Why 7

They were at the castle by mid day. Emma walked into her home much more sullen than she would have expected at the start of all this. As they walked into the castle courtyard she perked up a bit at seeing her home and her royal charge waiting for them regally.

Emma trailed behind Leopold and Regina's guard, warming slightly at at Snow's smile. She noticed Regina's stiffness as Snow hugged her father tightly. The queen received only a terse nod from Snow, causing Emma to frown. She waited eagerly for Queen Snow to ask for her. Surely she had been missed. When Snow took her father by the arm and headed out of the courtyard, Emma nearly chased after them. Snow hadn't even asked for her. Emma's jaw had fallen open in shock. She stared after her queen, not able to comprehend why her grand return home was so cold. She saw as Regina turned and briefed a look of compassion, seeing Emma's disbelief written across her face. Emma swallowed and looked at the floor before walking swiftly towards her quarters.

XXXXXXXX

Emma walked out of the castle into the bustling city streets. She sauntered into the market place and took in her surroundings. There were beggars everywhere, asking for food or gold coins. They shied away from Emma, seeing the golden armor of the throne. The goods for sale were half rotted and overpriced. The merchants were pushy and loud. The few children she saw were skinny and dirty. The streets stunk of rotten vegetables and urine. After spending three months in the Black Kingdom, Emma felt like she had stepped over the threshold to hell. She gripped her temple and headed back to the castle.

As Emma walked through the courtyard, one of her soldiers came up to her with a smile. They gripped forearms in greeting. "Good to have you back, Captain!"

Emma smiled, finally happy to see a friendly face. "Nice to see you, August. Did I miss anything while I was away?"

They walked together towards the castle. "Nothing much, I'm afraid. Same old shit, different day. How about you? Able to survive three months with the Evil Whore unscathed?"

Emma stopped walking and scowled at him. "Don't call her that."

August scoffed. "Don't tell me you've gotten a soft spot for the scourge of the two kingdoms!" He spat.

"She's not like that," Emma insisted.

August cocked his head in surprise. "What are you saying Captain? I hope it's not that you are defending that villain." He stepped into Emma's personal space. "Because if you are, that just might be considered treason." He glared at her before turning and walking briskly away from her. He stopped and yelled to her. "By the way, the queen wants to see you. OUR queen."

Emma groaned and rubbed her jaw. Things just weren't the same. Her life could never go back to the way it was before.

XXXXXXXX

Emma walked into the queen's chambers and bowed. "Good to see you, your grace," she said coldly.

Snow actually seemed happy to see her as she briskly approached the blonde. "Oh, Emma, there you are, I've been waiting for you to come! I have so many questions for you!"

Emma smiled, thinking finally Snow was showing some emotion towards her. "It's good to be back," she forced out.

Snow nodded and flashed a fake smile. "Yes, yes of course. Now tell me, after three months there you must have a pretty good idea of the lay of the land, don't you?"

Emma furrowed her eyebrows. "I...guess."

"Yes," Snow smiled. "And spending all that time, surely you have made some connections? People that might feel loyal to you?"

"Uh...well, I don't know about that."

Snow almost seemed like she wasn't even listening. "And surely you know that castle inside and out, all the entrances, hallways, chambers and what not?"

Emma didn't like where this was going. "Why? What's going on your highness?"

Snow tapped her chin in thought. "Nothing. Nothing yet. I was just...curious is all-how the other half lives." She giggled falsely, completely annoying Emma. "Well, we can talk about that later. That'll be all, Captain."

Emma knew something was up. Snow was acting oddly, besides the fact that she wasn't even happy to see Emma.

"Oh, and Emma," Snow called, causing the blonde to turn around. "Welcome back."

Emma smiled and nodded, leaving the chamber with a bad feeling in her gut.

XXXXXXXXX

Emma barely saw Regina the next few days as she tried to amerce herself back into her old life. It wasn't going as smoothly as she hoped. Nothing felt right. Nothing seemed good enough any more. She found herself wandering down to the kitchen, finding the head cook.

"Hey, Zelena," Emma smiled.

Zelena barely looked up from her task of cutting carrots. "Yeah? What can I do for you, Captain?"

Emma looked over at the food scattered all over the kitchen, ready to go into the pot for soup. "I was wondering...after the dinner banquets...what do you do with the left over food?"

Zelena looked up at her and shrugged her shoulders. "Kitchen staff takes home what they want. Rest goes to the dogs. Why?"

Emma sighed out. "Just curious."

When she left the kitchen Emma was starting to become disheartened. She walked through the courtyard lost in her thoughts, stopping near the castle entrance and leaned against the stone wall. Through the bustle of the market and people everywhere Emma heard a slight creaking sound. She looked around trying to find the source of the creak. Finally her eyes went up to the pulpit above her. She gasped loudly and threw her hand over her mouth in horror. Swinging from a noose was a young boy about Henry's age. Around his neck was a sign reading "THIEF". Emma started shaking violently, backing away slowly as she shook her head. Two hands went into her temples as she gritted her teeth. A sob erupted from her throat as she started running. She ran until she heard her name being called.

She stopped and turned around to see Regina looking down at her from a balcony. She looked confused and scared, eyes begging. Emma just stared up at her with tear streaked eyes, chest heaving with shallow breaths. Finally Emma shook her head and took off running again, not stopping until she was face down in her pillow.

XXXXXXXXXX

The night of the ball, Emma was far from being in the partying mood. She stood dutifully behind the throne anyway, watching in disinterest as royals and dukes, and lords and ladies all mingled about, dancing and drinking. It wasn't until Queen Regina entered the room that Emma snapped to attention.

The woman was stunning. Her hair was done up impeccably on top of her head, small tasteful crown sitting perfectly on her head. The straps of the gorgeous red dress came off her shoulders, leading to the tops of perfectly round globes at her chest, above which sat a sparkling diamond necklace. The red corset accentuated the queen's gorgeous figure before fanning out over her hips and legs, leaving a short glimmering train behind her.

Emma felt like the room rose in temperature as she suddenly felt uncomfortably warm. She watched the queen glide across the room and her insides burned with desire. Her mouth watered as she saw Regina take a sip of wine, smiling at someone Emma didn't even look at. Her eyes couldn't leave Regina. She knew she had become wet as her core throbbed under her uniform. She had never wanted someone so badly in her life. She tried not to fidget because she was on duty, but she was so uncomfortable at the way her body was reacting she couldn't help it. When she looked up to see Regina gazing at her, she nearly passed out. Those chocolate eyes bore into her soul, smiling and taking another sip of wine. She batted her eyelashes slightly, which Emma knew was on purpose, that damned tease. Emma was given a bit of a reprieve when Regina's attention was pulled back to the party and dragged into conversation. Emma took a deep breath and cleared her throat, attempting to calm her raging hormones.

Regina had left the party about an hour ago, and Emma was left with the thoughts swimming in her head as she neared the end of her shift. She couldn't get the image of Regina out of her head, and her mind kept wandering to that day with her and Henry in the field. If she could live in that moment for the rest of her life, she would die happy. Finally as her replacement came, the flurry in her mind was peaking, and she found herself headed straight to Regina's quarters.

It as well after midnight, and Emma was sure that Regina was probably in bed. She didn't care. As she rounded the corner she came to a halt as she saw two of Regina's guards standing outside her door. She blushed a bit but wasn't swayed. She walked up to them, recognizing Jefferson and Eric right away.

"Hey guys, is she still up?"

They looked at each other for a moment. "Maybe. Sorry, though, no one goes in. Her own orders," Eric told her.

"Really? Look, can you just tell her I'm here? I just need to talk to her for a minute."

"Sorry," Jefferson shrugged his shoulders. "Come back in the morning."

Emma sighed and was just about to leave when the door creaked open.

"Captain?" Regina peeked her head out the door. Emma looked at her expectantly. "It's alright, let her in."

Emma nodded to the guards as she slipped past them and into Regina's room. She slid her fingers through her hair as she heard Regina close the door behind her. She turned, linking her fingers behind her neck.

Regina could tell Emma was tortured about something and so was worried. "Is everything alright?"

Emma paced slowly about the room and chuckled at this. "No," she laughed. "No, your highness, everything is not alright. In fact, everything is wrong. All wrong." She sat heavily on the bed, sighing.

Regina walked over and slowly sat carefully next to the captain. She looked over and saw red rings around the woman's eyes. She sat silent, letting Emma get whatever it was off her chest.

Emma lifted her eyes up to Regina's, who looked oh so compassionate. "You were right about everything. This place is a nightmare. And Snow is the devil. I just..." Tears welled up and caused Emma's voice to break. "I wish-I wish YOU were my queen," she gasped. She felt Regina put a hand on her shoulder. "I just wish you were-mine!"

Regina's heart broke. Emma wanted her just as much as she wanted Emma. She knew Emma was hurting so badly and desperately wanted to make it better. She put a hand on her cheek and was just about to speak when they suddenly heard a shout.

They stood up from the bed as they heard the distinct clang of armor and the sickening sound of a blade being pulled out of flesh. Two thuds were heard as it sounded like bodies hitting the floor. Emma grabbed Regina and pulled her over to the corner of the room by the door, drawing her sword. She held Regina behind her protectively as she listened closely. She heard the door creak open and watched a dark figure creep into the room. The shadow they were in prevented them from being seen as the figure slowly approached the bed. Emma crept forward and hit the person on the head with the hilt of her sword, sending him unconscious to the floor. Emma reached down and turned him over as Regina came up behind her. Emma gasped.

"Who is it?!" Regina whispered.

Emma just stared at the face in disbelief. "It's Sydney. Snow's personal assassin."

Emma whipped around as she heard people running into the room. She raised her sword as she protectively pulled Regina behind her. In ran Will followed by two of Regina's guards, out of breath with their own swords drawn. They saw Emma and remained at alert, looking from her to their queen behind her. They weren't sure who's side she was on.

"She saved me, it's alright," Regina assured them. "What's happened?!"

Will was sweating profusely. "We went to the king's chamber to relieve the guards. They were both slain. We entered the king's chambers-he's dead, highness. Murdered."

Regina threw her hand over her mouth as Emma's eyes grew wide, looking down at the unconscious assassin.

"We need to get you out of here now," Will insisted.

Emma ran to the closet and grabbed a cloak, covering Regina in her shift. Regina pulled some boots on as Emma spoke to Will. "We can't go down the main stairwell, they'll be waiting. There's a back stairwell at the end of the hall that leads directly to the stables. That's our best chance to get her out of here," she spoke quickly.

Will nodded, and Emma was glad the men seemed to trust her.

"OUR best chance?" Regina asked, drawing all their attention. "Captain, if you help me escape, you will be guilty of treason. They will hang you. Your days as Captain of Snow White's Guard will be over."

Emma stared into Regina's eyes, heart beating wildly. She pursed her lips together, knowing all eyes were on her. "Let's go."