Emma stretched out along the bed and threw her arm across Regina's chest. She propped herself up onto her elbow and looked down at her lover.

Regina's eyes were closed but she wasn't sleeping. She reached up and ran her fingertips across Emma's arm.

"I've been thinking," Emma said.

"Uh oh." Regina laughed.

Emma chuckled. "I know, I know, you don't employ me for my thoughts. But really, I was just realizing how incredibly dangerous you moving into the White Castle is. Most of those people feel the same way I used to about you. Now that you've killed off their king and queen, there's no doubt their hatred has only gotten deeper. Your life will pretty much be in danger at all times."

Regina opened her eyes and sighed. "Yes, I've thought about that. That's what you're for."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Not even I can protect you from an entire kingdom who wants you dead. I mean, even if people in Snow's court pretend like they will play nice, you never truly know where there allegiance is. One day you're making progress in a council meeting and the next you get stabbed in the back. I can't protect you from enemies if I don't know who they are."

"I'll just have to do things carefully. I'll have my people around me to trust, and with time I'll get a better picture of who to trust from the old guard and who to execute," Regina said it so seriously Emma didn't know if she was being serious or not until Regina cracked a smile.

Emma smiled and shook her head. "I'm serious. I mean, no matter how careful we are there will always be people who want to hurt you. And what about Henry? What if they try to use him to get to you?"

Regina brushed the hair out of Emma's face as she thought about what the blonde was saying. "He'll have a guard with him at all times."

"But what kind of life is that for a child? Regina, he'll be miserable. And we'll be miserable constantly worrying about him," Emma exclaimed.

"So what are you saying, we leave him behind? After we just decided we want to be a family?" Regina sat up and pulled the sheet around her.

Emma sat up as well knowing she had upset Regina. "Regina, I'm not changing my mind about that. I just think we really need to think about this. You know you could never forgive yourself if something were to happen to him."

"Of course not, but that's true of all parents. If we're to truly be a family, that means sticking together and taking care of each other." She spoke angrily but sighed when she looked at Emma. "I know what you're saying is true. And no, of course I don't want anything to happen to Henry. But-I can't bear the thought of abandoning him. No matter who's care I leave him in, that's exactly what it will feel like to him.

Emma took Regina's hand. "It wouldn't be forever, just until we get a handle on the situation. We can explain that to him. Look, I don't want to leave him behind either, I'll miss him like crazy! But, I think it's just too dangerous right now. We'll still have our family, it will just have to wait a little longer."

Regina thought about what Emma was saying and looked her in the eyes. "You're right. I hate it, but you're right." She sighed out heavily. "I just don't want to tell him."

Emma smiled. "Just think, follow that bit of news up with the fact that we want him to come live with us as a family. I think that might take some of the sting out, don't you?"

Regina smiled and caressed Emma's face. "You're right. Again. We'll tell him as soon as I get all the details sorted out." She leaned forward and kissed Emma sweetly. "I love you, Emma Swan."

Emma smiled into the kiss. "I love you, Regina...wait what's your last name? Do you have one?"

Regina laughed boisterously and kissed the top of Emma's hand. "Yes, you silly girl. My father was a miller. My last name is Mills.

Emma nodded. "Regina Mills. Well, you, whatever your name is. I love you."

They smiled at each other before sliding back into bed for another tiresome round of love making.

XXXXXXXXXX

Regina had finally sorted out who was accompanying her to the White Castle and who would stay to keep the Black Kingdom running smoothly with Archibald. She ended up appointing Phillip and a handful of his best men into her royal guard. She knew having the allegiance of former White Kingdom soldiers would help her enormously to gain loyalty from the others who had surrendered to her. Although trust was certainly going to be an issue on some fronts, she did trust Phillip entirely. Not only had he seemed genuine after the battle, for him to believe in her enough to defect in the first place was enough for her. He trusted her, and so now she had to trust him. They were all ready to start the journey to the White Castle in the morning. All that was left to do was talk to Henry.

XXXXXXXXX

The boy came running into Regina's chamber and threw himself onto the big feather bed, giggling. "Your bed is so much softer than mine!"

Regina and Emma both laughed gently, sitting down on either side of him. "Well, I'll see if I can do something about that. Henry, there's something Emma and I would like to talk to you about." She pulled him into a sitting position and he looked up curiously at her. "You remember that big battle that my army won a little while ago?"

Henry nodded vigorously with a huge grin. "Yeah, it was awesome! Emma got the bad guys to switch sides and helped the good guys win!"

Emma laughed and ruffled the hair on his head. "That's right, kid!"

Regina let his excitement settle down before she continued. "Well, since my army won, that means that I will take over as queen of that land, too. And so...I need to travel to that land for a while to help fix things up. Those people are hungry and need help with their crops and lands. So I need to go there to make sure they get the help they need."

Henry sat quietly, sucking on his fingers. "Can I come with you?"

That was exactly what Regina knew would break her heart. She looked over at Emma who had a sad look on her face. Emma reached over and smoothed the hair down in an attempt to comfort him. "I'm afraid it's too dangerous right now, Henry. There are a lot of people over there who don't like me very much, and would do anything they could to hurt me. That includes hurting little boys that they know I care about."

Henry's bottom lip started quivering as a big tear formed. "But-I don't want you to go!"

Regina leaned over and took the boy into her arms. "I know, Henry, but I'm afraid I have to. You know Granny and Ruby from the kitchen? They said they would take care of you while I'm gone. You like them, don't you?"

Henry sniffled. "Yes, but I wanna be with you!"

Regina wiped her own tears away. "I know you do, and I want to be with you, too. So how about this," Regina pulled back and looked at Emma. Emma nodded and smiled, so Regina took a deep breath. "How about...as soon as it becomes safe enough, I send for you to come and join me." She was relieved when the boys face lightened. "And when you do...Henry I'd like for you to come stay with me. And with Emma. We'd like-to raise you like you were our son. The three of us-would be a family. Does that sound like something you'd like?"

Henry sat up straight and wiped his eyes. "I would live with you in the castle?" Regina laughed and nodded. "So you'd be my mom?"

Regina looked up at Emma and smiled. "We both would be your mom."

Henry looked questioningly over at Emma who just smiled and nodded. "That would be awesome!" Henry yelled as he jumped up in the air, falling backwards onto the bed.

The two women laid back with him, tickling and giggling right along with him. Regina looked over at Emma who had a big grin. She winked at Regina and sighed.

XXXXXXXXXX

As they crossed the border into the White Kingdom, Emma became uneasy. She knew Regina had to do this in order to establish her reign, but Emma was acutely aware that Regina was putting herself in the crosshairs. No one knew better than Emma what these people thought of Regina, and any villager and farmer they passed could potentially be a threat.

Emma sat on her horse scanning the surrounding area. She rode just ahead of Regina's carriage as they approached a dilapidated farm. Emma looked over and saw a man and two young boys standing in the middle of his crop that was currently just dirt. They were steadily hoeing the earth, swing after back breaking swing. Suddenly the carriage and subsequently the entire entourage came to a halt. Emma pulled on the reins and brought her horse to a stand still. She turned around to look at the carriage as the door swung open. She panicked when she saw Regina emerge in all her queenly glory.

"What's going on?" Emma asked as she dismounted.

Regina ignored her and started walking toward the farmer. Her guards fell into step behind her, hands on their swords. Emma followed as well, swallowing back the urge to question Regina in front of her men. She stood but a step from Regina, prepared to protect her if this farmer became a threat.

Regina stopped at the edge of the garden and regarded the three workers. The boys were about Henry's age, apparently twins. Both they and their father were bone thin, skin red from hours in the sun. "You, there!" The man looked up at her and frowned. "Come here."

The man reluctantly dropped his hoe and slowly walked to the edge of the garden where Regina and her guard stood. He walked up to her and stood as straight as his crooked body would allow.

"Do you know who I am?" Regina asked. The man swallowed and nodded. "Yes, your highness."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "Then you know that I have taken the throne to the White Kingdom, do you not? I am your queen now, are you aware of that?" Regina saw the man tighten his jaw. "Yes, highness."

"Then how do you greet your queen?"

The man paused before slowly bending down and leaned on one knee, bowing his head.

Regina sighed and rolled her eyes. She had to maintain a certain expectation so that people respected her crown, but sometimes really hates all this degrading stuff. Unfortunately, it's what people expected. "Now get up." She waited patiently as he forced himself to his feet. She looked over to see a broken down plow. Surely this plow would cut his labor down significantly. There would be no need to hoe the garden by hand. "What is your name?"

The man kept his eyes on his feet. "Lawrence, your highness."

"Why aren't you using your plow, Lawrence?"

"It broke down, highness."

"Why didn't you get it fixed?" She asked plainly.

"It's got a broken axle, highness. I ain't got no money to fix it, what with the taxes and all," he said meekly.

"Do you have a horse to pull it?"

"Yes, highness."

Regina sighed. She looked over at Phillip and nodded towards the plow. "Go see if you are able to fix it."

With a bow, Phillip was off to see to the plow. Regina looked the dirty man up and down, then back at the children who were nervously watching on. "Where is your wife?"

"She died."

"I'm sorry. What happened to her?"

The man swallowed and glanced back to his sons. "She died in childbirth, highness."

Emma watched on in wonder. This man had raised his sons alone under impossible circumstances.

Before Regina could say any more, Phillip came back to report his findings. She looked over to him. "Can you fix it?"

Phillip shook his head. "Not without a new axle, highness."

Regina thought for a moment. "Would the axle on my carriage be sufficient?"

Emma, Phillip and the entire guard looked at her in shock. Emma's heart exploded with pride. Regina's kindness would never cease to amaze her. Phillip looked over at her carriage and breathed out. "Yes, I believe it would, your highness."

Regina looked over at her carriage and then back to the farmer who had finally looked up at her, clearly confused. "Give me a few moments to change into my riding gear, then I will have my men help you replace the axle on your plow. You can keep the carriage to do with as you please. Sell the parts if you'd like. Oh, and Captain, have the men give him one of those crates of potatoes we have with us."

The man bowed again, much more eagerly and deeply than before. "Yes, your majesty! Thank you!"

With a short smile Regina turned and retreated into her carriage to change. Emma just watched after her in wonder and amazement along with the rest of the men. She saw Phillip smile and shake his head.

"I'll be damned, Swan. You weren't lying."

Emma smirked as she sighed. "No, no I wasn't, Phillip. She never ceases to amaze me. We've been in this kingdom for less than a day and she's already won three villagers over."