Love, Fate And Magic

A/N: Hello! I wanted to get another chapter out before the weekend was over so then you guys have something to read. I was conflicted about this chapter, but have decided to skip over the events of episode 3, Snow Falls, since it would pretty much follow entirely the events of canon. So I'm carrying on from episode 4, The Price Of Gold, so then I can start to move even further away from canon, and start to define Emma and Regina's relationship more.

I know someone of you think Regina's behaviour is odd, but trust me, that won't last much longer. I just wanted to show how Emma actions hurt Regina enough to make her hesitant to want Emma back. I like seeing her having to deal with her emotions, and overcoming the natural Evil Queen inside.

Anyway, on with the chapter!

Chapter 5- Amnesia

Since her last run in with the Mayor, Emma had been determined not to let Regina get the better of her again. For now, the blonde wasn't sure what she could throw back at the older woman, but she would settle for just walking Henry to the school bus.

It was strange how right it felt to be taking her son to school. Would this have been her life? Walking Henry to school every day, going to work and then caring for him when he got home? Emma didn't think she was capable of taking care of anyone but herself, and even then, she was lousy at that.

Waking up in a hospital, without a clue of who she was, or what anything was around her had been terrifying enough as it is. But running had been worse. Even without knowing who the people had been and why she was in a hospital, Emma had known she needed to get out of there as fast as she could.

Living alone on the streets had gone better than the blonde could have planned. She picked up the workings of things quickly, and learned how to fair on the streets. Discovering driving had been a hell of an experience, mostly since she didn't know how to drive, but had managed to find herself behind the wheel anyway.

To be honest, if Emma hadn't stolen the bug in the first place, life might be very different. She never would have met him. But things happen, and life knocks you back, even when you were already down. Emma had prayed every day that someone might turn up looking for her. After all, there must have been someone in her life before the car crash. Otherwise, how did she get pregnant?

"You sure we can be out in the open?" Emma shook her head, and was brought back to reality when Henry spoke.

"Enough sneaking around. If you mum has a problem with me walking you to a school bus, I am more than happy to have that chat." Emma replied, ignoring the nagging feeling in her mind at the mention of Regina.

"You're brave. We'll need that for Operation Cobra. Speaking of, do you think we need code names?" Henry asked, looking up at the blonde.

"Isn't "Cobra" our code name?"

"That's the mission. I mean us. I need something to call you."

"Oh." Panic rose in Emma, as she looked away from Henry. What does he call me? Mum? Emma didn't think she was ready for that, or if he was. Becoming his mum was a huge step, much bigger than just being in his life.

"You c-could just call me…Emma for now." She shrugged, trying to remain casual, and not let Henry see the panic she felt.

"Okay. Well, then, I'll see you later, Emma." He said, smiling at her, before turning away to climb aboard the school bus. The blonde stood watching, trying to calm herself. She wasn't ready, not yet to take that step with him. But did she want to? Did she want to become his mother?

The sound of sirens cut across Emma's thoughts as she began to wander down the street, and the sheriff car came to a stop in front of her.

"What's with the siren?" She asked, as Graham climbed out of the vehicle, and walked over to her.

"It's so hard to get your attention."

"Well, you got it. Are you arresting me again?" Emma truly had no energy to fight her way out of another arrest. Graham shook his head as he walked up to her.

"I'm thanking you. For your help finding that coma patient. We all owe you a debt of gratitude."

"Well, what do I get? A commendation? A key to the city?" Emma asked sarcastically.

"How about a job? I could use a deputy." He said, smiling slightly.

"Thank you, but I have a job." Emma replied, but Graham quickly spoke again.

"As a bail bondsperson? There's not much of that going on here."

"I don't see a lot of sheriffing going on around here either." Emma sassed back.

"Well, here's your chance to see it up close…There's dental." The blonde chuckled at him as he reached into his pocket. "Why don't you think about it? And stay awhile."

Xxxxxxxx

Regina stood in the middle of her bedroom. She had left work early and returned home, her mind unable to focus on anything. For ten years, it had been her and Henry and no one else. Graham had warmed her bed on many occasions, but no one else had ever been a part of her life.

But that wasn't the way it was supposed to be. She had cast the curse to get to Emma, for them to be together. So what was stopping her? Fear, anger or guilt? The mayor shook her head, hugging herself, as a tear slipped down her cheek. Regina was truly incomplete without Emma, there was no denying it. Perhaps it was time to stop fighting this. Perhaps they could start over? Regina doubted they could. It was clear Emma was no longer a fan of the mayor.

Regina moved across the room, and over to a picture that hung on the wall. The picture was of a dandelion, and had always been comforting to the mayor. Emma had loved dandelions, always saying how they were the flower of the sun.

Pushing the picture frame aside, she rested her hand against the cool metal of a built in safe. Turning the dial to the code 1183, she pulled the safe door open and was bathed in a gentle red glow. Reaching in, Regina plucked the softly beating heart from the safe and cradled it in her hands.

Emma's heart had always been too precious to keep in her vault, so Regina had kept it locked away within the walls of her home. She stared down at the small organ in her hands, turning it over to look at the crack upon its surface.

"The mark of a broken heart dearie."

If Regina could control Emma, perhaps that would set things right. The mayor moved over to the bed, still holding Emma's heart in her hands. She held it close to her own heart, feeling as their heartbeats synced together. Did Emma's heart still belong to her? Regina pulled it away, studying it again.

Where had Henry come from? Anger peaked inside the mayor, as it dawned on her that maybe there was someone waiting for Emma back in Boston. Could she still fall in love without her heart? After all she doesn't know she has no heart. In Emma's mind she still feels exactly the same as everyone else. Just like the placebo effect ultimately.

Or maybe not. Maybe Emma was already pregnant when she came to this world? Regina gasped in shock, nearly dropping Emma's heart. Henry! What if Henry was truly hers? Born from True Love? Regina's own heart raced at the possibility that Henry might be hers.

She stood up suddenly, and moved away from the bed. She needed to take action. But first, she needed to see if Emma's heart would work now that she is in town. Lifting the small organ to her lips, she whispered a command.

"Go to Granny's diner and order cocoa." Regina stood for a moment, before going back over to the safe, and carefully placed Emma's heart back in. Ensuring everything was back in place, she rushed from her room, grabbing her purse and keys. It's time she took fate into her own hands.

Xxxxxxx

Emma settled herself down at the table, flattening out her paper as she waited on her cocoa. The sudden urge for one had over taken the blonde, driving her right into Granny's. She glanced up when Ruby placed a hot mug in front of her, and shot her a smile.

"Thank you." Dipping her finger into the cream she hummed her content at it's sweet taste, as the bell to the door jingled above her.

"How was your walk with Henry?" Emma's head snapped up to see Regina, who pulled up at seat and sunk into it gracefully. "That's right, I know everything. But relax, I don't mind."

"You don't?" Asked Emma, keeping her eyes locked on the mayors to avoid them flicking down to the blouse which had very few buttons done up.

"No. Because you no longer worry me, Miss Swan. You see, I did a little digging into who you are, and what I found out was quite soothing."

"Digging?"

"Yes, you see Miss Swan, I know you a lot better than you think." Emma raised her eyebrows at the older woman. "For example, I know that you've moved in with Miss Blanchard."

"Clearly you've been having fun." The blonde quipped, making Regina smirk.

"It would seem you're finally trying to settle down? Odd, you've never done that before."

"What are you implying Madame Mayor?"

"In order for something to grow, it needs roots. And you? You don't have any." Emma narrowed her eyes at brunette. "So you don't worry me, for you see you'll be running again in no time."

"You don't know me." Regina smirked at the blonde.

"Oh I think I do." Emma titled her head to the side, frowning slightly. "Enjoy your cocoa."

Xxxxxxxxx

Emma wasn't sure what to make of her conversation with Regina. The woman was the strangest person she had ever met. One moment she was busting her ass to get Emma out of town, and next she's completely unfazed by her presence there. The blonde huffed as she began opening boxes, pulling out clothes, and the few other things she owned.

"So glad my stuff is here." She said, as Mary Margaret came over and offered her a plate of food. "Thanks."

"So that's all your stuff?" the pixie haired woman asked, looking at the small amount of things.

"What do you mean?"

"Is the rest in storage?"

"No, this is all of it." Emma said simply, looking down at the boxes. "…I'm not sentimental."

"What about this?" Mary Margaret picked up a worn out leather satchel from one of the boxes, and Emma practically lunged herself at it, snatching it from the teachers hand.

"Ah…it's nothing." Mary Margaret frowned at her.

"It looks old. I thought you weren't sentimental?" Emma stared down at the satchel, running her hands over it.

"It's the only thing I had on me during my car crash. The only thing from my past." The teacher smiled sadly at Emma. "It's the only thing that could provide me with answers."

"Did it?"

"No." Emma placed it back in the box, and continued rummaging around.

"So you know nothing at all? No family ever came looking for you? No friends?" Emma shook her head, not looking at the brunette.

"No one. It's like I fell out of the sky one day." She chuckled.

"I'm sure it will come back one day. Perhaps in a way you least expect."

Xxxxxxxx

Emma walked briskly outside, taking in the fresh air in attempts to clear her head. She had kept that satchel with her for the last ten years. No matter where she went, it always came with her. It was the only thing she had from her past…her only root.

Emma kicked at the ground and huffed. She had roots, they just didn't go very far. She shook her, knowing Regina was right. She had no ties to anything in this world, no bonds with anywhere or anyone. Perhaps it was time to change that, perhaps it was time to make life permanent around here.

Pulling out her phone and Graham's card, she dialled the number and held the phone to her ear. It only took a moment for her to hear Graham's voice on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Graham, it's Emma. I was thinking, maybe some roots wouldn't be so bad. That deputy job still open?"

"Absolutely."

"Then I'm in. Regina gonna be okay with this?" she asked.

"I don't care. It's my department. I'll see you Monday morning."

"I'll see you." The blonde hung up the phone and turned on her heel, heading back into the apartment.

She hopped up the stairs, and gave her new room the once over before flopping down on the bed. She turned her head to look at one of the boxes, and her eyes latched onto the leather satchel protruding from the box. Leaning over, Emma grabbed the bag and placed it in her lap. Unbuttoning it, the blonde peered inside and pulled one of the items within it out to look at.

She smiled, and ran her fingers over a worn rag doll…

A/N: Anyone know the significance of the number 1183? If you do, I'll give you a summary of the next chapter! Till next time Kids.