merry christmas everyone! here is my present to you :)
i'm having a bit of writer's block, so it may be a few days before i upload a new chapter. i'll keep working though! thank you so much for reading :)
Regina only had to wait about ten minutes before her mother stormed through her front door, followed closely by Captain Hook. She tried her best to look relaxed as her mother stood in front of her.
"Would you like anything to drink, mother?"
"I would like to know what you wanted to talk about."
"Please, sit." Cora sat ladylike on the couch in front of her while Hook stayed standing and leaned against the wall next to the fireplace.
"I thought about what you said. You were right. I do need you, mother. The people here, they do not love me as I hoped they would. I want to work with you, not just because you have my heart, but because I know that you have always had my best interests."
Cora smiled. "Of course I have, dear. This is fantastic. I am so happy you are finally doing what is right."
"Yes, mother. I think it is best for you to fit in before we start to take back the town. I can show you how. Just follow me." Regina got up and walked up the stairs. Her mother followed close behind and listened as Regina explained what this world was like. She showed her how to use the shower and waited patiently until she was sure her mother would not notice her sneak in and take the satchel. She grabbed it quickly and shut the bathroom door silently before sneaking back downstairs.
Hook stood from where he had been sitting. "You got it?"
Regina just smiled and opened the bag. Hook grabbed her heart carefully and held it in front of them. "Are you ready?"
"Just do it."
Hook quickly pushed the heart into her chest. She gasped but then smiled as she felt her heart beating regularly inside her chest once again. "Thank you, Killian."
"Of course, love." Hook tilted her face slightly and kissed her. She pulled apart after a moment, a puzzled look on her face. "What is it?"
"The shower isn't running anymore..." Regina quickly turned as they heard the floor creak.
"I should have known you lied to me. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Cora stood in the doorway, dressed in the clothes Regina had given her.
"It doesn't matter because I have my heart back. You couldn't control me then and you certainly can't control me now." Regina pushed Hook behind her, his hand on her waist.
Cora pulled out her small dagger and played with it as she smiled. "Well I'm just going to have to teach you two a lesson. You will do what I say eventually."
"Sorry mother, but we have somewhere to be." Regina smiled as the purple fog began to surround them.
Cora's expression showed her true anger. "No!" She yelled as she threw the knife. Her daughter and her former ally were gone.
Snow and David were talking in her living room as Emma was listening to Henry read from his book. Suddenly, Regina and Hook were standing in the middle of the room.
"You did it!" Snow shouted. Henry raced to hug his mother and high five Hook.
"Yes we did. But she knows." Hook answered.
"It doesn't matter. We will fight her." David answered. "But are you sure you are alright? Regina, you look pale."
Hook let go of Regina and turned her towards him to study her. "He's right."
"Oh god. Who's blood is that?" Emma pulled Henry close to her.
Snow rushed around the counter to examine her step-mother, who was holding her side. She pulled her hands away and saw the source of the blood.
"My mother threw her dagger as I transported us here. I thought it was too late, but she hit me." Regina explained as she stared at the blood on her hands. She felt light headed and started to fall back as Hook caught her. He picked her up and laid her on the couch, putting pressure on the wound.
David looked through cabinets before he finally found a first aid kit. He quickly brought it over to the couch and knelt next to Hook. Emma and Henry stood behind them and Snow stood, holding Regina's hand.
"Emma, call Whale. She is going to need some stitches." David took charge.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long before the doctor arrived. Even though Regina hated him, she knew she needed his help so she allowed him to pull out the dagger and stitch her up. Snow squeezed Regina's hand as she cried out. Whale nodded to her and left before she could try to hurt him.
Hook wiped his hands on his pants and pushed Regina's hair out of her face. "It is okay, love. You are going to be fine."
"Thank you." Regina whispered. She reached out to Henry. He stepped out of Emma's embrace and grabbed her hand as he wiped away some of his tears.
"Henry, you heard Killian. I'm going to be okay." She smiled at him, knowing that he was scared.
"But-"
"No buts, dear. You can't kill the Evil Queen that easily." She winked.
"I don't think you are evil, mom. I was just upset that you lied to me. I love you."
"I love you too, Henry." She pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head. "But that doesn't mean you get to stay up past your bedtime, my little knight."
"Awwwww, mom!"
"She's right, Henry. It's been a long day." David saw the look on his grandson's face. "I promise we will wake you up if anything happens. Now go to bed."
"Okay, fine. But... will someone stay with me?" Henry asked sheepishly.
Emma nodded. She figured that she wouldn't be much help for the rest of the night. She had no clue how to defeat the powerful witch. She also wanted to make sure her son was okay. Henry hugged his family and gave Hook an awkward handshake before heading upstairs. Emma said goodnight to everyone and followed him to her room.
Regina waited until she was sure Henry was upstairs before trying to sit up. Hook carefully helped her and grabbed her hand when she was upright.
"I didn't want to say this when Henry was here, but that dagger might be poisoned. Let me look at it."
Hook handed her the bloody dagger. She examined it and shook her head. "It's not poisoned." She relaxed against Hook.
Snow walked over to her husband and wrapped her arms around him. "Then I'd say today was pretty successful."
The four laughed.
"Yes, well let's hope tomorrow is a little less painful." Regina joked even as her held her side.
"Perhaps now is a good time to sleep so we can figure out what to do with Cora in the morning." Hook suggested, realizing that Regina was exhausted.
"Good idea. We can pull out the couch for you two if that's okay. I'm sorry, but this apartment is small, so there isn't too much room. Maybe we should look for a new apartment after all this, Charming."
David rolled his eyes as his wife explained the concept of the pull-out couch to Hook. It was already made, so she pulled it out for them as David grabbed a few blankets.
"If she needs anything, feel free to wake us up. We will be right down the hall." David said to Hook before he and Snow said goodnight.
Hook carefully laid Regina down. "How are you feeling, love?"
"I'm okay. But my mother-"
"Don't worry about her right now, okay? I won't let her hurt you."
Regina smiled and pulled him closer. She rested her head on his chest and fell asleep. Killian lay awake for a few minutes, thankful to have the woman he loved in his arms. He knew he had to tell her how he felt in the morning. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.