A/N: I'm sorry about the wait! I hope you find this chapter to your liking. I am on vacation right now, but there's a chance I'll bring you the next chapter soon, and an even greater chance that it will involve sexy times. On a slightly sadder note, I will no longer be posting on ao3. I tried it, it made me miserable, and it's the main reason why I took so long with this chapter. Thank you so much for sticking with me, though! The awesome support I've had from people through this site over the years never fails to cheer me up and (eventually) get me writing again.

"I missed you, Mamma," Henry said, curled up on Regina's lap.

Regina looked down at the boy she had insisted for so long was not her son. Now, holding him, she knew with absolute certainty that everything about him was family, and she loved him with all her heart. She realised how much being a mother had changed her, and how much she needed it. A single day without Henry and she had become a drunken wreck. She had been a fool to deny what he was to her for so long. She vowed never to make that mistake again. Love was never supposed to be stopped.

"I missed you too, my love," Regina said softly.

"Why did they take me?"Henry asked.

Regina wondered how to answer. She did not know, entirely. She assumed they had discovered his biological parentage, and had wanted to take him as their own, as their property. But she still did not know where Emma fit in, and she did not feel ready to explain to Henry the nature of all the complicated relationships of those around him.

"I do not believe they meant you any harm," Regina said eventually. "Did anything bad happen when you were there?"

Henry shook his head. "But… Emma was crying."

"She will be alright now," Regina said, sincerely hoping that this was true.

"Are you angry with her?"

Again, Regina had to think before she replied. She had assumed the answer would be yes, and she would simply be deciding whether or not to put it so openly to Henry, but in fact, she was far from sure she was angry at all. Where there ought to be anger, her heart was filled with relief and love, not only for Henry, but for Emma as well.

"Not exactly," the Queen said slowly. "Perhaps I should be, but I do not think anything that happened to you was her fault, and while she did wrong, I think I understand why. And it is not as if I have never made any mistakes."

"So… Is she still going to live with us?" Henry sounded a mixture of nervous and hopeful.

"Would you like that?"

"You'll still be my Mamma?"

"Always."

"Then yes, I would."

Regina wondered if Henry would get what he wanted. She had no idea if Emma even wanted to live with them. When it came to Emma, she had very little idea of anything at all.

Emma followed Maleficent through the castle, imagining ever more painful ways that the dragon-woman might kill her. There was no use in running; she would be caught in seconds, and punished even more harshly. She saw little point in defending herself, either. She had very little defence. Yes, she was not responsible for her parents and their cruel, selfish actions, but she was responsible for herself, and she had lied, even when she could have confessed everything. She had invaded Regina's life, her family, her home, her heart, and she had no excuse other than love. Love which would never be believed, because how could a person be truly in love if they had never even been honest with the object of their affection?

At least she had done the right thing now. She had brought Henry back to his real family. He would be safe and happy, and Regina would be too. Emma let out a sigh. Regina would never love her. It was impossible. Even if she had been honest, it could never have worked. And now, Emma knew she couldn't be trusted. All she had to look forward to was her execution; all she could dare to hope for was that it would be quick.

Maleficent opened the door to a drawing room and led the way to a pair of armchairs. Emma looked at them suspiciously. Mal poured two glasses of whiskey and settled comfortably into one chair while motioning for Emma to take the other.

Emma picked up her glass and sipped. It was good. Was this some kind of final meal?

"I don't understand," Emma said, trying to sound confident.

"For heaven's sake, relax, would you? You look like you're being escorted to the gallows."

"And I'm not?"

Mal laughed loudly. "While I think you richly deserve severe punishment, I have a feeling the queen would never forgive me if I harmed so much as a hair on your pretty little head. No one is going to hurt you, princess. I just thought it fitting to give Regina some time alone with her son."

"Oh."Emma could think of nothing else to say.

"Your parents are revolting creatures," Mal commented. "I saw the cuff. How did you remove it, if I may ask?"

"I enlisted the help of a powerful sorcerer."

"Indeed? And how did you pay this sorcerer?" Mal couldn't help being rather impressed.

"I had something he wanted. It cost me almost nothing."

"My, my, you do seem full of surprises. Well, good for you. I hope you are as adept at dealing with dark witches as you are dark wizards. It is entirely possible she did not order you to be executed because she wishes to savour the pleasure of killing you herself."

"I would understand,"Emma said sadly.

"That's all you have to say for yourself?"

"I lied to her. What defence could I have?"

"I may have misheard you, but I could have sworn I have heard you declare your love for her. Twice. Does that not motivate you a little to avoid dying at her hand?"

"Of course! But it was all my fault, everything… I only wanted to make her happy, I loved every second I spent with her, and I meant everything, all my actions… I lied about my parents, but I never lied about who I was, who I am. She is the first person I've met where I didn't have to play a role; with her I could truly be myself, and I was myself, the whole time. I know someone like her could never love someone like me, I know it is foolish to even dream of such a thing, but she is all that I have ever dreamed of and more, and I love her with all my heart."

"So it would seem… Well, I think I have heard enough. I will tell her where you are, and help her put Henry to bed. Stay here, so that she may decide if and when she wishes to see you. I will have some food sent up, and there is a bedchamber through that door if you are tired."

Emma nodded. She had no choice. She could hardly believe her luck. There was not much chance, but there was a chance, and it was far more than she had hoped for. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and tried to formulate something to say to Regina which would adequately explain her feelings. She failed.

Regina stood outside the door of the room she knew Emma was in. Hand hovering above the door handle, she bit her lip, smoothed down her dress, mentally evaluated her hair, then took a slow, shuddering breath. The storm had ended. The castle felt eerily calm. It was almost as if nothing had happened. But Regina would never forget the last 24 hours, even if she could forgive them.

She twisted the handle and opened the door. Emma jumped and nearly fell out of her seat; Regina tried not to laugh.

And then they just stared at each other. Emma stood, wanting to be respectful, but then she froze, her eyes locked with Regina's, her voice trapped in her throat. She waited for Regina to speak, to cry, to yell, to order her execution, to banish her from the castle, but Regina said nothing, not a word, so they stood in silence, their hearts racing to an unknown destination.

Emma could take it no longer.

"Say something," she begged.

She tore her eyes from Regina, finally taking in the Queen's beautiful outfit. Regina wore a black dress, far more simple than her usual attire, and for once her hair was down in freshly washed waves around her shoulders. She had no make-up on, she had stripped herself of all her usual masking. She was just herself, wide eyed, hurt, and open. Emma realised she was still dressed in a gown chosen by her parents, pink and vile and tattered from her resistance and escape. Her hair was tangled and matted, she was in dire need of a bath, and if Regina was cleanliness, she was scum.

Regina took a step forward, and against all her better judgement, gripped her ragged princess by the shoulders, pulled her close, and kissed her soundly. Emma gasped into Regina's mouth. Of all the possible scenarios, she had not been expecting that. She kissed back for all she was worth, wanting the moment to last forever, taking whatever she could before Regina came to her senses and realised she hated Emma.

They broke apart after several minutes, red faced and breathless, then went back to staring, this time lustfully.

"We should talk," Emma said with great reluctance.

Regina sighed, then nodded. "Is there anything you would particularly like to say?" she enquired.

"Only that… Henry really, truly, is your son. I gave birth to him, but he's yours. I have no intention of taking him from you, and if Snow or David try anything, I'll lay down my life to stop them."

Regina ignored the promised sacrifice. "What about his father?"

Emma took a deep breath. "I don't suppose you know who Baelfire is-"

The slap stung in Emma's cheek, but Regina looked more shocked than she was.

"I am so sorry, I did not mean to-" Regina moved in to examine the cheek. "Please forgive me. Are you okay?"

Emma logged the reaction in her mind as something to think about later. "I'm fine, I promise. Don't worry about it, I understand completely. And it's far less than I deserve."

Regina bit her lip.

"I didn't know who he was, when I met him. And I never loved him. It was just… I don't know, really. And then I got pregnant and I had nothing and no one and I knew I couldn't be a mother, not then, and I saw a royal carriage and it was like fate. I never dreamed he'd end up with you, though. I thought a working family would take him, that something good would be arranged, but never the Queen… I swear to you, I didn't know he was here when I found you in the tavern, and even when I met him I wasn't sure."

"Okay," Regina said softly, interrupting the frenzied rush of Emma's speech. "It's okay, I believe you."

"I'm so sorry."

"I know," Regina realised. "And I forgive you. I know what it's like to feel you have to hide your true self. I have done just that for most of my life. It is only with Henry that I finally began to learn how to be myself, how to be honest with myself. After Daniel, I was sure I would never love again, but I love Henry with all my heart, and I…" Regina paused, not quite able to say how she felt so quickly. "I am glad you are returned to me, too," she said in the end.

Emma smiled so widely Regina thought her heart might break. It was so beautiful, so hopeful… Emma was a liar. Maybe she was even a villain. But Regina was a villain too, and she was beginning to hope that even villains might have a chance at happy endings.