"Mom, what's wrong?" I looked towards my son who sat across from me in our booth. "You've been down ever since you and mom defeated Zelena and she left with…oh…is it because of…"
"Yeah it is." I sighed. "I can't help but envy and hate him at the same time. He's making Regina happy and I'm not. Yet I'm the one who's known her longer and I'm better for her. He sees her as the queen not as Regina." Henry listened to my rambling about his mother and her love life.
"I'm sorry mom. To be honest, I like the idea of the two of you being together better than him and her. It's awesome having two moms who care about me but it'd be cooler to have us as one family. I mean…we're a family already but I see the way she looks at you and how that's changed since you first met."
"And we all see how you look at Regina." Ruby chimed in as she brought our food. "But where is Regina anyway? She should be at the celebration since she defeated Zelena."
"I'm not sure and she's not answering my calls. She's probably with…" Low and behold, Regina and her mutt walk through the door before I finish my sentence. By now, no one stopped and stared when Regina walked through a door. Regina let the mutt off his invisible leash to go speak with his marry men as she walked towards us.
"Hey mom, are you okay?" Henry moved over to allow Regina to sit beside him.
"I'm fine Henry." She ruffled his hair. "So, what are your plans now that my sister is defeated? Still thinking of taking Henry back to New York?"
"No. I'm…" The door to the diner swung open and all you could see was the shadow of someone who carried a walking stick and had horns. From the look on Regina's face, it seems she's seen a ghost.
"Well, well…" A woman dressed in a black robe that drug behind her walked in. She wore red lipstick and had piercing green eyes. The horns on her head were tall and curved. A man followed her inside. He had his hair slicked back and wore black also."Such a lovely celebration Regina. Defeating your sister with light magic, who knew you ever had it in you. But then, we both know how children can change us."
Regina's eyes grew when she heard the woman's voice. Who was this woman? "How are you alive? You were killed."
"Yes, I was slain by your ever so loyal white knight. She threw a sword into my chest. This being after she tried to shoot me with a gun." It was Maleficent; the woman who Regina traded the dark curse for the sleeping curse.
"Don't come any closer." I stepped in front of Maleficent before she got any closer to Regina. Her chuckle made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Calm down dear. I'm not going to hurt your queen. I'm here to help my friend before she makes a rather large mistake. One that could leave a larger hole in her heart than Daniel and the dark curse combined." I never took my eyes off the woman and her companion.
"What could be worse than the hole that's already been made in Regina's heart?" I paused. "Do not touch our son or I will kill you…again." Maleficent shook her head.
"No dear I won't lay a hand on the son you share. I won't hurt Regina or anyone you care about." Her eyes moved past me and settled on Regina.
"Than why are you here? Nothing can leave a deeper hole in my heart than what's already there." Regina stood and moved beside me. I kept my eyes on Maleficent. I didn't trust her and I wouldn't let her touch Regina. "And how are you alive?"
"Your sister brought me back. Aren't you glad to have your friend back? And losing your lion will cause a setback that you will never come back from. So do not push them away like you do everyone else." It was a stare down between Regina and Maleficent. Both powerful women who weren't about to stand down.
"I won't push him away." Maleficent raised an eyebrow and laughed at Regina.
"Not the one with the lion tattoo my dear old friend. I mean your lion." Maleficent smiled and shook her head. "You were always very smart Regina but sometimes you couldn't see what was right in front of you." With that, her and the male companion turned and left.
Everyone watched as they left and continued until they were out of the parking lot. When I looked back to Regina her eyebrows were knitted. She was confused and had so many unanswered questions. "Regina, my love, who was that?" Robin walked over and knelt beside Regina; taking her hand. I wanted to puke.
"An old friend." The motion of Robin taking her hand didn't seem to register with Regina. "Let's go. I need to get to my vault." As Regina stood, I stepped between her and Robin.
"Be careful. She makes me uneasy and I have no problem killing her again. And this time, I'd make sure she stays dead." Regina's eyes locked onto mine. There was an unspoken 'thank you I will' in them. Regina gave me a small nod before walking past me and out the door with her mutt.
After I knew they were gone, I told my parents to watch Henry. I needed to find Maleficent and see what she was up to. "Swan," Hook followed me to my car. I rolled down my window so he could speak. "Be careful. I'll keep an eye on your parents and the lad while you talk to that woman."
"Thank you." With that, I rolled up my window and started for the town line. I knew she wanted to stay out of sight but close enough to keep an eye on all of us. Once I was there, I got out and started to hike into the woods. "Maleficent, we need to talk." I continued yelling out her name until I heard a bird squawk. As the raven flew closer to the ground it transformed into a man. It was the same man who was in the diner. "You would think I would get used to this kind of thing happening."
The man chuckled. "My name is Diaval." He held out his hand. When I didn't take it he retracted his hand and cleared his throat. "I'm guessing you're here to speak with Maleficent?"
"Yes. Something she said in the diner…" When I heard rustling behind me I spun on my heels.
"Calm yourself child. I won't cause you any harm unless you try to kill me again." I didn't say a word. "And as long as I don't hurt anyone you care about I'll stay alive. Now, what is it you want to know?"
"The lion thing. Who is it? It's not Robin like Regina thought, so who is he?" Maleficent stood a few inches in front of me.
"Unless true love is between a parent and their child, why must people always assume it has to be between a man and a woman?" My brows knitted. "Emma, don't deny your love for Regina. Everyone sees it." I said nothing. "You've loved her for some time haven't you?"
It took me a moment before I gave in. "Yes. I do love her. And have for awhile. What does that have to do with anything?" The brunette in front of me shook her head.
"You really are Regina's idiot." She continued before I could open my mouth. "A lion is brave, a leader, smart, and stubborn. Now who does that sound like? You've protected and saved Regina countless times. It takes bravery to save someone and it takes a leader to start something. I've seen how the two of you fought; you're both stubborn."
"She's saved my life a few times too." I shoved my hands in my back pockets. "She raised our son after I gave him up. And I was a bitch to her when we first met."
"She was to you as well but the two of you have gotten past that." She was right. "You have the power to change your destiny of being alone." I tried to argue but Maleficent continued. "You and I both know the pirate is just a fling. It won't last. That's something you and Regina have in common, both of you can change your destiny. Create your own. Don't die miserable and alone."
"What the hell am I supposed to do? I don't have my magic anymore because I saved the damn pirate. Zelena took my magic." She shook her head at me again.
"You don't need magic to change your future. But if you change it, there's a chance you'll get your magic back."
I ran my fingers through my hair. "How can I change the future when I don't even know what's going to happen? What am I supposed to do to change the future?"
Maleficent watched me. "Would you like to see a glimpse of your current future? See what happens to you and Regina if you continue on this path." My attention snapped towards Maleficent.
"Can I guess that I'm about to be a mirror?" Diaval shrugged and came closer. With a wave of her hand he was indeed a mirror.
"He's used to that by now." She placed her right hand on the top of the mirror and it started to glow green. The mirror became hazy, when it cleared I could see Robin thrusting himself towards a headboard. When I saw Regina's nails running down his back I became sick. She was moaning out his name. The image changed and it was Regina's face now. Her eyes were dull and weak. They had lost the glimmer and fire that used to live in them.
"Why are you showing me this?" The image vanished and I looked towards Maleficent again. "You obviously know I hate that guy. And you show me him having sex with the woman I love. Are you out of your fucking mind?" With each word my voice rose.
"No. But you feel that anger building inside of you? That's what I wanted you to feel before I showed you your future." The mirror clouded up again. When it cleared, it showed me sitting in my apartment with an almost empty bottle of whiskey. I looked miserable. Both images were at least fifteen years in the future so Henry had moved out and I was alone. My stomach dropped. "Now do you want to see what may happen if you make your feelings known?"
"If it's going to be anything different from that misery, yes please." The brunette gave me a nod as the mirror clouded up. It showed me in Regina's kitchen. She had been baking and we were talking. I couldn't make out what we were saying but she slapped me; hard. I could imagine the next thing she said was get out. "What the hell? Why…"
"Keep watching." I did as she instructed. The next image was of us in Regina's den. There was a fire in the fireplace and we were drinking wine. Regina placed the wineglass down and cupped my cheek. The look in her eyes was loving and I had never seen that smile before. It was one that warmed my heart just seeing it. Regina began to lean in but before our lips touched, the mirror went cloudy and the image was gone.
"So, what? When I first tell Regina she's pissed off and tells me to get out and never speak to her again. Then later we end up together?"
"That's up to you Emma." I groaned. Yes, Maleficent was helpful but she just made me more nervous about the whole thing. "I won't say anything to her about us speaking. No one can know we met tonight."
"Right. And thank you. I better go. It's getting late."