Chapter 7.

Emma's head was spinning, "So, you put a curse on…everyone to move them to this world, without magic," she said slowly, trying to take in what Regina was telling her, "Because you were trying to get revenge… On who?"

Regina sighed, "A woman called Snow White, she – "

"Snow White?" Emma laughed, "You're pulling my leg, right?"

Regina frowned, confused, "Why would I be pulling your leg, dear?"

"Snow White isn't real," Emma chuckled, "She's from a fairy tale. It's just a kids story."

Regina tilted her head; "A fairy tale? You said that earlier too… What is that?"

Emma's eyebrows met as she came to the realisation Regina really had no idea what she was talking about, "A fairy tale. I don't know, they are just these bedtime stories about princesses and stuff that parents tell to their kids. They try to like teach kid moral stories or whatever through them, I guess, like little red riding hood is this chick and she goes to see her grandma or something but there's this wolf and, well it depends which version you read, sometimes she survives but sometimes she gets killed, or the grandma gets killed and anyway, it's meant to teach us not to trust strangers."

Regina blinked, "Well, that's not exactly how it goes. But," she hesitated, "I know Red, well she's Ruby now, but you got the story wrong. Red is the wolf."

Emma laughed, "Right, that's a cool twist, Regina," she stopped laughing when she saw Regina looking pale, "Hey…what, you're serious, aren't you?"

The brunette nodded weakly, "What other… fairy tale's do you have?"

Emma bit her lip, "Um, well Snow White, obviously and – "

"What's her story?" Regina asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

"Well, she's this nice little girl, she's meant to be really pretty, and she just dances around all colourful or something, she meets some dwarfs I think, " she scratched her head, "I haven't read it for ages, but her step-mother is like some evil queen and she poisons some apple, or something, and disguises herself and gives it to Snow White who falls into this coma that can only be broken if Prince Charming comes and kisses her," she rolled her eyes, "It's pretty lame, but he does and then she wakes up and they're all happy, I guess," she shrugged, "I can't remember what became of the evil queen though."

Regina nodded silently for a moment, "Well… she wanted her revenge so she cast a curse on the land and sent them to this world, without magic and without their memories," she swallowed hard, watching the expression on Emma's face change.

Emma didn't speak for a moment, "You're saying you're the evil queen? Regina, this is…" she paused and flinched when she felt the older woman's hand on her cheek.

"Sorry," Regina pulled away but Emma shook her head and so she reapproached, "I know… It's a lot to take in, but," she bit the corner of her lip before she shrugged, "It's my life."

Emma nodded, looking thoughtful, "I don't think you're evil," was all she said before she abruptly closed the gap between the two women and pressing her lips against Regina's, feeling her hand drop down to her waist, fingers gripping the material of the older woman's shirt. She felt Regina's tongue lash out against her teeth and entangle itself with her own.

"Thank you," Regina whispered as she pulled away, "But you didn't know me then," she murmured, her face still inches away from the younger woman's.

Emma couldn't deny that; she didn't know Regina when she was…the evil queen. And in the fairy tale, the evil queen was pretty awful. She was vain and cruel and poisoned poor Snow White because she thought she was prettier than her. Emma supposed that was pretty evil. But…that wasn't Regina. She forced herself not to think about the things Regina had done, as the evil queen or even to her only recently. Emma shook her head viciously, emptying her head of those thoughts. She knew it wasn't…normal and maybe even not healthy, but the older woman did make her feel safe, something she'd never felt before.

"There's just one thing that I don't get, if you're the evil queen…" Emma mused, thoughtfully.

Regina narrowed her eyes, "What's that? Something else from your stories?"

Emma nodded, "Yep. In the stories, all the stories, the evil queen is always really ugly and horrible. That's why she's so jealous of Snow White for being so pretty. But," she tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips, "You're so beautiful and sexy and attractive and – " she stopped when Regina laughed.

"Well, I don't think your stories are all that accurate," she winked, a smirk on her face, "And thank you," she added, nibbling her bottom lip.

Emma shrugged, blushing slightly, "Not accurate at all. So… can you show me them?"

"What?" Regina asked.

"All the storybook…Oh!" Emma laughed, "Storybrooke, of course. Can you show me the characters? Who they all are in the town, I mean?"

Regina's expression was perplexed, "You want to meet the townsfolk?"

Emma nodded, "Yeah, but I want you to tell me which character's they're meant to be."

"Not 'meant to be' dear, they are. Or were, in the Enchanted Forest."

Emma's eyes widened once more, "Enchanted Forest? Is that where you bought everyone from?"

Regina nodded, "Yeah, that's where this whole town came from. Also, um, the town? They all know you already," she added quietly.
Emma sighed, "You're a complicated woman, Regina Mills. Isn't it exhausting casting all these memory spells or whatever?"
"Yes," Regina admitted, "It is. So you have to pretend you already - "
"No," Emma cut in, "Take it away. I want to meet them for real," Emma ordered firmly, but softened by adding, "Please."

Regina thought about denying the request, but with all that she had put Emma through, she did sort of owe her, "Okay, I'll take it away. Can we go tomorrow though? I'll need time... Plus, I want to spend tonight with you. That is, if you want to stay," she added, trying but failing to keep the vulnerability out of her voice.

Emma's face lit up, "Of course I want to stay," she said eagerly, "And of course I want to spend the night with you," she added so enthusiastically that she immediately felt the heat rise up her cheeks.

Regina chuckled, "Oh, I see what you're thinking," she continued laughing, "I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind," her tongue flicked out quickly to wet her lips, "You are so adorable," she murmured, pulling the blonde closer.

"Aw man, adorable, really?" Emma whined, "I'm not a kid, you know."

Regina shook her head, the smirk not leaving her lips, "Mm, I know," she pulled Emma into her lap, "Cause you're damn sexy too, but I think you know that," she whispered as her hands found Emma's stomach, making quick work of her tank top as her teeth grazed over the skin on her collarbone.