Not mine. Thanks as ever to CS

Chapter 6

"Graham! What are you, how...? Oh my God, Graham!"

Graham pulled Emma into the room, promising to explain. Emma watched as he carefully checked the corridor in both directions, then closed the door, moving a chair to block it. Emma's natural caution kicked in, leading her to ask, "Wait, if there's magic in this world, how do I know it's really you?"

"The night I died in Storybrooke, you and Regina punched each other at her father's mausoleum. Just before I died, you and I kissed."

"So, how is it you're not dead then?"

"I never really was," he explained. "Long before Storybrooke, Regina removed my heart and kept it in her vault. It's why I had to do whatever she commanded, even though I felt nothing. I"m not sure what happened, but Regina did something to my heart that night. I woke up back in Fairytale Land, but I was very weak. I was more animal than man, living in the forest like I used to. A few days ago, I woke up and had all of my memories back. And, for the first time in decades, I felt my heart."

"That must be when the curse broke. How did you get here?"

"When I fully awoke, I knew I was close to a village. I came here to find out if anyone was still alive and what it's like in this world now.

"And?"

"Emma, something is horribly wrong."

"What is it?"

"Snow White is Queen here, Emma."

Emma gave a slight gasp before saying, "What? That's not possible, she just came through the portal with us a few days ago. There's no way..."

"Who's us?" Graham interrupted.

"Oh, um, me, Snow and Regina."

"Regina's here?

"Yeah, it's kind of a long story. Short version: Curse broke, Regina jailed. Gold, er Rumpelstiltskin, sent a Wraith after her. We opened a portal and got pulled through, killed the Wraith. So, yeah. Regina's here. Oh, and I have magic." At this Emma held out her hand, and Graham could see a ball of purple light swirling over her palm. "Speaking of Snow and Regina I have to get back to them soon."

"Don't let Regina know I'm here, okay?"

"Got it. Listen, Graham, about that kiss-"

"Emma, you were the only one that could break the curse. You helped me start remembering who I am, and if I were ever going to fall for someone, it would be someone like you. But I'm not exactly what your world would call a 'people person.' My place is in the forest with the animals;. I only come to the villages when I have to."

Emma sighed in relief. As much as she cared for Graham, she knew that if anything had happened between them it would have been merely stress relief. Her days of treating lovers like meat, to be consumed and discarded, were over. "I'm glad we're on the same page. What else can you tell me about the 'Snow' that rules here?"

"Not much. I haven't been here long myself. I have heard that Charming is either missing or dead, and 'Snow's' baby was stillborn.

"What the hell?" Emma noticed the afternoon light waning through the small room's only window. "Look, I have to get back. Is there some way I can contact you, like that whistle thingy from Henry's book?"

Graham removed a length of plant stem from his pocket. Emma could see where he had cut holes in it to make a crude but effective whistle. As he handed it to her, he replied, "I made I as soon as I got back to the room. If you see a wolf, don't be frightened. They're my friends, and they'll be keeping an eye on you."

"Okay. It was good to see you Graham." Emma gave him a brief hug as she whispered, "I'm so glad you're alive."

"Good to see you too Emma. You be careful, and don't tell Regina you saw me."

"I won't, but I think you'd be surprised at how she's trying to change. But I won't say anything for now."

Emma donned the hooded cloak and, with a final quick smile to Graham, left the room, the inn, and then the town. Truth be told, she had rather a lot on her mind. Graham was alive. The people of this land believed Snow was Queen and she herself dead, and that Charming was gone. And simmering underneath this new information was the concern of what Regina and the real Snow had gotten up to in her absence; she really hoped there were no serious injuries – or corpses for that matter. She was so lost in thought that she gave a most un-heroic squeak of surprise when she saw feet come into her field of vision. Looking up, she quickly recognized the old crone, Millie, from the day before.

"Oh, goodness dear, I didn't mean to startle you. Are you all right?"

"Hi Millie, I'm fine. I should have been paying attention. It's nice to see you again, how are you?"

"Oh, fine, fine. Where's your friend? Mandy was it, Mary?"

"Mary, yes. She's fine, she's with the camp.. I wanted to see what the village was like first, make sure there's a place to stay, you know."

"Yes, the inn's nothing to write home about but it's a bed and a roof. Well, I'll let you get on your way then dear, and maybe we'll meet again soon."

"Right. Take care." Millie watched, and planned, as Emma walked away.

In short order, Emma arrived at the clearing where she had left Snow and Regina. She was relieved to see no signs of destruction, only Regina resting against a tree and Snow...was she talking to that squirrel? Getting their attention, Emma announced "I'm back, guys."

Snow jumped to her feet and moved swiftly to embrace her daughter. Relief swept over her;; she knew Emma was quite capable, but she had been uneasy while she was away. So much could have gone wrong. "Emma! How did it go? Are you all right?" Regina rose at a more sedate pace, then moved to join them and hear Emma's report.

"I'm good. I'm not sure we should stay in the village though. There's something really weird going on here."

"What would that be, dear?" Regina asked.

"Well, for starters, Queen Snow is the ruler."

Both Snow and Regina let out a startled, "What?"

"I know, right? Not only that, but they all believe Charming is gone and I was dead at birth."

"How is this possible?" Snow wondered.

Regina gave her best answer, which wasn't very reassuring. "I don't know. There aren't many sorcerers who could command enough magic to fool an entire land for so long. I believed them all to be dead or in Storybrooke, but there must be someone else."

Now that she knew her daughter was back and safe, Snow addressed her other concern. "How were my people, Emma? Were they well, were they happy?"

"I'm not sure. I wasn't there for long, Snow, I'm sorry." Emma wasn't used to thinking of this woman as royalty, but she was impressed that one of her first concerns had been for her subjects.

"That's okay sweetie. So, if you don't want to go to the village, what do you think we should do?"

"I think we need to go back to the shelter for a few days. Regina and I need to work on our magic. Regina, how much of Henry's book was true?" Emma turned to face Regina as she spoke.

"Well, except for some of the more judgmental parts, " Regina replied, "I'd say most of it. Why do you ask?"

"There's a story about you turning into a rodent and visiting Rumpelstiltskin in prison. Is that true?"

"Ugh, dreadful things," Regina said with obvious distaste. "But yes. It is true."

"Could you teach me that? Maybe we go back to the village in a different form and see what we can learn that way."

Regina had spent years mastering the use of magic, and the particular type that Emma was talking about was especially tricky. But, she realized that they didn't have the luxury of time. She agreed, "I won't make any promises; it's not an easy thing you're asking of me. But, bery well, we will work on it."

"I'll head deeper into the forest," Snow offered, "and talk to the animals."

"Say what, Dr. Doolittle?" Emma looked at her incredulously.

"Yes, dear," Regina confirmed, "one of your mother's claims to fame is her ability to communicate with the animals of the Enchanted Forest."

"Ah. I suppose that shouldn't surprise me. I guess we'll have to camp here tonight, it's too late to make it back to the shelter."

"Miss Swan," Regina suggested, "now is as good a time as any to practice your magic. Why don't you stay right where you are, and light a campfire over here." Regina was rewarded with a perfect campfire, but of course she couldn't give praise freely. "A little far to the left," she criticized, "but it'll do. Now, conjure up a tent right there." Regina pointed to a spot close enough to get heat and light from the fire but well away from danger. Again, Emma produced exactly what she was asked. Mostly. "Perhaps one big enough for us to actually fit in?" Regina suggested, as she looked at the toddler sized canvas tent. Emma concentrated, but her magic was still undisciplined. It wasn't until Regina lightly set a hand on Emma's shoulder, setting off that now familiar hum like electricity through her veins, that Emma was able to expand the tent. "Better," Regina acknowledged.

As they were so close to a village, and given the rather startling information they had received, the women agreed that they once again needed to keep a watch at all times. Since Emma had been the one to go in and gather information, she was given the last watch of the night so she could rest until then. Snow and Regina, having rested until Emma's return, split the watch for the first part of the night and early morning. Only Emma noticed, on her watch, the large gray wolf which appeared just close enough to be make its presence known, before melting back into the shadows of the forest. As the sun rose, Emma roused Snow and Regina from the tent, and the three began the journey back to their shelter.

Snow passed the time she had with Emma recounting tales of her youth and of her adventures with Charming. As much as Emma enjoyed her mother's stories, she longed for her own world and for her son. Although they did not often speak of him, both Emma and Regina thought of Henry often and had a deep need to see him again. The women wondered how the presence of this faux Queen Snow would affect their ability to return to Storybrooke. They were well aware that their return rested on locating a portal, and on Emma's and Regina's abilities to harness their magic and cooperate long enough to activate whatever they located. Over the days, their tentative plan had been to return to Snow's castle in hopes that the enchanted wardrobe remained, and that Emma and Regina combined would be able to make it work for all three women. But if there was someone else acting as Snow, then she was presumably also living in Snow's castle. The possible complications were numerous, and daunting.

A long and weary day's travel later, the women were again at the shelter. Tired and worried, they each nibbled on whatever they could find, before preparing to sleep. Since Snow and Regina had effectively been forced to share quarters the previous night, it was understood they would not be sharing the sleeping furs this night. Worried not only about her family in Storybrooke, but her kingdom and the imposter she would have to confront, Snow retreated to the entrance and opted for a bit of solitude to process the events of the day and future implications. Regina and Emma lay down on the furs, slightly closer than usual as though each was seeking some sort of reassurance from the mother of their child. This time, though, it was Regina who momentarily rested her elbow against Emma's back, before turning away on her side. Although Emma missed the contact, however brief, she was relieved to note that the quiet thrumming that was becoming so common between them could be felt, as though a warm current flowed in the small space between their backs. Tomorrow they would discuss further how to proceed; for tonight, her mother was guarding over their shelter, and Regina was warm at her back.