CHAPTER 7

Emma had taken to staying close by her Mom. She watched as Snow's bubbly cheerfulness turned to a sour disposition. She spent her days hiding away from her Father. And her nights praying for Regina to come and save her. When she realized that prayer wasn't going to work, she began to pray to the fairies to save her. Emma's heart broke knowing that no one ever would.

She cursed herself for her stupidity in letting Snow catch her at the magic mirror. She had thought that only she could control it. But one night she had been so caught up in watching Regina go happily about her life while she and her Mother were living in abject misery that she hadn't heard her when she came in the bathroom. Snow had gasped and walked over to the mirror dazed. "Mother?" Then she beat on the glass, "Mother! Mother!" When she realized that wasn't going to work she just stood and stared at the scene playing out in front of her.

She had no idea that Emma was there but she could clearly see that Regina was settling into a new life that didn't involve her. Nor did she seem to have any plans of ever coming back. She had her father, a new child, and now a new family. And she seemed happier than Emma ever remembered her to be or knew it was possible for her to be.

Snow just cried out, "Mother? Why'd you leave me?" she'd sob. "Why'd you leave me with him?"

Emma cursed herself for not paying closer attention. She'd always prided herself on knowing when people were lying. She'd tell people it was her superpower just to throw them off their game. And they'd usually fall for it.

But she'd never really thought about Snow and Regina. She just accepted Henry's side of the story. Regina was evil. And she should be taken down. The end.

But that wasn't it at all. Emma didn't know her Mother well but she knew the pain she was carrying over Regina was real. She couldn't have made that up. Emma remembered what it was like to miss her Mother.
And Emma recalled Regina looking back at the house repeatedly. Her concern for Snow had been real. As real as her concern for Henry had been when she thought he was lost or that he was going to die after eating the turnover. Things really just weren't as black and White as Henry had insisted they were.

And she hadn't cared less. She'd just wanted her son. She never thought she'd have the opportunity to be in his life at this time. When he found her and said he needed her she didn't care who stood in the way. She was going to mow them down to give her son what he wanted.

And now they were here. And her son was no more. Her heart still clenched and she still had crying jags over that one. It was even hard for her to watch old pics and videos of him on her phone. Not thinking about him was easier. He was gone. She had taken him from Regina and Regina had taken him back permanently from her.

She kept going over everything wondering what she could've done differently that would have made Regina stay. But as she watched her getting on with her life through the mirror, she knew the answer was nothing. Had she walked away and left Henry alone with Regina then their lives would've went on just fine. Henry was never in any danger from her. But Emma wouldn't be a part of their lives. That was what Regina wanted. And if it would get them back home to a time and place that Henry still existed Emma would give that back to her. She'd leave just to keep the peace between them. Because at least then the possibility of Henry being in her life later on down the line would be there. Regina couldn't keep them apart forever. And if she had to wait 7 more years until Henry was an adult then that would be fine. At least he'd still be alive.

This was worse. She didn't even know how he'd met his end. Did they go to bed and just cease to be? Did they know their lives were ending? Was he alone in the end?

She shook her head to clear them of these morbid thoughts. She could hear Leopold grunting away in the bedroom while his young daughter continued crying underneath his bulk. How in the hell could someone call themselves a man and do that to any female? Let alone their own child.

She guessed Regina hadn't fared much better underneath him. Not if what she saw the night they got here was any indication. Regina was right to kill him the first time around. She just wished she'd brought them back to a time when he was already dead.

Snow was slipping away. She no longer fought or hid. She just became paler and quieter as the days passed. Emma racked her brains trying to find ways to help. But short of offering Rumplestiltskin the blood of her first born child she didn't know what she could do.

She was non-corporeal in this reality. She couldn't even move anything. She hadn't eaten, bathed, or gone to the bathroom in the time she'd been there. She was still wearing the same jeans and sweater with her boots that she'd come here in. She did sleep though. Or rather space out for a while. She wasn't completely sure it was sleep.

The only thing she knew for sure was that she had to get out of here. And she had to save her Mother. She ran her hands through the unruly dark curls. She hated them. She looked in the mirror and saw her grandfather staring back at her. She had never seen a picture of him before so she knew she looked alot like Snow but she'd never realized how much she'd taken after him before. She really wanted to make a salon appointment to bring back her golden locks.

In the meantime she'd have to settle for what she had. Spying on Regina, looking for cracks in her armor with the hopes that maybe she could send them back if Emma could just make the right plea to her. For now, that would have to do.

RQ

For the first time, in a long time, Regina was enjoying herself. The feeling was so foreign to her she was a little afraid to embrace it. Normally she'd keep walls that she'd spent years crafting sky high. But she pushed the doubts aside and grabbed ahold of the happiness instead.

True to his word, Fernando had organized a huge welcome home party for her and her father. Regina had watched on happily as her father soaked it up. She'd never even seen him intoxicated before that night. Watching him throw his coat aside and join in the dancing had filled her heart with so much joy she thought she'd burst.

The impromptu fiesta was a huge success. The wine flowed freely, the dancing and music never stopped, and the company was exactly what they'd been craving for so long. Family.

She hadn't even known she'd had so many uncles, aunts, and cousins. And they all treated her, her father, and Gizmo as if they were one of theirs.

Regina had always wanted a big family. She had thought that she and Daniel would have lots of children. But that had been taken away by her Mother's cruel red tipped fingers. She had been through so much since then. She was definitely not that naïve little girl anymore. She was done groveling for love and affection from people who didn't want to give it. She'd left that life behind in Storybrooke. There was no going back. And she couldn't have been happier about that.

She still missed Henry from time to time. But she had been dealing with his anger and detachment for well over a year now. That kinda took the shine off of their relationship. She was done with that. Gizmo clung to her like a second skin. And she decided to embrace that instead.

She had to stop Gizmo from eating everything in sight. He seemed afraid that the food was going to disappear and hellbent on getting his fill before that happened. She knew she needed to get his mind on something else. He was going to end up making himself sick if she didn't. Instead she pulled him along with her as random family members walked up to introduce themselves. They were delighted to meet them and everyone cooed over Gizmo who after some cajoling gave them a little show of his singing talents. Everyone was silent for a while after the song ended. He'd looked around shyly for a second before the clapping started. Then he ran into Regina's arms and half buried his face into her waist.

After Gizmo fell asleep she carried him upstairs to their room. She had just lain him down and undressed him when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise. She knew instantly who it was. She turned slowly to face him. She put her hands on her waist and stared at him coldly. "You're not welcome here. Leave."

"Relax dearie. I merely came to tip my hat to you," Rumple made a big show of bowing down to her while his golden skin glistened in the streaming moonlight. "Well played."

Regina smiled slowly at him, "Didn't see it coming did you?"

His eyes hardened for a moment before he let out one of is incessant cackles. "No matter," he waved his hand dismissively in the air. "We will still all get what we deserve."

Regina smirked. It was as close to a yes as she was going to get with the imp. She slowly walked over to him, hips swaying as she drew nearer. "Except we no longer play by your rules."

Regina had added her escape clause without Rumple's knowledge. She had kept it hidden from him knowing that he would try and find a way to pervert it if he could.

Rumple didn't like being played with. He preferred being the predator. But he had nothing more to say. His second prize pupil had just surpassed him in a way he never saw coming. "You're still not Cora," he said then cackled as Regina looked offended before covering it with what had come to be known as her Mayoral mask. "But I have to say thank you. With the help of your little stowaway I will still get my curse. And we shall see one another again," Rumple inclined his head then disappeared.

Regina immediately began to conjure up every protection spell she could remember. She placed them around her father, herself, Gizmo, the castle, and the people within.

She had meant to just put Gizmo to bed and go back to the party. But she couldn't leave him now. When she was done with the protection spells she sat and stared down at his sleeping face. He frowned in his sleep. And she had witnessed his nightmares. She had no idea how long he'd spent on the streets but it was no place for anyone to be. They hadn't yet discussed his backstory but they had time.

For now, she lightly kissed his head while shushing him. "It's okay. I'm here. And you're safe," she whispered softly in his ear as she stroked his soft hair.

His frown instantly relaxed. He smiled a little in his sleep. And she sent up a little prayer that he continue to do so. It had only been a few days but she already knew. This child was hers. And she'd never allow anything to hurt him.

Rumples words played in her mind. The stowaway he'd mentioned could be none other than Emma. The blasted woman had destroyed her life back home and was even now trying to destroy her life here. But Regina had once been the Evil Queen. She'd already walked through hell and back. And if Emma Swan thought for a second she was going to take the happiness she was finding here away from her she had a lot to learn. This wasn't Storybrooke. And she'd find that out soon enough.