Yay! I finally got my internet back! (I was out of power for 6 days and without cable or internet for 10 because of Hurricane Isaac)
Emma decided to send a search team out to the woods before pressing Regina any further. While she was coordinating that, Regina got an unexpected visitor. "Henry?" He looked angry and sad, but he walked with a purpose. "I don't think you're supposed to be here," she warned. He kept walking until he was standing inches from her cell. "I have one question." His voice was demanding. Regina nodded her head. "Did you do it?" Regina leaned over, putting her hands on her knees. She was eye level with him. "No."
Henry looked relieved. It was amazing that this boy knew her so well. He could tell when she was lying. Years of saying that she wasn't the evil queen didn't stop Henry from believing it, but now he's the only one who believes her as she tells the truth. Henry started thinking. "Who do you think did it?" Regina shook her head. "I didn't even know she was missing until I was arrested. Emma said everyone had an alibi. It could be anyone." Henry perked up, "Don't worry, I'll do some digging on my end." Regina couldn't help but chuckle at his cuteness and determination.
"How is Baelfire?" Regina asked with a grim face. Henry looked sympathetic. "He's confused. He doesn't really want to be around any of us right now. He just stays in his room." Regina nodded as Henry turned to leave and begin his new mission. "Oh, Henry," Regina just remembered. "There's a dog outside. I guess he's ours now. You can name him, and make sure to feed him." Henry smiled and excitedly ran out the door.
James and Emma had almost searched the entire forest when they saw something by a creek. As they hurried over to it, they saw the legs of an unconscious body lying on the ground. When James saw the short dark hair, he felt his heart sink. Was she alive? Was she hurt? They ran over to her and turned her over. She was breathing. Emma scooped up some water in her hands and tossed it on Snow's face. She smiled as her eyes opened, seeing his charming blue eyes.
Then, she saw their urgent and worried faces. "What happened?" Emma and James were on the verge of tears. James said, "You've been missing. We thought you were dead." Tears filled his eyes, and Snow consoled him. "So you don't remember what happened?" Emma asked. Snow shook her head, "The last thing I remember is talking to Regina." Snow squinted from pain in the back of her head. When she put her hand on the back of her neck, Emma noticed the dried blood.
"Let's get you to the hospital. I don't want you anywhere near Regina. At all!" Emma ordered. Snow still looked a little out of it. "You think she did this?" Both James and Emma nodded. Snow wasn't sure what to believe.
Despite Henry's belief that Regina is innocent and Snow's uncertainty of events, Emma has charged Regina with assault and attempted murder. Since she was four months pregnant, they decided to sentence her later and execute the sentence after the child is born. There is no trial, everyone thinks she's guilty. Henry visits her frequently. Sometimes he brings Bae who wants to support his wife and unborn child, but the evidence makes him weary. He comes to make sure she's okay and spends time with her. Visits are short though. Short and limited. Snow is still kept far away from the station as long as Regina is there.
James keeps his distance from Regina also. He is furious at her and has no doubt about her guiltiness. Henry named the dog Chance, and he bonded with it. It gets along with everyone, but there is something about Regina and Henry that makes the dog know who his owners are. The day before Regina's sentencing, Snow demanded to see her. She wouldn't take no for an answer.
When Snow entered the room with Emma and Charming at her sides, she was surprised to see Regina with slightly longer hair and a huge belly. Nothing else was big though, like other expecting woman whose whole body swells because of an increased appetite. Regina was fed just enough to live and nourish her baby, so she was still as skinny as usual everywhere else. She was at seven and a half months.
With difficulty, Regina stood up and walked to the front of the cell. The room was silent until Snow asked her question. "Did you do it?" Regina was so tired of being asked that. Everyone thinks she's lying so why not put it bluntly. Regina grabbed the bars with her hands and leaned forward to where her face was as close to Snow's as possible. "Honey," she smiled. "If I wanted you to be dead, you'd be dead." Snow took this in. Most people would've been frightened, but she was kind of relieved. Emma was growing impatient, "Stop with the lies and the tricks and the games and just fess up." Regina glared at Emma. Snow turned to face Emma. "She has a point. Why am I still alive if she was trying to kill me?"
"Maybe she was interrupted or she changed her mind, but she still did it. She's the only one that could've." Snow still looked doubtful. She remembered how Regina was acting that night. The only person Regina hated that night was herself. Regina saw that Snow may believe her innocence so she whispered in Snow's ear from behind her, "Talk to Henry." Snow gave Regina an affirmative look out of the corner of her eye and left.
That night, Regina was woken up by the sound of someone entering the room. She sat up but didn't rise when she saw that it was Rumpel. "How does it feel to be on the other side of the bars this time dearie?" Regina just looked at him. "Justice at last," he continued. Regina smirked, "Justice for the wrong crime." Rumpel smiled. This conversation was going exactly where he wanted it to go. "So who do you think did it?" Regina was quick to answer, "You. Somehow. Someway. You."
"Well, I've always said you are a smart woman. Rash and foolish, but smart. But of course it wasn't just me. You see, I needed an alibi. So after I helped the real perpetrator out, I appeared at Granny's Dinner in front of many people and ordered a drink." Regina didn't look surprised. "Who's the guilty party?" she asked. Rumpel smiled, "Oh, he'll be here later." "Why?" "Well, I guess that's what he'll tell you when he gets here." Regina grew impatient, "No, I mean, why are you telling me this?" "Because dearie. Tomorrow you'll be brought to a place with no visitors, no magic, and no chance of me seeing you before your execution." Regina shot him a look, "Who says I'm being executed?" "Oh dearie, we both know that's how it's going to end up. Anyway, I want you to think about everything that's happened. I want you to agonize over this. Remember how your friend and I brought you down without any suspicion. No one believes you, and no one ever will." With that, he left.
Regina was full of anxiety and depression while she was made to wait for the man who has ruined her. She's been feeling this way a lot lately. All she wants to do is crawl in a hole and hide. If she could just become invisible and just walk from point A to point B without feeling the hateful and judgmental stares of others. She had this suffocating weight of fear and apprehension. She was already anticipating the pain of punishment. Simply pulling herself up into the sitting position to eat took all of the little strength that she had. The only reason she ate was because of the baby. Starving to death was looking better than what lies ahead. She kept forgetting to breathe. It felt like someone was constricting her with a belt around her ribcage. She was now realizing the gravity of the situation. She was going down. This Queen was crumbling.