Thank you for the really great response to the last chapter, I hope you enjoy this one! x
"Regina slow down." Emma implored as the brunette began walking purposely towards the hotel room door. Emma abandoned her bowl of cereal and jumped up, grabbing the brunette's arm.
"Think this through Regina, we have no plan, you don't know where she is and she has the cuff." Emma said frantically, not loosening her grip as Regina tried to tug her arm away.
Unsuccessful at getting away, she spun around and glared at the blonde.
"We've been working on a plan for weeks and have got nowhere!" Regina shot back.
"I'm done sitting around here reading spell after pointless spell while you go on dates and make out with the Evil Queen behind my back. I'm going, and I'm going now." The brunette forcefully brushed Emma's hand from her arm, dark eyes glaring murderously towards the hotel room door.
"Regina no, she's too dangerous." Emma said pleadingly, rushing to stand in front of the door.
"Yet she's not too dangerous for you to sneak off with every other day?" Regina demanded, and Emma closed her eyes. Because as well as the fury on the brunette's face, there was also hurt and it killed Emma to know she had caused it.
"It wasn't like that," Emma murmured in response. "I was manipulated into the date and the kiss was just a dream, it was in my head. I know that's not a good excuse and I know it feels like I've betrayed you, but I swear it wasn't intentional. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt your feelings." She sighed and opened her eyes, looking into russet eyes which were watching her intensely.
"Emma it feels like you picked her..." Regina said quietly, something vulnerable in her voice.
"We're here away from our son because of her, she wants to kill your mother who, believe it or not is my friend, I got arrested because of her and I'm getting weaker because of her. It is baffling to me Emma how you can look at her and feel anything other than anger and disgust."
Emma dug her hands into her Jean pockets, flinching at the words being spoken to her. She knew that they were true, what she had done was idiotic and weak and ridiculous, but she also knew why she had done what she did. And she knew it was time Regina knew why too.
"Regina when I look at her I see you. Obviously your face- which is so beautiful by the way. But also the side of you that... Well I can't look at with disgust. Yes she's all your darkness but that darkness was a part of you that I actually related to a lot and knew was there for a reason. Regina I loved every part of you before that split and I can't stop caring and being drawn to her now because she was you, and I will always love every single part of you."
Regina was shaking her head as Emma spoke; tear brimmed dark eyes locked on emerald.
"I don't believe you." Regina whispered. "No-one can love someone with such darkness... I killed, tortured, I ruined lives and split families, I was partly responsible for you growing up an orphan..." The brunette trailed off and Emma surged forward, taking her hands in her own.
"Regina you weren't that person anymore when you and the Queen split. Everyone has darkness, and I've battled with my own darkness more than anyone knows. Even before the split I honestly thought you were the most amazing woman I had ever met, yes you had to battle that darkness every day but every day you were winning Regina and I was so proud of you for that." She murmured earnestly, emerald eyes locking with russet ones which were still staring disbelievingly at her.
"Why didn't you tell me this before we split?" Regina asked slowly, and Emma lifted her shoulders into a shrug.
"I didn't want to influence your decision; I knew it had to be yours."
"You think it was the wrong thing to do." Regina stated softly, glancing down thoughtfully at the ground.
"What I think is, you didn't have to do it. I think you are strong enough, have enough love in your heart to fight any dark impulses you may have had." Emma replied, her finger rubbing soothingly against Regina's palm.
"You really believe in me that much?" Regina asked in disbelief, moving a bit closer to the blonde woman who smiled softly and nodded.
"I do." She answered.
"That means... That means so much Emma, you have no idea." Regina lifted her hand and stroked it along a cheek which flushed slightly at the contact.
"It's the truth." Emma whispered, and Regina leaned in closer, until their faces were inches apart.
"And what you said about love...? Regina questioned softly.
Emma's eyes widened and she began to panic, wondering what she had just revealed and how badly Regina would take it. "Friend love!" She blurted out. "I meant... I love you as a friend."
Regina took a step back, nodding in understanding. "Oh... Of course, I knew that I was just clarifying." She let out a nervous laugh and Emma joined in awkwardly.
"So what now?" Emma asked.
"I'm still going after her." Regina answered, continuing quickly when Emma's face fell. "But not to fight. To take her back inside me." She finished.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, chewing on her lip.
"Yes, you were right Emma. I am strong enough to fight the darkness. What I did... It was weak, I was running away instead of facing my problem." The brunette smiled grimly, taking Emma's hand and squeezing it. "And I know that if I'm ever struggling I'll have my best friend and son to bring me back from the edge."
Emma's lips twisted into a smile, squeezing Regina's hand in return.
Whilst being her best friend didn't always feel like enough for her, it was still a great honour that brought Emma so much happiness.
"You can do it." She encouraged, gazing into brown eyes in a way that could only be described as lovingly.
"Emma my magic can sense hers but I'll only be able to transport myself to her if I draw magic from you. Is that okay?" Regina asked tentatively, getting caught up in Emma's gaze.
"Of course." Emma enthused. "Use it all up if you want. But I want to be there Regina, I don't want you to do it alone."
Regina shook her head. "Emma I have barely any magic, it's going to use up great amounts of your magic just to transport myself. You'll be safe here."
Emma frowned. "Regina I don't feel comfortable with you going alone."
"I'll come back to you." Regina promised, entwining their fingers.
"You better." Emma said jokingly, though her heart started pounding wildly with anxiety.
"I will, and when we are one again you're going to have to promise me something Emma." Regina said seriously.
"What?" She asked in concern.
"Never let me take advice from Snow White again." Regina answered with a smirk, and while Emma was laughing, she focused on the beautiful sight before her and used the love she felt for her to draw energy from the blonde, letting their magic dance together to take her to the location at which she could sense her other half.
Emma Swan hated waiting. She also hated that panicked feeling that she got when she didn't know if a loved one would be okay or not. The two coupled together were torture for the blonde.
She honestly didn't know what to do with herself. Regina sucking magic from her had weakened her quite a lot so she couldn't do a vigorous workout or go for a run to settle her anxiety like she usually did.
She thought about calling Henry back in Storybrooke. Hearing him talk excitedly about his newest adventures with Violet always made her smile and calmed her down, but he would inevitably ask for Regina and that would be bad for obvious reasons.
In the end she settled on ordering an ice cream sundae from room service, comfort eating was a thing right?
And when the guy who knocked on the door with the ice-cream happened to be the same guy who hit on Regina the other day, Emma did not invite him in to share her ice-cream and talk about how pretty Regina was. Absolutely not. That would be ridiculous.
"And her eyes... They just sparkle dude, they are like reading a book right? And I want to read every chapter." Emma said wistfully through a mouthful of ice-cream.
"Umm... I only met her for a few minutes." The guy responded, fidgeting awkwardly in the seat.
"Yeah but you saw how pretty she was right? Her skin is flawless, I just wanna stroke every inch of her face." Emma twirled her spoon around in the bowl.
"Well yes I did but-
"And her lips..." Emma said, closing her eyes briefly. "They are just the most... I don't even have words." The blonde finished, her own lips twisting into a smile.
"Wait.. Are you gay?" The guy asked as he noticed the longing look in her emerald eyes.
"Regina-sexual." Emma answered seriously and the guy frowned in confusion.
"Regina-sexual?" He asked. "Is that a new one? I've heard of pansexual, are they similar?"
Emma blinked at him silently for a moment. "Dude... Her name's Regina."
"Oh." He answered. "Weird name."
"It does suit her; she's a queen and deserves to be treated as such." Emma replied, smiling fondly as she recounted all the times Regina had given her the "I'm a Queen," line.
"Sounds a bit high maintenance if you ask me." Jordan replied, (Emma finally noticed his name badge.) and she frowned at him.
"She deserves the world." She answered seriously.
"You're obviously smitten. Why don't you just ask her out?" Jordan replied casually, while Emma shook her head rapidly as if he had just suggested the most insane thing she had ever heard.
"She would say no and then our friendship would be ruined." Emma replied morosely, glaring into the bowl of ice-cream.
"Why would she say no? You two are obviously close friends-
"Best friends." Emma interrupted- a touch smugly.
"And you're hot too you know, at least a 9 out of 10." He continued, appraising Emma. "You have like muscles too; don't all the lesbians dig that?"
"Don't stereotype Jordan." Emma rebuked, but flexed her arm proudly anyway.
"All I'm saying is you have a pretty good shot if you ask me." He finished with a shrug.
"Thanks." Emma smiled genuinely at him and he smiled back.
"Listen dude if by some miracle we ever get together and there's a wedding, you're coming." She said seriously and he nodded, offering his hand which she shook vigorously.
"So what about you?" Emma began more cheerfully. "Have you found-
Emma's words cut out in her throat as she doubled up in pain. It wasn't a natural pain, it felt like all her magic was vibrating inside her, trying to alert her to the fact that something was very very wrong.
"Regina.." She murmured fearfully, glancing up quickly at Jordan who was staring at her in concern. "Stomach cramps dude, you should go." She said painfully and he nodded, jumping up and leaving the room.
"I need to poof." Emma murmured to herself when he was gone, gnawing on her bottom lip as the pain refused to subside.
Emma closed her eyes and focused her entire being on Regina, she pictured her face and imagined her scent, she thought about her smile and the way it felt when their magic mingled together. Eventually she could no longer feel the ground beneath her feet and she quickly prayed that she would find her.
Over the last couple of weeks, the Queen had slowly been changing Emma's perception of her without Emma really noticing. Emma had actually no longer been thinking of her as evil, just a relentless darker version of Regina.
When she found herself transported to a strange basement with her Regina injured on the floor and the Queen's arms poised, ready to hit her with one last bit of magic that would ultimately finish her off, Emma's opinion changed again.
Evil. Was all she could think. Evil, evil evil. And her whole body froze in shock at the scene before her.
"So what? Now you realise you have no powers without me you suddenly want me back? Now you know you are worthless on your own?" The Queen hissed, eyes dark with fury as she prowled closer to the brunette on the ground.
"Or what?" She continued when Regina made no sound. "Now you know that Emma Swan is drawn to me, you decide that I'm not so bad after all?"
"It's not like that." Regina said weakly and the Queen cackled.
"It's exactly like that. But I've decided I don't need you, you're worthless and I'm much better off on my own."
"We need each other!" Regina said desperately. "You desire love, but you can't love fully on your own, you need me. And I need you to remind me of everything I've been through, everything we've fought together. I know I couldn't have got through losing Daniel and becoming his wife without you. I made a mistake. Okay? We need to rejoin."
The Queen just shook her head, dark eyes shimmering with supremacy as she raised her arms.
"Goodbye Regina." She hissed and that was all it took for Emma to unfreeze.
"No!" She shouted, hurdling herself across the room just as beams of purple magic emanated from the Queen's raised palms, missing Regina by an inch and hitting Emma's shoulder, sending her hurdling across the room and collapsing on a heap on the floor, her head smacking against the brick with an audible smack.
"Emma!" Both Regina's said simultaneously, and then Regina had heaved herself off the floor and rushed to her side in an instant, checking over every inch of her body.
"Are you hurt? Can you move?" Regina asked desperately, and Emma groaned.
"My head." She whispered.
"Heal her now." Regina demanded, glaring up at the Queen who was watching the whole scene with a smirk on her face, though a mixture of emotions was swirling through her dark eyes.
"You heal her." She answered darkly. "That hit was meant for you, it's your fault."
"You tried to kill your other half," Emma rasped out, emerald eyes seeking out the Queen through her hazy sight. "You really are evil."
"Shh Emma." Regina soothed, though her eyes were filled with panic. "Don't talk until we heal you okay." Regina held her hand to Emma's head, trying desperately to get her magic to work, though they could both feel nothing was happening.
"Do you know what's funny?" The Queen asked, smirk slipping away to reveal a scowl full of rage and disgust. "When she pulled my heart out of my chest and crushed it to dust it was seen as heroic and yet when I repay the favour its evil. You 'heroes' and your logic never fail to astound me."
Emma felt a ripple of guilt in her stomach but she couldn't respond, she felt herself slipping from consciousness. Regina was hovering over her, desperately trying to summon her magic and begging Emma to stay with her and the last thing the blonde saw was the Queen gazing at her before waving her hand, causing that feeling of weightlessness to settle over her again.
Great. Emma thought, just as she blacked out. She's probably poofing me to some dungeon to die alone.
When Emma came around she was neither dead nor in a dungeon alone. She knew she was in hospital immediately from the smell; it was the unbearable stench of too many cleaning products trying to cover up the musk of illness and death.
She opened her eyes slowly; seeking out the face she knew would be there from the firm pressure of a soft hand squeezing her own.
"There you are." Regina smiled broadly, and Emma blinked at her face, she looked like an angel.
"What happened, how am I here?" Emma asked sluggishly, her words dragging as she seemingly didn't have full control of her voice box.
"It seems she transported us here." Regina answered, with a small frown.
"Why?" Emma blinked.
"It seems she actually cares for you." Regina said in wonder, stroking a strand of blonde hair out of her face.
"Wow." Emma said, blinking up at Regina in shock.
"Wow you Emma. You transported yourself to us all alone, even after I had drained most of your magic. You are... Exceptional." Regina said, gazing down at Emma with pride in her eyes.
"I was just thinking about you." Emma answered seriously, reaching for the cup of water beside her.
"Emma what you did-
"Was necessary." Emma broke in.
"It was stupid." Regina answered, but her eyes were trained on emerald ones almost lovingly.
"We're both alive aren't we?" Emma questioned and then winced at the pain flowing through her back and head.
"Barely." Regina whispered, watching the flicker of pain in green eyes which Emma quickly tried to hide.
"You'll be in pain for a while." Regina said sadly, squeezing her hand again.
"Painkillers?" Emma managed to grind out through gritted teeth as another wave of pain rushed through her.
"Yes they'll be drugging you pretty hard. They were waiting for you to wake up." Regina pressed the call button for the nurse several times, while Emma smiled painfully at her.
"You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt." Regina responded, threading their fingers together.
"When can I go home?" Emma asked, peering around. She really really hated hospitals.
"They'll probably want to keep you in here for a while. You didn't break anything but you banged your head pretty hard, and have bruising all down your back." Regina answered guiltily, as the nurse came bustling in, hooking Emma up to some tubes.
"I'm going to put you to sleep now." The nurse said gently, and Emma nodded in understanding, the pain was really getting too much.
"See you when you wake up." Regina said gently, and Emma stared at her in surprise.
"You'll wait for me here?" She asked drowsily, as the sedative began to hit her.
"I'm not leaving you." Regina promised, and then the world went quiet.
