This idea has been spooking around in my mind for a very long while now until I finally succumbed to my muse and started typing away. I have some other stories people are waiting desperately for me to continue - and in time, I will! - but when there's an idea knocking at the back of my mind all the time, I can either write it down or write nothing at all. I chose to write and I hope some of you will follow me on this exciting trip!
Now, enough babbling.
Enjoy and leave me a note,
np
The Missing Year
Regina felt horrible. Not remembering what happened during the biggest chunk of the whole last year was really gnawing on her nerves. And now, now she knew, if only to a small portion, how everyone else in Storybrooke must've felt when Emma finally broke her curse. They had forgotten who they really were for 28 long years, almost three decades, and lived a double life. Some, if not most, had lived longer as their fake personas than as their real selfs.
And here was she, the one person who'd brought all that upon them, going stir crazy because of one damn missing year. This was ridiculous.
She paced through her vault when an unbidden thought came to her mind, or rather, an unbidden feeling. Worry. For none other than Snow White. The younger woman was nearing the end of a pregnancy she couldn't recall… Thanks to herself, Snow didn't have a normal pregnancy the last time around, always in fear of another of her attacks, trying to find a way to stop her curse and ultimately failing. This one? It must seem far from normal to her either. She sighed before she rigorously shook her head, getting rid of the nagging thoughts. There was work to do.
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An hour later, David, Hook and Snow were making their way down to Regina's vault, Snow carefully maneuvering her belly down the narrow staircase.
"Potion ready?" Hook asked without greeting, while Charming helped his wife down the last few steps.
"It is," Regina replied, holding up a small vial with a sparkling blue liquid. "Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of the ingredients for all of us to retain our memories. It'll only be enough for Emma..."
"How do we know we can trust her?" David said, his eyes full of mistrust. "Maybe she just wants to poison Emma to have Henry back to herself. We don't know how we got back here. For all we know, she could be remembering; maybe she's playing all of us!"
Before Regina could even think of a snarky retort, Snow spoke up, surprising everyone in the room, including herself.
"I know this probably sounds mad, David, but I trust her. I trust Regina and you should as well."
"But,…" David started but was quickly interrupted by his wife.
"She's changed, David. She has earned our trust after everything that's happened. If you can't trust her, trust me." Then she confidently strode forward, took the vial out of Regina's hand and gave it to Hook. "Bring back our daughter."
The pirate nodded and hastily hurried out of the room and up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. He was going to go and bring back the woman he fell in love with.
Back in the vault, an awkward silence had befallen the cold room, every adult in their own thoughts. At least until Snow started shivering.
Regina was the first to notice.
"You are obviously cold," she remarked, breaking the heavy silence. "You should probably head home."
Charming shot her a look that clearly said 'It's my job to notice these things' and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Why didn't you say anything, darling? I'll take you home. You shouldn't be up too much anyway."
Snow nodded and after a quick, thankful smile to her former nemesis, she and her husband were gone.
Regina was left behind, feeling rather confused. Confused about the pang of … - well what had it been; anger, jealousy? - … darkness, that had hit her when she watched his arm pull her into his side, his fingers grasping her shoulder.
Well, who wouldn't be. A beautiful couple, a happy couple, with a baby on the way.
Both things she would never have. Not after Daniel. Not after her mother and the potion she'd gulped down to spite her, a potion that had in the end only hurt herself. A year ago, she'd had Henry and they'd finally started feeling like a family again. Now, she didn't even have her little prince anymore. He'd forgotten all about her and her existence and who knew - maybe he'd never remember... This was worse than anything else could ever be. She'd take the Henry that hated her over the Henry that was practically a stranger every day. At least the first one remembered her. Had his memories of their time together and the knowledge that she was and would always be - no matter her failings or how much he wished her away - his mother.
She closed her eyes against the wave of pain that threatened to crash over her. There was no time for her to break down, not right now. She needed to find out what had happened in that missing year. She needed to find out who cursed them back to Storybrooke and what their agenda was. The fact that no one remembered told her one thing: Whoever did this to them? They did not have their best interests at heart...
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"And you're sure you'll be all right?" David asked for the third time, looking at his wife with puppy dog eyes. Once they'd gotten back to their apartment, he'd immediately ushered her to the couch and started boiling water for tea. Now she was sitting on the couch, cup of tea in hand and covered by a thick woolen blanket, looking at him with amusement but also a tiny bit of annoyance.
"Just as the last two times, David. I'll be all right. There's no need for you to guard me. I'll probably just take a little nap," she looked at him with stern green eyes. "You go and try to find out anything about this new curse and who could've cast it."
"But Mary Margaret,…"
"No David. If you want me, if you want us to be safe, then you need to find out what's going on. You can't do this from here. So go. I'll be perfectly fine on my own for a few hours."
He sighed but finally gave in. Her reasoning was sound after all. "Okay. I'll go. But promise to call me if anything happens."
"Right away," Snow gave him a smile. "Now go and be a hero."
A nod and a kiss to her cheek later, he finally closed the apartment door behind him.
"Well, little one, I suppose it's only you and me then," Snow gently let her fingers walk over her belly, marveling at the life growing inside of her. "What do you wanna do? Wanna take a nap?" A kick hit her hand and she chuckled. "I guess not. We could also take a little walk I think. I'm not cold anymore and I'd actually love some fresh air, how about you?" Another kick. "Well that settles it then. Just don't tell your daddy."
Slowly she scrambled off the couch and slipped into her coat and boots, topping the outfit off with a dark red scarf. "Let's go then."
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Regina closed the book with a thud and put it back on its shelf. She'd spent the better part of the last hour in the library, trying to find anything that could help them. Now though, she felt mentally exhausted and decided to call it a day. Or at least take a break and head home for a nice warm shower and a glass of her favorite apple cider. After telling Belle that she would leave but would probably come back again later, she concentrated and poofed away. When the purple smoke ebbed away, she was more than just a little surprised to find herself in the woods, close to the troll bridge actually.
'How did I end up here? This never happ…'
A high pitched scream interrupted her inner musings. Without losing another second, she started running towards the sound of the noise.
Snow. On the ground. Hands crossed as a shield in front of her face. Her coat torn. Skin even paler than usual. Looking at... the sky? A shrill screach suddenly rang through the cold November air and finally Regina saw what must've attacked Snow. A flying... monkey?
Not wasting any more time, she teleported herself in front of the cowering Snow and formed a fireball in her right palm, glaring at the viscous creature with contempt. The beast was faster than she calculated though. A second before it burned to a pile of ashes, one of its claws caught her on the cheek, leaving three burning scratch marks. Regina hissed but quickly turned her attention to the fallen woman behind her, slowly pulling her to her feet.
"Snow," she said, trying to get the younger woman's attention. She was still staring into the sky with shock. "Are you all right?" Regina brought a hand to the woman's cheek, looking deep into the glazed over eyes. The touch of Regina's fingers seemed to snap her out of it. "It's all right, Snow. It's gone."
"I… Regina... How did you..." Snow started to ramble, her eyes finally falling onto Regina's face. "Oh my god, you're hurt!" She extended a hand towards Regina's face but the other woman took a step back before it could connect.
"Merely a scratch. I will survive."
Snow nodded but felt somehow disappointed. Disappointed that Regina had steeped away from her touch, almost flinched even.
"Why are you out here in the woods?" Snow asked, thankful that the older woman had been there in the right moment. Who knows what could've happened if Regina hadn't intervened...
"I suppose I could ask you the same," Regina retorted, a brow raised in silent question. The mayor didn't wait for an answer though. Nor did she give one of her own. She didn't even have one - she didn't know why she'd ended up here when her destination had been her house... "You really shouldn't be out here alone. Couldn't you content yourself with a stroll in the park? Did it have to be the fucking forest!" Regina was almost yelling now. Seeing Snow on the ground, coat torn and a monster ready to rip out her throat? It had scared Regina more than she was ready to admit. Not scared of the monkey but scared FOR her former stepdaughter.
Seeing tears start to form in the pregnant woman's eyes, Regina's demeanor softened. "I'll walk you home," she whispered, staring to walk ahead. Eventually, Snow unfroze and caught up with her.
"Did it hurt you?" Regina asked after a while, glancing at the woman walking at her side.
"No," she shook her head. "It tried to grab me but I sidestepped it in the last moment, so it only pushed me to the ground."
"Good," Regina only said before they were once again walking in silence.
A few minutes later, Snow began to shiver from the cold.
"Here," Regina suddenly said, holding out her own coat for the woman to take.
Snow looked at the offering with big eyes. "But then you'll be…"
"Nonsense, I make fireballs, remember?" She formed one in her hand to emphasize her point. "I don't get cold easily."
After a short moment of hesitation, Snow took the coat and hung it over her shoulder for added warmth. "Thank you."
Regina nodded and they continued walking back towards the town. She was freezing but she felt it didn't matter. Luckily, Snow had bought her lie… she would not be held responsible if the woman caught pneumonia or something in her condition. She would be able to take a nice hot shower soon enough. She was the Evil Queen. A few minutes of being cold? Nothing but a small nuisance. She'd survived worse.
Finally, they reached Snow's apartment building.
"Thank you, Regina," Snow said with sincerity and gratefulness in her forest green eyes. "For saving me. Twice," she added, motioning to the coat she now handed back to the older woman. Before she could think about it, she quickly hugged the woman, holding her for a moment before rushing into the building. Regina stood there for a moment, staring off into thin air, a warm feeling running through her veins. Shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head, she concentrated and once again disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Hopefully it would take her home this time. She really needed that shower now, or maybe, maybe even a nice long bath.
Chapter 2 is already half done - I'll probably post it tomorrow if I find the time to finish it.