AN: Thanks for the reviews and the support =). You guys make doing this on top of work and school worth it .

Regina fidgeted nervously in the booth at Granny's, twirling around the variety of maple syrups when the ding of the bell caught her attention. Her eye's narrowed in on the blonde who dawned a skin tight, short leather dress and a pair of red pumps. Her hair was braided loosely in a fishtail coming down her shoulder and the puff on the top of her head added a sexy edge. Regina noted that she wasn't the only one who appreciated the Savior's new wardrobe, several men at the bar leered at her as she passed by. Emma for her part pretended not to notice as she walked up to Regina's table. When Regina rose to greet her, Emma met her in an awkward half hug before carefully sitting in the booth.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such sort notice." Regina started politely

"I have pretty much a free schedule. Leia is chilling with Graham at the station." Emma shrugged noting the way the brunette's eyes lite up at the mention of their shared child.

"How is she doing?" Regina asked softly

"She's okay. Sometimes she wakes up terrified in the middle of the night but she is getting better. I've had her meet with Dr. Hopper several times and he says she'll most likely forget everything within a year." Emma said unconvincingly

"You don't seem sure..." Regina cocked an eyebrow

"She is a very smart kid...I never wanted her to go through anything like that." Emma sighed tugging on her braid

"She is highly intelligent, but she is also very resilient. I have no doubt she will grow up to be a very strong woman." Regina smiled warmly to herself

"I just don't want her to hate me for not being there for her." Emma admitted

"That child is completely enamored with you. To her you can move the sun and stars if she asked you to." Regina spoke in a serious tone catching Emma off guard. Th blonde blushed for a moment before she clear her throat and changed the subject.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Emma asked gesturing to a waitress that she didn't want anything.

"For starters I figure we can discuss custody arrangements." Regina supplied. There was something in her tone that made Emma feel defensive and she could stop the bite from entering her tone.

"I don't understand what arrangement you want to have. I think its fine the way it is" Emma tensed up next to the brunette.

"Surely you can't be serious. I want for Leia to at least live with me on the weekends." Regina stiffened also.

"Yeah that's not going to happen." Emma chuckled humorlessly

"And why is that Ms. Swan?" Regina snapped

"You think that because I let her spend the day with you all yesterday that I was just going to let you keep her overnight? The only reason I let her stay was because of Cora. I don't trust you with the keys to my car, you think I'm gonna trust you with my daughter?" Emma was shocked

"OUR daughter, in case you forgot she is also my daughter." Regina's voice rose slightly

"In case YOU forgot, just last month she was just my bastard who you couldn't stand. I do believe you referred to her as damaged at some point!" Emma seethed watching Regina flinched.

"I can't take back what I did or what I said. I won't use the excuse that I didn't know she was my daughter because it wasn't right for any adult to do that to a child but quit playing the victim Ms. Swan!" Regina quipped

"Playing the victim? Bitch I never wanted or played that part! I didn't claim to be the victim when I was raped in an effort to get back you heart, I didn't play the victim when I needed stitches because he was so rough he fucking tore me, I didn't play the victim when I nearly had a miscarriage alone on the fucking bathroom floor. So don't ever fix me with that bullshit!" Emma sneered.

"I didn't mean it like that. I shouldn't have said that. I only meant that you weren't the only one hurt. Sure mine's came from a lie but I felt pain just like you the only difference is that I missed two years of my child's life." Regina shot back and Emma felt slightly guilty

"I couldn't come back. Not after the way things were. You hated me, Henry, the town. If I would have staid and told you, you would have either taken her from me in spite or just ignored her. Either way I would have been left with nothing." For the first time it seemed like somebody was able to pry away the walls that surrounded Emma since that fateful night.

"I'm not trying to take her away from you Emma. Its just...I've already missed so much. I just want to make up for lost time." Regina let go of her frustrations as she heard what Emma didn't verbalize 'I'm scared'.

"I still think just jumping into weekends isn't good. She is on a set schedule and a strict diet. What if something were to happen? I think that we should start slower and just work our way into it. I could drop her off in the afternoons for a couple of hours but right now I don't feel comfortable with her living with you. Maybe she could sleep over one night, maybe after her birthday." Emma shrugged deflated.

"If that's what you wish, then I have no choice but to honor it. I'm not going to take away your choice." Regina nodded tensely. It wasn't what she was hoping for but she was willing to take it until Emma came around.

"Even though I never told her who you were. I always made sure to give her some part of you." Emma fidgeted with her hands.

"Pardon?" Regina was confused

"Her favorite bed time story was Snow White." Emma snorted at the irony before she looked up to meet Regina's wary gaze.

"The one from Henry's book. I always made sure that she knew your side. About Daniel. She thinks Snow is the evil one." Emma chuckled watching a small smile break out onto Regina's face.

"How is your mother doing?" Regina kept with the upbeat tone of the conversation watching as Emma's eyes darkened

"I've never had a mother." Emma gritted out causing Regina's eyes to widen

"Emma.."

"No! I never had a mother. Just someone who pushed me out and then put me into a tree. Snow White pushed me away ever chance she got, she was never my mother. To Neal and Lucia, she is probably a God but to me she will always be a condescending bitch. Since were on the topic of Snow, she isn't allowed around Leia." Emma snapped slightly and frowned when Regina defended her mother.

"Now I think your being rash. Snow is her grandmother. Just like my mother she has made her share of mistakes." Regina never thought she would be defending Snow from anyone, especially not the woman's own daughter. Her flesh and blood.

"She made a mistake that could have cost our daughter her life!" Emma punctuated with her hand slapping the table. Regina smiled inwardly at the use of the word. Our. Then she stiffened when the comment set in.

"What are you talking about?" Regina asked

"Hook didn't know about Leia. He didn't know what daycare she was at or anything, hell he didn't even know we were in town. Snow and Charming told him! They basically called me a bad mother for keeping him away from her. Snow told me! She said it was my fault!" Emma felt something wet hit her hand before she realized she was crying. Swiping at her eyes she quickly got up from the booth with Regina hot on her heels.

"Emma...Emma wait!" Regina grabbed her arm and turned them into an ally.

"You know she was right! I am a bad mother, I put Leia through so much. Before she was even born. I was stressed and depressed. Then she came early and she had to fight so hard to live. She was right all of this was my fault. I should have known what he was going to do. I should have fought him harder. I'm the Savior and I couldn't even save myself!" By now Emma was hysterical as she bawled her eyes out into her hand. Regina didn't hesitate to bring the younger woman into an embrace. At first it was awkward because Emma was so tense but then suddenly she just seemed to melt into Regina's side

"Emma, did Snow tell you it was your fault about the whole Hook fiasco?" Regina couldn't bring herself to say rape. Because that would hurt to much, it would make it real and Regina wasn't sure she could survive the guilt of leaving her true love and unborn child to fend for themselves.

"She said it wasn't just his fault, I was just as much to blame. But oh no! Charming can't be outdone, he said "He couldn't believe after growing up without a father, I would deny Leia the right to one." Emma calmed down at her eyes again.

"I see." Regina said steely before engulfing them both in a cloud of purple magic. When the smoke cleared they were down at the Sheriffs office where Graham was listening to Charming and Snow rant.

"I just think that she is better off with either us or Regina." Snow argued with Graham who was clenching his jaw, in an effort to bite back his response.

"That's if Regina is really her other parent. Emma is probably just saying that she's Regina because she knows Regina will take care of the kid." David muttered causing Snow to go off again.

"Emma just isn't fit to be a mother right now. Everyone saw what she did and her magic is out of this world! Its too advanced and with her uncontrollable emotions she could really hurt Leia. Its a miracle the girl is even alive right now. I just want her in a safe normal environment with two people who can love and take care of her. She is so young, we can raise her as our own." Snow spoke in a crazy-fond sort of way.

"Emma would probably just abandon her with Regina, just like she did Henry." David shook his head.

Regina glanced at Emma who looked livid, and she couldn't stop herself from storming over there making her presence know.

"Well well well. I can't say I'm surprised. You always have been snake in the grass, Snow!"Regina seethed. She couldn't believe the nerve of these two imbeciles, not only had they tried to hurt Emma but they had come for Leia. Snow went to respond and Regina felt like she had an outer body experience. She could see her fist connect with pale pasty skin, she could feel the impact, and hear the gasp coming from Snow as all the air and her reply were stopped by a fist connecting to her windpipe. Yes Regina Mills had just throat punched Snow White.

"You listen here you little bitch! Emma is and will always be the better mother than you! She has taken care of and protected our daughter. Taught her right from wrong and how to be a good person. She did all of those things on her own after we all turned our backs on her!" Regina was able to get this out as David walked towards her to protect Snow. He caught a throat punch but this time it was from the Sheriff.

"Graham?" Snow wheezed out but Graham was glaring at David

"You step towards either one of them with the intent to hit or cause them harm, you wont leave this station with your balls!" Graham seethed

"As I was saying! The only reason Emma ever left was because we made it impossible for her to stay! You chose our friendship not matter how plastic over your own child! You make me sick. Don t come near Emma, Leia or Henry or I will make your life a living hell!"Regina spat before stalking over to Emma who just watched on with a tense jaw.

"Why'd you do that? I thought you guys were friends." Emma murmured slightly glaring at Regina.

"It was a long time coming. Nobody can ever accuse you of being a bad mother and if they do I will fry their asses! As for the friendship, I'm not stupid enough to dismiss someone I love for something as childish as a friendship!"Regina said fiercely watching the shock play across Emma's face before she realized what she said. Luckily Emma just shook it off before transporting them both back to their cars. Regina immediately hurried to her car but was stopped by Emma.

"Regina...Thank you." The comment was soft and Regina almost didn't catch it.

"You don't have to thank me" Regina responded turning to leave again before she made a fool out of herself.

"If your up to it, I can bring Leia by later." Emma offered causing Regina to break out into a grin.

"I'd love that."

"See you soon then." Emma said before sliding into her Jeep.