We were still sitting in Emma's bug in front of the bakery when the golden aura finally faded. We hadn't said anything for the entire time, and the awkward silence afterwards was almost tangible.

Finally, Emma broke the silence. "Wow," she breathed. I nodded; my thoughts exactly. There was a lot of information to sift through. "So...she was..."

"Yes," I said in a low voice.

"And...Eleanor was..."

"Yes."

Emma nodded slowly. "Okay. That's...wow. I was not expecting that."

"Me, either." My mind was reeling. My mother...with a woman? I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. But if that were true. how had she become the cold, intolerant woman I knew? What had happened to her?

"So...let's go home and figure this out," said Emma. Sensing my anxiety, she placed her hand on my arm and rubbed it gently. It succeeded in calming me down enough for me to function. I took a deep breath, and nodded in agreement.

Emma started the car and began driving back to the house. "So," Emma started, "Cora was abused after her mother's death because her father blamed her for her death."

"And she died to save my mother," I said. Was that why Mother never told me about her? Because she felt responsible for her death? My head fell slightly as I realized how I felt whenever Henry asked me about his grandfather. I supposed my mother and I were more alike than I'd previously thought.

"Yes," Emma continued after a moment. "Then Eleanor came along, and they developed..." Emma struggled to find the right word. "A crush? Then Dad finds out, gives his daughter a memory potion, and probably a serious beating..." Emma suddenly stopped talking. "Oh, Regina, I'm so sorry."

"What..." Then I felt them: traitor tears falling down my cheeks. I wiped them away quickly. "I'm fine," I said. My voice cracked, however. Get it together, Regina, I thought to myself.

"Regina, I didn't think..." Emma scrambled desperately for words. "I went in full sheriff-mode, and I didn't see..." She stopped, and her shoulders drooped ever-so-slightly. "I'm sorry.

"It's fine." I forced myself to stop crying and tried to smile. "Don't worry about it." Inside, however, I wasn't fine. Inside I was thinking about my mother and the horrible life she had to go through, and all the things my grandfather must have done to make her into the woman who raised me. But I wouldn't let Emma know that. "I think you're right about what happened," I said after a moment. "But now what? We're no closer to figuring out how to defeat her than we were before."

We finally made it to the house. Emma took the keys out of the ignition and sank in her chair, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Maybe," whispered Emma. She said nothing for a bit after that, and we fell into another moment of silence.

"Maybe," she said again, in a slightly louder voice, "or maybe not."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when I forgot about Storybrooke after the first curse, there was a potion that made me remember. Couldn't there be something like that to use on Cora?"

"Probably," I answered, "but there are hundreds of potions and spells to make someone forget something, and depending on which one was used in her-especially since it's been in effect for this long-it could be almost impossible to make it!"

Emma crossed her arms with a cocky grin. "I'm loving the 'almost.'"

I groaned. Sometimes she could be so stubborn and overconfident. Slowly, however, I realized that her plan, though far-fetched, was the only one we had left. "Okay," I sighed. It wasn't a horrible plan, just unlikely, and I supposed that the only reason that we were still breathing was because we took a chance on some unlikely plans. I began to feel hope once again rising in my heart as I let myself be moved by Emma's confidence. "We should head back to your parents' place to let them know what's going on, and to check up on Henry."

"Good plan," said Emma. I got out of the car and started walking away from the house. After a few seconds I noticed that Emma wasn't with me. I turned around just in time to see her getting out of the car. Her hand slipped into her pocket briefly, like she was stuffing something inside. I looked at her curiously for a moment, but quickly shook it off. It was probably nothing.

"Hey, everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Well, come on. Let's get going."

"Actually, I need check something out really quick. I'll catch up with you in a bit, alright?"

I hesitated. "I don't know," I said nervously. "Do you really think it's smart for us to split up right now?"

"Don't worry, Regina," Emma reassured me. "I can handle myself."

"I know," I said, walking over to her and taking her hand, interlacing my fingers with hers. "I just get worried: she is determined to see you out of my life. I...I don't think I can-"

"Hush," Emma whispered, gently placing a finger on my lips, them moving her hand to cup my cheek. "It will all be okay. I'll only be twenty minutes behind you." I smiled softly and leaned into her touch. Her hands were so soft and warm and comforting. Then, suddenly, she cupped her hand around the back of my neck and pulled me forward until her lips smashed onto mine. My eyes widened in surprise, but after a moment I closed them and quickly fell into her rhythm. The kiss started out slow, but soon grew in speed and intensity. With her other hand Emma grabbed my shoulder to pull me even closer. Her tongue expertly explored mine, guiding me in an intricate dance that made me weak at the knees. I wrapped my arms around her waist, inside of her leather jacket, and pressed my hips against hers. Finally, reluctantly, Emma pulled her lips away from mine and pressed her forehead against mine.

I was breathless, and a little bit dizzy. Was I still standing up straight? I started to sway; Emma had to steady me. "That was a 'see you in twenty' kiss?" I asked breathlessly.

Emma chuckled bashfully. "Yeah."

"Mmm. Maybe we should do that more often."

"Agreed." Emma let go and backed up. "I'll see you soon." I thought I caught a flicker of sadness in her emerald eyes, but when I blinked it was gone. Perhaps it had just been my imagination. "I love you," said Emma.

"I love you, too."

Then Emma got back in her car and drove away. I tried to wave at her, but she didn't seem to see me. My hand slowed, then lowered as I watched her drive away in her yellow bug. When she disappeared around the bend, I started walking towards Mary Margaret's place. As I walked, I couldn't help but admire the buildings around me. Although it was originally made to be a dark and dreary place, Storybrooke had its own unique charm that always spoke to me. I loved my daily strolls to work, and would often take Henry places for an excuse to share my special moment with him.

Suddenly, I heard a noise off to my left. Perhaps it was an animal? Judging by the volume, it would have had to of been a large animal. The sound came from a narrow space between two of the buildings; it couldn't have been more than three feet across. It was dark and gloomy. The part of the ground I could see was dirty and damp, and littered with trash. Just as I was about to dismiss it and walk away, I heard another sound, like someone was groaning in pain.

"Hello?" I inquired cautiously. "Is someone there?"

I heard nothing. For a moment I thought I'd just imagined it. Then, I heard someone pleading from the shadows. "Please...help," the voice groaned.

"Hold on!" I walked into the dark alley, the damp smell rising from the dirty cement below my feet. I stepped over crushed cardboard boxes and crumpled papers, trying to avoid touching the mysterious substance spotted across the walls. I estimated that I must have been about halfway down, but the shadows still concealed much of the alley. I hadn't heard from the mysterious voice for a bit, which made me uneasy. "Hey, are you okay back there?" I asked. No answer. "Hello? Sir?" Still no answer. I didn't like this. Every instinct told me to turn back...but what if he'd passed out? If he needed my help, how could I leave him?

Suddenly, a puff of red dust enveloped me. Before I could think I gasped, inhaling the substance. Immediately I could feel my eyes drooping, and my body swaying from side to side. I fought against it, grasping at my consciousness. But I couldn't stop it, and I fell heavily to the ground. Just before I fully lost consciousness, I saw the dark outline of a man looming over me. Then everything went black.