Emma was staying at her own house that night. She'd only moved in three weeks ago, the house that had felt warm and inviting now felt big and empty. She was so small on her own. Neither nor Regina had actually wanted to part but she had been living out of Regina's wardrobe for just a day too long. And it wasn't fair on Henry. He was ok with it but it wasn't fair to a kid of his age to confuse him like that. They to define this, really understand where they were.
They had said they were taking a night off to think about where they were, come to a conclusion, but Emma couldn't take her mind off the evil queen. She'd been so gentle. And what she said? That she was there to check up on Emma? It was phrased like a joke but her voice had been serious.
Emma paused in front her wardrobe, about to jacket off. She had to know what the queen meant. How could she even contact her? She just sort of... appeared. How had she known what had happened with Killian? She must be watching. Emma opened her mouth to call her and realised she didn't know what to say. What should she call her?
She tried again. "Your majesty?" This was stupid. She was calling to an empty house. "Are you listening?"
"I'm always listening, miss swan."
Emma spun around. There she was. Crap. What had she wanted to say? Oh, right.
"I need to talk to you. About earlier. You healed me. You helped me. Why?"
The queen leaned closer. In her corseted dress, Emma fought to keep her eyes on her face. She had a new appreciation for that body.
"Oh, sweetheart. Did you think I was helping you? I need you safe. The final battle is coming. It has been coming since the day we met. Haven't you ever realised? We were made for this battle. You were the product of true love. I was made from greed and duty."
Her voice lowered to a whisper. "You had nothing, you fought for every opportunity and still turned out sickly sweet. I had everything. Every opportunity. And I became this."
Her eyes dropped and despite the menace in her words, Emma thought she looked sad and lost. She wanted to hug her.
"You were forced into the darkness and still managed to break back into the light. I was dragged into the light, kicking and screaming. And I still fell back here. And despite everything,"
She lifted her eyes to fix on Emma's and they looked coal black in the half light of the evening.
"We share a son."
Emma's voice was torn, a horse whisper. "But Regina-"
"I am as much his mother as she is. Maybe more. Because I, unlike her, am not prepared to share him." She clenched her jaw.
"And so the final battle. Or at least, it will be final for you."
She smiled and this time, instead of disappearing in a haze, she walked away. Walked through Emma's house. It was actually scarier. It made her more real. She was real, she was a real villain that Emma had just invited into her home. What was she thinking?
What was all this about the final battle like some kind of game of thrones fight? When the queen came back, she attacked Regina. Sure, she was interrupting Emma's wedding but they she had assumed that was just collateral damage. Regina was the target, wasn't she? So why was she now after Emma? Or was Emma the real target? So then why had she gone for Regina at all? Maybe she was playing multiple angles. Or just feeding Emma lies to confuse her.
Through it all was one burning, unanswered question. If she was out to destroy them all, why was she being so nice? Was there a chance she had genuinely been checking up on Emma earlier? Genuinely concerned that Killian had hurt her? Why? Surely the battle would be easier the weaker Emma was.
She turned back to the wardrobe, still buzzing with questions and stopped. There was her jacket. She had taken it off before calling the queen. But she always wore it when she needed protection, she always had. The few times she had had to walk into a fight without it, it had been keenly missed. But today, just now... She had called the queen without armour on. Without protecting herself.