Three Days Earlier, Storybrooke
Regina's POV
"Ugh, why?" I groaned out loud knowing not a soul could hear me scream in my vault. Why do I always do this to myself? I always let my happy ending pass me by. I let her leave two years ago with that pirate. I let her marry that pirate. My frustration was growing inside and I needed to let some of the anger out before I exploded. Before my brain could register what I was doing, my hands were sliding across a table, knocking everything down in it's path. Glass shattered, liquid was spilled, books hit the ground with a heavy thump.
I pressed my palms firmly against my eyelids trying to gain back some control. I took three long, steady breaths. Once I released my hands and slowly opened my eyes I noticed a light flashing across the room. I slowly made my way to the other side of my vault, ignoring the mess I left behind. As I walked closer I noticed a tall full length mirror with a gold frame around it. Something about this mirror looked familiar. I just couldn't put my finger on it. I walked closer as if it was drawing me in. I felt as though I was a magnet being pulled. When I was only an inch from the mirror I noticed it wasn't holding my reflection. With a shaky hand I reached a finger out and the glass rippled like it was water. I bit my lower lip knowing I've seen this happen before. Then it hit me, I know exactly where this is from. The glass looked like liquid as it poured from the frame. It wrapped around my body holding me tightly into place before it pulled me inside and everything went black.
Storybrooke, Present Time
Emma's POV
"Whoa kid, seriously you need to stop growing. Shouldn't you be done by now?" I joked as I pulled back from my son's grip.
Henry is now taller than me, with wide shoulders and a slight stubble upon his chin. I feel so small compared to him now, especially when he hugs me. His arms have definitely filled out and I wonder if he's been working out. He let out a small chuckle as he placed his hands in his pockets, embarrassed by my comment. My mom and dad pulled me into a hug next followed by my little brother Neal. Who's not so little anymore, how is he seven?
"It's been awhile Emma," I'm in my thirties and about to be scolded by my mother, "what has you so busy in Boston you can't visit your family more?" I rolled my eyes in a joking manner because honestly the sentiment melts my heart, she cares.
"I'm sorry mom. You're right, I'll try and make more of an effort to visit more frequently," my mother nodded in return with a strict smile, "so...when was the last time everyone saw or talked to Regina?" I asked getting to the point.
"I believe four days ago," my dad began before my mom interrupted.
"I spoke to her three days ago and I tried contacting her everyday since."
"That's the same with me," Henry said.
"Okay and where have you guys checked?" I asked as I easily slipped back into my old sheriff role.
"Where haven't we checked mom? Seriously. We've looked everywhere in this town," Henry deadpanned.
"Alright, well I'm going to check everywhere again. Maybe you missed a clue kid. I'll be back later. I'll make sure to keep my phone on if anyone needs me," I said as I walked towards the door.
"Oh you're not going alone!" My mother demanded causing me to turn around on my heel.
"I'll be fine. Killian, I want you to stay with Henry and my parents."
My mother shook her head and grabbed her coat from the rack, "I'm going with you and there's nothing you can say." She was right, there was nothing I could say because she already walked out the door.
Our first place to check was Regina's office. There weren't any signs of forced entry. I checked her security system and all the correct codes were entered, but the last entry was from three days ago.
I checked her desk, looking for any phone taps or anything out of the ordinary, but came up empty handed. I looked inside her desk drawer and found a beige folder. I pulled it out, only to find information on Henry's school. There were some tuition information and receipts, along with the amount we agreed to split next semester. Only it wasn't exactly split, she was paying about seventy-five percent of it. I wonder why she would lie to me about the amount? I closed the folder and put it back where I found it.
Henry's tuition was the last conversation I had with her. I felt tears forming in my eyes as I realized how serious this situation is. I swallowed hard trying to fight the tears.
"Let's go mom, there's nothing here."
Next we went to Regina's mansion. I felt sick to my stomach as I walked the path leading to her front door. A path I've walked a thousand times before but always took for granted. All I heard over and over again in my head was "You're Henry's birth mother," from the very first time we met. I don't know what I would do if I lost her.
I felt magic radiating off the mansion as we approached. I haven't used my magic in the two years I've been away, but I could tell she put a protection spell around her house. I closed my eyes to focus and waved my hand over the lock. I opened my eyes as I heard the door swing open.
"Looks like she trusts you..." my mom stated with a smile. I shrugged as I felt my cheeks flare with heat and stepped inside.
The first thing I noticed were all the new pictures that were scattered throughout the house. Regina never had pictures out. Now the mansion felt so warm and inviting seeing all our familiar faces. My mom and dad with Neal. Zelena, Regina and baby Robin. Regina and my mom together. What really caught my eye were how many pictures there were of Regina, Henry and I together. My heart actually hurt seeing all of us together causing me to frown.
"Emma? Are you okay?" My mother asked placing her hand on my shoulder.
"Ya. I just...I never saw all these pictures before."
"Oh ya! Regina put them up...maybe two years ago?" Snow replied casually as she left me to continue looking around.
So that means she put these up when I left Storybrooke, why though? I shrugged it off and went upstairs to look around. My mom noticed and followed me to Regina's room.
Everything was so clean and organized, not one thing left out. I don't even think I made the bed when Killian and I left this morning. I walked over to Regina's bed and sat down. There was a picture frame on the nightstand next to her bed. I leaned over and grabbed it, resting on her pillow. It was a silver frame with baby footprints all around it, the picture inside was of Regina holding Henry as a newborn. I inhaled sharply, smelling a strong aroma of apples. All of this was becoming too much for me as a tear slid down my cheek.
"You know, she cares very deeply for you," I heard my mother whisper. I felt the bed dip and her warm body next to mine. Snow placed her head on my shoulder, "I remember all Henry did was cry at that age."
My lips twisted as I held back the tears. Even though it did give me some kind of comfort knowing my mother was there to watch Henry grow up. I felt my mom's small finger pushing my chin to look at her.
"I mean it Emma, Regina cares about you, a lot." I gave her a weak smile and nodded.
"I know mom, we share a son."
"No, it's not just that. There's something special about you two. When you and Regina are together, you can tell how much you care for one another. I can almost feel the connection you two share. It's something that can't be broken," I nodded politely as I chewed the inside of my lip. "We shouldn't have tried," my mother whispered. I looked at her confused but decided to drop it, we were both emotional and she's obviously not thinking clearly.
"Come on mom we have a lot more stuff to look through," I stated as I set the picture frame back down.
Again, we came up empty handed at the mansion so we made our way to Regina's vault. As we walked closer I could almost feel Regina's presence. I checked for a protection spell but felt nothing. We walked down the cold stone stairway into Regina's vault.
Immediately I saw the mess of broken glass and thrown books and wondered why Henry neglected to tell me this. Snow and I searched everywhere trying to find some sort of clue as to what happened but there was nothing. It didn't look as though anything was taken. I didn't see any signs of struggle, no blood, no hair, nothing out of the ordinary. I groaned in frustration.
"Emma let's go home, get some rest and start fresh tomorrow. You had a long day driving here and I'm sure you're starving."
"You're right, lets go," I confessed in defeat. My mom made her way to the stairs and I followed closely behind.
Before I took my first step I saw a flash of light out of the corner of my eye. I turned back around to investigate but the closer I got, the more I realized my mind's probably playing tricks on me. So I turned back around to catch up with my mom.
