A/N: Okay so I've never written SwanQueen or even OUaT before so I hope this isn't awful. Just a heads up, most of the characters will probably seem slightly OOC in that they're being kinda harsh, that was a deliberate creative choice because part of this fic is kinda supposed to be an exploration of where the characters could have gone after the curse broke if they'd all given in to their want for revenge. They might still go there in the show who knows. Anyway, the point is that people in this fic aren't being particularly nice, and they're not meant to be.

Disclaimer: I'm sure you guys know the drill-I own nada

'Regina,'

The name came out as a sigh of relief as the woman's face finally, finally, appeared before her. Her mother had gone through the portal first at Emma's absolute insistence, but she'd still been impatient to get through herself-she hadn't exactly adjusted well to Fairytale Land.

The first contact they'd had with Storybrooke had filled her with relief, though also a lot of confusion. Emma had expected that people would be trying to get her and her mother home again, but quite naturally she'd assumed that when contact was made it would have been Henry's voice greeting her from the other side, or perhaps Davi-her father's. She hadn't expected the Mayor's smooth voice to be the one reassuring her that they were being brought home. Worst of all was the feeling of a knot being loosened in her stomach when she heard that voice again. No matter how much she'd tried to deny it, Emma had realised within only a day or so that she missed Regina desperately-almost as much as she did her son though for the life of her she didn't know, didn't want to think, why.

'Regina?'

It was a question this time. The woman was far away at the other side of the dim room and Emma could hardly even see her face. She could just make out the deep brown eyes boring into hers, something about them almost apologetic, before hands came and helped her up and all of a sudden her view was blocked as several sets of arms wrapped around her.

'Mom!' Henry's arms were distinguishable as the only set around her waist

'Hey, kid,' she found him with one arm and hugged him back before stepping out of the multi-way embrace to get a look at everyone. Ruby was there, grinning happily at her-Granny by her side looking just as pleased-her…parents as well, smiling giddily at her and at each other. It seemed that even Archie had been caught up in the group hug.

'I'm so glad you're back,' Henry was the only one that Emma hadn't managed to detach herself from, though she didn't mind that so much

'Me too, Henry,' she grinned at him 'So, hey, what've we missed?' she looked up at everyone-still smiling, but everyone else's joyous expressions seemed to vanish at the question 'Oh come on it can't be that bad,' she laughed, looking around at their faces in the dim light

'Charming?' her mother asked, turning her head to look at him from where she was standing with his arm around her 'What is it?'

Her father looked down and coughed uncomfortably 'Nothing…I mean it was a little bit manic around here to start with, but everything's under control now,' both women frowned at him and Emma looked around at the others for answers but they all looked away-almost…guiltily…she thought.

Well something was going on, and she fully intended to find out what-but she had something more pressing to do first. She wanted to see Regina. That quick glimpse before the Hug Club had descended on her had not been enough to quell the ache in her heart. The ache she was trying to ignore at the same time as wanting to soothe it. Emma stepped out of Henry's arms and pushed him gently to side, looking around the group gathered in front of her.

'Hey-Emma!' Ruby was in her way, holding her arms 'Why don't you and Snow come with us all up to Granny's for a drink-I bet you need it,' there was a murmur of assent from the group and everyone began to move-Ruby guiding Emma with a gentle but firm grasp.

'No, wait,' she tried to detach herself from Ruby, but the girl's grip just tightened 'No-where's Regina? She brought us back didn't she? Where is she?'

Silence

'Where is she?'

The group looked at each other, then her father looked up-apparently addressing the shadows-and spoke 'Bring her,'

There was a shuffling noise and then three figures appeared out of the corner into the dim light, Regina in the middle of them, and Emma was so relieved to finally see her that it took a minute for her to fully process the image in front of her. There were two men holding the Mayor-firmly- by her arms, which were pulled back behind her as if she were handcuffed. There was a gag in the woman's mouth, her clothing was dirty and ripped and the skin that was exposed was covered in small cuts and had dark, nasty looking bruises blossoming here and there.

'Regina?' she gasped, shocked. She looked like a prisoner-like she'd been a prisoner for a while. Regina's head was hanging, eyes on the floor and there was a look of defeat about her that Emma would not believe possible if she wasn't seeing it with her own eyes. Was this what the town had done in her absence? Broken her?

Anger bubbled up inside her and she turned on the man that called himself her father 'What have you done?' she shouted at him before ramming a hand into his shoulder, forcing him to take a step backwards 'What have you done to her?!'

'No more than what she deserves,' was his quiet yet firm answer

'Have you been keeping her down here?-as a prisoner?'

'We had to protect ourselves,'

Emma wasn't listening anymore; she'd moved from David and headed for Regina

'Let her go,' she instructed the two men holding her, who looked at each other and then to the group for instruction. She glared at them 'Let. Her. Go,'

'No,' it was Henry's voice, she spun on her heel and stared at her son in shock

'What?'

'Emma don't be angry, they're doing the right thing,'

'What-Henry how are you okay with this? How could you let them do this to her? She's your mom,'

'No, you're my mom. She's the Evil Queen,'

She felt a little sick. She almost understood the town turning on Regina-but Henry too? 'Henry, whatever she is, she is your mom-just as much as I am,'

'She tried to kill you! She tried to kill all of us! We're just protecting ourselves,'

'Henry what has gotten into you? Before I left you made me promise to protect her. What changed?'

'You got sent away,' there was so much sadness in his voice that she almost forgot what he was arguing for and went to hug him

'That was an accident, kid,' her face full of sympathy

'That doesn't matter. Why can't you see that she only cares about herself? You should be on our side!' her heart was aching. Of course she wanted to be on their side-the town's side, her friends' side, her family's side-but something within her just couldn't deal with the idea of anyone hurting the Mayor.

'I…Look okay I get you being careful, but you don't have to treat her like this. If you want her locked up then put her under house arrest, or at the very least let me take her to the Sheriff's station. Don't keep her in a dark hole-I mean it's horrible down here-what even is this place?'

There was a pause before Archie answered quietly 'The mausoleum,'

'The-the what? Like-in the cemetery?!'

Archie nodded

'Why the hell are you keeping her in the cemetery?'

'We figured it would mean less hassle,' her father shrugged

The knot was back, twisting so hard it hurt. She didn't want to ask, but she had to 'Less hassle when?'

He looked her straight in the eye without a hint of apology 'Less hassle when she dies,'

She had to fight very hard not to hit something, especially him. How was that man her father? She clenched her fist so tight her knuckles were white and walked right up to him, her eyes blazing angrily 'She's. Not. Dying,' she hissed at him

'Emma,' her mother put a calming hand on her arm 'Regina is evil. I know you don't think killing her is the answer-I didn't either, you know that-but look at the trouble she causes. We have to think about the town, about what's best for everyone,'

'And how is that her death?'

'It's the only way we can guarantee everyone's safety,' her head whipped between her parents, mouth hanging open

'No. You can't do this-you don't do this-this isn't who you are,' she looked around the group 'This isn't who any of you are!'

'It's one sacrifice for the safety of everyone-and it's not even a very big one,' her father added 'You can't deny she deserves it,'

'I…' well she kinda did. That was the problem. She'd wanted to kill the woman herself on multiple occasions-or at least she'd thought she'd wanted to-now the idea of Regina dying made her feel a little sick. Before they'd been pulled through the portal she'd told the Mayor that she was keeping her safe because it was what Henry wanted-she hadn't even fully realised that it was what she wanted herself. But what could she say? What argument did she have if the whole town was for it?

'I…just…okay just… keep her locked up if you have to but please…please don't kill her,' she sounded pathetic, and she knew it, but if it worked then it would be worth it

'Emma, what does it matter-why do you even care?' Snow caught her daughter's eye 'It's not like she'd do the same for you,'

'It doesn't matter-I'm just asking you this one thing, for me. Forget the reasoning and the logic behind it,'

Her parents looked at each other for a long moment, then back to her

Charming sighed 'Okay, we promise,' he replied 'We still choose her punishment-but we won't kill her-deal?'

'You promise? She lives?' Hope. As long as Regina wasn't dead then she could work something out.

'Promise,'

'Fine,' she sighed in relief and then smiled 'Deal,'

'No! You promised-you promised me!'

'We promised we wouldn't kill her-and we're not going to,' Charming shrugged at his daughter

'You might as well do,' she felt sick, physically sick. She didn't even understand why; her desperation to keep Regina alive and-well, conscious-was confusing even her. Three weeks ago she'd thought she hated the woman-now she was terrified of facing the idea that she'd never see her again.

'There's always the possibility of waking her up again,' her mother added calmly 'After all-I woke up again,'

She shook her head in disbelief 'That's because you had a Prince searching for you to kiss you awake! Who does she have?'

'There are other ways,'

'No there aren't! I've read Henry's book-there's no other way,'

'Well then I guess she'll stay asleep then,' her father's voice was full of suppressed anger and she could tell that if she pushed him much further he'd just snap at her. She needed a different approach.

'Please,' she softened her face, let her eyes go wide and pleading 'Please don't do this,'

'Emma,' her mother sighed wearily 'This is what the town voted for, it's the right thing to do. I don't know why you can't see that,'

'Because apparently I'm the only one in this town who hasn't gone crazy!' she screamed at her. Shit. She'd meant to stay calm and pathetic-they'd never listen to her now.

'No, Emma, you're the only person in this town who is too ignorant to understand!' Charming was shouting now too 'Even Henry understands that getting rid of Regina is the only way for everyone to be safe and happy again-and that was difficult for him to come to terms with-but you,' he shook his head 'You are too selfish and too concerned with your own problems to understand that this isn't about individuals anymore. This is about all of us! You don't understand what Regina has done because you're too stubborn to accept who you are and learn about your heritage. If you stopped fighting with the idea of who you are then you'd see why this the only way!'

That stung. Of course she knew-she'd spent nearly three weeks stuck in what was left of Fairytale Land. She'd read Henry's book. She'd heard stories first-hand from the people in the Safe Haven-from Snow as well. She knew. She understood that Regina was evil, that she'd hurt pretty much everyone. She understood that yes, in some ways, the Mayor deserved what the town wanted to do to her.

She just couldn't accept it.

Emma stood there with her mouth gaping open. She was out of arguments and apparently out of time-as her father had already made his way to the door of the apartment and opened it turning back to her and her mother

'Snow,' he said through his teeth. His wife shot Emma a look of mixed disappointment and pity before heading over to the door.

'We shouldn't be more than an hour-stay out of trouble 'til then, okay?' she added over her shoulder. Emma wasn't really listening, as the door swung shut behind her parents she couldn't tear her eyes away from her mother's hand-or the shiny red apple she had clasped in it.

What was she going to do? She still didn't know why the idea of anything happening to Regina was so painful for her-it made no sense. All she knew was that if the Mayor took even a bite of that apple then she'd almost surely never see her again. Maybe she wouldn't technically be dead-but in every way that counted she would be-and the knot in Emma's stomach tightened so hard at that idea that she had to put a hand on the counter to steady herself. She had to do something. There was no question about it. Even if it meant having the town turn against her as well. She had to at least try.

With renewed determination she straightened up and grabbed her car keys, picking up her jacket and swinging it over her shoulder before heading out the door.

She drove like a maniac-nearly running over a nun…fairy…whatever-in her mad dash to make it to the cemetery before it was too late. She sprang from the car, leaving the engine running and sprinting over to the door to the mausoleum as fast as she could. The door was closed but not locked so she opened it carefully; hoping that if she was quiet then she'd have the element of surprise. She crept in and moved quickly but quietly down the stairs through the tomb and to the next set of steps that led to the room on the bottom level-the cell where they'd been keeping Regina prisoner.

The door at the bottom of the stairs was ajar revealing the flickering light of torches on the other side and she approached it silently, holding her breath so she could listen. There was a general murmur coming from the other side-it sounded like half the town where in there-and her anger flared up again. Had everyone just gathered to watch Regina die? She wondered if Henry was in there-if they'd brainwashed her son enough to make him want to see his own mother killed at the hands of his grandparents.

'People of Storybrooke,' that was her father's voice-not that she wanted to think of that man as her father right now 'We are gathered here today to witness justice being served-justice against one who has tormented us all for too long. Regina has caused much pain to all of us-she pulled us away from the land we loved, destroying most of it in the process. She took away the people we loved-made us forget who they were. Made us forget who we were ourselves. Not to mention all the unspeakable wrongs she committed before even casting the curse. Now we take our revenge-now we rid ourselves of her hate. Now, we end the Evil Queen!'

There was a cheer and a rippling of applause before someone cried out 'End the Evil Queen!' someone else picked it up and slowly the crowd began to chant. If she was going to get into the room unnoticed-now was the time. She opened the door inch by inch as they continued to chant, slipping in at the back of the crowd where she hoped no one would see her before looking around. The room was lit by torches that people had placed around the edges, and someone-she could easily guess who-had constructed a makeshift stage at the far end of the room where her parents currently stood. Behind them stood Regina, guards on either side of her, looking even more battered and broken than she had the previous day-if that were even possible. Emma's heart twisted at the sight.

The chanting, which had reached a fever pitch, stopped abruptly as Snow held up the apple she'd taken with her.

'Once upon a time,' her mother began in a voice that even Emma had to admit was captivating 'The Evil Queen, Regina, tried to end my life using an apple just like this. She almost killed her son the exact same way,' Regina flinched visibly at that, and Emma fought the urge to hit something 'once upon a time it seemed like there was no end to her reign of tyranny-but there is. It ends today, it ends now, and this,' she held the apple up higher 'This is how it ends,'

There was another round of cheering but it ended as quickly as it had begun-a charged silence took over as the guard pushed Regina forwards so she was in full view of the crowd. Snow walked over so that she was standing right in front of the Mayor, motioning for the guards to step back as she brought the apple up in front of her face. Regina finally lifted her head and Emma noticed that despite everything her face was still full of contempt for everyone around her-it brought the smallest of smiles to her lips. They hadn't completely broken her. But then her mother was bringing the apple to the other woman's lips and panic overwhelmed her. She began weaving through the crowd trying to get to the front.

'Your turn, Regina,' came Snow's voice from the stage. Emma started pushing at people frantically trying to get them to move out of her way but it was no use, people were pushing her back and she wasn't making any headway. Everyone had noticed the commotion-including the occupants of the stage-and now people were grabbing at her, holding her back.

'Snow,' it was her father's voice, urgent, and she knew what it meant. It meant hurry. He was telling her to do what needed to be done before their daughter could stop them. Emma's head snapped up and she found herself looking straight into Regina's dark eyes. The contempt had dropped out of them and now there was something that she didn't even want to try and analyse, all she knew was that it made her heart beat faster and the knot in her stomach contract sharply. Everything happened then as if in slow motion. The way her mother forced the apple to the Mayor's mouth, the way a single tear escaped from eyes that never left hers as Regina bit into her death, the way she began to sway dangerously as her eyes rolled back into her head.

The world sped up again as Regina's body began to fall. Emma wrenched herself away from whomever it was that was holding her and dashed past everyone, leaping onto the stage and catching the Mayor just before her head hit the ground.

I've written most of the second part but it's not quite finished. Please please let me know what you think even if it's concrit-especially if it's concrit-because if people like this story then I might consider writing more SwanQueen in the future. I mean they are awesome :)