A/N: I apologize in advance for this chapter being semi-small. Just see it as an interlude. The reason being the next chapter will be very very meaty, and talky, and I need more time to finish it. Also thank you guys so much for the overwhelming response on the other chapter. I'm busy finishing up a one-shot, so the next part of Steps will be around Tuesday/Wednesdays. Anyhow, on with the show.

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Emma leaned against the open door of her bug, trying to even her breathing. All around her the world was spinning. She didn't even know how she had gotten from inside to where her car was parked. When had she unlocked the car? Opened the door?

She closed her eyes, trying to will the world to stabilize itself out once more. She was swaying slightly on her feet, one hand holding her side, just below the hastily bandaged wound. The shirt she was wearing was stained with bright red blots, she hadn't bothered to change out of it. Too much in a hurry. There was a fleeting thought that if anyone saw her like this they would likely insist on dropping her off at the local hospital. Which was part of the reason she was going to take the car. Less chance of running into people. Although in the current state, she might just literally run into them.

Opening her eyes again she took a few more steadying breaths before slowly easing herself into the driver's seat. She winced as the pain shot through her back the moment she sat down. It felt as if her entire back was on fire. "Fucking hell," she cursed, gasping through the pain.

Emma fished the phone from her pocket carefully, trying not to nudge her damaged fingers any more than she has to. She pressed the redial button on the touch screen for the umpteenth time while starting the car with her other hand.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up," Emma muttered, the words like a mantra to her. She gnashed her teeth when she revs the car up too much and the motion makes her back collide with the seat. The searing white hot pain steals her breath for a second and she whimpers quietly.

She was glad she had managed to call her parents back in the apartment and tell them to keep an eye on Henry at all times. Her parents promising they would, eased her mind a little, though David had launched a dozen questions at her about what was going on. Emma just didn't know what to tell him. She didn't even understand what the hell had happened herself, never mind explaining it to her worrying parents. That had been the number one priority on her list. Number two had been Neal. A part of her was still pissed off at how his manipulating had gotten them all into this damned mess in the first place. But despite all that, she didn't think him experiencing Regina's fury first hand was going to solve anything.

Emma mentally prayed Regina wasn't already at his place, or tracked him down otherwise. She was putting some hope on the former Queen to be brooding at her house, maybe deciding on her next plan of attack. Everything about the encounter Emma had with Regina hinted at the fact it had been a completely spontaneous act. Every word, every action, had been filled with hurt and grief just as much as the anger that Regina had used to channel all of emotions with. She had lashed out, but Emma was sure that it was mostly Regina venting her bitterness about the perceived betrayal in her eyes. She was sure Regina could have done a lot worse if she had really wanted to.

Not that her body would agree with that assessment. God she was a fool to even think of doing this in the first place. Driving to the house of the person that wrecked her home, and did such a number on her body... And not like it was the first time she was doing this. Evidently most of the times she was making this journey, it seemed like a bad idea.

She tries to hit redial on her phone again, almost missing the car coming straight at her. Tossing the phone to the seat next to her she grips the steering-wheel with both hands. The bug swerves dangerously. Emma yowls in pain at feeling the bones of her two broken fingers grind together as she yanks at the wheel. She cringes mentally at clipping some shrubbery and rose-bushes from someone's front-yard, but exhales slowly in relief when she manages to get her car back on the road properly.

Sweat beads form on her forehead as her eyes go slightly crossed from the barely manageable pain that continues to shoot through her body with every motion the car makes. That and she feels another wave of nausea coming up. Emma gulps in lungs full of air, trying to suppress her breakfast from making another appearance. Tossing her cookies inside her own damn car was all that was missing from making this day the perfect disaster.

It's with some relief when she finally takes the turn onto Miflin street. Though her parking leaves something to be desired, a drunk person couldn't have parked it any worse even if they tried. Not that she gives a flying fuck right now.

Emma closes her eyes again, thinks of all the things she wants to say. Thinks of how she's going to explain to Regina that she's got everything all wrong. There was no way the woman had cooled down enough in between blowing her top like an hour ago, and right now. She sighs and looks around for the phone.

Of course it was nowhere to be found. "Fuck," she hisses out. The earlier antics with mowing through someone's garden had likely thrown the phone underneath one of the seats. And with all the damage done to her body, she didn't think there was any chance of maneuvering around in the tight confines of the car to look for it. Neal was on his own it would seem. Emma could only hope her earlier hunch about Regina poofing straight home had been right on the money.

She gets out of the car slowly and carefully, but tears spring in her eyes anyways when she stands upright again. Emma swears it hurts more stepping out of the car than it did when she was getting in to it previously. Probably the adrenaline wearing off, she muses.

Her eyes take in the mansion looming in front of her. Her heart speeds up, and she starts to sweat more profusely. She steels her jaw and doesn't allow herself to dwell much more on what she's about to do, while slowly making her way up the cobblestone path.

She doesn't even make it to the door. There's the telltale prickling of magic at her back, the hints of movement from the corners of her eyes. Emma turns around slowly, fearful of what she would find.

"You just don't know how to take a hint, do you?"

The voice sounds less menacing than it had back at Emma's apartment. And she swears Regina's eyes look puffy, slightly red. As if she had been crying.

"Before you do anything else," Emma says, voice cracking without her consent. She clears her throat and holds up her hands, showing she means no harm, that she's not a threat. Not that there is a doubt in her mind Regina would and could ignore all of it and incinerate her on the spot if something were to set her off. "Please, at least let me explain. You've got it all..."

"Save it. I already told you, I don't want to hear anymore of your lies. And if you're here because you are worried about my intentions with Henry, I can assure you I won't harm him, nor will I take him anywhere against his will. I am not you, Miss Swan."

Emma casts her eyes down with Regina's last sentence. It was the way it was said, sharp, hurtful, so extremely bitter and filled with spite. The worst part was that Regina basically accused her of forcing Henry to go anywhere without his consent. Which was something Emma would never do. And she was pretty sure Regina knew this too.

"That's as good of a place as any to start. Did you even talk to him? Ask him what he thought about Neal's plans? Because Jesus Christ Regina, if you had, you would've known Henry wants to stay here. And a major reason of him wanting to stay here is you."

Regina's fiery brown eyes bore into Emma's own after she's finished speaking. It makes her feel slightly uncomfortable, though probably not for the reasons Regina would figure it does. Emma rubs at the wound on her forehead nervously. It was still pounding away nicely, but at least it stopped bleeding. She briefly wonders if it would leave a scar.

"And yet you and Neal would still abduct him to New York," Regina growls, as she takes a few quick steps towards Emma.

"What?! No.." Emma shakes her head, balls her hands into fists in frustration. "Are you even hearing anything I'm saying? I need you to listen to..."

"No, I need you to listen to me," Regina interrupts her, a sneer on her face and anger rolling off of her in waves. "Get the hell off my property. There's really nothing more I want to hear from you. So unless you want a repeat performance from earlier this morning I'd suggest you to leave right this instant."

"Repeat performance?" Emma gives Regina an incredulous look. "Are you fucking serious right now? If you think I will let you throw me around like a rag doll again, you've got another thing coming. Or did you forget about the supposed truce we had. The one you already technically broke earlier today."

"That truce is the only reason you are still standing. Now get out!"

"And what should I tell Henry when he gets home and sees the damage you have wrought, Your Majesty, ever thought of that?" It was a low blow, even Emma would admit as such. But Emma also knew that the one thing that might bring Regina back down to Earth would be Henry.

"I will not let you bring Henry into this..."

Regina looked absolutely livid as she spits out the words. Emma immediately realizes she gambled and lost this one. She all but feels Regina's anger reach the boiling point and senses her subsequent powering up of her magics. But at least this time she's prepared for what comes next.

She closes her eyes and remembers the lesson taught to her; magic is emotion. And hers comes from love. She focuses on the love she has for Henry, weaves it into a tapestry of magic and channels it towards her hands. In her mind she forms a impenetrable wall in front of her. Protecting her. She trembles with the effort it takes her, but she can feel the spell take hold. Can actually feel the wall appear in front of her.

When she opens her eyes again, she isn't sure who looks more surprised that her ward had actually stopped the wave of energy Regina had send towards her. Though it only takes Regina a moment to recover before she tries again. Only for the magic to once again bounce off the invisible barrier in front of Emma.

Emma lets out a joyous laugh of glee, feeling giddy as the effects of the magic start taking hold of her brain. "It worked," she grins. "It actually worked."

And then black spots appear in her vision, her world narrows to a tiny sliver and the last thing she sees is the ground rushing towards her.

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