Another chapter for you, his one's a bit longer than usual. Honestly I don't even know who is saving who in this one. I simply started typing and this is the result. I guess they save each other. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Even Saviours Need Saving

Why did everyone always expect her to be so damn perfect? Could they really not see how messed up she was? But no- she was the Saviour. And the Saviour couldn't possibly have a bad bone in her body. Every time she tried to explain her checkered past she was told that it didn't matter or that it was someone else's fault. But just because she was young didn't excuse the fact that she stole and took advantage of innocent people. Sure Neal should have known better but so should she. She was a teenager not some clueless 5 year old.

Part of her was furious at herself for not shutting up and accepting the love that she was finally being offered. She finally had family and friends (hell even a whole town) that loved her. But that was the problem. They only loved the idea of her; the idea of the Saviour. That wasn't the true her. Until they understood every side of her, she'd never be sure if it was really her that they loved.

She got up from behind her desk and began to pace. Let's face it, they didn't want to see the bad in her so they probably never would. Was she ruining a good thing for nothing? Weren't parents supposed to love their children unconditionally? So why did it feel like they only wanted a perfect princess who would meekly do what was expected of her? What would they think of her if she refused to be the Saviour anymore?

Her hands clenched at her sides and before she could stop herself, her fist smashed through the ancient computer screen on her desk. She looked around the Sherriff's station for something else to break. She hadn't felt this destructive desire in a long time but soon it was overwhelming her.

She tore around the office like a hurricane, destroying everything in her path. Chairs were thrown, windows were smashed and cabinets were tipped over. But still it wasn't enough.

She sank to her knees and placed her bloody hands gently in her lap. She didn't feel any better at all, in fact she felt like even more of a failure. This time it was panic that began to overwhelm her. David would be arriving soon to start his shift and he would see the damage she'd caused. He would finally see how broken she was. Worry after worry started bouncing around her head, making it difficult to breathe. Would she lose her job for this? Without a job how could she stay in Storybrook? She could lose Henry, her parents, she could lose everything. God she'd really fucked up this time.

Not even the sound of Regina's stilettos against the hard floor could muffle the sound of the anguished cries coming from within the station.

The brunette all but ran through the doors in her haste to see if someone was hurt.

At first she didn't notice the chaos of the room around her, all she could see was Emma. She was slumped on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably and steadily losing a serious amount of blood from the gashes all over her hands and arms.

Regina slowly approached the woman who seemed to be breaking down in front of her.

"Emma?"

No response.

"Emma, you need to breathe dear."

Although she received no acknowledgement from the blonde, the other woman did take in a shuddering breath as she'd been told.

"Okay that was good Emma. Try again. In and out okay?"

Again her command was silently followed. Emma kept inhaling and exhaling until her breathing was far more under control.

"I need to look at your hands. Can I touch them?" Regina crept ever closer to the kneeling woman and slowly reached out for her hands. "I'm going to heal them alright? It will hurt for a second but you'll feel better afterwards. I promise."

Emma raised her hands slightly, placing them into Regina's waiting ones. The brunette knelt down and focused, imagining the pale skin knitting itself back together. Her magic obey immediately. After just a minute, Emma's skin was perfect once more.

"Emma. What happened?"

"Regina?" It was barely a whisper but it was enough for Regina. She was talking. This was a good sign.

"Well who else would it be? Humpty Dumpty?" she quipped, hoping to create even the smallest of smiles on the face before her.

Emma finally made eye contact with her and the look of pure agony in them nearly broke her heart. She would tear apart realms looking for the person who created such sadness in those beautiful emerald eyes. She would make them pay.

"Please tell me what happened? What's wrong?"

Emma lip quivered. "I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to. Please don't be mad at me. I'll be a good girl."

Those familiar words instantly had tears pooling in Regina's own dark eyes. She evaluated the devastation around her and made some educated guesses as to what was going on in Emma's head.

"Shh, you're okay," she cooed, her thumbs rubbing gentle circles on the back of Emma's hands. "I'm not mad. You have nothing to be sorry about. How about I take you home?"

Before Emma had a chance to respond, a booming voice filled the small station.

"What the hell is going on here? Get away from my daughter! What have you done to her Regina? I swear to God…"

Trust Charming to instantly jump to the wrong conclusion. She shouldn't have been surprised that he would automatically blame her for this but it still hurt. She'd always be the villain.

Emma's hands started to violently shake, their fingers were tightly clasped together allowing Regina to instantly notice the abrupt change. She searched Emma's eyes for an explanation, ignoring David's presence for now. Emma could be in shock and that was far more worthy of her attention. Yet all Regina could see there was fear. The final pieces of the puzzle clicked together in her head.

"David how nice of you to join us. I'm afraid Miss Swan and I had a rather heated disagreement. As you can see, my magic decided to makes itself known. Feel free to bill me for the damage." She elegantly got to her feet and pulled Emma up with her as gently as she could. "But for now, I believe Miss Swan should accompany me home to make sure I'm not responsible for any more damage."

David lunged at her before she could even think about protecting herself. She felt the handcuffs lock around her wrists as she was pinned against the one remaining desk.

"You're not going anywhere Regina and certainly not with my daughter. Look at her. What did you do to her?" He pressed his weight more firmly on top of her and shook her by her restrained arms. "Tell me!"

"Get off her!" Emma had well and truly snapped out of her daze at the sight of her father manhandling Regina. "Don't touch her!" She yanked his arms away from the other woman and took her own set of keys from her pockets, quickly unlocking the handcuffs and setting Regina free.

"Emma! Look at what she's done to this place! She's dangerous! At the very least she should be arrested for criminal damage or vandalism or… something!" He took a threatening step back towards the woman he desperately wanted to throw in a jail cell for the rest of time.

"No!" Emma held out a hand in warning, placing herself between him and Regina. "She hasn't done anything wrong!"

"What do you mean she hasn't done anything wrong? Look around you! Does she have you under a spell or something? Did she hurt you?"

She could feel Regina tense behind her at the accusation and lost control. Again. "No! She didn't hurt me, nearly everyone else in this stupid town may have, but not her. She didn't wreck this place. I did. I screwed up not her. And for some reason that I can't even begin to comprehend, she's trying to help me by taking the blame. She's the only one doing a damn thing to protect me. So. Back. Off. And. Leave. Her. Alone." She grabbed hold of Regina's hand and marched them from the room, leaving David staring open mouthed behind them.

Once clear of the room, Regina transported them both back to her mansion. She collapsed onto the couch and pulled Emma down with her. The blonde was laying half on top of her but she found she didn't mind at all.

"Are you okay?" she questioned as she watched Emma relax against her.

"Surprisingly yes." Emma twisted herself slightly to face her. "Why did you do that? I know we're supposed to be friends now but he could have hurt you! Why risk that for…."

"For you?" Regina finished for her. "Because I understand that you didn't want to be a disappointment to your parents. That's something I know a lot about. And because they already see me as evil, one demolished office is hardly top of my list of crimes. And because I know you'd never let him hurt me."

Although these reasons were true, Regina knew there was a far more important reason and Emma deserved to know it. For once in her life she decided to be completely honest. She trusted Emma, even if what she was about to reveal turned out to be a huge mistake, she knew it would be kept secret.

"And…" She continued with a deep breath, "…because I would risk anything for you, Emma Swan."

The sob that left the blonde's mouth at this admission scared her. She genuinely didn't know if it was a good sign or a terrible one. She wanted to stand up and flee, or maybe she should start denying that she meant it, but both of those options were made impossible by the pressure of soft lips against her own.

"I'd risk anything for you too, Regina Mills."