Chapter 12
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Zelena screamed as she swiped the glass off of her table. The sound of them crashing against the floor and shattering appeased her for only a moment. "You lied to me!" Zelena howled as she stared across the room at Walsh. "You told me that she had no idea how to control her magic!"
"The people in town believe that she doesn't."
"But you've seen her use it! In New York!" Which was astounding to the wicked witch. If Emma was capable of using magic in a world where magic did not exist she was truly the most powerful white witch in this generation and dozens of the ones to have passed.
Walsh snarled, "Stay out of my mind!"
"Do you realize what this means?"
"Yes." Walsh smiled. "She has the ability to stop you." Walsh hissed. "And finally free me from you."
Zelena screamed as she slammed her hands down on the table in front of her. The wind in the room picked up and sent Walsh back twelve feet till his back collided with the wall. "We shall see how long I will still need you." Because now. Now she had Henry. And with the time approaching. She hadn't the time to worry about being betrayed. She needed Emma Swan out of the picture for the next 48 hours. And the best way to do that was to use the boy whose heart she held in a chest just behind her. It was time to put him to good use.
Zelena went and took the heart out of the chest, smiling at the glowing gold heart as it rested in her hand. "Henry, my pet. It is time for you to come to me, we have work to do."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"This is who we're dealing with." Regina said as she turned the laptop around to show the group surrounding her the video recording.
"That's…" Mary Margaret gasped, "That's Zelena. The midwife. She…she's supposed to stop by the apartment this afternoon."
"What?!" Emma and Charming both exclaimed at the same time.
"She came up to me in the diner the other day. She seemed…nice enough. She wished to know when I was due. We spoke for a little while before being interrupted."
"She's supposed to come to the apartment…today?" Charming wished he was wearing his sword. His hand flexed with the need to grasp the pommel of it.
"There has to be a reason for that. She couldn't have wanted to meet with you so soon to your due date without reason." Regina just couldn't figure out what that reason would be. Why would Zelena need Snow and the baby? What did she have to gain from the unborn infant?
"We can use that. She doesn't know of the recording. That we've now all seen her face. We can set a trap for her in the apartment." Robin was still hoping that they could set a trap to catch the woman who'd so callously attacked his Regina.
"We are not using my wife and child as bait!" Charming hissed.
Snow protectively put both hands on her stomach. She and Charming refused to ever put another of their children in the type of danger they had put Emma.
"Why not mate, you've used one child for the greater good. Why not do so again?"
"Now really isn't the time to be bringing me into the fight." Emma complained as she looked at her father and Hook. She sighed heavily, she hated to agree with Hook, but she had no choice. "Hook's right, David."
"Emma how could you think that! We did what we thought was right."
Emma turned to her mother, her shoulders already dropped in defeat. There was never going to be a winner when it came to this subject. They had all suffered because of the decisions that were made.
"You sent me to another world when I was only an hour old hoping for the best!" Emma didn't want to argue about this again. But this particular wound would never heal. And it was just festering the longer she thought about how her parents were replacing her with a re-do baby. It was exactly where she couldn't afford to be hit, and it had already been mentioned by the wicked witch and Walsh today and she'd remained quiet then. But she was not about to sit here and let her parents excuse themselves of the fault in their actions. Just as she hadn't let Regina get away with the fault in hers. She was just feeling a little raw when it came to her abandonment issues today.
"You sent me away because someone told you to. And now you'll have learned your lesson and refuse to put yourself in a controlled trap when it's not just your child on the line but mine as well?" Emma was outraged at that. Until they broke this curse Henry was going to suffer and Emma couldn't stand for that. Her mother was just going to have to buck up.
"There is no control when it comes to this woman. You have to know that Emma. Look at what she's capable of!" David motioned all around them. "She's more powerful than Regina!"
"And I'm more powerful than her!" Emma exclaimed, shocking her parents. "She's afraid of my power. Terrified of it. And frankly, so am I."
"But Emma, you don't even know how to control your powers…"
"It seems…Ms. Swan is capable of a great many things when she feels threatened." Regina's voice surprised all three Charmings.
"Or when scared." Emma whispered softly into the open room, and the only one to hear her was Ruby she said it so quietly.
Regina pressed play on the laptop and allowed everyone in the room to witness just how powerful Emma's magic was. They saw how the screen became distorted as Emma's magic sparked around her, but could still make out how well she had handled both the Wicked Witch and her lackey.
"She is capable of protecting her unborn sibling. Of that I am most certain. What I am uncertain of, is whether either of you have the courage to trust her with it." Regina understood that she was putting Snow and Charming in a difficult position. If they refused the idea now it would not only be refusing a good idea, but it would be a statement of fact against their daughter. It would show everyone present in this room, just how little faith they had in anyone but themselves when it came to the protection of their unborn child. And honestly, Regina thought they weren't capable of it themselves in any realm.
Snow held Regina's eyes, recognizing the challenge in her former step-mother's gaze. Regina played dirty, but then again. They all did every once and a while. Regina was just the best when it came to subterfuge.
"I want a detailed plan. I want to know that no matter which way she comes into my home she can't leave on her own. Possibly with me as a captive." Snow finally said aloud, making the decision for her and for Charming.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Tell me again why you want to leave your heart with that woodsman?" Emma asked as she waited for the cost to be cleared. She and Regina had stayed at the Inn after everyone else had left. Snow and David to make it to the meeting with Zelena and Hook and Robin to get to their posts.
"It's better than allowing Zelena to have it."
"Why do you think she's after your heart?" Emma asked quietly, afraid that they might wake Henry. Ruby had said he'd finally fallen asleep after complaining of pain for most of the day. They were both unwilling to leave Henry's side for longer than they had to, especially knowing that he wasn't well.
"The only spells that I've seen to travel into the past have all included the sacrifice of someone's heart. Most dark spells, powerful spells, require a sacrificial life. And in our world the greatest symbol of that was a person's heart, still beating from their chest."
"And because she seems focused on getting to you, you think it's because she needs your heart."
"The heart of a family member, someone who shares your blood would only make the spell that much stronger. Just as blood magic is one of the strongest magic a caster can use. My thought is, in using my heart; it will amplify the spell enough for it to work."
"So you believe that she's your sister now?"
Regina frowned for a moment, "I have no evidence to say she isn't. But a growing pile to believe that she is."
"When does she need to do the spell?" Emma asked, realizing that if Zelena was trying to use all elements to her advantage then maybe there was some cosmic reason why her time table had accelerated.
Regina was impressed that Emma would think of something only she had previously thought of. "There is an alignment with Pluto, mercury, and the moon."
"And the significance to that?" Emma asked, clueless as to what it would mean for all three to be aligned.
"I'm not sure myself. But it would explain why she has been so aggressive the last two days. Her time table has been changed."
Emma nodded, becoming quiet as she contemplated everything and nothing at the same time. "Do you think this is going to work?"
"Are you asking if I think the plan will work, or if you are capable of protecting your mother?" Regina read between the lines that Emma stood worrying un-neededly between.
"Both." Emma's gaze fell down to the floor.
"I think that you are capable of the incapable Ms. Swan." Emma looked up, noticing how close she was to Regina in this moment. When all she wanted to do was lean forward and kiss the woman who knew just what to say to make her feel more like herself. "And every time I've ever doubted you, you've surpassed expectations."
"From anyone else I'd take that as a compliment. From you, it could mean anything." Emma fidgeted. They were standing in the hallway just outside Henry's bedroom, waiting for the text to come from David. Once they got the text Regina would transport them into the apartment while Hook stood in wait in the stairwell of the apartment building and Robin sat across from it on the adjacent roof if she chose to leave through the window and fire escape.
Regina's eyes softened as she saw just how nervous and anxious Emma was. Gently she took ahold of Emma's hand and squeezed it. "You will be fine, Ms. Swan." Regina saw Emma's eyes dip away from her eyes and remain riveted on her eyes. "I have faith in you."
Emma thought it was stupid, especially since in the next few minutes she was going to be pulled into a fight with a powerful sorceress, but she was charmed to know that aside from everything going on. Regina had faith in her. And for now, that was more than enough.
"Regina I…" Emma swallowed thickly as she tugged on the hand that held her own, pulling the slender woman forward. Her heart raced against her chest as she focused on Regina's lips and how they parted in surprise as Regina realized just what Emma planned.
Emma held her breath when she realized Regina wasn't going to stop her. A part of her mind wondered why. Why Regina had never seemed as appalled by the idea of them as lovers from the beginning. Why Regina had been kind rather than defensive and attentive rather than evasive. Perhaps Emma was just seeing things she wanted to. Maybe she was making up lies to appease her own heart. But for a moment she knew that Regina was going to let her kiss her. And in that moment she knew that she wasn't the only one who'd felt something before the second curse had been cast.
"Emma…" Regina's voice was nothing more than a breathy gasp as she could practically feel the touch of Emma's lips against her own. The longing within the very pit of her stomach grew. She had wanted to taste Emma's lips since the ridiculous woman had pushed her aside and been sucked into the portal to the Enchanted Forest two years ago. She had longed for Emma's return after. The woman had helped her create magic.
With just a touch they had created such powerful magic together. Their bond was one of pure magic. They were capable of fantastical things when they worked together and when they used magic together, it was like nothing Regina had ever felt before. She could feel Emma's emotions. She could see into the woman in ways no one else would ever see her. Just like she was sure Emma knew more about her than anyone ever would.
Regina may not have been able to admit to anyone but herself the truth. But she was always honest with herself. Sometimes to a fault. And she knew from the moment that Emma saved her from the fire Rumple set, to the time Emma had defended her against her parents in Neverland, a part of her heart would always lie with Emma. Just like a part of it would always lie with Daniel.
Regina had accepted her fate to be alone, to be without the love of someone whom she could be herself with. Even now she feared that she would lose Robin if she were to reveal all of her darkness to him. That fear did not exist when she looked at Emma. She knew no matter how different they were, they were also the same.
Whatever it was Regina was going to say was lost to them forever. The sound of her phone stopped them both cold.
It was David.
It was time.
"We will finish this, later." Regina was firm in her statement. "Close your eyes." She only waited to see that Emma had followed her instructions before she transported them out of the hallway and into Snow's apartment, inside the bathroom. As was part of the plan, Emma would be in this room closest to the action and Regina would be waiting upstairs in the master bedroom for her cue.
With a final glance Regina disappeared from sight, leaving Emma flushed and far more anxious than she had been before. She was only a little disoriented from the transportation. Regina promised that the more she did them, the less affected she would become by them, until they were as natural to Emma as they were to Regina. Emma just wished that time would be here already. Her stomach was already in knots and the transportations nausea did not help.
Just beyond the door Emma could hear her mother and Charming conversing with Zelena. She had to give it to her parents. They didn't sound any different than normal. Which was good, any differences in attitude and Zelena would know that they were on to her.
Emma felt like she was waiting an hour before her mother finally gave the signal. "Would you be so kind as to make some tea, David?"
"Of course. Would you like any, Zelena?" David asked as he stood up slowly putting himself in-between Zelena and Snow as if he were about to walk around her and into the kitchen.
"I would love some. Would you like me to make it, I have a special blend that is just to die for."
Charming's eyebrow ticked at the turn of phrase, once again wishing he had his sword. He noticed Regina on the balcony on the second floor by the stairs. She was focused and muttering something he couldn't hear. He wished she'd finish already so he could get Snow as far away from this woman as possible.
"I'm sure it is splendid, sis, but he's not interested." Regina stated from the second floor, catching Zelena by surprise. Before the redheaded witch could escape Regina finished casting her spell and the wicked Witch froze in place.
Emma came out of the bathroom and saw the struggle Regina was having keeping Zelena contained. Regina was already sweating and her arms were trembling with the effort to hold Zelena.
David was a few feet away from the door with Snow when it burst open and Hook came in with Leroy and Ruby behind him. Ruby tossed Charming his sword the moment she had the time. Leroy was just about to reach for Snow's hand to lead her to safety, as it was his job to protect his Princess, when Regina lost her hold of Zelena.
Zelena waved her hand angrily through the air sending Leroy back out the door. Hook was pushed against the wall and Ruby was flipped right off of her feet into door they'd all just burst through.
Emma saw Regina panting as she shot a fireball at Zelena to distract the witch. Emma tried to make her magic work. Tried to send the bolts of electricity she had so easily formed the last time at the wicked witch. But nothing happened.
"David get her out of here!" Emma screamed as she grabbed a hold of the lamp sitting on the table closest to her and went to hit Zelena with it like a bat.
Zelena saw her coming easily and sent her skidding across the floor and into the kitchen island.
Without the added backup Charming couldn't risk staying to fight the witch. He needed to keep Snow safe. "Run!" David urged Snow.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Zelena pulled Charming and Snow further into the room, and closed the door. Blocking Leroy and the other dwarves from rushing into the apartment to help.
Emma groaned as she forced herself to stand up. Charming and Snow were in the opposite corner of the apartment, just beneath the stairs that Regina was on, tossing fireball after fireball at Zelena, in the same manner Emma had done with her white lightning, except Zelena was laughing as she easily batted away Regina's flames.
"Anytime, Ms. Swan!" Regina encouraged Emma, realizing that she was only stalling the witch. She was trying to work her way in front of Charming and Snow to keep them somewhat protected against the more powerful caster.
Emma felt her heart racing against her chest as adrenaline pumped through her veins. She stood up and worked her way to the other side of the apartment. Trying desperately to make her magic work. To channel it the way that she had back in Regina's office. Sparks began to fritz around her hands but it wasn't enough. There wasn't enough.
Emma watched as Hook tried to charge forward against Zelena from her left flank while Regina continued her assault. The redheaded witch didn't even flinch as she flicked Hook back against the wall like he was nothing more than a bug and still she continued to deflect Regina's attacks.
"Get her out of here, Charming!" Regina insisted, knowing that no matter what, Zelena could not get her hands on Snow and the baby.
It was then that Emma saw Zelena become bored. She started on the offense, forcing Regina to step back with each of her attacks until Regina was cornered in the same area as David and Mary Margaret.
It was when Emma saw the fear and panic in Mary Margaret's eyes as she clutched at her stomach that something inside of her flipped to 'on'. The small sparks of electricity suddenly grew and once again circled around her like her own personal whirlwind shield of white magic.
She threw her arms out, sending the magic towards Zelena. The first hit catching the woman right in the center of the back. She screamed in pain as it burned right through her clothes.
"Leave them alone." Emma ordered as she started on her own offensive, happy to see that this time she was able to drive Zelena away from her family, trapping her between herself and Regina.
Emma's back was to the wall of windows now as she took up the place in front of her parents as Regina had circled around the apartment with Zelena to keep it so the wicked witch was always between them. As was the plan from the beginning. With the both of them attacking her at the same time more of their attacks would hit.
It was just as Emma knocked Zelena to the ground, the wicked witch panting as she knelt on the floor, that the windows behind Emma blew inward. Charming wrapped Snow in his arms and spun them around so the glass hit him. Emma turned just in time to see a flying monkey come flying right at her. The sound of her name being screamed was the last thing she heard before everything went dark.
End Chapter 12
