A/N: Thanks for the continued support guys! Love hearing from you and have taken in a suggestion here and there Hope you all enjoy this chapter, it leads up to something I've been wanting to write for a while which will happen next chapter, though I'm a tad nervous about it tbh, but we'll see how it all goes down!

"You weren't long," Regina noted as the blonde slipped in the front door.

"No," Emma shook her head, "Belle has to get back home before her parents realise she's gone, they're really strict."

"Is she okay?" Regina asked, genuine concern in her eyes.

Emma bit her lip as she nodded, "Well, I think so. I mean, her and Ruby broke up, so she's upset…but she's strong so she'll be okay."

"And you two?" Regina questioned, her eyebrows raised.

"I think we'll be okay," Emma smiled, "We always said we were friends first, and it might be hard for a while I guess, but I think we'll get through it."

Regina smiled, "I'm sure you will, you're both very mature for your age…" she trailed off.

Emma frowned, wondering if that had bought earlier events to mind for the teacher, "So, um, you're cooking," she noted, nodding to the eggs on the stove, "Are you stressed?"

Regina played with the eggs, "No, honey, I'm not stressed," she claimed, "I just thought you might be hungry when you got in…" she paused, "I mean, I'm a little anxious, I suppose," she admitted with a small smile.

Emma shifted from foot to foot, feeling that same anxiousness, "Because we…because…well, because of-of me?" she finished weakly.

Regina watched the teenager struggle for words and adjusted the stove, walking out from behind the bench to close the gap between the two of them, "Emma, I do not regret kissing you," she said firmly.

Emma smiled weakly, "Oh."

Regina smiled back and put a hand through blonde hair before settling it on her face, "I suppose I was anxious about the conversation we now have to have."

Emma nodded, "Oh," she repeated, "Because…it can't happen again?"

Regina looked disappointed, "Well…I-I hope it can happen again," she chewed on her bottom lip.

Emma's face lit up, "Really?" she practically beamed, making the older woman laugh, "I mean, you're still my teacher…"

Regina groaned, "I know. And a part of me wishes I could wait until the end of the school year, but I don't know that I can…or that I want to. I mean, you're eighteen, right? You're an adult – "

"You don't have to justify it to me," Emma cut in, smiling.

Regina laughed briefly, "Sorry," she muttered, "I mean, we have to be discreet, obviously – "

"So I can't kiss you at school?" Emma teased.

Regina glared at the young teenager, "No, you can't. And you can't tease me, either."

"You've been teasing me all year," Emma muttered, "Walking around in those tight dresses, speaking Spanish and being all sexy – "

Regina rolled her eyes, "I've been trying to teach you Spanish, silly girl, not seduce you with it. In all seriousness," she cleared her throat, "You know I would lose my job…"

"I know," Emma stopped smiling, "I know. Are you sure you want to do this?" she looked at her feet.

Regina moved closer again to the girl, "Yes, I am sure," she said sternly, "Are you sure you want to be with someone so…old?"

Emma snorted, "You're not old, Regina," she shrugged, "Plus, the older woman thing is pretty hot," she mumbled, gaining another eye roll from the teacher.

"Yeah, yeah… " Regina sighed, "And you know, whatever we are, I will always, always help you," she looked the blonde in the eye as she spoke, "You are very important to me, dear, and not just because I have these romantic feelings for you."

Emma blinked slowly, brow furrowed as she watched the older woman. She tilted her head slightly. "You really care," she realised slowly.

Regina nodded, "Yes, I really do," she pulled the teenager into an embrace and kissing her hair, "Please, don't ever forget that."

"Oh, hey Em," Belle turned from her front door to see her friend waiting on the street for her.

"Hey," Emma smiled back, "Thought I'd walk you," she shrugged.

Belle smiled, "Thanks… Today is gonna suck," she sighed.

Emma nodded, "I know… You still haven't heard from her?"

Belle shook her head, "Not a word, you?"

"Nope," Emma shrugged again, "At least you don't have any classes with her, huh?"

"Thank god for that," Belle agreed, "Ugh, we can't even get something for lunch at Granny's, this sucks so bad."

"Cafeteria food, yuck," Emma stuck her tongue out, "Are you still grounded? I downloaded a bunch of movies the other day I thought we could watch, if you're not."

Belle looked at her friend, frowning, "I'm still grounded," she said sadly, "I can't believe they caught me sneaking in, I suck at this cloak and dagger bullshit, guess you didn't teach me so well, after all."

Emma smiled, "It's easier to sneak out when nobody gives a shit where you are. You're lucky your folks care, Belle."

"You know, Em, you don't have to take care of me, all the movies and stuff… I'll be okay."

Emma nodded, "I know you will, but it's what friend's do. I know Ruby was your first real girlfriend…and I know everything's been so intense lately…"

Belle grimaced, "Yeah, oh well, exams in a few weeks so study will keep me busy, anyway. Have you started studying yet?"

Emma laughed, "Oh come on, it's nearly a month away, as if."

Belle shook her head, "Em, you really should. You came back to pass, right?"

The blonde sighed, "Yeah, I know," she sounded deflated.

"When are you seeing that psych again?" Belle questioned.

"Oh, tomorrow actually," Emma remembered, "Hey Belle…you know…" she shook her head, "Forget it," she mumbled.

Belle watched her friend closely, "What is it?"

Emma shook her head, "It's nothing," she faked a smile, "Forget about it."

The brunette rolled her eyes; as if she couldn't spot her own best friend's fake smiles, "Okay, talk to me about it when you're ready then," she shrugged.

Emma tried to turn away from her locker; she could just forgot her books for Spanish, right? Regina would understand later when she explained, but it was too late.

"Emma," Ruby's voice sounded behind her and she spun around.

"Ruby," she said a little defensively, not knowing what the long-haired brunette was going to throw at her.

"How's things?" Ruby asked casually; too casually.

Emma sighed; she'd rather Ruby just yell at her than this pleasantries bullshit, "Busy," she shrugged, "You?"

"What, you mean in between getting dumped by my girlfriend and betrayed by my friend?" Ruby said scathingly.

Emma bit her tongue, reminding herself not to lash out – Ruby had the right to be the pissed off party here, "Look, Ruby, I'm sorry for what happened, okay? Honestly, I am, and how it happened, it sucked okay? I get that, but I never meant to hurt you."

"You knew how she felt about you," Ruby spoke quietly now.

Emma frowned, "No, I didn't. I mean, I knew last year, but I thought when she got with you, she was over me – "

"You're not stupid," Ruby snapped, "You encouraged it, always being all touchy with her, you're not like that with anyone else, punching me because you were jealous… and then you reject her again? Or has that changed? Are you two together now?"

"Fuck, Ruby, we're not together. And I wasn't jealous, I just get…protective, she's my best friend – "

"Keep telling yourself that, Em, but you were right about one thing. You don't deserve her."

Emma clenched and unclenched her fists and turned to walk away, "Whatever, Ruby."

"So how long does it go on for? You just string her along until one day, you realise you don't have anyone else in your life cause you're too fucking anti-social to make friends, and she's the only fuck you'll ever get. You're so messed up you'll make her wait for years and get so frustrated that she's begging you for it. Oh hang on, she already is, I – "

That was when fist connected with jaw and both teenager's tumbled to the ground.

"You piece of shit," Emma was yelling, "You don't know a thing about me or Belle," she hit Ruby again.

Ruby wasn't a great fighter, but she had size on her side and managed to push Emma off and get a fist into her jaw while the students gathered around them, jeering the two old friends. Emma knew she should have stopped, but she dived at Ruby and hit her again before she pulled her up and had her against the wall by her throat.

"Go on, do it," Ruby sneered, "We all know you're gonna end up in jail one day anyway."

Emma could feel her every fibre leaving her control and the rage taking over as she tightened the grip she had on Ruby's throat until she started to fight back.

"Alright, what's going on here?" Miss Blanchard made her way through the crowd, followed by Regina, who stopped in her tracks seeing the scene before her.

Miss Blanchard had reacted more quickly and had a struggling Emma in her arms, trying to calm her down. Regina panicked and headed straight to the blonde, taking an arm.

"I have this, Miss Mills," Miss Blanchard claimed, still trying to hold the flailing teenager.

"With all due respect, I think I get along with Miss Swan a tad better than you, why don't you let me handle this?" Regina replied icily.

Miss Blanchard looked at her for a moment before she sighed and released the teenager, who Regina quickly got a hold of and dragged into an empty classroom with difficulty as Miss Blanchard checked on Ruby.

"Emma, please, calm down," Regina was still trying to restrain the blonde as she kicked the classroom door shut, "Honey, it's over, please, you need to settle down."

Emma was crying now and still trying to push the older woman off of her.

"Honey, please," Regina begged, "Stop."

"Just let me go," Emma cried.

"If I let you go, will you calm down?" Regina asked.

Emma nodded silently.

Regina was reluctant, but stayed close to the teenager as she let her go. Emma immediately turned to the wall beside her and smashed a fist into it.

"Emma," Regina grabbed her hand, examining it until Emma fell into her chest, sobbing and apologising, "Shh, honey, it's alright. It's okay, you're safe," she whispered into blonde hair, "I think I should get you home, sweetheart."

"Are you sure you're okay to stay with her?" Regina was anxious about leaving the teenager, who was now sleeping peacefully on the couch.

"I'm sure," Belle answered, "It's okay, I've seen her like this before, we'll be fine. She'll probably sleep a while anyway."

Regina nodded as she picked up her bag, "Okay, I've only got one class after lunch so I shouldn't be too much more than an hour and a half…and you have my number if you need to call, please do."

Belle nodded, "It's fine, really. Don't stress. We'll be fine," she repeated, trying to reassure the other woman.

Regina nodded though she still looked anxious, "Okay," she swept a hand through her hair as she found her keys, "Thank you, Belle."

Belle smiled back as the woman left. She looked at her friend, curled up on the couch, breathing lightly; it was always fascinating to Belle how she could turn from so violent and worked up and then just collapse in a heap like this.

When she slept, she looked so relax and comfortable; there was none of that angst, that fear, that burden that she carried with her in her waking hours… Belle just wished she could be like that when she was awake, but it was like the minute she cracked her eyes open all the walls and pain emanated from her very core.

Belle sighed and pulled a book out of her bag, settling on the armchair next to the couch and opening her novel, casting her glance to her friend every so often.

It wasn't for another hour that Emma finally stirred slowly. Her eyes felt unfocussed as she blinked against the light; when did she get home anyway? And since when did she sleep on the couch? She yawned as she swept the sleep out of her eyes and saw Belle reading in the armchair intensely. She smiled, only her friend could become so absorbed in a story like that.

But why was she here anyway? Where was Regina? What had… She groaned, remembering the fight she'd gotten into with Ruby.

"You're awake," Belle spoke softly, closing her book having heard her friend groan, "Are you okay?"

Emma shrugged, "I'm alright. What happened?"

Belle frowned, "You don't remember?"

"I remember getting into a fight with Ruby and Miss Blanchard and Regina coming… then, not so much," Emma looked to her friend for answers.

Belle shook her head, "Well, Regina managed to sort of calm you down, but you were really worked up, Em, you kept punching things," she took Emma's hand in her own and looked at her red and scratched knuckles sadly, "She got you to her car and then she called me from your phone and we bought you back here. As soon as we were through the front door, you got sleepy and you just collapsed on the couch. She had to go teach, but she shouldn't be much longer," she looked at the clock.

Emma nodded, "Oh," she simply said.

"You haven't snapped like that in a long time, Em, it kind of scared me," Belle said quietly.

The blonde looked at the worry etched on her friend's face, "I'm sorry, Belle," she started, "I didn't mean to scare you. I don't know what happened, I just got so mad…"

Belle squeezed her friend's hand, "I know," she whispered, "But you can't get in anymore fights, Em, you're gonna get yourself in trouble…"

"She's right, dear."

The two girls looked up to see Regina put her keys down and make her way over to the couch, placing a hand in blonde hair.

"I would hate to see you get yourself into trouble… Or hurt. You need to learn to control yourself – "

"It's not so simple," Emma interjected, leaning her head back on the couch in frustration, "I mean, usually I do control myself, it's just…"

"What did she say that made you snap then?" Regina frowned.

Emma's eyes flickered to an oblivious Belle, but Regina picked up on the look and bit her lip.

"Belle, do you need me to give you a lift home, dear?" she asked.

Belle frowned but she wasn't stupid; she could see the teacher wanted to speak to Emma alone, and maybe that was best for now, she thought.

"No, it's still light, I'll walk, thanks," she smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow, Swan," she kissed her friend on the cheek and squeezed her hand quickly, "Call me if you need to."

"Thanks, Belle," Emma offered a smile back.

"Thank you, Belle," Regina said quietly as the teenager passed her, before turning back to Emma, "What did she say, Emma?" she asked again.

Emma waited until she heard the front door close and even then hesitated, "She was just talking shit about Belle and I. She said I was leading Belle on and one day, I'd end up so alone that I'd just use Belle for…" she trailed off, her shoulders dropping, "She said I was being cruel, like making her want it and denying her until she was begging for it. I would never, ever do that, she's my best friend, I never meant to play with her feelings."

Regina sighed and played with Emma's hair, "I know you wouldn't, honey, Ruby is just heart broken, she's mad and she needs someone to take that out on. You're just an easy target for her right now."

Emma nodded, "I know, I kept trying to tell myself that, but sometimes…the rage just takes over."

Regina moved her hand to Emma's face, "I've never seen you like that before," she said softly.

"She's right," Emma whispered, "I'm going to end up in jail."

Regina's eyes widened, "Ruby said that? Honey, why would she… Does this happen often?"

Emma shook her head, "No, it used to a lot, I guess. I got into quite a few fights, in and out of school, especially when I was drinking, but it hasn't happened for ages," she shrugged.

Regina nodded, her hand still caressing the teenagers cheek, "Okay, well we all relapse into bad habits, that's normal. Anyway, you see your psych tomorrow – "

The teenager let out a groan, pulling herself away from the older woman and putting her head in her hands, "I don't want to go," she said monotonously.

Regina bit down on her lip, "Why not, honey?"

"It doesn't help," Emma refused to look at Regina.

"You've only just started seeing her – "

"I know why it doesn't help," Emma spoke more quietly this time.

Regina frowned and placed a hand on Emma's knee instead, trying not to be too invasive as she spoke slowly, "And why is that, dear?"

Emma pulled her hands away from her face and crossed them tightly across her stomach, as though she were trying to somehow hold herself together, "Because I don't tell the truth."

Regina took a deep breath, "The truth about what?"

"When I was a kid…" Emma started, before she stopped and shook her head as though trying to empty it of evil thoughts, "I never told anyone but Belle…" she finally lifted her eyes to meet the concerned ones of Regina's, "But you really care," she chewed her cheek as she stopped talkling.

"I really care," Regina repeated and brushed a stray hair out of the teenagers face, "You can tell me anything, honey. I love you."

Emma nodded, "I love you too," she mumbled, "It's just hard… But you make me feel so safe," she looked up at the older woman with wide eyes.

"You are safe with me," Regina found herself cradling the teenager in her arms and kissing her hair, "I promise you that."

Emma took a deep breath and began to stutter out the story that she had only ever told one other person.