A/N: Hello everyone!

I'm here with Chapter 10 of "The Beauty of the Beast" tonight. It's close to 4 am in the morning here in Germany, but since I started writing this story I haven't managed to go to bed earlier.

I'm a little proud that I managed to update 10 days in a row because it's not always easy with real life and everything, but whatever. I did it. And I'll keep doing just that. Updating on a daily basis I mean. At least I try to.

I like to look at this Chapter as the first milestone in a long story...because honestly...I don't know where this is going or how many chapters this story will have in the end. All I can say is that it won't be over anytime soon.

I want to say 'THANK YOU' again...for the reviews, to all the readers.

And to all the Evil Regals and SwanQueen shippers out there - who have shown me nothing, but love since day 1.

I'm overwhelmed. I really am.

I also want to take this as a chance to say 'thanks' to my lovely friend MG (as in MarlboroGirl1) although she keeps me from writing quite often - by posting all of these distracting SwanQueen pics, but I couldn't possibly blame her for that. She simply is such a great soul and I'm glad that I know her. Life wouldn't be the same without her.

And 'thanks' to my sweet friend Agata - I already told you I'm writing this story for her. She's the cutest and I'm glad she brought me here and made me watch "Once upon a time" in the first place.

And 'Thanks' to my amazing friend Fran, who helped me out with a lot of information...and helped me understand the concept of OUAT and SwanQueen stuff, when I had not the slightest idea. Thanks to her patience I'm here today. As I said...amazing friend :)

Enough of my rambling...here comes Chapter 10.

I hope you'll like it...

Much love, raven

Ps.: I know I'm testing your patience, so please...just hold on a little while longer...it will pay off in the end. I promise.

The Beauty of the Beast

Chapter 10

David had taken Henry to the diner because Emma had insisted on having a "mother –daughter" talk, but the truth was the she did not want her son to hear anything about what was going on.

And on the other side she did not want her father to find out either because he would never allow, would never approve of the plan her and Gold had come up with.

But she needed Mary Margaret's help – or should she say Snow White's?

It had taken Emma a while to explain the whole situation to her mother, but once Mary Margaret had realized what was going on, she looked at her daughter in disbelief.

"So, it's Cora…who's behind it all…and Regina…"

"We don't know about that. We don't know what role Regina is playing in this game…or if she is playing at all", Emma started, but just earned a death glare from the other woman.

"If you would know her as long as I know her…you wouldn't even try to defend her", Mary Margaret snorted.

"Well, but I don't…so, for what it's worth…I'll give her the benefit of the doubt", the blonde replied fiercely.

"Whatever…so, what do you want me to do?"

"I've heard some rumors that you…well…that you can handle a bow…Gold is looking for it at the moment…together with some arrows. I just need you to distract Cora for a second…that's all. Maybe you could hit her in the shoulder or something", Emma explained, sounding as if she would be in "sheriff mode".

"Oh…I miss this part of my past sometimes…but wait…what? You want me to 'distract' Cora? What for?" Mary Margaret had become suspicious that her daughter was hiding some big detail from her.

"Please, don't ask me questions. Because I don't want to lie to you…you have to trust me on this. I know what I'm doing", Emma looked at the woman sitting right next to her with pleading eyes.

No way in hell she would tell her mother what this was really about.

"Emma…I…I don't understand. How am I supposed to know when…when will be the right moment to 'distract' her…as you put it…will there be some sign or something?" the worry in Mary Margaret's voice was unmistakable and it weighed heavy on her daughter's heart.

"You'll know when the time will be right…I trust you on that…m-mo.." but before the blonde could actually say it her phone had started buzzing in her pocket.

The second she pulled it out and took a glimpse at the display her face fell.

That was impossible. Everything was going way too fast.

Gold was calling her. And that could only mean one thing.

Cora was already there.

Shit!

"We need to go…it's time", the blonde tried to focus, but there were too many thoughts racing through her head.

"What? You mean like…right now? I haven't practiced a single shot in…a long time. I didn't even hold a bow in my hand…" Mary Margaret obviously was not ready, but neither was Emma.

They had to get going anyway and that's why the blonde jumped up and pulled her mother with her, grabbing her father's sword on the way out.

Gold was lying on the street, right in front of his shop, by the time Emma and Mary Margaret managed to sneak up to the scene.

Cora had him pinned to the ground and it looked as if he was trying to talk Regina's mother into some sort of a deal because he smiled sheepishly.

So far, so good.

"Try to find the bow and the arrows…they have to be in his shop", Emma announced quickly, "And try not to get caught."

"I'm not leaving you here…all by yourself", Mary Margaret started to argue.

"Now listen to me, mom. I need you to do this…because I need your help. And we'll need whatever help we can get…so please…"

"You actually called me mom", Emma's mother beamed.

"And if you want to hear it another time…you better get going or neither of us will live long enough to say it…or hear it", the blonde answered, beyond serious.

"Got it. No matter what you have in mind...take care…because Cora is one hell of a dangerous woman…and I can't lose you again…" Mary Margaret said, her eyes tearing up, "I love you, Emma."

Once her mother was out of sight Emma tightened her grip on the sword and headed into Cora's direction when she heard Rumplestiltskin trying to trick the powerful woman, who was about to stab him.

He was trying to trick Cora, right? He wasn't serious about the deal he was offering, now was he? What if he had played Emma all along?

And for a moment the blonde allowed herself to follow that thought. Maybe all of this had been his great plan all the time…because he clearly was insane and greedy for more power.

But then the blonde shoved the thought aside, knowing full-well that she would never succeed in her mission if she would not stop thinking immediately.

"Hey you!" she yelled out in an attempt to get Cora's attention, but the second the furious woman glared at her Emma wished she had not put herself out in the open yet.

She was not ready for what was about to come, was not ready for that battle.

And before the blonde could have blinked she was already flying through the air, thrown by the dark powers of Regina's mother.

Emma's body was smashed against the ground hard, making it impossible for her to breathe for a few seconds, pain rushing through her whole body.

Her shoulder was burning like it was on fire, but the blonde knew it was because Cora's magic had hit here there.

What should she do? Emma felt as if she had screwed up already, but she had to get back on her feet and she knew it.

And that was exactly what she did.

She got herself back together and started into Cora's direction once again.

"Where's Regina?" Emma yelled this time, hoping that this would do the trick and it obviously did because Cora, who was holding the dagger in her hands, turned to face her, "Why would I know? I thought she left town…"

"She has. I just thought she would be with you", Emma countered quickly. She needed Cora to focus on her just a little while longer. Just long enough for Gold to get out the vial, to speak the curse, that would deprive Cora of her powers.

"Why would she be with me? What use would I have for her? She's weak…still hoping for a happy ending…quite stupid I'd say. I still don't understand why I got punished like this. I only had one child…who turned out be of no use at all."

The words were hard and cold and Emma had to gulp. This woman had raised Regina? No wonder the brunette had no idea what love was.

"So, she has nothing to do with this?" Emma asked. She simply had to know.

"Who? Regina? Don't be silly. She might not be happy here…but it's all she has. All she had. Until you showed up and took the last bit away from her anyway…but she wouldn't do anything to hurt her precious Henry…that bastard child...as I said. Weak. And stupid", Cora spit her words right at Emma, who was stepping closer, the sword in her right hand.

"You can't stop me", Regina's mother barked, but the blonde did not step back, "You can't stop me either."

That was when Cora threw another ball of dark magic against the blonde, but this time Emma shielded herself with her sword, hoping that it would protect her.

And it did.

The magic ricocheted right back to where it had come from and it hit Cora right in the chest causing the woman to scream horrified before she dropped to the ground.

"Gold…now!" Emma demanded, but the old man did not react.

What the hell was going on? He was not unconscious or anything and they probably had only a few seconds before Cora would be back on her feet, "Gold…do it…now!"

Nothing.

The blonde headed straight for the old man, grabbing the vial in his jacket quickly, "What do I have to do?"

"It's not working", he whispered, "It's not working."

"What?!" Emma was close to getting hysterical.

If they would not take Cora's powers away within a heartbeat they all would be doomed and before the blonde could have realized it Regina's cold hearted mother was already standing, "You are going to die…both of you."

Cora was raising her arm, the dagger in hand, ready to kill, when she got hit by an arrow. Right in the chest.

And it caused her to drop the dagger in shock, clutching her hand to her body, trying to get the arrow out of it, but she got hit by a second arrow just a few seconds later. This time it hit her right shoulder and Cora started to stagger.

Emma was in a state of shock herself, but then she heard Gold's voice, "You have to kill her. You have to chop off her head."

"What?" the blonde glared at him in disbelief and when she saw that wicked smile on the old man's face she realized that he had been playing her.

Killing Cora had been his plan from begin with. So what was she supposed to do?

But Regina's mother answered that question for her immediately when Emma saw the magic moving between Cora's hands like an upcoming thunderstorm.

There was no other way.

And as if Mary Margaret wanted to show her that it was okay another arrow hit Cora's chest, made the magic in her hands disappear for a moment.

It was the second Emma needed to jump.

And before she knew it the blade of Charming's sword met Cora's flesh.

Mary Margaret was holding her daughter tight because Emma seemed to be very upset.

Both women were standing on the street, looking down at the head of Cora. It was lying not far from the rest of her body, but the blonde could not believe what she had done.

What Gold had made her do.

She had killed Cora.

She had killed Regina's mother.

And although she had proven the brunette's innocence, Emma was aware of the fact that Regina might never forgive her.

She was not even sure if she would be able to forgive herself.

By the time Emma and Mary Margaret returned to the Charmings apartment David was pacing around furiously.

Henry had fallen asleep on the couch and that was practically the only thing that kept him from yelling once the two women entered the door.

But the second he saw the blood on his sword, the blood on Emma's clothes, he could not hold his temper back anymore, "Where the hell have you been? What were you thinking?!"

"Please, don't wake Henry. He's having a hard time even without seeing this", the blonde tried to calm her father down.

"Seriously? I don't care, Emma. I've been worried sick when we returned and you and Mary Margaret were gone…together with my sword. Tell me what happened?" he demanded.

"Let her change her clothes first. And I need to take a look at her shoulder…plus…you need to take the sword away before Henry sees it", Mary Margaret stepped between the two of them, "We'll have a decent conversation in a few minutes."

David wanted to argue, but Emma disappeared before he could get started and Mary Margaret grabbed him by the arm, looking him straight in the eyes, "Please…this is not easy for Emma."

"What happened?" he looked at her, his eyes showing how deeply worried he truly was.

"She killed Cora."

Mary Margaret had checked on her daughter a few minutes later and had recognized the burnt flesh on Emma's shoulder. Cora had hit her badly, but the blonde did not seem to mind.

It had taken her a while to convince Emma that the wound needed treatment, but once Mary Margaret had put some aseptic gauze on her daughter's shoulder she felt a bit calmer.

But Emma obviously did not.

"It was not your fault. She did not leave you with a choice, Emma."

"It doesn't matter. All I wanted to do was to prove Regina's innocence", the blonde answered and a sad smile appeared on her face, "Well, at least I managed to do that. But it doesn't matter anymore…because Regina will never forgive me. I killed her mother."

"Why does her opinion about you matter so much lately?" Mary Margaret did not understand why Emma was more upset about what the mayor would be thinking of her than about actually killing someone.

When Emma did not answer, she told her daughter that they had to go downstairs and talk to David.

And there was Henry, who needed to be tucked in properly as well.

Since her son had not woken up by the time they made it back into the living room, Emma filled David in on everything that had happened earlier and he shook his head in disbelief and disapproval, "I would have never allowed this. You could have gotten yourself killed. Both of you!"

"I know…I'm sorry. Gold tricked me. I really thought he would only take her powers away", Emma dropped her head in frustration.

"That's the one good thing about Cora's death. She can't harm anyone anymore", Mary Margaret announced quickly.

"But Regina will…now she will not only be after you, but she will come after Emma for this as well. She will seek revenge for her mother's death", David growled, watching his daughter.

"I know…" the desperation in Emma's voice was unmistakable, "I really screwed this up."

David carried Henry upstairs to put him into his bed, but of course the boy had opened his eyes on the way, "Is it over?"

Emma did not know what to say, but when she saw the nod Mary Margaret directed at her, she managed a simple "Yes, kid. It's over."

He jumped out of David's arms immediately, hugging Emma tight, "So mom can come back, right? When will she be here?"

David and Mary Margaret frowned at the thought of Regina's return, but Emma did not even notice.

"It will take a bit, kid. First of all we have to inform her that her innocence has been proven", Emma stated matter-of-factly.

"Well, call her then. Call her right now!"

Henry had been too excited to talk him out of this idea, so Emma had pulled her phone out of her pocket and had dialed the brunette's number.

A part of her hoped that Regina would not pick up, the other part of her prayed that she would go straight to voicemail because it would make everything easier. At least for now.

But then Emma's face fell.

The voice at the other end told her that this number was no longer available.

"How is she supposed to find out that she can come home now?" Henry looked at Emma expectantly.

"I don't know. But I'm sure she has her ways…she's the mayor after all", the blonde tried to sound convincing.

"I hope so…maybe she'll be back when I wake up…"

"Maybe."

Emma had not dared to look at her son because she could not bear to see the hope shining in his eyes.

Because somehow Emma had a feeling that her son's hope might be taken away from him soon.

And Emma should be proven correct.

Three days had gone by since she had killed Cora, but no sign from Regina.

All the blonde had gotten were the worst nightmares of her life.

And she had bad ones before.

She was about to go to bed when Henry showed up, looking more heartbroken than ever, tears shining in his sad eyes. "What if mom found a place she likes better than Storybrooke? What if she doesn't want to come back anymore?"