Sorry for the long wait but life's been busy and I was trying to get some prompts for EC week finished. But here is a new chapter for you! The story is moving along slower than expected but I promise Tink will make an appearance soon. I don't have a beta for this one so mistakes will happen and are entirely my fault!

The Case

As promised, Granny arrived at the mansion fifteen minutes later, bringing with her some boxes to gather Regina's belongings.

As soon as she saw the owner of the bed and breakfast, Regina tensed. How was she going to pay for her food and lodging? What was she supposed to tell Granny? David must have sensed her dilemma as he placed a hand to the small of her back and whispered in her ear. "I'm not abandoning you and neither is Granny, ok?"

The brunette swallowed and nodded imperceptibly as the old woman approached the trio with a smile. "Let's get you moved out!" She announced cheerfully.

"Granny, this Malerie Balaur, assistant D.A. on the case. Mal, meet Mrs Lucas." David introduced.

The blonde attorney extended her hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Tell me you're going to put this son of a bitch where he belongs." Granny grumbled in lieu of a greeting.

"I'll do my best." Mal confirmed while shaking hands with the old woman. She knew how difficult and critical the first few weeks would be for Regina and she was glad to meet the woman who had offered the abused woman protection.

"Should we go get your things?" Granny turned to face Regina, already looping her arm around her protegee's.

"It's not that simple." David blurted out before Granny could march Regina inside the mayoral mansion. "Regina is not allowed to take anything with her that was acquired during the marriage."

Granny looked at the brunette and gasped in shock. Regina had been married to that monster since she was a teenager. The old woman could still remember the festivities that had followed the hurried wedding ceremony. Surely, she didn't have anything to her name besides what her husband had provided for her. The slight blush of Regina's cheeks immediately confirmed her suspicion.

"I just want to retrieve one item." Regina pleaded.

"And then we're taking you shopping." Granny nodded firmly.

"I… I don't have any money." Regina looked down at her feet.

"I'm sure the Sheriff and I can spare some money to get you a new wardrobe."

"I don't want anyone's charity." Regina spat.

"Then consider it a loan, child." Granny looked at the woman in front of her. "I need someone to help me at the diner. As soon as you're strong enough, the job is yours." Regina gasped in shock at the offer but before she could pronounce any words, Granny continued. "$200 a week plus room and board. Does that seem fair to you?"

Regina nodded, tears already filling her eyes. "Yes… Thank you. For everything."

"Oh don't thank me. It just happens that one of my waitresses left me this morning. Now, let's get you that one item, shall we?"

Regina smiled before following Granny inside the mansion. David watched her go, ready to intervene if Regina needed help. He knew Granny didn't need the extra help. Ever since the word had spread that Regina was hiding at the bed and breakfast, the diner had been emptier than usual. But he held his tongue.

"Has she talked to Dr. Hopper yet?" Mal's voice brought David out of his thoughts.

He faced the A.D.A. and shook his head. "I asked her several times but she vehemently refused each time. I don't think she's ready to talk about what happened in the mansion."

"She needs to. First of all, for her own well-being. She needs to come to terms with what happened to her. And it won't happen on its own. The more she tries to run from her past, the faster it will catch up with her. Trust me, I know." Mal paused but before David could asked her any questions, she turned around and placed her briefcase on the top of his trunk. She opened it and shuffled the papers around in search of the two documents she had been faxed earlier in the morning. "Second, the trial will be ugly." She showed David the two photographs at the top.

The sheriff closed his eyes. If the two photographs were only the tip of the iceberg, and there was enough reason to think that it was, then ugly wouldn't even begin to describe the months ahead. "Where did you get those?"

"Gold."

"He gave you this in discovery?" David was genuinely surprised. Although the defense and plaintiff were supposed to share all of their evidence in discovery, some of them often mysteriously appeared during the trial, blindsigthing the opposite counsel.

"Yes. Which means there is more." Mal closed her briefcase. "And we need to prepare Regina for it. She's gonna have to testify if we have any chance to put Leopold behind bars. And Gold is going to have a field day with her."

David closed his eyes. "What does Spencer think?"

"He is seeing himself in the mayor's office. He doesn't care about who gets hurt in the process. Least of all Regina. He's agreed to let me handle her prep and questioning but …."

"You don't have much time." David finished for her. "I'll talk to Regina but I want her to hear all the legal options, including a divorce settlement with a restricting order."

Mal nodded. "When you arrested him for assault and battery, you took that option off the table. At least until the penal case proceeds. And Albert won't back down. I'm not sure there is a legal way for us to prevent her from testifying. The best we can do is damage control. But you need to talk to her. She needs to be prepared."

The sound of the door closing brought the conversation to an end. Regina was carrying a small shoebox as she and Granny approached them. "Ready for lunch?" David smiled at her.

Regina nodded quickly. "I'm a little hungry."

"Finally!" Granny exclaimed. "Come on, let's get some fat on those bones!" She steered Regina toward her vehicle as they were saying goodbye to Mal.

"Call me if there are any news." David shook the A.D.A.'s hand before heading over the driver's side of his cruiser. "I'll talk to Regina." He added in a soft tone, making sure that neither Granny or Regina could hear him. "Soon." How soon would depend on Regina's reticence to talk about her past.