By the time Emma's alarm song rang, Regina was already dressed up and she had tidy the sofa where she had tried to sleep unsuccessfully, neatly folding the sheets and leaving them on the table. She was waiting, her legs crossed, but she didn't really know what she was waiting for. It was weird for her to stay for the domestic routine of the charming family, so she finally stood up and wrote on a piece of paper before walking out the door.

She was very aware she could just appear in her room but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to use magic unless it was strictly necessary. She wasn't used to live like that anyways.

Strolling down the street, she watched how the local businesses of the town she had put so much time to create were opening just now. Resting her hands awkwardly in the pockets of her coat, she lowered her head and realised she had started to walk fast even though she was in no hurry.

Regina felt the anxiety creeping up on her and she sneered at herself. She used to be a queen, she used to be feared by anyone who had heard about her in all the land, and now she was scared of the mere possibility of being yelled at on the street by the other citizens. She felt their eyes as she walked past their businesses, throwing cautious looks at her, realising that if she had her magic back she could easily destroy their lives whenever she wanted.

A sigh escaped her lips, a soft haze of the still cool air disappearing in front of her. Only when she reached the safety of her house, she breathed relieved. You're being ridiculous, she thought to herself. But then the memory of all the time she had to endure the angry mobs, the night phone calls of unknown people to insult her, the broken windows, the paintings on her door.

Her head fell backwards until it hit the front door, where she had been leaning since she entered the empty house. Everything had been getting better for her, but now adding magic to the equation she was back to square one. After a moment, Regina shuffled towards the kitchen, knowing it would take more than one cup of coffee to keep her up all day.

Emma reluctantly turned the alarm off, after hitting the snooze button three times, and finally sat up in her bed. She could hear everyone already up: her parents making breakfast while Henry told them the dream he had had. There was one voice missing though. She finally got up and slid to the kitchen, where everyone looked up at her when they saw her finally making an act of presence.

"I thought we would have to go in and wake you up," David joked, nudging her wife's arm.

Emma took a seat on one of the stools next to Henry as she brushed the sleep away from her eyes, "I was too tired."

"Yeah, she helped mom with her nightmares last night," Henry chimed in, taking a bite of his sandwich.

Both Snow and David turned to look at Emma, raising an eyebrow curious and she was quick to explain, "Maleficent came by last night and they had a conversation. I caught her when she was coming back inside."

"And what were you doing up?" Snow asked, knowing Emma was one to sleep the whole night soundly.

Emma shrugged and answered the first lie she could come up with, "I had to pee." Then, she looked down at Henry. "How did you know we were up?"

She already knew the answer, but as she watched her son struggling to find an excuse for him to be awake so early, she thought that would serve him right for disobeying her. "I had to pee too," he answered before jumping down the stool and leaving his plate and mug on the sink.

She hid a knowing smile as she watched him scurrying back to his room to get ready for school. Snow placed a sandwich in front of her, and she thanked her with a smile.

"So Maleficent was here?" she asked now that Henry was gone.

Emma took a bite of the sandwich and felt the deliciously melted cheese in her mouth as she nodded, "Yeah, apparently she wanted Regina to join her and do evil stuff around town I guess. Regina refused of course."

"And she didn't give a hint about what she is planning?" her father asked, his eyebrows knitted together.

"She wants revenge against Regina," Emma just said. She avoided the fact that that meant both Henry and herself were in danger. Instead her eyes swept the room, "Where is she anyways?"

"Oh she left a note and left," Snow said motioning at a piece of paper that was on the table. "You should get ready. We figured out that while we work on a plan to stop Maleficent, we can still continue our normal life. That means you have to take Henry to school in 15 minutes."

She kissed her husband and after putting her scarf around her neck, she left the apartment with a stack of papers in her left hand, while David washed the dishes. Finishing up her sandwich, Emma stood up and reached for the note to read it.

Thanks for everything. If anything happens I'll be at my office.

Emma made a mental note to text her later and rushed to get ready for the day, a little disappointed to not to see Regina when she woke up.

Regina was punctual to everything including her job. She opened the City Town Hall as she did every morning for the past 28 years and headed towards her office. Her mind was still on the fact that Emma and Henry were in danger and she was dying to stay by their side to protect them, but she also knew that Maleficent wasn't one to stack fast. She wanted enjoyed the revenge as much as Regina had done a long time ago.

After a half an hour later, her assistant appeared on her door, knocking before peering her head inside. "I've got the files you asked yesterday morning," she announced.

Regina nodded to her as she eyed the paperwork she hadn't done the day before and she had to do now. When the files landed in her desk, she looked up to meet her assistant, who was throwing a suspicious look at her.

"Thank you Jessie," she said to give her the cue to leave, but still the assistant remained in her place for a while longer, like expecting her to do something. But after nothing happened and Regina just kept boringly reading the papers, she turned in her heels and left the office.

Regina dropped the pen. Maybe she should've just joined Maleficent. It was what everyone expected her to do anyways, go back to being evil; it would be easier. But she couldn't, not for Henry, not for Emma and not for herself. She had made a promise to redeem herself and joining the devil itself wouldn't help her case. Unless…

She reached for her phone and quickly texted Emma to meet her at her office in 10, her mind already working on a plan.

A/N: I know this chapter is more of a filler chapter than anything, but I promise next will be up soon.