Chapter Two (cont.)
"The Thing You Love Most" SQ Rewrite
~You Will Come Back to Me~
Who does he think you are?
Oh, it's silly.
I just got five minutes of silly. Lay it on me.
Snow White. Who does he think you are?
A pause. And then…
Mom?
Emma was standing in front of Mary Margaret outside Storybrooke Elementary, but the scene surrounding her, the teacher's appearance, it was all changing quickly before her eyes. The school around them turned into a forest clearing, and they were alone. The trees were in full bloom and the sun shone radiantly in the cloudless blue sky. A slight breeze traveled through the clearing, but it was warm, signaling the near arrival of summer. Mary Margaret was no longer Mary Margaret. She was seeing Snow White staring at her, the woman's black hair now long and curly, her clothes replaced by the familiar bandit outfit from the storybook pages Emma had read. The textbooks she held in her right hand disappeared, and she was instead clutching on to her bow, the bag of arrows thrown over her shoulder. Snow White was crying, smiling at her. No… That was her mother. Her mother was crying tears of joy and beaming at her because she had finally been reunited with her daughter.
Mom?
Emma.
Her mother dropped the bow and the bag slipped off her shoulder, the arrows scattering across the ground. She approached her slowly, put a tentative hand on her arm. Emma let the word escape her lips one more time.
Mom.
Emma. You found me.
Emma's eyes watered. Her mom… She was standing before her. She wanted so much to believe it was really her.
She was pulling her into a hug. Rubbing the back of her head. Emma was crying into her shoulder.
It's okay, honey. Everything's going to be okay.
Emma backed away and looked into her mother's green eyes. It calmed her a bit, but she couldn't stop the waterfall of tears that were rolling down her face. The walls around her heart were breaking down again, exposing her to those deeply rooted emotions. This was it. This was actually it.
Her mother reached her hand up to her face, wiping away a few of her tears.
I love you so much, honey.
And her response came so easily.
I love you, too, Mom.
Emma threw her arms around her mother, never wanting to let go, scared she would slip from her grasp. She was afraid of losing her again, that if she happened to be taken away from her one more time, she would never find her again.
But it was too good to be true.
It was one of her stupid, childish hopes coming back to haunt her.
This woman was not Snow White. She was not her mother. She was Mary Margaret Blanchard, a fourth grade teacher at Storybrooke Elementary. That was all.
Yet Emma clung on to that hope, making the heartache all too real when the woman started to fade away. Her tears turned to ones of sadness. She took a few steps backward, watching the devastation unfold around her.
The trees became barren, their branches like pointed spikes against the now pitch black sky. The wind had picked up, sending leaves and small debris flying wildly around the two.
Mom? No. No! Mom!
Emma!
Mom! I can't lose you again!
I'm sorry, honey.
No!
A new voice echoed in the clearing.
You're the only one who can stop her curse.
Emma turned around in a panic.
Henry?
I know the hero never believes at first. If they did, it wouldn't be a very good story.
Emma glanced back at her mother, then looked back in the direction of her son's voice. This time, he was there, standing with his storybook in his arms. She kneeled down in front of him and put a hand on his shoulder.
What are you doing here, Henry? It isn't safe!
Henry ignored her message, opening the book and displaying its pages to her. But they were not just any pages. It was her story.
If you need proof, take them. Read them. But whatever you do, don't let her see these pages. They're dangerous. If she finds out who you are, then it would be bad.
It was beginning to storm. From the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of lightning, and she knew the thunder was soon to follow.
Henry, we need to get you out of here.
She stood up and turned back to her mother, but she was gone.
No! Mom!
She looked back to Henry, but he was no longer there either.
Henry!
Emma started to step around in a circle, searching madly for any signs of her son or her mother. She called out to them, shouting at the top of her lungs, but it was no use. All she saw was purple smoke approaching in the gaps of the trees. She surrendered herself to the inescapable doom, falling to her hands and knees, sobbing uncontrollably. She slammed the ground with her fists, shook her head violently. Both of them. She had lost both of them.
NO!
And then a soothing voice. One she knew very well.
Emma?
She looked up.
Regina?
The woman standing before her did not resemble the Regina she knew, despite the familiar voice. She looked so evil. She was clothed in black from head to toe, a cape blowing in the wind behind her. Her black hair was now long and styled wildly upon her head, and her brown eyes had become petrifying dark pools accentuated by her bold makeup. Only one color contrasted with the black outfit—red.
A red feather was placed so delicately in her hair on the left side of her head.
Deep down, that feather meant something. She knew it. And it did not represent the ominous woman standing there, but the gentler, kinder version of herself that Emma had become so close to.
But she still got up and backed away from her out of fear.
Emma!
What did you do to them?
I didn't do anything.
I know you did!
Emma, dear. Please listen to me.
Emma froze at the word dear. Only Regina would call her that. The villainous looking woman standing there was her. She took a tentative step forward, gazing into her brown eyes. She was crying, too, the misery on her face contrasting with her threatening appearance.
Regina. I lost them.
I know.
I lost Henry. I'm sorry.
Regina began to put out her arms in the manner of a hug when Emma ran to her, throwing her arms around her. She started to sob uncontrollably again, mumbling apologies in between gasps of breath. She felt Regina press her lips against her temple, whispering reassurances in a soft, calming tone.
It's okay, Emma. It's okay.
The scene took another change. She saw the forest transform into the familiar white mansion, the stormy night become peaceful and quiet. They were now standing on the pathway, hugging each other tightly. Emma blinked a few more times, trying to understand what was going on, and then leaned away from Regina, staring questioningly at her. She had returned to her normal self, her black hair short once again, her outfit the same gray dress from their first night together. Emma's eyes lingered to the silver chain around her neck, Daniel's ring hanging off the end.
Regina…
I'm sorry.
For what?
Regina caressed her cheek, gently wiping away the last of her tears.
What is it, Regina?
She shook her head.
I'm so sorry, Emma.
Regina let her hand fall to her shoulder, frowning as she did so.
I'm the Evil Queen, dear.
Emma gave her a confused look, but it soon become one of horror when Regina became that villainous woman again, her Evil Queen aura returning to her. They were brought back to the clearing, the purple smoke now encompassing the both of them. The woman seemed unfazed by the peril encircling them, not moving, her hand still on Emma's shoulder, the frown remaining on her face. She was lifeless, a mere statue. Had it not been for the tears streaming down her face, Emma would have sworn she was losing her too, only seconds away from the vanishing act that had first taken her mother, then her son away.
Regina? Regina!
I'm sorry.
I don't believe you! It's not true! You're not the Evil Queen!
Regina smiled slightly, quickly.
I wish you were right.
Emma leaned close to her face, her lips nearly inches from Regina's, when a loud boom sounded above them. She looked for the sound, but all she could see was the smoke, the forest and night completely engulfed in a sea of purple. The noise resonated again, becoming more persistent. Emma grabbed on to Regina's arms.
I'm not losing you!
Goodbye, Emma.
No! I've got you! I can't lose you too!
You have to let me go, dear. I've wronged you. I don't deserve to be with you.
No! Don't say that.
I'm sorry.
Regina took hold of her hands, giving them a light squeeze before letting go.
I'm sorry, Emma. But this is the end. Once an evil queen, always an evil queen. I can't corrupt your heart.
Emma put out her hand to stop her, but she could not sway Regina's decision. She turned away, not casting a single glance behind her, and with that, she faded into the purple backdrop.
Regina! NO!
And then it was gone. The smoke, the sadness, the terror… Everything.
"Regina…"
The thunderous booming she had been hearing had altered itself into an incessant beeping, the sound of her phone alarm blaring in her ear. She kept her eyes shut, her eyelids heavy from the dream she had been having, and reached clumsily towards the nightstand in hopes to put an end to the noise. To no success, the phone went crashing to the floor with a thud. "Come on," she mumbled into her pillow.
Emma forced her eyes to open, having to blink several times to adjust to the lighting in the room. She rolled on to her back and quickly rubbed her eyes before picking up the phone and silencing the alarm. She threw the phone on the bed and then fell back on the pillow, staring up at the ceiling.
She felt extremely drowsy still.
And disgusting. There was definitely a bead of sweat on her forehead, and her t-shirt felt somewhat damp. Damn. That dream really had got her.
No. It was a nightmare.
She sat up, resting against the headboard.
As she drove Henry back to the school for his "half day" two days ago, he had informed her of his plan for breaking the so-called curse that ruled the town. Operation Cobra. This name, he insisted, would throw the Evil Queen (a.k.a., Regina) off the trail because it had nothing to do with fairytales. Thinking about it now made her laugh.
Okay, kid. Sure. The minute Regina hears a whisper of "Operation Cobra" leave your mouth, she won't be suspicious.
Emma had played along anyway.
He had rambled on, reiterating the details of Storybrooke's origin. He had given her ripped out pages from his storybook, claiming they had the advantage because her story was out of Regina's grasp. She had considered bringing the pages to Regina, but at the same time, she didn't want to disappoint Henry. So she took them willingly and left them sitting on a chair in her room at the B&B.
That same day, she had visited with Mary Margaret briefly after walking with Henry to the classroom. Emma was about to apologize for his behavior when the teacher began to talk.
It's good to see his smile back.
I didn't do anything.
You stayed.
She smiled at that, remembering her reason to stay for both Henry and Regina.
And then came the pivotal turning point in the conversation, the exact part that had inspired the beginning of her dream.
Henry thought Mary Margaret was Snow White.
Snow White was supposed to be her mother.
Which meant she was standing before her mother outside the classroom.
Of course, Emma didn't believe that. So when Mary Margaret asked her who Henry thought she was, she told her she wasn't in the book.
But in the dream, she had let herself fall into that illusion that the teacher could actually be her mother. And it only left her in a nightmare.
This is why she had stopped pretending her parents would come back for her years ago. Pretending only left her broken. Picking up those pieces became harder and harder each time it happened.
The conversation finally brought her to read the pages Henry had given her. That evening, she laid the pages across her bed, taking in the details of her so-called "story".
All of that resulted in breaking down and clinging desperately to a woman she wanted to believe was her mother, a ferocious storm that took "her mother" and her son away from her, suffocating in purple smoke, and Regina…
She had actually imagined Regina as the Evil Queen.
She also saw her as Regina Mills, the woman she had grown close to in the last couple of days.
Same person, two different identities.
One real, one fake.
Emma shook her head.
This is what she got from reading those damn pages. One screwed up, delusional nightmare. And that storybook was supposed to be for kids?
Shower. That would clear her mind. And she desperately needed one anyway after the sweat she'd worked up.
She was walking out of the bathroom when a knock sounded on her door. She glanced at the door in surprise and began to stride towards it, but her phone stopped her midway. She swiftly retrieved it and read the message.
8:02am – Regina Mills: Surprise.
Shit!
Emma grabbed the top of her t-shirt and brought it to her nose. She nearly gagged at the smell. Of all the days Regina could surprise her, it had to be the day she had drowned in her own sweat from a nightmare. Regina would be repulsed by her. She pulled the shirt over her head and grabbed a clean one from her pile of clothes resting on the desk chair, throwing the replacement on.
She was glad she had purchased some new clothes a few days ago. And that Regina had leant her a couple of shirts (ones that Henry had not seen her wear in some time). She really needed to get her things from Boston.
"Um, hold on! I'll be there in a minute!"
She dashed to the bathroom, dabbing a washcloth on her face and neck and then putting on deodorant. She let out a breath and took one look at herself in the mirror. She still appeared tired and her hair was an absolute mess, but at least she smelled better. She hurried back to the door and opened it.
"Hey, Regina." She ran a hand through her hair. "Good morning."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just… Needed to… Um, not stink so much."
Regina smirked.
Emma looked down, feeling her cheeks go warm. She distracted herself with the basket of apples Regina was holding, pointing to it. "So… Apples?"
"Yes, the more important matter here." The mayor laughed before continuing. "Anyway… Did you know the Honeycrisp tree is the most vigorous and hearty of all apple trees?"
She tilted her head slightly.
Can't say I know much about apple trees, but I'm sure the Evil Queen has tons to offer on this subject.
Emma. She's not the Evil Queen.
Regina could pull it off, though. She would be a damn hot evil queen, too. If it hadn't been for the built up horror of the nightmare, she would have thrown herself at her the minute she laid eyes on her.
You can punish my ass. Give me all you got.
She brought her attention back to reality.
"It can survive temperatures as low as forty below and keep growing." She let out a small chuckle. "It can weather any storm."
Emma grinned stupidly. She had a feeling she knew where this was going.
"I have one that I've tended to ever since I was a little girl." She inspected the basket and then selected an apple. "And to this day, I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers." She held out the apple to her, a huge smile on her face.
Emma took the apple, matching the mayor's smile. She could read between the lines, the message clearly popping out at her. "You didn't come here to just give me apples, did you?"
"Of course not." Regina entered the room, closing the door behind her and placing the basket on the nearest dresser. They met for a kiss. "I've missed you the last few nights."
She hadn't stayed at Regina's for four nights now. She wanted to get acquainted with Storybrooke and its residents. And there was a reason for this. When the mayor requested she give Storybrooke a chance and stay for at least a week, she hadn't protested. Regina had allowed her the option to leave after that, but even a week in town wasn't going to change her mind. She could have informed her of her decision that night. She was going to make a much more permanent stay.
Her forever home.
In Storybrooke, Maine with Regina and Henry.
A place where magical things could happen.
Maybe in regards to finally finding a place she could call home?
She wasn't afraid of accepting that anymore.
"I have, too."
"Well, why haven't you come, dear?"
"I just wanted to familiarize myself with the town. I've…"
"Decided to stay? I had a feeling."
Emma allowed herself to put her arms around Regina's neck, despite worrying earlier about how she smelled. The mayor didn't back away or appear bothered, so she figured she was good. "Busy? I have the shower running."
Regina smiled at the invitation. "I wish I could stay, Emma, but I was on my way to work." She signaled to her outfit.
"Yeah, I guess I should have figured that by what you're wearing."
"Later?"
"I'll see you at 11." She laughed, thinking back to the night of her birthday celebration and Regina waiting around anxiously for her arrival. "Or does that mean 10:30? Maybe I should say 11:30 and show up at 11?"
Regina kissed her. "11 will do." They backed away from each other. "You should take Henry for dinner before his therapy session today."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. It'll be some good bonding time."
"Thanks, Regina. What time?"
"5. He meets me at Town Hall, outside my office. Come by a little before 5 to talk?"
"Will do."
"Enjoy the apples."
Emma smiled as Regina left the room.
I'll enjoy your damn apples.
I'll enjoy them by throwing the cursed things at your lying face.
She should have known. She should have fucking known better.
Amazing how her feelings for her had taken a dramatic change in the course of a few hours.
She had been curious, so she went to visit Henry's shrink, Dr. Archibald Hopper. Between Henry's persistence that everyone in Storybrooke was a fairytale character from his book and her nightmare, where even she had begun to believe in the idea of Snow White really being her mother, it was all enough to push her to investigate further. She figured she would at least have a better understanding of the whole situation before bringing Henry to his therapy session later.
That sure the hell wasn't happening anymore. She would spending that time sitting in a cold jail cell instead.
Archie confirmed that Henry had been seeing him before Mary Margaret had given him the book and that his relationship with his adoptive mother had worsened over time despite her attempts to bring him closer to her.
He gave her Henry's file. Insisted that because she was very important to him, she could take a peek.
He had been way too willing to hand that file over to her.
An hour later, as she lay on her bed with papers scattered all around her, a knock pulled her away from the information. She expected Regina visiting her on her lunch break, but had instead been greeted by Graham and a pair of handcuffs.
She was arrested. Apparently she had demanded the file from Archie and then came back later to steal it after his refusal to pass the confidential information along to her.
Regina.
That bitch.
It was a setup, foreshadowed by the newspaper two days ago.
Regina wanted nothing to do with her.
"You know the shrink is lying, right?"
Graham was in the middle of taking her mugshot.
Wonder if this one will be tomorrow's headline, as per Regina's request?
"To the right, please. Why would he lie?"
Snap.
"The mayor put him up to this. She's got to have something on him. He's terrified of her like everyone else in this… Town."
"To the left." Another snap of the camera. "Regina may be a touch intimidating, but I don't think she'd go as far as a frame job."
I didn't think she would either. I mean, why would she? She can trust me. She knows that.
But evidently, she didn't trust her. It was all about Henry. The woman honestly thought Emma would try to take him away from her.
I trusted her. Even after the newspaper, I trusted her. And she still let me down.
"How far would she go? What does she have her hands in?"
You.
Fuck. Why am I such an idiot?
Graham shrugged. "Well, she's the mayor. She has her hands in everything."
"Including the police force?"
The door to the offices opened, and Emma immediately glared in that direction, ready to blow at the mayor. Her expression softened when Henry and then Mary Margaret entered the room.
"Hey!" Henry exclaimed.
Graham looked at the two in confusion. "Henry! Henry, what are you doing here?"
Mary Margaret approached them. "His mother told him what happened."
Emma balled up her fists. "Of course she did. Henry, I don't know what she said…"
"You're a genius!"
"What?"
"I know what you were up to." He lowered his voice a bit. "You were gathering intel for Operation Cobra."
Graham looked to Henry and then Emma. He shook his head. The poor guy was so confused. "I'm sorry. I'm a bit lost."
Henry was not interested in involving Graham in his operation plans. "It's need to know, Sheriff. And all you need to know is that Miss Blanchard's going to bail her out."
Mary Margaret is going to bail me out?
Emma looked up to her. "You are? Why?"
She shrugged. "I, uh, trust you."
She trusts me? How could she trust me so easily? We've only spoken a few times.
She had slept with Regina, helped find Henry with her when he ran away, shared painful memories of her past before the newspaper story leaked… She had been so open with her, taken a chance to develop something meaningful with her, let her walls fall down for her. Yet Regina still didn't trust her.
She felt broken again.
She wanted to cry, but she knew she had to suck it up.
Emma gave Mary Margaret a small smile and turned to Graham, holding out her hands.
Let that rage build up, Em. Replace that sadness with rage.
Her eyes flashed in her mind, the misery hiding in those chocolate depths standing out at her like it had the first night.
The feeling of connectedness… It was slipping away.
Be mad!
Infuriated!
You have to be.
You have to…
You need to protect your heart, Emma.
She found her strength, the walls shooting up around her heart again. "Well, if you can uncuff me, I have something to do."
Graham went for the key and removed the cuffs from her wrists.
She stormed out of the room.
Apples.
Regina had a thing for apples.
She told her about the precious apple tree located outside of Town Hall during one of their late night chats.
Emma knew what needed to be done.
I can play this game.
You hurt me, I hurt you.
Chainsaw, here I come.
Regina put her phone down on her desk. She had just called the B&B to inform Mrs. Lucas of Emma's arrest and remind her of the "No Felons" policy. She glanced down at the paper next to the phone and lightly drew a line through step four of Operation Feather with her pencil. Everything was going according to plan so far.
Now for step five.
She folded the paper gently and placed it in her purse along with her phone. She stood up from her chair and was about to walk to the door, ready to head to the station to bail Emma out when she heard the sound of a chainsaw running.
And it was incredibly close.
I don't remember approving of any construction near Town Hall today.
Regina turned around to look out the window.
No.
Emma, no!
The blonde was in the middle of cutting down a branch from the apple tree.
She dropped her purse and rushed outside.
The tone was much harsher than she meant it to be when she blurted out the question.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Emma powered down the engine, turning the chainsaw off and throwing it to the side. "Picking apples."
"You're out of your mind."
"No, you are if you think a shoddy frame job's enough to scare me off. You're going to have to do better than that."
"What are you talking about?"
"First, the newspaper. Then you have me arrested for 'stealing' Henry's file. I know you put him up to it. His shrink. Is that why you suggested I take Henry to dinner before his session? To give me the idea that I should go visit him and get to know what Henry's deal is?"
Regina fought back a frown. She knew Emma would be angry with her, but she hadn't expected this. Her voice softened. "Emma, I didn't put him up to it. Dr. Hopper called me and claimed that you stole the file. He said you threatened him, and after returning from lunch, the file was missing. If he read the newspaper, he must have been shaken up and didn't know how to react to you stopping by. I know you didn't steal it, but I didn't have much of a choice. I had to have you arrested. I was just on my way to bail you out, though. I promise you that."
"Oh, bullshit. Why didn't you call me to hear my side of the story?"
"I'm sorry…"
"No. This is over. No more broken promises." She took a few steps closer to her, only inches from her face. Regina wanted to kiss her, mumble apologizes over and over again to her, tell her she would understand later why she had done this to her. If only she could. "You come after me one more time, I'm coming back for the rest of this tree. Because, sister, you have no idea what I am capable of." Emma turned on her heel and began to walk away, calling over her shoulder, "Your move."
Regina closed her eyes for a moment and let out a frustrated sigh. She fell back into personality of the coldhearted mayor Storybrooke was so familiar with, giving Emma a run for her money. "Don't underestimate me, Miss Swan. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
She heard the blonde snort in disgust. "Whatever."
"You will come back."
Because I want you to.
Emma turned around abruptly. "Well, of course I'll come back for Henry tonight. I will take him to dinner like you allowed me to do this morning. You're not taking that away from me."
"Go ahead, Miss Swan. I want you to take him to dinner. But that's not what I meant by my statement."
She folded her arms across her chest. "Then, what, Madam Mayor, did you mean?"
"You're not done with me. I know you will come back to me."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Sure." She turned around again and marched away.
Regina shook her head and glanced at the now damaged apple tree.
How symbolic.
It represented her relationship with Emma.
The cut down branch equated itself with a stab to the heart. A wound that could be nearly impossible to mend.
Think of the long run, Regina. This operation is for her. To bring her happiness in her future. To reunite her with the family you took away from her.
Whether that meant a future with her or not, Emma deserved her happiness.
But she wasn't going to give up on the possibility of a future with her.
Hope you enjoyed!
