Emma wasn't any calmer when she left Regina's house, but she was more determined. If Regina Mills was on their side, they could find a way. Emma wouldn't stop until they did; and she just knew Regina wouldn't either.

She had to let August know that too.

It wasn't as hard as she thought it would be, to manage to talk to him. After all, she was an investigator in his lawyer's firm, and the cops didn't have any problem with her going in to talk to the guy. He was still just a suspect, anyway. For at least the next thirty hours.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Emma asked as soon as they were alone in a back room at the station.

"Better than you, I think," He replied, eyeing her carefully. "Have you slept? Or eaten anything?"

Emma gave him a dismissive wave. "I'm fine. Look, Ruby and I are on this, ok? We'll find the guy who really did it."

"Isn't that like the cop's job?" August arched an eyebrow, and then rubbed his beard when he realized what a stupid remark it was. "But of course, they think they already got the guy."

"They are idiots. Nobody else thinks you're guilty. Not Mulan, not Mary Margaret, not Regina…"

"Yeah, Regina." He interrupted, resting against the chair. "Let's talk about Regina."

"You've talked to her, right? Is there any more relevant information?"

"Well, maybe I should tell her that I don't have any way to pay for her service…" August started carefully.

"Don't worry about it, I'll handle that." Emma had actually approached the subject before leaving the attorney's house that morning, and her only answer was a resounding 'don't be stupid'. And well, she could always work probonus hours.

"Emma."

"What?"

"Why did you call her? Snow White was right there…"

"Regina is the head of Criminal."

"Regina was in your head all night."

"Why are we talking about this? It's silly. I just want what is best for you."

"And I want what is best for you."

"August," Emma frowned at him, leaning in on the table to look him in the eyes. "You won't charm your way out of this, ok? Things are not looking good. I came to tell you I'm gonna fight for you all the way, but you gotta know… things aren't pretty. Someone died. A mom."

"I know," He whispered back, sighing deeply. And Emma knew he was scared, but worst – she knew he had already embraced the situation. Like he didn't expect any turn of events. It wasn't like their backstory gave much hope, really. August was too used to take the fall.

"That's just so crazy, Ems. Three people saying I was there."

"I know…"

"Will you visit me in jail?"

"Shut up! You're not going to jail!"

"Well, at least one of us believes that." August grinned without humor, and that gloom smile stuck in Emma's mind as she left the station.

But she also remembered Regina's hands on her face, the way she had brushed away the tears and managed to sound delicate, but not condescending at all. Emma remembered how she had felt, all warm inside, like Regina could ease her mind and body with the same competence she could rile them up.

And maybe it was too much – even unfair – to have that kind of blind faith, when there was just so much the woman could do to help Emma and August on that messy matter. But for the first time in forever, she felt she had some kind of landing. Someone to trust, someone that would try her best. For her.

It had to be enough.

Especially since Regina's best was beyond anything Emma had ever seen before.

~SQ~

"Henry forgot to pack his Aquaman towel here Saturday, and bath time has not been fun since then. Apparently Hulk and Green Lantern towels are not as suitable to dry one's body anymore," Regina rolled her eyes, walking past Katherine to enter her house.

"Well, hello to you too, dear…" Katherine said, closing the front door.

Regina sighed, turning on her heels.

"Sorry, it's just been one of those days."

"Work?" Katherine asked knowingly.

"Yes, I just received bad news about one of my cases. We were hoping to prove that a man is innocent, but now he's being prosecuted," Regina pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Luckily David is not here," Kat quipped.

"He's not the prosecutor," Regina made a dismissive gesture. "So, where is the towel?"

"No, no. Come sit for a moment. I just made tea."

Regina acquiesced. She wouldn't say it out loud, but the truth was she didn't want to be on her own right now, but she also didn't want to stay in her office. Katherine probably knew it already.

"Do you have Latino neighbors now?" Regina frowned as her friend leaded her to the kitchen.

"Oh, no," The woman chuckled, "It's the television. I'm watching Mexican soap-operas."

Regina raised an eyebrow at her.

"My Spanish teacher recommended," Katherine clarified.

"Since when do you study Spanish?" Regina honestly had already given up trying to keep up with Katherine's interests. She was taking sewing classes one day, gardening in the next and painting in the other.

"Since Mexicans started to buy houses in the suburbs and hiring decorators to do a fine job inside."

"So it's actually a professional investment?" Regina smirked at her.

"Of course," The woman replied, obviously ignoring her teasing tone. "You should know I take my job very seriously."

"Oh, I do," She did. Katherine had tons and tons of family money, but still had worked her way into becoming one of the best decorators around.

"Wanna talk about your day?" The woman asked.

"I'm not sure," Regina answered, accepting the cup of tea that was being offered to her. "What I am sure is that this noise coming from the living room is bothering me."

"Now, now, don't deny your roots," Katherine grinned mockingly at her.

Regina rolled her eyes.

"I'm not Mexican."

"Your grandparents were…"

"Yes, I'm aware."

"You teach Henry Spanish lullabies," Katherine pointed out.

"Why are you arguing? I don't deny my roots. And I want a bilingual child."

"It's actually funny, you know?"

"Bilingual children?" Regina blinked at her.

"No," Katherine gave her a condescending look, "Mexican soap-operas. Also very dramatic; it always has a lot of tears and evil laughs going on."

"Too bad I don't have time to watch," Regina replied sarcastically.

"Hey, it's good fun!" Katherine guaranteed. "Take this one I'm currently watching-"

"Do I want to know that?" She interrupted.

"Do you want to talk about your day?" The woman asked pointedly.

"Very well…" Regina sighed again. "Tell me then."

"As I was saying… The one I'm currently watching is about twin girls that have been separated at birth."

"Impressive," Regina deadpanned.

"You didn't let me finish," Katherine huffed. "And now, after they are both adults, one of the twins took the identity of the other. Even stole her husband."

"It can't be!" She said, faking shock.

"Ha-ha," Katherine rolled her eyes. "The evil twin is really messing up the life of the good twin. There's just one guy who knows that the woman parading around the house is not the good twin, but sadly for her, no one believes him."

"Sounds fascinating," Regina drawled.

"Drop the sarcasm already. It's actually a lesson for life!"

"What? Beware of the evil twin who does bad deeds pretending to be you?" She blurted. And as soon as she said it, a light bulb went on inside her head, and her jaw hanged open.

"Regina?" Katherine asked, poking her arm.

She turned to stare at her friend, but wasn't actually seeing her.

"I just had the most insane idea," She whispered.

~SQ~

"I came to discuss a theory with you, Ms. Swan, but if you feel the urge to laugh at me do keep in mind that I am the one who signs your paycheck."

"Regina?" Emma looked startled at the woman walking into her apartment.

Unlike the investigator, Regina never bothered to announce herself before finding Emma. The blonde supposed the other just liked to barge into places. She also supposed it should annoy her more than it did.

Emma shook her head and turned to pay attention at the attorney already pacing around her living room.

"I'm here about Mr. Booth," Regina started.

"Yeah… I know our forty-eight hours are up."

"Precisely."

"I've been working on some stuff, but so far I didn't get much. I managed to put my hands on a street camera recording that shows August getting into his apartment about three hours before the crime took place, and it doesn't show him getting out. It could corroborate that he was at home, but they have a back exit that is not within the range of any camera and-"

"I was talking to a friend. She so happens to watch Mexican soap-operas and one of them has this absolutely crazy plot involving a good and a bad twin," Regina interrupted her, apparently not having heard a word of what she said. "I admit it's more than a little hard to convey this kind of situation in real life, but what if it does happen? Do you see where I'm going with this, Ms. Swan?"

Regina hadn't stopped her frenzied pace, and Emma frowned, confused. The woman seemed to be struggling with something.

"Sit down for a moment," She asked carefully.

Regina sighed dramatically and made a big display of sitting in the couch like it was a throne, crossing her legs. Emma sat beside her and they stared at each other for a moment.

"Hey," Emma said first, stopping herself in the last second from touching the woman. "I'm sorry, but I don't see where you were going," She admitted patiently, impressing herself. Emma had been on edge since Friday and frustrated over and over by her fruitless research.

Regina took a steady breath.

"I know it sounds insane…" The attorney said, her mouth curling downward, like she herself didn't believe what she was about to suggest. "But do you think it's possible that August has a brother somewhere around?"

Emma gaped like a fish out of water as she absorbed the words. Seconds or minutes may have passed there as her mind wrapped around the words.

"Go ahead, laugh. I do not sign your paycheck anyway; Mary Margaret deals with frivolities such as paying employees," Regina broke the silence, shaking her hand in a resigned gesture.

But Emma was not laughing. In fact, she was pretty convinced Regina could be some sort of theory genius.

"It's hard," She admitted, because seriously? That would be perfect. "But it's possible," She concluded, trying to keep her excitement at bay.

Regina's eyes popped out.

"You are not calling me crazy," The attorney blurted. "Maybe you are the one with mental issues."

Emma ignored it as she failed to contain her eagerness.

"August was adopted when he was a baby, but his so-called parents got pregnant when he was eight and he was returned to the system. That's when I met him in a foster house. I mean, it's not that unusual as you would think to separate brothers when one has the chance to be adopted by a 'nice family'," She air-quoted, rolling her eyes.

Regina nodded. Yes, Emma was reassuring her that she didn't need to be put in a mental institution, but she was quite aware that the other would jump at any opportunity that the aftermath was her best friend being released. She didn't even know why she was so nervous to look like a fool in front of Emma.

"Do you remember the name of those who adopted him?" She asked. Now was too late to overanalyze if she did good or bad by bringing her idea to Emma.

"Alisson and Jack Smith," The investigator said after a moment of contemplation. "Not the most uncommon names around, but if I can track them down…"

"You'll do what? Ask if they were heartless enough to separate brothers and then return one after an allegedly best option came along?" Regina gazed at Emma.

"I have my ways," Emma said determinately. "I can make them talk."

"I have no doubt, dear, but maybe they weren't the ones who separated the brothers in the first place, or they are out of the country, or they'll maybe outright lie just not to look bad. Either way, it'll take a lot of time, and time is something we don't have," Regina noticed she was already reasoning like her theory was absolutely truth, and maybe she was sinking them instead of taking them out of water. They really didn't have time to spare; but again, there was no turning back now, so they had to do it right.

Emma sighed, clearly frustrated.

"I have to do something," She said forcefully.

Regina stared at the woman in front of her, and saw how she was already more than anxious enough. She couldn't let Emma just get out of that door and vanish looking for answers that may not even exist. Regina had ways too, and it wouldn't be any easy or comfortable. She would have to call in some important favors. But as she let herself be pulled by green strong eyes, Regina thought it would be worth in the end, regardless of the outcome.

"You will. I can make some calls to find out about his life before adoption, and you'll have to fill me in with some details," She answered softly, trying to calm the other down.

Emma stared at her with big eyes and slightly open mouth.

"You would do that?" The investigator asked almost in disbelief, a gaze full of awe.

Emma's stare was so honest and genuine, regarding Regina like she was so much more than even herself gave credit for. And Regina came to the overwhelming conclusion that it was little she wouldn't do when Emma looked at her like that.

"Yes," She found herself answering.

"Shit!" Emma blurted, an enormous grin stretching across her face. She wanted to reach out and just touch the woman. Hug her, freaking kiss her… But a hand came to rest on her knee before she could make up her mind.

Regina leaned in and squeezed her skin.

"Regardless of what we find out, it'll be ok," The attorney reassured her.

Emma wanted to believe. She wanted so bad. Because the feeling of Regina's hand, even over her jeans... It was incredible. And the fact that she was doing so much… but then there was that cynic part of her that screamed she couldn't let herself go and just trust so openly in anybody. Though that part seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.

"How do you do this?" She asked with a smirk.

Regina, who was slightly in a kind of trance, feeling the heat of the skin beneath her palm, and the heat of the stare of the woman in front of her, and damn, the heat of everything around her, didn't quite register the question.

"What?"

She swallowed dry when Emma's hand covered hers and turned it, letting the back of her hand pressed against the leg of the investigator.

"Lie to my face and make me a believer," The smirk was still there, and Regina lowered her gaze to just study it intently, shivering when Emma's fingers started to trace patterns on her palm.

"I'm not lying," She cleared her throat to try to clear her head. It didn't seem very likely as those fingers started to ghost on her wrist.

"You probably are… but then you touch me to distract me, right?"

Regina wanted to tell she wasn't the one touching, but her other hand had risen to feel blonde curls and she didn't even had a say on it.

"It's not it," She replied instead.

The smirk slowly disappeared from Emma's lips as she stared intensely at Regina. The air around them had shifted; giving place to that inevitable attraction, the tension so thick it could swallow both of them.

"But you feel it, right?" She didn't have to name 'it', hell, 'it' probably didn't even had a name. She knew Regina immediately caught on what she meant, though, as dark irises became even darker when the attorney's fingers traced her neck. Emma's throat was dry and her voice came out raspy.

"I don't," Not as raspy as Regina's, though.

"You are doing it again," Emma said gently, her arms dropping. She got up.

"What?" Regina seemed started, looking at Emma like she was still trying to understand the sudden movement.

"Lying to my face," She said simply, walking to the kitchen to make some coffee. They had a lot of work to do, and it was time to focus on her best friend.

~SQ~

"I still can't believe it," Mulan said, shaking her head.

"I know, right? Sounds like a B movie plot."

"No, I mean it. I don't believe that. It can't be." Mulan looked at Emma intently.

"Regina was able to confirm it," Emma said, leaning against the couch. "I don't know how she did it. That woman must have connections in heaven and hell, really, because this kind of stuff is pretty confidential."

"And August really... he has a brother?"

"A twin brother, yeah."

"Damn. He never knew?"

Emma shrugged. "We never knew shit about our families."

"Jesus, Ems."

The blonde shrugged again because she didn't quite like that look on Mulan's face.

"What matters is that right now Captain Humbert has his men after this little shit, and I bet he'll have a fucking yin-yang tattoo on his neck and August will be free."

"That was quick, huh? I'm guessing Captain Humbert is one of Regina's many contacts?" Mulan arched an eyebrow. "She called him by his first name, that day on the station."

Emma tried not to frown at that. Yes, she thought there was something there too. The man was very solicit about Regina's requests. But she didn't want to think about it now.

"I'm really more interested in your contacts right now, Hua." Emma glanced at her, brow furrowed.

Mulan smiled. "I'm on it," She said, taking her cell out of her bag.

"Great, I'll make us some coffee."

"No, please," Mulan grimaced. "No more coffee. My hands are already shaky."

Emma closed hers in fists to disguise the tremor in them. "Tea?"

"Yes! Tea would be great!"

Swan nodded before leaving the room while Mulan dialed. Five minutes later, the cop joined her in the kitchen.

"Everything's alright?"

"Yep, Joe is gonna call me as soon as they make an arrest. All we gotta do is wait."

"Right," Emma nodded and served them some tea. Mulan still looked troubled. Was there something she wasn't saying? "What else?"

"Nothing. That's it. It shouldn't take long now."

"Then why are you making that face, as if my tea is sour?" Emma frowned.

"I'm not making a face."

"You are."

Hua sighed. "It's nothing."

Emma sighed too. "Aurora?"

Mulan just shrugged. "She went away for the weekend. I... haven't been able to talk to her. She did say she would be busy, but I thought..." She trailed off and Emma let the subject slide.

There wasn't much she could say that her friend would want to hear. 'That's the problem of sharing a girlfriend?' Nah, better not.

"Tea is great, though," Mulan ventured.

"It really is!"

They drank the rest in silence, then headed back to the living room, where a TV made up for the lack of conversation. There was too much going on, and a part of Emma felt like she was having the weirdest LSD trip. August had a criminal twin, Regina had all but saved the day, and now all Emma wanted was to adore her in a very, very specific way.

Neither Emma nor Mulan realized their hands stopping shaking slowly as they fell asleep on the couch.

"What? What?" Emma was startled awake by a loud noise.

Mulan was already groping her phone on the center table. "Hua speaking."

The blonde held her breath as Mulan frowned on the phone. "Ok. Right. Ok, thanks, Joe. Bye."

"So?!" Emma hurried her friend, her heart thumping.

"They found the guy," Mulan announced, a wild smile on her lips.

~SQ~

Emma barely knocked before entering the office all at once. She was too agitated for being polite, for considering how much Regina hated the lack of manners. The attorney looked up, her hand midway to put the phone back on its place. But she didn't seem upset by Swan's sudden presence; not even surprised.

"He was released!" Emma announced with an uncontained smile.

"Yes, I know. I just got off the phone with Graham," She replied with a short nod.

Swan decided to let that nagging feeling about Captain Humbert slide for now. She had more important things to care about.

"That was all you," The blonde murmured, closing the door behind her. The thundering in her chest wasn't going to go away anytime soon. "You were amazing."

Regina shook her head, standing up and rounding the table. Emma didn't seem in condition to sit down, and the brunette wanted to look her in the eyes. "I'm glad justice has been made. Mr. Booth's… sibling… was adopted by a wealthy family, but had a sad history of drug abuse. The police believes that his need for the next fix was what motivated the robbery, and things got out of his control."

"Sounds so crazy… Almost like…"

"A Mexican soap opera," Regina completed and the blonde chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess that's it." She stared at the attorney for a moment, the smile dying softly on her lips. "But you didn't give up. You were so incredibly good, it's almost unbelievable."

Regina dismissed the compliment with a wave. "I was just doing my job."

"No, no way. You were beyond your job. Any other lawyer would just try to reduce his sentence, but you fought for him, you really did."

Mills wet her lips. Emma had a crumpled look; her hair all messy and her clothes poorly paired. Still, there was something irresistible about the happy aura surrounding the blonde, and Regina grabbed the edge of the table behind her to give her hands something to hold onto.

"Well, you asked me to trust you," She managed, trying her best to sound emotionless.

Emma didn't buy it; she was pouring satisfaction and awe. She took a step closer. Then another.

"I guess we just trusted each other."

Regina didn't move, but her hands tightened the grip on the wooden desk. Emma was too close now, dangerously close. She could smell her aloe vera skin; feel the heat of her body trespassing the little air between them. Emma reached out and touched Regina's arms, sliding down, raising goosebumps. The blonde held Regina's hands and moved them away from the table, leaving the attorney adrift, with nothing to hold on for dear life.

That is, until Swan gave them a new harbor, on her own hips. Mills gulped, but didn't blink. Emma never looked away either, and they stared at each other as the brunette's hands laid on her thin hips and stayed there, motionless. It felt so right it was ridiculous. Like she had just found the place where her hands were meant to be. One of them, at least. Regina's mind was quick in telling her Emma's body must be full of those kind of places, where she would fit perfectly.

It was the right move, although Regina was too far gone to acknowledge that properly; but it was the right move. Emma was giving herself for Regina to hold – to have, for a few moments – and that was a powerful thing, a strong temptation. It was what both of them wanted at that point, to hold and to be held.

And then they wanted more.

Regina wanted to feel the skin that buzzed below the fabric of those jeans. She wanted to find out if it was warm or smoldering, if it would bristle under her touch. If Emma would moan when she explored the softest spots. Yes, she wanted all that so much it paralyzed her. And she wanted the opposite, for Emma to take her right there, to show her everything those green eyes promised she would feel.

Emma raised a hand and brushed Regina's chin with her fingertips, almost testing the reality of it, of her, of that proximity. They both swallowed thickly and Emma's fingers went up to skim that beautiful scar on her upper lip, drawing it, adoring it, wanting it to be in her own mouth, tongue, skin.

Regina motioned to say something, her mouth opening slightly, but nothing came out. Emma smiled, smiled because the world was spinning so slowly right now there was time to smile at her, and look at those chocolate eyes once more, and then, then lean in – lean in to reach for the woman she wanted more than she had ever wanted anyone else.

But Regina was still holding her, and Emma was so aware of it, so aware it didn't take more than a slight movement for the blonde to realize Regina was holding her in place.

She couldn't do it, and Mills realized that on the last moment. It was a miracle she had realized that at all, with her mind all foggy with desire. She couldn't do it, let Emma kiss her there, on that moment, when her judgement was clearly clouded by a rough week and… gratitude. Oh, no. That would just stain the whole thing, it was not what Regina longed to feel, to receive from the blonde. Not gratitude.

"Just say thank you and we are good," She whispered then, having stopped Emma.

The blonde blinked. Once. Twice. Then she took a step backwards and Regina's hands dropped from her hips. An eternity seemed to pass before Emma found her voice again.

"Thank you."

~SQ~

So, about this soap opera thing... It is huuuge here in Brazil, so when I was writing the case I was like… dude, everybody is going to guess it. But as it turns out, not so huge in the rest of the world. Hahaha

Nobody got it right, but it was quite lovely that everybody who took a shot at guessing came up with theories involving Robin being the criminal. Seriously funny!

So, we are turning the heat on, get ready cause the next chapter is going to be like a gunshot!

And oh, tell me what you thought about this. Too crazy? (loves me some crazy)

;)