Hey guys! Phew wow, okay I've been gone for a while. I moved. Husband accepted a position in some other city and for several months or what seems like several months we've been packing and moving and all that fun things that you do when you leave. Anyway! Here is the final chapter. WARNINGS mentions of suicide. Disclaimer. I don't own Once upon a time. Like at all! Hope you like it.
The clouds occupied most of the sky, Regina's eyes fixated on them, wondering if she will see rain soon. They did look rather ominous, growing darker and darker the more she stared at them. She sank to the floor still looking out the window, trying to process the recent events that took place, trying to remember what she repressed into her subconscious. She wrapped her arms around herself automatically, trying to self sooth. She started thinking and worrying about her situation as well as Henry. Was she being tricked into believing that she was in a safe place? Were these people real or were they just disguised pawns ready to strike as soon as she let her guard down? Where is Henry? Is he safe? Will the so called Emma actually bring him, and if she does, will it really be him? Tears started forming in her eyes, as her paranoia grew stronger. She was scared, scared that they may have harmed Henry, or that Henry could be dead. Scared that the Dark Fairy had actually killed all her friends in Storybrooke and were enjoying the game that they were playing with her. She heard commotion downstairs. People talking and shuffling around, their mumbles were nearly inaudible. She closed her eyes trying to fixate on the mumbles hoping to hear something that she could understand. After some time, she pushed herself up, trying not to wince too much at the pain that her movements were causing her, as she walked quietly to the door and cracked it open. She could hear her own voice downstairs. Her eyes widened at the unexpected familiar voice that echoed through the house.
"I don't want Henry being exposed to someone that could traumatize him" The Queen said crossing her arms defensively. "I'm not only speaking for him, but Regina is not going to appreciate this!"
"I know but Regina might feel safer knowing that Henry is alright and in good hands" Snows voice also echoed throughout the house. "It will be okay, Regina we have to trust Emma in this"
"I can't wait till this is all over and we're back to being normal again and not walking on eggshells to protect Regina mental state anymore" the former Wicked Witch said in an unempathetic tone. "What? I'm just saying I hope she gets over this soon, and get back to acting normal again" she replied in defense once she realized she was getting horrid looks from the group.
"She's been through a lot, you can't expect her to just jump back in and be her old self, this could have…changed her…more than we know" Snow said sadly "I just hope, whatever happened, the effects are not as permanent as I think they are"
"What do you mean?" The Queen said worried.
"Well, when a person has experienced what Regina has, people don't recover from them the way we hope" Snow said quietly.
"Well, she's not people…she's Regina, and I know that she can handle this and will be back to normal…maybe not tomorrow, but she will…" The Queen said, trying to also convince herself. "We have been through a lot before, and it turned out fine"
"Regina, you killed people" Snow said, trying to be gentle at reminding her that her history didn't turn out all that fine and it had a bigger impact on her than she wanted to admit. The Queen rolled her eyes, and turned her head, annoyed about how right Snow was. "But that didn't mean you didn't change for the better, and maybe with our help she can recover much quicker" Snow was determined to give the group and herself hope. Few minutes later, Henry opens the door, looking slightly anxious.
"Where is my mom?" he asks trying not to sound panicky.
"Henry, I told you, please don't startle her just-"
"I know! I just need to see her and know she's okay" Henry demanded.
"Look, can I just go up first maybe prepare her and then I'll call you when … I'll call you when I think it's appropriate okay?" Emma pleaded with her son to understand the sensitivity of the situation. Henry, nodded not replying verbally and stood next to the Queen who wrapped her arm around his shoulder, comfortingly. Emma watched him for a moment, before heading upstairs to Regina's room. She gently knocked on the door and creaked it open. Regina was no longer beside the window where she had left her and she was not on the bed. "Regina?" Emma said beginning to worry. She looked around the room to find it empty. "Regina?" she called out again, she went to the bathroom hoping that she would find her in there washing her face or doing something else equally as innocent. "Regina?" she called out one more time before she started panicking outwardly, she went to the window which was open and looked outside, fearing the worst. She looked out the window, the breeze blowing the curtains slightly back into the room. She saw nothing. Emma let go of the breath that she was holding and then turned to start looking around the room again until something caught her eye. A figure was sitting on the floor, leaning her side against the bed, eyes glazed over. Emma went to her quickly and kneeled, calling her name out several times with no response. "Regina, please, snap out of it" she gently shook her. "please wake up… Henry is here for you…please you have to wake up for him" Regina continued to stare blankly. Emma's eyes couldn't hold back the tears anymore, and they started running down her face. "Please…Please" Regina continued her blank expression, cold eyes unmoving, almost as though she was dead. Emma broke down, hating herself for leaving Regina by herself. She looked her over trying to find something to explain this catatonic state. Pleading and sniffing, trying to wipe the blurry vision from her eyes. When she couldn't find the source of the immobility, Emma looked into the cold dead eyes of her former lover, hopeless. "I'm…I'm so sorry Regina, you …you don't deserve any of this…I'm sorry" she said with tears streaming down her face as she leaned forward, cupping Regina's face into her hands, and gently giving her a kiss on her soft lips. A sudden rush of light and breeze blew between the two of them, and Regina blinked once…then twice…to see the sweet, wet and red face of Emma Swan. Regina blinked a few more times, to focus on the person in front of her. Emma watched as the Mayor of Storybrooke, for lack of a better word, came back to life. Emma laughed in amazement as she watched the woman in front of her return to herself after the healing powers of true love's kiss. "Regina?" Emma said cautiously.
"Emma" Regina replied
"Oh God, you've come back to me!" Emma said, laughing tears still streaming down her face. "I thought I lost you forever!" she cried throwing her arms around the brunette. Regina returned the hug, missing the warmth of a loved one in her arms. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Please forgive me please" Emma kept repeating. Regina stroked soothing circles on her back.
"It'll be alright" Regina said, comfortingly. "I'm fine, I'm okay now" she said warmly. Downstairs, Henry wasn't able to contain himself anymore as he heard Emma's shouts, and ran upstairs to find Regina and Emma in an embrace.
"Mom!" he exclaimed, bringing attention from Regina and Emma. Regina smiled, and Henry came full force and flung himself at his mothers. The Queen, Zelena and Snow followed close behind him and watched the exchanged. Snow still struggling not to breakdown herself smiled at the relief the three of them were feeling and Regina regaining some sense of her former self. "Are you okay? How do you feel?" Henry questioned, making sure his mother was okay. "Did she hurt you?" he asked concerned, Emma looked quickly to Regina to see her reaction to the loaded question. Regina smiled and stroked his hair gently.
"I'm alright, Henry." She continued to smile. "I'm here now, and that's all that matters" she said stroking his hair and cheek.
"Come on Henry let's help Regina up" Emma said, getting up and holding Regina's hand to help her up. Regina winced at the pain that it caused by moving, but continued her pleasant expression for Henry. The Queen stepped forward towards Regina.
"Are you back yet?" The Queen smiled gently. Regina nodded as she continued to smile. The Queen reach over and hugged Regina. "I know you're acting in front of Henry, if you want us to take him somewhere else, just give me a wink" The Queen whispered. Regina pulled away looking at the Queen's face, but didn't wink at her. Zelena came next to give Regina a warm sisterly hug. Then Snow came and took Regina's hand in hers.
"We're glad you're back with us" Snow said, having her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Thank you" the older brunette said squeezing her hand. "I do appreciate everything that all of you have done for me". They had then decided to migrate to the living room, Emma and Henry helping Regina walk down the stairs.
"Well we know that you might need some rest and some down time, we are going to go now." Snow said gesturing to Zelena and the Queen. The Queen immediately looked toward her other half to watch her wink as a sign to take Henry with them. The Queen in turn began gesturing to Henry to go with them who was reluctant at first and needed some assistance to agree. Emma and Regina sat in silence in the big empty mansion, Regina appearing to be in deep thought as she held her hot mug of tea in her hands, her eyes fixated on it. Emma decided to break the awkward silence.
"Regina, I know you probably don't want to talk about it but-"
"It's all over…" Regina interrupted. "right? Everything…this is all over with" she said looking up at Emma. Emma nodded.
"Yes, I won't let anyone hurt you ever again, I prom-"
"You can't promise that" Regina cut her off with a stern voice as she furrowed her brows. Emma opened and closed her mouth not knowing how to respond. "don't make promises you can't keep Emma." Regina regained her gaze at her tea "the mind is a very sensitive thing, it can easily be manipulated, changed, played with" she said quietly. "my mind isn't any different, this is too much… I've handled too much Emma… I wanted to kill myself." Emma continued to watch her. "The windows, I wanted to jump… I wanted to end the pain, the memories… the fact that you were going to bring Henry up here to see me like this…I couldn't take it."
"But you ask-"
"I know I asked you to bring him, but after you left it hit me, everything hit me again, and I started to think this whole rescue was a lie and everyone was tricking me. I was scared. I thought it would be better if I just ended it completely myself." A tear began to roll down her face.
"What …What made you not do it" Emma couldn't bring herself to say the word, suicide.
"The thought of you and Henry finding me" Regina said
"I would have blamed myself for leaving you here on your own in such a state, I should never have done that" Emma showed anger in her voice at herself.
"I don't remember what happened after that, it's all missing" Regina turned her head up to watch Emma "I'm sorry for putting you through all of this" Emma shook her head. "I know this is a lot of stress, and I think you might feel that you have an obligation to stay with me, but you don't. There isn't a need to, we're not together, you're not my wife, or a family member, you don't have to stay here with me Emma, I'm going to be okay now." She said smiling at Emma gently.
"I…Regina…" Emma could barely get the words out. "I care-…Regina I love you" she finally was able to say the words. Regina was taken aback, not expecting this confession to come from Emma tonight. "and I don't expect you to say anything back" Regina continued to watch Emma. "I just want to you to know that I love you, I care about you and I'm going to take care of you until you are comfortable enough to take care of yourself. I'm going to be here for you whenever you want me to be and that's my promise. I can't promise that you'll never get hurt and I can't promise that I'll make you happy, but I can promise that I'm committed to be by your side if you'll let me" Emma's mini speech was heartfelt, and Regina was speechless for several minutes, amazed at Emma's words.
"Emma, I feel the same, I love you too…I don't think that we can ever be perfect and this recovery is going to be long… but I know that with you by my side, I will recover and heal more quickly." Regina said, reaching out to hold Emma's hand. Emma scooted next to her, and bright green met amber-brown before closing in a gentle soft kiss.