Hey people!

Nothing much this week, just thanks to my beta Mini_ryn (God bless her), all mistakes are mine.

Disclaimer : Dunnot own OUaT and HP.

And on with the show! Here's the talk.

Enjoy!

Chapter V.

"Hi, Regina."

It's crazy what can be said through the way someone looks at you. For a second, when Regina opened the door, Emma could see a thousand emotions in those brown eyes. It amazed her how much her eyes could express feelings the rest of her body couldn't. But of course, it didn't last very long, as usual. Quickly, too quickly perhaps, anger settled on her gorgeous features, and Emma had to fight herself in order to stop from stepping back. For a second, she had seen everything: the sting of betrayal, the disappointment, the longing, the hope, the hatred, the overwhelming sadness, and the heartbreak. What hurt more the younger woman was the complete despair she had seen, and she swallowed, knowing she was the very reason the former Mayor felt like that.

She wanted to run so badly when all shifted in a hatred so great it hurt to watch. The older woman was quiet, and it was message enough; no need for words to tell her she was neither wanted nor desired on her porch. But Emma couldn't leave, first because she owed it to herself, and to Regina, to try and apologize again; and second because of the Bellatrix issue. She didn't know how to tell her, though, because the Queen was seconds away from slamming the door in her face, she knew it.

"What are you doing here, Sheriff?" So much coldness in such few words, and Emma swallowed once more, trying hard to stand her ground. It was now or never, she knew, and consequences be damned, she would try and get the older woman to forgive her; if such a thing was even possible.

"Regina, I know I'm the last person you want to see, but-"

"You couldn't be more right, Miss Swan. Now get the hell off my porch." She made a move to close the door, but the Sheriff stopped her with her hand, a frown on her face.

That got Regina mad. Real mad. Her eyes shot daggers and she wanted oh so much to use her magic to force the blonde woman back. Henry wouldn't be pleased, though.

"Regina, wait. Please." Emma tried to plead, biting her lower lip. She really didn't want to force herself on the older woman, but she realized she might not have another choice.

"Do you really think you're in any way worthy of such a demand? I have better things to do with my time but listen to you."

"Damnit Regina! Can't you just, for once-"

"For once what? How dare you come here and force me to listen to you? Have you even considered that maybe; just maybe, I don't want anything to do with you? You ruined it, Miss Swan. Just like your mother before you, you just keep on ruining everything." She raised her voice at the end, and Emma knew there was more to it than what Regina was saying. Regina didn't raise her voice, ever. She was the calm, cold angry type. Not the hysterical one.

"I'm sorry Regina. I really, really am sorry." She tried, once more. At this point, she didn't even remember how often she'd apologized. Not that it worked, anyway.

"Good for you. Now, good day, Miss Swan." She went to close the door again, using a little bit of magic to do so. Henry won't be mad, no; she didn't hurt his mother after all.

Emma let her. She didn't know why, but she let her, and facing the closed door, she sighed. This didn't go as planned. But of course, she didn't seem to be able to make Regina listen to her. The older woman was hurt, she got it, but was all this really necessary? She was sorry, wasn't that enough? Of course it isn't, she could hear Ruby's voice inside her head. 'Be in her corner' she said. Yeah, like that was anywhere near easy. Sighing once more, she banged her head against the door once, and stayed there, lost in thoughts.

On the other side of the door, Regina tried to breathe. She tried to stop the tears from falling, but it was to no end. The salty pearls fell endlessly, wetting her face in a way she despised. She didn't even know why she was crying. Was it because of Emma, or Robin? Both maybe? Deep down, she knew it was for all the times she didn't cry before, she knew it was because of all the life had ever thrown at her. She cried until she couldn't anymore, and when finally it ended, she walked into her study, and poured herself a glass of cider.

She didn't want to get drunk, no, she just wanted to take the edge off. She wanted to try and sleep, for once, even though it was the middle of the afternoon. She felt exhausted, and her little 'chat' with the blonde, annoying woman didn't help. She sat down on her couch, and leaned back, glass in her hand. She closed her eyes, and sighed.

Emma hadn't moved. She was starting to get cold, but she couldn't get herself to move. Once again, it had been a giant failure. She didn't what to do, but she knew she could not leave. 'Don't give up on her' the wolf said. Well, she wouldn't. They had come real far, trying what resembled a friendship; the older woman even taught her magic. She couldn't let everything go to waste. Nope. She would fight for this, whatever it was.

Setting her jaw, she stood straight, and turned the doorknob. She wasn't entirely surprised the house wasn't locked, Regina didn't seem quite the type; plus, she had magic, so it wasn't like she couldn't defend herself.

The blonde walked quietly, but made noise enough in order not to get roasted by a fireball in case the older woman thought she was an intruder. Which she was, kind of, but she had a job to do; and if Regina couldn't forgive her, then so be it; she still had to warn her about Bellatrix. Yeah. Cause that was the most pressing issue. That's why she was clearly trespassing. Yup. Nothing else.

She cleared her throat, called out Regina's name, got no response. Okay. So. Not in the kitchen, or the living room. The study maybe? She had a feeling she was in there but she was scared to come in. What if she tried to kill her? Not that she didn't deserve it, but still, she didn't want to die. She swallowed rather audibly and knocked gently on the door, before pushing it open.

She didn't expect seeing Regina's face still wet with tears. She expected the glass of cider, yes, but not the ruined make-up. She was guilty, felt guilty, because she was the reason Regina was in such a state. Still, she couldn't help but notice how breathtaking the older woman was. That is, until she opened her eyes, and stared at Emma with disbelief, first, then irritation, and a least emotion she couldn't quite place, before the familiar hatred. She really didn't like when the Queen watched her with such loathing, but she deserved it.

"What do I have to do for you to leave me alone, Miss Swan? Send you to the moon?" The sarcasm filled her voice, and she took a long sip of her cider, trying to ignore the fact that Emma could clearly see she had been crying. Damn the blonde woman.

"Well that would be interesting, but I'm afraid it would kill me." Emma tried humour, but seeing the woman's cold smile, she understood that maybe she did want her dead. Hum. "Anyway. I, hum, I came here to talk and-"

"And here I thought I made it clear enough. But let me spell it out for you again, Miss Swan. I dunnot care for what you have to say." She was speaking slowly, like she was explaining something to a toddler. It got on Emma's nerves, but she said nothing, she'd seen it coming.

"Jesus Regina, do you have to be so impossible all the time? I apologized countless times, what more do you want from me?!"

"For you to leave me alone." Came the simple reply, punctuated by a sip of alcohol. She then refilled the empty glass with a wave of her hand, not bothering to get up and do it manually.

"Well, too bad, I can't do that Regina." The older woman sighed, clearly meaning 'why not' even if she didn't say it. Emma continued. "Look, I … I can't stop beating myself up for what happened. But I couldn't let that girl to die, you know? It just isn't who I am, and I know deep down, you're glad I saved her from the Evil Queen too. It was the right thing to do, and maybe … Maybe Robin isn't the one for you." She said the last part so low Regina almost didn't catch it. But she did, and she couldn't help but stare, dumbfounded. What did she mean by that?

"He's my soul mate." She said anyway, frowning.

"Was." Emma replied, and she bit her lip, deflecting her gaze. She swallowed rather loudly.

"It doesn't matter anymore, he's with his wife, and I am left with nothing, once again. Go play with your pirate."

Did Emma dream, or did she hear jealousy? Regina would deny it to the grave, obviously, but maybe … No, she was hallucinating. The Queen couldn't be jealous of Hook, maybe she was jealous of Emma. Yes, that had to be it.

She chose not to respond, though, and just sat down next to the woman, biting her lip once more when she saw her stiffen.

"Regina, please stop pushing me away. I want to make up for what I did, and I can't do that if you keep fighting me."

The older woman clenched her jaws, and shook her head, sighing softly. Her features lost their hard edge, and she looked more relaxed. "Emma, I can't let you near me right now. It just … It hurts too much. And when I see you, I … I hate you so much, Emma." Her voice wavered for a second, before she took a hold of herself once more.

Emma was surprised to say the least. The Queen had opened up to her, even though it was to tell her she truly loathed her. It still was a good start, wasn't it? She didn't deflect with sarcasm, she talked about her feelings. Yes. It would be okay. Or she hoped so.

"Okay, Regina. If you truly can't stand being near me than, I'll leave."

Regina nodded her agreement, and looked through her window, biting the inside of her cheek. She waited for the other woman to leave, and waited, but it didn't happen. She turned her head to look at her, all vulnerability disappeared to be replaced by a raised eyebrow, her look challenging. "Well?"

"Oh. Yeah. I, hum, I just have to tell you one more thing." At that, the former Mayor sighed, but said nothing.

"We might have a slight problem."

"We?" She said with disbelief, setting the glass on the coffee table in front of her.

"You know how Henry likes Harry Potter so much?" Regina simply nodded. "Well, it appears that maybe, one of the characters lent in Storybrook?"

Emma tried to smile, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"For Christ sake's Miss Swan, just spit it out." Saying the Queen was becoming irritated was an understatement.

"Bellatrix is here."

The former Mayor just stared at her, unbelieving. "Bellatrix, as in Bellatrix Lestrange, the crazy woman who died in the last book?" She raised an eyebrow once again.

Emma just nodded, biting her lip. Right, it still sounded crazy to her ears, and she had met the damn woman.

Regina laughed, suddenly. The Sheriff jumped, surprised at the sound, and stared at the Queen, swallowing. She couldn't help but notice how nice it was to hear her laugh, even though it was somewhat a mocking one. She smiled again.

"You really couldn't find another excuse to see me?" She asked, trying to stop laughing.

"No, Regina, I swear. Ruby found her in the woods last night, she's at the B&B right now." That seemed to calm the former Mayor down. She regained her composure instantly, though looking at Emma with scepticism.

"You are positive it is Bellatrix Lestrange?"

"Yup. She's got the wand and everything. Sent me flying into a wall. And she does say filth a lot." Emma smiled, because the fact that she had an encounter with a wall was amusing Regina. Of course it was.

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to see it for myself." She made no movement, though, so Emma didn't budge either.

"Did you … Did you tell Henry yet?" She bit her lip, looking anywhere but at Emma.

"No, I came straight to you. I was waiting to … Well, to know what you would do, before telling him."

Emma knew she made the right decision when she saw the way the former Mayor relaxed. She didn't screw up this time, yay her. First lesson: try to tell important things to Regina first. The other woman hummed, satisfied, and even smiled a little, before remembering the blonde was here, loosing her smile instantly.

"You can see yourself out, Miss Swan. I'll meet you there." Her tone was emotionless, and she was doing her best not to look at Emma.

"Are you sure? I can drive you."

"In that deathtrap of yours? No thank you." There was a hint of amusement, and the Sheriff just sighed, getting up.

"Alright then. I'll see you there. Hum. Yeah." The Queen rolled her eyes at that, biting back a sarcastic comment when she saw Emma slowly retreating from the study. Soon enough, the front door closed and she was alone again.

She wanted to enjoy her new found tranquillity, alas, she really had to go and see for herself if it was Bellatrix Lestrange — Black, she thought, if her husband had died — or if the Sheriff was out of her mind again.

Still, it would be a welcomed distraction. Sure, she would have to see Emma again, and she dreaded that moment, but if the crazy witch was in town, then she had to meet her. For Henry's sake. Of course. Not her own curiosity.

She stood up and got in front of the mirror, watching her nearly humiliating features, before waving her end, her make-up back like it used to be. Smiling slightly, she drank the rest of her glass, before raising her hands and disappearing in a cloud of dark purple smoke.

So, whataya think ?

Sadly, bad news, no chapters next week cuz I'm studying for my mid-terms, and let's face it, I have 9 law classes to know and well, no time for writing. I'mma try and write the next chapters next week end, so hopefully, an update before Christmas !

Review if you'd like, and until next time :)