AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like don't read.

I do not Once Upon a Time.

There are my own Original Characters in this at times.

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Emma jerked awake at the sound of a door slamming, her heart lodging in her throat to prevent the scream from escaping. The nightmare she had been trapped in had felt more real than anything else in her life. Sweat beaded across her face, rolling down her back as her body shook violently. The dreams were quickly returning, things she knew weren't true but appeared to be, and it felt so real. She shook her head as she climbed out of Regina's bed, heading for the ensuite. Splashing cold water on her face, she stared at herself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes were worse, the weight she had lost over the last month obvious in the dim light coming through window. Even as the Dark One she hadn't looked this terrible.

Turning back to the bedroom she noticed it was moonlight peeking through the curtains, causing her to frown. How long had she been out? Why hadn't Regina kicked her out yet? Why hadn't Robin? Anger surged through her body at the idea of the Forest Brat being anywhere near Regina's bedroom.

Nimue snorted from the chaise in the corner of the room, "Magic on the fritz again?"

Emma glared at her, "Shut up."

"Very adult of you Swan," Nimue smirked at her.

Merlin pushed himself up onto the dresser, swinging his legs, "You two sound like an old married couple."

Emma grimaced, "Not on any of our lives."

Merlin snorted, "I used to think the same thing. She does grow on you after a while."

Nimue glared at him, "For once I agree with Swan."

Emma crossed her arms over her chest, "Why are you two here again?"

Nimue sighed, "You really are an idiot."

Merlin nodded, "Use that brain of yours Emma."

She rubbed her temples, "My head hurts too much for this."

"Of course, it does. What did you expect when you have a nuclear meltdown in the middle of a dark street?" Nimue snapped.

Emma turned to glare at her, clenching her hands into fists at her sides, "It wasn't as if I did it on purpose. If you hadn't been pushing me-"

Nimue disappeared from the chaise and reappeared in front of Emma, anger glaring at her, "Do not blame that on us. You are the one that is hiding."

Emma shook her head, "I'm not hiding from anything."

"No but you are hiding things from the one person that you trust more than anything or anyone else." Merlin added, his eyes narrowed on her.

Emma grimaced, "Aren't you the one who easily turned to the darkness?"

Merlin shrugged, "Love makes you do crazy things. You of all people know that."

She shook her head and returned to the bed, climbing under the covers. She was curious as to where Regina was, but her headache and exhaustion were quickly lulling her back into slumber. Ignoring Merlin and Nimue she rolled away from them and buried herself deeper under the covers.

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Regina stood in the bedroom doorway, watching as Emma's emotions went from one extreme to the other. It was obvious that she was talking to someone, arguing even. Which put Regina on edge. If Emma was seeing someone, why couldn't she see them? Emma hadn't been making sense earlier, the way she almost struggled to understand the simple things was worrying. Now Regina could only watch as Emma climbed back into bed, oblivious to her presence. Once the blonde was breathing deeply, she crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Emma's pale face seemed to glow in the dim early dawn light that burst through the windows. Normally shiny blonde hair hung in dull waves around the pillow.

Gently she brushed stray strands off Emma's face, letting her fingers linger on the woman's soft cheek for a moment. The idea that she was losing the blonde before she even had her, had Regina leaning over the woman. Placing a soft gentle kiss to Emma's forehead she whispered into the darkness, "We'll get through this together."

She stood, careful not to wake the blonde, and moved out of the room. She rushed down the stairs and found Snow and David standing near the door, "The barrier is still in place for now. I won't be long."

Snow frowned, "What are you going to do?"

David hesitated, his eyes darting to the top of the staircase, "What if she wakes up?"

Regina's eyebrow rose, "Can't handle your own daughter?"

David frowned, eyes downcast, "She doesn't trust us. You are the only one that can get through to her right now."

Regina sighed, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Watch Henry and leave Emma alone." She narrowed her eyes at Snow, "Don't push. She still has her magic." Without waiting for a response she disappeared in puff of violet smoke.

Regina entered the asylum, head held high and determination on her face. While she didn't particularly care for the bare outdated building, she wasn't as nervous about being there anymore. The receptionist looked up at her with a polite smile crossing her face, "We already woke her and she's waiting in her cell."

Regina nodded, continuing to move through the familiar halls until she was in front of Zelena's cell door. She flicked her wrist, watching the door fly open before stepping inside to find a startled Zelena backed against the far wall in the small room.

Zelena frowned at her sister, "Come to bore me or do you need something so bloody early?"

Regina frowned, her mind swinging right back to the sleeping blonde in her bed, "Miss Swan."

Zelena smirked, "Still hung up on her, are you? I say you should just shag her and find out if there is more than just sexual tension." When Regina didn't even twitch, she frowned, "Okay what's wrong with the Savior this time? She take Henry without asking?"

Regina shook her head, fidgeting fingers unable to stop moving, "Something is wrong."

Zelena's eyebrow rose, an inherited trait apparently, "More information is required sis. I'm no mind reader."

Regina sighed heavily, emotions swirling wildly, "Right now I wish you were." She couldn't stop the tears from falling as she began to explain, from the moment she felt Emma trying to leave town to leaving the blonde sleeping in her bed half an hour before. Her heart ached at not knowing how to help the blonde. The only consolation right now was that Emma seemed to be soothed by her presence.

Zelena began to pace halfway through Regina's explanation, her mind working quickly. When Regina finished Zelena continued to pace as she spoke, "You ever meet Hatter? Tall fellow that seemed out of his mind but wise beyond his years?"

Regina nodded, "His name is Jefferson here."

Zelena turned to her, smirk firmly in place, "I may have had a hand in his scrambled mind." She raised her hands quickly as Regina lurched to her feet, "Complete accident. One hundred percent an accident and it wasn't as if he didn't know the consequences of what we were doing, so get off your high horse."

Regina pinched the bridge of her nose, "Your point?"

Zelena swallowed, "I may be able to help but I can't do it in here. I'll need to spend time with her, to understand exactly what's going through her mind. Working through the web of thoughts may be able to lead us towards the root cause."

Regina frowned, "Root cause?"

Zelena nodded, "Hatter was worried, the Queen of hearts was threatening his family, his daughter. All that worry swirled completely normal thoughts into larger and more rambunctious ramblings because he couldn't separate them all."

"Then why didn't you fix it?"

Zelena sighed, sitting on the edge of the narrow bed, "He was too far gone by the time he alerted me. Once the mind sets firmly into a pattern its nearly impossible to break."

Regina sat beside her sister, "Nearly but not completely impossible?"

Zelena nodded, "Yes, but once it reaches that point, its more dangerous to try to reverse it. It could end up much worse or…" She trailed off, not meeting Regina's eyes.

Regina felt nauseous at the look on Zelena's face, "Death?" At Zelena's nod Regina rose to her feet shaking her head, "No. I won't let it get that far. I can't let it get that far."

Zelena nodded, "I've really been trying Regina. I can help if you'll let me."

Regina turned back towards the redhead, "I won't bring Rumple in unless it's the absolute last option. However, the cuff will remain on until I'm positive you can be trusted."

It hurt that her sister would rather turn to the ex-Dark One than her, but she knew why. Instead of voicing her hurt she nodded, "Understandable. I did try to kill the woman multiple times."

Regina smirked, "As did I. Emma is a very forgiving person."

Zelena chuckled, "Wow you're heels over tits for her." She smirked suggestively at the woman, "Good for you."

Regina rolled her eyes, "How much time do we have?"

Zelena frowned, "I won't know until I can speak with her. Hatter was quick because of the magic involved."

Regina's worry flared even more, "Emma was the Dark One."

Zelena nodded, "Yes but this didn't start until after. I don't know if magic is at play yet." She stood and crossed the small room to her younger sister, "Breathe. The Savior is going to need you now more than ever. You have to remain calm, so she remains calm."

Regina frowned, "What do you mean?"

Zelena thought for a moment, "From what you described, she's drawn to you but hesitant. She wants to trust you but doesn't seem to remember how. If you're agitated or angry, she's going to pick up on that and become the same. Once I get a feel for her mindset, I can give you more."

Regina eyed Zelena warily, "How do you know so much?"

Zelena laughed, "What? You think I didn't have things to do in Oz other than try to get under Glinda's skin." A wicked smirk suddenly appeared on her lips, "Or into her bed."

Regina's hands shot into the air, "Don't. I don't want to know. Let's get back before Emma wakes and kills Snow and David."

Zelena clapped her hands together, "It's been so long since I've witnessed familicide."

Regina grimaced at the taller woman, "Oddly, not the most disturbing thing I've ever heard." She gripped Zelena's upper arm tightly as the redhead laughed wildly. Purple smoke surrounded them, whisking them back to the mansion.

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Emma slowly awoke in Reina's bed once again. Her head ached and her body was stiff. She grimaced as the warmth of the sun brushed across her face from the window. If she was going to be sleeping in Regina's bed, then she was going to insist on a thick curtain for the damn thing. She rolled out of bed and stumbled to the ensuite, desperate for a shower. Thankfully she was alone as she stood under the hot spray, her tense muscles relaxing slowly.

Thirty minutes later Emma emerged from the master bedroom into the dark silent hallway. She released a breath she didn't even realize she was holding before making her way towards the stairs. Regina's magical barrier still encased the house, but Emma found it comforting compared to suffocating now that she had actually slept for a few hours. She worked her way down the stairs, slowing down when she reached the halfway point. Her magic thrummed beneath her skin, alerting her to the presence of people nearby.

Unwanted people.

Coming to a stop near the bottom of the stairs she strained her ears, searching for the cause of the uncomfortable feeling that was working its way through her chest. Silence filled most of the house but once again there were voices coming from the kitchen.

"Why aren't we calling Archie?" Snow asked in a huff.

"We both know she doesn't trust him. Whatever happened between them recently was bad enough that Emma won't even talk to him." David answered, confusion in his tone.

"I don't know how to fix it David." Snow's voice was soft, not wanting to be overheard.

"Right now, let's worry about what's happening with her. Then we can try to work on a relationship with her." David's voice was comforting but no less painfilled.

"Do they really think that they can fix something that doesn't exist in the first place?" Nimue's voice was right beside her ear and Emma startled, slipping down the last two steps, and landing in a heap at the bottom of the staircase. Nimue's laughter rang throughout the otherwise silent mansion.

Emma glared up at her, ready to send a fireball at the creatin, "For fucks sake." Nimue smirked down at her but remained silent.

"Emma?" Snow's voice sounded from the kitchen a moment before the woman rushed through the doorway, "What happened?"

Nimue rolled her eyes, "She decided to roll around on the floor, what the hell does it look like?"

Emma snapped, "Don't start."

Snow frowned, stopping a few paces away from her daughter, seeing the anger clearly on the blonde's face, "Are you alright?"

Emma nodded as she rubbed her ankle, "Fine." She relaxed slightly as she felt Regina's magic pulse around her, and a puff of purple smoke appeared. She raised an eyebrow as the smoke dissipated revealing Regina and her sister.

Snow frowned, "Zelena?"

Regina's eyes instantly landed on Emma's form on the floor, "What happened?" She rushed to the blonde's side, heart racing.

Emma rolled her eyes, "I'm fine."

Snow was quick to frown at her, "I think she fell down the stairs."

Emma's glare was as instantaneous as it was deadly, "Shows how little you know."

Zelena snorted, eyeing the blonde, "I think I like this version better."

Regina glared up at her sister, "Don't start." Zelena shrugged but moved to the other side of the blonde, gripping her arm to help Regina lift the woman to her feet. Regina frowned at the wince of pain Emma made when she put weight on her left foot, "What hurts Emma?"

Emma leaned into Regina's body, "Just twisted my ankle. It'll be fine in a few."

Zelena raised an eyebrow at her, "Ice it, to bring down the swelling. Regina, be a dear and get something for the pain. I'll help the clumsy blonde to the sofa."

Emma grunted, "I'll show you clumsy."

Zelena chuckled, "Right after you can walk on your own again pet."

Regina frowned as she watched Zelena take Emma's arm around her shoulders and proceed to help the woman into the living room. A tightness started in her chest, a tight ball forming in the pit of her stomach sending annoyance rushing through her veins. It caught her off guard and she quickly tried to shove the feeling away, not wanting to ponder on it right now. She moved towards the kitchen with Snow right on her heels, which had a heavy annoyed sigh escaping her lips without a thought.

"You brought Zelena here? Why?" Snow demanded angrily.

Regina shook her head, remembering what Zelena had said about Emma picking up on her moods, "Because other than Rumple, Zelena is the only other one in this town that has the magical knowledge to possibly help in this situation." She began to gather some ice for Emma's ankle.

David frowned, "So you think it's magical?"

Regina shook her head, "I didn't say that."

"Then what are you saying Regina?" Snow snapped. "Zelena tried to kill us all if you've forgotten."

Unable to contain her anger she spun to face Snow, her words sharp, "I tried to kill all of you before I cursed everyone here, if you've forgotten."

Snow glared at her, arms crossing over her chest, "Yes but you've changed. You aren't that person anymore."

Regina scoffed, "I will always be that person Snow. It's a part of who I am. Who's to say my sister is the same person she was when she first arrived here? All of us have changed Snow. She deserves a chance too."

Emma frowned as Regina's magic crackled around her. She twisted on the sofa, glancing nervously at the doorway, knowing that Regina was getting upset by something or someone. It was putting her on edge. Nimue frowned, arms crossed over her chest, cocking her head at the doorway, "Should we snap and kill your mother? Or should we just remove her from the house?"

Emma raised an eyebrow at her, "What good would that do? She'd just find a way back in somehow."

Merlin chuckled, "Persistence, family trait apparently."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Go away." As Regina's magic began to settle again, she turned back to the fireplace, catching the frown on Zelena's face, "What?"

Zelena eyed the blonde carefully, "Why would you want me to go away?"

Emma shook her head, "Not you."

Zelena took in the woman's pale skin, dark circles under her eyes, the exhaustion exuding from her entire being. This was not the same woman she remembered from months ago. This woman was a shell of herself, if she could even be called that. She eased back against the arm of the sofa, "When are you going to tell my sister that you're in love with her?"

Emma choked on her spit, coughing roughly.

Zelena laughed as she patted the woman on her back, until Regina came rushing into the room, "What happened?"

Zelena quickly shook her head, "Nothing. We were just chatting." She grinned innocently.

Regina frowned as she sat beside Emma, closer than could be deemed appropriate, "Are you alright dear?"

Emma nodded, air finally returning to her lungs, "Fine. Inhaled wrong." Emma could see Regina didn't believe her for a second but put a strained smile on her face, "Are you okay?"

Regina frowned, "Of course dear. Why do you ask?" She caught a smug look on her sister's face behind the blonde.

Emma shrugged, "Just making sure."

Nimue snorted, "Yeah, that's what you're doing." Emma shot her a grimace.

Regina glanced up at Zelena, seeing the redhead watching Emma intently. There was a curiosity on the woman's face as she studied Emma and Regina suddenly felt uncomfortable at the attention that Zelena was giving Emma. She knew she went to the redhead for help, to help Emma, but it didn't make the uncomfortableness any easier to handle.

Emma frowned, feeling the eyes on her, "Why are you staring at me?"

Nimue plopped down on the armchair near Zelena, "Because they want to contain you. To suppress your power."

Merlin rolled his eyes, standing in front of the fireplace, "They care about you Emma. They only want to help. If you haven't noticed, you haven't been yourself."

Nimue scoffed, "If you listen to Nature Boy, Regina has been looking all over for you."

Emma frowned, brows pinching together. Why would Regina be looking for her when she had Robin? Emma was doing her job, working nights. She didn't have to be the only one protecting the town. If there was that big of a problem facing the town Emma would have known about it.

Nimue nodded, planting her feet firmly on the floor, "Exactly. She has someone else to stand and fight with now. You are nothing to her anymore."

Merlin glared at Nimue, "Stop it. Emma, you know Regina cares about you. You know she's worried for her…" he trailed off.

Emma's eyes darted up, narrowing at him as she dared him to finish that sentence.

Instead, Nimue finished it with a dark grin, "Friend. That's all you'll ever be Swan. You're just the one that Regina turns to when she needs something, not because she truly cares."

Emma's body shook with anger. That's all she'd ever be, she knew that, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Why couldn't the savior have a happy ending? Killian had been right all along. She would never be anything more than just the Savior to everyone in the town. At least to Killian she was a friend. She thought she was a friend to Regina but after all this time she was just kidding herself.

Nimue leaned forward in the chair, her eyes lighting up dangerously, "That's right Swan. Everyone just expects you to jump at their every beck and call. That's why they made you the Sheriff isn't it? For you to solve all their problems."

Merlin shook his head, "You know that's not true Emma. Yes, you are the Savior, but you have a goodness inside you that no one else can compete with. You are light Emma."

Nimue grimaced, "Yes, yes, we know. A child of true love, blah blah blah. Why can't she be more? Why can't she just be Emma? Why can't someone just go to her to talk, to chat about their day? Why does it always have to be when they have a problem?"

Regina frowned, catching Zelena's widening eyes as Emma's anger rose quickly. The dark look appearing on the blonde's face growing every second they sat in silence. Regina slowly and gently placed her hand over Emma's on the blonde's knee, "Emma?"

Emma startled, blinking as she focused on Regina, "Regina?"

Regina forced a comforting smile, "Why don't you get some more sleep dear?"

Nimue stood from the armchair, "Where is her Forest Thief?"

Emma cocked her head at Regina, "Where's…" She trailed, not sure if she wanted an answer or not.

Merlin grimaced, "The Forest Feces."

Nimue smirked, "How about just Fuck Face? Has a ring to it doesn't it."

Emma frowned again, eyes growing distant, and Regina glanced up at Zelena. Zelena nodded towards the foyer and stood, not evening fazing Emma as they left the room. Once in the foyer Zelena shook her head, eyes still on the blonde, "I think she's definitely seeing something, talking to something or someone."

Snow approached them quietly, "Like who?"

"Or what?" David asked as all eyes rested on Emma.

Zelena shook her head, "Did any of you talk to her after she was no longer the Dark One?"

Regina frowned, heart clenching in pain, "Both Henry and I tried to reach out to her. We searched the entire town for her. Henry even tried Hook's ship, but we couldn't find her."

David shook his head, "She was always gone by the time I got to work or she didn't arrive until after I was gone."

Snow sighed, "I tried the Station every night, but she never answered."

Regina frowned, "She answered plenty of calls at night."

Snow crossed her arms over her chest, "Then she knew it was our number and just didn't answer it."

Zelena nodded, "We might need to ask Rumple a few questions."

Regina shook her head, "No way. I'm getting him involved with Emma."

Zelena sighed, "He was the Dark One. He knows what she's been through, what she might be going through. He gave up the darkness remember."

Regina crossed her arms over her chest, "The answer is no. Emma wouldn't want that. Not after everything Rumple put us all through."

Zelena huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "Then we have to get her to talk. To tell us what she's seeing or hearing."

Regina snorted, "Good luck with that. She wouldn't talk before, what makes you think she'll talk now."

Zelena smirked at her, "Because its you who she'll be talking to."

A knock on the door prevented Snow from speaking and Regina frowned as she turned to open it, "Robin?"

Robin smiled at her, "Hey, I came to see…" he frowned eyes widening slightly, "Emma."

Zelena jumped slightly at Emma's sudden appearance beside her. Dark eyes narrowed at Robin, a tightness to the blonde's jaw was visible to everyone. Danger radiated from her, and Regina's magic began to react to it, surging uncontrollably. She could feel Emma's anger through the blonde's magic, and it was directed at Robin. However, she wasn't sure if her magic was wanting to protect Robin, or sooth Emma.

Regina turned back to Robin, "This isn't a good time."

Robin nodded, not taking his eyes off Emma, "I know but Swan's needed. Out in the forest."

Regina was about to protest but Emma's rough voice cut her off, "Lead the way."

Nimue appeared right beside Emma, "Are you out of your mind? How could you even think to help him?"

Merlin appeared on her other side, "Unfortunately, I agree with Nimue."

Emma shook her head as she moved forward, pausing at the barrier in the doorway. She could see Regina hesitate and sighed, "I'll be back, and then you can reapply the barrier."

Regina nodded, flicking her wrist, "I'll go with-"

"No!" She snapped, her voice harsh. She took a deep breath before speaking softer, "I'll call if I need anything." She marched out of the house behind Robin, eyes narrowed at the man's back. She knew this wasn't a good idea, unsure if she could keep her cool around him anymore, but she needed out of that house for a while.

Once they were entering the forest Robin broke the silence, "I think we need to talk Swan."

She kept her eyes forward, trying not to trip over anything, "I prefer the silence."

Silence fell between them until they were deeper in the forest, "Okay look," Robin stopped walking, turning to face. "At the hospital I think there was a misunderstanding."

She glared at him, "Not really."

Robin nodded, "I had just arrived. Regina stayed the entire time you were there."

Emma scoffed, "And that's supposed to make me feel better? You are supposed to take care of her. Make sure she sleeps in a comfortable bed. Eats-"

Robin shook his head, "She doesn't want me to take care of her Swan. SHE WANTS YOU!" His anger flared, "It's always been you, Emma. She drops everything for you and Henry. She ditches me because you need her."

Emma frowned, "I never asked her too."

He sighed heavily, "You never had to. She will do anything for you Emma. When you were the Dark One, we followed through that portal because Regina was going whether I thought it was a good idea or not. She refused to give up on you when the rest of us were on the fence, thinking you had given in to the Darkness."

Nimue leaned her arm on Emma's shoulder casually, "He's lying."

Merlin appeared beside Robin, "I don't think he is. What reason would he have for lying about his girlfriend being all over Emma? For shoving everything else aside just for Emma."

Nimue scoffed, "He brought her all the way out to the middle of the forest, alone. You think this is a coincidence?"

Merlin frowned, "Or he brought her out here to hurt her because his girlfriend is more into Emma than him."

Nimue smirked, "Ooh, good point."

Emma's magic tingled, flexing her fingers as she eyed Robin, "Why did you bring me all the way out here?"

Robin sighed, "Because I couldn't talk to you with everyone around. I know you and Regina are private people but after what she and I talked about at the hospital, you needed to know. She loves you, Swan."

Emma felt her heart constrict, "How can you be so sure? She's with you."

He shook his head, "No she isn't. Emma when you became the Dark One, she was forced to face her feelings for you. She was confronted with losing another love like she lost Daniel."

Emma's breath was stolen from her lungs, "She told you about him?"

Robin nodded, eyeing her curiously, "Said Cora killed him in the stables."

Emma frowned shaking her head, "Is there something out here?" At Robin's head shake she turned around, "I have to go." She waved her hand and quickly teleported to the stables that sat just outside the town Storybrooke, but within the magical barrier, in the countryside.

A sob ripped from her chest as she fell to her knees in the middle of the stables. Tears rolled down her face as the memory of that night appeared in her mind. Her heart nearly exploded at the pain on Regina's face, the way she cried over the body. She ached to run to her, to hold the young woman in her arms, to comfort her. She hated when Regina was in pain and that night was the worst she'd ever seen.

Another sob ripped from her throat, hands clutching at her chest as she struggled to pull herself from the memory of that night, trying desperately to rip her own heart from her chest to stop the pain. It was an impossible task. The look on Regina's face would forever be imprinted on her mind, never giving her a moments peace. She hated that she couldn't stop it, that she had been forced to be a part of it.

"Emma?" A smooth voice, a familiar voice called out to her before footsteps rushed to her. Hands appeared on her shoulders, "Emma look at me. It's over."

Emma's head snapped up, blurry vision slowly focusing on the face attached to the voice. Bright blue eyes stared back at her, wrinkles appearing at the corner of his eyes as he smiled warmly at her. Another sob broke through her relief, "Daniel?"

Daniel grinned, his wavy brown hair peppered with grey, the sign that he had aged in the time they had been apart, "I'm here Emma." He pulled her into a tight embrace, "You saved my life."

Emma broke even further at the words, her mind unable to focus on anything but the betrayal that Reinga would throw at her when the woman found out what she and Hook had done.

But that was so many years ago, another lifetime.

How was she ever going to explain to the love of her life what she had done? Would Regina ever forgive her? Or would this be the moment that Regina ended their friendship?

The moment Regina ended her life?