Chapter four
Emma's consciousness began to return, and the first thing she noticed was that she was laying on something much more comfortable than the makeshift bed from the cabin she had isolated herself in.
Since moving to Storybrooke she had to get used to not waking up to an empty apartment, especially since the curse broke she had never had a lonely morning, the likes of which she had immensely enjoyed while living in Boston. Of course, she didn't realise this until she was blessed with the darkness. Despite the fact that she had been terrified to take the darkness in, once she had stopped fighting against it she found enjoyment in feeling magic come to the surface to be released on those that irritate her. Since becoming the Dark One she had been able to understand the Evil Queen much better, she just wished that Regina would embrace the darkness aswell, then she would have a much better time in embracing it together, it certainly looked fun for the Queens of Darkness when they became a team.
As she tried to move, she recognised the restrictive magic of that annoying dagger that she had for all of five minutes, someone must have commanded her to remain on what she now realised was the Charming's couch.
Opening her eyes, she scowled seeing Snow with her left arm in a sling staring at her, "you know that it's impolite to watch people sleep?"
"You know it's impolite to throw fire balls at people," Regina's voice came from the kitchen, where she seemed to be making dinner.
"Hypocrite," Emma grumbled, burrowing further into the couch. "So what plan has the great heroes come up with to avoid this crisis?" she wondered aloud.
"So far not letting you off the couch while you have those pesky homicidal tendencies," Regina replied, moving to the table to set out the knives and forks.
"You realise that I have all the time in the world, Grandma" Emma called, she noticed how her ex-step grandmother stiffened as she pointed out their somewhat disturbing family tree.
"Well, have fun sitting there until we all die of old age, that sounds like it will be the best decades of your life," Regina replied, moving to the oven, Emma smelt Regina's distinct lasagne that she loved so much at their family dinners and she visibly perked up.
"You know I've been living on pop tarts for three weeks," Emma hinted.
Regina smirked, and Snow just watched in awe as the two exchange barbs as if they were back to being tentative friends.
The former queen walked over and she placed a chocolate pop tart in Emma's hands, "then you should enjoy this, oh great and powerful Dark One." Turning away she shouted, "Henry, Charming it's time for dinner."
It wasn't long before they were all seated at the dinner table, after about five minutes Regina had grabbed the dagger commanding Emma to be silent for the rest of the night, and they had then proceeded to ignore her. Although Emma felt the occasional glances and noticed how often a conversation stopped if they were telling a story that involved her. She had long since thrown the pop tart at her mother out of pure petulance and was beginning to regret it, especially with the smell of lasagne filling the air.
As a thought occurred to her, she smirked, waving her hand Snow's dinner appeared on her lap and she began eating it greedily.
"Hey" Snow shouted out, indignant, Emma simply pointed at Regina who had the dagger, then to her mouth making a zipping motion, after shrugging her shoulders she continued eating.
She smirked when she heard Charming stand to get Snow another portion. Not quite the pain she wanted her mother to be in, but who said the Dark One can't have some fun?
Henry gathered some comic books and then made his way out of his room and into his mother's, where the brunette woman was packing some clothes.
Raising his eyebrow at her, he asked, "are you not planning to come back for a while?"
Regina extended her hand to take the comic books and placed them in the bag, "it seems doubtful that we are going to make any progress anytime soon."
"Are you sure that it's not just because there's a reason to spend more time at the apartment?"
The older brunette narrowed her eyes at her son, but decided to move past it.
Henry raised his eyebrow at her lack of reply and smirked, "is it a coincidence that Robin and Roland aren't here?"
Regina bit her lip and sighed, "Miss Lucas may have informed me that they're at the diner…"
"Why are you avoiding him?"
"I have more important things to deal with than Robin, Henry," she said through gritted teeth, adamantly refusing to make eye contact with him.
Henry's smirk increased, he considered asking her outright how she felt about his blonde mother, but he knew that Regina wasn't exactly the type of person to be completely honest about her feelings. He had a sneaking suspicion that she had yet to fully admit to herself how she felt about the former saviour.
The fact that Emma was now a sadistic Dark One was also not particularly helping the situation.
"Can't he help somehow?" the younger brunette asked trying to act as if he didn't already know the answer.
Regina pursed her lips and began zipping the bag, "if I need something stolen, then he would be the first person that I would call. I believe he would be quite inept at anything magical."
Henry's eyebrows shot, he wasn't expecting that level of hostility towards the thief, but it seemed as if his mother had finally cracked.
Between practically babysitting her former stepdaughter and dealing with the Dark One who was literally incapable of sleep, he could hardly blame her for an occasional outburst.
Regina sighed deeply and looked over at Henry's shocked expression, deciding that she really didn't want to discuss her failing love life with her son, she asked, "did you get everything you need?"
The younger brunette thought better of pressing the subject and just nodded in confirmation, "are you sure that I have to go to school?"
Regina tilted her head, a small smirk bloomed across her face at his hopeful tone and she replied, "what reason do you have to not go?"
"I think that ma being the Dark One qualifies as a family crisis."
"You would never graduate if you missed school every time our family had a crisis," Regina shot back with a quirked eyebrow.
Henry huffed dramatically and the older brunette chuckled at him as she turned away from him, she didn't notice that his scowl turned into a wide grin at the mention of 'our family'.
Later that day Regina was making her way to talk to Mr Gold, the heavy tome in hand.
She would be lying if she said that she hadn't enjoyed having Emma around to trade barbs, and not that she would admit it, but it was much more fun with her having embraced the darkness.
Gold had gone back to working at the pawn shop, and not that she knew why, but Belle had decided to give the imp another chance.
As the bell chimed, Gold looked up from some paperwork he was doing, and for a moment Regina wondered if she had ever actually seen him do any work before.
"Hello your majesty, how may I help you?" he asked, though it seemed that he had come to terms with the fact that he no longer had any power, the sarcasm was still there, just not as biting as it once was.
Placing the book on the counter she asked, "what does this mean to you?"
Giving her a curious look he turned the tome around, reading its title, he said "it's just a beginners guide to using dark magic, the first I ever gave you I believe, what should it mean?"
"Emma left it in the Charming's apartment," Regina replied as nonchalantly as possible.
At the news a smirk adorned his face, "wow, Snow White has really rubbed off on you, do you really think that a book could be the hope that you were waiting for?"
"I-Henry thought that she may be trying to tell us something that the darkness won't let her say."
Shooting her a disbelieving look he replied, "from what I have heard of Miss Swan, I think it's a safe bet that she isn't being controlled by the darkness."
"What? Of course she is," Regina growled.
"I think you're forgetting who here had ever held that power. There are two kinds of Dark One's, the ones who choose to become it, embracing the darkness and the ones that are controlled by the darkness because their body cannot control it. Believe me if she was being controlled then she would be infinitely worse."
"Or maybe her light power had allowed her to reduce the effects," at Rumple's scoff, she pointed at the book, "just answer my first question."
"No need to be so rude," he muttered while opening the book, "I can't see anything of note, give me some time and I will try and find whatever miracle you are looking for."
"I must say, you are far less insufferable when you have no leverage," Rumple set his jaw, but made no reply, with a small laugh Regina left the pawn shop.
"Are you even going to attempt to free yourself?" Rumpelstiltskin asked with an exasperated sigh.
Emma looked away from the ceiling that she had been staring at since she had been left alone by her family and muttered, "I'm open to suggestions."
"Perhaps some manipulation is order, I'm sure that one of them would be willing to give you your freedom," the imp shot back.
"They may be morons, but I don't think that they would fall for the same trick twice, especially now that Regina is basically in charge of making sure I don't do anything."
"I think that you may be overestimating dear Mayor Mills," Rumple giggled, "she may be much more cynical than your parents, but the fact remains that I was able to turn her into the Evil Queen. We both know that Regina's feelings are her weakness and even if she won't admit it, she has very strong feelings for you."
Emma was tempted to scoff at the spirit and deny his words, but he was basically a part of her, she doubted that she would ever be able to hide a thought from him.
"I don't think that…" she started, only to be interrupted by the door opening.
The very brunette that they had been talking about walked in and narrowed her eyes at the blonde, "who are you talking to?"
Emma shot a quick look at the man that she knew only she could see and then looked back over to the brunette who had closed the door and was looking at her expectantly.
"Myself," the Dark One lied easily, "I got really bored."
Regina just rolled her eyes, she had a feeling that there was something else going on, but she honestly didn't have the energy to find out, so she just began walking over to the kitchen.
As she did so, she looked around realised that it was just she and Emma in the apartment, "why are you alone?"
"Something about school and work, don't worry, Madam Mayor, they took Neal and the dagger with them," Emma waved her hand dismissively. "Can you please let me off this thing?" she pouted, for a moment Regina saw the childish woman that she found so endearing.
"That may have worked on your parents, but it certainly won't work on me," Regina moved to make herself a cup of coffee.
"Can you get me a drink then?" Emma pleaded.
Giving her a doubtful look she asked, "can't you just steal someone else's like you have been doing for the past twelve hours?"
With a dazzling smile Emma replied, "I would never steal from you."
"My empty vault would beg a differ."
"Okay I would never do it again," Regina just shot her another doubtful look, which made the blonde almost whine, "please Gina you make the best coffee."
Considering this for a moment Regina just shook her head, deciding that with the dagger not even in the apartment it wasn't like Emma could use her to get off the couch.
Grabbing another cup she poured coffee into each, bringing them both over to the couch, and in a bold move she sat next to the Dark One handing her the mug, feeling a small jolt of electricity as their hands brushed.
Emma began to slurp down her coffee in a way that she knew would annoy Regina, who just rolled her eyes. She was about to scold her, but found that she couldn't form words when the blonde draped her legs across her lap.
Clearing her throat she asked, "so what is your great plan?"
Emma considered this for a moment, "just kind of going with it at the moment, not everyone can be as organised as the Evil Queen."
Regina scoffed and said, "if you hadn't noticed the Evil Queen failed about a hundred times."
"Yeah, I have a theory about that actually," Emma smirked.
"And pray tell Miss Swan, what is this theory?"
"I think that you were holding back, there must have been a part of you that didn't actually want to hurt Snow. The only person that the curse actually hurt was me," as she saw pain flash across the former queens face she let out a small laugh, "unclench your majesty, I forgave you a long time ago."
"And why do you think I was holding back? Why would I spend so many years trying to kill her and not take the chance to do so if I could have?" Regina scoffed, desperately trying to think of a way to get the blonde's legs off her lap.
"Well you've heard all of the talk of fate that goes on in this town right?" Regina narrowed her eyes, giving a slight nod. Emma smirked, removing her legs she moved up on her knees and whispered into her ear, "if you had killed Snow, you never would have met me."
Regina gave out an almost inaudible yelp, as she turned her face, their lips an inch apart, just as Emma was about to lean forward, Regina heard the door open, and she jumped up off the couch as the former saviour fell back against it looking thoroughly disappointed.
"Hey mom...er what are you guys doing?" Henry asked.
"Why aren't you at school?" Regina scolded.
"Er...the school internet isn't working, so Mr. Adams sent me home to print off my history paper," he replied narrowing his eyes at his two mothers.
"Well then go and do it," Emma grumbled.
Giving her the same scolding look, Regina turned to Henry, "go and print it and I'll drop you back at school."
"Okay..." Henry replied, as he turned away from them, as he heard a flustered Regina moving away from the couch and Emma's sigh, he couldn't help but smile.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Regina asked as she started the Mercedes.
"Like what?" Henry asked innocently.
"Like you're planning an operation," taking his silent smirk as a reply, she continued "what's this one called, Operation anti-Dark One."
Henry gave out a small laugh, "that's the most unimaginative name in the world, and no it has nothing to do with Emma," he lied.
"Whatever you say," Regina scoffed as she turned a corner, and she stopped outside Henry's school after about five minutes.
Just as he was about to get out Regina grabbed his arm, "can I ask you something?"
Sitting back down he nodded.
"What do you think about Robin?"
"I think his a attention whore," Henry replied.
"Henry!"
"Did you want me to lie? Ruby told me that he was talking to her at the diner yesterday, saying that you should be at his side where you belong."
"He actually said that?" Regina asked quietly.
"He's a complete misogynist according to Ruby. Apparently he thinks that you should taking care of what he wants instead of, and I quote 'helping that dark bitch'."
"What is with your language?" Regina asked, slightly shocked that this could be her little prince.
"I was quoting, and that's not the point," he defended.
"Okay, then what is the point?"
"I think that there is someone better out there for you, someone that makes you smile, respects you and loves you more than life itself."
"And who would this miracle person be?" Regina scoffed.
"Isn't it your job to find that person?"
"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me something?" she crossed her arms rather childishly.
"All in good time, mom," he laughed, "I really got to go, lunch is nearly over, but I think you need to talk to someone who isn't thirteen about your love life," he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran from the car just as the bell rang.
All Regina could think was that her son is far too mature for his age, as she pulled out her phone and prepared to take his advice.
Regina paced the porch and bit the inside of her cheek.
She considered that this was utterly ridiculous, she didn't need anyone's help, certainly not with something as trivial as the woman she had a simple crush.
Closing her eyes, she had a vivid image of what it looked like to be so close to the Dark One's face. It had felt amazing at the time, but the more she thought about it, the more she realised that those gold eyes were not the ones she wanted to see.
With a heavy sigh, she knocked at the door and after a couple of seconds, the door opened to reveal the familiar blonde who she had arranged to meet for a talk.
Kathryn smiled good naturedly at the mayor, she had certainly been surprised to get her call, but she had been unable to deny her a chance to chat. She wanted to help the woman and was more than willing to be her confidant.
Silently, they walked into the living room where the blond had already set out some coffee and biscuits, Regina ran her eyes over the table and smiled gratefully.
Taking a seat at one end of the couch, she brought the offered beverage closer to herself and then they sat in silence.
Kathryn inspected her, deciding to give her a moment to think through what she wanted to say. When moments turned into minutes, however, she knew that she wouldn't be able to handle the silence any longer and asked, "so what is it that you needed to talk about?"
Regina continued to stare at her lap and decided to just bite the bullet, "you asked me a question in the diner and the answer I gave you was a lie."
The blonde quickly ran through the conversation in her mind, trying to remember exactly what the question was and then she realised and asked, "the 'one dimensional' thing?"
The brunette nodded and swallowed hard as she considered whether there was any way out of this now. Of course, she could just leave and never talk to the other woman again, but she felt like getting it out in the open would probably be better for her health at this point.
"I know who it is that I would prefer to be with over Robin…"
Kathryn nodded and tilted her head in anticipation.
After a pregnant silence, Regina all but mumbled, "Emma."
The princess nodded slowly and said, "okay…"
Regina's eyes widened at the woman's lack of surprise and asked, "it doesn't shock you?"
"If you said it before Zelena, I probably would have assumed that you had gone insane, but the two of you have been spending a lot more time together. If anyone didn't know that the two of you weren't together and saw you with Henry, they would probably assume that you were already a family…"
The mayor took a moment to take this in, before the Heroes and Villain's universe, she hadn't even considered the possibility, but it made complete sense now.
Robin and Hook seemed to be completely pointless.
Henry had Charming for a male role model, not the pirate and thief made particularly good stand ins for a father figure.
"So what would you suggest that I do?"
"Well, I can't help with her current…predicament, but for now I would suggest that you should do the right thing for Robin…"
"I should break up with him," she sighed.
Kathryn nodded in confirmation and then pointed out, "how can you explore your feelings if you have to deal with lingering guilt of not be faithful?"
Regina pulled out her phone and for a moment was tempted to just text him her feelings, but she knew that she should be breaking up with her 'soulmate' face-to-face.
"Thank you," she sighed as she just placed the phone back in her pocket and began drinking her coffee.
"Anytime," Kathryn smiled.
After going to the mansion and finding Robin was not there she decided that she would check the diner and if he wasn't there she would just call him. Although breaking up with him over the phone sounded appealing she knew that, after convincing him that they were a true love pairing, she should probably do this in person.
Surely enough, there he was throwing darts at the board, rolling her eyes she walked over to him, placing her hand on his arm.
"Regina, what a surprise," he grumbled as he threw the last dart, hitting the bulls eye.
Feeling the eyes of the patrons upon her, Regina grabbed his arm almost forcing him into a nearby fairly private booth.
"We need to talk," she whispered, noticing Ruby was probably trying to listen.
"I'd say so, since we have barely seen each other in a month," clearly he didn't understand the need for whispering, sighing Regina decided to get this over and done with.
"I think we should break up," she said and watched as his expression went from confusion to anger.
"How could you do that to me?" he almost shouted.
"Shhhh" Regina hissed.
"What's the point, everyone here can already see how you have humiliated me. Why would you end this after everything that we have been through together?"
Scowling at a nearby customer who was staring at them, she decided that she just needed to end this, "I decided to not live my life based on what others tell me. Just because you were my soul mate when I was 18 it doesn't mean that you are now, I think it would be better if we both just moved on."
"Oh so does this mean that you have met your newest soul mate?" he asked angrily.
"Are you accusing me of cheating?" she asked, indignantly.
"You have been spending a lot of time with the Dark One."
"Robin!" Regina shouted.
"Okay, Granny said this has to end, one you have to leave," Ruby jumped over, before Regina lit a fireball.
"Not a problem," Robin growled, as he stormed out.
"You okay," Ruby whispered to Regina.
Sighing she said, "yes, can I order two coffees, a chicken salad and a bear claw to go."
Smirking knowingly Ruby answered, "coming right up, Madam Mayor."
"I swear it doesn't take that long to get to the kid's school," Emma called as Regina entered.
"I had something to take care of," she replied, as she walked straight over to the couch without hesitation.
Sitting down she handed Emma the bear claw and coffee and she raised her brow, "whatever happened to this is the worst kind of food across all of the realms," the blonde mimicked.
Regina let out a small laugh as she unpackaged her salad, "most immortals don't worry about cholesterol, especially after living on pop tarts."
"It only made me appreciate you more Madam Mayor," Emma quipped before taking a huge bite of the bear claw, the fact that Regina went bright red not going unnoticed.
Swallowing hard Emma asked, "so what business did you have to take care of?"
"It's not important anymore."
Moving closer Emma looked at her curiously, "so why was it important?"
Wondering why she would tell the Dark One this she replied, "I broke up with Robin...why are you smiling?"
"Because he's a tool," Emma replied, taking another bite.
"And why would that bother you, Miss Swan?" Regina asked.
"Because this way I don't have to beat him up," despite the horrible situation Regina couldn't help the laugh that came from her mouth.
"And how long have you wanted to do that?" she continued laughing.
"Since I met him, I'm just more likely to do it now," Emma couldn't help laughing along. Suddenly Regina stopped laughing and Emma looked at her curiously, "what's wrong?"
Regina stood, "I just remembered there's something I have to do."
Emma made to grab her arm, but the invisible barrier stopped her, "please, Gina, tell me."
"I can't do this Emma, I can't pretend that I'm talking to the real you while you look at me with those horrible gold eyes," Regina said, while looking anywhere but at her.
"You are talking to the real me," Emma pouted, and suddenly Regina's resolve disappeared, and she lunged forward, sealing their lips together. Emma pulled Regina down onto the couch, climbing into her lap, her tongue brushed her lips asking for invitation and Regina gave it almost instantly, as their tongues battled for dominance, Regina's hands came up to grip Emma's waist, eventually oxygen became a problem, and they parted.
Regina looked up at the still gold eyes, and disappointment came crashing down upon her, "I really have to go," she jumped up, almost throwing Emma off her lap.
Emma looked thoroughly confused as Regina left, and then noticing her bear claw had fallen on the inaccessible floor, she sighed "really?"
Reviews would be much appreciated XD
