A/N: Chapter 7 is here! I do hope you guys enjoy it! I know it's darker, I know, but I promise everything that happens is for a reason! I cannot tell you enough how much I truly appreciate your reviews/favorites/follows! You set my heart a flutter! 33 As always, I don't own Once Upon a Time or the characters, but I do own the story. Let me know what you guys think, please? 3

XX

Emma's mouth opened wide as she took in the frazzled appearance of her normally so put together English teacher. She was still beautiful, perhaps even more so now that she showed emotion, and Emma couldn't quite form words, although she did mentally smack herself upside her head for taking this exact moment to check Miss Mills out. The teacher wore a cream colored power suit, slacks and jacket pressed to perfection, the color contrasting beautifully with the woman's deep olive skin. A rich, royal blue blouse exposing perhaps a tiny bit too much cleavage clung to her body, and heels that were entirely too high for someone working as a teacher matched them perfectly. Emma gulped, forgetting her anger for the barest of moments before a cloud passed through her eyes.

"Miss Swan, I asked you what was going on?"

Regina's tone was not the gentlest, and Emma cursed herself as a tear fell down her cheek. Regina stepped aside and cast Emma a pointed look, and the student dutifully obeyed her silent order, walking through the door and sitting down heavily at her desk. Regina quickly looked around the hallway before following her student, shutting the door and locking it behind her before gingerly sitting atop a desk somewhat close to Emma.

"Miss Swan?"

Emma looked up at her, tears streaming down her face, gulping for air and Regina's heart just broke for the younger woman. Obviously something was truly upsetting her, as Emma rarely ever showed emotion, a trait that made her much more like Regina then either woman cared to admit. Regina sighed softly, standing up and walking to her desk before returning mere moments later with a package of Kleenex and a water bottle. She set them down in front of the girl, who looked gratefully at her before she wiped her eyes and took a sip of the water in an attempt to control herself.

"Miss Swan? What's going on?"

Regina's gentle toned shocked Regina, maybe as much as it shocked Emma, and the girl nodded before quietly telling her of everything that had transpired and apologizing for disturbing her otherwise quiet planning period. Emma carefully left out her thoughts about everything she had gone through to get to this point, though, as she didn't want to reveal entirely too much to the teacher, and she was still quite embarrassed at crying in front of her. Regina, for her part, allowed Emma to finish her entire story before abruptly standing up and swiftly marching towards her door, ripping it open. Emma's eyes flew open almost comically before she scrambled after her teacher, panting as she caught up to her.

"Miss Mills, what are you-"

"Miss Swan, stand here, out of sight, and remain quiet. Do you understand me? I will take care of this."

"Y-yes ma'am." Emma was unsure of what was happening, but she did as her teacher asked, ducking behind a trashcan as Regina calmly knocked on the door of Mister Glass's classroom. Emma barely heard Regina tersely ask Mister Glass for a moment before the man informed his students he would be right back, shutting the door. Regina walked to the middle of the hall, as Emma could slightly see over the trashcan. The younger girl remained quiet, watching intently as Glass followed Regina to the middle of the hallway.

"Sidney, what the hell is your problem?" Emma's eyebrows raised at her English teacher's tone; it was clear that she was about five seconds away from strangling this man, and judging by Sidney's flinch, he felt the acid too.

"W-what are y-yo-" Regina cut him off quickly, laughing at the man's stutter.

"You know what I am referring to, Sidney. Emma Swan. Why attempt to ruin a young woman's life, before it has even started, hm? Is it because you are so miserable, Sidney? Because you want me, and you know you will never be able to have me?"

Emma felt as if her eyes were about to pop out of her head at the revelation, and Sidney seemed to be on the verge of blowing a vein as he hissed angrily at her.

"Emma Swan? That's what this is about? Of course, you'd run to her rescue, your little pretty student. Slept with this one, have you, you dy-"

A loud crunch echoed throughout the halls and Emma had to stifle a gasp. If she had not seen it first hand, she would not believe the rumor: Miss Mills, perfect Mills, had just hauled off and punched Sidney square in the face, and her next words continued to surprise Emma, who gained a new found appreciation for the woman with every passing second.

"Now you listen to me, you imbecilic little worm. Who I am is of no concern to you, nor will it ever be. Emma Swan will remain in my study period for the remainder of the school year, and the next student I hear complaining about you will ensure far worse pain from me, do you understand me?"

Sidney nodded up at Regina with frightened eyes, continuing to hold his nose. Judging by the amount of blood rushing from it, it seemed Mills had broken it, and the female teacher gave the male an evil smirk.

"I am glad we are at an understanding. Go to the nurse and clean yourself up, you fool. I will take care of your class."

Sidney scampered off, a mouse running from a panther, and Regina took a deep breath before moving into the classroom, which quickly quieted upon her entrance.

"I am aware that you are in the middle of Civics, and I do apologize for interrupting, but it seems Sidney had a little business to take care of. I do, as well, and as such I am heading back to my classroom. This means I will be leaving you unattended, and so help me if you prove your ignorance by causing unnecessary trouble this will be the last semi-nice thing I ever do for you, am I understood?"

A chorus 'Yes, Miss Mills!' echoed through the classroom, accompanied by many eagerly nodding heads, and Regina left the class, shutting the door behind her quietly as she made her way back to her room. A quick glance at her watch informed her of fifteen minutes until the bell, and she decided to take advantage of them, holding up a hand to Emma as she tried to speak.
"After class, Miss Swan," was her response, and Emma could not help but nod, jumping up and rushing to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. She could hardly believe the events that had transpired, but she wouldn't argue with her teacher, holding on to the knowledge that both of them needed time to calm down.

XX

Moments before Emma left the bathroom, the bell shrilled loudly through the air, cutting off Emma's inner turmoil. She wasn't entirely sure what Mr. Glass had insinuated, but she knew the familiar, hurtful term all too well. It was one she herself had heard quite often, growing up, and was the reason why very few people in Storybrooke knew her sexual orientation. She had been sent back to the orphanage more than once for being herself, and even though she had only told one family up front, the first of many to send her away for that reason alone, somehow her secret had always come out. Still, she couldn't help but think of the anger in Miss Mills eyes for Glass's insinuation. Was his slur based on truth? Could it be possible that Emma had more in common with the beautiful brunette than she realized? Emma scoffed, dragging her feet slowly through the door of her English classroom, but a curious gaze from Regina had her thoughts wondering back to what had happened, with Emma deciding to push them away in favor of paying attention to the woman who had so quickly become her favorite teacher.