When I was reading the last chapter again, I realized that there might be some confusion on the whole Lacey-situation. But to clarify, when Belle had her second accident and gained the Lacey memories, all the memories between the first and second accident just disappeared. So she doesn't remember Mr Gold magically healing her, coming into her hospital room. She also doesn't remember her meeting and running away with Greg. I hope this is clearer now? If not, please do not hesitate to ask me about this, or any other things that still might be unclear. For me, this story is like a movie playing inside my head, but to put it in words and to bring it across to you in the right way is a completely different thing.
Anyway, thank you so much for showing your appreciation towards this story. I'm so glad that you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. Unfortunately I've also some bad news... This will be one of the last chapters. I feel that the story is almost complete. But fear not, because we're not there yet! There's still plenty to come.
Many thanks once again to Rolltidegoironmen, I'm learning new things everyday! :)
DISCLAIMER: I don't anything, just this profile ;)
Emma puts down the book of fairytales on the nightstand next to her mother's bed. She just read the story about her parents meeting each other out loud. She figured that that is probably her mother's favorite story.
''Hey Mom, I know you probably can't hear me, and I know that what I'm doing is probably quite useless, but I feel that we've run out of options to help you. I just don't know what to do anymore. Dr. Whale doesn't even know what's wrong with you exactly. And I was always a person to rely on the opinions of professional doctors and scientists, but now… now after everything that happened, I just don't know anymore.''
Emma is sitting on the end of Snow's bed.
''We've been through so much together, haven't we? We've faced things together that other people would never experience in a lifetime. Things that terrified me. But you know what? I wouldn't have wanted to miss it for the world. Because I was able to go through it all together with my mother. Even though I didn't realize that you're my mom at first.'' She smiles a little when thinking back about the time where the woman in the bed still was just Mary Margaret, her best friend, and not Snow White, her mother.
''A little over a year ago I never thought it was possible for me to trust someone ever again. And then this little boy was standing on the doorstep of my apartment. The ironic thing was, that I just blew out a candle on my birthday cupcake and wished to not spend another birthday all alone. And then out of the blue, there was this kid, claiming that I was his mother. When I dropped him off at Regina's, I wouldn't have thought to stay here, in Storybrooke. But I did, and well, then I met you. Or Mary Margaret. Do you know that since the moment we met I had a feeling about you? I don't know what to call it, but there was just something familiar about you. Like I had met you before. And it was not just that. It also felt right for some reason. Meeting you I mean.''
Absently, she gently combs her mother's short hair with her fingers.
''Without even noticing it, I started to trust you. Even as Mary Margaret you were able to slowly break down my walls. No one ever succeeded in doing that before. The countless times I got into fights with Regina you were there for me. You listened to me. When I was trying to reunite these two children with their father, and it seemed like a hopeless case, you helped me. And when Graham died you were there with the hot cocoa with cinnamon and a listening ear. I never had that before. Someone who was there for me when I needed it the most.''
Emma had never expressed her feelings in such a way. To no one. On one hand, she's very relieved to get it all off her chest. Because all these thoughts and emotions have been boiling up inside her for so long, and it has come to a point where she isn't able to deal with it anymore. She hates herself however for the fact that she would never have said these things out loud when her mother wasn't in a coma. Because that would mean that Snow would react to it all, something Emma can't handle. She wishes it would be easier for her, to express her feelings and emotions, as she knows how much her parents would love to see her opening up to them. But she just isn't ready for that yet. Not entirely that is.
''You gave me my first true home. Not only a place to live in, but also a place to feel safe and secure. For the first time in my life I felt wanted. I didn't know what that felt like before I met you. The environment I grew up in didn't allow these kind of things. I mean, some foster families were nice, but most of them just took me in for the money. It pays very well being a foster parent, did you know that? Well, and in the nice families, you always come second when being a foster child. When these people get their own children, they throw you back out on the street. 'Because the house gets too crowded,' they say to you.''
Some tears fall down on her mother's bed sheets.
''Meeting you and Henry are the best things that ever happened to me. When the curse broke, and I found out that David was my dad, I really just couldn't believe it at first. This was David, the man who hurt my best friend. I didn't even know him that well. We also didn't get the time to bond, because shortly after our little 'reunion' on the street, was when you and I were sucked into Jefferson's hat, and things got crazy. But I think you would be so proud of Dad and me now Mom. You sbould see us together. We actually made breakfast this morning. And you know how both of our cooking skills are.'' There's a tiny smile becoming visible on her face. ''Anyway, Henry was brave enough to taste our pancakes, and you know what he said? He said that it were the best pancakes he ever tasted. Can you believe that Mom? He actually said that to me.''
She clears her throat.
''Now, Dad and the dwarves are trying to locate Regina. And she can't be far, it will only be a matter of time until they find her. But I'm not sure if I want them to find her Mom. I mean, yes she hurt you. And that is an unforgivable thing. I only have the deepest hatred for that. But…'' Emma hesitates. ''But, I killed her mother. And that is unforgivable too. I just don't know how to live with myself. Not after what I did. Dad tells me all the time that it was the right thing to do. That it was to save our life. But I still can't believe that. Killing is never the right thing to do. There are other paths. Harder paths, but other paths. And, maybe even it was unknowingly, I chose the easy path. And I'm not going to be able to forgive myself for that. So even if they find Regina, I'm not sure if I can work up the courage to punish her. Because that wouldn't be fair. Even if Dad feels that it is. If Regina should be punished, I should be punished even more.''
She takes her mother's hand in hers. The sudden squeeze she feels then is so unexpected that she jumps off the bed and cries out: ''Mom?!'' She now also sees that her mother's other hand is bleeding. ''Mom?!'' she cries out again in shock.
She's ready for it. She's ready to die. Snow lifts up her head and looks Charming right in the eyes.
The Prince slowly walks up to her and takes out his sword. ''It is over Snow. It is finally over.''
Of course these are not Charming's words at all. They are Regina's, who is standing in the mausoleum once more. Calling on the power to trick someone's mind. Her stepdaughter's in this case. It needs a lot of her strength and is extremely exhausting. But the end justifies the means. And the result will be so rewarding.
The Queen has enjoyed Snow's suffering to the fullest, but it is time to finish it. To do the thing she has waited for, for years. Killing Snow White and destroying her family that is. To punish them for what they've done to her. It is finally time.
A soft breeze appears to blow through the room Snow is in. It is almost impalpable, but it is there.
Snow ignores it, as she still looks into her husband's eyes.
Charming however seems to be derived by it. His eyes shoot from left to right, as he's trying to locate the source of the air movement. When it seems to have stopped, his focus shifts back to his wife. His eyes are red rimmed and his pupils are dilated. He lifts up the sword. The blade shines dangerously in the bright light of the room.
''Hey Mom.'' The words are spoken so softly, that it seems like they're only the sounds of the wind passing by.
But this time, every fiber in Snow's body is triggered by the sound of… her daughter's voice. ''Emma?'' her cry is high and straight from the heart.
For a second, Charming is perplexed and stands frozen on the floor.
Emma's voice becomes louder and louder.
When Snow sees the shocked expression on Charming's face, she finally starts to understand what is happening. The pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. She uses the few seconds she has when Charming, or whoever the hell he really is, is taken aback and unable to move, to her advantage and jumps back on her feet. ''No!'' she yells. She throws herself forward and onto the person in front of her.
Charming recovers fairly quickly and fights back. The sword that is still in his hand sweeps forward dangerously, within an inch of coming into contact with the skin of Snow's arm.
Emma's voice is sounding loud and clear in the brunette's head. Like her daughter is speaking from inside her mind. The words makes her angrier, stronger, and more willingly to fight than ever. In an attempt to take the sword from her fake husband, she cuts open her hand. Blood is dripping onto the cold floor underneath her. Then, he overpowers her and holds a strong grip on both of her arms. She feels the air flowing out of her lungs.
Charming growls frantically and he throws away the sword, where after his strong hands surround Snow's throat.
This fight has just become more personal than ever. Even when everything is appearing to run smoothly, there is yet another Charming family member messing everything up. Can this never stop?! Regina now wants to feel Snow's life floating away herself. She wants to feel it like it is her own hands doing the job. The sword will not satisfy this need.
The brunette pants for breath when she feels the pressure on her throat increase with the second. She's not strong enough to take on her husband. He's athletically built and trains a lot. He has so much more muscle power than she has.
''Meeting you and Henry are the best things that ever happened to me.''
'My baby, this is my baby talking to me,' thinks Snow. 'She's alive. This cannot be the end. I need to get out of this.' She's deeply touched by her daughter's words. It penetrates her heart, and everything else suddenly seems nonessential compared to this. Regina may has powerful magic, but she has something that is even more important, more powerful . She is a mother. And a mother will do anything to protect her children. The only way to protect Emma is to be there for her. So dying is not an option. She gathers all the strength still left within her, and uses the hand that isn't being hold back by Charming to lash out at him. She manages to scratch his left eye, and he yells out in pain and fury.
''You little bitch!'' he screams at her, tightening the grip on her throat.
She lashes out a second time, not letting his appearance fool her. Her fist hits his nose and she hears a nauseating crack as she breaks the body part. She feels his grip on her throat loosen slightly and she takes this opportunity to roll out from underneath him and stretch her arm for the sword. Her fingers are only inches away from the weapon when Charming's fist hits her on the jaw.
''I don't think so!'' He raises his fist again, but before he can do anything, the sword starts to move towards Snow and lands in her hand.
Without thinking for even a second, she holds it firmly and lashes it out towards her fake husband. Then her vision blurs and it becomes dark.
Regina realizes that she has lost. Again. Now that Snow has defeated the Charming hologram in her subconscious, there's nothing keeping her in the coma anymore. She'll wake up any second now.
The Queen falls down on her knees next to her mother's memorial stone and cries with deep, unstoppable sobs.
Snow inhales a deep breath of oxygen and opens her eyes. ''Emma it's okay,'' is the first thing she says when looking at her frightened daughter.
At this, the blonde walks over to Snow's bed and puts her arms around her mother.
The brunette pulls her daughter in close and only whispers: '' it's okay, Emma, it's okay,'' over and over again.
Thank you once again for reading. Reviews are much appreciated.