Snow looked exhausted from Emma's seat in the front row of town hall. She wasn't exaggerating when she said that the entire town was seated behind her. Regina sat to her right while David sat to her left. Henry was with Granny at the mansion. There were things that might be said today that Emma couldn't bear to let him hear. It was too much for the boy to have to deal with.
Snow had taken the morning to meet with every single person in town who wanted to meet with her to discuss the charges that should be brought against Regina. The meeting was simple. The charges would be read. However, there was a twist. In an unusual stroke of brilliance, David suggested that charges be brought against anyone and everyone who had done anything wrong. Ruby herself agreed to be charged with the murder of her boyfriend so many years ago to try to prove a point that bad circumstances led to bad things. Regina would have some type of punishment. There was no question about that, but Snow wouldn't allow her to be put to death or locked up. She wouldn't hurt her daughter like that.
After the charges had been read against everyone, a vote would be taken. The options were simple for each person with charges: prison, community service, or no punishment. Snow refused to put execution on anyone's list. Good people didn't kill other people no matter what the circumstances were.
Snow stood, and the room went silent.
"You have all been given the opportunity to discuss the charges you would like brought up against citizens of this town. I will read them off now." Snow began before holding up three cards. Three people would be getting charged with something, and Emma had no idea who it would be other than Regina. She hadn't been a part of any of the conversations that morning.
"Ruby 'Red' Lucas." Snow read out loud earning a gasp from the crowd. Emma looked to her right to find Ruby who sat without emotion on her face. She had known this was coming. "Non-premeditated murder. I would like to point out that this occurred when Ruby was unaware of the wolf inside of her which she had no control over. She now does have control over her wolf as evident by the fact that she has changed three times since the curse broke without any harm to anyone."
Snow lifted her head to look around the room before looking down at her second card. "Leroy or Grumpy as we know him." Leroy stood from his seat then, but a stern look from David had him sitting back down. "These crimes have all occurred here in Storybrooke, but they were never punished at all. Two counts of driving under the influence, thirteen counts of disorderly conduct, four counts of disturbing the peace, and ten counts of destruction of public property are the charges. I would like to point out that in this land these charges would have resulted in a loss of a driver's license, ten years in prison for the second DUI offense, over 1,000 hours of community service, fines of over $100,000, and inclusion in an alcohol control program. No one was injured in either DUI case; however, we cannot ignore the fact that someone could have been."
Snow looked around the room again before her eyes landed on Emma. Emma was holding Regina's hand tight in her own. The final index card she held in her hand made her stomach drop. "Regina Mills." You could have heard a pin drop in the room due to the silence. "The sexual coercion and murder of Graham Humbert, seventy four counts of kidnapping for the children brought here by the curse, four hundred counts of memory falsification and movement against their will for the adults brought here by the curse, one hundred counts of murder for guards and villagers from the enchanted forest, and the general use of dark magic. In this land these charges would either result in death or life in prison." Snow remained silent for a few minutes before she started to speak again.
"There is new information that we would like to make known before we put this to a vote. Cora Mills, Regina's mother, was verbally and physically abusive to Regina as a young woman. She grew up in captivity. As many of you know Cora was born a miller's daughter before marrying Prince Henry and giving birth to Regina. Cora also ripped out the heart of Regina's first love and killed him after I told her about him. Regina was forced into marriage to my father, and she was sexually assaulted by him after refused to be intimate with him."
Regina's grip tightened on Emma's hand at her weaknesses being presented to the entire town. "The final person I would like to call to attention is Mr. Gold. Before you vote you should know that he created the curse. Regina enacted it after being trained in dark magic by him. As he has disappeared, there is nothing we can do to detain him now, but we are aware of the reason behind this. Many years ago he chose to send his son though a portal instead of giving up his magic. The curse was cast to bring us all to this world where his son resides so that he could find him. We are unaware of his son's whereabouts; however, we have decided to add all of Leroy and Regina's charges together against the Dark One due to his part in this curse."
"I don't want anyone to panic, but the final piece of this puzzle is simple. Emma and Regina encountered Captain Hook and Cora in the Enchanted Forest. They were attempting to get to Storybrooke. I do not need to tell you the danger of that." Emma looked around at the crowd. They were silent, but there was fear obvious on their faces. If they were afraid of Regina, they were completely terrified of Cora.
Snow passed out three voting cards for each person with charges. They were to be placed in the appropriate boxes before the blue fairy counted them. The group was given a two hour recess while the counting occurred.
Emma stood in the empty room with Regina not aware of her mother and father watching them from the back of the room.
"Everything is going to be alright." Emma said pulling Regina into her.
"After today, I do not think they will put me to death, but I can't guarantee that they won't send me to prison for the rest of my life. If they do that I need to know that you will take care of Henry." Regina said sounding like she was pleading with Emma.
"You know I will." Emma said placing a kiss to Regina's lips. Snow was overwhelmed by the change in Regina's face. The way Regina looked at Emma showed nothing but true love shining through. The two women were standing there. Regina's hands were placed on either side of Emma's face while Emma held her by the waist. Foreheads were pressed together as they spoke softly to each other.
"I love you Regina." Emma said softly with a single tear spilling down her face.
"I love you too Emma. I hope you never doubt that." Regina responded. They kissed so long that David had to look away. Snow couldn't. Whatever happened today would affect Emma and Henry just as much as Regina.
After the two hours passed, everyone returned. Snow held in her hand the report from the blue fairy. She unfolded it slowly. Three hundred votes had been casted.
"Ruby Lucas." She read before reading the results out loud. "Four votes for prison, forty votes for community service, and 256 for no punishment."
"Leroy." Snow scanned the numbers before she read them out loud. She wasn't surprised by Ruby's votes, but she was surprised by this one. 112 for prison, 117 for community service, and 71 for no punishment."
She took the time to look at Emma and Regina before reading the final line. "Regina Mills. 210 for prison, fifty for community service, and forty for no punishment."
"This town meeting is adjourned. Charming, the blue fairy, and I will decide verdicts. These will be announced tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Those charged are the only ones required to be there." Everyone stood and exited at once before Snow rushed to Regina and Emma.
"Don't." Emma said before Snow could speak. "We are going home to spend what might be our last night together with our son."
Snow's heart broke at the hurt on Emma's face. Regina didn't seem fazed by the revelation.
Emma and Regina had decided to keep things happy for Henry without ignoring what could occur. "Henry." Emma began after they had finished dinner. "We want you to know that there is a high possibility that you mother will go to jail tomorrow."
"How long?" Henry asked looking a little bit terrified.
"We aren't sure honey." Regina said smiling at him. "We want you to know that so that you aren't surprised tomorrow."
"Ok." Henry said with a small voice. While Regina was making dinner Emma had a long conversation with him so that he understood that there really wasn't anything that could be done about any of this other than Regina cooperating with what they wanted.
That night Emma stood in the moonlight of their bedroom looking at Regina standing in front of her. They were both mentally exhausted, but they didn't want to sleep. Emma shifted. She had already gotten herself ready for the sex that she knew would come. It was going to be rough, and she knew it. Regina had been keeping her emotions inside all day, and she knew that she had to have some type of release before the next day came.
Regina was on Emma quickly roughly pushing her back into the bedroom wall. Regina forced her tongue into Emma's mouth relentlessly as she let her tongue explore every single crevice burning it into her memory.
Emma's hips pushed forward as the member that normally wasn't in her pants rubbed against Regina's thigh. The brunette growled into Emma's mouth before pulling back and pushing Emma down on the bed. Regina took her own clothes off before she climbed up the bed to a waiting Emma. It was easy to forget everything that was happening with Regina making her way above her. Regina helped Emma quickly out of her clothes before positioning the member at the entrance of her waiting center. There was no foreplay needed for this.
Emma watched from below as Regina lowered herself on it. Regina's hands were on Emma's tight stomach as she moved up and down. Regina's thrusts were hard as they met every lift of Emma's hips. This was rough and quick as dark red fingernails dug into Emma's skin. Regina's pleasure ripped through her throat as she came tumbling down on top of Emma. Emma let her ride out her orgasm before she removed the strap on earning a grunt from Regina. Emma kicked it off as slow strokes slid through tangled brown hair.
Regina's breathing evened out when dark brown eyes locked onto green ones. "No matter what happens, I am always going to be yours." Emma said with an intensity that normally would have scared Regina.
"I know." Regina said with a sad smile.
"Hey." Emma said bring Regina's lips up to her own. "Tonight is about us Regina. Let me take the pain away." Emma said pulling her in for another kiss. Spending the night making love after their getting out frustrations fuck was an easy way to forget the verdict that would be delivered the next day.
Town hall was again full as Emma and Regina sat in the very front waiting for Snow to enter. Regina's face looked impassive, but the way she clung to Emma's hand made it clear what she was feeling.
Snow entered the room. It was obvious to Emma that she hadn't slept the night before. She hated that she had been ignoring the effect that this must be having on her mother. The room was silent.
"Thank you all for coming. I would like to state that these verdicts are final. There will be no discussing them, and they will be served without question." Snow looked around the room as Charming stood next to her with a sword at his side in case anyone decided to object.
"Ruby Lucas will receive no punishment." Snow read out. Emma could hear Ruby's sigh. She knew that Ruby thought she deserved more. Emma also knew that there wasn't really a price that you could place on a life. "Leroy will serve one year in prison where he will be allowed to complete 1,000 hours of community service on Saturday and Sunday. He will be forced to pay $50,000 of the damages that he has caused." Emma looked back at Leroy who already seemed a little intoxicated. A year wasn't that long, but she wondered if he even had close to that kind of money. Regina had told her once that everyone was set to live a comfortable life, but it was obvious that there was a discretion in the wealth in the town.
Emma felt like an eternity pasted before Snow finally looked at her to read the final verdict. "Regina Mills will spend thirty years in prison in which she will promise not to use magic. She will be allowed out of prison on Saturdays to spend two hours using magic fixing anything that will be necessary in the town or helping anyone with illnesses or injuries. She will also receive two hours each Saturday to spend with Henry as we feel the boy should not be punished for her actions."
Everyone watched as Regina crumpled into Emma's arms. It was obvious by the expression on their faces that no one really believed Regina loved Emma until that moment. Regina cried freely into Emma's shoulder. She didn't cry for her punishment. She cried for her loss. Two hours a week she would spend with Henry. She would miss so much of his life. She would miss so much of Emma's life. Emma held her up as the brunette's knees had gone weak.
Emma pulled back and kissed her hard before Henry came hurling around the corner into his mother's arms. "I love you Mom." He said as tears streamed down his face. "I love you too." Regina said.
Snow spoke again causing all of the people to turn from Emma and Regina to her. "The blue fairy has magically reinforced the two cells in the sheriff's station. Emma will be in charge of keeping an eye on the prisoners during the day as well as ensuring that every obligation of their charges are taken care of. Leroy will be granted visitation for two hours each day. The following rules will apply to both prisoners. They will be given breakfast, lunch, and dinner that will consist of a balanced meal of Granny's choosing. There will be no alcohol consumption. The sheriff will not let either out unless it is within the conditions of their punishment. The sheriff will not enter either cell. The blue fairy's changes include blocking in the middle and side walls as well as the front wall. The only view into the cell will be from a small window. There will be sinks and a toilet in each for personal hygiene as well as a telephone for communication with the sheriff. They will be allowed pencils, paper, and books with a two letter a week allowance."
Emma's eyes never left Regina's. If there was an upside to this it was that she could at least be close to Regina. She pulled the brunette in for a kiss. "All prisoners will report to the sheriff's station at 5 PM." Snow stated as town hall erupted in discussion.
Before anyone could leave a loud bang erupted at the front of the room where none other than Captain Hook and Cora appeared. David drew his sword while Snow stood beside him. Emma and Regina stepped to their side. Regina's hands were already raised. The blue fairy joined them while Henry was pushed back towards safety.
"You may want to reconsider putting my daughter in prison." Cora stated. "You know what happens when her back is against the wall. Join me dear."
"No." Regina spat out. Her disgust was clear.
"No?" Cora laughed. "We could rule this town together dear. No need to be locked up for thirty years or stick around for mediocre sex." Cora looked right at the blonde. Emma was protective before. Now she was furious. No one called out her skills in bed.
"I will not join you. I will serve out the term that you put on me, and I will not let you hurt my family." A fire ball formed in Regina's hand before Cora could respond. It was deflected by the older brunette immediately before the two disappeared in another cloud of purple smoke.
Everyone panicked at once. "Everyone quiet." Snow shouted rendering the room silent.
She pulled the blue fairy, Regina, Emma, and David into the small room near town hall.
"We put a protection spell around this place for anyone who wants to stay, and we leave them here. We have to have a plan, and we will take down Cora. Are you with us Regina?"
Every eye was on the brunette as she looked up. "Yes, I am." It was a simple statement but it spoke volumes.
Few chose to leave. Most knew what Cora was capable of. They decided on a simple strategy. David, Emma, Regina, and Snow would go to the main street and meet Cora in two days time. In the meantime Emma would be concentrating on controlling her magic. They had a plan, but no one knew how it would end.