The Fragility of Losing Someone – Chapter 3
A/N: Alas, apologies for the delay in updating this chapter. Snow has invaded my little village, so I've had a day off school. And no, I don't mean the character. I mean the weather ;). So, apologies in advance for the angst that is later in this chapter, I don't know what came over me… Enjoy. And please, don't forget to review!
The bell chimed as Regina stepped through into Rumple's dark shop. It looked the same as ever, with them scary dolls, David and Kathryn's old windmill returned to its original place, his desk looking pristine. She didn't like Rumplestiltskin, but now she had a sure reason – Henry. The ex Mayor was conscious of the woman behind her; the woman who was responsible for giving her Henry, yet making her life hell for the last 9 months. Her mind flickered to the memories of their shared vision, of the hazy view of the dungeon with that limp form, looking so small.
"Rumple!" The brunette shouted, her eyes flashing dangerously as she tried to contain the little magic she had left. She knew magic was unpredictable in Storybrooke, even with the curse broke, but it was evident something was slowly taking away her magic, like a tight grip was pulling it from her.
"Well, what do I owe this pleasure, dearie?" The older man pushed through the beaded door, an tattered dirty apron covering his dark suit. His polished cane was gripped firmly in his right hand, the left holding what seemed to be a large magnifying glass.
"You know exactly why I'm here." Regina's voice seethed through her clenched teeth, digging her nails into her palms as she tried to not let her magic drain away from her fingertips. She had been so good before that little imp had showed it to her, forcing her to the side of evil so different to the young girl she'd once been.
"Don't forget Madame Mayor, you do have company," The dark haired man nodded towards the woman stood awkwardly behind her, hand resting lightly on the holster on her hip. His Scottish accent swirled scathingly around her old title, which was now taken over by Snow, the tone teasing.
"Don't be so foolish, Ms Swan. A gun won't stop him. Believe me, I've tried." Regina murmured, before turning back to Gold and taking a step forward.
"Back to the subject, I really don't know what you're talking about." Rumple turned, making his way towards the doorway, his limp causing his movement to waver slightly. "Have a good morning."
Emma watched his retreating from move into the back room, releasing her gun from its holster and gripping it tightly. Regina be damned, the gun had never failed her before, other than with the dragon of course; she was pretty sure Gold, regardless of his magic, was just human flesh and blood, and she was certain a bullet would hurt like a bitch.
Emma warily took a step forward, bringing herself to the brunette's side. "You've got Henry, trapped in that black castle of yours, and we want you to give him back to us" The Sheriff was surprised at the sturdiness of her voice, her lack of sleep was starting to get to her, noticing her gun shake in her hands.
The figure moved into the doorway again, his eyes looking straight into Regina's, "We both know who's taken your son, Madame Mayor, and I can't wait for the little family reunion."
"Regina, who the hell was he talking about?" Emma stormed after the brunette, the only sound in the street being the clicking of the older woman's heels. She noticed the same emotion she'd seen during the mine incident, that emotion swirling lightly around the brown orbs.
"I don't want to talk about it, Sheriff. I expect you to rally the 'troops' as soon as you can." Regina murmured as she walked up the drive of her mansion. It all seemed so insignificant now. The curse, the one thing that was meant to give her happiness, was all completely worthless now.
She felt long fingers grip around her elbow as she marched up the steps, pulling her round to face the blonde she so wanted to escape the company of.
"Whoever it is, Regina, they can't be that bad. We'll be able to defeat him." Emma murmured, her green eyes staring deep into the older woman's brown.
"Whoever said they were male, Sheriff?" Regina smirked, painfully aware of the rounded nails digging into her arm. She was sure there were going to be crescent-shaped marks after the blonde let go.
The pair lost focus once again, their contact sparking more visions in their minds. There was a quick flash of a nursery, the crib knocked over and dust covering the bears sitting peacefully on a stall. In a dark corner, surrounded by rubble, a large tree stood, familiar doors hung open. The faint noise of heels was heard somewhere among the white noise filling their ears, the silhouette of a woman moved towards the wardrobe. The darkness which engulfed the room gave no recollection to the face, yet the fear that spread through Regina fell off her in waves, a bitter taste filling her mouth as she realised what the woman who made her childhood a living hell, who married her off to a King she didn't love, and killed her dear Daniel, was trying to do.
The pair gasped as the connection broke, Emma noticing the fright swirling deep in Regina's eyes, the blonde taking a precarious step forward.
"Regina? Was that her?" Emma murmured, knowing that her words could set of Regina with a bang, and she knew what that woman was like angry.
"The wardrobe…" Regina rushed passed the blonde, banging the large white door open as she stormed into her study. Emma followed closely behind, scared by the older woman's stark reaction. She'd never seen the woman in such a volatile mood. Her body felt the remnants of fear that she felt during the vision. Was it off the emotionless woman she thought she knew so well?
The blonde followed Regina's path into the study, her eyes focusing in on a doorway that she sure she hadn't seen before. The pattern was intricately designed, the bright red of a ruby shone deeply at the top of the doorway, contrasting brightly to the monotone colours of the older woman's study. The dark mahogany of the door was slightly ajar, the faint sound of Regina's heels clicking against the stone steps.
Emma rushed through the newly appeared door, a rush of cold air hitting her as she made her descent around the stone spiral staircase. She stopped dead as she noticed the room around her. Caskets lined the walls, an eerie red glow coming from the hinges of the lid. Emma had seen what these were, and what they contained; the drawings of Henry's book flashed before her mind. Seeing a part of Regina's reign as the Evil Queen frightened her, in her mind, Regina was the frightened single mother she'd seen at the mine that day. Something changed her mind that day, and she was well aware it was the emotion rushing through her eyes as they darted back and forth between the mine and Emma, a silent plea going out to her to save her son.
"Regina?" Emma called out, moving to standing in the centre of the circle room, her eyes moving from corridor to corridor. She made her way south, down the wider corridor. She'd never though Regina would have basement, nor one that held a many number of hearts. The dark corridor sharply turned, the only light illuminating her path was her small flashlight, now out of it's grip in her belt loop.
The turn caused her to come face to face with the subject of her search, the brunette stood away from her, only a blood red glow illuminating her clenched jaw.
"Regina?" Emma whimpered slightly, feeling a surge of anger run through her veins. She glanced up at the older woman's face, her hand hidden by the expanse of her shoulders.
"What do you want, Miss Swan?" Regina's voice was deep, deeper than the voice that she'd heard earlier that morning as she was pushed forcefully against the wall.
Only then did the brunette turn, the source of illumination coming into view. The lone heart beat erratically in the older woman's hand, her black painted nails contrasting the glow it emitted. Emma felt her stomach roll as she realised that was some-ones heart, someone's actual real life beating heart. The same heart Regina was slowly squeezing, it's form starting to mould around her long fingers.
"This isn't you Regina. What caused this?" Emma took a step forward, her eyes searching the brunettes for any sort of emotion. All that she saw was the deep, emotionless depths of black that pulled her in dangerously, no hint of feeling at all. The blonde blinked, reaching her hand out tentatively as she came to stand next to the angry woman.
"You've never met my mother, have you, Miss Swan?" Regina was well aware of the pain she was causing someone right now, feeling the heart pump harsher against her skin, the cold muscle sending a shiver down her spine. Dark eyes sought out green, a flash of the broken woman Emma once knew graced her features, a scared expression fleeting over her face. It was gone as quickly as it came, being replaced by an even darker glare, red lips forming into an evil smile.
"Is she the one who has Henry? The one you're so scared of?" Emma internally kicked herself as she realised her words. Out of anything, she should not have suggested Regina was weak.
"Scared of? Do you have any idea what the woman did to me? How much she ruined my life? She's the reason I banished you away, Miss Swan. She's the reason I'm like this. She tore everything I love away from me. Everything. Do you know how that feels? That woman was meant to be my mother, my carer, my protector. But she tore that away the moment she realised I loved-" Regina's features softened when she felt a hand grace the small of her back lightly. Her mind flashed to her fiancée on the floor, the same red glowing against Cora's skin as the heart she held now did. The brunette felt the sadness and anger fill her. She imagined that the heart in her hand now as Daniels; placing herself in her mother's position, watching herself fall to the floor with her arms around the man she loved. The man changed to Henry, his pale features mirroring how he looked in the hospital the day the curse broke. All she caused was pain; deep, unbelievable pain.
The heart fell from her hand as arms around her brought her back to the present, its red glow illuminating the rocky floor. The smell of leather engulfed her again, blonde tresses contrasting her black suit. Only then did she realise the tears flowing down her face, images of Cora hurting her son flashing through her mind.
"We'll get him back, Regina, I promise. And we'll fix you. Make you whole again." Emma's voice whispered into her neck, feeling the brunette's tears run over her leather jacket. The cries were muffled by the blonde's shoulder, nursing her body as sobs racked through her body.
She was the White Knight, the Saviour. She would be Regina's saviour as well.
A/N: As you can see, there is a start of the SwanQueen romance emerging. I'm hoping to long it out quite a bit. I don't think it would be as simple for them just to fall in love and admit it to each other. I think they would be in great denial and a lot less eager to share the fact. :L Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Please please leave a review. It's just down there. Not very far to scroll ;)