~Author's Note~
Sorry for the delay in getting more chapters posted. I'm not really sure how I feel about this chapter but here it is. Similar warnings as before apply. Dreams are in italics.
Disclaimer: I own Katelyn. That's it. Everything else is ABC.
Chapter 12
The three women sat in silence, which was only punctuated by sniffles from Katelyn. Granny hadn't let go of Katelyn's hand through the entire story and now drew the girl into a big hug.
Regina's mind was racing. She had noticed in the enchanted forest that she and Katelyn shared similar pasts, but this only confirmed that. Regina knew what could happen if Katelyn let this experience bring her down; she had experienced it first-hand with King Leopold. And she was determined that Katelyn would not share those feelings.
As they continued to sit silently, Granny noticed that Katelyn's breathing had evened out.
"Regina," Granny whispered. Regina looked over. "Katelyn's asleep. Poor girl wore herself out." Regina noticed that Granny's eyes were full of tears.
"I'll take her home," Regina said and she grabbed hold of Katelyn, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Granny wiped her eyes and headed out to tell Ruby that she would be with the mayor again tonight. There was no way she was leaving Regina and Katelyn alone tonight.
Regina poofed straight into the guest bedroom. Katelyn couldn't keep her eyes open, and Regina understood why. The poor girl was still weak from being sick and injured and then they forced her to relive the worst moment of her life.
But Regina was glad they had finally gotten it out of her. When Regina was married to Leopold, she had kept everything to herself. She knew that her father had suspicions that things weren't okay, but it wasn't until after she killed the king that she told her father about their time together.
As Regina put Katelyn into bed, she heard the girl stir.
"Don't leave me alone," she whimpered. Regina pushed Katelyn's hair out of her face.
"I'm not going anywhere," Regina assured her and settled on the bed next to her. Regina stroked Katelyn's hair until she fell asleep, and then soon followed her.
Regina found herself in the middle of a village in the enchanted forest. She turned around, confused, until she saw her royal carriage roll in. She backed behind a wagon and watched as the Evil Queen got out of the carriage and marched to the village center.
"Robert Cobbles!" the Queen yelled. "Come out now!" A man drunkenly stumbled out of the local tavern.
"Lady what do you want?" Regina cringed as she watched her counterpart freeze the man in place. The man's face was suddenly serious when he realized who he was up against.
"Your majesty," he stammered. "I didn't do anything to you." Regina watched as the Evil Queen got up in his face.
"You did nothing to me," she whispered. "But you know what you did. Men like you are despicable."
Robert quickly realized how much trouble he was in and started to cry and beg. The Evil Queen just shook her head.
"Pathetic," the queen said and snapped her fingers. In an instant, they disappeared and Regina found herself going with them.
They appeared in the queen's dungeons. The Evil Queen stood before Robert, who was chained to the back of a cell.
"Don't kill me!" he begged. "Please don't kill me!"
The queen smirked. "Oh I won't kill you. You need to suffer just like you made Katelyn suffer." At that she turned and left, ignoring Robert's pleas.
Katelyn looked around to see that she was in Regina's chambers in the enchanted forest. She was confused for a moment before she saw Regina race into the room.
"Regina!" Katelyn called out, but Regina didn't seem to notice her. Regina looked afraid of something and Katelyn noticed that she looked younger than she had seen her before.
"Regina!" Katelyn called again, trying to get her attention, but Regina seemed to look right through her. Katelyn watched as Regina sat on the edge of her bed. Regina's hands were shaking and her eyes were full of unshed tears.
Katelyn startled when she heard shouting from the hallway. Suddenly the door burst open and an older man walked in, appearing to be very angry. Regina shrunk back on her bed.
"Leopold," Regina said. Katelyn's eyes grew wide. King Leopold. Regina's husband. Why did she seem so afraid of him?
Katelyn cringed as she watched him walk over to Regina and stand over her.
"Please not tonight," Regina pled. "I don't feel well."
"I don't care," the king said. "Its not your decision."
Katelyn covered her ears and closed her eyes. She didn't want to witness this.
