Warning: evil ahead!
Chapter Three: Sacrifice
Regina sat on a plush bed spread in a lavishly decorated room and tried to calm her racing heart.
She still had no idea how her mother had managed to get the letter to her, past the FBI agents, and their screening services for everything that came into the safehouse. She wished she hadn't read it alone. Hadn't allowed herself the opportunity to be persuaded by her mother's threats and promises. Hadn't convinced herself that Emma and Henry were better off, safer, not knowing what she'd planned in those few panicked minutes. Bravado came to her easily when she wanted to protect the people she loved, but now, in the heart of the enemy's lair, fear held her in its grip.
Footsteps outside the door caught her hyper-vigilant hearing and then came the sound of a key in the lock. She stood abruptly and step-staggered towards the window before managing to get a hold of herself to stand her ground.
"There she is, at last," Cora greeted in a syrupy-sweet tone that set her daughter's teeth on edge. "My dear, how much I've missed you. What a terrible time you've had."
"Thanks to you," Regina shot back in the calmest manner she could manage.
"Tut-tut. I did no more than correct your disobedience, as a good mother should," Mrs Mills replied with a predatory smile. "Your own stubbornness did the real damage. But no mind, you have come to your senses at last," she added and moved forward to stroke the young woman's face.
Regina gritted her teeth but allowed the gesture. All the better to keep her mother's temper in check. "What about what you promised?" she pushed instead.
Cora released a huff of exasperation and snatched her hand back. "Yes, yes," she answered sharply. "The documents are all complete and delivered. All Emma Swan need do when she gets them is to add her own signature."
"He won't be sent back to the state, into the foster system?" she prodded worriedly.
The older woman shrugged, uncaring. "Only if she decides to throw him away again."
"She won't," Regina replied, her voice confident at last.
Regina left Emma and Henry deep inside their furniture-fort while she returned to the bedroom to boot up the laptop. Every day now, as requested, the FBI agents brought new files from Emma's community centres. They could tell that both women were struggling with their confinement and after being chewed out more than once, they agreed that the pair should be able to continue to work. So, when Emma was done checking over the bits which she was familiar with, Regina would take over and make sure all of the figures were in order.
As she entered the bedroom and lifted the lid of the laptop though, she was hit by a nasty surprise. Two slips of paper lay inside; a letter in terrifying, sloping script, and a photocopy of a placement for adoption.
Putting the laptop to one side, she lifted the photocopy first and scanned the document. It didn't take long before a gasp fell from her mouth. "I, Emma Swan, do hereby relinquish…" She trailed off, mumbling the rest to herself under her breath. She read the date and looked at Emma's immature scrawl at the bottom of the page. Her thoughts went to the sight of her girlfriend climbing into the shower and the faint stretch lines around her hips. She swallowed, her mind whirring with the implications of what she'd just read.
For whatever reason, birthdays had not yet been raised as a topic of conversation between her and Emma. They'd known each other – barring their brief meeting thirteen years ago – less than four months. Hers and Henry's birthdays had passed, largely uncelebrated, a month or two before the fateful events at the Swan fundraising evening. To Regina's eternal shame, her son's seventh birthday had involved a single candle, saved from the previous year, pushed into a banana, alongside the cheapest vanilla ice-cream she could find. His present had been a bag of marbles she'd discovered at a yard sale. Would Emma have mentioned her ill-fated pregnancy if she'd known Henry's birth date? Would she have reached the same conclusion that was swimming through Regina's mind, and which Cora Mills so obviously wanted to imply?
This thought brought her to the letter. She recognised the tight, practical handwriting immediately and felt bile rise into her throat.
Dearest Daughter,
This nonsense has gone on long enough and it is time for you to come home. No doubt you have felt a sense of safety under the protection of such a prestigious establishment as the FBI, but by now you should be questioning their competence. As you know, my influence stretches far; though Miss Swan undoubtedly gave them information on which to act, my lawyers are fighting and will win on my behalf.
Once the charges clear, I will be quite within my rights to sue those who have slandered my good name. I do hope your new friend isn't too attached to her lifestyle amongst the upper echelons of society, or to those flea-ridden outreach programmes for which she insists we pay her. I suspect that there won't be much of a fortune left once damages have been paid. After all, I have suffered such stress and discomfort thanks to the little stunt she pulled last week.
Of course, I suppose I could be persuaded to let bygones be, had I the comfort of family; I have been so very lonely without you by my side, Regina. Come home, my daughter and we can discuss what is to be done about this horrid situation.
In regards to the child, I have enclosed a copy of a document which I imagine will pique your interest. Possibly you were unaware – I know that emotions were high and you were not thinking clearly at the time – but the government does not look kindly upon those who procure children from the state under false pretences. Mrs Queenie Farrier obtained a baby boy through means of adoption, but I'm afraid that her claim to parental custody of the boy is now under investigation. At his age, it would be such a shame to send him back into the system; it is rare to find families willing to adopt children who are sent back.
The situation might be salvageable though, were Miss Swan, as the birth mother, willing to claim responsibility? I am sure that my lawyers could assist with this matter. Another issue we can discuss when you return.
You are a smart girl, Regina. I know you will see the reality of the situation and I'm confident that you will find a way to evade your guards. There will be a car waiting for you the next two nights. If you are not in it by the end of the second night, I will assume that you wish to take the hard road and will act accordingly.
Do not disappoint me,
~Mother~
Regina's hand shook as she dropped the letter and stumbled to the far side of the room, where she pressed a hand to her mouth, slid down the wall and stared back at the papers.
While Emma's grievances against the slow progress of the situation had calmed somewhat since their relationship took a more serious turn, Regina's concern had only increased. She'd known that there had to be something very wrong with their defence if the FBI had failed to successfully hold Cora Mills in custody. The longer they waited, the more she knew that her mother was unbeatable. Now, this letter was the proof; Cora was not only winning her fight against the authorities, but she had access inside of the safehouse and plans to ruin Regina's family if her daughter didn't submit to her demands.
"I want proof that Henry is safe with Emma," Regina demanded stubbornly. No matter how afraid she was of her mother, her son's well-being always came first. The slap took her by surprise though and she cradled the side of her face as the sting made her eyes water.
"You are in no position to make demands anymore, child," Cora responded as she drew her body tighter, her arms looking prim and proper clasped in front of her but ready to strike again. "We came to an agreement. I have held my end. You will hold yours. What Miss Swan chooses to do is up to her, but I promise you, if she attempts to interfere again with my plans, I will give no quarter. Now, wash up and put on the dress I had tailored for you. You are going to be meeting your new family today."
Emma sat at the kitchen table and stared at the papers in front of her with a faraway gaze. From the living room, she could hear Henry's voice chatting excitedly to Ruby and Ragnar. Nearby, other voices spoke to her, but it was only the boy's familiar tones which filled her mind. She refocussed on the words but still couldn't take them in.
Why was Regina asking her to take full custody of Henry? How had she traced him back to Emma's baby? How had she even known that Emma had given a child up for adoption? So many questions and yet she couldn't put any of the pieces together.
"Miss Swan?"
Emma looked up to find both FBI agents staring at her expectantly. "I… I don't understand."
"Cora Mills' lawyers are pushing to have Henry Mills declared a ward of the state since Miss Mills adopted him under a former false identity. Unless you are willing to take responsibility for him, he will be placed with a foster family."
Her thoughts whirred, sputtering back into life. "Regina would never give up her son willingly."
That's it, she thought. That's why she left.
Since waking up that morning to find the other half of the bed empty and Regina nowhere in sight, she'd wondered how anyone could have taken her girlfriend against her will. Regina would have put up one hell of a fight, which would have woken Emma, unless the brunette left of her own accord. The only way she would do that was if someone threatened Henry. And possibly Emma.
"She did this," the blonde muttered to herself. "She made a deal; a secure future for Henry in exchange for her obedience." Regina had sacrificed her freedom for the sake of her son… for Emma's son? "How did Cora Mills find out that Henry is… That I gave my baby up for adoption? How does she know they're the same boy?"
"Without a DNA test, the document you found in the laptop would have to be enough evidence, Miss Swan. As far as we can find from a quick check, Henry Mills is the only boy born on that day to end up with this adoption agency." Agent Zauberwald, watched her reaction for a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder. "Would it stop you from taking him in even if it turned out he wasn't your flesh and blood?"
Emma looked up at the agent and then toward the sound of the boy's voice. No, it wouldn't. "Thanks," she told him and grabbed a pen. She read through the adoption papers, feeling a sense of wonder at the fact that she could decipher and understand most of it, before signing her name on the bottom. Once she'd finished, she set them neatly on the table and sighed deeply. I'll do my best, Regina. Until you're home. Just thinking about her absent girlfriend and what she could be going through was enough to rile her anger again. "How did this even happen?" she wondered aloud. "How did that paper get into Regina's laptop? What else was in there?"
The agents exchanged a look but didn't immediately answer. They'd discovered the papers before Emma and hadn't even showed her the copy with her signature until the new adoption documents arrived from Cora Mills' lawyer.
Emma pushed herself back from the table and moved as far away from the agents as the kitchen could accommodate. She paced for a minute before turning a hard stare back on the pair. "How do I even know that I can trust you? You dragged us here and told us to stay put – that you would handle everything – but so far, you've handled nothing. Whatever plan you had to take down Cora – if you even had one – it obviously hasn't worked. If you can't give me a good explanation, then I'm taking my son and I will find Regina myself."
In the end, as the FBI duo couldn't give her more information without clearance from their superiors, they agreed to allow Emma to accompany them to headquarters, where they could pass her through proper channels to get access to what she wanted. She mentally scoffed at the amount of red tape they felt was necessary to do their jobs, but bit her tongue. If this was how she was going to get her girlfriend back, then she could play ball – for a while.
"Hey, Kiddo," she called to Henry as she entered the living room and interrupted the take-down match he was gleefully enjoying with his BFG. She had to repeat herself several times before the pair of wrestlers stopped to give her their full attention, but it didn't faze her. The sad smile she wore from watching them play was a result of wishing that Regina was there to see her son so happy. "I need you to get all your things so we can pack them back in your bag. We're going to go and stay at my place for a while."
"What about Mommy?" he asked, his face instantly worried. "She won't know where to find us when she comes back." Emma had told him that his mom had some work to do out of town, but had failed to mention when she would be back.
"She knows where I live; she's been there before, and she knows you're with me. She'll find us, don't worry," the new-mom replied and received an eye roll from her friends. What? What the hell am I supposed to say to him?
It took longer than she thought to actually leave the safehouse. Henry apparently wasn't convinced by her assurance that Regina would know where to go to find them and dragged his feet with every little task, to the point that Emma was beginning to pull her hair out. She was on the verge of just carrying him and his bags to the car whether he liked it or not, but when she imagined Regina's expression on hearing how she'd handled her first few hours as a parent, she felt her gut twist. That was how too many of her foster parents had dealt with their more stubborn kids. Yes, there were times when she'd seen Regina put her foot down with Henry and let him cry about his grievances, but with something like this, Emma was sure her girlfriend would have better strategies. After all, the kid was just afraid to lose his mom.
With a few deep breaths, Emma calmed her thoughts and tried to put herself in his shoes. If I thought someone I loved wouldn't know where to find me… "Hey, Kid?" she called as she stood in the doorway of his temporary bedroom with several sheets of paper in one hand and crayons in the other. She saw him look furtively at her and then the stationery. "Want to help me draw a map so your mom won't forget how to find my place?"
Henry's eyes lit up, he looked again at the papers and pens in the blonde's hands and nodded. "Are we going to leave them here?"
"We sure are," Emma replied, a smile now replacing the grumpy frown she'd worn for the last hour. "I thought we'd leave them on the kitchen table 'cause that's always where she goes first. What do ya think?"
He nodded enthusiastically and followed her eagerly. "Yeah, that's mom's favourite room!"
The blonde chuckled. "I don't know about that kid, but I don't think she'll be able to miss anything we leave on the table."
An hour later, she managed to get Henry into the car along with everything they'd brought with them. By the time they reached her apartment, unloaded and ate some lunch, Emma was exhausted and had a whole new appreciation for Regina's skills as a parent. Her apartment wasn't particularly child-friendly, and with Henry there, she really saw how impersonal her home was, but at least she didn't have to worry too much about him destroying the place. In fact, maybe demolition is what it needs.
Regina eyed the pixy-haired brunette on the other side of the table and wondered who the hell she was. She didn't look like Leo White's type – too old for a start and rather mousier than his usual selection, but she supposed that his tastes might have changed in the last eight years. When she saw him arrive from her 'prison' window, she felt all of the old feelings of dread hit her. The dress she wore was too short, too tight despite the fact that she still hadn't recovered the healthy weight she'd lost, and the knowledge that she'd been dolled up to please her lecherous ex-fiancé brought bile to the back of her throat.
"Here he is," Cora announced as Leo White entered the grand dining room, her voice girly and high once more. "The man of the hour. I almost thought you'd forgotten."
"Such a joyous occasion as this?" he replied and bumped his cheek against hers before turning to the short-haired woman and clasping a hand to her shoulder. "Nieve, if only your mother could see you, my dear." He bent down slightly to kiss the top of her head. "Welcome home." He then turned to the younger woman at the table and offered a lascivious smirk. "Regina, my love." Rounding the table, he approached and waited for her to greet him.
When her daughter refused to acknowledge the man, Cora bristled and t'sked. "Regina, this is not how you greet your husband-to-be. Stop showing me up."
"No, no, Cora," Leo replied as he moved closer to his prize and towered over her. One hand landed on her back, just above where the fabric of her dress ended. His eyes drank in the view and he smirked when her jaw clenched in anger. "She's as feisty as ever. Where's the fun in an obedient wife?"
"Father…" Nieve gasped, wide-eyed from across the table. "You can't possibly…"
"We are going to be one, big happy family, Nieve. Regina is going to be your new mother. And," he added as he drew himself to a grander stature. "I have a suitor picked out for you, as soon as your divorce is final."
"My…? I'm not divorcing David!"
No matter how much Nieve protested, nor how much Regina refused to engage with anyone in the room, the two villains carried on as if Christmas had come early. Eventually, the two younger women were dismissed and taken to the room next door, where they were told to get acquainted. Regina had zero intention of doing so and immediately began to search for a way out. No matter what she'd promised her mother, she knew she couldn't let that man touch her. Damn it, why did I leave the safehouse? Why didn't I tell Emma?
"It's no good," Nieve told her as she watched her frantic search. "I've been here three days now. I know this house inside out and I've checked every door and window; they're all locked and alarmed."
"I'm not going to sit and do nothing," Regina replied stubbornly. "There has to be a way."
Several minutes passed while she scoured the room, turning back curtains to inspect the windows and pulling random objects from shelves in the vain hope of a secret lever that would open a passage of some sort. Eventually, she had to concede defeat and sank into one of the uncomfortable and expensive chairs before dropping her head into her hands. Nieve gave her a moment to herself before sitting down next to her and placing a comforting hand on her back. She remained that way until the body stopped shaking.
"Ni-e-vay," Regina enunciated softly as the tears slowed and she managed to lift her head. "That means 'snow', right? It's Spanish?"
Nieve rolled her eyes. "Yes."
"Your name's Snow White?" the younger woman smirked.
"It was," the pixy-haired brunette huffed. "I prefer Mary-Margret. Or MM, as my close friends call me."
"Well, I wish it were almost anywhere else, but it's nice to meet you, Mary Margret."
Urrgh! This chapter still gives me the wiggins.