Snow woke up after hearing the sound of her phone. She quickly separated from Charming's embrace and stood up from her bed. After tainting in the dark for a couple of seconds she finally found it and took a glance at it. Seeing that it was her daughter calling she immediately answered it.

"Is everything ok?" She asked with determination.

It took a little long for Emma to answer. "I don't know..."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I don't know Mom, one moment Regina and I were... talking" she heard Emma swallow softly in embarrassment. "And then Henry barged in bringing news of Rumplestiltskin's whereabouts."

"So he is back? Will he help us?" she asked relieved.

"Mom, I think he is partially responsible for what is happening and what will happen."

"What do you mean partially?" Snow huffed. "He is either responsible or not."

"If only things were that simple." she heard Emma muse quietly. "I said partially because Henry says that he is being controlled by another man that names himself Mephisto."

Snow held her breath. Mephisto was a name she had dreaded to hear during her childhood: Tales of him terrifying townspeople who were happy kept her and many more children awake during most nights. She still remembered how one day she went to search for her stepmother, hoping to get answers to some questions that she had about the strange man. It had been difficult to admit, but as a grownup she realized that she had been a brat during her childhood. Not only that, but she had thought that everything revolved around her, which in turn made her spy on private conversations. The name of the man came on one of them, some of the guards of the castle mentioning that everyone seemed to be too terrified of him and what he could do. This happened when some months after her father's passing and Regina had been named Queen. At that time what Snow saw was a strong, hard to reach, but yet loveable person willing to take care of her people, fact that was not a complete lie. The Evil Queen had been many things, but one thing no one could deny was that she had always been good at ruling and maintaining balance and stability at her kingdom. Now that she thinks of it, during her childhood Regina was never mean, never harmed her and always treated her right. It's true she wasn't the warmest person, but she protected and educated her in a way that led her to become the woman she is today (just like she had told Regina earlier).

(Beginning of Flashback)

"Stepmother!" Young Snow ran through the room where she knew Regina would be sitting.

Regina turned around and nodded softly at Snow who took it as a sign to approach.

"Whatever is the matter dear? Remember, young princesses do not yell." she scolded her lightly while smirking a little.

"Sorry stepmother." Snow apologized quietly. "It's just that I was outside in the courtyard and I heard some guards talk about a terrifying man who killed people because it was fun."

Regina looked at her with uneasiness. "I will inform my guards to be on patrol and be more careful with the information they share on the royal grounds." she gave a knowing motion to the younger brunette who realized she had been caught. "And I promise you that I find this man and bring him to justice." she assured Snow. "Did they say his name?"

"They said he was a fallen angel that had been narcissistic when it came to his own beauty. That he became jealous of the first humans that lived on our world because they had no worries and sorrows that made them unhappy. This angered the angel, and in an attempt to change things, he led a rebellion that ended with him being exiled to the farthest parts of the Earth. Taking his followers to what they call Hell, he started to spread their unhappiness around the world by making them search for content souls to destroy their happiness. Some even saying that he was responsible for creating unhappiness." Snow rambled while looking at her stepmother with fear. "Is that possible?"

Regina thought for a while her answer. "I think..." she continued while grabbing Snow's hand. "That we are responsible for our own destiny. The decisions we take, good or bad, always have consequences and repercussions. Some may be seen and immediate while others are ignored and lay dormant." she finished carefully. "Our own happiness comes from our own weaknesses since you will only feel pain if you allow for things to hurt you."

Snow smiled warmly and nodded at what her stepmother had just said. She really was the fairest of them all, making her want to be just as beautiful and as wise as her. "You are right stepmother. I won't let comments like that affect my judgment anymore."

Regina nodded and looked back to her stash of paperwork before hearing Snow make her way for the door. "Snow..." she asked while looking up one more time. Children, although with individuals with fantastic imaginations, tended to tell the truth always. "Could you indulge my curiosity and tell me the name of the man?"

Snow smiled happily, glad to be taken seriously by her stepmother. "They said his name was Mephisto."

She could have swore that she saw her stepmother's cold expression crumple and acquire a look of total fear. Before getting the opportunity to question things further she saw Regina regain control of her emotions, nodding at the information she had just received while dismissing the child at the same time. This only made Snow suspect that her stepmother was hiding something from her, something that had to do with the name of the man that had clearly scared her stepmother. And, an important piece of information that young Snow learned as a child was that not many things were capable of scaring the Queen.

(End of Flashback)

"Did you hear anything I just said?" she heard Emma complain.

"Sorry darling, I was thinking."

"Obviously not in what I just told you." Emma complained again. "I told you that after hearing the name Mephisto Regina got all serious and worried, telling me to call you right away so we could meet at the mansion. Like right now."

Snow nodded to herself. Regina definitely knew something about this man that terrified her to the point of admitting and showing that fear to Emma.

"I think she is exaggerating a little and that it can wait until morning." Emma continued rambling. "But she convinced me to call you and tell you what happened. Something about a conversation you two had once upon a time about angels."

"I remember that conversation very well Emma, and I think you should support the decisions and opinions that your... significant other has." she scolded her daughter lightly.

"So it's not some random bullshit? This guy is serious?" Emma asked quietly. "He really is the devil himself?"

"That's what people said in our realm Emma. Is he a supernatural being? That I don't know. But trust me that none of the things that they said about him were good Emma. He was known for killing people and bringing unhappiness everywhere." Snow said seriously, trying to make Emma understand.

"Ok, now I may know why Regina was so scared."

"I think she knows even more than that, with her being a witch and having magic." Snow said. "I know Regina, and although sometimes she seems unapproachable, what she truly craves is to share with someone her fears and burdens."

"I can do that." Emma said seriously. "I would do anything for her." she said more quietly but still as fervently as before.

Snow smiled at the revelation. "That's what we do for our True Loves."

"You knew Regina was my True Love?" she heard Emma ask surprised.

"I suspected it when I saw the way you looked at each other in that meeting. You looked at her the same way your father looks at me. Like I'm his only sun."

"I just feel so much Mom." Emma confided. "And it's so wonderful and beautiful..."

"And yet overwhelming because you could have never suspected you would feel something so strong and in such a short matter of time for someone else? Someone who wouldn't be your normal choice?" Snow asked knowingly.

"Exactly." Emma said. "All of what you said is what I feel."

"Then I think you should follow your old man's example and do what he did. Get the girl." Snow smirked a little.

"This family just keeps getting weirder and weirder." Emma chuckled. "My mom telling me to get it on with her stepmother."

"Now that you put it like that..." Snow mused to herself. "You see, Regina was always a big sister to me. A sister that pretends she doesn't like you but in reality she cares. And age-wise we are both closer to being that than mother and daughter."

"I know that as well." Emma said darkly.

Snow wanted to question Emma's answer but she heard some noises on Emma's side and her daughter's short affirmative answer.

"That was Regina. She is asking me if you are coming. I said yes." she cautioned her softly.

Snow agreed anyway. "I will wake your father and go as soon as we are ready."

As soon as Emma finished the call she stood up and immediately hugged Regina. She felt bad for having taken the brunette's concern so lightly. Her mother was right: She had to support Regina and be there for her. She also understood that Regina grew up without that kind of care from her family and for her to ask for help was a rare event. It had been during another lesson when Emma convinced Regina to share with her memories of her childhood. Of course, it had been an accident that occurred when Emma failed to cast a transportation spell and instead did a memory-sharing one.

(Beginning of Flashback)

(Beginning of Memory)

Emma saw a white light come over them, and as she opened her eyes she found herself outside of a stable. She knew that she was in the Enchanted Forest, recognizing some of the landscape when she hopped through that portal with Snow. But what shocked her the most to see was a young Regina smiling brightly while riding a horse. Emma swooned, the image of a happy and carefree Regina warming her heart immensely. Young Regina was making her horse jump the obstacles that were around the field under the gaze of an older, but sweet looking, man. That must be Regina's father, Emma mused to herself and tried to get closer to them so she could listen to their conversation.

"That was wonderful dear!" the old man said with excitement.

Regina smiled brightly and got down from the horse. "It was exhilarating." she whispered happily. "Every time I make Rocinante jump I feel free."

The old man nodded in understanding, his happy smile changing for one of resignation. "I wish I was braver." he said quietly.

Regina immediately approached him and cupped his cheek softly. "She would use her magic on you without a doubt father. The thought of you getting injured because of me would be unbearable."

Regina's father still looked down in shame. "You deserve to be free Regina. You deserve to be happy."

"I'm happy now Father, and it's all because of you." Regina smiled warmly. "You taught me how to ride, you gave me Rocinante, you have given me love and warmth since I can remember."

"Because I love you with all my heart. You have a beautiful and loving soul my child. Whomever earns it will be very lucky."

Regina's smile faltered. "You know she will never allow me to choose father. To her I'm nothing. I'm just a tool that will help her reach a goal."

"She just wants what she thinks is the best for you. She wants you to have what she never had."

"I don't want her life father. I want a life of my own. I want the right to decide to whom I will give my heart to. I want to be truly free." she finished with yearning.

The old man was going to answer her when he stopped death in his tracks and looked with fear at the woman who had appeared from a cloud of purple smoke. The woman smiled evilly at the two of them while getting closer to where they were standing. Emma saw Regina stare defiantly back, clearly scared but refusing to show it.

"Mother." Regina nodded curtly.

"I thought I told you to get ready for tea." Cora smiled but it just didn't seem right. "You know I don't like tardiness."

"I apologize mother. It seems I lost track of time while riding." Regina said carefully.

"I can see that." Cora pointed absently at the old man who nodded in agreement. "But you must realize that a queen can never lose track of time."

"I'm not a queen." Regina spat.

"But you will be." Cora smiled knowingly. "Which is why you must prepare for it and stop wasting time with this..." she pointed at Rocinante. "Idiotic activities."

"Why do you always criticize me?"

"I'm not criticizing you, I'm helping you." Cora tried to say sweetly.

Emma saw Regina fume angrily and abruptly turn around, hoping to finish the conversation. Nevertheless, before she was able to do, Emma felt the air switch and Regina rise to the sky, clearly trapped with magic.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Cora said angrily.

"Mother!" Regina screamed in fear. Emma could see the old man try to dissuade the woman from continuing with her torture to no avail.

"You know I don't like it when you use magic." Regina got her courage back.

"And I don't like insolence. I'll stop using magic when you start being an obedient daughter."

"Why can't I just be myself?" Regina almost screamed.

"Because you can be so much more, if you would just let me help you."

"I don't care about status, I just want to be..." Regina screamed when the belts that had been holding her started to get tighter around her body.

"Cora please!" Regina's father said scared.

"Please..." Regina whimpered, defeated. "I'll be good."

As soon as those words were out of her mouth Emma saw how Cora lower Regina.

"Good. That's all I wanted to hear." Cora smirked.

Emma saw with anger and sadness how a scared and wounded Regina quickly left the field, the sight of tears falling from her face a gut-wrenching sign.

(End of Memory)

Emma immediately opened her eyes to see brown eyes staring back at her in complete shock and anger.

"Regina..." Emma started but was interrupted.

"I told you to do a transportation spell and instead you do a memory-sharing one." Regina said angrily. "You truly do not follow orders very well, Miss Swan."

Emma saw that Regina was trying her hardest to not break under the strength of the memories they shared a few moments ago and how they still affected her after all this time.

"Can you tell me about it?" Emma asked shyly.

"About what Miss Swan?" Regina asked upset.

"Your time in the Enchanted Forest."

"You have read Henry's storybook. I am sure they narrate with enough detail about my time as the Evil Queen."

"No. I want to know about the Regina I saw in those memories." Emma said softly while approaching Regina slowly.

"That woman no longer exists." Regina whispered. "She died the moment her own mother tore out the heart of her True Love."

"Daniel." Emma whispered, clearly remembering the story.

Regina nodded.

"But how could your father allow it?" Emma said with shock.

"My father was a wonderful but yet very weak man." Regina said softly. "He loved me dearly but was incapable of standing up to my mother. He never was and never did anything to contradict her direct orders."

"I bet that was hard." Emma said softly.

"It was hard when I was younger." Regina said. "I could never understand how he would claim to love me while at the same time he nothing to protect me. I realize now that he had grown to fear my mother. The same fear the townspeople have on me." Regina mused quietly.

"You are nothing like Cora." Emma reassured her fiercely. "You could never be like her."

"How can you be sure? I am a monster just like her."

"No, you are not. And I'm sure because sadly your mother was incapable of love. You, on the other hand, are not Regina because you love Henry."

"I named him after my father." Regina smiled sadly. "Because even during my darkest times my father gave himself to me. He brought me to Henry, in the end giving me my happy ending."

Emma smiled knowingly. "He seemed like a sweet man. A scared, but sweet man that would do anything within his power to make you happy."

Regina nodded, although tears were falling from her eyes. "I still remember the look in his eyes when I took his heart out. They were looking lovingly at me, as if knowing and accepting his fate." Regina shuttered. "I am not my mother because I was even worse than her. I took my own father's heart out."

Emma flinched a little at Regina's honesty but still went forward and enveloped her in a warm hug. "That you did." Emma said softly. "But you also feel remorse for it. You feel pain and you carry that pain with you every day. I don't justify your actions, but I understand them and I know that he is now proud of you and what you have achieved."

Emma felt Regina grab her tighter after those words, and for a while the two of them forgot about their lesson and enjoyed the feeling of being close to each other.

(End of Flashback)

"I'm sorry." Emma said apologetically. "I'm sorry I took your worries lightly."

Regina kissed her neck softly and hummed. "Do not worry Emma, I did not explain myself much either."

"Nevertheless, you must know how much I trust you Gina. I trust you with my soul."

Regina smiled softly. "As I do with mine."

Emma separated herself a little from Regina so she could look at the brunette's face. "Snow told me you knew about Mephisto from your time in the Enchanted Forest."

Regina nodded. "Before Snow brought it to my attention I had heard some rumors about a man who was creating unhappiness."

"You mean bringing..." Emma corrected Regina.

"No, I meant creating because he used magic to do so." Regina said softly. "He used his magic to kill and leave places under a curse of unhappiness. And, although I became Queen of a kingdom I did not want, I still refused to leave its citizens unprotected."

Emma smirked. "Of course you wouldn't"

Regina scolded her softly. "And after sending troops to capture him I realized that this was a battle that was not going to be won by force. I had to negotiate and give the man something he wanted so he would leave."

"You met him?" Emma asked scare.

"I was naive and thought I could just bully him in exchange for a promise to leave my kingdom alone. Turns out that was a big mistake.

(Beginning of Flashback)

Queen Regina looked from her throne down at the man with baggy clothes who had been brought over by his guards.

"Are you Mephisto?" Regina asked neutrally.

The man smirked and nodded.

"If I were you I would wipe that smile away from your face." she threatened him. "I have heard tales of your 'doings' and let me tell you that they are quite punishable."

The man just kept staring at her mockingly.

"Why are you here in my kingdom?" she asked angrily.

"Because I wanted to see you." the man said while laughing. "I wanted to meet the cold but yet fair Queen Regina."

"Well, you succeeded. Although your way of doing so was futile since you will die soon."

"And I think you underestimate me. No one can kill me."

"Every man can die." she said while smiling evilly. "And let me assure you, you will."

"No I won't." he promised. "Because I have placed a curse under your land. A curse that I will only break if you let me go."

"You are bluffing."

"I assure you I'm not. Just in a few seconds one of your guards will enter the room and tell you about the mass suicides occurring as we speak."

As soon as Mephisto finished his threat a guard entered.

"Queen Regina, the people..." he said shocked. "They are killing themselves. They argue that they are unhappy and cannot live anymore before finishing their own lives."

Regina looked at the man who was laughing maniacally. She had no choice.

"What do you wish for in exchange for you to lift your curse."

"I want you to let me go." he said smugly.

"With all that power I would have assumed you were able to free yourself."

"While enacting a curse I lose my magic, which is why I can also end the curse.

Regina clenched her teeth but still nodded. Mephisto moved his hands and all the previous screaming ended.

"It's done." he said. "Now honor your promise."

Regina motioned for a man to take the shackles away. As soon as Mephisto was free he smiled again.

"Don't think this is over dear. What happened today only occurred because I wanted to meet you. Now that I have things will get real fun." he finished while making his way out of the palace.

"Why did you allow yourself to be captured?" Regina asked with curiosity. "You could have asked for an audience with me instead."

The man turned around. "I want you to know what I'm capable off. I know you also have magic, my Queen, and I know you are the Dark One's apprentice. But remember my words well: We will meet again, you and I, in a new land. And, in this new land you will have much more to lose. You will have what your heart has been craving since that fatal night at your estate's stables: Love.

"I will never love again." Regina answered automatically.

"Oh, you will." the man promised smugly. "You will have the most powerful love of all known realms. And once you realize you have this love I will take it away from you just because I hate to see people be happy." he sneered.

Regina looked at him with hate, and with a flick of her hands the man disappeared in a purple haze of smoke.

(End of Flashback)

"He knew about us?" Emma asked surprised and scared.

"At the time I thought that it was impossible. I thought that after Daniel I would never be able to love again." Regina said sadly. "And when I met you and realized I could I was so wrapped up in my feelings that I forgot about his threat until Henry mentioned his name."

Emma nodded in understanding and hugged Regina tightly. "I will not let him take away from you your happiness. I promise you." she said with determination.

Regina closed her eyes in surrender. "I do not know what would become of me if I lost Henry or you. I think that would destroy my heart forever." she finished sadly.

"You will never have to know because we won't let it happen." Emma promised again. "Trust me, we will find this creature and finish him."

"I love you Emma, with all my heart and soul." Regina whispered fervently.

Emma smiled softly and kissed Regina's cheek. "And I love you too. With all my might."