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Chapter 4

Maleficent watched her daughters from the window as the two were outside just chatting to each other. She sighed as Regina wrapped her arms around her from behind. "What's up, my love?"

Mal kept watching. "Look at them. Lilly is so happy, full of life, full of energy as always and as always, Emma is the exact opposite. She's got bags under her eyes, her hands are trembling, she's fake smiling, and it kills me that she can't be happy. Regina, her whole life has been full of bullshit drama and I hate it. I hate that I can't do anything."

"We have Snow and that's a start." Regina said, though she watched Emma a bit more carefully. "You're right. She's barely holding it together. How did I not notice that before?" Regina's heart broke as she watched Emma's trembling hand as she sipped her ice water. Her eyes filled with tears as Emma jumped at the smallest of sounds. She should be enjoying a nice morning with her sister, not worrying about every little noise. "I know I didn't even know about her Mal, but this isn't the life I'd have ever imagined for our daughter."

"Take her out of town, Regina. Take her, Millie, and your mom and spend the weekend in Boston or something. Get out for a while with her. Lilly, Zelena and I will be fine here."

"You won't come with?" Regina asked, liking the idea.

"I don't think we should both go just yet. You go with them, Regina."

"What if Lilly wants to come?"

"Then she'll go with. Regina, just a couple days so Emma can relax. Take them to a spa day and when all this is over, we'll go as a family."

"Mal, you're not planning on doing anything stupid while we're gone, are you?"

"Regina no. I plan on continuing to try and figure out where Rumple is, talking to our lawyer, and maybe figuring out ways to give us more protection. I want to go with, but I think it's better to have one of us still here." She kissed Regina's cheek. "Go talk to your mom and I'll go talk to the girls."

Regina gave a nod and hugged Maleficent. "I love you so much. Thanks for the idea."

Mal went out to her girls and smiled softly as she sat by Emma. "You're not sleeping." It wasn't a question and Mal didn't give her a chance to reply. "You're not eating, you're wasting away in front of us. I understand why. I get that you're stressed to the max, but Emma, this can't keep going like this. I talked to your mother and she's taking you, Millie and Cora to Boston for the weekend so you can relax." She looked at Lilly. "I was hoping you'd stay the weekend with me so you, Zelena, and I can work on making things here more protected. However, if you want to go, don't let me stop you."

"Actually, Paige and I were going to do a little seminar for the high school kids at the salon, so I'll stay home. Emma, you should go and have some fun. Get some real sleep and real food." Lilly took Emma's hand. "Show Millie that you know how to have fun."

Emma couldn't stop her smile at that, but then she frowned as she thought about the statement. "I don't though. I don't know how to have fun." She sighed. "I've only ever worried. Worried about being sent back, not being good enough, breaking the curse, worried because I got pregnant, I've lived a life of worry."

"You know how to have fun, Ems." Lilly sighed. "Unless you were faking it, we had fun growing up. We had fun as teens, and we even had fun before the curse broke."

"We did. Lilly, of course I wasn't faking it, but under all that, I still worried."

"I know love, and I know you'll worry this weekend, but maybe it'll be a little less if you go out of town for a while." Maleficent stated. "Go and have a fun weekend."

"You'll be okay here?" Emma asked, biting her lip.

Mal shifted and took both Emma's hands. "I will be fine. I have your sister and your aunt, not to mention the town on my side." She smirked a bit. "And that handsome sheriff who can't seem to take his eyes off my daughter."

Emma rolled her eyes but also blushed. "He came over the other night when they got Snow. He wanted me to know that she confessed to everything. Then he stayed on the porch and honestly? I got the best nights sleep that night. Just knowing he was out here made me feel safer, but I can't ask him to do that every night."

"I think he would if you did ask him."

"He'd stay in your bed if you'd just ask him." Lilly said, nudging her sister.

"Okay, that's a bit too far." Mal said with a chuckle. "Emma, I'm going to go help your mom get packed."

Emma watched her go and then looked at Lilly. "I kissed him." She admitted.

"What? You kissed him? Wow sis, go you!"

Emma kept her eyes down. "He likes me, Lilly. But I told him I was too stressed to start anything and that we can just see where it goes." She looked at her sister. "Why am I like this?"

Lilly hated seeing her sister so down. She went to her and hugged her tight. "Why are you like what?"

"Pathetic. Weak. Always waiting for the bad to happen."

"Okay, you are not pathetic or weak. You are amazing and strong and smart and beautiful and so brave. You wait for bad things to happen because they seem to always happen, but you forget about all the good things sometimes. You found moms when you were little, you found out the truth about everything, you have a gorgeous little girl, and Emma, you are so loved."

Emma smiled softly. "Thanks. I do know all that and I'm sorry if I'm acting unfair. I just…" She sighed. "I've got a perfectly nice guy who admitted he's interested in me and I tell him basically to just 'let things happen' instead of jumping in feet first."

"That's you though." Lilly said, with a smile. "The one time you 'jumped in feet first' you got pregnant. Emma, you're a thinker – sometimes an overthinker, but a thinker none the less. Take this weekend to think about it. Now, go pack you and Millie up."

Emma hugged her sister and went to do just that. Millie was excited to go on a 'mini-vacation' and when Regina came to get them, she was practically buzzing with excitement. "Is Nana coming?"

"Yes honey, she is." Regina replied. "Emma, did you pack swimming stuff? The hotel has a nice pool area."

"I sure did. Do you want me to drive?"

"I'd love for you to drive." Regina said, handing her the keys.

Once the car was packed up and goodbyes were said, the three headed over to get Cora. After stopping for gas, coffee, soda, and other snacks, they headed out. Emma bit her lip as she drove, and Cora looked over at her. "I thought this was supposed to relax you." She said quietly.

"I just…what if something happens while I'm gone?"

"Then it happens, and your mom, sister, and aunt will deal with it." Cora said, taking Emma's free hand. "Emma, just because you were destined to be the Savior, doesn't mean everything falls on your shoulders. You did your job and anything that happens now can be handled by others. Your ma is extremely capable of taking care of the town while you're away."

Emma took that in and nodded. "You're right. Thanks."

Regina smiled as she watched and really hoped this weekend would be good for everyone involved. Once checked in at the hotel, Cora gave Regina a look who gave a nod. "Okay, Amelia, you and Nana are going to get ready to go see a play while Mommy and I do something relaxing."

Right away Emma felt pressure on her. "Is that safe?"

"Yes, my love. Snow is locked up and Rumple is stuck in Storybrooke. I can leave because I made the curse, you and your grandma can leave because you weren't here when the curse was cast, and Millie can leave because she's yours. Rumple can't leave without losing his memory of who he is."

"I will protect her with my life, Emma, you know that. Besides, the theater is just across the street."

"I trust you, grandma, I just…worry." Emma said, letting out a small laugh. "I worry too damn much."

Millie came over and hugged her mother. "I love you so much, Mommy. You worry because you love me and that makes me feel good, but you don't gotta worry now that we're out of town."

Emma knelt down and hugged her daughter. "Thanks, baby girl. You have fun with Nana."

Regina made sure Cora had everything she needed and even then, she waited until her mother called to tell her they were just fine before taking Emma down to the spa. After a very relaxing deep tissue massage, the two lounged in leather chairs as they got pedicures and sipped on wine. "This has been really nice, Mom. I co-own a salon and yet I have no idea the last time I got a massage."

"Well, after this we get deep scalp massages." Regina sated with a smile. "This is nice. I'm glad your Ma suggested it."

"Why did she suggest it?"

"She was watching you and Lilly and noticed the bags under your eyes, the way your hands tremble, and how painfully thin you've gotten. I wish I'd have noticed it, but I admit I didn't until she said something."

"You probably didn't notice because I've always been like this." Emma sighed. "I don't get it either. You and Ma, you took me in when I was so young, and I've known nothing but love and support since I was five. You two have always been here and yet I act like I'm alone in everything. I don't know why or how to change that."

"Don't get mad, Emma but maybe it would be good for you to see Archie again? I know you did before, but now that…" she pointedly looked at the women giving them pedicures then back at her daughter, "now that things have changed, maybe it'll be easier."

Emma thought about that as she sipped her wine. "Maybe you're right. He did help me before when I was so negative all the time."

"Honey, that wasn't your fault either."

"I know but still." Emma smiled softly. "Thank you for always being here for me."

That night, a very relaxed Emma listened to Millie tell her all about the play she and 'Nana Cora' went to. She loved seeing her daughter smile and did feel so much better than when they first came. They went to the pool while Regina and Cora sat in lounging chairs just chatting. As Emma later laid in bed with an arm around her daughter, she did feel as though some of the weight from her shoulders were gone.

"How did the seminar go?" Mal asked as she and Lilly sat at the table to eat dinner.

"Really great. I think we'll have more staff if we want it soon."

"That's wonderful. And how is Paige? You two out in the open yet?"

"Ma? How did you know?"

Mal chuckled. "I'm not blind, dear. I've seen her come out of your place early in the mornings. I've seen the little looks and even kisses you think you're secretly giving. I'm just wondering how long you're going to keep it a secret."

"I don't want it to be a secret." Lilly admitted. "But her family is very homophobic, and she's scared to tell them. I get it, but at the same time I feel like she should be able to just live her life and be happy."

"I agree, but this is her family and it's her call. It's not fair that it has to be this way when it wouldn't if you were a man, but she knows her family better than you do." Mal tapped Lilly's hand. "Really, it's up to you as to how long you want to keep it a secret or if you'd rather find someone who is already out there."

Lilly smiled softly. "I'd wait forever for her, Ma."

Mal smiled as well. "I'm glad to hear that."

That night, Mal and Zelena were deep in the woods with a caldron over the fire. "Zelena, it's freezing out here." Mal said, warming her hands by the fire.

"It is not; you're just a wimp." Zelena chuckled. "It's almost done." She looked at Mal. "Your wife has no idea about this, does she?"

"I told her I would work on stronger protection. What's stronger than catching the bastard?"

Zelena sighed. "She's going to kill us."

"Don't worry about her. Is that done yet?"

"Yes. Now hurry before it's over done."

Mal took a vial from her pocket and filled it with the liquid from the caldron. She then stepped back and held it up. "Rumpelstiltskin. I have the answers to your problems."

"Other than you and Regina, what are my problems, dearie?" He asked, poofing in next to her.

"Your son." She said simply.

"How do you know about him?"

"Your little flake of snow isn't keeping her mouth shut. I have no idea why you'd work with her; she's never been able to keep secrets."

"I just needed her to do my dirty work. Now that she has, she's no use to me."

Mal narrowed her eyes at him. "Then leave my family alone."

He laughed at her. "Your family is a different matter entirely. Emma was supposed to find my son, even have a child with him, but you and your wife brought her here too soon. Your family will pay for that until he's back."

She glared at him and handed him the vial. "This will get you over the town line – memories intact. Go find your damn son and leave us alone."

Rumple took it. "You're sure it works?"

"Of course I am. Now go."

Once he left, Zelena let out a breath. "Now what?"

"Now we wait. Most likely he's going to test that potion on someone else, which is fine because it will work for them. However, since he is the Dark One, when he tries, it will freeze him and feed off him. It craves his dark magic. We will know when that happens and we will have about two hours to go and find what we're looking for."

Just then, there were sparks and thunder in the air and Mal grinned. "It's time." She and Zelena appeared in the shop and started searching everywhere.

"I can't find it. What if it's at his house."

"We'll go there next." Mal stated, as she pushed on the wall. "I found it!"

"Good, then let's go!" Zelena stated. "I'm pretty sure the curse just let him go."

Mal went to leave but was stuck to the spot. "Damn. Go Zelena."

"What about you?"

"Just go! I'll be fine."

Though she didn't want to, Zelena quickly left but hid outside just as Rumple came storming to his shop. He came in and smirked. "I knew you weren't the brightest, Maleficent, but I thought you'd be smarter than this. If you wanted to get rid of me long enough to take that, you should have actually given me a potion that works."

Mal held the dagger and glared at him. "Release me, dark one." He did so with a casual flick of the wrist. Though Mal felt this was too easy, she continued. "Now, leave me and my family alone. That includes Emma and Millie." He simply gave a shrug. Mal tried again to leave, but her magic wouldn't come to her. "I told you to release me."

"I did. What's keeping your magic away is the fact you're holding that dagger. Put it down and you can leave with your magic."

She glared at him. "This isn't the real dagger, is it?"

He laughed. "You think I'd leave the real thing laying around?" He moved closer to her, anger in his eyes. "No, that's not the real one, but it got done what it was supposed to." He grinned and snapped his fingers.

"No…" Zelena gasped when she saw Mal disappear. "Fuck!" She got out her phone and hated the call she was about to make.

"I see. Thank you, Zelena, we'll be in touch." Cora said, sighing as she lay back in bed. Part of her wanted to ignore the call, but she knew both Emma and Regina would be mad if she didn't tell them right away. "Some relaxing trip this turned out to be." She said to herself as she got out of bed.

"I'm sorry guys, but that's all Zelena told me."

Regina rubbed her temples. "I'm going back. You guys should stay here; we have the room for another two nights."

"I'm not staying here while he has Ma."

Cora looked at Emma. "Maybe you should. Maybe we should look for Rumple's son so we have leverage when we go back."

"We know nothing about him."

"Actually." Regina said, going to her purse and pulling out a file. "I figured if I had time, I'd do some research. This is everything Sidney has been able to find. I'll go back and tell him we're looking for his son and hopefully he'll give us Mama."

Emma could see the worry in Regina's face, but she agreed. "I'll have to rent a car so you can take yours. Mom….be careful."

"I will sweetheart." She kissed Emma's temple. "I'm sorry this happened."

"It's not your fault."

Regina packed up and said goodbye to everyone and Cora cuddled with a very sleepy Millie. It was only about two thirty in the morning, but Emma wanted to get started, so she pulled out her laptop and started searching. "The problem is, even if I find him, what if he doesn't want to go back? If he were my father, I wouldn't want to go back."

"One step at a time, Emma." Cora reminded her. "One step at a time."