Sorry about the wait guys, School has been Hectic lately. Also this chapter hasn't been edited and I only read through it once, Sorry!

Disclaimer: Don't own shit.

Song: Sedated - Hozier

Chapter 21: Sedated

Just a little rush babe, to feel dizzy

To derail the mind of me

Just a little hush babe, my veins are busy

But my heart's in atrophy

"Emma, there is no way in hell we're going anywhere tomorrow! Are you crazy?"

"It's split, Regina. I saw it. He's trying to get out." Emma pulled her singlet off, followed shortly by her jeans, "We have to go to him before he gets out to us." The two items of clothing were thrown messily on the floor before the blonde dropped ungraciously onto the bed.

Regina frowned, crossing her arms tightly over her abdomen and dropping her eyes. Emma knew she was scared, hell, Emma was scared. Its not like she'd broken through a magical barrier and defeated a dark wizard before, but nevertheless; she was going to. She didn't really have a choice.

But neither did Regina, and suddenly her adverse nature when it came to the impending duty made all the sense to Emma.

"Gina, I'm going to be fine." The woman looked up, and Emma could finally see the tears lining her eyelids, the chunks of skin her top teeth had torn from her bottom lip in worry.

"You don't know that." Regina's voice was tiny, so unlike it was on the very first day they met – a huge contradiction to the teacher that stood in front of her English class that Thursday mere weeks ago. But the brunette was right – Emma had no idea if things were going to go down in her favor the next day.

In fact, she wasn't sure they would.

Emma has always been one to trust her gut. She trusted her intuition more than she trusted most people. It had been there to pull her out of many a sticky situation and was far more reliable than most people throughout her lifetime had been. In short, it was the common denominator. Every horrible situation Emma had found herself in, her gut was always there to talk her out of it – in a matter of speaking of course. It was more like a… prediction. When she was Eight, her foster father at the time had offered her a ride to school. It wasn't a bad family, if a little strict, and Emma was all too happy to accept. The closer it came to the minute they had to leave, the more uneasy she grew, and eventually, she was in tears – crying out against either of them getting into the car. The father, being the straightedge man he was, was not one to miss out on a working day and was off before Emma could even attempt to argue further. It was only early that night, after the blonde had all but forgotten the worry, that they found out he had gotten into a severe car accident. Emma was distraught, obviously, and after his tragic death the mother had no choice but to place her back into the foster system.

That was the last family that had promised to adopt her.

That uneasiness was the same feeling she had now, though much more suppressed – almost hidden in anticipation. Ready to surprise her when it was too late for her to get out – too late to change her mind. When Emma looked at Regina now, she could see that fear – the one that circled tightly around the unease – she repressed reflected in the brunette's eyes. The blonde couldn't lie to her, she couldn't find the strength in her weakening optimism to inspire hope in the woman who may need it more than she does. Instead, Emma silently lifted her arms and gestured solemnly to the woman.

Regina hesitated minutely before lowering herself to the edge of the bed, though she didn't continue into the blonde's embrace. Emma frowned and reached a single hand out to latch onto the brunette's. She let the contact for a moment, chocolate eyes lingering over their hands, before the pulling hers away. Regina had never been truly happy. Sure, she'd seen opportunities – a smile from a boy in her village. Her closest friend, Zelena, promising they would run away together. But somehow, they always led to heartbreak – the boy – Daniel – was severely averse to magic and shunned her immediately. Zelena, unsurprisingly, turned out to be a raging, jealous bitch.

She should've seen it coming.

Since the very first night Emma appeared uninvited in her dreams, Regina felt that opportunity. Unlike times previous, she couldn't reject it, though she tried. It stuck in a way she imagined gum would tangle in hair – 'imagined' as she was never stupid enough to be caught in such a situation. As much as she shook and attempted to rip herself from the feeling, it just followed. Emma was always there.

She would be lying if she said she really tried to fight it.

And that promise of happiness – that lingering opportunity? She finally had it. She has all she'd ever wanted, all she could ever want, in the form of an impulsive, dorky blonde. A blonde who is planning on throwing herself in harms way to save the world.

Of course she is.

There was a tiny part of Regina, very, very, deep down that acknowledged that this was the right thing to do. That breaking the veil, confronting Rumplestiltskin and protecting all whom you love was exactly what she would do in Emma's position. This part of the brunette was smothered, however, by a much larger, ignorant part that refused to believe this was logical. She was selfish, and Emma was hers – not someone for everyone else to rely on, to save them … especially when there was a chance it could lead to her death.

Emma was still staring at her quizzically, not daring to make a move near nor further from Regina. Maybe, Emma thought, Rumplestiltskin will be indisposed tomorrow. Perhaps he has an appointment in which could not be interrupted and she could take him by surprise.

Yeah. If she were to be so lucky.

Regina looked up into eyes of forest green. The brunette loved Emma's eyes, how they changed from green to an almost grey on cold days in the harsh wind, or how they caught the sunlight and reflected so they shone almost as if they were pure emeralds embedded beneath her eyelids. Maybe she loved them because they were simply a part of Emma, and she was what mattered.

Sighing, Regina slid effortlessly into Emma's arms – surprising the latter who had been lost in thought turmoil of her own. Instinctually, the blonde wrapped her arms around tanned shoulders as Regina buried her face into the base of her neck. She wanted to speak, to tell Regina that everything was going to be okay – but the brunette was right, she didn't know that.

And now more than ever did that feeling of unease raise its ugly head.

Though he didn't have a mirror, he felt it safe to assume he looked horrible. 18 years in a cell beneath a rotting castle with a single, villainous companion would do that to you. He still wore the same clothes he did on that very same day their curse took the lands, though they could hardly be considered regal anymore.

The first 17 years and 9 months of his capture had been hell, every carved tally in the wall said as much. Never knowing whether his wife or his daughter made it out alive. Because if they didn't, he wasn't sure he could bear to keep holding on. Rumplestiltskin wasn't helpful in regard to the goings-on outside of the veil's borders. Not that he ever expected him to be, not after he killed every single member of the royal guard and townships that didn't escape the curse in time.

He loathed Rumplestiltskin with every fiber of his being.

But the day the man himself strut into the dungeons spouting words of his daughter's return, he was all but rescued. He knew that in order for his daughter – for his Emma – to be alive, his wife had to have escaped. Meaning that they were both alive.

His family was alive, and he was going to take whatever measures needed to ensure they stayed that way.

Now, 18 years of captivity on little to no food a day didn't do well for ones' energy or body shape. James knew he was no longer the strong, feared man he was in the past. His body mass had dropped significantly, to the point it was painful to lie on his side at night as his ribs rubbed against his skin – and at times – broke through. He could not stand for long period of time, for fear his shins were to snap through the skin of his leg. He was in no doubt he would be dead, if Rumplestiltskin hadn't placed a curse on his cell.

Now he savored what scraps of food he had. Slowly, he regained strength, forcing himself to stand and pace around his cell for longer periods of time than he probably should have. After managing a day of standing, he moved onto regaining his muscle strength. Pull-ups on the cross bar above his cell, sit-ups with his feet lodged beneath the gap of the bars. Day by day, he could feel his body becoming stronger, until he felt as if no time had passed since the curse overtook his kingdom.

He finished his set of push-ups as the sun rose and shone the thinnest line down the hallway of his dungeons on the morning of his daughter's 18th Birthday. If he had been thinking of the man at all, he would've thought it odd Rumplestiltskin hadn't returned to tease him with mentions of his daughter and wife. But James wasn't thinking of the man, however, as his gut was telling him today was the day he was going to be reunited with his family.

He just hoped Snow wouldn't mind the shoulder length hair and beard he was currently sporting.

He's grown quite fond of it.

The morning came much quicker than anyone was hoping for. Emma hadn't dared shut her eyes for sleep, preferring to memorize the weight of Regina in her arms, the features of her face and how they smoothed – even in the most stressful of situations – as she slept through the night. She watched as the moon rose high into the sky, only to disappear and be replaced by the sun. At the first peek of light over the horizon, Emma allowed for her eyes to close.

God dammit, she was so nervous.

She wondered if every superhero got this nervous before saving someone, or a city. Or the world. Probably not, she thought, they did it pretty much everyday. Once again, Emma was struck with a feeling of inadequacy. She was a nervous wreck, could hardly conjure a ball of fire, let alone kill a powerful dark wizard. What if things got physical? Emma had no doubt she could throw a punch, in fact, she knew she could. And she knew it had bite – thanks to the bitch in her 8th grade Biology class who ended up with a broken nose and minor concussion. But she was no action-movie hero. Dodging guns, or swords, just wasn't her forte.

She was calmed, however, with the knowledge she wouldn't be without company. Yes, she had to kill Rumplestiltskin with her own magic alone, but she had back up in the room. With a few distractions, Emma was certain they could take down the wizard – though by no means did she expect it to be easy.

She waited until the sun caught in the sky before she drew herself out of bed. Ironically enough, the room Regina and Emma had resided in – whilst also being closest to the front of the house – had a window that framed the exact point in which Rumplestiltskin had attempted to break through the veil 24 hours beforehand. A constant reminder of exactly why they were here, and what had to happen next.

Regina didn't stir when she left the bed, her exhaustion overpowering the need to feel Emma close.

The blonde tip-toed quietly down the hallway, towards the door to Killian and Tink's room. The pair opted to sleep in on of the cars for the night, leaving the room to Charlotte, Henry, Belle and Ruby. Most children considered it uncomfortably crowded circumstances, but Emma knew for them it wasn't.

It was comforting.

Turning the knob to the room, Emma wasn't all that surprised to see the four sitting up wide-awake. Ruby should've thrown her, but not in these circumstances. They sat on one of the two single beds; Charlotte nestled in Ruby's lap while Henry had squeezed himself into the miniscule space between Belle and her girlfriend. Upon noticing her, Charlotte barreled from Ruby's lap, Emma already dropping to a squat to encase her in pale arms. She rose with the 6-year-old still attached, her little pajama-pant clad legs wrapping tightly around her waist. She didn't really understand what was going on – she couldn't. But she could tell Emma was in danger, she knew Emma was leaving to go somewhere she didn't want to go, and she loved her far too much to let her go there.

Unfortunately, Emma didn't have much of a choice.

"Hey guys." It was said in the smallest of whispers, Emma's voice cracking with pain. How is it she has to say goodbye to her family twice in such a short amount of time? Maybe this time it would be easier. It was doubtful.

Charlotte whimpered in response, tightening her grip around Emma's neck. The teens on the bed looked forlorn, Ruby's eyes red and cheeks streaked with tears. The older woman moved slowly to seat herself on the bed beside her, wrapping the arm not supporting Charlotte's back loosely around her shoulders. Immediately, Ruby dropped a head onto Emma's shoulder and sniffled.

"You'll be okay though, right Emma?" Henry looked up into her eyes with such confidence and, more surprisingly, love. His belief in her was so obviously infinitesimal, and it brought tears to her eyes seeing his passionate love for adventure shining through. The fear of rejection – of pain – was gone and replaced with the light every child should have in their eyes.

"Yeah kid, I'll be back by dinner." Henry shot her a grateful smile – believing her every word – and moved to wrap himself around her middle. Ruby let out a louder sniffle, a sob, and Emma tightened her grip on the teen's shoulders. Charlotte lifted her head, drawing Emma's attention. The tears falling down her cheeks caught on the valleys of her burn and Emma gently wiped her hand over the scarred skin.

"You promise?"

"Yeah bug, I promise."

The blonde couldn't help but cross her fingers behind her back.

Things moved quickly after that. The seekers, including Mary and Cora, awaited her in the field just outside. Mary had on her brave-face and the blonde knew she was overthinking things. She hoped her mother was thinking more about her father than herself. It hadn't taken long for the blonde to guess the man Mary had been talking about from her dreams was Prince Charming himself, and her mom was relieved she didn't have to explain it in detail.

She hoped he was still alive for her sake.

Emma stood just inside the small lounge-room, gazing at the door that she was probably supposed to walk through like ten minutes ago. Regina appeared in the hallway entrance, taking in the sight of her love in her classic skinny jean/red leather jacket combo, on the verge of a serious panic attack.

"It's okay to be scared you know."

Emma jumped slightly at her words, "oh. That's good I guess," She smirked up at her girlfriend, "because I am shitting it."

Regina clicked her tongue at Emma's choice of words, before moving to grasp firmly at her hand, "You can do this Emma. I know you can."

Emma placed a fervent kiss on her cheek, "I thought I'm supposed to be the brave one."

"You are." Regina smiled, subtly pulling Emma closer to the door – she just wanted this over and done with. "But that clearly isn't working out. "

"Ha Ha." The blonde deadpanned, opening the door and stepping outside. She was met with a sea of attempted-reassuring smiles, but she was grateful for them none-the-less. She kept her grip on Regina's hand until they met the border of the veil, Regina stepping back and Cora taking her place beside their savior.

"Emma dear, you're all right?" Emma nodded, "Good. A lot of magic went into the creation of this veil, I believe its safe to assume you are going to need a lot to break it's tether on this world. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Emma lifted her hands to the veil's border and thought of her love for her family. Of just how much Charlotte, Henry, Ruby, August, Mulan and Aurora had wormed their way into her heart. She felt her hands begin to glow as she thought of Mary – her Mother, always there to protect her – and Regina, the love of her life, as cheesy as it was. She could feel the veil almost twitch nervously beneath her fingertips. She smirked.

Then she allowed herself to feel her rage.

Rage at the Rumplestiltskin for the way he has threatened her family, all she has to be taken away. Rage that Regina never had the childhood she deserved, that all children deserved. Her magic ran a fiery path up the corridors of her veins, racing to join with her ever glowing hands – the light now penetrating the cover of the blonde's eyelids. Finally, she allowed herself to taken over by the rage that Rumplestiltskin had ordained every misgiving that occurred in Emma's past. He had single-handedly ruined her life, and he was going to pay.

The glow pushed from her palms, green eyes flashing open in time to see a golden light encasing the surface of the border, spreading as far as she could see in every direction before the sky itself shattered and fell away.

Ruby watched as her family disappeared from thin air, though the inconsistency in the sky had completely vanished. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her stomach, the nausea Emma had warned her about vanished. She felt lighter, and let out a surprised laugh.

Everything was going to be fine.

Sedated we're nursing on a poison that never stung

Our teeth and lungs are lined with the scum of it

Somewhere for these death and guns

We are deaf, we are numb

Free and young and we can feel none of it.