DISCLAIMER:: do not own. just borrowing for the purpose of creative expression. no profit obtained.
A/N:: thank you for all the positive feedback. i stayed up last night to put the finishing touches on this chapter. the next is already ready to go, but after that i'm out of updates until i get to writing, which i plan on doing tonight. trying not to lose momentum while the creative juices are still flowing. updates on all other swanqueen stories are in the works. thanks for the reviews. i hope they keep coming. enjoy!
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-Chapter 24: Cause I'm A Gypsy-
"You look pensive my love. What's troubling you?" Regina sat on the arm of the armchair Emma sat in, staring once more out over the little courtyard to the gate on the other side that blocked the street beyond from view.
Emma shook off her daze and glanced up at the brunette, trying to offer a reassuring smile. "It matters not. I didn't mean to concern you."
Regina leaned down and kissed her forehead. "It matters to me." She stroked the hair away from her temples.
Emma looked back out to the gate. "I just thought I saw something in your other half that…reminded me of you. It got me thinking maybe I could keep you both." She shook her head. "It was the foolish hopes of a girl in love." She glanced back at Regina. "I told you, it matters not. I choose you." She scooted over to one side of the armchair and pulled Regina down into the small space beside her. She kissed her softly. "I love you."
Regina smiled. "And I love you."
Emma smiled sadly. That was the response she should have gotten from Mayor Regina. It was how it should be. It hurt. When she had first looked into Queen Regina's eyes the night she awakened her in her crystal prison, there'd been recognition. They'd both felt it, both known it, instantaneously. If that Regina was part of the same soul, why didn't she feel it too? Or did she? Was she just running from it?
"And the pensive look returns." Regina pursed her lips. "It's about her isn't it?"
Emma nodded. "We slept together… well, there was nothing really together about it. She… used me."
Regina nodded. "It's sounds like something I would have done. One's body can be a highly effective weapon when wielded correctly. A woman's sword is her looks." She sighed. "She'll continue to use it to her advantage. She'll find your weakness and exploit it. She may not know you love me… but she knows you love her and she won't hesitate to use it to her advantage."
Emma raised an eyebrow.
Regina caught the look and shrugged. "I know her…me, and I'm going to help you."
Emma's face scrunched up and she looked almost in pain. "Why?"
The brunette bit her lip. "I don't like that there's a part of you that I don't get. There's a life you live that only she gets to see. I hate it. But I know you love her. And I want you to be happy. Maybe if we can find a way to break this curse then you will have all of me and I may, for once, have all of you. It's possible there's a loophole in the prophecy."
Emma crawled into Regina's lap, curling against the older woman's body. It hurt her to think that Regina felt there was a part of herself she wasn't offering to the brunette queen. Was it true? Was she keeping a part of herself separate, saving it for the woman on the other side who treated her like something disposable and bothersome? She didn't feel as if she did, but she couldn't really be objective. "We need to research it. My mother did a long time ago. There were scrolls written about it. But they're all back at the palace."
Regina bit her lip in thought. "My mirror. If Rumpelstiltskin hasn't found a way to destroy him yet, he'll be able to help us." She ran her fingers through Emma's hair. "Don't worry, my love, we'll find a way to repair the worlds. I don't want you to sacrifice anything more to be with me. We'll fix this."
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"You've been hiding from me." Emma stood in the doorway of his bed chamber. He was by the window, drawing her face on a canvas as he always did when he was left to the prison of his own thoughts and memories. She came into the room to better see his artwork. "She made a sacrifice, just as yours. Look what the outcome of it was."
"Your mother gave up her life to end the war."
Emma scoffed. "War is never over until one side is completely crushed; it is merely delayed."
His jaw hardened at her words. They'd disagreed over Snow White's death in the days after they found out as well. Emma had always felt her presence on the battlefield and subsequent death to be unnecessary, but James had always been proud of going out fighting for something she believed in. "Did you come to my chamber just to insult your mother's memory?"
Emma sighed. "No, I did not. I came to thank you. It is still not what I want, but I know you do this for me." She put a hand on his forearm. "And I came to ask something of you."
He looked at her with tired, haunted eyes. "What is it you'd have of me?"
"Regina and I have to procure something from the city this afternoon, but after that we have nothing keeping us here. We leave on the morrow bound for the former castle of the Evil Queen."
"But Rumpelstiltskin possesses it now!"
Emma nodded. "I know. And he's the only person I know who has an intimate knowledge of the prophecy. We are going to try to gather enough information to circumvent the prophecy, to restore the halves to each other."
"So what is it you need from me?" He looked confused.
"I need you to stay alive."
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Emma couldn't turn from her reflection in the mirror above the basin. The violet eyes of a dark haired gypsy stared back at her. She was hauntingly beautiful, as most gypsies were at a young age. Her skin was a toasty tan and smooth, unmarred. Her bust peeked out invitingly from the top of her low cut peasant's dress (no doubt for Regina to gawk at when she felt the urge, though the older woman claimed it was for purposes of maintaining their little act). The bright purple of the fabric matched her bright eyes, a trait the gypsies were famous for. Regina's own eyes in the Madam Zolta disguise were like liquid bronze.
"You look…delicious, though I must say I prefer your natural grace to this illusion."
Emma gave a start as the reflection of a much older woman appeared next to her. "You better not call me delicious in public. You will give Peppergrey's citizens an adverse opinion of gypsies if they assume you're bedding me. Furthermore… it's rather creepy." She focused once more on her own reflection and smirked. "Though this little magic trick will add a whole new meaning to roleplaying in the bed chamber."
The reflection beside her smirked as well, though on the face of an ancient lady it looked more like a leer. "You know the plan?"
Emma nodded. "Fret not my darling. In the other world I am well skilled in the art of seduction; I am sure I can handle a few guards."
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The market at the heart of Peppergrey was unlike anything Emma had ever experienced before. The outdoor marketplace stretched for nearly a mile in every direction. Booths, carts, stalls all littered the entire square mile of vendors. She'd seen bazaars before in cities closer to the palace, but here there were vendors screaming over other vendors, calling to the people walking by to purchase their wares. There were merchants selling everything from flowers to handmade inks. She glanced around in wonder, her senses so overwhelmed she could barely think straight.
"Close your mouth dear. You're supposed to be a seasoned expert remember?" Madam Zolta whispered silently in her ear, her tone cautionary, but not unkind.
Emma was quick to school her features and she followed behind the elderly gypsy and her cart as they moved through the crowded lanes in between the booths. People stared back at her, squinting at the newcomer to their midst. She knew they got new people who came by everyday, but Regina had made her especially enticing, all the better to get the guards' attentions and she knew everyone at the bazaar had the same thought: I would have remembered seeing her before. She felt powerful under their gazes, the same power she felt at being Queen without the added pressure of being expected to act a certain way. She could give her gypsy alter ego any personality she wanted. She liked the idea of inventing herself from scratch. Regina had named her Velia, which meant one who is hidden, concealed. She liked it. Their story was that she had accompanied Zolta from the gypsy encampment because of her growing age; Velia was to take over the responsibility of selling the wares once Madam Zolta became too old. She had been at least in her fifties when last anyone had seen her, nearly three decades prior. Not many people would believe a woman now in her eighties to be capable of such a journey. She, Velia, was her granddaughter, the thought of which made her slightly sick to her stomach…. She had been in bed (doing activities other than sleeping) with her "grandmother" just that morning.
They arrived at the space where Madam Zolta placed her cart when she came to market.
"I can't believe after all these years, your spot is still available." Velia helped her start setting up.
Madam Zolta waved a wrinkled hand through the air, dismissing the younger woman's surprise. "I'm sure someone fills it when I'm not here, but once I pass through the city gates, they clear out quick enough. Ordinary people fear our kind child, remember that."
Velia smiled. It was odd hearing the thick gypsy accent come out of the old woman when she knew who she truly was. Regina had helped Emma practice her own accent this morning. Hers wasn't as thick given her younger age, but rather a sultry tingling high thing. She liked it. It was the first piece of Velia she'd created, but not the last. She'd gotten inventive with her backstory, the creation of her history, on the off chance anyone asked. She had been born of Madam Zolta's son, Milikos, and his wife, Ciana. They had been killed during the war in a battle that had swept close to the gypsy encampments. If anyone checked out the story for any reason, it would stand up to scrutiny. Their had been a battle that had come within miles of their camp and there was a fair gypsy maiden who'd perished named Ciana. Her mind had gone adrift with romantic scenarios of how her parents had died in each others arms in the midst of a battle but she'd been cautioned not to get carried away. Too much detail was just as suspicious as too little.
A little street urchin girl came sniffing around their cart, her dirty hands clutching a nearly destroyed rag doll, a long laceration across her cheek, freshly scabbed over. She couldn't have been more than five. Madam Zolta ignored her and continued to set up, but Velia crouched down to the little girl's level.
"What's your name?"
The little girl seemed wary at first, obviously unused to kindness, but at Velia's non-threatening smile, she finally relaxed a little. "Savya."
"Greetings Savya, I'm Velia."
The little girl smiled shyly at her, downcasting her yes and looking back up at her through long lashes. "You're pretty."
Velia beamed at the little girl. She put a finger under her chin and raised it until the little eyes met hers once more. "So are you." She looked around. "Are you here alone?"
The little girl nodded sadly and Velia's heart clenched.
"Where are your parents?"
The little girl didn't even have to say a word. She recognized the truth in the glassiness of her eyes. They were dead, or gone. Either way, Savya had no one.
Just then boots came into view beside the girl, formal and supple leather, she'd recognize them anywhere. The little girl squealed and ran behind Velia, burying herself in the young gypsy woman's skirts. Velia raised her eyes slowly and came face to face with the captain of Hadrian's personal guard, Killian, a despicable excuse of a man if she'd ever met one.
"I thought I told you to stop bothering the vendors you little trollop!" He was looking past her at the girl still buried in her skirts, hiding her face.
Velia saw his sheathed sword at his side, dried blood crusted across the hilt and it was easy to put two and two together. So that's how Savya's face got cut open. He'd hit her! She felt the anger surge through her. She would never have allowed this! So Hadrian was condoning the public abuse of a child now?
"Can I help you sir?" She reached behind herself and held the little girl protectively against the back of her legs.
Killian looked at her with an instant smile. He always had loved pretty things. "I'm sorry mi'lady. If you'll just step aside, I will get that street rat away from you and your business."
Velia narrowed her eyes. "I'd ask that you do no such thing sir. Savya is my daughter and I told her to stay nearby while we set up. She must have roamed off. I apologize if she caused any trouble, but I highly doubt she's done anything to warrant the attention of a Royal guard." She wasn't sure what had made her tell the lie. This would complicate their plan, perhaps ruin it altogether, but she would not leave little Savya in the company of the likes of Killian. He was prized by the King for his ruthlessness. He was known far and wide for being rather unkind when he deemed one unworthy. Unfortunately, he deemed all but a choice few unworthy.
"That… thing is your child?" He seemed taken aback and disgusted by the very notion.
Velia stepped forward, getting close, like a lover about to embrace her beau. "Please hold your tongue sir." It was bold, but she knew the Royal Army had no lawful standing here to regulate rules. It was only by the grace of the Small Council of Peppergrey that their occupation was even allowed.
He looked at her determined face and then down to the little girl peeking out from behind her skirts. "Yes… well, see that your keep that thing on a leash." He turned and stormed off in search of some other victim.
The little girl immediately loosened her hold on Velia's skirts but she reached for the gypsy woman's hand, clutching her rag doll firmly with the other.
Velia crouched once more, looking at the little girl. She touched the scab lightly with her fingertips. "Did he hurt you? Is he the one who gave you this?"
Savya nodded.
Velia bit her lip and nodded. She smoothed down the girl's tangled hair. "He's never going to hurt you again, do you understand me? You're coming home with me." She placed a kiss on the girl's dirty forehead before getting up. She turned to find Madam Zolta staring at her. She couldn't tell if she was angry or proud, or a mixture of both.
"You do realize this will set us back dear?"
Velia nodded. "It doesn't matter. I know what she's going through." She stared off in the direction Killian had stormed away. "I won't let her suffer the same fate I did."
Madam Zolta studied her for several long moments. Finally, she nodded. "Come child." She held out a weathered old hand to the little girl.
Savya looked at Velia for confirmation and the violet eyed gypsy woman just nodded and gestured with her head. "It's alright."
The little girl dropped Velia's hand and traded it for Madam Zolta's.
The wise woman pulled the little girl to her side. She leaned down next to her. "Can you keep a secret?"
The little girl nodded her head enthusiastically, her eyes going wide at the prospect of knowing the secret of an adult.
Madam Zolta smiled. "Very good child. How about you go home with Velia and she will fix you lunch and then, when I get home after the market closes, I'll share a secret with you?"
The little girl glanced at Velia and nodded. She obviously trusted the violet eyed gypsy without question. Even living the life of an orphan on the street in a city like Peppergrey, she still had the hope for a better tomorrow in her eyes. Emma had still possessed it at that age too. The group home hadn't broken her yet. The breaking came later, just as it would for Savya. Velia held out her hand to the little girl. "Come on then."
Madam Zolta gave the little girl a push on her back and sent her into the younger woman's arms. As they departed, Velia looked over her shoulder and met liquid bronze eyes. She smiled and mouthed 'thank you'. Then she grabbed the little girl's hand and set off back towards the magically protected safe house.
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When Madam Zolta arrived home several hours later it was to a different girl entirely from the shy one they had met in the marketplace. Velia had bathed her and put one of James's clean tunics over her small frame, tying it with a strip of leather like a belt around the waist so it didn't hang too loosely on her skin and bone frame. It was like a dress, reaching to the little girl's ankles, almost dusting the ground. Velia was brushing out her long dark hair, soft and straight, no longer the tangled nest it had been earlier. It was only now that all the layers of grime were gone that she saw Savya had dark blue eyes, like two sapphires gleaming out from olive skin.
"Look who's home!" Velia gestured to the newcomer.
The little girl slid off Velia's lap and rushed over, throwing her arms around the older woman, giggling.
Madam Zolta looked at Velia questioningly, but the younger woman just shrugged. "Welcome home."
The older woman smoothed down the child's hair. "Are you ready for the secret?"
The little girl nodded enthusiastically.
Madam Zolta nodded. "Okay, you know what a secret is, right? It means you can never tell anyone." She was taking a risk again. The last time she had trusted a starry eyed child, it had ended in death and heartbreak. Should she be risking it again? But the little girl was looking at her so genuinely that she threw caution to the wind. With a flick of her wrist, her disguise melted away. Regina was left standing where Madam Zolta had just been.
If the little girl was frightened at all, she didn't show it. In fact, the biggest grin lit up Savya's face and she threw her arms around Regina's legs, hugging them hard.
Velia got up. She cleared her throat and Regina waved her hand, leaving Emma in place of where the violet eyed gypsy had been only moments before.
The little girl just looked between them both, awe permanently etched across her face.
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"Finally, time alone." Regina crossed the room to where Emma was changing into a night shift. She wrapped her arms around the blonde.
"Where's Savya?" Emma sighed happily and leaned back into the embrace, resting her head back on Regina's shoulder.
"She's playing with James. He's quite taken with her."
"I am too." Emma smiled.
"You do realize we can't keep her my love. She'd have an even worse life with us than she'd have here. We can't take a child into the Forbidden Forest."
Emma frowned. "I will not leave her Regina. Not with the Royal Army here. You do not know Killian. He… is not a kind man. I will not leave her defenseless against him. Besides, she'll help make our escape from the city easier. Hadrian will be looking at everyone closely. I can guarantee he was made aware of your sudden reappearance after all those years away. It wasn't a coincidence that there were guards all over the marketplace. He'll have us followed when we leave if he's even the least bit suspicious. A child with us however? He'd never expect it. It might be the one thing that gets us out safely."
Regina had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that she had a point. The guards would suspect them less if they had a child in tow. "And once we leave the city and get into the Forbidden Forest?"
Emma turned in Regina's embrace, kissing the woman tenderly. "Fret not darling; I have a plan."
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Emma traced the lines of Regina's face in the dimness of the room. Their time together was drawing to a close for the day, she could feel it.
The door opened and Emma sat up, seeing a little figure framed in the gloom from the hall. "Savya, honey, what is it?"
The little girl pitter pattered forward, coming to Emma's side of the bed. "I'm scared. Can I sleep with you?"
Emma smiled. She picked the little girl up and set her between her and Regina. "Of course."
Savya snuggled underneath the covers and to the surprise of both women, cuddled herself up against Regina's torso. The brunette looked shocked for a moment before she let a small smile form and she relaxed.
Emma leaned forward and kissed the top of the little girl's head and then leaned up to kiss the brunette's lips before settling down herself and allowing sleep to take her.