Plot: After Emma's sacrifice, Regina falls into a depression, locking herself in the mansion and avoiding everyone. But a certain Dark One makes a surprise drop in. Their daily visits become Regina's saving grace. Set Post Finale. Swan Queen.
Storybrooke was still, almost unbearably so. The Savior had disappeared that fateful night and hadn't been seen for a week. Some citizens were expecting the worst, that Emma would attack them, that the Savior was a threat. Some believed that Emma's powerful light magic was able to overcome the darkness and that she was resting somewhere until her strength was regained.
Regina knew the truth. And that's why she couldn't get up from her plush bed. She knew it was quite ridiculous that Emma's sacrifice dragged her into a depression so dark that not even her son could make her smile. No one could make her feel better. It was her fault that Emma was gone.
In the beginning, she blamed the blonde. She would yell in her room, wanting Emma to hear her, that she was not worthy of such a sacrifice, that Emma should have let her take the darkness. Emma had parents and a son and fucking pirate that loved her and town that revered her. Regina was nothing. No one would have missed her. Robin would have moved on as he did in New York and as he was at that moment. He wasn't banging her door down to check on her. No, he was at the asylum, checking on her sister and his baby. Henry attempted to break into the mansion but, like everyone else, he gave up because he too was devastatingly upset by what had happened, which made sense. Emma was his favorite mother.
Snow had called her incessantly, begging for her assistance with magical matters. Once the Blue Fairy decided to help them find Emma, they dropped the act. They stopped calling, texting, sending damn messenger dove's that crapped on her windowsill because, after all, that's all Regina was good for, giving information.
So, after two days, everyone avoided the mansion on Mifflin and Regina was alone, as she had been all along. When your supposed loved ones scatter like flies in your time of need, you lose a lot of confidence in the prospect of love. Maybe her mother was right. Love is weakness and all it eventually brings is pain.
She didn't want to be dragged into their search. She knew that Emma was smart and she was the Dark One. If she didn't want to be found, she wouldn't be found. They should wait for the blonde to come to them and, in a way, that's what Regina was doing. Every morning and night, she willed Emma to appear in her house so that she could kick her beautiful ass because Emma was good to the core and didn't deserve this curveball… but the Evil Queen? She deserved that and more.
And it leads here, into the mayor's bedroom, where she had been stationed for a week. She got up to eat dinner, skipping breakfast and lunch, and to take scalding showers that made her skin itch. Her room was a mess, wrappers surrounding her bed and literature practically stacked to the roof. This self-imprisonment gave her a lot of time to think as well and that made things a million times worse. Why? Well, because as luck would have it, she realized that somewhere along the last four years she fell deeply, madly, and truly in love with Emma Swan. The blonde had challenged her, believed in her, fought against her and for her, and, most importantly, gave her what no man could. A son. Henry. Emma gave her back something she had taken from herself. She gave her something that filled a hole in her heart. She saved The Evil Queen. Regina wanted to scream because really? She figures out that she loves the idiot so much and Emma…
And Emma declared her love for that greasy pirate in the Enchanted Forest and before becoming the Dark One. How lovely. Honestly, it seemed like something Fate would do to her. It was so... uninspired.
Emma showed up on her walkway years ago and Regina had panicked. Weeks ago, Emma showed up outside her office to console her and her heart jumped with happiness because someone cared. Emma cared for her, that much the brunette knew. Who sacrifices his or her soul for a friend? Oh, that's right, only one. Emma Swan, who loved the pirate. Damn.
So, it was safe to say that Regina Mills was deteriorating. She lost the only true friend she's ever had and during said friend's departure, she realized that she loved that insufferable woman, who loved that damn pirate.
That damn pirate was the only citizen that came everyday to visit but his visits consisted of angrily blaming Regina of fucking up his happy ending. What a catch. After a few days of hearing him spew the truth, because it was her fault, she put up an invisible electrical barrier. The only time her lips quirked to resemble a smile was when she watched him get zapped and fly halfway across town. That didn't deter him though because he continued coming. He just stood on the street and used a megaphone now.
"Keep thinking that hard and you're going to blow a fuse." Regina tensed because she couldn't be hearing that voice. Emma couldn't be in her bedroom, teasing her. She wouldn't come see her. It was all her fault. Besides, the Dark One wouldn't be so pleasant. So she burrowed her face deeper between the pillows and allowed the tears to stream down her face because she was officially losing her mind if she was hearing the blonde's voice. She let out a loud sob that burned her lungs and shook her entire body. Her tears soaked her pillowcases and dripped onto the bed. She just cried harder.
Until she felt it, there was a hand on her back rubbing soothing circles and a familiar voice emitting comforting words. The brunette continued sobbing, turning away from the voice because that hurt, hearing her voice when she knew it was impossible. But the voice got closer and she felt the bed dip. Regina felt her body relax. It may be a trick of the mind but she needed to be close to her.
"Gina…" The voice offered, their hand moving from her back to her shoulder to move hair from her face. The gesture was so sweet that it solidified to Regina that it wasn't the Savior because Emma would never bestow such a nicety on her. Those were saved for him, her love. She turned away, practically hanging off the mattress, until strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her towards the center of the bed. She felt her back smack against a female form and sighed happily. If only.
"Gina… Look at me. I've missed you so much." The voice whispered, taunting her. Regina shook her head vehemently because Emma would never say that to her. She saved those words for him.
"Please stop." Regina cried, pulling away from the phantom. She couldn't take this torture any longer. She couldn't experience what her life could have been like if she had noticed sooner. But the voice didn't cease.
"I've been watching all week. I know how creepy this'll sound but I've been sitting in that corner every night, watching you sleep. You're the only one I've wanted to see. The only one I want and I'm confused. Please don't send me away when I'm so unsure of who I am, what I am, and… I've had a lot of time to think. I realized that I don't love him, that's why I was holding off. I wasn't sure and now I know. I've been gone and all I've wanted, more than breath itself, was to hear your voice. So don't reject me when all I want is to hear you say my name." She said and it was so clear that Regina almost turned to look, to make sure she was crazy. But that didn't need a test because Emma would go see him or Henry first. Not Regina. Never Regina. But for a reason that the brunette wouldn't be able to articulate at a later date, she complied with the phantom's wishes.
"Emma," Regina whispered and felt the body she was pressed against shiver. She placed her hand on her shoulder and pulled, turning the brunette onto her back. Regina shut her eyes, not prepared to come face to face with nothing, to be disappointed. But she felt the need to confess to this phantom, as if this was her only chance to rid herself of this huge secret. So she added, "I love you."
"I know. I see it now when I look back. I love you too Gina." She whispered and Regina sighed happily, a small smile pulling at her lips. It was earthshattering to hear those words said in that tone, in her tone. She heard an emotional chuckle and felt a whoosh of air tickle her ear. Regina felt it and her eyes automatically snapped open. At first, she stared at the ceiling, still afraid to be let down.
"Please. Look at me," Regina's eyes darted back and forth as she continued to stare skyward, "I'm right here. Look, you can feel me."
And she did. She picked up Regina's hand and placed it on a soft cheek. The mind was a fucking bitch because this phantom even smelled like cinnamon and hot chocolate. That was fucked up and that made her nauseous because she would just drop dead if she looked and saw nothing. She was becoming hopeful and the letdown would destroy her.
"Regina… I need to see those beautiful brown eyes, okay? I need to see you." The brunette gulped, her fingers absentmindedly caressing the cheek it had been placed on. She cradled her face and began turning it. Regina didn't resist because this charade couldn't go on longer. If it did, she would get in too deep.
Then she saw her. Emma. She was different. Her eyes were darker, no longer emerald but a deep forest green. Her skin had a familiar shimmer, a muted version of Rumple. It didn't make her seem like a monster though. It was ethereal, beautiful as always. Her outfit was fit for a villain, black and formfitting. Regina noticed that the blonde had removed her black boots before getting into the bed and smiled. It seemed the Savior—Dark One— had some manners after all.
"There's that smile." Emma whispered. Regina felt her eyes glisten, blurring the blonde slightly. Emma scooted closer, pressing her front to the brunette's side delicately.
"Emma?" She whimpered, a few tears falling down her cheeks. Emma nodded and pressed their foreheads together.
"I can't stay," Regina startled, not ready to let her go, "I can only fight the darkness for a few hours at a time. My time is running out but I'll be back tomorrow and every night if you'll allow me?"
Regina's thumb stroked the blonde's cheek lovingly, "Please come back as often as you can. I need to talk to you and see you."
"I love you," Emma leaned forward to kiss to the brunette but stopped short and pulled back, "I'll be back tomorrow. Don't speak of this to anyone."
"Emma—" But the blonde had already disappeared in a plume of black smoke, leaving Regina alone. But only until tomorrow. Emma would return and she would be able to hold her and talk to her. That night, before her eyes closed, she felt like the dark cloud that had settled on her mind, body, and soul lifted just a bit because Emma wanted her. Emma fought the darkness just to see her.
Take that greasy pirate.
A/N: Every chapter will signify a night. And eventually, I do plan to make this rated M for sexual content. Right now, its rated M for some language.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!