Well here it is at last - the first chapter to the sequel.
Sorry it took a while to put up, life got in the way and I have also been writing the first few chapters. But yeah here it is anyway so I hope you all enjoy.
I do not own OUAT and if I could remember who did then I would give them full credit but as I can't think at this time - I'm just going to say some lucky dudes.
Happy reading. :)
PS - if there are any mistakes the I apologize profusely, I'm not sure hen it did but things have changed and for the life of me I cannot find the spell check when it comes to editing anymore - its gone ... well to me it has,
But if anyone does know where it is and is kind enough to tell me than you would be my favourite person, until then just ignore that might be wrong please - thank you.
Placing her pen down she rested against the back of her chair exhaling heavily as she rolled her neck getting all the days kinks and whatever knots had formed out of her tired body. She stared hard at the computer screen in front of her – such a weird, blocky thing yet it helped when it came to writing her words. In the beginning when it came to writing up her days work she was all for using the good old quill and parchment.
Only to realise that this world didn't have quills – well they did but according to one of the people she deigned talking to, who in their right mind would use such backwards methods of writing anymore. Laughing they didn't see her murderous expression at being called backwards and silently – for the thousandth time in that year and the many she had been in this world, she cursed the fact she no longer had use of her magic.
He would have not been living much less chuckling if she had. Oh how she missed her magic. It was another of the reasons she hated this place – that and the fact she had to revert back to basics - starting from the bottom and learning her way around. The door to her office opened and she looked around to see Mira poke her head around.
"Drinks at Donny's you in?"
Nodding she sat upright in her chair and began to wearily clear her things. One small silver lining about this world – they did have nice drinks, not that it got her drunk as she found that out of all the things she had lost – the ability to sink others under and out the door still held firm. It made for a great party bet and a good way to hustle people of their money.
She stood and reached for her bag, slinging it over her shoulder she spied the shake of her head from the blonde. "What?"
"You and those bags, why don't you get a handbag like me? They're so much more practical and it would show you are a woman." Regina scoffed as she moved around the desk and headed for the door. She used her knee to bump the other woman out of the way as she shut the door and locked it.
"Use one of those clunky rock holders? No thanks. Besides, this is much easier to use and I like the design." She pinged the strap with a small grin to show her example earning an eye roll as they strolled the hall. As they turned the corner a hand pulled on her arm forcing her to stop.
"Oh, hang on a moment – forgot something." With that Mira turned and made her way to her own office. Regina stood in the middle watching her go, normally when someone touched her without permission that persons said offending limb would be ripped off leaving them in intense agony and her with a good sense of satisfaction.
Of course that could happen here. Oh she could have very well done so if she wanted, her strength had never left her, but she couldn't give herself away like that and so along with many other changes forced by the upturn of her world – she had to play something she had taken great revulsion in long before now.
She had to play mortal.
And so she had – very well to, she was after all a fantastic manipulator and such had fooled the little people around her into thinking she was as normal as the rest of them. It was why she had surrounded herself with so many of the at times – horrible pests, the only true person she had any close proximity with, willingly, was the blonde who was smiling as she walked back to her.
"Sorry about that," Regina merely smiled as they carried back on their way to the exit. At first she had taken an immediate dislike to any and all that was brave enough to try and make conversation with her when she had started at this little newspaper office. As soon as they had learned from the biting remarks and icy glares sent their way, they quickly scurried back to their desks.
Word it seemed was just as quick to spread as it was to put down on paper as soon she found herself being given a wide berth by everyone. Something she greatly enjoyed and for the few months after, took delight in the solitude she had been given. Of course it wasn't to last and that peaceful bliss was broken in the form of Mira.
The blonde had come back from a three month news mission in the Far East to find the new addition sequestered - at her own admittance – in the dark corner, scowling menacingly at those who disturbed her peace. Of course there was the gossip and the small conversations about her less than pleasant personality from those far away from her to speak, as well as the small looks of disdain at being snubbed by her.
Mira had automatically been intrigued and tried to strike up a conversation on an off chance meeting in the canteen. She smiled, hand out in front of her as Regina stared silently back in return. Finally and without any subtly Regina gave her a slow and very critical once over before rolling her eyes and moving away, leaving the outstretched hand wanting.
Others who had been spying through the window and witnessed the blatant dismissal instantly scorned the younger woman for her actions against one of their senior journalists who had been working in the newsroom far longer than she. Instead of following route and taking part in the badmouthing of the new junior assistant, Mira found herself more taken in by her.
So she did what she did best – observed, she studied the younger woman who had voluntarily ostracized herself – watched from the side-lines taking in her behaviour, quirks, actions everything she could until two weeks later when she finally came to a conclusion.
She didn't know.
She had never seen such an entangled conundrum wrapped up in a ball of twine. It confused her to say the least but never being one to leave something unanswered, she did her best to place a marker on the mystery that was Regina.
No one actually knew her second name as she had never given it – strange but seeing as no one had bothered to pester her for it the question went unanswered, another puzzle waiting to be solved.
But she came to the understanding that not every piece was meant to fit – not every picture was clear until the taker was sure about their intended focus. She knew that the younger woman was still in the middle of those blurred lines, which was what led her to at least a part deduction if nothing else.
The younger woman wasn't anti-social because she didn't know how to interact with others – that was painstakingly clear when she yelled at Trever – the copy boy who almost wet himself for being the sole focus of her very scary ire, the poor boy nearly passed out before she snarled and brushed past him leaving him thankfully alone to gather his courage and dignity from the floor.
Being only a junior, she really didn't have the right to be shouting at anyone. But along with her viperous attitude and venomous words, the younger woman held herself as if she were a CEO and not just an upstarting journalist. So being unable to talk to others wasn't the reason for her seemingly horrendous attitude towards her co-workers.
She was hurting.
On the rare occasions the younger woman did show emotion. Her face was often mournful, her eyes, a deep sadness that seemed to seep from her mocha – almost black orbs right through to the rest of her body, it was those times Mira saw the younger woman for the actual human being she was and not the heartless ice witch they had taken to calling her behind her back.
Not that she suspected the younger woman of giving a crap but she still couldn't help but picture the look of sorrow on her face when she thought no one around, the times when she went into her own head and came up with whatever it was to make her feel like that.
It was obvious she had suffered loss. A very big one by the looks of things but one she would never let anyone see or know about. She hid her feelings extremely well but Mira had seen all she needed to.
Which was why she had surprised Regina the following Monday and shocked the rest by sitting at the line table at the far end of the canteen in which the resident brooder lurked. Chatter had died down the instant the tray hit the table and everyone turned to see the pair, Regina had paused in her eating and turned to see the person crazy enough to sit next to her.
She saw Mira's smiling face and arched a perfectly manicured brow in return. Not taken at all by the look the older blonde proceeded to sit at the side of her and pick up her fork. Mindful of the other idiots whose eyes bore into their backs Regina waited a few seconds before coughing.
"Yes."
"What do you think you're doing?"
Unperturbed Mira glances around – still with her annoying smile before replying. "I'm sitting down having lunch. It's what dinner break is about."
Pursing her lips not at all liking the smart remark she tries a different tactic. "Understandable, at least you're competent enough to know the meaning, well done – but what I meant was, you're sitting at my table."
Mira nods liking the fact that she had said more to her than any other in the five months she had been there. "Indeed I' am it's a free country you know – democracy and all that."
Placing down her fork she folds her hands together taking a deep breath. The woman was infuriating and the flippant smirk is just itching to be smacked off, the entire canteen in still focusing on them wondering when it will be that the blonde will give up or the raven haired one snaps.
"Not at this table dear, this is a dictatorship and I happen to like being the one woman ruler." The pointed look is telling her to leave – to take her tray and remove her presence from the vicinity. Not that she paid attention – she had been in the middle of the Persian Gulf War reporting from near the front lines.
A lone woman with a devil of an attitude problem wasn't going to scare her off as she smiled and nodded letting her know her message was accepted, before being denied.
"Well to bad, you've just been invaded."
It was from that moment on the two became something of associates. The others couldn't believe when they saw the raven haired woman concede – though after much bitching and sniping of words but didn't move away or try again as she got back to her dinner. It was from there that Mira would join her for lunch at twelve on the dot every day for the rest of the week and every one after right up until the day they learned about the diner down the street.
Of course Regina never let her in – even after them being friends for two years, Mira still never learnt more than what the younger woman told her, she had tried of course – she had wheedled and nudged and hinted, even offering her own life story as a trade.
But of course Regina had never uttered a word about her life before arriving at the office. Who her family was or where she was from – it had in equal terms bugged the blonde to no end but no matter what she did she couldn't get her friend to open up.
Leaving the building the make their way down the street conversation is sparse as they walk. The air is mild, hinting at the possibility of rain but it's still something Regina likes all the same. Sunshine has never been a big yes in her book as Mira pushes on the door to the small café they had faithfully been coming to for the past several months.
She nudges the other woman to the direction of the empty booth that has been theirs for as long as they could remember, it seems that in spite of the many different people that visit the café day in day out – they to seem to know and so it has always been left alone as Regina slides into the seat.
She's joined by Mira minutes later as she slides in the seat across from her; Regina lifts her head to see a pondering expression on Mira's face.
"What's wrong?"
The blonde looks up before shaking her head. "It's nothing really just Matthew telling me before we left. A baby was found abandoned in a bin with only a few sheets of newspaper to keep it warm. I mean, I know we hear about all sorts everyday – war, hunger – people killing others. But when did it get so bad that people would literally throw a baby in the trash like it was an empty milk carton."
She lets her eyes fall back to the table and shakes her head sadly. Something Regina was grateful for as had she bothered to look up at her friend again she would have noticed the slightly paling of her usually tanned skin.
The words – those two really took her right back to a time she would have much liked to have forgotten. Six years in fact – the last time she laid eyes on the baby she had essentially done the same thing to.
Landing hard on her back, Regina fought the urge to curse as the harsh ground dug into her skin. Eyes still closed she tried to work out the last ten minutes of her life that had just literally changed everything. The one thing she could make out though was the cold air that was blowing against her face, so opening her eyes she was puzzled to find she was outside.
That couldn't be seeing as the last thing she remembered was being inside a closet. Her mind went back to those last few minutes she spent in the company of both Charming and Snow and growled under her breath when she realized that it was they who had done this to her, she was also aware of her holding something.
Something that was making a hell of a lot of noise, peering down she eyed the small bundle of blankets in her grasp that was lying on her chest.
Emma.
It was coming back to her more now - how she and Charming were trying to keep the black guard from entering the room and fending off those that had. Once she had seen to the last one she turned to find the pair at the large wardrobe that had been a gift at the celebration of the baby's birth.
It also held a double purpose due to the Blue fairies warning on arriving and telling them about the rumours of the curse. The court was up in arms panicking. When Snow eventually told her and Ruby about the patron fairies words, none of them had said anything – Ruby was worried this was understandable,
Regina however was confused. The only people she knew who could perform such curses were herself, Mal, any magic user powerful enough and as far as she knew she had gotten rid of the only one who might have posed such a threat.
She went back and told the older woman who looked pensive at the news of the curse. She herself never said anything just like she hadn't but her mind was already at work, the only one who she knew had the means and the power to pull of such a thing was the Imp, but to what motive?
She didn't speak of the dark one to the younger woman but she did make a half-hearted suggestion that she would try to find out who it was that would enact such a thing. Naturally the younger sorceress, by now having known the blonde long enough to work out her tones and facial expressions didn't believe her.
Oh she knew that she would try to find out, but whether she would tell her would be a waiting game. Why she would feel the need to keep it from here when it would affect them all was only an answer the blonde could give, but she doubted she would for that either, if she wanted any chance at all, of finding out who the person behind it would end up being, she had to go find them herself.
Unfortunately she never got the chance as it appeared the Blue fairy was wrong. Either that or whoever it was discovered people were finding about the curse, either way on her and Ruby's last visit to the castle was the day the curse was cast – Ruby had gone with the Huntsman to the lower level to try and stop them leaving the other woman with the Queen and King consort.
Why she didn't go when she was the stronger one she would never know. Maybe Ruby knew about Snow's plan, maybe she knew that if any did manage to get past them then Regina would be the ultimate stumbling block, she could only guess, but it didn't help her much.
Getting slowly to her feet she was cursing Charming with all she had and how he had tricked her, well it was Snow that had done that he was just the muscle keeping her from getting out of the wardrobe.
Normally impossible as nothing short of Mal in her dragon form could so but with a baby in her arms she found it hard to turn around much less push on the doors. The noise was deafening, the baby screaming, the air filed with magic that seemed to whip and tear around them. Snow in the background calling out for her husband.
It didn't help that all was dark as the doors began to bang and rattle. She so wanted to get out, to find out what was happening but it seemed that the curse had hit the castle and made its way inside as the windows shattered. She could only try calm the still crying babe as much as she could as soon she heard nothing.
No Snow, no fighting no nothing. Just pitch darkness and the wails of the blanketed baby in her arms. She had no idea how long she as in that wardrobe for, half her mind was telling her that this curse might have just been a fake – a hoax in order to make a fool out of everyone, a joke of sorts.
It wouldn't be the first time the dam bugs had tricked her, but then her other half – the more rational was telling her this was real. The magic was far too potent to be anything the fairies could conjure up. It was something along the lines of what Mal would do.
Maleficent,
All at once her mind focused on the older woman. Her heart instantly clenched in her chest at the thought of her friend, family, the only person in her life she held in high regard other than Ruby.
Where was she? Was she alright? She knew the curse to have hit her as the last time she had seen the direction of the large green and black cloud, it was a stone's throw away from the mountain and so chances that the older woman had escaped was slim. In a way she was glad, the selfish part of her was thankful that whatever this curse did, they would all be together.
Only she realized with a heavy heart that she wouldn't be. The wardrobe was made from the last enchanted tree in the realm – its magic properties were resistant to others magic, curses included.
This was why they tricked her into holding the baby, to putting the dam child into the wardrobe – to ultimately getting pushed in with her, but why?
Why not Snow. Surely being Emma's Mother Snow would have wanted to keep her safe. Wasn't family always important or some other nonsense she was prattling on about that she never listened to, so why did they choose her to go in with her,
Another question she wouldn't know. Not until she found them and she would find them. If not for the fact she owed Charming a punch in the face for his actions but also to find her own family.
But at that moment in time she needed to find out where it was she was, where the wardrobe had taken them as she looked around, still keeping the crying baby close.
It was a forest. The closet had taken to a wood. Part of her perked up, maybe it was a forest within the realm. Sherwood, possibly even the infinite one if that was the case then it would take mere seconds for her to get back to the castle.
That thought quickly vanished as suddenly the weirdest noise she had heard in a long time roared into life. She jumped startling the baby who had started to cry after only just settling down into small whimpers. Regina looked for the source of the noise feeling the first tendrils of fear creeping up.
Normally she would have no such problem. Fear was something long since gone from her repertoire of emotions but now with the noise growing in both sound and distance she couldn't help but feel the first cold spikes in a long time. It wasn't so much for her but for the baby, if it indeed was some predator honing in on their location then she couldn't exactly put her down to fight.
But she needn't have worried too much. That saying it wasn't comforting either for movement had her turning to the sky as her jaw dropped on seeing the strangest looking thing soaring overhead, it flew like a dragon but it was no dragon she had ever seen. Dropping her head back down, she scanned the area again now knowing this wasn't the enchanted land.
Where the hell was she? Taking a breath she closed her eyes but it was pointless. Emma was crying to loud for her to think and so gathering what bravery she had she took her first, shaky step into what would become in her words, 'the new world' and set off trying to find someone or something that could help her work out where she was.
Her journeying took her to a path that looked like it had been put there. Not one that had been naturally carved out, frowning she decided to follow the inserted track until she came out and stumbled onto something not even her wildest dreams could come up with – slowly she began to walk again as her eyes took in what she would later come to learn was a car,
But right now it was a shiny tin monster – it looked tin, the metal people would use as cups. She was so confused and so her steps were cautious as she approached the red coloured, wheelie thing. Eyes narrow she took tiny steps closer until she arrived at the window. There she scattered back like a deer as at the side of her a loud blaring noise had her turning her head to the side.
There was another one of the tinny monstrosities, expect this was moving. She stared at the lights that were shining at her from the front as the noise blared again. She jumped to the side as the moving thing rolled by, she was shocked to find someone was riding the horror as the man inside looked at her as he passed.
He mouthed something from behind the window looking angry. She stared in silence and in her own horror not daring to move until he sped up and looked to the front again before racing off. She breathed in sharp and deeply, her heart racing and her mind whirling.
Just where the hell was this nightmare land she had come to and where were the others. Feeling Emma squirm she knew she had to get her out of the cold air that was biting. Whilst she couldn't feel it as much as another she knew the baby wouldn't really last long if she stayed and so looked up and down the road.
In the not to distance she spied what seemed to be a shack of some kind and so decided to set off for there. Maybe she could get someone to tell her this land without making it look like she was nuts, hoisting the baby a little higher and wrapping the blanket around her small frame she started on her walk again.
Coming closer she realized that it wasn't just a mere 'shack' of sorts – but then again she hadn't been in this place fifteen minutes and she had seen two things that frankly terrified her so to now look upon yet another shiny metal building was already beginning to not surprise her, carefully she looked at the large words that lay on top in big, bold, blocky and yet again red letters.
"Diner," She tilted her head at the unusual word and musing about how they had missed an m out before dropping her gaze to see inside. From what she could tell it was just like a tavern in the small villages around the mountain. She could see people sitting inside eating; normally the sight of food was enough to make her feel hungry just by proxy, but right now food was the last thing on her mind.
But it wasn't for Emma, who was doing something odd to her chest. Regina glanced down to see the small mouth opening as she nuzzled the breast area, lifting a brow in confusion and not having the faintest clue what she was doing, she carefully pulled the questing mouth away from her body.
Well that didn't sit right with her at all and all at once the tiny face scrunched up at having been denied what she wanted. Regina sighed as the crying picked up once more and frowned when the first drop of water landed on her cheek. She looked up only to get soaked as without warning, the sky's opened up and drenched her with its raining fury.
Again the rain and cold didn't bother her but for the baby; her blanket was getting soaked so she quickly hurried over to the steps and inside the truck stop. She stopped on entering to see that people were staring at her, fighting the urge to sneer she lowered her head and moved to where an empty table lay as she sat down.
She glanced back down to the baby now muffling her sorrow as she re-arranged the shawl so the parts that were wet wasn't covering her, she placed the tiny tot in front of her as she eyed her appearance.
The wispy blonde hair that covered her head, the brightness of her blue eyes, the seemingly already strong jaw – clearly all of this was Charming. How Snow must have been dismayed. She hoped that the other woman was put down by the fact her child didn't look a thing like her and so hoped wherever she was, that had stayed with her.
"You alright there young lady,"
Instantly bringing Emma to her chest again, Regina lifted her head to find the same coloured eyes though much dimmer looking at her, she eyed the older woman in front of her who strangely reminded her of Granny before nodding lightly.
"Yes, thank you—" She was cut off and looked back down to find that Emma had succeeded in partly getting what she wanted and both looked on at the small baby mouthing her breast through her shirt. What the hell was it this baby was doing? Seeing the perplexed look she was sporting, the waitress spoke.
"She's hungry"
Lifting her head Regina didn't speak but she looked back at her, the older woman lowered her eyes once more to the grasping tot. "She want's food,"
Still looking blankly at her the other woman sighed. "Milk, you know – what new mothers produce, normally we don't allow that kinda thing in here – makes the customers a tad uncomfortable. But if you want there is a room round back you can feed her."
Regina hadn't the foggiest on what she was on about. Feeding a baby with milk Mothers make – was she insane. People couldn't make milk, cows did that – goats did that, humans most certainly did not.
Or did they?
Now that she thought about it, there was something that came to mind, very faintly though. She had been on one of her 'visits' to see Snow with Ruby – but really she was there to plunder the royal kitchens which never failed to have a good choice of everything and so on her return she stepped into the room in time to hear a conversation about the baby.
Of course it was about the bloody baby. Every visit was Ruby was sitting on the bed next to a beaming Snow who had a hand tenderly on the large swell of her stomach. She had one time cried for the duration of their visit and wept to Ruby that she was fat.
The wolf woman did her best to soothe her friend, telling her she looked glowing and that it wasn't fat merely the joyous symptoms of what carrying a baby entailed. She glared at Regina who snorted and bit into her sandwich to cover her noise of disagreement only to make things worse when Snow then looked to her and asked her opinion.
Seeing the pointed look Ruby gave her she rolled her eyes and said she wasn't fat. Her statement was rewarded with the biggest smile ever given by the young royal who promptly perked up considerably. Finishing off what was in her mouth Regina than added that she was more rotund than fat.
That apparently wasn't the right thing to say and soon she found herself exiled from the room by Ruby who had honest to god growled at her as Snow's waterworks kicked up a notch. But before that she had heard them discussing… stuff.
Such stuff was the issue of wet nursing. Ruby asked if she was going to get one and Snow shook her head. She had said that nothing brought a baby and mother closer the feeding. At the time Regina hadn't truly been listening, but the words did give her an amusing image and so she had simply smirked much to Ruby's ire.
She hadn't thought much of it as it was something that she had zero interest in, but now on coming out of her thoughts to find the older lady still looking, the fact that Emma kept trying to nip her cuddly area – she was starting to think that Snow bringing a deviant into the world was not the right thought to have at that moment.
Maybe the right thought to have was how screwed she was in terms of not actually having milk to give.
She went to open her mouth to speak, but doesn't get to as the other woman holds her hand up, blinking in confusion she can only watch as the woman then leans over and takes a peek at the baby.
She hums to herself for a moment inspecting the tot still oblivious to the look Regina wears before nodding. "She might be old enough for some milk from a bottle."
She then turns back to look at the woman holding her, suddenly feeling violated the dark haired woman looks back a hint of a scowl on her face but it didn't do much to stop to the slight disproving gaze and the small tut the other woman issues before turning.
"Think we might have a spare leftover." With that she walks off. Regina exhales heavily and sits back, its only then she feels gazes on her and opens her eyes again to find people staring.
Its side glances but stares nonetheless. What's worse is they are judgemental, she narrows her eyes at the people who clearly think her to be the child's Mother – having nothing but the clothes they came in with and strange clothes at that, she knew what she was wearing was a far cry different from their own equally weird clothing.
But to her it's just the usual white shirt and riding pants, along with calf high boots. Sure she had a jacket but silly her, wasn't expecting a curse that day she thought it safe to leave it in Snow's chambers.
How idiotic.
If she had a free hand all of them would be so very far away from her, preferably a cliff. She sighed again just as the lady comes back. "Here."
Her voice is kinder this time, less clipped and more like a helpful family member. She looks to the bottle filled with milk and reaches out slowly taking it from her hand.
"Thank you." Her tone is low barely inaudible as the older woman nods and slides into the seat over from her, Regina looks at her but the other woman just nods to the baby who clearly can smell like some kind of hunting hound and is on the alert for food as she brings the top of the bottle to her lips, she watches with curious fascination as Emma gums the top and begins to suckle.
"Not from around here, are you?"
She looks back to the older woman who is studying her as she shakes her head. "Got any family nearby," She suspected not and was right when she gave a shake of her head.
From the looks of her the older woman had to guess she was from somewhere south, a first of appearance would be new Mexico – her skin tone was far too dark for a place so Midwest but she was probably being to forward in her assumptions she also didn't think the child to be actually hers, again simple reason that their skin tones didn't match, nor did their eye colours.
She tried to get some semblance of conversation out of the younger woman but didn't get much – a few words at best and even then it was made hard by the lowness of her voice.
Did she even speak American?
All her questions were doing nothing for Regina's mood. In fact all they did were to further remind her of the fact that she was alone in this world, the only that she had was her clothes and the baby in front of her – nothing else. She stared at the small baby suckling contently and knew that it wasn't going to work.
She couldn't look after her, not when her mind wasn't in the right place to process the fact that her home had been ripped from her, her family had been taken and she didn't know if she would ever find her again. Fighting the urge to cry – even in times of complete vulnerability she refused to show her weakness.
But she had to get out of that place, she had to go, she had to run and try to find some sense of sanity lest she lose it all sitting in a road side diner with a small baby and an old woman staring at her, something is pushed in front of her breaking her from her thought of flight as she lets her gaze turn.
"You look like you need it dear." She smiles weakly and mumbles her thanks, on taking a sip she's heard pressed not to spit it out – she had some horrible stuff in her life but this was surely one of the worst. The waitress chuckles as she watches the younger woman almost choke on the coffee but swallow it down like it was poison.
"Not a coffee fan." Never heard of the thing in her life but she couldn't say that so simply nodded. She felt bad considering she had not really cared before but she gave her a small apologetic look which she waved off.
"That's ok it's not everyone's liking, bit of a marmite cause really." Again no clue what that was but she stayed silent. The overwhelming urge to flee was getting greater with every second and so knowing it was now or never, she glanced back down to the baby who was now snuggling back in her blanket, ready to sleep now the milk was gone and tiredness was setting in.
She gazed at the tiny face, so completely innocent and oblivious to anything but her own basic needs. She wouldn't remember this, the moment that she would be left here – she had the luxury of being the only one would grow up with a new start in a world that was unknown and without any idea of where it was she actually came from and just who her parents really are.
The other woman watched her face intently, the way she stared at the baby, with a sort of resigned sadness it was a little intrusive of her to look on but she just sits and waits.
After a few minutes of taking in the last thing that she would hold of her beloved home she decides to put her plan into action. She could tell the woman had already given her the once over, trying to work out who she was and why she was holding a baby, she also wasn't stupid enough to actually think Emma was her own.
In terms of looks they were the opposite in every way, so if she were to simply walk out now it would cause too much of a fuss to get away quickly and so slowly rising to her feet all the while under the eye of the older woman, she makes a show of contemplating her next course of action.
"Is something wrong dear?" She twists her lip before looking back to the waitress who is looking at her concerned. "I was just wondering which way the—"
She pauses. Was the chamber room the same name here? She doubted it somehow and so coughed in a bid to try distract her, the other woman looks a little confused but speaks as if to finish her question.
"The bathroom" She supplies helpfully as Regina blinked. Was that what is was called? Either way she needed to go and so nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure what to do."
She looks down pointedly at the snoozing baby, "Do I take her with me or should I just leave her here." She plays ignorant before turning and moving to put Emma on the seat only to be stopped by the older woman who nearly jumps from her seat at seeing the tiny bit of negligence.
"NO! No – here darling, let me hold her while you go." She turns and looks innocently on at her but hands her over nonetheless, as soon as Emma is out of her hands that's it, she knows now that it will be the last she sees of her Snow would hate her and Charming may try to kill her but she couldn't look after her.
"Thank you; I'll be a few minutes." She gives her one last grateful smile and rushes away from the pair; she searches for what could be the bathroom and comes across two doors. One has gentlemen on it the other ladies and so knows now which one it is, pushing on the door she gives the diner one last look before disappearing into the other room.
Coming to a stop in the middle, she takes another deep breath before trying to think of a place to go, the first place they landed was all that came to mind and so thinking hard of the area and its surroundings, she wills her magic to take her back.
Only to find it wasn't working. Opening her eyes once more she finds herself still in the small room, right, magic not working…another side effect of the curse no doubt… fantastic
For some strange reason she can't find it in herself at that moment to care. The only thing on her mind is to leave and so looking to the window she frowns on seeing it locked with bars.
"What is this? A restroom or a cell," She muttered but walks over to the only way out other than the door. Running a hand down the vertical pieces of metal she lets her hands wrap around the thin rods. Closing her eyes she breathes in deeply for a moment before pulling, it doesn't take a lot but with one harsh tug – the small grate that covers the window breaks free from the wall.
Smiling she takes a step back and places the grate on the floor at the side. Her magic wasn't working but she still had her strength, weird but welcoming as she wastes no time in undoing the latch on the window and pushing it open. Lifting her leg she climbs out and drops to the ground underneath.
Looking round she spots the road she came and makes a run for it across the small parking space were more of those metal abominations say in wait. She carefully dodges the horrid things and comes a stop at the edge of the road. Gathering her breath for a moment she jumps as a blaring sound, much louder than before rips the air and she turns around only to nearly faint.
There in front of her is a monster far bigger than that of those smaller wheelie things. This was twice the size of her and far bigger in width. She eyes the strange creature very carefully, almost itching to fight it but knew she couldn't instead she carefully steps out of its way as it moves slowly forward.
Still watching it she blinks when it stops in front of her and the side of it opens to reveal a man – 'the one who controls it' she thought as he looks down from his spot behind the wheel.
"You ok there?"
His accent is something she could barely hear. Tilting her head she tries to place it or at least make sense of where in the enchanted land it sounded like most before he speaks again.
"You lost or something." At that she nods. "Or something," Nodding at her reply he looks out to the road he is heading and narrows his eyes, turning back he gives her another look before adding.
"You heading in my direction. I could drop you off somewhere."
Not replying for a moment she takes a few minutes to think over his offer, sure she had no idea who he was, could be a mass murderer waiting for his next target, he certainly had the beard for it, but it was most likely the only offer she was going to get before someone noticed she had gone – if they hadn't already and so making her mind up, she nods.
"Thank you, that would be good" He nods once giving her a strange look as she looks at the huge beast he controls before he leans down to give her a hand up, she sits tentatively in the seat next to him mindful of the still baffled look he is giving her, shaking his head he waits until she shuts the door before pressing on the gas.
She has to fight the second urge to jump down and run as soon as the large wheel monster moves but holds firm. At the side of the metal tin is a mirror, something that puzzles her but she sees the diner getting smaller and smaller as they get further away.
She tries hard not to think of the small baby she had effectively abandoned but she had one goal now in mind – to find the others, she knew it was a huge feat if bordering the impossible. If they hadn't arrived in this land then she would waste her days trying.
A life no baby should have to have and also she would slow her down. At least now Emma had the chance to start afresh; she was doing this for her. That was the mantra she kept in her head as soon as the diner vanished from sight.
The small clinking had her looking down as her mind moves on from that day she as saw anything of Emma to see her salad placed in front of her – she gives one small fleeting thought to the little girl who would be six now.
She hoped wherever she was that the small girl was ok. That she had found a loving home it was the best she could think to ease the thought of betraying Snow – the one who had obliviously saw fit to trust her over Ruby, something that still puzzled her to this day but it wasn't like she was any closer to finding her or that answer.
Not making a comment to her rhetorical question she merely picks up her fork and places a slice of cucumber in her mouth. "The baby is ok though isn't it?"
Mira looks at her for a moment before nodding. "Yeah someone called the social services and they came and took her away before god forbid anything bad happened."
Regina simply nods, using the guise of chewing so she could stop herself from scoffing in irony – another girl, it's like the past wants to keep coming back to haunt her. They make small talk with Mira talking about her friends upcoming party its always made her wonder if Regina had any other friends apart from herself.
Did she have a social life or did she go home each night and stay cooped up indoors. Its things like this that have her itching to find out what's in her head; she's no phycologist but the stuff that must be inside. She imagines it to be like drawers, with extra holding spaces, if her head is anything like how she conducts herself on the outside then her mind must be bloody immaculate.
"That sounds nice for you dear." She adds nonchalantly keeping her eyes focused on the salad in front of her and missing the eye roll from Mira. The blonde stares at the younger woman sneakily for a moment a grin forming on her lips as Regina doesn't notice at all before crossing her fingers together.
"You know the Ola Lola bar down in West village is having a fiestas patronales," Regina kept her gaze on the plate. "Is that so?"
"Celebrating the saints of festivals – all that sort of thing,"
"Hmm-mm" Mira fell silent as she waited for her friend to look up, Regina did so only when she was in the middle of chewing her tomato. "What?"
"Well aren't you going to go" Dark eyes narrowed as she finished her bite. "Why would I?"
Fixing the raven haired woman with a quizzical look she replied." Because it's in celebration of your home – you're heritage." It took her a few seconds but eventually it hit her, feigning a smile she displays a fake look of sudden realization to cover the actual fact she forgot.
As part of her back story into her life in this new world and in the middle of getting to know the people that inhabited the place she had come to learn about the countries and continents, the names and the languages. It also had come to her attention that a lot of people she did speak to on her travels had thought her foreign.
Having absolutely no idea what that meant she had to go look it up in a building she found were they kept the books. She searched for the word as she couldn't very well go ask at the desk. Once she had she read the term to class what it meant and frowned. What was so bad about coming from another country? After all wasn't that what kept realms going?
Trade, economy all of that – again not much got through once she had a sandwich in front of her – she did use the time at one point where she would go to the stables but after she learnt Daniel died there it had become a place she stayed away from.
But here apparently being foreign wasn't always a good thing, not in some places. She almost went back and hit the ones that called her names – if she had actually known what they meant that was.
It finally made some semblance of sense when she started her job at the news office when she became reluctant friends with Mira who on getting to know her after a while – so she says, really she was just grasping straws – she called her a Latin American.
Now she had done her homework in the land that was known as America, she had researched all about the different states and the races of people that lived there – she had also come across the border that led to the south which was where the Hispanic section came into it.
Brazil, Argentina, Mexico – places a little closer to the north – Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rica. The last place looked rather nice so when Mira had been going through the endless list of all the places she might have come from when she said the small island Regina nodded, so that was how they both won that day. Mira having thought she got a little closer to knowing Regina's secret life and the woman in question who had finally shut her up.
"It must have slipped my mind." She ignored the exasperated groan from her friend. "Everything social seems to do."
"Meaning," Leaning over she snags a piece of carrot from her plate, smiling at the look of death in return before speaking. "Meaning – you don't ever seem to have a life outside of work."
"That is not true." She chews on the small carrot. "Not false either, Regina – I've known you know for just over two and a half years, and not once have I heard about your life other than what we get up to when the boss isn't looking. No boyfriend, no friends other than myself – not even a pet."
Putting down her fork the other woman exhales heavily. It's the same conversation practically each month. It had been everyday but not even the closest thing to a friend she had was immune from her anger. Once Mira had been on the receiving end of something much worse than anything she had displayed in the office, she had wisely backed off.
But that wasn't to say she didn't give up. And so it had only been once a month did she try and push her luck with her prying. "As I have stated countless times before work keep me busy most times so I don't get the chance to go out and 'Socialize' as you keep bugging me to do, I find the population of the male variety around here to be moronic idiots so why would I waste my time with them and finally you know I have allergies to anything of the wildlife species."
"Cats and dogs are not wildlife Regina." Picking up her drink she takes a sip before replying. "Also not my thing either."
Sighing Mira nods. "Fine – ok so no to the pets but seriously, Regina, you're young. You have your whole life to grow older and become bitter and cynical. You have plenty of years later to complain about the days hooligans and people who annoy you, being that now at such a young age – it makes me sad to think of just why that is."
Regina remained silent at her statement. There was a reason for her bitter attitude and harsh outlook towards the life she had currently, whilst it wasn't bad for someone who hadn't spent even a decade navigating the very real unknown. It was also one step that led to dead ends and disappointment.
When she failed in her quest, failed to come up with a way to find Maleficent, find Ruby, it stung her heart and took a little bit of it away with every passing day, the only way she could ever see them was when she closed her eyes at night but dreaming simply wasn't enough. She needed to find them – to make sure both were alright.
The blonde would probably scoff and call her a sentimental fool but she didn't care. She just needed to see them again.
"If I were you dear, I would worry about your own frown lines. Botox wearing off so soon" Mira stayed silent for a moment but the teasing mirth in her friends mocha orbs had her smiling lightly. Changing the topic to Mira's latest fling of the week they chatted with a comfortable air until it was time to go back to the office.
Later that night when she got home she shut the door to her modest two bedroom apartment. Entering the living room she threw her bag to the side and leant against the island in the kitchen, her eyes closed as she tried to process the day. Thinking about Mal and Ruby were always an emotional drain to her, but now with Mira asking more about her family it only hit harder at how much she truly missed them.
The pain never ended. Each day the hole in her heart got deeper and made every beat feel hollow. She knew she wouldn't be happy without them and something the older blonde had said earlier on the way back to the office had her thinking long and hard as her work went neglected. Pushing from the side she moved down the hall to her spare room.
Pushing on the door she flicked the switch as light filled the extra room she used as her research room. She moved across to the other side – stepping past books that littered the floor, all kinds from the earliest account of witchcraft to different types of sorcery that was known to the world.
White magic – dark magic… never anything about in the middle magic, just two sides, it appeared this world was as simple minded as most of the people in the enchanted realm in spite of its seemingly advanced ways.
Though surprisingly had a decent amount of almost near accurate knowledge on the supernatural, a name which baffled her when she first started collecting the books – magic wasn't so much super as it was just natural to her, but the many places she had went each time buying books in order for her to search.
Blood magic, elemental, magic of the mind – telekinesis and telepathy – the ability to commute and command animals, projection… oddly enough something she herself had never been all too good at.
Arcane now that had greatly surprised her – the arcane branch of magic had and was always understood by the few who truly knew how to wield its potential, even those born with magic had never really understood. Only those in touch with the realm itself could fully master the practise, reach outside of the typical magical reality. Maleficent had been able to, only by sheer force of will and the fact she had been learning since before half the enchanted forest was even created.
According to the blonde she was so far away from learning the bare basics. Something which greatly annoyed her but once she had seen just how disturbing even a slight fraction of what arcane users – though there were hardly any around, could do, she conceded and was willing to wait until the blonde thought her ready.
She had even gone as far as to study ley lines – the straight line that ran along the earths tectonic plates, a source of a many a mystical occurrence if what she had read was right, it had puzzled her to what a UFO was and had been a little unnerved at the bug eyed weird headed shaped thingy that was described in the book.
Sighing she moved over the piles on the floor strewn about as she came to a stop in front of a large picture, it was a map of the united states as she scoured the large continent. She stared at the many red flags that had been pinned into the states she had been in and had crossed off before moving on to the next.
All in the hopes of finding anyone – it no longer mattered if it were the blonde or her best friend, at this point she would take even Charming. She closed her eyes as the matter of her thoughts weighed heavily on her heart. It had been over two years, far longer then what she normally would have spent in any one state but she did like this one.
Georgia did have its appeals – well actually it only had Mira and that was about the extent. But now maybe it was time to move on – she had found nothing here after all, not even anything remotely connected to magic. Exhaling she picked up a small red pin and placed it over the small state that was Atlanta.
Staring at the now marked state she turned and made her way from the room. Shutting the door and turning off the light as she did, after she hunted something from the fridge she made her way to the small desk in the corner. Once she had switched on the computer and waited for it to load she uploaded the image of the map.
Only this time it was of the world and not just America. Having spent the last six years, one hundred and sixty three days and five hours searching and coming up empty, she idly mused if America was even the right place to continue her search anymore.
After all – it wasn't the USA she had done her homework on – she had looked all over and found Europe to be fascinating – some of the places even sounded like they came from a land that had at one time held magic. She had certainly laughed a little when she read up on Merlin and King Arthur.
How those two had come to be told in a place that was lost to fantasy was anyone's guess but it they knew surely they too would find it amusing. Morgana not so much, if the batty cow ever learned of how she was portrayed, Morgause also – yeah the pair were bad enough on a good day so was just thankful that she wasn't around to deal with them.
But on the lines of their stories – the Origins had greatly appealed to her as she looked at the place they were held in high regard – Britain – they seemed to be big on all things magic.
Well she said magic. Wiccan and paganism wasn't what she would call magic – she wouldn't even call it real, in fact she had scoffed the art on learning about it in her lessons. The blonde too had smiled at the branch that was what she would call the weakest point in the lines and so had never really spent too much time on teaching it.
So now it was either karma or just bad irony now that it seemed to be about the only one well known throughout the last thousands years or so- very big with druids and practitioners.
Just too bad any of them weren't worth a dam to her.
But the tales was enough for her to think that maybe good old England was worth a visit and so that night she made another big decision, her biggest so far as she booked a ticket to a place called London.
Spare of the moment she knew but it was how she had been living since the moment she stepped from that truck she had learnt was the actual name of the shiny metal monster the man had been driving.
She had been flighty from then on – never staying in one place, always renting nothing serious. No ties either, which was why it was going to be a bit hard leaving since the older blonde – who had in way reminded her of Mal… just a much bubblier version and with the ability to smile that didn't lead to bad things at the end of it.
But she had to go. If there was any chance that what England might have to tell her could possibly lead to a clue on their whereabouts, it was worth losing all the friends she had so once she had clicked on the buy tickets she knew that she only had a week at the most to pack up.
Which wouldn't be hard, she had only scant possessions to begin with. If she had time then she would have most likely indulged and fully furnished her apartment but as it was six years had made a light traveller of her and so what was in her bags was what she took with her.
It also helped that she had acquired one of those 'automobiles' once she had observed what they could do and the uses of having one.
Printing off the flight details and booking info and stared at the piece of paper before moving to go take a shower. She would have to start making preparations before she left and to tell Mira of her departure. She knew the older woman would most likely want to throw her a going away party but hopefully she could quell that idea before she started planning.
Once showered she decided to retire for the night, crawling under the covers she stared up at the ceiling. America had proven fruitless and so she was hoping the lands across the ocean would bring her better luck.
She didn't know how much longer she could last.