Emma, having drank significantly less than Roni, drove her home. They were nearing the street the woman lived on when Roni realized the dark clouds in the sky weren't storm clouds. It was smoke. Her fears were heightened when she realized they were coming from her street. They turned the corner and Roni practically flew out the moving car. Her bar and the buildings on either side of it were on fire! Roni screamed and ran towards the burning building, only to be held back by a firefighter.

"Let me go! That's my home! My cat's inside!" Roni looked up and saw Lenny swiping at the window. Roni's heart sped up and tears welled up in her eyes. The life she made for herself was going up in flames. Meanwhile, a firefighter climbed a ladder and opened the top window. Lenny gratefully leaped into his arms and was carried down to his owner. Roni held him close.

"Oh, thank God you're okay." Roni cried. Lenny purred, rubbing against Roni's chest. Roni looked back at the burning building. Where would she live now? Oh, no... what if she had to go back there? Back to the place that nearly killed her. But what choice did she have?

"Hey, Roni. You okay?" A firefighter asked. She recognized him as a patron who came in occasionally. "You got a place to stay?"

"I'll be fine." Roni answered.

"Alright. If you have insurance on this place, I'd call them now." The firefighter said. Roni nodded and pulled her phone from her pocket.

Calling the insurance company was a long and painful process that didn't end until the fire was out and the crowd mostly dispersed. They would send her the money, but it was hardly enough to rebuild. Her precious bar was gone, burnt right to the ground. She was left with nothing once again.

"Hey, you okay?" Emma asked, finally approaching her. "Need me to take you somewhere?"

"I suppose I can escape fate for only so long." Roni said despondently. "I'll come with you to Storybrooke."

"Roni-"

"It's Regina. I can't hide who I am." Roni looked hopeless, like she was next in line for a guillotine.

"Look, if you want to be Roni, then be Roni. If you don't want to go back to Storybrooke, then you don't have to. You are not merely what others see you as. You take fate into your own hands and live your own life. When I first got to Storybrooke, I told Ashley the same thing. Everyone saw her as a screw up, someone who couldn't do anything, much less be a mother. I told her to push back, to do what she wanted and now, she's a wonderful mother to a precious little girl.

"What I'm saying is, you are still in control of your life. Just say the word and I'll take you wherever you need to go."

"Even to New Mexico?" Roni asked, not quite believing the blonde.

"Even to New Mexico." Emma confirmed.

"Why?" Roni frowned, looking up at Emma.

"Because that's what friends do." Emma replied. Roni looked at her in wonder. They were friends?

"I don't quite have enough money to stay in a motel before the insurance money comes in. Is there a chance I can room with you until then?" It was a huge leap for Roni to ask for help like this. She usually would have insisted she was fine and could handle it until Emma dragged her kicking and screaming to Storybrooke. But Roni wanted to show Emma that she appreciated her friendship. Plus, she had time to change as a person. Perhaps she should return to her home of 28 years.

"Sure. And if anyone still has a grudge, they'll have to go through me first. You've changed and you deserve to live your life." Emma said. "Come on. It's getting dark and I doubt you want to be out here much longer." Roni nodded and got back into the car.

The next day, they arrived in Storybrooke after having a nearly eight hour flight. That's not even including the wait time in the airport. Roni had been napping in the front seat when they crossed the town line. All of a sudden, Roni jerked awake, gasping, as if she'd just been doused with icy water. A glance over to her and Emma could see her eyes swirling with purple, that same color that was sparking from her fingertips. Roni had gone four years without using magic and now she could feel it coursing through her.

"You okay?" Emma asked. She herself could feel the tingling of magic just beneath her skin.

"I... I haven't felt my magic in a long time. It's just a shock, is all. It's going to feel weird, having it again." Roni looked down at her hands and willed the roiling sea of emotion to calm. It was going to suck having to tamp down her emotions again.

"Okay. Just tell me if you need anything." Emma said.

"How about some breakfast? I'm starving." Roni answered.

"Pit stop at Granny's? I can get it to go." Emma questioned.

"Sounds good." They drove over to Granny's. Roni stayed in the car to get more sleep while Emma went in and ordered their food.

"Sheriff Swan." Granny greeted. "The usual?"

"Yeah, but throw in another coffee and an egg sandwich." Emma said.

"Buying breakfast for two?" Granny inquired.

"Not that it's anyone's business. Can I just get my order?" Emma said. No one could know she brought the former Evil Queen back to Storybrooke. Not yet. Emma looked back at her car and thanked whatever force was listening that Roni was curled up asleep. All you could see was the back of her head and leather jacket.

"Coming right up." Granny went to the back to cook up Emma's order.