AN: Thank you all for the great response to the last chapter! You guys are amazing. We are finally getting somewhere! I apologize in advance for any mistakes…

Chapter Summary: Town Hall meeting, Regina comes face to face with our bad guys…

Chapter Twelve
Confrontations

"Morning." Emma mumbled stretching.

"Good morning Emma, how did you sleep?" Regina didn't have to ask, she'd been awake for over an hour simply watching the blonde sleep. She had not missed the peaceful look on her partners face.

"Like a rock. Someone tired me out." Emma smiled finally opening her eyes.

"I don't recall you complaining last night."

"You mean earlier this morning?" Regina said nothing, her face said it all. 'Really Miss Swan?'

"If that's the solution to a good nights sleep then who am I to complain. Can we stay in bed all day?" She knew the answer but it didn't hurt asking.

"This would not have anything to do with the town hall meeting tonight would it?"

"What?! Pfft. No." Regina said nothing, only continuing her knowing stare. "No, definitely not." Emma continued. Regina cocked an eyebrow. "Stop looking at me like that!" She buried her head in Regina's side, hiding her face. "Regina stop it." Regina remained silent and while she couldn't see her she could feel her eyes on her. "Ok fine…Maybe, I'm worried. I don't like the idea of you being out there by yourself."

"Emma, we've gone over this several times. I won't be alone. I will have at about a dozen people covering the streets." Regina had been surprised at how many people had agreed to help. Some were hesitant to know she would be involved but had agreed once they'd realized Snow and Charming were supporting her. "Your parents made it clear to them that nothing is to happen to me." She assured Emma once again.

"That doesn't make me feel any better. I want to be there with you."

"You'll be at the diner, you won't be far." Emma huffed at this muttering 'its not the same.' "And you'll have Henry with you, someone needs to look out for him." Regina added, she knew using her son again was a long shot but she and Emma would always put his safety first. By the annoyed look she received from Emma she had been right.

"That's not fair Regina. You can't keep using our son as a bargaining tool."

"Did it work?"

"You know it did damn it." She was both dreading and looking forward to the night to come. After tonight they could move on with their lives, heal and be a family. "Promise you'll be careful?"

"I promise. Now let's get some food in that stomach of yours I don't think I can listen to it growl at me much longer." She squeezed Emma's side urging her out of the bed.

Regina slipped on her coat and rung her hands in front of her. "Remember..."

"Leave for the diner after the meeting starts, I know." Emma interrupted. They'd gone over this several times today.

"I'm sorry." Regina apologized moving closer to Emma.

"I know, we're all a bit stressed. Please be careful. I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to you." She pulled the brunette tightly in her arms kissing the top of her head.

"Nothing will happen. I promise." She wrapped her arms around Emma. "I'll see you at the diner for dinner." Emma nodded though she still didn't feel as optimistic.

With a kiss to her lips Regina pulled away and turned her attention to Henry. "Henry remember no one knows Emma's regained her memory."

"I know mom, keep that a secret and don't leave Ma's side." He controlled the urge to roll his eyes. He could tell both his moms were worried. With reassurance that both parties knew their part of the plan she left for the meeting.

Emma watched Regina's retreating form. "It'll be alright Ma." Henry stepped up beside her hugging her.

She wrapped an arm around him. "I hope so Henry."

Once at the diner Emma and Henry sat at a booth far away from anyone that was there. Thankfully with the town hall meeting going on the place was pretty empty and the few people there didn't acknowledgement them, everyone had received word of Emma's memory loss and knew to leave her alone.

"Henry, Emma, it's nice to see you both." Granny greeted the pair, today was the first day anyone had seen Emma since the day she'd been found. Emma jumped, instinctively backing away, she'd been lost in conversation with Henry and hadn't noticed Granny approaching them. If Granny noticed her reaction she didn't comment on it. "What will it be?" She asked Emma who had yet to make eye contact. She didn't think she'd get a response from the sheriff so she turned her gaze to Henry. "Usual?"

"Emma are you hungry?" Henry watched Emma closely, she looked shaken up. "Emma."

"Hmm." She snapped out of her thoughts.

"Are you hungry?"

She shook her head. "Not really."

"How about just some sweet teas and a plate of fries?" That would be simple and hold them until his mom got there.

"Sure thing, lemons in the teas?"

Emma visibly tensed. "No thanks Granny." Henry quickly covered, his mother had explained Emma's dislike of the fruit, he hadn't pushed her for details but judging by Emma's rigid form it had to do with her kidnapping. Granny cast a concerned glance towards Emma before walking away. She wished Ruby was at the diner instead of the Town Hall meeting. She'd know better how to put the blonde at ease.

Finally alone Emma turned her gaze down to her watch, checking the time for the 15th time. "It's gonna be okay Ma." Henry held onto her hand giving it a squeeze.

"Let's hope so kid. I'm ready for this to be over." She blew out a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves.

The meeting went on as it usually did the crowd its usual self, petty complaints, housing complaints, traffic issues and arguments between neighbors. Once those were addressed or given another time to be discussed several of the people asked about the savior. All were concerned for the Sheriff's wellbeing. Regina did her best to maintain her stoic composure while answering the citizens questions. "Sheriff Swan is healing and well on her way to a full recovery."

"Do we know who took the Sheriff and when will she return to her duties?" It was Archie that asked. Pongo had ran off several times since Emma's disappearance. The pup seemed drawn to the Sheriff, it always took him hours to find him when it took Emma half the time.

Regina looked to David to answer as he had once again stepped in as the acting Sheriff. "For the time being I will continue the duties of Sheriff until Emma is fully recovered and when she wishes to she will take over."

Leroy stood up. "Let's not waste our time, what we all want to know and apparently I'm the only one not afraid to ask is, what did you do to her?" Regina would have to hand it to Leroy, when he was in character he went all in. Not wanting to break character herself Regina glared at him.

"Leroy! We know Regina didn't do this. She was out there with us trying to find Emma. Why would she kidnap her and then help look for her?" Ruby asked.

"That doesn't mean she wasn't behind the whole thing." He urged the crowd.

"She couldn't have been. She's done nothing but help the Sheriff since she's been found." Regina looked for the voice in the crowed. She didn't recognize the voice as one of the volunteers that had offered to help in luring the offenders. The sides of her lips twitched. Her eyes finally landed on Meredith, Emma's nurse from the hospital. She gave the woman a thankful smile.

"Maybe that was her plan to try and fool us, she is the Evil Queen after all." Another voice she didn't know to be part of their little group. Regina gave her best evil smirk. The plan was coming together splendidly. She looked for the man that had spoken, she recognized him as one of the men that had approached her outside the diner. In that instant she felt her magic come to life inside of her begging to be unleashed. She tightened her hands into fists catching David's eyes wordlessly communicating to him this was their guy. His nod let her know he'd keep an eye on him. Taking a breath she willed herself to calm down. She didn't want to ruin the plan nor did she want to give the man and anyone else that doubted her to be good ammunition to use against her.

"Leroy, you're out of line. Regina has helped save this town time and time again. I truly believe she's changed. She is no longer the Evil Queen, we've all made mistakes and we've all received second chances, it's time we grant Regina hers." Snow smiled bowing her head. Regina found it hard to maintain the evil smirk that was meant to agitate the kidnappers. Snows words touched her more than she'd expected. It was all part of the plan yes but she knew in the way Snow said them she had meant every word.

"I think we've lost track of the matter at hand." David spoke up. "Emma is healing, we are doing everything we can to find the people that took her so if anyone has any information please let me know. Mayor Mills is there anything else to be discussed?"

Regina shook her head in the negative. "That will be all for the evening. This meeting is adjourned." She turned for her coat and purse as everyone trickled out of the room.

"Regina."

Regina turned with a friendly smile. "Meredith."

"I just wanted to see how you and Emma were doing?"

"She's healing, we're both trying to figure things out. She's actually spending some time with Henry." Meredith couldn't help but smile. Regina was a completely different person when she was with Emma or even referring to the blonde. She'd noticed the tenseness the mayor exhumed during the meeting but now talking about Emma she was relaxed. Just the mention of the blonde brought a smile to her face.

"You're good for her." Meredith laid a hand on Regina's arm. "I know we've not had much interactions before and perhaps that is a good thing, but I believe you to be good and if there is anyone that can help Emma it will be you."

Regina blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. "Thank you Meredith." She couldn't thank the woman enough. She'd given her a chance at the hospital and stuck up for her without being asked.

"Don't mention it, if either you or Emma need anything feel free to call me. I may not be a therapist but sometime that makes it easier." She didn't want to flat out say I'm here if you want to talk, she knew while the woman had changed she still wouldn't like to show weakness.

"Perhaps we can have you over for dinner once everything settles." Dinner was the least she could offer to thank the nurse, it was not much but she supposed it would have to do for the time being.

"That would be wonderful. I need to head out, my shift started an hour ago and I don't think Amber will be too happy with me if she has to stay any later."

Regina nodded saying her goodbye with a request that Meredith give Amber her regards. With Meredith out of site she refocused on the mission at hand. The nurse's visit had given enough time for everyone to leave and allow them time to get in their assigned places. They'd agreed on her walking to allow the kidnappers a chance to approach her figuring they were less likely to come to her if she was surrounded by people. She picked her phone from her pocket to view the incoming message. 'David has the man from the meeting. Taking him to the Sheriff's office, Gold will meet him there. He wants to continue as planned.'

One down. Their plan had worked better than expected. This meant David would not be down the road like he was supposed to. That would leave her out of everyone's sight for a short amount of time. She wasn't too far from the diner when the hair on the back of her neck stood. She caught sight of a man approaching in her peripheral vision. She instinctively prepared herself. As he came closer she recognized his face. Her eyes and hands glowed purple as magic prepared to be released.

"Before you do anything I want you to know I have someone with Emma and your precious son."

"You're bluffing." She stopped. She knew she should keep moving. No one was in the immediate vicinity.

"Do you want to chance it? Put this on." He tossed the item at her. She shook her head ridding herself the images that swarmed her mind as she grabbed the piece.

"Do it." He commanded taking out his phone. Regina held the bracelet in her hand and continued towards the diner. She needed to keep moving.

He held up his phone as evidence. She gasped at the sight of her son and Emma sitting in a booth. "They're fine. As long as you do as I ask." He took his phone back and pointed to the bracelet.

Regina continued moving. She needed to get closer to the diner. "Why take Emma? Why not take me? Clearly it's me you despise." Regina stalled.

"Put. The. Bracelet. On." Was his only response. He stopped moving after taking a step in front of her blocking her path.

"Put it on. I will make one call and the treatment the savior received will be nothing compared to what we do to little Henry. Speaking of which, I find it odd you named him Henry. Didn't you murder you father?" He smirked. He'd hit a nerve, he saw the flash of pain in her eyes. "Put the bracelet on." He should have gone with this plan to begin with. Going after the savior had been a waste. The Evil Queen was easy to control when someone she cared about was in harm's way and who better than her son.

"What will it be?" He asked unlocking his phone preparing to make a call. "The decision is yours. Do you think Emma can survive another round? How long will young Henry last?" He knew he had her, this had gone a lot easier than he'd expected.

"Don't you dare touch them." She warned as she moved the bracelet to her wrist. She couldn't allow for Emma and Henry to get hurt, not when she could keep them safe. Just as the bracelet was about to snap closed another man approached. If David had one in custody and two were out here it meant there was no one with Emma and Henry. She berated herself for being so easily fooled. She grabbed at the bracelet but it was too late. 'At least Emma and Henry are safe.' She thought as she felt the bracelet snap around her wrist immediately blocking her magic. This felt different from the last time she'd worn it. "What…" She didn't finish the question, her vision was beginning to swim, her body becoming numb.

"I made a few modifications to the bracelet. It's not gonna work like the last time." Regina sank to her knees no longer able to hold herself up.

"Don't worry your majesty I have you." The man grabbed her shoulders as she started to fall forward.

The second man moved to help lift Regina. "HEY!" The men looked up as Snow, David, Whale, Ruby and a couple of the dwarfs rushed towards them.

"Damn it!" He growled. "I thought I told you to check to make sure she was alone." Adam let Regina drop to the ground staying crouched over her.

"Get away from her." David ordered.

"You don't understand. She's Evil." The man explained not moving away.

"She's not Evil now get away from her."

AN: I had to bring Meredith back because I missed her…So I'm pretty sure this is not how anyone expected this confrontation to go… I hate to cut it off here but you'll be happy to know I've already started on the next chapter and I'll try to have it posted before I go out of town for a conference on Monday.