Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and any unrecognizable characters and dialogue.
So... the Zelena and Hades story made me sad. Mostly on Hades' part, considering I hate Zelena. Still, I thought it terribly sad and it makes me sympathetic to a homicidal death deity with blue fiery hair who also has a dark, cynical humor I enjoy immensely... I really like Hades, if you can't tell. He reminds me of the one James Woods portrayed in 1997 Disney movie... just way, way darker.
Also, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to bellarose-riddle, who created such a lovely piece of art for this story. Thank you, darling!
Chapter playlist: 'The King is Dead' from 'Young Victoria' and 'Snow White' from 'Snow White and the Huntsman: OST'
Storybrooke
It was all too easy to sail the Jolly Roger into the small port. After they'd laid anchor, Hook, antsy to track down Rumpelstiltskin, was all too eager to explore. So, when he finished assisting Cora down the steps to the docks - he was a gentleman at heart, despite his turn to piracy - he nodded in farewell to the older woman.
"Well, my dear Cora, this is where we shall part ways." He sent her a charming smile and slipped his hand from hers. "Thank you for everything," he said, truly meaning it. "It's time for me to skin my crocodile."
With that, he turned to head off for the city past the docks. Before he could make it more than half a dozen steps, Cora appeared in front of him.
"You might want to rethink this." She cautioned.
Instead of taking her words to heart, all his earlier good humour vanished. "We had a deal," he reminded darkly. "Get out of my way."
"Believe it or not, I'm doing you a favour."
"By preventing my vengeance?"
Cora raised a brow. "Ask yourself how I'm doing that." She prodded, hoping that he would continue to show some intelligence.
"By using your dark magic." He snapped, too caught up in anger to catch her meaning.
Despite her exasperation, she did not roll her eyes. "Exactly. Magic is here." She told him, watching as realization dawned in his eyes. Bitterness quickly followed. "And that makes matters a bit more complicated. If you go off half-cocked after an empowered Rumpelstiltskin, do you know what'll happen?" Her head tilted, and she waited. Thankfully, she saw the wariness in his eyes. "So, you do. Good."
Focused on their conversation, neither noticed the intruder until he'd come within mere feet of them. The fisherman smiled at them, not the slightest put off by their clothing.
"Hey!" The man greeted, either blind or willfully ignorant to the glower both of them sent him. "You folks need anything? Tackle shop don't open until morning. But, if you want to go out and try and snare some of New England's finest pescatarian creatures, I'd be happy to open early for ya."
Hook sent him a thin-lipped smile. "No, thank you. We're fine."
"It's a fine vessel you got there." The man continued blithely. "When'd you get in?"
Cora smiled. "What vessel?" She asked with a flutter of her lashes.
Taken aback, them an stuttered, "W-Why that one right…." He trailed off as Cora cloaked the ship with a wave of her hand, turning it invisible. "Hey, that's a neat trick," the man praised, causing Cora to sneer at his lack of self-preservation. "You some kind of magician back in our land?"
Reaching her wit's end with the man, Cora raised her hand once more. Shrouding him in a swirl of smoke, she transformed the man into a fish. Hook watched, mildly amused, as the fish flopped around on the dock before he took pity on the drowning animal and kicked it into the water.
"What did you do with my ship?" Hook demanded, wearily now.
Sensing her victory, Cora smiled. "I hid it from prying eyes." She assured him. He relaxed marginally at her words. "For what we both want to do, we need the element of surprise. Now, are you ready to listen to me?"
"Go on, Your Majesty." He acquiesced easily. While he desired nothing more than to find and skin his crocodile, he also wanted to assuage his guilt. Until he saw her, until he knew that he hadn't inadvertently killed Tiger Lily, he wouldn't rest easy. "What now?"
Cora daintily slipped her arm through his. "Let's go have a little look at this Storybrooke, shall we?"
Mary Margaret stretched, a breathless smile formed on her lips when her hand came into contact with her husband's body. Turning into the cradle of his arms, she snuggled against his bare chest. A soft rumble echoed from his throat as she leaned up to press her lips to his own.
"What are you thinking?" He asked softly, carding his fingers through her short hair.
Her smile widened. "That it's good to be back." She answered honestly, unwilling to allow the emotion to choke her. She'd shed enough tears the night before, both alone and with her husband, to last her a lifetime.
David hiked up a brow, taking on a flirtatious demeanor. "Yeah?" His grip tightened pointedly. "And what are you really thinking?"
She returned the grin shamelessly. "Twenty-eight years is too long to wait between- "
Both started when the door across the room opened. Henry careened into the loft, Emma just behind him. Lillian brought up the rear, and Mary Margaret relaxed at the sight of the teen. While she was paler than normal, and there were pale lavender crescents underneath her dull eyes, she wasn't at death's door any longer.
"Hey! Guess what?" Henry enthused, carrying a bag in both hand. He headed toward Mary Margaret's bedroom, unaware of the state of undress his grandparents were in. "Taco shells were on sale."
Behind him, unable to see her parents clearly, Emma drawled, "Apparently, tacos? Not a big item in the Enchanted- "
While all three of them paused, only Emma looked horrified at the sight. Henry looked curious, still too young to understand what was happening. Lillian colored rapidly and proceeded to flee to the kitchen area to hide her laughter in the fridge.
"What are you guys still doing in bed?" Henry asked, unable to understand the sudden tension in the air. "It's the middle of the afternoon." He reminded them, as if they didn't know.
Grasping at straws, Mary Margaret stuttered. " The trip back was tiring, and I needed to rest." She winced at the disbelieving look Emma threw her.
"And I needed to… help her rest." David added as his wide-eyed daughter began to herd her son toward the kitchen.
"Uh, let's… let's go make the tacos." She managed, whiter than a sheet, looking mortified. "We have to make a lot, because there's going to be a ton of people at Granny's welcome back party tonight." She planted a hand between Henry's shoulders blades after handing him her bags and pushed him toward the kitchen. "Why don't you and Lillian get started?"
As Henry went off to persuade Lillian into actually helping them cook, Mary Margaret lowered the bed covers from her scarlet cheeks. "We thought you were going to be back later!" She hissed in a whisper.
Horrified, Emma whispered back in a shrill voice. "Yeah, well, we weren't. So maybe next time, you could put a tie on the door, or send a text, or… you know what?" She said suddenly, stumbling over her words. "I'm… I'm… going to go make some tacos."
The blonde turned on her heel and stormed into the kitchen after her son. As she entered the kitchenette, Lillian looked up. Amusement danced in her eyes when they saw Emma's scarred expression. Turning back to the tomatoes Henry had forced upon her, Lillian waved a hand in the general direction of Mary Margaret's room.
Still in bed, the couple watched, equally amused, as the open curtains that shielded the bed from the rest of the loft snapped shut. David couldn't stop the chuckle that formed in his chest.
"It's impressive that we can still provide her with a few traumatic childhood memories at this stage of the game." He noted, continuing to laugh when Mary Margaret sent him a scandalized look.
Enchanted Forest
Regina watched- stone-eyed and still, as King George's kingdom burned beneath her. Though she heard the approaching hoof beats, she didn't look away from the defeat of her only ally. Without George, as she knew no other kingdom would willingly ally with her, all was lost.
"My Queen," the head of the group of knights said as they approached. "We've received word," he swallowed, clearly unwilling to be the bearer of such bad news. "Snow White and the Prince have defeated King George. His army has fallen. The kingdom is theirs."
"And what of George?"
"His fate is unknown." Their Queen still gazed down at the fires below the hill. "But, without his forces, we are now alone. We cannot defeat them."
Her head snapped around. "Do not tell me what we can or can't do." She snarled. "Where is Snow White now?"
"Alone, on her way back to meet the Prince."
The grin she wore in response to his words was chilling. "Excellent." She hissed, tugging the reins to turn her horse away from the carnage. "I don't care how many men you lose – keep them apart long enough for me to find her." She ordered. "I will not let them defeat me."
Racing side by side in the woods, Lilith cursed when Snow proceeded to trip over a rock on the ground. Behind them, the thunderous canter of hoof beats grew closer until Regina appeared through a copse of trees. The sorceress immediately placed herself between the queen and the princess, red eyes glowing in the dim light. Regina repressed a shiver at the sight.
"Leaving the battle so soon?" She called, slowing her horse to a stop.
Snow wearily stood. "The battle's over, Regina," she replied, refusing to rise to her step-mother's taunting. "Our army is too great. You can't win."
Regina swung down from her horse. "Well, that all depends on your definition of victory."
As if she hadn't heard her words, Snow continued, "I offer you parley – to negotiate the terms of your surrender."
"My surrender?" Regina laughed out, warily approaching. She'd yet to meet the Dark Lilith in open combat, though had seen enough outcomes of the few battles the young woman had participated in to be leery of the girl. "Fair enough. My terms are quite simple… your death." She moved quickly, raising one hand to blast Lilith away, the other to plunge into Snow White's chest.
"Now!"
Before Regina could do either, the Blue Fairy and Charming arrived. Blue threw a blast of fairy dust at the queen, immobilizing her mid-step. Eyes wide, the dark-haired woman looked between the four as they surrounded her.
"It was all a trap."
Snow White eyed her sadly. "You should've surrendered when I gave you the chance."
Prince Charming came to stand beside his beloved. "We knew you couldn't resist going after Snow." He told her, his voice infuriatingly calm. "And now, because of your bloodlust, the kingdom is ours. Your reign of evil is over."
Storybrooke
Granny's diner was filled to the brim when the Charmings and Lillian arrived. The moment the three previously missing women entered, the room erupted into cheers. Ruby broke away from the crowd first, catching both Mary Margaret and Lillian around the neck and yanking them into a hug.
"I wasn't worried a bit," the werewolf brushed off airily as she ended the vice-like hug, dashing away tears in her eyes.
Lillian let out a faint, trembling scoff. "Oh, we can tell."
Archie, to everyone's surprise, swept the teen into a hug next. "Oh, we all missed you." He enthused as Lillian, unable to formulate a response, patted his back.
Across the diner, Emma approached Granny by the table of food. She handed off the tacos, grinning. "Tacos. I cannot tell you the relief of cooking something that I didn't have to kill first."
Granny snorted, smirking herself. "Don't I know it. Meat loaf back home?" She took the tray from Emma. "What a bitch."
After everyone had a drink in hand, with Henry pouting at his root beer, David managed to silence the crowd long enough for him to say a few words. "I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight." Arm wrapped around his wife, David grinned down at her. "Mary Margaret and I – we have a saying… that we will always find each other." He glanced at Lillian, who despite looking drained, managed a smile in return, her arms around Henry, chin on the top of his head. "And, while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say… here's to not having to look for a while." Laughter greeted his words and everyone raised their glasses. "To Mary Margaret, Lillian and Emma!"
As everyone toasted to the three women, the door opened. All eyes turned to see Regina, a casserole dish in hand, in the doorway.
"Sorry I'm late." To her credit, she refused to flinch underneath the weight of the stares all aimed at her.
"What is she doing here?!" Leroy demanded, grabbing hold of a knife on the table and holding it up threateningly.
Before he could attempt to use the blade, Lillian twisted her hand. The knife vanished from Leroy's grip in a swirl of black smoke, reappearing in Lillian's hand. She glowered at the startled Dwarf.
"Play. Nice." She warned flatly.
Emma stepped toward the uncomfortable mayor. "I invited her." She defended, not surprised when her parents dragged her toward a corner. Before they could launch into a tirade, she spoke up. "We're celebrating today because of Regina. She helped us get home." Emma looked between her parents, more surprised at her father than her mother. Henry had told her all about David and Regina's 'co-parenting' while she'd been gone. "No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now."
"Didn't you think to tell us about it?" Mary Margaret asked shrilly.
Emma positively glowered. "I did, but you two were a little busy this afternoon."
"Emma, she tried to kill us – yesterday!"
"No, she didn't." The blonde snapped, fed up. "She's trying to change for Henry. He believes in her, so does Lillian," she added. Both David and Mary Margaret turned to look at the buffet table, where Henry sat between Regina and Lillian. Both women were in deep conversation, with Henry beaming at them. "And, right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so… she gets one, too."
With that, Emma stormed off to rejoin the party. Sighing, Mary Margaret forced herself to smile when inquisitive eyes turned her way. Wrapping his arm once more around her shoulders, David gently steered her back into the fray.
"I'm glad you came." Henry said suddenly as Regina cut the lasagna into slices. Both his mother and sister had been discussing the Enchanted Forest post-curse before he'd spoken.
Regina flashed him a warm smile. "Me, too."
As the line for the food progressed, Regina, remembering herself, offered her lasagna to the nearest person in line. "Oh, I made a lasagna," she offered, undaunted by the fearsome scowl Leroy shot her.
"What's the secret ingredient? Poison?"
Without missing a beat, Regina replied, "Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick."
Sniffing the lasagna suspiciously, but still taking it, Leroy continued down the line. Lillian rolled her eyes at how everyone watched and waited after he'd taken his first bite before they too ate the pasta dish. While she wasn't a huge fan of Regina's lasagna, Lillian took it and ate some, well aware that it would help the older woman's cause.
Hours later, seated in a booth with David and Mary Margaret, the former turned toward Lillian as his wife got up to speak with Granny and Ruby. David eyed her, grateful beyond belief that she'd survived the poisoning.
"Hey," he reached out to touch her clenched fists. She jolted at the touch, wide eyes flying to meet his sheepishly. "You okay?" Worry filled him when she merely nodded mutely. "You know, you can tell me anything, right?"
Smiling sadly now, Lillian nodded. It went without saying that, while she appreciated his offer, she'd probably never take him up on it. Lillian had, after all the time they'd spent together, remained a mystery. While he'd been closer to her than anyone before the Curse, she'd kept him firmly at arm's length. He knew from Snow that she'd had a lover in the realm she'd been summoned from, and the guilt from tearing her away from happiness had never left him.
Twisting her hand to grip his fingers in return, Lillian caught sight of Regina slipping out the door. Frowning now, the expression catching David's eye, both watched as Emma followed the dark-haired woman out.
"Think I should run damage control? Emma's likely to say something stupid," Lillian observed with a faint, amused smile. She felt the spike of annoyance from David, though he just as quickly smothered it.
David's nose wrinkled at the comment about his daughter's lack of tact but said nothing about it. "If Emma gets thrown through a window, I give you free reign." He grinned when Lillian snorted into her wine.
Outside of the diner, arms crossed to ward off the chill, Emma awkwardly called out to her son's other mother. "Archie made a cake," she tried lamely. "You don't want to stay for a piece?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Regina forced a strained smile.
"Okay." Unsure what to do, Emma turned to go back inside.
"Thank you." Regina called suddenly.
Emma twisted her head around, body turned toward the door. "You just said that."
"F-for inviting me," the other woman amended, looking horribly uncomfortable.
"Henry wanted it,"the blonde admitted with a shrug. "I'm glad you guys got to spend some time together."
Regina flinched at the casual reminder that she no longer had any 'rights' to her son. "Me, too. I'd like to see him more," she tried, knowing it was a long shot. Maybe you'd consider letting him stay over some time. I… I have his room just… just waiting for him."
"Oh… I'm… I'm not sure that's best." Emma swallowed, unwilling to provoke the volatile woman.
Regina held back the urge to sneer. "Because you know so much about parenting in the five minutes you've been with him?" She eyed Emma coolly. "Talk to David," she advised. "Or Lillian. At least David took care of him while you were away. Like Lillian and I did, during the ten years you were away the first time."
"Okay." Emma muttered. "Thanks for coming." She turned on her heel once more, only for Regina to stop her again.
"No, wait." Regina swallowed past the lump in her throat, forcing the words out. "I'm sorry. I… I'm… I'm sorry. Snapping at you – I shouldn't have done that." Her expression was tight with pain. "Will you accept my apology?"
Emma eyed her before she relented. "Okay, you're right." She admitted quietly. "Archie said you were trying to change. And, well, you are."
Regina went still. "Dr. Hopper said I was trying?" She asked.
"He said you came to see him - that you're trying not to use magic, that you're trying to be a better person." Emma said, barely aware of the thunderous expression on Regina's face. "You understand, I was hesitant to invite you. I asked him, and he thought it was a good idea."
When Emma felt brave enough to meet Regina's gaze, all emotion had been wiped from the mayor's face. "Thank you." She said again, "It was." She turned on her heel. "I should be going."
Across the street on a nearby rooftop, Hook watched the scene unfold through a telescope. "Well," he drawled, lowering the scope and addressing the woman at his side. "Is she broken?"
Cora shook her head, watching her dejected daughter stalk down the street.
"Not yet."
Lillian settled on her bed at the Inn, head spinning pleasantly. Ruby had managed to convince her to help finish off a wine bottle. Thankful that she didn't have to walk Henry home or pick him up in the morning - Emma was adamant that she get to spend time with Henry, and Lillian was too tipsy to care just then - she fell back onto the bed.
Moments before sleep fully took hold of her, awareness prickled down her spine. Blearily, she opened her eyes and nearly jolted off the bed in surprise. Barely managing to hold back her cry of shock, Lillian straightened to meet the yellow stare of the Shadow as it hovered in her room.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" She hissed as quietly as she could. "If somebody sees you -"
"You mean if Rumple sees me."
Her mouth snapped shut and the blood drained from her face. "Has he?" She forced out, unable to form a coherent reply. "Has -" Her words died off as, before her very eyes, the Shadow began to solidify.
Lillian watched, hand pressed to her mouth, as Peter's features overtook the Shadow's. When his boots had touched the ground, he crossed the distance between them in two long-legged strides. Lillian released a shuddering sob, face pressed into the familiar jut of his collarbone. Peter hushed her gently, all too aware that he had limited time. His eyes slid shut to stave off the hot tears that threatened to break free.
While this little trick used more of the Shadow's magic than his own, it would dangerously drain him if her stayed longer than a few minutes at the most. He cupped her face, skin stark-white against her hair, and drank her in. She was pale - too pale, in his mind - and there were faint lavender half-circles beneath her too glazed over eyes.
He grinned. "You're drunk, love."
She didn't even deny it. Merely pressed her face back against the naked expanse of skin his tunic left and nuzzled against his neck. His breath caught, and he felt her wicked smirk as she pressed a gentle kiss to his collarbone. Gently tugging her back - he hadn't come for that kind of visit, much as he'd love to - Peter met her eyes once more.
The teasing in his emerald depths vanished as his hand ghosted over her rib cage. Lillian abruptly sobered and regarded him warily. His fingers lightly slipped beneath her loose shirt, rubbing over the lightly raised skin where, not even twenty-four hours before, there had been an opened, poisoned gash along her flesh.
"He poisoned you," Peter breathed hotly, stirring her loose curls. "I'll kill him."
"Peter -"
"Or, I'll just have dear old Rumple do it for me." He waited, not surprised when it took her less than a heartbeat to catch on. "Oh, that's right, love. Killian's here. In Storybrooke."
Horror filled her. "Cora?" At his nod, her features whitened so rapidly he feared she'd faint.
Carefully, he swung her into his arms and placed her on the bed. As her breathing calmed, he made to stand, only for her hand to hold fast on his arm. "Stay," she whispered, able to sense that his magic was waning.
Without a word of protest, he slipped into the bed with her. Carefully, he rocked her in his arms, straining to hold onto the spell until her breathing evened out. Only when he was sure she was asleep, did he allow the spell to end. Pressing a last gentle kiss to her parted lips, he pulled back and tensed. The magical backlash hit him violently, tearing both him and the Shadow away from Lily and back to Neverland.
Despite the violence of the act, Lillian slept through it all.
Nodding in greeting as he passed by a couple, Archie's steps quickened when he saw Regina by herself. Pongo whined eagerly, happy to see anyone that he knew and strained at the leash. Having been coming to him at least once a week since the Curse had broken, Regina had become a staple in Pongo's life.
Smiling widely, Archie said brightly, "Beautiful day, isn't it, Regina?"
"Why should I answer you, bug?" She demanded, pleased to see that her scorn took him aback.
"Because I'm making friendly conversation." He tried, shrugging.
"That you'll just repeat to anyone with an ear," she snarled in reply. "You told Miss Swan about our sessions."
Clearly taken aback by her words and demeanor, Archie sputtered for several seconds. "I was simply trying to help you." He said finally, not defensive or sorry, to her annoyance.
"By betraying my trust?"
Archie visibly wilted beneath her harsh words. "I… I mentioned only that you had come to see me, as an example of your commitment to change."
Regina took a threatening step closer. "I came to you in confidence," she hissed, unable to hide the betrayal she felt at his actions. "How am I supposed to prove to people I've changed, when you're there to chirp in their ears and remind them of my past?"
"I said nothing specific," he tried to placate, aware of what could happen if she became distraught enough. "I would never betray the doctor-patient confidentiality."
His words only served to incense her further. "Doctor? Doctor?!" She demanded, so loudly that, several feet away, she caught the attention of Ruby as she jogged through the docks. "Need I remind you got your PhD from a curse?"
"Hey!" Ruby yelled, jogging up to stand before them. "Is everything okay here?" She leaned toward Archie defensively, as if she expected Regina to spring.
The mayor didn't even spare her a glance. "Private conversation," she said lowly. "Go take yourself for a walk."
Ruby stood her ground, though relented when Archie touched her shoulder. Eyes narrowing at his pleading look, Ruby left with a jerky nod. A last dark look thrown at Regina, who glowered in response, Ruby turned and continued her run.
"I can be trusted." Archie said. "I assure you."
Regina glowered darkly at him. "You're lucky I've changed." She spat out before turning on her heel and storming off.
Enchanted Forest
Seated on Snow White's council, Lilith fought the urge to yawn. She'd spent a sleepless night cavorting through the surrounding forests, taunted by phantom images of Peter and the Shadow until she felt she'd go mad. Beside her, Granny, knitting away as usual, placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. Forcing herself to smile at the older woman, though it was strained at best, Lilith turned her attention to the cricket as it chirped away in the center of the grand oak table.
"I fear the Queen will never change." Jiminy pronounced, something that surprised all at the table. "We must dispense justice."
Prince Charming nodded in agreement before the cricket had ceased. "Agreed. What are our options?"
Grumpy spoke up first, scowling. "How about giving me five minutes alone with her and my axe?" He glanced nervously at Blue and Lilith. "…she's still restrained, right?"
The Blue Fairy nodded and spoke before Lilith could open her mouth. "Yes," the glittering fairy admitted. "But the magic that we used to capture her, will only keep her powerless for a short while."
Granny looked up from her knitting needles. "How about banishing her to another realm?"
Jiminy's wings fluttered in exasperation. "We can't." He admonished them for even giving that idea a thought. "It would be unconscionable to condemn another realm to the suffering that we've endured."
Red, on the other side of Granny, nodded. "Jiminy's right," though she looked none too pleased at the truth. "She's our problem, and we have to deal with her."
"We cannot keep her contained forever," Lilith said from beneath the shadow of her cloak. "To prolong her exposure to the magic of the fairies will do irreparable harm to her - as it would to any who have studied under the dark magics of the realm."
As if her words solidified his decision, Charming nodded. "Then only one thing is certain – as long as the Queen lives, the kingdom is in danger."
Snow White stared up at him, her eyes wide. "Are you saying…." She trailed off, unable to finish.
"Yes," he nodded brusquely. "We must kill the Queen." Sensing his wife wanted to speak privately with him, he nodded at each of them in turn. "Thank you all."
All stood and exited, with Lilith bringing up the rear. She sent both the prince and princess an unreadable look, eyes flashing red, before she departed. Neither needed to be told that the young sorceress agreed with their decision; she had advocated murdering Regina, either on the field or by other mean, since her arrival into their ranks.
"You sure this is what we must do?" Snow dared to ask, barely able to look at her husband.
Charming stared down at her, expression gentling somewhat. "What choice do we have?" He asked her. "As long as she draws breath, she will come after us – after you."
"There's always a choice." Her head snapped up, a challenge in the depths of her eyes. "You stopped me from killing her once, took an arrow to save her. Why is this different?"
"I took that arrow to save your life, not hers. That was an assassination - this is an execution." He reminded her, voice gentle but unyielding. He wouldn't back down from this, not after what they'd been through. "If we don't stop her now, there's no telling what she'll live to do."
Storybrooke
As she folded up the sign outside the diner, Ruby glanced up when she caught movement in the corner of her eye. She watched, mildly confused, as Regina entered the front door of Archie's office. Shrugging as the door snapped shut behind the woman closing the stairs, Ruby returned to closing down the diner.
Regina rapped smartly on the door, uncertain when Archie answered. "I know it's late, but I was hoping we can talk."
Archie's eyes were wide, but he smiled invitingly all the same. "Sure." He moved back for her to enter. "Come on in."
As Regina walked into the room, Pongo began to bark and growl lowly at the sight of her. Frowning, Archie sent the agitated dog a quiet rebuke. "Hush, Pongo," he chided, heading to his filing cabinet for Regina's file. "You know Regina." As he pulled out the drawer, he began to speak. "I know how hard it is. Real change can often be a… a struggle."
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end moments before Regina's voice, closer than before, met his ears. "I couldn't agree more."
Discomfited now, Archie turned, file in hand, to see Regina directly behind him. "Regina, is there something -" His words were cut off when Regina's hand snapped out and grabbed him by the throat.
As she lifted Archie off the ground, Pongo jumped up from his bed and began to bark, advancing on the woman. Without looking away from her victim, Regina flicked a hand at the dog, freezing and silencing him for the time being. Archie's hands began to futilely pry at death-grip around his neck moments before a cloud of purple smoke began to flow from Regina's hand to cover him.
Her business completed for the night, Regina calmly exited the building, making sure to leave the door at the top of the stairs ajar for the dog in the morning. As she rounded the side of the building, out of sight of any nighttime stragglers, she allowed the glamour to fall. Smiling to herself, Cora stalked down the alleyway, knowing that her daughter would come to her very soon.
"So, what was it like?" Henry asked the moment their plates were set down before them. "Over there?" While he'd expected to have both Emma and Lillian there to help walk him to school, he could settle for his non-magical mom for now. He'd interrogate his very magical sister after school, as she was sure to pick him up.
Emma chewed thoughtfully. "Well, let's see," she began after swallowing. "There were ogres, the dead rising, people trying to kill me," she listed, amused at the delight that spread across her son's features. "And… more ogres."
Henry beamed at her. "Awesome."
"Kid, we got to work on your sense of awesome." Emma deadpanned, catching sight of the clock. "Come on, it's time for school." She rose, urging him to follow. "I'll walk you to the school bus." She wasn't sure to be grateful or guilty that Lillian had yet to show up.
"It's okay." He hiked his book bag up higher on his shoulders. "I can go on my own."
"I know that you can," Emma returned evenly. Her eyes threatened to prick with tears once more at the thought that, had things gone south just two days previously, she might not have been here at all. "That doesn't mean that you should."
"David let me."
"Well, I'm not David."
Henry's brow rose dangerously close to his hairline. "You used to let me."
Emma blinked several times. "Well, I am not me." She answered quickly enough that a grin quirked his lips up. "I'm walking you, because that's what mothers do."
"So do sisters," a dry, weary voice added.
Emma looked up in time to see Lillian in the doorway to the Inn before Henry was on the poor girl. While still mildly weak from the poisoning, Lillian managed to hold them both upright despite the force of Henry's embrace. Wrapping her arms so tightly around him they shook, she dropped a kiss to the top of his head.
"I missed you, sis," he whispered against the wool of her coat.
Her arms tightened in response. "I missed you too," she glanced up to meet Emma's fairly amused, somewhat annoyed gaze and shrugged easily. While the blonde would have preferred that Lillian had stayed away for the morning at least, as she'd asked the night before, it was clear that Henry was over the moon to see the younger woman.
Sighing, Emma allowed a smile to form on her lips. "C'mon you two, we gotta get you to school, Henry."
Dragging Lillian by the hand, Henry happily settled between the two of them. As the exited the diner, Henry rapidly asking Lillian questions, all of them jumped when frantic barking approached them. Pongo, minus Archie, raced toward them from the shrink's office.
"Hey, Pongo!" Henry immediately fell to his knees at the sight of the dalmatian, reaching out to calm the obviously distressed animal. "It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay."
Lillian bent down to rub a hand along the trembling dog's head. "Hey, boy," she whispered gently before looking up at Emma. "Why isn't he with Archie?"
The door to the diner slammed open, cutting off any reply Emma might have made. All three eyes turned to see Ruby, almost as upset as Pongo, race toward them.
She knelt level with Pongo and cupped his face in her hands. "Emma, something's wrong." She listened intently to the whimpers the dog made.
"How do you know?" Emma asked, quickly shaking her head. "Never mind - The wolf thing." She looked at Henry, who had risen from his crouch and grasped Lillian's hand tightly. "You know what? Eleven is old enough to walk to the bus stop."
Henry shrugged, sending Pongo a last worried look. "Okay."
"I could -" Lillian began, only for Emma to shake her head.
"No, you should come with me." She sent a pointed glance at the teen's hands. "I might need some backup."
Resigned, Lillian nodded and gently shooed Henry. "Go. We'll pick you up after school."
As Henry turned to head to the bus stop, Pongo went off like a shot. Ruby chased after him, Emma and Lillian on her heels, as the dog led them toward Archie's office. As the ran up the stairs, Lillian's blood ran cold at the sight of the office door ajar, allowing Pongo to slip through into the office.
"Emma, watch it." Lillian called in warning. "There's a lot of dark magic in that room."
"Archie?" Emma called as she lightly brushed the door out of the way. Entering the room, her repeat of his name choked on her lips. "Archie -." She went still at the sight of the red-haired man face down on the floor. "Oh, hell."
"What?" Ruby demanded as she and Lillian came into the room, unaware of how the other woman stiffened beside her. "What is it?"
"Archie…," Emma knelt beside him, fingers searching for a pulse on his neck and finding nothing.
"No… no…." Ruby whimpered, reaching out and clutching tightly at Lillian's arm.
Emma glanced up at the, not too surprised when she saw Lillian's eyes flicker between red and blue. "Who would do this?"
Sudden realization, horrible and sickening, washed over Ruby and her knees threatened to buckle at the thought. Mindful of the sharp stare Lillian threw at her, she swallowed and answered shakily.
"I think I know."
Enchanted Forest
It took every ounce of willpower she had not to dissolve into tears. Below, down in the courtyard, she could hear the sounds of the people, could see them all gathering like flies for her execution. Lost in her despair, she didn't hear the door to the tower open until the guard spoke.
"You have a visitor." He said flatly, voice hoarse from disuse. He left swiftly, though she doubted he'd gone farther than the other side of the door, leaving her alone with the white-haired, well dressed visitor.
"Daddy." Regina rushed to the bars, reaching out to her father.
Henry took her hands in his, frowning at the tremble in them. "This is all my fault," he whispered, making her brwo crease. "I failed you as a father. I should have done more to protect you." He didn't say from who. He didn't need to, really. They both knew he'd always blamed himself for the way her mother had treated her. "Could you ever forgive me, child?"
"There's no need." Regina forced a smile past the tears his words caused. "How could I blame the one I love most? The only one to stand by me… to the end."
He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "It doesn't have to be the end."
"Snow and her Prince seem rather determined to make it so." Regina pointed out, a touch dryly.
Henry shook his head. "Show them regret for what you've done, the pain you've caused." He encouraged her, firmly yet gently. "Show them you can change. They will spare you." His eyes misted over, and the sight made her choke back her own tears. "Just give them a reason. I beg of you."
Storybrooke
Despite her obvious annoyance at being called down to the station, Regina came quietly. While she raised a brow imperiously when asked to enter the interrogation room, she did so quietly. Emma watched the woman from behind the glass, quietly observing her features for any signs of guilt. However, while her features were pinched in slight irritation, the dark-haired woman was sitting calmly in her seat.
Nodding at her father, Emma lead the way into the room, looking back only to check that Lillian understood her role. "You got this?" The teen merely waved her hand in response, eyes fixed on Regina. Fortifying herself with a deep inhale, Emma entered the room, David at her heels.
"Glad to see the Sheriff's station's now a family business." Regina intoned impassively, a finely plucked brow raised in question. "Why am I here?"
Emma watched her closely. "You know why you're here." She told her. "Because of Archie."
"Oh, it's now against the law to get into an argument with someone?" Regina asked incredulously.
David jumped in, teeth bared in the beginnings of a snarl. "It is if you go to their office later that night and kill them."
All the blood drained from her face. "Archie's dead?" Regina whispered, lips half-parted in surprise. On the other side of the glass, Lillian silently raised a brow, though refrained from commenting. Instead, she watched as David began to relentless attack the genuinely bewildered woman.
"Stop it, Regina." He snapped. "Ruby saw you going into his office last night."
Regina remained outwardly unruffled by the rancor in his words. "Then she's lying." She denied flatly. "I was home all evening." Her eyes cut to Emma, who was watching, mouth pressed in a thin line. "After everything I've done to change, to win Henry back, why would I toss it all away now? And, if I did and I was going to kill Archie, you would never know it." She scoffed. "The fact that he's dead and you caught me shows sloppiness."
David' eyes blazed with fury at Regina's flippant behavior. "You've been caught before," he reminded her flatly. He turned to his daughter, who had yet to say a word. "Come on, Emma. Who do you think's lying – Ruby, or her?" He threw said 'her' a scathing glare that she returned coolly. "She's incapable of change, no matter how many times we've given her the chance. Why should this time be any different?"
Enchanted Forest
Seated underneath a canopy of state, Snow watched, Charming at her side, as Regina was led into the courtyard. Stripped of her finery and magic, dressed in a plain homespun gown that wouldn't have looked out of place on a farmer's wife, she looked… younger. More like the innocent, brave woman who had saved Snow all those years ago. The two guards escorted her to the center of the courtyard, where a pole awaited her. Chained to the pole, the former queen of the land stared out into the unforgiving faces, pale-faced and dry-eyed.
Lilith shifted from her spot just beside Red, uneasy. Rumple was there, hooded and cloaked, watching so intently it made his assistant's skin prickle. The sorceress idlyl wondered if the Dark One would stop the execution, so Regina might live and go on to cast his Curse. While she could and would have done it just thirty years previously, Lilith refused to even consider the idea now. Her humanity was both a gift and a curse, and while the tales told that she was ruthless, even she didn't think herself capable of murdering the one she loved above all others. Her attention shifted from scanning the crowd to the center of the courtyard as Jiminy flew up to speak to the doomed woman.
"Regina," the insect chirped quietly, keeping the words between them unless she wished otherwise. "This is your opportunity to meet your end with a clear conscience. Do you have any last words?"
Resolutely, she began to nod. "Yes, yes I do." Her voice rose in the deathly silent yard. "I know I'm being judged for my past. A past where I've caused pain, a past where I've inflicted misery, a past where I've… even brought death." Snow chanced a glance at Lilith, knowing the younger woman, whether she wanted to or not, was sensing the emotions coming off her step-mother. However, Lilith's expression was blank. "When I look back at everything I've done, I want you all to know what I feel. And that is… regret." All seemed to hold their breath at Regina's words, all but Lilith. "Regret, that I was not able to cause more pain." Regina finished with a feral snarl as the crowd reacted with shocked gasps and murmurs. "Inflict more misery, and bring about more death." Slowly, Regina tuned her head toward Snow, who sat, stricken and pale. "And above all else, with every ounce of my being, I regret that I was not able to kill… Snow White!"
Charming leapt to his feet. "Arrows!" He commanded shortly, never taking his eyes off the Evil Queen's face as a guard blindfolded her. "Take your aim!" The awaiting guards drew their weapons and notched the arrows. "Fire!"
Lilith watched, eyes alight with interest as the guards loosed their arrows. Lost in the crowd, Rumple eagerly waited, banking on the However, moments after the arrows were released, Snow sprang up from her seat.
"STOP!"
At the princess command, Blue sprang into action and froze the arrows, allowing them to clatter harmlessly to the ground. Rolling her eyes inwardly, Lilith watched and waited to see what the soft-hearted princess would do.
"Snow!"
She ignored the reproach in her prince's voice. "This is not the way."
His voice softened. "Snow…." He watched, mouth agape, as Snow turned and stormed out of the courtyard, the crowd parting in her wake. Holding back the snarl that threatened to well inside him, he barked an order at the guards before he too stormed out, chasing after his wife. "Take her back to her cell!"
Eyes wide, Regina looked around, lost as the blindfold was removed. Once the reality of the situation settled, her eyes widened further and a deranged grin crossed her face as the guards escorted her back to her cell.
Storybrooke
"Lillian?" Emma asked the moment the door snapped shut behind her and David. "What do ya got?"
The brunette was staring thoughtfully through the glass at Regina. Arms crossed tightly, she silently ran over the implications of the older woman's emotions in her mind. When Emma repeated her name several more times, Lillian's eyes snapped from Regina's pained expression to Emma's impatient one.
"What?" She snapped testily.
"Is she telling the truth?" Emma demanded.
Lillian nodded without hesitation. "Yes." She answered honestly.
To no one's surprise, David didn't believe her. "We still have to lock her up."
Emma brow knitted as the teen fumed at David. "What - why?"
"Do you really believe her?" Mary Margaret asked instead of answering. "And are you sure you got a good read on her, Lillian? You did say you were rusty -"
"My empathy is an innate gift," the younger woman said indignantly, offended at the very suggestion. Even before she had truly earned about her gift, she'd always been sensitive to the emotions of others, far more than anyone untrained in the way of the gift had a right to be. "I didn't learn how to do it - I was born with it. And I'm never wrong." She added, throwing David and Mary Margaret a dark look while she was at it.
"I watched her when we told her Archie was dead." Emma jumped in, unwilling to allow a fight to break out. "She didn't know."
"Emma," Mary Margaret began gently, ignoring the disbelieving look her daughter sent her. "I know that you want to believe that Regina can change for Henry, but- "
"I know what I saw." Emma blindly threw a hand back toward the window where Regina sat, annoyed and insulted, but quietly. "Look at her in there. The old Regina would've reduced this building to ashes."
"She also probably would have laid a curse upon our houses for daring to order her around," Lillian pointed out with a faint smirk.
Emma tossed her a dirty look that was ruined by the twitching of her lips. "That's a woman who wants to change," she continued to say to her uncertain parents. "She just wants everyone else to see it. I know that look. I know her. I believe her.
"With all due respect, you don't know her like we do." David said, ignoring the way Lillian bristled yet again when he included her in the sweeping gesture of his arm.
Emma shook her head. "Maybe that's the problem." She said quietly, glancing back toward the woman seated in the interrogation room. "I know in your kingdom, she was the Evil Queen. But here, she's Regina." Her voice hardened in the face of her parents' obvious displeasure. "And I'm still the Sheriff, and I say she's innocent until proven guilty."
"So… uh, what do you suggest we do?" Mary Margaret asked, leery of the idea her daughter would respond with.
"Let her go."
David erupted. "Emma, sh- "
Emma, however, wasn't having it. "We let her go," she repeated sternly, unafraid in the face of her father's exasperation. "And then we find the truth."
Enchanted Forest
"Snow, I thought we agreed what had to be done." Charming called as he stalked after Snow through the hallways of the palace. "Instead, you show the Queen mercy?" He reached out and gently hooked an arm around her elbow to reel her toward him. She came, scowling unhappily. "She doesn't deserve it. You heard her: she's completely unrepentant."
"What I heard, was a woman who didn't want to appear weak in her final moments." Snow shot back.
"I've seen her kill, I've seen her terrorize." He pointed out sharply. "Every moment I've seen of her, has been one of evil."
"Exactly." She retorted. "That you've seen. But I knew her before," she reminded him. While she talked little of her past with others, Charming knew everything there was to know. "I knew her when she was good. She saved my life when I was a little girl."
"That was years ago."
"She changed before. Why can't she change back?"
"You can't be serious." He groaned at the stubborn set of her mouth. "You want to rehabilitate the Queen?"
Snow nodded. "Maybe showing her mercy is the first step."
"But, if you fail, the entire safety of the kingdom is at stake," he pointed out, far more gently this time. "We cannot take that risk."
"You're so sure of her black soul? Sure enough to kill?" She asked, causing him to pause uncertainly. "Because there's no going back from killing."
He regarded her for several heartbeats, long enough that she became convinced he refused to even give her idea any thought. However, with a deep sigh, he began to nod. "If you think this is the right thing to do, then it's what we shall do." He told her, looking none too happy about it. "But know that your path is one that we cannot come back from either."
Hours later found Snow in the courtyard. As she gazed toward the pole where Regina had been chained, with Snow prepared and ready to kill her if it protected the kingdom from her terror. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the Dark One until he spoke.
"My, my," he tutted in false sympathy, smiling when she jolted. "Aren't we troubled, dearie?"
"Rumpelstiltskin." Snow sighed, willing her heartbeat to slow. She was in no mood to deal with the mercurial sorcerer. "What brings you hear?"
He giggled obnoxiously. "You have to ask?" He teased. "I came to witness the Queen's execution," he strode past her, all too aware of Lilith's presence, hidden in the shadows. It seems my young assistant takes her duties seriously. "Even had my heart set on wee souvenir. It's all very disappointing."
Snow White, predictably, bristled at the hint of chastisement that ran beneath his trilling words. "I won't apologize for sparing her life." She refused. "Not when there's a chance she might change."
Rumpelstiltskin giggled again, delighting in the affronted expression she wore. "Regina redeemed – what a novel thought." He giggled and began to circle her. "And, um… how do you plan to accomplish such an impressive feat?"
"I don't even know if it's possible." Snow white admitted, rapidly losing all her previous bravado. "I'm probably just fooling myself."
"Maybe you need someone to show you that it is possible."
"What do you mean?"
Rumpelstiltskin smiled thinly. "Simple. I provide you with a test to help determine whether the Queen can truly change."
"Why would I trust you, when I know you want the Queen dead?" Snow demanded, suddenly wishing that Lilith was there. The young sorceress, from what she'd seen, was the only one capable of going toe to toe with her former teacher. "You never make a deal without a price."
Rumpelstiltskin's smile twisted into something darker. "Maybe I just want her alive." He demurred quietly, expression widening when Snow scoffed.
"That I doubt."
"Question my motives all you like, dearie, but they shall remain mine." He said, more amused by her doubt than anything else. "What is yours now, is opportunity. I can help you." Snow watched him, unable to gather the will to refuse and storm away. "Do we have a deal?"
Storybrooke
Lillian, arms crossed, plopped down on the coach and refused to move. Rolling her eyes at the teen, Emma ignored her and began to look around Archie's office for evidence. Mary Margaret, after throwing Lillian several meaningful looks, quickly gave up and joined her daughter.
David, however, refused to do nothing about the young woman's sullen silence. Sighing, he seated himself on the arm of the sofa beside her. "Lillian," he began gently, undeterred by the annoyed hiss she let out between her teeth. "Why are you so sure about this?"
"Because I'm never wrong, David." She snapped lowly, unwilling to allow the others to hear. As close as she'd become to Mary Margaret, she didn't really like or trust Emma. She doubted she ever would. "You know about my brother," his eyes darkened at the reminder. She'd confided in him once, after she'd awoken him, screaming in terror from a nightmare. "I… even then, I could feel it. How he felt about me, when I was two years old." She felt raw, all of a sudden. Peter's brief visit, and he'd been real this time, she knew, had stripped away any defenses she'd managed to erect after the last time.
David raised a hand to brush an errant curl from her agonized features. As he quietly comforted her, Emma watched from across the office. Something she still refused to give name to, gnawed at her heart and made her eyes sting. Forcing herself to look away, she returned her focus to the filing cabinet and cleared her throat loudly.
"Did you find something?" David asked, turning from Lillian to regard his daughter.
"Yeah, uh, Regina's file," she held up the empty folder. "It's empty."
"So she did it." Mary Margaret slumped into the spindle chair at Archie's desk where she'd been searching. "She killed the kindest soul in this town. A man who only cared about helping."
Emma lowered the folder. "I promise we'll find whoever really did this." She said determinedly.
"Isn't it time you admit we already have?" David sighed deeply at the look Lillian threw him. "Lillian, I'm sorry. I know you think she's innocent but… Regina had a fight with Archie, Ruby saw her outside last night, and now, her file is empty. That's… that's a lot of evidence."
"Well, maybe that's the point," Lillian announced suddenly, looking far less cynical than she had in hours.
David craned his head around to look down at her. "What do you mean?"
Emma, catching onto what Lillian was saying, jumped in. "Well, I don't know how it is in fairy tale land, but in the real world, it's usually hard to find evidence." The blonde mentioned seriously. "But this has been way too easy. Unless, someone wants us to find evidence."
"And, if that's true…," Lillian trailed off, waiting for one of them to finish.
"So, what, you think she was framed?"
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time that happened in this town." Emma pointed out dryly with a pointed look thrown her mother's way.
"Who would want to frame her?"
"Well, excluding present company, that list is about as long as a giant." Lillian frowned thoughtfully.
"Yeah." Emma said slowly, struck by a sudden thought. "But there's only one name on that list that would resort to killing to get what they want."
Gold smiled down at the packed picnic basket Belle had brought to the shoppe. Raising his eyes, he leaned forward to press an affectionate kiss to her smiling cheek. "Oh, well, that looks delicious," he praised, rubbing her shoulder gently as he pulled back. "Thank you very much, Belle."
Before she could respond, the bell at the front door sounded, and the Charmings marched in, a put out looking Lillian trailing after them.
"Ah… nothing warms the heart more than a family reunited." Gold observed quietly, reigning in the mocking urge as he'd promised Belle he'd try. "You have your mother's chin, Miss Swan."
"We know that you killed him."
"And your father's tact." Gold rolled his eyes and glanced at his assistant. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Lillian?"
Belle, however, had other priorities. "Someone's dead?" She asked, wide blue eyes looking between everyone in shock.
"Dr. Hopper."
"Why on earth would you think I had anything to do with that?"
"Because all the evidence points to Regina."
Belle couldn't hold back an incredulous scoff. "And she's not possibly capable of doing something so vile?"
"It's a frame job." Emma replied with absolute certainty.
Mary Margaret glared at Gold, who accepted it passively. "It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try to hurt her."
"Nice to see your memory's still intact, dearie." His lips twitched at said memory. "But this time," he sighed tragically. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. It wasn't me."
"Why should we believe you?"
"Because I can prove it. Ask the witness." Gold retorted smoothly, as Lillian suddenly turned and went to the door.
Emma looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "No one was there." She reminded.
"Well, that's not strictly true now, is it?" The shoppe owner smiled as Lillian, wide-eyed, led in a whimpering Pongo. "Hey, boy," Gold rounded the counter and strode to the dog's side. "Good boy," he praised, kneeling down to pet the trembling animal. "Good boy, good boy."
Everyone watched, stunned, as the still traumatized dog calmed underneath Gold's ministrations. Lillian, having seen him work with animals before, wasn't surprised. Nor was she surprised that Pongo had just happened to show up when Gold needed to prove a point. Clearly, news travels much faster in this town than anyone thought.
Recovering her voice, Belle stuttered out, "I, uh… I didn't know you were such a dog person."
"Well… a ong time ago, in another life, I got to know a sheepdog or two." Gold evaded easily, shooting his girlfriend a faint smile.
"That's fascinating." Emma drawled. "But unless you speak dog, how is Pongo going to tell us anything?"
"Through magic, of course." Gold told her, as if she were a simpleton. "It won't allow us to communicate, but it will allow us to… extract his memories."
David blinked worriedly. "Extract?"
"You don't have to worry," Gold assured him. "He won't feel a thing."
"Well, why should we trust you?" Lillian demanded, holding Pongo's leash in one hand. "Couldn't you just as easily use magic to fool us? And," she held up a finger when Emma's mouth opened. "I'm not doing it either."
Gold didn't reign in the urge to roll his eyes this time. "Because I'm not going to be the one using magic – you are."
Emma blinked rapidly and even took a step back. "Me? How?"
"You have it within you. Told me so yourself." His gaze cut to Mary Margaret, who watched closely. "You witnessed it, didn't you?"
"Emma, you don't have to do this."
The blonde turned to her mother, expression grave. "If it tells us something about Archie's death, then so be it."
Striding over to one of the nearest cupboards, Gold lightly flicked the door open and plucked an object from it. He turned back to the group and approached Emma, holding it out. "Do you know what this is?"
Emma, for reasons Lillian didn't even want to begin to understand, eyed the object like it would bite her. "A dream catcher."
"Well… it's capable of catching so much more." Gold reached down and slowly ran the dream catcher down Pongo's back until it began to glow a bright yellow.
Belle peered at it curiously. "What is that?"
"Memories." He answered before he held out the glowing object to a startled Emma. "Now, Miss Swan. You show us how."
"How?" She warily took the dream catcher in hand. "It's just a jumble."
"Will it," Gold urged her quietly, knowing that nurturing the budding magic within the Savior would help him in the long run. "Will it, and we shall all see."
"I can't." Emma breathed sharply through her nose when, after several minutes, the jumbled mess of memories remained as it was. Terrified of the odd energy that seemed to spark at her fingertips, she very nearly dropped the dream catcher, her hands were shaking so badly.
"Yes, you can."
Mildly encouraged by the tone of Gold's voice, Emma closed her eyes and actually focused. Slowly, the images within the dream catcher began to sharpen, forming into an actual memory.
"Emma… you're doing it." David breathed as the scene played out before their eyes.
Emma's eyes snapped open in time to see Regina and Archie in the latter's office. "Regina."
Eyes wide, all watched in the small surface of the dream catcher as the memory continued. When Regina lashed out and grabbed Archie's neck, lifting him off the ground, Mary Margaret had to turn away. Lillian's hand went to comfortingly rub her shoulder as the older woman's horror washed over her. Unable to watch any more, Emma dropped the dream catcher with numbed fingers.
"You were right all along." She whispered, staring down at the dream catcher with dismay.
David stared sadly at his daughter. "I'm sorry, Emma."
Without a word, the blonde turned on her heel and stormed out of the shop. Wide-eyed, Mary Margaret jerked away from Lillian and raced after her, David on her heels. Lillian, however, remained in the store, arms crossed and eyes doubtful.
"Yes, Lillian?" Gold asked softly, well aware of how volatile his adopted daughter had become.
She eyed him for several tense heartbeats. However, after carefully studying the emotions she felt coming from him, she turned on her heel and sped after the Charming family. Gold watched her go, silently breathing a sigh of relief that no incident had passed.
"What's there to talk about?!" Emma was demanding when Lillian slipped out of the shop. "She killed Archie, now she's got to pay." With that, Emma resumed storming down the street toward Regina's house.
"Emma, how do you plan on doing that?" Mary Margaret demanded, almost running to keep up with her incensed daughter. "She has her powers back here."
"Yeah, well, you just saw what happened. So do I."
Lillian's scoff made her stop in her tracks. "Yes, powers that you don't have the slightest idea what to do with. Might I remind you that, whatever magical savior magic you might have, Regina was trained by the darkest being in all the realms."
"She's right Emma," David seized the opening, not wanting his daughter to all but run headlong to being murdered by an offended Regina.
"Excuse me." Emma whirled on her father. "Weren't you both the ones who've been pushing on the 'it's Regina' kick the whole time?" She demanded fiercely. "You should be happy you were right."
Mary Margaret took her chance to add, "We may be right, but I also know that going after her without a plan is a mistake."
Looking between them, even Lillian looked wary, Emma allowed the fight to drain out of her. Sighing, she slumped. "So what do we do?"
"Even if the dwarves construct a cell to hold her, we need a way to contain her magic until then."
"Fairy dust." Mary Margaret suggested. "Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it."
"Will that stop her power?" Though she addressed Lillian, who looked moments away from murder, it was David that answered.
"It has before." His brow creased thoughtfully. "The problem is, she'll see us coming."
An expression of grim determination filled the blonde woman. "Leave that to me. Trust me – we're locking her up."
Enchanted Forest
Grabbing hold of her courage, Snow White carefully ascended the stairs to the tower prison where Regina was held. At her approach, the guard on duty jerked to attention.
"Your Highness." He greeted with a deep bow.
Snow forced herself to smile. "Leave us, please."
"But I have direct orders from the Prince- "
"And now, you have direct orders from me." Snow stated, allowing a flash of anger to slip into her voice. While she loved her husband, and while he was now a true prince thanks to their marriage, she was the heir to the throne, and she was the one they should obey over all others. As she watched the guard leave with another bow, Snow carefully slid the thin dagger from her waist into her sleeve.
"First, you stop my execution," Regina called from her spot at the bars lightly. "And then, you defy your Prince to see me. Should I be worried there's trouble in paradise?"
Snow refused to bristle at the mock concern in her step-mother's voice. "I'm not here to talk about my fiancé." She retorted coolly, turning to face the prisoner.
"Then why are you here?"
"I know you weren't always like this, Regina." Snow carefully stepped toward the bars. "The woman who saved my life all those years ago… had good in her."
Regina sneered openly. "That woman lost much. And now she's gone."
"Maybe. But as hard as you've tried to bury her, I think she's still inside you."
"No, she's not."
"All you need…," Snow continued, as if she hadn't heard her, stepping next to the door of the cell. Slipping the key from her waist, she unlocked the door. "Is someone to help you let her out."
"What are you doing?" Regina eyed her like a rabid dog.
"I'm letting the woman who saved my life go." Snow explained with a shrug. "This is a chance to start fresh, Regina. To leave the evil behind in this cell."
Carefully, Regina stepped toward the door. "Just like that?" She asked, standing in the doorway.
Snow nodded in affirmation, smiling faintly. "Just like that."
Regina followed Snow when the princess began to walk away from the cell. Encouraged by the smile forming on Regina's face, Snow was misty-eyed when her step-mother turned toward her, unprepared for Regina to suddenly grab hold of her throat. Forcing the younger woman backwards, Regina pinned Snow against the wall, expression dangerous.
"You make change sound so easy." Regina hissed, leaning closer.
Shakily, Snow produced the dagger from her sleeve. Before she could use it, Regina managed to twist the small blade from her hands and held it herself. "Did you really think this would protect you?" She chuckled darkly, holding the shining blade up. "Since I can't use magic, I can think of no better way than to kill you with the blade you had meant for me. Goodbye, Snow White."
Snow's eyes all but bulged in horror. "No…." The word trailed offi nto a choked gasp of air as Regina stabbed the blade deep into Snow's abdomen.
"Yes…." Regina hissed in return with a mad expression.
Her expression softening, all traces of pain fading, Snow began to shake her head. "No." She told the older woman, who pulled out the blade and looked down in horror. Gleaming in the faint light, the blade was untouched, without a drop of blood to be seen.
"That's impossible." Regina breathed, instinctively taking a step back.
"No, that's magic." Snow corrected, leaning back against the wall.
"And this time," Charming added as he and several guards entered the tower. "It wasn't thanks to the fairies." Lilith, just behind him, held up the blind fold Regina had worn during the failed execution.
"Rumple took one of your hairs from this," a faint smirk crossed her features at the distraught expression that crossed Regina's features. "And fashioned it into a protection spell."
"No…," the Evil Queen whispered, shaking her head in denial.
"Now there's nothing you can do in this land to hurt Snow or me." Charming told her. "You're powerless against us."
She cast Snow a hateful look. "You tricked me." She accused.
Snow had the grace to look offended. "It wasn't a trick." She told Regina quietly. "It was a test – one that I had truly hoped you'd pass."
"We wanted to give you a chance to change, Regina."
Snow White stood to her full height, Charming and Lilith at her side, the guards at their backs. "Regina, you are banished." She announced without preamble. "Banished to live alone with your misery."
"As long as you're alive in this world, you can't hurt us." Charming told the rattled looking woman.
As the guards moved to apprehend Regina to carry out their princess' orders, Snow stopped the former queen when she was dragged past her. "You saved my life once, and now I've saved yours." She told Regina gravely. "So we're even. And if you ever try to hurt anyone in my kingdom again, I will kill you."
Storybrooke
"Miss Swan," Regina greeted pleasantly when she found the blonde woman on the other side of the door. "I assume you're here to apologize." Behind her, Regina caught sight of David and Mary Margaret, with Lillian just behind them, looking decidedly irritated.
"I saw you do it."
Regina's attention jerked back from wondering what could have caused the teen to look like that. "What?" She asked, having no idea what Emma was talking about.
"I saw it." Emma repeated, haunted by what she'd witnessed. "You choked the life out of Archie."
"What are you talking about? How is that even possible?" Regina asked, looking between the four faces bewildered.
"Magic." David answered simply.
Regina's brow creased. "You- "
"I saw what happened, and it was you." Emma cut across her, her stricken expression giving way to anger.
Regina's eyes darkened. "Gold. He helped you - or Lillian," her eyes cut to the pale-faced brunette that hovered beside David. "You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind this?
Mary Margaret shook her head. "We didn't trust him. Or Lillian." Her eyes turned to Emma, wariness for her daughter's newfound magic creeping into her gaze. "That's why Emma used magic instead."
"You can use magic…?" Regina breathed, looking at Emma with a mildly calculating expression. "The Saviour. Of course." Her eyes narrowed. "Well, I can only assume he warned you, then."
Emma's brow creased. "About what?"
"That magic always comes with a price."
Sudden anger filled her, renewing the cold rage the sight of the mayor already created within her. "Yeah? Well, that's a price we're both going to pay."
"How's that?" Regina dared to ask, stomach sinking. She caught sight of Lillian's features rapidly whitening before Emma blocked her view.
"Henry." Emma replied shortly. "He believed in you. His heart's going to break," her face crumpled briefly at the thought. "That's both our prices."
Regina's face began to pinken with rage. "No." She snapped, shaking her head. "I will not let you poison Henry against me."
Emma's voice was cold as ice. "It's an interesting word choice, since you already did." She turned on her heel, stalking toward her parents and Lillian. Regina followed her, dogging her step for step.
"I want to see him." The mayor raged, voice pitching higher in her distress. "He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!"
"He's not! He's mine!" Emma whirled around with a yell, shocking all present. Wrestling for control of herself, she added much more calmly, "And, after this, you're not getting anywhere near him!" Without taking her eyes off Regina, she called to the awaiting Mother Superior. "Do it!"
Mother Superior jumped from behind her hiding spot and threw the blast of fairy dust at Regina. However, having already been caught unawares by this trick, she refused to fall prey to it again. Regina stopped it mid-air with a wave of her hand.
"Did you really think that would work again?" She asked scornfully as everyone except Lillian watched here warily.
"Told you," the younger sorceress snapped, though all ignored her.
Regina threw the frozen magic toward David and Mary Margaret, who jerked back as it exploded at their feet. "You… you will not keep my son from me." She snarled at Emma before she threw her backwards down the walkway. Regina stalked toward the downed blonde menacingly as Mary Margaret rushed to help her. "So much for fairy dust." Regina mocked savagely. "Maybe some of your newfound magic can save you now."
"I don't need it." Emma snapped breathlessly as she made her way to her feet. "I already won. There is no way Henry will swallow your lies about Archie now." She continued relentlessly when pain, raw and endless, flashed across Regina's features. "You can pretend all you want, but we know how you are, and who you will always be."
Without another word, visibly fighting back tears, Regina disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
Without a word, Lillian turned on her booted heel and stalked off. Roughly drawing a hand through her hair, the ignored David's calls of her name. When he caught up to her and grasped her arm, she ripped it from his touch as if burned.
"Lillian -"
"She didn't do it!" Lillian snapped instead, refusing to allow them to silence her any longer. She'd had enough. Enough of being treated like a child - a weak, useless child - no matter how old she looked. She was older than the majority of the town and had studied under the darkest of magical practitioners ever to exist. "I felt her emotions and she was completely shocked when you told her Archie was dead - there wasn't a hint of guilt or regret in her!"
"Lillian, you know as well as we do that Regina -" Mary Margaret began, only for Lillian to shut her up with a red-eyed stare.
"If you say that Regina can't feel guilt or regret, so help me," Lillian rubbed at her temples, attempting to stave off the headache she could feel coming. Resigned now to the ache in her head, she raised tired eyes. Of them all, David's wide-eyed stare cut her the most. "I know what I felt; Regina didn't kill Archie." Her eyes landed on Emma. "And until you decide to believe me, to believe that someone can change, you can all go to hell."
"What about Henry?" Emma asked angrily, bristling at the way the teen was talking to her. She refused to show the fear that filled her at the sight of the burning rage in Lillian's red-eyed stare.
"Don't you dare you him against me to get your way." Lillian snarled in reply, satisfied when Emma flinched. "He deserves better than that - though I expect no less from someone pretending at being a parent."
With that last jab, before they could say anything, Lillian vanished in a puff of black smoke.
"Henry's bus is going to be here any minute." Emma fretted, hands twisting as they waited at the bus stop. Despite everything, Lillian's words had rattled her. Guilt flooded her at how she had tried to use her son to guilt his 'sister' to help them - knowing that, other than Gold, Lillian was the only one who could go toe-to-toe with Regina. However, there were more important things to worry about now.
Mary Margaret wisely side-stepped the sensitive topic of Lillian. "You can do this." She encouraged.
Emma tossed her a wide-eyed, frantic stare. "Tell my son that someone he loved was killed by someone else he cares about? I don't know if I can." She looked down. "Lillian was right. I don't think I can do any of this. This is like real parent stuff. How can I be a parent if I never was one?"
David smiled sadly. "I know. I've been asking myself the same question."
"Oh, no," Emma's face fell at the expression's her parents wore. "You guys don't have to… it-it's different."
"No, it isn't. And yes, we have to." Mary Margaret gently corrected her. "We can figure it out, and so can you."
"You don't know me." Emma couldn't hep but retort. "You don't know what I was before Storybrooke." The very idea that they'd have any inkling of who she was and what she'd done made her skin crawl. "And trust me, I was not parent material."
"Yeah, but we know who you are since you've been here."
Emma stared at her father, moments away from hysterics. "What if I revert? Regina did."
David stepped forward, gently taking her shoulders. "You're not going to." He told her firmly. "And the Emma I know was great with Henry."
"I was his parent for five minutes."
"And I was yours for five minutes, too, but things are different now – for all of us." He said easily. "We don't have to go through any of it alone. We're family."
Before she could reply, Emma turned at the sound of the approaching bus. Terrified, she turned and caught the encouraging nod her mother sent her, the warm smile on her father's face, and inhaled deeply. Taking several steps forward, she met her son as he stepped off the bus.
"Emma," Henry greeted, mildly exasperated. "I told you I could walk myself." He looked around, catching sight of his grandparents. Though they both waved, their expressions were less than thrilled. "Where's Lillian?"
"I know," Emma replied, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "And she's… we had a fight." Before he could ask the questions lurking in his eyes, she said quickly, "Something happened, and… I want you to hear it from me first."
Dread pooled in the pit of his stomach. "What is it?"
Swallowing back tears, Emma gently steered him to the nearest bench. "Come here."
Across the street, Regina watched from her car, hands tightening on the steering wheel and tears dripping from her eyes as she watched her son break down in Emma's arms from the rear view mirror. From the clock tower, Lillian watched the scene herself, her heart aching. Though she'd already resolved to visit Henry that night, to tell him what she knew to be the truth, a large part of her railed at letting Emma break the news. But, despite everything, she wasn't really his sister.
She was just the baby-sitter.
Enchanted Forest
Brooding angrily, Regina glared at her mirror, eyes snapping to her father when his reflection appeared in it.
"You have a visitor." Her father offered softly, aware of how unwise it would be to rile his daughter's anger.
A faint crease formed on her brow. "Who?" She demanded, turning towards her father. The change in the air made her spine stiffen. Behind her, before the high trilling voice came, she already knew who it was.
"You need to ask?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, lounging in the small seating area. "What other friends do you have, dearie?"
Regina snarled at him. "You're no friend," she stalked toward the area, though was in no mood to play games with her former teacher. "Have you come to relish my suffering?"
Rumpelstiltskin raised a brow. "I thought you'd want someone to help raise your spirits. Especially on a day like today."
"What's so special about today?"
"Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding, of course." He reminded her giddily, amber eyes glinting. "Didn't you get an invitation? Me neither." He said, not bothering to wait for the answer he already knew was coming. "Still, nice to be able to see them declare their twoo love in front of their entire kingdom. A happy ending after all."
The Evil Queen's face colored rapidly. "And, because of you, there's nothing I can do to stop it." She hissed out, hands clenching at her sides. "No way to harm them in this land ever again."
"Yes. Yes, I suppose that's true…," he said thoughtfully, face carefully blank. "In this land."
Her eyes went wide and she stilled at once. "What?"
Rumpelstiltskin smiled lazily at her through half-lidded eyes. "The deal I made was explicit." He told her. "You can never harm them in 'this' land. Now, were you to bring them to another land… well…." He trailed off, waiting for her to smile darkly in realization. "Told you I was your friend." With that last chastisement, he vanished in a puff of red smoke.
"Father?" Regina called, waiting until the older man, who had been awaiting her silently on the other side of the room, approached. "Bring my carriage," she spun round, positively grinning as he looked on, concerned. "I have a wedding to get to."
Storybrooke
"You're back." Hook called to his travel partner, casually sharpening his hook. "So, did you get what you wanted?"
Cora nodded gracefully, a smile on her full red lips. "Yes. My daughter's lost everything now."
"Ah," he raised a dark brow. "Well, aren't you mum of the year?"
She refused to be taken to task by a man of ill-repute such as him. "I did what was needed."
"What about what I need? You promised you'd help me get my revenge on Rumpelstiltskin." He paused. "And what of Lilith?"
"The girl is fine." She waved off his attempts to hide the concern he so obviously felt for the Dark One's assistant. "And I've already started helping." She told him, unruffled in the face of his growing irritation. "Or didn't you notice the little gift I left you in the hold of your ship?"
Hook paused. "A gift? What is it?"
Cora's smile grew. "Not what. Who."
Curious, Hook allowed himself to be led into the bottom of his ship. There, beneath a grate that covered the hold, was the 'gift' she'd given him. "Who's that?" He asked casually.
"Someone privy to Storybrooke's deepest secrets, including Rumpelstiltskin's." Cora explained. "Someone who can help us determine his weaknesses here."
Bound and gagged and very much alive, Archie stared up at the tow strangers with wide eyes beneath his glasses.
"Can't you, Dr. Hopper?" Regina called, smile widening when their captive's eyes widened even further, practically bugging out of his skull.
Hook turned to eye her. "If that's him, then who did you kill?"
"How do I know?" Cora shrugged easily. "It's my first day in town."
"You disguised the body to look like him. If death wasn't punishment enough… marvelous work." He praised, meaning every word.
Cora accepted it with a nod of her head. "Thank you. Now you'll have all the knowledge you'll need." She glanced back down at the terrified man. "It may take some work, but this cricket will chirp."
"Aye," Hook agreed, raising his hook. "That he will."
Thoughts? Comments? Questions?