Thank you for the reviews! I could probably go on forever with this story, I was just afraid maybe you all were ready for it to end. But it sounds like that's not the case. I hope I can keep you all happy :)

I'm halfway done with the next chapter, so although this one leaves you hanging, you won't have to wait too long for the next.

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Chapter 21

"I'll be right there."

Emma hung up the phone and sat back against her pillows. It couldn't be. Mary Margaret couldn't be her mother. Although, if she thought about it, they had the same chin. No. She shook her head. Mary Margaret was too young to be her mother.

Regina was shaken, she didn't know what brought this on, but she had to come clean, she wanted to. When Mal came, she could see Regina was upset.

"Is Emma okay?"

Regina didn't know how to answer. "Mal, I don't know what's going to happen, but you must remember, you're my best friend."

"She knows?"

Regina blinked. "You know?"

"Regina, I'm part dragon. Curses don't really work on me. I just went with it to see you happy."

Regina hugged Mal tightly. "Thank you."

"I do wonder, if she knows, why is that a big deal?"

"She's /the/ Emma. The Savior."

Mal was shocked, but understood now why Regina was nervous. "She's your savior."

"I hope so. I love her. Not more than Daniel, but...differently."

"That's okay, Regina. He was taken from you, but now's your chance to have love again. Go to her. She'll understand."

"I hope so."

"I know so."

Regina left and Mal went to the guest room to lay down. The only thing she was worried about was what would become of her and Lacey...Belle.

Regina went to the hospital, stopping at the desk.

"I have something important to discuss with Emma. I know you have to do your jobs, but since she's not on an IV or anything anymore, can we please have a few hours of uninterrupted time?"

"Normally we cannot do that, but seeing as to how she's recovering remarkably well, we'll allow it."

"Thank you."

Regina took a breath and went into Emma's room.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Regina brought a chair over and sat next to Emma's bed. The blonde was running her blanket between her fingers.

"I had a dream. Is it true? That story you told me about how you saved Snow and was forced to marry her dad after your mother killed Daniel. Is that real?"

"Yes." She answered simply. "It's all true. and it's true that I blamed your mother..."

"Not yet. Don't call her that yet."

Regina nodded and continued. "I blamed Snow. I was held prisoner basically, while she got everything she wanted. I had a loveless marriage, no life, nothing of my own and it built up inside me."

Emma reached over and took Regina's hand, which made Regina's heart swell.

"I saw an escape and I took it. Your Gran...King Leopold had me locked in my room, thinking another wanted me. He didn't want me for anything more than a fill in mother for Snow, and a warm body on some cold nights. But he made sure no one else could have me. I...I had him killed. I know it's bad..."

"It was your escape. I get it. More than you think"

There were plenty of times Emma would have done anything for her escape. Regina wasbeing honest and knew the worst was yet to come.

"I was queen then. I had...I thought I had everything and I thought it would make me happy. Yet, happiness never came. Then Snow grew and would have taken everything from me if she claimed the thrown. I admit, I took my anger and hurt out on her. In my mind, I had no choice."

It pained Emma to see Regina as she told her story.

"You were pushed. Regina, I understand."

"I know, but I have to tell you everything."

"Okay."

"So the days went by and just like the story you know, I hired a huntsman - Graham actually - to kill her. He couldn't and he suffered. I took his heart. You see, a person can live with out a heart, at least when there's magic. And I could control him with it. The power was intoxicating so I added more and more hearts to what was my mothers collection. People started calling me evil, no one asked me why, no one talked to me, they just called me evil. So I gave them what they wanted. I was evil. I took all those years of sadness and turned it into anger. To be honest, I blacked out many times. People think I don't remember because I'm evil, but really, it was like it wasn't even me. Anyway, Snow managed to escape my many tries and found Charming. When news of their wedding spread, the jealousness got to me. Why was she able to be happy, but not me? I procured the curse from Maleficent and it all started."

"It wasn't until later that I'd heard of your expected arrival. It didn't bother me though, the curse would affect you too. You wouldn't age, unless I wanted you to. That, by the way, is how everyone is still so young. My plan...well it was to raise you as my own. Then once I set the curse, I got news of the wardrobe and how only one could go through it. I rushed to stop Snow and Charming from sending her through, but I was too late. I never imagined they'd send you through it alone. If I had any idea, I would have been there sooner."

Emma listened, tears in her eyes.

"So that's true too? They sent me away, alone, to save themselves?"

Regina caressed Emma's hand. "Don't look at it like that. I know that's the easy way to look at it, but they did it to save you too."

Emma shook her head. "A cursed life would be been better. I...I don't know what to think, but I do know that I don't hate or blame you. I can tell you're worried about that, I don't. I understand why you did it. But, what does all this mean?"

Regina moved to sit in the bed next to Emma.

"It means, I've given all of me to you. It means, if you haven't changed your mind about me, the next time we kiss, the curse will break. Everyone will remember."

"Why?"

"True love's kiss breaks any curse, and you're the Savior. It's your job to break the curse."

"Will we go back there? Like in my dream? Back to where you came from?"

"No, my love. That land is gone. Everyone will stay here, and remember both their lives."

"What happens to you?"

Regina sighed and gave a small smile.

"They come after me. I've given them good lives, but they will still come after me. My only hope is that you save me. I'm leaving my life in your hands. It's worth it though. It's worth it to see you finally have the family you deserve, and the true love we both want."

Emma pulled Regina into her arms, giving her a tight hug.

"I'll never let you go. I want to get out of here. I want to kiss you, but I want us to be with Henry some place safer than here. Not kissing you is not an option and my feelings for you have only gotten stronger."

Regina had tears in her eyes as she smiled at Emma.

"Get dressed. We'll go home."

Regina knew they couldn't sneak out the doors. She figured out how to open the windows with out setting off an alarm. Luckily, they were on the ground floor. Emma was the first out, her crutches making it easier. Regina was next, and the two went to her car and headed home.

"It's about time." Gold stated as he watched the two leave. He patted his pocket with the potion in it and headed towards the well.

On their way home, Regina explained how Mal and Gold knew.

"That explains why he was so creepy towards me."

Regina smirked. "No, he's just creepy."

It was early morning when they came home and Mal greeted them.

"You ready for this, Savior? Oh and you can still call me Mal."

Emma held Regina's hand. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Maleficent hugged Emma and cupped her cheek.

"Just remember, Princess, not everything you'll hear about us 'Evil' ones is true."

Emma nodded with a small smile.

"No one is all good or all evil. Don't worry, my feelings for you won't change, Mama Mal."

The elder blonde smiled and kissed Emma's forehead. Regina came down with Henry and looked at them.

"The doors are locked, the windows are locked. If they come for me, it'll take some work."

"Em!"

Emma smiled at Henry and looked at Regina.

"You ready?"

"Yes."

Regina handed Henry to Mal.

"He's still your son. Even after all this."

"Emma. He's our son."

Emma nodded, her heart filled with love. She pulled Regina closer and softly kissed her lips. Regina felt those lips and kissed her back. They didn't notice the light emitted, but Mal did. It was done. She smiled at her friend who finally found her true love.

Too bad Happily Ever After didn't seem to be in the cards for Regina.