The darkness surrounded her like a wave of pain slowly crashing on the shores of time as she looked at the clock realizing the strong golden hands had not moved much since the last time she looked at it ten minutes prior. The house was cold, not due to the temperature it was actually quite warm in the town she had called home for many years, but because of the lack of the presence of the woman she loved and the son she treasured.
That day had started just like any other Regina had awoken even before the sun it had become practice ever since Henry had started school even on weekends she couldn't break her routine. The two other people living in the house would sleep until at least ten so she used the time to catch up on any last Minute work she had to do so that family time could be had. A smile graced her lips at the thought of something she thought she would never have who knew the daughter of her greatest enemy would bring her the greatest joy. She climbed out of bed after placing a kiss on the lips of the blonde beauty lying next to her and went about her morning.
Walking downstairs she found herself making her coffee like any other day and heading to her home office little did she know everything was going to change. As soon as she opened the door she felt it an ominous feeling crept over the one that she had not felt in years. Only one person could bring that feeling of dread to her she didn't even have to look up as she sucked in her breath and looked up " Mother! " A figure that defined an eternal nightmare turned with a smile that could cut through a human soul in an instant. "Now now Regina is that any way to great you after all of these years? "
A flash of anger that only she could know flashed across the Queens' face. It took her everything she had to keep her voice steady and not dripping with malice. "What are you doing here? How did you even get here, and if you would please leave because you are not welcome here?" Cora shook her head she worked too long and too hard to see her daughter again and would not have insolence at her return. Her hand rose and soon Regina was hovering in the air as she did so many times as a young girl. "Is that any way to talk to your mother? It will be in your best interest to remember who you are speaking to, and as to why I am here it is to get you back on track. You have become soft Regina you have let love weaken you again, and that I can not tolerate."
Regina struggled knowing it was useless but she needed to try to get out of the air shaking her head she looked at Cora "I am not that person anymore mother" the growl coming from her voice showed her irritation "Love isn't weakness it is the greatest gift anyone could give another person, and I swear if you touch one hand on their heads I will make sure you pay this time. It will not be another Daniel situation I am so much stronger now." Cora scoffed "oh really dear? Is that why your floating in the air at the moment I don't think you are and even if you are I still can do things that are far worse than magic." She waved her hand and showed Emma sleeping peacefully "It would be a pity for that pretty little neck to snap wouldn't it?" Regina felt her breathe catch as she growled "If you lay one hand on her I swear mother I will end you. Leave her alone." The Queen of hearts looked at her daughter "Then you will help me because I promise you, dear, if you don't she dies."
At that moment Regina felt like a young girl again standing in the stables watching the love of her life die. She couldn't go through it all again not this time not with so much more to lose. She finally relented or at least let her mother think she would. Regina knew the only way to buy time was to appease the older Queen. She took a deep breath "Fine put me down and I will help you, just do not touch her please?"
Cora smirked she knew it wouldn't take much to get to her daughter and revled in the fact she still could. She gently put her down and nodded "Good and to be sure there are no problems." She smiled as she waved her hand and a purple cloud surrounded all of Storybrooke and Emma was no longer in her bed, but sleeping beside none other than Captain Killian Hook himself. Regina let out a sob seeing this vision "Mother I told you I would help you why?" Cora placed her hand on Regina's cheek. "We can't have you breaking your word or any distractions now can we. As far as anyone is concerned she is dating the Pirate and Henry is with his grandparents. " She lifted her chin "Help me and I may put things right although in time you may come to like this arrangement better. Love is weakness my dear and you have become as weak as a new twig on a tree." She smiled "I will give you a day to adjust to our new arrangement and then be back in the morning to begin our new chapter." She inched in closer hot breathe on Regina's ear " and remember if you try anything she dies" Before Regina would even respond he older queen was gone in a cloud of smoke.
Regina collapsed to the ground sobbing once again her mother broke her heart. This was a new form of torture though even for the great Cora Mills. Letting Emma live but not with her tore Regina into a million pieces, her soul shattered, and mind racing. She wanted to scream and reverse everything but she knew her mother meant business so she just laid there staring at the clock watching each second pass by each one piercing a knife through her heart , but at least she knew for now those she loved were safe, and as long as her mother was pleased it would stay that way even if it shattered her in a million pieces. She looked at a family picture they took just two days before and whispered ' I will get you both back I swear to you ….I ...won't be without you" with that she finally drifted off exausted from the events that transpired and praying that she could keep good on her word.