Chapter 2

Marble Counters

Emma approached the white house with extreme delicacy.

She didn't know what kind of situation Regina was in, or whether or not she would become nothing but incinerated remains if she entered.

She didn't want to ask help from her in a time like this, but if she was just given a potion or something to help figure out a way to make some final decisions, then Emma would be grateful.

She placed the front of her wrist on the door and gently knocked to see if she was home.

She noticed that today's mail wasn't picked up, which told Emma she was indeed there.

After waiting for some time she finally pushed the knob down on the heavy white door and welcomed herself in...

She figured that this was also a good way to check on her and make sure she wasn't up to shenanigans.

"Emma?" She immediately turned around to be face to face with Regina.

"What the Hell are you doing in my house?"

Emma tried to hold back her tongue as she gently proceeded with Regina.

"Listen, I know it's not the greatest time to be asking you a favor due to the circumstances right now, but I was wondering If you could help me somewhat see my fate?"

Regina cocked her eyebrow. "Can you tell me why you would want that? Can't you do it yourself?"

Emma continued to breathe steadily as she noticed Regina's tone of voice.

"Well I was more thinking along the lines of a potion or a more powerful spell that you could conjure. Believe me, I understand if you don't want to help me... Normally I would have sought Rumple but he and Belle have... well, you know."

She didn't want to make Regina feel bad about reminders of love and relationships, nor did Emma want to feel more guilty about bringing Marian back.

She figured it would be smart to leave out the true details out of her reasoning.

"Well why in the world would you want to change your fate? I thought that you were happy with having your family back. Besides, fate spells can be dangerous... they can get you caught in situations that lead to dangerous consequences."

Regina had her hands on her hips as the mirrors reflected her back side.

"I don't necessarily want to change it, I'm more thinking about seeing what happens if I made the right or wrong choice..."

Regina looked her straight in the eye, making Emma uncomfortable. "Would this happen to have anything to do with that Captain of yours?"

Emma immediately stiffened, for she was trying to avoid any conversation involving that.

"Well... sort of... I mean... yes."

Regina scoffed. "Wow. Why am I not surprised?"

Emma stared at Regina in a pleading state. "Regina, please. I really want to be with him, but something always gets in the way... and you know very well at what I'm referring to. I'm so sorry about Marian and everything that happened between you and Robin. If there was anything that I could do to go back and change It I would... but I couldn't just let her die with her blood on your hands. Not after what you have eventually become."

Regina pondered for a moment with a small frown on her face.

"Fine..." She mustered in between breaths. "But I'm not doing this for you."

Emma followed her into the potion room and watched as Regina rummaged through empty bottles and some filled ones.

"I'm hoping I didn't leave it somewhere in the crypt... I know I wouldn't have since I kept it purposely for myself."

She finally found a small vial with some pink liquid foraging at the bottom.

Regina looked at it sadly. "This is a potion I've been saving for a rainy day. Drink it before you go to sleep tonight, and it'll show you everything you need to know."

She handed it to her gently.

"There are some precautions, however. Even though it's not technically a sleeping spell, some of the same side affects can happen. You can't get to attached, or there may be great consequences."

Emma wasn't sure what Regina was meaning by all this, but she was hoping that in the end it would be worth it.

"I'll let you know if you need more information. Now please, if you will."

She held the door open for her, and immediately slammed it behind.

It was sad to see Regina seem so bitter again, and all Emma could do was pray that she would continue to see her sense of responsibility.

She twisted the rope holding the cork onto the vial and swung it a couple of times around her finger making sure she didn't spill it.

She stared at the porch at Granny's, and saw a very drunk Killian walking out.

She rolled her eyes and immediately went after him.

"Killian... what are you doing?" The Captain immediately gave his sensual smirk.

"Oh just waiting for you, love... as I told you."

She stared at him as he passed out at her feet, and used her former police training to lift up his unconscious body and somewhat drag/carry him to Mary Marguerite's.

Both her parents looked at her weirdly as she set him on the couch. "Don't say anything, please. It's just for tonight. I'll take care of it."

She gently placed a blanket over his large and muscular body, and watched him gently snore with the same stupid smirk on his face.

She then placed some water on the table next to the couch, and wrote a note underneath letting him know why he was here when he woke up.

She looked over to see if her parents weren't looking...

And then without hesitation this time, she barely touched her lips to his cheek, letting him know he was there for him.

For she didn't know if she would be in the morning.