AN: Glad you all enjoyed the last chapter!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mild references to abuse and self injury

Emma woke from a night of surprisingly dreamless sleep. She rolled onto her back and stretched wincing at the sharp pain in her thighs. The bandage tape pulled on her skin, and the newly formed scabs stretched taught.

Looking at the bed side table she was shocked to see it was already after ten. Beside her alarm clock sat a glass of water and some advil. Smiling at her girlfriend's thoughtfulness Emma quickly swallowed the pain relievers. Groaning she lifted herself from their bed and put on the robe Regina had left out for her.

The blonde made her way down stairs to find her lover sitting at the table, glasses perched on her nose, as she filled out a crossword. Two mugs of steaming coffee sat by a pitcher of cream and a container of sugar. A plate of croissants and butter was waiting for her.

Regina looked up from her crossword, "Good morning love."

"Morning babe," Emma said while sitting down to breakfast. "Where's Henry?"

"Well, I think that you and I could use a few days together. So, much to Henry's delight, I asked Hook and Neil to keep him for a few days. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, I actually think it's good for Henry to spend time with his dad. And Hook isn't as bad of an influence as his appearance would lead you to believe."

"I'm glad we're on the same page then," the brunette said softly while covering Emma's hand with her own.

Emma quickly swallowed down her bite of croissant and cleared her throat. "Regina... thank you. For taking care of me. I've never had someone to do that before." The blonde blushed and looked down.

Regina stood from the table and over to straddle the blonde. "Now you listen here Emma Swan. I will always take care of you. I love you, and I'm not going anywhere," she said with conviction.

Emma leaned forward and connected their lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. She pulled away smiling. "I'm starting to figure that out. You and Henry, you're my world Gina. I love you so much."

"Well, let's finish breakfast. There's somewhere I'd like to take you today."

"Yes ma'am," Emma mock saluted her girlfriend.

Today they traveled in Regina's sleek black Mercedes. The brunette was at the wheel, the windows were down and their hair was whipping around in the wind. It was a beautiful day and it was being spent in beautiful company. Emma turned and looked at Regina in surprise as the car slowed by the cemetery gates.

"Not that the cemetery isn't lovely this time of year, but this isn't the romantic scenario I was envisioning when you said you wanted to show me something," Emma said while raising one perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

Regina laughed out loud. "The romance is for later. Right now I want to share something with you."

After killing the engine the brunette stepped out of the car and began heading for the Mills family mausoleum. The sheriff jumped out of the car and quickly scrambled after her lover. She caught up to Regina and grasped her hand. They walked silently to the crypt, where with a wave of her hand and a murmured incantation the door slid open for the queen.

Emma trailed Regina down the stairs hidden below her mother's coffin. She had been in the vault before, but the circumstances were much different. She paused at the bottom of the stairs and watched as the brunette walked to the far wall and took a seat below a portrait of her parents.

"Come here Emma," Regina commanded, not in an unkind voice.

Emma made her way across the room and sat down next to her lover. She was nervous, not understanding why Regina had brought her down here.

"My parents are dead," Regina started. "Leopold is dead. He and Father have been gone for longer than you've been alive. My mother was reunited with her heart prior to her recent death, and I could see the self loathing in her eyes as I pulled my hand from her chest.

Being with you, Emma, has shown me that it's time for me to move forward and leave the three of them in the past. You and Henry are all that matter now. You're my future."

She stood and pulled her father's razor from her pocket, drawing a low gasp from the blonde. She opened it and looked upon the magically sharp blade for a moment before closing it and putting it in an empty heart chamber, locking it in the wall along with the rest of her darkness.

Emma was dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say, or what the razor had to do with the future. So she remained silent, waiting for Regina to explain further.

"Last night, I realized how much I love you Emma. Seeing you bleeding in my shower, tending to your injuries... I was overwhelmed by sorrow. That you were feeling so much pain. That I couldn't do anything about it. I felt lost. And I never want to make you feel that."

"Regina, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you..." she was cut off by a brutal kiss.

"Emma, it's ok. If you need it, you have my forgiveness. My point is that I'm done punishing myself for the sins of others. I'm leaving Father's razor here with the rest of my past. I'm walking up those stairs with you, my future."

The princess threw herself at her queen, embracing her tightly while her body was wracked by sobs. Strong arms held her for a long time, as long as it took for her to pull herself together.

"Babe, before we throw ourselves at the future I need to be honest with you. I want to be strong for you, I do, but my parents are still here in Story Brook. The people who hurt me are still out there in Boston. I don't know that I can leave my past behind yet."

"Emma, you don't have to leave it behind. You and I are going to face it down together."

Speechless, she grabbed Regina's hand and led her up the stairs.