I can't help but letting my eyes linger on the yellow bug as it rolls over the spray painted line. There was nothing more that I wanted than to see that sight but I never thought it would be with my... no, our son. I turn watching the large green cloud flooding the city. The promise of death lingering with the cloud seemed so tempting.
I raise my hands silently in protest with my own thoughts. Sparks fly out of my hands and into the cloud. I watch as the green slowly fades as it turns to purple. My hair blows backwards with a strong breeze as a choked sob escapes my throat. I drop my hands as the final bit of green fades into nonexistence and the cloud embraces us all.
I open my eyes once more feeling a light weight on my shoulders and a pressure on my legs and abdomen. My hair isn't hanging in the corner of my eyes anymore. It is done in a complicated up do. I look down and notice I am donned in the clothes I had on during the time of the curse.
"We're back." A broken voice whispers. Snow had lost her daughter. Twice. Both times my fault.
I watch as the group expands off going to survey the damage done to their precious homes. Well, what used to be their homes. This place isn't home any more. Not to any of us. Especially not me.
As the group disbands I am left alone unable to move from my spot. All I want to do is fall to the ground and sob. Sob at the loss of my son. At the loss of my little prince. Snow and Charming may have lost their daughter but they still had each other. I was alone. I had nobody. Henry was my everything and now he was gone.
"Regina?" An accented voice called softly pulling me from my thoughts. I turn to see a brunette woman wearing a gold embroidered dress and a green patterned cloak. Belle.
"Yes?" I say not allowing my voice to tremble.
"You don't have to pretend you know. You're not alone in this." She says looking at me meekly.
"And who would I have to talk to? Snow and Charming still have each other. I lost everything I held dear. Henry was my everything." I snap my eyes watering with tears once again.
"I know. I'm alone too." She whispers. I frown confused and then it hits me; Rumplestiltskin is dead. She had lost her true love. He risked himself for them.
"No. You have Baelfire." I say shaking my head in denial.
"He left. I tried stopping him but he just walked off." Her bottom lip quivers. My eyebrows furrow wondering why this was all so familiar.
"You don't have to be alone Regina. We can help each other." Her voice cracks as she holds out her hand hesitantly.
No. I couldn't accept. I had hurt her too much. I had imprisoned her, ripped her away from her true love. Then I realize it all. If I hadn't it'd be very likely that the lie I had told Gold would become the truth. She would be imprisoned and cleansed until the insanity consumed her and she threw herself over the edge. If she hadn't succeeded then she would've been consumed by darkness.
She reminds me of myself.
"I am so sorry." I whisper taking her hand. The air is knocked out of me for a brief second as she hits me hard burying her face in my cloak. Almost upon instinct I brush her brown curls back as my own eyes water. It isn't long before I find myself wrapping my arms around her small frame and begin weeping over the loss of my son.
Maybe I'm not so alone after all.