Title: Hello again, Storybrooke.
Author: Jules-Day
Unbeta'd: All mistakes are mine. It's kinda my job to "beta" people's work, so hopefully this is a clean copy.
Disclaimer: Not for profit. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little bit, k?
Spoilers? I don't think I've mooched too much off the show. A comment here and there, perhaps. A little bit of dialogue from Witch Hunt and The Pilot, for sure.
Author's note: I'm in the middle juggling my classes with work, so I know for sure that the next update won't be for another 2 weeks. It won't be an overly long story at all, and I don't anticipate it to be some kind of an epic. It's just a little something to amuse myself with in my downtime and stretch the creative-writing muscles that I've left dormant for far too long.
There's a knock at the door.
"Excuse me," she said, as she delicately wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Smoothing out her dress, Regina walked to the door, a little perturbed at having her dinner interrupted by what was, no doubt, to be a silly disruption that even Snow White herself could handle. Why these people still felt the need to bother her with their trivialities, she had no clue.
Opening the door, Regina came face to face with a citizen of Storybrooke she had thought she'd never see again.
"Emma."
She didn't mean for that to come out as breathless as it sounded. But, then again, few things could affect Regina as deeply as Emma Swan herself could.
"Hi," Emma sheepishly responded.
Regina stood there, unable to comprehend that Emma Swan was standing at her doorstep after all this time. When they all said goodbye at the town line, Regina had resigned herself to a life lived without her family. When they had landed back in the Enchanted Forest, home was once again her old castle—Leopold's castle. Of course, Snow and her Prince Charming had tagged along almost cheerfully, making themselves comfortable and—in Snow's words—took to sprucing up the place from all the doom and gloom of the Evil Queen's reign.
She had rolled her eyes at Snow and told her to keep her sunshine and lollipops away from her bedchambers. Clearly, Neverland had gone to her head and she thought Regina actually gave a shit about her and her dolt of a husband. But, alas, she saw no way out of her predicament, thankful at least that they hadn't all discarded her like yesterday's trash, or worse, the minute they had arrived back in the old land.
The hole in Regina's heart ached with every passing day. She contemplated removing her heartache in the only way she knew how; she rode her horse through the forest until exhaustion; she fitfully slept; and she even took to teaching Ruby Lucas how to control her beast within now that the influence of the moon was so much stronger here in the Enchanted Forest—anything to get her mind off of the pain of loss that wouldn't ebb.
And just when she thought she had settled and managed the constant ache within, Emma Swan knocked on her door, knocking her over in kind.
The longer Regina stared, the more Emma shifted on her feet, anxious and worried as to the reception her sudden presence would engender in the formidable woman.
When it seemed likely that no response was forthcoming, for a lack of better words, she uttered, "So…I was in the neighborhood…"
Blinking out of her daze, Regina rushed forward and grabbed Emma's arm.
"What are you doing here? Where is Henry?"
Resting her other hand gently on top of Regina's, which at the present moment was digging sharply into her bicep, "Henry, fine. I rented a room at Granny's. Hook's with him."
Regina scoffed. "You're trusting his safety to that one-handed pirate?"
"Is there a threat I should be worried about?"
"Hardly. The Witch has been dealt with."
"That's not what Hook told me. He said I had to come back because Storybrooke needed me." Emma pierced Regina with a look that indicated she was trying to use her 'superpower' on Regina. The other woman merely rolled her eyes and said, bring it.
"The captain's information is severely outdated then. Truly, do you really think we'd trust him with a mission of that kind of importance? It was bad enough trying to get our wits about us when we landed in the Enchanted Forest while your two dreadful suitors fought over who mourned your loss the most.
"Just imagine for a moment, Miss Swan, how much time would have been wasted if the choice as to who would supposedly send for you was down to those two fools."
And with that, Regina stepped back and recollected herself inside the frame of the door, drawing strength from the space and her positioning away from Emma.
She gave Regina a moment, recognizing that she needed a little breathing space.
"Back to 'Miss Swan,' is it?" Emma teased, the corners of her eyes just slightly crinkling in amusement.
Regina blew out a breath. "Old habits."
Chuckling, "Well, it's good to be back, regardless. Nice to see some things never change."
Regina smiled at her. There seemed to be a message beneath that smirk that Emma could not quite figure out.
Ever the perfect hostess, "Well, Emma. Please do come inside. There's much to discuss, I'm sure."
Regina stepped back inside, allowing room for Emma to step back into the house that once sent shivers up her spine. Looking around, it seemed like not much had changed. But it felt a little homier, a little warmer than before. Why that seemed strange to her, she couldn't guess at.
Walking behind Regina into the dining room, she was so busy taking it all in again that she didn't realize who was seated at the table. Tripping over her feet, she righted herself just in time.
"Dad!"
Upon seeing his daughter, David jumped out of his seat and rushed over to engulf Emma in a tight hug. Emma embraced her father in a way she never had before, content to take in the warmth and love and happiness radiating off of David for however long they both needed it. It was some time till they broke apart, wiping tears from their eyes, David putting up a brave front as he stepped away to the table to pull out a chair for his daughter.
As Emma moved to sit down, she noticed the comfortable familiarity between her father and Regina. David placed his hand on Regina's shoulder and squeezed it gently as he walked around her to the other side of the table to his seat. What have I missed here?
Next to Emma sat a man she'd never met before, his scruffy look unfamiliar to her as she mentally scanned through her Rolodex of Storybrooke's fairytale characters. He put out a hand for her to shake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Swan. I've heard a lot about you."
Emma shook his hand and grimaced. "All good things I hope."
The man chortled, "If not, the Queen would have something to say about it."
Regina's wine glass made a loud bang on the table as she put it down.
"Thank you, Robin, for your input. Welcomed as it always is," Regina drawled.
Robin seemed to take Regina's salty attitude in his stride, smiling good-naturedly at her and refilling her wine glass. He grabbed another glass from the table and poured some wine in it, placing it in front of Emma.
"I'm not drinking tonight, so the glass's clean."
Emma took the glass with a smile in thanks, drawing it halfway to her lips before her brain caught up. "Wait…Robin, as in…like Robin Hood?"
Robin winked at Emma. "The one and only, milady."
Emma sighed, Who's next, the Wizard of Oz? Taking a large gulp of her wine, she glanced at her father, who hadn't yet taken his eyes of her. She gave him a small smile, understanding that her being back would take some time to get used to.
As it seemed unlikely that David would be of any help whatsoever—Why am I not surprised in the least?—Regina took it upon herself to break the silence and cease Emma's squirming under the attention.
"So, given that there's quite a bit of catching up to do, let's focus on the basics, shall we?"
"Sure. Wanna tell me how the hell you guys are here now? And who's 'The Witch'?"
"The Wicked Witch of the West, actually," Robin supplied, helpfully.
Emma choked on her wine. "The Wicked Witch of the West? Seriously, she's real, too?"
Regina spared Emma a lazy, derisive look. "Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Fine. So you threw some water at the crazy green witch and she melted, yeah?"
"Not quite. But close. We locked her up in a cage and Hook threw her off the side of his ship."
Emma's eyed bugged out.
"You really think a mere bucket of water was going to suffice? Really, dear."
Emma dropped her head onto the table, tired already. "Ugh."
"Cheer up, Swan." Robin patted her on the back and refilled her glass, which Emma promptly downed as quickly as possible. One day back and I've already stepped into crazytown where Robin freakin' Hood is plying me with drinks and my Dad looks like he's best buds with the Evil Queen. And where the hell is—
"Where's Mary Margaret?"
"Your mom's at home resting," David answered with a proud look.
Emma looked at him warily and said, "Resting from what?"
Regina quickly sidestepped the answer. "Your mother is fine. As annoying and self-righteous as she ever was, believe me." David shot Regina a look, which she gave back in kind.
"Since when are you two friends?"
"Bygones and all that," Regina said with a flourish of her hand, picking up her glass to take a sip.
Emma narrowed her eyes at her.
"Emma. How are you back here in Storybrooke, and with your memories of us?" David asked.
"Long story short: Hook came to New York. Harassed me into listen to him because it was apparently of grave importance that I came home. I drank a potion, and here I am."
"Come to save the day, no doubt."
"Yeah, Regina. That's what I do. All I'm good for," Emma snapped.
"What's that supposed to mean, Emma?" David asked, concerned by Emma's change in attitude.
Standing up, Emma huffed out, "You're all here and, apparently, having a good time while Henry and I were still in New York living a fake life with fake memories. Henry still doesn't remember. Didn't anyone want to come and get us now that the coast was clear? Isn't that what you're all about, David? Finding your family and all that bullshit?"
At this, Regina stood up. "We thought we were giving you and Henry a chance at a normal life. Free from all the horrible memories of the past and a bright future ahead of you. Do you honestly think I wouldn't have come for you myself if I thought it would be what's best for you?"
Regina grabbed at the half-eaten dinner plates, clanged them together in haste and stalked off into the kitchen.
Emma sat back down, speechless as she stared at the kitchen door in surprise. You honestly think I wouldn't have come for you myself if I thought it would be what's best for you? She couldn't mean…
"She meant what's best for Henry, right?" Emma asked David and Robin, desperate for an affirmative answer. The sounds of Regina moving about the kitchen, clearly still angry, filtered through into the dining room as the silence dragged on. When neither man was willing to give her a straight answer, Emma stood up, intending to march into the kitchen and demand answers from Regina herself.
David got up from his seat and quickly intercepted her. "Emma, it's getting late—"
"It's 8:30."
"And going on bedtime," David insisted. "C'mon Robin. Let's go."
David led Emma into the foyer. Seeing that she was going to get nowhere tonight, Emma stopped resisting David's pushiness and waited by the door for him to grab his coat. Robin Hood ambled in and took his own jacket and scarf from David's outstretched arm.
He called out to Regina as he moved past Emma, "Cheers, Your Majesty! I'll be by tomorrow with Roland." And with that, Robin Hood took his exit, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets to ward off the cold on his walk home.
Emma and David walked over to his truck parked in the driveway. "Want to ride with me? We can catch up a little."
"But my car—"
"Will still be here in the morning. And besides, I'm sure Regina would appreciate knowing that you'll be back…for the car," David said, smirking at his daughter.
Emma sighed and leaned against the truck, dropping her head back to avoid her father's knowing look. She was exhausted. The moment she drank that potion Hook gave her, her life had been swept out from under her. Everything she thought she knew was a lie. She hadn't kept Henry. She hadn't changed every diaper. Soothed every fever. Endured every tantrum. Her clothes weren't the same. She wasn't the same, and she could feel the two sides of her warring within.
Henry wasn't the same, either. Not really, when she thought about it.
Sure, he was the optimistic and loving young boy he always was, but he was a lot less mature, finally acting his age it seemed without the memories of all he had been through. Instead of his nose always in a book, he was glued to whatever the coolest video game was, swapping titles with friends at school.
...Henry had friends—a lot of friends.
She'd whisked him away back to Storybrooke as soon as she could without even thinking about how that was going to affect this version of Henry. Regina wouldn't approve. Probably. If she'll talk to me again, that is, I might find out.
What was she supposed to do, though, when Hook was all, "You're needed, Emma. Back home. We all need you. I need you"? She could've done without Hook's incessant pushing about getting together. One kiss in the heat of the moment and he thinks we've got True Love. Jesus, they move fast, don't they?
What was she going to do now that she was back in Storybrooke, and without any kind of danger or curse looming over their heads? What was normal life even like in this town? It had been so long since those early days when the worst she had to face was an irate Mayor with a complex who, in hindsight, loved to piss her off just for something to do after 28 years of interacting with people living in a loop.
"Emma. It's going to be fine. Tomorrow, with clear heads, we'll talk it out," David said, breaking Emma out of her reverie. With one last lingering look at the house, Emma climbed into the truck and buckled her belt. David hopped in, turning the key and bringing the engine roaring back to life.
Once on the road, Emma asked, "David, is Neal here in town? I should probably let him know we're back. I raced over here to see Regina as soon as we got in, but I should probably give Neal a heads up, too. His son thinks he's a total deadbeat, and it's not going to be pretty if they run into each other at Granny's or something."
David nodded, not taking his eyes off the road as he answered, "He's living with Belle in Rumple's old house."
Emma looked sharply at David in surprise. "With Belle? As in…?"
"Oh! No. Emma. Not like that," David laughed out loud. "She wasn't faring well after Gold's death. Neither was Neal, really. When we came back, they moved into his place and kept to themselves for a little while. Forged a bond in mutual grief."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Way to make it sound almost poetic." David grinned. "So when you say, 'When we came back,' you mean…?"
"I mean that the Wicked Witch cast a curse on us that brought us back here to Storybrooke."
"What did she want?"
"Regina." Emma gasped. "But you know Regina, she just laughed in her face and told the witch to give it her best shot," David said, chuckling in a way that seemed almost like fondness at the memory.
David pulled into a spot at Granny's bed and breakfast and killed the engine. "I'll pick you up in the morning. Your mother will want to see you. Can we have breakfast before you go talk to Regina?"
"Yeah, sure."
"What about Henry? What have you told him about all this?"
Emma blew out a long breath. "I told him I'm working a case for some friends."
"Then that's what we'll be once again. Your friends," David said with a warm smile, happy to have his family back together again, even with the small setback.
Emma leaned over and hugged him. Giving and receiving affection was easier for the new Emma. It was hard to let go of that, despite the deluge of her real memories flooding in and taking up their rightful place. Though, in this moment, she was glad to have her weirdly wonderful (wonderfully weird?) family unit back.
"I'll send Hook out," Emma said once she'd stepped out of the truck. "Think you can drop him off at wherever he's staying now?"
"Sure. It's on my way."
With a final nod to her father, Emma trudged back into the bed and breakfast, hoping against hope that tomorrow would be a better day.