Hiding In The Dark
A/N: So we've reached chapter ten already! What?! This story has so much more to go and I thank you all for your support! Please keep the reviews coming, they give me the motivation to actually get these written for you lovely people XD
Chapter 10- Forever Together
"We believe Rumpelstiltskin is in possession of both Henry and Baelfire, both of whom will be being kept there by force, given what we know about the pair of them." Regina said loudly, addressing the small group of vampires, including Graham and Ruby. "However, Rumpelstiltskin is crafty, and we cannot take him down without help from another."
"Who?" Piped up someone from the crowd.
"Don't interrupt." Emma snapped, looking for the speaker. Regina placed a soft hand on her arm, soothing the overly tense woman. Since finding Ruby and coming up with the theory on Rumple, Emma had been itching to get going but Regina had wished to inform every one of the plan before running head first into the storm. While it was the right thing to do, Emma's patients had become none existent from all the waiting.
"We shall be travelling across state to seek the help of my sister, Zelena, who has a history with the imp. I believe her knowledge will be able to aid us in how to defeat Rumple and return our son safely home." Regina continued calmly, surveying the group as they nodded along with her. Emma tensed at the mention of "home". Would Henry come to live with them now? Was she going to stay with Regina? Questions bubbled around Emma's mind, but no time was available for the answers. "Are there any questions?"
"How do you know Zelena will aid you?" Regina smirked at the question.
"While my relationship with my sister is… uneasy, when it comes to family, she can be softened up." Emma scoffed, receiving a glare from Regina. "We shall be leaving shortly."
The group disbanded, breaking off into smaller groups to discuss the new plan. Ruby approached Emma and placed a warm hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked softy.
"Never better." Emma replied shakily, eyes darting over to Regina who was conversing with a tense looking Robin.
"It's going to be okay, we're going to get Henry and Bae back, and everything will go back to normal. If things work out okay, you and Regina could share custody of Henry or something." Ruby suggested kindly, and Emma nodded along. She wasn't sure what she wanted from this other than Henry back. What would happen when they got him back? She looked over at Regina once more. She loved Henry, there was no denying it. She had done for all these years, but had never gotten a chance to be with her son, or even see him. But as things turned out, Emma barley got to be with him either. That would change, no matter what happened with Regina, the three of them would be a family… somehow. Despite herself, the idea of leaving Regina again was proving to be harder than before, she did not want to go back to the endless suffering of a broken heart, here, if given a chance, it could be fixed. Together they could fix it.
Regina turned to look at Emma, clearly picking up on the cascade of emotions crashing through her. She glided over to her, shooting Ruby a look before turning her attention fully to Emma. Ruby grumpily back off.
"Everything's going to be okay darling, you'll see." She mumbled gently, dipping her head down so that her lips brushed Emma's ear. The blonde shivered as her breath ghosted over her skin.
"I hope so." Was all she could reply, eyes still darting nervously around her. Regina reached up and turned Emma's chin towards her.
"I vow to you, Emma Swan, that I will do everything in my power to bring back our son." Regina said seriously, brushing the pad of her thumb across pale skin. Emma smiled weakly, leaning forward to rest her forehead against Regina's.
"I know." She whispered, fully aware of the eyes on them.
"Let's go get our son back."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma almost collapsed when her feet touched the ground once more. She and Regina had combined their magic to transport the group across the state, greatly draining Emma, whose magic was yet to be as strong as Regina's. Graham caught Emma as she swayed violently to the side. She gripped his arm for support, blinking away the white spots in her eyes.
"I'm good, thank you." She hoarsely, patting his arm. He nodded and let her go; leaving his hands to hover around her should she fall suddenly. A few moments passed before Emma straightened up once more, shaking off her body.
"Are you alright?" Regina asked softly. Emerald eyes spotted her several meters away, watching with concern.
"Just a little drained, I'll be fine." Emma assured, walking over to her.
"Is everyone still together?" The queen asked, turning to look at the group of disorientated vampires. It was clear, teleportation wasn't for the weak stomached. There were several murmured "yes's" that satisfied the queen. She turned back to talk to Emma.
"Where are we?" Emma asked, her stomach dropping at the familiar hills around her.
"You know where." Regina replied simply, following Emma's gaze.
"Why would Zelena come back here?" The blonde mumbled, more to herself than Regina.
"She wanted to come home." There was sadness laced into Regina's silky voice, but she quickly brushed it off. "We should get going."
The group set off through the thick forest towards the large town on the other side. Emma had not returned home in several years, and her stomach clenched painfully every time she recognised something. Now a days the forest was barley used, children lived on computers games and gadgets, their interests spanning far from the thick trees and muddy paths. However for Emma the forest had made up her childhood.
She wandered at the back of the group, admiring the various landmarks as they went. Regina was at the front, leading them safely towards Zelena's home, avoiding going near the human town. Emma knew how badly the queen wished to see it, but overtime, the small village had grown bigger, and so had their hate for vampires and Ulunn alike.
Emma stopped dead as they turned onto a familiar forked path. The group continued on, taking a right, while the blonde stared down the left. While she had been back two or three times since Regina left the estate, Emma had not returned to see it since.
She looked back at the group, who had yet to notice her absence. Quickly, Emma darted down the other path, letting her advanced speed carry her effortlessly towards the estate. She had not seen the estate in ninety nine years, and yearned for it to be untouched.
Emerging from the trees, Emma stopped as her eyes fell on the mansion before her. A sad smile crossed her face as emerald eyes took in the place she once called home. It was exactly the same as they had left it nearly century ago. However, they had not left it standing.
Emma looked on at the once beautifully mansion, that now barley stood. The walls were broken down and burnt, the three story building just about reduced to one. Windows were cracked or entirely smashed, blackened by soot and ash. A great crater stood in its centre, a reminder of what caused the destruction.
The princess let her feet zip towards the house, and in seconds she stood in the centre of the crater, looking around her. The grand staircase only had four or five steps remaining, the banisters blown to splinters. She walked silently through the wreckage, unshed tears brimming in her eyes.
Her foot landed on something soft. Stepping back Emma gasped softly as her eyes fell on a tattered painting. Half of it was missing, reducing the original three members of the painting to one. Emma knelt down a shakily picked it up.
The painted once depicted herself, Regina and their daughter. Only a portion of Emma's body remained, while Regina had been completely burnt away. Pale fingers traced over the youthful smiling face, tears finally falling to join the ash upon the painting.
She was so immersed by the painting; Emma did not notice the silent figure coming to stand next to her. Their own sad eyes falling on the painting.
"Shame that burnt, we posed for felt like a decade for that." Regina mumbled beside her and Emma couldn't help the laugh the slipped past her lips. She let the painting fall back down to the ground as her eyes continued to roam the area around her. Regina did the same, neither talking as they took in the destruction.
Several minutes passed before Regina spoke again.
"I think about when this happened nearly every day." She mumbled. "I missed her dearly."
"As do I." Emma whispered. She didn't need to look to see what Regina stared at. The spot where she had died, the same day their home had fallen apart, as well as their lives.
"Madeleine would be proud of you." Regina said softly.
"If she were here she would have told you off for calling her that." Emma mumbled, still not looking at Regina, who smiled slightly.
"I'd do anything to have her back; I'd even stop calling her Madeleine." Regina's voice was barely above a whisper, but Emma heard her clearly.
"If only." She said, before walking away, stepping over the rubble and burnt wooden beams.
"Emma wait." Regina called, following her. "Can we talk abo-"
"Please don't" Emma croaked back, tears falling freely now. Regina opened her mouth to argue but slowly closed it, dipping her head down, her own tears threatening to fall. "I can't take it."
"I understand."
"We should get back, we haven't got time to waste, I shouldn't have come here." Emma tried to sound stern and confident, but the quiver in her voice betrayed her.
"You needed it darling. It's been nearly a hundred years."
"I have an eternity, I can return whenever, but not now." She didn't wait for a reply and sped off into the woods in the search of the group Regina had no doubt abandoned to follow her. Emma didn't get to hear the great cry that left Regina's lips.
No one ever truly saw her pain.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I didn't take long for the reunited group to reach Zelena's home. It was a large house, one that had been built not twenty years after Emma's turning, and stood on the outskirts of town. The princess tried her up most best not to look at the farm the still remained not far the house. Though under a new name and new management, it still looked the same. Emma's heart cried out painfully within her as she looked upon the field and house. If she thought back hard enough, she still saw her mother and father on the porch, while she and Neal played with the dogs in the garden.
Regina stood next to her, understanding what she felt. An olive hand slipped into her own, squeezing gently before guiding her away and towards Zelena's home.
They were greeted by a bored looking vampire, who, though faced with the queen, still rudely welcomed them into the house. Emma practically dragged Regina away from snapping his neck there and then.
"Of course her staff have no respect for me." Regina growled as they walked through the house.
"They mirror their mistress." Emma smirked and Regina rolled her eyes, an amused look on her face.
Regina led the group through large double doors, which she easily threw open. They strode into a large room, with a huge table within it. At the head sat an amber haired woman, with piercing blue eyes and a mocking smile on her face. She barely seemed to contain her excitement as Regina marched in, her hand still firmly clasping Emma's.
Zelena waved away the various vampires around her, who all looked very shocked to see the queen, some even scared. She slowly stood, grinning at Regina who merely smirked back.
"Sister dear." She greeted her eyes raking over the other as well. "And her cheery followers of darkness."
"Zelena." Regina tipped her head towards her sister who seemed repulsed by the followers.
"What on earth are they wearing?" She asked disdainfully.
"Told you they look stupid." Emma snickered but winced when Regina squeezed her hand hard.
"Why Emma Swan, everyone's favourite knight in shining armour." Zelena chirped, looking over Emma. "Tell me, how's hiding from the Queen going?"
"Spectacular." Emma grumbled.
"You should try camouflage, perhaps start by losing the red leather?" Emma looked down at the leather jacket encasing her body before scowling at a smirking Zelena.
"Perhaps I'll try what you did and run off with the devil, seems no one managed to find you that way." Zelena grinned evilly.
"As much fun as the underworld is, I find it far easier to pray on the living rather than those who aren't. Besides, me being here gets Hades out of the house more."
"Yes, you're married to the devil but may we move on from this topic, as new as it may be and get on to more pressing matters?" Regina said tightly, glaring at Emma to stop talking.
"You mean you didn't come all this way here to see me for the fun? Shocking." She said mockingly, making Regina growl.
"No, but being here means we can leave you with this." Regina gestured to Robin, who was hiding at the back of the group. Zelena looked at him, her facing twisting in disgust.
"Ew." Was all said before turning back to Regina.
"Why do you make them, and then throw them away?" Emma asked, perplexed. Zelena merely shrugged.
"I thought he might have use… I was wrong."
"He makes a good punching bag." Emma chirped and Zelena looked delighted.
"Well a happy ending then!" She clapped her hands sarcastically. Regina rolled her eyes before turning to the group.
"All of you leave, except the wolves." She commanded, and everyone quickly left, leaving Ruby and Graham to awkwardly stand there. Zelena sank back into her chair, looking expectantly at Regina.
"So, what's going on?" She asked, crossing her arms and waiting.
"Rumpelstiltskin has stolen our son." Regina said bluntly, before hesitating slightly. "We think." Zelena's eyebrows practically flew off her face at the speed they went up. She looked between Emma and Regina, utterly shocked. Quickly schooling her features, Zelena leant forward, eyes closing momentarily as she processed what Regina had said.
"Son?"
"It happens when two people have a special hug." Emma sassed but shut up when a hand clamped over her mouth. Regina huffed at her before looking back at Zelena who arched an eyebrow.
"It's a long story, one I will be happy to share later, but right now we don't have much time. If we are right, Henry's life is in serious danger."
"That's obvious." Zelena agreed. "Rumple doesn't just kidnap people for the fun; everything he does is for a reason. He wants something from you."
"That much we figured." Regina grumbled. Emma let out a noise through the queen's hand and was granted the chance to speak.
"But what?!" She demanded. "What can you give him?"
"Nothing that will benefit anyone if it's in his hands." Regina muttered. "We need to know what you know of him to help us crack whatever plan he has so we can save Henry."
"You're the queen, despite how we feel about it, vampire race in this country have to follow you. With that kind of influence you could take other, oh! The humans." Regina gasped softly, a dark look crossing her face. Emma looked between them confused.
"She's tried that before." Emma snipped.
"I know, Regina's hate for the humans is deep, but Rumple's runs far deeper. Regina had you to hold her back from fulfilling that desire; however he has nothing and no one to stop him." Regina glanced at Emma who shook her head.
"He wouldn't, as much as I hate it, humans are our food source, we would die without them." Emma pointed out but Regina shook her head grimly.
"I don't think he wishes to kill them, merely control them." Zelena explained. "Humans remain the superior race, but if overthrown, they would be nothing but food in the wild, easy picking."
"It would either be turned or die." Regina said.
"We can't let that happen." Ruby burst out suddenly. "I know you guys don't love the humans, but they aren't all bad, just like not all vampires are bad. There can be peace."
"Ruby's right." Emma agreed but the sisters looked unconvinced.
"We can continue this tomorrow. If we're right, and Henry is a chess piece in this plan, then he will be safe, for now." Zelena suggested, locking eyes with Regina who nodded.
"She's right, Rumple will need Henry alive, we needn't hurry this and go in blind." Emma looked between the two women, angrily opening and closing her mouth.
"But why wai-"
"Emma I said no." Regina said firmly, the softness of her voice dropped. Emma scowled at her before storming from the room, hurling the doors open so they crashed into and dented the wall. Regina watched her go, torn between going after her and giving her space.
"Well look at that, you're actually considering what she wants instead of what you want for once, now that really is new." Zelena laughed.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma burst out of the house, crashing past the man who had let them in, causing him to fly several meters away. Emma sped from the house, rushing easily down the hill and back into the forest. She didn't know where she was going, but her feet clearly did. After sometime she stopped, unsure of where she was.
She stood on a lit path, a good mile from Zelena's home. A sign pointed in the direction of the town, the letters peeling off. Emma couldn't help but wander down the path, the sound of life drawing her closer.
The trees thinned out, revealing a road leading back into town. Several cars were parked here, overlooking the town. Emma could see more than one young couple in the cars. Clearly this was the new spot for your young people to couple at.
Emma smiled to herself; remember the hot spot for the youth of her village when she was young. Unlike how it was now, the village had been far to level for people to sit up high and look lovingly over it. However, should people be brave enough to climb it, the hills overlooking the town had several fresh springs and waterfalls that had attracted many people in Emma's time. She herself had ventured up there with several girls in tow.
She almost laughed out loud at the memory of trying to get Regina up there. They had only just started dating, and it was then that Emma learned Regina didn't do the outdoors.
"I do not climb rocks Emma Nolan, I am a lady!" Emma grinned to herself at the irony of Regina's statement. However lady like Regina was, the title was stripped from her when Emma had taken her several in the grass of their special spot.
Emma's heart jolted at the thought of the place, and quickly turned on her heel, rushing back into the forest. Within a few minutes she was bursting through the trees, tripping in her haste to arrive. She groaned into the ground, hands fisting the grass as she forced herself onto her knees, breath being taken away at the sight once more.
It was almost exactly the same. The pool of water glistened in the moonlight, gently lapping at the edge of the rocks as the soft breeze in the air moved it along. The trees still stood proudly around her, circling the clearing and hiding it from view. The grass was longer than before, cushioning her knees as they sat planted in the earth. A faint glow emanated from the grass and Emma bent down to peer at the source. She grinned at the sight of fireflies lurking in the long grass, almost like little night lights.
The clearing signified so many moments in Emma life. It was where she would come to escape the world when it became too much. It was where she had first touched Regina, and had seen the real her beneath the layers of expensive clothing. It was she had confessed her love for the queen, an eternal love.
This was where was turned.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma paced up and down nervously, a heavy sword in one hand and a map in the other. A large group of humans stood patiently behind her, all clutching their preferred weapons as they watched her intently.
After a great deal of planning, Emma and Baelfire had formulated a plan to take down the Ulunn and save their friends. It didn't prove to be easy, but determination and stubbornness for once were on Emma's side.
She continued to pace as she awaited the arrival of Baelfire, who had gone to retrieve reinforcements. It was shocking how human he remained after being a vampire for so very long. Emma wasn't entirely sure of his age; the subject had appeared to be a delicate one.
"They're here!" Someone yelled, and Emma whirled around to see Bae walking towards her, a crowd of vampires behind him. She frowned when she recognised another walking beside him.
"Regina?" She asked as the queen approached her and embraced her lovingly.
"Hello darling." She whispered into her hair. Emma pulled back, a puzzled look on her face.
"Why are you here?" She asked, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I heard Baelfire was searching for help, so I brought you aid." She explained as Bae appeared next to Regina, nodding in conformation.
"You're going to help us?" Emma asked in shock.
"I'm going to help you." The blonde merely smiled and leant up to kiss the queen, who immediately responded, kissing back with vigour.
"When you two are done, don't we have a battle to win?" Baelfire asked in an amused voice.
"It always helps to have love on the battlefield, or battle forest as it would seem." Emma grinned and he rolled his eyes as she turned back to the humans all still waiting for orders.
"People, the time is now to strike! Leave no Ulunn alive for today is the day we take back our lives!" A chorus of cheering followed her words as Emma turned back, looking at Regina expectantly. The queen turned to the vampires who lurked off to the side.
"Today we restore peace, do not let me down." She said shortly, before turning back to Emma.
"Inspiring." She muttered but Regina merely shrugged.
"May we live to see another day!" She yelled before charging straight towards the forest, the humans all yelling and chanting as they followed her at a run.
Hours passed and it was difficult to keep track of anything around her as Emma plunged her sword into another Ulunn. It fell to the floor in a heap, body twitching slightly before going limp. Humans rushed past her, screaming and yelling at the enemy as they crashed together, the sounds of swords and guns ringing out all around. She carried on running through, her eyes trained on a Ulunn sprinting away from the fight.
"Oh no you don't." She muttered, chasing after it. She kept up the chase for several minutes before finally catching up. She easily jumped upon the creature, stabbing it in the head before jumping off. The Ulunn twisted and groaned before slumping forward into the grass, it's blood staining the ground.
Emma pushed endless strands on blonde hair from her sweaty face, emerald eyes roaming around her. Bodies lay scattered everywhere, a combination of Ulunn, vampires and humans. Oddly, as she looked at all the death around her, she did not feel anything but guilt.
She stumbled away from the bodies, falling through a clump of trees and landing in a heap on the other side. She groaned at the odd angle she fell at, whining at a throb in her back. Determinedly, she crawled to her feet, gazing at the area around her.
She was in the clearing, her special place. Emma stumbled forward, plunging her hands into the water, desperately scrubbing at the blood upon them. This wasn't right, they shouldn't have done this. The blonde curled into herself at the edge of the pool, hands shaking.
"What have we done?" She muttered, regret overwhelming her.
A low growl at the edge of the trees stole her attention away and she whirled around to see a Ulunn climbing through the trees, blood trickling from his face and mouth, whether it was his own, Emma didn't know. She scurried back, eyes darting to the sword which lay by the Ulunn's foot. Panic over took her as it slowly came closer.
Emma stared up in shock at he came drew closer, his features becoming clearer.
"No…" She whispered, her heart breaking at the familiar face. "Neal?"
He growled at her, teeth bared and shoulders hunched, while his legs were tense, ready to pounce. He stalked closer, his eyes cloudy and unfocused.
"Neal, Neal! It's me Emma!" She tried desperately to say, but her words fell on deaf ears. He did not recognise her. Emma attempted to get to her feet but he pounced, pinning her down. He hovered over her, claw like nails rose up high to strike.
"Neal please it's me." She begged, reaching out to him.
"Die." He growled, his voice scratchy and rough, unlike the voice Emma knew.
She screamed when his hand came down, slashing through her chest, ripping open her skin. Endless screamed filled the air as he continued to attack, destroying her body. Pulling back, he opened his mouth, ready to strike. Emma closed her eyes, ready for what was coming.
No noise left her as his teeth sank into her neck, draining her of the little blood the remained. She didn't struggle; her body was paralyzed as he slowly killed her.
Suddenly, his body jerked away, flying into the air. Emerald eyes barely saw as someone impaled Neal through the chest, easily killing him.
"No." Was all she managed as he slumped to the floor, the cloudiness of his eyes gone as he stared at her, great sadness and regret swam in the pools as the life left him.
Regina collapsed next to Emma, pulling them together as Emma struggled to breathe, her body slowly shutting down.
"No no no, stay with Emma please." Regina pleaded, cradling her body. Emerald eyes blinked open, staring up at the sky above her. It was a clear night; the stars twinkled down at her.
"I see stars." She whispered, her throat dry. "I'm going to join them."
"NO! Emma no! Don't leave me." Regina cried, gripping her face so that their eyes would meet. Tears streamed down the queen's face at Emma's sad smile.
"It's not supposed to be this way; there shouldn't be so much death." Emma breathing was ragged now as her body jerked at the pain.
"Emma please don't let go."
"You're supposed to let me go… it's how it should be." Emma whispered, reaching out to touch Regina, wincing at the pain. "I love you."
"I love you too." Regina replied, her voice broken.
"Please, let me go." Emma mumbled, letting her eyes slip shut again.
"EMMA!" Regina cried, shaking her desperately. "No, no, I can't lose you."
Her body shook as she cradled the lifeless girl, clinging to the warmth that still radiated from her.
"I won't let you go, I'm sorry." The queen whispered, before lowering her head to the bite wound on Emma's neck, gently sinking her own teeth in.
The process was quick; barley took a few moments due to how little blood was left within the blonde. Regina easily drained her, before replacing Emma's blood with her own, rocking her gently back and forth as she did. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to hold her, knowing all she could do now was wait.
Rustling at the edge of the clearing alerted Regina to what was still going on around them. She held Emma closer as someone burst through the trees. Relief washed over her as the recognised the dirty but still handsome face of Baelfire.
"Regina?" He asked, scrambling forward, his eyes bulging at the sight before him. "Oh god."
"I had to." Regina muttered, tears still falling.
"Regina what have you done!?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma took a large gasp of air, banishing the memory from her mind. Emerald eyes found the spot where it has happened all those years ago. She believed, should someone dig deep enough, they would find the blood tainted earth she had died on.
The memory was one of the most vivid that she possessed, it often featured in her dreams. She had been ready to go, in that moment she had seen no good in the world or herself, she had not wanted to stay.
However, as time had gone on the world had changed greatly, and deep down good still existed, and could be found, if you look hard enough. Emma clung to this thought that good could prevail over the evil.
She crawled over to the pool, sitting down so that her feet brushed the surface of the pool, while emerald pools focused on faint marking upon one of the rocks. They had scratched their names into the rocks the day they found it, so they would know it was the same place.
"Emma?" A voice called out somewhere behind her. Emma wasn't surprised Regina had followed her.
"I'm here." She called back, but did not turn to see Regina enter the clearing. There was silence for a while as Regina looked around and took it in, clearly overwhelmed. Eventually, the queen came to sit next to Emma, looking down into the pool.
"You left me alone for like a whole twenty minutes, that must be a record." Emma acknowledged quietly but Regina didn't answer, her expression was far away. The blonde looked at her for a while, wondering if she was remembering the same things that she was.
"I wasn't sure if you'd come here or not." Regina eventually replied.
"I didn't plan too, but yet I did anyway." Emma sighed. "This place screws with me, all of it does. Seeing the estate, the farm and this place, it just brings back more than I can handle."
"I know." Regina said softly. "Are you remembering what happened here?"
"You'll need to be more specific, much has happened here." The blonde replied vaguely, dipping her boot into the water and kicking it away.
"Your… turning."
"Of course." Emma said bluntly, looking at Regina who pursed her lips, clearly thinking hard on something. The blonde tapped in on her feelings, hoping to get a sense of her thought pattern. It was always frustrating how good Regina was at hiding her emotions; even through their connection it was often hard to work them out.
"I don't regret it." She said finally, breaking the silence. Emma frowned in confusion.
"Turning you, despite the hate it caused you have at me, I do not regret my actions." Emma didn't reply, knowing Regina had more to say. "It was wrong of me to use you to get what I wanted, I know that. I let my desire for control and power over rule what you wanted and needed. Terrible things happened to your soul because I led you into darkness, and I don't believe they will ever heal, for that I am truly sorry. But I will never be sorry for saving your life, because, while it was selfish, I could not live without you, I will not live without you Emma."
Emma didn't know what to say. She sat in silence staring at Regina, mouth slightly agape. Her words were true; she wasn't lying in the slightest bit. And yet, even with the confession, Emma didn't feel angry, of anything she understood. The blonde sighed heavily, shifting closer to brunette, who's breath hitched in her throat.
"Sometimes bad thing have to happen to allow good things too." She said quietly.
"What?"
"Maddie and Henry, had you not turned me we would never have had our children, I never would have felt that unconditional love. While over the fifty or so years you and I were together, most of that was spent with me in darkness and you slowly losing yourself, those first twelve years, were some of the happiest of my life. I still had my parents, our daughter and you. I was happy, even as a vampire, I was still happy."
"And now?"
"I have the chance to do that again, to have a family with you. I didn't think I wanted to, at first I just wanted to get Henry and just run and as far as I could. But the longer I am here the harder it is becoming to want to leave you again. I honestly don't think I can leave you again." Emma's voice was soft; all of malice she had directed at Regina during so many of their conversations was completely gone.
"What are you saying?" Regina asked, edging even closer.
"We're nowhere near back to where we were, and it will take time and patients, but I know for once that I don't want to run, I want to stay with you."
"Emma." Regina breathed out; their faces were barley an inch apart now.
"I do love you."
Emma shot forward, closing the gap between them and letting their lips finally meet in the most passionate kiss they had ever shared.
A/N: This took me two bloody days to write but I am super happy with it! Please, please review and tell me what you thought, I need your reviews to live! What will happen next for Emma and Regina? And what is Rumple truly planning and will they stop him?! Follow for more! Till next time Kids.