Regina's face paled and she stumbled backwards onto the chair behind her. Emma didn't budge from where she stood, knowing to keep her space.

"H…how?" Regina gasped out after moments of silence. "She's younger than you. She's been with that prince for five minutes. It's not possible!"

Slowly, Emma walked over to the Queen and knelt at her feet. She reached out and rested one hand softly against her knee and considered it a small success when the Queen didn't shrug her off.

"It's time I tell you the truth," Emma said softly. "I know you won't believe me, but I promise you, everything, I'm about to say, is the complete truth. I've told you before and I'll tell you again, I'll never lie to you."

Regina reached out and silenced her by pressing one finger to the blonde's lips. "I have a feeling this is going to take a while," she murmured and Emma nodded. "Then come, we should get comfortable."

She slowly stood and pulled Emma off the floor. She led her to the sitting room and motioned for her to sit down. Emma did so quickly before waving her hand to illuminate the fire. The Queen smiled softly at the sight. Magic performed by someone new usually scared her, but watching Emma perform simple spells seemed to thrill her and she couldn't explain why.

With another wave of her hand, Emma produced two steaming mugs of tea. Normally, she'd have given herself a hot chocolate and Regina a black coffee but as tea was the only drink the Queen was familiar with, that's what she went with. She was about to tell her the true and starting the conversation with an unfamiliar drink would not be the way to go.

"Before I say anything, please know that I love you," Emma said slowly. She leant forward and kissed the Queen softly, happy that she didn't pull back. "I love you more than anything." She swallowed and took a deep breath. "Snow White is my mother and the reason that is possible, is because I'm not from this time. I'm from the future."

At this, the Queen scoffed. "Are you insane?" She cried, waving her hands frantically, almost sending her tea everywhere.

"No," Emma said seriously. "I'll take a truth potion if you don't believe me."

"Only a fool would lie to the Queen," Regina murmured quietly. "You've not proved yourself to be one. I'll trust you, for now."

Emma gulped at the minor threat and nodded. "There's a lot you don't need to know but I'll tell you the main parts. In my timeline, we were fighting someone and she accidentally set up a time portal and I fell through it. Well, me and Captain Hook." Regina's eyebrows shot up and she went to speak but Emma's expression prevented her from speaking. "Please, let me finish." The Queen looked like she wanted to argue but relented and nodded. "I lost my magic because Zelena cursed Hook and I got caught up in make believe and my magic went. That's how I'm back. I'm not here to get you or hurt you. I had no idea that we were True Loves."

"You know me from the future?" Regina asked, unable to keep quiet.

The blonde half smiled and nodded. "Yeah," she frowned and shrugged, "you hate me."

"I doubt that," Regina muttered. "If I'm anything like I am now, I'll be putting up a front. Is that what you meant by you've known me for a long time?"

Again, Emma nodded. "I've known you about three years. I knew I crushed on you, but it was only when I met you here that I truly realised how deep my feelings went. I love you, both versions of you."

This statement intrigued Regina even more than Emma's initial statement. "I'm different in the future?"

"I've told you too much about it already," Emma said quickly. "My magic teacher always said that if this ever happened, not that she believed it was possible, then you can't reveal too much."

"Well that's stupid. Who is your magic teacher?"

Emma raised her eyebrow and chuckled, despite the severity of the conversation. "It's you."

At this, Regina rolled her eyes. "I should have known that. I suppose it's then ironic that I'm the reason you have you magic back then."

The blonde shrugged before slipping a little closer to the Queen. She slipped her hand through her hair and gently caressed her face with her thumb and smiled when Regina leant into it, shutting her eyes.

"You're taking this awfully well," Emma murmured. "You just found out that you can't kill your enemy because your True Love is her daughter and that she's from the future."

At the comment, Regina's eyes shot open and flashed with something that Emma couldn't describe, but she didn't like it. She didn't like it at all.

"But I finally have her!" She cried out suddenly and shot up, out of Emma's reached. She began pacing a few steps away from the sofa, muttering aloud. "I've searched for her for years. I've trapped her and she's escaped. I hunted her and she slipped through my fingers. I finally have her right where I want her and her prince can't do anything about it and now I've been told that I can't kill her. My happiness and love depend on her and her prince winning."

"It's not about winning or losing," Emma said carefully as she rose. She crossed the room and held the Queen gently by her upper arms to stop her from pacing. "It's just about accepting that both of you must live, for now. If you kill her, you'll never get your son."

Regina's eyes shot open in shock and confusion and Emma realised her mistake.

"What?"

At first, Emma didn't say anything. She simply took hold of the Queen's hand and led her back to the sofa. She waved her hand and refreshed their tea, though both continued not to drink anything.

"I'll probably regret this, but now it's time for the whole truth." Emma took a deep breath and a deep sip of her tea before placing it back onto the table. She looked at her True Love, who looked both intrigued and terrified. "The story begins with a ten-year-old knocking on my door saying he's my son. He's been adopted by the Evil Queen and his name is Henry."

Emma then went on to tell Regina everything. From their first meeting, the time at the mines to Henry being taken by Peter Pan. She even told her about her long-lost half-sister coming to take over because she was jealous. The entire time, Regina kept her face neutral, not giving a single thing away. She only seemed to show agreement when Emma told her about Robin and the man with the lion tattoo.

"I remember Tinkerbell," she said quietly. "She came to me before Leopold died." Regina shivered at the mention of her late husband's name. "She told me about the man with the lion tattoo. You say I found him?"

Regretfully, Emma nodded. "Yes," she replied, her voice thick with sadness. "In my timeline, you love him," her voice caught slightly on the word love, "and his son, Roland. You're happy."

"But you're not?" The Queen guessed. She was confused. She had barely known Emma for long and they'd already shared so much. But despite that, she couldn't imagine there being a love out there for her that could rival what she shared with the blonde. They proved yesterday that they were True Loves for heaven's sake!

"I finally have my family and I love them. That makes me happy," she revealed slowly. "But having you would be the icing of the cake." She laughed humourlessly. "You don't know what you have until it's gone, or whatever. I didn't know I loved you until you didn't know who I was." She slumped back in her seat. "I want to stay here with you, but I also want to go home. I miss my family, I miss my son, our son, more than anything. Yet, I don't want to go back. I don't want to see you with him, knowing just how amazing it feels to be with you. To kiss you, to hold you, to make love to you. How can I go back to a life where I can't have that? Where I can't have you?"

Emma rested her head in her hands and suddenly felt moisture, she hadn't even realised she was crying.

"You probably think I'm insane," she muttered. "I'm surprised you haven't locked me up."

"It would take someone extremely crazy to come up with half of what you said," Regina murmured quietly. She pulled gently on Emma's shoulder so that she would lean back. She pulled her hands into her lap and gently played with her fingers as she continued to speak. "Some of the things you've said are believable and I trust you. If you say you're Snow's daughter, then you are. I mean, you look like her prince, now I think about it, but you have some mannerisms that are so Snow. You wouldn't lie about that knowing how much I hate her and what trouble that would cause you. You know about the man with the lion tattoo and Tinkerbell and no one but my mother knows that and she's in Wonderland so it's impossible that she told you that." She paused for a few minutes to think before smiling softly. "Plus, I know that if I had a son, I would name him after my father. He's my favourite person in the world. Well, he was until you came along. I suppose you're tied now."

Emma smiled softly before becoming serious again. "So, what happens now?"

"I don't know."

They were silent for a few minutes, both trying to understand what had just been said. The silence seemed to stretch until something Regina had said bounced back to the forefront of Emma's mind.

"Umm, Regina?" Emma called softly. Regina looked up from Emma's hands that were still in her lap.

"Yes?"

"You said earlier about Snow's prince wasn't able to get her," she said slowly. "Where is he exactly?"

Regina blushed a little in guilt and mumbled something quietly.

"What was that?" Emma asked.

"He's with Maleficent," Regina repeated and Emma's eyes widened. It was obvious that Maleficent wasn't in her human form just from Regina's tone. "I called in a favour. She's not particularly in a good mood either." In fact, Maleficent was in the worst mood Regina had ever witnessed, but she didn't say that. The dragon wouldn't be letting him go without a fight.

Before Emma could respond to that, they were interrupted. The two turned and saw four guards burst into the room. Regina ripped her hands away from Emma's as if they stung her and pushed back slightly to make some space between them.

"Your Majesty!" The head of the guards cried after barging into the sitting room, no sign of a knock. "The executioner has just arrived."

Emma blanched at the announcement and took in a short gap. She clenched her fists either side of her and stared directly in front of her as to not see Regina's facial expression.

"Your Majesty?" The guard urged when the Queen didn't reply. Emma could hear the desperation and excitement in his voice. Clearly, he was happy to see his Queen succeed.

Emma held her breath and shut her eyes, sitting stock still.

"Send him away," Regina said eventually, her voice showing no emotion, not giving anything away. "I no longer require his services."

"But the prisoner, your Majesty?" The guard asked, confusion thick in his voice.

"I am aware of her," The Queen replied exasperatedly. "She is my prisoner. I decide what happens to her, Claude, not you. I shall be the one to end her."

Emma let out the breath she was holding and her heartbeat quickened. Regina didn't believe her, she was going to kill Snow and Emma would fade or die. She had no idea what would become of her if she was never even born. She shut her eyes and bit her lip to stop her from looking to and from the Queen and the guard.

"Leave us!" The Queen commanded. The three other guards who hadn't said anything quickly left the room, but the main guard looked like he had a lot to say on the matter. "Do not make me repeat myself again, Claude, or I will set the executioner on you. Leave!" And with that, he hastily retreated and didn't look back.

The blonde heard the door slam behind him, but she didn't move or open her eyes.

"Emma," Regina whispered. She reached out slowly and rested her hand on the back of her neck, playing with the loose hairs that had fallen out of her bun. "Em."

At the sound of her rarely used nickname, Emma looked up. Her watery green eyes met the concerned gaze of the brown. "You've never called me that."

The Queen offered her a small smile. "I was testing it out."

"I like it."

The silence hung heavy. Neither of them knowing what to say. Regina was still so torn. She'd wanted to get Snow for more years than she could think of and she could finally see the finishing line. The princess was currently locked up in her dungeons, in a cell that was physically impossible to escape from with the magical lock she'd placed upon it. Only someone with powerful magic could break it.

"Let her go," Regina whispered, her decision made.

"What?" Emma's brow furrowed as she slowly understood what the Queen had said.

"Set Snow free," she clarified. "I can't be seen doing it. You have to do it." She then smirked, and Emma's look of confusion strengthened. "Then I'll have to punish you. Lock you up in solitude." She pulled Emma's face close to her before kissing down her jaw and nipping the pale skin before sucking harshly on her pulse point, making Emma's knees go weak. "You can stay here with me and not have to work for my father. He can replace you. You can be all mine."

Emma pulled back for a split second before connecting their lips together in a passionate kiss. She rearranged herself so that she was straddling the Queen's lap. Their cores brushing indirectly through their layers. Emma's thin dress wasn't much but Regina was wearing her leather trousers once again and Emma could feel the heat radiating already.

"I'm already all yours, Regina," Emma whispered as she kissed down the Queen's jaw before nibbling on her earlobe. She pressed a kiss just below her ear and smirked at the sigh Regina breathed in pleasure. She pulled back and saw the Queen's face was relaxed and slightly flushed pink in excitement. She reached up and caressed her face softly, tucking a loose strange of hair behind her ear. "Are you sure your father won't mind that? He's been so lovely to me since I arrived, I don't want to ruin anything."

"He doesn't have a choice in the matter," Regina stated. "You're worth more than being a maid." She then laughed quietly. "If Snow really is your mother, you're a princess after all."

Emma rolled her eyes. "I'm the worse princess ever."

"Stay with me and I'll teach you everything there is to be one."

oOoOo

Two hours later, Emma was slowly making her way down to the dungeons, carrying out the mission Regina had set upon her. She would have done it earlier, but she'd been distracted by the Queen's lips. She'd kissed her softly before they grew in ferocity and passion and before long, Regina had transported them back to her bedroom and they'd carried on from the night before.

Emma couldn't believe that the Queen hadn't blown up and fireballed her for her shock announcement. If anything, she'd been more scared than angry, and Emma truly realised that the woman she'd fallen in love with, wasn't the Evil Queen everyone had depicted her to be. She was just lonely and vulnerable. She was also a hopeless romantic and believed in True Love, despite what had happened in her past. She loved her already and Emma couldn't be happier or more blessed and she didn't even believe in God.

After the two had come down from their highs, panting slightly, both covered in a light sheen of sweat, wrapped up in each other's arms, they discussed how Emma would set Snow free and get caught.

Regina had transported her to the lower grounds of the castle so that people didn't see her leaving the Queen's bedroom. She walked slowly down the never-ending corridors until she found the door Regina had described. She twisted the handle before slipping inside.

The temperature changed dramatically in the corridor as she made her way further into the prison. The torches flickered, casting a dim light down the corridor. She could see the shadows of the guards on duty. The plan was to knock them out with a spell that Regina had taught her just before she left her room. It wouldn't hurt them, but it also wouldn't last very long. Long enough to get Snow out of the castle but they would stop Emma as she made her way back to her quarters.

Emma took a deep breath before stepping forward into the main lit room. Her eyes fell upon the cell at the back, a familiar brunette slumped up on the floor looking hopeless. Her heart broke at the sight of her mother, never had she seen her look so miserable. She was usually the one full of hope. At the sound of Emma stepping forward, Snow's head whipped to up and saw the blonde approaching. Emma's heart clanged once more as Snow didn't recognise her. She knew she wouldn't, but it still stung.

"Stop!" One guard cried upon seeing the blonde approaching.

"You aren't allowed down here," the other hissed.

The both pulled out their swords threateningly, but Emma just laughed. "You can't hurt me."

"Oh yeah?" The first one taunted.

Emma simply smiled. "Yes." She flicked her wrist and the two guards toppled to the floor, not making another sound.

Snow gasped. "Who are you?" She asked.

"A friend," Emma said softly. She had to hurry. She walked over to the cell and waved her hand slowly over the lock, feeling the mechanism as it released. She heard the click to prove her spell had worked.

Once it was unlocked, she opened the door and rushed in. She knelt beside her mother, not looking at her directly but feeling her gaze upon her. She worked quickly, unlocking each shackle until she was free at least.

"You need to leave," Emma said hurriedly. "Find your prince and hide. Don't let her find you."

"Why are you helping me?" Snow asked.

"Let's just say, my future relies on you," the blonde replied cryptically. "Now go, please!"

Hearing the desperation in her voice, Snow nodded. She stood up quickly and started making her leave. Just before she left she turned. "I can't thank you enough. Can I at least know the name of my saviour?"

Emma tried not to roll her eyes. She knew she shouldn't reveal her name, but she knew Snow wouldn't leave. "It's Emma. Please, go!" She insisted.

Snow nodded once more, "thank you, Emma," she said before she disappeared into the night.

With a deep breath, Emma started to make her way out. She'd barely reached the door when the guards woke up.

"Where's the prisoner?" One cried.

"She's gone!" The other said, announcing the obvious.

As planned, Emma started to run, making it obvious that she was the reason Snow had gone.

"Get her!"

Emma ran as quickly as she could muster. She made it back to the main corridor before she was surrounded by guards, each pointing their sword at her.

"You can't get out of this one," the lead guard sneered. "The Queen won't forgive you for this, even if you have been warming her bed." He walked up close to her, far too close. She could feel his breath on her neck and smell his repulsive breath. "Leave us," he called to the rest of his men. "I'll escort her to the Queen."

The other guards left immediately and it was just the two left alone. Emma tried not to panic, knowing that he was just going to be taking her to the Queen, her love, who would keep her safe.

Along endless corridors, he led her. The twists and turns she was still not familiar with. However, she knew it shouldn't be taking her so long to get to the Queen's chambers. The longer she walked, with the guard pressed up against her, his hands grasping her wrists tightly, the more she started to panic. Her heartbeat quickened and her palms started to sweat.

With a final shove, the guard pushed her into a room she hadn't seen coming. It was definitely not the Queen's chambers. It was small and dank and all that was in there was an old chest of draws and a small rusty bed. Her heart stuttered as she realised what was going on.

The guard turned to her, a large smirk on his face, his eyes full of lust. He pushed her down on the bed and pressed himself on top of her. "Now, I'm going to find out why the Queen is so fond of you."