First attempt

*Disclaimer* I have no rights to the characters or the show

Sorry it's been a while.

*note* I wanted to clarify this chapter. The new character is not based off any specific book, movie, or play. I do lean more towards Gregory mcguires versions but I actually was persuade to not use a name so it will be just referred to as wicked witch or witch. My only reason for how I wrote this is because from the story the witch is not as experienced as she seems in the movie. I also like the back story but again not really referring totally on one version.

On another note I wanted to explain the memory gaps.

regina's is hard to work with what to cut out what not to. First off of course she could have just forgotten just Henry but fact is she was broken without both. I know I etote her more concerned about Emma but fact is that with remembering Emma she remembers Henry and that hurts just a ton more. So I had to seriously make sure anything that had to do with Henry was cut as well as Emma. She can only remember the bits in between. Things like Neverland, every night with Henry, and even moments with Emma had to go big chunks missing you know. So she's seriously concerned.

In the case of Emma it's more product of true love. The curse was suppose to take away her memories, Regina was suppose to fill in the gaps with hers, but her love for Regina protected the memories enough that she dreamt about Regina. so first time she kissed Henry after the curse his memory was slightly restored to because it was true love.

Now Henry, I realize some of my Henry moment where pan was in Henry and pretending to be Henry may have led you to think he wouldn't remember but her does because his body saw it so he remembers his mother are in love. pan just went with the flow of things until the last day at Storybrooke. When they changed back yes Henry remembered but never had the chance to say anything. So there you go. Enjoy.

It was no earlier than usual when the white kingdom rose the next day but it never even had chance to start out good. Oblivious to early morning events the kingdom thrived. The day still baring bad news for many.

While as the sun rose where beauty should have risen from the river line lay a horrid sight. The guards men patrolling land scurried in a swept the body away before an eyes could fall upon it. They arrived in the palace doctors ward requesting answers that could be given to the queen. Given they were just as the Queen, king, and Henry woke.

"My queen," bowed a young guard. "we found a kidnapped victim bright an early this morning." She excused herself to the court room and began listening. "It was the last person kidnapped. Your doctor says nothing physical killed him."

"Then what did? Where was he found?"

"Just on shore on the river. Low tide I think caught him. It's believed that he had his magical essence drained. It killed him and it may be more than likely that the others suffered the same fate but this is the only body we have found."

"That would be because our criminal is foreign and is trying to keep himself hidden for as long as possible but doesn't know our lands. I must speak to Queen Regina today, send your men discretely through the land find the other body's your right it seems very likely. Also I would like a messenger sent to the family of the victim telling them that we have received all we can to find the person responsible. They my collect the body when possible or we can send it with our deepest apologies."

The young guard bows and turns away. Snow walks the length of the room. Faces a mirror and expectingly calls out.

"Sydney!?" The blue foggy face appears. Quite disgusted with his caller. "Good I thought you'd answer. I must speak to Regina as soon as possible. She need to be free from Emma." Without a word just a distasteful rolling of eyes the face vanished.

Regina sits in her chambers thinking about the night before. As she readies herself for the day she dwells back at the conversations and blushes and closeness of the herself with Emma. Though she thought about ignoring the simple fact she like her she couldn't. She didn't have to she simply wanted to hold Emma. Just as she held her hand in comfort but maybe closer. Just holding it didn't have to be more. Defiantly not a kiss she had no intention of a kiss or remembering if that was possible.

She thought in her head about finishing court having lunch with Emma and then spending the rest of the day impressing her. So what if she wanted to be a little bit of the woman Emma saw in her dreams. So what if she wanted to keep feeling as she had since laying eyes on Emma. She was so well into thought that she was unsure how long Sydney had been sitting calling her name.

"You will address me be your majesty! You know this I don't like my name on your tongue." She growled. "How long have you been there? What do you need?" She didn't mean to be rude just hated her morning being interrupted.

"Snow says she must talk to you as soon as possible and without Emma around." He grumbled getting use to the way Regina acts much like she did before the curse towards him.

"I'll seek a moment with her after I finish court in the mean time how is Emma."

"Resting still should I wake her your majesty?"

"No.. soon but let her rest." 'She look quite beautiful' "Given her first night without her son she may need it." Sydney once again faded away and which left Regina to her morning alone. Once again the only thing in her mind was the way Emma acted last night.

The way she felt being held by her as she cried about never being happy. They way she fell asleep and woke with Emma taking her to bed and falling on top of her by accident. There was a bright blush on Emma as she stumbled off the bed.

By the time Regina sat in court she notice her heart racing and her light smile. She cleared her head to focus listening to the commoners and their pleas. Only to find herself instantly sensing when Emma was waiting outside the royal court room for her. Looking out to the sky she smiled Emma must be an early riser. As the current peasant left the door of her throne she called a pause and requested Emma enter and join her.

A guard lead Emma down the hall and looked to Regina where to lead Emma more. With a flick of wrist she conjured a smaller throne beside hers.

"Be my guest won't you." She stood and held out her hand the Emma steps below. She watched as Emma politely bowed an kept her head low and she reached Regina's hand. Elegantly Regina circled her to the guest throne. "All rise for my guest princess charming." She looked at Emma as she looked out to the crowd.

"It's swan." She said looking at Regina.

"Yes dear sorry. Please sit it's not much longer then we shall have lunch and you can speak to Henry." Instantly Emma beamed and sat beside Regina. Regina resumed court and repetitively looked beside her and shifted as if uncomfortable. Catching sight of Emma the moment she entered the hall left her wet and Emma's voice didn't help. But holding her hand even just that few minutes made her desire her. Multiple times she shook her head to clear it and respond to her subjects kindly.

When the strange figure hovered over the castle of the white kingdom in daylight she concealed herself. She spend a slow agonizing morning searching bits here and there to find the lost princess. Her search started early morning. So she just looked around the rooms assuming she may be a late sleeper. When nothing came up but the charming and the boy she searched the castle grounds. Still nothing even if she had look found halls to see in she knew she wouldn't find her.

Deep in her gut she wondered why she left the night before because now it was clear they hadn't stayed the night. Only the boy had and he was of no use he had no magic. Enraged now she searched and searched even though the knew it was pointless. She found a lone guard and revealed herself in hast.

"Where is she?!" Her fingers wrapped around his neck and her nails like claws dug in. She released him only enough for an answer. "The princess! Where is she?" She growled her patience beyond gone.

"W-what are you?!" He stuttered unsure what his eyes were seeing. "I don't know" he shouted as the strangers fingers constricted his airway again. Her body built up for such force she suspended him mid air in her clutches. Without hesitation her gave in. "She left, s-she left with Queen Regina from the other kingdom." With that his gasps heightened until he passed out and she let his body fall the ground.

She set off furious. The kingdom stretched father than she had ever gone in this world and she hoped she'd just simply find the woman alone. She was seething in anger by the time she concealed herself again and made her way high in the sky hoping to see an idea where to head. In the distance she saw three castles different kingdoms and mostly spread out far in different directions than the white kingdom. She huffed and estimated which one was closer. She began her travel which appeared like it would be a long one.

After court as promised the hall cleared and Regina helped Emma down even though it appeared she could have done it just fine by herself. Took her to lunch sat her in the chair to the right of the head of the table. She sat herself and waved for the maids to enter with warm trays of food.

"So how was your sleep." Regina asked. "You certainly rise early."

"It was good," she said thinking about another night of her and the woman in front of her. She had seen so much of her in peaceful dreams. She had enjoyed how she felt and even though it wasn't real. Yet seeing regina in person made it feel like now was the dream. 'Better than I think you'd like'

she tried not to blush but after last night dream it was hard to look her in the face. Maybe it was because this time Regina knew. She took a few bites of food and stared intently at her plate till the burning creeping in her face faded. Not sure if Regina had noticed yet she continues. "So you've never dreamt about before or Henry or me?" Her curiosity growing the more she saw how much that was strange.

It stung slightly for herself and for Henry mostly because maybe she hadn't bought into everything just yet but he had and now his other mother wasn't able to remember anything. At least anything that had to do with them it seemed. She frowned knowing it was just another person who moved on from her and it hurt breaking her heart more know that it wasn't just about her anymore it was Henry too.

"Well I'm not sure that something's aren't being remembered but I'm sorry dear I hate to say it but nothing has come forth about you.. Or Henry." Her tone very soft and apologetic.

"Oh no need to be sorry. Things happen I mean clearly we have an even amount of memory loss."

"Not even, Henry remembers." Regina points out.

"Yes there is that."

"Do you believe him?" Regina cocks her head slightly.

"I do..I think I do... I want to." Emma stumbled to answer.

"Let go talk to him ok? You'll see that we are real soon." Waving her hand se cleared the table an they left to a private room.

Regina set up a mirror for her to speak to Henry even said hello herself finding she was growing fond of him. Then she kept her word an gave the two some privacy to go Speak to snow. She enchanted a mirror, locked the room, and sound proofed it.

"What is it you need to speak to me about?" Regina asked knowing snow hadn't contacted her over the whole year just for nothing. Snow looked flustered, she looked worried. "Emma is fine you know? She's speaking to Henry now."

"Yes I know." Regina could see her picking at her nails and decided to start first.

"Snow, Henry said something about Emma, and Emma said something's that matched. Is she really... Were we.. Did I love her." She paused frightened of what she might hear.

"Yes, you do. Both of you are verry much in love." She said with a sigh of relief but a hint of worry. She worried that maybe this way they wouldn't be in love but it wasn't what was important at the moment. "Speaking of Emma though. We found a body of the latest kidnapped victim. On the shores of are river. The body was drained of magical essence." The silence hang like a noose in front of Regina. She without thought laced it and let herself crumble.

"Emma!" Regina gasped her only wall left it crashed knowing how in danger Emma was. Snow saw her reaction and knew she had nothing to worry about at least from Regina. It seemed as though she'd never let her feelings for Emma go no matter what held them apart. "Snow are you able to track this river to anything that might be suspicious. I will find them handle them."

Snow nodded and said she already started. Just then the back of the hall opened and Henry sprinted up with joy happy to see Regina as well. She gave him a smile almost failing to realize Emma was alone.

crash

"Ahhhh! Reg-" it was all it took for Regina to sprint from the enchanted mirror and race across the room to Emma. She didn't hear the gasps from snow or cries from Henry. Not over her own cursing. Once she burst open the door she saw the glass shattered on the floor and a failed attempt exit of a green creature beside a broom, Nails long like claws forcing Emma to do as she wanted, cackling over Emma's struggling form.

Emma slipped in her struggle on glass and fell backwards. She screamed in agony as the glass dug in and stuck as she rolled over. She winced as pieces dropped from her but bit into her lip with each move the left over glass cut her open more.

Regina instinctually growled protectively. Her wrist flicked and the creature flew away from Emma. Emma desperately crawled toward Regina unable to stand. Hands dripped red as she moved along the floor. Regina moved and stood in front of her as Emma stared unsure how to feel about being protected. Looking at the woman that attacked her she still shivered in shock at the color of her skin.

Regina was ready to strike again but as she drew her hand back for a forceful fire ball the now clearly green color woman reached her broom which she had been trying to force Emma on. She flew so fast out the window and to high for Regina to keep track as she went closer to the window. She growled again in frustration and as she looked back to Emma she knew then just how much she showed she cared. Her brow creased in worry and she rushed to Emma's side. A swish of her fingers and all the glass vanished even the pieces that dug into Emma's back.

She was never protective before nor did she ever do what she did next. It proved to here that somewhere when had known Emma more she truly did care. It scared her of course but she could admit it these days because Emma brought out things in her that she never could do. Love. Henry. Snow. They were right I do love her.

She soothed Emma an hovered her hand over the wounds. She watched them heal slowly at first then completely suddenly. To her surprise Emma lowered herself onto Regina's lap and relaxed at the sudden easy of her pain.

"What was that Regina? What did it want with me? Why did it look like the wicked witch of the west?" Regina simply ran her hand through Emma's hair feeling her calm before answering.

"Who is the wicked witch? An honestly Emma she wanted you for your.. Magic." She said with pause. She was certain Emma wouldn't believe she had magic.

"What! She's fucking mistaken then!" Just what was expected. "The hell you mean my magic? Don't you mean you. You're the only magical person here." At which time emma bolted up and faced Regina.

"No I'm not. You're mother told me yesterday she was having a magic issue some kidnappings. I decided to help because she said the people getting taken had magic. At first I didn't care but she said you had magic. Not just any magic but the most powerful kind of magic.. True love magic." Regina held he breath hoping she could explain before Emma got mad and ran away. "Your mother and fathers true love made you purely made of magic. There are others but I suppose yours is stronger than most and your pure heart is a great toward making it stronger."

Emma's eye shift around the room and land on Regina's searching for truth. She sighed and looked down as if she found nothing but truth. Eventually Emma curled back up into Regina's lap. Regina gave her the comfort she needed.

"I need to let your mother know your ok she and I were talking when you called out." Her fingers lingered in her curls. "We can wait if you wanna stay a moment." Emma nodded into her curves. Regina wanted to bring her head down next to hers. Wanted to kiss her scalp to show her it was ok now. She wanted to but couldn't.

"Why did you save me?" Emma whispered. Regina was surprised but her heart fluttered at the list of reasons she could think of. Endless in confusing beautiful reasons but they weren't meant to be heard yet. Regina knew somehow Emma would leave if she did.

"To me you feel important, which I'm not use to. I don't know why It just felt natural like first instinct." It wasn't a lie but it was better than saying 'your parents, Henry, and maybe even I believe your my true love.' She should have scowled at herself for being to hopeful in love again but she couldn't she meant it and she really had believed snow and how it just made sense.

Eventually she put her hands on Emma's shoulders and eased her up and enchanted the mirror. Materialized in a big hug with charming and Henry was snow crying hoping Emma was ok. Regina cleared her throat and everyone jumped.

"Oh Emma! Thank you Regina!" Snow clearly every time she saw Emma wanted to hope she had her memories back. none the less seemed beyond thrilled Emma was ok.

"Mom?" Henry said wedging himself from their grasp. "Regina will keep you safe I know you want to see me but I'm ok. Your going to be ok..just... Stay with Regina." He too had a hard time with talking to Emma without her being herself. "Mo-Regina you both need to do it soon. She can use her magic with you. Just hurry before one of you gets hurt again."

Regina did nod in response but Emma stood speechless. Honestly regina wasn't going to trust Emma being anywhere else. Not that her feelings made sense or anything. Keeping her by her was better in a number of ways but safety was most important.

Unenchanting the mirror Regina turned to see a pained angry look on Emma's face. She hadn't meant to hurt hurt and hoped Henry believing both were his mother hadn't. But something had upset her and she felt the urge to fix it. So she reached out brushed her hand over the length of Emma's arm.

"Don't touch me, I know you helped me an thank you but you can't pretend to be close to me. You don't know me nobody does. Quite frankly my son look at you and no can see it in his eyes her knows you better than me." Emma shrugged herself away from Regina and simply walked out the door into the hall.

Regina left her jaw slack very certain Emma was going to make things so hard for her. She followed after and lightly closed the door behind her. She watched as Emma leaned against the railing by the stairs leading down. Beside her she sighed telling herself she had to know Emma even if eventually she remembered painful things.

It didn't escape her that it was possible the reason why she took her own memories is because of some kind of pain they experienced. Maybe Emma hurt her and that's why she was so broken when she woke without them. Maybe Emma abandoned her taking Henry. Her heart even clenched for some unknown reason at the thought that Emma cheated or maybe she herself had done something wrong.

Finally Regina could feel Emma relax a little. Still yet to acknowledge Regina. She just stood there and waited for Emma to speak. With her she didn't want to demand, control, or push Emma around like the queen she was. It felt like that's all she ever was to anyone. With Emma surprisingly it was welcomed to be just Regina.

It didn't take long before Emma took a deep breathe and faced Regina. She looked her in the eyes where she found honest worry an care. It wasn't something she was use to or felt comfortable seeing but she accepted it. Not that she understood why she did aside from she felt it was real.

"I'm sorry I know you want to help I'm just not use to it or kindness. To me it's always been just me and Henry. I still don't like that everyone is saying even Henry wasn't there. I have 13 years of him I can't ignore that I don't believe it. For him I'm trying to work this out but really I don't know what to say or do."

"You've been alone all this time? I just like you being you it's refreshing and feel normal."

"I mean before Henry yeah, his dad left I hardly knew him and I was a kid didn't know any better. Thought he would be the first to stay but he wasn't. I took the fall for him in a theft and he ditched me. Before that I was never in the same place growing up in different homes because I had no parents and nobody wanted to keep me." She gripped the railing her knuckles went white.

There wasn't much that Regina could think to say so she listened. She felt guilty because that loneliness of Emma's was her fault entirely. Her current pain of having memories that didn't exists also seemed to be her fault but she hoped she had done it for a good reason.

"When someone is nice it's always to use me or manipulate me. So I'm sorry that I snapped at you I can see you mean well."

"I do have to say I'm so sorry that you was always alone that is my fault. In someway I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I think we have very similar pasts." Regina confessed.

"What do you mean your fault?"

"Well I use to hate your mother being the evil queen an she Snow White and all. Back when I cast my curse it was to curse her. I never expected they'd send you away. They thought you was the savior and maybe you were. When I arrived I knew you should have been there but they had already sent you away. You wasn't my concern not that I had any anymore. My curse made me empty and it was, even if I had a reason to stop it, to late to stop." Regina watched as Emma's eyes wanted to bulge but widened instead and slowly went back to normal.

"I don't really know if I could blame you but that sounds honest and cruel that they would do that. That you would be that person. You don't seem evil I mean I don't think of you that way. What happened?" Emma let go of the stair railing and moved to walk toward the room Emma always found Regina. She wanted to sit and the fire place room was down the hall.

Regina walked beside Emma thinking what she could possible say. Where to begin? Could she tell her? It wasn't something she'd ever done before. Slowly they reached the couch in the fireplace room and Emma sat down on one end. Regina kept standing expecting Emma to just hate her or take back wanting to get to know her. It never came so she took a deep breath and did yet another thing she never did before.

"I wasn't always a queen, I may be a queen now but I've always been alone as well. Before I became queen I had a strict mother who did anything she wanted to make me a queen. From force or manipulation for her own fulfillment. Your mother was just a pawn to start being a princess of a wifeless king. I saved her life unknowingly the king decided to marry me because your mother had grown a fondness for me.

I didn't want to I was secretly with Daniel so my mother wouldn't know but my mother forced me to marry the king. She killed Daniel because you mother found out and though she was little I expected her to keep it a secret long enough to get away before my marriage. Ever since I have hated your mother because she could never just let me vent on anger on her she always had to be right and I was wrong. I held my tongue and peace until she got older.

I tried to love her but never could she just kept on being happy taking more and more of my chances as she did. I couldn't handle my marriage that I was forced into, he was old while I was 18 and he would never have treated me like I should have been. I was a wife but her treated me like a substitute or a whore."

Every word Regina spoke she felt her knees weaken, her skin grow clammy, and herself get further and further into her past. She sat finally and shivered at the memories that began flooding her mind. As she returned her gaze to Emma she felt calmer and able to go a little more. Suddenly as she thought of the next thing to say she saw a moment flash in her mind.

She couldn't hold back her gasp. Emma's eyebrows creased as to question it. She said nothing but saw how concerned she grew. Regina saw moments with Emma things she's never remembered before. Telling her story with it play before them. Moments where the blonde kissed her saying she would never forget how much Regina meant to her. It was like a dream but she could tell it was a memory the way it rolled in as moments. The way it came up as she was telling her story for what appeared to be a second time to the woman.

"What is it Regina?" Emma crossed the distance of the couch. She placed a hand to her hand and felt a shock surge through her. Regina let out another stunned gasp but this time she acted on instinct. Leaning forward slightly as she felt a spark between them again. Attempting to close the distance between their lips she closed her eyes waiting to feel Emma's. Like it was meant to happen like it had to happen. Yet her lips never met anything. She peaked through her eye lips and realized that the moment was gone as was Emma's hands on hers. She frowned at Emma expecting some reason but the woman turned red. She jumped up embarrassed and frustrated.

"Emma wait! I'm sorry I-" before she could finish Emma ran shouting back at her.

"I can't believe you would think I was that easy!" Leaving Regina alone, confused, and more than hurt.

Review

so this chapter is all about first attempts which hopeful means Regina gets to try again before the wicked witch does.

Next chapter Regina finally remembers something but how can she convince Emma she's in love for them to kiss.