A/N: Finally posting the second chapter. Eight months later. Wow! Sorry for the long wait. I was totally uninspired to write about OUAT. I really hope the next chapter won't take so long.
Regina just stares at the empty road in front of her. She clenches her fists, trying to suppress the desire to hit something. She should've known this was going to happen.
"What the hell, sis?"
Regina only notices that Zelena's next to her when she speaks. She didn't hear her approaching. She can't tell who the question is directed at – her or the Queen. She doesn't care. She only wants to scream. Scream at the Queen, scream at Zelena, scream at herself even.
"You could've killed us all!" Zelena is angry too. That much is obvious.
Regina couldn't care less at the moment. If her sister is looking for a fight, she'll be happy to give her one. She turns around, ready to snap at the redhead, but she sees the fear and worry in her eyes and the way she's clutching the baby to her chest, desperately wishing to keep her safe, and she bites her tongue. Zelena has the right to be angry. She's a mother just like her and she only wants to protect her child.
"Henry!" Regina says and her voice almost breaks.
The anger in her sister's eyes flickers and dies and there's only understanding left in them. The silence gets awkward and the brunette has to say something.
"I don't know if… when I'll see him again." She has to believe that she'll find a way to get back to her son. Believing is not her strong suit but that's all she can do for now. At least until she finds a way to get back into town. It can take weeks, months or even years though. And there's that treacherous voice in her head that tells her that she's sealed out of Storybrooke while Emma's still there and won't miss a single moment of Henry's life.
No! She can't think like that. They've come a long way since those days when they were fighting over their son. They're both his mothers. They're friends and they help each other.
"Emma!" Regina exclaims as if she's just remembered the blonde's existence and takes her phone out of her pocket.
It takes Emma a while to answer. "Regina, what the hell?" She sounds disoriented. "It's four in the morning." The brunette hears a muffled 'What's up love?' that obviously comes from Hook.
"Emma, I need your help. I'm right outside of town and I have no way to come back in."
"Wait a second!" The Savior is no longer sleepy, her whole attention is on Regina now. "What do you mean you're outside of town?"
Regina explains as patiently as she can but she still has to make an effort to keep her voice calm while the blonde is shooting question after question at her.
"Emma!" The brunette snaps, interrupting the other woman. She regrets it when she practically feels the Savior wince.
"Yes?"
"You need to find that scroll." Regina's eyes are full of tears. She turns her back to her sister to prevent her from noticing. "Or I'll never see Henry again." Her voice betrays her.
"Hey, Regina, don't think like that," Emma tries to soothe her. "You'll see him again very soon. I promise."
A tear falls down Regina's cheek and she swallows in an attempt to find her voice. "Thank you."
"I'm on my way," Emma says and hangs up.
Regina clutches the phone with both hands in front of her chest as if she's praying, her head is slightly bowed.
Zelena thinks she's never seen her sister in such state. It tugs at her heartstrings and she closes the distance between them, putting her hand on Regina's shoulder. "Everything will be fine."
The brunette pulls away from her as if her touch is poisonous. She doesn't even look at her. "Not thanks to you."
Zelena's anger is ignited again. She was trying to help but her sister only sees her as a problem. "Well, I didn't ask you to do anything for me," she spits out.
"No, you didn't." Regina finally turns around and Zelena is surprised when she sees the tears that are falling from her sister's eyes. "But I couldn't leave you in danger. You are my sister." The brunette heads back to the car.
Zelena only follows her, not knowing what to say.
Emma has no idea where to look for the Queen. She can be at Zelena's farm, at Regina's vault, anywhere actually. She remembers Regina told her that every magic has a signature unique to its user. She concentrates on what she's felt when she's been around the Queen. She senses something. It reminds her of Regina but not as she is now. It feels like Madam Mayor and yet it's not exactly the same. It's darker but not as powerful, not as threatening as Regina during the First Curse.
She lets the magic lead her and finds herself in front of Regina's mansion. She didn't expect that but when she enters she finds the Queen in the living room. She's holding a picture and Emma knows very well which one it is. It's a photo of Regina and Henry that was taken before Regina used the serum. The Queen is looking at it with the softest smile Emma has seen. She doesn't look like the person that tried to make Henry kill a man. The blonde swore that she'd never forgive her for that but it feels like she's looking at a completely different person.
"He still wants to help you, you know," she says and the Queen jumps and almost drops the photo. Emma is surprised. She knows Regina is easy to startle but she never thought the same holds true for her other half as well.
The Queen stares at her, unsure of what to do. "I know," she says finally. "He's always believed in me." She gives the blonde a bitter smile. "I always disappoint him." A loud crack comes from the fireplace as if something inside broke.
"It doesn't have to be that way." Emma moves a bit closer. "Give me the scroll."
The Queen shakes her head. "I can't."
"This has nothing to do with my parents, Re–" Emma stops herself. She almost called the Queen Regina. She certainly acts like Regina back in the days when she was struggling to change for Henry's sake. "I know it sounds self-serving but this is about Henry."
The brunette nods. "That's why I can't give you the scroll."
"Wha–"
"I'm trying to do what's best for Henry. I'm trying to keep Regina alive."
Emma doesn't like the sound of that. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Rumple will come after me and the only way to kill me is to kill Regina."
"You don't really think he will–"
The Queen gives her a pointed look. They both know he will do it.
"We'll deal with him," Emma says with the confidence that's typical for heroes and the Queen rolls her eyes.
"I'm not taking that risk."
Emma sighs at the Queen's stubbornness. "Belle can talk to him."
The brunette shakes her head in a way that makes Emma's blood freeze.
"What have you done?"
"I can't let him find Regina." The Queen's gaze drops to the fireplace. There, among the flames, is Ingrid's scroll.