Chapter 13

Mirror, mirror

(Storybrook, outskirts)

Dawn was breaking outside. Zelena felt the first shafts of the morning sun on her face before her eyes opened. She yawned and rolled over on her side and looked to see her daughter Robyn still sleeping in her crib. Zelena smiled, her little angel. What had she ever done to deserve a perfect little girl like this. The answer, she knew, was nothing. She had been wicked for so long, full of anger and jealousy. At her mother Cora, at her sister Regina, and at the hold world really. She had taken out her anger on anyone and everyone who had the misfortune to come across the Wicked Witch of the East. She had succeeded in getting her revenge on her sister by stealing the man she loved and tricking him into giving her a child.

Robyn, the child that had been born because of jealousy and anger had turned into a beacon of love that had changed Zelena. She rose from the bed and looked down on her still sleeping daughter. Robyn cooed in her sleep bringing a smile to her mother's face. This wonderful little baby had melted her mother's cold heart and filled it with love and compassion. Before it had felt like she was alone against the world but now Zelena had been given a family all thanks to little Robyn. Her sister had forgiven her and now Robyn's aunt Regina spoiled her niece and covered her in kisses every time she saw her. Robyn even had a cousin Henry who adored her. Even that Swan woman was someone that Zelena could count on to take care of her daughter. She even considered her a friend. Imagine that, the savior and the wicked witch, friends. Zelena chuckled softly and passed a kiss from her lips to her fingertips and then softly to her daughter's head.

She turned and headed into the kitchen and began to make tea, hoping she could have a cup before Robin got up. As she put the kettle on her ears perked up. Was that music? It sounded like a flute playing softly. Where was it coming from? The bedroom? Her blood ran cold. Something was wrong. She raced back to the crib nearly tripping over her robe in the process. She came to the crib and looked down, full of terror at what she would find.

Nothing.

Robyn was gone. The sound of the kettle whistling could not drown out the wail of her despair.

(Storybrook, the Charming farm)

The sound of her scream made David shoot up out of a deep sleep. It was Snow and David could tell that it was serious. He raced out of the bedroom clad only in his boxers and ran down the hall of their farmhouse. Snow was in Neil's room and standing over his crib.

"What's wrong?" But all it took was one look at the empty crib and David knew what was upsetting his wife. Neil was gone. Snow collapsed into David's arms sobbing uncontrollably and he tried to comfort her as the tears began to well in his eyes. In the distance he could hear a flute playing.

(Storybrook, Regina's mansion)

Regina woke with the sound of her alarm. 6 am. She turned it off and sat up in her bed. She stretched and allowed a smile to form on her face as she recalled the dream she had last night.

That was wonderful last night. You're telling me!

What? That was odd. Regina shook her head as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and let her toes brush the soft carpet.

If only I could really be with Emma like that. I know I could show her pleasure like

that and more. Well damn, if it's anything like what you dreamed last night you can count me in!

What was that? What was what? Regina shook her head and looked around. Am I hearing things? Hm, I don't hear anything. I wonder if I lost connection to her ears again? But that can't be right because I heard the alarm go off. I didn't think that. What's going on? What is she talking about? Am I going crazy? That sounds like Emma's voice! Oh shit! Regina, can you hear me?! I must being going mad because it sounds like Emma's voice is in my head! Oh my God! You can hear me! Regina this is really me! I'm in your body!

Regina stood up and ran to her bathroom. She turned on her sink and began to splash cold water on her face. Regina! What are you doing? This is a dream. This is a dream. I have to wake up. Wake up! Regina! Stop! It's not a dream! It's real! I went through the door and wound up in your body!

Regina looked at her face in the mirror, reflected back at her was her own confused face. This is just a dream. It's not! Please believe me! I've been trapped in your body ever since I went through that damn door! I've been slowly getting more and more, I don't know, input from you and now I can talk to you! You don't know how happy this makes me! I've been going crazy in here not being able to communicate with the outside world!

Regina couldn't wrap her head around this. Regina? I'm feeling a lot of emotions coming off you? Confusion, disbelief, and….. Fear? What are you afraid of? That I'm losing my mind.

Regina put her hands on the sink and her eyes began to fill with tears. Wait. Regina, why are you crying? You don't need to cry! I can feel you getting sad Regina. You're not crazy. You're. Not. Crazy.

"Yes I am!" Regina screamed at her reflection. I miss Emma so much that now I think I hear her in my head! Regina buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Oh Regina don't cry! I can't handle it when you cry! This is really happening! It's magic! Come on we've seen crazier stuff! But it can't be. How could this happen? Come on Regina! You heard Belle and Gold, they said this was how the door worked! I'm really Emma! But Gold said… that… you would go inside Hook.

You're supposed to be in….. your true love. Yeah. That one surprised me too.

Regina slowly lifted her face from her hands and looked into the mirror. What she saw made her step back in surprise. She was looking at Emma instead of herself.

"What?! What's going on?!" What? Regina, what are you seeing? "You! Emma! Can't you see that?!" Regina was pointing to the reflection in the mirror but the Emma she was looking at was not. "See what? I just see you Regina, and you look very freaked out."

"I am freaked out!" Regina was nearly screaming. "First I was hearing voices and now I'm seeing things!" Whoa, this is just like Quantum Leap!

"Quantum what?" Ah ha! That's it! I have to be really me because you've never heard of Quantum Leap! "What is Quantum Leap?!" It's a TV show starring Scott Bakula that you don't know about! So how could you be imagining me?

"Maybe because I'm going crazy Emma!" Ugh! You're not crazy Regina! Face it, I'm in your body! I don't believe this. Oh yes you do. I can feel it. You're starting to. Then if you're inside me….

Yeah. Uh, let's put a pin in that for later. Let's concentrate on getting me out of you first. The door sends the person inside their true…. Pin Regina! Pin. In. It. Focus on a new potion to get me out. The potion. Then you saw last night with Hook and… Yeah. Yeah, I saw it. Oh, Emma I'm so sorry you saw that. I know. I can feel it. But don't be. I can't believe I married that fucker.

Emma saw Regina chuckle in the mirror. I'm going to kick his ass when I get out there and stick that hook through his balls. Regina laughed aloud covering her mouth. I shouldn't be laughing, Emma. I'm sorry. Forget about it. It's kinda funny.

Emma felt nervousness and embarrassment from Regina suddenly. Whoa, Regina. What's wrong? You're freaking out again. How long have you been able to hear my thoughts? Oh, well. For a while now. Regina spun away from the mirror, hiding her reflection from Emma. What? What's the matter? Regina? Talk to me? What's wrong?

Then you know.

Um. What do you mean?

Don't play dumb Emma.

I may have heard something….

You know how I feel about you. Oh. That. Yeah. I know. Those were private thoughts!

You had no right to invade my private thoughts! Hey! Don't blame me! I can't exactly cover my ears! I don't have any! Whatever you think, I hear. That's just how this works. I couldn't stop it if I tried. Oh no. You're going to be sick aren't you?

Regina lifted the toilet seat quickly and vomited. Oh man. That's nasty. After she was done she slid down to sit beside the bowl. You okay? No. No I'm not okay. She began to cry. Emma didn't know what to say. Look Regina, I….. Don't. Just don't. I feel like a fool. You weren't supposed to know. You don't have to feel like a fool Regina.

Regina stood up and tried to regain her poise as she prepared her toothbrush. Well I do. You heard me prattle on like a love sick teenager with a crush. A crush? Yes. A silly little crush. That's all. Regina. You can't bullshit a bullshit artist. I can read your mind and feel your emotions for crying out loud! This is not a crush! You are in love with me.

She finished brushing her teeth and slammed her brush on the sink. "And what if I do?! What difference does it make?! You don't love me! So forget it!"

I never said that.

Regina opened her mouth to say something but she heard Henry cry out. Henry! Regina was already out the door and heading towards his room. She opened the door. "Henry! What's wrong?"

"Mom!" Henry held his hands up showing his twisted fingers. "They broke my hands!"