Sorry about the late update, life got in the way, but here it is. Hope you like it.

Ch. 8 – Debts to be Paid

Emma awoke to a room filled with hazy light, it was a cloudy day but the brightness was still too harsh on her eyes as the sun reflected on greying clouds. This was probably one of the last mornings she would rise to meet any glimpse of the suns brightness as Christmas was fast approaching and winter had already set in. She ran a hand through her hair and sat up; swinging her legs over the side of the bed preparing to stand when she felt a sense of dizziness overwhelm her and her body tingled as if all her limbs had fallen asleep. It started near her chest and spread before finally ending in her fingertips. She clutched the edge of the mattress trying to get her bearings as she took deep breaths attempting to clear her head from the fog that had taken hold.

And then, just as quick as it came, the dizziness and tingling sensation were gone and she was left perplexed as to what brought it on.

"Must have just sat up too fast," she mused, gently getting off the bed to walk over to the window, still squinting as her eyes protested from the bright light.

But as she gazed out the two story window, something else besides the daylight made her squint. The sky, it looked different, the colour was off. It had a faint purple hue to it as if the sun was setting. Emma turned and looked at the clock beside the bed; it read 8:14am, too late for a sunrise and much too early for a sunset.

Shaking her head, she figured her eyes still needed to adjust from just waking up. She walked over to the bathroom and freshened up for the day.

Little did Emma know, a certain witch in the household had experienced the very same feeling when she woke that morning.

XxXxX

Half an hour later, Emma walked down the stairs praying Regina had some strong coffee on hand. If not, she was going to make a bee-line for Granny's because she was in desperate need of caffeine. When she entered the kitchen however, she was met with Regina sitting in a chair, sipping some coffee of her own. But what surprised her was when she noticed another mug that sat on the table opposite the brunette, steam rising from the hot brown liquid.

Regina turned, noticing her presence, "Coffee?" she asked as she inclined her head towards the awaiting mug.

Eternally grateful, Emma smiled and sat down, "Ugh, yes please."

She took a sip and sighed, her eyes falling shut; heaven in her mouth. Taking another gulp, a random thought popped into her head as she wondered if the Enchanted Forest had coffee or not.

She opened her eyes back up to find the brunette staring at her, something unidentifiable stirring in her dark irises.

Emma started to squirm, worried she had something on her face when Regina masked her features yet again and spoke, "You just missed Henry, he left for school about 15 minutes ago."

Emma frowned, "You didn't drive him?"

Regina raised her mug and took a sip before she quietly responded, "I don't think it would be wise if I ventured out today, I'm pretty sure our good townsfolk haven't forgiven me overnight. Henry took the bus." She took another sip of her coffee, turning her eyes to stare blankly at the table.

Emma leaned back in her chair but kept her eyes trained on the woman in front of her. Even though Regina most likely wouldn't be leaving her house today, she had still dressed in slacks and a blouse as if she was headed for the office. No townspeople were going to see her today, she wasn't going to be working, and now that everyone had regained their memories, she probably wasn't going to be mayor for much longer either. Yet it was like she still felt the need to impress, to intimidate, to keep on with the daily routine.

Emma had never seen the woman in a pair of jeans or a casual sweatshirt, she figured Regina still dressing in her business attire was like a kind of defense mechanism, one more wall to hide behind, desperately trying to hold onto any bit of power she had left.

As Emma continued to study the woman sitting opposite her, her brain shifted to another train of thought. Part of her wanted to bring up the hug from last night, but the other part thought it best to keep quiet. After all, she figured it hadn't really meant anything to Regina. It had been a strenuous day yesterday, Regina simply had a momentary need of comfort and that was that.

It was just a hug, but it was really the first sign of affection the brunette had ever shown the blonde. Yet after such a simple hug Emma craved for more, and if she were being honest, that scared her.

Emma found herself wanting to comfort the woman more and more as time went on, to reassure her. But reassure her of what exactly, the sheriff wasn't quite sure. Perhaps that everything would be okay? Things would turn out alright? There was nothing to fear? Obviously that wasn't true; the whole town still wanted revenge. Emma had already decided that she would do all she could to keep Regina safe, but could she really promise that things would turn out well in the end? What did Regina even want? Would she want to leave Storybrooke now that the curse had been broken, would she try to find a way back to the Enchanted Forest, Emma was trying her best to understand the complicated woman but she was like a Rubik's cube, at almost every turn it was a dead end.

Regina was a strong woman, hell, she had been a formidable Queen and ruled a kingdom, but Emma was getting better at seeing through her cracks. When the brunette thought no one was looking, Emma could see the subtle changes in Regina's expression or posture, small signs she had resigned to her fate and the weight she carried on her shoulders.

She tried so hard not to show it, but Emma could see it and that's what mattered. And above all, the fact that Emma wanted to help relieve that weight is what would make all the difference.

"I think I'm going to head to the station and see how things are going, people are going to have questions, especially my parents." Emma tried not to stumble on that last word but it was still going to take some getting used to.

Regina nodded and stayed quiet, still sipping her coffee.

Not really knowing how to take the brunette's silence, Emma quickly slipped from her chair and placed her empty mug in the sink and walked back to the table, "Thanks for the coffee," she paused, "and for letting me stay here last night. I just, it would have been a bit much to go back to the apartment with people I just found out are my mom and dad."

"Understandable." Regina said, staying motionless.

Unable to think of anything else to say the blonde figured that was her signal to leave, she walked from the kitchen but stopped just short of the foyer, turning back to the woman still seated at the table.

"Regina," the brunette looked up at her name, "I don't know exactly what you're thinking right now, but it's okay to be scared. Hell, I would be if I were in your position." Emma let out a sigh, trying to express just what she was trying to say, "Look, I know you're strong and you can look after yourself, you've run a town and been a single mom for 11 years, but now," Emma shrugged, "you don't have to do it all alone anymore."

The blonde waited with baited breath for Regina to say something, anything. Part of her still expected Regina to lash out and defend that she wasn't weak and didn't need any help.

Emma was about to turn and leave as the silence grew more uncomfortable by the second until she saw Regina's lips curve into a slight smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Thank you, for those reassuring words, Miss Swan."

Emma rolled her eyes, back to Miss Swan now huh?

"You know, after everything I think we're past the formalities, wouldn't you agree? You can call me Emma."

This time, the brunettes smile did reach her chocolate eyes as she repeated the name in a soft voice, "Emma."

The sheriff returned her smile before she turned and left, leaving Regina alone in the mansion.

As the brunette sat there, empty mug in her hands she thought about the dizziness she had felt this morning and the light tingling sensation that still currently ran through her hands. She was unsettled yet thrilled at the same time as she suspected what it meant and she wanted to confirm that suspicion.

With a deep breath she turned her head towards the front door and raised her hand in concentration before flicking her wrist.

The sound of the dead-bolt locking echoed through the silent house.

XxXxX

Emma had been at the station all afternoon answering people's questions to the best of her ability. Some were just curious as to how the curse broke; some were looking for lost family members, while other were a little more aggressive in their inquiring. Many had their own opinions of Regina and what they thought should be done, but Emma shot most of them down straight away, keeping firm that there was to be no action against their old Queen and people should continue with their daily activities.

She tried to reassure them that the town was in no danger from the brunette, she didn't want to hurt anyone, she just wanted to live peacefully with her son.

Some people mumbled in weary agreement, others weren't so willing to agree, but they didn't want to start a fight with their sheriff and the woman who had ended the curse.

Towards the mid-afternoon Emma had reluctantly opted to work on paperwork, which was her least desired thing to do, but she needed some sense of normalcy and droning over paperwork, signing her name helped to ease her anxiety.

A knock on her office door interrupted her and she looked up to find Snow hovering in the doorway.

Emma gave her a friendly smile, "Hey."

She could visibly see her mom relax at the casual greeting and stepped into the office, sitting down in the chair in front of the desk.

"Hey," Snow replied, "I brought you some doughnuts." She placed a white box that said 'Granny's' down on the desk.

Emma chuckled and opened the lid to find a bearclaw; her favourite, "Thanks."

"How are you?" Snow asked.

Emma shrugged, "Alright I guess, considering."

Snow nodded, her eyes still locked on Emma, "And how was last night… at Regina's?"

The blonde rolled her eyes; Snow made it sound like sleeping in the mansion's guest room was a form of torture.

"It was fine, Snow, I promise. We had hot chocolate and went to bed."

But the woman didn't look convinced, she bit her lip and looked down before quickly sputtering out, "Emma are you sure you can trust her?! If only you knew the things she's done –"

"Snow!" Emma's eyes flashed in warning but her mother just gave her an exasperated look.

"I'm just concerned for your safety Emma, for everyone's safety. Your father doesn't trust her as far as he could throw her and I'm… as much as I want to see the good in her, I'm hesitant."

Emma sighed and rubbed her temples, eyes on the table as she spoke, "Do you trust me?"

"What?"

She looked up, "Do you trust me?"

Snow's frustration deflated slightly, "Of course I trust you."

Emma reached across and took her mother's hands in hers giving them a light squeeze, "Then believe me when I say, she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She puts on a good act but I know she's scared of what people want to do to her. All she wants is Henry and a chance to not be viewed as the person of her past, but the person she is now and can be in the future. She just has to be given the chance."

Snow blinked, taken aback by her daughters faith, but also proud of her ability to see the good in the people where it had been buried so deep.

"Please?" Emma pleaded softly.

Snow sighed and nodded her head, "Alright, I will tell your father, and we'll make sure no harm will come to her. But if she steps one toe out of line-!"

Emma stifled a laugh, trying to stay serious, "She won't."

Her mother huffed but didn't look all that upset. "Fine, but there is no way she's still being mayor!"

At that, Emma did laugh, "Yeah mom, I think she assumed as much already."

XxXxX

Winter was creeping around the corner as Emma tugged her jacket collar higher up her neck. Henry would be getting out of class soon; it was his last day before the Christmas holidays and Emma could just picture him buzzing around with excitement at the prospect of no homework for a few weeks.

Stuffing her hands in her pockets she left the station to buy some more hot chocolate as they had used the last of it the night before. As she neared the big white house on Mifflin Street, she hoped Regina wouldn't mind her stopping by. Did the brunette expect her to come back, was she welcome? Or now that Emma had driven away the mob, did Regina want Emma to make herself scarce and only come around if she was to spend some time with Henry? Emma hoped it was the former, acknowledging she had grown attached to the woman and for more than the sole reason of protecting her.

She knocked and waited, feeling almost as nervous as she had the day she came to talk to Regina about her dress. She wondered what it looked like on in person…

The door opened and Regina stood there in the same attire she had been wearing this morning. I should seriously buy this woman a pair of jeans.

Emma realized she hadn't said anything yet, but was pleasantly surprised at the brunette's warm smile that formed on her face, "Hello."

"Hi," Emma breathed out, her breath swirling in the cold air, "May I come in, I bought some more hot chocolate. We used it all last night."

"Of course," Regina stepped aside to let Emma through and into the foyer.

She walked into the kitchen and pulled the tub of hot chocolate out of the plastic bag and placed it on the counter.

"Would you like anything to drink?" Regina asked from behind her, still a hint of a smile on her face.

"Uh, no I'm fine thanks." The blonde eyed her, sensing something was off. Regina seemed happy for lack of a better word, but she seemed to be trying too hard like she was masking a different emotion entirely.

"Did something happen while I was gone, you seem more… chipper."

Regina let out a staccato laugh startling the blonde at the sound and merely turned towards the counter to put on a spotless black apron, "No dear, I was just baking."

"Baking?" Emma questioned.

"Mhmm," Regina hummed, "A fresh apple pie."

Emma gulped and looked over, just now noticing the bowl of freshly chopped apples. She turned back to Regina and looked at her apprehensively, "Uh, Regina…"

Regina's smirk broke into a playful smile, "No need to worry Emma, I promise it's not poisoned."

The brunette's spirited tone made Emma even more flabbergasted, but she hoped the woman was simply in a good mood and there were no mischievous intentions.

"Henry will be home soon and I just wanted to make something for him. He used to love my apple pie, before he started suspecting who I really was…" Regina trailed off as she slowly sprinkled flour on the cutting board.

Emma tried to think of a comforting response but turned her attention to the front of the house as the doorbell rang.

She looked back to Regina who had halted her ministrations, hands covered in flour.

"I'll get it." Emma said as Regina nodded permission.

She walked over the hardwood and opened the door, on the other side stood a man that Emma wasn't all that surprised to see. That being said, even though the curse broke, it didn't mean she wanted to talk to him anymore than before.

"I was wondering when you would show up."

"Miss Swan, what a pleasant surprise, what are you doing here of all places?"

He looked the same, but Emma could tell there was something different about him. He still had his cane but he stood a little straighter, movement a little smoother, and his voice was slightly higher.

"Having a tea party," she responded sarcastically, "what do you want Gold? Or should I call you Rumpelstiltskin?"

He smirked, "Oh, just as feisty as ever I see. That was one thing I always did like about you sheriff, or should I say, Princess?" Flicking his cane to the side, he bent slightly at the knee into a small bow before lifting his head, eyes swirling with hilarity.

Emma frowned, "I'm no Princess."

"On the contrary dearie, you would be, if it hadn't been for her."

Looking over her shoulder she saw Regina step beside her, hands cleaned of flour, giving Gold a hard look. She returned her attention back to the man, her own expression stern.

"Yeah well, ball gowns aren't really my thing. Now why did you come?"

"Now, now, no need to get snippy, would I be correct in hearing that you've convinced your mother to have no harm come to our dear ex-mayor?"

Emma frowned at Gold's obvious jab at Regina losing her job and the blonde could literally feel the irritation coming off the brunette in waves.

Folding her arms, Emma straightened her back and tried to look intimidating as she instinctively moved herself slightly in front of Regina, "Yes, you would be correct, so whatever threats you have you can just go ahead and forget about them."

"Well," Gold said with a slippery smile, "you really are the Savior aren't you?"

He smirked and tilted his head, "No need to worry Miss Swan, I'm not here to harm Her Majesty."

Finally Regina spoke up, "Enough of your games Rumpel, if you're not here to harm me then what are you here for?"

"I'm here to call in a favour," he said, waving his hand in the air, "from Miss Swan."

"Me? If you want a favour from me why did you come to Regina's? You said you were surprised to see me here."

Gold shrugged and tilted his head forward, "I lied."

Emma's patience was wearing thin, "Will you get on with it! What do you need me to do?"

"All in good time dearie, first I need to ask you, how did you feel when you woke up this morning?"

The blonde's look of irritation turned to one of confusion, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Oh it has to do with everything. How did you feel Regina?" He turned his attention to her, eyes shining, "I bet you woke to a bit of a surprise."

Emma eyes swung to her right, "Regina, what is he talking about?" but her attention was snapped back to Gold as she heard him snicker, "Tisk, tisk dearie. You didn't share the exciting news? I fear Emma; your new confidant isn't as honest as you hope her to be.

"So, I'll ask again, how did you feel this morning Sheriff? A little dizzy? Get a few tingles? Or perhaps did you notice a strange haze in the morning light?"

Emma looked stricken, "How did you know that?"

Regina grabbed her forearm making Emma look at her, "You- you felt it too?"

"What the hell does it mean?!" Emma shook her off not feeling at all comfortable with the current situation.

Gold stayed silent, giving Regina no choice but to explain, "It means that magic is here."

Emma's mouth dropped, "How?"

"From me, dearie," Gold spoken again, triumph in his voice, "I did it overnight when everyone was asleep."

His cocky expression lost its victorious glow, as he continued, "However, there is a problem that I did not foresee, the barrier around Storybrooke still remains, and this is where you come in Miss Swan."

Emma shook her head, "I still don't understand what you want me to do."

Gold took a step closer, his cane brushing Emma's foot, "I want you, to help me find my son, and in doing so I need you to break the barrier that is keeping us all locked in this town. I don't know if you heard, but one of the dwarfs tried to leave town earlier today and once he passed the line he lost his fairytale memory. I can't very well have that happen to me while I search for my son, now can I?"

Emma and Regina exchanged a weary glance as neither of them had known about the dwarf.

"But how am I supposed to break the barrier, I'm not a witch, I don't have any magic." Emma stated, still not understanding.

Gold gave her a knowing grin, "Ah, but you are the product of True Love, the most powerful magic of all."

A small gasp escaped Regina's lips as it dawned on her just how much power Emma could hold.

Emma looked at her with wide eyes and then back to Gold, "It's impossible.. I don't…"

"Regina is a witch and you felt the same thing as her this morning, you felt the lingering effects of new magic as it coursed through your body."

Emma took a shaky step back, gripping the door frame, wishing Gold would wipe that smirk off his face, "I can't…"

His eyes twinkled with mirth, determination and intent laced his words, "Oh you can dearie, and you will."