A/N: Hi everyone, here is the latest update. Apologies for the delay, I have been working on another project for Lana, to give to her at Storybrooke UK! If any of my readers are going, I would love to meet you. Thank you for all your kind, continued support and kind reviews!

After a long, silent and awkward car ride back to Mifflin Street, Regina eventually pulled up onto the drive. Only being a two seat vehicle, had meant that the blonde had had to hold her son's car seat, upon her lap. In death grip, Emma had kept Henry help tight, and close to her as she had absentmindedly stared out of the window. Not really paying attention to a thing, Emma was distant, lost in her own small world, so much so it took Regina calling her name more than several times before she had responded.

"Out" Regina had demanded. Her voice strong, controlling and somewhat cold, as it was laced with fury.

"Now Emma!" she had scolded, when the blonde hadn't instantly moved upon being told to do so.

Flinching just a little, Emma moved, taking it painfully slowly as she was careful not to disturb her baby boy, who was fast asleep. Regina bit her tongue, drawing in a deep breath, and controlling her temper so as not to lose her patience. Getting out of the car, and hurrying around to the passenger side, Regina's hand touched Emma's as she reached for the handle of the car seat, so as to aide the blonde with Henry. Emma's stunning blue eyes, met suddenly with Regina's as she looked up, and tightened her grip.

"Let me help" Regina stated, much more calmly than before.

Emma was reluctant. Her trust in the woman before slightly dented. At the end of the day Regina Mills was still a stranger to her. Keeping her hand firmly wrapped around the handle, so tight her knuckles were turning white, Regina noted the blonde was not going to accept her offer. Releasing her own hand, she took a step back, and watched as Emma struggled pushing herself out of the seat, and bowed her head once more as she stood out of the way. Swallowing hard, Regina closed the passenger car door, and then gestured for Emma to walk in front of her towards the front door.

With no hesitation, nor words, Emma walked towards the porch, and quietly waited for Regina to let her inside. She was on the verge of tears. Feeling so small and vulnerable, insignificant and unworthy. Waiting for the big door to slowly swing open, Emma took a moment, wiping her boots on the mat as she entered the mansion. It was silent and still for a moment as Regina followed her in, flicked on the lights, and closed the front door with a click. Then without warning, the light dimmed, and the heaven's opened, pelting large droplets of rain against the window panes from all angles. It all echoed around the large, grand hallway, as outside the light just turned to a murky darkness. As Emma just stood there, Henry at her side against her legs, and the Mayor behind her, with no noise but that of outside, a sudden clap of thunder, and flash of lightening suddenly tripped the power, plunging them into the shadows of the dim darkness. It was like the a scene from a horror movie, the one where the innocent girl knows she has entered the spiders web, ready to face her fate, and you just know its coming. It was exactly what Emma was feeling at that exact moment. She jumped, having not realised Regina was that close to her, as she felt the cold of Regina's hand touching her own, as from it she managed to slip the car seat.

"Up the stairs. Guest room." Regina instructed in a hushed tone.

Compelled to follow the orders, Emma stepped forward, away from both the brunette and her son, head still bowed as she placed her hand on the banister and took her first step onto the staircase. It was then that she stopped, glancing shyly back over her shoulder, she looked straight at Regina, whose hard stare instantly made her turn back around and continue up to the second level. It wasn't until Emma had reached the landing, that the mayor finally let out a deep sigh, and began to follow. She was perplexed, what on earth was she going to do with the young blonde, and her feelings for her.

Like a controlled puppet, Emma was stood waiting in the bedroom for her next instruction from the brunette. She was not facing the door, so as Regina entered, all she saw was her back. Placing down the car seat, Regina crouched in front of it. Unstrapping the tiny baby boy, Regina lifted him out with care, and delicately placed him down in to the crib.

"Emma?" she stated ever so gently.

Not a word came from the blonde. She just stood, facing the fireplace, still lost in that world of her own.

Sighing, Regina stormed across the room and straight into the on suite. This would not continue, she was not going to have the blonde shut her out. She needed to know why she had done what she had, whether she had been hurt, everything, and every reason. She didn't know why, she just wanted to know. Lighting a few candles so that she could properly see, Regina dotted them around the bathroom, as she set the water running to fill the spacious bath tub. Grabbing fresh towels from the little linen store in the corner, she laid them out on the heated rack to warm up for Emma's use. Then from a selection of bottles, she pulled out a lavender scented, relaxing soak she had purchased from a herbal shop in the town. Putting in a generous amount, she let the bubbles form in a foamy mass, and the gentle scent fill the room.

Returning to the bedroom, Regina approached the blonde. Placing her hand gently against the top of Emma's arm, she squeezed gently.

"Come with me" she gently requested of the blonde, as her hand stroked down Emma's arm lightly, and then fell away.

Emma was still, she was not going to move of her own accord, Regina could tell that now. Holding out her hand, she brushed it against Emma's, lightly wrapping her cold hands in her own, and established a gentle grip. The blonde didn't reject the gesture, and without any further hesitation, let the brunette gently guide her to the bathroom.

The loud sound of gushing water filled the air, steam clouded up the windows, and the warm but gentle scent of lavender instantly relaxed Emma. Her hunched shoulders fell just a little as she drew in a deep breath. Regina examined her, glancing up and down and trying to read the blonde, but she still wasn't having much luck getting under the surface. It saddened her somewhat to see Emma this way. So closed down, hurting and alone. She could tell Emma needed a lot of care and looking after though, and she was determined she would be the one to offer that kindness to her. Letting go of Emma's hand, she left her standing motionless by the tub, and reached across to turn off the water. Dipping her fingertips elegantly into the water, Regina tested that it wasn't scolding, nor too cold, and then rose and turned back to the blonde.

Emma was stood staring out of the blurred, steamy from the inside, covered in rain from the outside window aimlessly. Gently again Regina spoke the blonde's name to gain her attention. This time when Emma turned to face the brunette, Regina saw the threatening tears about to fall in her eyes, and gave her a sympathetic look.

"Come on now, in your bath before it gets too cold" Regina stated.

Emma sniffled just a little as she fought against her tears and the urge to cry. Watching Regina closely, Emma just folded her arms across herself protectively.

"Come on" Regina coaxed as softly as she could manage.

Emma still didn't budge. That was when Regina knew she had no choice but to intervene. The girl needed a good soak, if not to relax her, then at least to get the stench of that god awful, Dr Whale, off of her and out of her skin. Stepping closer to the blonde, Regina was intrusive and bold as she peeled Emma's arms from around her own torso, and gripped lightly at the hem of her shirt. Off it came in a swift and brisk moment, revealing Emma's somewhat pale, and marked skin, the fresh bruising starting to come out, the scratches and marks dulling from bright red to a subdued pink. Regina's was tempted to touch, but held back as she dropped the shirt to the floor. Focusing on the task at hand of undressing Emma for a bath, Regina continued by popping the button on the skin tight jeans, and peeling them down Emma's long, thin legs, for her to step out of. It didn't quite go to plan, as Emma failed to do it for herself, and Regina ended up crouched before her, and pulling the tight denim off of from her ankles one by one.

"Turn" she instructed Emma quite abruptly.

Doing as she was told, Emma slowly turned so her back was to the town mayor. She was tensing up again, as she felt the brush of Regina's fingers at her bra clasp. Unhooking the black lace undergarment, Regina pulled it down Emma's arms and let it fall to the floor. Moving on, she really was being intrusive as her fingers hooked into each side of Emma's underwear.

"No!" The blonde suddenly cried out in a broken voice.

Her hand flew over Regina's, as she pulled at them and threw them away. Turning quickly Emma covered her chest with her arms, embarrassed and feeling too vulnerable for this, and stared at Regina.

The brunette could see the embarrassment on the blondes facial features; cheeks flushed, lip quivering slightly and eyes wide, like a deer caught in headlights.

Finally, the barrier was broken between them, and communication established.

"Then do it yourself" Regina instructed, slightly colder in her tone again, as she stood authoritatively before Emma.

Wary of the situation, the blonde hesitated, but then shyly removed her underwear. Then naked, she stood in front of Regina, who gestured she come closer again, and then reached for her hand. Unsure but curious, Emma placed her hand into Regina's and allowed her to help her step into the bath and sit down. The water was warm and welcoming as it met with her skin. It stung in places where she was sensitive and marked. Laying back the blonde immersed herself in the water, and allowed herself to relax just a little.

Perching herself upon a small stool beside the tub, Regina sat and reached for a wash cloth from the side of the tub. Plunging it into the bath water she let it soak up some of the warm liquid, and then rung it out before starting to gently wash over the blondes shoulder and collarbone. she was careful not to be overly familiar with the blonde, so as not to provoke a reaction similar to that of ten minutes before. In silence for a few moments, Regina gently wiped the blonde's skin, as outside the loud claps of thunder, and flashes of lightening seemed to fade only to background noise.

"Are you going to tell me why Emma?" Regina pushed gently to get information from the blonde.

"I don't know" Emma whimpered with a sniffle.

"Oh I think you do dear. Tell me?" Regina pushed gently again.

"I needed the money" Emma whispered in a quiet, broken voice.

Emma was being defensive, and Regina could tell, so she pushed further for the answers she wanted.

"Then why didn't you just ask dear?" Regina questioned.

She would have given money to her, anything she had wanted, Regina could have gotten it for her.

"I take care of myself" Emma mumbled.

Regina felt pained to hear such a thing, but she understood. After all she wouldn't have asked either if she had been in the young girl's position herself.

"It was just supposed to be a little fun" Emma then continued without prompt.

Regina listened, letting the blonde talk, as she gently washed across her chest and the tops of each of her arms, leaving the rest of her to soak.

"It seemed a good idea, when he first suggested it...but" Emma spoke, broken sentences as she struggled to get some of it out.

The blonde went on, explaining painfully slowly how she had sort of gone looking for trouble, trying to rebel against the earlier events of the day, but had found that only Dr Whale had been remotely interested in her, well maybe not her as a person but definitely her body, and what he could get out of her. Sweet, young blonde, yeah she knew what his type wanted with the like of her. She admitted that she had consumed too much alcohol, and had stumbled out of the club with him. Then before she had known it they were back at the diner's bed and breakfast. Explaining how he had had his hands all over her, Emma told of how the events had led to how she had been found only a few hours ago in her bed. By the time she had gotten to the part where she had changed her mind she was crying. It was getting difficult to understand her, as she was mumbling quietly, and her words were becoming merged with giant sobs as she drew in breath, but still Regina listened, picking up on what she could, and feeling a mix of sadness and anger.

"But i said no...I changed my mind" Emma finally sobbed clearly.

The entire time she had been explaining herself, she hadn't looked at Regina.

"I said no" Emma repeated, almost as if she was trying to make sense of it all herself.

Regina felt a deep sadness tugging at her heart strings, but she kept herself composed, she would not cry and show weakness. Emma needed a strong protector. Someone to care for her, and Regina was going to show that she was more than capable.

"So what happened then?" Regina gently pushed again, after Emma seemed to have fallen silent on the matter.

It was with a loud sniffle, that Emma turned her face, and stared at the brunette. She didn't know how to explain.

"He...he pinned me down" Emma sobbed.

"Oh sweetheart, stop. Stop" Regina instructed, not needing to hear anymore.

Tears streamed down Emma's reddened cheeks, as she stared at her. Regina reached over and wiped her face with the damp wash cloth.

"Nothing I can do, he made it worth my while," Emma whispered.

"He will pay for this Emma" Regina stated, that evil tone present in her voice, as it was laced with hatred for Dr Whale.

There was a long silence. Emma staring far past Regina, and Regina staring directly at her, as she washed her continuous tears away.

"I deserved it" Emma finally stated, as if it was the ultimate truth.