AN: This next chapter is a little short but I wanted to show a confusing calm before the storm..

The mayoral manor almost reminds Morrigan of the Dark Palace except with more warmth and less screaming and torture. The modern black and white decor catches mesmerized green eyes, the spiraling grand staircase and modest sized living and open dining rooms making her a little uneasy. This may not be the dark palace, but the power and judgment that used to be beaten into her when she walked marble halls, is uncomfortably reflected in the mayoral mansion as well, But enough sight seeing..Half way up the staircase Morrigan freezes and turns skeptically to Emma whose following closely.

"Where's the Queens bedroom?"

Emma stares a little baffled, turning to her similar looking parents until the blond notes narrow green eyes watching and Emma quickly bounds up the stairs.."I'll find out".

Emma disappears around the corner and Morrigan sighs, following at a careful pace with the body in her arms lightly bouncing against her chest. She spots the blond stood at the end of the hallway and quickly approaches the open door.

"Good, now leave!"

Morrigan slips into the bedroom, oblivious to Emma still stood outside the door.

Emma stares slightly amazed and uneasy. Shes never been on the second floor of the Mayoral Mansion before, never mind Regina's bedroom and it seems a little too intrusive. A four poster bed is pushed against the back wall with two fancy vanity drawers either side. To Emma's left, a door to an extensive walk in wardrobe is open and another expensive looking vanity table outside holds a large mirror with an extensive selection of makeup and perfumes atop. Behind the door, a large bookcase shelves various old books and next to it, a door leads, Wait is that..Regina has an en suite bathroom?..Jeeze, makes Mary Margret's place look like a shit hole..

Morrigan gently lays Regina on her queen size bed with plush pillows and silk maroon sheets. Carefully releasing the woman's legs, Morrigan grabs Emma's red leather jacket that's helping to cover Regina and she slides it off. The sheriff had been sympathetic to the Queen's rapidly freezing body outside the hospital and thought her good deed for the day would be offering Regina her trendy leather jacket. For a moment Morrigan was hesitant at the pity party the Charming's were quick to jump into, but this isn't about them, its about Regina and the woman's safety. Morrigan attempts to stand upright but finds an arm still very determined to stay around her neck.

"My Queen you have to let go.."

Regina shakes her head, her grip tightening but still impossibly weak so Morrigan to change tactics.

"Let go Regina."

The use of her first name is so foreign..

"I cant.."

Emma, David and Mary Margret watch the scene unfolding, tears brimming in the former princesses eyes as Charming places a comforting arm around his wife. Emma shifts, her mind racing and uncertain anger building, she cant believe someone managed to reduce Regina Mills to this, it just seems wrong.

"You can, Your stronger than this, stronger than what they did to you. I'm not going anywhere I promise."

Regina's grip slackens, Morrigans words sounding believably sincere as exhaustion drags her unwillingly toward the darkness, She's not lied to me yet, but then again..Regina thinks back to her actions as the Evil Queen, what she did, what she took, Why hasn't she killed me yet?..Questions spin through her mind but fatigue is slowly claiming her mind as well as her body, I'm tired, so tired..Eventually Regina's arm drops to the silk sheets and her head sinks into plump pillows. Her brown eyes gaze wearily into deep green as she nods weakly.

Morrigan smiles, nodding back and turns to retrieve a blanket when her face suddenly drops, How long have they been listening?! I was so oblivious..damn it!..She holds out the red leather jacket and Emma takes it pensively.

"Now leave!"

Emma frowns.."Can we talk outside?"

"You want to talk? Come back in a few days sheriff, her majesty needs to rest and recover."

There's that "Majesty" thing again..Emma refuses to back down, her Charming stubbornness resurfacing and she takes a step forward.."We'll talk tonight."

Morrigan's eyes narrow.."I told you to leave!"

"And I told you I'm not leaving until I get some answers. For all I know you could be the psycho who attacked her!"

Who the fuck..?!..Morrigan's jaw sets, her fists ball and eyes blaze, she attempts to move forward to slap the infuriating blond silly when a gentle hand grabs her wrist and she flinches at the well known touch. Grinding her teeth, clenching and unclenching fists she gradually looks down to the hand holding her still.

Regina notices the subtle change in flickering red and green eyes and slowly begins to rub gentle circles on the back of Morrigan's hand. The last thing she wants is for Morrigan to slaughter the Charming clan in her bedroom, it would take forever to get the blood out of my beige carpet..

Morrigan once again finds herself looking into tired brown eyes, a hint of something else in them that levels her rising anger, She know that look, that warning, Looks like the woman's recovery has already started..Taking deep breaths she calms herself and kneels beside the bed to ground shaky legs, calm..and breathe..

Emma frowns, glancing at her perplexed parents at the bizarre and uncomfortable move from the stranger, I've had enough of this weirdo crap!..Quickly Emma paces from the bizarre chaos and rushes down the stairs two at a time with her parents hot on her heels.

"Emma where are you going?"

"Home!"

Mary Margret staggers down the grand staircase.."Wait, I thought you wanted answers?"

"Yeah and that..woman isn't going to give them anytime soon!"

"We cant just leave Regina."

"You heard Psycho Jane in there, she wants us to leave!" Emma throws the broken door open and paces outside.."If you want to stay and babysit then be my guest but I'm going home to think through this whole crappy night and get some damn sleep!"

And with that, Emma stomps off down the path, Mary Margret and a speechless David staring after her.

"It's okay you go, I'll stay here tonight." David passes Mary Margret his keys but she takes them hesitantly.

"But David you cant, what if that woman catches you?"

"Then she'll boot my ass out. Look its.." He checks his watch, the black nights sky slowly turning a deep shade of blue.."..2:17, the sun'll be up soon. Get a few hours rest and then come back with Emma later.

She pauses.."We'll be back at eight. But if you're thrown out don't hesitate to come home."

David nods, guiding the apprehensive woman down the mayoral pathway and kisses her lightly.."Fine now go."

Blue eyes watch his wife briskly chase down their daughter before he's heading back inside and wandering into to the living room.

"Hey!"

David jumps forward, whirling to find Morrigan standing right behind him with a scowl.

"I thought I told you to leave!"

"Yeah we did and then we kinda..cared." David rubs the back of his neck sheepish and green eyes narrow.

"She doesn't need your pity Shepherd! Nor does she need you in her house!" Morrigan takes a step forward, fists clenched and he quickly raises both his hands peacefully.

"Look, I know something really terrible happened but I'm not here to pity anyone. Whoever did that to her is still out there, and since you broke the front door, I thought you could use the back up just encase."

"I can protect her, alone!"

"Maybe, but you look exhausted and so is Regina, you both need rest so while that happens I'll keep watch okay? Its not pity, its just another set of eyes keeping a look out."

There's a pause, The Shepherd has a point..Shes exhausted and with all the magic used today, what if she falls asleep whilst on watch? Who knows what would happen, maybe the morons right..

"Fine! But you stay down here, and if anything happens you come and get me understand?!"

"Okay."

"Okay!"

Morrigan briskly heads for the staircase, a slow migraine edging its way forward, Rest does sound good..

"Oh and Emma and Mary Margret will be back later. As you know we need to talk."

"Yes we do."

And with bitter distaste for the valiant prince, Morrigan heads back upstairs, checking all the windows in the other bedrooms before quietly slipping into Regina's room. Green eyes instantly lock onto the small Queen curled in the fetal position in the middle of the maroon sheets. Cautiously Morrigan makes her way over and stares at the steady rise and fall of Regina's chest, I'll attempt to heal her tomorrow, there's no point waking her now..Morrigan scans the room, her focus landing on a blanket draped over the chair before its gently thrown over Regina's battered body.

"Good night my Queen."

The words are but a whisper but alert brown eyes flicker open. Regina turns in time to watch Morrigan slip to her knees by the bed, the woman's boots unzipped and silently placed beside her. She watches her protector lean against the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and staring at the closed door and Regina wonders why the woman's still defending her after everything they've been through, After everything I put her through..

There's a shuffling and Morrigan turns, startling when green eyes lock onto weary brown staring at her. Morrigan visibly swallows, shifting on the carpet and waiting to be reprimanded for something she hasn't quite worked out yet. A frail hand snakes from the sheets and pats the silk beside Regina's head.

"Up."

It wasn't loud but it still made Morrigan flinch, but with a weak nod, she climbs uncertainly onto the bed, an bruised arm suddenly snaking around her waist, pulling her backwards and she stiffens. Green eyes widen further when her shoulders hit a set of soft pillows and a mass of raven hair is suddenly resting against her chest, what's going on?!..

"Lay with me."

Frazzled and desperately willing her courage forward, Morrigan shakily reaches up, carefully placing a hand on her Queens shoulder and another on the arm stretched around her stomach. Green eyes take a peak at the clock on the vanity..02:22am..Shes meeting with the savior and the two idiots later so that should be a fun conversation, the rest of today is going to be interesting indeed...