Emma laughed humorlessly. "I got in a fight, with one of my cousins at Kathryn's parents' place. At least, that's the story I'm supposed to tell."

Regina was already running to the bathroom to wet a cloth. She scrambled back to Emma and placed the cold cloth to her face, using her free hand to stroke Emma's hair soothingly. "It's okay," she whispered. "I've got you. Emma, please, what happened?"

She eased Emma onto her bed, sitting down next to her and continuing to press the cloth to her eye and lip. Emma's shoulders started to shake, and tears began to stream down her face. "It's never been this bad before," she sobbed. "At first, it was little things. James would drink, and he would get in Kathryn's face. So I would try to stop him, to split up the fight. I'd get pushed down, thrown into a table or wall or whatever I would happen to land on, things like that. But I couldn't just let him treat her like that, you know? Kathryn isn't a bad person. She's unable to have kids. She talked James into fostering, and she could have chosen a baby, a small kid, but she chose me. And I'm thankful for that."

Regina hummed softly to show that she was listening, continuing to stroke Emma's hair comfortingly.

"And..and then, it got worse. Kathryn met a man in New York on one of her business trips. She told James on the drive home yesterday that she'd fallen in love with someone else, and wants a divorce. He…lost it."

Tears streamed silently down her face as she continued, "He told her he could get her on and infidelity clause, that if she left him she would leave with nothing. He'd talked her into making their bank account a joint one, and he threatened to drain it, to make sure she had nothing at all when the divorce was done. James's twin brother is a sheriff in Augusta, and James said he could falsify a number of things that would ruin Kathryn's budding career as a lawyer. She's just a paralegal right now, but she wants to work up to lawyer, judge, maybe a DA. She has all these dreams, and James swears to ruin them all for her if she leaves him and ruins the image of a perfect family."

"That's horrible," Regina whispered, her horror growing by the moment. "How did this happen to you, though? Did my….did my thoughtless knocking on your door cause this?"

"No," Emma said quickly. "No. You coming to our door stopped it all. James snapped out of it." She looked over at her, then down to her lap. "I told him he couldn't force her to stay with him, that people…can't help who they fall in love with. I told him his drinking has alienated everyone. And he told me that with one phone call, he could have me shipped back to the group home in Augusta. He never wanted me, he'd only agreed to foster because he thought it would make Kathryn happy enough to let him keep drinking. And he told us both that if Kathryn left, he would not only ruin everything for her, but for me too. And then, he took his anger out on me once we were inside the house."

They sat in silence for a minute, then Emma wrapped her fingers around Regina's wrist, pulling her hand, and the cloth, away from her face. "It feels a little better, thank you," she whispered, giving a sad half-smile.

"Emma, we need to call the authorities, you have to have these wounds documented," Regina urged, taking Emma's hands in hers. "James can't get away with this. We can't let him."

"No!" Emma cried, louder than intended, shooting up off the bed. "No," she repeated in a softer tone, looking at Regina with wide eyes…or, one wide eye, as the other had finally swollen shut. "If the authorities see me, they'll take me back into the state's custody, against my will. I would rather keep going through this than go back into the system. I just need to learn to keep my mouth shut and my head down, just for one more year."

"The bruises on your back that I saw," Regina breathed, coming to a sad realization. "Those were because of him."

"Yes." Emma no longer denied it. She looked Regina dead in the eyes and reiterated, "You can't call the cops. I only have until I turn 18, and then I'm out of the system forever. If I go back now, everything I've worked so hard for will be lost. I'll have to leave my friends, my job, my teammates. You. I can't leave you. You…you're the best thing that's happened to me, in my whole life."

"Emma," Regina sobbed, tears springing forth unbidden from her eyes. "You-you can't say things like that, I can't…I can't stop myself from…you're making it so hard to…" she choked on her words, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

And then Emma pounced. She jumped into Regina's lap and wrapped her arms around her neck and the force of the impact sent Regina falling back onto her bed, Emma's body on top of her. Holding Regina in a bear hug, she sobbed against her neck. "I know," she wailed, her voice muffled. "I know, it's a lot to ask. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry to put this on you."

Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's waist, pulling her closer as they sobbed together. Regina held on tightly, never wanting to let go, and they laid that way for a long while, letting each other cry, until both had no more tears left. Then Emma slowly pulled back and leaned up on her elbows, face hovering over Regina's. "I'm sorry I made you cry," she whispered, using her thumbs to dry the remaining tears from Regina's cheeks. "I only ever want to see your smile."

Emma's face was so close, Regina could feel the breath from her words against her face. "I can't smile when you don't," Regina whispered, reaching up to wipe Emma's tears in return. "I can't bear to think what else you've gone through, what else you haven't told me. You deserve the world, Emma. Not this."

"Well," Emma sniffed, "If everyone got what they deserved, the world would be a much better place."

"If that isn't the truth," Regina deadpanned.

Emma stood up off of Regina and stretched. "I need to get back home," she said then. "James is passed out cold on the couch, I think, but if he wakes up and checks up on me, I'm screwed if I'm not there."

Regina shook her head. "Don't go back there," she begged. "Please."

"Regina, I have to," Emma said firmly. "Nine and a half more months. I know what to do to avoid his anger, I just need to learn to keep my mouth shut. I'll be fine, Gina. I've survived this long. I'm seventeen now, I'll age out of the system by October. It's not that far off."

Regina nodded sadly. "I just…I want to keep you here. Keep you safe."

"I know. But I have to go back. If I don't, I'll make everything much, much worse."

Regina finally relented, then remembered Emma's Christmas present still under their tree. "Oh, wait a moment!" she said, rushing out of the room as quietly as she could. "I'll be right back!"

She tiptoed quickly down the stairs and grabbed the small parcel with Emma's name written neatly on the tag. Carrying it back up the stairs, she closed her door behind her and handed the present over. "Here. Merry belated Christmas, Emma."

Emma sat back down on the bed and unwrapped her gift. Removing the lid, she gasped in complete shock and covered her mouth to muffle the sound. "Oh my god," she mumbled through her fingers. "Regina…" she pulled out a stunning sea-green, strapless evening gown. She held it in her hands, running her thumbs over its satiny surface in awe.

"It's one of my mother's designs," Regina stated proudly. "You said you loved her clothes, but couldn't really afford any. I saw this one, and the color matches your eyes, so I knew I had to get it for you. I had to estimate your size, but any alterations that need done, I know a guy."

"Thank you so much, Regina, you didn't need to…"

"That's not the only thing in the box," Regina interrupted her. "Keep going."

The next thing Emma pulled out was a small jewelry box. Upon opening it, she discovered a silver necklace, with a silver pendant in the shape of a swan. On the swan's wing sat two birthstones: opal and amethyst. "It's kind of like the one I bought for you," she said in wonder. "A swan for my last name?" she questioned.

Regina nodded. "You haven't told me why your last name is Swan, but I know that that's not a name that just gets bestowed on someone. You picked it. I don't know why or how, but I know you, and I know names hold meaning to you. I hope you like it…"

Emma launched off the bed and wrapped her arms around Regina's neck. "This means more to me than you can imagine," Emma murmured. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome. That's also not the end of your present," Regina added, clearing her throat. "One more thing."

Emma then pulled an envelope out of the bottom of the box. She opened it gingerly and her hand flew back up to her mouth.

"An invitation to Henry Mills's next book launch party," she gasped.

"I didn't give you the dress for no reason," Regina said. "I want you to wear it when you go with us to New York, where the launch party is happening. It's not until June, so it'll be warm enough to wear something like that. We'll get you a good pair of shoes to match your dress. I would have bought them for you too, but I don't know your shoe size."

Emma was hugging Regina again, arms tight around her neck. "You are amazing," Emma sobbed, fresh tears spilling out and falling on Regina's shoulder. "You make me feel so special."

"You are special, Emma Swan," Regina whispered, burying her face into Emma's hair. They hugged for a moment more, then Emma cast a glance at the clock, which read 4:23 a.m. She sat back down and quickly packed her gifts back up in the box. "Keep this here, please," she said. "If James finds this in my room, he'll know I snuck out. And I don't want to risk any of this being destroyed in one of his fits. Do you promise you won't tell anyone? If I go back to the group home, I won't be going to the book launch party," she warned almost jokingly.

"That's not funny," Regina scowled, and at least Emma had the decency to look contrite. "I know, I'm sorry. Please, though."

"I won't say anything, but please, any time you can, come over. Don't be in that house unless you absolutely need to be."

"What do you think I've been doing these past few months?" Emma reminded her. "I practically live here, remember?"

She made her way over to the window and opened it back up, preparing to climb back down. "How did you even get up here?" Regina asked again. Emma pointed to the lattice work by the window. "It's insanely easy to climb," she boasted. "Up. We'll see about down. I am a klutz, after all." She gave Regina a wry smile and said, "Good night, Regina. Happy New Year."

With that, she descended the lattice work like a pro and started her trudge back to her own house. Regina left the window open and watched Emma walk down the street, letting the cold winter air cool her overheated skin.

Then, when Regina had seen Emma climb the siding of her house and disappear into her own window, Regina closed hers up and dove into her bed, grabbing a pillow and yelling into it in frustration, sadness and anger, heart pounding in her ears.

Emma was being abused. Regina rolled over, staring up at her ceiling once more. She'd suspected it, but she'd hoped she was wrong. Now that it was confirmed, Regina swore that she would protect Emma as best she could. Even if she never told Emma how she felt about her, she was damn well going to show her.

School started again that following week, and Regina found she was excited to get back to her routine.

Regina gave all her friends their presents: a fancy new watch for Neal, nice red seat covers for Ruby's new red convertible (red was her favorite color after all), a stylish book bag for Belle, and a leather quiver for Robin's arrows. They were all shocked and excited, and eager to bestow their gifts to Regina: Neal had bought her a simple but stylish planner (she could tell he had no idea what to purchase for her, and the gift earned him some good-natured ribbing, but Regina was thankful that he'd thought of her at all), and Ruby bestowed upon her a beautiful charm bracelet. Belle gave her gift to Regina in private, and Regina was shocked to discover that Belle had a sly streak to her: the gift was The Complete Poems of Sappho, the very book that she'd snuck out of the library on that day so long ago, only this one was inconspicuously bound in leather and displayed no title on the front. "I could tell those poems resonated with you," Belle said, her tone serious but her eyes alight. "So I figured I'd buy you your own copy…one you don't have to hide behind your Biology book. I hope you like it."

Regina laughed hugged her, whispering good-naturedly, "You're a menace. Thank you."

And Robin, sweet, thoughtful Robin, had bought her a humidity-controlled reed case to keep her saxophone reeds in, and a beautiful silver saxophone keychain. "For when you get your car," he said shyly, turning pink and scratching at his stubble. Regina hugged him tightly and thanked him.

Since the snow had postponed the Storybrooke band's holiday concert, they performed that following Friday to a packed auditorium.

Emma, Ruby and Belle sat in the front row, and they were the first to leap onto their feet for a standing ovation at the end of Regina's solo in "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".

And a week after that, Storybrooke High students were swamped in school work and midterms. Emma had picked up extra shifts at the diner to save more money and avoid going home, and Regina barely saw any of her friends during that time, except in the classes she shared with them and at lunch.

Pretty soon midterms ended, and Regina's seventeenth birthday came round.

After practically inhaling her favorite breakfast, fried eggs and ham with saltine crackers (made deliciously by Eleanor, who hugged her and wished her a happy birthday), she practically ran out the door to meet Emma to carpool to school, and she just about fell over in shock.

Emma had parked her yellow Beetle in the driveway, and was making conversation with Henry, but that's not what was shocking.

There, next to Emma's car, was a pristine, sleek black 80's model Mercedes Benz. "Oh my God," Regina screamed, "Daddy, what is that?"

Cora came up behind Regina and squealed, "Surprise! Happy birthday, darling girl!" She hugged her daughter tightly.

Henry, beaming, gestured to the car. Regina wriggled out of her mother's grasp and ran over to her father, grasping him tightly in a bear hug. "Oh my God," she repeated, covering her mouth with her hands in disbelief. "My own car?"

"Found this thing for a steal," Henry said proudly, smiling from ear to ear. "And today, I figured you could stay home from school, and we'd make our way to the DMV for your driving test. Want to get your license on your birthday, princesa?"

Regina had memorized her driving pamphlet, and had practiced driving Emma's car around the school's empty parking lot and to school and downtown and back, and had become fairly decent at driving, but was she ready to get her license?

Hell yes.

So Henry called the school to excuse Regina's absence and handed over the shiny new car keys, which Regina immediately put on her new saxophone keychain.

"She's a beauty," Emma said, nudging Regina's side with her elbow. "Not as much personality as mine, but she's perfect for you."

"Oh, haha," Regina snarked, nudging Emma back. "You're hilarious. Get to school. I have a license to obtain."

"Break a leg," Emma grinned as she got into the driver's seat of her Beetle. "I'll see you later!"

Five minutes later, Regina was driving down the road to the neighboring city's DMV. The car ran smoothly and Regina found herself falling in love with it immediately. Henry praised her driving and boosted her confidence, and therefore she passed her test with flying colors.

A couple hours later, she was driving back home in possession of driver's license, the picture on the front of it a perfect capture of the joy she felt.

When she parked the car and she and Henry got out to go inside, Cora and Eleanor met them at the door. "We're going shopping!" Cora said excitedly, gesturing wildly like a madwoman. "Not only is it your birthday, but Eleanor here has been such a wonderful new addition to our house, I figured we could treat her to lunch and buy her a few nice things!" Eleanor looked a little uncomfortable, but smiled anyway. "You're too good to me, ma'am," she said politely.

"Nonsense," Cora waved her statement away like an annoying fly. "Once you're family, you're family. Now get it in the Benz, my dear! Regina will be our chauffeur today!"

Regina hugged Henry goodbye really quick, giggling at his whispered "Good luck" in her ear, and then was back in her car, driving back to the neighboring city where she'd gotten her license just a short time before.

Hours later and her car loaded down with shopping bags, Regina finally returned to her home. The three women gathered up their purchases and walked through the front door…and Regina's bags went tumbling from her arms as she started violently, a cacophony of voices shouting "SURPRISE!" the second she put her foot into the sitting room.

The room was decorated with streamers and balloons, there was a banner over the doorway to the kitchen that read "Happy 17th Birthday, Regina!", and a two-tiered birthday cake sat proudly on the coffee table.

Emma, Neal, Robin, Ruby, Belle, and Henry had been the ones to shout at her, and now her friends were blowing into obnoxious noisemakers and glitter and confetti was flying around the room.

"Eleanor is going to kill you all," she gasped as she watched the confetti pieces fall onto her, the couches, chairs, and floor.

The room erupted in laughter, including Cora and Eleanor, who had walked in behind her. "Never been one for murder, lass," Eleanor giggled.

"Wow, thank you everyone," Regina said as soon as she recovered her wits and manners. "I was not expecting this at all!"

Her friends gathered round to hug her, and then Emma knelt down and gathered up the bags that Regina had dropped. "I'd say we shocked her pretty good, guys, this stuff doesn't look cheap enough to be carelessly dropped," she joked before saying, "I'll take this up to your room and then we can start the party!"

And the party was wonderful. Regina was showered with gifts, they all ate cake and ice cream until they were nearly sick, played board games and Henry even put on some Latin music and taught them all a few dance moves.

Finally, the party wound down and, to Regina's surprise and pleasure, all of her friends pitched in to help clean up and remove the decorations before going home. It was the best birthday Regina had ever had.

She sat in her window seat that night and stared over the now-familiar landscape of the street, and found herself gazing longingly at Emma's window…as she had taken to doing every night.

And, before long, she saw Emma's light turn on. She waited anxiously for their now nightly ritual: Emma would pull back her curtains and open her blinds, sit in a chair by the window, and stare right back at Regina.

They'd thought up a plan, in case Emma was ever in dire trouble: Every night, they would sit "together" in their windows for about fifteen minutes before bed, and Emma would grab her flashlight and send two flashes of light out toward Regina, signaling that the house was calm, there were no problems that night.

Three flashes of light meant James was drunk, and there may have been a fight, but Emma was okay.

Four, and Regina wondered if Emma would ever be brave or desperate enough to send that message, meant "Call the cops."

Right on time, Emma's curtains parted and her blinds raised. She sat down in her spot at the window, and then the flashlight beamed once, then again, and turned off for good. Taking a deep, calming breath, Regina smiled. Good, everything was calm in the Nolan house. A calming, reassuring ending to a perfect day.

She and Emma sat in their windows for awhile longer, just looking at each others' silhouettes, until finally Regina gave in to her exhaustion and stood. She saw Emma do the same, and together they closed their curtains, turned our their lights and crawled into their beds.