This chapter is for Hypnotoad76 with the prompt: "Knowing Regina doesn't talk about the scar above her lip Emma finally asks her about it, thinking it was the result of childhood abuse or something equally tragic. Turns out the reason behind it is much more mundane than expected."

"You should tell me a story," Emma said.

Regina looked over at her in confusion. "Right now?"

Emma shrugged. "Why not?"

"Maybe because it's currently 11 pm?" Regina pointed out. "What do you need a story for?"

"Because," Emma said, rolling over to face her. "I want to know more about you. And the easiest way to do that is through a story."

"Depends on what you want to know," Regina said. "And whether I want to talk about my past."

"I want to know about this," Emma said, reaching out and lightly brushing her thumb across the scar above Regina's lips.

"I don't talk about that scar," Regina said. "You know that."

"I do," Emma agreed. "But this is a way for me to get to know you better. And I think as your girlfriend, that I have the right to get to know you better."

"Oh you do?" Regina asked, chuckling.

Emma nodded. "Now stop stalling and start talking."

Regina sighed. "It's probably not what you think it is. I was honestly just being stupid and got hurt, resulting in a scar. That's all."

"Well that story was boring," Emma teased. "Come on, just tell me what happened. I promise that I won't judge."

Regina took a deep breath. "I was out riding, but not on my usual horse. I thought that I was talented enough at riding that I would be fine training a new horse; even though Daniel warned me that it was harder than it looked."

"So you have always been stubborn," Emma teased.

Regina laughed. "Yes. Yes I have. Anyway, I was riding this new horse and it was going well. Until he got spooked by a squirrel running in the path."

Emma burst out laughing. "A squirrel spooked a horse?"

Regina smiled. "Yes, a squirrel. Anyway, he bucked and threw me from his back. I landed on the ground, and cut my lip on a branch that was in my way. I didn't think it was that deep, but apparently it was. Obviously, considering I have a scar from it."

Emma sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. I thought something terrible had happened to you."

"Being thrown from the back of a horse isn't terrible?" Regina asked.

"That's not what I meant," Emma said quickly. "I meant that I thought that your mother had done something horrible to you, and that's why you had that scar."

"I see," Regina said. "Let's put it this way. Any scars that you can see were never made by my mother."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked. "You hide them with magic?"

Regina shook her head. "They're all right here." She took Emma's hand and placed it over her heart.

Emma looked at her sadly. "Maybe I can borrow that time-traveling spell from Zelena and just go back and kill your mother."

Regina chuckled. "No, I don't think that would be wise."

"Why not?" Emma asked. "It would save you a lot of pain."

"And where would I be without that pain?" Regina asked. "My past may not be happy, but it helped shape who I am today. And I wouldn't give that up for the world."

Emma smiled. "You're insanely strong, you know that?"

Regina laughed. "If I was strong, I would have resisted the Darkness in the first place."

"But look at where you are now," Emma countered. "I'd say that it takes a pretty strong person to realize their errors and become a better person. And that's why I love you."

"Even though my scar stories aren't very exciting?" Regina teased.

Emma laughed. "Yes. From now on, just make up something completely badass."

Regina smiled. "That I can do."

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