A/N: Happy Sunday peeps! And, in response to one of my reviewers, yes this does seem like the longest bank robbery in history but in reality it's been about 45 minutes…
"Emma, we can't leave Robert," Regina said in a hushed whisper as the blonde led her from the room. She glanced back over her shoulder, glimpsing the bank manager sat before his son, a mix of fear and resignation on his features.
"Yeah, we can," Emma replied through gritted teeth. In reality, the idea that they were walking away from a man whom, she sensed, was about to face a singular judge, jury and executioner, made her sick to the pit of her stomach. But there was a greater terror which commanded her feet as they steered herself and Regina towards the rear exit of the bank.
Regina twisted in her grip, as if trying to break free. Instinctively, Emma jerked the slender bicep around which her hand grasped.
"Ouch," Regina grumbled, as the blonde pulled her forwards.
"Just walk with me, goddamn it. Or do you want Neal to kill you too?"
The abruptness of the statement made Regina stop fighting. The two of them walked the short distance to the fire exit in silence. As they passed the doorway through to the main bank, Regina glanced inside. From what she could see, nothing had changed from the last time she had been there. Was the gunshot victim still alive? How long until the other hostages were free? She discounted herself as a hostage in that question, as she could tell her ordeal was far from over. Terrifying as it was, the warmth of Emma's palm against her skin calmed her slightly.
Emma noted as they arrived at the back door the large bags of money were stacked against the wall. Well, at least Neal had followed through with some of their plan. She wondered, briefly, where Felix was. It was impossible to think he was still waiting in the alley for them; the whole place was swarmed by police. But had he got away, or had he been apprehended? Emma wasn't sure which option she preferred. She had never particularly warmed to Felix but surely it was better for him to have deserted them than to be currently interrogated by police who were trying to uncover their plans.
"Where are you taking me?" Regina asked when they got to the back door and stopped walking.
"You heard Neal," Emma sighed. "I can't tell you. And to be honest, I'm not even sure. Actually, I don't even know if he quite knows yet. In case you hadn't noticed, we've had to go a bit off-piste."
Despite the situation, Regina couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, I guess you could say you guys are pretty much making it up as you go along."
"Exactly and whatever is the next part of Neal's crazy plan he hasn't deigned me fit to know the full details."
"But you know some of the details?" Regina asked, her best pleading yet innocent expression plastered across her face.
As the footsteps retreated down the corridor, Neal moved closer to his father, gun pointed squarely at his chest. Their eyes met. Tired, defeated orbs gazing into stormy eyes of the exact same colour and shade.
"Neal," Mr Gold said weakly. "You don't have to do this."
"Shut up," Neal spat. "You have no idea what I have to do. You don't know me, not any more. So why don't you just shut up and listen for once?"
Mr Gold said nothing. There was no point hastening the inevitable. His son was right; he didn't really know him. It was clear the seven years living on the street had changed Neal beyond recognition. But the one characteristic which he was confident his son would still embody was his stubbornness to see an idea through to the end. Neal had always been a wilful child. That was why, he was sure, the man had not yielded to any police demands and also why, Mr Gold believed, his fate was sealed.
The silence stretched for a few more seconds, as if Neal was trying to work out where to start. Eventually, he stuffed his hand into his pocket and pulled out the jewellery box. He placed the item on the desk and opened it facing his father. The man's eyes moved, unavoidably, to the glittering diamond. His heart constricted at the sight, aching for the loss of his great love. He knew it had been wrong to cheat on his wife but there had been something about Belle which was simply irresistible to him.
"Was it worth it?" Neal said simply. "Was she worth it?"
"Neal, please, let's not do this. It won't do you or I any good to go over the past."
The younger Gold stepped further forwards the muzzle of his rifle now less then four feet from his father. "Don't make me ask again," he hissed, low and dangerous.
Mr Gold sighed and dropped his gaze, not wanting to stare into his son's cold face nor the barrel of the weapon any longer. "I regret what I did to your mother and to you every day."
"That wasn't the question," Neal snarled. "Was she worth it? Was she worth breaking Mom's heart for?"
"I never meant to hurt your mother."
Neal actually growled as he advanced further, leaning over the table so that his gun now pressed against his father's sternum. "Was she worth it?" he asked, his voice slow, low and deadly.
Mr Gold swallowed. Where the gun was pressed against him, even through his shirt, he could feel the cool metal. Beneath it, his heart beat faster, as if sensing the number of pumps it had left had suddenly been drastically reduced. He looked down to the point where the weapon held by his only son met his chest, unable to meet the tortured man's eyes when he answered.
"Yes," he said, barely more than a whisper. "I loved her. I still love her. But I also love your mother and I love you, Neal."
With those final words, he looked up once more, eyes shimmering with tears at the confession. It ate him up inside that he didn't regret his actions with Belle. Yes, he regretted the way Milah found out about the affair but he didn't regret having it. And if Belle hadn't left town, he would have filed for divorce and been with his true love. As it was, the brunette beauty had fled in the wake of the scandal and he had never seen nor heard from her again. Robert knew he didn't do well alone and so he had pled forgiveness from his wife. Milah had agreed, finally, to stay together, for the sake of their son. Judging by their current situation, however, that reasoning hadn't worked out so well.
"You still love her?" Neal asked, his voice trembling. "How can you even say that? You're with Mom."
"It's complicated, son," Mr Gold said.
"I'm not your son," Neal hissed. "Not any more. Not after what you did to Mom. You don't deserve her. You don't deserve us."
"You're right," Mr Gold nodded. "I don't deserve your mother. Her forgiveness was more than I could have dared dream for and I am so grateful for her kind nature every day. But, Neal, I also don't deserve to die, do I?"
Neal narrowed his eyes and pressed the gun harder into the man's chest. He gave a little wheeze and coughed at the pressure exerted. "Give me one good reason why you deserve to live."
"Your mother, Neal. Think of your mother."
Neal scoffed. "Like you were thinking of Mom when you fucked your secretary?"
"She wasn't my secretary. She was -"
"That's not the point!" Neal bellowed, giving another forceful prod to his father's chest. "That's not the fucking point, Dad. You can't tell me to think of Mom when it's obvious you weren't when you cheated on her. She'd be better off without you, anyway."
"Maybe you're right, Neal. But think about what it would do to her to find out what's happened today. She wouldn't just be losing me; she'd be losing you too."
"Even if I don't kill you, we both know I'll never see Mom again. After today, there are only two possible outcomes for me. Death or a life on the run."
"Then choose the latter, Neal, and don't allow your mother to read the headlines which would be written if you pulled that trigger."
Mr Gold didn't know where the words were coming from but, in an abstract way, he was proud of himself. Faced with his volatile, homicidal son, he was somehow, miraculously, buying himself some time and preventing Neal from murdering him. He wasn't sure how long it would last; the man was intensely unpredictable. But, for now, he was alive.
"Don't you think Mom is better off without the both of us?" Neal said, his voice suddenly quiet, almost defeated.
It was, Mr Gold realised, an opening. "Me, perhaps, but not you, Neal. When you ran away, your mother was distraught. She'd do anything to have you back. Anything. Don't you think she deserves to see you again; as her son, not as the man who murdered her husband?"
"You don't deserve to be her husband," Neal spat, anger flaring inside him once more. Mr Gold shrank back, not wanting to antagonise the man further.
"No, I don't. But she doesn't deserve to have her husband murdered by her son, does she?"
Neal's nostrils flared. It was as if he was trying to make a decision. What was more important to him? Avenging the wrong his father had inflicted on their family or doing what he knew his mother would have wanted. Seven years ago, there would have been no debate. Neal would have done anything to make his mother happy and proud of him. The night he had left their 5th Avenue penthouse, a backpack slung over his shoulder, tears had streamed down his face at the thought of never seeing his mother again.
But seven years was a long time. Seven years on the street changes an innocent sixteen-year-old boy consumed by his father's betrayal into an unrecognisable twenty-three-year-old man twisted by hate. His heart had hardened, his moral compass had shifted, any hope he had ever had of being reunited with his family again had long since gone. He wanted one thing and one thing only. Revenge.
"She doesn't deserve this, no," Neal said at last. "But I do. I deserve the chance to look into your eyes at the moment I pull the trigger and watch that flicker of realisation as you realise I am the man you never could be."
"Neal, killing me doesn't make you a man," Mr Gold said, his heart beat racing faster than ever.
"Cheating on your wife doesn't make you one either," Neal said, his eyes blazing with anger.
Mr Gold could tell the young man before him was becoming agitated and prayed he wouldn't goad him further. "Neal, what I did to your mother is my biggest regret. I know it doesn't make me a man. It makes me a coward."
"A coward? How so?" Neal asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"I … I knew when I met Belle what I felt for her. I could had gone about all of this in a way that was much less painful for everyone involved."
"So," Neal rubbed a hand over his face before readjusting his grip on the rifle, "let me get this straight. You're saying that you don't regret the affair. Instead, you regret not asking Mom for a divorce before you fucked your secretary? Is that really the argument you're going with here?"
The gun pressed even harder against his sternum and Mr Gold wheezed before answering. "It's an ugly truth but yes. I wanted to marry Belle."
"Clearly," Neal said, reaching for the ring box which was still open between them and throwing it at his father. It bounced off the man's shoulder, the platinum band springing free from the cushion and disappearing under the desk. "Were you planning on being a bigamist, Dad?"
"No," Mr Gold said. "I was planning on asking your mother for a divorce."
Neal let out a huff of laughter. "Are you fucking kidding me? So why are you still together? Why didn't you let her go after she found out so you and Belle could have your happily ever after and me and Mom could have had a happy life without cheating dickheads in it?"
"Are you angry at me or your mother?" Mr Gold asked suddenly.
"I – what? Why would I be angry at Mom?"
"For forgiving me. For taking me back. It's clear you haven't forgiven me but Milah has. She loves me, Neal. And I love her."
"Just not as much as you love Belle," he sneered.
"It's different," Mr Gold sighed.
"Whatever," Neal said, finger flexing against the trigger. "Enough talking. I came here to do something and I'm going to see it through."
"Ok," Mr Gold said. "If that's what you really want."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to relax his body. The barrel of the gun was still poking into his chest. If the trigger was pulled, there would be no way to survive his injuries. He imagined the searing pain which would spread from the point at which the bullet entered him, tearing through his flesh and piercing his heart. How long would it take him to bleed out? Would Neal stand and watch until his was dead? Or would he be left to die alone? In that moment, Robert realised he didn't know which ending was worse.
And then, quite suddenly, the pressure disappeared. He opened his eyes to see his son walking from the room, rifle swung over his shoulder.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Regina asked quietly, the two women staring back down the corridor, off which they knew Neal and Mr Gold were locked in an uneven stand off.
"The affair, I'd guess," Emma shrugged. "How would you feel if your dad cheated on your mom?"
"Daddy would never do that," Regina said at once.
"Of course," Emma said, rolling her eyes. "Not perfect 'Daddy'."
Regina ignored the sarcasm and continued to watch the doorway, through which she suspected Mr Gold was pleading for his life with his own son. She could not imagine feeling such anger towards either of her parents. She knew she was lucky to have such a loving family. Neal and Emma were living proof that not everyone was blessed with something she had always taken for granted. Her parents supported her in everything she did. Not just financially but emotionally as well. She was going to need them more than ever when this ordeal was over. If the ordeal was ever over.
"Emma, you … you won't let Neal take me, will you?" Regina asked quietly.
The blonde looked down at the shorter woman whose face was upturned towards her own. "He won't hurt you," Emma replied.
"Promise?"
"I promise," Emma nodded, offering what she hoped was a reassuring smile. In truth, she knew she couldn't make such a promise. Neal was becoming increasingly unpredictable and Emma didn't trust him. She knew, however, that she would do everything in her power to protect Regina.
The brunette's wide chocolate eyes scanned Emma's face for a few seconds. Her mouth opened as if she was going to say something. Emma's gaze darted, unbidden, to the plump red lips which, even with the deep gouge through them, looked thoroughly kissable. But before Regina could say anything, movement at the end of the corridor caught their attention.
Neal was striding towards them, his face dark. As he passed the doorway into the main area of the bank he called out, "P, L, come here," before carrying on until he reached Emma and Regina. The brunette moved minutely closer to the younger teen.
"What happened?" Emma asked. She hadn't heard a rifle shot but she had felt sure the man's intentions had been to kill his father.
"Nothing, let's go," Neal said as Peter and Lily appeared behind them, both still wearing their masks.
"Wait, we're just going to walk out into the alley?" Peter asked, alarmed.
"No, don't be stupid. Regina's going to help us, aren't you, Princess?"
"Am I?" Regina frowned.
"Yes, you're going to act as our pretty little shield so the big bad cops don't shoot at us, ok? We'll walk out to the car one at a time, holding Regina nice and close and then we'll drive off. Simple."
"And what makes you think I'm going to help you?" Regina asked, levelling Neal with a challenging gaze.
"Because, Princess, if you don't, Emma's going to be in a bit of a pickle, isn't she? Even if you're not a dyke, I can tell you like her so I don't think you'll do anything that might lead to Emma getting shot by one of those very talented NYPD snipers your daddy has in place around here, right?"
Emma's fingers, which were still wrapped around Regina's slender bicep, tightened as Neal talked. She had known Neal wanted to use Regina to help them escape but it still shocked her to hear how he was so carelessly going to use her body to protect his own.
"Understand?" Neal asked, turning to Peter and Lily. "I'll go first. You've gotta keep a real tight grip on her and make sure your head is up nice and close to hers. That way the snipers can't take a shot without risking killing her instead of us."
Lily nodded once. Peter's eyes were wide through his ski mask but he too nodded. Neal grinned and pulled his ski mask from his pocket. Even if the cops knew who he was, he didn't want to make their job too easy. He tugged the wool back in place and stepped towards Regina. Emma didn't move.
"Ems, come on. I'm not gonna hurt her. We're all getting out of here together, ok? I just need to borrow your girlfriend for thirty seconds. I promise she'll be back in no time."
Still, the blonde's hand remained on Regina's arm. "Emma, it's ok," Regina said quietly. "I'll go with him."
Green eyes bore into brown for a moment before Emma nodded and released her grip, sliding her fingers down the length of Regina's arm as she dropped her hand. Just before the contact between them was broken, Emma curled her pinkie finger around Regina's, a silent promise.
As soon as Emma stepped away, Neal moved forwards. Using the strap, he slung his rifle over his shoulder and turned Regina around so her back was to his front. He untied the twine at last and Regina whimpered as her aching wrists were free once more. She flexed her fingers, trying to restore the limited blood flow. Neal handed the thin rope back to Emma with a wink. The blonde took it, feeling the vague warmth of Regina's skin trapped in the fibres.
"Pick up a sack," Neal instructed. Regina did so, using both hands to hold the heavy bag. Neal stepped up behind her again and wrapped his left arm around her neck. From the waistband of his pants, he pulled a small pistol which he held up to Regina's temple.
"It's alright, Princess," Neal said when she felt her body tremble against him. "It's just for show. If I'm shooting anyone, it'll be the cops, ok?"
That statement did little to calm Regina down. Neal stepped forwards, forcing Regina to move too as his leg knocked against her knee. Under any other circumstances, Neal mused, he'd be rather enjoying himself but in that moment, he was focused on getting out of the bank and to the car alive. Just before he reached the emergency exit door, he turned back.
"Do exactly what I am doing, ok?" Neal said. "Once I'm in the car, I'll send Regina back to get Emma then P. L, you'll be last. Don't want this one here trying to do anything stupid and as long as one or other of you are with me, I think you'll be good little girls, right? If you even think about bailing on me once I've left, you'll be sealing your own death warrants, ok? If they take me out, they'll come into the bank guns blazing and none of you will survive. Not even you, Regina. Got that? Emma, I don't think you want that on your conscience, do you?"
Neither Emma nor Regina spoke. Peter and Lily exchanged a glance. They hadn't, until then, witnessed the connection between the two women but now they could see it for themselves. It was obvious that Neal was right. As long as Regina and Emma weren't together, they would do as they were told until they were reunited.
"When I open the door, stay back. They'll have snipers aimed right for us and if they get a chance to shoot you guys while I'm heading for the car, they will. Emma, P and L, you'll be in the back. And Regina, you lucky thing, you'll be riding up front with me, ok?"
"Where are we going, Neal?" Regina asked.
Neal turned to Emma. "You really didn't tell her? Wow, maybe you're not as pussy whipped as I thought you were. Well, Princess, I will tell you. Or, rather, you'll tell me. But let's get the first task out of the way and get into the car without one of us taking a bullet to the head before we move onto the destination of our fun little road trip. Everyone ready?"
Peter, Lily and Emma nodded. There was nothing else for them to do. Regina didn't move a muscle. Neal turned back to the door and raised his foot to kick open the emergency exit bar. The light from the alley burst into the dark corridor and Regina squinted against the brightness. Vaguely, she could hear shouts from outside. The police, no doubt, poised and ready to shoot. But before her brain could register what they were saying, Neal was nudging her in the back and forcing her to walk forwards.
Just before she entered the alley, Regina turned one last time to meet Emma's piercing green gaze. And then she stepped outside.
A/N: I promise you the cliff hangers are going to lessen for the second half of the story. Once the hostage situation is resolved (and it will be), I will try not to be so infuriating.
