A/N: Trigger warnings-talks about suicide and self harm

Chapter 10

Emma walked back into Henry's room with Regina. Henry stood up from his desk and came to them at the door. Emma looked up at their son and smiled.

"Mom, Grandma is waiting for you," he told her.

"Thank you."

"We're going to go downstairs and have some hot chocolate. Please join us when you're done. I am sure that you'll want to talk to us both then," Emma stated.

There was worry on Emma's face, but Regina couldn't let that stop her. She needed to do this before she lost her nerve. She needed to make things right and she needed to feel the forgiveness of the one person who wanted hers. She saw it as a win-win situation. Now, all she had to do is convince Snow of that as well.

"I am sure that I will. Thank you both for this. I am sure that this discussion will be quick."

Regina waited for them to leave before she closed his door. She crossed his room and sat behind the desk. She looked up into the mirror to see Snow sitting regally, waiting for her.

"Regina," Snow stated.

"Snow."

"I was surprised by your request to speak with me. I admit that we haven't talked in a great while. But, my only apprehension is that you asked to speak to me alone. Why is that?"

Regina looked into the mirror. She could see the apprehension in her hazel eyes. She studied Snow. Their eyes met and quickly they both knew that this wasn't a conversation that was going to be shared very well. Regina tried to hide her distress but she knew that Snow would find out everything soon enough.

"I need your help, your majesty," Regina answered.

Snow's head snapped up. She regarded the woman back in Storybrooke. She turned her head trying to get a read on Regina, but nothing about the situation was making sense to her. The fact that Regina had addressed her formally and with her title. She had just conceded so much with one phrase that Snow continued to question Regina's mindset.

"You are asking for my help?" Snow questioned.

"I am."

"With what?"

"Before I explain everything to you, I need to know that you will agree to it. This request is a multiple layered one and it is something that only you can do. It is a hard request for me to ask, but I know that I am asking for more than my own benefit. This first task that I ask of you will be hard for you, but I am sure that you will step up to the opportunity and accept."

"And, what would that be?"

"I need you to kill me."

"You want me to what?!"

"I didn't stutter, Snow. I need you to kill me. Don't worry. I will explain everything."

"I am not happy that you are with my daughter, but I think your death is a little extreme. I don't hate you, Regina. I never did. I misunderstood everything between you both. Can you honestly tell me that you want me to kill you while you love my daughter? Why would you ask this of me? What good will come of your death?" Snow asked her.

"As I said before, this is a task that only you can do for me. I wouldn't be asking you to do it if I could get someone else to do it. I need it to be you. I can explain everything to you, once you agree. You have to agree first and you have to promise not to tell Emma about this. I need to know that I can trust you in this. This isn't just for my life, Snow, or I wouldn't be asking."

"You want me to kill you?"

"I know that you have thought about it. It should be so easy for you. I destroyed your happiness and took your daughter from you for twenty-eight years. I would think that this would be an easy choice for you. You would get to end me," Regina explained.

"I banished you to Storybrooke. I had you bound so that you can't use magic and now, you offer me your life. What aren't you telling me?"

"Will you help me?"

"Tell me why?"

"Come here and I will tell you everything."

"You want me to come to Storybrooke? Now? So I can try to talk you out of this rationally?"

"If you want to use that as your reasoning, then sure, but I need an answer tonight."

"Would this have anything to do with Rhiannon?" Snow asked her.

Regina eyed her for a moment. She knew that Emma was going to talk to Snow about Rhiannon attending Henry's birthday party, but she realized with Snow's question that Emma had told her more about the situation than Snow would let on. Regina knew that she could try to down play everything but she also knew that she didn't have the time to do either. If she was going to make this work, it would have to happen tonight before they left for the Enchanted Forest. She needed to do it and have her magic back before they jumped through the portal for Henry's part.

"It has everything to do with Rhiannon. Will you come? Will you do this for me?"

Snow sat silently, staring at her. She didn't know what to say or what to do. How do you answer a question like that? How do you help someone kills themselves? How do you help your former enemy not only destroy themselves but also the happiness of her own daughter?

"You have my interest in this matter and since it not only concerns your life but the lives of both Henry and Emma, I will come to discuss with you. I am sure that David will not like my reasoning for coming so late there, but I see that you are set in your resolution. I am however disturbed that you did come to this decision on the eve of your son's birthday. Regina, I don't know if this is game or not. I can tell you are serious and it scares me, frankly. I will come, but know that I am not coming alone."

"I wouldn't expect you to, Dear. I'll let Ruby know to expect the twins. I am sure that she will enjoy some time with them before tomorrow festivities. I know that they care for their Godmother greatly," Regina stated.

"Let Emma know we are coming. But, for the love of her, Regina do not tell her why. I will not be responsible for her unhappiness. I will not be responsible for her anger."

"You won't. I will. I'll be waiting for you, Snow."

Regina was sitting at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee and watching Henry and Emma. She felt older than she had in ages. She felt like she had been wronged and she couldn't help but feel that she should be stronger. She didn't resent her life with Emma. She resented the fact that she herself had agreed to it.

"Henry, can you go to bed? We'll talk in the morning. I am sure that we will have plenty to tell you about the festivities," Regina asked him.

He looked at her over his hot chocolate and eyed her. He then turned his gaze to Emma, who nodded in agreement. He didn't know what was going on with his mothers, but he didn't like it. He knew that they were up to something and once again, they didn't believe him adult enough to handle it. He stood, reluctantly, took his mug to the sink and stalked out of the kitchen.

"Wanna tell me what that was about?" Emma asked once he was gone.

"We need to talk."

"I got that hours ago."

"Your parents are coming tonight."

"Wait, what?"

"Snow and David are coming here. They will be leaving the twins with Ruby. I've already called her. She's ready for them. I would send Henry there, but I know that he won't go."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Emma asked.

"I have asked your mother for help with something and she has agreed. They should be here shortly. I told her that I would discuss the matter with her alone and that I needed her here to do it. I need to know that you will support me in this," Regina stated.

"How can I support you when I don't know what you are doing?"

"Fair enough, Emma, fair enough. I know that things have been hard on us these past few years. I haven't been the same since my banishment. I also know that it isn't fair that you have to bind me. I am going to discuss my punishments with your mother."

"You are going to try to get her to let you be unbound?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes, that is the gest of the discussion that I will be having with her. I need to know that you support me in that. We are going to discuss it either way, but I would like to know that you support my decision," Regina stated.

"I do. I love you, Regina. Even though no one else can see passed your past, I never knew the Evil Queen. I have only ever known Regina. And, to be honest, you have gotten rather boring."

"Thanks, Dear."

"No, I mean that you have lost some of your fire. When we fight now, you back down. I don't want you kowtowing to me. I like it when you fight back. It lets me know that you still have the passion that I fell in love with. I think even Henry can see it."

"Did he say something?"

"He told me that you didn't seem right. But, he thinks it is because of Rhiannon and I agreed with him. I don't know what your promise is to her, and it is your business, but you have been more demure since her arrival that I want to throw something."

"Well, thank you for that information. You should have said something earlier. I didn't expect it to get this bad. I guess I just got depressed and there wasn't anything that I could do to release some steam," Regina stated.

"Like what?"

"Throw some fireballs at your ass, for one," Regina quipped.

"Now, there is my Queen."

"But, seriously, I need to speak with Snow and Rhiannon alone. I need to know that you and Henry will be alright with David. I know that it is late and all, but I need to do this now."

"Whatever you need. I'll get Henry. We can go hang with the girls and Ruby."

"Thank you, but I'm sure that we won't be gone long. You know how Henry likes to worry about you. He knows that something is up and he'll want to be here for it."

"I know. Just keep him away long enough for us to talk. I'll text you when it's good to come back," Regina told her. She sighed, took Emma's hand, and then looked into her green eyes with as much passion as she could muster, "I love you."

"I love you, too. It'll be okay. You'll see."

"How do you know?"

"It's a Charming thing."

"Hope beyond reason, I know."

"Hey, it'll be okay. I broke the curse. True love won out. Everything is going to be fine."

"I wish I had your optimism. I know that David isn't going to like Snow being alone with me and Rhiannon. He doesn't know her and well with my reputation, I don't blame him. But, this is a royal matter and well, all three of us are queens in our own rite."

"And, David is just a Prince?"

"Something like that, Dear," Regina answered.

"Don't worry about Dad, I'll talk to him. But, remember, he was the first one that didn't care about us. True love and all, I am sure that he'll let you talk to Snow without too much fuss. Besides he'll have Henry and the girls to contend with. It'll be fine."

"I hope that you are right."

Emma pulled her into a hug and willed her to feel the optimism flowing through her. Regina took every bit of warmth she could from Emma. She knew that this night would be hard on the all and she didn't want to see the suffering on Emma's face. It was late; she knew that, but she also knew that Emma really knew her plans that she would stop her.

"Mind if we come in," Snow said, with Henry and the lot in tow.

"No, please."

"Don't want to interrupt a private moment," David told them, smiling at Emma.

"Not to worry, Dad. Thanks for coming so quickly. I hope the portal jump wasn't too bad."

"Not at all," he replied.

"Regina, you needed to speak with me," Snow said, suddenly all business.

"Yes, I do. We can retire to my study. I just need to get Rhiannon and then we can discuss the matter at hand," Regina answered, suddenly turning back into the mayor.

Henry noticed the change in his mother's demeanor, but he didn't say anything. He gave Emma a questioning look, but she was studying her cell phone at the moment. He could tell that something was going on, but he would wait, hoping they would tell him what it was soon enough.

"Hey, Kid, how about you, me, your Gramps and aunts go bug Ruby for some ice cream?"

He studied Emma harder. He could see the pleading look in her eyes. He had seen it so many times before when she didn't want to talk about something out right. He gave her a stern look that reminded her so much of Regina, but smiled in the end and nodded.

"Good, then, let's go. Remember to let me know, so I can plan appropriately. And, don't make it a long night. We have things to do in the morning," Emma reminded them as she shooed her father, son, and two twin sisters out the door.

"Well, then, we can talk," Regina stated.

"I don't understand what's going on here, Regina, but I will tell you that I don't like it."

"I understand that Snow. I'll be brief again. I need you to kill me and unfortunately for the laws of magic in the Enchanted Forest, it wouldn't be the same. Magic in this world is different, but in a good way for me. Rhiannon will explain more of the situation, but you really are the only one who can help me accomplish this and it actually work."

"Am I late for the party?" Rhiannon asked joining them.

"No, you aren't."

"You must be Rhiannon," Snow stated as she took in the tall raven-haired woman.

"That I am. I am Queen Rhiannon of Tir Nan Og. I am pleased to make your acquaintance finally after all these years. It is an honor, your majesty," Rhiannon told her, bowing.

"Tir Nan Og?"

"Yes, majesty," she replied.

"You're from the land of the Faeries?"

"Yes, majesty, I am."

"Okay, Regina, what the hell is going on? You asked for a personal royal audience. I am here. Now start explaining or I'll call Emma back and let you tell her what you told me."

"Let's do this in my study. I have a feeling we are going to need some cider. This is going to be a hard discussion for us all and we will all have a part in my demise. This way if you please."

Regina didn't wait for them to acknowledge them. She slid open her study doors and walked inside. She immediately poured three tumblers of cider. She handed them out to each of them as they made their way into the room. She walked back over to the doors and closed them, before sitting behind her desk with her own tumbler. She took a long drink and then stared directly into Snow's icy blue eyes.

"As I said before, Snow, I need you to kill me."