A/N: I decided to finish this story before I tackle another chapter of "Broken." I've been wanting to write one of Regina's therapy sessions since watching "The Doctor," and I took this opportunity to do so. And of course there's some Swan Queen fluff. Hope you enjoy. Reviews are always very much appreciated!

"Good morning Regina," Archie says, a warm smile on his face.

"Good morning." Regina walks in and takes her usual seat on the couch. Pongo runs over to the former queen with his tail wagging. "Hi there boy," she says, giving the dog a scratch behind his ears. Pongo jumps up so his front paws are on Regina so he can lick her face.

"Pongo, get down," Archie tells the dog.

"He's fine," Regina says, continuing to pet the dog. "You're a good boy, aren't you Pongo?"

"You seem happy today," Archie comments after Pongo has settled himself back in his bed in the corner of the room.

Regina's lips curve into a slight smile as she thinks about this. It had been an exhausting, emotional night. But she had woken up in Emma's arms, and Regina had felt lighter this morning, freer.

She braces herself to talk about this again. She's been surprised by how much it's helped her to talk to Archie, how much she needed to let out decades of pain. "I told Emma something last night that I've never told anyone." Archie waits as Regina takes a breath and swallows. "I told her about my marriage to Leopold."

Regina stops, looks down at her hands in her lap. "What about your marriage?" Archie prompts.

When Regina looks up again there are tears in her eyes. "I never wanted to marry the King." Archie nods. He knows this from their conversations about Daniel. "I never wanted..." It's still so hard for her to say the words out loud. "I told Emma about what it was like to have sex with Leopold."

Regina's quiet for a long time then, and Archie isn't sure whether she's lost in memories or whether she's working to keep her mind blank. "Regina?"

"I lost my virginity on my wedding night, and it was awful. Leopold stumbled into my chambers drunk after the wedding feast. I knew what he would expect of me, but still I couldn't do anything more than lie on the bed shaking and crying. I tried so hard to make my mother proud, to be the wife that she'd promised to the King. But I couldn't..." She sobs, the memory of that first night overwhelming her. She can feel the stabbing pain in her body and the utter misery in her soul, lying under Leopold and knowing that this was her ever after.

Regina continues her story through sobs, feeling compelled to get this out. "He came to me every night, took what he wanted, and left. During the day I was expected to perform my other duty as Leopold's wife: caring for Snow."

"And you did that, didn't you? You took care of her. I know she loved you then."

"I hated her," Regina whispers, surprised to find that in this moment the hatred is barely there. "Everyday I became more angry. Everyday I lost more of myself; I became the Evil Queen. The girl I was before, she had hope, she believed in love, despite everything. There was goodness in her."

"Being angry is a natural reaction to what happened to you."

"Well thank you Dr. Freud."

"This is why you killed the King?" Archie asks, and Regina nods. Archie had been at the woman's planned execution for this very crime, and he had never known, had never guessed that there was this story behind the woman who had refused to show any remorse in her final moments.

She looks remorseful now, maybe not about Leopold, but about the woman she had become, the things she'd let herself do in her anger and desperation.

"For the record Regina, I don't think the person you were before you were married is entirely gone," Archie tells Regina with a kind smile. "Do you?"

She used to. Regina had believed it with every inch of her soul when she told Snow that the young woman who saved her life was gone. "That girl isn't coming back, but I'm starting to think that I'm still able to love and to be happy."

"That's excellent Regina!" Archie exclaims. His enthusiasm would normally annoy her, but today she shares it.

"Last night, Emma and I were visiting Snow and David, and I was reminded of Leopold. Emma, she comforted me," Regina says, and Archie can hear the slight surprise in the former queen's voice, like she can't believe that anyone would do that for her. "She told me she loved me, and she took care of me."

"How did that feel? To let someone take care of you?" Archie asks, knowing that the woman sitting in front of him has never had someone to take care of her properly, knowing that she pushes people away the minute they get too close.

Regina smiles. "With Emma, it felt good."

Emma is making coffee and dancing to the radio when Regina gets home. The brunette chuckles as she watches the other woman sway decidedly arrhythmically in her boxer shorts and tank top.

Regina walks up behind her lover, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist. Emma's a little startled, but quickly recovers and turns around in Regina's arms, continuing to shake her hips. Regina can't help herself; between the music and the feel of her lover against her, she has no choice but to dance too.

"You snuck out without waking me," Emma says once the music stops. Regina turns off the radio, which now features an obnoxious commercial.

"You were sleeping soundly," Regina replies, gathering two coffee cups from the cupboard.

Regina wraps an arm around Emma's waist and draws the blonde against her chest. "Did you sleep ok?" Emma asks, as she snuggles her head into the crook of the other woman's neck. Regina stiffens and then reminds herself that it's ok to let herself be taken care of like this, that Emma's asking doesn't mean she thinks that the former queen is weak. It just means that Emma cares.

"Yes dear," Regina confirms with a kiss to the other woman's hair. She doesn't want to talk about this right now, but she wants to make sure her lover knows how grateful she is. "Yourself?"

"Like a rock," Emma replies, as she wraps her arms around the woman beside her.

Regina relishes the feeling of gentle yet strong arms around her, letting the former queen know that she's protected and loved. She glances down at Emma and is overcome with such love for this woman. The brunette simply can't help but smile as she runs her fingers through long blonde locks.

"It's a beautiful day outside," Regina says, staring out at the bright sunshine.

"Hmm?" the blonde mutters, lulled into a pleasant half-sleep by her lover's caress.

Regina smiles, and the love and happiness are almost too much for her heart to handle. After so much time spent consumed by hate and pain, it feels strange to let joy into her life. But she does. Somehow, despite everything that Regina has suffered, everything that tells her that there could never be love like this for her, she chooses to accept what's being offered. Regina loves completely, and in doing so she feels every bit like the young girl she'd thought ceased to exist.