I'm so sorry for the super long wait. This wasn't easy lol I made this into one giant one shot and please keep in mind I started writing this right after episode 11 aired so it was before all of the spoilers came out. Enjoy and let me know what you think. Happy Once day :)
Title – Remember Us
Setting – Takes place after 3x11 "Going Home"
The air was cold and it stung at her eyes as she turned away from Hook. She could hear the curse behind them and Emma knew it was only a matter of time before it engulfed everyone she loved and ripped them away from her and her son.
"Emma…"
That voice that always made her heart flutter in her chest… that voice that had always sounded so strong and fierce was now shaking and full of uncertainty. It was her voice that made Emma once again realize for the thousandth time that not only was she losing her family… she was losing Regina. She turned to her, her eyes full of unshed tears.
"There's something I haven't told you."
"What now?" she asked, exasperated. She didn't mean to sound annoyed but the turmoil of emotions inside her was making it difficult to keep herself in check. Looking at the brunette in front of her only made the aching in her heart worse. There was so much that Regina didn't know and would never get to know. Regina would never know she had unknowingly developed feelings for her these past months and that her feelings had only grown during their trek in Neverland. It was that moment when Regina had brutally freed herself from that tree and plunged her hand in Pan's chest for their son's heart then it clicked for Emma. Seeing Regina fiercely loving their son enough to break from Pan's trap had finally made her address her feelings. She felt something for her and to be honest Emma couldn't bare to tell her now even when their whole world was falling apart. She couldn't burden Regina with that. It was enough that the brunette was going to be separated from their son.
"When the curse washes over us, it will send us all back. Nothing will be left behind… including your memories. It's just what the curse does."
Remembering you is all I have left now, and I can't even have that? Emma couldn't say those words out loud and the despair was evident on her face as Regina continued to explain.
"Storybrooke will no longer exist. It won't ever have existed… so these last years will be gone from both of your memories and we'll just go back to being stories again."
"What will happen to us?" she asked, her green eyes finding Regina's.
"I don't know."
"It doesn't sound much like a happy ending," she pondered and Regina scoffed in disbelief.
"It's not," she whispered defeatedly. "But I can give you one."
"You could preserve our memories?" Emma asked hopefully. She could remember her family… She could remember the woman that she had grown to care for standing in front of her.
"No…" And just like that, that hope vanished and if it were possible Emma felt like her heart just broke a little bit more. "I can do what I did to everyone else in this town. I can give you new ones."
"But you cursed them and they were miserable," she said.
"They didn't have to be," Regina admitted and Emma felt the familiar flutter of her heart as Regina suddenly took her hand, holding it between them. "My gift to you is good memories; a good life for you…" She turned to their son and reached out her hand, beckoning him to come to her. She smiled at him and then looked at Emma, her gaze locking on her green watery orbs.
"…and Henry," she continued and Emma couldn't control the tears or the silent shuddering sob from escaping her lips. "You would have never given him up. You'll have always been together." Regina smiled as she said this, her voice cracking with a heartbreaking emotion that Emma could feel radiating off of her.
"You would do that?" she asked, awed at the sacrifice Regina was making. For so long Regina was hell-bent on keeping Henry away from Emma and now here she was sending them to have a good life without any reconciliation of who really raised him. She really had changed and Emma could see it.
"When I stop Pan's curse and you cross that town line you will have the life you've always wanted."
"But it won't be real."
"Well, your past won't but your future will," Regina said before taking a deep breath as if she were willing herself to stay strong at these next words. "Now go," she whispered, her brown eyes so full of emotion as she looked at Henry. "There isn't much time left. The curse will be here any minute." The evident of tears sounded in her voice as Henry wrapped his arms around her. She held him close and Emma watched her lovingly kiss Henry goodbye for the last time. She couldn't do this anymore, her eyes fixed on Regina. She wanted more than anything to pull Regina into her own arms and hold her for a first and final time but all that came out were tears and a look of despair. Her eyes then found her mother's and she was frozen with grief as Snow walked up to her.
Not only was she losing Regina but she was losing her mother… her best friend. She had finally found her parents after years of loneliness and now she was losing them again. She was losing everyone…
The tears continued to stream down her cheeks as Snow placed both of her hands on her face, gently holding her. Her eyes shinned with unconditional love and pride but also the same grief that Emma herself was feeling. Snow gently lowered her head, placing a kiss on her forehead before pulling back and smiling. She was loved after so many years of being unwanted. Her mother wanted her and now they had to let each other go once more.
Snow stepped back beside Regina and with one last look at her family and the woman she had spent so much time hating but now couldn't stand the idea of leaving, she turned and got into the yellow bug that would take her and Henry to their new life.
A happy life but a life without their family… a life without Regina.
Regina couldn't explain the deep turmoil of emotions she felt when she had given Emma her gift. She couldn't explain the tears that had threatened to fall time and time again at the thought of not only losing her son but losing Emma as well. She watched broken hearted as they got into that car and as she heard the curse rapidly approaching them from behind she began to rip the scroll in half. She crumbled it, her heart racing with grief and devastation as she thought about her son and about Emma and how that infuriating woman had managed to wedge herself into her heart. As promised, she closed her eyes and focused on giving them good memories, on giving Emma her memories of raising her baby boy.
It had only taken less than a second but really it had felt so much longer. The scroll disintegrated in her hands and she opened her eyes. Purple magic glowed in her hands and she turned, facing the green smoke that was rapidly approaching. She raised her hands in the air and purple beams of magic shot into the sky. It deflected Pan's curse, destroying it entirely until all that was left was the purple cloud that would take them back to the Enchanted Forest. She had heard Emma driving away and she turned, watching through the purple mist as she lost the two people she loved the most and would never see again.
"Regina?" Snow's voice sounded through the heavy wooden doors of the palace library. It had been weeks since they were brought back to the Enchanted Forest… since they were separated from Emma and Henry. Not only did they have to deal with the grief and pain of losing them, they had to deal with the war that was brought on by the Wicked Witch of The West. After Cora had left she put herself in power and so they've been fighting to get their land back, to rebuild their home and maybe, just maybe after all of the chaos find a way to bring Emma and Henry home. For now, they were in Snow and David's old castle since the Wicked had taken over Regina's. They managed to repair most of it but really their main focus was defeating that witch.
There was no answer which wasn't a surprised. Regina hasn't been herself since coming home. When she wasn't helping with the war plans or leading the troops out to battle she was alone in the library, flipping through old spell books she had collected from Rumple's home. She was quiet and sullen, maybe even depressed. She knew it had to be from losing Henry but then she couldn't shake the feeling that there was so much more to her sudden change in mood.
She pushed open the door and since it was late into the night, Regina was sitting on the extended window sill, looking out at the dark sky and the waters below. A fire was lit in the fireplace along with some candles placed around the room and as she came closer, even through the dim lighting she could see the physical changes in Regina.
She wore a simple black gown with long sleeves and a v neck line. Her hair was back to the original long length before the curse was cast. She had dark circles under her eyes from nights spent reading instead of sleeping and her usually fiery dark eyes were now dull and sad. She didn't look like the Evil Queen right now unlike during the day. When she was out surrounded by Snow, David, their troops, and their people she wore the Evil Queen mask but right now it was gone and Snow could see everything. She could see the deep painful emotions radiating through her whole being and the exhaustion from trying to find a way to be back with her son.
She didn't even acknowledge Snow. Her gaze was focused on the window and in her hands was another spellbook.
"Regina," she tried again and when there was still no answer she pried the book from Regina's hands and set it beside her. Regina turned then, finally meeting her former stepdaughter's gaze.
"Even if we find a way to bring them back they won't remember us," she stated, her voice barely above a whisper. Snow could have sworn she was close to tears or maybe her eyes were just tired, she didn't know…
"We can't give up hope, Regina," Snow said softly, trying her best to comfort the woman she had grown to trust once more.
"Hope," she scoffed, a small almost insane smile suddenly gracing her lips. "Look where hope has gotten you, look where it has gotten us. The people we love are in another world with no memory that we have ever existed! How can you just stand there and tell me we have to have hope!" she all but yelled those last sentences.
The people we love? Snow thought in confusion but quickly shook that thought away because there was no way she was talking about Emma. She only tolerates her because of Henry. She doesn't love her, they're not even friends. "Because hope is what will bring them back Regina. Hope is what will keep you from giving up."
"No dear, it isn't," she said as she averted her gaze to the spell book and brought it back into her lap. "Magic is what will keep me from giving up."
Weeks go by which turn into months and Regina is nowhere near a solution to bringing Emma and Henry back. She's getting frustrated and that frustration makes her angry. She takes it out on the troops during the workouts that either she, Snow, or David lead each day. It had just rained, leaving the fields muddy and slippery. The air is cold and the ground is wet leaving the army soaked to the skin. She doesn't let them rest because when they're out fighting the Wicked's armies, there is no rest.
There is no rest when it comes to looking for a way back to her family and when did she start thinking of Emma as family?
She's starting to lose the hope that she had denied having to Snow.
She's starting to believe that she will never see them again.
Her heart is breaking each day and as she yells cruelly at her troops Snow and David are suddenly approaching her.
"Regina!" Snow yells the minute she's close enough for Regina to hear her. "This is not how we do things! These people are fighting for our land, for our freedom. Show them respect by not treating them like animals!" Snow was up in her face, her eyes angry at her stepmother's behavior lately.
"I'm only preparing them! You've seen the conditions when were out fighting, they all have and I'm only making them stronger!" she yelled, her eyes blazing and her fists clenched to keep the magic from escaping.
"It's still no excuse to be cruel!"
"Cruel? You think I'm cruel," she growled. "I've seen worse, hell I've done worse things in the past and you call this cruel! Your naivety is what's going to get you killed!"
"Enough!" David snapped, moving between the two. "Regina, take a walk! I'm taking over this training session." His orders were clear and the look on her face was dark and murderous, reminding them of how cruel she once was.
"You will do no such thing," she growled in a low threatening voice.
"I will if this is how you run the training sessions. This is merely a warning Regina because if I see this again you won't be leading anymore."
This was her only distraction and now she was at risk of losing it. This was the only way she could take out her anger but deep down she knew David and Snow were right. She just didn't want to admit it. She shook her head in disgust and without another word she turned, leaving them on the field. She didn't notice the concern in Snow's eyes as she heard David shouting out orders to the troops.
Regina angrily stalked into one of the training rooms in the castle and with a wave of her hand; she changed her dress into black leather pants and boots with a loose white long sleeved shirt. Her long hair went from beautifully styled upon her head to a simple braid much like she had worn when she was younger. She took two of the swords from the rack against the wall and levitated one into the air. Before the curse, she had never used a sword. She had gone out to battle but only kept her distance, watching over her troops. She never used a sword then until now. Now, she needed to fight for her home and so she learned. She'd often found herself sparring with her members from the army or even with Snow and David but right now she wanted to be alone so she manipulated the second sword as if she were sparring with an invisible opponent.
The hits started off at a normal pace and carefully planned but then she started to see Henry. She remembered seeing him looking at her from inside the car as she tore up that scroll. The last thing he saw was her finally doing the right thing and he couldn't even remember it. He had wanted her to be good for so long and he'll never even remember it!
Her hits became harder and her body movements became reckless. She became angrier.
And then she saw Emma and she hit that other sword with a loud clang. She remembered the way Emma looked at her as she told her of her gift… of the fake memories she would give her and Henry and she felt nothing but devastating guilt that she never got to tell her what she truly felt. She cared about her. She knew she did but then as the months went by without any sign of getting them back, Regina began to realize that maybe she cared a little more than she thought.
Emma would never know…
She screamed then, hitting that sword so hard it flew and hit the wall before landing on the floor with a deafening clang but she didn't even seem to realize it because she had fallen on her knees. She dropped her own sword as uncontrollable sobs wracked her body. It wasn't until she felt strong arms holding her then she realize that she was being watched the whole time.
"You'll find a way," Snow whispered, holding the fallen Queen.
They had fallen into a trap.
They were in a middle of a battle and Snow and Regina were fighting side by side when they were ambushed by more of the Wicked's men and pushed into a trap. It was a hole in the ground and as Snow sat there in the dirt, holding an unconscious Regina she looked up at the sound of her husband calling her name.
They lost a lot of their men to these deadly traps and knowing what was on the bottom of the dark pit, Regina had barely been able to magic away the sharp spears at the bottom on the way down before the impact of the landing knocked her out.
"Snow! Are you ok?" he called down, his voice full of concern and fear.
"I'm fine, Regina saved us but she's hurt. She's unconscious," she said, seeing him looking down and trying to see them through the darkness.
"Hold on, I'm getting a rope," he said before disappearing above. Snow then moved her gaze to Regina and even though she could hardly see her, she knew she was hurt. She could feel the blood on her fingers. She couldn't make out exactly where it was coming from but she knew it had to be a head wound.
"It's ok, Regina. You're going to be ok. We're going to get you out of here," she said softly, holding her head in her lap.
Those words sounded like they were a million miles away but Regina heard them as her mind floated in and out of consciousness. Her head was swimming and the pain in her head was pounding, radiating brutally through her nerves that she didn't even noticed the sharp pain of her broken ribs. It made her unable to fully wake up and so she gave into the dark fogginess of her mind.
All she saw was Emma.
She heard Emma's voice and she found she found herself standing in the middle of the street just by the town border during their last moments in Storybrooke. She took Emma's hand as she explained to her, her gift, feeling the warmth from Emma's glove covered hand. She could see the way Emma lost control of her emotions and the tears sliding down her face.
She would never again see the blonde savior.
She would never tell her how she felt but then everything suddenly started to click and it made sense.
Her dreams, she could contact Emma in her dreams. It was rare for a sorceress to project into dreams but she had to try. She just needed to find a spell and with this in mind she tried to force herself to wake up. She needed to get back to the real world but her mind was too weak and so she slept just a little bit longer.
When she woke up, it was the pain that she first became aware of and then the warm hand holding hers and the cool cloth over her forehead. She could hardly breathe through it. Her ribs felt like they were on fire and her head was throbbing.
"Three broken ribs and a grade one concussion," she heard Dr. Whale say. He hadn't been able to find a way back to his land since Jefferson's hat was destroyed so for now he was staying in the Enchanted Forest just like everyone else. "She's lucky she's even still alive. It could've been worse." He didn't even sound like he was sorry, the bastard.
"Why isn't she waking up?" Snow asked, her voice so low Regina could barely even make out the words. Why did she even care? Why was this girl caring for her after everything she had done to her? Regina couldn't deny that they had in fact become closer these past months. Maybe it was because they had both lost their child and on that level they understood each other.
Regina was still swimming between awake and unconsciousness and in the end she was hopelessly losing the battle. Her mind started to slip into darkness again, barely even understanding Whale's answer that she just needed to rest. She didn't even register the sound of the door shutting after he left. All she felt was Snow's comforting presence, reminding her that she wasn't alone.
It was strange though as she floated in the darkness of her injured mind, she could feel Emma all around her. It was as if they were connected. She didn't know it but in another realm where she was nothing but a story, Emma Swan was asleep…
And she could feel Regina's presence as she slept.
She was falling.
She was surrounded by darkness and she could feel the dirt crumbling around her as both she and Snow fell to their death. Her stomach turned with the defiance of gravity and just before they could hit the deadly spears below, she waved her hand.
Except this time they didn't disappear.
"Regina!" She heard Snow's voice and just as she reached the end, she found herself surrounded in darkness.
"Regina!" she heard Snow say again as she screamed, suddenly sitting up. The pain in her ribs were throbbing from the trashing that her nightmare had caused. "Hey, hey it's ok. It was just a nightmare. You're here and you're safe."
She took deep breaths as Snow tried to comfort her. The room was dimmed and just by looking at the windows, she knew it was the middle of the night. Snow pushed her back down into the pillows, brushing away the strands of hair from her face.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked, her voice hoarse. Snow stood, pouring her some water from her vanity before bringing the cup over. She helped her take slow sips and once she was sated Snow sat down, placing the cup on the nightstand.
"Three days," she finally answered and Regina suddenly remembered Emma. She remembered what she had felt in her dreams. She felt the savior in every single one of them, even the bad ones. It was as if they were connected… somehow. She sat up in an instant, wincing from the sharp pain in her broken ribs.
"Regina, your ribs," Snow admonished, trying to lay her back down but Regina only pushed her hands away.
"Emma," she stated, brushing off Snow's concern. "I felt her Snow. I felt her through every single one of my dreams. There's a spell were I can astral project into dreams. I hadn't thought of it because I didn't think it was possible but apparently I just needed to be in dreamlike state to activate it. If I find the spell I could learn the power and train my conscious to visit her dreams." She had said all this in one breath and Snow looked at her in confusion.
"How hard did you hit your head?" she asked and Regina huffed in annoyance. She waved her hand over her ribs, instantly healing them enough so that they were only fractured. Healing had never been her specialty and she grimaced in pain as she felt her bones reconnecting.
"Come with me, I'll show you," she said, throwing the covers off once she was done. She grabbed Snow's hand and pulled her to the library.
"Regina, you should be resting," Snow said worriedly as she watched Regina frantically searched the bookshelves, while holding her now cracked ribs. "And what on earth are you looking for?"
"The book on astral projecting. I saw it here weeks ago," she grumbled, wondering how on earth could she not think of this plan when she had the book.
"You really think that could work?" Snow asked. "And even if it does how will we get Emma to remember us. How will we get her and Henry to cross realms? The new harvest of beans we're growing won't be ready till the end of the year."
"We'll find a way now either help me look or leave," Regina snapped and Snow instantly moved beside her and started shifting through the books.
"Now you're the optimistic one?" she asked.
"No dear, that's supposed to be you."
They find it hours later and its well into the night. The sun will be up in just a couple of hours and Regina is determined to try this before Emma wakes up. She was sitting on the extended window sill, the book in her hands as she whispered the incantation over and over. Her eyes were closed and she could smell the metallic scent of the potion she brewed earlier. Snow was sitting beside her, watching her only to see her fail once more. She opened her eyes in defeat, ignoring the dizziness that suddenly overwhelmed her. Her head was still throbbing from the fall and her ribs were no better. She was exhausted but she wouldn't dare stop.
"Regina, you need to rest. You could try again tomorrow night," Snow pleaded with her, not at all liking how pale she looked or the way her hands were shaking.
"No," she shook her head weakly, her voice breathless from the amount of energy she was using. "I have to keep trying."
"You're exhausted and I know you're in pain Regina," Snow told her, trying to take the spellbook but Regina pulled it away.
"I'm fine," she snapped, closing her eyes again and once again saying the incantation. This time she thought of Emma and Henry and how much they meant to her… how much the blonde savior had grown on her. She thought about how if this didn't work than she just might never see her again and that was when she felt it. She could feel her mind closing and blocking out the real world. She was lost in some kind of dreamlike state but she could feel Emma. She could feel her all around her and then Snow was suddenly shaking her awake.
"Regina!" Snow was scared and so Regina's eyes snapped open and pain and exhaustion suddenly came crashing over her like a wave. She slumped back against the window, the book falling to her lap.
"I… I did it. I felt her," she said, her voice shaking and hoarse.
"You're bleeding," Snow said worriedly and Regina's shaking hand touched her nose. Her eyes widened at the blood she saw there, her face suddenly growing paler. Her eyes clouded over with pain and nausea. She needed air. She felt like she was suffocating and she was going to be sick. She stood and Snow was on her feet in an instant, grabbing her arm and steading her when she swayed.
"You need to rest," she told her and no sooner had those words left her mouth did Regina find herself falling. She was out before she could even hit the floor.
"Oh god, Regina…" Snow gasped, trying to lower her to the floor. "David! Someone help!"
New York, 6 months after leaving Storybrooke
Emma… Emma can you hear me
There it was again, that voice ringing in her head when she slept only this time it had woken her up. She quickly sat up to the sound of her alarm, her blonde hair sticking to her skin. She knew that voice but she couldn't remember where. It has been calling her for the past month and she oddly caught the scent of apples and cinnamon.
There was something strange going on and Emma knew there was something about the mysterious woman… It was as if she should know her but she couldn't remember.
"Mom!" the sound of her son calling her from the other side of her bedroom door shook her out of her reverie. "Are you up! I'm going to be late to school!"
"Yeah… yeah Henry I'm up," she said, shutting off the alarm clock and pulling herself from the bed. These past six months has been sort of a haze for Emma. Everything felt wrong as if there was something missing except that there wasn't. Her life has been normal and quiet ever since the day she was released from prison and was able to be with her baby once more.
Something just wasn't right and it was eating away at her.
She quickly got dressed and went out into the kitchen to see her 12 year old son helping himself to some cereal. He seemed to have grown just a little bit taller these past months and she just stood there, watching him with that affectionate smirk. He looked up at her from where he was leaning against the sink with his bowl of cereal. He arched an eyebrow, his expression so much like Regina but sadly she would never know that. In fact she had no idea where most of his mannerisms came from because they most certainly didn't come from her.
"What?" he asked, suddenly feeling awkward with his mother staring at him like that.
"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head and moving to fix herself a bowl and stood next to him.
"You've been kind of weird lately," he observed as she ate a spoonful of fruitloops.
"Yeah, how so?" she asked.
"Well, you've been talking in your sleep." She stopped eating and looked at him, anxiety flashing across her green eyes.
"What?"
"You've been talking in your sleep. I can't really make out what you're saying though."
"Work stresses me out," she shrugged and Henry gave her that look that meant bullshit.
"Look, it's nothing to worry about kid. Now go get dressed before we really are late."
"You'd tell me though right, if anything were wrong?" he asked, his eyes softening.
"Of course," she tells him and that was enough to send him to his room without a word of protest. Once she drops him off at school she rushes off to work with the remnants of her dream still lingering in her mind.
It isn't until she's chasing some criminal down the dirty allies of New York did she lose consciousness. Life as a bounty hunter had given her plenty of injuries on the job and this time was no different. A passer byer had seen what happen and had called an ambulance and as she laid unconscious in that hospital bed did she hear that voice again.
Only this time it was stronger.
The smell of apples and cinnamon flooded her senses as she stood in a dark room.
"Emma, can you hear me?" The voice floated all around her. It was soft and it made her heart feel as if it were pounding a million beats per minute in her chest.
"Who are you!" she yelled and for the first time the voice responded to her.
"You know who I am."
"Mom!"
Henry, Emma thought, hearing his voice frantically calling her along with the sounds of the hospital floating around her. She was waking up and she fought it. She wasn't ready. She needed to know who the voice belonged to.
"How could I know?" she asked and the voice let out a quiet chuckle.
"You do know Emma. It's why I know your name and for the same reason you can smell apples right now."
"Who are you?" she asked again, feeling more disoriented by the second as her mind fought to wake up.
"Regina," was the last thing she heard before she was suddenly waking up in a bright room with the monitors beeping merciless in her ears.
"Mom, are you ok?" Henry's worried voice sounded next to her and she turned to look at him.
"Hey kid," she greeted him, her voice raspy and she didn't even have to ask for water because he was already putting a straw to her dry lips. She gratefully drank the water and when she was done he placed the empty plastic cup on the nightstand.
"So you're ok?" he asked, sounding so much like the little kid he once was.
"Yeah, just sore," she said, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. That dreamed freaked her out but she showed no sign of it. She didn't want to worry Henry more than he already was. He took a breath and she could see the worry fading, turning to relief.
"I bet the other guy is worse," he grinned and Emma groaned.
"He's probably out of the state by now."
"You'll catch him, I know you will." He was so optimistic sometimes and it often made her wonder where he got it from.
"Thanks kid."
That voice had actually responded to her for the first time and there was something about this woman that made Emma know it wasn't just a dream. Something bigger was at play here and not only that, she couldn't stop thinking about her. So for the past week she had been trying to make contact with her in her dreams but the woman never came back.
Her name was Regina and she smelled like apples and cinnamon, that was all she knew and she desperately needed to find out more. She spent her free time researching books and the internet for someone named Regina but she didn't find anything. If Henry thought she was losing it he didn't say anything.
"Come, on," she told her herself as she closed her eyes that night. She was in bed and tonight she hoped Regina would come back. She needed to know who she was and most importantly why she was contacting her. "Please come back," she whispered. It didn't take her long to fall asleep and she soon found herself in that same dark room.
"Regina!" she called out for the millionth time this week and just like all those other times she got no answer. This time however she wasn't leaving until the mysterious woman she had yet to see spoke to her.
"Regina, please talk to me! I'm not leaving until you do!"
Still no answer.
"You know I was starting to think you were real but now… Now I think you really are just a dream." She was giving up just like that and she thought maybe it was for the best because yeah, it was kind of crazy to think this was real in the first place and just before she could try and wake herself up the smell of apples and cinnamon flooded her senses.
"I didn't think you'd come. Where have you been?" she asked and Regina finally spoke to her.
"Things came up," she said and her voice sounded oddly tired.
"You're a ghost, what on earth could you be doing?" she asked and Regina laughed softly.
"I'm not a ghost dear."
"Then what are you?" she asked, her voice full of uncertainty as she continued to look around but all she saw was darkness.
"I'm alive just like you except I come from another world and I've learned how to astral project into your dreams. I'm a sorceress Emma and the apples that you smell is the scent of my magic."
"A sorceress?"
"Yes Emma and I'm here to help you remember."
"Remember what?"
"Everything," she answered and before Emma knew it the room around her started to spin with bright lights and colors until it turned into a pier she could have sworn she's seen before. She was seated on the bench, looking out into the blue ocean. The sun was setting, casting a beautiful orange golden glow and beside her was a woman with long dark hair and dressed in a black gown from the medieval ages. It looked as if she had walked straight out of a fairytale.
"This is what I have been working on this past week, this image in Storybrooke."
That voice… it was Regina. Emma's mouth hung open in shock and wonder as she took in the beautiful sorceress beside her. Regina turned to her, her lips forming a small smile.
"Close your mouth dear, there are no flies here that can fly inside but it's not very flattering."
"Sorry, it's just you're you," Emma stated, unable to wrap her brain around it. "What's Storybrooke?" That question made the small smile on Regina lips disappear and Emma could see the brief flash of emotion flashing in those dark brown eyes.
"You'll remember in time."
"So let me get this straight," Emma said, the next couple of nights. "The Evil Queen in Snow White cast a curse that brought everyone to our land and then Henry who was adopted by the Evil Queen went and found me and brought me to Storybrooke where no one remembered who they were and when I finally broke the curse, Henry was kidnapped a year later only for Peter Pan to follow us back from Neverland to cast another curse but you destroyed it which sent all of you back and Henry and I escaped by leaving. We just don't remember it?"
"Exactly," Regina replied from her spot on the bench next to her. They were at the docks once more and Regina had just told her everything that she and Henry had forgotten.
"But I raised him, I kept him," her voice shook, her eyes meeting Regina's.
"I gave you my memories Emma," she whispered remorsefully and Emma had to fight the overwhelming need to cry and scream because the memories of raising her son weren't real and so she remained in denial.
"You really expect me to believe all this?" Emma scoffed, her green eyes suddenly going hard with defiance. "You really expect me to believe you're the Evil Queen and that I didn't actually raise my son? Jesus I must have a brain tumor or something."
Regina gave her an annoyed look and Emma suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach because at that moment she looked exactly like Henry and she would be lying if she said she hadn't notice the similar mannerisms that Regina and her son seemed to share.
No! It's just all in her head, it can't be true! Henry is her son! She raised him but then why did the memories seem so hazy?
"Emma…" Regina's voice shook her out of her reverie and she looked up into beautiful pleading brown eyes. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head and turned to look out into the dark ocean. It was night and it should have been freezing but it wasn't because this was all just an illusion Regina had created for them.
"I don't believe any of it."
"Tell me about Henry?" Regina suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"Why?"
Regina turned to her, her brown eyes meeting green and Emma was looking at her in confusion, as if she couldn't quite figure out why this complete stranger would want to know about her son. It's been weeks since Regina told her about Storybrooke and Emma still remained in denial so these days they talk about nothing important. Regina was patient and decided to get her to believe slowly and on her own terms.
They looked away from each other. Nothing was said for awhile and all they could hear was the sound of the ocean in front of them.
"Because you think he's your son too," Emma stated, answering for her while her green eyes never left the horizon. It was the evening and the sun was slowly setting. "I told you. The curse isn't real, just like you're a figment of my imagination. You know, for a moment there I did start to believe you were a real person who needed my help but after hearing about curses and Storybrooke and Henry being..." she trailed off, unable to even finish those words when Regina suddenly interrupted her.
"Henry was three when he got his first bike. It took weeks for him to learn because he refused to use training wheels. He said he was a big boy and that only babies used them so every day after work you would take his bike outside, bundle him up in pads and a helmet and picked him up each time he fell off that small bike. He didn't once cry, he just kept trying and when he finally took off without falling you couldn't help but cry in joy when he rode back to you, jump off the bike and run back to your arms, yelling "I did it mommy! Did you see me! I did it!
"I knew you could, my little prince.
"Let me ask you Emma, aside from his childhood, have you ever called him that the last six months."
Emma thought about it but she didn't answer, in fact everything was a haze. She could remember that, when Henry learned to ride a bike but it just didn't seem like she was actually there. It was too much of a blur, like she knew it existed but she couldn't actually see it.
"No, but I used to. Just because I hadn't call him that in the last six months doesn't make your theory true. Of course you remember that Regina. You're me, just a really hot version of me," she said and Regina looked away to hide her blush.
"What color was the bike?"
"I..." Emma trailed off, suddenly realizing she had no idea. "I don't remember," she whispered.
"Exactly. If I'm you, then why is it that I know every memory of Henry in detail while for you, it's just a blur. You could barely see the images."
"I don't know," she grumbled in frustration.
"It's because I'm not you Emma."
Emma didn't speak.
The next time they met up they kept the conversation light. They spoke of Henry and anything that was easy while avoiding the harsher topics. Emma found that she quite liked talking to Regina.
For the past eight months Emma felt like there was something missing but when she was here, talking to this beautiful sorceress, she felt complete. The hole in her heart was filled even if she believed Regina was only in her mind.
"Have you've ever been in love?" The words were out before Emma could think about what she was asking because maybe, just maybe the small smiles and subtle glances between them meant so much more. She could feel herself blushing and she turned away in embarrassment and missed the small amused smirk on Regina's lips. "Sorry, it's not important."
Silence.
And Emma thought Regina was just going to ignore the question but then she took a breath as if talking about this was painful and it was.
"His name was Daniel."
"There's not one story in Snow White that says the Evil Queen was in love," she said more to herself but then she looked up and saw those hurt stricken brown eyes staring at her so intently as if she could see right through to Emma's soul.
"Of course there isn't. Stories never tell the other side. Villains are just villains."
"What happened to him?"
Another painful sigh.
"He died."
Emma's hand that was lying on the bench inched closer to Regina's. When warm fingers latched on, Regina didn't pull away.
"Tell me your story," she said and so Regina did. She told her everything. There were moments where Emma was disgusted at some of the cruel things she did as the Evil Queen but beneath that she could see understanding in those deep green eyes. Emma knew what had driven her and what had created her. She didn't judge her even if she didn't agree with everything Regina had done.
When Regina was done she wouldn't look at her, not even when Emma called her name. It wasn't until she felt warm fingers lifting her chin then she was forced to meet green eyes.
"We all have demons."
"I killed people. I've tortured people. I cast a curse that sent everyone to another land."
"Yes but from what you had told me, you were changing in the end."
"I'm the Evil Queen dear. How could you believe anything I say?"
"I don't know… I guess I just trust you."
They had fallen into a routine. Each night they would meet each other on the bench at the docks that Regina had created for them. Some nights they talked about Henry. Other times Regina tried getting her to believe about Storybrooke and the curse that took everyone to another land but mostly they talk about each other. They got to know each other and Emma discovered how much she loved the other woman's presence. Her heart practically jumped in her chest each time Regina so much as smiled or laughed or the way her fingertips would unconsciously meet hers on the empty surface between them.
She just might be falling for the sorceress and it made her heart feel like it was shattering in a million pieces each time she remembered that Regina was just a figment of her imagination because if this was all real then that meant her whole life after giving birth to Henry had been a lie.
It meant that she had never raised her son and that would just about kill her.
"You know, you don't see stars like this in New York," Emma pointed out, looking up at the dark starry sky.
"Funny you mentioned the same thing about Boston once." She had remembered that day clearly. They were in Neverland and Emma had stated how there were hardly any stars in the city that she had used to live in.
"Regina…" Emma's voice warned, telling Regina that she didn't want to have this conversation again because no matter what, it wasn't going to make her believe. She got up and went over the rail in front of them, suddenly needing distance from the other woman. She looked down into the dark sea and she closed her eyes when she heard Regina's slow footsteps behind her.
"Please, don't," she said when she opened her eyes to see Regina beside her. Her arms leaning on the cold metal rail.
"No! Emma…" Regina exasperated her name, looking at her with pleading eyes . "You need to remember… Remember me! Remember Storybrooke! Remember us! You can't keep avoiding this. We're running out of time… your parents are running out of time. Soon there will be nothing left."
"I don't have parents," she retorted angrily. "I was a foster kid. Henry is the only family I've got!"
"No he isn't," she said, taking Emma's hand, grounding her to the here and now. "You have parents who love you Emma. They're waiting for you… I'm waiting for you. You have me."
"And if this were all true, what exactly are you to me?"
Regina smiled as they faced each other, closing the already small distance between them to the point where they could feel other's breath. Regina's teary eyes were suddenly shinning so brightly and Emma's gaze suddenly flickered to full red lips.
"I'm your family too Emma. We share a son."
And then Emma kissed her.
It was nothing like she had ever felt. Regina smelled of apples and cinnamon and… why was she so tensed? Emma pulled away to see what was wrong and before she could even meet her brown eyes, Regina was gone in a puff of purple smoke and Emma was left standing in the now dark room.
"Regina!"
Her voice was a desperate plea. Had she made a mistake? Maybe she shouldn't have kissed her. She called again, hoping she would come back but just like before, it was silent.
Emma kissed her…
Emma kissed her…
Emma kissed her!
This was what was racing through Regina's mind when she had woken up in her bed. She got scared and she left. She left Emma and she had gotten scared. These warm feelings she had developed for the blonde savior were getting stronger each night she spent at the imaginary docks and it terrified her.
There was suddenly a loud boom coming from outside and she shoved all thoughts of Emma away for now. She quickly got up and she could hear the screams of the frightened kingdom. She could hear her warriors fighting and it was then she realized that they were being ambushed in the middle of the night. With a wave of her hand she was dressed for battle and she teleported to Snow who was fighting beside David.
"Where is she!" Regina snapped angrily, wanting to confront the green skinned witch herself. Fear suddenly flashed across Snow's face and Regina turned around to throw a fireball at a flying monkey.
"Regina, she'll kill you!" Snow yelled, her sword clashing with one of the witches guards. They were outnumbered, having lost most of their army to the monkeys that were swooping in and killing them in the air.
"She'll win if I don't kill her first!" she yelled and as purple magic engulfed her she could hear Snow screaming her name as she teleported to the outside tower.
She had a feeling she would be here observing her upcoming victory, one that Regina wasn't about to let happen. The witch's back was turned to her, looking over the balcony as Regina appeared behind the witch.
"I've been expecting you," she said, turning to face Regina. She could feel her magic surging to her fingertips and threatening to escape. She wanted to end this right here and be rid of the wicked once and for all.
Few spiteful words were exchange and then there was a battle, one that Regina could not win.
By the time Snow and David made it up to the tower it was too late and the wicked disappeared with an unconscious Regina.
Emma hadn't seen her since that kiss and that kiss was 6 months ago. She hadn't heard from Regina and as each day passed she grew from worried to angry.
Angry that Regina hadn't contacted her…
Angry that she had let herself fall for a girl that wasn't even real.
But when that insane pirate dressed man who kept following her around for the past week mentioned Regina did she finally listen and accept the memory potion he gave her although she didn't drink it. She didn't trust him enough to do so. He told her of everything that had happened in the past year and to her surprise, it was the exact same story that Regina had told her.
It can't be a coincidence especially when this guy who calls himself Captain Hook is in her world while Regina was in her dreams.
Then that means everything Regina had told her was real.
Storybrooke was real…
She had parents and…
Regina!
Regina was a real life person who she had kissed… Who she had fallen in love with. Was she avoiding her or did something terrible happen? It took a lot to get the pirate to talk but after she yelled at him he confirmed her worst fear.
Regina had been abducted six months ago, right around the time she disappeared from their dream world.
So now here she was, trying to fall asleep even if was only 7 in the evening. She had told Henry she was tired from work. She knew he didn't believe her and chose not to say anything so that he could probably stay up reading his comics. Right now she didn't care. She just needed to contact Regina.
"Come on, fall asleep," she mumbled, her eyes shut close as she calmed her mind enough to sleep. It felt like an eternity but after a few minutes she was out like a light and once again found herself in that dark room. It's been ages since she's seen the docks or the sunset or even the never ending horizon of the ocean… since she's seen the mysterious long haired brunette who captivated her that first night she heard her voice.
"Regina, if you can hear me please say something," she called out desperately, hoping for any little sign or Regina, even if it was just the apple and cinnamon scent of her magic.
Like always there was no answer, just silence.
"Regina!"
It was cold and her cell was damp but pain was all she felt. The slashes from the whip marked her now bloodied back, her black dress now ripped and reduced to rags. She lied on the cobbled floor in the dungeons of her own castle. It wasn't even the one she had put Belle in. These were the ones at the very bottom of the castle and these were cold, dark, and damp.
For the last six months she had been the witch's prisoner. She had no access to her magic due to the leather cuff that was put on her wrist. She was tortured and mocked and painfully humiliated. She had grown thin with the little to no food she hardly even got. She was weak from her last punishment, her back cut and bleeding from the whip. Each movement and every breath sent shooting pains of agony down her back and so she laid there, hardly moving or breathing. Her mind was fogged up with pain and she let herself fall into a light sleep.
"Regina, if you can hear me please say something!"
Emma's voice was the first thing she heard…
"Regina!"
"Emma," she whispered and somewhere in her dreams for the first time in six months Emma smelled the faint scent of apples and cinnamon.
The next night Emma tried again and this time she was determined to get Regina to talk to her. Unfortunately nothing happened. She was once again left with that same silence that ate away at her soul. Her heart felt heavy in her chest. She didn't even feel her presence like she did the night before or smell the sweet tangy smell of apples and cinnamon.
"Regina! I know you can hear me. I know you're still here. I felt you last night and I smelled your magic. Please just answer me!"
Nothing… just silence.
Nothing but that god damn silence!
"Say something!" she screamed, her emotions pouring into her voice as she pleaded and just when she was about to call it quits she smelled the scent of Regina's magic once more. It was stronger this time.
"Regina, can you hear me?" she asked cautiously, her gaze anxiously darting around the pitch black room.
"Em… Emma…"
She barely heard her but that weak whispered voice brought tears of relief to her eyes.
"Yes, it's me… Keep talking. Just stay with me," she encouraged her, not at all liking how tired Regina sounded. It was as if she were in pain and she barely even had the strength to talk.
"I… I can't…"
"Yes, you can! Regina what did I do! Was it the kiss?" she asked, hoping it wasn't the alternative, that Regina had actually been abducted. "Because if that scared you off then…"
"Believe…" she whispered, cutting Emma off mid-sentence and by the sound of her voice she knew it wasn't the kiss that scared Regina off. "Everything that I had told you is true Emma. I need you to believe. You need to remember… Remember us."
"Why! Why do you need me to remember! How do I know if this… if you and that crazy pirate Hook aren't just all in my head!" she shouted, kind of hoping it wasn't because then she probably looked like she was out in public talking to herself instead of the pirate she was supposedly seeing.
Regina was silent, debating whether or not to answer that and for a moment Emma panicked that she might have disappeared again.
"Because I love you," Regina finally whispered and suddenly the memories came rushing back. Everything from the past years flashed through her mind and then she saw Regina that last day before the curse ripped them away to the Enchanted Forest.
The look of heartbreak and devastation clear on her face as she gave up everything for her and their son.
The scent of apples and cinnamon was getting faint and Emma could feel Regina starting to fade away and her chest constricted with anxiety. She couldn't lose her again. She loved her and she had yet to admit it. She suddenly became angry because how could Regina do this? She made her remember and she couldn't cope with the pain of losing her, of remembering that she didn't actually raise their son. Her life was nothing but fake memories. Her pain fed to her anger and she couldn't stop the words from pouring out of her mouth.
"Why!" she yelled angrily and she heard Regina's weak intake of breath as if she were startled by her tone. "Why did you make me remember! I was happy! Henry and I were happy and you… You made me remember everything!"
"You need to save us…"
"Why! Because I'm the savior! Because I'm destined to keep saving everyone!"
"Emma," she pleaded, her voice giving away the silent shuddering tears. Emma didn't know it but Regina could hear the Wicked in her sleep. She was going to wake up soon.
"I don't want this Regina! For once why couldn't you just let things be!" she yelled, not even hearing her, not even noticing the scent of Regina's magic fading into nothing. She couldn't have known that the Wicked had woken Regina up and was now painfully torturing her for information on her own parents and their missing daughter, information that Regina would never give despite their messy history. No, she would take it like the Queen that she was… the Evil Queen.
"I fell in love with you," Emma finally admitted to no one, the tears suddenly streaming down her cheeks. "And then you left…." Deep shuddering sobs racked her body and she felt as if her whole world was coming down before her. "I loved you! And you ruined everything!"
Her whole life was a lie.
The memories of raising her son was a lie.
She fell in love with her enemy and then she was left alone for 6 months thinking that she had done something wrong.
Emma was falling apart and it wasn't until the shuddering painful sobs that racked her body stopped then she finally realize that Regina was gone once more.
She was awakened with a brutal shock of magic coursing through her body and Regina woke up crying out in pain. The witch smirked and Regina opened her eyes to see her standing before her in her cell.
"Ah you're awake," she sneered and suddenly Regina was being hoisted to her feet by too guards. They held her weak body up and the witch approached her, taking her chin into her cold green hand and forcing her to look at her.
"You know what I want to hear," she threatened, her voice low and dangerous. Regina didn't even try to pull away. She couldn't when her body felt too heavy… too weak. She could barely even keep her eyes opened and focused on the cruel green face infront of her.
"You're wasting your breath, might as well just have the decency and kill me already." She saw the blow before it even came and her head was forced to the side when the witch backhanded her hard in the face. She was then pushed up against the wall with magic, her throat suddenly in an iron like grip that constricted the air from reaching her lungs. The witch smiled evilly as she approached the gasping Queen, closing the distance them.
"I will find the daughter of Snow White and when I do I will kill her infront of you and then you will be next."
Emma had contacted Hook the next morning and met him outside of her apartment building. He was right… No, Regina was right and she needed answers which was why she gave Henry the potion he gave her and the moment she did, the memories came rushing back for him. It was heartbreaking to see him go through the agonizing gut wrenching emotions that she herself had to go through but it had to be done. She would never take away from Regina or Henry the life they once shared because if the memories Regina had gave her was real then she had no right to keep them from Henry.
"Regina, you said she was abducted…" was the first thing she said when Hook showed up and by the fire in her eyes he knew she was back. "Where is she? Who took her?"
"Welcome back love," he smirked and she suddenly had the urged to tackle him to the ground and punch the smirk off his face if it'll get her the information she needed. He seemed to sense her frustration because he gradually backed off and became serious.
"She's missing," Hook told her solemnly. "The witch took her and we haven't seen her since."
"Six months! It's been six months and you're telling me you haven't found her yet!" Emma practically shouted, her tone angry and full of fear for the woman she had grown to care for, had grown to love because yeah, the past year she had fallen for Regina. For the beautiful brunette who had visited her in her dreams.
If only she had believed her sooner.
If only she had listened. They could've found a way back sooner and Regina wouldn't have gone missing because Emma would have been there. She wouldn't have let anything happen to her.
"Our troops are outnumbered. We're fighting a war that we're hopelessly losing. Without Regina we are powerless. Finding her and bringing her back is a death sentence," he told her.
"Bullshit!" Emma shouted, not caring that she was making a scene or the fact that she looked absolutely crazy yelling at a man dressed as a pirate. All that mattered was saving Regina. "Take us back! Take me to that witch! I don't care how powerful she is, all that matters is getting Regina back. Right now she's all that matters!"
That was enough.
Those words drove him into action and soon enough Emma and Henry found themselves jumping into a green swirling vortex that would take them to the Enchanted Forest… to the family that they had forgotten and to the woman they finally remembered.
It was complete chaos when they returned and after their teary reunion with Snow, David, and the town Emma had insisted on finding Regina. The kingdom was still at war with the wicked witch who had resided in Regina's old castle. They knew Regina was in there somewhere, the problem was sneaking in and getting her out without getting caught by the flying monkeys or the Wicked herself.
It was agreed they would ambush the castle. It was a perfect distraction to get Regina and since they had the advantage they might just win this once and for all.
They were tired and battered but they fought the Wicked's army and her flying monkeys. They fought for their freedom and for their rights to the land and Emma… well she fought for her family. She fought for Regina and when she finally got the chance she snuck into the castle and headed for the dungeons where Regina would most likely be.
When she got there, she stopped in her tracks and despite her racing heart she sighed a breath of relief.
On the floor in the cell before her was Regina. Her body was beaten and she was barely conscious but she could sense that Emma was near. Regina didn't know how but somehow Emma found her way back to the Enchanted Forest and she could only hope Henry was somewhere safe.
"Oh god, Regina," Emma gasped the moment she saw her and Regina used every ounce of strength she had left to open her eyes and look up at the savior. She needed to warn her. This was a trap and she needed Emma to get out.
"Emma… no…" she whimpered, barely being able to get the words out. Her heavy eyes fell closed again and she could feel herself starting to succumb into a pain induced sleep.
"I'm getting you out of here," she said and Regina could hear her banging the lock of the cell with the end of her sword.
"Emma please… please go," she said, her voice barely even above a whisper but Emma heard and the banging stopped.
"Are you crazy? Regina, I am not leaving you here!" The lock gave away and Emma rushed inside. She felt warm hands on her cheeks as Emma examined her wounds. The slashes on her back, the bruises on her face, and the split lip. She than saw the leather cuff that prevented Regina access to her magic and she quickly tore it off since only the person wearing it couldn't remove it. She threw it in the hay and buried it before covering her wrist with her sleeve so that the witch wouldn't notice if they were caught.
"Can you walk?" she asked and the thought of standing made Regina's head spin. She hated feeling like this, so weak.
"Emma…. You need to leave. She's going to kill you." Emma ignored her and she pulled Regina up. Her heart fluttered at the contact as she shifted her weight onto the blonde and Emma snaked her arm around her waist to hold her up.
"Shut up, I'm trying to save you," Emma grumbled and before Regina could even say anything back orange magic was suddenly swirling infront of them, revealing their enemy. The Wicked Witch.
"Aw how sweet, the savior saving the Evil Queen," she sneered and with a wave of her hand they were suddenly flying back against the iron bars. Regina cried out in pain and Emma immediately stood in front of her, trying to protect her from anymore torture.
"Leave her alone. If it is me you want then take me!" she yelled, her grip tight on her sword and the green witch smirked, her eyes gleaming cruelly.
"Ok," she said and Emma was suddenly hovering in the air, her hands clawing at an invisible force squeezing her throat. She couldn't breathe and Regina helplessly looked up at her. Anger suddenly surged through her entire being and for the first time in six months she felt that familiar rush of magic flowing through her veins. She used it to give herself strength, to numb the pain from her body and she slowly got to her feet.
"Let her go," she threatened, her voice raspy and the witch had the decency to laugh in her face.
"You don't have magic," she told her. "I'd like to see you try and stop me from squeezing the life out of her." Her invisible hold on Emma tightened as if to emphasize her point and Emma gasped in pain. The sword fell from her hand with a loud clatter and Regina felt the magic just at her fingertips. "You have nothing Regina. How does it feel to know that I have taken everything from you? Once your savior is dead you'll have no one and then I'll take your life and I will become the most powerful Queen to ever rule this land." She laughed wickedly at this and Regina was relieved to know she didn't even know about Henry because if she were to go after him, well… She wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything were to harm her little boy. "Long live the Evil Queen," she mocked her and Regina had just about enough. She had enough of the witch's jealousy over her power. What was there to be jealous of anyway? Despite the power, her life was lonely. She stood straight, using her magic to give her the energy to keep standing, her eyes grew dark as she tapped into her magic.
"You can torture me and threaten my life but don't you ever go after my family!" she yelled and magic flew from her hands, pushing the witch away from Emma and slamming her hard against the wall. Emma fell, gasping for air and clutching her chest but Regina didn't have time to check if she was ok. Her eyes were glued to the sputtering witch.
"Your magic…" she gasped and Regina smirked, lifting her sleeve to show her the missing cuff. She reveled in the tiny hint of fear flashing in those wicked eyes. In this moment she was every bit of the Evil Queen she once was. The witch seemed to realize that because she stood and raised her hands, green magic flying towards Regina and Regina retaliated by shooting matching purple beams. Their magic collided with a boom, making the castle shake for just a second. Emma watched from the floor beside Regina and she could see the energy quickly draining from Regina. She didn't have much energy to begin with and Emma could see it was taking everything she had to keep standing.
"Regina…" she whispered, pushing herself up from the floor to stand beside her. "Let me help you." She didn't answer, her eyes were glowing purple and Emma was starting to think Regina couldn't hear her but after a few seconds Regina took her hand. Her grip was tight as if she were holding on for the strength she so desperately needed from the woman she learned to love over the past year.
Emma raised her hand and blue magical beams shot through her hand and collided into green. The witch was caught off guard, making her magic stumble a bit before she raised her other hand, magic flying from it too.
Regina was quickly becoming weak, despite Emma's help and Emma could feel it.
"You could do this," she told her quietly so that only Regina could hear her. "You're strong Regina." She didn't speak, her eyes still shinning purple as they locked on the witch's cold gaze. She was shaking from the toll the magic was having on her and Emma could see how pale she was growing. She was losing even with Emma's help.
"I love you," she suddenly whispered and it was then that Regina's magic grew stronger, so strong in fact that she cried out from its power. She used the strength that Emma was giving her and pushed forward.
The wicked witch suddenly screamed, her magic quickly diminishing into nothing and once Regina and Emma's magic reached her hands, it surged through her body. She curled in on herself, screaming in agony as the magic ripped her apart and then there was an explosion and Emma and Regina flew back into the bars of the cell.
The Wicked Witch was finally defeated.
She was floating in and out of consciousness and Regina couldn't even tell what was a dream or reality. She heard Emma's concerned voice the most despite Snow's, David's and even Henry's. She didn't even know how long it had been since that day in the dungeons but when she finally came to, she found herself to be warm and comfortable in her bed. She was in Snow's castle, in the room that had become hers over the past year before she had been kidnapped.
She kept her eyes closed as she turned on her side and when she felt warm lips brushing her cheek did she finally open her eyes and see those beautiful green orbs staring back at her.
"I was starting to think I'd have to meet you in our dreams," she said softly and Regina smiled, her defenses shattering and the tears suddenly welling up in her eyes but she kept them in.
"You saved me back there," she whispered in awe, not quite believing that she was capable of being saved especially by the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Emma must have seen the doubt in her eyes because she sat up, looking down at the tired brunette. She reached out, taking a strand of long dark hair between her fingers as if telling Regina she approved of the new hairstyle and then moving her hand to caress her cheek.
"You're worth saving Regina, you need to believe that." Those words meant so much more and Regina sat up as well, her body trembling from the effort.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"We owe it to ourselves to give this a try."
"Things can get messy. I lash out when I'm scared."
"I like messy."
"I might push you away when things get too much," Regina told her and Emma smiled softly, pulling her into her lap so that Regina could lean her tired body against her. She kissed the top of Regina's head, breathing the apple and cinnamon scent that she had grown so fond of during their dream walks. She leaned down, passionately taking Regina's lips into a heated kiss and not letting go until the need for air became too much.
"Then I'll just have to pull you back in."
The End