Tick tock

Tick tock

The only sound in the Mills mansion was the usually silent ticking of the clock in Reginas home office, where she was spending most of last week since they got back from Camelot. It´s been a week since the last time she saw Emma. Last time anyone saw Emma actually. Books were thrown in frustration whenever she would be unsuccessful to even finding a slight chance, a small possibility to bringing back old Emma, to saving her. Mary Margaret and Charming would show up each day in the mansion, trying to help out as much as they could, while maintaining the town in order once again. And Henry? Henry was trying to make sure that his mother doesn't lose her mind. The first night they got back, Regina fell asleep in an instant, exhausted, feeling guiltier then ever in the morning and not once wanting to leave her office since then, trying to find a solution for Emma. Without telling anyone, she cast a spell on herself, one that would keep her awake for days, and help her see things clearly. Henry was spending the night with the Charmings, as he spent the day helping his grandfather and Robin look for any traces of Emma. Henry called out for Emma for days, but the woman was nowhere to be found. And the pirate, the man who supposedly loved the saviour and though of her as his happy ending, he disappeared onto his ship the moment they got back to Storybrooke, drinking his sorrow away, instead of helping out with anything. The Dark One was no longer his Emma, and he had no intention what so ever to help with bringing old Emma back, the real Emma. The Emma, that Regina knew was still inside the Dark One.

Tick tock

Tick tock

A growl of frustration and another book was thrown against the wall, hitting the annoying clock that was ticking its last beat out, before crashing onto the floor and breaking into pieces. With the mansion being in complete silence right now, Regina finally took a deep breath, before opening yet another book in front of her, hoping that this one will give her some answers.

Camelot

Regina held the dagger in her hand, a single finger tracing across Emmas name, as she sat in the empty bedroom that was assigned for the saviour. The saviour. She still couldn't believe she called herself the saviour in front of everyone. But she had no other choice, if Emma, in the state that she is in right now, would have told she is the one, that she is the saviour, they would eventually find out that she is the Dark One now, or at least becoming one, if they don't stop her soon. But as long as Regina has the dagger, she has control over Emma and can stop her from harming anyone.

"I thought you would have hidden it by now." The voice came from nowhere, making Regina jump up on the bed she was sitting on, turning around and seeing Emma, standing in the same dress she wore at the ball that evening, and eying Regina curiously.

"Emma? What are you doing here? I didn't hear you get in." The dagger from her hands was puffed into purple smoke, as Regina magicked it away, somewhere safe, far enough from Emma, so the latter was free to speak on her own, without Regina accidentally silencing her once again.

"You summoned me I guess." Emmas eyes were on Reginas now empty hands, a smile of gratefulnesses on her face before she looked up into worried brown eyes. "I´m sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"You didn't, its quite alright. I guess I didn't really notice that I called out your name." Regina moved higher up on the bed, motioning for Emma to have a seat next to her. She watched as the blond hesitated for a moment, looking around the room as if she were doing something forbidden, before slowly steeping closer and siting down on the very edge of the bed, not wanting to be too close to Regina after what happened with Robin.

"I did want to check on you though, so either way I was making my way up to the Saviours room." There was a pained expression on her face, that Regina almost missed, as it was soon hidden behind a well fitted mask of indifference.

"You know I had no other choice. I couldn't have let them know that you are the saviour and the … the …"

"The Dark One all at the same time. You know you can say it."

"I know, but you are not the Dark One."

"Not yet."

"Nor will you become one."

"Regina …"

"No, Emma. You will not become the Dark One, I will make sure of it. You trusted me with the dagger, and as long as I have it, no one will come near you, no one will hurt you and I will not let you hurt anyone. You are safe with me."

"It wont be that easy Regina. I don't have any idea how much time I have before it takes over me completely." Emma finally turned around, facing Regina, but her eyes still didn't seem to want to look at her directly.

"I know. But trust me, I wont give up on you. After what you did for me, for everyone …"

"Not everyone. Only you." Emmas emerald green eyes locked with Reginas honey brown eyes, that looked at her wide and worried.

"Well it was a stupid thing to do …"

"I would do it again."

"Emma …"

"No, Regina, listen to me, I would do it a million times over if I had to, because you deserve it."

"Miss Swan you are being ridiculous. I do not deserve for you to sacrifice yourself for me. Or anyone else for that matter. Don't you remember, I am the Evil Queen." Her voice was broken and as a single tear rolled down her cheek, Emma rushed to move closer to her, holding her hand between hers and tilting her head so that Regina had no other choice then to look into those emerald greens that were so full of hope and compassion in that moment that it made Reginas heart clench inside her chest, a warmth spreading up her arm and entire body, as Emma held her hand tightly, thumb brushing over her knuckles as their eyes locked.

"You are worth everything Regina, you deserve to be happy, you deserve someone to sacrifice themselves for you, for your life, for your love, for your happiness. I only want you to be happy, even if …"

"Even if …?" Reginas eyes searched Emmas, curious as to what the woman wanted to say next, her heart racing inside her chest as something shone in green eyes, a spark, as for the briefest of moments the blond looked down to plumb lips and back up. Regina was being pulled closer like a magnet, not being able to control herself, her mind blurry, her heart racing and the only thing she wanted was for Emma to finish her sentence, she wanted to know what she wanted to say. Even if, even if, even if …

"Even if …" The door of the room went open and Roland came running over, jumping into Reginas lap without second thought, followed by Robin, who hesitated at the entrance as he saw Emma quickly standing up from her spot on the bed.

"R´gina! There you are. We've been looking all over for you." Roland wrapped his tiny arms around Reginas waist and the brunette melted into the child's embrace, but her eyes never left Emmas, even as Robin came closer to them, looking now at one, then the other woman, who both seemed to have gotten closer to each other after the events of the day.

"I´m going to go rest for a bit now. You should do the same." She awkwardly patted Robins arm as she passed him, not looking back even after Regina called out her name.

"Emma …" She wanted to say more, ask more, do something, anything to keep the woman closer, even for just a moment, but she knew that was very unlikely to happen.

"Goodnight Regina." Was all she said before closing the door behind her, only barely hearing Reginas whispered, Goodnight Emma, as she leaned against the big door, her heart racing in her chest a thousand beats a minute. Even if … even if … She regrets not finishing that sentence, regrets for not leaning in just a little bit, just enough …

"Even if it's not with me."