"We've never been more grateful for anyone. You two have survived so much, were able to have our daughter brought back to us. We're more than happy to assist the two of you in taking back your kingdom."
Stefan smiled at his baby girl in his arms, Leah standing next to him, one of her arms looped around his. It was clear the two of them were exhausted, but also nothing short of relieved. When Charming glanced to Snow, he felt the same thing. For different reasons, of course, he could feel the pain Leah and Stefan had felt when they had to give up their daughter. When she had been cursed. Regina. She had done the same thing to them both, or, at least, something very similar. Snow had told him that she had fallen under the curse willingly. Somehow, he couldn't bring himself to believe it. She wouldn't have done so truly of her own accord. What had Regina done to force her to fall under the curse? Had she threatened her life? Was a life spent in a curse the only alternative to her death? Or, worse, had she threatened the life of someone else?
His stomach sank, a sickening feeling beginning to overtake him.
Had Regina threatened Lynn's life to force Snow to fall under the curse?
He tried not to dwell on that. Soon enough, they would be able to protect Lynn from her mother. This time, that protection would be permanent. He hadn't brought up the subject yet with Snow, but they didn't have many options about what to do with Regnia. They would take back their kingdom. They were going to be receiving support. Eager support, at that. But Regina would never relinquish the throne without being coerced. She had no claim to it, but she would hang onto it for as long as possible. He was well aware that she viewed being queen as a way to protect Lynn and a way to get revenge against Snow. The former was inaccurate. The latter was despicable. He thought back to when she had taken him, taking him captive from his father. There was something he had seen in her that haunted him.
He reminded himself that she had tried to kill him. That she had cursed Snow, and Aurora. That she was an abusive mother.
Regina needed to face all she had done.
She would have to die.
There was no alternative.
There never would be an alternative.
At least, there didn't seem to be one he could see.
"The two of you never should have been forced to go through such an ordeal," Stefan remarked, looking between them. "It's absolutely horrific. I can scarcely believe what she did to my daughter, let alone how she could do the same thing - if not worse, in some ways, I imagine - to her own step daughter."
"She has no care for me," Snow said, chewing at the inside of her cheek. "If she ever did, I think she's made it more than clear all of that is gone."
"Oh, dear, that's tragic," Leah came over to her, and set a soft, gentle hand to her shoulder. "You have done everything right, Snow. Whatever Regina is doing now…deviant from her past or not, is completely uncalled for. Not only are you the rightful heir to the throne, but you're her step daughter."
"She never cared about that," Snow said shortly. "I used to think it was because she viewed me as her daughter full stop. I'm afraid that's been proven to be very much not the case."
"Well, you're quite brave for what you did," Leah offered her a small smile. "Truly, you're a beautiful young woman. There's something to be said for all you did to try and ensure the happiness of others. I have said it a fair bit, but I firmly believe that is a sign of how just a leader you are."
"And, bearing that in mind," Stefan put in. "As offered, we're more than willing to provide you both with full support to take back your kingdom."
"Thank you," Charming glanced at Snow. "Regina's violent hold on MIsthaven will come to an end, and we'll do our best, too, in order to find a way to reverse the curse she inflicted on your daughter."
"That's not necessary," Stefan paused, and then sighed. "But that's very much appreciated."
"You two are going to be wonderful rulers of your kingdom," Leah took Snow's hand and briefly examined the ring. "This is lovely. I look forward to attending your wedding."
"That's…" Snow blushed. "That's going to be awhile. We have more important things to address."
"It all comes in due time," Leah replied. "Your kingdom, your marriage, your life after this. It will come. The two of you have more than earned it."
"I'm just glad we're going to finally be able to do what we couldn't before…" Snow trailed off, her voice briefly catching in her throat. "Lynn needs to be safe, too. More than anyone else in our kingdom, she needs to be safe."
"And safe is away from her mother," Stefan finished. "To be completely candid, I don't think anyone is safe around Regina. The woman is a monster."
"She is," Leah said, flinching a bit. She then looked back to Snow. "I'm sure Lynn will warm to you, dear. She's horribly traumatised, and has been through hell, I'm sure, her entire life. She'll have the chance to live a normal life after your kingdom falls back under just rule."
"I hope so," Snow glanced away. "There's something about her relationship with Regina that I've never been able to understand…or, at least hadn't been. I always thought their relationship was odd…and then I realised that it's nothing short of codependent. And that can't be healthy for Lynn to have her mother essentially use her for her own gain."
"You're right," Leah cupped her cheek. "When you and James have children, I am sure the two of you will be wonderful parents. Lynn, too, will be able to have a better life because of you two."
"That's the hope," Charming looked between them all before taking Snow's hand. "But, first, we have a kingdom to reclaim."
There was a cut running down the palm of her hand to past her wrist. Blood was still slowly oozing out of it. Glass was strewn around her. Wine on the floor. No stains were present, the mercy of a black dress. Once upon a time, she had been asked if she wore back for mourning. She did not. She wore it because she found it suited her. It also hid much. The blood didn't seem to stain her dress. If it did, she barely noticed. She was in a trance, almost. A woman possessed, she felt as if she could come undone at any moment. That did not happen. Instead, she was still. She could only stare. She had never been afraid of blood, and she wasn't now. This was, however, one of the few - if only - times she had found herself entranced by it. Every little drop the beaded down was almost beautiful. They caught against the light. She wondered if that were because of how badly she was shaking. Slowly, she leaned back against the side of her bed. She didn't have it in her to lay all the way down or stand up. She couldn't.
"Deep inside everyone is a dream…"
She couldn't remember where she had heard those words, nor whom had spoken them. She wasn't sure, either, if it had been real. Yet, something insisted it had to be. Perhaps it had been Caity. She typically was the one who said odd things, or, at least, things that would be odd enough to linger at return at certain times. Right now, however, it occurred to her those words had been her daughter's. Just a few nights before, Lynn had woken her up. She said she had thought her mother was scared, because she had woken up to her mother restless in her sleep. Regina closed her eyes. It had caught her off balance. Her daughter had finally begun to sleep well again, and, now, it was her mother who was struggling with sleep. She told herself it had nothing to do with Snow. It was a lie. It was a lie, but it was one she clung to. Something told her something was wrong. Something seemed to suggest that things were not what they had seemed. It wasn't the end.
"Again, and again, and again. It never ends…"
Those had been Caity's words. She was certain of it. Regina let out a soft sigh. They had been teenagers, Regina having been travelling with just her father, for once. She hadn't realised it at the time, but it had been intentional. Anything to get himself away from Cora for a while was more than welcome. He had taken her with, knowing she needed it. The few times he had travelled without taking Regina with, he had come home to find his wife had beaten her senseless. With magic or not, Regina was always physically hurt when she was left alone with her mother for any extended period of time. That particular time, she had been allowed to wander around a town while her father attended a dinner party with some friends, the lord and lady of that particular town. She had been startled by hearing a girl with a high pitched voice and glasses calling out at her from up in a tree. Even now, Regina laughed a little. She had dealt with trauma, too; where Regina had been abused by her mother, her best friend had been emotionally and verbally abused by a girlfriend several years her senior. They both survived. It was a good reminder that things would be okay. Lynn was the best reminder that things would be okay.
"You can't hold onto your love for him forever. He lives on in your daughter. You'll never be able to find true happiness again if you don't let Daniel go…"
Sherry. Unlike her wife, and Regina, she had not been born into luxury. She had found that for herself. She had also faced similar heartbreak, though, in her case, they really had run away. She never knew what happened to them. She would never know what happened to them. Somehow, that had seemed to be okay for her. Regina opened her eyes, glanced around. The room was still silent, apart from the rippling of fabric from the light breeze floating through the room from the slightly ajar doors out onto the balcony. It was beautiful. It was terrible. If she hadn't felt so numb, it might have made the room a little cold. It didn't. She told herself it was just because she was in a floor length gown with long sleeves. She glanced back at her hand. The blood was slowly starting to clot. Perhaps that was also why she could not feel a chill. It was warm. Blood. Drip. Drip. Drip. It should have made her feel sick to look at, but it was her own. All it did was leave her in this trance of a state.
"You're not going to be able to protect her if you don't take care of yourself…"
Her father's words, like they always were, felt bitterly right, and she wanted to reject them. Just as they had felt when Lynn was an infant, after she had killed Leopold, she wanted to believe she would have everything if she just fought tooth and nail. Scratch. Kick. Bite. Punch. Slap. Violence. It all was familiar. It was all she had ever known to protect Lynn. Because of that, Lynn was only barely aware that her mother had harmed or, at worst, killed people to the end of protecting her. She didn't understand. Of that, Regina was well aware, and, for that, she was relieved. The last thing she had ever wanted was for Lynn to live as she had. Alone. Feeling undefended. Left to the mercy of whomever it was that was left with her for any given time. Regina paused. She knew her father was right, and she was doing so. It was getting easier, knowing Lynn was safe. It was getting harder, because there was a sinking feeling that she had not won. That Snow had something left to prove against her yet.
"You'll never find happiness if you live inside hate…"
Red. Red. Red, the enigma the queen doubted she would ever understand. So much of the young woman made so little sense. There was no semblance of understanding she could find in her, leaving her completely incapable of fathoming how Red could act the way she did. She took Lynn, but brought her home and protected her. She defended Snow, and spoke back at Regina, but she seemed willing to figure things out. Enigma. That was the only word she had to describe her. It was possible, she knew, that she would never be able to understand Red. On some level, that was completely unacceptable. On another, she was able to find contentment. So much was strange. Impossible. How could someone like her be so defensive of Snow while simultaneously being, at least somewhat, open towards Regina? Why was it she did not believe, as Regina was sure Snow believed and as Charming said, that Regina was the evil queen? It couldn't just be Lynn, could it? Were there any other explanations? What made the young woman tick?
"You have no idea what I am capable of…"
Those words were ones that felt so real but she swore couldn't be. They were the words of that blonde woman from another world. No, it couldn't be another - she cut the thought off. It had to exist. What was in question was would she ever be able to get there. She wanted to. Almost desperately, she wanted to. It could be a chance to restart. Would it be worth it? What price would she be willing to pay for that life? It showed she would have Lynn, and her friends. Things could be lovely there. At the very least, they could be much better than they had been the past few years. Then again, it could be a fantasy of that world. It seemed to be a world without magic. Would that be something she could handle? Just imagining her life before magic made her feel dizzy. Terrified. Before magic, she had been defenceless. Yet, even in that world, she seemed to remain powerful. In control. That could be a worthwhile price to pay. The only question was how. How could she get them all there, and safely? What would it take to get there? And, most terrifyingly, what would await them all on the other side once they arrived?
Doors flew open.
"Your majesty! Snow White and her prince, they received support, they -"
That feeling had been right.
Snow was still alive.
No.
She had broken from the curse.
Regina wasn't sure if she screamed, or how she stood up, all but running out of the room.
The trance like feeling had completely shattered.
All that was left of it was a feeling that something had to be done.
She couldn't let this be the ending.
She passed Red.
Barely aware of it, the young woman began to chase after her.
Briefly, she worried Lynn would see.
Then, she remembered, Lynn was still safely asleep in the suite, the same place she had just left.
Relief briefly washed over her in waves.
She couldn't stop.
She had to keep going.
This couldn't be the ending.
This was her -
"Wait!" Red stopped at the top of the stairs, the queen at the bottom. "Where are you going?"
"I have to go back to where it all started," Regina said, her entire body shaking. "I'll be back soon. Take care of Lynn with my father until then."
With that, she disappeared in a cloud of smoke, not knowing what was about to await her in the place where it had all begun only a few years prior, no matter how long and far behind she had become accustomed to feeling.
Replies To Reviews:
barrattajennifer: Snow really is unaware of the world beyond what she has always known. her parents only presented one side of life and the world to her, and, because that's all she has ever known, that is what she bases her entire paradigm of justice and life around. James, too, is hard pressed to see the world from different eyes, stemming from the repressive and dangerous life his 'father' forced him to live. as for Regina, Lynn, and Red, yes, they definitely deserve to find happiness, even if they aren't quite sure what that will truly mean for them.
jasouatfan: Snow and Charming see the world from one lens most of the time, and are so blinded by their understanding of Regina that anyone who appears to want to set her back seems logical, and even trustworthy. they are well aware of how mad, how evil Rumple is, but view him as the lesser of two evils, whether that is realistic or even true or not. Regina, too, struggles to see the world from a different lens, and that is both to her benefit and detriment. she loves Lynn, but doesn't always know how to protect her. she wants to be happy, but she doesn't know what it truly feels like beyond a few, fleeting moments of experience. on all ends, it's tragic to consider the implications of.
Sammii16: of course, love! so sorry this one took longer to come out, it's been a long and crazy few weeks. and, yes, there is so much to await, and so much to ponder...