Had forgot I had this story from a while back so thought I'd post it and I just need to tweak the final chapter.

For the purpose of this story, I have changed the timeline slightly. The curse also broke amicably.

Chapter 1

Lifting her head slowly off the booth table, Emma yawns with a frown before reaching for her head. "Oh my god...Ruby...Ruby..wake up..." Hearing a groan come from behind and near the jukebox, the blonde tilts her head carefully to find her new found friend slumped against the machine while using her purse as a pillow.

"Em?..what...what the hell did we do?"

Sitting herself up to then slump against the booth seat, the young woman pouts as she rests her head back. "Too many shots..is my guess..oh god my parents are going to kill me.."

Shifting her purse to settle back against it, the tall brunette protests. "No..knowing Snow she will smother you..with hugs.."

Sniggering, Emma then groans at the sharp movement. "I hope not.." Hearing the door to the diner open and close, the blonde lifts her head.

"Well what do we have here? I'm sure Granny will have a few choice words as to what has happened to her diner.."

Mumbling quietly, Ruby sulks at the mayor. "The diner isn't open for another hour..why are you so early for your coffee?"

Raising an eyebrow, Regina then smirks as she makes her way to either side of the entrance and pulls on the blinds to open them. "I'm not here for coffee dear but I had noticed movement inside when the place is supposed to be closed. Cannot be too careful now can we?"

Screwing up her nose, the blonde covers her face with her hands as a squeal escapes Ruby's lips and her purse is shoved in front of her face at the sudden light. "Regina!"

"Ruby Lucas, what in gods name did you do last night?!"

Eyes widening, the waitress sits upright and peers across to her Granny stood in the kitchen doorway with her hands on her hip and a stern expression plastered on her face. "Granny..please...no shouting.."

Shaking her head in disbelief, the older woman sighs. "Seriously Ruby I know you like to enjoy a night out but dragging Emma too.."

Biting her lip to prevent a smile at the brunette getting the blame for her drunkenness, Emma then sobers slightly at the curious gaze she is receiving from the mayor stood by the table.

"I expect you to get upstairs and out of my sight before any of my customers are put off their breakfast young lady!"

With a simple nod towards her grandmother and a wave to her friend, Ruby manages to pull herself up against the jukebox and guide herself along the wall towards the back staircase.

Walking up to the booth in which the young blonde is in, Granny looks down at her. "If I were you, I'd go home before they send out a search party"

Realising her situation, the blonde slides out of the booth to stand. "I..I don't think I'm ready to do that but..sorry Granny and it wasn't completely Ruby's fault..she was just trying to cheer me up.." Watching the older woman leave to prepare the kitchen for opening, Emma glances down guilty before pushing against the table to move herself away and towards the door with a stumble and a tiny wince. Turning her head slowly at feeling a pair of arms take hold of her own from behind, the blonde's eyes widen over her shoulder towards the Mayor who has hold of her.

"Let me help you..where are you going to go dear?"

Gulping slightly, Emma hesitates for a moment. "..I don't know..maybe the docks for some air?"

Shaking her head disapprovingly, Regina helps lead Emma outside the diner carefully. "You can barely walk..and despite past situations involving certain people who at the time I despised, I will not leave you to fall into the harbour to then have Snow and Charming on my case"

Giving a small smile at the care shown, the blonde then shrugs as she squints through the daylight. "I don't know..but I don't want them..they fuss too much I just..I wish they would back off a little..is there anywhere in town that I could hide for a while?" Rubbing her forehead, Emma pouts again.

Pursing her lips together in thought, the mayor slowly nods. "I know just the place where no one will think of looking.."

"Where?"

"Mine.." Turning the young woman to face her which gains a confused expression, the brunette offers a reassuring smile. "I'm sorry to do this but you can't walk dear and I'm not dragging you home when I haven't got my car. Hold on"

"What are you-" being cut off at a swirling feeling, Emma screws her eyes shut then peeks one open when the dizziness stops to find herself stood within the foyer of the former Queen's house. "Oh..."

Quickly tightening her grip as the young blonde stumbles from the sudden movement, Regina then slides her hands off of Emma's waist at the wide eyed look she is receiving. "If you want..you can use the guest room to take a nap for your head.."

Mutely nodding, the blonde leans against the mayor again and holds onto the banister as they head upstairs. Reaching the top, Emma pauses in her step and looks worried.

"Emma?"

Confirming her fears, the young woman breathes heavily. "I think I'm gonna be sick.."

At the panicked statement, Regina hurries the blonde into her own bedroom and through to the ensuite. Watching as Emma drops in front of the toilet, the brunette cringes in sympathy then situates herself beside the blonde while taking hold of her hair. "Maybe magic wasn't the right way to get you here..I'm sorry"

Side glancing the older woman as she sits back against the wall, Emma attempts a smile as she calms down. "We would still be in Main Street if you didn't.."

"It's a possibility.." Smiling back, the former queen gathers up the rest of the blondes hair and ties it with a loose braid. Noticing the small raised eyebrow, the brunette grows coy and releases the tail. "Sorry..habit..it's how I used to.." Trailing off, Regina switches from her knees to sit beside the younger woman before reaching across and settling a reassuring hand to Emma's thigh which was currently shaking from the force of being sick.

Composing herself, the blonde exhales slowly. "That nap sounds good right now.."

Rising up, the mayor takes hold of the young woman's hands and tugs gently to help her stand. "Let's get you to bed then. Forget the guest room, you'll stay in my room so you can be near the ensuite.."

Not having the energy to argue, Emma leans against the brunette again as they walk through to the bedroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, the young woman removes her shoes then glances down at herself and the uncomfortable looking, tight dress she is wearing.

"Here.."

Looking back up, the blonde gives a small yet tired smile at the older woman as she passes over some pyjamas for Emma to borrow. "Thanks.."

Nodding, the former Queen turns around so the young woman can have some privacy to change. Catching a slight glimpse in her vanity mirror, Regina swallows hard. "I'm just..going to get you some..water"

"Okay" oblivious to the situation, Emma changes then crawls into the bed, letting out a sigh of relief as she hits the pillow.

Returning with some water and aspirin, the brunette fights the urge to tuck the woman in at seeing her small pout, clearly feeling sorry for herself. "When you feel better just leave everything where it is and I will sort it when I get home"

"What, where are you going?" Sitting up slightly concerned about being left, Emma then looks to her lap realising how silly she sounds. "I just meant..I..would..could you at least stay here until I go to sleep?"

Taken aback by the request, the former Queen walks closer to the bed. "Emma..if you wanted help, why not let your mother help you?"

"I told you she-"

"Is too much? Which on a normal day, I would agree with you on however, I feel that you are hiding something. You want what you are pushing away..let me call Snow and she can come and stay here with you"

"No!" Wincing at her own loud voice, the blonde then huffs.

Frowning, Regina rolls her eyes at Emma's stubbornness then shakes her head in disbelief before heading towards the door to leave only to stop at hearing a whisper.

"I don't deserve them.."

Turning around, the brunette leans against the doorframe and crosses her arms. "What do you mean you don't deserve them? They don't deserve you. I'm not passing blame because yes I did cast the curse and they had to make a choice because of me but they chose to put you in that wardrobe.."

Hugging her pillow close, Emma turns on her side to face the window. "Looks like abandoning children runs in the family then.."

Staring confused, the mayor pushes herself off the frame and walks back over before sitting at the empty spot near the blonde and tilting her head to meet the young woman's eyes. "What do you mean?"

Hearing the concern and softness to the brunette's voice, the blonde grows teary. Shifting position to sit beside the young woman, Regina rests back against the headboard while placing a hand to the blondes arm. "Emma?.."

"I grew up never knowing what a family was..I was so desperate to find one that as soon as someone showed an interest, I gave everything I had..only to be tricked..I..I ended up in prison for less than a year but..but in that time I found out I was pregnant and gave my child..my son away..I couldn't keep him while I was in jail..I just wanted his best chance.."

Shocked by Emma's confession, the mayor struggles to find the words in which she wants to ask. "Emma I..what..where is he now?"

Sitting herself up against the headboard before wiping her face from an onset of tears, the blonde bites her lip in guilt. "Hopefully with a good family..I did exactly to him what I hated most growing up. All the questions that will end up going through his head. Why was I not wanted? Who and where are my parents?" Clasping her hands together nervously, Emma's eyes gloss over in fear. "What if he doesn't have a family and he is stuck in a place not wanted like I was..he shouldn't have to go through that but if I hadn't done what I did, the first year would have been sleeping in my car and I wouldn't have been able to feed him.."

Rubbing the blondes arm in comfort before moving her hand up to the young woman's shoulder, the former Queen clears her throat. "Would you..would you like to find him?"

"I'd give anything to find him..and if he was in a bad situation I'd take him home with me straight away..but if he was in a happy family then I'd leave him be.."

"Then I will help you. I still have connections on the outside for being mayor, even if they don't know of the town.." Staring at a side glance, Regina smiles at the blonde.

Simply nodding as she does not trust her voice to speak as she gets teary again, Emma drops her head down onto the brunette's shoulder before finally building her courage. "I still feel like crap.."

Chuckling, the brunette hesitantly lifts her hand to the blondes hair in a soothing manner. "It's your own fault dear..my sympathy only goes so far"

"Oh thanks.."

Laughing again, Regina runs her hand through the young woman's curls in the hope of helping her off to sleep. Slowly closing her eyes, Emma smiles. "Thank you though..really..for all this. I get the feeling that a lot of people don't get to see this side of you.."

"They never will..so if you want to keep your head I'd keep quiet.."

Sniggering, the young woman exhales calmly. "Did you ever actually do that? Take people's heads?"

"No dear, I've never taken a head..just..just hearts.." Swallowing hard, Regina looks down to see if the blonde is going to sleep anytime soon.

Hearing the guilt and remorse in her voice, Emma shifts herself closer and hugs into the brunette sleepily. "Sometimes..having someone else's heart to hold is a good thing.."

Thinking of what Snow's reaction would be to this current scene, the former Queen bites her lip. "Well you will have to let me know if that happens.." Noticing that the young woman is now asleep, Regina frowns to herself at the sudden feeling inside of her, prompting her to squeeze the blonde protectively. "..or when.."