Emma wasted time on the practice field, and then bathed, and then went downstairs to the library. There was no purpose to it, merely a wish to let Regina go to sleep before she returned to their rooms. She had a chambermaid bring her clothes to change into after her bath – a clear enough sign to her wife that she wasn't ready to face her.

It wasn't as if she was even angry anymore, she wasn't. She was confused. Despite the reason Regina gave for leaving, Emma couldn't help but feel like Regina was leaving her without giving it a second thought. It didn't make her angry, it made her sad. She thought they had come a long way in their relationship, had wanted to celebrate that with Regina now that she had her memories back.

She wanted to hold on to Regina extra tight even if her wife had no idea why. She wanted to hold her in her arms and know that despite what had happened in the past when they were kids, they still made it here together.

She stayed in the library until it was so late that she was sure Regina had probably given up on her and gone to bed. She too was tired as she made her way upstairs. The common room was quiet, empty, and dark, but as she got closer to the door to the bedroom she saw there was a light shining from under the door.

Moving slowly, she opened the door and as she did Regina who must have been pacing, stopped and turned toward her.

"I'm sorry," Regina said as Emma shut the door behind her. "Can't we please talk about this? I don't want to go to bed one more night with this lingering between us."

"I have to change clothes," Emma said, moving to the other room. Regina followed her but stayed in the doorway. Emma grabbed some nightclothes and went behind one of the changing screens – something neither woman had used in a long time.

"You have every right to be upset," Regina said. "I know I'm completely in the wrong here and I keep thinking that there is nothing I can possibly say to make this better. But maybe there is something I can do. I was thinking it might be best if I give up on my magic, entirely. I don't want it to come between us anymore than it already has. You might think that I'm saying this because of what you said about my magic not being more important than our kingdom. That isn't why. It's not more important than you is the reason why."

Emma, who hadn't started to change clothes, came out from behind the screen to look at her.

"And I know that it bothers you – this magic. Ever since you found out about my mom and your mom and all of it, you've changed. You went from being supportive, to being the only person who ever listened to me about it to being someone who is afraid of it, or at least that is the only thing I can come up with because something has changed with you concerning my magic," Regina said, her eyes targeted on the floor, not on her wife. "My mom told me that the reason I can't control my magic is that I fear it. She's right, I do. I'm afraid of it and the harm it can do. But what scares me the most is that you are afraid of it. So I've decided to give it up entirely. I once asked my mom if there was any way to remove it and she said no, but maybe there is a way to I don't know bind it or something so I can't use it, can't feel it."

When she finished, she looked up at her wife, but Emma had an expression on her face that Regina couldn't interpret.

"What? No," Emma said finally as she came closer to Regina. "Why would you …" She paused, licking her lips, not sure what to say, but stopped by the thought of that day so long ago, of Regina screaming and her inability to do anything about it. "You're not giving up your magic. Why would you even think to say something like that?"

"Because this, this magic bothers you. Don't stand there and tell me it doesn't. Just tell me how you feel about it. Tell me that you hate it. Just tell me the truth."

Emma reached out and touched Regina's arm. "The magic is a part of you so I could never hate it. Am I afraid of it? I don't know," Emma said. "It's complicated. I guess I would say that I'm afraid that it will be more important to you than all of this, more important than me. And I also worry that you are putting so much of your time and effort into learning the magic and every time you get upset or frustrated about it and I can't do anything to help, I feel like a failure."

"Don't you see that you are the only one that keeps me from falling apart? I rely on you and I almost messed that up by doing what I did when I took off like that. That is why I'm willing to give up the magic, once and for all," Regina said and she stepped closer and wrapped her arm around her wife. "It'll never be more important than you."

She moved in for a kiss, unsure if Emma would let her kiss her but Emma's lips were quickly on hers. They exchanged a couple of kisses before Emma pulled back. "You scared me taking off like that. It wasn't just me thinking you might not come back. It was the idea of you being alone out there without me. If something had happened to you …"

"It didn't," Regina said. "And I promise never to make you worry like that ever again. Please forgive me."

"I forgive you," Emma said, before kissing her and then kissing her again and again. "No more talk about giving up your magic, ok?"

"Are you sure? I would do it, you know, for you," Regina said, even as she said it like she had said it earlier, she knew it was true.

Learning about her magic, controlling it had been the most important thing in her life for such a long time, but now she realized there was something more important.

Emma, her wife, her rock, her love.

"I love you," Regina said. She stared into Emma's eyes as she said, needing to communicate it fully because she realized – perhaps for the first time – that she did love her.

"I love you too," Emma said. "But I don't want you to give up your magic."

Regina smiled at her, giving her another kiss.

"Now as much as I would love to stand here and keep kissing," Emma said. "I do need to get changed for bed."

It earned her another smile from her wife, but Regina didn't let go of her. "I could help you with that," Regina said as she pressed her lips to Emma's.

….

Maleficent was more than a little surprised that it took Regina nearly two weeks before she came to her shop. She thought that she would have waited two days at the most before she would visit, but day after day passed and nothing.

Perhaps she hadn't captivated the young queen enough on their first encounter.

She had finally sent a message to the castle inviting Regina there so she might see it now that it was open. Regina had sent her a message back a few days later saying she would try and make it down sometime that week. Even the vagueness of that answer bothered Maleficent. She needed Regina to want to come to see her, to keep seeing her so that she could earn the queen's trust.

Maleficent had plans, plans that she needed Regina's magic to ensure they came to fruition.

As Anita, she was finishing up with a customer when a member of the royal guard came in and held the door open for Regina.

"Your majesty," Anita said, bowing at the same time as her customer did. They finished their transaction and once the customer left Regina instructed her guard to wait outside.

"I see you have everything set up," Regina said, looking around the room. "How has business been?"

There were shelves covered in jars and bottles, some with liquids, some with leaves, plants, and some with things that Regina wasn't sure what they were.

"Good, very good," Anita said. "It would appear your citizens have an interest in my wares and the lack of competition doesn't hurt."

"I'm glad you are settling in," Regina said.

"Here, I wanted to give you something, a gift for your assistance out there," Anita said. She pulled out a step stool and climbed up, reaching for a bottle on a high shelf. Her fingers just brushed it and it fell, but before it crashed on the floor, Regina watched as it stopped with inches to spare and then stared as the bottle was raised back up into Anita's waiting hand.

Her eyes went from bottle to Anita, several times, her mouth partly open but the words her mind was saying weren't coming out of her mouth.

"Please your majesty, don't banish me," Anita said as she hurried down from the stool and approached Regina. "Please, I won't do it again. All I want is to make a home here, to be at peace."

Regina realized this woman was scared and it took her a moment to catch up to what Anita was saying.

"You know magic?" Regina asked, still in disbelief. Yes, she had seen her mother perform magic but this simple act of making the bottle stop held more wonder for her than anything her mom had done.

"Yes, your majesty," Anita said, keeping her eyes down. "I'm sorry, it was just instinctual. I saw the bottle fall and … sometimes it happens like that."

"You can control it?"

"The magic? Yes. I was born with it," Anita said. "I was taught how to control a long time ago, but I promise you, I don't use it publicly. I know how some people feel about magic and please believe me when I say, that all I want is to build a life here."

"How did you learn, to control it I mean?"

"I had a teacher," Anita said. "But that was a long time ago. I don't practice magic anymore. I won't cause you any problems if you will but let me stay. Please, I can't be turned away again."

"I'm not going to banish you," Regina said, even as she wondered what this woman had gone through in her past that she was so scared now of displaying magic. "You may stay if you wish."

"Thank you," Anita said. "Thank you, thank you."

"Please, there is no need for that. We are a welcoming kingdom," Regina said. "I was only asking questions because I was curious is all. What you did there with the bottle, keeping it from breaking like that, caught me off guard, but still, it was fascinating."

Anita smiled at her. "Not too many express an interest in magic, at least not where I come from. I've always felt … different like no one could really understand me because I have this magic inside of me. While it can be useful, in this case saving your gift, it's not always like that. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about such things. Please, accept this gift."

She held out the bottle for Regina who took it and examined it.

"What is it?"

"You put two drops on your pillow at night and it will give you peace as you sleep," Anita said. "I was trying to figure out what would be a good gift for a queen, and I thought maybe with all your responsibilities, there are times that your sleep may not always be restful."

Regina looked at the bottle once more, feeling again like Anita was someone who was understanding and wise. "Thank you," Regina said. "I will cherish it. Now if you will excuse me, I do need to get back."

"Of course. Thank you again for everything, your majesty," she said bowing once more.

Regina left the shop where her guards fell in line around her and they began the walk back up to the castle. They could have ridden down, but Regina had decided it was a nice day and she wanted to walk and see the sights of their city. As she walked back though her thoughts were on Anita and her magic.

….

Once Regina was gone, Maleficent allowed herself a small smile. Regina hadn't revealed to her that she too knew magic, which meant the girl wasn't a complete idiot. She was being cautious in not telling her that, which meant Regina was going to think things through before she decided on her next course of action.

Still, Maleficent did not doubt that her little magical display would be enough to get the queen to start considering Anita as an option to teach her magic.

Her plan may not be quick, but it would be so satisfying.

….

Regina sought Emma out as soon as she returned to the council, finding her listening to her weekly report from the guard stations. Regina had sat in on these before, but only at the beginning. She left such matters to her wife as it was more her expertise, so when she came into the room and took a seat, Emma gave her a curious look but said nothing.

The meeting continued, Regina not saying anything throughout it, her mind back in that shop. She had come here to tell Emma about it, to ask her what she thought about it.

Already Regina was wondering if this woman had the skills that she might be able to teach her how to control her magic. But she wouldn't even broach the idea without telling Emma first and seeking her guidance.

When she realized that what she felt for Emma was indeed love and that was more important to her than her magic, she knew that her days of making selfish decisions were over. They were a couple and they needed to make decisions as a couple because what one did affected the other.

While Emma hadn't said anything to her, she wondered if Emma somehow knew that Regina had been doubting her feelings before. Ever since that night that Emma forgave her and Regina had told her she loved her, knowing it to be real this time, there seemed to be some sort of change. It wasn't a big change, but there were more smiles, more handholding, more just wanting to be near each other. And it wasn't just by her.

Emma too appeared to be clingy at times – not that Regina was complaining, as she wasn't. Two days ago they had gone out on a ride together – with a full allotment of guards – and it was slow and leisurely and unlike how Regina usually rode on her own, but it was also wonderful. Emma riding her horse, looking beautiful and happy made Regina happy in return.

This is how it was supposed to be Regina thought. This was what love was – something she never thought she would experience when she found out she was to be wed without her consent.

The meeting finally broke up and Emma who was having some final words with one of the captains returned to where Regina was standing waiting for her.

"Your presence was a welcome surprise," Emma said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I thought you were out at the market and stopping by the new shop that woman invited you to."

"I was," Regina said. "But I cut the trip short after going to the shop."

"Did something happen?" Emma asked, her concern evident on her face. Regina couldn't help but be amazed at how Emma wore her emotions on her sleeve, never able to mask them.

"No, well yes, but nothing bad," Regina said. "I was hoping we could talk about it in private if you have the time."

"I'm all yours," Emma said, taking her arm and leading her out. They ended up going to the library as it was the closest place where they could get some privacy.

"Now what happened?" Emma said as soon as the doors were closed behind them.

"The woman, Anita, the one I told you about who is renting out the storefront for her apothecary shop, she knows magic."

"What?"

Regina went on to explain how the woman had done magic in front of her and then pleaded with her not to banish her.

"I didn't want to stay long, even though I wanted to ask her more questions, because I wanted to get back here and tell you about it," Regina said.

"You didn't tell her you knew magic?"

"No," Regina said. "I wouldn't do that."

"I didn't think you would, but I also didn't know … didn't your mom say she could sense people's magic, like with the magicians at our festival?"

"Yes," Regina said, thinking now about that. "Do you think Anita could have sensed my magic? And if she did, why didn't she say anything?"

"I don't know," Emma said. "Maybe it was like you said, maybe she was scared of being banished and thought she shouldn't say anything or maybe she isn't as skillful as your mom and couldn't sense your magic."

"What do you think we should do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, should we find out more about her, about her magic?"