A/N- I have had an overwhelming amount of messages about updating this fic and I want to offer an apology to all those that have been waiting so patiently. Life has sidetracked me as it tends to do. However, here is the update that has been a long time coming. Perhaps not so epic as you would have hoped; but there will be more to come.

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Emma awoke in the morning, tangled in Regina. A slow smile lit her face as she relived the experience of the previous night. She could still hear the brunette's whimpers and feel her trembling beneath her. The blonde rolled up from the bed and kissed her lover awake. The brunette's dark eyes opened and dilated in the bright morning sun. She peered up uncertainly at the blonde hovering over her. "Good morning." Emma smiled.

"Good morning." Regina answered somewhat stiffly.

The blonde's heart sank as she realized that the brunette was playing the situation off with aloofness. Emma pulled back and began pulling on her clothing as Regina pulled the sheet up to her chin; realizing her nakedness. "So last night didn't happen, eh?"

The brunette eyed her warily. "I don't see how it changes anything, Miss Swan." She said. "We both know it was just a fluke."

"Right." Emma said and turned on her heel to head into the bathroom. "I'll cook breakfast."

Regina watched her go as cold self-loathing crept into her heart. She shook her dark head, knowing that it couldn't be any other way and pushed herself from the bed.

They spent a very quiet next few days together. On the third day, Snow showed up with the Blue Fairy by her side. Emma had been outside, stroking the horse when her mother and the fairy showed up. "Snow? What's going on?" She heard the door creak open and knew Regina had poked her head out in wary curiosity.

The newcomers exchanged a glance. "Mother Superior thinks she can help Regina."

Emma heard a soft exhale from the direction of the door. "Help? How?"

"I can remove the arm band."

The air was thick with unanswered questions as the three women from the Enchanted Forrest considered one another. But was Emma who broke the silence. "Why now? Why couldn't you have done that before?"

Snow looked at her daughter. "We had to know she could be trusted."

"Trusted with what?" Emma asked with uncertainty.

"Trusted not to do something evil." The fairy said earnestly.

"How can you possibly expect her to prove something like that?" Emma asked, not glancing back to see the stunned expression the brunette's face; it had been a long time since someone had stood up for the Evil Queen.

"By proving that she can be honest." Snow answered, her eyes never leaving Regina's.

"Honest?"

"How was it that Tamera and Mendel caught you in the first place?" The rightful queen asked her step-mother.

Emma whirled around to regard the brunette who stood frozen in the doorway. The blonde had not considered how they had captured the woman; she had only concerned herself with making sure she got better. But she found that she was curious as to how two non-magic people had been able to subdue Regina.

"You might as well come in, it's a long story." The woman said with a sniff of disdain before disappearing into the house. Blue followed immediately as did Snow, but Emma hesitated; wondering if she really wanted to hear this tale. Deciding she didn't but had to, she followed.

Regina began her story and talked without emotion, without pause or hesitation, until it was finished. Snow sat with a furrowed brow and Blue had an expression of confirmed suspicion. But Emma stared at the floor; unwilling to admit that she was hurt and disappointed. When the brunette finally ended her tale, she sat back and looked past the faces of her audience, out the window of the cottage.

"This kill-switch, they took it?"

"No."

"But the diamond-"

"Was a decoy." Regina murmured. "The actual kill-switch is safe."

"Where?" Blue asked.

Regina just stared at her with derision. Snow sighed dramatically and the fairy clicked her tongue. "I had hoped to find you remorseful. Emma said that you were healing and adapting well to having no magic."

"Did she?" The brunette cocked her head to the woman looking at her boots.

"Damn it Regina," Emma murmured. "Don't play me like that." She met her gaze. "Tell them where the damned thing is so that they can get that band off your arm."

"You're not afraid I'll go on rampage and kill everyone once I have my magic back?"

"No." Emma said quickly before either her mother of the fairy could make the situation worse. "You and I both know that wouldn't make you happy." She pinned her with her eyes.

Regina sighed, "Check the lining of your jacket."

Emma cocked her head. "What?"

"The lining of that god-awful red jacket." The woman snapped. "I placed it in there; no one would have expected me to trust you with it."

"Ingenious and quite true." Blue murmured as she watched Emma go to the coat rack and pull down her favorite jacket. She fumbled in the pockets and liners of the coat until she pulled out a small, flat stone. It seemed completely ordinary in every way; with the exception of the fact that it grew warm in her hand rather rapidly.

Snow frowned. "It looks like a normal rock. How do we know it's not another decoy?"

"I can feel the magic." Emma whispered and walked back across the room to hold it out to the fairy.

"Yes, this is it." She palmed it and dropped it into a leather clutch she carried. Emma noticed that Regina eyed the purse with interest before locking her eyes with Blue's and holding out her arm. The fairy took her wrist delicately in her hand and retracted her wand. With a wave and puff of gentle smoke, the band disappeared.

The fairy and the beloved queen looked upon their nemesis with apprehension. But Emma regarded Regina with hurt and betrayal. All four women knew there were arrangements to be made now that the witch was again at full power.

"I suggest a meeting." Snow cleared her throat. "A meeting of all members of our original cabinet with the addition of Emma and Regina."

The women looked up in identical surprise. "Why?" Regina's mouth curled. "Keep your enemies closer?"

"I don't consider you an enemy any longer, Regina." Snow sighed and considered her oldest foe. "But not everyone feels that way. The only reason you are still alive is because the people of the Enchanted Forest love Henry and trust Emma. You owe both of them your life right now."

The brunette's lip curled again in derision. "I need no reminder-"

"Too bad." Blue cut her off. "We can't make you pay for your crimes; but we can hold you accountable to your son. I think Henry would side with us in saying that you do owe the citizens of your realm rather a lot."

Regina looked ready to sink her teeth into the fairy, but instead, with eyes blazing, lowered her head and spoke into her hands. "What would you have me do?"

"Help us figure out a way to stop the outsiders."

"We will alert you to the whereabouts and time of our meeting." Snow said, rising from the couch and considering her daughter seriously. "You can come home now, Emma."

The blonde met her gaze and shrugged. "Right. Home." The word sounded funny in her head and she realized that she had come to associate the little cottage she shared with Regina as 'home'.

Emma watched the two women leave; as before, she could feel Regina's eyes on her. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked her without turning.