I feel like if we all had cuffs that made us tell the truth, we'd say a whole lot of things that we probably shouldn't say out loud. Emmerson lets it all out in the open, Regina and Bella have amazing restraint, and Rosalie might be a little insane. Delusional conversations and comments with people who can't tell they're being played like violins.
Warning: This chapter has references to child abuse and crappy things done to do a child in general.
Emmerson does his best not to react to Snow's presence in the makeshift interrogation room. For one, he's starting to really regret not giving Regina the heads-up about his situation, and two, because Snow has the uncanny ability to get under Emmerson's skin. The escape isn't going to happen if he's too busy arguing with his incubator. Okay, that was harsh, even for him, but the point remains the same. Snow sits down in front of him and gives a nervous smile. Emmerson questions David's sanity by sending his wife into the room while Emmerson still wears the "poisoned" cuffs.
"Emmerson."
"Oh, look who decided to start paying attention."
"Blue thinks we should accommodate to your wishes."
"Was this before or after you kidnapped me?"
"Kidnap is such a strong word-
"You cuffed me and drove me blindfolded to the other side of town without telling anyone where you were taking me."
"I didn't come here to argue with you."
"No? That's a pity."
"Why her?"
"The her in this scenario would be?"
"Regina. Why her? Out of everyone in town, you pick her."
Emmerson waits before he responds. That is a loaded question and an obvious minefield, but the truth bubbles in his chest the longer he waits. Emmerson puts his cuffed hands on the table and sits up straight. Snow is waiting on an answer, and Emmerson swallows the truth for the time being.
"Why not her?" he asks instead.
"Because she's-
"Name one evil thing Regina has done beyond the obvious."
"She stole you away from us."
"I went willingly."
"She poisoned Henry!"
"Technically, she was trying to poison me because I was being a dick," Emmerson says. "But we've worked through that."
"She-she broke my Dad's heart."
"Ah, there it is. The real reason you hate her so much. What, she didn't play tea parties with you or something?"
"My Dad loved her," Snow argues. "He went out of his way to make her happy, and she killed him."
"Have you ever thought about seeing Archie for the obvious Daddy issues that you have?"
"I don't have Daddy issues," Snow huffs.
"No? Then answer me this, did it even bother you about the age difference between Regina and your father?"
"It was common back then."
"Right, so it never bothered you that your geriatric father pumped his rotten seed every night into a girl no older than twenty?"
"That is your grandfather you're talking about!"
"Who cares? What he did was gross and disgusting. And need I remind you, the only reason Regina was even forced to marry him was that you were too selfish not to keep your fucking mouth shut. You can blame Cora all you want to, and yes, the woman was very slick and manipulative, but you knew deep down that if Regina left, you wouldn't get to have your new Mommy."
Snow jerks back at the comment, and Emmerson waves his cuffed hands in the air.
"I can't say anything but the truth, remember? And while I could have said it a different way, I do believe my point came across quite nicely."
"Regina was happy-
"You are the most delusional Princess I have ever met, and I've met plenty in this town. Regina was never happy, not until your father was gone."
Snow clenches her jaw and says, "How can you love someone who kidnapped a child and enslaved a widowed father?"
"Careful," Emmerson warns.
"She stole someone's child, Emma! That girl had her whole life ahead of her until Regina poisoned her with hatred and darkness."
"This is your last warning," Emmerson grits out.
"Henry told me the girl threatened him," Snow says, almost pleading. "She threatened his life, and you're still defending her! How can you sit there and choose another person over your own son?"
"Henry has not been my son for a long time, thanks to you. If you want to talk about poisoning, how about how you and David did everything in your power to remove him from the one home where he thrived and lived happily. Regina took care of him, and you ripped him from everything that he knew. From what I see, the only evil bitch in this town is you."
The door opens, and David comes in. He slams his palms on the table, which scares Snow and amuses Emmerson, and he gets in Emmerson's face.
"Do not speak to her in that manner," he hisses.
"Or what, Dad? Gonna throw me over your lap and spank me? Been there, done that, and not something I'm interested in repeating." David falters, and Emmerson grins coldly. "What? Can't bear to hear what your little Princess went through in the real world while you two lived a life of luxury here in Storybrooke?" he taunts.
"Luxury? Your father was married to another woman, and I was sleeping with Whale, of all people. How is that luxury?"
Emmerson blinks at Snow and says, "I can't even think of a response that could express how idiotic you sound."
"Enough! Your mother-
"Died a long time ago," Emmerson interrupts. "So did my Dad."
"We are your parents!"
"Hardly. Not to beat a dead horse, but you threw me in a piece of furniture."
"It was for your safety!" Snow shouts, finally fed up with Emmerson.
"Blah, blah, blah. I've heard it all before, Mommy dearest."
"We did it to protect you!"
"And look how well that turned out," Emmerson snaps. "You wanna hear all about how I grew up in a big fucking house with a fence and tons of brothers and sisters? Huh? Or how about I could play with whatever toys I wanted as long as I did what Daddy said? Maybe you'd like to hear about the nights my brothers snuck into my room and played Doctor while Daddy watched? Or, I know, you wanna hear about the mornings I had to eat out of the trashcan because I was too bruised and beaten to get up in time for breakfast with the other kids. My personal favorite is getting kicked out of my last foster home, who didn't even bother calling CPS. I lived on the streets until my social worker found me face-first in a dumpster.
"Neither one of you get to guilt-trip me on my behavior or who I choose to love. From the moment you got your memories back, you have disrespected me as a human being. I regret ever helping Henry break that goddamn curse. I was better off being a fucking nobody than your Savior or whatever the fuck you wanna call me now. You two do everything wrong and still can't see why I want nothing to do with you."
In the silence, Emmerson rolls his neck around and clenches his jaw.
"Fuck this. You want to take me back to the Enchanted Forest? Fine, go ahead. But I'd rather rot in the dungeons before I ever play happy Princess with you fucked up, selfish pieces of shit!"
The slap is probably a little deserved, but it still catches Emmerson off guard. David's chest rises and falls with unrestrained anger and hurt, and Emmerson licks away the blood on his bottom lip. He laughs and sits back in his seat.
"Did I strike a nerve?" Emmerson drawls.
"You- you are no child of mine," he hisses.
"That is what I have been trying to tell you and your wife, Shepherd." Emmerson sniffs and looks at Snow. "If you mention Regina and her daughter in my presence again, I will remove your tongue and feed it to your precious True Love in pieces."
Emmerson's vision goes black around the edges for a moment before it's gone, and he gestures at the door.
"Feel free to shut it on your way out."
Bella is both annoyed and impressed at her mother. Knocking her out long enough to let Rosalie do whatever she needed to do but not long enough to miss the action takes a lot of skill. Bella fastens the sword against her hip, but she loses her balance when her vision goes dark around the edges. Hook grabs her before she hits the ground.
"You alright?" he asks, setting her upright.
Bella rolls her neck around and says, "Swan's losing it."
"How so?"
"Remember that night he was on your boat?" Hook nods. "Good. That type of anger doesn't just fade. It comes and goes in waves, and whatever's happening triggered it again."
"Is it dangerous?"
"For him? No. For everyone else?"
Bella uses her hands to symbolize a bomb exploding, and Hook runs a hand through his hair. He holds up a finger and goes into the house. He returns with his sword and a chest guard.
"Come on then," he sighs. "Let's go save our Swan, and on the way, you can tell me this plan you and her Majesty created."
Regina doesn't bother knocking as she walks into the back room of the factory. Blue, David, and Neal go on the defensive when she enters, and she rolls her eyes.
"Calm down, idiot one, two, and three." Regina blows the remnants of those guards off her jacket and adds, "If I wanted you dead, would have done so the moment I walked into the room."
Regina spots a couch in the corner and walks over to it. She sits down and crosses her leg.
"Now that I am playing along, what comes next?" she asks.
"You stay, we take you back, and things return to normal," Blue says.
Neal and David remain on the defensive, and Regina pays them little mind. She asks, "You mean you ignoring the wishes of other children to grant the desires of every spoiled rich monarch in existence?"
"Grow up, Regina. Mommy wasn't nice to you. Move on."
"Hmm. Shows what you actually know about my childhood. Is Emmerson here?"
"She is with her mother at the moment. They're having a reunion of sorts."
"I can hear Snow begging for Emmerson to forgive her all the way in here," Regina deadpans.
The conversation stalls as Henry walks into the room. The moment he sees Regina, his face turns red from anger, and Regina prides herself on keeping her reaction in check.
"She doesn't even want to talk to me anymore," he accuses.
"That might be more of your father's fault than mine," Regina says. "Or your grandparents."
Henry clenches his fists and spits in her general direction. It's such an uncouth action that Regina figures he learned his father, and Regina is grateful it misses her by several inches. Henry stomps over to Neal, and Neal puts a protective arm around him.
"The documents came in this morning to reverse adoption," Blue repeats.
"So that means what?"
"You are no longer Henry's legal guardian," David says.
"He's mine," Neal adds. "And Emma's, whenever she's back in her right mind."
David flinches at that, and Regina smiles knowingly.
"I think you might need to get used to being a single father," Regina says dryly.
"Are you not upset?" Blue asks, confused.
"I assumed that was already the case." Regina shrugs and gets to her feet. "Ten years was more than enough for me. It is clear this is where he belongs," she says.
Blue's smile falls away, and Neal holds Henry closer out of suspicion. Regina turns her head to the side as a cloud of red smoke appears. Bella, in her guard uniform, appears, and Regina pauses at the black eyes.
"Hey," Bella says coolly.
"Are you alright?"
"Peachy." Bella gives a sarcastic wave to the others. "Why, hello, Henry. Long time no threaten, yeah?" she says.
"Leave him out of this," Neal warns.
"One, you have him in the room. Two, you should remember where you spent nearly a month," Bella quips.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore."
"Oh?"
"You're a victim," Neal says, not noticing the way Regina and Bella both stiffen. "Once we free you, I think you'll see me as someone you can trust."
"Did you just call me a victim?" Bella repeats coldly.
"Mind your manners in the presence of royalty, Isabella," Regina warns.
"The fuck do you mean? Me, Princess, and you, queen." Bella points at the others and adds, "Shepherd boy, an annoying insect, a man-child with Daddy and Mommy issues, and a little boy who thinks he's a Prince but is really a nuisance."
"You? A Princess?" Blue exclaims.
"I am of the Queen," Bella says flatly. "We share blood, magic, and emotions. I am hers just as she is mine. I share her with the future King."
"Absolutely not," Regina scoffs.
"But Queen's Consort sounds so weird," Bella says.
"Excuse me!" Blue shouts.
"In a moment, Mother Inferior," Bella dismisses.
"He is not my Consort either," Regina sighs.
"What? So, he's your sex slave? That is highly inappropriate, mother."
"Something is wrong with you," Regina says, a smile on her face.
"Of your blood, magic, and emotions, Mommy."
"Please never call me that again. And have you finished yet?"
"Yep. See you later."
Bella leaves so suddenly that the room is thrown into awkward silence. Regina to Blue and taps her chin.
"Where were we? Oh, right." Regina holds out her wrists and smiles. "I surrender," she says.
Emmerson stares in amusement as Bella appears on the desk cross-legged with her back to Snow. He attempted to get Snow to leave, but David was the only one who did. Since then, Snow's been sitting in the room crying and cursing Regina. Bella twists around and blows in Snow's general direction. Snow blinks before she collapses to the floor.
"Huh. I did not think that would work," Bella mutters.
"What did you do to her?"
"I drank a bottle of nightshade a few weeks ago, and now whenever I concentrate, I can like knock people out by blowing in their face."
"Funny. What's the truth?"
"It's a spell, Emmerson," Bella huffs. "Hold still."
Emmerson holds up his hands, and he watches Bella put the tip of her finger on the link. Smoke rises from the metal, and the link snaps within seconds.
"I forget you are a lot more powerful than you let on," Emmerson sighs.
"Can't show all my tricks. And you could have gotten out of those yourself."
"I was waiting on my Princess to save me," Emmerson says sarcastically.
"Give me one reason I shouldn't leave you here," Bella says.
"Your mother would kill you, and you would be lonely without me."
"Whatever. I have a girlfriend to find, and your girlfriend is probably surrendering at the moment." Bella grabs Emmerson's shoulder. "Oh, and your BFF is waiting outside. He missed you."
Emmerson puts his hand on top of Bella's and squeezes.
"I missed you too," he says.
"Fuck off with the sentimental shit. For now, at least."
Rosalie walks over to an armless and legless Edward and kneels in front of him. She has Jane's head in her hand, and she keeps it facing Edward. Emmett and Alia toss Alec's head back and forth while his body sits propped against a tree.
"You should have left us alone," Rosalie says.
"She was mine," Edward growls.
Rosalie hums under her breath and sits down on the concrete. With precision, Rosalie removes Jane's eyes with her fingers.
"I would love to argue with you, but you can ask her yourself," Rosalie says distractedly.
Even with the warning, Edward jumps when Isabella appears right next to Rosalie. He stares at her, almost excited, and Isabella squints at him.
"You're Edwin, right? You took my boxing class."
Rosalie snorts as Edward's enthusiasm wanes, and she crushes Jane's eyes into dust.
"Darling, what are you doing?" Isabella asks warily.
"Torture."
"Long day?"
"No, it was quick," Rosalie muses, snapping Jane's nose off her face.
"Right. Why is he still alive?"
"Torture."
"Why have I never noticed how much of a sadist you are? Put the poor boy out of his misery."
"You do it."
"Fine." Isabella flicks her wrist at Edward, and he vanishes. "Now. Why are you mutilating that vampire?" she asks.
"Because I plan on sending her to my family in Alaska. They have a thing with Jane."
"Is her name Jane?"
"Obviously, Isabella."
"Where did you send Edward?" Emmett asks, coming over to them.
"Hell, hopefully."
Alia drags Alec's body over to them, and Emmett motions for Bella not to ask.
"Did you at least send him somewhere without other people?" Rosalie sighs.
"He should be ash by now. Sent him to a volcano in Hawaii. Or somewhere in Miami."
Rosalie stares at her for a moment before she asks, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your mother?"
"Mom surrendered and is about to be transported back to the Enchanted Forest whenever they get over their shock. I came to give you ups a heads-up and to warn you not to interfere with whatever happens no matter how it looks."
"I don't think I like that look in her eyes," Emmett fake-whispers to Alia.
"Neither do I," Alia admits.
Rosalie knows she's going to regret asking, but she does so anyway, "Isabella, what have you done?"