A/N: And here is the continuation. I hope you enjoy! (I would have at least put this one on later, but since it has been over two months and I am unsure of when I will gain access to the internet again, I will throw it up again, as well.)

Emma stirred from her slumber, the cool breeze caressing her backside had the blonde groan and roll over. And when she had, she had expected to find solace in Regina's warmth but, instead, she found an empty bed and cold sheets.

The blonde's eyes snapped open as she felt around, just to be sure that the older woman wasn't curled up somewhere further away. Sometimes that happened in the middle of the night, or in the early light of morning. She would awaken to find herself cold and find what appeared to be an empty bed next to her. Regina sometimes made her way to the very edge of the bed, forcing Emma to wiggle over to her and try to pull her back.

But she wasn't there. Not even at the edge. So the blonde found herself quickly sitting up, eyes roaming wildly around the room in search of her brunette lover. The immediate room was empty, as was the ensuite bathroom.

"Gina?" Emma croaked from the bed, pushing the blankets off as she checked the clock, and gaped. It was well past noon and that meant Regina must have been up for hours because of her mother. And that very thought had only panicked the blonde teenager more, forcing her naked tush out of bed to get dressed.

This definitely wasn't a good impression to give to Cora. She slept in and so late. Why hadn't Regina woken her up when she had gotten up? Why just let her sleep? There wasn't anything more like a teenager than a girl who slept late.

"Shit..." Emma mumbled as she sheepishly inched her way from the room, donning one of Regina's fluffy robes over her pajamas before she made it to the hall.

As soon as the blonde had hit the top of the stairs, she smelled something cooking from the kitchen. Stomach growling, she decided to follow the scent trail in hopes that it was Regina who was cooking and not the older woman's mother. That would be quite awkward to walk into and after last night's failure to keep quiet, she didn't exactly want to show her face in front of the eldest brunette woman.

So it was just her relief when she had spotted her brunette lover moving around the kitchen, balancing a pan in one hand and a plate in the other, which appeared to be transferring a fried egg. Quirking a brow, Emma walked into the kitchen and kissed Regina on the cheek.

"Where's your mother?"

"She decided to go on a walk before lunch." Regina turned from the stove with a smile, her arms snaking around the blonde's waist. With a kiss to Emma's forehead, she continued. "She will be due back any moment."

And just like that, Regina had pulled away from Emma and shoved the plate that she had been holding in her face. "Eggs? Sausage? Pancakes?"

"... I thought it was lunch?" Emma blinked, tentatively grabbing the dish full of breakfast foods and looked over it, almost warily.

"Mother, luckily, got up rather late. She missed breakfast and wanted it for lunch instead." Regina sighed softly and returned to the stove once again, cracking an egg over the pan. "But it would be just my luck that she would come home and decide to crave something else."

"Does she do that often?" Emma quirked a brow, sticking a forkful of egg in her mouth.

There was a momentary silence as the brunette stared at the sizzling egg, a frown floating across her features as she contemplated the answer. "Sometimes. Usually she gets up early, so it wouldn't be anything like this, but... She might suggest one thing, or a certain place, for a meal and change her mind perhaps not even five minutes later. It's rather tedious, but I do have meals for the next day, I suppose."

"Well, that's kinda shitty of her." The blonde frowned, leaning against the counter as she had continued to slowly eat her lunch.

"Yes, but that is my mother and I'm afraid that I cannot change it." Regina sighed, scooping the finished egg up and onto a plate.

Emma nodded slightly, watching her as she finished off her egg."Why didn't you get me up when you got up?"

"I thought that I would let you sleep, dear." The brunette finished the second plate and moved to set it on the island before going right back to frying the third and final egg. "I know how much you adore it."

"Yeah, but it probably won't look good for your mother." Emma mumbled and moved to sit on the far side of the island stools, waiting for her lover to join her after she had finished.

"Who cares about my mother?" Regina grumbled, angrily flopping the egg onto her plate, breaking the yolk.

"I..."

"I'm sorry." The brunette held up a hand, shaking her head. With a soft sigh, she had joined Emma at the island with her plate of food. "Mother... heard us."

"Wh-what?" Emma's eyes widened. Really, she shouldn't have been surprised. They wouldn't have exactly won the award for the silent game last night.

Regina nodded slowly, stabbing absently at a sausage link. "She chewed me out before leaving. That's why she had left. She apparently needed to let off some steam."

"I-I'm sorry."

Regina snapped her head in her direction, giving her a look. "You do not be sorry. It was not your fault. This is my house, and I can do what I wish in it. I told her that, too." A slight frown claimed her lips as she took a dainty bite of her egg. "But you know how that woman is."

Emma nodded silently, deciding not to speak as she continued to eat the lunch that Regina had prepared. The silence between them was nothing but welcoming as it allowed the blonde to think over their current situation, and no doubt had given the older woman time as well.

Cora was abusive and manipulative, and everything else that Regina had used to describe that woman before Emma had ever met her. It was quite understandable why the teacher had refused to bring her mother up in their earlier conversations. This woman was as wicked and evil as the two could get. She no doubt had brought up unpleasant memories whenever Regina spoke of her, as had Emma's own experiences in the past with her former foster families.

But the thing that had caught Emma off guard the most was the level of nastiness that this woman carried. Sure, Regina had described Cora to be disgusting and horrible, and that had already set a bad image in Emma's mind. But this woman was worse than she had ever dreamt possible when in person. The blonde had suspected that she would have at least enough decency to punish her child so cruelly out of the public's eye, but alas, she enjoyed having an audience to witness her smack around her daughter, and to the extent that she had.

Emma was literally frozen in her spot by the time Cora had tackled Regina to the ground with fingers pressing into her throat. The horrors of her visit on Christmas and the bruises collected by Regina from the encounter had seemed to play before her very eyes. That woman was cruel with not a remorseful bone in her body.

She had often wondered why Regina had never just walked away from her mother, why wasn't it so easy to do so when she had argued that it wasn't. But now she knew. Now that she had witnessed what went on behind closed doors, or even open ones for that matter, she bribed a rather large reality check into her hands.

Regina was trapped under her ruthless mother's spell and was unable to free herself until one of them had succumbed to a mightier power. For both Regina's and her's sake, she hoped that it would be Cora that would be doing the succumbing.

Then that had sparked a whole different thought into her mind. Cora was dying, or so Zelena had said and Regina said her mother had confirmed. Regina would be able to be free of her mother's grip.

But, in the meantime, what would happen to their relationship? Emma couldn't let Regina lose her job, or go to jail, just because of her. She loved the brunette teacher too much to let her ruin her life for their relationship. That was another thing, though. Emma hadn't told Regina of her thoughts on Cora's threat, or what she thought would be best.

Cora's days were numbered as they were. If Regina would oblige her mother's wishes and break her relationship with Emma, they could eventually get back together when her mother had passed on. And even when Cora had left, satisfied, the two of them could still sneak around and see each other. There was still school until Emma graduated in three months.

The blonde would be willing to wait a few measly months if it meant spending a lifetime with Regina. But, the problem was, she knew that Regina didn't think the same. Or at least that's how she had come across when arguing with Cora about it. That's why they were where they were currently.

"Are you alright, Emma?" Regina nudged the blonde's arm, forcing Emma out of her thoughts. "Or are you off prancing with those ponies in La La Land again?"

The blonde chuckled and shook her head, turning to face her brunette partner. "Oh, definitely, Gina. Except these ponies have horns and wings! They make for much more interesting dance partners."

"I would imagine." The teacher laughed as she pushed her empty plate away from her. "Just watch out for the horns or else you will find yourself to be shishkebabbed."

"I'll try to be careful." Emma smirked, leaning towards the brunette. "Or who else would stick their tongue in you?"

"Oh, don't you be so crass, Emma." Regina growled softly, closing the distance to nip the tip of Emma's nose before sitting back. "I don't think you want Cora to come back in and catch us again."

The blonde's eyes widened at that thought because, no thank you ma'am, she would not enjoy that pants-shitting fest again. "Can I get a side of fuck with that no?"

"I believe we're fresh out of fuck. How about hell instead?" Regina winked and hopped out of her stool to snatch up the two empty plates.

Emma chuckled at her comment, popping up to follow her to the sink. The older woman rarely cursed, and when she did, it always amused the blonde. Such profane language from such a gorgeous woman was something to be enjoyed. "You're some breed of special, Gina."

"Yes, but you like it." The brunette turned to give Emma a cute little smile, instantly turning the blonde's heart into jelly. "And lucky thing you do, because I am rather screwed up."

There was a snort that sounded from the blonde, which had immediately caught Regina off guard. The brunette stared the younger woman down, those mocha eyes narrowed on her. "Oh, I see that you agree with that."

"Because it's true, Regina." Emma leaned up to press a kiss to her cheek. She donned an impish smirk. "But it's a good screwed up. Like... you enjoy bloody movies and really, I mean really, sick ones at that. And I see you smile when someone gets hurt..." Then her own eyes narrowed at the teacher's twitching lips. "More specifically me when I stub my toe or something. You're one sadistic bitch."

"Oh, like you didn't laugh when I fell on my ass last week on that ice patch on our porch."

"You saw that one coming, Regina. I saw that one coming. Hell, even the residents in California saw that one coming." Emma snorted, playfully bumping her hip into Regina's, but the older woman didn't look so amused. "Oh, come on, don't be such a sour puss."

"But you laughed at me." Regina gave her a petulant pout that made Emma know she was forgiven. She giggled, though, playing along with it.

"Would it make you feel better if I said I walked into the closet shelf and your broom decided to attack me?" The teenager mumbled, the memories unpleasant as she brought herself back to yesterday. But the quirk on Regina's lips had made up for it and she grinned, pushing gently at her shoulder. "See? You enjoy my misery."

"I must admit I do." Regina burst into a full blown smile. "To an extent, of course."

"Of course. It would only be a tragedy if I were to lose a limb."

"Oh, you know what I mean, dear."

"No, do go on." A third voice interrupted the affirmation that Emma was about to give. The duo popped their heads up and glanced towards the disruption, finding Cora to be standing there in her jogging clothes with a quirked brow.

"Mother, back so soon?" Regina dismissed what her mother had previously said as she moved around Emma towards Cora. A forced smile stretched on her lips as she gestured towards the plate on the counter. "Your lunch might be cold. I expected you sooner."

"You just contradicted yourself, darling." Cora peered over to the plate of food, her lip curled up into a sneer. "I think I just might eat those sandwiches from yesterday. This isn't breakfast, Regina."

"But, Mother, you-"

"I expect something heavier for our next meal, do you understand me? Do not mistake suppertime for lunch." The older brunette glared towards her daughter, forcing the younger woman to quietly nod as she ceased her movements.

Emma frowned, watching as Cora dismissed the plate waiting for her at the counter and went to the fridge instead. She now understood what Regina had meant about her mother changing her mind about the meal that she had wanted. She felt for her brunette lover at the moment and wanted nothing more than to give her a big hug. This wasn't the misery she enjoyed.

"Honestly, Regina. It truly is a miracle that you can survive on your own." Cora clucked her tongue as she pulled the wrapped up sandwiches out of the fridge and moved towards the island to prepare them.

Regina sighed, her eyes closing as she decided against saying another word. The frown on Emma's face only grew as she slowly inched her way to the older woman and wrapped her arms around her. The teacher immediately returned the embrace, her tensed body relaxing against Emma's.

"I hope you two don't plan to copulate on the counter again. We only have a limited amount of bleach and my eyes still burn from the last sanitization." Cora hissed from her spot. Emma nearly squeaked when Regina's grip around her had only tightened, and incredibly so. Her new inability to breathe had her grip releasing from around Regina in hopes that the older woman would at least loosen her own death grip.

"Sorry." Regina murmured softly before letting go of Emma altogether. "We are not going to fuck, Mother."

The blonde merely shrugged and stepped away from Regina, her eyes casting over the kitchen in a once over before dragging back up to meet with muddy orbs. "You don't have to apologize." Though her words went unheard by the two brunette's as the latter statement from Regina had been spoken. And it was that statement that had Emma frozen in her spot, looking as if she were a deer caught in headlights. There was no telling what Cora would do to Regina for saying that.

"Regina," Cora suddenly spoke as the younger brunette's lips parted to speak. The irritation was clear as it radiated off Regina when her mother had continued. "I would like to speak with you. Alone."

Emma quirked a brow at the oldest woman's request, giving Regina a look before rolling her eyes when the brunette teacher had gestured towards the door. "I'll go find something important to do elsewhere, then..."

"I will be sure to meet up with you when we are finished." Regina had promised, her voice a tired sigh as she rubbed the blonde's arm before she headed out of the kitchen as if whatever was about to happen wasn't foreign.

Emma's heart went out to Regina at that moment as she made her way down the hall and to the foyer. Cora's tone had inferred that she wasn't exactly pleased with her daughter's response. Hell, even Emma was rather surprised when Regina had snapped. Cora was something to deal with and the teacher had seemed to step straight into the awaiting trap.

And what a mighty trap it was. By the time Emma had found herself in the sitting room, she heard shouting come from the other side of the house. The blonde shrank against the couch, her eyes squeezing shut when it suddenly grew quiet. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know what was going on. Surprisingly, Cora didn't want an audience for this shaming dealt unto her daughter.

Emma wished more than anything that she could be by Regina's side. She wished that she could grow a courageous brain cell to help her girlfriend and stand up to Cora to end the reign of terror that she was bestowing upon her own daughter. Regina didn't deserve any of what her mother was dishing out to her and it was utterly ridiculous that she had to put up with it. But Emma was merely a teenager and she couldn't take on Cora, nor could she do anything to stop the horrors she was showering over them.

Cora was a powerful woman, and not just physically. That woman was a lawyer, and one of the best ones in the immediate area. She would no doubt win any case they might hold against her, which had ultimately ended in only another fruitless endeavor. She might even try to turn it all against them and the crimes that Regina would be committing by dating Emma.

The prolonged silence had alerted Emma now as she still sat upon the couch, her eyes focused on the doorway, waiting for even the slightest of sounds. There was nothing as of yet. It was futile for her to listen for a small stir when the two of them were on the opposite side of the house and it wasn't in her place to check out what was going on.

After a few heartbeats of more silence, a sudden crash sounded and Emma tensed. That was the sound of glass breaking. That wasn't at all a good sound.

Moments of intense silence later, Cora came into view from the opposite door with a seething expression on her face. She looked unmarred, though that was to be expected. Emma watched, shrinking against the couch in hopes that the older woman didn't seek her out to be the next victim on her list. Luckily, she had turned before reaching the sitting room and instead of going up the stairs to the guest room in which she had resided, she had moved towards the front door. And she left, but not without a slam of the door.

In those last moments, Emma had scrambled up from her spot and hastily made her way back to the kitchen. She hoped to find Regina in one piece when she got there and not a mangled mess with a plate smashed over her head.

Relief was like a tidal wave when it washed over her upon spotting the brunette, all in one piece, as she squat over a pile of broken porcelain and food on the floor.

"I take it she wasn't pleased with lunch?" Emma said, inching her way towards Regina, only to be ushered back.

"There's broken glass and you're not wearing any footwear. I don't want you to cut yourself." The brunette warned, sweeping the mess up into a dust pan before standing up to dump the remains into the garbage.

"What happened? Are you alright, Gina?" The blonde stepped around the mess to follow the teacher around the kitchen, a frown painted on her face. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, sweetheart." Regina paused her ministrations to give the younger woman a reassuring smile. An olive toned hand rose to gently caress Emma's pale cheek with a single finger.

"Your cheek is red..." Emma dismissed the brunette's reassurance, her palm laying flat against the older woman's reddened cheek with a concerned frown. Cora slapped her again. That seemed to be the rather typical thing anymore. If Regina did something that didn't please the lawyer, she slapped her. It was a shitty punishment, especially coming from such a woman. That bitch was the one that needed to be slapped and if Emma weren't so scared of her, she would do just that.

"It's nothing, Emma." Regina shied away from the blonde's hand and moved to finish cleaning up the mess. "Don't worry about it. I'll survive. I always do."

"I hate this." Emma found herself muttering as she snatched up a dish towel to clean up the residue left on the floor from the egg.

"Cleaning was never your strong suit." Regina's lips twitched as she tried to maintain humor of the situation, though they both knew that wasn't what Emma had meant.

The blonde sighed softly, shaking her head with an amused smile as she rinsed out the towel. She was glad that Regina was one to use humor in an unpleasant situation. The two of them were quite a pair and she was more than lucky. Which was the reason why she wanted this entire ordeal to be over with. Cora was only here to butt into their relationship and to try and tear them apart. Well, perhaps that wasn't the initial plan upon her arrival, but that was surely her main goal now and Emma wasn't going to have it.

"Why does she have to screw with you like this?" The blonde continued, turning to face Regina who had immediately averted her gaze.

"I honestly do not know. And I will never know." Regina moved to the small broom closet and put away the cleaning items before turning to lean against the counter, her elbows upon the surface. "That woman is nothing but a mystery. I have known her for thirty-eight years of my life and I still don't know her."

"Well, that woman's motives are shit." Emma huffed softly, leaning across from the brunette. "I just wish we could be left alone. Everything is so perfect and I'd hate to lose it."

"I wish that, too, Emma. But it appears that we won't be left alone, not until Cora gets what she wants." Regina slumped into a stool, a defeated sigh falling from her lips. "And we have got nearly an entire week left with that woman."

"At least we'll get eight or more hours away from her come Monday." Emma slipped into the stool next to Regina, wrapping an arm around the older woman.

"Yes. You're right." The brunette nodded slightly, falling silent soon after.

Emma hadn't bothered to speak again, nor did Regina for they sat in silence for the hours to come, keeping each other company as they comforted one another's worries over the entire situation.

When Monday did come, the two of them were just about ready to fly out of the house to school, which was rather ironic for Emma, at least. Normally the blonde usually couldn't wait to get back home, but now she downright dreaded it. Cora seemed to have a repellent spray on against the blonde. She was only suffocating the longer she stayed under the same roof as her and was more than grateful that she was able to get the hell out of there.

Emma would have sooner, but she hadn't wanted to leave Regina to deal with her mother alone. The relationship between Regina and Cora really wasn't her business and she didn't have a need to stay there with her nose poked in on them. The English teacher really didn't need her there, seeing as to how she had survived over three decades prior without the blonde's help. In fact, Regina had even urged that Emma leave and stay with her foster parents until Cora had left town.

The blonde should have gotten out of the house the moment the door had been open, because now it was welded shut and there was absolutely no way out of the hell hole she was stuck in. Every day was a nightmare and every night was something she wished would last for an eternity. And that was saying something, seeing as to how it had only been roughly three days.

Three days, she scoffed to herself. It had only been three days, yet it had felt as if it had been an eternity. But it was all worth it, Emma had kept telling herself that every minute of the day. She was staying here for Regina, for herself, for them. Anything was worth keeping their relationship out of jeopardy, though it felt as if it were already in the hands of the host himself. Cora was the only thing keeping the two from falling apart. She was the only one keeping their lives together at the moment because, right now, she held their lives in the palm of her hand.

Emma wasn't so worried about her own life. Nothing would ever happen to her besides a few cuts and bruises, but it was Regina that would gain more than a simple scrape. It would be as if Cora would rip the still beating heart straight from her own daughter's chest if she were to go through with her original intent, if Regina were to not take her up on the kinder offer.

Emma could not just let that happen. She couldn't let Regina lose everything that she had ever worked for in life. She had built herself ground up, but the foundation was running weak with her mother plowing into it with her relentless pursuit to control her daughter's life. The more that the blonde had looked into the relationship between mother and daughter, the more that she found how controlling the older woman was towards Regina. And with how things were working now, it appeared that she was trying to get her daughter to lean on her as the bricks of her life crumbled one by one.

It was sickening what Emma was witnessing before her very eyes. It was never any wonder now why Regina hadn't wanted to speak of her mother. Cora had a hole in her chest as she did these things. A gaping hole that could never be filled because it was too far gone. She was too far gone.

"You're right, Emma, purple does look good on me." Regina's husky voice tore Emma from her thoughts as she looked towards the brunette standing in front of the mirror in her closet. The older woman donned a smile that could kill and apparel that brought it justice.

Emma had earlier picked an outfit out for the brunette teacher as she often had, namely out of boredom since she had normally worn about the same outfit everyday. But it was also curiosity since Regina appeared to have quite the wardrobe and the blonde had only seen half of it worn on her. That's why she chose a violet blouse hidden between a few lighter shaded ones.

"I told you." The blonde teenager purred, moving to wrap her arms around the brunette from behind, her chin setting on her shoulder as she met those marvelous brown irises in the mirror.

Regina smiled, leaning into Emma as she continued to button the blouse up around her young lover's arms. "I must say I am astonished. I only purchased it because I enjoy the shade of violet. I could never imagine myself in it, though."

"Well, now you know, don't you?" Emma gave her a wry smile before dragging her tongue up her girlfriend's cheek. She pulled away from her to quickly slip her shoes on, the lilt of her lips turning something sardonic as Regina made a noise of disgust.

"You are not a dog, Emma." Regina was wiping at her cheek when the blonde gazed up towards her, the older of the two moving to collect her blazer so they could leave.

The words, though, had only made Emma release a short bout of laughter. She stood, slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder as she followed the older woman out of the bedroom. "Don't complain, Gina. You like it when I lick you."

"Elsewhere, dear. Elsewhere." The teacher shot her a sultry look before traveling down the stairs, only to be stopped by Cora, a brow quirked.

The quip ready to come from Emma's mouth quickly died on her tongue upon spotting the older brunette, her eyes slightly widened. Cora stood there with a sickening sweet smile as she gazed at her daughter, one of her slender fingers brushing against Regina's jawline.

"You wear so much face paint for your job, sweetheart." Regina's mother followed the two of them to the front door as the teacher let out an audible sigh.

"Sometimes I need to cover things up, Mother." She turned an accusing glare at the oldest woman. "Now, we need to get going or else we will be late. So, please, Mother."

"I won't keep you, my love." Cora placed a kiss on the English teacher's cheek, directly where Emma had licked Regina just minutes earlier. The blonde smirked, though tried to keep it to herself as she quickly opened the door. "Just do not fall victim to this girl's schedule. She keeps a bad one and I know you better than that, Regina. Do not let her falter your performance."

"My performance is quite alright, Mother." Regina squirmed away from her mother, dodging Cora's hand before she could cup her cheek. "Now, if you would kindly let me go. I will be late."

Cora held her hands up with a simple nod, taking a step back. "Perhaps you should consider leaving earlier and not taking a..." her gaze cast towards the blonde standing behind the brunette teacher before gesturing towards her. "Pitstop before getting ready."

"What I do with my time is my business, Mother." Regina merely turned around with a shake of her head, ushering the blonde teenager out the door. "I will see you this afternoon."

"I might not be here when you return." Cora simply state, her hand on the door.

The two exiting the small manor turned towards the oldest woman, Regina's brow quirked at her statement. She didn't appear to question it, though behind the stoic mask placed on her face there was a whirlwind of suspicions. "Alright."

"Have a nice day, sweetheart." There was a pause in Cora's words before she spoke again, her voice held a bit of reluctance to them. "And you, too, Emma."

"Thank you." The blonde muttered with a nod before scurrying off to the car with Regina in tow.

It wasn't until they were in the car and halfway down the driveway did Regina finally speak, her voice laced with something that sent chills down the blonde's spine. "I wonder where the hell my mother plans on going all day. She has no friends in town."

"I don't know, Gina." Emma frowned, her eyes on the house. "And, frankly, I'm not sure if I want to."

But at lunchtime, Emma had gotten the answer that was bugging Regina earlier that day. The blonde was at Granny's during her usual routine of dining in before grabbing something for Regina to eat later. She was at the counter with Ruby, who had been taking a lunch break as she usually had when Emma dropped by. The waitress was more than happy to accompany the blonde during lunch, and the boredom on her face told Emma exactly why.

The two of them had been in light conversation about each other's days so far, Emma snacking on a grilled cheese sandwich when the door to the restaurant had opened. It wasn't alarming to the blonde, seeing as to how Granny's was a public restaurant after all. But when she had glanced up from her conversation with Ruby to see the new arrival, her heart skipped a beat.

Cora.

Emma must have been staring at the woman for longer than she had intended because Ruby seemed to have noticed, her hand waving in front of the blonde's face.

"Earth to Emma Swan. Earth to Emma Swan. Does she read?"

The blonde blinked and quickly nodded, tearing her gaze away from Cora who had taken a corner seat by the door, in clear view of Emma. "Y-yeah, she reads."

"What the hell has got you?" The waitress quirked a brow before turning the stool to follow Emma's previous gaze, but she came up short. "What? I don't see anything."

"It's nothing." Emma merely shrugged, giving her friend a reassuring smile. Though when the brunette had continued on with a roll of her eyes, the blonde couldn't help but to let her gaze slip passed her and to Cora as she seemed to be talking on a phone. Her eyes narrowed in on the older woman, curious as to who was on the other line.

Regina had mentioned that she was suspicious of her mother's activities, and especially her arrival in town. She feared that Cora had known something and the way that she had reacted to every detail that she had soon discovered was nothing but feigned surprise. Emma had questioned that, wondering how that woman would have knowledge of anything and just told Regina she was paranoid. It wasn't the most sensitive thing to do, but it seemed to have eased Regina's mind for the moment.

But now that Emma was watching Cora at the diner, talking to a mysterious person on the phone with not a friend in town, she was growing rather suspicious herself.

"Okay, Emma, come clean." Ruby snapped the blonde's attention back to her friend, her eyes widened. "You've been staring at something."

"No I haven't." The blonde lied and the waitress detected it right away.

"Then what did I just say?"

"'Okay, Emma, come clean?'" Emma quickly popped a fry into her mouth, giving her friend a bad pokerface.

"Girl, there's a special place in hell for you." Ruby clucked before taking a sip of her iced tea. Setting it down, she leaned forward with a smirk. "Tell me. Who is it?"

"Who is what?" Emma blinked, dropping her next fry back onto the plate. Her eyes quickly went to Cora, who had now sat there with an idle stare at the menu.

"You've seen this place a million times before, Em. And there are no animals allowed in here. Obviously it's a person that's caught your eye." Ruby swiveled the chair around once again, looking to Emma before turning her attention back to the small amount of patrons in the room.

"It's no one, Rubes." Emma huffed, quickly breaking contact with Cora as she paid attention to her lunch. "Did you say that there was someone that checked into the Bed and Breakfast?"

"Yeah," Ruby turned back around, giving her friend a suspicious stare. "On Saturday."

"Who... Uh, who was that?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Can't I just ask? You're the one complaining that I'm not paying attention to you." Emma shrugged.

Ruby did as well, her perfectly manicured nails tapping on the counter. "It was that one redheaded woman again. I forgot her name, but she looked familiar. I wonder why she's back in town."

"That one... redheaded..." Emma's brows furrowed for a moment as she tried to think of who that was. And then it hit her like a slap to the face. It couldn't possibly be her, could it? Why would she be back in town?

The blonde's gaze slid back over to Cora, and for a moment, their eyes met. And she smiled. Cora gave her a smile that sent chills down Emma's spine. There was something in that curve of those red lips that held the answers what Regina, and herself, had been searching for.

But Emma was no lip reader, or whatever the hell that would be to find out the meaning behind the "answer." She just knew it was something, and if this something had to do with Zelena, who had so coincidentally entered town when Cora was here...

Emma shuddered at the thought.

Zelena had said that she had only talked to her mother once before Cora disowned her, or whatever she had said. She hadn't given any indicator that the two of them were conversing beyond that. Regina would have known firsthand if that were happening, since she had been visited by her relatives on more than one respective occasion.

"Oh, God, it's Cora." Ruby muttered, breaking that contact with Cora as Emma more than happily turned her attention back to her friend.

"You know her?" Emma was surprised that Ruby had, her own emerald orbs widening. She didn't think Cora got out much. She would figure the woman would spend every waking moment with Regina and trying to keep her "in line."

"Yeah. You know Ms. Mills?" The brunette quirked a brow at her friend, leaning in as if it were some big secret. When Emma merely nodded, Ruby had continued with a hushed whisper. "That's her mother."

"Really?" Emma played along, feigning surprise as the woman of subject had throughout her visit. "Why is she here?"

"Yeah. I've seen the two of them come in here before. Well... a long, long time before. But I heard Ms. Mills refer to her as "Mother" when they got into arguments. Which was a lot as I remember." Ruby's eyes moved to subtly look at Cora who paid no attention to the two of them as she enjoyed a steaming cup of coffee.

"They argued in public? A-About what?" Emma quickly finished off her sandwich, eyes flicking to the clock before returning to her best friend. She would have to leave soon.

"I don't know. Stuff about her controlling Ms. Mills' life or something. I was young when I heard most of it. Then they just stopped coming here about five years ago. I hadn't seen that woman since." Ruby's eyes landed on Cora once again. "Imagine my surprise when I entered high school and found out the Regina arguing with her mother was the English teacher."

"Weird." Emma muttered. Most of the details she had known, of course, but hearing about the two of them bringing this to public light was rather alarming. She wondered if Cora ever struck her daughter outside the house. It wouldn't surprise her any.

"Tell me about it. I felt kinda sorry for Ms. Mills with a mom like that." Ruby chuckled softly, popping up from her seat after catching a glance at the clock. "You better get going. Grilled cheese to go, right?"

"Yeah." Emma quickly nodded, taking a hasty sip of her soda as she hopped up as well. "Ms. Mills sends her regards."

"Oh, I bet she does." Ruby gave Emma a wink before she moved back to the kitchen to gather the to-go meal as the blonde waited for her. She returned moments later with a smirk. "I know you still like her."

"I will not disclose such information, Ruby." Emma wrinkled her nose at the brunette waitress before snatching the bag from her hand. "But I'm sure you'll find out the answer some time in the future, huh?"

"Oh, will I?" Ruby leaned against the counter on her elbows. "What really is going on?"

"I need to go."

"Oh, come on! You can't do that!"

"Yes, I can." The blonde smirked as she made her way out of the diner, hastily making sure that she didn't have to release any more information to her friend than she already had. But in her haste out the door, she had ran into another person, forcing her to recoil backwards as she dropped the bag.

"I am so sorry!" Emma was quick to apologize, bending to quickly gather the bag she had dropped.

"Don't worry about." The accented voice before her spoke. The blonde nodded, not even catching the woman's face as she made her way down the path to get back to school before her next class started.

"I cannot believe how clumsy some people can be." That very woman huffed with annoyance as she made her way towards the table tucked away in the corner by the door.

Cora glanced up to the newest company, a smirk on her face. "I cannot fathom what my daughter sees in that girl."

"Regina's tainted. Her mind is warped and she is sick." She joined Cora across the table in which she sat, her head shaking slowly.

"She is not. How dare you speak of my daughter that way?" The brunette grew angry, her teeth baring. "Regina is simply misguided and I am here to guide her into the right direction."

"Yes? Well, your daughter is breaking the law, I'm quite sure."

"She is just confused." Cora took a sip from her lukewarm coffee, giving the guest a haughty look.

The woman rolled her eyes as she played with the menu in front of her. "What of your plan?"

"In due time."

"In due time? I thought that little girl would be gone by now." She growled, slamming a fist on the table.

Cora remained calm, a cold smile on her lips as she watched the woman before her. "Keep your panties straightened, dear. Patience is virtue, and frankly Zelena, you do not have it."

"I do, too!" Zelena's voice rose to an amazing volume that had the other patrons in the diner look their way. Cora, though, tsked and acted as if nothing had happened. The auburn haired woman had noticed the newly gathered attention, for she had shrunk slightly in her seat and lowered her voice with a menacing lilt.

"I have waited for far too long, Mother. Two years, and you say wait. I have waited. I am growing impatient." Cora's eldest daughter leaned back against the chair as she picked the menu up. "I have found things out for you, Mother. You wouldn't even be here if not for me."

"Have patience, Zelena. Your time will come." Cora merely stated, finishing off her coffee. "But, I do have something planned that you might see fit."

"Oh?" Zelena lowered the menu, leaning in to look at her mother. There was a smirk curling on her lips. "Do tell."

"Well, it all starts when my darling daughter comes home from work with her petulant lover..."

"I found out where your mother's at." Emma looked up to Regina from the latter woman's desk after the bell had rung for fourth period to dismiss.

The English teacher shooed the blonde from her seat and took it, a brow quirked. "And where is she?"

"Granny's." Emma lowered herself onto Regina's lap, her arms wrapping around the older woman as she made herself comfortable. She knew that she shouldn't stay here long. After all, she did have a class to go to. But Regina would write her a pass and the class wasn't much. It was only aerobics, after all.

Regina instantly wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist, tugging her closer. "I don't expect her to eat every meal at home, alone."

"Well, no. I wasn't meaning that as a bad thing." Emma nuzzled closer against the brunette, enjoying the close proximity that they had. "But, uh, she was talking on the phone with... someone."

"Was she?" Regina quirked a brow, suddenly interested. Her grip slightly tightened, those mocha eyes sparkling with concern. "I wonder who the hell that would be..."

"I don't know, Gina." Emma pressed a kiss to the brunette's cheek before slipping out of her lap. "I'm sure you can ask her when we get home if you need to. She saw me at the diner."

Regina reached for Emma's hand, her fingers intertwining with the younger woman's. "Is there anything else?" She gazed up at the blonde, those very eyes piercing into Emma's own. Her brows furrowed, the grip on Emma's hand only tightening when the teenager remained quiet, because yes, there was something else but the blonde wasn't so certain if it would be a concern.

"There is, isn't there?"

"Maybe." Emma murmured, her thumb moving to stroke the top of the olive toned flesh laced with hers.

Regina didn't falter when she queried next, the demanding tone to her voice, harnishing something with that of annoyance. "Maybe? Emma, tell me."

"Zelena." The blonde soon muttered. "Ruby said that Zelena came back to town."

"You..." Regina's brows furrowed now, her fingers falling from the grip. "You don't think that those two might be..?"

"I don't know." Emma shrugged, because no, she didn't. She thought just what Regina had told her, unless the older woman had doubts. "If what you told me was true, then there's nothing to worry about. But I shudder to think there would be something going on between them."

"If those two are conspiring with one another... I cannot fathom this. I cannot. Mother gave Zelena away for a reason and I know she is not one to accept back willingly. After she had kicked me out, it took more effort than needed to convince her to tuck me back into bed, you see?" Regina closed her eyes for a moment, whatever unpleasant thoughts running through the teacher's head had her grip tightening on Emma's hand. "And within those few months' time to accept Zelena into her home, or what have you, after not knowing her at all? That woman is nothing but a stranger to us all and for Mother to... to...

"Why would that woman know so much about me? Mother wouldn't be willing to spare such information to someone that she had just met." There was a spark in her eye as if she just had an epiphany, but that didn't sate Emma's worries. "Did they know each other before Zelena ever came here? Why else would mother be so keen on visiting me after five years of... of virtual abandonment? If those two are speaking to one another, then... It must have been years ago."

"Gina?"

"My mother has played me. She has played me and over did it this time. My strings are breaking, Emma." Regina released the blonde's hand. "But why?"

"Maybe... it's not true? Maybe they aren't talking to each other or anything and we're just getting ahead of ourselves." Emma tried so hard to reassure the brunette, but she knew Regina was starting to fall apart at the seams as she digested this new information.

"I can only hope so." Regina stood from her spot, eyes locked in on emerald ones. "I don't want to think why all of this is happening right now. I... I wish we could be left alone, Emma. I really do. And I know you do, too."

"We'll get through this, Gina." Emma frowned, the guilt eating her away. She knew that she had made her lover's day far worse than it had already been. Her hand found its way to Regina's arm, trying to give it a reassuring caress.

"There is too much that I'm worried about, Emma. I have no doubt about what you say. But what Cora is planning, why she is here... Why is she here?" Regina shook her head, one hand curling into golden locks as the other snaked around Emma's waist, pulling the teenager into a tight embrace. "You need to get to class, honey."

"I-I don't have to if you need me, I'll stay." The blonde buried her nose in the brunette locks, inhaling her sweet and spicy scent.

"Emma..." Regina breathed softly, pulling her away. One of those perfect brows quirked, leaving Emma to don a sheepish smile. "You need to get your butt to class, alright? I'll need you more after school when we head home."

"Damn." Emma huffed softly, stealing a quick kiss before she pulled from her lover altogether. Regina chuckled softly and took her spot once again, snatching up that pad of papers to write a pass out for the blonde."That class sucks sometimes."

"Perhaps I will be able to visit you sometime?" Regina smirked up at her lover, handing the green slip to her. "I can watch you... run."

"You would like that too much, wouldn't you, Gina?" Emma giggled softly, taking the pass. "We do yoga, too. I bet you'd love to see that."

That smirk only grew on the older womans face. "Perhaps you should give me a private showing at home?"

"I'll take note to remember what the fuck we do." "Language, Emma."

Emma scowled slightly, though she could help but to give a short giggle. "You haven't cared for a long time now."

"You need to get going, booboo kitty fuck." Eyes like molten lava gazed up at her, both devious and humored.

"I should have never let you watch that movie." Emma narrowed her eyes at the older woman, the latter's nose twitching. "And don't you go there about me saying that, either."

"Oh, but you just had to, Emma." The brunette broke her gaze to open up the bag of her rapidly cooling lunch. She pulled out the tin foil wrapped sandwich and started to peel it out. "And right in the middle of an intimate moment."

Emma playfully jutted out her lower lip. "You said you liked the dirty talk."

"Go, Emma."

"Oh, is Ms. Mills going to get all snappy on me now?" Emma leaned against the desk, staring at the teacher.

"Do not torment me, Miss Swan." Regina eyed the hands planted on her desk before drawing her gaze to meet with the blonde's. "You need to get your butt to class."

"Don't get your panties in a knot, Ms. Mills." The blonde smirked, but it didn't last long as she let her expression drop as well as her voice. "But you aren't wearing any, now, are you?"

Regina licked her lips, slowly and rather seductively. Emma could feel herself start to buzz with arousal as she stood still in her spot. It was true. Regina went without panties today only because their time was waning... and the ones that she had worn before their tumble-about on the bed had flown somewhere unknown.

But Emma knew that the older woman could have just drawn some from the closet, a fresh and new pair. Regina just didn't want to. That woman was wearing one of her skirts today and decided to taunt Emma with the knowledge.

"Get moving, clit commander, or there will be trouble." The brunette teacher growled, taking a bit of her sandwich.

"You used it!" Emma couldn't help but to laugh as she abided, quite satisfied now. "And you better believe it, Gina. You'd know better than anyone."

"Emma!" A balled up paper hit the blonde on her way out, forcing her to only laughed more, chuckling like a madwoman as she walked down the hallway.

...

"She isn't here." Regina entered the master bedroom, dark eyes on the blonde perched upon the mattress.

"Well, she did say that she might not be when we got home." The blonde let out a soft sigh at her girlfriend's wariness and held out her arms, inviting the brunette into them. Regina abided the request, walking straight into Emma's arms with her own wrapped tightly around her neck.

"All the more reason to believe she's out conspiring with my sister."

"Gina..." Emma sighed softly, rubbing the older woman's back.

"I'm sorry, Emma. I've been... on edge all day." Regina slipped into the younger woman's lap, straddling the jean-clad legs. "I wish that I could forget that any of this is happening. I really do."

"Don't be. I understand." The blonde sighed softly, a hand moving up to cup her lover's cheek as she kissed her sweetly, hoping to sate their worry for the moment. But she could feel the tenseness in Regina's muscles, and they were not exactly faltering yet. "I do not like this any more than you do, perhaps not to the same extent, but still."

"Emma..." Regina sighed softly, lowering her lips to Emma's in a smoldering kiss that had caught the blonde off guard. She didn't protest, though, as she returned it, her lips tasting the sweet ones of her lover's.

Emma groaned softly against the brunette's mouth, her pale hands falling to Regina's slowly moving hips. If this was Regina's idea of forgetting their situation, Emma didn't have much of a problem with it. So she went along with the entire thing, her hips bumping up against Regina's grinding ones every once in a while.

The brunette woman made a soft noise, her lips breaking from Emma's as she trailed them soft, pale skin. There was a soft gasp that fell from Emma's lips when Regina had merely continued to trail her lips down to the slender column of the blonde's neck. She nipped the delicate flesh, licking and sucking it as those hands of hers explored Emma's sides.

Meanwhile, Emma had slid her hands back up the brunette's sides to unbutton her violet blouse. She was successful in her attempt for her hands soon found the older woman's heated skin, her pale fingers sliding across the tawny abdomen as Regina had never relented with her gentle teases.

"Perhaps going pantie-less today was a good idea..." Regina growled huskily, her mouth drawing up to press the softest of kisses to Emma's lips. "Makes it far easier for you."

"But I'm wearing pants?" Emma whined softly, kissing the brunette again, her hands sliding up to cover the lace covered mounds on Regina's chest. The older woman groaned softly, her back arching against the palms.

"Indeed." Regina hummed, turning to look behind them for a moment. "We should close the door in case my mother returns."

"Good idea..." The blonde narrowed her eyes at the teacher, though she didn't argue as she removed her hands.

Regina chuckled softly, pressed a kiss to her lips, and slipped from Emma's lap to get the door. But just as she was in the process of doing that, the front door had shut and her mother's voice rang through the house. The fire between Emma's thighs was extinguished immediately as she popped up from the bed, panicking.

"Goddammit, Mother." The brunette muttered under her breath, hands flying to button up her blouse.

"Regina, darling, where are you? I'm home." Cora's voice grew louder until she was in the doorway, smiling at her daughter who had hastily fixed her outfit. "How was your day, darling?"

"I-It was fine, Mother." The brunette breathed, stuffing the last bit of her purple blouse into her skirt. Emma still watched from her spot, though she had settled back down on the mattress

"What is wrong with you, Regina?" It was a moment that Regina's mother had taken to look at the two of them, noticing her daughter's disheveled state and the fidgeting, and clearly flustered, Emma on the bed. Then her eyes fell to something on the floor, just a few inches from her own feet.

Emma's own gaze fell to what had the oldest woman's attention, eyes widening when she had noticed Regina's lost panties from this morning.

Oh shit.

"Again, with your disgusting... choices." Cora growled, gesturing towards Emma, who in return had stared at the woman with doe eyes.

Emma really wasn't the one for the spotlight. Thankfully, it was Regina who had intervened, a scowl on her face. "Mother, please. We have been through this a thousand times before. I am not going to change, so stop trying. It is futile."

Those weren't the right words as either one had hoped. Instead of calming and abiding those words, they had only fueled the anger evidently boiling up within Cora. The older brunette reached out and grabbed her daughter's chin, forcing the younger woman's head towards her.

"I will not tolerate you speaking to me like that, Regina Mills. I recommend you change your tone."

Emma tensed in her spot now, eyes on Cora. If only looks could kill, that woman would be six feet under before her expiration date. She slid her gaze to Regina who had merely stood there, stark still in her spot as if she were faced with a red dot to her forehead.

"Mother," she began coldly. "Let us not do this here. Let us not do this now. I am growing weary of your arguments against my lifestyle. Why the hell is it such a big deal for me to be heterosexual? Why bother me to change when I never will?"

"Because, Regina, I cannot pass down my com-"

"Your company! Your firm! Is that all this is about, Cora?" The brunette literally growled, surprising the two of them. Emma suspected that woman to rip her own mother's throat out at any given moment now, but she hadn't. She remained there with eyes so molten, the fire of them could burn Cora's hide.

Cora didn't have it, for she removed her grip on her daughter's chin only to slap her across the face. Emma tensed in her spot once again, the dire need to rescue her lover from the situation sitting on the surface of her mind. She couldn't. They needed to work this.

Besides, what would she be able to do?

"Of course not, Regina." A cold smile crossed over her features. "I just wish for my daughter to be normal. I want to brag about how lovely of a husband and kids you have to my fellow coworkers. Is that too much to ask for?"

"Yes!" Regina stood with a hand on her own cheek, eyes seeming to glisten in the light of the sun. "Don't you have your other daughter to take my place? As far as I know, she is normal. She is everything that you desire and you tossed her aside. Or did you?"

There was a hesitant pause in Cora's step before she sneered, the emotion flickering over her face gone within moments. "You simply do not understand, my love. It is far too complicated than you will ever conceive. I wish for you to stand down, leave this sickened, worthless piece of trash that could surely ruin your life, and find someone worth it. Someone that can give you the life that you deserve."

Emma's heart skipped a beat at Cora's comment about her, her own blood raging to a boil.

"It is one thing to insult me, Mother, to degrade my life choices and criticize every little thing that I do. But it is another to insult an innocent. To insult the woman that I love. I will not tolerate this degree of inhumanity." There was pure, unadulterated anger on Regina's features. Emma had never seen such a side of Regina and, least to say, it was one of the most terrifying things that she had ever lain her eyes on.

The sweet, kind and caring woman that Emma had fallen in love with was quickly taken over by this new hate-filled side that only saw red. The blonde was sure glad she wasn't the one causing this from the brunette because she would be outside and in California if that were true.

"Woman? She is merely a girl, Regina. How can you not get that through your thick skull?" Cora merely laughed, remaining unabashed by the anger radiating off her daughter.

"I want you to leave, Mother. I am tired of having to deal with your relentless endeavors of insulting me and trying to change and control every aspect of my life. I appreciate that you had gotten me this far, I really do, but you have gone way too far with this. I wish that you would find it in your blackened, withered heart to leave me the hell alone. Do what you wish with me. Disown me for a second time. Just let me live in peace." Regina's cheeks were stained with tears, her entire body shaking as Emma had continued to watch quietly. Things were heating up quite quickly and there was no telling where this would go now that the brunette had told her mother off.

But Cora had answered in the most unexpected of ways. Her voice had remained cool, calm, and collect as she raised both hands in the air. "If you want for me to leave you alone, Regina, so be it."

Regina stared blankly at her mother as the older woman backed away, a sinister smile on her lips. Emma could only stare, her jaw gaped open wide enough to attract all flies. That was too easy.

"Mother?" Regina's voice was hesitant; quiet. A far cry from her earlier speech.

"You may have your wish, Regina, but it does come with a price. I do hope you enjoy being unemployed, because after this, you will never step foot in another school again. You will have great troubles trying to find another job with pedophilia on record." The smirk on Cora's face sent a harsh shiver down Emma's spine. "Or what have you, since she is eighteen. I give you the house, I will let you keep as much. You'll need it. Your funds will not last you long."

"Y-you can't do this, Mother." The brunette teacher's voice was emotionless, her face equally as devoid. She was completely numb from her mother's stinging words.

The blonde's heart pounded in her ears as panic welled within her. What the hell were they going to do now? There was not a chance on Earth that Cora would ever be willing to change her mind now. Not after that.

"Oh, I do believe I can, darling." The lawyer laughed coldly. "Perhaps I will be nice enough to let you finish out the rest of the school year, if I can find it in my blackened, withered heart to."

"No... Mother, please. Think this through." Regina stepped towards her mother, reaching out to her as if desperately trying to undo the last twenty minutes of their conversation. But Cora had merely smacked her hand away and turned to leave the room.

"You have diminished all chances that I had given you, Regina." She kept walking even as she spoke, forcing Regina to chase after her with the new pleads falling from her lips. Emma popped up, too invested to let the conversation walk away from her. She had kept her distance, though, watching from the top of the stairs as Cora opened the front door with Regina standing in the middle of the foyer.

"Please don't do this, Mother... This job is all I have. I-I can't let you take that away from me." Regina pleaded, rushing towards her mother once again. "I can't let you take any of this away from me. I-I... Everything is so perfect with E-Emma and my job and..."

"Save it, Regina. You had already destroyed the last bit of concern I had held for you. You are no longer a daughter of mine." Cora's eyes narrowed in on the brunette teacher. "If I were you, I would resign before I report your ass into the school board. Maybe then you can salvage your life. I would be devastated to see you go to prison."

"M..Mother..." Regina was pushed to the ground after her last attempt to reach the very woman that she had pushed away minutes ago. She stared up at her mother as the older woman stepped through the threshold, still donning that sardonic smirk.

"Heed my advice, dear daughter, because it is the last that you will ever receive from me." Cora glared to the small woman on the floor as she pulled the door closed, but not after calling behind her just before the door clicked.

"I wish you luck in Boston."