Chapter Twenty-Three
Emma and Killian's house
Henry is sitting on the floor of the living room making funny faces at Hope who is staring at him from her rocker with wide intent eyes. Emma and Killian lie sprawled on the couch, Killian with his eyes closed and Emma watching the kids with a sleepy smile. It is a cold morning and the weather man on the TV warns of possible snowstorms as Emma lifts her hand to magically turn up the thermostat.
It has been almost three months of nothing happening in Storybrooke and Emma is starting to get twitchy, waiting for the next crisis but also revelling in the normality of life in the calm before the next storm.
Killian is starting to snore softly from the other end of the couch and Hope is making little happy burbling noises at Henry. Emma is juuust starting to think about where they could put a Christmas tree in the house and when she would be able to sneak out to do some shopping when there is a sharp knock at the door and a few seconds later Regina comes shuffling in out of the cold.
"Hey, Mom." Henry says from his place on the floor and goes back to entertaining Hope after Regina blows him a kiss. Emma stands carefully so as to not disturb Killian's nap and walks over towards the kitchen, motioning for Regina to join her. Emma flips on the electric kettle and starts rifling through the cupboards looking for the tea that she knows Regina likes as she throws her coat over the back of a kitchen chair and sits down with a frown. Emma looks over her shoulder at the Queen's face and asks,
"So, what's up? You look upset."
Regina's frown deepens as she thinks of where to start.
"I had to get out of the house." She begins and Emma waits for her to continue as she makes the tea and hands it to Regina. After a long pause and accepting the tea Emma hands her, Regina sighs loudly.
"The baby has Robin's eyes." She says finally, looking down into her mug.
Emma looks up at her friend in surprise and sips her own tea as she formulates her response.
"Are you okay?" she asks, watching Regina closely when she suddenly stands to pace around the kitchen.
"I want to be okay with it. With all of this. But I just can't seem to get past the fact that my sister has a piece of Robin that I will never have." Regina's voice breaks on the last word and silent tears slide down her face and she turns away to hide her face.
Emma stands and places a hand on Regina's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Regina. Have you talked to Zelena about this?" she asks.
Regina sniffs softly and tries to wipe the tears from her face before turning to face Emma.
"No. I'm trying to get along with her and don't really want to rock the boat. There's nothing to be done about it, I just… I suppose I just needed to tell someone." She says uncomfortably as she walks back to her seat. Emma also sits back down and the two women sip their tea in silence for a while. Regina gestures to towards the living room and asks,
"How are you doing with the little ball of magic?"
Emma smirks at Regina's nickname for Hope and looks over at the tiny baby lying on her tummy, on a padded mat on the floor while Henry lies in front of her, murmuring encouragement as she kicks her little legs.
"We are coping. Starting to get a routine down. I tell ya, though, I think battling dragons and ogres is easier, some days." Emma says with a chuckle and Regina smiles.
"Yes. I remember those first few months with Henry. It is quite the experience in self-preservation. [sobering again] Any news on Belle?"
Emma's smile falters.
"No. The doctors say that she still has some brain activity but the massive jolt of magic that went through her when Hope was born, left a lot of damage. They think that there is a chance she can recover but they can't say for sure."
Regina nods thoughtfully.
"Maybe her body and mind just need time to heal themselves. People who have never been exposed to magic can sometimes be affected by it more, and that was a lot of magic to go through her."
It's Emma's turn to stare sadly into the warm mug in her hands.
"I just feel like I need to do something. Like there must be a magical something-or-other that we can find that will wake Belle up and make her alright again." She says with irritation as Regina starts shaking her head.
"Magic doesn't work that way. It could maybe heal her body but her mind needs to heal itself. There's no shortcut for that one. The Dark One should know that, he's the one who told me that." The Queen says thoughtfully.
"Any word on where he is or what he's up to?" Emma asks conversationally but Regina shakes her head again.
"No. I assume he's off looking to help Belle but that seems to be all anyone knows. [her eyes narrow] I think Zelena knows something about it but I don't know what." She says as Killian shuffles past them to the kitchen counter, running a hand through his hair and over his tired face. Regina looks him over, arches a manicured eyebrow and smiles wickedly.
"Fatherhood suits you, pirate. I never would have pegged you for the paternal type."
Killian scoops baby formula and boiled water into a bottle and screws on the lid before turns to Regina, leaning a hip on the counter as he shakes the bottle and squints at her with tired eyes. He opens his mouth to utter a snarky quip but stops and sighs instead.
"As much as I would love to stand here volleying barbs with you, your majesty, there is a little lass in there with an empty stomach who is about to start howling the house down around us." He says, pushing away from the counter and trudging back towards the living room, still shaking the bottle.
The women both laugh as Killian leaves the room and Emma watches him gather Hope up off the floor, settling onto the couch to cradle her tiny form in his arms as he offers her the bottle he prepared. A small warmth spreads across Emma's chest at the sight and she tries to push it away to refocus on her friend who is now standing and pushing her arms through the sleeves of her coat.
"If you think Zelena knows something, would you mind if I tried talking to her?" Emma asks, causing Regina to pause momentarily.
"If you think you can get the information out of her, be my guest but she doesn't trust any of us." Regina says with a shrug as she continues bundling up.
"Well, I'd better go. I told my sister that I was going Christmas shopping and I think it might look a little strange to go back without any shopping bags. Thanks for the tea and the… chat." She finishes awkwardly and then she walks by Henry, sitting in a chair watching TV, and gives him a kiss on the cheek before turning for the door.
"Anytime, Regina. If you ever need to get out of the house for a while, our door is always open." Emma says as she follows Regina to the front door.
Regina stops at the threshold and turns to Emma, thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Emma. I appreciate that." She says before giving Emma a final nod and striding out into the cold.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Regina's house
"Knock, knock…" Emma says as she slowly opens the door and steps inside to get Hope out of the cold. Zelena comes down the stairs and stops at the bottom when she sees who is at the door.
"Oh. Regina isn't here." She says in a bored voice and waits for Emma to leave.
Emma smiles and walks in further, holding a very bundled up Hope against her chest.
"Actually, I came to see you." She says as she closes the door behind her and turns to a confused looking Zelena.
"Me? What on earth do you want to see me for?" she asks with a suspicious narrowing of her eyes.
Emma continues to smile at her and bounces Hope a bit when she starts to complain.
"Well, to be honest, I know that you are trying to fit in here in Storybrooke and thought you could use a friend who isn't your sister."
Zelena looks like she wants to toss the saviour back out into the cold but instead she straightens her stance and gestures for Emma to follow her into the sitting room.
"Well, if nothing else, a visit will break up the boredom around here. I'm sure you're quite familiar with the feelings of exhausted boredom by now." Zelena says with a smile and a nod to Hope.
Emma gives back a conspiratorial smile as she settles down on the couch across from Zelena.
"No kidding. I had no idea how much of this I missed out on with Henry but at least I have Killian. He has turned into quite the doting daddy, actually." She says with a warm chuckle and Zelena smirks.
"Hmm. So what is it you want from me, Emma?" she asks bluntly, throwing Emma off momentarily.
Emma pauses and decides to match the witch's bluntness as she leans forward and looks her dead in the eye to answer.
"Two things." She says, and Zelena sits back with a knowing huff as Emma continues.
"One, any information you may have that could help Belle or the whereabouts of Rumpelstiltskin. [Zelena raises an eyebrow at that request] and two, a friendship that I am pretty sure would benefit both of us." Emma finishes, giving a startled Zelena a challenging look.
Zelena studies Emma for a minute, weighing the options in her head before she cautiously nods.
"Very well. I have to admit, your honesty is a bit refreshing after months of Regina's stony silence and pent up rage every time she looks at me."
Emma smirks sadly at that and lowers Hope to the floor with a rattle clutched in her little hand.
"I know she's really trying to get along with you but you have to admit the whole situation is a bit messed up." Emma says with an amused grimace.
Zelena smirks back at her and then starts laughing quietly.
"I think this whole bloody town is a bit messed up." She says, making Emma burst out laughing as well. The women start really laughing for a minute and then both relax a bit more in each other's company. Zelena glances at Emma quirks her head suddenly.
"I can't help with Belle and I have no idea where Rumple has spirited off to. So unless you've recently discovered the healing pools of Atlantis, I can't help you." She finishes with a dismissive chuckle.
But Emma pauses.
"Say that again?" she asks with an intensely thoughtful look. Zelena gives her an incredulous laugh.
"The healing pools of Atlantis?" She repeats.
Emma starts talking out her thoughts as her unfocused eyes stare at a spot on the floor.
"Every other fairytale, legend and myth has turned out to be true in some form or other. Why not the lost continent of Atlantis?" she offers optimistically.
Zelena leans forward and smiles pityingly at Emma.
"It very possibly is real. [Emma's head snaps up] But unfortunately no one who claimed to have been there has been alive for several hundred years. The giants were the last ones to ever speak of Atlantis and they are all dead, so you would have next to no chance of figuring out how to get there before Belle dies of old age."
Zelena says matter-of-factly and Emma starts beaming at her.
"I know where to start. The last giant alive is a friend of mine and he went back to the Enchanted Forest."
Emma says, speaking in a hurried, excited voice as she stands and starts buckling Hope back into her jacket. Zelena stands as well and tries to reason with her.
"Emma, it's a fool's errand."
Emma pauses to consider for a moment and then looks Zelena in the eyes.
"Maybe. But Belle is my friend and if there's even a chance that this could work, we need to try." She says vehemently, leaving Zelena slightly speechless.
Emma gets as far as the door and turns back to the witch.
"You have helped us a few times now; with portals and magic. I'm not sure if anyone has thanked you for it outright, so, thank you, Zelena."
Emma nods and gives a dumbfounded Zelena a determined smile and holds Hope close as she pulls out her cell phone and heads for home.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Emma and Killian's House
Emma walks up the porch steps as the Blue Fairy appears by the door.
"Oh good. You're here. Come on in and just let me get Hope settled for a nap while the others arrive." Emma says to Blue as she opens the front door.
"Of course. I have to say, you have me curious after saying that you have an idea on how to help Belle." Blue says as she enters the house after Emma.
Killian is walking down the stairs, hair wet from a shower, and he greets the women.
"Ah, there's my ladies." He says, scooping Hope out of Emma's arms to give her a little kiss on her downy head and then leaning over to give Emma a lingering kiss on her lips, making her smile sweetly at him.
"Hope needs a bottle, a fresh diaper, a nap and I have an idea on how to help Belle." Emma says as she takes off her coat. Killian raises a questioning eyebrow even as Snow and David come through the front door.
"Don't start without me, darling." He says with another quick kiss before heading off to the kitchen in search of a bottle for Hope.
Emma turns to greet her parents while they wait for Regina to arrive.
A few minutes later, they are all assembled in the kitchen and most are holding a mug of some sort of hot beverage. Emma starts telling them all her idea to go to the Enchanted forest to find Antoine the giant.
Regina looks at Emma with a remarkably similar expression to the one Zelena gave her earlier.
"It's an awfully big longshot, Emma."
"I know but we've done riskier things on shakier leads. And there is no harm in going to hear what Antoine has to say about it."
Snow pipes up from her seat at the kitchen table.
"I like it. When do you want to leave and how can we get there?" she asks with a satisfied smile.
Emma glances at her father quickly as she answers gently.
"Actually, I was thinking that Killian and I would to talk to Antoine and then come back here to regroup with you before jumping into anymore adventures. Zelena has agreed to make the portal for us to the Enchanted Forest. [Her gaze moves to Blue] That is if Blue is willing to look after Hope for a few days."
The Blue fairy nods and smiles emphatically.
"Of course! I would be happy to watch over her."
Snow, looking slightly crestfallen gives her daughter a disappointed smile but nods as well.
"I guess we don't all need to go hopping over realms just for information." She says and David squeezes her hand in support.
Emma gives Snow an apologetic look and Killian slides an arm around Emma's waist.
"Well, that's settled then." He says as everyone starts getting ready to leave.
Blue chats with Emma as she walks to the door.
"I will be here early tomorrow so you can show me what needs to be done for Hope before you go." She says with a wave goodbye and Regina follows her out with a warning to be careful.
Snow and David stop to hug Emma.
"I know it's just an information gathering trip but this family tends to attract danger so just be vigilant and come back as soon as you can." David says and Snow nods in agreement from behind him.
"We will, Mom, Dad." Emma says in an assuring tone and hugs them again before they leave.
After everyone is gone, Emma turns to Killian and finds him grinning with barely contained glee and she chuckles.
"What?" she asks, wrapping her arms around his waist and grinning back up at him.
"Love, it's just been too long since we've been on a quest that wasn't to find badly needed nappies at the store. I'm excited to be going with you to talk to the giant." He says as he leans down to feather kisses over her face.
Emma giggles.
"Me too. But this isn't supposed to be a vacation, babe." She says, pulling away to head upstairs to bed, pulling him by the hand behind her.
Killian follows her up the stairs, grinning with a devilish look.
"Maybe not but I'm sure we can find some way of entertaining ourselves, when we are all alone in the forest…"