Regina could feel the magic swirling around herself, and though she tried desperately to break free of Emma's lips, the magic held them together with a mind of its own. She hadn't felt so helpless since she was a young girl. Her life was once again being mapped out for her, and all Regina could do was to hide within herself like she had done all those years ago. All she had ever wanted was to control her own destiny, and no one had given her that opportunity—not her mother, not her former 'husband', not her former 'stepdaughter', and now not even her true love. Her pain and anguish continued to amplify as the memories of her life flashed before her eyes. At least she thought they were her memories: why was Emma there holding her hand as her mother 'disciplined' her for not behaving enough like a girl? Since when did her wedding night end with Emma kissing away her tears?
For her part, Emma had somewhat anticipated seeing fireworks or bright blue butterflies, but her expectations were not even close to the reality of what she was experiencing. A powerful cord was pulling her, heart and soul, closer to the other woman, strengthening their mystical connection. The warmth radiated throughout her body until she thought she would spontaneously combust. In between the bursts of flames, flashes of what could only be described as Regina's memories crossed the visual cortex of her brain. The pain and loneliness she was simultaneously experiencing and viewing was the most excruciating she had ever endured, including that of childbirth.
Emma had always thought that having a mother who wanted her would be the most wonderful thing in the world, but she found herself cheering as Regina pushed Cora through the portal to another world. Emma empathized with Regina's yearning for freedom; her urge to protect the brunette growing rapidly. Emma cried as she watched Regina's descent into darkness, though she understood Regina was spurred on by a need to be more powerful than the woman who had controlled her destiny since birth. She sensed Regina's desperation upon casting the curse, the need for a fresh start in a new land, to no longer be consumed by a constant need for power and vengeance. She felt the other woman's unabashed joy at holding Henry for the first time as an infant and knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that there was still good left in the prickly mayor of Storybrooke.
When the kiss finally broke, Emma could still feel the connection between them. She gazed at Regina with a dazed and confused look on her face, "Did that really just happen?"
"Yes," Regina responded, barely above a whisper.
"What…is that why you didn't want me to kiss you? Did you know?" Emma's mind was reeling with a million questions. She'd kissed people before, but never like that; was this what true love was like? Was she in love with Regina? She couldn't be; she barely knew the other woman.
Regina took a deep breath and nodded, "I thought it might. The prophecy…"
"True Love's kiss will break any curse," Emma interrupted. "But that means…oh God, this isn't happening. Henry's book…fairytales aren't real…what I saw just now…that was all my imagination."
"Miss Swan…Emma, tell me what you saw," Regina's anxiety level was sky-rocketing. All of her fears were coming true. The Savior broke the curse with True Love's kiss, and now that the truth of the curse had come out, the Savior would shun her. Regina would once again lose her chance at a happy ending.
Emma wanted to hold Regina in her arms and reassure her that everything would be alright, but she had a lot to think about. Emma couldn't have seen…had she really just seen all of the intimate details of Regina's life? She blinked back tears as she replied, "I saw you."
"And?" The suspense was only adding to Regina's apprehension.
"And if what I saw is true…I admire you, Regina. I admire your courage, your endurance and your ability to find yourself again after giving in to your anger and frustration," Emma declared. She continued, the words coming directly from her heart, "Everyone has a dark side. The only thing that kept me going for the last ten years was the little boy in the tent next to us and what he would think of me if he somehow found out I had landed myself in prison again."
Regina couldn't believe her ears, "Are you patronizing me? Because if you are going to leave, I need you to tell me right now."
"Damnit, Regina. This is a lot to process. The woman I…have grown very attached to and the mother of my child is the Evil Queen who cursed my entire existence," Emma hated ultimatums. Truth be told, she was terrified of what she was feeling and desperately wanted to run away, to break her own heart before it was broken for her. But what would she tell Henry?
"The thing about good and evil is that it depends largely on your point of view," Regina commented philosophically. "If I hadn't cast the curse, I would never have met you."
"Answer me this: would you be willing to give up your need for power? For Henry's sake?" Emma continued to war with herself.
"Without a second thought," Regina answered easily. She had never liked power except as a means to an end. She didn't crave it the way her mother had.
Seemingly satisfied, Emma went a step further, "How about your grudge against Mary Margaret…Snow…my mother?"
Regina was a little flustered, "Well, um, that's a lot to ask. There's a lot of history there. I'll try?"
Emma smiled, happy that Regina was being truthful even if it wasn't the answer she was hoping for, "Good. I have a feeling it will be worth sticking around just to see you two trying to be nice to one another."
"Does that mean you're really staying?" Regina asked, hope evident in her voice.
Emma nodded, "Yes. If you can try to get along with my mother, I'll try to curb my habit of running off into the sunset."
"You'd better. I wouldn't want to have to curse you," Regina smirked, thankful her fears were allayed at least for the time being.
Emma flirted back, kissing Regina on the side of the mouth, "I would love to see you try that. I plan to keep your mouth so busy it won't have time to utter any curses."
"You are insatiable. We're going to be totally exhausted tomorrow, and we have to tear down the tents and drive back to Storybrooke," Regina tried to be the voice of reason.
"Live a little," Emma replied, planting a kiss right on Regina's lips. She was mildly relieved when the world didn't explode—well, except for her own lust-filled desires. No more curses were broken; not this time anyway.
Regina sighed with pleasure, "Maybe just this once."
The next morning as they packed up to return to Storybrooke, the two women were unexpectedly perky when they thought of the little sleep they had gotten. Henry had bounced into their tent bright and early, realizing that something was different, but not entirely sure what or how. They had decided it was better if Emma explained to Henry the changes in their relationship, and Emma wanted to do it before they left the campground and ran into a bunch of fairytale characters with newly returned memories.
Emma took Henry aside while Regina started to load up the car, "Henry?"
"Yes, Emma?"
"Operation Cobra is now complete," Emma declared.
"Really? Emma, you did it? You broke the curse?" Henry grinned, "I knew you would!"
Emma gave him a hug, "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."
"But wait, mom is still alive?" Henry asked, confused. "And she seems happy?"
Emma looked right at him, "Well you see, someone once told me that True Love's Kiss breaks any curse."
Henry lit up, "Wait, that means, you and mom are….and…oh my god."
"Are you ok with this?" Emma asked.
"Does this mean you get to come live with us?" Henry asked.
"Um, well, I think that might be moving a bit fast, but maybe soon?" Emma responded, grateful that he appeared to be taking the news rather well.
Henry looked very serious, "Aren't all the people in Storybrooke going to hate mom now that they have their memories back?"
"Well, you and I are just going to have to protect her and tell them she's a changed woman. After all, I'm the Savior, right?" Emma grinned.
Henry nodded, "That's right. So…can we go home now? I kind of miss sleeping in my own bed."
Regina entered the conversation at that point, "Henry, it's time to get in the car." She found herself enveloped by a bear hug from her son for the first time since he had been given the book of fairytales and softened instantly. She motioned for Emma to join them and for a few moments, they all held each other in the morning light.
Emma was first to break the hug and said, "Last one to the car has to wash the dishes for a week!"
"Really, Emma?" Regina pretended to roll her eyes as Henry fell over himself to get in the car. Going back to Storybrooke would be hard, but she could do it. She had the support of her family and that was all that mattered.
"Are you coming or what?" Emma asked, as she got into the driver's side of the car.
Regina entered the passenger side, grinning from ear to ear, "I wouldn't miss this for the world."