A/N: Hi All! I'm back home in Asia which means I'm able to publish two chapters per week again. Yay! Plus, I caught up on my writing on the plane, so I have extra-long chapters for you. Enjoy!

"That was foolish, you know," Tink said as she and Regina descended the courtroom steps, the afternoon sun glinting off the marble pillars. "Cute but foolish."

The teen didn't need to ask what the lawyer was referring to. "It got her time off her sentence, didn't it? I don't regret what I said."

"You might tomorrow," Tink said, nodding subtly towards a press throng which was clustered on the steps for an unrelated case. Reporters were lapping up the words of an unknown man who had been found not guilty, a smug lawyer by his side as the microphones absorbed the script. "Those journalists who were in there are going to have a field day with what they heard. You need to tell your parents what happened before your father reads it in tomorrow's paper."

"What should I tell them?"

The simple, innocent question made Tink pause in her tracks. Looking to the young woman by her side, she was reminded that Regina was just eighteen. Barely more than a child. What might be blindingly obvious to a jaded attorney seemed yet to have solidified in the brunette's mind.

"Just tell them the truth, sweetie," Tink offered gently. "Tell them how you feel. Your parents love you and they want you to be happy. It might take them a bit of time to come around, but they will if they don't want to lose you as a daughter."

"They'd never lose me as a daughter," Regina said quickly.

"No, of course not, but they need to know how you feel about Emma sooner or later and I think sooner is better, don't you?"

The lawyer offered a kind smile and a pat on Regina's shoulder before she set off down the steps again. Regina watched her go before heading towards the parking lot where she had left her car. Behind her, two men wearing sunglasses and looking far too conspicuous, fell into step. Her security detail had entered the courtroom and taken seats in the far corner; Regina had ignored their presence. They had also tried to follow when she descended into the cells beneath the court, but their progress was stopped by security and they had instead loitered with surly looks on their faces as they waited for Regina to reappear.

"How was it?"

Emma internally rolled her eyes as she walked into her room. Could she not at least sit down before the Spanish Inquisition began? Apparently not, judging by the eager expression on her roommate's face.

"Fine," Emma said, toeing off her shoes and climbing up the ladder, hoping it would shut MM up. It didn't. The woman stood up from her own bed and leaned on the rail of Emma's to continue their conversation.

"What did you get?"

"A year," Emma said shortly.

"A year? For kidnapping? How come?"

Emma was starting to become curious how this teenager knew so much about the sentence lengths for various state and federal crimes but didn't want to invite further conversation. Perhaps it was just thanks to her many brushes with the law during her youth.

"I guess the judge wanted to give me a second chance," she said simply, not knowing what more she could offer.

It was true, after all. But the fact that Regina had been the one to speak out was information Emma didn't want to share. She still wasn't sure how MM had found out who it was that Emma had kidnapped. And that was another truth; Emma had kidnapped Regina. Despite what Regina said that afternoon about not feeling like she'd been kidnapped and having gone willingly with Emma, it was kidnap. Ok, the gun wasn't loaded and she hadn't hurt Regina. But she had been the one to tie her up. She had held her at gunpoint to get out of the bank. She had failed to protect her when Neal got mad. Her gut clenched as she remembered the slowly healing scar across Regina's lip.

Amazingly, gratefully, MM seemed to be done with her questioning. As the pixie haired brunette sat back down, Emma rolled onto her side and curled up into a ball. Closing her eyes, she relived the events in the courtroom. Her own elocution was a blur but Regina's words, every single one of them, were imprinted in her mind. As was her touch, her smile, her smell.

"Is Ruby still here?" Emma asked, sitting up suddenly.

"Nah," MM replied. "The counsellors all leave about five on weekdays. There'll be someone on duty if you want to talk though. There's always someone here. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just had a question about my case," Emma said, lying back down. She had hoped to get the ball rolling on the Restorative Justice program. If that was the only way she and Regina were going to be able to see each other while she was inside, then that was what she was going to do.

Déjà vu, Regina thought as she walked through the door which connected the garage to the main part of the house and came face to face with both her parents. She had understood their nervousness on her first day back at school. And presumably they wanted to know how court had been after Regina confirmed she would be going.

"Hi," Regina said, offering a cheery smile.

"Regina."

Oh dear, Regina thought to herself as she registered her father's tone. It was rare for Regina to be scolded but she knew that must be what was coming. Both her parents were stony-faced.

"What's wrong?"

Rather than speaking, her father held out an iPad to his daughter, the screen illuminated with a news article. Mills Daughter Stockholm Victim, announced the headline.

"What?" Regina exclaimed, grabbing the device and scanning the article which had been published, she noted, ten minutes earlier. Was she too young to lament about how she hated the digital age? "How did you …"

"I get alerted whenever your name is published by any of the major news outlets," Henry said matter of factly. Regina tried not to think about how creepy that, in theory, was. "Care to explain this?"

"I don't have Stockholm," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "Jeez, I was only with her for a few hours that day. I was just doing what I thought was right."

Henry reached out and took the iPad back from his daughter so he could read the words from the screen. "'Regina Mills, daughter of tech giant Henry Mills, gave an impassioned speech in open court this afternoon, declaring that she went willingly with female teen kidnapper, Emma Swan, last week, the events of which culminated in a shootout inside the Mills family jet at Teterboro. Regina, 18, spoke on behalf of the accused and appears to have been a powerful contributing factor in the surprisingly light sentence Judge Williams handed Swan.' That sounds like Stockholm to me, Regina."

"That's not what this is," Regina sighed exasperatedly.

"Then what is it?" Cora asked. "Please explain it to us because your father and I are trying to understand and we're struggling. We just want to help you, Regina. If you need to speak to a therapist or -"

"I like Emma, ok?" Regina interrupted.

"Yes, we figured that out, princess," Henry said. "But we don't understand why."

"I don't just mean like, Daddy. I mean, likelike. And I may only be eighteen but I think the definition of liking someone the way I like Emma is that the connection is indescribable. Can you tell me why you like Mom?" The final question was asked in accompaniment with Regina folding her arms in what she hoped was a sense of finality.

Henry opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again, at a complete loss for words. Cora too was stunned into silence. While both Mills knew their daughter was fond of the mysterious blonde, neither had contemplated the true nature of the feelings the girls appeared to share.

"Fine. Can we sit down and talk about this?" Regina asked after about thirty seconds of silence. "I'll answer any questions you have but I'm tired and hungry."

"Hungry," Cora repeated, before springing into action and disappearing to give the household staff instructions about dinner as well as asking for a snack to be prepared for Regina.

Left alone in the hallway, Henry hesitated before turning and leading the way into the small living room. It was a space they tended to use when it was just the three of them as it was too small to entertain but had a pleasant cosy vibe. Regina sat down in her usual seat, curling her feet beneath her and pulling out her cell to check her texts as she waited for her mother. There was one from Zelena confirming their plans for the following day and asking how the sentencing went. At least someone is on my side, Regina mused as she texted her best friend back to let her know the results.

"Right," Cora said, coming back in with a small plate of cut fruit for Regina which she handed over before sitting down. "So, um, questions."

"I'm guessing you have a few," Regina said, picking up an apple boat and munching on it. "And I can't promise you I have the answers but I will be honest with you."

"That's all we ever ask of you, Regina," Henry said. "You should have told us of your plans to speak at court. Or told Tink, at least. We could have had the courtroom cleared of press so this mess," he gestured at the iPad, "didn't happen."

"I didn't know. I didn't go there planning to speak. It was a spur of the moment decision which I'm sure is evident if you were to read those court transcripts back. It wasn't my most eloquent argument."

"It worked though. You must have said something which rang true with the judge."

"Maybe she just saw what I see; that Emma's a good person," Regina shrugged.

"That's not the only thing you see though, is it?" Cora pressed.

Regina blushed a little at the insinuation. Although it was true that Emma was beautiful, that wasn't what Regina was most drawn to. She was still unsure of the right words to describe that special, rare and utterly intoxicating sensation she felt whenever she saw, spoke to, touched or even thought about Emma.

"I told you, I can't really what it is about her but there's something. A connection, I guess."

"A connection," Cora repeated.

"Yeah, something which I can't really describe but I can tell you I never had it with Daniel."

Henry and Cora glanced at one another, silent communication occurring between the couple. "And what about Daniel?" Cora asked.

"I've told him I'm no longer interested in dating him," Regina replied firmly.

"You told the son of good friends of ours, of business contacts of ours, that you don't want to be involved any more? Regina, you can't -"

"Whatever you're about to say, Daddy, stop, please. I love you but you have no say in who I do or don't date. I know you like Daniel and his family. I like them too. But I don't see a future with him and it's not fair on either of us to continue seeing each other if that's the case."

"Are you telling me you see a future with Emma?" Cora asked, agape.

"Maybe," Regina shrugged, folding her arms. "It's not like we've spent much quality time together, but I know she makes me happy and she makes me feel things Daniel never did."

"Have you and Emma -" Cora stopped herself abruptly, as if she realised she didn't want to know the answer to the question she had been about to answer. "Regina, sweetheart, you can't be serious. I mean, Emma Swan is a convicted felon."

"She made a mistake."

"A mistake? Regina, she kidnapped you! She's got some sort of spell over you, so you can't see what she's done is so wrong that she deserves to be locked up for years. And now, thanks to you, she'll be out in less than twelve months," Cora spat.

"Mom, stop it," Regina exclaimed, jumping to her feet, sending the fruit plate which had been on her lap cascading to the floor. All three Mills ignored the split food. "I will answer your questions but I'm not going to sit here and defend Emma's character. She's a good person and that's the end of it. And I know Daddy saw that in her, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to let Tink represent her. It's only now you're thinking of us together that you're attacking her. She's seventeen, she's just a kid."

"So are you," Henry reminded her. "And we don't want you throwing your life away on some teenage infatuation."

"I'm not throwing my life away, Daddy. I'm living it. I'm not saying Emma and I are going to be together forever, but I do want to give us a chance. I'm following my heart and I'm doing what makes me happy. Isn't that what you both want for me?"

Cora's forehead creased with sadness. "Darling, of course that's what we want. We've only ever wanted the best for you. But are you really sure this is best? After all, what sort of future could you possibly have with Emma compared to someone like Daniel?"

The teen was about to answer with regards to the two individuals' economic status when she faltered. "Is this about Emma being a girl? Are you mad because I might be gay?"

"Regina," Henry scolded lightly. "You know us both better than that. We don't care who it is who makes you happy but -"

"But it can't be Emma," Regina interrupted. "Look, I'm not going to lie. This was a surprise for me too. It wasn't like she walked into the bank and I fell head over heels for her. I didn't even know I … I didn't know I was attracted to girls until a week ago. It's confusing and scary and I don't know how things are going to work out but I can tell you that no one has ever made me feel the way Emma does. I know the way we met isn't normal and I know she's done wrong. But she's not a bad person and that day she saved my life and I saved hers. Please, just, don't write us off before you've given us a chance."

"Us?" Henry asked. "Are you and Emma and 'us' already?"

"We're a something," Regina shrugged. "I don't know what. I don't think she does either. But we both want to find out more about that something. And now I'm eighteen, I don't need your permission to go and visit her, but I would like your blessing."

Once again, Cora and Henry exchanged glances. Regina waited as her parents engaged in their magical silent communication. She knew it was a lot to take in, to process. It was enough to find out that their daughter who had been seemingly happily dating a man for the past three months was now interested in a woman. Let alone the fact that the woman in question was a convicted felon.

"We won't stop you seeing her," Henry said, jolting Regina back to the room. "And although you are technically eighteen, make no mistake that I could block your visits if I wished." Regina opened her mouth to protest. "But I won't and your mother and I accept that you and Emma want to spend time together, I suppose. That doesn't mean we approve of the relationship or whatever you become. As far as we are concerned, Emma is not good enough for you and the ball is in your court to prove she is. If you and she can do that, then you have our blessing."

"Ok," Regina nodded. "Thank you, Daddy."

Frankly, although harsh, the words her father had spoken were a better outcome than Regina had even dreamed of. She hadn't expected their blessing, but she had expected a greater resistance. Perhaps they sensed, rightly so, that to stand between Regina and Emma would drive a wedge between parents and child which could be irreversible.

"Go and do your school work now," Cora dismissed. "I'll call you for dinner."

The weekend dragged slowly. With no classes to attend and no real friends to speak of inside, Emma found herself watching the hands tick slowly around on the clock more than she cared to admin. The book she had checked out of the library had failed to capture her attention and she often found herself staring into space, the book lying on her chest. Her mind wandered to one person and one person only.

On Saturday evening, she and MM went down to the tv room and watched the weekly movie. It was a remake of a Disney classic. Yet another story about a princess finding her prince. When would Hollywood make its first movie about a lesbian princess? Emma thought to herself as they walked back to the bunks. Never, probably. Parents wouldn't want their children exposed to such a lifestyle. Hollywood had the power to legitimise and even in 2018, the idea of legitimising homosexuality in a children's film was still not mainstream.

Sunday was even slower than Saturday. Emma, MM and Kelly went outside to the recreation space and watched some of the other girls play basketball. None of them wanted to join in and the invitation wasn't extended. But it was nice to be breathing somewhat fresh air. Beyond the high walls of Storybrooke, Emma could distantly hear the cacophony of New York life. Oh what she wouldn't give to be out there, to be free. Even faced with a sentence half as long as she had expected, the future was bleak. Only one silver lining remained.

Emma was loitering outside Ruby's locked (she tried the handle, just out of curiosity) office door on Monday morning when the redhead staggered down the corridor with a teetering pile of files.

"Wow, someone's keen," Ruby said as she spotted Emma just before half the papers splattered on the floor.

"I have a couple of questions," Emma said, darting forwards to help the counsellor.

"I heard about your sentence," Ruby continued as the two of them set about picking up the scattered papers. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Emma grinned. "Got any tips on how to guarantee I make parole?"

"Nothing in life is guaranteed, Emma," the older woman said wisely as she stood up, clutching most of the paperwork and Emma holding a few strays. "Just keep your nose clean, don't fall in with anyone who might lead you down the wrong path, get involved in the extracurricular activities, study hard and make sure you put together a plan for what you'll do when you're out."

"Piece of cake," Emma deadpanned.

Ruby chucked as she unlocked her office door. "I'll help you, don't worry. Um, are your questions quick as I have an appointment in half an hour."

"I don't know," Emma replied. "I wanted to ask you about the Restorative Justice thing. What do we have to do to make that happen?"

Placing her paperwork on the desk and taking the other pieces from Emma, Ruby sat herself down in her chair and gestured for Emma to take the one opposite. "You're interested in participating in the Restorative Justice program, am I right?"

"Yes."

"Ok, well this is a program which involves not just you but the victims, so it can take a little time to get up and running. We'll need to reach out to everyone who was in the bank that day and find out if any of them are interested in meeting with you, then there are some sessions which -"

"No, I don't want to meet with all of them, just Regina," Emma interrupted.

Ruby frowned. "You can't pick and choose who you do this with, Emma. The crime in which you were involved affected a number of people, not just Regina Mills. If you sign up for the Restorative Justice program, that means all of the victims have a right to meet with you. They all have equal rights to an apology, after all."

The words landed on Emma like a tonne of bricks. Of course Ruby was right. Of course every single person in that bank deserved an apology. It wasn't just Regina whose life had been turned upside down that day. But the prospect of facing all those people, of telling them she was sorry for what she had done and hearing how her actions had affected them …

"Thanks," Emma said, jumping to her feet. "I'll think about it."

"Hey, hold up," Ruby said. "Why the sudden turn around? You were waiting outside my office to get this thing started and now you're not sure? What's changed?"

"I … it's just … I need to think."

"I have no doubt," Ruby nodded. "The Restorative Justice program is not something to be entered into lightly. It takes a big person to apologise for their actions, especially when those they have wronged have the opportunity to respond. But my question is why your enthusiasm for this excellent initiative changed once I told you it wouldn't just be Regina you were apologising to. Is there something you want to tell me?"

There was something knowing in the redhead's tone. Emma scanned her face, trying to decide how much she trusted Ruby. She hadn't spoken of Regina to anyone within Storybrooke yet. But Ruby wasn't anyone. She was her counsellor. If there was one person in this whole place Emma could trust, it had to be Ruby.

"Regina and I … we like each other, I guess," Emma said eventually. As the words left her mouth, the weight which had hit her earlier lifted somewhat. Thinking about Regina always made her feel better and it seemed talking about her worked that way too.

"Yes, I figured as much," Ruby said with a smile.

"How?"

Ruby reached into her handbag and pulled out a newspaper. Flicking through it, she found the article she was looking for and pushed it across the desk towards Emma. The blonde picked it up at once and gawped at the headline.

"Stockholm Syndrome?"

"All the major outlets have run something about Miss Mills having Stockholm after what she did in court," Ruby nodded. "It's not front-page news but it's been a popular story all weekend. People love to see how the other side live, right?"

"She hasn't got Stockholm Syndrome," Emma said, having finished the short article. "Shit, did her parents see this? They're going to kill me."

"It would have been hard for them to avoid. Plus, I suspect their lawyer, Miss Bell, would have told them. They're paying for your legal fees, after all," Ruby pointed out.

"Well, not any more, I'm sure," Emma huffed. "Damn media. Why can't they just leave us alone?"

"So you and Regina are an us?"

Emma shrugged. "I mean, it's not exactly been stated like that. I'm in here, in case you didn't know, so I can't take her out on dates or anything. But she dumped her loser boyfriend. That's got to be a good sign, right?"

"So it would seem," Ruby nodded. "And is this why you want to do the Restorative Justice program? Because you know it is the only way for you and Regina to have contact?"

"Yeah," Emma nodded. "She told me to sign up for it."

"Well, it would be something we could arrange but you need to understand it's not an exclusive program. If you want to do this in order to meet with Regina, you have to be open to meeting with everyone else. I think you recognise that's the only way it could possibly be fair, right?"

"Yes, but … I'm not sure I'm ready."

"Ready for what?"

Emma looked down at her lap, fingernails scratching the edge of her thumb, trying to find the words. "To hear what they have to say."

The counsellor had worked with youngsters in the same position before. It was one thing to admit to a crime but it was quite another to hear the honest truth from the victims. That was why the program was extensive and offered support on both sides in the lead up to the meetings as well as during and afterwards.

"Emma, we can talk about this in more detail if you want to know your options and your responsibilities. I would be right beside you every step of the way. I can already tell you're carrying a huge amount of guilt for what happened that day and you clearly displayed remorse in court last week. Even if you weren't doing this to meet Regina, I would recommend the program to you. I think it could be extremely useful for you and for those people who were in the bank that day. Do you want to schedule a meeting with me later this week to discuss it?"

The blonde hesitated for a moment but then nodded. Ruby was right. It wasn't just about Regina. And while she couldn't stomach the thought of sitting across from any of those other innocents just yet, perhaps, with time, she would. And if that was going to help her as well as those whom she hurt, surely she had to give it a try.

"Ok, how about Thursday afternoon. You don't have class according to my schedule I have for you."

"Creepy but ok," Emma grinned.

"Oh, we keep tabs on everything in here," Ruby grinned, tapping her keyboard to make the appointment.

"So, just out of interest, how long after I start the program would I have to meet people?" Emma asked as she got to her feet.

"It depends on you and the person you're meeting. Some can happen quickly. Some can take months. It's a process."

"And the meetings, they can be regular, right?"

"Not usually but sometimes, yes. If we feel it is beneficial to both parties to continue the meetings and dialogue."

"And who decides that? If it's beneficial, I mean?"

"Are you asking me who is responsible for making a decision which will determine whether you'll be able to see Regina regularly between now and when you leave?"

Emma shuffled awkwardly from foot to foot. "Yeah, I guess."

"That, Emma, would be me," Ruby offered with a wolfish grin.

A/N: Life tip: you know that person on Twitter or Instagram you're silently wishing would slide into your DMs? Make the first move: it might just change your life.