Chapter 22

Several weeks have gone by with no sign of Hook or the other vampires. The town has been so quiet that the people, including Regina, have become complacent. Watching The Queen with what should be her family, made her grow even more impatient so eventually she took Henry and Roland and moved back to the mansion, against Emma's wishes. Emma tried to tell people that they can't underestimate the danger, but eventually everyone ignored her and rolled their eyes when she was present. Snow seemed please that Regina was back in her own home though she was not thrilled at the fact that the Queen remained by her daughter's side. She couldn't figure out why. She had briefly considered the possibility that Emma was gay, but then just as quickly refused to believe it. 'Their just friends' she kept telling herself.

Henry was struggling with his new vampire condition so Emma shared her blood which would allow him to move around in the daytime. His spirits quickly lifted when he realized he could still go to school and see his friends. Roland was oblivious to what was going on. He knew his father was killed and because of this, became clingier with Regina. Refusing to go to school some days, Regina would take him to work and allow him to read on the sofa in her office while she worked.

Emma was growing more and more frustrated trying to figure out where the vampires had gone into hiding and why. She scoured the town every night, making sure she covered the boundaries, and then went to Belle's to try and figure out their next move and translate more of the ancient grimoire.

Dragging her fingers through her hair, Emma got up from the table, "This is getting us nowhere, Belle. We keep reading the same thing and we still don't know what to do!" She began pacing while Belle watched her.

Calmly, Belle then asked, "Emma, you said you spoke to Rumple. Have you tried going back to his vault?"

Emma stopped pacing, but continued to look at the floor. She had thought about that, but given how they were found in bed just a few years prior, she was hesitant to revisit that subject, so she stayed away.

Belle continued to watch Emma and noticed her stiffened posture. She knew what Emma was thinking about so she cleared her throat and looked down at her own hands, "I know about you and Rumple."

Emma felt her heart sink as its rate speed up. Eyes wide and filling with tears, she turned to Belle and stumbled for words, "I…It wasn't…Belle, please…."

"I trust you, Emma. Rumple told me how the two of you woke up together naked with no memories. I know you would never do something like that."

Nodding quickly, Emma finally spoke up, "Belle, I swear I have no idea what happened. Bobby did bring it up when his spirit visited me. He said Hook poisoned the tea that the two of you had been drinking. I still don't understand why he did it though." Emma thought back to that day and a sick feeling grew in her gut. She had a theory of what had happened while she was unconscious, but she couldn't bring herself to face the truth.

Belle stared at Emma while she stared into space, wondering what was going through her mind. She knew that look. It was the look Emma had when she was solving a puzzle. She was about to speak up and try to comfort Emma to let her know she didn't blame her, but Emma interrupted, "I'll go to the vault and see what else I can learn." Belle simply nodded and watched Emma leave in a rush.

As Emma approached the double metal doors of Rumple's vault, she raised her hands and opened her palms to face the entrance. Whispering an incantation, she then moved her hands in a wiping motion which removed the invisible barrier protecting the doors.

"I'm so proud of how far you've come, Em."

Emma's eyes squeezed closed and she took a deep breath before turning around to see Rumple's spirit. "Your lessons were invaluable to me, Bobby. It's unfortunate I was never able to show Regina how much I learned." Emma then remembered some comments The Queen had made about her magic which made her smirk.

"What's that grin for?" Rumple knew who she was thinking about.

"Regina….or rather…The Queen. She's noticed. It's fun to watch her face when I do something. Makes all the hard work worth it."

Rumple had a confused look on his face, "The Queen?" Emma then had to recount what had happened at the convent and how Regina had been split.

"How do I get her back, Bobby? She needs to be complete. I don't care what each half says." Emma then walked into the vault and began going through trunks, cabinets, and drawers hoping something would jump out at her as a solution.

Rumple watched and thought on this for a few minutes. After about ten minutes of watching Emma tear his vault upside down, it hit him. "Emma, you can help Regina using the dagger sealed within you."

Emma immediately stopped what she was doing, "WHAT? REALLY?"

Nodding, he continued, "The spell that split Regina wasn't a curse so True Love's kiss won't work to undo it. Grab that book over there with the red binding and gold trim." Emma pulled the book from it's shelf as dust puffed into the air causing her to seeze. She slammed the book onto the nearest table and opened it waiting to be directed to a page. "Keep turning….keep going…..I believe it's just a couple pages ahead…THERE! Stop turning."

Emma read through the two pages slowly and taking in the pictograms. "This is it! This is what Blue did! It has to be!"

Staring at the pages, Rumple sighed "This spell is the Pros To Piso. The goal is to undo what has already been done."

"Huh? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You mean like a re-do?"

Rumple smirked, "More like a reset."

Emma stared at the pages, but still looked confused. "Then whey did it split Regina?"

Rumple shrugged, "There was nothing to reset so it divided her into parts. The spell was probably trying to find something to reset, but couldn't."

Slamming the book and causing a large cloud of dust to rise between, Emma yelled "Well what the fuck, Bobby! How do we know the dagger won't do more damage? It can fix what was reset, but this?"

Rumple shook his head and began to put his hand on her shoulder, but then pulled it back realizing he couldn't touch her in his current form. "The dagger absorbs spells derived from dark magic. This spell that Blue used was dark magic. I still don't know how she managed it."

Emma roller her eyes, "That damned bug was as shady as they come. I'm not surprised that she used dark magic. Fucking bitch.", she huffed. Emma rolled up her sleeve and stared at the dagger tattoo on the inside of her forearm. "Come out, Ten." She held her arm out and the tattoo glowed until magic swirled from her arm and a crow began to rise from her skin. Two wings stuck out of her forearm, initially only bones, but then gaining muscles, then skin and feathers. Next a bird head pulled from her arm and it cawed. Finally, a full-feathered crow stood in front of her on top of the book on the table.

"You are like a roach, old man. You just will not go away.", the crow squawked.

Emma was shocked, "Wait, you can see him?"

"Of course, I can see him!" Ten then noticed what he was standing on and looked down at the book, cawing "So you wish to unite Her Majesty. It can be done, but what's in it for me?"

Emma stared in thought and finally answered, "I'll grill steaks this evening and make you one pound of rare filets."

"DONE!" Ten then flew up and stood on her shoulder, happy with the deal he'd just made. He stared at Rumple with his red eyes, but said nothing.

Rumple continued to study the dynamic between Emma and Ten remembering why he had come to visit Emma in the first place. "Em, we need to discuss the sealing of the dagger."

Emma looked at Rumple and then at the bird on her shoulder and let out a heavy sigh, "Yeah, I remember you said something about having the dagger in its entirety. What did you mean?" She noticed that Rumple and Ten had continued their hard staring contest as she spoke. "Um…..Bobby?" Still no answer. It was as if there was a silent communication between the former imp and large bird. "Guys?...GUYS!"

That jolted Rumple from his trance. "Sorry, Em." Clearing his throat he continued, "Not only do you have the dagger sealed in your body, but you have its entirety sealed within you."

"That's what you said last time. Its entirety?" Emma studied her former master's face, perplexed. 'How much more of a dagger can there be?', and that's when it hit her and a frown deepened. "Excaliber. That's what you meant." Rumple nodded. Emma swatted the bird off of her shoulder so Ten flew over to a tall shelf to perch.

Emma then watched Ten and remembered his threats. "You know something. You said I would need your power. That's what you were talking about. You knew I'd need Excaliber."

Ten flapped his wings and bounced on her perch as he cawed. "Correct"

Emma narrowed her eyes at the bird, "I will find another way without having to use it."

If a bird could grin, it would look like Ten, "No you won't. You'll use it and then I will absorb you and take your power. Your soul will be mine."

Gritting her teeth, Emma turned to Rumple for confirmation, but he was speechless. Rolling her eyes, over this whole conversation, Emma decided she should go home and try to convince a Queen to merge back with her softer self. "Bobby, I need to get some air and think. I'll see if I can convince Regina to merge back together."

"Good luck, Em. Knowing my daughter's stubborn nature, you'll have your work cut out for you." He then turned and stared at the crow, "And good luck with him."

Ten flew over to Emma's shoulder and cawed, "I'm hungry!" Emma just roller her eyes and stomped out in a huff.

Regina sat at the dining room table in Emma's house, tapping her fingers on the polished wood surface while staring at her other half as she filed her nails in disinterest. For the past few weeks, she's watched as Emma and The Queen grew closer. She began to notice how Emma had mellowed and allowed the Queen to help her around the house and with Tristan. It infuriated her, not because she wasn't allowed to be in Tristan's life, but because the Queen was more so. Emma never tried to keep her daughter from her and said she's always welcome to visit Trisan. Emma came into the dining room with a pitcher of iced tea which she placed in the middle of the table and then she squeezed the Queen's shoulder and gently smiled at her as she sat down.

"Why have I been asked here, Ms. Swan? I have things to do." The title of Ms. Swan still angered Emma, but she didn't comment. Regina sat with her arms crossed at the dining room table noting her company. Across from her sat her braver self, The Queen, and to her right was Emma. To her left, a crow sat perched at the top of the chair at the end of the table. In front of him was a plate of what looked like raw meat cut into strips. The crow was eating and completely ignoring everyone in the room, simply moaning as he ate.

Footsteps could be heard running through the house towards the dining room, "Gina!" Tristan ran into the room and jumped in Regina's lap to hug her neck.

Regina melted at her daughter's warmth. "Hello, Sweetheart. How are you, my Love?" She kissed the child's soft hair.

"Roni showed me how to make bubbles with magic! Wanna see?"

Regina looked confused, "Roni?"

"She means me, Dear." The Queen smirked.

Pursing her lips, Regina kept her cool and looked back down at Tristan, "Why don't you show me once I'm done talking to Mommy?" Tristan was disappointed so Regina thought of something, "Tell you what, if you're really patient and wait till I'm done here, I'll show you how to make your stuffed animals dance."

Tristan's eyes blew wide and glowed in awe, "Really?" Regina simply nodded. "Ok!" Tristan ran out of the room hollering for her Gams.

Turning back and glaring at her other half, she continued "Ms. Swan, why am I here?"

Emma nodded and held out her hand for The Queen to grab. Squeezing it in comfort and giving her a gentle smile, she began with her story. "I have found a way to merge the two of you back together." Roni tried to pull her hand away from Emma, feeling betrayed, but Emma held it tighter and continued. "You can't stay like this. You each have strengths and weaknesses, but you compliment the other to create the perfect whole. Our children need all of you, not parts of you."

Roni pursed her lips and glared at Emma, "I thought you understood me." These past few weeks with Emma have been a dream for The Queen. Cuddling every night with her True Love, finishing each other's sentences, making out under the stars after everyone else was in bed and sharing ice cream. Those were just some of things they had done. At first Emma was hesitant, but Roni broke down her walls and slowly, but surely, Emma thawed. Now she felt betrayed.

Emma was quick to explain, "I do understand you. I DO! I want what's best for you and for our children. You know how I feel about you both now and as a whole, but you have also seen my heart." She and Roni continued to communicate silently about her the state of her heart.

Regina spoke up at that comment, "Your heart? What about your heart?"

Emma sighed and reached into her chest to pull out her heart which caused both halves to jump up and yell at her to stop, but it was too late. Emma had already done it. When The Queen had seen the heart in Emma's hand, she gasped and quickly grabbed it from Emma. Studying the changes, she gently ran her fingers along bright red lines that were gleaming from wide cracks on the onyx heart. Emma shivered as fingers ran along the red seams and then she felt The Queen's love for her.

The Queen cradled the heart and was overcome with the intensity of Emma's feelings. Her cheeks began to redden and goosebumps raised along her arms. Watching this, Regina turned from her counterpart back to Emma, "What is going on? What's wrong with your heart? Why is she acting this way?"

Emma was speechless seeing the changes in her heart and swallowed hard realizing that her heart was beginning to open up. It scared her to death. She grabbed her heart from The Queen and put it back in her chest as she stood up and began to leave the room. "I need some fresh air. I'll be out back." And then she was gone.

The two halves sat staring at each other for different reasons; Regina because of confusion and Roni because of annoyance. Regina finally broke the silence, "What was that?"

The Queen raised one eyebrow and pursed her lips, "Emma removed her heart for me several weeks ago and it was a solid black stone. The one hint of red reserved for Tristan. She had hardened her heart the years she was gone to avoid being hurt."

Regina gasped, taking in the information and processing its meaning. She knew these weeks with The Queen had softened Emma, but she had no idea how much. Tears began to form in her eyes at the thought. As the Queen watched, she grew more uncomfortable, "Now what do we do?" Regina looked up at her counterpart much more determined now.

Emma stood in her backyard with a stiff drink in her hand. 'It's five o'clock somewhere, right?' Taking a swig of her whiskey, she closed her eyes to enjoy the burning sensation as she swallowed. After thirty minutes, Emma heard the glass sliding door open behind her. She turned and saw both Reginas standing there waiting for her to notice them. "Hey." She softly said and took a final sip of her drink to empty the glass.

The Queen walked over and sat next to Emma on the garden bench. Emma leaned her head onto the Queen's shoulder as she stared forward watching her daughter play with Audrey on the trampoline that Emma magicked for her. The Queen watched her daughter and smiled when Tristan was showing Audrey how high she could jump. "We'll do it, Emma." Emma continued watching Tristan and said nothing. The Queen heard a sniffle, but didn't want to bring attention to it so she continued to softly speak, "I thought you'd be happy." Emma just shook her head, but kept quiet so The Queen decided to wait her out. She knew Emma would speak up when she was ready.

She was right, of course. She knew Emma well. "I know it's the right thing to do for you and for our daughter."

The Queen then tried to get her to open up, "But….."

"But…I lose the Regina that isn't afraid to love me." Her voice cracked as she responded.

"That won't happen. I won't allow it, Emma."

Emma snorted as if to say 'yeah right'. She stood up and straightened out her clothes before attempting a smile, "It's ok, I understand." She swallowed and then took a deep breath, "I'm going to go freshen up and then I'll meet the two of you in the dining room to complete the merge." She then looked up towards the trampoline. "You may want to have Regina show Tristan what she promised and then we can get started." Before the Queen could respond, Emma was gone back inside the house. She ignored Regina completely as she passed her by. Regina just looked down at the ground in guilt.

Gathered at the table again, the two Reginas sat on either side of Emma. Audrey and Tristan stood in the back of the room to watch while Ten stayed perched on the same chair. Emma looked up at the crow and held out her hand as if to grip something, "Ten!" The bird flew towards Emma and magickly turned into the dagger which flew into Emma's hold. The Reginas sat dumbfounded, but said nothing. They waited for Emma to continue. "Place your hands around the blade of the dagger. Squeeze just enough to draw blood and then keep your grip on the dagger as it activates. Do not let go until the process is complete. It needs to absorb the spell that Blue used from both your bodies." Both ladies nodded and each grasped the dagger, wincing as it nicked their palms. Emma then closed her eyes, "Ten!" The dagger activated and immediately the room lit up with magic, the pressure from the sheer power caused a wind tunnel in the house. Frames on the wall cracked and everyone's hair was blowing towards the ceiling. Emma watched as a black ooze travelled from both women and into the dagger.

Soon, the Queen's form slowly became translucent. She looked at Emma with tears in her eyes while Emme swallowed hard and felt tears running down her own cheeks as she stared back at the Queen. "I promise, Emma, I'll remember. Things will be different. I promise!" Tears filled Emma's eyes as she continued to stare at the beautiful brunette. Her vision blurred from the build up of salty water in her eyes. Just before the Queen's form disappeared, she mouthed 'I love you' to Emma and then all that was left was silver magical dust in the air. The magic in the room subsided and the Regina that was left passed out in her chair. Audrey had seen what was coming and run to catch Regina's head on her way down to avoid injury. Emma fell into her chair exhausted as the dagger retreated back into her arm.

Tristan ran up to Regina and grabbed her arm as Audrey held the woman's upper body in place in the chair, "Is Gina gonna be ok, Mommy?" Tristan looked at her brunette mother worriedly.

Emma softly smiled, "She'll be fine, Sweetie. I'll take her upstairs so she can rest." Emma slowly rose from her seat and then walked over to Regina to pick her up. She concentrated her magic into her arms to help her pick up Regina without straining to do so and then took her upstairs and laid her down in the bed she shared with the Queen for the past few weeks.

Tristan walked to the side of the bed and kissed her new mother on the cheek, "Feel better, Mama." Emma choked back the tears as she watched the scene unfold. She felt bad that Regina wasn't conscious to hear the term of endearment used. While staring at the beautiful brunette, Ten emerged from her arm and flew over to perch on the dresser.

Just then, her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. Reading the caller's name, she sighed and quickly answered, "Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"Emma, someone found a dead body by the pier with two puncture holes in it."

Emma paled, "Do we have an ID on the victim?"

There was a pause, "It's Ursula."

"Shit!" Emma looked at Regina's sleeping form. She knew that were good friends.

Ten had begun to flap his wings to get her attention and then yelled, "The border, Emma! The border!"

"Hold on, Dad." She lowered the phone against her chest and looked at the bird, "What about the border, Ten?" It was then that Emma felt the pressure of foreign magic. She could almost taste it. It tasted sour and foul. "Dad, meet me at the town line." And then she hung up and turned to Audrey. "Stay here with Tristan. Do not leave the house." Audrey quickly nodded and then Emma kneeled down in front of her daughter, "Mommy needs to go stop the bad guys so I need you to stay here and take care of Mama and Gams, okay?" Tristan nodded and wrapped her arms around Emma's neck, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Emma squeezed her little girl tight and kissed her back, "I love you, Peanut." She then stood up and held out her arm for Ten to return into. Then she was gone in a puff of magical smoke.