Dear Guest: fear not, our beloved Regina is not having a relapse, I was only meaning she felt like her old self because of the anger at Maleficent's actions/hurt from Emma's accusations and since being in Storybrooke/having Henry she hadn't felt like that in a long time.

Lover's Eyes – Mumford & Sons, Heart and Mind – Winterbourne, Generator (First Floor) – Freelance Whales

Emma Swan leant back in her chair, swirling around with boredom as she stared at the ceiling of the Sheriff's station. She was trying not to think about the dark look in Regina's eyes as she'd left the Mayor's office earlier that day but it was harder than expected. She knew she'd offended the woman, but her gut was also telling her there was more bothering the brunette than just their argument.

"Emma!" a voice startled the Deputy from her thoughts, almost sending her crashing to the floor as she lost her balance. Her gaze dropped to the figure standing in front of her with a smirk on his face.

"Shouldn't you be at school?"

"It's Saturday" Henry motioned to the person standing off to the side and Emma was surprised to see her roommate. The pixie haired brunette smiled at the blonde's confused look.

"Regina asked me to look after him today," she explained, taking a seat across from Emma's desk. Mary Margaret studied Emma's face, noticing the stressed look in her eyes. "Henry," she handed him some cash, "Why don't you run to the vending machine and get some chocolate? Emma looks like she could use some."

The boy wasn't stupid, he knew he was being tricked into leaving but he took the money anyway. If Emma was going to have some more bonding time with her mother, who was he to argue?

"What's wrong?" the brunette asked as soon as he disappeared. Emma grimaced, cursing her obvious emotional distress.

"Regina and I had an argument," she admitted. Her roommate smiled and motioned for her to continue. The blonde huffed, "Did you see today's paper?" The brunette nodded. "Yeah well I told Regina all about that the other night, things I've never told anyone and when it came out in the paper today I kind of lost it at her, accused her of telling Sidney to put it in the paper."

"Emma," Mary Margaret shook her head with a sigh. "You know he probably found it out all on his own, it's public record yes?"

"I know that," Emma looked down guiltily, "But at the time I was shocked and upset, that didn't really occur to me."

The teacher nodded and hummed her understanding, "There's more isn't there?" She recognised the look on her roommate's face, Emma hadn't mentioned everything.

"I may have suggested she had done it to keep me away from Henry," the blonde blushed, clearly ashamed.

"Emma!" the brunette couldn't believe it, "Regina has been nothing but welcoming to you since you got here, she was the one who encouraged you to stay and get to know your son remember?" Emma's head dropped onto her desk in defeat; she wasn't hearing anything she didn't already know. "Have you apologised at least?" Emma mumbled something she couldn't hear. "What?"

"I said I tried earlier," Emma's eyes met the brown ones in front of her and she saw the sympathy there. It was a look of understanding and comfort, almost motherly, and if she was being honest it made her a little uncomfortable at how it actually made her feel better. "She told me to do my job and leave her to do hers."

That got her a laugh, "Yes well it's Regina" The teacher smiled, "Maybe she just needs sometime to cool off." Emma hummed her agreement. "Anyway, there is a reason I came in to see you today"

"Oh?"

"Henry has brought something to my attention, regarding some students of mine" Mary Margaret pulled some files from her bag. "Two children; a brother and sister are in a situation that may require your help."

Regina threw open the door to the mansion with a frustrated sigh, slamming it closed behind her. She'd spent all day wandering around Storybrooke looking for Maleficent, even called Graham who was out in the woods to see if he'd seen her but she'd come up empty. If Gold hadn't told her the woman was in town, the brunette would be inclined to believe she had never been there in the first place.

"Rough day at the office darling?"

The former Queen spun around in shock at the voice behind her, a glare crossing her features when her eyes fell upon the woman she was looking for, seemingly quite at home on her living room couch. "Mal," Regina growled. "What are you doing in my house?"

"I heard you were looking for me," as the blonde woman rose from her seat and got closer, Regina noticed the difference in her appearance from the last time the two had met. The aging on her face and the slight grey tinge to her hair was physical evidence that her and Henry's assumption she'd left down had been at least partially correct. "It's been so long Regina, I missed you," her words were true to a certain degree but the tone in which they were delivered dripped with bite and sarcasm.

The Mayor watched closely as her friend moved across the room towards her, lacking the graceful movement that Regina had once admired. "You've known where I was all these years, Mal," she replied. "After all, you're the one that brought us here."

The blonde laughed, "So Rumple told you did he? Well, that ruins the surprise."

"Why'd you do it?" Regina saw the dark look cross the other woman's face at her question. "You were the one who told me not to do, that it would leave an empty void I could never fill." The brunette was really struggling to understand the blonde's motives, ever since Rumple revealed who had cast the dark curse in her place. "Why would you do this?"

"Because you left me no choice!" the snarling response made Regina take a surprised step backwards, it was a rare event that Maleficent lost her temper with the brunette. The blonde watched as Regina's eyes ran over her figure, clearly observing how much she'd changed. She knew how her looks had faded and for a split moment it made her self-conscious.

Maleficent had been watching Regina from the shadows for years, every time she returned to Storybrooke to regroup. Not once had she ever revealed herself; as much as the loneliness overtook her and she wanted to reach out to her only friend, she did not. She did not fully blame Regina for what had been done to her, even though it was her actions that had set everything in motion. But there was a part of her that struggled to contain the hurt and anger every time she laid eyes on the former Queen, it was almost painful to be around her and not scream and rage at her for what she had caused to happen.

"I didn't think you'd care," she snapped. "This is what you wanted after all, why does it matter how it came to be or why?"

Regina swallowed sharply at the truth of the statement. This cursed town had been exactly what she'd dreamed for, the only thing that had held her back had been the need to sacrifice her father and that was something she would never do.

"It does not matter now anyway, I am not here to discuss my reasons with you." Maleficent continued, moving away from the brunette.

"Then why are you here?" Regina spoke quietly, "You've been gone since you cast the curse, why come back now?"

"I need the curse to be broken," the blonde collected up her coat as if to leave. "And I need the Saviour."

That got Regina on guard, how did Maleficent know about Emma? "If you dare hurt her..." Before she could continue, the door to the mansion opened and Regina felt the breath catch in her throat as Henry and his birth mother appeared.

"Regina?" "Mom?" Both spoke at the same time, with worried glances at the woman in question and her unexpected guest. Emma could sense the tension in the room the minute she passed through the door and the way Regina was holding herself, as if coiled ready for an attack had the blonde mildly alarmed.

Henry on the other hand knew exactly who the blonde lady standing in his house was; one glance at his mother's face confirmed his suspicions. Regina had spoken to him about the strange appearance of the dragonfire in her vault outback and its relations to Maleficent, who Henry noticed looked a lot older in reality than in his book.

Maleficent smirked at the two new faces, seeing both up close for the first time. "Don't worry your pretty little head Your Majesty" she directed her gaze towards the brunette as she made her way towards the door. "Just continue as you were and everything shall be fine."

The three of them were silent as they watched her leave the house, Regina glaring as Maleficent sent a wink Emma's way before disappearing from sight. "Mom!" Henry flung his arms around her waist in relief, he'd been told all about the way his mother had treated the woman when they'd last met and was very relieved the blonde had not been here to seek revenge.

"It's okay my little prince" she stroked his hair gently, her eyes making contact with Emma who still stood in the doorway. "Go wash up for dinner Henry, you must be starving." Her son gave her a knowing look to which she nodded, smiled and headed off up the stairs leaving the adults alone. "Emma?"

"Who was that woman?" Emma moved forward, her arms slightly opened as if cautiously requesting to wrap them around Regina's waist.

"An old friend," the answer was muffled into the blonde's shoulder as Regina stepped into Emma's embrace. She felt the blonde hum into her hair and the slight squeeze of her arms around her body. "What's wrong?"

"I got a weird vibe is all." The women stood silently for a moment, Regina unable to form a suitable response to Emma's confession. "Anyway," The Deputy pulled away with a small smile, "What's with the 'Your Majesty' business? Don't tell me she's been talking to Henry and thinks you're the Evil Queen too."

"Like I said," Regina pulled Emma towards the kitchen, "She's known me a long time."

"Well I feel like I know you pretty well and I have to say, you're not that evil." The sentence was said with a teasing smile.

Regina laughed, "You've only known me a week Emma, just wait and see, the evil will emerge eventually" her gaze dropped slightly as she added quietly, "it always does."

"Well I say you're not, and as your girlfriend my word is final." Emma grinned, then realised what she'd said and her face went bright red. "I meant a Deputy, as Deputy my word is final."

"Your girlfriend hmm?" the Mayor pulled the Deputy towards her and trapped her against the kitchen counter. "I like the sound of that" she pressed a kiss to the lips in front of her, the spark of contact had lessened since their first encounter but there was still something there every time and it sent pleasing tingles through their bodies.

"Yeah?" Emma's question was asked shyly but her confidence was renewed as her answer came in the form of more kisses, growing more passionate by the second. After a few minutes she pulled away regretfully, and straightened her body to look Regina in the eye, "I want to apologise for this morning. I was so wrong to say what I did."

The brunette looked slightly dazed from their lip-locking but Emma's words brought her back to her senses. "I'll be honest, to hear you say that hurt me more than I'd like to admit" she rubbed her arms up and down Emma's sides, "But I think I understand."

"Yeah? Cause I don't" Emma laughed nervously. "Mary Margaret gave me a piece of her mind when I told her what I said to you." The look of surprise on Regina's face was comical. "I honestly know you would never betray my trust Regina, I don't know why I said those things."

"Let's just leave it in the past for now alright? And focus on getting you elected as Sheriff." She turned back to the counter to prepare the dinner. "I don't think Sidney will actually attract that much support, he's a journalist for one thing and has no experience. Plus when the town sees that I'm backing you in this endeavour, they'd be stupid to not vote for you too."

"Yeah well, we'll see I guess." Emma plopped herself down on a stool across from the brunette and watched her work. "I just wish no one had seen that article, the talk I had with Henry today was awkward enough, I don't want to have to explain myself to other people too."

"Then don't" came the matter of fact answer, causing Emma to frown. "Emma, people know you already and have seen you around town. They've seen you with Henry, they are fools if they judge you on some story written about something that happened so long ago." Regina leant over and rubbed the blonde's hand comfortingly. "Now tell me dear," she smirked at the domesticity of her question, "How was your day at work?"

Before the blonde could answer, Henry came bounding into the room. "Oh she was awesome," he grinned at his birth mother before pulling himself onto a stool beside her. "She reunited two kids from school with their missing father, Emma's a real hero!"

Regina listened as Henry told the story of Emma's day, a proud smile on her face. Her gaze turned to the blonde and her heart warmed at the sparkle she saw in the emerald green eyes as Emma watched her son excitedly recount their adventure. She knew who the children were from her days in the Enchanted Forest and she felt a small stab of guilt at the knowledge that she was the reason they'd been separate from their father when the curse was cast; but that feeling didn't last long as she watched her son and his birth mother happily interacting and found herself making a wish for the first time in many many years; that this new found happiness would actually survive.

a:n another short update but hope you enjoy. sorry for any mistakes and what not. not 100% happy with the confrontation between the lovely ladies Mal and Regina, but I intent to have more in the future..where the dragon really lets loose on our Queen about why she cast the curse etc. Thanks for the reviews and support