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The newest bulletin flashed on the Storybrooke Mirror's website. Ruby sighed and rubbed her face, shifting the deputy star on her hip. She read the headlines and mentally cringed, wishing she could think of something else to try. She reread the bulletin over and over and felt her anger growing again.
"I'm going to get that bitch if it's the last thing I do." she growled, eyes shifting to a dangerous yellow. She got up and stalked out of the Sheriff's office, grabbing her coat on the way out. The website was still up on the computer, and the bulletin scrolled continuously, repeating the same three sentences:
"THE EVIL QUEEN IS ON THE RUN, WANTED FOR THE MURDER OF ARCHIE HOPPER. SHERIFF SWAN DISAPPEARED DURING ONGOING INVESTIGATION. NO SIGN OF HER WHEREABOUTS."
o.o.o.o.o.o.o
Two Days Earlier
Emma woke up in a completely dark room and groaned. This was the third night she had woken up before dawn. She knew she was uneasy and upset about this whole Regina murdering Archie thing, but this was getting ridiculous. She had never cared this much before. But if she was honest with herself, she had to admit that it wasn't actually Archie's death that was causing her so much anxiety. She missed him and wanted to catch his murderer, but she wasn't overly emotional about it. What disturbed Emma the most was that she had truly thought Regina was changing. She had seen her the night before the murder, and knew in her bones that Regina was changing. She couldn't understand why Regina would slip into her old ways again when she had made so much progress. And why wouldn't she fight back when she was taken in for questioning? Why would she just disappear after Emma accused her of being unable to change, instead of fighting back as she always had before? It just didn't make sense!
Emma shook her head and sighed. It was the same old list of reasons every single time. But she never found a satisfying answer to any of them. She decided to get up and grab a cup of hot chocolate, but when she tried to roll over, her arms and legs wouldn't move. Eyes widening with shock, Emma realized that she was tied down. And that this was not her bed. She looked around, panicked. Only a tiny amount of light was visible under the door in the otherwise pitch black room. Emma swallowed hard and calmed her breathing. She had been kidnapped.
Her mind raced. Whoever had done this would pay. She thought hard to come up with possible culprits until she remembered Jefferson, and a small growl escaped as she swore. 'If that son of a bitch has done this—' her internal rant was cut off when she heard the soft pad of feet. She couldn't identify the person by their footsteps, which was odd. She knew the sound of nearly everyone's footsteps in Storybrooke. It was a defense mechanism from growing up in the system, one she had never been able to shake. And those footsteps were definitely not Jefferson's. Emma's blood ran cold. The thought that she had no idea who had taken her hostage terrified her. She was helpless. But as the door creaked open, Emma's eyes widened. The figure illuminated by the dim light was not at all whom she had expected. "Regina." Emma spat.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o
The brunette seemed a bit taken aback by the vehemence in Emma's voice, but quickly let her mask slip back in place. "Ah. Sheriff. Awake I see. Good." Emma struggled with her bonds and reared up on the bed, glaring at Regina.
"Why am I here?" She seethed. Regina just raised an eyebrow and walked in to undo Emma's bonds. But as soon as she was free, Emma shoved Regina against the wall with her arm, chest heaving as she trapped the struggling woman.
"WHY AM I HERE! " she shouted. Emma watched as a mix of emotions played across Regina's face. Emotions she couldn't place.
Regina rested her hand on Emma's elbow and said gently, "Please let me explain."
Emma's eyes widened slightly. This was not the woman she had fought with just a few short months ago, or even the woman who had thrown her down the walkway in front of the Mayor's mansion. This was the woman that had apologized in front of Granny's, the woman who had made Emma's heart beat faster, and made her question everything she thought she knew about the mayor. But still, Emma did not let go, lip curling into a slight sneer, not willing to let Regina trick her again. Regina still didn't change her approach though. She didn't lash out. She didn't shout. She didn't let an acerbic comment slip out. She just looked into Emma's eyes with now discernible sadness and said quietly, "Please, Emma. Please just let me explain."
The blonde eyed Regina distrustfully, but lowered her arm. They were still standing very close, noses almost touching. Emma felt suddenly uncomfortable, but held her ground.
"Well?" she snapped. "Explain."
Regina nodded slightly before saying "You are here to help me prove my innocence."
Emma scoffed, eyebrows shooting up her forehead as she took a few steps back. "You expect me to believe that you kidnapped me and tied me to a bed all to prove your innocence ?"
A tired sigh escaped the brunette and she brushed past the agitated blonde on her way out the door. "If you would kindly let me finish, Sheriff . "
At the slight edge to Regina's words, Emma calmed down somewhat. This was more like the Mayor she knew. She followed Regina down the hallway into what turned out to be a tastefully modern cabin, noticing the Mayor's clothing for the first time that night. She was wearing black slacks, a light blue button down, untucked, and a darker blue cardigan. She even had on slippers. Regina stopped and looked back at the blonde, raising an eyebrow at her expression.
"What?" she asked.
"You just look so...normal. Except not. I mean, for YOU they're not normal...but for anyone else, I would say they're normal. But I've never really been in lots of normal situations, so maybe I'm basing that off too many movies but you look normal and comfortable and I just never knew you even owned something like that let alone wore it and—" Emma stumbled to a stop in her ramble when she saw Regina smirking at her, nostrils flaring slightly as the mayor tried to contain her amusement.
"I DO happen to own some nice clothing to wear around the house. But you, Miss Swan, have never been privy to them before now, for obvious reasons." Regina sniffed daintily. "Now, however, I am going to be as comfortable as possible in this situation, as I feel it will take some time to complete." And with that, Regina turned around and walked into what Emma realized was the kitchen, filled with dark cherry colored woods, stainless steel and black electronics, and a large half wall that served as an island. Emma had to admit that she was impressed. But she hadn't come out here to admire the Mayor's kitchen. She had come to get answers.
"Now, to finish our conversation." Regina said. She poured a steaming golden liquid into a mug, the smell of spiced cider filling the kitchen. Then she began. "As I said, I brought you here to help me prove my innocence. Mr. Gold, or someone else in Storybrooke, is trying to frame me for a murder I did not commit." Regina held up a hand to stop Emma from interrupting again. "Gold's method that you used to see 'me' commit the crimes is not something he would willingly use to help me prove my innocence. Quite the contrary, I'm afraid. But even if he did want to 'help me', it would be for a price. And right now, I am not willing to pay any of his prices."
Emma stuffed her hands in her back pockets, digesting what the Mayor was telling her. As much as she hated to admit it, Regina did seem to be making a lot of sense. Damn her.
Regina continued, eying the Sheriff. "Another point against me is your trust. Or...lack thereof. If I had initiated the magic you used in Gold's shop, and let you finish the spell, you would still believe I killed Mr. Hopper. We both know your parents would instantly assume I had tampered with the magic. And because my memories and your 'vision' are such completely different things, we're back to square one. That leaves us with few alternatives for you to find out the truth." Regina cleared her throat to distract from the obvious waver in her voice. "And few ways for you to believe me." Her index finger slowly stroked the edge of her mug as she continued. "My only choice was to let you do the magic yourself without my interferance in any way. Which means I have to teach you how to perform the magic on your own." She took a breath and looked at Emma. The blonde's forehead was wrinkled in thought and mild disbelief. Regina licked her lips before continuing. "Before we begi—"
Emma objected loudly. "I performed that spell in Gold's shop and it turned out FINE Regina. What makes you think you have to teach me anything?"
Regina merely raised and eyebrow at Emma, watching the blonde deflate before her eyes. Emma scuffed the toe of her sock against the floor, mumbling to herself about hotheaded mayor's and the stupidity of magic.
"As I was saying, Sheriff. Before I even let you even touch the magics you would need to read my memories, you will need to learn self control. That is something you seem to have little of, if our past encounters are anything to go by. And before you go all 'Charming family' on me and tell me how easy this will be for you, let me tell you one thing. Magic. Is. Dangerous. And it always comes with a price. You will be in complete control of your magic before I let you touch my mind and let you read my memories of that night. I need to know that you won't completely wipe my memory by accident." Regina's expression was haughty as she continued to list her reasons why Emma wasn't even close to ready to get the one thing they needed most: answers.
"Why the hell would I want to help you!" Emma shouted, storming around the adjoining living room, her hands emphasizing every word. "I saw you Regina." She glared accusingly at the Mayor. "I saw you kill Archie with your bare hands!"
"What you saw wasn't me." The mayor said softly.
Emma just continued to glare back. "I don't believe you."
"You believed me once."
"That was before I found out you were still a manipulative bitch who was just screwing with me and Henry. I believed you before you betrayed our son's trust, and killed his therapist!"
Regina cringed when Emma mentioned Henry, and it did not go unnoticed by Emma. But she shrugged away any nagging doubts that had arisen, opting for anger instead of introspection.
"You said you could tell when someone was lying." Regina said quietly. Her brown eyes shifted up to meet Emma's flinty hazel eyes. "Am I lying when I say I didn't do it? Am I lying when I say that I am still trying to be worthy of Henry's love?" Regina choked on the last sentence, and tried to regain her composure while Emma's eyes searched her face.
"I want to say that you're not lying. God Regina! I WANT TO! But I believed you the first time, in the Sheriff's station. And then I saw your hand around Archie's neck. I don't know what to believe with you, Regina! You're a fucking closed book when you want to be and I don't like that and I don't trust you!" Emma slid into Regina's personal space, staring down a woman who suddenly seemed much smaller and less domineering than before.
"Emma, I AM trying—"
"How DARE you say you are trying to be worthy of Henry's love when you go and just kidnap me for your own selfish reasons!" Emma once again stood nose to nose with the Mayor, and her hands were balled into fists as Regina just looked steadily back at her with a sad, yet unflinching gaze.
"Think what you want, Sheriff. I will prove to you that I didn't do it. I will prove to you that I did not murder Archie Hopper, and that I am still worthy of Henry. And you are going to help me." With that, Regina turned heel and walked into the kitchen, leaving Emma alone in the living room.
'What is going on ?' Emma thought, wishing that for once she could get a break. She had had enough of this bickering with Regina, and all her false claims. She glared at the door and gritted her teeth as she moved towards it. But just as her hand touched the doorknob, Regina's voice cried out a hasty "NO!", but she was too late. Emma's body was thrown back, a purple electricity crackling along her skin as her world went black.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o
Emma awoke with a groan. She was on the ground, and Regina was kneeling over her, holding her face and saying something. Emma tried to hear what the woman was saying, but only caught snippets of "—okay?" "Em—?" "Dammit Emma, answer m—!"
The blonde let her head flop to the side, one hand moving up to hold onto Regina's wrist.
"Wha—what happened?" She groaned hoarsely.
"You idiot!" Regina snapped, pulling her hands back, but pausing as Emma continued to hold her wrist. "You could have been killed!"
At that, Emma sat straight up. She quickly realized that was a mistake as her hands flew to her head. "Fuuuuck." She moaned. Regina just raised an eyebrow, lips pursed.
"You would do well to think before you act, Miss Swan. Or you are liable to get severely injured. I am surprised you have survived this long, let alone been anything as clever as a bounty hunter." From her tone, Emma could tell Regina thought being a bounty hunter was anything but clever.
"What was I supposed to do? I wanted to leave, so I went for the door!"
"But why would I have had you tied up to begin with if I was going to let you roam around this house freely after you woke up? Why would there be a shimmer to the walls if there was nothing strange about them? Why would I have taken you here and not tried harder to convince you stay if you had a choice about leaving?"
When Emma heard that, she grabbed Regina's wrist again, this time wrenching it painfully in her grasp as she leaned in close and ground out, "What was that about me not having a choice?"
Regina's jaw flexed, but she controlled her anger and spelled it out as simply as the she could. "Until you have done what I've asked, there is no way you can possibly leave this house. Simply put, Miss Swan, we are stuck together. And by the looks of it, we're going to be stuck here for a very long time."