Day 6 of Winter 2015 Swan Queen Week.
"What is the price? Gold said there was a price, what is our price?" Emma asked, but Regina didn't turn. She kept her back to them lost in a trance. "Regina?" Emma whispered stepping up and placing her hand on her back, but Regina snapped out of her delusion state and jerked away. "What's wrong?" Emma pushed on, knowing there wasn't much time.
"It's not our price," Regina said into the air, "it's mine," she finished her eyes glazed over as she finally made eye contact with Emma.
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked, not understanding.
"It's time for me to pay for what I've done." Regina replied unable to look at anyone. It was her curse that brought them all here. Her curse that took the memories from the people of the Enchanted Forest, and brought twenty-eight years of abandonment issues to Emma.
"Mom, what does that mean?" Henry asked.
Regina stared down at him unable to control the streams of tears racing down her face. "We need to get everyone to the town line. I'll explain everything once we get there," she managed to choke out through the tears. Emma immediately went into Savior mode, thankfully not questioning her and barked orders out to her parents, Hook and the dwarfs to find any available vehicle and to collect as many people as they could.
Regina rode with Emma and Henry. They headed straight to the end of town since Emma's bug wouldn't hold anyone else anyway. The ride was silent with the exception of Regina taking long breaths as she mumbled things for Henry to remember. Work Hard. Don't be too stubborn. Brush your teeth every night.
"Regina, what's going on?" Emma asked as she parked the car just before the town line. Regina glanced back knowing she should wait for everyone, but time was against them.
"Outside," she instructed. Emma and Henry hopped out of the Bug and continued to stare and wait for Regina to go on, but she took another minute to stare out beyond Storybrooke before opening up.
"When I destroy the curse," she started still staring out over the line, "everyone will be sent back to The Enchanted Forest, including the two of you." Emma made a disgusted sound making Regina smile for a fraction of a second. She knew Emma wasn't very fond of her homeland, but it was important for her to actually see where she came from this time around.
"What about you?" Henry questioned.
"I will remain here, not in Storybrooke. Storybrooke was my creation and therefore will be destroyed with the curse. But I will be forced to stay in this world."
"Why can't we come with you?" Henry pressed on.
"Because, I sacrificed the thing I loved most with the first curse, and now in order to break this one, I need to do the same. But unlike everyone else who lost their memories with the first one. Mine will remain, as punishment. I took away everyone's lives when I removed their memories, so now, I'll be forced to live knowing you're out there, but unable to ever see you ever again. Staying in this world where there is no magic will secure that fate."
"No," Emma spat stepping up to her. "There has to be another way."
Regina smiled, always the Savior. "Even if there was, we don't have time. The only way to ensure you, Henry, and the others remain whole with your memories intact, is for me to go." Emma's eyes were red with rage and sorrow as she jumped back into the Bug.
"What the hell are you doing?" Regina cried, but Emma didn't pay any attention to her and drove the car over the town line. Regina eyed her entirely confused as Emma jumped out and rushed back to their side.
"You said Storybrooke is going to be destroyed right?"
"Yes," Regina drawled out.
"Ok, well after we're all gone, you're going to need a car." Regina turned and shot the Bug a disapproving look. "Now be nice," Emma went on. "The address to Neal's apartment in New York is in the glove box and my place in Boston is on one of the old insurance cards, if my apartment is still there. I also," she paused choking up for a moment before shaking it off, "have a picture of me and Henry tucked into the visor. I know it's going to suck, but you'll at least have a part of us with you since we didn't have time to swing by the manor."
Regina smiled; she may have despised the Bug, but the thought of having a piece of Emma and Henry with her in this world helped part of the searing ache engulfing her heart.
Henry dove into Regina's arms squeezing the air out her as more tears streamed down her face. She held him close as she glanced up momentarily at Emma whose eyes matched hers.
"I love you mom," Henry said having a hard time stepping back from her.
Regina reached out and brushed his chin up. "I love you too, and behave for your mother." Emma found her gaze again as the others started to pull up. Regina nodded for them to go then walked over and stood in front of the town line. Henry reached the others and stood between Mary Margaret and David, but Emma stopped half way.
"Regina," Emma called out and as Regina looked up Emma crashed into her arms almost pushing her over the line prematurely. "We will find you," she whispered into her ear, causing Regina to chuckle through the tears.
"How very charming of you," she replied, but Emma didn't loosen her hold.
"This isn't some corny line. I don't care what it takes, we're getting you back."
Emma finally pulled away, her eyes shimmering with tears. Regina reached out and placed her hand under her chin, then brought her thumb up to tenderly stroke her cheek. "You know, all I wanted ever since you came here was for you to get the hell out of my life, and now I would do just about anything to keep you in it." Emma's breath hitched unable to form words. "Take care of our son Savior."
Regina took a step back as she pulled out the scroll while Emma moved toward Henry and placed her arm over his shoulder. Regina ripped the curse in half and crushed it into her hand creating a faded purple glow, "I love you both," she said glancing up at them, then she shot her hands up at the sky toward Pan's curse that was spiraling down on her loved ones. As much as it pained Regina to say goodbye, she knew as Emma mouthed I love you back that their story wasn't at an end just yet.