This was intended to be a really long one-shot - I have clearly failed. Only 2 or 3 chapters total though, don't want this to become a huge undertaking. SwanQueen endgame. Start of Season 2 divergent - Season 1 is canon.
Will eventually become mature content, this chapter touches on some dark themes and is angsty.
Please enjoy and review if you like it. Many thanks for taking the time to read - own nothing etc/usual disclaimers.
Just After the Breaking of the Curse - Storybrooke
The Queen stood, her outfit was different but the situation familiar. Her Louboutin heels and tailored blazer were more comfortable than her corseted dress and course cotton undergarments but she was still desperately frightened, just like the last time.
She stood with her back straight, her hands clasped before her. They were cuffed, the silver bracelets digging into her skin but she hardly felt it. She was concentrating on keeping down the contents of her stomach, on keeping the tears from falling. She hadn't been given a chance to say goodbye to Henry. And that was killing her, making her insides twist uncomfortably into knots of guilt and self-loathing. He was all she cared about now. The rest of them could rot, but Henry, her son, she needed to tell him that she was sorry for sending him to therapy and for lying to him for so long. For letting him down and for never being there to tuck him into bed again.
Because she was accused of all and any crimes. Murder, wrongful imprisonment, attempted murder, sorcery and witchcraft. Consorting with dark wizards, bargaining for power and casting a curse and removing free will from her subjects and her enemies alike. And the one that gave her real pause, poisoning.
She couldn't care less about poisoning or ordering Snow's death, but Henry, that was an honest mistake. He was her child, she loved him as much as she was able, and she had never meant to hurt him. Her plan had only ever been to keep him, safely by her side rather than that of Miss Swan. That had been her intention and yes it had failed and caused much more heartbreak, but it was an act born of love. And she wished she could look into his young face, look into his eyes and apologise for it, so he knew she actually meant it and was being truthful this last final time.
She shook her head ruefully, everything she did for love always back fired. Daniel had paid, her father had paid, Henry had paid and now it was finally her turn. Finally she was having to settle her debts, ones that were running with rivers of other people's blood. She wished it had been worth it, but all she felt was hollow and empty. She couldn't remember any of it making her happy, so maybe death wouldn't be so bad, at least it would end the monotony, snuffing out a life that had only ever caused pain.
Maybe it was because she lacked patience and often acted from desperation, making her rash. Whatever the reason, she had never known the sweet taste of anything, everything was bitter and empty, like ash in her mouth. The love that she had manged to find had been so fleeting with Daniel, and people that were supposed to love unconditionally like her Mother only abused her as did her husband in his cold and aloof way.
Victory had eluded her, Snow and Charming flaunting their happiness at every turn. Her curse was broken, her life as Mayor and overseer taken. She had lost her son, she really didn't have anything to fight for or be proud about anymore.
She had finally realised that she must be the problem. She wasn't capable of love or being loved in return. So was it so wrong that she had chased endlessly the feeling of being powerful and superior in lieu of being loved and wanted. She had failed in securing love, at least she had risen to be a strong monarch and made something from her empty life. And in her seat of power she had been above question and beyond reproach. Only now she had lost her royal title, she had given it away through her own curse, she was finally being judged and held to account.
And it was the worst kind of judgement. She was facing Snow and Charming's justice, and she doubted Snow would be calling off a last minute execution this time. They had been separated from their daughter for 28 years and were understandably bitter and resentful, impossibly angry at The Queen for forcing their hand and the hatred was coming from them in waves.
So she stood, her head high, eyes resolutely forward, face set. She felt sick and her hands were clammy but she refused to give in and show her real emotions. She would not show weakness or regret, they didn't know or understand her and she wasn't going to start opening up now. Her actions were viewed as evil, let them continue to label her and focus on the surface. The peasants and royalty in the crowd need not know that deep down she was still a scared little girl, desperately lonely, missing her first love and trying futilely to fill the void his death left behind. Inflicting suffering, spilling blood and hurting others hadn't eased it, and even Henry's bright presence in her life had only distracted and dulled the pain. She surmised she was just broken, and like a broken toy, it was time to throw her out, she was beyond repair.
At least once Snow and Charming made up their minds and vocalised her punishment the pain would finally stop. Her death would close the last chapter, a sad, sorry tale, that was full of spilt blood, some of it was even her own. Pointless tears, grief, and struggles that culminated in much the same way it started, she wasn't wanted or loved when she was born to a heartless mother and now it was coming full circle at her death.
As Regina stood and faced her fate, something odd happened. Snow didn't defer to Charming, and the muscular man didn't draw his sword to take her head in the standard execution. Snow addressed the crowd.
"Today we gather to administer justice." Regina cringed, the woman was so sanctimonious. Couldn't she just get it over with? Why did there always have to be this fanfare and spectacle? Snow was too like her father, wasting time and money on appearances, a lavish wedding, and many summer balls to spoil his beloved child. Regina dug her mind out of the past, if these were her last few moments she would think of better things than her dead husband and his annoyingly obnoxious child.
"The Queen has been vanquished." Snow indicated Regina, hand-cuffed and her magic manacled with a magic inhibiting pendant, curtesy of Rumple, the slimy treacherous snake. To keep himself safe and in favour with the Charming couple he had thrown Regina under the bus, feigning innocence that it had been his Dark Curse. How on earth could he have known THAT was what Regina planned to do with it? Her hatred for Snow burned bright, but coming in a close second was her former tutor.
"She caused much suffering while she was ruling and that must be punished." The crowd became raucous, cheering that proclamation.
"Death would be too easy for this woman." Snow spoke over the noise of the masses and Regina felt her stomach drop even further.
"We want retribution for her countless acts of violence, her evil deeds and for taking away the happy endings."
The crowd grew in voice, supporting their rightful monarch and Regina finally knew she was lost. Death she was prepared for, but she cringed when she realised that she wasn't going to be granted the ease of that release. They wanted her to pay for her darkness, for her actions.
As Snow held up the container with the part eaten turnover Regina felt her legs get weak. Only True Love could ease the suffering of that curse, and she knew she didn't have one. She was to be doomed to spend eternity in the agonising grip of cursed slumber.
"She will suffer endlessly, seemingly asleep while her mind is twisted in torment and her body burns. It is no worse than she has inflicted on others. This is the royal decision, is there anyone who wishes to dispute this as a fair and just punishment?"
The crowd erupted in applause, shouts of "Make her suffer" and, "Long live the King and Queen!" could be made out over the clapping and hollering. The bound brunette wasn't surprised when no-one spoke for her, she wasn't surprised when she was marched away, but she was surprised where she was taken and who her companion was.
She sat in the Sheriff Station, still with her regal posture, legs crossed correctly even as a wayward spring from the barely there mattress dug into her buttocks. She had been placed in the cell and now looked up at the soft features of Henry's other Mother.
"Emma," She began, and she knew the other woman would listen, it was rare the brunette used her first name. "Please tell Henry how sorry I am, and that I love him with everything I have. If you won't do it for me, do it for him. He is kind and sweet and sensitive and I know this will hurt him even though he will put on a brave front. Let him know I didn't mean any of it to hurt him and that they were my mistakes and he is blameless in this. Will you please do that for me?"
She begged, and while she hated to show weakness and had never begged for anything since she had pushed her mother through a magic mirror, she found it wasn't as hard or unappealing as she had thought it would be.
"Jesus Regina." Emma said, pushing her hands through her hair and then burying them into the back pockets of her jeans. "This is just so messed up."
"Will you do it?" Regina looked at her, sincerity glistening in her eyes, hoping the blonde would do this for Henry if not for her.
"Why didn't you run?" Emma finally breathed out.
"What?" Regina hadn't expected that.
"The curse had broken, you knew they would want blood. Why did you stay and let them capture you? Surely you knew you couldn't win."
"I would rather be dead than spend my life hiding away never able to see my son. That would have been a cruel torture indeed."
"You could have come to me, we could have sorted something out!" Emma's face twisted into so much regret. "I don't condone this punishment, I'm not from that world. It seems overly barbaric and what the hell am I meant to tell Henry?"
"The truth Miss Swan." Regina pierced her with a look under an arched eyebrow. "He won't settle for anything less, believe me, I made that mistake." She let her shoulders slump as the weight of everything collapsed on her.
"I can't tell him that. He thinks he hates you right now, but he doesn't really. You raised him, you're his Mom and he loves you underneath it all. He will be devastated that you aren't a part of his life and as he grows older that space in his heart that should have you in it will only become more painful and grow too."
"You sound like you speak from experience." Regina opined and Emma turned away from her and took a breath to steady herself. Picturing failed foster families from her past as she closed her eyes but it was Neal's face that was most clear and made her shudder and she pushed the image far back from her consciousness.
"We aren't close enough to have that conversation." She gritted out from her pale lips after she had got herself under control again.
"Fine." Regina huffed, then immediately changed the subject, "So are you honestly saying, if I had wanted to run, you would have helped me and allowed me to stay in contact with Henry?"
"I don't know." Emma sighed, "But I can't help thinking it would have been a better solution that this. Henry doesn't deserve to lose his Mom."
"He might not, a True Love might one day cross my path and wake me with a kiss." Regina muttered into her clasped hands and Emma barked out a stilted laugh.
"Yeah, I guess." The blonde agreed, they both knew that chance was slim to nil. But it wasn't like they had any choice now. The royal couple had decreed it, and Emma had stood by helplessly, not understanding the old world mentality or how she could intervene.
"So how will it work?" Regina looked up and asked.
"You are to willingly eat the turnover tomorrow morning, they plan to keep you in your vault, so your body will be safely under lock and key and hopefully won't be defiled in any way. They hope by hiding you things might revert back to normal more quickly, without a visual reminder to keep stirring up the townsfolk. You know I'm sorry, don't you?" Emma asked her and Regina's head shot up in surprise.
"Because you have suddenly gained custody of a temperamental teenage boy?" Regina sarcastically asked, not being comfortable with the sympathy she saw coming from Emma. So she retreated back into her shell of sarcasm and barbed comments.
"Well I can't say that is going to be easy." Emma admitted with a shrug. "You were always the proper Mom who cooked, helped with homework and enforced bedtime. I was just the fun one who bought ice-cream and could throw a football at the park. You know I'm out of my depth here."
Regina could have smiled, Emma admitting she was half-assing her way through motherhood and that Regina was clearly the better parent. But all it did was fill her with dread, because Henry would have to rely on the blonde woman from now on. Even if Emma wasn't ready, she was going to have to pretend to be until she was finally comfortable being Henry's primary caregiver.
She hoped the words of encouragement she was going to give the blonde wouldn't stick in her throat, Emma needed to hear them and be reassured and even if it pained Regina to do anything nice for the blonde, she held Henry's wellbeing above all else.
"Emma, just love him and try to give him structure and support. You need to be confident and learn to discipline him. He will need you so very much once I am gone, you need to be strong and you must do this. I know it is scary, when he was placed in my arms as a baby I had no idea what to do. But you learn every day and get better. You are all he has now, you can't fail him."
"Gee, pressure much Regina?" Emma started to pace in front of the cell, the expectation on her shoulders making her frown and feel trapped. The walking was to try and alleviate the constricting feelings, but it didn't ease it much.
"He is a good boy Emma, he behaves and usually does as he is told. You will make it work with him, I believe that." The brunette was surprised with her own words, soothing the younger woman as best she could. And it hadn't been that hard to know what Emma needed to hear or to speak the words.
"Thanks." Emma nodded.
"But it isn't easy Emma, he will get angry and frustrated and he will lash out, all children do. They don't realise the hurt they can cause with their words and with their actions. You just have to remember the good times and that he is too young to really understand how complex the world is and the depth of his emotions. He is still growing and finding his place and there will be many failures and tantrums before he is comfortable with himself and his family and his choices. Please remember when he lashes out he isn't doing it with intent or probably even forethought. And please, promise me you won't run away from him. And try and learn some patience. I know you are more comfortable with actions than words, but you will need to spend time listening to him and guiding him to become the beautiful and caring young man I know he can be."
"God Regina." Emma breathed out, wishing things were different. The brunette in the cell loved their son, and Emma felt wholly inadequate to take her place. She felt tears prick at her eyes, ones mirrored in the chocolate orbs opposite her.
"Can I have a minute alone?" Regina asked, her voice husky and strained and Emma nodded, needing the time to collect herself too. They retreated to their respective corners to cry softly in private, Emma over the enormity of what she had taken on and Regina for the enormity of her loss. She just hoped Emma could cope, because Henry could be demanding and challenging and she knew Emma had struggled through her solitary life. This was a major upheaval for a woman who had just found her parents and was revered by the whole town as their Saviour.
Regina knew her Sheriff and co-parent well, even if they never spoke of personal matters. She recognised a kindred spirit, someone who had been hurt, abused and struggled with other people and forming relationships and with trust. Too much change and claustrophobic coddling wouldn't be appreciated, but Regina had to hold onto the hope that Emma would be the good person she was born to be. That she would find a way and rise to the challenge. She wished she knew what hope felt like, she was sure it wasn't the sinking feeling in her stomach or the burning tears she was shedding.
6 Weeks Later - Storybrooke
Regina was gone and Emma felt numb. Henry was very subdued and she didn't know how to help. Everything felt in pieces and she had never been good at jigsaw puzzles.
Her parents weren't exactly doing their best to be sympathetic either. Regina's name wasn't to be spoken in their presence and if the conversation ever did somehow find a connection to the slumbering woman then Charming in particular was scathingly in his criticism.
Snow just looked sad, knowing the torment of the sleeping curse and how Regina would be scarred by it should she ever be awoken. Snow's heart was more tender and she knew The Queen was already so damaged. She knew they had acted from a place of anger, much like The Evil Queen had and they no longer stood on the moral high ground. And Snow knew it would have been better to kill Regina outright, because should she ever be woken then Snow doubted after the torment of the sleeping curse she'd be sane. This would in all likelihood have snapped the already delicate mind and when she looked over at her grandson she wanted to weep.
It was clear he still held on to the hope his mother could come back, and Snow realised that Henry was living through the torment as much as Regina. Not in the physical sense of course, but he had bottled up his blame for his grandparents for making this decision, he was trying to rise above his disappointment in Emma for standing by and doing nothing. And he was watching for a miracle that would reunite him with his Mom. Snow knew he was just a young boy and shouldn't have to be dealing with emotions like that, she wasn't surprised he had shut down and was subdued.
She knew now she should have been merciful and ended the woman outright, at least for her grandson's best interests. It would have been difficult, but it would have been a clean break with the chance for Henry to eventually grieve and get closure. Now he was becoming a shell, he had stopped engaging, waiting for a mother everyone else knew there was no hope for.
And Emma was stumbling through her life looking tired and stressed, often turning up late to collect Henry because it was alien to her and she hadn't worked out a new life schedule that included Henry's presence yet. She was juggling being Sheriff and being a mother, she also had to be a daughter and assist her parents in running and ruling the town. Snow didn't want to put running the town on Emma's shoulders, but having lived in this world for nearly thirty years she was the most useful and had the relevant knowledge about how things worked. In a bizarre twist, Snow actually respected Regina, she had been a good Mayor and ran the town without incident. Loathe as Snow was to admit it, the town was suffering without the snippy older woman. Snow, Charming, and with Emma's occasional input, were trying to run the town but it wasn't easy and tensions in their apartment were often stretched.
It didn't surprise Snow when Emma came home one evening looking particularly drained and walked in on her parents relieving their stress in the age old way that it came to a head. Things had been brewing for some time now.
Emma went to her room to, "let them finish" with a shudder running through her body. This wasn't an isolated incident, she often heard them making love as the walls were thin and she began to think that living on top of each other wasn't healthy. She couldn't have a few beers without Snow fussing that she talk about what was troubling her or looking reproachful if she thought Emma was getting too drunk. She couldn't' go out without them asking where, or with whom. And she was frustrated that Henry wasn't allowed to even mention his Mom. It was cruel because for the first ten years of his life that was all he had known. Was Emma a fan of the woman? Of course not, but if Henry needed to talk about her to find some comfort or some closure she would damn well let him. This cramped living arrangement wasn't working and her son was her top priority. Her parents came in second and they would have to understand that.
She'd go and pick Henry up from after school football practice, she had final begun to get his extracurricular activities straight in her head and knew where and when he would be. She most certainly didn't want him walking in on what she just had so they would go to Granny's and hang out, giving her parents a good few hours to get busy in private.
The kid was quiet, as always, when she collected him.
"How was practice?" Emma tried.
"Alright." Was his simple answer.
Emma tried again, "Fancy Granny's? I could really go for a chocolate malt, it's been one of those days." She tried to nudge his shoulder and wink at him, using the humour they had always shared before the curse broke, but he just sat there, cocooned in his thoughts and feelings.
Shit, Emma thought, I am failing him so badly.
She ordered for both of them, Snow would be cooking a family dinner as was routine so they just had milkshakes.
"Henry," she started, "do you want to go back and talk to Archie again?"
His head shot up. "Do you think I'm crazy too?"
"No, that's not what I meant at all." Emma was frustrated, this wasn't the conversation she wanted to have. She was concerned for her child, he'd had a massive life change, she wanted to let him know she was there for him and was supportive. Now he was looking at her wearily and she wanted to crash her head into the table. She refrained, but just barely. It didn't help that Emma thought back and could see that when Regina had talked seriously to Henry she had made it look so easy and effortless.
Emma thought of techniques the brunette had used. She had bent her knees and came down to Henry's level and looked in his eyes. She had put her hand on his shoulder to give him a physical signal of her strength and comfort. Her eyes were always filled with love and her tone of voice was always soft. Maybe Emma should try some of those techniques, but she wasn't sure. Regina had learned what worked over years of bonding with her son. Could Emma just come in and steal them? She settled with good eye contact and what she hoped was an open expression on her face.
"Archie is just a really good guy, and he listens and helps people. I thought he could talk about your Mom with you. I don't think you're crazy, that isn't what this conversation is about. I love you, Kid, I just want to help. I thought that might be a place to start because you're miserable and I hate seeing you so unhappy."
"I just miss her. I know I told her I hated her, but I didn't realise that this would happen. I thought she'd always be there you know? I was angry, but I know now I don't hate her, and it is too late to tell her." Henry opened up a little and Emma grabbed it with both hands.
"She knew you loved her Kid, I spoke to her late into the night before she ate the turnover the next morning. And all she thought about was you, every word she told me was about how to look after you and to be a good mom. She loved you so much and was devastated that she had poisoned you, it really messed up her head. And it is okay to miss her."
"But Grandpa..."
Emma interrupted him, "Didn't know her like you did. And just because he hates her, doesn't mean you have to. It's like saying everyone should like broccoli. We all like different things, some people hate broccoli, some people love it."
"Did you just compare my Mom to broccoli?" Henry had the beginnings of a smile touching his lips. It wasn't much, but Emma felt her own face start to grin. "She'd kill you for that." The boy added.
"Yep, I think she probably would." Emma agreed. It was a small step, but Emma had got more than a monosyllable from him and she counted that as a win.
"Listen kid," the blonde woman tried again, "it's okay to be confused, or scared, or upset. And those feelings won't go away any time soon, because you loved your Mom and she was a big part of your life. You are probably always going to miss her, but you don't have to hide those feelings. I don't think that is healthy."
"But we can't talk about her at the loft." Henry pointed out.
"Yeah, about that." Emma said. "I think we need to move out. We need our own space." She held her breath, waiting for Henry to tell her she was crazy, but he didn't.
Instead he said, "Did you mean it? That you want to help?"
"Of course Henry."
He looked down at the table top as he mumbled out, "Can I go home, that's what I think would help."
Emma was taken aback, but she could see merit in his idea. He would be in his own space where he felt comfortable as he had grown up there. And there would be reminders of Regina and they could talk about her as little or as often as he wanted or needed. There was a garden for him to play in and run around in or kick his soccer ball. There were multiple guest rooms for Emma to pick as her own. Was it a little odd? Living in the brunette's house without her being there or her permission? Yes it was. But if Henry wanted it, Emma wasn't going to say no.
She did have to make one thing very clear though, "When your Mom wakes up and finds me living in her house, that is all on you, okay?" She doubted that would ever happen, but she couldn't kill her son's hope. And if it happened that Regina was revived, Emma would be in trouble for so much anyway, bad parenting, breaking the curse, being the child of Snow and Charming, letting the Mayor's town go to hell, what was a little unauthorised tenancy to add to the list?
Henry smirked at her and Emma saw a hint of the slumbering brunette in his malicious merriment.
Now to tell her parents they were moving out, Emma grimaced at the thought. It was unlikely to go well but at least the couple would be satisfied and full of happy endorphins. Emma shuddered again.
3 Months Later - Swan-Mills Mansion
Emma felt the pressure of Christmas weighing her down. She needed to make it good for Henry, family occasions were when it most highlighted that Regina was missing.
She wanted it to be special, their first Christmas together, so had spent more money than she had on his presents. She wanted the house to be festive and knew Regina would have beautiful decorations, so she had done some detective work and guessed they were in the attic as they really weren't anywhere else. The attic was locked, which ordinarily wouldn't be a problem for Emma Swan, master thief, but even she knew it would be better to have the key. It was her house after all. No-one broke into their own house, it lacked the thrill. And she ought to have access to every room, wanting a key to every door really wasn't odd. But it did feel odd that she was calling the mansion home, yet as the months passed she had found herself beginning to settle. Regina's tastes that had first been intimidating and overpowering had grown on her and she felt much more comfortable in the older woman's space now.
Her great plan to begin Christmas right meant she wanted to surprise Henry when he came home from school with a house covered in lights, a tree standing tall, and a decorated fireplace. She was going to take a day off and go all out, making the house glow with Christmas cheer.
"Kid" she started when he came home from school, "where would your Mom keep important things?"
"Like what?" He asked, head cocked.
"Certificates for you, insurance stuff for the house, I just want to be covered and prepared you know?" Emma told him, a shrug in her shoulders.
"Mom would have everything covered, she was methodical and careful." Henry smiled at the thought of his brunette mother who was always up to date with paperwork and took care of everything. "But if you need to check, it'll be in the false bottom of her desk drawer in the study."
"Cool, thanks Kid." Emma grinned at him, ruffling his hair as she walked past him. Sneak she thought, definitely her and Neal's child with his ingenuity and eyes that noticed everything. And Emma hadn't noticed the false bottom, but she had her own reasons for that.
Emma had done a cursory sweep of the house but hadn't wanted to poke around in Regina's personal items, it felt like an invasion of her privacy, which was hilariously ironic. While the curse had been in full swing Emma had broken in to the mayor's office, had skulked around her garage and would have happily broke into her family vault or tailed the woman because the blonde felt deep in her gut that the older woman was hiding something. Of course, Emma had been right, although she never dreamt it was a cursed existence that was the key to the puzzle.
In her silent observation and lie detecting she had also seen that Regina herself had been hiding. She was comfortable and confident as Mayor Mills here, she was not The Evil Queen, but Emma had sensed Regina was always waiting for it to crash down around her. With the truth revealed Emma finally understood the fear and desperation she had occasionally glimpsed in the older woman's eyes. Because Storybrooke had been a new start, and a space to reinvent herself, and she could leave that version of herself behind all the while the curse held. Emma was certain Regina wasn't that person anymore and that part of her was repulsed with her previous behaviour. Emma felt confident in the knowledge that Regina didn't even like The Queen and some of her more maniacal traits anymore, but there was little point dwelling on it - Regina was asleep and no matter what Emma thought, justice had apparently been served.
Emma needed to get the brunette out of her head, she was no longer in her space and bothering her to do her job or some pointless paperwork. But she lingered and it wasn't because the blonde was living in her house. Something about the whole situation made Emma uneasy, and she tried to tell herself it was because Henry missed his brunette mother, but Emma knew it was more than that. She wished for another conversation, another piece of advice, even another argument. Because at least Regina had treated her like an adult. Yes the woman had been a nightmare, challenging her in her authority, pushing her to her breaking point several times, but Regina had never thought she was a child who needed protecting or guiding. Or put her on a pedestal because she had kissed her son and broken a curse. It wasn't hard, parents kissed their children all the time, for a whole town to think it was miraculous was just another step towards crazy that Storybrooke and its residents seemed to lap up.
Regina had been real, a harsh edge to her words and behaviour, but Emma respected that, even when she hated her. She always knew where she stood. If Emma had to call it, Evil or not, Regina was possibly the most rounded person in the town, because she knew pain, heartache, the horrible grey areas life threw at you and expected you to live in. She didn't believe that Fairy magic or goodness would eventually fix everything and that shoving a new-born child into a magic wardrobe would work out because it was prophesised. Her parents were self-absorbed and convinced in their own morality, at least Regina owned her crimes, being haunted by them. Emma had seen that in her eyes too when they had shared an eye lock when they had thought they might lose Henry at the mines. Emma had known that day that there was more in those chocolate orbs than just fear about her son. There were shadows and pain and a depth that had surprised Emma about the usually put together Mayor, it was a glimpse at the humanity she usually buried behind aggression and snark.
And even after all of Regina's changes, creating a town that functioned, keeping all the citizens safe and warm at night, fed and healthy, they condemned the woman. Yes she had been a terror in her past life, but it was the past. All the fairy-tales Emma had read were about never giving up, always getting a second chance, having a happy ending where the bad guy always repented and was saved, and coming to the side of good after a monumental struggle. For a bunch of Fairy-tale characters, Emma decided this town didn't behave much like them, focusing on retribution and anger rather than morality and forgiveness. This wasn't a happily ever after, it was more like a horror film where everything became about blood thirsty revenge.
As it became clear that the curse had broken and memories came flooding back, the town massed together, demanding settlement and justice for their ordeal. Emma wasn't that sympathetic, Regina had forcibly moved them, removed their free will, but she hadn't hurt them and in Emma's opinion Storybrooke was a vast improvement on a flea infested forest. No-one else saw her point so she shut up and removed herself from the discussions, claiming she hadn't suffered by Regina's hand and had no desire to punish the older woman.
Now Emma knew the truth of the town and the inhabitants she saw how much everyone judged the brunette woman, ignoring the cursed years and focusing on her Enchanted Forest years. And the consensus they had reached was they all thought they knew her, they thought they understood her. Queen Regina's motivation for her actions was that she was evil, it was simple and cut and dried in their minds.
Foolish people, Emma thought. Emma knew how memories haunted you and how grey life could be, and she had only known Regina for a few months but she had recognised some of Regina's actions for what they were. Lashing out at the world, defending herself from the hurt it caused, shielding herself from friends and emotions because they also cut into her. It seemed everyone else in the town was allowed sympathy and to make mistakes, but no-one cared enough to look at Mayor Mills and see that she was also human and her aloof nature was because she was hurting. Emma couldn't believe she had sympathy for the woman who had made her life so difficult, but she did, she recognised it as it clenched in her gut and softened her heart to her once nemesis.
Emma suspected Regina probably held her secrets, clearly had her motivations like every other person, but no-one ever thought to ask or look for more than surface reasons. And it worried at Emma because she didn't know if she deserved to stumble across them, or if she wanted to. Poking around too much in the regal woman's house might just reveal more than Emma wanted. It was a huge responsibility to understand The Evil Queen, and to be privy to her secrets and Emma had enough thrust upon her with Henry. Being his mother's confident and knowing her inner most thoughts and desires was one step too far in a relationship she felt they had only developed in those few hours before Regina's sentence had been enacted.
But Emma went to the drawer anyway, releasing the latch that hid Regina's personal items with ease. She found lots of papers - each in an envelope detailing house insurance, Henry's adoption papers, medical insurance and the like. There was a large bunch of skeleton keys, what looked to be a battered diary, a more personal set of keys with the keyring "Best Mom!" attached to it and some photos and a necklace. Emma snagged all of it, but threw all of the items except the keys with the keyring into her own bedside drawer on the way to the attic space.
When the key turned Emma forgot all about the other bits and pieces she had collected, she scampered up the stairs and into the new room, which she discovered was a treasure trove of Henry's childhood. There were boxes lining the walls, all neatly labelled as to the contents. She spied the numerous ones containing decorations, but the ones that drew her eye were the ones that had Henry's baby clothes in them, some more that had his old school books and yet more that had his old cuddly toys in them. She had a link to those missing 10 years if she wanted to take it, Regina had provided that for her if she was brave enough to open the boxes and look.
Emma continued to scan the boxes and found there were another few that said "Henry's Christmas Present" in the Mayor's script and Emma nearly tripped over her own feet. How had the woman, who had been gone for nearly 5 months, already bought Henry Christmas Presents? Organised didn't begin to cover it. Emma thought that perhaps the keyring, that had obviously been given when times were happier, might not have been accurate. And what did she do with the bits and pieces now she knew of there existence? Henry was still fragile about his mom, regardless of what he said out loud. To be confronted with gifts from her might set him back, making him realise even more what he was missing.
Deciding she still had time before she had to make that decision the blonde grabbed the boxes of decorations and piled them at the top of the stairs. She took them one at a time down the attic stairs and then made her way downstairs to start riffling through the boxes to see what she might be missing and needed to buy. There was surprisingly little Emma wanted to add to the huge haul of festivity Regina had amassed so she set about putting up the tinsel, lights, hanging decorations and paper banners. She was planning on getting a real tree so she made a quick call to David to ask if he was available and if she could use his truck.
So later that afternoon with David's help she collected a beautiful spruce fir and between them they were able to carry it into the house. She set about decorating that and when she was finished closed the curtains against the natural light, lit a few candles and turned on the Christmas lights. She had to admit she had done a good job, it felt warm, the light reflected off the shiny surface of the baubles hanging from the tree and Emma felt the magic of Christmas settle over her. It was a new feeling, one the lights in the boutiques of Boston had never inspired in her and she hoped Henry would find some joy in it as well.
Christmas Day - Swan-Mills Mansion
"Henry." Emma called to her son, who had rushed off after opening what he assumed were his last presents. He had gone to get his phone to begin texting his friends "Happy Christmas" wishes and to share stories of who had got what.
He came back, a grin firmly in place. He had thanked Emma profusely and she had hugged him tight after the gift exchange, and she knew he was enjoying the day. Snow's hideous Christmas jumper gift sat around his frame, crumbs of the pie Granny and Ruby had given them as a Christmas dessert clung to the fabric.
"There are actually a few more present for you." Emma told him, holding her breath for his reaction.
"Oh?" He asked, looking under the tree and seeing a few boxes there. He had assumed they were for the neighbours or someone else, but Emma nodded to him as he reached out for them.
"They were in the attic, I found them when I got the decorations." Emma told him, worrying at her hands, picking at her nails as she hoped she had made the right decision.
"So... they're from... Mom?" Henry asked, his brow furrowed as he still didn't understand.
"Yeah from your Mom. I am guessing that wasn't all she had planned to give you, it was what she had bought so far." Emma found herself making excuses, even though there was a substantial pile for him to open.
"Wow." Henry looked with wonder at the gifts, and then at her. "Did you wrap them?"
"Yeah." Emma shrugged a little and her son laughed.
"I can tell, Mom wouldn't have used that paper and it would have been A LOT neater. But thanks Emma, this is really cool." He had tears shining in his eyes as he looked at the pile of love Emma had clumsily wrapped up.
"You're welcome Kid, she wanted you to have it, so I made sure you did."
"Wow." Henry repeated and sat down and just stared for a few minutes. Emma let him, knowing these were special moments, the last gifts from his Mom and once they were gone there might never be any more. She gave him a few minutes and then came up behind him and wrapped her arms round him, pulling him into her body heat and trying to cocoon him and keep him safe and the pain of loss at bay.
Approximately 8 Months After the Breaking of the Curse - Swan-Mills Mansion
Things had continued in the slow and steady pace that was a small town. Emma did her Sheriff duties during the day and had learned to cook proper food in Regina's well equipped kitchen. She ate most evenings with her son, unless they wanted Granny's or Snow had arranged a family dinner. Henry was still working through his emotions and the loss of his mother and she let him, being there to listen if he indicated he wanted her to. Otherwise he had gone back to school and spent his free time like most other boys, playing video games, throwing a football in the park or watching ridiculous TV shows late into the evening. He had tried skateboarding but couldn't find his balance, he had experimented with learning card tricks but had lost interest quickly. He still loved his comics and his own company but he did go out with some of his friends from school from time to time. Emma hoped he was as well rounded as you could expect after losing his mother to a magical curse and living in a town of fairy-tale characters.
And Emma was relaxed in Regina's house now, it had felt odd for months, but Emma had to admit the woman had style and very nice tastes. The bed was soft and plush, the covers silk. The shower, even in the guest bath was enormous. The carpets were deep, the furniture made of real wood, and not the cheap chipboard Emma had only ever known in her life. The finish, even down to the wallpaper that actually had real gold leaf embedded in it, screamed quality and wealth and was superb. And Emma had never known that kind of opulence in her life, but she had grown accustomed to it now and was beginning to call the house her home.
But even now she felt comfortable in the large house, enjoying the finery inside the four walls, Emma didn't venture into Regina's room. The exception was unless Henry was in there looking for something or he felt the need to be closer to the brunette and curled himself up on her bed. Emma often came in when she realised he was in there crying, but she never told him no or barred his entry, she also didn't try and stop his crying, she just rubbed his back in the most soothing way she knew.
Snow wasn't making such a good job running the town, but Emma tried to keep out of it as much as she could. Mostly it was because of the culture clash. The internet didn't fit in with the archaic ideas many of the town wanted taught to the children. And there was a group of men who wanted to stop football being taught at the school because in their view the non-lethal sports of this world weren't entertaining. Apparently sport didn't thrill an audience unless there was the danger of losing an eye or a limb. Suggestions as to replacements like jousting or axe throwing were being made. Emma had cringed and just hoped her mother stood firm, otherwise she would be excusing Henry indefinitely from his Physical Education lessons.
But in general, nothing had escalated from heated council discussions, so Emma left her mother to preside over the mess and ignored things as much as she was able.
Ignoring problems with the town was one thing, but it soon became clear Emma had a problem at home, and she knew she couldn't ignore it. She first noticed the problem with Henry about 6 weeks ago. He was sneaking out after he thought she had fallen asleep. And to be fair, he might have been doing it for longer, it was just that night she hadn't managed to fall asleep. So she heard him go downstairs and instead of the fridge opening and him getting a midnight snack, she had been concerned when she heard the front door being gently opened and shut. She felt panic grip her, but she pushed it down. For all of Snow's incompetence at running the town, it was a safe space. Henry had been through a lot, Emma felt in her gut she should let him go and see what happened. But she didn't go to sleep until she heard the door open again a few hours later and knew Henry was safely home again.
She had finally made the decision to follow Henry, fed up of him running away in the night to who knew where. She thought back to when she first arrived in Storybrooke and how the kid would sneak away from Regina and visit her. She hadn't minded it then, but she now realised why Regina had been so worried and concerned. And Emma knew that was what it was now, Regina just hadn't had the capabilities to deal with her fear so she had resorted to anger, lashing out at Emma and becoming terse towards Henry as he hurt her more every day with his disappearing acts.
Emma now felt the stress of a missing child sitting heavy in her heart. Even though he always came back by the morning, tired and sullen, Emma couldn't stop the thoughts that maybe one day he wouldn't. He could get himself hurt, be laying injured in a ditch and she wouldn't find out until the sun came up and someone happened to spot him. Or he could finally have put the pieces together, realised she was only just managing to make it through every day being a responsible Mom and be running from her and just keep going. She was insecure about being a parent, insecure that Henry actually loved her enough to come back, and scared because she loved him so much and he wasn't opening up and trusting her to tell her where he was sneaking off to. She thought they were close, they had planned Operation Cobra together, now she was being shut out and she knew Regina's pain first hand.
She suspected this had been far harder for Regina, because if Emma messed up now, Henry had no-one else to run to. When Regina had upset him he had gleefully run to Emma and it had caused the older parent's struggle with her temper and emotions to multiply. The Queen had been so scared she had tried to hold on too tight, restricting Henry until he became bitter and angry towards her. It was sad really, because Regina had loved Henry so much and he had been so obsessed with his fairy-tales that he hadn't seen it until it was too late and his Mom was resting in an eternal sleep.
Emma had allowed the running away because Storybrooke was a safe town, Henry had lived here all his life and knew every inch of it. Add to that he was the Sheriff/Saviour's son and no-one would dare to harm him. And she didn't want to ruin their relationship, didn't want to impose strict rules and become the parent Henry hated, but he couldn't keep running away and doing exactly what he wanted. There were rules to being a kid, and Emma knew Regina had raised him to know that. This was misbehaviour and needed to be reined in and possibly punished. But first the blonde woman wanted to know what he was doing, so she hung back in the darkness, watching her son wander down the sidewalk.
Once he left the lights of the sidewalk and started to walk through the wooded pathways she knew where he was going. She didn't know if she should breathe a sigh of relief or to worry more. As she put her foot on the dewy grass of the cemetery and saw her son disappear into the Mills family vault she knew she didn't have to be stealthy anymore. It was a good job too as there was no undergrowth or shadows to hide her as she crossed the moonlit ground and inspected the lock. Henry had to have a key, the lock was open but not damaged. She was going to have a stern talk with Snow, she was meant to be keeping those keys safe. But Henry was her son, and she had been a pretty good thief. Emma groaned, it was another thing she'd need to punish him for. At this rate he'd be grounded the whole year.
Emma stood just inside the doorway, so she could hear what was happening but slip away unseen if Henry decided to leave. And it tore at her heart the words she heard spill from her son.
"Mom, I'm back again. I know you probably can't hear me, but the doctors that treat coma patients say sometimes talking helps and I'm happy to keep trying. It has been another slow week, they are trying to teach us about farming in school and we learned about roods, perches, furlongs and acres to measure the size of your fields. I don't understand most of it, but all the other kids seem to enjoy knowing the old ways, some are hoping they might get to go back one day. I really, really don't. I like the internet and electricity too much, and this will make you laugh. I think I even would miss a shower. Yeah, I know - you used to have to fight to get me to bathe, but Grace said they used to have an ANNUAL wash in the local pond. That's disgusting, and cold, and well just plain wrong."
Henry took a breath and kept talking to his silent Mother.
"Grandma is messing up the running of the town. I know the storybook always quoted you as saying she had been badly spoiled and didn't understand how to manage a kingdom, and I guess you were right. You already know I stole the keys from her, but then I guess I come from a line of bandits don't I? Grandma was one, Mom was imprisoned for theft, it isn't exactly a surprise I'm quick, nibble and could be an outlaw if we went back to the Enchanted Forest. Grandpa is slightly more normal and has started to take me riding and to train me at sword fighting. Don't' worry, I only have a wooden practice sword at the moment and even when I get a proper sword Grandpa has filed the point and the edges down to be blunt. He says I am a long way from getting a proper sword but these will help me judge the weight and work on my swing. I wish you were here so I could show you, I'd stand before you and defend you."
Emma had very little time to process the news that Henry didn't want to go back to the Enchanted Forest, was disillusioned at school and seemed to have a problem with his maternal grandmother. Snow and David had been talking often about trying to return to their old land and Henry was clearly not interested. He also seemed to speak about Snow with resentment and Emma wondered how much dislike her son was disguising and hiding during their family time. She filled the information away as she heard her son stop and take a shaky breath.
"Sorry Mom," he continued after a minute. "I promised I wouldn't get upset, didn't I? And I have done pretty well in the last few weeks. I just wasn't expecting it not to work. I guess I'm still a stupid kid sometimes, you always said I believed too much. I need you to know that I DO love you, okay? I don't know why kissing you didn't wake you up. Emma was able to break your curse by kissing me, I honestly thought this would be the same. But we agreed we weren't going to dwell on it, that it was a few weeks ago and I needed to leave it in the past."
"Okay, so moving on. I really don't know if I should tell you this. You might get all protective and ground me. But I'd rather be honest with you so um, well, I think I like Grace. I mean like like her. Except when she is telling me she only used to wash once a year. But as long as we stay here then she washes like almost every day and I think I'd like to try and kiss her. I tried to hold her hand the other day, but she became really shy and pulled away from me. Grandpa says that I shouldn't worry, that she was probably just surprised and nervous and I should try again. Should I maybe not go for a kiss just yet? Maybe I should be like a knight in the stories and only kiss her hand and bring her flowers first. Then she'd know I was serious and chivalrous and being from the old world maybe she expects something like that?"
Emma felt surprise wash over her face. Henry wanted a girlfriend? How had she not heard of this? David knew and now so did Regina. And Grace, she was related to Jefferson. He wasn't the most stable person, Emma prayed the mental problems didn't run in the family and that Grace wouldn't flip out and hurt Henry.
"Well, it's late Mom, so I had better get back and get some sleep. I know you don't approve of me visiting on a school night, but I didn't want to wait to tell you about Grace until the weekend." Henry was beginning to move around and Emma knew she'd have to be quick in her escape. "See you again soon." He whispered and Emma could just imagine him dropping a kiss to the brunette's forehead before she had to scamper out of the doorway and into the shadow of the building to avoid being seen by her son.
Emma walked quietly around to the back of the mausoleum and stood in the shadows as her son left the vault. Was Snow unconsciously pushing her son away and driving a wedge between them? She watched him cross the grass, weaving between tombstones and then disappearing between some hedges.
When she was certain he was out of sight and not going to return she crept back to the door. Henry had locked everything back up, but Emma was a better thief than her son. She picked the locks and used her phone to light the space. It was eerie but she was shocked to find Henry had obviously been coming quiet regularly and had made the space as comfortable as he could. There was a stool with a soft cushioned top that he obviously sat on and he had brought candles and flowers. The flowers seemed fresh and Emma leaned over to smell them.
She then looked at the woman laying so still, Henry had brought her a blanket and covered her, fearing she would be cold in the dank air of the mausoleum. He had also placed a red rose so that it was laying on her chest. Emma felt tears prick her eyes, her son spent his nights here, trying desperately to make up for his vicious words and unkind actions towards the brunette woman during the year before the curse had broken. And his guilt wasn't abating, he was visiting more frequently if his nightly escapes were all to come here. Emma thought back to what she had heard, that his kiss hadn't woken the older woman.
She could still hear the way his voice had shook as he apologised to the silent brunette and promised her that his love was true and that he just didn't understand why he couldn't wake her up. Emma knew his love was true, but this failure must be weighing heavily on her son. Henry had begun to wonder and worry and doubt himself. That doubt, Emma knew what that did to you. It undermined your confidence, made you begin to question everything. But Henry shouldn't be worried, the blanket and the rose and the visits told her that Regina was right. He was a kind and caring boy and would grow into a fine young man, one with so much love in his heart. But Emma needed to reassure him now, and tell him that is wasn't his fault that his brunette mother still slept. She just wished she could give him some answers about curses, magic and True Love so he would believe her words.
Archie's Office 2 Days Later
"So you don't think I should be worried that he is visiting Regina?"
The therapist nodded his agreement at his blonde visitor.
"Henry needs to let go and begin to grieve, but his behaviour isn't unhealthy. People visit graves and speak to their dead loved ones all the time."
"But she isn't dead Archie!"
"Not in the typical sense. But do you think she has a True Love, Emma? Do you think she is coming back?"
"No. I feel terribly for Henry, but I don't think there is any hope."
Archie noticed the resigned look in her eyes and scratched at his face. The woman really had no idea about Regina or herself it seemed. Archie knew The Queen had reacted so extremely in both the old world and this one because of her deep feelings and her capacity to love. It was highly likely that if someone managed to break down some of the walls Regina had erected that the prickly brunette could learn to love again. She would deny it of course, but the problem with Regina had always been she had lost herself and sometimes believed her own lies. And he suspected the brunette had been lying to herself for a while before her curse had broken.
He had been at the mine that day and saw the looks between the two women, and the trust Regina had put in the blonde. It was significant and yet Emma seemed oblivious. Archie sighed, Henry had spoken several times in his sessions back during the curse about his mothers' being together romantically. The boy had felt the tension between them and was certain there was some kind of spark. And Archie knew the boy was idealistic and wanted a nice, easy solution, where his family was together under one roof and the arguments would cease. But more than that, Archie knew the boy was intuitive and he might even be right about the two women.
After all, Archie knew theirs was a deeply emotional relationship, the games they had played and the hurt they had inflicted on each other showed that. He thought about Regina's poor apple tree, he had seen the look of devastation as she collected the fallen apples that day. Emma had always been able to push the mayor's buttons and get an immediate response. He suspected they were more in tune with each other than either of them knew, and that both the women thought it was hate, but it was really quite a close spectrum before that line blurred into love. As a therapist he naturally studied characters and was insightful and what they did share burned bright. It could be easy to be blinded by it and think it was absolute hatred, especially when you were emotionally closed off. And both women had a difficulty grasping emotions unless their son was involved, they were never going to openly explore there was an attraction between them.
Archie pushed his opinion away, today was about Henry anyway.
"Do you want to start introducing the idea that she might not wake up?" Archie queried.
"Not yet, it will crush him." Emma answered.
"But he has been without her for nearly a year, and he is a clever boy, don't you think he already suspects there is no chance?"
"Yes I'm sure he has wondered about it, but I don't think I can take this dream away from him, not yet."
"Are you doing this for him or for yourself Emma?" The man asked, taking his glasses off to polish them. "Is it a difficult conversation and you are just hiding from it? Henry deserves more than that."
"You sound just like her." Emma whined. "She told me not to lie to him."
Archie held on to his glasses tighter, not allowing the shock to show on his face. When had they had a conversation like that? From the way Emma said it they had engaged in a civil discussion about Henry's needs, but all he had ever seen was a brutal tug of war going on between the two women. Archie looked at Emma's face and saw there was no anger clouding her features. She could talk about the sleeping woman with a calmness that had not been there during the first year they knew each other.
"Then don't lie to him." Archie told her, looking her dead in the eye.
"I'm not am I?" Emma blew out her annoyance. "No-one knows how this magic works or what will happen, least of all me. At least the rest of you grew up with magic and curses."
Archie parked that, the blonde was correct, magic worked in strange ways and while Regina would probably know the answer, the rest of the non-magical community had very little idea how it worked. To expect Emma to have all the answers was unfair, and he acknowledged her frustration was in part justified. But that gave him another idea that he allowed to grow in the back of his mind as he asked his next question.
"Do you talk about her Emma? Do you keep her memory alive?" Archie pressed. "By being open and mentioning her then Henry won't feel the need to hide his visits and he will remember his own good times with Regina."
"I don't stop him talking about her, I listen." Emma told the man. "But I can't talk about her, I hardly knew her. And my relationship with her was aggressive and abusive. I don't think stories about her punching me in the face because I slept with her boyfriend are what Henry needs."
Archie again clamped his lips closed. He didn't know they had resorted to a fist fight over Graham. And it only fuelled his suspicions, that Regina had stuck out from jealousy, but not the way Emma thought.
Emma felt defeated. She wanted to help Henry but she was inadequate, as usual. If Regina could see her floundering she'd be equally parts annoyed that she had been made to put her faith in such a severe fuck-up and amused at the discomfort of the blonde.
"Can I suggest something?" Archie saw the stress in Emma's posture and on her face. At least that explained why Regina could read her so easily, Emma wasn't the master of masking her face as The Queen had been. Emma looked up with a hint of desperation in her eyes and so he ploughed on.
"Snow knew Regina, even before she became Queen. She probably knows her better than anyone and certainly having lived with her she must have some stories she can tell. Ask her to share her memories and to help Henry. She can bond with her Grandson and give you some time on your own to relax. It has been long enough, I'm sure some of your mother's animosity has faded and she can be objective about the girl Regina was."
"Henry has issues with Snow." Emma said very quietly.
"Understandable." Archie replied, the boy had lost his Mother at his Grandmother's hand, there was bound to be resentment over it.
"Do I ask him about it, let him know I evesdropped and heard his intimate conversation with his sleeping Mother?" Emma asked, biting her lip and hoping Henry wouldn't hate her for betraying his secrets.
"Not right now, I think we deal with Henry one problem at a time. Otherwise all we will do is firefight and not get any issues resolved in their entirety. Let's begin to talk about Regina and celebrate her memory, we can gradually begin insert the idea she won't come back and allow him to grieve with his family. If Snow shares her stories, it will rebuild a bridge between them and lessen Henry's resentment."
"Do you think she'll agree?" Emma asked.
"Snow values family Emma, she values you and Henry. If you ask her for something and it is in her power she'll do it gladly. That's what parents do, you understand because it is why you are here talking to me. You want the best for your child and to protect them from suffering just as Snow does. You aren't a bad parent, and your instincts are good. You just need to trust yourself more, but also trust your family. Let Snow help and take some of the burden you are carrying. It is long overdue."
Emma lifted her head and he saw the conflict there. She didn't ask for help, she was self-sufficient, coming here had been from desperation. Again he was struck by how similar the two women who had been a parent to Henry were.
He had planted a seed and that was all he could do today, today wasn't about Emma despite the fact he could clearly see she needed his help as much as Henry. So he allowed her to change the subject as she started to ask about suitable discipline for the boy and how to handle it.
"Emma I think you should sit henry down and discuss what he wants. Communication is important, he doesn't want to feel like a child where everyone makes his decisions for him. Henry will be more receptive if he feels he has been involved in the process."
Archie put his glasses back on and leaned back before continuing. "He will want to continue to visit Regina and that is fine, it is his timing that you have a problem with. So let him know that he can visit his mother during the day, and that he needn't hide anymore. Then he will sleep at night and stop sneaking around. But you are correct, he needs to be punished, he can't wander around town in the middle of the night and he should have asked your permission rather than breaking and entering."
Emma nodded, that was what she had thought, but she felt the need to have someone else back her up over it.
"As for discipline," The therapist continued, "you know what he enjoys, limit his access to it for a defined period of time. Be clear and don't waver."
Emma knew all of this, she was just insecure and worried about her lack of parenting skills and Archie was sharp enough to have identified that. He knew his role was to support her and build her confidence.
The blonde answered, "Yeah, that makes sense. I can do that. But what about his guilt? How can I tell him it isn't his fault and make him believe it?"
Archie was pleased the topic had come back round so he could suggest the idea that had been rolling round his head for the last ten minutes.
"Have you thought of asking someone who knows about curses or True Love magic? Then you can back up his failure to revive his mother with facts? Henry is a very rational boy when he wants to be, research it, and possibly even involve him in it."
"Mmmmhh. Maybe." Emma was sceptical as she hummed and thought about the suggestion. It was definitely an avenue she could explore, but who should she trust? Gold, Blue? The least she could do was think more about it before dismissing it completely.
Looking at the time and seeing Henry would be finishing his after school math club Emma knew the session was over, "Thanks Archie, you've been really helpful." And he had been, but Emma couldn't shake the feeling she was doing a sub-par job.
As Emma stood to leave Archie rose too and held open the door. Ever the therapist he told her retreating figure, "Emma my door is always open if you need more advice about Henry. Don't be a stranger." He knew to openly push at the blonde would result in her walls slamming into place and shutting him out, but this was subtle enough to niggle at the back of her mind and remind her that she had friends and a support system in place if she needed to reach out.
She turned around and gave him a half smile. Archie knew she still had a long way to go, but her shoulders weren't as slumped as when she had arrived. It was a small change, but in his business it was usually about taking small steps until you eventually crossed the finish line.
Next Saturday Afternoon - The Charming Loft
"So Dad's at work?" Emma threw herself into the sofa as her mother rolled her eyes at the lack of grace shown by her Princess daughter.
"Yes, which you well know, being his boss."
"Oh yeah." Emma grinned.
"So I am guessing you want to talk to me on my own?" Snow commented.
"I need a favour." Emma was fidgeting on the sofa, her discomfort clear. But she was resolute and there was a steely look in her eyes, this was for her son and she could stomach a difficult conversation with her mother.
"Go ahead Sweetie." Her mother encouraged, leaning back against the breakfast bar.
"So I spent some time talking to Archie." Emma began, "and he kind of suggested you might help Henry."
"Anything." Snow said.
"Will you share stories with him? Tell him about Regina."
"What? Emma no. Henry needs to move on and forget his mother. Bringing her up won't help him."
"Well Archie thinks it will. And I agree. Cutting Regina out of his life so violently and then acting as if she never existed is a short sighted solution and isn't helping him long term. He spent ten years growing up with her, he won't just forget her no matter how much you might want him to."
"But Emma honey, she is evil and dark. She should never have been allowed a child in case she corrupted them. We are just lucky henry turned out ok and is inherently good inside."
Emma sighed to herself. Here we go with all the Evil crap again. 28 years the town had existed, trapped in its little bubble. Regina had everyone at her mercy and the most she had inflicted were a few parking tickets and Granny's questionable coffee. Evil was Snow's perception, remembering a woman who wore bosom exposing corsets and laughed with a hint of madness. Since arriving in this world Regina had kept her breasts covered much more and probably hadn't laughed until Henry started to blow spit bubbles. And Emma knew it would have been a joyful sound, not maniacal glee. Snow's outdated ideas needed to be corrected, but Emma knew it wouldn't be accepted well.
"No Mom, Regina loved henry. She wasn't evil towards him and she never would have been. It isn't your place to decide whether she deserved a child. She is the reason Henry is a good boy, because she taught him that and brought him up well."
"Even if I concede that, why should I rake up the past and talk favourably about the woman who ruined my life?"
"Several reasons in fact." Emma told her mother. "Archie is qualified and suggested it. Even if you worry about him as a therapist he was a loyal supporter back in the Enchanted Forest. He still serves the royal family and is trying to help your line - me and Henry. Go and ask him, check if you want to."
Emma breathed, stating her next point, "Second, as I see it, Regina didn't ruin your life. Yes, she tried, but look at what you have. You have love in your life, you have Dad, and you have me. You have Henry and without the curse you wouldn't have him. You might not have servants or a castle anymore but you do have hot running water, good medical care, electricity and you retained your title. The person whose life is ruined is Henry."
"But Henry is better off without her!" Snow argued.
"In your opinion!" Emma told her, standing up and looking her mother in the eyes. "Tell me, does he look better off? I've not known him as long as you, but he's miserable! You said you gave him the storybook because he looked sad and hadn't any friends. I can guarantee he looks sadder now than he ever did back then, so won't you try and help him again? The answer isn't a storybook this time, but it could be something similar, spoken word stories that reach out to him, ensnare him and give him something to engage with and believe in again."
Emma paused before saying, "Oh and he has stolen the keys and goes out at night to visit her."
Snow looked away guiltily then so Emma ploughed on, "So even when you won't speak about her, he hasn't forgotten her, because he loves her. You can't tell him who he can love, and you of all people must understand that. Yours is the love story that blossomed against all the odds, because love is the strongest magic and can't be thwarted. You can't change his heart Mom, so please stop trying."
Snow ignored Emma's plea, focusing on the one thing she could deal with easily, "He's sneaking out at night! Emma that's dangerous, why are you allowing it?"
"I'm not. I've sorted it and have withdrawn his X-Box for two weeks. But don't you see how devoted he is? I can't share any positive stories with him because all Regina and I did was fight. But you knew her before she fell into the darkness completely. And you shared a castle with her for years. You know her and can pass on your good memories, there have to be some."
Grudgingly Snow nodded, there were many instances she remembered of a beautiful young girl who loved riding horses. Of a young woman who struggled to adapt to life in a vast castle, but kept trying with perseverance and determination. Of a woman who loved her own father, had respected her King and husband, and had tried to care for Snow despite clearly hating her and blaming her for everything that was wrong in her life. She had good memories, she had stopped an execution because of them and her hope that that version of Regina wasn't lost. But Regina was lost now and Snow didn't think a few words were really going to help Henry. But words cost nothing and her own mother's words about having a responsibility of being on the side of good rang in her head.
Emma sat down again, seeing she had made some kind of breakthrough, although there was still some reservation in her mother's eyes.
"You can't force him to let go of Regina, but he is letting go of you because you won't let him be himself and express his love. And it is happening slowly so it is hardly noticeable, but we need to stop it. For all of our sakes. I need you to recognise Regina as his mother, whatever else she was, she was that for Henry. And the time has come that I can't let you continue to argue about and avoid that truth just because it is unpleasant for you. Let him know it is ok and not push him away. You can engage with him, bond, and let him know his Mom wasn't always bad.
"But she was more bad than good." Snow told her daughter, smiling in a victorious manner.
"And that is also about perspective." Emma snapped at her mother. "Putting Regina to sleep as a punishment wasn't a good thing. But you felt justified. And I agree, she needed to pay, but I don't think you can pretend that you are all goodness and light when you have sunk to retribution and deliberately hurting other people."
Snow recoiled like Emma had slapped her. "What would you have had us do instead Emma?" Anger and hurt coloured her words.
Emma dropped her head and ran her fingers through her hair. "I don't know. I'm not saying it was an easy decision, but this is a situation you made and now I am asking you to please help me put it right as best we can for Henry."
"Regina made the situation Emma. I am just always caught up in her messes."
Emma bit her tongue. Not taking responsibility and passing the blame wasn't the trait of a good person either. It just served to remind the blonde that at times, especially if she thought she was right, her mother really was a spoiled princess who thought she was above reproach. Emma could empathise with Regina at times like this. Emma could just imagine being stuck in a castle with a young Snow and how jarring it would be, and that was to put it mildly.
Shelving her feelings Emma just said, "Please Mom. It isn't like we can ask or make Regina clean it up."
"Even if I wanted to agree, your father won't hear of it. His anger is still strong and he won't let go of it, even for Henry's sake."
"Let me talk to him about it. If he agrees to it will you do this?"
"It won't make any difference, Regina took too much from him, and he can't forgive."
"What did she take from him? If I know that maybe I can make a solid argument."
"Oh Emma." Snow looked at her with sad eyes. "It was you she took. And Henry. And me. Your father values family above all else and he can never get those years back. Simple things we all took for granted like seeing you or Henry learning to walk and talk. He has lost his chance to be a proper father."
"He can still be a grandfather and he can still love me. It is true we can never turn back time, but Dad is uniquely placed to understand better than anyone."
"How so? What is it you think he has insight into?"
"Dad has missed out, and he is angry. Regina was driven by anger, so there is that common ground, he has to admit he can understand her motivation."
"I still don't see the similarity." Snow huffed, "Charming is a good man, his anger is justified."
Emma just wanted to roll her eyes, black and white, good and evil. Nothing could be that simple and yet at every turn she was being told exactly that, and by her parents no less, people that should be role models and give good advice to help guide her through life. But they didn't live in the same world, and their advice wasn't made for this realm, or helpful to Emma's experiences in it. Emma had been an unmarried teen mother, had dabbled in drink and drugs, had been a thief and a convicted felon and yet she was still good because a book said so and her parents were royal. It was a joke and as Emma realised that with every passing day she became more and more frustrated with her parents and their purist views and simple outlook on life.
"Fine." Emma gritted out. "Listen, all I am saying is that Dad knows loss. But more than that, he understands having a role that is unfulfilled, that he has been forced by someone else's actions to miss out. And that by missing out is has changed the dynamic of our relationship."
Emma took a breath before continuing, "Now look at Henry. He was in a defined relationship with a distinct role - he knew Regina was his Mom, and that he was the son. He sometimes misbehaved, he was sometimes rude, but he was loved and he loved her back. Now suddenly everything has changed, his love is surplus and his role undefined. He has been forced, by your decision, to miss out on love and life too."
"But..." Snow started, but her daughter shut her down.
"Don't try and argue that Mom," Emma told her, "Because for all of Regina's faults she did love Henry. And he can no longer express that or receive it from her. He is lost and angry, much like Dad. If you continue he will lash out with his anger, it might not be today, but it is coming. And he is hurtful when he lashes out, I saw the way he cut into Regina and it wasn't pleasant." Emma thought of the devastation the brunette had tried to hide when Henry often threw his barbed comments at her. But it had been too raw and too much and she had failed, letting Emma see her composure slip and her tears shine in her eyes.
"You don't want to be on the receiving end of that, neither does David. I can make Dad understand, I know I can. And this isn't about Regina, this is about Henry. You are unconsciously pushing him away and driving a wedge into your relationship with him. If you love him you'll be able to find the words and find a way."
Emma knew that was a low blow, but she was beginning to think so was cursing a woman to eternal sleep. Maybe it was Karma. She let her shoulders slump, she wasn't cut out for this, she didn't like confrontation and had never envisioned life with a family being like this, heated discussions and disagreements. Where was the family that fitted the perfect image in her head?
15 Minutes Later - Sheriff Station
"Hey Dad."
"Hi Emma, I didn't expect to see you today. Is the visit business or pleasure?" He joked.
"Well it isn't Sheriff business." Emma hedged.
"That sounded ominous." Her father looked at her and she shrugged, trying to keep the conversation casual. She'd already had problems with Snow, she didn't need another verbal battle with her other parent.
"I need you to listen to an idea I have, and have an open mind about it." Emma told him. "Can I grab us both a coffee and sit?" She indicated the round table where they kept old magazines, held impromptu staff meetings and Henry did his home work while waiting for her to finish her shift.
She brewed the coffee, added cream and they sat together, David watching his daughter's face with a pensive expression.
"I need you to give Regina a break." Emma told him, directly going to the heart of the problem.
"Regina's asleep, likely never to return, I don't think I need to give her anything." David replied, a hard edge to his voice.
"Dad..." Emma's voice held a tone of warning but David continued like she hadn't even spoken.
"In fact, she took things I hadn't even given her, and never would have through choice. She used her power and magic to strip my family from me,so don't ask me to ever do anything for THAT woman."
Emma watched her father's face, the aggression and hatred cross it. The Queen had done a real number on her father, who Emma knew was a simple man at heart, a shepherd who didn't understand the political or mercenary deals royalty made. He just wanted to be warm at night and loved, he would fight for his beliefs and his family, but he didn't care for jewels or power. Emma realised that young Regina might have got on well with shepherd David in a different life, before royal marriage proposals got in the way. It was ironic but she couldn't point it out to him, he was too angry.
He had never wanted to be a pawn in King George's or The Queen's plans, and his anger came from being caught up in it against his will, from having his simple life ruined and then his love tested, taken from him, tested again. He hadn't been a fighter or a Prince, but he had had both roles thrust into him and Regina was shouldering all of the blame, only some of it justified in Emma's opinion.
Emma sighed, she herself was stubborn and she saw some of her own traits sitting opposite her. She felt angry about her childhood and how hard it had been, about her parents abandoning her, but she knew that carrying around the bad feeling and blame would only lead to more heartache. She could hate Regina for casting the curse and her parents for putting her in a magical wardrobe, and a part of her did, but she had let most of the anger go so she could function. It was only on very bad days that she struggled to maintain her control. Her father didn't appear to have any coping mechanism to help him do that, except to continue to attack the slumbering brunette. Which, as she slept, wasn't very fulfilling for David, it was more a one way tirade without answers or him being able to move forward and deal with his issues.
"Listen, I get that you don't like Regina, I'm not asking for you to change that. But THAT woman as you refer to her, adopted your grandson and is his Mother. And he likes her, loves her even."
"I feel bad for Henry every day, you know I do, but justice was served. And I still think we were too lenient." David balled his hands into fists and took a shuddering breath, his aggression and aversion to the fallen Queen clear in his demeanor. Emma thought about the parallel she had drawn to Snow about anger driving both Regina and her father and she saw it being demonstrated clearly in front of her. David practically crackled with it, just like the brunette had when they used to argue over Henry. Emma wisely refrained from voicing her observation, she knew it wouldn't help here.
Emma changed track, trying something different, "Regina was lenient, she didn't kill you, she just put you in a coma."
"Where I missed everything!" David angrily told her.
"In a town where time stood still, I doubt you missed that much." Emma told him, looking him square in the eye and daring him to argue.
But he did, sadness crossing over his face like a cloud on a sunny day, "I missed you growing up, I missed you for 28 years. I can never get those back or make it up to you."
"Dad, listen to me. I get you feel you missed out, and I know you would have been a wonderful parent, but you can still be that, you and Mom are young and can have another baby. It will be weird and I might take some time to be okay with it, but you can still have that opportunity. I was the one who had the shit end of this bargain, I grew up without parents to love and want me. I was passed around, never fitting in, finding every day that life sucked just a little more. You were at least oblivious in a coma."
"Emma I never wanted that for you, you were meant to be our little Princess, Regina took you away, and I hate her for turning your life of privilege into what you actually lived through." David ran his hand over his short hair and Emma inwardly smiled. She recognised the gesture as something she did, it was like Henry's appetite, hereditary. She was his child no matter the years apart. And he was pleading with her to understand, but today wasn't about making him take responsibility for putting her in a wardrobe. She needed to get through to him to let go of some of his anger.
"I should have been there to protect you, and I would have been if she hadn't taken you away." He looked resigned as his gaze fell to the table.
"I know you would have protected me, I believe you would use your last breath to defend me and keep me safe. And the fact I grew up doesn't mean I don't need you or love you any less. You can still protect me and you are certainly important and useful in my life. Our roles are just a little different than either of us expected but we will work it out."
"Emma..."
"Please stop apologising, I know how intense your love is, I'm blown away by that. And I guess that is what is fuelling your hatred of Regina, but I need you to understand that that isn't your place. Regina's actions damaged me and my life, and it is my place to hate her for it. And also to forgive her for it, which I choose to do."
Her Father opened his mouth, but Emma wasn't finished.
"I forgive her because she took in Henry and gave him the life I had always wanted for him. I forgive her because if she hadn't cast the curse Henry wouldn't be here. I forgive her because I still have a chance with my parents and my son, both of whom I thought were lost forever. I know you can never forget what she did in the old world, but I do need you to forgive her."
"I don't know if I can." Charming looked at her, tears in his eyes that he couldn't tell his little girl what she wanted to hear.
"Then tell me you will try. It was tough for me growing up, my childhood wasn't ideal because I didn't have parents, but things are better now. But Henry is now in that dark place, having lost a parent. And I empathise because I have been there although I think for Henry it might be worse. He had love for ten years and then had it ripped away."
"He still has you Emma, he has at least one parent." David reminded her.
Great job I'm doing, Emma thought sarcastically but refrained from voicing it.
"I'm trying," Emma added, "But being a parent isn't easy and sometimes we fail. And sometimes it isn't at all what we think it will be. Take me, I know you love me, that you will defend me and that you expected to be able to dance with me at my first ball. You wanted to teach me to whistle or how to play hoops and maybe how to tend and then ride a horse. And I'd have loved that but it isn't what I need. I need you to trust me and be on my side, and I need you to let Henry speak Regina's name in your house. For him and for me. Please promise you'll try."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask." Emma gave him her crooked smile and he weakly smiled back, not knowing if he could do this, but he was a man of his word so would go home and discuss things with his wife and try and hate Regina a little less come the morning.
Three Weeks Later - Gold's Pawn Shop
"Gold?" Emma entered the shop and tried not to breath in the musty smell too deeply.
"Sheriff, to what do I owe the pleasure?" The man stood by his counter, leaning on his cane slightly and smiling in what he obviously thought was a welcoming gesture. Emma had met her fair share of con-men, and knew better.
"I'd like some background on True Love." She began.
"Surely your parents would be better placed to answer that kind of question?" The man looked at her, "They do after all share it. You are the product of it, where as I have sadly only ever read the tales and never been the recipient."
"I am more interested in the mechanics of it." Emma tried.
"Such as?" Gold's smile stretched so that some of his teeth showed. "You are going to need to give me some idea of what you want, otherwise we could be dancing around each other all afternoon." He tapped his cane into his crippled leg, "And I don't dance so well these days. It is usually a short affair."
"Fine." Emma huffed at him. "Specifics. I'd like to know if you only get one True Love in your life. I'd like to know if there is a way to track True Love, to locate someone's True Love. I broke the original curse with my love for Henry, but that loving bond doesn't seem to work with every curse, are there different types of True Love?"
"I am bemused you haven't asked your parents, or gone to the fairies with your request."
"You know why." Emma snapped. "The fairies would tell my parents, Blue and her friends being loyal to the White line. And I don't want my parents to know because they wouldn't approve of reviving Regina."
"I have to admit I am surprised you are even contemplating it, the woman did try and run you out of town, printed terrible news articles about your past, killed the previous Sheriff and never had a good word to say about you. Oh and then she tried to poison you."
"This wouldn't be for me. It's for Henry, he is lost without Regina."
"Ah." Gold took a minute. "For the love of a child, that I understand."
Emma was taken aback, the man actually sounded human and reasonable, and she saw sincerity in his eyes for a brief moment before he blinked and he was the smarmy businessman again. "But I can't give information away for free, even if it is a just cause."
"Of course you can't." Emma scoffed.
"I will give you a free piece of advice, but I expect you to remember my generosity. So fairy dust can be enchanted to find a True Love."
"And what am I meant to do with that?" Emma stared at him, incredulous. "That doesn't help me!"
"Of course it does, you need to find yourself a fairy who has access to the dust and is disenchanted enough with Blue to help you without telling your parents."
"And where am I going to find someone like that?" Emma wanted to throttle the man, exasperation was clear in her voice. Everything was riddles and double speak with him. Why couldn't he give a straight answer?
"Well that is your job, Sheriff. Investigating and finding out about people."
Emma growled at him. He grinned back.
"Now for the matter of payment."
Emma rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"
"A lock of hair will do nicely."
"That sounds decidedly easy." Emma looked at him with suspicion in her eyes.
"You are the product of True Love, any part of you freely given contains great power, if harnessed correctly."
"Why would I want to give you something of "great power"?" Emma studied him, knowing how slimy he could be.
"Now Sheriff, as I previously stated, you are the product of True Love. Good and light magic. I can't use any part of you for dark purposes, the light inside of you will eclipse it and render the whole endeavour pointless."
Emma believed him, but didn't understand him. "So, why do you want it then? If you can't use it?"
"It would still be a great possession and wonderful bartering chip. You know how much I crave power."
Well that was the truth, in as much as Gold ever told it. Emma conceded.
"Okay, but you tell me what I want to know about True Love. Then you can have a lock of hair."
"Deal." The smug smile on his lips was off putting, but Emma just looked away until he started talking again.
"The sleeping curse was Maleficent's and she was always a sucker for a good romance. I suspect that when she was creating the curse she define the type of love. So it is no longer as broad as any True Love. So familial love won't break it. Neither will the bonds of friendship. My assumption would be that this curse needs to be broken with romantic love."
"Wonderful." Emma ground out, but at least she had an answer for Henry. He wasn't at fault, not that Emma had ever thought he was. But Gold had confirmed it, Henry's kiss could never break this curse.
Gold continued in his syrupy voice, the one Emma guessed must be music to his own ears. "And a person could have multiple True Loves, it depends on the strength and depth of their heart. My own advice? The Queen's heart is deeply corrupted, blackened and defective. The chances of her being able to love again are highly unlikely."
"Great. Thanks for much for your useless information."
"Now Dearie, the information isn't useless, you just didn't like the answers and can't use it in the case of The Queen. If you were to use it for someone else it might be invaluable. Now the lock of your hair if you please."
Emma stomped from the shop moments later understanding Regina's intense hatred of the man. Why was it every day Emma hated this strange little town a bit more.
2 Months Later - Sheriff Station
"Leroy!" Emma shouted at the balding dwarf in the cell. Drunk again he was trying to sing a badly off key version of "Pretty Woman."
"Don't cha like my singing?" The dwarf slurred. "It's about my woman, I love her so much, but she deserves someone better than me though."
"No Leroy, your singing isn't really to my taste." Emma told him, hoping he'd fall asleep soon and sleep off his drunkenness.
"Bloody Mother Superior doesn't like it either." He mumbled. "But the sanctimonious bitch doesn't like anything about me, says I'm not good enough to be with Nova. And she's right."
Emma watched the bottom lip of the dwarf tremble. Oh God she thought, he was about to turn into a crying drunk. Emma thought she even preferred the singing version, not this self-pitying version that wanted to share his woes and cry on her shoulder.
But even as she tried to think of a way to escape this, it hit her. Nova might be the fairy she was looking for. So she gently began to pump the dwarf for information on his girlfriend and her less than ideal relationship with the Blue Fairy.
As Leroy lay on his back, snoring, Emma unlocked the cell door and rolled him onto his side and into the recovery position. It would be all she needed to have a death in police custody. And her mother would never forgive her for letting her favourite dwarf asphyxiate on his own vomit. She didn't think asking a favour from Nova would go too well either if she coupled it with notifying the fairy of her drunken boyfriend's demise. And Leroy had done well, Emma had the answer she needed. Nova was definitely the way to get more info on True Love and possibly get her hands on the fairy dust.
The Following Week - The Convent
Emma couldn't believe she was doing this. When Henry had knocked on her door the night of her 28th birthday she would never had thought she would be stood in a world of dragons and fairies over a year later.
She was waiting for Nova to leave the convent so they could have a chat about fairy dust and True Love. Another thing she thought possibly certified her as crazy in the real world.
How had her nicely empty life suddenly exploded into this craziness? And it was packed to bursting with people all wanting her time. Her parents she could accept even if she found them stifling at times. But it was everyone else who thought they knew her. People she had never even spoken to greeted her in the street, some remarking how like her mother she looked, others asking when she was going to take a prince as a husband. The worse ones were the ones who told her she needed to find Henry a proper father now his horrible and evil mother was out of the picture. It was bloody intrusive and none of their business and she kept biting her tongue, but someday someone was going to push her just a mite too far and regret it when she punched them out.
But back to Nova and the fact that the fairy had hurried down the path and climbed into Emma's yellow car and then they were driving away from the oppressive building to a place where Nova felt comfortable talking about fairy business.
"So..." Emma drew out the word, "True Love?"
"It is the strongest magic." The fairy gushed and Emma wanted to roll her eyes.
"But can you find someone's True Love?" Emma asked, "If it is so strong, surely there are signs?"
"Oh there are." The fairy nodded and Emma took a deep breath. This was slow going.
"Like what?" Emma asked.
"Well the sex is always amazing." The fairy said and Emma swallowed a mouthful of air in her shock, going red as she went into a coughing fit. She couldn't believe a fairy and a nun had just said that.
Nova didn't seem the least bit shy. "If the sex is no good, then it definitely isn't True Love."
"Okay." Emma choked out. "Let's assume I don't know anything about the quality of the sex."
"Oh, well then there is the heart magic involved. It creates an unbreakable bond that pulls the couple together. It means they often touch and want to be close together."
Emma wasn't sure what that meant. In Regina's case the only person she had any kind of physical contact with was Henry, unless you classed the punch she had swung at Emma or the way they both got into each other's personal space during their heated conversations. She had never seen Regina touch anyone else, except Graham, but Emma knew that hadn't been True Love. That had been about fucking, less than pure but very simple.
"Right." Emma was getting nowhere fast.
"Blue says if you have a piece of each person and whisper the Combination Enchantment, the pieces will bind together and glow proving True Love."
"What if you don't know who the other person is?" Emma asked. "Do you have a method of finding a person's True Love? I've heard Fairy Dust can be enchanted to do that."
Nova told her, "Well at least that's the theory. Yes Fairy Dust once enchanted to look for True Love will do that. But I've never done it myself."
"Now we are getting somewhere." Emma muttered but she smiled politely at the fairy and urged her to continue.
"But you could do it?" Emma pressed the other woman, who nodded.
"Yes I think I could do that."
"Excellent." Emma began to feel very hope stirring in her heart.
"There is a slight problem." The fairy woman told Emma. "I can't get hold of any Fairy Dust."
Emma wanted to scream. That wasn't a slight problem, that meant this whole venture was pointless and Emma didn't understand. Nova had just indicated she could help Emma track a True Love. Nova didn't need to know it was Regina's.
"No, you misunderstand me." The fairy followed up with. "I can't get the refined Fairy Dust, only Blue has access to that. But I can get you Fairy Powder, which is Fairy Dust before we have removed the impurities by filtering and then burning any waste off with magic. It isn't quite so fine but will still do what you want, well mostly."
"What does that mean?" Emma asked, wanting to hold her head from the convoluted complexities of magic.
"It means the powder will be able to tell our intent and still perform the spell, but the results might not be so conclusive. But I can and will help you and between us I'm sure we can interpret the results. It is the best I can do, but it should be enough."
Emma nodded, she'd take anything at this point because she couldn't stand by and do nothing while Henry was missing out on time with his real mother. This at least was action.
