This is my second story. For everyone who's here for Swan Queen... I'm sorry, this isn't it. Worst case: They hate each other to the point of murder. Best case scenario: They accept each others presence in their sons life and come to a mutual understanding. I'm not a SQ fan, I think Emma's heart belongs to Neal first place, Hook second. And Regina's to Robin. So... Now that's off my chest, this is the story. Enjoy!
Regina looked at her son beside her. She knew he was looking at that stage for one reason and one only: to see his mother win. She decided to ignore her sons behavior once again and stared blankly at the pamphlet she had made for Sidney. The poor man would do everything she wanted. Gepetto might make the puppets but she was the one playing them. She smirked as she kept staring into the pamphlet without really looking at it. Then the curtains opened and the bug made his way to the stage, his hands trembling, god he was nervous. This was going to be easier than expected. The bug did a petty attempt to introduce the contestants before hurrying off the stage. Regina cocked her head and listened to Sidney's speech.
"I just want to say that, if elected, I wanna serve as a reflection of the best qualities of storybrooke." He breathed. "Honesty, neighborliness and strength." She mouthed the words with him as he spoke. "Thank you." He concluded. They all applauded, though weakly compared to her. Emma glared at the mayor. Her preference was obvious. Not only because she had said so multiple times, but it was also seen in her behavior. The mayor almost snapped off her nose whilst clapping for Sidney after he had delivered a speech obviously written by the mayor.
When Emma's name was called she stood up from her chair and placed herself in the middle of the stage, behind the desk.
"You guys all know... I have... What they call 'a troubled past." She said. A smirk appeared on the face of the mayor. She continued non the less. "But you've been able to overlook it because of the... ehm... Hero-thing." Her son smiled at her. She sighed. "But here's the thing. That fire was a set-up." The kind smile disappeared from her son's face. "Mister Gold agreed to support me in this race. But I didn't that that meant he was going to set fire. I don't have infinitive evidence, but I'm sure. And the worst part about all this is... the worst part of all of this is... I let you all think it was real. And I can't win that way." She looked at Henry, who looked at her with, she couldn't place it, admiration? Why would he admire her, when she had deceived the entire town? "I'm sorry." She said more to him than anyone. She saw Gold rise and limp away on his cain. As vulnerable he might seem with his limp, he was far from that and she knew she was going to pay for this. Regina turned her head and looked at him with an expression she couldn't place either. And then she too, walked away as Regina smiled victoriously.
Later that same afternoon Regina dropped her son off at home. She told him to stay inside, to do his homework and if he did as she asked, she would take him to Granny's for dinner. She promised him a milkshake, which made the boy eager enough to run inside. Then she drove away to her next destination. A certain shop with a certain owner.
"So." She said as she walked in and turned the 'open' to 'closed' sign. "You tried to have me killed."
He smirked. "Oh come on, madam mayor. It would've been a nice bonus but I never intended for you to die."
"How comforting." She sneered. "I hope you know your bird is losing. After that little stunt she pulled nobody is going to vote for her. And if they do... Well, I might have to work some magic."
"Still threatening lives I see." He said. "But Emma's going to win."
She was honestly surprised. "How do you figure?"
"No matter who gets the most votes, you're going to go to your blonde nemesis and you'll inform her she's the new sheriff. You'll congratulate her, of course, and hand her her badge with that big old smile we all know and love."
She smirked. "I'm not going to do that. Never will you see that happening."
"Oh, now, Regina. You forgot all about our deal. I'll just say 'please' now won't I?"
She shook her head. "You won't. That's not how you make deals."
He nodded. "You're right. I wouldn't force you into a deal. But I could force you to do other things. Things you haven't done since... I taught you how to." He smirked as he saw her upper-lip tremble with both fear and loathing. He leaned over so his voice was quieter than a whisper. "You remember which, don't you. I wonder if the late sheriff enjoyed one of your more talented skills. You were quite good."
"You wouldn't." But now she wasn't so sure anymore.
"Oh, I would, dearie. And not only that. I could tell everyone. Or better yet, I could have you tell everyone. Could you imagine the people's thoughts? The most powerful man in town and the mayor... before you know it you might have to step down. Couldn't have your personal judgement clouded with love." He spit out the last word as though it was poison.
"Fine." She barked. "You're the first to know that Emma Swan is the new sheriff of storybooke. Congratulations."
Emma sat at the bar at Granny's, taking the last gulp of her beverage. When Ruby offered her another she responded with: "Hell yes." Then Henry walked in and sat beside her.
"Well, he did something illegal." She said.
"That's what heroes do" He shrugged. "Expose stuff like that." Then he leaned in and whispered: "I should never have given up on Operation Cobra." Just in case Ruby was listening in. She got her son's trust and that was all she needed.
"I thought I might find you here." Regina's harsh voice snapped her back to reality. Sidney followed behind her. "Having a drink... and my son." Clearly not approving.
"Here to cart me officer?" Emma asked Sidney, knowing he had most probably won.
"Well, not at all. In fact, I think I'll join you."
Emma raised her brows. "Sure? I heard they're setting up the back room for the victory-party." She glanced at Regina, who was clearly unhappy and her usual cranky self.
"Well, you have to tell me what that's like." Sidney said. Emma looked at Regina. The mayor looked as though she was a child who had taken something that didn't belong to her and was now forced by her parents to give it back. She held up the sheriff's badge as she didn't look at the blonde.
Then she admitted defeat. "Congratulations." She smiled, though horribly fake, and placed the star-shaped badge on the bar. "Sheriff Swan."
"Wait... What?" Henry interrupted while Emma was still as confused as ever.
"It was a very close vote." Regina lied. She had never even counted the votes. "But people really seemed to like the idea of a sheriff brave enough to stand up to mister Gold." She cocked her head the way she always did.
"Are you joking?"
Sidney answered immediately. "She doesn't joke."
Meanwhile, as all the townspeople started to enter the diner, Regina spoke some last words to Emma. "You didn't pick a great friend in mister Gold, miss Swan. But he does make a superlative enemy. Enjoy that." She said as she flashed her smile once more. Nice as it might seem, Emma knew the mayor was not someone to be messed with and that smile was completely fake. The mayor turned and walked away, her heels ticking as she made her way out of the diner.
While the town was celebrating with Emma, across town Gold sat with Regina as she drowned her loss again. He had grown accustomed to the way she dealt with defeat. Back in their world she would just mass-murder an entire village, or kill some knights. Perhaps torture someone until they killed themselves. But seeing as she couldn't do that here, well, at least not without getting locked up herself, she drank. And drank she did. After a simple wine she grabbed whiskey, gin or vodka. She preferred vodka, because that was still a bit feminine as she claimed.
"What are you going to tell her?" She asked. "She thinks she's your enemy now, and I presume you don't want her to think that."
He nodded. "You are correct, dearie. I'm going to tell her I set this entire thing up."
"That you knew she was going to tattle?"
"Correct."
She shook her head before she gulped down the remainder of her drink. "You're just so... sneaky. And she'll believe you, with that pea-sized brain of her."
"Now, Regina. I'm getting the idea you're not too fond of Miss Swan." He said as he poured her another glass. She had had more than four drinks already and she was getting quite wasted, whilst he was still sipping on his first scotch.
"Wherever did you get that idea?" She quipped. "She's my favorite person in the world. I like her more than Miss Blanchard!"
He enjoyed speaking to her. Mostly because it had kept him sane, speaking to someone who knew the past. Who knew they had been locked in time, who knew they came from a different world. At first he had denied it to her, claimed he didn't know. But after those first few years the loneliness of missing Belle and having no one to really talk to had become too much and he had sought her out. And she was just as desperate to have a real conversation as well. Because, as she stated: "It's nice to play them like the fools they are, but the lack of equals will kill me."
"Regina, where's Henry?" He asked. He liked the boy.
She tried to look at him, but he noticed the alcohol was doing it's job. "I... ehm... left him with Emma. He's fine, he's fine."
"Yes. Emma'll take good care of the boy. You know, if you let Emma into his life just a bit more, she'll be more cooperative towards you. Who knows, you might become friends?" He laughed with her. "But, truly Regina. Henry will resent you for keeping him away from her. When something is forbidden, isn't it all the more interesting to do so?"
"I suppose you're right." She said and emptied her fifth glass.
He looked at her. "You're quite the alcoholic, madam mayor. I should get you home." She simply nodded and allowed him to help her up. He ignored his limp for once and helped her to her car. Then he limped back to get his cane. She had placed her head on the driver's seat and played with her hair. Her eyes were closed. He shook her shoulders and placed her back into her own seat. Then he drove to the mayor's mansion and helped her inside. He dropped her on her bed, not caring one bit for her discomfort and walked downstairs again. He had taken Regina's phone and texted Emma to drop of Henry whenever she deemed fit. Then he drove back to his shop, feeling more alone than ever.
Emma walked into her new office, feeling very out of place. It still belonged to Graham she thought. His jacket even hung here still. What?
"The sheriff's jacket." A voice from behind startled her. "I thought you might want it after all." Gold smiled at her.
"You do know I'm armed, right?" She said.
Whether it was a joke or pure reality, he didn't care. He smiled non the less. "It's all part of the act, my dear. Political theatre and an actual theatre." He was silent. "I knew no one was going to vote for you, unless we gave you some kind of extra-ordanairy quality. And I'm afraid saving old Regina's arse in the fire just wasn't gonna do that. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me. And you did."
"No way." She breathed. "There's no way you planned this." She didn't believe him, as he expected she wouldn't.
"Everyone's afraid of Regina. But they're more afraid of me. By standing up to me, you won them over. It was the only way."
"You knew I'd agree."
"Oh yeah." He gave her a kind smile. "I know how to recognize a desperate soul."
"Why did you do this?"
"We made a deal sometime back, Miss Swan." He made a step. "We established that you owed me a favor. I know that can be a bad feeling, owing someone." Regina always hated it. "But now that you're sheriff, I'm sure we'll find some way for you to pay back what you owe me." Then he turned and walked away as he muttered a final: "Congratulations."
So... Second story... What did you think? I don't think I'm gonna do the whole golden queen thingy where he's either all bossy to the point of rape or a complete sweetheart (which I think we can agree upon he isn't) but I will put references in the story about passed events. And then maybe I'll have them come together a few times. But I think his heart belongs to Belle and I have to stay true to that.
Please Review!
