AN: Sorry for the late update! It's terrible it's taken me so long but, for whatever reason it was difficult writing this chapter (perhaps because I want to already get to the 'good stuff'), but none the less I've been writing all day and will hopefully have another chapter up tomorrow. I also have been busy between my bday, my family, and work, so I hope this chapter is good and you all like it! Again, I'm sorry and thank you all for your reviews, likes, and follows! -R.M
Her body trembled uncontrollably while the world around her was going in and out of focus, as if everything was a blur of colors. The voices, god the voices were barely recognizable or distinctive and that frightened her. 'What's happening?' spiraled in her mind, she felt a warm embrace wrap around her as if it were a warm blanket and that embrace, that scent of apples was so familiar and felt like home.
"We have got to get her changed and warmed up quickly." The husked out womanly voice called out, she knew that voice and oh how she wanted to just voice out that she wanted to go home with just her, but no matter how hard she tried it was like the words died upon her tongue and her body fell limply within the embrace.
As she tilted her head up ever so slightly, green eyes gazed upon the various colors that made up Regina, the olive of her skin, the ebony hair, red lips, blushed cheeks, eyes that were eternal in depth, everything and anything about her was so perfectly complex and drew out together and as she looked upon her with heavy lids. She whispered to no one her love and let the warmth of the embrace and exhaustion's call take over as she fell into darkness.
"I'm so sorry." The scared soft voice of Elsa came out as she paced around the loft, her eyes never leaving the stairwell where Emma and Regina were residing.
A sigh escaped Snow's lips as she stayed seated at the table with a hot cup of tea in one hand while her other arm cradled her new born son. She rarely showed her scowl, but by damned it was difficult for her to hide it at this second.
"It was beyond your control, so to speak from what Regina told me." Snow smiled slightly, her lips cradling the edge of the mug as she took a sip of the warm liquid.
Elsa could only give a half hearted smile at the exhausted looking woman. They had been at the loft for approximately two hours and Emma had not awoken quite yet.
Heels clicked against wood and Regina flattened her pencil skirt while fixing her hair a bit. "She will be fine. I'll make some porridge and a tea that should help her with exhaustion when she wakes up…."
Her body radiated exhaustion as she walked to the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator with a look of disgust. "You have nearly nothing in here." She sighed and closed her eyes, flicking her wrist and an array of vegetables, spices, rice, and meat appeared. "Luckily, I know what is in my refrigerator and keep it stocked." She sighed and rolled the sleeves of her shirt up before tying her hair back in a short loose ponytail.
Snow looked at her in wonderment, she looked so docile and domestic. She had never seen her step mother cut vegetables, let alone cook anything and had wondered if she just 'magicked' her food all the time.
"You can cook?" She asked while giving her son a kiss on the top of his blonde head.
Chocolate eyes rolled as she continued to shave the carrot before slicing it on the cutting board. "The same way you manage to talk to animals." She said under her breath while continuing to chop some more vegetables; her eyes concentrated on what's before her before she went to a cabinet beside the stove and looked for a large pot and filled it with the appropriate water and chicken stock before adding some spices, putting the lid on.
Charming walked in the room and looked at the scene, in slight distaste as the woman who first hurt Emma was in the Kitchen and this new woman was standing with an unreadable expression close to his wife.
"Well is she ok?" He asked in annoyance.
"If she takes after you two, then yes nothing can ever harm her." Regina retorted before putting the mix of vegetables in a bowl and began to dice up the chicken into small pieces so it was easier for the blonde to eat.
"What's that supposed to mean." Charming asked, his shoulders squared and jaw tensed.
The knife stilled in her hand and she looked over at the over confident man and felt her gut twist. This family was potentially going to be the death of her, though she had to thank the fates for not making Henry quite as cocky.
"It means that you two can find a way out of any damned situation. Now if you don't mind, I'm trying to make her some food to warm her up and since neither of you apparently have the knowledge of how to keep a refrigerator well stocked, lucky for you I keep mine well supplied. I will eat a bite if it makes you feel better, but damnit Charming I'm not in the mood for an argument." Regina snapped and looked at the man in irritation. Sure, Snow had irritated her a lot as a child, but not nearly as much as this man had in the even shorter amount of time she's known him.
He looked at her, then at Snow who only shook her head. "David, can you please take Neil and lay him down to sleep…" She asked softly and looked at her husband pleadingly, she really couldn't take them fighting right now.
The man released a defeated sigh and walked to his wife, bending down a bit to place a chaste kiss against her forehead before taking his son into his strong arms and cradled him. "Of course….You should get some rest too Snow." He said softly and Regina could only scoff in irritation, they were probably the most sickening duo she had ever met.
"I will, I want to stay up and talk with Regina and…" She looked to Elsa and realized they hadn't exchanged formalities.
"Elsa.…I'm Queen Elsa of Arendelle." She smiled softly.
"And Elsa." She nodded a bit before taking another sip of her mint tea. "Why don't you go and rest first, I'll join you soon." Snow added and patted her Husband's lower back gently, receiving a look of longing. "I promise it won't be long. Now you two please go sleep, it's been a long day for all of us." Snow assured him and he only nodded a bit, taking one last glance at the brunette who was busily cooking in his kitchen.
"Ok Snow, I love you." He whispered and kissed her lips tenderly before walking towards the french doors of the separated bedroom and closed them behind him.
"So.…" Snow began and looked at the blonde, patting the chair beside her. "Elsa, you have ice magic and you are the one who caused the distress calls?" Snow asked, causing the blonde to wince.
"I didn't intend to harm anyone, I'm just looking for my sister." She added and took a seat opposite of Snow.
"I see, well what is your sisters name? Do you know what she might like to do or what her hobbies are….she might be taking up a place here in Storybrooke and if that's the case it won't take too long to find her. But, please try to refrain from using your magic." Snow added and the blonde looked at her hands with a sad expression, white gloves covered them and the haunted expression clouded her eyes.
"I understand...well, Anna loved everything about the outside…she was very lively and she really loves chocolate." She added and then felt another pair of eyes gazing at her.
"Do you have anything of hers? I can possibly do a locator spell to find her." Regina took a seat beside Elsa with a sigh as the scent of warmth filled the Kitchen and both women felt their stomachs grumble at the delightful aroma of vegetables, meat, and spices that were so melodiously dancing with each other that it made the two hunger for it.
"I do.…" Elsa's left hand went up to the pendent that was fastened around her neck. "She was supposed to wear this on her wedding." She smiled sadly and Regina could only look at the woman in both understanding and pity.
"Are you sure we should be using more magic Regina, I think it's done quite enough." Her flippant voice cut through the air as Snow shot a glare at the older woman.
"I think that it's better to have control over your magic, rather than it controlling you. Oh and when have you became the magic expert Snow?" She shot back with equal venom.
The two brunettes glared at each other before a pair of ice blue eyes looked upwards towards the stairs and a shivering body began to descend.
"Emma." Her breathless voice called out and she stood from her chair and began to walk towards the woman with her arms outstretched and wrapping around the latter. "I'm so so sorry." Her brows furrowed as tears filled her icy eyes. Her voice filled with remorse as she felt guilt pulsating through her veins.
Both women at the table had abandoned their feud and looked towards the two blondes, standing from their seats as well. "Emma!" Their voice came out in unison as they hurriedly walked towards the two.
"H-h-hey." Her lips forcibly turned upwards in a small smile. "I woke up and no one was there, it kinda was unsettling ya know." She chuckled a bit, coughing slightly while pulling the blanket tighter around her body.
"You should be in bed Emma, you need rest." Regina's voice came softly, in a tone so gentle it caressed the blondes ears soothingly.
"I just...I didn't wanna be alone." Emma smiled slightly before looking down and sniffling a little. "Thanks by the way, I know you were the one to warm me up." A small blush crept across her cheeks while Snow had looked between the two in slight unsettled confusion.
Elsa, on the other hand, was looking worriedly at her blonde counterpart. "I am so sorry again, I really didn't mean to hurt you." Her voice low and soft, as if whispering.
Emma shook her head and shuddered a bit while rubbing her hands along her biceps slightly. "You can't control your magic and you were upset….it can happen and…as long as there is patience and understanding, it'll be ok." Emma whispered softly and looked up in the pair of blue eyes that looked so lost and desperate, it tugged at Emma's heart; reminding her of the little girl in the dark room that she used to be.
Regina looked at the scene with a pair of slightly jealous brown eyes and walked towards the stove, adding some chili flakes and stirred the pot of porridge before checking her phones.
"Luckily though, the power lines are for the most part in tact and only half the city had lost power. So, that can be fixed easily. Now…Emma I made you some food, you really should eat." Her husky voice came out as she grabbed a bowl from above the sink and served out some of the food, making sure to blow on it slightly to cool the hot food and grasped it with a pair of oven mitts.
Emma looked at the scene and felt her heart ache, urging to just kiss the brunette like she had done so many times before she arrived back in this time.
"Thank you Gina." She smiled slightly and pulled from the blondes grasp, walking to the table and sat in the chair she presumed was next to the brunette.
Regina smiled softly and sat the food before Emma, flicking her wrist once more to present a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon on the top of the cream. The blondes eyes lit up like a child, her lips parting while a grin slowly spread.
"Now be careful, it's hot and I know you are eager to eat in a child like manner that could probably rival our sons at a young age, but please I don't want you to suffer from burns now." She snickered slightly. Emma rolled her eyes before reaching for the spoon and blew lightly on the mushy porridge, though she would usually not be a fan of the food, it did smell quite appealing.
With a slow bite, she ate it and felt an explosion of flavors against her tongue while the light spiciness of the chili flakes warmed her up a little more.
"Mm" Her lips vibrated in a low hum of approval. She continued to eat and no one dare spoke a word while the saviour did so, as they silently thanked the gods for this woman to have made it in time. "Gina, can we do that locator spell?" Emma asked quietly, though she was nearly killed by the woman in front of her she knew what desperation did to a person.
Regina nodded slowly while her brown eyes were cast to the disapproving gaze of her ex step daughter. If looks could kill, she would have been impaled violently by Snow's piercing green eyes.
"Do you really think that would be a good idea Emma, you need to recover and need to rest." Snow's motherly voice rang out while she ran her thumbs along her tea cup.
Emma shot a glare at her mother and grunted slightly. "I've been through worse, thank you and I thought that we were supposed to be reuniting people with their loved ones." Emma took another bite while then looking in Regina's direction then towards Elsa who looked like a misplaced child and she felt herself ache for her. She knew that look, that emotion that was wrapped within those blue eyes and saw her own reflection.
"Elsa, it's really ok and don't worry." Emma smiled slightly as she finished her bowl of porridge and smiled shyly at the woman who cooked for her. Oh how she missed those intimate moments with her queen and though this wasn't quite like things were before, it was still something. "Can I have more?"
Regina could hardly push back the grin that was forming across her lips. With a curt nod, her hands took the bowl that was now much cooler and made her way with elegance towards the stove.
Snow looked at her daughter in astonishment, no one had ever questioned or had went against her wishes and now, her own daughter was siding with her step mother.
"Emma.…" Her voice warned with a slight edge to it.
"Not now Mary Margaret." Emma whispered and turned her head away from the short haired brunette and towards her main focus, Regina. She took the sight in and felt a warmth spread through her like a campfire, her dark brown eyes were so full of concern and care, her movements so regal yet so natural that it was hard to believe that this woman was indeed human. Regina was the poster for beauty and elegance and here she was, with her blouse sleeves rolled up, skirt that was normally pressed had a few wrinkles in it, and the two top buttons of her shirt were left undone more comfortably to serve her food. It was quite the sight and one that Emma would love to see more of.
Emma leaned back in the chair and held the blanket closer to her body, not just for warmth, no, the comfort and soother of her own anxiety.
Regina had came back and served the blonde, sitting beside her and as she was about to push a strand of tousled blonde hair behind the woman's ear; she instead folded her arms on the table and swallowed thickly. 'Get it together' She reprimanded herself, disapproving as this was not the time or place to show any sort of affection or ask any questions that she was burning to ask.
"Henry is with Archie, we figured it would be safe there and apparently Archie has this new investigative show that he wanted Henry to watch." Regina started with a lump in her throat that she so desperately tried to swallow.
Emma nodded in approval as she began to eat. "I think that is a good idea, Archie has been quite good on Henry and I know he would be safe there." Her voice praised the latter and the other two women watched on, one with interest as the other was feeling unease.
"I was wondering, Regina…if perhaps I could stay over with Elsa so we could figure out where to go from here in finding her sister." Emma slowly ran the tip of the spoon along the porridge before taking a cautious bite, sucking in a breath as it was a little hotter than expected.
With a nod, Regina confirmed Emma's request while she played with a loose strand that was attached to her sleeve.
Snows lips were twisted with distaste at the events going on. "I feel you should be at home with us, your family." Snow said rather slowly.
Emma felt her brow twitch as she took a deep breath, not wanting to argue with her mother that she's only really known for a couple of years and was her own age.
"Then maybe, Charming can take care of the sheriff business while you and I spend time with Neil here." Snow showed her 100 watt smile that was rather childish and made Emma's stomach churn for unknown reasons.
"Regina could help Elsa, since you don't really use magic, since you don't necessarily need it so, you wouldn't be much use there." Snow continued to go on and Emma felt her fingers brush rather anxiously against the smooth metal of the spoon. She felt her mind swirl with both emotions of frustration and anger and she didn't know what to do in this state. She didn't want to argue with her mother, but she didn't want to continue on.
"Snow, I think Emma can make decisions for herself." Regina's voice leveled out and had a low timbre to it, not wanting to argue either with the rather delusional woman.
"And I think you have no right to say anything at this point Regina. If it wasn't for you two meeting and deciding to go after Elsa without further backup besides Charming, then perhaps Emma wouldn't be in this situation in the first place." Snow argued rather defiantly, not wanting to back down from her idea of taking care of her daughter.
Suddenly the lights flickered and were burnt out as Emma sat there gripping her spoon rather tightly, an electrical current could be seen coating around it. "Stop!" Emma growled in a low yet firm manner, fist slamming down roughly against the wooden table and it caused only Snow to jump in surprise.
"Emma!" Snow's voice called out in exacerbation, rising with a slight fearful edge.
"No, I'm not listening or continuing on with this. I stated what I want, and that is far from what I want. You don't listen and I don't think you ever do." She felt her heart race as her hand shook while electricity was sparking from her fingers. Snow watched on in horror, the idea of her daughter having magic and when both her and Charming both didn't have it was terrifying to her.
"Emma calm down….honey listen." Her voice shook as she tried to calm down her daughter's temper.
"Listen? Rich coming from you, I don't feel well and you know who came to my aid? Regina. You know who knows how to take care of children and never gave her child up, Regina. You know who has had my back since I've came to Storybrooke and aided in my growth? It was not you."Sharp, her voice cut into the woman with such venom that Snow's eyes had began to fill with tears from both her hormones and the confession. "
Do you even know the first thing about me? Do you know what I like, what I don't? Do you care to even learn maybe who I am, or is it predestined for me to only be known as the saviour? Is that all I am?" Her voice waved shakily as her emotions spilled while her fingers twitched slightly, electricity pulsating through her in both anger and pain.
Regina laid a soft hand on Emma's forearm and gave a soft understanding look. "Emma, calm down." Her voice low, laced with a calmness that was like a tender bass in the woman's tremulous mind. "It's not worth it, let's all go back to the mansion and have a good night sleep…Snow, stop and this is not about you right now. This is about Emma and Elsa and you should stay here with your husband and baby." Regina warned cautiously towards the younger woman as her hand ever so gently caressed Emma's arm, wanting her to calm down.
Elsa watched only in wonderment, she had never seen anything quite like Emma or Regina's magic and it was nothing short of amazing.
"Regina.…" Snow begged and was left with a swirl of purple smoke around where the three bodies were once sitting and she, alone, was left with the confessions and thoughts.
They were in the study of the mayoral mansion as Emma was left seated on the leather sofa in front of the fireplace that was left bare, none the less, she gazed in the empty fireplace for some sort of answers.
"Elsa...why don't you follow me, I think I might have some clothes you could change into and in the morning-" Regina started with a soft sigh, fixing her skirt and shirt slightly. "In the morning we will start looking, ok?" Regina smiled slightly as she rested a single hand on the thin blondes shoulder, looking up at her.
"I like the sound of that." Elsa's soft demure voice came out, her exhaustion setting in as she had used too much of her magic that day and was definitely not used to doing so. She walked with Regina out of the room, not noticing the glance that the brunette made towards the troubled blonde on the couch.
Emma sat there alone, her fingertips twitching as she saw the sparks continue to crackle against them. She shook her hands as she felt her own onset of tears begin to build. Why couldn't she be enough? Why couldn't she be trusted with her own decisions? Why were all the decisions that were involved around her life made by others who thought they knew what was best? She slowly wrapped her fingers around her wrists and clenched her eyes shut; blunt nails digging into her white flesh as she felt the slight tension leave at the light pain that filled her.
"please…" She whispered to no one as the horrid memories that plagued her nights were flooding through her mind. She could still feel the rejection of her many foster families telling her that she didn't fit into their family like they had thought, she still felt the greedy hands of the many 'fathers' and 'brothers' who told her they would teach her what love was. She could still feel that damned helplessness that surrounded her and right now, right now she felt so small, she wasn't the saviour. She wasn't Emma Swan, the bounty hunter and sheriff, no, she was just Emma, a little girl who so desperately wanted to be loved and to feel a sense of belonging, to be just good enough.
She hadn't realized anyone was with her until a soft gasp was heard and a pair of gentle arms that her body found as familiar had been draped around her in a blanket of safety.
"Emma stop...you're bleeding." Regina whispered as she looked at the nails that were filled with the blood that was pouring from her wrists.
Emma's eyes snapped open wildly, haunted and Regina knew that look, oh god did she know that horrible look.
"Emma you're here…Emma you're safe…" Regina whispered, chanted nearly as she gently grabbed either side of the woman's jaw. "You're here with me, we are in my home and we are safe. No one is going to hurt you and you will always have a home here you understand me." Regina swallowed thickly as she felt her throat want to close up upon seeing the tears that began to descend from beautiful irises of emerald.
"I'm sorry." Emma whispered as she felt her hands gently wring in front of her, she hated seeming so weak and especially now, she realized no one has seen her like this in all her years of living and here she was, with her son's other mother, with her love, with Regina.
"Don't be.…" Regina whispered and looked at Emma, who was always so strong for everyone, so powerful, break right before her eyes and it was in that moment she knew Emma was still just that, broken.
She had her arms wrapped around her as Emma laid against her with tears dropping from her eyes, they had stayed in that position for an hour or so, neither wanting to break the comfort the other held.
With a small sniffle, Emma's eyes gazed up at Regina with a slight worry.
"When you decide to remember, please don't look at me any differently." Her voice hoarse.
"Mmn, Miss Swan, you are still my idiot. It would take decades of bad decisions and potentially a murderous rampage for me to look at you as someone else. So don't worry." A small crinkle came to Regina's eyes as she playfully jested the blonde.
Emma nodded with a small smile before yawning, being utterly exhausted. "So is there another guest bedroom?" She asked while she rubbed the back of her hand up against her eyes.
A sheepish smile came to Regina's lips as she licked them slowly and took a deep breath. "It appears that Henry's room is a mess, Elsa has the other room, my other spare room is actually a room that is filled with old things of Henry's and that only leaves my room." She stated rather anxiously as she felt her stomach knot up and her heart race.
Green eyes searched brown, boring into the others with intensity as the quiet around them left the air thick with unknown emotions.
"Well...if it's ok Madam Mayor…" Emma whispered as she felt nervous for whatever reason.
"It's just sleeping. My bed is quite big and honestly you would get the best sleep on it, trust me." As soon as the sentence left her mouth she felt her cheeks burn. "I mean I-"
"I know Regina, you probably have the most expensive bed from Queens Mattress Depot with imported everything and gold trimming." Emma smiled while trying to joke, but felt equally nervous.
Regina stood up, flattening her skirt while adjusting her shoulder length brown hair. "Well…let's go." Regina smiled as she turned, the sound of her soles patting against the ground in just nylons was slightly more beautiful than Emma imaged as she watched the woman leave towards the door and she had to take a deep breath to calm her ever growing nerves. This was either going to be the best sleep she had ever had, or potentially the longest night.