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"I suppose Regina reappeared once I gave up the idea of revenge," Regina said softly, "when I tried to be the person that Henry wanted me to be. I'd been so angry for so long I'd never stopped to think about what I was angry about. Henry calmed me. Henry not being there terrified me."

Emma's eyes flicked up to the honest and raw emotion in Regina's voice.

"Losing Henry during those weeks and months was literally like losing a part of me. I sort of stopped, I couldn't see the point any more. I actually didn't care if the town mob came to the door with pitchforks, I realised I deserved it and I waited for them to come. But they didn't. Some pathetic saps even came to see if I was okay," she laughed, "they came to check on the Evil Queen."

Emma smiled but her heart clenched as she realised there were people in the town who had tried to reach out to Regina and she hadn't been one of them.

"The town was falling apart and some brightspark had decided a former cricket should be Mayor, Archie asked for help so I did. I told myself I didn't want to see Storybrooke go to hell but I really felt I owed it to people to ensure the town was working for them. The distraction from my own life didn't hurt either," she sipped at more wine, "I let go of the rage I suppose."

"And then you got Grace," Emma added.

Regina smiled a happy beam, "yes, I suppose when you're consumed with hate and you finally let it go.. you leave a big gap to fill."

"So there you have it," Regina downed the last of her wine, "from young naïve girl to Queen to Evil Queen to.. whatever the hell I am now.. in five easy steps."

Emma smiled, "thank you for telling me, I know it wasn't easy."

"Telling it is easier than living with it," Regina admitted with a shrug.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Emma said and jumped to her feet, "I'll be right back," she said as she rushed out of the room. Regina frowned and watched her go and then heard the front door open. After a few minutes she heard the front door close again and saw Emma rush back with a pronounced limp and something under her arm.

"Firstly you should be using your crutch, secondly did you go outside with no shoes on?" Regina admonished her.

"Yeah yeah," Emma said and handed Regina the item that she had clearly gotten from the car, "here, for you."

Regina took the item that was wrapped in a thick plastic bag and frowned, "what is this?"

"It's customary to open a present to find out what it is," Emma rolled her eyes at Regina being such a pain as she sat on the sofa beside the brunette.

"Why did you get me a present?" Regina asked as she looked at the gift with confusion.

"Because it was your name day yesterday," Emma explained, "and I kinda got you something but then I didn't know if you'd appreciate it so I kinda left it in the car but now I want to give it to you so here we are."

"You knew it was my name day yesterday?" Regina gave her a half smile.

"Just open the damn present," Emma rolled her eyes with a grin.

Regina unfolded the plastic bag and opened it up and took a hardback book out and placed it on her lap. She ran her hand over the letters on the front of the book and smiled, "a memory book.."

"Yes, for Grace, I figured you could keep a log of everything, I know we're starting late but it doesn't matter," Emma explained and leaned over and opened the book, "I'll filled a few things in, in my best handwriting, of course."

Regina laughed as Emma flipped through the pages of the book and showed where she had filled details in and made suggestions about things to put on certain pages.

"In the future," Emma said with promise, "this will be the book that you will be judged by," she tapped it meaningfully.

Regina closed the book and looked at Emma with teary eyes, "thank you, Emma, this really means a lot to me," she leaned forward and they shared a comforting hug for a few moments before Regina slowly pulled away. She picked up a tissue from the sleeve of her cardigan and wiped at her eyes delicately.

"I must look a mess," Regina commented with a laugh, "I should go to bed."

"It's okay, it's a dim light," Emma quipped and Regina hit her on the arm playfully.

Emma pretended it hurt and then looked at Regina sincerely, "thank you for telling me, really."

Regina nodded, "thank you for listening.. and for not running out the door when I told you," she smiled.

"I'm done with running," Emma said as she let out a yawn before adding, "this crazy woman appears in my car."

"Sounds terrible," Regina smiled as she stood up and waved her hand to extinguish the fire.

"Yeah," Emma stood too, "she's pretty scary too."

As the both walked to the stairs Regina started to turn the lights off, "then you should probably so what she says."

"Oh, there's no doubt about it, she's got me right under the thumb," Emma joked as they climbed the stairs.

"Well, you are troublesome, she's probably wise to keep you on a short leash," Regina replied.