A/N: Time traveling ahead! Now, there are some warnings for this one. There's cursing, mentions of sexual and physical abuse. If this may trigger, skip!

"And please, for the love of all that is holy, do not play with that spell book! It has extremely powerful abilities, especially after Zelena's magic was added to it. I'm trusting you with it while I'm gone, Swan."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it Gina. No screwing around with the book. As if I would spend my weekend reading through dusty old books when the Sox's are playing anyway." The brunette slipped into her black coat and tied the belt loosely before quirking a brow at her blonde friend. Emma just shrugged and rolled her eyes playfully. Regina promised Snow and Charming during a moment of weakness (about four glasses of wine) that she would join them and Henry on a trip to Boston to see some opera show. And because the vault had been broken into and the investigation was pending, all magical items were at the station with the klutzy blonde.

"Please, Emma, be careful with all of that dark magic. I know that you've learned to control your impulses but that's a lot of temptation." With that warning delivered, Regina leaned in and gave Emma's cheek a sweet kiss. The blonde savored the affection, leaning in further and squeezing the older woman's curvaceous hips.

"Alright, see you soon," Regina leaned in again and gave another kiss, this time to the corner of Emma's smiling mouth, "Don't get into too much trouble while we're gone."

Emma swung open the station front door, "That's a promise I can't make."

Regina just smirked knowingly before jogging into the rainy night toward Charming and Snow's van. The blonde watched the vehicle pass with a frown, waving at her mother and son, who were giving her thumbs up from behind the car windows. She was happy, ecstatic even, that her mother and… friend were getting along so well but she wanted Regina for herself. If the weekend had gone according to plan, Regina would've stayed and Henry would've been out of town and the two would have alone time. She wanted to just blurt out her feelings but was absolutely terrified at the same time. So she figured that having a nice dinner together, with some wine and chocolate, would give her courage to just do it, to kiss the brunette like they've both wanted for years. Because, yes, they knew about each other's feelings through a nosy third party but they were scared of changing things, especially after years of this routine, a comfortable one at that. But Robin was trying to weasel his way back into Regina's life after Zelena's tragic death a few months prior.

And there was no way in hell she was letting the pinecone steal her happy ending, not because she was too scared to make a move. No, she would tell the woman when she returned from her trip. With a sigh, Emma slammed the front door of the station and locked it just in case. There had been a string of robberies at the magical locations in town and there was no way someone was going to break into the station and steal Regina's stuff, not when it was her job to protect it.

She rounded her desk and peered at the duffel bag full of dark magic just lying at her feet and shivered. She may have learned to control her Dark One tendencies but the temptation was real and it was like shaking off an addiction. Being the Dark One made her understand Regina so much better, understand the struggle she went through after the curse broke. Dark magic was intoxicating, the power was immeasurable, and, yes, even the fear was somewhat satisfying to witness.

Her fingers twitched with curiosity, itching to rip that bag open and figure out what was inside. Zelena had been reformed but her dark magic was unrivaled. Even Emma was amazed by the envious woman's talent so her spell book was chock full of spells and information that would tempt any magic user.

"Ah hell, just a peek," Emma murmured as she hauled the bag onto her desk and ripped open the zipper. She pulled out the Wicked Witch's thick green book and brought it to her nose, taking a whiff of the dark magic wafting off the pages, "Mmm."

She placed her finger in the middle of the book, ready to open it, when she heard the front door open. She knew that the intruder had magic, as the door had been locked, so she stuffed Zelena's possessions back into the bag, not bothering to zip it close. She huffed when Rumple entered view, his limp prominent and his head held down. Ever since losing the burden of the Dark One's curse, he was a quiet, shy man with dreams of opening an arts and crafts store with Belle so that he could sell his homespun thread.

"Mr. Gold, hello. What can I do for you?" The man nodded his head in greeting but did not meet her eyes.

"Hello, dearie. Belle informed me that I could come get my stolen property back?" His voice was weak, constantly fading off quietly, and his hands were trembling on the cane, as if any social interaction scared him, which it probably did. He was such an introvert now, constantly apologizing to those he wronged and walking with his gaze on the concrete sidewalk to avoid eye contact.

"Yes, sir!" Emma added some enthusiasm in an attempt to make the man more comfortable. She swiveled to grab the plastic evidence bag and handed it to him. He glanced at her desk and his eyes widened a bit.

"I wouldn't play with fire, Ms. Swan." He gave the duffel bag another look before turning and limping out of the station, making sure to lock the door on the way. The blonde narrowed her eyes and snorted derisively.

"I'll do whatever I want," She grumbled as she plopped down in her desk chair and dropped the bag into her lap, "I'm the damn Dark One. I can do whatever the fuck I please, thank you very much."

She took the heavy book and placed it on its spine on top of the bag on her lap. She closed her eyes and skimmed her finger over the pages, randomly picking a page. But before she could see what she opened to, the station phone rang shrilled loudly. She groaned but leaned forward to answer anyway.

"Sheriff's station." She greeted, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder. She listened intently as Ruby informed her that she lost the scent of their latest suspect. Emma rolled her eyes before telling Ruby to go home for the night and that they would reconvene in the morning.

As Ruby said her goodbyes, Emma felt a tickle behind her eyes as they watered. The sneeze was loud and unexpected, not giving the blonde a chance to cover her mouth. The force of the action blew onto the page and Emma gasped when she saw wisps of black fly from the open spell book.

"Oh my—shit!" She vaguely heard Ruby calling out to her before she dropped the phone causing it to break on contact with the floor. She jumped from her seat, the duffel bag's strap hung on her arm as the book dropped onto the ground with a thump. The black wisps swirled violently as they grew in size. Emma tried to back away but the magic followed, practically swallowing her whole. It encased her completely, stinking her eyes harshly. She screwed her eyes closed and let out a scream. She felt air whooshing past her, causing goose bumps to appear, but she yelped when her knees buckle, like the ground no longer existed.

She dared to open her eyes and saw blue and white, "The fuck?"

Then she realized that the magic was holding her by her feet, holding her upside down, in the sky. She held her breath as she slowly tilted her head, trying to ascertain what the hell was happened. God, she wished she looked at the spell before answering the phone. She noticed that she was hugging the duffel bag to her chest, keeping it shut to avoid losing anything. How she had the frame of mind to do so as the magic took her would forever be a mystery. She unconsciously tightened her hold on the black bag, not wanting to lose anything and let Regina down.

She craned her neck, "Okay so tree's, a forest, and… is that a castle?"

The magic began dragging her through the air swiftly, making Emma cover her eyes with her arm. She heard vague whispers in her ear, which brought back ugly memories of a haunted foster home but she leaned closer to the sound, trying to make out the words.

"Understanding is the greatest gift of love so you must experience the plights they don't speak of," The deep, raspy voice murmured in her ear over and over until they reach the ground. It set her down gently and she stared up at the black, swirling wisps in awe. The magic floated closer, the scent of dark magic lingering around the blonde. The unseen force stated once more, loudly this time, "Understanding is the greatest gift of love so you must experience the plights they don't speak of."

"What does that mean?" Emma whispered into the still forest. She was terrified because the surroundings reminded her of her travels to the Enchanted Forest with Snow and she did not enjoy her time eating chimera and cleaning with leaves and stream water, "Where am I?"

The magic formed a funnel, swirling until it disappeared into the thin air, "Shit! Regina's going to kill me."

She shivered as a cold breeze hit her, grabbing the duffel bag angrily and throwing it onto the dirt floor. There was always something, a new baddie to overcome or some monster from the depths of hell ruining the town's property. And for some reason, she always found herself in the center of the drama. Though it was usually her fault.

"Regina's going to kill me, resurrect me, then kill me again." The blonde stood slowly, her aging joints cracking under her weight. As she stretched with her hand in the air, she felt the ground begin to vibrate, making the pebbles hop all around her. She swiveled in every way, trying to find the source but gasped when she say the familiar insignia. The insignia Snow had showed her proudly before hanging it up in the Charming's apartment. The White family crest was hung proudly from green and white carriages.

The strong steeds were racing forward in her direction and she contemplated what to do. She could stop them and possibly get help from her grandfather. But Leopold didn't know her and she would most likely end up in some dark dungeon, eating bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But she definitely couldn't wander the forest, not without Snow or Aurora or Mulan. She had their guidance last time but now? She was flying solo and she hardly knew how to camp, let alone survive in a medieval society.

Mind made up, she stepped into the worn dirt path and yelled, "Hey! Stop!"

The guard pulled on the reins and the horse yelped as they attempted to stop. The wheels skidded along the dirt, kicking up dust and making Emma sputter. Three guards jumped down from the now stagnant carriages, pulling out spears and holding it out toward her but she did not even flinch. I'm the fucking Dark One, you idiots.

The door of the front carriage slammed open and a grey-haired man stepped out in a long, gold overcoat. He held himself with grace and she could tell that this was the King, her grandfather. According to Snow, he was a kind, gentle leader and father but Emma wasn't so sure. One thing she discovered from the modern world was that men in power usually had an ego and pride, which was not to be tested if you wanted to survive. So she could only imagine a monarch, a man that was used to never being questioned, his word was law. She knew she had to tread carefully.

"Young wench, you've blocked my carriages." Leopold spoke gently but his tone was hard, almost as if to let Emma know that his current 'kindness' was not to be disregarded. She disliked him immediately. Leopold reminded her of every foster father she ever encountered. They believed she was below them, unworthy of the air they breathe.

Emma parted her pink lips to answer him but another familiar female voice interrupted, "My King?"

Emma felt a shiver, a heat automatically build in her belly, when she saw her. There, stepping down from one of the carriages was Regina Mills. She was younger, much younger, and she looked so different, so shy and soft-spoken. It unnerved her a bit. She wasn't the stubborn, dark woman with a wicked sense of humor and a snarky personality that she knew.

"Regina?" Well, shit. She didn't mean to say that out loud but it flew out and she watched as Leopold's eyes narrowed with jealously. It made sense. No one played with the King's toys. Then she peered at Regina, who stepped closer with wide eyes.

"Do I know—"

"Get back in the carriage!" Leopold roared and Emma clenched her fists when she saw Regina flinch back. Oh hell no. That was a classic sign of abuse, she knew from her time in the system. She saw it in her friends, in her siblings, and she felt her blood run cold at the thought that her grandfather hurt Regina. Emma was beginning to think that Snow didn't know what her father used to really be like. The Queen backed away like a wounded animal and scurried into her carriage as Leopold watched her with hard eyes.

"That's my Queen, young wench," He murmured condescendingly, quirking his brows, "I don't take well to people trying to steal my possessions."

Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep from berating this old asshole. Regina wasn't a possession to be had. She was to be treasured and worshipped like the beauty she was, "I knew her mother, Cora, in my youth, your majesty."

Her grandfather watched her with inquisitive eyes, obviously thrown off by the use of Cora's name. He straightened his stance before turning slightly, "What is your business in these parts, dear? And what attire are you donning?"

The tone of his voice when he uttered the pet name reminded her so much of Regina during that first year, when they clashed over Henry. She now realized that the brunette must've picked up on Leopold's spiteful mannerisms as she grew into the Evil Queen. She took a bit of her own monster, the one that haunted her at night, and used his hateful tactics against others. The blonde had to hold back an eye roll. That would've gotten a huff from Regina but from Leopold? It could get her head on a spike.

He watched her carefully as she answered smoothly, "I was venturing to your kingdom, your majesty, in order to see if could bring my business with me when I relocate."

Leopold smiled falsely, his yellowing teeth making Emma nauseous. She just wanted to punch them right out. He stepped closer to her, "Well then, dear, allow me to offer you safe travel."

He outstretched his arm toward the carriages and added, "You may travel with your old friend, my wife."

Emma quirked a brow, completely confused by his antics. In her world, when a woman claimed to know another woman, no one automatically thought that they were lovers. The default assumption was friends or acquaintances. Never in a million years would she think that the Enchanted Forest would be cool with lesbians, gays, or even being bi.

She startled when the guards lunged forward and gripped her arm painfully. She had to suppress the instinct to blow them halfway to Storybrooke as they hauled her to Regina's carriage. She counted that as a blessing though. She didn't want to imagine a long ride with the King, who was walking contentiously next to the guards.

"My Queen, your old friend will be joining us on the rest of our journey. Make room." Emma gritted her teeth at the order spilling from the old fart's lips. Did he not know how to be polite… or just nice in general? What a husband, Emma thought bitterly. She was shoved into the vehicle unceremoniously, almost falling face first onto the wooden bench. She twisted quickly, plopping on the seat, not wanting to give the smirking guards any more amusement.

Her glare was cut off by that familiar voice once more, "Hello…"

Emma snapped her gaze across the small carriage and for the first time, she was able to take in the utter beauty and eloquence Regina held. The brunette was staring at her expectantly and she realized that she had yet to introduce herself. She extended her hand but Regina stared at it befuddled. She was about to retract her hand when she felt Regina's fingers graze the top of the hand. Emma took the first step in order to show the woman the proper way to handshake. She watched as Regina kept her eyes downcast, a blush overtaking her cheeks. How adorable.

"I'm Emma Swan," The blonde bobbed their connected hands in greeting. Regina lifted her eyes and smiled coyly at her, making Emma's heart squeeze with desire. She wanted to scoop the woman up and just run away from the carriage, from Leopold and Snow. She wanted to save Regina from experiencing the events and abuse that led to her becoming the Evil Queen.

"A pleasure, Ms. Swan." Emma couldn't stop the snort that erupted from hearing Regina call her that. The blonde looked to their clasped hands but quickly frowned when she spotted Regina's raised sleeve. The skin of the brunette's arm was littered with bruises of all different colors. Emma felt the blood drain from her body. This was much, much worse than she thought.

She was snapped from her thoughts when Regina ripped her hand from Emma's to quickly cover her arm with her white sleeve. The young Queen blushed with embarrassment and fear, and Emma decided that she never wanted to see that look on Regina's face ever again.

"The King is a gentle, kind man," The comment was presented so oddly, like Regina had practiced it in the mirror a million times, "He is a good father and leader."

Emma curled her fingers on the bench by her thighs before whispering, "Being a good King and father doesn't make him a good husband or man."

Regina looked at the blonde in awe and Emma realized that the young Queen probably never heard anyone speak against the King. She smiled compassionately as Regina sagged a bit, like she was glad that she didn't have to keep up the charade any longer, "No, I suppose not."

The carriage jolted a bit and Regina quickly looked away from the guest, opting to stare out of the circular window next to her. Emma wanted to continue learning more about this enigma of a woman. This young Queen was shy and afraid yet her Queen was anything but. She needed to… understand. Suddenly, Emma knew what the magic meant. This was the Animus spell that Zelena had worked on for years. It was supposed to help couples in town during marriage counseling. It would take the spouse into a troubling time in their lover's past, a plight that was unknown to them. It supposedly brought couples closer together.

The carriage jumped again but Regina didn't budge and Emma kept her gaze on the brunette. If she listened to Zelena and Archie correctly when they babbled excitedly about it, the spell would wear off once the user discovers their lover's deepest quandary, the one issue that haunts their dreams.

"Thank you for allowing me to ride with you." Emma speaks softly and can see Regina contemplating whether to engage with her passenger or not. The blonde see's the brunette peeking at her out of the corner of her eye.

"I didn't have a choice." Regina replies lowly, almost as if she was afraid to be over heard. Emma chuckled, nodding in agreement. She smiled when Regina finally looked at her, a small quirk tilting the corner of her lips.

"What's your favorite color?" Blue.

"Blue! A light blue!" The brunette seemed so excited over such a simple question and Emma felt her heart break. Did Regina feel so unimportant and forgotten that she believed she didn't matter?

Emma forced a smile, "Mine's red."

"Well, red is beautiful as well!" God, Regina was so glad to have anyone's attention. It was killing the blonde just thinking of what could possibly go on behind closed castle doors.

"Do you have any hobbies?" Riding and tending to the apple tree.

"I have a beautiful horse at the palace. I enjoy riding," Regina bit her lip in contemplation and Emma wanted to swipe her tongue across it, "And I have a tree at the palace, an apple tree. I take pride in my apples."

Emma noticed that Regina never called the palace her home. When she was younger, she never called her placements home either. She called it the 'foster house'. She found that it made it easier when the parents sent you back. Emma could tell that Regina felt unwanted in the White palace and therefore believed she would be thrown out as soon as the King became tired of her. It was a defense mechanism she could definitely relate to.

"The King lets you have your tree?" She proceeded cautiously, hoping that the brunette will feel some sort of kinship and share with her. It looked like the Queen was looking for someone to understand, or just to ask about her, to notice her. Regina nodded slowly.

"It's protected by the Dark One's magic. The King couldn't remove it even if he wanted." Emma scrunched her brows, completely dumbfounded over the fact that Rumplestiltskin did such a kind deed for a woman he was molding into a depressed and ruthless villain. Well, the man had always been such a mystery.

"I'm glad that you are allowed at least that," Regina smiled softly, the scar on her upper lip stretching pleasantly, "Is he always so… annoying?"

Regina giggled suddenly and Emma felt warm with giddiness. She was the source of the usually sad woman's joy. The brunette whispered conspiratorially, "He's always that way… He's not… kind to me."

Emma felt her muscles tense, "Regina… does he hurt you?"

Regina's eyes glistened a bit and Emma had to hold back from launching herself across the carriage and wrapping her arms around the tiny brunette. She hated seeing Regina cry. But this woman didn't really know her. The young Queen was so lonely and found a confidant on a woman Leopold picked up off the street just because she inquired about her interests. She wondered how many times this woman would be burned and betrayed by people she trusted. Snow had already planted that seed of distrust but the Regina she knew was practically Fort Knox. What did he do to you?

Emma reached out her hand and caressed Regina's hand kindly, trying to convey that she didn't pity the woman but that she just cared. The brunette had no idea just how much she cared for her.

"He's a brute," The young woman shook, as if startled by the words flowing from her mouth. But the admission gave her a sense of liberty. She wasn't alone in this struggle any longer. She released a shaky breath, "He's a brute. I'm his possession. He takes me in every way he pleases and never asks for permission. He disciplines when I say no or cry. I don't want this life, Ms. Swan. I want to be free."

Emma felt her own eyes sting as the words reverberated through her soul. Being a runaway foster kid, all she had wanted was to run her own life, to be free from the system and the money-hungry foster parents. And she realized that she had been right all those years ago, her connection with Regina was unique and special. No one would ever understand her like Regina did.

"Me too." Suddenly the environment froze around her. She blinked quickly and waved her hand in front of the young Queen's face. She then felt a harsh breeze at her feet and gasped when she saw the black wisps growing and expanding at her feet.

Emma laughed, screwing her eyes shut as the magic encased her once more, "I just want to be free."

The low murmuring began again, "Understanding is the greatest gift of love and you've now experienced the plights she doesn't speak of."

Emma nodded blindly, "I just want to be free!"

"Emma?" She heard Regina's amused voice question, her deep, raspy, and flirty voice. The blonde snapped her eyes open and realized she was back at the station, looking ridiculous with her arms spread out, yelling at the ceiling. She glanced at the chuckling brunette, "I forgot my purse and Charming turned around. Are you alright, dear?"

The blonde lowered her arms, never taking her eyes off of the blonde, "We just wanted to be free."

The brunette stepped forward, concerned for the blonde's wellbeing, "Emma, what are you talking about?"

"When I was young, all I wanted was to be free of the system, to be my own person, to make my own decisions, to live my own life. And that's exactly what you wanted too. You wanted to run away from Cora, from the King, from Snow. But everyone was making decisions for you, just like the government used to make mine. We just wanted to be free, Regina. We wanted to be free."

Regina's mouth dropped open in surprise, "Emma…"

The blonde didn't let her finish her sentence. She gently placed her lips over Regina's red stained ones, adding pressure after the brunette's quiet moan. They wrapped around one another, ignoring Charming's honks. Emma pulled back slightly to whisper against the other woman's lips, "We're free, Regina."

A/N: Next is 'mistaken for a couple'! Thanks for reading!