Family Visit
Chapter Three
Regina didn't want to hope. When she hoped, she always ended up disappointed. But Henry's excitement was infectious. They had found out who the Author of the Storybook was. Maybe she would actually get her happy ending.
She cursed the day she had been too scared to walk into that tavern and meet Robin. She could have saved herself so much pain and trouble. She could have been happy. There wouldn't have been a Marion, but then there wouldn't have been a Roland either. And she adored that little boy.
Who'd have thought Captain Guy-liner's Sister would have the clue to solving the mystery? Still, stranger things had happened. Regina couldn't deny that the closer she got to the Swan/Jones residence the more nervous she got. Her dreams could be about to come true. Or at least she was one step closer to achieving them.
As she raised her hand to knock on the door, she felt a surge of power coming from inside. She knew the Gypsy was visiting but could she possibly have this much power and not know it? If it wasn't the Gypsy there then there was some serious trouble going on the other side of the door.
"Mum." Henry stood aside to let her inside. "We may have a problem." He led her into the living room.
The instant she came into the view of the group assembled she felt it. It was as though a shield had been put up between her and everyone else. "Do you honestly not know you are doing that?" She looked straight at the Gypsy.
"What is Esmeralda doing?" Emma had felt a surge of power when Belle had arrived and again when Regina had arrived, but had no idea what it was. Esmeralda appeared to be quite confused by Regina's question.
"She's shielding all of you from me." Regina couldn't see the shield but she could feel it. She sent a spark towards Hook knowing it wouldn't hurt the Pirate if she was wrong, but sure enough it bounced back before it could touch him.
"You could've just tossed a cushion at me Lass." Killian knew he was never in danger but Esmeralda didn't know Regina. Her stunt could have turned dangerous quickly. He squeezed his Sister's hand surprised to see what she could. That Regina was equal parts dark and light. He would bet that a year ago she would have been more dark than light.
"There had to be a hint of danger otherwise the shield would be taken down." Regina shrugged. "Besides, I could feel your Sister's power from the other side of the door."
"Do you think she's powerful enough to stop Gold?" Emma knew it would destroy Killian if anything happened to his Sister. Not to mention what it would do the Quasimodo who practically had the Gypsy sitting in his lap.
"What's the Imp got anything to do with this?" If Rumplestiltskin was planning something, they would all need to watch their backs.
"Belle saw him watching us when Esmeralda arrived." Charming offered Regina his seat. "None of us think it was just idle curiosity.
"At least he doesn't have the dagger or his hat." Snow tried to look on the bright side, but even she had to admit things weren't looking good. Rumplestiltskin always had an ulterior motive.
"You know him better than I do." Emma looked over at Regina. "Doesn't that just mean he'll be looking for another way to try and get Esmeralda's powers?"
Esmeralda looked at her brother. "Remind me again why you were so anxious for Quasi and I to visit?"
"I take it; it's not always like this." Quasi never would have agreed to visit if he had known Esmeralda would be in danger.
"In my defence, Rumplestiltskin had been banished from town and you were in danger from a madman who tried to burn you at the stake at the time." Killian knew he'd be hard pressed to get either of them to visit in the future.
Regina rolled her eyes. She hadn't seen the family resemblance between the Gypsy and Pirate when she had first arrived. Now that she had seen their flare for the dramatic and the familiar arched eyebrow, it screamed out to her. "Miss Swan's right. Not having the dagger and hat won't stop him, but perhaps the shield will." At some point the Gypsy must have seen that Regina could be trusted and the shield had come down as Regina could no longer feel the surge of power.
"So we need to be prepared for anything." Emma was so over the constant danger. What she wouldn't give for a quiet life with Henry and Killian.
"So nothing new there." Killian nudged Henry. "Go and get the globe Lad." If they wanted Regina's help then there needed to be something in it for her as well.
Henry did as he asked although it was obvious that he was confused by the request. Putting the globe on the coffee table, he stood back to see what it was needed for.
Esmeralda placed one hand on the storybook and the other was above the globe. Slowly the globe started to spin by itself. Suddenly it stopped and America began to glow. "Would you happen to have an Atlas?" Quasi had a feeling he knew what the outcome would be.
Henry fetched the Atlas and opened it to a map of America. Fascinated he watched as she repeated the action until Maine glowed. "Isn't that where we are?" She frowned. "Do you have one of the blank Storybooks just in case?"
"You think you might be tracking Henry because Snow gave him the book?" Regina struggled to fight back the disappointment.
"It's possible. Really, I'm just covering all possible outcomes." It was also entirely possible Merlin was watching from a distance. From what she could recall about the wizard, he was tricky at the best of times.
"We can go to the house and try again there." Snow knew Regina was disappointed but there was still hope.
"Let's try one more thing first." Emma fetched a map of Storybrooke from a nearby drawer. "If it shows this street then we'll test a blank book. If not then the apprentice knows more than he's letting on."
Once again Esmeralda repeated the action. "Where is this?" She was pretty sure the location on the map wasn't where they currently were.
Killian's jaw clenched. "That's not far from where the apprentice lives."
"Then it's time I pay him a visit." Emma was going to be able to keep her promise to Regina after all.