The Cricket Game
The next night, a small group was gathered at Granny's for a welcome home potluck for Mary Margaret and Emma. Mary Margaret, David, Emma, and Henry came in and the group already inside cheered. Emma and David were each carrying pans with food.
Ruby came up to Mary Margaret and hugged her friend, "I wasn't worried a bit."
"I can tell," said Mary Margaret.
"Oh, we all missed you," said Archie as he and Gwen, Tamera and Fallon hugged her.
Emma handed Granny the pan of food she brought in, "Tacos," said Emma, "I cannot tell you the relief of cooking something that I didn't have to kill first."
"Don't I know it," said Granny, "Meat loaf back home? What a bitch."
David tapped his glass with a fork and said "I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight. Mary Margaret and I – we have a saying… That we will always find each other. And, while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say… Here's to not having to look for a while." Everyone in the room laughed then David raised he glass, "To Mary Margaret and Emma!"
Everyone clinked glasses and cheered, just then Regina walked in with a casserole dish, "Sorry I'm late."
"What is she doing here?" asked Fallon.
"I invited her," said Emma, as Regina set her dish down on the counter. Mary Margaret pulled her daughter to the side along with David and Gwen, "We're celebrating today because of Regina," said Emma, "She helped us get home. No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now."
"Didn't you think to tell us about it?" asked Mary Margaret.
"I did, but you and David were a little busy this afternoon," said Emma.
"Emma, she tried to kill us – yesterday!" said Mary Margaret.
"No, she didn't," said Emma, "She's trying to change for Henry. He believes in her. And, right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so… She gets one, too."
Mary Margaret, David and Gwen looked at each other and they all gave a slight nod in agreement. The rest of the night went without incident. Although, Regina was the first one to leave, Emma tried to convince her to stay but Regina told Emma she had to be going.
The next day, Archie and Gwen were taking Pongo for a walk at the docks. They saw Regina walking toward them and Archie said, "Beautiful day, isn't it, Regina?"
"Why should I answer you, bug?" said Regina, very curtly.
"He was just trying to make friendly conversation, Regina" said Gwen.
"That he'll just repeat to anyone with an ear," said Regina. She looked at Archie, "You told Miss Swan about our sessions."
Archie sighed, "I was simply trying to help you."
"By betraying my trust?"
"I… I mentioned only that you had come to see me, as an example of your commitment to change."
"I came to you in confidence. How am I supposed to prove to people I've changed, when you're there to chirp in their ears and remind them of my past?" asked Regina. She looked at Gwen, "I bet you told your little girlfriend all about what I've said."
Gwen was shocked, "Archie doesn't tell me anything about anyone he sees."
"I would never betray the doctor-patient confidentiality," said Archie.
"'Doctor?'" asked Regina, "Doctor?! Need I remind you got your PhD from a curse?"
Just then, Ruby ran up, "Hey! Is everything okay here?"
"Private conversation," said Regina, "Go take yourself for a walk."
Ruby looked at Gwen, "It's fine, Ruby…" said Gwen. Then Ruby left.
Archie looked at Regina and said, "I can be trusted. I assure you."
Regina looked Archie dead in the eye, "You're lucky I've changed."
PGJR
The next day, Gwen, Tamera and Fallon stopped at Granny's to get some breakfast before heading to the office when Emma and Henry came out. "Hey guys," said Gwen.
"Hey," said Henry and Emma.
Just then they heard a dog barking. They turned and saw Archie's Dalmatian, Pongo run into the front courtyard. "Hey, Pongo," said Henry, as he went to pet the dog but he kept barking, "It's okay. It's okay."
Gwen looked around, "Where's Archie?"
Just then Ruby came out of Granny's "Emma, something's wrong."
"How do you know? Never mind. The wolf thing," said Emma, "You know what? Eleven is old enough to walk to the bus stop. I'll pick you up later."
"Okay," Henry left.
Then, Pongo ran across the street to Archie's office. Emma, Gwen, Tamera, Fallon and Ruby followed Pongo down the hall to Archie's office to the door of Archie's office. The door was open slightly, "Archie?" asked Emma as she knocked on the door. They walked in. They saw Archie lying on the floor, "Oh, hell." She said as she knelt down next to him.
"What? What is it?" asked Gwen, as the others walked in. Gwen saw her boyfriend on the floor and gasped, "Archie!"
Emma was checking his pulse. Then, she looked up at the others. Emma didn't have to say anything. They could tell by the look on Emma's face that Archie was gone. "No… No…" said Gwen, as she started to cry. Tamera and Fallon comforted their friend.
"Who would do this?" asked Emma.
"I think I know," said Ruby.
"Who?" asked Emma.
"Regina…"
"What?" asked Gwen.
Ruby looked at Gwen, "Yesterday, I saw you, Archie and Regina arguing down by the docks," said Ruby, she looked at Emma, "Then, last night. When I was closing, I saw Regina going into Archie's office."
Emma looked at her deputies, "I'll call David to bring her in for questioning," said Fallon.
She stepped into the hall. Emma walked up to Gwen and Tamera. "Gwen... Because of how close you were to Archie. I think it would be best if you take a few days off."
Gwen nodded, "I'll take her home," said Tamera. Gwen and Tamera then headed out the door.
PGJR
A short time later, Regina was sitting in the interrogation room at the Sheriff's Station. When Emma and David walked in. Mary Margaret and Fallon watched from behind the one-way mirror. When Regina saw Emma and David walk in, "Glad to see the Sheriff's Station's now a family business." said Regina. Then, she looked at Emma, "Why am I here?"
"You know why you're here. Because of Archie," said Emma, as she walked up to the table. David stood at the back of the room by the one-way mirror.
"Oh, it's now against the law to get into an argument with someone?" asked Regina.
"It is if you go to their office later that night and kill them," said David
There was a long pause and Regina looked shocked, "Archie's dead?" she asked.
"Stop it, Regina," said David, "Ruby saw you going into his office last night."
"Then she's lying. I was home all evening," said Regina. She looked up at Emma and said, "After everything I've done to change, to win Henry back, why would I toss it all away now? And, if I did and I was going to kill Archie, you would never know it. The fact that he's dead and you caught me shows sloppiness."
As she was speaking David stepped forward, "You've been caught before." said David, "Come on, Emma. Who do you think's lying – Ruby, or her? She's incapable of change, no matter how many times we've given her the chance." Then David looked at Regina, "Why should this time be any different?"
PGJR
Emma and David walked out of the interrogation room, "So what do we do with her now?" asked Mary Margaret, as she continued to look at Regina, as she sat in the interrogation room.
"Lock her up," said Fallon.
"We can't lock her up, because she didn't do it," said Emma. Mary Margaret turned to face her daughter.
"You really believe her?" asked David.
"I watched her when we told her Archie was dead. She didn't know."
"Emma," said Mary Margaret, "I know that you want to believe that Regina can change for Henry, but…"
"I know what I saw," Emma interrupted, "Look at her in there. The old Regina would've reduced this building to ashes. That's a woman who wants to change. She just wants everyone else to see it. I know that look. I know her. I believe her."
"With all due respect, you don't know her like we do," said Fallon.
"Maybe that's the problem," said Emma, "I know in the Enchanted Forest, she was the Evil Queen. But here, she's Regina. And I'm still the Sheriff, and I say she's innocent until proven guilty."
"So… Uh, what do you suggest we do?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Let her go."
"Emma, sh…" David started to say.
"We let her go," said Emma, "and then we find the truth."
PGJR
Emma, David, Fallon and Mary Margaret went to Archie's office and started to look for evidence. David was looking through the filing cabinet and came upon Regina's file, "Huh," he said, "Regina's file... it's empty."
"So, she did it," said Mary Margaret, "She killed the kindest soul in this town. A man who only cared about helping."
"I promise we'll find whoever really did this," said Emma.
"Maybe we already have?" said Fallon, "Regina had a fight with Archie, Ruby saw her outside last night, and now, her file is empty. That's a lot of evidence."
"Maybe that's the point."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know how it is in fairy tale land, but in the real world, it's usually hard to find evidence. But this has been way too easy. Unless, someone wants us to find evidence."
"What? So, you think she was framed?" asked Mary Margaret
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time that happened in this town," said Emma.
"Who would want to frame her?" asked David.
"That's a long list, present company included," said Fallon.
"Yeah. But there's only one name on that list that would resort to killing to get what they want," said Emma.
Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Fallon walked in Gold's shop just he and Belle were going to eat lunch. "Ah… Nothing warms the heart more than a family reunited," said Gold, "You have your mother's chin, Miss Swan."
"We know that you killed him," said Emma.
"And your father's tact."
"Someone's dead?" asked Belle.
"Dr. Hopper," said Fallon.
"Why on earth would you think I had anything to do with that?" asked Gold.
"Because all the evidence points to Regina," said Emma.
"And she's not possibly capable of doing something so vile?" asked Belle.
"It's a frame job."
"It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try to hurt her," said Mary Margaret.
"Nice to see your memory's still intact, dearie," said Gold, "But this time, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. It wasn't me."
"Why should we believe you?" asked David.
"Because I can prove it," said Mr. Gold, "Ask the witness."
"No one was there," said Giselle.
"Well, that's not strictly true now, is it?"
A little while later, David brought Pongo into the back room of Gold's shop. Mr. Gold went to pet him, "Hey, boy. Good boy. Good boy, good boy."
"I, uh… I didn't know you were such a dog person," said Belle.
"Well… A long time ago, in another life, I got to know a sheepdog or two."
"That's fascinating," said Emma, "But unless you speak dog, how is Pongo going to tell us anything?"
"Through magic, of course," said Gold as he stood back up, "It won't allow us to communicate, but it will allow us to… Extract his memories."
"Extract?" asked David.
"You don't have to worry. He won't feel a thing."
"Why should we trust you?" asked Emma, "Couldn't you just as easily use magic to fool us?"
"Because I'm not going to be the one using magic – you are," said Mr. Gold.
"Me? How?"
Gold walked over to one of his cupboards, "You have it within you. Told me so yourself." He looked over at Mary Margaret, "You witnessed it, didn't you?"
"Emma, you don't have to do this," said Mary Margaret.
"If it tells us something about Archie's death, then so be it."
Gold took out a dream catcher and held it up, "Do you know what this is?"
"A dream catcher," said Emma.
"Well… It's capable of catching so much more," Gold slowly ran the dream catcher along Pongo's back, and it started to glow a bright yellow.
"What is that?" asked Belle.
"Memories. Now, Miss Swan," he handed it to Emma, "You show us how."
"How? It's just a jumble."
"Will it. Will it, and we shall all see."
Emma took the dream catcher, held it in front of her and concentrated on the jumbled swirl of magic in the middle, but nothing happened, "I can't."
"Yes, you can."
Emma briefly closed her eyes. And the jumble transform into an image. "Emma," said David, "You're doing it."
They watched as Archie let Regina into his office, "Regina," said Emma.
Then they saw Regina grab Archie's neck. Mary Margaret was horrified by what she saw and turned away. Emma saw enough she dropped the dream catcher and let it fall to the floor, Emma looked at her parents, "You were right all along."
"I'm sorry, Emma," said David.
PGJR
Emma rushed out of the shop with David, Mary Margaret and Fallon behind her, "Emma! Wait. Where are you going?" asked David
"To get Regina," said Emma.
"Well, can we talk about this?" asked Mary Margaret.
"What's there to talk about? She killed Archie, now she's got to pay."
"Emma, how do you plan on doing that?" asked Fallon, "She has her powers back here."
"Yeah, well, you just saw what happened. So do I," said Emma.
"Yeah," said David, as he grabbed his daughter's arm and forced her to look at him, "You have something, but you didn't even know what the hell to do with it. And now, you're going to go take on the most powerful woman in town?"
"Excuse me. Weren't you the ones who've been pushing on the 'it's Regina' kick the whole time? You should be happy you were right."
"We may be right," said Fallon, "but we also know that going after her without a plan is a mistake."
"So what do we do?" asked Emma.
"Even if the dwarves construct a cell to hold her, we need a way to contain her magic until then," said David.
"Fairy dust," said Mary Margaret, "Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it."
"Will that stop her power?" asked Emma.
"It has before," said Fallon, "The problem is, she'll see us coming."
"Leave that to me. Trust me – we're locking her up," said Emma.
PGJR
A short time later, they were all in front of Regina's house. Emma knocked on the door and Regina answered, "Miss Swan. I assume you're here to apologize."
"We saw you do it," said Emma.
"What?"
"I saw it," said Emma, "You choked the life out of Archie."
"What are you talking about?" asked Regina, "How is that even possible?"
"Magic," said David.
"You-"
"I saw what happened, and it was you," said Emma.
"Gold," said Regina, "He helped you. You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind this?"
"We didn't trust him," said Mary Margaret.
"That's why Emma used magic instead," said Fallon.
Regina looked at Emma, "You can use magic… The savior. Of course. Well, I can only assume he warned you, then."
"About what?" asked Emma.
"That magic always comes with a price."
"Yeah? Well, that's a price we're both going to pay."
"How's that?"
"Henry. He believed in you. His heart's going to break. That's both our prices."
"No. I will not let you poison Henry against me."
"It's an interesting word choice, since you already did."
The group started to leave and Regina followed them down the walkway, "I want to see him. He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!"
"He's not!" said Emma as she turned back around, "He's mine! And, after this, you're not getting anywhere near him! Do it!"
Just then Mother Superior appeared from behind a tree and fired a blast of blue magic at Regina. But, she saw it coming and stopped it. She looked at Fallon, David and Mary Margaret, "Did you really think that would work again?" Then she casually threw the ball of magic on the ground near their feet. Regina looked at Emma, "You… You will not keep my son from me." She threw Emma back with magic. Mary Margaret ran up to help her daughter up, "So much for fairy dust. Maybe some of your newfound magic can save you now."
"I don't need it," said Emma, "I already won. There is no way Henry will swallow your lies about Archie now. You can pretend all you want, but we know how you are, and who you will always be." Regina didn't say another word, she disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
AN: Remember, if you like this story. Review, Favorite and Follow. It gives me motivation to keep going.