CHAINED, prologue

Hi everyone! This story is set anywhere after the cursebreak and the flashbacks to TEF will be set after 'Skin Deep'. POV changes will be made clear by adding the name. The first 5 chaps will each have their own POV. Hope you enjoy!

My dear friend... I know it's not Aitana with a lovely little bow around her, but I wanted to give you this belated birthdaygift nonetheless. Thank you for always challenging me to try new things! I'm so happy to call you my friend! Happy belated Birthday, Piatot!

Prologue: A royal wake up call.

Regina;

'But Regina… Can't you just…?'

'No, dear. One would think such a small 2-letter-word would be understandable even to someone with your limited vocabulary. I thought I'd made myself clear before, but obviously I have to repeat myself: 'No!''

Regina pushed herself up and to the edge of the bed. The need to hide the nakedness exposed by the way the blanket slid of her body was much less urgent than the one to hide the fear in her heart. She knew she was running, pushing the other woman away, but also knew the inevitable moment where the blonde would leave on her own accord was drawing nearer. And the sickening hollow sensation in her heart at that mere thought, coinciding with the gentle touch of fingertips grazing her shoulder, told her that was not something she could bear. Simply not an option. So she did what she had always done. Defended, protected. In the only way she knew how.

''Gina, I just don't get why it's so…'

'Understanding, Miss Swan, has never quite been your strong suit, has it now? I have shared my thoughts on the matter with you. They are plain and simple and non-negotiable.'

And yet, her heart wrenched. Not only because she knew this was the turning point… Even though it had by far not been the first time they had acted on their obvious physical attraction to each other, it felt like something had been different, something strong, something connecting she had, for the first time fully, allowed herself to feel. And losing that connection now, as soon as she had dared herself to feel it, was nothing less than torture. Because she saw now it had only been a farce. All of it. Because, if Emma would stop and think, would stop and see… Who she was actually connecting with. What kind of person she was. She would pull back and run… As even her son had done.

Yet she could not do what the blonde asked of her now, no matter how much her heart wished she could. Not only because of this. Because of this moment where she knew she was, once again, losing something, someone, because of who she was. But because she had already wished many a time she could, seeing the women interact, knowing what she knew. Her fingers felt rigid and ached as they, clumsily, clasped the bra and Regina was glad for her position, hiding her fumbling hands. She was shaking, showing weakness…

Love is weakness

No! No this was no such thing! She could not, would not allow herself to. She was Regina. Queen, Evil Queen, Mayor, Mother. But not… not in love with the Savior…

'That's just it, isn't it, though? You didn't! You like, never do. Jesus effing Christ, Regina, I thought we were getting somewhere. But I was really just kidding myself, wasn't I? So, what do you want me to do, eh? Sink on my knees and be thankful you are not kicking me out of your bed anymore after fucking you?'

The meaning of the words seemed to try to find their way into her mind, but instead the tone, the feelings behind them seeped into her heart. Loathing, disgust, anger. She felt it in the movements of the mattress, heard it in the rustling of the clothes and felt it, dripping from her heart as she caught sight of her own eyes in the mirror, making her wince.

'Yes, Regina, FUCKING. Since that is all you are fucking capable of sharing, your body. You know what, no matter how fucking messed up I am, I just… There is more than that, you know… And I… Just…'

Hope flared up, unbidden and painful and yet everything her thirsty soul seemed to long for. She felt it fill her up, her shriveled dark heart swelling in the warmth of it, of the hope that maybe Emma was telling her she wanted more, that maybe she would see, that maybe the savior would give her the benefit of the doubt and actually see… Look for the reason behind her actions… Try to understand… See how bound she was by rules and fate and manipulation. That she, the savior, the daughter of Snow White of all people, would actually be the one to want to see through her, through the walls of snarks and pain she build around her. That, maybe, the blonde would actually push through hard enough to find the truth… And save her from it.

Wanting to be saved…

By the savior.

How utterly pathetic.

And yet, as Emma's passionate rant turned to stammers, the yearning to turn, to find those turquoise eyes which she had already drowned in on multiple occasions, became almost unbearably strong. To just give in and lean back, to entwine her trembling fingers in those blonde locks and find those soft pink lips with hers. But before the hope in her heart could outwin the fear, the resigned hoarse voice reached her. And the almost whispered words resounded louder than any of the ones the blonde had just screamed.

'They deserve more than that, Regina… And you? You owe them. You owe her. And you owe someone else too… You know it.'

The only sound making its way through the ringing in her ears were footsteps as she felt how her swelling heart shattered in explosion. Emma had not been hoping for more with her, she had been speaking of the issue, the matter at hand, the ones who were truly important to her. A small voice in the back of her head wondered if that is that this had been about in the first place, placate the Evil Queen, sooth her as one would a wild animal. Fuck her, if you will, into submission. A small part of her wanted to scream those words to the blonde, wanted to hurt, to lash out, to send her… out, away, to never come back. But then there was that other part of her, the part feeling the truth of the words. The part that made her sit, unmoving, frozen, until she heard the soft click of the door, eliciting the hot tears that made her slumping form melt against the mattress once again. Hiding her face in the pillow, she wept, the weakness of her heart finally something she could no longer deny, for all that could have been if she had just not been so chained…

Once Upon A Time in The Enchanted Forest

'You have had your fun, played your little game. It did not work. And now, Dearie, it's time you gave her back to me.'

His eyes spat fire but years of living under her mother's regime had taught Regina, if nothing else, to hide any visible weakness. The shiver of nerves she could feel rise was quickly dissolved as she forced her lips into a small smirk, her eyes cold and calculating.

'Well, of course dear, she is all yours.'

Taking the edge of the especially forged key in between the tips of her finger and the thumb, she absentmindedly offered him the means to free the beautiful young woman currently locked up in her cellar. She had known he would come. She had set up for him to find out she had captured Belle. Measuring her words carefully she added them, at the key moment he reached out.

'For now.'

His eyes narrowed, but his long boney fingers retracted before actually meeting the metal.

'What do you know, Dearie?'

She smirked again, the information the Genie had given her priceless if she knew how to play her cards right. He had destroyed her life, her hope, her happiness on his quest to make her cast the curse, which she, as soon as she had found out, traded with Malificent. But she knew she was not free until she either cast the blasted thing, or could make him give up on the idea in the first place. The only one who could possibly know WHY Rumple was so set on casting the curse was not someone very likely to share anything with her. And although the idea of torturing that annoying Blue Mosquito going by the name of Reul Ghorm was nothing if not tempting, the dangers it brought were too much of a risk. Rumple might be called 'Dark', and Snow had deemed her worthy of the name 'Evil', but The Blue Fairy, with her soothing voice and her caring mask was the one they would never, but should actually, fear.

Pulling the key back into the palm of her hand she smiled at him. A smile she knew, which did not extend to her eyes. Because, she was sure, none ever would again. Not since Daniel, not since her last hopes had been crushed. And certainly not while Rumple was still manipulating her fate. She had to break through this and she hoped now, she held the key to that in hand.

A sudden rush of guilt, as she thought of the love that had been plucked from her hands and destroyed, towards the woman in her cellar washed over her. Was she not doing the same to this young girl now as HE had once done to her? Was she not hurting Belle in her attempt to destroy Rumple? Her only hope could be that her plan would work. That he would lose all hope of finding his own happy ending, that he would crumble and lose all temptation to cast the curse… But as much as the smidge of insecurity in his voice made her soul purr, the heavy feeling in her chest did not seem to dislodge. Although she had no reservations what so ever to destroy him the way he had her, the visual of the key and the woman it represented, used much like the pawn she felt herself to be, made her focus, for the slightest moment, on the destruction it would cause.

There is no such thing as good and evil, darling, there is just power and those too weak to seek it.

And even though her mother had been wrong about many things, her lessons on weakness and strength had a tendency to proof themselves right time and time again.

'I know nothing you could not know yourself, Rumple, if you would simply have the courage to look and see…'

He turned to her, the anger in his face about her insolence clearly visible and, with the voice of her mother still resounding in her head, almost made her recoil. Yet she could not, would not. One day, she promised herself, one day she would make it up to those she had hurt along the way, but she had to try this. She had to try and save herself. Because, she had learned the hard way, no-one else ever would.

So she turned as well and blocked him, rose above his form and turned the tables. For where he had wanted to intimidate her, she could feel him withdraw slightly, the Magic inbetween her fingers crackling in the silent castle.

'You could see if she ever really was… or ever truly will be… Yours…'

She could have hissed the words, or spat them, but the light airy tone she had chosen got the job of taunting him done so much better.

The sharp movement of her wrist made the flickering image she had obtained from the Seer visible in the large mirror. The voice eerily and slowly recanted the prophecy she had paid a heavy price for, but it were the images, the most important in linking the words to their meaning, which had cost her most.

'Chained together, links of heart,

Bound forever, fresh new start.'

It stopped her heart again, the beauty of the image. And she hated that the visions affected her so much. She had embraced her reputation. If the people wanted an Evil Queen, she would give them one, but then she could hardly choke up at the mere sight of the woman she was currently holding prisoner sharing a kiss with her true love.

A true love whom Belle, if the plan to destroy Rumple would work, would probably never meet.

…

Hope so much you enjoyed! Reviews are Magic!