"Mom, other Mom is kind of going off the handle, you need to go help her!" Henry ran into the apartment out of breath. His words came out in a rush as he slung his back pack down on the counter.
Emma stopped eating her bowl of cereal mid bite, "Slow down, kid. What are you talking about?"
"Okay, so me and Mom had this mission…it's secret, but I think you need to know. She wanted to find the writer of the book and make them write her a new story. She wants a happy ending," Henry jumped up on a stool and put his hands on his head.
"Did she find out who the writer is?" Curiosity taking hold, Emma pushed her bowl away and focused her full attention on her son.
"Yes, we found the writers and she's…not happy. Now she's trying to write it herself and it's pretty scary," Henry had just come from his house where he had found Regina holed up in her study, with scraps of wadded up paper all over the floor. "You have to help her. She wouldn't listen to me."
"I'm on it. I don't know if she'll listen to me either, but I'll try," Emma put on her coat and boots and was already half way to the door.
"What are you going to do? I'm afraid she's going to mess everything up. Things that are written in the book come true," Henry frowned and kicked the counter urgently unconsciously trying to get rid of his nervous energy.
"She wants a happy ending, right? So how bad could she mess that up?" Emma paused and thought for a moment, "Uh, don't answer that…I'll hurry. Just stay here and try not to fade into non-existence."
She left the apartment and took the stairs two at a time. Hopping into her bug, she ignited the engine and hit the gas. It didn't surprise her that Regina was trying to take matters into her own hands, but she knew that she didn't always think things through before putting plans into action, or in this case: words onto the page.
Pulling up in the driveway, she already had the car door open as she pushed the bug into park and turned the key. She jogged up the walkway and pounded on the door. Impatiently, she hopped from foot to foot and shook her head as she turned the handle, finding the door unlocked she pushed it open and stepped over the threshold.
"Regina?" She called from the foyer and hesitantly stepped in further when she was met with silence. She headed for the study and pressed her ear to the door before knocking a bit more lightly.
"Henry, I told you I need to be left alone," a muffled voice called from the other side. Regina sounded supremely frustrated and Emma took that was a very bad sign.
"It's not Henry…it's Emma," she tried to make her voice sound sweet and light, like she was just stopping by for a glass of cider and a friendly chat.
Emma was again met with silence, but she heard footsteps coming closer, "Did Henry send you?"
"Regina just let me in so we can talk. Henry said you're up to something….maybe I can help?"
The door opened and Regina stuck her head out, she was wearing glasses perched on the edge of her nose and an angry frown. "No, Ms. Swan, I don't think you can help. Now kindly leave my property, I am very busy."
"Writing a new happy ending into the book?"
Regina's mouth opened a bit in surprise and her face softened for a minute, "He told you?"
"Yeah, he's worried. Thinks you're going to destroy the town or rewrite history. Said you found the writer of the book too," Emma stepped closer, meeting Regina's eyes and holding her gaze. She could tell she was close to giving in and spilling her secrets and discoveries.
Regina rolled her eyes and looked to the floor, "I did," she spoke softly and slowly, "but those writers are worthless. I'm much better off writing my own story."
"Where did you find the writers?" Emma pushed her way forward, forcing Regina to take a step back. Emma placed her palm on the door and pushed it open wider letting herself into the study. She immediately noticed scattered sheets of paper and wadded up piles lying near the file place.
"I searched high and low for the devilish authors of this book that holds so much power over my life-over all of our lives, and I finally found them in the place I least expected to…," Regina sighed audibly and crossed the room, sitting back down behind her desk and turning her attention to the burning fire. The light played across her face casting shadows and light. Emma shoved her hands in her pockets and took off her coat.
Regina spoke one word low and menacing, as if the very act of saying it hurt her lips, "Twitter."
"No shit? Twitter?" Emma's raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "So did you tweet the writers?"
"I did…140 characters at a time…I sent messages to this Adam and Eddie, and I demanded they write me a better story, and give me the happy ending I deserve."
"And what did they say?" Emma leaned in to focus her attention on coaxing Regina to continue to open up.
"They said nothing of use. That they don't write 'ships' and 'the stories tell themselves' it was very disappointing, and I'm not the only one who is upset. Apparently, the writers have inflamed thousands based on the number of tweets they are receiving about their stories."
"How are you sure that these are the guys that have control?" Emma was confused by the whole situation, but she had learned to disregard nothing when magic was at play. She still hadn't figured out all of the rules that went along with using her magic. Sometimes it worked a certain way and other times it was completely different. There was no rhyme or reason to it. As she thought more about it, she had a question or two for these writers as well.
"Oh, I'm quite sure that they are the ones. They posted a 'script tease' from an upcoming event that is going to happen soon. It was cryptic," Regina shuddered and crossed her arms and legs, sitting back in her chair. Emma could tell she was feeling hopeless and fighting back tears. Regina perked up and shifted, her demeanor changing, "But it's no matter. I plan to write my own happy ending, but as you can see…I'm having a bit of trouble."
"I'm sorry your search ended this way, but at least you know who is responsible for your story," Emma stood up and crossed the room. She unfurled one of the crumpled failed writing attempts and read the page, "and the former queen, her true love and her loving son, Henry lived happily ever after."
"That story is too short. I need to write more details. I thought I could just write a generic summary, but that does not seem to be the case," the brunette picked up her pencil and tapped it on the surface of the desk. "I thought Robin was my true love, but the damned book has written another story for him: a story that does not include me."
Emma had an idea; she grabbed a chair and brought it around to sit next to Regina, "Let's try something. I did this exercise back when I was in prison as part of group therapy to help us focus on our goals. We're going to make a list of all the qualities you want in your true love."
She snatched the pencil from Regina and took a fresh she of paper, writing at top of the page "Regina's true love" and underlining it, "What are some must haves?"
Regina rolled her eyes, she thought the exercise was stupid, but none-the-less she was feeling desperate so she'd give foolish Emma the benefit of the doubt and play along."I'm not sure what you mean by 'qualities'?
"Like is he handsome, strong…truthful. What do you look for most in a man?" Emma was ready to write, and she knew Regina just needed a little bit of prompting.
After weighing things out in her head for a moment, Regina spoke, "Yes, I suppose strength is important, as well as someone who enjoys spending time with me. He doesn't necessarily have to have all of my same interests, but he must respect me. There has to be chemistry, and he must be good in bed and able to please me in all ways."
Emma finished scrawling 'good in bed' on the sheet and looked up, "What else?"
"I don't want to get too particular, but he also has to be good with Henry; someone who really cares about him and his well being. Henry must like him as well. I need someone who I can trust and who can meet me eye to eye, and knows what to do with magic," Regina looked at Emma, her eyes flitting to the page, "Are you getting all of this down, Ms. Swan? I don't want to have to repeat myself."
Emma wrote, 'trust' followed by 'handle her issues,' and 'magical' on the page, 'Yeah, yeah. I'm all caught up…what about affection? Do you like to hold hands and cuddle?"
A blush heated Regina's cheeks and she straightened up in her chair, bristling, "That is rather personal. Why does any of that matter?"
The blonde smiled and wrote something on the sheet, putting her hand over the list so the other woman couldn't see, and mischievously commented, "This is fun."
Regina grabbed her hand and tried to pull it back from the page, "What are you writing? Let me see at once. This is my happy ending after all."
After a bit of hand war, Regina swooped in and grabbed the paper, bringing to it closer to her eyes, reading out loud, "loves to cuddle'…I didn't say that…you're taking creative liberties!"
"Don't be so dramatic, so what if you like cuddling? So do I. Don't be embarrassed, it doesn't make you weak or anything," Emma placed a hand on Regina's arm and looked into her eyes, "I really want to help you, and maybe there are some qualities you need in your true love that you don't even know you need."
"Shall we move on?" Regina brushed her hand off and swallowed, keeping her expression neutral.
"Right, so how about physical attributes?" Emma rubbed her palms together and stole the paper back from Regina, poising her pencil and ready to write. "Hair and eye color?"
"I'm not particular, though perhaps I prefer blonde or brunette…no red heads."
"Aw, you're going to crush Dr. Hopper's chances," Emma joked and nudged Regina's shoulder, who was finally beginning to relax and not take it so seriously.
Regina cracked a half smile at Emma's joke and continued, "And blue or green eyes, I suppose I prefer a contrast to myself. I want someone who is fit and toned, but not too many bulging muscles."
"Alright, where are we going to find this Mr. Happy Ending? You might have to cast a wider net than Storybrooke," Emma reread the list and thought it was a pretty good start. She'd save writing the qualities Regina didn't want in a partner for later, as that list was sure to be a long one.
"You do know that you are featured in the book as well, and your happy ending has not yet been written," Regina took the pencil out of Emma's hand and drew a line down the middle of the page, separating Regina's list and starting a list for Emma's true love.
"Now, I write and you tell me the qualities that Emma Swan must have in her true love. Assuredly, that pirate doesn't possess your heart?"
Emma furrowed her brow and crossed her arms, "Now who is getting personal? I never asked to be in this stupid fairytale book, I just want to live my life, and I don't want to talk about Killian, okay? We're kind of on the outs. He's been lying to me about a lot of things so I guess honesty is kinda important to me. Go ahead and put that on the list."
She wrote 'honesty' in on Emma's column in her neat script, contrasted to Emma's blocky lettering. "How do you feel about romance: love letters and special dates?"
"I tried that before and well, going out to a fancy restaurant and getting flowers is nice, but I'm just as happy having a couch date with takeout and a good movie," Emma scrunched her nose, even though the topic wasn't anything that should make her uncomfortable she always felt strange talking about her own wants and needs. She was trying to help Regina; this wasn't about her in any way.
Emma watched her write a few more words and stood up to stretch her back and stoke the fire with the poker.
"Very good," Regina commented and continued to write.
"Do you really think any of this will come true? We'd probably be better off filling out an online dating profile and trying to find some hot dates that way," Emma moved back to the desk and sat back down taking the piece of paper and reading it over. Regina had added, 'Someone unique, special and understanding' to Emma's column.
"Would you like refreshment, Ms. Swan?" Regina walked across the room, pulling two glasses from a shelf and reaching for her decanter of cider.
"Sure," Emma shrugged deciding she could really use a drink if they were to continue down this path.
As Regina poured the drinks she asked over her shoulder, "Why don't you describe your perfect suitor to me and I'll see if any man in this town comes to mind?"
Rolling her eyes as she drew a blank while trying to imagine her ideal mate she took a breath and felt her heart flutter nervously. Emma corrected her, "It doesn't just have to be a man; I wouldn't mind a woman true love if we're being honest."
"Is that so?" Regina turned around quickly and pursed her lips in confusion. "You..you are interested in women- sexually?"
"Don't make a big deal of it," Emma mumbled, wringing her hands together. "I don't want to limit myself is all…and when I try to picture my future, it's just sometimes I can see myself with a woman."
Something indefinable crossed Regina's features as she extended her hand holding the glass of cider out to Emma and she sat down. She inhaled a sharp breath and then took a long drink from her glass. She seemed to be lost in thought until Emma gently nudged her shoulder.
"What are you thinking about?"
Regina's eyes fluttered open and she took Emma's hand, "I think I've been going about this the wrong way…I never realized, well, I never thought…but what you just said…"
"Yes?" Emma had never seen Regina act so flustered and unable to string her thoughts together into words. She held her eyes giving her full attention to the woman next to her.
"What I'm trying to say is that I don't want to limit myself either."
"Yeah, well, I think it's best to keep the options open. Not that I'm in any rush to find someone. I haven't had the best luck so far and I'm not sure I want to hand over my fate to a dumb book."
"Unfortunately, fate controls everything in my life, and fate is a cruel mistress," Regina looked over the list and fought the urge to crumple up the paper and toss it into the fire. "We're not getting anywhere. This is pointless."
"Hey, don't think like that. Don't give up hope, I don't think our whole future can change magically over night, but at least we're working towards something," Emma rubbed the back of her neck; she felt the pinch of headache coming on.
"You sound just like your mother. 'Hope this, hope that," sighing, Regina stared at the pencil and squinted before picking it up and urging Emma to continue. "Let's get on with it; please continue with your ideal true love."
Emma had never really thought about it. People just seemed to come in and out of her life, "The Henry thing is also important, I gotta be with someone who loves our kid. I need someone who challenges me, but is also supportive and doesn't place me on some pedestal because I'm the savior or whatever everyone thinks I'm supposed to be."
"Hmm, someone who sees your potential," Regina agreed, writing it down before taking a drink from her cider and glancing over at the Sheriff.
"Yeah, but just letting me be me, cause I've made mistakes, but I try to be a good person."
"Of course, you are. No one questions your goodness, look at your lineage," Regina tried to sound bitter and hard, but the cider was having the desired effect and she felt relaxed. Her words came out lilting and soft.
"See, I don't want to be known only as the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. That's a part of who I am, but I didn't even know the truth until recently. I don't typically dwell on the past…"
"That's what makes you so forgiving," Regina noted, as she cross her ankles under the desk and used her toes to push off her heels. She sunk down in the chair to rest her eyes. She wasn't used to writing, and she didn't know how they were going to configure their desires for true love into a narrative story.
"I guess, but I don't know. I don't even know who I want to be yet, let alone figuring out all the things I want in someone else," Emma blew a strand of golden hair out of her face and slumped back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. The fire had heated the room considerably, and both women felt the flush from the alcohol.
"I think I need some fresh air. Why don't we pause for tonight? Perhaps tomorrow we could write some more if you are so bent on helping, that is?" Regina stood up primly and Emma did the same.
"Yeah, I'll think on some more ideas for your happy ending and let Henry know that everything is under control," Emma smiled, finding it surprising that the more time she spent really talking with Regina the more she enjoyed her company. It was rare that the woman was as open and seemingly vulnerable as she was now, and it was nice to see the softer side.
"Yes, I have a lot to think about," Regina escorted Emma to the door, where they both stood across from one another, unsure of how to end their time together. Regina spoke with uncertainty, "Emma, thank you for coming. You did help put things in perspective."
"I did promise that I won't stop until you find your happy ending, and that's a promise I intend to keep," Emma nodded and opened the door. "Good night, Regina."
"Good night."
When the door closed, Regina leaned against it and squeezed her eyes shut. She had true love twice now and lost it both times, what if she was out of chances? The conversation that she had with Emma replayed in her mind. Maybe she shouldn't be looking for qualities in her ideal true love, but thinking about the qualities she desired in herself. When she thought about what someone could possibly see in her, she thought of all the things she used to be, but now, now she was just Regina and she felt like a stranger to herself.