Chapter 24

Rumple was angry and figured that he had every right to be. He understood why Regina was mad at him and he even expected it. What he wasn't prepared for was how long Belle had been away from him on her own volition. He didn't understand why Belle didn't understand his reasoning. It all made sense. He couldn't believe that Belle, Regina, Wilhelmina, and possibly Emma would rise up against him. Who were they? He was the Dark One.

"I will show them all. I will make them see my reasoning," he muttered under his breath as he entered his shop. "I will make Belle love me again."

He went to the back of the shop. He pulled out an ancient tome and started flipping through the pages. He knew that love spells never worked out the way they are supposed to. Things seemed to go good for a while before they went south very quickly.

"Where is that damn spell?" he asked still flipping through the book.

He heard the bell over the door ding letting him know that someone had come in the store. He closed the tome with a huff and started to make his way back towards the front of the shop. He stopped behind the counter and stared at Emma. She didn't look like she was too happy.

"Look, Gold, let's get one thing straight. I don't trust you. After what you did to Coraline, I don't know that ever will. But, we've taken care of the business with the house. I am not here to start a fight with you. I don't care what you want. I don't care what you think you need. I am not going to help you unless it has to do with the law. Understood?" she asked.

"Perfectly."

"Good. Now, I am going to find Regina and Will. Do me a favor and don't do anything stupid, okay? I am not really in the mood for bull shit today," Emma stated.

"Neither am I, Miss Swan," he replied.

"Good. We're good, then? Good," Emma said.

"Oh, one thing, Miss Swan," he stated.

"What?" she questioned exasperatedly.

"First, Regina and Will are in the diner. I just saw them going in. Secondly, I would like something returned to me that has been taken."

"Someone stole something? From you? What is it?" she asked, not believing him.

"My wife," he replied.

"Rumple, if you think that someone is hiding Belle, you're wrong. She left to think things over. The fact that she has chosen to not come home to you is her choice. No one is holding her against her will. She hasn't been kidnapped. She is a free woman. She'll see you when she decides that she wants to see you. Give her time. You fucked that up on your own. Pay your dues like everyone else would in a normal relationship. You can't always take what you want. Sometimes you have to work for it. And, trust me on this, Gold, you are going to have to work really hard to get that back. You hurt not only her, but others that she sees as family. You really have no one to blame but yourself."

"You won't help me, then?"

"Sorry, but that isn't a legitimate complaint. No laws have been broken. And, no one's been hurt. Just let it go. She'll come back on her own terms. Give her time," Emma told him.

"We don't have the luxury of time, Miss Swan."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing. Nothing. I'll call her later. Maybe she's cooled off enough that she'll talk to me."

Emma gave him a curious look, but nodded in affirmation before leaving the store. It hadn't been an unpleasant visit. It had been more businesslike than he wanted, but he understood that the Sheriff was a no nonsense kind of person. He trusted her more than others in this town, but she was still with Regina and she was Coraline's other mother. She was now the enemy against his plans, as secret as they were. He couldn't let her know. He'd almost slipped up and said something. She caught it, but didn't push the issue. He wondered now how long he really had.

Belle watched as Regina and some other woman came into the diner. They had just missed Ruby. Regina had a strange grin on her face as she approached. Belle wasn't sure if she should be worried or upset by the grin she was making. She looked down at the book and then back up at the other woman with her. She saw the resemblance between them, but she knew enough not to say anything until someone else did.

Just as Regina and the other woman made it to her table, Ruby's phone rang. It was Coraline. She was looking for Regina and someone named Will. She assumed that the woman with Regina was the other party Coraline was looking for. She assured Coraline that they were fine. She told her about Ruby's outburst and Coraline said that she would go find her. She then warned Belle that Emma would probably be there soon because Will and Regina had disappeared. Belle thanked her for the warning and the help with Ruby. She sat the phone down just as Regina and Will sat down.

"Good morning, Belle," Regina stated.

"You're Belle?" Will asked, making a face.

"I am. Belle French Gold, can I help you? I am sorry, what is your name?" Belle asked.

"I am Wilhelmina Fajro."

"Fajro…" Belle sighed with recognition.

"Yes, Fajro. I believe that you may have met my brother once upon a time. But, then again, I doubt that you did," Will responded.

"I'm sorry. I never met your brother. I just recognized the name from some research that Regina had me doing. It isn't a very common family name here," Belle replied.

"It isn't a very common name anywhere outside my kingdom. And, now, it is a very rare name. May I ask what you were researching that you came across that name?"

"She was looking into your history or lack there of from the chronicles of the Enchanted Forest."

"You were researching me?" Will asked confused.

"Yes and no."

"Huh?"

"Snow and I saw you at the docks," Regina stated.

It was all that Regina needed to say. Will understood immediately. Regina was trying to figure out how she'd come to live in the community when she didn't come over with the Curse. Will nodded letting her know that she knew and understood.

"I am afraid that your chronicles won't tell you much," Will added.

"So I've noticed," Belle replied. "I've found countless contracts between Vulcannonians and the royal houses. Even found contract to help in the Ogres War, but not much on anyone named. There were only two main names that kept popping up."

"Which were, if I might ask?" Will inquired.

"Pyroxes and Rohan."

"My father and brother," Will replied.

Belle turned the tome on the table around for Will to look at it. She pointed to the royal family picture. Will's eyes misted over at the family portrait. She pointed to the man with the large crown first.

"That is my father, Pyroxes, King of Vulcannon. This is my brother, Prince Rohan Fajro and his bride, the Princess Ulrica Cailin. The woman to the left is my mother, Queen Cyanae Rafe. The young looking red head there on the end is me. I was probably around fifteen at the time."

"That's you?" Regina questioned.

"Yes," Will answered.

"But, your hair…" Belle mused aloud.

"I can make it change color."

"You can?" Regina asked.

"You knew me as a 'fiery haired' woman. I've been brunet since I landed here. It was easier to blend it. I actually prefer it. I look more like my mother this way," Will told them as she reached up into her locks and rubbed a small lock that she'd pulled forward from the back of her head. "This is more my natural color."

Regina and Belle stared in utter fascination. They couldn't believe that she had the power to hide her hair color without dye. Memories of Will as a brunette started to come back to Regina.

"Cyan?" Granny asked as she came out of the kitchen and back towards the table.

"Hello, Eugenia," Will stated, standing to greet the older woman.

"How?"

"I'm not Cyan, Eugenia. I am her daughter. My name is Wilhelmina Randell Fajro, Princess of Vulcannon. Well, I guess I'm more like Queen of Vulcannon, now," Will told her.

"You're Cyan's cub?"

"One of them, yes."

"You have siblings?"

"Had siblings," Will corrected her.

"I'm sorry," Granny offered and gathered her in for a hug.

Emma walked in the diner. She was surprised to see Will and Granny hugging. She wasn't surprised to see Regina and Belle in the booth next to them. She smiled as she thought about what she told Rumple as she walked up to them.

"Hey," Emma said.

"Hey," Regina replied quickly, turning to see her behind Granny and Will.

"Will?" Emma asked as they broke their hug.

"Not now, girl, but soon we need to talk," Granny told her.

"As you wish, Eugenia, just let me know."

Granny just nodded and went back to the kitchen with her thoughts. Regina and Will watched her go, wondering what she would say later. Will sat down on the other side of the booth with Belle as Emma joined Regina.

"Why do I feel like I interrupted something?"

"You do, but it doesn't matter right now," Belle stated. "What can I help you with today, Emma? Is there something else you'd like to know?"

"Ummm…just trying to figure out why Regina and Will decided to poof out of the house."

"We needed to talk alone," Regina offered.

"Uh huh," Emma replied, not convinced by her answer.

"Emma, Regina and I have a very complicate past. She needed to make sure I was who I really am. There are things about me that you don't know, things that I never told you, for reasons that are my own. I needed to apologize and unfortunately I couldn't do it at the house. I still have things to atone for with Regina and you may never understand that, but I need to know that you won't pursue this. This isn't a case for you to work. This is my life," Will stated.

"I get that, Will. I really do. I just don't like secrets. You know that. So you want to tell me what's really going on? Or, are we going to sit here and be awkward?"

"Emma…"

"No, Regina, don't. I need to tell her. Coraline has probably already told you some of it."

"She's told me that you are older than you look," Emma replied.

"I am, but…" Will stopped and looked around the diner.

Emma could tell that she sensed something and she knew that when Will sensed something, there was usually a reason. She looked around quickly. Regina just nodded at Will.

"We'll take this conversation elsewhere. I've… Emma, will you trust me long enough to come with me. I have to show you something before you'll believe me."

"Where are we going?" Emma asked quietly.

"We'll go to the vault. No one can bother us there. And, Belle, bring the books," Regina told her. "We'll go out the back and then go."

"To your vault? You want me to go with you to the vault? With the books?"

"Belle, I understand your reservations, but trust me," Emma stated.

"Alright," Belle replied, closing the book.

Within five minutes, they were all heading out the back door. Granny gave them a look but didn't say anything. Regina and she had a silent conversation. Regina knew that they would have to invite Granny over later. They would keep her in the loop about things going on.

Once they were outside, Regina grabbed Emma's hand. They held hands as they poofed to Regina's vault. They arrived in a furnished room that reminded Emma of Regina's living room.

Regina immediately left them for the kitchen. She made a pot of coffee and brought it back into the room with four cups. She sat the tray of coffee, cream and sugar down on the table. She reached out and poured herself and Emma a cup. She looked up to Will and Belle.

"How do you take your coffee?"

"I don't need any thanks though," Will answered quickly.

Regina just nodded at her and turned to Belle more fully. She cocked her eyebrow in question again. Belle just shook her head.

"So…"

"You want to know more about the Vulcannonians?" Will posed.

Belle just turned and stared at her. Emma shook her head "yes" because she was still at loss as to what was going on. Regina sat back on the couch with her coffee and sipped it, waiting on Belle to say something.

"Yes…"

"You do not need to be afraid of me, Belle. I will not hurt you. I will not hurt anyone in this town. Well, except for possibly your husband, but that might take some time. Time which I have been told we might not have. So, I understand that Regina and Snow had you look into my past, but you didn't go more than what that book told you. Am I correct?"

"Yes," Belle answered.

"Regina, I need to show them."

"I'll get you a towel," Regina said standing up and leaving the room.

"Why does she need a towel?" Emma asked obviously perplexed.

"Because she knows what I am about to do is going to be messy."

"Ah…wait, what you are about to do?" Emma questioned.

"Em, do me a favor. Look and listen, but don't question anything for a few minutes. I know that you won't believe me until you have proof. And, well, our resident librarian is probably going to be a little distraught and will need your support. Do you think that you can do that?"

Emma just nodded her head. Regina came back into the room with a large, old and ratty, dish towel. She handed it to Will, who smiled knowing that Regina would probably burn the thing or throw it out after this demonstration. When she unrolled the towel, there was a ceremonial dagger inside it. Will stared at the dagger and then at Regina, who just smirked back.

"Trust me when I say that this will only hurt for a second," Will stated as she raised the dagger in her hand.

Emma immediately drew her side arm and pointed it at Will. Regina just reached over and pushed her arm down. She watched horrified as Will spread the towel over her shirt and then plunged the dagger into her own heart. The blood spurted onto the towel and soaked in quickly. She fell back onto the couch. Belle jumped off the couch in horror as Emma jumped over the coffee table and grabbed at the dagger.

"Why?!" Belle asked horrified.

"Why did she do that, Regina? Regina? WHY?" Emma questioned as she pulled the dagger out.

Regina said nothing. She just pointed at the couch and sipped some more coffee. She looked pleasantly relaxed. Emma couldn't believe that Will had just killed herself in front of them and Regina was drinking coffee. She knew that Regina could be cold, but this…this was artic.

"Emma, put the dagger down," Will told her, reaching out for her hand.

"Wha—"

"I'm fine," Will told her.

Emma looked into her eyes. Green meeting blue and warring to make sense of what just happened. Belle took a step closer to the couch, but still made no move to sit down again.

"How?"

"Vulcannonians are very hard to kill," Will offered.

"You stabbed yourself in the heart, Will!"

"I'm fine, Em. I promise. Remember that night at the docks. Remember when you told me that you thought Seamus shot me. I told you that it was a bad angle and he missed."

"He didn't, did he?" Emma asked.

"Nope, he got me. I couldn't tell you then. You wouldn't have believed me. And, I had no idea about your lineage. I thought you were an orphan like you said. I helped you with the checks on your parents, remember? I had no idea that you were related to anyone from this town, then."

"Strangely enough, I believe you. But, couldn't you have done something else? Like less bloody to prove your indestructible or something?" Emma asked.

"This is the easiest thing to do. Every creature, fantastic or not, knows that a dagger to the heart means death. Would you have let me shot myself?" Will asked in her defense.

"No, that would have made a bigger mess," Emma joked.

"Sorry about the towel, Majesty," Will said cleaning off the dagger and handing her the soiled towel and dagger in separate hands.

Regina simply leaned over the table and took the cloth in one hand, the dagger in the other. Before she leaned back, the cloth went up in flames and the dagger disappeared. Emma assumed that Regina had poofed it back to wherever it came from or to her vault. She was still in a bit of shock, but it was nothing like the shock that Belle was in. Emma tried to give her a reassuring look, but she knew that it wasn't helping the librarian.

"Is that why my father chose your brother?" Belle asked her.

"I am sorry?" Will asked.

"My father hired Rohan to get me back from Rumple. Did he do it because you're immortal? Or, was there some other reasoning?" Belle questioned.

"I cannot speak for your father's reasoning behind signing a contract with my older brother. Belle, I wish I could tell you, but I can't. I know that Rohan went to Rumple's castle to confront him, but when he came back he wasn't the same. I don't know what happened, but he wouldn't talk about it," Will told her.

"I may have an idea," Belle replied.

Regina, Emma and Will looked at her expectantly. Belle knew they were waiting for the tale, but she wasn't sure how much of it was truth and how much she had just come up with while she had been imprisoned at Rumple's castle. She wasn't sure that they would understand.

"Look Belle, we all know that you have suffered from some sort of Stockholm syndrome from your time with him. It's understandable. But when you were free, you left and came back. You tried to help him change. Well, at least you did until I scooped you up that day."

"I know."

"Don't feel bad about loving him. You saw the redeemable side of him. You did everything that you could to make him see that love wasn't a burden." Regina added.

"It's too bad that he has turned his back on it," Emma stated.

"I am coming to realize that it doesn't matter how much he actually loves me. He will always quest for more power. He is consumed by it. It has become his drug. He had to have magic back. He brought it back as soon as the curse ended because he needed it. It was a selfish act."

"He still saved Henry and all of us from Pan," Emma offered.

"Pan? For real? Y'all sure do get around," Will added.

"You have no idea," Regina replied.

"He might have killed his own father to save us all. I'm just not sure what his real motivation was behind it. He was happy to die because he got Bae back. With Bae dead and there being no way to bring him back, saving going back in time, he didn't care. He could never be truly happy again. His whole mission in life was power and finding his son. He found Bae, Neal, and then he died to save Rumple. Rumple tried to bury himself in our love, but I knew from the beginning that he was broken. Bae's death almost destroyed him. Ever since then, he has been looking for more power. I think he is trying to find a way to bring him back," Belle stated.

"You can't bring people back from the dead," Regina cautioned.

"I know that and so does he," Belle stated.

"As he told me, in the past: 'Dead is dead,' Emma added.

"I don't even have that power. I fear that he might think that I can. He tried it once."

"What?" Regina asked quietly almost breathy, obviously shocked by the statement.

Will just looked at her. She had disappeared so many times from Regina's side while she was in her service. She would never be gone long enough for Regina to notice and she always had the King's permission. She had forgotten to explain herself to Regina when she had return from Rumple's after one of her Vulcannon visits. Life had gotten in the way of the contract and she didn't mind because she had never violated the terms of the contract with her. Until the end...

"Rumple tried to kill you?" Regina asked.

"No, he didn't try to kill me. He knew that he couldn't. He used me to further his agenda. He had me give him things that I wouldn't have had I been in the right mindset when he asked for them," Will explained.

"Such as?" Belle asked.

"My mother's cloak, my father's cloak, and a lock of Regina's hair," Will stated.

Regina's face betrayed nothing of the information. Emma saw the anger in her eyes, but saw her stoic resolve masking her true emotions. It was a normal "queenly/mayoral" feature. Belle however didn't hide her shock at the knowledge. She visible gasped as she stared all Will.

"That is how he cast the blood curse, then," Belle said resolutely.

"Yes," Regina answered for her.

Will watched Regina's eyes. They always betrayed her, all least for Will. They had been so close once... But, it had been a lifetime ago and people change.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know why he wanted it. I just had to leave."

"I understand. Had I known, I would have found it and destroyed it. We both know how well Rumple will manipulate you for his own gains, dear. Do not worry about it. It just gives me another reason to destroy him if he decides to rise up against the community. No, Belle, I am not going to kill him, now. I have promised both you and Coraline that I won't. I keep my word."

Belle nodded at her. She wasn't sure if she should be grateful for that or not. She wasn't sure what Regina would do, but she knew that with Regina and Emma that they were stronger together. They would have to take Rumple on together to destroy them. Or, Belle could just give them the dagger. She worried that if she gave them the dagger that Regina would become the new Dark One and she would give into the darkness.

Regina shook her head. She could tell what Belle's thoughts were. Emma cocked her head in question, but before she could say anything, Regina did. It would be enough to assuage their fears. Regina didn't want the dagger. She didn't want the power anymore. She wanted her family to be safe and taken care of. If she had to destroy Rumple to get that, then she would, but she wouldn't assume his power.

"I would find another way, Belle. I will not let myself or anyone else become the Dark One. That power stops with him. No one needs that much power. No one needs that much darkness."

"Thank you," Belle replies, simply.

Regina stands up. She picks up the tray and heads towards the kitchen. She is effectively leaving Will with Emma and Belle, knowing that they all need to talk. They need to understand more about what being Vulcannonian means. Regina knew. She knew all too well.

She was still trying to steady herself around Will. She was fighting urges long buried. She didn't expect that her reunion with Will would be easy, but she didn't expect to feel the way she did. She was actually afraid of herself and she didn't like it.

She began to wash the dishes, not paying attention to the fact that Emma had come in behind her. Emma had come to help her. She knew that Belle and Will had plenty of questions for each other, especially when it came to Will's old brother Rohan. It was a sore subject for both of them and one that they needed to get passed so they could continue to work on defeating the coming Blackness. Emma just knew that Will would help them. She loved Coraline too much not to.

Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and kissed her just below her right ear. Regina melted a little into before she straightened herself. Emma could feel the Queen taking over. She kissed down her neck from her ear to the collar bone, never breaking the lip to skin contact.

"Emma…"

"Tell me about her," Emma stated.

"About who?"

"Will."

"What do you want to know?"

"'You said that she was your servant," Emma started.

"She is."

"But, yet, she didn't come with you during the Curse. I would have thought with someone as important as she was to you that you would have brought her with you. You would have wanted her close to your side, to protect you and to help you revel in your success and almost happiness."

"I would have."

"Why didn't you?"

"She'd run away before I ever thought to cast the Curse." Regina answered.

"She ran from you?"

"I don't know that it was from me, Emma. And, that bothers me on so many levels. I don't want it to, but it does. We were very close, but our relationship was very, very complicated."

"Okay, then tell me about it," Emma stated.

"I can't... it is just that... She loves Coraline. And, her love for Coraline complicates things more than I realized. I care for them both. I don't want Coraline to get hurt because of something that I did in my past," Regina replied.

"I am sure that it won't, Regina. You need to let the past go if you are going to keep moving forward. We both need you to do this," Emma tells her as she moves her hand to the space below her stomach, but between her hips. "Because Coraline could already be in there. We need to make sure that our love will be strong enough for her and for us, Regina. Nothing else matters but our family. Are you willing to risk that?"

"Never."

"Good, because I am not either."

"You should talk with Wilhelmina, Dear," Regina suggested.

"Why?"

"Because I can tell that there is something between the two of you," Regina told her.

"She saved me, Regina. That is all. She taught me a trade. She helped me move on from Neal and prison. She saved me. She helped me become a better person," Emma told her.

"Then she needs to know that."

"Why?" Emma asked.

"Because you are still her friend and she is in love with our daughter. Do you think that it is easy for her? She is still bound to me by contract and you by friendship. You have to admit that her loving Coraline has to be slightly strange"

"It's no different than me loving you," Emma replied.

And for an instant, Regina believes her. She gives a half laugh because it was true. They were all around the same age. But, Emma doesn't know how Regina abused her and Wilhelmina willingly took the abuse. She can't. Will would have never told her that. And now, she knows that Will never will. She has sworn to keep their secret.

But, Emma is Emma. She will find out. And, Regina doesn't know how to stop it. Part of her doesn't want to stop it. Part of her wants to tell Emma everything because she knows that it will help her find some absolution and it will help her heart feel lighter and heal. Emma just wouldn't understand. The contract is still binding. Wilhelmina is still hers, even in this world. Will would bow to her and ask for her permission…for anything and everything.

"Regina?" Emma asked, feeling the tension building again.

"Talk to Will, please. She can help you understand. She can tell you things I can't."

"Like what?"

"Why we had our contract," Regina tells her, dropping the cups into the water in the sink.

"What is it, Regina?"

"Talk with her, please. If you have any questions, I will answer them. But, it should come from her first. If nothing else, talk to her about Coraline."

"What do I need to talk to her about, Regina?"

"She is our daughter and they are together...or whatever it is. You need to talk to her. You are the more...you know what I mean," Regina told her.

"I don't actually. Because that, all of it, made no sense, Regina. What the Hell are you trying to tell me?"

"You need to talk to them both. You need to find out what Will's intentions are with Coraline. I don't want her getting hurt. They both would not like the outcome."

"Regina, chill."

"I will not 'chill,' Emma. She is our daughter. She is our responsibility. We have to take care of her, Emma. We have to make sure that she is okay. We aren't there for her later..."

"Regina, whoa. Calm down. I'll go talk with Will, but it won't be about that. I'll talk to her though. Coraline is a grown woman. She can make her own choices, even if I don't agree with them. And, obviously, you don't agree with them, but we can't stifle her now. We've lost the right. All we can do is love her and tell her how much we love her," Emma told her.

"I know."

"Then, I'll go and talk with Will, okay?"

"Yes, Dear. I'll be okay. Go and talk with Will."

Emma gave her a big squeeze and kissed her neck. She let her go, knowing that they would have to talk about all of this again later, alone. Regina needed her space to think at the moment. Emma understood that. Regina needed to process everything that she had learned in the past few weeks. It was a lot to take in, especially since they knew that they were all fantastic in origin. It was something else when you were confronted with it and made to face it like this.

They needed each other. They all did. Each of them had their own special magic or talent that they brought to the mix. They could only hope that it would be enough to help them deal with the Blackness that was coming. And, they knew it would be soon.

Emma turned in the door way and looked at Regina. She was beautiful. It didn't matter that she was tragically flawed. They all were, but Regina had turned it around. She was making up for her past mistakes. She was proof that not everything was black and white and Emma thanked whatever deity brought them all together that she leaned a little more to the gray side of things.

She closed her eyes and hoped that they would find a way. She didn't want Regina to be alone. She deserved her happy ending and Emma was glad that it was her. She stared at her back and hoped that she was pregnant, because it could mean they had a chance this time. They were changing things. She knew that they were. She could hope that it would be enough. She knew that Coraline was holding back on how had things really were or it could just be that she had the flawed memories of a child. Either way, Emma was determined to save her family...all of it.

"Will, can you speak with me, alone?" Emma asked Will during the lull between insights with Belle.

"If you wish, yes. I am sure that you have plenty of questions to ask me. I am not sure that my answers will make you feel any better, Emma. But, I will do what I can for you."

"That is all I ask," Emma stated.

"Do you want to talk about Coraline as well?"

"Is there something that we need to talk about?" Emma asked.

"I love her, Emma."

"I know. How else could you have hurt her so completely? She loves you, too."

"You aren't upset?" Will asked her.

"Should I be?"

"You're her mother. I would think that you would have some sort of objection to me. You know me better than most in this town, Emma. You know me as well as Regina and Snow do. And, yet, you aren't going to say anything to me about it?" Will questioned.

"A few weeks ago, I would have. Trust me on that, but I have had time to think it through. I wouldn't be doing anyone favors. I know how well I reacted to my parents trying to parent me. I wasn't there for her during her formative years, but from what I've seen, Red and Belle did right by her. She is a strong, sensitive survivor. She unfortunately reminds me of me."

"I can see that," Will replied with a slight laugh.

"Can you really?"

"Trust me when I say that isn't what attracted me to her, Emma. I can see you in her, but she isn't you. She is her own person. She has made her way in her world. She is trying to find her way here. She didn't ask for any of this. She was just as surprised as I was that we fell for each other. I respect you and Regina. I don't want to hurt her."

"Then don't," Emma said simply.

"I wish it was that simple."

"It can be, Will. If you love her, love her. If you don't, let her go and let her find her happiness. There is no honor in holding on because you think that you have to do it," Emma told her.

"I would never do that," Will replied.

"I know that. Besides, I am sure that Regina has already threatened you. She is a little more... defensive when it comes to the kids. I know that you know her power. I know that you fear it. I know that you know what she could do to you, if she chose. She hasn't and she won't. She actually came to me and talked with me about Coraline," Emma stated.

"Why?"

"Because I can uniquely understand my daughter's position."

"I would say so, but you didn't go to the past," Will stated.

"Actually I did. I kinda rewrote how my parents met. Almost stopped myself from being born, it wasn't a great experience, but it wasn't a horrible one either. But, it also gave me a healthy respect for not wanting to time travel anymore. I may not completely forgive my parents for sending me here and my upbringing, but I understand why they did it. I also understand why Coraline does, but doesn't, want to forgive both me and Regina for leaving her," Emma said.

"Have you talked with her about that?" Will asked.

"Not really. I know that I should, but I am scared that I won't like the answers. Plus, we don't know if anything that she is doing here is going change anything. If it doesn't, she is going to have to wait over twenty years from losing us to find out anything more about us. She was angry with us for dying. She didn't understand that we did it to protect her. Now, being here, seeing us, learning about all our histories and what we are willing to do for our family, she sees it. She understands it. I don't dare to think that she totally forgives us, but she is on her way to finding a way to live with it all," Emma replied.

"Does that make you happy?"

"She makes me happy. I am sorry that I won't be there for her. That is why we are fighting so hard to find a way to stop this Blackness. I don't know what it is. Regina doesn't either. And from what little information that Coraline can actually remember from fighting it as a child, I don't know that we will ever truly be prepared for it. And, that alone, is my greatest fear now."

"I understand. I will do what I can for her…for you…for everyone. We will find a way to defeat it. I will not let her be alone. I promise you that," Will swore to her.

"Calm down, Will. You aren't even there. She has never mention of you from her past. I don't know that you are there to help. You might die, too, for all we know. This Blackness is not like any curse that the Forest has ever seen or fought. The truth is we don't know anything."

"I need to talk with the Queen," Will stated.

"Regina?"

"Yes, I need to talk with her Majesty," Will said.

"Here we just call her Mayor," Emma joked, punching Will in the arm.

Will nodded and turned to leave the room. She stopped in the doorway and turned to face Emma again. She could see the confusion in her eyes about the relationship that she had with Regina.

"I am her servant, Emma. Nothing more, I swear to you. My heart belongs to Coraline."

Emma gives her a slight grin and bobs her head in understanding fashion. Will leaves the room this time. Emma sits down on the couch and stares at the fire place. She wills it to light and it does. She silently congratulates herself for doing on the first try.

"I see you've been practicing," Regina tells her, coming to join her on the couch.

"I have."

"Do I need to be worried about Will, Regina?"

"Only if she hurts Coraline," Regina replied.

"Will you tell me what she is to you? I need to know. Make me understand it," Emma told her, but Regina can hear the desperation in her voice.

"She is nothing more to me than a personal knight."

"You sure?"

"Very," Regina replied.

"She calls you 'Majesty'," Emma stated.

"I know."

"You don't correct her," Emma replied.

"I … I will always be her queen."

"Why?"

"Because of the contract between us."

"Will you release her?"

"That remains to be seen," Regina stated, standing and making her way to the mantle.

She stares at the fire. So many memories come flooding in her brain. She doesn't want to hurt Emma, but she knows that if she tells Emma the complete truth, she will. Their relationship was new. Her relationship with Will is crazily complicated. She sighs, conjures a shot of whiskey and drinks it quickly. She turns around to see Emma stalking up behind her.

"Tell me, Regina. Make me understand it. I don't care. I know that it was your past, but make me understand it. I need to know…I need to know for Coraline's sake," Emma stated.

"Very well…"

A/N: Things might seem to be slowing down a little in the story for awhile. There is going to be few more flashbacks to explain more in depth their relationships to each other. And, we might just meet Rohan and Pyroxes. Leave me some love and tell me what you think. It makes my muse happy.