1082 Words this Chapter. Short chapter, I'm posting the next one with it.
Chapter Twenty-One, Alive
Emma and Hook met Regina at her office in City Hall. "Thank you for coming," she said. "I've made a small batch of potion. I thought we'd try it out on one of them first. I don't want to duplicate any of Astaroth's horrible mistakes."
"Good thinking, Lass," said Hook. "It's kind of you too."
Regina nodded. "There's no reason to cause them pain." She sighed. "I'll get Appleseed. He's outside in the trees."
"No, he isn't," said a voice. Bugsy walked in. "Henry and I were hanging out today. We found the tree guy moping outside. Henry took him back to Mary-Margaret's home to show him some dancing videos or something."
Regina laughed.
Bugsy looked at Emma. "I want to go first."
"What...are...are you sure?" Emma asked, upset.
He smiled. "I don't belong like this," he said. "I miss...me. Cruising the roads, occasionally going off and into a ditch," he said with a smirk. She shared it. "I miss you, Em. We were a team and we can't be like that if I'm human."
"We'd figure it out."
"Nah, besides, you said the spell can't go on or it would drain your life. I can't do that to you."
"You told him?" asked Regina.
Emma nodded. "I...I was a little bummed last night," she said and looked at Hook. "After... well, after I left. When I got home, Bugsy was still up. We talked. I guess I wanted his...opinion."
Killian nodded. "I understand, Love."
"It's really alright, Ems," said the former car. "I told you that last night. I meant it."
"I know," Emma said, "But...maybe we can figure out some way to fix it, so we can both live."
"Ems, no. I won't risk it. You're my..." He sighed. "You're my Emma."
Behind her, Killian smiled. "You have a noble vehicle there, Swan."
"Yeah," she said. She gave Bugsy a big smile. "I'll miss you...like this, I mean."
"Don't worry, I'll still be here, just...looking a little better." He chuckled and gave her a big hug then nodded to Regina.
"This won't hurt," Regina told him. "I just need some hair."
After she took the clipping from him, she put it in the potion. With one last look at Emma and then Bugsy, she began reciting the spell.
Bugsy moaned and grabbed his stomach. Emma rushed to his side. "I thought you said it wouldn't hurt!"
"I meant the hair cutting," snapped Regina. Her tone softened. "I didn't know about the affects of the spell. I'm sorry."
"It's OK. It's not bad," said Bugsy. "Just a little flipping on the inside. I'm a little dizzy too." Emma frowned, holding onto him. He began to gasp. "We should...probably...go to the street?" he suggested.
"Eglantine said it would take a while," said Emma.
"I want to be ready," said Bugsy, "Plus...the queen wouldn't like it if I squished her stuff."
Regina gave him a soft smile. "Emma has insurance, I'm sure."
He laughed.
"Bugsy is correct, though, Emma," said Killian. "He requires more room."
She nodded. She and Killian helped him and they walked out to the curb.
The spell took a while to happen. Bugsy got weaker, eventually lying down in the street, by the curb. Emma stayed with him.
"Are you in pain?" she asked.
He shook his head.
Emma frowned, watching him. She looked back at Regina, standing in her yard. She shrugged back.
"Oh...something's happ...happening," whispered Bugsy. "I feel it now. It's com...ing."
Emma tried to hold on to her composure, but couldn't. She burst out in tears.
"It's OK, Ems...don't cry," Bugsy whispered.
Killian, always by her side, put an arm around her.
"Don't...want you to...go," she mumbled while sobbing.
Bugsy smiled and turned to her. "Be...alright. See.. you soon," he whispered.
Emma bent over him, giving him a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll keep you with me, Bugsy, always."
He smiled. "Just...until...I rust out. Safety...first..." He let out a long gasp as a yellowish glow formed at his toes.
Killian pulled her back. "I think the time has arrived, Emma," he said gently.
"He's right," said Regina, as they moved back by her. "It's happening."
Emma nodded, grabbing tightly to Killian.
Bugsy shimmered, the glow moving up his body until it covered him. He glowed, brighter and brighter. Then the glow turned into a thick golden mass, so thick that they couldn't see him anymore.
Emma looked away, shielding herself inside Killian's arms.
Finally the glowing mass dissipated.
"It worked," Regina said.
Emma looked up. There it was, her yellow bug. She wiped her tears and shakily walked toward it, Killian still holding to her. She stretched out her hand. Gently she touched her car, then stroked it's surface tenderly.
"Are you alright, Emma?" he asked.
She sniffled and nodded. "It's a great little car."
"Indeed."
"He...did it for me, you know."
"I mostly definitely do," he said, his voice choking up. "He was very noble."
"I'll give you...a moment," Regina said. She didn't make any snide comments or belittle the fact that a grown woman was crying over a metal hunk of automobile. She understood. In fact, she felt a lump forming in her stomach as she thought of Appleseed. She walked back to her door, looking back at them before she went inside.
"Poor Bugsy, he shouldn't have had to make that choice," Emma whispered.
"It's not your fault, Emma," Killian said.
"I know. It's Astaroth's."
Killian nodded, pulling her back into his arms. She gratefully went, hugging him tightly. "I miss Bugsy," she said with a whimper. "I know it's silly. He was a car, which I still have, but...I miss him."
"It's not silly, Emma. He had quite the personality."
She chuckled in her pirate's arms. "He did."
"And I am sure, Love," Killian said softly, "that he misses you too, in whatever way that he can."
She nodded.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other, they heard a soft honk. They let each other go and looked at the car.
Then they laughed.
"He's still in there," she whispered with a smile, her hand going to the bug's hood.
Killian smiled. "I have no doubt."
She sighed, patting her car. "Good Bugsy."
Behind them, obscured in the bushes was a witness, silently crying and trembling with fear and sorrow.
End of Chapter Twenty-One