She sat on the cold marble floor, her knees drawn to her chest, with her back pressed against her father's tomb talking to Henry senior as if the man sat beside her. Regina poured her heart out to her father, knowing that what she revealed to him would be kept secret. She told him about his grandchildren and what her life was like now, and about feelings she was having that confused her. Emotions she was having a hard time recognizing because it had either been such a long time since she felt them, or because she had never felt them before at all. Emotions that were tied to a certain blonde who continued to be a pain in her ass and yet could bring Regina such happiness with just a simple smile. Regina groaned and dropped her head to her knees.

"I wish you were here to hold me, Daddy." Regina said softly. "I wish you could tell me what to do about her."

Walking up the path Snow could see Regina inside the mausoleum. She surged forward ready to tell the evil queen off for breaking her parole, Regina wasn't allowed unsupervised access to her vault, but suddenly stopped. There was just something about the way Regina sat there that wouldn't let Snow disturb her, so she waited. She stood there until Regina had come outside and closed the doors behind her before making her presence known. "What are you doing here Regina?"

Anger flashed in Regina's eyes at the sight of the woman standing a few feet from the marble steps. How dare Snow spy on a private moment that like! But Regina managed to keep her cool, coming across very aloof as she replied, "This is still my father's tomb, Snow, and today would have been his birthday. I have a right to pay my respects. You can check the seal on the vault if you'd like, it's unbroken."

Now that she was closer to Regina Snow could see the redness in her eyes from shed tears. "I'm sorry." She said gently. "I liked your father. He was a kind and gentle man."

Regina gave a weak watery smile. "He tried." Yes, Henry senior tried, but the truth was he was a weak man to afraid of his wife to be the father he should have been, the father Regina needed him to be, but she didn't love him any less for that. She adored him, and as she began realizing what it was she regretted about her past, his death she regretted the most. Though unlike most of her other regrets this one was soothed knowing that he'd given up his life hoping to give her a better one. "Is there a reason you're here, Snow? Or have you just taken to following me around town waiting to catch me at something evil?"

"We need to talk." Snow said, snapping back into the frame of mind that sent her looking for Regina in the first place.

"And what pray tell dear Snow do we have to talk about?" Regina asked, as she looked Snow in the eyes. It took a lot for her not to cross her arms over her chest but she didn't want to assume a defensive stance just yet. She would hear Snow out and then decide if she needed to get defensive.

Snow looked right back at Regina. "Emma." She said firmly. Since confronting Emma about the non-date date, her daughter refused to talk to Snow about Regina, which meant she also refused to listen. Snow had no choice but to go to Regina herself. "Whatever it is you're planning, Regina, whatever way you think you're going to use my daughter to get back at me, you need to stop. I know we haven't really dealt with our issues, we've just sort of come to a silent but mutual agreement to tolerate each other because of Henry and I suppose Lucy as well, but I thought that meant we'd called a truce. And in the spirit of that truce I'm coming to you first, one on one, to ask you to stop it."

Regina looked genuinely confused. "What on earth are you talking about, dear? Stop what?"

"Whatever it is you're doing to make Emma think she has romantic feelings for you." Snow said.

The shock of Snow's words washed over Regina so strongly that there was no hiding it. Emma had feelings for her? Emma was having romantic feelings for her? The same kind of romantic feelings Regina was having, or more to the point struggling against, for Emma? It had been so long since Regina had felt any kind of real emotion that it was hard for her to comprehend them, but as she repaired her relationship with Henry, as she built her relationship with Lucy, she was slowly starting to remember what love felt like. It was wonderful! It was also terrifying because opening the door to love again meant dealing with her grief over Daniel, and dealing with her grief and the pain of loosing him was slowly opening up space in her heart. Space that fluttered with anticipation at the thought of possibly being filled by love for Emma, and space that longed to be filled by love from Emma. But that was impossible because Emma could never love her. Plus, Regina wasn't entirely sure she had a complete grasp on the whole loving thing yet anyway.

And yet there stood Snow telling her that Emma was having romantic feelings towards her. Could it be possible? Could Emma really be struggling with the same emotions she was? Could Emma Swan love her?

"Oh my god." Snow said as she watched Regina's face, her eyes. "You didn't know." She watched Regina's eyes carefully and that's when she saw it and it made her eyes go wide with surprise. There was a flicker of emotion in Regina's eyes that reminded Snow of that evening when Regina explained true love to her, a flicker though hidden that was far brighter than what she'd seen Regina feel for Daniel. "You have feelings for Emma!"

She did. She had feelings, real feelings, for Emma. And it looked like Emma returned those feelings. Regina needed to be a lone. She needed to think. Without a word to Snow she turned and began walking way.

"Regina!" Snow called after her but Regina kept walking. "Regina!"

The sun was warm even if the air was chilled with an autumn breeze. There was a crisp sweet scent in the air as they walked through the orchard that kept a smile on Regina's face. Though that smile could just as easily be from all the time she was spending with the stable boy, Daniel. He treated her in a way that made her feel like she was special, like she mattered, like she was a person. She explained all of this to her companion as they walked and her smile easily appeared on his face as well.

"Oh my god." He said with a gentle chuckle as he pulled Regina closer to his side. "You're falling for the stable boy."

Regina gasped. "I am not!" She thumped him in the chest to emphasize her point. "He's just nice to talk to!"

Jefferson laughed. "And talk about apparently. You've done nothing for the last hour but talk about Daniel the stable boy."

Dark eyes narrowed and then Regina huffed indignantly.

"The fact that your acting like a spoiled brat right now means I'm right." Jefferson teased. "You only act like a little brat with me when I've said something or done something you don't like."

"I'm not acting like a brat." Regina huffed. "You're being an ass."

Jefferson laughed again. "Regina! Such language. Keep it up and you'll be more like me than is best for you." He pulled her close again; squeezing her with the arm he had around her. "Come on, tell me, why is it such a bad thing to have feelings for someone who makes you feel the way he makes you feel?"

Regina sighed as she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as they walked slowly among the trees. "Because that isn't how things work, Jefferson."

"Why?" Jefferson asked. "Because of who you're expected to be?"

"Yes." Regina said. "He's a stable boy. Mother would never allow it. I have to marry…"

"How your heart tells you to marry." Jefferson said as he stopped them. He let her go so he could put his hands on her upper arms and turn her so she was facing him. "Regina, there's nothing better than spending your life with the person you love." He smiled at her while reaching up to cup her face as he looked into her eyes. "When you find your true love, when you're together, you hearts beat as one. Their smile lights up you world. Their arms become the safest place for you to be. You don't have to marry for power and position, Regina. Don't let her do that to you. Love him, if that's how you feel about the stable boy, then love him."

She looked into his eyes and took in his words, wanting so badly to believe them, but she was afraid too. "That girl of yours has turned you soft."

Jefferson laughed and shrugged as he let her go only to put his arm around her again. "That girl of mine happens to be my wife, Regina. And in a few months, the mother of my child."

Regina gasped. "Oh Jefferson that's wonderful!" She squealed as she threw her arms around his neck.

He hugged her back, he hugged her tight and close, he hugged her as if he were trying to make sure she felt his love and affection for her because he new all to well how starved of it she was. Stepping back he once again looked into her eyes, "You are worth so much more than a bride price, Regina. You're worth loving, you're worth being loved and giving love, and if that comes from a stable boy or a knight it shouldn't matter as long as it's true. You deserve it, Regina; you should be loved and loved well. Don't let anyone, not even her, tell you other wise."

"Jefferson…" She replied softly.

"No." He said firmly. "Regina, promise me! Promise that if you're ever given a chance to love someone, to be loved by someone, to be happy, you'll take it no matter what. You grab hold of it and never let it go."

Regina stood there for a long time before she could finally look up into his eyes and nod. "I promise."

"Good girl." He said with a bright smile before leaning in and kissing her cheek.

Regina drove out to the stables after leaving the cemetery. She saddled up one of the horses that had just arrived after changing her clothes and set out. She rode as fast and as hard as she could, as fast and as hard as her mind and emotions felt like they were going. She had done so much in the name of revenge, so much evil, and yet the world seemed to be offering her a second chance. Why? Surely she was so far from redemption that in reality she would never be able to reach it. She'd manipulated children, sending them to their deaths at the hands of the blind witch. She'd turned her friend and lover into a dragon and kept her imprisoned deep beneath the town for twenty-eight years. She'd kidnapped and locked away an innocent girl to use her a pawn against Rumple. She killed her father. She killed Graham. Hell, she killed Henry, though that had been an accident. She'd really meant to put Emma to sleep the way she had Snow. What right did she have to love? What right did she have to love Emma? Or to be loved by Emma?

Emma, who'd broken the curse and given her Henry and brought Lucy back to her, Emma, who supported her, who called her out on her crap, who refused to let her get away with anything, but always let her know she'd done well even if it were just with a simple crooked smile. The Savior, the white knight in red leather, the slayer of evil not the true love of evil. But evil wasn't born, it was made, so it could be unmade couldn't it? And who was in more need of a white knight then her?

Regina was so caught up in thinking about how she felt about Emma that she wasn't paying attention. She didn't see the low limb of the tree until it was smacking her in the head, sending her flying from the horse and crashing into the ground.

The last time Emma felt like this she and Regina had been rushing around trying to save Henry. Her heart hurt, she could barely breath, and her mind was a whirlwind. She had gotten a frantic call from Lucy saying Regina wasn't home when she'd gotten home from school. Regina was always home by the time Lucy got home and if by some chance she couldn't be there she called Emma. Emma hadn't heard from Regina in over twenty-four hours. Emma had dropped what she was doing and rushed to Regina's after Lucy's call. Her first priority had been calming the girl down. Once Lucy was calm she left her in Henry's care while she called around town looking for Regina. When that turned up with nothing she called Snow, asking her to come over. When Snow arrived Emma told her Regina was missing and asked her to watch the kids. That's when Snow admitted she'd seen Regina early that afternoon at the crypt.

Emma was less then pleased with her mother. Snow said that she and Regina had had words but wouldn't come right out and admit what those words were about. When Emma confronted her about being the topic of conversation she was both amazed that her mother was looking out for her, and pissed that her mother was butting into her life. She let Snow know that they would be having words of their own when this was over, but for now her focus was on finding Regina. She still didn't trust Gold not to try something, or maybe someone allied with Whale, and what if god help them Cora had found a way over? Jumping into her cruiser Emma's first stop was out at the stables. She didn't know a damn thing about horses but finding a fully saddled and reined horse munching on grass outside the building that held Regina's office seemed really wrong to her. Emma checked the entire area; she found Regina's car, her clothes, the horse, but no Regina. That's when she called Red.

It didn't take long using Red's senses to find Regina unconscious in the woods, a huge gash on her head. She was cold from lying out there for so long in the evening air but she had a pulse. Seeing Regina lying there felt like a knife through Emma's heart. "Ruby! Call an ambulance!" Falling to her knees beside the woman Emma tried to revive her. "Regina, Regina, wake up!" Emma said as she gently tapped Regina's cheek. "Damnit Regina wake up!"

Regina stirred a little but not enough to be considered aware or alert. When the paramedics arrived they had a portable carry stretcher they put Regina on to carry her out of the woods. Once back at the ambulance they were able to assess her better. Emma rode with them to the hospital and on their way there Regina did come to a little. Emma could feel her heart take a beat. "Regina?"

"Emma." Regina said, her voice soft, raspy. "Emma, don't."

"Don't what?" Emma asked as she leaned close.

"Love me." Regina replied. "I'm not worth it. I don't deserve it."

Emma swallowed back a sob. What the hell had Snow said to her? Regina wasn't the vulnerable sort; she was self assured and strong. She should be telling Emma she should be so lucky as to have a chance to love her, not throwing in the towel when they were just realizing there was a towel. "I think you're a little to late, Regina. I'm pretty sure I've already started loving you."

Regina didn't hear Emma's words, she'd passed out again.

She couldn't cross into the lands belonging to Snow and Regina but others could. Cora simply had to find someone she kind of trusted to fetch what she needed. Walking into what was left of the harbor town she headed for the shambles that use to be the tavern. Walking in she made a face of pure disgust, as she looked the filthy place over. Spotting the man she was looking for hunched over a table she picked up her skirts and made her way over to him carefully. "Well, haven't the mighty fallen."

The man looked up and snarled at the woman. "What do you want woman?"

"I've come to offer you a job." Cora said as she glared down at him.

"Ain't interested." The man replied.

Cora pulled out a handkerchief and dusted off the chair across from the man before sitting down. She looked right into his eyes as she said, "I can pay you handsomely."

"Have you see the world lately you crazy bird?" The man barked a laugh at her. "What good is gold in hell?"

"Well, I wasn't refereeing to paying you in gold." Cora said. "I was thinking more of granting you passage."

"Passage to where?" The man asked.

Cora reached for his arm, the one missing a hand, and lifted it up. "To the place where the man who did this is."

A sneer appeared on the man's face. "Rumplestilskin."

"Yes." Cora purred. "Fetch me what I need and I promise you can come with me."

"Go with you were?" He asked.

"A place called Storybrooke." Cora answered. "He's there and so are my daughter and my granddaughter, and so I've learned my grandson. I can get us there but I need you to bring me something from the Charming Castle."

"What?" The man asked.

"A wardrobe." Cora replied. She gave him a moment to think about it and then said, "So, Hook, interested in the job?"

He looked at her for another long moment. "Where do you want me to bring it?"

Emma sat at Regina's bedside racking her brain for the moment, that one particular moment, when Regina went from this threat to Henry that she had to get him away from, when she went from the biggest ice blooded bitch she'd ever known, when she went from the evil queen to the person Emma was falling in love with, the person who's laugh made Emma smile, the person she would fight for rather then fight against. When had it all gone topsy turvy? When had she gone from hating the woman to loving her? How did something like that even happen? She couldn't find just one moment; she couldn't find simple answers to any of those questions. It had been many moments. The way Regina reacted when Henry died, and came back. The way she faced that angry mob out for her blood. The way she'd looked in that cell after that thing attack her. The way she'd looked up at her when her touch made Regina's magic work. The way Regina had looked at her from the mirror, the relief she saw there when Regina realized she was all right. It was seeing the courage it took for her to face seeing Lucy and the pure joy that washed over her when she had the girl in her arms again. It was the way Regina tried so hard to make things up to Henry, to show him that she loved him, respected him, and how sorry she was for the making him feel the way she did. It was the way she faced those she'd hurt the most, the people of the town, her parents, and the way she let go of her power though it was a daily struggle. It was the fact that Regina was coming to terms with what she'd done, seeing her slowly feel the remorse for her actions, and struggle to be better than the woman who'd done all that harm. It was the fact that she knew Regina was flawed, broken, and would probably always struggle against her darkness, and she accepted that. She accepted Regina, horns and all.

"Ok, look, I get it." Emma said to Regina as she held her hand and looked at her closed eyes. "This is all kinds of messed up. You're Snow White's Evil Queen and I'm Snow White's daughter. You're the villain and I'm the hero and we shouldn't have these feelings we have for each other. But ya know what?" She paused as if Regina might reply and then continued. "I don't care. I don't give a rat's ass who you're supposed to be and who I'm supposed to be. What I do care about is you, and what I want, is to have the chance to see where we could go with this. So, yeah, you're gonna have to wake up and if I have to kiss you to wake you up I'll do it, but I'd rather kiss you when your awake enough to kiss me back." She paused again, waited but no response, so she stood up and leaned down. "Ok, if this is how you wanna play it."

Emma leaned down and softly pressed her lips to Regina's and much to her surprise Regina responded. The kiss was full of promise and when Emma finally pulled away she was smiling as she stared down into beautiful brown eyes. "How long have you been awake?"

"It was such a pretty speech I wanted to see where you were going with it." Regina replied, her voice raspy from nonuse. She smiled as Emma reached out to brush at her hair, letting herself enjoy the moment, but just the moment because she didn't have the right to more. "Emma…"

"Don't." Emma warned her. "Regina, don't you say it if what you're about to say has anything to do with this sudden self deprecation shit you were spewing while you were in and out of it. I don't know what Snow said to you this afternoon but it was crap, and I'm going to tell her it was crap when I see her."

"She was just protecting you." Regina said softly. "She doesn't want to see you get hurt."

"Do you plan on hurting me?" Emma asked.

Regina shook her head. "No, Emma, I would never intentionally hurt you."

"Is this all part of some plot to get back at my mother?" Emma asked.

Again Regina shook her head. "No."

"Are you doing something to me magically to make me have feelings for you?" Emma asked.

"No." Regina said, offended a bit by that.

Emma smiled. "You're telling the truth. So there's no reason for her to worry."

"Emma…" Regina tried again.

"Oh shut up." Emma replied as she leaned in to kiss Regina again.