Chapter 14

"You can find him?"

Belle's voice trembled as she took a step towards Regina. There was hope in her voice. Her eyes fixed on the dark haired woman walking into the diner. Emma could see the despair and the hurt behind the brunette's eyes and realised Belle would be prepared to do anything to bring Gold back. True Love, no matter how unlikely, didn't know any boundaries.

"I know where he is," Regina said and she reached into her pocket. She took out a small silver orb that reminded Emma a bit of the snow globes that were sold on every street corner back in New York.

The globe fitted perfectly in the palm of Regina's hand and the raven haired woman slowly let the fingers of her left hand dance across the glass. Emma and the others watched as inside the globe a cloud of purple smoke began to twirl. It pressed against the sides of the glass almost as if to seek an escape. The cloud grew bigger until it almost completely filled the orb and then it slowly began to disperse, revealing a bright lit centre.

There, against the bright background, Emma recognised the distinct features of Mr Gold. Her breath chocked in the back of her throat as beside her Belle covered her mouth with her hand and suppressed a sob.

"Where is he?" Emma wanted to know.

"The one place where he'd never thought he'd end up," Regina said slowly and her dark eyes found Emma's. "New York."

"What?" Emma whispered. "How did he end up there?"

"I don't know," Regina admitted. "I don't even know if he still remembers who he is or if he can still do magic." Her dark eyes fixed on Belle. "But he's alive and we can find him." She paused. "We have to find him. He's our only chance against Elphaba. Only his magic can outdo mine. Together we'd be strong enough to defeat Elphaba."

"Then we must go and get him," Emma said. "We must get to New York and find him, bring him back."

"What if he doesn't remember us? He's crossed the town line into the other world," Ruby said. "What if Mr Gold doesn't know he's Rumpelstiltskin?"

"True Love's kiss," Emma reminded her. "People who are meant to be together somehow always find a way. It worked for Mary Margaret and David before the Curse was broken the first time." Her eyes fixed on Belle. "And when you only remembered yourself as Lacey, you were still drawn to each other. The same way I was drawn to Regina without knowing it. True Love will help him remember."

"But I can't come with you," Belle said softly. "I can't cross the town line, remember?"

"Yes, you can," Regina interjected and everybody looked at her. "When we returned d from the Enchanted Forest and I recreated Storybrooke, I changed the magic that used to bind us to this town. We used to one unable to leave but now we can move freely." She smiled as she looked at Emma. "We can go wherever we want."

Emma felt a jolt of excitement in her stomach but something was holding her back. "We have to wait for the snow to clear. We can't drive through this and…"

Regina snapped her fingers, a sly smile lingering across her lips. "Done."

When Emma looked out of the window she saw the streets were clear. The snow was gone. She looked back at Regina and shook her head. The hint of a smile broke through on her lips. "You really did make it snow to keep me here, didn't you?"

Regina looked down at her feet as she felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. "I didn't have a choice."

"So what we do we do now?" David asked. "Do we go to New York to find Gold?"

"I'll go," Emma insisted. "I know the city." She met David's eyes. "No offence to any of you but you've never been anywhere other than Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest. You don't know anything about the city. New York isn't exactly the kind of places where fairy tales come true."

"I'm coning with you," Regina said and Emma's eyes snapped in her direction. "I won't hear your arguments, Miss Swan."

"What about us?" Mary Margaret wanted to know. "What can do we do?"

"Keep an eye on the well. Don't let it out of your sight. If Elphaba tries to get through, do everything you can to stop her." Regina looked around the diner. There had never been a moment like this; a moment where they all stood together as a family and fought for what they loved the most. They would have to be united if they wanted to have a chance.

"Can I come with you?" Henry asked and looked at both his mothers.

"Kid, I think it's better if you stay here," Emma said slowly. She could tell her son was disappointed but she had a gut feeling that her journey back to New York with Regina was going to be anything but straight forward. A single glance at Regina confirmed her instincts. "Stay with David and Mary Margaret."

"But mom…"

"You heard her," Regina said before Emma had a chance to reply. She met Emma's gaze and could tell the blonde was impressed by her reaction. For the first time they formed a front as two parents. "You are to stay in Storybrooke."

Henry realised he couldn't argue with both his mothers and hung his head. David put a hand on his shoulder and said, "They're right, Henry. I know you lived in New York but this isn't going to be like going home."

"What about Hook?" Granny asked. "That dodgy pirate is still out there somewhere."

"I'll sink his damned ship if he tries to thwart our plans." Regina's eyes darkened. She had never been a fan of Hook, ever since the time he joined sides with Cora, but she also knew of his feelings for Emma and his attempt to find her before they did. "He won't be a problem."

"We don't have much time," Emma said. "If we want to get to New York we need to go now. It's going to take us hours to get there."

"Miss Swan, you are not driving me to New York in that death trap you call a car," Regina said and Emma's eyes snapped up. She wasn't sure whether to be more insulted by the fact Regina referred to her as Miss Swam or because she called her loyal yellow Bug a death trap. She was about to answer something in return when she noticed the glint in Regina's eyes.

"Who would have guessed?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and arched an eyebrow. "The Queen has a sense of humour."

Regina didn't respond to the joke. "There is a faster way of getting to New York than by car."

Emma could only assume that Regina meant magic but didn't ask. Instead she felt Mary Margaret's arms around her neck and was pulled into the hug before she had time to think. Somewhat clumsily she wrapped her arms around her mother and held her tight. She'd only just remembered her parents and now she was on the brink of walking away from them again. But this time she knew she'd be back. She had to. She had to protect Storybrooke, protect her home.

They said their goodbyes to everyone before leaving the diner. It was odd not to walk out into the snow and Emma put a hand on Regina's arm. It stopped the dark haired woman in her tracks and slowly she turned around. Their friends and family stood in the diner doorway. Emma could read the sadness and fear in their eyes.

"Take my hand," Regina said softly.

Emma took Regina's hand, lacing her fingers through Regina's. Then Regina stepped closer to her and wrapped her arm securely around Emma's waist. Their bodies were pressed tightly together and Emma could feel Regina's warm breath against her face. Their gazes locked.

Regina's eyes were light. Her lips brushed against Emma's ear as she whispered, "Trust me."

They were swallowed up by a large plume of purple smoke and when it cleared, they were gone.

~()~

Emma opened her eyes and found herself standing in the middle of Central Park. There was snow on the ground and on the tree branches and thick flakes fell from the sky. She turned to find Regina standing behind her, her dark eyes taking in their new and unfamiliar surroundings. A fine lawyer of snow had gathered on Regina's shoulders and tangled in her hair. Emma reached out and brushed some of the snow away and Regina's eyes found hers.

"It worked," she said softly.

"Yes," Emma breathed. She was taken in by the beauty of Regina against the backdrop of the pure white snow. "It did."

"Do you know what day it is?" Regina whispered as she reached for Emma's hand.

"Hmm?"

"Emma, its Christmas Eve."

The blonde blinked. It hadn't really hit her yet. "What?"

"It's Christmas Eve," Regina repeated as she looked at the snow falling from the sky. "I almost forgot."

"We need to get off the streets," Emma insisted. "We need a place to think and work out a plan. We can't do that here out in the cold." She began pulling Regina into the direction of one of the park's many exists.

"Where are we going?" Regina wanted to know.

Emma reached into the pocket of her jeans and the keys jingled in her hand. "Home."

She led Regina through the streets of New York and found her way effortlessly. They passed crowds of people marvelling over the Christmas decorations in shop windows and as they walked the snowflakes got bigger and the wind picked up, robbing Emma and Regina of their breath. Emma's face and hands were cold but she carried on walking.

"Can you make it stop?" she asked when she and Regina reached another corner and waited for the traffic light to stop. Regina had just wiped snow out of her eyes.

"I didn't start this storm!" Regina answered. "I can't stop something I didn't start."

After another fifteen minutes they finally reached the apartment complex and Emma stuck the key into the lock of the front door. She ushered Regina inside, closed the door and then met the brunette's eyes. "If we run into my neighbour, she'll ask where Henry is. We'll tell her that you're family and he's staying at yours. We just came to pick up the presents. The last thing we need is someone snooping around."

Regina didn't answer but just followed Emma up the flights of stairs to her apartment. She took in her new surroundings. This was the life she had created for Emma and Henry when they said goodbye a year ago. She wanted them to have a happy life, without demons lurking in the shadows. She'd managed that for almost a whole year but now that illusion had shattered.

Emma opened the door to her apartment and stepped aside to let Regina in. The dark haired woman filed past her into the apartment and let he eyes wander around. It was neat and tidy, apart from the pair of sneakers in the middle of the living room and a jacket draped haphazardly over the back of the couch. Regina's eyes fixed on the Christmas tree in the corner and the pile of presents underneath and she turned to look at Emma.

"Did you do that?" she wanted to know.

Emma shook her head. "Henry did." She took Regina's hand when she saw the brunette's face fell. Regina had missed a year of her son's life and nothing they would do from here on could change that. "Come. I'll show you his room."

She led Regina across the hall to Henry's room and silently wished to herself that her son hadn't left it in its usual pig sty state. When she opened the door she was relieved to see he had at least bothered to make his bed before they left. The pile of dirty laundry on the floor only confirmed that he really was her son. His school books lay scattered around his desk. Posters of pop bands adorned the walls.

"He was happy here," Regina said softly and she felt the tears well up in her eyes.

"Because you made him happy," Emma said as she put a hand on Regina's shoulder and gently let a strand of hair run through her fingers. "You gave him this happy life when we said goodbye. He has all this because of you."

"All I ever wanted was for him to be happy." Regina's eyes found Emma's. "And for you to be happy."

Emma smiled and cupped Regina's cheek. Slowly she leant in and pressed her lips softly against Regina's "I am happy."

"Really?"

"Really."

Emma gently pulled Regina in for a hug and kissed the top of her hair. She didn't want to let her go. Not now, not ever. When this was over they would find their own happiness. They would make it work. The dark times were behind them now and they had a chance at a future. She wasn't going to let that slip away because some evil, wicked witch was trying to destroy them. This was her life, her new life, and she wanted to live it with Regina.

When they eventually parted Emma looked at Regina. "So how do we find Gold?"

Regina took the small globe out of her pocket and turned it around. It came back to live and Emma recognised Gold's face in the purple smoke.

"This globe works like a mirror," Regina explained. "Rumpelstiltskin gave it to me a long time ago, when he first taught me magic. It allowed him to see me as I practiced." She wrinkled her nose. "I guess he was trying to make sure I was putting my powers to good use."

"So you're saying there's another one of these?"

"Not exactly. Rumpelstiltskin's mirror is a mirror. A hand held one, made out of the purest silver. It is unbreakable and will show you anything or anyone in the world if you want. But the mirror doesn't just work as a two way system. It allows one person to watch another even if they are not using their mirror." Regina inspected the globe more closely. "It seems Gold isn't using his but he has got it."

"He's got it? How would he have gotten it if he never…" Emma's voice faltered. "We left him with Pan in his shop. So when Pan escaped, Gold must have picked up the mirror before he killed him." Her green eyes found Regina's. "He knew he was going to die."

"And he also knew that I would need it to find him in case he didn't make it back," Regina added and her grip on the globe tightened. "The little imp…"

"So how do we find the mirror?" Emma heaved a sigh. "There are millions of people in this city. How am I going to find one man if I don't know where to stand?"

Regina's eyes found Emma's and she smirked. "You used to find people for a living, Emma," she pointed out and Emma's eyes lit up. "I'm sure you can find him."

Emma smiled. "You're right." She snatched the glove out of Regina's hand and planted it on the dining table. "And I think I know where to start."