Dear Regina,

So I'm back. Hi. I guess Storybrooke was the void and… I guess me writing you letters was too? No matter where our paths lead us, Regina, I always come back to you. Kind of like gravity- you're my gravity. Sort of.

My heart did something really weird when I first saw you at Granny's after we had come back. Like a jump, then a fall and then a jump again. Weird. It was as if I couldn't believe that you, Regina Mills, the infamous fairy tale character, was so shocked to see us sitting in that booth- like we always used too- with a burger and a milkshake. And then I realised how much it must have sucked. How it must have felt to have seen your son and for him to see nothing more than a woman…

But that is when my letter gets better. You broke the curse, Regina. YOU. Look who's the saviour now, huh? And sure, there's your sister and her pretty scary green magic but you. And if you're anything like the Regina Mills I know and admire, then you'll defeat her. You always do. We always do.

Then there's the not so elusive year in the Enchanted Forest you all had. Ha. I think it would've been fun to see you in all your former glory. Very Evil-Queen-esque I'm sure. But I guess that's the past. Hook knocked on my door and now we're back.

It was nice to finally scheme together this time, don't you think? I even got you in my bug! Wow. A lot has happened with the whole Zelena drama- I didn't even get a chance to pick up my pen! Okay that's probably a rubbish excuse. I don't know… I can't explain it. Maybe, one day, I might just be able to show it…

Hi (again),

Emma

P.S I wish it had have been you that I opened my door to.

Regina,

I don't want to write about Neal. I didn't in my last letter because I couldn't bring myself to even think of it let alone form his name with my pen. He deserved so much more, Regina. This time, I want my walls to go up and I'm building them higher than ever before. But… you still manage to always make your way in.

So… you have a little bit of happiness of your own now. Robin Hood- that will never get less weird and I am daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. He seems… nice, I guess. I just… I could see you with more. Regina Mills you're the most amazing woman I have ever met. And someone that is everything deserves everything in return. I'm not talking about some guy from a forest who has twisted morals and stubble. I'm talking about someone that matches everything that you are: loyal and powerful and terrifying with the most radiant smile that you quite literally want to get lost in. You need someone who will love you because you are everything that they want, that they need. Not because you're their pre-determined soul mate because quite frankly, Regina, I call bull-shit on that. How can some ink on an arm tether you to someone like Regina Mills?

It hurts. I don't know why it hurts to see you with him. To see you give everything even though you're everything and he's just enough.

And I'm just Emma.

For once, Regina Mills is lost for words. How can someone like Emma Swan think that highly of her? How can she possibly think that she is everything? She kills. She has killed and she has no doubt that the evil within her would kill again. How can anyone, let alone Emma Swan, think that she, that that, is amazing?

Robin does. But Robin is foolish and fickle and trusts the brand of a soul mate to entwine himself with someone he has only ever seen the light side of. And she's hiding the ugly, broken, gnarled and twisted contortion that is her past. Emma's seen it. Emma has felt it and experienced Regina's wrath; her fragility. And Emma still believes she is everything. Regina doesn't think she will ever be able to comprehend the beautiful intricacies of her son's birth mother.

She braces herself for the following letters. The pile is significantly smaller now as they near Emma's final message. And Regina is scared. She fears the words and the emotion that Emma has so carefully concealed. But most of all, she fears herself. She feels everything too strongly, too deeply and Emma Swan has been a thought that has always been there but never considered. The idea that anyone could want her in the rawist of forms is frightening yet spellbinding. And to even host the fantasy of Emma being her everything is the most frightening yet spellbinding image she could ever concoct.

Dear Regina,

So I met the Evil Queen. Time travel is incredibly scary. But you were scarier. And I hated you but was enraptured by you all at the same time… You wanted to kill my mother but she saved herself. I experienced my parents' epic love story for real. I got locked up in one of your cells and was sentenced to death by your hand. Scary stuff.

Yet all the time I just wanted to rescue you. I wanted to tell you that it does get better, that you get Henry and as mismatched as our family is, a family all the same. You were untouchable and I stood no chance. I still stand no chance.

I kissed Hook again and this time I meant it… Okay, so he's not perfect. He's shallow and narcissistic but Regina; you don't understand how nice it is to finally feel wanted; to know that I mean so much to him and for him to mean something to me. It is a feeling of safety. And I've longed to feel safe for a very long time. So, yes, he's arrogant and wears the same clothes every day of the year and loves me more than I could ever love him and he's definitely not everything… but he's also mine. And for now, I think, I can live with that.

Yours,

Emma

Regina,

Here I am, messing things up again. And I can never tell you just how much you and everything means to me because I always mess it up before I get a chance. So now I've ruined it for good. I'm not apologising for bringing Marian back because she is a life- life that I value. I'm apologising for never explaining the beautiful value that you hold, for ruining your supposed happy ending and for letting you go.

And I tried to call after you, to tell you everything. But it's too late now and all I have is a bunch of letters you'll never read.

Emma

A/N: Guys, your reviews are amazing! It is honestly the best feeling to know that people are enjoying the plot and are hungry for more. I'm enjoying writing this fanfiction so much, its making me ship SQ even more than I already did! Keep letting me know what you thought. Till next time

: )