So sorry for the wait! I actually had to rewrite this chapter because it wasn't coming out the way I intended and I ended up changing it the last minute. Thank you for your patience and Enjoy!

Chapter 18 One Step at a Time

The next morning Emma woke up to an empty bed. It was early enough where not even Mary Margaret was up getting ready for work yet. She sat up wondering where her girlfriend had gone. Stretching out her back, she stood and padded over to the kitchen in socked feet. There she found her, sitting at the breakfast bar and nursing a cup of tea. She was holding an ice pack to her ribs.

She went over to her, hugging her from behind and kissing her cheek. Regina stiffened at first but then melted into the embrace. She turned and kissed her lips before pulling away and giving her an eskimo kiss. Emma giggled at the adorableness. Who knew Regina Mills can be such a softy.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, pulling away and going around the counter to make some coffee. Might as well since she needed to be up soon to head to the station.

"My mother texted me last night. She's upset that I left my husband and wants me to call her."

"Are you kidding me?" Emma asked, anger for the woman that practically sold her daughter into this marriage flaring up inside her. "Does she know what he did?"

"She says I'm exaggerating and that I should be grateful he's given me a comfortable life."

"Comfortable my ass," she muttered, placing the coffee pot into the machine a little too roughly.

"She wants me to go back to him."

Emma looked at her and she could see the deep anguish that her mother had brought. She hasn't even met her yet and already knew she was cruel. What kind of childhood did Regina have living under her mother's roof?

She reached over the counter and took Regina's hand in hers. She reached out and caressed her cheek, coaxing her to look at her.

"You don't need her approval. She wants you to live in fear at the hands of a man who abuses you, all for what? Status? Comfort? Obviously she doesn't care for your happiness."

Regina took the hand that was on her cheek and kissed it.

"I don't know why I care so much," she whispered.

"She's your mother, of course you do."

"You know raising Henry, my greatest fear was that I'll be just like her. There were times where I was too strict with him, especially when he started running away."

"I've never met your mother but I have a pretty good idea," Emma told her as she pulled out a mug from the cabinet and poured coffee into it. She mixed some milk and sugar and took an appreciative sip before continuing. "You are nothing like her. You love him more than anything. Can you say that about your mother with you?"

Regina shook her head, memories of her mother's harsh lessons and punishments flashing through her mind. She wasn't physically abusive, but she did struck her on a rare occasion. She always toyed with her emotions and was manipulative. She made her feel like she was worth nothing. She always told her love was weakness and she needed to marry for power. Marrying Leopold was probably the only thing she ever got her approval on even if it was forced. The one time she had ever told her she was proud of her was on her wedding day.

"Mary Margaret's mother Eva saw the way she treated me. They were always fighting about that. She was more of a mother to me than Cora. When I was little I used to pretend they were my family when I would go over." Regina shook her head in disbelief. "It's kind of sick that I ended up taking her place. There was a time that I had looked up to Leo as a father or uncle like role model. I'd never thought I'd be his wife."

"Was he abusive… to her?" Emma asked curiously, wondering if Leo had always been violent.

Regina shook her head.

"She got sick. Her death changed him and our families were no longer friends. It didn't keep Mary Margaret and I apart though."

They heard movement from up in the loft and the sound of Mary Margaret waking Henry for school. They exchanged a look, knowing they should end the conversation on Eva. They didn't want to upset the younger woman.

"Are you going to call her?" Emma asked, taking another sip of coffee.

"Maybe later," she said and then frowned at the next question she was about to ask. She wasn't sure if Emma would agree to it. "Can I go to the station with you? I need to talk to Graham about his involvement in all of this."

"Are you sure?" she asked, concern flashing in her green eyes. "Leopold might be in the office today."

"I know, but this is something I need to do."

Emma nodded, knowing exactly what this was about. Graham had been sulking in his grief and regret since Regina had left Leopold. This was a long overdue confrontation and there also needed to be consequences.

"Good morning," Mary Margaret came in at that moment, helping herself to some coffee. Emma and Regina smiled at each other. It was time the school teacher knew about them if she hasn't already figured it out. They'd plan on talking to Henry about it separately.

"Hey, so we need to tell you something," Emma's voice shook nervously. Mary Margaret looked at her with amusement shining in her eyes.

"Are you trying to tell me you're together because I already know," she laughed as Emma turned red. Regina smirk in satisfaction.

"How?" she asked, surprised.

"Well you guys cuddle."

"I do not!" Regina gasped.

"She's the little spoon," Emma deadpanned and Regina sent her a mock glare.

"The way you two look at each other, I can see how much you lov… care about each other," Mary Margaret caught herself. "David looks at me that way. It wasn't hard to guess."

"Henry doesn't know yet. We plan to tell him after school if you don't mind not mentioning it to him," Regina requested.

"Of course," she smiled.

They had got to the station just in time before Graham took off for his morning patrol. He was surprised to see Regina. She was leaning heavily into Emma as the deputy helped her into his office and onto a chair. He realized was still in pain.

"Regina?" he questioned, puzzled as to what was going on. He took a seat at his desk, gathering that she wanted to talk.

"I'm going on patrol for you," Emma informed him. "If he comes through that door, call me immediately. I'm trusting you here Graham."

He nodded, pleading with her with his eyes that Regina will be safe. If it was up to her, she'd be standing outside that door, but Regina refused to have her standing guard. She insisted she'll be fine and Emma had no choice but to respect her wishes.

Once she was gone with patrol car keys in hand, Regina looked at the man who had turned his back on her for years while her husband brutalized her.

"Regina, I…"

"I don't want anymore apologies Graham. I want to know what your plan is. You had a hand in all of this and you can't believe you'll get away with it because you played hero for one night. We both know if Emma hadn't convinced you, I would've been in handcuffs and going back to him."

He sighed, completely tied up here although he knew what had to be done.

"I'm actually going to turn myself in," he confessed. "Once I promote Emma to sheriff. With her in charge, Leopold will never have his hands in the station again."

"That isn't going to make any of this better."

"Nothing will," he whispered, his voice full of so much grief it made Regina sick to the stomach. Where was this grief and humanity when he watched Leopold strike her more than once. When he beat her in front of him and he literally turned his back on her because he couldn't watch.

"Enough," she practically snarled at him, her eyes blazing. "You have no right to feel sorry for yourself, not when you…" she stopped, taking a breath as she tried to control the overwhelming anger bubbling inside her. "You turned your back on me. You watched him hurt me and you never stopped him. Each time I ran you brought me right back to him. So you can continue this little pity party. You can play hero for one night and you can quit your job, but it will never change anything. You will never have my forgiveness."

She stood then, ignoring the pain in her ribs in favor of her dignity, and intending to leave.

"Regina wait," Graham stood and grabbed her arm without thinking. She froze, her mind instantly going back to a time where a touch like this meant she was in trouble. She remembered Leopold's tight grip on her arm and the feeling of his fist teaching her a lesson. She started shaking like a leaf in his grip.

Graham realized the sudden fear that washed over her and instantly let go.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, kicking himself for being so careless. Regina stepped back, looking at him as if he was the one who had beat her for over ten years. She looked at him as if he were a monster. As if he were Leopold. "Regina?"

Her breaths were labored and she was still trembling. She swallowed hard and shoved her shaking hands in her coat pockets, a habit she's picked up over the past recent months.

"Don't ever grab me like that again," she said shakily, trying to ground herself.

He held his hands up in surrender.

"Do you want me to take you home?" he asked.

"No, I'll walk," she stubbornly refused. She decided to head to Grannies and tell Emma to meet her there after her patrol.

"But your ribs?"

"Don't act like you suddenly care."

"I'm not acting," he insisted. "Look, you really think you're going to walk all the way to Grannies with broken ribs?"

"I've done it before!" she snapped back at him, her temper flaring. He looked at her in defeat, not knowing how to respond to that. All he could do was watch her walk out of the station.

Regina was in agony when she finally made it to Grannies. She tried not to show her annoyance when Ruby automatically saw her and ushered her into a booth. After ordering some coffee and sending Emma a text to come get her, she decided it was time she finally called her mother. Her heart hammered in her chest as she listened to it ring. She prayed her mother wouldn't answer. To her dismay Cora picked up on the third ring.

"Explain," her cold voice sounded in Regina's ear and she tried so hard to not let her voice shake.

"What is there to explain mother? He was beating me for years since we were married."

"Oh! You're just exaggerating!" she snapped. "Nothing ever makes you happy. He gave you your freedom, a house, and money. What more do want from him."

"I was never free," she protested, her voice shaking with fury. She hardly even noticed Emma coming in and sitting across from her in the booth. It wasn't until she felt a warm hand on hers did she finally look up into green questioning eyes. "He took a fist to me every damn day! He kicked me until my ribs broke and I was spitting up blood. He had me arrested each time I ran! He rap…" She couldn't even finish those last words and felt Emma squeezing her hand in silent reassurance. "How can you tell me to go back to that man?"

Cora scoffed in disgust and Regina felt tears welling up in eyes. She held them in and buried her emotions deep down so that all she felt was anger and rage for the woman who called herself her mother.

"You threw away your marriage! A life of wealth and comfort just because he was a little rough with you. My god child, you're ruining your life!"

"My life was already ruined," she growled out and she could see the anger and disbelief flashing in Emma's eyes. "I'm no longer that scared child that married an old man. I deserve better than this mother. Don't you want me to be happy… to be safe?" Those last words came out as a whisper. Her mother hesitated to answer and she felt the tears streaming down her face. Emma stood and went around to sit next to her. She leaned in her embrace as Emma pulled her into her side and placed a kiss on her hair.

"I'm coming over to talk some sense into you," Cora decided. Regina jerked up from Emma's hold so suddenly she nearly bonked her in the nose.

"No!" she cried. "I do not need you here while I'm already going through the divorce!"

"Nonsense, I'll be there in a few days."

"Mother!" she cried furiously but all she got was the click of her mother hanging up. She dropped her phone to the table and looked up at Emma with tear filled eyes.

"What a bitch," the deputy stated.

"You don't even know what she said," she laughed through tears and Emma pulled her back against her. She couldn't stop the sobs from shaking her body and all she could do was let Emma hold her.

"From the sound of your replies and the tears streaming down your face, I don't need to."

"She thinks I ruined my life. She wants me to go back to him," she shook her head in disbelief and Emma pulled away to look at her.

"Hey, she can't make you do anything."

"I know and that means she'll always be disappointed in me."

"I wish I could give you better advice but I never had parents," she sighed and that at least brought a smile to Regina's face. "We don't need them if they don't care for our happiness. If you taught me anything since I've met you, being a parent means always putting your child first."

Regina looked up into green eyes. She saw nothing but love in those orbs. No one has ever looked at her like that, not even Daniel. They were too young and didn't get far in their relationship with him before he died. They had grown up and been best friends and she will always love him for that. The way Emma looked at her though was far more deep.

"Emma…" She wanted to tell her how she felt. She wanted to tell her how she loved her, but then stopped. It was too soon and with everything that was going on, she didn't want to scare her off. "My… uh mother is coming in a few days."

"Because that's exactly what we need right now," she groaned and then changed the subject as to what she discussed with Graham. "So what happened after I left?"

"He tried apologizing again and I told him I didn't want to hear it and then he told me he plans on stepping down and turning himself in once he promotes you as sheriff."

"What?" Her eyes widened in shock at the news. She had only been here a few months and was already going to be the sheriff of Storybrooke.

"He doesn't want Leopold to have his hands in the station ever again."

"I guess it's his first step towards redemption."

Ruby came over at that moment to refill Regina's coffee and a cup for Emma.

"Thanks Ruby," Emma smiled at her and took a grateful sip.

"Is everything ok?" she asked, taking in Regina's tear stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

"Yeah, just dealing with stuff," her professor said, wiping at her eyes and drying her tears. Ruby nodded in understanding.

"How's class going? I hope the sub is following my lesson plans."

"We're going through the study guide for the midterm. Everyone misses you. Actually we got you a card."

"Really?" she asked and Emma could see she was genuinely surprised.

"Yeah, I'll be right back," she said, leaving the table and rushing to the back. Regina shifted, her ribs painfully throbbing from her walk from the station. Emma noticed.

"Did you walk here?"

"I wasn't going to let Graham drive me."

"I would've come back to pick you up."

"I couldn't wait, Emma," she whispered, urging her to understand. "I needed to get out of there."

"Ok," she relented. "But I'm driving you home."

Ruby rushed back before Regina could say anything else and handed over a get well card. She took it, thanking her student and opening it to see both of her classes had signed it. A lot of them had written how proud they were of her for standing up to him and some wrote she was strong and could fight and have hope things will get better. They really cared when she believed she was one of the most hated teachers at the school. Her eyes grew teary and Ruby leaned down to hug her.

"You see, you may be one one of the strictest teachers, but they know you care about them and they care too."

"Thank you," she said just as Emma stood and helped her up.

"Ready to go?" she asked and Regina nodded she helped her over to the door. Her ribs were in absolute agony by now from the walk and then sitting for a while. They were stiff and painfully sore.

"I think I'll need my meds when I get home," she said low enough so only Emma can hear. The deputy knew she must really be in pain if she's asking to take her pain medication. She usually fought Emma on taking them until she could barely breathe.

When they got home, Emma helped Regina over to the bed and grabbed some ice and her medication. Once she swallowed the pills, Emma sat by her on the bed and lifted her shirt. The bruising was still so horrific and Emma wondered just how many times she had gone through this. How many times she had to hide bruised and broken ribs and act like she wasn't in pain. She placed the ice pack on the worst of the bruising and Regina hissed from the cold. She took her hand and placed it on the ice so she could hold it there.

"Get some sleep, ok?" she said. "I'm gonna go back on patrol. The door is locked so you're safe and Ms. Ginger, the building manager knows not to let Leopold in."

"Once Henry gets home, wake me so we could talk to him," she said, her words already slurring from the drugs. She turned on her good side and closed her eyes, snuggling into the pillow.

Emma kissed her softly on the cheek and let herself out.

Once her patrol was done she headed back to the station. Graham was working on some paperwork in his office when she came in. She took a seat and he looked up at her. His eyes were red and by the dark circles under his eyes, she could tell he hadn't been sleeping. She looked down to see the forms he was filling out and realized they were her promotion papers. Beside it were the papers for his resignation.

"Regina told me."

"Once it's processed, you'll be the one in charge around here and I'll be gone. I also have some interviews lined up to take on as deputy."

"You had to know this was coming sooner or later. She couldn't have lasted forever in that house."

He slammed down his pen and she could see the self loathing flashing across his face.

"You know the first time he hit her in front of me, I was ready to take him in. That was when he threatened me and she looked at me, pleading with me to not listen to him. She asked me for help over and over and then the day I brought her back to him after she ran off to Atlantic City, she changed. She was angry. She never asked me to help her anymore. She looked at me today as if she were looking at him. A monster."

Emma shook her head in disbelief. She didn't feel sorry for him. In fact, she lost all respect for him.

"Your job is to protect the people of this town." She was seething and he hung his head. "You brought her back to him each time she ran. You turned your back on her while he beat the shit out of her. You can turn yourself in and you can resign as sheriff. Hell! You can go to prison for the rest of your life, but you will never earn her forgiveness."

She stormed out. She couldn't bare to be in the same room as him. She worked out on the field most of the day until it was time to pick up Henry from school. Mary Margaret was staying overtime for some tutoring.

They quietly walked into the loft, having told Henry his mother might still be sleeping. Sure enough she was right. Regina was still passed out from the pain medication.

"Go get your homework started kid," she said, ruffling his hair as he plopped down on the couch. "I'll check on your mom."

She went into the bedroom and sat beside her sleeping girlfriend. She looked so peaceful. She reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and caressing her cheek. She noticed the ice pack was now melted and fell onto the bed, creating a wet spot. She picked it up and put it in the freezer. Regina started to stir as she came back.

"How was your nap?" she whispered, kissing her cheek and Regina woke up with a small smile on her lips.

"You're back already?" she slurred. "I just closed my eyes."

"You've been sleeping the whole day," Emma laughed at the confusion on her face. "Henry's back. Do you want to sit with him while I change the sheets? The ice pack melted all over them."

Regina eyes lit up at the mention of her son and she looked over to see him working on his homework. She nodded eagerly and Emma helped her up to her feet. She was still sluggish from the meds and Emma had to practically carry her over to the couch.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"I'm just numb," she whispered as she was helped onto the couch.

"Mom!" Henry exclaimed excitedly, carefully wrapping his arms around her. She held him tight regardless.

"How was school?" she asked as they pulled away. Emma watched them for a moment, her heart warming as she watched them talk about his day. She smiled as Regina started helping him with his math homework. She hadn't realized she was staring until brown eyes looked up at her. Regina looked at her with so much love and happiness and for a moment it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

Regina gave her a soft smile and then turned her attention back to their son.

Emma went to work changing the wet sheet and then joining them on the couch. It was time Henry knew about their relationship. She sat next to Regina so that she was in the middle. She gave her a knowing look before looking at Henry who was focusing on working a math problem Regina had just explained to him.

"Henry, there's Something Emma and I would like to talk to you about," Regina started and he looked up at them in concern.

"Is it about dad wanting me?"

Fear flashed across Regina's face and Emma saw it. She took her hand and Regina was able to calm herself. The mere mention of Leopold getting his hands on Henry scared her to death.

"No, sweetheart," her voice shook. "It's nothing bad."

"In fact, it's something wonderful," Emma said, rubbing soft circles on the back of Regina's hand with her thumb. Henry frowned in confusion as he noticed the intimate gesture. "Your mom and I grew very close."

"Yeah, you're best friends now," he stated happily.

"We're so much more than that," Regina said nervously. "We're together now."

"Re..really?" he asked, unsure because just months ago they had been fighting over him.

"Henry…" Regina started to say, thinking he wasn't happy with them together. The Evil Queen falling in love with the savior was probably how he saw it. If he was unhappy then maybe they shouldn't be together.

"This is so cool!" he suddenly exclaimed excitedly and Regina looked at him surprised. Emma had a beaming smile on her face. "We could all live together and be a family!"

"One step at a time kid," Emma laughed.