Chapter Eight

By the time, Emma, Regina and Henry arrived ay the town hall, they found it to already be full. Heads turned in their direction as they entered and it felt as though they had all been eagerly awaiting their arrival. It made Emma feel somewhat uneasy, having the eyes of everyone on her.

"Emma, Sweetheart" Snows sickly voice called from the front. "I saved you and Henry a seat upfront" she called out to them, gesturing to the seats beside hers and Davids. Emma looked to her mother and back to Regina. Reginas eyebrows had skyrocketed into her hairline.

"I think ill stay back up here" Emma called back to her mother, "Start the meeting, Whats it all about?" She asked and all the eyes that had been on her, moved bak to the front where snow was standing. She pursed her lips at Emma tone but plastered on a smile nonetheless.

"People of Storybrooke!" She started. "I have called you here today to discuss how we move onwards, now that the curse has broken." She paused and a small chatter rung out throughout the crowd. She silenced them by holding her hands up. It took a while but eventually the crowd quietened down.

"As you know, me and David have recently returned from the Enchanted Forest and we can tell you that it is habitable" she spoke to the room. A few people cheered out, although it surprised Emma that a lot stayed quiet.

"As your Queen, I think that we should work towards finding a way back to our Home" she finished. A lot of the crowd looked around at each other. Regina found that she had had enough.

"Who died and made you Queen?" She called out from the back of the room. Heads whipped around and a collective intake of breathe was taken. Regina moved forward. Snow stood tall.

"My Father was King. I was his only heir. When he died, by right, the throne became mine" she called out rather smugly to Regina.

Regina had been expecting this response. She smiled. A rather evil smile, it made a few of the townsfolk uneasy.

"You see, I thought we may hit this little snag" Regina said, her voice rather mockingly. Emma watched as Snow visibly seethed, but decided that she wouldn't intervene yet. Snow seemed to find her voice.

"What snag? You gave up the right to my fathers throne the day you murdered him" Snow said viciously. Regina stopped and took in a deep breathe.

"By Laws of the Enchanted Forest, a Queen, whether a Queen by Marriage or by blood, will remain Queen until she abdicates or dies" Regina spoke calmly, but with authority.

"Your mother was a Queen, by marriage to your father. When she died, I married your father and became Queen. When your father died I remained Queen. Since I have not abdicated, nor have I died, then by Rules of Your Home" she accompanied the word with quotation marks "I am the rightful Queen" Regina finished. She knew she was right. Regina looked around at the people of Storybrooke.

"Ask any member of a Royal council" Regina said to Snow. "I know there are some that remain from your fathers court. They will tell you the same" Regina said and around the room a few heads nodded in agreement. A rather elderly gentleman stood to his feet.

"Snow, if I may. I served your father and Regina is correct. She is the true Queen" he told her. Snow looked livid. She took in a breathe.

"I will not bow down to the person who killed my father and terrorised villages for years to try and kill me" Snow declared. Regina held up her hands but before she could speak Snow carried on. "She cursed us for 28 Years without our loved ones. She is the reason we are in this mess" Snow pointed out. "She obviously wants to Rule over everyone and I repeat I will not Bow to the Evil Queen" Snow called out. The town loved towards Regina, scared of how she might react to Snows outburst. Regina took a calming steadying breathe.

"You see that is where you are wrong again" Regina said. A confused look now spread across Snows face. Regina continued.

"I never wanted to be Queen. I don't want to be Queen now. I don't want you to bow" again she accompanied bow with quotation marks "to me. Yes I brought us all here. Yes I abolished the royal regime and quite frankly, Storybrooke run for 28 years without it. I suggest you check with your 'Loyal' subjects, to see if they all share your enthusiasm to go back to the Enchanted Forest" Regina finished, staring at Snow. Snow swallowed. She turned to the people.

"Who would like to go back home?" She asked. All around the room, townsfolk looked at each other. A few raised their hands, but they were not people Emma expected. Snow looked towards Ruby and the Dwarves. Not a single one had raised their hands.

"Red?" Snow questioned and Ruby looked down. She took a breathe before standing and looking at Snow.

"I'm sorry Snow, but I like it here. It's not like back at home. Im not treated like an animal here. Here i'm just Ruby." She said before sitting back down. Granny placed a reassuring hand on her knee. Snow looked dumbfounded.

"Leeroy?" She asked, Turing towards him and his brothers.

"Im sorry sister, but the idea of going back to a rundown place and mining for a living doesn't fill us all with much joy." He said "We'd much rather stay here in civilisation" he told her and his brothers nodded. All around the room others nodded at Leroys last statement. Snow looked around the room.

"Well if that is what everyone wants. We will remain here. Those who wish to return, we will work towards finding you a way. The rest of us. We will run the town. If there are no objections, I nominate myself to take over as mayor. We will relieve Regina of her duties" Snow said and regina smiled.

"Fabulous" Regina called out. "In that case I will take my leave and go and pack up my office" and she left the room. Regina looked at Emma on her way out, silently conveying a message that she will get in touch later and Emma nodded.

Once regina had left, Snow was agreed by majority to become mayor, mainly because no-one else wanted the Job. The meeting ended and most people left straight away. A few remained and Emma and Henry made their way over to Ruby and Leroy. Snow was standing in the corner talking in hushed tones with David. Emma whispered in Ruby's ear.

"I cant believe you did that" she said and Ruby shook her head.

"Me either but it needed to be said. Snow is my friend but nobody wanted to go back" and Emma nodded. "I know. I wanted to thank you! For standing up" and Ruby embraced her. "It was nothing" Ruby whispered back. Snow approached them.

"Emma darling. Me and your father have a present for you" Snow said and Ruby and the dwarves bid goodbye, leaving Emma and Henry alone with David and Snow. Emma was skeptical. She eyed her parents suspiciously.

"What is it?" She asked. Her mother never answered the question. Instead Emma heard the door open and a voice call out.

"Hello Emma." Emma turned around and was met with a face she never thought she would ever see again.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, the distaste very evident in her voice. She looked back at hr parents only to see them beaming with pride.

"Suprise Darling" they said and Emma stared at them. What were they playing at she thought in her head.

A/N - any guesses on who the mystery person is? comment and ket me know what you think :)

Thanks for reading!