Disclaimer: Not my characters. I'm just taking them off the shelf for a spin. I promise to bring them back healthy and safe ... and happy. :)

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, follows and faves. I'm so happy so many people seem to be enjoying this story. Work has been kicking my butt this week, and with two stories demanding regular updates every week, I didn't get around to replying to your reviews this week. I'll try to get back to as many as I can soon, but even if I don't reply personally, I appreciate every single one of them, and they never fail to make me smile.

Chapter 14: The Bad, …

"You shouldn't scare me like that." Regina cupped Emma's cheek in a tender gesture. "You're lucky I didn't roast you when you suddenly appeared."

Emma scoffed. "You just said that nobody but me can get through your protection spell."

"Yeah, well, even if that's true," Regina shrugged. "Just remember that it's never a good idea to surprise a supposedly evil witch like that."

"I'm not really all that scared of you, Regina," Emma said with a light laugh. "Especially not with you all snuggled up against me like this." She pressed her lips against Regina's hair and ran a hand down her lover's back.

"Why are you here?" It wasn't like Regina didn't want to see Emma any chance she got but she had been under the distinct impression that the sheriff had actually planned to go to work. Among other things. "Are you trying to get out of telling that thief ex of yours that he can go find some other unsuspecting girl to impregnate and leave in prison?"

"Ouch." Emma recoiled a little at the venom in Regina's voice. "No reason to go all evil on me, Regina. That's not it at all." She paused. "I actually … well, I was just thinking of you and I wanted to call you to hear your voice, but you know …"

"The protective border, yes." Regina's voice was contrite. "I'm sorry, dear." They both knew she wasn't talking about the border.

"I know." And Emma did. She knew that whenever Regina lashed out it was mostly because she was trying to protect herself from getting hurt. Of course that didn't mean that her hits weren't usually right on point and could leave their own deep, bleeding lacerations. "Like I said, I was thinking of you, and then I suddenly appeared here."

Regina cocked her head. "You really need to learn how to control your magic better."

Emma nodded, in complete agreement for a change. "I do," she muttered. "Because this appearing by your side thing just gets easier every time. It didn't even take much thought this time. Actually, I didn't even think of getting to you … I just thought of you and poof."

Regina made a little humming sound in her throat. "If you didn't even actively think about coming here…"

"… this might not be about my magic?" Emma concluded for her.

Regina nodded. "I think I might have to do some research on this."

"You mean you don't know everything that true love is capable of?"

Regina gave Emma a pointed look. "It's not as if I ever had much reason to spend a lot of time thinking about it," she stated. "I thought my true love was dead and I certainly didn't expect it to find me again in the form of a savior born from true love."

"True," Emma conceded. "Maybe it's all super active now because of us and because of the whole child of true love thing I've got going on."

"Possibly." Regina sighed. "This is one of the times where I wished Rumple were still alive and here, so I could ask him about this."

"We'll deal with it, Regina," Emma said. "Gold or no Gold, we'll figure it out."

"You and our endless optimism."

"What's not to be optimistic about?" Emma asked seriously. "So far the only thing that happens is that I show up by your side when I think of you a little too hard, and I sort of fail to see how that's a bad thing. For the record: I like seeing you."

Regina chuckled, but it was more for Emma's sake while she wondered what else this unpredictable magic could cause to happen. She really needed to do some research. "Do you think Belle might let me access some of Rumple's books?"

"For research?" Emma mused. "Yeah, I'm sure. You should ask her … remember Ruby said Belle wanted to talk to you anyway."

That meant leaving her haven here in the woods but maybe there was no alternative. Regina patted Emma's chest with a smile. "Did you really just want to call me to hear my voice?"

Emma took the change of subject in stride. "Not really. I wanted to let you know that I talked to Henry after I got home."

"Henry? Why wasn't he at school?"

"Because that little rascal decided to play hooky," Emma said with a grin. "And before you go all angry mama bear on me, I did take him to school after our talk. He wasn't happy."

Regina paled. "He wasn't happy … about us?"

"No! God, no," Emma instantly blurted. "About having to go to school!" She cupped Regina's face in her hands and stared deeply into dark, slightly shuttered eyes. "He's happy for us, Regina," she whispered gently. "It took him a moment to get over his assumption that his father is my true love, but as soon as we got around that little obstacle, he was absolutely fine with it."

Regina teared up. "He was? Really?"

"Really." Emma brushed off the one tear that trailed down Regina's cheek with her thumb. "In fact, he's looking forward to us living together in the mansion. I think it's mostly so he can have access to his things again," she joked.

Regina's laugh sounded a little strangled. "That's quite presumptuous of you, Ms. Swan," she croaked. "Telling our son you'd be moving in with me."

"Was I wrong?" Emma asked seriously. "It might not happen today or tomorrow, but I want it to happen," she insisted. "Sooner rather than later." She blushed a little at leaving herself so open for rejection but when she looked into Regina's eyes all she could see was joy and contentment.

"I would like that," Regina whispered, the sound barely loud enough to travel the inch separating them. "Once I'm ready to leave here."

Emma nodded. "I'm working on making that happen," she said. "I was actually in front of Neal's house when I poofed over here, but he wasn't home." She rested her forehead against Regina's. "I'll find him today and tell him to find someone else, and then I'll tell my parents. And at some point in between all of that I'll have to make it to work. Right now I'm out on patrol."

Regina could feel Emma's smile against her skin. "Do you want me to send you back?"

"Want? Not in the least," Emma replied. "But I guess I have to go back, huh?"

"Where to?"

"Could you send me to the alley behind the station? Don't want anyone to see me just appearing like that," Emma said after a moment's thought. "I'd like to keep this little trick to ourselves for the time being. I mean Henry know because I just appeared earlier but everyone else …"

"Then you'd better not think about me in the company of others, dear," Regina advised ruefully. "Otherwise I doubt we could keep this secret."

"That's going to be hard," Emma admitted. "One more kiss?"

"Again?" Regina teased.

"There's always going to be one more kiss, Regina."

They kissed slowly and deeply, like they had all the time in the world before Regina took a step back and transported Emma back to town. Again.

o o o

Ruby couldn't stop grinning as she watched Belle devour the large stack of blueberry pancakes in front of her. She admired the focus and the methodical way she went about it. She would lift a pancake from the stack to her plate, douse it with either maple syrup or butter — switching back and forth between the two — and then cutting the pancake into eight equally sized bites. Then the knife would rest against the plate that held the stack and Belle would slowly and without interruption eat one piece after the other, gently smiling to herself, the pancakes or, Ruby tried not to get her hopes up too much, at Ruby.

"Good?" Ruby asked after the third pancake.

"Amazing," Belle replied. "I didn't know you could cook this well."

"Didn't have much of a choice," Ruby replied with a shrug and a wide grin. "I don't think Granny appreciated us poking a hole in her Snow White is perfect bubble." She made air quotes around her words.

Belle grinned back around a forkful of pancake. "But at least we managed to burst the bubble," she mumbled once she had swallowed.

"So who's next?" Ruby asked.

Belle looked out onto the busy street for a long moment. "I think we should split up and just talk to as many people as possible between now and tomorrow evening. You're already in the perfect spot for that."

Ruby's face fell a little but she managed to control her disappointment by the time Belle turned back to her. Splitting up had not been in her plans for their two-day mission. "I think that's a good idea," she replied nonetheless. "And we should just casually bring up the advantages of modern amenities."

"Yes, I think that is best," Belle agreed. "I have an open thing for parents tonight at the library, to talk about our services and books for kids. I'm going to talk to as many as I can then while I mingle." She paused. "Maybe … if you like … I mean … you could come, too."

There was something in Belle's gaze that totally captivated Ruby despite her complete inability to read the look. "I'd love to," she said automatically while her brain tried to come up with the name of the last book she'd read. She had the embarrassing suspicion it might have been her copy of the "Guide to Getting It On". For Belle's company, however, she'd even spend an evening at the library. Hell, she'd spend a month in there if it meant spending time with Belle.

"Fantastic," Belle said brightly. "We can talk to a lot of people like that … I might even build that into my little speech."

"You're giving a speech?" Ruby asked with a sly grin. "Now that I have to see. I'll definitely be there."

"Just for that smirk of yours, I'll rope you into clean-up duty after the mixer." Belle wadded up her napkin and threw it at Ruby, wondering how it was possible that her heart always felt so much lighter when the other woman was around.

Ruby feigned hurt and outrage, but inside she just couldn't stop smiling.

o o o

Emma appeared soundlessly in the most out of sight corner behind the sheriff station. She sent a thought to Regina, careful not to put too much yearning into it, no matter how fleeting it may be, and silently thanked her for knowing the layout of her town so well. Then she straightened her shoulders and braced herself for the first time she'd see David since her own mother had tried to replace her with him.

She had no idea what to expect, and that left her edgy and nervous.

As soon as she entered the station she could hear the mumble of voices, suggesting David wasn't alone. She rounded the corner and saw David sitting back in his chair, completely relaxed, chatting to Neal of all people, who half sat on the desk, chuckling at something David had said.

Both men looked at her the moment they noticed her presence, and both smiled, although David's looked a little uncomfortable. "Hey, Emma," they both said, almost simultaneously.

Emma pushed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. This was not a situation she had foreseen. Since when were Neal and David such good buddies? "Did I miss something?" she asked suspiciously, moving her eyes from one man to the other.

"What do you mean?" Neal asked with a shrug, although she had a feeling he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded bluntly, ignoring Neal's question.

"Neal just got here," David replied, sensing the tension in the room. "He was looking for you."

"You weren't home, so I thought I'd come here." Neal stood up from his perch on the desk. "I wanted to ask you if you …" He stopped looking at David who pretended not to be listening. "If you wanted to have dinner tonight … just me and you, you know … Your dad already offered to watch Henry …" He trailed off weakly at the incredulous look on her face.

Emma couldn't believe it. "Just how often do I have to tell you that there won't be any more dinners?" she erupted. "There is no you and me, so stop it already." She turned to David. "And you and Snow need to stop, too." She ran a hand through her hair. "Why is it that everybody just believes the crap Snow thinks is right?" She glared at both men in turn. "I'll say it again, and this time I'll use very small sentences in case that's the prob—"

David gave her a very strange look that stopped her in the middle of her rant.

"What?" Emma really had no patience for this.

"Nothing," David said quickly. "You just sound like …"

"Regina, I know," Emma said simply. "She at least makes sense most of the time." She had to fight to keep the fond smile off her face. "Anyway, Neal is not my true love. Stop pretending he is." She glared at David. "Got it?"

Her father held his hands up in surrender. "If you say so."

Emma wasn't happy with that vague reply, but decided not to push it. There would be time for that later. She turned towards Neal. "Got it?"

Neal stared at her defiantly, not saying a word.

"Oh, come on," Emma groaned. "You know it's true."

Neal did know it was true but that didn't mean he was ready to accept it. He squared his shoulders and nodded at David. "I'd better go."

"No," Emma cried. "Wait! I wanted to talk to you two."

David and Neal shared a look, but then shrugged. "Okay," her father said. "What about?"

Emma met her father's eyes with a sheepish look. "Consecutively," she muttered. "Not together … I need to talk to both of you consecutively."

"Oh." David stood and grabbed his coat. "Well, I need to go on patrol anyway." He looked between Emma and Neal. "I'll be back in an hour, okay?"

Emma nodded and watched him go until he was out of sight.

Neal crossed his arms in front of his body, suddenly a lot more belligerent. "So, what did you want to talk about? You want to pretend some more that you don't love me?"

o o o

David decided to walk around town instead of using the cruiser. He wondered what went on between his daughter and Neal because whatever it was, it certainly wasn't good. He'd seen the changes in Emma's behavior towards Henry's father ever since his return from the dead. He'd observed how Snow tried to get Emma to see and accept that Neal was her true love, and how Emma had fought the idea as hard as she possibly could, getting more frustrated every day. In the beginning, David had put that down to Emma's fiercely independent streak, but after her outburst just now in the station, he began to doubt that it was only that.

Maybe there had been more going on between her and Hook than he and Snow had been privy to. He sneered at the thought, not happy with that alternative to Neal. Not that he thought he could ever forgive Neal for what he had done to his daughter, but Hook? He was just … ugh, there was no way a pirate was good enough for Emma. Besides, he thought he had seen her with Tink the other day, and they had looked rather … comfortable with each other.

But what else could be the reason that Emma was so adamant about Neal not being her true love?

He was so lost in thought that he almost missed his wife as she vanished into a side alley. The way Snow looked around was strange, and some instinct made David follow her slowly. He thought about calling out to her, but something stopped him. He hesitated at the entrance to the alley and looked around the corner, just seeing Snow disappearing around the next corner into the back lot of the candy shop. What's going on here?

He moved swiftly through the alley, careful not to make any sounds. For one second he wondered if Snow was seeing another man, but he pushed that thought away immediately. She wouldn't do that to him … not after everything they had to go through to finally be together. Besides, their love was true, so there was no need to worry.

He stopped again to poke his head around the corner, and despite his faith in Snow he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who she was talking to. But why wouldn't she meet Blue somewhere in the open? Or go see her at the convent where the fairies all still lived? And what were they discussing so intently?

There was no chance he could get within hearing distance without being seen, so he turned to leave after another moment or two, confident in the knowledge that nothing bad had ever come from accepting advice from the fairies.

o o o

Ruby ran the clean cloth across the counter for the umpteenth time that morning already. There was a lull in the diner, and she was missing Belle's company, if she was being honest. Which she tried to be, mostly, at least to herself. What good was lying to yourself anyway?

She looked up when the bell announced a customer and her face brightened when she saw Ashley come in, carrying Alexandra on her hip. "Hey, Ashley," Ruby called out to her. "You look like death warmed over, sweetie. Is everything okay?"

Ashley nodded tiredly. She did look extremely exhausted. "Yeah, much better now."

"Now?" Ruby held her arms out for little Alexandra, so Ashley could climb on the stool at the counter. "Were you sick? You still look a little under the weather."

"That's all her," Ashley pointed at her daughter with a weary but soft smile. "She's been so sick this past week … ten days … Gods, I don't even know how long it's been." She yawned. "I can barely remember what sleep is."

"What happened?" Ruby looked at the baby which looked perfectly fine apart from a few red blotches on her neck.

"Alexandra was so sick," Ashley explained. "She kept throwing up and crying, she ran a fever, and then she got this rash all over her body." At the horrified look on Ruby's face she held out her hands. "Give her back … but she's not contagious anymore."

"So was it some weird bug?" Ruby fixed Ashley a pick-me up juice and a coffee.

"Honestly? We still don't know for sure," Ashley replied softly, keeping an eye on her daughter in a habit stemming from a week or more of being worried to death about her. "Nothing we did helped, so we took her to the hospital on the second day." Ashley gratefully accepted the tall glass of juice and took a long sip. "Hmmm."

"But Whale could help, right?" Ruby asked. "I mean she seems okay now."

"Yeah, but it took a lot of poking and prodding her, and then it was a thing of trial and error, I think." Ashley smiled at her daughter. "Whale tried … I don't know … three different drugs until he found one that finally helped. But it's been a mess … we've been a mess." She shook her head. "No idea what we would have done without Whale."

"Or the drugs," Ruby said softly, her eyes lighting up at the opportunity that was presented to her on a silver platter. "Just imagine what would have happened if we'd been back in the Enchanted Forest …" she hinted, trying to sound concerned.

Ashley looked up sharply. "I don't even want to think about that," she cried. "We had the best doctors there but even they … no, best not to think about that. As much as I loved our home, I've never been happier that Regina sent us here instead of some other realm."

"So true," Ruby muttered under her breath as she handed Ashley a refill, mentally preparing how she could segue into the mayoral election and how important it was that Regina got elected, so everyone would have a choice. But whatever she was going to say, the horrified look on Ashley's face had already told her everything she needed to know.

Gotcha.

o o o

"You think I'm only pretending?" Emma barked out with a dark laugh. "Why is it so impossible for you to accept that I just don't love you anymore?"

"Because it wasn't that long ago that you told me you loved me," Neal pointed out. "Then I come back to be with you and Henry, and suddenly you tell me you don't love me. Excuse me for having my doubts."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Neal, you were dying," she tried to explain. "Or at least I thought you were. Isn't that what you tell people when they're about to die?"

Neal made a face. "So you only said it to make me feel better?" he asked sarcastically. "Thank you very much. How nice of you. Must have been a real shock when I suddenly came back."

"It was," Emma admitted. "Where I'm from people don't usually come back from the dead."

"Well, I'm sorry my father sacrificed himself so I could have another chance with you." His tone was biting now.

"Your father gave his life for yours because he loved you," Emma said softly. "He did it so you could enjoy your life, the life he felt he had ruined by not choosing you the first time," She suddenly felt the urge to comfort Neal, to pull him into a hug, but it seemed unwise in their current situation. "I'm sorry you had to lose your dad to get a chance at life again, but he didn't do it so you could be with me, Neal. He did it for you."

"What good is my life if it's not with you?" Neal asked hoarsely. "I love you, you know that."

"I believe that you think you love me," Emma replied gently. "And I'm sorry … but I … there's …" She wasn't sure if bringing up the fact that she was head over heels in love with someone else would help or hurt, so she stopped.

"But what?" Neal could never let sleeping dogs lie. "Is there someone else? Is that what this is about?" He began pacing in the small space next to the desk. "Did the pirate finally manage to get his hook into you? Oh my God, don't tell me you fell for his lines, Emma!"

"Hook?" Emma laughed. "No worries there, really. He's not even half as suave as he thinks he is." She shuddered at the thought of his never-changing leather pants. "Besides, he's with Tink, or didn't you know that?"

Neal sighed. "I thought that was because he couldn't get you," he admitted. "I thought that meant I'd won … you were supposed to choose one of us." He decided to ignore Emma's death glare at that comment. "You sure you're not with him?"

Emma nodded. "Very sure, but …" Again she hesitated.

"Just spit it out, Emma!" he yelled. "I can take it."

"But I don't think you're going to like my choice anymore than you like Hook," Emma blurted. "And I'm not so sure how you'll take it."

"Try me," Neal said. "The only person I could think of that's worse than Hook is the Evil Queen," he muttered. "And I know you're not gay, so I'm not to worried there."

Emma blushed, pushing her hand back into her jeans pockets as she bounced a little on the balls of her feet. "Well then," she said dryly. "I guess this comes as a real shock to you then."

Neal studied her, watched her reaction to his words, observed her nervous gestures. She couldn't be saying what he thought she might be saying, could she? "You can't seriously be saying … you're joking, right?"

Emma's face turned extremely serious. "I would never joke about this," she told him, steel in her voice. "I'm in love …"

"With the Evil Queen?" he bellowed, still unable to believe it.

"Her. Name. Is. Regina," Emma stated calmly.

Neal kept shaking his head. "No, no, no," he muttered under his breath. Then he took a quick couple of steps towards Emma and grabbed her shoulders. "That can't be true, Emma," he said. "That's … that's just wrong."

Emma didn't like the wild glint in his eyes. "Really?" she asked acidly. "You're offering an opinion on what's wrong?" Regina's words from earlier came back to her. "How about getting a young girl pregnant and then selling her up the river?" Emma felt her anger boiling over and she had to focus not to let her thoughts take refuge in thoughts of Regina.

Neal was undeterred. "That was different," he protested. "We were in love."

"Were, Neal. Were." Emma met his eyes, trying to get through to him. "That was a long time ago, and I've moved on from you."

"To the woman who made sure you grew up the way you did," Neal spat.

"She has changed," Emma replied simply. "She's a wonderful mother and—"

"Oh my God," Neal interrupted her. "Does Henry know? How can you do that to him?"

"Do what? Make him happy by giving him the family he's always wanted?"

"He told me he wants us to be his family," Neal said urgently, as if that would sway Emma. "Together we can make him happy."

Emma took a step back from Neal because he was beginning to make her uncomfortable. "Henry knows." Her voice had lost the last trace of kindness by now. "He knows about his mom and me, and he's happy, Neal. He can't wait for us to live together."

"I don't believe that," Neal growled. "I'm going to talk to him."

"Listen to me, and listen good," Emma growled back, poking him in the chest. "If you try to poison our son against us, I'll hunt you down and make you wish you'd never come back. Is that understood?"

"And then?" Neal taunted. "You'll let the Evil Queen kill me?"

Emma chuckled darkly. "No need for that. I will be the one you have to be afraid of. Very afraid."

"Everything okay in here?"

Neal and Emma whirled around to see David standing in the doorway, watching their belligerent stance with a raised eyebrow. "What's going on here, Emma?"

Neal grinned evilly. "Yes, Emma," he taunted her once more. "Why don't you tell your father what's been going on in your life lately." He pushed past Emma, hitting her shoulder none too gently on the way out. "I need to be away from … here." From you was what everyone in the room clearly heard.

"Stay away from Henry," Emma yelled after him, rubbing her shoulder, before she turned back to David, wondering if this was what teenagers felt like when they had to explain to their fathers why they were home way past curfew. "Hi."