Thank you to the followers, here is the next chapter.

Please be aware this is adult content, yes it has some humour but it also has some very dark shit happen. It isn't just discussed, it is openly descriptive so remember this is a mature story and use your discretion. I don't mean to upset anyone but it is violent and messy so please stop reading if that might bother you.


Emma marvelled at how easy it was to fall back into a pattern, to fall back into bed with each other.

They had managed to release a lot of the bottled up tension between them the night in the Mayor's Office and it meant they still snipped at each other, but communication flowed more easily. They had been able to move past that weekend and could talk civilly to each other and Regina no longer ignored Emma.

Emma was certain it had something to do with Regina thinking she had dominated the blonde and taken her roughly, dispelling all and any thoughts of gentleness. Emma hadn't complained, she had needed a release and the animalistic fucking they had fallen into had been thoroughly satisfying.

She had wondered whether Regina might magic her a cock and they could reverse the roles, she would love to bend Regina over, just the thought of it had her flushing and she had walked out of the Sheriff's Station and into the fresh air to stretch her muscles and clear her filthy mind. She thought it unlikely, the dildo was Regina's toy and now she thought about it she hadn't been allowed to fuck Regina with that apparatus. At the time she had thought it was because they were at Regina's house and it was in Regina's bedroom drawer, so Emma didn't touch what wasn't hers. Now she had learned a little about the brunette's past sexual experiences she wasn't so sure, but she would gently probe and see what her lover had to say.

Henry was unbelievably happy that the two women were speaking and his attitude was infectious, Regina smiled more often and Emma was absolutely shocked when she came to collect him one evening and she was invited in for dinner. It wasn't just any dinner either, Henry had been allowed to order pizza and Emma grinned dopily, her attitude relaxed and happy when she found out. Regimental Super Cook was allowing greasy take away in her pristine kitchen, it was a small step but with Regina even the small steps should be celebrated as they rarely happened.

It was one of Emma's favourite foods which should have alerted her but it didn't. Instead she realised she had walked into a trap shortly after the boxes of steaming food arrived and Regina plated up. The brunette sat Emma furthest from the door so she couldn't easily escape so she was a captive audience to the demands of the older woman. Once Emma had eaten two slices and her stomach had been placated Regina sprung the trap, casually slipping into the conversation her desire for Henry to stay over regularly two nights a week.

Emma had to laugh, bribery was a classic pre-curse Regina tool and at least the woman was exhibiting signs she was a little like her old self. Emma didn't mind the low tactic and greedily ate more pizza while Regina listed her argument in a typical politician's delivery. The woman still looked tired and Emma could hazard a guess that there were nightmares causing it, but she was becoming more and more recognisable with her snarky one line comments and barbed witticisms.

Emma had decided to agree the minute the proposition left the brunette's lips, but she sat and listened to the arguments anyway, knowing Regina had put thought into it and being respectfully silent. It was only afterwards that Emma realised the genius stroke Regina had played.

If Emma had Henry, she couldn't leave him alone over night, and Regina didn't like coming to her apartment. The walls were thin and Regina didn't like leaving her house after it got dark. However if Regina had Henry then Emma could easily leave her apartment and visit the mansion and it opened up the opportunity for them to explore nights spent together, again.

And explore they did.


Emma had been getting louder and louder one night when Regina had stopped touching her altogether. Whimpering from the lost contact and failing to understand the blonde reached out to touch the other woman who had pulled further away as Emma's finger snaked round a firm bicep.

"Emma I need to concentrate."

"On what? I'm right here." Emma sounded petulant even to her own ears, but really, this wasn't a time to pull away.

The blonde huffed back onto the pillows and watched the brunette as she quickly muttered a few words and suddenly magic sprang from her hands to coat the walls with a purple hue which quickly dissipated.

"What was that?" Emma knew she didn't need to worry that Regina had just created another curse, she was devoted to Henry and Emma knew she had only ever broken her promise to him about magic a handful of times and Emma had been there at every occasion.

She was just curious as her lover turned back to her and said, "Silencing spell, it was either that or a gag."

Emma shivered at the thought. "I wouldn't have minded a gag."

"Duly noted Miss Swan, now should we get back to it?"


Henry woke and knew something wasn't right. Usually he was woken by his brunette mother, but if he woke early he always lay in bed and enjoyed the smell of the breakfast she was cooking for him. The scent of bacon usually wafted up the stairs and he could usually catch the faint sound of movement, pans clanging, or the radio on.

Today there was nothing, no smells or sounds, it was deathly quiet and as he glanced over to the alarm clock he saw how late it was. He should be leaving for school soon and he wasn't even washed or dressed. Something must be wrong with his Mother, she'd never let him sleep late on a school day or go to school hungry. She was forever telling him that to concentrate and have a full day of learning he needed to eat, no-one could concentrate on an empty stomach.

As he pulled back the duvet cover and dropped his feet to the carpeted floor he slipped his feet into his slippers. He walked over to his bedroom door he listened to how quiet the house was. He knew instinctively his Mother wasn't downstairs cooking or doing the laundry or washing up, he couldn't hear any noise at all. So he crept down the corridor hoping there was an explanation and trying not to let his imagination take control of him and cause him to worry unnecessarily. Until he knew what had happened he would just assume she had over slept. Admittedly that had never happened before, but he wasn't blind. He had seen she was wearing heavy makeup round her eyes to cover the dark circles, she wasn't sleeping well despite what she told him when he asked how she was feeling.

He noticed his Mother's bedroom door was shut, which again was not unusual, but when he repeatedly knocked and called out, "Mom" without a response he felt his heartbeat begin to increase and his mouth go dry as worry began to settle in the pit of his stomach.

As Henry was knocking without answer, Regina was just beginning to wake up. Suddenly she was wide awake as the sunlight falling into the room indicated to her it was later in the morning than she usually slept. Panicked she sat up and realised she was naked, stripped bare by her blonde lover last night. She must have passed out from exhaustion and she couldn't recall Emma leaving, setting an alarm to wake her in the morning or pulling her pyjamas back on. It appeared from the tussled sheets and her nude appearance she had literally run out of steam, her sleepless nights and the physical exertion taking their toll so she had just drifted off after the coitous.

She got out of bed and was halfway across the room when Henry opened the door and stumbled in saying, "Mom, thank god you're ok, I've been knocking for ages. Why didn't you answer?"

It was then he stopped speaking and seemed to notice the state of undress she was in. He immediately dropped his eyes to the floor and mumbled, "Never mind" before quickly reversing his steps and bolting from the room.

Regina wanted to curse. How could she have been so stupid? In her haste she had soundproofed the room from both sides, instead of making the spell one sided so that Emma's cries would stay in the room but she could still hear everything that was going on outside. She had really not known Henry was outside, because of the spell she couldn't hear anything. And from the look on his face and the tone of his voice he was obviously very worried about her which should have touched her and made her feel loved and wanted, however all she felt now was burning embarrassment. There was shame at him seeing her bare to the elements, he had got a full frontal display and her face was hot and flushed crimson. She was also battling anger that she had messed up the spell, she then felt dread because she couldn't explain to Henry with the truth about why she hadn't answered the door. She couldn't admit she had a cast a spell and used magic and she definitely could explain to him why she had needed to.

All she knew was that she needed to try and put this right as she knew Henry would also be feeling equally unsettled and embarrassed about seeing her nude.

Pushing away the guilt and her own mortification she quickly grabbed a robe, pulling the cool fabric round her shoulders and tying it tightly at the waist before she left the room. She moved down the stairs and into the kitchen to find Henry dressed haphazardly and hurriedly packing his school bag.

"Henry" she tried. He kept his focus on the bag.

"I'm sorry I worried you and that you saw me like that."

"Its fine Mom." but it obviously wasn't as he wouldn't look at her at all. He had obviously just thrown the nearest clothes he could find on and had run his hands threw his hair instead of brushing it. Regina would never had let him leave the house like that but she wasn't given the choice as he forcefully did up the clasp on the bag and swung it onto his shoulder in a fast and fluid move. Then without looking up, his gaze firmly rooted on his trainer clad feet he shot past her and started descending the stairs two at a time. When he got to the front door he casually threw a goodbye over his shoulder as he practically ran down the path to the sidewalk.

Regina had never seen him so eager for school and didn't remember him ever leaving her house without breakfast. Sighing at the mess she had managed to make of time with her son she went back upstairs to wash, dress and correct the spell so this never happened again. After that she sent a text to the blonde asking her to come over later that evening and share dinner, hoping that with an extra person things wouldn't be too awkward between her and Henry.


She spent a long day mulling over what to say to Henry, but he didn't give her the option when he came home after school. He mumbled something about "lots of homework" and went straight upstairs to get on with it. Stewing more and more Regina went to cook some dinner for the 3 of them and at least that seemed to help her relax. As she stirred the sauce she was making to accompany the chicken breasts she heard the knock at the door and she turned the heat down on the hob as she left the kitchen to let Emma in.

"Hey." The blonde greeted her but Regina just scowled.

"What is it?" Emma tipped her head and regarded the other woman.

"Come in, I'm just finishing off dinner." Was the only response as the brunette swiftly spun on her heel and marched back towards the kitchen.

"Ok then." Emma replied, thinking that even for Regina the behaviour was a little odd but did as she was told and followed the brunette into the kitchen.

"Smells great." She commented as she pulled out a stool and collapsed her weight onto it.

The brunette just shook her head at the poor posture and heathen way Emma rested her elbows on the table. Regina could still hear her Mother drilling her about correct posture and how to sit when at a table, that you didn't relax and lean forward, which cutlery you ate with and how a lady sat. It had begun from a young age, before she even realised it she had been taken in hand and trained in the social niceties. She had been prepared so she would fit in above her true station in life, her mother bending her, changing her so she could ultimately fulfil her mother's desire for her to be royalty, a Queen.

Looking at Emma sprawled out, denim clad legs resting casually apart, and her hand nestled in her windswept hair as it propped up her head Regina thought about her lineage, Emma was royal too. But she looked so far from a typical Princess that even Regina's Mother would have had her work cut out training the blonde to conform to traditional expectations.

Part of Regina was envious, Emma had grown up with much less structure, less rules to obey, and she was comfortable within herself because no-one had continually eroded her confidence telling her she wasn't good enough. She could still be carefree and more relaxed than Regina even knew how to be.

"Not that it isn't nice to be invited to dinner, but why am I here?" Emma interrupted her train of thought.

"This is slightly embarrassing." Regina began.

Emma said nothing, she just leaned further forward and with a motion of her hand indicated Regina should continue.

"There was an incident this morning and Henry walked in on me."

"Walked in on you?" Emma wasn't sure she understood.

"Yes, he had been knocking on my bedroom door but when I cast the spell last night I should have made it a one way spell but didn't. I couldn't hear him, he became worried and he walked in."

"Ok." Emma still didn't get why that was a problem, except that magic had been used, but she was pretty certain Regina wasn't about to confess that to Henry.

"Oh for God's sake, I gave you more credit than your 2 idiot parents, do I have to spell it out for you? I was naked Emma, Henry walked in before I had put any clothes on!"

"Oh." Now Emma got it.

"He won't speak to me now, it is very tense and awkward and I hoped you being here might ease the discomfort."

Emma didn't do anything for a moment and then she burst out laughing. It was a deep belly laugh and Regina's scowl did nothing to help the blonde gain any control. She laughed long and hard for at least a minute, it made her stomach hurt and she felt tears prick at her eyes. She couldn't remember laughing quite so hard in a very long time.

As Regina stalked up and down the tiled kitchen floor her mood only got worse with Emma's laughter. She finally snapped her voice harsh.

"Miss Swan this is not funny, this is serious. I have only just repaired things with Henry, I can't lose him again over something this unfortunate."

Emma struggled to breathe properly from the effort of restraining and repressing the laughter, and Regina standing before her with her hands on her hips glaring daggers at her didn't help. She managed to get enough control over herself to answer.

"Regina you won't lose him. And from what I understand most kids walk in on their parents either in the nude or in other compromising situations. I know I have done. There is a reason I wanted my own apartment." She winked at the older woman.

Regina's scowl deepened, "Miss Swan did you really have to tell me that? I could live forever without knowing about your parents' sex life. It isn't something I ever want to think about, let alone have you tell me you have witnessed first-hand." The look of pure disgust on Regina's face made Emma want to laugh all over again, somehow she managed to reign herself in and just smiled goofily at the brunette.

"Sorry. I won't mention it again."

"See that you don't." and Emma watched the older woman shudder.

"Regina what I mean is it is a natural part of growing up and sharing a house. Things like this happen all the time."

"Not in this house it doesn't and it wasn't something my Mother would have tolerated either. Clothes were worn at all times."

"Look Regina, this isn't some major setback, Henry is just embarrassed and he'll work it out. Do you want me to go and talk to him?"

"Yes Miss Swan, I would. I hold you responsible for this, it is your fault I had to cast the spell and it was your fault I was distracted and didn't think properly about casting it correctly. It is also your fault I was naked. So you can help me fix this."

"You can't blame me for distracting you!" Emma said with indignation.

"Well I can and I do. I wouldn't usually have made such a basic error with magic, you could take it as a compliment you were able to divert my focus. Now go upstairs and talk to Henry, dinner will be ten minutes."

As Emma got to the door she couldn't help herself, she turned and with a huge grin said, "You know someone once told me all magic comes with a price, maybe this was the payback, it's only a little embarrassment you know."

She knew she was pushing her luck and that the brunette wouldn't see this for what it was, a storm in a teacup. It would soon blow over and while looking back and laughing at it might never happen, both Henry and Regina would be fine once the embarrassment wore off.

It was just so easy and enjoyable to bait Regina, Emma couldn't help herself. She failed to see the lightening quick reflexes move to throw the spoon at her and it narrowly missed her head before landing with a thump in the foyer.

"That was uncalled for!" Emma poked her head round the door to check nothing else would be thrown.

Regina growled at her poor aim, "Miss Swan do shut up and get upstairs, I fail to see the amusement in this situation."

Still fighting giggles Emma left the kitchen doorway and climbed the stairs. The conversation wasn't going to be easy, but Henry was a smart boy and Emma had heard much worse stories, friends who had real horrors inflicted by their foster parents. This was just an unfortunate circumstance and Henry needed to be grown up enough to accept it and find a way to deal with it. Emma was pretty sure both Regina and Henry would be happy to never mention it again, however Emma might mention it from time to time just to see the seething look of mixed embarrassment and outrage cross Regina's prim face. She caught herself before she laughed again. She needed to be sensible with Henry, he was probably distraught and definitely wouldn't be seeing the funny side of it.

She knocked on his door and she heard him call out, "I'm still busy doing homework."

"Hey Kid, it's me." She answered him and heard him get up and open the door.

"Did Mom tell you what happened?" He looked at her a little incredulously. "Did she ask you to come over?"

"Yeah actually she did."

"Wow. She told you all of it, that she had no clothes on?"

"That's natural Henry, she was in her room, and she wasn't out on the street flaunting herself."

"I know that. I just didn't expect it. It was a shock to see her like that."

"She was pretty shocked too."

"But I had been knocking and calling to her, I only went in because she didn't answer."

"I know that and so does she. She doesn't blame you or think you were snooping. I think she just overslept Henry, she hasn't been sleeping so well recently."

"But she always sleeps in her pyjamas."

Emma felt a blush creep up her neck at that. "Maybe she got hot and took them off." She hurriedly suggested before rapidly continuing, "Whatever the reason, you can't ignore her forever, you need to accept what you saw was an accident and come downstairs with me for dinner."

"She's going to act weird about it." Henry commented as he stood up.

"She's not the one hiding up here and sulking about it." Emma jibbed at him.

"No she called you in to talk to me, are you telling me that isn't weird?" Henry looked at his blonde mother and quirking his eyebrow.

"We are getting along better you know. And she hasn't exactly got many people she can call upon. Would you rather she had sent you to Archie for more therapy?"

"No, I'm glad she asked you. I'm just surprised, she wouldn't normally open up about something private and personal like that."

"She is getting better at talking things through and she will never risk losing you again, she learned her lesson and tries to fix the problems between the 2 of you rather than letting them fester."

"She is getting better at trusting isn't she?" Henry looked up at Emma with such hope. "I think she just needs a friend and I know how nasty she was to you when you first came to town, but maybe now you could be her friend?"

Emma took a second to think about her response. They were lovers, not exactly friends, but Emma thought she was probably the nearest thing Regina had someone who understood her. Someone who didn't judge her or immediately jump to dark or deadly conclusions about her sometimes odd behaviour.

"Yes Henry I think I might slowly be wearing her down. I think she trusts me with you, even if she doesn't trust me with anything else."

"You're certain there isn't anything else going on with her?" Henry fixed his gaze on her and searched her face.

Emma told him the half-truth for his own good, he didn't need to know what was happening between the two women.

"I think she is just tired. And it was just a mistake this morning, one that hopefully won't happen again. There is nothing going on for you to be concerned about." Emma was sure now Regina had corrected the spell there was no chance it would ever happen again.

"Now let's get some dinner, it's chicken and it smells great." Emma grasped Henry's shoulder and they walked out of his room and down the corridor, Emma was certain the meal would be awkward and Henry would be quieter than usual, but she was certain no permanent harm had been done.


Dinner had been fine, yes everyone was a bit quiet but Emma had managed to carry the conversation and roped in both Mother and son. And the food was lovely as always.

Emma was meant to return to her apartment with Henry that night but as Regina left the room with the dirty plates he pulled Emma to one side after the meal and admitted, "I think I should stay here tonight, I don't want Mom to think I'm running away or that this has affected me too badly. Staying feels normal, it feels the right thing to do."

"Ok Henry, if that's what you want then that is fine with me. Do you want to tell her?"

He nodded and left the table to greet his mother in the kitchen and tell her he was going to stay another night with her. Emma just smiled, thankfully Henry had a good head on his shoulders and an easy going attitude.

And that was how she ended up in the woman's bed again. She had accepted after dinner drinks, watched some TV with them both and kissed her son goodnight, feeling so proud he was growing into a sensible and considerate young man. Once alone the two women tried to do small talk, discussing the TV shows but it was apparent neither of them had much interest in talk. Soon one thing lead to another and they had stumbled upstairs where she found herself being held down tightly between the older woman's thighs before she was flipped and the favour returned, pleasure washing over both of them in waves.


Regina was confused for a moment as she felt the soft padding of being seated on a chair, the hard wooden back biting into her shoulder blades. She was dressed in a long cotton nightgown and as she stared into the mirror a younger version of herself starred back. She had long hair, softer eyes and mouth but still a pensive look on pulled at her features and worry lined her face.

She remembered this night, she was sure of it. She had thought about it often. She reached out her hand to grasp the cold glass goblet she knew was there and lifted the wine to her lips. She couldn't remember why it was glass, usually the goblets were metal. Then it dawned on her, it was her birthday today. She had been given this as a gift by the insipid Genie, telling her it was a lovely thing but paled in comparison to her beauty. She had wanted to push the love sick man away but that wasn't part of her plan, so she had accepted with a knowing smile on her lips, giving him just enough encouragement so he continued his infatuated courtship.

She took the glass in her hand and studied the crystal, how it had been cut to reflect the light and she did admire the beauty of the object, it was just a shame the man who had given it to her repulsed her.

She drained the glass and went to refill it, the part of her that had lived far beyond this point in time wished for something harder, some whiskey or rum to dull her senses more than the wine was. As it was this was all she had, so it would have to make do but it was a sad celebration as she sat alone and depressed watching her youth slip away year after year in this mirror and this room.

She tensed as she heard the heavy fall of footsteps in the corridor and the fumbling at her door. Her grip tightened on the stem of the glass and she held her breath as the door finally swung open and her husband entered her room. Not tonight, she thought. It's my birthday, just for once couldn't I have what I want and be left alone? But the answer was no, like it had been every time she remembered that night so long ago.

As she rose to her feet to greet her husband she could already see his eyes were unfocused and he reeked of alcohol. She shuddered and her hand clenched, the delicate glass shattered against her skin and cut into her making her take her eyes from The King. As she moved to inspect her hurt and bleeding hand she heard her husband growl at her, "You will pay me the respect and attention I deserve, Wife."

"I'm sorry." Regina stuttered, her hand throbbing as blood dripped slowly onto the floor but she turned her gaze fully to the older man before her.

"This" and he grasped her damaged hand and squeezed it, seeing the blood flow more freely, "is no excuse to ignore your duty."

"I'm sorry." Regina whispered again, "It was a mistake. The glass breaking was a shock and it hurt. I meant no disrespect." she tried to explain.

The crack echoed around the room as The King had raised his hand and backhanded it across her face.

The loud sound seemed to bring him some clarity and cut through the drunken haze he was in. His eyes cleared a little and he watched her face as she reacted to his rough treatment.

Regina had married an older man who was still in love with his dead wife and she had known from the first moment that it was a mistake, but the worst she usually had to bare was being ignored all day while the man lavished his time and patience on his sickeningly sweet child. There were occasional nightly summons, and as he had aged they became more infrequent, but he was rarely this drunk or violent, he hardly ever came into her person quarters and both his presence and the slap had taken the brunette by surprise.

Something was wrong with him, something had made him angry because this wasn't how he treated her. He was guilty of much emotional abuse but she couldn't ever say he had physically abused her, until this night. She wondered what he had seen, could it be the Imp or the over attentive Genie? She didn't know and she wasn't going to be given any chance to ask or defend herself.

Whatever it was the man in front of her might be old, but he was still well built and wasn't infirm, he could still overpower and hurt her. And the anger rippled off him in waves now she looked closely, the drink he had consumed only added to his aggression. She felt true fear then, he was usually a reasonable man but tonight he had forgone his rational mind and she saw hints of darkness and destruction in his stance and in his eyes.

The younger woman felt the heat rise to her slapped cheek and when she gingerly poked out her tongue she could taste blood from a slit lip. She kept her hands at her side despite wanting to cradle her face, she didn't want to do anything without her husband's permission. It could be fatal to move or speak unbidden with him in this mood so she stood still and waited.

"You've been drinking." His gaze fell on the broken glass, the contents spilled across the dresser. "You know I don't like you drinking without me." The tone was low and threatening and the young woman felt the icy needles of fear sink deeper onto her. Still she didn't move, she stood and let him speak.

"You do everything you can to disrespect me and ignore my wishes." Suddenly he was bellowing into her face and had picked up the remains of the glass and threw it across the room at the mirror that was hanging over the bed. They both exploded on contact, shards of the mirror and the crystal of the glass fell to the bed together and glinted in the lamplight of the room, the surfaces shimmered as the candlelight flickered.

"You won't ignore me tonight. You will remember your place." And he pushed her backwards towards the bed, bunching her nightgown round her waist as he moved into her space and forced her to retreat into the room step by step. When her legs hit the wooden frame of the bed he commanded she turn round and climb onto the bed.

"I don't want to see your devious and scheming face." He growled at her as he pushed her squarely between her shoulder blades and she fell forward. She tried to avoid the broken glass but small shards bit into her open palms as her arms caught her weight and she found herself kneeling on the blankets. Her already bleeding hand smeared a rust red stain on the fabric as the small shards cut smaller wounds and made pin pricks of blood appear on her other palm.

She felt the mattress shift as her husband added his weight behind her and she felt his hands grasp her firmly by the hips. She knew what was coming, this was familiar. When the old man got drunk he remembered how lonely he was and that he had needs and a wife. That was when he called for her, more often than not making Regina face away from him so he could imagine he was still with his beloved dead wife in his drink hazed memories. And Regina suffered it as was her duty, sometimes it was over quickly for which she was grateful, but other times he struggled to maintain an erection and once he was hard enough he often took an age to find his satisfying rhythm which left Regina tired and sore and praying for the end.

Tonight was going to be the latter, it was always worse the more he had drunk and Regina hated herself for letting her mother manipulate her into this situation. This wasn't living, this wasn't happiness. This shouldn't be her life. Even thoughts of Daniel failed to help her during the pummelling The King subjected her to, so she had learned to cry silently, the tears slipping down her face.

Regina knew it would hurt more if she was tense, but she couldn't help herself. She couldn't calm her heart or relax her body so when she felt the King press his almost rigid member between her legs she had to bite her already sore and bleeding lip and fought the desire to pull her hips away. She needed to behave, to be the dutiful wife and allow him to enter her, the sooner he was inside her and rutting the sooner it would be over.

She looked at the blood seeping from her cut hands and felt the tears prick at her eyes. As her husband finally managed to get the angle of his penis right and he forced himself into her she let them fall. Her body never responded to her husband, she was never aroused for him, she wasn't slick so he didn't slide in easily but he managed anyway often creating his own lubrication by spitting on his hand and then fisting it to smear the saliva round his member.

Regina had no idea about time, it spun away from her as she zoned out from the room and the treatment her body was being put through. But she was forced back to the present as she was spun by her hips so she landed painfully on her back. The thin fabric of the nightgown did nothing to protect her skin as a shard of the mirror dug into her sharply. As her husband bore down onto her it only pushed more glass into her delicate skin and she had to bring her arm to her mouth to bite down on it and muffle the scream of pain she felt.

Her husband didn't notice, he had a glassy look in his eyes as he murmured his dead wife's name. Regina had to turn her face away as his drunken breath washed over her, but again he didn't notice, he just kept moving his hips to thrust into her, holding her down with his weight.

She was sore, the friction giving her no pleasure, just making her hot and uncomfortable. She felt him shift above her again and he penetrated her deeper, painfully so and she wasn't surprised when she felt herself tear. It had happened before, the sensitive walls of her vagina without any lubrication had ripped open against his hard pounding phallus. Despite knowing how much pain she would be in as it slowly healed she did take some comfort that the blood being spilled would add liquid to the burning heat and help the glide of her husband's member, hopefully bringing a swift conclusion to this horrible experience.

She squeezed her eyes tight shut against the pain, she would endure, Mother had taught her that skill particularly well. She knew she had to have patience and continue the charade of devoted wife so that when things finally unwound no suspicion would fall on her. He shifted again, grunting and panting as finally it looked like he might be nearing his release. His pace changed and it caused a fresh wave of pain to travel through her body and she screamed silently in her head.


Only in the bed she was sharing with Emma she didn't scream silently at all, she screamed long and loud and immediately the blonde was awake and focusing all of her attention on her sleeping lover.

Emma didn't remember falling asleep but she knew she wasn't welcome sharing a bed or staying the night, it had been an honest mistake. Good food, some pleasant company, a few drinks and several orgasms had left her drowsy and Regina had obviously fallen asleep too. It wasn't like the other night, she wasn't holding the brunette, and there was no contact. Emma was tucked up on the empty side of the bed and must have unintentionally drifted off slowly and softly into a satisfied sleep.

Emma sat upright and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She felt the shaking coming from the brunette, and the room hummed with pent up emotions made strong with magic. Emma could feel the weight of repressed anger, there was some fear and the tension that crackled in the room was fierce and it scared her, she had never felt anything that intense before. She flicked on the bedside lamp so she could see better and gently shook the brunette.

She was even more concerned as her hand came away bloody and she could see the clenched sheet in Regina's hand was also caked with blood. Emma felt helpless, she couldn't wake up the other woman who was whimpering and had tears staining her face. As Emma looked at her face she was certain the right side looked swollen and the beginnings of a black eye was shadowing the socket in the dim lamplight.

"Regina!" Emma raised her voice and shook harder and she saw eyes flutter open before Regina was pulled back into her dream. Emma tried again and with more force, shaking the practically comatose woman before reaching down and with a heavy sigh she squeezed the hand that was bleeding. She was rewarded with a gasp of surprise as the brown eyes opened and stayed open and the brunette sat upright breathing hard and fast.

"Jesus." Emma breathed out.

"Yes." Regina managed to whisper as she tried to wipe her tousled hair away from her eyes with a blood stained hand that was shaking quite considerably.

"Regina you're bleeding." Emma looked at the pale skin and the eyes that were full of unshed tears. "What was that, it wasn't a regular nightmare was it?"

"No Emma, it wasn't. It was a waking dream."

"But you were definitely asleep." Emma didn't get it.

"They are called waking because the effects of the dream don't just stay in your unconscious mind in the dream state, they are felt on your actual body and are very rare and only happen to those who possess magic. This is only the second one I've ever experienced."

"Are you badly hurt?"

"I'll live." Regina looked down at her hands and tried not to flinch in pain as she flexed them. "I'll bathe and dress the wounds. It is probably best you go home."

As Regina swung her legs from the bed Emma saw how badly cut her back was. There were many small lacerations that had begun to clot, but a couple were deep and still oozing blood. She also heard the intake of breath as Regina stood up and a wave of pain rocked her. She kept her balance but Emma noticed the tremble and the limp she had as she took small steps towards the en-suite.

Left in the bed Emma knew the sheet was ruined, but as she pulled back the cover she was shocked to find the trail of blood continued much lower than she had expected. There were three distinct patches of blood. One was from Regina's hand, the other massed up near the pillows from her back and the other was where her ass had been resting. As Emma moved her eyes to the older woman she could see the drying blood that had run down her leg before she got to the bathroom and pushed the door shut.

Emma had been on rape training as part of her Law Enforcement duties and she knew that vaginal bleeding was common. She knew she hadn't hurt Regina or caused it during their amorous activities, her monthly cycle wasn't due which only meant it could have happened in the dream. Emma felt sick as a heavy weight settled in her stomach and she looked at the shut bathroom door with open sympathy.

Wanting to be useful and having no intention of going home she quickly jumped out of the bed and stripped the sheets. She went to the closet and grabbed a clean bath towel and found fresh bedding. She hastily made the bed and left the clean towel resting on the covers as she grabbed Regina's robe from the back of the door and slide into the softness of the garment. It smelled of Regina and she breathed in deeply before bending down and scooping up the stained sheets. She opened the bedroom door and quietly moved down the corridor and descended the stairs, taking the dirty bedding to the laundry room in case Regina wanted to try and save them with some miracle washing product.

She crept back upstairs and into the bedroom, grabbing the plush towel and standing listening for a moment at the closed bathroom door. She could hear the sound of soft sobbing and her heart clenched hard in her chest. She hated to hear the sound of anyone crying but this affected her deeply. She knew the woman was physically hurt but it was so much more than that. Her soul was tortured, her past filled with pain and Emma doubted the tears would stop tonight after such a violent dream that had caused such damage to her body and shaken the woman so badly.

She didn't knock, she just opened the door and walked quietly over to the bath. She looked at the pink hue to the water and tried not to let it bother her. She could quite easily join the woman in her crying, but Regina didn't need her empathy, she needed someone to help her and be strong, so Emma would be that for her tonight.

"Miss Swan" the brunette's voice was hoarse and scratchy, "I thought I told you to go home. Please leave."

"I don't think so, not tonight."

"You aren't welcome." Regina had turned away as she was struggling with any self-control and she still had tears spilling down her face. She was amazed she had managed to get her sobbing and voice under control to speak to the blonde at all.

"Let me help you." Emma was close but not touching her, she had crouched down next to the bath and just rested her hands on the edge of the bathtub.

"I don't need any help." Came the haughty reply.

"You will do to wash your back and to apply any antiseptics or creams and dress the wounds."

"I can manage."

"Damn it woman!" Emma didn't raise her voice but her aggravation was clear in the tone she used. Regina flinched back like she had been hit. Emma took a breath to steady herself, she was worried for Regina and the sight of so much blood and from just a dream had unsettled her much more than her outward appearance betrayed. She needed to find some calm because however upsetting Emma might have find it just witnessing the aftermath, Regina had had to live through it and must be feeling a hundred times worse than Emma did.

The deep breath soothed her so she could say without the hint of impatience her previous outburst had contained, "Can't you trust me a little bit? I've never hurt you and I won't hurt you now. Let me help you."

Regina turned to her and there was a haunted look in her eyes which shocked Emma. It was the undeniable true face that Regina successfully hid for the world around her, it was a broken woman, the mask was gone and Emma had never seen her look so small and vulnerable as she did curled up in the bath, bleeding and clearly terrified.

"I won't hurt you." The blonde repeated firmly and locked their eyes together, hoping the brunette could see the honesty shining there.

Silence greeted her, the only sound was the tap as it dripped into the water but Regina didn't move or make a sound.

"Can I touch you? I need to wash your back." Emma asked in a quiet voice.

The brunette nodded numbly and Emma grabbed a cloth and submerged it into the warm water, gently running it over the olive skin and trying to be tender and delicate over the abrasions and deeper lacerations. Regina didn't comment at all as Emma worked, rinsing out the cloth and then gingerly running it back over her broken skin.

All the while Regina cried, mutely. Emma felt the odd shake as she repressed a sob or the hitch in breathing, but otherwise there was no sign that the tears continued to flow except occasionally Emma heard one plop into the bath water. Regina made no effort to wipe them away, just sitting still, arched over into herself.

Emma knew the position well, she had adopted it at times when she was a child in an uncomfortable situation during her time in the foster system. The brunette was presenting as small a target to the outside world as possible to protect herself. The blonde knew she needed to cry and that this was much more healthy than bottling everything up but it still pulled at her deep inside to see such suffering and pain and be helpless to fix it.

When Emma was done she asked Regina again if she could support her to help her get out of the bath. She wrapped the towel round her and led her back to the bed noticing she was still limping. She visibly winced as she sat down.

Emma went back to the bathroom and found some antiseptic cream and gauze and set about the delicate process of tending to the bloody mess that had just hours before been Regina's back. Emma also tended to her right hand, the left didn't need any gauze or dressing, but the left ended up wrapped tightly so the blonde guessed she wouldn't have any function in it for a few days. She had no idea what to do for the other injury Regina obviously had, she guessed it would just take time to heal naturally. She knew Regina wouldn't discuss it with her so she did what she could for the visible injuries.

She found clean pyjamas and dressed the woman, pulling her own clothes on at the same time, before helping the brunette to lay down and pulling the clean sheets round her.

"Regina," she began and the woman did at least turn her face up and towards her. Emma saw the bruise forming round her eye properly now and felt uncontrollable anger bubble through her aimed at whoever had done this to her lover. Emma knew it was a dream, but based on what she knew of Regina, her nightmares were usually of actual things that had happened in her past. There could be someone in town that had done this to the fallen Queen and if Emma found them she knew she would struggle to contain her temper and be Sheriff or Saviour.

Emma didn't know what else to say, how to verbalise any of the emotions she had. She wanted to convey her regret this had happened, she wanted to offer to stay. She just didn't know where to start so the word hung in the air between them.

"Don't." The brunette croaked out.

"What do you need?" Emma knelt and whispered to her.

"Water please."

"And after that?" Emma's hands itched to do something, to try and give the woman some comfort with a touch. But she didn't dare invade her personal space so she did nothing.

"To try and sleep."

Emma was frustrated, "I feel useless."

"Don't. I lived through this once before, I will again."

Emma sighed at that, it might be the truth but she didn't like it. She stood and went to get a glass of water from the kitchen as she had been asked. When she stepped back into the room Regina had turned off the lamp and was tucked up on her side.

Emma placed the glass on the bedside cabinet and struggled. In the end she settled on words she knew weren't enough, "Good night Regina." She began to walk away.

"Emma." She turned back at the soft voice calling her name. "I'm sorry this happened tonight. Thank you for your understanding."

Emma walked slowly back towards the bed and tentatively reached out for Regina's less damaged hand. She turned it over in her own and gently dropped a kiss between each knuckle. "You're welcome" she eventually whispered as she tucked the woman back under the sheets.

She almost bolted from the bedroom, unsure what she was feeling. The fragile moments she kept having with the brunette and the honesty shared as she found out more and more about her past history bothered Emma deep down. Was it just care and compassion? Because to Emma's treacherous heart it was beginning to feel more and more like it might be more, that the brunette who was buried underneath all the sarcasm might be someone Emma could love.

And there were points when she knew Regina could have been rude or made a hurtful jib, but she hadn't. Was Regina just changing for Henry, doing better and reigning in her temper and her sharp tongue because she loved her son? Or was there some kind of twisted reciprocation of the feelings Emma had swirling inside her?

Emma didn't want to be the only one investing feelings into this bizarre relationship, but as she walked home in the clear and cool night air she realised she did have feelings and they were growing with each passing day. She could only hope her lover felt enough for her not to crush her or dismiss her completely. Regina didn't discuss feelings, she wasn't comfortable with it, but that didn't mean she didn't have them. Emma hoped it was a true connection she sensed growing between them, because however hot the sex was, Regina Mills the person was hotter and Emma wanted to have her.