DISCLAIMER:: do not own

A/N:: as i am writing this, obviously i survived my surgery. i wasn't that worried. just sucks that i have four big incisions across my abdomen. but as a plus now i get to spend more time away from my overly demanding job to be with my overly demanding son. and also another plus is i get to spend a lot of time writing for this lovely story. just finished typing chapter 27 and still going strong. this is a short chapter, i know, but next chapter will be the longest by far.

SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN

The only difference between the months three and four post-accident and the first two were that Emma Swan had hope. She found comfort in the library, where she checked out books about fantasies (the non-sexual kind) and spells, pouring over them at the station when she wasn't out on patrol. She researched possible ways to break spells that affected one's mind. Her memories continued to come back to her and by the fourth month she remembered everything, as an observer. She could play her time in Storybrooke like her favorite movie. She could pause, rewind, fast forward, but no matter how much she wanted to, just like any other observer, she couldn't put herself into the movie. She tried spells of her own, charms, chants, incantations, anything the books suggested, she tried. She tried teas and other less-satisfactory brews. She tried hypnosis. She put flowers that were supposed to open your mind underneath her pillow as she slept. She spent an hour every morning meditating. But as month four turned into month five and that turned into six, seven, eight, nine, she began to once again lose her hope. In three months she would be thirty. It had been nine months since she'd almost perished trying to leave Storybrooke. She now lived in Regina's guest bedroom without complaint. She spent all the time she could want with Henry, all with Regina's permission. She had lunch with Mary Margaret most days. She ate dinner around a kitchen table with the two people who were supposed to be her family, she supposed, but the spell prevented her from warming up to Regina. If she tried, her mind would go straight to the agony on Graham's face as he died. It was unfair for Regina. She saw the pain behind her eyes before they steeled over, every time Emma would flinch away from her touch, no matter how innocent the contact or with every exasperated sigh or roll of her eyes. Her distance and indifference hurt Regina. If Emma's hope was dashed by her failed attempts, Regina's was obliterated. It had gotten to the point where Emma no longer told her if she had a new idea; she didn't want to get Regina's hopes up.

"So the purity potion didn't work, obviously." She sighed and fell back against Henry's headboard, looking at Henry guiltily. She was losing hope, but his faith never seemed to waver. For every attempt that failed, he had ten other options for her to consider. "Maybe I was wrong and this spell just can't be broken. I've tried everything possible, but it just..." She shrugged and sighed. She'd given it her best shot, maybe it was about time she threw in the towel.

Henry stared out the window to where his adoptive mother was standing in the shade of her Honeycrisp tree, picking apples. He'd never seen Regina look so openly defeated as she had the past few months. All the progress Emma had made towards pulling her away from the evil side of herself was slowly being reversed. "There is one more thing you haven't tried."

"And what's that?" Emma stared at him skeptically.

"True love's kiss."

"Regina is so not my true love kid." Emma chuckled at the hilarious notion.

"Of course you don't think so because you're cursed! All you can see is what you don't like about her. But the old Emma was so in love with her that she risked her own life to save hers." Henry sighed and came over to sit beside her on the bed. "It's worth a try. If I'm wrong, then it just means you had to kiss someone you're not that fond of. Don't tell me you've never done that before."

Emma frowned at him and then got up to take his position by the window. It stung a little that her son, who she hadn't even known for two years could pin her that easily. She couldn't really argue with him. She had kissed some pretty unsavory candidates in the past three decades. She stared down at the woman who'd been trying so hard for her ever since the accident. She still saw the anger and the vindictiveness and the cruelty. Was she really cursed? Or was that the real Regina? Everything in her screamed yes, that she was the Evil Queen after all, but could she really trust her opinions right now? "You really think it'll work?" She glanced uncertainly back at Henry.

He nodded and she sighed. "Fine, I'll do it." She turned away from the window and went to the bedroom door. "But I don't have to like it." She opened the door and slowly descended the stairs to confront her fate.

SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN

"Regina!"

Regina turned from the apple tree to see Emma storming across the yard. "Emma? Where's the fire?"

Emma ignored her comment and stopped in front of the older woman, taking a deep breath to stabilize herself and then pulling her close until their lips collided.

At first, Emma felt nothing, but slowly, she felt a warmth sink into her limbs, tingling through her skin, though she hadn't realized she'd been cold. "You're magic Emma. Can you feel it?" The voice from the dream receded and her eyes fell closed and she felt the life seep back into her, memories flying past her consciousness like her movie on fast forward. But this time, she remembered, everything. She remembered the emotions, the love, the feeling of family, of home. This was her family; Regina was her family, Storybrooke her home. How could she ever have believed Regina was evil still, that this was just some ploy to take down her and her parents? She'd almost died to save this woman and their son. She'd loved them that much. She still did. She loved them more than anything in this world, or theirs. Finally she pulled away.

Regina's eyes were closed and she held onto the trunk of the apple tree for support. She breathed deep and opened her eyes, staring at Emma with a fierce intensity. She was shaking, slightly light-headed and unsure on her feet. That kiss had been… mind blowing.

"I love you." Emma smiled, tears at the corners of her eyes, looking as if she'd just found her true purpose in life. Maybe she had. Maybe loving Regina was what she existed for.

Regina narrowed her eyes. "What just happened?"

Emma smiled. Leaning in, she kissed Regina again, her hand coming up and stroking the other woman's cheek. "Haven't you read the fairytales? The best way to break a spell is by true love's kiss."

Regina didn't know whether to cry or laugh. But she didn't get the chance to do either. Emma's smile had turned into a puzzled frown.

"I feel…" And Emma hand slipped from her cheek as she collapsed into her arms, dragging them both to the ground.

"Emma? Emma? Emma, wake up!" Regina stared at her with a cutting fear she hadn't felt for nine months.

On the clock face in the square, the minute hand advanced.