Second chances

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

This chapter has more on the mysterious character. Emma and Regina tend to be at opposite ends of willing to love again. But a long day and after the wicked witcha first attempt to take Emma and a lot of snapped words will Regina give up or try harder.

Hopefully I've made it understandable but let me know if you think I should do more.

i am sorry that I took so long anyways though. Its been hard to think. I'll have the next chapter up soon.

Once Regina had removed herself from her couch she was far to late to catch Emma. Her search for Emma didn't take long simply finding her in her room. She didn't disturb her she felt better to know she was safe. It hurt how Emma left so upset. She hadn't meant to hurt her. It killed her how everything she felt and did was so easily misunderstood.

Every moment that passed where her mind raced trying to put ideas and thoughts in order she grew tired. She paced the halls wishing she had the courage to knock on Emma's door. She couldn't face the confusion or the reaction of being denied. Even though she was sure Emma liked her it seemed only possible her attempted and failed kiss had destroyed that.

Not that she even entirely understood what she saw or felt. Her feelings welled up and lasted even beyond the memory. It was time she got serious answers so rushed to a near by room. Magicked a mirror to speak to the Charmings and Henry. They rushed her with questions with it being late and having already spoken once they were worried.

"I tried Henry something came over me and I tried but she ran. I didn't mean to hurt her. I was talking to her and a memory of me telling her my past came up. But it was like I was showing her I don't understand I've never remembered her or you before why now? I can't say I don't believe you I just don't think she's ready for even a kiss."

"You did show her your past." It was snow that spoke up. "When I found out that she was in love with you I didn't think it was true I thought you put a spell on her to get back at me. Then I wanted to convince her to change her mind. I messed with fate and I lost. You was the path that destiny chose for her and she chose you."

That was all snow needed to say because Regina knew the phrase. She knew what that potion did, how you reveal you past and the other's persons ties to yours and then the test. Another piece of a puzzle she couldn't image but somehow believed in. Regina looked to Henry hoping that he could give her advice since he knew Emma best.

"What do I do?" She cried 'my second chance at love and I've messed it up' she thought with her heart pounding in her ears. "I've ruined it I just felt the memory and reacted she thinks I am trying to take her because I can as a queen. I-I- never wanted to hurt her."

"Mom it's gonna be ok, just let her know you didn't mean to rush, that it's real for you, and that you want to take it slow. If anything we can work out how to woo her later." His voice was kind and almost a whisper. "Go to her." She nodded and almost laughed that he was actually very wise for being only 13. They wished her luck and she returned again the nerve racking door which was Emma's.

Her knuckles rapped on the door tree times and she let her shaking open fist fall to her side once more. The door cracked a little and angry puffy eyes peeked out. Regina's breath hitched at the sight of the blonde hair thrown in all sorts of discord and the redness around her eyes. The door almost closed on her but she took a quick breath and with a shot of panic all but shouted.

"Wait.. Please Emma!" Her voice shook and cracked in distress. "Let me explain. Please it's not what you think." Hesitantly Emma paused the door shaking in between closing and opening more. Slowly Emma finally opened the door and looked down as she walked back the bed. She pulled the dressing tables chair out and placed it for Regina before sitting on the bed.

Regina's breathing become constricted the closer she got to Emma. She wasn't sure if her heart beating was giving her the feeling she was in and earthquake or if she was actually shaking that visibly.

"So what was that then?" Emma asked with a bit of bitting sting to her question. honestly Regina couldn't answer that because well she didn't know really but she still tried.

"I had a memory, and it was...powerful. I'm sorry I acted like that I didn't mean to act so recklessly. But it was real- I mean it is real. I want to show you take it as slow as we need." Fear gripped her as the last words tumbled out of her mouth.

"What did you see?" Emma asked completely ignore that last part or maybe waiting to get there.

"Us I was showing you my past not telling you but showing you. We were holding hands and you said at the end that you would never forget how you felt for me. You kissed me and it was so overflowing and powerful I wanted to kiss you back.. I'm sorry if that's not what you want from me. I can't explain it but even now my feelings for you won't go not that I want them to."

Emma keep her eyes trained on Regina afraid to even blink and miss a flicker or sign of Regina lying. She could tell she wasn't but it was hard to accept just because she had never felt this way about anyone even Neil. She wanted to resist until she knew how real it was in desperate hopes of avoiding getting hurt. Much like many times in her life she expected everyone to just hurt and use her. She wanted to believe Regina was better but who knew.

"What do you want to show me? And what do you want to take it slow?" Emma said hating how it sounded weak coming from her.

"I want to show you I mean this, that I don't want to use you or hurt you or manipulate you. None of that crossed my mind then nor does it now. I can see why you might think I would but it's been so long since I felt this way but it's stronger. I don't want to lose you. So if that mean showing you I mean it for weeks, months, years, before I can even kiss your tempting lips then believe me when I say it's so worth it."

Emma's lips trembled open then closed then again really trying to say something but didn't. She had hoped she could brush it off whatever Regina had to say. Come up with a snarky come back but no instead she wanted to believe it. A blush crept across her face as she resisted the urge to answer just yet.

Regina let her hands hover outward waiting for Emma to take at least one. Rosy cheeks and speechlessness was good she hoped. Though she still couldn't breath yet she waited patiently. It was the best kind of electrocution possible for Regina when Emma finally clasped her hand. Sparks shooting every which way inside her from her touch. The adrenaline rushed her senses she barely heard what Emma started to say.

"We can do that. We can try slow." Emma grinned as Regina released her breath and began taking a deep ones again. Regina stood, even though her gut said to kiss Emma, she forced her desire down. Keep her hands in Emma's for a moment she whispered out loud.

"I won't disappoint you Emma you deserve happiness." With that she left slipping her fingers from Emma's. "Rest it's getting late. I'll have dinner ready for you if you come down. I'll be putting a protection over the castle don't worry." Emma nodded and curled up on the bed.

Honestly Emma hardly believed she deserved anything. Yes she had always wanted something that made her and Henry complete. She saw truth in Regina's eyes when she spoke but so many years of betrayal compared to a week wasn't enough to let her walls down. Closing her eyes she tried to tell herself just this once would she let Regina in. An maybe even cave and kiss her like she had wanted since day one.

It wasn't until a few hours later after Regina had secured a barrier and dinner was being set that Emma came down. Her curls slightly more tamed than the last time Regina saw her. She smiled with an unusual twinkle in her eye. Once Emma sat with a stifled yawn she attempted to say "hi" but was cut off with a second yawn. This caused Regina to laugh.

"Hi hope you feel rested." She received a nod. "So I spoke with snow before the attack she is tracking the trail. I believe she's laying low for a few days doesn't want to scared the witch from her spot so just a few days. Then I'll go and confront her."

"You have to?" Emma almost pouted.

"I want to, if I don't I won't trust your safety. I have a barrier around my castle but outside of the barrier I wouldn't be able to assure your safety."

"But your what a well practiced witch and well I heard in my world she doesn't have much experience." Regina scowled to herself how little Emma knew. She wasn't going to keep anything from her about her own well being not anymore.

"Well that's what you may think dear but on the contrary she has proven very dangerous." She shivered at the image of Emma laying drained powerless in front of her. "You would fear as well if you knew what she has done so far."

Emma's eyes held on to Regina's. Focused on hers and begged with them. She could handle anything she told herself. She is to interested to begin eating just yet.

"Like what? Tell me please."

"She has taken people on the past but it has just been noticed she hasn't kept them alive. Essentially being a product of true love your made of magic completely. Unlike me, I was taught so I can lose my magic with out much pain or side effects. You and every person this witch has gotten have true love magic. Yours may be stronger but if she takes it... Much like the others. You will die."

Letting the words sink in neither woman talked. Regina began eating while watching Emma's reactions. Though she sensed this was something she should just observe in attempt to let things not rise up again, she couldn't help but lay her silverware down and Cross the distance between them with her hand.

"Emma I won't let anything else happen to you." Her heart pounding just from the simple hold of Regina's hands. Without realizing it her shoulders relaxed and her breathing lightened. She had wanted to believe her and here she was comfortable and trusting. It was unusual after all her experiences. It just didn't feel right but at the same time Regina made it feel right.

"I'm not use to trusting.." Emma whispered.

"I don't expect you to I'm the same way but I'll still do my best to show you I mean it." The two sat holding hands and lost in each other's gaze. It felt like eternity before either one bothered to move. It wasn't until Emma noticed herself leaning closer. There foreheads almost touching. A brief second they touch and Emma sighed then pulled away from Regina.

She tried to think of something to talk about instead of making Regina look sad from Emma pulling away. Lighten the mood and make them closer as friends. It was one thing to have an attraction in her head and not care how fast things went but this was real and was to be done slowly.

"I believe you I just wish I could trust you so easily. My experiences has me very hard to work with."

"Will you tell me?" Regina asked softly.

"One day." Emma answered even surprising herself. Regina nodded and stood facing Emma she decided it was time to change topics.

The green witch scurried on the ground of the forest. Panting as she dodges a team of guards hunting for her. Her ankle is swollen leaving her limping around. She is more than furious that she has failed to capture the princess, failed to hurry and save her lover, and gotten herself hurt. She wasn't expecting to be stuck on the castle grounds. Damn witch's stupid barrier. She thought.

Normally it may not have been a big deal but she couldn't get back to him. He was fragile an she had never been gone long. She could remember always worrying about him

The barrier left her with two choices, leave and probably be noticed plus have a harder time getting back through, or act now an risk not making it out at all. It wasn't that hard once she noticed the barrier but maybe her only fear was her already hurt ankle. She glanced over to the castle and huffed in frustration.

Gradually the night come sooner than she noticed and she was bidding Emma good night after a long talk with snow an then Henry for the third time that day. She kept in mind snows location that they believed the witch to be. Even if they didn't dare approach just yet. Regina agreed it would be safer to manage in daylight.

A nice dinner and conversation, walking the palace a little, surprisingly lighter atmosphere between the two the longer the day went on. Now Regina was walking Emma up to the top floor by her room and for a moment they stood with the door open and in silence. Neither one actually wanting to say goodbye.

"I'm sorry about blowing you off earlier. I really would be an idiot if I said I didn't like you. I do.. Like a lot." Emma said blushing but taking Regina's hand.

"I like you a lot too, an I enjoyed today despite the crazy witch and being blown off." She joked slightly with smile and a wink. Emma's smile faltered just then.

"I was wondering... I'm still... Could you stay In here tonight?" Regina heart skipped and she beamed. Her eyes sparkled with hope. Stepping closer She nodded and stepped in the room. The door closed lightly. The stood so close their noses almost touched. Regina should have backed up but didn't.

"I will if you want me to?" She looked into Emma's emerald eyes and felt herself swirling with emotions long long ago she thought burnt out. It was her imagination she thought when Emma leaned closer. But as Emma's eyes fluttered closed she knew it wasn't.

Emma couldnt believe even after all day trying to convience herself to go slow she was actually inching closer to Regina. she could feel Regina's breath her stomach flipped and her mind screamed a lot telling her to back off and take it slower, but she couldn't. She waited because in that moment she knew Regina would kiss her. She wanted her to.

Regina's breath caught at the sight before her but she still took a deep breath and leaned in too. Their lips collided and a sweet tingle began to engulf them. Passion raked through Regina as she curled her fingers in to Emma's hair and slid her fingers over the bare skin of her neck. A deep throated groan came from Emma before they pulled apart and rested their foreheads together trying breathe again.

Neither woman could see past the other. Could notice beyond each other's eyes. Something began to wash over them leaving them stuck like a trance. Behind them the window crashed and again nothing moved them until a green arm wrapped around Emma and pulled her from the floor to the broom. The witch had Emma and was back out the window by the time Regina's voice ripped through the night. Emma barely coherent jolted on the broom an the witch froze her in place promptly.

"Emma!" She heard and with every ounce in her she tried to respond but couldn't. "I will find you!" Regina called out leaving an echo in her mind. Like a trigger a wave of memories started seeping in. The last day in Storybrooke and suddenly Emma was there. Suddenly the memory the was so blank so alone was filled with her love for emma and Henry.

Regina couldn't think right away but once her body vibrated telling her her barrier was down she knew she had to go. She knew where to go to find Emma. She felt searing pain in her head and memories flooded back but she had to stay focused. She demanded her body to work with her even if she began crying from the amount of things she remembered.

"Wake Snow White I'm coming over now." She managed to say to the mirror before vanishing in a deep purple cloud. Only to reappear in a sobbing shaking heap in the court room. Guards surrounded her shuffling a clanking their metal. All she could see was Henry years and years with him and the fatefully momemt of meeting Emma.

Where her memories use to stop began filling in with joy, pain, and now so much love. She hated that she couldn't focus beyond it even when she needed to. Having guards ready to impale her and losing her love to someone willing to drain her power.

Regina sobbed harder at the thought and tried forcing her body up just as a new wave hit her and she fell hard completely to the floor. Rolling over staring at the ceiling but seeing something more.

Their first kiss there confessions it sent shivers down her spine. Just then snow burst through and hurried to her side easing her up. Regina leaned into snow letting her head roll into her neck. She sobbed with all her heart one coherent sentence.

"I didn't want remember like this."

Snow gasped and shouted the the guards to help her and moved her to the throne. With no other seats available she didn't care. Charming hurried in with Henry in hand they sprinted to the throne and snow stood aside and asked Regina to look up. Instantly her tears stopped and a joyful cry escaped her.

"Henry!" She jumped to her feet somehow and let him tackle her. "I have to get your mother back. She remembering I'm sure but I don't know how fast this woman is on her damn broom." She winced and sat down again wiping her face clean she looked at Henry. "I swear I didn't want this to happen like this."

Henry although beaming couldn't help but need to know what was going on. He smiled lightly before creasing his brows together.

"What happened? The broom lady got ma?"

"Yes" it was only a whisper but it echoed with all three gasps that followed. How could I have let this happen she yelled at herself.

Snow was the first to act. First she found a map and came back to Regina's side. As she laid it out she pointed to a the river. Regina simply looked as though she expected more. Snow began talking an trailed her finger to a spot a mile in the forest.

"My men found the body on this river, this is the only location we found in the area and not far from here. The witch has to be here. You have to go save Emma."

The witch had began her flight and forced her broom the fastest it could go. The wind whipping her hair around. She wanted to laugh to have joy but she hated this. Knowing she was going to kill, knowing she was taking this from someone else as well, and let alone someone who appeared to need the woman in her life. She told herself it was for her own good. That she needed it more. Her lover wouldn't be a pile of hay bound together as a scarecrow if it wasn't for her. He wouldn't be fragile and rotting away if it wasn't for her.

He forgave her he said but it wasn't the same for her not how it use to be. This was the only way. She didn't have magic like this woman did, it was obtainable in her world nor did it become so in this one. She remembered when she first arrived she tried kissing him again like she had when she first heard of true loves kiss. Nothing. Nothing happened. She assumed maybe there was more to it than she heard. She searched everywhere no one to be found.

Except for a small village she became angry and attacked for answers when all they gave her was the same thing she had already heard and tried. She loved him and was sorry that she made him what he is now but it was that or he'd die because of her. Neither she wanted in fact may times she tried to hide away from him tried to save him the pain, save herself the pain, and she even tried running with him but nothing could be done about their situations.

He was a married prince loveless marriage but married none the less still married. He loved her since they were in school together and she love him well since then to she supposed because she never knew love before so how was it better than what they had.

The witch look at the other woman in front of her she could sense the magic but the woman wasn't even trying to use it. It perplexed her to the point of wanting to stop and demand a reason why but as she past the white kingdom she was ever so familiar with she push on forward. She burst through the door and saw her love still laying safely on the couch. He never moved not even and inch but still she feared the worst when being away from him.

"Look dear I brought us the last witch she is stronger and unwilling to use her magic so I will be able to free you soon enough." He groan in response and looked to her and pleaded for her to not kill another person for him. The witch scoffed and bent down to him on the couch. "I do this for you and you don't want it, you to want to be you again, and us to be together." He said nothing and took his gaze from her unable to watch.

"I have been trying to get you to your former form with true love I love you it only here and this way I can seem to do this." With that the witch return to her stance and turned to see a new figure by the woman she brought. The Queen she kidnapped the woman from. Shit!

A hazy stare from the Queen left the witch unsure what she was about to do. She could see her rage, her pain, but what she saw most in her eyes she didn't understand. She tried to keep her feet planted firmly but failed as she stumbled slightly in surprise. Fortunately she remained standing and even stepped closer to the two. Instantly the cloud she had seen vanished and pure fury come forward.

"Don't you think about touching her again." The Queen growled taking a protective stance in front of Emma. She flicked her wrist and drew a fireball.

Reveiw

Every one deserves a second chance but it doesn't seem so for the out world pair. The wicked witch wasn't expecting regina to show up. Next hopefully regina can find save Emma and maybe be with Emma again.