They stood in the center of Regina's study: Hook, Robin, Mary Margaret and David. Henry was with baby Neal at Granny's and Regina was relieved that he would be safe there, not knowing what was going to happen in this little experiment they were about to try.
She hoped that he would eat. Her son had not eaten or slept since this all happened and of course it was understandable why, but she was worried for him and she shared his concern for Emma as well.
Emma had given everything up for her and she could still remember the agonizing chill, like a stab to the heart, when Emma Swan disappeared in a swirling haze of black; the sound of the Dark One's dagger hitting the ground, in an unforgettable clanging, that was still fresh and horrifying in her mind.
She sacrificed herself, her happiness, for me. No one had ever done something of that magnitude for Regina before. No one.
Clutching the dagger in both hands, its weight foreboding and emotionally heavy, if not physically, she asked everyone, "Are you ready?"
Regina watched the Charmings huddle closer, their arms wrapped around one another and they nodded. She meaningfully caught their gazes. "I… I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what she will look like, be like…"
Mary Margaret answered first, "Please, Regina. Just do it."
Regina watched the pirate's Adam's apple bob in uncertainty and she clenched her jaw already annoyed with him. Robin grinned sympathetically at her and the frown in her brow carved a deeper line. She didn't want him here and she was not sure why, but since Emma's sacrifice, whenever she looked at Robin, she just felt… guilt.
She took a deep breath, held the dagger up and cleared her throat. In an even tone, careful to enunciate each word properly, the older brunette pleaded, "Dark One, I summon thee. Show yourself and come to me."
The room's occupants remained, standing in their closely shaped circle, waiting, sharing quizzical glances with one another and before Regina could feel disappointment, and a certain amount of mystery, that their attempt to bring Emma back didn't work, a voice spoke from behind all of them in the shadowy corner of the room.
"COME to you, Regina? Those ARE an interesting choice of words."
"Emma!" Mary Margaret rejoiced and made a move to quickly go to her daughter, but David held his wife back, remembering Regina's words that no one knew how or in what form Emma would return as the new Dark One. With scrutinizing eyes, he peered at his daughter all dressed in black leather and with way more cleavage than a father would want to see his daughter sporting, no matter how old she was. Glancing at the other two men in the room, they seemed to take notice of Emma's endowments as well and he wanted to punch both of them for it.
"Emma?" Mary Margaret peeped now, after having had a moment to really look at her daughter and see the change in her. There was definitely darkness, naughtiness, boldness and, the young mother's heart sank, disguised rage. Snow White had seen all these characteristics before and had felt them directed at her such a long time ago by the other dark haired woman in the room who was holding the dagger with a gaping facial expression.
"Hello, Mommy Dearest." The young blonde uncrossed her legs and stood up directly. She swaggered toward all of them and Regina closed her mouth and watched her with a steady gaze.
Besides the dark, rather strongly jagged high back collar top that pushed the woman's breasts up and together forming a pronounced sinful line at her bosom, dark tight pants that left nothing to the imagination, and knee high boots, Emma's face looked flawless, though maybe a little paler, but no less beautiful, than Regina was used to seeing the young woman's porcelain skin. Her eyes were sparkling emeralds and were infused with dark magic. Regina recognized it at once.
Emma paused in front of Hook, looked him up and down and with what seemed like dissatisfaction dismissed him immediately and then she stopped in front of Robin. She sized his form up and down, circled him once and sneered at him.
"I sincerely HOPE you were worth it." The Dark One's eyes narrowed at him, flecks of black glinting in their jewels.
"Emma," David began a little warily, "How do you feel?" She acknowledged her father's voice by just a slight head turn though not fully in his direction.
"Powerful. Invincible. The Darkness is enticing, energizing…" Emma looked directly at Regina, "… But you know first hand what I'm talking about don't you…" For show and in jest, Emma did a formal bow toward Regina and when their eyes met, there was mischief dancing in them, "Your Majesty."
Why her formal title would feel like a caress that smoldered giving birth to sexual awareness, Regina did not know. The former queen visibly gulped as the savior, or Dark One now, dragged those eyes lazily over Regina's body seeming to feast and touch every part they gazed upon and Regina knew that Emma was aware of her inexplicably aroused state.
The dark one flashed an evil grin and with swaying hips moved closer towards Regina as if stalking her prey.
"Emma, love..." Hook started but Emma threw her hand up commandingly.
"Be gone," she ordered and the pirate disappeared instantly amongst gasps.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret scolded instinctively.
The blonde rolled her eyes defiantly and quipped at Regina, "Mothers…"
"What did you do with him, dear?" Regina inquired, doing her level best to regain some control. Emma eyed the older woman's lips as if thirsty for them, which nearly threw Regina off kilter.
The Dark One's tongue indecently moistened her lips making a show out of it, sending Regina the obvious message that she would rather be licking the queen's lips. Regina willed herself to keep her composure still. The Evil Queen invented these tactics and had used them so often. She would not allow herself to be intimidated, though the unexpected awakening of desire was a challenge she hoped she could deal with successfully.
Was this an attraction to Emma Swan? It wouldn't be the first time. Or was this a draw to the darkness? Maybe a little of both.
Regina pasted a sexy smirk on her face and taunted, though not sure why, "Surely you wouldn't have killed your true love?"
The Dark One looked confused for a moment. "My…" Then understanding came quickly and Emma cackled and leaned in closer to Regina's ear. "We BOTH know better than that, don't we?"
"REGINA," Robin bellowed frightened for her safety and made his way to her.
"Join him!" Emma commanded and Robin disappeared in the same cloud of smoke.
"Where did you send them," David asked delicately trying to remain calm. This may be the Dark One but she was also his daughter.
Emma turned and shared glances with her parents and Regina. "No cause for alarm. I assure you, they are alive and untouched. They are merely sitting on the pier," and in a mocking tone added, "… looking at the HORIZON." Emma snorted in disgust.
Mary Margaret and David shared a bewildered look wondering if that should mean something while Regina stood staring at Emma with her signature frown.
"Now. Where's our son?"
"He's safe."
Emma spun on her heels and glared at Regina. "Of course he's safe. Henry has nothing to fear from me."
"We didn't know what to expect." Regina matched Emma's hard look with one of her own. "We thought he'd be safer…"
Emma tsked, "You're hiding him from me."
"No, we're not…"
"It would be unwise to hide him from me."
"Emma… we…"
"QUIET!" Anger was released swiftly and with hand motions Regina found herself with her back plastered against the bookshelf and Mary Margaret and David were rooted to the floor unable to move their feet and Emma… Emma had glided effortlessly and quickly over to Regina as if there were wheels on the bottoms of her feet.
The former savior plastered herself against Regina's body, every inch of them lined up and molded together.
Emma's hands were palm flat against the wall of books; her lips close to the brunette's and their noses were very nearly touching.
Regina could smell Emma, her scent and the close proximity, one they had never shared, robbed her of breath. She wondered if Emma was going to kiss her; it felt like Emma was going to kiss her and God help her, Regina didn't think she'd do anything to stop it.
"Regina…" Emma voice was like warm caramel and those green eyes skittered lasciviously from the brunette's eyes to her ruby red lips. Witnessing Dark Emma wet her lips again, Regina wondered how the woman's tongue could not have touched her mouth they were so close. "… I thought we were past all this, Madame Mayor." On some conscious level Regina was aware that Emma's hands were sliding slowly down the bookshelf on either side of her and Emma's eyes never left her mouth as they did.
Gulping nervously, Regina watched Emma evilly deliver a deeply satisfied grin. She felt the blonde's fingers on her thighs, her THIGHS, as the Dark One stated, "You will NOT keep our son from me again, Regina. We won't go back. I promise you…" Emma's index finger dawdled and lightly drew a line between Regina's breasts and Regina could not hide the mild shiver the touch created. After an acutely pleasurable grin, Emma's eyes sobered and she was all seriousness. "I would never harm Henry."
The blonde's hands returned to the older woman's thighs and began a slow torturous stroke up and down.
"We were so stupid, Regina. So much time wasted when we could have been…" Emma rubbed just the tips of their noses together in the slowest, most flirtatious caress Regina had ever experienced and her eyes widened at the boldness of it, "… seriously enjoying each other, Your Majesty."
Regina felt Emma's fingers curl around the dagger and before she could act, Emma relieved her of it. "I'll take that." The Dark One smiled and moved away, the glimmering knife in her possession. "Not that I don't think I would enjoy being in your capable hands and obeying your EVERY whim." Emma caught a bottom lip naughtily between her teeth, a look of pure debauchery making her sexual meaning apparent. She was wicked, she was naughty, she was unadulterated carnal sensuality and Regina was stunned, unmovable and helpless to defend herself against it. Emma wiggled her eyebrows playfully exactly like the old Emma would.
Regina released a small sigh of relief. She was still there. Emma was still there.
The blonde waved her hand and freed her parents. "Thanks for summoning me back." She looked at Regina, a little longingly for a moment, surprising the mayor. "I expect to see Henry tomorrow."
Tapping the blade against the palm of her hand in contemplation, Emma looked as if she wanted to say something more but thought better of it. "Mom, Dad…" and again in a voice that was all Emma Swan's but also boasted of decadent pleasure, "… Regina. I bid you good night."
With a flourish in her wave, Emma disappeared in a dark purple tornado, leaving her mother to nearly cry with despair into her father's shoulder and for Regina, whose body was still humming in excitement, to slowly slide down the bookcase, sinking to the floor where she sat in utter shock and disbelief.