Disclaimer: I own nothing beside my crazy mind and my computer… and sometimes it's more them owning me…

Note: evilneverfeltsogood and obsessivelyaddictive, thanks for beta-reading it and sharing ideas!

Note 2: thank you so much for all your kind reviews! They matter a lot to me! Some asked me questions and here are the answers: no, English is not my mother tongue. French is; So yeah sometimes my "wording" seems odd. I'm sorry about that. That's why I have 2 beta readers (who I love very dearly!) but doing mistakes is part of being human. And there should be 2 (maybe 3; really not sure) more chapters after this one. I think I answered them all. Not much but thank you!

I'm really really happy you enjoy my story! And I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well…

Please, dear readers, let me know what you think about it. It's really important to me.

"Why?" she asks.

"Because when I look at you, I don't see why people called you evil." was your honest answer. And you want to know everything about her.

"I-I..." you see the panic in her eyes. She gets up and walks to the window. You follow her.

"Regina, I know you've been through terrible things. Tell me what happened." you ask softly. You hear one single sob as you see her shoulders rise and fall.

"I can't tell you..." she whispers.

"Why?"

"Because if I do, this... this fairytale will be over!" she hides her face in her hands and her quiet sobbing becomes stronger. Seeing her suffering like this is more than you can bare. Your arms are circling her waist before you can even think about it. You feel her stiffen in your arms.

"You are safe here, Regina. You can tell me. I won't judge you. I won't lo-like you less. What happened to you, I'm sure it wasn't your fault." you whisper in her ear and you feel her relaxing in your embrace.

"I'm... those things I've done, Emma. They were my doing and mine alone." you can how burdened her heart is. You understand that you have to ask the right questions because she won't tell you everything. So you pull her closer to you, hoping she'll feel more safe.

"What happened to Daniel?" you ask softly. You feel her stiffen again and she tries to pull away but you don't let her go.

"He... he... it doesn't matter. I didn't marry him." she answers coldly.

"Yes. I know that. That's what you told Henry. I'm not 10, Regina. I can see when someone is hiding things. Tell me what happened to your True Love." you ask again. You see her reflection in the window. She is terrified by the truth.

"My mother." she breathes out.

"What about her?"

"She... killed him." you feel her collapse in your arm as she begins to cry.

And she can't stop talking. She tells you everything. How her mother abused her. How she loved Daniel so much. How her heart turned to ice when her mother ripped Daniel's out of his chest. Then her wedding to that King, Snow White's father. He never had a kind word for her. She was merely a substitute for his dead wife. She's been living a life of solitude. Her mother broke her and as she did, she taught her that love is a weakness. You feel tears running silently down your cheeks as you hold her close to you in a tight hug. Then she explains all the things she has done. Playing the Genie well enough to have him kill the king. Sending a huntsman after Snow's Heart. Ripping the heart of said huntsman. Separating children from their parents because it suited her plans. Abusing her only friend.

"You see Emma, I am the only one to blame. And I accept that now. I can see clearer now." she says as she closes her eyes.

"The fact that you are aware of that tells me that you are not the Evil Queen anymore." you answer softly.

"I-I don't understand. You know all the things I did. You should kick me out. You should yell. Or hit me. Anything but hold me in your arms and whisper things to me. Why aren't you running? Everybody does. Why would you be different?"

"I'm not. You are. You are not that person... that Evil Queen anymore. Henry asked you a question you didn't answer earlier: do you want to be the Evil Queen or do you want to be the nice person I'm holding right now? He said the question was simple. I don't think it is but he got a point. You are the only one who can change your destiny. No one decides your fate but you." you explain as you help her stand up again and turn her around to look into her eyes to finally ask her "So which one will it be, Regina?"

Your face is so close to hers again. You can see the battle in her mind. She isn't ready to answer yet. You know that. And somehow you don't expect her to. You love her enough to let her make her own choices and be sure she'll make the right ones for her. Even if they're not right for you.

"MOM! MATH PROBLEM! HELP!" you chuckle. The magic of the moment is disappearing.

"I love that kid, I swear I do, but he has the worse timing ever!" you whisper to her and you see the hint of a smile on her face. You smile back "Set the table, I'll be back in a minute to cook some dinner." you wink at her and she nods.

As you turn to the hallway you look back at her and you see her wiping her tears and recomposing herself. Regal Regina is back, you think to yourself. But now you know who's really behind the mask.

"Henry... You have to figure it out by yourself! You know that! I already told you!" you say gently to your son.

"I know... I'm done with my homework actually... I wanted to talk to you about Regina..." he is fidgeting. Not a good sign usually.

"What about her?" you ask, curious

"I... I got into trouble at school earlier... " he murmurs.

"Yes, I'm already aware of that. Keep talking" you smile at him.

"And... Regina came to help me... and... Mom, this book says she is the Evil Queen... but I don't think she is evil... How can someone who has done those terrible things be someone so nice at the same time?! I like her... I really do! And I know you do too!"

"Wow kid, what are you talking about?" you never thought it was that obvious...

"Oh please mom! I'm not blind ! I see how you smile when she is in the room... I never saw you like that before!" he rolls his eyes.

"And how do you feel about it?" here is the moment of truth.

"I'm really happy! I love Regina! She is nice and funny! And she makes you happy!" his smile is so big it brings tears to your eyes. "So... do I have two moms now?"

"Come here" you pull him into a hug "I'm gonna tell you a secret... you have to swear you won't tell Regina about it, okay?" you whisper to him.

"Cross my heart!" he says, tracing a cross on his chest.

"I think Regina might be my True Love" you whisper to his ear. And you can swear you see his smile grow even bigger. You put a finger on his lips "Not a word, young man. Or I'll ask her to turn you into a fly and have you in the same room of Toad The Principal. Got it?!" you try to be threatening but fail when a smile curls up your lips.

"I won't tell her... but mom... Emma and Regina... sitting in a tree... K-I-S-S- aaaaahhhh! STOP IT MOM! STOP!" he begs as you tickle him.

"Will you stop?" you ask as you suspend the tickling for a second to give him time to breath and answer.

"I-N-G first comes love then comes marriage then comes baby in the carriage" he sings really fast and you resume tickling him, unaware of the woman listening to the laughter of your little boy and smiling to herself. She is thinking that all the riches of her kingdom and all her powers could not bring her more happiness than she is feeling right this second.