Hello beautiful people! I haven't been writing lately..been having much writer's block, and I have been working on my own book lolz. But I truly hope you guys like it! Thanks!
Disclaimer:All of the fairy tale creatures that I have NOT created
Chapter 11
"So, everyone knows why we are here today." David said while he stood up in the Mayor's office. "We've had Annabella locked up for two weeks now."
"Yea, so?" Regina hissed. She had already known the route that they were going to approach before they had. Still, she decided to let him finish. However, Emma continued.
"So-" she sighed. "We're contemplating letting her go."
"Why?" Regina quickly retorted.
"Because, Regina, just like everyone else the kid deserves a second chance."
"And what makes you think that her second chance will not be to kill us all?" Regina returned to Emma's comment incredulously.
"Regina, El could have easily gotten out of the jail." Emma commented.
"Not if she didn't have the control to summon her power when needed." Regina pointed out.
Emma sighed and shook her head. She knew that had she came with another point that Regina would have countered with one just as infallible.
"Regina, don't you think you're being a bit harsh, luv, considering your history?" Hook added.
Regina turned her gaze. He was right, but his point of view was certainly not requested. "Oh, so now the pirate has all the answers of a saint." she hissed.
"Of course not, luv. But the fact still remain that this lot did risk their safety when they let you roam free." He returned with his devilishly charming smile.
"Look-" she spat. "I understand you've turned a new leaf and all, but do not forget where you came from either, Hook. Ruining relationlips and lives left and right. You've never really had anyone to care for, although you would probably like to think that you took care of Neal for a while but that was only because you had his mother killed-"
"That's enough, Regina!" Emma demanded.
Regina eyed Emma and then turned back to Hook. "No, it's not. You see, like I said, you-do not have a child-so naturally, you do not understand where I am coming from." she looked back at Emma. "We may be placing Henry at risk. I will not keep placing my child at risk because of speculations and hope-"
"Regina, Henry's my kid too." Emma defended. "And-" she thought about what El had said concerning her abandoning Henry as soon as he was born and felt the sudden guilt of trying to claim a child that she had no hand in raising during the most sleepless years of his life. "I know that I have not been a mother as long as you have, but-I love Henry just as much as you." she replied. "And I would never fathom placing him at risk."
Regina knew that Emma loved Henry, and she knew, as well, that Emma would not intentionally place him in harm's way. "But that's just it, Emma." She looked up into her eyes. "Lately, that seems to be all we've done."
Emma considered Regina's words unarguably true. She exhaled deeply. "You're right. We always seem to put Henry at risk." She shook her head.
"Yes, but we all know that Henry would agree with you on this, Emma." Killian pointed out. "He's the spokesman for handing out second chances."
"Killian's right." Charming interceded.
"I agree with Emma." Snow added. "This girl-she's not here to cause trouble."
"Hey, guys." Ruby entered the office along with granny. She turned her gaze to Emma. "You told me to bring granny."
"Hurry this up." Granny said in a stoic manner. "I have a busy diner to get back to."
"Thank you for coming by." Charming said gratifyingly.
She nodded with a curt smile before she rushed the business. "So why am I here?"
"You remember the girl that-you let stay at your inn-"
"Is that a joke?" she asked in frustration. "The girl has ruined my bread and breakfast! And the damage is irreversible to the point where the faeries cannot even fix it!"
"I know, I know." Snow White assured. "And we are terribly sorry about that."
"Sorry isn't going to fix my roof." Granny spat as she cut her eye at Ruby, who granted her a sheepish look before she returned her attention to Snow. "And besides, what are you sorry for? You didn't put the hole there."
"Look." Snow White replied before Granny could start in another banter. "We wanted to know-what you thought about her?" she asked. Before Granny could answer with a reply that they all knew would not truly answer the question, she continued. "Aside, from her messing up your roof." she added. "What did you think of her before?" she asked.
Granny hesitated before replied. "Well, I wasn't really with her for long. But from what I could tell from the little time I did see the girl- well she seemed a nice girl-not very trusting and quite the scary sort, I have to admit."
"Scary, as in?"
"Well-" Ruby replied. "she tried to sneak out of the back of the diner, when I gave her her food."
"What happened when you caught up to her?" Charming asked.
"She hadn't left just yet before I came outside through the back." Ruby answered. "She was leaned against the wall of the building observing her surroundings." she exhaled. "she was afraid." she recalled that day vividly. "she said that she felt like stopping to get something to eat was not such a good idea."
"Wh-did she tell you why she was afraid?" Snow asked with concern.
"And what she was running from?" Regina asked.
"Well the last family that she was staying with wasn't what you would call fit parents. From what I could understand of what she told me, they would lock her up in a cellar in their basement like some animal. I mean she has solid reasoning to be paranoid, as far as I'm concerned." Ruby scoffed. "I mean, it's pretty hard for her to trust people. Come on, look how long it took to tell you her name. And that's an easy answer to give-"
"Not necessarily." Emma mumbled. When hearing of the things that Ella had apparently told Ruby, it became clearer and clearer why she was the way that she was. Ella's life was built on distrust. Emma nodded her head in understanding of how it all made sense. "She's a foster kid." she defended. "Going from home to home; waiting for the next family you're sent to, to get tired of you." the kid was feisty and very hard headed, but Emma understood why. "That's cause enough to run away from something." she replied. She looked around the room at the others. "I think we should let her go." before Regina could rebut, Emma pleaded the case. "She's the only one that can fix Granny's roof. And that is beside the fact that-" She hesitated as she was about to reiterate what Killian had said. "This town can give you a second chance, why can't you give her one? Not to mention; I mean come on, the kid was locked in a basement and kept as a pet before she got here. I'd think that granted some sort of leniency."
Hearing what Ruby said, concerning Ella's past-assuming it was the truth, Regina did feel sympathy on that aspect. "Fine." She finally resigned. "Give the girl a chance. After all, you've done it before." She said. Her tone was slightly sardonic, though her words were not in total disagreement with her thoughts, as Regina was once the most powerful one running the town; aside that of Gold of course. She grabbed her bag and started for the door. "I have to go. I trust you'll call me if you need me, per the norm-"
"Actually!" Emma stopped Regina as she made way to the door.
Regina turned around, and when saw the odd look on everyone's face, found curiosity in her own. "What?"
"Um-well. We are going to let her go-but-well, she needs to learn how to use."
"And what am I supposed to do about that?"
"Regina, let's face facts. You are the most experienced of us all in control; aside Gold. And I'm sure he's not willing to help."
"You cannot be sure of that." Regina replied. When no one answered, she continued in frustration. "Look, I swung my lonely accountable vote over to your side for letting the girl go but that does not mean I want much to do with her."
"Regina, Please!" Snow begged. "Please give her a chance. You're the only one that can help Granny."
"That is not the reason you want me to help her." Regina called Snow out on her bull.
"Okay, okay-we're not getting anywhere with this." Charming intervened. He looked at Regina. "Okay, Regina, how about a deal?"
Regina stood there, arms crossed as her interest was piqued. "I'm listening."
Charming gave her a small grin. "You go and talk to the girl." he replied. "Feel her out and see how you feel about her." he conditioned. "And if you still feel like she's harmful then we will go from there, but if not then you have to teach her how to reverse the magic she has done."
"Doesn't sound like much of a deal." Regina mumbled. However, she reluctantly agreed; if none only for the sake of her son, knowing that had Henry found out that she was not willing to help the new stranger in town he would give her guilt.
She rolled her eyes and turned away. "Fine." she replied. "But later." she opened the door. "I do have prior obligations."
"Regina, we're talking about a girl's freedom here!" Snow exclaimed.
Regina turned her head slightly. "She's been waiting two weeks. I'm sure a couple of hours won't make much in the way of a difference." she replied. She opened the door. "Besides, I'm sure you'll keep her company, until I get there." she said and then left.
"She might have changed her ways," Killian started. "But she still has her ways."
Emma snickered and turned her gaze to him. "Don't we all?"
Three hours past when Regina reluctantly came back to the police station. And unfortunately, Henry had insisted on coming as well. She did not agree with his decision but knew that had she left him, he would have easily found his way to the police station. After all, he did find his way to Emma once before.
"Regina." Snow smiled brightly. "Thanks for coming."
"Yes, let's just get this over with." she headed into the room along with a few others who had apparently, thought it prevelant to come. "What is this? Some sort of circus party?" she asked sarcastically while she looked around in annoyance.
"That, is a good question." Ella spat as she crossed her arms in annoyance.
Snow noticed how anxious Annabella was becoming. Uncomfortable was an obvious understatement to how she must have been feeling. "Anna-"
"Why, are these people here?" Ella demanded. "Am-what am I the new prize freak show of the town or something? Is that what this is? You sent these people here to show them who the monster is that destroyed-"
"El, no one is trying to persecute you." Charming reassured. "They just wanted to put a face to name." he reassured. Or at least he attempted.
Ella did not distrust the Sheriff Charming, as it obvious that he and Snow were one and Ella found it quite hard to believe that Snow would fall for someone who was not as valiant as she. After all, he was considered the Prince Charming after all. So he could not have been but so untrustworthy. But in her opinion, this all was still entirely too much to process or deal with.
"This is uncomfortable." Ella muttered. "I came here to be anonymous. Not for everyone to know who I am."
"We all try to escape and start over." Regina replied. "But its not that simple." she started to speak a little more when she remembered all that was present in the station. She turned around to the faeries and dwarves, along with the others who tried to squeeze in and see the new stranger that single handedly destroyed the roof of Granny's bed and breakfast. "Do you mind?" Regina hissed as she eyed them all.
They all looked around before, Emma chimed in. "She's right. It is getting a little crowded in here. Actually, starting to become a fire hazard. So if you all do not mind.."
And with that, everyone disappointedly filed out of the room. "Thank you." Both Ella and Regina replied simultaneously. They both drew a look at one another before they released the slight tension.
Ella turned her gaze to the evil queen. "And how would you know?" she asked her.
Charming placed a chair behind Regina so that she could sit in front of the cell. Regina thanked him and proceeded to sit down. "How do you think everyone got here, Ella?" she asked.
Ella watched her, arms crossed. She approached the cell bars closer. "You sent everyone from the storybook into-Storybrooke?" she incredulously asked.
Regina did not answer with words but a knowing and somewhat prideful smile.
"You really are the evil queen." she scoffed. When she saw the grimace on Regina's face she attempted to defend her words. "I mean, well no offense. But I didn't know that-I don't know-I just." she exhaled harshly. "I don't know what I know anymore." she muttered.
"Yes, I suppose it can be a bit hard to process. Especially, to an outsider." she continued. When the girl did not respond to Regina's comment, she continued. "Why did you decide to come here?" she asked. "Did you know about this place?" she asked.
Ella looked at her. Some part of her wanted to answer but she hesitated. "I know that Ms. Snow and her Charming have a seeming trust." she glanced at Emma. "Even Swan seems to be growing on me." when Ella saw Emma smirk. "And maybe, I am growing on her." she smirked before she returned to Regina. "But you, I know, dislike me." she said. "Though, I am not sold on the thought of completely disliking you. Still, why should I think that you are going to believe anything that I tell you?"
Regina thought on what the girl had said. 'She wasn't completely sold on disliking me?' she thought to herself. Why? Regina wanted to ask but decided against it. "I guess you are right in that aspect." she replied. "But, surely you can not blame me."
"And why is that?"
"Well the last woman that entered this town caused an almost eternal ice age. And the ones before that, tried to destroy our lives. So, you see-you in your young age do not understand my point of view on distrust."
"Oh-" Ella chuckled harshly. "You'd be surprised." she replied. Ella hesitated for a moment, taking in her surroundings. "Why do you think I'm here? I do not trust anyone. Never had the reason to, nor did I ever have the opportunity until now." she glanced Snow's and Charming's way and then Emma before returning her gaze to Regina. "Which is why I made no plans in trying to escape." she sat on the bunk. "So, Regina, I understand precisely why you do not trust me. In fact, I wouldn't blame you if you kept me here. Or banished or whatever it is you guys do as capital punishment." she teased. "Though, I hope its not like death or anything, I guess."
That comment caused a bit of a small chuckle from Regina. "Hmph-we work differently around here, though, I should caution that this place isn't always safe."
"What place is?" Henry cut in as he stepped forward with a smile on his face. "Hey, my name is Henry."
Ella smiled. "Henry, Regina's kid." she then looked at Emma. "And Emma's."
"Yea, best of two worlds." Henry countered.
"Pretty awesome." Ella replied. "The savior and the evil que-or well the former evil queen. Lucky kid." Ella replied. "You don't me asking, where's your dad-"
"Ella-" Snow tried to cut her off as to scorn her in a motherly manner.
Ella caught off guard turned her gaze to them. "What?" she asked when she took in her surroundings and noticed how heavy the room started to become. From such a reaction, she gathered that he had not a happy ending. "Oh, I'm sorry-I shouldn't have-"
"No it's alright." Henry replied. "He sacrificed his life for us." he replied.
"Wow-" Ella replied. "I'm so sorry to hear th-"
"Don't be." he replied. "My father's a hero."
"Well aren't you a sophisticated and mature kid." Ella smiled. "Well looks like your moms are doing a good job. Lucky you." she smiled.
Regina watched the girl as she enteracted with Henry. She was harmless. "I think I've heard enough." she said getting up from her seat. She turned to Henry and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, sweetie and she started to leave."
"Wait, Regina?" Snow caught up to her. "You're really not going to give her a chance?"
"You have my vote." Regina quickly said. It seemingly pained her to admit to such a thing but she did.
"Really?" Snow replied, with a beginning smile.
Regina sighed. "Although, she isobviously capable of danger, and we do need to figure out why she is so powerful and who she is-" she exhaled. "I do not think that she is intentionally harmful. And besides, I did not say anything about this earlier, but our borders are protected by magic. There is no way that she should have been allowed to get through." she scoffed. "If she's that powerful, then it would be best to keep her on our side."
Snow nodded. "You're right." she replied.
After a moment of silence, Regina nodded. "Goodnight-"
"Hey um-Regina, there is one more thing."
"Hey, mom, did you ask her?" Emma asked, as Charming and Henry approached.
Regina turned around, with newfound curiosity on her features. "Ask me what?"
"I was just getting to that." Snow said sheepishly.
When Regina saw the odd look of anxiousness on their features she pushed the subject. "What?"
"Well Ella's blast, knocked out some of the plumming, and well-when we release her-" Snow started. "I mean-our place is too small right now and-"
Regina started to understand what it was that they were saying but she, once again, allowed for them to finish. Or at least she tried to wait for them to finish.
"Well-Ella's going to need a place to-" Emma started.
"What? Stay?" Regina interceded before Emma could finish.
"I mean well, the bed and breakfast is-"
"Not completely in ruins."
"Yes, but what if she does it again?"
Regina turned around completely. "Oh, so you'd rather my roof get blown off this time-"
"No, but you are powerful enough to prevent it from happening."
Regina saw the pleading gaze of Emma and the others. "This is ridiculous!" she hissed. "And how do you even know she would want to stay with me? She knows I am not fond of her! And not to mention Henry-"
"Actually, I wouldn't mind mom." Henry smiled. "I think its a good idea. That way we can find out more."
Regina found it hard to rebut against him on the subject because he was quite a good judge of character for the most part. "Ruby said that she doesn't take handouts, so what makes you think she would just happily st-"
"I thought about that too!" Snow exclaimed. "You see-she's, well she doesn't have any control of her powers, so maybe-if you were willing to mentor-"
"Oh! So you release her and I take care of her! I-you want me to babysit this girl?! Seems like I'm the one getting the brunt of this! And I didn't even ask for this!"
"But Regina, you said yourself that she needs to be taught how to control her power and that it would be better if we were on the same side-"
"Not to mention that you're the most trustworthy person that has complete control over her powers!" Emma added.
"Mom-come on. I've seen how much you've changed throughout this year. For the good." Henry reasoned. "Maybe doing this will bring you a step closer to finding your happy ending. I mean odd and magical things happen in storybrooke when you do good things."
Regina sighed. "I'm starting to think that you're using this happy ending thing as leverage." she teased with a smile. She looked at the others who as well held hopeful looks on their faces. "Fine. But I won't be easy on her."
"This is going to be awesome." Henry grinned.
"Not for you-" Regina countered.
"Wai-mom, what do you mean?"
"Just because I am allowing this, does not mean that I completely trust her or her abilities for that matter."
"But m-"
"I'd rather you not be staying here while she is-"
"But mom I-"
"Henry." Emma intervened. "I have to agree with Regina on this one." she replied. "Her power is irreversible and very erratic. I'm not saying that you can't visit Regina, but for now-you cannot stay under the same roof as her."
Henry sucked his teeth and rolled his eyes. "This sucks."
Regina agreed with her son as she preferred him being there rather than this young girl whom she had to apparently, train. "I'd have to agree with your sentiments on this one, Henry." she smirked and kissed his forehead. She then looked at Emma and Charming. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
I hope you guys liked it! Please Review! Thanks for reading! :)