A/N: Merry Late Christmas and Happy New Year! I'm so sorry for the wait. Please enjoy.
Her heart throbbed in exertion as she listened to the imbecile nurse who had let her patient escape. She was seething in anger as the nurse explained how he was drugged and has no idea where she is. This will definitely bite her in the ass. If it is not one thing, it is the other. She slammed the work phone down, the plastic vibrated from the force of the collision.
How could she concentrate on work when she has a shit storm on her hands? She would have Sidney to find out where that patient was, but he is on the deep end and trying to kill her lover, and that won't do. So right now, she is in a flux as far as to how she can find where that person is at. But right now, she has other concerns like getting an update from Graham and David of Sidney's whereabouts.
Regina dialled Graham's number. "Do you have any news for me about Sidney?"
Graham bites down on his tongue from Regina's demanding tone, but he knows that this is just Regina, and being a damn tyrant is just something he is used to.
"No, we haven't. But we are still searching. And I got some additional help."
"Yes, well get on this. I can't have that mad man on the loose in town. If I had my magic, this wouldn't be a problem. Become competent and find the bastard," and she hangs up the phone.
Graham didn't even have a chance to respond. He repeatedly chants in his head, "This is for Emma. This is for Emma. This is for Emma," to help him endure the force that is Regina. He called David and Ruby to reconvene on the manhunt. His ultimate determination is to find Sidney as quickly as possible.
A young blue eyed brunette entered Mr. Gold's dimly lit pawn shop. It has an ominous feeling and many artefacts and objects that made her skin crawl. She has no idea who she is and who the young, crazed looking man was that told her to look for this man, but it gave her hope to know that there is at least one person in this town that cares for her. That is a comforting thought considering she has been in isolation for so, so long.
She finds a man with short brunette hair. He is on the skinnier side and seems preoccupied with wiping the dirt off his counter. To be honest, he would be good to have the rest of the shop dusted off as well. It needs some serious deep cleaning.
She timidly speaks up. "Excuse me, are you Mr. Gold?"
"Yes I am, but I'm afraid the shop's closed-" and he turns around, realizing the woman in front of him is Belle. But how can this be? He thought he lost her for all of eternity. This can't be real, she must be an illusion.
The amnesiac woman saw the look of shock on the older man's face. It seems that the man saw a ghost or something.
"I was uh, I was told to-to find and tell you that Regina locked me up. Does that mean anything to you?"
Gold reaches out and touches her in disbelief. "You're real. You're alive. She did this to you?"
"I was told you'd protect me."
Gold embraces her, sobbing slightly with relief and appreciation. Somehow, fate has decided to bring her back into his life. He won't make the same mistake again of ever letting her walk away again. He looks back at her with one hundred percent certainty.
"Oh yes. Yes I'll protect you."
"Um, I'm sorry, do I-do I know you?"
"No. But you will." This curse needs to be broken. And his former favorite student will have to pay dearly for Belle's imprisonment.
A thousand things swirled in Regina's mind due to the increasing complexities that are life, she is now knee deep in. Despite all of these obstacles, one of the few things that bring her joy in her life is her son, her own miracle. She stood outside the door to pick her son up, wanting to be vigilant to make sure he is safe. Henry saw his mother and immediately ran to her with a big hug.
"Hey Mom. Can we see Emma now?"
She smiled down at him. "Of course we can."
They drove to the hospital as Henry chatted about what they did in school.
"Where's Grandma?" Regina clenched her jaw. She would be lying if she said that it didn't bother her how easily Henry accepted such a formal title for the teacher. But Henry has always believed that she was his grandmother so it is not a jump for him to call her such now openly with her.
"She is helping David, Graham, and Ruby with finding Sidney."
Henry smiles, "They will find him, I'm sure of it. Because good always wins."
Regina sighed. Henry's world is currently still viewed in black and white. But in this case, she doesn't mind if the heroes win this round.
"They do."
They made it to the hospital. She gave curt nods to the hospital staff in passing as they walked to Emma's door. There were two guards standing outside of the door which spiked Henry's curiosity.
"Is that Emma's room?"
"Yes."
"Then why are there two guys standing out there?"
"Because these are security guards, they are there to make sure Emma is safe."
"Okay."
Regina stood in front of the two burly men as they greeted the mayor. "Has there been any disturbances?"
"No Mayor Mills. It is been quite quiet here."
Regina nods at them. "Very well." And she opens the door and guides Henry in by putting her hand lightly on his back.
Emma lights up when she sees them. "Hey."
Henry's mouth is comically wide open as he yelped in excitement.
"Dad!" He ran to Emma's bed and leaped into her arms. He had to kind of manoeuvre around since she had a plate of food on a pull out table.
"Henry! Be careful," Regina admonished him from bulldozing her.
Emma laughed it off. "Well someone is excited to see her. But yeah, I am still recovering, so it will be great not to tackle me." She met Regina's eyes for a moment but quickly diverted it.
"I am so sorry."
"It's all good. How have you been doing," she asks as she ruffled his hair.
"I'm good. I'm just so happy that you are alright." Henry looked down at the food that was on her tray. His nose wrinkled with disgust. It was mashed broccoli with stale looking rice and a piece of round flat meat that couldn't be easily identified.
"What are you eating?"
Emma laughs. She hasn't felt this light in a while. Henry is truly a gift to her, and to be so close to never see him again, it is too tragic to comprehend.
"I'm not sure what I'm eating but it sucks, yuck." And the two laughed together. Regina is feeling a little awkward, for some odd reason she feels out of place. She spoke into their cheery mood.
"The food is terrible. I can go and yell at the food service for their incompetence." She turned to leave but Emma's voice stopped her.
"You don't have to do that. Hospital food notoriously sucks anyway. But can you do me a huge favor and pick me something up from Granny's?"
Emma looks at her with her green puppy dog eyes. Eyes just like Henry that she can't refuse. Even though Emma is distant, it doesn't mean that she will stop caring for the blonde.
"I can do that. The usual I gather?"
Emma gives her a small smile. "Yep, double cheeseburger with bacon, fries, and a chocolate milkshake."
"Will do."
Henry whipped his attention to his mom, desperately wanting to state his case as well. "Can I get the same too, Mom?"
Her heart melts as two sets of green eyes peer at her. She has no defence against their whelms.
"This would be quite an early dinner but yes you can. Except you will have a single cheeseburger with no bacon and a shake. I don't want you to have an early heart attack."
Henry beamed at her, "Thanks Mom, you are the greatest."
"Thanks Regina."
She smiled back at her two favorite people in the world.
"You're welcome." She exited the room to retrieve two lunch orders.
Emma returned her attention back to her son.
"Really miss you buddy."
"Miss you too. Guess what?" he asks with a bright grin.
"What?"
"Chicken butt." Emma laughed at her silly son
"Really Henry?"
"Nope, but Mary Margaret and David have their memories back." He is so happy to finally have confirmation that he was right all along. And that his dad did have parents that love her. He was expecting more joy from her but she just had a frown on her face.
"Henry, no. I got it but no, I don't want to discuss that now."
"But why? We can all be a family together."
Henry is just a young kid that doesn't understand the nuances of relationships being forced between people. And he doesn't understand how her world has been shaken from the past days.
"Listen Henry. I understand that you are excited. David and Mar, that is a lot to take in and I don't want to discuss that right now. I am happy you are excited though."
Henry saw the sadness in her eyes, confused why she would feel that way when she finally has her parents in her life, but he doesn't want to be a bad son to make her feel that way, so he switches the subject.
"Let me tell you about the new comic I got."
Half an hour later, Regina returned with both of her loves' orders. They thanked her before they pounced on the food with vigour. Regina sat off in an uncomfortable chair to the side, observing them. They have the same mannerisms, quite barbaric if she can so say herself. But, she loves them all the same.
Henry left to go to the bathroom in the room which left Emma and Regina some alone time.
"I got to thank you again. If I can get food like that every day, it will make my time here more tolerable."
Regina got out of her chair and moved closer to her. "I don't think having burgers every single day would be the best choice. I like you and want you to stay alive. You can't be having a heart attack at such a young age."
Emma smiled back at her. Having Regina close to her makes her feel calm, despite the obvious tension that is between them.
"You can throw some lettuce in there, I'll be alright."
Regina touched Emma's hand softly which Emma reciprocated and held on tightly.
With a little insecurity, Regina asked, "are we going to be alright?"
"I think we will be." Time will just have to heal both of their wounds, and they both need to understand that.
Henry returned and they stayed for a couple of more hours and left. Emma wishes for her recovery to speed up so she can speed time with her family. They spent a few more hours together and Regina and Henry retired back to the mansion.
"Damn it, he isn't here," David growled.
"Isn't it illegal or something? Shouldn't we have a warrant or something," Ruby nervously asked.
"Regina already took care of that as well. She can be quite thorough when she wants to be."
They are in Sidney's apartment which has been ransacked. No one cares about making a mess, he doesn't deserve to be respected.
Ruby has noticed that Graham has been a lot more…informal when addressing the mayor. She doesn't know what to think about that.
The tall brunette let out a puff of breath. "I figured he wouldn't be here. If he was somewhat smart, he should have known not to return to his apartment since this is the first place we would look."
Graham looked at her and smiled in proud, "That is right indeed."
Ruby returned his smile, she is happy for him to have so much confidence in her.
Mary Margaret emerged from the corner with a blanched face. She looks wholly spooked as she entered the living room with the other three.
David saw Snow's distraught countenance and rushed to her. "Did you find anything? Are you okay?"
"I'm…quite disturbed if I can be honest about it. Follow me."
Ruby and Graham looked at each other in concern as they trailed behind David who followed Mary Margaret into a room they were not aware about.
They entered a dark room and was hit by aromas of candles. Candles were everywhere in this separate bedroom. Every inch of the one hundred square feet bedroom had blown up photos of Regina all over the walls of the room.
"What the hell? This is like a scene from a movie with a serial killer. This is gnarly."
"Not helping Ruby," David responded.
"If this doesn't show that he is creepily obsessed, then I know nothing."
Graham saw in the center of the room, a mantle with a small picture of Emma with a red cross marked on it, and shown it to them.
"I think he may want to continue to hurt Emma, maybe make the job permanent."
"Over my dead body he is, we need to find him now and make him pay."
Ruby was taken aback. She has never seen this type of strength coming from her best friend. She seems so much more self-assured and like a leader instead of a timid teenager. Wherever this new found confidence came from, she is willing to follow her.
David softly held onto Mary Margaret's arm. "We will find him, he won't hurt her again."
Graham spoke up, "I don't think we have to worry about Sidney trying to attack Emma. Regina has security guards outside her door 24 hours a day. Like I say, she is thorough."
Ruby had an inkling that she thinks what Sidney's next move is.
"Look guys, we know that Emma is protected. He may be hiding in some abandoned homes or out in the forest. But is it not reasonable to think that he may go after Regina? Who is protecting her?"
David, Snow, and Graham look at each other with "Oh shit" face. As much lingering dislike she has for Regina, deep down, she has always loved Regina and wanted her to change for the better. The woman has changed, and is deeply in love with her daughter, and she can't and won't deny that. Regina's devastated face at the prospect of losing Emma will never escape her.
It is fact that she is the mother of her only grandson, she is family. And Regina has done many terrible things in her life, but Snow cannot have her be hunted like prey for a psychopath.
"Henry is at home right now too, let's go." Graham nods his head at David as they all piled into the truck and sped towards Mifflin Street.
Sidney felt like a failure. He couldn't do one thing right. He shot the blonde square in the chest, and yet she still survived. The blonde has been a pesky nuisance for far too long. Regina's press conference on TV alerted the whole town's knowledge of Sidney being a fugitive. Her announcement broke his heart, but it also strengthened his resolve to win her, to have her.
He dressed up and covered his face well to see if he could find Emma to finish the job since she will be in a vulnerable state, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to get to her with security protecting the entrance to her room. It was risky for him to even be out in the open like this anyway. His disguise worked well for him, but he doesn't want to chance it and aborted that plan.
Oddly enough, despite all the trouble he is in, it didn't register with him to get the heck out of dodge and leave town. There is only one reason that is keeping him here, and it is Regina. He managed to dodge any person trying to find him. He figured it would do him well to hide in plain sight.
That is why he knew that Graham was back in town, probably on the search for him since he was the only other officer in town. Him and strangely the waitress, Mary Margaret, and David the former coma patient was with him. Quite an odd pairing indeed. But since they ran off throughout town, and probably the woods to find him, it gave him a golden opportunity that he now has courage to take. 108 Mifflin Street, here he comes.
Graham may have spent a great deal of time in Regina's mansion, but it doesn't top the times that Sidney has been there. He never found himself too jealous of Graham. Regina always seem to deal with him with slight contempt. Graham was just like a toy that she can throw away any time.
But unlike Graham, he has found a way years ago to enter the home undetected. He has rummaged through her expensive perfume, have rummaged through her lingerie. He has had her on his mind for years but he never had any courage to ask her out, so he relegated doing anything she wanted to get in her good graces.
All of the things to win her as failed. He has resigned himself to just take what he wants. It seems like everyone is going to be on the lookout for him anyway. If he goes down, at least he should go down with having a taste of Regina.
The daunting mansion looked quiet as a cottage in the middle of nowhere. There were only one light on in the home and he knew exactly where it was. Regina's room. The one fault of Regina is that is she always had an air of overconfidence. Living in Storybrooke has made her complacent since it is a quiet town where nothing happens. This will help him greatly.
He entered in the back door of the mansion smoothly with little noise considering that he has a key to the huge home. He managed to snag a key form the mayor when she was preoccupied and made his very own copy. He lightly stepped along the marble floors of the mansion, making sure he made as little noise as possible.
Sidney made his way into the bedroom, the sleeping body covered by expensive blankets. He predatorily stepped to the bed and quickly flipped the body over, eyes awakened in horror. He quickly slapped duct tape on the small boy's mouth. The boy thrashed around but he was already too late. Sidney managed to flip him onto his stomach and yanked his hands back to rope his hands and arms together so the boy can't escape and try to play a hero. He wants his time with Regina to be uninterrupted.
Sidney was thankful that tying up the boy took as little time and as little struggle as possible. He wouldn't want to alarm the brunette just yet. He carefully tip toed to her room, slowly opened the door. He knows that there would be no noise of a streaking sound from the door because Regina is too meticulous to ever allowed such a nuisance to exist in her home.
Regina is beautiful as she laid on her immaculate, luxurious bedding. In the deep shadows of her room, now that the light was turned off, he devoured the sight of her. He would finally have his mayor. Sidney climbs into the bed softly and lies on top of her. His heart is pumping profusely as he lays his lips on her succulent plump ones.
Regina has always been a light sleeper. She can chop that up to years of being the Evil Queen and always having to be on alert for assassins or plotters. That is why when she felt a weight pressed upon her, it startled her awake.
She feels lips pressed against her and she reflexively pushed the intruder off of her. She scrambled to grab the lamp light to bust the item against this intruder's head but the other person was too quick.
The man quickly recovered and knocked the lamp out of Regina's hand, grabbed her wrist, and pushed her violently onto the bed. The man smelled of musk and cheap cologne. It was sickening.
"Unhand me this instance fool," Regina defiantly spat at the man. She would never beg. Her eyes became more adjusted to the darkness of her room and she recognized the vile man.
"Sidney, get off me now."
He shook his head. "No, I have waited a long time for this. I have loved you for years, and done everything you asked. I will take what is owed to me, Madame Mayor." And he crushed his lips on her.
Her stomach dropped in disgust that Sidney thinks she owes him anything. There is only one person who could only say Madame Mayor in a seductive tone, and it is not this worm. His intentions are quite clear when she can feel his arousal. This is the most demeaning position she has been in. It reminds her of being powerless against the King when he took what he wanted. Sidney proceeded to rip her silk pyjamas off of her. Her shirt is now torn where there are glimpses of her black laced bra.
She thrashed and kicked around but Sidney's weight is too much against her. She is nowhere near her phone to call anybody, and her home is next to no one who can hear anything that is going on at 108 Mifflin street. She managed to get one good elbow in his ribs and he gasped. But he was again able to recover from her hits and grasped her arms and pulled it up above her head. He is a mad man with inexplicable strength right now. She gritted her teeth as he smacked her and then kept his right hand on both of her wrists. Then with his left, he reached down to his pants and unzipped himself.
"Please. God. No," is the only thing that she can think about as she screams at him to stop.
David rushed to Regina's mansion with Snow, Graham, and Ruby in tow.
"I don't have a good feeling at all. Let's hurry up in get in there as soon as we can," Snow said in the tense silence of the jam packed truck.
David nodded and braked violently to a holt as he parked and all of them scrambled out of it and ran to the front door. Mary Margaret tried to twist the door open but the door is firmly locked. David banged on the door like he was a police officer, hoping that someone would answer.
Graham observed that there were no lights on when they approached the home.
"I believe they are asleep at this time." He is after all familiar with some of the nightly routines of the Mills home.
David banged on the door loudly again. "IS ANYONE THERE?" After a few moments, there was still no response. Mary Margaret, Graham took some steps back off of the porch to observe if any lights came on to indicate that someone woke up.
David glanced at the other Mary Margaret and Graham. "Do you see anything to indicate that Henry or Regina are up?
Graham and Mar shook their heads no. "I don't see anything David."
David looked at his wife seriously. "I don't know if I'm being impatient, but even with the size of the house, someone should have came down by now."
Ruby hears a loud thump sound somewhere in the house. It sounded like something was breaking and she started to look around the windows.
"Guys, did you hear that? I heard something, maybe like glass breaking or something?"
David and Mar looked at her in shock. "No we don't hear anything." But Graham just smirks at his girlfriend. Her hearing has been extraordinary and if she heard anything, then someone is in there and it can spell trouble for Regina and Henry.
He ran up back to the porch and touched her shoulders to look deeply at her.
"I trust and believe in you. What do you think we should do?"
Ruby smiled at him, happy to see him consistently believe in her. But her stomach dropped because she can feel that something is not right just as Mary Margaret said earlier.
"Let's see if the back door or any windows have been open because someone is back there."
Graham nod back at her and gestures Snow to rejoin them.
"I know where the back door is. Follow me."
The three followed Graham and he is the first to see that the back door is indeed ajar. He opened it wider to everyone can come in as well.
"Oh god!" Mary Margaret put her hand on her heart as she gets a sinking feeling.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," David tried to reassure his wife. He looked at Graham as he turned on some lights in the gigantic home.
"Where's Henry room?"
"Right up stairs and once you turn left it is the second door to the right. Ruby and I will check Regina's room. Let's hurry." He looks at everyone and they all nod and stampede their way to the corresponding rooms.
David and Snow reached Henry's room which is a place they have never ventured to. What greeted them made David furious and Snow mad and appalled at what they saw. Henry was crying on the floor completely bound up.
They rushed to him and Snow snatched off as softly but quickly as she can the duct tape around her grandson's mouth.
"Grandpa, Grandma," he cried out with tears. He is so relieved. Snow wiped the tears from Henry's face.
"Don't worry. We're here and everything is going to be fine.
The two worked in tandem as David unwound the strongly tightened rope around Henry's hands as Snow began working on untying the rope around his legs. Once released, he hugged Snow tightly as David joined in the hug, kissing his grandson on the head.
"I was so scared," he stuttered. He heard his mother screaming and felt bad that he couldn't do anything. The poor boy is distraught. But everything is fine since the heroes are here.
David eyes narrowed. "I know you are scared but everything is going to be fine. But can you tell us who did this to you."
Henry snuffles his tears so he can speak clearly. "It was Sidney."
As Sidney unbutton himself in which he had to elevate his body a little bit from Regina's, Regina was able to move her leg to position it between Sidney and kneed him hard in the groin. He groaned in pain has he fell off the bed.
That is when Graham and Ruby barged in the door. Graham pounced onto Sidney immediately and turned his body from the floor and clocked him dead in the jar, effectively knocking him out. Ruby rushed towards Regina who looked so dishevelled, and looks at her in sympathy.
"Are you alright?"
Regina's heart was racing at a mile a minute and she is still getting her bearings. She hates to look weak in front of them but she can at least stand Ruby. But she ignored her question.
"Where is my son?"
She looked at Graham who is over Sidney's body and Ruby expecting an answer.
Ruby answered her question, "David and Mary Margaret went to Henry's room to check on him."
Her concerns for her son is elevated above her own. She rushed down the hallway in a tattered shirt and entered Henry's room. Her son was in a tight hug with David and Snow holding onto him.
"Henry," she exhaled and he turned at her voice and ran into his mother's arm.
"I love you, Mom." He is just grateful that his mother is alive and doesn't seem to be harmed. She dropped to her knees and hugged him tightly, wanting to never let her little prince go. A few tears dropped as she placed light kisses all over her head. David pulled Snow into him as they smiled at mother/son reuniting.
Ruby and Graham arrived, standing outside of Henry's door witnessing Regina looking over Henry, seemingly to look for injuries.
"Are you okay my little prince? Are you hurt?"
Henry shook his head no and buried his face in her chest, just wanting to be comforted. Regina looked up at the Charming's, her eyes demanding them to say something. Snow got the hint and started to speak.
"When we came into his room, David and I found him tied up. Other than being scared to death, Henry didn't obtain any other injuries.
Graham cleared his throat, trying to gain everyone's attention.
"Sidney is knocked out cold in the other room but we need to do something with him before he wakes up."
Now that she knows that Henry is safe and secure, her minds eases back from fight mode and settles into a business set of mind frame.
"Indeed we do. Let me get dress and we will take care of him." She looked down at her shirt and bunches the sides to cover her peeking bra. Henry doesn't need to see that.
She runs to her room and changed quickly into some slacks, a simple white blouse, and straighten her hair. She feels empowered now, not victimized. Her clothes act as armour against any and all threats. She walked back over to Henry's door and exudes power.
"Graham, come and pick up the garbage so we can take him out of here."
She turned her attention back to Ruby and the Charming's.
"Can I trust for you to keep an eye on Henry? I know nothing else should happen but…"
"We will take great care of him," Snow interrupts her.
Regina is loathed to ask anything from the two idiots but Ruby is there with brains and she knows that David and Snow will take care of their grandson. Ruby nodded as well and scooted down at Henry's level to look at him.
"Since you was so brave today, how about I treat you to an ice cream sundae and a big cheeseburger?"
Henry's spirits went up as he smiled at the young brunette. But he then turned towards his mother, pleading his case in case she denied Ruby's offer.
Regina saw the gesture for what it was, and rubbed his cheek. "Yes, that sounds lovely Ruby. Thank you."
Ruby smiled at Regina's approval. Snow frowns when she saw how easily Regina seems to converse with Ruby more than her.
"If that is all, let's go." Graham followed Regina to her room and picked up an unconscious Sidney and had him dangling off his back. Regina and Graham made their way to her car.
"Don't you think we should take something more spacious?"
Regina gives Graham a hard look. "I don't care about Sidney having any sort of comfort."
She opens the side door and pulled up the passenger seat and points at the empty space. "Throw him in the back."
Graham bit his tongue and threw the man in the back of the seat, he as well not caring if Sidney gets any more injuries from the impact of the throw. Regina is already settled at the driver seat as he entered her vehicle. All of these years, he has never ridden in the black Benz.
"So where to?"
"You'll see," she curtly answered. They sat in still silence as Regina drives to her destination.
"I bet you were thrilled to see me in such a predicament."
Graham exhaled a sigh. "Thrilled at what? You being potentially raped when that is what you essentially did to me when you took my heart? No. I didn't. I only come for Henry and for Emma who wouldn't want harm to come to you. So instead of attitude, you can at least be grateful, your majesty."
"Huh" she responded. Looks like woods boy developed a wordsy bite. You asked the question out of curiosity at why Graham seems to be helping her considering the things she has done to him. At least she knows it is not directly for her benefit. She hasn't explained to Emma what she has done with the Huntsman back in Enchanted Forest. Her sexual entanglements were not about sex in of itself, but power over the Huntsman who had dared defied her. It is another nail in her coffin in her debased persona of the Evil Queen. A part of herself that she would like to shield away from Emma.
"We're here."
"This is the hospital," he stated, thinking that they were going to the common sense place of the jail cell.
"I am glad that you have eyes to see. So how about you use the rest of your body and get that piece of shit out of my car?"
She got out of her car without Graham's response. He huffed as he got of his seat, pushed it forward, and proceeded to grab Sidney by the legs and pull him out. His head banged off the rail of the car and onto the pavement. Then Graham picked him up back up on his back and followed Regina. There was no more chit chat between them.
He followed her inside the hospital and used a security code to get into some part that he has never been in. She opened the door and they travelled through a very sombre place. There is a very creepy guy with long black hair and big buggy eyes that they passed.
"What is this place?"
"The psyche ward," she answered simply. They came upon a blonde nurse with buns at the desk.
"Hello dear, I have a new visitor. Do make sure that this one doesn't escape."
The blonde nurse smiled at her. She knows that she is not blamed for the disappearance of Patient Zero.
Graham has no idea that anyone has escaped nor who Patient Zero is.
"I will Mayor Mills."
"Are you sure this is secure?"
Regina gives him a stern look. "I am." Then she turns her attention back to the nurse.
"Also, I would like for this one to not be fed for a couple of days. Just give him water until I revisit him."
"I will make sure to do so."
Regina always liked the nurse. She never did ask many questions. All Graham could do but look between the two conversing. He wasn't going to comment on the lack of nutrition that Regina instructed for Sidney's diet.
As he dumped Sidney's body in a room that Regina brought him to, all he could think about is that he doesn't give a damn if Sidney ate or not. He is getting off pretty easy if you asked him. They exited the hospital when Regina suggested to drop Graham at his apartment so he can get his car. He wholeheartedly agreed.
He is fine with spending as less time as possible with Regina, the better. Plus, he will be able to pick Ruby up so David doesn't have to bus everyone everywhere. He explained that to Regina to drop him off so that he can retrieve his car. It has been a tiring day.
Regina made it back to her mansion first. She is most relieved that Sidney will no longer threaten her, Emma, nor Henry. He will pay dearly for what he has done. She feels guilty that her sins are once again being paid by Henry and Emma.
She immediately made her way back to Henry's room where he is tucked in, sleeping peacefully and surrounded by David, Snow, and Ruby. They turned their heads when the door opened, very alert.
Snow was the first to speak. "We didn't want to leave his room."
Regina can see Snow's protectiveness, and she can admit only to herself that she knew that Henry was in good hands, despite Snow's ineptitude in looking out for Henry in the vicinity of the mines all those months ago.
"Thank you. I got it from here."
"Well, I guess I will be on my way. I am just thankful that he is not roaming around in the public anymore. I have to get up early for the diner tomorrow morning." The red-streaked brunette looked at Regina. "Can you let Emma know I'll try to see her sometime tomorrow?"
"Yes, I am sure she will be happy with that."
Ruby smiled at her and gave Snow and David a hug goodbye.
"I believe Graham is on the way back to pick you up. You can go downstairs to wait for him."
Ruby's eyes sparkled with mirth. "Sweet. Have a good one everyone." And she went down to Regina's big porch waiting for Graham's arrival.
Regina returned her attention the Charming's that were looking at her in concern.
"Let's leave my son in peace," and she led them out of Henry's room so they could talk.
"Snow, it looks like you have something to say, spit it out." Regina hates the look of pity on her face.
Snow saw the dishevelled panicked look and torn shirt on Regina when she rushed to Henry's room when they just untied them. No matter what they have been through together, she would never want Regina to ever be forced in that type of position. Especially when she knows that her daughter would be devastated.
"I…we…were worried. Regina, are you alright? Did he harm you? I saw your shirt torn…"
"Oh now you care about the Evil Queen," she snapped.
David interjected. "You don't have to yell at her. Believe it or not, despite our past with you wanting to kill us, the matter of the fact is that all of these years in this curse, you never once tried to kill us. Even when it would have been easy to do so. We…I think we don't see you like that anymore."
Regina was shocked at David's perception of her. And she looked at Snow to confirm whether she just heard what she thought she did. That they somehow believed that she has changed. Snow say Regina's look and just nod her head in confirmation.
"The woman that we see before us undoubtedly loves her son with all her heart. Someone that can love like that couldn't be fully evil. Look, I know that we have been through a lot, but I am so tired of fighting. I just want my family," she looked at David who smiled back at her and returned her attention back to Regina, "and I just want peace. Can we just start from there?"
Regina was choked up. She as well no longer have any inkling to cause any further harm to Snow, to make her unhappy. Snow may have first took her first love with Daniel, but it seems that fate decided that through Snow Regina can regain happiness with Emma.
"Indeed, let's have a fresh start. I don't want to be bothered with you two idiots any further than I need too." She said it without malice but still in her lovely snark. And the Charming's understood her intent.
"Good," David exhaled. "I think we should let Emma know that everything is fine now when we will go see her." He frowned and mumbled, "if she wants to see us," referring to what Snow said that Emma needs space from them.
The tension that was non-existent sprang back to life as Regina opened her eyes.
"You will not tell any of this. You hear me. She is not to know anything that has happened here."
Snow protested, "But she has every right to know that Sidney has been put away after what he has done."
"That we can agree but she is not to know that he tied Henry up," and she left the fact of Sidney almost raping her unspoken, but David and Snow knew that as well.
David spoke up, "I don't think it would be wise to keep something like that from Emma. She is bound to know and I for one don't want to keep secrets from her."
Regina in exasperation responded. "Emma unfortunately has inherited her heroic idiotic tendencies from you both, and if she found that out, she wouldn't hesitate to run from the hospital and come to the mansion to protect Henry and I. And I don't want that to happen when she needs to recover from the gunshot would. This incident would put too much stress on her."
Regina doesn't want to have any secrets from Emma either, but this is the most mature decision to make.
"But what if Emma finds this out by somebody?"
Regina glared at Snow. "The only people who knows is you, me, Charming, Ruby, and Graham. Ruby may be a gossip but I trust she can be discreet. You on the other hand is the one I am most concern about. You never could keep a secret."
Snow bristled at Regina's jab. "I was TEN!" Snow just shook her head. "And I thought we were trying to make up."
"That's all well in good but I am just making sure you don't make any more idiotic mistakes. And telling Emma would be one of them."
"Alright, let's us calm down. Let's just let Emma know that he is put away and leave it at that. But if Emma does find out and gets mad, I'll blame it on you that we didn't tell her," he pointedly stared at Regina. She just crossed her arms.
"It is not the first time you blamed me for something. Anyway, it is not liked she wants to see you two anyway," she prodded.
Snow straighten her back and lifts her chin. "That will change. We love her and will give her the space she needs. We will see her when she is ready."
"You can leave now," Regina gestured to door. She had enough of them.
Emma still feels exhausted from the morphine that they pumped into her system. But her recovery is going on smoothly. Things could have been worse for her. She could have been shot in her spine and never able to walk again. Or shot in the brain and die or suffer from a coma. She doesn't see any reason that she can't get out of this joint by the end of the week. Emma always had a fascinating ability to heal quite quickly.
She starts to think about Mar who is Snow White and David who is Charming. Her parents. What a strange concept considering that she has been orphaned all her life. When she looks back on it, Mar always had a maternal feeling when she was around her. She knows that Snow White would have been a wonderful mother.
She didn't get to spend as much time with David, but she considered him a friend. He seemed very easy going. Emma could totally see herself as a Daddy's little girl. It is time to speak with them. She grabbed her phone which Regina was able to retrieve for her, and dialled Mar's number.
"Can I see you two?"
When Snow received the call from Emma, she was more than thrilled to wake David up and they hurriedly got dressed to get to the hospital. She knows that she has been neglecting her teaching position, but her family is worth more than some little job that the curse gave her. Besides, she has been doing the same lessons for almost 28 years. The children won't be missing anything.
David was nervous but excited to finally see his daughter after regaining his memories back. His palms were sweating as they stood outside Emma's door which was still guarded by security guards. Regina really doesn't spare an expense when it comes to protecting her loved ones.
Emma perked up when David and Mar entered her room. David is holding Snow's shoulders as they shyly made their way into their daughter's room.
"Hi," Emma timidly said to her new two visitors.
David had tears glistening in his eyes and Snow had a wide smile as they both said hello back. They walked right up to Emma's left side of the bed, holding each other and looking Emma. No one said anything for a few moments.
Emma's laugh broke up the silence. "Well, this is awkward."
"I'm so sorry. This…I am so happy you wanted to see us. Can I hug you?"
Emma nodded and Snow gleefully hugged her daughter, but she was careful not to crushed her. David follow along with her.
"If you have any questions, we are more than happy to answer them."
As Emma looked at David holding Mar's shoulders, she can't help but to think that they sickeningly look like the perfect couple. But she is not their perfect daughter. She had so many questions for them, she doesn't know where to begin. But there was the one burning question that plagued her for years.
"Why couldn't you keep me? I know that Regina's curse would have swept everyone, but why didn't you?"
David gulped because he can hear the inherent pain in his daughter's voice. He has never been fully set on sending Emma away as Snow had, but they had to do what is best.
"We needed you to break the curse, and you couldn't do that if you were part of that," Snow answered.
"But we would have been together, which curse would have been worse?"
Snow's heart broke at Emma's words, she held onto David for strength who felt like she did. She frowned looking back at their decision. It still hurt her to this day.
"Emma, you have to believe that if there was another way to escape Regina's curse. We would have took it. The Blue Fairy told us that it was the only way."
Blue Fairy, Emma thought. What kind of name is that?
"Who is this Blue Fairy? Is she here?"
"She is one of the most powerful fairies in our world. She was the one that gave us a way to break Regina's curse. In this world, she is Mother Superior."
She sounds self-righteous to Emma. She bristles at the thought that her fate was in the hand of others.
"So if the Blue Fairy told you to jump off the bridge, would you?" She knows it is childish, but she is frustrated that they just let their only daughter go.
David interjected, "The last thing I wanted to do was to put you in that wardrobe." He reached for Emma's hand which she hesitantly took. "I held you in my arms as I fought Regina's black guard. The only thing I could think about was your safety. I know it hurts that we haven't been able to be in your life.
It hurts me that I never got to hear your first word, teach you how to walk, or take you to your ball. But we thought we made the best choice. Please believe that we loved you with all we have."
Emma's throat hurt from holding in the tears that threaten to pour out.
"But, a wardrobe. Seriously. I've seen where the wardrobe ended up. Even if you thought you were keeping me safe, I could have easily died of starvation, or got eaten by wolves. You had no idea whether I would have survived or not. I just don't see how you can rationally make the choice you made."
"But the prophecy said that you would save us, on your 28th birthday you would come back to us to break the curse," Snow spoke up.
"Have you considered that maybe baby me would break the curse when 28 years passed?"
Snow and David were silent as they pondered on their daughter's reasoning. The prophecy can be interpreted that way.
"Emma, I know it is hard, but please try to forgive us. We made a decision that we thought was best, and it hurt to our very core. We can't make up for the last 28 years, but please give us a chance to love you now."
Emma continued to lie in her bed, thinking about what Snow said. It is unhealthy to live in the past. And in this moment, she finally asked the burning questions that either burned through her for years and quite recent.
"You right Mar, I wouldn't mind starting from the beginning." Snow subtly winced from Emma referring to her as just Mar. But even she is not too optimistic that Emma will just jump and call her Mom.
"But there is another question I have to ask. Is me being with Regina, going to be a problem?" She stared intently at them.
"I am quite reluctant with this relationship," Snow stated.
"Especially when she has tried to kill us on more than one occasion."
"But we are learning to grow into the idea of you two together. Regina and I have a very long history, but as your friend and room-mate, I can see how much you love her."
"We got to see how much she loves you two," David added.
"And all we want for you is happiness."
Emma is quite relieved at that. This would make her relationship with her parents easier.
"I am happy to hear that. Because in all honesty, if you ever put me in a position where I have to choose you two or Regina and Henry, I would choose them every time."
To Snow and Charming, the message was clear. Do not come between Emma and Regina's relationship if they want to be part of her life.
David tightened his grip on Emma's hand and smiled at her. "We understand." Their attention turned to the door when there was a knock.
A/N: Tell me what you think.