I don't OUAT
Sorry for the really long time without updates- I had exams , which were Hell. But now I am FREEEEE.
Thank you for the support and everything, it means so much to me. You guys are the best!
I hope you enjoy : )
It is heart-breaking, how Regina clutches to Henry and mutters things to him Emma cannot catch from her place on the kitchen ground. He finally pulls back, and she wipes his hair from his face and kisses his forehead tenderly. Emma flaps her wings, and paces as she watches them. She hisses when she catches sight of the dried tears on Henry's cheeks( it had been actually sadder than Mufasa's death to watch Henry beg his mother to just 'stop fighting, por favor mami' when Regina had panicked, and tried to overpower the queen's control over her)
The two separate, and Regina looks at Emma. " Do not trust her" she warns, and Emma just nods several times before allowing Henry to pick her up. She is fully prepared to break arms if the queen even fucking thinks about hurting their son, and even Henry wouldn't be able to stop her. Which he would probably try, because he never wants to hurt people and to complicate things a lot, the queen is his mom as well.
Maybe he should get therapy again. He does occasionally talk to Archie, but it isn't really therapy anymore. Then again, that guy turns everything into therapy because the last time Emma talked to him, he started an entire conversation of what her wardrobe change could mean for her psyche and just generally made her uncomfortable. She is still thinking about that encounter ( and how she can avoid any others like it) when Henry clutches her tighter.
When she glances up, she sees why: they have arrived at Regina's vault, and its doors are creeping open.
Henry takes a deep breath, and hesitates for several more seconds before slowly walking into the vault. As soon as they are inside, the doors close. " Yup. We are definitely behaving like those people that die at the beginning of a horror movie" Henry mutters, sounding more weary and annoyed than afraid. His heart is racing though, and Emma almost cries out because of how tight his grip on her is.
His grip slackens when they actually get to where there are still potion ingredients, and the slightly gross smell of rooms that are never aired. Henry takes a careful step forward, and stares at the shadowed figure in front of them. " I am here. Like I promised, so you cannot hurt anyone" he says.
The queen steps forward. Emma had expected corsets, leather pants, jewellery, hats and odd hairdo's- but instead, she is wearing a pantsuit and her hair almost exactly like Regina's. Emma narrows her eyes, and starts to wriggle in Henry's arms until he sets her down gently and Emma can stand in front of him with her wings wide.
"Henry- " the queen breaths, and Emma flaps her wings and pushes against the queen's legs when she tries to get closer to Henry. Except the queen just rolls her eyes, and flicks her fingers and then Emma is gliding over the floor and can't get to them.
" Henry – " the queen repeats, and starts to reach for him. Emma stops flapping her wings crazily for a moment when the queen's expression drops as soon as Henry holds up his hands to keep her from hugging him.
"I know you are not my mom. You are just the part of her that is terrible, and now you are trying to hurt everyone. Even my mom".
" Henry, Regina attempted to kill me".
" You are the part of her who hurt people. A lot"
" I am the part which made her strong".
" That is not being strong, that is being evil!".
" Henry Daniel Mills- "
" I want you to stop hurting people, and- ".
" I will only hurt those who deserve it ".
" They don't deserve it! They are my family, and I love them".
Emma throws herself against the invisible barrier when the queen touches Henry's chin. " You deserve a better family than them. They are self-righteous, selfish and spoiled. They think they are so good while they make others suffer for them".
" They are heroes and- they can make mistakes".
The queen's eyes harden. " But I cannot? Because I am a villain".
"You're literally mom's worst part! That is how this works- there is not supposed to be good in yo- ".
"Henry- " Emma screams when the queen gently presses her hand against Henry's chest, like she is going to rip - " you have the heart of the truest believer in there. Do not pretend like you do not harbour the belief that I have some of what you perceive to be Regina's goodness, as well".
Henry swallows. " Do you?".
" Regina is not good. She is weak, foolish woman playing a role because she is terrified of losing you. She has allowed love to weaken and mollify her – surely, you cannot think she truly loves Snow White of all people? " the queen is sneering, and it should terrify all of them. But Henry is just looking at her with a very Regina-like expression, the one she has whenever people are coming up with bullshit excuses
" Yes. And you do, too " he suddenly says, with all the certainty in the world
" What?" The queen laughs. " Henry, I assure you I feel nothing for Snow but hatred".
" I think you loved her. Mom told me that – that you just loved her at first, but that you started to resent her because your marriage was really awful and other things. But you loved her first, and you still cared for her even when- ".
" That girl took everything from me. She trapped me, and turned me into a pretty possession that belonged to a man everyone thought was a hero. She betrayed my confidence, and caused my true love's death. She was a spoiled, selfish and utterly oblivious person and that is all she will ever be. And even if Regina loves her- I am not Regina, am I?".
" You say you love me".
" Of course-".
" But if you really are not my mom, and if you really hate grandma, then you are lying and you do not love me. If you are only who my mom was when she was the evil queen, then you are not my mom and you could never love me" Henry says it calmly, but his eyes are pained. The queen looks so much like Regina that it must be like travelling back in time, and doubting his mother's love for him all over again.
" Henry, I do love you. That is why I am doing this- because your family will only disappoint and hurt you. You cannot trust them".
" They are my family, and they love me and would always do what is best for me".
"They would do what they think is best"
" I am not going to turn my back on my family, and you are NOT - " .
" The first time we watched Star Wars together, you immediately wanted to see it again. You wanted to be a jedi, Batman or a firefighter. You loved Halloween, and we would spent weeks planning your costume. Whenever I told you stories, you would add your own ideas and sometimes we would write them down. You loved drawing, and whenever you found a book or comic character you particularly liked, you drew it and you drew us next to them as superheroes"
Henry looks stunned. The queen smiles. " You see , mi principito, you are my son. I have raised you as much as Regina has, and I have loved you from the first moment I held you in my arms"
" If that is really true, then you wouldn't hurt my family".
" I am your family. You do not need them, Henry, and I can offer you so much more than they ever could".
" I already get everything I need from them- ".
" I could give you servants, so you would never have to clean your room. I could use my magic to give you the powers those comics always talk about. Any person you liked would have to love you- you could have anyone you wished for ".
" I just want someone who likes me as much as I like them, and who understands me. Like mom and dad".
" Dad – you mean the worthless person who abandoned your mother without a second thought? Who was as much a coward as his father, and left her to pay for his crimes?".
" Don't talk about my dad that way! He died a hero, and he didn't know- ".
" He knew what would happen to Emma, and he knew how she had been abandoned by anyone before him. He knew her parents left her on the side of the road, and how that must have damaged her. He knew about her foster parents choosing their 'own' child over her and yet did not think twice about letting her think another person had left her again. He knew how much he would hurt her, and he did it anyways"
Henry takes a step back, staring at the queen. Regina had never dared to criticized Neal too much ( and maybe she hadn't cared enough about Emma yet. Maybe), knowing Henry idolized the man and would begrudge any criticism. And Emma had never thought Henry's opinion could be swayed, had thought that the old argument 'it was to break the curse' would grant Neal forgiveness from any hero. And she had liked Neal, really had.
In the end, Henry had never really had to think about what Neal had done to his mom.
But now he looks at her, and Emma knows. She knows he is suddenly thinking of that moment on his castle a lifetime ago, when she had opened up about how much that first family had hurt her when they sent her back. And Henry is smart, intuitive and empathic. She takes a step back the moment his eyes tears up, and his cheeks heat and he looks ashamed.
" Mom- I am s-sorry" he says, and gods her head hurts immediately but she tries to at least get her voice back anyways.
"I didn't – you must've been really hurt" he whispers, and this time she actually gets to run towards him. Maybe keeping it up is just too exhausting( although that is unlikely, because Regina's magic sometimes seems an endless supply)or maybe there is a vastly different reason but the shield is gone so she runs towards Henry, he sinks to his knees and she first tries to hug him but then just jumps on his legs and presses against him.
" I am so sorry" his voice breaks, and gods does she wish it was puberty.
She tries to talk again, but her mouth tastes of iron and all that comes out is a sort of squeak and so she shakes her head and allows him to wrap his arms tightly (too tight) around her and bury his face against her. She can feel him shake, and she thinks it might be more than the thing with Neal. Despite how much she has hoped and later, when she had met him, tried to avoid it – he is not a stranger to doubting whether someone loves you, and questioning why people do things that hurt you.
She can't get the way he looked at the queen before he got angry out of her head. She wished she could tell him that he is loved, by any version of Regina, and by so many other people.
" Henry- ".
He slowly pulls back, and the queen almost falters when she sees the red eyes and the tears. Almost. Her voice is almost gentle too. " Your biological father should not be on a pedestal, especially not after hurting Emma like that".
"Like you care" Henry snaps
" I do. I would prefer not to hurt Emma. As long as she does not attempt to take you away from me, I have no issue with her".
" I won't be with you, you are not my mom. I already have two mothers, who love me and raise me and don't hurt anyone".
The queen shakes her head. " Regina hurt as many people as I did – why can you forgive that? ".
" Because she changed. She fought really hard, and she became a hero. And I know she was made into a villain and I was really angry at her for hurting people and lying but she has saved grandma and Storybrooke and fought for my family. And you want to hurt them. And you are lying , because you are the worst part of her and that part of her doesn't love".
"I love you. I want what is best for you, which is not living with a family that would give their children up with something as fickle as hope the only thing to protect them".
"You gave me up as well"
" I would not have given you up. I would have left town with you and Emma ".
" But you would have left the rest of my family under a curse ".
" Henry, you do not need them. You would be happier without them, I am sure".
Henry gives another Regina-like look, one that perfectly conveys contempt and slight disgust. " They are my family, and I love them".
" I could take you anywhere you wished. We could visit any foreign country, or go to any realm you wish to travel to. I might even be able to teach you magic".
" I do not even have magic".
" No, but you have the author's pen, and I am fairly sure you could give yourself magic that way. Or we can find some other way, if you wanted it".
"I don't. You can offer me nothing that would tempt me enough to be your son".
The queen smirks. "Oh really?" she waves her hand, and Emma tries to summon a fireball or anything the second she hears Henry scream, and she is thrown back herself. There is a lot of chaos, Henry yelling things and her blood rushing. She has the worst headache, and she can't move without feeling like she is pulling at least half of her muscles.
As soon as the pain becomes manageable, she is aware of her own voice.
" HENRY" it is high, broken and very hoarse but it is her voice. She pushes herself up, smiles and – sees Henry's relieved smile change to a grimace.
" Uh mom?".
" Yes- let him go, Regina" she orders the queen, who still has her arms wrapped around Henry even though he is no longer trying to run towards Emma.
" mom. You're naked" Henry says, and it is only then that Emma realizes he is looking away now, and still grimacing. She slowly looks down at herself and-
" REGINA !" she yells, as soon as she catches sight of her chest that is very much not covered by anything" Could you not have transformed and clothed me? ".
The queen slowly lets go of Henry, and smirks. Emma starts to stand up- only to barely hold in a curse when she falls and her hands burn as they get chafed as she uses them to catch herself. She kind of feels like she has a bad fever, so she doesn't try to get up again.
The queen stops next to her, and smiles. Emma's heart literally stops for several seconds when there is a rough hand grabbing her chin ,and glances at Henry ( he is still not watching, fortunately). She doesn't know the way her stomach drops when the queen slowly lets her chin go , and Emma feels a tug on her hair-
And watches the small feather in astonishment. "Am I covered in those? " she wonders, and Henry glances at her automatically, says something in Spanish she just knows is either a curse or 'gross!' , and covers his eyes. She rolls her eyes. " Now you are overdoing it. I am not Medusa, you know" .
" Mom, just put on clothes. Please".
" In would love to, but I don't think I can do much right now. Or anything, really" she glares at Regina. " What did you do to me, Regina?".
" The magic you attempted to use has exhausted you, and the transformation back to human is taxing as well".
" Just- help me?"
The queen leans in. " You think I will help you?".
" I am kind of pissed at you, but I am also starting to think you are a lot more like our Regina than you want us to think. So yes, you can help me. Or at least put clothes on me".
The queen chuckles, and Emma suddenly realizes she is still wearing a collar when the queen yanks on it for a second. " Why? I like you like this- " her voice drops " You are much more tolerable naked and – ".
" Okay, enough " Emma furrows her brow, and tries to concentrate. She immediately cries out, and feels her nose start dripping. She stares at the droplets of blood, and is just about to try again when there is purple smoke and she is wearing jeans, a black tank top and a leather jacket of really high quality, with swans decorating the sleeves.
The queen presses her fingers to Emma's temple, and Emma could seriously hug her for how the pain immediately disappears. " Do not be moronic like that again, for I will not be this lenient the next time " the queen scolds.
" Mom? What happened? Are you all right- " Henry finally drops his hand and looks her way. He hugs her, and grabs one of her arms to help her up. It is embarrassing, how she sways and has to lean on him until her head stops spinning.
She clutches her throat. "Can you vanish this thing?".
The queen chuckles. " No".
" I am not a pet, so vanish the da- the thing"
" Why did you even give her that? " Henry says, glancing at the collar. Emma is really glad he isn't looking at the queen, because her expression- well, it makes Emma's cheeks heat up, and her stomach tighten. Think of something gross, gods Henry is right there, think of something absolutely disgusting-
" It is very simple. I enchanted this collar, so that Emma will transform at midnight. I told you that you had two days, did I not? " .
"I don't- ".
" I am going to assume your dear parents will not yet accuse Regina. And you will not be conscious, Emma – ".
" You can't- ".
" Hush, Henry. You will not be conscious Emma, so you will not be able to explain anything, and I will tell Regina that she is only allowed to say things that will make people more suspicious of her- ".
"So it is true. You have my mother's heart" Henry says, staring at the queen with something very close to hatred. Emma is just wondering when her life got so weird that a hallucination would honestly make more sense.
" Mio chico intelligente " the queen says , smiling. " Of course you knew ".
" I thought so. When mom behaved like that- I thought someone may have abducted her, and impersonated her. But I saw the Q before it was gone so- " .
" You knew then " Emma finishes. Although he probably suspected before then, because he is ridiculously smart sometimes.
" I know my mom, so it was easy to see she wasn't herself. That something was going on, and as soon as I knew for certain it was you , it wasn't difficult to figure out what had happened. And you just confirmed it"
He looks at the queen. "And I am not going to let you hurt her".
" Oh, I am not going to ".
" You are not?" Henry says, looking about as suspicious as Emma feels right now.
" She can do that herself, she has proven quite exceptional at it these last years. Pathetic ".
" What- ".
" I am only telling you this, because I am offering you a deal".
Emma gently pushes Henry behind her, and takes a step towards the queen. Her head immediately starts throbbing, and for a second , she only sees black and all sound becomes really distant, like she is underwater. But at least it works, and she has her gun in her hand.
" We are not accepting your deal. The only deal I would take is one where you leave everyone alone, and I don't shoot you in return".
" Emma. If you harm me, you will also harm Regina. We are connected, so that any injury you inflict on me, you will also inflict on her. I already tol- ".
"HENRY!" Emma yells when the gun is suddenly ripped from her hands, and thrown away. She turns around to scowl at him. " You could have hurt someone!".
" The safety pin was still on. And you were going to hurt mom!" .
" I was- ".
Regina takes a step closer, smiles. " She will not be able to hurt me, mijo"
" She could, and then my mom would be hurt too " Henry is still glaring at Emma so he never sees Regina's face fall. If Emma had ever doubted whether this part of Regina could feel anything, she no longer has to ask that question. The split second Regina is not hiding her feelings, her expression makes Emma's throat close.
" I have magic, I can easily stop bullets Henry. So you do not have to worry about your mother".
" I – "
"No more talking. Listen " the queen says. Emma nearly surges forward and punches her when she realizes the gesture she just made, was to magic away Emma's voice or something. Like they're freaking Ursula and Ariel, Jesus Christ.
The queen paces. " My deal is the following. You will both leave Storybrooke with me , and Regina's heart will not be crushed. Snow and Charming will not end up in my dungeon ".
She snaps her fingers, and Emma feels her throat tingle. She correctly guesses her voice has returned "You can't crush Regina's heart, you just said so"
The queen smirks. " Oh, I have my methods. For now, this connection between Regina and I serves me well. But I could break that connection, and crush her heart".
" But you do not have your heart " Henry pipes in, brow furrowed. " Are you not only alive because mom still has her heart, and the connection between you means you can like share her heart without it having to be in your chest?".
The queen's eyes become almost soft when she looks at Henry. She doesn't quite look like Regina, but Emma could almost be fooled. "Very well, my little prince" she compliments. " It is true that I am alive, because Regina still has her heart and there is a connection between the two of us. But I assure you, I have a way to survive without Regina as my life support"
Henry crosses his arms. "I don't believe that. You're bluffing".
"Even if I am lying, I could still break our connection and either put her under a sleeping curse or some other induced coma" the evil queen slowly smiles, a smile that makes Emma look longingly in the direction of her gun, and her heart race. Even Henry pales a little. " Or I could use something a little nastier, perhaps something that will destroy her soul ".
Emma frantically tries to think of something, anything, that could mean they don't have to take this deal and can still help their family. Or – " What does this deal mean, really?".
She glimpses Henry's incredulous, betrayed expression but she ignores it. The queen, on the other hand, looks like someone just handed her Snow's head on a plate. " Are you considering it?".
"I just want to know what you even expect from us. Where would we even go? " If we have some time, we can break this curse. Or at least find some way to warn everyone, and make sure Regina doesn't hurt anyone.
" Mom, you can't seriously be considering – ".
Sometimes , she really wished she could use telepathy. If she could, she didn't have to settle for throwing Henry a look and hoping that his pretty devious mind (courtesy of Regina, definitely) gets that she is not actually considering telling their entire family to fuck themselves, but is instead doing something that could arguably be the most stupid and self-destructive thing ever. She is deceiving the evil queen.
" Henry, I am trying to protect you. Mom, dad and Regina would want that. They would do anything to protect you"
She looks at the queen again. " So? What exactly would you want us to do?".
" I would wish for you to pack your belongings, and never return to Storybrooke. I already have .. borrowed Jefferson's hat, so we could visit most of the realms if you wished to. We could see more of this world, and we could eventually find a place to move into".
Emma is sure that Henry has the same expression of suspicion and disbelief. He does share some of her expressions, after all . " And we are supposed to believe that is all you want? No death and destruction, or ripping out hearts and controlling people? ".
" That is never what I wanted ".
It is oddly unlike the queen. Not as much because of what she is saying, but how she says it. When she glances at Henry, she sees the same uncertainty and empathy she feels. She is pretty sure he is still angry and weary, but he also can't ignore that even the evil queen is a lot like his mom and seems to have the same deep and rotting scars Regina does.
Even if she often hides it. Even if she always tries to hide it.
" All right. So we would leave with you, and everyone in Storybrooke would be fine? ".
" I would only truly harm Regina, Snow and Charming- and not half as much as they deserve".
Emma shakes her head, crosses her arms. " No deal. I am not going to allow you to hurt any of them"
The queen chuckles. " I will hurt them regardless of what you decide. But if you leave Storybrooke with me- ".
" Wouldn't it bother you? That we only are with you because you forced us to ?" .
" As soon as you are away from your family's influence, you would see everything much clearer "she looks at Henry. " I could offer you a life that you would love".
" I love my life in Storybrooke".
" You just think you do, because you have so little to compare it to"
She looks at Emma, who feels the room suddenly become claustrophobic when there is a certain understanding in the queen's eyes. Like the queen is reading her mind, or using a dreamcatcher to see Emma's entire life, every moment she would never want anyone to see. " You did not want to be here, Emma. You wanted to leave for New York- we can go there. We could even live there, whenever we felt ready to do so".
It is a struggle, but Emma manages to keep her expression disinterested. She had thought she was okay in Storybrooke, that she was content. Turns out she just buried it, and forced herself to enjoy this crazy life and all the expectations. " I have my family in Storybrooke, and that is all I ever wanted".
There is that look again, the one that makes her shuffle her feet and look at the exit longingly. "Storybrooke is also a town filled with people that expect you to bring them their happy endings, to protect them and to put their happiness first. Even your parents- ".
" That isn't true! Grandma and grandpa love Emma, and just want her happy " Henry interjects.
The queen snarls. " Snow and Charming have their own expectations for the saviour "
" They never really wanted me to be the saviour. They thought giving up my magic was a great idea"
" That is the thing though, Emma" it is weird, how the queen almost looks at Emma likes she cares a lot. Like she admires her. She must be one hell of an actress. " They have never valued how special you are. They have an idea of who their daughter would become, and they fail to see how you may have your scars but you have become a better person than they could ever made you".
" Uh thanks?".
Regina looks at Henry. " And they expect you to be some sort of hero -even though they make faults themselves- and never feel things like envy, jealousy and anger".
" I don't want to feel that".
" No, but you sometimes will. And you should not feel like you are supposed to be kind and generous and selfless all the time. You are allowed to want things for yourself, and to hesitate when people ask you for help if it means you would endanger yourself or lose something you care about".
" I will always help people"
"If you are not going to offer to at least not hurt Regina and my parents, we can talk about this forever but you won't convince us. You will definitely not convince Henry".
Emma makes sure to shield Henry with her body again when the look in the queen's eyes changes. She even readies her magic, although that feels pretty much like beating her head against a wall. " I can be quite convincing "
"Sure, whatever"
" All right, Henry. If I cannot convince you by offering you voyages, material belongings or even people- then what about this?"
It is Henry's scream that makes her throw a punch, even though it is pretty much useless. She is burning, and all her muscles feel like she has suddenly tried to do a split and severely overestimated her body's flexibility.
"STOP " Emma tries to fight against the magic, she really does, but she can't keep her bones from changing. " YOU ARE HURTING HER".
Emma actually drops to the floor, but the only pain that registers is the one that is caused by Henry's sob. His eyes are wide, and there are tears but the most painful and startling thing is the way he is scowling. How angry he looks, and she isn't surprised when he rushes forward ( she can't even scream at him to stop him) and pushes at the queen.
"Henry- "
" If you would care for her you would not hurt her".
" I could remove the curse, and make sure no one ever hurts her. Is that what you want?".
Henry calms slightly. " Yes".
" Then that is my offer. You and Emma will leave town with me, I will only harm Snow, Regina and Charming and Emma will not only no longer have a curse to worry about, but will be safe from her destiny as the saviour as well ".
" You can't hurt any- "
Emma is still leaning on her hands, breathing shallowly, when she hears the queen walk her way. She hears Henry scream something about letting him go, but her head is so heavy and she can't look up no matter how much she struggles. Then it is yanked up, and she is staring into familiar brown eyes.
" Regina" she coughs. Stop hurting him, you idiot.
Her heart stops, then starts to beat really fast like it wants to run as much as the rest of her. The queen's hand is pressed against her chest, and Emma stares at her with widened eyes. She can hardly believe this. After everything, you are going to try that?
" You already let me take your heart once, for someone who most certainly did not deserve it "
"I don't- " she gasps. When Cora tried it, it was a really uncomfortable and wrong feeling. When Regina actually took her heart, it wasn't nice but it wasn't really unpleasant either. The queen does it, and it goes smoothly. She feels intense warmth that is quickly replaced with intense cold and then she is staring at her own heart in Regina's hand.
" NO! " Henry screams, but he doesn't move. Emma realizes the queen has probably use some sort of spell to freeze him, but it is slightly muted. Like, sure she kind of wants to punch the queen for it but she isn't immediately struggling to her feet to actually do it. Instead, she stares at her own heart ( it has less dark spots than she expected) and shudders as the grip on her heart tightens slightly. She feels warm again.
The queen turns back to Henry. " Wil you agree now, Henry?" she brings the heart closer to her lips " Or should I command Emma to- "
" No! Can we – can we think about it? Please?".
Emma shivers when Regina more or less presses her lips to the glowing heart in her hand. "Emma – ".
" It is my family, I love them, you can't- " and maybe it is how Henry is trembling, or how he looks furious and terrified and devastated all at once. Whatever it is, the queen hesitates but then nods. "You have a week"
Henry's shoulders drop slightly. He nods. He glares when the queen steps towards him, but doesn't step back. " I am going to transport you to home now, Henry. Your mother will stay behind, so I can speak to her – ".
" What - no. You can't – "
"I am going to have a conversation, not force her to commit murder. Calm down Henry"
" But- ".
" I can just as easily make you forget this ever happened".
Henry glares at her. "I would find out again".
" Most likely. But you would have no idea I was in possession of your mothers' hearts, would you?".
" No, but I would know something was wrong. And it would prove you could never be my mom, that you will always be evil".
" I am not evil – and you will understand that. Now, me and your mother need to talk "
" You can't hurt her".
" You have a week , Henry " is all the queen says, and then there is purple smoke and Henry is gone. At least he is safer there. Maybe she should worry about herself, but she can't when the queen looks exhausted and heart-broken for a second. Then she turns, and her entire expression changes.
The way the queen is watching her makes her kind of nervous, so she just blurts out the first thing on her mind. "Why do you even want me there? " at the queen's slightly confused and exasperated look, she elaborates " Why do you want me to leave Storybrooke with you guys? Why not just Henry?" She hadn't really thought to ask, but she had wondered for a moment. Oddly enough, Henry had not questioned it at all.
She stares when Regina just laughs, and shakes your head. " You either hide low self-esteem behind all the bluster and attitude or you are exceptionally dim. I hope it is the former".
Emma rolls her eyes. " Can you just- ".
" The truth is , miss Swan- " Regina saunters over her, and stops when she is incredibly close. " You are unrefined and rude. You barrelled into my town, ignoring my rules and restrictions, and pretended like you had any right to Henry even though it was a closed adoption. I have been annoyed and infuriated by you".
" Okay, so you are a masochist. Got it" Emma muttered.
" But I have also been awed. You are courageous, intelligent and caring. You do not divide the world into good and evil, but accept that the world is more complex than that. You understand me, and my past without just forgiving it. You challenge me and add something to my magic as well as to my life"
Regina says this all rather matter-of-factly, like Emma should already know. " So, Emma, I want you there because I rather enjoy your company when you are not attempting to be whatever bland, boring hero type or princess your parents would want you to be. I happen to admire the person you became, the one that is strong and empathic and independent".
" I don't- " Emma was going to protest, call Regina on her bullshit. Because really, if she liked Emma so much she wouldn't hurt her like this. Except then Regina grabs her arm to yank her up and she stumbles, and she suddenly is leaning on Regina, with her hands grabbing Regina's shirt and her lips pressed to Regina's cheek.
It is different, being this close to Regina, when her heart isn't in her chest.
" Are you going to hand me my heart back? ".
"That depends on what your answers will be"
" You haven't asked me any questions".
Regina throws her a look. " Do not be a smartass".
Emma just shrugs. " Fine, ask me then".
The queen smiles. " I wish you to help me hurt Regina".
" What- no. No way. No fucking way"
One time, Emma went to a party and drank too much. She didn't really have any friends, so she had to walk home all alone. And then someone grabbed her arm, and tried to pull her into an alley. It was so dark, and silent, and there were no people and Emma could hardly stand. She thought that would be the most terrified she would ever be.
It isn't. When the queen slowly moves the heart up, and Emma knows she is going to say 'hurt Regina' that is the most terrifying thing.
There is the sound of thunder, and several things around them explode. The queen is only barely on time when she summons the shield against the explosion of light magic bursting from Emma. Then the shield shatters, and the queen drops to the floor. Before she can get up, Emma gets to her feet and rips the hear from her grip. She stumbles back, gasping.
If I hurt her, I hurt Regina.
The queen pushes herself up again, looking remarkably calm. " Control your emotions, unless you want to blow us up" Emma blinks, and calms down enough to look around and assess all the damage around her ( glass everywhere, a crack in the floor, fires in the back). And that is when she realizes she is looking through an enormous amount of grey-coloured magic that behaves like a stormy cloud hovering around them.
" I don't know- " Emma stares at the hand suddenly covering hers. Around them, objects that had been flying wildly around the room like they were in the middle of a tornado suddenly drop to the floor. The magic disappears, and Emma's knees buckle. She pushes the queen away anyways.
The queen hardly seems to notice. "You must have been feeling very strongly for that to happen".
" You are not going to hurt her"
" Emma- "
" I mean it. Hurting me is one thing, but you made Henry cry several times already and Regina- ah" she looks down at her own chest. The queen's hand is still pressed against it, but the heart Emma had in her hand is now back where it belongs. It kind of hurts actually, and she takes too large breaths until the queen mutters 'calmly'.
" Why did you do that?".
The queen stumbles back, and stares at her own hand. Now she is the one who is breathing irregularly. Emma crosses her arms so she won't reach for the woman, and waits until she has composed herself. It doesn't take long. That expression Emma can't even figure out is replaced by a familiar smirk and the queen prowls towards her.
"Perhaps Henry will not be easily swayed. But you and I are similar, Emma"
" I wouldn't count on it".
The queen chuckles, and moves in for the kill. " We will see about that" she promises, and pulls her head back only to press a kiss to Emma's cheek, and vanish. Emma Swan is left standing in the middle of the remains of potions and mirrors, her cheek burning and her heart thumping. Just when it is starting to slow, there is pain that makes her black out-
When she comes to, she is a swan again.