Part 4
"I suppose this is the part where you show me something tragic happening to Henry followed by a reprehensible funeral scene that all culminates in me begging for mercy over my own grave?" Regina asked, standing tall and placing her hands on her hips. She wanted no part of Cora's presence. "If so, we can skip it because I've already seen the error of my ways on several counts. I wouldn't want to waste your time."
The deep chuckle that emanated from the older woman's throat sent a chill down her own daughter's spine.
"No, my dear girl," she corrected with a shake of her head. "No I've decided, much to the chagrin of the Ghost Writer, to go off script here and show you what will happen if you do change your ways. You see, this peace loving, generous future that all of your previous haunts have been striving for is a bunch of hogwash. You were destined for power. You were destined to rule with an iron fist, not a delicate hand. And I worked far too hard to see you squander all of the sacrifices that I made."
"You mean that I made," Regina corrected her, her dark eyes flickered with ferocity.
It only took a matter of seconds for Cora to reach out her hand and use her magic to grip at her daughter's throat, raising her high in the air. Regina clutch at her neck, trying to break free but she knew it was no use. It never had been.
"Now, now, Regina. You wouldn't want to wake Henry, would you?" she asked as squeezed just a little tighter. "Do you think you can behave?"
Even the thought of Henry being anywhere near Cora terrified Regina to the core. She'd do anything to keep him safe from her brutality including obeying her for the next hour. Her son would not suffer under her mother's reign like she had. So, being unable to speak, she nodded as best she could and was returned to the floor. Her hands clutched at her throat as she coughed and sputtered, trying to get more air in her lungs.
"There, that's better," Cora noted her approval as she clasped her hands together. "Now, as much as I hate to rush our time together, we are on a fairly tight schedule and I need to make sure I get my point across to you. Otherwise, well, let's just say that our scene might very well end with a grave."
Five minutes. Their reunion had barely lasted five minutes and already Cora had assaulted her, demeaned her and threatened her life. It was honestly a wonder that Regina hadn't been more evil than she'd already shown possible.
"We certainly wouldn't want that," the mayor noted. She was also eager to start their journey simply because it would put distance between her mother and her son. "Let's take our leave, shall we?"
"Certainly," Cora agreed and took Regina's hand in her own before turning to the bedroom door and waving her hand.
The doorway turned into a dark and twisted portal that heralded danger and horror ahead. Still, Regina walked through with her chin up and head held high. She was already holding the hand of the thing that scared her most. There was nothing around the corner that could further frighten her.
Or so she thought.
"Mom! Come on, hurry up, Rudolph is starting!"
Henry's voice rang out from inside a quaint cabin in the woods; sounding a little older than last she'd heard it. The warmth from the glow of the window was comforting in contrast to the dark night and the falling snow. Regina wondered why she and Henry had chosen this place to spend, what must have been, Christmas Eve but perhaps she would find out once they'd entered the building. Taking a step through with Cora, the two Mills women both turned up their noses at the meager site before them.
"Perhaps I decided to renovate over Christmas," Regina noted, somewhat embarrassed at the accommodations her future self was able to provide.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," a voice that was most certainly not Regina's rang out and it was accompanied by its owner who soon entered the living room holding two cups of cocoa sprinkled with cinnamon. "Jeez kid, it's not like we both don't know every word by heart."
Emma Swan took a seat on the couch right next to Henry and Regina could feel her blood start to boil.
"What the hell is this?" she asked Cora.
"It's your future, Regina," Cora answered, quite happy with her daughter's reaction. "And you ain't seen nothin' yet, my darling."
"She's taken him from me," the Mayor's hands balled up into fists as she tried to restrain herself from whipping her arms through Emma's form. "How dare you, Emma Swan!"
"How dare you, Emma Swan," her voice seemed to echo from behind her but with a much more mocking tone.
Turning swiftly, the pajama clad Mayor witnessed a stylishly dressed Regina enter the cabin with a bag of groceries in her arms.
"What?" the onlooking Regina asked as her brow furrowed in confusion as to why she would ever allow this type of scene to commence while keeping such a cavalier attitude.
"You promised you two wouldn't start without me," her future self raised a brow in mock frustration.
"It's not her fault you forgot the popcorn, mom," Henry fired back with a smile.
"Just look at how he talks to you," Cora whispered to the Regina that looked on at the scene with bewilderment. "You've let him get away with murder, Regina."
"Actually, I didn't forget the popcorn," the happier, brighter Regina answered, giving Henry's hair a ruffle. "It's just that I put it in our cupboard at home where we would be right now if the plumbing hadn't decided to go on the fritz. We're lucky Rumplestiltskin was nice enough to loan us the keys to his cabin. Granny's Inn has been filled with fairy tale characters since we made it back from Neverland. But don't worry, we now have popcorn for the tree."
She placed a quick kiss on his forehead and spared a wink for Emma who immediately stood to take the bag from her hands.
"Here, I'll help you make it," the blonde offered. "I've already got water for your tea brewing on the stove. Should be ready soon."
"My hero," Regina joked as Emma took her hand and dragged them both to the kitchen. "We'll be right back, Henry."
The pajama clad Regina was absolutely baffled by what she was seeing. She could barely move given the stunned state of her body.
"Close your mouth, dear. You'll draw flies," Cora warned as pushed her daughter toward the kitchen.
Doing as she was told, Regina started to walk toward the pair that had left them and noticed that Cora was not following.
"Aren't you coming too?" she asked.
"Oh no," the older woman shook her head in disgust. "No, I'll just stay in here with Henry and watch this 'family show' while you warp your mind with what's about to happen in there.
"Oh god," Regina exhaled worriedly as her head turned in the direction of the kitchen, feet carrying her toward a sight that she wasn't sure she wished to see.
True to her word, Emma did have water boiling in the kettle on the stove but it was nowhere near as smoldering as the kiss she was sharing with Regina. It obviously was not the first time they'd done that together and, given how much they both seemed to be enjoying it, it didn't seem as if it would be the last. It was Emma who first spoke when they finally broke apart.
"You're gonna have to stop kissing me like that if you want me to make it through the singing reindeer movie without kissing you more in front of Henry," she warned breathlessly.
"Actually," Regina argued, moving them back until she was pressing Emma's body against the counter. "I think you simply need to employ some self control, Ms. Swan. You're going to need it later tonight. These walls are much thinner than the ones at home. And I plan on getting a 'taste' of my present early."
She kissed the blonde back with even more fervor than before as the clone behind her watched. Regina simply couldn't believe her eyes. Not only was she spending Christmas with Emma Swan, she was… doing things with her that were honestly making her own body react in very confusing ways. The onlooking Regina found herself enjoying the sight before her. And that disturbed her to no end. Only when the kettle whistled and the microwave pinged did they stop and try to catch their breath before retreating to opposite corners to tend to the tea and snacks.
"You know, we don't have to string popcorn on the tree," Emma noted. "We've already got it on the one at home. This is just a stand in for the real thing."
"I know," her mate smiled and stirred honey into her drink. "But I like to string popcorn with the two of you. Honestly, it's my favorite part of Christmas now."
Emma took in a deep breath as she felt her heart warm for the woman before her. Placing the bowl of popcorn on the table, she moved closer to the mayor's back and wrapped her arms around the woman's slim waist.
"Have I told you lately how happy I've been since that Christmas?" she asked, nuzzling Regina's neck. "How amazing it's felt, learning to love you?"
"I didn't know it was possible for me to feel this happy," Regina replied. "And I still don't feel like I deserve it."
Cora's voice angrily interrupted the scene.
"Do you see what she's going to do to you?" the queen of hearts asked. "Do you see how incredibly weak you will become if you stray from your current path? You'll turn into a spineless slave to Emma Swan, daughter of Snow White."
Regina knew how all of this must have looked to someone with a heart as dark as Cora's but, to the lonely mayor who'd spent so much time pushing nearly everyone away, it really didn't look so bad. She watched as Emma comforted her future self and promised her that they would work together to make things right as much as they could. This Regina had a partner. She had someone to lean on and lend her strength in hard times. And it didn't look weak to her at all.
But she couldn't let Cora know that.
"Yes, I think I've seen enough of this disgusting mess," she lied and turned up her nose. "Let's move on."
"Oh, thank goodness," Cora breathed out a sigh of relief as she turned to create another portal. "At least those other spirits didn't cause you to lose all of your good sense."
Regina allowed her eyes to linger upon the figures before her for just a few seconds more before following her mother through to the next scene. A longing hung heavy in her heart and she wondered if it could really be true. If she could ever feel that way about the girl she'd condemned to such a horrible fate. And, even more unbelievable, if that same girl could possibly love her back.
She shook off the hope and allowed her eyes to adjust to the daylight. She and Cora were in front of a home she didn't recognize. A large bird feeder stood tall in the front yard and the mailbox heralded the name Nolan. She wondered if perhaps David and Katherine had worked things out after all. But, as soon as they slipped through the door, the most annoying voice in the world rang through the house, and Regina doubted very much that her heart would be warmed by this scene.
"Trust me, you are not too charming to clean a turkey," Snow teased a disgusted Charming as he pulled the turkey neck out of its body.
The short haired brunette was obviously pregnant and rings adorned both of their fingers. Snow White had gotten her happy ending after all. And Regina was livid over it. Her lip curled in anger and she nearly growled as she watched the two idiots tease and kiss each other while they prepared the stupid bird.
"What a happy couple," Cora prodded her even further. "Just look at all the joy you've helped bring to the woman who ruined your real happy ending."
"Merry Christmas! Anyone home?"
The door behind them burst open as Emma's voice called out through the house. Henry ran in with a puppy following behind him. His smile was as big as Regina had ever seen it.
"Grandma, Grandpa, look what I got! His name is Mongoose!" he screamed until he made it into the kitchen and Mongoose started to lick the floor of all of the food that had dripped on to it.
Regina and Emma made their way in slowly, worry evident on the Mayor's face though Emma practically beamed.
"Why are you so nervous?" she asked the mayor as she guided her in by the hand. "Everything's going to be fine."
"How do you possibly know that?" Regina asked. "Snow's eyes nearly popped out of her skull when you told her we were dating. How do you think she's going to handle the idea of us getting married? I still don't understand why we have to tell her."
"Because, Regina, I want my mother at my wedding," Emma replied. "Plus, I told you, it was just a lot to deal with at first because of everyone's past. She's over that now. You know she loves you and wants you to be happy."
The other Regina could not believe her ears. Snow White wanted her to be happy? How was that even possible?
"I know she does, Emma but she wants you to be happy more and… well, what if I can't make you happy? She'd have every right to doubt me."
"What if you can't make me happy?" green eyes looked back at Regina incredulously. "Sometimes I wonder if you've gone blind."
"Emma, Regina!" Snow did the pregnant lady waddle over to the two women with a bright smile on her face. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, mom," Emma leaned in and hugged her mother before moving away for Regina to do the same.
"That turkey isn't the only thing that will need to come out of the oven soon," Regina joked as she pulled back. "How are you feeling, Snow?"
"Pregnant," she smiled as she answered. "Very, very pregnant and hungry."
They all laughed but Snow suddenly stopped as she watched Regina reach up to place an errant lock of hair behind her ear. A sparkle from her left hand caught the former teacher's eye and her mouth dropped open.
"Oh my god, did you…" she looked to Emma who simply smiled back and nodded. "You're engaged?"
"Yeah, that's kind of what the ring is for," the blonde deadpanned, waiting for Snow to react a little more positively.
"Well, congratulations!" she put on the bravest smile she had and wrapped her arms around them both before pulling away. "I hope you're really happy together."
Both of the Reginas in the room could tell that, though her well wishes were genuine, there was still an unsettled air about the woman. The newly engaged Regina smiled softly at Emma and placed a hand at her bicep.
"Emma, your father sounds like he's losing a battle with that bird. Why don't you go help him for a moment and I'll help Snow get settled in the living room."
Emma wasn't stupid, she knew that Regina wanted time alone with Snow to try and, once again, atone for all the evil she'd done in the past. Her eyes held a sad yet proud admiration for the woman that would soon be her wife. And, though she wished she didn't have to do this alone, she respected Regina's request.
"Sure," she acquiesced, leaning in to kiss her love on the cheek. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."
Two sets of dark eyes looked on at Emma in awe of how well they were suited. The mayor standing in her pajamas even lingered on the blonde figure a bit before moving into the living room with the others.
How the hell did you get like this?
Regina mused to herself about Emma's patience and goodness but it was the blonde's voice that echoed in her mind from long before when the Sheriff wondered about Regina's capacity for evil. They were two prime examples of women from horrible childhoods. They'd both been betrayed, they'd both loved and lost, they'd even both been hurt by Snow to a certain extent. How did Emma grow up to be a hero while Regina grew into a villain? And, more importantly, how would that hero ever learn to love someone with a heart as black as the Mayor's?
"Regina?" Cora called to her, and she stepped into the living room to view the scene between her future self and her arch nemesis.
"Snow, I know this is hard but…" the Mayor started as she took her seat next to Snow on the couch.
"No, Regina, no," Snow shook her head and placed her hand over Regina's. "It's not hard it's just… complicated. Emma knows everything about our past but she didn't live it. She doesn't understand all of the pain we caused each other. And, I know that you've changed, I really do and I'm so happy about how things are now. But what if something happens? What if, god forbid, all of the sad and terrible things that couples sometimes do to each other happen to you and Emma? You fight your darkside every day. I know you do. What happens if Emma does something that angers you so much you can't hold it back?"
Sadness overtook Regina's features as she held onto Snow's hand. The sad part was she had every right to ask that 's darkness would never truly go away.. It would always be there, just beneath the surface.
"I know that our past is dark and filled with violence and betrayal," she confirmed. "But our future isn't, Snow. Emma makes me a better person, especially when she's with Henry. Their light together is so bright that it leaves my darkness frail and humbled. It doesn't even have the chance to come out when I'm with them. You have every right to be afraid but, I give you my word here and now, that I would rather die than hurt either of them. They are my happy ending. And my darkness is powerless against that. Will you please give me this chance? Will you please trust me with her?"
Cora stepped closer to whisper into her daughter's ear.
"How are you not vomiting at your own weakness?" she asked. "Look at what love has done to you? This version of your future has you begging Snow White, of all people, to give you a chance. To trust in you. After all the sacrifices you've made to rid her from this earth, now you beg for her approval and all because of love. Please tell me you are as enraged at this scene as I am."
Regina needed to react quickly and she needed to react in the right way. Especially because, as much as she hated Snow, she knew that this future Regina had something much more powerful than a throne. She had power over herself. Power over her darkness. And, most of all, she did have her happy ending. It was warm and, though complicated, it lit within her a flame of need that she didn't believe she could extinguish.
But now wasn't the time to think about that. Now, she needed to get rid of Cora.
"I'm not enraged, mother," she said with a smirk, crossing her arms. "I'm somewhat amused but there's simply no need to get all up in arms about something that's never going to happen. This is laughable. An absolute joke. I still hate Snow White, I'm not in love with Emma Swan and my drive for power over them both will ensure this never happens. Frankly I didn't need you to tell me that."
Cora allowed a smile to form on her face but she was still quite skeptical of Regina's stalwart dedication to steering clear of this future. Still, she had one more trick up her sleeve.
"Excellent," she offered. "Then I guess we can move on."
"Wonderful," Regina answered. "I'm bored with this nonsense anyway."
Her eyes kept watch upon the happiness she saw on her own face until the very last. She'd used her power to destroy so much that she hadn't ever truly thought about using it to create. And her new goal was to create that life for herself. She simply had to make it through this final test.
As Cora waved her hand once more they found themselves back in the mayoral mansion. Emma and Henry were in the living room next to a beautifully decorated tree despite the pedestrian nature of the popcorn that would likely always hang from it. Henry was older. His face had become sharper and more serious. Plus, she also noted some stubble so he was obviously in his teens. There was also something on his mind that was weighing on him and it looked as if Emma knew about it. The two seemed to be waiting on something. And, as the door to the home opened and Regina called out that she was there, the wait looked to be over.
"Hey, what are you two up to?" she asked with a smile as she put down her bag and kissed them both on the cheek before noting that they seemed like they were most definitely up to something.
"Well, Henry has something he'd like to talk to you about," Emma said, standing with a proud smile on her face. "But he's kind of worried that you might not be happy about it."
"Oh dear god, you didn't get some girl pregnant did you?" she blabbed out the question without thinking of how it might sound.
"Regina!" Emma admonished her, wide eyed.
"What?" She asked, somewhat defensive. "It wouldn't be the first this it happened to someone in this family."
She knew she'd crossed a line with that one and, if she hadn't, Emma's current glare certainly communicated that she had.
Rolling her eyes, the mayor breathed in deeply and placed her hand on her hip before speaking,"I'll apologize to you regarding that later."
"For at least an hour," Emma added, earning a resounding 'Ew' from Henry.
"Alright," a softer tone left her lips as Regina looked down at the boy, that was becoming a man, before her. "What did you want to talk about, Henry."
"Well," he stood awkwardly and started explaining himself. "I know that I made a big deal about wanting the new Xbox for Christmas and I can totally tell that's what you've got wrapped under the tree because I picked up the box. It also didn't help keeping it a secret that you individually wrapped the five games I asked for."
"Told ya," Emma interjected.
"Quiet," Regina warned. "Go on, Henry."
"Well, the thing is, today we took a trip to the orphanage that the Blue Fairy runs and, I mean, I know that you hate fairies, mom. Blue in particular. But I felt bad for the kids there and I really think they would get a lot more out of my present than I would."
Cora seethed and Regina could almost feel her fiery fury through her pajamas. She needed to hold it together. If she showed any emotion over the scene, she knew that her mother would be able to witness the crack in her armor.
"Are you saying you want to give your presents to the children at the orphanage?" the other Regina asked, absolute disbelief present in her voice as his request reflected her own so many years ago.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I mean, mom grew up in an orphanage and, even though you guys try not to talk about it, I know they're not the best place to live. Plus, I'm already really happy. I have been since you two started getting along… And especially since you got me Mongoose."
He gave the now fully grown dog a quick pat behind the ears.
Emma placed a hand at the small of Regina's back. The blonde obviously knew that this meant more to the Mayor than a mere moment of pride in her son being so selfless. And she wanted her to know that she wasn't alone in it.
"What do you say, Regina?" she asked. "You ready to watch a few hundred bucks walk out the door to Blue's orphans?"
Regina shook her head and laughed as tears started to form in her eyes. She moved forward to take Henry's cheeks into her hands before leaning in to kiss his forehead.
"You have grown up to be such a wonderful person with a beautiful heart, Henry," she said to him.
"Just like his mom," Emma added.
Both Regina's looked over… and both couldn't help the tears that fell. Regina wasn't going to find a happy ending at the end of her night with the spirits. She was going to find a happy beginning. If she survived.
As she watched her future self agree, and the scene faded as the happy family packed up the gifts, her mother's presence became all the more intrusive within the walls of her darkened bedroom.
"I should have known," she said as she reached out and wiped the evidence of Regina's tear from her face. "It's the boy, isn't it? Henry. The one who's as weak and short sighted as you were. If you didn't have him, you'd be free to do whatever you wanted."
"What I want is that future," Regina replied, there was no reason to pretend anymore. "And I will not let you take any part of it away from me."
"Oh really?" Cora reared back and raised a brow. "And what are you going to do to ensure that?"
"I'm going to fight for it," she lunged forward and wrapped her hand around her mother's neck, slamming her against the wall near the window. "Because love is not weakness."
Cora was amazed at the idiocy Regina was displaying. Surely she couldn't possibly hope to win a fight when she had no magic. With the greatest of ease she sent her daughter flying off of her and then wrapped a magical hand around her throat, just as she'd done when they first met that night. Only this time, she raised the stakes. With something that sounded akin to a growl she flew them both out of the window and high into the sky.
"You stupid, pathetic girl!" she raved. "You could have had it all yet you would throw it all away for the same family you loathed all those years ago. The same family who took away happiness, your innocence, your dignity!"
"No, mother," Regina choked as she heard the first bell of the hour toll. "You took those from me long before Snow did."
"And I should have simply taken your life," she countered. "It would have saved us both a great deal of time and effort but I can fix that mistake now. Perhaps I chose the wrong daughter to groom. It's time to get back to work."
Confusion flooded her as she started to feel herself in grave need of air. What was Cora talking about? What other daughter?
"That's going to be quite a drop once I disappear, Regina," the older woman hissed. "Is it all truly worth it? Losing your life for a boy who doesn't even love you back?"
Tears fell from dark eyes as Regina felt her consciousness start to slip as the last few bells tolled.
"Yes."
The answer was short and sweet. It said everything. Regina Mills had learned to love unconditionally. She'd proven it right there and then. No matter how dark her heart was, she was willing to trade her life for that of her child. Every single one of her enemies would get what they wanted. She would be dead. Emma would have Henry. Snow would eventually have Charming. She'd traded everything she worked for, all the sacrifices she made, for love.
And that love would live on. Strong and true. Just like the evergreens.
The tiniest of smiles grew on her face as that last thought crossed her mind. There was no fight left in her anymore. And, once Cora saw it, she let go with a sigh, watching her daughter fall to the ground as the last bell tolled and her own body disappeared into nothingness.