AN: So I'm back (don't hate me) and I finally got round to doing another chapter, with backstory this time. Still angsty but more of a hopeful-angst, if such a thing exists.

Read on friends!

"True Love." Cora had mocked when Regina had finally gushed about the secret she'd been keeping. Her scoff echoed through the now silent dining room. "You may be young, Regina, but you're smarter than this. Don't think this...woman," Cora sneered, still acclimatize to the fact she wouldn't be getting grandchildren. "Is your be-all and end-all, darling."

"But-"

"True love." Cora interrupted with another scoff, as was slowly becoming habit. "Grow up, Regina. Life isn't a fairytale."

Yet Regina hadn't listened to her mother, which was no surprise. So after graduation when Emma had popped the question her only answer had been a resounding 'yes'.

They'd been so happy. Their honeymoon phase lasting much longer than expected, as all the towns people had commented. But then Regina had grown up. So had Emma.

Henry came into the picture with the help of an anonymous donor. Nothing could've warmed Regina's heart more than lying on Emma's hospital bed with their son bundled in her arms.

But slowly things changed. She became mayor. She watched over the town. In particular the young people of Storybrooke. She watched them live, laugh, love, break-up, grieve, then follow the whole process once again. A process she'd never been a part of because she'd found Emma and they'd never been apart since.

They'd been together since high school, been each other's first everything and it made Regina wonder. She'd watch one couple get together and break up and wonder why they kept doing it.

What was out there? She wondered. What had she missed?

And when Regina Mills had something on her mind there was nothing that would stop her until she'd put it to rest.

Her name was Tina, though she'd encouraged Tinkerbell Regina refused to call her that, and she was obviously new to town. She had no idea who Regina was, only that she was a hot woman in a bar drinking alone.

Regina had already been quite tipsy before Tina had sidled up beside her and ordered her another drink. Regina had turned to chastise the newcomer and fallen silent. Tina's blatant flirting and blonde hair had immediately captured Regina's attention.

And through a hazy set of events Regina had found herself driving dangerously back home with Tina kissing her neck.

Emma was out of town for a conference on highway safety for the weekend and Henry was at a friend's sleepover. And Regina's drunken mind had declared this the perfect time to find out exactly what it was she'd been missing.

She knew she was a married woman. But as Tina pressed her sensuously against the front door of her house she was grateful she'd never worn her ring on her finger. The ring hung on a simple chain resting against her pounding heart.

After making through the door she couldn't recall the exact events. But she could recall with startling clarity she'd been sitting on the couch. Her chest exposed to the cool air of the lounge, as Tina furiously riding her fingers when the light had turned on.

Both women had frozen and blinked repeatedly before turning to the person leaning against the arched frame. "Maybe I should go out of town more often, huh?"

"Who the fuck are you?" Tina had growled not moving as Regina tried to struggle out from under her.

Emma looked at Regina and waited until she met her eyes before she spoke. "After this? Her ex-wife."

"Emma! No!" Regina shouted, shoving Tina to the floor. "I love you!"

"Really? Could've fooled me. Cause I can swear you're fingers were in her a second ago!"

"She's nobody!"

"Then what am I?! You cheat on me with 'nobody'! How does that make me feel?! You'd rather your fingers fucking some nobody you just met rather than me? The one you 'love'?!" Emma mocked.

"I-"

"Save it." She hissed. "I'll send you the papers when I get them."

And then Emma had left - so had Tina but Regina didn't care about her.

Henry had asked, pleaded, yelled, and cried when Emma failed to come back. He'd screamed at her when she had told him she'd made a terrible mistake.

He begged her to make it right, to get Emma back, but he stopped when he'd come home from school one day and found Regina sobbing in her office. Her head buried in her hands as he rounded the desk to comfort her.

He didn't know what the papers scattered on her desk said but whatever had made his mom upset. And he hated seeing her like this.

His hand rubbed her back gently as his eyes cast over the papers before resting on one word that shook his world.

Divorce.

"Take my hand, Emma."

Emma stared at Regina's hand. It could be her salvation. Or it could be her damnation.

It had been both already so how was she supposed to know what form it would take next.

"What happens then?" Emma whispered. She didn't dare meet Regina's eyes. "Do we go back to how things were? Pretend that this never happened? Pretend everything's good again?"

Regina opened her mouth to reply. It didn't happen often, and only in Emma's presence, but Regina Mills was speechless. She pressed her lips to a thin line and determinedly kept her hand out.

"We can't go back to how thing were, Regina. It's just not possible." Emma sighed.

"Why do we have to go back?"

"What?"

"We can't go back, Emma. So we go forward." Regina said, her hand finally dropping to the tie of her robe and fiddling with the silken fabric Emma had brought for her long ago. "I can't change what I did, Emma. No matter how much I want to, I can't change it."

"So you wanna go forward?"

"I want to stop living in the past." Regina's hopeful tone forcing Emma's eyes from the carpet. "It was hell living without you. I don't want to go through that again."

"You think it was easy for me?" Emma could barely hold back an unbelieving scoff. "You thing I enjoyed living by myself? Leaving my family?"

"No, Emma-"

"No. You're damn right I didn't enjoy it. Why did I have to suffer for your mistake?" Emma hissed hatefully. She knew she shouldn't, but she relished the flinch Regina made as Emma stepped closer. "Why did you get to live with Henry? My son! While I was alone."

"You could've-"

"No, I couldn't! This place was tainted the moment that bitch stepped through that door and into your arms!"

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm sorry?!"

"I don't care about your apology! I care that you promised me forever! I care that you- Fuck." Emma cursed bringing her hands to wipe the tears from her face. "I care that you told me you loved me, that we would be together forever. That you wouldn't leave me like everyone else had before. You promised me, Regina."

"I-"

"You promised me! And then you fucking broke it! Your promise and my heart!" Emma yelled.

"Ma?"

Both women froze and turned quickly to stare at Henry. Regina tightened her grip on her robe while Emma slowly stepped past her.

"Hey, buddy. I'm sorry I woke you." She said softly. Regina watched the woman crouch before Henry, her face brightening in his presence. She used to have that effect on Emma.

"I heard yelling." Henry mumbled around a yawn as he rubbed his eyes.

"My bad, kid. I'm sorry."

"S'okay." Henry whispered as he shuffled forward and fell into Emma's arms. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's better with you, Henry." Emma whispered into his ear as she held him tightly. She chuckled when he yawned again. "Go back to bed, kid."

Henry backed away slowly his hands rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His eyes shot to Regina before meeting Emma's. "Tuck me in?"

Emma froze as he extended his hand.

"Ma? Come on." He urged wiggling his fingers wit a tired smile. "Take my hand."

Emma fought the sobs rising in her chest as she pushed herself up to stand. She took a deep breath.

"I'll never let it go." Emma promised, as she grasped his hand in hers. Together they began walking back to his room.

Emma kept her eyes focused on the approaching door as she fought tears. As her eyes traced the panelling she missed Henry looking back over his shoulder to Regina. She missed him smiling widely at her, and swinging Emma's clasped slightly.

'I got it'. He mouthed before tugging Emma into the depths of his bedroom.

Regina knew her mouth was open. She knew tears were falling down her face. And she knew her son had heard everything and was bringing their family back together.

And though Emma hadn't taken her hand Regina knew it would only be a matter of time before she did.

And then… Then they'd move forward.

Together.

AN: There you have it. I probably won't add more to this story. But my other stories will hopefully get updated now that life is finally chilling out for once.

Review, tell me what you think. Cause I love hearing from you even if it's just random babble.

:)