The Swan-Mills have a family breakfast. One of the demons take on a more terrifying form, and a Queen entrusts herself to her White Knight.
Emma sighed, rolling over and nuzzling her face into the pillow, the sheets warm and silken over her bare skin. She took in a deep breath of apple scented linen, which woke her just enough for confusion to muddle her brain.
Apples?
She rolled onto her back and blinked open green eyes, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling and taking a long moment to recollect what had happened and where she was. Then it clicked and she sat up, looking around the pristine guest room with another gusty sigh. Right.
She and Regina had sat under the apple tree for almost an hour, just sitting in amicable silence, both finally agreeing to get up when it was too cold to stay outside. One look at the way Emma had been shivering in her leather jacket prompted Regina to order her to sit down in her office next to the fireplace. A moment later and they were sitting across from each other in big armchairs, sipping at hot cocoa and talking about Henry until they called it a night.
They were always talking about Henry. Both women loved him dearly and there was no doubt that he'd brought them together from the start, the one thing they had most in common. Emma just wished they could talk about something else once in a while.
She wanted to know about Regina.
But that would be pushing.
Emma slid out of bed with yet another sigh, padding across the room in her boy shorts and tank top. She slept in her underwear, no matter whose guest room she was in. Jeans and her red leather jacket were retrieved from where they were slung over a highback chair - really, a chair and a vanity in a guest room? The woman really is a perfectionist - and once dressed she quietly slipped from the room and down the hallway.
Her phone said it was just past eight in the morning. Emma wasn't sure if Regina's Sunday mornings were spent in bed or already off to work; she hoped it was the latter. At least then she wouldn't feel bad about sneaking out before the mayor was even awake. She needed to go home and change, anyway. A shower wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Emma made it down the big spiral staircase and was halfway through the front foyer when Regina's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Not staying for breakfast, Miss Swan?"
It wasn't said with her usual bite or sarcasm (though she could still do without the "Miss Swan" crap.) Just an honest question, with perhaps even a little bit of amusement in it. Emma turned slowly, startled to find Regina standing at the edge of the kitchen wearing a clean white apron over gray slacks and a white silk dress shirt. Her dark hair, longer than it had been when they'd first met, was pulled back in a soft bun. Considering the way the mayor usually looked, this appearance was surprisingly softer and gentler.
"Oh, I… uh…" Emma faltered, mouth ajar at the sight as Regina just tilted her head ever so slightly to one side, inquisitive. She'd been so busy holding her breath while sneaking around that she hadn't noticed the smell wafting from the kitchen. "Oh. Wow. That smells amazing."
"Ma, come eat!" Henry's voice called from the kitchen. Emma jumped.
"I picked him up earlier," Regina offered. "I thought it might be nice to have breakfast together. I know it's been… a while, since we were all together."
Emma nodded dumbly and trailed after the brunette, finding Henry seated at the dining table connected by doorway to the kitchen. He was in the process of balancing fresh fruit into a little mountain atop his waffles. Now that Emma thought about it, the three of them hadn't had breakfast together since Robin and Roland left. Regina had stopped spending time with them altogether and retreated away to be alone - the way she always did.
"Hey kid," she said with a hesitant smile. Henry beamed a thousand watt smile back. Clearly he had forgiven her for her blunder with his dark haired mother.
"Well go on, have a seat," said Regina, pouring fresh mix into the waffle maker. "I'll have more waffles for you shortly."
She didn't have to ask if Emma liked waffles. She'd spied the blonde munching down on them at Granny's Diner more than enough times.
Emma wandered into the dining room and sat across from Henry, leaving the seat at the head of the table between them empty. Her eyes took in the lump that was growing on Henry's plate, some monstrosity made of waffle, fruit, syrup, and whipped cream.
"You really are starting to eat like a teenager," she said, grimacing as he gouged into it with his fork and shoved a giant glob of the stuff into his mouth. He said something but it was entirely unintelligible.
"Henry, don't speak with your mouth full," Regina scolded, but it was said with affection. She came in with a plate of fresh waffles which she set down in front of Emma. "Coffee?" she directed to the blonde.
"That'd be great, thanks."
Regina flashed a quick smile as she headed back to the kitchen. Emma sat dumbfounded for a moment, staring after her.
"Ma? You okay?" Henry queried, arching a brow at her as he paused to sip his orange juice.
"I just…" She pursed her lips. "I've never seen your mom like this."
"Like what?" He looked confused. Of course he wouldn't know; this was normal for him. Regina had been making him breakfast every morning for his entire life.
"Nothing." Emma gave him a lazy grin. "This is nice."
He hummed in agreement, digging into his waffle again as Regina returned with two mugs of coffee. Emma found herself blushing and murmuring her thanks, especially when she noticed that it was made exactly the way she liked it. Regina left one more time to return with a waffle of her own, finally taking her seat at the head of the table, between Emma and Henry.
The Sheriff piled peach slices and strawberries atop her waffle, drowned them in syrup and finishing it off with a glob of whipped cream. It was Henry's turn to snicker at her from across the table. "What?"
"And you said I eat like a teenager. At least I am one. You're like thirteen years too late."
"You have your mother's sass," Emma grumbled. She immediately worried that that might sound like a slight on Regina, but to her relief - and immediate delight - Regina actually laughed. It was a warm, full sound that had a smile spreading across the blonde's face.
Regina's laughter trickled off and she tucked into her breakfast, shaking her head some at the reminder of how young Emma was. Thirty one. Regina was almost forty, and that wasn't including the twenty eight years they had all been frozen in time in Storybrooke. Dear god, she was technically more than twice Emma's age.
She looked up when she realized Emma was still smiling lopsidedly at her. "What?" came the uncertain question.
"You have a nice laugh."
Henry's head turned back and forth between them, an odd look on his face. Emma cleared her throat and started cutting into her waffle again as Regina blinked at her.
"I mean- I don't hear it very often, y'know. It's nice to hear you laugh."
Regina concentrated on her food again as well, dark eyes hidden under thick lashes. "Thank you, dear."
They ate in relative quiet for a while, just appreciating the fact that they were having breakfast together like a family. Henry started chatting about school and about Grace - Emma and Regina shared a look when their son began babbling about a girl, and Jefferson's daughter no less - and dishes were a joint effort between her and Henry while Regina made tea.
"One hour," Regina called after her son, watching Henry disappear up to his room. Emma perched herself on a kitchen island stool, clasping Pandora's box in her hands again and considering what today might entail.
"Are we dropping him off?"
"David and Mary Margaret will be by to pick him up." Regina poured herself some tea and quirked a brow at the blonde. "Would you like to shower before we go?"
Emma flushed at the idea of showering in Regina's house. Normally she had no problem with that kind of thing, she and Neal used to steal showers in strangers' hotel rooms back when they were homeless thieves, but taking a shower in Regina Mills' house felt immensely intimidating in contrast. "That's okay-"
"It's no trouble, and I already left a new toothbrush out on the counter," the brunette added quickly, averting her gaze. Emma felt a flutter in her chest. It was a strange feeling, having Regina take care of her like this.
"Oh. Well, in that case, I'd appreciate it." Emma stood with an almost shy smile. Regina wordlessly led the way, taking them up the staircase and to the main bathroom in the hall. It wasn't as terrifyingly intimate as her bedroom's private bathroom, but it still had Emma shuffling awkwardly inside.
"Here," said Regina, holding out her hand for Pandora's box. Emma carefully gave it over, making sure not to make skin contact just in case they unleashed the damned things right here. She still didn't really understand how it worked and figured Regina wouldn't appreciate a vortex appearing in her house.
"Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, clean towel, hairbrush," Regina listed off, pointing everything out. Then, more softly, "See you in a bit."
"Kay. Thanks." Emma gave another shy smile as Regina left, closing the door quietly behind her. Her heart was pounding and she took a moment to reassess her surroundings. The bathroom had the same decor as Regina's office; black and white with angular furnishings, the only splash of color being the blue tube of toothpaste and a new green toothbrush on the countertop, still in its wrapping.
Emma tore the wrapper off and brushed her teeth before quickly stripping down and rushing through her shower like a bat out of hell. The less time she spent naked in Regina Mills' house, the better. It didn't help that she kept listening for the door as she washed off, half wishing Regina would join her and half terrified that she would. Dear lord, she was as hormonal and confused as a teenager right now.
She was clean and dressed in record time, her jacket slung over her arm while her damp hair hung limp down her back. Socked feet padded down the staircase and into the living room where she found Regina curled up on the couch with a book in hand, reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.
"Hey," said Emma, sinking down into an armchair and grinning at her. Regina arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Hey." Then, after a long pause, "Something on my face?"
"I've just never seen you with glasses."
Self conscious, Regina quickly plucked them from her face and folded them away.
"They looked good," Emma complained.
"Well, I… Thank you. But we should discuss the plan for today." She bookmarked her page and set the book down on the coffee table, glancing up to take in the sight of the blonde's damp hair. "Did you find everything okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." Emma reclined back into the armchair with a smile. "I smell like apples now."
"Old habits die hard." Regina then motioned towards Pandora's box where it sat dormant next to her book. "I thought it might be best if I took the lead today- if that's fine with you."
She wanted to feel more in control of the situation, and that was fine with Emma. The blonde honestly had no idea what she was doing with the box and felt a lot better entrusting it to Regina.
"Sounds good to me. Are we tracking them by their energy again today?"
"Unless we have another lead, it seems like our best bet."
Emma's phone rang. She fumbled with her jacket for a moment to dig the phone out from the pocket as Regina leaned back on the couch and waited.
"Sheriff."
"Emma," came David's voice, sounding strangely tense.
"Dad? You okay?"
"Yeah, uh… I think-"
There was a thumping sound. David cursed under his breath. Somewhere in the background, Emma could hear her mother giggling.
"Dad?" she said again, brows furrowing. Regina sent her a curious look.
"I think it might be best if you keep Henry with you today," David grunted. Another thump.
"Okay, what's going on?"
"Your mother is under one of the curses."
"Well just give her True Love's kiss, it worked for-"
Regina arched an eyebrow.
"I-It should work for you two."
"Yeah, I'm trying, but your mother is… I'm working on it."
"Which curse is she under?"
"Charming!" Mary Margaret's voice crooned, muffled as if she were on the other side of a door. "Open this door right now, or I'll huff and I'll puff-"
"Uh, dad?"
"Don't worry about it," David said quickly.
"What about Neal?"
"He's fine. Love you, bye!"
He hung up on her. Emma dropped her phone into her lap with a grimace.
"What did he say?" Regina asked.
"Um, looks like we're keeping Henry with us today."
The brunette gave her an odd look. "Why?"
"I think Snow White is molesting Prince Charming."
At that, Regina's brows shot up in surprise. Emma put her face in her hands with a sigh - she couldn't believe she'd just said that - and suddenly Regina was laughing.
"Yeah, yeah," the blonde grumbled, resisting a smile at having once again caused the mayor to laugh. The sound was like music to her ears.
"Who would have thought the Charming women were so susceptible to Lust?"
Emma groaned, looking up to see Regina smirking at her. "Hey, I held it off for as long as I could."
"I'm sure you did." Regina's dark eyes glittered and she suddenly grinned. "So tell me, Miss Swan, what were you dreaming about?"
"What?" Emma sputtered.
"After the demon of Lust knocked you unconscious. What were you dreaming about?"
Oh, god damn. "Nothing."
"Liar."
"I didn't dream!"
"Really? Because your moaning had suggested otherwise."
Emma felt her face flush with embarrassment. Clearly a good night's sleep had rejuvenated the brunette enough that she felt comfortable teasing her now. She just wished it wasn't at her expense. Talking about her inappropriate dreams with said subject of dreams was on her list of never-happening.
"Regina," Emma complained, slouching down in the armchair under the brunette's gaze.
"Honest question," came the innocent reply.
"Moooom!" Henry's voice echoed from upstairs. Emma and Regina looked at each other.
"Your son is calling," Emma said.
"Oh, so now he's my son?" Regina retorted, but she stood with a smirk and went to check on Henry. Emma allowed herself to sink back against the armrest with a huff, her thoughts drifting to that dream Regina had been trying to weasel out of her. Unlike most of her dreams, this one was startlingly vivid and still clear as day in her memory.
The slither of sheets. A soft moan. Hot skin weighing down on her.
"Damn it," Emma muttered, rubbing her face. "Minx."
"Who, me?"
She looked up to find Regina descending the staircase, her hair let down from its bun and bouncing against her shoulders with each step.
"Yes, you," the blonde grumbled. "What did Henry want?"
"He ran out of toilet paper."
Emma's eyebrows shot up. "And you had to bring it in to him?"
"I changed his diapers, there's nothing I haven't seen before." Regina snorted softly and reclaimed her seat on the couch.
"Oh. Right." Emma looked down and fiddled with her fingers, suddenly finding it hard to hold eye contact. "Kid's lucky to have you. I'd have been a terrible parent."
She laughed a little awkwardly. Regina gave her an understanding smile.
"You would have been just fine."
"I dunno. Wanting to raise a child and being good at it are two different things. Not that it really matters at this point," she laughed without humor. "I'll never find out."
"Well, it's not too late, you know."
When Emma's eyes lifted to Regina's, the brunette shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
"I just mean- it's an option. You're still young."
"You're not that much older than I am."
"Aren't I? I'm technically almost seventy."
Emma grimaced. "Hey, the twenty eight years you were frozen in time don't count."
"Okay, then I'm thirty nine."
At that, Emma relaxed and managed to waggle an eyebrow at her brunette counterpart. "Works for me. I like mature women."
Regina blinked, then pursed her lips, clearly trying to resist giving a reaction. The blonde smiled victoriously before her thoughts drifted back to what Regina had said only moments ago.
"How is raising a baby still an option for me?"
"Oh." Regina had clearly hoped that comment would be left alone, but seemed to relent after a moment of meeting the blonde's very green gaze. "Well… you're young. And I'm sure Henry would understand. You understood why your parents wanted Neal, didn't you?"
"Yeah, but…" Emma hesitated, suddenly wondering if this was too much to discuss with Regina at so early a point in their… was it a relationship yet? God, she wasn't sure of anything anymore.
"But?" Regina prompted her.
"Well, we can't exactly… Us being… I mean... I thought adoption would be the only…"
Realization seemed to dawn on Regina at the same time Emma blushed and covered her face with her hands again.
"I just mean I wouldn't want to have anyone else's baby and since we're both women I thought our only choice would be to adopt and-" she winced. "Not that I have anything against that, adopting is great and I'm so thankful you adopted Henry-"
"Emma."
Emma peeked out from between her fingers to find Regina staring intently at her. To her relief, she didn't look angry or upset. In fact, she almost looked amused.
"I'm not suggesting anything right now," Regina said firmly, holding up her hands to halt Emma's frenzied thoughts. "But… just so you are aware, there is magic that allows two women to procreate. I'm simply saying that you have options."
"Oh."
They stared at each other, neither knowing what to say next. As if she could see the gears turning in Emma's head, Regina's brows knit together.
"Like I said, I was just informing you," she murmured, lines of concern etching themselves into her face. "I'm not… I'm not suggesting anything. Especially not for the immediate future."
Emma held up her hands to placate the other woman. "I know. I appreciate it. I just… It's nice to know." She smiled. Then, with relief and gratitude and a multitude of other emotions laced into her voice, she said, more softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome…"
"Moms!" Henry's voice calling out from the top of the staircase had both women jumping in surprise. Emma clutched her red jacket and Regina's jaw worked side to side.
"Yes, Henry?" They both called back at the same time.
Henry thumped his way down the staircase, a worried look on his face. "Look out the window."
Emma jumped up first, moving towards the nearest window with Regina close behind her. They pushed the curtains aside and peered out to find some sort of dark, smokey mist hanging low in the streets of Mifflin. It was almost like a heavy fog, except black.
"How long has that been there?" Emma asked, startled.
"Henry, go up to your room," said Regina, her voice terse.
"But mom-"
"Henry, go!"
Still he lingered, wringing his hands together in concern. Emma shot him a reassuring smile.
"Listen to your mom, kid. We'll handle this. Can you call your grandparents for us and let them know what's going on?"
At that, he nodded his head. "Be careful."
"We will."
Despite all they'd been through together, he was still just thirteen, and he hurtled himself at his mothers for a tight embrace, his head buried between both their shoulders.
"Go on," Emma coaxed, gently ruffling his hair as Regina kissed his temple. With one last longing glance, he disappeared up the staircase. Regina turned towards the window and narrowed her eyes as Emma subconsciously pat her thigh, realizing that she'd left her gun at home last night. Not that it was likely going to help in this situation.
"That's new," she muttered, watching the black fog drift slowly back and forth. It didn't seem to really be moving anywhere - rather it was floating just in front of the house.
"We might have captured two, but it looks like the others are still getting stronger. It's taken on a different form."
"But we can still suck it into Pandora's box, right?"
"Here's hoping."
Regina turned to the coffee table, snatched up the box, and headed for the door. Emma pulled on her jacket and followed closely, catching the brunette's hand in hers and setting her free hand on the handle of the front door.
"Ready?"
"As ready as we'll ever be."
Emma smiled at the use of 'we' and turned the knob. They stepped out in tandem, pulling the door shut behind them and moving out to the edge of the porch. Regina's hand tightened on hers as the box gave a click, vortex blasting into existence.
The black fog moved, responding to the pull of the vortex yet resisting getting sucked into oblivion. A shiver ran up Emma's spine at the way it shifted like a mass of black particles, drifting through the air yet holding together as if it were almost solid. Standing outside also made her realize how cold it had gotten. The only thing keeping them warm was the buzz of magic flowing back and forth through their bodies.
"Regina," Emma called over the howling of the vortex, giving the brunette's hand another squeeze. Concern colored her voice. "I don't think it's working!"
Regina shook her head. "Let's get closer!"
With their hair whipping about their faces, they held to each other tighter and began inching their way down the path and closer to the street. Despite closing the distance, the fog just drifted back, swirling against the vortex but not actually getting pulled into the box. Emma's skin was crawling at the way the fog parted for them, drifting around them.
"Regina," she shouted again, now actually pulling at the mayor to step back. As Regina moved to follow, the fog closed in on them.
A shout of alarm left Emma's lips as she instinctively threw her other arm around Regina, trying to shield her with her body. Pandora's box snapped shut and the vortex died immediately, leaving them exposed as the smokey black fog engulfed them. Her first instinct was to hold her breath, scared to breathe the stuff in, but her thoughts were immediately scattered at the sound of Regina gasping for air.
"Regina!" she cried out, hugging her closer. Despite feeling the brunette's body against hers, she couldn't see a thing. The fog clouded around them so thickly that she actually felt blind. Gripping Regina around the waist, she started stumbling. It didn't matter what direction. They just needed to get out of the fog.
"Emma," Regina managed between coughs and gasps, her hands clawing at Emma's jacket. The blonde kept pulling her along, desperate and feeling helpless. If she knew how to teleport them with magic she would have, but the only one who knew that trick was quickly falling limp in her arms.
"Hold on!"
Her face collided with what felt like tall hedges. Emma stumbled against the damn shrubbery and moved along it, trying to feel for the iron gate that led back to the house. Desperation mixed with fear and anger had her summoning up her magic, trying to imagine pushing the darkness away despite not knowing what the hell she was doing.
A single flash of light burst from within her.
Suddenly the fog was gone, slithering away from them with an audible hiss.
Emma caught Regina under the arms as the woman slumped weakly against her, lowering her to the ground so she could turn her over and check her.
"Regina! Stay with me!" she called, fear in her voice as the brunette seemed to drift in and out of consciousness.
"I… I'm here," Regina mumbled, looking tired and disoriented. She focused her eyes on Emma's face and relaxed ever so slightly before her gaze drifted past her, down the sidewalk. "Emma," she hissed in warning, a look of - fear? - appearing on her face.
Emma looked up and her body froze. Eyes wide and mouth agape, she could only stare in shock. She was looking at a second Regina- no, the Evil Queen, black corset dress and all, standing amidst the thick black fog like a demon emerging from the gates of hell. She smiled at them, her blood red lips a cruel slash of crimson across that perfect face, and Emma felt her blood run cold. Regina's hands gripped her jacket tighter than ever.
"What…" Her voice died on her lips as the Evil Queen met her gaze directly, with eyes so black that Emma felt like she would drown in them, choking and gasping for dear life. Something warm grabbed her hand and squeezed, pulling magic from within her.
As the Evil Queen thrust out her arms with an attack, Regina threw up a protection spell around them. Black fog collided against their yellow tinted barrier hard enough that they were actually rattled in place as if hit by an earthquake. Emma braced herself with Regina leaning against her chest for support, her head ducked as the fog enclosed their bubble-like shield, surrounding them in darkness once again.
"Help me push back," Regina said. Emma nodded once, then, with their hands still linked, she reached deep within herself for that extra reserve of magic and dredged it to the surface, envisioning an outward explosion of light. Regina focused their combined power, held it back just a moment, then released it all at once.
The darkness around them was expelled, replaced by a blast of white light that chased the fog back towards the Evil Queen. She winced away as the light touched her, but then shrugged it off with a sneer. Emma put an arm around Regina's waist again and helped them both to their feet.
"How is she here?" Emma questioned nervously, keeping a firm grip on Regina as if to prove to herself that there were, indeed, two of them, and she wasn't just going crazy.
"I don't know," came the tense reply. Then Regina, her Regina, curled her lip in a snarl. "But there's only room for one of me in Storybrooke."
She moved out of Emma's arms and flung a fireball with the speed and ferocity of someone aiming to kill. The Evil Queen had been anticipating this, however, and sidestepped the attack with a smirk. If Emma had been wondering whether the demon had Regina's voice, she didn't have to wonder long. A low, wicked laugh escaped the Queen's throat, sounding far too much like Regina for either of their liking, and with a flourishing wave of her hand, the black smoke coiled around her and she disappeared.
Regina stood rigid, her shoulders heaving with each breath, glaring at the spot her clone had been standing in moments before. Emma felt herself sagging in place, just relieved that there wasn't any more fog in sight.
"Hey," she said, gently touching the brunette's shoulder. Regina tensed momentarily before wilting under her touch, almost stumbling back against Emma's chest, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. Whatever the demon had done, it had clearly taken its toll. Emma held her up, supportive and more than a little protective. "I've got you."
Before the brunette could argue, she'd carefully lifted the woman into her arms, bridal style, and started back towards the house. It was the screech of tires on the street that had her hurrying for the door, hackles raised, as if she was afraid of getting attacked from behind.
"Emma!" David's warm, familiar voice called out.
"Oh my god," she breathed out, turning to look at her father, relief flooding through her. "Dad! Help me inside."
He ran to get the door, Mary Margaret close behind with Neal in her arms. Her mother looked to be herself again, other than the concern etched into her features.
"Regina!" Mary Margaret cried out. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine," Emma said, more to reassure herself than anything, hurrying inside to lay Regina on the couch. "A demon attacked us. I don't know what it did to her, but-"
"Emma," Regina interrupted, a pinched look on her face. "Pandora's box."
But Emma, not daring to leave Regina's side for even a moment, clutched the brunette's hand within hers and looked up pleadingly at her father. "Dad, we dropped Pandora's box outside, can you grab it?"
David nodded and hurried out. Mary Margaret placed Neal securely in a padded armchair and then dropped to her knees next to Emma by the couch. Footsteps thundering down the staircase heralded Henry, nearly knocking into the couch in his haste to get to his downed mother.
"Mom!" He dropped to the floor on Emma's other side, nearly in tears. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Henry," Regina promised, managing a weak smile. "Just… drained. Need… rest."
"What can I do?" Emma asked, her voice wavering. She would do anything to help, give anything to help.
"Barrier," said Regina, closing her eyes to combat the dizziness. "Protection spell… around the house. They'll be back."
Emma nodded, giving Henry's shoulder a squeeze, knowing he would stay with her, and then turning to her mother. "Stay with them," she pleaded.
"I will. Go, be careful," said Mary Margaret, touching Emma's cheek. The Sheriff jumped to her feet and hurried to the door at the same time her father returned with Pandora's box in his hands and a disturbed look on his face.
"I saw something outside," he said, voice tight. "I think they want the box."
Emma nodded wordlessly and stepped out onto the porch, taking in a deep breath and calling up her inner magic once more. Gold had once taught her how to cast a protective barrier, saying that she had to feel it, feel the desire of wanting to protect something or something. Regina's face appeared in her mind's eye and she focused on that.
She would not let the demons harm Regina Mills again.
Magic pulsed within her and she pushed it outwards, imagining a big, impenetrable barrier surrounding the house. David stood just behind her and made a sound of surprise as the barrier took form, glimmering with a warm yellow-pink light. It cast a tingling sensation of warmth over them, only then making him realize how unusually cold it had been moments earlier.
"Will that keep them out?" he asked, tentatively.
"For now," Emma breathed, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know for how long, though. They clearly want the box, and for whatever reason, they wanted Regina too."
"At least they didn't get her," he replied.
"I don't know about that…" Emma grimaced, remembering the way the Evil Queen had smiled at her, wild and dangerous. "One of the demons took Regina's form. It looked like the Evil Queen."
"Is that why Regina's-?" he didn't finish the question, motioning a hand in the direction of the living room. Emma nodded, unable to meet his eyes.
"The black fog, it grabbed us, and Regina started choking and I couldn't do anything. She was dying in my arms, Dad, and I couldn't-" Her voice hitched and her father instinctively put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, you did everything you could. Regina's still alive, and now we're here to help you." Making up his mind, David nodded to himself and started gently pulling her towards the living room, pushing Pandora's box into her hands. "You take care of her. I'm going to go get backup. The demons want a fight, we'll give 'em one."
"But you said you saw them outside!"
"They're after the box, not me. I'll be fine." He pushed her towards the couch, then quickly relayed his plan to the others. Mary Margaret stood.
"I'm coming with you."
"But Neal-"
"I'll watch over Neal," said Henry, a look of grim determination in his eyes. "You guys find help. We have to stop those demons, no matter what."
"Mom, dad," said Emma, her voice suddenly small. Her parents pulled her to them for a quick hug, squeezing her tightly.
"We'll be back as soon as possible," they promised, and then they were gone.
"Henry?" Emma looked to him, lost. Somehow, her thirteen year old son looked a lot older and braver than he had before.
"Mom needs rest. Can you bring her up to her room?"
"Yeah, but…"
"I've got Neal. Just take care of her, okay?" He glanced to the couch where Regina was clearly struggling to stay conscious, then back up to his birth mother. "She needs you."
"Okay… Shout if anything happens or if anyone comes back."
He promised he would, so she lifted Regina back into her arms and carefully took her up the staircase and down the hall to the master bedroom. She'd never been into Regina's room before, but hardly even noticed her surroundings as she set the brunette down in the bed and gingerly removed her high heels. Her trembling hands went unnoticed until she was tucking the blankets in under Regina's chin.
"Emma," Regina murmured, lifting a hand to grab one of the blonde's shaking hands. "I'm okay. Really."
"You don't look okay," Emma whispered back, her expression crumbling as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I couldn't even protect you out there."
"If not for you, I'd be dead."
"Regina…"
"Lie down," the brunette said, her husky voice soft. "Stay with me."
Emma stared at her, tears prickling the corners of her eyes as she worried at her lower lip, half wishing the older woman would just yell at her for screwing up again. Instead, Regina looked at her with such a pleading, trusting expression that she almost wanted to cry. She needed to be out there, doing something to make up for her failure.
"Emma," Regina said again, giving her hand a tug. "Please."
Unable to deny her anything, Emma reluctantly kicked off her boots, put her jacket and Pandora's box aside, and slid under the covers, giving Regina's hand a squeeze. The brunette sluggishly rolled herself over and settled back against Emma's chest, nestling herself in until Emma finally put her arms around her and spooned her like an intimate lover.
"I'm sorry," Emma whispered against dark hair, her voice choked with emotion. Regina's arms tightened briefly around hers.
"Don't be," she whispered back, her voice slurring ever so slightly as sleep beckoned her. "You saved me, Emma..."
Exhaustion claimed the Queen moments later, relaxing into a deep sleep now that she was nestled into safe arms. Her White Knight lay still, keeping watch over her the whole time.
