Hello again. I'd like to start off by saying I'm sorry for some issues with the last chapter. I usually proof read, but I was so tired I had forgotten and so there were some mistakes. Also, I had forgotten the trigger warning. Please forgive me.

For this chapter, I already know some of you will be upset, but please trust me, what happens needs to be done and all will be okay. I promise.

***Trigger warning for self harm***

Read~Enjoy~Review

Chapter 29

Emma left the mansion and let her feet take her where they would. She ended up in the woods that surrounded Storybrooke. Finding a stream, she sat upon a fallen log and watched the water flow. Emma felt that familiar itch in her skin, the itch that in the past, would only be relieved by cutting herself - something she didn't feel guilty not telling her parents, as she was sure they didn't tell her everything. Emma took her jacket off, hoping the cool air on her skin would help take the edge off. Re-opening the emotional scars of her past was hard for her - especially the part she had to skip over. With out even thinking or realizing what she was doing, she found a rock that had a sharp edge to it. Her relief came as swirls of red now flowed down the stream.

Regina and the Charming's had lunch and talked more of the election. Regina could tell David and Snow were waiting for Emma to come home before they left. To be honest, Regina was worried herself. Something felt off and everything inside of her told her it was Emma.

"Will you please excuse me?"

Regina left the room and tried calling Emma's phone. Her heart sunk when she heard it ringing upstairs, meaning she didn't have it with her. As soon as she hung up, her phone rang and she looked at it. It was Mal, so Regina answered.

"Regina? I have Emma. You should probably come over, but don't bring Henry, or her parents."

"Mal? What's wrong?" Regina hated the worry in Mal's voice - feeding her own worry.

"Our strong girl had a moment of weakness. Just please come, but Regina...I know I don't have to tell you this, but don't judge her."

Regina swallowed as she started packing up her purse. "I never would. I'll be there."

Regina hung up the phone and turned - seeing the Charmings. Snow had a look that Regina knew meant leaving without them would be close to impossible.

"Snow I..."

"I'm coming."

"Please. Mal doesn't think it's a good idea." Regina knew that would hurt, but she had to be honest. She went to Snow and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please Snow. She's been through so much and something happened and if we want her to be okay, we can't overwhelm her. Believe me, I know it's hard and if Mal said for you to go and me to stay, I'd be feeling the same way. But I'd know that we had to do what we had to do to help her so that she doesn't go further into herself and away from us."

David put an arm around his wife. "She's right. Go, Regina, We'll take care of Henry, you take care of our daughter."

Mal put the phone down and looked over at Belle tending to Emma's arms. Emma barely noticed as she sat in a daze. Maleficent came to sit by Emma, but the blonde jumped and moved away, hugging herself.

"Oh Princess. My sweet girl. Come back to us."

"She acts like she doesn't know us." Belle stated, worried.

"She doesn't. At least not right now. If I were to guess, I'd say our Emma has locked herself away and this is a slightly younger terrified Emma."

Mal explained to Belle about some of Emma's life and how she had been reliving it by telling her parents. Emma moved to a chair in front of the window and rocked back and forth as she looked out of it.

Regina came in and went to go to Emma, but Mal stopped her.

"Regina wait. She's not herself."

The brunette hated it, but she let Mal take her to the kitchen.

"What happened? Why is she here?"

"I found her. I was in the woods, stretching my wings when I heard screams of such sadness. I knew it was Emma and I went to her. She was cutting herself with a rock and sobbing. Regina, it was heartbreaking. I went to her and she panicked, she didn't know who I was, Regina, she still doesn't. I brought her here and Belle was able to calm her and cleaned her up, but Regina, it's like she's a terrified little girl again."

Regina listened, her heart breaking for her Emma. Her voice was barely a whisper. "It was too much too soon. What do we do?"

"Be patient. Remind her who she is. This is bigger than us, Regina. As much as I hate to admit it, we can't help her the way she needs it. She needs professional help, help we can't give her."

"She won't go, Mal. There's a history with therapists and psych wards and she won't go."

Mal sighed and took Regina's hand. "She has to. She can't keep being strong only to break."

"I know. I'll find the best for her."

"Go try and talk to her, but be cautious."

Regina nodded and went out be Emma. She saw the new marks, the fear in Emma's face, the saddness, the pain, and it was almost too much.

"Emma, my love?"

Emma looked at Regina and Regina could see those green eyes trying to place how she knew this woman. Her Emma, trying to break through. Regina went to cup her cheek and saw the woman recoil within herself and flinch away.

"Emma. Baby. You're safe." Regina knelt down in front of the blond. "I've got you. Emma please come back to me again. I'm here and I've got you."

Emma's eyes filled with tears and she gasped as if coming up for air from under deep, deep water. She threw her arms around Regina and sobbed. She couldn't help or stop it, she just broke down and sobbed. True to her word, Regina had her, held her, cried with her. She rubbed her back and used her magic to try and calm Emma.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't stop myself. I'm so sorry."

Regina looked at Emma and wiped her tears. She hated how Emma felt ashamed. This was deeper than her.

"My love, don't apologize for something you can't always control."

"I have to. You didn't ask for this, Regina. You didn't apply for the job of taking care of a broken idiot."

"Emma stop. You didn't ask for it either. You didn't ask to be broken by people who were supposed to love and protect you. I love you. All of you. But Emma, I can only do so much."

Emma sniffed. She knew this was coming. It always happened and she couldn't blame Regina for this.

"I know, and I've pushed you too far. I'm sure my parents will let me stay with them. Don't worry, I understand. I as stupid for thinking I could change..."

"Emma...I'm not...you're mine, Emma and I'm yours. I love you and I am not giving up on you or throwing you away. Baby you belong with me, and I with you. But you need help. Not because you're weak or crazy." Regina slid her hands down Emma's arms. "But because you're hurt. With as much pain as you've had, you don't know how to deal with it. My God, Emma, no one would. Most wouldn't be as strong as you've been. But there are people who can help you, help you deal with all this hurt and pain. Help you be happy, truly happy as you deserve."

"But Regina, they don't help. They hurt...they only hurt..."

Regina held Emma, seeing panic building in her eyes.

"Not all do, my love. I promise, we'll find the best of the best. Baby, please listen to me. I only want to help you."

"I trust you, but what if I can't be helped?" That was Emma's biggest fear. That what was wrong with her, was something she would never be rid of.

"You can be, and you will be. You'll be happy."

"Will I have to go somewhere?"

Emma's fear made her voice sound so small and Regina's chest tightened.

"Probably. But I'll make sure it's the best and I'll be sure it's a place I can visit and they will let you call out. You won't be alone, my love, you'll never be alone again."

Emma chewed her lip, everything inside her told her to run, that running would be better than going to another institution. But this was Regina, Her Regina. She would never betray her. She looked at her arms and hated herself, hated that she gave in. Her stomach was doing flips and she felt dizzy.

"I need the bathroom."

Emma got up and rushed to the bathroom, emptying the content of her stomach. Regina sighed and went to follow her, but Mal stopped her.

"Give her time, Reg. There's nothing in that bathroom she can hurt herself with. You're getting through to her, just give her time."

Regina looked at her friend and nodded before hugging her tight and letting out her tears.

"I've got you, Regina. I've got you. Just like Emma, you're never alone either."

Emma splashed water on her face and hissed as some of it burned her cuts. She looked at herself in the mirror and was shocked at what she saw. She was so pale, her cuts so red. "You're an idiot, Swan. But you'd be a bigger idiot if you didn't do this. Think of Henry, of Regina. Hell, think of yourself. Regina's right, you deserve to be happy."

The blonde came out and saw Regina crying in Mal's arms and instantly felt guilty. She did that - she caused Regina more pain.

"I'll go."

Everyone looked at her, surprised but relieved.

"I'll go. I can't keep hurting you or anyone else. I'll go and I'll get better. I promise Regina, I'll get better and I'll come home to you and you won't have to take care of me or be scared. I promise, Regina, I promise."

Regina went to Emma and held her tight.

"Just go and get better, Emma. For yourself, not for anyone else but for yourself. Learn how to be happy and the rest will fall into place. I love you no matter what, and I only want you happy."

Maleficent came over and hugged Emma as well. She had such a kind smile and Emma knew she cared about her too.

"Let my little prince stay here tonight. You two research the best places. And Emma?" Mal took Emma's arms. "I never want to see this again. When you come back, when you're happy and starting fresh, I'll heal all your scars, get rid of them all, but only after you've healed the emotional ones."

Emma looked at Maleficent, eyes filled with guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that you had to deal with me."

Maleficent shook her head and pulled Emma into another hug. "I'm glad I'm the one who found you. I love you, Princess. We all just want you happy. You do know that, right? We're not sending you away at all, we're sending you to find your happiness so you can come back and be a goofy Charming like you're supposed to be."

At that, Emma laughed. It was a soft, quiet laugh, but a laugh none-the-less. Regina rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Emma is not a goofy Charming. She's my goofy Swan."

Emma smiled, never before had people cared so much after she hurt herself. Usually she was lectured, yelled at, and then sent away. But this was different. These people loved and cared about her. Then she thought of her parents and bit her lip.

"They're going to think it's there fault, but it's not. But...I don't know how to tell them."

Regina ran her fingers through Emma's hair. "You be honest. You tell them it was too much, but not their fault. You tell them you thought you were stronger than you were and then you tell them you're getting help. If they want to feel guilty after you tell them it's not their fault, that's there issue. To be honest, they probably will feel guilty, but that's not something you need to worry about. You worry about you, for once in your life, you worry about you."

Regina used her magic to go get Henry and a bag, she told the Charming's she would be bringing Emma home, but not to expect too much talking. After Emma hugged and cuddled Henry and handed him to Mal, Regina put her arm around Emma and took her home. Emma was exhausted, but her parents were so full of concern and she couldn't just leave them. She explained what happened, apologized over and over and cried some more. She normally tried to stay strong, but she felt so weak. Her parents felt horrible and made a fuss over her until Emma politely asked them to give her some space.

"I love you guys, I already know that I do, and I'm sorry for what I did, but the more fuss you make over me, the more guilty I feel. Regina and I are going to find a place for me to get help. A place that won't hurt me."

Snow and David looked at each other. It was hard for them to not have a say in it, but at the same time, they couldn't argue with the fact that their daughter needed help. "We love you, Emma. We will help in any way we can. We'll leave you two at it, but I know you usually do these things fast, so please say good bye before you go."

Emma nodded and hugged them, promising to say good bye before she left. The two left and Regina got out her laptop.

"I'm sorry you're having to do this, Regina. I know you have the mayoral election and all that."

"Emma please, this is more important." Regina bit her lip. "In fact, I'm starting to think I may not run in the race."

Emma's heart dropped. "No. You're running, Regina. Gold cannot run this town and I will not be the reason you don't run."

"Gold would not run this town. I was actually thinking of nominating your mother instead. It's not only because of this, Emma, but because when you come back, I want us to be a family. I want to spend time with you and Henry."

Emma sighed. "Regina, you know that you can't just sit around. Even with Henry and I here. And my mother...I'm not quite sure she'd have what it takes. Regina, I want you to promise me that you will run, you will win, and I'll come home to my sexy Mayor."

Regina looked at Emma, a small smile on her face. "Okay. I'll promise that if you promise that you'll take this help seriously. That you'll focus on you, do this for you, and become the person you were meant to be."

Emma nodded and held her hand out. Regina took it and they both said; "I promise"

The two spent the next few hours doing research. There were a lot of places for people with addictions, but not so many with people with emotional issues. However, after calling Archie for terminology and advice, they realized that what Emma had could be classified as PTSD, and that opened more doors. They looked up a hospital in Cape Elizabeth Maine that Archie had suggested. It was beautiful and looked more like a resort than a hospital. The pictures of the doctors seemed nice and Emma chewed her lip as she read what they had to offer. She'd have access to phones - 24/7, she'd have her own room, around the clock therapy available, Regina would be able to visit once a month - depending how long she was there. That's where Emma got scared, she didn't think about how long she'd be gone.

"Regina, what if I have to stay for a long time?"

Regina was nervous herself, but didn't show the blonde. "You'll stay until you're better, Emma. And no matter how long you stay, I'll be here waiting. I'll bring Henry on visits and we'll talk every day. Emma this place looks amazing. I honestly can't find anything wrong with it. Should we call? We don't have to commit to anything, we can do a visit."

"What if they won't let us?"

"Then we'll find a place that does."

Emma nodded and picked up the phone. She called the number and was surprised that someone was working this late. With a deep breath, she started stating what she was looking for. The woman on the other end was kind and told Emma she didn't have to explain everything right now, that Archie had already called her and that Emma's history made her a perfect patient for them. They set up a visit the next day and the woman told her to pack a suite case, because if she liked it, it would be best to start right away.

Emma hung up the phone and looked at Regina. "This is for the best, right?"

Regina saw the fear, she admired Emma's bravery so much. Standing, Regina pulled Emma close to her. "It's for the best, Emma. It's for you. I've already packed your bag with magic, I don't want to waste any time together. Tonight, I want to simply be with you - hold you, comfort you, and tomorrow, we will go, check it out and decide what you want."

Emma held Regina. Even though she was taller, she felt as if Regina's arms protected her from everything. Resting her head on Regina's shoulders, Emma fully gave in. "I don't want to bring Henry. If I stay, it will be too hard to say good bye. I'll say good bye in the morning, say good bye to my parents and then we can go. It's only a couple hours away."

Emma was talking out loud more-so to comfort herself than anything. Regina let her, she didn't know how long it would be before she could hold the blonde and listen to her rambling. "What ever you want, my love."

Emma looked at her, a new concern. "What about the curse? Can we cross?"

Regina had already thought of that. "Yes. Because I cast it, I can cross and because you weren't part of it, you can cross. Henry can cross, but..your parents...they..."

"They won't be able to visit."

"I'll talk to them, we'll tell them your parents are homebound and I'm sure they'll let you skype or something. Don't worry, I'll work it all out."

Emma looked at Regina with a smile and kissed her softly. "Tell me the truth, Regina. Do you feel more like my mother than my lover?"

Regina shook her head. "I love you and would do anything for you. Sure, a mother would too, but believe me, you are my lover. I know our age is...well distant, but Emma, I don't look at you and see a child. I see a woman, a woman I love very much."

"Good. Because the way I think of you is totally not a way a daughter should think about a mother." Emma laughed a real laugh, as did Regina. Emma kissed Regina again and let it linger. "I doubt we'll get conjugal visits, Regina..."

Regina smirked and pulled Emma closer. "Then we better take advantage of tonight."

Emma smiled, glad that her incident didn't stop Regina from wanting to be with her. Regina seemed to read Emma's mind and took her hand, heading up the stairs.

"Come on, my Swan. Let me love you like you should be loved."

The two went upstairs and in seconds from closing the door they were in the bed, tangled into each other. Regina wanted Emma to feel loved, she kissed her neck and rubbed her back as she laid her down. Using magic, because she also had needs, she undressed them both and started kissing down Emma's body. She kissed her chest before taking one of her breasts in her mouth, sucking lightly. Emma moaned and arched her back, her hands running along Regina's body. Regina kissed back up to Emma's mouth and as Emma allowed her tongue access, her fingers found Emma's feminine lips and opened them. Gently, she slid two fingers inside her, stroking her walls. Emma moaned more, her legs opening for Regina. The blonde gyrated her hips in time with Regina's fingers. Regina watched Emma, watched as the pleasure took over her. Emma tried keeping her eyes on those amber eyes of her lover, but she had to close them as her orgasm hit.

After a few moments of recovery, Emma kissed Regina, moving so that she was on top. She knew this was new for Regina, but Regina let it happen. Regina would only let Emma be on top, because for once, she was in love. Love sex was so much better than any other kind of sex. Emma had a craving that only Regina could satisfy. She kissed down that perfect body and tasted what it was she had been waiting for. Sliding her tongue around Regina's clit, she paid attention to what Regina responded to and made sure she repeated those actions. Regina was surprised how Emma was getting her so hot with only her tongue, her very skilled tongue. Regina couldn't stop herself, she buried her fingers in the blond hair and pulled Emma closer to her. Emma didn't fight it, she'd do anything for Regina. She could feel Regina tensing and nipped at her clit, sending her lover over the edge.

The two lay in bed, just gazing at each other for hours before Emma finally let out a yawn.

"Sleep, my Princess. This night will be in my memory forever."

Emma smiled sleepily and cuddled into Regina. The two fell asleep together and didn't move away from each other the whole night. All worries were gone for now, they could wait until the morning. Regina hated that Emma had to go, but knew she needed the help. Emma was hoping this would work and that she wouldn't be broken forever.