A/N: Well, I was going to split this mammoth chapter into two but you have a 'Gem' of a reader to thank for the 6,700+ words you're about to dig into.

"Just hear me out," Regina said quickly, wanting to get a handle on the situation before her parents exploded even further.

"Regina, what were you thinking?" Cora asked, aghast.

The brunette took a deep breath before launching into the speech she had planned on the drive back home from the police precinct. She knew she only had one shot to persuade them to help Emma. They were running out of time to secure her a new lawyer before the court appearance on Monday and if the blonde walked in there with her public defender, her life would be over.

"What happened yesterday was … awful," she began. "I've never felt more scared in my life when those masked people appeared in the bank. I thought I was never going to see you again. I thought they were going to kill me."

"Princess -"

"Daddy, please, let me say this," Regina interrupted. "Yesterday was awful and I did think I was going to be killed. When she, Emma, first came into Mr Gold's office with the gun, I was terrified. But it didn't take me long to realise that Emma wasn't going to hurt me."

"She held you at gunpoint," Henry stated flatly.

"Yes, she did. But only because Neal told her to," Regina reasoned. "He would have hurt me, I'm sure. I mean … he did." Her fingers drifted up to her lip subconsciously. "But Emma wasn't, isn't, like that. When she was left alone with me, we started talking. She's just a kid. She got swept up into Neal's vendetta without even knowing what was happening or why it was happening. I'm not going to say she's blameless. She did agree to be part of a bank robbery but she never wanted anyone to get hurt."

"Yeah, well, whatever her intentions, you did get hurt," Cora pointed out.

Regina nodded in acknowledgement. "She tried to protect me though. When Neal hit me, Emma was the one who comforted me."

"Did she comfort you with a gun to your head too?" Henry asked.

The bite in her father's words, feeling the hatred the man radiated towards Emma made Regina wince. She understood how her parents perceived Emma but the brunette knew she had to try and make them understand that the young woman under arrest was not the monster they believed her to be.

"Emma saved me, Daddy. She tried to keep me safe."

"And why would she do that?" Cora asked.

"I … I don't know," Regina admitted. "I can't explain it. We kinda, I dunno, had a connection I guess." She could feel her cheeks heat up at the admittance. It was the first time she had voiced that there was something special between her and the young blonde.

"A connection?" both parents asked in unison, brows equally furrowed.

"Yeah," Regina nodded. "And I know you're gonna think I've got Stockholm Syndrome or something but that's not what this is."

"What is it then?" Henry asked.

Regina paused, searching for the right word to describe what she felt about Emma. There were a few words she could think of but they were too intense, the implications too emotionally deep to be uttered just yet.

"I can't really explain it, Daddy," she said at last. "We just connected, I guess. Yes, she walked into that bank ready to rob it but she did it because she was desperate and as soon as she realised why Neal really wanted to be there and what his plan was, she was furious. Neal betrayed her and as soon as that happened, she only did what he asked when he threatened me."

"She sounds fickle," Cora commented.

"She saved my life," Regina snapped. "And I saved hers. Everything I did after we left the bank and on the airfield was because Neal was threatening Emma's life. And everything she did was because Neal was threatening me. I know it sounds crazy and I hardly know her but Emma is the reason I'm alive right now and she deserves our help. I know she's made some mistakes and she's not denying that. But it's not right that she spends the rest of her life in jail because of something which we all know happened at the command of Neal Gold. Emma is better than what happened yesterday and I want to help ensure she has a future beyond the four walls of a prison cell."

There was a long silence. Henry and Cora glanced at one another, both trying to understand quite what was going on with their daughter and why she was so vehemently defending one of the criminals who had held her hostage the day before.

"Regina, sweetheart," Cora began, "I know your father and I can't begin to understand what you went through yesterday."

"No, you can't." It was a whisper, a confession of Regina's awareness that she was alone in that respect.

"But as a family we can't be involved in the legal defence of one of your captors," Cora continued.

"Mom," Regina pleaded, "Emma didn't capture me. She saved me."

"She did capture you, Princess," Henry said gently, trying to ensure her daughter understood.

"Technically, perhaps. But she didn't hurt me. Emma was the one who found out I had called 911. She didn't do anything. Well, she smashed my phones but nothing else. If Neal had found out, I would have much worse than a split lip."

"She … she found out you had called 911?" Henry asked.

"Yeah," Regina nodded. "She saw the cell on the table with the call still connected. She ended the call but didn't say anything so that the other hostage taker who was in the room didn't know what I'd done. She came back later and smashed my phones but not out of anger it was more … betrayal."

"Betrayal? Regina, you didn't betray this girl."

"No but she thought I had. I could see it in her eyes. I told you, we have this … bond and me calling the police was a betrayal of that bond. That's why I can't leave her to our legal system. It'll chew her up and spit her out. Without our help, her life is over."

"And you don't think she deserves that? After what she did to you?" Henry's voice was tinged with anger this time, remembering the trauma his daughter had gone through and the people who were responsible for it.

Regina shook her head. "It was a mistake."

"Putting salt in your coffee is a mistake. Forgetting to drop off the dry cleaning is a mistake. Robbing a bank at gunpoint is not a mistake, Regina," Cora replied.

"Ok, it's a big mistake."

"It's a crime," Henry amended. "A federal crime."

"She was desperate."

"Someone died. She killed someone."

"No, she didn't," Regina replied at once. "That wasn't Emma. And when she found out what had happened, she was just as shocked as I was. She didn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Well, you did. And someone died and a lot of other people was traumatised," Henry stated.

"And she regrets that. Emma's not trying to get out of her punishment. She knows she did wrong and she's willing to pay the price. I just don't think the price should be the rest of her life spent behind bars."

"It's what she deserves."

"No, Daddy, it isn't. Please, trust me on that. If you met her, if you just spoke to her, I think you'd understand."

Cora's eyebrows rose. "You want us to meet this girl?"

"Yes," Regina said. "Tink thought the same as you before she met Emma. Please, sit down with her and just talk. She'll answer any questions you have but please, please give her a chance. You owe her that. I told you, she saved my life."

Once again, the two older Mills' looked at one another, a silent conversation occurring between their eyes. But it wasn't enough.

"Let us discuss it in private, ok?" Henry said eventually, unable to deny his daughter's request.

"Yes," Regina said at once. "Take your time. Except you have to decide before tomorrow evening. Emma's being arraigned on Monday morning and Tink wants time to prepare."

"Tink agreed to represent Emma?" Cora asked.

"With your blessing, yes," Regina nodded.

Their blessing. Henry and Cora exchanged another glance. Was that what they were being asked for? Their blessing to pay their own lawyer to represent the criminal who had kidnapped and held their daughter hostage?

Emma pushed the beige food around the metal platter before finally shovelling some onto the plastic fork and eating it. The taste wasn't as bad as she had expected but she wasn't quite able to identify what meal she had been served. The cell was quiet as the small group ate their lunch. Emma wasn't hungry but she knew she needed to eat. Once her plate was cleared, she placed it on the bench beside her and went back to her day dreaming.

What would happen to her? There were two possible outcomes, she had decided. Either she would appear in court on Monday morning with a lawyer who was barely out of diapers and plead guilty to her crimes before being handed a prison sentence which was inevitably in the double digits. Or Regina would return.

She wasn't naïve enough to think that Regina's lawyer could get her off scot-free, no matter how high the legal fees inevitably were. She had committed a crime and there no denying that. A plea of not guilty was impossible. But there were mitigating circumstances, as Tink had said. It wasn't an excuse, or perhaps it was. Emma hated the idea of making an excuse for what had happened that day. While the events which had unfolded hadn't gone as planned, at least from her point of view, she didn't want to excuse her actions.

Perhaps it was a point of pride, or her conscience. Denying what she had done, or trying to somehow validate her actions wasn't an option. She wanted to take responsibility, be held to account. But she also wanted a life, a future. With the full weight of the NYPD bearing down on the case, thanks to Regina's father's connections, any sort of future for the blonde was looking pretty bleak in that moment.

Did she deserve a great lawyer? Probably not. Did she deserve a life behind bars? Perhaps. Regina's face popped into her brain, unbidden. Her voice echoed in her memory. 'You're not a monster, Emma, and you don't deserve to spend the rest of your life behind bars.'

But she was already behind bars. She gazed out at the quiet bullpen, feet on the edge of the hard wooden bench and knees tucked under her chin. Was this it? Was this what her life would be from now on? She wrapped her arms around her shins and pressed her forehead to her legs, letting out a trembling sigh of resignation.

For over a minute after Regina excused herself and left the living room, Henry and Cora sat in silence. It was a lot to process. Everything which had happened in the past twenty-four hours had been intense and now their daughter was asking them to provide legal representation for one of the people responsible for what happened. What was the right reaction to that?

"What do we do?" Henry asked quietly, breaking the silence at last.

"What do you mean?" Cora replied. "Are you considering what our daughter just asked of us?"

Henry hesitated then nodded. "We have to consider it, don't we?"

"No, Henry, we don't. Regina is asking us to defend a criminal."

"Represent, not defend," Henry pointed out. "It sounds like this Emma isn't pleading not guilty."

"No, because she is guilty. Of kidnapping Regina, our daughter, in case your forgot."

Henry's features darkened. "Of course I haven't forgotten."

"And yet you're contemplating allow our family's lawyer to represent her?"

"Regina asked us to -"

"Regina has just been through a lot," Cora interrupted. "There's obviously some ongoing trauma from yesterday. She doesn't understand what she's saying."

Henry scoffed. "You think that speech didn't sound like she knew what she was saying? Cora, our daughter has many talents and presenting a good argument is one of them. She'd make a talented lawyer herself, you know."

"Then let her represent this criminal. I'm not paying Tink to do it," Cora replied, arms folded.

"Hey, it's not like I'm jumping to do what she says but we have to consider it. If Regina is asking us, it matters to her. I … have you ever heard her talk like that about someone before?"

"What do you mean?"

Henry shrugged. "I don't quite know. She was impassioned. I could see in her eyes how much it means to her."

"It?"

"Emma, I suppose. And I know that sounds crazy. I think Regina is confused by it too. If she was asking us to help Zelena or Daniel then I'd understand her desire but she's asking on behalf of someone she barely knows. Doesn't that tell you something?"

"Yes," Cora nodded. "It tells me that our daughter needs therapy."

Henry sighed. "Perhaps she does need to talk to someone but right now I think she needs our support."

"She has our support," Cora pointed out. "She knows both of us would move heaven and earth for her."

"And yet we won't meet with someone she clearly shares some kind of connection with?"

Cora's eyebrows rose once more. "Are you saying you think we should meet with Emma?"

"Could it hurt?"

"It might hurt Emma when I punch her in the face for what she did to our daughter," Cora muttered darkly, standing up and beginning to pace the room.

Henry watched as his wife paced up and down. He knew she needed time to process. He did too. It wasn't as if he relished the idea of meeting with one of the people who had taken his daughter hostage. Hell, punching Emma in the face appealed to him as well. But there was something about the way his daughter had asked for his help, had pleaded for the support of him and his wife that gave him pause.

He doubted either of them would ever understand what their daughter had been through. The terror they had gone through as parents was surely eclipsed by what Regina herself had experienced. No doubt that would have some ongoing psychological impact on her young mind. Cora was probably right; Regina would need to talk to someone. But the way she had spoken about Emma, the way she had begged for their help, defended the young woman's actions, it wasn't trauma. It was something else. Something bigger, deeper.

"Fine."

Henry looked up to see that Cora had stopped pacing and was staring out of the window onto the busy New York street beyond.

"Fine?"

"If Regina wants us to meet with this Emma girl, then we will. But we're not promising her anything more than that. You, me and Tink will sit down with Emma for thirty minutes. Then we'll decide."

The door burst open and Regina appeared, a broad smile on her face. "Really?"

Cora frowned. "It's rude to eavesdrop," she scolded, even though she couldn't deny that it was good to see her daughter smiling again. The reason behind what had made her smile, however, was a little disturbing.

"Sorry," Regina said quickly. "But you'll do it? You'll meet Emma?"

"Meet, yes," Cora nodded. "I'll call Tink and get her to set up an appointment tomorrow morning. We'll go after church. But I'm not promising anything more than that."

Regina squealed and rushed to her mother and hugged her tightly. She might have been daddy's little girl but when it came to this request, she knew nothing would be possible without her mother's agreement. Cora embraced her daughter back, pulling her tight against her and stroking her hair.

"Thank you," Regina whispered before she pulled away and moved to hug her father who was still sat on the couch. "Thank you, Daddy," she added, burrowing her face into his broad chest and inhaling the scent which reminded her of home and love and safety.

"You're welcome, Princess," Henry replied, placing a kiss to the crown of her head. "But as your mother said, we're meeting with her only. We're not promising anything yet."

"I know but things will change once you meet her," Regina said, words muffled into Henry's sternum.

"What is it about this girl?" Henry mused out loud, half to himself and half to his daughter.

Regina pulled back at the question, cheeks suddenly a little flushed. "I just think she deserves a chance," she shrugged, avoiding her father's eyes.

From the far side of the room, Cora observed the reaction of her daughter. If she didn't know any better, she'd say Regina was –

"Mrs Mills," came a timid voice from the doorway where one of their maids stood. "The salad is ready."

"Oh, right," Cora nodded, forgetting that she had asked the chef to prepare some food for her daughter. "Regina, are you hungry?"

"Famished," Regina nodded, getting to her feet and heading towards the dining room where no doubt the meal was waiting for her.

"Oh, and Miss West is here to see you Miss Mills," the maid added.

"Zelena?" Regina asked, pausing and turning to the maid.

"Yes, Miss," the maid nodded.

Regina rolled her eyes. "I told her I wasn't up for visitors yet. She never listens to me."

"She's concerned about you," Cora pointed out. "And you seemed to be up for visiting Emma earlier this morning. The least you can do is meet with your best friend."

The blush which had been fading from Regina's olive skin darkened once more and she looked a little guilty. "You're right, sorry. Valerie," she said, turning to the maid, "can you lay another place at the table?"

"Yes, Miss," Valerie said before disappearing back towards the kitchen.

Regina diverted her steps away from the dining room and towards the foyer where she knew Zelena would have been asked to wait. It was somewhat of a surprise that the redhead hadn't just burst in, she mused.

"Oh thank God you're alive," Zelena exclaimed as soon as Regina stepped into the cavernous entrance hall.

A second later, Zelena was wrapping her long limbs around the shorter woman, squeezing her so tightly Regina was struggling to draw breath. But it felt good and she hugged her back.

"Hi Zee," she said when she was finally released from the vice-like grip.

"What happened? What happened to your lip? Does it hurt? Did they hurt you? Where did they take you? Were they really going to fly off in your family jet?"

Regina chuckled at the barrage of questions and linked her arm through Zelena's before leading her towards the dining room. "Shall we eat while I tell you all the gory details?"

"Gory? What happened?" Zelena asked, eye lighting up in anticipation.

"Nothing," Regina replied. "Well, I guess I did almost see a guy get shot."

"You did? In the head? Did his brains splatter every- Oh, hi Mr and Mrs Mills," Zelena said, realising that Regina's parents were already sat at the dining table.

"Hello, Zelena dear," Cora said, a disapproving narrowing of her eyes the only sign that she had overhead the question.

Zelena plonked herself down in a chair as Regina circled to her usual seat. The four of them ate in silence. The redhead was burning to ask more questions but decided it wasn't appropriate to do so in front of her friend's parents and elected to wait until she and Regina could escape up to the brunette's room and talk in private. The meal seemed to go on forever, even though it was only a simple salad. Eventually, however, their plates were empty and she and Regina excused themselves. All but running up the stairs to Regina's bedroom, as soon as the two of them were alone, Zelena's fountain of questions started again.

"Woah, ok, I'll tell you everything but can you please shut up and let me get a word in edgeways?" Regina chuckled, flopping back on her bed and pressing her forearms against her eyes.

A moment later, the bed dipped beside her and she knew her friend had laid down too. "Sorry," Zelena whispered. "I just … yesterday was hell."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Regina replied dryly.

"I didn't mean for you," Zelena said. "Of course, you went through hell but it was awful for us too. We didn't know what was happening. We didn't know if you were hurt or even alive. I don't know how your parents held it together, to be honest. And then when they took you in the car? I just couldn't stop crying and your mom was amazing. You're her daughter and she was comforting me! I just couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you."

Regina rolled onto her right side and cracked her eyes open to see Zelena's cool grey orbs sparkling with tears gazing back at her. "Hey," she said, shuffling closer and throwing an arm over the redhead's slim waist. "It's ok. I'm ok."

Mirroring Regina's position, Zelena rolled onto her left side and pulled Regina into a one-armed hug. "I don't know what I would have done if you weren't," she sobbed into Regina's hair. "I've never been so scared in all my life."

"Me neither," Regina said, her own eyes now glittering.

It was true. Yesterday had been the scariest time of her life. She had been petrified. She had been tied up and held at gunpoint and threatened and hit in the face and in the middle of a police shootout. It had been horrific. And yet, when her mind was left to its own devices, those weren't the elements of her ordeal which they wandered to. Bright green eyes, tangled blonde hair, a grubby but warm little finger curled around her own, a strong, lithe body, the pounding of the young woman's heart in her ribcage as their chests pressed together.

"Zee," Regina said quietly as she pulled back. "I need to tell you something."

As Saturday night wore on, the holding cell became steadily more packed with inebriated individuals. Emma retreated into 'her corner' and tried to ignore the commotion going on in the cage and bullpen. It was impossible to sleep. The noise, the uncomfortable position, the twisting in her gut which had been present since Regina had walked away with her lawyer. Emma had tried to work out what the discomfort was. Guilt? Regret? Fear? Perhaps, or perhaps it was something more. Something she wasn't yet ready to name.

Emma didn't even realise it was morning until their breakfast was served. It was some sort of egg dish but whether the chef was aiming for an omelette or scrabbled eggs was unclear. She ate it anyway and then asked to go to the bathroom. The officer who escorted her sang tunelessly as she peed and washed her hands.

Glancing in the mirror, Emma grimaced at her appearance. Even living on the streets she tried to practice good personal hygiene and her current state was worse than usual. Her hair was greasy and lank. Her skin looked pale, despite the tan she had developed during the summer in the park. She raised a hand to wipe a smear of dirt from her cheek and wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant sight of her own nails.

"Hurry it up," the office barked, noting that Emma was no longer washing her hands and now seemed to be preening.

Giving up trying to make herself look presentable, the blonde turned from the sink and held out her hands to be cuffed once more. After that humiliation was complete, she and the officer left the bathroom. As soon as they returned to the bullpen, however, Emma stopped in her tracks at the sight which met her eyes.

Regina hadn't seen her yet; standing between her parents and talking to the lieutenant on duty. At least, Emma assumed the couple were her parents. She recognised them, even from behind, as the two people into whose arms Regina had been wrapped in at the airfield. They were also the two who had glared at her with unadulterated hatred when their daughter had hugged her so fiercely. Alongside the three Mills stood the small blonde lawyer. Did that mean –

"Emma," Regina gasped, turning around when the lieutenant pointed behind her.

The young woman didn't reply, suddenly embarrassed as she remembered what she had just seen when she looked in the mirror. Why hadn't she spent more time trying to get that dirt off her cheek? Regina, on the other hand, looked spectacular. The teen was clearly in her Sunday best, as were her parents. She was wearing a knee length black dress which was tight yet classy, cream kitten heels and carrying a small clutch bag. A cream and black blazer completed the ensemble.

The brunette's face, however, was where Emma focused. The soft smile, combined with an intense gaze made the younger woman forget where she was, what was happening and the dire state of her future. The twisting in her stomach lessened and the tension moved slightly lower, transforming into a different sort of heat entirely. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, squeezing her thighs together as she did so.

"Hi Emma," Tink said, offering the woman a smile. "Mr and Mrs Mills have agreed to talk with you. Are you ok to meet with us now?"

"Um, yes, I suppose," Emma said, stunned.

Despite the fact that Regina had promised she would come back the following day, Emma hadn't believed her. It wasn't that she didn't trust Regina. Weirdly, she probably trusted Regina more than anyone else in her life. Not that she thought of Regina as being in her life but, well, who else did she have? Even so, Emma had always been a pessimist and therefore she had not been expecting Regina to reappear, certainly not with her lawyer and her parents whom, despite the way they were glaring at her, seemed to be here to listen to her side of the story.

Following Regina and her little convoy, Emma and the police officer continued down the corridor. Outside the door of the private interview room, the group paused.

"Regina, you can wait in the family room," the lieutenant said to her.

"Can't I come in?" Regina asked, turning to her mother pleadingly.

"No," Cora replied. "We agreed. Your father and I will meet privately with Emma. You can wait until we've finished."

''But -"

"Regina," Cora snapped. "The deal was for your father and I to speak with Emma. Unless you want us to walk out of here right now, follow the lieutenant and we'll meet you afterwards."

Biting her bottom lip, Regina nodded once and stepped away from the door. Tink patted her on the shoulder, a silent 'I'll look after Emma'. As the group shuffled into the room, it took everything in Regina's willpower not to reach out and touch Emma. Green eyes locked on her own told her Emma felt the same. Once they were all inside, the lieutenant gently steered Regina away and into a colourful room filled with toys where they evidently interviewed children. Sitting down on the bright blue couch, Regina folded her arms and waited.

"You can uncuff her," Tink said just before the police officer left the room.

Cora and Henry looked at one another as the officer complied with the lawyer's request. Neither of them felt comfortable being in the room with a girl who had held their daughter hostage, let alone one who was not restrained. But they trusted Tink so if she thought it was safe, they weren't going to argue.

Once Emma's wrists were free, the blonde slid her hands from the table and ran her fingers through her greasy hair before balling together in her lap.

"So," Tink began. "Emma, this is Henry and Cora Mills. They're Regina's parents. Henry, Cora, this is Emma Swan. She's been charged with various crimes related to the events of yesterday."

"Yes, I'm aware," Cora said icily.

Emma blushed and looked down at her lap. This was a terrible idea. How on earth was she going to persuade the parents of the woman she had kidnapped to pay for her legal representation? There was no reason why they should even contemplate the request. It was absurd. The only reason they were there at all, she knew, was because of Regina. This was what Regina wanted, for reasons Emma couldn't quite fathom. Surely it was a bad idea, for everyone involved.

"I'm sorry," Emma said. "For everything. For what I did. For the fact that you're here. It's a stupid idea. I don't deserve anything from you. Tink, I'll just go."

Emma made to stand up but as she did so, the lawyer stood too. "Emma, sit down," she said, firmly but softly. "They've come here to hear you out. So, let's tell them what happened."

Sinking back into the chair, Emma returned her gaze to her lap, too ashamed to meet the glares of the couple before her. There was a long silence. Emma didn't know where to begin. Eventually, Tink spoke again.

"Emma, Regina has asked her parents to meet with you so that they can understand why their daughter doesn't think you are responsible for what happened yesterday. We're not committing to anything more than listening today but this is your chance to tell Mr and Mrs Mills what happened."

"You know what happened," Emma said, raising her head at last. "Didn't Regina tell you?"

"She did," Henry nodded, speaking for the first time. "She told us you saved her, protected her. Is that true?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"How?" Henry asked.

"I … I dunno. I stayed with her. I tried not to let Neal near her."

"He split her face open," Cora spat, "and held her at gunpoint. As did you."

"My gun wasn't loaded," Emma said quickly. "I took the bullets out. And I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to do any of that. When Neal hit Regina I wanted to kill him but he was so mad and all I could think to do was to get Regina out of there. Get her to safety."

"You were the one who was endangering her," Cora pointed out.

"No," Emma replied. "No, I never hurt Regina. I would never hurt Regina."

Henry cocked his head. "You tied her up, didn't you?"

The blonde swallowed. "I did. Neal told me to."

"Would you have jumped off a cliff if Neal had told you to?" Cora snarked.

Emma blushed. "Probably," she shrugged. "I've not had many people in my life who have looked out for me. Neal did, even if he did lie to us about his plans for the bank and use us to carry out some stupid revenge on his father. Had I known what his plan really was, I would never have agreed to it."

"But you were on board with robbing a bank and holding civilians at gunpoint for money?" Cora asked.

"Have you ever been so hungry that you can't sleep?" It was a rhetorical question. Just by looking at the three people on the other side of the table, Emma knew the answer was no. "Have you ever slept underneath a piece of cardboard in a tunnel? Have you ever been so cold your toes turn blue? I was desperate. It's no excuse. I wish I'd never done it. I wish a lot of things went differently yesterday but I thought it was my only option. Neal made me think it was our only option."

"There are always other ways," Cora replied. "Criminal behaviour and taking hostages is never the answer."

"I know," Emma sighed. "I know that now and I knew that then. The moment I saw your daughter I -"

The blonde stopped, not quite knowing how she was going to finish the sentence. She blushed. Henry's brow furrowed at the reaction and Cora remembered a similar flush gracing her daughter's face when she spoke about Emma the day before.

"As we've discussed," Tink said after a moment of silence, "Emma is not denying what happened nor her involvement. The armed robbery and the kidnapping are charges which must be brought but I do believe there are mitigating circumstances. Emma did help keep Regina safe, despite her role in what happened. And I've also come across some more information which may help. If you're willing to make a deal, Emma?"

"A deal?" Emma asked.

"What sort of deal?" Henry asked.

"The murder charge. A friend in the DA office told me it's being brought against a Lilith Page. The gun she had on her when she was arrested matches the bullet from the victim. We know she fired the shot. But she's denying it, pleading not guilty. If you testify against her and become a witness for the prosecution, we can get you a deal."

"Testify against Lily?"

"Yes," Tink nodded. "If you agree, I could get you a very favourable deal which -"

"Hold on," Cora interrupted. "Henry and I haven't even agreed to you representing Emma, Tink. Or are you taking on Emma's case pro bono?"

Tink had the good grace to look embarrassed. She had jumped the gun. "No, sorry, Mrs Mills. Even if you declined to permit me to represent Emma under the umbrella of your family's retainer, I wouldn't do this pro bono. I believe it would be a conflict of interest."

"Yes, it would be," Cora said, eyes narrowed.

"It doesn't matter anyway," Emma said flatly. "I'm not testifying against my friend."

"Emma, this is your get out of jail free card," Tink said.

"Which I don't deserve," Emma replied.

"We're in agreement there," Cora muttered, making Emma's cheeks burn red and the knot in her stomach tighten.

"I'm not testifying against Lily even if you could get me a deal. Mrs Mills is right. I deserve to be put away. I committed a crime. I caused Regina and many other people to fear for their lives. I have no interest in a deal. I'll take my punishment because I deserve it. Thank you for coming to listen to me, Mr and Mrs Mills. I'm grateful for your time and I'm very sorry for everything which happened yesterday. It is something I will regret for the rest of my life, which I'm willing to spend in prison if that's what the judge sees fit to decide. I never meant for anyone to get hurt but I know I was naïve to think our plan was a victimless crime. The fact that your daughter was one of those victims eats me alive. I don't pretend to know Regina well but I would never wish her harm. So for everything that happened, please know that I am truly sorry and I will never forgive myself for what happened."

Emma didn't know when she had started crying but she suddenly realised her cheeks were wet. She wiped at them with the palm of her hand, ducking her face in embarrassment. The trio opposite her said nothing for a long time. Emma just waited; waited for them to get up and walk out of her life, just like everyone else had done.

"How old are you?"

She raised her head and looked at Henry Mills who had asked the question. "Seventeen," she sniffed

"Life in prison is a long time at any age but you're just a kid," he mused.

"I'm old enough to know better."

"And your recognition of that is admirable."

Cora turned to look at her husband, frowning. She knew that look on his face. Her husband had always had a soft spot for the underdog. It was one of the reasons she loved him but if his big heart was about to do what she thought it was, she wasn't so sure she could support him.

"Are you attending school?"

"No," Emma replied. "I dropped out half way through tenth grade."

"Where do you live?"

"Nowhere."

"You're homeless?"

"I guess," Emma shrugged. "Or I was, anyway. That holding cell has started to feel more like home than anywhere else I could name."

"What about your parents?"

"I'm a foster kid," Emma said. "I ran away from the latest in a long line of families they placed me with last summer. Made my way to New York, wanted to start a fresh life for myself but I guess that didn't go to plan."

"I guess not," Henry said slowly.

"Henry," Cora muttered as her husband fell silent. She waited until the man looked at her before continuing. "What are you doing?"

"Listening," he replied. "As we promised our daughter we would."

Emma pretended she didn't hear the conversation on the opposite side of the table. She glanced at Tink, however, who was smiling.

"Mr Mills," the lawyer said. "Can I propose my defence theory to you?"

"Yes," Henry replied, turning from his scowling wife to the petite blonde.

"Emma needs to make a deal for her testimony against Lily which will reduce her sentence significantly. Without the murder charge, we can get prison time right down. Possibly to just a few months. With federal crimes like these, there's no way to obliterate prison sentences completely so if you think Emma will be getting off lightly, Cora, she'll still be going to prison." The woman in question pursed her lips but said nothing. "Emma can finish her GED in prison and then prepare to re-enter the real world as a productive member of society. That's what you want, right Emma?"

"I guess but I told you I'm not testifying against Lily."

"Not even if it stops you spending the rest of your life behind bars?"

"I -" Emma stopped. She didn't know how to answer that question posed by the lawyer. The idea of betraying her friend made her stomach drop but the thought of being trapped in a prison until she died was equally chilling. "Do I have to decide now?"

"The first to make a deal gets the worm," Tink replied. "If I know about Lily's charges, chances are Peter's lawyer will do too and if he agrees to testify, the deal I'll be able to get you will be much more limited."

"And we still haven't agreed to let you represent this criminal, Tink," Cora reminded the two blondes.

"Haven't you?" Tink asked, quirking an eyebrow and looking at Henry.

The man turned to his wife, almost shrinking at the stony expression on her face. He returned his attention to Emma. "You care for our daughter?"

"Yes," Emma nodded at once. "I know I only met her yesterday and it's not like we've spent much quality time together but yeah, I really like Regina. That's why I tried so hard to protect her and I'm only sorry I couldn't do more."

"Regina cares for you too."

"She does?"

"I think you know she does," Henry said, a gentle smile on his lips. "And I don't think our daughter would forgive us if we didn't at least offer to help you. Cora?"

He turned once more to his wife whose lips were pursed. She was annoyed about two things. Firstly, she abhorred the idea of assisting the woman who had been responsible for the worst day of her family's life. Secondly, she hated the fact that everything her husband said was true. It was evident that Regina did care for Emma and their refusal to allow Tink to represent the blonde would drive a wedge between them and their daughter.

"Fine," Cora said at last. "If it's what Regina wants, then fine. But we need you to know, Miss Swan, that what you did yesterday is unforgivable and something you deserve to be punished for."

"I know. I agree," Emma said. "Um, thank you."

Cora gave Emma a final once over before standing up. Tink remained seated. Henry got to his feet as well.

"Good luck, I suppose," he offered.

"Thank you," Emma said again. "And sorry."

Cora was already standing by the door. Henry shot Emma a sympathetic smile before following his wife.

A/N: I am working to get more scenes between our two ladies, I promise. It will happen!