p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Emma made her way over to the Sheriff's office as quickly as possible knowing it would not be long before her absence was noticed by Mary Margret. This wasn't going to be easy Emma knew that, but after seeing those images and hearing those screams last night. Emma was starting to realise that avoiding her issues wasn't as scary as letting this town become another footnote in this creature's story of endless destruction. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"The door was unlocked as she approached and Emma could hear someone down the hall in the offices possibly one of the administrative assistants, hopefully they would stay in their cubicle while Emma completed her interrogation. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEmma didn't see Graham's or her father's car in the carpark, so the coast was clear in that regard at least. Just a quick chat and she would be back at the library before anyone noticed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Have you got my lunch, Sherriff?" Regina said as she lay back on the small camping bed supplied in her cell, not realising the person she was talking to wasn't the Sheriff at all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"There was a moment of silence as Emma came closer and Regina realised that the person coming towards her footsteps where much too quiet to be a grown mans. Realising that today for the first time in weeks something interesting might happen. Regina sat up smiling as she saw Emma standing just beyond the bars./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma?" Regina asked surprised to see her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina got up and came over closer, happy to have the disruption to her usually boring day. She needed a chance to get back on track with her plan and Emma could be a route to escape. Regina came right up to the bars wrapping her hand around them she smiled happy to have the chance to manipulate someone other than the Sheriff or his deputy. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Hey" Emma awkwardly said now that she was here, looking Regina in the eye her resolve had somewhat faded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""To what do I owe to this visit" Regina said breaking the silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I have some questions for you, about what happened to us" Emma replied. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Do mummy and daddy know about this question time" Regina pretending she even cared for their approval. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I need the talk, this is important" Emma said not in the mood for games./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Talk away, can't exactly leave the room" Regina answered sarcastically referring to the fact she was currently locked in a five-by-five cell./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'm serious, I need to know the truth" Emma replied desperate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina nodded her expression changing as she realised Emma wasn't in the mood to drag this out, Regina had heard about what happened last night. Noticing the increase in calls to the Sheriff's office meant something big was happening, the eleventh hour was upon them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Back at the shed when that thing attached and that stuff with Emily, I need to know what happened" Emma asked but it was hard to get the words out hard to put herself back in that moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""You where there" Regina replied sarcastically with a shrug as if all the answers and intentions where clear by simply being in the room while the events unfolded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Yeah, and I still don't fully understand, what is your history with Emily?" Emma asked her voice cracking as she said Emily's name./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, you want to talk about that, I told you to leave it Emma" Regina took a step back not wanting to admit the truth to herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Why, you don't care what happens to me?" Emma asked her frustration boiling over. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina was silent pacing now in her cell like a caged animal desperate for a way out to not have to go through this, to have to deal with how she was feeling. It was easier to sit here and wait endlessly for the creature to take her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""What where you are feeling in that moment, why did you do it?" Emma asked again being more specific referring to when Regina jumped in front of the creature to save Emma./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I just" Regina turned away to ashamed to look Emma in the eye as she took herself back to that moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina focused her subconscious on another moment something that had been playing over in her head most nights spent in this cell. The day she went to pick up Emma up she had already organised a room for her, brought her a bed. The moment Emily sat her down inexplicably telling her this wasn't going to work, that Emma refused to come home with Regina. Emily said it very composed, but a smile crept across her face. Regina being so hurt by this she didn't give time to question how strange it was. Trying not to listen to the small girl crying in the next room telling herself it wasn't Emma, her cold heart taking over pushing aside any feelings Regina had developed. Regina walked away back to Storybrooke never giving it another thought to the happy life she could have one with companionship. A life like that was never in the cards for her, falling even deeper into her hate for all those who managed to achieve that level of happiness. Now the truth was clear to her and she couldn't ignore it. Not only was Emily a liar that was always pretty clear, but Regina did care for Emma all those feelings where still there. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Just spit it out" Emma pleading getting frustrated that a clear answer was so hard to get. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I was thinking there is no way I'm letting that thing take you, like I let her take you" Regina replied quickly before she could stop herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""What, you mean Emily?" Emma frowned confused what was the big deal Emily was no threat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I knew something was wrong with your situation and I let her take you" Regina admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emily she's just a social worker" Emma replied rolling her eyes "but you admit it you were trying to save me?" Emma asked. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina couldn't say it out loud, but she nodded and then quickly changed the subject back to Emily. Coming over closer once more any pretence she didn't care dropped and Regina now got serious with Emma. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""She's been in contact with you recently though hasn't she" Regina questioned trying to read Emma's response through facial cues. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Emma wasn't listening though too preoccupied thinking about this revelation. Emma already knew what had happened she was there, but some part of her assumed an ulterior motive. Like Emma did with everyone whoever reached out in anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma, I know you didn't want to be a part of my life..." Regina Admitted trailing off as she thought about that time with Emma once again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""You really think I would have turned away a chance at a family, any chance, you don't really see the damage casting the curse has done to me, to everyone" Emma interrupted Regina trying to keep her emotions in check, but she could feel the tears surfacing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'm sorry" Regina finally said it the words had been just below the surface so long, but she knew they carried no weight. Not after everything she had done. It was still good to let it out. The two stood in silence for a moment trying to figure out what to say, until they heard someone enter the station. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma, what are doing?" David said as he saw Emma standing in front of Regina's cell. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, your back" Emma answered coming over to him quickly trying to compose herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Weren't expecting company" David replied frustrated, Emma could see the anger and disappointment on his face, but his eyes where sad feeling he had failed once again as a father. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""It's ok, we can go, I got what I needed" Emma said trying to rush back to the library and tell the others what she had confirmed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Care to share" David replied first looking at Emma with no response he looked over to Regina hoping for something, but she just sunk back down into her bed not giving anything away. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'll tell you the plan, we got to meet up with the others first" Emma said making a b-line for the exit before David saw her tears. /span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span lang="EN-AU"Emma was confused her emotions too much for her, why was she so upset. This is the answer she wanted; it proved her theory. That the creature targeted those who had darkness in them it found them when this glimpse of hate or fear surfaced. Like when her kidnappers decided to take Emma's life, it came for them and when Regina got between its prey. The first real sacrifice she had made since saving a young girl whose horse lost its way. Once again, the answer was clear and obvious when she thought about it. I guess Emma was still adjusting to a world where monsters can be destroyed by such a weapon. The answer was love./span/p
/div
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"The door was unlocked as she approached and Emma could hear someone down the hall in the offices possibly one of the administrative assistants, hopefully they would stay in their cubicle while Emma completed her interrogation. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEmma didn't see Graham's or her father's car in the carpark, so the coast was clear in that regard at least. Just a quick chat and she would be back at the library before anyone noticed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Have you got my lunch, Sherriff?" Regina said as she lay back on the small camping bed supplied in her cell, not realising the person she was talking to wasn't the Sheriff at all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"There was a moment of silence as Emma came closer and Regina realised that the person coming towards her footsteps where much too quiet to be a grown mans. Realising that today for the first time in weeks something interesting might happen. Regina sat up smiling as she saw Emma standing just beyond the bars./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma?" Regina asked surprised to see her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina got up and came over closer, happy to have the disruption to her usually boring day. She needed a chance to get back on track with her plan and Emma could be a route to escape. Regina came right up to the bars wrapping her hand around them she smiled happy to have the chance to manipulate someone other than the Sheriff or his deputy. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Hey" Emma awkwardly said now that she was here, looking Regina in the eye her resolve had somewhat faded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""To what do I owe to this visit" Regina said breaking the silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I have some questions for you, about what happened to us" Emma replied. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Do mummy and daddy know about this question time" Regina pretending she even cared for their approval. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I need the talk, this is important" Emma said not in the mood for games./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Talk away, can't exactly leave the room" Regina answered sarcastically referring to the fact she was currently locked in a five-by-five cell./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'm serious, I need to know the truth" Emma replied desperate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina nodded her expression changing as she realised Emma wasn't in the mood to drag this out, Regina had heard about what happened last night. Noticing the increase in calls to the Sheriff's office meant something big was happening, the eleventh hour was upon them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Back at the shed when that thing attached and that stuff with Emily, I need to know what happened" Emma asked but it was hard to get the words out hard to put herself back in that moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""You where there" Regina replied sarcastically with a shrug as if all the answers and intentions where clear by simply being in the room while the events unfolded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Yeah, and I still don't fully understand, what is your history with Emily?" Emma asked her voice cracking as she said Emily's name./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, you want to talk about that, I told you to leave it Emma" Regina took a step back not wanting to admit the truth to herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Why, you don't care what happens to me?" Emma asked her frustration boiling over. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina was silent pacing now in her cell like a caged animal desperate for a way out to not have to go through this, to have to deal with how she was feeling. It was easier to sit here and wait endlessly for the creature to take her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""What where you are feeling in that moment, why did you do it?" Emma asked again being more specific referring to when Regina jumped in front of the creature to save Emma./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I just" Regina turned away to ashamed to look Emma in the eye as she took herself back to that moment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina focused her subconscious on another moment something that had been playing over in her head most nights spent in this cell. The day she went to pick up Emma up she had already organised a room for her, brought her a bed. The moment Emily sat her down inexplicably telling her this wasn't going to work, that Emma refused to come home with Regina. Emily said it very composed, but a smile crept across her face. Regina being so hurt by this she didn't give time to question how strange it was. Trying not to listen to the small girl crying in the next room telling herself it wasn't Emma, her cold heart taking over pushing aside any feelings Regina had developed. Regina walked away back to Storybrooke never giving it another thought to the happy life she could have one with companionship. A life like that was never in the cards for her, falling even deeper into her hate for all those who managed to achieve that level of happiness. Now the truth was clear to her and she couldn't ignore it. Not only was Emily a liar that was always pretty clear, but Regina did care for Emma all those feelings where still there. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Just spit it out" Emma pleading getting frustrated that a clear answer was so hard to get. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I was thinking there is no way I'm letting that thing take you, like I let her take you" Regina replied quickly before she could stop herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""What, you mean Emily?" Emma frowned confused what was the big deal Emily was no threat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I knew something was wrong with your situation and I let her take you" Regina admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emily she's just a social worker" Emma replied rolling her eyes "but you admit it you were trying to save me?" Emma asked. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Regina couldn't say it out loud, but she nodded and then quickly changed the subject back to Emily. Coming over closer once more any pretence she didn't care dropped and Regina now got serious with Emma. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""She's been in contact with you recently though hasn't she" Regina questioned trying to read Emma's response through facial cues. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU"Emma wasn't listening though too preoccupied thinking about this revelation. Emma already knew what had happened she was there, but some part of her assumed an ulterior motive. Like Emma did with everyone whoever reached out in anyway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma, I know you didn't want to be a part of my life..." Regina Admitted trailing off as she thought about that time with Emma once again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""You really think I would have turned away a chance at a family, any chance, you don't really see the damage casting the curse has done to me, to everyone" Emma interrupted Regina trying to keep her emotions in check, but she could feel the tears surfacing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'm sorry" Regina finally said it the words had been just below the surface so long, but she knew they carried no weight. Not after everything she had done. It was still good to let it out. The two stood in silence for a moment trying to figure out what to say, until they heard someone enter the station. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Emma, what are doing?" David said as he saw Emma standing in front of Regina's cell. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Oh, your back" Emma answered coming over to him quickly trying to compose herself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Weren't expecting company" David replied frustrated, Emma could see the anger and disappointment on his face, but his eyes where sad feeling he had failed once again as a father. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""It's ok, we can go, I got what I needed" Emma said trying to rush back to the library and tell the others what she had confirmed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""Care to share" David replied first looking at Emma with no response he looked over to Regina hoping for something, but she just sunk back down into her bed not giving anything away. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-AU""I'll tell you the plan, we got to meet up with the others first" Emma said making a b-line for the exit before David saw her tears. /span/p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;"span lang="EN-AU"Emma was confused her emotions too much for her, why was she so upset. This is the answer she wanted; it proved her theory. That the creature targeted those who had darkness in them it found them when this glimpse of hate or fear surfaced. Like when her kidnappers decided to take Emma's life, it came for them and when Regina got between its prey. The first real sacrifice she had made since saving a young girl whose horse lost its way. Once again, the answer was clear and obvious when she thought about it. I guess Emma was still adjusting to a world where monsters can be destroyed by such a weapon. The answer was love./span/p
/div