A/N – So that was an interesting chapter to kick things back off. This chapter will be a little different than others. There is going to be a little bit of jumping around but I will do my best to make it as clear as possible when and where everything is happening. So, enjoy. CORA'S VIEW.

Chapter 25: Not Afraid

"I don't know. I went to Emma before I could get to Sydney and he ran off before I got the chance to grab him." I could feel my blood boiling. And it finally clicked. Without saying another word, I grabbed my keys. Went out to my car and drove off. This was one push too far. All my life I'd had the attitude that you could do whatever you wanted to me and I'd take it. But hurt the ones I love, and I'll kill you without a second thought. And now, she had hurt the one person she should never have touched. Now, she is going to get what she deserves.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX – Regina and Emma's Apartment

How dare she speak to me like that. How can she talk to me like that? After all I've done for her. And she has the audacity to speak to me like that. In front of Miss Swan.

Right then. Let's see what we can do about that little wench. Because I have had enough of her ruining my life. And my daughters. I had everything perfectly set for Regina for the rest of her life. And she has no right to come barging in and ruin everything I have worked half my life for. Enough is enough. I have been far too lenient with my daughter for a long time now. Time to take things back under my control.

I made my way home and the entire time I was thinking of how to get rid of Emma. I needed to get rid of her, but I couldn't do it in such a way that Regina would think it was me. Otherwise she would never come home. Not willingly. And she needs to be at least a little willing if she is ever going to come back to me. So, I had to be careful about how I did this. And precise about how I do it.

"Oh honey. I'm so glad you're home. How did it…" I do not have patience for this right now.

"Oh, do shut up Henry. I am not in the mood today for your rambling. Go make yourself a sandwich and then you may retire to bed for the night." I was about to storm off to my office, but a thought crossed my mind. "And make sure you go to your own bed tonight. I can't stand the thought of having to share my bed with you tonight." I saw the sadness cross his face, but I didn't have the time to be concerned with how he felt. Right now, I needed to be concerned with how to get rid of Miss Swan. Making my way to my office, I slammed the door behind myself and moved to sit behind my desk.

What would be the best way to get rid of Miss Swan, but still have Regina still come back to me. That will be the tricky part. Anything happens to Miss Swan and she will almost certainly know that it was me. But maybe…I reached for the phone and called the one person I knew would do anything I said no matter what. It only took a single ring before I heard his annoying weasel like little voice.

"Madame Mayor? What can I do for you this fine day?" He really was an annoying little man, but he certainly came in useful when I needed him.

"Stop talking and listen. I have an issue I need to get rid of. But I need it to be done in the right way. Which is where you come in." He didn't reply for a second and I remember telling him to stop talking. He really does take my instructions to a new extreme. "You can talk now you buffoon."

"Thank you. So, what is it you want me to do exactly?"

"I'm not sure exactly. But I need you to be ready at the drop of a hat. No questions asked, and you can't mention me in anyway. Do I make myself clear?" He was mumbling on the other end of the line for a moment before he tried my patience. "Sydney!"

"Sorry. Of course. Anything you need Madame Mayor."

"Glad to hear it." And I hung up. I'm sure he would have far much more to say and I can never be bothered to listen to all his mumbling and bumbling. So, I had the man for the job. Now I just needed to make the job itself. I wanted Miss Swan gone. Completely. If Regina was going to come back to me I needed Miss Swan out of the way for good. And so realistically the only way of doing that was to either get her to leave town, or kill her. Daniel was easier to get rid of. I could pay off his family to make them leave. Miss Swan doesn't have any family. She has nothing for me to threaten her with. Nothing that I can hold over her head that she hasn't already made clear to everyone. She's an open book. Which creates a problem for me. It means my only other option is to kill her. Which I would have very much preferred not to do but it appears I no longer have a choice. Whilst I find it to be a far easier option in getting rid of someone, it does cause a lot more problems.

Something like this takes a little bit more planning. The timing needs to be perfect. The location is important. And it needs to be realistic to the person doing it. Whilst Sydney might do everything I asked him to, killing someone is not exactly one of his characteristics. But I'm sure there is a way around that little detail. I can't simply tell him to go out and kill someone. Anyone witnessing it would assume he's gone completely insane. Wait a minute. Insane. People would assume he's gone insane. Grabbing the phone, and dialling 2, I was starting to get rather excited.

"Madame?" This lady was amazing. She was the female version of Sydney but without all the chitter chatter.

"Nurse Ratchet. I have a little job for you. I am trying to get rid of someone, but I need Sydney to do it for me. For it to work, I need him in a state that even he doesn't understand what is going on. I need Sydney in a state where he isn't in control of himself, but not so much that he will still obey to what I say. Think you can manage that?"

"Of course, Madame. Have him sent my way and I'm sure I can have him the way you need before the year is up."

"I need Sydney ready by Christmas. Do you understand me? Christmas is your deadline." She was silent for a moment. And that never meant anything good for me.

"I'm sorry Madame Mayor, but I can't give you a guarantee that he will be ready by Christmas. If I try and rush the process he may not be ready, or right for the job. Something like this cannot be rushed."

"I don't care what you have to do, I want him ready by Christmas. And you know full well what will happen if you fail me Ratchet." Again, she was quiet. And I would wait for her to respond.

"As always Madame Mayor. I will do as you have asked me to the best of my abilities." A grin crossed my face as I managed to relax back into my chair.

"Good. I'll have Sydney sent to you within the hour." Hanging up the phone once again, I had a quick think about all the logistics to this plan. I didn't want this to be rushed. But I couldn't bear to see my daughter with that vile human being for any longer.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX – Christmas Day

Christmas was less than enjoyable to say the least. As much as I wish I could have gone into the office, it had been locked for the day. Apparently not even the mayor can work on Christmas. Although I managed lock myself in the study for the morning, in an attempt to get some work done for the day, so it wouldn't be a total waste. When I did finally decide to go downstairs it wasn't for long however. I had barely even made myself a cup of tea before there was a knock on the door. Henry went to answer the door. I stood in the doorway to the living room looking at the front door. I wasn't entirely sure who would be coming to the door on Christmas day. Surely everyone in this drivel small town would be spending the day with their family.

"Hi Daddy!" Oh no. I was not staying around for this. The job had still yet to be carried out. So, where there is a Regina, there is a Swan.

"Hi Mister Mills." And that was the final straw. I made my way upstairs, and straight into my room. I could hear some of the chatter coming from downstairs. And everyone word. Every laugh. Every clink of the glass. Every moment just made me more and more angry. After 45 minutes I was furious. I called up Ratchet. She had better have some good news for me.

"Ratchet?"

"Madame. I'm sorry but…"

"There are no buts. Sydney needs to be ready. If I must go one more day knowing those two are together, you will not be going through one more day. Do I make myself clear?"

"Madame, if you want this plan to go off without an issue, I strongly suggest you give me until the end of the year. Otherwise I can't be held responsible for what happens." I was contemplating her words. I trusted Ratchet with all these jobs. I trusted her expertise, but right now I was not happy with what she was saying.

"I will give you one more day. I want Sydney out and ready on the 26th. Do you understand?" Silence. But only for a moment.

"I will release him, but I give you no guarantee like any of the others. Do you understand me?"

"I understand the risks. But I trust your work so far will be plenty. But one more day. That is all you will get." Hanging up the phone. I realised how much I had been stomping around the room. Once I finally settled down, I tried listening for downstairs again. I couldn't hear anything. No giggles. No chatter. Nothing. Creaking the door open just a touch, I still couldn't hear anything. I assumed the girls had left. Making my way downstairs, I found Henry sitting in the dining room.

"Darling, what were you…"

"Silence. What did Regina and she want?" I needed today to end at this point. I needed this year to end. But before the year would end I would get my happy ending. I was hoping I would be able to get it as a Christmas present for myself, but that clearly won't be happening.

"They just wanted to come around for a little bit. Spend a little Christmas time with the family you know?"

"Miss Swan is not part of this family. Therefore, she has no reason to be in this household on this day." How dare he even suggest such a thing.

"But darling, she is Regina's family. Surely you could…" Before he could imply anything further I swiped my hand across his cheek to silence him immediately.

"Regina belongs to this family. And in this family, we do as I say. Regina has not done as I have told her and so until such time where she follows my commands once again, she is no longer part of this family." I was holding his cheek with his mouth hanging open looking back at me with obvious fear in his eyes. Just the way I liked it. "But don't worry dear. Should all go to plan, Regina will be re-joining the family much sooner than you think."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX – Boxing Day

"Hand him over Ratchet. Time is up." She moved out from behind her desk, although reluctantly.

"This is the final warning I will give you Madame Mayor. He will do as you say, but I can't guarantee that he will do it to your exact specifications. He is still lucid at times and is aware of what is going on. Whilst those moments are rare, they have been occurring still. I wouldn't want to hand him over to you without being fully ready." We stood outside his door. And I could hear him nattering away with himself.

"I trust that your work will be suitable enough. I trust that you are aware of the risks should you let me down." She took one more, deep sigh, before turning and opening the door. There I saw Sydney. Cooped up into a little ball in the corner on his bed. "Sydney?" He looked up in a heartbeat. But the look on his face was not one I had seen before.

"I have been using past recordings of your voice, so he will only respond to you now. He won't register instructions from anyone else, but he will still register someone else speaking." I could feel the smile trying to grow, but I needed to remain calm for the time being. I would be happy when the job had been completed. Until then I would be cautiously optimistic.

"Sydney stand up." And he did so. Without a moment's hesitation. Standing at attention in front of me waiting for my next words. Looking at Ratchet, I let a small smile cross my face. "Well done." Although, she didn't look very comfortable at all. Turning back to Sydney, he simply stood there, ready to hold onto my every word. Nothing has changed then really. "Come Sydney. I have a little job for you." Turning, I knew Sydney was following right behind me. Making my way out to the car, I turned back to Sydney before getting in.

"What would you like me to do Madame?" He was quick and to the point for once.

"What I want you to do, is make your way round town. Tomorrow night what you will do is go to the Rabbit Hole, have a few drinks. Start making a bit of a scene. Someone will inevitably call the Sherriff. Once the Sherriff and Miss Swan have arrived, grab someone. Anyone. Preferably a female as any man would overpower you. Once you have a woman in your grasp," I went around to the boot of my car, and lifted the door. Pulling out a box, I opened it up to Sydney, making very sure I didn't touch the contents on the inside. "I want you to take out this gun and start waving it around. Scare people. Don't say a word. Just use the gun to keep people away. When you have a clear shot, you are to shoot Miss Swan. You shoot her, and you make damn sure you don't miss. Because if she walks out of this alive…you won't be. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Madame Mayor."

"Good. Now take this," I pushed the gun towards him in the box, he took the weapon and concealed it within his jacket. "And go. You are not to return to me until I say otherwise." He turned and started walking away without another word. Smiling to myself, I climbed into my car and headed home. My work here was now done.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I had received an alert about a call out to the Rabbit Hole. I knew I was smiling now. It was only a matter of moments now.

The thoughts of Emma laying on the floor in a pool of her own blood made my blood race. Laying there all alone. No Regina to hold her hand.

Regina would be here any moment looking for comfort. Looking for her Mother to protect her. And I couldn't wait for that moment.

There was a rather brash knock on the door. And so, the plan was complete. No more Miss Swan. No more complications. No more issues in the family. I pulled the door open with a very pleased look on my face. But the look I saw on Regina's face was not one I was expecting. I was expecting sadness. Grief. Pain. Not anger, fury and aggression.

"What did you do?" I did not expect that at all.

"What on earth do you mean?" Let's see what she knows.

"Emma. Emma is currently in the hospital. Fighting for her life because your little minion of a man shot her. Twice. And undoubtedly done so under your orders." She was still alive? Issue one.

"Now why would I do that? And besides, I haven't seen Sydney in quiet some time now. I couldn't have possibly had him do anything." It was nearly the truth.

"Don't try and play with me Mother. Right now, would be a bad time to test me." Before I even had a chance to respond, I saw the one person who should not be anywhere near me right now.

"Madame Mayor! I did it! I did as you asked." Regina turned to Sydney with rage in her eyes. If she didn't have so much control, I'm sure Sydney would be dead by now.

"Sydney. What exactly did my Mother ask you to do?" Regina was pulling out her phone as she asked the question. And instantly I knew I was finished. Everything I had worked for was about to back fire on me.

"Madame Mayor instructed me to kill Emma Swan. She handed me this gun and said I should kill. She said I should kill her and if she doesn't die then she would kill me." Regina lowered her phone back down and into her pocket.

"Thank you very much Sydney." He turned back to look at me, as if waiting for approval. Which will be the last thing he gets from me at this point. "You are finished Mother. You have nowhere else to turn. I will make sure you go down for this. And I will make sure Emma makes it through this." How dare she.

"You have no right…" I stormed my way over to her ready to strangle her. But the next thing I knew, I was on my back and Regina was standing over me.

"Self defence classes come in very handy apparently. Don't push me Mother. You have no idea what I am capable of. Or did you forget, I'm your daughter." She walked over me and left me on the ground. I laid there for a moment longer trying to let everything sink in. How did everything go so wrong? Why can't I just have my happy ending in life? Just once I wish things would go my way.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N – I'm trying to be a little more regular with the updates. This was a weird chapter to write for me. Next chapter will have a little more explaining. The story is starting to wind down though. I think I will be finishing the story somewhere around the 30's. Please review. Let me know how you guys have liked the story and how you would like to see it end. Thanks guys. Until next time.