Regina
Regina stood outside the school as she waited for Henry. She had started her day on such a high that the rest of her morning and afternoon had been almost unbearably dull. She was in a better mood now that she was about to see her son but really wasn't looking forward to their next activity.
She saw him amongst the other children and smiled automatically. When he spotted her, he picked up his pace and ran the rest of the way to her. She couldn't remember the last time he had come at her like that and the action threatened to bring tears again. She suppressed it though and just welcomed him warmly as they entered the car together.
"How was your day sweetheart?" They buckled up and she started the car.
"You were right about Grace. She's like a whole different person. She told me all about her dad. It's like she was never Paige." He shook his head and she smiled at him.
"Well good. I'm glad she's happy."
"That was pretty cool, Mom." He admitted and all of Regina's good feelings were completely restored.
"Thank you Henry." They continued in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Henry's excitement got the better of him.
"Do you think Mr. Gold and Belle are gonna remember each other when they meet?"
"I didn't realize this for the longest time, but due to the fact that Rumplestiltskin created the curse, I believe he already remembers. As far as Belle goes, I'm pretty sure Gold will help her remember who she really is."
"You don't think Mr. Gold will like…hurt you or anything do you?" His sudden nervous tone touched Regina.
"I'd imagine he will be quite upset with me, but there isn't a lot he can do this time."
"This time?"
"I just mean…now that we're here in this world, he doesn't have any magic. He is just a man with a limp."
"Maybe you shouldn't go inside either." He said as they pulled into the hospital parking lot.
"I thought you wanted to bring them together?"
"I do! But what if we do it like a secret operation. We can be the heroes bringing people back together. And you know they always do it like that." He shrugged and she took a minute to let that all sink in.
He wanted to do this with her. She knew he'd want Emma as involved as possible but he was actually asking her to do this with him. Everything he had hid from her he was now willing to do by her side.
"A secret operation huh?"
"Yeah. I'll think of a name while you get Belle." He smiled and she couldn't help return it.
"Okay, why don't you sit in the back seat. I'll be back in a few minutes okay. And Henry-"
"I know. Stay in the car."
"Good boy." She brushed his hair out of his eyes tenderly before they both exited the car and Henry jumped in the back.
Regina walked confidently with her head held high as she entered the hospital. No one would have had any idea just how nervous she really was. She moved through the halls and down the steps the same way she had so many times. She walked right up to the stone faced nurse she had down with the psych patients and lifted her chin.
"Mayor? What can I do for you?"
"I'm here for my friend, if you could please bring her to me." She spoke as if this was her normal request but the nurse was taken aback.
"I really don't think it's wise to release her."
"I'm sorry, I don't remember asking your opinion. Bring her to me now." She used her most intimidating tone and had to admit she missed using her ability to frighten anyone with her voice.
It worked just as she wanted though and the nurse disappeared without a word. She tapped her foot against the stone ground as she waited, ignoring the looks of the workers and patients moving around her. Within a minute though, the nurse returned with a very tired and abused looking young woman. For the first time, the sight bothered her.
"Hello dear. My name is Regina." She spoke with a kindness that clearly shocked the nurse though Regina paid her no mind. Belle didn't respond, still looking frightened and Regina slowly put out a hand. "You're safe, I promise. I'm going to take you to your family okay?"
Belle was very slow in her movements but did take a hesitant step towards the older woman. Regina studied her for another few seconds before pulling off her jacket. She was careful to remain non threatening as she wrapped the jacket around Belle's shoulders. She placed a gentle hand on her back as she started to lead the girl out of the dark hall.
Everything was slow as the two women moved through the halls of the hospital. Regina didn't know where the sudden feeling of peace came from but somehow, she just wasn't so anxious about it. She kept a steadying hand on Belle's back as they walked through the building and out into the sunlight. The girl flinched at the bright lights, but Regina encouraged her to keep moving.
As they neared the car, she could see Henry craning his neck to see but was just grateful the boy had obeyed and stayed inside. She lead Belle over to the passenger side and gently moved her into the seat. Regina took her own seat and was amused to see Henry suddenly speechless. He studied Belle with wide eyes and Regina realized that she was one of the characters he had never seen so this really was a whole new experience for him.
They drove in silence through the town and made it to Gold's shop faster than Regina was honestly comfortable with. She looked out Belle's window towards the shop for a moment as she figured out how to handle this. It was after a few more deep breaths that Regina reached over and unhooked Belle's seatbelt for her and pointed towards the shop.
"Inside that door is a man named Mr. Gold. He is your family. He will help you okay?"
Belle nodded hesitantly before slowly exiting the car. Regina waited just long enough to see the young woman make it inside before pulling away. She knew Gold couldn't do nearly as much damage here but wasn't stupid enough to underestimate him. Again though as they drove, there was a silence Regina didn't know how to break. She glanced up at Henry a few times, but couldn't read his expression. It wasn't until they pulled into the driveway that Henry finally spoke up.
"Operation Cobra." He said and Regina looked at him in the rear view mirror with a raised eyebrow.
"Pardon?"
"That's what the operation code name should be. About bringing back the happy endings."
"What does Cobra have to do with happy endings?"
"Nothing, that's the point. No one would have any idea what we are talking about."
"Well…alright then." She conceded and the boy smiled at her.
"We have to figure out how to get Emma to join the operation. If she sees people getting their happy endings, maybe she will start to believe."
"It's possible." Regina knew that hadn't worked the first time but obviously they wouldn't be proving the truth to Emma the same way as they had before. They would have to try something new.
"Did you get her a job?"
"I-"
Regina was cut off when the ground suddenly shook hard with a loud explosion in the distance. They both shot hands out automatically until the shaking stopped.
"Are you okay?" Regina asked quickly, looking back to her son.
"Yeah, what was that?"
"I believe Miss Swan does in fact, have a new job."
When she pulled up on the scene, it was already chaotic. She was comforted in the knowledge that with the way things were going now, she shouldn't have to worry about Henry going into the mines. That said, she would still be keeping an extra close eye on him the next few days.
She looked back at him as she got out of the car and gave him a serious look. She knew it would be impossible to keep him home but had managed to get him to promise to stay in her sight at all times. She didn't waste any time, moving to the front of the crowd and delivering the exact same speech as she had before. It was much nicer though that this time, her own son wasn't challenging her in front of the whole town.
As soon as she finished, Graham came walking over to her with the newest city worker at his side. She had just the briefest thought about the two of them and what she knew had occurred before but brushed it off immediately. Whatever she and Emma were doing was something "casual" that did not allow for jealousy. She wouldn't think about that again…she tried to tell herself.
"Sheriff." She greeted but her eyes were on Emma.
"Madam Mayor, meet my new Deputy." He smiled at Emma and that feeling touched her again, but again she brushed it off.
"Deputy." She inclined her head.
"Madam Mayor." She smiled and after a minute, Regina finally tore her eyes away.
"Alright why don't you both secure the area."
Graham nodded and handed Emma one end of the caution tape. He started walking one way and Emma the other, but the new deputy paused at Regina's side and spoke so only she could hear.
"So I guess you're my boss now." She winked and Regina let the smallest hint of a grin pull at her lips.
"Don't forget it Deputy." With that, she walked away with her head held high and a smirk firmly in place. As she walked, something caught her attention. She subtly bent over and retrieved the object before approaching Henry by the car and stood next to him.
"What did you grab?" He asked and she knelt next to him to keep their conversation private.
"This is a secret got it?" She said and he nodded excitedly. She pulled the glass piece out of her pocket so he could see.
"What is it?" He touched it with his fingers.
"Remember the glass case the dwarves built for Snow?"
"Yeah."
"Well…" She nodded towards the piece.
"It's from that?" He said excitedly taking it from her hand. "Wow."
She couldn't help the smile on her own face. She loved his fascination and excitement. His eyes were lit up as he inspected the small piece.
"Does that mean it's down there?" He finally looked back at her through his enthusiasm.
"Yes."
"So can we go down there-"
"No!" She said fast and louder than she intended, making Henry flinch. "No Henry, it is much too dangerous."
"Why? What's down there?"
"Something dangerous. Promise me Henry, that you won't go anywhere near there. I am serious, promise me."
"I'll promise if you tell me what's down there."
"Henry…" She sighed but knew she wouldn't get away with keeping anything from him. Though if there was one person who could handle what she was about to say, it was Henry. She pressed her eyes closed for just a second as she took a deep breath.
"A dragon."
This look was better than when she had admitted to being the Evil Queen, Regina thought. Instead of making a shocked face, Henry just stood stunned for a few seconds, his face not showing anything. Regina watched him and slowly brought a hand to cup his chin.
"Henry?" She studied him another moment until his eyes widened.
"We gotta go down there!"
Present Storybrooke
"Henry?" Emma shook his shoulder lightly. "Henry it's time to get up."
"Emma?" He said quietly, slowly opening his eyes.
"Hey we gotta get ready for school." She spoke just as tiredly as he was, though Henry seemed to perk up suddenly.
"I didn't see you last night, did you do it? With the dream catcher?" He looked expectantly but Emma wasn't even sure how to start.
"Yeah. Regina's innocent."
"I knew it. I told you she was doing good. But then why is she asleep?"
"Well Henry it's complicated. Look, it's time for school now but we'll talk about it later okay?" She didn't want to go into all of the details of the time spell now. Not off of no sleep and not when she didn't even fully understand it herself. She stood up and moved towards the door.
"Does this have anything to do with my dreams?"
"I don't know." She started to move out of the room but then stopped suddenly. "Wait, what are you dreaming about?"
"Mom and you. Everyone really. But they're all weird."
"Henry…when do your dreams take place?"
"Well…it's stuff that hasn't really happened…but it's before the curse broke."
"And I'm in these dreams?"
"Yeah…but I didn't get you….I think…I think Mom brings you…I told you they're weird."
"She really does go to Boston?" Emma stared down at him, her thoughts spinning.
"…yeah." Henry looked just as confused as she felt.
"Okay time for school." Emma said before turning and moving quickly out of the room.
"Okay what's going on with you? You look exhausted." Mary Margaret said over her cup of coffee. Ruby nodded next to her from her seat beside the short haired brunette at the diner.
"Yeah I was going to talk to you. Look I uh…I used the dream catcher on Regina." Emma watched Mary Margaret as she put her cup down slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"I took it to the hospital and looked back to the day Jefferson died. You guys...she didn't do it. She didn't kill him."
"You're sure?"
"Yes I watched the whole thing. He was trying to use magic on her but it backfired on him."
"Okay then I don't understand. How did Regina end up under the sleeping curse?" Ruby asked and Emma looked down at her hands for a second.
"She isn't. Well not exactly. From what I understand, she was using a spell that looked like it would let her go back in time but-"
"Whoa hold on, Regina was trying to time travel?!" Ruby asked with wide eyes.
"I'm guessing that was the idea. But the spell only sends you back in some kind of alternate dreaming world."
"Like the world we went to under the sleeping curse?" Mary Margaret added, her face in concentration.
"Yeah…just like that. Except I don't think Regina has any idea that is what's happening."
"How do you know?"
"Well, she would never leave Henry…the real Henry. And I um…I sort of looked into that too…with the dream catcher."
"Wait you can see where she is…into her mind?" Ruby added looked almost excited.
"Yeah, just a minute or so before it was too much again. It takes a lot of energy. But it looks like she went back to the day Henry brought me home. Except…"
"Except what?" Mary Margaret prompted.
"Except Regina told Henry she was going to find me…" Emma sounded as confused as Mary Margaret looked but Ruby seemed to understand.
"So she tried to go back in time to make it so you could never make it to Storybrooke…clever."
"Yeah but that's not what happened. I'm there, in Storybrooke."
"You saw that?" Mary Margaret asked.
"No, I was too tired to keep going but I think Henry is dreaming of that world."
"He is just responding to Regina being gone, I don't think that means he's actually connected-"
"No just listen." Emma interrupted her mother. "Ever since she went under, he has been dreaming of them together. Before the curse broke. We're all there except everything is different."
"I don't know Emma…this all seems like a stretch. There is no real evidence Henry is seeing her world."
"Which is why I plan on finding out for myself. I'm going back there and I'm going to see what she does. See what she's doing." Emma said firmly.
"Whoa, Emma you already look tired enough to fall over."
"I'll be fine." She said, standing from the table.
"At least let me go with you. Just to make sure."
"I thought you were going back to school? Just go I'll be fine."
"I'll go with her!" Ruby volunteered with a smile. "I've always been curious to what goes on in the Evil Queen's head."
"Um…okay." Emma finally said with a shrug. "Good?" She looked to her mother.
"I guess. Ruby, you make sure she doesn't kill herself."
"Yes ma'am!" She grinned before looping her arm in Emma's.
"Wow." Ruby said, watching the catcher swirl and glow as Emma moved it over Regina's still body. "Now what?"
"Now I have to decide how to direct it. Last time I guided it to Henry and it worked."
"Well you wanna see if his dream about you is real. Guide it to yourself."
Emma nodded before taking a few deep breaths. Ruby moved to her side and in view of the image forming in the center. Slowly the swirling magic calmed and they could see the perfect image of Emma standing in her doorway.
"Hot damn Emma, I didn't know you owned one of those." Ruby whispered, taking in the impressive sight of the blonde in the dress. "Where are you?"
"Boston." She said as they watched the scene play out. They saw that Emma just stand there, looking up and down the figure in front of her.
"Can I help you?" Emma said with a smile.
"I…uh…yes." She stuttered and the Emma chuckle lightly.
"Are you okay?" She asked, cocking her head to the side with an amused smile.
"Yes I just…" She paused and lifted the plastic container awkwardly, pushing it forward. "I just moved in…to the building…just wanted to bring this apple turnover, um…to say hi."
"Oh my God." Emma said as she watched.
"What?" Ruby asked.
"That's the fucking apple turnover. She's going to poison me." She said angrily as they continued to watch.
"Um, thank you. I'm Emma." Emma extended a hand to take the container. "And you are?"
"Regina Mills." She spoke quickly.
"It's nice to meet you Regina." Emma lifted her free hand and slowly she took it with her own.
"It's nice to meet you too…Emma."
"Shit." Emma said with a stumble. Ruby grabbed her arm quickly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah just give me a sec."
"Maybe we should stop for now."
"Oh hell no. That woman is about to poison me. I wanna know what happens. I'm fine. I can tell I'm getting stronger. I can hold on longer." She said confidently and Ruby nodded hesitantly. She lifted it again and they continued to watch.
"Well, do you want to join me?" Emma said, indicating the container. "I think I have some wine. Wouldn't mind getting to know the new neighbor."
A phone sounded and she looked down to retrieve it.
"Excuse me, it's my son." She turned and walked down the hall.
"Henry." Emma said.
They were able to hear the entire conversation of Henry pleading with his mother to stop what she was going and Emma couldn't help but smile.
"God I love that kid." She said as they watched Regina hang up and walk back to her apartment door.
"Emma I really think you need a break. You're pale." Ruby placed a hand on Emma's shoulder but the sheriff shrugged it off.
"I'm fine. I gotta see how she pulls this off." She steadied herself as they watched Regina knock again.
"Hey, I thought you were bailing." Emma started after opening the door.
"No I just had to speak with my son. Is the offer still good?" Emma wasn't holding the container anymore.
"Of course, come in." Emma moved to the side and she slowly stepped into the apartment.
She looked all around as they walked to the kitchen and her eyes zeroed in on the turnover on the counter. Emma started pouring the wine.
"You have a very nice home here, Emma."
"Thank you. So where'd you move into?"
"Oh um, upstairs."
"Oh I got her." Emma said with a smirk
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked right bedside her.
"She's lying and now she's being really obvious." And sure enough, they watched as Emma easily proved Regina on the lie.
"Impressive Emma. Ruby said as the blonde in the dream catcher dumped the apple turnover in the trash. "Now I think you need to stop."
"Not yet." Emma's eyes narrowed.
"So…this mysterious, attractive woman shows up late at night. She very kindly offers me dessert. Makes up a story about being the new neighbor. Talks to, who I'm guessing, is a young child on the phone. I know you weren't lying about that. Comes into my apartment. Then she stalks around like she's going to attack. So again I ask, who are you, and what are you doing here? The truth this time."
"You could not handle the truth my dear, trust me on that."
"Try me."
"Who I am is Regina Mills. The mother of the child you gave up for adoption ten years ago." Emma looked stunned and it was a minute before she responded
"And um…why are you here exactly? Is he like…sick or something?" She was still a bit pale but did look concerned.
"No no, nothing like that. He just…well he was going to come find you himself. He was going to try and bring you home and…well I'm sure you can understand why that would make me uncomfortable."
Emma took a deep breath.
"Um, yeah. I mean of course. But it's not like you have anything to worry about."
"Yes well, I had to be sure. You're not exactly what I was expecting though." Emma smiled softly.
"What? You thought I'd be some white trash druggie or something." She laughed and loosened her stance, leaning casually on the counter.
"Or something." She responded quietly.
"Well I guess I do have my moments." She grinned.
"I'm sure."
"Hey! You didn't have to agree." She laughed, light heartedly.
"Okay this is weird." Emma said, sitting down to rest for a moment.
"Yeah, but it makes a bit more sense now. Henry I mean. Maybe he is dreaming about this."
"Yeah but how do we get from her not killing me to moving to Storybrooke?"
"That sounds like a good question for tomorrow after you have rested."
"No way. I gotta see what happens next." She stood again and Ruby moved to her side.
"Emma I promised Mary Margaret I wouldn't let you kill yourself. You're as white as a ghost right now."
"Just one more time. I promise." And she looked into her old apartment again.
They were walking to the couches with drinks in hand. They watched the light and easy conversation play out and both Emma and Ruby seemed amazed at the sight. They heard Regina speak of Henry and saw Emma get much closer and touch the older woman. Their eyes widened further when the two women in the image were suddenly very close.
"I um…I should probably go now." She said, moving back and grabbing her purse. She swayed a bit and the blonde grabbed her arm. She looked down as her purse fell from her fingers.
"I got you." Emma said as she started to move but so did she.
She knelt down and Emma's forehead brushed against hers. She looked up into Emma's eyes and both their breaths deepened. They leaned in closer.
"What the hell?" Both Emma and Ruby breathed, completely transfixed on the image.
They watched as Emma's face came closer and closer and just before the distance was closed, the top and bottom of the image came together as Regina's eyes closed.
"Did you just-"
"I don't know." Emma responded with wide eyes. They both stared into the dream catcher and after another minute, the image opened from the center, revealing Emma's face only millimeters away and her eyes very slowly opening.
"I really have to go." She said before standing and walking to Emma's door.
They watched the rest of the scene play out silently and Emma finally dropped the dream catcher as Regina entered the elevator. Neither Emma or Ruby spoke for several moments. Emma laid back in the bedside chair as she tried to regain her strength. Her mind was racing a mile a minute.
How the hell did she go from killing to kissing? It was me that kissed her... I kissed Regina... She's dreaming of me kissing her...
Emma shook herself. She was weak from using so much magic at once and was not in the proper state to worry about all of this right now. Slowly, she stood up, looking down at the sleeping woman.
"No one can know what we just saw okay? There is no way I can explain this." Emma finally spoke in a weakened tone, still standing next to Regina. Ruby slowly turned to face her but couldn't form a response. Instead she just nodded and the two stunned women moved slowly out of the building in silence.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are more than appreciated! :D
