StoryBrooke — Present
• Snow's POV •
"No, no...no!" I hear Charming's voice scream in the background, but it seems too far away for me, everything seems far away as if my soul has floated out of my body and all I see is my figure kneeling where the portal has closed taking Regina and... my Emma.
"She's gone…" I whisper looking down at the ground, my fingers tighten on the hat.
"Snow..." I feel Charming's hand on my shoulder.
I slowly look at him to face his tearful blue eyes and his broken expression, the last time I saw him like this was when I asked him to take Emma to this horrible world, which didn't love her or care for her, in fact it was the other way around, she's been abused, mistreated, unloved... and there's nothing I can do because now she's not here... once again I've lost her.
The shock slowly drains from my body and I start to shiver and hyperventilate.
"She's gone David! She's gone! We have to find her! We can't lose her again! David, our baby is gone! She's gone!" I lift the hat to my heart as if he could magically bring her back to me.
David pulls me into his chest and hugs me tightly, I shiver in his strong arms.
"Shhh my love... we'll find her... we always find each other" He whispers in my ear and strokes my hair.
"No David! You don't understand! She's gone and she…she…" The air escapes my lungs and my throat closes, I feel thick tears running down my face.
"Hey honey, look at me... Snow look at me" He holds my face so our eyes meet "We'll find her, we're going to get her back! We won't lose her Snow! I promise to you! I'll fix this!"
Charming tries to hold his ground as he speaks, I know him well enough to know he feels the same way as I do...but David's right, we will have her again, I'll go to hell if there's any chance to have her with me.
"Mom?" A child's voice calls from behind us.
I turn my head to find Henry standing in the doorway holding hands with Red, his little face twitching in despair and I'm trying my best to control my emotions.
"Where are my moms, grandma?" His voice trembles and tears begin to blur his vision.
I don't know if it was the responsibility of the title he called me, his face totally lost or the green eyes that were similar to Emma's, but I quickly found strength in my legs and pushed myself out of Charming's comforting embrace, heading towards the 10 year old boy who just lost two mothers at once.
"Henry..." I kneel down in front of him and take his shoulders.
"Where are they? What happened?" The look on his face made my heart break.
I couldn't speak, I just stared at this child who was incredibly my grandson. I feel David kneel down beside me and cover my hand over the boy's shoulder.
"They fell through a portal, Henry..." Charming says ruefully and again I feel the familiar ache in my heart.
"What? How?" A tear runs down his red cheek.
"Regina was marked by a wraith, we tried to save your mother, Henry, we really tried..." David stops waiting for the boy to say something but Henry remains focused on his grandfather "But things went wrong, we wanted to send the wraith to the enchanted forest. .."
"But my mother said that it doesn't exist anymore..." The boy interrupted.
"I know...she and Emma fell through the portal by accident and the specter has dissipated, we don't know where they are now Henry but we'll find them..." The boy sobs.
"But what if... what if they're dea..."
"They're not" I finally say when I find my voice.
"How do you know?" He stares at me with his little red face.
"Because I have faith Henry" I say more to myself than to him "I know they are fine and will try to find their way home."
"But what if they can't?" He sobs.
"They will" I say firmly "And we'll bring them too, they're not alone and we won't leave you alone either."
I wipe the tears from his cheeks.
"Our family always finds each other, don't we grandma?" A shy smile curls his lip and I can see the glimmer of hope resurface in his eyes.
"You couldn't be more right" I open a watery smile and pull the child into my arms, then I feel David's arms go around us.
"We'll take care of you, kid" Charming says fondly, I can only imagine how proud he is to have a grandchild "And let's get your mothers back."
"He's right Henry" I kiss the boy's head.
Henry takes his head off my neck and stares at me with the most innocently meaningful look I've ever received.
"Promise?" I feel his little hand gently caress my hair, once again I feel speechless.
"We promise, Henry" David answers for me. The boy smiles brightly.
"Then we have to find them!" He gets up and tries to pull David and me along with him "We have to name it!"
"name it?" David asks as he helps me up.
"Yes! A name for our operation to bring Emma and Regina back! How about... operation grasshopper?!" He screams in excitement.
I smile when I see the tears fade from his face and have been replaced by a hopeful look.
"I think it will do." David laughs and ruffles Henry's hair.
"So where do we start?!" Henry asks.
A silence quickly spreads through the room and the weight on my heart returns, how are we going to bring my daughter back?! If the enchanted forest no longer exists then they've gone to nothing?! They could be... No, Snow! Do not do this! You know they're fine, you know Emma is fine! Yes... Emma is fine, I feel it in my soul, as if my body, which once belonged to her, is still connected to the blonde's by a connection the umbilical cord couldn't break. She is alive, I know that.
Red, who remained quiet throughout the interaction, cleared her throat and said:
"Who cursed Regina?" Ruby crosses her arms.
My eyes widen in understanding, Rumple sure knows where they've gone, he's the only one here with enough magic to bring them back!
"Red can you take Henry to the apartment? We're already there, we just need to sort things out" I say handing the keys to Ruby who shook her head.
"What?! But I thought we were going to do this together, I thought…" Henry protests.
"Henry, I need you to trust me." I lean over to look him in the eye "We're going to save them but for that we need to make sure you're okay! I know you want to help and you will! But today I need you to go to the apartment with Ruby and wait for us there."
He stares at me for a few seconds until he sighs loudly and shrugs.
"Okay…" He turns to Ruby.
"I'll take good care of him, Snow" Red promises.
"I know." I smile at my old friend.
"Come on trouble kid" She gently pulls Henry by the shoulder and the two of them leave, but not before the boy gives us one last look.
"What do you have in mind?" David asks "Must you have a plan?!"
"Yes... we need to talk to..."
"Gold" He completes.
…
I open the pawnshop door abruptly, the man behind the counter lifts his head and then grins.
"Twice in one day! To which I owe the honor…" He rests his arms on the glass table "And why is Miss Swan not with you? Trouble in paradise?"
"Cut off the shit Rumple, we're not here for your little jokes" David says as he walks closer to the older man.
"Well, well... then to what do I owe the visit?" Gold cleans nonexistent dirt from his jacket sleeve.
"The specter you sent to Regina" He interrupts me.
"Oh that…I thought it would make a nice present for a friend, she looked so lonely" Rumple jokes.
"We tried to save her but things went wrong" I start to explain.
"Wait... And why would you, Snow White, help the evil queen after all she's done?" He raises a slightly amused eyebrow.
"We used the magic hat and it accidentally swallowed Emma and Regina" I ignore him "Where did they go?" The man looks genuinely surprised.
"What an unfortunate accident…I'm sorry for your loss" Rumple says thoughtfully.
"We didn't lose her!" David puts his hands on the counter "Tell us to bring them back!"
"I'm afraid I can't help you Highnesses" He folds his arms "The magic is different here."
"No... it can't be... there has to be a way" Despair starts to rise in my chest.
"I didn't say It hadn't… I just said I can't help you with this" He walks to the other side of the counter.
"Do you want a deal? If that's what you want we'll do it!" David begs.
"No, no… there's nothing in you that I'm interested in yet…but you know, I think you should talk to the creator of this so-called hat." Rumple maintains his steely gaze.
"How will we know if you can help us? How do we know we can trust you?" I ask frantic.
"You won't" He sighs "But I don't want to see Emma trapped in another world as much as you do."
"What?" I ask confused, why would he be interested in Emma?
"I have unfinished business with Miss Swan" He smiled.
It made my stomach drop, he had some plan for my daughter, but what would it be? Did she make a deal with this monster?! How can I get her out of a deal with the dark one?!
"Snow" David catches my eye "We better get going, it's getting late and Henry needs us."
I keep staring at Gold like he has a very deep and dirty secret tucked away inside that expensive blazer.
"Okay…" I take my eyes off Rumple and walk to the door, but not before stealing one last look at the man behind the counter.
"Send my regards to young Henry!" Rumple yells as we leave the pawnshop.
…
We arrive at the apartment in silence, David and I completely immersed in a world where only Emma's name prevails, a world filled with longing, love and regret.
"He slept" Red says heading downstairs.
"Thank you so much Red! You don't know how much you helped us today!" I hug the woman.
"It's all right! I'm sorry about what happened to Emma…she'll be here soon, don't worry, have faith!" Ruby pats my arms.
"I'm trying." I swallow back tears.
"Do you want me to leave you at Granny's?" David asks when he sees the woman walking to the door.
"No, no... I can walk" She smiles slightly "I'm glad you guys are back."
She hugs me and hugs David, then closes the door in a slam that echoed through the old apartment.
It's so different being here without Emma, she laughed and joked, told embarrassing jokes and then watched a movie with me...not me...with Mary Margaret!
We exchanged in silence, I changed into a nightgown while David took off his pants to get more comfortable, both of us completely numbed... I wish I could comfort him, but any words of comfort I could say will seem as mediocre and pathetic as I look now... what a beautiful mother I am.
"No, don't do that." I turn to face David.
"It was my fault" I whisper.
"No, Snow! It was our fault that…"
"But I asked you to take her! Didn't you hear what she said earlier?! At least we would be together, even if cursed! We would be together…" I feel tears on my cheeks for what feels like the thousandth time this day.
"She would've been a baby forever, Snow…what kind of life would she have? We had to give her best chance!" He wipes the tears off my face.
"At what cost?! Your best chance was to be with us, David!" I say leaning into my husband's gentle hands.
"I know..."
Without a warning, Charming pulls me on top of him, his arms try once more to hold all the sadness in my body, it's enough for new tears to come.
"I want my baby back, Charming" I beg into his white shirt.
"I know honey…shssss… we'll get her back." He strokes my hair.
"But she's with Regina! And if Regina..."
"Snow look at me" I stare at him "You said yourself we need to have faith! And that's what we're going to do! Emma is strong, she's going to be fine."
"I want her with me, Charming…she suffered so much…she…" I sob.
"Shh Snow... calm down" He kisses my forehead "I can't imagine the things she must have gone through..."
"It was horrible, David… totally disgusting! She was a child and they mistreat her! She never openly told me all the things… she was always so closed!" Hiccup once more.
"Oh my God Snow…" I feel his voice choke with tears.
"Grandma, grandpa?" A little voice calls us.
"Yes, sweetheart?" I say when I see Henry standing at the door of our room "Do you want something? Water, food...?"
"I can't sleep" He says sadly.
I sigh in understanding and open a little space between me and David.
"Come here." I pat the empty space on the bed.
He jumps between us and covers himself with the covers.
"Try to sleep, kid…" David speaks fondly "Tomorrow will be a long day."
"We'll be fine here, Henry." I whisper in the boy's ear and then lean in to kiss his forehead.
In a few seconds the boy finds himself in a deep sleep.
David and I looked at each other and hugged Henry between us, God how grateful I am to have this man with me.
"We'll get our daughter back, Snow." He whispers.
"I know," I whisper back and then kiss the boy's hair, the only thing Emma we have left.
I know Emma isn't dead, I feel it with all of my being and I really hope she can receive all the love we feel for her. She needs to know how much I love her.
…
Enchanted Forest - Past
• Regina's POV •
"There's just too much that time can not erase"
I was home after all.
Even though I was home in the other land too. But this one has a Regina I had forgotten about, or rather, a Regina that had been erased from me. I had no memories of that past, that boy, that feeling... And that was what intrigued me the most. Someone before Daniel. Before Daniel there was no one, there was an emptiness in my chest, an emptiness so big that I thought it would never be filled. And when he arrived, everything around me seemed to have a happy ending.
I'm in the only place I would judge away from everyone. It's dawn. Maybe not too late or too soon. It's just something played between one point and another. Too early to start the day and too late for me to think about sleeping. I couldn't do that anyway. First because Emma snores more than an old car, and second and perhaps most important: I was in a such…complex internal conflict that sleep was my last priority.
Hidden in Rocinante's stall curled up and hugged to my knees, I look more like a frightened child than the evil Queen or the Mayor. Or a grown woman who should act like an adult to get out of this place soon. All I could understand was that there was a pain building in me, slow and agonizing, as if it squeezed my heart and choked me at the same time.
My nose stings half a second before tears well up in my eyes. I don't stop them from falling. I'm alone. There is no one to exploit my weaknesses. I can cry for Henry, for my father, for a forgotten past, I can cry for everything because now I am nothing but a crying servant hiding behind a horse. A low sob escapes me just as Rocinante neighs.
Metal hinges creak when opened. I force myself to be quiet. I couldn't face Cora, not in this state at least. I certainly wouldn't lose a battle with her, but I don't know what would cause the whole situation.
The steps are free and thrown, it's not my mother and it makes me release all the air I unconsciously held.
"Hey boy, how about a ride?" The voice belongs to my younger self. The lamp partially illuminates the place "We need to be..." The voice stops and the light hits my face "Oh, what are you doing there?"
I wipe my face as fast as I can, a few tears still running down.
"Your Highness I... I was..."
"Crying. I noticed. I'm not as tough as my mom" She tries to smile "Hot water helped...Thanks" She opens the door and walks in petting the animal "How did you know? If I may ask..."
"My mother" I close my eyes.
"So she also has magic? Like you?" The light is put against my face again and I confirm "And did she hurt you?"
"A little… Nothing she could leave…" I stop the sentence in my tracks. This is dangerous, dangerous because we're thinking of the same person, because Cora is our mother. My mother.
"Scars. Yeah, I know. 'No prince will want to marry a lady who has scars, heavens Regina you are a princess!' I hate it" She imitates Cora with the straightest posture she can manage in her pale blue riding coat. I can't help but smile and she does the same"See? That's better."
My younger version places the lamp on a shelf and leans against the wall, getting the best view of my swollen, red face.
"It's still early." I mumble "If you'll allow me, I can make breakfast since everyone should still be asleep."
"It is not necessary. I go to the orchard, pick apples. I want to sit under one of the trees and watch the sun come up." She bites her lip looking to the left and then shakes her head turning to me again "Did your mother pass her magic on to you?"
"What?" I blink at the sudden change of subject.
"Your magic… were you born with it? It was natural? I tried...I tried a lot. But I can't, no matter how angry or hateful I am. I never get rid of those things."
"Yeah… I mean, yeah. I was born with it" I lie "It's easier when you focus on your goal and channels the feeling and not think about what makes you feel this way "close my eyes remembering all the lessons with Rumple and how exhausted I was "You will be good at it."
"I don't think so" She laughs "And I don't want to have magic. I don't want to be like my mother. Cold and heartless. She puts her happiness above others she was supposed to love. I just… want to be happy… and I will."
Her lips curve into a smile. If she knew everything that was to come she would definitely reconsider the cliff. And the fall.
"I'm sure…" Another lie.
"Were you crying about your son?" I shrug and wrinkle my nose.
"Things went a little bit wrong... And I won't see him for a long time..."
"Well, if he ever comes I can teach him how to ride. Or to paint, even if my mother thinks I'm a disaster. A messenger goes to the village today, if you want to write him a letter... I can help... What's his name?"
I think for a moment.
"Daniel" I close my eyes and sink into the hay.
"It's a beautiful name... If I have a son he will be called Henry. Like my dad... I know how scary Cora can look, but my dad is a good man." She straightens up getting the cell and getting the horse ready "I need to get out before she wakes up and finds my little escape... "
Her smile falters as she glares at me.
"I won't tell" I answer and she relaxes her posture "Can I come up with something if she asks about you?"
"Of course... you can say that...I went to see Claire and that we agreed to go out as soon as the sun came up."
I confirm with a knot in my stomach as she pulls Rosinante out of the stables. She goes to meet the red-haired boy. I am sure.
I hug my knees and stare at the wooden ceiling, the barn always felt more like home than the house itself.
"You know, I always thought this thing about talking to yourself was kind of metaphorical. But you took it literally."
"What do you want Swan?"
"You weren't in the room. I thought...well...I don't know..."
"That I had run away and left you here?" She confirms and I can't argue with it. It's something I would do.
"And when I went into the kitchen I found you there…the younger version of you. You eat a lot, you know?" She folds her arms and raises an eyebrow "And now she loves grilled cheese sandwiches. Although it was weird to do it here."
"My mother regulated my meals. I couldn't eat more than one biscuit during tea and if I passed a pea more than what she thought was good I wouldn't eat it." I answer "Not everyone had a good life like your mother. Or at least a good childhood."
She wrinkles her nose, pursing her lips. Her gaze doesn't meet mine and I'm relieved for that.
"How it was?"
"What?"
"You married the king. So… You became her stepmother. But why? I mean… you…"
"I tried to run away if that's what you're suggesting. And you can see that it didn't work. I had nowhere to go anyway. I didn't have anyone. And if I asked my dad for help Cora would find me." I sigh "She would find me anyway and…I wasn't that much older than this Regina you saw. There's a lot you don't know about."
I close my eyes pushing away the memories that made me want to throw up.
"Well… you can tell me… can't you? I'm a good listener."
"Snow White's daughter wants to talk to the Evil Queen?" A dry laugh escapes my lips and I stand up "You already took my son, do you want to take the rest of my dignity too?"
"Can you stop acting like I'm your enemy?"
"And isn't that what you are? You are the Savior, you need to save people from me" I answer and she sighs. Close my eyes. I lift my chin.
"All right. You won. You don't need to tell me anything right now. When you want to talk, I'll be here..."
I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow.
"Right. For now let's leave my past in its place."
"In our present? It feels like a back to the future but without a time machine car."
"Yeah" I start to unwrinkle my dress "Come on. We need to start setting the table for breakfast, Cora gets up early."
I walk to the house leaving Emma behind.
"I can't stand peeling potatoes anymore!" Emma sighs, dropping the potato and knife onto the table.
"You wouldn't need so many potatoes if you took only the skins and not half of them. You're already done." I stir the sauce in the pan "Are we really going to have to do it all together?"
"Well we're having family time at least." I raise an eyebrow and turn around wiping my hands on my apron.
"Sorry?"
"We are Henry's mo… Oh you know. He would like to see this. We've been together for a long time and there's no one hurt or arrested or with their face printed in the newspaper."
"It was more fun in storybrooke" I smile.
"Oh sure. With that freaky Dementor there" She chuckles "But it is. I miss my Volkswagen."
I cross my arms.
"You mean that yellow bathtub..." I wrinkle my nose.
"Alright Mayor" She picks up the potato again "Your pot will burn!"
I turn back to it the instant Rainy walks into the kitchen, completely freaked out.
"Stop what you're doing right now! The King is here! We need to roast the Swan!"
"What about me?" Emma jokes.
I close my eyes and shake my head. Take a deep breath, Regina. I turn and face the lady standing in the doorway.
"Sure. How many people will we serve?"
"Five. Queen Eva is not doing very well. But do more. A lot more!"
I nod.
"Should I suppose a cherry and cream pie for dessert? This is the king's favorite."
Emma glares at me and I look away.
"No, we'll bake apple pie today. It's the princess's favorite. Apple pie and cream!"
"Wow. It must be to die for" The blonde says and Rainy sigh.
"It is…it is" She stares at Emma and turns to me then "The princess will need entertainment…"
Do I look like a clown?!
"All right..."
"She's in the library."
I close my eyes and take a deep breath heading off towards my private torture.
