a/n: Love to all my readers. Thanks for sticking with me through these long breaks through updates. You guys mean a lot to me and your reviews keep me going, even when the show has completely failed me. Thanks! *mwah* And enjoy.

Chapter 12

When Emma whirled around to find him, Killian saw the pure anger in her eyes. He couldn't recall ever seeing her like that and for once he truly feared for his life. "Swan, I'm sorry." He held his arms up to show surrender. "Just hear me out. I…"

"Not another word from you!" Emma exclaimed with rage seething out. She strode down the steps with her hands slightly shaking by her side as she tried to hold back the magic that was just a whisper away from exploding. With her glare never wavering, Killian swore she was trying to reach into his soul to crush it. "If you made me lose her, I will personally make the rest of your short, pathetic life a living, breathing hell."

"Swan…"

"Don't!" She barked out. "You have lost the right to call me that. I don't even want to hear my name come from your mouth. Seeing you like this, I don't know what I ever saw in you. You haven't changed and you never will. You are simply a manipulator. You preyed on me, and I was stupid enough to fall for it."

Killian went to step toward her but Emma held her hand up creating an invisible wall. "You even try to lay one finger on me, and so help me, you'll regret it. If you value your one remaining hand, among other things, you'll leave right now." Killian got the threat loud and clear and lowered his hand as he took a step back. "I want you out of my face and off Regina's property." Emma finished, turning heel and heading back toward the house.

"Emma…" Killian made one last attempt, but regretted it immediately.

"I said go!" Emma bellowed as she spun around, her magic radiating off of her in a wave and blasting the pirate back so hard, his body hit the pavement just outside the gate in a heap. Emma stood there panting as the magic took its toll before her legs gave way and buckled, causing her to collapse to her knees.

After taking a moment to regain strength enough to stand, Emma slowly rose from the pavement and reached in her back pocket to grab her phone. She sent a quick text to David as she headed back toward the the house. Can you come pick up Hook? He's out in front of the manor. I'll explain later. - Emma. Slipping her phone back in her pocket she made her way inside to find Regina.

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Regina had been sitting in her office, sipping a glass of her cider when she felt the wave of magic release. She knew it was Emma's and while part of her wanted nothing more than to run out to make sure the blonde was okay, there was a deep hurt that kept her rooted to her spot. She took another long slow sip of her cider as she pondered. You know if anything happens to her, you'll never forgive yourself… and neither will Henry. You love her. She clenched her jaw and set her glass on her desk, standing up to find out what was going on.

She had almost made it to the door of her office when the sound of the front door closing stopped her in her tracks. Regina heard her name being called throughout the house but she never returned an answer. As the sound got closer, she glanced down at the door knob to her office and quickly reached out and locked it.

Emma heard the click of the lock and made her way over to stand in front of the door it had come from. She knew the sound meant the other woman had locked the door but she tried the knob anyway. Letting out a sigh she stayed there a few moments, hoping Regina would come to her senses and let her in. But with no sound of movement on the other end, she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration before leaving to go into the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen she immediately spotted a bottle of wine on the back of the counter and swiftly swooped it up with one hand and went searching for an opener. After finding what she was looking for she walked over to the island and she set the two items down, leaning against the counter with her hands as she just stared at the bottle. You would be no better than him, Emma's inner self told her.

She sighed and pushed off the island, turning to walk back to Regina's office determined to bring the woman back to her, even if she had to sit outside the lousy door all night. She reached up to knock on the door but hesitated, putting her hand against the frame instead as she leaned a little, thinking how to go about getting the brunette to come out.

"Regina, I know you're in there." Emma called out but again no response. She thought to try the door once more in hopes of finding it unlocked this time, but it was a failed attempt. "Regina, please." Her heart was feeling as though it was being squeezed until she could hardly breathe. Please, Regina.

Regina could hear the pain in the other woman's voice and it was killing her, but her own pride and hurt kept her paralyzed from reaching out and opening the door.

"Look I know you. You're probably sitting in there thinking of what he said about not deserving me." There was a short pause before the blonde continued, "Regina… has it ever occurred to you that maybe I think I don't deserve you?" Emma let it all out as she stared at the closed door, hoping the brunette was still there.

Regina stood on the other side listening, her brow furrowing in confusion at the blonde's words.

"Now you're probably standing there thinking, 'what are you going on about, you idiot'?"

An amused small smile tugged at the corner of Regina's mouth as yet again Emma's ability to read her, even through a door, came into play.

"You are the mother to my son. You took him in when there was no way that I could look after him. And I don't know if you've noticed, but he has turned into a really great kid." She paused again, wondering if Regina was even listening. "You did that… And then there are the countless times you have saved this town, Henry… me." Emma stepped closer to the door, her hand flat against it as she brought her forehead to rest on the cool wood and whispered, "The others may not see you as a hero… but I do."

She heard the click of the latch to the door unlocking and raised her head, stepping back as the door slowly opened. Their eyes immediately locked on one another. "Hi." Emma stated softly with a small smile, her brow creased in innocence.

"We saved each other." Regina admitted softly, the words catching the blonde off guard.

"What?"

Regina looked down, discovered feelings still new and overwhelming, before meeting the woman's gaze once again. "We saved each other," she repeated. "You said I saved you. But you have saved me far more times, in different ways."

Emma stood there letting the words sink in before steadying herself and daring to take a step forward as she reached out and placed her hand on Regina's cheek. "Maybe that's just proof that we deserve each other then." She gave a half smile before leaning in to brush her lips against the brunette's. "And I will continue to save you… even from yourself." She whispered, her breath warm against Regina's skin before capturing the brunette's full lips in a tender yet somewhat possessive kiss.

As the kiss continued, Regina wrapped her arms around Emma to bring their bodies flush against one another, needing that contact. She felt completely foolish at how she had acted now but somehow Emma was still there… with her.

"I'm sorry." Emma offered when the kiss was over. "I created this whole mess and…" Regina brought her finger to the blonde's lips to shush her.

"I also didn't place my trust in you." Regina explained. "I have been so used to people lying to me or using me, that I let that overrule what is right in front of me. And that is, that you never have. Even in the past, against better judgment, you stood your ground against me...and with me." With those last words she reached up and moved a lock of blonde hair out of Emma's face.

"Guess the mood from earlier in the kitchen is ruined now." Emma stated softly.

"It would seem so." Regina simply offered back but placed her finger under the blonde's chin, tilting it up so that she would keep her eyes trained on hers. "But that isn't to say we can't get it back." She gave her a devilish half smirk. "We'll just take it slow."

"So you're going to torture me." Emma commented with amusement.

"If that's what you're into, dear." Regina's brow arched playfully as she let out a seductive chuckle. She knew that wasn't what the blonde was referring, but who was she to deny the opportunity to mess with Emma. She placed a feather light kiss upon the other woman's lips before moving to exit the room, leaving the blonde standing there flustered and speechless.

After Henry had returned home later that afternoon, they had had a nice quiet dinner with just the three of them. Henry had quickly excused himself afterward to head up to his room and read his latest comic stash, leaving Emma and Regina to themselves. Regina had to finish a few things in her office so Emma decided to use that opportunity to take a quick shower.

When Emma came back downstairs, she found Regina sitting on the couch engrossed in a book, reading glasses adorning her face. Emma leaned against the wall at the entrance way and just watched her with a faint smile upon her lips, knowing that no one else knew the Regina she was seeing, quiet and serene.

"It's not nice to stare, dear." The brunette commented as she flipped to the next page of her book, her eyes never leaving it.

Emma folded her arms as she remained where she was, her smile only growing. "I'm not staring, I'm watching. There's a difference." A hint of a smile played at the corner of Regina's mouth at the comeback as she closed her book and leaned over to place it on the coffee table, removing her glasses next and setting them atop of the book.

Emma took that as her cue and pushed off the wall to walk over to her. Taking a seat on the couch, Emma pulled her legs up under her and curled up next to the brunette. She stole a chaste kiss then maneuvered a little closer and nestled against the other woman's side so she could lay her head on Regina's shoulder. "Now who's the Koala, hmm?" Regina teased as she wrapped her arm around the blonde, soothingly running her hand up and down Emma's arm.

"Shhh." Emma poked Regina lightly in the rib, then wrapped her own arm around the brunette's waist.

Regina chuckled before growing quiet and serious in thought. A part of her was worried for Emma as her mind traveled back to what happened that afternoon with Killian. "I felt your magic earlier. It felt extremely volatile and angry." She eventually stated in concern, breaking the silence.

"He's lucky he's alive." Emma grumbled, not really wanting to talk about any of that. She closed her eyes, just wanting to get lost in Regina's arms and ignore everything else.

Regina sighed. "There is a difference between channeling your anger and letting it control you. You're letting your anger rule your magic. That can lead you down a terrible path. I should know." Emma lifted her head at those words and looked at Regina. "We need to find something to ground you." The brunette continued, reaching out and touching Emma's cheek.

"You ground me."

Regina gave a hint of a smile. "Even if that is so, I still make you angry. We need something else." She dropped her hand to the blonde's chin, placing her finger under it. "We already have an Evil Queen, no need for an Evil Princess." Her smile grew as she finished, causing Emma to let out a small chuckle.

"I don't think you were ever truly evil." Emma countered, moving her hand to run a finger along the brunette's jawline as she gazed into her eyes. "Perhaps broken, but not evil."

"You don't know all the things that I did."

"You're right, I don't. But I do know a Regina others never got to see." Emma responded, cupping the woman's cheek. "And you told me once that a broken heart could make you do unspeakable things. Back then I didn't know that you were actually speaking of your own past." She brushed her thumb across Regina's cheek. "So again, you weren't evil just hurt beyond words, and alone." She finished with a kiss.

"Though honestly, Evil Princess sounds like a better alternative right now than 'saviour' Emma. Or maybe Dark Swan." The blonde commented after the kiss, half joking as she dropped her arm back around Regina once once again rested her head on the brunette's shoulder. "I want to do something just for me for a change. Everybody's constantly wanting something from me. To be the savior, to be the hero, to be the daughter they missed out on, to be their happy ending… why can't I just want something for myself? Everyone wants their happy ending… can't I have my own?" She ends her rant and goes quiet a moment before adding. "I don't want to hurt the people I care about… but I am tired of finding everyone else their happiness and sacrificing my own. I want to be selfish just once."

Regina sat there in silence, just listening, on occasion bringing her free hand up to play with Emma's blonde locks as the woman let it all out. When she felt the blonde had truly finished saying what she needed to, Regina finally spoke. "And what is it that you wish? What does your heart want?"

Emma slowly pulled back to look up into intense, caring brown eyes before her gaze slipped down to linger upon the brunette's full lips. "You." She answered clearly and simply as she leaned in to tenderly capture those same lips with her own, her hand coming up to run her fingers through Regina's hair.

The kiss slowly intensified until Regina reluctantly broke it off, making Emma moan in frustration at the loss. The brunette chuckled as she stood up from the couch and held out her hand. "Let's continue this upstairs, shall we?" Regina offered with a devilish smirk. "I do believe you mentioned something about me torturing you?" She pulled Emma up on her feet then whispered in her ear, "we'll see how torturously slow I can be." She let out a low silky laugh, her warm breath caressing Emma's sensitive skin along her ear and neck making the blonde's head swim.

Regina continued to hold Emma's hand as she lead them up to her room.