A/N: just a quick note to say thank you so much to my lovely reviewers! The first thing I do in the morning now is check my emails and I'm overwhelmed by the response to my first ever multi chapter fan fiction. I'll reply to you all as soon as possible but please know I appreciate all your love and it makes me want to write even faster for you!

"Look at you, you little book worm," Red remarked as she plopped down on her bunk.

Emma had been so immersed in Music and Silence she hadn't even heard her friend return. She marvelled at Rose Tremain's ability to capture her attention so completely every time she read her novels.

"Oh hey," Emma grinned from her bed as she marked her place and sat up to speak to Red. "How was your Granny?"

"Fine," Red smiled. "She was grumbling about her restaurant but that's nothing new. Apparently she can't get a decent waitress to replace me and she's fed up of the lazy teenagers who stay for a month before buggering off again. Not that I was much better."

"So she wants you to go back and work for her when you get out?"

Red laughed. "Hardly, I'm unreliable too apparently. Something about being a drug addict or some shit."

Emma smiled sadly. Her friend was clearly hurt at being rejected by her only remaining family member. The blonde sure knew what that felt like!

"I invited French to join us for lunch," Emma said, changing the subject in an attempt to distract the brunette.

"Who?" Red questioned.

"The girl who works in the library. French."

Red shrugged. "OK, I'm always up for meeting new people."

Emma grinned. "I said we'd meet at midday."

"Cool," Red said absentmindedly. Her mind was still clearly on her visitation.

Emma laid back down and reopened her book, eager to finish the chapter before they headed to the dining hall.

"Hey French," Emma called, waving the girl over to them. The brunette grinned and walked over to join herself, Red and Snow in line for lunch.

"Hi," she smiled shyly. "I'm French."

"Luccas, or Red," the lanky girl greeted.

"Blanchard, but everyone calls me Snow," the other woman smiled.

"Nice to meet you," French grinned, glad the blonde's friends seemed to welcoming.

The four of them got their lunch and sat down at an empty table. Boyd joined them soon afterwards. There was talk of visitation, families, friends, and the difficulties of maintaining relationships with people whilst incarcerated. Not that Emma had to worry about any of the associated problems. There was no one on the outside who cared about her in any way. Boyd was adamant, as always, that she and Sean would survive the remaining thirteen months of her sentence and emerge stronger than ever. French, Snow, and Red had family members who visited as often as they could but no significant other to worry about. Whilst Red insisted she didn't want a girlfriend, Snow and French seemed to speak longingly of having someone to love them in such a complete, intense way.

Emma was pleased with her decision to invite French to join her friends. The girl had been inside two months and had another six left to serve. So far however, she had kept herself to herself and relied on her literary friends rather than making connections to other inmates. Her experience with Emma and the other women however was convincing her perhaps it was worth making the effort.

After lunch, Emma returned to her bunk, eager to get back to her book. As she walked down her corridor, a heated conversation caught her attention. Glancing sideways, Emma glimpsed Trident and Mills in the latter's bunk, clearly arguing about something. Hurrying past, Emma slipped quietly into her own room and sat down. What was that about? she wondered. Trident must have just returned from SHU as Emma hadn't seen the woman around since they had attacked West. She supposed that meant Faery and Feinberg were out too. Did they know what she had said to Regina? Would the brunette have told them? Or would one of the other inmates say something about the bruise that had been adorning Emma's face for the past week?

Deciding worrying wouldn't help anything, Emma laid down and opened her book, willing Tremain's talent to work its magic and distract her from the real world.

It was dark outside when Emma finally looked up from her book. The afternoon had disappeared into the detailed plot involving love, children, money, affairs, and musical talent. Red had swung by earlier in the day to invite Emma to join her in the yard for a yoga session a new inmate was running but the blonde had declined. Now, she stood, stretched, and headed to find her friends. And dinner, her stomach reminded her with a loud grumble.

FCI offered inmates the opportunity to watch a movie on Saturday evenings. Emma wondered whether it was wise to be screening The Shawshank Redemption to incarcerated women but figured none of them had the time nor patience to dig their way out through the walls with a hammer. It seemed like far too much effort for Emma at least. Plus the commissary didn't sell posters.

Unsurprisingly, the movie room was packed and Red, Snow, Boyd and Emma were lucky to nab the last few chairs at the back. As Emma scanned the room she spotted a familiar brunette head near the front, silhouetted against the bright screen beyond. Either side of her sat two taller women, blondes, and Trident sat behind Regina. The queen has her bodyguards back, Emma mused as she settled into her seat and tried to focus on the film.

Emma had seen the iconic movie several times and it didn't take long before her mind started to wander. She had heard Trident leaving Mills' bunk soon after Emma started reading earlier that afternoon and she hadn't returned. The blonde wasn't exactly worried. She didn't think Regina would say anything to her cronies about what had happened between them. It wasn't that Emma trusted the brunette, but she did believe her when she said had she didn't want to hurt Emma. Ok, that statement had been followed by the punch, Emma mused, but she wasn't expecting any further attacks. Telling Trident, or Faery and Feinberg for that matter, would do nothing but force Regina to create some kind of vendetta against Emma, as she had her half sister. Regardless of what had happened so far, Emma was confident the brunette did not want that.

As the credits rolled, Emma and her friends stood up to leave. Inmates pushed towards the door until a bark sounded loudly from the depths of the crowd.

"Out of our way," cried Faery, her long legs ensuring her head towered above most of the other women. The inmates parted at the command and Regina swept out of the room unimpeded, the three women following quickly behind.

"Great," grumbled a voice from behind Emma.

Whipping her head around at the familiar accent, Emma saw West in the crowd. She hadn't seen the redhead much except at meals and she had deliberately avoided her. Now however, she offered the woman a small smile before turning to follow her friends back to their bunks.

Emma sat bolt upright in bed, clapping her hand over her mouth. Pushing back the covers, she sprinted to the bathroom, only just making it in time as she emptied the content of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Groaning quietly, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and slumped against the door. After a few minutes, her stomach stopped rolling and she flushed the toilet. Standing up, she exited the cubicle and went to rinse her mouth out. Leaning heavily on the edge of the sink, Emma sighed and wiped her face. What a way to wake up on a Sunday morning, she thought.

Walking slowly back to her bunk, Emma passed a few early morning risers. She kept her head down and avoided making conversation, not trusting herself not to throw up again if she opened her mouth.

"What happened to you?" Red asked from beneath her own covers as Emma walked back into their room.

"Sick," she muttered as she collapsed back on her bed and slipped under the blanket.

"Probably something you ate," Red mused. "I don't trust Athena's cooking. Everyone knows she got the job because Mills sweet talked the warden."

"Why did she do that?" Emma asked.

"Dunno," Red shrugged, which is difficult to do when lying down, she noted. "I think they knew each other on the outside or something. Either way, she's seriously unqualified in my opinion. Except when it comes to fish, that she cooks damn well!"

"Can you cook?" Emma asked, keen to distract herself from her queasy stomach.

"Granny taught me the basics. I wouldn't poison anyone if that's what you mean."

Emma laughed, rubbing her hand over her stomach as she did so in an attempt to soothe it.

"You want some hot water?" Red offered. "I always found that helped me if I felt ill."

"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks."

"No problem," the brunette grinned as she jumped out of bed. "Athena starts kitchen prep at some ridiculous hour. She needs all the time she can get to make our food and even then it's shit."

Brunette hair whipped around the corner and Emma curled up into a ball, trying to find a position which would satisfy her stomach. She must have dozed off as the next thing she knew, Red was crouched beside her with a disposable cup of steaming water.

"Hey," she murmured. "You ok?"

Emma nodded and pushed herself into an upright position to sip at the water. The warm liquid did seem to sooth her stomach and she smiled gratefully at her friend. "Thanks Red."

"Of course. Want me to steal you a couple of slices of toast for breakfast or are you up for joining me?"

Emma took another mouthful of water, her stomach unclenching and feeling more normal. "No, I'll come with you, just give me ten minutes to jump in the shower."

Emma almost liked Sunday mornings inside. Well, when she didn't spend it with her head in the toilet at least. There was a lazy, relaxed atmosphere to FCI and the dining hall was always quieter, slower. She and Red were amongst the first to get breakfast, with Emma opting to stick to just toast and butter for fear of aggravating her stomach further. Snow joined them and instantly frowned at Emma.

"What's wrong, Swan?" She had never known the blonde to eat such a measly meal nor look so pasty.

"Nothing," Emma shrugged, "I was sick this morning but I'm better now."

Snow looked intently at her, concern and worry etched on her face.

"I'm fine," Emma assured her, taking and extra large bite of her toast to prove her point.

The three women headed out to the yard after breakfast. Emma greatly missed the outdoors and spent as much time as possible in the grassy area behind the prison buildings. She had been pleasantly surprised when she arrived at how much access the inmates had to fresh air and took full advantage of the wide open space. Today she figured it would do her stomach some good too. Red's beloved vegetable patch lay at the far end, fenced off to keep hungry animals, or inmates, away. Near the buildings, clusters of inmates gathered to chat, play games or just relax outside. The three friends set off walking around the perimeter, talking and laughing as they did so. A few other inmates had had the same idea. March was just a few days away and the weather was warming up, a weak sun filtering through fluffy clouds to bathe the grass in light.

As they approached the far corner, Emma noticed the group of women who had previously been walking ahead of them had stopped. Drawing closer, Emma's heart suddenly started pounding. Regina stood with Faery and Feinberg. Trident was nowhere to be seen. The two blondes were listening intently to their leader, nodding regularly and saying nothing.

Without a word to each other Emma, Red and Snow cut the corner on their circuit, giving the posse a wide berth before they recommenced their conversation. The three of them were trying to decide which guard was better looking. Snow insisted Nolan was drop dead gorgeous whereas Emma had a soft spot for Hunter with his rugged beard and the Irish accent. Red meanwhile insisted that if she was a free woman, she'd be wining and dining Fa, the female Asian guard who was currently patrolling the outside area.

Unbeknownst to Emma, Regina followed the blonde's movements out of the corner of her eye until she disappeared with her friends back into the prison block.

"So, you know what I need?" Regina asked Faery and Feinberg. Both women nodded their understanding. "Good, then go."

At Regina's dismissal, the two blondes turned and headed back inside. Regina stayed where she was, watching them leave. Sighing, she leant against the chain linked fence and ran a hand through her long hair.

"Mills," Fa called over to her. "Away from the fence inmate."

Grumbling, Regina pushed herself upright again and walked a little way into the middle of the field. She hesitated for a moment before kneeling down and unlacing her hideous prison-issue boots. Slipping them off along with her socks, Regina sighed as she felt the soft grass beneath her feet. She had grown up in the countryside and missed true contact with nature. The sensation of the grass helped ground her, calm her. Sitting down, she stretched her legs out in front of her and brushed her fingertips over the short blades. A smile played across her lips and she glanced around before lying down completely. The yard was almost empty and she knew no one dared challenge her now Faery, Trident and Feinberg were out of SHU. She closed her eyes.

Through her eyelids, Regina saw a shadow fall across her face. Opening her eyes, she blinked as her pupils readjusted to the sunlight. As the silhouette above her developed features, Regina quickly realised it was a certain young blonde who stood over her.

Pushing herself up so she was leaning on her elbows, Regina cocked her head. "Miss Swan," she greeted. "I thought you wanted me to leave you alone and yet here you are seeking me out." The teasing tone did not go unnoticed by Emma.

"What did you say to your thugs?" Emma asked, arms folded.

"If you mean my friends Faery, Feinberg, and Trident," Regina sighed, sitting up before standing up straight, "nothing."

"Nothing?" Emma asked, suspiciously.

"Nothing," Regina repeated. "I didn't think there was any need, to be honest. Why?"

"Because I don't want to spend every second of my time in here looking over my shoulder waiting to be shanked."

Regina laughed lightly. Emma's insides clenched. "That's not their style, Miss Swan. And you have nothing to worry about, I assure you. Unless you piss them off on your own, you're safe from my thugs." She used air quotes around the last word.

"Right," Emma nodded. "Ok, well, thanks I guess."

"Of course, Emma," Regina said, her mouth making the name sound sexier than the blonde thought possible.

Nodding a final time, Emma turned to walk back inside.

"Miss Swan," Regina called after her. Emma turned and looked at the brunette, waiting. "Would you like to join me?"

"Join you?" Emma questioned.

"Yes," Regina nodded. "I'm just sitting here, enjoying this beautiful spring day and I would like some company." She sat gracefully back down and gestured to the patch of grass next to her.

Hesitating, Emma regarded the older woman. Regina's hair tumbled over her shoulders, the dark curls fell haphazardly, making her look younger. Usually Regina tied her hair up or braided it but Emma liked this natural style more. Regina was looking at her with an almost vulnerable expression. Emma got the impression it had taken a lot for the brunette to ask for the blonde to join her. Part of being the queen was not needing anyone else. It was then that Emma noticed the brunette's bare feet. She grinned at the childish notion and after a moment more, she walked over. Sitting beside the brunette, Emma also unlaced her boots, toed them off and stuffed her socks into the shoes.

Green eyes met brown and a tentative grin formed on Emma's lips. Regina's smile was positively radiant.