I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.
A/N: So, without spoiling things, for those of you who hate Hook, I'm giving you the head's up that he's here.
Trigger warning: miscarriages are mentioned in this chapter.
10: Lost and Found
Nathan would not stop crying. It was like he knew something was wrong. Regina stayed in the nursery with him, trying to put him to sleep. She did not like leaving Henry alone in the living room. She wanted to be with him, be there for him, but she could see Henry was on the verge of snapping thanks to his brother's wails.
"I know, I know, baby. We're going to find your mama. I promise," Regina said, kissing his forehead. He was so hot from all of the crying.
Nathan let out a devastatingly loud scream and it rattled Regina to her core. She had done everything she could and even her son did not believe in her. But, his cries began to taper off after that gut-wrenching sob. They became soft whimpers and then he was asleep. She sighed as she put him down in his crib.
"I will not fail you or our family, Nathan. I will find your mama," Regina repeated. She would not let her sons down.
Regina went downstairs to see Henry was on his computer. Henry tried to find Emma's phone and Regina began making calls, hoping someone at least caught sight of Emma in some form. Time was then lost to both of them. Regina paced behind the sofa, her phone pressed to her ear. Throughout the night, they had been hoping for some sign of Emma, but there was nothing. It was like Emma vanished from the face of the Earth, which was possible. The only thing was: was it voluntary?
"Her phone still isn't on," Henry sighed, rubbing the back his head with one hand.
Regina heard him, but could not respond yet, too busy getting bad news on the other end of the line. She hung up and leaned against the sofa, pressing her forehead into the cushions. Henry moved, so his head was close to hers. She kissed his cheek.
"It would be easier to think she left, so I could be angry instead of scared," Henry said.
"Agreed, but Emma loves us," Regina replied. She wished they could be angry with her, but Emma could be in serious trouble. Beyond the usual dangers of Storybrooke and other realms, Hook was still out there trying to use magic against her. Robin and the Merry Men could have done something to her, feeling justified due to the simple fact the sheriff was always a villain to them.
"I know. But, now I'm so scared for her, Mom. What if someone hurt her and we can't find her? What if she needs us?"
Regina reached out, rubbing his head. "We'll find her. I promise."
Henry did not say anything and Regina did not add more. What else could she say? She would find Emma, come Hell or High Water. In fact, she would find Emma if she had to bring both of those things with her.
"You should go to bed," Regina said, rubbing the top of Henry's head.
"I don't think I could sleep."
"I know, but you should try. You need the rest after this stressful night and I can listen to the computer if it pings in the eternal search for Emma's phone. I got this," Regina promised him. She did not want him to worry over adult matters. He needed time to be a child, even if he did not think he did.
"I know, Mom. You and Ma never quit on each other, but this makes my stomach twist and turn," he said, rubbing his belly. His face twisted a little and he looked like he might be sick. "It's hard to sleep like that."
"I know." She had grown up with that feeling all the time and then felt it again when she and Henry had their problems. But, that did not mean she would let Henry fall into that dark abyss of despair. "But, still, try to get some sleep. I'll do all I can."
Henry nodded and kissed the side of her head before tearing off of the couch. Regina sighed and pressed her forehead to the leather as soon as Henry was out of sight. She had done everything she could, including groveling before the Blue Fairy to find Emma. It did not work. She had done everything except sell her soul and she was willing to try that at this point. It was all she had left. Hours into the search and they knew less than when they started. No amount of police work, magic, or investigating had done anything. She feared the worst and needed answers.
"Maleficent, I need a favor," Regina sent through text.
"Anything," was the response. She hoped that was true.
-8-8-8-8-
Henry went through his usual nighttime rituals, but did not go to bed. Instead, he went to Nathan's room and stared down at his sleeping brother. He was certain Nathan knew something was wrong, which was why the baby cried the whole night.
Whenever he looked at Nathan, he thought Nathan looked like Emma. He assumed it was something in humans from nurture, as people thought he looked like Regina in certain places. It was only recently he learned to love being told he looked like Regina just as much as he liked being told he acted like Emma. He liked having connections to both of his mothers, connections other people could see and know they were his mothers. He wondered if that would mean the same to Nathan.
"Nathan, even though Ma's gone now, I know Mom will do everything to get her back. That's what they do for each other. It should've been a big clue they were meant for each other because they used to only do that for me. They'll do it for you now, too. We all want this family, ya know? There's no way Ma isn't fighting her ass off to get back to us. I know it seems weird of me to say that because I thought she left, but she never could. She loves us, loves the concept of us. We're a team. We're like the Avengers. We can do solo stuff, but we still come together to make this awesome unit, you know? And Mom is Iron Man. She's smart and she'll always put our team back together. Ma is like Captain America. She's super-brave and she keeps us all honest and she's the glue that holds us together. She'll be back. We'll be okay," Henry vowed. It was more for himself than Nathan and he knew that. He needed to hear the words aloud.
Nathan's mouth twitched into a smile and Henry took that as a good sign. Nathan was happy in his sleep. He knew Emma would be home. Henry would believe his baby brother, the clone of Emma.
He went to his room and got into his bed, but he did not fall asleep. He stared at the ceiling, wondering what the hell happened. How could Ma vanish into the thin air where the most powerful magic users, Mom, Maleficent, and even the Blue Fairy can't find her? It did not make any sense. Maybe Emma was so upset, she accidentally did something with her magic. She was still very green with it and made mistakes every now and then. Regina treated those mishaps as if they were cute things, but what if it was something extreme now?
"Ma, give us something. Help us find you," he whispered to the darkness. He cast off his blanket and went to the window. He sat on his reading bench and searched the sky. A wishing star had a different look in the sky, or so he assumed. When he wished for his family to be whole over a year ago, he had not really thought about it. Or was it because he was in a town with magic, wishing on any star would work? Or did it have to be a shooting star? Or the brightest star? There were too many variations in fairy tales for him to know how this worked. "Sometimes, I wish Mom raised me with a religion, so I could just pray like a normal kid."
While he had did not have religion, Henry liked to think somewhere out there in the vast universe/universes, there had to be a god of some kind. Something had to keep everything in some kind of order, especially with the portals and realms and mythological creatures being able to come and go as they pleased. So, he let out a prayer.
"Please, God, whoever or whatever you are and whatever it is you do, let us find our missing Captain America," he said.
He went to bed on that note, feeling like it was the best he could do for now. Tomorrow he could act, but for now, this could work. It was how they had Nathan, after all.
-8-8-8-8-
Maleficent appeared before Regina an hour after Regina was certain Henry had fallen asleep, even poking her head in the room on him. She had a plan and she doubted anyone would back it, but she was out of ideas. Maleficent gaped at her when she explained it.
"Do you really think it's a good idea to go to Rumple with this?" Maleficent asked.
"Good? No." Regina did not operate under the delusion Rumple had a soft spot for her in any way, but they had gone through every magic user in town, except the Dark One. "I told everyone I was willing to do anything. I am willing to do anything."
"I don't think any of us expect you to go this far," Maleficent replied.
Regina glanced up the stairs. Yes, two someones expected her to go that far. Three actually. She would do anything for Emma, including going to deal with the Dark One. They did not have anything else to go on. They did not even have a clue.
"I owe it to my family to try everything," Regina said.
"Are you sure you don't want to wait? Emma could show up. It's only been twelve hours," Maleficent replied.
Regina shook her head. "Yes, but in those twelve hours Emma missed dinner and her time with Nathan. She hasn't contacted anyone, not me, her friends, or her father. Her car is still parked in the driveway. Something is wrong and I can't stand by and say not enough time has passed yet."
Maleficent nodded. "Understood. Are you sure you don't want me to come? Or Kathryn? Someone to make sure you don't cross the line in bargaining?"
"That's just it. There is no line for me."
"Hey, those two boys still need at least one mother. You can't do something that costs them both of you."
"If I do something that drastic, I promise you they will have at least one mother." That mother would be Emma, but she would rather that than sitting at home years from now without Emma, knowing she had not done everything she could.
Regina waved her hand and vanished before Maleficent could try to talk her out of it. She feared this idea might not be as outrageous as she thought because Maleficent did not try very hard. She appeared outside of the pawn shop and knocked. She had already contacted Rumple to meet her there.
"I can guess what you want, Regina," Rumple said with glee as he opened the door.
Regina stepped inside. "Well, can you give it to me?"
"I don't know. I should check to make sure I have the items necessary. I've heard you were supposed to looking into how hard it is to get certain magical items."
Regina bit back a frown. "No one else had a problem with finding the items necessary to try to locate Emma."
"Yes, but they all failed, didn't they? Including the always useless Blue Fairy. Of course, I'm sure she tried for Snow's sake and not your own. If anything, Tinker Bell probably had a delightful time failing you once more," Rumple said.
Regina could only wonder what about this man made Sonja think he liked her. "Rumple, you know what I want. Now, what do you want to make it happen?"
Rumple waved her off. "You don't have anything I want."
"Of course I do. You answered my call, after all." She knew she had to go big or go home with him, though. His eyes locked onto her and wandered up and down her form. She managed to hold back a shiver. His assessment seemed to strip her bear, not physically, but spiritually.
Rumple giggled, sounding much like the Dark One she remembered. She definitely had something he wanted. Now, the question was did he know how desperate she was.
"Would you be willing to part with your heart?" he asked with a smirk, like he knew. He then waved it off. "Honestly, I wouldn't want it if you were."
She bit back a frown, not willing to risk upsetting him right now. "Then what do you want? Every second we waste here is a second Emma might need."
"So be it." Rumple shrugged and his eyes shimmered in a way she had never seen before. She almost expected his skin to grow scaly and green. His eyes were definitely reptilian. "Would you be willing to part with your soul?"
Regina did not hesitate. "If you find her, it's all yours."
There was that Dark One giggle that made her skin crawl. She knew why he wanted her soul. She knew the theories anyway, heard them before, even read about some, but she did not care. He rushed behind the counter and pulled out a crystal about the size of a baseball.
"What's that?" she asked. She thought she knew, but believed it should be bigger.
"Don't worry about that. It's just what I'm going to host your soul in when our business is done," Rumple stated.
Regina's eyebrow ticked up. "And you just happened to have that on hand?" A crystal with that power took a lot of time and magic to make. How long had he been waiting for her to make this offer? "Dare I ask what you plan to do with my soul?" She was certain her soul had to be as black as her heart. It probably was as useless as her heart, even though he seemed to think otherwise and he was not alone in that.
Rumple only snickered and wiggled his hands in delight. In the end, it did not matter. Rumple tried several different spells for over an hour. None of them ever located Emma. He could not even tell her if Emma was in the realm or any other realm. He was as useless as the Blue Fairy.
"Thanks for nothing," Regina hissed.
"Wait." Rumple dipped in front of her, wanting to block her path. "I can do something else."
"You've done everything and given me nothing, like everyone else." She could keep her soul, but her partner was still gone. She would trade the former for the latter any day of the week.
-8-8-8-8-
Henry heard his mother leave and waited to hear her return. He had dozed off, but woke when Regina's voice reached his ears. He could hear Maleficent, too. So, he assumed she was house-sitting while Regina went out to try some insane plan. What did Mom do?
Then he heard their voices again. He was not sure what they were saying, though. He got out of bed and tiptoed to the foot of the stairs.
"If Rumple couldn't find her, what more can we do?" Maleficent inquired.
"It only makes me feel like foul play is involved. At first, I assumed it was a mistake on Emma's part, but her magic would've more than likely brought her back if this was something she did. Her magic works best when she needs it to," Regina replied. So, apparently, his mom had the same thought as he did.
"What do you want to do now?"
Regina sighed. "I'm not sure. I'll have to think on it. Thanks for staying with the boys."
"Of course. I'll try to pair up with Tinker Bell tomorrow again and see if we can come up with something together. I don't understand how anyone's magic could beat us when we combine our powers."
"I don't ever."
"But, I won't stop," Maleficent vowed. "I'm here for you and yours, like you were there for Lily."
"Thank you."
Henry assumed Maleficent vanished. He heard his mother sigh again. Inching his way downstairs, he saw Regina on the couch with her phone to her ear again. He could not imagine who she was calling at this time in the morning. It helped him realize how much pain his mother had to be in. She went to Rumple for help and she was still trying to find things well past midnight. He went to her and gathered her in his arms.
"It's okay, Mom," Henry said.
Regina turned to him, like she did not notice him until that moment. She hastily got off her phone. She turned the embrace around quickly, her arms around him. "I know. I'll find your mother, Henry. I promise."
"I know you will. You guys rescue each other and save the day and stuff. It's what you do." She needed the faith and encouragement as much as he did. He kissed her temple and hoped it fortified her. "I believe in you and I know Ma believes you, too."
Regina nodded. "I won't let our family go."
"Did you really go see Mr. Gold?"
"I can't say I've tried everything if I haven't tried everything. Besides, Emma would do it for me."
"And what happened? Did he find her?"
Regina sighed, causing her whole body slumping, and played with the ends of Henry's hair. "Unfortunately, no."
"What do you think it means for the Blue Fairy and the Dark One to not be able to find Emma? Maybe it's not magic."
Regina shook her head. "That inclines me to believe it's magic. Someone with no magic wouldn't be able to hide her. But, this magic has to be very powerful to hide from the Blue Fairy, the Dark One, me, Maleficent, and everyone else who has taken up our cause. I still have some calls to make."
His brow furrowed. "To who?"
"There are many magic users who are night people and they're up right now. Beyond that, Ruby has been hunting all night. I check in with her every half-hour. It won't do us any good to have her vanish if she does find some sign of Emma. You should go back to bed."
Henry wanted to object, but he did not think that would help. His mother needed less stress in her life, so he could go easy on her. He kissed the side of her head again.
"Good night, Mom."
"Good night, Henry." With that, he left and she went back to making phone calls.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina did not realize she fell asleep on the couch until her phone ringing woke up her. Her phone was still in her hand and she answered without checking who called. Her heart pounded against her ribs for it to be Emma.
"Hello," Regina said, cooly. If it was Emma, this conversation was going to have two fast mood swings in it.
"Did she come home? Did you find her?" David asked.
"No. Did you?" Regina knew it was pointless to ask. David would not have asked her if he had discovered Emma, but she needed to say something.
"No. I'm going out to search with Ruby again right after a shower."
"I'd rather not think of you in the shower." She could not help herself and it was comforting to be a little normal in this time of full-fledged panic.
"No one said you had to."
"You mentioning a shower forced my imagination's hand. Call me when you start your search and I'll try the opposite direction. Maybe we'll meet in the middle and Emma will somehow be there."
"I'm scolding the hell out of her when we find her. You know… after the huggings and tears."
"The same." They hung up without farewells. She checked the time to see it was a little after five. She had time for a shower of her own and she could make breakfast before Henry got up. "Oh. He probably won't want to go to school." She was not sure if she would be all right sending him. He would be distracted the whole day and she would worry over his state of mind. Worse, what if he was a target for whoever took Emma?
Regardless, Henry would need breakfast and she still had to pump. So, she went for her shower, pumped while she had the chance, and started on breakfast. Henry wandered downstairs before she was done. There were bags under his eyes mixed with worry lines and look of considerable age. Her heart squeezed in her chest.
"It's only oatmeal and toast," she said. She was not sure either of them would be able to hold much down.
Henry grunted in response. She was fine with that and simply made him a bowl, putting cinnamon and apple slices in it for him. Putting his breakfast in front of him, Regina leaned down to kiss Henry's head.
"You can decide on going to school today," she told him.
"You're gonna find Ma, right?" he asked.
"You know I will."
He nodded. "Then, I'm okay to go. Unless you need me to watch Nathan."
"No, I'll worry about Nathan. You focus on you for now. Are you sure you want to go to school?"
He sighed, shoulders falling. "I might need the distraction. I mean, I can't help the way you and Ruby can. And I can monitor for Ma's phone on my phone."
"Be careful for me, okay?"
"I promise, Mom. I'll stick close to Grams if she comes to school and if not her, I've got my friends and they understand when stuff like this happens I could be next. I'll be fine and I'll call you if something remotely suspicious happens."
Regina nodded. It was settled then. When had her little boy gotten so mature? She was not sure and did not have time to think on it. Instead, she grabbed a bottle and went to retrieve Nathan, who had rolled onto his stomach. He looked up at her with a toothless grin. The sorrow and concern in her heart weighed down her lips, so she could not smile back.
"I will find your mama, baby. I will," she vowed. She would not let Nathan grow up without Emma. He grunted in response, which was new, but she accepted it. He might be out of sorts like she and Henry until Emma was back.
Scooping him up, she got Nathan ready for the day. He squirmed and whined like never before, still upset. She did not blame him, but she pled with him to stay still, so she could dress him. He made the whole process an ordeal. As she tried to feed him, he pushed the bottle away, a first.
"Come on, Nathan. I know you're upset over Mama, but you have to eat," Regina said. He let out a whine and dodged the bottle every time she attempted to put it to his lips. "Please. I need you to eat. I can't lose you, too." Her voice cracked.
Nathan stared at her, head tilted. Suddenly, he accepted the bottle. She slumped into the rocking chair as he drained his bottle without any fuss.
She returned downstairs with Nathan in her arms to find Henry ready for school. Maleficent and Lily were in the living room. She hoped they teleported because if they did not, it meant she was utterly distracted because she did not hear the doorbell. Lily came for Nathan immediately. He let out a wail, but then curled against her.
"I'll watch this guy while you and Mom go look for your wayward partner," Lily said. They could only hope Emma was "wayward."
"Thank you," Regina sighed. She had not thought much about what she would do with Nathan. With Ruby off searching, Granny would need to be at her business and Maleficent would be off looking with her. Her two primary babysitters were occupied.
"No problem. He and I can have some fun, right, Nathan? I'll teach you all the tricks I taught your mama in how to shoplift," Lily said. Nathan grunted. When did he learn to grunt?
Regina rubbed her temples, feeling a headache that threatened to crack her skull. She looked at Maleficent, who looked at her. She was not worried about leaving Nathan with Lily, even though Lily only watched him with her mother and Nathan seemed to be in a pissy mood. Lily would do her best with him. Maleficent seemed like she was ready to go, arms crossed, index finger tapping against her elbow. Regina was just as impatient.
"Henry, go straight to school," Regina ordered. He might claim he wanted the distraction and he would be careful, but he was just as likely to wander off and start his own investigation for his mother. He only nodded and headed out the door. She turned to Lily. "You know where everything is."
Lily nodded. "I got this. Go. Find your idiot." Nathan whined and squirmed, almost throwing himself out her arms. Maybe he did not want to stay with Lily.
Regina narrowed her eyes on Lily while comforting Nathan, rubbing his back. "I've told you about that." She did not approve of Lily even playfully insulting Emma. Lily hurt Emma almost as much as she did and Lily needed to own that rather than downplay it, especially since Lily understood Emma better than most.
Lily held up her hand in surrender as Nathan settled down again. "Sorry. Nervous. I know Emma's not my biggest fan, but I wish she'd forgive me. I want her to forgive me."
Regina knew that feeling, but definitely not to the point Lily did. By the time the feeling seeped through her, they were in Neverland and Emma had already considered them… something. Regina was never sure what. But, then again, she understood when Emma and Henry came back during the Second Curse that "something" was about the only thing that made sense for them. They had always been "something," even before they realized it. Maybe the moment Emma arrived on her doorstep with their son, they were "something."
"You have to show her you want that and then it's up to her," Regina told Lily, who nodded.
"Let's go," Maleficent said.
Regina nodded, gave Nathan one last look to make sure he was all right, kissed his cheek, and they were off. They tried different locator spells, but they did nothing. It was a magical wild goose chase. They did not understand.
"How the hell is possible for us to not be able to find her?" Maleficent screamed in frustration as they stood in the eastern section of Storybrooke. This was beyond infuriating.
"Do you think someone kidnapped her to another realm?" Regina pondered.
"The locator spells wouldn't take us to so many different locations around town. Not to mention, Rumple would've still be able to find her. He would've at least been able to tell us what realm to look in. The Blue fairy would've been able to gather something as well. Hell, even Tink would've at least been able to say she's not in this realm anymore. Now, this is something even more insidious. Something beyond us," Maleficent said.
Regina agreed and was about to say as much, but her phone rang and her heart leaped in her chest. She answered immediately without looking, once again hoping it was Emma. "Hello."
"Regina." It was Mulan.
"Did you find her?"
"Yeah…" Mulan sounded confused, though.
Regina's heart sped up. "Is something wrong? Is she hurt?"
"I… I do not know. I do not know what I am looking at. I don't even understand what just happened."
"What don't you understand, Mulan? What happened? Where are you?" Regina asked. More importantly, where was Emma?
"I am by the park. Emma is here… but…"
Regina did not hear the rest. With a wave of her hand, she vanished and reappeared at the park, right next to Mulan. Mulan did not even flinch.
"Where?" Regina accidentally barked.
Mulan shook her head, but she pointed ahead of them and there Emma was. Emma was walking arm and arm with Hook. Regina snarled.
"Oh, hell no!" Regina moved with purpose driving her forward, heels stabbing into the concrete.
"Regina, wait!" Mulan jogged up behind her. "Regina, I already tried to engage Emma and it was… weird."
"Of course it's weird. She's hanging on the arms of that pirate bastard. He's probably managed to find a love potion from some lowlife magic user and now he's poisoned Emma. I will not stand by as he tries to ruin her life for his own selfish Happy Ending." Regina moved even faster.
Mulan's face twisted, but Regina did not stick around to explain more. Mulan continued to trail behind her as she caught up to Emma. She could hear Emma giggle over whatever dreck Hook was spouting. She had to be under a love spell. Emma never giggled. She grabbed Emma by the elbow and gave a gentle pull.
"Emma," Regina said.
Emma spun around with Hook. Regina did not miss the smug look in his dark eyes and the smirk on his face, but she ignored him. Her eyes stayed on her partner. Emma did not look any different, even though she scowled when she focused on Regina. It was an odd effect for the love potion, unless Emma was upset for her taking away her attention from her perceived center of the world — Hook.
"Regina." Emma said her name with unknown animosity. Not even when they were enemies had Emma said her name with such deep hatred.
"Emma, I know it doesn't feel like it, but you're under a spell," Regina replied, hand still on Emma. She needed to touch Emma, to be assured she was there, even if it was under difficult circumstances. Emma had not left. Emma was somewhat unharmed. But, why couldn't we find her? She would worry about that later.
"Like I'd believe anything you'd say. You're a liar," Emma stated with venom that poured from her demeanor and eyes.
While it was true, it hurt to have Emma say such a thing. She would never lie to Emma now. Mentally, she shook it off. Emma was not herself. The words came from the spell, not Emma.
"Not only are you a liar, but you hurt me more than anyone else on the damn planet. Hell, you took me from Killian," Emma continued with a hard glare.
Regina could not believe what she was hearing. "I took you from who? You're not even pissed over me taking you from your parents, but from this walking pile of excrement? Which we all know isn't even true, as you left this ridiculous waste of air with no help from me." She curled her lip at him.
"Don't talk about my True Love like that!" Emma roared and she balled her hand up into a fist, like she planned to hit Regina.
Regina glanced at Hook, who puffed out his chest. This bastard was proud of what he had done, taking Emma's agency from her. How dare he! Regina needed this to be over now, so she threw herself into Emma, kissing her for all she was worth. Emma made a noise of genuine disgust and threw Regina to the ground.
"Gross! What the hell is wrong with you, you nasty bitch?" Emma snarled. "Who the hell do you think you are doing that to me? I don't want you! I never wanted you. I just wanted Killian and you tried to take him from me. You tried to brainwash me."
Regina stayed on the ground, unable to gather enough dignity to stand. How could it not work? She loved Emma with all her heart and soul. A wishing star had granted them a family together. They had to have True Love and it should break any curse. It should. Cracks splintered through her heart like shattered ice and she knew she would never be able to pick up the pieces.
"Emma, I love you," was all Regina could manage at the moment. It was the truth. Nothing would ever be truer.
Emma looked at her like she was the lowest life form in existence. "You're a plague, Regina. A disgusting virus more vile and vicious than anything we've ever faced. You come through and try to kill everything right and good for everyone. You separated me from my parents, my son, and my True Love. You're the worst type of person because you don't even feel bad about it. You say you love me? No, you love fucking with me, just like everyone else. You're a fucking plague and you should just do us all a favor and die. We both know that bastard kid of yours would be better off if you were gone. After all, didn't you have three kids that would rather be dead than yours?"
If the words from before hurt, those murdered Regina. Emma had just referred to their beautiful baby boy as a bastard. Those could not be her words. They would never be her words, but still, them coming from her mouth, it opened a gushing wound. Worse than that, Emma telling her to go die, after learning all of her secrets. Emma knew what words like that could do to her, the spiral it could send her down and the ending that was always possible. And even worse, mentioning her stillborns. Her three children who had not had a chance to even breath their first breath. How could she use those intimacies as weapons? What had Hook done to her?
"I think you've said it all, love. Very good. Let's go," Hook said, holding out his arm. Emma latched on with both hands.
"Emma," Regina whimpered, wanting to reach out and snatch Emma from Hook. Even now, all she could think about was getting Emma away from that festering rat. He could not be trusted. She did not want to think of the monstrous things he might do to Emma to punish her for leaving him. "Don't go with him! Emma!"
Emma did not even turn around. Regina tried to get up, but it was hard. It was like she was hollow inside, her muscles shredded and her bones sawdust. How were they supposed to pick her up? Thankfully, Mulan was there and pulled her to her feet. Beyond that, Regina forgot about Maleficent, but her oldest friend was there as well.
"Listen carefully, Hook. You're playing with more than fire right now. Poisoning Emma is one thing, but poisoning her against her actual family is another. You will rue this day, sir. You will," Maleficent vowed, speaking words Regina could not dredge up at the moment.
"We will not rest until we right this wrong," Mulan promised.
Hook regarded them with a grin. "This is what you don't understand. The wrong has already been righted. Justice is served as Emma is back where she belongs, back where she wants to be. Right, love?"
"Of course. I love you," Emma said and then she leaned in, slowly kissing Hook. Regina did not know she was going to be sick until her shoes were covered in half-digested oatmeal. Who knew Emma being missing would be the easy part?
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: the group tries to figure out what happened to Emma.