Now presenting Chapter 6! I actually really liked this one so I hope you do too. You know the drill when you finish the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT

"You want a room? In my palace? What makes you think I'll allow you to stay after this visit?" She had absolutely no intention of letting the blonde stay anywhere near her and Emma. Maleficent's grin grew as she looked at the queen.

"Because if you don't, I'll tell your mother exactly where you are."

The room froze. The two men on the guard immediately tensed, the dead man had a look of confusion on his face and the Savior was staring carefully at her wife. She somehow felt that if she were to even glance away she would snap. Emma took a deep breath and walked closer to Regina, making sure not to touch her. This is not good! This is really not good! She's gonna lose her shit, I can feel it. The guard won't be having very much fun tonight. Emma didn't even so much as look at the woman staring at her as she walked in front of Regina. The brunette stood there, somehow looking like the epitome of calm and collected. The only way Emma even knew her wife was affected by what was said was by the look in her eyes and flare of her nostrils.

"Hey…" Emma looked into brown eyes, trying to get some kind of response out of the stoic woman. "It's gonna be fine. You know I would never let her hurt you." She had to resist taking Regina in her arms and guiding her head on her chest. Regina loved the sound of Emma's heartbeat, or so she says. Emma settled with placing her hand on Regina's shoulder.

Regina just continued to stand there, lost in her thoughts. She was vaguely aware of Emma speaking to her. All she could think about was her mother coming here and taking away the one thing she loved in this world. Emma. She thought. Her Emma was about to become a target the size of her castle if her mother were to come here. This can't be happening. If she comes here, I-I'll lose Emma. I can't! I cannot and will not lose her. I refuse. Regina turned her attention to her wife, who was standing in front of her with a very worried look on her face. She looked behind her, spotting the older blonde just a few feet away, studying them. She cannot know we're together. Forgive me, my love. She thought.

"White Knight! Remove your hand from my shoulder! I don't know what gives you the right to even begin to think you are able to place your hands on me! One more slip up today and there will be punishment." Regina shot a glance over at the other blonde still looking at them. She looked back at Emma, knowing she would have to place the final nail in the coffin. She knew this one would hurt the blonde deeply, but it had to be done. I have to keep her safe. No matter the cost. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before speaking again.

"You have no claim on me, therefore you will not touch me. I am not yours to grope, or handle. That privilege is reserved for people whom I love. And dear, I do not love you. Your job is to fight and to protect me, but you are a means to an end if you can no longer do the job correctly. You are expendable, dear. Do not let it happen again if you want to keep those hands, Savior." Regina looked into green eyes that were now swimming with unshed tears. It broke Regina's heart to know she put them there but it was necessary. She had hit on one of Emma's insecurities. Emma never thought she was a good enough fighter to be on the guard. It took her a long time and a lot of convincing to believe she was enough to protect Regina and here she was, throwing away all the work she had so carefully put together.

Emma stood with her head down, hoping nobody saw the one tear that had escaped. She knew Regina didn't mean it. She could feel the regret pouring off of Regina like waves, followed by a tsunami of love. Emma tried her damnedest not to let her voice crack as she spoke.

"I apologize again, your grace. I seem to be having an off day. If you no longer need me I will be in the training yard. Thank you, your majesty, for being so merciful with me. I do not deserve it." Emma bowed at the waist and walked quickly out of the room. Regina wanted to stop her but knew it would be of no use. The blonde was upset and Regina knew she needed to let off a little steam. She glanced back at her other guards, who wore sympathetic faces, knowing exactly why the queen had to berate her wife like that. She gave them a small nod, with a gesture towards the door, dismissing them. When the men left Regina turned her sights straight for Maleficent.

"What do you know of my mother?" Regina was in no mood for games. She was in Evil Queen Mode, and she was not feeling very gentle at the moment.

"I know she is looking for you, but because of a spell you cast many years ago she is not able to find your exact location without being guided here." The dragon-lady gave her a knowing smile. "I also know you have someone. A lover, perhaps. I can see it in your eyes. You wouldn't want her to know about that now would you? So about that room." The blonde gave Regina a triumphant grin. Regina narrowed her eyes, trying not to blast the woman to another land.

"Okay then, dear. I'll play your little game. You want a room. Why and for how long."

"Well to catch up, of course. It's been so long, my friend. I want to know all about this mystery lover you have and wouldn't mind trying to tame your extremely insubordinate White Knight while I'm at it." Regina had to refrain from growling at the thought of Maleficent's hands on Emma's body. It wasn't hers to touch, or to think about.

"You will leave her. She is not for you to play with. She is not a pet, she is my best knight and you will not distract her." She's also my damn wife. Regina was not happy at the turn of events but had no choice but to agree. "Fine. You may stay, but no longer than a month or two. This is not your home and you are not welcome." The purple-clad woman nodded.

"Okay, Regina. Now while my room is being prepared take me to your guard. I wish to see why their reputation is as impressive as it is."

…

Emma walked to the guard's training field, ignoring the men and their swords as she walked to a more secluded area of the grounds. She had composed herself but still didn't feel like seeing anyone just yet. She unsheathed her sword, swinging it around a few times. The armor she was wearing was more than she was used to. Regina must have put on a few extra items. Freaking, over protective, queen. Emma poofed away her armor and made it so she was wearing a tight black shirt, tan riding pants and black boots. As much as she loved her armor, she hated sparing with it. Every move she made was more constricted and stiff.

"Hey there, Savior! You wanna fight?" Emma turned and noticed a few knights stumbling over to her. Drunk idiots!

"What do you think you're doing?! Are you drunk? Her majesty is going to kill you! We have a guest, retire to your chambers and sleep it off." Emma really didn't feel like dealing with drunk Neanderthals, no matter how much she wanted to take her anger out on somebody.

"Aww c'mon! Fight me, o'great one!" The two of the knight buddies were trying to hold him back but the man stumbled over to her, sword drawn.

"Leave. Before the queen sees you." Emma's voice was a little louder than she intended it to be. A crowd was starting to form around the two, waiting to see what would happen.

"I bet you think you're great, huh? 'Look at me! I'm the White Knight! I can do whatever I want because I fuck the queen!" The man stumbled and laughed at his own imitation of Emma. He hadn't noticed the entire crowd go silent or the narrowing of green eyes that were now locked on him.

"What the fuck did you just say? I don't think I heard you right." Emma's grip on her sword tightened. She has learned to control her temper over the years but it was slowly slipping at the moment.

"You 'eard me! You think that because you fuck the queen senseless you can boss 'erybody around! I bet it's nice, being able to shag that whenever you want to. What I wouldn't do for a night!" Everyman in the circle held their breath as they watched the Savior. Several men that had been training were there now, watching the scene play out. No one ever talked about her relationship to the queen. Especially not in such a crude manner. Emma took a deep breath, trying to get control over her magic so she wouldn't alert Regina.

"You want a fight, you got a fight." With that Emma swung her sword at the man, all her anger and frustration coming out in one blow. The knight barely had time to block the attack and was sent to the ground. He sobered bit, and regained his footing. He slashed his sword through the air, but Emma dodged every attack he made toward her. She brought her sword down in a diagonal line, cutting the man across the chest. He fell to his knees, clutching his hand to his chest, face contorted in pain. He kept a grip on his sword and rose slowly. Everybody was so enraptured with the fight they didn't notice the queen and her guest making their way across the field.

"Just yield, dude!" A knight yelled from the crowd. He was ignored as the White Knight and drunk man circled each other. The drunk lunged at the knight but was grabbed and tossed to the side.

Regina could see the crowd of men, but couldn't see you was fighting. When she reached the group she shouted,

"What the hell is going on here?" In an instant each man was on one knee with their head bowed except for the two people in the middle on the audience. Regina's eyes widened in surprise when she saw her wife in the middle, fighting an obviously drunk man. Emma spun around, wide-eyed. The knight behind her, stupidly, saw his chance and swung his sword. The blade sliced the blonde's back from shoulder to waist. He stumbled back onto his butt and dropped his sword, realizing what he did. Emma gasped and surged forward landing on her hands and knees. Every man's gaze landed on the queen as she stood there glaring at the man who cut her wife. The older blonde next to her remained silent as she watched the younger blonde take in short gasps of breath through gritted teeth.

"Are you alright, dear?" Regina asked as she walked forward, still looking at the, now very sober, knight. She knelt down taking Emma face in her hands. Not caring about the woman she knew would be staring at them. Emma nodded.

"Just peachy, your majesty." Her fist remained balled her sides and she bit the inside of her mouth to keep from crying out when she felt Regina touch the cut across her back. With a wave of her hand, Regina stripped all the men in the area of their sight. None of the made a sound, now used to the sudden change. The queen would often take their senses when it suited her and there was something she didn't want them to see or hear. Regina knew trying to take the other witch's sight would be useless so she kept her focus on Emma. She was able to remove Emma's shirt easily due to the large tear down the back of it. She cringed at the mark that marred her wife's perfect skin. These types of things never bothered her, obviously, but when it came to Emma she hated even the smallest of paper cuts.

"So tell me, doc. Am I gonna live?" Regina huffed a little at the blonde's attempt to lighten the mood.

"I don't know. If only you knew someone with magic… oh wait!" Regina placed her hands over the laceration, not caring about the blood that coated her hands. She could feel her magic reach out to Emma's, like it always did when they were close. She and Emma both sighed as her magic ran along the blonde's spine. Completely healed, Regina snapped her fingers, putting Emma back into a black shirt before standing. She waved her hand, giving all the men their sight back. She looked toward the knight who was idiotic enough to harm her love.

"Have you anything to say for yourself?" Regina tried keeping her cool, already knowing her punishment for the man. The knight gulped.

"I-I didn't m-mean to. I s-swear!" She cocked an eyebrow.

"You did not drop to your knee when I approached. You cut her unfairly. Her back was turned, the fight was over, yet you decided to continue swinging. There is no excuse." Regina walked forward more, stopping right in front of the man. "Now answer my question. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Regina looked at him coolly, her fingers twitching to grab the man's throat and squeeze the life from his body. He hung his head.

"No, your grace. Only my deepest apologies to the Savior for my actions." Regina acknowledged the man's answer with a nod but let her eyes fly over the men counting how many were surrounding them.

"There seem to be 78 men here. You will be whipped, on you back, twice that and thrown to the dungeons until I remember to let you out." Regina conjured a whip in her hand. The knight was sitting on his hind legs, hands gripping the grass. Regina flicked her wrist, the whip snapping against the man's back several times.

"You will count out loud. If you don't remember what number you're on you will start over. How many have I already done?" The man's breath was labored as he answered.

"Four, you majesty."

"Good. Graham! You will stand here and make sure this punishment is done correctly. You will not know whether I am watching or not, so I suggest you do not try to have pity on this man." Killian, Graham and Neal and recently arrived to the scene.

"I wouldn't dream of it, your majesty." He took the whip in his hands and was left to his task. Regina turned with Maleficent at her side, Emma behind them and Killian and Neal at the rear. She marched back to the castle and to the room, the intruding blonde would be staying in.

"You'll be staying here. Do not bother me until we meet again for breakfast. Dinner will be brought to you." With that, Regina turned around and began walking toward her bedchamber on the other side of the castle. The three others following decided to stay silent, knowing the queen was in a mood.

"Killian, have guards posted outside of her room and at the end of the hallway. If she attempts to leave notify me immediately." Regina continued to walk at a brisk pace as she spoke. Darling what would you like for dinner?" Emma walked a few paces behind the brunette with her head down. Emma was startled at the endearment, but recovered quickly after realizing the witch was gone.

"I, um, it doesn't really matter to me." Emma shrugged, keeping her tone light but it didn't fool Regina for one second. She stopped walking and turned around. She studied the blonde, noticing how her shoulders were slouched, her hands shook, and her eyes were wild and dilated. Not good. Regina knew exactly what Emma's problem was and she also knew she wouldn't have much time before the blonde exploded. Literally.

"Killian have dinner prepared within the hour and come get me when the dining room is set. I want you, him and Graham in attendance." Regina took Emma's hand in hers and poofed them into their room before either man could respond. When they appeared in their room, Emma was hunched over at the waist with her hands tucked into her stomach. Regina kneeled next the blonde, who was now shaking violently. She grabbed Emma's hands, lacing their fingers.

"Emma I need you to take a breath and focus. Can you do that for me?" When she received a curt nod she continued. "Okay I'm going to start pulling but I need you to help me. Are you ready?" Emma's breaths were becoming labored. She hated this. It used to happen all the time when she first began learning magic but had diminished when she got a pretty good control over it. Whenever she felt too many strong emotions at the same time, anger usually being one of them, her magic would build up to the point where it was almost painful. She remembered the first time it happened. It scared the shit out of Regina and if she was being honest, Emma was pretty freaked herself.

The day was supposed to be special but the two women just couldn't get along.

"Regina! Please, don't do this!" Emma pleaded with the woman who sat on her throne looking eerily indifferent considering the circumstances.

"I can and I will. You are to return to your kingdom. I don't want you here anymore." Regina gripped the armrests of her throne, trying to remain unaffected. She could feel the annoying pressure behind her eyes as she looked into pleading green eyes. Never had she wanted to cause Emma, of all people, this much pain.

"How can you do this? Today of all days?" Emma's voice quieted slightly and her shoulders sagged. Regina looked her square in the face. Taking in the beautiful features she had fallen completely in love with.

"This day as no significance to me. You are to leave in the morning."

"It's out anniversary! How can you say this isn't significant? It's been 11 months, Regina! You can't just throw me away like it never meant anything!" Emma was standing directly in front of Regina, her hands gesturing wildly.

"I can because you mean nothing no me. You were merely a distraction and now I'm bored of you." Regina had to look away when she saw the first tear fall from Emma's eyes. They were both silent for a few minutes. Until Emma began to back away, walking down the few steps that led to her throne. She was shaking her head.

"No. No, I refuse to believe this whole time I've meant absolutely nothing to you. I don't believe you!" Emma shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the brunette. Regina just stared at her, taking in every inch of the woman before she sent her away.

"Your things have been packed, you will depart at the crack of dawn. Now if you'll excuse me." Regina stood and began to walk away but was stopped by the words that came flying from the blonde's mouth.

"Regina, I love you! I am in love with you! Please, do not send me away." Regina closed her eyes as a wave of emotions washed over her. Fear, hope, and utter happiness. Love. She loves me! No! She can't love me. I'm evil, a monster. I will never be what she needs. Regina took a shaky breath, composing herself before turning to face the blonde who had just opened her heart and now had it on her sleeve. Now all Regina had to do was stomp on it. She painted a smirk on her face as she spoke.

"You love me, do you? That is highly doubtful, dear. And even if you did what did you expect me to do about it? Did you think I reciprocated your feelings? Think that I would love you back? Ha! I'm sorry, my dear, but I am not capable of love and if I was I wouldn't love you." Regina didn't look away when a sob wracked through the blonde's body. She didn't react upon seeing the tears running down pale cheeks so quickly it looked like a river. She didn't even blink when the blonde crumbled to the floor in a heap. Her heart thundered painfully inside her chest as she watched the woman she loved with all her heart break right in front of her, and knowing it was her doing was just the knife in the chest on top of it all. Yet, there she stood, head held high, eyes steeled but shimmering with tears she wouldn't allow fall.

Emma was in immense pain. Both physically and emotionally. Her body trembled as she cried. She tried holding in the whimpers that wanted to be let out. She could feel her heart breaking but she could also feel her magic rising to an excruciating level. She tried breathing like Regina taught her but it only served as a way for more sound to escape. She tilted her head, her eyes locking with blurry brown ones. She wasn't able to keep her eyes open for long but before they closed she did see Regina begin to walk away again. When the brunette began to walk away she felt a tug at her heart and could no longer hold in the scream that had been building in her throat. Regina whipped around as the scream tore through her heart. It held so much pain. More pain than just a broken heart would cause. It was then she noticed a faint glow emanating from where Emma's hands were tucked into her stomach. She realized that Emma was now screaming in pain and that could not be ignored. She rushed to where Emma was kneeled over, waving her hand over the woman looking for any internal damage but finding none. Regina placed a hand on Emma's shoulder but immediately retracted it when another scream came from her throat.

"Emma! I need you to look at me!" Regina was beginning to become scared. An emotion she hadn't felt in decades. When Emma looked up at her she saw the usually green eyes now a bright gold.

"I need you to tell me what hurts." Regina's voice was panicked. She didn't even know how to help the woman she loved and she felt completely useless. Emma nodded taking a deep breath.

"T-too much m-magic. Hurts." Emma cried again as a wave of pain traveled up her spine.

"Okay, let me see your hands." When Emma didn't respond, Regina really began to panic. "Emma! Show me your hands!" The blonde uncurled her hands from her stomach, holding them out to Regina. The queen gasped at the sight. The hands were glowing so bright it was difficult to look at. She could see smoke swirling over the palms and got an idea, hoping she was correct about her hunch.

"Emma I'm going to grab her hands and try to draw the magic out, okay?" Emma nodded, her movements jerky and tense.

"P-please hurry, Gina. Really h-hurts." At the pleading sound that came from Emma voice, Regina wasted no time in grabbing the blonde's hands and intertwining their fingers. She gasped when she felt Emma's magic shoot up her arms, moving throughout her body, confused by the unfamiliar body it was now coursing through. She mentally sighed in relief when the magic continued to fizz in her body, not attacking her or causing her any pain at all. Well it seems like she really is my true love. Regina had the hunch from the moment her and Emma shook hands but had never actually confirmed it until now. Regina could see some of the tension leave the blonde's shoulders but could tell she was still in pain. How much magic can she possibly be holding?

"Emma I need you to push some of your magic into me. Just focus on directing it to your palms and I'll do the rest." Regina was very surprised when she saw Emma shake her head.

"D-don't want you hurt too." Emma gritted her teeth her heart thudding against her chest at the feel of Regina's hands in hers, only making her magic rise more. The brunette's eyes softened at the words.

"I can handle it, Emma. I've used magic far longer than you have. My body is accustomed to it, yours, on the other hand, is not. Now push your magic to me, now." Emma took a breath, focusing on changing the current of her magic like Regina had taught her. She could feel Regina begin to pull more of her magic from her body and sighed in relief. Emma's head was now resting in Regina's lap as the brunette played with her hair. Emma wanted to pause the moment and never move from this spot.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Anything for you, my dear." She heard Regina sigh. "Emma what happened?"

"I honestly don't know. After you crushed my heart I just got really sad and angry and all of a sudden my magic was going crazy. I couldn't stop it." Emma kept her eyes closed, waiting for Regina to respond.

"I'm very sorry, Emma. I-," She tried to explain but was cut off.

"Look its fine, Regina. You can't help that you don't love me as much as I can't help that I'm in love with you. I'll leave in the morning and be out of your hair." Emma opened her eyes and tried sitting up but was tugged back down by her hair. She looked into brown eyes, confused.

"Emma…" She sighed closing her eyes and taking a breath before looking back down. "Do you know your magic could have killed me?" Emma's eyes widened and she shook her head. "The only reason it didn't is because your magic was able to recognize that I am your true love." Emma shot up, almost hitting her head against Regina's.

"What!?"

"I am your true love, dear. That is why I am not lying here dead at the moment." Regina noticed the smile creeping onto Emma's face.

"You love me?" She eyes shining with hope. Regina sighed, rolling her eyes but had a soft smile on her face.

"Yes, dear, I do. With all my heart."

Regina remained calm as she began drawing the magic from Emma. This didn't happen often but when it did she learned remaining calm would be best for both of them. She felt the blonde begin to push the magic to Regina, her breath beginning to even out. The air around them was tinged with purple and gold, leaving the room in a haze. Little did they know the mist had traveled throughout the castle to almost all the rooms in the building. Emma's eyes fluttered open and she smiled softly at the brunette.

"You love me?" Emma smiled fondly. She thought it was cute to recite the words from the first time this happened every time her magic took over her body.

"With all my heart." Regina smirked. "Now let's get you into a bath before dinner's ready."

…

"Charming! Charming a letter has arrived!" Snow ran into their room, waving the paper around. James looked up and smiled at his wife's excitement.

"Well let's take a look. What'd he have to say?" He watched as Snow's eyes raced over the page before she read it our loud.

'I have made it into her guard and am now assisting Regina's captain at his side. They make me sleep in a cage. I am running short on time and have heard nothing about Emma but the White Knight you've been told about is more terrifying than what people say about her. She is also the queen's weakness. You have her and Regina will likely do whatever it takes to get her back. You should see how they look at each other. I know you'll hate this but it's just how you guys look at each other. They are, without a doubt, true loves. Only problem is they are almost always together and the White Knight has magic. They only time she's alone is when she's training and I'm not allowed out of their sight after an unfortunate… incident. Anyway, I don't know when I'll be able to send another message so just know this. You kill the Savior the queen will definitely suffer more than you've ever hoped for.'

Snow looked up at her husband smiling.

"That's it, Charming! We get the Savior, Regina will have to tell us anything, and do anything we want to get her back! We'll have the upper hand! We'll know what happened to Emma and we have her true love!" She threw her arms around the man's shoulders, laughing happily.

"Okay but there's a problem. One, there's no way of actually getting them here and two, if we did how would we stop the Saviors magic or Regina's for that matter?" Snow bit her lip and looked at him.

"I think I may know one way." James looked at her confused before he realized what she wanted to do.

"Snow, that's dangerous!" He warned.

"Please, Charming! You know it's the only way! We have to avenge our Emma. Our daughter." He sighed, seeing the logic in her words.

"Okay, fine. Do it." Snow nodded taking a deep breath before shouting.

"Rumplestiltskin!"

Dun dun dun! Now isn't that fantastic? Ah the Charmings are so clueless aren't they? Trap the White Knight to figure out what happened to Emma? Hmm.

*Announcement*

So I'm still taking some last minute suggestions on the proposal and what not. Should it be funny and playful or would you prefer a really sentimental, heart wrenching speech? I have an idea for both so we'll put it to a vote.