Looking back at the last few weeks Emma was surprised how much could change in such a short time. She had broken the curse: Rumplestiltskin … go figure brought back magic; and every one in Storybrooke now remembered who they were including Mary Margret and David …. no Snow and James; her reunion with her parents had been well Emma really Couldn't think of a way to describe their relationship, They cared for each other but she was closer to Snow, because they were close before the curse broke and that part of their relationship had changed little; she was more surprised at how well she got along with James and how much they were alike but the new it would be a while before she would really think of them as her parents. Sometimes she wished she could adjust as easily as Henry, but her son had always been able to accept things easily, it was a change for him to even be in the same place to form close bonds with people. The Sheriff's office where she sat was now fully staffed by the dwarfs, and snows guards and even a few of the fairies who were there to deal with any magical problems , they took care of most of the calls that came in and there was not much for Emma to do.

The only task Emma didn't entrust to her Staff was Regina; she still didn't trust that they wouldn't be tempted to seek revenge against her. Emma knew that she had as much right as anyone to absolutely despise Regina Mills, but she didn't. Yes most of the time Regina drove her up the wall, and they were often down eachothers throat but somehow the thought of a world without Regina Mills greatly disturbed her and try as she might Emma was contantly confused about her feelings towards Regina. But one thing she was sure about was that The Evil Queen in Henry's book and who the people of Storybrooke knew was not the only side of Regina, there had been several times since she met her when Emma had seen Regina without her walls up and what she saw in Regina's eyes at these times was a woman who was hurting and Emma felt a strong desire to help her.

That was another strange turn of events, she and Regina were actually trying to be civil towards each other and over the last few weeks she had seen another side of Regina, she was a great teacher.

When magic came back it was soon realised that she had acquired the power to use magic; the fairies had insisted on teaching Emma how to control it but after nearly three weeks she had made very little progress, she was supposed to be finding the core of her magic but what exactly the fairies wanted her to do was lost on Emma….then on one of her check-ups on Regina the topic had come up "How are the magic lessons going", Regina asked a surprised Emma,was she actually making small talk or was she just being same old Regina, Emma was tempted to say fine so to avoid a quip from Regina about her inadequacy to perform magic but instead she had confessed her predicament.

Bracing herself for Regina's reply Emma was surprised at the tone of understanding in her voice, "Of course you're having a hard time, I don't think your 'teachers' remember that you unlike them was not born knowing to use magic, for the fae I is as normal as breathing, but for someone who isn't bon naturally with a knowledge of magic what they see as a simple task is actually quite difficult."

"And how exactly am I supposed to find my core" emma asked, " what does that even mean?"

"It means ,you need to find or rather feel the place in you from where your magic comes'" Regina replied, "it is a bit difficult to explain ." Regina hesitated before continuing " Would you like me to show you?"

" How?" asked Emma " I thought you couldn't use your magic?"

"Miss Swan, not because I can't express my powers doesn't mean I don't have them." Regina replied coldly." Now would you like me to show you or not?"

" Okay… Yes, But how?"

"Fine," Regina answered, "Then come with me ", she lead them to a small clearing in the wooded area behind the mansion.

Regina had continued to explain to Emma what she needed to do, her tone changing as she did so, becoming warmer, and though Emma understood what she meant, she still couldn't grasp the idea.

"Would you show me" Emma asked.

Regina did not answer right away, Emma noticed a look of uncertainty flash across her face, but in an instant it was gone" Okay." She replied " close your eyes" she said taking Emma's hand.

Emma couldn't explain why her heart started to flutter when Regina took he hand.

" Relax Emma, I'm not going to hurt you, I pomise, trust me" and for some reason Emma did, she had never felt more safe I he life.

Emma could feel the power radiating from Regina, then she felt something different surround he it was incredibly powerful , it was warm, yet somehow it made her fell incredibly sad ., she realised that what she was feeling was the core of Regina's magical powes, the she understood why Regina had hesitated to show her. This was something extremely personal, and she was touched that Regina was willing to share it with her.

Regina released Emma's hands and broke the connection.

Emma felt Regina break the connection. "thank you Regina", looking the other woman in the eyes, it was all she could think of to say; she couldn't think of anything else her head was swimming with thoughts, part of her craved for the warmth returned part of her questioned why she should.

" Do you think you understand now, would you like to try again" Regina asked, her voice quivering slightly.

After a few attempts Emma was able to do it, she could feel the power corsing through her body , itmade her tingle all over, then she could feel the center of that power radiating inside her. The feeling was nothing short of incedible. She had offered to show Regina, and she couldn't understand the hurt she felt when the other woman refused.

After that day Regina continued as her teacher and Emma was soon had a capable grasp of her powers.

Glancing up at the clock on the wall inher office she realized that if she didn't hurry she would be late for her session with Regina, which would piss Regina off and she really didn't need to deal with that on the other hand Regina is kinda hot when she's angry. Emma quickly pushed the thought from her mind just a side effect of spending so much time with Regina, without the constant animosity between them, much to Emma's displeasure her brain had taken to thinking about Regina quite often I her full red lips, herdeep brown eyes, how the dresses she wore hugged her curves… "Oh no you don't", Emma muttered to herself, but she took her time leaving her office, and took her time driving to the mansion.

As she drove Emma's mind began to wander again, during their lessons Emma saw a side of Regina that she had only glanced at before, at these times it seemed that the walls Regina had erected around herself receded and at times disappeared altogether, allowing Emma to glance a part of Regina that had long been hidden and that only few people had ever seen. But as fast as they fell Regina would build them back again. Emma remembered the day a few weeks ago,

"You are a very good teacher, you know Regina"

"Of course I am, I learned from the best."

"Who taught you" Emma asked, it was rare to get Regina to let her guard down and talk about her past.

"Cora…, my mother, always required perfection…."Regina replied.

And as quick as they came down, Regina's walls went back up again.

This happened anytime Emma tried to question Regina about her past that had been the only time she had slipped up, otherwise when Emma broached the subject Regina became cold and their tempers flared and it was back to square one, but Emma was determined to find out more about the Regina, there had to be a reason why she was so cold, and why she was so desperate that she would even enact the curse. Though she would not admit it to herself, she did care for Regina and she wanted to help her.

Pulling up in front of the mansion Emma shut off the engine , and made her way to the clearing where she knew Regina was waiting for her, but the sight awaiting Emma made her stop short.

Regina was sitting cross-legged in the centre of the clearing, the sun glowing down on her dark hair which now hung just past her shoulders she was wearing a simple white shit and cotton khakis, her dark red lips pursed deep in thought. She had decided that today she would teach Emma apiece of magic that brought back memories she usually tried to keep at bay. She tried her best not to let her walls down, and in the past she was able to do so with ease, but Emma had a way of seeping through the cracks, in fact that was how she ended up teaching Emma, she now felt incredibly comfortable around Emma and this feeling terrified Regina .

She remembered the afternoon when she had agreed to teach Emma.

Regina had promised herself that she would make an effort to be more civil with Emma. She was confused at the other woman's actions, when the curse broke she had expected Snow's daughter to be the first to seek out vengeance , but instead Emma had made sure that she was kept safe. Regina was confused at no end to Emma's actions.

Regina watched as Emma made her way up to the mansion, she was wearing her usual jeans, tank top and red leather jacket, looking completely exhausted. Regina couldn't understand why Emma didn't let one of Snow's guards check up on her, when she asked her she had said that she didn't trust that the wouldn't be tempted to harm her. She couldn't explain why she had felt so touched by this, but she didn't bring it up again

Emma had continued to turn up always looking tired, and then she remembered that the fairies were supposed to be teaching Emma to control her magic, and she knew how exhausting that could be. She had surprised herself when she asked how Emma's lessons were going and was even more surprised that Emma had answered.

"Well the last three weeks have been a complete waste," Emma replied "I'm supposed to be finding the core of my magic but that's not really working out."

Regina understood exactly how difficult it was, again she surprised herself "Of course you're having a hard time, I don't think your 'teachers' remember that you unlike them was not born knowing to use magic, for the fae I is as normal as breathing, but for someone who isn't bon naturally with a knowledge of magic what they see as a simple task is actually quite difficult."

"And how exactly am I supposed to find my core" Emma asked, "what does that even mean?"

"It means you need to find or rather feel the place in you from where your magic comes it is a bit difficult to explain .Would you like me to show you?" The question had left her lips before she could stop it, and in that instant she hoped that Emma would refuse, what had surprised Regina most though was the small part of her that hoped Emma would agree, and why she was glad when she did.

She had continued to explain to Emma what she needed to do, but she could see that though Emma understood what she meant, she still couldn't grasp the idea.

When Emma asked if she could show her. Regina's first thought was to refuse , to show someone that part of yourself was extremely personal, and since she had goy back her magic she had tied to keep herself detached form that part of herself, but not because she couldn't use magic. The magic she had now was different, it was still hers, and there was no denying that she knew how it felt, but it was not the same there was none of the darkness that was there before, it was similar to the magic she held before her mother had stated teaching her. But that had soon been consumed by anger and hatred leaving the dark power she had been so used to. But the magic she had now was strange, yet familiar to the same time. But she had instead given into Emma's request, and she still couldn't figured out why.

That day Emma Swan had broken down the walls, and though she had pulled them back up they didn't seem as strong. She had shown Emma of all people a part of herself that he kept hidden from sight, and that was something she wouldn't be able to take back. Curiously she didn't regret it she knows Emma had understood how difficult that had been.

After that dark Regina promised herself that she would not let Emma though her walls again' and for the most part she had kept her promise but there were still times when Emma had been able to seep through the chinks in the armour that she had worked so hard to put around herself. She did enjoy teaching Emma; she was a quick learner; and even Regina could not deny that the relationship between them had begun to change. Though she did not admitted it to herself she did enjoy Emma's company.

Regina was brought out of her musings by the sound of Emma's approach, "Miss Swan you are late," she said, not opening her eyes, "do you plan to stand there all day?"

"Now that you have chosen fit to grace me with your presence, shall we start?" Regina asked as Emma sat down in front of her."

"Ready when you are," said Emma, a bit disappointed that she didn't get the reaction she had been hoping for.

Taking a deep breath Regina began to speak.

"Hold this in the palm of your hand" Regina said handing Emma a small round seed, "Focus your magic around it, think of nothing but the seed in your hand".

Emma complied, closing her eyes she held the seed in the hand and did as Regina asked and almost dropped it in surprise; she felt a strange force flow from her hand into the seed.

"What was that? " She asked looking at the seed in her hand, it now had a silvery white glow around it; that Emma associated with the use of her magic.

"You have just imbedded some of your magic into the seed you are holding", replied Regina. "Magic can be attached to a living object, allowing the user to control it. Picture the seed circling around your hand."

Doing as Regina said Emma was surprised to see the seed begin to circle around her hand.

"Good now picture it just hovering above the palm of your hand"

Again Emma did as she was told; the seed stopped its movement coming to a standstill above his hand.

"What I want you to do next require a bit more concentration. I want you to picture a shoot growing from the seed, just a small stem with a few leaves, do you understand?"

Emma gave a small nod indicating she understood.

"Good, now remember just a small shoot"

Emma watched in amazement as a small green shoot sprouted from the seed, a wide smile spread across her face as she stared the small plant that she now had hovering in front of her.

"Now picture it blooming into a single flower"

Nodding, Emma watched as the small plant bloomed into a single red rose. "Regina this is amazing".

"This was the first thing I learned to manipulate using magic" Regina replied a small smile; that didn't go unnoticed; on her face, "my apple tree was the first thing I grew using magic." It was also the same magic I used to control everyone, the same magic I used to rip the hearts out of anyone who defied me, who hurt me .how could something so beautiful be tuned so dark, how could I have done those things?

"That's enough for today."

Following Regina back to the house, they passed the apple tree in the back yard, the once red fruit, now hung black and rotting from the tree. "Can it be fixed," Emma asked," the tree?"

"I don't know", Emma couldn't help but notice the pain in Regina's voice," fitting though isn't it; the fruit of my tee is now as black as my heart."

Emma didn't know what made her say it but she knows that there had to be a reason why Regina became the evil queen why she had done all this. The pained look on Regina's face, and the deep hopelessness Emma saw in Regina's eyes did not reflect the same Evil Queen in Henry's storybook. "Regina, there is more to you than the things you've done. Everyone deserves a second chance. I have seen you Regina, when you let your walls down, you heart isn't as black as you think."

"Not for me Emma," Regina replied "goodbye."

"I don't believe that." Emma replied, as she tuned to leave.

Regina watched as Emma walked away. There is no hope for me Emma; I don't deserve a second chance. Yet again Emma had been able to break through her walls and every time it got harder to put them back up.

"Would it be so bad to let them fall? To let Emma in? To give into my feelings. Could I really have a second chance? My happy ending."

Regina woke in a cold sweat, glancing at the clock on her nightstand; it was only two in the morning, clutching her self she tried to calm down, to keep it together. Her nightmares kept getting worse, it was with the same one she had the morning the curse was broke, but every night it seemed to get worse. Turning over, she soon fell back to sleep.

She was in the clearing; the sun cast a warm glow around everything.

An arm reached around her, pulling her closer.

Soft lips trailed a path down her neck, a moan escaping her lips.

She felt herself be guided to the soft grass.

Fingers traced patterns down her back.

She nipped at her lovers bottom lip.

Their hips ground together, another soft moan escaping her lips

She pushed up to her elbows, removing the red leather jacket. He hands fumbling with the buttons desperate for the warm flesh hidden beneath

Hands tugged at her top, baring her breasts.

A sharp intake of breath, as lips found hers again, capturing her tongue.

Fingers traced the curve of her breasts, a thumb lightly teased across her nipples.

She looked into her love's green eyes, their gaze hungry.

Where had she seen those eyes before?

A warm mouth captured he breasts, sending shivers through her.

Emma, please!

EMMA!

Regina woke with a start; the sun was now filtering through her bed room window. She found this dream more troubling than her nightmares.

It scared her to think that she could feel like that about anyone. But she did, Regina was not foolish, she no longer denied the feelings she had for Emma, but this was he secret, she was a master at hiding her true feelings. No one would ever know. After all who would imagine that the Evil Queen had fallen in love with the Saviour?