I've already posted this on AO3, but I wanted to share it here too. Leave a review?
Her arms were glued to her sides as the dark tendrils swirled around her in a suffocating way. It was unlike anything she'd ever expected.
Her mind replayed all of the pain she'd caused and for once, she felt like she deserved the pain she was feeling at that moment.
Through the darkness, there was only one thing Regina Mills could see—Emma Swan.
Emma Swan, who'd stepped forward after Robin was thrown back into the street—so much for her lover and soulmate to save her.
"Emma! No!" She forced out when Emma raised her hand with the Dark One dagger. "There has to be another way!"
Emma shook her head. "There isn't, and you know this." She looked down at the dagger in her hand. "You've worked too hard to have your happiness destroyed."
Regina knew there was more happening—she knew there were people that surrounded them, but all she could see was blonde hair and so much light coming from Emma.
Regina grunted in pain as the darkness seeped into her body, forcing her to relive all of the pain she'd caused and all of the pain she'd lived through.
Losing Daniel.
Her marriage to the king.
Her apprenticeship beneath Rumpelstiltskin.
Her descent into darkness—all of the lives she'd ended and ruined.
Her darkness, as much as she wanted it gone, was still bigger than the light she'd worked so hard for. She didn't know if Emma would be in a position to save her but even if she was, she knew the pains of the past couldn't be as easily forgotten as before.
Emma pushed Hook away, and thrust the dagger into the darkness only to be thrown back, like Robin had.
But the darkness was harder on the lightest of magic—Emma was thrown back harder, and her head cracked on the pavement before she stopped moving.
Regina fought against the way the darkness held her in its grip, and for a moment she thought that she was winning.
For a moment, she could move.
She stepped forward, but the darkness followed her and held her tight. The tendrils that swirled around her tightened around her, and tightened and tightened until she could hardly breathe.
And then it sank into her.
It was more than painful, and she screamed out as it slipped into her skin, saturated her blood and darkened her eyes.
For a split-second, all she could see was darkness, and then it was gone.
She barely felt the pain as her knees slammed into the ground. She breathed in harshly, and coughed.
Everything seemed suspended in time, and Regina tried to fill her lungs with enough air as the four people still standing around her, were pulled in two ways.
And then they moved.
David ran to Emma, and Regina felt a hand on her shoulder. She blinked and looked up to find Snow standing over her.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't—I don't know." She coughed, and then held out her hand. "Help me up."
Snow pulled Regina up, holding on to her as she stumbled. She took a deep breath as her body tightened in pain, and made her way over to David and Emma.
"She cracked her head—she's bleeding badly," David informed them as they joined him. "We should get her to the hospital."
Regina rolled her eyes. "I'm right here, Charming—you know I can help her. She'll be fine."
"Should you use your magic right now?"
Regina turned toward Hook, her eyes narrowed as she pulled her nose up in disgust.
He did smell badly, and she still wondered how Emma could ignore it as she had.
"By all means, Captain, drive her to the hospital and have her poked and prodded—I can heal her in a second."
She didn't want to think about the fact that using magic might not be smart, all things considered.
She grunted when pain tore through her body, and quickly slid on her mask to hide behind. She didn't need them worried about her as Emma lay, unconscious on the ground.
Emma needed help.
"He's right, Regina. I don't think it's a good idea for you to use your magic when you don't even know what'll happen."
"I don't think any of you is in the position to tell me what to do." She looked down at Emma, and blinked as she noticed the sickly pallor to Emma's cheeks. "She needs help and fast."
She kneeled down, ignoring the way her body protested and put her hand against Emma's forehead.
In a flash, she knew what to do. That was new. After she glanced around, she pulled forward her magic and took them all to the mansion.
It was much easier with all of the darkness inside of her.
Easier, but more painful.
"What do you need?"
She narrowed her eyes and then turned toward Robin, his face screwed up in concentration and worry as he looked down at her and Emma.
"Nothing. Find something else to do," she snapped before she turned back to Emma.
She'd gotten them all to the mansion. But somehow, she'd ended up in a guest room with Emma and Robin while the others—she didn't even know where they were.
She focused on Emma, and the way her magic seemed to move inside of her. It was different, but the same. She knew she could work it, she just hoped she wouldn't overuse it.
She placed a trembling hand on the gash on the back of Emma's head and pushed the healing spell toward it. This was familiar—this was something she'd learned on her own.
Her stomach tightened painfully, and she tried to shake it off. Emma was the priority, and she pushed all of her healing magic toward just that—healing Emma.
Her magic moved around her hands, her usual purple darkened. It moved around Emma for a moment before it started working. The dark purple energy seeped into the wound and Regina hummed as she felt the spell work, the way it pushed the healing deep into Emma and then the wound closed.
Regina pushed away from Emma with a grunt of pain as her body spasmed , and the hand that found her back only made it worse.
"Regina?"
"Get your hand off of me," she growled as she moved away from Robin. He stepped back, fear on his face and his hands held up in surrender. "Get her parents."
Robin couldn't get away fast enough, it seemed.
Emma stirred, and moaned, and then blinked open her eyes. She turned her head, and gasped when there was no pain.
"R-Regina?"
"I'm here," Regina hummed as she stepped into Emma's line of sight. "I healed the crack in your head—you'll be just fine."
"What happened?" Emma sat up and narrowed her eyes at Regina. "Are you okay?"
Regina knew Emma saw her— really saw her. Her throat tightened as she shook her head, finally able to admit that she was in pain.
Everything in her body hurt as it fought the darkness. It was still trying to find purchase inside of her and the pangs of pain wracked her body.
"I'll probably be okay—later," she replied.
"Regina—"
"Emma! Oh, honey." Snow barged into the room and pushed past Regina to get to Emma.
The darkness flared up and Regina clenched her hands into fists as it tried to jump out—toward Snow. She forced it back, her chest tightening painfully as somehow, old feelings jumped up and overwhelmed her.
She took a step back.
Snow fussed over Emma, running a hand over her blonde hair to feel where the wound was. Regina rolled her eyes, and took another step back.
"I'm okay, mom. Regina healed it," Emma murmured as she pushed away Snow's hand and sat up. "We should figure out what's happening—where did it go?"
"Where did what go?" Snow asked, before it dawned on her, and she gasped. "Oh, it went into Regina."
Regina huffed in annoyance and turned toward Emma. "I can—I can handle it," she cleared her throat and pressed a hand to her chest. The pain worsened, flaring up and it left her breathless. She reached out a hand and steadied herself against the bed.
The pain tore through her, originating from her chest and stabbing through her limbs, and Regina gasped for air.
Emma got off the bed without hesitation and reached out to Regina. The darkness calmed, and the pain subsided, the moment her hand made contact with Regina's skin.
"Okay," Emma swallowed and squeezed Regina's arm. The pain seemed to simmer down and Regina took a relieved breath.
"Does this mean she's the next Dark One?"
Regina didn't even know who asked, but her anger returned, and she flashed her angry eyes up to Emma's.
"I don't think so," Emma said as she locked eyes with Regina. There was so much understanding in those green eyes, that Regina calmed down again.
Her anger was never this easy to awaken.
"I think it's still trying to find a way to settle," Regina ground out as she glanced around the room at everyone. Hook looked about ready to skewer her with his hook, and Robin looked terrified.
David was the only one that looked even remotely concerned, besides Emma. Even Snow looked afraid.
"So we need to find a way to stop that from happening," Emma declared. There was a moment of awkward silence before Emma sighed and took her hand off of Regina's arm.
The pain flared up right away, and she almost doubled over at the intensity, but managed to slide her mask in place. No one was to see her pain.
"I'm not sure there's a way, Emma," she said as she adjusted her stance. "It's settling in whether I want it or not—and it's doing so regardless of what it destroys in the process."
"I can't let you be taken over by it."
"Like I said, I'm not sure there's a way."
Snow stepped forward, and Regina winced when the darkness flared up again and her old feelings reeled back into her mind.
"Can't you use your light to fight the darkness out of Regina? Like you did with the sorcerer?"
Emma frowned, her eyes flickering from Regina to Snow and back. Regina opened her mouth to protest, when Emma shook her head.
"I don't think that's possible—it's already all the way inside her and it won't let go of her as easily. There's something—I can feel it."
"Like what?" Regina asked hoarsely. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know what Emma could feel about the darkness inside of her. "It sought me out because I'm the Evil Queen?"
Emma shook her head. "No, I think it did because you are fighting so hard to create light and stay light, and I think it loves a challenge."
Regina shuddered at the thought of losing all of her hard work. She knew she needed to fight, even though the dark seemed so inviting.
"My magic seems—it seems different," Regina murmured, and Emma hummed before she glanced around. Regina closed her eyes. "I need everyone out. Everyone except Emma."
"Regina," Robin started to protest, but she shook her head without turning. "I want to help—please let me help."
Regina turned around then, and inclined her head. "We should talk, then. Later ," she emphasized before she turned back to Emma. "I need—"
Emma held up her hand. "Wait—guys, listen. I know you all want to help but I think we need to get started on finding that way."
"You're right, Emma." Snow moved again and again, the dark seemed to want to suffocate Regina to get to her. "I'll make us dinner, and maybe David can get Henry."
"Sounds like a plan. Hook and Robin can go to Gold's shop and see if Belle is willing to help find a way to get this thing out of Regina," Emma said with a nod.
"Love—" Hook started, but Emma shook her head and effectively silenced him. "Alright."
He didn't seem happy about any of it, and Regina couldn't stop herself from smirking.
Snow and David were the first to leave the room, and Regina took a deep, steadying breath as the darkness seemed to settle just a little more.
Hook left with a scowl on his face.
Emma stepped back when Robin stepped forward, but the moment he touched Regina, she grunted.
Pain tore through her again and she pushed him away. "Don't. Touch. Me." It hurt too much, and she swallowed as tears sprang into her eyes.
Robin stepped away again, and with one last longing glance, he walked out of the room.
Regina almost sank down onto the bed as her body screamed at her, and she watched as Emma sat down next to her, worry clear in her eyes.
"What can I do to help?" She asked softly, and Regina shook her head. She didn't know what could be done.
"I don't want Henry to see me like this, Emma," she whispered as she looked down at her trembling hands. "I want him to stay away until we figure this out."
"Regina," Emma breathed, "that can take ages—he'll want to see you and be there for you just like we all want to be there for you."
"I can't."
"I don't think that's fair to either of you."
Regina snapped her head back and glared at Emma. "Fair, Miss Swan? Fair would be me finally getting my happy ending instead of this ! Fair would be me happy, for once in my god-damned life."
Emma inclined her head and took the wind out of Regina's rant. The pain settled again when Emma rested a hand over her arm.
"I will do everything in my power to help you, okay? Whatever it takes, we will get the darkness out of you."
And for once, Regina believed in the optimism she saw on Emma's face.
Regina pressed her trembling hands against her midriff as she sat on the swinging chair.
She had always loved spending time in her backyard—from gardening to swinging in the chair with Henry playing around.
The pain tore through her body, and left her shaking and weak, but she couldn't help the smile when memories of Henry playing and happy flashed before her eyes.
Nothing she did seemed to help against the pain.
She'd tried taking something—she'd tried using some of her magic. It all just seemed to make it worse, instead of better.
Well, everything except Emma. The moment Emma touched her, the darkness settled down.
The pain faded into the background.
But she didn't want Emma close. Emma was light, and she didn't want to take the darkness to someone so bright. Just the thought of it made her want to curl up in a ball.
"Dinner is ready."
Regina cleared her throat and wiped at her cheeks before she turned. The weak smile faded from her lips as she took in Emma's disheveled appearance.
"Are you okay?"
"Yea, just trying to deal with my parents and Hook—he called to say Belle will help you but not him. So—"
"I'll have to go over to the shop then," Regina murmured as she stood to her feet. She grunted as she straightened up, and forced herself to take a step.
Her knees buckled.
"Hey, easy." Emma stepped forward and held on to Regina's elbows to steady her. "Why are you so stubborn? You're in pain."
Regina grunted again, but breathed in deeply as the pain faded. "I have to find a way to get this out of me."
"We will find a way, Regina. In the meantime, don't try and hide when you're in pain, because you know I'll know."
Regina smirked. "You're talking about that lie detector you have built in? The one that only works half of the time—if even."
"With you, I always know," Emma replied confidently and Regina hummed. Emma had always found out when Regina lied, even if it was a white lie about not being in pain.
"I concur. I'm in pain, Emma. I don't want Henry to see me like this," she murmured as she glanced around Emma and into the kitchen.
Henry was watching them from inside, and she closed her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she took a deep breath before she opened her eyes and forced herself to smile at him.
Emma let go, and Regina gasped when the pain returned.
"I can't keep him from seeing you but he's old enough to understand if you'd want some time," Emma said, even though she sounded unsure about it. "Why don't we talk to him together?"
"Alright." Emma guided Regina back inside, and when the smell of food hit her, her stomach revolted. "No food for me," she informed Emma softly.
"Okay, that's okay," she murmured before Henry moved and wrapped his arms around Regina.
The agony of his touch made her want to cry out in more ways than one, and she tensed in his arms even as she pulled him closer.
She would never reject her son.
Not even when pain tore through her, blinding her and crushing her in a way she'd never experienced.
"Are you okay, mom?" Henry pulled back and Regina stumbled into Emma, her breathing labored. Emma's touch helped, and she forced herself to relax as she inclined her head.
"I'm okay." She swallowed thickly at the lie and nodded again. "I'm okay, sweetheart."
"I think it's time for us to have dinner." Emma seemed to look straight through every mask Regina could ever think to put on, and she narrowed her eyes. "Why don't you take a shower?"
Regina blinked. She then glanced at Henry, and back toward Emma, and sighed.
"Alright." As the three made their way to the dining area, Regina stopped them. "What about our talk?"
Emma hummed. "Hey kid? Your mom and I have been talking about this, and we think it's better if you'd keep your distance until this is all solved."
"Emma!" Regina scolded before she brought her hand to her forehead. She could see the confusion but, most of all, the anger on Henry's face. "I'm not sure what my magic will do once this has all settled, and we are trying to find a way to get it out of me—it's just, I don't want to hurt you, sweetheart."
"But I can help," Henry said, even though he seemed unsure. "Please, mom."
Regina clenched her jaw and shook her head. "This is beyond what you could help with Henry, all you can do is stay away so I don't hurt you."
His face moved through emotions, and Regina watched as it morphed into something hard and angry before he narrowed his eyes.
"You're always pushing me away and lying to me," he growled before he stomped away, into the dining room.
Regina blinked at the tears and then turned to Emma. She could hear the blonde's stomach rumbling, and she rolled her eyes.
What she wanted was comfort, and help.
What she got, was her son, angry with her once again because he couldn't help.
"Go eat dinner."
"For the record, he's just being a brat right now," Emma murmured before she reached out and touched Regina's shoulder. "He just needs to get over himself. He'll be fine."
Regina cleared her throat when it tightened again and hummed. "Let's hope so."
The shower had done little to ease the ache that seemed to settle into her body.
All it had done, was give Henry time to think and decide he didn't even want to say goodbye to her. He'd left with Snow and David while Emma had stayed behind to clean up the mess.
Regina could feel the darkness spreading.
It terrified her to the point where she didn't know if she should move another inch. What if it spread to others?
"I'll be back tomorrow—unless you want me to stay?" Emma asked when she finally realized Regina was in the kitchen with her.
Somehow, Emma felt comfortable enough to check every cabinet. Regina pursed her lips before she shook her head.
"No. I want to be alone," she said. It was a lie, but not big enough for Emma to fight. "I am tired and I'm sure you are too."
"What about Robin?"
"What about him?" Regina volleyed with an eyebrow raised. "He doesn't live here. He has Roland."
"Oh."
Regina watched Emma for a moment, trying to figure out what it was that Emma was trying to get at. And then she sighed and shook it off—she didn't have time for it.
"Tomorrow? I'll make sure that I have enough books here for us to read through."
Emma dried her hands and made her way toward Regina. Even her proximity seemed to help ease the pain and ache.
"We will get this out of you, Regina. You deserve better." Emma closed her eyes. "And I am truly sorry for not being able to save you from this in the first place."
Regina lifted both brows. "Don't be ridiculous, the darkness didn't want you, it wanted me and it got me."
Emma couldn't have done anything to keep it from happening, and something Regina was a hundred percent sure of.
Emma wasn't.
"Yea, well—I'm going to find a way to take it out of you."
"Yes dear, that's exactly what we'll do."