"Emma!" Snow said, rising from the ground, her face a mask of terror "What have you done?"

Emma didn't have time to reflect on that statement before the thunderous sound of someone…something? Caused her to turn around, eyes going wide.

"What the hell.." she started, but Snow had grabbed her arm and was pulling her away from the direction of the sound.

"Come on!" she half-screamed,

Emma stumbled after her in the darkness, she could see Mulan's torch up ahead. In the dim light provided by it, Regina and the other woman running behind her, who by now she'd recognized as Aurora.

They ran through the thicket in almost complete silence, but the sound of the…thing following them was deafening, it roared occasionally, and its steps sounded like nothing Emma had ever heard before. She imagined an elephant running would make a similar sound. Snow was just ahead of her, when, in the darkness, Emma's foot caught on something, she gasped and fell forward onto her knees. Before she could get back up, she heard it, right behind her, the sound of a giant creature breathing heavily. She turned, slowly. It was humongous, the size of a small house, it towered over her, with its one eye wide open, but clearly unseeing, rolling around in its socket. The creature swung giant club-like arms around, looking for her.

"Alright" she whispered, grabbing her gun "Let's see how you deal with bullets" she raised the glock and cocked it. The ogre swung its hand, it grabbed the small pistol and pulled it away from her.

"Shit" she said, grabbing at her waist for her sword.

"Hey! Right here!" Snow's voice called out loudly from behind the ogre "You big oaf!" she screamed. It turned. Slowly. Its big arms swinging dangerously around, Snow ran out in front of it, it tried to follow. She raised her bow, arrow ready. The creature bent down, its hands going forward to grab at her, she let the arrow loose. It struck him in the eye. The thing stood up, screaming bloody murder, turned on itself then fell. Dead.

Emma was breathing hard, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"How–" she began to ask, but Snow was walking past her, looking a little smug, though it was hard to tell in the darkness.

"You don't know this land like we do, Emma," she called behind her, "let's go"

Mulan, Regina and Aurora followed Snow, all three were breathing hard. But Regina stopped next to Emma, who was still on the ground. She grinned, that grin she used that Emma wanted to wipe off her face.

"Keep up, Miss. Swan"

Aurora had been accepted into the mismatched group easily enough, she'd explained that their appearance had caused the wraith to take her love, Philip's, life. That had mollified both Snow and Regina, though the latter would never admit it. The three of them were so tired anyway, they couldn't possibly hold a grudge for something as small as attempted murder. They'd put up the lean-to between two trees and had fallen asleep quickly beneath it, Mulan insisting she stay up to guard over them. They hadn't had the strength to argue.

They woke with the sun shining high up in the sky, they rubbed the sleep out of their eyes and packed their meager belongings.

"There's a stream five minutes in that direction," Mulan said, pointing towards a nearly unrecognizable path in the dense forest. The four of them headed towards it, silently.

True to Mulan's words, the path led to a small clearing in the dense thicket, and the stream appeared just ahead of them, a small rivulet of water winding downwards, flowing fast. The cool water tasted like heaven in Emma's parched mouth, and she drank as much as she could, wondering when they'd find another source. Once all four had drunk and splashed their faces with water, they began to walk back to Mulan, making their way between the trees, the soft moss underfoot muffling their footsteps. As Aurora and Snow disappeared behind some trees ahead of them, Emma turned to Regina.

"You saved Mary Margaret's life" She said, it wasn't a question.

Regina didn't reply for some time, and Emma began to wonder if she would.

Finally, she said "I had a teacher once. He taught me to always pay my debts" she turned to Emma, meeting her eyes "You saved my life, and I saved your mother's. Now we're even, as far as I'm concerned"

She looked straight ahead into the trees, the dappled sunlight filtering through the branches on her face made her dark eyes shine like molten gold. Emma said nothing. Were they even now? After everything Regina had done to her?

"Right. I guess so" she said, after some time.

They walked on in silence, and they had nearly reached their campground when Regina turned to Emma.

"And, Miss. Swan" She said, quietly, "Thank you".

Snow had been right, they reached the castle just before sundown. Emma's legs were screaming at her, they'd been walking for the better part of the day almost without pause, and they had had nothing to eat except for a few berries Snow had picked on the path. They'd only stopped once to drink at a stream. Still, the sight of the castle took her breath away. It had first appeared from the foot of the hill it stood on, its many turrets and towers gleaming white and gold in the afternoon sun. As they'd gotten closer, Emma had been surprised at just how big it was, surrounded by stone walls, the towers loomed large over the surrounding countryside. From the entrance though, she could see how time had had its effects on the building. The stone walls that must have once been majestic were now crumbling, plants growing in every gash and crevice in the bricks. They'd gone through the entrance, which must once have been protected by a wooden door, now rotted away into pulp, the ravages of time had been even more obvious here. Emma had watched her mother's expression as they walked into the castle that had once been hers, a mixture of sadness and rage had crossed her face, and a few lone tears had made their way down her cheeks.

"You ok?" Emma asked

"Fine" she said, "Let's just get this tree"

Regina cleared her throat, "You don't happen to have any clothes in there do you? I'd like to change" she asked, looking down at the brown tunic she'd been given by Lancelot, which was now covered in dirt and mud. Emma glared at her, but Snow nodded, wiping at her eyes.

"We kept my father's room exactly as it was when he died" she said, "You'll find your–" She stopped herself and looked over at Mulan and Aurora, who were too far to overhear.

"The queen's" Snow corrected herself "clothes. They'll probably fit you"

"We'll see," Regina whispered, more to herself than anyone else, her fists clenched at her side, she made her way ahead of them into the castle.

Her castle. That's what it had been once. She could remember the first time she'd seen it as if it was yesterday. Her family had traveled to it from her home in the nearby kingdom. Their new coach, a gift from the King to his future wife, had been made of lacquered white wood, it had gleamed in the sunlight. Regina would once have loved such a gift, its exquisite craftsmanship a joy to behold, yet she remembered feeling nothing but apathy when it had arrived, a symbol of her new life as Queen.

On the journey her mother and father had tried to get her excited for the wedding. Her mother had pointed out how big and beautiful the castle was, told her she would rule all the land from there… She'd have the biggest room, the most beautiful clothes, the best food. Yet it had all seemed lackluster to Regina, perhaps when she'd been a girl of ten those things would have excited her, but then? All she'd wanted was Daniel back. She'd thought of nothing but him all the way to the castle. When they'd entered the gate of the city, people had been waiting for her, hundreds of them, waiting to see their new Queen. They'd thrown white roses at her, and the memory of the sickly sweet scent of them, trampled under the wheels of her coach, still made her gag.

If only they'd known then who she would become, they would have shot an arrow through her heart, she thought mirthlessly. Regina made her way into the main hall of the castle she'd once called hers.

The large hall had once been filled with people; it was where the King, she could not bear to think his name, held court to listen to his royal subjects. Now it was empty and cold, the twin thrones of David and Snow crumbling under the weight of time on the dias. The same dias where she'd married her husband, where she'd sat, next to him, a pretty vase as he gave advice, consoled and doled out justice to their subjects. The memories of her wedding day were overwhelming, and with them came memories of her wedding night.

She forced air into her lungs feeling Emma and Snow's eyes on her back. Mulan and Aurora had followed them in.

She turned to Snow.

"Lead the way" She said, as if she didn't know every nook and cranny of this place.

Snow nodded, she avoided looking at her, Regina noticed. This hurt her too, she was probably thinking of her dear daddy. The fire inside her was good, she clung onto it, desperately.

They walked up the stairs that led to the royal family's quarters, then into the great hallway. The doors at the end of the hall loomed large. She stood in front of them, her hands splayed on the old wood, it creaked under the pressure. After she'd killed him she hadn't been able to get rid of this room either. It reminded her of strength. She wanted to remember how she'd escaped his grip, she'd been strong then, in that moment, his death had meant her life.

She pushed the doors open, still firmly aware of Emma and Snow's presence behind her. Aurora and Mulan had stayed downstairs, thankfully.

The room looked no different than the last time she'd set foot in it. That morning the guards had come to wake her, to tell her her husband was dead. She'd played the grief-stricken wife well, slipping on a mask of confusion and horror as she'd wailed over his cold body.

She looked away from the four poster bed, where she'd spent the beginning of her marriage, before her husband's dislike of her had allowed her to have her own room, and walked towards the smaller door across from it.

Emma and Snow had stayed in the doorway, she looked at them briefly, and Snow turned away, tears in her eyes.

She opened the door, her own room hadn't been touched either, her small bed still made, though dust and time had washed out the baby blue sheets that were now gray. She was vaguely aware of Emma in the room with her, ignoring her, she walked over to the closet and flung it open roughly.

Her clothes were organized perfectly, they were in order of formality, from her wedding dress, on the far side of the closet, to her riding clothes and her sleep gowns. Most of the dresses were in a shade of white, blue or pink. Those had been her favorite colors as a girl. She stared at them, they hung there, silent, watching her, judging her. Silent ghosts of her past. Shaking her head roughly, she began to file through them, looking for something that would still fit her. She hadn't changed much, but some of these clothes had been designed for her fifteen-year old body, before…well, before everything. Those wouldn't fit her any longer.

Her hands moved fast over the fabrics, pushing them to the side, pulling out dresses that looked promising, then letting them fall to the ground as the memories washed over her. The one she'd been wearing when he'd seen her the first time, the one she'd been wearing when he'd groped her legs, the one he'd ripped off of her in his haste... The dresses were flying out of her hands now, she ripped at them, pulling blindly at the ones still hanging in the closet.

"Regina!" Emma's voice came from far away, and she ignored it, tearing at the soft expensive fabrics in her hands.

"Regina, Regina!" She felt hands on her shoulders, pulling her back. For a moment she fought them, then she let herself be pulled away. The hands spun her around, and through tears, she saw Emma's bright green eyes staring at her with concern.

"What the hell was that?" She asked,

Regina looked around, her old clothes were in heaps on the ground, many ripped to shreds by her hands. She let herself sink to her knees, Emma's hands going to her sides, trying to keep her upright, and failing. She lowered herself to the ground next to Regina.

"Regina?" She asked again, her tone soft, concerned.

She brought her hands to her face, cupping them over her eyes, trying to stem the flow of tears. Her shoulders shook as she cried silently into her hands. She wished Emma wasn't there. She didn't want her to see her like this, broken.

"Go away" She managed to choke,

"Regina…"

"Just go away!" she looked up, meeting Emma's green eyes, anger burning through her.

Emma held her gaze steadily, then she reached out and put her hand on her shoulder, stroking her arm.

"I'm not leaving."

Regina was breathing hard, she needed her to leave, she needed to be alone with her grief and her anger. She tried to summon a fireball, and nothing came. She looked down at her hand, willing it to work.

"Your magic is blocked" Emma reminded her gently

She practically growled.

"I know!"

Emma continued to stroke her arm, then began moving her hand in small circles on her shoulders and back. Regina felt herself unwillingly relax into her touch.

"What happened, Regina?"

"Nothing, I'm…fine" She was certainly not going to be opening up to Emma Swan, of all people. His granddaughter. The savior.

"This" she gestured to the mess around them "doesn't look fine to me" she arched an eyebrow.

Regina sighed, her tears had stopped at least. Emma picked up a scrap of fabric from the ground, then, slowly, as if approaching a wild animal, she brought it to Regina's face and wiped her cheeks dry, very gently. Regina turned her brown eyes to look at her, but didn't move to stop her.

"Will you tell me?" Emma asked,

"Tell you what?"

"Regina" Emma sighed

"I just" she started, she had to say something "The memories"

"Your marriage?"

Regina nodded, looking away from Emma.

"Did he hurt you?"

She smiled sadly, then shook her head.

"Emma, he was your grandfather" she said simply,

"So what?"

"You don't want to hear about the things he did."

Emma took her hand and brought it into her lap. Regina raised her head and their eyes met.

"Yes I do"

Regina was quiet as she looked into those mesmerizing green eyes, her own eyes were burning, and she could feel a headache coming on. Her eyes strayed down to Emma's lips, and she wondered, just for a second… She didn't have time to finish her thought when Snow's voice echoed from the other room.

"Emma?"

Emma looked at her apologetically,

"Another time?"

Regina nodded, both grateful and angry at Snow for cutting the moment short. Emma rose and went to her mother.

Regina looked around, searching for a dress she hadn't ripped to pieces. She quickly found a blue riding dress, and she remembered wearing it during one of Rumple's first lessons. At least that memory wasn't particularly painful. She put it on, and wondered at how well it still fit, the white bodice just tight enough on her chest. She walked into her husband's room.

"Wow" Emma said, she and Snow sat on his bed. Snow had clearly been crying, she looked up and gave Regina a disdainful look. "You look…" Emma started, her eyes roving over Regina's body "different".

Regina smiled, seeing the appreciation in her eyes, and cocked her head to the side, her pride restored, just a little.

"We're going to the tree" Snow said, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't come" her voice held an edge.

"Why can't she come?" Emma asked, glancing between the two of them

"Because the tree is in your nursery, Emma" Snow said, sniffling.

"Oh, right"

"It's alright" Regina said, feeling slightly self conscious "I'll just wait here"

Chapter 4! I'm really proud of this chapter for some reason so please critique it so I can calm down! Jokes aside (I'm not joking please critique it) I hope you enjoy this chapter, soft Regina and Emma bonding will be going away for a while since they can't help fighting all the time, but that's what I love about them. ALSO, if you notice any words are randomly missing, it's not a typo it happens when I upload to ffnet , so if you let me know please, I can fix it.