Rating: PG

Summary: I'm still not over the sneak peek. So I had to write. Continuation of what's set everyone off yesterday. Haha. Oh and Swan Queen flavored of course. I'm toying with a mature second or third part. Dunno yet. Probably will depend on the response I get.

A spark of fear flickered in brown eyes as she squared off against the man holding her against the pillar. Without her magic, her mind flicked through all her available options. Which at the moment, were looking very slim.

Tense with the column digging into her back, Regina mentally sagged. Perhaps it was time to accept her fate for once. This mob of people she'd wronged, they were probably going to lynch her.

Suddenly, a cry sounded behind the form blocking her view of the crowd. Grunts and surprised noises were quickly followed by a cry. "Get off her!"

Her persecutor was thrown off her and the back of a red leather jacket filled her vision.

"Emma?"

"Shut up right now Regina." The response was spat out of the corner of the blonde's mouth as she squared off with the angry mob in front of her.

The crowd had quieted down with the Sheriff's appearance. Murmurs cropped up as they recognized their savior and confusion warred with righteous anger in the sea of faces.

"I want everyone to calm down." She began as she put her hands up in a placating gesture.

"But she deserves to pay!"

"How can we be calm?!"

"Give us the witch!"

"Princess, move. She's stolen our very lives, we should take her head while she's powerless." Emma started at the address of princess. The man she had known as Dr. Whale moved to the head of the mob. Giving them a leader and a voice.

Shaking her head no, she looked down to see a hand gripping her elbow. Looking at the face of the woman behind her she tried not to show her shock when she felt the light tremors running through that hand into her arm.

"Why?" Regina's voice was just as soft and confused as when the blonde woman had first shown herself.

"Because, I told you before that I would save you. That I would always save you."

The brunette leaned heavily back on the column behind her. Hazel battled brown for a moment as silent words exchanged between them.

The rising volume of the crowd broke their gaze as both turned. Emma planted herself firmly in front of the shorter woman, her stance daring anyone to approach.

With an angry gleam in his eyes Dr. Whale focused on Regina, trying to bypass the blonde in his way. As a hand reached out to push the woman against the pillar again, Emma clamped down on his wrist and twisted it out of the way. Forcing him to his knees and pulling his arm painfully up his back she flung her head in the direction of the mob.

"Anyone else? I'm still the damn Sheriff in this town. If I have to, I'll throw each and every one of you in jail if you so much as try to touch her again." She snarled at the shifting mass of people, her frustration coming to the fore.

"Emma!" Still holding Whale on his knees, she froze at the sound of the new voice. She looked on as the crowd parted respectfully for Mary Margaret and Henry, with David Nolan behind the two, providing a stable and safe back.

"Mary Margaret-" she was cut off however, when the short haired woman shook her head negatively.

"It's Snow. Snow White. And I remember everything." Her eyes, eyes just like Emma's, turned to take in the suit-clad Evil Queen.

"Regina. I remember. You took her from me, my daughter. Twenty eight years, of not even knowing I had a family. If anyone here wanted you dead, it should be me."

The brunette took the heavy weight of Snow's stare. The indecision of the blonde standing protectively in front of her could be seen as she shifted, looking between her long lost mother and the woman who had raised her son.

Snow patted Henry on the shoulder, giving him a small smile as he looked worriedly at his family. Stepping away from him she approached the front step of the mansion. Emma straightened up, giving an indecisive look at the short haired brunette. Smiling and shaking her head, she raised a careful hand to the blonde's cheek, grazing her fingertips across cheekbones.

"Looks like you really did get my chin."

Emma bit back a gasp, looking down trying to cover the sudden shine in her eyes. The sad smile on Snow's face turned neutral as she looked at her former step-mother.

A cold intensity built between the two queens. Looking over the magic-less brunette and taking in her daughter who still stood steadfastly before the crowd, a decision was made.

Turning to face the still angry mob, she raised her voice to be heard by all.

"We will be the ones to deal with this. It will do none of us good to succumb to raw violence and evil."

Stunned faces looked up at her. If she had turned, it would have amused her to find she had caught Regina by surprise as well.

"But the curse, and everything she's done!"

"She has to pay!"

"Give her to us!"

"No!" Snow brought herself up, royal bearing coming out as she surveyed the people before her. "We are better than that. Leave it to us who enforce the law handle this. Do not succumb to evil. "

"If anyone else has a problem with this, then you'll have to take it up with me." David spoke up, striding forward to stand with his wife, the couple providing a united front.

"And me." Emma said, standing with her...parents. The Charming family provided an intimidating front, completely blocking Regina behind them.

It took a few minutes, but eventually everyone cleared out. Not without a lot of grumbling and nasty looks. Especially from a few who finally slunk away after the majority of the crowd had dispersed.

With only the royals left a sigh was released but the tension did not ebb away completely.

"Guess it's just us. Um...mo-Snow. David? Charming. Whatever." Emma's hands went to her hips as she tried to muddle through the confusing names. "We'll do the family thing, but first I will take care of this." At the protestations that were about to come out, the blonde raised her hand to stop them.

"Like I said, I'm the Sheriff. Me. So let me do this. Unless it gets complicated - more complicated, like magic or something, I'll come to you guys for help. Until then, I've got this."

Deflating at the flat out refusal, Snow and Charming looked to each other. Looking behind them to Henry who had stood without speaking through everything, they decided to try and settle down and concentrate on their grandson.

"Alright Emma, we'll do this your way. We'll be back at the apartment. Come as soon as you're able. I think," Snow's eyes became slightly teary as she looked at her daughter, "I think we have a lot to catch up on. Don't you?"

Emma's face crumpled slightly. Not sure on how sturdy her voice was, she nodded. Giving a watery smile to Henry, she waved at her family as they moved to exit the mansion's grounds. Squaring her shoulders, she turned to look at the brunette who had stayed mercifully silent throughout the exchange.

"So." The blonde started awkwardly.

"Sheriff." The blonde looked up to lock their gazes again. "What will you do?"