The Birdcage

A/N: So I was a bit worried that it got a little OOC in here, but the thing is, these aren't the same characters from the show. They've all had a year of time to make a difference, with many different people and events influencing them, so I'd like to think that this is how they would have evolved to be in that time. That being said, enjoy the last chapter! The epilogue shall be up shortly, and at the end of this I'll have some information about future writings. You've all been magnificent on this journey, which has shifted completely from its original intent, but I think it turned out all right.

Chapter 10: Say it Ain't So, Say I'm Happy Again

After a few moments of letting it all out—the pent up emotion of not only the past day, but also the past year of wishing things could be better—Emma was finally able to calm her heaving sobs, sniffling quietly into the crook of Regina's neck.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, turning her wet cheek against the supple skin.

Regina looked down and raised a signature eyebrow, continuing the comforting circles on Emma's upper back.

"What for?"

Emma sighed, finally picking her head up as she worked to regain her fallen composure. "For everything—this whole trip, really."

"It was just too soon," Regina murmured, meeting Emma's glassy and red tinted eyes with her own warm ones. "Things will be better next time."

Emma snorted, looking for all the world like she couldn't decide between laughing or screaming.

"What makes you think there will be a next time?" Her fingers stretched down to play with a loose thread from the bedspread, eyes fixated on it as she sniffled again.

Regina placed her hand over Emma's own fidgeting one, halting its movements and causing the blonde to meet her gaze with an inquisitive expression. Regina was sure she could tell Emma that stars could turn into kittens and in that moment she would believe her just for the sake of having an answer, no matter what it was.

"Because you both said hurtful things to each other, and while they may have opened up some fairly deep wounds, they can heal eventually. Emma, if you and I could put behind us all the hateful words we spewed in the past, the vindictive plotting and lack of trust, then I know you can with Snow too, eventually. It was just too soon."

Tears spilled out Emma's eyes once more, silent this time, and the older woman frowned as she reached up a cupped hand to wipe them away.

"Why are you saying this? Shouldn't you be all for me never again speaking to your most hated enemy?" Emma asked suspiciously.

Regina thought hard for a moment, knowing it seemed the logical conclusion, and she wondered why she did care if that particular relationship was mended. She knew, though, that she could never deny Emma her whole family, even if it hurt herself a little in the process. And she was certain that what she was saying was true—in time they'd get past it.

And it definitely would take a lot more than one argument in a moment of heated passion to finally get rid of Snow White from her life. The flea didn't disappear that easily—she should know.

"Perhaps," she spoke finally, crinkling her nose in sorrowful amusement, "but I think you deserve that chance. While I can't say I'm all right with what she said or that I disagree with most of what you said, it was just a fight. You'll both calm down eventually, and then maybe she'll be more reasonable and willing to listen. It must have been quite the shock."

Emma laughed at this, and Regina thought for a moment just how twisted this all probably seemed to her former step-daughter.

"I suppose it's kind of the equivalent to Henry being in love with Hook," she mused.

The noise of disgust Emma emitted a moment later was worth the terrible image she'd conjured up while trying to find a proper comparison.

"What? How on earth do you get that? Babe, that's just gross." Emma crinkled her nose in disgust.

"Well, he might as well have been Henry's step-grandfather, though I don't think it was ever legitimized. I'd like to think that my own marriage isn't counted as being legitimate either, at least in our world. Clearly it's not exactly the same, but with your family tree I had to strain a bit." She smirked.

"Yeah, but he's so much older than Henry… and Hook isn't exactly a good person."

Regina laughed at this, looking to the woman still wrapped in her arms in amusement. "Emma, dear, even without the curse I'm still older than you. And I imagine your parents have a hard time coping with how much you've grown, so they still view you as a little child. Also, as I recall, it wasn't too long ago even you didn't view me as a good person either."

Emma gaped at her for a moment, jaw flapping like a trapped cod fish. "Well, fuck," was all that escaped.

"So eloquent," Regina retorted with a laugh. "But do you see what I mean? If Henry, in ten years at least mind you, went off to Neverland to find him because they were true loves, how would you react?"

Emma snorted. "I'd pull out my gun and take his other hand off, obviously."

"You wouldn't want Henry to be happy, no matter what?"

"Well, of course I would, but it's just… there's no way Hook would make him happy. Is he even gay? I don't think Henry's old enough to know yet… right?"

Regina rolled her eyes, taking note of Emma's contorted expression. "Dear, you're both missing my point and proving it all at the same time. And this is just a rhetorical example, not something I can foresee occurring, so you can calm down about having to give him any sort of sex talk yet."

Emma frowned as if lost in thought for a moment, looking completely troubled as she tried to decipher the meaning of Regina's strange comparison. Even she had to admit that the thought unsettled her, but Regina was sure Emma would end up in the exact same position as herself—doing anything for Henry's happiness.

"So you're saying that even though I would freak out at first, I'd eventually make myself get used to the idea because I love Henry. And you think the same is going to happen with Snow?"

Regina nodded, assuring the weary tone of Emma's voice that she'd managed to grasp the lesson correctly. "I can't say for certain, of course, but I think time will help. She's a mother, just like us, it's just new and taking her a while to get there."

"And if I'm still not ready to forgive her after she does?" Emma asked quietly.

Regina moved forward, placing their foreheads together and smiling sweetly at her blonde girlfriend as she placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. "You don't have to forgive her, Emma. What she said just now was very hurtful, but I think you could still have some sort of relationship, if you wanted to, without forgiving for that. There are some things that you simply have to move past. Don't you know who taught me that?"

Emma whispered a soft, "I did."

Regina smiled warmly. "That's right. Emma, for the past year you've been telling me that I just need to let things go and move on. I don't have to forgive Snow for all she's done to me, just like I don't have to forgive my mother, but they can still be a part of my life. And maybe one day forgiveness will come, but it shouldn't be forced and it shouldn't deter me from happiness any longer. I held on to my resentment for over thirty years, and I don't want you to do the same. Do you understand?"

"I think so, but…" Emma pulled away, a puzzled look contorting her face.

"But what?"

"When did you become the sensible one?" Regina let out a loud, single HA! at this before Emma continued. "I mean, she was completely rude to you, too. Why aren't you mad?"

"Oh, Emma, if you thing that's the worst of what's been exchanged between us over the years you're sorely mistaken. I expected nothing less. As for me being the sensible one, I always have been," she smirked, "but it has been a long year and much has changed. You're just rubbing off on me."

Emma laughed quietly, but it was enough to show that she was perking up from her foul mood just enough.

Regina reached out a hand, placing it on Emma's upper arm with a soft sigh. "Now, what would you like to do, darling?"

"I think we should go home," she replied, after a long moment of thinking in silence.

"Okay," Regina answered with a soft smile, beginning to stand to go pack her things.

"For good," Emma added quietly.

"What do you mean?"

The younger woman sighed, looking up at the ceiling as she spoke. "The parts about us I may be able to understand as just a scared reaction, but not the rest. All that shit about me being made a princess and having to get married just to fill some stupid throne… that was something thought out on her part. Even if you're right, I don't want to be in a world where that's a reality."

"Well, Henry may be a bit harder to convince, but trust me—I have no qualms about never setting foot here again."

"Good." Emma sighed. "I guess I should go gather my things and tell Henry. Can you find your mom and Archie and let them know?"

"Of course," Regina nodded, allowing Emma to approach and give her a kiss before she turned and wandered out the door.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

It had only been a coincidence that Cora happened to be heading towards her room to grab a change of clothes from her suitcase that hadn't been retrieved the night before, but it was a welcome one as far as she was concerned.

From outside the door, Cora could hear every brutal word exchanged between Emma and Snow, and her blood boiled with the urge to go in and end Snow White once and for all. But she didn't.

It was Emma's fight to fight, not her own, and she knew it was right to let her have that moment.

Afterwards, however, when Snow stormed out of the room and off in the other direction—seemingly oblivious to her presence—Cora decided she could rightfully step in.

"Snow!" she yelled, running down the hall after the angry woman. After what she'd heard from the annoying younger woman's mouth just moments before, Cora's own anger was taking precedence.

The pixie-haired Queen didn't stop her movements, only continued stomping down the hall without even so much as turning to look at her. Miffed, Cora waved a hand and soon appeared through a haze of red smack dab in front of Snow.

The shorter woman ran right into her, halting with a resounding "oof" as she made impact with Cora's chest.

"Cora, not now!" she growled, trying and failing to move around her.

"No, now is perfect, dear. If you think I'm going to just stand by and let you speak to my girls that way, you really have it coming. Give me one reason I shouldn't rip your heart out right now?" Cora seethed.

"I knew you weren't really all reformed. What was all that, just a front to fool Emma and Regina?" Snow snarled.

Cora scoffed, laughing at the angry red tint to Snow's face. "Of course not. I have changed my ways with my daughter and her family, but that doesn't mean I'm opposed to harming those who threaten them."

Snow glared at her but stopped trying to escape, instead standing firm and facing off against the older woman.

"I'm not going to hurt Emma, Cora. But when I find out what Regina's done to her, I'll be sure to let you know it's time to play guard-dog."

"The only thing my daughter has done to that girl is love her. Emma can be insufferable at times, and she's a danger to everyone in that silly yellow car of hers, but she makes my daughter happy, so she has earned my respect. You, on the other hand, just lost any chance of gaining it!"

Snow rolled her eyes, looking back defiantly. "And you think I care about your respect? You just want Regina to marry Emma so that you can control my kingdom."

"No," Cora shook her head. She wasn't under some false illusion that the rest of the world would be able to forgive her, and she certainly wasn't trying to ask for it. "But I do hope you care about your daughter, and realize that at least someone cares about her."

As for the kingdom, Cora had no interest in seeking power any longer after all it had cost her. She knew she was lucky to have made it back into her daughter's life as it was.

"I love Emma," Snow seethed. "At least I didn't turn my daughter evil. And what I'm doing now is only to prevent that from happening."

"If I recall, you played a fairly large role in that too, dear. And really, I'd say right now you're doing the same thing."

"I'm just protecting Emma!"

"Exactly the words I told myself when I ripped the heart out of that stable boy and crushed it right in front of Regina. You're no better than me, Snow. Trying to make Emma choose between her true love and her mother's love—this is no different. I'm just glad she's brave enough to make the right decision."

"How dare you! You have no right to tell me anything about how to be a mother, of all people!"

"Perhaps," Cora smiled tiredly, "but there is one thing I seemed to have grasped better than you."

When Snow stayed silent, merely staring at her in wait, Cora continued, "I get that a mother has to put her child's happiness above everything. You already screwed that up once when you sent her away in order to save your people, but don't lose her for good by putting your kingdom's needs above her happiness again."

"I don't know what you mean," Snow spoke, hushing her voice down to a whisper as she spoke nervously.

"Do you think I haven't heard the talk? You don't really care that Emma's fallen for Regina. You just need her because your throne is under threat and without an heir, you'll be out on your ass within the year," she explained smugly, enjoying it probably a bit too much as all the color drained from Snow's face.

"Then you understand what must be done, surely." The younger woman was almost pleading with her now, a complete turnaround to a few moments prior.

"Yes, abdicate the throne to someone you trust quickly and let your daughter be."

"I… I can't," Snow admitted, looking more conflicted than her tone sounded. "This is my home."

"You know what's funny, dear? Of the two of us, everyone would have expected you to be the better mother here. But you're not, you know. I'll protect Emma just as strongly as Regina, because I love her as a daughter now, too. And when they have my grandchild, I'm going to be there, and I'm going to get to hold that baby, because I'm not afraid to be a part of that life.

"But all you're concerned about is the power behind your title? They're in no danger when their intentions to remain over there are so clear. I'm starting to think you sound a lot like me here, Snow. Don't make that mistake."

And with that, Cora turned on her heels, clicking down the hallway towards her daughter's chamber door.

"Emma deserves better," Snow said coldly, eyes burning into her back as she momentarily stilled her steps.

"Yes, she certainly does," Cora retorted before stalking away, and even Charming would have been able to understand the double meaning to her words.

SQSQSQSQSQSQSQ

"Have you said goodbye to everyone, Henry?" Regina asked, standing with the rest of their traveling group where they had gathered in the woods outside the portal.

"Yup. But do we really have to go already?" he whined. They had opted not to tell him of all that had transpired between Emma and Snow, not wanting to upset him or cause any further hostilities from the young boy.

"We do, Henry. Maybe when we get home, we can see if some of your friends want to spend the night. Does that sound good?" She hated bribery, but there was no way Regina was going to stand here and have a long conversation about why there would be no more Enchanted Forest visits.

He took to the distraction happily, already chattering to Archie about who he might have over.

Regina turned her attention to Charming and Emma, who were in the middle of hugging goodbye. She knew that leaving her father like this would be hard on Emma, seeing as things had been going to well with them. "I'll talk to Snow, Emma. I don't want you out of my life now that I just got you back," she heard him whisper to Emma, and it warmed her heart that at least one of them was being sensible.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll keep in touch."

She smiled at the scene, glancing over to see Snow fidgeting a few steps back and staring at the ground. Just as she was contemplating going over and saying something, two arms wrapped around her and pulled her from her reverie.

To Regina's surprise, she was being enveloped in another Charming hug, and it wasn't the most horrendous feeling in the world.

"Take good care of my grandkids," he said, pulling back from the hug to meet her gaze.

"I'll protect them with my life," Regina swore, staring back with her head held high. "All of them."

He just chuckled, patting her shoulder before turning away. "I know you will, Regina."

Just as she thought they might finally be done with goodbyes, another came.

"Dr. Lecter," Cora purred, startling everyone and bringing their attention to a man standing off by the trees.

He was tall and slender, dressed impeccably with sandy locks of hair and hollow eyes, yet he smiled at her warmly.

"Cora," he spoke with a heavy accent, drawing Cora's hand up to his lips to place an elegant kiss upon her knuckles. "Please, you may call me Hannibal."

Cora just giggled, an odd sound for anyone present, but they watched on in fascination as she wrapped her arms half-hazard around the stoic man's neck and pulled him in with her lips.

"Your mom's been sleeping with Hannibal Lecter?!" Emma whispered between gritted teeth, shooting Regina a look of horror. She had no idea why her girlfriend seemed so freaked out all of a sudden, but chalked it up to having been stressed from the day's events.

"Emma, my mother having suitors is nothing new. Where did you think she was last night?" She rolled her eyes, looking around at everyone once more.

"Why is Cora kissing our cook?" Charming asked.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Emma murmured, and Regina did have to admit she looked a bit green. Hopefully the apparent morning sickness would pass before their journey through the portal.

"Then we should be going. Everyone ready?" Regina asked, gearing herself up for the amount of magic she would need to bring them back through.

After a series of murmured approvals, she stepped forward, holding out her hands for Emma and Henry to grab onto, Archie and Cora taking their places on the ends once more, after Cora had finally released Hannibal's lips.

"Wait!" Snow yelled, just as they were about to step through. Her silence was finally broken.

Emma and Regina turned, shocked to see her racing forward and throwing her arms around Emma, who simply stood there blinking in surprise. Though she was whispering, Regina could hear every word from her close distance.

"I'm so sorry, Emma! I love you, very much, and I know that I hurt you. So much has been going on, and I won't burden you with it, but it's put me on edge lately and you… you just got the brunt of it. I just need some time to get used to this, okay? Can you give me that?" Snow was tearing up as she clung to her daughter desperately.

Emma sighed, gently prying her away from the embrace and pausing a moment to look at her mother. "Time is good. That's kind of our thing by now, isn't it?"

Snow laughed nodding in agreement as she stepped back so they could leave.

Regina mused at Emma's words, realizing just how true they were. They always wanted time—something so precious and fleeting—yet with Emma and Snow it seemed to be boundless. And so, despite everything she'd ever wanted involving Snow White's presence in her life, she was comforted by the fact that it was only a matter of time until things finally settled down.

The End

(But not really)

Okay, so here's the thing. First, yes I really did put Hannibal Lecter in here. I had a different love interest for Cora, but then this twisted little idea popped into my head and I couldn't resist. I may write a one shot of their time together, but I warn you, it will be creepy and dark.

Now, I've been working on some other stories that I might post for you all if I get further in them, but I still feel like there are a lot of lose ends in this story. That is being done on purpose, because I don't want to continue this past the trip as it was intended, but those conversations and whatnot need to happen. Serious question here- are any of you interested in a sequel? I'm still working on a plot for it, but it would likely follow out through the pregnancy as they deal with the knowledge Emma gained from her shared dream. What do you think?

Thank you all again for your support, so much! Epilogue will be here soon.

PS Dear who was my 100th reviewer, you have not been forgotten! I am absolutely still writing your story, it's just taking me time to get organized over here.