Emma wakes up somewhat refreshed. Sitting on the edge of her bed, She remembered the last time she saw Regina, bleeding herself as life slowly leaked to the floor; how she called her name the moment when Regina was almost taken away by death. It choked her to remember it. She stood up wearing a white tank top and jeans she wore last night. The day still hung early. Grabbing her usual maroon jacket she headed towards the beach.
Emma rested upon the sand as she looked at her phone. The messages that she received from Kathryn have mysteriously disappeared as if it hadn't been sent at all. Sighing she closed her eyes as she felt the golden brown rays of the sun burst through the air silhouetting her face. It felt warm. Emma decided to momentarily let go of the topic as she let the sound of the waves sweep her of her mind. She could hear the shuffling sand behind her.
"Regina I don't want to talk about it right now," Facing the sea Emma refused to look back. The sun has brightened more then when she first got there.
"I know you're probably angry at Kathryn," Emma paused. She could hear the breeze that suddenly went to a stop. Admiring and enjoying the silence she felt something was not right. The sky isn't getting any brighter.
Turning with widened eyes, there before her stood a brown stallion. It made no noise. It stood still with time. Emma inched backwards, it inched forwards. They stayed still as they share each other's atmosphere. She stood up from the sand and approached the stallion and somehow Emma felt there was no threat within the horse's presence.
"Who are you?" Feeling like an idiot talking to an animal, she could recall she remembered who the horse is. She doesn't know how. She kept fixating her eyes into the horse's eyes. The sea grew wild. Looking towards the sea she could make out the large wave coming towards the shore. The horse stampeded and chirrs. She climbed the horse without thought as she never ridden one before. The both rode their way into the woods.
'It's happening again'
Driving through the woods Emma could hear scream and cries from the roaring ocean until she realizes that they were souls. Her unanswered question about them became clear as she saw the unforgivable things that Regina has done, murder. The horse gaited her through the trees and beyond her she saw Regina, not as a powerful evil queen, but as Regina. The person she was once before, before everything changed…
Hopping down from the stallion she intended to approach her though something stopped her halfway, she felt she shouldn't. Regina stood there picking apples of the tree wearing a countryside dress as her wavy hair flowed down behind her. She was smiling and laughing as one of the horses approached her from behind nudging her from the back.
"This is," Emma paused as she looked back at the stallion that remained behind her.
"You brought me to her past," looking back at Regina she then noticed that she wasn't where she was before. The forest surrounded her as she saw Regina being trained by her mentor known to be Rumplestilskin. She hesitated as he told her to rip the heart of the horse; she did at the end until he told her to crush it.
She blinked and found herself in the middle of the woods within Storybrooke. She flinched a few times asking herself whether this was a hallucination, which seems most likely though todays hallucination seems to be more fantasized than yesterdays. She felt that it was suppose to tell her something. The sun was still rising; she checked her pockets for her phone. It was not with her, though she was confident that she placed it back in her pockets after checking upon it on the beach.
"Shit," Realizing that she might have left her phone on the beach she ran back. It surprised her when she found her phone in the forest as she was going to the beach.
"It must have dropped when I ran, well if I ran that is," she told herself trying to get her mind of what she has just saw with her very own eyes. And yet again if she wasn't sleep walking. She saw a message from Regina.
'Ms Swan, we need to talk, met me in the hospital as soon as possible'
"Regina why are we in the hospital?" The worried tone in Emma's trembled her voice. Regina sat by the seats that were provided, as she looked at Emma worried.
"Henry got a fever," Regina glanced at the floor "There's more to it…" Regina added. Not wanting to listen to anymore of it Emma ran to find Henry.
Emma rushed towards the hallways asking the nurse where Henry has been placed. She ran, oh god did she ran. She saw Henry within the room surrounded by glass, the room where he was placed in when he wanted to prove Emma wrong; the time when Emma didn't believe her own son; the moment she started to believe and accept who she was. Emma hastened into the room where she could see Henry sweating. He looked somewhat in pain. She could hear him groaning and grunting as if he was stuck in a nightmare, like the time he had to experience the after effects of the poison apple.
"Henry," she said softly as she placed her hand on Henry's palm. Regina entered the room waiting behind Emma. "I'm here," the feeling of wanting to reassure him was strong though she knew it was unlikely for him to hear her.
"Can you heal him?" Emma looked back at Regina who only shook a no. Emma looked at her watch.
"No, we are still flowing in time," Regina approached Emma and stood by her. Emma averted back on Henry as she rubbed small circles on his hand with her thumb.
"I heard him screaming last night when I came home," Regina tried her best to hold the sobs. Emma averted her eyes on Regina. "Maybe if we were still in that illusion-"
"He'll get better..." Emma finished her of as he voice faded quietly into the room. Tears were already strolling down Regina's cheek.
"He kept screaming, and screaming, his bed was drenched," Regina's hands were shaking as she held the barrier on Henry's hospital bed. Emma held Regina by the shoulders and as she turned her so that she would face Emma.
"Hey, Regina," Regina looked at Emma with red eyes filled with tears. "We're going to figure this out like we always do," Emma paused as she gave a warm reassuring smile. Regina replied with a smile though she found herself difficult to muster the energy to do so.
The disappointment and the sadness and everything that overwhelmed Regina was beyond her comprehension. She has never seen Regina looking so broken and vulnerable before, as if Regina couldn't do anything about it. Emma felt that something else could have resulted this. Letting go of her shoulder she eyed Regina.
She opened her mouth though nothing came out. She decided that it's not time talk about other matters for now…
Emma brought Regina back to her own mansion as Emma brewed tea for both of them. Regina sat quietly as her arms leaned on the dining table. The house was quiet.
"How are you feeling?" Emma placed one mug in front of Regina as she held one herself.
"Decent," Regina looked into the mug as she saw her own reflection in the tea. "Chamomile?" Regina asked as Emma replied with a nod. Regina took a sip as a small smile appeared on her face.
"I'm surprised your mother hasn't taught you about tea cups yet," Emma raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Well, a teacup doesn't hold as much tea," cooed Emma.
"Well, a teapot does Ms. Swan,"
"Well, that's if every person has their own teapot," Emma argued back.
"Well, that depends on the size of the teapot wouldn't it," Emma gave a light laugh alongside Regina Emma glanced as Regina glanced back. She could feel the atmosphere un-tense around them.
Emma noticed how Regina hasn't changed since last night. She must have been worried sick Emma thought which probably lead her into sleeping in the hospital.
"You should shower,"
"I beg your pardon Ms. Swan," Regina frowned at Emma's remark, as Emma knew that Regina took it the wrong way and laughed.
"That's not what I meant, you stayed up all night with Henry right?" Regina's facial expression softens as they come into and understanding. Smiling, Emma sat down by the dining table signaling her to go as well as telling her that she would be waiting.
"Plus we have a lot to talk about," Emma added. Regina replied with a smile as she disappeared from the kitchen though stopping halfway.
"Thank you,"
Regina went upstairs leaving Emma a bit confused as she then sipped her tea. Emma looked around as she tried finding something that would keep her amused for a bit. Since she knows the first floor pretty well she decided that she should scavenge the upper floor though she wasn't sure if it was a good idea. She contemplated on it for a while and decided to take the risk.
She was first drawn to Henry's rooms like since it's been a long time since she saw it. She opened the door quietly. The bed was still a mess not at all a surprise though she noticed more bookshelves than before. Sooner or later Emma noticed an area that were filled with filled folders. Taking one of the folders she found a lot of numbered pages. They were stories.
Once upon a time,
Emma chuckled to the first fours words used. Emma thought that his writing habits might have been picked up from the fact of how he was brought up which might probably be the case.
the world was dark, nothing was heard accept for the howling wolves under the full moon as it lusters the shades of silver grey of it's fur. It's calls echoed to the distant mountains as it slithered to the towns living by the woods. Nothing could get in it's path. They were born warriors, fighters, they swore by who they are, to protect the sacred area; the area of the one who gave them the power to be what they are.
Regina entered Henry's room to Emma's analysis, though she kept reading.
"Henry sure has a good imagination, you sure have raised him well," Emma complimented though she received no reply. From her deduction this morning from the beach her curiosity brought her to look around only to find Regina tearing on the spot. Her eyes red as tears dropped onto the floor.
"Regina?" Emma puzzled by the sudden outburst of emotion that came out from nowhere. Regina ran downstairs and out the door, Emma called out to her.
Regina was already halfway out her garden until Emma grabbed Regina's arm. Regina struggled her way free muttering words that Emma found hard to make out. "Regina-"
"No. No, no," Regina's voice became louder and louder as she kept repeating the words over and over causing Emma to worry even more.
"Regina!" Emma yelled as Regina looked at Emma which startled her.
"Regina your eye's," The iris of her eye's where grey leaving the pupil completely visible. Regina managed to lose grip and ran towards the road, not long after she felt something sharp tug her lightly behind her head. It's a paper plane.
'You might want to head to the beach, before she does anything stupid, =)'
"You bastard!" Emma barked to the open air as she then ran towards the area where she found out about who Regina was for the very first time…
When Emma arrived, Regina has already stood 15 feet into the sea as he heels were seen on the shore. A moment later Emma noticed that there was a heart on Regina's right hand. Emma ran as fast as she can into the sea though the sea was going against her.
"Regina, stop this!" Emma exclaimed to the wide empty void of the sea. Regina stood still as the waves crushed onto her knees. Not looking back Regina clasped the heart to both of her hands having Emma stop her a second later.
There was a big struggle between them as Emma tried preventing Regina into destroying her own heart. They both fell into the sea. Emma could taste the salty seawater though thankfully enough Emma manages to bring them to the shallower part of the shore leaving them less likely to drown each other. As Emma managed to reach to the shallowest part with Regina struggling, Regina managed to push Emma away only making her pin Regina down by the shoulders. The heart rolled onto the beach.
"Wake up!" Regina's eyes where still grey in colour. Regina stopped struggling as her eyes turn back to the dark brown colour they once were.
"Emma?" Regina answered a bit dazed as Emma lets go letting Regina sit upright. Regina could see how both of them were soaking wet. Water dripped of Emma's forehead as she sighed in relief as she stretched to retrieve Regina's heart that was partially covered by sand.
"What on earth happened in there?" Emma gazed at Regina. "I was," Looking down Regina felt her head spinning.
"Actually forget it," Emma added as she handed the heart over only having Regina glare at it. The heart was dark, dark maroon in colour. As she was about to take it she stopped.
"You keep it," Regina stood up as she tried regaining balance that involved having Emma help her up. Slowly pacing down the beach Emma stood still as she looked at the heart that didn't belong to her.
"You have to stop running away from who you once were," Emma said softly as she approached Regina with the heart in her hand. Regina looked at Emma.
"I know it's easier to just forget about it," Emma smiled though there was something behind that smile of hers. Regina could finally understand though she knew she couldn't be like Emma.
"But forgetting it is like forgetting a part of which made you grow up to who you are now," Emma wiped the sand carefully off the heart as it pumped rhythmically on her palm.
"It's like your trying to wipe off a whole floor off a building, but in the end all of the effort you have built above it topples over," Emma handed the heart over once more time to Regina.
"Don't let that part of the floor prevent you from reaching the skies," Emma smiled radiantly yet soft. It was something that Regina rarely sees in Emma though Regina shook her head.
"But I can't be like you," replied Regina as her voice drops. Emma approaches her as their faces were only inches apart.
"You can't because I'm me, but you can be you and I trust you can do it," Emma clasped one of her hands to Regina's "All you have to do is believe that you can," Emma placed the heart on Regina's hand, "And I'll help you believe, for yourself and Henry," Regina looked at her heart as it pumped in a peaceful rhythmic pattern and back at Emma.
"I-" As words where about to be said Regina went into a standstill dropping her heart as she clenched her hands on her head. Falling, Emma managed to grab Regina before she plummeted to her own heart as she laid Regina by the beach agitated on what to do as Regina internally screamed in pain.
"Regina can you hear me?" Emma trembled as she noticed how Regina's eyes were changing back and forth from brown to grey. Regina cried as she curled on the sand.
"I'm sorry, "Regina shivered to the pain "I'm sorry, I'm sorry,"
"Regina it's ok," as Emma looked up her face stiffens as a boy stood staring at Regina curled as she endured the pain.
"Who are you?!" Emma snapped at the boy who stood staring at Regina, He then caught Emma's eyes. Emma's eyes widened. He disappeared in a blink of an eye and Regina lay unconscious by the beach as her heart gently pounded the sand.
"Neal," Emma stared at the place where he once stood disbelieved of who she just saw.
"Regina what on earth have you've been witnessing," Emma muttered as Regina lays there motionless.
Managing to carry Regina back to her house, she placed her on the couch as she saw small droplets of sweat trickle down her forehead. She checked her temperature to see whether she was developing a fever like Henry leaving of a result of 37.7 degrees celsius which still could be considered normal. Having both of the soaked in salt water left both of their attires slightly stiff though she ignored it. She managed to grab to put Regina's heart in one of the white food container making her a bit guilty though she had no other place to put it. She headed out of the house as she planned on meeting someone she considers important.
Emma walked towards Kathryn's house managing to stay preserved and emotionally controlled. She knocked three times as it took only a few seconds until the door opened.
"Oh, Emma fancy meeting you here," Kathryn gave a warm smiled noticing Emma's somewhat rigid attire, which momentarily disgusted Emma. Kathryn offered her to go inside in which Emma hesitated as she sooner agreed. Emma sat on the chair by the dining table.
"Tea or coffee?"
"Coffee would be nice thank you," Emma sat restlessly as she felt that something was about to pounce until Kathryn brought in both mugs placing the coffee in front of Emma. She stared at the coffee and decided to put it aside. She held the food container safely onto her lap.
"Kathryn, by any chance have you been texting me or Regina yesterday?" Kathryn looked a bit baffled by the question as she tried recoiling back to what she might have done yesterday.
"Umm, I don't remember doing so, is there something wrong?" Emma shook her head as she knew she was telling her the truth. Though she didn't understand how Kathryn's number showed up.
"Did you text me in the night during around eleven to one in the morning?" Kathryn seems to be held back whether she should answer or not since she couldn't understand the situation. Emma saw the worried eyes, she sighed.
"Something happened, I cannot tell you everything but something bad is revolving around Regina and possibly Henry as well and I need he truth," Emma eyes Kathryn as she saw her eyes widen which already indicates that she somewhat isn't directly related but maybe related without conscious.
"Are they both ok?" Kathryn's voice quaked as she looked at Emma wanting answers. Emma held the mug and looked down to the black coffee.
"I think so, though they are currently unconscious," Emma could see her unclear reflection by the surface of the coffee. They both stayed silent as. It was already noon and Emma could already feeling the day wearing her down.
"I was already asleep by ten o'clock," Kathryn stated, as she looked at Emma saddened, as she couldn't help. Emma lifted herself.
"Thank you, you've done enough," Emma walked towards the door as Kathryn accompanied. They both bid a farewell.
"By the way make sure you message me when she's feeling better, I'll make a surprise for her," Kathryn grinned as Emma could spot the sincerity in the smile. She smiled back as she headed back towards Regina's house.
Emma could softly hear the thumping heart within the container; never thought that what once was an evil heart could be so calm as it rests in solitude. Curiosity made her open the container as she saw Regina's heart one last time.
Regina was still currently sleeping on the sofa though her facial expression is gentler than it was before. Small crystal was already starting to form on her clothes as well as her arms and legs (though mostly her legs). Emma shook Regina a bit to wake her up only replying with a grunt which amuses Emma since she never saw this side of her.
"Hey wake up,"
"Hnnggg,"
"You know you're stripped naked on the sofa right now right?" Regina jolted up looking at herself cautiously and gave a death glare at Emma who's ginning mischievously. Feeling the pinch on her legs she looked down to find the salt crystals that formed around her leg as she looked back at Emma who's hair stood as stiff as the corals.
"Seems like we both need a shower," Emma just stared apologetically that she made Regina shower twice in within two hours. "And sorry about your clothes. Regina just sat still as if she was deep in thought.
"Where's my heart?" Emma slouched as she chuckled with embarrassment as she showed the white food container which caused Regina to gap internally as she stared hard on the food container.
"You decided to put my heart in a food container," Regina said flatly and un-amused.
"Well I can't find a pretty box to keep it in," Emma stated only leaving Regina to sigh. Emma took the heart from the container and handed it over to Regina. Placing the heart back into herself Regina stood up.
"I'll clean up at the apartment and I'll come back at around seven if you don't mind," Emma got her bag as she walked towards the door. Regina looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"Just make sure you don't do anything like that again," Emma stated thoughtfully as she walked out the door.
Regina reconsidered the fact that she should've left the heart with Emma if that was the case, maybe she would have preferred it that way…