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"Regina, get her back here." Snow grabs her shoulder and shakes her. "Regina!"
"I .. " She shrugs away from Snow's touch and doesn't make eye contact with the brunette when she replies, "I need to speak with Belle .. "
"Um .. no .. what you need to do is summon Emma back here. She .. she wants to stay dark, Regina. I mean, is that what she meant, by asking for the dagger?"
"I imagine so, I'm not sure."
"Can't you read her mind?"
Regina finally lets her eyes catch Snow's and if she didn't know any better she thinks she can hear a hint of jealousy in the woman's voice.
She pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs heavily. "Emma is somehow in control of that thought .. thing .. I don't have access to her thoughts or rather .. I don't know how the hell to explain this, okay?" She crosses her arms and glares at Snow before hissing the next statement with a sharp voice. "That's why I need to speak with Belle .. she of all people knew Rumple as the Dark One more .. " Regina bites her lower lip struggling to find the correct wording of how to put this without throwing a glowering spotlight on herself and Emma's connection now.
"I believe the word you're looking for is intimately, your majesty."
"Yes, well .. and don't call me that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, is that a pet name only Emma is allowed to call you by?" Hook raises an eyebrow at her.
She has to refrain herself from sending him face first into the asphalt again. She glares instead as she walks around him. "Shut up Captain."
Snow clutches David's arm as she whispers in his ear, "What does he mean by that? I don't understand what he means by that?" She watches as Regina continues to walk away and then her eyes catch Robins.
He doesn't know if he should follow Regina or not, she didn't even look his way before leaving, he thinks. He doesn't understand what is going on, all he knows is, Regina's eyes aren't the same, there is a sadness inside of them now and she looks like she is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. He wants to fix it for her, take it all away but there is a stirring beginning inside that is somehow telling him that he is not the one that can do that for her. He sighs and his eyes find Snow's and if he didn't know any better, he thinks she is realizing the same thing as her eyes flicker back toward Regina.
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"I'm sorry, you did what?" Belle asks.
"Emma did it, I .. "
"She saved you?"
Regina glances down at the ground as she softly nods her head. "Yes and now - "
"She is the new Dark One."
"Yes and there's something else, we can communicate inside our heads .. or whatever. Rumple never told me he could do that, did he ever mention this to you?"
"No, never .. Regina, I don't think Rumple could read thoughts, he neglected to tell me if he could, but then again, he always - "
"Liked to live in half truths, riddles and secrets."
"Yes, I think he thought it somehow gave him the upper hand." Belle sighs. "So .. Emma can talk with you, with just her thoughts .. her inner voice?"
"Apparently .. what does that mean, exactly?"
"I'm not sure, it might mean that she is more powerful than Rumple was .. that she can tap into .. wait, can she read other's thoughts?"
She looks away from Belle and wishes her answer could be yes instead of no. "It seems for now, it's just me."
"Because you have the dagger? Maybe?"
"I was hoping you could tell me, Belle .. I .. she .. " Regina stops her train of thought because she doesn't have the strength to go on with this topic. She is beginning to feel emotionally drained and there is a pulling in her gut that she should go home, which begins to make her anxious and worried even more so.
"Regina, True Love's kiss should bring her back - "
"She doesn't want to come back! That's the problem, Hook tried to .. she magicked him face first into the pavement, Belle!"
She begins to pace around the shop, shaking her head roughly as she brings fingertips to her forehead before glancing at Belle again. "I think I had .. I remembered something, or saw something before I summoned Emma and then I fainted, and when I awoke, it's just gone. But True Love's kiss, I think that was part of it and .. I wish I could just remember!"
Belle moves around the counter and places a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Regina, you'll remember, it will come back to you. In the meantime, go home and rest. You look .. "
The word dreadful pops into her brain but she somehow doubts using that choice of wording will go over well with the once regal woman. She taps her brain for a more suitable phrase. "Exhausted .. get some sleep and I'll consult my books, okay, we'll meet up tomorrow and go over things again."
She smiles faintly at Regina hoping to give the woman some form of reassurance before walking away.
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Regina magics herself home and the swirling smoke hasn't even fully cleared before she sees Henry standing in front of her with arms crossed over his chest and worry littering his eyes.
"So .. Ma is currently sitting under the apple tree, and has magically locked me in the house so I can't go out there to speak with her. I've been trying to call you! What the hell is going on, Mom?!"
Regina goes to pull out her cell but realizes it's not in her pocket. "I'm sorry, Henry, I seemed to have lost my phone .. I .. "
Henry taps his foot in annoyance. "You're avoiding here .. who cares about the damn phone, what is wrong with Emma?!"
At this point, everything, Regina thinks. Everything is wrong. And not just with Emma. Everything is a mess and her heart is thumping rapidly with just the mere knowledge that Emma is so close by and the comfort this brings to her, is terrifying in it's own right and she realizes she can't tell Henry any of this as he continues to stand in front of her, pleading with his eyes for an answer, for some kind of understanding.
"Henry, I need you to pack a bag, and - "
"No freaking way!"
"Henry Daniel Mills! Pack a bag now, you are going to your grandparents." Regina reaches for her phone before remembering she doesn't have it. "Give me your phone."
He slams it into her palm before turning and stomping up the stairs.
She watches her son storm away and all she can do is sigh before she brings the gadget to her ear.
~sqsqsqsq~
She returns to the mansion after puffing herself and Henry to Snow's and she has to resist the temptation to go to Emma. She opts for a much needed hot shower and change of clothes instead before biting the bullet and trying to open the door that leads to the backyard. It does in fact open without a problem and she is grateful Emma's magic hasn't banned her as well. Although she has a funny feeling, her possessing the dagger, has something to do with this free pass to Emma.
The younger woman doesn't glance up when she brings herself to stand in front of her. She is sitting against the tree, with her knees drawn up, and her arms folded around them, chin resting along a forearm. Her eyes are closed as a gentle breeze ruffles her hair every now and then. Regina thinks she looks breathtaking and then waits for an arched eyebrow to be thrown her way when Emma hears that thought.
The arched eyebrow never comes though as Emma's soft voice breaks into the silence.
"I can't read your thoughts anymore, Regina .. just so you know. You were giving me a headache." Emma shrugs, acting like it's the most casual thing in the world but the truth is, she doesn't want to know what the searing brunette is thinking anymore. It was too much and not enough all at the same time.
"Yes, well .. it did kind of feel like - " Regina wants to say, it feels like she could see her naked but decides maybe that isn't the best analogy to use before Emma speaks for her anyway.
"An invasion of privacy .. maybe." The younger woman shrugs again and wraps strong arms tighter around herself.
"You look cold, come on, let's go inside, Emma."
"Are you commanding me to go inside?"
Regina sits down next to her, and their shoulders brush together. "No."
"But you could, you have all the power .. again. Which is what you like, right? Power .. being in control .. especially of others."
Regina hears the resentment in Emma's voice and she tilts her head toward the woman, eyes narrowing. "Where is this all coming from?"
"Do you love him?"
"Excuse me? Of course, I love him."
"Not Henry."
Regina gulps and she lowers her eyes away from Emma's. She remembers back when Emma asked her if she loved Henry, that first day, standing on the walkway, outside her home. It was the question that had provoked Emma to stay in Storybrooke. A day that should feel like ages ago now but sitting here, next to Emma, it feels like it was just yesterday. She wonders how that is possible, how time can play tricks on you like that. She shakes her head and finally answers the question.
"Of course, I love him."
"Well, I certainly hope so, Regina, cause I kind of cursed myself to eternal Darkness here for you and - "
"And who the hell told you to?! I distinctly remember telling you, NO! But you never listen, you always have to be the god damn Savior! Even if it means - "
"Screw you! I don't need this crap from you! I really don't. Just give me the dagger and I can get on with my life." Emma puts out her hand.
"I'm not giving you the dagger, Miss Swan. Goad me all you want, it's not going to happen. I'm going inside, you are welcome to join me if you so choose. There's a guest bedroom next door to Henry's room."
Emma clenches her jaw as she watches Regina walk back into the house.
~sqsqsqsq~
She hears Emma on the stairs an hour later, soft footfalls that stop for a moment by her shut door and then proceed to continue down the hall. The sharp click of the guest bedroom door being shut is the last thing Regina hears before she closes her eyes and finally allows sleep to carry her away.
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