to need to help."

The middle-school girl shook her head and stepped forward, compassion in her eyes, "If I could help, I would."

Regina looked away, and tried to busy herself with the last preparations of dinner, "There is no reason for you to help me, but thank you for the offer. Go on, I'll be just out."

"I don't think she sees it. She always has been a little self-righteous… though I guess I have been too, so I shouldn't say much. She was very excited to get another mother… but I know she does not treat you with actual kindness."

Regina gripped tightly at the counter before her, "Katherine, you need to-"

"If I could help… if I could say something and be heard… I would say it. I would do it. You shouldn't be here. I know that there is someone else, I ride too, you know. I saw you, once- with the stable hand. You smiled then, and looked as though you meant the kindness behind it. I see what he-"

"Katherine, please-" Regina begged, her back still to the girl, her fingers clawing against the tile of the counter.

"If I could help, without consequence, I would do something, I really would. You don't belong here… but your mother-"

"Katherine! Darling, Mr. White has a question to ask of you!" Mrs. Nolan called from the dinning room.

"If I could help, I would, honest," Katherine said once more, before Regina heard footsteps and knew that the girl had left the kitchen, leaving her alone to the thoughts that people noticed… but didn't do anything out of fear for themselves.

Tears burned down her cheeks for a few moments before she gathered her emotions, buried them deep down within her and swore that she would not let her emotions get the best of her. Grabbing a couple of dinner platters, she turned and hurried from the room to serve dinner, a fake smile pasted to her face.

/SQ/

Emma felt tears running down her cheeks as Regina and Mary-Margaret continued to battle. Regina's phone was getting closer and closer to the Mayor's ear. Mary-Margaret's seemingly kind features were contorted into anger.

Regina's features were cold, and cruel. Her eyes burned with hatred, anger, and pain, "You had better leave, or I will be calling the Sheriff."

"I work here, Regina, and-"

"You have no right to use my given name!" Regina shouted before pressing a button on her screen and putting the phone to her ear, "Now leave! Or I will have you arrested!"

Emma swallowed, waiting for the woman to turn around, but she didn't, "You think he's just going to come over and arrest me? I'm doing my job!"

"What you are doing is harassing- yes, Sheriff Graham, I would like to report a harassment incident. Yes, I am still with Miss. Swan," Regina's eyes narrowed at the woman before her, "Miss. Mary-Margaret Blanchard- yes. She is causing a disruption to Miss. Swan and me. Upon being requested to leave, she has not done so, and she continuously will not do so," she paused, and Emma let out a small sob, unable to hold it back.

Regina spun around to face her, and Emma flinched, scooting further away. Regina's eyes softened, but it did nothing to quell the fear broiling within Emma's mind, or the anger emanating from Regina, "Graham, I need you to come take care of Miss. Blanchard, and then remain with Miss. Swan."

Emma sucked her lip between her teeth at the pain in Regina's voice, and watched with wide eyes and Regina hung up the phone and took a step forward. Emma let out a cry, and scooted so far back across the bed, she had to scramble to stay on it.

Regina froze, pain in her eyes, and swallowed, "Miss. Swan."

Emma refused to look at her, her whole body pounding with the harsh beating of her heart. She couldn't look at Regina, or she was going to scream again.

The look in Regina's eyes was murderous when she was addressing the other woman...

"Sheriff Graham will be here momentarily, and when he arrives, I will be leaving. I can see that I am no longer wanted here," Regina said, her voice void of emotion, and hollow upon Emma's ears.

Emma swallowed back another sob, and watched out of the corner of her eye as Regina grabbed the chair sitting beside the bed and moved it across the room before she sat down, her back to Emma, and her head turned towards the other woman who still hadn't left the doorway.

/SQ/

Regina eased out of the car gently, her breath catching in her throat when the movement tugged at the tight skin across her back. Swallowing a whimper, she headed into the stables to care for Rocinante and Starfire.

Clenching her teeth as she gingerly kept up her casual pace, she said a silent thanks that Leopold had taken the day off work to go on some school trip with Mary, leaving Regina alone at home.

As soon as they had left, she'd immediately started getting ready, knowing full well that Leopold didn't expect her to go anywhere after her beating the previous night.

Well, she'd show him... so she'd gotten into the car, and took the backwoods roads to the stables, parking out of sight upon arrival.

She slowed as she got closer, listening to see if anyone else was around. After not hearing anything unusual, she pressed onwards and pushed into the stables, heading in direction of her beloved horse.

Clicking softly, she smiled when he whined in response, and pushed his head out of his stall, Starfire doing the same out of her own, "Hey beautifuls, I'm sorry I haven't been able to come down recently," she spoke softly, reaching her hands out and rubbing first Roci, then Star.

Opening up Starfire's stall, Regina lead the mare out and tied her to the post. Regina trusted both her horses, but she didn't want to take any chances... not anymore. She then quickly tugged Rocinante out from his own stall, and felt tears spring to her eyes when he dipped his head and nuzzled her protruding abdomen, a soft huff of air heating her skin through her shirt.

Grabbing a brush from a bucket, she began her routine. She always hummed when she groomed them, and it felt wonderful to slip into the easy feeling of freedom… something she hadn't felt since before… she swallowed, the hum on her lips dying out. Taking a slow, deep breath, she continued to groom Roci, though her light feelings were now lead heavy.

She remained silent as she continued to work, smiling sadly as Roci nudged her playfully several times. It ached when he did, but she wasn't going to reprimand him… because he was one of the only creatures left to still love her unabashedly. Clenching her fingers into his mane, she pressed her cheek to his neck and cried, holding him close. He seemed to pick up on her distress, and shook his head up and down, neighing softly, before tucking his head around her, muzzling her face gently against his neck.

Starfire whined and shifted, edging closer, huffing when she couldn't get closer due to her rope restraint. Regina pulled from Roci and moved to give Starfire the same attention when the stable door opened behind her.

Regina froze; her whole body becoming stock still, and icy cold. She'd been found. She'd been discovered. He'd found her. He'd come home early and noticed she wasn't home.

"Mayor Mills? Is that you?"

Regina swallowed as tears came to her eyes, "Daniel?" She said, her voice a mere whisper.

The voice turned hallow as he spoke, "Miss. Regina?"

She carefully stepped out from behind Rocinante, and smiled upon seeing him, "Hi, Daniel."

"What are you doing here?"

Her smile faded, "I'm tending to my horses."

"You haven't been here for five months."

"Well, I haven't been able to leave-"

He scowled, "Of course you haven't had the time, now that you're married, with a daughter, a loving husband, and a baby on the way. Of course you've too busy to care for your horses. Well, if you'd like to know, I've been taking care of them, and your father has been a few times."

Regina swallowed, "Is that what you think?"

"What else is there to think, Miss. Regina. You're married."

She nodded, her heart shattering at his cold treatment, "Of course. Well, I'm here, and I'm taking care of my horses. Is that a problem?"

"I don't know. Is it?" He raised an eyebrow and scowled again.

Scoffing, she spun around on her heel and stepped forward, not noticing that Rocinante had shifted. Smacking into her stallion, she let out a cry of pain as she tumbled to the ground, landing flat on her back. Her whole body burst with pain, and she bit down on her lip when she could feel blood trickling down her back from her most recent beating.

/SQ/

Regina let out a shaky sigh as she pushed open the door to her home. What had she done? Why did she not control herself?

Her heart thrummed painfully in her chest, and she cursed at it under her breath. Maybe having a dormant heart was not just a bad idea after all… because this pain? Going through this pain, and rejection again… was not worth it.

She scowled at herself in the foyer mirror before moving into her study. She hap-hazardly kicked off her heels, not caring in the moment, despite her usual need for neatness.

Grabbing a tumbler she poured herself a hearty glass of cider and collapsed onto the couch with none of her usual grace- except the instincts of not spilling her cider.

Emma hated her. Emma was afraid of her. Emma did not want her around anymore. Her heart ached painfully within her chest as the voices in her head continued on. She was worthless. Nobody cared. She had no one in her life who loved her.

Part of her was trying to fight back. She could feel it; it was as if someone was tearing a piece of paper unevenly. The smaller piece could not win out.

Her whole body began to burn, and she gulped down her cider, relishing in the flavor, and the bite of it in her throat... but it did nothing to relieve the burn of her body.

Placing the tumbler onto her table, she clenched her hands into fists, trying to keep them from shaking. Tears stung in her eyes, blurring her vision.

What had she done?

That little rat really was the cause of her demise. Mary-Margaret always knew the right time to mess everything up. Regina could never be rid of her. In all her powerful glory, that little rat was her downfall. Regina would never be able to rid herself of the girl who ruined her life. The number of different things she had done to destroy the petulant little brat had yet been successful, and no matter the want to be rid of the girl, murder was not an option. The bitch deserved worse than that, and no matter how Regina spun it, the town would know who was behind such a hit. It was not the same with Mary-Margaret, as it had been with the brat's twisted father.

Standing, she grabbed her glass and poured another generous helping, which she drank quickly before pouring another glassful and chasing the last drink with the next.

She finished six tumblers of cider before she slammed the glass against the small bar, hard enough to crack it within her fist. The decanter, which had been full, was now just past half empty, and a gentle buzz was taking over her mind.

Lifting her hand, she smashed the glass down again, and it shattered, several pieces embedding into the palm of her left hand. She hissed at the stinging sensation, and slowly wiggled her fingers, releasing the broken glass to tinkle against the hard wood of the bar.

Carefully, she removed the glass shards from her hand, and clenched her hand into a fist. When she felt no biting of glass, but only the stinging of her cider mingling with the blood of the small wounds, she swallowed hard. Picking up a larger piece of glass, she walked out of her study, paying no mind to the mess she had made as she grabbed her purse and headed upstairs to her bedroom.

She dropped her purse onto the bed, snarling to herself when it almost fell off, but she didn't move to fix it. Walking to the bathroom, her steps slightly staggered, she placed the glass piece atop the counter before stripping down, leaving her clothes pooled at her feet. Swallowing again, she lifted her head, and stared into the mirror, taking in her ugly, marred body. She was covered in scars. Her abdomen, her thighs, her hips, her arms, her chest, and her back were layered with sickly protruding scars of all shapes, lengths, and depths.

Running her fingers over her stomach, she felt tears spilling down her cheeks when they brushed across the scars from her surgery. Her fingers slid along the long vertical line from her rib cage to her pelvic region, and then along the long horizontal ridge from hip to hip.

Grabbing the glass piece, she closed her eyes, and focused on the cool material in her hand. It was jagged, and uneven... much like her skin. It was cool, and hard... much like her mother. It was broken, and shattered... much like her life.

Opening her eyes, she clenched the glass tighter within her fingers and dropped her arm so it hung limply at her side. Staring into the mirror, she watched as she pressed the broken glass roughly to her thigh and felt it pierce the skin before she dragged it up to her hip, hissing at the fiery pain, but keeping her eyes open.

She dropped her hand again, and repeated the motion four more times before switching the glass to her other hand and making her opposite leg match. The blood was running down her legs, leaving long, crusty streaks as it cooled and coagulated on it's way. A handful of droplets made it to her piled up clothes around her feet, but she didn't mind; it was not one of her favorite outfits.

Her legs ached and burned, but she forced herself to remain standing, she forced herself to endure it. She deserved it. She didn't deserve anything else. This was all she was good for. Nobody cared for her.

She began to absently drag the glass piece across her thighs in different patterns, zig-zagging across her skin, and across the many scars already there. The piece was covered with blood, as well as her knuckles, as they brushed across her bleeding thighs.

Her legs began to quiver- and her mind was continuing to fog over as the alcohol pumped through her system- but she continued to remain standing; she would not fall to her knees. She would not bow down.

Her doorbell suddenly began to ring, followed by a loud knock on the front door downstairs, and she gasped, dropping the bloody glass into the pile of clothes at her feet.

She swallowed, fear pulsing through her… someone was at the door… someone was here…. Grabbing a towel from off the rack, she began to swipe at her legs with shaking hands, clearing away as much blood as she could, careful of the few that were already scabbing over.

Stepping from the pile of clothes at her feet, she wiped the blood droplets from her feet, before dropping the towel and stumbling from the bathroom on aching legs and a muddled brain. She grabbed a pair of loose slacks from her closet, and pulled them up, hissing as the black material brushed against the still open wounds.

Reaching over, she let out a cry when her legs gave out on her, and she crashed to the ground. Grimacing, she bit back a sob of pain before standing back up.

Another ring of the doorbell had her heart pounding so hard it made her nauseous, but she shook it off as best she could, and quickly slipped on a bra and blouse. Turning, she began to button the blouse as she walked out of her bedroom and down the stairs, whimpering with each step she took.

Reaching the foyer, she glanced in the mirror, and rubbed at her face, clearing away the tears, and her make-up. She wiped at her face, and made it look as though she had been interrupted while preparing for bed. It was a bit early, but she could pull it off. She always could. Today was not going to be any different. She was going to open the door with a small scowl, and air of disinterest. She was going to speak shortly and briefly with the person at her door. She was going to politely dismiss them before closing the door and returning to her business. She was going to return to the upstairs bathroom and clean up the counter and floor, and then crawl into bed without a care about getting blood into her sheets. She'd just clean them out, and put a new set on the bed.

Shaking her head slightly when there was another rap at the door, she perfected her disinterested, and frustrated, scowl before steeling herself for the next few steps, and moved with careful steps to the door.

Swinging it open, she swallowed hard when the door caught her toes and jerked her leg back. Biting back a cry, she replaced her discomfort with confusion when she saw Archie standing on her porch, "Doctor Hopper."

"Regina, might I come in for a moment?" He asked, his nervousness showing only in the twitching of his fingers.

"What brings you to my end of town, Doctor?" She asked, keeping her voice level, not stepping aside to allow him entrance to her home.

"Sheriff Graham called. He informed me of an altercation between yourself and Miss. Blanchard. He inquired that I come and be a friend, since you requested that after dealing with Miss. Blanchard's blatant refusal to leave when requested to he was to remain at the hospital with Miss. Swan."

Regina swallowed, "I am just fine, thank you, Doctor Hopper-"

"Regina, I understand that perhaps now is not the time you wish to talk about anything. However, the good sheriff made it very clear to me that if I did not offer my assistance that he would put me in a holding cell. He is very concerned for your well-being, Regina."

"I'm fine, Doctor. You can inform him of your compliance, and then tell him that it was not needed."

"Regina-"

"Doctor Hopper, please. I am in no mood for this, and I do not take kindly to having my time interrupted. I will call you, at a later date, as I said I would, but now is not that time. I am very tired, and would like to get to bed early tonight."

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, his shoulder's slumping ever so slightly, "Of course. Be good to yourself, and get some extra sleep tonight. My office is open to you, when you're ready. Call if you need."

She nodded, "Of course. Thank you, Doctor Hopper."

He gave a gentle smile before turning and heading down the walk, "Have a good night, Regina," he called over his shoulder as she closed the door.

Taking a shuttering breath she walked back to the stairs and snarled when her thigh burned as she lifted her foot to the first step. Lowering it again, she scowled; she was not going to be able to get back upstairs.

She turned around, and headed to the front closet, grateful that she always left spare blankets and pillows in the back. They'd smell slightly dusty, but they'd work for sleeping on the couch for the night.

Pulling out four blankets, and a big fluffy pillow, she edged her way on shaky legs into the grand living room, placing the armful down upon the coffee table. Grabbing one of the blankets, she flipped it out so it billowed beautifully before her. Smiling at ripple as it settled, she laid it across the large couch, and tucked it around the cushions- there was no way she was going to risk getting blood upon her couch.

She picked out another blanket and repeated the process, finding a light joy in watching the blanket flow gently across the air. Grabbing the two remaining blankets, she unfolded them, and settled them onto the couch, pulling back the corners for when she was ready to crawl in. The pillow got a firm fluffing before she placed it against the armrest of the couch.

Sighing, she clicked her teeth together as she inspected her work; it would do. It was not her beautiful bed, but for the night it would do just fine. Stepping away, she walked down the hall into the downstairs restroom, and pulled out a spare toothbrush from the cabinet.

A loud pounding knock resonated through the house as she reached up for the spare tube of toothpaste. Scowling, she put the items on the counter, and eased her way to the door as the pounding only grew louder, and a feminine voice began to shout out her name.

Katherine… Regina swallowed… of course Katherine had heard what had happened, "Coming!" Regina called out, and immediately the loud pounding halted.

"Dammit, Regina! Open the door! Or I swear I'm going to find a way to break it down!"

Regina bit down and hustled the down the small foyer steps to the door, "Hold on!" She called out again.

The pounding started up again, "Regina! If you're just standing in the foyer avoiding opening the door, I will not be happy!"

Regina scowled, and wrenched the door open, "I was coming from down the hall, so excuse me if I chose not to run. It is not as if I take kindly to loud, obnoxious pounding on my front door."

Katherine shrugged, and brushed past, ignoring Regina's squawk of protest, "Well, I know that you wouldn't answer the door otherwise. Jesus, I've called you three times in the last ten minutes, and sent you at least five text messages. Why the hell didn't you ever pick up? You are not one to just ignore calls."

Regina swallowed… her phone… it was still upstairs…"My phone is still in my car, Katherine. I decided not to bring it inside," she replied as she shut the door.

Katherine scoffed, and gave Regina a once over with her eyes, "Of course you did. So if you were to strip down right here, right now, there wouldn't be any new damage?"

Regina raised an eyebrow, "Absolutely not," she said calmly, in a long since perfected tone of voice.

Katherine raised an eyebrow as well, "You just had a huge fight with double M, and are no longer staying all day and night at the hospital with that pity case-"

"Bite your tongue Katherine," Regina growled out, "she is no pity case."

"Then what is she? I'm dying to know, Regina, what drew you to this girl. I heard that you caught her stealing from Clark's store, and let her off the hook. You're paying her hospital bills? What the hell is that all about? Jesus, Regina, you have the whole town on watch for you because of this nobody! What the hell is going on with all this, Regina?" Katherine snapped.

"None of your business!"

"The hell it isn't! You have the whole town on red alert! Do we not deserve some kind of explanation?"

"Not at all! It is not for me to divulge! Nor do I want you to go flap your mouth to everyone about it!"

Katherine's eyes widened in shock, "Seriously, Regina? Was that called for? You know damn well it was not me who called Daniel about what happened, and you also know for damn certain that it was not me who told your mother. Now tell me what the hell is going on, and are your wraps still in the first aid kit down here, or is it now upstairs?."

"Excuse me?" Regina bit out.

"Oh please, Regina, enough with all this. The only times we've ever stayed this long in the foyer is because there's something you don't want me to see in the Study, or living room. That means that you made a mistake, and that it needs taken care of. It's not your arms, or your abdomen because your shirt is too light a color if that was the case. Which means that it's your thighs, and that you're having trouble getting upstairs. That means you've set up a temporary stay in the living room to sleep. I'm also guessing that your phone is on silent, and upstairs. You never leave your phone in the car."

Regina glared, her eyes cold, "And what makes you think that you're so right with all your assumptions?"

Katherine reached out and laced her fingers through Regina's, and pressed a kiss to Regina's cheek, "Because you had to ask me that. Please, Regina, let me help you out."

Regina looked down, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, "I… I don't know what to do…."

Katherine wrapped her arms around her in a loose hug, "How about we start with getting you cleaned up, and settled into bed with a cup of tea. I'll handle any mess that needs tidying up, and you're going to get some rest. I'll spend the night in the guest room, and we'll figure out the next steps in the morning."

Regina nodded against Katherine's shoulder, "Okay… okay…."

"Good, now let's see if we can get you back upstairs."

/SQ/

Regina forced herself not to cry as she blinked, not knowing what to do. If she stood up, then Daniel would see her back… and she knew she had broken open scabs. If she continued to lay here- "Miss. Regina?"

She swallowed, but didn't answer him. She couldn't answer him, what was she supposed to say to him about everything. He was upset with her, and she couldn't blame him.

"Regina, are you all right?" A tear slipped from her cheek as his voice suddenly became much friendlier, "Is the baby all right?"

She nodded, and clenched her fingers into a fist. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the inevitable, before slowly easing herself into a sitting position. The gasp she heard was enough to set the water works in motion. Tears spilled down her cheeks, silently burning tracks down her face and through the make-up that was covering the bruises on her face, "Regina, you're bleeding!"

"I'm all right," she forced out of her mouth as she slowly shifted to get onto her knees.

"No, don't move!" He said, and she heard the rustle of feet against the floor before a hand clasped at her elbow.

She hissed, and he released her, "I'm fine!"

"You're bleeding."

"I'm fine. It'll stop."

"Regina! You need to go to the hospital!"

"No! I'm fine! I… I just need to get home. I just need to get to my car, and get home." She replied, keeping her face out of his view as she slowly moved to untie Roci.

"Regina, you're not fine, you're bleeding. It needs to be treated. What will your husband say if you come home bloody?"

She stiffened, and let out a soft cry… Leopold… if he found out she had come out here… "He doesn't need to know," she said, "and so if you could please put Rocinante and Starfire back into their stalls, I need to get going."

"Regina, what's wrong?" He asked, but she ignored him as she patted Roci's rump before turning, still keeping her face down, and slowly heading out.

If Leopold found out she'd left the house, he'd beat her again, and force her to make it up to him… and that couldn't happen. Not again… not three days in a row. He'd make her go without dinner again, claiming to his snot-nosed daughter that she was still experiencing morning sickness.

"Good to see you," she whispered softly, hoping her voice didn't shake as she could only think about getting home so Leopold couldn't find out she'd left.

"Regina! I'm not letting you leave!" Daniel snapped, stepping forward his hand out and brushing across her shoulder. She dropped to the floor, on instinct, crying out in agony as her back continued to stretch and crack.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She sobbed out, curling her arms around her neck so he couldn't grab her, "I'm sorry Leopold! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

/SQ/

Emma snapped her eyes open as an involuntary cry was ripped from her throat. Gasping for air, she floundered a bit before clamping her mouth shut tight, and swallowing the sound.

"Miss. Swan?"

She let out a soft squeak, and flinched, burying her face into the pillow, hiding from the voice.

"Miss. Swan, are you all right? It's Graham."

Graham… Graham… she let out a breath and pulled her face from the pillow. Clearing her throat, she nodded, "I'm fine."

"Would you care to talk about it?"

She shook her head, "It's fine."

"Nightmares are not easy to deal with. Would you care for a glass of water?" His voice was kind, and his accent was soothing to her jumbled nerves.

"No, thank you."

"Of course. Need anything?"

She swallowed, "Tell me… about Madam Mayor."

She heard a chuckle, "Miss. Swan, I do believe she'd have an aneurism to hear you say Madam Mayor. She's given you permission to call her Regina, which is a very high honor to have."

"Yea… well, I'm sure she still wants me to call her Regina."

He sighed heavily, "Miss. Swan-"

"Goodnight, Graham."

"Emma, Miss. Blanchard and Regina have a complicated, unfriendly, hostile relationship. It is not pretty when they are in each other's company, and it is very unfortunate you had to witness it. It's very unfortunate that your nurse decided not to use her brain when asking another nurse, or volunteer, for help."

"Yea, well… true colors and what not."

It was silent for a moment, before he cleared his throat heavily, "I understand very well how Regina can seem very scary, Miss. Swan, but a lot of it is a whole lot of bark, and not a whole lot of bite. I can understand how what you saw was horrifying, especially coming from an abusive situation, but Regina will not harm you."

Emma shifted again on the bed and let out a small scoff, "Yea, and how do you know that?"

"Good night, Miss. Swan."

"Excuse me?"

"That is not my story to tell, Miss. Swan, so if you want to know, you're going to have to try and pry it out of Regina. However, I can promise you, that she is no danger to you."

"Sure… but she's a danger to Miss. Blanchard. How do I know that she's not going to change on me?"

"I know so, Emma, because I know Regina much better than you do, and I have a much better relationship with her than you do. I may have a complicated relationship with Regina, and she is definitely not a woman to trifle with, but she is also not a monster."

"What did she do to you?" Emma asked, her voice biting.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, she must have done something, right? What was it? Did she turn you down? Did she use you as some kind of toy?" Her emotions were running rampant, and she was angry… angry that something good in her life turned out to be just as bad as everything else, "Because what kind of man as kind as you would be friends with someone as hostile and evil as her?"

"Emma, whatever your anger is about, I would advise you not to speak of Regina in that fashion. Our relationship has been through many ups and downs, but whatever the case it may be, it is not proper to speak unkindly about a situation you know nothing about. So I am requesting that you refrain from doing so. Regina has done not a thing to harm you, and upon realizing her outburst frightened you, she stepped away. I hope you realize that she cares for you, and I hope that you'll think the next time you wish to speak ill-mindedly about her," Graham's tone was tight, but collected, but Emma wasn't in the mood to be undermined any longer.

Scoffing, she rolled her eyes to herself before replying, "Yea… sure, good night."

"Good night, Miss. Swan."


A/N:

Did I mention how much I hate my fucking internet and want to smash my router and strangle the people at Earthlink for not fixing it when we keep calling... and we've changed the router 3 times now? NO? Okay... then I just did.

I hate my internet and want to smash things.

Fuck it all...

Sorry... rant over...

How'd you like the chapter?

Review?

Love lots,

CBC