Emma held Regina close to her, as they lay there on the ground – their clothes scattered about them – and only the cloak to cover their naked bodies. They had been lying there for quite some time, each woman with her own thoughts.
For Emma, it was a sense of disbelief. She could hardly imagine that she was once again with the woman she loved. They had consummated that love and for Emma at least, she felt it was akin to marriage. She would never be intimate with another person and while she didn't want to think about the challenges they yet faced, she hoped that now that the barrier had been crossed her mother would see that Regina was the only one for her.
It was dark out and if nothing else the temperatures which had begun to drop would force them up soon. Emma was surprised Tink had not returned yet, although she was also secretly happy about it as well. The last thing she needed was their fairy godmother showing up while she and Regina were naked in the middle of the woods.
"I love you," Emma said. She brushed a piece of hair back from Regina's face and then gave her a gentle kiss.
"I love you too," Regina said.
Emma started to laugh, which made Regina sit up. "Sorry," Emma said, also sitting up. "I'm just so happy. I had almost given up hope that I was ever going to see you again, much less get to hold you in my arms once more. But here we are and nothing is going to tear us apart again."
She saw the look of uncertainty on Regina's face when she said this. Regina was now looking away from her and Emma cupped her chin and pulled her back to facing her. "I mean it, I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place, I'm going to fight for you."
"It's not that, it's …"
The sound of hoofbeats – lots of hoofbeats in the distance had both women on their feet. Pulling on their clothes, they carefully made their way to the edge of the woods where their horses were tethered. They could hear the hoof beats getting closer and they saw the first of the riders far off. It was two columns of armed knights.
"Those are our guards," Emma said. "I recognize the column formation. My mother must have sent them out in search of me."
"They aren't searching," Regina said. "They are headed toward a destination – they are headed toward my father's place. I have to get back there."
"We might be able to get there first if we ride hard," Emma said reaching for the pommel of the saddle.
"I can't risk it, I'll use my magic. You stay here."
"No," Emma said, and she turned back to Regina. "Together. We are in this together. I'm not leaving you. I meant what I said. They won't dare do anything to your family while I am there."
"Take my hand," Regina said holding it out for her. As soon as they were connected Regina closed her eyes, called up her magic, and when she opened them, they were standing there in the main hall of her father's estate and Regina wavered a little.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked with concern, but Regina nodded that she was fine.
"Emma!"
Tink approached the two of them, pausing a moment in seeing Regina. "I see you two finally found your way back to each other."
"Regina, this is Tink. She's … she's a friend."
"I need to find my mother," Regina said, letting go of Emma's hand and moving away. Emma was close on her heels as was Emma.
"My mother has sent soldiers," Emma explained to Tink as they followed Regina. "They appear to be on their way here."
"How many?"
"Enough to cause trouble."
"I will not have them disturbing my father while he rests," Regina said. "I will do whatever I have to prevent that from happening even if it means raining fireballs down on their heads."
Emma glanced at Tink who gave her a noncommittal look.
"Hey, I don't think we need to have a confrontation like that," Emma said. "I will speak to them when they arrive. They are my people."
Regina spun around on her heels to face Emma. "You just said that force that is riding toward us is big enough to cause trouble. What do you think they are going to do when they get here? Do you think you will be able to go out there and tell them to turn around and leave?"
"I don't know, but me trying is better than the alternative," Emma responded. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your family. I promise. No harm will come to any of you."
Regina's countenance softened. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just … my dad …"
"I know," Emma said taking her hand. "I'm worried too, but I would let them run me down with their pikes before I would let them harm those you care about."
She gave Regina a quick peck on the lips and they went off again in search of Cora. They found her in the room with Henry and Regina asked her to come outside as her father slept.
"What is it?" Cora said seeing the anxious looks of the three women. She had been surprised when Tink had shown up there earlier looking for Regina and when Tink told her that she had come with Emma and Emma had run away to find Regina. She had told Tink that Regina had left to go on a ride and the strange young woman had been there waiting ever since.
Regina told her mother of the riders that were on their way there and her fear that they might upset her father.
"Come, we will go out to the gate and see what they want when they arrive," Cora said.
The women followed her out, only to find Daniel was there already having been warned by the night watch that riders were approaching. If he thought it odd that Emma was there with Regina, he didn't comment on it as they waited for the riders to approach. The gate was down, but the five of them stood there.
Finally, the riders came into view and Emma was surprised to see her parents were there with them.
"Open these gates," Snow commanded.
Cora looked at her guards and knowing she had no choice, she nodded at them to open the gates. Once the gate was opened the riders came in and surrounded them.
"Take her into custody," Snow said pointing at Regina, who conjured up a fireball in her hand.
"No," Emma said, standing in front of Regina. "Mother, don't do this."
"She has left me no choice. You have left me no choice."
"But you have a choice, you can let me be with the one I love," Emma said.
Regina stepped to Emma's side. She had extinguished the fireball but she glared at Snow. "We've played this game once before your majesty," she said. "You will not take me into custody. You and your soldiers will leave this place now."
Snow laughed. "You presume to give me orders."
"I would consider it more of a warning," Regina said. "My father is ill and if you cause him any harm by your actions I will end your reign."
"See, she speaks treason," Snow said to those around her. "Take her now."
Two guards had dismounted and they approached Regina but again Emma got in front of her. This time she pulled out her sword and pointed it at the guards.
"Have them stand down," Emma said to her mother even as she kept her eyes on the soldiers who were confused as to what they should do with their princess holding a sword against them.
"Your majesty," Cora said stepping forward. "As Regina said, my husband is not well. Please, remove your guards beyond the gates and you and the king should come inside – bring a small contingent of soldiers if you wish – but let us talk about this. Please."
Cora even bowed before Snow in making her request.
"Stand down," she said to the guards. She looked at Cora. "We shall speak, but my soldiers stay where they are at."
"Thank you," Cora said. She looked at Emma and Regina. "Put the sword down. We shall all go inside and we shall talk." She could see that Regina wasn't putting much credence into the idea of talking. She was sure if Emma hadn't have intervened, Regina would have used her magic on those whom Snow had brought with her.
They went inside, Snow, Charming, and five armed guards following. Cora led them to the library – the guards stayed outside and Cora went in with only Emma and Regina as Tink and Daniel were also asked to stay outside. Emma had taken Regina's hand in hers the moment they began walking inside and they stayed that way even as they faced Emma's parents.
"I don't see where there is much to discuss," Snow said. "Emma is engaged and you are interfering with matters way above your station in life."
"I am only engaged to Killian because you forced me," Emma said. "I love Regina. She is who I want to be with and she is who I will be with. Mother, you can either support us or not, but if you choose not to then you and I have nothing to say to each other any longer. I shall renounce my crown."
"Emma, be reasonable," Charming said. "You can't renounce your crown. You are our only daughter. You are the only heir to the kingdom. If you do this, you won't just be affecting your life, you will be affecting the lives of everyone in the kingdom. We must have a successor for the day your mother and I depart from this world. To do otherwise would invite chaos and revolt. Every lord and lady in the realm would be scrambling to take control. There would be bloodshed."
Emma hadn't thought of this. Yes, she knew she was the only heir, but she hadn't thought of it in terms of what that meant for the kingdom itself. She glanced at Regina who had a hardened look on her face. Emma felt bad because she knew she was responsible for this sternness in Regina.
She yearned for the days when Regina would run into her arms, a smile beaming on her face and neither of them had the worries they now had. Emma turned back to her parents.
"I have no desire to cause strife within our kingdom," she said. "But at Regina's side is where I choose to be."
"You say you don't want to cause strife yet you are doing the one thing which will surely cause strife," Snow said. "Emma, you have been working hard these last few months to truly understand what it takes to lead, to be a ruler of a kingdom. You know that tough decisions have to be made. As rulers, we can't afford to live life simply for ourselves. We have to put the needs of our people above any selfish wants that we may have. I know you know this. Please, my daughter. The marriage contract has already been written up. You must return with us to the castle. You will marry Killian."
"Snow, the girls are in love with each other," Cora said. "Can't you see that?"
Snow walked up to Cora. "You will address me as queen or your majesty," she said. "And what I see is your daughter has wormed her way into my daughter's life and is trying to make her turn her back on her family and her duty. I wouldn't be surprised if she has put a spell on Emma. I would expect nothing less from your daughter."
"If you are looking to punish me, then fine, come at me directly your majesty," Cora said. "Leave Regina out of it."
"Oh, but she has put herself in the middle of it. And what do you have to say for yourself?" she said turning toward Regina. "Would you have Emma give up her crown, turn our kingdom into ruins over some silly love affair, or was this your plan all along? Did you target Emma because she is everything you can never be?"
Regina looked at the queen, but she didn't speak.
"Your disagreement isn't with her," Emma said. "It's with me. How many times mother, how many times must I tell you that Regina is the one I love? I grew up looking at you and father and seeing the love you two share and I have always wanted a love like that and I found it with her. I've pledged my love to her and we have consummated that love."
The declaration made everyone in the room pause.
"You little whore," Snow said to Regina. "Guards!"
The five soldiers came into the room with Daniel and Tink right behind them.
"Arrest her now," Snow declared.
Before Emma could pull her sword out once more Snow grabbed her arm to restrain her.
"Make this difficult my daughter and I swear you will see your beloved hung from the highest ramparts of our castle," Snow said quietly enough so only Emma could hear. It was enough to make Emma stop a moment.
The guards came toward Regina who called up her magic, ready to end this threat once and for all.
"What is going on here?" a new voice said.
Henry had come into the doorway and was using it to support himself in his weakened state. He took a few steps into the room and then collapsed.
"Father!" Regina yelled as she pushed through the guards and reached him. Daniel had been closest and caught him before he fell completely and then eased him onto the ground. Henry's eyes were closed and his breaths were shallow. Cora joined them on the floor, grabbing her husband's hand.
"Henry," Cora said, but he didn't respond.
Regina felt her heart thudding inside of her. This is what she had feared – that this commotion would harm her father. She watched as his chest moved up and down at what seemed like an impossibly slow pace. Her world had been reduced to those small breaths coming in and out of her father. It held her in its grip until she heard her name being called out.
Looking up she saw Snow and several guards forcing Emma from the room. Regina got to her feet, a fireball was in her hand in the same second and she had a clear shot at the queen.
"Regina," the gruff voice of her father said.
Her eyes went directly to his – those kind eyes which she had come to love from the moment she first realized this man was her father. The kindness was still there in those eyes, but there was something else now too and she recognized it as fear. She extinguished the flame in her hand and knelt beside him once more.
"Daniel, get a couple of our guards. Let's get him back to his room," Cora said.
It was late in the evening when they had gotten Henry settled and the doctor had seen him. He had once again fallen into a deep sleep. Cora and Regina had not left his side.
"I'm sorry about Emma," Cora said after they had been sitting there in silence for what seemed like hours. "I really am."
"It's not your fault," Regina replied.
Cora observed her daughter. She had gotten up maybe 20 minutes ago and was standing near the window looking out with her arms crossed in front of her. She didn't like the silence that had consumed Regina all of a sudden, or the look of resignation she now had.
"Perhaps if I had interceded with the queen before all of this," Cora said.
"It wouldn't have made a difference," Regina said. "The queen would never have allowed us to be together. That family has done nothing but bring ours down. Look at us. Who knows if father will recover. The moment he passes, the queen will probably seize our properties and turn you out if you are lucky."
"Your father will be fine."
"Will he? And how do you know this?" Regina raised her voice. "Do you now have the power of clairvoyance mother? Is this another thing you have kept from me?"
"No, but I do know you can't lose hope."
Regina smiled at her and Cora saw it was the same smirking smile Regina had when Cora had seen her at the Dark One's castle.
"I don't need hope," she said. "All of this, this means nothing. By morning this will all be nothing."
Cora stood. "What do you mean by that?"
"Did you wonder why I didn't use my magic immediately against Snow and her people?" Regina said. "I could have, and I wanted to, but I was already weakened from transporting here and then again when I brought Emma back here."
Cora took a step toward her. "What have you done Regina?"
"I cast the curse. I did it the day before I came here. It's set to consume this world in the morning. It took so much power, more power than I thought I was capable of, but I did it, mother," she said proudly. "I did what you wouldn't or what you couldn't do. I am going to shake the very foundations of our world and when the dust settles there will be no Queen Snow. And the thing is, I was doubting myself – Emma made me doubt myself when she convinced me once again that she and I would be together. How naïve of me to fall for that again. But never again."
Cora came right up to her and gripped her upper arms. "You must stop this curse."
"She can't." Both women turned to see Rumplestiltskin standing there. He walked over to the bed and looked down at Henry. "I do hope he lasts until the morning. It won't due for you to be in this new world without your parents."
"You monster," Cora said. "How dare you make my daughter do this thing."
"I didn't make her do anything," he replied. "She did it of her own free will." He walked over to Regina. "I was beginning to worry as you had not returned. I thought I should pop in and see how things were going."
"This is none of your concern," Regina said.
"Actually it is," he said stepping away from her. "You see, your mother isn't entirely wrong about me. I do have specific reasons for why I do the things I do. As you know I needed this curse to be cast to get to the world where my son is. I needed you to go with me as you have the power to cross the boundaries of the world you have created. You will be able to go out into that world."
"Yes, yes, you have told me that you wish me to find your son," Regina said. She was tired and frustrated and she wanted all of this to be over. She had changed her mind about wanting to remember her own life here. It was the Dark One that had convinced her that it would cause her less pain if she didn't remember. She had questioned it at the time because she wondered how she could find his son if she didn't remember, but he had assured that even in the new identity the curse would give her that the magic would compel her to go find his son. "I am sure once we are there, my magic will find your son and you can have your happy little reunion."
"There are only a couple of problems with that. One being, that the world we are going to has no magic therefore you won't have magic there."
"What?"
"Did I forget to mention that? Oh well, it's just a small detail. Besides once the curse is broken magic will return."
"You said the curse couldn't be broken except by true love's kiss."
"Exactly," he laughed. "That is why I needed you to bring the others from the kingdom to this world. Specifically, I needed Emma."
"But …" she said started to say. She began to realize not just his manipulation of her, but what she had done in casting this curse. While she couldn't craft every little detail of people's lives she could make certain adjustments as it were. For instance, in this world, her parents would be in power, not Emma's. Then there was the other thing she had built into her once she decided she didn't want to retain her memories. "But in this world, I will hate Emma."
The Dark One laughed once more. "That is what will make it so much fun to watch."
Regina called up a fireball. "How do I stop this curse from happening?"
"You can't," he said. "You can't until you break it by sharing true love's kiss with Emma. Besides, there is something else you should consider."
He stepped closer to the bed. "Your father, in this world he may very well die. But in the next world, well, that is a world unlike our own – one where the medicinal arts are more powerful. You try and keep this curse from happening and you might as well bury your father now."
Regina looked toward the bed where her father lay. As soon as her eyes were off of the Dark One, he disappeared once more.
"Oh Regina," Cora said.
"What have I done?" she cried.
Her mother embraced her. She didn't say anything, knowing nothing would help as her daughter felt the magnitude of the decisions she had made. And she feared the repercussions of those decisions were not done yet.
…
Cora was still at her husband's side when she heard the first rooster crow as dawn was breaking. She held onto his hand praying that in this new world they would be going to that for once the Dark One wasn't lying and Henry would be ok.
…
Daniel stood on the ramparts of the Mills homestead with Tink. They had learned from Cora that a curse was coming at dawn. He had a million questions he wanted to ask but could tell from Cora's telling of it that questions weren't welcome at this time. He did ask her where Regina was and Cora had answered that she did not know.
"What do you think it will be like?" Tink asked. "This other world?"
"I don't know," Daniel said. "All we can do is face it head-on."
….
The Dark One sat in his study, his feet propped up on his desk. A smile was wide across his face and he laughed as he felt the magic of the curse begin to take hold.
….
The pounding at the door had Snow and Charming up on their feet.
"What is it?" Snow demanded to the guard who was at their door. She was tired after the long ride back to the castle last night and was not looking forward to the battle with her daughter today. But she swore that Emma would be putting on that wedding dress and joining with Killian in marriage.
"Sorry, my queen," the guard said. "But there appears to be a large purple cloud that stretches as far as the eye can see and it's headed this way."
"What?"
"No one knows but people are beginning to panic."
Snow rushed to her balcony and peered out into the distance where the cloud was coming toward them. She somehow knew Regina was behind this.
…
Emma too saw the cloud coming their way. She was sitting at her window where she had been most of the night thinking of some way to escape this place when she saw it.
"Emma."
She turned with a smile and ran into Regina's arms. She kissed her over and over again, but Regina pulled away from her and Emma could see she had been crying.
"Your father?"
"He lives," she said.
"That is good news," Emma said feeling the relief wash over her. When her mother had effectively abducted her, the last vision of Regina she had gotten was her face filled with worry over her father. "Have you come to take me away?"
"No," Regina said shaking her head. She wasn't making eye contact with Emma which made her nervous. "I'm sorry."
Emma glanced back toward the window although she wasn't sure why she did it and then back at Regina. "Why are you saying you are sorry?"
"I just am," Regina said. "I've been a fool. And I'm going to pay for being one. But I wanted to come here and tell you I am sorry and tell you that I love you."
"I love you too but you're scaring me."
"I know," Regina said crying again. "Will you hold me please?"
"Sure," Emma said, still uncertain about what was going on, but she wrapped her arms around Regina and felt Regina's head fall against her. She kept holding her even as the purple cloud of magic enveloped them both.
…
Outside of Storybrooke – 15 years later
Regina rubbed her eyes as she drove the darkened road back toward her hometown. She would be there in a matter of minutes and like every time she had returned since the day she left to go to college she didn't feel the least bit nostalgic about it.
Storybrooke, Maine she thought, the town where nothing ever happens and no one but her seemed to ever want to leave. It was nearing three years since she had been back there, despite the urging of her parents, and she wouldn't be returning now if her mother hadn't called her that day to tell her that her father was in the hospital. They suspected he had a heart attack. Regina had dropped everything to drive the seven hours to get from Philadelphia back to Storybrooke.
She had spoken to her mother several times during the day to get updates on her father's condition. Even though the hour was late, she would be going directly to the hospital to see him.
As she passed the Welcome to Storybrooke sign at the town border she shivered a little. She always felt a brush of coldness when she crossed in or out of the town line and she always took it as a sign that this wasn't where she was supposed to be.
No, she had turned her back on this town a long time ago. There was too much heartache here for her to ever call it home again.