It was the middle of the night. It was pretty obvious by now that all the heroes and the villains were finding trouble at sleeping... there was way too much pressure for them to sleep tight and peacefully. Snow twisted on her bed sighting and tapped David's shoulder who was currently snoring.

"David?"

She whispered and tapped on his shoulder again harder this time.

"David are you asleep?!"

She continued until the blond man turned around rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"Not anymore. What's up?"

He said in a sleepy voice as he rubbed his eyes and sat upright on their bed looking at snow in confusion and irritation at the same time. Snow turned on the night stand light and laid her head on his chest getting comfortable.

"Do you think testifying against Regina is the right thing to do?"

David yawned and narrowed his brows getting clearly frustrated over Snow's bubbling. He just rubbed his face and cleared his throat. All he wanted to as to sleep tight for once...

"Snow it's 2:00AM... it's not the right time to talk about this."

He was ready to turn around and hug his pillow but snow stopped him with a frustrated groan.

"No way... I can't sleep! My guilts are torturing me David! Just please... give me an advice."

She said with pleading eyes and the prince had no choice than turn around again to look at his beautiful wife and help her out. He pressed his lips together and held Snow's hand in his sweaty palms forcing a smile.

"Emma is our daughter, and we ought to do her that favour. She needs us snow! We might weren't able to stand by her side years ago when she was younger and really needed our help but now this is our chance to make it up to her."

He smiled. The look on his face was kind and gentle... although he felt quite tired and sleepy he couldn't just let snow torture herself with her thoughts.

He knew how neurotic she could become when she was nervous and guilty. His rubbed the soft skin of her right hand with his thumb sympathetically and placed a soft peck on her forehead. Snow glanced over him with a disapproving look on her face.

"Supporting Emma means that we're gonna help her take Henry away from Regina, when Regina did nothing wrong David! I can see that she's changed! You can see that she's changed!! Even Emma and Henry can see that... I'm afraid that emma is way too blinded by her broken heart to think straight and rationally."

She whined and brought his hands close to her mouth kissing his fingers softly.

David huffed.

"Sometimes... as parents... we need to stand up for our kids even when they are wrong. Now... I don't think that Emma is entirely wrong considering that Regina did many things to our family to earn our disapproval, but... even if her heart is broken, if we say no tomorrow... she's gonna hate us forever. Are you willing to lose emma for a third time? And this time you're gonna lose her for good..."

He raised his brow looking at snow in the eyes, with a frown spreading on his lips. The pixie haired woman bit her lips and lowered her sight in shame.

"I've known Regina since I was a little girl. She might hunted me down for years, she might tried to kill me multiple times, she might betrayed me many many times, but I've seen the best of her as well. I've seen her being loving and kind against other people. I've seen her sacrificing herself for her family and Henry! I've seen her losing her faith and trying to stand back up on her feet in order to satisfy her son... I've seen that woman fighting hard as a warrior. She deserves my respect! And I can't just tear her life apart for once again... especially when she's not the bad guy this time."

Everything Snow said made sense. He was way too afraid to admit that his wife was right. He missed being normal. He missed having a happy and healthy family. When Neal came into the world he thought that god had given him another chance to become a proper father and give his child a chance to grow up normally while feeling loved and appreciated. He didn't have that chance with Emma back then... and when he finally got the chance to approach her it was way too late... she had gotten hurt way too many times and by now she had gotten used to it.

There weren't many things for Snow and David to do with Emma. That didn't mean that they were planning to stop trying, but as soon as things went back to normal boom. Another curse... another five years of Emma living far away and all alone. All he had left was Neal and Snow back then and he wanted to make sure that he would never break their hearts again or make another mistake at raising Neal.

He promised Snow a lifetime of happiness and he promised Neal to always love him and protect him no matter what... suddenly his daughter was back. And she was in more need than ever... but this time he had no idea how to help her! His heart wanted to do the right and honourable thing, but his brain warned him about the consequences at the same time.

No! The answer was no. He wasn't willing to lose emma for once again... he hated the idea emma walking away for good this time...

"I know... but Regina is not my daughter. Emma is... and as her father I feel the need to stand by her side for once and help her out. When was the last time emma asked for our help? Never. Do you have any idea how guilty I feel right now? I feel like a terrible terrible person towards Regina... but I do not have a choice! I either lose my daughter and help Regina out, or I help Emma and lose Regina..."

He lowered his head rubbing his temples slowly and snow slowly rubbed his thigh in sympathy. She felt bad for him... he was desperate. They were both desperate.. they just had to finally admit that their family would never become normal again. They never used to be normal after all...

They were born to face obstacles and fight life as best as they could. They were born to face danger and handle things together, all United with love. They were Snow White and Prince Charming for god's sake! They always found out a way to deal with things but this time.. they found themselves into an armlock...

This is what you say as between devil and the deep sea. She shook her head disapprovingly. She wasn't the rational type of person... she always functioned based on her instinct and heart... she knew exactly what her heart desired... and she had to obey.

The next day came sooner that they all thought. Night time was a pain in the ass for all of them but as soon as the sun came up into the morning bright sky, they all wished to get back into their beds again, covered with their warm blankets hiding from reality.

Regina got out of the bed and rushed downstairs into the kitchen. She was still in her red silk robe when she found Barbara making coffee and French toasts downstairs.

"Who's hungry?"

She smiled and said into a cheerful voice. The best she could do for her friend was to try and cheer her up a little bit... it seemed impossible considering Regina was the kind of person who never run away from her problems but at least Barbara could give it a try.

"What are you cooking?"

"I'm supposed to be cooking French toasts but considering cooking is not my thing, I doubt they are any good. Anyway I don't think you're gonna get hurt because of a slightly burned toast. Come on take a seat."

Regina scrunched up her face and sat on the kitchen counter not making any sound. She just played with the spoon and looked at the window lost in her thoughts. As soon as Barbara finished cooking the burned up French toasts she sat across Regina and held her hands tight in her own.

"Chin up and cheer up queenie! We're gonna win this trail."

She tried extremely hard to make her voice sound convincing and encouraging. Deep inside of her she was doubting there would be any luck considering Emma had many things to say against Regina and as an FBI agent she knew about such things... but that wouldn't stop her from having faith.

Regina just forced a smile at Barbara and drunk a sip of her coffee.

"I should better go get changed."

Barbara nodded her head retaining that broad and charming smile on her face till Regina left the room. They were in no time in the car driving towards the city court for the upcoming trail. Regina's heart was beating faster and faster as her impatience was growing bigger.

She craved to know the way the entire situation was going to end but at the same time she was way too hesitant to even show up in court and face all these familiar faces. Her muscles were all tightened up and her chest felt heavy. She looked herself on the car mirror and just sighted disappointed... her life was a mess... but maybe this time it was for good. Maybe she needed a motive to move on and leave everything behind.

Suddenly Barbara parked the car and touched Regina's shoulder smoothly to bring her back from

Her thoughts.

"Are you ready?"

The brunette woman shook her head as she was brought back in reality and turned around the face the dark skinned woman who was currently looking at her with a comforting smile.

"Remember, that you're the strongest person I know Regina Mills! I've seen you kicking asses out there... I've seen you doing the impossible and nailing at it as well! Go kick some asses in there as well!"

She said in a low voice as she grabbed Regina's shoulders and shook them to give her some of her energy.

Regina just smirked in sadness and nodded her head trying her best to get her shit together. She wasn't the kinds of person who liked to fail or disappoint others! And the last thing she wanted was to disappoint Barbara and herself... she raised her head and chin, as she walked outside of the car, her shoulders straight again and the proud look on her face suddenly appeared. She wouldn't let anyone see how small she felt...

She was a fucking queen and if she was about to fall, she was gonna do that gracefully. She held Barbara's hand for support as they walked inside the big and spacious court room. Her eyes were focused at the front. She wouldn't even dare look around at all these people whispering things about her. Barbara sat down next to her on a wooden desk and Regina's lawyer Katniss was right there smiling brightly as a diamond.

"How are you ladies?"

"Trying to survive this."

Barbara admitted as she drunk one sip of her coffee and gave Regina a pat on her shoulder.

"And how's my client?"

"A little nervous."

Regina admitted as well as she rubbed her hands together.

"Well don't be. I got things under control here okay?"

Katniss chirped as she checked inside her brown envelope bag for all the evidence she needed and for the piece of paper she had written her notes on.

Right across Regina's team miss swan, Henry and their lawyer Eddie were sitting silently not even looking at each other. Emma was lost in her thoughts and Henry felt beyond humiliated to be there and facing his other mother while failing to keep her shit together.

He just wanted to run away for once again and leave everything behind. The truth was that he never got a say on Emma taking the full custody. He was mad at Regina... he was mad at her because as soon as they finally managed to work out their differences back in that hotel she betrayed them... but pushing her out of his life was way too much. She didn't deserve that.

He knew his mother was hurt. He knew emma was way to hurt to be honest to even notice the mistake she was about to make. He was supposed to testify as well but right now his throat felt dry and he didn't feel like speaking. He just wanted be alone. Like when he was little...

Suddenly silence covered the entire room as judge Beatrice Griffiths walked in the court room and sat down on her seat looking at them all with a confident and yet emotionless look on her face.

"Rise."

She spelled as all the people in the court room stood up looking at her.

"Sit."

She continued and the crowd sat back down on their seats. It was a matter of time when they started whispering again.

Regina felt everyones angry stares like stabs on her back. Her legs had already started trembling as she turned around her head to see Henry looking at her as well. She felt ashamed... Being proud was one of her well known characteristics and the only thing she hated others to violate.

The judge took a look on her papers as everyone hushed again and finally looked at Eddie Murphy, (Emma's lawyer) with a frown on her face.

"Mister Murphy, care to tell me for once again what's your client's request?"

She asked in her Smokey voice and leaned back on her chair getting comfortable. The grey haired man stood up holding a piece of paper and gave Emma swan a reassuring look.

"My client miss swan over here, is blaming miss mills over there for being an incapable mother towards her adoptive son Henry mills! That's exactly why she's requesting the full custody of Henry."

"And why exactly is your client considering miss mills incapable as a mother?"

Regina tightened her grip on the wooden desk looking away uncomfortable. Every time she heard Henry's name her heart skipped a beat.

"April 16th was the day my client miss swan flew to Paris for a mission she had as an agent that required her collaboration with miss mills! She also claims that miss mills hadn't contacted her or their son for five years since the last time they saw each other before they had to move away. Now tell me... why would a mother skip contacting her son for five years when she claims to love him that much? Emma swan had to raise the boy alone and Regina mills didn't even care to give Miss swan extra money as her share for Henry's livelihood and financial support! Now if you allow me to read you an incident that occurred back at their mission in Paris you'd give me the chance to prove you my point that Regina mills is an improper mother and a big danger around her kid!"

The judge shook her head allowing Eddie to continue. Barbara hold Regina's hand as she sensed the brunette's frustration and tried to empower her by giving her a squeeze.

"Regina's ex husband Robin Hood and Emma's Ex husband as well collaborated against the two women and tried to kill them multiple times. To be honest Regina knew about Killian's collaboration with Robin but preferred to wait instead of telling Emma. That led at Henry almost getting killed because of Regina's inability at handling her emotions and actions. Not to mention that a kid shouldn't have witnessed death and crime at such a young age."

The judge nodded and looked at Regina who was quietly looking at her with a feared look on her face.

"Miss mills is that true? Did you know?"

"I... yes."

She confessed and felt her heart beam in pain.

"Do you know that since you knew about the criminal and skipped telling to you partner almost leading them and your kid to death that I have the power to take your budge and remove your rights as an FBI agent?"

"Yes ma'am."

Regina shook her head.

"Do you understand the importance of your actions? Why did you hide such an information?"

The judge asked firmly and Regina lowered her sight again bitting her finger nail.. god knew why she hid that information from Emma... she loved her. She cared about them... and she cared more about ruining Emma's marriage than her own life.

She hates the very thought of Emma getting hurt... she wasn't able to handle her feelings and guilts back then.

"I.. I just... I don't know... I was naive and irrational.. I just let my feelings lead the way when I should just have used my logic. To be honest, I had feelings for that woman, while her relationship with Killian Jones was still complicated, and I couldn't fight my feelings for her. Then my ex husband showed up... and that probably made me lose control of my actions. I acted unprofessionally and I deserve to be punished. I sincerely apologise."

Her eyes filled up with hot tears wanting to come out. Her lawyer Katniss stood up as she signalled Regina to sit back down.

"Miss mills do you accept the charges against you? Do you accept the fact that you almost got Miss swan and your son Henry mills killed because of your naive actions?"

Regina nodded her head while twirling her thumbs together.

"I do."

She mumbled.

"Very well... before we continue I demand to remove your rights as an FBI agent because your behaviour did not serve the law! You shall be punished for your actions."

"Isn't that a little cruel your honour?"

Katniss interrupted as Regina bowed down her head fighting those tears. Barbara rubbed her back. Emma hated to even watch at the moment. Her stomach was twisted and tight... she could barely breathe properly.

"And why is that?"

"Isn't it a little unfair for my client to lose her rights as an FBI agent considering her ex husband that rapped her and impregnated her with his sperm without her will was involved? Shouldn't be there a redeeming feature for my client from the moment she had to deal with such a mental war against her ex? My client was brought into this case from Killian Jones! They tricked her and tortured her physically and mentally when her only goal was to help!"

The judge looked at Regina in disbelief and licked her lips skeptically.

"You're right. She went through a lot but does that justify her actions towards Henry mills and Emma Swan?"

She continued and asked coldly.

"No! Of course it doesn't. But she's a human being... feelings are not something that you can just turn off and forget about! She was being threatened and mentally abused while she was trying to focus on the case.Isn't it logical for her to lose it at some point? Also do you actually think that taking her son away because of such a naive action is the right thing to do?"

"Maybe mister Murphy has an answer for that misses Jenner. Please sit down."

Eddie stood up back again walking up and down in the centre of the room.

"My client reunited with her son when he was 10 years old. Do you know how that little boy looked like back then? Neglected! Oh yes... Regina mills made him visit a psychiatrist because he just had... let's say... a wild imagination. She was constantly absent and busy with her job, while Henry was alone. Do you think it's normal for a ten year old kid to not have any friends at all, or something to make him happy? Don't you think that a real mother should be worried over these things? Don't you think that she should help him fit in and become happy?"

"Proof?"

"Mister Archie, is here today with us to prove my point. He's the former psychiatrist that Henry mills was forced to visit."

Archie walked in the centre of the court room and looked at Regina with a guilty look on his face. He was all sweaty and flushed... he sat down across Eddie and crossed his hands underneath his chest.

"I... I indeed psycho analysed Henry mills when he was ten years old... and... all I have to say is... that he was surely in pain. His imagination was way too big for Miss mills to handle... but I doubt that she was a bad mother... she loved her kid... and she still does... but sometimes it was hard for her to show it..."

Regina's jaw dropped. She looked at archie with wide eyes and then at Barbara who winked at her all smiley.

"So... you don't think that Regina was the main reason why Henry felt and was neglected?"

The judge asked again, and both Emma and Eddie looked at each other in confusion.

"No. To be honest I think that Regina mills did a terrific job and managed to raise a polite and golden hearted young man!"

She couldn't help but smile through her tears... she couldn't help but feel grateful towards that man. Maybe she was the devil in human form back then but Archie has a big heart. He knew how to forgive and recognise people in pain who shouted for help but never showed it.

"Maybe Henry mills wants to confirm that."

The judge looked at Henry who just nodded his head negatively.

"May I add something your honour?"

Katniss stood up and said loudly.

"Go on miss Jenner."

"Let me remind you all that that was a closed adoption. Do you have any idea what a closed adoption is?"

Katniss turned towards the juries and continued to answer her rhetorical question.

" A closed adoption is when the biological mother is not allowed to come near her child or have any kind of contact with him."

"OBJECTION YOUR HONOUR."

Eddie screamed from the other side of the room.

"Let her finish."

The judge continued and focused on Katniss.

"Emma Swan had technically no right to approach Henry Mills! She personally signed a form that I happened to find and bring here with me saying that she demands a closed adoption in order to never have any contact with her son Henry Mills."

She approached the judge and handed him the form. She looked at Eddie and Emma with a bitchy look on her face an evil smirk spread on her lips.

"Nothing else for now."

She sat back down next to Regina.

"Your honour... my client indeed signed that paper but let me remind you as well that she never tried to find her son. Her son Henry came all the way to Boston to find her and ask her for her help at the age of 10 years old, which that proves that fact that Regina mills actually neglected him. What kind of mother doesn't even know about her son going all the way to Boston?"

"A single mother that used to work all day long as a mayor!"

Regina stood up and yelled at Eddie filled up with rage.

"Silence! Care to say anything at the juries miss mills?"

Regina nodded her head and stood up taking a deep breath. She paced up and down in the room as her anxiety grew bigger and bigger. Her throat was dry and words hardly came out.

"I know I'm not the best mum... I know I made many many mistakes. I didn't know how to love that well back then but that doesn't mean that I didn't love my son. We are human beings... who doesn't make a single mistake. Who's perfect after all? No one is! Most of you I believe are parents... and there are many days in your lives that you feel like a failure... that's the way I'm feeling these last few years... There are times that I tried everything I could to see my kid happy. I'm honest with you and I swear that I would literally give my heart and life for him! I'm willing to do that even now... But... I screwed up.. I failed Henry many many times and that breaks my heart. I'm still trying to figure out how to make things better but I guess I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I'm gonna fail him again... I would have hated that. Now... I know that as parents we might feel like failures sometimes... when we fail our kids and be the reason why they are unhappy, but I'm willing to fight my fear and fight again. I will keep fighting for that little boy for the rest of my life. And that's it... end of story."

She wiped away her tears as she sat back down and rubbed her stomach trying to hold back her sob. Henry placed his hands inside his pockets as he felt his heart break... he was way too harsh with Regina... mother's love never changes... and maybe that's the part he was wrong.

"Regina mills might regret her actions towards her sons but when you hear our two last testimonies you're gonna stop thinking that she should be allowed that Boy. That woman is dangerous."

Eddie claimed as he looked at snow.

"Let me introduce you, Emma's mother Mary Margaret."

Snow walked all the way towards the judge cracking her white knuckles nervously... the moment she was so terrified of had finally arrived...

"Miss Margaret is there anything you wanna tell us and the juries that is against Regina mills? Is there anything she ever did to you or your family that hurt you or is considered as inappropriate? Do you think she's a dangerous person?"

Snow bit her lips and examined Emma's worried face. Emma seemed desperate... and confused by now.. she was silent all the way till now. She had nothing left to say. Her brain was a mess. Her feelings were all over the place and her heart broken... she glanced over her mother hoping that she chose the right path when she obviously knew the answer...

- I know this part was a little bigger than I usually write, but I wanted the trial scene to be a little big and cut in half till the next part. So what do you guys think so far?️️