There was less than a weeks left.
Regina had marked off every day on the calendar. It was getting harder and harder to look at it. The worst thing was that today was Emma's birthday.
Regina was tempted to rip the calendar from the wall, but she didn't. She just traced Emma's birthday with her finger. She had marked it with a heart with Emma's name in the middle. That date was marked as something special because it was the day that Regina was going to ask Emma on a date. It was cliche', but she thought it just felt right to do.
Henry raced into Regina's office, "Mom!"
She turned around before Henry almost knocked her over.
"Henry? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"The school was canceled for today. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting for us outside."
She held tightly onto Henry, "Why would they be out there?"
"It's Ma's birthday and since they couldn't celebrate it with her, they wanted to do it with us."
Regina kissed the top of Henry's head, "How are you doing?"
"I miss her so much, Mom. She needs to come home now, I don't think I can wait any longer!"
She brushed the hair out of his face and knelt down in front of Henry, "You need to be brave for her, Sweetheart."
"Why? She's brave enough."
"Yes, but she needs our strength too."
"Can our love save her?"
"Yes, love can do anything. It transcends time and realms."
Henry had a serious look on his face, "We better start sending her our love ASAP."
Regina was do damn proud of her son. She stood up and they walked hand in hand out of her office.
Snow and Charming hugged the two of them.
"We are spending today as a family."
"Family?"
Regina was so confused. These two were always pleasant towards her, but not once did they refer to her as family.
"Yes Regina, you have always been family. I admit that we did a poor job of showing it." Snow said.
"We're here now and that's all that matters now." Charming said.
Regina felt tears in her eyes.
xxx
The four of them had walked towards Granny's Diner. Granny had closed it down for the day so that the four could have peace and quiet.
Regina used her magic to unlock the door and the four of them sat down at a booth that Regina, Emma, and Henry frequently sat in.
There waiting for them was a single cupcake, an exact replica of the one Emma had alone in her apartment all those years ago.
Regina used her magic to conjure up a hologram showing Emma blowing out the candle on her cupcake.
"Happy Birthday, Emma."
For a second, Regina could've sworn that she saw Emma smile at her.
xxx
Emma waited until the Evil Queen had left her before she sat down in front of the large mirror. She learned of a plan that the Evil Queen tried to keep a secret from her. The Savior knew that she had to save her family, even if she was risking her own life by doing so.
"Genie, I need your help!"
Sidney Glass appeared in the form of a genie, "How may I be of service, Princess Emma?"
"Can you look into other mirrors from different realms?"
"Yes, I can. Why do you ask?"
"I need you to help me send a message to Regina Mills in Storybrooke, Maine."
"Very well, one moment."
xxx
Regina had excused herself to the restroom and surprised when she saw Sidney Glass staring back at her.
"I didn't know you were a Peeping Tom."
"Hello Your Majesty, I am not the Sidney Glass from your realm."
"Yes, I just noticed."
"I have a message for you from Princess Emma."
"Show me at once!"
Emma had appeared in the mirror and she a sight for sore eyes.
The light had faded from her eyes, her hair was no longer luscious and wavy, and Regina could have sworn that she could see Emma's collar bone sticking out in an unhealthy manner. It was easy to see with that metal collar around her neck. Her skin wasn't full of life, but was sickly pale.
"Regina, I don't have much time, so please listen." Emma's voice sounded so hollow and Regina put her hand up to the mirror.
"Oh Emma…"
"Listen to me, dammit!"
Regina nodded.
"The Evil Queen is coming to St…."
The last thing Regina saw before Emma disappeared was her being dragged away.
xxx
"How dare you defy me like this!"
Emma was being dragged by her hair, but said nothing. She felt her heart fill with hope the moment that she saw Regina. She wasn't going to let the Evil Queen destroy it.
The Evil Queen used her magic to throw Emma against the bed frame. The Savior felt the wind get knocked out of her. She could hear the Evil Queen make her way slowly towards her.
Emma tried to lift herself. If she was going to lose her life, she sure as hell wasn't going to while lying on the floor or begging for mercy. The pain coming from hitting the wood was nothing compared to never seeing her family again.
The Evil Queen used her heel to press down on Emma's shoulder as she tried to sit up.
"Your warning isn't going to save them. In fact, it makes me want to hurt them even more than before."
"Over my dead body."
"You can't kill me while our blood oath is still active."
"Who said it still was?"
Emma looked at the mark and saw it disappear.
"No! What the hell did you do?!"
"I chose the day you were born. Ironic isn't it? At least your family will have an easy time remembering your death."
Emma had stared death in the face plenty of times, but this might be the real deal.
"You better look me in the fucking face before you kill me."
The Evil Queen used her magic to pin Emma down as she gripped her jaw tightly. The blonde's body was so fragile at this point that if the Evil Queen used anymore force, she would break Emma's jaw.
"Why so you bother acting so tough and mighty while I hold your life in my hands?"
"I never learned to give up so easily."
"You didn't show that before."
"You might have broken my mind and body, but there was no way in hell that you could break my spirit."
"Such bold words for a woman that is about to die."
The Evil Queen was about to set Emma on fire when a glowing light surrounded her and she was gone. She stood there dumbfounded as her prisoner had escaped.
How was this even possible?
"Genie, I demand you tell me where Emma Swan wanted you to relay the message to Regina!"
"Storybrooke, Your Majesty."
The Evil Queen threw another magic bean on the floor, but nothing happened.
"What is the meaning of this?" She shouted.
"The Blood Oath, Your Majesty, is preventing it from happening. You must wait at least a week."
xxx
Emma blinked in confusion as she was teleported away from the Evil Queen. She laid on the ground and heard the wind flowing through the trees.
"Where am I?" Her voice felt so hoarse and it stung so badly.
When was the last time she had anything to drink?
She felt pain wracking her body as she tried to stand up.
"Emma!"
Emma didn't have time to look up before her Dad scooped her up in his arms as though she were a little girl and not a grown adult.
"Hey, you miss me?"
Her Mom had tears streaming down her face.
Emma tried to smile, but was too weak to make full one, so she did a half smile.
"Happy Birthday, Ma." Henry whispered as he kissed her cheek.
"Where's Regina?"
"I'm here, Emma."
Regina stepped out from behind.
Emma had reached out her hand towards Regina, who held on tightly to her hand. She watched as the blonde woman put it against her cheek.
"I really missed you, Regina."
Regina did her best not to cry.
"We're going home." Regina said as she used her magic to send them all to her home.
xxx
Regina and Snow got to work taking care of Emma as she listened to Charming and Henry talk quietly to her.
"Henry, Emma needs her rest now."
"Five more minutes, Mom, please?"
Regina sat in a chair, "Alright Henry, five more minutes."
Henry was kneeling next to Emma, holding her hand the entire time.
"They canceled school today for your birthday. Mom showed us a hologram thing of you blowing out the candle on your cupcake when you turned twenty eight."
"You did that, Regina?"
"Yes, it was only fitting since you couldn't be here…"
"Thank you, Regina."
Henry wanted to say more, but Regina shook her head, "You need to let her sleep. Your grandparents have offered to take care of you while your mother recovers."
"But…"
"No buts, Kid, listen to your mom."
"Okay, Ma. I want to know if anything new comes up."
"You'll be the first to know, Henry."
"Time to go, Champ. Say bye to your moms."
Henry kissed Emma's cheek and then Regina's.
"Bye Ma and Mom. I will keep you two safe." Henry had this determined look on his face.
"And you'll do a wonderful job." Regina said with a smile.
Snow closed the door behind her as the three of them walked back to the Charmings' apartment.
Regina focused on Emma, "What happened?"
"Not now, Regina, please."
She sat down next to Emma and held her hand, "You're safe now."
"Not yet."
"What do you mean?"
"She's coming here, Regina."
"How is that possible? She shouldn't be able to leave her realm."
"Magic beans."
"Those are so rare to find."
"She somehow had two of those damn things."
"Is she here yet?"
"I don't know yet. She caught me so…"
"How did you get here? She obviously didn't let you go."
"She had the Blood Oath end today of all days."
Regina pursed her lips, "That's an choice."
"She thought killing me today would be fitting so nobody had to remember a new date for my death."
Regina pulled the blanket up until covered Emma. She had to have from shivering so much due to being so emaciated.
"I'm st-still shiv-shivering." Emma said as her teeth began to chatter.
Regina picked Emma up and frowned at how easy it was to do so. Usually this would be difficult, but it wasn't due to the state that Emma was in.
The younger woman rested her head against her Regina's chest. Emma snuggled as close to her body heat as she could.
As Regina ascended the stairs, she cradled Emma in her arms and kissed her forehead.
Regina laid Emma down in her bed, covered her up, and was walking out the door when she heard Emma's weak voice say, "Stay."
She pulled over her rocking chair and sat in it.
"No, here." Emma mumbled as she patted the other side of the bed.
Regina got under the covers and held Emma in her arms.
"Don't ever leave me again, Emma."
"I won't, Regina." Emma replied as she drifted off to sleep.
If Emma had died right then and there, it would be okay because was with Regina, at long last.
xxx
A week had passed so slow for the Evil Queen. As soon as the Genie told her it was time, she threw down the magic bean again. She descended down into the portal.
She would teach Emma a lesson and show her what happened to those who humiliated her.