Author's Note: I am sorry for the delay on this update. However, I finally finished it. I hope you find the development between Regina and Emma worth it.

Part 7

Regina was shaking when she finally entered the house. Her hands could barely keep the coat aligned with the hook inside the dressing closet where she was trying to put it away. Fretting and pacing, she fought to open the stays on her gown. A button snagging in the cloth was followed by a tiny plink as Regina's shaking hands were unable to calm long enough for rational thinking to prevail. With an immediacy that frightens her, Regina recalled Emma Swan's body pressed against hers, the heat, the physical presence of the woman so thoroughly overwhelming her every sense.

Green eyes had made Regina feel dizzy, almost drunk as her head spun. She had wanted to put her head on Emma Swan's broad shoulder and sink into the comfort so willingly being offered. But Regina understands one crucial thing it seems Emma Swan willingly overlooks: Regina Mills is no lady. She had given that up, long ago, the moment she provided company to a lonely broken Southern soldier who had come west after the War.

Daniel had loved her though he'd been a gentleman and not her lover. She would have accepted any name to be with him though he had said marriage was beyond his means. He had been determined to defend her honor against Jameson. Regina had tried to stop the duel only to arrive just in time to watch Daniel fall with the bloody hole in his chest. The palest orange light of a summer sunrise painted his crumpled body bleeding onto the packed dirt of the street.

Regina leaned hard on the bedroom wall, squeezing her eyes shut to blot out the memory as it assailed her. Ten years had passed since Daniel's death . The pain was fully refreshed, as piercing now as it had been that morning on her knees in the street, lifting his head onto her lap, tears flowing hotly down her cheeks.

Damn you, Emma Swan, Regina thought, wiping hard at the tears that fell once again, fearing history was about to repeat itself.

###

Emma strode into the livery barn where she found Ruby Lucas brushing down the cart horse she and her grandmother had used to ride to church that morning. The horseflesh was old, but quality, and looked to be in good health as it nosed Ruby's back while the brunette girl brushed over gray speckled hindquarters.

"Hey, Ruby," Emma called. The horse snorted, slapping Ruby's back with its muzzle and Emma winced sympathetically as Ruby turned around abruptly. "Sorry," Emma apologized.

"Emma!" Ruby dropped the brush and stepped quickly away from the horse, exiting the stall and lowering the cross beam into place before she came to meet Emma in the middle of the barn. "Couldn't believe what you did today."

"You going to tell me I'm stupid for what I did, too?"

"No! Shoot. You ain't smart, but I think what you're doin' for Grace is brave. You oughta have a badge. You got that justice mind, y'know? Things just is right or wrong, and that's sore needed 'round here."

Emma frowned. She was nothing even close to a lawman. She'd known some good ones and there was no way she'd put herself in the same class. "Anyway, I have a question about something I learned. You got time to talk?"

Ruby smiled and put down the brush in her hands before taking Emma's arm. "Whatcha need to know?"

Emma followed Ruby toward the inn. She adjusted the brim of her hat and shaded her eyes from the sun and, truth told, from close scrutiny by Ruby. She was certain her emotions would become apparent to the quick-witted girl if she was too visible.

"Jameson's a real cuss around here. Seems in charge though. How'd that happen?"

Ruby easily replied. "I know he's got the largest property in the area. And he employs the most hands when it's time to take the cattle to the railhead in St Louis. So lots of people owe him for the food they put on their tables."

"What about Regina?"

They had stepped onto the front porch of the big house where Eugenia Lucas was sweeping the dirt and dust from the wood slats. It wasn't Emma's imagination, though, that Eugenia stopped sweeping when Emma finished her question.

Ruby replied, oblivious to her grandmother's reaction. "Regina's been here as long as Jameson. But the real chill was some ten years ago. There were a lot of folks traveling through here after the war. Some lookin' to stay, some jus' passin' through. Regina's house," Ruby added after a pause, "saw a lot of business."

Emma watched out of the corner of her eye as Eugenia Lucas appeared to "stumble" and rapped the broom on the wall nearby. Ruby jumped. "Granny?" the girl asked. "You okay?"

"Yes, dear," Granny shook herself as if checking for damage. "Would you take this inside and get started on peeling the potatoes for supper?"

Emma straightened as Ruby walked past her, taking the broom from her grandmother's hands and disappearing inside the inn. She unfolded her arms and started toward the stairs leading to the rented rooms. A wrinkled hand latched onto her arm. She turned to meet piercing brown eyes.

"You really don' wan' t'be meddlin' in things that ain't none o' yer affair, Miss Emma Swan."

"What happened between Jameson and Regina ten years ago, Eugenia?" Emma asked bluntly.

"What's the use of the past?" Eugenia replied. "It's the past."

"Those who know not history are doomed to repeat it," Emma quoted.

"Yer a strange mix of brains and stupid, Miss Emma," Eugenia summarized succinctly.

"So humor me. What happened between Jameson and Regina ten years ago?"

"Would you kill for someone you loved?" Eugenia asked instead.

"I have," Emma replied quietly.

Eugenia's lips pursed at the answer, but she asked her next question anyway. "Would you die for someone you loved?"

Emma frowned. "So, it's true. Regina said someone died protecting her. I can only presume Jameson killed that person. Who was it?"

"Daniel." Eugenia breathed the name with reverence and Emma instantly knew the measure of the man who had died for Regina Mills. Only a paragon of human kindness would have elicited that sort of reaction from the bristly old woman. "He worked here in the stables. He'd been a soldier in the war. Wanted only peace after losing everything else."

Emma leaned back hard on her hands against the railing around the edge of the porch and stared at Eugenia. "Daniel?" she repeated the name.

"He was a young man. The war made him old though. He'd been part of Grant's troops in Virginia."

"A northerner then." Emma bit her lip. "You said he worked with the horses. Where was he from?"

"He never said. But he was good with the stock, had a real touch with them. So he weren't no city-bred."

Emma nodded. "Coulda picked it up in the army."

"Not this'un," Eugenia replied. "He was some kind of whisperer. That's how he and Miss Regina first met. Her horse had thrown a shoe, hobbling something awful. She'd been trying to get close enough to him to fix things, but it was kicking out in pain. She'd taken a hoof to the head when Daniel found her."

"He came when she screamed?"

"Nah, you gotta know by now Miss Regina ain't no screamer, at least that I never heard."

Emma nodded. As many times as she had seen Regina Mills threatened with harm, the woman had not once called out for help. "Stubborn," she muttered.

"Just a tad." Eugenia chuckled. "No, he stopped her from charging forward again, and instead, grabbed the reins and calmed that beast in about three seconds, looking into its eyes and stroking its neck. He pulled the broken shoe and bent nails."

"Definitely sounds like a gift," Emma said.

"He was a gift to this whole town in so many ways," Eugenia said. "He took a special liking to Miss Regina, however."

"So why didn't she marry him?" Emma wondered.

"I think she would have, but he didn't offer, least as far as I know."

"He didn't? How could he call himself a man? He just slept with her."

"Never touched her," Eugenia said. "Least as far as…"

"He never?" Emma blinked. "Not once?"

"Well, it's not like I spent any real time with Miss Regina. She don' let many people close 'nuf. But, yeah, most of us is pretty sure."

"So I still don't get it. What's Jameson's beef with Regina?"

"Daniel dueled him for her honor."

"And Jameson killed Daniel."

"Yes. No one has ever forgiven him for that."

"Jameson hates Regina because everyone hates him?" Emma shook her head in disbelief. "That's fucked up."

"A man's pride ain' always a rational thing."

Emma fretted. And neither is a woman's. She thought of Regina's pained expression but stubborn silence at Emma's question. She obviously believed she had gotten Daniel killed. But a man's choices were always his own, Emma knew firsthand.

"What's goin' on in that head o' yours?" Eugenia asked.

"I have no idea how to fix this," Emma said. "She just takes it and takes it."

Eugenia nodded. "Been ten years."

"But it's not her fault!" Emma blurted. "Why doesn't she see that?"

"Blinded by love," Eugenia ventured. "I don't ascribe many girlish traits to Miss Regina. Maybe I'm readin' it all wrong and she didn't love Daniel." Eugenia shook her head. "But if she did, it would explain a lot."

Emma's heart squeezed tightly in her chest. Pain filled her voice as she said, "Yeah, yeah, it does."

###

Grace looked up from the sink where she was up to her elbows in suds. Miss Regina had been silent for several minutes standing beside her and looking out to the yard through the curtained window. "Miss Regina?"

The brunette shook herself. "Yes, Grace?"

"You don't have to stay with me. I'll finish this."

"You tire of my company already?" Regina said.

"No, no. I…I just can do this. You should relax. It's Sunday."

"Watching you wash dishes isn't work."

Grace chuckled, pleased the older woman smiled as she said that. "What if I asked you to dry?"

Miss Regina's smile widened and she grabbed the towel, taking a dish, patting it dry, and placing it in the cabinet. They worked together for several minutes in companionable silence except for the sounds of dishes clinking.

"Why did you come here?" Grace was surprised by the question. "You know what happens here."

Grace nodded. "I knew you'd help me."

"Your father and I don't get along."

"Exactly," Grace replied. "I -"

She was interrupted by a strong knocking on a door. She looked around. And then realized that Regina's gaze was riveted to the window. A shadowed figure - the porch lanterns had long ago been blown out for the night - stood by the kitchen door only a few feet away. Her breath hitched.

"Miss Regina?"

"Go," the older woman said firmly, putting a hand on Grace's shoulder as she pressed the towel into her hands. The woman's brown eyes darted toward a cabinet before returning to the door, and Grace wondered what Regina thought was there.

The figure moved, and Grace heard Regina's gasp over her own. Now framed in the light from the kitchen lanterns was Emma Swan. Standing at Miss Regina's back door like a thief in the night.

Glancing at Miss Regina's face, Grace saw the surprise quickly replaced by fear, then anger tightened the woman's features.

Grace was excited to see her savior, however, and rushed to the door, flinging it wide. "Emma!"

"Grace!" Miss Regina said loudly behind her.

Emma Swan then stepped through the doorway, an imposing figure in the same well-worn but clean denims and plaid shirt she'd been wearing at the church that morning. The hat on her head immediately came down in her hand.

"Grace," Emma said with a nod toward her. "How are you?"

Miss Regina stepped to Grace's shoulder, laying a hand over it. "Miss Swan, it is far too late for callers."

"I came to see how y...you are doing," Emma said quickly averting her gaze from Miss Regina's face to Grace's. "So, how are you?"

Grace felt Miss Regina's fingers tighten on her shoulder. But her eyes were only for Emma. The blond woman stood like a fairytale knight, hat in hand, green gaze meeting Grace's intently. "I'm good. I was just doing the dishes for Miss Regina."

Emma nodded in clear approval. "Good." Grace straightened under the smile and swept at the fabric of her dress then her hair. "Can you finish that up, while I discuss something with Miss Regina?"

Grace nodded emphatically and backed away from the door. Emma's gaze turned to Regina. The brunette woman's lips were pursed.

"I suppose you'd better come inside. I'd rather not have more flies than you've already let in for the last five minutes."

Emma turned and took another step inside, closing the kitchen door behind her. "Alright then."

###

Regina's gaze drifted to the back of Emma's right shoulder. There was a small tear in the seam. She felt her hand begin to lift, and firmly stiffened it against the urge to reach out. "Miss Swan," she said, fighting to keep her voice from shaking, "what do you want?"

Emma turned around; green eyes now captured hers. "You," she said.

Regina inhaled.

"I need you to tell me you're OK," Emma added.

"I'm fine," Regina said, trying for a biting tone. But Emma's gaze was disturbingly intimate and Regina swallowed when she finished her words.

Emma grimaced, glanced at Grace and then back at Regina. "I need your services," she said firmly.

Regina blinked. "You what?!"

"I want you. Alone. Now." Emma grasped Regina's hand, sending a tremor through her body.

Regina looked at Grace. "I think it's time you went up to bed, dear." Inside she was shaking. Emma wanted her... services? Grace's brow furrowed. "Go on, now," Regina added quietly. "Miss Swan and I have some... business."

Grace blinked. "Business?" Then a light seemed to dawn on the young face and Regina felt her heart trip a beat. "Oh. Uh. Oh!" The girl scurried away, lifting her skirt to move more quickly.

"Thank god," Emma said. Regina's gaze snapped to Emma's from having followed Grace's flight from the room.

"What on earth?" Regina fumed. "Miss Swan, you had better explain yourself."

"I needed to see you alone. Only thing I could think of which would drive away young ears."

Regina was surprised for the second time in as many minutes. "What? You don't want me?"

Emma twisted her hat in her hands and then threw it aside, capturing Regina's head behind the neck with one hand and pulling her in.

"You know I do," she breathed into the kiss she settled upon Regina's lips. Regina's gasp opened her mouth and Emma's tongue touched her own. It seemed to be an accident, though. Regina felt Emma shudder as hard as she herself did at the intimacy.

She whimpered; Emma groaned. Emma's other hand came up, cupped Regina's cheek, and the kiss deepened. Their curves fit together softly and seamlessly.

.