Hello everyone. In this story Snow never killed Cora and Regina never took the potion that made her unable to have children.
Disclaimer- I do not own any recognizable characters from the show.
Have you ever had a day where you just wanted to give up?
To yell, "Alright world, you win."
Have you ever just laid in bed, curled tightly into your pillow with tears streaming down your face and whispered, "I can't take this anymore?"
I do.
The first thing she noticed when she woke up was that her whole body ached, she was laying on a dirty mattress in a very dark and dirty cell. There were dim lights flickering just on the other side of her cell but not enough to make anything visible. Sitting up slowly, Emma hissed at the pain that shot through her chest and stomach but she made herself get up anyway. She walked to the front of the cell and looked through the bars she didn't see anyone so she attempted to use her magic to open the doors. When nothing happened she tried again, concentrating hard but till the cell door remained firmly shut.
"Magic won't work."
Emma jumped back at the small voice coming from behind her, aggravating whatever injuries she had. Yelping she looked around to find where the voice had come from. Looking around she noticed a small shadow curled up in the corner, never taking her eyes of the shadow, she moved closer.
"Who are you?"
When no answer came Emma moved closer still, she noticed the figure shift closer to the wall. Once she was close enough she gasped, there in the corner was a young girl. She couldn't get a good look at her since the cell was so dark but she moved closer, stretching out her hands in front of her. She noticed the young girl flinch and quickly retracted her hands.
"Hey I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Emma, what's yours."
When the young girl didn't make any indications of answering her, Emma slowly sat down on the floor, a comfortable distance from the girl and brushed her hair out of her face.
"Come here sweet heart. I promise I won't touch you unless you want me to."
The young girl eyed Emma wearily before slowly moving out of the dark corner. She moved almost too where Emma was sitting but moved to the opposite wall and sat down. The little girl couldn't be any older than five. Now that Emma could see her properly she took in the matted and dirty brown locks atop the girl's head that hung down way past her shoulders. She could see green eyes that were tired but guarded and never moved from her face, watching for any signs that Emma wouldn't keep her word. Emma couldn't shake the feeling that she knew this girl.
"What is your name sweetheart?"
The young girl looked out the cell door, making sure there wasn't anybody around before looking back at Emma.
"My name is Keegan, how did you get here?"
Emma looked at Keegan quizzically still trying to put her finger on how she knew her.
"Well kid I don't know how I got here but could you do me a small favor?"
The young girl nodded quietly.
"Where exactly is here. I don't know where I am."
Keegans eyes widened at Emma, before she had a chance to answer her they heard a door open nearby and heavy footfalls headed their way. Keegan grew silent again and retreated into the corner again and Emma moved in front of the young girl. Her instinct to protect her overwhelming as the footsteps got closer. Two men arrived first before a woman whom Emma thought she would never see again moved to the middle of the door, smiling at the blonde.
"Well hello dear, don't you look surprised to see me."
The door flew open on its own accord and Emma heard a small gasp come from behind her. She moved closer to Keegan, making sure she was in the direct path of the woman in front of her.
"What the hell is going on Cora?"
Flashback (6 years earlier)
Emma sat on the bed while Regina was in the bathroom finishing up her nightly routine. As the bathroom light turned off, a smile lit up the blondes face as the brunette climbed into bed next to her. Emma cuddled up against her wife and sighed contently.
"How did I get so lucky to have you?"
Regina smirked as she placed a light kiss on top of Emma's head and pulled the blonde closer to her.
"I am your consolation prize for all you have done in keeping Storybrooke safe."
Emma let out a light chuckle and kissed Regina's neck. They cuddled for a bit before Regina stroked the blondes arm getting her attention.
"What is it babe?"
"Thank you for being there for me today. I wouldn't have been able to get through losing my mother again without you."
Emma thought back to the events of the day. Cora had tried to kill Gold but Regina was able to stop her by casting an immobilizing curse, with Emma's help of course. Instead of killing her like Gold wanted, and frankly, Emma couldn't blame him for wanting the evil bitch dead, Regina sent her back through a portal they were able to procure to another realm where she couldn't hurt anyone. It had been hard on Regina, having to lose her mother all over again. Emma leaned up from the brunettes shoulder and placed a loving kiss to her lips.
"Anytime babe. You know that I will be there for you no matter what. You and Henry are my first priorities and I will always put you before anyone else. If that means helping you get rid of your psychotic mother then so be it. I love you and I will always be by your side."
Regina wiped a few tears from her cheeks at the blondes sweet words. Taking Emma's face in her hands, Regina leans in and kisses her wife, trying to portray all the emotions she is feeling into the kiss. When they break apart for air Regina leans their foreheads together.
"Dear I think it is I who is the lucky one to have you here."
Emma leaned in to kiss her again and pushed Regina back on the bed. Regina was able to cast a silencing spell and magically lock the door before she wasn't capable of thinking anymore.
End Flashback
Cora walked closer to Emma, the blonde standing to her full height, trying to protect the little girl from whatever it was that Cora had in mind. Judging by the sadistic smirk that was plastered on Cora's face Emma could tell it wasn't good.
"Well dear that is no way to greet your mother in law. We haven't seen each other in six years. "
Emma didn't take her eyes off Cora but backed up closer to the little girl.
"What do you want Cora? I don't know where I am but judging by the fact that you are here I'd like to get home to my wife and son so if you could kindly send me back that would be great."
Cora laughed haughtily as she used her magic to fling Emma out of her way. The little girl curled closer into the corner but did not show any other signs of fear. Cora used her magic to lift the little girl, Keegan struggling right away as her air flow was restricted slightly by the magic's hold.
"You want to leave so soon? But we have so much to talk about Emma, you have barely met my little friend here."
Emma picked herself off the ground, charging at Cora and knocking the woman's concentration off Keegan, causing the magic to lose its hold and the little girl to crumple to the floor, gasping for air. Emma rose first and hurriedly put herself between her mother in law and the child. She could feel her magic bubbling to the surface but something was stopping it from leaving her body.
"Leave her alone Cora. Your problems are obviously with me. Why are you hurting a little girl?"
Cora rose gracefully to her feet and stalked angrily back out of the cell, the door slamming shut after her.
"I'd be careful Emma Swan if I were you. Do not underestimate what I am capable of, especially when I have something that is very important to you and my daughter."
With that Cora and her guards left, the hallway and cell dimming as they left. Emma didn't have much time to think about what Cora said as she turned to check on Keegan. The girl had finally caught her breathe but, even in the dim lighting, Emma could see bruises forming from where the magic's hold had tightened on the little girls throat. Moving closer to the girl Emma smiled.
"Are you ok sweetie?"
Keegan nodded and rubbed her throat lightly.
"I am used to it by now. I have been here as long as I can remember and she has never been that nice."
Emma's heart hurt for the child. When Cora had been in the room she had noticed the multiple scars on the young girl's body and didn't want to know how they had appeared.
"Do you mind if I take a look at your bruises? Just to make sure they aren't anything more serious?"
The little girl hesitated but moved closer to Emma and held her hair away from her neck. Emma was now able to see the bruises close up, they weren't that bad. What she did notice was the multitude of scars that covered this little girl's arms, face and neck. She even had one above her lip kind of like Regina. Emma pulled back and smiled at the little girl,
"You're going to be just fine."
Keegan smiled at the smile on the blondes face and leaned slightly on her shoulder. Emma winced a little and Keegan shrank back.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you."
Emma looked confused for a second before understanding,
"Oh no honey I am fine. Come here."
Emma opened her arms to the child and Keegan looked at her skeptically before gently climbing into the older woman's lap. Emma wrapped her arms around her, sickened by how light the little girl was, Emma could barely feel her sitting in her lap. She had known what it was like to be underfed as a child but her malnourishment never reached the level that Keegan was at. Slowly stroking through the girls hair Emma whispered in her ear,
"Don't worry sweetheart I am going to figure out how to get you out of here."
Hello! This is my first dive into Once Upon a Time fanfiction. Please Review and let me know what you think if there is enough interest I want to continue this story. Thank you!