Sorry for the wait but here is the next chapter! Please let me know what you think and the directions you'd like for the story to go.

Decision

Regina was sitting in the back of the car, pretending not to be in David's company. She was fuming: how dared he tell her that she should blame her father? The man had done everything in his power to help her but Cora had won. And if Mary-Margaret had not wished for a mother after Eva had died, her mother would have never been able to make a deal with Leopold. Regina's destiny had been sealed by a ten-year-old brat and despite David's assertion of the contrary, Mary-Margaret was solely responsible for the torture Leopold had subjected Regina to.

David parked in front of the small boutique on Main Street. "I have a few things to take care of at the station. Are you two going to be ok?" He turned toward Granny, knowing full well that he wouldn't get an answer from Regina.

"We'll be fine. Should we meet here in a couple of hours?" The old lady asked pleasantly, trying her best to ignore the animosity emanating from the backseat.

David nodded. "Let's meet here in two hours." He agreed as he climbed out of his vehicle. He opened the back door for Regina but the brunette ignored the gesture. David sighed in exasperation but decided not to comment. He knew that Regina didn't want to hear what he'd have to say but David was glad he'd confronted her sooner rather than later. She needed to deal with her past and her father's tacit agreement was part of that past. He watched as Granny gently led Regina into the store before heading to the station.

EC

David didn't make any progress on any of the administrative paperwork he had forced himself to open two hours ago. His mind keep wandering back to Regina and the best way to move forward. Mal was right: she needed to talk to Dr. Hopper but getting the brunette to admit it would be challenging to say the least.

Then there was the problem of the upcoming trial. Gold was a master defense attorney and he wouldn't spare any attacks on Regina. He was a shark, circling its hopeless prey until he'd catch her into a lie. And if the pictures he had let slip in discovery were any indication of his strategy, Regina wouldn't last more than five minutes on the stand.

David slammed his fist into the desk. "Damn it!" He swore, standing up. Letting Leopold go was out of the question but he hated to put Regina through more. She needed to build her life but the trial would only serve as a reminder of the only one she'd known: that of a battered wife with no freedom.

The Sheriff eyed the paperwork with disdain before exiting the station for the day and heading toward the shop where he had left Regina and Granny earlier. The short walk allowed him to clear his thoughts: they needed to take it one day at a time and as of today, Mary-Margaret's tape was keeping Leopold in jail. Regina was safe. For today.

When David entered the boutique he was surprised to see Regina and Granny arguing at the register. "I won't take any more of your money!" The brunette insisted vehemently.

"Then consider it a loan!"

"No." Regina shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "I won't be anyone's charity case. I need to learn to make it on my own! And that includes buying my own clothes!"

"What's wrong?" David asked before the argument escalated.

"The total price for the items are $215." The cashier started to explain.

And Regina only had $200 and she would need to stretch it out until next week. David sighed. He or Granny could loan Regina the money but her pride wouldn't let her accept more of their help. And he wouldn't wound her pride the same way he'd wounded her father's memory.

Regina grabbed an elegant blue dress from the pile and set it aside. "I don't really need this."

"But it looks gorgeous on you, child." Granny argued. "It's nice to have something you really love in your closet besides the bare necessity. And you can reimburse me by working a couple more hours at the diner!"

"I think we should let Regina decide what she wants to buy." David interjected.

Regina nodded at him, a small gesture indicating that his siding with her on the subject of her wardrobe only partially offset her being mad at him.

"Fine!" Granny threw her hands in the air. "Have it your way!"

ECECEC

A.D.A. Malerie Balaur was surprised to find Regina White in her waiting room when she entered the Storybrooke's District Attorney Office early in the morning. "Mrs W… Mills", she corrected herself, "What can I do for you?"

Regina slowly rose from her seat to greet the A.D.A. "I was wondering if we could talk about some of the … options you mentioned at the mansion last week." She looked down at the floor. "I'd like to explore them."

Mal motioned from the brunette to follow her into her office. She removed her coat and hung in on the hanger near the door. "First, I'd like to apologize to you." She started. "For letting Leopold's go on bail."

Regina shrugged. "It wasn't your fault." It really wasn't: Leopold was a pillar of this community and considered a low flight risk. "And so far, he's respected the terms of the restraining order, including staying away from Granny's diner."

Mal offered Regina a seat before taking the one behind her desk. "I'm glad to hear it but I want you under police protection at night. Have you coordinated with the Sheriff's office?"

Regina nodded. "Thomas has been staying in the room next door since Leopold's release." David had only taken one shift and they hadn't spoken the entire evening. She hated this situation; she hated not to be able to confide to one of her only two friends. But she also understood that David was giving her the space she'd needed and asked for and for that, she was grateful to him. "I've also started working at the diner." She added in order to change the subject.

"So I've heard!" Mal smiled warmly at Regina. "Congratulations!" She said sincerely. Mal was impressed by how quickly Regina had reasserted her control on her own life.

Regina fidgeted on her chair: she hated to be a charity case but the money Leopold was giving her and the small wage she was making at the diner was barely enough to cover her living expenses, let alone her medical bills or the dreams she had for herself. "You mentioned some programs to help me pay for the medical expenses…" She started.

Mal nodded. "Yes!" She stood up and walked to her file cabinet. "I have some brochures here." She flipped through several of the large files she had on hand but had never used since leaving New York a few years back. She grabbed several adverts for the programs she knew Regina could qualify for and went to sit in the chair next to the brunette. "This is for a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic abuse with their upfront medical expenses." Mal opened the pamphlet and pointed toward the requirements. "They don't fund reconstructive surgeries but have a very quick turn around time after the initial application so I think this would be perfect for you. All you have to do is get a letter from Dr. Whale and Sheriff Nolan regarding your domestic abuse and the medical procedures you had to undergo as a result."

Regina took the flyer and nodded. "This is another non-profit organization based in L.A. They tend to support victims on the West Coast but I think they'll make an exception in your case. They will give up to $2000 to victims of domestic abuse ready to restart their life. It will help you get the basic necessities that Leopold took away from you." Regina read over the requirements and nodded once more. The $170 shopping spree had barely covered a summer and fall wardrobe. Soon she would have to worry about the harsh Maine winter.

"Finally, this will help you go back to school." Regina looked at Mal in shock: how did the A.D.A. guess that she wanted to pursue her dreams of a college education? "Did you finish high school?" Mal asked hesitantly.

Regina shook her head. "I've just registered for adult classes at Storybrooke High so I can get my GED. But it won't be for several weeks."

"That's perfect!" Mal exclaimed enthusiastically. "The program doesn't require for you to have a high school degree or any equivalency at the time of application. Just a willingness to study hard. All you'll need are letters from your professors. If your application is accepted, then you'll have to send your GED results. But not before then. So this should give you a few months before you have to take the test."

Regina took the brochure with shaky hands: it contained all the hopes and dreams of the seventeen-year-old who had been forced to marry a man old enough to be her father and it contained the revenge the woman vowed against her abuser and his daughter. She would not cower in fear; she would not let them dictate more of her life. She would become someone influential, someone people respected; and that would be the sweetest revenge of all.

"Do you know what you'd like to study?" Mal prompted after several minutes of silence.

"Business administration with a focus on marketing." Regina replied without hesitation.

The A.D.A. smiled warmly. She had no doubt Regina would get her degree from a top tier university. "That's a laudable goal." She stood and walked to her desk. Mal opened her rolodex and handed Regina a business card. "Here are the contact information for my friend Ashley. She is a divorce attorney and can help you get the process started. She'll also be in a better position to advise you about your rights during the criminal trial."

Regina looked at the card. "I thought you'd be advising me?"

Mal shook her head. "My first obligation is to see Leopold behind bars and counseling you will raise several conflicts of interest that Gold could use to get a mistrial for his client. Ashley will be in a better position to help you, Regina."

"Thank you." The brunette said sincerely. "Thank you for helping me."

"You don't have to thank me." The blonde smiled. "Men like Leopold White have no place in society."