Emma found the library. She'd always gone on distant searches for libraries, but it was never because she loved to read in general. It was because she was gathering Intel on the woman whose castle she was currently in. Now though, it was because she decided it would be good to see what the witch read for pleasure.

When she saw the ladder and the height of the library walls, she knew she was going to have a long day.

"If I were the evil queen, where would I keep the most precious of books? The ones that no one should find?" She looked at the very bottom row that lined the floor and she craned her neck completely to see the very top row that lined the impressive ceiling. "I have magic… The top." She smirked and started up the ladder.

At the top of the ladder, there was a large ledge that looked deceivingly small from the floor. And there was what seemed to be a hidden row of books. Emma smirked as she sat on the ledge and grabbed the first of twenty or so.

She was about halfway through the books. She'd found that a few of them were spell books and one was in a language she'd never seen. She was more interested in the romance novels she'd found in the secret stash. And that was what she was reading when Regina's voice boomed from just outside the door.

"What do you mean you can't find her?! There are only so many rooms in this castle! Her horse is still here! Find her!"

Emma then heard the doors to the library open and shut. She shut the book she was reading and stuffed it in the back of her trousers—it was actually a pretty good read, and she knew she was going to have to talk assuming the queen saw her.

The queen definitely saw her.

"What are you doing hanging on that ledge?"

"I like an element of danger when I read." Emma gave the queen one of her best flirty smiles—she knew how to flirt, she knew she liked the company of a woman; it's just that every time she got the company of a woman they thought they could fix her. The thing was, was she couldn't be fixed.

"Charming." Regina rolled her eyes, "Get down from there."

Emma looked to the pile of books, "I would Regina, but I'm only about halfway through your hidden collection and—Holy gods!" Emma cried as she felt herself get pulled magically from the ledge and start to fall. She wasn't scared; not because she literally couldn't be scared, but because she felt this innate trust with the Queen that she'd never experienced before.

The Queen didn't let that trust break either. She magically caught the White Princess and held her hovering just inches from the ground.

"I've no idea what you're talking about. I've no 'secret stash' of books."

"Oh, is that why you just magically ripped me from the high ledge there?" Emma looked to where she'd been sitting and back to the queen.

Regina glared and let her magical hold go, causing Emma to finish her fall.

Emma only chuckled as she picked herself back up, "Still not ready to talk to me, eh? But you needed to know where I was? Why is that? And why didn't you just ask the Genie?"

"He's shown me all too many lies today. I couldn't trust him."

"I think you know that he can't lie. At least you didn't dispute when I asked him earlier…" Emma smirked.

"…I don't like you." Regina glared.

"I think you do. If you didn't, you would have ended me by now. You would have ended me when I first set foot on this land. I wonder why I was able to set foot on this land…"

Regina said nothing.

Emma studied the queen as realization dawned on her, "You can't end me unless you want to end part of yourself, can you? And I was able to come to this land and not the illusion because of the same reason, wasn't I?"

~0~0~0~0~0~

Chris clapped his hands and rubbed them together, "Allison, you're coming to the bar tonight, right? Oh, no… No you're not. You have a date with 'Remy'." He laughed when Allison blushed furiously and turned around.

Eva and Serena stared wide-eyed at Chris, "You got her to tell you her name? How did you pull that off?"

"I just waited… after you left the locker room yesterday. You know… after you…?"

Serena eyed him and when he glanced to Eva, she understood, "Oh! Yeah…" She turned to Eva, "Eva you coming?"

"Of course I'm coming, why wouldn't I be?" Eva boldly stripped of her scrubs completely, not having a care in the world who ogled her body.

Allison couldn't help but think how out of character that was, then she thanked the heavens as she felt drool coming out of her mouth that both Serena and Chris were a little preoccupied with Eva's state of undress as well.

"I…" Chris said.

Eva walked over to him and Serena and shut their mouths herself, "You're both doctors. Not like it's something you haven't seen before." She turned and gave Allison a look. "Especially you apparently."

Allison merely stared on, nodding along, not realizing that her last comment was kind of offensive and that she was, for all intents and purposes, just called a slut by the woman she was falling in love with. When she did put it together, it was far to late to comment on it. Instead she just scrutinized the Latina with a hard, fixed stare.

She stopped her from leaving with the rest of them after everyone was changed. She grabbed the brunette's arm, turning her back into the room, "You called me a slut."

"I did no such thing."

"I'll have you know that I have done plenty of slutty things, and to some people—even I can be included in that 'some people' category—will attest that I am a slut. But I'm not the one that practically got naked in front of my coworkers for no reason. So don't call me a slut when I don't deserve it; and don't think that I deserve it because I am attracted to women and stared at you when you took your clothes off for no reason. That's kind of a double standard, don't you think?"

"Do you want an apology?"

"No… I want to know what you're not going to tell me." Allison pushed passed Eva, "I want to know why you so boldly took your clothes off and let all three of us ogle you." She shrugged, "But I know that I'm just gonna hear an excuse, so instead, I'm going to go home and get ready for my date. Have fun dancing." The last sentence was spoken sincerely.

~0~0~0~0~0~

"Get ready for her date? Please. Who even is that woman? That 'Remy'?" Regina cried as she watched Emma's counterpart walk off into the night going to meet someone that wasn't her counterpart.

"Remy Beauregard Hadley. She worked under House, she replaced Allison as the female duckling after Allison started working in the ER. She's bisexual, which was big entertainment at Princeton Plainsboro, and she's not lying about her dying. She has Huntington's Chorea, she has 8 years or so left." The genie appeared in the mirror as he spoke.

Regina glared in what appeared to be sympathy if the Genie read her right at the last part, but she spoke angrily anyways, "I should have her head."

"I don't think you're angry at Remy. I think this is about Eva's obvious jealousy and regret over not pursuing Allison."

"I think I should rip you out of that mirror so I could have your head." Regina glowered.

Emma had been there more than a week and already Regina was beginning to feel… things.

It was both surprising and unsettling and she wondered if Emma felt anything as well. But she couldn't just ask her. Emma would lord it over her head that the curse didn't work and how entertaining it was the Regina could feel again, or something equally childish.

So, she would retreat. She would retreat and she would watch the life she wanted through her mirror. And when that life she wanted through her mirror angered her like it did just moments before…

She stood from her place and huffed around before deciding she needed to blow off some steam.

"GRAHAM!"

It thundered throughout the castle.

~0~0~0~0~0~

"Snow…" Charming walked into his daughter's room to find his wife looking out of the window.

"The storm's over."

"Only today did it finish. She'll be back like she always is. We just need to be patient. Then you can rip into her and ban her from leaving for a while."

"What if she's not okay? Or what if she decides to stay wherever she is?"

"She wouldn't do that."

"What if someone took advantage of her royal status and we're going to receive a ransom?"

"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Until then, I'd like to think that our daughter can handle herself seeing as she's the best swordsman in the lands and has her medals that she loves to show off to prove it…"

"You mean that you love to show off to prove it…" Snow shook her head, "I just have a bad feeling this time. Something's happened to her."

Charming held his wife close, "We'll give it a fortnight. If she's not back by then, then we'll worry and send troops and ask our allies for help. Agreed?"

"Unhappily. But yes, I'll wait a fortnight."

~0~0~0~0~0~

The doorbell rang just as Allison got out of her shower. She wrapped her towel around her and quickly ran to the door to reveal one Remy 'Thirteen' Beauregard Hadley.

Remy looked good for a person that was going to die in the next 8 years. She looked better than a healthy person. She looked better than a healthy, sexy person. She was just one of those people that just naturally oozes sex appeal. And she looked damn good while doing it.

She wore a tight white V tucked into black slacks with a skinny blazer and her trademark suspenders down at her sides. Her hair was straight and her eyes were smoky and more catlike than ever.

Allison just about lost her shit. She was already running late from a long shift and she was definitely a hot mess.

"Hi." She said frantically.

"Hi…" Remy unabashedly looked her over, "If you wanted to take a shower, you could have waited on me. I wouldn't mind…" She smirked sexily as she walked into the apartment.

Allison stopped her from greeting her by putting her hand on the brunette's sternum and pressing her against the door after yanking her inside. "No hands. No lips. Not until the end of the date. You may be dying, but you're not dying tonight."

"You sure? I practically just had a heart attack seeing you in this state of undress."

It was Allison's turn to smirk, "Then you might very well be dying tonight if I have any say about our activities later on." She winked to the brunette and walked to her bedroom. She called over her shoulder, "Give me ten minutes."

~0~0~0~0~0~

"Well that does it." Regina stood, "I mean, who does she think she is? Graham?!" She yelled.

Graham came into the queen's quarters, hopeful, "Yes, your majesty?"

"Go find our guest and bring her to me. Now!"

Dejected, he turned to go find the White Princess, "Yes, your Majesty."

~0~

Emma was peering in rooms, glancing around when she came to a room at the end of a long hallway. She looked at the double doors before her a moment then leaned into one to push it open. It was in this moment that an arrow hit the door a mere three inches from her head.

She turned around, "You could have hit me!" She said as she looked at the man she'd presume to be the huntsman. She had yet to meet him; almost thought that folklore lied. Apparently not.

In all of the folklore surrounding the Evil Queen, there were three things one needed to know—technically two until one turned a certain age and became old enough to understand—and those three things were these: 1. The Evil Queen was evil. 2. The Evil Queen had a magic mirror; he was the Genie of Agrabah trapped forever in the looking glass and he could see and hear all. And, 3. The Evil Queen took the Huntsman's heart after he failed to kill Snow White; he then became fervently wanton for her and they shared a bed until Snow and Charming took her life.

"If I wanted." The Hunstman said as he moved toward her, "I never miss." He added once he took hold of he Princess's arms.

"What are you doing?" Emma asked, letting herself be manhandled.

"The Queen wants a word."

"Well, she can find me herself. She doesn't need to send her errand boy—Ow!" She glared at the Hunstman, "Just because I can't feel emotion doesn't mean that I can't feel physical pain!"

"Get moving." He pushed her forward after cuffing her wrists behind her back with old shackles from the basement.

Emma was not a girl to be pushed around, indifferent or not, her parents brought her up to take no one's crap, and that was how she acted. She lowered her arms and stepped backwards through the loop so that she was cuffed from the front before she turned to him and pushed him back, "You could be polite." She glared.

"Or I could be efficient." The Huntsman potato-sacked her.

Emma looked up at the walls as they retreated from the hallway, "I can't argue with that. But If I were an emotional person, I bet that this would be the part that I'd, I'm sure, make some slightly jealous quip about how you want to be efficient so that the Queen will reward you tonight in her bed."

She felt him tighten in anger before he continued on his trek. She decided to let herself be carried down what seemed to be the same hallway over and over before the Huntsman threw her down on her ass.

"Ow!" she glared up at him again, "What did we just talk about? Physical pain and you being a big fat meany. Both of those are not nice," she scrambled up and pushed him again, "So don't do them!"

"Graham." The Queen's voice filled the room.

"Yes, my Queen?" He stared at her unabashedly like he wanted to ravish her.

Emma's eyes bugged as she stared at him then looked to the queen, doing her best to say nothing.

"Go."

The Huntsman clearly wanted to protest, but he didn't, "Yes, my Queen." He bowed and exited the room.

Emma watched him leave then turned to Regina once more, "I guess all those books I've read and people I've talked to knew the truth about two things…" She stared at the honey brown eyes before her.

"And what are those, dear?"

"That the mirror is the Genie of Agrabah. And that you like to fuck the Huntsman, and he is absolutely smitten."

Regina would be lying if she said she wasn't taken slightly aback. She thought for sure that Snow would have to ability to overcome the part of the curse that would make Emma unfit in her actions for the throne. But here she was cursing in front of royalty—dead royalty, but still.

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" She asked, her eyes still slightly wide.

"Mm," Emma nodded, "My father too."

"That's no mouth for royalty."

"So they say. I… like everything else in life, don't care if I sound like a royal or not."

"Why? Do you have bigger concerns?"

Emma looked at her, "I did until yesterday."

Regina knew that Emma was watching her like a hawk. She played confusion, like she hadn't figured out what Emma's concern was. "And what were those bigger concerns."

"I think you know."

"And if I don't?"

Emma looked around the room as she made for the door, "I think the Genie of Agrabah could show you."

~0~0~0~0~0~

Allison donned a sleeveless little red number that had Remy boldly caressing her neck and arms and taking hold of her hips and small of her back all evening. Red was definitely her color.

It was as they were walking out of the restaurant that Remy's hand, the one Allison had hold of was ripped from her own. She knit her brows and turned to find Remy had stopped walking and was staring down at the jerking hand as if it were foreign.

It was the chorea.

Allison couldn't help but cover her mouth; it was heartbreaking watching someone watch their disease take them over.

Finally Remy looked up, "You can't say I was lying now." She tried to laugh it off before she swallowed hard and rolled her eyes before they hardened to stone as she walked closer, "I don't want your pity. Let's get you home."

Her entire demeanor changed. She became rigid and distant, not at all the charming girl that she had always been. She walked Allison to her door but merely as a courtesy.

"Goodnight, Allison. Thanks for the date." Remy didn't even look at blonde as she said it.

Allison had been studying Remy since her hand started twitching. She narrowed her eyes, waiting to meet those ice blue ones, but when they didn't dare meet hers, she inhaled, calming her nerves, breathing in confidence and grabbed the brunette's lapels as she smashed their lips together.

After Allison pulled away, it took a few seconds for Remy's eyes to flutter back open; her dropped jaw did not shut, "I don't understand…"

"Well, it's very simple, Remy Beauregard Hadley." Allison wrapped her arms around the former duckling's neck.

"You know my middle name?"

"It spread around the hospital when you were trying to mess with Foreman that one time…"

"Right."

Allison smirked as she saw the brunette was still dazed. She pecked her again before continuing, "This is the end of the date. And I told you I wasn't that easy that you weren't going to get into my pants that first night we met again… But this is a date. And I am that easy. That easy girl that only needs a free dinner before she gives it up." She pecked her again, "At least for you I'll be that easy."

"Why?"

"Because it's one of your dying wishes to go out with me… I assume that's all extracurriculars included…"

Remy now grinned, "It is."

"I'm not afraid of a little chorea, Remy. I was just surprised. I thought you were going to tell me something… And seeing you watch it was a little heartbreaking." She leaned up and kissed Remy's cheek, "But I'm not afraid of it and I'm not going to let it ruin our evening. That is if you won't…"

Remy nodded, looking off to the side in debate and intrigue for a full minute before she turned back to Allison and walked her backwards into her apartment, kissing her the whole way.

AN: I gave you two chapters! But please review this one for me before you move on! I always want to know your thoughts and feels!