Disclaimer: I don't own any characters. They all belong to the creators of Once Upon a Time. The rating is for mentions of abuse in this chapter and probably more descriptions in future chapters. Thanks!
The question hung in the air like a thick vapor, causing everyone in the room to shift uncomfortably. Snow glared around at them, her lips pursed. "How?" she questioned again, this time emphasizing her point with a fist to the table. "How did this happen to my child?" Her voice cracked and she buried her face in her hands. Charming placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and took up his wife's glare.
"I want some fucking answers," he hissed. His normally kind blue eyes pierced the corners of the room like knives.
"I know you won't believe me but I had nothing to do with this," Gold said quickly, passing his cane from one hand to the other. Neal nodded his affirmation.
"I would know if he had. We've been together for . . . " but he trailed off, studying his hands.
"I don't owe you any answers, not after what your wife did to me," Regina said defiantly.
"What did you do?" Snow bellowed, lifting her tear-stained face. "She has done nothing to you. Your quarrel is with me, not her."
"Be that as it may-" Regina began but was cut off by Henry.
"Mom, please tell them what happened to Emma," he pleaded. "I'll do anything." He added the last bit in a barely audible whisper. He studied his hands with apparent fascination but everyone could see the tears glistening in his eyes.
"Fine," Regina sighed. "Here are my conditions. Henry will remain with me . . . forever." This was met with a flurry of dissension by many in the room:
"Absolutely not!" from Charming.
"Never!" from Snow.
"Over my dead body!" from Neal.
"Okay," Henry said loudly, effectively shutting everyone up. "Just tell us where she is."
"Just so you know," the evil queen began warily. "Emma wanted this, however subconsciously and this is a way-the only way," she amended quickly, deliberately "for everyone to get what they want."
"Dammit Regina, get on with it!" David shouted, his eyes reflecting pure furry.
"She has been sent back, to an earlier time. There is nothing left of the adult Emma, only the four year old one. If you want her, you must go back to claim her."
"I-I don't understand," Snow stammered. "How?"
"Admittedly, it's very complex, temperamental magic. She has been sent back to her four-year-old self, staying with her foster parents before it happened." She let the words sink in. To her slight amusement, everyone still looked perplexed.
"It?" Charming asked lamely.
"The point at which her innocence was stolen," Regina answered, taking joy at the obvious pain she was causing Snow. "I have taken the liberty of retrieving her file. She discussed it at length with me while, erm, slightly inebriated night before last. I-well we decided this was a way to avoid a lot of heartache. You can have your child back, innocence intact, and I can have my child without interference."
"Emma would never willingly give up Henry," Neal cut in, glancing meaningfully at his son.
"Rest assured, she was involved in constructing the spell. I could not have done it without her," Regina shot back evasively. They did not need to know what mental and emotional manipulation she had wielded on the vulnerable woman. She felt a bit guilty though at the crestfallen look on Henry's face. He would mend in time, learn to see it from her side.
"How do we save her?" Charming asked quickly, his hands trembling. "You said we could save her."
"Indeed, drink this elixir and you will be transported to that particular time and place but you must act quickly. The deed will be done in only a fortnight." She extended five bottles to him. "You must both take the red ones to be transported there and the three of you will take the green ones to be transported back."
"Once we're there, how do we get her back and what exactly will take her innocence in two weeks?" Snow's voice trembled.
"It's not a matter I want to discuss in front of Henry. Besides, you can read it all in her file. As for how to get her back, the two of you always find one another. Retrieving your daughter should not pose much of a challenge. I'm giving you a second chance with Emma which is more than you've ever given me. You should be thankful," she finished haughtily. "Come now Henry," she pulled at the young boy's shoulders.
"Let me say goodbye first," he whispered, his eyes trained on his grandparents. He moved toward them as they opened their arms to him. Enveloped in their embrace, he quickly whispered "Find her and save her; I can't lose her." They broke their embrace and he moved on briefly to his father before walking out the door with Regina.
Once the two were gone, Snow opened the file with a bit of trepidation. "She could be lying," she said lamely, her eyes combing the first page of her daughter's thick file. After a minute she gasped, putting her hand to her lips.
"What is it?" Charming asked, concerned. Snow shook her head, horrified. She pointed to a paragraph about two thirds down the page. Charming read the missive out loud.
"Charges were brought against E. Swan's foster father for aggravated sexual assault and ongoing physical abuse including but not limited to cigarette burns to her arms and legs, three broken ribs, a black eye as well as extensive signs of digital and penile vaginal penetration. E. Swan was evaluated by Dr. Charles, Boston SVU staff psychologist, who found the four year old exhibited signs of rape trauma syndrome, cognitive under-development, fear and guilt. Upon seeing a picture of the accused, the patient soiled herself . . ." Charming trailed off, unable to read any further.
"I knew she'd had it rough. She hinted but she never-" Neal offered, massaging his temples.
"We have to save her," Snow said desperately, her eyes bloodshot and her voice quivering. She tried not to remember that really, all of this had already happened, that her sweet daughter had had to live with memories too horrible to even imagine. "We'll leave tonight," she murmured, the matter quite decided in her opinion. Charming didn't try to argue, still too stunned. Emma had seemed so strong, so indestructible.
"Let's collect some supplies," he said, closing the file and steering Snow out of the room. He could scarcely remember the day's events that had brought them there, to Gold's shop. He and Snow piled into his truck and he mindlessly wound his way toward their apartment. Both were too stunned to speak. There was no question of their going, no lingering doubts about the validity of the situation or the safety of the plan Regina had so callously set forth. If there was a shred of truth to the story, even the slightest possibility of saving their child from her impossible fate, they would do it, no matter the cost.
They packed a bag with medical supplies, cash, clothes, a gun, whatever they could think to include. They were almost done when there was a swift rap on the door. Charming opened it to reveal Neal. "Here," he said thrusting forth a tiny, paper-wrapped package. "My father has enchanted it in case crossing the Storybrooke boundary offers any challenge." Charming opened it and a tear came to his eye. It was a single unicorn from Emma's mobile, radiating a quiet, comforting heat.
"Thank you," Charming said softly, running his thumb over the smooth glass. "I thought that this was lost."
"Please find her so we can sort all of this out," Neal continued, wiping at his eyes irritably. "I-I still care for her . . . "
Charming replied with a curt nod. Now was not the time to pummel the man in front of him for hurting his daughter, not when she had experienced a much sharper pain. Neal turned on his heal and walked back down the stairs. Snow emerged with the backpack slung over her shoulder. She looked preoccupied. "Ready?" she asked, looking at her husband who nodded, unable to form words. He pulled the two red vials from his pocket and fit the three green ones into the bag on Snow's back. They both uncorked their bottles and, joining hands, drank quickly.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it! The idea came to me but I'm a sucker for the suddenly shrunken Emma fics. I will hopefully update with the next chapter this week. Let me know and REVIEW!