A/N: hello. That's all for this PSA.

Regina's POV

"Emma, I'm sorry, but we just have to be careful."

"This is completely unnecessary! You know that!"

Regina and Snow shared a glance, both wishing they didn't have to do this. Regina could feel the heavy weight of guilt on her heart, causing her stomach to clench. This, combined with her lack of sleep (it was getting close to 3am, and she had been up since 6 yesterday) was not making it easy for her to keep her cool.

From the moment Regina brought Emma back to her mansion, there had been tension in the air. It caused her skin to crawl and her eyes to water. Everyone knew that Emma was not herself, and they all knew why. They all knew who it had been done for.

But Regina was not going to think about that at the moment. Right now, she needs to focus on keeping everyone safe. Even if it was not easy.

"It's not unnecessary, it's just a precaution. Please, Emma, there's no need to be angry." Snow's voice was, as always, unbearably sweet.

"I'm not going to do anything, I'm not going to hurt anyone!" Emma threw her hands out, palm up.

"That's what we all thought, and then you hurt that man. You already admitted that you were not completely in control." Regina pointed out, voice only barely even.

"I would never hurt any of you! I love you all." Her voice was desperate, full of hidden fear and worry. Snow leaned forward to hug Emma, probably thinking it would help, "We know you love us, but this is the Dark Curse. It's strong magic."

Emma jumped back, causing Snow to lose her balance,"I thought you believed in the power of love! But fine! Don't trust me!" Emma's voice cracked as she growled before stomping upstairs.

"That went well," Regina groaned, covering her face with her hand. Snow starred sadly after Emma. "Maybe… maybe we are going a bit overboard." She thought aloud.

Regina had to wait a few moments before responding, "Both you and Charming agreed with me. Don't you dare go back on it. I will not be made the bad guy because you are too weak."

Snow turned to Regina, stuck between guilt and indignation, "I'm not weak. I'm just worried. Besides, you're the one who pushed this idea."

She really shouldn't try to fight Snow right now. They both need to go to sleep, and are only on edge right now because of Emma. Taking another deep breath, Regina walked toward the staircase, attempting to cut this conversation short, "I did, but that's because of everything I told you about. I will not risk Henry nor Emma because I was too blinded by my feelings for them. You would do well to do the same."

'In all honesty', Regina thought as she walked up the stairs, 'it's not like what we're doing is even that extreme. These people need to grow up.' But that thought barely eased the aching in her heart.

When Regina had come back to her mansion after learning of what Emma had done, she had talked with Snow. While discussing what to do, Regina remembered the strange way Emma had been acting at night (what little of it she had seen). The Dark Curse was a 24 hour thing, and its effect on Emma would not only be when people were around. It was simple logic really, no matter how much it pained her to speak. They needed to keep Emma from harming anyone during the night.

So, since Regina and the others still needed to work out a schedule, she proposed that there should be a barrier put around Emma's room. Nobody in or out until Regina brought it back down.

But, obviously, Emma did not take that well at all.

Now in front of the guest room door Regina hesitated. Inside the room she could hear a loud thump, and choked breathing. She only gave a spare thought to Henry (who is asleep) before pushing open the door. She could not just leave Emma alone. Especially when she was obviously distraught.

To say the room was in disarray would be like saying Zebras' have stripes: incredibly mundane. Ever since Emma had started staying in this room it had always been a bit messy. Clothes strewn across the bed, her possessions placed on any available surface. So, the only thing that stood out was the dent in the wall. That, and how Emma had not removed her fist from said dent.

The urge to snap was incredible, and Regina was almost ashamed of how much willpower it took to stay calm (but she was not the type of person to bemoan over something that almost happened). Instead, she softly said, "Emma."

"Just go away, Regina."

Something about her tone was just so grating, it caused fire to rise in her chest, and Regina could not pretend to be calm any longer, "No," She barked, "What you need to do is stop acting like a child. Your behaviour has been atrocious, there is no need to act the way you have been!"

Emma whipped around and stalked up to Regina, her face red-tinged, "Shut up, your majesty! You have no idea what you're talking about! Just do the damn spell and get the fuck out of here!" One of her hands gripped the collar of Regina's shirt. A gesture which Regina readily returned, "Then why don't you elaborate, Emma? Because you made me promise to do what I can to stop you from hurting anyone. That's exactly what I am doing."

They stared at each other, eyes seeking to devour any weakness. The seconds ticked by in tandem with their heartbeats: constant and noticeable. Regina watched as Emma twitched and shook, ready to comfort or push back (whichever it came down to). As Emma's breathing slowed and Regina saw tears cloud her eyes, she knew which one it would be. Thankfully, it was the former choice.

Letting go, Emma turned away, and Regina could feel the loss of body heat acutely. She let the cool air sink into her skin while waiting for Emma to make the first move.

"I can't—" The blonde began, stopped, then started again, "Being locked in a room… It's… I don't like it."

Only part of the truth, but Regina would take it.

"What can I do to make it easier on you?" She asked as she crossed her arms, still feeling cold. This time the silence was heavy, laden with something deeper, more raw. The moment stretched, and Regina waited.

Turning around, Emma locked eyes with Regina once more, "Promise you won't make fun of me."

'As if I would do that!' Regina thought indignantly. But then again, her and Emma's history had been filled with strife. At one point Regina would have taken advantage of Emma's weakness.

"I promise." She said evenly.

With a sigh Emma moved to lean against the bed, staring intently at the carpeted floor. When she finally spoke, it wasn't exactly what Regina was expecting, "Could you… I don't know… maybe… stay with me?"

Thrown by the unexpected question, Regina studied Emma. Her posture was rigid, her head tilted down in what could be read as embarrassment. Everything about her said that asking that question was not easy.

"It's stupid, I know—" Emma started, but then Regina interrupted, "It's not stupid to not want to be alone… I can stay with you."

Being alone was probably the worst thing for Emma at the moment. She was not willing to do that to Emma.

Regina walked forward and stood awkwardly next to Emma, "I'll stay with you. Just let me grab some things first."

Emma nodded rapidly, "Of course."

As Regina crossed over the room, and was nearly out the door, she could not resist looking back. Of course, Emma had not moved, nothing had changed yet. But Regina couldn't stop the stray thought of how beautiful Emma's hair looked, even messed up, from passing through her mind.