Emma looked at the crowd in front of her. Everyone was hugging and talking animatedly
"I guess they have a lot to catch up on after 28 years."
She glanced around the room seeing many familiar faces, Mary Margret, David, ruby, Archie, mother superior, granny, Leroy and a few faces who she recognised but couldn't put a name too. She was brought out of her musings when she felt a tap on her arm.
When she turned she saw a quick flash of ruby before she was embraced by her, laughing
"Hey Emma! You did it! You broke the curse! I never got to say yesterday with everything happening and all "Ruby grinned flashing her white teeth.
"Uh hey ruby, yeah I guess I did" Emma said still somewhat unbelieving of everything that had happened.
"It's so weird thinking that we've been here for that long but no one has aged! It would be a real bummer if I suddenly woke up an old lady" ruby laughed at her own comment, excited by everyone gathering." I'd say town is going to be crazy today when everyone wakes up and goes looking for their friends and their families."
"Yeah I guess they are" Emma said, she hadn't thought of that. Sure people had regained their memories of which they used to be as well as keeping memories of which they were here in this world but if families were separated they'd have to go looking for each other again and friends would be out looking for friends.
Emma was going to have a busy day today, never mind trying to defeat the wraith. Thinking of that brought her attention back to the matter at hand. She felt another tap on her arm and saw Mary Margret standing beside her hand in hand with David when she turned.
"Emma sweetie, we should start the meeting." Emma nodded slightly taken aback at the tone and pet name the woman had used
"So going to have to get used to this whole you have a mother thing" she thought to herself. Snow and James managed to get everyone's attention and when everyone sat down James began speaking
"Ok so I'm not sure if most of you know why you're here," he said looking from face to face, "we have a bit of a problem."
Snow took over and explained how the curse broke and when she mentioned Emma's part everyone gave a cheer and Emma tried her very best to become one with the furniture.
Snow continued and told them all how gold had marked Regina and Emma was surprised to see snow look disapprovingly at them all when most of them laughed at the news of Regina's predicament Emma too scowled at them all and before she could stop herself she jumped up beside her…well her parents.
"Hey! Hang on a minute. Whatever happened between you all is in the past and I don't care what went on but I'm not going to stand by and let someone get killed. She's...I mean she is…God damn it she's a person too! If you're all good then how can you tell me that you think it's fair for her to be hunted down by whatever that thing is?! Emma stopped realising she was now shouting and getting very odd looks
"Emma you have no choice, wraiths are beings of pure dark magic, they are baiscly death incarnate and even though there is somehow magic back in this world, there is no spell possible that can stop them," mother superior told Emma bluntly.
"Well I'm not taking no for an answer!" Emma replied somewhat calmer on the outside but if at all possible even more nervous on the inside." There has to be something, we have to try something! "
"Why do you care Emma? she is the reason you grew up without any parents" Granny said from the back, many people nodding their agreement.
Emma paused for a minute "yes ok they are right she cursed them all and she's the reason I grew up like I did but…" "People change" she said out loud glaring at them all, daring them to challenge her.
"Yeah sister people may change but she's a monster through and through, nothing is in her to change, she's just plain evil" Leroy said and from some of the nods and hushed yeahs Emma heard she knew he wasn't the only one that thought this way.
"How am I going to get any help if saving her if they all think so lowly of her" Emma thought desperately.
"No I don't believe you're right." Everyone turned faces all showing shock to look at Archie who had just spoken." I don't believe she's evil. Can any of you tell me one time she has ever been mean or cruel to henry?"
When he was met with stony faces and silence he continued. "Apart from being somewhat strict Regina has never ever done anything but t the best for her son."
Archie looked at the rest of the group. None of them could disagree with them. No matter what they felt not a single one of them could ever remember a time where they had seen Regina be cruel or even unkind to henry. She truly did care for the boy. Emma shot a quick smile towards Archie as did Snow.
"Now back to where we started" James said having remained silent throughout the short discussion. He didn't trust Regina, he never had but he had to agree with the others, henry had been cred for even though Regina knew he was his grandson so for that he had to be thankful.
"What about fairy dust?" he asked, looking to both Leroy who could mine it and the blue fairy that could use it.
"Even if we did find enough minerals here to make it there's no guarantee it could work"
"But theres a chance?" Emma said hopefully
The blue fairy was silent for a moment but finally said "yes there might be, a very slim chance but one none the less."
James hearing this turned to Leroy, "can you can the rest of the crew mine enough in time for sunset tonight?"
Leroy looked back at him with a shocked expression, "with all due respect your majesty you are bat shit crazy!"
He jumped up and walked to the front of the group, turning to face them, this is the evil queen you people can't be serious! The wraith is a blessing! Come tonight she'll be gone and we won't have anything to worry about!"
Emma getting quite tired of all this back and forth, and still not quite being able to wrap her head around the whole fairy tale business lost her patience, whirling around she grabbed Leroy by the collar of his shirt and gave him a shake
"Listen here grumpy or Pinocchio or whoever you are! He didn't ask whether you wanted to do it! He asked if you could! Now answer him before I make you!"
Releasing her grip on his shirt she shoved him back. To say he and the rest of the diner were shocked would be an understatement. "Uh yeah I guess I could, just have to get the guys together" he mumbled fixing his shirt in a bit of shock, looking at Emma who had never been anything but nice to him on their few interactions
"Right then, I'll go with you to help search the mines, the more us of the chances are the quicker we'll find it." James left followed by Leroy and the blue fairy and soon Archie and other followed suit until the only ones left were ruby and granny who had gone out the back to prepare for opening, "after all people are going to want to have some food or a stiff drink after realising what's been going on for 28 years" Emma heard granny say to ruby who was complaining about having to work under the circumstances. Soon just snow and Emma were left alone in the diner.
"Sit down for a second, we need to talk." Snow said sitting down in her usual booth
"What?" Emma asked still irritated, "now's not really a good time I have to go help-"
"Emma please, just sit"
Emma looked at her mother's face and sighed ok she said resignedly sitting down opposite her
"Well?" Emma asked irritated, she didn't think she was ever going to get used to the motherly concern her once roommate was emitting
"What's going on with you?
What do you mean? Nothing, well apart from this whole fairy tale madness", Emma said defensively, uncomfortable at the conversations turn.
"Emma I mean between you and Regina, and before you start", she said holding up a hand, "I want you to tell me the truth"
"Ugh" There's nothing… I mean it's not like… I don't…" Emma stuttered out, unable to form a complete comprehensible sentence." I don't know where to start" she finally managed to get out looking very hard at the pattern on the table in front of her.
"Ok, we'll let me tell you what it looks like to me. You two have been at each others throats since you got here, but Emma even a blind person could see there's something about her that you just can't resist."
"What are you?-"
"Please, let me finish…I've seen how you look at her and vie even caught her looking at you sometimes. You always manage to bring her up in conversation…yes I know it's generally to complain about her but I've never seen your eyes light up like they do when you talk about someone as much as they do when you talk about her, no matter what the subject. And yesterday you threw yourself at that thing not knowing what it was to save her and I could see how relieved you were when you held her and saw that she was ok…."Snow trailed off looking at her daughter, she could see the flush of rose across her cheeks.
Emma just stared back at her mother, thoughts all jumbled up inside her. She knew where snow was taking this and Emma didn't know how to respond.
"Emma…" Snow began hesitantly, "do you…are you in love with Regina?"
The question hung in the air, Emma was sure her heart was beating that loud and fast that her ribs would be cracked from the force of it
"I…..I am…I think"
"When…When did this start?"
"I honestly don't know…I'm…I'm scared", Emma held her head in her hands and her vision was blurred. It took her a moment to realise she was crying.
She had never had an easy time at admitting her feelings and feelings revolving around Regina seemed even harder to admit not only to others but to her. She was afraid as she had never felt this way before and she had never experienced someone loving her so it was such an alien feeling that it almost took her breath away.
She felt arms wrap around her and she leaned into them and for the first time in almost 18 years she allowed herself to cry.
She wasn't sure for how long but soon her tears dried up and she felt somewhat better for it, she sat up and turned to her mother," sorry "she said softly wiping her eyes, it's just all…"
"A little much", snow finished for her." I understand sweetheart."
Snow continued rubbing circles on Emma's back, waiting for her to calm down. She felt torn. On one hand she was happy for her daughter, love was a magical thing and everyone deserved it. On the other hand though, her daughter loved Regina. Regina of all people. Snow was one of the only people who still believed that Regina had good in her but she was so afraid that her daughter would get hurt by her. After everything that had happened in the past Snow found herself unable to trust Regina fully but still hope remained that she could change her ways.
"Emma I want to tell you a story." snow wasn't quite sure what she was doing but something in her told her that letting Emma know the fully story would help her at least in some way, or so she hoped.
"How's a story supposed to help me?" Emma asked, sniffing.
"I don't honestly know." snow replied,"but I just have a feeling you're going to want to hear it. Ok here goes", she took a deep breath before continuing.
"Once upon a time there was a girl called snow-"
"Wait I thought this was about Regina" Emma interrupted confusion etched on her face
"I'm getting there, it all fits together "
Emma raised her brow and gestured for the other woman to continue
"Ok, so where was I, oh yeah, once upon a time there was a girl called snow, who while visiting a neighbouring kingdom, decided to go horse riding….."
Well then that's the end of Ch. 6~ I was going to fill in the whole once upon a time for Regina but for this story it's pretty much the same as the TV show~ I may change my mind if I can fit it into the next chapter or if any of the reviewers want it xD
Anyhow should have the next Ch. should be uploaded soon enough in work all week so have plenty of time to write it XD
