A/N: The end of that last chapter wasn't supposed to be a big cliffhanger... but so many people thought that it was that I decided to roll with it! So get ready for some big things, and then another cliffhanger.

My spring break is over, so posting will probably slow down a bit.

"Henry?" Regina knocked lightly on the door before opening it to see her son scrunched up in his bed. "Can I come in?"

The boy nodded, and when his mother sat down on his bed he moved quickly into her embrace.

"I shouldn't have left you here." Regina pressed a kiss to the top of his head. She'd been so caught up in her own trauma and in Emma that she'd left him to face Storybrooke alone, and as soon as Ruby and Archie explained what had happened in the past few days the guilt hit her hard.

"You had to," Henry mumbled into her shoulder. "Emma."

Regina tilted Henry's chin up so she could look at him. "You know you're my number one," she said with an uneasy smile. At least for the next eight months, he was. But this talk was about Henry, and Regina wasn't about to spring the baby on him when he was already upset.

"I was so mad at you for being the Evil Queen," Henry said. "And so mad at Emma for killing Dr. Whale. But now I'm just as bad."

Regina knew that denying Henry's guilt wasn't going to work – Archie had tried that unsuccessfully a number of times. "Can I tell you a story?" When Henry nodded, she continued. "When I started learning magic, I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I wanted to bring someone I loved back from the dead, and I wanted to escape from my marriage. And even though some of the things I had to do hurt people, my reasons were pure. I just wanted to be free."

"I thought you wanted to kill Snow White," Henry said, the thought of his beloved stories brightening him up.

"Not at first." Regina brushed Henry's hair back, unable to keep smiling. "But you're right. That did eventually become my purpose, and I started acting for the sole reason of causing her pain. My intent became evil, so I became evil." She took a deep breath, trying to focus on Henry and not on the past. "Intent is everything, Henry. Did you intend for Sidney to die?"

"Of course not."

"You only wanted to make things right." Now Regina let herself give the boy a somewhat reassuring smile. "Not to mention the fact that you didn't know that your actions would have those consequences." She rubbed a few circles on his back, glad to see him calming somewhat. "There's nothing bad about you."

Henry leaned in for another tight hug. "I didn't know how much they hurt you," he said, wanting to provide some comfort back to his mother. "Are you okay?"

"Things are going to get better," Regina promised him. "For all of us."

Emma was having a hard time sitting still and listening to what Ruby and Archie were telling her. She itched to be upstairs with her family, helping Regina comfort Henry. The situation was so extreme that she'd gladly let Regina go up there alone, but now she just wanted to join them.

"Emma," Ruby said impatiently, getting the blonde's attention back. "This is bad. They think Regina did it."

"But she didn't." Emma glanced towards the stairs again. "I killed Whale. If they need to hate someone, they can hate me."

"These people have not been the most rational lately," Archie pointed out. "With the sheriff and the mayor out of the picture, it's a free for all. They keep clamoring for your parents to take charge, but they aren't in any shape to lead."

"These are the same people who dragged Regina across town to torture her," Ruby added. "They've been all about the torch and pitchfork recently."

"So we'll leave right away." Emma shrugged. "It's really not a big deal."

Ruby nodded towards the window. "Look outside."

Emma stood up and walked towards one of the windows on the front of the house. Mifflin Street had been quiet when they'd arrived, but now it was filled with people. She froze, staring shocked at the scene outside, while a few people pointed in her direction.

"They've got the house surrounded."

Emma whipped around, glaring at Ruby. "Was this some sort of a trap? Were you in on this?"

"Of course not." Ruby held up her phone. "Granny texted me as soon as she heard. She's out there now, reporting in."

Emma looked back towards the window to see Mr. Gold coming closer to the house. She could suddenly see Regina's protection spell, glowing purple when Gold touched it, and from the effort on the man's face it was clear what he was doing. "I'm going to go out there and tell them it was me. And the two of you are going to get Regina and Henry to the town line."

"No." The voice was firm, Regina's, as she came to stand beside Emma. "You said you'd be with me always."

"I also said I'd stop at nothing to protect you." Emma hovered by Regina, not sure what to do, and then the mayor looked hard out the window and crumbled.

The memories hit her with a brutal force. Sauntering out the front door, thinking she was untouchable, and being overpowered by Whale and a few other men almost instantly. She sank down onto her knees, pale and feeling sick for reasons she was sure had little to do with the baby.

The voices leaked in from outside. "Give us Regina!" "Give us the Queen!"

"They think you killed Whale," Ruby explained. "When they did the autopsy they found out that his heart had been torn out."

Regina raised her head at that, staring hard up at Emma. "You took his heart?" She looked absolutely horrified and, for the first time, Emma felt guilty. "I thought I stopped you in time. I thought David was the first."

"Regina," Emma pleaded.

Regina pulled herself back up to her feet, grabbing onto the wall and refusing anyone's help. "How could you? You know how I feel about it!"

"I was angry."

"Well, now I'm angry. Should I pull out your heart?" Regina was yelling now, louder than Emma had ever heard her. "I just wanted you and Henry to stay good and pure but I ruin everything I touch!"

The yelling brought Henry padding down the stairs. He hovered on the bottom step, knowing better than to insert himself into this fight.

"I hate you," Regina added, but the fury and conviction was lost. "I hate you so much."

"Maybe that will make it easier." Emma took the ring from her finger and held it out to Regina. "I have to take back my promise to stay by your side. I'll do whatever it takes to save you."

"Keep it," Regina insisted. "To remember me by. Because I refuse to let those monsters out there touch you. They've already taken everything from me. They can finish the job." With that, Regina strode towards the front door and flung it open, stepping out onto the porch.

"You can't!" Emma called out as she rushed to stand beside Regina. "You can't let them hurt you. You're pregnant!"

"What?" That was Henry, back in the house, held in place by Archie's hand on his shoulder. Everyone who'd heard it has a similar reaction, although the crowd was quieter, uncomfortable. Could they still call for Regina's head if she was pregnant?

The protection spell was breaking down, and Emma held a hand up, pouring their shared magic into it to keep it up. "I killed Dr. Whale," she announced loudly. "I killed him because I couldn't bring him to justice for abducting, assaulting, raping, and nearly killing Regina. And if any of you lay a hand on her, I'll kill you, too."

"No one is killing anyone."

The crowd parted, surprised to see the woman they considered their true queen walking through their ranks. Emma had never heard Mary Margaret speak with such authority. But this wasn't Mary Margaret – this was truly Snow White.

She stopped in front of the magical barrier and turned to face her subjects. "You all know that I was one of your number when Regina was held captive and tortured a few weeks ago. I knew what was happening, but I didn't help her. I kept silent and I left her there to die." She turned, giving Regina a mournful look. "I know now that I was wrong. We were wrong. No matter how much suffering Regina has inflicted on us, we don't take an eye for an eye. And Emma – not Regina, but my daughter – was also wrong in killing Dr. Whale."

Everyone was surprisingly silent. Regina stepped closer to Emma, seeing and feeling the barrier wavering. She had never trusted Snow White, and while she appreciated the effort she had a feeling that no beloved ruler could keep these people from charging at them as soon as they were unprotected. Regina took Emma's hand, glad to feel that she'd put the ring back on. "I don't hate you," she whispered. "I love you desperately."

Emma gave her a soft smile in return. "I love you, too." And not caring where they were, not caring who was watching, Emma brought the hand she was using to keep the sputtering barrier alive down to cup Regina's cheek, and kissed her.