Regina really needs to talk to Emma before anything happens because she cannot do it without her acknowledge. Her input is more important and she would do anything she says. Regina had made Berta to sleep in the guest room for another few days and she was glad Berta respected her wish. She has thought long and hard about the situation, but it all comes down to Emma. She still cannot do it without her. She sat edge of her bed playing with her wedding ring with bedroom locked and closed. She made promise and vow to Emma, so she doesn't want to forget that. The days are getting closer and the more terrified Regina feels about this situation that Regina doesn't know what to do or how it is going to work. Regina decided to talk to Emma first before she does anything, so she got up from her bed to inform Berta not to bother or knock at the door for any reason.

Regina looked for her in the guest room, but was empty, then heard noise downstairs in the kitchen, so she assumed that Berta is getting late snack. Regina went downstairs, watching her looking through the cabinet, "Berta, what are you looking for?"

Berta didn't turn around still looking craving for something salty, "Just looking, but it has nothing good that I want to eat."

Regina smirked, "There's apples, bananas and many fruits that you should be eating instead of what you're looking for."

Berta rolled her eyes, "Healthy food are boring."

Regina laughs to herself as she walked around to the kitchen counter by the sink to grab an apple then handed Berta, "Eat this apple, Berta and no late snacks."

Berta unhappily grabbed an apple from Regina, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Berta took bite of the apple when Regina spoke, "Berta, for the remaining of the night, do not come to my room or even knock at our door. Is that understood?"

Berta nodded still eating her apple then Regina softly kissed her cheek, "Sleep well, Berta."

Berta swallowed the apple watching Regina walking towards the stairs, even with her pajamas, her body moved perfectly that you could see the curve of her body. Berta never met someone amazing as Regina and wants to cherish every moment with her as much as she can. She threw away her apple in the trash at the edge of the counter, then ran jumped on Regina's back with her arms over her shoulder as she kissed her cheek.

Regina was caught off guard as she tries to balance herself laughing as she held Berta's hand on her chest, "What was that for?

Berta has many words to say how wonderful she is, but simply replied, "… just thank you. You didn't ask for any of this, but you still …" Berta became lost for words as she held her tight then smelled her hair, apples and cinnamon. Regina listened as she rubs Berta's hands, everything has become so complicated that she's afraid to strain her relationship with Emma, but she knows it is no fault of Berta's, so she couldn't be upset or mad at her. She turns around as she sights with her arms over her shoulder and Berta around her waist, Berta leaned as Regina perfectly kissed her on the lips as they played with their mouths then Berta impishly traced kissing on her cheek. Berta had love in her eyes that makes Regina tremble; her misty eyes are like morning dew that she is overwhelmed with love for Regina and her gentle compassionate look turns her eyes oft with expression of care and concern. That look of love is saying so much more than just words could ever say and Regina's heart has heard her nonverbal just look of her eyes. Regina caressed her face that it scared her where this will end then Berta broke the silent, "Regina, I want you to promise me something."

Regina removed her arms and backed away nervously as her smile turns sour, "That cannot be good."

Berta pulled her closer affectionately, not letting her go, "You know what will happen, so please just listen."

Regina doesn't want to because she knows where this is going, but she nodded sadly, then Berta spoke, "If you had to choose, I want you to save our baby …"

Regina lightly angrily push her away, "Please don't ask me that." Regina doesn't know what it is with Robin and Berta. She wonders how it will be different in original timeline.

Berta stubbornly walks towards her grabbing her as she kissed her passionately feeling Regina's tear running down on her face and Regina returns when she is in turmoil between losing Berta and her True Love, Emma. She is not confused about her love for Emma, but Berta is making this so hard that she doesn't know what to do anymore and she hates her for it. Between losing Berta and breaking Emma's heart, none of her choices are what she wants. This is one of the hardest and difficult decision she has to make adding the long growing list of choices. She felt like she was pushed in a corner.

Berta's heart pounding hard as she fought to hold her tightly, "You will lose me either way, but at least this way you get something out it, a piece of me. Please, Regina."

Regina tries to push her away, "How can you say that?"

Berta replied as she grabbed her hand on her chest and her other arm around her waist, "I don't mean like that, Your Majesty. Emma is your savior and True Love, but I am your paladin. I am a person who fights for a cause; a defender of faith, so I am your advocate."

Regina eyes wide at her choice of words, "what makes you think you are my trusted paladin?"

Berta smiles challenging her, "You choose me to be your ambassador and protector of the Enchanted Forest. If we live in Storybrooke then you would anoint me to be acting Mayor; which translate a princess. There is no one better than me who understands Evil Queen and Regina Mills' intention besides Emma."

Regina tries to deny that, but Berta smiles as she read her face expression when Regina stared back, so she sighs, "You making this very hard, Berta because I am trying to do right thing, but ..."

Berta nodded kissed her on lips compassionately, "I know and I am sorry that I am making everything hard for you." Regina returns as they deepen the kiss then Berta broke away as she speaks, "There are two more favor I want to ask."

Regina embraced herself for the request, "What is it? I'll do my best to do what you want me to do."

Berta held her tight as she asked, "I want you to make sure my daughter, Razi is safe after the curse broke. Tell her that I love her and I'm sorry, but I want her to know that I didn't give up searching for her."

Regina listened intensely, "I promise I will make sure she is settled and provided her after the curse broke. If she wants, she can stay in Storybrooke or go back to Wonderland and I'll help her."

Berta felt relief as she breaths in, "Thank you and I really appreciate what you will do for her. Second, I want our child take your last name instead of mine since my last name Smith is not my original surname."

Regina was surprised at her request, but doesn't make sense, "My last name is Swan-Mills, so why would you want our child …"

Berta held back her anger, "I know, but I meant your last name, Mills like Henry Daniel Mills."

Regina as her hand on her forehead as the headaches growing because she already thinking of everything, and all she is worrying about is Berta and Emma, "You already naming our child?"

Berta brought her closer when she started to pull away smiling, "I think about a lot of things with you. Being with you makes me think of our life together."

Regina threw her arms up as she pushed her because she can't believe it, but she thinks about life with Emma, "You thought of name, didn't you?"

Berta slowly hesitated between words, "… maybe … maybe not …"

Regina wasn't sure if she wants to know, "When did this happen? I mean it was only few days."

Berta shrugged, "a lot has happens last few days, for me anyway. You were working, so what I do is play games on my phone or watch movie or go out. I decided to go bookstore and look at big baby names book because I cannot help but be curious."

Regina heavily sighs rubbing her forehead, "Do I want to know?"

Berta hesitated unsure if she really wants to know or not as she studied how she nervously played with her hair, "do you want to know?"

Regina waved her to go ahead, so Berta slowly nodded, "Well … if it's a boy and I hope it will be, Paladin Jace Mills. If it's a girl then Reign Suki Mills."

Regina listened at her ideas of names, "I think the boy name is alright, but the girl's middle name, absolutely not. What makes you think of Jace?"

Berta shrugged, "Well … in the big book of baby names, Jace means healing, to heal or the healer so I thought of you because I know you will be sad and I don't want the child to be painful reminder. I would want you to heal and think of good memories."

Regina doesn't understand why or how Berta is always so thoughtful of her and knows her every wham, so she walked towards her opening her blouse slowly, twisting each button with her thumb and third finger then running his finger along with breastbone as she kissed her passionately, "Why you do that?"

Berta ran her fingers along her waist returning the kiss, "I love you. You are my queen and I know all the time you spend is about Emma and the most important is me."

Regina kissed Berta hard as she pushes her onto the kitchen table, when her shirt finally fell open, she studied her then caressed her breast. Was she putting her on? She licked her nipples as Berta moaned pushing Regina up to kiss her on the lips smiling. Regina and Berta walked over to the living room couch with their lips locked playfully.

Regina stroked Berta breast then moved her lips slowly down her neck and Berta couldn't care less if she was. Regina has the feelings rising within her that she doesn't understand as she caressed her face looking intensely into her eyes, she shallowed her throat when Berta looked puzzled, "What is it, Your Majesty?"

Regina sighs, "I love you too. I … I do not want to do this because either way I'll lose you and I honesty do not want to hurt you. I don't want you go through this."

Berta rubs her back as her eyes soften, "I would like to try because I don't want my life to be in vain since you told me that our child will have purpose. If you don't want to do this then we don't have to. I'll understand since there is a lot of complications, but you'll never lose me."

Regina moved her hands playing on her body listening until she stopped suddenly, removing her fingers from going down inside of her. "You deserve someone better than me, someone who wants …"

Berta shakes her head interrupting her train of thoughts, "How about you let me decide for once what I want and who I deserve?"

Regina sighs as she leans on her shoulder struggling to decide how to do this then looked up at Berta who is simply smiling like always, "How can you be so sure of this?" Regina studied trying to understand why Berta is allowing herself to go through this and possibly die at childbirth and why is it all worth it.

Berta believes Regina would be a great mother, so why wouldn't it worth it, so she replied as she had her arms around her waist, "Regina, it's you … why would I be uncertain about you? I have complete faith in you."

Regina felt anxious and unconfident in Berta, so she asked again double checking to make sure this is what she wants, "You sure you want to do this? You are putting awfully a lot on your body and I …"

Berta put her hands on her shoulder to reassure her, "Your Majesty, I know all the risks and consequences. You have been telling me lists of them and what could happen to prepare me. I want to do this to free the people in the future. There is nothing, not a reason for me to live except my daughter, Razi. I know you'll make sure she'll be taken care of if anything happens to me. I've lived my life to the fullest and everything happens for a reason including this. You have to let me go. If it's time for me to go then I accept because I'm at peace with myself."

Regina kept anger to herself as she listens how wrong she is that she thinks that's there's nothing to live for but to live for the child is more than reason enough to fight to try stay alive, but she understands that the life without herself is not what Berta wants. "Fine … I need few hours then I'll be ready."

Berta sighs as she watches Regina walked off upset, "Your Majesty, that's not what I meant … I am simply at peace with myself …"

Regina waved her not caring anymore as she rolled her eyes, "I know exactly what you meant, Berta."

Berta started to follow her to try again, but Regina turns around eyes crossly, "do not follow me … obviously as you stated, to let you go and you'll be the one who gave up fighting and trying."

Berta threw her arms up noticing the heart broken in Regina as she slammed the door of the bedroom, "that's not what I said," but she didn't hear her then Berta curses at herself at wrong choice of words.

Regina slammed the door behind her walking to her nightstand beside the bed to grab the coin that God of Dreams gave in the drawer. She doesn't want to think about Berta without talking to Emma first. She closes her eyes holding the coin as she thought of Emma Swan-Mills. After few minutes, the coin still hasn't glowed speaking to herself, come on Emma, come on. The thought of Emma and not being with her, she couldn't breathe. She in agony being without her, each moment they parted, the worse it gets. She puts on brave face on ever since she got stuck in with Berta. Regina is haunted by the kiss from Berta, but the kiss from Emma becomes a scar that she is in her very soul. She hopes Emma is suffering as much as she is. She cannot do anything without her and she is in every part of her life. Anything is possible if they both believe. Regina needs Emma more because she keep fighting for her. Berta is right about one thing, she is her Savior. Regina lightly tears dropped from her eyes still her eyes closed, Emma please, I need you.

The coin opened a black hole when Regina opened her eyes as black shadow surrounding forcing to pull her in. She appeared in black void wondering where she is then looked around to see if Emma showed up but disappointed that she hasn't.

Regina furiously screamed then started to echo, "Emma! Where are you?!"

Few minutes later, Emma walked right behind her and tapped her right shoulder then moved when Regina turns away cursing herself. Emma quietly laughs then surprise kissed Regina on lips. Regina unexpectedly received compassionate kiss from Emma then rolled her eyes, she backed away shortly, "That was not funny, Mrs. Swan-Mills."

Emma was glad to see Regina again after few months when she tried to get in touch with her. Emma still struggles the idea of Berta being with Regina since she doesn't trust Berta, but she'll do anything for Regina. Anything is possible if they both believe. "I missed you …" Emma kissed her passionately as she threw her arms over Regina when she happily returns.

"I don't believe that's possible because I yearn for you, your heart and …," Regina stroked her wild wavy blonde hair, "I love you, Emma and I will always will."

Emma smiles as she kissed her, "I love you too," then Emma looked around at the black void, "why are we in middle of black void?"

Regina shrugged, "I don't know. It was like this when I showed up."

Emma nodded, "We can make it anything we want, so where do you want us to be?"

Regina rolled her eyes how she tries to be little dirty then she intended to be wrapping around her waist, "I don't care. I just want to be home with you and our girls."

Emma sighs, "I know … I," she caressed her face changing subject, "Regma and Nardia are doing well. I don't know how you get them to listen to you. It was miracle they listen to me when they want to."

Regina laughs, "They are giving you hard time," then realize how lonely they are in the void, "how about the castle, and our home?"

Emma eyes lit up, "I love the castle and I miss it. We are free to be together and no one bothers us."

They stood in their bedroom of the castle overlooking the ocean just like they never left the place. Emma beamed as she watches the castle bricks slowly appears around them. Regina remained her eyes on her with full of love in her eyes while she played with her hair.

Emma held her hand as they both walked over to the small table in the other room by the window overlooking the ocean. "I know you're here because you needed to talk to me, so I'm all ears."

Regina sighs heavily, "Emma, that's not the only reason and you know it."

Emma held both of Regina's hand rubbing with her thumb, "I know, Regina. Actually, Regma had an idea, but I don't think it will work. I'm willingly to give a try if you are."

Regina beams nodded for her to keep going, Emma continued, "You know, Storybrooke's town line and when someone crossed over, something happens, right? Except today, everyone is free to come and go; it must be similar to Remington community you live in. Is there a town line or a place that someone can get across?"

Regina thought carefully, "I believe so. Although, I cannot get across it if I tried. One thing for sure, we are in middle of nowhere and we are not close to the ocean."

Emma growls how there is little information, "that doesn't help much, but Regma thought maybe you find a way to bring an object across the town line, like flashlight or something like that."

"Like a signal of some kind."

Emma nodded, "Yes! You think you can try? I know you don't have anything with you."

"I'll think of something. I wish I had my vault then it'll be much easier, but Black Queen put restrictions on my powers. I'll find a way and hopefully it will work. Are the girls ok?" showing concern on her face.

cont. next chapter