SOULS Lost and Found
Healer
Please, I repeat, PLEASE, do not kill me, at least not yet
I promise I've been trying to get back on track with "TW", "NPL", "LTC" and most of all "Bella McLeod"(Which as you may or may not know, I've been going through the process of revising and re editing at least one chapter per month for the last year), However if my muse keeps nagging me about other fandoms, I certainly have to give her free 'speech' (so to speak) in order to be able to get things done. Right?
So, after that small rant, on with the official Disclaimers… This is a "Once Upon a Time" fic, and it is a femlash, featuring a semi slow burn SwanQueen... So, if you don't like the idea of two women being in love with each other (and being completely oblivious for a while about how their love is not one sided), and eventually entering into a relationship with one another, please head somewhere else.
This is also a sequel of sorts to my first SwanQueen fic "Fire Soul Bird in Love", only a few years later and with Emma not recalling the full events on that. But Regina does, even when this is told from Emma's POV.
It is also based on the film "Heart and Souls", with Robert Downey Jr, loved him there, and he was sooooo young!
Bare in mind that I do not own Once Upon a Time or Heart And Souls, nor its characters, I repeat, THEY'RE NOT MINE. And I am only writing this because I thought it would be hilarious to watch Emma coping with the madness of ghosts added to her regular crazy.
This story is set in S04E20 and part of S04E21. While Regina and Emma look for Lily and then when they head to NY to save Robin from Zelena posing as Marion.
Remember to leave your reviews…
SOULS Lost and Found
Chapter 01
Healer
I am not entirely sure in which moment I lost my temper, one moment I was asking for Lily's whereabouts to the man who opened the door and the next I am holding him by the neck ready to knock him out.
"Emma! Emma!" I heard Regina calling for me. I tried to focus on her and only her but I still couldn't tear my gaze from the man that was badmouthing Lily "It's not worth it" she continued. After a second that probably felt longer for her and for the man, I released him and I watched him fall to the floor heaving for breath "Hey, you okay?" she asked concerned and I couldn't deal with that coming from her
"I'm fine. Absolutely fine" I said dryly as I walked away and left the building. I paced for a moment waiting for her to catch up so we could get on the Beetle and as much as it pained me, head for New York to save her soulmate.
"Wanna talk about what happened back there?" she asked after a while of sitting in silence while I drove
"Nope"
"You nearly put that guy through a wall" she said condescendingly
"Look, I know what you're thinking" I told her without looking or even glancing at her "But what happened back there wasn't me turning dark, it was me mourning a friend. Can you understand that?"
"Emma, you know you're not responsible for what happened to her" she tried to reason
"You sure?" I asked finally glancing at her for a moment before returning my gaze to the road. "You heard what that guy said. Her life wasn't pretty, it was dark" I sighed and looked at her again as a headache started to build "That darkness was meant for me" I stopped midsentence because I heard a ringing in my ear and tried to ease it a little bit by rubbing on it
"What are you doing?" asked me Regina when I did that
Then, as I was going to answer her, something in the rearview mirror caught my attention. Four people, cramping all tight in the backseat, seemed to appear out of nowhere, like they were fading into view.
"I think she see us" the younger male said grinning.
"Emma, honey, can you see us?" asked the blonde woman
"If you do, perhaps you should park on the side of the road" suggested the gentleman with the nice suite
"What the…?" I trailed because as I turned to look at the backseat, I caught Regina's gaze who was looking worriedly at me as I looked back and forth between her and the people on my backseat, as she turned, the last person in the backseat spoke up
"EMMA watch out!" she yelled pointing ahead at the road, the moment I focused my gaze back ahead I noticed a wolf in the middle of it, and I ended up swiveling and losing control of the car.
When I opened my eyes I was laying down on a hospital bed, and everything hurt. As I started to focus on the rest of my surroundings I saw the two ladies first. "Regina. What happened to Regina?" I asked them trying to sit up
"Emma?" asked me the African American woman. "Emma, sweetie pie, can you hear us?" she asked as I leaned on my elbow. And that is when I remembered.
"We're so sorry Emma" said the blonde one once I focused on her "Don't worry, you're gonna be ok. And Regina will be back shortly" she assured me
"What they got me on?" I asked turning around only to be faced with the man with the nice suit and top hat
"How are ya?" he asked grinning, startling me by his proximity prompting me to sit straight as fast as I could, but then I was facing the young good looking one at the feet of my bed
"You just cracked a couple of ribs" he said "But you're gonna be ok"
"Oh my God" I said as I leaned against the wall and found myself surrounded by these people
"We hope you haven't forgotten us, we know it's been a really long time and that you are dealing with a lot right now, but Emma sweetie, we really need your help" said the blond woman
I rubbed my eyes trying to get rid of them, but when I uncovered them they were still there smiling though staring expectantly at me, and this was bad "Oh God. This can't be happening again. You can't be here again"
"She remembers us!" said Milo, as I remembered his name. And the four of them squealed excited about it
"The hallucinations are back!" I said standing from the bed in search for the psychiatric ward and Regina.
"I never thought of us as hallucinations" I heard Harrison say while they trailed after me
"Emma?" asked me Penny as I walked through the hallway of the hospital "We finally figured out what we're supposed to do"
"You're supposed to stay deep deep deep in my subconscious" I told them
"Don't you run away from us" told me Harrison as I turned a corner towards an elevator
"You're hallucinations I created to cope with the shitty life I had on the system" I told them
"Wait! You believe in Magic, are a fairy tale princess yourself, not to mention that you are in love with a fairy tale villain, and yet you think WE are hallucinations?" Asked me Harrison amused as I found on the directory the floor I was looking for
"Your bio mom is Snow White for God's sake!" added Milo
They all kept jabbering at me demanding I focused on their demands when the elevator finally opened, as I was about to climb in someone was climbing out
"Miss Swan! Where are you going?" asked me Regina looking sternly at me
"Heading to the psychiatric floor" I told her as she climbed back in with me and my hallucinations
"Why?" she asked me concerned
"Because I am losing my mind" I told her
"Emma, you are not losing your mind" said Julia
"Am I not?" I asked "Regina, how many people are we here right now?"
"What? Ms Swan, what kind of question is that?" she asked concerned as the elevator door opened so I walked out being followed by all of them, including the Queen.
As they kept chattering we crossed paths with a young red headed woman and a nurse walking her.
"Hi Guys, try not to speak so loud" she said waving at them, making them all stop talking and all of us, including Regina stop and stare after her "She's a lucky one, she gets visitors, I never get visitors" the nurse was clearly not believing her so after glancing at Regina I followed the redhead towards the room where she had been taken. It looked like a recreation room.
"Miss Swan?" Asked me Regina clearly worried "How many people you seeing?" But I just walked towards the redhead and sat down in the seat in front of her, picking up a magazine.
"Look, this is gonna sound crazy" I whispered to her "But do you see any other people with me?"
"Only this lady in the pencil suit" she said gesturing to Regina. Making me and my 4 hallucinations sigh in defeat "Besides those four" she added, making us look up at her again
"Do you really see them?" I asked her while I approached her, Regina taking my place sitting.
"Yes!" she answered without a doubt
"What do they look like?" I asked her, just to confirm that I was not completely crazy
"There's a gentleman in a brown hat" I nodded, that was Harrison. "A nice looking black lady" Penny "A blond lady with a pink doolie" Julia "And a young buck in a leather jacket" Milo. She saw them alright. I sat down then next to her, briefly looking at Regina who looked even more concerned "I'm available" continued the redhead talking to Milo "Oh, and that naked guy with a nose ring" she added making all of them including Regina to turn around, making me smile softly at that
"No, there's no naked guy" I told her pointedly
"I know that" said the redhead "You double check me, I double check you" she added making me chuckle along with Julia "You're lucky" she added "The ones I see aren't real" she started to ramble as she stood and walked away.
"What is going on now Ms Swan?" asked me Regina in the softest of tones I have ever heard her use to anyone, including Henry.
"I think I need to be discharged first and we need to head out. We still need to get to New York and save Robin, right?" I told her
"I'll get your discharge papers, but we are not going anywhere tonight. Your dead trap of a car was towed and it will be at least a day before it is released. On the bright side, the worst it got is a flat tire." She said standing "I'll book us a room at a hotel and then you'll explain me everything"
"I don't even know where to start" I told her truthfully as she stood by the door frame
"Start by telling her who we are" said Harrison as if that was the most obvious place to begin the story of crazy.
"And do it fast" said Milo "We too are on limited time and really need your help"
"Go back to your hospital room and collect your things dear, I'll meet you there" said Regina softly
"You're real" I sighed as Regina left to get the discharge papers
"We've always thought so" said Harrison
"Yeah, I mean we can't do much" stated Milo
"We can't do much" agreed Harrison gesturing wide
"I convinced myself that I made you up" I told them
"No sweetie no. We've always been here beside you all the time." Said Penny
"Yes! We even went to the Enchanted Forest with you and Snow… and then again with you and Killian when you went back in time, that was fun" said Julia excited
"You did great by the way" said Harrison "And have done amazingly for a long time. We are so proud of the woman you've become"
"You abandoned me! Why show up now?" I accused
"We were supposed to have you help us finish things for us, things we needed to do" explained Julia. And that pissed me off, so I stood up and tried to leave
"So what? You cast me aside when I needed you the most and now that you need something from me you suddenly speak again to me. What on Earth makes you think I would do anything to help you?"
"One would think you being the Savior meant you would help anyone who needed it" said Milo earning a glare from me and the other three too
"We thought we were doing the right thing by leaving you Emma" justified Harrison "You were being teased at school and at the group homes. Everyone thought…"
"That I was crazy. I know! I convinced myself of that too" I told them upset. Regina came back that moment and lead me through the hospital to leave and as we headed on a taxi to the hotel she booked, she gently grabbed and squeezed my hand making me look at her
"We'll figure it all out. I just need you to tell me what is going on so we can figure out the best way to solve it. As you pointed out, we still need to save Robin from my sister and tell Maleficent the news about Lily"
I felt cold the moment she let go to get off the taxi, and I couldn't muster the courage to reach out again, so I silently followed her while trying to ignore the four ghosts that had not stopped talking all this time.
"Do you want a drink" asked me Regina as we entered the hotel room
"Anything stronger than an apple cider" I told her smiling softly as she poured to cups of whatever it was she found on the minibar. "So, this is awkward and hard to explain"
"Emma, just stop beating around the bush and blurt it out" said Milo "We are close to where I have my thing, we could do it tonight!"
"I am not going to run all over trying to fix things you should've fixed years ago" I told them icily making even Regina cringe "Sorry, not you" I told her "They are adamant in making me help them. I won't. We have our own issues to fix, so find some other kid and screw up their life"
"Sorry sweetie but we are stuck to you" said Harrison
"Like glue" added Milo
"Where do you get off being so pissed?" Asked Julia before I could voice out my thoughts "We had great times together!"
"You're right, and then you left me! You left me all alone at Stewart's!"
"No, we didn't leave you" argued Penny
"Oh, well, yeah, you just disappeared when I was 9 years old. The same night, right after he! Urghhhh!" I couldn't even voice it, I was already crying and Regina looked as lost as I felt and really concerned. They all tried to talk and speak and give excuses but I could only feel pain and hatred "Can you just not speak for like an hour!" I demanded "If you've been here watching all this time you know I am fighting not to become dark and right now all I feel looking and listening at you is darkness! So better yet, why don't you just do me a favor and fade out again?" That effectively shut them out, that was until they got a weird glint in their eyes
"I can't believe you won't help us" said Julia reproachingly.
"The bus driver said we could just take over your body" added Penny
"Without your permission" said Harrison, making Milo nod in agreement
"Let's find out" said Julia clearly excited at the idea
"Don't you dare" I said gritting my teeth
"What is it Ms Swan?" asked me Regina, and before I could even voice what was happening, Julia literally stepped into me, stopping me immediately due to the weirdness of the situation. "Ms Swan?" prompted me Regina but I was no longer in control
"Ohhhhh" I heard my voice speak as I grabbed my own hips before doing a walk around the room and waving at Penny. "It feels so good" I heard myself whisper
"What did you do to Emma?" asked Regina enraged stepping into my personal space, effectively blocking me from keep going
"Oh relax your Majesty" said Julia through me "We are just trying to make a point" she said as she stepped out of my body
"It works! It feels really weird" said Julia to the others
"This is my life!" I snarled at her "You can't do this!"
"Oh Emma, you're cute when you're mad" she answered backing away even though we both knew I was unable to do anything to her.
"Ms Swan" I vaguely heard Regina call for me, but I ignored her as I kept advancing on Julia still arguing back and forth. "Ms Swan" she called again "Emma!" she finally yelled at me making me stare at her "What is going on?"
"I'm so sorry Regina" I said approaching her to take a seat next to her, no later than I did, I bolted back up, again no longer in control of my body. "Look, this is all very illuminating" said this time Milo through me, looking at Regina, "Never been a woman myself I have to say this is interesting" He said patting over my body "And all this cat and mouse game you have between each other, as amusing as it may be, let me phrase it like this: who really gives a shit when our very souls hang in a thread. Then again, you are a beautiful dish to palate" he said turning his attention to Regina making Penny and Regina herself gasp at that "You know how long it's been since I've had sex?" Milo asked dangerously close to Regina's lips "Reportedly I'm quite a master, I'll give you a preview" he said leaning in to kiss her and that filled me with more rage than anything they've tried so far, so I fought for control, happy in part to see that Regina's eyes also filled with hate at my actions the same moment my body started to squirm, while Milo and I fought for control over my body. "Get out" I screamed as I ran into the door, noticing to late that he left my body a second before I hit the door.
"Myself no, I don't run into doors, or walls" said Milo nonchalantly as Regina came and kneeled in front of me
"Emma, are you ok?" she asked me, and for a moment I got lost in her soft and caring gaze.
"God, you're gorgeous" I said, and as soon as those words left my mouth I saw her demeanor change and her gaze harden
"Whoever you are, I suggest you release Ms Swan's body this instant" she snarled. It took me a moment to understand she thought one of 'my ghosts' had said so instead of myself. So I played along and closed my eyes for a moment, then I shook my head and opened my eyes again. "Emma?" she asked tentatively
"Thank you for caring Madame Mayor" I told her smiling softly as she offered her hand to help me stand. "Listen you yerks!" I started then addressing the four ghosts "We have to head to New York to save Regina's soulmate from her sister, so stop messing around with my body!"
"Oh yeah?" asked Milo mockingly "Well you better help us then"
"Frankly Emma, you deserved that" said Penny in a motherly tone, clearly disappointed in me
"No, you're not going to bully me or guilt me into this" I told them the moment I felt bad at having disappointed them "You're not gonna push me into anything"
"Oh yeah?" asked Milo
"Maybe I'll take your bug for a spin" said Harrison
"I didn't know you knew how to drive" said Julia amused
"I'll take a shot at it" said Harrison nonchalantly
"Or maybe it's time to call Killian and break up with him and let everyone know what you really think of him. And her for that matter" said Penny, and that freaked me out, they could not do that, I would not let them ruin my relationships, no matter how much I despised not being with her and settling with Killian instead.
"No, listen, listen ok?" I offered putting my hands up in surrender "We're gonna work something out. But we do need to head to New York to save Regina's soulmate"
"I already told you Ms Swan we can't go to New York yet, unless you are willing to leave your dead trap behind" said Regina in turn, even when she clearly didn't know what was exactly happening, she was willing to put aside her happiness for a little while in order to help me out. I sighed looking at her
"Are you sure?" I asked her then.
She nodded and gestured for us to sit back down "Want to talk about it?" she asked me then.
I shook my head "Not really. But we do need to figure this out"
"Ok Emma, then tell me, who are these people and what do they want from the Savior?"
"I don't think you being the Savior has anything to do with it" said Harrison making me glare at him "Shutting up" he said mimicking zipping his mouth
"When I was a child I had these four imaginary friends" I started after a moment of Regina silently waiting for me "They were the only good thing I had in my life for a while. No matter how crappy the situation at my foster or group homes was, they were always there to cheer me up, or to help me understand my homework, or just having someone to talk to and confide in. We had so much fun while I was growing up" I said smiling sadly. "And then one night, after I took a heavy beating from my foster dad at the time, they just left. The vanished, leaving me alone. Turns out they are dead, and are ghosts that latched unto me"
"And now they want you to help them?" asked me Regina. I nodded "Help them how?"
I sighed. "I have not let them really explain that yet" I confessed, making her lift her eyebrow in that adorable way of hers
"Ok dear, why don't you let them tell you what they need so we can move on?" she asked me in turn
"See? She might have been the Evil Queen but she is good for you" said Penny smiling softly
And then they explained me, and I to Regina. They were on a bus accident the same day August brought me to the Diner where he said he found me on the side of the road, and then they were left here on a vessel, that being me, to complete their unfinished business, that one thing they didn't get to do, or regret not doing while they were alive, and once it is completed they are good to move forward to wherever is after, only no one told them until we were at Lily's building, when the bus driver came to collect them. They stuck a bargain and now they had unknown limited time to sort it all out.
After a restless night, Regina paid for the necessary fees to get the bug released from custody "We'll go do this and then head back towards NY on your monstrosity" she said smiling handing me the keys back
A/N: I originally wanted this to be a one-shot, but that did not turn out as planned… ooops. So what do you think so far?
This idea had been in my head for a long while now. And I was honestly debating whether to use it in this fandom or a different one, in the end because of the name, I leant towards SwanQueen, and once that decision was made, it took me weeks to outline the basics of what I wanted and to find the perfect moment in OUaT timeline to place it...
So, do leave your reviews and let me know what you think…