"Good girl." Regina mumbles.
"Please, Regina," Robin whispers. "Please don't do this."
"I'm trying!" Regina snaps again. "It's not that easy!" Regina startles when someone appears next to them.
Robin doesn't say a thing and he doesn't see a thing. He doesn't see the figure Regina sees.
"You." Regina whispers softly.
"Pleasure to meeting you again," the figure says.
"But... How?"
"It's not that hard to get in your mind, to be honest."
"It isn't?"
"Not at all, your mind is weaker than you think."
Regina looks down. "I'll be good." she whispers.
"That's very good to hear indeed."
Regina nodds.
"Get up and meet me in the cellar."
"Which cellar?" Regina asks.
"Didn't you know this house has a cellar?"
"No." Regina whispers again. She gets up and walks downstairs. She doesn't notice Robin any longer.
Robin comes after her. "Regina, what are you doing?" he asks.
"I need to go to the cellar." Regina mumbles in front of her.
"No you don't, there's nothing there."
Regina doesn't listen. She finds the way downstairs and walks off the stairs. She looks at the person now in front of her.
Magic makes Robin unconscious and magic locks the door behind Regina.
Regina flinches.
"Don't be frightened." A grin follows.
"But I am." Regina whispers. She feels the cold breath of the person in front of her on her warm skin.
"Why?" the figure whispers.
"Because I know what you're capable of."
"That's right," the figure says. His hands are on Regina's hips now.
Regina looks up at him.
"So tell me, how are you doing lately?"
"Why do you care?"
"Why wouldn't I care?"
"Because you never cared how I've been doing."
"Now I do."
Regina gasps for air when his hands wander to places her body likes. "Please." she whispers.
"Please stop? Or please go on?" he says with a grin.
"I... Please. I don't know. Please."
He touches her exactly where she likes it. "I'll take that as a 'go on' then.'
"Why are you here? How are you here?"
"As far as I remember someone cast a curse."
"Emma. She... She would never take you with her. And she wouldn't give you magic."
"True," Leopold says, "but I changed her mind." He raises his eyebrows and laughs.
"How?"
"You know my ways," Leopold whispers and he touches Regina again, right there.
Regina gasps for air again. "Please. Say you didn't hurt my daughter." Regina begs.
"I do everything to get what I want," Leopold says, "I think you know me well enough to know that."
Darkness appears in Regina's eyes. "What did you do to her?" she wants to know.
"This," Leopold says and he touches her again. Now he kisses her and starts to undress Regina. "And this."
"You're lieing !" Regina snaps loudly.
"Of course I'm not lying," Leopold grins. He takes a knife out of his pocket. "Oh yes I forgot to mention this." he grins.
Regina screams out of frustration. "I hate you!"
"I knew that already."
"Let go of me!" Regina now starts to struggle against his hands.
Leopold keeps holding her close. "Why? I thought you liked this." He unzips her dress.
"I don't!"
He now kisses her to make her stop talking.
Regina struggles against his body.
"Did you know you're a lot weaker than your kid?" Leopold says, "she is a serious fighter."
"Let me go!"
"The exact same words your Emma used," Leopold grins. "Clearly family...".
"Stop talking!"
"She didn't say that," Leopold says stroking her back.
"Please!"
Leopold rips Regina's heart out. "It feels so good I can finally do this," he grins and he pushes her heart back again.
Regina moans of pain. "That hurts!" she snaps.
"Of course it does that's the whole point," Leopold laughs. "Oh! And I can do this too," he says while pinning Regina to the wall.
Regina gasps for air.
"Lovely," Leopold says and he starts to choke her. Then the door opens and Juli steps inside. Leopold tries to make her unconscious, but it won't work. He poofs away...
Regina sinks down to the ground and coughs.
Juli kneels down in front of her. Not to close, so Regina can catch her breath.
Within minutes Regina has her breathing back under control. She makes herself small to protect her naked, little body. She doesn't look up.
Juli lets her rest and says nothing, but she doesn't leave her.
"Robin?" Regina asks, very softly, after a long time.
"He is coming," Juli says, "and he will be fine."
Regina nodds, turning back into herself.
Juli holds Regina's hand. "I'm sorry this happened to you again," she whispers.
Regina pulls away. "Don't touch me!" she snaps.
"I'm sorry," Juli says. Then Robin comes in.
Regina doesn't look up. She keeps making herself small.
"Regina are you there?" Robin whispers, to let her know he is there.
" ." Regina just whispers now.
"Shall I carry you upstairs?" Robin asks.
"No!"
"Right," he says. Juli gets a blanket while Robin stays with Regina. But now no one is watching the door some of the kids come in to look what is happening.
Regina looks down again. "Get them away from here. They can't see me like this." she whispers to Robin.
Robin turns around and sees the kids. Before he can stand up to lead them away, Juli is back and after she handed over the blanket to Robin, she makes sure the children stay out of the room.
Regina sighs softly from relief. She grabs the blanket and scrambles away from Robin.
Robin takes a deep breath. He sits down next to Regina and closes his eyes for a while.
"I want to be alone." Regina whispers.
"Then at least let me carry you upstairs, it's so cold here."
"I want to be alone!" Regina snaps now.
"Regina please".
"Why didn't I know there is a cellar in this house? And why didn't you want me to come downstairs?" Regina suddenly asks.
"Because it's not very important to know," Robin says. He knows it too dark to see a thing, which calms him down a bit.
"Tell me!" Regina snaps again. "You're lieing, I know you are!"
"Regina stop it," Robin says, "it's not something to think about right now."
"Yes, it is. Tell me!"
"Fine," Robin snaps back, "you know what? Go see it for yourself." He stands up and puts on the light. He slams the door behind him.
Regina crawls away under the blanket now. Robin scared her to hell.
All kind of stuff comes into the light. All the things are are baby's things. A little crib, a whole pile of baby clothes and some blankets with animals on it. It's clear that someone expects a little girl...
Regina keeps hidden under the blanket. She closes her eyes against the light that shines through the light blanket. "I'm so sorry." she mumbles. "I'll be a good girl. I promise I'll be an obedient girl."
Nobody hears her.
"Please. Take me away from here. Someone. Just... Anyone." Regina begs, softly, in front of her.
When Juli realizes Robin isn't with Regina anymore (which is after quite some time because the kids kept her busy) she softly walks into the room.
Regina keeps mumbling for someone to just take her away from here.
"I'm here for you," Juli says. She looks at the stuff standing in the cellar, confused... Did Regina see this already? "Can you walk?" she asks.
"I want to be left alone!" Regina snaps again, not coming out from under the blanket.
"I'll get you out of here," Juli says.
"NO! I want to be left alone!" Regina screams now.
Juli sits down against the wall with a big distance between her and Regina. She is not leaving
Regina looks up from under the blanket. "Can't you just... " But her voice silences when she sees all the baby things.
Juli follows Regina's gaze.
"What is this?" Regina wants to know.
"I... I don't know," Juli says honestly.
"Was... Was Marian expecting a baby? When... When I killed her?" Regina whispers.
"I honestly don't know, I'm sorry," Juli says. And besides the fact she really doesn't know, this are not questions for her to answer.
"Get Robin. Please?" Regina asks softly.
"He left the house..." Juli says, "but I'll try to find him for you, I promise. But before I go, I really want you to go upstairs, it's so cold down here."
"I said NO!" Regina snaps again.
"I'm not that easy to scare away Regina," Juli says, "I'll get Robin for you, but I have one condition. I'm doing it for your own safety."
"NO!"
Juli sighs, but leaves the room to get Robin. He isn't hard to find, because he is already on his way to the cellar. He walks in and looks at Regina, while he sits down on one of the steps of the stairs.
"Was Marian expecting a girl? When I... When I killed her?" Regina asks immediately.
"Yes, she was," Robin only says. He stares at the baby's things in front of him.
Regina looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"It's in the past," Robin says. "but... I couldn't just throw all the memories away by getting rid of all these things." Between the baby stuff are also the clothes and toys of a little boy and some jewelry.
"I understand. I won't come here ever again." Regina whispers. She poofs the both of them into Robin's bedroom. "I promise I'll be a good girl." she whispers from out of the darkest corner.
"Regina..." Robin says, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I kept those things. I just didn't want to trigger something." This was exactly what he feared would happen if Regina saw the things.
Regina slowly nodds. "I understand." She looks up at him. "I'm cold."
"Come here then," Robin says. He is sitting on the bed. Now Regina can know that Marian, his son and his daughter are still in his mind almost everyday...
Very carefully Regina gets up from out of her corner and walks over to Robin, the blanket over her shoulders.
Robin takes her in his arms, making sure the blanket stays around her.
Regina leans into his touch, into his warm body. She sits on his lap and rests her head against his shoulder. "Emma." she whispers.
"What's it?" Robin says, softly stroking her hair. His arms are tightly around her.
"Leopold hurt her. He needs to die."
"How could he get to her?" Robin says. He is shocked, not only by the fact that Leopold hurt Emma, but also by the sudden statement that he needs to die.
"I don't know and I don't care. He needs to die." Darkness starts to take over Regina.
"Regina look at me," Robin says.
Regina looks at Robin, darkness in her eyes. No sign of something light.
"It's to big of a risk to kill him, Regina," Robin says, "you can't slip back into the darkness."
"Didn't you hear me? He hurt Emma. He needs to pay." A low and dangerous voice comes from Regina.
"Yes, but if it gets you back into the darkness, it's not worth it," Robin says.
"You don't trust me?"
"Of course I do, but can you be sure the darkness won't take over? Can you promise me that?"
"Yes! Yes, I can!" Regina snaps.
"Then what is it that I see in your eyes? Because it looks like darkness to me."
Regina looks down. "It's nothing." she mumbles.
"It's not nothing and you know that," Robin says.
"He. Needs. To. Pay."
"Then you can pay with him and I won't let that happen," Robin says.
"You can't stop me."
"I can't, but that doesn't mean I won't try."
Regina shakes her head. She poofs into some clothes now.
"How can you take care of your children when the darkness takes over again? You can't... please don't do this."
"The children." Regina whispers now. Robin triggered something, something that could get her back fast. "How are they? Where are they?"
"They are downstairs. They're worried about you and they miss you," Robin says.
"They shouldn't be. I need to take care of them. Not the other way around."
Robin takes a deep breath. "You're right," he says, "you don't have to take care of them alone, we will help you. And it doesn't mean you can't have times where you can be alone, but falling back into the darkness... you just can't do that."
Regina shakes her head. "I can't. I can't do that." she repeats with a soft voice, concentrating on Robin's face to take in this new information.
Robin nods and looks back at her.
"No going back to the darkness." Regina whispers. Another poof and she's dressed in a light dress now.
Robin smiles.
Regina turns around and walks to the window. She looks outside. "She's still not back." she whispers.
"She isn't," Robin says, not knowing what to say. He can say that she will come soon, but he can't know that...
"The kids need to eat dinner." Regina mumbles. She waves with her hand. Shouts of joy and surprise come from downstairs.
Robin grins. "Right," he says, "let's go downstairs to join them."
Regina nodds. Together they walk down the stairs but Regina's thoughts are clearly somewhere else. She smiles to the kids and laughs with their jokes and enjoys seeing them eat like its their last meal. But her thoughts are with Emma. Emma and Leopold.
Robin can see Regina's mind is not here, but he lets her.
The kids enjoy the meal very much and don't ask Regina hard questions, they're just glad that they're having fun together.
Regina smiles when a little girl sits down on her lap. "Hi there."
"Hi," the girl giggles softly. She leans against Regina's body. She closes her eyes and just takes in the smell of the person who feels like a mother to her.
Regina closes her arms around the little girl's body. "Did you eat good?" she asks softly.
"Yes I did," the girl says, "I loved it very much. Did you like it too?"
"I'm not very hungry." Regina whispers.
"Ow that's too bad," the girl says, "because the food is so nice. You really should try the pudding."
"I'll try. Robin, can you give me some pudding, please?"
The girl smiles. Robin hands over the pudding. "So try it," the girl says, "it tastes like strawberries."
Regina takes a couple of spoons. She giggles. "It really is good!"
"I told you!" the girl says.
Regina giggles again.
"I'm glad your back," she then says and she leans against Regina's chest again.
"Me too." Regina whispers softly in the girl's hair. She sends a message to Emma using her thoughts. *Where are you? I miss you. *
*you miss me?* Emma sends back.
*Of course I do. I love you. You're my daughter. I want to help you.*
*So you're not angry that... I ran away?*
*I'm worried. Not angry, of course not.*
*I want to come home, it's cold out here.*
*Please, come back home. I'm right here.*
Emma appears in the doorway and looks into the room. It's just a peek, because she fears the children.
*I know you're there. Come on in, sweetheart, I'm right here. I'm here for you.*
Emma looks at the ground, very, very nervous.
*Take your time. I'm right here.*
She gathers all her courage together and walks into the room.
Regina smiles at her. "Do you want to sit next to me?" she asks softly.
Emma nods and she sits down at the empty chair of the girl who is sitting on Regina's lap. She bites on her lip and puts her hair behind her ears.
"Take your pick. There is plenty of everything." Regina smiles.
*No thanks, I'm fine* Emma sends, but she does pick a carrot from a plate and takes a little bite.
Regina doesn't push her. She herself eats a slice of bread with cheese.
Emma forces herself to keep her chin up. She remembers herself what she did when she was the princes. Always behave, don't be frightened. She doesn't show that she startles when she sees her mother eat something, although it really stuns her... in a good way.
Regina softly strokes Emma's hair. She recognizes this behaviour; she used it herself when she was married to Leopold. *You don't have to put on brave face, Emma. You're home. You're safe. I'll make sure of that.* she sends through her mind.
*I don't want to look weak, because I'm not weak*
*You're not weak. We all know that. I just want to give you the chance to be yourself.*
*I don't want to be myself. I don't like myself enough to be it.*
Regina nodds slowly. She understands. *Just know that we like you, just the way you are. If you feel comfortable enough, you're more than welcome to show us the real you again.*
Emma now looks at her mother, a little bit angry. *Who is 'we'*
*Me. Robin. Juli. Snow. Some of the kids. Others need some time to forgive you, but they will. You'd be surprised what people can forgive.* Regina replies back, honestly.
*I see* Emma replies. She takes another carrot. "You should try the pudding," the girl on Regina's lap says. Emma startles.
Regina remains silent and looks at the scene in front of her.
"It's really nice," the girl says. "It is, right, Regina?"
Regina nodds, smiling. "It really is. It tastes like strawberries." She winks at the little girl on her lap and then at Emma.
The girl giggles. Emma forces a smile. "Thanks," she says and she takes some pudding.
Regina looks at the other kids. "What are the plans for today?" she asks them.
The kids shrug. "We can go swimming?" one of the boys suggest. "Yes and then you come with us!" a girl exclaims. They really missed Regina.
"Sounds like a nice plan." Regina smiles. "Emma, would you like to join us?"
"N... no no," Emma says, "I'll be fine. I don't really feel like swimming right now. But ehh... thanks."
"You can come and sit by the lake?" Regina suggests." Maybe read a book?"
"I don't know," Emma says. *I don't want to ruin the fun* she sends her mother, although she likes the idea.
*You won't ruin it. The worst thing that can happen is that you'll have some fun yourself.* She winks.
Emma sighs and agrees to come with them.
She takes a book to the lake and sits down a big distance away from the rest, who are having fun together.
Regina decides to sit down between the group of kids in the water and Emma who is reading a book. Regina smiles at Robin and Juli who are joining the kids in the water.
"Come in!" Robin shouts from the water. Emma looks from over the book to the water.
*Why don't you join them?* Regina suggests, sending this message through her mind towards Emma.
*I join if you join* Emma sends back, trying not to regret her words.
Regina giggles. She nodds to Emma and jumps out of her clothes, only wearing her undergarments now. "Lets go!" she shouts with a bright smile.
Emma smiles back. She hesitates for a moment, but then runs to the water, grabbing her mother's hand in the process and pulling her with her. She keeps on her dress.
Regina falls flat down in the water, but jumps up just as quickly to throw water to Emma and the other kids. She doesn't mention the dress. "Catch me!" Regina shouts out with lots of laughter. She starts to run through the water, making everyone even more wet than they already are.
Emma is soaked in no time. The kids are all laughing and they run after Regina to take revenge, splashing water on her all the time. Emma doesn't join but watches with a smile, a real one.
Regina 'accidentally' trips and takes Emma down with her in the process. She picks up her little girl and holds her in the air for a short period of time... Then the two of them fall into the water again.
"Oh mom!" Emma shouts out and she laughs. "You're horrible!"
"Am I? I don't think so!" Regina laughs as well. She winks to Robin and together they start to tickle the kids.
The kids start to run away in laughter. Some of them run up the shore others dive so Robin and Regina can't get to them.
Regina gets to Emma and starts to tickle her on the places she knows Emma can't stand.
"No," Emma moans, but she can't help but laugh, "stop it mom."
"Alright, alright." Regina laughs.
Emma smiles and lets out a sigh. She dives, so her whole body is under water.
Regina smiles when she sees her daughter enjoying herself like this.
Although Emma doesn't have contact with the other kids, she is having a good time. She forgot what swimming felt like and it gives her a free feeling when she is under water. A bit like the time she rode on Rocinante with her mother, but then more... quiet.
Regina smiles. She looks at the other children and asks herself why they don't interact with Emma. Sadness appears in her eyes
"It's okay," Emma says, who appears next to her mother.
"What is?" Regina asks, looking at Emma.
"That they don't want me to join them," Emma says. "I can see in your eyes that you don't like it."
"I don't understand." Regina whispers. "I've raised them better than this. At least... In my memories of this land."
"I killed their parents, mom, I set their home on fire and gave them a miserable life with no food and money. I don't blame them."
"I did far worse and I have been forgiven."
"I know," Emma says, "but that took time too, didn't it?"
"I guess it did. Look who's teaching who now." Regina giggles.
Emma grins.
Regina winks at her. "Who wants to play a water game?" Regina poofs a soft ball in her hand. "2 teams. Goal is to keep the ball in your team as long as possible. Who wants to choose? I need 2 persons."
Julie raises her hand. "Can I?" she asks all exited.
Regina nodds. "Who's my second person?"
Nobody reacts. Emma wants to be in Julie's team so she keeps quiet too.
"Robin?" Regina laughs to the man, her man, next to her.
"Right, right..." Robin says with a wink. "Julie you start."
Regina smiles and waits to see what happens.
"Emma," she says. Emma startles and looks around if not some of the other kids is named Emma too.
Regina smiles brightly.
"Me?" Emma asks. Julie nods.
Regina keeps smiling brightly.
"A... Alright," Emma says and she walks towards Julie. Then Robin chooses Regina. He winks.
Regina giggles and swims over to Robin. The rest of the group gets divided one by one. Regina throws the ball towards Robin.
The match starts and everyone is having fun. Robin's team is on the winning hand. Emma startles when she realizes why she is having fun, why she is so calm. She doesn't have her heart... It makes her both happy and sad that life without her heart is so much better. She catches the ball and throws it to someone else again.
Regina enjoys these moments so much. But she knows Emma doesn't has her heart. Without anyone noticing Regina poofs Emma's heart into her hand. She very gently pushes it back into Emma's chest when she hugs her daughter softly. Emma doesn't notice a thing.
Emma plays on, but after a while she notices something strange. A feeling she didn't have before. She looks at her mother.
Regina smiles and keeps on playing.
Emma walks away from the game onto the shore, into the woods.
Regina decides to give her some time. She knows Emma feels happiness inside her heart again, after a long time, and she needs some time to get used to it.
Emma buries her heart somewhere in the woods. She doesn't feel like getting used to happiness again, living without feelings is a lot easier. She then walks back to Robin's house and takes a shower, her dress still on. "Where did Emma go?" Julie asks, when Robin's team scores again. "We need her," she smiles.
*Where are you? The kids are asking for you.* Regina sends to Emma.
*I'm at Robin's house* Emma sends to her mother. *Sh... Shall I come back?* She is afraid her mother will see in her eyes that her heart isn't inside of her anymore.
*Yes, please. Everyone misses you. Come back after you picked up your heart in the woods.* Regina sends back.
*Everyone? You mean only you.* Emma sends and she keeps quiet after that. She won't come back.
*Julie asked for you, Emma. She said the team needs you.*
Emma keeps quiet, she is upset her mother saw through her so easily.
*You forget I know you pretty well, sweetheart. I'm not angry. I know it seems, it feels, better to live without a heart, but it's really not. It's a lie you keep telling yourself.*
No sound from Emma...
*Emma? Please.*
*I finally had fun mom... without that stupid heart, but you put it back inside of me without telling me and ruined everything. Just let me live without it...*
*I can't, Emma. I really can't. My mother lived years without a heart and believe me when I say... She couldn't feel love for anyone, including her daughter.*
Emma sighs and poofs herself to the swimming place. She sits with her back against a tree and sighs.
Regina decides to give her some space. She waits for the kids to notice Emma and invite her back into the water.
In the end Julie sees Emma and comes up the shore. Their team is 20 points behind right now. She whispers something in Emma's ear and Emma can't help but smile a little.
Regina makes some extra points for their team.
Emma comes to join them. She jumps into the water with her dress on. She doesn't care that she just changed.
Regina smiles. She scores another couple of points for her team. "You're going to lose!" she giggles.
Emma grins and keeps her distance. With her magic she makes the ball come in the possession of her own team. "We're not!" Julie laughs.
"Since when is magic aloud?" Regina laughs.
"No one told us we couldn't," Julie says.
"That's true, I guess." Regina smiles. She interrupts the ball when Emma throws it at someone of her team. "Got it. Again!" she laughs.
Emma uses her magic to get the ball back at her team. The kids pass it very quickly and score. Emma grins.
Robin's team, including Regina, try to get the ball back but they fail miserably now Emma is back in her team.
Emma stops using her magic after a while so they can play normally again. Their team is doing better now. Some kids even compliment Emma when she has a good catch.
Even when Emma doesn't use her magic, Robin's team doesn't get the ball back.
Emma's team now has a good spirit and although Robin's team has a lot more points than they have, they get closer and closer.
Even though Robin's team tries their best, at the end, Emma's team still wins.
"What's the price?" Julie dares to ask, although it's more a joke then a serious question.
Regina smiles. "What do you want to eat tonight? Our team will make it from scratch." She giggles.
"Is that even a question?" another team member asks. Lasagna of course, always lasagna.
Regina giggles again. She knew that answer would come. "Let's go then!" she smiles. "Of course, everyone from the winning team who wants to help... Is welcome as well." She smiles; she knows how much Emma likes to cook and help with making lasagna.
Emma sighs but smiles. She knows her mother is trying to get her involved in things...
Regina and Robin lead all the children, including Emma, back towards Robin's house. With magic Regina has provided all the ingredients of the lasagna, but like she said: they will make it from scratch.
The lasagna is ready in no time and all the kids sit down around the table.
Regina smiles and eats a bit of her piece of lasagna.
Emma hesitates, but decides that she will eat her piece. The game made her hungry.
When Regina sees her youngest daughter eat very good, she herself eats good as well.
The dinner is silent, but good. Everyone was hungry after the match.
Regina looks at Robin when most of the kids are done and have left the table. "I need to visit Snow White this evening. Is that alright?"
"Yes of course," Robin says.
"Do you want to watch the children for me? Please?"
"You don't even have to ask that, of course I will," Robin says. When he gives Regina a kiss on her lips a lot of 'oh's and giggles fill the room.
Regina smiles against Robin's lips. "They're tired. They need to go to sleep." She winks. "Emma?" She turns towards her youngest daughter. "Do you want to come and visit Snow White with me? Maybe we can talk about where Henry is on the way over there?" Her voice sounds soft, not angry at all.
Emma immediately pulls back in herself. "No, I don't want that at all," she whispers. She doesn't want to talk about it in front of everyone.
"It will be just you and me, Emma. What do you say? I would love it if you'd come with me."
"I don't," Emma whispers.
"That's alright. Maybe next time." Regina doesn't want to push Emma. "Maybe you rather want to stay here, with your friends, to read a little bit before going to sleep?"
Emma startles and immediately stands up. Her chair falls down in the process and makes a very loud sound. She hurries out of the room.
Regina looks at Robin, startled as well. "Did I... Did I say something wrong?" she whispers.
"I guess so..." Robin says.
"What then?" Regina needs to know.
"I don't know," Robin says, "I don't know what goes on in her mind."
*What did I say wrong?* Regina sends to Emma now.
Emma doesn't react and just blocks her mother.
*Emma, please. I'm trying my best here.*
*Stop trying...*
*Why?*
*You're trying too hard.* Emma stops talking. Her mother only makes things worse. She really said something wrong.
*I... I'm sorry.* Regina sends back. *I'm going to see Snow White now. If you want to talk to me, I'll be back afterwards.* Regina says the same thing to Robin and then quietly disappears into the early evening.
"You want me to come, or do you rather go alone?" Juli asks Regina. She ran after her. "I'm okay with both, I just wanted to ask."
"I want to be alone for a little while, if that's alright." Regina just whispers.
"Yes of course," Juli says, "I understand. You know you can come to me whenever you want right?"
"I guess so." Regina whispers, not looking back.
"Alright," Juli says, "she is in room 23, thought you wanted to know." She smiles. "She'll be happy to see you."
Regina nodds and keeps on walking. She doesn't really notice a thing until she bumps into someone on her way to the hospital.
James apologises and wants to walk on, but when he looks into Regina's eyes, he recognizes her.
Regina doesn't look up. She herself mumbles her apologies and wants to walk on.
"Hey," he says kindly, "You're Regina right?"
Regina startles when she hears her name. She snaps out of her own thoughts and focuses on the stranger in front of her. "I am." she nodds. "I'm sorry, who... Who are you?"
"I'm James," he says, "Snow's husband. You must be her mother, am I right?"
Regina nodds again. "I am."
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" he asks her.
"I'm actually on my way to see Snow. She's in the hospital."
James smiles, "I know I just came from her, I'm sure she will be happy to see you," he says, "shall I lead you to her?"
"I'll find it on my own. Thank you." Regina whispers.
James can see Regina is sure about it and he nods her goodbye. "It was a pleasure to meeting you," he says.
"Maybe I'll see you again. Later." Regina whispers. She follows her way to the hospital. After a while, when she's walking through the woods, she bumps into someone else.
"Well hello there," Leopold says.
Regina startles. She knows that voice. She looks up and stares straight into Leopold's eyes.
Leopold grins. How much he likes that frightened look of hers.
"I need to be somewhere. Let me through, please."
Leopold pretends to let her through. "What could possible be more important than me?"
"Everything." Regina snaps.
"Wrong answer," Leopold grins, he walks closer to her.
"Let go of me!"
Leopold lets go of her. "It is that I have promised you daughter not to hurt you..." He grins.
"Which daughter? I have two, you know." Regina spits in his face.
"You're giving me ideas," Leopold snaps back. He pushes her against a tree out of frustration.
"Let go of me." Regina whispers now.
Leopold softly strokes her cheek.
Regina looks down.
"Good girl," he whispers. His lips very close to Regina's.
Regina, obediently, opens her mouth and allows him to go on.
Leopold lets his tongue slip inside of her mouth...
Regina kisses him back, like an obedient girl.
Leopold deepens the kiss and then he lets his hand go over her legs, under her dress.
"Someone could see us." Regina whispers, looking around her. She notices a couple of men, drunk men, luring at them.
"Why would that matter?" Leopold whispers.
"Please. They are coming over here." Regina's voice sounds panicked.
"Never mind, I'm willing to share," Leopold grins.
"Sh.. Share?"
"Yeah, wouldn't that be fun?"
Regina looks at the men who have now approached her and Leopold.
"Joining the fun?" Leopold says. The man grin and come closer. This situation is perfect for Leopold, he can hurt Regina without breaking his promise. He lets Regina go and hands her over to another man.
"Please." Regina whispers. Her magic fails. It always fails when she's frozen like this.
The man in front of her lifts her up, so she lays in his arms. One of the other men strokes her legs. He goes up and up.
"Please...".
The man raises his eyebrows.
"Stop." Regina whispers.
The man just drops Regina and lets her fall with her back on the ground.
Regina curls up on the ground.
The men all grin and leave her. Leopold stands over her.
Regina looks up at him.
"Good luck with your journey," Leopold grins and he leaves.
Regina sighs with relief. She gets up and continues her journey to the hospital.
Although it gets darker outside, the hospital is full of light. The woman at the counter greets Regina, "Can I help you?" she asks.
"I'm here to see Snow. Snow White." Regina whispers.
The woman looks on the paper in front of her. "Room 23," she says, "my colleague will bring you there. You know her?"
"She's my daughter."
"Oh alright," the girl smiles, "sorry I always need to check those things." One of her colleagues leads Regina to Snow's room.
Regina follows slowly.
"Mom!" Snow says immediately when she sees her mother come in. She wants to sit up, stand up so she can walk to her but the pain gets her back in the bed already when she makes her first move.
Regina quickly runs over to her eldest daughter. "Snow." she whispers. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling okay," she says. "And you?"
"Just... Tired, I guess." Regina smiles now. "Are you feeling better?"
"A bit," Snow says. "How are Robin and the kids?" She feels like she has to asks this before she can get to Emma and Henry.
"They're good. I have my magic back, thanks to Emma, so food isn't an issue any longer. I... I can heal you, if you want to?"
"You can?" Snow says. She smiles.
Regina nodds. "I can but only if you want me to."
"Yeah," Snow says, "that's alright. Have you seen Emma or Henry already." She moans if pain. Her whole body still hurts.
Regina first heals her daughter before answering her question. She strokes a lock of hair out of her face and smiles. "Emma is with me and Robin. She's safe but she needs time. I haven't figured out where Henry is yet."
Snow now wraps her arms around her mother's neck and takes her in a long hug. "Thank you," she whispers.
Regina smiles softly. "That's alright."
"I'm so glad you found Emma and that she is kind of alright," she smiles.
Regina smiles back. "Me too. And that I've got you back. I... I met your husband on the way over here. James. He looks an awful lot like David. Or am I imagining things?"
"They are twins," Snow says with a grin.
Regina giggles. "No kidding. Does he make you happy?"
"He does, mom, I promise," Snow says, "we... we would have had a child together."
Regina nodds. "I know." she whispers. "Emma... I think she's really sorry but she has a hard time showing it or even admitting it. She doesn't want to look... Weak, I guess."
Snow nods. "Yeah I know," she says softly.
Regina hugs Snow. "I'm so glad I have you back. We do need to look for Henry. He's all alone out there."
"I'm so worried," Snow says, "does Emma know where he is?"
"I don't know. She hasn't mentioned it yet."
"She must know it, she created all this," Snow says.
Regina nodds. "I'll ask her again."
"Thanks," Snow says. "But tell me more about how you're doing, I missed you."
"I'm... Fine." Regina whispers.
"You're not fine, mom," Snow says, "I can see that."
"Did... Did Leopold visit you today?" Regina asks softly.
"Leopold?" Snow says, "no he didn't. Is he here?"
"No. Never mind." Regina whispers again.
"No tell me, mom," Snow says, "what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, really."
"You can tell me, mom," Snow says, "maybe it's good to get it out."
"He said he promised my daughter not to hurt me. So if he didn't promise you... He promised Emma. And he told me he has hurt her. Like he hurt me." Regina looks down now.
"No..." Snow whispers, "how could he possibly do that... He... Argh, he is a monster."
Regina keeps looking down. "I'm sorry." she whispers. "I know he's your father."
"He is not my father anymore," Snow says immediately, "I don't like him, I started hating him a long time ago. How can I possibly love him after what he did to you... and Emma."
"But he is still your father." Regina whispers again.
"I don't care," Snow says, "you didn't like your mother, I don't like my father. That's just how it is...".
Regina nodds. She smiles softly. "Thank you." she whispers.
Snow hugs her mom, "but is Emma okay then? She didn't tell you about this?"
Regina shakes her head. "She didn't. He... He told me."
Snow looks down and bites her lip.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't protect her against him."
"This is not your fault," Snow says immediately. "she cursed us all. Or do you think it happened after the curse was broken? And then still... you shouldn't blame yourself for this, if you're doing that right now."
"I... I don't?"
"No of course not," Snow says.
Regina slowly smiles now. "Do you think you're well enough to come home with me?"
"Yes I think I am," Snow says, "I'm very tired, but I would love to see Emma and meet your kids and Robin of course."
Regina nodds. "Do you want to walk with me or do you want me to use magic?"
"You choose," Snow says.
"No, you choose." Regina smiles.
"Just poof us there," Snow grins, almost falling asleep already, "I think I'll collapse if we walk."
Regina nodds. She checks Snow out of the hospital before poofing the both of them to Robin's house.
In Robin's house everyone is asleep, but it's not a natural sleep. It's a sleep caused by magic. All the kids are lying on the floor or on the table, as if they just fell down. A scream comes from upstairs, from a room locked with magic.
Regina startles. "Stay here." she instructs Snow White before running upstairs and knocking heavingly on the door. "What's going on?" she shouts through the door.
No answer comes, only small begging whispers which tell a person to stop.
"Emma? Emma, is that you?" A fireball appears in Regina's hand which she releases immediately at the door. It bursts open.
Emma and Leopold are together in the room. Emma doesn't look at her mother, she isn't in this world anymore. Leopold lies on top of her small naked body. Emma's legs are tied up to the side of the bed, so they stay open for Leopold. Her hands are bound together. Leopold grins when he sees Regina come in. "You're too late, dear," he grins.
Regina shoots another fireball at Leopold. Darkness appears into her eyes. The Queen takes over just as fast. "Get off of her!" She pins him against the wall.
Leopold only grins and winks at her.
With a wave of her hand Regina makes sure Emma gets untied from the bed. She runs over to her and strokes her face. "Emma? Emma, mommy is right here." she whispers.
"Help, stop, no, please, stop, just stop," she mumbles barely hearable. She doesn't move at all.
"Emma, sweetheart, it's me." Regina whispers again. "Please look at me."
Emma turns her head towards her mother, she breathes very fast. There's panic in her eyes. So much panic...
"I'm here, baby. Mommy is right here." Regina whispers.
Emma grabs her mothers wrist, just to hold something. She is not herself, she is not here.
Regina softly strokes Emma's hand. She gives her daughter all the time she needs to come back.
Emma can't get her breathing under control, but between her short breathes she manages to whisper something to her mother. "Mom?"
"I'm here, baby girl." Regina whispers. She puts a blanket over her youngest daughter's body.
The blanket makes Emma relax a bit. She pulls it up to her chin and looks at her mother with eyes still filled with fear.
"He won't hurt you ever again. I promise." Regina now looks at Leopold who is still pinned against the wall. Her eyes grow dark with no spark of light in it. She squeezes her hand so she starts to suffocate him. "You." Her voice sounds low, dangerously low.
Leopold gasps for air, but it doesn't make the satisfying grin on his face disappear.
Regina shokes him harder. "You're done hurting me. Hurting Emma."
"That depends on you," Leopold gets out.
"You don't think I won't kill you, do you?"
"I doubt it."
"Too bad." Regina whispers. She shokes him harder and harder.
Leopold's magic fails and he can't fight Regina's magic by hand so he lets her choke him, making sure his grin doesn't fade from his face.
At the last moment Regina releases him. "You don't think it would be that easy, did you?" Regina laughs.
Leopold laughs while he catches his breath, so he sounds like a screaming animal... He grabs his knife.
Regina immediately let's it fly out of his hand and into hers. "No no. You are not killing yourself." She smiles again.
"You're smarter than I thought," Leopold grins. "Shame I have my magic back." He starts to choke Emma from where he is sitting, knowing she is to weak to fight back.
"Stop it!" Regina shouts out. She pins him back to the wall, tieing his hands as well.
Leopold only laughs.
Emma coughs and curls herself up. She stretches out her arm to grab one of Leopold's knifes that lays on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Emma?" Regina asks softly.
Emma looks at the blade, which is already covered with her blood. A bit more won't hurt anyone, and even better she can't hurt anyone and she can't be hurt by anyone ever again...
Regina sees what Emma wants to do. She lets the knife fling out of Emma's hand and into Leopolds stomach. She smiles.
Emma startles and hides herself under her blanket. Her whole body is shaking.
Leopold almost collapses because of Regina's sudden move. He tries to get the knife out of his stomach, but his hands are tied up...
"Do you want to try as well, Emma?"Regina asks softly.
Emma stretches out her arm, so her mother can give her the knife, but she doesn't have the intention to hurt Leopold. She just wants to kill herself.
"Towards Leopold, sweetheart. Don't use it on yourself. It's not worth it."
Emma doesn't listen and Leopold starts to laugh.
Regina uses her magic again to throw the knife in Emma's hand towards Leopold. Right above his crotch.
Leopold tries not to react, but fails...
Regina laughs. Her laugh sounds too familiar. It reminds her of her old days. Her old ways.
Leopold never heard this kind of laugh before, it frightens him. He moans of pain.
"Have you ever actually met The Evil Queen?" she asks Leopold.
"I was always more powerful than that Evil Queen of yours," Leopold grins.
"Were you? Maybe. Maybe not. Today you're not." Regina twists the knife above his crotch.
Leopold holds in a scream. "Such a good example for your little girl," he snaps. The pain is unbearable.
"Killing the man who hurt my daughter isn't a good example, but letting you live neither. Regina looks at Emma." Emma, sweetie? "
Emma turns around to look at her mother.
"Let's finish him." Regina whispers.
Emma's body starts to shake as if she is very very cold. She turns away from her mom and stands up from the bed, the blanket around her body.
Regina takes her daughter into her arms. "What do you want to do, Emma? I'll listen to you." Regina whispers.
Emma frees herself from her mother's grip and walks to the window. She starts to climb out of it.
"Emma, no!" Regina shouts out. She takes Emma's hand and pulls her back. "What are you doing?"
Emma doesn't speak and looks at her mother with an angry face. She tries to free her hand from her mother's grip.
"No, Emma. This is not the way." She gives Emma a knife in her hand. "Stab him. Go on. He deserves it."
Emma's eyes grow bigger from fear and she pulls harder.
"Go on." Regina whispers.
Emma shakes her hand. She frees her hand and claims out of the window very fast. She wants to jump, but she needs to climb higher first.
Regina gets her back inside with magic. "Emma!" she shouts. "Stop it!"
Emma's eyes are filled with rage now and she just tries it again
"Stop!"
Emma doesn't stop.
Regina poofs Robin into the room. He's awake, in the meantime. "Can you please hold Emma?" Regina turns towards Leopold with the knife in her hand.
"What are you doing Regina?" Robin asks, "what happened?" He holds Emma very tightly. She fights back, but can't free herself.
"He needs to die. Emma wants to keep killing herself. It has to stop!"
Robin nods. He is not stopping her this time. "If you're going to kill him, I'll take Emma to another room," he says to Regina, "she shouldn't see it."
"Emma should make that choice."
"No," Robin says, "that you do this is your choice, but we can't let it trigger Emma." He knows exactly how this works...
Regina nodds. "Keep her with you." she whispers. She conjures a magical bracelet into her hands and puts it around Emma's wrist. "It's judt to keep you safe, sweetheart." she whispers. When Robin and Emma left the room, Regina turns around to Leopold. Her eyes are black now.
Emma is furious, but Robin is too strong...
Leopold grins at her.
Regina twists the knife above his crotch again and pushes it deeper into his body.
This time Leopold can't help but grown. He bites his tongue. "You turned into me," he gets out. "you see the pleasure in hurting now?"
"In hurting you? I do. I certainly do." Regina smiles, putting a third knife into one of his hands.
Leopold lets out a low scream. He looks at her, making sure his satisfied looks doesn't disappear. He doesn't regret a thing.
"Maybe I don't kill you just yet. Maybe I want to keep you for a while. As my toy. To torture you. Like you tortured us." The Evil Queen is back.
"I'm looking forward to it," Leopold says, acting as if he isn't in pain.
"Are you?" Another knife disappears into his second hand.
He clings his teeth together.
"Do you like that?" Regina whispers, standing close in front of him, her warm breath on his face.
"Moa, not really," he says, trying to sound unbothered.
"You can pretend all you like." Regina whispers. "But I know you like it when I do this." She pulls out the knife above his crotch and stabs it again, right underneath that wound.
"You look adorable when you do it," he grins.
"Do I?" Regina smiles. She wants to break him, just like he broke her and Emma.
"You really do," Leopold says.
"I'm glad you like it." Regina starts to kiss him.
He grins and kisses her back.
While kissing him, Regina turns the knife right above his crotch.
He clings his teeth together again, but keeps kissing her like nothing happened.
Regina smiles against his lips. "That hurts, doesn't it? You can deny all you want, but I feel it hurts you."
"It hurts me, yes," Leopold admits, "but I like it too, I like to see you like this."
Regina smiles again. She lets him go from the wall, but she keeps the knifes in his body.
Leopold can't really stand, but he tries to.
Regina laughs.
Leopold winks. "It nice to see, right," he says, "I did this a thousand times with you."
Regina poofs Leopold away. She doesn't want to hear him talk. She poofs him to her own Castle in this Enchanted Forest. Into one of the dungeons.
"Wauw," Leopold grins.
Regina pins him again against the wall. "You will be staying here." she whispers. "I'll be back. I do hope you won't starve until then, because no one is coming to give you food or even water." She poofs away, back to Robin's house. Everyone is waking up slowly by now.
Regina immediately gets overloaded with questions. Snow is under the curse too and isn't awake yet.
"Everything is alright." she whispers. "I promise."
"Who was that man?"
"He was a really bad, bad man. But he's not a problem anymore. You're all safe."
"Emma didn't look okay," Julie says. "She protected us from him."
"She did?" Regina asks softly. "What exactly happened before I came here with Snow?"
"That man wanted to hurt us," Julie says, "he had magic... but Emma told him he could... have her if he didn't hurt us. I didn't understand...".
"Emma really protected you. She gave everything she has in order to protect you." Regina whispers. She looks at Emma who is almost asleep in Robin's arms right now. She walks over to her and takes her over from Robin. She softly strokes her hair. "Mommy is right here, sweetie." she whispers in her ear.
Emma startles and pushes herself away. She falls on the ground.
Regina startles but picks her up just as quickly. "I'm with you, sweetie. It's alright. Everyone is here for you. You protected everyone. Why did you do that? You didn't have to, but you did."
Emma can't find the words and tries to get away again.
"No, Emma. You're not running away from this. There is nothing to run away from. Everyone in this room likes you. I promise. You gave everything you have, and more, to protect everyone." Regina whispers, holding Emma into her arms, not letting her get away.
Emma tries harder to get away. She doesn't care about anything, she doesn't care about her life.
"Emma, please. Please, look at me." Regina softly asks. She waits until Emma looks up at her. She looks at her daughter with love in her eyes. Nothing but love. It shines through the darkness that has settled in her own eyes after her 'session' with Leopold. It's the only thing, her love for Emma, that makes the darkness go away, even for just a little bit.
Emma closes her eyes. She can't she it, she really can't see it. No.
"Please, Emma." Regina softly cries now. "Please. I love you. I love you so much. Please, come back to me."
Emma curls up and doesn't react... at all.
"Please." Regina keeps mumbling, holding Emma against her chest, softly crying.
Emma is just nowhere. She wants to stop with everything. She doesn't care about anything.
Regina looks up at Juli, desperation in her eyes now.
"Just let her for a while," she says softly. "Give her your love, but also give her time.
Regina nodds. She feels exhausted herself, but tries to stay upright and hold Emma.
"Regina, it's okay to let her rest for a while," Juli says. "maybe keep a little distance and take some rest yourself too."
"I'm not tired." Regina mumbles.
"Don't lie," Juli says. "Rest doesn't mean you give up on her. It means you're strengthening yourself up to give her the best care you can give her."
Regina nodds. "Do you want to stay with her?" she softly asks Robin.
"I'll watch over her," Juli says before he can answer. She knows Robin will never say no, but she also knows he can use some rest. And besides that, maybe Regina needs him right now.
Regina just nodds. She slowly gets up, making sure Juli has Emma before releasing her. She looks at the other kids. "It's time to go to bed. It's already far too late for you all to be up."
"We're not tired," the kids sigh...
"I know, but you will be tomorrow if you don't go to sleep now."
The kids decide not to argue. They would love some attention, but realize that it's not the right moment for that.
"Tomorrow we'll have a nice day, alright?" Regina whispers softly.
"We always have nice days with you," a girl says. They all go to the bedrooms. The places where they sleep are very tall because Robin's house isn't really one for so many people.
Regina softly smiles. She collapses on the couch in Robin's living room when all the kids are upstairs.
Robin stays with her and lies down next to her.
Regina turns towards him. "I want to torture him. Now." she whispers.
"Now is not the time," Robin says, "you tortured him already."
"Not enough. Please."
"Finish it tomorrow," Robin says, "you've done enough for today." He already saw the darkness and he doesn't want her to slip away.
"Please. Robin.. Just... Please." Regina begs now.
"Do it for me," Robin says, "not now."
Regina slowly nodds. She leans her head against his chest.
Robin lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," he whispers. He strokes her hair and waits for her to fall asleep, knowing he won't sleep until she does.
After a long, long time, when it's almost morning, Regina falls asleep. It required a lot for her not to poof to Leopold to torture him.
Robin makes sure she is comfortable and when he falls asleep he does too. Snow wakes up very early, still from the spell, and makes sure the kids stay in the kitchen, so Robin and Regina can stay asleep. Juli and Emma are still upstairs.
Regina sleeps until after lunchtime. She startles awake, actually. "Leopold." she whispers. She feels the urge to torture him, to kill him, to smell his blood.
She wakes up Robin. Robin closes his eyes again for a moment. "Are you sure?' he asks.
"Leopold." Regina whispers again. Her hands tremble and she looks pale. She breaths superficially.
"Regina, can you explain to me what you want," Robin says, hoping to understand her a little and maybe even make her look at him.
Regina makes herself small and looks down. "Emma. Leopold and Emma." she mumbles. Darkness appears in her eyes again.
Robin lays his hand under Regina's chin and makes her look at him. "Emma and Leopold?"
"He hurt her. So much." she whispers.
"Yeah," Robin whispers, "yeah he did..." He remembers holding her away from killing herself. "And now you want to... kill him, don't you?"
"Torture him." Regina whispers, darkness in her eyes again.
"The same thing he did to you and Emma, I get it," Robin says, "but can you do me a favor?"
Regina looks at him with questions in her eyes.
"Make it quick, okay?' He says, "I know he deserves to be tortured, but this is not about him, this is about you. I can see the darkness already, so the quicker you do this the better." He looks Regina in her eyes with a serious face.
"He doesn't deserve quick." Regina mumbles, looking away now.
"I know. You're right," Robin says, "but the quicker you do it, the more chance you have that the darkness won't take over."
"Why can't it take over?" Regina asks softly.
"How can we take care of the children? Or Emma, how will we get her back if you're gone?"
"You can manage without me." Regina whispers. "Emma doesn't want to come back. It's exhausting. And that makes The Queen even more want to come out to play."
"It looks like you're giving up..." Robin says. He takes a deep breath, "are you?"
"No."Regina whispers, while looking down.
"Then please just kill him and save yourself," Robin says.
"He. Doesn't. Deserve. Quick."
"That doesn't mean 'Quick' isn't the best option."
Regina's eyes grow dark again. She startles when a little girl, one of the kids from the orphanage, pulls at her sleeve.
The little girl smiles, just happy to see Regina.
Regina slowly smiles back, the darkness in her eyes not gone immediately.
"You're having breakfast with us?" The girl smiles. Snow made breakfast with the kids.
"I'm not hungry." Regina mumbles, looking at Robin for help. But he wants her to eat. The Queen forgot that.
"But you can just join without eating," the girl says. Robin nods at her.
"I... I'll try." Regina feels The Evil Queen getting angry inside of her, but she doesn't want to yell at the little girl. She follows her to the breakfast table.
Robin follows them. He lets Regina sit between the kids, who are very happy to see her.
Regina's eyes shoot daggers to Robin. He knows she wants to go, go torture Leopold, but now he makes her sit between the kids... She can't get angry right now.
Robin shrugs and smiles. The kids start to tell her all kind of stories, things that happened and just jokes and nice things.
Regina focuses on the empty plate in front of her.
"Do you still want us?" a girl then asks. The whole room falls silent. They all asked themselves this question, but nobody had dared to ask it.
Regina startles. "What.. What?"
"Do you still want us as your... children?" she whispers, "because now... you have your own family back."
"You are both my family." Regina answers. There is no hesitation in her voice.
"But we understand it if you like your real family better," a boy now says.
"I wouldn't understand myself if I would do that." Regina answers now. "I loved you like you were my own children and I... I still do. If you all still want to have me." She looks down now.
"We want you more than anything," a girl says. "You're the only one we have and we love you." "yes," a boy adds, "and we miss you...".
"I'm right here." Regina whispers. But she doesn't believe her own words. "I want to come back. But he... He..." She looks at Robin, panic in her eyes now.
Robin takes a deep breath, letting her know to do the same.
"You look so sad all the time," Julie says.
"I'm sorry." Regina whispers. Tears appear in her eyes.
"Why are you so sad?" a boy asks.
"I... I don't know.. What to do." Regina answers, looking at Robin.
"Ow," the boy says, "I'm sorry." The kids keep silent now, look at their plates and eat their breakfast without saying another word.
Regina doesn't know how to handle this. She starts to retreat in her mind, to a safe place.
Robin tells the kids that they'll see Regina later. He takes Regina to the living room. "What are you doing?" he softly asks.
Regina doesn't react.
Robin sighs, "can you look at me?"
Slowly, very slowly, Regina looks up at him.
Robin smiles, but doesn't speak.
"He. Leopold." Regina whispers.
"Let's sit down," Robin says.
Regina sits down, very slowly.
"Now take a deep breath and try to make clear what you want," Robin says
"I want him dead." Regina mumbles without hesitation.
"Right, and how are you planning to do that, because I assume you want to do it yourself."
"Slow and painful." The Queen inside of Regina smiles.
"And what will happen to you when you do it?"
"I. Don't. Care."
"Well I do, so answer that question for me then."
"Dark. It will be dark."
"And you think that's worth it?"
Regina just shrugs.
"Do you think it's worth it?" Robin asks again.
Regina looks away.
Robin doesn't stop looking at her.
"Why can't I just kill him and, be over with it?" Regina asks very softly.
"I'm not stopping you," Robin says, "I'm only trying to make you figure out what's important to you."
"I'm tired."
"The couch is all yours," he says. "Take some rest."
"The kids need me."
"I won't deny that they do," Robin says.
"How is Emma?"
"I don't know, I've been with you all the time."
"Can you please go and find out? I'll... I'll stay here. I promise."
Robin stands up and walks to the room. Emma is still with Juli and when Juli gives him a nod, he knows Emma is in good hands. He goes back to Regina.
Regina is fidgeting with her hands but she manages to stay seated on the couch. She looks at Robin when he walks back into the living room.
"She is still with Juli," Robin says. "I didn't want to interrupt, but it looked okay."
Regina nodds. "Thank you." she whispers. "I... I think I need to lay down for a minute. Maybe close my eyes a little bit. Is... Is that alright?"
"Of course," Robin says, "I'll watch over you."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Regina sighs and falls asleep quickly. When she wakes up, the darkness is completely gone out of her eyes.
Robin smiles at her. He is relieved he doesn't see the darkness anymore. "How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Better." Regina whispers.
"I'm glad," Robin says.
"You are?"
"I'm super glad," he says, "come here." He smiles and reaches out his arms for her.
Regina runs into his arms and clings onto him. "Don't let me go." she whispers.
"I will never let you go," Robin says holding her tight. He is happy to have her in his arms again. It has been a long time.
Regina sighs with relief. She doesn't want to revert back to the darkness but sometimes the pull is so big... So tempting..
Robin softly kisses her on her forehead. "I know you will always come back to me," he whispers.
"I will. I'll always try." Regina whispers back.
"I know you will." Robin closes his eyes and softly strokes Regina's back.
Regina strokes his chest, slowly and carefully.
Robin smiles and he lays his hand on hers. "I love you, you know that right?"
Regina nodds. "I do." She looks him deep into his eyes. "I love you as well."
Robin softy kisses her on her lips.
Regina kisses him back.
Robin deepens the kiss, but stays careful.
Regina allows him.
Robin smiles against her lips.
Regina smiles as well. Her heart races in her chest but she doesn't know if it's from excitement or something else.
Robin softy lays his hand on her chest. He feels her heart beating very fast and he looks at her.
Regina looks back up at him. There is no fear in her eyes.
Robins smile now becomes a little laugh. "Alright," he whispers and he kisses her again.
Regina leads his hand to the buttons on her shirt.
Robin slowly unbuttons her shirt and lets it slide off her shoulders.
Regina looks at him.
Robin just strokes her skin and smiles at her.
"No... No more. I don't want to get scared." Regina whispers. "This I like."
"Okay," Robin whispers and he just takes her close to his body.
Regina smiles.
"Snow and James took the kids," Robin says with a smile, "I think they'll have a good day with them. The boys got all exited, I could hear them from this room."
"That's sweet of them. Juli is still with Emma, right?"
"Yeah, she is," Robin says, "she wanted me to say Emma is doing better."
"She... She is?"
"Juli told me so, when she came downstairs to get some food and tea for the both of them,"Robin says, "I didn't want to wake you up."
"Thank you." Regina whispers.
"You're welcome," he winks.
Regina giggles. "I'll kill him. Now. Quick. Before the darkness can take over." she whispers.
"Are you sure?" Robin says. "Take me with you, okay? And... Keep that smile."
Regina nodds. She poofs the both of them to the dungeons on her Castle.
Leopold is still lying in one of the cells, more dead than alive. He lost a lot of blood and he already has an infection because of the dirty atmosphere in the dungeons. He wasn't able to use his magic because his hands are still tied up.
Regina laughs. An evil one. She can't help it.
Robin holds her hand all the time. "Make it quick," he whispers.
Regina lifts up Leopold with one flick of her hand. She smiles. "Any last words?" Her voice sounds dangerously low.
"Tell yourself I don't regret a thing," Leopold shrugs, "and tell Eva I love her. Go ahead."
Regina starts to squeeze his throat. "He doesn't deserve quick." she whispers softly.
Robin pulls Regina back. "You promised," he whispers.
Regina startles but manages to keep Leopold pinned up in the sky, taking his breath away now. "I... I trying." she whispers back. One look at Robin gives her the stimulation she needs. She twists her hand and kills Leopold. She sinks down on her knees. Darkness takes over her eyes.
Robin takes a very deep breath. He didn't realize he hold his breath all this time. He wraps his arms around Regina and holds her hands.
The Queen looks up at him. "You didn't give Regina her revenge." she mumbles, voice low and creepy.
"Regina doesn't want revenge, you do," he says to the Queen.
"Regina does too. After what he did to Emma." The Queen laughs. "I'll make sure she gets her revenge. One way or another."
"He is dead," Robin says, "the only thing you can do now is get over it and let your revenge go. There's nothing you can do anymore."
The Queen laughs. "You keep telling yourself. Maybe one day you'll believe your own lies. But the second you don't expect her to, Regina will snap. She will torture someone. I'll make sure of that." The Evil Queen disappears with a long and loud laugh.
"Damn, Regina..." Robin mumbles. He sighs and walks out of the dungeons.
The Queen has poofed herself, or better Regina, to Robin's house. When Robin enters she lays asleep on the couch.
Robin smiles. He really didn't expect this, but it makes him very happy. He stays with her, softly stroking her hair out of her face.
Regina smiles in her sleep. She wakes up slowly.
Robin looks at her with a bright smile. "I'm so proud of you," he whispers.
"You are? Why is that?" Regina asks softly.
"Because you're here," he says, "because you're here as Regina."
"For now she is." The Queen snaps suddenly.
Robin doesn't stop smiling. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it a little, "I'm glad she is for now," he pretends not to see that the Queen is there.
Regina snaps back. "I'm sorry. I... I fell asleep. Didn't I?" She looks unsure.
"I think you did," Robin says.
Regina nodds. She leans her head against his shoulder. "I killed him. Quick. Like I promised." she whispers.
"Yes, you kept your promise," Robin says, wrapping his arms around her. "I'm very glad you did."
"And she... She didn't come out to play?"
Robin shakes his head, "She didn't."
Regina nodds. She trusts Robin.
"How are you feeling?"
"Exhausted. But fine. I'm fine." Regina smiles now. "Where is Emma?"
"She is asleep," Robin says. "Juli is watching over her."
Regina nodds. "Is she back? Or does the darkness still have her?"
"I don't know," Robin says honestly
Regina nodds again. "Let's go see if she's still asleep, alright?" She walks over to the room where Emma is sleeping. She slowly and carefully walks inside.
Emma lies in the big bed, holding Juli's hand. She is sleeping. Juli smiles when she sees Regina come in. "Hey," she whispers.
"How is she?" Regina whispers.
"She is okay," Juli whispers. She offers Regina the chair next to her.
Regina sits down next to Juli. The Queen keeps her distance because she knows this woman is dangerous. She can see through Regina like only Robin and Emma can.
"How are you?" Juli asks.
"I'm fine." Regina whispers.
Juli decides not to ask further. Emma lies on her stomach, still holding Juli's hand quite tightly.
Regina grows jealous. It should be her who is holding Emma. Not this... Woman next to her. Darkness appears a bit in her eyes. She looks down and hopes nobody saw that.
Juli did see the darkness, but decides to let it go. "You can take over if you want," she whispers, seeing what this is all about.
"No. She chooses you, doesn't she?" The Queen snaps.
"She doesn't," Juli says, "I was just the only one around."
"What did you just say?"
"I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry," Juli says. She means it.
Regina turns away, hurt.
"Can you forgive me, I really didn't mean it like that," Juli says, "please."
"I can. But she can't." Regina mumbles.
"What do you mean?" Juli says, "you think Emma can't forgive you?"
"No." Regina looks at Robin. Does he understand what she tries to say?
"No sorry I get it," Juli says, "I'm just very tired." She really is very tired and that makes her get things slower... "so she is... back?"
Regina just shrugs.
Juli nods. She gets it now.
Regina doesn't dare to pick up Emma's hand. She's too scared to wake her up.
Juli thinks differently and takes Regina's hands in hers. She leads it to Emma's and gently switches. Emma moans a little, but then squeezes her mother's hand a little, still sleeping. Juli smiles.
Regina looks down but keeps holding her daughter's hand.
Juli strokes Regina's back, "she loves you," she whispers. She stands up and gets the notebook that's lying on the nightstand.
"She... She does?" Regina asks softly.
"She won't talk so we wrote," Juli says and she opens the book. there are a lot of lines, but one clearly says: 'will you tell my mom I love her?'
"She... Loves me?"
"Never doubt that," Juli says. "She is your girl."
Regina smiles, just a little bit.
Juli smiles too, just fully.
Regina turns into herself now. She looks at Emma, who is still asleep, and waits for her to wake up.
After a long time Emma opens her eyes and stares at her mother. A small smile forms around her lips.
Regina smiles back, slowly. She doesn't dare to disturb the silence.
Emma curls herself up under her blanket, but keeps looking.
Regina keeps smiling. "I love you." she whispers.
Emma smiles brighter, "I love you too," she forms with her lips.
Regina smiles. "Did you have a good sleep?"
Emma nods softly.
Regina smiles again. "Do you want to eat something? Are you hungry?"
Emma shrugs and grabs the notebook from the nightstand and draws a little apple. Under it she writes: 'you too?'
Regina smiles and nodds. "Yes, I shall eat one too." She giggles. She asks Robin if he wants to bring them both an apple to eat.
Robin comes back very quickly with two big apples. He hands them over and leaves the room. Juli goes with him to give Emma and Regina some time alone. "Call if you need something," they say.
Regina nodds and starts to eat her apple. She moans because it's really good and juicy.
Emma giggles and takes a bite too. 'from your tree?' she writes down.
"Of course, sweetheart." Regina smiles. "Those are the best." She winks.
Emma eats all of it and a satisfied smile appears around her lips. She lies back down and stares at the ceiling.
"Do you want to talk?" Regina asks softly.
Emma shrugs. She doesn't feel like using her voice. She never wants to speak ever again... But she takes her notebook and starts to write. -Does it get better?- he writes
"Does what get better?" Regina asks softly.
-The pain-
Regina nodds. "It does."
Emma relaxes a bit. -and the fear too?- she writes.
Regina nodds again. "Yes."
Emma stretches out her arm, she wants the bracelet off her. She doesn't believe her mother for a second and wants to be able to kill herself whenever she wants to.
Regina shakes her head. "No, Emma. Not until you're stable again."
Emma turns away and hides herself under her blanket.
Regina sighs softly. She tries her best but she doesn't what what else she can do.
Emma just keeps lying with her back to her mother. She cries softly.
"I'm sorry, baby girl." Regina whispers. "I won't do this if I didn't love you."
Emma turns towards her mother again, she knows her mother speaks the truth. -I'm making you tired, don't I?- she writes.
Regina smiles now. "You'll never make me tired, sweetheart. I'm your mother and I'm here for you for as long as you want me."
Emma smiles a little and closes her eyes. She wants to sleep. Being heartless makes her cold and tired.
"Sleep for a while now. I'll watch over you." Regina's soft voice says.
Emma nods and falls asleep very quickly.
Regina keeps sitting by her side. After a while she falls asleep herself.
When Robin comes in and sees them sleeping, he smiles and decides to take a nap himself too. Now the kids aren't home the whole house is silent.
Regina sleeps until someone wakes her up.
Emma shakes her mother's shoulder and points at the window.
Regina looks up.
Emma smiles as her mother looks up at the rainbow outside. -you know what that means?- Emma writes, looking at her mom.
"What does it mean?" Regina asks with a smile on her face.
-It means they're very close to Henry- Emma writes and then she adds, -I had signs built into my curse to know if you all got too close together... It's a left over from the curse-
"They? Who are they? Are they looking for Henry?" Regina smiles brightly. "You are a little genius."
-Snow, James and your kids- she writes. Then she smiles brightly and leans against her mother.
Regina takes Emma in her arms. "That involves you as well. You know that, right?"
Emma shrugs and doesn't feel like writing. She drops her notebook. She then wraps her arms around her mother and bursts out in tears, she can't keep it in any longer.
Regina strokes Emma's hair. She doesn't speak, she just lets her feel her love.
Emma cries for a long time. She sees Leopold as she closes her eyes, but she doesn't open them.
"Leopold is gone." Regina whispers.
Emma shakes in her mother's arms. She nods.
"You don't have to worry about him any longer." Regina whispers now.
Emma nods again, trying to make herself believe it too.
"I promise. You're safe now."
Emma squeezes her mother's arm to make her hands stop shaking.
"It's alright, baby girl. Mommy is right here." Regina keeps soothing Emma, keeps stroking her hair.
Emma lets her dress slip off her shoulders and shows her mother the wounds Leopold made with his knife. She wasn't able to heal them.
"Can I heal them?" Regina asks softly.
Emma nods.
Regina carefully heals Emma's wounds. She feels her daughter relax under her hands.
Emma takes a deep breath. She never told her mother these scars and wounds were the reason she kept her dress on when they went swimming. It feels good not to be marked anymore... Marks make her afraid.
Regina hugs Emma when she's healed completely.
Emma hugs her mother back, but then sinks to the ground.
"Emma? Are you alright? What's going on?" Regina startles.
Emma doesn't react. She doesn't move and her eyes are closed.
"Emma? Emma?!"
Emma still doesn't react. The wounds Regina just carefully healed start to bleed again. Her blood is dark red, almost black.
"ROBIN! JULI!"
They both wake, because Regina is shouting. They run upstairs.
Regina looks up at them, desperation in her eyes.
"What happened?" Robin asks. Juli kneels down to look at what's happening
"I.. I healed her wounds. Wounds from Leopold and his knife. I... I don't know what's happening." Regina mumbles.
Emma breathes superficially and then her breathing stops. "It looks like she's poisoned... but it has to be magic..." Juli says.
"Emma!" Regina cries out. She starts to heal her daughter, completely. It requires a lot, a lot of energy from herself.
Emma's wounds don't heal, but start bleeding even harder. Everytime someone will try to heal them it will get worse.
Regina stops healing Emma. "What do I need to do?" she whispers in front of her.
"TINK!" Juli shouts out of the window, hoping the little fairy will come to help them. "We need to stop the bleeding without magic," she says, not knowing what to do.
"I... I don't know... How...".
Juli takes the blanket from the bed and takes the band from her dress to tie it tightly around Emma. Emma isn't breathing anymore and her body is not functioning anymore.
Regina starts to back away. She can't see this, can't handle this.
"Come on," Juli whispers and she does everything she can. Tink comes in and looks at the girl on the ground. "What happened?" she asks, sitting down on Juli's shoulder. Robin goes to Regina and wraps his arms around her.
"If she dies..." Regina mumbles.
"Don't think about that," Robin whispers.
Regina looks over her shoulder to Emma.
Tink and Juli are talking and then Tink picks a hair and flies away.
"What is she doing?"
"Getting her heart," Juli says. She takes a deep breath. Her heart is racing in her chest.
"She knows where it is?"
"She doesn't," Juli says, "but it's the only thing we can do..." She looks at Emma, who doesn't seem alive.
Regina backs away even further now.
"I'm sorry," Juli whispers. She sees that the bleeding won't stop. This is powerful magic... there's no stopping it.
Regina starts to cry.
Robin takes her close and makes sure she can't look at Emma.
"I... I can't." Regina whispers. Her eyes start to grow dark.
Robin just holds her close, but he knows he can't protect her.
"She calls me." Regina whispers.
"Don't let her," Robin whispers.
Tink flies through the window, a glowing red heart in her tiny arms.
"Fiona." Regina whispers.
"Fiona?" Robin whispers.
"She's not dead." Regina whispers.
"What?" Robin whispers.
"She's not dead!" Regina snaps.
Juli looks at Regina now too.
"Help her." Regina whispers. She tries her best to stay with Robin, to stay with Emma. Her daughter needs her right now.
Then a loud laugh sounds through the room. Tink grows and turns into a black fairy, the black fairy... "This will make it all a lot quicker," she laughs very hard and pushes Emma's heart back in her chest. And... Emma dies.
"NO!" Regina screams out. She sinks to the floor.
Juli startles very much and isn't able to function for a moment. Robin closes his eyes and keeps holding Regina.
"Let go of me." Regina whispers, not looking up.
Robin startles and lets her go.
Regina looks up at Fiona. "Why?" she whispers.
"That girl was the one who started. She killed me," Fiona states with a grin.
"How are you alive?"
"I got some help," she makes the real Tink appear in her hand. She clearly forced her. "Tink," Juli gets out.
Regina slowly makes her way to Emma on the ground. She takes her in her arms. "I'll get you back, sweetheart. I promise." she whispers, tears running down her face.
"I doubt it," Fiona grins and she poofs away, dropping Tink. She falls in Juli's hands.
Robin keeps his distance and looks away from Emma's lifeless body.
"Mommy is going to get you back." Regina keeps whispering, not letting go of Emma's body.
Everyone in the room is silent for a long time.
Regina just keeps crying, whispering, holding Emma's body.
Then Snow and the rest come home. She comes into the room and startles.
Regina doesn't look up. She keeps holding Emma's body against her own. She waves her hand over her youngest daughter, to preserve her body. "Mommy is going to get you back. I promise." she whispers.
"Mom what happened?" Snow gets out.
"Fiona." Regina whispers.
"No," Snow whispers. "She is not... Dead, she can't be." She walks towards Regina, tears streaming over her cheeks.
"Don't take her away." Regina mumbles.
"I... I won't," Snow whispers, "is she really...?"
"Yes."
Snow starts to cry and sits down next to Regina.
"I'll get her back. I promise." Regina whispers now.
Snow doesn't hear it. She lost her mind a little. She holds Emma's hand.
"Don't take her away from me." Regina whispers again.
"I won't," Snow says through her tears.
"I need to go to somewhere I can get her back."
"But... How is that possible? You cant bring back the dead...".
"Fiona can't. But I can."
"How?"
"That's my burden to bare. Not yours."
"Please tell me I want to help..." Snow says, her cheeks are wet from the tears. "Please."
"No. This is something I need to do alone. For Emma. For our family." Regina looks up at Snow. "I promise everything will be fine."
"She... She is my daughter too, why do you have to do this alone?"
"Because I love you. It is too dangerous."
"That's why you need help," Snow says, "please mom..."
Robin comes to them too now.
"What is it?" Regina asks him.
It's clear that Robin cried too, but he got himself back together. "Shall we lay her on the bed?" he says softly.
"Don't take her away from me." Regina repeats for the umpteenth time.
Robin nods, "alright," he whispers. He sits down on the ground with his back against the bed.
The faces of the children ar visible from after the door.
"They can't see this." Regina whispers.
James is already there, he looks inside and immediately sees it's better for the kids to stay away. He takes them to the living room, but Julie stays, he doesn't get her with him.
Regina keeps stroking Emma's hair and tears keep falling from her face. "Mommy is going to get you back."
When Julie realizes what is happening she slams the door and runs away.
"Someone needs to get her." Regina whispers softly.
Nobody gets up. "I will go," Juli says after a while. She is experienced in hiding her emotions when necessary so she will be able to talk to Julie. Tink goes with her, but before they leave the small green fairy flies to Regina. "I... I'm sorry," she whispers.
"You didn't do anything wrong." Regina whispers to the green fairy.
"She captured me," she says. "And she forced me to make her alive again. I should have been stronger..." She blames herself for everything.
"It's not your fault. Really."
Tink looks down, "thank you," she whispers, not convinced, but she is thankful. She flies to Juli again and they leave to look after Julie.
Regina slowly gets up, holding Emma in her arms. She lays her carefully down on the bed. "I need to go now. The longer I wait, the harder it will be to get her back. To bring her back."
"What are you going to do?" Robin asks.
"I'm going to the Underworld." Regina announces like it's no big deal.
"No," Robin says, "you can't do that...".
"And why is that?"
"It's dangerous," Robin says.
"And your point is?"
"You can get trapped..."
"Again... What's your point? I at least need to try to get Emma back."
Robin sighs. "I'll come with you," he then states.
"No, you aren't. Like you said, we could get trapped. I don't want you or Snow with me if that happens. It should be my burden to bare."
"Regina," Robin says, "you're not going alone, I won't allow you. We love Emma too."
Regina sighs. Darkness starts to appear in her eyes.
Robin only looks at her.
"Fine." Regina snaps. "But just you and Snow. That's all."
Robin lets out a sigh of relief. "Okay," he says and then he hugs her. He just needs her close to him, he just needs to feel her.
Regina lets him hold her for a little while, but then backs away. "We need to go." Everyone startles when a black cloud appears next to Regina.
Fiona stands in front of them. She fakes a grin.
"You." Regina creates a fireball and wants to throw it at The Black Fairy.
Fiona makes the fire disappear. "I'm here to help you," Fiona says.
"Help me? After you killed my daughter? I don't think so." Regina turns around.
"You think I killed your daughter, just to wrong you?" Fiona says, "not really. Time for revenge is over."
"Then why did you do it?"
"Because I need your help," Fiona says, "and I know you will only help me and accept my help if you get something back for it."
"Emma." Regina whispers. "You'll help me get her back?"
"If you help me."
"With what?"
"Getting my daughter back," Fiona says.
"Your daughter?" Regina asks softly.
"Yeah, my daughter, I lost her many years ago," Fiona says, "I've tried to get her back for so long, but I realized... I'm not strong enough to do it on my own."
Regina laughs. An evil laugh. "No kidding."
Fiona lifts up her chin.
Regina smiles at her. "I can get Emma back on my own. I don't need your help to do it."
"I know you can't, I tried to do it on my own for years," Fiona says. "But... fine, good luck then."
"But then again... I'm stronger than you are." Regina laughs again. "Why don't you come with me, Fiona? I'll show you how it's done."
"I think you're wrong there. In the end it was your daughter who killed me, because you couldn't get it done," Fiona says, "I'm not interested in watching."
"Fine then. Don't come. Lose the one chance you have of saving your daughter." Regina turns around to Robin and Snow. "We're going."
"I don't see the point in watching you fail. Good luck again," Fiona says and she poofs away.
Regina laughs. "I don't fail, dear Fiona." She looks at Snow and Robin again. "Are you ready?"
"What about James?" Snow says. "And Juli and even more important the kids?" Robin adds.
"James and Juli can look after the kids. I only want to take the both of you with me. Too many people is even more dangerous." Regina explains.
"We need to tell them before we go," Robin says.
Regina nodds. "Go tell them then. I'll pack some things we might need."
Robin nods, "You don't want to say goodbye?" he says and he walks to the door.
"No!" Regina snaps. "It would hurt too much if I need to stay down there."
"Fine," Robin snaps back and smashes the door behind him.
Regina startles. This is exactly why she doesn't want anyone to come with her. The darkness is threatening to take over and she doesn't want anyone around when that happens.
In the meantime Snow tells James the plan. He doesn't agree.
The children are very dissapointed and Juli understands it. Julie and Tink are with her. Robin returns after a long time.
Regina has packed some of her magical items that might come in handy. She looks up at Robin. "I'm ready to say goodbye to Juli, James and the children now."
"I'm impressed," Robin says sarcastically. "Thanks for realizing this now, I just explained it all...".
Regina lifts her head up high and walks downstairs to the kids. "I can't leave without saying goodbye now, can I?"
"I'm glad you realize that as well," Robin says, his tone still sarcastic.
Regina ignores him. She hugs and kisses all of her kids. "You promise me you'll behave with Juli and James, alright?"
"Why are you leaving us?"
"Because I need to try to get Emma back."
The kids nod, but are very sad.
"I will come back." Regina smiles.
"How long?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. I really don't know how time works there."
"But we will miss you, we already miss you." They have been all by themselves the last few days, until Snow took them, but they long for Regina's attention.
"I know, baby, I miss you all as well, so I'll be back as soon as possible. Alright?"
"Will you really miss us?" they say.
Regina lowers to the ground to be at the same height as the little ones. "Of course I will. You are all as much my children as are Snow and Emma. I would do the same for anyone of you."
Now they softly smile. "Take Julie's ribbon so you can think of us," a girl says.
Regina smiles. "I will." She takes over the ribbon Julie hands over to her. She then hugs everyone once again.
"Come back soon," Julie whispers, "with Emma." Her eyes are red from tears and she feels frightened. Juli brought her back.
Regina nodds. "I'll do everything I can to bring everyone back safely." Regina, Snow and Robin walk upstairs to say goodbye to Emma. Regina cries again, holding onto Emma's body for a little while longer.
Robin holds Regina in his arms.
Snow is devastated and conflicted. James won't let her go...
"Snow, you can stay here with the children if you want to. Please, I would feel much more at ease knowing you are safe."
"I... I-," Snow starts, "she is my daughter." But then she adds, "I should find Henry too. Mom I don't know what to do...".
"I know. You focus on finding Henry and Robin and I will bring back Emma."
"Tell her I love her, will you? And please come back safely," Snow says. She hugs her mother and sees Emma lying there. She starts to cry.
