Okay, this is my first Swan Queen. No beta, all mistakes are mine, sorry. I decided to write this because I was so done with nobody having the decency to properly apologize to Regina, especially Emma, and then things just goes from there.
This story begins after "The cricket game" it takes some of the events of "The outsider" and "In the name of the brother" in consideration too, but not all. Swan Queen background also considered.
I started this during the three weeks hiatus, in other words, before I saw "Tiny" and "Manhattan", therefore some things I have taken the poetic license to modify. Hope you enjoy.
She was in mind to turn around and just go back to the station but she knew she couldn't, or better shouldn't postpone this anymore. Now that she knew the truth about the whole Archie story, she owned Regina some serious apologies and that was what she would do. So Emma Swan stepped inside her bug and went to the mayor's house, hoping she would find the woman there.
After spending half a day searching for Regina in every place she could think of Emma found herself back where she started. The house was still surrounded by darkness, showing signs that there was nobody inside, but the sheriff had ran out of places to go. She was both physically and emotionally tired and in a final and desperate attempt, she climbed the few steps and knocked on the door once more. No answer. Sighing, Emma rested the hand she knocked on the door on its surface and lowered her head.
"I don't know if you can listen to me, I really hope you do. I just… I am so sorry. So sorry. I shouldn't have said any of that. You are Henry's mother. He is your son. I was just so…"
And that was when passed through Emma's mind that she couldn't really say everything she felt. She had become angry for she felt betrayed, she wanted so much that Regina's changing had be true for reasons she didn't even completely understand. All she knew was that when her eyes saw Regina murdering Archie it hurt, and bad. But she opted for the safe route.
" …frustrated. I really wanted to believe you had changed for him. Archie told me you had made progress and I saw it for myself, and still when that damned dream catcher showed me your face, I doubted you. I should've known better, with magic around, I should. I really hope you can forgive me. Forgive all of us."
With a last breath Emma pushed away from the door and turned to leave, that was when she heard the door open. She turned around and indeed, it was open but the house was still in darkness. She stepped inside the mansion anyway.
"Regina?"
She called once from the entryway. She went further and called for the woman again. The third time she did the sheriff was almost on the living room, and that was when things happened. First, the light went suddenly on, along with fire in the fireplace. After that, purple smoke appeared in front of her and when it was gone in its place stood none other than the Evil Queen herself.
"Did you meant everything you said out there?"
Emma could say Regina wasn't in for simple chat. Stepping closer Emma looked right into the other woman's eyes.
"I did. All of it. I'm sorry, I really am, Regina. I'll say more. Henry misses you. He loves you, on his own way but he does. Part of the reason I was looking for you is because he needs his mother. I like to pretend that I'm enough for him, but… I'm not. You know him better than I ever could. You were right when you said I knew nothing about parenting, and as much as I don't like admitting I need your help."
Emma could clearly see tears in the brunette's eyes, but the woman remained composed as usual.
"And I think you spent too much time apart already. Consider this a peace offering, I want to take you to him."
Regina turned her back to the blonde-haired woman, and took a long breath.
"I can't, Miss Swan. I can't risk being seen wandering around a town of people who wants me locked up or dead. Bring Henry here, nobody knows I'm here but you. We should be safe, by now."
Sometime later Emma returned with Henry by her side. Once inside the mansion the boy ran to his other mother and she held him for life. Emma stood and watched the interaction.
"I knew you didn't do it, mom. I knew it!"
"I'm so glad you think like this Henry."
It was the first time since Emma found her that she saw her smile, and then Regina knelt.
"I love you, sweetheart. I love you no matter what. Are you listen to me? No matter what."
The two of them spent a little more time together before Regina spoke to Emma again.
"Now take Henry from here and don't ever bring him here again. I won't be coming back either. Is that understood?"
She spoke with determination and a hint of fear. Emma got a little confused by that, she was certain that to be with Henry was what Regina wanted.
"Actually, I didn't understand. Why do you want me to take Henry away?"
"Miss Swan my mother is in town and will try to find me, I know it. I don't want her anywhere near Henry. She is dangerous, manipulative and plain evil. And if being away from him is the price I'll have to pay for his safety I'll gladly abide."
Things like that was that proofed to Emma more and more how much Regina loved their son, and how much, despite everything, that woman was strong.
"Kid, can you give us a minute?"
With that, Henry went to the hall to wait for his blonde mother.
"Look, Regina, you don't have to face Cora alone, you know that, right?"
"As much as a appreciate your offer, Miss Swan, Cora will be coming after me. She's something I have to face for myself. You think you know her for the brief time you had with her in the other world. You have absolutely no idea what that woman is capable of. Trust me."
"This doesn't change anything. I stand by my word. I will help you, by whatever means I can. I will not let Henry lose you. Never again, not on my watch."
"You are, every bit, you parents daughter, aren't you?"
Regina released a humorless laugh, once again had tears in her eyes.
"I really hope your magic is strong enough then, Miss Swan. You are going to need it, but if you let me say so, be careful, magic is a dangerous thing, I know it, first hand. Say goodbye to Henry for me."
And much like she appeared, she vanished in a purple cloud of smoke leaving behind a bit less guilty feeling Emma.
A few days gone by since she talked to Regina. Emma was beginning to feel restless. She could sense in the air that something was not right. Cora hadn't appear and nothing slightly wrong had happen. Things were too calm when they shouldn't be. She needed to know what was going on. She thought about trying to find Regina again. Having Rumplestiltskin gone from Storybrooke the former mayor was the only other source to magic that wasn't the fairy kind. Emma had already tried to go back to the mansion, it didn't work. The sheriff went to the person that knew Regina best in this world: Henry. She found the boy playing with Pongo, outside.
"Hey kid, mind if I ask you a question?"
He threw the stick a bit further this time to gain sometime.
"'Course not."
"Look, I really need to talk to your mom again, do you have any idea where she might be?"
"Hum… Let me think." Get stick, throw stick. "Have you tried the mausoleum?"
"I have kid, there's nothing there, just a tomb with your name on it."
"That would be my grandfather, but, wait, have nobody told you?"
"Told me what kid?"
"That tomb leads to a secret passage, there's a whole room beneath it."
"You're kidding me right?"
"No, I swear!"
"How come nobody told me that, I'm the sheriff, for crying out loud, I should know about these things!"
Henry then showed who had raised him for ten years.
"Yeah, you should."
Emma narrowed her eyes at Henry, with her nostrils slightly flared.
"Not a word more young man or you will get in serious trouble."
A few minutes later, she found herself facing said tomb. Henry said that she had to push it so she did and a staircase led her down. It was a bit sinister of a place but Emma had been in worse places in her life. Much like on the mansion she called for Regina, but this mausoleum was completely strange to her, full of corridors and mirrors, so she was very cautious and slow. After a little exploration, she found herself inside a room full of little boxes on the wall, most of the boxes were glowing. Curiosity got the best of her and she opened one. A heart.
"I see you found my collection, Miss Swan. Well done."
With a jump, Emma turned to see Regina facing her at a distance. The brunette had a strange look on her eyes.
"You scared me." "That was the intention. You can't afford to be caught off guard."
"I wasn't off guard! I just… fine, whatever. Tell me, they're all yours?"
"None of this hearts are mine Miss Swan. My heart is right where it should be. But yes, I ripped all of this hearts out of their bearers, a long time ago. Evil Queen, remember?"
And there you go, that strange look again.
"Not anymore Regina, not anymore."
Regina gave a few steps towards the blonde she had an angry face now.
"What do you know, Emma? You think you can come here, spend a few months and have all figured out? You know nothing about anything! You don't know me, at all."
Emma didn't backed away, she held Regina's gaze on her own.
"I might not know much about who you used to be, but I know who are now, at least who you are trying to be. You are not the Evil Queen anymore. And just for the record, you called me Emma again."
Emma couldn't remove the little smirk that appeared on her face.
"And why is that relevant, again?"
Regina was now with arms crossed and an annoyed expression.
"You only call me Emma when you let your walls down and get emotional."
"Don't be ridiculous Miss Swan. And don't test my patience, why are you here after all?"
"Right. Regina, I'm worried. Nothing has happened so far. I'm losing my mind here, do you know something about anything?"
Regina uncrossed her arms, assuming a less defensive position.
"Miss Swan, don't you listen to anything I say? Cora is a dangerous woman, she will come when not expected. Very much like she did yesterday. She found me."
"What happened?"
Emma sensed a hesitation coming from the other woman, she could see in the former mayor's eyes that she was thinking if, and what she could, or would say.
"Regina, we are on the same side here."
"Are we, dear?" Regina released a long breath.
"I've been trying to warn you, I'm no good."
"I don't buy it, at all. I've learned my lesson."
"You should buy it, I warned you about Cora too, she is resourceful, very powerful. She have means to get what she wants. To get me what I want."
"I don't understand."
"She offered me Henry back, Miss Swan. And I plan to accept it."
"But you said to me she can't be trusted."
"And so can't I."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Consider it a fair warning, a declaration of war if you want."
"I don't believe you. You would never put Henry under this kind of danger."
"As I said, Miss Swan you don't know me."
"I do."
Emma saw Regina conflicting between being annoyed or amused.
"Do whatever you want. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"I suppose you wouldn't help me access my magic, since you are now the 'enemy'"?
"I have little and less experience with True Love's magic, Miss Swan. But being who you are I don't think figuring out how to use it will be any problem. Now I suggest you leave, Cora might be back at any moment, and what fun would we have if I got the savior out of the board so soon?"
Emma returned Regina's trademark smirk with one of her own.
"I won't give up, you know?"
"Oh, I know. You tend to do that."
She heard more then she saw Regina disappearing behind her.
It was far into the night. There wasn't a soul in sight, apart from the two figures standing outside of a very recognizable pawn shop. With its owner gone the door was predictably locked, but that was no problem. With a flick of the older woman's hand, the door opened for them.
"Ah. Very clever Rumple, very clever."
"What is it, mother?"
"There is a spell preventing us to get inside."
"Can you undo it?"
"Not alone, no. Give me your hand."
So both women, guided by the older, put the spell down and entered the shop.
"What are we looking for here?"
"Patience, dear, you'll see. It shouldn't take long now, come."
They joined hands again to perform a locating spell. Immediately a bright light shone from the back of the building. When they got there, they saw light coming from behind a door that was instantly opened by magic. Inside the vault-like room, a small box was glowing bright green. When finally they opened it, inside there was an even smaller bottle. That seemed to please the older woman, who took the bottle at once.
"What is this?"
"This is what will give you your son back. This is one of the most powerful magics that exists."
"True Love?"
"Oh, no dear. True Love is unable to do what I have in mind, it's too pure, this is True Hate."
"And what do you have in mind that you are in need of True Hate, pray tell? Are you going to kill them?"
Regina was almost unable to contain the jolt of fear that passed through her body.
"No. Death is too easy for them, too peaceful. I'm going to curse them, much like you did. Erase their memories, make them live without remembering each other, so we can reign absolute in here. You see, that was a very good idea, child. A shame that you let yourself be manipulated by The Dark One. Lucky for you I'm here this time to fix all the wrongs."
"But Henry…" "He won't remember a thing. He will revert to the sweet boy you told me he was before he found that book."
"And Emma…"
"Oh, the great savior. She won't remember a thing either. Therefore, no one to brake the curse. This time we will make sure to keep them very far from each other. Keep an eye out for this True Love that apparently runs very strongly on that family tree. In order to that I need you one hundred percent with me in this. You cannot falter Regina. Can I count on you?"
Cora finalized her speech softly caressing her daughter's face. Regina could barely believe what she was hearing. She could have Henry back that easily, everything she ever wanted, her little boy back. The temptation was so strong, and heavens knew she was weak enough. She didn't had time for that though, so she made a decision there and then. A decision of her own. With tears on her eyes, she gave her answer.
"Yes, mother."
Emma refused to believe that Regina was on Cora's side. There was more to the story and she would find out. It just didn't make any sense for her that one day Regina was warning her about Cora, saying that the woman was all kinds of dangerous and untrustworthy and to keep Henry away and the other she was trying to do the exact opposite. The sheriff started doing what she was paid for: investigate. She had to find out what Regina was all about and how to fully access her own magic. It wasn't going to be easy but she made a promise both to Regina and Henry and she wouldn't give up. She was at the station thinking on how she would begin to do all that she had to when her cell phone rang. It was her father.
"Hello?"
"Emma, we have a situation at Gold's Shop, someone broke into it. Can you come in?"
"I'm on my way."
She hung up, collected her jacket and went to the location as fast as she could. This brake and in had Cora written all over it.
When she arrived at the shop, the whole thing seemed pretty much under control, but as soon as she crossed the front door, she felt something. She couldn't exactly explain, but was sort of a push-y feeling. She found her father inside just looking around.
"So, what happened exactly?"
"I don't really know. I got an anonymous tip saying that the shop had been invaded. When a got here the door was ajar but that is that. Nothing appears to be missing and everything seems is in its due place. No sign of forced entry."
Emma took the time to have a look around and find that what her father said was true. Everything looked fine. Nevertheless, she still had that nagging feeling on her guts. It was pulling her towards the back of the store and she followed her instincts. Getting there the feeling got considerably stronger. Something magical happened here, she was certain of it now. Magic leaves a trace and she could feel it very distinctively. She considered calling her father but thought it would be better if she could figure out what was going on before saying anything to anyone. She had no idea what she was looking for but kept looking anyway. She could feel that, in a place, in special, the trace of magic was stronger. A door. Something had happened behind it. She opened it to reveal a room with many shelves, but she was not interested in any of its contents, she was immediately drawn to a box at the end of the room. When she touched it to open, something happened. She was at the same room, but things were different. All seemed blurry, and she was now seeing two people, two women talking to each other. Emma was pretty sure they were Cora and Regina, but she couldn't figure out what they were saying, their voices were coming to her like they were broadcasted in a bad frequency. All she was able to hear were "Henry" "hate" "curse" and "death", which was enough to make her so distressed she almost didn't realized she was back at the reality and Charming was calling her so they could go home.
Emma got to the station but found herself unable to do anything. She was still disturbed about what she heard and saw at Gold's shop.
"What are you doing, Regina?"
She refused to believe the former mayor was siding with the wicked witch of the west she called mother. Emma had made the mistake to trust her sight before, when magic was involved. She wouldn't make that mistake again. She needed to talk to someone. Someone open-minded, that wouldn't rush into obvious conclusions, someone trustworthy to keep quiet, and she knew exactly the one.
The knock on the door startled him. Dr. Hopper wasn't expecting anyone, much less at this hour of the night. It was not without surprise that Archie found himself face to face with the town's very own sheriff.
"Good night Emma, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I need to talk to you, can I come in?"
"Sure, be my guest."
Emma quickly stepped inside, followed closely by Archie.
"Something happened? You look troubled."
"I- It's Regina."
"What about her?"
"That's the problem Archie, I don't know."
Emma made a pained face.
"I'm trying really hard to stand strong and believe her, but it's getting kind of difficult. She has been shutting me out and want me to believe she's by Cora's side, and I really don't know what to do."
Archie calmly sat down.
"If I may, Emma, let me just remind you of something or two. First, whatever it is Regina is doing, she have a purpose. Regina is the kind of woman that goes for the kill, back in the day quite literally, but I'm sure you knew that already. Second, and I don't mean to be a jerk, but need I remind you what happened the last time you doubt her intentions? As I said before, she's been making great effort to change, and I have seen progress, so please, don't do anything to jeopardize that."
Emma looked straight into Archie eyes, and threw herself on the nearest chouch.
"Thank you." She sighed. "It is just… so hard to fight alone for a person that nobody believes in. I needed to hear that, it was refreshing."
"Any time, and you are not alone Emma, I believe in her too. You can count on me for whatever you need. I may not be the savior or have magic, but I'm willing to help."
"Right, I'll keep that in mind. Now speaking of help, I have something else to talk to you about. You must've heard about w at Gold's shop."
"Indeed."
"Well. Something happened there."
"I know, Emma, someone apparently broke into it."
"No, I mean, yes, but that's not what I'm talking about."
"Enlighten me, please."
"Something magical took place there, I don't know what it was, but as soon as I set foot there I felt it, and the strangest of all is that I actually had a vision, or something like that, of the criminals, so to speak."
"Oh, so it were more than one. Did you recognize them?"
"Oh, absolutely. I would never not recognize Regina anywhere, Cora was with her, or the other way around, it doesn't matter. All I was able to hear was some talking about death and curse, hence why I came here almost freaking out. They took something from Rumplestiltskin's vault. It was a bottle, and I don't have the slightest idea what it was nor what Cora plans to do with it, but if she had to steal it from him it can't be good."
"Hum, it's really a shame that Rumplestiltskin is not in town. He might be a shady man but he loathes being stolen from."
"I suppose. You don't know what is inside that bottle, by any chance, do you?"
"I'm afraid not, Emma, Rumplestiltskin is one of my least regular clients, I know little and less about him, but have you tried talking to Belle? Perhaps she knows something, he seems to trust her."
"You're right. I will talk to her by the morning. I'll get going now, it's already late and I took long enough of your time."
"Please, feel free to come back any time."
"Thank you Archie. Really."
"No need to thank me, Emma, all I did was to remind you something you already knew."
Archie closed the door behind Emma feeling pleased with himself.
A.N.: Okay, as you can see it will have more story. Not much, but more, I have some of it written already. I wanted to finish all of it before publishing, but I couldn't resist. I'm keeping the story very "show rated", I mean, in a way that I feel this could happen on the show. This story will have probably more 2 or 3 chapters. I dont know. And for the ones who stick until the end I promise a extra chapter for the smut (really, it's all planned already). Okay, bye-bye.