Author Note: I know, another short one. Two updates in less than 24 hours, no complaining.

Hours after leaving Graham found Emma in the Library, books upon books stacked to the side with the latest to gain her notice laid open in front of her. The palace was strangely quiet for being the middle of the afternoon, an odd contrast to what she remembered from her teenage years, but a welcome one as she perused the tomes.

After talking to the Captain for somewhere around an hour, he had admitted that he too had noted a difference in himself after his heart was returned to him, though to a much smaller degree than her own. Of course, Emma knew that if you spent enough time with a person- especially in an intimate context- they were bound to change you in some small, insignificant way.

She was of the opinion that their being True Love's had more to do with the change she seemed to be going through and she had collected almost every book in the Queen's possession that detailed the supposed rare phenomenon and started to read, searching for answers that continued to elude her.

Scattered was the title of the book that had her attention in the moment; an inane title that caused a groan of disgust when she first read but it made for an interesting story, regardless. It detailed the experience of two people who- rather than True Love- claimed a connection much stronger and referred to one another as their Alter or Other; meaning they were of one soul, shared by two.

According to the book, both were practitioners of magic whose feelings were so powerful that they each described a bond that could, and had, transformed the very core of who they were. Emma was unconvinced that was what was happening between her and Regina. If she were being honest with herself, she was unsure it even mattered.

Her change had begun long before she met Regina. When it first started, she had thought she was losing who she was. She had beliefs, morals that would suggest that if anything she would be against the Evil Queen on principle. You won people over with the goodness in your heart; love and respect made people flourish, not fear and threats of violence.

Intimidation solved nothing, torture was wrong and murder could never be justified. Those thoughts made her scoff now, but back then?

It took her years to admit she had been wrong and even longer to realise she had been shaped into the person she was. The thoughts, the beliefs – it was a while before she concluded they were not hers. They belonged to people who deluded themselves into thinking they were good while anyone who disagreed were evil, people who had never truly experienced the darkness that existed in others and in life itself.

People, such as her parents.

The realisation brought with it an acceptance, one that strengthened with each passing day as she took control and carved her own path through life. Freedom, as with most things, came at a price and it had been one that she was either willing to accept, or one that she could run from and be forced to return to a life she had no desire for.

With a sigh, Emma pulled the thin red weave connected to the spine of the book into its pages, marking her place before she closed it and sat back. "Mirror," she called.

"Yes, sir?" The blue face grinned at her from across the room.

She narrowed her eyes. "Sir? Seriously?"

"I'm working my way through a list," he explained and continued with an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose I'll cross that one off too. You're rather picky about your titles, though you are a Princ—"

"I will throw a book at you," she interrupted him with the threat and he chuckled. She loathed titles but after a while and no small amount of resistance, she conceded that particular one, which had been reserved by and for the Queen only; anyone else risked maiming and quite possibly death if they used it.

"Fine, fine." He flickered briefly- an action Emma took as his way of being dismissive due to a lack of hands- before he asked, "How may I be of service?"

"Is the Queen available yet?"

"I assume so," he said and smiled, thoroughly confusing her as he then disappeared and she was left staring at her reflection.

"Oh," she breathed softly as smoke appeared behind her and arms snaked around her neck, confusion dissipating as she tilted her head back to look up at the woman in question.

"I've been looking for you," Regina informed her as she leaned down to claim her kiss. She sighed her contentment as Emma parted her lips; losing herself in the moment and feel of her lover's mouth moving against her own while a hand came to rest on the back of her head.

Fingers trailed down her cheek as she straightened and Regina settled her hands on slumped shoulders, smile coming unbidden to her lips as Emma released a pleased little hum. Staring down at her relaxed expression, Regina felt that same lightness from their first morning together as it entered her chest, relieving her of the stress gained over the last few hours.

"I love you," she said without thought and emerald eyes fluttered open at the declaration.

Emma stared up at her, searching for meaning or a reason behind those three simple words beyond the obvious but Regina simply stared back, her expression open and honest while she waited and after another beat, Emma returned her smile.

"I love you too," she replied and in that moment, she realised she meant it more than she ever had in the past.

If being with the only person- besides her son- who made her happy changed her in some way, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing and if that meant she wanted to hurt Snow White on occasion, then it was no less than she deserved after everything she had done to the both of them.

"So what have you been doing?" Regina asked as she moved around the chair and came to stand beside her.

Sliding an arm around a slender waist, Emma pulled the woman down into her lap and chuckled softly as Regina failed to stifle her squeak of surprise. She nuzzled into the crook of her neck, pressing a semi-apologetic kiss to warm flesh. "I was reading," she murmured and placed another kiss just below the brunette's ear.

"Stop that," Regina scolded weakly as a delighted shiver rippled down her spine. "Your little delinquent family will be here shortly and I am certain none of them will be impressed if neither of us are there to greet them."

Emma snickered but kept her attentions from wandering into forbidden territory as she tightened her hold. "Did you know there is a force that exists, which is allegedly stronger than True Love?"

Regina rolled her eyes as they landed on the book Emma had been reading. "Of all the worthwhile literature in here, you went straight for the foolish drivel likely written by an idiot under the effects of some form of hallucinogenic."

When the arms around her waist slackened and Emma made no attempt to respond, Regina bit her lip and turned her head slowly. She softened as she took in the slightly wounded expression, squirming in the lap until she was in a comfortable enough position to lean her head against Emma's shoulder.

Emma looked to her as Regina slid a hand over her opposite shoulder, fingers threading within the silken curls that still held so much fascination for the Queen. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to upset you with my cynicism, you know how jaded I can be."

"I know," Emma sighed. "It just- I don't know- felt a little more real than the whole True Love nonsense. I mean, it's more believable you know? Sort of like, there's still a choice involved instead of that whole destiny bullshit."

Regina frowned. "I'm not sure I do know, to be honest. From what I remember of the text, it mentions a joining of souls; I don't know where in that you get the idea of choice from."

"Our souls are who we are, from beginning to end." Emma cringed at the words and rolled her eyes, barely resisting the desire to smack herself in the head as she tried to explain, "True Love is decided for us, by Fate- Destiny – whatever you want to call it; our lives are mapped out long before even the concept of we, as people, exist. At least this way we have the choice of who we end up with, maybe not consciously but… spiritually. I don't know - it made sense in my head."

"You mean rather than a choice of love, we are given a choice of completion. Our souls, in essence who we are, have provided us with the choice by splitting in two." Emma nodded and Regina smiled as understanding came to her. "So either we can remain as we are, as an individual who goes through life with a feeling that something is missing – or we seek out that missing piece and choose to reunite with them, two halves becoming one whole."

"Soul mates," Emma simplified and frowned as Regina stiffened against her. "What?"

Shaking her head, Regina smiled and disentangled herself from Emma. "A reminder of the past – not important, my love," she assured as she stood and started for the door. "Let us go and see if your son has arrived yet."

"Uh okay…" Emma stood, the frown still present as she followed the brunette from the room.

As luck would have it, they appeared within the Courtyard at the exact moment Andrew, Gigi, Misha and their two sons trotted into view. Flanked by two guards with a third leading them toward Graham, Emma and the Queen, Andrew beamed as soon as he caught sight of them.

"Nice place you have, Your Majesty," Jasper grinned down at the brunette who rolled her eyes, and then smirked as Gigi leaned over and swatted him around the head. Regina had learned quickly that he was the troublemaker of the two boys, a doer rather than a thinker who liked his pranks – she liked him but he would never know that.

"Don't be such a nuisance," Gigi chided and Jasper feigned an expression of contrition, not fooling even one of them as Regina shook her head.

Emma moved to help her son from the saddle, passing the reigns to the nearest guard before she lifted him on to her shoulders and walked back to Regina. "Hey Gina," he greeted and she looked up at him with a warm smile.

"Hello Drew," she replied fondly and patted his leg before she turned to the others. "Your rooms have been prepared and the Captain has kindly offered to escort you all so that you may place your things in them before you're expected at dinner, which is two hours from now. Until then you are free to roam as you please but I ask you not wander too far as the gates will close in an hour."

Glancing between father and sons, Regina inclined her head as she went on. "Emma has informed me of your… unique circumstances and arrangements have been made, you need not feel unwelcome in my home."

"Evil Queen, psssh."

Regina's eyes twinkled mischievously at the comment and she turned her gaze on Jasper, eyebrow raised. "Perhaps you'd like to see the dungeon, I'm sure Graham would be happy to show it to you."

"Uhhh… I'm good, thanks." Jasper coughed and bobbed his head, quick to add, "Your Majesty."

"Well now that that's settled," Emma interrupted their weirdly intense staring competition after a minute or two, standing aside and gesturing towards the Palace. "Graham, if you could show them the way, please."

The Captain smiled and acquiesced with a nod, taking both Gigi and Andrew's belongings without being asked and leading them to their destination. Misha lagged behind and waited until only he, Andrew and the two women remained.

"Emma, could I speak to you a moment?" His eyes raised to the boy on her shoulders as he finished, "Alone."

Emma glanced down as Regina placed a hand on her arm. "I can take Drew with me," she offered with a sly grin. "I believe he enjoys watching Monsieur D'Arque attempt not to soil himself almost as I enjoy being the cause of it."

Laughing, Emma lowered Andrew to the ground and watched as he took the Queen's hand. She opened her mouth to thank her but Regina stole the words, pressing a light and all too brief kiss to her lips before she turned and sauntered towards the Palace with the bouncing ball of energy that was Emma's son.

"Are you happy?" Misha stood next to Emma, their gazes fixed on the back of the brunette who listened to Andrew ramble animatedly at her side, her musical laughter sounding in their ears even from a distance.

"I am," Emma admitted and smiled as he clasped her shoulder. She understood his gestures by now, and that was definitely his way of giving his support.

"Then I think it's time you consider him staying here permanently," he said once the two disappeared from sight and she turned to him with a frown.

"I'm not going to force him to move before he's ready."

He was silent for a moment before he sighed. "Not even if it means keeping him safe?"

It was obvious the question wasn't theoretical, dread settling in the pit of her stomach as she asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I came home the other day and found him talking to someone."

She growled low in her throat. "Who?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, he wouldn't tell me but I have a feeling it wasn't the first time."

"And you think this person is dangerous?"

"Use your head, Emma." He tapped said head with his forefinger and continued, "A man isn't going to sneak around talking to a child without reason, and I doubt it's a reason either of us wants to consider."

"Right – I know you're right but…" Emma rubbed her face with her hands. Processing, worrying and feeling more frustrated with each passing second. First Snow, then Rumple and now there was some fucking creeper talking to her son. "What if he doesn't want to stay here?"

Throwing his arm over her shoulder, he started them walking forward as he said, "You're the parent, kid; sometimes we do things our children don't like to protect them."