AN In this AU assume that Regina and Emma's journy in the Enchanted Forest has followed the path that Snow and Emma took. I don't want to rehash over scenes we all know so well from the show and other amazing Season 2 inspired FanFics. We pick up their story the day before Regina and Emma arrive at Lake Nostos.
Enchanted Forest
Regina stared into the glowing flames of the fire in the pit in front of her. Once again thinking over her plan to get the Saviour back to Storybrooke. She was confident that she had considered the myriad of things that could go wrong and had effective contingencies in place but Regina had always been meticulous in her planning and this time so much more was at stake! She physically shuddered at the thought of just how much Henry would hate her if anything went wrong and his precious Emma was unable to get home to him… His real mother she scowled at the words. God it hurt to even think it. Emma "the Saviour" Swan - Henry's real mother. No matter how many times Henry had said it, screamed it at his adoptive mother, it still burned.
She turned her face away from the flames as tears burned her eyes. He hadn't even asked once about how she was. She had been stuck for weeks in the Enchanted Forest, traipsing through dirt and mud with the Saviour, facing ogres, Cora, all the while communicating with Henry through Aurora and the effects of a sleeping curse the Saviour had stood by and watched him eat. In all that time, Henry never once asked after her, the woman who had raised him for ten years, when his precious saviour had abandoned him. Never asked if Regina were alive or dead…
Regina had been thrilled when Aurora revealed that she had seen Henry in the Red Room. That she could talk with him, was so relieved to learn that he was able to control the flames so he was not getting injured as the princess was prone to do. But night after night, meeting after meeting when Aurora would awaken and look at Regina with guilt and relay messages of love and support from Henry to Emma, Regina's excitement turned to dust and then like a phoenix, simmering rage arose from those ashes and settled in her belly.
Now all she wanted to do was get the damn Saviour home so she wouldn't have to see the pity in Emma's eyes when their gazes locked.
"You're Henry's mom?" Aurora had asked when they finally put the pieces together and realized Henry was the boy she had been meeting in her dreams. "Yes, I am," Emma said shooting a challenging look towards Regina who had taken a step forward only to clamp her mouth shut as Aurora continued "He said to tell you that he loves you.' She had smiled 'He misses you and he said he was sorry for everything," Aurora had no idea of the hurt her words brought Regina.
"Anything else?" Regina asked, unable to completely hide the tremor in her voice. "Did he have any message for me?" she continued, her gaze dropping to the ground to hide the tears both women had already seen forming in her eyes.
"Your Majesty?" Aurora asked, clearly confused as to why a small boy would have a message for the Evil Queen.
"Never mind," Regina said briskly. "It's dawn, we need to get moving."
"Regina," Emma began, feeling a twinge of guilt at the obvious hurt in Regina's tone.
"Save it Swan," Regina had snapped.
A few days later Aurora approached Regina about Henry. Unable to contain her curiosity as to why the Queen was so upset by Henry's message. Regina had scowled at the princess but found she wanted to defend her place in Henry's life. A mother was more than simple biology wasn't it? Ten years couldn't be erased by mere blood alone?
Aurora was beyond surprised to learn that Henry was Regina's adopted son. That in the months before the two women fell into the portal he had rejected her in favour of his birth mother.
'I'll speak with him tonight,' Aurora began as Regina shook her head 'no'. 'At least let me tell him you're alright?' she persuaded.
'No' Regina said with a sad look. 'I won't push him. I want Henry, he is my son and I love him – as terrible as I seem to be at it… He needs to come to me freely. No tricks and no pressure. He has to come to me on his own," she said with a pained smile, "so that I know he has forgiven me.'
Emma standing behind them closed her eyes at the hurt she heard in Regina's voice and for the first time a spark of belief in the Queen was born. You couldn't fake that level of pain and it wasn't in Regina to do so. Even Emma knew that for Regina, showing how much something hurt was considered a weakness and Emma found herself trusting the Mayor a little more, questioning her motives a little less after that. Emma allowed herself to look past the image of the cold-hearted Mayor that Regina had always projected and began to see the woman.
When the former Evil Queen saved Emma's life, protecting her as well as Mulan and Aurora from ogres, zombies and Cora. Emma had seen in Regina a strong and surprisingly capable leader, someone who could be redeemed and while Emma would never like the woman, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the way Henry had and continued to treat his adoptive mother. Emma knew that Regina would never accept words of comfort from the Saviour, the woman who had taken her child from her so completely, but Emma vowed to have a long talk with Henry about giving his adoptive mother a second chance when they got home.
Regina took a deep breath and moved her gaze to the stars. For a moment she allowed herself to think of her son, her town, a place that felt like home more than any other she had ever known. She missed the stars in Storybrooke and hoped with all her heart that one day she would see them again.
She hadn't told the saviour her plan, had only entrusted Mulan with their destination, but no one in their party was currently aware that Regina had no intention of returning to Storybrooke with Emma. She knew Emma would try to talk her out of staying. Would jump to the conclusion that Regina was remaining in the Enchanted Forest because of Henry's complete and utter rejection of her. Regina rolled her eyes to herself, as if that would keep her from her son? Of course she would be pained to watch Henry grow from afar with the Saviour and her two idiot parents by his side, taking her place, but what mother wouldn't endure such hurt if it meant being able to watch their child grow? No, Regina had to stay here to protect him, and by proximity everyone in Storybrooke, from Cora.
She was beyond shocked when the image of Lancelot melted away to reveal her mother. Shocked, terrified, angry. Had barely managed to escape with the Saviour when Cora sent her zombie army after them. Then when she stumbled upon Hook with Mulan and Aurora all hell had nearly broken lose. She was stupid to have ever trusted that damn pirate. Cora had made it clear during their journey from the wardrobe to the beanstalk that she would stop at nothing to have Regina back at her side, the Queen of Hearts and the Evil Queen, ruling the Enchanted Forest together. Regina would be lying if she said she hadn't been tempted. Cora knew how to pluck her heartstrings, she knew each of Regina's weaknesses and every time her mother managed to track her down, those few seconds of conversation would have Regina being drawn back into Cora's web of darkness.
Cora knew her daughter intended to return to the Land Without Magic and was doing everything she could to prevent it. Regina cursed herself for allowing Emma to reveal so much of their plight to 'Lancelot' when Regina knew there was something off about the man. But there was no point lamenting the things she could not change. Cora knew about Storybrooke, knew of Emma's son, a blessing really, even as it made Regina's blood boil when Emma laid claim to Henry. Cora would follow them there in a heartbeat to call her daughter to heal and there were fewer places for Regina to hide in Storybrooke, even if she believed she could keep Henry safe from her mother.
It took a few days before Regina realised that Cora was tracking her through her magic. Magic users were few and far between in the Enchanted Forest since the Dark Curse and it was easy for someone as practiced as Cora to sense when her daughter used her gift. Every time Regina created a fireball to light the campfire Cora was on to them and Regina concluded the only way to hide was to refrain from using her magic. It had been days since they had seen Cora and the distance from her mother kept Regina from straying into dark thoughts. With Cora's ceased whisperings of reunion, love and forgiveness Regina was able to focus on Henry and it was the thoughts of her son that kept from running to her mother's arms.
She wanted to be better for him, wanted to earn his forgiveness, his respect and hopefully his love. She knew without a doubt that returning to her evil ways would only push him further from her.
It was after she met Antoine and was on her way back down the beanstalk that she thought about staying. The giant was the last of his kind, all alone in the world striving to redeem himself for his foolish mistakes, to earn forgiveness of brothers long since dead. Regina couldn't help but wonder what Henry might think if she found a way redeem herself. If she were to defeat her mother and protect the people still here in the Enchanted Forest? Was it possible she could return to Henry a hero? Could he maybe, just maybe, believe that she had changed, truly changed? Would he let her be part of his world again? Allow just a small amount of love for her to grown in his heart?
"So are you going to tell me your plan," Emma said, startling Regina from her thoughts.
"No," Regina's voice was quiet but ice cold.
"Really?" Emma looked incredulous. "After – what? Three weeks fighting side by side you don't trust me? Not even to know where we are going!" Regina turned her gaze to the Saviour and was surprised to find hurt in the blonde woman's eyes.
"It has nothing to do with trust and everything to do with my mother. The trees have ears Emma." Regina murmured. "It's best for all of us if we keep things on a need to know basis. Especially with the one-handed wonder tied to a tree 6 feet from where we're talking." Regina finished, her gaze back on the flames.
"Given I'm trusting you with my life I think I need to know what you're planning," Emma' voice was low but steely causing Regina to give a humourless chuckle.
"The key word there is trust Emma. Don't worry. I have no intention of causing Henry to hate me anymore than he already does. I'll get you back to Storybrooke in one piece." Regina didn't move her eyes from the fire, unwilling to meet the Saviour's gaze but Emma heard the hurt leaking through her words.
Emma softly sighed, turning her own gaze to the fire.
"He'll come around, you know," she said quietly after a pause. "Once he hears how much you've done. I wouldn't have survived here without you and I certainly would never have figured out how to get home without you. Once Henry hears that – " Regina all but leapt on the Saviour, her hands over her mouth and their faces inches apart as her eyes flared with anger.
"Don't say another word. Are you that indifferent to his safety?" Regina said through gritted teeth, her voice quiet but no less dangerous. "Do you know what she'll do to bring me to her side? To have me evil once more?" Emma closed her eyes and realised the carelessness with which she had spoken. All the while Hook tied behind them to a tree, listening to every word.
"A new love hey your majesty?" Hook began and Regina closed her eyes, angrily shoving Emma away from her with the hand that had still been over the saviour's mouth. She rose to her feet and stomped over to Hook. Grabbing the cloth gag that had been removed from his mouth from where it hung at his neck and unceremoniously shoving it back in once more without a word. Without even raising her eyes to his less he see the glossy tears that had yet to fall from sheer will power alone.
"Mulan!" She called as she got back to her feet. "There has been a change of plan," she nodded with her head for them to walk further away from the campsite and Emma listened to their fading footsteps with a building resentment. She was the Saviour, she was meant to be the one to bring them home and yet she wasn't even being included in the planning! Ok perhaps its because she had proven less than capable of keeping her damn mouth shut but still…
Emma huffed as she spread out her bedroll and lay down to at least try and get some sleep. It was only moment's later that she heard the women's footsteps crunching through the grass, alerting her to their return. She couldn't help the slight chuckle that came out when she heard the muffled mumbling of Hook trying to get Regina to remove his gag, which the former Queen ignored.
"I'm going to turn in," Aurora announced as Regina returned to her previous seat on the log near where Emma lay. She wouldn't sleep tonight there was no point trying. Mulan walked over to where Aurora stood. "Anything you would like me to relay to Henry?" Emma turned, leaning on her elbow to look to Regina who in turn sighed, catching Mulan's gaze Regina took the other woman's small but serious smile as encouragement to relay at least a little of their plan.
"I can't give you the details you seek Emma. I can't risk my mother finding out," she began and Emma rolled her eyes. "But Aurora, tell Henry that he will be reunited with the Saviour tomorrow. Tell him to ask Gold where to wait," at Aurora's confused frown she explained, "Henry will understand what that means."
"Aurora," Emma said as the princess turned towards her bedroll and make-shift shelter that Mulan had built for her. "Tell Henry he will be reunited with both his mothers." Emma said with a smile towards Regina who only glared in response causing Emma to frown.
"No, he won't," Regina bit out through her clenched jaw.
"Regina," Emma began sitting up and turning to face the Mayor. She sighed when Regina only hardened her glare. It was time to start mending bridges. "I know I've said some horrible things, that Henry has said some horrible things. But kids say things they don't mean and what the hell would I know? I never had a mother. You're every bit as much his mother as I am. And you'll show him that when we get back."
Regina's gaze lost its heat and she eyes turned tired and desperately sad. "I'm not going back with you Emma," she said as a single tear escaped her vigilance and fell down her cheek.
At that Emma kicked off her sorry excuse for a blanket and jumped to her feet. "What?"
"You heard me," Regina said as she stood and quickly wiped the moisture from her cheek. "I'm staying here." Seeing the two women begin to face off, Mulan quietly pulled Aurora away and to her shelter. The soldier had grown to respect the former Evil Queen since they began their journey together. She would never have imagined ever trusting the woman but Regina had proven to be intelligent, brave and surprisingly reliable. It was clear to see that the Queen had changed during the time stopping curse. How else could one explain her sacrificing a chance to get home like she was going to? Cutting herself off from the only person she loved to keep him from even the risk of danger? While neither woman had confided their troubles in the other, they had developed an understanding based on mutual trust and respect. And that led Mulan to take the princess away and allow the two travellers a chance to talk.
"No, you're not," Emma said and Regina's gaze hardened. "You don't get to do this, to abandon him just because he's pushing you away! Do you know how many times I pushed foster parents away when all I wanted was for them to fight for me? To show me they really cared? And every time it got hard they turned tail and ran! Proving to me over and over that I wasn't worth the trouble! Well you don't get to do that to our son!" Emma yelled.
Regina's gaze flashed with anger as she pulled back her hand and slapped the other woman in the face. It wasn't hard, but it was enough to shock the Saviour into silence.
"How dare you?" Regina seethed. "I would never abandon my son! As much as it would kill me to see him raised by the daughter of my enemy, being denied any role in his life after raising him on my own for ten years – I would endure that and more if it meant being able to watch him grow!"
"Then what the hell Regina? What is this about?"
Regina scoffed, "what do you think my mother would do if I went to Storybrooke? Hmm? Saviour?" her voice dripped with distain as she spat out the title Rumplestiltskin had bestowed on Snow's daughter. "Do you think she would leave any stone unturned to find me? Do you think she would leave anyone I cared about alive if it meant turning me back to the darkness? And now you've told Captain Hook, her partner in crime, that I have a son." Regina scoffed. "And they call you the Saviour? You just signed Henry's death warrant if Cora ever finds a way to that realm."
"But she can't just cross to the World Without Magic. The only way is the Dark Curse" Emma's voice lacked the certainty of her words.
"No Emma! The only way was the Dark Curse. You seriously thought I was about to cast the Dark Curse? Crush the heart of the thing I love most? Damn it Emma – use your damn brain! Henry is the thing I love most and even if he were here I'd never crush his heart! I am not that person anymore!" Regina's voice raised out of anger or frustration Emma couldn't tell.
Emma paused, thinking over what Regina had said. She never really knew what was involved in casting the Dark Curse, had just assumed that was Regina's plan. "I don't understand," she finally confessed, her mouth a grim line.
Regina huffed out a breath and returned to her seat on the log in front of the fire, with Emma following her lead.
"When I cast the Dark Curse twenty eight years ago, it formed a connection between the Land Without Magic to the other realms. No one knows for sure why it was so difficult to get to the World Without Magic, but I've always believed the lack of magic in that realm kept it hidden, or protected. The only way to go there was with a magic bean.
"The Dark Curse changed that. It connected the World Without Magic to the other realms. It was the Dark Curse that enabled you to travel through the wardrobe to that realm, it had commenced when your father put you in the tree and lit the path to your destination. Something Rumplestiltskin had foreseen." Regina said bitterly. "The Dark Curse connect the Enchanted Forest with that world and enabled Gold to bring Magic to Storybrooke and for any number of portals to work to connect the realm. It was why the Hat worked, why I'm sure the ashes from the Enchanted Tree will get you back home, and why my mother would have little difficulty finding a way to follow us should she choose." Regina finished on a whisper and Emma could see how heartbroken the Mayor was.
Emma's mind raced with this new information. If she convinced Regina to come with her and Cora came and hurt Henry, Emma would never forgive herself. But she was the Saviour! She couldn't just leave the woman here?
"What will you do?" Emma whispered.
"I will find a way to defeat her. Prove to Henry that I have really changed. That I can be good," Regina frowned over the word as though it tasted uncomfortable on her tongue. "And then I will come home."
"And if you fail?" Emma asked. Pushing, Regina thought, always pushing!
"If I fail Miss Swan the result will be one of two things," her detached tone was a tell-tale sign to Emma that Regina had thought on this a lot the past two weeks. She couldn't help but wonder just when the Queen decided she was going to stay here? "I'll be dead or I will be ruling the Enchanted Forest with an iron fist alongside the Queen of Hearts." From Regina's scowl, Emma couldn't tell which outcome the other woman thought was worse. "Either way Henry will never know."
"You'll come home, Regina. You will defeat your mother and you will come home." Emma said, reaching out to rest her hand atop the Queens.
Regina gave a short nod. "I will do my damn best," was all that she said. Not willing to show any more weakness to this girl though her mind screamed at her that she had never successfully stood up to Cora. That she had no reason to really believe that this time would be any different? Even pushing Cora through a mirror into Wonderland wasn't enough to stop her clawing her way back into Regina's heart. She had thought she was finally free when Hook confirmed he had killed her and now her mother was keeping her from her son, from her home… What she was attempting was suicide, but she would try. She had to try, for Henry.
As Regina predicted they arrived at Lake Nostos by mid-morning the following day.
"It's gone!" Mulan exclaimed.
"What's gone?" Emma asked as Hook gave a muffled giggle, clearly thinking the Queen's plan had failed.
"There was a lake here," Aurora explained in hushed tones as the Queen and Mulan made their way into the dry centre of what once had been the most beautiful of lakes. "It's water had magical properties and even a few drops could restore what once was lost."
"The wardrobe," Emma said suddenly understanding the Queen's plan. The woman was smart, no one could dispute that, she thought surprisingly impressed rather that bitter over the thought. They certainly had come a long way on this journey.
Mulan returned to the Saviour and the princess as Regina began walking around in a deliberate circle in the middle of the lake. "What is she doing?" Aurora questioned, bringing one hand up to block out the sun.
"Come on," Mulan directed in her usual abrasive tone. "Bring the pirate." She instructed Emma, as she took Aurora's hand to help her down the rocks.
When they were all together in the middle of what was once an expansive lake Regina began, "While the lake is dry on the surface, there is still water beneath which I will bring to the surface using magic. Once I do we will need to move quickly."
"Why? Will the water evaporate again?" Emma asked.
"No. I believe the use of magic alerts my mother to our location," she said softly. Revealing to Emma and Aurora a theory she had previously only confided to Mulan.
"That's why you weren't using your magic," Emma breathed with a look of comprehension. "I thought you were just trying to toughen me up." She said thinking about the long walks through the forest when Regina could have so easily teleported them to their destination, and Mulan knocking flint against stone night after night to start a fire when one of Regina's infamous fireballs could have easily done the trick. Emma inwardly groaned thinking of how completely clueless she had been when taken out of her comfort zone.
"Yes, well, I'm sure that's not all you thought I was doing," Regina said with an accusing raise of her brow and Emma could only dip her head in agreement. She couldn't deny that she thought the former Evil Queen was being a giant bitch for making them all run around when her magic could have eased the burden. "Aurora and Mulan, I would like you to take cover behind those dunes," she said, pointing in the general direction of some large boulders, "and stay out of sight. Emma – "
"I won't be any help to you way over there," Mulan interrupted, her voice firm. "It's more than 200 yards from where you will create the portal."
"You won't be any use to me regardless of where you stand. This will be a magical battle Mulan, you won't be able to fight off the Queen of Hearts with your sword," Regina's voice was full of distain but it did not offend the warrior. She knew Regina was just trying to protect them.
"My sword is enchanted as you well know Regina. It was enough to bring you to your knees," Mulan remained stoic but raised a teasing eye brow as she reminded Regina of how they met.
"You crept up on me from behind Mulan," Regina began.
"And I can do that again now – with your mother. She will not be expecting you to have any allies apart from the Saviour and she believes you to be departing to your world." Regina huffed. She had this planned out her way and did not want to put anyone else in danger but Mulan's idea was a good one. If she could incapacitate Cora long enough to escape she could find a way to defeat her mother that didn't involve killing her and she could go home with Henry.
Regina gave Mulan a nod. "Alright. Change of plan. Aurora you stay out of sight – and no arguments!" Regina snapped as the princess opened her mouth in protest only to promptly shut it. "Mulan, do not approach the Queen of Hearts until Emma and Hook are through the portal."
"What?" Emma exclaimed. "You want me to take Hook? To send another villain to Storybrooke to take your place? Are you outta your mind? Shall I set him up in your mansion too?" Regina bristled at Emma's accusation and realising she had once again called Regina a villain made Emma feel a twinge of guilt she couldn't quite keep from her eyes.
"He may be a villain but he has no magic Emma. Put him in a damn jail cell, put him in the psych ward I don't care but when the portal opens you pull him in with you!"
"Why?" And there was that pushing again.
"Because if he somehow escapes from me here he will run to my mother and tell her about my son and she would just love to bring him here and crush his heart to dust in front of me. Really tip me over the edge!" Regina glowered, more than annoyed at having to always point out to everyone else what seemed so obvious to her. "Now, unless there are any further ridiculous, time wasting questions can we get on with it?"
"Wait," Emma said, swallowing hard before looking Regina in the eye. "What do you want me to tell Henry?"
Regina staggered at little at the question before squaring her shoulders, her mask in place as she drew her gaze from the ground to the Saviour's green eyes. She didn't think for a moment Henry would ask about his adoptive mother. He would be too wrapped up in having his precious Saviour back, but still, she couldn't send Emma back with nothing. It would hurt too much, it would be too much like giving up on him.
"If he asks, tell him I love him," she paused taking in a shaky breath, "more than anything. And that hopefully after Operation Heartbreak," she said thinking both of breaking the Queen of Hearts and how much being without her son will break her heart, "I will be worthy to –" she wanted to say be his mother but didn't quite think she could ever achieve that status. Not when the current incumbent was the god-damn Saviour, "be in his life."
"Operation Heartbreak huh?" Emma said with a smirk and Regina rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure he could come up with a better name," she said quietly. Emma had the crazy desire to hug the woman, to ask her not to do this. To tell her that she knew in her gut Henry was going to be devastated when she came through the portal without Regina but she swallowed it down. Let the memories of Henry saying Regina was Evil, that she wasn't his mother, that he never wanted to see her again rise to the forefront of her mind… Maybe Regina was right? Hell he hadn't once even asked if his adoptive mother had made it through the portal? If he didn't miss the woman after nearly three weeks, maybe this was all for the best?
Emma was so lost in thought she missed Aurora hiding herself behind the dunes, laying down on her belly to keep hidden. She didn't see Mulan move to hide in the scrub that surrounded the lake, still a distance away but closer than Aurora and in a position where she could manoeuvre herself through the bush to come out behind the Queen of Hearts regardless of where the witch appeared. Suddenly there was a portal opened up to her right and she heart Regina screaming at her to jump. Pulled from her thoughts she looked around wide-eyed to see Cora appear in front of Regina in a cloud of black smoke.
"Emma! Jump!" Regina screamed above the increasing wind from the portal as she threw a fireball at her mother who merely laughed and threw it back at Regina with a wave of her hand.
"It's useless trying to resist me Regina. You know you will join me darling, it's only a matter of time," Cora purred, taking slow yet confident steps towards her daughter. "I love you Regina, I have missed you. I am so, so proud of you! My beautiful girl." Cora reached out a hand towards Regina, seeming to want to touch her before she sent a bolt of magic towards her that Regina barely managed to avoid. Regina had had enough! She needed Mulan to shut her mother up yet the soldier would not move until Emma was safely away. "Anywhere you go Regina, I will find you, sweetheart, you know that you can't escape me."
"Damn it Emma!" Regina grunted, pushing the saviour and the pirate into the portal before staring longingly at the swirling blue mass.
"I will find you Regina!" Cora said, moving slightly quicker, more agitated as Regina looked to be about to follow Hook and that ridiculous blonde girl into the portal.
"Not today you won't," Regina said turning to face her mother as she saw Mulan move swiftly and silently behind her raising her sword and knocking the older woman unconscious with a precise blow to the back of her head. Regina turned back to the portal that was swiftly closing as her mother fell to the ground. Her knees dropped out from under her as her hands dug into the swirling blue water before it turned to mud and she was left scratching at the dirt. "Henry," she whispered as her tears fell. "Henry!"
Storybrooke
"Henry!" Emma pulled herself from the well as she saw her son, Mary Margaret and David standing around the well. Mother Superior and Red were standing on either side of Gold who was bent over and out of breath. Emma hugged Henry tightly to her before feeling him pull away. She let him go as she took in the tense faces of those around her.
"What happened? Mother Superior? What happ - is that a wand?" Emma was confused, tired and dirty and felt an intense desire to sleep for a week.
"Mr Gold didn't think you would be able to defeat Cora," Henry said and Emma could hear the smile in his voice. "But I knew my mom would never let her come here." Henry's voice was filled with confidence as he stood facing the well. Emma gave a soft smile, she loved hearing Henry call her mom.
"Gold put a spell over the well that would have blocked anyone coming through but Mother Superior was able to pull it down," David explained as he pulled Emma into a firm hug.
"We're so proud of you Emma!" Snow whispered as Emma moved into her embrace. Emma moved back to Henry. She was determined to change his view on Regina, Emma owed the woman that much after all she had done to get her home.
"Henry," she said moving so he would look into her eyes. "I have to say I didn't do much to stop Cora. Regina was the one with all the ideas. She worked really hard to get me home" Emma ran her hands through his hair.
"Oh – I know," Henry said and a touch of guilt flicked across his face. "I meant Regina – my mom, Emma. I mean - I know you're my mom too but…" he drifted off. "How come she's taking so long?"
Emma's eyes suddenly prickled with tears. How could she have been so stupid? So arrogant? To think a few short months of being in his life made her his mother? Her heart began to race in her chest. Your Henry's mom? She heard Aurora ask. He said to tell you he loved you She had been so certain that Henry's messages were for her He said that he's sorry for everything Damn it! She had thought he meant for her falling in the portal, because he had sent her to protect Regina… the messages had been for Regina all along!
Emma opened her mouth to reply when movement at the well caught everyone's attention. Henry made to move towards it Mom! falling from his mouth again as Emma pulled him back. "Henry no!" Emma said as a lone hand too large to be Regina's came from the well.
"Little help love!" came the smooth voice of the pirate. Emma rolled her eyes, pushing Henry behind her into David's strong hold as she approached the well, pulling the pirate out.
"You've got to be kidding me," Gold spat.
"Crocodile," Hook lunged for the man with a strength Emma had yet to see from him.
"David!" Emma called. "I can't hold him!" David passed Henry to Mary Margaret and with two long steps he engulfed Hook, bringing the pirates hands behind his back in an attempt to cuff him. Finding only one hand David cursed, this wasn't going to work.
"Allow me," Gold stepped forward menacingly.
"We got it Gold!" Emma said forcefully before turning to Hook. "Knock it off or I'll let him break your neck!" Hook stopped fighting, breathless.
"Do what you want with me lass," his said all joking gone, a look of pure hatred in his eyes and Emma wondered how this could be the same man that was flirting mercilessly with her just hours ago. "I will find a way to kill that man. I will have my revenge."
"Let's go," Emma said to David and between them they began to walk towards town to the station. "We'll lock him in a cell until we can figure out what to do with him."
"Wait!" Henry's confused and anxious voice stopped Emma in her tracks. Her heart sped up in her chest beating so loudly it was all she could hear for a few moments. Turning around she saw Henry, having barely moved from the side of the well. "Where's my mom?" Emma looked around at the group before her, confused frowns adorning all their faces.
"She's not coming yet kid," Emma confessed, watching as Mary Margaret's eyes widened and flew to lock eyes with David. "Let me sort this out and I'll explain everything ok?"
Henry nodded mutely looking between Emma and the well.
"But she's coming, right?" He asked, his voice suddenly unsure.
"I'll explain everything," Emma couldn't quite meet his eyes and Mary Margaret's heart sank low in her stomach as she took Henry's hand. She had been with Henry every day as he was filled with guilt over the things he had said to his mother. She had held him as he cried that he was sorry and that he just wanted her back. The two women had been gone only a matter of hours before Henry confessed that while he loved Emma, Regina was his mother and he needed to tell her that he loved her. He had been so happy when he met Aurora in the fire filled red room that haunted Snow for years. Once Gold had given him the amulet to protect him Mary Margaret had sat by her grandsons bedside as he faced his fears to exchange words with a princess he did not know. A woman who had assured him that she was with his mother. That she had relayed all of his messages and that they had found a way home.
Mary Margaret wasn't thrilled with the development and a large part of her wanted to keep her grandson away from his adoptive mother but over the past weeks she had listened, really listened to Henry talk about Regina and the more she heard the harder it was to reconcile the woman Henry called 'mom' with the Evil Queen who had made it her life's mission to take away happy endings.
Henry had awoken that morning full of hope to finally be able to hug his mom again and now, she wasn't coming. Mary Margaret had just one question: why?
Emma walked reluctantly towards the loft, knowing the inquisition that would await her and not just from Henry. Emma had seen Mary Margaret's curious eyes, the looks shared between her and David. God it had been a long day, a long three weeks and she wasn't sure she was ready for this.
As soon as she turned the door handle Henry was on her.
"What happened? Aurora said mom was coming home. That you had figured out a way to stop Cora? Why isn't she with you?" Henry's eyes filled with tears, "is she – is my mom…" his voice drifted off and Emma heard Mary Margaret gasp behind her.
"Emma?" she questioned, "is she dea-"
"God no!" Emma interrupted before Mary Margaret could even finish her thought. "No – she's not dead! God this is Regina we're talking about. She will outlive us all out of pure stubbornness." She mumbled to herself. Taking a seat at the kitchen table Emma faced Henry taking his hands in her own. Looking into his eyes she took a deep breath ready to tell Henry the truth – but then she heard different words tumble from her mouth. "Regina wanted to stay in the Enchanted Forest, Henry." It wasn't a lie, not really. Regina did choose to stay behind. Emma thought back to an argument the two women had had during their first few days in the Enchanted Forest.
"You going to put me on trial Miss Swan? For what exactly? Sorcery? I'm fairly certain that it not a crime!"
Emma had huffed. "How about attempted murder?"
"You want to notify the District Attorney for the charge sheet? Be my guest! 'Mr District Attorney I would like to put the Evil Queen on trial for the attempted murder of Snow White?' You'll be in a psych ward so fast it will make your head spin" Regina actually had the gall to chuckle.
"Maybe I'll just let the villagers have their way with you!"
Regina moved swiftly so that they were stood nose to nose "I will never put my son through that! Henry will never watch me burn! I'll stay in this god-damn forest for eternity before I let that happen!"
Emma took a deep breath. She didn't want Henry to worry about his mom and she didn't want him to spend his life waiting at the well for her to come home. What if Cora won? What if Regina never came home?
"Your mom wanted to stay Henry, in the Enchanted Forest," Emma said softly.
"You're lying!" Henry's voice was raised and agitated. "My mom would never leave me! She's not like you!" He spat and Emma's heart broke.
"I'm sorry Henry," she said quietly. "She didn't want to face up to her crimes. She didn't want you to have to see her like that."
"Like what? In prison? Who was going to put her in prison?"
"Emma," Mary Margaret interrupted. "You're not making sense."
"She said she would never let Henry watch her burn. She didn't want to face up to what she did in the Enchanted Forest. You forget when we left here she was in a cell about to go on trial!"
Mary Margaret narrowed her eyes and Emma gave a frustrated, "I'm sorry!"
"No you're not! You're glad! You're all glad that she's gone! But she was my mom! And I never got to tell her I was sorry!"
"You did Henry! You did tell her you were sorry! Right Emma?" Mary Margaret said hoping to ease her grandson's troubled heart. Emma gave her mother a guilty look that Henry immediately called her out on.
"What? Did you make Aurora lie to me too? She said she told my mom that I was sorry!" he sounded desperate.
"Nobody lied Henry. We were just confused. We just thought…" she looked imploringly at Mary Margaret.
"You thought the messages were for you," she said in understanding, her shoulders sagging.
"We both did."
"Regina doesn't know Henry has forgiven her," Mary Margaret rubbed a tired hand over her brow.
"Did you even try to get her to come back?" Henry accused. "You're supposed to be the Saviour!" He ran up the stairs to his room, his sobs fading as he closed the door and Emma dropped her head to the table.
"I've really fucked up, haven't I," she said, more statement than question and Mary Margaret just hummed, taking a seat adjacent to her daughter.
"What are you keeping from us?" she asked after a moment of replaying everything Emma had said. "From him?" she motioned up stairs.
"What?" Emma mumbled, not meeting her mother's gaze. "Nothing!"
"Emma!" Snow said in a demanding tone, her voice raised and it was enough to have Henry opening his bedroom door and moving closer to the railing so he could hear more clearly.
"I don't want him to worry," she said quietly. "I don't want him growing up waiting for a parent who isn't coming for him." Mary Margaret pushed down her hurt at Emma's words.
"You said she wanted to stay? Why would he wait –" the penny dropped and Mary Margaret gasped. "She is coming back!" what surprised Mary Margaret the most was that she was filled with hope, not dread at the thought.
"I don't know – she doesn't know." Emma took a breath. "I lied. I mean, Regina and I had a fight one night and she did say she'd never come back if it meant Henry would have to watch her executed but that's not why she stayed in the end." Emma looked down at her hands.
"They why did she stay?"
"Regina said since the Dark Curse it's easier to travel to this world from the Enchanted Forest, that the Dark Curse put this world 'on the map'," Snow's brow furrowed in confusion and Emma sighed.
"Sorry, I'm not explaining this well – I'm exhausted," Emma closed her eyes.
"Just tell me the truth, Emma," her voice was imploring as she looked at her daughter.
"Cora wasn't trying to kill us – I mean, she was trying to kill me and Aurora and Mulan, but she wanted Regina alive. She wanted Regina to rule the Enchanted Forest with her as – "
"The Evil Queen," Mary Margaret breathed out. "Regina is going to side with her mother? Going to go back to being the Evil Queen?" She couldn't keep the horror from her voice.
"No – " Emma reassured. "Not if she can help it. But if she came back here she was worried that Cora would follow and if she did she will kill anyone who mattered to Regina. So Regina decided to stay in the Enchanted Forest and try and stop Cora. If she succeeds she will come back."
"And if she doesn't?"
Emma gave her a devastated look, "she said if she doesn't succeed she will either be dead or be evil. Either way she didn't want Henry to know."
"Which is why you lied," Mary Margaret gave Emma's hand a comforting squeeze.
"It's not right to lie," his voice was hard as he walked down the stairs. "You should have told me the truth."
"I'm sorry Henry," Emma said quietly.
"You shouldn't have left her! We could have helped her here. Mr Gold, my mom, they're strong. They could have defeated Cora if she came!"
"Henry you know your mom would do anything to protect you. She would never put your life in danger." Mary Margaret started.
"You're just glad!" He screamed, full of anger and hurt and shame. "You're glad she's gone! Well I'm going to find a way! I'm going to go the Enchanted Forest and I'm going to help her!" he said, running to the door and down the stairs to the street. Emma moved to follow him but Mary Margaret held her back.
"Let me, Emma. You need a shower, some real food and to sleep," Mary Margaret grabbed her coat and walked out after her grandson. Not seeing the tears that finally fell as Emma put her head on the table and cried.
Mary Margaret saw Henry crossing the street towards Gold's pawnshop and jogged a few steps to catch up to him. She rested her hand on his shoulder in an attempted to stop him and turn him to her but he merely shrugged her off.
"You're not going to stop me," he said sharply. "You can take me back to the loft but I'll find a way to speak with him."
Mary Margaret gave him her soft smile but he only frowned deeper in response. "I'm not trying to stop you Henry, I want to help you. We will get Reg –" she cut herself off with a quirk of her lips before beginning again. "We will get your mother back."
"You want her to come home?" Henry's entire demeanour screamed at how sceptical he was and Mary Margaret let out a long breath as she thought over his question.
She rolled her lips into her mouth for a moment. "I still have a lot of anger towards Regina for what she did to us, in the Enchanted Forest and with the Curse," she began. Hoping that honesty was the right approach with Henry. From his outburst with Emma she believed it was. "And I don't want the Evil Queen to pop up out of that well," she mused.
"She's not the Evil Queen anymore," Henry said confidently and Mary Margaret levelled him with a questioning gaze, which prompted him to continue. "The Evil Queen wouldn't have tried to stop Emma falling through the portal. She wouldn't have worked so hard to get Emma home. She wouldn't have stayed behind to make sure that I'm safe, that we're all safe, from her mother. The Evil Queen didn't raise me Grandma. That was Regina."
"Well Henry, I'd be very happy to have Regina home. I've been looking for her for a very long time," Mary Margaret smiled though tears in her eyes that were clearly evident in her voice. "Let's go talk to Gold and see what he can do to help."