News of their return.
Emma has a pull to Regina but is it just her dreams that give her this or is there more to it. Regina plans to see snow for her promised answers. someone is seeking out true love magic.
Hearing Regina's question had Emma's heart pounding. She hadn't really thought about who regina could be to her just remembered the dreams. Without thinking or giving a response her cheeks burned bight red which didn't go unnoticed. Henry on the other hand seemed to be focused on his own reason for silence.
Both of them felt Regina's stare grow. As if she knew who would break first her gaze focused on Henry. With his shifting proving his evident weak resolve he finally answered.
"It started a year ago, I dreamt you were my-" he looked at Emma his tears wield up. "That both of you were my moms."
"You what!?" She looked at Henry then to Regina either way unsure what to say. Seeing Henry tense as though he knew his words stung and also in fear that the words Emma shouted was in anger. They really were in surprise had she maybe spoke to Henry she may have known this but of course she didn't because she had been a terrific mother to him. She cleared her throat. "Oh Henry I mean just," her eyes search Regina's for a slight hint on how to explain her dream. She can only see that she wouldn't except the whole truth yet. "That I dreamt the same. Strange."
"Not strange actually," Regina utters out loud unintentionally.
"It's like your not together but you both my moms." Henry points out and Emma agrees. "Like, I was Emma's son and you-"
"Raised you?" Regina finished. The night fallen and just outside the castle she could run inside with the dark night avoid this tempting bit of pain. Because it was exactly what she wanted and just like anything she wanted it would be crushed to bits. Yet again she found herself doing something she normally would never do. Her guts pained with guilt again seeing Emma slip her finger just under her eye to wipe a silently fallen tear.
"When you were speaking about moments with Henry I swear many times I saw it just like it happened but It wasn't you it was me. I don't understand. Yes I always wanted a child before but really me that's just- it sounds unreal!" Without realizing it she was bubbling with joy. It was shortly followed by that unusual guilt as she watched Emma begin to turn away. The sight itself was unsettling and for the first time Regina wasn't in control, this woman did that to her. It should scare her but really everything she ever wanted stood in front of her and she couldn't let it walk away now. "Emma wait! I am not going to do anything you're thinking. It's everything I have wanted but why make you forget, why make me forget I don't believe that's all there is."
Turning away from Regina she knew that all her dreams had been fierce just as Henry said they weren't together, although she wanted to be. Even now she wanted to kiss her. Moments ago she was about to but now she heard from her own son that she didn't raise him. Her memories all fake, where did they begin to be real? It was to much as she swiftly wiped away another tear.
Henry hadn't meant to hurt his mother. He believed his mother had done so much for him but he now believed that if his memories were real that he could have a real family. Now his eagerness had hurt Emma implying she never took care of him, which he didn't really know what this meant.
"I'm sorry mom, I just saying my dream I want to help." She nodded quietly about to turn around he hoped but nothing. He looked to Regina and decided it was best if he left this between them to figure out. He nodded low for a second and then ran back the way they had come and eventually out of sight.
Regina saw Henry wasn't hurt as he left, maybe he caught how sensitive this was and took his leave. Once he was out of sight she took a careful step behind Emma. Emma finally mustering the courage to turn found herself face to face with Regina. The golden hair bounced around her shoulders in surprise. She looked for Henry having clearly missed his exit.
"He left, so tell me what is it you haven't said." Regina asked tracing her thumb over Emma's moist cheek. "I won't take your son just cuz of a few dreams says I helped raise him." She offered as comfort. Another thing she never did except for this woman.
"He's right." She didn't sob but she whimpered at the confession. "About a year ago I started dreaming, we fought over him, a town, and over so much. When he was born Neil wasn't around he abandoned me and I thought I wasn't fit to take Henry I had him set for adoption. Last minute I changed my mind. Does that mean...I gave him up?"
This time Emma didn't hold back as she sobbed over the idea that she did unsure what to believe. Regina heard her question but first her mind circled on the fact she said a town. She was there or was Regina somewhere else. In fact Regina remembered everything up till 12 years ago. Things blank thing that didn't seem accurate could it be that those 12 years she had known Henry and Emma.
"How old is Henry?" Was all she asked.
"12" Emma said holding herself up to look in Regina's eyes. She saw it was the truth when Regina let out a held breath. "Oh god I did didn't I?"
"But you remember the town. And I remember nothing why? I should have known taking the potion that that much time would effect me like this. I have no memory of so much of the past 12 years. The fact is I remember everyone except Henry and you. So.. I don't know." It was the whole truth that they knew for now. Until more surfaced they was nothing they could do. Regina took Emma into a gentle arm and led her back inside. For a few minutes with no one looking she wanted to enjoy the fact she maybe comforting her. Once in the view of guards she let her go and demanded the meal prepared for her guests be set immediately.
Sending a guard for Henry and one to have Emma seated for dinner she took a moment alone in her study. When she use to enter her study it was in anger, ready to concoct some sort of revenge. It seemed now a days she wasn't interested in such a thing. It was crazy actually but having finally realized she spent 29 years in a world without magic which had changed her. She felt comfortable with her magic like it wasn't all bad. This feeling come from something that happened that she couldn't remember and if this lonely woman and boy was that reason, she wanted to explore it first of course, but if they were she wanted to keep them.
This feeling this idea that she felt better because of someone she couldn't remember flustered her. She was in her home world with magic without them and somehow she still had been civil. With a last thought she went to a small cage in the corner of the room. Took out a small dove and laced a letter to its ankle and sent it to its destination.
A few more moments alone and she finally exited the room and join her two lonely guests for dinner. Upon enter the dinning hall she found Henry across from Emma and both sat closets to the chair at the end of the table. They sat playing hand games Emma beating Henry on a few attempts making the small boy laugh. When ever he won she would growl and challenge him again which pulled a second laugh.
Once she walked down the side of the long table her heels clicking brought a silence to the pair that she rather not have. Clearly unwilling to return to the comforting games once they felt busted she gave a light grin as she sat next to them. She could see they enjoyed the simple things just as she once had.
"I have sent a letter to request time to see Snow White and Prince Charming, your parents, if they see you are home maybe they will stop hiding the whole truth from me." Regina said waving in maids with hot plates of food.
"Everyone seems to be doing that. Neil never told me he was from here." Emma said mumbling the last bit. Still Regina managed to hear it.
"This Neil he's Henry's dad?" Emma nods. "And he didn't stay and help."
"He never knew, supposedly being from here and all he was told to leave me so I could go and end up breaking your curse." Regina and Henry ate as she talked. "I don't remember but I suppose I did right? Well I found out I was pregnant after. I was in jail till Henry was born thought I couldn't raise Henry but in my head somehow I did." She was basically admitting she didn't believe she did.
"In the town I made it was in Maine. For years I was fine till I came a crossed a few times I realized I wanted a child no one in town would be with me even if made an effort. I had tried once to adopt but acquired no one." Regina said "Rumplestiltskin in our world had played me used my anger to make a curse to find his son. Which I'm sorry dear, is Neil when the curse was broken he came here back but rumple was dead. Seems if he had wanted to break the curse and to lure you into town. Henry here must have been the key."
Emma's eyes light up in anger. Glancing at Henry though they simmered down. She loved him and honestly cared if he saw her mad or sad. She was a good mom Regina thought with a smile.
"If Neil used me.. I'll be sure to find out when I see him again." Escaping Regina's lips was a chuckle. Emma with a mouthful of food gave her a 'what?' Stare.
"Nothing dear just sensing a bad streak in you. Think I rather like it."
The rest of dinner was about what Emma's world was like. What the enchanted forest was like. An then finally the daring subject what were Emma's parents like. Regina told the truth granted in her past she was more angry with Snow and would say anything to sway a few ally's her way. Now of course she felt less anger and had no need anymore to make Snow darker than she was.
She had done her share of bad things yes. Things which led to Regina being vulnerable to manipulation, which led to her anger, revenge, and eventually this nothing at the end of her rope holding on. She had no more tricks, no more hope, and no more need to be angry. All because she spent years coexisting with her.
Living with all the people she hated because of Snow with no magic when it was all said and done she realized her need for magic had dwindled. Her control was better. Over the years her anger dissipated. So in truth they weren't so bad anymore still idiots who could never see beyond there ego to admit they did wrong but not so bad.
In fact Regina said in complete truth that they were now friends. Having come back to the enchanted forest she was good friend when Regina was in need. Whatever she had tried to forget had been tearing her apart and eventually removing her memories helped but she went to Snow for answers. Snow and belle had comforted her she know from what she didn't and she wasn't sure she wanted to.
Regina stayed up as Emma put Henry to sleep. Making sure that everyone was in their rooms before calling it a night for herself is what a queen did. Down the hall from her guests rooms and her own she sat by her fireplace. Hearing a door gently click closed she knew momentarily she heard the blonde close her own door. Patient like a queen she waited listening for the sound.
It never came even when a few minutes passed she said tracing lines in her chilled glass of wine. Eventually a very faint knock sounded on the door behind her. Taking a deep breath she turned seeing Emma peeking from the hall. She licks her lips before further entering to room.
"Majesty?" Emma calls cautiously as if the beautiful woman in front of her might not be real.
"Regina dear."
"Right. Uh Regina. I wanted to thank you." Emma strides weightless to her side. As if instinctually she kneels. Regina furrows her brows in confusion. Just as she prompts to speak Emma cuts her off. "But I can't until I say sorry."
First thing Regina feels is a pang of something in her gut. She chooses to stand bringing Emma up with her. She fears Emma will be leaving. 'I need my questions answered!' Her mind rants but she knows it's more than that. She finds Emma attractive wants to keep her around to keep smiling as she had be that day.
"What in the world for dear, you needn't kneel if I am not your queen nor are you my subject." Regina clenched her teeth unsure what to expect. 'I'll never get my answers if she leaves.' But a faint voice trying to be drowned out by her ego, past, and broken self tells her She would be sad to hear Emma leave.
"I need to say sorry because of my dreams. I never believed they could be more than that, but just seeing you knowing your name I know that it wasn't just that." Her head low. "This town you had some sort of control yes?"
"Yes. But what-" Regina answers confused having expected this to be a goodbye. She did know why but when Emma cut her off which no one would naturally do she let it go.
"I was a cop or something you and I always fought. In my dreams I feel an echo of how I felt if this is a memory. If it is it means I should say sorry. It wasn't for good reasons that we fought I can tell. We get personal and close every time. I suppose I used the fighting to get close because I was afraid that was the only way I could get it with you." She was rambling and Regina gazed her over wondering what the blonde intended to do. "It's just that every time we fought it could have ended cruel, painful, or not so bad and I always ended up feeling things for you. Heated in the middle of out rants to no extent. The passion and care I felt, times I wanted to kiss you instead of fight that's what I'm sorry for. I hope I didn't hurt you that that is why you have taken you memories or ours. The things I've dreamt they deserve my remorse even if you don't know what I did."
Regina shivered as Emma rambled, she listened intently. It was the most sincere, kind, and honest thing anyone had ever said to her. The only thing she thought of as Emma's words died out waiting for a response or apology acceptance was how Emma admitted she had wanted to kiss her instead of fight.
Regina hadn't felt the need to hear something so in a long time that the idea seemed bittersweet. An for the first time in too long she let such words sink in. The moment Emma said she had felt things her stomach fluttered but quickly recoiled the feeling do to lack of experience, comfort and control it left her feeling.
"And what if I want you to do just that kiss me." She knew it was just her normal sexual demanding ego telling her she could make her if she wanted, because everyone wanted to sleep with her at least once. More if she made them.
As the question exited her lips she saw a flash in Emma's eyes. It was a subtle sign of raw longing but fear of being used. It shook Regina straight to her core forcing her to hear the smaller voice that said she wouldn't make her. It echoed deeper that she wanted Emma to choose to.
"I would, but only because I want to not because your queen, my dreams, or memories. If I kiss you I want it to be because you are you and I want to." Emma said certain as she looked up and took Regina's eyes in. She knew she saw no sign of force or desire to make Emma and so she let the thought go. Maybe she had only meant in this moment wanted to Emma to kiss her.
Bash fully Regina blushed do to her belief that her words hurt Emma and yet Emma returned her queen like attitude with her own. It was kinder less cruel sounding and Emma even meant what she said. This caused for a greater need to understand this gap in her life and memory.
"Yes your quite right." Regina said with a sense shame rolling in. For the fourth time in just one day Emma was making Regina do or feel yet another thing she never did. Why? Was all she could think. She continued to do without thinking and that as of right now didn't feel to bad.
Her hands traveled gentle like a feather down Emma's arms at her side. Instantly they feel a spark a pull and as the spark vibrates on Emma's wrist Regina can see the spark travel to her eyes. She hears a sweet quiet gasp but keeps herself focused. "I wonder if I felt the same when we fought. I am growing fond of you already. You are not like most people, where many would stay silent, fear me, hate me even, or pledge themselves to me. Not like you who stands on your own with no desire to be below or above me."
"That is very true. I fear that all I fear is not being able to hide that I am seeing you as I have in my dreams. I don't hate you, I want to know you better than I do in my dreams." Emma still feels the tingle around her wrists but finds herself stuck focused on Regina's eyes. She has to admit to herself that she doesn't know the woman in front of her and pulls back. For the sake of her sanity and for the sake of keep her heart safe. This is only temporary she reminds herself as Regina's hands fumble from the loss of contact.
Regina can see the actual fear rising in Emma. As if she'd been so use to holding Emma her hands wanted to takes hers up again but she forced the pull down. Knowing now that Emma feared the dreams were leading her emotions. Although the only thing was Regina didn't mind where it came from she didn't want Emma to go just then so she redirected the subject.
"I had a sheriff just before my memory becomes cloudy. I remember killing him out of anger and jealousy but not more. I acted out it seems and maybe when you came to town you became sheriff." There was no guessing if Emma said she had been a cop it was more sheriff. If she said they fought about the town it was only logical. "Aside from that I suppose we will have to wait till we see Snow White. She promised if I found you she'd answer me."
Emma scrunched her eyebrows.
"So wait did you or Snow send the men to find me?"
"Both, we had a plan set before I lost my memories and she appears to for once be following through with her word." Regina said with a chuckle where as normally she would have found herself angered at the woman for past failure to keep her silence. "basically she's been looking forward to seeing you and if I bring you I can get the information I need."
"So why bother with talking to me, I mean I don't know that I've been very helpful."
"Oh your lack of memory is beside the point. I did enjoy today but in the long run I'd still rather not need Snow White's help." Regina stated leaving Emma with a light laugh.
"Right but it's not like your her mortal enemy so why not?" Emma asks obliviously.
"I was her greatest enemy before the curse. Being the evil queen back then though I was everyone's enemy."
"What!?" Emma gaped completely shocked. "But your not an old crone with app- oh god those apples? They where poisonous!?" Her breathing labored.
"No no I used the last poisonous one a long time ago. Your completely safe here I assure you." Regina said turning to the fireplace. "I haven't had anything evil in mind in a long time. Sometimes I think even though the curse went wrong or you broke it that it turned out for the best." Emma stared at Regina as she spoke curiously. "I lived magic less for a good part of a timeless three decades in your world. I have better control now, less anger at the people I use to despise, and well frankly I think I have a second chance." Feeling Emma's eyes on her she shivered and turned back to her. "That is why I can't let this go whatever it is that I choose to forget clearly I am better off without it but I want to fill in the blanks."
Emma understood why Regina needed to remember how she got to where she was now. She practically had been feeling the same way recently. How to except something so current and real when you could fill in the blanks on how you got there or who made things better for you somehow. If she looked at Regina she could see a larger reflection of herself. Regina clearly had been through a ton more than Emma had and that made Emma very impressed.
The rest of their talk had been short and eventually they both walked down the hall together. Emma entered her room and closed the door after a comforting goodnight from Regina. Regina walked further and paused at Henry's door she half wished that she could truly believe she had a son. That if she whispered goodnight she wouldn't feel attached to the ever temporary child that claimed to be her son as well. Taking everything she had to keep walking after a moment and forcing her words down again. Not noticing the emerald green eyes secretly watching her and completely unaware that Emma's heart ached at the sight.
Both women finally in just the silence of their rooms reeling over the day. Eventually sleep took place taking one after the other. They had let themselves be so different in just one day. Now as they rested Emma tried to build her walls back up. As Regina slept she tried to prepare herself but let her walls remain lighter unsure she wanted to begin being cruel again.
In the morning the sun swam the sky's bringing on another day to many in every kingdom. To the queen this wasn't any day as her bird reached the edges of her boarder and crossed into the white kingdom. Henry barrels into his mothers room rousing her from slumber. The queen is wakened as soon as her guests are up and she finds already a very comforting routine taking on. Breakfast, royal courts, and touring for her guests. She expects the day to be great and then tomorrow she plans on venturing to the white kingdom.
For the other side of the Boarder the morning starts just like many many have over the past year, dull, very worn with routine. The queen and king start with a perfect breakfast. The begin the morning in silence talking long used up over the year. The queen wasn't cursed anymore but she refused to speak. Many times she broke silence only to retreat at the simple utterance for her husband that they efforts may be lost. They had come so close but it had been a few months since they began hunting for their daughter in the other world.
No one wanted to believe the situation was permanent but charming was no fool to keep hope that the only men capable of finding Emma where idiots half the time. The had hope in man that fawned over her they were more likely to keep her for themselves than to bring her home where she was needed. Many times had he tried to express his fears but his wife was very headstrong in hopes and motherhood. Snow believed endlessly that Emma would come home.
This morning had slowly dragged into the afternoon and still no great difference from their new day to day. Until a small white dove tweeted its way to Snows shoulder. It perched and tweeted until snow took the scroll on it ankle. The moment the paper was removed the bird vanished to return to its owner. Charming held a curious stare as her waited to hear what queen Regina had to say.
With no explanation yet Snow started yelling for servants to enter the room. Declaring a clear schedule tomorrow. Demanding a meal be made an the entire castle be combed over and cleaned three times by the next day. Finally she looked at charming with the widest grin he had ever seen. The only one that meant one thing. "She's here charming! She's home. She comes tomorrow with Regina!"
"But what of Hook and Neil?" Charming questioned shocked.
"Seems they came back on Regina's land and she brought Emma to her castle. Oh I wonder if they...no it's highly impossible that either would."
As speechless as he was he mustered up a voice. As much as his dumbfound face made him a Charming he finally shook it. Slowly he stuttered.
"Wh-what are you going to tell Regina if she hasn't fixed her memory? We can't just say things she'll never believe us and nothing we say will bring things back for her."
"Nothing dear I can't tell her anything that's the promise I took when she left me that letter." It took Snow a moment to not fear the thought of the night Regina lost her memory. In fact even after trying not to and trying keep hope she could still remember it clearly.
5 months ago: white kingdom.
After being pushed out the door by belle and forced to return home to her castle Snow demanded answers. She was then handed a letter. It was enchanted with Regina's seal closing the letter. The spell wore off as soon as Snow touched it. Regina intended her and only her to read this.
Flicking the letter open she scanned the page and gasped at the words.
Dear Snow,
I know you wish beyond anything to have hope, but I cannot. I am wasting away in my pain, I know I haven't bared this alone and my dear I am sorry to leave this for you to bare. Tonight as you are ushered from my walls I take my memories away. I cannot wait for Emma and my dear Henry to come home. Many nights I wake dreaming of them only to find myself lost in a basin. Cleaning my own misery. After tonight I will resemble the woman I was before the curse. Slightly kinder I will remember everything except Henry and Emma. I have nothing to harm you, no curses, no threats, just simply a cruel me. I will know you are a dear friend now I will most likely urge you to speak with me tell me things I may not understand anymore. Snow for all that is me make a promise, when this time comes and I come demanding and then I come again begging do not tell me anything that could bring my memory back. Until Emma is back, until here is here, until I can be whole again reveal nothing. If I remember without them it will kill me. I need this.
Deepest regrets,
Regina
Snow couldn't believe how right Regina was, she came she asked and in a slight fury left. Returning two to three week later begging for information. In which time Snow had told Regina that if she wished to understand she must first help find their lost daughter. She never mentioned the name, never mentioned a son, and most of all never mentioned her connection with her. She saw what Regina had looked like and that was frightful in itself to not want her to end up that way again.
It took hook another two months to find his way to the white kingdom. She had allowed Regina to know of her plan to find Emma assuming she might have forgotten. Over those few months Regina had made herself look better. They sent the two out to the Other world. Snow revealed in private to Neil and hook that Regina had put it in Emma's mind to go to a certain city and they may have to look carefully but she should be there.
The news still jumping about in Snow's head she shouted again. This time a servant come up and she let her excited voice soften.
"Find belle and red. We need to make a ball for when she remembers celebrate. If they are available today preferably. Sending word to granny is best with belle staying there and them so involved in themselves right now granny will get them here." She giggled at the idea of her best friend living happy for once.
"Snow dear what if Emma doesn't remember?" Charming imputed. "Henry.. What about Henry? He's here too right?" Again Snow found joy in the news.
"Emma is a child of true love if she can't remember yet she'll still live Regina soon enough and remember that way. Henry is here and we can be a whole family again!" Her excitement was uncontainable. She spoke in volumes. Volumes that unknown to them or to anyone way being listened to for a reason.
Snows simple confirmation that indeed their daughter way home and was a true love baby created a cackle from the eavesdropper. The strongest true love magic bared inside Emma so the legend was heard in a far away world. A lowly peasant falling for a royal. The story was said that a lowly peasant found he was a prince and true to his upbringing found her unwittingly fell in love with a royal daughter in another kingdom.
This daughter had to be, had to be, the strongest true love magic if not all lost. The distance traveled, the curse, her own true love, and maybe even herself would be lost if she couldn't obtain it. So she would wait until this child came and once the time was right she would make her move. First the meeting and then follow them until the child was alone. Another cackle burst from the eavesdropper.
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next chapter: Belle and red plan a celebration but things get stalled when it comes to the Charmings attention that danger is a foot still. Emma is unable to remember what will snow tell Regina, Henry, and their daughter.