Title: The Girl who would be Queen.
Author: Starbuck1980 (Livejournal and Tumblr)
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Swan Queen
Rating: NC17 for trigger warnings, language and explicit sexual scenes
Summary: Spoilers for Stable Boy S01E18.
Emma is sent a book, similar to Henry's containing details of the Evil Queen's past. Mixed FTL with SB. Dark & twisty.
Trigger Warnings: Child abuse – Physical and emotional, emotional neglect. Cutting/suicidal tendencies, flashbacks, nightmares, Self-loathing. Please consider before you read this if you have been/still are affected by any of these. I write from experience so these scenes are fairly detailed and could be difficult to read. I do not in any way condone cutting but having lived with this tendency for a long time, I understand it. I am also in no way saying that if you are affected by abuse, you should keep quiet. In fact if you or someone you know if affect by any of these topics, please consider seeking help. There is someone out there who can and will help you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing; if I did OUaT would be taking a very different path with this pairing. Chapter titles are taken from various songs by Evanescence; part twenty-one is taken from Solitude. All rights belong to Disney/ABC and Amy Lee/Evanescence.
A/N: Dark, dark, dark FTL scenes.
Part Twenty-One – When will this hole in my heart be mended.
Everyone leaves me stranded
Forgotten, abandoned, left behind
- Solitude, Evanescence
It began with a low rumbling far beneath Storybrook, something stirring near the old mine. Cracks and fissures opened beneath the ground and rose upward, snaking their way to ground level as the ground split apart in an explosion of rock and dust.
The fissures ran like a river below the surface, collapsing roads and trees in their wake as they made their way along the forest road. The fissures snaked beneath the nunnery walls as they shook the old building, forcing people to scatter as the walls began to crumble, women screaming as the ground opened up beneath them.
Regina nestled closer into Emma's arms, her eyes closed and a look of absolute peace upon her upturned face. She looked truly beautiful dozing in Emma's arms and the blonde gazed down at her in absolute awe. Her mask had been shattered in the moment of orgasm and Emma had watched her come undone as she tumbled over the edge and into ecstasy. Emma could never describe look of pure serenity that had adorned the Mayor's features at that moment but traces still remained as the brunette dozed against her. Emma smiled, wishing they could stay like this forever. She reached down, brushing Regina's hair away from her face and was about to kiss the brunette's serene face when her phone began to vibrate. Regina's phone chimed in, ringing obtrusively and waking her sleeping bear, a frown consuming the brunette's face. Regina shifted to answer her phone as Emma got up to retrieve hers.
When Emma arrived twenty minutes later, half the convent was in rubble and the adjoining convalescent home was threatening to collapse.
The fire department had already cordoned off the area and the injured were being taken to the hospital.
'What the hell happened?' Emma asked as the fire chief came out of the half collapsed building.
'The earthquake ruptured the gas main, causing a small explosion. The nuns are very lucky; it could've taken the whole building down,' he answered, scratching his forehead as he turned to bark orders at a nearby fire fighter. The dream ran through Emma's head, the town collapsing in on itself as Fairy Tale Land rust from the dust.
'Everyone made it out alive?' Emma asked her hands on her hips as she spotted the Mayor's black Mercedes pull up behind one of the fire trucks. Regina had insisted on taking two separate cars, her grouchy exterior coming back full force the moment she got out of bed and answered the phone. Emma tried to catch Regina's eye as she exited her car but the Mayor refused to look in her direction and stalked across to the main entrance of the convalescent home, her face pale against the stark flood lights the fire department had put up.
'So far,' he said, 'The nuns have all been evacuated and the injured have been sent to the hospital. Mother Superior is currently evacuating the convalescent home,' the man pointed over to the adjoining building, 'The damage wasn't as severe so we could be lucky,' he explained.
'Do we know when this happened?' Emma asked, not sure why the question seemed important.
The fire chief looked at her oddly, 'About 7.30pm Sheriff, you didn't feel it?' he asked incredulously, 'It shook the whole damn town.'
Emma looked back at him slightly sheepishly, shaking her head and raising her eyebrows with what she hoped was a convincing display.
Someone yelled the chief's name behind her and he excused himself.
A cold dread began to creep up Emma's spine, at seven thirty she had been in bed with Regina. The words: True Love's Kiss can break any Curse came to the forefront of her mind. Emma shuddered, believing in the redemption of love was one thing but Emma was not yet able to comprehend that she and Regina were literally freeing Fairy Tale Land from beneath Storybrooke. She tried to shake it off the connection but the thought refused to leave her mind.
Regina's legs were still trembling from Emma Swan's touch as she drove to the convent. She was finding that it took most of her strength and concentration to perform the usually simple action of keeping her foot evenly on the gas and working the clutch. Emma had offered to drive them both but Regina had refused icily. Under no circumstance was she going to allow them to arrive on scene together, she still had a reputation to maintain.
She purposely avoided Emma Swan's eye as she stepped out of her car, her mind unfocused and her legs still shaking. The thought of Emma Swan's hands against her skin refused to leave her mind so she focused on a point across the wreckage and stalked across the scene like she was on a mission; she could play the part if nothing else.
'Sister? How's the evac coming along?' Regina asked as she approached Mother Superior, her voice clipped and official.
'We're almost done just a few more patients and then we will be all clear Madam Mayor,' The Mother Superior said, as she scribbled on a clip board.
'And where are they all to be housed?' Regina asked, irritation in her tone as she followed the nun into the building, someone handing her a hard hat as she passed the entrance into the large hall of the rec room.
'Some are to go to relatives, some are to go to the hospital and the rest will stay at our smaller convent on the eastern part of town,' Mother Superior informed her, her tone unwavering in the face of Regina's unexplained discontent and Regina glowered down at her.
'Sheriff,' The Mother Superior greeted as the blonde came up behind Regina.
'Mother Superior, Madam Mayor,' Emma greeted her tone remaining business like despite the fluttering in her chest.
'If you will excuse me, I must see to the preparations,' Mother Superior said, 'I'll leave you to update the Sheriff, Madam Mayor,' she added as she left Emma and Regina in an awkward silence.
Regina turned slightly, watching a petite nun as she wheeled another patient out of the doors. She regarded Emma in her yellow hard hat, smirking slightly as the blonde came up beside her.
'What's that look for Madam Mayor?' Emma said, her tone light almost conspiratorial.
Regina shrugged as she opened her mouth in retort, stopping in her tracks as she looked over the rest of the people in the large hall.
'Madam Mayor?' Emma asked as Regina stood frozen on the spot her mouth still hanging open.
Regina's face suddenly drained of colour and she thought for a moment she might lose control of her bladder. Her head became fuzzy and she felt faint as Emma's words sounded distant in her muddled brain.
'Hey, Regina you don't look so great. What's going on?' Emma asked as Regina stumbled against her, grabbing her hand for dear life, her eyes frozen on something across the room. Emma tracked her gaze, an older woman sat hunched over in a wheel chair her black hair tied up into a tight bun beneath the yellow hard hat someone had placed on her head.
For a moment Emma thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, it couldn't be, it wasn't possible, was it? The Mayor's fingers dug into the soft flesh of Emma's arm and confirmed all of her unspoken questions. She placed her hand over Regina's arm, squeezing slightly in recognition of Regina's tacit fears.
But as Emma stared at the older woman, she couldn't deny the resemblance.
Cora.
Regina's mother had been in Storybrook all this time and judging by Regina's reaction, the Mayor had absolutely no idea.
'Honey, it's ok…' Emma murmured close to the Mayor's shoulder. But Regina stood frozen as a porter began to transport the woman to the waiting bus outside. Emma pried her fingers from her arm, taking the mayor's hand instead as she stepping forward into the porter's direct route.
'Excuse me…' Emma asked as she took another step.
'Yes Sheriff,' he replied, briefly glancing at the stricken Mayor, taking in her white complexion and the fact she clung to Emma's hand so hard the Sheriff's knuckles were white. Regina saw his gaze and stepped behind the Sheriff, obscuring his view while still holding on to Emma's hand.
'How long has this woman been living here… What's wrong with her?' Emma asked; her tone authoritarian as she looked down at Cora.
'Uh… As long as I've been working here and I've been here almost six years,' he said. 'She has some kind of dementia, she doesn't say a lot and she doesn't remember much either,' The man continued, patting the woman's shoulder. The woman looked up at Emma with cold dead eyes, a shiver travelling down the Sheriff's spine and the fine hairs on the back of her neck pricking.
Emma squeezed Regina's hand a little as the woman clung to her in a death grip. Cora's face was blank but as she turned from Emma to Regina, recognition flashed across her eyes.
'Regina?' Her mother croaked as a smile came to her lips. Regina shook her head slowly, finally finding her voice,
'No, no I don't know you.' Regina stated her voice flat as let go of Emma's hand and stumbled across the hardwood floor on shaky legs. Emma excused herself, following at the Mayor's heels as she exited the building.
Bile rose within Regina's throat, burning as she retched into the flowerbed. She remained bent over, one arm hugging her stomach and the other supported her against the railing of the stairs when Emma caught up.
'Hey…' Emma said as she rubbed Regina's back but the brunette closed her eyes tight against the onslaught of emotions. Her mother was alive. Bile rose again and she promptly vomited before catching sight of the porter wheeling her mother out the door. Oh God she had to get out of here fast.
Regina shrugged off the blonde and ran over to her car, almost tripping on the grass in her heels.
'Madam Mayor!' Emma called after her, jogging to keep up.
'Sheriff Swan?' The fire chief cut in, as she was half way across the grass. 'I could use some help with crowd control, I think someone is trapped in the rubble,' he explained.
Emma nodded, glancing back at Regina before following the fire chief, as much as she wanted to follow Regina she had a duty to this town and she couldn't shirk that for her own emotions.
'Sister Astrid,' Emma called as she went over to join the other volunteers helping to sort through the wreckage. The woman nodded in greeting as she scribbled on another clipboard.
'I want to know where that woman is going,' Emma pointed over to the porter, helping Cora into the bus.
'Who Cora? She's just the sweetest, do you know her because she has no family as far as I know,' the nun replied, her eyes bright despite the situation.
'I don't know her, but I want to know exactly where she is going,' Emma stated, lacing more authority into her Sheriff voice. Sister Astrid checked her list before looking up and smiling.
'Well she has no family, so she is going to the convent on the eastern part of town,' she replied.
Emma nodded.
'I want her placed on house arrest once she gets there, she doesn't go anywhere without my say so,' Emma stated forcefully, pointing at Cora in the distance.
'But Sheriff, she's harmless! Just a confused old woman,' Sister Astrid replied, growing more perplexed by the minute.
'I'm serious Sister, make sure she is watched every moment until I say otherwise,' she said, gaining a confused nod of acquiescence before running off to help with crowd control.
Cora had forbidden Regina to speak of their conversation. She was not to leave her room and not to speak to anyone. Cora told the King and Snow that Regina was feeling unwell and needed to rest, ensuring she would not been disturbed.
Seated in the corner of the room, Regina's mind was racing at Cora's revelation. How could she be with child? Yes she and Daniel had been intimate but they had always been careful. She was with child? She said the words over and over again, willing them to sink in. It was Daniel's baby, she was having Daniel's child and he was dead. It broke her heart all over again that the last vestige of Daniel now grew in her belly but as the words began to sink in, so did the realisation that a part of Daniel grew inside her and with that her love for this child. She loved it fiercely and wanted more than anything to bring it into this world. She hugged her arms around her stomach and the life forming within it. Surely her mother couldn't make her do anything now? What was done; was done. Even if she had to marry the King and pretend this was his child she would always have Daniel's child to love. She smiled through the tears of her grief as she mother entered her bedchamber again, her face like thunder. She jumped to a standing position, hugging herself harder, fear and defiance flooding her being.
Her mother thrust a small bottle in her hands. 'Drink this, you'll be sick but after that we won't have to worry about your…indiscretion,' her mother commanded, spitting the word indiscretion as if the child growing inside her was filth.
Regina stared at her mother wide-eyed, shock consuming her features as she stared at the bottle and then back at her mother, comprehension of her words causing her newly-created happy world to fall away beneath her, leaving her in an emotional void. She stared at her mother open-mouthed, completely unable to vocalise.
'Drink it now or I'll force it down your throat,' her mother commanded as she grabbed for the vial.
Regina came to her senses, pulling her hand away from her mother as the agony of her current situation caught up with her feeling of hopelessness. Her eyes filled with tears.
'I won't do it mother!' Regina yelled back, holding the small bottle tightly as her mother loomed over her. She threw the bottle to the floor, hoping it would smash but the dreaded bottle dropped harmlessly to the floor. That earned her a blow across her cheek. As she held her cheek and saw the fury in her mother's eyes she knew that their guests were the only thing keeping her from the cellar for that act of disobedience.
'You want to have a bastard child and be alone for the rest of your life because you were too stupid to get rid of it when you had the chance? Because that is what it will be, no man will marry you now that you are spoiled goods,' her mother spat, as she backhanded Regina across her face.
Warmth trickled from Regina's nostrils, she knew it was blood but her arms and legs were pinned and she couldn't move to wipe the stream as it dripped into her mouth and onto her dress.
'I don't care about any of that, I will care for this child, MY child,' Regina screamed, her voice rising shrilly.
'You will do as you are told! You are marrying King Leopold. You will drink this and abort that bastard child,' Cora growled, her eyes dark and hard and so close Regina could see her reflection in their darkness.
'No mother, I won't,' she said with a stubborn conviction. Tears came freely now, streaming down her face and mixing with the blood on her dress.
She saw the determination in her mother's eyes, she had seen it so many times and each time she had eventually relented but she knew she couldn't, absolutely could not, lose this fight. She screamed then, screamed with all her being; defiance glaring back at her mother. If someone didn't find them then she could lose this child and the realisation dawned on her in an agony so profound it almost consumed her. She screamed louder, using the pain wrenching in her chest to sustain the noise. She would keep screaming until someone came or her mother knocked her unconscious.
'What are you doing?' Cora spat, a smirk adorning her features as Regina caught a breath. 'No one is going to hear you dear, they've all gone hunting.'
Regina's face went pale as the blood drained from it and, if her mother hadn't been holding her in place with magic, she was sure her legs would've buckled. Anger rose within her, mixing with her pain as she desperately struggled against her invisible bonds, her mother's laughter echoing through her skull.
Cora grabbed the vial from the floor, grabbing Regina's jaw in a vice like grip and prizing her mouth open. She uncorked the bottle with her teeth and began to pour the contents down her daughter's throat. Regina spluttered, desperately trying to spit out the vile liquid that burnt her mouth. Her mother closed Regina's mouth with her hand, pinching her nose and shutting off her daughter's airway until she swallowed. Still Regina fought, she would refuse to swallow until her last breath, if her child was to die then so would she. Her lungs screamed for air as she held her mother's eyes, glaring in defiance. Her head began to swim, darkness creeping in around the corners of her eyes.
For a moment, one blissful moment, she could see Daniel smiling back at her. She could hear his laugh and feel his strong arms around her. 'I'm coming Daniel,' she thought as everything went black, her throat swallowing of its own accord as her head slumped forward."
A/N: I've been reading too many George RR Martin novels, I am sure that is where this part with Regina and her mother in FTL came from.