Regina stood by the window and watched Emma toss and turn, restless even in her sleep. Her attention turned to the window as the headlights shone through, the cruiser coming to a stop just across the street. Regina sighed and quietly strolled out of the bedroom, careful to shut the door behind her before descending down the stairs. She grabbed her wool coat and slipped it on before she exited the house and met Ruby outside.

"It's ready," she said quietly. "It's been a long night."

"That it has been indeed," Regina said solemnly. "The artifacts?"

"Loaded carefully into a moving van that is parked at the station," Ruby replied and will a roll of her eyes, she continued, "guarded by a couple of the Lost Boys."

"Seriously?"

"Leroy is keeping watch."

"Shall we get on with it then?" Regina asked and she sighed as she glanced back at the door for a split second. "I'm uncertain if it's wise to leave her alone for very long. We all know what happened the last time she was left alone."

"Did you…secure her?"

"Like that turned out so well the last time. Of course I didn't," Regina snapped, mindful to keep her voice low. "Let's just get going. The sooner we deal with this, the sooner I can return home. I don't even know why I'm needed there. I'm useless without my magic."

"It's your vault," Ruby said and she started to walk down the pathway towards the gate, leading the way. "You should be there, magic or not."

Regina wordlessly followed Ruby down to the cruiser and got in the passenger seat. The drive to the cemetery was equally as quiet, only the radio, tuned to the only station Storybrooke was able to pick up outside the town line, played quietly. The sun started to rise over the horizon as Ruby parked the cruiser behind David's truck just ten feet from the vault. They exited the cruiser together and were greeted by David and Tink.

"Regina," David said with a nod. "We're just going to check it out and then go over the plan."

"Okay," Regina replied as she clasped her hands in front of her. "And what is the plan exactly?"

"We're going to sedate her. Heavily. We've secured a van to transport her and Blue and Astrid are going to be riding along in case the cuff fails to keep Lily's magic at bay."

Regina nodded and followed them to the entrance of the crypt. She then led the way down the stairs into her vault and to the room where her father's things had been kept for three decades. It was no longer an open room, but the entryway now closed in by bars, fortified by the dwarves and magicked by the fairies. Regina ran her fingers over the rough iron and turned to face the others standing behind her.

"How long are we keeping her down here for?" Regina asked, her question pointed directly to David. She rolled her eyes when nobody said a word. "Indefinitely?"

"For now."

"For now?" Regina asked incredulously. "How long until for now no longer works?"

"What do you want us to do, Regina?" David asked tiredly. "Kill her?"

Regina pursued her lips, fighting off the smirk that tried to slip out. "If you insist—"

"No!" Snow said as she pushed past the others gathered and stood at her husband's side. "We are not going to kill her, Regina!"

"So, we are keeping her locked up here indefinitely then?"

"Until we find a probable solution!" Snow yelled, her whole body shaking until David placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Nobody is killing anyone! Enough blood has been shed already. Do we really need to spill any more?"

Silence filled the corridor and all eyes were on Snow. Regina inhaled sharply and turned to the iron bars once again. It was all to familiar to another time in her life, resembling the look and feel of the cell that once held Rumplestiltskin just before she cast the dark curse. She clenched her fists and her jaw, turning back to the Charming's with an expressionless face.

"Let's get this over with, shall we?" Regina asked evenly. "If you are so sure she'll be safer here, shouldn't we get a move on that? Hmm?"

"We're not—"

"Killing her. No, I got the memo, Snow," Regina snapped. "She'll just spend the rest of her natural life locked up here in my vault."

"We will figure something out!" Snow said with desperation in her voice. "Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but we will figure something out!"

Regina stepped aside, clenching her fists tighter as Snow stepped forward. Snow's hand fell upon her shoulder and Regina fought the urge to immediately pull away. Snow gave her a partial smile before dropping her hand away.

"I don't know what we're going to do with Lily, but we will figure something out, something that doesn't affect any of us," she said softly. "This is our only option right now."

"Is it secure?" David asked and Blue stepped forward with a small nod. "Then we should head to the station and get on with this. Snow, honey, we shouldn't be very long."

"Okay," Snow smiled as he stepped forward. "Be careful."

"I will."

"I love you."

David smiled, stealing a small kiss. "And I love you."

Regina stepped aside as the others left leaving her and Snow alone together. She felt uneasy being alone with Snow and her thoughts were now drifting back to Emma, worried about what would happen if she should wake before she returned home. Emma had promised before she'd fallen asleep that she wouldn't go anywhere and as much as Regina wanted to take her word for it, she couldn't, not when she was as emotionally instable as she was.

Regina walked past Snow and through the corridor, stopping only when she reached the stairs. She sat down heavily and ran her fingers through her hair shakily. She sighed in annoyance when Snow took it upon herself to sit next to her on the stone step.

"Regina, we need to talk."

"Don't you think we have done plenty of that lately?" Regina asked. "You took her back to the one place she really should not be right now and thought nothing of it and all because you wanted to keep her out of my bed. Emma is a grown woman and her choices are her own. She doesn't need to be berated because of whom she chooses to—"

"I'm glad it's you."

"Excuse me?" Regina blinked and blinked again. "Did you just say that you are glad it's me?"

"You understand her completely, Regina. You…care for her and only want what is best for her. You are trying to help her and I think—no I know that if you weren't there for her right now, I don't know what would've happened or where she'd even be right now. She keeps slipping, we all know she does, but I honestly think that if it weren't for you, we would've lost her days ago."

"Not even twenty hours ago you were angry that she's been staying with me and now you're basically telling me that you believe that it's best that she's with me?"

"I'm trying to understand, I truly am, and I know you, Regina. I know that you wouldn't bring her in so willingly if you didn't…care for her."

"I love her."

"I know that you do."

"But you're not okay with the fact that I'm in love with her," Regina finished, feeling deflected at the frown she then received from Snow. "I cannot help the way that I've grown to feel for Emma. Things between us have never been anything short of complicated."

"But you are in love with her and she has been staying with you," Snow said and as a blush crept over her cheeks and she looked away, she added, "and she's been sharing your bed as well."

"As I said, things between Emma and I have never been anything short of complicated. I don't expect you to understand, Snow. I would also appreciate it if you would stop meddling."

"I'm not meddling! I'm just—fine," she groaned quietly and looked down at the floor, the blush deepening on her cheeks. "I just want to know if she's happy when she's with you."

"I like to think so, but she is grieving as am I. Happiness is not something that comes easily these days," Regina admitted softly. "It's barely been a week."

"Just promise me you won't hurt her."

"I'll give you my word that I will never intend to hurt her on purpose, Snow."

Snow smiled as she moved to lay a hand on Regina's shoulder, her touch hesitant before she moved to awkwardly hug her. Regina stiffened but didn't move away, allowing Snow her moment. She pulled back when they heard the sound of car doors opening and closing just outside and they rose from the steps as the sound of Ruby's voice echoed down into the vault.

Regina stood idly by, watching as David, with the aid of two Lost Boys Regina couldn't remember the names of, carried a heavily sedated and bound Lily down the stairs. Blue, Astrid and two other fairies followed with Tink coming in behind them and even though Regina couldn't feel magic anymore, she could see it happening before her very eyes. It was a protection spell of sorts, one that surrounded Lily, and one that prevented her from moving if she happened to wake.

Regina felt as if the whole ordeal was highly anti-climatic once Lily was in the cell and placed on the small mattress on the floor in the corner. Once she was the only one inside, Blue stepped forward to perform the last of the spell that would seal her inside indefinitely. As anti-climatic as it felt, the others didn't seem to feel that way as they began to file out of the vault, congratulating each other on a job well done.

"Regina?" Blue asked just as she turned to leave. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Yes, of course," Regina nodded.

"I know you've been without your magic since she took your essence from you," Blue said quietly, looking just over Regina's shoulder to make sure that they were alone. "I think I know how you can get it back. We know that she won't willingly cooperate with any of us, much less you, but I've been doing some extensive research and I think there is a way."

"I'm listening," Regina said softly, clutching at her stomach and trying in vain not to get her hopes up. "How can I get my magic back, Blue?"

"Emma."

[X]

Emma rolled over for the umpteenth time in the last half an hour, further tangling herself in the mess of sheets. She hadn't been able to fall back asleep, not after she'd woken up to find that Regina was no longer in bed with her. She smoothed her hands over the soft sheets next to her and buried her face into the pillow. She felt a gentle tingle running through her body, one she immediately recognized as the same one she felt whenever Regina was near, one that she hadn't felt until they'd spent hours making love a handful of days ago.

She pulled at the sheets, untangling herself and she stretched out languidly, her muscles protesting with a not so gentle remind of just how physically exhausted she was. She slipped out of bed and headed for the door, wearing nothing more than a pair of white cotton panties that were barely covered by the oversized soft blue t-shirt she'd worn to bed.

It was still early and when she stepped out of the bedroom, she didn't hear any voices so she knew that she and Regina were alone in the house. She was a guest, but it felt more like home to her than any place she'd ever spent some time in throughout her life. She realized through certain points during the night when she lay awake, unable to sleep, that it had felt like that for far longer than she wanted to admit.

She headed down the stairs quietly with the intoxicating smell of fresh coffee wafting through the air that immediately had her headed straight into the kitchen. She smiled a little at the sight of Regina standing by the coffeemaker, sipping from her mug slowly. When she turned to look at Emma, their eyes catching sight across the room, she smiled at her and motioned to the empty mug that was near her.

"Morning," Emma said quietly, her voice groggy as she grabbed the milk out of the fridge. "Did you go somewhere?"

"Good morning and yes, I did, dear."

"Oh."

"We relocated her," Regina said quietly as Emma poured herself some coffee. "Did you sleep well?"

"Not really," Emma replied, steading a shaking hand as she poured a little bit of milk into the mug. "Why did you relocate her so early?"

Regina was silent as Emma turned to look at her. She knew that talking about Lily was a very touchy subject for both of them and for a multitude of reasons. She didn't miss the lingering sweep of Regina's eyes over her body and she picked up the jug of milk and headed back over to the fridge to put it away.

After spending a few days being intimate, stealing kisses whenever they simply felt like it, Emma wondered why things felt suddenly so different. She walked back over to stand next to Regina and she picked up her mug of coffee, blowing over the top as she let her eyes wander.

"Emma?"

"Hmm?"

"Blue told me something this morning that you need to be aware of."

"Oh?"

Regina nodded and placed her mug down with a sigh. "She believes to know how I can get my magic back, but it is rather complicated."

"How complicated are we talking?"

"It's not just complicated, but risky as well."

"And you're willing to take the risk?" Emma asked and Regina just stared at her, expressionless. Emma sighed, put her mug down next to Regina's, and crossed her arms over her chest. "How big of a risk are we talking about here, Regina?"

"Moderate," she replied. "Don't worry, it's nothing that can kill either of us."

"What?" Emma asked. "You said either of us. Is Lily—"

"No," Regina said and she inhaled sharply. "You."

"Me? What?"

"You are going to help me get my magic back. It's difficult to explain, but you are the only one powerful enough to do the spell. That is," Regina said, her voice softening, "if you want to."

Emma opened her mouth to speak, but she wasn't sure what to say. While she wanted to help Regina in any way she could to get her magic back, she was unsure if she could do what would be required to help her. Regina hadn't asked her either, she told her she was going to help her, and Emma being in the state of mind that she was in, started drawing conclusions in her mind that she knew had no business being there in the first place.

Regina looked completely vulnerable and Emma was struggling to come up with something to say, anything at all, but the words didn't come easily and her mind was still spinning off in a tangent. So much had already happened in such a small span of time and it felt to her that everything was closing in on her, hitting her hard all at once.

"Emma?"

She blinked as Regina reached out for her hands. She noticed then the tears Regina was holding back and she frowned. "I'm sorry, I—"

"You don't want to help me, do you?"

"I do!" Emma back-peddled and gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. "I do. I just—I'm not sure if I can do it, Regina. I'm emotionally unstable. You know that better than anyone. Something is bound to go wrong if I try to do this for you."

"I suppose you're right."

"There has to be another way, Regina. If there is, we'll find it."

"The only other way is for Lily to give it back to me, but she won't cooperate of course, not without trying to negotiate terms for her release."

"What if it doesn't work?" Emma asked. "What are the risks?"

"You might lose your magic, or some of it if it fails. I on the other hand could be rendered unconscious for a time. There's no telling. Blue wasn't entirely specific on the grounds that it will fail at all. The risks are guess-work at best."

"What if the risks are higher than you think?"

"Then they are," Regina replied and she pulled her hands away from Emma's with a scoff. "I do not expect you to understand how this feels for me, Emma. I have had magic for much of my life and this emptiness, along with a broken heart, it is just too much to bear for much longer."

Emma knew it was more than the loss of her magic and she also knew that finding a way to give it back to her wouldn't feel the void she felt. She knew because she felt that void too, the one that had been filled when Henry had been alive. Nothing would fill that void, not in the way their son had. Not even their relationship, as changing as it was, would fill that void.

"You've been coping well," Emma said softly and Regina scoffed again.

"I appear to have been coping well because I have been looking after you."

"I don't need you to look after me!"

"Emma—"

"We're both broken right now," Emma continued and when Regina turned to walk away, she grabbed her by the hips and forced her to face her. "We are both broken and hurting and we're here for one another. That's what this is, that's what it was from the moment you brought me here and cuffed me to the spare bed."

"Emma, the reason you are—"

"I'm here because I'm dangerous and you're the only one who can reach out to me," Emma finished for her and she kept her hands on Regina's hips, firmly but not roughly. "When I'm with you, I feel so many things, but I feel more in control when I'm touching you than I do when we're apart and there is a part of me that is so afraid to be away from you now for even just a small period of time. I'm here because it's more than me being dangerous to myself and others, Regina. I—I can choose to forget all the other things I feel and focus on how you make me feel when I'm with you."

Emma inhaled sharply as she watched Regina's soulful eyes widen in slight surprise at her admittance she had voiced so easily that it surprised herself too. Regina glanced down at the minimal amount of space between them and she slowly ran her fingertips over Emma's hands still resting on her hips.

"I think you feel like you're completely useless not being able to use magic and I can't even begin to understand how that feels for you, but you're not useless, Regina. You could never be useless," Emma whispered, licking over her lips as she felt Regina's hands begin a slow ascent up her arms. She licked over her lips as Regina's eyes met hers once more. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what will happen if we try this because I don't know how to control the dark magic that is inside of me. I'm afraid that something will happen to you. We've already lost Henry, I've nearly lost myself, and I don't—I can't lose you."

"I trust you, Emma. You don't need to be afraid," she said softly and she lifted a hand to cup Emma's cheek gently. "I can help you with your dark magic, but I can't do that if I have none of my own. I can help you learn to control it."

"Like that's worked so well in the past," Emma laughed dryly and upon Regina's pointed look, she stopped. "Do you really trust me?"

"With my life," Regina replied confidently.

They shared a small smile between them before Emma leaned forward first and captured Regina's lips with her own in a soft yet sure kiss. It lingered for a moment, both women indulging in the intimacy of the moment and the kiss itself and it was Emma who ended the kiss.

"Then I'll help you. I'll do whatever it takes. We're going to get your magic back, Regina."