Hey everyone, light warning on this chapter. There is talk of pain induction/torture, but it is not at all graphic. Also, there is talk of threat to the baby, but I want to stress that the baby will be fine, I promise. Just be careful if either of these subjects is triggering to you. This chapter is heavier than previous ones, but it will lighten up again next time! Vx

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The family were all gathered around the table in the dining room, which had become some sort of official meeting room lately. Now, to Regina, it seemed more like a war room. The children had reluctantly been sent back to bed, leaving the adults free to discuss things honestly, with all fears being laid out on the table.

Decisions needed to be made, and there was no guarantee that everybody would come out of this alive, depending on what they were up against. It had been a busy few hours, as they did everything they could to try and track Emma down.

"So what do we know, so far?" Kathryn asked.

David spoke up, "I checked the call recording software we have running, and it appeared that Emma received a call to her work cell from Eric, asking her to check out a hit and run. However, we questioned Eric and he swore he didn't make that call. Plus, Granny can vouch that he was in the diner with his wife at the time. So we assume that Blue must have used magic, to disguise both her voice and the origin of the call."

"David also checked the CCTV to follow the squad car," added Mal, " we know that Emma arrived at the crossroads, and went to help what looked like an injured person who was laying in the road. We're not sure what happened next, but Emma collapsed to the floor as the person in the road got up, and they both disappeared. We're assuming that it was poppy dust, the same as what was used the day the guards were knocked out when Snow escaped."

"Emma told me that Willow has been dreaming about us all being in the Enchanted Forest, repeatedly. Night after night. Knowing what we do now, about the visions that Willow has been having, we have to consider that maybe Snow and Blue plan to go to the Enchanted Forest," Regina told them.

"Are we sure it's Blue? It could be anyone?" queried Belle, "Blue is not the only one with magic in town."

"We're working under the assumption that it's Blue, but we don't have proof, just suspicions," Mal replied, "she is the only person that we know has a close connection to Snow, who also has magic, and who we know has displayed some less than exemplary behaviour in the past. If you have any suggestions as to who else it could be, by all means I'm open to suggestions."

"No, there isn't anyone else. I just think that she is innocent until proven guilty, you know? I don't think we should drop our guard around everybody else, just because we believe it's Blue. What if we're wrong?" Belle asked, looking around.

David looked angry, "I'm not willing to risk Emma's life, because you insist on someone having a fair trial. If she hurts my daughter, I am going after her and I will not stop until she's dead." He turned to Regina, "we'll find her, ok? Whoever has her, whoever is involved, we will find her. We can do this! As Emma always tells us, we're all stronger together. If it's Blue, believe me, she will suffer."

Regina acknowledged him with a nod of her head, "as far as I'm concerned, anyone outside of this house is a threat," growled Regina, "my wife is missing, and I will rip the heart out of anyone that gets in the way of me finding her."

A stunned silence fell over the table. This was a version of Regina they were all familiar with but hadn't seen for a while. The Evil Queen.

Before anyone could speak, a loud impatient knocking was heard.

"I'll get it," Mal got up and went to open the door. The person standing there was the last person she would have expected to find.

"Sydney? What are you doing here?"

"I have news about Emma. I need to talk to you all," he told her, furtively looking behind him, "please let me in, I can't be seen!"

Mal took his arm, so that the amulet she was wearing would allow him entry too, and stepped aside, to let the man in, "we're all in the dining room, you know the way, I believe?"

"Yes. Thank you," he replied, walking off in the direction of the room the family had been meeting in, with Mal close behind.

Mal sat down, and gestured to an empty chair.

"What are you doing here, Sydney? Come to gloat?" Regina snarled.

"I came to warn you, actually. I know about Snow's plan, and know she's working with Blue. I know they have Emma."

"Oh yes?" Regina asked dangerously, watching delightedly as Sydney shrank into his chair in fear, "and just how do you know this?"

Sydney cringed, wary that he was about to lose his heart once and for all, "because I was helping them."

Silence.

Noise erupted at the table, everybody throwing questions his way.

"Stop!" Mal threw up her hands, "this won't get us anywhere. Everybody take a deep breath. Now, Sydney, start at the beginning and tell us everything you know, including your own part in it."

So that's what Sydney did. With none of his normal manipulations he spoke the truth, including his own role in it all.

Eventually he came to the end, "so I went to the cottage this evening, and they were gone. There was no sign of them. They were meant to tell me when and where to meet them, so that we could all take a portal together, but they were either lying to me about that, or they realised I was having doubts and decided to play it safe. Either way, I have no idea where they are now."

"What do you know of the device that they were going to use to remove the magic from Storybrooke?" Mal asked.

"It is much like the trigger that Greg and Tamara activated before kidnapping Henry and taking him to Neverland, except this one doesn't need a dwarf axe to activate it, just an incantation," Sydney explained.

"I don't care about the device, I just want my wife back," Regina started to cry, "I just need Emma back."

Kathryn put an arm around the heartbroken Queen, "we will find her, Regina, you know we will. Your bond is too strong to be torn apart by anything, you will always come back to each other."

"If you dare to try and give me a 'hope' speech, I will throw you out of this house," sniffed Regina, resting her head on Kathryn's shoulder. Kathryn dropped a kiss on to her hair, "our sweet girl is too resourceful to let anything keep her apart from you for long, you have to believe that."

Regina allowed herself some comfort and then straightened herself up, turning to face Sydney.

"Why?! I understand that you hate me, and I know I owe you an apology, which I am offering now. I'm sorry that you were locked away for something that I did. However, why not just hurt me? How could you let them hurt Emma too? How could you let them take a mother away from Henry, Willow, and even this little one?" she said, rubbing her tummy.

"I'm sorry. I was so angry, and anger can be a powerful force sometimes. Surely you know that, Regina. I'm not excusing my actions, but you more than most, know what a dark path anger can take us on?" Sydney pleaded with her.

"Why did you come here tonight?" Regina asked, "was it because you saw the error of your ways? Or was it because you feared for your life now they had started to realise that maybe you were having doubts?"

His silence told her everything she needed to know.

"You may leave now Sydney," Regina dismissed him, "thank you for your information. It is only in light of the information that you have given tonight, which may be helpful to us, that I am letting you leave here alive. Take that as a gesture of goodwill, because if you ever come near me or my family ever again, I will not hesitate to kill you. Now… Get out."

Sydney scurried to the door, grateful to be walking out of yet another dangerous situation alive, when he knew it could have ended differently. Was the Evil Queen back? It certainly seemed so.

Reaching the gate at the bottom of the path, he turned out onto the street.

Blue was waiting for him.

"I told Snow you were untrustworthy, but she wanted to give you a chance. So we moved to a new location, and I followed you. The both of you are fools, Sydney. I have no use for you now," Blue told him, with danger dripping from her voice. She transported them both to the edge of the woods, pointed a wand at him, and killed him on the spot.

Pleased with her work, she left the body to be discovered. A warning of sorts. Time to move on to the next part of the plan.

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Emma had been drifting in and out of sleep all night long. Being tied to a radiator, with her arms behind her back was very uncomfortable. The cuff was preventing her from using her magic, and she couldn't access Regina's either. Her wedding ring, which was charmed to amplify her magic, helped to reassure her that her magic was still there, just under the surface. A comforting thrum through her veins, but just out of reach.

It was frustrating to have it there but not able to use it, but Emma took comfort from the extra feeling of connection it gave her to her wife.

Regina. She knew she would be going out of her mind. Through their soulmate connection she could feel every emotion. Fear, anger, despair. She could feel her wife's heart breaking, and so she made an extra effort to control her own emotions, not wanting to add to the stress that Regina was already under.

The door opened, and Blue stepped inside, bringing with her the vague light of dawn, from the window at the top of the stairs.

She was evil incarnate, Emma didn't understand how no one ever noticed the darkness swirling in the Blue Fairy's eyes before.

"Comfortable?" Blue sneered.

"Like I'm staying at the Hilton, thanks," Emma sarcastically shot back.

"You know, Snow has big plans for you, but I have a few of my own," Blue told her in a chilling voice, "I don't know who I despise more. You? Or that pathetic wife of yours?"

"What do you want, Blue? I don't need your cliched villain monologue, thanks. If you're done, I'm going back to sleep."

"No, I don't think so. You see, I figured it out," Blue told her, "how can I hurt you both. You see, with your soulmate bond, I get two for the price of one."

Emma felt more afraid in that moment than she had since her capture. She was strong, she knew that. She was pretty sure she could handle anything that was thrown her way by Snow and Blue. The thought that it would hurt her wife though, was horrifying, and her blood turned to ice at the look in Blue's eyes.

"What do you say, Emma? Want to play? Shall we test that connection of yours? I wonder how much Regina will feel if I do this?" Blue held out a hand and sent a bolt of magic through Emma like an electric shock.

Pain like Emma had never felt before, shot through her system.

Stopping, Blue taunted her, "do you think Regina enjoyed that? Shall we give her another burst? I wonder what it will do to that precious child she is carrying?"

"If anything happens to Regina or our Baby, I will end you, Blue," Emma threatened in between grunts of pain.

"It's amusing that you think you could. It's amusing that you think you have any control here, Emma," Blue told her, shooting her with magic again.

This time, the current was stronger, and after struggling for little more than ten seconds, Emma lost her fight with consciousness.

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Back at the mansion, all hell had broken loose. It was the early hours of the morning and just beginning to get light, when a scream tore through the house, alerting each and every resident to an unseen danger.

Mal, using nothing but her instincts, transported herself, in a state of undress, into Regina's room. Immediately noticing the Queen was in pain, she walked to the bed.

"Regina? What's wrong? Is it the baby?"

"It's… It's… I don't think it's me," Regina sobbed, "I think it's Emma. Someone is hurting Emma!"

"What do you mean?" Mal asked.

"I felt really severe pain, and a wave of anger and fear, but it's like it's coming from outside of myse…." she was interrupted by another wave of pain, making her scream in distress. Then, just as with Emma, Regina lost consciousness.

Mal turned, and could see a crowd of people in the hallway, looking on in concern.

"Ok, why don't you all go and make a start on breakfast, because I don't think any of us will be going back to sleep anytime soon. I will keep an eye on Regina and make sure she's ok," Mal advised.

"Can we stay in here with Mom?" Henry asked, holding on tightly to a terrified Willow's hand.

"Regina wouldn't want you to witness her like this, Henry, but as soon as she is awake I will come and get you. Ok?"

"Take care of her, please?" Henry said, leaving the room, with his little sister.

Mal turned her attention back to Regina, "come on, my love, don't leave us all now. Emma needs you. We all do. Please wake up."

Mal waited. Then waited some more. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, but she knew it had been less than ten minutes, Regina started to stir. Summoning a damp cloth, Mal wiped cool water on her face, to try and wake her up fully.

"Regina, come on now, that's it. Wake up," Mal spoke to her softly.

"Mal? What happened?"

"I don't know. Something is happening to Emma and it is affecting you."

Regina's already pale skin turned even whiter, "what are they doing to her?"

"I'm not sure either of us want to know the answer to that. All I know is we need to find her and fast. Emma is strong, and I know she can handle anything, but I'm worried about you and the baby. We don't know what effect this will have and I need to keep you both safe. Emma would want that. You know she would," Mal told her.

"I can't bear thinking of what they are doing to her. She is all alone. What if she thinks we've given up on her?" Regina allowed the tears that had formed to fall down her cheeks.

"Would you ever think that Emma had given up on you? She would search the earth, and every other realm in the universe to find you, and the children. You know that. Emma knows without a doubt you would do the same for her. Don't give up hope, Regina, because I know Emma won't."

Regina dried her tears, "what can I do to protect the baby? I can't let anything happen to her."

"I have a suggestion, but I'm not sure you will like it," Mal started hesitantly. "If Emma continues to be hurt like this, then the pain and stress that is carried through the bond to you, could cause you to lose the baby. We don't know if they are hurting Emma because they want to hurt her, or if they are using Emma to hurt you. I'm sorry to be blunt, but you know I like to be honest. Regina, we may have to consider a surrogate to keep the baby safe."

"A surrogate? But I'm already pregnant!"

"Yes, but we can do a spell to transport the baby into someone else's womb. It would still be yours and Emma's, but it would be carried to term by someone else."

Regina was silent. She knew that it would be a good option, but the thought of her child leaving the safety of her own body, was a soul destroying thought.

Except, it wasn't safe, was it? Not any more.

Regina made a decision, "if you truly think this is the only way, then I agree. Who though?"

"The obvious choice would be me, but if we have to fight a magical battle against Blue, then I need to be free of any confines, to fight to my full potential. So that leaves Kathryn or Belle."

"I guess we need to go and have a conversation as a family. If we're doing this, it needs to be done quickly," Regina spoke decisively, getting up from the bed.

Downstairs, everyone was sitting at the table, eating breakfast. The atmosphere was subdued and tense, until Willow spotted Regina and jumped up.

"Mom!" she squealed, running over and putting her arms as far around Regina's waist as she could, resting her head on the bump, "you're ok!"

"Yes, little one, I'm ok. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Any of you," she added, looking around the table.

"What happened?" Henry asked, looking between her and Mal and noticing the silent communication between them.

Regina decided to be honest, but tried to make it as child friendly as possible.

"It seems Emma was experiencing some pain, and because of our link I was feeling it too."

Willow immediately picked up on what wasn't being said, "It's Blue, isn't it?"

"Yes, little one, we think it is, or maybe Snow. Please don't worry about your Mom, she is strong. She will be ok, I promise," Regina vowed, hoping she wasn't lying to her daughter.

Mal took over, "we don't know if they are hurting Emma for the sake of it, or hurting Emma to hurt Regina through the bind, but we have concerns about the baby. We need to discuss with you all a solution we may have. We need help," Mal admitted.

"Whatever we can do, of course we will!" Kathryn reassured her, "what is it?"

"We need a surrogate. Someone to carry the baby to term, so that it isn't affected by what is happening to Emma and Regina."

"Oh." Kathryn looked guilty, "I'm so sorry, I can't," she said quietly.

Regina felt slightly hurt, but controlled her emotions, "that's ok, Kathryn, you don't have to, we can find someone else."

"It's not that I don't want to, or that I wouldn't," Kathryn explained, "we weren't going to announce this yet, but I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations! Both of you," Regina said warmly, smiling at Kathryn and David.

"It's only three months," David spoke up, "but we're really happy. I'm sorry that we can't help you."

"I'll do it," Belle cut in, "I can do it, if you want?"

Mal walked straight over and kissed her, "are you sure, darling?"

"Yes. There is no decision to be made. Regina and Emma have made me feel more welcome in this family, than I ever did in my own. Of course I would do this for them."

Regina had no words for a moment, choosing instead to walk over and hug the woman, for what was probably the first time. She held her tight as her tears told Belle everything that she was trying to say.

"Let's get started shall we?" Mal suggested.

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Emma had woken up alone, cold and hungry. No sounds were coming from the room above so she was either truly alone or they were sleeping. Concentrating on the bond, she made herself relax and send her love across the bond to Regina. Willing Regina to feel that she was ok, and still alive, as she closed her eyes and laid her head back against the radiator.

A strange sensation surrounded her, and she opened her eyes, expecting Blue to be standing there.

The room was empty.

Feeling fuzzy for a moment, Emma was suddenly overwhelmed by a sensation of loss and grief, causing her to cry without knowing why. Tentatively, she reached out across the bond, comforted by the feeling of Regina, but even as she allowed herself that comfort she realised something heartbreaking.

She could no longer feel the baby.

There was only one reason that Emma knew of, for the baby to suddenly not be present across the bond anymore, and Emma cried for the loss of yet another child before she had the chance to watch it grow up.