Emma rushed to Regina's side, "Regina, can you hear me?" The woman was sobbing, "are you hurt?"

"My back and side," she choked out.

"Can you stand or should I call the paramedics?"

"Paramedics," Regina was so upset that she wasn't startled when Emma took her hand. The blonde sat with the mayor, holding her hand, as they awaited the paramedics. She even rode in the ambulance with her. While in the waiting room, Emma called the sheriff to let him know what happened and asked him to find Henry. He had no intention of arresting him or anything, but he needed to know what happened in order to handle things when he found the boy.

"Miss Swan?" Emma turned to find a doctor, "I'm Doctor Whale and I've been caring for the mayor."

"How is she?"

"She has a concussion which has probably affected her brain even more. She has severe bruising on her back and left side. Luckily nothing is broken. She can go home, but I'd like her to rest. Thankfully it takes forever to discharge someone. The nurse will show you to her room."

Emma followed the nurse and closed the door behind her, "how are you feeling?"

"Terrible," the woman said.

"They're getting your discharge papers ready."

"Why are you being so nice to me? We only met yesterday."

Emma walked over and took a seat in a chair by the bed. She gently took Regina's hand in hers. "Ten years ago, I was left alone and pregnant. I gave my son up to give him his best chance. You took him in and raised him all on your own. You did so with all the love and care I wanted for him. You were there for him when I couldn't be. You cared for him when I wasn't able to. I've only spent a short amount of time with him, but you've done an incredible job."

Tears were falling down the mayor's face. "Thank you," she said softly.

Emma gave her a sympathetic smile before realizing something, "um, I came here in the ambulance with you. I need to get my car. Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine. Wait, did you lock my front door?"

"I don't know," Emma looked apologetically at the woman.

"If it's unlocked just go in and get my keys out of my purse. It will be easier for me to get into my car. Yours it pretty tiny."

Emma let the nurse know what she was doing and left. She did, in fact, leave the door unlocked. Emma got the keys and went to the garage. "Seriously," the woman was smiling at the Mercedes she was about to drive. Emma went to pick up the mayor and drove them back to her house. She told Regina how Graham was looking for Henry. When she pulled the car into the garage, the mayor placed a hand on her arm.

"I need to tell you something."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes," Regina said, "everything in that book Henry showed you," Regina took a breath and whispered emotionally, "it's true."

"It can't be. That's probably the pain medication talking."

"No, it's not and I can prove it. Take me to the cemetery."

Emma reluctantly did and helped Regina walk to a mausoleum. "What is this place?"

"My father's grave," Regina answered, "could you push the casket that way."

Emma did and it revealed a staircase, "I'll go first and you take my hand." The blonde led them down the stairs.

"This way," Regina pointed in the direction of a room. It had boxes with heart shapes on them that were glowing and beating.

"What...?" She couldn't even finish her question. She didn't know how to phrase it.

"This is my vault." Regina pulled out a box and handed it to Emma, "open it."

Emma was in shock by what she saw. A human heart occupied the box. There was a heart in nearly every box down there. "I don't know what to say."

"May I explain?" Emma sat and prepared to listen. Regina told her everything. "I never wanted to be the Evil Queen. I've made so many horrible mistakes in life. I had a chance to change when I married your grandfather. Your mother was my second chance. I knew Leopold would never love me. At least not the way he loved your grandmother. Snow seemed to take to me rather quickly. She needed a mother and I should have given that to her. My fear of my own mother and my fear of happiness destroyed me and everyone else. I wasn't born with these physical issues. They were the price I paid to cast the curse. It was either this or my father's life. I figured out a way around always struggling, but I can't always avoid these episodes."

Emma stood and walked over to Regina before hugging her. She then helped the woman to sit and knelt in front of her. Emma took one of the mayor's hands, "I can't even begin to understand all of the pain you have and the shitty life you've led. To me, it sounds as if you never wanted any of this and that this is all an act. It's a way to protect yourself from the pain you felt when your mother killed Daniel. Now I have a question. Is true love's kiss the only way to break the curse?"

"Yes, it is."

"I guess I better start mingling to see if I can find my true love."

"Promise me you'll take care of Henry once it's broken."

"I won't have to because I've already told you that I have no intention of taking him from you."

"No, that's not what I mean. Once the curse is broken, the people of this town will remember me and everything I've done. They will kill me."

"I won't let them."

Regina didn't say anything. Emma received a text from Graham that said he found Henry and was taking him back to the house. Emma helped Regina back up the steps, put the casket back, and took the mayor to the car. They arrived at the mayor's home just as Graham and Henry were walking in. The boy ignored Regina from then on.