AN: As promised I was able to get this chapter out really fast. As always many thanks to my beta eSQuses who makes this story look amazing. Let me know what you think of the new chapter.

Emma gets up as soon as she can and tries to wrap the duvet around her, although she figures that's irrational, she's already under the covers with Regina, in Regina's bed, and they're both fully clothed. Nothing to hide that's not already hidden.

"Emma?"

"Regina? What's going on?"

She's so confused. One minute she's thinking about being with the brunette, the next she's laying down on top of said brunette.

"I don't know."

Regina looks equally confused. She gets up in bed and props a pillow behind her back, while Emma also gets up but she turns around to face Regina.

"Is it your magic again?"

"I think so. What were you thinking about?"

Emma rolls her eyes. The answer should have been obvious. Regina sees the gesture and simply lifts an eyebrow as a silent challenge.

"Ok, fine, I was thinking of you and how nice it would be to sleep next to you, and that I liked our time by the lake."

Regina purses her lips in thought.

"I was thinking the same, but it still doesn't make any sense why you would be here. I wished many times you were with me yet neither of those times you appeared."

"Maybe it's because we are engaged."

"No, my powers will transfer the same way as for others, and we definitely didn't let you near the source. Even if you were, it would probably harm you, not accept you as a user."

Regina looks positively concerned.

"Is it because I have my own powers?"

"No, in fact that should give us more trouble, and it's not. My magic is actively accepting you without us doing anything."

"Maybe we should tell your mom."

"And get her to freak out? No way. I'll speak with Daddy, but this should never get out to anyone, especially my mother."

Regina's hands started to wrap around the duvet until her knuckles were white. It was clear to Emma that Regina was terrified and that this was never meant to happen. Emma reached for Regina's hand and grasped it between her own hands. She brought Regina's hand to her mouth, kissing the knuckles softly.

"We will get through this together. I promise you I would never do anything that might cause you harm," she put Regina's hand over her heart and held it there, "My heart and all that I am and have are yours, Regina."

The brunette leaned in close to Emma, her other hand coming up to caress Emma's face, closing her eyes, and drawing her in for a soft kiss.

The world around them is crumbling, there is chaos everywhere she looks. She somehow knows this is the end and there's not much she can do. Her chest hurts. So much was lost, she's lost so much, and she's in pain. Everything they've worked to build is gone. Their family is gone. Their people are gone, their home is in ruin and there's nothing she can do.

"All I ever wanted was to make sure you were all safe and I'm failing you."

"We will get through this, you and I, together, like we always do. You may not be strong enough, and I might not be strong enough, but together we are so much stronger. I believe in us. We will stop this."

Regina gasps and pulls away from the kiss looking really startled.

"Regina, are you okay?" Emma looks concerned at her lover and she can see Regina's eyes are still a bit unfocused.

"Regina, darling."

She caresses her cheek, trying to pull her back from where ever she is. Regina's eyes finally come into focus and she looks confused for a few moments.

"Emma," she tries to form sentences but her lips and mouth are suddenly so dry.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I… I don't know," she looks around the room then at Emma. "We should go to bed."

Emma senses Regina doesn't want to talk about this issue and she decides to drop it for now. It is late and the night has been stressful for both.

"Okay. Can you send me to my room? If not, I'll find a way to sneak out."

Regina looks at Emma for a moment as if processing what she's being told and suddenly she's hit with that horrific image for a brief moment. Suddenly she doesn't want to be away from Emma.

"I would like you to stay, if you don't mind."

Emma beams a smile at Regina because, yes, that's all she ever wanted.

"I don't mind at all."

Once Regina is settled in bed Emma joins her, laying down, Emma's head resting on Regina. Regina tightens her grip around Emma as if she's afraid she might slip out.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I will be. It's probably just me being very tired."

Emma takes a deep breath and when she lets it out she gets up just a little bit to leave a small kiss at the corner or the brunette's mouth.

"I love you," the confession, all but a whisper, as she lays her head back down.

"I love you too, Emma."

Sleep eluded Regina for most of the night. She was sure she didn't sleep at all. She was content holding Emma in her arms, replaying over and over again that horrific scene. Was it a vision of the future? The thought terrified her. It was clearly Emma and herself and they looked the same as now. If it was the future, it was the nearby future. She was terrified. What if she couldn't save Emma and their people?

As soon as the sun was out she woke Emma up and sent her back to her room. She decided to talk to her father about this and see what she's dealing with.

Emma saw how troubled Regina was and she was terribly confused how such a wonderful evening and night could turn out to be so bad. Regina really cared about her powers and her people, that much was clear. Emma was starting to think Regina was worried about the simple fact that Emma was able to easily access this magic. She had no 'why' either.

She was thinking that perhaps she could find a way to cheer up her fiancée. A trip to the market would probably lift Regina's mood. She beelined to Regina's location and, darn it, now was not the time to question how she always knew where the brunette was. But she couldn't help the question that formed in her mind. Maybe it was all related. Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw Regina come out of a room, deep worry etched on her features.

"Regina? Is everything okay?" Emma approached her, lifting her right hand to caress Regina's temple and eyebrow. In return the woman gave her a weak smile.

"I hope so."

"You hope?"

"I spoke with Daddy and gave him the short version of what happened. He has no idea why."

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

At Emma's words, Regina looks up.

"What? Emma, darling, no. It's not your fault. Please don't think that."

She gently pulls Emma to the side of the corridor. Her thoughts go haywire, not only is she unable to protect them in the future, she's also upsetting Emma with her worry in the present.

"I am sorry if I ever gave you the impression it's your fault. Please believe me when I say it's not."

"What is it then? What worries you? Talk to me."

"I'm not even sure of it myself." Regina touches her forehead to Emma's, and in reply Emma closes the small gap and gives Regina a chaste kiss. She then moves on to kiss Regina's closed eyelids, then her forehead, then the tip of her nose. This makes Regina giggle in reply. Emma gives her another small peck on the lips. This seems to brighten Regina's mood.

"Were you looking for me?"

"Yes. I was thinking we could go out to the market and enjoy some time together. What do you say?"

"I would love the distraction. Let me tell my father and then we can go out. "

The market was as always full. People were happily chatting everywhere, children were running around. Regina offered to do the glamour spell on Emma but she declined. She still wanted to live on the edge, and hone in her skills. Regina just rolled her eyes, but complied with Emma's desires.

The place offered Regina a good distraction for the most part and she was able to forget all about the dark vision. They approached a children's playground and watched them having fun. Emma grabbed her hand and squeezed it lovingly. Soon they'll get to see their own children play like this.

"Mama, catch me," a small blur figure jumped off one of the playground castles into a blonde's arms. Emma. She's dressed differently. And then she sees it. A crown, unlike one she's seen before and her mind automatically puts the title of Queen. Queen Emma.

"Whoa, little man, careful. You gave Mama a scare. Don't jump like this."

The small child wraps his hands around the blonde's neck and turns to look at Regina herself.

"Mommy did you see me jump?" The child asks and Emma turns towards her.

"Regina."

"Regina."

Regina blinks rapidly, trying to refocus.

"Emma," she breathes out her lovers name as if it's the most precious thing ever and a lifeline at the same time. A lifeline that keeps her tethered to the present.

"Regina, you're starting to worry me. What's wrong?"

"I don't know." She takes a deep breath, then she looks around the place. "Can we get out of here? I don't think I can be in a crowd right now."

"Sure, let's go." And as she says this Emma pulls her through the crowd.

Unknown to both of them a lone figure watches them go, a frown on their face, their eyes narrowing.

They make it back to the palace gardens and Emma leads Regina to a nearby fountain to sit down.

"Regina, talk to me. What's going on. You're starting to worry me."

"I don't know. I just…" she takes a deep breath. There's no way to say this without sounding weird and she knows it. She just hopes Emma won't freak out.

"I just see things."

"Things?"

"Visions. I assume they're of the future."

"Has this happened before?"

"No, never." Then, as an afterthought, "Is this something you can do?"

Emma looks confused for a second, but then she realizes why Regina is asking her this.

"No. Never."

They sit in silence. Regina is busying herself by playing with Emma's fingers and looks distracted enough for a few moments. Emma knows it's far from being true.

"What did you see? Is this what happened last night?"

Regina stops her actions, but she refuses to meet Emma's eyes.

"Regina," the blonde gently lifts her lover's face so their eyes can meet, and it's the first time she sees tears form in her eyes. "Oh, my love."

"I fail you. I'm unable to protect you or our family."

"No. We are in this together Regina. If you fail it's because I'll fail you. We are in this together. The two of us."

Regina's head is down and she shakes her head in the negative. Emma lifts her head once again. "Listen to me, no matter what I'll always be by your side. We will fight this, whatever it is together and we will win. You don't have to protect me, I'm strong enough to protect myself, and if we fight together no one will stand against us. I love you and nothing will keep me away from you. I won't let anything or anyone tear us apart."

Regina looks into Emma's eyes and she wants to kiss her so badly. She's so in love with this woman. But somehow she ends up hugging Emma instead and as soon as she's in Emma's arms, she just melts as she takes long, deep breaths, breathing Emma's scent in and letting it wash over her and calm her.

Tbc