Despite deciding she needed to speak with young Snow, Regina delayed in doing it several days. This was mostly because Snow had spent the last few days giving pretty much everyone the cold shoulder.

That had been no more apparent than her interactions – or lack thereof with Emma. Snow had ignored her entirely.

Regina knew this was a reaction to Emma going out with her even if Snow didn't know that they were actually going out on a date.

Ever since that night, Snow had nothing to say to Emma although she had suggested to Regina that it was time for her find other employment.

With Regina even it had been scarce contact. Regina had offered a couple of times to take her out riding again and had been turned down.

Even for Snow this was a bit much for a temper tantrum.

But today was the day she had decided. Putting it off any longer would be irresponsible.

Regina was nervous all day and found work impossible to concentrate on. Emma was picking Snow and Henry up at school and then bringing Snow to Regina's office. Emma had suggested that home might be a better setting, but Regina dismissed the idea. Her office was where she felt most in control and she would need that for this conversation.

She still hadn't decided what exactly she would say.

She had spent a lot of time the last couple of days thinking about Daniel. At the beginning of her forced marriage she used to think about Daniel all the time and how her marriage with him would be. She would daydream about a small house in the countryside where they would raise horses and have complete freedom. She dreamed of their children – at least three of them - and what kind of father Daniel would be. She tried to find her escape in these thoughts until it became impossible. The reality of her situation didn't allow her to escape even with the thoughts of the love she shared with Daniel.

The reality was she had been forced into a marriage and into the role of mother in a family she didn't want.

Now she was going to have to confront a portion of that past.

And she had no idea how to do it.

Before she knew it, her secretary was letting her know Emma was there.

Emma held the door open for Snow who entered with the ever-present pouting look on her face. She took a seat on one of the chairs at the desk but said nothing.

"Can I have a word your majesty?" Emma said indicating they should step outside the office.

Regina followed her out and down the hall a bit.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Emma asked.

"I am quite certain I do not, but I don't see where we have much in the way of a choice either."

Emma rubbed the back of her neck. She had slept horribly as her brain couldn't seem to stop thinking about this happening today. She knew Regina was right in that they had to try something. She just wasn't convinced this is what that something was supposed to be. This was all her fault, so she felt like she was the one who needed to fix it, not Regina.

"Her attitude is getting worse," Emma said. "When I picked her up, I tried talking to her and she flat out told me it would be best if I left the kingdom entirely because once her father returned she would see to it that I was banished."

Regina looked away a moment. "Sorry," she said. "She is used to getting her way no matter the situation."

"You don't have to apologize. That isn't your fault," Emma said.

"I didn't do anything to adjust that attitude when I had the chance either," Regina pointed out.

"Hey, her being a spoiled brat isn't on you," Emma said. "What were you supposed to do – stand up to the king? I'm guessing that wouldn't go over well."

"I could have done something, done more," Regina said. "What I chose to do was wallow in my own anger and resentment."

"Again, this isn't your fault," Emma said. "You were forced into a marriage you didn't want with someone old enough to be your father. It's wrong and it shouldn't have been allowed. I get angry even thinking about it. I don't care if that man is my grandfather, if he were here right now, I would make him apologize to you by force if necessary."

Regina was taken aback by the passion in Emma's voice.

Maybe that was why she chose that moment to kiss her.

"Regina?"

They parted and Regina looked to see Snow standing there in the hallway – a moment later Snow ran away.

"Shit," Emma said. "Shit."

Emma looked at Regina, "Shit. We need to go after her."

Regina was still standing there – just staring at the spot Snow just vacated.

"Regina," Emma said, touching her.

"It happened again," Regina said.

"Regina," Emma said. "We need to go after her."

"It happened again," Regina repeated.

"Snap out of it," Emma said, shaking her this time. Regina focused in on her finally. "We need to go after her."

Regina shook her head no. "I can't," she said softly, and she began to walk away.

Emma stood there a moment trying to decide if she should stay and make sure Regina was ok or go after her mother, but knew she had to follow Snow, so she ran out the door.

Regina went back to her office and sat down, her mind still not quite processing what had just happened. She remembered the first time – when Snow had caught her with Daniel. When it had happened, she wasn't filled with the dread she was now because she had spoken with Snow and thought Snow had understood that Daniel was her true love and the only one she wanted to be with. She thought the young girl understood that she could tell no one.

But that hadn't happened.

And everything since that moment had changed from the life Regina had wanted.

And now it happened again.

She didn't even realize that she had begun crying or that at the same time the skies outside began to darken with rain clouds.

….

The door to the diner opened and a couple of rain-soaked dwarves came in.
"It's like a monsoon out there," one of them said.

Emma waved them over with the rest of the volunteers she had wrangled up. They gathered around one of tables where a map of Storybrooke was laid out.

"Listen up. As you all know Snow is missing," Emma said. "It's now been three hours and with that weather out there, we need to find her. Now I've created a search grid for each of your groups to go through. Only after you have thoroughly gone through your area do you head to your back up one. Knock on doors, ask if anyone has seen her. With this rain, she has most likely sought shelter somewhere. Make sure you have working flashlights because it's about to get dark. As you exit, pick up one of the walkie talkies there by the door. We will be on channel five. Any questions?"

There were none, so she proceeded to give them each their assigned areas. Once they were all out it was just her, Henry and her father there.

"Which area are you headed to?" he asked.

"None. Not yet," Emma said. "I'm going to go speak with Regina."

She had told her father what had happened with Snow seeing her and Regina kiss and the disapproval had been written all over his face. It wasn't that he was upset with the idea of her and Regina kissing – or so he said – it as the timing of it. And yes, Emma could agree that timing was not spectacular.

But once she had gotten outside of city hall, she hadn't seen Snow anywhere and she had no idea in which direction she would have gone, which is why she called her father immediately.

"Emma, I really don't think now is the time for that," David said.

"Look outside," Emma said. "It was clear skies all day and now all of a sudden we have this downpour. It's not natural. And my magic. I should be able to use my magic to track mom, but I'm getting nothing. There is something else going on here."

"You think Regina is doing something?" David asked. "But I thought you trusted her."

"I do. She wouldn't do anything to harm mom," Emma said quickly. "But we need her in order to figure this out. And I'm concerned about her. You didn't see the look on her face. It was like she just discovered the world was ending or something."

"She still isn't answering her phone," Henry said. He had gone to city hall already to try and speak to her but found her office was locked up and she didn't answer when he knocked or tried to call.

"Take Henry home and then get out there to continue the search. Henry, I need you stay there. It is one of the few places mom is familiar with so she may return there," Emma said. "I will meet up with Ruby's group once I speak with Regina. Maybe her magic will work where mine failed."

"Ok, just hurry please," David said.

She nodded and gave Henry a hug, whispering to him that he shouldn't worry, and she would make sure Regina was alright.

It took Emma longer than it should to get back to city hall. The rain was coming down hard and visibility was worse than Emma had experienced in a long time. When she got there, city hall was dark and silent. She walked down the corridor to Regina's office and she knocked on it.

"Regina," she said. "It's me. Will you open the door?"

She knew it was possible that Regina wasn't even there. Regina's car was still in the lot and even though there was no light coming from under the door, Emma suspected she was still in there.

She tried the door handle, but it was locked.

"Come on Regina," Emma said. "Please, open the door."

Inside the office, Regina was sitting on the floor, her back against the door, her knees against her chest. She was inches away from Emma but made no move to respond.

"My mom, she's missing. I couldn't find her when she ran out of here," Emma said. "I could really use your help. I don't know if you noticed but it's raining cats and dogs out there, which is odd because rain wasn't expected today. It's unnatural. And I tried to use my magic to find her but for some reason it's not working."

Still no reaction.

"I can't imagine what you are going through right now," Emma said. "I can't. And I know nothing I say will make it any better. I'm so sorry for causing you this hurt and this pain. And I hate that I even have to ask you for help right now but I need to find my mom. I just have a bad feeling about this."

Again, no answer.

The silence stretched on and Emma decided she needed to get back out to the search.

"Will you at least call our son, he's worried about you," Emma said. "I'll come back later and check on you."

Emma walked toward the exit but stopped when she heard the office door open.

"Oh shit," Emma said.

There was Regina, timidly looking out of the doorway, but what had Emma frozen was that it was Regina – a younger Regina, a teenage Regina.