A/N-If you want a reference, Ch. 10 is when Regina's chat with Gold about his proposed deal vs. the promise he made happened. Angst ahead for a few chapters.

*A Guest reader asked a chapter or two ago how Regina became such a good mom when Cora had been so horrible. That is a complex answer in that there are many layers to Regina, like anyone, and I feel she learned a great deal of what not to do from Cora as well as making a lot of her own mistakes with Henry. She got a lot of things right on her own or through help, but I think like any loving mom that she's doing the best she can. She's also willing to own up to her mistakes and does her best to right them. I don't really have an answer, just my two cents. Thanks for your question.

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Snow continued to fall heavy and deep consuming the town with winter's icy kiss the next day. It was the kind of cold that couldn't be chased away with extra blankets or hot chocolate, which seeped down into the marrow of bones to ache. The power held out until Tuesday night when down lines caused pockets of homes and businesses to begin freezing over. The town's emergency generators kicked in, providing some relief, but not enough. Their home had yet to be affected and Regina had her own small generator in the basement along with plenty of stored wood to use in the mansion's many fireplaces to keep them comfortable.

Regina had been called to duty Wednesday morning before first light when she should have been off just as Emma regained her adult height upon waking. The Queen had spent the night prior prepping the last step of her spell. The test, with Ruby's help, had worked and now she just had to wait for what she'd purchased to absorb the spell over the rest of the week. Meantime she worked organizing a weather relief center in the school gym for families whose homes were without power. Cases of water, food, and blankets were brought in from local business donations. The door of the Mayor's office was ever revolving. Just as one issue was solved two more occurred.

Emma logically knew it couldn't be helped, but after the busy Christmas and being left in Granny's care Monday night, she had wanted time with just them, without the interference of the town or duties of life infringing on them. Again she was heart sore for their old life where each other were the only things they had to worry about. Henry was establishing his own life and didn't require their constant hovering. Though he too had been in their alternate reality he had not been Regina's sole focus; she had. That wasn't the case here, not as much as she would like.

Emma had a vision in her head of what this week should have been; full of sleepy mornings mingling over breakfast, watching movies, messing around in the snow and just talking during winter break when the town was usually self sufficient. That had been getting her through the last few weeks. Life had been busy and unsettling lately. She was sorely out of a routine, one she had come to rely on to help her manage stress when things were overwhelming. Regina had seen to that expertly in their other life and they were trying to find a similar pattern here, but there were proving to be fewer variables within their control. This week threw them off again. Nights had been late, schedule full, and the demands on both their time wore on Emma's already worn nerves.

Though, the blonde did dive in head first to do her share. She helped by cooking meals and cleaning their home, running errands, and handling the phones at the Sheriff's station and Mayor's office when she wasn't poofing around town to check on the residents. By Friday morning she was exhausted and so was Regina. They were supposed to have lunch together that same day, but there was a small emergency that needed immediate attention the Mayor just couldn't step away from. With her duties completed for the moment Emma sourly stopped by the diner to grab lunch on her own and say hi to the Lucas women.

As she ate thoughts of the coming New Year's Eve weekend broached and with it the hope for some time with the Queen. That desire drew forth the tingle singling a shift, starting at the roots of Emma's hair and washing down to her toes when she was mid bite in a most delicious burger. She sighed at the size of her teenage hands.

Ruby's jaw hit the counter as did the other patrons nearby not having observed the Savior changing forms yet. The wolf blinked hard at the green eyes rolling from the stares about the room.

"Does it hurt?" The red head wondered out loud.

"Nah." Emma swallowed the last bite of her burger and wiped her hands with a napkin. "It's like when you get shocked with static electricity when you shuffle your socks too much on the carpet."

"Do you need me to call Regina?" Ruby took the plate, moving quickly to bus the empty seat next to Emma. The diner was packed, people seeking warmth and a hot meal in the social hub of town.

"Nope, I have my phone." Emma pulled it out and dialed. The Queen picked up on the second ring, as she always did.

"Emma, how are your rounds going?"

"Good. I'm at the diner now. I shrunk though. I'm safe and figured calling was better than summoning you while I'm this size, but can you come get me?" Hopeful to get to spend the rest of the day with Regina. There was no way the Queen would let her run around town in this weather on her own right now.

"Thank you for calling me. I'm in the middle of a conference call with the power company and water maintenance. I will come and get you right after." Regina could tell by the girl's tenor what age she was right off the bat and felt the thirteen year old could handle a half hour waiting with friendly eyes as a look out from Granny and Ruby.

Those words popped Emma's yellow hope balloon and she frowned. "Okay."

Noting the change of tone. "I won't be long dear heart. Did you eat lunch yet?"

"Ohhhh yeaaaah." Her Keeper's ready chuckle that followed made her mouth twitch to smile.

"Do I even want to know what artery clogging monstrosity you consumed?"

"Nope!" Lips popping the 'p'. "But I did have one tiny slice of tomato between layers of cheese, meat, onion rings, and bread. I had milk, too." Purposefully leaving off the shake part of the compound word.

"That hardly counts as a serving of vegetables and no more sugar today." Knowing Emma wouldn't order milk by itself as an adult.

"Counts in my book." The blonde tossed her own jibe right back. "And don't say I eat like a kid, cause right now I am one."

Regina laughed again. "So you are. Are you alright to stay at the diner with Ruby and Granny for a bit until I'm done?" Checking one last time to be sure.

Emma wasn't, but not for any reason that needed the Queen's attention more than that conference call to get people the warmth and water they needed. "I'll just hang here. My phone has plenty of mind rotting games on it." She sadly said goodbye ending the call and pulling a ten from her pocket to leave on the counter. Quick thumbs shot off a text to David letting him know she was off duty until further notice due to her size, in case Regina hadn't the chance yet.

She looked around the diner then with a pout. People were waiting by the door and eyeing her spot, so she got up and stood back by the jukebox. After playing three rounds of Candy Crush on her phone, the limit in one sitting she was allowed boredom took over. The room was even more crowded than it had been fifteen minutes ago. With a huff she pocketed her phone, deciding to step out and get some air in the little court yard out front. Pulling up the hood of her thick coat, she went outside.

Frosty air snapped against warm skin, waking her up after such a heavy lunch. A nap sounded amazing, but home was a ways off. Emma paced the small area, snow crunching under foot. Her thoughts drifted to the last time she had suddenly been this age and memories of the conversation about why she was a teenager rushed in.

'Gold and his stupid tongue twisters.' She simpered and kicked at the skeleton of a shrub. Flakes of white rained to the ground.

Emma was grateful that he wrote the spell, but irritated that he seemed to know a way for her to control the shifts and wanted a something in return. She'd been able to put together the clues her Keeper hadn't been able to say the first day this new shift as a teenager had occurred. What she wasn't sure of was the reasons needed for such careful speech from red lips, but knew they were beyond the Queen's control. It also pissed her off that he had taken the price of the spell for himself; memories that were not his and magic that should be the Queen's. That hadn't been hard to figure out if he was the one who created it, but still; why did he set the price he did? The fiery anger burned in stomach.

'Who does he think he is? After all the shit he's put this town through, my family through, the least he can do is hand over a spell or potion to help me and return what doesn't belong to him!' Emma percolated as she paced, snow melted under her boots and those boots moved out of the court yard and down the block at a furious pace a minute later.

Inside the diner Ruby watched out the window as Emma sped off. The girl seemed agitated and she wondered over what. She moved quickly through the faces filling the space around her to go phone Regina, but nearly tripped when a hand held a mug out for her to refill. It took a long moment to fully register that hand and her eyes trailed up the arm it belonged to, up into the blue eyes of the past. She'd avoided those eyes, that face, and lips that she wanted to nip and suck…. Like they had avoided her. Swallowing, she automatically lifted the coffee pot to the rim of an empty mug.

Belle nodded. "Thanks. I'm sorry if I startled you."

Old heat came back to big eyes as the melody of that voice took hold in heart. "Are you sorry? Like really sorry?"

Blue confusion. "About startling you? Yeah, I am."

"That's all you have to say? Your first words directly to me in two years! I can't believe—Never mind. Enjoy your cup of betrayal." She rushed passed customers pushing in the door and outside into the cold air to breathe. Remembering Emma and her promise she sent a quick text to the Queen and sunk onto the frozen bench as the night she had worked so hard to bury came back to bite.

::::::::::: Flashback about 2 years ago ::::::::::

"I can't believe she just gave it to you." Ruby grinned as she continued to stuff clothes into a duffel bag on the bed of her room. "Actually I take that back. Swan's Regina totally would. I'm just so happy right now." Pausing as slender arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

Belle rested her chin on a shoulder, nuzzling into the sweet spot behind Ruby's right ear. "She was really kind about it and she said Emma is on the mend from the accident and will be back in the diner scarfing bear-claws before we know it."

"We won't know it. We'll be long gone by then babe." Shivering as lips trailed her neck to collarbone. Ruby turned, cradling dimples in her hands. "I'm a little worried though with the full moon tonight. Are you sure we can't leave tomorrow?" Frowning when Belle deflated.

"I'm sure. Gold knows something is off with me. I wrote him a letter, asking him to let me go. Ever since the time he and I talked at the well and I broke it off with him, he's been relentless. It was my fault. I didn't trust my better judgment and I gave him another chance. He is really hard to say no to."

"Don't beat yourself up so hard. You were still trying to figure out who you are and he can be a manipulative prick. You told me enough stories over the years that I could write volumes on it. He's been gas lighting you or something." Ruby kissed each dimple, resting their foreheads together. "It's your turn now. Belle, this is your chance at a happy ending. It's not your responsibility to be his."

"I feel like I led him on though Rubes. I did that and it will crush him. Maybe…"

"He's a grown ass man. He can take care of himself. You deserve a chance, away from him, to explore the world like you have always wanted to and what we have together." Sighing. They had been over this too many times. Back and forth on what needed to happen.

Belle relaxed and leaned again into those full lips, sucking gently as possessive hands found her hair, breasts and… pulling back. "As much as I really need to continue this, we have to get moving if we are going to beat the moon. I'm ready."

Flushing with unrelenting heat, Ruby groaned. "Right." Kissing again. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? For moral support?" Longing resting in those blue pools for skin on skin as her fingers feathered over sleeves teasingly. This was really it, after years of waiting they were finally going to put themselves first. Belle over care taking and herself over the diner. Freedom was close.

Shaking chocolate curls. "I'm going to drop the letter at the shop. I have to give it to him in person. I would never want someone to break something off with me without a face to face. He's a person and I owe it to myself to do the honorable thing. Then I'll grab my bag with the potions and meet you at the town line before dusk."

"I'll be waiting."

Belle grinned, catching big eyes and she was gone.

And Ruby waited and waited. Dusk slowly approached as a brilliant blue sky, so like those eyes was consumed by the pinks and golds of twilight. She'd called twice, texted feverishly with nothing in return. Worry twisted her gut as her skin began to prickle, hairs rising as darkness crept in. Lights flashed in the distance and she pocketed her phone abandoning the car with the duffel on her shoulder as Belle's approached. Boots halted and big eyes narrowed at who was driving. Smile lost on the man who stepped out and the woman who remained in the passenger seat.

"What the fuck are you doing here Gold?" Shifting from boot to boot.

"I'm here to support Belle." He sneered, rounding the car and opened the passenger door.

The woman she thought she knew stepped out with an apologetic grin. "Ruby, I'm sorry, but—"

"Seriously." Tears bloomed. "You're going back to him? After everything—"

"I love him."

Three words that did not belong to her. Never said yet in her ear from that mouth. She stumbled back, dropping the bag as each one brought the stinging back hand of reality on her face. Three cuts with shears to separate her heart.

Running. Boots pounded wet forest earth until paws took over. Panting. As the full moon rose in the empty night full of a betrayal she didn't understand, Ruby was consumed by the certainty blue had held. Howling. She learned too that even canine eyes could weep and in pain, the wolf bayed at the moon for answers in questioning heartache.

::::::::::Present Day::::::::::

Emma didn't realize where she was going as feet traveled a sidewalk she knew by heart. Not when her hand took the handle of an old door, or when a crisp bell sounded overhead. Only when she was standing wild eyed at the glass counter in the musty shop of antiques and relics did she realize where she was and whose eyes stared into hers.

"My, my you are a sight for sore eyes Ms. Swan."

Emma slapped her palms on the case in front of her hissing. "Don't call me that." Regina was the only one allowed that pleasure and green eyes sparked. "It's Emma to you Goldie Locks and right now, I'm gonna talk and you're gonna listen."

The Dark One grinned at the show of bravado and continued to polish the top of the glass case around those smaller hands. The Queen hadn't broken their promise after all, his dagger would have alerted him if that was the case and he would have gone hunting. Since their talk he'd realized how well the Queen had been able to play him, but a promise, especially one made in blood, was a promise. Still…

"Manners dearie, little fingers on glass and all." Maybe he'd get to play with some fire today of a different kind; emotions belonging to a teenage girl would do nicely. The growing smirk on the Savior's face was beginning to irritate him.

Emma swiped her palm across the glass top, leaving a grease streak from her lunch. "I want the spell or potion or whatever you have and the stuff you took from Regina."

"What potion is that?" He narrowed his eyes, now thoroughly annoyed.

His fingers twitched to put the blonde in her place, but moved instead to a clear vase nearby. Lifting it to the light, he began to polish mechanically ignoring the counter as he worked the cloth around the rim. Where the Savior was the Queen would follow, no doubt, and he curbed his desire to flick the girl across the room in hope of possibly securing the deal he wanted to ensure Belle would be forever his.

So it was a potion. Emma leaned closer gaining confidence. "You know exactly which potion. The one that will give me control of my shrinking and growing." She shifted from foot to foot, beginning to lose her anger in exchange for longing. "What do you want for it?"

Sneering. "Nothing you have to give. It's not for sale."

Emma faltered. That was unexpected news. "But it was for sale a few weeks ago. What changed?"

"I already told you." Gold gave his eyes to the Savior in all seriousness. "You have nothing I want."

Swallowing and trying to remember her Keeper's careful words. "But Regina does?"

Gold eyes flashed and the slick grin returned. "Oh yes. Perhaps you can convince her to give me what I want in exchange, Emma…"

He paused as his layered thoughts spiraled. On his end, giving details about the promise wouldn't break the oath sealed in blood just his harm of them would, but it might work in his favor when the Queen arrived if the Savior begged with those big green eyes. Or… if this pissed off version broke the promise he knew the Queen wouldn't dream of. An idea worth pursuing. Then this whole charade would be over… Their lives forfeit in a nasty accident he could construct. He was good at causing those…. Belle would remain his, no one wiser. Time to light the fuse, but some fun first…

Emma frowned at that knowledge as Gold's attention seemed to stray. What did her Keeper have left to give that he could possibly want? Regina had already given up so much for her. The door chiming from behind didn't register as quickly as the thundering of heeled boots did.

"Emma." Name rolled with authority from a red frown.

The teen closed her eyes, silently cursing her existence which she was sure was about to be obliterated, but glad to hear that voice all the same. She spun around, arms going to her middle as her stomach cramped. Dark, heavy eyes swept over her; reproachful, but still on her and that desire for attention was back full force. Emma hesitated as another surfaced. Adult thoughts trying to squash rash thinking slipped away, as wind of a past filled of group homes, broken trust and being sent away started spinning her emotions violently. The dark voice in her head began to chant.

"Gina I can explain." She couldn't, but she wanted to turn down the heat coming her way a notch.

"You will be doing more than explaining when we get home. Go to the car please."

Brown eyes swept to the man with crooked eyes watching their exchange. He raised a brow and for a moment Regina thought he was asking if she'd remained quiet about the details of his offered deal she was supposed to be thinking about and of their oath. The fact that his fingers were curled in wait around an invisible fireball if she had said anything was not lost. She wondered why though. The Imp would know if she'd broken her promise… the daggers would have alerted them of the other's failure. So why the threat if he wanted their oath to hold up?

Dawning came accompanied by a wicked and oily leer across the room as his eyes eclipsed.

There was a new game afoot and Regina realized with a sick stomach as sweat pooled at her hairline that Emma was the dice he was using to play it. She shivered. He wanted the oath broken and that only meant one thing; he'd force her into a deal damning Belle and gaining his right to retaliate once she got her magic back from him. He'd finish them or try, but Emma, unable to defend herself, would be caught in the crossfire. His words from before in the diner, a warning to them both, flashed through her brain; 'sentiment is consequential so use yours to your advantage.'

What he hadn't said was that if they didn't, he would.

The Queen swallowed hard, trying to focus. Words he twisted and a version of Emma she hadn't counted on had trapped them in a ring of fire he just lit and they both would burn if she was not careful with hers or if her girl lost words completely... and attacked him. Her chin dipped a fraction, mirroring his, acknowledging the game to be played. His magical gun was tucked away, while Emma remained unaware of their exchange.

"Leaving so soon?" Gold chimed, clasping his hands together. "Because I think little Emma wants to ask you for something. Go on Emma, you know you do."

Regina ignored him, gesturing to the door for the girl to go ahead of her as the teen further bristled at his words. When the blonde didn't move, she paled. Of all the times for the girl to push… "Emma—"

"But he has a potion or something to help me and he's willing to make a trade." The weeks of changing back and forth wore on her and tears threatened now that she was so close to an answer. She pushed again knowing she had her Keeper's full attention, negative though it was, she didn't want to let it go. "He says you have something he wants. At least tell me what it is!" A boot stomped in frustration.

Game turning dangerous with Emma pushing, Regina closed her eyes to think. She needed a few precious seconds to in order to get them out of this mess, but that boot stomped a second time a moment later in growing anger at her pause as Gold began to tease Emma in her silence. He would provoke and wind Emma up until one or both of them slipped.

Pressure pulsed between her heart and head. If a promise broke or details of a deal revealed they would be dead. Malice in his eyes said so. His voice etched between her thoughts and Emma's pleas as concentration became harder.

She couldn't poof Emma away, not another body outside of her own limited magical signature. Cracking eyes, a glance at Gold, he was calculating, lips spinning words. If Emma was six it would be so easy to pick up the Savior and walk out. The fully adult version wouldn't even be standing here to begin with. But this emotional teenage cyclone was a completely different story and though petite, too strong to be simply pulled along. She was still working to understand this side of Emma, to seal the delicate trust between them. In those sparking green eyes she realized as the color drained from her face, this hurting girl, was testing her. So, she relied on the one thing that held Emma's leash; their dynamic.

"We are leaving right now. Pick up your feet and go to the car." Interrupting a begging pink mouth and Gold twisting words. When the blonde did not budge she began to lay the line that would make those feet move. "Emma S—"

Gold slipped between them again. "You deserve to know Emma!"

"—NOT until you tell me what the price of the potion is!" Emma cut in as she lost herself in the moment. "It's my life and MY choice! I deserve to know." Stubborn to a fault. Emma's eyes narrowed and a tear slipped down her cheek. Anger at Gold and now at her Keeper clouded rational thought.

Gold slithered in. "Tell her your Majesty…"

Brown flashed against emeralds talking over the Imp. "No, it is our life and affects both of us. Stop pushing." She had already said too much, almost, and was willing to give Emma some insight within the confines of the parameters the Imp set, but not within his hearing distance. Hope held that veiled words were enough. Trying again. "Emma—" She reached for a pale hand that jerked away.

"No!" Emma faltered for a moment at the words 'affects both of us', but moved her gaze back to Gold in her heat. Too many words around her, tangling, blurring and his sneer was really pissing her off. "Then YOU spill. Tell. Me. Your. Price!" A biting demand.

The Imp shrugged, flashing bullion teeth their way. "Oh, but this way is much more entertaining. It's not my choice, nor yours, dearie." And it wasn't. The Queen still had some control, until red lips broke the oath or pale hands went for his throat. "It's hers. Maybe if you say pretty please with a cherry on top. Are you afraid of the answer little one. So many fears in that pretty head. I've got something right here that will make them all go away, ask her."

His mocking, knowing or not, of their dynamic and of her size further fueled Emma's temper. Pursed lips, knuckles white and face red, again forgetting herself and to whom she was accountable to as she turned to challenge her Keeper, one last time. "I'm NOT moving until you tell me!"

Regina found the opening and held green eyes she needed to give the final line for Emma to back down. "Emma Swan…"

But she lost the sweet finish of the new name Emma was expecting as thoughts raced between three breaths, his ill eyes locked on them. The damn Imp had a long history with names… He used and abused them… And Regina couldn't, wouldn't give him that hard won name to use against Emma. Lips closed and her heart broke. The wet grass of green glaring back almost made her say it, just to quell the rising pain there. That response was instinctual. She had to get them out of there now.

Pink lips parted in askance of her name being unsaid; like the pages of her story without a title. A clearly defined line in the book of Emma missing and left unfinished was so wrong on that red mouth. The Queen knew what she needed… Promised no one would take her name away, so why had it been by Keeper of her and promises never broken? Emma lost more than eye contact with the Queen as words fell away and Gold's voice drilled over her thoughts and Regina's pleas.

"Baby look at me… You have got to stop fighting me, stop pushing…Please…" Regina's begged for compliance. For the step she took closer then, Emma backed up one toward the Imp, blonde hair heckled. She froze as pale hand slapped the glass and a boot stomped.

Gold glittered.

"YOU promised me!" Shouting, Emma ducked her chin as her Keeper's face pained in blurred peripheral vision. Walls torn down began assembling again. Yet something knocked at the bricks starting to surround her heart; trust deeply ingrained screamed that she needed to think, not to move further back and to be still for a just moment for doubt to leave. "You said…"

Regina closed the space between them in that precious pause of still feet as the Imp continued to taunt Emma, lifting the girl's chin forcing those green eyes on her as her free hand tried to hold onto the squirming girl. With a grave voice she spoke between his growing one.

"A promise to you I have to break in order to keep. Full name or not this is the line. I have reason, Emma. Trust me." The chin under her hand quivered, but emeralds flashed stubborn as boots struggled to move back against her and for that she added. "Remember our first rule. Trust it and me. We need to go now."

He teased louder, closer, luring… "Don't trust her Emma."

"Shut up GOLD!" Emma's brain scrambled between his words, the dark voice of her past and Keeper's plea for trust, trying to reach for a rule she'd forgotten and one her whirling teenage brain could not grasp in the chaos. Too many words. Stubborn turned into an angry blaze as Emma gave up that route and turned sharply to the acidic man, throwing the Queen off balance. Regina stumbled back. "You already took her memories and her magic. The LEAST you can do is give her the potion!" Her fists clenched to go at him and both were snatched by royal hands and she used all her strength to pull against them, Regina's arm braced across her pounding heart.

"You, dearie." His yellowing pools snapped. "You mean give you, not her. You selfish little brat."

Emma found footing, a fist escaping to fly and lunged.

"Emma STOP!"

The blonde froze within the red shout. Regina never yelled at her. In her brief hesitation before she could smash his grinning face in she was spun quickly, lifted bodily as feet left the floor for a moment and landed to face the door. She wasn't sure which was faster; her mind shattering out of the glass bubble of self-righteous anger or Regina's firm hand once against the seat of her jeans. Immobile and smarting. Emma swallowed, choking on words as she finally registered clear fragments of her Keeper's in ear; go… car… march.

Words sealing compliance, but the price paid when emerald flashed into russet was blinding.

Emma blinked rapidly as thoughts stilled. Voices quieted and her chin bobbed as sting over everything that transpired set in more than just her behind. Attention gained to lines crossed, too many, maybe broken in her anger and need to test. And a further reminder was not something she wanted. Boots shifted. Flushing, confused, but losing the will to fight Emma finally obeyed her Keeper. The gold shop bell piercing overhead signaled an ill timeout to the unfinished match with the Imp as ripping tears stripped more than one tender heart walking out the door.

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A/N - Thoughts?

Next time - Keeper and girl begin to process, but dreams invade and a dark voice gets stronger.