CHAPTER 3
"There is no back. The timeline has been reset," Regina clarified never taking her eyes off of Emma the entire time.
Emma lifted herself from the ground and strode over to where Regina sat in the bath. "What in the hell are you talking about?"
"I thought it was perfectly clear dear. Do try and keep up," Regina began to soap up her body.
Emma slapped at the water but it didn't move. She stared at it momentarily before shaking her head and moving on. "You've got to be joking. I have to get back home. I have to get to Henry."
"There is no more Henry," Regina's voice had lowered and she closed her eyes temporarily as she allowed that to wash over her. She was surprised that there wasn't more of an impact. She had put off using the trigger for more than a year since this mess with Miss Swan had begun even though she'd been tempted to do so repeatedly. It was only now that she had found the strength to go through with it.
She had needed to regain control of herself. And it had taken her a long time to come to grips with the fact that Henry just wasn't her son anymore. In essence, she felt like her Henry had died and in his place he'd left a stranger. Someone that she really didn't even want to know.
She'd played their games by their rules for months. She'd bent over backwards catering to any and every one of Emma and Henry's needs, whims, or wants. She went to therapy that was forced on her by Emma. She'd stopped using magic because Henry asked her to. Until it came time that he wanted her to use it to bring Emma back to him.
It was while she was convalescing after inhaling the death curse she realized that's all she was to him now. Someone who was useful when he needed her but invisible when he didn't. Or worse. A whipping post for the mean and hateful things she never wanted to believe him capable of saying before yet that seemed to slip so easily from his mouth now. And the times in-between were made up of her groveling for any scrap of affection or attention he was willing to offer her.
Her son was dead. As far as she was concerned he'd died the day Snow gave him that damned book. It had taken her a long time to make peace with that. And now she had. Now she was ready to move on with her life. And that meant getting far the hell away from Storybrooke.
She had been willing to submit to them in order to keep the peace because she'd been flooded with guilt and remorse over the curse. But Snow murdering her Mother was the last straw. She had once been a Queen and her Mother had trained her not to grovel for anything from anyone. It was the only time in her life she'd ever been thankful for her Mother's teaching.
"What did you do?!" Emma screamed. This couldn't be happening. She had to be lying. There had to be a way. Henry needed her. She'd only just found her way back to him.
Regina was careful with her scalp as it was still tender from Leopold's attack on her hair. She submerged herself in the bathwater as she worked her fingers through her hair to rid it of the shampoo. Then she sat up and made sure she'd gotten all of the soap off of her skin. She began to climb out of the tub when Emma came roaring into her face.
"Fix this! And I mean right this minute or so help me I'll - ," Emma's voice broke as a sob fought its way out. "He's my son," again she repeated as tears formed in her eyes. She pressed her fingers to her mouth as she fought to regain control of herself. "You will fix this. NOW!" she roared at Regina.
She was pissed. And hurt. She'd followed Regina at Henry's urging. He told her that she was up to something. And he'd been right.
The kid had been right about almost everything. There was a curse on the town. Regina was the Evil Queen and she was the Savior. Her parents were Prince Charming and Snow White.
And she'd only just found them. She was trying to be the Savior and princess that they wanted. She was trying to make everyone happy. She'd found her home and family and she didn't want to lose them. And now Regina was standing here telling her that it was all just gone. She couldn't abide by that. "Regina take it back. Right now take it back. You have to fix this."
Regina stepped out of the tub. She dried herself off then walked over to the closet and got dressed. She took out the bag she'd been packing once more and went back to filling it, "No," was the only response she gave.
Emma became irate. She began screaming at the top of her lungs not caring who could or couldn't see or hear her, "Henry was right! He was right about you! You're just evil! This is why I wouldn't let you see him anymore!"
Regina stopped packing her bags. She turned and looked at Emma head on. "Goodbye Emma," she said softly as she flung her fingers in Emma's direction.
The next thing Emma knew, she was falling through the air with the ground coming up fast and hard. She was sure this was the end. She closed her eyes and braced for impact. She raised her arms to her head trying to shield herself as much as possible. The fabled life passing before your eyes at your death never happened for her. Instead she landed on the ground hard.
She lay there wondering why she wasn't dead. She knew she was alive because she still felt that unbelievable rage and sorrow sweeping throughout her system from when Regina first told her everything was gone. Her body was practically vibrating from it.
She realized nothing was going to get done with her lying on the ground. So she began to assess the damage. The entire backside of her body was throbbing. She hurt which was a good thing. It meant she was still living. And nothing seemed to be broken. She felt as if she'd just flown out of a window. But she'd live.
She slowly began to move around. Then she slowly stood. She clutched at her aching head. She'd be feeling that for days.
She dusted herself off as she took stock of where she was. She was outside the castle. There were guards posted around but they seemed pretty lackadaisical. "Hey," she called out to the one nearest to her. He appeared to look right through her. She sighed and went in search of Regina.
She needed to get back to Henry. She'd already lost the first 10 years of his life. She'd offer Regina anything. Even more visitation if it would get her to send her back home.
She came to a door leading into the castle. She wasn't sure where it went from there but she had to try it. She reached for the handle but again her hand just went right through it. She let out a growl of frustration. Then she decided to try just walking through.
That seemed to work just fine. She looked around the room. She was in the kitchen. Apparently she was invisible and the only person who could see or hear her was the Evil Queen who'd brought her here against her will to begin with. This was going to be lovely, she thought as she went in search of her.
She found a staircase and began to climb. She figured she'd fallen at least 5 stories out the window. How in the hell tall were castles anyway? She had just made it to the last floor when she saw Regina creeping along the hall. She was looking all around her as if she was expecting someone to pop up at any second.
Emma snuck behind her as quietly as she could, "What are you up to now?!"
Regina yelped and jumped a little. Emma gave a satisfied smirk before crossing her arms. Regina shook her head and took a deep breath collecting herself, "Don't you have somewhere to be Miss Swan?"
"Since you destroyed the timeline then apparently not. Now are you going to fix it or not?"
Regina rolled her eyes and kept walking. She came to a door and stood there with a petrified look on her face. Then she took a deep breath and walked inside. Emma could see the apparent relief on her face. It was another bedroom. There was a figure sleeping and snoring loudly, "Father?" Regina called softly. She entered the room and shut the door quietly behind her. She shook his shoulder gently, "Father, wake up. We have to go."
"Father?" Emma questioned. She searched through her memory for what she could about Regina's father. She had that creepy crypt back home that was made out to him. But she knew his body wasn't inside of it. That meant he was dead before the curse.
"Regina?" said a male voice thick with sleep. "What's going on?"
"We're leaving Father. We have to go. Now while we still have a chance," Regina lit a candle and began to toss clothes at her Father. She grabbed another bag and began to fill it with random items.
Her father blinked and rubbed his eyes. He began to dutifully put on his clothes but he continued to wear a dazed expression. "Where are we going?"
"Anywhere that's far away from here. Hurry Father," Regina instructed.
Her father began to dress faster. Regina took a few minutes to drink in the sight of him again. This was the reason for the resetting of the timeline to this point. She needed to come back to a time before her Mother kidnapped him and took him away from her. And long before the Evil Queen business. She wasn't going to make the same mistakes twice.
Her Father gathered a few things and shoved them into the bag that Regina had left opened on the bed. He paused midway through and looked over at his daughter, "Are you sure? Leopold - ."
Regina shook her head and interrupted before he could finish that thought aloud, "I don't care about Leopold. But if we don't get out of here now we won't ever be able to."
Henry nodded and resumed his packing. When he was through he looked to his daughter, "I'm ready."
Regina opened the door and peeked out. Then she walked into the hallway. Henry followed her lead.
She held a finger to her lips conveying to her Father that they must keep quiet. He nodded his understanding. They resumed creeping along the hallways. They made their way down to the massive kitchen. Regina began to put some things together for them to eat during their travels. Her father stood guard at the door ushering her to hurry.
When they were ready Regina once again took up the lead. She stood at the door and held up her hands. She began to mumble softly. Emma heard what to her, sounded like a spell.
Then they heard metal clanging against metal. Regina motioned for her Father to follow as they made their way outside. Emma looked around. All of the guards who'd been sitting around doing nothing were now all passed out on the ground.
Her Father looked around them alarmed, "witchcraft! Regina we must get away!"
Regina ran her hand up and down her Father's arm trying to soothe them. "It's not witchcraft. I have magic, Father."
Henry looked alarmed, "like your Mother?"
Regina grimaced, "Not quite. I don't use it for the same purposes. But yes, it is magic nonetheless. Come on. We must hurry."
"Why don't you tell him the truth, you liar," Emma taunted as she kept pace with Regina. "You are just like your Mother."
Regina and Henry Sr. quickly made their way to the stables. Regina continued ignoring Emma the entire way. "Get your horse tacked up quickly Father. We don't have any time to waste."
Regina strode over to where her beloved Rocinante stood. She drank in the sight of him with a huge grin on her face. She reached out to stroke his head. Rocinante gave a low nicker. Regina smiled at him, "Hello there old friend." Rocinante nuzzled her. He was obviously glad to see her as well.
In this timeline Leopold had forbidden Regina to go riding or use of the kitchens. He felt it took away from the time she should be taking care of his daughter.
Regina threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. She had a light sheen of tears running down her face. "I've missed you so," she told him as she led him out of the stall. She began to get him tacked up.
After she and her Father secured their belongings Regina was waiting for her Father to catch up. It had been a while since he'd done much of anything. She stared at him while absently stroking Rocinante wondering when he'd gotten so old. She remembered him chasing her around in the gardens while she giggled and ran. She'd thought he was as big as a giant back then. Now he seemed so old and frail.
"Father we have to find a safe place. Do you know of any?"
Her Father paused as he'd only just gotten the saddle atop the steed. "My Father's Kingdom. We can go there. They're our family."
Regina nodded. Her Father had told her plenty of stories about his homeland. But they had never been to visit. Cora had never forgiven her Grandfather. He'd laughed at her for being nothing but a Miller's daughter. After she'd made the Kingdom rich by spinning 3 roomfuls of straw into gold, she'd made sure that Henry had built her a home far, far away from anything that reminded her of her past station in life. She'd eventually had the last laugh. Cora usually always did.
Regina ran through a mental checklist of everything they would need for their new life. "Father, I've forgotten something. I'll be right back. You stay here," when her father nodded Regina ran off to her garden. She stopped underneath her apple tree.
Emma stared at the replica of the tree that Regina had in her backyard. She watched as Regina once again called up her magic and the tree began to get smaller and smaller. Right in front of her eyes it became nothing but a sapling.
Regina conjured up a burlap sack and put the tree inside of it. She quickly made her way back into the stables. She began to attach the sapling to the saddle.
Emma stood in front of Regina next to the horse. The horse began to sniff at her. Emma gasped and took a step back. She and animals weren't the best of friends.
Regina got onto her horse and watched as her father mounted his. They began to make their way out of the stable. Regina seemed to be in deep contemplation.
Emma jumped in front of the horse causing it to stop. Regina's head snapped up, "Regina, I'm giving you this one last chance. I'm begging you. If you care anything about Henry at all. Please, just let me go back there. I'll do whatever you want. I'll even leave town if that's what you want. But please," Emma's voice broke. She wiped a frustrated hand across her face, "I can't lose my son again."
Regina shook her head and pulled at Rocinante's reins causing him to sidestep Emma. She kept going until she reached the front of the castle. Then she stopped Rocinanate. She began to break down the barrier that her Mother had put up.
Cora never trusted her. Or anyone else for that matter. So she had put a barrier in place that would prevent Regina from ever leaving the castle grounds unless she was in the presence of herself or Leopold. Suffice it to say, Regina had spent the past 4 years trapped inside this hellhole.
Emma ran after her. She had to do whatever she could to fix this. She couldn't be stuck here while her son was - . She didn't even want to finish that thought. "Regina! Regina please!" She grabbed ahold of the bridle.
Rocinanate's ears began to twitch. Regina just stared at Emma. She had no idea how or why she was still there. With the timeline reset she had been sure that Emma would disappear along with everything else. Apparently not. She didn't bother trying to explain to her at all. She knew it was useless. "I'd suggest you move Miss Swan. If not, he will trample you."
"Huh?" Her Father asked as he continued looking around him as if he was waiting for the cavalry to file out and run them down. "Who are you talking to?"
"No one Father," Regina looked behind her. And wished she hadn't. When she did she got a full view of the castle. For the first time since arriving and putting her plan into action she began to falter. Her brow creased as she went into deep contemplation. "I'm worried about Snow. Maybe we should bring her with us."
"Snow? Regina if they find us they're going to chop off both of our heads. Snow is with her Father. She'll be fine."
Emma had been trying to steady herself. She could tell that Regina wouldn't listen to anything she had to say. But this she could definitely do something about. She wiped her face and strode as close to her as she could. "If you go near my Mother I swear that you will never find a safe place on this earth. You stay the hell away from her. And any other part of my family. Because I will fix this with or without you. And I swear on everything that is holy that I will end you."
Regina rolled her eyes but other than that didn't even bother to try and respond. "I suppose you're right," she finally gave in quietly. But her face still remained clouded with her worry.
Snow was now 14 winters past. She'd seen the way Leopold looked at his pubescent daughter. And it made her slightly queasy.
She sighed and rode over to her Father. "I can get us out of here. But I have used massive amounts of magic. And once we get out I will need to rest for a long time. Promise me that if they get to us before I wake that you will leave no matter what." When her Father began to protest she shook her head. She placed her hand upon his cheek and gazed at him lovingly, "You must promise me Father. I will be fine either way. But if I have to worry about you then I won't be. Swear to me that you will stay safe."
Her Father's eyes glistened with tears. But he nodded nonetheless.
"When I poof us out of here the spell holding this place down will fall. And I can only poof us to somewhere I can see. I'll try to get us as far away as I can."
Henry nodded.
Regina smiled back at her Father. She gave one last frown behind her as she looked up at the castle.
Emma watched as Regina grabbed ahold of her Father and the reins in his hands. Then they poofed away.
The familiar purple cloud rose from the ground. Then there was nothing more.
Emma fell to the ground as a sob tore its way free from deep inside her. She screamed aloud and dropped all the way to the ground. Then all was black.
RQ
Regina and her Father appeared at the stables of their old family home. As Henry looked around in amazement Rocinante let out a shrill cry. Henry hurried off his horse as Regina slipped off of Rocinante. Thankfully he managed to catch her before she hit the ground.
He shook her gently calling her name. "Regina! Regina!"
He looked around in fear. She let out a small cry but otherwise she seemed to be asleep. Thankfully she had prepared him for that. Otherwise his heart would've given out.
The old homestead had been shut down when they moved into the castle. There wasn't a soul around. Henry wasn't sure it was safe for them to be inside the house anyway. So instead he slowly brought Regina to a backroom that had been used for the help. They would spend the night there.
He put her down then went out to fetch the horses. He took off their gear and began to brush them down. Thankfully there were some leftover hay bales in the barn. And it had been kept up well.
Henry brushed the horses down then made sure they had food and water. Then he made his way back to where Regina lay. He ate a quick meal from the pack that Regina had packed. Then he made himself a pallet on the floor. He fell into an exhausted sleep.