Of Airports and Engagements
Chapter VI
Author: ScarletBloodDoll
Editor: WinterBlazes
Dates written: April 22nd, 2013
Status: In-progress
Series: Once Upon a Time
Rating: Mature
Relationships: Regina Mills | Emma Swan (Swan Queen)
Warnings: Post curse | Spoilers for Season Two, Episode 13 'Tiny' and Episode 14 'Manhattan'
Distribution: Do not archive without author's permission.
Disclaimer: The characters and premise of Once Upon a Time belong to ABC Studios, Adam Horowitz, and Edward Kitsis. Any and all other copyright material mentioned subsequently belong to their respective owner(s), including but not limited to character(s) 'Detective Vanessa Wright' and 'Social Worker Winifred Payne' whom belong solely to the author. This work is a non-profit effort and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's note: Reviews are appreciated.
Fuck. Emma returned to the metal chair and roughly pushed the seat back before sitting in it, crossing her arms over her chest.
"How about you tell me just how you came into Henry Mills' life? Paint me a nice, big picture if you would." Wright seemed quite pleased with herself, the cat who caught the mouse. "You see, Henry told me this grand tale of adventure starting with his quest to find you and bring you back to Storybrooke to break a horrible curse cast by the Evil Queen, who he believes is his own mother! You see I find that accusation hard to believe because I have found no evidence of physical or psychological abuse, yet he paints me such a terrible picture. I'm sure you understand."
Wright mimicked Emma's posture, and grinned. "The woman is either the monster he claims she is, or has raised a spoiled, brat of a child, who would much rather do what he wants to do with someone who is willing to let him get away with it and that is where you come in. I'm inclined to believe the latter seeing as he holds one of the latest gaming consoles on the market and happens to have one pair of polished Italian dress shoes in his luggage. You just so happen to be the fun and exciting birth mother who saves him from his terrible world of vegetable consumption and early bedtimes. Tell me Ms. Swan, am I right?"
Eyes on the road, Regina.
The clock on the dashboard announced yet another minute had passed. Another minute farther from Storybrooke, and yet another minute closer to finding her son. It wouldn't be much longer now. As the miles ticked by, signs of civilization began to appear. Her stomach had growled when she spotted the bright lights of a burger joint but refused to stop; once her son was safely in her embrace, then could she possibly rest.
Gripping the steering wheel in her clammy hands, she forced herself to keep her eyes open and press on. The trip had been agonizing, even riding through lands and mountain ranges on horseback had never been quite this exhausting. If leaving Storybrooke and a mix of fairy dust and dark magic left her feeling this debilitated and drained, she wasn't keen on reentering the town any time soon. Rescuing her son was worth the trouble, even if she had the misfortune of having to rescue his birth mother as well. Perhaps Henry and I could travel the world for a while.
The folder contained all of the sheriff's legal documents laid tossed aside on the passenger seat. The former mayor had absorbed as much research and information as she possibly could. Her plan was a stretch, and even that was the understatement of the year, yet she had no doubt she would be able to execute it perfectly. The only foreseeable problem laid with the two unknowing players in this game, and she wouldn't have much time, if any at all, to relay her plan. Granted with an outfit change, and the welcome boost of a long feminine mane, she could make any man or woman fall to their knees.
Only with two unpredictably players she was afraid it would all fall apart even before she had the chance to play a hero.
"Emma Swan, you are under arrest."
The woman in question could only watch in horror as the Detective stood and unclipped a set of handcuffs from her belt and moved around the table. Snapping the cuff tightly around Emma's right wrist, Wright forced her to her feet.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand?"
"Would you care to inform me on what exactly the charges are?" Emma glared at the woman in the two-way mirror.
"I believe I have enough evidence to charge you with the kidnapping of a minor, not to mention an extenuating circumstance of intent to travel across state lines."
"You can't do this!" Emma struggled against the handcuffs but it was a futile effort.
"I can and will do this, Ms. Swan. What you cannot do is kidnap a woman's son without her express permission, not to mention that the fact that it was a closed adoption – a detail you disclosed yourself!"
Emma closed her eyes and painfully groaned as the Detective threw an elbow into her back and forced the blonde's upper body onto the table.
"You need to stop arresting arrest or I will add it to your list of charges."
Emma growled but ceased all movement; she was going to murder their son the moment she was able to get her hands on him, no matter how long it took – sorry Regina. If only Henry had kept his mouth shut, she could have found a way out of this, could have salvaged the situation, but no. There was no way of knowing how long she spent trying to put their chaotic situation in a positive light, it might have been minutes or hours, but she knew it was a futile effort. The Detective had her mind made up from the very beginning despite her protests – Henry Mills was a very sick child with delusions of grandiosity and persecution whose mother had been very strong throughout the process of finding her adopted son professional help, only Emma was the birth mother who had intruded upon his stable home life and treatment for his own personal gain, ultimately kidnapping him.
"Come on, let's go." Detective Wright hauled the Storybrooke Sheriff up and off the table, before opening the door and leading her out.
Hearing the tale of her journey over the last year recanted to her in such a blatant manner, Emma gained her other half's perspective. It did not matter if the curse truly existed or not, nor did the selfish reasons truly matter; Regina had a maternal instinct and drive that she did not have, Regina was a mother, and a better one at that. Only in this world, a world she grew up in for twenty-eight years; magic does not exist, fairytales are only that, fairytales. And on pen and paper, Emma was the villain in this story.
The sun had set on Maine. Fortunately for her, Emma, and their son, this was not to be a Cinderella tale although the clock had yet to strike midnight. Regina Mills was exhausted, starved, and in a dire need of a bath but nevertheless she had not come this far to be left empty handed, either without her child or impulsive other half.
The light of the airport glowed around her, giving her the rush of adrenaline she needed. Entering the long-term parking structure of the airport, she eased the vehicle into a dark spot. There was not a moment to lose now. Quickly packing away the lose documents into her briefcase; she placed the bag along with her purse onto the dashboard before sliding herself into the backseat.
Collapsing the middle seat and reaching through the trunk, the witch pulled out the half empty duffle bag. Shrugging out of her red dress shirt, panty house, and knee high boots she began the process of slipping into the mayor persona with just a dose of the Evil Queen.
"Emma, Emma, what's going on?"
Oh god. This was the last thing she wanted Henry to see. The blonde woman stumbled as her son tore away from the old woman who had held him by the shoulder, and barreled into her waist.
"What's happening?"
"Henry, come along." The unknown woman approached the boy again, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Who are you? Get away from him." Emma snarled desperate to shield him with her body.
The woman turned up her nose and sneered, "My name is Winifred Payne, and I'm a social worker from Augusta County assigned to little Henry here."
"No! No! No!" Memories she had long ago forgotten, pain she had long ago buried hit her like a freight train. Any kind of a social worker spelled trouble. "You can't do this! He has a mother!" Emma cried. Detective Wright laid a firm hand on Emma's bicep, ripping her away from her son.
"Unfortunately we have been unable to reach Ms. Mills at this time. I am sure it is passed his bedtime, therefore I will be taking him to a group home for the time being until we are able to locate Ms. Mills."
"No," Emma gasped. Forcibly dropping to her knees in front of Henry, tears began to cloud her vision and she sniffled. "Kid, listen to me, no matter what happens, I will always love you."
"Emma, what's going to happen? I don't understand." Henry wrapped his arms around her neck.
"Henry, listen to me. I am not your mother."
"Yes you are!" he protested.
"No I am not!" she shook her head. "Henry, this isn't Storybrooke. There are rules here, rules that are taken seriously with serious punishments. I gave you up for adoption when I was seventeen, for a reason."
"But your my mom," Henry reasoned.
"I will always be your birth mom," Emma nodded her head. "Regina gave you everything I couldn't have, Henry; she is your real mom. I've made a mistake, Henry, you belong with her."
Henry fell silent as Detective Wright wrestled Emma onto her feet and away from him. The social worker was quick to snatch the boy into her grip.
"You'll come back to Storybrooke, right?" Henry hiccupped.
"I'll try." Emma wearily smiled.
"Unless you are of relation to my son, I suggest you unhand him immediately."
Despite her distorted center of gravity and the bruising grip held on her forearm, Emma haphazardly whipped around as the command cut through the air, her jaw dropping in shock. Henry looked up from his hands, tears immediately drying.
"Mom?!"
"Regina?"
The group of gathered people soon mimicked Emma's action, their eyes taking in the approaching woman. There in fact was the former mayor of Storybrooke strutting down the stark hallway in an air only a true queen could own. With a black trench coat wrapped snuggly around her thin frame, Emma caught sight of a familiar cerulean blue peeking out near her chest. The blonde mood rapidly changed as she bit her lip, eyes trailing down the expansive flesh of legs ending in black peep toe heels. Emma lifted her head and met Regina's eyes and could not help but cheekily smile.
Henry pushed off the social workers' arm and ran past Emma, before launching himself at his adoptive mother; with practiced ease Regina caught him and despite her exhaustion, lifted him up and settled her boy onto her hip. Henry wrapped his arms and legs around her and buried his head into her neck, "I thought you weren't going to come!" he whispered in her ear.
"Are you okay?" she whispered back, running a hand through his hair.
Henry nodded. "I'm hungry mommy."
"Of course you are, dear."
"Emma," Henry whined as he looked back at his birth mother who watched the scene, crestfallen, as if her fate was now sealed. "You have to save her!"
"Do you think I would have come all this way just to bring you home?" Regina asked seriously. "I'm afraid you wouldn't love me anymore if I did that." At this Henry's face fell, momentarily recognizing the harm his actions have caused. "I'm going to need your help," Regina kissed his nose and Henry eagerly nodded.
Regina shifted her son onto the opposite hip and slowly advanced towards the group, ensuring that she met each person's eyes with a steely stare.
I thought there wasn't magic here, she floating. Emma quite frankly was in awe as Regina glided towards her, not to mention carrying their son. Stopping in front of Emma, time seemed to stop. Reaching out a hand and placing it on Emma's cheek, Regina sweetly smiled as her sheriff instinctively nuzzled into the offered limb.
"Would someone like to inform me as to why my fiancée is in handcuffs?"