***Next Chapter will be all bout the business and up really soon. Enjoy ;)***

CHAPTER 22

Emma glowed as she stood around the grill. She had a cold beer in one hand and the party was in full swing. Everyone close to them were in attendance as they shared yet another joyous occasion with their friends and family.

Snow came over to offer her a hand. Emma just waved her away. She loved grilling. When it was clear her help wasn't needed in the cooking department she settled for grillside chatting with her daughter. "Regina seems so happy," they both looked across the crowded lawn where Emma's wife sat with Abby. The two were chatting and laughing as they sat with the kids.

"She is happy," Emma emphatically declared. Regina's head turned her way as if she heard her wife across a crowded backyard. Emma held up her beer and grinned at her. Regina grinned back and waved. Emma waved back before turning to her Mom, "I make sure of that everyday."

Snow nodded. All of their relationships had changed in the past couple of years since Emma declared Regina as her true love. She'd given her parents the ultimatum of accepting the decision that she and Henry had come to or stay out of their lives.

After a lot of soul searching the Charmings had agreed that Emma, Henry, nor Regina had ever looked happier than when they united together as a family. They gave the union their blessing. David had walked his daughter down the aisle at their wedding. Henry had walked his Mom down the aisle and handed her over to Emma so that the two could declare their love for one another in front of all their friends and family forever.

"It could've been so different," Snow sighed while shaking her head. "But I'm glad it all worked out for you. And for our grandchildren."

Emma scowled before taking a sip of her beer and flipping the patties, "I know that. But if anyone ever threatens my family I'll still do what needs to be done all over again."

She didn't need to be reminded just how awful everything could've ended up. She'd gotten a little taste of what was at stake after confronting Cora. She was the one who carried the leftover scars from that bad time. But the past three and a half years with Regina had been a gift that had made it all worthwhile.

FB

Hook hurried to his Queen with the news. He burst through the doors that led down below the deck of his ship. He frowned when he saw her with his rum. It was the one sacrament he didn't share willingly.

"What is it?" Cora gave him an amused look after she took a long slow drink of the glass she'd just poured herself. The duo had been together for a good many years. And her victory was now close at hand.

Hook walked over and took back his flask of rum. He took a drag directly from the bottle causing Cora to turn up her nose at him. "I come with good tidings love."

Cora stood waiting for the rest of the news as he continued to slowly sip away at the bottle savoring every drop. She grabbed it from his hands and held it away from his reach, "Well?!" she barked.

Hook took up a cocky stance. He cocked his hip and put his thumbs in the band of the oversized belt that held his leather pants up, "Your daughter is to wed the Savior soon."

Cora sat in shock. This was not what she planned for her daughter. Regina was supposed to be made to see that these people could not be trusted. Then she would stand at her Mother's side as she put them in their place before Cora could ascend to her rightful place ruling over the peasants.

Her plan of making them believe that Regina had murdered one of their own had backfired. The man had somehow managed to get loose. But then something even stranger had happened. In a strange turn of events Regina had gone from packing up her home and being about to leave to suddenly living with the Savior and the Savior's spoiled little brat.

Cora had just been about to make her move. And then suddenly this happened. She hadn't known what to make of it at the time. It had completely bewildered her. So she'd had to stand back and let the situation play out.

She'd used a glamour that gave her access to the family. It had allowed her to come and go through the community without being spotted. No one knew who she was and that gave her the advantage over them all. She was able to learn information she wouldn't have been given otherwise.

She'd used the opportunity to learn all that she could about the Savior and her daughter. She had underestimated her once and wasn't going to make that mistake ever again. She'd looked for all of the woman's weaknesses.

And what she'd learned had made her sit back and bide her time. Now it seemed that once again the Savior had made a move that would allow all of Cora's dreams to come true.

She leaned back in her seat at the head of the pirate's table that sat below deck of the Jolly Roger. She brought her fingertips together, "Excellent," her eyes narrowed as a wicked gleam came across her eyes. She began formulating a plan to make this pay off for her.

Hook, who'd been busy with his flask of rum, licked his lips and raised an eyebrow at her, "Is it?"

Cora nodded. Her voice dropped down an octave seductively, "Time to skin your crocodile."

Hook answered the evil grin that spread across the face with one of his own. Except his was accompanied by a wicked laugh. The two tossed their heads back and laughed until they were out of breath.

SMF

"Why hello dear," a voice drawled out following the ringing of the bell above the door in the sheriff's station.

Emma, who'd been in the middle of doing some much needed paperwork, immediately seized up. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. She knew that voice. It was one she'd never forget. It came to her in her nightmares as she was swept away in a wave or funneled into a tornado. But it couldn't be. She'd left that voice behind when she'd jumped into the portal during her trip to the Enchanted Forest.

Still, she lifted her head slowly. She blinked repeatedly at the aberration that stood before her. "Cora," she growled.

Eyes that were similar to her Regina's but lacked the emotion that was always just below the surface twinkled at her. The woman gracefully lowered herself into a chair in front of her. She cocked an eyebrow at Emma. Again she noted how similar yet not Mother and daughter were, "Emma."

The two adversaries sized one another up as they sat across from one another separated by only a desk.

"What do you want?" Emma growled.

Cora's laugh held no mirth. It only served to send a shiver down Emma's spine. "Why to congratulate you of course. On your upcoming nuptials to my child," Cora's voice turned into a growl as she spoke of her daughter.

Emma was immediately on red alert. She was confused at how the witch knew that. Still, she knew from experience engaging Cora was never to her advantage. Cutting off the sickness fast and hard was the only cure. "That's between me and her. You aren't welcome here. Now leave," she ground out through her teeth.

Cora feigned hurt. She took on a wounded expression as she put her hand against where her heart would be if she had one. Regina had informed Emma during some of their pillow talking sharing sessions that she had removed hers because she didn't want anything to hold her back from accumulating power, "Oh but we have so much to negotiate. This world does still observe some of the old customs. I do believe one is to properly ask the parents of your intended for their blessing in this arrangement."

Emma snorted, "It'll be a cold day in hell before I ask you for anything."

Cora dropped the hurt act and got down to business. She had never been one for patience. "I know what you've done."

Emma merely ignored her and went back to straightening papers on her desk in a bid for nonchalance and time as she fought to control her racing heart, "and that's supposed to mean something to me?"

"You put a spell on my daughter," Cora stared at Emma with a hardened expression daring her to challenge her accusation.

Emma kept her head down as she debated how to handle the situation. Instead of answering she instead turned it on Cora, "Why are you here and what do you want?" She folded her hands in her lap underneath her desk so that Cora couldn't see them trembling.

"I want what's mine," she leaned forward and glared into Emma's eyes.

Emma's knee began to bounce and her throat bobbed as she swallowed thickly. She fought desperately to control her telltale signs of nervousness and terror. She didn't want to give this woman anymore ammunition to use against her at any time.

Cora watched the guilt play across Emma's face. She noted that the Savior hadn't even denied what she'd done.

Emma's eyes skittered around as she continued to nervously fiddle in her seat, "And what would that be?" She was starting to feel sick. Her gut was twisting itself into knots.

Cora rose and gathered herself. She had gotten all the information she needed already. And she had every intention of using it to her advantage. "There will be just the one thing you can do to make up for such deceit," she mentioned casually as she ran her hands over her hair. She stared at herself in the mirror on the wall that sat behind Emma before giving herself a smile of satisfaction. She looked down at Emma who looked like she was about to take off at any second, "Rumplestiltskin's blade. He has it and I want it."

Emma laughed, "Yeah let me just walk up to him and ask to borrow it. I'm sure he'll hand it right over."

Cora placed her knuckles on the desk and leaned over it. She bent down until the two were making eye contact once again. "You will give me what I ask for. Or I will tear this entire town down upon your happy little home. And my daughter will be standing by my side when I do."

Emma's throat caught in her throat. Her voice became small as she shook her head weakly at this monster, "there's n - ," her voice cracked. She cleared her throat before continuing, "there's no way. He's not going to hand that over. And I've been in his shop plenty of times. It's not something he'd just keep lying out."

"I'm sure you'll think of something dear by tomorrow night. You seem highly resourceful," Cora gave her a smile that was more of a sneer. It was the predatory look of an apex before it makes a meal of another creature's life. "Didn't you know?" She paused for effect knowing that she had her prey right where she wanted her. She began to walk away but not before throwing over her shoulder as she left, "All magic comes at a price dear."

Emma stared after her. For the first time in a long time she didn't feel in control. For the first time in a long time she could actually see everything she'd worked so hard and given so much of herself to gain being taken away from her. There was no way she could allow that to stand.

And yet….

EFB

It was a pretty hot June day in Maine. But the nearby waters carried a lovely breeze along with it to help keep everyone cool. "No one comes between me and my family," she said somberly before plating the first rounds of bbq. Her voice was strong with her conviction.

Snow nodded her assent. She knew that Emma had given up almost everything for this life and she wouldn't allow anyone to spoil it. She had to admit that she was just as glad as Emma and Henry were that all the fighting was over. She placed a hand over her daughter's and gave it a small squeeze before kissing her on the cheek. "I know dear."

David walked over to his wife and daughter. He had heard the tail end of the conversation but knew that it was important to both he and his wife that they make sure Emma understood that they were always there. He put his arms around both of them. "I think what your Mother's trying to say is that that goes for all of us."

Emma nodded. Her parents had proved their loyalty to her already. And now that she had everything she could ever want or need this was just icing on the cake for her.