I don't own OUAT.
Henry is sleeping, his head on her shoulder and his soft snores making her chuckle, when Emma returns. She seems pale, obviously exhausted, but her entire face lights up when she sees Henry. She glances at the boy on the bad before she creeps toward Regina and Henry, and squats next to them.
" Hi. I got you coffee" she hands Regina one of the three mugs she has with her. Gods, that used to smell better, did it not? Regina accepts it, and Emma deflates slightly when she merely gets a nod and not the usual fond smile she gets whenever she brings Regina anything.
She slowly sits down, cross-legged, and studies Henry. " How did he react?".
" Not.. well" she hesitates, studying Emma. She knows it is ridiculous, but she feels less comfortable speaking to her now, after weeks of Emma running. Emma only ran because Regina was foolish enough to think it could be anything reciprocated, as if she could choose her own fate and have it be happy. So it is odd to hold back now, because her friendship never made Emma run (or is that just because it would hurt Henry if she did run) . But then again, when you are friends with someone like her, you are bound to leave-
It is familiar, both the touch and how cold Emma's hand is because she nearly always has cold hands and she has her own spot on Regina's arm. " Regina?" and she exhales a little easier after that, because Emma sounds like she understands. She knows she won't explain herself, she rarely needs to around Emma.
" He was concerned. And furious- ".
" Yeah, I got that" Emma mutters, and sighs when Regina arches her eyebrow. " He uh - when I showed up, he kind of yelled at me how you were missing. I bailed in the middle of that speech- ".
She wasn't angry at Emma, or at least not as angry as she had been at herself, but now - " Emma Swan , I swear to the Unnamed Gods that I will make you regret it dearly if you have hurt our son's feelings" .
"I thought you were in danger, so I poofed without thinking".
She wrinkles her nose, but the urge to throw the coffee on Emma lessens. " You will have to apologize to Henry".
" Yeah. I know" she smiles as she looks at him. Regina sighs, but can't hold back a chuckle when she recognizes the gleam in Emma's eyes. " You will regret that, too, miss Swan. As soon as our son realizes, he will find some way to repay you. Have you already forgotten what happened after your April prank?".
Emma shudders, but shrugs and just grins. " He will forgive me. I just need the proper gifts to bribe him with" the wink does not make Regina light-headed. " Besides, this is just gold".
Regina stares at the offered phone, with the same kind of expression she might have if someone would offer her a spider. " I am not participating in your scheme".
" Aw come on!" Emma grins, and gods Regina loathes her for knowing Regina well enough that she can manipulate her. "You love taking pictures of Henry. You have all this books filled with them".
" Exactly. We already have enough pictures" she sips her coffee. It doesn't make it any easier to look at Emma without thinking about dragging her teeth over her pulse, but at least it tastes nice. And that way she can think of how the coffee is steaming hot, but it feels lukewarm to her- instead of glancing at her son, and realizing how much she wants to preserve this moment. You never know when someone might take - no, do not think that.
" But Regina, when will a moment like this happen again?".
I am not giving in, I am not giving in. She sips her coffee, throws Emma her best you-bore-me look. " There is a non-technological way to preserve memories Emma. It is called actually remembering them".
Emma rolls her eyes. " You use your phone more than I do".
" That may be true, but I use it for important things like business meetings , while you use it to send everyone odd smiley-faces and play games".
" You're low-key obsessed with snap chat, and you were pretty happy about pokemon go. You even have the guide".
" I needed to help Henry to catch them all! ".
" Yeah, right. I saw your face when you caught reshiram, I was there "
" I needed that pokemon to destroy your mother".
" Uh-huh. You actually formed a team with her".
" You became as obsessed with birds as Snow".
"Angry birds doesn't count, everyone liked that for a while. And I am pretty sure it is only Disney's Snow White that likes birds that much".
" She taught a class about birds for twenty-eight years-".
" Yeah and hey! You distracted me".
" I did not even do that on purpose. You are just very easy to distract".
" Take the picture Regina".
" I do not take orders from you, I give-".
" Regina, he is going to wake up any moment".
I am still not giving in. She takes the phone, and quickly snaps a picture. " There ".
Emma grins. " Smile" she takes another one before Regina has even had the time to smile. But when she is shown the picture, she is smiling anyways because she was looking at Henry. Emma has an odd talent for taking pictures at the the exact right moment.
" It is passable".
" Great. Hold my phone for a moment" Regina follows Emma with her eyes when she jumps to her feet, and walks around the chair until she is pressed against. Oh no. Her grip on the phone tightens subtly when she suddenly smells Emma, and her hair brushes against Regina's cheek and she is so incredibly close and -
She is only barely aware of the pain shooting through her hand for a second, and it is really Emma's sharp cry( or actually the incredibly upsetting fact that she is no longer that close to Regina) that makes her brain focus on something else than Closer closer Emma. She blinks slowly, then inhales sharply when Emma's gently applies pressure to her hand, so that she is no longer clenching it into a fist.
She watches the pieces of the phone fall to the ground, watches her own hand when Emma gasps. They watch the scars fade together. She can feel the little hairs in her neck stand up when Emma presses her fingers to where the scars used to be. " The injuries closed in a second, and now there isn't even a scar- ".
She is muttering about something. The noise is drowned out by Regina's thoughts which are really nothing more than the way her throat burns, and how licking her lips won't solve the dryness of them because all her saliva has relocated to the places where her gum is aching-
Emma only gets to widen her eyes, before Regina has pressed her against the wall, using her body to keep Emma there. She slides her finger down Emma's neck , then follows that path with her mouth. She knows what the hands that are now on her shoulders are going to do, so she gently pulls Emma forward, just enough for Regina to curl a leg around her.
Emma still gently tries to push her away, but she can't when Regina is more or less curled around her. She just presses her nose into Emma's neck, dragging out the moment. She does not really care about the aching cold in her teeth right now, the same one you get when you take a bite of icecream. Not when she knows she is going to have the thing she wants so much-
"Regina"
It is very soft, hardly there but maybe that is why she hesitates. She slowly glances up, taking note of glazed eyes with expanded pupils, and flushed cheeks. She slowly pulls back, her heel hitting the floor with a soft thunk!.
She is trembling with the effort it takes not to walk back to where Emma is standing, pushing herself away from the wall. She almost catches her when she stumbles but doesn't dare to come too close.
"Okay. So that happened" Emma shakes herself.
Regina loses her train of thought as she watch Emma bend over, and pick up the pieces of phone to stare at it. Her face brightens when it repairs itself at a wave of Regina's hand. " Thanks".
" Yes. Well. I did destroy it in the first place" she studies Emma. Is she going to run again? Did I really ruin it this time? She still wants to step closer to Emma- she honestly cannot tell whether it is the bloodlust, or something else entirely- but she forces herself to not move at all.
And then Emma turns around, and walks towards her. Don't. She stops next to Regina and watches Henry, chuckles. "Good thing our son is a heavy sleeper, huh?" she nudges Regina, and she doesn't understand how Emma can be so casual.
" I just-".
" I know. But you can't help it - you uh haven't had any blood since you bit me right?"
She feels her lips twitch despite everything when she catches Emma mumble 'I can't believe I just had to ask that'.
" Actually, I have had some of miss Lucas' blood".
The stupid, annoying part of her brain that is far too optimistic zones in on how Emma's head shoots up, and her eyes narrow. "You bit Ruby?".
" Yes. It was an.. accident" she grimaces. She really had not intented to bite miss Lucas.
" An accident?".
" She came too close- ".
" So you bite anyone. I thought- well, let's just take this selfie".
" Are you upset about this?".
" Just let it go Regina".
You already made the mistake of believing these feelings were reciprocated. Do not make it again. " It differs".
Emma slowly turns around, crosses her arms. " What?".
" The - urge to drink from people. It differs".
She relaxes, marginally. " So you want it more around certain people?".
" Yes".
" Ah. Like me?".
" Yes".
Emma cocks her head slightly, seems to be glaring. " And Ruby"
" It - it appears so".
" Why do you think it is like that?".
I have a suspicion. " I just have a hypothesis".
" Care to share?".
" After I have tested it".
" Okay" Emma is still slightly tense, but when she smiles it is genuine. She holds up her phone. "Care to make that selfie now?".
It is a terrible idea to be in her proximity. But then again, she is weak. She is a weak, weak human being who can't resist anything that has do with their family. Especially not when that family includes her son, and his annoyingly charming birthmother. Emma grins again, and despite her body obviously telling her she shouldn't get too close , she follows her to the armchair where Henry is still asleep.
This time, she manages to control herself when Emma presses forward. She is next to Henry, whose head is on her shoulder. Emma is leaning her chin on Henry's shoulder and holding up the phone so they all fit in the frame. Emma doesn't even have to tell her to smile, because she automatically does with Henry sleeping next to her and Emma smiling like that so close to her-
" You should take another one" it isn't really necessary, but she wants Emma's to stay like this for another five seconds. Emma nods, always happy to take pictures of their family ( she has enough by now to blackmail both the Millses) , especially when they are pictures from moments like these.
And Regina can hardly begrudge her it, even when she is taking pictures of less flattering moments because Emma is radiant like this, with that small smile and child-like enthusiasm. She whispers instructions to Regina, who rolls her eyes and pretends like she isn't completely content watching Emma try to figure out what kind of expressions she wants, and whether the curtains needs to be closed a little and other things Regina doesn't really care about.
When Emma is finally satisfied, she remains leaning against the armchair. Regina has those concentration problems again, the ones that mean that only approximately half of what Emma says registers, and she has to use breathing exercises to avoid losing control with Emma inches away from her but she is also happy.
Emma is showing her pictures from their family, and gesturing as she tells Regina about as though she isn't in at least half of them, and she just stares and smiles at Emma.
" Ah, I love this one".
Regina scrunches up her nose. " I told you to delete that one" she says, staring at the picture. It is one made by David . Regina is in her robe, her mouth open in indignation. Next to her , sitting on his knees, is Henry who has a rather devilish expression and a (empty) bottle of holy water. Behind him, Emma is falling over as she laughs.
" Aw come on , you look fine".
" I am wet".
Emma snickers.
" Oh shush. And you children could have accidentally burned me".
" We already knew holy water couldn't hurt you".
" In small quantities. It could have been possible that it hurt me in larger quantities".
" Regina, like a month ago I filled a water gun with the stuff and the vampire still didn't get burned. Believe me, it won't hurt you".
" Wait, what?".
" Okay, I know I probably shouldn't have wasted your supply of that stuff like that, but- ".
" You went after them on your own".
" I only went after the one that keeps flirting with you!".
" She is extremely dangerous!".
"I am fine".
" You- " she glares at Emma. " You are very fortunate to have not been hurt, miss Swan".
" I wasn't though. If anything would've gotten hurt, it would have been my ego. She just laughed in my face, broke the watergun in half and leaned in to whisper that there are better ways to get her wet" Emma is rolling her eyes, and talking but Regina isn't listening to her. She is standing. She is going to find that woman. And talk to her.
" conceited. Anyways- uh Regina?" Emma interupts herself.
" I have to- "
"Bad idea. She will just, like seduce you again".
"She did not seduce me".
" What would you call it then? You seemed pretty seduced to me".
She is stepping into Emma's person space before she thinks about how - well, foolish that is. " You have never seen me seduced ".
Emma scowls. " Oh really? Because you looked pretty seduced, with how you were staring and smiling at her and allowing her to touch you like that".
" She was using mindcontrol, miss Swan".
" So that was just mindcontrol, then? The way you stared at her, and the sounds you made".
" Answer a question I have, dear"
Emma rolls her eyes. " What do you want to know now?".
Regina steps into Emma's personal space, smiling as she hears her heart skip a beat . " How do you explain the sounds you made when I drank your blood?".
Emma is blushing, but she crosses her arms and tilts her head. Regina would almost believe the question doesn't impact her. " Your saliva".
" I already told you-"
"I have done a little research, and with Belle's help - ".
That little side-stepping- She blinks confusedly, only half listening to what Emma is saying. For a moment, she had seriously considered sn- hurting Belle. She likes the woman. She is smart, inventive and can even be snarky at times. So why are her muscles tense and is she honestly considering going over to the shop and -
What the hell is going on?
She suddenly realizes Emma's voice had been muted, and she had forgotten all about where she was when Emma's touches her arm gently, and she is aware of the woman's concerned expression, and catches the last syllables of her own name.
" My apologies. Continue".
" Regina what the Hell was that?".
" I am certain I have no- " there is only so many ways you can be a monster before people treat you as such. The memories of when they had all thought she had killed Archie flit through her mind, and steels her resolve to lie.
" Regina. Come on" Emma smiles. " You can't lie to me '.
" I - " Do not be weak. You'll burden her, and surely chase her away. She curses herself when Emma steps closer, and the expression is enough to loosen Regina's resolve. " I experienced something odd".
" That much was obvious. What was it?".
" When you spoke off Belle- that " she hesitates, then admits " it angered me".
" Oh" there is something almost knowing in Emma's eyes, and she hopes vehemently that she isn't aware, that she doesn't know about this hopeless , foolish thing Regina is feeling. Emma is intuitive, but she also can be very blind to some things and she really wants Emma not to guess that Regina is barely managing whatever she feels for the headstrong, infuriating, confusing woman.
(Regina knows what it is. She even has accepted it, decided it is only more karma. She just does not want to tempt the gods even more, not when she already feels like the friendship they have is far more than she deserves)
" I suspect it has something to do with the virus in my blood".
" The virus? Did Henry find anything? ".
" No, but that is how we are thinking off it right now".
She deflates. " So the book is still not giving answers?".
" There is an abundance of bloodsucking creatures, apparently. And they do not use the term 'vampire'.
" I am not even surprised. It took me forever to read a few pages, the thing is seriously difficult to read".
Regina arches her eyebrow. " Yes, I- ".
" Leave the sarcasm, Regina".
She rolls her eyes. " Fine". Emma is right anyways. The vocubulary used is ancient, the letters are extremely tiny and they are terribly vague.
" So are you okay now?".
" I am fine. What were you saying about Belle?".
Emma smiles. " We did some research of our own, and we think that we have discovered some things. She also said she would do some research on her own- " Regina easily interprets Emma's expression as being slightly insulted ( she files it away, because teasing the woman is entertaining) " so we're invited there in a couple of days. That's how long she thought it would take to interpret the text".
"Text? ".
" She found something. I think she asked someone - I am pretty sure she has connections all over the world with people interested in all these manuscripts and sh- stuff. She just needed some time to read it".
" And she invited you also?".
" No need to sound surprised, I am useful".
" Well, you do know how I like my coffee" she remarks.
" I am not your errand's girl" she protests, even though Emma often brings her lunches and has pretty much gone out of her way these past weeks trying to make Regina eat. " I am going to guard".
" How terribly reassuring. I am certain that any undead creatures will tremble at the sight of you".
" And you know, I do want to know immediately what she has found. The sooner this thing is over, the better".
Her stomach sinks. Burden. " Right".
" I mean, it is nerve-wrecking, to wake up and see that you've disappeared " she smiles, and Regina automatically takes a small step closer when she sees what Emma is trying to hide. " Pretty sure that has been worse for my heart than the pastries you've warned me against ".
" I doubt it".
" You eat fat things yourself!".
" Yes, but I do not presume they are part of a healthy diet, mi querido" she likes the safety of Spanish, for Emma only knows practical things and some very crass ones.
Emma narrows her eyes. " Are you calling me an idiot?"
Emma always asks that. " No. Perhaps you should allow Henry to teach you".
" He won't" she rolls her eyes. " I am pretty sure he likes being able to say stuff I don't understand".
" I am sure he will find other things to speak about that you will not comprehend" she makes sure to keep her tone light, and Emma just throws her a slightly exasperated look.
" Yeah, whatever. You want to wake sleeping beauty and get some lunch? I am starving".
She sighs. " It is a true miracle that you have the body you have".
" You know I work out a lot".
Not that image again.. " Still".
Emma throws that look - she thinks of it as fond exasperation- over her shoulder. " You are lucky we share a kid, or I wouldn't be this nice to you".
" Excuse me for attempting to make sure you do not die of a heart attack in your fourties".
Emma just laughs.
Regina isn't even annoyed, just fond.
Goddamn it. Goddamn it all.
She thought she had gotten rid of that special type of anger, the one that rushes through her veins quickly, that has her grit her teeth, breathe through her nose, bury her nails into her own hands. She thought she had gotten rid of the queen, and she would never hate anyone like that ever again.
She is stalking forward, and she wants to dig her fingers into his arm, she wants him to look uncomfortable and trapped, she wants to use words so incredibly sharp and acid that she could run her Mercedes over his face and it would hurt less.
It is only Emma - Emma who will hurt, Emma who will have to compromise, Emma who doesn't want her to, Emma who is exhausted and tense and only has been herself in moments like watching vampire movies for 'research' and Henry's stories- it is only Emma who has her lips twist into something that could only be a smile in nightmares.
" Move"
" Your majesty- " She always thinks Hook is an idiot, but he is not actually stupid. He knows exactly which words she hates, what is the last thing she wants to hear.
She rolls her eyes at him, then pointedly looks at Emma. Smiling at her would normally be easy, but she can hardly manage with how Emma doesn't look like herself, not with that smile and the clothing and the - " Emma, we still need to have that family dinner".
Why are you with him? He destroys you. Hook probably does not notice the flash of relief, and hope in Emma's eyes. Or maybe he does, and just does not care. Maybe he deludes himself into believing that he deserves Emma, that he is something good for her. Regina doesn't care. Even if he is completely unaware of what he is doing to Emma Swan- she still wants to
She inhales sharply, and the anger falters for a second. Thoughts like these should stop. I endangered my family to get rid of my darkness- it has to mean something-
" Regina? "
" I am fine. Henry is waiting for us".
" Listen, why don't I come with you" Hook suggests, and it is only Emma's subtly tightening around her bicep that keeps Regina from taking a step towards him, and she doesn't even know what she will do but anything to keep him away from their family. When she glances at Emma, she immediately forces herself to smile though ( she can't take this , too, from Emma. She can't- not when there is a chance Emma might be happy) " I do not believe that is a good idea".
" Oh really, your majest- ".
" Killian- " there is something hard in Emma's eyes for a moment, and Regina stares at her and loathes herself more than usually for hoping that Emma will finally end that mistake but Emma deflates and just says " please don't. I will see you later, okay?".
" You are always with them" he says.
" They are family".
"I am your boyfriend! Shouldn't the lass spend some time with me?".
Emma shrugs. " If he says that is what he wants".
" If- ".
" Hook, please don't do this again".
" Don't you want us to be a family?".
The last Regina was nauseous like this, she was in her marriage bed.
" Yeah- sure, but Henry is Regina's son, and mine. That's never going to change".
" I don't get why I can't come either".
"We will discuss what is happening to me , pirate, and I would sooner believe the earth is flat than that you have an interest in that".
" Really, what is happening here? " he says, stepping forward with a gleam of sudden interest. Regina doesn't glance away from him, but she can see Emma stiffen in her eyecorners. What did you tell him?
" It is none of your business'.
" It is when it means I have hardly seen my girlfriend these past weeks"
And at that moment, Regina realizes he knows. Somehow, he knows. There is absolutely no other way to interpret the smirk, the glee in his eyes, his emphasis on the word 'girlfriend'.
Emma doesn't, of course. She isn't even realizing the conversation is taking place on two levels- Regina thinks it has something to do with how exhausted Emma obviously is. Regina glances at her when she sighs, and grits her teeth against the pain when Emma smiles and allows Hook to kiss her.
( is it just her stupid, useless imagination or did Emma look tense, and pull back really soon?)
" I know, and I am sorry. We can schedule something soon okay? Just the two of us- ".
" What about the lad ? " Hook asks, and Regina is reacting without thought. She really didn't mean to. She really didn't.
But he is just trying to take Henry from her, too, and he is so smug and she is so very angry (how can she still be like this, ending the queen was supposed to end everything ) and he actually is fortunate enough to know what Emma's smile feels against your lips, and what it is like to wake up curled around her and-
" REGINA"
she hardly reacts at the tight grip around her arm , smiling at Hook. His eyes widen, and then he screams when she nearly breaks his hand as he tries to reach for her ( possibly use that hook to rip her apart). She chuckles, and the very tiny part of her brain that still works, scolds her for being so much like the evil queen right now.
The stubborn idiot holds in his scream, and glares defiantly at her. She leans forward even more, and his eyes are watering, his face very tense but he still not screaming ( groaning though. and she relishes it as much as she hates herself for enjoying anyone's pain still).
" Regina" .
It is only when Emma's voice registers, that she stills. She frowns, swallowing the last mouthful. Then she looks down at Hook, slumped over, the blood on his skin , the way his chest hardly moves and she staggers back when it all hits her with the force of several elephants.
Oh gods-Emma - she expects Emma to be looking at her with disgust and anger, and possibly stay far away from her. So the reality is stunning: Emma is still standing to close to her, her hand curled loosely around Regina's elbow and when she repeats Regina's name, the tone is obviously worried and then relief
Why isnt she running to her boyfri- do not entertain those thoughts. She ran. She ran when you were foolish enough-
( Still why is Emma still so close, and so worried. Why isn't she with her boyfriend, and why does she look at Regina as though she understand and reciprocate even these feelings Regina keeps having)
" I - I am sorry" she says
" You scared the shit out of me. You weren't reacting to anything I said".
" I did not intend to harm him, I -".
" I get that. You're not like that anymore, and it just whatever is in your blood that - " her eyes widen, and Regina doesn't understand why is suddenly looking like that. Did she finally realize what kind of terrible thing Regina just did?
"Does that mean you're - like Lucy, in the book, Lucy turned into- ".
" You are asking me whether I am becoming a monster" it is quiet, the mumbled 'again', but Emma has obviously heard. Her expression tightens, and she steps towards Regina. "You're not like that. Not anymore- you've come really far".
" I am still hurting people. I do not wan- I am still hurting people" and gods, how much that wants to stop this, to just end it the way it should've ages ago, when she first started hurting people - she wants that happy ending, she does, but even now she doesn't feel like she deserves it. Not when there's an evil queen running free, and Henry worried sick, and her family on guard duty for her.
" Hey. We will find some way, right? I mean, I am not promising you that it will be easy or that it will even be exactly what we want, but we are gonna figure this out".
She slowly lets go of Regina's arm. " We should help Hook. Are you all right? ".
Regina just nods, because surely that will slip past her lie detector? Emma still squints her eyes, but slowly nods, and lets it go as they walk towards Hook together. Regina exhales, and is confused by how a part of her can still want to squeeze the life out of him-
Then she glances at Emma, and the desire deflates like her lungs, which feel like all the air has knocked out of them; Emma is kneeling next to Hook, and she is gentle, and she is radiant and- Regina isn't foolish enough to think Emma is some ethereal, good being- she definitely knows Emma has her faults but that doesn't mean she can stop thinking you're too good you're too good you're too good. We don't deserve you.
" Shit Regina, his wrist- ".
She only moves forward at the curse, barely hesitating when she kneels down on Hook's other side. She doesn't want to hurt people anymore, not really, but she doesn't want to give this man anything else either. Still, it is the right thing. It's easier than it used to be, to take Hook's hand and press her fingers, heal the bone she had just broken. She knows she would have had to force herself to heal him, and a large part of her would not have wanted it.
It still hurts, helping the man that is so undeserving of Emma's love, but she doesn't hesitate like she usually would, and it is over seconds later. It's over and she is exhausted. She destroyed a part of herself and constantly has to fight against the aches and there is mindcontrol-
(Emma Swan is infuriating, with her shy smile and things like 'I believe in you'. With how she's on Regina's mind constantly, and she sometimes can't even look at something red because of Emma's infuriating jacket)
She feels more than exhausted when Emma is gone.
She goes home.
That night, Regina loses her mind.
She grabs some of her recipe books, and makes a buffet worthy of an empress, enough to feed the entire Roman linage. She works from memory, making both her favorite food and Henry's, and tries out any recipe she hasn't yet. There's plates on her table, the counter, a couch and the low table she summoned.
She makes several bottles of her apple cider, with 'O Fortuna' as her background noise. She summons the spices from her cupboard , and just to be spiteful, adds garlic to about half of the dishes she has made. She uses pretty much all the ingredients that are still in the house.
She finally turns everything off, and collapses at the table. Wiping her hair out of her face, she grabs the closest dish (lasagna) and takes three large bites. She quickly moves it to the side, and reaches for the mashed potatoes ( she pushes that away the moment she smells it). Rissoto, cassarole and paella also do nothing to stop her from feeling ravenous.
It is only when she gets to the steak that she feels slightly less inclined to go outside and grab the first thing with a pulse.
(and it is late, and no one is around her, so she is not completely embarrassed that she loses self-constraint and ends up digging into the thing with her bare hands)
It is the howl that finally tears her attention away from the steaks, and she leaves the third, half-eaten one laying on a plate as she wipes her hands and walks towards the door. Halfway there, she picks up a stake and then yanks the door open.
" Miss Lucas, this is highly inappropriat- " she stalls, looking down at the wolf on her porch. Somehow, she instantly knows it is a werewolf. It is not Ruby however, no it is someone she has never seen before. This one is beige, with beautiful grey eyes.
It also jumps at her the moment she opens the door.
She is jumping away before it has even registered that the wolf is coming inside, then immediately throws a fireball before it that has it jump back. " Do not even think about it " she says, and she doesn't want to hurt this person but she also has a son sleeping upstairs and she would burn an entire flock of werewolves before letting anyone get close enough to hurt him.
The wolf bends its head, and then slowly approaches her. She keeps a fireball in her hand, but does nothing to keep it from coming closer, closer, until it is close enough that she can feel its fur against her legs that are bare beneath her robe. She finally extinguishes the fireball when she spots something on its side.
She feels her fangs slide out when she realizes what it is, and is shocked (appaled. Relieved? no you can't be that) when she realizes she feels exactly like she used to in her evil queen days. Except instead of being furious at villages that protected Snow White, she is overcome by fury at the unjustice, cruelty of the mark.
It is obviously a burn mark, in the shape of a heart with an arrow through it. She hovers above it, and when the wolf just presses closer, she gently touches it. It makes her feel sick, that mark. It is so obvious about possesion, and control that she cannot help but think of her marriage. And that never ends well.
She is valiantly trying to fade the mark when the -by now familiar - voice makes her jump to her feet, summon a fireball and throw it at his head all in one fluent, practised motion. He chuckles, and steps to the side and Regina blinks-
" Good to see you once again, my girl" he whispers, inches away from her face. She glares at him, and summons another fireball. She gaps when he grasps her hand, and there is an awful pressure in her head, and the fireball is squished by his hand around hers.
" I am not yours " she finally spits, when he lets go of her hand in an attempt to carress her face, and she pushes him back. The only reaction she gets is a slight twist of his lips, and it isn't difficult to scowl at him ( not when every thought is Henry Henry Henry upstairs)
" Maybe not yet" he steps close again, and she clenches the silver stake still in her hand, behind her back now. He raises his hand again, curling a strand off her hair around his finger when he leans in. She pretends the shiver is desire, and leans in. The idiot smirks with the kind of satisfaction an arrogant narcist would get from someone like her reacting to his touch with buckling knees and turns his head-
his lips ice on her skin-
she would halt at the furious snarl, but the thought of Henry being upstairs makes her strong. He grabs her arms, and she slams her foot down on his. She pushes, and he immediately moves in again, to catch the stake and her back hits the floor rather painfully.
She rushes at him again, and his eyes smolther like fire - literally, they're slowly turning the exact same color as slowly dying embers. Her eyes widen, and she recognizes the sound as that of a stake falling on the floor. She can feel her muscles ache, and tries even harder to push through it but now her mind is sloggish too.
Why should I fight? She stares at their intertwined hands with a furrowed brow, and doesn't resist when she is pulled forward. The intense cold at the back of her neck- the uncomfortable feeling of fingers pressing into the nape, it is all uncomfortable but the soft do not allow him- is drowned out, and she is left staring numbly as he keeps coming closer, and closer-
Her heart is throbbing painfully, she is shivering uncontrollably, her muscles are locking up-
She stumbles back and very nearly falls- it is pretty much like waking because you've fallen and it only takes her sleepy brain three seconds to connect the dots.
Furious scream, a voice breaking in the middle of it. Henry's voice. The silver-tipped arrow in the wall. The bow Snow gave them. The stumbling, heavy footsteps. Her little prince running down the stairs.
Only three arrows left.
" HENRY" She screams, at the exact same moment that the count throws himself at Henry. It hurts prettu badly when her head slams into the floor, but she doesn't care. He hisses, and this time there is no sluggishness to her mind, no desire to give in, no smile that frightens her- there is only unadultered hatred.
She digs her fingers in, using every single ounce of weight and strength and hatred she has to keep him down. " H-henry" she knows he is stronger than her. " Run" she commands. She is still staring at the man oddly calm beneath her, trying to ignore how it feels like there are icecold fingers pressing down on her brain.
"No" she chances a glance at Henry- unkempt hair, stake in his hand, phone in the other and more fury than she thought would fit in her little boy - then glares at the man that is chuckling. "Courageous lad. You can keep him- if you want to".
She presses even harder when he only arches his eyebrow in reaction to her nails digging into his wrists. " I do not care what you are speaking about, you lunatic but you will not- "
" Your son" it is a struggle, not showing how her heart stopped for a second. How does he know? " He has admirable qualities- I am certain he will be a valuable pet" the last words are hardly hearable, which likely has something to do with the fact that Regina is crushing his windpipe.
Her entire skin is heating up, and she pushes only harder when she feels that intense cold again, prickling at her neck. It is only a hand wrapping around her wrist, and gently pulling her back that makes her grip slacken.
" Mom. You cannot - "
She shudders, and stumbles back. She watches the count fall gracefully, his knees bending and slowly straightening. As soon as he smiles, she steps in front of Henry and summons one of the stakes that are everywhere.
" You will not harm my son".
" I will not. I merely desire to have a moment of your time, Regina".
She scoffs. " And I am supposed to believe that is all you want?".
There is something so predatory in his gaze that she almost takes a step back. Instead, she forces herself to glare. " For now, it is indeed. I solemny promise you and your boy will not be harmed"
Her grip around the stake tightens when he smiles in Henry's direction. " You even have my permission to leave, boy".
She does not need to glance behind her to know Henry is crossing his arms, and glaring at the vampire. " I am not leaving my mom".
She blindly reaches for his hand, and squeezes it when he offers it to her. " You will be safer that way".
" Mom, no".
" Henry, this is too dangerous".
"It is more dangerous for you. They control you".
Regina feels those shivers again when the count laughs. " Allow me" he mutters and she is about to snap " I will not allow you anything" when his voice lowers and eyes burn gently. "Step towards me, boy".
Regina grabs Henry's hand before he has even finished taking that step, and tugs him towards her. She hears his gasp when her fingers meet his skin ( does he have a fever? His skin is so warm) and he turns towards her. " M-mom?".
" Boy"
She blindly launches a fireball at him when Henry's face clouds over again. She feels his fingers twitch as the count calmly side-steps the fireball. She makes a sweeping motion , and smirks when the count's eyes widen as the ground beneath him starts to shake. It gives her the few seconds she needs to pull Henry behind her again.
" Enough ".
"Mom- I can resist it".
" Mi principito, you just showed- ".
" It already weakened after two seconds. I can resist it".
" He may be right. You have raised a boy with a strong will Regina" the count remarks, and she almost growls at him when he moves towards them. Towards Henry. She can feel her gums begin to burn, before her teeth slip out. She doesn't even think about curling her lip, but the count merely smiles when he spots her fangs.
She would slap his hand away, but she will not give him the satisfaction. She merely glares at him for cupping her face, and leaning in. Her eyes widen; when he speaks it sounds like he is infusing his words with magic. " Your boy may resist my influence for a moment, but would you endanger him that way? ".
There is a certain satisfaction in punching him away, even if he hardly stumbles. She curses how breathless her voice is when she commands Henry to leave.
" Mom, no way".
" Young man, I swear on all in this vague Hell that I still hold some affection for, your mother will not be intentiously harmed by me".
" Did the book forget to mention vampires are unable to lie, because unless there is veritaserum in your veins, there is no way I am leaving my mom".
" You have chosen a courageous adolescent, Regina".
" Henry, please leave".
" Mom, what if he wants to hurt you?".
" I do not- he will be able to if you stay".
" No, he won't. We are stronger together ".
The count sighs, and interrupts the hissed discussion between Henry and his mother. " This issue is honestly not complicated" Regina tries to fight the grip on her arm, but the count merely seems irritated after she has slapped him. No no, stop it. Hen- She falls against him when the cold intensifies to the point that every breath hurts, and she might as well have gotten six brainfreezes after each other.
" Lad. If you remain in this dwelling, I will do something unspeakable to your mother. If you extract your presence from this home, I will merely speak to her. Choose ".
She struggles even more against the cold, against the paralyzation when she sees the pain in Henry's glare and - please do not ever despise anyone. That never ends well. She manages to move her lips when he comes over to her, and presses a kiss to her crown. "Te quiero. Ugly duckling"
she blinks in confusion at first, until he mouths 'Emma' and she shakes her head. She has no doubt that the count would seriously attempt to hurt Emma ( Somehow, she has a feeling that her dream was more a message than merely her overtired brain reacting to the situation).
" Te quiero" she somehow manages to force her frozen lips to form the words. He slowly walks towards the door, and she is left with doubts and apprehension and - please Henry, I would never forgive myself if Emma got hurt attempting to save me.
She is not allowed to dwell more on it, or to really free herself so she can roast the count and keep Emma from getting herself hurt that way; as soon as Henry closes the door behind him, she is pushed into a chair she did not even notice the count getting, and bound to it.
" You know, Regina, you and I are much alike".
" Why, did you also lose your lover?" She spits. She doubts he had a parent like Cora, or the Dark one carefully weaving his trap that would ensure two decades of misery.
His grin dies rapidly, and she actually does feel a stab of sympathy at the pain in his eyes. " No. Something far more valuable- a child".
She stops fighting against the bounds, just stares at him. He reaches for something in his breast pocket, and what little light there is catches on the silver locket. He snaps it open, traces whatever picture is inside. " îngeraș" She is more spellbound than she would be if he was still using his hypnotism when he brings the locket to his lips, and gently presses it to them.
The moment he does it, she stops glaring.
" What happened?" she can't help the question. She is vaguely aware that she should fight, but she is only focused on the idea that this man went through that kind of hurts her to even think of that year with Henry, and the year itself was a nightmare. It is even hard to despise him at the moment.
There's familiar hatred in his eyes when he speaks again. " I failed. I should've protected her- but I was gone, and they got to her".
" they?".
" Strigoi" he hisses.
" Vampires? But you- ".
The hair on her neck stands up when he laughs. " Just like humans, what you have named a 'vampire' , these creatures are vastly different. They can be monsters".
" You- ".
" They would have bound your boy to a tree, and forced you to turn him or his life be taken in front of you".
For some reason, she does not believe he is lying. Still - " You still threaten Henry".
" No. There are many things I am capable off, that the man I once was would find abhorrent but I have always kept to the one moral rule" . He gazes at the picture again. " Do not harm children".
His head snaps up, and this time , his gaze does not paralyze. It burns, and she gasps when it becomes painful in a different manner. There are suddenly tears streaming down her face, and she sobs once. " W-what are you doing?".
He wipes away the tears on her cheeks, then leans in to kiss her cheekbone. He slowly pulls back, but her cheek feels frozen, and it hurts to breathe. She stares at him. " Do you not see, Regina? Our hearts are alike".
" You wish to harm my family" she moves her face, so that he is no longer touching it. His hand remains in the air, and he sighs.
" Perhaps".
Before she can do more than glare at him, give him that look that obviously means " all evidence shows the opposite" , he is already speaking again. Breathing becomes easier when he is no longer that close, but instead pacing several steps in front of her. " You are special, Regina".
" Surely there are witches in your realm".
Henry's face flits behind her eyes when he growl, and whirls around with a snarl and blazing eyes. " Not anymore".
Her throat closes. " you killed them off".
" I let Hell take them, as it should've ".
"What - ".
" They're gone. And your magic is the last of what makes you special".
"I still do not comprehend why you would choose me of all people".
He smiles again, and there is something wrong with it, something- obsession. That is what this is for him. An obsession. She realizes when he leans in, and his mouth brushes against her cheek. She struggles, and very nearly panics when she can't reach her magic. She feels breathless in the worst possible way, like she is trapped in a very small room, or there is something so heavy on her chest that it is crushing her lungs.
" I will not harm you" he says, and actually moves away. " I merely desire to welcome you into our clan, Regina".
" I have no interest in that".
" I will not desist my attempts to persuade you".
" I. am. not. Interested"
" Regina, it is of the utmost importance, the most sincere urgency- "
" I have a family"
She feels simultaneously like the helpless girl watching her lover die, and the cruel queen looking at another village that will not talk when he casually remarks " Families can be lost".
" If you as much as think- ".
He sighs. " I have a suspicion that will only spur your hatred, instead of making you available to us".
Before she can tell him how utterly moronic (impossible. I can't- ) it would be to hurt her family, he is in front of her again and pressing his fingertips to her forehead. She tries to yank her head back at the intense cold, a pain so acute she nearly throws up and-
For a single moment, she is gasping and trembling and looking around desperately. Who? What - then he steps back, and it all comes back. Her name: Regina Mills. Her occupation: mayor, queen. She is a mother. She loves her son more than anything. She loves her friends, too.
(she misses half of herself)
" What was - ".
" I have named it 'breaking one's memories. I can make you forget your fondness when Snow White speaks about hope. I can make sure you never feel concern for Charming again" no. No. He steps closer, his tone cool and matter of fact. He pauses, like anyone who has a trump card would. " I can destroy your love for Emma Swan. I can make it so, that you walk into the same chamber as Henry Mills and you will feel nothing".
Once, she could have faked a laugh and made him flinch. Now, she is just staring at him, and there are no words. Just horror.
" You would look at that boy, and he would be nothing to you'.
" Henry would never be nothing" Even now, Henry is everything. The thought of not loving him is laughable, it is so ridiculous. It would be laughable, were it not for how she feels he is telling the truth, how she has felt what he is talking about. How she knows it by how she is choking, and trembling and wants to run and take her family, and make sure this man will never get near them again.
" You are right".
" Naturally" he smiles, and she thinks it is because he noticed the slight tremor in her voice. Or maybe he finds it amusing that even now, her tone communicates 'you are beneath me'.
" I could make you forget your families. I could make it so, that you look at their faces and there are no connections, no recollections. But there will always be emotion".
" You seem to speak out of experience" she comments, horrified. Who haveyou caused pain like that?
" I do. That is yet another similarity, my girl, for we have both caused pain using the same methods".
" But they still loved their family, even when they could not remember" . Snow did not, not at first. Not until Emma drove that pigsty into town.
He just smiles, like he has guessed that she is attempting to get more information, to learn what sort of magic he uses. It is obviously not the dark curse, so what is it? She has never heard off it- " Does it matter? You know it is the worst curse imaginable".
She thinks of when she had to say goodbye to Daniel (twice). Of the nights were the king would enter the bedroom. She thinks of the million tiny ways her life was controlled ( this is what you wear. This is what you say. This is what Snow needs from you. The is who you are).
Then she thinks of meeting Henry after the second curse, of how much she had wanted to hug him ( had already moved towards him for it, hugging him muscle memory) and the pain when he merely offered her his hand to shake.
" Yes" she finally whispers.
He just nods, and she stares at him when the bounds suddenly disappear. " Think off that, Regina. I wish you no harm, but I do not care for your family".
The fog around his new form is lukewarm on her skin when she tries to punch him, a second after he has turned and is leaving. She tries to throw a fireball at him, but she is trembling so much that it hits the staircase instead of him.
And then she is alone.