My blood is in your blood
My breath is in your mouth
Just trying to keep the world
from smashing, crashing in

Winters had never been Regina's favourite season, but that day she welcomed the cool wind playing with her brown hair as the sounds of ocean filled the air. Regina was happy with her choice of the less crowded route. She smiled at the gull perching at the bench ahead. She smiled. Every time she smiled, it felt like an accomplishment. It was nearing a week since the pawn shop incident and days had just blurred past her. There had been talking. Lots of talking. About everything. About nothing. They hadn't even touched their time in the Enchanted Forest, but they'd spent hours talking about the length of Regina's hair. Regina was more than happy to skirt around some issues right now because the burden she had felt, ever since she'd been old enough to have coherent thoughts, was lessening. Lessening with every hug, every word, every smile.

With a few turns the road opened to the Main Street and simultaneously civilization. Regina straightened her collar because there was no way she would be intimidated by masses suffering from flock syndrome. She didn't care about how they perceived her but she wanted to avoid the crowd because crowd meant people and she really didn't want to run into some people. Some people who'd almost made sure she'd remain an orphan. But no. She'd promised mother she'd steer clear of that woman and she'd make good on it.

Along with Snow, Cora had taken an aversion to magic; with it no longer being used to re-stock her house, they were bound to run out at some point. Still not comfortable with the idea of letting Cora in the main town, Regina had assured her that she'd take care of this herself.

The former mayor entered the store, the bell signalling her arrival to the store-keep, an adolescent boy hardly of age who returned to his book after sparing a single look. Surprised and slightly suspicious by the move Regina still picked up one of the big red baskets kept at the entrance. She clicked her tongue in distaste as she felt grit on the handle; the baskets weren't informed of the change in government perhaps. She quickly checked off the items on her mental list and proceeded to get them bagged but her feet stopped when she saw the neat stack of boxes she was more than familiar with. Her finger traced the box, checking to see if it was tampered in any way, and after the short inspection she picked up one seemingly-acceptable box of those damn pop tarts. Henry has had an unholy fascination with the treat ever since he was a child and even though she didn't approve of the sugary item she thought she'd allow him one on... on...

Regina's hand froze around the box.

The last time she'd seen Henry was when Emma had told him about Archie's murder. After that she'd received Emma's text last week, a text for heaven's sake, which informed her that Henry was leaving for New York along with his parents to take care of Gold. Neal had been adamant on taking his body away from Storybrooke. Anger filled her senses as she shoved the box back, startling the nearby shoppers with the noise. Had it really been that long since she'd seen him? Had it been so long since they'd even shared a meal together? She had tried hard not to think about the continued absence of him... or his birth mother. Deflection yes, but there was no way she was bringing it up in front of Cora. It would only serve to further cement the ungrateful image her mother had of Henry.

Driving away the peering eyes with a glare, she headed for the cash register to hand over her basket. In her fury she missed the questions in their eyes, the ones festering since the death of the Dark One.

The boy at the counter seemed calm enough to be billing the evil queen's grocery, Regina thought. After paying the boy, she reached to pick the bags only to have them swiped from underneath her.

"I'll carry them", said a voice from behind.

Regina's eyes flitted from the now empty spot besides the counter to behind it, but he was already gone. So that's why he was so calm with her in proximity, he had protection lurking around.

Stewing, she chose to stall the inevitable by leisurely putting back the change in her wallet, coin by coin. The bell confirmed the obvious that she would need to face the intruder if she wished to take home the bags. Regina strode outside, her face never for a second betraying the anger and anguish swirling inside as she watched her ducking into that hideous yellow car.

"I paid for those, Miss Swan."

"And you'll get them back. First we have a little drive", Emma replied back steadily as she turned to face her.

Regina suddenly felt aware, extremely so, of the hours that had turned into days since she'd last seen Emma. The wide-eyed woman she'd met at the pawn shop trying to control her panic on fashioning a sword was replaced by this determined one, jaw set hard, eyes sharp. It looked though she had aged years in this short period of absence. Regina exhaled, the air leaving her lungs painfully slow, reminding herself she didn't care about any specifics concerning Emma. So she broke the briefest of eye contact they'd held and instead walked over to the door. Her intent clear, first get the bags and then get the hell away from the saviour. A woollen clad hand covered her bare one on the handle, effectively locking her wrist.

"Please Regina."

Regina's eyes fluttered close when she felt the icy breath on her cheek, too close, too reminiscent. The wavering in Emma's previously strong voice did nothing to break her resolve of not speaking to the woman. She attempted to pry her hand away but Emma took the opportunity to intertwine their fingers, covering the clasp with her other hand.

"Regina", the words wafted through her hair, Emma stepping closer when Regina refused to face her.

"You should leave Emma, wouldn't want the boyf-"

"Shut up and get inside", Emma snapped, her voice losing all softness as she removed her hands from Regina's. The air seemed chillier on her fingers as Emma jerked open the passenger door and stood back, arms crossed. Regina knew it was her turn to make a move, but she was still torn as to what the the move would be. After what seemed like an eternity of clenching and unclenching her fists, Regina stepped inside. Emma closed the door and soon occupied the driver's seat. The engine roared into life and the yellow blur was soon speeding through the streets of Storybrooke.

Regina hadn't paid any attention to the road, her eyes stealing glances at the blonde. It was utterly maddening the way Emma kept driving without opening her mouth, without removing her eyes from the road, without taking a breath too loud. She thought of breaking the silence, more than once if she allowed herself to be honest, but still refrained. There were things still wounded inside her, wounded by someone's actions, or lack of.

In her fleeting looks, Regina's eyes caught a spot of red, Emma's scarf was hanging without care on her head rest. Next she saw her hair that were tucked inside her coat, her straight hair, not the princess curls Emma had sashayed in her face defiantly the entire first year she'd been Sheriff. Forcing her eyes away from the woman, Regina thought of the upside of Emma's returning: Henry was back. They had spoken briefly through text messages, well more like exchanging jumbled reassurances of his well-being, but he hadn't called and, well, she hadn't tried. It was strange, Regina thought, when she wondered what it'd be like to talk to Henry over the phone. Ever since the young boy had been fated into her arms that one grey night eleven years ago, she had never let him out of his sight for so long that there would ever be a need to... catch up with one other. The car slowly eased into a halt in effect halting Regina's train of thoughts.

"Where-" Regina looked out the window, "Where are we?" She took in the ratty building she'd long despised, "Why are we here Miss Swan?"

"Regina, you're staying with us now." Emma answered back in an even tone.

Even years of perfecting impassiveness to an art failed Regina as her eyes widened in shock, "What in God's names are you talking about?"

"Regina I don't think you're safe with-"

"Don't", Regina cut her off, her voice warning enough, "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Emma shook her head just ever so slightly, the action making Regina's blood boil. To be treated like a child by Emma Swan. Oh, Regina could place the expression very well. It was the same she had worn countless times when Henry would do something irrational, something he wasn't supposed to do.

"How dare you", she turned her body to face Emma, "You know nothing about my mother."

Emma's calm face broke apart, finally showing a hint of emotion. It was the one Regina was always gifted with during most of their exchanges: anger.

"What do you have to do to know someone Regina, huh, stick your hand in someone's chest? Because that practically makes me and your mom bff's."

Emma groaned, turning her head away, effectively making her miss how Regina had paled at the statement. Regina's hands latched onto the dash, her breath stopping short as she felt a huge tilt in her perfect world, a pop so deafening from the bubble she had been living in happily these few days that she momentarily blanked.

"She- she did what?" Regina whispered out to no one in particular.

Emma wiped her face, the wool strands sticking to her sticky brow, "How can you even go back to living with her?"

The negative thoughts dissipated almost instantly as hurt bubbled over as bitterness, "You took Henry and left. Twice. She came back. She stayed." She stayed with me.

Emma's brows straightened, her previous anger retreating like it had never made home on the placid face of the woman, the woman who once again appeared to be the poster child of calmness, "Well too bad, because you're staying with us."

"Oh, this is ridiculous, are you hearing yourself? In what universe is that sane?"

Emma shrugged as she opened her door but Regina's hand was on hers before she could leave. She pulled Emma back to face herself, her thoughts flowing out as words, "Why are you doing this? Have you not done enough? Why do you always have to play saviour, Miss Swan? I do not need you protecting me."

"Oh really Regina, you don't? Because in the past you were doing fucking fantastic without my help!"

Regina didn't have time to blink as Emma's hands were on Regina's coat lapels, "You stubborn woman, get this one thing clear, there is no way I'm leaving you to your death okay? I already did that once, it's not happening again."

Regina shuffled back trying to remove the hands closing in on her but Emma was stronger, her strength fuelled by anger and something more erratic that couldn't be identified. Her hands pulled Regina closer than a hair's length as her voice dropped to a dangerous tone, "Do you think this is some sort of joke? Some sick game? Gold died Regina! He died! He was the dark one, he was the most powerful wizard in this universe and now he's a vase full of ashes on Neal's mantle. That could have been you", Emma's voice broke at the last syllable, shocking Regina into ceasing her struggle all together, "Stop trying to fight me Regina."

Regina finally noticed the storm of fear and panic in Emma's eyes, her hands now holding Emma's instead of fighting them, "I..." her lips parted but her words didn't.

"Shut up Regina, just please shut up." Emma's frustration reached its threshold, pouring out as hot tears as she fell limp on Regina.

"Regina, please don't send me away", her cold breath sent a shiver down Regina's back as she herself remained stock still, unable to decide what to do with the distraught woman half lying on her.

In the plethora of scenarios Regina's brain could have come up with for when she would first meet after Emma's arrival from New York, none of them would have foreseen Regina sitting in the yellow, insect inspired car, watching a sniffling Emma stuff herself with Oreos.

"I'm not being emotional I swear", Emma declared softly as Regina watched another biscuit disappear behind pink chapped lips.

Regina sighed her dissent, "When did you last eat?"

"I don't know, last night I guess."

Regina's eyes remained on the pack of biscuits between them but the skin around her eyes tightened.

"So you reached Storybrooke-"

"We reached an hour back I think. I dropped Henry and took my bug to look for you. But I stopped at the store because I had promised the kid I'd eat something. Fate huh?"

"Oh", Regina tugged her right sleeve trying to process what Emma had said, "so", she cleared her throat, "hunger clearly makes you unhinged. I think I have tortilla chips in my bag too."

"Hilarious. But no, I'm not unhinged, I'm learning from my mistakes." Something that you aren't doing, Emma wanted to add, wanted to paint on a big white sign and nail it on her apple tree, "I was an asshole who didn't believe you last time and let Cora swoop in. I'm not letting her do it again."

Regina frowned, "She didn't swoop in on me like I was some sort of meat."

Emma rolled her eyes as she dusted her hands off the crumbs, flexing her fingers slightly.

Regina could make out the rebuttal in her silly action but presently she was more worried than angry after seeing Emma's outburst, "Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes, loads actually", Emma let out a long breath, "So, we'll go up now?"

"Emma", Regina sighed pushing her fingers through her hair, "You need to rest, preferably in your bed and not this car. You've been through a lot of stress."

"Fine, let's move then."

"Oh you stubborn fool", Regina snapped as her tolerance reached its brink, "you're mistaking my kindness for compliance. I need you to go to your house and let me go to mine."

The way Emma's head whipped up made Regina cut in before the question could leave Emma's mouth, "Yes, my house, the one I've been living in with my mother for weeks now."

"Regina, are you forgetting you put a death curse to stop her from coming?"

Regina flicked back her hair to look directly into Emma's eyes, "That was when I genuinely thought she was a threat to Henry."

"Which she was, God Regina, she wanted to kill us all."

"I wouldn't have let her hurt you or Henry. She only wanted the dagger." Regina explained matter-of-factly making Emma's eyes bulge out.

"Oh you wouldn't have let her, and she'd have agreed." Emma felt like she was talking to a child. And honestly, that scared her.

"Yes, if I can ever expect Henry to be give me a second chance, why shouldn't I give her the same?"

"Because she hasn't earned it Regina. I know you've struggled, you gave up magic for Henry, you let Henry stay with Snow White of all people because you felt it was best for him at the time. I saw it, Henry saw it; you've worked hard to earn a chance with Henry. And you're giving her a second chance because what, suddenly she has a new organ in her body?"

"It's different with hearts", Regina's eyes blinked rapidly as her arms wrapped around her midsection, "It's-it's different. You just don't understand, and I would appreciate if you'd stop making useless assumptions of things you know little about."

"Hey, now you listen…"

"Listen to what? Your stupid theories on how my mother is trying to destroy me."

Emma took in how rage was taking over the woman physically by how fiercely her hands were digging into her coat. She took a breath before trying to reason with Regina, "A month from today, would you have called these theories stupid?"

Regina opened her mouth but closed it before turning to face away, "A month from today would you have believed that Snow White would try to make me kill my own mother?"

The remark hit Emma like a whiplash making her rear back, "There is no need to change the subject."

A second passed in silence before a long humourless laugh left the red lips, defeating the weather in making Emma shiver, "Oh yes, this is changing the subject. You know Miss Swan, I'd love to talk about whose mother yearns more to destroy my life but I really need to get back. I told mother I'd be back soon and now it's-God, it's quarter to 6. You made me almost an hour late. I'm leaving and believe me I don't need you to get back safely."

When Emma saw Regina's hand rising up her own hands scampered to turn on the ignition hoping to stop Regina from teleporting or whatever the hell she was planning on doing. Thankfully Regina stilled, drawing her hand back at the sound of the car's acceleration and to Emma's relief, buckled in.

A/N:

Finished my other SQ fic, so here I am. To the Guest, you were my biggest motivation, I hope you're still here!

This will be M-rated in the future. If that's something you would prefer not to read please keep in mind. I will be putting in the change of rating and warnings as required by the chapter but still.

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