A/N: I'm not going to lie, it's been difficult to write SwanQueen with everything that's going on right now. I won't address it here anymore than to ask that everyone please just be respectful and kind to one another. People on BOTH sides of this argument are better than the way they're behaving and it's going to destroy the fandom if allowed to run rampant.
Anyway, I did this for the reviewers. Specifically chelseakeeou. Because I don't want anyone to be sad right now.
Chapter 7
"It's been a little over a week since I've actually spoken to her," Regina stated to Dr. Hopper as she tried to figure out a way to explain the parameters of her issues with Emma without giving away the particulars.
She'd refrained from communicating with the stubborn and angry sheriff with the exception of a taciturn text here and there regarding the details of seeing Henry. She'd told her that using the boy against her was no longer on the table and Regina wasn't about to go back on that promise, even though she longed to spark some kind of reaction that would lead to a meeting.
Her patience had started to wear thin. It wasn't as if she'd locked Emma away in some dungeon and tortured her. All she'd done was taken her life away and bottle it for safe keeping. What was so unforgiveable about that? Honestly, it hadn't changed anything about the logistics of their situation. There was simply a new component to their infinite power play: one that put Regina on top. And she was growing ever closer to utilizing it.
"What was the reason for your quarrel?" Archie asked. He'd been genuinely curious as to what transpired between the women since that night last week when Emma had shown up at his door looking utterly distraught.
"I'd rather not rehash the details with you, given your level of involvement with both Ms. Swan and my son, so for the sake of brevity let's just say I've backed her into a corner and she doesn't seem to enjoy it very much."
"Ok," the therapist scoured his mind to try to figure out what that really meant but nothing rang through. "Why did you back her into this corner? I thought things were going well for the two of you."
"They were," she answered matter-of-factly, all sentiment thrown to the wayside. "But that happiness was threatened and needed to be protected. I did what I had to do to ensure that, one way or another, Ms. Swan would not be taken away from me."
Archie's eyes grew wide, "Did you... did you blackmail Emma?"
Dark eyes took on a repulsed expression before they rolled in annoyance at his question. Blackmail was so pedestrian.
"No, I did not, Doctor," she answered. "And even if I did, do you think I'd go around telling people I'd blackmailed the sheriff of the town? I simply... hold the upper hand when it comes to her now and she obviously resents that."
"Regina, from what you are telling me it seems that the main thing you were trying to avoid was losing Ms. Swan, but in order to keep that from happening you... did something to her that has caused her to pull away from you anyway. Do you truly think that was the best course of action?"
"Of course I found it to be the best course of action!" she raised her voice. "Do you think I just go around making flippant decisions simply to amuse myself?"
"No, no," he put his hands up in defense. "It just seems that... well it seems as if you've lost her anyway, from what you're telling me."
"Only because I'm allowing her some time to get used to this new... arrangement," she scoffed. "She doesn't really have a choice in the matter."
He studied the woman as if she were one of those unbelievable cases in his college text books. Archie hadn't completely decided that Regina Mills was a sociopath, but she was certainly helping him build a case for it with her casual statement about hijacking someone's physical freedom.
"Regina, this isn't healthy," he explained. "You can't simply force people to do what you want. True love and affection can't exist without permission and acceptance. It can't be forcefully taken."
"I'm well aware of the rules regarding True Love, Doctor. I don't think I need to be reminded of them by someone who never seems to be in a relationship."
He shook his head at the slight she'd thrown. This was the Regina the town was used to seeing. Whatever positive progress she'd made during her brief honeymoon period with Emma had disappeared and the mayor had obviously regressed right back to where she'd started. He tried a different tactic.
"Did Ms. Swan seem hurt during your last meeting?" he asked.
The briefest flicker of emotion crossed her face as she thought back to tear-filled green eyes and a plea from downturned lips for them to try to fix things without the magic... but it disappeared as quickly as it manifested and Regina was back to business as usual.
"She seemed more befuddled and angry than anything but, yes, there was a modicum of pain reflected in her words and actions," she nodded.
"And how did that make you feel?" he asked.
"I'll admit that it did evoke a certain emotional discomfort at the time but I've gotten over it," she replied flatly. "Ms. Swan's reaction was overblown and unwarranted. Fretting about it doesn't interest me."
"Regina, I'm sorry, but you don't get to decide the validity of another person's feelings. That's one thing we're all entitled to whether others like it or not."
"Well, by that logic, I guess you don't get to tell me how to feel about hurting Ms. Swan then, do you?"
This was why Archie actually preferred working with children. They didn't employ logic nearly as much as adults did.
"Fair enough, Madam Mayor," he sighed in defeat. "What do you plan to do in regards to the sheriff now?"
"Well, I think a conversation is in order first," she crossed her arms as she thought. "Hopefully, she's had enough time to cool down and is open to listening to reason. Once she agrees that I've been right all along then we should be able to pick up where we left off. It might not be perfect but, in the end, I'll get what I want."
"And if she isn't receptive to you words?" he inquired.
She simply cocked her head at this statement and answered confidently, "As I just said, Doctor, in the end I'll get what I want."
Emma's phone rang and vibrated from within the confines of her back jean pocket and she rearranged the files in her hands so she could answer it as she walked towards the police station.
"Hello," she answered.
"Emma, it's Dr. Hopper," the soft voice expressed on the other end of the line.
"Oh, hey Doc," she greeted him as she put her key in the door and entered the station. "Is everything ok? Is something wrong with Henry?"
"No, no, everything is fine with Henry. I was actually calling because I'm worried about you," he explained. "You seemed very sad and worried the last time we spoke. I was hoping I could talk you into stopping by the office sometime this week. Free of charge. I'm asking as a friend who's worried about you."
His kindness and sincerity touched her and she allowed a sad smile to cross her face as she answered.
"I really appreciate that, Archie, but honestly there's not a whole lot you can do to help me right now. I'm kind of caught between a rock and a hard place and I've got to figure my own way out this time."
"You could still use someone to talk to about your situation," he pressed. "Sometimes it's just nice to talk to someone about your problems, even if they can't actually fix them... That's kind of why I have a job."
This evoked a genuine chuckle from her but still she shook her head, "I do appreciate it, Doc, but I don't think it's something I'm ready to talk about just yet. It's still kind of new."
"I understand," he said, respecting her reluctance. "If you do find yourself wanting someone to talk to, please don't hesitate to call. You know how to reach me."
"That I do. Thanks Archie."
"Goodbye, Emma."
She ended the call and placed the phone back in her pocket before setting her files on the desk and running her hands through her hair. Truth be told, she wanted to talk about what was going on more than anything but there was just no way to do it without sounding completely insane.
And who was she really supposed to turn to anyway?
Archie, a trained psychologist who could tell her exactly what kind of crazy she was?
Mary Margaret, her fairytale mother that abandoned her to this shitty world?
No, sadly this was her cross to bear at the moment. Regina had made sure of that.
The buzzing and ringing of her phone startled her from her thoughts and she swore at the intrusion before answering it.
"Jesus Christ, Doc, you've seriously got to get a life," she answered without even looking at the caller ID. "Go take Pongo for a walk or something."
"While I am somewhat fond of animals, Ms. Swan, I don't think stealing them for the purpose of 'getting a life' is well within my best interest," the velvety voice answered on the other end.
"Regina," Emma uttered, somewhat shocked. "I thought you were someone else."
"Yes, I caught onto that, dear. No need to state the obvious," she said smugly causing Emma to shake her head in annoyance.
"What do you want?" she snapped back.
"Is that anyway to speak to your vocational superior? Surely you have more sense than that, Sheriff."
"Excuse me," Emma started over. "What do you want, Your Majesty?"
It was a dig and they both knew it. A rush of anger passed through Regina, but she decided to let it abate for the time being. She needed to talk to Emma and that wasn't going to happen if she couldn't even get her in the same room with her.
"It seems someone has been tampering with my office safe," she lied. "I need you to come down and dust it for fingerprints so that the culprit can be found."
"Was anything stolen?" the Sheriff asked, buying the fib since she couldn't see Regina.
"No, but should anyone gain access to it they'd have confidential documents regarding many important members of the town... Including yourself," she answered. "And even if there was no specific threat to those documents, I am still the mayor of this town and you are still the sheriff. You will respect my authority or your will turn in your badge."
Emma kicked at the desk softly in frustration, "When do you want me to come by?"
"No time like the present," Regina answered. "As I understand it, Pongo is well within the possession of Dr. Hopper so there shouldn't be much taking up your time."
Emma nearly laughed out of reminiscence. Regina couldn't even invite her over without demeaning her profession to that of a dog catcher.
"Fine, I'm on my way," she said, hanging up the phone without so much as a goodbye.
Seeing Regina truly was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment but she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid her forever. And perhaps now was a good time to start figuring out exactly how she was going to get herself out of this mess; something she couldn't do without more information from the woman who'd gotten her into it in the first place.
A knock at the door pulled Regina from the files she was perusing. According to Emma's reports, there had been no complaints about odd dreams from anyone in town since the last time they'd seen each other. The thought was perplexing given the unarguable implication it presented but it changed nothing in the end. Regina would still end up with Emma somehow. It just might not be the way the Savior wanted it.
The mayor stood stopping briefly at the mirror to take in her appearance and, after an unneeded hair flip, finally made her way to the door. She wasn't expecting the effect Emma's physical appearance would have on her. The woman looked the same way she always did but, after a week of separation, it seemed as if she'd only grown more attractive to the predatory mayor.
"Sheriff, do come in," she commanded, moving back to allow her entrance.
Regina wasn't the only one experiencing sensory overload from their mere proximity. As much as Emma loathed the effect the other woman's presence had, she couldn't deny that simply being near her was always a monumental occasion. But she certainly wasn't going to act as such.
"Where's the safe?" she asked nonchalantly.
Though she was somewhat annoyed by Emma's lack of reaction, Regina still forced herself to keep things civil.
"Right this way," she said, leading the sheriff over to the safe. Regina had even left the door ajar for the purpose of authenticity.
"Any idea who might have wanted to get in here?" Emma asked as she knelt down and opened up her forensic kit.
"Not particularly," Regina stood close by, crossing her arms and allowing a ravishing view of her bare legs below the pencil skirt. "Though, I'm sure there are plenty of people in this town who wish to know my secrets."
"And then there are those of us who would give anything to not know them," Emma said at full volume as she started spreading the printing dust.
"Is that how we're going to start this conversation? With you stating your preference for ignorance?" Regina asked.
"I'm sure I don't know what conversation you're referring to, Madam Mayor. I'm just here to solve a crime."
"You know exactly the conversation I'm referring to and if I were you, Ms. Swan, I'd stop playing coy and start asking questions. We need to talk about this if we're to move on."
"Move on to what?" Emma asked, genuinely confused.
"The next stage of our relationship, of course," Regina stated as if she were reciting that two plus two equaled four.
This actually caused Emma to halt her labors and stand to address the mayor in utter disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious," Regina answered, baffled as to why this concept was so difficult for Emma to comprehend. "I told you I did this so that we could be together. Did you think I was joking about that? Now, I've given you time enough to pout about the inconvenience of the knowledge you now have about who I am and what I've done but I'm beginning to grow impatient and I think it's time that you face facts. You need to get over this adolescent fit you're throwing."
Emma's eyes grew wide as she tried to fathom this woman's propensity for the understatement.
"Regina, you cursed an entire realm and then sucked the life out of me to keep it that way! I'm not throwing an adolescent fit; I'm reeling from your betrayal and trying to come to terms with the fact that fairytales are real."
"Oh please, do drop the dramatics, dear. People in your land believe in fairytales all the time, they simply call it religion," she moved closer to her. "And I did not betray you; I protected you in a manner of which you did not approve. One that worked, by the way. The dreams have stopped. It was us causing the spell to break and I made sure that didn't happen."
"What do you mean? How were we causing the spell to break?" Emma asked.
"The only magic that exists in both my world and yours is True Love," Regina explained. "True Love is the only thing strong enough to break any curse. Ergo, two of the citizens of this town were getting dangerously close to being in True Love. And if you hadn't reacted so poorly to my solution last night I would have explained that to you."
Emma didn't think it was possible for her to be any more shocked at her situation than she was one week ago, but somehow it had managed to happen.
"Are you saying that you and I are each other's True Love?" she asked incredulously.
"Have you had any reports of the dreams since you stormed out of my home last week?" Regina answered obviously.
"So, what, if we kissed right now the dreams would start back up?" the blonde asked.
"What? No!" Regina answered, getting frustrated. "I swear, it's like teaching math to a monkey. True Love can only exist in the presence of free will. When I took your life force, I gained indefinite power over you. You no longer have free will and, therefore, cannot break the curse."
Green eyes were still surveying her with incredulity.
"Do you even hear yourself when you speak?" Emma asked shaking her head angrily. "You just talked about my life, my chances at love and my free will as if they were numbers to be added together."
"I was just trying..." Regina growled in frustration. This was what it felt like for her and Emma to be normal again. "You need to understand everything. I was just trying to explain it all to you."
"Yes but what you just explained to me is that I now have absolutely nothing that is my own anymore," Emma moved closer in her rage.
Regina's body started to react to their proximity and her mind wandered back to something Dr. Hopper had said in her morning session.
"You still have your feelings," she started to close the distance more and looked down at Emma's lips. "Whether I like it or not, that's something I certainly can't control." she moved a hand up to Emma's chin and allowed a thumb to travel across the expanse of her lower lip. "And they're the same feelings you had every time I kissed you..."
Regina moved in closer.
"Touched you."
Closer still.
"Made you scream my name."
Just as their lips brushed Emma pulled away, feeling at war with her own body.
"Those feelings are obviously not healthy for me," she said, weakly.
Regina, noticing the shift like a panther about to pounce on wounded prey, moved in for the kill; backing Emma all the way up to the wall.
"Tell me you don't want me right now," she demanded, placing her hands on the wall to either side of Emma's head.
"What I want doesn't matter anymore," she argued, trying to stand her ground. "You made that very clear."
"That is not the case and you know it," brown eyes grew dark as she further coerced. "There is only one thing I would deny you right now and it certainly has nothing to do with what you feel when I'm close to you."
She moved in to slowly caress her lips up the expanse of Emma's neck until she'd reached a delectable earlobe just begging to be nibbled; and it was.
"The question is," Regina said, her breath hot against the sheriff's ear, "are you going to deny me what I want right now?"
"Is refusal even an option?" Emma asked as tears filled her eyes.
Regina's entire body froze in horror and regret from the implications of that question. Her mind flashed back to two very specific memories. One, involving herself and every single night she'd spent in 'servitude' to King Leopold, and the other involving Emma's face when she'd been particularly cruel to her the morning after they'd first made love:
"In all seriousness, Miss Swan, I hardly think this is the worst morning you've experienced after a night of passion."
The words were out of her mouth before she'd even had the chance to truly think them through. They were cruel, even for Regina, and her face took on a brief but shocked expression as she took them in.
Emma's face was shocked as well for a moment but the surprise rapidly turned to pain which she tried to mask with anger as soon as she realized it, but it was too late. Regina saw it. And she knew from those brief seconds that, with absolute certainty, this was not the worst morning Emma had experienced after a sexual encounter.
The blonde tore her eyes away from the brown ones that had looked so kindly upon her mere hours ago and focused on the door.
"Yeah, you're right about that, Madame Mayor."
There was something broken in her voice as she said the words and exited the house without a single look back.
Regina had pushed too hard and she knew it. Emma grew up in the foster system because of Regina's actions; the many different scenarios that crossed the mayor's mind as to what her insinuation might have awakened caused an ache to swell within her heart.
She pulled back from both Emma and her haunting memories with misty eyes and a feeling of absolute self loathing.
"No," the word escaped her lips in no more than a sad whisper as brown eyes met green. "Emma, I would never... hurt you like that."
In that moment the sheriff remembered what it was like to be Emma and Regina, not the Savior and the Evil Queen. She saw, in the other woman's eyes, the same thing she'd seen when she insisted upon saving Henry from the mine... When Regina had apologized for her reaction the morning after their first time... When Regina looked at her in awe as she told her she'd protect her from an angry mob of fairytale characters.
Hesitantly, she raised a hand to her tormentors face and gently stroked her cheek.
"Regina, I know this is the real you," she begged with both her mouth and her eyes. "Please fight against all of your fear, all of your misgivings and give me back my life. If this really is supposed to be True Love then we will find each other, no matter what."
It was the term 'find each other' that broke the brief connection they had made. As soon as Regina heard it she thought only of Snow and her betrayal. And that brought her right back to the role of the Evil Queen.
"You'd do best not to advise on things you do not understand, Ms. Swan," she said as she moved away.
And just like that, the spell was broken. Emma looked at her with hurt and anger before turning the tides and pushing her against the wall.
"So, this is all you want from me then?" she asked as she moved her hand under the pencil skirt and roughly cupped Regina's silk covered sex.
Regina gasped in surprise as her arousal came back in full force.
"I wouldn't say it's all I want from you, Sheriff, but it's certainly my most pressing need right now."
It was an angry coupling. Like the meeting of two gladiators fighting for their freedom, both women attacked each other with a needful fervor. Passion exists on many levels and every single one of them was present as Emma and Regina fought for dominance during this particular sexual act.
Scratches, bites and thrusts were utilized with the very restlessness that dwelled within each soul. Both parties had been the unfortunate recipients on horrific childhoods, with pain and anger that had festered into the makings of desperate souls. Each one yearning for the same thing: to be loved and wanted. Yet each one afraid of ever relinquishing enough to control to actually let it happen.
The Mayor's office looked like a tornado had run through it by the time they were done and the bodies of the two women were no less ravaged. Bruises, whelps and teeth marks adorned them before they were covered up by wrinkled clothing.
It was the first time they'd ever actually 'used' each other but it wouldn't be the last. Because beyond all of the exterior circumstances that surrounded the two women there was still an intrinsic need to come together. And, though they might claim otherwise, they both knew it.
No goodbyes were exchanged, no hopeful glances spared.
It was quite obvious to each of them now that they existed on opposing sides of a chessboard. And only one faction could win. Those were simply the rules.
Yet as each pawn retreated to its neutral station to reset the board, the players wept in their solitary anguish.
Because as much neither of them cared to observe it at the time, True Love is powerful.
Just before closing, Archibald Hopper was distracted from his notes by a knock at his door. He was both surprised and happy to see Emma Swan standing on the other side.
"Come in, Emma," he said to the exhausted sheriff with a welcoming smile as she moved to accept his invitation.
"Archie, I need your help," she confessed.
"I know," he nodded.
"It won't be for the reason you think once I tell you everything I need to say," she warned.
"I'll help you in whatever way you need me to, Emma," he assured her.
She nodded, believing him as much as she could at the moment before pulling a flask of scotch from her jacket and taking a pull.
"Regina actually is the Evil Queen from Henry's book of fairytales," she allowed the words to simply flow forth like a waterfall. "And I think I might be in love with her."