Author's Note: I'm back with a new chapter and holy moly a lot is going on! Brace yourselves because things are starting to move forward! Reviews are always welcomed and I would love to hear what you have to say about this chapter. No Beta so all mistakes are mine.
"So are you ready to tell me where we're going?" Emma asks Regina while following her out of the car with the food containers on her hands. "I mean, should I be worried about you killing me in the woods?"
"Don't be silly Emma." the brunette scolds her lightly while getting a blanket from the trunk. "I know what you're trying to do and I won't tell you where we're going. I want it to be a surprise."
"I'm surprised already." the younger woman murmurs to herself.
"I heard that Emma Swan." Regina says calmly before pushing the blonde woman forward. "Now come on, we have just enough time to eat before my lunch break ends."
"Ok, ok, I'm coming." Emma promises while falling into step. "Is the place we're going far away?"
"Not at all." the older woman promises her. "In fact, we should be arriving soon."
"Well I hope so because something tells me that I'm not a person that enjoys long walks."
Regina laughs.
"Well that's not wrong." the brunette says happily. "You've always been kind of lazy now that I think about it."
"Ok, this must be some kind of unfair bullying because I don't remember things in order to defend myself." Emma pouts.
"Although you never liked long walks you loved to be outside." Regina tells her softly. "You once told me that it was because of the freedom you felt while doing so; that out here the sky was similar to us all and that comforted you."
"It comforted me to be like others?" the blonde asks confused. That didn't sound like her at all.
"It comforted you that the sky above you didn't judge you for who you were, that it had no expectations of you and that to it you could reveal your true self." the brunette woman clarifies with a warm smile. "It was what first made me realize that you were special."
"If I asked you a question." Emma says suddenly. "Would you answer it?"
Regina chuckles at the similarities of this moment.
"You already did." she jokes out.
"You know what I mean." Emma blushes lightly.
"You can ask me anything." she promises her wife in order to appease her.
"How did we meet?" the younger woman whispers and it makes Regina stop.
"Emma..." she says apologetically.
"I know you said that you didn't want to influence me..." Emma starts to explain herself. "But I want to know." she gives the brunette a soft smile. "And you did say that I could ask anything."
"I guess I did walk into that one all by myself." Regina closes her eyes. "It was a long time ago but I remember it as if it happened yesterday." the older woman chuckles. "We met after you almost killed me."
"I did what?!" Emma asks completely shocked.
"You apologized profusely." the brunette appeases her with a warm smile. "And I remember how annoying you were about it all. You see, we were going towards the same place and you offered to take me there as a way to make amends. Or that's how I saw it at first."
"And let me guess I didn't take a no until you had to accept." the blonde says embarrassed.
"Yes, and for a while that annoyed me. You challenged and questioned everything I said. And I was not used to that." Regina smiles wistfully. "But then you intrigued me, Emma. You became my friend, my ally and my confidante." she closes her eyes. "There were so many reasons for you to stay away from me, so many mistakes I had made and yet you remained by my side. You never doubted or gave up on me." the older woman then looks at Emma. "Your faith in me made me have hope Emma. You gave me hope that I could be better. And after being given such a gift, how could I have not fallen in love with you? I never stood a chance."
"I don't know what to say." Emma says softly.
"You don't have to say anything Emma. You asked me a question and I answered it." Regina looks away from Emma and continues her walk upwards.
Getting ready to say something else to the brunette woman, Emma stops herself from doing so because she quickly realizes that they have arrived to a meadow filled of flowers. It surprised Emma that this place could be here, especially since the vegetation surrounding it was not one that should belong. In fact, if she had to consider it, this place looked magical.
"This place is so beautiful." the blonde whispers while watching Regina place the blanket on the grass. "How did you know it was here?"
"I discovered this place a long time ago during one of my walks. And I wanted to share it with you." Regina says warmly while sitting down and taking out the food.
"Thank you Regina." Emma looks up at the sky and can't help herself from closing her eyes and smiling brightly.
(Flashback)
"With you Regina, I feel that I can be myself. You challenge me and make me want to be more than what I was. I don't have to hide my true self from you, in fact you actually bring it out of me." Emma took the brunette's hands away from her face and set them up so the two of them could see them, still maintaining the contact. "I was not attempting to gain a future favor from you when I decided to help you. I was just looking for you to be my friend." she whispered the last part.
Regina felt the sincerity behind the blonde's words, and without a thought she hugged the young woman tightly, immediately feeling her loosen up and return the hug earnestly.
"I believe you." the older woman said and a soft white light appeared around them, none noticing it since they were deeply staring at each other. "And I also want to be your friend, Emma White."
(End of Flashback)
"Emma?" she hears Regina ask worriedly. "Are you ok?"
Staring at Regina, she realizes that she's sitting on the blanket and not in some weird forest. Shaking her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts, Emma still notices that while the place does not look as medieval as her weird dream, the meadow looked very similar.
In fact, it looked like it was the same one.
"I think I recognize this place." Emma whispers after a while. "I don't know what just happened, but I think I remembered a conversation we had. But we were dressed funny. Like I was with warrior clothes." she laughs nervously and fails to see the brunette's reaction.
"We have been here." Regina admits quickly. "Perhaps it's your subconscious' way of trying to make you remember?"
Could it be that she is starting to remember?, the brunette thinks happily.
"Maybe." the blonde shrugs, still a little confused. "In my memory, or dream or whatever it was, we were talking about being friends."
"I remember." the brunette smiles warmly. "That was the day I knew I could trust you."
"So it was real?" Emma asks hopefully.
"I don't know exactly what you saw..." Regina says carefully. "But what we talked about, that was real."
"I'm so confused." the younger woman whispers. "Does that mean that I'm remembering things or I'm reimagining them?"
"I think it means that a part of yourself is fighting against your amnesia." the brunette tells her wife. "And that is what is causing you to remember things in such a way."
"So what do I do? Should I ask you to take me to all the places I have been in and hope I remember something?"
"No Emma." Regina says softly. "I don't want you to feel the pressure of having to remember things. All I want is to be with you." she admits calmly. "And, it doesn't matter if you end up remembering everything or nothing at all. I would be extremely happy if you do, because I can't lie to you about that." she adds quickly. "But at the same time, getting to know you like this..." she grabs Emma's hands. "Is such a wonderful thing that even I can't be bitter about. No matter how much it may pain me sometimes."
"This is all so shitty." Emma feels tears falling from her eyes. "Because it's so unfair for you to be with a person that doesn't remember you or their time together. When you were telling me about how we meet, how you fell in love with me, I wanted to remember it all. I was trying my hardest to do so." she confesses brokenly. "And I couldn't bear the thought of you waiting for whenever long it takes for me to get my memories back. That is if I get them."
"Being with you is my choice Emma." the brunette promises her vehemently. "And I know you may not feel this way yet, but you're it for me Emma. There is, and will never be, anyone else for me."
Crying, Emma can't stop herself from hugging Regina tight. She cries for them, for the dreadful feeling that perhaps this will be it and that Regina will be in love with a woman that may never come back.
"But you don't even know me." the younger woman croaks out brokenly.
"Yes I do." Regina says with tears on her eyes as well and uses her fingers to lift the blonde's chin. "I know these eyes." she gets close to her neck. "I know this smell." she brushes her nose against Emma's lips. "And I know these lips." she whispers.
"Regina..." Emma whimpers and closes the distance between the two women, lips meeting frantically and hands moving to grab skin.
"I know this body." the brunette cries while caressing Emma's arms. "I know where you have every scar." she moves away from the younger woman's shoulders. "I know your fears." she steps far away enough to make eye contact. "I know your heart Emma." she promises her wife and hears her cry vehemently.
"I'm falling for you Regina." Emma whispers brokenly. "I'm falling for you." she repeats before she crashes their lips together again.
And to Regina, who had not expected to see her wife again, this was enough.
SQSQSQSQ
"He refused the deal." is the first thing Snow says when she enters her studio. "You said that well had magic he needed."
"And it does." Cora promises the younger woman. "Which is why it surprises me he refused your proposition." the cheeky bastard knew something that they did not.
"Then what are we going to do?" the Mayor asks bitterly. "I can't force Emma to leave Regina's house and that means they'll keep getting closer and closer."
"Perhaps you should just fire Regina and make sure Emma knows it's her fault."
"I can't fire her. I need to keep an eye on her. And, the more time she spends out of the office the higher the probabilities she'll spend that time with my daughter."
"What about your spy, what information has she given you?"
"Nothing interesting. She's following the agents and the child around town but they are doing nothing out of the ordinary."
"And my daughter's lead guard that you're fucking?" Cora smirks.
"He's still keeping an eye on Blue." she promises the witch. "Since the curse was enacted I've kept her inside the convent as a nun."
"We can't let anyone, even Gold, find her."
"But she doesn't remember a thing. She wouldn't be of any use."
Stupid child, Cora thinks bitterly.
"Perhaps she may not remember, but that doesn't mean that others won't have a way of making her remember."
"What does that even mean? No one can break the Curse."
"Every curse can be broken." Cora murmurs completely bored. And Rumplestiltskin is another one that wants to do so.
"We cannot let that happen." Snow says angrily.
"I agree dear." the older woman says carefully. "Which is why you will find a way for me to meet the new strangers that arrived to town."
"That was not a part of the deal."
"Well, unless you want to return to a cell or to be executed this time then I suggest you do as I say." Cora says bitterly.
"These people don't know anything about the Curse." the Mayor huffs angrily.
"Trust me dear when I tell you that these people are no mere strangers that happened to find Storybrooke. Only people with magic can find the city if they come from this realm."
"So what does that mean?" Snow asks.
"It means that either they possess magic that we don't know about or one of them is not from this realm but from ours. And I'll be able to find that out the moment I meet them."
SQSQSQSQ
"Are you telling me that Ma remembered?!" Henry whispers excitedly and earns the surprised looks from Helena and Myka.
"I'm saying that she remembered a conversation we had." Regina explains to him calmly. "Like she experienced a flashback of some sorts."
"That must mean the Curse is weakening." the boy says happily. "Our plan is working."
"It seems like it is." the witch agrees with them. "But I don't want to pressure Emma."
"Not that I am not happy to hear about the progress of our operation." Helena interrupts them. "But how come you are calling us while being at work?"
"That's why I'm calling you." Regina says calmly. "After I left Emma at the apartment and returned to the office Snow came and angrily told me that she was leaving for the rest of the day and to go home as well."
"That is strange." Myka says carefully. "I bet it has a lot to do with what we heard earlier today."
"Most probably." the brunette agent agrees with her. "We must thread even more carefully than before." she warns them all. "Especially since we now know that she is desperate to reunite Emma and Killian no matter what."
"Killian already tried." Regina tells them calmly. "And she refused him again."
"Well let us hope that's the last we hear of him." Myka murmurs. "So shall we meet you at the apartment then?"
"Yes."
"But what about Emma?" Henry asks worriedly.
"I returned to find a note from Emma saying that she wanted to go for a walk and that she would come back before dinner." the witch tells them calmly. "That should give us enough time to discuss what you heard at Gold's and then have dinner with her."
"And you're not worried about her being all alone with a maniac Snow on the loose?" the curly brunette agent asks surprised.
"I can't keep her locked-up like a prisoner." Regina murmurs. "Besides, Snow won't hurt her because she needs Emma to stay alive."
"Perhaps we shouldn't underestimate Snow and instead let Tauriel know about this so she can keep an eye on Emma?" Helena asks for permission to call the other woman.
"That's not a bad idea." the witch agrees.
"Good, then I'll call her to ask for help."
"It pleases me to see Snow so upset." Regina reflects. "But at the same time a panicked Snow is very dangerous for us and our operation."
"I agree." the curly brunette says while grabbing Helena's hand. "While Gold may not be working for her, we believe someone else is."
"And we believe that they may remember their time in the Enchanted Forest." Henry adds. "Because Snow offered Gold the enchanted well."
"Snow shouldn't know that the well has magic." Regina says worriedly. "In fact, only individuals with magic can sense the dormant magic that comes from it."
"So what does that mean?" Helena asks cautiously.
"It means that Snow is somehow getting help from a magical being." Henry answers instead of her mom. "You don't think it could be her, right?" he asks her mother worriedly.
"I'm not sure Henry." the witch murmurs. "Last I knew of, Cora was locked up by the fairies. If Snow somehow found her it could be possible that they're working together again."
"Who is Cora?" Myka asks worriedly. "And why are we just hearing about her?"
"I have told you about her." the young boy tells them somberly. "I just called her by her other name."
"The Queen of Hearts." Helena remembers their conversation. "And she's helping Snow? Why?"
"Because she wants to destroy us and take control of this place." Regina whispers.
"But why does she want to destroy you?" the curly brunette thinks about her question. "Unless it's revenge what she seeks."
"She hates my mothers because they were capable of capturing her." Henry explains to them.
"But that's not the whole story." Helena says knowingly. "There's something you're not telling us."
"Henry..." the woman on the phone says softly. "We said no more secrets and that means we must tell them all." she takes a deep breath. "The reason Cora hates us so much, but me especially, is because I'm her daughter."
SQSQSQSQ
"So..." Killian says while sitting in one of the benches. "I'm assuming this meeting is not to take back what you said to me at the diner."
"It's not." Emma tells him surely. "But it is about something you told me there."
"Emma..." he starts to say.
"I know you have been lying to me Killian." the blonde interrupts him. "What I don't know is why."
"It's complicated." the man murmurs while looking away.
"Try me."
"You must have your own suspicions." he challenges her.
"I believe it has to do with some sort of deal you have with the mayor. And really, you're her nephew?"
"Maybe..." Killian shrugs. "But you're right about us having a deal."
"Can't you tell me what it is about?" Emma questions him.
"I can't." he looks down subtly. "But what I can tell you is that your instincts have been right and that I am sorry for what I tried to do to you. No one deserves to be tricked in such a way." the man tries to stand up and go away.
"Wait..." the blonde says while grabbing his hand. "Are you telling me that we were never together? That the Mayor and you tried to take advantage of a woman with amnesia?!"
"Emma..." Killian tries to apologize.
"Don't." Emma murmurs while tears fell from her eyes. "Don't try to apologize. Do something that will actually help you try to make it up to me." she says fiercely. "And tell me what Snow has to gain from all of this."
"I don't know." he tells her vehemently. "And that is the truth."
Emma can sense that this time he's not lying to her.
"But I do know what she wanted to do." he adds softly. "She wants you to stay away from Regina."
"Stay away from Regina?" Emma asks confused. "Why would she want that?"
"I have no idea." Killian promises her. "But the Mayor has gone through a lot of trouble in order to make that happen. So be careful."
"She's the Mayor. She can't do anything to me."
"She can because she's the Mayor." the man warns her vehemently. "The sheriff does everything she says and she has spies everywhere. Don't trust anyone you don't know."
"Are you trying to tell me that she's capable of hurting me?" Emma whispers worriedly.
"I'm telling you that the Mayor is capable of anything and that you shouldn't underestimate her." Killian adds and stands up from the bench. "Now, if that is all I must leave you." he says quickly. "Most probably this conversation has been watched by one of Snow's many spies."
"Killian..." Emma stops him before leaving. "I'm not ready to forgive you for what you tried to do." she clarifies to him. "But I am thankful to you for telling me the truth and coming when I asked you to."
"I like you Emma." he smiles softly.
Emma looks pointedly at him and the man raises his hands in mock surrender.
"Not like that." he promises her. "But almost as if we were some sort of friends." he chuckles. "Or on our way to be friends."
"Perhaps." the blonde smiles sadly at him and watches him leave.
Looking at the time, Emma notices that it's almost 7pm and that dinner at Regina's will start soon. Wanting to be on time, the blonde frantically moves away from the bench and fails to see two people watching her every move from far away.
SQSQSQSQ
"There has been a new development." Anthony tells the Mayor the moment he enters her study.
Noticing the older woman sitting in one of the couches, he remains quiet until the Mayor allows him to speak.
"Keep going." the Mayor hurries him.
"Emma Swan was seen with Killian near the harbor." he says quickly. "The two talked for a while and then the man left her."
"Perhaps she's questioning herself..." Snow starts to say.
"Don't be naive." Cora interrupts her quickly. "Knowing Emma Swan, that must mean she's suspecting something else is going on. You must hurry your plan if you want to stop our daughters from breaking your Curse."
"Our plan failed the moment Gold rejected the deal!" Snow says bitterly while pouring herself a drink.
"Good thing I have another one." she smirks while standing up. "Of course, in order to pull it through I will need the help of your sheriff."
"What will you do?" the Mayor asks her carefully.
"I will arrest the two new strangers." Cora smiles and looks at the sheriff. "Now dear, how about we go make some arrests."
SQSQSQSQSQ
Nervously sitting at the table, Helena and Myka can't help themselves from chuckling a little at the scene they're currently facing. In front of them, Henry and Regina are angrily looking at them while trying to think of a way to take back what the two of them did with Gold.
"You were reckless." Regina had admonished them the moment she had heard everything that had happened while they were spying on Snow and Gold. "You can't owe the Dark One a favor. He could ask anything of you and there's no way you can refuse him."
"Yes we can." Myka tries to defend them.
"No because you sealed the contract with magic. Using that cost a price. In this situation, most probably the deal will take your life if you break it."
"Our life?" Helena murmurs. "The Imp didn't mention that."
"Of course he didn't." Henry says bitterly. "That's why he's called the Dark One."
"And we're not even sure if you'll be capable of leaving Storybrooke once the Curse breaks." the witch says absently. "But we do know that there is no magic outside Storybrooke."
"That means you can leave now and the contract will become moot." the young boy explains to them. "Of course, you can't return because the moment you do the magic will activate itself."
"But there's no magic in Storybrooke." Helena tries to reason with them.
"Once Henry woke me up with True Love's kiss a small amount of magic has entered this place." Regina tells them. "That must be the reason some people are having flashbacks about their time in the Enchanted Forest."
"We promised to help you and that's what we're going to do." Myka tells them vehemently.
"Not at the cost of your lives." Henry is the one that argues with them. "Listen, I'm so thankful to you two for bringing me back, but I don't want you to risk your lives."
"I agree with Henry." Regina adds.
"Listen, with all due respect, you can't force us to leave." the curly brunette says. "And it will make Snow suspicious to see us leaving while Henry stays behind."
"Myka is right." the witch murmurs softly. "So in that case you'll have to take Henry with you."
"I won't leave you Mom!" Henry says vehemently. "Not when I just found you."
"Myka and Helena can't stay here. We both agree about that." she tells her son softly. "And the only way it would make sense for them to leave would be if they got called back to Boston."
"Regina..." Helena says sadly. "We don't have to leave. In fact, we don't want to leave. Not when we're so close to breaking the Curse."
"And I don't want you to lose your lives. I care about you two." Regina smiles softly at the two agents. "And being away from Henry will hurt me immensely. But at least you'll be safe."
"But what if what's keep us inside Storybrooke prevents us from coming back once the Curse breaks?" Myka reasons and realizes that's not something Henry had thought about.
"No! I won't leave without knowing if I can come back." Henry continues fighting and only stops himself when he hears the doorbell.
Standing up from one of the chairs, Helena goes to check the door and sees that it's Emma.
Giving a knowing look to Regina, she watches the witch deflate herself while sitting down in one of the chairs left.
"This conversation is not over." she simply says and nods for the agent to open the door.
"Hey"! Emma says warmly while going inside the house. "Sorry I'm a little late but I didn't see the time."
"That's fine dear." Regina gives her a soft smile. "You're just in time for dinner." she gives Emma a peck on the lips and moves towards the kitchen, oblivious to the happy smirks on Helena, Myka and Henry's face.
"So can we assume your date went well?" Myka asks her happily.
"Yes." Emma blushes softly. "We talked a lot and it was nice. I told her that I was falling for her." she admits to them.
"That's good dear." Helena tells her confidently.
"It felt right to tell her." the blonde agrees.
"I'm happy for you Emma." Henry adds and it makes her mom smile brightly at him.
"I'm happy as well." Emma says to him. "But there has been something nagging me ever since I left the hospital." she admits to them knowing that she can trust them.
"And what's that dear?" Regina is the one asking her, who had returned to the table with the food. "I ordered take-out because I ran out of time to cook something."
"You won't see me complaining." the boy says and everyone at the table laughs.
"You were saying..." Helena tells Emma.
"Yes, I mean, everything with Killian being my fiancé." she starts to explain. "It never felt right. It never felt real." she then looks at Regina. "Not like what it feels to be with Regina."
Said woman blushes and gives her a soft smile.
"Which is why I wanted to know why I would be with him. It didn't make sense." Emma continues explaining. "And when he approached me at the diner, I knew he was lying when he told me loved me."
"Your superpower." Henry tells her and that makes Emma give him a warm smile.
"Yes. But then he also said that he had to keep trying. That he had no choice about it."
"He did?" Myka asks surprised while staring at Helena and Regina.
"I had to find out what he meant." the blonde whispers softly. "And I think I did."
"You went to see him?" Regina asks carefully.
"Yes, but we just talked and he was alright. He admitted to not loving me and that Snow was forcing him to pretend that we were engaged."
"Did he tell you why?"
"He just said that Snow doesn't want me to be with you. And that she's dangerous."
"Well he's right about Snow being dangerous." Myka says bitterly and this makes the blonde stare deeply at all of them.
"You four know something that I don't." Emma says surely.
"Emma..." Regina tries to say.
"What are you all not telling me?!"
Before anyone can answer her, they hear several knocks coming.
"This is the Sheriff. Open the door." the man says loudly.
"What are they doing here?" Myka whispers worriedly.
"I don't know." Regina says softly. "But it's no coincidence at all. This must be Snow's latest attempt at trying to stop us."
Snow, who the hell is Snow, Emma thinks quickly.
"I repeat, open the door or we'll enter the premises by force." the sheriff warns them.
"What do we do?" Henry asks and watches Helena take out her Tesla.
"No." it's Regina the one that stops her. "The moment they see that gun they'll have reasons to suspect the two of you."
"We don't even know who they're coming for." Myka argues quickly.
"Suspect what?!" Emma hisses at them all. "And why would they come get you?!"
"Emma, please listen to me." Regina begs her. "I know you have a lot of questions." she tells her. "But you have to trust us."
"Trust you? You have all been lying to me!"
"Have I?" the brunette asks softly. "I know your superpowers say the opposite. All I have ever told you is the truth. And I did explain to you that you had to find the truth, remember things, by yourself."
"So you were hiding behind technicalities."
"No Emma." Regina smiles sadly. "I was giving you a choice. And you've started your own path towards the truth by facing Killian. And you did it all by yourself."
"But..." Emma wants to continue fighting but the noises behind the door get louder.
"We don't have time for this!" Helena admonishes them. "The question Regina asked you was a simple one Emma. Do you trust her or not?"
Looking at the brunette woman, all Emma sees in her brown eyes is trust and love. Feelings that are directed at her. And how could she doubt Regina's love?
"I trust Regina." the blonde says surely.
"Then please leave and don't come out until you're sure no one is here." Regina smiles at her.
"Hide? Why?"
"They can't know you're here." Henry explains to her. "It will be safer for you."
"I will explain everything." the brunette promises her and kisses her on the lips. "I love you Emma."
"But... I don't understand..." Emma whispers, feeling like that kiss was one that said goodbye.
"Please trust her." Henry tells her sadly. "And don't come out."
"I can't leave you here." the blonde fights them. "That's not who I am."
"We're asking you to do this for us." the boy smiles at her. "Now go!" he says and pushes her out of the way towards the emergency exit door.
"We're coming in!" the sheriff says and before he can burst the door open Regina lets them come in.
"Anthony, what is the meaning of this?" she asks him directly.
"I have an order for the arrests of agents Wells and Bering." he gives them the papers containing the paperwork.
"Arrest them for what?" Regina threads carefully.
"Endangerment of a child." he looks at Henry. "Which means that we'll also have to take the kid."
"Don't you dare put a hand on him Anthony." the brunette threatens him. "Or you will see what I'm capable of."
"Now dear, you don't have to be so dramatic." Regina hears a familiar voice and sees Cora enter the room.
"Mother." the witch says angrily while putting her body in front of Henry's. "What are you doing here?"
"Obviously I'm doing what Snow has embarrassedly failed to do: I came for the Savior."
"Emma is not here."
"You know very well Emma is not the one I'm talking about." Cora smirks darkly. "No dear, the Savior is one of these three people standing in front of me." she looks at Helena, Myka and Henry. "And I think I now know who it is." her gaze lands on the boy behind her daughter. "And who would you be dear?"
"You will not touch him!" Regina screams.
Cora's eyes open in surprise and then she laughs loudly.
"This is too good to be true dear. That young boy must be your son."
"My name is Henry Swan-Mills." Henry says bravely. "And I am not afraid of you."
"Well you should be dear. Because I'm going to kill you."
"The Curse will break if you do that." Helena warns her.
"Of course I'm aware of that dear. I want it to break so I can have my magic back and for us to return to our land. This place is dreadful enough as it is. After that is done, I will have my revenge and I'll rule the land." Cora says happily.
"I don't think Snow would agree to this."
"Snow believes that killing the Savior will keep her Curse intact. How terrible that the woman does not know anything about magic and must believe everything I tell her."
"How terrible indeed." they hear an angry voice say from behind them and they all see Snow entering the apartment.
"Snow..." Cora says confused. "Why are you here?"
"You really don't believe I'm fool enough to make the same mistake twice?" the Mayor smiles darkly. "The people aiding you are my people." she stares at Anthony and points towards his hand which was holding a cellphone. "Which means they all work for me. Seize her."she orders the man and he quickly grabs Cora and puts the cuffs on her wrists.
Snow then then looks at Regina.
"Now, we can both agree that we don't want anything to happen to Henry." she stares at the boy. "So I'll make you a proposition."
"Killing him doesn't work for you Snow." Regina bluffs.
"No, but I have the power to make him leave Storybrooke and for some unsavory people to find him in Boston."
"You bitch!" Myka screams and tries to launch herself at Myka but the curly brunette is held back by Helena.
Resigning herself, Regina looks at Snow.
"What do you want?"
"I promise to let Henry leave Storybrooke with agents Wells and Bering if you drink this." she gives her a bottle with some white liquid in it.
"A sleeping curse." the witch says softly. "Emma will wake me up."
"Emma doesn't love you dear." Snow smiles. "Not enough to wake you up."
"Mom, don't do this!" Henry begs her. "We don't know the effects magic have on this realm. It's dangerous if you drink it."
"Henry, nothing is worth more to me than your life." she smiles sadly at him but then stares at Snow. "But you will also agree to return my mother to wherever you kept her hidden."
"Agreed." Snow promises her and they shake hands. "Now, drink."
"Regina..." Helena whispers sadly and the woman turns around to smile at her.
"Take care of Henry, protect him." she asks the brunette agent softly.
"I promise you we will." the older brunette cries softly.
"Thank you for being such good friends." the witch now stares at Myka who is crying as well.
"There must be something we can do." the curly brunette whispers dejectedly.
"You will both do what's best for Henry. He must come first. Promise me."
"We will." they both say and each one hugs Regina strongly before letting her go.
"Mom..." Henry is crying. "I can't leave you again."
"Yes you can dear. Trust in Fate and believe in the power of True Love." she hugs him tightly. "Believe in Emma." she chokes out while kissing his cheeks. "I love you Henry."
"I love you too." Henry says and steps away from his mother.
"We will meet again." Regina promises them and without hesitation drinks from the bottle.
SQSQSQSQ
Standing behind his desk, the Dark One can feel the moment the Curse powers itself. Surprised by it, he quickly grabs his cane and starts moving towards the door, desperate to learn what had happened.
Taking his phone out, he dials a saved number and is surprised by the quickness with which it was answered.
"What happened?!" Gold asks angrily.
"She drank a sleeping curse." the woman tells her from the other side of the line. "She's now cursed. How did Snow White get a sleeping curse?!"
Remembering about a potion he had at the back, Gold quickly returns to the room and checks his inventory.
One bottle was missing.
"She stole it from me." he whispers darkly.
"Why would you even have a sleeping curse?!"
"It was meant as precaution against Snow. Somehow she managed to find it and use it."
"This is bad." the woman says worriedly. "What will happen to Regina?"
"She will die." the Dark One murmurs. "Because there is no magic in this realm the curse will act as a poison and kill her."
"We must stop this!"
"There's nothing we can do." he says softly. "Snow somehow managed to outsmart us."
"She surprised us all." the woman says softly. "Cora has been locked again."
"That's good." he says bitterly. "She forced Snow's hand and the woman retaliated in the best way."
"So that's it then? We must accept that this is the end?"
"No dear." Gold tells her calmly. "There is still hope. One person that can awaken the Dark Queen."
"Emma." the woman whispers. "With Truest Love's kiss."
"It will be complicated." he says mostly to himself. "But it is possible that the White Knight may save us all."
"Tell me what I need to do."
"Stop the agents and child from leaving town."
"Dark One..."
"I gave my word to not hurt the child." he raises his hand. "And I will honor it."
"Then I will call you the moment I know more."
"Until then dearie." he says calmly. "And Red..." he continues. "Don't trust anyone."