There might be a few mistakes. I'll edit again tomorrow, meanwhile enjoy. Next update "Beyond the Rainbow"

Chapter 11 Not Alone

Regina wanted to go home. She wanted to be in her own bed and as much as she had insisted on doing just that, Emma was there to remind her it wasn't safe. They may have dealed with Khan and his thugs, but her stalker was still out there. She wasn't safe in her own home and so she allowed Emma to take her back to the loft the moment she was discharged three days after the brutal attack.

"Is she asleep?" Snow asked, the moment Emma came down the stairs after helping Regina settle in. Because of the drugs that had been inside of her and the concussion she had suffered she was put on bed rest by her doctor.

"Not yet, but from the painkillers she just took, she's about ready to knock out. Henry's reading his comics to her."

"He hasn't been sleeping so well," Snow said and Emma tiredly dropped herself down on a stool infront of the breakfast bar. Snow and David were in the kitchen, making lunch.

"He's worried for her, but now that she's home and safe I think they'll both be able to get some rest," Emma explained.

"What are we going to do about Khan? He can't get away with this," David said, his eyes gleaming with that protective streak he seemed to have for Regina lately.

"No, he can't," Emma agreed. "As much as I want to lock them up for life and throw away the key, they will have to stand trial and get a fair sentence from the judge." David could hear the disdain in her words. She wanted to punish them, but she had to be fair.

"They'll get what they deserve," David assured her and Emma shook her head in disbelief.

"When will it end? She's proved herself over and over and sacrificed herself numerous times and the town is still trying to hurt her."

"There's some things that she can't ever be forgiven for," Snow whispered and it hurt to say it but it was the truth. Emma knew it was true no matter how much it tore her apart because that wasn't the Regina she knew.

"I'll go make the arrangements for the trial," she said sullenly, getting up without even looking at them and leaving the loft. Snow was about to go after her but David stopped her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Let her go," he sighed. "She needs time."

She was sure she'd probably do something she'll regret if she worked in the same room the prisoners were kept so she grabbed her work and shut herself away in one of the interrogation rooms. The words Snow had said echoed in her mind as she sat at the table surrounded with files and documents to set up a trial for Khan and his thugs.

She only had an idea of what Regina had done in her Evil Queen days. She knew most of the town won't ever forgive her and they had that right. She just wished there was some way to make them see hurting Regina in the name of revenge wasn't the answer.

She was deep in thought most of the afternoon, barely getting any work done. By evening, she was just about calling it quits for the day. She was in the middle of clearing up her things when there was a sudden knock at the door. She really wasn't in the mood for visitors but then again she didn't have a choice as the door opened, revealing none other than Robin Hood.

She stood.

"What are you doing here," she practically growled, protectiveness for Regina surging through her veins.

"I heard about what happened. She's not at the mansion so I came to find you. Please, I just need to see her," he said, his words sincere and the concern shinning in his eyes.

"You still care for her," Emma realized.

"Of course I do."

"But you left her. You broke her heart and left her!"

"I didn't have a choice!" he yelled back and caught his breath before stating more calmly this time, "I didn't have a choice. Marian is my wife."

Emma scoffed, not letting him off the hook so easily. The way he hurt Regina, there wasn't an excuse. She knew he was in a tough position but it didn't change the fact that he had hurt her. She was happy and he took that away from her.

"There's always a choice," she told him. "And you took the easy way out. I get you were in a tough spot, but you didn't even fight for her. You just left her," her voice cracked at the memory of Regina breaking down that night and Robin swallowed his guilt.

"Look, I know what I did and I won't deny that, but I just need to see her. I have to know that she's ok."

Emma wanted to keep him as far away from Regina as she possibly can but then it wasn't her choice. It was Regina's and she didn't want to break the fragile trust that had formed between them.

"Fine, but only if she wants you to."

When they got back to the loft that evening, she had Robin wait in the hall. She walked in to see Regina cuddled on the couch with Henry while they watched a movie. David sat in the arm chair while Snow was putting Neal to sleep in the bedroom under the steps. They all looked so happy, so peaceful, especially Regina. She hadn't looked so relaxed in weeks. She shut the door and they all looked in her direction and Henry put pause on the movie.

"Emma, is everything ok?" Snow asked, seeing her daughter's anxious expression. She nodded at her mother, glancing at her quickly before moving towards the living room.

"Regina, could I talk to you?" she asked and Regina looked up at her in concern.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Come with me, please," she whispered, taking Regina's good hand as the other arm was still in a sling because of her previously dislocated shoulder. Emma helped her up with shaking hands. "How's the pain right now?" she asked as she led her to the door because she didn't want Regina standing so long and straining her bruised ribs.

"I could handle it," she answered, straight to the point. They were standing at the door, away from everyone else. "What happened? Why are you so nervous?"

"Robin's outside."

Regina was speechless, the pain and confusion plain on her face, and then it had vanished. She sealed away those emotions with a look of indifference. The mask was on and Emma wished she knew what she was thinking, aside from the hurt that she had just saw.

"He heard about what happened and he just wanted to see if you're ok. You don't have to talk to him, I could make him leave," Emma whispered, keeping her voice down.

Regina didn't answer and Emma was feeling even more uneasy about this. She really did wish she knew what the other woman was thinking.

"Regina!" she exclaimed in whisper, trying to snap her out of whatever dark thoughts were swirling around in her head.

That seemed to work because Regina's attention snapped right back to the blonde. Her voice cracked as she spoke and Emma knew she was trying to hold it together. She was trying to hold everything in.

"Why?"

"He still cares," Emma whispered and Regina's eyes lingered on the door.

She was hesitating.

"You don't have to do this," Emma told her softly.

"I know, but I think I need to," she answered and finally moved to open the door, but before she could even turn the knob, Emma stopped her. Her hand was firm on the door, holding it closed.

"Call me Regina, if anything. I'll escort him out of the building if I have too."

"I could handle it," she told her and then Emma was finally moving her hand and letting Regina pull open the door.

"Regina," Robin let out a breathy whisper the moment he saw her. Her arm was in a sling. She had bruises on face and there was horrific evidence of the rope that had been tied around her neck. It was darkly bruised and red from rope burns.

Her voice was still so raspy when she spoke.

"It's not as bad as it looks."

"Are you kidding me," he asked, suddenly losing it. "If I had been there I would have killed every one of those bastards!"

"But you weren't there," she reminded him, hiding the pain in her words with a sneer. "You left me or have you forgotten."

"Regina…"

"No!" she cut him off. "Why are you really here?"

"I was worried," he told her, still holding back.

"Stop wasting my time!" she snapped at him. "I bet Emma told you I was fine. She wouldn't brought you here, unless you begged her!" She was angry and hostile and so damn hurt and it made her vicious towards him, because she still remembered that night they spent together before everything had fallen apart. The wounds were fresh and she needed to push him away.

"I care for you," he whispered, confirming Emma's earlier words. "I care for you more than you know, and what I had with Marian… It's no longer there. I've made a mistake and I'm sorry."

He wanted to come back to her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He broke her heart and turned her into a sobbing mess. That wasn't who she was and he turned her into that. After everything, all the hurt and pain, and he wanted to come back to her just like that.

Her eyes hardened. She wouldn't go back no matter how good they had it. No matter how much she had cared for him. He threw it all away when he chose Marian.

"Well then that is a mistake that you're just going to have to live with," she told him, her tone cold as ice. It felt like a punch in the gut, but Robin knew it was well deserved. He had her heart in his hands and when he broke it, there was no way he was ever getting it back.

He stepped up to her, despite the walls she had up around her heart. He knew she was being hostile just to protect herself, and she had every right to.

"You're right," he said, placing a hand on her cheek. "I've made a horrible mistake. I hurt you and now I lost you and I have to live with that. I'm sorry."

At those words, her resolve finally softened and it was like he was looking into the eyes of the Regina only a few people ever saw. The one who loved so freely, and he only had her for such a short period time.

"I'm sorry too," her voice shook with threatening tears and then he was leaning in and kissing her so sweetly on the cheek for a lingering moment before finally pulling away. He took her hand, silently squeezing it as he stepped back.

"I'll always be here for you," he told her, his eyes and voice full of so much regret.

"I know," she said and then he was gone, leaving her with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Emma asked, staring up at the dark ceiling. After her talk with Robin, she had come in with red rimmed eyes and a stony expression. She wouldn't look or speak to anyone as she disappeared up to Emma's room. The younger woman had followed her and Regina didn't protest when she got into the queen sized bed, lying right beside her but not touching. Regina had her back to her.

She didn't answer, the lights were off and the house was quiet. Everyone was asleep and Regina didn't want Emma to know she was silently crying into her pillow.

Emma seemed to know anyway. She placed her hand on her back, a simple but silent gesture that let Regina know she wasn't alone.