There was a very smug look on Cora's face as she was brought to the town line. Snow, James, the dwarves, the wolves, the Savior were all there just for her. Jefferson was lurking out of sight of everyone but Regina and Cora, while Rumplestiltskin watched from trees. All this focus and attention just for her, and she was loving it. She smiled, she taunted Regina, but Emma's presence kept her daughter from reacting the way Cora wanted her too. She had watched as Regina, the once powerful and feared Queen she had groomed her to be subjugated herself to these peasants. Regina had allowed Snow White of all people to decide her own mother's fate. Cora couldn't stand it. She couldn't stand watching all her hard work go down the drain and for what? Love? So she teased, tormented, and pushed all of Regina's buttons, but Regina didn't react. She stood there cold and aloof, her eyes locked on Cora, refusing to give in to the woman. Regina knew what Cora was doing and refused to give in. She refused to act out of anger, to lash out, to give in to the darker thoughts running through her head.
When it was time Regina wrapped her mother in magic so she would be able to move Cora back and forth over the line without risking going over herself. She had no idea what going over the town line would do to her, seeing as how she had always been fully aware of both her lives, and she wasn't in a hurry to find out. Using her magic Regina lifted her mother off the ground and forced her over the line, they waited for something to happen, and when nothing did she pulled her back over. Grumpy said when Sneezy went over there had been a shimmer of magic, no one noticed a shimmer around Cora. It hadn't worked despite her pathetic attempt to make them think it had. Thomas and Fredrick took Cora back to her secure padded cell in the basement of the hospital to wait what came next. Once her handless arm was completely healed they would encase her in gold.
"Are we sure that will hold her?" Emma asked once everyone had gathered at town hall. "What if Midas' magic touch doesn't work here? And what if someone finds a way to get her out of it? Fredrick was rescued from the gold. I am seriously not ok with all the what ifs here."
"Take her heart." Jefferson said from where he was leaning against the wall. No one had seen him walk in and his sudden presence made everyone but Regina and Ruby jump. Regina had just known he'd be there and Ruby had smelled him.
Emma whirled around to face him and barked out a, "What?"
"Have Regina take her heart." Jefferson said firmly as he pushed off the wall and walked closer to the small group. "If she takes Cora's heart she'll control her, or better yet she'd be able to kill her."
"How twisted and sick are you?" Emma demanded. "No one here is going to ask her to do that. Cora is still her mother."
Regina put her hand on Emma's arm. "You were right Emma. Using Maids' touch isn't a foolproof way to make sure she's out of our lives. Who knows what Rumple has stashed away or Hook?"
"Regina." Snow said as she looked into the woman's eyes. "Do you want to do this? Do you want to take her heart?"
"No." Regina answered without even thinking about it. "No, I don't. That kind of dark magic has taken from me everything I ever loved. But if I took her heart, it would be extra insurance."
"No." Snow said with a shake of her head. "We're not willing to take the risks. We'll find another way."
"Regina." Jefferson said as he looked into her dark eyes.
Emma stepped between them. "You need to go."
"If your willing to risk your children that's one thing." Jefferson replied. "I'm not willing to risk mine. If she won't do it I'll find a way to have it done."
"Jefferson!" Regina called out after him. "Don't you dare ask him!"
He turned to look at her. "Than do what needs done!"
They all watched as he turned and walked out the front doors. Several long moments of silence passed before Snow finally turned to look at Regina, "Who else would he ask to do this?"
"Rumple. He's the one who taught me how to do it." Regina answered. "He's the one who taught her. And if he does it that would mean he'd have control of her."
"That's not something we'd want." James said. "But Jefferson might be on to something."
Emma turned fiery green eyes on her father. "You can't really be serious!"
"Enough!" Regina said in a voice that reminded everyone of the Queen. "This is my magic, my mother, my choice, and I will be making it on my own!" She glared at every single one of them. "I will let you know what I decide." With that she left, jumped into her car, and drove out to place ground to watch Henry and Lucy playing. She was almost relaxed from watching her children play, and after thinking about the way Emma giggled every time she realized the woman they'd hired as their nanny was the woman Mary Poppins was based on. But then she felt him step out of the trees.
"It's the right thing to do." Jefferson said as he stood beside her. "You know it's the only way to keep them safe."
"I know." Regina replied, her voice soft and sad.
"Don't go soft on me now Regina." Jefferson said with a flicker of anger. "I need you to be the woman who ripped her own father's heart out of his chest. If you want to be the Savior's little woman afterwards fine, but after our kids are safe."
They were out of sight of the children so Regina didn't worry about them seeing as she used her magic to slam Jefferson into a tree, before enchanting a limb to tangle around his neck, strangling him.
Jefferson clawed at the branch while gasping out a raspy. "That's my girl."
"Stop trying to manipulate me Jefferson." Regina said as she got into his face. "I've had enough of that in my life. I will make this choice, no one is making it for me." She held him for a moment longer before letting him go and then turning on her heel and walking away. She was angry, hurt, and confused but as she came into view of the children she smiled so they wouldn't know how twisted up she was feeling.
Over the next several days Regina was aloof and cold and it made Emma uneasy. She and Snow were against this; they didn't want to tempt Regina by asking her to use such dark magic. James was in favor because he had the same concerns Emma had. What if someone did come along and free Cora from her gold prison? There were only so many precautions they could take against Cora's unexpected and unwanted return. Grumpy and his crew had found some magic laced stone in the mines. They were using that stone to build a crypt, which would house Cora's golden form. Regina would place enchantments on the crypt but who's to say that would keep someone like Rumple away from Cora? If he had need of her the Dark One wouldn't have an issue using her.
Stepping out of the sheriff's station Emma started walking towards Granny's with Regina on her mind. She was worried. Regina was insistent on making this decision herself, and Emma couldn't stop thinking there shouldn't be a choice at all. She wanted to blame this on Jefferson, and she did, but honestly how long would it have taken for someone else to bring up the idea of taking Cora's heart? Stepping into Granny's she scanned the tables, booths, and counter for Regina. They were meeting for lunch. When she didn't see her, Emma walked up to the counter and slid onto a stool.
"Hey Em." Ruby greeted with a smile. "Grilled cheese and fries?"
"Yes please." Emma answered, returning the smile for a moment and then asking. "Have you seen Regina? I was supposed to meet her."
Ruby nodded as she pressed a glass to the long chrome trigger on the soda fountain. "She was here but then left just a few minutes ago with Jefferson."
"Jefferson?" Emma asked as Ruby set her orange soda down on the counter.
The young woman with the wild red streaks in her hair nodded. "Those two seem awfully chummy don't they? What's his deal?"
"What do you mean?" Emma asked.
"Well," Ruby replied as she leaned on the counter, propping her chin on her fist. "Until you and Snow came back and told us about being kidnapped by him no one really knew who he was. He never really showed up in town much until after the curse broke. How come he got that great big mansion in the woods? And is he single?"
Emma had been nodding at Ruby's questions and adding a few of her own until the last one. That one caused her to blink and reply, "Huh?"
"He's a little odd but totally cute." Ruby said with a huge grin.
Emma groaned. "He's a single dad, Rubes. He's not your type."
Ruby laughed as she pushed herself up from the counter. "Everyone is my type."
For the rest of the day Emma's mind was cluttered with questions about Jefferson. Well, more to the point, about Jefferson and Regina. For months now something about the two of them had been itching at her but she just didn't know why. Deciding she finally needed to talk to Regina about it she sent the kids off with her parents. When Regina got home she was in the kitchen pouring hot water into a mug full of cocoa mix.
"Hello." Regina said with a warm smile as she walked over to Emma.
"Hi." Emma replied as she poured water into a second cup, this one had a tea bag in it.
Regina smiled and nodded towards the tea. "Is that for me?"
Emma nodded. "I thought it would help us relax while we talked."
"Talked?" Regina repeated, a little bit of unease settling in. "About what?"
"You stood me up at lunch." Emma said as she looked into Regina's eyes. "You were there but then you left with Jefferson."
"Oh." Regina said softly. "Yes, I did, I should have left you a note. I'm sorry."
Emma put a little bit of sugar and some milk in Regina's tea, using the few seconds it took to gather her thoughts. She wanted to be tactful about this, she wanting to show some understanding, some grace, but when she opened her mouth it just all came out in true Emma fashion. "What the hell is up with the two of you?"
Regina blinked. Despite knowing Emma so well the bluntness of the question still took her by surprise. "Excuse me?"
"You and Jefferson." Emma demanded. "What the hell is there between you two? And don't you dare say nothing. I've been picking up on it ever since he rescued you from Whale outside of Archie's office, and whatever it is, it got really intense when the kids were kidnapped by Cora and FrankenDaniel. What kind of past do you two have? Is he like an ex or something? Oh god, you're not Grace's mother are you!?"
"No he is not an ex. No I am not Grace's mother. Emma, you have it all wrong." Regina replied with a shake of her head.
"Then why don't you explain it to me?" Emma demanded.
Regina stood there watching and listening as Emma went on about this thing she sensed between her and Jefferson and what she was picking up on along with the concern and some hurt over thinking Regina was hiding stuff from her, was jealously. When Regina realized this she couldn't help but laugh.
Emma blinked. "What's so damn funny?"
"You're jealous!" Regina replied with pure delight. She liked the idea of Emma being jealous because it meant that for Emma, Regina was hers.
"I am not!" Emma huffed. "But if I was, do I have a reason to be?"
"Dear gods no!" Regina said, still laughing. It took a few moments for her to calm her laughter to gentle giggles and then she said, "Emma. Jefferson is my brother."
Bright green eyes went wide as Emma's jaw fell open. "What?"
"Grab your cocoa dear and I'll explain everything." Regina said while reaching for her mug of perfectly made tea.
Once the shock of Regina's statement had worn off she and Emma moved to her study so they could be a little more comfortable, or rather so she could be more comfortable. She knew that Emma was waiting for her to explain but she needed a moment to let the memories out, and adjust to the emotions they brought up, so she sat quietly on the sofa beside Emma while staring into the depths of her tea. After a few minutes and several sips of her drink she finally shifted so she was facing Emma. "Jefferson was the price my mother paid for her magic. Well, one of many payments I suppose." She paused a moment before continuing. "Three days after we were born Rumplestiltskin showed up to collect her first born. According to what Nanny would tell us later she gave him Jefferson, but he wanted me."
"Not to sound mean or anything but why you?" Emma asked gently as she listened to Regina's story.
"I had to be taught how to use it but like Lucy I was born with magic." Regina explained. "Rumple knew that, but the deal was for her first born."
"You're twins?" Emma asked with wide, surprised eyes.
Regina nodded with just a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yes, but we didn't know until much later. The first time he and I met we were five. Nanny was always taking me places to get me away from Mother and one of my favorite places was this wild garden on the very edge of our property. One afternoon when we got there we found someone was already there, Jefferson and the woman Rumple hired to look after him. We became friends and over time he became my best friend. When we were thirteen his adoptive mother became ill and he went to the man he knew as his patron, the man who paid for his care and education, Rumple, to ask for his help. Rumple sent him after the magic that would allow him to make his portal hat."
"Why a hat?" Emma asked before she could stop herself.
"Doris was a milliner." Regina answered with a soft smile. She'd been fond of Doris, she was a kind woman, and she loved Jefferson as her own. "When he was able to get his hat working Rumple gave him the medicine she needed, but it was to late. She told him the truth about who he was and what happened before she died. When he came to the house to confront Mother she admitted it but then turned him out, saying that he belonged to Rumple. Without anyone but me to love him, and his access to me limited to meeting in secret, he started traveling to the different worlds stealing whatever Rumple sent him for."
"What happened between you two?" Emma asked. "You hate each other."
Regina looked sad as she said, "He lost Alice, I lost Daniel, and after he betrayed me, I betrayed him, and it was just one thing after another."
"How did you betray each other?" Emma asked while reaching out a comforting hand, resting it on Regina's thigh.
Regina took great comfort from Emma's touch and it made her look up at the blonde and give her a grateful smile before finishing her story. "He brought Mother back to my land from Wonderland, allowing her to steal Daddy's heart. So I tricked him into taking me to Wonderland to get it back and then I left him there, which kept him from Grace."
Emma pulled Regina into her arms and held her for a while before asking, "Why did you leave him with his memories of the other lands?"
"Because I wanted him to be there for me the way he use to be." Regina admitted. "I wanted someone to turn to, I wanted…"
When Regina's voice failed her Emma said, "You're brother."
Regina nodded. "But I'm afraid that we'll never be able to have that back."
"Never say never." Emma said with a sweet smile. "You should know that. You never thought you'd love again and here we are. You never thought you'd be happy, and you are, aren't you?"
"So much so that it scares me." Regina admitted.
"Why?" Emma asked.
"I don't want to loose it." Regina answered.
"You won't." Emma said before softly kissing Regina's lips. "I promise."
"That's an awfully big promise to make, Emma." Regina said softly.
"Life is one hell of a ride." Emma said after a moment of thought. "The day to day of it will be a mess. But I think we can do it, I think that despite all the good and bad and all out crap, we'll keep the happy going."
Regina hoped Emma was right. A few days later she felt that perhaps Emma was right. The crypt was finished. Cora's wound was healed. Fredrick and Thomas brought her out to where she would spend the rest of time. Cora struggled, she ranted about who she was and her ties to people like Regina. She demanded Rumple help her but he just stayed out of sight smirking. Then Regina stepped up to her mother and everything went quiet. "Love is not a weakness, Mother. I wish you had known what it felt like to be truly loved by someone. I tried. Daddy tried. But we just couldn't compete with magic and power and whatever lead to you to being so twisted inside."
"Everything I did, I did for you." Cora hissed.
"No, everything you did you did for yourself." Regina replied. "And all for nothing. Goodbye Mother." Raising her hands Regina used her magic to bind Cora and with tears in her eyes Regina used her magic to pull Cora's heart from her chest. Cora's heart was dark, black, with barely a glimmer of light inside. Regina held it in her hand as she magically placed her mother on the stone seat inside the small crypt. She magically manipulated the fairy dust infused iron restraints that pinned her in place at the ankles, lap, waist, wrists, and chest. She watched with even more tears as Abigail's father stepped up to Cora, but before he could touch her Regina cast as spell that put her mother to sleep. She would, in her gold state, look peaceful at least. Once she was turned gold, the opening of the crypt was stone closed half way up, more fairy dust infused iron bars set into place as a small viewing window. Regina turned on the charms and enchantments and that was that.
Except before Midas left Regina asked him to encase Cora's heart, yet another step to ensure bringing her back would be more difficult. Then she and Emma left, taking the heart to a place where only the two of them would know where it was, stashed away in a special box made by August and Marco that only she and Emma could open. One could never be too careful when it came to Cora, and Regina wanted to make sure that the people she loved were safe from her.