A/N: Huge huge apologies for the ridiculously long delay between posts. I lost my way and I wrote the ending but wasn't happy with it so, I finally got inspired at about 3am and have begun translating the ending in my head to the one this fic deserves. Will be finishing it by the end of the week and I thank all of you who have followed, commented and reviewed this. I hope you understand that I didn't feel ready to finish it before and now I got the tingles back. Happy reading. Also slight TRIGGER warning in this chapter. If you want to skip, gp to the first asterisks.

After that awful interview Emma juust wanted to curl up with her girlfriend and sob. She hated that she'd lashed out but was so angry. Is this what the industry was like? How is that possibly ok? She wondered about all the younger starlets that must have been subject to that kind of behaviour over the years and how many must have succumbed to those vile advances in an attempt to not disrupt their careers. It made her sick.

The car pulled up and she all but ran back to her room finding a startled Regina pouring out some coffee. "Woah that was quick." She took in the anger flashing in her eyes and quickly wrapped her arms around the woman, pulling her into a warm, loving embrace. "Hey, it's ok. I'm here. What happened?"

Emma snarled. "It's not ok! It's disgusting! Oh fuck! I messed up so bad."

Regina felt a gnarling in her stomach. She had a sense of what might have happened. It was not uncommon in their line of work but she hoped, no, she prayed that Emma hadn't had to experience it. She was scared to ask as her heart pounded furiously against her ribs. "Did someone.. were you violated?" Her voice cracked into a whisper as she could barely stand to say it.

Emma shook her head and sighed. "No. I mean, he grabbed my leg and said some stuff about him being able to work with the fact I have a girlfriend.. disgusting creep. I flipped. I was so angry and I just needed to get away."

Regina let out the breath she'd been holding. "Oh thank God! Hey, it's ok. You were strong." She stroked the blonde's locks supportively.

"Damn right! I kicked him in the balls! But what about the other girls? What if he's done that before or he tries to do it again? Is this, Christ Regina, is this normal?"

Regina winced. She was so relieved Emma was ok but she realised now just how normal a situation it was. How many times had something similar happened to herself or her collegues? Too many times to count. It was always dismissed with a laugh or met with advice to get used to it and toughen up if you wanted to survive the industry. She'd never felt this shock or disgust before but now, the mere suggestion that Emma might have had to endure some seedy, handsy asshole made her angry and sick to her stomach. She looked apologetically at the woman. "It is unfortunately very normal. It doesn't make it right though. And you're right. Something needs to be done. It needs to stop."

Regina whipped out her phone and dialed. "Hi, this is Regina Mills. I need Gold on the line now please... yes I'll hold."

Emma looked at her shaking her head. "Don't Regina, my career will be over!"

Regina cupped the blonde's cheek gently and reassured her "I'm not giving him the details, just pulling a few strings. As bad as Gold's reputation is, he won't stand for stuff like this.. not after what happened to.. Hi yes, I know your busy but we need to talk on an urgent matter... how do you feel about crushing a cocky radio show host? ... thought you'd say that." She smiled mischievously down the phone.

Emma stared on in disbelief hearing half a conversation. This woman was so much more than she could have ever envisaged. Strong and confident and with the heart of a lion. She'd never known anyone with the ability to click their fingers and make things happen. To be honest, it frightened her to a degree. She had the power to make or break someone with a simple phone call or, in her own case, a tagged post. Her stomach lurched. If Regina had this kind of power, then surely the fat cats had even more. What other atrocities could they be commiting?

Regina clicked off the call and smiled at Emma. "Well that's one less menace to society we have to deal with!" She felt pleased with herself knowing she'd made a difference today. She'd done a good thing. Emma's face told a different story. "What is it? Aren't you happy we just caught a bad guy and made him pay!"

Emma swallowed and forced a smile. "Yeah, you're right. But what will Gold do to him?"

"Oh, just a simple black listing. He won't be getting into any events and definately won't be having any more guests on his Show."

Emma swallowed again. "But Gold didn't even want to know why? He just agreed?"

Regina sighed. "Oh Emma, he knows why. I don't need to spell it out for him. He got you on the show didn't he?"

Emma nodded.

"So my calling half an hour after you were due there would be easy enough to piece together, wouldn't it?"

She nodded again.

"Look. Gold likes you. Genuinely likes you and he doesn't like many people. If he suspected for a second that someone tried to hurt you, his star of the moment client, he'd pull the plug on them in a heartbeat. Belle wasn't always his wife you know. She was a timid young girl, just turned eighteen and trying to break into acting."

Emma looked up curiously.

Regina headed over to the couch and motioned for Emma to join her there.

"Back then, Belle and I had seen each other around on auditions but never really spoken. One night we were at a meet and greet industry thing, you know, showing off the new meat to the cattle herders. I was chatting to Gold and noticed Belle disappearing with a suposed director. She looked so uncomfortable, like she was being forced out against her will. So I followed her. The guy was about 60 years old but strong. He'd got her pinned against the wall in one of the vacant rooms and was promising he's make her a star if she behaved. She was crying and he was unzipping himself. I bashed the door open and called 'there you are! I've been looking all over for you! Daddy is waiting for us let's go!' And the creep was startled just enough to release his grip long enough for her to run over to me. He said something but then I realised Gold had followed me when I just left mid conversation and he was so angry. He smiled at the two of us and told us to leave it to him to have a chat with the guy. So we did. I took Belle to the bathroom and helped her calm down and then as we were coming out I saw Gold pulling the door shut and wiping his hands like he's just beaten the crap out of that guy. That's how they met. The director, well turned out he wasn't exactly well liked anyway, never made another movie and Gold and Belle kind of credit me with them finding each other. But I mean, he hates actors and movie directors and basically everyone else who he sees as less than desirable. I was pretty shocked when I got an invitation to their wedding, as bridesmaid no less! But Gold, well, under that cranky strange exterior, he actually has a beating heart. He hasn't ever said it but I know he is grateful for me following Belle that night and stepping in and I'm pretty certain he was my fairy godmother so to speak because not long after that, I was getting callbacks and random invitations to auditions all over the place. I've never asked him for anything before and he's never expected anything in return but anything like that, he won't stand for and he knows if I'm calling, it's about justice, not revenge. At least that's how I look at it. He really hates actresses "

Emma was shell shocked but also relieved to know that her Regina was genuine. "It has to stop. I want to make a difference. He was just one guy but by the sounds of it, they are everywhere."

"You have a gift for writing Emma, and your music touches people. Tap into that and I believe you might just change the world." She added silently, 'like you changed mine.'

####

The months passed by in a flurry of shows, interviews and studio sessions. Emma and Regina had cemented their relationship and things were looking good but they missed each other. Their lives were both so busy but they made every effort to a keep regular date schedule. Regina couldn't compare this relationship in any way to her previous sham of a marriage. Emma was attentive, loving and a passionate individual, and not just in bed. She had finished shooting a while ago and she had been thinking about getting in to directing. The triology had run its course and although she was sad to leave the role that had become so familiar to her over the years, she was excited to do something else and have more time to spend with her girlfriend. 11 months now they'd been on this journey together and Regina missed her terribly when she wasn't occupied with work. Not that she didn't miss her when she was working, it just left her feeling so empty not being able to see her whenever they pleased. Emma had spent a few months in Europe on tour and Regina had flown out, as promised, to meet her in between her other commitments. It seemed like they had always been together. As though they'd lived an amazingly full life at each others side's. Memories of their tour given mini breaks flooded her mind. Luxembourg, eating waffles in bed and staring out onto the picturesque city. Their impossibly romantic gondola trip through Rome and the passionate night that followed. Their weekend (after Emma's set of course) in muddy Glastonbury living it up like two unruly teens. She swore she could still feel the effects of that particular hangover even now! A touristy photo of the pair goofing around in a London telephone box was the current background on her phone. Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid, Paris... she couldn't believe how many wonderful memories they had accumulated in only 11 months. Not evem counting the ones on home soil. Home. She thought and sent a house and heart emoji to her girlfriend and got an instant reply back with 10 hearts and a running man. She smiled and turned back to the stack of scripts on her desk hoping to find something that would capture her heart as much as Emma Swan had.

###

"I think I'm done for today Gus. My vocal chords are about to fall out my ass." Emma whined. They'd been in the studio every day for the last month laying down the second album. Her national tour was getting longer and longer, adding more locations she to demand. She couldn't have dreamt this a year ago. It was crazy how much her life had changed.

Gus laughed. "You know I'll be having words with that Mrs of yours, keeping you up screaming all night... she's ruining your singing stamina!"

Emma stuck her tongue out and wiggled her eyebrows. "I'll be sure to give her the compliment."

She laughed all the way to Regina's place. Gus had cottoned on a while ago that her vocal tiredness was an excuse to nip down the street to see her girlfriend. To be honest, it was a wonder they'd managed to almost finish the album with the amount of time Regina spent watching her through the glass in the studio or sending her booty calls every day. Not that she was complaining. It was such a rarity for them both to be in the same city with a relatively free schedule. Emma had some shows but as they were recording, Gold had scheduled some much needed evenings off for his star client to relax. Funny that.. Emma thought as she knocked gently on the brunettes door.

"Door's open!" Regina yelled from her place at the dining table.

Emma came in and immediately kicked off her boots. "Don't you think that's funny?" She asked with a suspicious look on her face.

Regina tore her eyes away from the script and looked at her girlfriend like she was crazy. "You know dear, you have to actually says things out loud. I still can't read your mind."

Emma stepped closer and knelt down next to the raven beauty. "Oh really? That's not what you said last night!"

Regina took her glasses off knowing full well where this was heading as she herself was the one who started it. "Yes well, you always seem to have some version of me naked on your mind. That's just a given."

Emma shrugged. It was true and she really didn't care if Regina knew it. "I meant, don't you think it's a bit of a coincidence that Gold just happens to have a recording studio right next door to where you live?"

Regina laughed. "Honestly, not in slightest." She blushed just enough that Emma caught her and grabbed her leg before she could scuttle off out of the chair. "What?!" She squealed as she found herself squirming under the blonde's stare.

"Called in a favor recently by any chance?" She was toying with her.

Regina shook her head and placed a hand to her heart in mock shock. "I'm offended you would think me so calculated."

Emma tickled her mercilessly. "Spill!"

Between guffaws and snorts, because Regina was just too ticklish, she caved. "Ok fine! Oh my God you are so dense! It's taken you 3 months to figure this out! I might have spoken to Belle a while back and mentioned that the building next door was vacating and that it was a prime piece of real estate. Great sound proofing, convenient location.."

"Is there anything you don't have your hands in woman?"

Regina simply raised and eyebrow and dragged her lip between her teeth.
That darn look is one of the reasons Emma is so completely whipped. They both knew it and the actress was not shy in the slightest of using her skills to her advantage. Except it was never acting if she were honest. Not unless they were playing one of their 'games.'

Emma conceded knowing when she's been outdone. She started stripping and walking to the bedroom which had become so familiar. "So what are you going to do about it?" She taunted feeling like she got once got in the last word.