A/N: Short one, I'm afraid, but more to come very soon! (Basically... after drinks). Also! As I do not procrastinate NEARLY enough, I have created a tumblr for requested short blurbs and art. In no way am I telling you this because I'm good at drawing, but if you wanted to have a look/ reblog/ share/ give me a request, I would really appreciate it :) It's under spookshowbabyx (link on my profile here) , and I just made a 'front cover' (we'll call it that...) for this fic :). Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter, more to come, and please review :)


"Are you alright, dear?"

The brunette pants as she leans against the smoke smudged wall of the corridor and tries to catch her breath. Emma simply nods; doubled over and attempting much the same while Snow pats her nervously on the back. Regina bites her lip- worried that relying on the Sheriff to protect all three of them had been a mistake- but they don't have time for such luxuries right now.

And besides; they've made it. With difficulty, and with a momentary scare when the curious shield the blonde had thrown over them in order to enter the building had faltered, but they've made it inside, and while smoke sits cloyingly in the air, they are safe from flames in this section of the Palace at least.

Finally, the younger woman straightens up and offers a slightly more sincere sign of the affirmative.

"Yeah, I'm ok."

Regina offers a tight smile and takes this as a sign to continue on; taking the lead while the others follow on behind. Hesitating, Mary Margaret throws the Sheriff a peculiar look, croaking slightly

"I... I didn't know... You can do magic?"

"Apparently."

"I... I don't understand..."

"Yeah... Me neither... Guess I've found out all sorts of things about myself on this little trip."

The younger woman looks swiftly up at the ceiling as the Queen struggles to hide a knowing smile despite their current circumstances, and mutters that they should get a move on.

Wise words, as lack of flames aside; the temperature is creeping dangerously close to unbearable. Still, in her discomfort, the Fair Queen frowns as she follows the others; confused by the blonde's attire, but only in a vague, weary sense. Her primary concern is what it reveals, and she nips at her lip anxiously as she assesses skinny legs from behind. She wouldn't have thought the time they have spent away from the merciful comfort of home- however faux such a notion had been- would allow for such a dramatic change, unless the conditions since then have been especially extreme. Supposing she can't argue with what's right in front of her, she swallows nervously as her gaze flickers to the gashes that line the younger woman's inner arms.

"You told me you would look after her..."

It is a low mutter, and she realises she hadn't entirely made up her mind over whether she should express such a thing out loud until the decision is made moot. Either way, both women pause- first Emma, and then the Queen- and turn to face her.

"What did you say?"

The blonde asks, and, while her tone is deceptively light, Snow recognises the look the Sheriff gives her as one used seldomly but effectively back in their cosy little apartment back home. That 'you better take a second to think about if you really want to go there' look that promises its recipient that they most likely did not want to go there, lest things turn nasty. The raven headed woman is not to be so easily deterred; seeing not just her housemate, but her daughter now... And her daughter currently sports bloodied lips and a general, really rather concerning mask of ill-health.

"You gave me your word..."

Mary Margaret continues, looking past the blonde to find Regina's dark gaze; her mind inwardly questioning why she would go and cause a rift now, at zero hour, but she her heart is struck with a protective pain that she has no idea how to deal with.

"I-"

But the Sheriff interrupts the brunette; all lightness in her voice gone, as she growls fiercely

"You have no idea what you're talking about. You think this is Regina's fault? I set the fire, I got us into trouble, and I made it so that we're having to run now... So don't you talk to her like that. You-"

"-We do not have time for this right now."

The darker woman interjects warningly; surprising herself as she is able to see the woods for the trees despite Snow's comment being- in her eyes- hatefully predictable. But, then, she sees what the Fair Queen sees- what Emma does not for lack of a mirror- and, while she knows she has done what she can, she imagines the fair woman's reaction is born simply from the unwelcome shock of the situation that she herself had needed Ursula to point out in order make her see it clearly.

She sees what the Sea Witch has reduced the blonde to.

Emma shakes her head, throwing the brunette a brief glance before turning back to her mother.

"No, we do. This is important. We have time to make something very clear... Without Regina I would probably be... She's done more to try and help me- to help us- than I can say right now... Perhaps more than I can ever explain. I am not a child, and I do not need to be 'looked after'... Regardless... If that's what you wanted of her; she did her best..."

The blonde assures, and Snow is relieved to find that despite the clear agitation in the younger woman's voice, there is little anger, and she looks from Emma to Regina wearily.

"Oh... I-... I'm sorry, I just..."

"I understand... For many things, I never will, but for this I will accept your apology... Miss Swan is right; I did my best."

The darker woman nods, pointing towards a door at the end of the hallway in which they stand and carrying on with a greater sense of purpose to her tone.

"Now come, this isn't the time for a heart to heart. As discussed, I tried my damnedest to keep your daughter's backside out of the fire, and would prefer it to not all be in vain!"

Brave words, and they need to be, because her heart is hammering away to an idiot rhythm inside her chest as they make their way towards the ominous doors to the Witch's lair.

"Are you ready, Miss Swan?"

No waver to her voice, and for that, they are all grateful.

"As I'll ever be..."

"Emma, are you sure you can-"

Mary Margaret: no argument, but simply fear.

"-I have to. My magic works down here... Regina's doesn't. Don't ask me how or why, it just is the way it is... And I owe her this... Without Regina, there's a good chance we'd be, well, sleeping with the fishes right now."

The brunette rolls her eyes- despite the small skip of her heart at the younger woman's words- deciding that the blonde may never cease to cause this affect in her, before the door she lays her hand against is yanked swiftly open, and the charred remains of the Sea Queen's face swim into view.

"Well, isn't that just touching, little one..."