Chapter 2
Clinging to the blondes body, Regina takes a shaky breath then moves back to look at Emma's peaceful face. Wiping her tears, the brunette frowns in thought. "You're not dying..I won't allow it.." Closing her eyes briefly, the mayor sinks her hand into her chest retrieving her heart as she does the same with Emma's cursed one.
Watching, Zelena looks worried. "Regina what..what are you doing?.."
Glancing up, Regina looks teary. "She is not dying.." Holding her heart up to her sister, the brunette pleads. "Help me..give her my heart.."
"Regina wait you can't-" hitching her breath as her sister shoves the cursed heart into her own chest and rolls flat to the ground, the redhead bites her lip teary as she crouches down to the pair and presses her sister heart into the blondes chest gaining a gasp of air instantly.
Reaching to her chest as she breathes heavily, Emma looks up to Zelena frowning before following her gaze to the lifeless mayor beside her. "Regina?!" Grabbing at the brunette, the sheriff realises what Regina has done as she can feel through her heart. "No..why...Regina why..." Stroking the former Queen's face, Emma inspects her closely before kissing her lips.
Turning towards Hades in anger, Zelena glares. "You killed my sister!"
Looking over with the same death glare, the blonde grits her teeth and grips her free hand into a fist as she begins to shake. Feeling a change, Emma look to her hand as she opens up her palm to see a flame ignite. Eyes widening, the sheriff gulps as she wishes for it to go out then stares at Regina once more. Carefully laying the brunette down, the blonde keeps her hands close to her chest as the redhead looks towards her having heard her movement. "Take care of Regina for me.." Staring in a daze, Emma disappears in a cloud of black smoke.
"Emma wha-"
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Stood staring ahead, lost, at her sister laying on a cold slab within their family crypt, Zelena bites down on her lip as all the regret and guilt comes flooding to the surface. All that time wasted in fighting one another when they could have been sisters from their first meeting. Sniffling, the redhead swipes a tear from her cheek then tilts her head upon hearing footsteps on the stairs.
Reaching the bottom step, Cora freezes on the spot as she stares wide eyed in disbelief over what she sees. Stumbling forward, the older brunette reaches for her daughter's arm to steady herself as she continues to stare down at her youngest daughter. "When you said...I thought..I thought you were wrong..that.." Leaning herself against the slab, Cora uses her spare hand to take hold of the younger brunette's. "Oh Regina..my sweet Regina.."
"It was all a trick mother...Hades.."
"He did this?!" The eldest Mills looks to her other daughter in anger.
"Well...in a way. Regina did it for Emma. Hades took Emma's heart to use the candle so he could trade her life for his own. So he could remain in Storybrooke..and not return to the underworld. He succeeded but Regina refused to accept it and traded places by switching their hearts..she has Emma's cursed one and Emma has Regina's"
Glancing back sadly to her lifeless daughter, Cora questions. "Where is Emma now?"
"I don't know...she disappeared..she looked..scared" watching her mother closely, Zelena then trails her eyes back to her sister as the older brunette requests.
"I need..I need you to look for her..I'll go and meet Henry..he should be back from school.."
"Yes mother.." Rubbing Cora's arm briefly to reassure her that she is there if needed, the redhead then turns towards the steps to go and search for the missing sheriff.
Brushing some hair carefully from the former mayor's face, Cora grips her daughter's hand as she presses a light kiss to her cold forehead. "I better go..pick up your son..I promise I will protect him dear.." Glancing down in guilt, the eldest Mills mutters. "..like I should have protected you.." Laying Regina's hand back down against her stomach, Cora pats it then makes her way out of the crypt, insuring a protection spell is placed around the building as she leaves.
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Watching nervously as the school bus pulls up, Cora fiddles with her hands as she scans the numerous heads that come into view as the students begin to disperse from the bus. Spotting her grandson, the older brunette steps forward then waits as Henry notices her and heads over.
"Cora? What are you doing here?"
Taking the boy by his shoulders, Cora lets out a deep breath. "Henry..I came because your mother..she.." Growing teary, the woman clears her throat. "Henry I'm sorry..there was an incident..Regina..your mother.." Looking towards the wide eyed boy not being able to admit that her daughter is dead, Cora stares at him sadly.
"What?..no...my mom..she can fight through anything she-"
"Not this Henry..it's too late.."
Barrelling into his grandmother, Henry hugs her tightly as he begins to sniffle. Raising her hand to stroke the back of his head, the older Mills hugs back. Hearing a muffled voice, Cora glances down to the boy.
"Where's Ma?"
"I don't know Henry..Zelena has gone to look for her..I think she feels guilty..your mother gave her own life to protect hers.."
Looking up teary, Henry questions. "It was Hades wasn't it?"
Nodding, Cora sighs as she runs a hand through his hair. "Henry..did you want to see her?..your mother?"
Appearing conflicted, the boy then nods. "I want to see her.."
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Descending down the steps, Henry stops at the bottom then looks to Cora with fear in his eyes. Placing her hands on his shoulders to guide him, the older woman gestures to move forward. "She's not hurt Henry..it's as though she is sleeping.."
Giving a silent nod, the boy makes his way through to where his mother is. Breaking away from Cora on sight, Henry runs over and attempts to hug his mother. "I'll write her back.."
"Henry dear you know you can't do that.." Feeling bad for the boy, the older woman steps forward to stand beside him and reaches for her daughter's hand again.
"Then we can go back to the underworld. She has to be there unless she's moved on already!"
"Henry..."
Deflating, the boy sniffles. "She can't be gone.."
Hearing loud footsteps, both Henry and Cora look over to see Emma appear. Looking to the older woman, the blonde gestures to Henry. "I..I..went to meet him but..I was late..I've come to take my son home.."
Rushing over, Henry hugs his mother tightly. Stood frozen, the sheriff peers over her son's shoulder and sees Regina beside her mother. Staring emotionless, the blonde then pulls back and wraps an arm around the boys shoulder. "Lets go..."
Glancing back to look at his brunette mother a final time, Henry quickly goes over and kisses her cheek. "Bye mom.." Heading back to the blonde, the boy follows her out leaving Cora to take a deep breath then sit down beside the slab not feeling ready to leave her daughter just yet.
A/N: I promise it won't be all doom and gloom!
