Same trigger warnings.

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Chapter 2

The Intervention

Snow paced back and forth as Henry tried calling his mother for the third time in the last hour. Everyone was there, everyone was ready, but they couldn't get ahold of Emma. Snow was worried and disappointed at the same time. Emma never ignored Henry, so either she was busy getting drugs, or high out of her mind on drugs and Snow didn't know which case would be better.

Henry groaned and shook his head. "Ma, call me, please." He again left on the voicemail and hung up. He looked at his grandma. "Sorry, she's not answering."

Snow gave him a sad smile. "You don't have to be sorry. We'll try again in fifteen minutes."

Emma opened her eyes after it was finished and tried not to think about what she was doing as she got up and reached for her clothes.

"You know, you're going to have to make it worth it soon." The man said. "You just lay there like you're dead and that isn't going to cut it anymore. If you want drugs for payment, I need to be fully satisfied."

Emma sighed and cracked her neck before getting dressed. "Okay fine, just give me the stuff."

He did so, holding her hand a moment. "I mean it, Swan. I don't want to do all the work all the time."

"Okay. Whatever, I get it." She said, pulling her hand away with the baggie safely in her fist.

She left the house and pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Shit." She said to herself, seeing all the missed calls from Henry. No time to shoot up. Instead, she went to her car, got out the foil and pipe and smoked a fourth of what was in the bag; just enough to take the edge off but not enough to be too high. She then hit redial on her phone and waited for her son to pick up. "Hey kid, sorry I didn't answer, I was in the middle of something."

"It's okay." He said, though it didn't sound okay. "Ma, can you come over to gram and gramps? They're gone and I wanted to help them by doing the dishes, but something happened in the dishwasher and there's water and bubbles everywhere."

Emma sighed, but smiled a bit. "Sure kid. I'll be right there." She hung up and took one last hit before starting her car and heading to her parents.

"She's on her way." Henry reported and the group collectively took a deep breath. This was happening and there was no turning back now.

Emma parked her car and ran her fingers through her messy, dead hair. She should have gone home and showered first, but she was already here. She got out and went to the door, opening it and peaking inside. "Henry?"

"In the living room." He called and stood up. He'd be the first to meet Emma and was ready for this.

Emma took her boots off and came into the house, heading towards the living room. She saw Henry, but she also saw a group of people sitting in a circle on chairs and the sofa. She froze. "What the hell is going on?" She looked at Henry, betrayal in her eyes. "You lied to me?"

"I had to." He said, his voice sounding small. "Ma, please come in. We want to help you." He said, going to her and hugging her.

Fuck. She wanted to run, to leave and go home and get blissfully high. She wanted to, but her son's arms around her kept her grounded. Deep inside, she knew it took such bravery for him to do this. She wrapped her arms around him and held him, just for a moment, trying to ground herself for what was to come. A fucking intervention. Henry backed up and took Emma's hand, leading her to the sofa where she sat down with him next to her. She couldn't look at anyone else, so she just looked down at her hands, still not believing this was happening. Were they going to send her away? Was that their whole plan? Make her feel guilty and send her away? Fuck, she deserved it she supposed as she did fuck everything up.

Henry put his hand over Emma's, sensing her thoughts. "Mom, we're here because we love you, not because we want to punish you."

Emma sniffed and took Henry's hand in hers, holding onto them as a way to keep her in the moment. She couldn't talk though, not yet.

"He's right, Emma." Archie said in a soft voice. "Everyone in this room loves you and wants the best for you. They want to help you. Are you willing to listen to them?"

Emma nodded, taking a tissue from whoever just handed her one and wiped at her eyes. "Yes."

Archie smiled and nodded to Maleficent. Mal cleared her throat and looked at her letter. "Emma, I'm here today because your actions have affected all of us." She started and then sighed. "I'm here because I care about you, dear." She said, her voice softer than anyone other than Lilly or Regina had ever heard. "You helped me find my baby girl. You broke the curse that kept me a dragon. Emma, you saved this whole town more than once and you matter." Her voice broke and she swallowed. "You're on a dark path right now, and I can tell you that I've been there. I've seen where that path can lead and I don't want that for you. You have so many people who love and care about you. You're too important for any of us to lose."

Emma sniffed, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She didn't know how much of this she could hear, but she also knew she had to listen. She had to take her punishment.

"Emma, child, I love you as if you were my own grandbaby." Granny said. "I know I come off as harsh and hard, but you could always see right through that. You won a place in my heart and I miss the hell out of you, baby girl. I miss seeing your smiling face every morning for your usual bear claw. I miss making grilled cheese sandwiches for you. I even miss you taking Ruby off her job to just talk to her. Emma, please take this help we're offering you. You deserve it, baby. You've been alone for far too long and it's time to remind you that those days are over. You're no longer alone."

Ruby and Zelena made their speeches and Emma was on her fifth tissue, still not able to look up. "Emma, I've known you off and on since we were kids. I can't see you do this to yourself. It hurts so much to see what you've become. I get that your past was horrible, Emma, I know it was, but don't forget what you have now." Lilly sighed. "I love you, Emma, so much and I hope you'll take the help we're offering you."

"Or what, Lilly?" Emma asked quietly, sensing what the girl wasn't saying. "Or you won't be my friend? Like we're kids again? Fine. Don't be my friend. Why are you even here if that's how it is?" Emma honestly didn't know why she was lashing out at Lilly. Maybe it was because she was the only one so far that she felt she actually was close to, or maybe it was a long time coming, she didn't know.

"I'm here because I love you."

"Yeah, so long as I'm a good girl. You're the bad girl, Lilly is that it? You're the only one who's allowed to be bad?"

"No, Emma that's not…" Lilly started but Emma shook her head and Lilly stopped. "I'm not here to fight with you; I'm here to help you."

Regina cleared her throat before Emma could retort. "Emma, we're all here to help you, so please just try and listen. I hated you at first, hated everything you stood for. I'm sure you remember how we butted heads, how we fought, how we were with each other. But you know what? I also admired you. You were so strong, so fierce and so sure of yourself and what you believed. Where did that woman go? Where did your fight go, Emma? I miss the old Emma. I miss my friend." Regina normally would have hated the lump in her throat and tears in her eyes, but right now, they were necessary. "I miss the strong, brave, independent, happy woman who I was proud to call the other mother of my child. The one who challenged me and made me see what I could be. I miss the woman who stood for what was right and wasn't afraid to back down. I miss the woman who saved me from the darkness because she knew she was stronger and could handle it." Regina wiped at her tears and looked at Emma, looked into those forest green eyes. "I miss you, Emma. I want you back."

Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing and she looked at Regina to be sure it was coming from her. Tears fell freely from her eyes as brown orbs found hers and damn it, Emma knew Regina meant everything she was saying. Regina was being honest and raw and vulnerable for her and Emma knew right then, she'd do whatever it took to take the pain away from the woman. "I…I need a break." Emma said, trying to hold in her sob. She stood and went to the bathroom before anyone could stop her and sat on the ground, hugging her knees. What the fuck had she done? How was this her life?

Archie put his hand up to stop Henry from going after Emma. "This is good. It's okay." He looked at the rest of them. "Granny, Ruby, Zelena, Mal and Lilly, I thank you so much for being here, but I sense things may get deep and I think it may be better if it's just the family now, well and Regina."

They nodded and as a group, left the family, making them promise they'd let them know the outcome. Snow went and softly knocked on the bathroom door. "Emma honey? Please come back out here. It's just your father, Henry, Regina, Archie and I."

Emma sighed and stood up, washing her face before coming back out. "I'm sorry." She mumbled and sat back down.

"It's okay." Archie said. "Is it okay if your parents talk?"

Emma just nodded and once again, took Henry's hand in her own.

David cleared his throat. "Emma I…I don't even know how to start this. So many mistakes have been made and I'm sorry for each and every one of them. The help we're offering not only includes detox, but also counseling sessions for you and for us, our family. I think we have many unresolved issues that we need to fix; Emma and we took it for granted when you said you didn't want to talk. We're here now, we hear you and I'm so sorry it took this for us to understand. Please, my princess, please take this help. I can't lose you again." He said, his voice shaking with the raw honesty. "I refuse to let you go again."

Emma wiped her eyes. "How are we supposed to do all that if you send me away again? Last I knew, there's no rehab center here, so I'd have to go away and then I can't even tell the truth. We can't have family sessions and talk about the truth if I'm in some other town."

"That's why you'll be staying here." Snow said softly. "You'll stay and get help here. We will get help. We're all in this together, Emma."

"Here? What do you mean here? Your house? I really don't think little Neal needs to see his sister go through detox and all that comes with it. Henry doesn't need to see that either." Emma added.

"That's why Henry will stay with your parents and I will stay with you." Regina stated. "Either at my house or yours, I'm not fussed either way. I have a nurse ready to be around for the detox and Archie and I set up schedules for rehabilitation. You'll be secluded as you would be at any other rehab, but you'll be free to talk openly and honestly."

Emma looked at her. "Wait…you're going to help me?"

"Yes, Emma. I'm going to do anything and everything I can to help you. You saved me from the darkness once, now it's time I save you."

Henry looked between his moms and then at Emma. "I have a whole letter, but I think you're already agreeing. Maybe you can take it and read it later? I want you to know how I feel, but I think you've been through enough right now."

Emma looked at him and hugged him. "Yes. Okay yes, I'll take the help and I'll read your letter later." She looked at Regina. "This is gonna get rough, Regina. You may end up hating me again."

"Oh I don't doubt that." Regina said with a faint smirk. "But in the end, we'll both come out in the light."

Snow looked at Emma. "You'll really do this? You'll take our help?"

Emma nodded. "Yes, I'll do it. I'm terrified as hell, but I'll do it."

Tearful hugs were given and eventually, Emma headed out with Regina and Archie. It was decided they'd go to Regina's house and while they were there, Snow and David would go through Emma's place to rid it of any drug paraphernalia. Regina used her magic to gather some of Emma's clothes and personal items and once at her house, used her magic to rid it of any alcohol. Even though that wasn't Emma's drug of choice, anything like that was not permitted. Regina went to get the guest room ready as Archie and Emma talked.

"This won't be easy, Emma, but I'm here to help as much as I can. I'm available to you twenty four seven. Any time you need me, you call me."

"Thank you." Emma said, sitting on the sofa with her knees tucked to her chest. "I suppose I'm not allowed my phone or anything?"

"You can have your phone for games, but Regina has shut off any services including internet."

"Am I allowed to smoke regular cigarettes? I don't on a regular basis, but if I can't have anything else, can I at least have those?"

"It's up to Regina if she wants that in her home, but yes, I'd say you can go outside and smoke. I think it will help and we can work on that habit later."

"It's fine if it's outside." Regina said, coming into the room. "I'll do the spell to include the backyard."

"Spell?"

"Yes. I'm not locking you to your room, Miss Swan, but I am keeping you on the property. No one in, no one out without me knowing, other than Archie."

They then went through the rules and logistics and Emma was already feeling a headache. "I think it's starting." She said, feeling more nervous than she sounded.

"The nurse will be here shortly. I've asked her to stay the next twenty four hours at least to make sure what you're going through is normal and doesn't become emergent." Regina noticed the look in Emma's eyes and she knelt down in front of her, taking her hands. "I'm here, Emma. I'm here and will be here for you every step of the way. The nurse is just going to make sure nothing adverse happens. I'm here to support you and try to make you as comfortable as I can."

Emma sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "Thank you." She said quietly. "I think I'm going to go have a smoke before shit gets real."

Regina and Archie watched Emma and then Regina sighed. "She's in for a long night."

"You both are, Regina. She's lucky to have you."

Regina shook her head. "I've been so lucky to have her; I'm simply paying her back. Archie, I want Emma Swan back."

He gave an understanding nod. "We'll get her. She'll be back."