She can't believe how long it has been. How long she hasn't set foot in this place hasn't seen the people in this town. She takes a deep breath and looks around. Last time she was here everyone had been dragged back to their land except for Henry and her. She remembers that day as if it was yesterday. She did something that day that she knew dip down she would have never forgotten and deep down she really didn't.
*Flashback*
Snow and David hug Emma once last time. Henry gets in the car and waits. She starts to walk away but stops. She turns around and walks up to Regina. She grabs her by the waists and kisses her deeply. Regina is shocked at first, unresponsive. But just when Emma is about to pull back Regina tangles her hand in blonde locks and kisses her deeply again, tongues finding each other, tasting each other. They pull back and open their eyes.
"I always wanted to do that" Whispers Emma.
Regina smiles sadly and kisses her chastely. She caresses her cheek "Go" she says gently almost a whisper of the wind. Emma kisses her again.
"I don't mean to sound like my parents but I will find you again" they share what could be their last laugh.
She gets in her car and drives with sadness invading her mind and she watches everyone including the woman she wanted to get to know better, to love disappear in purple smoke.
*End Flashback*
She is in front of her parents' house and knocks. Once David opens the door she expects a 'hello how can I help you?' or something along those lines but instead she is received with a huge hug and sloppy kiss in the forehead. They remember? Huh that is weird. Oh no but if they remember that means that kiss isn't forgotten. They all talk about what might be happening and agree to meet up at Granny's tomorrow. She goes to Granny's Bed and Breakfast to rent a room.
Her mind wonders to the beautiful woman she hasn't seen in a year. She is tempted to go knock on her door. She has waited a long time not that she even knew. Regina probably waited more but from what Snow and David told her they all pretty much don't remember anything. What if she doesn't remember that kiss? I mean none of them have mentioned it. That is of course until she is actually settled in.
"So...That kiss you gave Regina before we left a year ago"
Emma simply shrugs. She doesn't know what to say.
"I was disappointed" she frowns at Snow's words.
"I was disappointed because you waited till a curse was brought upon us to kiss the woman."
It takes Emma by surprise. She expected something totally differently. I mean after all her and Regina have some history. She stares because that is all she can do.
"We were all waiting honey."
With that the conversation is over. The next day at Granny's everyone seems to have a hard time trying not to make it so obvious that they all knew Henry to well. It's difficult when that boy literally was the heart of the town. Snow and David come and they start to talk about their 'case' when they hear a shatter. They all turn to look where the noise came from. There she is as beautiful as ever. Madam Mayor Regina Mills. She still steals Emma's breath away and she can't seem to look away. Regina on the other hand can't decide on which person her eyes want to stay on, Emma or Henry.
"I'm sorry, I must have tripped or something."
She says as she turns around and walks to the bathroom. Emma looks at Snow who nods with a smile. She stands and makes her way to the bathroom as well and knocks.
"Occupied!"
Oh that voice how she has missed it. She knocks again and with a huff Regina opens the door ready to verbally assault the intruder. Her words get cut off by Emma pushing her back inside and closing the door. She pins Regina to the wall and stares into her chocolate eyes. Without a second thought she kisses her, she kisses her like she hasn't seen her in a whole year. Kisses her with all her will and power and Regina takes it, embraces it. They pull back for air.
"You, you remember me?"
Emma nods and caresses her cheek. Regina leans into her touch and closes her eyes.
"What about Henry?"
"Uh no, he still doesn't remember any of you guys, the antidote or whatever that Hook gave me was enough for me to drink" she says a little sad.
She knows how much Regina most miss Henry.
"I'm sorry but I promise I'll figure this out and he will remember you."
She caresses that beautiful face, studies it, commits it to memory, the brown eyes, the beauty mark, the scar.
"God I forgot how beautiful you were."
Regina blushes at the comment. She hasn't been spoken to like that in a long time but somehow this was even better than the last time. There's a knock and then the spell, their little bubble is broken. They get out of the bathroom to let the person who needs it in. Just before they appear back in the crowd she pulls Regina back.
"We will figure this out."
"I know dear" they kiss chastely and then go their separate ways.
That same day Emma gathers the town people at the court house were all meetings are held. She looks around at the chaos and sighs heavily. Being back was difficult for Emma She didn't know what to make off it. There's a curse, people disappearing, being taken by flying monkey's. The town folks not remembering a year of their lives. This is worse than the last course. Emma sighs as the people in the court don't seem to be quiet.
"OK silence!" She yells and they start to settle down.
"Okay so we are here because a year of your life has been taken and you have been brought back. Now do any of you have any idea of who could have cast this course?"
Just then Regina had walk in and the back. Leroy stands and says.
"I have a very good idea of whom."
"Alright than share with the rest please" says Emma.
"Who cast the last curse? Who knows how to use it? Who's the only one who has ever done anything like this before? The Evil Queen" he says pointing at her.
They all look to the back at Regina. It's quiet, every eye on her. She looks around.
"For once I'm just as clueless as the rest of you" she says in defense.
"And you expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth" she says with a smile not so friendly.
"This curse has your fingerprints all over it" say Granny.
"And you did take our memories once before" adds Belle.
Regina looks around at all this people. She understands that she has done lots of things that can point this on her but after everything she has done to be good. There's no way they will ever not see her as The Evil Queen but she isn't going down for something she didn't do!
"Still have your big house."
"You think I care about my house? About any of these things?" she says as she walks to the middle back.
"Regina please just tell us the truth, we'll understand?" says Dr. Hopper
"Speak for yourself" Granny jumps in.
"I am telling the truth" she says starting to get annoyed. "If I had done this there's one thing I've had right now, my son." She says looking at the blonde.
"Yeah you're not getting anywhere near him until I get to the bottom of what's going on."
There's a silence. Regina's heart hurts at this little conversation. She looks at the town folks and then back at Emma.
"So now you're siding with the rabble?" they start to murmur and move.
"I thought we've been through this. I'm innocent."
She says to the blonde because they did have this conversation after that wonderful kiss. They all stand and start to make their way out of their chairs and towards her. She isn't scare of this people, she can take them out just like that but then again they will have victory for proving their theory right about her being the Evil Queen still.
"Yes that's what you said before but now I'm wondering if I believe you."
"Don't come any closer!" Regina hisses while making a gesture with her hands for them to stop.
"Regina."
"Do you remember who you're dealing with?" she threatens
They all keep moving a little slower. She looks around and then at Emma. Her face hardens a little.
"If you all want me to be the Evil Queen" there's a dramatic pause. Her hands still up. "Then fine! That's exactly who you'll get."
She face now fully hard, back in her Evil Queen mode she pushes her hands forward. With that the earth starts to shake and everyone panics a little and holds on to something. Regina glares as she raises her hands and she disappears behind purple smoke.
"I knew she did it" says Leroy.
"We can't let her get away."
Emma doesn't listen as she walks pass them. She gets to Regina's office and enters without hesitation.
"An earthquake?" says the blonde as she enters the mayor's office.
They both stare at each other. Regina shrugs and Emma can see a hint of a smile.
"I had to make a statement and you're fine."
Emma rolls her eyes. Regina walks to the front of her desk.
"So do you think they bought it?" asks The brunette.
Emma smiles and walks to her, wrapping her in her arms. Regina rests her head in her shoulder.
"Yeah I think they did."
"Good."
"Nice work, you're a great actress."
Regina smiles and nudges her a little. Emma chuckles and holds her tighter.
"Now let's figure out who really cursed this town."
Emma let's go off her and goes check outside. She sees no one and locks the door. She walks back to the big table that can be used as a diner table in Regina's office.
"How long do you think we got?" asks Regina.
"Until whoever cast this curse realizes that you aren't on the run from me but until then no one is going to suspect that we are working together."
"Let's see it."
Emma passes Regina a flask. The flask that contains the potion that gave Emma her memories back.
"Is that enough?"
"To use? No but to replicate I think so." says Regina as she examines the flask.
Emma cocks her head "we ca start waking people up, figure out who the hell send everyone back here."
"And I can make Henry remember me."
Emma looks at Regina and smiles a little. She feels awful because this woman who has gone through so much pain most of her life lost the only thing she has cared about for the past 10 years. She stands up and grabs Regina's chin.
"Hey he will remember you, no matter what."
Regina smiles a little and leans up to kiss her gently. It is still weird, they have only kissed 3 time. Once before the curse, once when Emma came back and now. They went from hating each other, to getting on each other's nerves, to friendly manners and now to not quite yet lovers but almost there. After several seconds of one of the best kisses Emma has ever had she pulls back.
"Okay let's keep going."
"Thank you."
"For what?" says Emma a little confuses.
"You saw how quick this town turned on me but you; you believe I didn't cast that curse." Emma smiles a little at that. "I know that wasn't easy for you."
"Sure it was I knew you were telling the truth."
"Even after everything that has happened has put me next to Henry? Maybe this was some super genius and complicated plan."
Emma shakes her head. She doesn't understand why Regina believes this people, why she tries so hard to remind people that she once was evil. No not evil but lost, Regina Mills has never been evil, she has been lost and in pain but evil? No anything but that.
"It wasn't, my super power may not be perfect but with you Regina I always know when you are lying. This time you're not" she shrugs "you didn't do it" she says it with so much conviction.
Regina looks at her with all of her walls down. They connect and have a moment.
"Even though you know I can't live without him."
"There you go telling the truth again."
They smile at each other and feel something blossom within them. They don't say anything about it, all too complicated and new and confusing still. They go back to work on replicating the potion that can bring back the memories of everyone and figure out who cast this curse.
