Again, Snow paced the chamber. This time Charming was watching her as he leaned against the wall.
"She's setting us up again," Snow said. "This has to be some trick."
"I don't think so," Charming replied. "I didn't get the feeling that she was being dishonest. She seems to truly care about Emma. But you also knew her before she was evil, think back to that Regina. Did you see any of her in the woman who stood before us today?"
"Yes," Snow said. "But that's why I'm hesitant. She has tricked me before, making me believe that she wanted to change. But she had me fooled and then she tried to kill me. She cannot just flick her wrist and just turn back into the person she was when I was a child."
"Of course she can't," Charming said. "But she can feel remorseful for the evils she has committed."
"She is evil, Charming," Snow said. "She cannot feel remorse for her actions. She is just pretending so she can get to Emma and then get to us."
"You don't trust our daughter to know when a person is trying to use her," Charming stated. "You should, we raised her right."
"It's not Emma I don't trust," Snow said. "It's Regina. One of the things she does best is manipulate people."
"Emma's also a good judge of character," Charming said. "If Regina gave her any reason that she was untrustworthy, Emma would know."
"She is untrustworthy," Snow said. "She gave Emma a false name."
"Emma lied to her too," Charming said.
"It doesn't matter," Snow said. She stopped pacing and looked at Charming. "We should just execute her. Quick and easy by firing squad."
"You know you can't make that call without council authorization," Charming said.
"So call them back," Snow said. "We'll get approval and that will be the end of it."
"It's not that easy, Snow," Charming said.
Snow ignored him and brushed past him to call the council back herself. She was not about to watch her daughter be corrupted by the Evil Queen.
The council members took their respective seats around the table. Charming had found Emma, since Snow had avoided calling her.
"I have called you all here for your approval to execute the Evil Queen," Snow said.
Emma tried to stand up and argue, but Pinocchio took her by the arm to keep her seated.
"Why are you following through with this?" Red asked. "At least sentence her to life in that dungeon."
"Life in the cell would be a far better punishment," Grumpy said. "Having to live knowing the woman you love is so close but you can't be near her, that's the most difficult pain to bear."
"So you expect to punish me, as well?" Emma asked. "I have to live knowing Regina is below my feet and there is not a thing I can do." She looked directly at Snow. "At least until I am queen. Then I'll pardon her for all the crimes she committed so long ago and feels such remorse for."
"She is the Evil Queen," Snow said. "She is incapable of feeling remorse."
"How would you know?" Emma asked. "Have you bothered to even talk to her since she was captured?"
"She sought out the council," Snow said.
"That's not what I mean," Emma said. "If she hates you as much as you say, if it is just the two of you she won't be able to conceal her hatred for long. But I know for a fact she feels bad for the way she treated you in the past."
"Emma, the decision has been made," Snow said. "She is going to be punished for her crimes. Now I am calling for her execution. It will free you from her clutches and free the kingdom from the fear of her reign."
"I will not be free!" Emma shouted, standing up.
Red looked at Emma across the table. She shook her head slightly. Over the years, Emma had learned that the look and the head nod meant Red was on her side. She would fight for her niece's cause.
"Snow, maybe we should keep her alive for a little while," Red said. "Interrogate her a little. There is still so much from her time in power that we don't know. She could have more hearts left somewhere that we don't know about."
"We found her vault and all her hearts," Snow said.
"How do you know that's everything," Red replied. "There could be more that we haven't found."
"Fine," Snow said. "We'll ask her about the hearts. But after that, I want her executed. I call for a vote." Snow stood. "All in favor of the Evil Queen's execution."
Emma abruptly sat down. All seven of the dwarves stood and slowly Charming followed suit. Emma was not surprised. Even if they disagreed privately, they always stood as one in front of the council and the people. The only ones left sitting were Emma, Pinocchio, and Red.
"Votes have been cast," Snow said. "After her interrogation, the Evil Queen will be executed."
"How?" Emma asked quietly.
"I'm sorry," Snow asked.
"How do you plan to execute the woman I love?" Emma asked again.
"My firing squad," Snow said. "When the sun is highest in the sky."
"Are you going to be drawing back one of those arrows?" Emma asked.
"Would you like me to be?" Snow asked.
Emma didn't respond to her mother's goading. She just pushed away from the table and stormed out of the room.
Emma paced in front of the dungeon entrance. The guards were not letting her down to see Regina. She was waiting for someone with approval to come by. She needed to see Regina. If she was going to be executed, Emma wanted to be the one to tell her.
"Emma," Charming said, catching sight of his daughter as he came down the hall. "What are you doing?"
"They won't let me down there," Emma said. "I need to see her and tell her that you're going to execute her."
"She knows," Charming said. "She asked us to execute her. She wants to pay for her crimes."
"And that doesn't prove that she's changed?" Emma asked.
"The decision has been made, Emma," Charming said.
"Then if she is sentenced to death," Emma said, "will you at least let me see her? Please."
"You've never been down there," Charming said.
"There's a first time for everything," Emma said. "If you want me to run the kingdom, I have to see my dungeon."
Charming gripped the hilt of his sword while he contemplated. He sighed. "I'm going down with you."
"Do you not trust me?" Emma joked, knowing her father trusted her with his life.
"No, I just don't trust some of the prisoners," Charming said.
"Rumplestiltskin," Emma said.
"Yes," Charming said. "Rumplestiltskin is most concerning. He's going to try to get to you. It's what he does."
Emma shrugged "I think I can handle him. I've been fighting off men trying to get with me for years. A creepy magical imp in a cage has nothing on princes and dukes."
"You've really never wanted to be with men have you?" Charming asked.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you and mother," she said. "And not I know it's because I was made to be with Regina."
Charming put his hand on Emma's shoulder. "Come on, let's go see her."
Down in the dungeon, Rumplestiltskin's laugh pulled Regina from her daze as she stared at the grey stone wall. "Your love is on her way to see you."
"Shut up, Rumple," Regina said.
"I know everything, dearie," Rumple replied. "I am the Dark One. She's coming with news."
Down the hall a door slammed shut. Moments later, the blonde appeared in front of Regina's cell. "Regina," Emma said.
Regina jumped up and was at the door of the cell in a second. "Emma," she said, reaching through the bars to take her lover's face in her hands.
"I told you," Rumple laughed.
"Quiet, Rumplestiltskin!" Charming shouted.
"Prince Charming," Rumple said. "Or should I say King Charming. You haven't been down to visit in a while. Your child survived the curse, so you just forget about me?"
"Leave her out of this, Rumple!" Regina said.
"Or what?" Rumplestiltskin goaded.
"You should be thanking Charming for making sure we're both in magic proof cells, or I would destroy you for saying anything against Emma, Charming, or Snow," Regina said.
"I'm so scared," Rumplestiltskin replied sarcastically. "But they still see you as the Evil Queen, dearie. No matter what you do to me, that won't change."
Regina looked at Charming. "Will you let us out so I can kill him?"
"You can't kill me," Rumple said. "Not unless you want to become the dark one."
"I'll take that chance," Regina said. "You cannot insult anyone I love, regardless of how they see me."
"Regina," Emma said. "It's okay. Whatever he says doesn't matter. All that matters is you."
Regina squeezed Emma's hands and looked into her eyes. "What's wrong? Something happened?"
"It's been decided," Emma said. "They're planning to interrogate you about the location of your hearts and then you'll be executed. I'm sure it will be my mother who puts an arrow through your heart."
"It won't be Snow," Charming said.
"No," Regina said. "If I'm to be executed by firing squad, it will be done by royal guards."
"Why are you so calm about this?" Emma asked.
"I've accepted my fate, Emma," Regina said. "I know I am being convicted of crimes before I cast the curse." She reached up and touched Emma's face. "But I know now the curse didn't fail. I was supposed to get my happy ending. This is it. Standing here looking into your eyes, I am the happiest woman in the land."
Emma pulled Regina against the cell door and kissed her through the bars. "I love you and I cannot watch you die. No matter what you did in the past. That's not you now. You could have killed me so many times since you got your magic back, but you didn't. You've changed."
"And that is precisely why I'm not fighting this," Regina said calmly. "You make me a better person and I need to pay for the damage I've done in my past."
Emma was near tears. She knew Regina was right. She had to pay for her crimes. But she wished there was another way for her parents to collect on her debt. She bit her lip and squeezed Regina's hands. "I love you," she said before walking out of the dungeon.
Charming started to follow, But Regina stopped him. "Charming, I'm sorry for trying to kill you all those years ago."
"Past is past, Regina," Charming said, before following Emma out of the dungeon.
