"Miss Swan you don't have an appointment!"Regina looked up as Emma stormed into her office with Brenda right behind her.Feeling a moment of deja vu Regina waved off her secretary. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on but after the text message she received from Ruby, Regina figured it had something to do with Emma's parents.Opening her bottom desk drawer Regina pulled out a bottle of scotch, poured two glasses and silently handed one to Emma.
"What's this?"Emma asked taking the glass.
"Scotch.You looked like you needed a glass."Regina told her.
Emma drank the whole glass in one gulp and held out her glass for Regina to pour her some more."Thanks."
"No problem."Regina assured her.She more than anyone else knew that sometimes you needed alcohol to be able to deal with the people of the StoryBrook."So what is going on?Was there something wrong with the house?"
"No the house is the nicest place I've not only stayed in but even stepped foot in.It makes me wonder why you don't live there."Emma said.
"That's a story for another time."Regina didn't feel like this was the right time to tell Emma about her daughters.She surprised herself when she realized that she actually wanted Emma to know.
"I hope you know that if you ever want to talk I'm here for you."Emma didn't expect Regina to tell her everything but from the way Ruby had acted when she asked about the house and Regina's obvious dismissal Emma knew that Regina was holding in something.Her gut told her it was something that would probably change the way she saw a lot of people in this town as well.
"I may take you up on that offer one day.Now why if there is nothing wrong with the house are you back so soon?"Regina asked.
Emma knew that Regina was changing the subject but she didn't want to push so she allowed it."I had a run in with Snow and David at the loft when Ruby dropped me off to get my car."
"I doubt they were there to throw you a going away party."Regina said.
"No they definitely weren't doing that."Emma chuckled at the idea.
"Then should I assume they aren't happy with you moving out?"Regina knew that Snow wouldn't like Emma moving out.
"They both tried to hide it but it was obvious they were pissed."Emma was still stunned with the rage Snow showed when she confronted Emma.
"Did Snow throw one of her famous tantrums or was she condescending?"Regina figured it was the latter. Snow wouldn't risk anyone seeing past her facade and think she was anything other than the pillar of good.
"Actually she claimed it was me who was throwing a tantrum."Emma told her.
"Oh course because even if you are technically older than them you are still a child."Regina said.
"She claimed that the only reason there were any problems with our living arrangements was because the loft was so small.She wanted to move in with me to your house."Seeing Regina's objection Emma quickly explained."I not only told them no, I told them that I was staying at a friend's house and the only one welcome was Henry."
"How did they take that?"Regina didn't know how she felt about letting Henry into anywhere other than the mayor's mansion.She loved her son but didn't trust him to do something to destroy the home or let Snow and her allies have access to it.
"Well they weren't happy.They thought I was going to take Henry with me.It was because of their objections that I realized something. I would like to admit that I owe you an apology."Emma told her.
"What do you owe me an apology for?"Regina could think of many things but didn't know what Emma was now focused on.
"Because as soon as Snow asked about Henry I finally realized what you felt when I took him away from you."Emma held a hand to stop Regina from interrupting."No let me finish.I realized as soon as Snow asked that Henry would never willingly live with me.Even if forced he would just run right back to Snow and David.It wouldn't matter what I said or did he would never choose me."
Regina hated the look of defeat on Emma's face."You can't give up Emma.I still hold out hope that one day Henry will understand the truth and come back to me.I know it's a long shot but I still think it's possible."
"Not with the way Snow and David have corrupted him.I have a feeling that now that I have moved out they will turn him against me.I have no doubt that Snow and David with the help of Neil will make me out to be the bad guy.Me hanging out with you will just be more ammunition for them."Emma figured by now Snow had already told Henry what she did.
Regina sighed."I want to say you are wrong but I know that you are probably right."
"I hate this."Emma said.
"I know."Regina put her hand on Emma's shoulder."But you can't give up.Even though it doesn't seem like it you have people in your corner. You are not alone."
Emma was surprised by how different it felt for Regina's hand on her shoulder than it did with Snow's hand in the same place.Snow's hand Emma couldn't shrug it off fast enough but feeling Regina's hand it made Emma feel warm inside."Thank you."
"It's no problem."Regina assured her.She really didn't have a problem helping Emma be it with living arrangements or being someone she could talk to.Regina liked the sheriff and with every new interaction with the woman Regina felt her initial fondness grow into feelings that she would only admit to herself when she was alone.
"So what am I going to do about Snow?"Emma asked for the second time that day.
"That's the question isn't it.In my experience with Snow I would predict that she is going to tell anyone who listens that you have betrayed her and the White Kingdom."Regina said.
"Why would she tell people that?"Emma asked.
"You have to understand that Snow likes to have control. You leaving means she not only has lost her daughter but her heir. With what you said they are planning on somehow doing away with our democracy and making this town into a monarchy with Snow as queen.You as a princess would be next in line for the throne. That means if you wanted you could kill Snow and take the crown from her."Regina explained.
"Why the hell would I kill my mother?"Emma was appalled by the very idea of killing anyone.
"You are thinking about the way things are in the world without magic.Snow is thinking as the Queen of the White kingdom in the Enchanted Forest. Also it's what she would have done."Regina didn't want to mention that it was what Snow had done to her own father.It wasn't her place to tell no matter how much others told Regina she should.
"Why do I feel there is a story there?"Emma could tell Regina was holding back telling her many things. She didn't understand why Regina did but since Regina told her about not killing anyone Emma had been thinking about all the crimes Snow had said Regina had committed.Knowing the truth about Regina made some of Snow's stories not make any sense.
Regina waved her off."That's rather here nor there.What you should worry about is your own personal safety."
"Do you think someone is going to try and kill me?"Emma asked.
"I think that if one of Snow's followers gets it in their head that you are going to kill her then they may come after you."Regina told her.
Emma put her empty glass on Regina's desk then leaned over and put her head in her hands."What the fuck have I gotten myself into."
"I'm sorry Emma."Regina did feel bad for the savior. Emma didn't deserve anything she had been put through in life.
"Do you think you could help me with my magic?"Emma hadn't really put any effort into learning about her magic.Snow had wanted the Blue fairy to train her but Emma had never been comfortable with the woman.
"Of course.When do you want to begin?"Regina was relieved Emma had asked.Her worry for Emma was great and anything Regina could do to help her she would.
"I think it's important to start as soon as possible.Will tonight work for you?"Emma wanted to start right then but Regina was still at work and Emma wanted to check in at the station.
"That's perfectly fine,come over to my house at 5pm.We can do some basic work and afterwards we can have dinner if you want."Regina offered.
"Dinner sounds amazing."Emma had had Regina's cooking before and was always amazed at how good her food was.
"Then why don't you let me get back to work so I can be done in time to meet you."Regina said.
Emma stood from her seat."Yeah I want to check in at the station and do a patrol.Now that you put the idea in my head I think I will need to be more vigilant about the going ons in this town."
"If you need my help just text me."Regina said.
"I will.See you tonight Regina."Emma moved to walk out the door.
"Bye Emma."Regina replied as she stood and closed the door after Emma left.Sitting down in her desk chair Regina sighed.Emma's visit brought up many worries.Emma's mental health was one as it was more than obvious that Snow was going to publicly reject her.That was Emma's biggest fear coming true.Regina would have to make sure Emma had other people to talk to.She liked being the first person Emma went to with her problems but Regina knew it would be unhealthy to only have one person to support her.Another worry was Snow. The woman wouldn't stand for Emma's blatant disrespect.With Snow's temper she wouldn't hold back from retaliating against Emma's perceived insult.Adding in Snow's paranoia of Emma being able to overthrow her imagined rule of StoryBrook Snow would use violence.Regina pulled out her phone.Emma needed help and Regina was going to provide it.Even if that meant that she broke her own no killing rule.