A/N: I'm so sorry for the time that this took me. To be honest I kind of gave up on it because I didn't know what direction I wanted it to take. I was surprised I still got some favorites from time to time even with only one chapter so I just thought "why not try again?". I'm not sure if I'm happy with this but I decided to take a chance.
Chapter 2
Lost
"Come on! We've been at it for days! Just admit it: you have no idea where we're going."
"Of course I do."
"Really? Because it looks to me that I've been to a hell lot of trouble to get a damn compass and now you have no idea how to get to Cora."
"Humm-"
"Yeah. That's what I thought." Frustration. That was all that Emma could feel right now. "You could've at least told me that before I left that pirate behind!"
They were lost. There was no other word for it. Since Emma had climbed off that beanstalk they have been walking non-stop for the last three days. There was no way they could track Cora. It looked like the only way to find her was if the witch decided to come after them herself. Let's just say that's not a very good idea…
"So… now what?"
Sighing is never a good sign; when it comes from your own mother/best friend it's even worse. "Well… There's not much we can do. It's starting to get dark; we should stop for the night. Let's try to find some shelter so we can rest for a while and get our strength back." Yep. Not a good sign.
"Really Mary Margaret? That's your solution?"
"Emma… I already asked you not to call me that, please. I understand if you don't want to call me Mom or Mother, but I am not Mary Margaret! At least try to call me by my real name: Snow."
"Fine! So Snow… that's the best you can think of? We're lost, without any idea what to do or where to go, and your solution is to rest? How about a plan? We've been wandering for days!"
"What do you want me to do Emma? Should we keep wasting our energy just for fun? Let's just make our situation worse and get lost wandering around in the woods at night without shelter so we can find more ogres!"
"There's no need to be sarcastic. I just don't understand... This is suppose to be your land-"
"This is OUR land!"
It's not even worth it to fight about that. "Fine, our land… filled with fairytales and magic, but you have no idea of a way to get us back to Storybrook or how to find a witch that you know since you were a kid! How is that possible?"
"It's really more complex than that."
"How so?"
"This isn't like in books Emma. I only have knowledge of what I saw and whom I met. The only access I had with magic was through Regina and Rumpelstilskin. I don't know how magic is done or what it can do, I only know that all magic comes with a price."
"That really isn't helpful."
"That's what I have been trying to tell you..." Snow was starting to get exasperated with her daughter. They all knew that they were in a ridiculous situation but Emma's incessant discussions weren't helping anyone. She just didn't know what to do now. If James was here she was sure he would have an idea. Or at least he would calm her enough until she knew what to do.
But no. He wasn't there. They were alone in Fairytale Land, a devastated Fairytale Land, and their only possibility to go back to Storybrook is Cora. How the hell did this happen to them? Emma decided to save Regina. 'Well, I'm as much to blame… I helped her.' But why?
'Because we're not evil. Death is never the answer.' That's what she tells herself. The truth is that even before the curse despite everything Regina did, Snow was never capable of ending her life. In her eyes she will always want to see the young woman that saved her life and raised her as her own. As hard as she tries she's unable to hate Regina even after all the pain she put her through. How can she when Snow is the reason for all the misery in Regina's life? Yes she was a child, but the consequences were to grave. 'What would I've done if it had been James instead of Daniel?' It's a thought to dark to even consider…
That explains why she saved her but why would Emma? They hate each other. Don't they? She literally sacrificed herself to save Regina. Who does that?! She's the savior, right… But that doesn't mean you start saving everyone. And certainly doesn't mean saving the one who cursed them in the first place! It's so infuriating. Why would-
"SNOW!" Emma's raised voice shook her to the core.
"Humm?! Did you say something?"
"I've been calling you for like five minutes! You zoned out or something."
"Sorry, I was just thinking…"
"Well, you had a weird face going on. I don't know what you were thinking but it didn't look pleasant at all. I was just try-"
"Why did you push Regina away from the Wraith?" she blurts out all of a sudden.
"W-What?!..."
"I'm asking you why you put yourself in harms way to save Regina. I thought you hated her…"
"I do hate her! She stole everything from me! She's an evil, backstabbing, conniving, manipulative bitch!" Her veins are throbbing with anger. Just the thought of Regina makes her body ready for battle. She has to breath deeply to calm herself before lashing out to innocent bystanders. "But that doesn't mean she deserves to die. I know that here you decide the sentence and her crimes are punishable by death, but we live in Storybrook now, and in my world we don't make justice by our own hands, and certainly not death."
"I understand that. But I didn't ask you why you didn't let the town kill Regina. I asked you why you put your life at risk just so you could save a woman that has caused nothing but problems since you first came to town."
"Because…" She draws a blank. Why exactly? That's a very good point. It hadn't even hit her the magnitude of what she did. She risked her life to save Regina's. Regina's… God dammit she must be going crazy! What the hell did she do? She can't blame her for this mess, this is all her fault… That woman made her insane! Why the hell did she have to be the one adopting the kid?... Henry! That's why she did it! "…I promised Henry I wouldn't let anything happen to his mo- to Regina. The kid has been through enough already."
'That was the truth. The complete and utter truth. Right?...'
To Emma feels a lot like she's being probed with the look that Snow gives her. She sucks in a breath while she waits for the rest of this persistent interrogation that she's being victim of.
"All right." Ok, she wasn't expecting that.
"That's it? Just all right?"
"Yes, for now. I don't think that's the whole truth but I don't think even you realize it now. SO, that's all."
"Ok… I don't know what you mean but thanks… for letting it go. And also, for coming with me through the hat. I know I'm a pain in the ass and I should've said it earlier, but for what matters I'm glad you're here with me."
Suddenly she can't breath. It takes her a few seconds to realize she has just been engulfed in a bear hug by Snow.
"You have nothing to thank me for. There's nowhere else in the world I rather be. I promised I wouldn't let you go again. I love you with all my heart Emma." Tears are cascading from Snow's eyes with no sign of stopping anytime soon.
It's overwhelming to Emma all this sudden unconditional love for her. As hard as she tries she can feel herself starting to tear up a bit. Gently she pries herself from her mother's hold wiping discreetly her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Humm… well… Yeah. Good talk."
Snow chuckles while she puts herself together. "You can say that… Sorry. Right, you had something to say to me before all this Regina business?"
That brings Emma to normal. "Yeah. I was just trying to say that Mulan found a cave that we can use for shelter not far from here."
"Oh… Good. Let's make camp and see if we can come up with a plan. It's time to go home."
