No major TW for this chapter...

Emma throws her keys and jacket on the table top and flops onto the sofa cushions face first, What a day. Will that witch not give me one days peace..She hears the door close with a stern thud and peaks up from the sofa cushions. Mary Margret fills the kettle, pulling three mugs from the cupboard as the blond pushes herself up, narrowing her eyes at the pair, its time to get some answers..

"What happened between you guys and Morrigan in the Enchanted Forest? Why does she hate you so much?"

Mary Margret huffs, leaning on the kitchen worktop in the cramped apartment.."To be honest I'm not sure. One day she just showed up and tried to kill us, or more specifically your father. After our first encounter she'd just pop up now and again, spring an ambush, attack a village to lure us out but she never gave up trying to..you know."

David hangs his jacket on the rack before joining his wife at the counter.."It was just another one of Regina's tactics to try and kill you Mary Margret."

"No I don't believe that..Every time she came after us she was more interested in taking your head not killing me. Regina may have sent her but there's something else going on here."

"Does it matter? The crazy woman tried to destroy us, still is for all we know."

Emma props herself on her elbows.."I agree with Mary Margret, there's something we're not seeing here. Ever since Morrigan showed up I've had a gut feeling like somethings not right."

"Yeah your gut was telling you shes a psycho killer."

"No its the way she reacts around Regina, there's something else, like they're keeping secrets and all of it has something to do with you."

"They're both killers Emma, their motives aren't really important. Don't look to deeply into it. Whatever issue Morrigan has with me, I can handle it."

"Yeah but clearly she cant."

David frowns.."What do you mean?"

"Regina said something funny, she asked you why you thought Morrigan hated your guts. Regina obviously knows so Morrigan clearly has her own personal reason here."

Mary Margret narrows her eyes curiously.."But we never came across Morrigan before she started working for Regina."

"That you can remember, perhaps you shafted a beggar in the streets once or killed her dog by accident."

"I hardly think that elicits killing us."

"Yeah well you might have done something else that royally pissed her off."

"Clearly."

David shakes his head.."Whoa hold on, are you blaming us for the way she turned out?!"

"No I didn't say that, I'm just saying stop looking at it as though the glass is half full. Something else is going on here and we cant have another episode like today. Can you imagine what would happen if Morrigan did what we saw tonight in a populated area?"

"It would be chaos." Mary Margret adds grimly.

Davids jaw steels, a firm look in blue eyes.."Then there's only one thing we can do, we have to get rid of her."

"David!"

He sternly looks to his alarmed wife.."She's a threat to everyone."

"So what do you suppose we do? Kill her?"

Silence...

Emma's eyes widen, he's really thinking about killing her!..

Mary Margret scowls.."Were not killing anyone!"

"Then what do you suggest? Have Regina chain her to the mansion?"

"What about the collar? Cant we.."

"No!" Emma snaps.."I wont watch that slavery crap again. We'll just have to find another way."

David sighs irritably.."Well unless you can stop her magic, then we're out of options."

Mary Margret's face lights up.."What about Blue? Maybe she can enchant one of the cells in the station with fairy dust, like Rumpelstiltskin's cell back in our land."

The former prince nods.."Yeah that could work."

"And then what? We keep her locked in a cell for the rest of her days?"

Mary Margret refocuses on her skeptical daughter.."It can be a temporary solution. Regina's been working well with her, excluding today's incident of course, but I think its worth a try."

"Yeah she hasn't tore anyone elses face off in the past two weeks." The Image of Michael Tillman lying in the ally flashes in Emma's mind, she shivers and Mary Margret rolls her eyes.

"She didn't tare it off Emma."

"Yeah well, it sure as hell looked like it to me. For a moment I thought Morrigan was going to do the same to that old guy in the diner..She said he tortured her..if I'm honest, I would have done the same thing." Emma frowns, The sick bastard actually was brought over with the curse. And he has a wife and son. Things don't seem fair sometimes..

"Revenge is never the answer Emma, you only end up hurting yourself and the people you love."

There's a heavy silence before a hesitant David clears his throat.."So should we call Mother superior in the morning?"

Mary Margret quickly answers.."We need to talk to Regina first."

Emma nods.."Yeah we don't want two crazy witch's on the rampage. We'll call Regina first and discuss it so we can go over all the options."

"But.."

"David, Emma's right, we cant rush into this. We talk to Regina first."

David huffs his irritation.."Fine."

"Right, now that's out of the way, I'm going to bed." Emma pulls herself from the couch and begins to climb the wooden stairs to her room.

"Goodnight sweetheart."

She resists the urge to roll her eyes at her mothers parental voice, Sweetheart? What am I, Henry's age..

"Night."

Emma wearily continues climbing, prepared for an extensive good nights rest..

Regina gazes into the swirling black liquid, lost in her thoughts, what happened tonight was a huge setback for everyone. One step forward, two large steps back. I've managed to calm and settle her in her room. She wouldn't stop crying and I..I didn't know what to do. I'm not really the comforting type, sure I've soothed Henry when he had nightmares or when he'd injured himself as a toddler, but this..this is something else entirely..

Regina places a silver spoon in the sink, This may be too much for me to handle. Morrigan just attacked people in public, they'll be calling for her blood now and I'm certain her identity will be known by everyone in town by morning. A storms brewing and it looks like its already gusting against the both of us..She picks up two black mugs of coffee and heads upstairs. She pushes Morrigans door open with her shoulder and freezes when noting the rooms empty, Damn it! That woman will be the death of me! She couldn't have gotten far..

Quickly a steely Regina places the cups on the bedside table and hastily walks from the room. She checks upstairs before scouting the ground floor, Nothing..She sighs, reaching for the house phone but something catches her eye in the backyard. With the click of her heels, she heads for the backdoor, discarding the house phone on a worktop as she goes. When she opens it, brown eyes glide to the woman curled up on the bench under her apple tree. Regina huffs her frustration, Well at least she didn't run off..

Morrigan continues to fiddle with the apple in her hands, an apple that's a symbol for so much..health, wisdom, but in my case suffering, fear..The pad of her thumb rubs over the skin of the fruit, the blue moon continuing to shine in the open space, Its weird how the apple looks like its black..just like my heart no less..She sighs, shifting slightly. Using that much magic was stupid but she does feel a little better and less..dangerous in a way. The magic that would constantly want to burst from her has disappeared, her anger with it but she doubts its for long, now I just feel tired..tired and weak..Someone walks passed and sits on the bench beside her before a tranquil silence befalls the backyard.

Both witch's sit, looking at nothing in particular, content in not speaking but just engrossed in each others company. Regina looks down at Morrigans hands noting the apple. Green eyes stare intently at the fruit, examining it like it'll reveal hidden secrets, I have to wonder what Morrigan expects if the fruit could talk..She feels a little self conscious, I can guarantee her thoughts will involve me somehow..Ten more minutes of heavy silence pass before Morrigan breaks the veil.

"Why apples?"

Regina cocks an eyebrow.."What do you mean?"

"Apples, its like your signature, why?"

"I.." Regina's a little taken aback, I was expecting to talk about the events of today, about magic maybe..

"Its a part of my childhood."

"You had a tree in the palace."

"Yes, I brought it with me from my family estate when..when I married Leopold." Regina's strong voice falters slightly and she looks down.

"I'm sorry.."

"There's no need to apologize."

There's a heavy pause..

"You brought the tree to the palace so it must have been important."

"I also brought it to Storybrooke.."

Morrigans green eyes rise to stare into brown before lifting to the branches hanging above.

"My father gave me the sapling when I was a girl, to help teach me responsibility."

Morrigans focus returns to the fruit in her lap.."He was a good man, kind. When I'd get angry after making a mistake in training, he'd tell me everything was okay, that I just needed to focus less on my rage and more on my desire to protect the people I care about. It would always make me madder because he didn't understand..didn't know the truth about my past but..he was the only one that wasn't scared to give me advice, to just talk to me.."

Regina's eyes glass over.

"He was very wise to give you this tree, and just as its grown, so have you.."

Regina shifts subconsciously.

"You have a son, a family and believe it or not friends.." Morrigan looks at the puzzled mayor and smiles.

"I know it may not seem like it now, but you are capable of redemption. You love Henry too much to not succeed, and Emma, you two are very similar whether you like it or not and one day, you'll finally understand each other, one day everything else will slot into place and when that happens, you'll get your happy ending Regina. You'll have the family you've always wanted, a family that will love you and your heart will find its way."

A tear slips from pained brown eyes.."I..that just doesn't seem possible."

Morrigan smiles weakly.."Anything's possible, as long as you hold onto the prospect of happiness, it will find you eventually.." She looks back down at the fruit, her smile slipping.."Happiness isn't for everyone."

Regina gently lays her hand atop Morrigans.."If you think I can have happiness then why can't you?"

Green eyes water and Morrigan shakes her head, a sad smile creeping back onto her lips.."Ive come to terms with my fate, I'm stuck, cursed, but that's okay, I know some people have to suffer so others can get the happiness they deserve. And even after everything that's happened, if I have to continue to suffer in order for you to get yours...then so be it.." Morrigan slips the apple into Regina's hand and squeezes lightly. Rising from the bench, she smiles weakly at her Queen before walking painfully into the white mansion.

Regina sits frozen, clutching the apple in her hand, shes willing to sacrifice everything, willing to give up her own happiness for the woman who ultimately destroyed her life? No one has ever been so considerate, so caring, no one except..Daniel..She gazes at the apple in her hands, a light suddenly sparking inside her heart, growing, making her feel things she hasn't felt in over thirty years. Her mind replays Morrigans words over and over, she actually believes shes incapable of receiving care or even love and its almost painful to witness..She quickly wipes her eyes, I need to tell her everything, tell her that we will find happiness..both of us..

Regina stands promptly and swiftly heads back inside, entering the eerily quiet mansion. Locking the back door and placing the red apple on the kitchen counter, she briskly walks through into the foyer.

"Morrigan?" She quickly heads into the living room, her adrenaline pumping at the stillness of her home.."Morrigan?!"

"Yes?"

Regina whirls, immediately seizing up and all of the confidence she had fading, Come on! Tell her how you feel!..

"I..I just want to say that I..."

Morrigan can sense the former Queens internal struggle and smiles weakly.."Its okay, you don't have to say anything. I'm going to bed if that's okay?"

Regina stares apprehensively and nods defeated. Morrigan bows her head and turns to leave, ready to sleep away her aches and pains.

"Wait.."

Morrigan turns back wearily.

"I..Thank you, for what you said earlier but your wrong. You don't have to suffer for me, you deserve a happy ending more than anyone else in this town and I intend to make sure you get one."

Green eyes stare grimly, yeah..okay Regina..

"Good night Regina."

"..Good night."

Morrigan steadily makes her way upstairs as brown eyes observe intently, I know that look, she doesn't believe me and with her current state its understandable. But I'm determined, I will help her get a happy ending and I know exactly how but..it will most certainly end my life or at the very least burn this town to the ground. Can I really do that to everyone? To Henry? He will surely hate me again and every hope of getting my happiness will be destroyed. It's Morrigans happiness or mine, I know its not possible to have both...

2 days later:

Its been a couple of days since the incident at the diner and the town has whipped themselves into a frenzy, My parents had tried to calm the situation, calling an emergency town meeting to discuss Morrigan, but everyone simply got themselves worked up stating that the Dark Knight was back doing the Evil Queens bidding. Eventually they calmed enough not to go after the two witch's but there was still a fair amount of tension in the air. The morning after, I had a frustrating conversation with madam mayor about the prospect of keeping Morrigan in one of the cells with a barrier. Of course she was disgusted at the suggestion but after hours of no compromise, Regina finally agreed to at least talk to Morrigan about it and get her opinion..

An icy Regina and pensive Morrigan sit in front of Emma and her parents. Emma's eyes flicker from Morrigan to David as the pair continue to stare daggers at one another, please don't, I cant handle another magical mess up right now. Especially in my station..

"So."

"So?" Regina replies coldly.

"So, whats the verdict?"

Brown eyes narrow.."I don't agree to such methods."

Mary Margret quickly speaks up.."But its not a permanent solution, its just until.."

"I'll do it."

The Charming's wide eyes flicker to a placid Morrigan, Emma's brow shooting into her hairline.."You'll what now?"

Regina scowls.."I think she spoke perfectly clear. I may not be happy with the arrangement but Morrigan feels it may be for the best."

"Okay, great.."

Regina bares her teeth at the blond.."No it isn't sheriff! I hope you understand that this will not be permanent no matter how stupidly scared people are in this town!"

"No of course not, we promise its nothing permanent." Mary Margret yet again jumps in but Regina's scowl only deepens.

"Well lets hope you can keep this promise Snow!"

The spiteful tone makes the pixie haired woman recoil. The hurt and remorse on Mary Margret's face spikes interest in Morrigans eyes, Must be something from the Queens past..

"Right well, Mother superior has already put the enchantment on the bars so shall we get this over with?"

Morrigan scowls at a pushy David, so keen to lock me up eh Charming!..

Emma and Regina rise as David attempts to grab Morrigans arm but gets the limb slapped away. In a flash, the two step into each others personal space growling.

Emma quickly pushes her father away with a scowl of her own.."I'll take care of it David!"

The man keeps his focus on the fuming witch as Regina quickly steps in front of Morrigans eye line. Green eyes drop to the stern mayor and she concedes, taking a step back. Regina's arm extends to the cell behind them and with one final venomous glance at David, Morrigan enters her cell reluctantly. Emma approaches with a small remorseful smile and pushes the door shut with a clunk.

Morrigan stands in the center of her cell, inspecting the bars, wonder if its working..Stepping forward, tentatively grabbing the bars, frowning when nothing happens, wasn't it supposed to shock me or something?..

Regina rolls her eyes.."The bars wont hurt you, the spells designed to contain your magic, nothing more."

Morrigan retracts her hand, continuing her inspection.."Hmm..not very secure then."

Emma raises a skeptical eyebrow.."Oh yeah? Hows that?"

"What if I'm a master lock picker? I could just open the door and walk free when no ones looking."

"Are you a master lock picker?"

"No."

"Well then."

Morrigan grins.."Touche'."

Emma cant help a grin of her own before Mary Margret clears her throat and scoops up her bag from one of the office chairs.."Right Emma, we'll be going."

"Okay, I need to speak to Regina about a case so I'll meet you guys later for lunch?"

"Sure, we'll bring you something from Granny's. Morrigan would you like anything?"

Wide green eyes dart to the former princess, did Snow White just offer to buy me lunch?..Morrigans focus flickers to the other two women who also look mildly surprised at the offer, Wait a minute, this may be an attempt to kill me. Death by food poisoning, no thanks..She clears her throat.."No."

"Oh..Okay."

Morrigan notes how the woman's face and shoulders drop slightly, she looks disappointed..Why the hell is she disappointed?! That woman is impossible to work out sometimes..Morrigan rolls her eyes.

"With good reason I don't enjoy the greasy death traps that infuriating old woman serves. And yes, you can tell her I said that."

Emma and Regina both grin, even a ghost of a smile graces Mary Margret's lips, David however stares at her narrow eyed and pouting.

"Well I could go somewhere else. What do you like?"

"Mary Margret you don't need to do this, she's locked up for a reason." David mumbles.

The three women frown, Emma looking to her equally puzzled mother.."What the hell's that got to do with picking up lunch?"

"I'm just saying she doesn't have to feel guilty."

"That's not why I offered David."

Morrigan grins, finding an easy opportunity to get under the princes skin.."What's the matter Charming? Cant stand to see your wife offer lunch to someone as evil as me?" She moves towards the front of the cell chuckling and wrapping her hands around the bars. She can see the mans shoulders tense, his lips pursing once more.

"As a matter of fact yes, I do have a problem with my wife showing kindness to a person who was hell bent on killing her for years."

Emma slaps a hand to her face, looking pointedly to Regina who in turn huffs and shakes her head.."Alright guys.."

"Kill her? No, just you Shepherd, and what makes you so sure I still wont?!"

Emma can tell its an idol threat but David takes the bait and storms over to within arms reach of the bars. Mary Margret goes to interfere but Regina holds out an arm, shaking her head.

"Going to be hard to do that with you in your cage!"

"Oh don't worry, I wont be in here long!"

"And what makes you so sure you wont be?"

Morrigans eyes blaze at the smug grin on his face, the fucking smug eating shit!..

"After all of the lives you've ruined, your right where you belong!"

"The lives I've ruined! You sanctimonious piece of shit!" Morrigan screeches her frustration as David takes a confident step forward.

"Then tell me..What the hell did I ever do to you?!"

Emma cant help lean towards the conversation and with a quick glance at her mother, Mary Margret's just as fascinated with the answer. The blonds eyes flicker to the wide eyed mayor, fear? Close though.

Morrigan leans in, her nose almost touching metal, the grip on the bars turns her knuckles white as green eyes blaze, I want to tell him just to see the look on his fucking face, but it wont make a difference. I wont drag Elinor's name into this..

"You deserve nothing from me!" She peels her hands from the bars, turning back into her cell.

"That's what I thought, rotten to the core."

Morrigan see's red, spinning and grabbing Davids throat through the bars. She wraps her other hand in his shirt and roughly pulls him forward so he smashes into metal. His surprised blue eyes gape as his hands grab ahold of her wrists. The rest of the woman startle, Emma and Mary Margret quickly dashing to his aid whilst Regina observes.

"Rotten?! Do you even know what that means!" The women try to pry her hands from the mans shirt and neck.."Do you even realize what you've done!"

Davids face slowly turns a bright red, his eyes rolling backwards and Morrigan grits her teeth, applying more pressure.

"David!"

Mary Margret shrieks, Emma pulling with all her strength to release the death like grip on her fathers throat.

"Morrigan stop!" The blond quickly reaches for her gun.

"You fucking child killing bastard!"

Emma's blood runs cold, the whole room freezing until Regina takes a hasty step forward.

"Morrigan that's enough!"

Morrigans glare flickers over to a firm Regina and with one last snarl, she shoves him backwards and storms into the center of her cell. David coughs, spluttering for air as he gradually climbs to his feet, staring daggers at the witch's back. His wife and daughter exchange confused looks, oblivious to the prince who once again takes a threatening step towards the cell.

"GET OUT CHARMING!"

Regina's booming voice halts him quickly, The man glares but it's his wife's soothing hand on his shoulder that gets his attention. There's a pause, and then David spins on his heels, stomping out of the sheriffs station.

Mary Margret gives Emma a silent look and the blond nods, watching her mother follow her furious father. She glances at Morrigans tense back, child killer? Looks like the plot thickens..God she wants answers but pushing the woman isn't such a brilliant idea, the anger rolling off her is intense. Emma looks to Regina who only has eyes for Morrigan, remorseful eyes it seems.

"Miss Swan, we'll talk elsewhere about the case."

"Yeah, we can talk in one of the interrogation rooms."

They both walk to the back of the station, glancing at the cell as they go.

After the door down the hall closes, Morrigans shoulders drop, quickly followed by her tears, the fucking sheep herder! I hate him! Despise everything he stands for..no wonder I became evil..She crawls onto her scratchy cot, curling in on herself and sobbing quietly, Fucking heroes...