Chapter 53

The next morning Regina awoke in the safety of the Savior's arms, grateful that the woman was still there. She thought back to the previous evening and felt irritation at how she handled herself, Emma and the situation and couldn't understand why she behaved in such a way. She didn't entirely understand what she felt or how the Sheriff played into those darker feelings. She'd opened herself up as a way to push the blonde away, but in true Swan fashion, Emma didn't shy away from the darkness.

She liked it.

Those feelings led to her fear, and that fear angered her. It felt unnatural, and she attempted to consider where the low simmer of agitation was coming from.

It must be the curse. Today needed to be the day they attempted to break the curse with true love's kiss. She felt apprehension at attempting it for several reasons. First, she wasn't entirely certain it would work. If it didn't, then what would Emma do? Go find her true love? As the Savior, she would have to. If she were to find that person, how could she be expected to believe Emma would stand by her word, or her for that matter? A dark part of herself believed Emma wouldn't.

Her second reason was that she could be the woman's true love and there was always a chance the Dark One could be wrong and breaking the curse could literally destroy her. She believed Emma would carry the burden of responsibility for her demise for the rest of her life. As it was the woman carried the burdens of others, and Regina did not want to add to her self-perceived responsibility. No, the prospect of Emma Swan carrying the burden of her death was completely unacceptable to her.

Third, and this reason is minuscule in comparison to the others, but what if they break the curse and Regina doesn't die. What would their future be? Would it play out in one of the many happy memories forced upon her by the Goddess of love or would it be dark and disastrous as she suspects it will?

She held little hope it would be the happy memories she had of Emma and their children, but the memories which left the Queen standing over Emma's broken body or grave. The prospect immobilized her, and no amount of coaxing could alter her perception.

She pushed aside speculative thoughts because the Savior would do precisely what was right. She would break it, no matter the outcome to Regina or herself and she would do so soon.

She slid her arm around the nude torso of her lover and snuggled into her. The blonde was disturbed by the move but didn't wake up; she simply pulled the darker woman's head under her chin and settled back down with her. Regina closed her eyes and soaked her in.

She considered for the briefest of moments what a bright fairytale future she could have with the Savior, full of blonde babies with dimpled chins and Charming family Christmases. Before she got far down that Candyland Rainbow Trail, she remembered the life they lived. Full of danger, magic, and unending disaster. The town would always need their Savior. Perhaps there was a compromise, and even without more children of their own, they can still achieve large extravagant holidays with their son and his future family.

If they survive this catastrophe first.

They would be going into the Sheriff's station that morning to do some research and Regina had already insisted she be allowed to tag along. Her unsettled feelings seemed to recede in the presence of the Savior and the uncertainty of attempting to break the curse had the Queen anxious.


After gathering what legible intel they had on the disturbances, the Savior decided that some reconnaissance at last known sightings would be the best place to start. They sat in Regina's Benz, the Mayor behind the wheel and the Savior sulking in the passenger's seat.

"This would be easier if I had my bug."

"What's wrong with the Benz?"

"Other than you won't let me drive it?"

"Yes, other than that Emma."

The savior furrowed her brow and tried to think of another reason. When she failed, she cried, "You won't let me drive it!"

Regina rolled her eyes and asks, "How exactly would it be easier if you were doing the driving, Miss Swan?"

"I don't know! Stop poking holes in my arguments, it's annoying!"

"Your mother is annoying."

"Yeah so?"

The Queen smiled, "So nothing, I was just stating a fact."

Emma chuckled and slipped her hand into the brunette's rigid palm. Their interactions during that morning had been hot and cold, and Emma had done her best to navigate the Queen's rollercoaster of moods. As a result, she slipped back into a more familiar role with her son's mother. She kept their exchanges light and for the most part let the older woman keep control over what intimacy they had between them.

She was worried about her. The Mayor's behavior had gotten increasingly more erratic, and she just hoped it wasn't caused by Regina's injury. She was pleased she would be getting a real-world medical evaluation. The fact of the matter was, they didn't know, and that lack of knowledge caused stress in the blonde.

"I saw the girls the other day," Emma started when their conversation lulled.

"Did they come into town?"

"No, but I was in the area, so I stopped out there. Gab mentioned Xena was having a hard time so I was wondering if there was a way we could curse them?"

A perfectly sculpted eyebrow lifted in question, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Not like erase who they are or anything, but like come up with a false backstory like everyone else has."

"It would make their time assimilating smoother. I can talk to Gold…"

"Hey who's that?" the blonde interrupted, and before the brunette could look up to see what the Sheriff was referring to, Emma leapt out of the car and ran after a dark hooded figure ducking into an alleyway.

"Emma wait!" Regina called and tried to jump from the car herself only to be tangled up in her safety belt.

Emma ran across the street and followed the large man into the alley. As she rounded the corner, she saw him turn at the T at the end of the backstreet and called out, "Hey!" When she made it to the next turn, she was surprised to find that the side street was a dead end and empty. She instinctively looked up to see if the man was somehow scaling the building in order to get away and while doing so shielded her eyes from the bright afternoon sun.

"Have you lost your damn mind or are you just monumentally stupid?" The anger in the older woman's voice chilled Emma, and she turned and looked with confusion.

"Or perhaps both!" The fear within Regina was completely encompassed in her rage.

Emma got defensive when she didn't see a hint of kidding within the Mayor and said, "Woah, hey, take it down a notch."

"I will do no such thing! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Me?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You! You are the most inconsiderate selfish woman I've ever encountered in my life! You don't think about anything or anyone, you just react!"

"What?"

Regina felt helpless in her fear and yelled, "What exactly was your plan, Miss Swan?! Or was running after a potential magical being defenseless all you had?"

Emma, put off by a tone in the Mayor's voice she hasn't heard from her Regina in some time barked back, "Me?! How many times have you put yourself in harms way without consideration, Regina?!"

"Never! I've always had backup plans and contingencies! You are irresponsible, and I'd be out of my mind to trust you with my heart!"

"You don't...?"

Regina saw the pained look in the Savior's eyes and regretted every word she just spoke. "That's not what I meant."

"Right," Emma said and stuffed her hands in her pockets and started quick-walking away from the contrite Queen.

"Emma, wait."

"Leave me alone Regina," she gruffed and walked away from the woman and the Benz, away from the hurtful words of the Mayor. Away from fears realized.

She turned the corner in the direction of the docks. When she got there, the scene just angered her further. Another reminder of instances where her poor decisions put everything she cared about in danger. The decision to make Killian Jones a dark one had scraped the barrel of her pathetic, selfish behavior. She wanted him because he loved her and she put her family, Regina and their son at risk of certain death. The words the Mayor used echoed in her mind, and she covered her ears and squeezed her eyes tight trying to block out the truth in them.

A sharp pain was felt to the back of her head, and then there was nothing but dark.


The Queen's instinct was to run after Emma. To apologize. To explain herself. However, she is rooted in her position and watched as the blonde speed walked away from her and rounded the corner. She hadn't meant those feelings to surface; she hadn't actually meant them at all. Of course, Emma was trustworthy of her heart and even if she wasn't, it wouldn't matter because her heart belonged to the Sheriff. After hope died out for Emma's return, she made her way back home.

The empty manor was deafening, and the absence of the blonde was felt with extreme emotional peaks and dips. She noted diplomatically that her excessive behavior was out of character for her and perhaps she was feeling whatever affects the townsfolk were feeling with their own rage issues.

After several hours she picked up her cell phone and called the blonde. When it rang until it dumped to voicemail, she hung up and called again. This time it dumped to voicemail immediately, and she angrily hung up on an aloof Savior's greeting and pouted.

Okay, she's mad. Of course she's mad. I would be mad too. She just needs time to cool off. She quickly typed a text to the blonde.

Regina: I'm sorry.

Regina: I didn't mean it.

When it was time for bed Regina convinced herself that her behavior had been uncontrollable and Emma refusing to discuss it with her was just exasperating the situation and so she left one final text:

Regina: You're mad. I get it, but I apologized Emma, and we need to talk about it. Let me know when you're ready to do that.