Chapter 3

"Where are you? I don't see you!"

"I'm pulling in beside you now.." peering over the steering wheel, Snow gives her daughter a pointed look and parks up.

Hurrying across to the drivers side, Emma pulls the door open. "Do you have it?"

Climbing out with a sigh, the short haired woman nods. "Yes Emma, can we at least go inside first?"

Looking desperate, the blonde takes her mothers hand. "I only have today left to prove to her..I made a promise that I would leave her be if this didn't work. Are you sure you made it right?"

Concerned for her daughters wellbeing, Snow takes hold of both her hands and gives a reassuring squeeze. "Yes. We followed Regina's book to the exact measurement. Honey, you're scaring me...I know you want this to work and I'm sure it will but please, if this doesn't..don't..run or do anything stupid. Think of Henry"

"I know, you don't think I miss him like crazy? If this doesn't work, I might do something stupid, I mean come on, this is me but, I would never leave Henry.." swallowing hard, the blonde takes a breath. "Not if it meant leaving him without parents"

Tugging on her daughters hand, the short haired woman leads her inside the building and towards her apartment. Once inside, she holds out the vial. "There is only enough for one person and it will only work if she takes all of it"

Accepting, Emma looks wide eyed as she listens to her instructions. "Right. Got it. I need to go but you can stay if you want..you've drove all this way and I'm sure dad can handle everything at home"

"Do you really think I was just going to give the potion and leave? With my daughter in this state?" Smiling, Snow removes her jacket and begins to make herself at home. "I will see you both later.."

Smiling back, the blonde nods uncertain. "I hope so.." clutching the potion within her hand, she turns and heads out the apartment to go to Roni's bar.

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Hearing the door to the bar swing open hastily, Roni turns to welcome her customer only to deflate slightly at seeing Emma. "I thought you would have realised your mistake as I haven't seen you in a couple of days.."

Strolling up to the counter, Emma sighs. "I told you I could prove it to you and I will" placing the glass bottle onto the surface, she gestures towards it. "This will help"

Looking shocked, Roni quickly snatches it from the bar and slips it into her pocket before leaning forward in a hushed whisper. "What the hell are you doing?! Are you trying to get me shut down for drugs?!"

Rolling her eyes, Emma shakes her head in disbelief. "It's not drugs, it's..it's something that will help you remember" moving around the bar, she lifts the hatch to walk behind it and begins to make her way out the back.

"You can't just go-" huffing in frustration, the brunette follows the woman to the back room and places her hands on her hips as Emma turns to face her. "Do you really expect me to drink an unidentified substance because you said to? It could be poison"

Sniggering at the irony, the blonde steps closer and pulls the bottle out of the woman's pocket. "It's not. Do you or do not want the chance at a family?"

Staring back at her, Roni contemplates her answer then holds her hand out for the bottle. "I am so gonna regret this"

Slowly grinning, Emma looks smug as she hands it over. "No you won't"

Twisting the bottle top off, the brunette looks down at the blue coloured liquid and takes a deep breath. "If this kills me, I hope you get arrested" Knocking the substance back, Roni coughs and pulls a face at the vile taste. "Eurgh!" Swiping her mouth with the back of her hand, the brunette coughs again then drops the vial causing the glass to smash as she stumbles back.

Quickly reaching her, Emma holds her at her waist and guides her towards the couch muttering. "I so hope this is suppose to happen.." resting the woman back, she sits beside her, watching warily.

Leaning forward and resting her head within her hands, the bartender struggles to catch her breath, trying to take deep ones. Slowly sitting back up in confusion, she pushes her hair back and looks around with a frown. "What the-"

Biting her lip, Emma continues to stare. "..are...are you okay?.."

Peering across to the blonde beside her, the brunette stares back for a moment then wraps her arms tightly around Emma's neck and pulls her into a hug.

Lost for words, Emma hugs back then clears her throat. "Is this a thank god I'm not dead hug or-"

"I remember.."

Hugging back even tighter, the blonde gives a glossy eyed smile. "I told you so.."

"Okay. I get it, go on gloat while you can" moving away to look at her wife, Regina smiles and strokes Emma's tear stricken face. "How is it possible that I've missed you and yet, you were here all along?"

Shrugging slightly, Emma leans into her touch. "I've missed you too. We all have"

Dropping her hand, Regina searches for her phone in a panic. "Oh my god Henry!"

Clasping both her hands within her own, the blonde reassures her. "Is back in Storybrooke with my parents, well my dad at the moment as mom is here but he is absolutely fine"

Nodding along with what is said, Regina appears guilty. "But..he called and I..I hung up on him..he..I need to speak to him"

"Okay. Why don't we get out of here first.."

"You're right..is Snow back at yours?"

Rising from her seat, the blonde smiles as Regina's grip on her hand tightens as she also stands "Yes. We can call Henry there and then sort out what we are going to do. We only had enough for you to remember but Gina there's a new curse-"

"I know..I mean look at me. Do your really think I'd wear these kind of shirts, not to mention the pants.." grimacing at her current wardrobe, the brunette once again smiles at seeing her wife's happy face.

"True but..I'm loving the hair.."

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Pushing the door open to her apartment, Emma comes to a halt just inside as her mother appears with a look of anticipation.

"Well? How did it go? Did it work?"

Stepping inside after Emma, Regina smiles over at her former enemy. "It worked"

Smiling brightly, Snow pulls the fellow brunette into a surprising hug. "Thank god. I swear I don't know how I would cope if Emma came back without you. She's not been herself at all"

Glancing over from her position, Regina notices the blondes guilty expression. "I'm sure she would have managed. She's the strongest person I know"

Moving back, Snow then looks concerned. "Now that you're back, we have a bigger problem..."

"The new curse?" Watching the short haired woman nod, Regina then relaxes on instinct as Emma comes to stand beside her and places her hand at the small of her wife's back. "I had an idea when I got my memories back. It's similar to when I cast the first curse, can't remember certain aspects of your life and well clearly someone wanted to punish me for the way I'm dressed.."

Sniggering at the brunettes insulted tone, Emma presses a kiss to her temple, secretly eager to give her a real kiss as they had not yet had time. "I think it suits you. Makes you look more relaxed and casual"

Raising an eyebrow, Regina tilts her gaze towards her love. "I'm not supposed to be. I'm a mayor and former Queen"

"And human..."

Sighing, the brunette rolls her eyes. "I know..would you excuse me for a moment, I want to call Henry" removing herself, Regina heads out of the room to call their son.

Watching the pair happily, Snow hides a smile at her daughters comment. "At least now we can all go home and sort this mess out"

Frowning as she rejoins the pair, Regina shakes her head. "Oh I'm not going home. I can't.."

Sharing a confused look with her mother, Emma questions with worry and reaching for the woman's hand. "Why not? We need you home, it's where you belong with me and Henry.."

Linking their fingers in comfort, the brunette looks sad to see her wife's fearful eyes. "I know I do and I will soon but Roni has a life here and if I were to just up and leave that would look suspicious, not to mention the others that are here..Killian..Rumple.."

Stepping forward and cutting in, Snow holds her hand up. "Wait, Gold is here? Belle has been looking for him.."

"Yes, he works coincidently alongside Killian as a detective..you'll rarely see him though, even in this line of work he gives out the orders"

"Why can't you just say you had a family emergency of some kind..they won't know.." the blonde remarks sadly at not taking her wife back home with her and to their son.

"For one, Roni doesn't have any and another thing, what if the person who has caused all this is also here with a hidden alias? They would realise straight away.."

Feeling defeated, Emma nods and looks to her mother. "She's right..it wouldn't be safe.."

"So then what do we do? David and I are barely managing to figure a solution. Neither one of us has magic to help.."

Thinking of a solution, Regina purses her lips. "You're just going to have to use what is in my vault. I can give you a list of what is needed and help in any way I can over the phone..then maybe, somehow we could bring it here and break it without suspicion"

"But we are in a non magical-" seeing her wife's pointed look, Emma chuckles. "Of course we are, it's a curse..even if it's in the real world"

"Also magical objects work here..you just can't use your natural, born magic"

"Right.."

Slipping her arm around the blondes back, Regina smiles sadly. "We can do this. Together like always but.."

Letting out a small whine, Emma curses under her breath. "Why is it never just simple! But what?"

"Well I was going to suggest that you stay here also and carry on with this pretence with Roni. If you just leave town, whoever is behind this will find it strange that you have decided to just give up on us and go home. However, if you want to, that's fine. I can still work on it this end"

Immediately turning into the woman and gripping at her jacket at the thought of leaving her, the blonde shakes her head "No! Not an option, I want to stay here. I know we have Henry to think about but he knows us by now and he would say so long as we fix this together he doesn't mind waiting. It's going to be hard not being with you though..."

Stroking a loose strand from her wife's face, Regina kisses her head. "It won't be. Did you not just go on a date with Roni? We can just pretend we are dating.."

Nodding against the woman, Emma simply squeezes her tightly and rests her head against her wife's shoulder, revelling in the fact that she has her back.

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Entering the small bar, Emma strolls up to the front and sits on a stool, not being able to keep the smile from her face. It had been a couple of weeks since Snow left and she had been informed the night before of a lead which meant they could go home soon but for now she was quite happy to enjoy the fact that she secretly had her wife back. Especially with her current view. Biting her lip at seeing Regina bent down and scrummaging through the fridge, she raises an eyebrow while lost in thought.

"I didn't beg you as a customer that would ogle at a bartender.."

Blinking quickly at being caught, Emma looks towards Killian. "You don't know me so you can't really make that comment"

Standing straight at hearing voices, Regina turns, crossing her arms and rests against the bar with a smile of her own. "She can look if she wants..hell shes already done a lot more than look..."

Eyes widening, the detective looks between them. "I'm sorry what?"

"Despite your best efforts pal, the right man won.." patting him on the back sympathetically, Emma tries to cover a laugh.

Leaning across the surface blocking them, Regina lays her arms against the wooden surface as she presses a soft kiss to the blondes lips. "We're dating.."

Looking lost for words, the man simply nods. "Okay..then..."

Going to move back, Regina is prevented as a hand grabs at her arm and pulls her into another kiss, causing the pair to get lost in one another.

"Right. Roni can I get a beer? Roni?"

Pulling back, the brunette clears her throat as she mutters. "Oh that's me.." reluctantly moving away from Emma, she grabs a beer bottle and pops the lid before passing it towards the disappointed detective while sharing a loving smile with her wife.

A/N: On track again, so 3 chapters to go. Next up...maybe something wicked comes? Or is she?