Graham paced back and forth while Mary Margret remained unconscious on the old green couch in the break of the Sheriff's station. They repeatedly tried to wake her with after Mulan told them that true loves kiss had not worked. This was a pitfall of living in the land without magic they had new and different obstacles to overcome. Graham and Regina quickly concluded they couldn't wait for her to wake naturally. Realizing that just because the potion that left Mary Margaret unconscious wasn't from magic. That didn't mean there wasn't a magical solution. However, this particular one given the people involved, seemed kind of crazy. It was logical to certain degree but having the former evil queen be the one to help the sleeping princess, seemed wrong. Or maybe it was exactly the right first step in changing both of their lives for good.
"I've got it" Regina said appearing behind Graham with a small stone.
"You sure about this" Graham asked surprised Regina offered help so easily.
"Of course," Regina said looking over at her sure this was the right decision.
It was mainly because Regina wanted to find Emma and knew that Mary Margaret would have more information on what happened. Some long-faded part of Regina was aching watching Mary Margaret lying there, needing to look her in the eyes. Know that she was ok.
Graham nodding pulling out a seat for Regina, who after adjusting her blouse she let out a deep breath, she sat down in the plastic chair. Deciding the best way to wake Mary Margret would be to tell her only she couldn't hear them in this state. They needed to get inside her head luckily for them Regina had something that could do just that. Never having used this kind of magic before she was a little overconfident in the outcome. Considering it worked by connecting two psyche's Graham was rightfully hesitating but followed the instructions given to him by Regina. Placing an amulet on Mary Margret chest while Regina had the other half around her neck. This and some meditation would create a temporary link in their minds.
"Is it working yet?" Graham asked after thirty seconds went by.
"No, I need silence" Regina replied frustrated.
Graham understood leaving the room making his way back to his office the sound of his phone ringing out caught his attention. David had called a couple of times while they were organising everything for the spell. Even leaving a voicemail explaining they had found Emma and they are heading over to them now. Letting them know to call of any extreme efforts to wake Mary Margret because they were no longer necessary. Graham quickly walked back into the back room to stop the spell, but it was too late. Regina sat up straight, her eyes wide open and clear white.
"Regina, Regina" Graham yelled coming over kneeling by her side, but she wasn't there she couldn't hear him.
Regina was in the dark quiet place far from the break room at the local Sheriff's station in Storybrooke. If she didn't know better, she was back home, in the enchanted forest. However, this wasn't her memory but Snow whites. Running and running, her heart aching limbs exhausted but she was keep running. Someone was chasing her, a huntsman and even though she ran, it was hopeless death was inevitable. That much she knew. However, this realisation didn't come with a feeling of dreed but relief. The memory was corrupted fading out then Regina realised with crippling fear that she had gotten lost in Mary Margaret's mind.
Stop the replay, Regina yelled out into the abyss as the fear faded into anger. Regina took back control of her consciousness focusing on the mission, finding Emma. As the name entered her mind the scenario changed, and Emma appeared. Standing awkwardly in the back of Mary Margaret's classroom the first-time mother and daughter meet. Well, they were halfway there but this was still the wrong memory. What happened today Regina thought getting frustrated. Then the scene before her faded once more and they were in the apartment. It must have been this morning because Emma was wearing the same close clothes, she was the night before. Emma must have slept in them too tired to get changed in her somewhat drunken haze. Mary Margret smiled handing her a bowl of cereal prying Emma for details about the events of the night before. They laughed together as they finished there breakfast a nice moment, but this was useless. Regina needed to know what happened just before Mary Margret became unconscious. More importantly who had done this, then they could find Emma.
Regina started to feel powerless and angry. That anger was still so raw it overwhelmed her, then Mary Margret faded away. Regina's thoughts taking over her memories started playing now all of them fuelled by her hate. It was overwhelming she could feel that need to inflict pain to ease hers coming back it was familiar and safe. The anxiety that inevitably comes with carrying for others fading.
"Wake up, dammit" Regina bellowed "Wake up" But she wasn't talking to Mary Margret anymore, Regina wanted to wake form this nightmare.
Watching this clip show of horrors Regina had inflicted onto others was torturous now she had opened herself up to care again. Her heart suddenly overwhelmed with searing pain, as if someone had lit a match in her chest. For a fleeting moment, Regina wanted to let it all go. No more pain if she let herself become the evil queen once more. Then out of the darkness there was a voice calling out to her quietly. It was an unfamiliar a young girl, calling Regina, telling her to hold on. This calmed Regina as she exhaled and opened her eyes, back in the Sheriff's station looking up at an overly concerned Graham.
Mary Margret gasped sitting up quickly confused about her surrounds and the little dream trip she just took. Still her focus went straight to what was important, Emma. Knowing that someone was walking around with her face. Mary Margaret's heart started racing not seeing Emma or David anywhere. Just Regina and Graham looking relieved that Mary Margret was conscious. Realising they would only use such dangerous methods to wake her for one reason.
"It was the blind Witch, she wants something from Emma" Mary Margret said quickly getting to her feet "Where are they?"
"There fine" Graham said trying to calm her "I promise, just got off the phone with David, on their way here now" Graham explained walking over to Mary Margaret trying to stop her from getting up to quick.
There was silence as that news sunk in followed by a somewhat awkward silence. Mary Margret still confused about what she had just witnessed, knowing they weren't all her memories. Everything that the pair felt while their hearts and minds connected was shared. Regina and Mary Margaret looked up at each other, having now relieved some of their past. They were looking at it from a new perspective having now walked at least a quarter mile in the others shoes. The memory of Regina's regret and hate leaving them both speechless for a minute. They could still feel the aftermath of the pain in their chests like an echo.
"You felt that too" Regina finally said as she saw Mary Margaret grasped her chest.
"Is it always like that?" Mary Margret asked.
"Only when I'm breathing" Regina answered solemnly.
Mary Margaret couldn't take it anymore why was it that after all the chances at redemption Regina had in the past. Why now was she clinging to it like a life raft and waiting out the inevitable storm that follows. First saving Emma now helping wake Mary Margaret at great personal risk to herself. Regina didn't say anything packing her things quietly before turning to leave the room.
"Got somewhere to be?" Mary Margaret asked stunned Regina would just walk out.
"No, but I should go" Regina said awkwardly still making her way to the exit, but Mary Margaret followed not letting it drop this time.
"Thank you" Mary Margaret said sincerely.
Regina looked surprised stunned for a moment at Mary Margaret's comment. She eventually nodded without a word and continued to leave. Walking towards the glass double doors of the station while a confused and conflicted Mary Margaret stood still. Wondering what parallel version of Regina she was dealing with.
"You're not going to say anything" Mary Margaret called out getting frustrated by this situation.
"I don't have anything to say" Regina replied stopping by the exit.
"Well, I need to know why" Mary Margaret asked desperate.
"Why, what?" Regina responded frustrated.
"Why the sudden change, why after everything did you just decide now, to just stop" Mary Margaret asked her voice cracking. After the lifelong relentless crusade to ruin any happiness, she had why now was it over. What had changed.
"Because I'm tired" Regina responded hopelessly.
"Tired?" Mary Margaret responded bemused.
"Of hating you, all of it" Regina began "I'm just tired" Regina said realising she didn't even really know the reason herself.
Mary Margret couldn't even respond completely bewildered and frustrated by this lack of explanation. Mary Margaret wasn't tired; she was exhausted and had felt this way for as long as she could remember. Completely emotionally drained wondering with every moment of happiness when it would end. Everyone knows happiness is fleeting, life comes with ups and downs but for Mary Margaret she was constantly looking over her shoulder. Hatred and darkness had followed her since she was just a girl. Never really experiencing a moment of true happiness as she waited for it to be inevitably ripped from her. Until now when it came bursting through the doors of the station rushing right past Regina. Like a bad dream fading away until completely forgotten.
"Mom" Emma said looking into Mary Margaret's eyes for a moment so happy to see her real mother looking back at her "you're ok" Emma said running towards Mary Margaret.
Mary Margret wrapped her arms around Emma and rested her chin on Emma's head she looked up at David tears in her eyes. Disbelief in her face, needing confirmation that this was real. That it was really happening. This is all she ever wanted her family here with her, safe and happy. Something had changed deeply inside of Emma Mary Margaret could tell, not just because she could finally say the word mom. It was in her eyes, the way she held herself a healing of her spirit had taken place. They just held each other for a moment wanting it to last, so that all the time and pain it took to get here was worth it. Right now, it felt like all that they lost, was found. They could have real long-lasting happiness that no one could destroy.
Noticing Killians limp and the blood on David shirt Mary Margaret was curious. Wanting to know what the three of them had been through today. What pushed Emma to break down her walls and let herself trust again.
"Are you ok, what happened?" Mary Margaret asked concerned.
"Where ok, dad found me" Emma responded before anyone else could.
At those words Mary Margret gasped so overwhelmed to hear those words from Emma finally. However, she had so many questions about what had happened to them what had changed while she slept. With one arm around Emma, they walked over to David her eyes on his chest covered in blood.
"I'm fine" David said but this didn't suffice it was clear he was wounded badly "Emma she, well I'm not sure what happened" David finished looking for explanation from Emma.
"I healed" Emma replied with a shrug. Everyone was silent giving her a look, wanting further information.
"I don't know how it works; I couldn't even heal Killians leg" Emma said with disappointment. Not that Killian was to bothered by it, just another scrapped he had accumulated many in his short life.
"I'll be fine" Killian said sheepish still not used to the concern.
"We'll get that looked at properly" David insisted.
While this reunion played out Regina, who felt the desperate urge to leave here just moments ago wanted to stay. It hadn't escaped her attention that was Emma relucted to even look at her. That's when Regina noticed the blind Witch getting dragged along behind David, looking quite smug. Even though barely conscious from the solid wack supplied by David. The witch still had no idea, the mob she sent after Regina hadn't exactly done its jo. In fact, it had the opposite effect. Quite stunned as she was marched into the main office knowing Regina was standing there a free woman.
"If you're going to lock me up, why not the evil queen?" The witch said frustrated.
"Keep quiet" David replied closing the door on the cell behind her.
"Next time I'll make sure it sticks" The witch said to David referring to his almost fatal wound.
"There won't be a next time" Mary Margaret warned still wanting to get in a swing herself at the women who drugged her took her face and Emma.
"Come, on let's go home" Emma said smiling.
They both turned around to see Emma and Killian standing behind them with smiles on all their faces, it had been quite the day. Also, an exhausting one they nodded walking out the Sheriff's station together as a family. Emma didn't say a word to Regina wanting to just enjoy this moment of a little while longer. Deciding that would be an issue to address another day for now she was in her Mum and Dads arms heading home. Which was all she ever wanted, and nothing was going to put a tinge on this moment.
As the four of them left together all the warmth from the room went with them. Regina knew that whatever negative feelings Emma had were brought on by the witches actions. One thing she didn't expect was for the cold shoulder to hurt this much. It was becoming unbearable feeling a need to be alone and scream Regina once again turned to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early" Graham said reminding Regina she had committed to volunteering at the station as he left.
"Right" Regina replied. Trying to focus on the success of the day that started with her returning a heart.
From behind Regina a chuckle breaks out from the cell where the witch has been left in. Although today wasn't quite the success the blind witch hoped for. As she stood in her cell, she couldn't help but laugh at the fact Regina was really trying to redeem herself. That she really believed things could get better and love would return to her life. The idea seemed so foreign people never forgive, not really.
Regina turned around looking at the witch frustrated trying to supress the urge to go over and rip out her heart. It was a strange feeling because this urge came not from the same darkness Regina had clung to for most of her life. It was more fearful, concerned with the wellbeing of others mainly Emma. However, something different happened and Regina smiled feeling sorry for the witch, that she didn't know the true happiness that came with loving someone.
"You look at me with pity and yet you're the one roped into working for these people" The witch said her anger rising.
Regina ignored her turning around to walk out of the station. Not looking forward to the walk home after her car had been trashed earlier that day. A mob had destroyed her property and attacked her today. Yet she was still signing up for this, all off it. The truth was even this was better then being alone with her hate eating away what's left of her soul.
"You think your better than me, that you've changed" The witch called out desperate now realising what she really wanted was Regina by her side. To not be alone anymore.
"I know exactly, who I am" Regina said solemnly.
"You think your what, making amends you haven't changed and there's a lot more people you need to make it up to, not just the girl" The witch said seething at the fact Regina had just forgotten her.
"That what this all about, got yourself locked up so you could preach to me about how I can't be redeemed" Regina replied unimpressed.
"Well, everything didn't go as planned but I did accomplish one thing" The witch said as she remembered the look of anguish on Emma's face when she played the memory to her.
"You should have seen the look on her face" The witch continued seeing Regina's expression change now. With a look in her eyes that would make the devil himself flinch.
Regina marched back over to the cell now really trying to rain it in before she snapped another neck. This feeling faded quickly knowing that it would not make the pain stop. Regina reached up putting her hand on the bars.
"You want to be careful before the Evil queen does return" Regina warned.
"Is that a threat or a promise" The witch replied with a smile as Regina stormed out alone into the cold night.
Notes: Thanks again for any reviews next chapter horse ridding and nightmares.