How Deep Is Your Love

Chapter Fifteen

After Emma, Regina, his grandparents, and Leroy left the clinic, Henry remained behind to wait for word from Whale that he could go in to see Hook, as did Elsa, Robin, and John, all having promised to protect their wounded friend while the others went off to try to find out what really happened to him. As she spoke with the archer and his comrade, Elsa looked behind her and saw Emma's son sitting alone on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs with his head down, then she quickly finished talking and walked over to sit down beside him.

He didn't look up when she did so, but she spoke up saying quietly, "I wish that I could have found Hook sooner, but… I'm sorry that this happened to him. Hook certainly didn't deserve to suffer at the hands of this woman, whoever she is. Perhaps if we hadn't have gone against Emma's wishes before, the Snow Queen might not have known about him."

The boy sighed as he raised his head to look over at the Queen from Arendelle, then he responded, "And if you hadn't, then we wouldn't know about her just yet either. Besides, I heard Mom mention that she's been here for some time already. This Snow Queen hurt Hook so that she could get to my mom. I doubt that yesterday, or the day before, had anything to do with today. I'm just angry because if anyone one else besides the two of us actually believed he could have been in trouble, we would have been able to create a locating spell, although I'm not sure my mom actually has something that belongs to him. So, maybe not."

"You shouldn't be angry with them, or blame yourself for being unable to convince your family that something was wrong," Elsa replied. "The Snow Queen did this. She found a way to make Hook appear as though he had abandoned us, then hurt him in order to make a point. She is trying to split us apart and so far we're allowing her to do it."

"Elsa's right, Henry," Robin continued as he too walked over, then sat down at his other side.

Henry quickly answered, "I know that my mom and grandparents aren't responsible. And I'm not blaming them for any of this, not really anyway. I'm just worried is all, worried that my mom is going to lose yet another man in her life. She's already lost my dad and then Walsh, both of whom had hurt her before they died. Dad at least made up for his mistakes, but they've made Mom believe she doesn't deserve love in her life. Her life's been really hard on her and I know how hard it's been for her to let another man in. But Hook changed that for her. I encouraged Mom it was okay to let herself be happy again. I know the kind of man Hook used to be, so I was kind of hesitant about her really dating him. But the more I've thought about what he's done for us, for me… Seeing that he's a hero like the rest of you are, I knew he deserved to be happy with my mom too if that's what they both wanted. And now they're both paying for taking that risk again."

Robin looked over at him as he asked with sincerity, "Isn't you who always says to believe what we feel in our hearts? I think it's time for you to listen to your own advice and trust that if Emma and Killian are meant to be in love, then true love will find a way to beat its adversary."

"I suppose I just needed to be reminded," the thirteen year old responded as he smiled at the archer. "Thank you, Robin. And don't worry, everything will work out for you, my mom, and Marian. You'll see."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but if any of you would like to see the pirate, you can," Whale said as he walked back out into the waiting room. "He won't be awake any time soon. In fact I'm not exactly the full extent of his injuries yet, but at least for now he's stabilized. Let your mother know. Would you, Henry?"

Meanwhile…

Regina entered her vault alone, having walked ahead of Emma, Mary Margaret, and David purposely so that she 'd be able to talk to Sydney before they arrived, not wanting him to reveal that she was still keeping him trapped inside of her mirror. Even though she knew she should release him, the former Evil Queen also needed his help if she was going to find a way to help her get back her happiness with Robin.

She stepped in front of the looking glass and stared at her own reflection for a moment and then called out, "It's time to wake up, Sydney. But it isn't me who needs your help this time."

Sydney's face appeared within the glass as he replied, "And who is it we're going to help tonight? And since when did you really ever do something for someone else, that didn't involve something in it for you?"

"The Charmings are on their way," Regina answered snidely while she glared back at the genie. "The Snow Queen has harmed Hook and we were hoping, and by we I mean me, that you could help us get a better idea what happened out there and what she was after. But you can't let the others know that you're trapped in this mirror. I need you to be cooperative."

"If you want me to cooperate, you know what it is I want," he firmly responded.

The Mayor turned her back to him as she replied, "You and I both know that the only way I can use the magic of this mirror is with your magic combined with it. Otherwise it's just another old antique. I promise you that I will set you free, Sydney. And I will, but I have to help them bring down our new enemy and right now, you might be my best chance in doing so. Please help me."

The genie laughed coldly and then answered, "If you want to find out what happened between the Snow Queen and Captain Hook, you're going to need…"

"Some of his blood?" she stated. "We've got that covered."

"Regina?" Emma suddenly called out and then entered the crypt, followed closely by her parents and Leroy, as Sydney swiftly faded from the mirror. "Were you just talking to someone?"

She shook her head as she responded, "Of course not. Just myself. It helps sometimes. I don't always like being down here by myself, a little too gothic. Don't you think?"

Mary Margaret smiled as she replied, "Perhaps a little redecorating is in order."

"Right now we have work to do," Emma answered curtly as she moved to stand in front of the mirror as Regina had and held up Killian's blood soaked shirt in her hands, which Whale had given her just before they left the hospital. "How does this thing work?"

"Just wipe a small amount of Hook's blood over the glass and then say the magic words you've seen me say in the movies," Regina spoke again. "Except, you're not asking to know if you're the fairest one of all this time. Simply state, 'Mirror mirror on the wall…' Well, the rest is up to you. Ask what you want to know, Miss. Swan. It's all yours."