A/N: Apologies for taking so long to post this! I moved 2 weeks ago, was without internet for several days, and just started school this past week, so I'm way behind schedule.

"I figured you guys might need something to eat," Ruby said as she unpacked the Granny's takeout bags on Regina's kitchen counter.

Emma shook her head, food the least of her concerns. She needed to talk strategy with Ruby before the delicious smells lured Regina and Henry back downstairs. "How are we doing with the case?"

Ruby pulled the file from her purse with a shake of her head. "People are closing ranks. They figured out what I was collecting the samples for and they've stopped cooperating. There's only been one match from the men I got to in time."

"Who is it?" Emma and Ruby turned to see Regina hovering in the doorway, hugging her arms to herself.

Ruby gave Regina a sympathetic look but knew better than to say anything that might come across as pity. "Sidney."

Regina bit her lip and said nothing. Emma turned back towards the file. "So we've got one," she said. "And we'll get a warrant for everyone else."

"From what judge?" Regina asked softly, padding closer to them. "No one is going to turn on their friends and neighbors to help me."

"She's right, Emma," Ruby added reluctantly. "You can go ahead and arrest Sidney, but no amount of evidence is going to get this town to convict him."

"That's ridiculous." Emma opened the folder to see the DNA results and held them up for emphasis. "How can you argue with DNA?"

"I deserved it," Regina said bitterly. "I wanted it. I've been leading him on for years. He was caught up in the mob mentality. I don't remember him raping me. Take your pick."

Emma dropped the papers back onto the counter, no one noticing as a few of the pictures fluttered to the floor. The blonde was only concerned with pulling Regina close. "I'm going to make this right. I promise."

It took all of Ruby's willpower not to smile when Regina submitted to, then reciprocated, the embrace. So there was something between them after all. She busied herself with the food, trying her best to give them a moment of privacy.

"I really didn't think Sidney had it in him," Regina said softly, fingers twisting in the back of Emma's shirt. "But he's wanted this since the day he met me."

Emma didn't say anything, just held Regina tight. It was all she could do to hold back her rage. This was so unfair, so wrong.

"What's going on?"

Regina stepped away from Emma at the sound of Henry's voice, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Ruby brought us dinner," she said simply.

"Cool." Ruby helped him to the burger she'd brought him and then served Regina, the two walking in awkward silence to the dining room.

"People are really freaked out about your outburst earlier, by the way," Ruby told Emma in a low voice once they were alone again.

"Myself included." Emma mentally cursed Ruby for bringing that up again when she'd almost managed to forget it.

"Well, it's going to cost you support on this case." Ruby slipped the file back into her purse. "They're scared of you now."

Emma shook her head. "I don't care. I have to help Regina."

"I know." Ruby reached out to touch Emma's shoulder gently. "But I don't think making her get up in front of a town full of people who hate her and relive everything is worth it when this is a case you can't win."

Emma pulled away. "I'll figure something out," she grumbled.

It felt almost normal, Regina and Henry sitting across from each other with nothing to say. Usually she was the one who had to break the silence, so it startled Regina when Henry spoke up.

"I'm sorry people hurt you," he offered. "Are you feeling better?"

Regina couldn't help smiling. "Thank you, Henry. I'm getting there." Silence again, and then she made another attempt to start conversation. "How was your week?"

That got Henry's attention. "It's really cool finding out who everyone is. Except the ones I already figured out, of course."

Regina smiled again. "Of course."

"And I got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa. They gave me Emma's whole room."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to finally get some alone time," Emma said as she took a seat between Regina and Henry, having let Ruby out and gathered up her own dinner.

Henry glanced between his mothers. "So you're not going home? That means you're staying here?"

"Until your mom kicks me out," Emma promised, finding one of Regina's hands under the table and holding tight.

Henry lit up even more, and Regina was grateful to see that for once they could all be happy about the same thing. "You can have my bed if you want. I'll use my sleeping bag. It'll be so much fun."

Regina met Emma's gaze and then turned back towards their son. "Emma's going to stay with me tonight," she said, blushing despite herself. "If she wants to."

Emma rubbed her thumb over the back of Regina's hand reassuringly. "I have to take care of your mom, kid," she said, not taking her eyes off of the other woman.

Henry just scrunched up his nose and turned his attention back to his burger. "It's weird that you guys are getting along all of a sudden."

Regina reluctantly let go of Emma so they could resume eating as well. "I like it better this way."

"Me too, I guess," he mumbled.

"I want to try it again," Regina told Emma after dinner, while Henry had been sent off to load the few dishes into the dishwasher. "The protection spell."

"Just please don't overdo it this time," Emma said, following Regina towards the front door.

"I'll just try one time," Regina promised. "And anyway, you're here to catch me."

Emma took up a position just behind the brunette, setting her hands on Regina's hips to support her and touching her lips to the fabric over Regina's shoulder. "I've got you."

This time the power came easily. The expected purple light came from her fingers and soaked into the doors, windows, and walls, ready to keep anyone without permission from coming inside. Emma sucked in a deep breath, as mystified by this display of magic as she had been by her own. She wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and pulled her closer as the older woman finished and leaned back into her, drained but successful.

"It's you," Regina whispered. "I couldn't heal myself until you were close, I couldn't do this without you…" She turned in Emma's arms, clasping her hands around the blonde's neck.

"What does that mean?" Emma asked.

Regina shrugged. She'd never heard of anything like this happening, but here it was. There was some connection between them.

All she knew was that she was more helpless than ever. Alone, she had nothing – no power, no strength. But together… She didn't have the energy to attempt more magic tonight, but together they might be able to do anything.

"So, um, when I picked up Henry today…" Emma started before their son cut them off. She reluctantly turned back towards him, keeping one arm around Regina's waist protectively.

"Did this really happen?" Henry asked, his voice wavering. Emma went pale as she noticed what he was holding: a few of the photographs from Regina's file.

"What?" Regina met him halfway, expecting her son's question to be about yet another thing she'd done wrong. Before Emma could intervene, she took the pictures from Henry and was horrified to see herself on the day she'd checked into the hospital. Bruises so much darker than when she'd seen them, gashes so much deeper, and a hollow look in her eyes that she'd never seen in the mirror.

"Mom," Henry whimpered, throwing his arms around her waist. "I'm so sorry I said you were evil. This is evil."

Regina flipped to the next picture, seeing the places on her wrists where the ropes had rubbed her raw, arms that seemed almost more bruise than skin. She wordlessly handed them over to Emma when the blonde approached, holding onto Henry and letting the tears fall.

"I'm going to fix it." Emma promised, shoving the pictures into her pocket before wrapping both mother and son in a tight embrace. "They're not going to get away with it."

"Who?" Henry asked.

"This whole damn town."

"But not everybody, right?" Henry took a step back and looked hopefully up at his mothers. "Not the good guys."

"Some of them," Emma replied bitterly.

"But not the really good ones, like Grandma and Grandpa."

Regina bent down to Henry's level, offering him a teary smile. "Of course not, Henry. Do you think we could talk about this in the morning? I'm very tired."

"I guess." Henry gave each parent another hug before padding up the stairs. Regina followed him at a distance with Emma just a few steps behind her.

"You lied to him," Emma said once she'd closed the door to Regina's room behind them. "I can always tell."

"Sometimes you have to. To protect your child." Regina sat down at the edge of the bed.

"This isn't about Henry. It's about me." Emma came closer, frowning. "My… parents, if you can call them that, hurt you."

Regina looked down at her lap. "I told you, I don't remember everything. I can't rule anyone out."

"Nice try, but you're still lying." Emma paced away, her voice rising with her anger. "You have to tell me, Regina."

"Emma…"

"Tell me!" Emma yelled this time, turning back towards Regina. Her anger fell away when she saw a hint of fear in Regina's dark eyes. "Oh god, Regina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't push." She knelt down by the bed, taking the older woman's hands. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Regina said softly, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. "You're allowed to be angry."

"I've spent enough time being angry at you," Emma said, reaching up to stroke Regina's hair. "I just want to take care of you right now."

"Come here then," Regina whispered. "I sleep better with you near." She bent down to kiss Emma, deep and sweet.

Emma walked around to the other side of the bed, shimmying out of her jeans and slipping under the covers. "I really am sorry, you know."

Regina turned out the light, grateful for the arm Emma looped around her waist. "I know."