A/N: Yay! Wednesday chapters are back!

"So, you're going to meet with Emma as part of a program where she's supposed to apologise to you and you're supposed to tell her how being kidnapped made you feel, right?"

"Pretty much," Regina replied, stabbing some more lettuce onto her fork and nodding at her best friend.

"Weird," Zelena announced. "Weirdest start to a relationship ever."

"Right again."

"And you can do this for months? The concept sounds like a one-off meeting to me. What happens once she apologises?"

Regina faltered. "I'm not entirely sure. But I know it can happen over several weeks."

"Yeah, weeks, not months. She's locked up in that dump until next summer. What are you gonna do once these weird meetings end?"

"I … don't know."

Seeing the crestfallen look on Regina's face, Zelena tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, I'm sure you'll figure it out. In the meantime, you can tell her how you felt," she waggled her eyebrows, "when she kidnapped you. Is that what you like? Bit of bondage and – Ouch!" the redhead exclaimed as Regina's chocolate bar hit her in the forehead. "I'm keeping this as compensation for my injury."

"As long as you shut up about bondage, you've got a deal," Regina laughed.

"Fine," Zelena grumbled, undoing the wrapper and taking a bite before continuing to speak, flecks of chocolate flying everywhere. "But I still think this is not going to work as a long term solution. Once the program is finished, what then?"

"I don't know, Zee," Regina sighed. "We'll think of something. We have to. I can't not see her."

"Dude, you've known her for two weeks."

Regina shrugged. "Yeah, well, I don't understand it either. All I know is that the thought of not seeing her until she gets out is killing me."

"Why can't you just go and visit? It's a juvenile centre, right? They must allow visits the same way a prison does."

"Yeah, technically but Emma is a minor."

"Cradle snatcher," Zelena sniggered.

Regina continued, ignoring the comment. "And the state are effectively her parental guardians and apparently they wouldn't grant permission for her to meet with me because of our … history."

"But this restoring justice thingy is ok?"

"It's in a controlled, moderated setting," Regina replied. "It's not like I'm just popping in to say hi. We won't be left alone or anything."

"Shame," Zelena winked. "You're going to have to wait a year to get freaky."

I threw my chocolate bar too soon, Regina thought to herself, instead settling for shooting her best friend the death stare. "Not everything in life is about sex, Zee."

"Says the girl who's waiting for marriage," Zelena teased.

"I'm not waiting for marriage. I'm waiting for the right person. Someone I trust and feel safe with. Come on, are you really gonna tease me about this again? I have no regrets about my decisions with past boyfriends and you know that."

"Perhaps the fact that they were boys were the problem," Zelena pointed out, stuffing the last morsel of chocolate into her mouth and balling the wrapper up in her palm. "What did your parents say about that, by the way?"

"About Emma being a girl?" Regina asked. At Zelena's affirmative nod, mouth still full of chocolate, she continued. "Nothing, really. Well, I may have accused them of homophobia and they shot me down. I know they're not like that, but I was feeling under attack and I guess I just got defensive. As far as they're concerned, Emma's gender is the least of their concerns."

"Is her felony conviction the problem, by any chance?" The redhead asked. Regina didn't answer. Zelena knew it to be true and saw the sadness behind her friend's usually bright eyes. "Hey, at least she can get out in a year, thanks to you."

"I know but even then, are Daddy and Mom ever going to accept her? They hate her on principle. I don't see that changing any time soon, even after she's out."

"And once she's out, do you see the two of you being together?"

Regina bit her lip, the cut almost healed now but the new skin still starkly pink against her olive tone. It would be there for life now; a daily reminder of her trauma. "Yeah, I think so. I know it sounds stupid, Zee, but there's something between us. Something really … I don't know. I can't describe it."

"You remember that you'll be going to Yale at the end of next summer," Zelena pointed out. "You won't be in New York."

"I know," Regina nodded.

"You think she'll move to New Haven with you?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want her to?"

"I … maybe? I don't know. I want to be with her. If we were two normal teenagers then we'd be dating right now but as it is, she's locked up and I'm trying to persuade my parents she's not the monster they still think she is. And then once she's out, I don't want her to move just for me. We're still young. What's she going to do in New Haven?"

"Be your girlfriend?"

Regina blushed a little. "Well, yeah, I guess she could be that. But I don't want to dictate her life. What if she wants to move away; fresh start, you know? Or what if she wants to go to a different college and ends up in California or something?"

"Sweetie, do you think you're getting ahead of yourself a little?" Zelena asked kindly, patting Regina's fretting hands which were twitching restlessly on the table. "How about you little lovebirds concentrate on actually spending time together and getting to know each other before you put down a deposit on a brownstone in New Haven?"

"Do they have brownstones in New Haven?"

"Not the point and you know it," Zelena laughed as the bell went, signalling the end of their lunch break.

The two of them stood and tidied away their lunch items before heading, arm in arm, towards their next class.

"Hey," Zelena whispered as they sat down, "did I tell you how happy I am for you?"

"For what?"

"For finding your Prince Charming. Or perhaps I should say Princess Charming."

The routine of breakfast, classes, lunch, and more classes, quickly became normal for Emma. She was surprised how quickly she slipped into the rhythm of Storybrooke. It was worrying, perhaps. But there again, at least she was starting to feel a little more settled. The inquisitive nature of MM hadn't let up but somehow the media story of Regina's fabricated Stockholm Syndrome hadn't permeated the walls of the centre.

Her appointment with Ruby came around quicker than Emma had anticipated and she felt unprepared when she knocked on the counsellor's door at the appointed time.

"Hey, how are you getting on?" Ruby asked cheerfully as Emma entered her office.

"Good, I think," Emma replied, taking a seat.

"Classes going well?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"And are you making friends?"

Emma shrugged. Could she call MM a friend? She was certainly friendly but Emma got the sense that she couldn't be trusted.

"Do you have any questions or problems you want to address before we move onto talking about the RJP?"

"RJP?"

"Restorative Justice Program. Sorry, I'm lazy and our legal system loves abbreviations."

"No problem. Yeah, I guess we can move onto talking about that."

"Ok, well, first, how about I give you an overview of what the program entails both from your perspective and that of the victims. It's important you understand the process for both sides before we begin it. Remember, the victims are under no obligation to participate in this scheme."

"Yes, but Regina will."

At that, Ruby hesitated. "Emma, I know there is one person you particularly want to speak to as a result of this program but, as I've said, she won't be the only one whom this is offered to. You can't pick and choose. If other victims want to come forwards, you'll need to meet them too. And these sessions aren't going to be an opportunity for you and Regina to just chat. In order for me to sign off and say that you have successfully completed the RJP, you're going to need to do with Regina what any convicted offender does with their victims. You'll apologise, you'll listen, you'll talk but it will be in the context of what happened that day. Understand?"

"Yes," Emma nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's just … I want to see her."

The counsellor couldn't help but offer the youngster a sympathetic smile. "You miss her?"

Emma blushed slightly. "Is that crazy? We've only known each other a couple of weeks."

"No," Ruby replied. "I felt like that about my wife when we first met. Sometimes, you just know when a connection is real."

"You're married? To a woman?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah, so I know what you're going through, Emma. My wife was the first and only woman I've been in a relationship with. I had unsuccessfully dated men up until that point and it took me a while to come to terms with what was between us. So, outside of the RJP, I'm here if you want to talk, ok?"

"Thanks," Emma replied. "But for now, can you tell me more about RJP?"

Ruby smiled and nodded. "Well, the RJP focuses not so much on the crime which has been committed but the impact that crime has had on the victims. This could be physical or emotional and we also discuss the way in which criminal events can impact a person's life in terms of their relationships as well as their self-confidence, their capacity to return to normal in terms of work or school and much more."

"Ok," Emma nodded. "And how does talking with the person who is responsible for fucking up their lives help victims."

"We don't use language like that here, Emma," Ruby said firmly.

"Sorry," Emma replied shortly. "But I still don't quite see how," she paused, "my victims are going to feel better after they've talked to me."

"Well, research has shown that this open form of communication between both parties can help repair the damage. On both sides, might I add. It is an opportunity for you to make amends and this is important, especially for people like you."

At that, Emma frowned. "What's that supposed to mean."

"It means you clearly have compassion for your victims and feel regret and guilt at what has happened. For perpetrators who feel no remorse, the process of RJP can be more challenging because they struggle to see the events from the other point of view. But for you, I don't think this will be a problem."

"No, I guess not," Emma agreed.

"And therefore, by meeting with your victims, repairing the damage and making amends, you should be able to begin forgiving yourself and focused on the future, rather than regretting the past."

"I'll always regret what happened that day," Emma said. "Are you saying I shouldn't?"

"No, those events will always be part of your life but at the moment I can tell the guilt is weighing on you and will be having a negative impact on your day to day life. But in the future, you will learn how to accept what happened, integrate it into your personal story, as it were, but also move forwards and learn how to be a productive, respected and respectful member of society. At least, that's what this program aims to do. But it's important that you recognise this is for both you and the victims. The idea is that by the end of the program, all parties have experienced some sort of healing."

Emma nodded slowly. "Yeah, ok, I think that makes sense."

"The RJP focuses on face-to-face meetings between victims and offenders with a facilitator or mediator present at all times. That person will either be me or someone who is equally trained in the role. You'll have time to prepare before the meeting, as will the other party. The meeting itself is a chance for you both to speak, to ask questions and to listen to the other person."

"They can ask me questions?"

"Yes, and they'll probably have some," Ruby nodded. "This is an opportunity for the victims to try and understand what happened that day and why you did what you did."

"What if I don't have the answers."

"Then tell them that," Ruby offered gently. "As long as you are honest, that's all anyone can ask of you."

Dark clouds had blown across the city that Friday afternoon. Regina watched the storm building outside the living room window where she lay on the couch, cell phone resting on her stomach. The air was heavy with the anticipation of rain. People all over New York would be cancelling their outdoor weekend plans. Autumn had well and truly arrived.

As the first fat droplets splattered onto the windows, Regina reached for the cashmere blanket draped across the couch and threw it over herself, snuggling deeper into the comfortable space. Where was Emma? she thought to herself as the pattering of raindrops became more frequent. Was she watching the storm? Did the blonde even have a window. Surely she did. There must be some law against keeping people in windowless rooms. But even with a window, she was sure Emma's surroundings were bleaker than the weather outside.

"What are you thinking about?"

The words and the accompanying poke to her thigh got her attention. Regina jumped when she realised she wasn't alone and turned to see her mother standing at the side of the couch.

"Huh?"

"I was calling your name. Dinner's ready in five minutes."

"Oh, thanks."

Cora cocked her head and regarded her daughter who had gone back to watching rain rivulets on the window, distorting the stormy sky outside.

"You're thinking about Emma, aren't you?"

Blushing, Regina turned back to her mother. "Yeah."

Patting Regina's thigh more firmly, Cora sat down once her daughter had moved her legs out the way. "Do you think about her a lot?"

Lip trapped between teeth, Regina nodded. "I mean, I still do my school work and stuff but … yeah, I can't help it."

"Regina," the older Mills started, placing her hand gently on Regina's exposed forearm, "your father and I don't -"

"Mom, please, leave me alone," Regina interrupted.

"Let me finish," Cora said calmly. "I wasn't going to tell you to forget about her and move on."

"Good, because I can't," the teenager said stubbornly.

"I know," Cora replied. "If my parents had told me to stop thinking about your father, I would have said the same thing. What I was going to say was that while your father and I don't understand whatever is between you and Emma, we're not going to stand in your way. As we said, you don't yet have our blessing but it's clear you two share something. Your father and I want what's best for you and we want you to be with someone who makes you happy. While we never expected that to be someone who is in prison, we know better than to try and stand in your way."

"Are you calling me stubborn?"

Cora grinned. "Let's just say determined."

Regina smiled. "And the fact that Emma is a she?"

"Is neither here nor there, you know that. It's more about her character and her morals of which we are concerned."

"Emma's morals are fine, as is her character."

"Well, that has yet to be proved to me and your father. But what has been proven is that you care for her. We just want you to be happy, sweetheart, and if Emma makes you happy, we'll try to understand. But you will need to be patient with us because as far as we're concerned, right now that woman does not deserve someone as special as you."

Regina reached out and placed her hand over her mother's which was still resting on her arm. "Thanks Mom. But Emma's special too. And she does deserve me. You'll see."

"I hope so, sweetie. I do hope so. Come on, dinner's ready."

Regina shuffled out from beneath the soft blanket and followed her mother, glancing once more out of the window at the hammering rain outside, sending a thought to Emma, wherever she was, whatever she was doing. I miss you.

Emma spent the next week reading anything and everything she could get her hands on about Restorative Justice. The library had a number of books and reports on the subject and Ruby had provided her with some printouts from the internet. While Emma had initially been eager to sign up if it meant seeing Regina, the prospect of meeting others whom she had harmed was far less appealing.

She knew the connection she and Regina had was powerful and she also know that connection was a large factor in why Regina had forgiven her already for what had happened. Even if sometimes Emma didn't feel like she deserved such forgiveness. But what about the others? They weren't going to look at Emma and see what Regina saw. They were going to see a convicted criminal. Even if Emma's contact with those hostages that day had been minimal, she had still been involved. Did she really have the strength to face them and listen to how her actions had affected her life?

Perhaps it was cowardly to be unsure. Ruby had told Emma to take her time and consider whether she could commit to the program. "It's not for everyone," the counsellor had said. Emma understood why. The idea of hearing the impact her terrible decisions had had on the lives of innocents made her gut clench.

Beyond those unknown victims whom she'd be meeting, she would also have to go through the process with Regina. Ruby had been clear about that. If she were to sign up for the program, the two of them would have to go through the motions too. It wasn't as if Regina's status as 'Emma's victim' permitted her to meet with the blonde under the guise of the RJP without participating. She would have to listen to Regina talk about herself as a victim, even if the brunette had tried to tell Emma she didn't feel like that. And then Emma would have to tell Regina what had been going through her head that day.

In fairness, Emma mused as she lay in bed one night, if they were going to try and be in a relationship, those were necessary conversations. But the idea of speaking so frankly with Regina in front of a third party, even Ruby, made her uncomfortable.

She went back and forth, deliberating, for a week before making her decision. When she finally knew what she wanted, what she was capable of doing, she made an appointment to meet with Ruby that Friday afternoon, eight days after their previous meeting.

"I'll do it," she said as soon as the door to the counsellor's office was closed. "I want to sign up for the Restorative Justice Program."

"Are you sure?" Ruby asked.

"One hundred per cent," Emma nodded as she sat down in the chair opposite the redhead. "For Regina and everyone else. You're right. I have to meet them. I have to apologise."

"And listen."

Emma swallowed. "Yes, and listen. Can … when … I mean, what's the first step?"

"The first step is finding out which of the people who were there that day would be interested in meeting you."

"Ok, and how do we do that?"

"Leave it with me and I'll contact our RJP partner who's based in Brooklyn and get started."

"So I just wait?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Until we have confirmation that you're eligible and that at least one of the victims wants to meet, there's nothing we can do our end. Focus on your studies and start making friends in here, ok?"

Emma nodded and got to her feet again. "Yeah, ok. Thanks Ruby."

"You're welcome. You've made the right decision here, Emma. This will be good for you, I can tell."

Cora waited nervously in the living room. Glancing at the clock didn't make the time go any faster. It was Monday evening. Henry was late home from work. Regina had already disappeared up to her room, grumbling about how much homework she had to complete. At last, she heard the familiar sound of the door opening followed by her husband's footsteps across the wooden floor of the hallway.

"Henry," she called out. The footsteps stopped and then a second later restarted as the man changed his direction. She knew he had been heading to the dining room as dinner was due to be served in a few minutes.

"Good evening, my love," he said as he entered the room, crossing at once to drop a delicate kiss to Cora's lips. "I'm sorry I'm late. How was your day?"

"Fine thanks. Yours?"

"Back to back meetings," Henry yawned as he sat down in his favourite armchair. "What's for dinner."

"Fish," Cora replied. "But I want to talk to you about something first."

The nervousness in her voice caught her husband's attention and he sat up a little straighter. "Is it Regina? Is she ok? What happened?"

"She's fine," Cora reassured. "But I do want to talk about her."

"What's wrong?"

"I got a call today from Storybrooke Juvenile Centre."

There was a pause. "Where Emma is?"

"Yes," Cora nodded. "Apparently she wants to do something call Restorative Justice where Emma meets with her victims and they talk about what happened and try to help both sides of the crime heal. There's a mediator involved, apparently."

"Emma wants to meet with Regina? Does Regina know?"

"Not yet. Regina wasn't home. I told them to call back on Wednesday afternoon when she's got no classes. But the woman on the phone said that as well as one-on-one meetings, they can also offer family mediations. I've told her we want to do it."

"What?" Henry gaped at his wife.

"I told her we wanted to meet Emma with Regina. I want to hear what she has to say, don't you?"

Henry hesitated. "I mean, I guess so. But you were less on board with all this than me last week. What's changed?"

"You've seen our daughter, Henry. You've seen the way she gazes off into space. It took me a while to realise it and accept it, but our little girl is in love. Although I don't think Regina knows that yet. We're not going to be able to stop them if they both want to be together. And I also trust Regina as a good judge of character. We need to give Emma a chance and if we can meet her, with Regina, perhaps that's possible."

"Give Emma a chance?"

Cora nodded. "Regina needs us to, Henry. Our daughter needs us to try."

A/N: Progress is slowly being made!