CHAPTER 9

The hair on the back of Emma's neck rose. As she turned a part of her mind was preoccupied with how a ghost could still feel fear but the other part was preparing for what was sure to be a fight with a woman who'd already tried ripping her heart out multiple times over.

"You can see me?" she asked incredulously. She flinched as her voice came out thick and gravely from nonuse. The only reason it got any usage at all was because she'd started talking to and answering herself. Well, even more than usual that is.

Cora scoffed, "Of course I can see you. You're standing right in front of me. Now who are you and where is my daughter?"

Emma's mind was awhirl. The one thing she knew for sure was that Cora couldn't be trusted. And yet she was the first and only person besides Regina who was able to see and hear her.

She knew she was dangerous. This woman scared even Rumplestiltskin. The Dark One himself. Had Regina not stepped in and stepped up Cora would've risen as the new Dark One and enslaved them all. That wasn't even up for questioning.

And yet this was a different time and place. In this world, they hadn't yet met. She eyed Cora searching her up and down for weaknesses.

Regina had been able to defeat her Mother after digging deep for the courage to face her. But she was no Regina. Though her magic was supposed to be immense, she'd never actually had proof of that. Truthfully she felt like a fraud everytime someone, namely Henry or her parents, insisted on calling her the Savior.

Regina had punched a hole through time and space and pulled an entire village into another world. There was no way to quantify that. It was nothing short of absolutely incredible.

Emma had broken a curse without really even knowing how. And for that she was the Savior? She had only kissed her child. Something that Mothers were supposed to do. Something that they did around the world. And for that she was exalted. And Regina had been shunned and was basically turned into a pariah in their town. Deep down Emma really couldn't blame her for this. Even though she was definitely culpable.

Cora's eyes moved past Emma who continued to just stand there staring to the mirror. "What is this?" she asked as she walked forward. She pushed Emma unceremoniously out of the way.

"Oww," Emma hissed as she hit the wall. "Excuse you!"

Cora completely ignored her. Emma continued searching for some way in which she could possibly use this situation to her advantage while Cora stood spellbound in front of the mirror.

She watched as Regina played with her new son. She was chasing him around her new garden underneath where she'd replanted that damned apple tree. The one that appeared to be a replica of the one she had in Storybrooke. Her face was aglow and there was no mistaking the undisguised joy.

Cora's fingers clenched around the wash basin as she continued to watch her disobedient daughter playing joyfully. She hissed and sneered as Henry came into view. Cora caught him smiling and wanted to smash his face in. How dare he be happy after his Father had humiliated her by making her jump through hoops – or in her case spin him rooms full of hay into gold- all for the honor of marrying his lowliest son. The one who never had a shot in hell of being a King.

"How did this happen?" she growled to the obviously feeble-minded peasant who was so completely untrained she didn't know that she should be bowing to the Queen's Mother.

Emma sighed. "It's a long story."

Cora turned on her with venom in her eyes, "I placed a spell on this place forbidding that ungrateful brat from ever leaving this place. How in the hell did she get out of here?!"

This Emma did have an answer ready for, "Rumple - ," she started to say before she was cut off.

Cora had moved forward quickly and pressed her hand upon her mouth, "you impudent girl. Don't you know never to say his name?"

Emma swatted her hand from her mouth, "I don't know what the hell you're talking about. But I'm not the one who's afraid of him."

Cora looked like she was ready to spit bolts at her. Then her body relaxed. An amused expression crossed her face as she crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you called girl?"

Emma huffed, "I'm not a girl. I'm your grandson's Mother. And my name is Emma."

Cora's head reared back, "Grandson's Mother? I only have a daughter. And my daughter does not lay with women so you're obviously a liar. My daughter would never lie with a woman. I taught her exactly how to please a man."

Emma was sickened just hearing this, "what do you mean you taught your daughter how to please a man?!" she asked her voice taking on a shrill quality to it. She held up her hand to Cora while shaking her head, "You now what. I don't want to know. What I meant to say was Regina adopted my son," she retorted as she slapped her hand against her thigh and nodded.

Cora scoffed, "My daughter has no need to adopt someone else's child. She was born to be a Queen. And she comes from fertile stock."

Emma shook her head confounded at the dreadful woman, "I don't know anything about all of that." She'd already realized that there was no help forthcoming from this woman to fix her predicament. She was getting a headache just from being around her for this long.

Cora regarded her slowly up and down before turning up her nose at her, "Yes. I'm quite sure you don't know much about anything." Emma knew that look. It was one she'd gotten her entire life. One that let her know she had the wrong clothes or even worse clothes that didn't fit. The same way that she never fit into any of the homes she was forced into then quickly taken away from.

"Hey!" Emma huffed. She angrily crossed her arms over her chest again and glared at the offensive woman.

Cora narrowed her eyes and drummed the fingers of her right hand along her left arm, "How exactly did my daughter manage this? I invoked powerful magicks to make sure the ungrateful brat couldn't escape. She's not allowed outside of here without my permission. A spell like that doesn't just get broken easily."

Emma was shocked. She looked Cora up and down. She knew that Cora was dangerous and power hungry. But it had never occurred to her to connect Regina's fear of her Mother with deeds committed against her.

Emma snorted, "Where I come from your daughter defeated you," Emma informed her. "You're not that powerful."

Cora scoffed, "My daughter would never dare to raise a hand toward me. She may be a Queen. But I'm the Queen's Mother," she lifted her chin into the air while exuding an imposing figure. "You should be on your knees at my feet right now."

Emma snorted again and laughed, "Yeah. I don't know what you've been smoking lady but that's never going to happen."

Cora glanced behind her at the enchanted mirror. Her face hardening as she watched the joy across Regina and Henry's faces as they hugged one another. She had already recognized King Xavier's castle. The little sandy haired boy, Gizmo ran to them throwing his arms around their waists. Regina and Henry embraced him while planting kisses all over his face. They were happy.

Cora's hands clenched into fists as she leaned them against the wash counter. "That ungrateful brat. She never did appreciate anything I did for her. As for Henry, I see my mistake was allowing him to live."

Emma stared at the cruel woman. She saw only hate and venom across her face as she took in her daughter's happiness. Emma was still learning what having family was about. This was all foreign to her. But she knew no parent should look at their child that way.

She knew that look. It was the same look she'd seen in foster homes where children screamed in the night. Nightmares filled with blood and bruises. Handprints left against innocent skin.

Emma looked at Regina before her head swung back to her Mother, "You did this," she accused. "You didn't make her the Queen. You made her the Evil Queen," Emma's voice rose as her fists clenched at her sides. "It was you. Not my Mother. You did this. You're the reason for all of it!" Emma walked closer as Cora regarded her amusedly which only served to incense her more.

Emma was yelling now, "And I paid the price! Me! I lost everything," her voice broke as the tears thickened her throat. She swiped an annoying hand across her face at her tears. "I lost my son! I have nothing anymore! EVERYONE'S GONE!" she yelled.

Cora laughed out loud at Emma's pain.

Emma reared back with her fist. But Cora merely flicked her wrist – then disappeared in a red and black cloud.

RQ

During this time, Regina and her Father and son had retired to their rooms. Gizmo had gone down for a nap with her father.

Regina was in her room picking up after her boy. Her son was such a wild child. He hated wearing clothes and shoes. He wore the least amount he could get away with without causing scandal.

Still she smiled as she put them away. She would enjoy this second chance at Motherhood.

Suddenly there was a tingle throughout her and the hair on the back of her neck stood up as she felt magic crackle through the air. There was a plume of red and black before her Mtother appeared in front of her.

"Mother," she breathed with a trembling voice.

But Cora was not in the mood to be trifled with. "You wretched girl. You're nothing but an ungrateful brat who's deserved none of the sacrifices that have been made for you." Cora pulled back her hand and smacked Regina so hard she wobbled on her feet before dropping to her knees. "I gave you everything! And this is what you do! Leaving your king alone I should add."

Regina kept her head bent as she sat with her knees curled underneath her. She watched the red blood dripping from her nose mingle with the purple plush rug.

Cora was pacing back and forth, "I can fix this. I'll just have to erase everyone's memory. Maybe a curse. Rumple will know what to do to get my happy ending. Except maybe this time I'll be Queen." Cora nodded, "Yes. That was my mistake. I'll just dispense of Henry," Regina's head snapped up in shock. "Then I'll be a widow," Cora smiled as she continued to run through her new plan.

"Since you appreciate none of my hard sacrifices I'll give you what you want. I shall be Queen. You've done nothing but disgrace me my entire life. I did everything for you and this is how you thank me."

Regina heard none of her Mother's tirade. She sat on her knees with her head down-turned. Regina conjured up a box that held something special. She'd retrieved it as soon as she'd come to this land.

"I can't believe I wasted myself on you," Cora sneered. "Everything I ever did was all for and about you. And this is the thanks I get."

As Regina sat curled over on her knees, she poofed the box away while tightening her hand around the object that had lain inside of it.

Cora cocked her hip to the side and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at Regina the way she'd looked at her her entire life. Regina would never be good enough. Even when she did as her Mother ordered it still was never enough.

Cora took in her bowed head. She stepped forward, "And you sit there on the floor like - ."

Instantly Regina shot to her feet. She locked eyes with her Mother. She slammed her hand into her Mother's chest. She felt the heart pulsating beneath her hand as she slid her arm out.

She stood watching as a myriad of emotions flew over Cora's face.

Cora backed away clutching at her chest, "Re- Re-gina?" she asked somewhat timidly. Tears had begun to pool in her Mother's eyes. She walked up to her daughter and raised her hand as if she meant to stroke her hair but then pulled it back. "My baby," She crossed her arms over her chest as she backed away. Once she hit the wall she slid down to the floor. Body wracking sobs were shaking her entire frame as she stared up at her daughter.

Regina threw back her head as her eyes clouded with tears. For a minute her mother turned into a blob as her tears blinded her. But she blinked them away quickly.

"My God! What did I do?!" Cora screamed. "What did I do?!" her Mother's screams turned into wails.

Regina walked slowly to her Mother. She squatted beside her. She reached out a hand to her.

Cora grabbed her hands, "I'm sorry. I'm so so so so sorry. I'm so sorry," her Mother repeated as tears continue to flood down her face.

Regina sniffled, "I know. It's okay Mother. I forgive you. And we'll take care of you." She wrapped her arms lovingly around her Mother. "I've got you."

CF

From the other side of the mirror, Emma was crying just as hard as the two women. Her Mother hurried past her. Emma grimaced as she heard her stomach empty into the toilet again.

Emma pulled her hands through her hair. She let out a primal scream full of rage. She kept moving backward until she hit a wall. Then she banged her head repeatedly on it before she slid down the wall. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

Her tears were now consuming her. Her body shuddered painfully under the weight of her sobs. She pulled her knees tight up to her chest and laid her forehead against them. She knew that once more without asking she had paid the price for all of this. Regina was the Evil Queen no more. But still she paid the price solely for the crime of being born to her Mother.