A/N
Well here it goes, another chapter. Hope everyone enjoys. :)
"Are you ready for this?" David asked his wife while pouring her a cup of coffee. He handed her the cup then popped a kiss on her cheek then sat down beside her. "I am not ready at all." Her response almost a whisper. "I have no other choice. I won't lie to her."
"Lie about what?" Henry asked coming down the steps followed by Emma. "Hey kid, your dad is on his way are you ready?" She asked just to redirect his attention. Henry nodded, he knew that they were hiding something. He could see it on their faces.
Though he understood the last few days had taken its toll on everyone. He didn't understand why Mary Margaret carried a grim look on her face, or why David catered to her depression. He didn't think they would be so upset with Cora's death. Emma tried to keep him busy, but he would barely even speak to her.
"When will someone tell me what is going on?"
"Henry, I don't think this is the time to talk about." David said worried that his grandson wouldn't understand.
"No, it is perfect timing. Why is everyone so depressed? You all should be happy. Cora is gone and Regina is still good."
"He's right, no more lying. He deserves to know." Emma said then kneeled down to his height. "Henry, Mary Margaret is partially responsible for Cora's death. That's why she's so upset." She let her words fall easily afraid that it would break his heart.
"What?" Henry turned towards Mary Margaret. "Is that true? Did you hurt Cora?"
"Yes, Henry it's true." Ashamed that her Grandson could now compare her to a murderer.
"But your Snow White and-"
"Henry that's enough." David interrupted. He didn't want to upset his wife anymore. He stood up then pulled Henry close to him. "We will talk about this later, I will explain everything then." Henry nodded then wrapped his arms around him giving David a hug. Emma sighed a breath of relief when a knock came to the door.
"Hey." She said to Neal, then laughed when Henry practically pushed her out of the way to get to Neal.
"So… Call me, and we can meet or I can just drop him back off."
"Ok, thanks that'll be great."
"See you later Emma." Henry said coldly then slammed the door behind him. Emma huffed then sat down beside David and Mary Margaret.
"He'll be fine Emma." Mary Margaret smiled softly.
"Well, I lied to him and it hurt him. I just wish he wouldn't push me away." She sighed then checked the time on her watch. "So this meeting with Regina. Are you sure it's a good idea?"
"It wasn't our idea, she said she wants to talk to the three of us. She's bringing Archie with her."
"She wants us to help her with Norah, but she may not want my help after she hears the truth about what happened."
"Maybe your apartment isn't the best place for Regina to hear that." Emma joked hoping to lighten the mood a little. "Or you could just not tell her."
"I won't lie to her Emma, and I'm not really the best at keeping secrets. That's why we're in this whole mess. If I just kept my promise. Cora would have never found out about Daniel, Norah would have had a family. Regina would have never cast the curse and we would have raised you. It's all my fault, and it's starting over again."
"Stop." Emma cut her off. "Stop blaming yourself for everything. Regina has made her choices."
"We're here together, that's all that matters. If Regina goes after anyone it should be Gold. He's the one that sent you after Cora's heart."
"And we all know that Norah doesn't listen to anyone."
"I still get the feeling that Regina will blame me."
A knock came to the door. Emma glanced back down at her watch. "Right on time." She stated then walked towards the door. Before opening it, Emma turned back to Mary Margaret. "Let's just get this over with. No matter the outcome I won't let anything bad happen to you or our family." Emma turned back around and took a deep breath and opened the door.
"I wanted to thank the three of you for helping me with Norah. These last four days have not been easy and I am at a loss of what to do next." Regina said sitting back into the couch.
"So you came for advice?" David asked.
"A little, yes. Norah mostly sits in her room. She doesn't speak or come out."
"Have you tried talking to her?" Mary Margaret asked. Basically sitting quietly. Waiting for the perfect moment to tell Regina the truth.
"Of course I have. You think I want my daughter to sit in a room alone staring at a wall?" She snapped. "I'm sorry, I should have snapped like that. I just can't get through to her."
"Maybe instead of trying to get through to her, Regina just be her mother. That's what Norah really needs." Mary Margaret said quietly.
"Norah won't let anyone come anywhere near her. She's just too angry. Yesterday I had spent some time trying to talk with her, and she got mad. She attacked me with magic, thankfully Regina was there to stop her." Archie said almost as if he were defending Regina in a small way.
"Where is she now?" David asked.
"She's at home, Mother Superior is watching her." Regina took a deep breath. "These outbursts have happened frequently since my mother's death. I had to cast a barrier spell to keep her in her room. I don't want to risk Norah leaving. It could be dangerous for everyone."
"What do you need us to do Regina?"
"There is a spell that I can cast to bind Norah's magic, but it may not work. As we all know, magic in this world is unpredictable and the risk of danger will be even greater if I leave it alone. I don't want Henry anywhere near when this happens. In fact, I don't want anyone near. I don't want to risk Henry losing a family member either. No matter our past."
"So how close is to close then? We can't all leave Story Brooke. Can we?" Emma asked imagining how the residents of Story Brooke would fit into the real world.
"Emma, I think what Regina is trying to say, we cannot be in the same world as her and Norah."
"Yes, that's right and I am here to give you the option. Take Henry back home to the Enchanted Forest without me, or stay here in Story Brooke with Henry. Either way, I can't be with Henry, not for awhile at least."
"But…Henry would be heart broken."
"But he would have you, and we all know that is all he wants. I want Henry to be happy, and I want my daughter to okay again. This is the only way."
"Maybe not." Mary Margaret interrupted. "Maybe it isn't the only way." She took a deep breath and stood up. David stood up beside her. "Snow, maybe you should wait."
"No, David I need to do this." She shushed him. "Regina, I have a confession. It's my fault. I told Norah that Cora needed her heart back. Right after I used the candle Rumplestiltskin gave me. I was the one who used dark magic. I tried to stop her when she took the heart, but she wouldn't listen and then disappeared."
Regina's eyes narrowed. How could she be such a fool to not see it before? Regina shifted to keep herself composed. Snow White again ruining everything. She took slow breath's from her nose. Pulling back from the urge to choke Snow White's neck. "You did this." Henry would never forgive her if she killed his family. "My daughter has succumbed to dark magic because of you?" Out of all the retched things Snow White has done, she just didn't want to believe that Snow would use dark magic to kill anyone.
"Regina, I am so sorry." Her voice broke into tears. Regina huffed. She wanted to rip out her heart and crush it right there, but stayed seated afraid that she would. "I protected you, and this is how you repay me?"
"If anyone is to blame, it's Gold. He tricked her."
"Of course he did, then she tricked my daughter."
"She tried to stop her!" Emma stood up beside Mary Margaret.
"Well she didn't." Regina gritted her teeth. Arguing only made her angrier. She stood and leaned herself close towards Mary Margaret. "I should rip out your heart and crush it with every bit of my strength." She spat. "But that is the old Regina." She took a second to compose herself. "Stop worrying I'm not going to kill you." She said then sat back down.
"You aren't?"
"No. Henry, would never forgive me. Besides you didn't cause this, not directly anyway. But you're going to fix it."