The citizens of Storybrooke are starting to suffer the effects of the mysterious new demons in town. Meanwhile, Emma and Regina have a little chat.
Emma sat in her yellow bug, slouched in her seat and munching quietly on an apple. Her fingers itched to type up a text message to Regina, asking if the brunette had any luck finding one of the creatures, but another part of her was still grumpy that the mayor insisted on working alone.
"I could've helped," she muttered to herself. "Stay outta your way, my ass…"
Not that she'd had any luck. She'd spent the entire day rolling through town and all along the perimeter, keeping her eyes out for any unusual activity and finding nothing. Once or twice she thought she caught sight of a familiar black Mercedes, or Regina's figure striding around a corner, but by the time she got there the other woman was nowhere in sight. Part of her was starting to wonder if the mayor was purposely avoiding her.
By the time noon rolled around, Emma picked up a grilled cheese and a coffee from Granny's and resumed her patrol on foot, stopping to chat with everyone she passed by and asking around if anyone had noticed anything out of the ordinary. An hour later and she was back in the bug, checking the town perimeter again.
"Quietest demons ever," she complained as the clock tower came into view. She parked the bug just out by the bed and breakfast and hopped out, needing to stretch her legs again. Emma began walking aimlessly, letting her feet lead her. Around the block, then past the library, then down a street and into the residential areas. She had been so focused on looking for those shadowy creatures that the sight of Regina's house caught her off guard.
The house was empty, she assumed, since it had been agreed upon that Henry would stay with David and Mary Margaret until the current threat was dealt with. That, and Regina's Mercedes wasn't in sight. Then again, it might be in the garage.
Curiously, Emma pushed open the gate and headed up the short walkway, running her fingertips along the familiar hedges on either side. The white door was pristine as always, and perhaps even a little bit daunting as Emma lifted a hand and hesitated, wondering if she should knock. Would Regina even open the door? Probably not if she knew who it was. Emma wondered if she could duck under the peep hole to hide herself and then thought better of it. That was pushing the boundaries of creeper territory.
"Regina?" she called out, giving the door a firm knock.
Regina sunk back into her couch with a sigh, rotating her wrist to ease the ache. She'd finally tracked down one of the creatures, alright. Damned thing had knocked her aside like a ragdoll and sent her sprawling. Certainly not one of her most elegant moments. She'd just healed her sprained wrist but the ache was going to linger for another long moment or so. She considered taking a break and brewing some tea when there was a knock on her door, accompanied by a frustratingly familiar voice calling out her name.
"Emma," she growled to herself, a predatory glare crossing her features as she stood and glided towards the front foyer. She swung the door open, a sneer on her lips. Emma winced, as if she hadn't expected the door to open at all.
"Hey, Regina," she said, faltering.
"What do you want, Miss Swan?"
"Just…" Emma rubbed the back of her neck. "Can we talk about what happened yesterday?"
The mayor's eyes narrowed and her chin lifted, red lips pressing together in contempt. "There is nothing to talk about."
"You heard Whale. We… that was True Love's kiss."
"You're mistaken," came the growling reply.
"Look, I know I screwed up- multiple times- but you can't pretend that didn't happen. You can't pretend that there isn't something between us. I… I care about you, Regina. I really do. Don't tell me this was all just in my head."
"Oh, but it was."
"Regina," Emma pleaded. "Please. I didn't know before, but I know now. I feel it. You're my True Love." Had this been any other day, any other situation, she would have felt like a fool, but now the words pouring from her lips felt right. Completely, utterly right.
And then Regina looked at her with an expression so full of hatred and disgust that Emma felt like her heart was being crushed into a million pieces.
"True Love?" The mayor sneered, her voice turning cruel and nasty. "What makes you think that I love you? That I could ever love you? A thief, a criminal, an incompetent fool who abandoned her own child, lost control of her powers, and let her boyfriend die. Not to mention the fact that you constantly fail every day at upholding your so-called 'Savior' status, while I, the Evil Queen, fix every single one of your mistakes. You say you want to bring back the happy endings, but all you do is disappoint. What is worth loving, Miss Swan? Absolutely nothing."
Emma stood frozen, her lips parted, as if she'd just been slapped across the face and then laughed at by the mayor. Having her heart ripped out of her chest might have been less torturous. Green eyes narrowed, threatening tears, but she held them back and sucked in a breath to relieve the sudden tightness in her chest. Her relationship with Regina had never been easy and it certainly hadn't always been civil, but this… She never expected this. Not from her. Not from the only person in her life who understood her in a way no one else could.
"You…" her voice cracked and no other words came. Shaking her head with disbelief, she backed away, one step, two steps, then turned and ran.
Emma ran so hard and so fast that she was halfway down the block when those tears finally spilled over, streaking her cheeks and running down her neck. Her breath came in a ragged gasp that made her lungs ache painfully.
Why?
Her strides shortened, stumbling. She bumped into a fence and hurried around the corner, as if getting out of view of the mansion would lessen her humiliation. Nothing could get the image of Regina's sneer out of her mind, though. Those red lips were twisted in disgust.
How could you?
The residential block gave way to a street leading to town centre. Emma ducked into an empty alley in a blind stumble for privacy, shoved her hands through her hair, and let a howl of raw pain escape her throat, sounding more like a wounded animal than a human. A second and a third followed as she struggled to control her sobs, chest heaving with effort.
Her shoulders shook with each strained gasp until she was able to quiet herself, her teeth clenched together and her eyes squeezed shut. That Regina could tear her down in a single speech was humiliating, but worse, it was more hurtful than anything she had ever experienced. She'd opened herself up to the possibility… made herself vulnerable and hopeful in front of Regina, one of the few people she had ever truly trusted, and the woman betrayed her. Was their friendship all a lie then? Had Regina secretly thought all of those horrible things about her this whole time?
It had to be you.
Emma forced her feet to start moving. Slowly making her way to Granny's, she rubbed away the evidence of her tears and put on her mask of cold indifference. Anything less and she would break down, and she couldn't do that. Not in front of anyone. That was a side of herself that she didn't want anyone to see.
The door chimed softly as she stepped into the Diner, but she was immediately assaulted by a cacophony of arguing and bickering. Her mask cracked into one of pure confusion as she took in the irritable faces filling the restaurant. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she looked for her friend and tried to focus on the current problems at hand. Distractions were good.
"Ruby," she called, moving to the counter. "What's going on?"
Her dark haired friend turned, a scowl marring her usually lovely features. "Everyone's being a dumbass, nothing new there. What do you want, Sheriff?"
"Uh… bear claw and a coffee, please."
Ruby turned without a reply and returned with her order a short moment later, dumping them towards Emma.
"Five eighty," she sniffed.
Emma dug out some bills and change from her pocket, feeling a strange unease settle in the pit of her stomach at the way her friend was frowning at her. "Are you okay, Rubes?"
"Excuse me?"
Emma cringed. "You seem upset."
"If I want a therapist I'll hire a professional. Are you gonna pay for this or what?"
Wordlessly, Emma left the money on the counter, grabbed her things, and shuffled aside. Ruby went back to work without even a goodbye. The Sheriff's green eyes slowly scanned the crowd and she began picking out instigators. Happy was glaring and muttering at Sneezy. Tinkerbell was scarfing down what looked to be her third bowl of ice cream sundae while Blue watched on in disgust. Nova was snogging Archie in the back booth, unabashedly straddling his lap, and he wasn't even fighting it.
Oh my god.
"Hey sister, what's going on?"
She whipped around to find Leroy entering the Diner, looking blissfully ignorant of the weirdness that was going on. Before he could notice his beloved Nova all over another man, she grabbed him by his shoulders and turned him away.
"Leroy, something weird is going on and I don't want you to freak out."
"What? What is?" He glanced around, unable to see Nova now that the spellbound couple were nearly lying down in the farthest booth. He did, however, furrow his brows at all the arguments happening.
"I think it has something to do with those creatures Regina and I accidentally released from Gold's box. Everyone's acting different. Bad different."
"You still haven't caught them yet? I thought you said you had them handled." He scowled.
"Yeah, I'm working on it, just…" she trailed off, deep in thought. The hospital fiasco came to mind. She tried not to think too hard about it. "Listen. I think Nova's under a spell too, and I need you to break her out of it."
That got Leroy's attention. "What do I need to do?"
"Well… she's, uh, currently confused and making out with Archie in the back booth."
"What?!"
"Leroy, focus!" She shook him hard. "Just go over there, grab her, and kiss her, okay? If my suspicions are right, your True Love's kiss will break the spell."
He made a face at the idea of kissing Nova after her makeout session with Archie, but nodded and expanded his chest with a deep breath. "Alright, sister. Time to get my girl back."
Emma patted his shoulder as he marched his way over to the back booth. She could see the grimace on his face as he pulled Nova up as gently as he could, though she was clinging to Archie pretty tight. Turning her towards him, Leroy planted a big kiss on her mouth.
The effect was pretty instantaneous. There was a pulse of an almost pinkish light emanating from their kiss, and then Nova was in Leroy's arms, bursting into tears and apologizing profusely. Archie remained half-reclined in the booth, looking dazed and confused. Poor guy, Emma wasn't sure how they were supposed to help him- or anyone else without a true love partner, for that matter.
It did make one thing very clear to her, however.
"Leroy!" She called, interrupting Nova's tearful babbles. The dwarf maneuvered towards the Sheriff while keeping Nova comfortingly tucked against his side.
"You were right," he said, sounding somewhat dumbstruck.
"Yeah, but that tactic won't work for everyone. Think you can help keep the peace here while I figure things out?"
"Sure. Hey, maybe Nova will have some ideas."
"For what?" The fairy sniffled.
"Leroy will fill you in," said Emma. "If you guys manage to free Blue, she might be able to help too. I've gotta go find Regina right now, you know how to reach me if you need me."
Without waiting another second for a reply, she turned and rushed out of the Diner and across the street to her cruiser. Her coffee and takeout bag were left on the patrol car's hood, and then she was sprinting down the sidewalk as if her life depended on it. A few people out and about had called out to her but their voices were drowned out by the much louder voice inside her head.
You didn't mean it. You couldn't have.
Her boots pounded heavily on the concrete as she poured on the speed.
You wouldn't.
The Sheriff nearly broke the iron gate off its hinges as she flung it aside, flying up the walkway and slamming herself bodily against the door. The entire frame rattled from impact, and then she was banging her fist against the wood.
"Regina!" she shouted, her voice raw with desperation. "Regina!"
Her fist met empty air as the door was yanked open, and suddenly she was sailing backwards through the air. Emma cried out only once before hitting the ground and rolling painfully to a stop at the end of the walkway, something she hadn't hoped to experience a second time. And like the first time, Regina stood in the doorway looking absolutely livid.
"How dare you intrude on my home again?" she spat, taking a few threatening steps forward. "What makes you think I want to see you?"
"Wait!" Emma said, holding up her hands submissively. "I just wanted to apologize. You were right. I don't deserve someone like you."
At that, the brunette narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but did not lash out at her again. Emma felt her heart pounding in her chest and prayed that Regina could not hear the traitorous sound. She needed to get closer.
"It was stupid of me to think that…" She struggled for the right words, letting herself stumble. "I'm not good enough for you. I'm not even good enough for Henry. He deserves to have the best mother, and it's not me. It never was. I think- I think he should stay with you from now on, permanently." She softened her tone, coaxing, and inched forwards. "You know what's best for him. You always have."
"Of course I do. I'm his mother," Regina said matter-of-factly, her chin still lifted as she regarded Emma in the same way a scientist regarded a lab mouse. She'd slowed enough to meet Emma halfway, just barely towering over the blonde thanks to her black stilettos.
Praying that her suspicions were correct and she wasn't committing suicide right this moment, Emma lunged forward and grabbed Regina, pulling her into a rough kiss. There was a sudden pressure at her chest and she gasped into the brunette's mouth, shuddering even as a pulse of magic emanated from between them.
"Regina," she breathed, her expression pained. Regina stared into her eyes, her own dark brown ones wide with a mixture of fear and regret. They stood so close that their noses brushed. A moment later, Regina unfroze and the pressure in Emma's chest relaxed.
"Emma," the mayor whispered, unclenching her fingers from around the blonde's heart and retracting her hand from within her chest. Emma visibly sagged with relief. "I… I'm so sorry."
She shook her head and started to back away, stopped only when Emma snatched her wrists and pulled her closer.
"Don't," Emma begged, her hands firm and warm around Regina's slender wrists. "Don't."
She tugged, coaxing her closer and closer still. Emma's green eyes fluttered shut as she leaned forward and kissed the older woman, gently this time, tentatively. Regina's resistance melted at the younger woman's touch and she felt herself drawn in closer, wrapped into the blonde's strong arms. How Emma could kiss her so softly and lovingly after what she'd just said, what she'd just done, was a mystery to her.
"Emma," Regina whispered again, her breath hot against the blonde's lips.
"No apologies," said Emma.
"Emma, please." The brunette leaned back, pushing against Emma's chest even as the blonde held on tightly to her, refusing to release her. "Don't excuse my behavior because of the curse. What I said back there…"
It was then that Regina lifted a hand and traced her fingers across Emma's cheeks, feeling the chapped skin and aching at the thought of having made the blonde cry.
Her voice came out as a broken whisper. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know, Regina." Emma leaned into Regina's hand, her lips curving up into the softest of smiles. "I don't blame you."
"You should." Again Regina tried to pull away, but the blonde wouldn't let her.
"Don't fight me," Emma pleaded. "Please."
"I'm not-" Regina sucked in a breath and tried again. "I don't want to fight you. I just- this is a lot. So much is going on lately, and after all that's happened, with Daniel, with Robin-"
The look of disheartenment on Emma's face had the mayor reeling with a sudden feeling of protectiveness, not for herself, but for the blonde.
"Oh, Emma," she whispered, automatically touching her cheek, "I'm not fighting this- I'm not fighting us. I just… I need time."
Green eyes lifted to brown ones, and Emma leaned forward so that their foreheads rested together in an intimate, comforting way.
"I can wait," came the soft reply.
"It might take me a while."
"I can wait."
"I don't know if… if I'm ready…"
"I can wait."
"What if-"
"Regina." Emma kissed her on the tip of her nose, causing the brunette to flutter her eyes shut. "We shared True Love's kiss. Believe me, I can wait."
At that, Regina dropped her gaze, unable to meet Emma's eyes. Tinkerbell's fairydust had led her to Robin. It had all but told her that he was her soulmate- yet here she was, feeling emotions for someone who should have been, by all accounts, her sworn enemy.
Her gaze lingered on Emma's left hand where it rested on her arm, finding a small blue tattoo on her inner wrist. She'd never noticed that before.
"What's that?" Regina voiced aloud. Emma glanced down at it.
"A flower tattoo."
Regina gave Emma's shoulder a shove and the blonde laughed.
"A Lyon flower. Clematis Ville de Lyon. Why?"
Regina shook her head with disbelief, smiling ever so slightly. "Just wondering."
Emma grinned, then cleared her throat and looked very serious. "Hey."
"Yes?"
"Since I might be waiting a while, can I have one last kiss?"
When Regina did not respond right away, Emma feared she might have pushed too far and ruined the moment. To her pleasant surprise, however, the brunette was the one to lean in and press a soft, tender kiss to her lips, lingering there for a few long, sweet seconds.
"Go home and get some rest," the mayor ordered, though her tone was soft and vaguely amused. "We'll get back to work tomorrow."
"As you wish, Madam Mayor." Emma flashed another grin as the brunette stepped out of her arms and regained her orderly composure. Turning, the blonde headed for the gate. Before she could slip out of sight, Regina's voice called her back one last time.
"Emma?"
Emma glanced back, attentive.
"Thank you." With one parting smile, Regina turned and disappeared into the house.
There was a bounce in the Sheriff's step as she walked all the way back to her car.