Disclaimer: I do not own Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel, or Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles into Comics by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost.

Author's Notes: I'm keeping my word-to the best of my ability. Another chapter up within 7 to 10 days. :-) Due to-not in a small part-the wonderful Mooglesmuse. Thank you my dear. All mistakes are mine. After all I am sometimes foolish enough not to listen to her words of wisdom.

Bonus points if anyone can guess which Fairytale the new Storybrooke residents I mention briefly in this chapter come from. I'll put the answer up with Chapter 13. ;-)

Chapter 12
'Apprehension Sets In'

-.-.-.-

Taking her time, Emma walked down Main Street and looked at all the shops. There was a flower shop across the street; a carpenter's shop that caught Emma's eyes as the man was hanging what looked like a fixed sign up. There was the grocery store and what looked like a small pharmacy. Emma wondered if there were any private doctor's offices or if there was just the hospital.

Emma took the time to stop in at the flower shop. She didn't end up buying anything but got directions to the toy store and was told the pharmacy got in a lot of comics. Emma figured she could bring the kid a few comics, and hope he'd never read them before. She'd let him borrow hers of course and she had some great collectables that he'd probably only seen copies of or heard about instead of actually reading a first addition of.

Smiling to herself, Emma found the comics at the toy store alright, nothing she hadn't already seen. She grabbed instead a graphic novel with the first five books. She browsed through the section and decided she'd get a couple. A few for herself to tide her over since she hadn't read the new episode in Buffy: the Vampire Slayer Season 8 and The Walking Dead. She put the Walking Dead back. She'd get that later.

For Henry she got Adventures in Cartooning: How to turn your Doodles into Comics, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Ghostopolis about a boy who was pulled into a world of ghosts and ghouls and had special powers that the bad guy took advantage of. It looked interesting enough, and Emma hoped it would be something he liked.

Having bought the four books, Emma left the book store, her pace brisk and a bit hurried as she realized she was running late.

By the time Emma made it to the Inn Regina's car was already there and the woman was on the phone, and by the looks of it she wasn't happy. Her hand was waving around in the air and her shoulders were stiff as she paced back and forth in front of her car.

Running over to the woman, she caught the tail end of what she was saying, rather loudly, into the phone.

"Her car is still here but she has not been seen for some time. I know it is too early to jump to conclusions, Graham, but I…" Regina stopped talking, listening to something that was being said on the other end or rendered speechless by the sight of Emma standing in front of her, arms crossed and eyebrow raised. "I'll call you back." Regina closed her phone and stared at Emma.

Emma wasn't sure if Regina was angrier to have been overheard or to have been kept waiting. "Morning."

"Hmm…" Regina's stare was just as penetrating as Mr. Gold's but didn't evoke the same flight instinct that his did. Oh no, on the contrary it made her want to stay and fight, or bicker, whichever.

Regina's eyes stopped on the bag in Emma's hand, noting Martin and Petulant's Toy Store insignia on it.

Emma blushed as Regina looked at her in question and hid the bag a bit behind her back. "Comic books," she answered. "They had some I haven't read yet."

"So there is nothing in there for Henry?" Regina asked, her lips twitching as she attempted not to smirk at Emma's sudden embarrassment.

"Of course, it's just, not all for him."

Regina hummed as her answer and the two stood on the sidewalk staring at each other. Regina seemed fit as a fiddle to remain where she was, trying to figure some puzzle out that revolved around Emma while Emma could hardly stand still. She was swaying her weight back and forth and looking around them, waiting.

"So…hospital?"

"Yes. You are ready now, aren't you?"

"Uhm, actually…hold on, for another minute!" Emma held up one finger to stall Regina before she rushed to the parking lot across the street where her yellow bug was parked.

Regina watched, arms crossed over her chest and foot tapping, as Emma found something in the trunk and locked her despicable car before returning to the curb. This time holding an old shoe box under her arm.

Regina rolled her eyes, refusing to ask. She got into her car and was pleased when Ms. Swan got in without being prompted. She even put on her seatbelt directly after storing her shoe box and bag of goodies under the seat.

The ride to the hospital was silent save for the radio giving the local weather report and the ping or ring of Emma's cellphone. The blonde made a show of turning it on silent after Regina had glanced at her one too many times questioningly. Regina had noticed that each time the screen flashed it was the same name that popped up. Something, someone's name that began with an A-S. Regina did not ask, though she wished to.

According to the weather report it seemed the chill was going to be around for the rest of the week, but the weekend promised to be beautiful. By then, Regina hoped, they would all be in the hospital, both patients recovering in their own rooms. It may be bleak but it was how it was.

While others hoped for good weather to enjoy she hoped that she would miss out on it by being in the hospital. It wasn't a normal aspiration, a normal thing to hope for, but it was something she was hoping for more than anything at the moment. For this to be all over, for her son to have the transplant that would save his life and have his body not reject it this time.

"Henry is…looking forward to lunch." Regina finally stated as she arrived at a red light several blocks from the hospital.

Beside her Emma shuffled in her seat and gripped her seatbelt tightly. "I'm looking forward to it too." Emma whispered, her fear translating through the softness of her voice as if speaking about it suddenly made it even more real.

Regina sighed heavily, her entire body slumping forward a bit at the weight of it. She did not know what to say to the blonde. Not about how nervous she had instantly become at the mention of Henry. In her mind they would either get along or they would not. Emma was not Henry's mother. She was his birth mother, yes, but Emma was not his mother.

Regina was his mother. She had raised him. She had been there for every tear, ever fever, every disappointment, every test at school and the hospital. Henry woke to her face after every procedure. He gave her mother's day cards and presents. He was hers.

Emma being here would not change that. It wouldn't.

She had admitted, only once, to Kathryn, how fearful she was that Henry would like Emma better. Emma was not his parent. Emma would not have to tell him no. Emma would be saving his life when Regina herself could not. It would be Emma's liver that gave him a full life, just like it was Emma who gave him life. Emma could take him to the movies and get him ice cream and spoil him. She would not need to scold him or make him go to bed when he did not want to.

Emma would be fun, and Regina...?
Regina did not know what she would be.
Because Emma being here did change things.

"He isn't…" Regina started the car and stared intently at the road so she did not have to look at the woman beside her as she spoke. "He is very frail. He has lost a lot of weight in the last few weeks." Regina felt the words stiffen in her throat, getting stuck.

She cleared her throat and forced the burn at the back of her eyes to disappear. Everything would be better soon. Very soon. Because of Ms. Swan.

"His skin color and weight may be intimidating. Do not focus on it. He gets very self-conscious over it." There was ice in her warning. She had no threat adequate enough to throw at Ms. Swan were she to inadvertently or advertently hurt Henry.

Emma nodded stiffly, only voicing an "Of course, I-I-I won't." when it became apparent Regina was looking for a verbal confirmation that she understood.

Once again the car was silent. They arrived at the hospital soon after and both exited the car and walked into the hospital as if they had done so together a hundred times before. Regina had, but as this was Emma's second time here the Mayor was surprised that Emma was leading the way. It wasn't an overly large hospital but new comers hardly learned the twists and turns so quickly.

Focusing on Emma's innate ability to recall her previous routes was easier than focusing on her fears, all of them, and there were many.

"You know, a foster sister of mine was sick. Leukemia." Emma's voice startled Regina as it echoed around the small box car of the elevator.

"Oh?"

"Yeah…" Emma took a deep breathe a shadow passing over her at the memory, not a pleasant one. "I haven't seen Henry or been around sick kids since then but I won't make this harder for him. Or you. I'm here to help." Emma looked up from the floor and met Regina's eyes.

The Mayor was caught off guard by the sincerity in Emma's words and the open vulnerability Emma was exposing for her to see. Thankfully Regina was not required to say anything in response as the elevator doors opened and they once again set off towards Dr. Whale's office.

Regina idly wondered as she followed slightly behind Emma just how many times Ms. Swan would surprise her.

-.-.-.-

Emma and Regina sat across from Dr. Whale as they had just the day before. The room wasn't as tension filled as it had been just yesterday afternoon, however. Dr. Whale was smiling and seemed excited. It was contagious. Regina was practically vibrating with energy at the good news the Doctor had just delivered.

"The surgery is going to be scheduled for Sunday. We have five days to prepare both. I'd like to start now, just in case." Regina and Emma both cringed at the idea that they'd have to have a 'just in case' back up plan. But they could both live with that. The surgery was a go.

"What do I have to do?" Emma asked.

"I'm going to give you a list of foods you need to stay away from in the next few days. Also the recipe for some cleansing drinks that will clear out any residual toxins. I won't lie. They will taste like paste. But…"

"Don't care what they taste like." Emma shook her head, leaning forward in her seat as she stared at Dr. Whale.

He smiled and nodded his head, already knowing she wouldn't care. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you. Besides that I'll need you to come in for another test tomorrow."

"What test? I was under the impression that they had all been run?" Regina suddenly sat straighter in her chair, doing her best to keep from commenting on Emma's slouched shoulders. This woman was going to save her son's life. She would deal with her lack of proper etiquette.

"They have been. This isn't about Emma's liver or blood tests. This is for her rehabilitation."

Emma cringed, she knew this part of the game. "You're going to make me run on a treadmill."

"Yes, record your blood pressure and heart beat, muscle mass, flexibility, the works." Emma nodded as she sat back heavily in her chair. "I presume you've…"

"I had physical therapy for two months after an incident with a runner."

Dr. Whale shot a questioning look to Regina as if she might know what a runner was meant to mean. Regina rolled her eyes and rolled her shoulders in answer, as she didn't find it important. However, something came over Dr. Whale's face and he looked through Emma's medical history.

"There isn't mention of this injury in your file?"

Regina stiffened as Emma looked at the Mayor, afraid the woman was going to have a heart attack or a stroke, or both with how pale she had just become. Emma was tempted to grab the file off Dr. Whale's desk and start using it to fan the woman.

"Does that…change things?"

Emma stilled, her head slowly turning to look at Dr. Whale herself after the question was voiced. "It shouldn't." Emma was quick to insert, staring longingly, hopefully, at Dr. Whale as he flipped through the file on his desk as if the account would magically appear in it. He was no help.

Emma turned to Regina and waited for the Mayor to look at her, there was an accusation at the tip of the woman's tongue. Emma could see it in the brunette's expression. She was going to blame Emma and her lifestyle, her job, for Henry's death because it would now keep her from being a donor.

Emma knew that, and although it angered her that Regina would even think to say it, she couldn't show her anger over it since the Mayor was doing her best to restrain herself from saying it out loud. Even though the once over she gave Emma made the bounty hunter feel like a worthless peasant before a Queen.

"It was a head injury, I dislocated my shoulder in the fall, had to work on rebuilding a muscle that sprained during it." Emma begged Regina, as if the Mayor herself could make it so her words were true, to believe her.

They both turned towards Dr. Whale as he sighed and remained leaned forward in his chair.

"Why didn't you mention this before?"

"You're the ones that hacked my medical history. It should be therah…" Emma groaned as she slapped her hand against her head. It wouldn't be there. Of course it wouldn't be there. She had been going by a different name then, an alias. Emma tried to remember which alias she had been using then. She came up with a blank. There had been too man since then. "Look, there was only that one big incident and the time I was shot."

"SHOT!?" Regina threw herself towards the opposite side of her chair, trying to get as far away from Emma as possible so she could better look at the woman beside her.

Emma groaned again at the decibel level of Regina's shout, and rubbed at her temple. "Look, you have my medical history. I've been shot, stabbed, and bashed over the head by a tire iron. I don't live a nine to five life, okay?" Emma became defensive; it was a habit hard to break after so many years of being judged. "I've gotten in with the wrong crowds and I've gotten out of it and I've had bad things happen to me." Emma chanced a sideways look at Regina. The Mayor seemed uncertain about everything she was mentioning but there was a flash of some…recognition…when she mentioned bad things happening to her.

With a sigh she stared back down at the floor. "I've lived under different aliases too. But you already know about the stab wound that made me go into labor early with Henry. The shooting was after I got out. It was a drive by shooting that I was in the wrong place at the right time for." Emma explained all of this as she stared down at the tile floor beneath her, wondering why Dr. Whale didn't put in a carpet. It would make the office feel…homier. Looking up at the two staring at her she focused on Dr. Whale, afraid to look at Regina.

"You knew about that though. The shooting was to the same shoulder I have trouble with. You did all the other exams, you saw the scars. You did the internal exams. They all came back clean. So do me, us, all of us, a favor and tell her that I'm still a good match for the transplant." Please, please say I still am.

"You're still a good match. This doesn't complicate the surgery. Just, possibly, the rehabilitation."

Emma and Regina both sagged in relief, though Emma was quicker on the uptake. "How much does it complicate the rehabilitation?" Emma asked suddenly fearing she might really and truly be out of job after this.

"May, it may, possibly. We will have to see."

Emma hated doctors sometimes, she really did. "What's the worst case scenario?"

"Emma, we don't want to go into those right now, the good thing is.."

"Look doc, I need to know how long I'm going to be recuperating. I need to make plans for myself, set up my finances, make calls. What's the worst case scenario on me being able to go back to work? You had mentioned three to six months before. What are we talking about now, eight, ten?"

"Possibly a year." He admitted, knowing that there were cases of people needing an entire year, if not more, to recover from this type of surgery. But with the scar tissue that they had already looked at they had tacked on the additional three months to Emma's recovery time.

Emma nodded her head, and stuck her tongue roughly against her cheek as she leaned back into her seat. She went over numbers in her head. How much it cost to stay at the Inn for a night and multiplying that by 364 days, then the cost of food. It would be cheaper if she found an apartment or maybe even leased a place. She sucked in a deep breath, a whistle sound echoing through the room.

Regina sat stock still as she allowed Emma the time to come to her decision. There was still time for her to back out. This was the first time Regina was forced with the knowledge that this procedure might not be so straight forward for the woman sitting beside her. Yes, she knew the recovery would be difficult but she had assumed Ms. Swan would recover similarly to Ms. Blanchard, who had been back to work two months after the surgery. She heard from others that there were times she was still weak but it hadn't yet been six months since the surgery. To think that Ms. Swan would need to be in Storybrooke for a year, recovering from saving her son, put things in a different perspective.

She would do anything to save her son. She would offer her entire fortune to the woman if it made her stay, made her come through with her words that she had only just spoken twenty minutes ago in the elevator. She promised that she was here to help her, to help Henry.

Regina's grip on the arms of her chair tightened, her knuckles flashing from red to white as her grip tightened the longer Ms. Swan remained quiet.

"Alright. Okay." Emma nodded. "You said I have five days…?"

"Ms. Swan if this is…"

"Yes. Five days."

Dr. Whale and Regina both stated at the same time.

"If this is about money, I can supplement any lost income you will face."

"Even for a year?" Emma asked surprised, wondering just how affluent the woman was.

"I am quite wealthy." The vein in Regina's neck bulged as her skin became clammy and sweat itched all over her body.

Emma blinked, knowing that Regina was well off, but she really hadn't considered just how well off she was. "I was just thinking that I couldn't afford to stay at the Inn for a year." Emma laughed nervously, "It's probably not the best place to stay anyway, not with the amount of stairs there."

"No, it wouldn't be." Dr. Whale commented, the Inn did not have an elevator, but Mary Margaret's apartment had.

"I was wondering about leasing agreements, places to rent maybe."

"You were still going to..."

"Of course!" Emma snapped her head in Regina's direction. "I'm not heartless, Regina!"

Regina blinked, flashing back to when Mary Margaret made a similar comment to her while they stood in her classroom while informing her she was a match. It silenced the barb that had been moments away from sliding past her lips about how she could not be sure what Ms. Swan was. After all, she had already seen first-hand how deep into denial the woman could go, and how it was easier for her to run, rather than to stand and stay.

Regina was so consumed by the flash back that she failed to comment on Emma's use of her first name instead of her title.

Emma shook her head, disbelieving Regina's audacity. She was here wasn't she? She'd come, and she'd stayed, she was still here! Even now! What more could the woman want from her? Oh right. Her liver.

"I was just trying to figure out a better place to stay. I saw the real estate office on Main Street. I'll stop in there, see if there are available apartments."

"I will sign any leases you might need a second signature on." Regina quickly offered, "I will pay for it. Any and all of your expenses. You need not worry about money while you are here." She quickly spouted off, anything to get Ms. Swan to stay.

Anything and everything.

For Henry.

Regina felt an itch against the side of her neck, making her turn to see Dr. Whale staring at her rather impatiently. Regina looked between Dr. Whale and Emma quickly, deciding to focus on Ms. Swan.

"I've already contacted a home care nurse who will take on your case. She only needs an address."

Dr. Whale sighed and rolled his eyes as he sat back in his chair. He had hoped Regina would open her home to Ms. Swan so that it would mean one less house visit for him to make during the patients' recoveries.

"I will go with you to the real estate office after lunch with Henry." Regina swallowed thickly, her nerves on edge, her body trembling in anxiousness as she stared pleadingly at Emma, unsure she could trust the woman's word. Until Emma was under Dr. Whale's blade there would remain a fear that Emma would disappear and leave her, leave Henry, to their dismal fates.

Emma nodded, her hand twitched to life. It reached across the space between her chair and Regina's—which wasn't much—and covered Regina's hand as it grasped tightly onto the arm of the chair. She squeezed it gently as she looked into Regina's eyes, trying to convey her conviction to stay, to make the Mayor believe that she wasn't going anywhere.

"I'd appreciate that."

"Well then…" Dr. Whale clapped his hands together as he stood from his seat. He went to his bookcase and pulled two marked folders off the shelf. "Ms. Swan, this is yours." He handed Emma a blue folder. "Regina, this is yours and Henry's." He knew that Regina was aware of the procedures for a transplant but he was obligated to give her the list anyway.

Both women stood from their chairs, Regina quickly pulling her hand as close to her body as possible, and as far from Emma as she could, and took the folder.

"Thanks, doc. See you tomorrow?"

"Yes, at two pm."

Emma nodded, noting the time as she briefly looked down at the folder in her grasp. Emma moved towards the door and held it open for Regina, her eyes still on the folder.

"Thank you for your time, Dr. Whale. I will be in contact." Regina shook Dr. Whale's hand and offered him a truly genuine smile. "Thank you…" She whispered, heartfelt.

Connor nodded his head and offered Regina a brilliant smile. "This time it'll work, Regina."

Regina's smile faltered for only a moment, she made it stay by sheer will and determination. This time, yes, this time it would work. Regina nodded her head slightly as she released Dr. Whale's hand and walked from the room.

It was only when she was nearing the elevator bay that she turned to see if Emma was following her when she felt the blonde bump right into her. They both tumbled forward, only just managing to stay upright by pushing their arms forward and pressing their weight against the elevator wall. Emma's arms trapped Regina between her and the wall, their folders dropped and papers scattered on the floor.

"Ms. Swan, please, watch where you are going." Emma shivered at the acid that dripped from Regina's warning.

"Hey…you're the one that just stopped walking like a freaking tourist." Emma complained, her face a bit flushed in her embarrassment for having been so absorbed in the folder that she had missed Regina's abrupt stop.

Regina sighed and turned around and oddly found herself staring into Emma's eyes as the woman remained in front of her, practically pinning her to the wall. The Mayor cleared her throat and raised her eyebrow in question.

The sound got Emma moving, and she shot away from Regina, a good four feet away, before she dropped down to the floor to pick up their scattered papers mumbling her apologies as she went.

Regina found it rather…adorable. The look of shock of being caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing was a replica of Henry's. That was the only reason she found it adorable. That. Was. All.

"Sorry…" Emma mumbled, her head seemingly permanently bowed as she held both folders and papers against her chest and waited anxiously for the elevator.

Regina smirked, finding it thrilling that she still had the capability to render someone speechless.

The walk to the car was quiet, uncomfortably so.

At least she's not staring at the ground again, Regina thought as she met Emma's eyes over the top of her car.

Once they were seated Regina waited. And waited. Then pointedly cleared her throat and gestured with her eyes to Emma's seat belt.

"Oh, right." Emma didn't fumble with the seatbelt, just quickly snapped it in place and began rubbing her palms against her jeans. "So, lunch with the ki…Henry?"

Regina started the car and was mindful of the bystanders around them as she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street.

"Yes. I prepared homemade soup. He can't eat very much or anything too heavy. Now that the surgery is coming he'll need to go on a liquid diet again, as I am sure you will need to begin as well."

Emma nodded slowly again, digesting the news as she stared down at the folders in her hand. Rolling her eyes she began resorting the papers, glad that they had a header with either Mills or Swan at the top and were numbered.

"Here, sorry about that." Emma raised the folder and put it in the back seat.

"Yes, well, what was it you called me?"

A sideways grin pulled across Emma's face. "A tourist."

"Yes, is that an expression commonly used in Boston?"

Emma huffed a laugh, until she realized Regina was serious. "Wow, you're serious. Okay, well yeah, I guess. Not just for Boston, but for any big city. You were like a tourist. You stopped dead in the center of the path, like a tourist does when they see a captivating sight and just needs to stop and take a picture. It's annoying." Emma's eyes sparkled as she saw Regina's truly inquisitive expression, captured by her description.

"What, you can't have only lived here your whole life. As far as I've seen there are no college campuses around here and law school hasn't been moved to the internet just yet."

Regina's innocent intrigue was instantly lost, and Emma almost regretted saying anything.

"Well, no, of course I haven't." Regina looked away from Emma, focusing again on the road. "I went to Brown." Which of course, Emma realized was a lie as soon as Regina said it.

Emma sat up a bit straighter in her chair as she faced Regina. Sure she had to be mistaken. Why would Regina lie about where she had gone to law school? To impress her maybe? The woman was the Mayor of a not so small town in Maine, and from what others had said, a decent lawyer. Why lie about where she went?

"Have I suddenly grown a second head?" Regina asked, noticing Emma's staring.

"No. Just a big nose." She mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" Regina's eyes hardened as she came to a stop sign and turned once more to look at the blonde in her car.

"Nothing. Just got a bit of dust on your nose." Emma amended quickly. "Here…" Emma reached out and brushed the pad of her thumb over the tip of Regina's nose before the woman could look into the mirror and realize she was lying. She pretended to flick the dust particle away as she withdrew her hand. "There. All gone."

Regina watched Emma's hand, even crossed her eyes to watch as the blonde's thumb brushed over the tip of her nose. "Hmm…"

Regina said nothing more on the matter, instead focusing on navigating her way to her home.

As they drove, Emma became visibly more anxious until she was practically unable to sit still in her seat. It almost appeared like the woman was doing her best to keep her bladder under control. The sight actually calmed Regina gave her a small, tiny bit of peace of mind about the upcoming introductions.

Emma Swan may be Henry's birth mother but she was also a stranger to him. A stranger that was going to save his life, thus gaining Regina's unending gratitude, but still a stranger.

There was nothing to fear.

Emma may be the fun one but she would always be the stranger because Regina was Henry's mother.

With that thought in mind Regina pulled the car into the driveway and did her best not to bristle with delight at the wide eyes staring at the luxuriousness of her family mansion.

Emma whistled in astonishment at the immaculate white mansion in front of her. "Jesus H. Christ you really weren't kidding when you said you were wealthy."

"I wish I could say I came by it honestly."

Emma snapped her head to the side and stared at Regina. Regina was surprised to see the harshness behind the blonde's eyes over the statement. It made her uncomfortable.

"An expression for when you inherit the money. Like I did."

"From who?"

Regina raised a brow at the tone, it was heavier than the other times Emma had asked her something. It felt decidedly like she was being interviewed or interrogated.

"My father."

Emma nodded her head and the Mayor knew even without Emma saying anything, that the woman had filed that information away for later. Why it would be so important Regina couldn't imagine. It was just so rare that anyone ever asked her these types of questions. Then again, Emma was the first stranger that had come and stayed longer than a day for some time.

Watching Emma reach under the chair for the shoe box and the bag from Martin and Petulant's toy shop Regina decided she would give Ms. Swan a free pass. For now. She'd chalk this split in personality to her nervous anticipation of meeting Henry, since Emma suddenly appeared to be a nervous kitten, ready to screech and race away at the slightest of movements or sudden noises.

Regina's theory was proven when she closed the door and Emma jumped at least half a foot in the air.

"He is only a boy. He will not eat you."

"Huh?" Emma asked, meeting Regina's eyes over the top of the car once again.

Regina leaned her hands on the top of her car. "Henry. He's just as nervous as you are. He, he wants you to like him. Just…be yourself." Regina advised, walking towards the path that led to the front door before suddenly stopping again.

She turned around, hand raised, and a single finger held up. "Yourself, with a censored vocabulary, okay, Ms. Swan?"

Emma, who'd hardly made it to the front hood of Regina's Benz, nodded her head, not even taking offense to the veiled insult. She did have the mouth of a sailor when she was defensive, angry, or nervous. So she mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key before slowly following Regina to the front door.

This was it.

Now or never Swan, now or never.

End Chapter Twelve

You can skip this bit if you wish. :-) Thank you for reading this far! :-)

Author's Note: So, that is the end of chapter twelve. Chapter 13 should be up in a week to ten days. (And I think I'll be able to keep that up for a while longer. Things have begun to turn around. Good news abound the last few days. So hopefully that will continue.)

Fair warning now, chapter 13 is slow. (chuckles) as if this whole story hasn't been slow. (grins) But it is SLOW (and short) and very internal for our characters. I swear there is a reason and hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Chapter 14 promises a lot of dailouge and is equally 'short'. But it is Chapter 15 that the twist I've planned with this story from the very beginning-but am now only getting to-comes to light (for the most part)! So, I'm excited about that and what you'll all think of it. Hopefully it'll go over well. :-)

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter and will stick around for the next ones to come! Thank you all for reading, following, favoriting and dropping me a line. :-D

Till then! Enjoy your day/afternoon/night!