Disclaimer: none of these characters belong to me. This story is non-profitable and is meant for entertainment purpose only.

Trigger warning: aftermath of rape!

There was something not quite right. She couldn't place it, couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Henry hadn't returned with Snow this evening. Yeah, that was probably it. A heavy feeling had settled itself within her, like there was a rock sitting in her stomach. Emma was sitting anxiously on one of the comfy chairs that were situated in the tiny living room area. She had heard her mother complain many times that they needed to move to someplace bigger, but Emma had quite liked it, back then when it didn't feel so suffocating, as it did now. She was currently in acute awareness of how small the apartment was, sharing it with her parents and Henry. The walls seemed to close in on her and Emma too had the need to just get out, grab her bug and drive somewhere far away from this suffocating little apartment and this suffocating little town where she was constantly reminded of all the crap that had happened in the last year or so.

But Emma tried to be reasonable. She couldn't do that to Henry, not when she had gotten to know the terrific young boy Regina had raised. Perhaps back when he had been a stranger, sure, but not now. She would hurt him beyond repair and tear herself apart in the process also.

And so, she stayed put, trapped in this apartment, trapped in this town. Trying to please her parents and her son, while guilt was slowly eating away at her. Emma was concentrating on listening to her mother making some hot chocolate for the both of them, but thoughts about that night seemed intent on plaguing her this evening. Most days she had been able to push them away and out of her head, but thinking about Henry deciding to stay with his mother weakened her mental defenses. Did he know something? Had he felt something had gone terribly wrong between both his mothers?

Images of Regina's terrified expression flashed in her mind's eye. She could clearly remember the stench of blood mingled with antiseptic, could remember the feeling of Regina's nails desperately clawing at her forearm. Ripping at skin and flesh. Emma unconsciously moved her fingers over the tiny scars she had attained that night. The whole horrific experience was somewhat fuzzy in her memory, but there were certain aspects that were clear as glass.

She could still clearly pinpoint the moment she crossed that invisible line, the point where she could no longer back down. Something strange had come over her, there was a metallic taste in the air and the fine hairs on her arms stood up. Emma had felt the tension in that tiny room raise, but she couldn't identify what it was. She remembered feeling the sudden, almost inhuman urge to hurt the woman, to terrify her into submission. It had been a horrific thing, like someone had suddenly taken away all the control she had over her body, her actions. Something in her had snapped, and she had pushed through.

Her whole world had distorted itself to some strange sense of reality. She had no longer identified the brunette woman in front of her as Regina, mayor and mother of her son. Her mind had stripped away the woman's human traits, how strange that may sound. 'Mayor' had been thrown out of the window, along with 'mother of her son'. They had been replaced with thoughts like 'monster', 'murderer' and, even though Emma still couldn't quite comprehend it, 'Evil Queen'.

"Emma?"

Green eyes returned to the now, her mind viciously snapping away from thoughts about that night. Emma clenched her hands, slowly looking up to see her mother staring at her in worried wonder. Please stop looking at me like that was the only thought her mind formed. The motherly concern she had always craved now nauseated her. She was a grown woman for fuck's sake.

"Emma, honey?" Snow was moving slowly, as if she was approaching a wounded animal, careful and calculated. "Did you hear what I said? You seemed so far away for a second there," that small smile of her returned, the one she used when she couldn't quite figure out what the situation was at the moment. Emma hated that smile.

"Yeah, you're right, I was thinking," it was probably the lamest thing to say, but it was all Emma was willing to offer up right now. It was hard enough that her mother knew, but she couldn't handle talking to the woman about it. It was all too messed up; she had messed it all up. "I'm sorry, my mind is just all over the place right now," another lame excuse, but it seemed her mother was buying it at least.

Again, that fucking smile and Snow slowly sat down on the couch, there was a steaming cup of hot chocolate in her hands and it seemed there had also been one placed in front of Emma on the table. "It's alright, sweetheart," Snow's eyes were sad and her shoulders hunched, anything but the perfect princess posture Emma was sure had been drilled into her at a very young age. She noticed how tired her mother seemed and felt guilty. "I was just saying that we should talk," and oh, could that sound any more ominous?

Emma couldn't think of anything to say so she just nodded her head softly. "Right…"

Comforting and warm, Snow moved to the tip of her seat and placed her hand on her daughter's thigh. She tried not to get hurt by the way Emma was trying really hard not to make it obvious she was uncomfortable with the touch. She kept it there for a few seconds before retreating. "I wanted to talk about Henry," She said, taking a tiny sip of the hot liquid in her cup and letting Emma think the subject over. She didn't want to push Emma in opening up to her, but really, she needed to talk to someone and the offer of visiting Archie had already been furiously declined. "And Regina."

"Right," she repeated. She didn't want to talk about them. She really did not want to.

Snow seemed pleased her daughter was still talking and hadn't shut down completely like she normally did when the subject of Regina was brought up. "As I said, Henry decided that it was best if he stayed with Regina for the night and I thought so too. The reason being the thing I need to talk to you about," Snow sighed over her choice of wording. Yes, she was aware it sounded very… cryptic. But she couldn't just say outright that her grandson had heard of all the terrible things that had happened to his mother.

"Mom, I realize I'm not the best thing for Henry right now and I'm not angry you let him stay with her," she didn't want to have this conversation right now. Like she'd said, there was something not quite right and Emma had the dreaded feeling that she was getting closer and closer to finding out what it was.

"Emma, the fact that you're… that you're feeling sad," well, that was one way to put it, "and guilty is not my only reasoning behind this decision," get on with it, Snow. Get on with it. "What I'm trying to say, Emma, is that Henry found out."

And just like that, a bucket of fucking freezing water had been dumped right on top of her head. And it truly felt like that. Cold sweat was forming on what felt like her entire body. Her brain seemed to shut down for a moment and everything that had happened was just a distant memory. But reality quickly came knocking on the door, wanting to be let in. Emma closed her eyes for a second, forcing the sudden tears to get the fuck away from her. "Wha- what?" her vocal cords were unable to create a sound and the word came out in a weird sort of groan. She started shaking, forcing her hands into her stomach, willing them to stop moving. She was standing on the edge of a very high cliff, her mind begging her to jump.

"Emma?"

Her mother's voice sounded very, very far away and Emma was wondering if she was still in the apartment or if she'd stormed out like she'd dreamed of doing so many times for the last months. But a hand on her thigh confirmed she hadn't left her chair.

She was rooted to the floor in this tiny fucking apartment, in this tiny fucking town filled with all sorts of fucked up storybook characters. She was trapped here with fucking Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and the Evil Queen, Prince Charming and all the seven fucking dwarves.

How the fuck did she end up here?

"Emma?" Snow tried again. She placed her hand softly on her daughter's pale cheek, forcing her head to the side so she could look at her. Green eyes seemed unrecognizable. "Emma, you understand what this means, right?"

Everything seemed to go on autopilot and Emma heard herself answer with a soft, uncertain yes.

"Emma, I know this is terrible and I know you didn't want Henry to ever know about what has happened. But under the circumstances, this was bound to happen. And I know the way he found out wasn't ideal, but maybe it was better this way, to just rip the bandage off so he has some time to adjust to the situation before everything changes once again."

Oh God no… Dread filled her stomach and there was no denying what her mother was getting at. Emma shook her head slowly, tears filling her eyes. "So, she told you I take it?"

Snow was quick enough to ensure her jaw didn't hit the floor. Emma knew… she had been so worried she was forced to spill yet another one of Regina's secrets, but there was no need. It seemed her daughter was already aware of the cruel twist of fate that plagued the former Queen. "You know Regina is pregnant? How?"

Tears formed to heavy drops and slowly rolled down the blonde's pale cheeks. "She told me," Emma's sounded so small, so anguished and it broke Snow's heart. "She told me right after she saved our lives. Right after she saved us from Cora and that insane pirate. Wheezy breathes left her and Emma started to shake with the effort not to break down in sobs. She pushed her nails in the palms of her hands. "She saved our lives even after I raped her," it sounded like a realization, a terrible, terrible realization. Snow wondered if Emma had even realized the magnitude of this, if she'd even thought about what it meant that Regina was carrying a child, their child.

The thought caused tears to appear in her own eyes as she watched her daughter comprehend this messed up situation. Of course, she hated the things her daughter had done to the woman she once called her stepmother, way back in another lifetime. She hated the pain Emma had inflicted upon the woman who had taught Snow about True Love. But she didn't hate Emma, she could never hate her daughter, her baby girl.

Her pale hands grabbed the blonde's white tank top as she pulled her child into her, holding on tight in a way she hoped was comforting. One of her hands softly stroked blonde curls.

"That's my child too, mom," Emma sobbed into her mother's pink cardigan. Her voice was muffled by the fabric, but Snow could make out a soft what do I do? The rest was only mumbled nonsense to her ears.

It was a first, but Snow had nothing comforting to say in that moment.

At least fifteen minutes had gone and went. Snow was still unsure of how to act, what to say to make her daughter's suffering at least a little bit easier. But this was a delicate situation, one with only victims it seemed and there were no clear-cut directions to follow, no steps to go through.

Emma slowly lifted her head from her mother's shoulder. Her emerald eyes were red and watery, exhaustion clear in them. Snow's pink cardigan and the white lace blouse she wore underneath it were both completely soaked through, but it seemed that the emotional outburst had not helped Emma one bit. She was still stiff with guilt and fear.

"What do I do?" Emma repeated her earlier question, voice sounding hoarse. She stared down at her hands, suddenly feeling too ashamed to look her mother in the eyes. It remained silent for what felt like an eternity, only fueling the uneasiness in the room.

She didn't know how to answer that, had no idea how to respond. But she did know that it was no use to approach Regina at this moment in time. Not when the woman desperately wanted to be left alone, and rightfully so. "I don't think you should do anything for the next few weeks, Emma. You need to give Regina the time she needs to heal and come to terms with the situation. The woman in traumatized, darling and I'm sorry to say but you are the last person she wishes to see right now," Snow kept her voice level and firm, willing Emma to understand that she should not go and seek Regina out. "I don't know what's going to happen in the future, nor do you. So, when that time comes we'll find out. But I promise you one thing, Emma, your father and I will never stop loving you."

Emma shot her a soft, sad smile. "I know that mom," she said softly. And it was true, she did know that, but right now the words did nothing to comfort her. "I know I have you and dad, but Regina – Regina has no one. Who will help her? Who's going to be there for her and for – you know, for the kid?" She cast her eyes down towards her hands, fidgeting restlessly.

There was no doubt in her answer this time and Snow was firm as she admitted "I am." She was sure of it, she would not abandon Regina in this, not like she had done when she gave up on the woman oh so many years ago, when she truly believed there was nothing left to save and the only Regina that remained was a twisted, evil Queen. "I will be there for her, Emma. I am going to get her through this."

There had been no words exchanged since Snow had left the mansion situated at 108 Mifflin Street. No noises made except the occasional hiccup as both mother and son tried to get their emotions under control. And after both had put on a strong front to keep the other from breaking once more, mother and son had been silent. It was the sort of silence that quickly became suffocating and which seemed to weigh a ton, covering them like a thick blanket of sorrow.

Regina was the first to move, feeling like she couldn't take it anymore. Shame and heartbreaking sadness was evident on her face as she slowly began to stand up - how they had made it to the floor she had no idea - though the shame was overbearing at this point. She couldn't believe she had broken down in front of her son, the one person she had promised herself would never know about the horrid things that had happened to her and the horrid things she herself had done.

But now he did and Regina would give everything she owned for him to forget, to just turn back time and tell Henry that he couldn't get a cookie because it was too close to dinnertime. Or better yet, to the moment where she had decided to make that fucking apple turnover. She didn't want Henry to lie awake at night with such terrors plaguing his mind, like she herself had done for most of her life. He was just a little boy, her little baby boy.

Somewhere in the back of her mind a cold voice told her what she already knew. It had been her own damn fault; she was the one that failed him. She had been weak, unable to even keep a little bit of plain food down.

And now Snow White was also aware…

God, she still didn't know where she stood with the girl. She had seen that compassion in her former stepdaughter's eyes, plain as day. It was haunting her now, the thought of those light brown eyes was swirling around in her mind. The concern had been genuine, Regina was sure of it. Snow had really been worried about her. She hadn't even tried to drag Henry back to the apartment, only saying that she understood and that Henry could stay as long as he wanted before taking her leave, softly closing the bathroom door behind her.

Regina knew it wouldn't be a smart idea to keep Henry here, even if he wanted to stay. But she couldn't keep her heart from jumping at the thought of her little boy living with her again, like he had done the first ten years of his life. It was a selfish reaction and Regina was aware of that because who was she kidding? She was an emotional mess, broken, no doubt about it. This was not a good environment for a child.

"Mom?" Henry furrowed his eyebrows as he witnessed the obvious turmoil that went on in his mother's eyes. Dark eyes that were usually full of warmth and love when she looked at him, even back when he'd rejected her and called her an Evil Queen.

With a flinch and some furious blinking to get the tears away, Regina turned towards her son. "Let's get off the cold floor, Henry. I'll make us something to drink," she knew what she was doing and by the looks of it Henry knew too. Avoiding was something she used to be better at, damn you. She tried to smile. "I'm sorry about what happened, Henry. I shouldn't have-" broken down was what she wanted to say, but she couldn't get the words out. "I just shouldn't have."

He was quick to reply, knowing exactly what the woman who had raised him wanted to apologize for. "No mom," he shook his head, leaning forward to wrap his arms around her waist, ignoring her surprised flinch when he laid his head on her chest. "Don't apologize about this, ever," he tried to sound firm in his words. "I promise I'll stay with you, I'll help you with everything, I love you, mom."

New tears formed in her eyes and Regina shook her head at his words, how reassuring they may be, she couldn't let him do that. "No, Henry. I don't want you to stay because you feel some obligation to do so, I love you too much for that. I know you want to go back to Snow's apartment."

Another shake of his head. "Are you kidding me?" he looked at her incredulously. "Do you really think I want to stay with Emma after what she's done to you?! You are my mom and I love you. Please, just let me help you mom, I don't want you to go through all this on your own!"

The Regina from a year ago would be tearing her hair out right about now if she could see how she was pushing her son towards leaving her. But now was not the time to be selfish. She looked her son in the eyes, hating herself for the words about to leave her mouth. "Let me rephrase that, Henry. I want you to go to Snow's apartment and stay there for a while." Her eyes remained locked on his and it took all her strength not to gather the boy up in her arms when she noticed how his bottom lip started to tremble, a tell-tale sign he was close to crying. "I'm not trying to hurt you Henry, I love you so much. Please believe me when I say that this is truly to protect you from this whole situation. You may not understand that right now, but you will. In time."

There was a moment there that both mother and son could do nothing but stare each other in the eyes. It seemed to go on forever before Henry finally looked away and down towards his feet. "So, does that mean I can never come home again?" He sounded so young it broke her heart.

"Oh, Henry," she sighed softly and pulled the boy into her arms. "Of course you can come home, sweetheart. And we can still see each other all the time. I just need some time to get my head straight and when I'm ready I'll tell you, I promise."

Henry let the words sink in, sad but understanding up to a certain point. "Okay mom," he sighed softly and twisted his hands, suddenly uncertain how to proceed.

Regina tried to smile reassuringly, "Good, now how about we watch a movie, like we used to do and after that I make us some dinner?"

Henry broke out in a smile. "Can I choose?"

"Of course you can, honey."

And just like that, the air seemed a little easier to breathe. Regina silently promised herself, but more importantly Henry that she would call Archie Hopper in the morning.