Dreaming

A guest asked for a oneshot of *mid-season finale spoilers!* Regina kidnapping Emma in the dream land instead of Snowing to try and force her to remember that she's the Saviour.

Regina paced up and down furiously. She wanted to get out of this stupid outfit. She wasn't this person, not anymore. She turned her head back to Emma, who was still cowering on the floor.

"Well?" Regina snapped at her. Emma sniffed.

"Well what?" She wailed. "I don't know what you want from me!" Regina rolled her eyes. She did not like this Emma one bit.

"I want you to put your big girl panties on and stop snivelling like a baby!" Regina snapped, frustrated. This just scared the dream version of Emma even more. Regina ran a hand down her face. "Would you please stop this?" Regina pleaded. "This isn't you. I know deep inside you know that somewhere. You're the Saviour, Emma. You're powerful. You can remember your real life."

"I don't know what you mean." Emma whimpered. "This is my real life. What other life could I have?" Regina frowned. Clearly drastic times called for drastic measures. She bent down to where Emma was cowering on the stone floor. She reached into Emma's chest and pulled out her heart. Of course she had no intention of killing her, that would defeat the whole point of coming here, but she had to install some fear in her.

"Do you want to die?" Regina asked her, giving the heart a light squeeze. Emma yelped, clutching at her chest. "Because that's what's going to happen if you don't pull yourself together, Miss Swan. Now, reach inside whatever hole you've buried your real memories in and take back your damn heart!" Regina gave the heart another light squeeze, causing Emma to start wailing again. Regina was just about to throw the heart at the wall in frustration when an arrow suddenly whistled through the air and lodged itself in the arm holding Emma's hand. Regina screamed, dropping the heart. Emma scurried up, grabbing her heart and going to hide behind her parents.

"That's for kidnapping my daughter." The dream Snow hissed. She notched another arrow in her bow as Charming raised his sword. "Just wait until you see what we've got in store for you trying to kill our little girl." Regina couldn't help but laugh, "little girl"? She looked to Emma again, who was cowering behind her dad, clutching at his arm.

"Oh come on Emma, this is ridiculous!" Regina spat. "This is all lies!"

"Don't listen to her, sweetie." Snow said, trying to calm Emma. "She's just trying to get to you. Don't let her win.

"Except deep down you know I'm not lying!" Regina responded. "Emma, come on! Wake up! You know this isn't your real life…"

"But it could have been!" Emma suddenly bellowed. Even the dream Snow and Charming turned to her in shock. It wasn't like this Emma to shout. She was normally so happy. Skipping around, singing and the like. Regina, however, smiled. There was the old Emma she knew.

"Emma, this isn't what you want." Regina said sympathetically. To be coddled, to have a "mommy" and a "daddy"? This isn't you. Not really. I can take you home. I can take you back to reality." Regina offered, extending her hand. Dream Charming tightened his grip on Emma.

"Don't listen to her, baby." He warned his daughter. "She's a liar, I've told you that before. But it's ok. We're here now. We'll end her. We'll protect you like we always will." Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No matter how much she wanted this world to have been her reality, it wasn't. Regina was right, it was time to stop pretending. It was time to go home. She raised her hand and flicked her wrist. Her dream parents froze and Emma was able to step out in front of them. She quickly hugged them both, hating how scared they looked.

"She's right." Emma admitted to herself. "This, none of this, is real. However much I want it to be. She reached up and kissed each parent's forehead. "I love you both, so much. Whether you're mommy and daddy, or mom and dad, I know you'll always love me and protect me." Emma smiled sadly. "I just won't tell them that, or that I called you mommy and daddy. That's one thing they'd definitely want transferred over." Emma then placed her heart back in her chest. She gave Regina a look. "Was that really necessary?" Regina raised an eyebrow.

"You were balling like a baby. I had to do something to shut you up." Emma just rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's go home."