Slowly, things began to change for the better. Emma's body began to repair itself from the detoxing process that the lack of pills and alcohol had caused her. The migraines lessened, the stomach cramps came on fewer, and the shaking had stopped altogether.
But the physical changes weren't the only things that had gotten better. There was a new feeling, a comfortable warmth between Emma and Regina. Emma had woken in a groggy stupor, slightly weak, and Regina had been by her side with a book in hand, fresh apple slices on a plate beside her. Their dynamic had shifted.
Emma sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Did I sleep all night?"
"All night and all day, then all night again," Regina corrected her, nudging the plate of fruit closer.
Heat crept onto Emma's cheeks. "You could have woken me sooner, you know."
"I checked your pulse every now and then to make sure you were still alive."
Emma offered the woman a smile, which was returned. "Well, thank you anyway. It's so nice feeling so… new. I don't need alcohol or drugs anymore to enjoy life."
"You achieved that yourself by putting mind over matter. Now it's up to you to continue that journey," Regina said.
Emma grabbed an apple slice and munched on it. "So now what do we do from here? This magic I have… where did it come from? What exactly is it?"
Regina frowned. "I'm not quite sure. You were born outside of a magical world, correct?"
Emma nodded. "I really was raised by nuns in Boston. Was abandoned by my parents at birth. It wasn't until I arrived in Storybrooke that I noticed this… static feeling I guess?" She stared down at her hands. "It's like a tingling that vibrates my hands. Kind of how your body feels after an electric shock."
Regina thought for a moment. "We'll do a DNA test. We can figure out your heritage and possibly where your family line begins. Then from there, I can help you control your magic and perhaps we'll be able to protect this town."
"But why me?" Emma wiped a bit of apple juice from her chin. "I'm so new to all this. I wouldn't have any idea how to cast a spell or whatever. Wouldn't your sister be able to help you?"
"We're not strong enough," Regina admitted. "And the fact that the council is concerned with the leaders in other cities being unable to keep their humans together is troubling, to say the least. These vampires are the strongest I know of. But you… your magic is more powerful than anything I have ever felt."
Emma pondered the idea. If she were able to cast a spell to keep the town hidden and protected, it would make her feel truly safe here. They wouldn't be able to find her, and the friends she'd made here wouldn't turn against her. She had to try—for her own sake as well as Neal's.
"Let's do it," she said at last.
XXXX
"Hey, there's my favorite bartender! How ya feeling, Em?" Will greeted her with a hug as she entered the White Rabbit for her usual shift.
"Way better, thanks. Stomach viruses are a bitch," Emma said as she punched her time card.
Regina wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of going back to her old job with the temptations it provided, but Emma had insisted. She needed a sense of normalcy after going through detox and learning that she had magic—of which, she was going to have to use to help the town and its residents. Besides, on the clock there was a no alcohol policy in place, which helped any temptations there may be.
Will backed away from her then, though his cheerful attitude remained. "Well, I'll leave you to it. It's my brother's bachelor party tonight and I promised I'd be the designated driver."
"Good luck!" Emma called after him as he left her behind the counter.
The bar was rather empty for a weekend. There were the regulars who came every day of course—Leroy, Mr. Gold, Marco, and Cruella—but otherwise the place was empty. It was a welcome change of pace for her first night back.
Emma grabbed a rag and wiped down the counter top before dusting off the bottles of liquor that were hardly ever requested, humming softly to the radio as she worked. Her head felt clearer than it had in years, and it was a welcome change. There were going to be days that were harder than others, but she was confident that she could handle them.
The front door opened with a creak, jangling the bells hanging on the door handle. Emma turned around to welcome the customer, but her smile faded as Zelena approached the counter. The woman had gotten her into nothing but trouble lately. She was definitely a temptation she didn't need right now.
"Emma…" Zelena purred in a faux sweet voice as she took a seat at the counter. "Glad to see you're getting back to your old self again. You look ravishing." She smiled widely, showing off her fangs to accentuate her remark.
Emma turned back to the bottles and began cleaning them again. "Thanks," she answered politely, keeping her tone cool. "What brings you out alone on a weekend?"
"The parties have yet to begun, it's much too early for that. I just thought I would drop by to see how you were. When I went to visit my sister, I noticed your car was gone and figured this was where you would be."
Emma glanced over her shoulder to see the woman slide a crisp twenty-dollar bill across the counter. "I'll take a gin and tonic. Heavy on the gin. Hold the olive," Zelena ordered.
Emma silently made the drink and handed Zelena her change. The woman promptly shoved the pile of money back at her. "Keep 'em coming, dear."
Emma folded her arms across her chest defensively. "Is there a reason you came in here my first night back?"
Zelena winked at her. "Oh I know all about your "stomach virus" per se. Personally, I think giving up on the fruit of human life is a dastardly choice. But who am I to judge? You're not me."
Emma chose not to speak, feeling betrayed. Regina had told Zelena about her detox? Why? Was there some ulterior motive behind helping her that was part of her plan?
She glanced over at the occupants at the other end of the bar that were lost in their own conversation. Quietly, she said: "I suppose the whole town knows about my habits and recovery now then because of you? That's all that I am now I bet. The hottest gossip since the two vampire sisters arrived, huh?"
Zelena shook her head in confusion. "Why would you think that? Your… recovery as you call it isn't worth telling even the most elite gossip groups in this town. And even if it were, I wouldn't be the one spreading the news."
Even so, Emma felt uncomfortable as Mr. Gold waved her down, waving his empty beer mug in the air. She left Zelena alone for a moment and collected the man's change. She noticed he didn't care to tip and was glaring at her in disgust as she refilled his glass.
"Look, Emma, I think it's great that you're doing something for yourself. It's very… noble," Zelena said in an apologetic tone. She glanced over at Mr. Gold seated at the end of the bar taking a sip of his drink.
In a split second the mug shattered in his face, covering him in sticky liquid. Emma gasped in shock. It was clear the incident was supernatural and the only person who could have caused it was sitting right in front of her.
Zelena simply flipped her hair back over her shoulder and finished the rest of her glass as Mr. Gold's friends attempted to clean him up. Emma hid a smile and tossed a couple towels their way. The incapacitated man simply glared at her and raised one middle finger up in a salute.
"My sister asked that I leave while you recovered. She offered me my nights and I was more than happy to respect her wishes. It's been a nice change, having a house to myself." Zelena paused to take a long swig of the new glass Emma set in front of her. "She cares for you. I haven't seen her show that sort of emotion in centuries."
The woman's eyes twinkled mischievously as her playful side resurfaced. "I can't say that I blame her—you are extremely irresistible."
Emma found herself getting lost in the woman's bright blue eyes. Her mind conjured the memory of mere days before, involving she and Zelena and a bed. A thrill ran through her as she felt the phantom bite from her fangs pierce her body, injecting the venom that had made her feel so good.
Zelena sighed, apparently noticing. She set down her now empty drink and stood. "Well darling, it's been fun, but I have another function to get to. I'll see you around."
Emma uttered a goodbye and threw herself back into her work. The bar filled up a little more as midnight neared. The group of young college-age kids that stumbled in were clearly having pre-party cocktails, and Emma found herself annoyed as they yelled loudly over each other and spilled their drinks like a bunch of toddlers. She couldn't believe she used to be one of them.
Thankfully, Regina showed up at the perfect time. The group seemed to quiet down with her presence alone, for which Emma was grateful. She couldn't help but smile as the woman approached with bags of takeout in her hands.
"Isn't it past your bedtime, Madame Mayor?"
Regina swatted her playfully and handed her a grease-stained bag. "I thought you could use some dinner. I was awake doing paperwork and thought I'd take a break."
"I'm not complaining." Emma shoved a handful of curly fries in her mouth, moaning at the saltiness that soothed her empty, growling stomach.
The fact that Zelena knew of her recovery overshadowed the thanks for food, however, and an uncomfortable air settled about them.
"Why did Zelena know about my detox?" Emma asked quietly.
Regina looked surprised at her question. "Did she come bother you?"
"Please, just… answer the question."
Regina pushed the bag of food away from her, staring down at the table. "I had asked Zelena to occupy one of the empty town houses while I helped you. I couldn't not just give her a reason as to why I was kicking her out of her own home."
"I'm not some injured baby bird, Regina. I don't need your pity; or Zelena's, for that matter. I can take care of myself just fine without the whole world knowing."
"I apologize if I overstepped my boundaries, Emma. I just wanted to help." Regina met her forceful gaze, an unwavering apology hidden behind uncertain, brown eyes.
Emma nodded in acceptance. "I understand. I've just had past shit come back to bite me in the ass is all. I don't need a bad reputation in this town, too."
Regina's ringing cell phone interrupted the conversation. Emma turned away to refill a drink, opting to give the woman some privacy. The woman's hushed tone quickly turned into one of annoyance, however, prompting Emma—as well as the other bar occupants—to look over.
"You do not need to come here. I have it under control," Regina hissed into the phone.
"I'll bet it's a lover's quarrel," Cruella drawled with a long sip of her drink.
"I'll take a bet that it isn't." Gold slapped down a fifty-dollar bill.
Cruella snatched the money up before the man could change his mind. "And why would you think that? Think about it—those monthly trips to Boston, keeping to herself, more often than not in a sour mood?"
"Yeah, right. Who would shag that?" Leroy cut in.
Emma's hand clenched around the glass she was refilling. These people had no respect!
"Now, now. That's no way to talk about our mayor," Marco said.
Thank you!
"Besides," the man shrugged, his mouth curving up into a smirk, "That woman is damn fine. If I could just get one night alone with her—"
Emma slammed down the glass she was holding, making all four people jump. "Closing time! Finish your drinks and get the hell out of here!"
"But it's only midnight!" Leroy protested.
"I don't give a damn what time it is! I said we're closing!" Emma seethed.
She pointed to the group of rowdy young adults flipping through the jukebox like insolent children. "That goes for all of you! If you make me ask again, I'll ban you from coming back!"
The groups grudgingly filed out just as Regina finished her phone call. Emma turned the sign off and locked the door for good measure. When she turned back, she noticed Regina was sitting silently with her head in her hands.
"Everything okay?" She asked.
Regina laughed humorlessly and shook her head. Emma poured her a shot and slid it across the bar. The woman shook her head at the gesture.
"Thank you, but that won't help me. Alcohol doesn't affect vampires the way it does humans. It's like water."
"Your sister could have had me fooled."
"Yes, well, my sister is a whole other character." Regina attempted to smile, but only managed to look miserable.
Emma poured the shot out and crossed the bar to sit next to her. "Bad news?"
Regina sighed. "Worse. The magic of the towns is weakening even further; there have been twelve new cases of humans crossing the line and losing their memory. There's a high mortality rate involved."
Emma frowned in confusion. "You mentioned they were just forgetting who they were and where they were from."
"That is all it was at first. Now, the humans they have managed to recover are driven mad. Their minds are slowly deteriorating until they waste away completely. The council wishes to send reinforcements to the towns that haven't been affected."
"Shit," Emma murmured.
Regina turned to face her, hands trembling slightly. "If they find out about you, Emma… I don't know what they'll do. In all constitutional magic laws and possibilities, you are not supposed to be. The council doesn't like having things they can't control in their vicinity."
"So, it's like that Twilight book, where the Volturi hate humans and werewolves. Can't you just turn me into one of you and be done with it?"
Regina shook her head. "Fiction is nowhere near fact, dear. Even if it were possible—which it isn't, seeing as how vampires are born, not made—your magic alone is enough of a threat to end your existence entirely.
"The only solution would be for you to leave Storybrooke. It's the only way I can think of to keep you safe. I care too much about you, and I don't want to see it end this way. To be the cause of it."
Emma began pacing in front of her. "There has to be another way. I can't leave Storybrooke."
"I have property in Boston. You can stay there until all of this is over—"
"You don't get it!" Emma snapped, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. The electric sensation was back, coursing through her whole body now. "I'll never be able to come back if I leave. I did something that will fuck me over for life if I go back to Boston."
"Okay," Regina said.
Emma turned to look at her, her jaw dropping in shock at the woman's casual response. "Just okay?"
"I'll hold off the council for as long as I can. In the meantime, we do that DNA test on you, figure out your lineage, and then we'll work on concentrating and controlling your magic. And who knows really, if and when this will hit our town. The magic that formed this town is old and it runs deep. It could be strong enough to keep us cloaked and protected."
Regina grabbed Emma's hand, squeezing it gently. "I know all about bad pasts. I don't need to know yours to know how I feel about you now, in the present. We can find our way around this."
Emma smiled. "No one has ever blindly trusted me before like this."
Regina leaned down to kiss her hand, stroking it gently with her thumb. "After a couple centuries' worth of mortal drama, you learn what really matters. That—and," she flashed Emma a fang-bared smile, "you gain enough maturity to last a lifetime."
XXXX
It had been a week since Regina's disturbing phone call. The council had seemed to back off, choosing instead to focus on the towns where the humans had been wandering off. The magic that concealed Storybrooke from the outside world seemed to be doing its job, much to the mayor's relief.
Even so, Zelena was patrolling the town line routinely during her night hours, as was Regina during the day, with Emma's help. They were now waiting on a DNA test to see just who Emma was and where she came from.
Regina once again was pouring over her magical folklore, trying to identify Emma's magic. It didn't match up to any that the books mentioned—vampires, elves, witches, wizards, fairies, genies—and it simply didn't make sense. Even when Emma tried to concentrate and use her magic, she couldn't.
Which brought them back to square one. If she and Zelena weren't strong enough to protect the town together, and if Emma's magic was dormant somehow, then they wouldn't have a choice but to bring in outside help. And Emma's life would be at stake in doing so.
Regina couldn't risk that. She cared very deeply for Emma, had become protective of her in the months she'd known her. Emma was the only one who truly understood and accepted her past, of who she was. And Regina would be damned if she lost another soul she cared about—possibly even loved.
Regina's phone rang in her pocket. Seeing Emma's name, she quickly picked it up.
"Regina, the results are in. You'd better get home to see this," Emma said.
Despite the alarm in the woman's voice, Regina's mouth curved up into the tiniest of smiles. Emma had referred to the mansion as her home.
"I'll be there right away."
Soon, Regina and Emma were both staring at the sheet of paper in front of them in shocked confusion.
"How is this possible?" Emma asked for the third time.
Regina shook her head. "I don't know. It shouldn't be."
The results raised more questions than answers. There was no lineage listed, no heritage, no family. It was as if Emma was a blank slate. She didn't belong anywhere, to anyone. It was as if she didn't exist at all.
"What information did the nuns who raised you have when you came to them?" Regina asked.
"All they knew was that I was an abandoned infant, found in the back alley of restaurant. I was maybe two weeks old. They didn't have anything to go on, even if they attempted to find my parents."
Regina frowned at this. There were an infinite number of realms and worlds in the universe. Earth—and the human race—were only a very small part of it. There was no possible way of finding out who Emma was without any leads.
Which meant finding the origin of her magic was impossible.
"What do we do now?" Emma asked quietly.
Before Regina could respond, her phone began to ring. Seeing Zelena's icon, she immediately answered. She met Emma's inquisitive gaze, her own eyes widening in alarm at the information Zelena was giving her. She hung up the phone after hearing a hurried goodbye.
"What is it?" Emma pressed.
"Mary Margaret is missing."
