"So, what's the story?"

"What story?"

"Between you and Miss Mayor."

Amy continued making the bed, completely ignoring Emma and her uncomfortable, yet valid nonetheless, questions.

She didn't now how exactly she was supposed to explain to her best friend that the woman who raised her son was actually the Evil Queen, who'd cursed the entire town in an attempt to get her happy ending, and that the two of them had met almost thirty years ago and fell in love while Amy was teaching her magic so that the Queen could, one day, cast said curse.

Not to mention the messed up family tree of the aforementioned son and everything that entails.

Emma sure as hell wasn't ready to know all of this yet and Amy wasn't ready to tell her either, so she would happily continue ignoring her friend if it meant avoiding those conversations. At least until she comes up with a believable story for all this shit.

Two days in this godforsaken town and she was already stressed more than she ever had been for the past decade or so.

"Pass me the pillows, please," she said, extending her hand, in a poor attempt to change the subject.

Emma didn't bite. She passed the pillows, yes, but the look on her face told Amy she wouldn't be able to escape this interrogation for long.

A knock on the door was the last thing either of them was expecting, but there it was. They glanced at each other, her in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and Emma only in a white undershirt and her underwear, before Amy went to open the door.

And when she did open it, she started laughing so hard she could feel tears in her eyes.

Regina was standing in front of her, an unimpressed look on her face and a basket full of fucking apples in her arms, because of course it would be apples.

Amy was still laughing as she turned back to Emma. "It's for you," she managed to say before collapsing in a fit of giggles.

She didn't miss how Regina's gaze flitted around the room, taking note of Emma's attire, and her sitting in the bed, before finally settling on Emma again, something akin to bitterness in her eyes. Interesting. "Did you know the honeycrisp tree is the most vigorous and hardy of all apple trees? It can survive temperatures as low as forty below and keep growing. It can weather any storm. I have one that I've tended to since I was a little girl. And to this day, I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers," she said, offering one to Emma, who, despite being confused as hell, thanked her in response.

At this point Amy was sure that 'died because she couldn't stop laughing at her ex girlfriend's antics' would be written on her tombstone.

What on earth was Regina doing? Was this some sort of move to show Emma who's in charge? Because if it was, Amy had to admit that it was terrible.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy them on your drive home."

And there it was. The reason for this shitshow; Regina wanted them gone. Amy wasn't the best at recognizing and handling her own feelings, but she knew that the nod in her chest getting tighter wasn't a good feeling. It stung a bit-quite a fucking bit-if she were honest. Almost thirty years, and already Regina wanted her gone.

So much for forever.

She pushed those thoughts as far back in her mind as she could, turning her attention back to the other two women present.

"Actually, we're gonna stay for a while," said Emma, and Amy would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy the way Regina's self-satisfied smirk fell.

She glanced at her, before returning her gaze to Emma, determination evident in her eyes. "I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Henry has enough issues, he doesn't need you confusing him."

Amy had quite a few things to respond to that, but decided against it. This was between them; she would not interfere unless absolutely necessary.

Emma, however, wasn't having any of this. "All due respect, Madame Mayor, the fact that you have now threatened me twice in the last twelve hours makes me wanna stay more."

"Since when were apples a threat?"

Amy couldn't help but let out a snort at that, relishing in the anger she saw growing in Regina's eyes.

So easy to rile her up, even after all this time.

"I can read between the lines," Emma said, glancing back at her friend for a moment, something undecipherable in the way her eyes narrowed the slightest bit, before looking back at Regina. "Sorry, I just wanna make sure Henry's okay."

"He's fine, dear. Any problems he has are being taken care of," Regina said.

Cause that doesn't sound ominous, at all.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I have him in therapy. It's all under control. Take my advice, Miss Swan, only one of us knows what's best for Henry."

Emma was reaching her limit, that much was obvious. "Yeah, I'm starting to think you're right about that."

Amy could not be held responsible for the sound that came out of her, a mix between a snort and a giggle. God, she could watch this all day. If only she had some popcorn...

Regina kept her eyes trained on Emma, a new look on her face; one that Amy had seen one too many times, and did not like one bit. She stood from the bed, ready to defend her best friend, even if it meant going against her. "It's time for you to go," Regina said, finally.

"Or what?"

Taking a step closer to Emma, Regina said, "Don't underestimate me, Miss Swan. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

At that, Amelia started laughing again. But it was different from her usual laugh, and Emma noticed it, if the way she was looking at her was any indication. This wasn't her usual laugh, the one reserved for sharing a joke with her friend, or for cheering her up.

Something switched in her, when she heard Regina threatening Emma. A part of her came forward, one she had locked up tight; or so she thought.

No, this wasn't her usual laugh. This was her other laugh. One she hadn't used in twenty-eight years. One reserved for taunting her victims, right before she finished them off.

This was the laugh of the Knight.

And the Mayor-the Queen-noticed it as well, taking a step back.

Good.

"And what is it that you'll do, your Majesty?"

Emma was looking back and forth between them, slowly backing away until she had taken Amy's previous seat on the bed, a curious look on her face.

Overcoming her initial shock in seeing that part of her again, Regina, in a voice that was supposed to be perceived as threatening, said, "You don't want to do this."

"Oh, but I do, baby," she said, taking several steps to come closer to the other woman, their faces inches apart. "You seem to have forgotten that the only reason you're able to walk around, acting as if you own everything and everyone, is me."

Amelia basked in the way her ex-lover's eyes grew even angrier before continuing. "Everything you have, I gave it to you, baby," she moved even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do not think for even a second that I can't take it back, just as easily."

Several moments passed, the two of them lost between past and present, before Amy stepped back, her voice returning to its normal tone. "Now, I know that it's impossible for you to stay away from me, but I would appreciate it if you left us alone to enjoy this beautiful town," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Regina didn't say anything, but her eyes said it all.

This isn't over.

Bring it on, baby.

The other woman left without another word and Amy closed the door, her breathing returning to normal, her mind coming back to it's right place, the Knight locked in the back of her mind once more.

"What the fuck was that?"

She sighed, looking at her best friend. "One of these days I will explain everything, I promise."

Emma did not look convinced, but didn't push further, and for that Amy was grateful. Because she didn't have an answer as to what just happened. The only thing she knows is that Regina threatened Emma and Amy's switch flipped to Knight mode.

The two friends didn't say much after that while getting ready for the day, each lost to their own thoughts. They stopped at the diner for breakfast, before the little devil appeared and Emma decided to walk him to school.

"You sure you don't wanna come," her friend asked her.

"Nah, I'm good. There's something I gotta do. Call me if something happens, though."

Emma let out a small laugh. "I'm walking him to school, how bad can it be?"

"Well, for all I know you could be kidnapped by the big bad wolf," Amy said without thinking, and then frowned a bit as she realized exactly what she'd said. She cast a sideways glance at Ruby, who was serving customers, a cheery smile on her face.

A big wolf? Yes.

Bad? Absolutely not.

"Alright, I'll see you later," said Emma before heading to the door. Henry nodded goodbye at her, and she nodded back.

She took her time finishing her coffee, thinking over her possible next moves.

The curse would break, sooner or later, and Emma would learn the truth about Amy and this whole town. Problem was, if she learned who Amy really was, then the cover story he had come up with, all those years ago, would fall apart. And with that, so would everything else. A series of dominoes would fall, and Amy didn't want to think of what would happen when the last one crumpled.

She put the empty cup down, a plan forming on her mind, horrible as it was.

She paid for the drink, waving goodbye at Ruby, who smiled at her from behind the counter. Exiting the diner, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She had some old friends to visit.