Chapter 1
Emma laid in bed staring at the ceiling. A lot had happened the past few months. She and Henry had returned to Storybrooke after spending a year in Boston without their memories. They battled Regina's sister and won and now Emma was engaged to Killian. She turned to look at her sleeping fiancé and sighed. He had been badgering her to leave Storybrooke with him on the Jolly Roger because he's had a difficult time adjusting to life there.
Emma quietly got out of bed and put on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt. She tied her sneakers and then used her magic to transport herself to her getaway. In an instant, she disappeared in a cloud of white magic and reappeared in front of an old, upright piano; abandoned in an upstairs room of the clock tower. She sat down on the piano bench and slowly raised the fallboard. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and began playing. Her hands gliding over the ivories, finger tips gently pressing the keys in complicated chords. The song that she chose was Clair de lune by Claude Debussy. Her technique was flawless.
Outside the clocktower, people gathered as they happened to be walking by late that night. They knew about 'The Ghost'. For months, gossip about a piano playing ghost had spread around Storybrooke. Each time someone tried to catch the 'ghost', it would disappear mid-concert. No sheet music was ever seen. Eventually, citizens gave up on catching the ghost and instead, embraced the apparition and simply sat on the sidewalk to enjoy the concerts when given.
Once Emma completed her first song, she seamlessly began the next song; Chopin's Polonaise, Op. 53. Her long fingers made the difficult octaves achievable. Her stress was taken out on the old piano as the wood shook from the crescendos. When she was finished, she was panting and finally felt exhausted enough to get some sleep. She transported back to her house and climbed back into bed where she closed her eyes, dreaming of a better life than one on the sea.
"I just don't understand why you won't say yes!" Hook was frustrated while they ate breakfast at Granny's. "Is it because of Regina?"
Emma stopped chewing her pancake and looked up at Hook, "What?"
Hook pursed his lips annoyed that he had to repeat the dreaded words, "Is. It. Because. Of. Regina?"
Emma swallowed hard, "What the fuck does that mean? What does Regina have to do with this?" She grabbed her hot cocoa and took a large sip.
"Don't play dumb, Swan. I see how you look at her. You always choose her over me. If she needs help, you're there in a shot. She says jump and you ask how high".
Emma slammed her mug down, "Regina has nothing to do with this so leave her out of it. She's my friend! Why can't you understand that life at sea doesn't appeal to me?"
Hook stood and threw up his hands. He was about to respond when he caught Regina in the corner of his eye walking across the street towards her car. He turned to Emma and slammed his fist against the table before walking out of the diner and marching towards Regina. Emma's back was to the door so she had no idea he left for any other reason than their disagreement.
As Regina grabbed the door handle of her car, she felt a hand forcefully grab her upper arm and spin her around. "This is all your fault. The Evil Queen will always be a thorn in my side.", Hook sneered.
Confused, Regina tried to pull her arm away to no avail, "Let go of me or you'll lose the other hand, Pirate."
"Not this time, Your Majesty."
Emma stared at her pancakes and lost her appetite. She got up and was about to walk over to Ruby when she noticed the altercation across the street. "Ruby, put the breakfast on my tab!" She then ran out the door towards her fiancé.
Hook raised his hook at Regina, "Emma will never be mine until you're out of the picture." Just as the hook came down, Emma jumped in front of Regina to push her out of the way and ended up getting the hook caught in her back.
"NO!" Regina screamed and raised her hand to release a concentrated surge of magic that pushed Hook to the brick wall across the street. He slammed into the wall and passed out when he landed on the pavement.
"Emma! No, No, No, No", Regina looked up at people beginning to gather, "Someone call an ambulance!" She then held Emma in her lap, blood pooling all over her grey pencil skirt.
Ruby ran out of the diner and over the Regina, "I've called the ambulance. They'll be here in five minutes. Should I call Snow and David?"
Regina kept staring at an unconscious Emma and shook her head, "No, I'll call them once we get to the hospital. Could you cuff Hook and get him to the station?"
Ruby looked back at the still pirate, "Shouldn't I take him to the hospital?"
Regina just sneered at Hook, "No. He can deal."
Ruby ran back to the diner to get her cuffs and deal with Hook just as the ambulance arrived.
"Female, 31 years old, deep laceration to the back. Unconscious since the trauma occurred. Sats are 89%, BP 90/55. Breath sounds absent on the right."
Dr. Whale ran in to treat Emma and turned to Regina, "What the hell happened?"
Regina filled him in and then he had her escorted from the room so he could work.
"Can I get you anything, Mayor Mills?", the nurse asked.
"N..No. Thank you. I need to call her parents." Regina ran her bloody hand through her hair and dug around her purse for her cell phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she found who she was looking for; Thorn in My Side. Clicking the name, the phone rang a couple of times before it picked up, "Hello, Snow. Yes, I'm fine. I'm calling about Emma. She had an accident and is in the hospital."
"Regina! Where's Emma!" Snow ran down the hallway with Charming in tow.
"I don't know, Snow. They're still working on her. I haven't heard anything yet."
Just then, Dr. Whale walked up, "Regina".
Regina whirled around, "Is she alright?"
Dr. Whale saw Snow and David standing there, "I'm afraid I can't discuss Emma without the family's permission." He winced waiting for Regina to yell.
Luckily, Snow immediately spoke up, "It's alright, Dr. Whale. Please tell us about Emma."
Clearing his throat, he continued, "As you know, Emma had a puncture wound in her back which caused one of her lung lobes to collapse; a condition we call pneumothorax. We removed the excess air from her chest cavity which dramatically improved her breathing. We've taken her into surgery now to treat the wound and check for any additional damage."
Regina spoke up, "Will she be alright?"
Dr. Whale stared at Regina, studying her face. He saw more than just regular concern for a friend, "As long as her heart didn't get damaged then she has a good prognosis. We'll keep her for a few days to watch for infection and make sure that her breathing normalizes. We can also keep her pain levels down while here which will help her rest."
The group nodded in understanding and then watched him walk away to check on Emma in surgery.
"Regina, what happened? Why would Hook do this?" Snow asked confused about the morning's events.
"I honestly don't know, Snow. I was walking to my car when he accosted me. He said something about not being able to have Emma as long as I was around." Regina noticed Snow wince and turn away. 'She knows something.' "Snow? Is there something that I should know?"
Snow snapped up to look at her former stepmother and answered quickly, "NO!" She grabbed her husband, "David, let's go find the cafeteria. Regina, should you call Henry?", and then Snow quickly walked away while directing David out of the hall.
Regina watched Snow rush away, 'You aren't off the hook yet, Snow'. Since Henry was in school, Regina wasn't going to interrupt him. She'd wait until he was done and pick him up to fill him in. By then, she'd know more about Emma.
The first thing she heard was the sound of beeping. Constant beeping. 'Where is that coming from?' Then she heard voices that sounded like they were in a tunnel. 'Who is that?' The voices grew clearer as she tried to open her eyes. 'Why can't I move? Why won't my eyes open?' Moaning, she tried again to move her hand and then heard the voices grow louder. "Emma!" 'That sounds like mom and Henry.'
Emma moaned again and tried to move when she felt someone grab her right hand between their hands. 'What a warm feeling. Their hands are so soft. Is that Chanel I smell?' "Re….gi….na".
Everyone looked at Regina as she held onto Emma's hand while Regina just looked at Emma in shock. "Emma? Emma, it's me, Regina. Please open your eyes. Can you squeeze my hand?" Regina looked down at Emma's hand cradled in hers. Two fingers pressed against her palms. Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Regina laughed as tears fell down her cheeks. "Oh, thank God."
Snow was watching her daughter responding to Regina and then walked over to take Emma's other hand, "Emma. Sweetie. It's Mom. Can you squeeze my hand?" Nothing happened. Dejected, Snow laid Emma's hand back on the bed and excused herself for a minute. She knew things had been strained between her and her daughter. Emma had never fully gotten over what Snow and David did to her as a newborn baby. Couple that with Snow's new pregnancy and Emma began to build her walls up higher. David tried to follow Snow, but she asked to be left alone and walked out of the room.
Henry then approached his biological mother and held her hand, "Hey, Ma. I really need you to be ok. No one else can challenge me on Mario Kart. I also need your advice with Grace so you need to wake up."
Regina cocked one eyebrow, wondering if Henry was merely trying to get a rise out of Emma. She'd have to ask him more about Grace later. 'Does he confide in Emma more than he does me?'
Emma's face scrunched up and she squinted her eyes as they slowly opened. "Henry."
Everyone smiled and Henry leaned over to carefully hug his blonde mother, "I'm so glad you're awake. I was so worried." He allowed tears to fall since his face was buried in Emma's gown.
Emma slowly lifted her left arm to wrap around Henry. It was painful, but she needed to comfort her son. "I'm alright, Henry.", she whispered. He simply nodded while still buried in her chest. Emma then looked to her right to see Regina, "Hey."
Regina smiled, "Hey, yourself. How are you feeling?"
"My back really hurts on the right side. I'm afraid to take a deep breath or move my right arm. Are you ok?
"What?! Am I ok? Emma, you're in the hospital after taking a hook to the back. Why on earth would you be asking me that?" Regina was dumbfounded at Emma's priorities.
"Because I need to know if he hurt you." Emma answered matter-of-factly.
Regina swallowed the lump in her throat, "You saved me, Emma. I'm so sorry. I should have used magic on him before he could hurt you. This is my fault."
Emma tried to shake her head, but it hurt too much, "No, it's not. I'm the fool that accepted his proposal. I'm such an idiot." Tears filled Emma's green eyes and she struggled to hold them off, but they simply filled until they spilled over the edges of her eyes and down her face. "I wanted to make everyone happy. My parents said he was my happy ending. He said I was his happy ending. I was trying to do the right thing." She continued to sob.
David remained silent as he listened and guilt took over his face. He shuffled in place while putting his hands in his pockets. He then cleared his throat and walked over to his daughter while staring at the floor, "Hey, Sweetie. I'm so sorry we put that pressure on you. That was never our intention. We just wanted you to be happy and we thought we were doing the right thing."
Regina glared at David, but kept her mouth shut. She knew it was Emma's decision on how to handle this. Emma then looked around and then back to her dad, "Where's Mom?"
"Um. She stepped out for a minute, but was going to come back. I'll go find her. She'll want to know that you're awake." He then hurried out of the room to find Snow and escape the awkward setting.
After Charming left, Henry turned to his mother's right arm concerned, "Mom, can you move your right arm and hand?"
Emma knew what he was concerned about. He was the only one who knew the true identity of the ghost. "It hurts too much to try right now."
Nodding, Henry then swallowed and held his mother's left hand a little tighter.
"Henry, can I have a moment in private to speak with your mother?", Regina asked.
"Sure, Mom. Just come and get me. Would you like some coffee? I'll go to the cafeteria and get some."
"That would be great, Henry. Thank you." Regina smiled at her son. She was so proud at how mature and considerate he was.
Once Henry stepped out, Regina kept hold of Emma's hand and allowed her magic to flow into Emma. The warmth spread across Emma's body and she began to feel her pain subside. She looked to Regina who had her eyes closed in concentration. When she was finished, Regina opened her eyes and released her hold on Emma's right hand. Emma slowly raised her right arm, fully anticipating the pain to come, but it never did.
She smiled and then looked to Regina, "What did you do?", she asked while opening and closing her right fist in a test.
"I healed the more superficial wounds. I was able to heal the muscle tissue and skin, but your lungs and other internal organs will need to heal on their own. I don't trust myself to try to fix what I can't see."
Emma took her first deep breath and while a little painful, it was so much easier now. "Thank you so much, Regina." She smiled and then closed her eyes to take additional deep breaths.
"Emma, what happened out there? What was Hook talking about?"
Emma's expression grew serious. Regina could tell there was fear in her eyes. Emma tried to look away, but Regina grabbed her chin and gently turned it so that Emma was looking into her eyes. "Tell me."
The door to Emma's room flew open and Robin rushed in, "Regina! Are you alright? I heard what happened in town from the dwarves." He rushed over and pulled Regina into a tight hug. Emma rolled her eyes and looked away. She had no desire to watch this.
Regina patted Robin on the back as he kissed her up and down and then pulled back to look her over and check for injuries. "I'm fine, Robin. Emma saved me." He then turned to Emma who was staring out her window.
"Oh, Emma. How are you feeling?" Robin grew uncomfortable and wrapped an arm around Regina's shoulders while kissing her temple.
"I'm doing much better, Robin. Thanks for asking." Emma then addressed Regina, "I'm feeling kind of tired. Would you mind if I got some rest?" Her voice was monotone, her face lacking emotion.
"Not at all. We can catch up another time then." Regina nodded and then stared at Emma for a few more seconds. Emma just kept looking out her window and then closed her eyes as if to make the point. Regina got the hint and walked out with Robin to go and find Henry.
A month later, Emma was doing considerably better. She was back at work, but was now avoiding Regina. She had no desire to finish their conversation from the hospital. Hook was still in jail and awaiting trial which was a relief to Emma as she was able to sleep in her own bed without worry of him coming home.
She had just arrived home from her shift at the department and was feeling frustrated. Her parents were skittish around her these days, her fiancé was crazy, and she was avoiding Regina. She was in a slump. She needed to decompress. Looking at the clock, it was 6:00pm. A grin spread on her face and she flexed her fingers as she transported herself to the piano in the clock tower. She'd never played this early in the day, but she had been away from the piano since her accident. She needed this.
Her foot on the pedal, she began playing the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. She closed her eyes and allowed the music to overtake her. People getting off work had heard the music and gathered on the sidewalk. Some took chairs out of the library and sat outside to listen.
About 8 minutes into the song, Regina happened to be walking by and noticed the crowd. "What's everyone doing here?", she asked Marco who was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed.
"The ghost is playing again! Isn't it wonderful?"
Regina stood and watched as more and more people gathered to enjoy the concert. She looked up to the clock tower and stared as if the ghost would reveal itself. She had never heard the ghost play, but had heard stories. 'Incredible. Whoever this is…they're amazing!'
Minutes later, the third movement of the Sonata began. Regina could sense the emotions behind the playing. While intense, their technique was light and flawless. When the song ended, Regina's eyes opened and she felt so relaxed. 'Who is this? I'm going to find out.' Regina decided to use her magic to teleport to the top of the tower and catch the virtuoso. She instantly appeared in the piano room, but it was empty, save for remnants of magic. Walking over the piano, Regina studied the scene. 'There are not many magic users in this town so that narrows it down.' She then looked in the piano bench for sheet music, but found none. 'This person is playing by memory?' Giving up her search, she transported back to her house to get dinner ready for Henry that evening.
"That was too close. Guess I won't be playing that early in the day from now on." Emma talked to herself while microwaving some leftover pizza. Just then, her cell phone rang and when she looked to see who was calling, a smile grew on her face.
"Well hey, stranger! How are you?"
A frail voice answered on the other end, "Not good, Emma."
Emma's color paled when she heard the woman's sickly voice with a slurred speech, "What's wrong, Audrey?"
"I had a stroke, Em. When they did further testing, they found a tumor in my brain.", her voice cracked as she explained to Emma.
"Oh God. Audrey. What can I do? You need someone to help you." Emma knew she had no one. All her family members were dead and gone. The Music Hall was left to Audrey in her father's will, but she had struggled to keep it afloat. Emma knew that if she had a stroke, she could no longer perform and keep the band going. "I'll come to Boston to take care of you. You did so much for Henry and I. I won't turn my back on you now."
All Emma heard was croaks and hiccups on the other end. She knew Audrey had lost her composure. "Emma, I hate asking you to do this. You have a life now in Storybrooke and I can't ask you to leave Henry."
Emma rolled her eyes at that, "He can visit any time he wants and he'll understand because you are family to us. We love you, Hon." Emma's eyes slowly teared up as she swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to keep her voice steady.
"Ok, Em. Thank you. Really."
Emma could tell Audrey had felt a weight was lifted knowing she had help on the way.
"I'll let everyone know and ask for an indefinite leave from work. Hopefully I can leave in the next 24 hours. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"I will, Em. Thank you." Audrey sniffled and hiccuped some more.
After ending the call, Emma quickly called Henry and filled him in. "I want to go with you, Ma. I can help."
Emma smiled at that, "I know, Henry, but you need to stay here with your mother. You have school and your mother needs you here. I promise I will call you if I need anything. Maybe Regina will let you visit." Emma then grew more serious, "Henry, is Regina home this evening? I need to fill her in and tell her I'm leaving indefinitely."
"Yeah, she's home. She's just working on paperwork in her study right now. You may as well pop in now since you need to leave quickly. I'll let her know that you're coming."
Emma cringed, knowing Regina was probably not too happy with her right now, "Thanks, Kid. I'll see you shortly."
20 minutes later, Emma was knocking on the door at 108 Mifflin. When the door swung open, a stone-faced Regina stood staring at Emma unamused, "To what do I owe this late-night visit, Ms. Swan?"
'Ms. Swan, eh? You must be really pissed at me.' I'm sorry to bother you, Regina, but an emergency has come up and I need to leave town for a while.
Regina's body stiffened at this, "Please come in, Sheriff." Regina opened the door wider to invite Emma in and then silently walked to her study assuming Emma would follow.
"Have a seat, Ms. Swan. Would you like something to drink?"
"Oh. Um. No thank you. I can't stay too long. I have to pack."
Regina bristled at this, "Yes, you mentioned having to leave town. What happened?"
Emma shuffled in her spot on the couch and looked down at her hands, "A dear friend of mine called me this afternoon and said she had stroke and they found a brain tumor. She doesn't have any family. Henry and I are her closest family so I would like to leave to help take care of her. I don't know how long I'll be gone though, but I need to do this for her. She did so much for me when I was younger and she helped Henry and I when we were gone that year."
Regina stood up and poured herself a generous glass of cider before she spoke, "And what about your family? What about Henry? What about your job?" Regina was glaring at Emma.
Feeling like she was under a microscope, Emma played with her fingers and gripped the couch cushions tight until her knuckles were white, "Henry is aware of what's going on. He wanted to come, but I told him to stay here and maybe you'd allow him to visit her some time. David can be the interim sheriff."
Regina nodded in agreement, "You didn't mention your parents."
Emma looked away at that, "I think it'll be good to get away and give them and myself a break."
Regina stared at Emma and studied her expression. "It sounds like you've got everything covered then."
Emma turned back to Regina and nodded and then stood up, "Well, I best get going so that I can pack. Thank you for being so understanding."
Before she could walk out of the study, Regina addressed her again, "Emma, wait!" Emma stopped and turned around, "Did you take piano lessons as a child?"
Emma snorted at this, "In foster care? Yeah right. I can't read a note to save my life." She then turned around to continue to the front door.
"Not so fast, Emma." Regina walked up to Emma and stood directly in front of her, "You still owe me an explanation about Hook's behavior. What did he mean when he said what he said to me?"
Emma swallowed hard and her eyes grew wide. She continued to look into deep caramel colored irises. "It doesn't matter, Regina. Just let it go. It's over." Emma turned to leave, but was grabbed by Regina.
"No. I want an answer."
Sensing that Regina wasn't going to let this go, Emma weighed her options. She could tell Regina and then leave town. She'd get it off of her chest, but wouldn't have to face the consequences because she'd be gone and Regina could live happily ever with Robin. Or, she could lie and piss Regina off even more. Either way, she'd anger the former queen.
Emma being Emma decided 'what the hell' and grabbed Regina's face and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Those soft, plump red lips were glorious to Emma. A dream come true. Both women were so caught up that they failed to notice the white circle of magic that was emitted from their bodies. Emma pulled back and ran out the door leaving Regina in shock and speechless. She touched her lips where Emma's lips had just been and felt a tingle.
"Mom! Robin is on the phone!" Henry called from his room upstairs causing Regina to snap out of her haze.
"Ok! I'll pick up the phone down here." Regina slowly walked back to her study and picked up the phone receiver with shaky hands, "Hi, Robin."