Takes place after The Miller's Daughter, the episode that broke me.
"Regina?"
A soft voice reached her ears. But yet, she found herself unable to respond. Her whole world had been shattered a minute ago. A minute ago, her mother had been smiling towards her. Not that fake smile she always wore, the smile that Regina had been growing up with. No, this one was different. It was genuine and kind.
Regina had put her mother's heart back inside of her chest and watched how the woman in front of her had changed.
Regina had always been seeking her mother's affection, always trying to please her. When she had put her heart back in, she knew that her mother loved her back. She saw the love in her eyes. Regina thought that maybe now, they could become a real family.
But she was wrong.
So very wrong.
The sadness tore her apart. As she felt how her mother's body became limp in her arms, she knew that any kind of happiness was beyond her reach.
She was tricked into killing her. Her own mother.
"Regina?"
The voice was much louder now. But Regina did not want to answer it.
She rocked her mother's body back and forth as she cried.
Mother, please, she whispered again and again.
Old memories assaulted Regina's mind.
Heartache after heartache. It would not stop.
Regina let go of her mother's dead body and leaned her forehead against the palms of her hands and felt the dampness on her cheeks.
She was alone. Again. Only the tears remained.
Her body was aching. Her mind, her heart, her chest.
"Regina!"
The voice was close, so very close.
Daniel, her father, her mother. They were all gone.
Regina dropped her hands and dug her nails into her knees.
She felt how darkness took hold of her, the magic in her veins bubbled. It crackled at her fingertips.
Henry had abandoned her. Her sweet baby boy. He did not want her anymore. He chose her, the Savior.
Regina felt it. The same feeling she had had when she ripped out the girl's heart in front of Rumplestiltskin. The feeling of no going back. Back then, she had nothing to lose. Just as she had right now.
"REGINA!"
Magic began to seep through her fingers.
Anger, sadness and revenge clouded her senses.
You want your Evil Queen, well here she is!
Regina was just about to raise her hands to transport herself to the person who started this, Snow White, when she felt how a pair of arms encircled her.
Regina felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs.
Warmth crept up her arms and made the crackling stop. It travelled to her chest and made her heart swell, blocking out all the pain and sadness. The tears stopped falling as she slowly opened her eyes.
It was her, the Savior.
"Emma?" Regina whispered.
Emma looked into Regina's brown orbs.
"I am here."
The words were few, but they were all that Regina needed to hear.
For a moment, she forgot about everything that had happened. The only thing that existed was the pair of arms that held her.
Emma moved closer, and Regina began resting her head on the blonde's chest.
There were so many things they needed to talk about, so many things unsaid.
Regina closed her eyes, and listened to Emma's steady heartbeats, while she wished for more moments like this one. Moments where she could forget, moments where she could feel safe, and most importantly, moments where she could feel loved.