Disclaimer: Oh how I wish they were mine. But they are not.
A/N: So…wow on 5x20. Quite an ep, huh?
A Reminder – this fic is a Study of Zelena's Character, and she's not the nicest person in the universe. The views of said Character are not the views of this Writer. Please do keep that in mind. :-)
5x20: Firebird
It's terribly annoying, being held hostage. Zelena vows to never drop her guard again – not while Rumplestiltskin, or any of her enemies for that matter, are still alive. Well, walking about might be a more accurate depiction. Peter Pan is clearly dead and is now on the top of her Most Hated list.
It's odd to think that Regina has lost that top spot, but after all that's happened, treating her sister the same as before is not an option. They care about each other. All that transpired between them yesterday cannot be forgotten.
She cringes when Peter Pan grips her arm, presumably to take her to Hades. His cold touch sends rivulets of terror mixed with revulsion right up her spine. There is something inhuman about that boy and those empty eyes of his.
After the bitter whoosh of combined teleportation, Zelena finds herself in the Café of the Dead. Hades is before them … and he looks worried. Rather worried. A part of her is humiliated by her inability to free herself from this without involving him. But those damned magic cuffs do their job entirely too well. She's certain Hades is going to wipe both Rumple and Pan off the map, and braces herself to take cover from the upcoming battle. There's no way he'll destroy one of his precious contracts.
And then … he does. The torn papers float to the floor and she feels herself floating right along with them. I don't believe it - he did that for me! When she meets his gaze again, he's a whole different man to her. He asks for them to 'give her back' and Zelena's stomach does a little flip. He didn't say to let her go; he said to give her back to him. That possessiveness of his – it's mesmerizing. He's said it before, but it's taken until now for her to finally believe it. He wants her, and he's willing to sacrifice whatever he must in order to have her.
When Pan speaks of taking her heart, she thwarts that idea right quick. But he doesn't seem intimidated at all, and before she can defend herself, she feels his cold grasp and a strong physical tug against her ribcage. Her protection spell is not strong enough. No!
An instant later she's knocked sideways by a flash of warmth and brilliant white. Light magic – and it saved her. For a split second she wonders if it was her sister's, but the Savior's voice dismisses that. Of course it's Emma. Who else around here does the saving but her? Zelena clutches her chest, comforted that her heart still beats soundly within it. No wonder Hades was afraid. Somehow he knew they planned this. Pan's questioning words give voice to her own regarding the Savior's newfound goodwill. The response clarifies it all in Zelena's mind. Hades suspected the double-cross and he convinced the heroes, particularly Emma, to help him. Bribed them with the thing they want most: freedom. Another warmth floods her, one full of safety and trust. Hades did what he had to do to protect her – to save her.
Can this mean Hades doesn't care about what happens with the heroes any longer, just like he didn't care about the contract for Rumple's second-born child? Has he truly changed?
Rumple is quick to weigh his options, and leaves a confused Peter Pan standing dumbly next to her, clearly outnumbered. He disappears moments later – probably off to whine at his son for backing out on their deal – and Zelena feels a weight lift off her shoulders the instant he's gone. Yes, being held hostage is definitely something she will never let happen again.
Hades is at her side an instant later, and bless the man, he vanishes that horrid cuff into oblivion. There's such deep concern in his eyes, echoed by his words, that Zelena wonders why in the world she ever doubted his intentions. He tore up that contract for her. She didn't think he'd do it, but he did.
She can't stop her hand; the urge to touch him is magnetic. His body is firm under her palm and she can feel him quiver in response to the instantaneous chemistry between them. She sees nothing but the darkening of his eyes when she tells him she finally believes him. The air around them seems to thicken, the pull towards him undeniable. She feels his lips on hers and then she's lost in a cacophony of emotion and sensation. It's unlike anything she's ever known – and for a single, achingly beautiful moment, she feels nothing but his love.
The thudding beat within his chest startles them both, and it can only mean one thing. Zelena can barely begin to comprehend what just happened when he's kissing her again, a kiss filled with joy and gratitude.
Hades is free. And he's her true love.
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The earthquake shakes Zelena's love-struck mind back into reality. Their time to leave is now - all the true love romantics she's been fantasizing about in her weaker moments will have to wait. Still, when they are at the row of gravestones with the heroes' names carved within, all she can feel is a sense of wonder and renewed love as Hades readily wipes the names away without a second thought. I've changed him.
The blasted pirate doubts Hades' sincerity, and it tweaks a nerve in her. They are so hypocritical, these heroes. It would almost be amusing, if it wasn't so bloody pathetic. Then again, none of them have experienced what she and Hades have. For a second, Zelena almost pities them. Both her sister and Emma have longed for their loves to be verified, and yet, to her knowledge, it's never happened for either of them. Another new emotion floods her - satisfaction.
The drama between the Savior and the pirate bores her, but as these people are important to Regina, she attempts to feign interest. In retrospect, their efforts to bring Hook back are what brought about all of this change in Zelena's life. She would still be wandering around above-world, loathing Regina and mired in jealousy and hatred if the heroes hadn't decided to go on this little quest. Cause and effect, after all.
Hades takes them to his lair and shows the heroes the story of Eurydice and Orpheus. How Orpheus fed Eurydice ambrosia in order to leave the Land of the Dead. From Zelena's point of view, dead is dead. If the pirate comes back to life again in his rotting zombie corpse like Hades described … the thought makes her shudder. Hopefully it doesn't work like that. Because Zelena's certain that they will succeed, and Hook will return with them to Storybrooke today. They always succeed in whatever they do. Rather sickening, but there you have it.
Hades then brings them all to the Underworld library, and magics up an elevator to take them down to where the supposed ambrosia awaits. When the pirate snarks about Hades again, Zelena snarls in defense, amazing herself at the intensity of her ire. Is this a by-product of true love – the need to protect your mate? She kind of likes it … the thought of anyone harming Hades makes her blood boil.
Hades is nonplussed and continues by explaining the Test of True Love awaiting those who seek the ambrosia. Both Emma and Hook look deeply concerned about this, and Zelena marvels again at her newfound confidence in her relationship with Hades. I don't have to worry like that! We'd pass that test with flying colors. It's a foreign concept, having an ego about love and relationships. She's been terrible at them her whole life. Yet, in the span of forty-eight hours she earned the love of her mother, her sister, and Hades. She realizes she genuinely loves them all in return, reveling in the joy it brings her. It seems love goes both ways, and she's eagerly willing to give it as well as receive it.
She does feel some remorse for the heroes as they wish Hook and Emma farewell. Their little adventure won't be easy. Once the two are gone into the depths of the Underworld, the young boy Henry grows restless. Regina tries to calm him, and Zelena flinches slightly at the accuracy of Regina's words. Hades has definitely done his part to trap all those lost souls here in Underbrooke. His honest reply of agreement surprises her yet again. He's shown little venom towards any of the heroes and she can't help but think it's due to her.
When Robin comes into the library with her baby, Zelena's convinced that today must be her luckiest day ever. This is confirmed when Regina agrees to let her take her daughter through the portal – since Robin won't leave Regina and Regina won't leave without Emma and Hook. Robin is a bit of a prat about handing over their child, but Regina stands firm in her trust of Zelena. Holding the soft bundle in her arms again, when days ago she had to give her away, is like a dream come true. Thanking her sister comes naturally, as does the need to hug her. Knowing Regina believes in her, and is actively defending her to Robin and the others - it's the sense of family that Zelena's always hoped for but never had. Until today.
She and Hades walk quietly to the cemetery, her daughter cooing softly along the way. Zelena's heart is absolutely overflowing. She has everything she's ever wanted. Part of her doesn't even care that they're going home. As long as she has her baby, her sister and Hades, she'd be quite content to settle down anywhere.
When the portal finally opens, there's still no sign of Regina or the rest of the heroes. That's unusual. They should have been here by now. The earth shudders beneath their feet, causing her daughter to cry. Pragmatism cuts through the emotional bubble of happiness she's been floating in all day. They need to go through now – this is Hades' one shot at freedom and she's not going to risk that or her baby by waiting around. But … Regina. Hades point is valid - they have nothing standing in their way. They're probably still waiting for Emma, giving her and Hook as much time as possible to get that ambrosia.
With her daughter's cries increasing, Zelena makes her choice. She clutches the infant tight against her and steps into the swirling vortex. A whole new life awaits her now, and although uncertainty still flickers within her, she hopeful that finally, after all these years and all the pain, she'll have her happy ending.