Chapter 11

"Mom," Henry seriously spoke as he stared into his mother's eyes. "I have to ask you something, but you must be fully honest with me."

"Yes?"

It came out uncertain and hesitant, and Regina did not know which was worst.

"No, like, really honest," Henry pressed.

Regina swallowed hard, before nodding, "Okay."

"Is the curse real?"

Regina gaped as her son fixed his stare on her, never batting an eyelid. Her heart thumped dangerously against her chest and she feared that Henry could sieve through her lies (that is, if she ever attempted to) just by the sound of her fear in the silence of the study.

This was the question that will lead to what happens next – her ultimatum: lie and risk losing your son and everything you've worked hard to build in this land, or tell the truth and risk the same thing. It was like deciding whether to go left or right when the map shows both ways lead to a dead end.

Regina gripped her own fingers so tightly her knuckles turned white, and she had to close her eyes in order to steady herself. Manipulation was second best at what she deemed herself skilled with but with Henry in such close proximity and such hesitant hope in his eyes as he waited for her answer, Regina found she simply could not bring herself to hide any more truth from her son.

His whole life had been consciously weaved out of a lie from the start and it was Henry's own genius and observations that put him in this disposition of believing the curse was real in the first place (not to mention that damned book). And if there was one thing Henry despised more than anything, it was a liar.

She did not want to be that person her son spent close to a year being cautious of. She did not want to be that person her son immediately darted away to his room from once they reached the confines of the large house. She did not want to be that person her son referred to as the 'Evil Queen' even though it was a fact.

Regina wanted to be the person that could teach Henry how to stand up whenever he gets pushed down by the bigger boys. She wanted to be the person Henry would share the experience of his first kiss with, and be there for him during his first heartbreak. She wanted to be the person Henry knew he could count on whenever he was down, by making his favourite dessert (apple strudel even though he claimed he disliked apples). For Henry, she wanted to be the mother her mother never was, and so much more.

Taking in a deep inhale, Regina reopened her eyes to find Henry still staring expectantly at her, this time with a much dimmer light in his caramel eyes. Her heart clenched lightly at the sight and she decided this will not do.

All the time spent since Daniel had been channeled towards her anger and revenge toward Snow White, thereof included running away from herself and hiding her fear beneath a mask of hatred and heartlessness.

Maybe now was the time to let go and be free from the chains nailed to the walls of her heart.

Reaching forward, Regina's hand found Henry's slightly smaller ones and held securely, almost as if he was the balloon she feared would fly away should she loosen her grip just by a fraction.

"Yes."

[-]

Ruby remained unconscious throughout the journey toward the hospital and remained so even after Emma ran and carried her in, flopping lifelessly like a ragdoll in Emma's arms with every movement the blonde made.

"She's not breathing!"

One of the nurses announced when she did a quick check on the brunette as the others took her from Emma and laid her on the portable bed without a glance at the blonde.

"What's wrong with her," Emma demanded above the bustling orders of doctor to nurses and she clenched her fists at how her presence was deemed invisible as no one answered; too caught up in their hype.

Granny stood beside her, a handkerchief in hand to muffle her sobs and frankly, Emma was in no mood to deal with grannies and their snotty mess. If Ruby's state of unconsciousness had something to do with the curse then it had something to do with her. She needed answers and she needed them now.

A quick survey of the place showed Dr. Whale rushing after the nurses, him clearly being the doctor tasked to Ruby. With speed, her long legs caught up with Whale in no time and she fiercely gripped the man's forearm and whirled him around.

"Whale," she snarled. "Tell me what Ruby's condition is."

He glared at her, unfazed and pulled his arm free from her grip.

"Deputy, you need to understand that a patient is in need of immediate medical assistance and it is inappropriate of you to stop me from doing my job. Now if you would please excu-"

"Enough of this bullshit," Emma's voice dropped to a dangerous low growl as she pushed Whale roughly against the wall.

"I am the Deputy and she is my friend; I need to know what the hell is going on here!"

"Deputy Swan, if you could please calm down," Whale professionally said as he released himself from Emma's strong hold and straightened his coat.

"I understand your concern for your friend, Emma," He continued in a gentler tone, addressing her by name. "All I know is that she is not breathing and such cases are classified under critical conditions where the patient must seek immediate attention."

"Fine," Emma deduced, standing back and allowing the doctor to pass as he shot her one last glare.

Something was wrong. There was no reason for Ruby to suddenly decide to leave town and bursting into an uncontrollable temper. The only clue pointed to the full moon and the way Ruby was reacting to it.

Wolf's period.

Emma remembered the term from Henry's book as she hastily made her way out of the hospital. Just the day before she had bumped into Dr. Hopper at the grocery store complaining about weird patches on his skin as well.

"They were like these colours of dark green, something like a bruise but without the black and blue parts," he had said.

Emma had paid less attention to him and brushed that aside at the time, but now that she actually remembered, everything seemed to make sense. Slamming the door and starting the Bug, Emma gripped the steering wheel and stepped on the accelerator.

Everything unveiled one inevitable reason: the curse is breaking.

And there was only one more person she can turn to.

[-]

The bell rang harshly as the person entered with heavy and rushed footsteps.

Mr. Gold looked up from his place at the counter and kept his face stoic as the flustered blonde came up to him, hands banging the glass between them.

"Good evening as well, Ms. Swan. I must say I wasn't expecting you, since you came in earlier today. Miss me already?"

Emma rolled her eyes and cut to the chase. "The curse is breaking, Gold"

"What a coincidence. That's exactly what you wanted," he gave a mirthless smile.

"Cut the sass, Rumple," Emma near snarled as she leaned in. "I need to know what happens when the curse break. Will we be transported back to the Enchanted Forest?"

"I don't know."

Emma clenched her fists and snorted mirthlessly. "You don't know? Well guess what Mr. Creator-of-this-goddamned-curse, I don't fucking buy that."

The older man gave a light shrug. "I may be the one who created the curse, but that was only the mechanics. I don't know what exactly happens when it breaks. But what I do know is that people's memories will come back, they will start to remember. Even now and I'm sure that you've noticed, with your prolonged presence in town, there are feelings starting to surface and true nature starting to show."

Emma thought about Mary Margaret's feelings toward David and the earlier incident with Ruby.

"One thing that I can confirm when the curse breaks," Mr. Gold continued. "Is that magic will be back."

"Magic," Emma repeated, somewhat dazed. Everything was confusing and unsettling and just the thought about magic in this already chaotic town with messy relationships wore her out. "But you said there was no magic in this world."

"There is nothing I can't do, Ms. Swan," Mr. Gold flashed a smile before he turned serious again. "I will need your help with that when the time comes – when the curse breaks."

Emma ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know how to fully break the curse."

"You're the Saviour, figure it out."

Emma gave a sigh and looked around. She thought about the times she had with Ruby and Mary Margaret, laughing and joking like normal friends would. It would be unusual if she were to look at Mary Margaret as a mother again, younger than her at that. She thought about Henry; about how his life would change once they all got back together as a family. Then there was still Regina: the woman responsible for all this, the woman who was their common enemy, the woman she cannot feel anything for. Not without her heart, at least.

"I'm not ready."

At that, Mr. Gold raised a brow. "Ready for what, Ms. Swan?"

She stared at him incredulously for a moment before the blonde threw her hands up in the air.

"I don't know, everything? I-I-I haven't fully planned out the revenge yet because everything is happening all at once and Mary Margaret… what will she say when she sees me?"

"It seems to me that you are worried about trivial things," Mr. Gold replied, smoothing a thumb over the smooth wood of his cane.

"Trivial things? The revenge isn't trivial."

"But is it important?"

Emma glared. "You got to be kidding me; the revenge is why I am even here in the first place, it's why you sent that postcard to me in Boston."

Emma watched as Mr. Gold blinked, looking genuinely confused. "What postcard?"

"Do you really not remember," Emma asked as she reached into her back pocket for her wallet and fished out the postcard that had been the ticket to Storybrooke in the first place.

Pointing at a bunch of similar postcards at the corner of the counter, Emma replied, "It's exactly the same as those over there. I even asked you about it the first time we met!"

"Of course I do remember," Mr. Gold said, making his way to her. "But I don't remember acknowledging that it was me that sent it to you."

Emma gave a huge sigh. "Look Rumplestiltskin, I've got a lot on my plate right now and I really am in no mood to play fucking games with you. So I'm going to ask you one last time and you're going to give me a direct answer: did you, or did you not, send me the postcard through a fucking pigeon?"

He returned her steady stare, light brown eyes boring into hazel ones as if looks being the only communication could suffice in that moment. After a long while, Mr. Gold finally replied with a smirk on his face.

"No, I did not."

[-]

They stopped at the door of her apartment and she hesitated, keys in hand while her whole body tingled from his body's close proximity. Their whole relationship had been so utterly wrong from the start, but she could not control this feeling – this sort of yearning and connection to the man inches away from her. They had exchanged a few kisses here and there, but those were deemed as friendly ones between them, not the kind Ruby had exaggerated them to be.

"Well," Mary Margaret cleared her throat, hoping to ease the obvious tension. "Thanks for sending me up to my door, David."

"It's nothing," David replied, giving a gentle smile that never failed to highlight his blue eyes. "Thank you for helping out at the animal shelter today, I really needed it."

"I was free anyway."

The conversation stopped there and they looked at each other the way lovesick fools do, neither attempting to neither move nor speak lest they break the moment. Finally, it was Mary Margaret who spoke again.

"Would you like to come in?"

"Sure," David smiled, more than happy to agree as he stepped into the small apartment and surveyed its surroundings, raising his eyebrows at the sight of stacks of papers and packets of tidbits lying on the coffee table.

"Don't mind the mess," the brunette said as she made her way to the kitchen counter, preparing drinks. "Emma comes home late sometimes and crashes on the couch."

"Right, I forgot that the Deputy was staying with you," David nodded, taking a seat by the kitchen island. "Nice place, though."

"Thanks," she smiled back in earnest. "Drinks?"

"Just coffee."

The brunette nodded and got to work at making two, the only sounds emitting from the clangs of metal on ceramic.

"So your roommate usually comes home late huh," David broke the silence, desperately finding a conversation topic to start on. "Around what time?"

It was a good question actually; one that took her mind off the current dilemma she had. Mary Margaret glanced at the clock hanging by the wall, not realizing it was already this late.

"Soon, I guess. But sometimes she would stay out past midnight as well. I would usually leave food for her, then she won't need to eat all those chips."

David laughed. "So you're her mother now?"

"I could be," she joked back in kind.

The pixie haired brunette watched as David stacked the papers and moved the tidbits to one side, making the living room look tidier by at least a fraction.

"You don't have to, you know," she hastily said, making her way to stop him.

"It's alright," David shrugged before winking. "I was free anyway."

It was times like these that made her forget about why she was so adamant against feeling such emotions about David and about the fact that he was already married.

Mary Margaret smiled, bringing the two cups of coffee over to the couch and settling beside David.

"Thanks for coffee."

"Please we're way past formalities now, David," Mary Margaret shook her head, taking a sip from her mug.

The blond kept silent for a while, fixing his gentle gaze on her.

"You're a special lady, Mary Margaret," he commented as he took a sip from his own. "And I know it's not supposed to be, but somehow I feel this feeling – this connection – towards you and try as I might, I can neither get it out of my mind nor you."

Her heart jumped a bit in her chest – it always did around him – and her stomach fluttered. This was the kind of feeling he never failed to elicit in her, but boundaries were boundaries.

"David," Mary Margaret started gently. "You're married."

Mary Margaret could swear she saw a flash of regret pass his eyes before he looked down and sighed.

"Look, I know what I am now and I am not the kind who will be unfaithful, ever. But Mary Margaret, just… please. I really want to know."

"Know about what?"

She was genuinely confused, scared even, about what he could possibly mean.

"Do you feel the same way as I do – this strong pull toward me?"

She could lie, but she would suck at it. Mary Margaret stared at the man sitting on her couch, eyes so darn blue and so darn familiar. She definitely felt it of course – the connection David was talking about. She felt it since day one when she stepped into the hospital and began taking care of him when he was still a coma patient. It was not until Emma and Henry's encouragement before she took the first step in giving in to that, and read him the book about fairytales.

Her silence must have meant something, because David sighed again – softly this time – and placed his mug on the coffee table.

"It is wrong of me," he spoke, standing up. "I'm sorry if I put you in any awkward position, Mary Margaret."

He started toward the door and Mary Margaret stood as well, with full intent to stop him.

"David, wai-"

"What is that?"

His sudden change of topic startled her and she looked toward the direction he was staring at.

"I-I've never seen it before…"

They simultaneously walked toward the hanging unicorn mobile, as if their legs weren't their own. The blue and violet purple glass moved gently, spurred by the gentle breeze blowing through the window and it cast an almost hypnotic glow on the floor below.

It was strange; something like déjà vu. Mary Margaret could not place the feeling that was brewing inside her. This baby mobile was something she definitely saw before, she could feel it. But the question of when and where was not answered no matter how hard she tried to recall. It felt like a lost memory, almost as if her heart was nagging it to be remembered but the mind was the defiant adolescent refusing to cooperate.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw David step up to the mobile, transfixed with it as well.

"David…" Her voice came out a bare whisper. But in the fragility of the moment, it almost seemed too loud.

"… Do you feel it?"

"I do."

His voice came out a hoarse whisper as well, and Mary Margaret whipped her head to look at him in surprise. Above them, the clock ticked twelve, but neither of them noticed as they turned their attention back to the baby mobile.

Almost simultaneously, they slowly reached their hands forward to touch the unicorn mobile.

And then everything clicked.

[-]

Emma sped all the way back to Regina's mansion. She had promised Henry that she would be there to tuck him in but judging by the time flashed on her cellphone, it was another promise broken.

What's the use anyway, Emma thought scornfully as she pulled up by the large white house. All of these will end soon.

She thought about what Mr. Gold had revealed to her. Even with her heart taken out, she knows when a person is lying and that imp was definitely telling the truth. He had no reason to lie, anyway; at least not that she'd know of. But if he was not the one to have sent the postcard that pointed her to the direction of her family, who did?

Her fist connected in extreme force against the leather seat beside her as she vented her anger in the tiny automobile. It was frustrating and infuriating and Emma wanted nothing more than just release.

Incessant knocks roused Regina from her reverie in the study and she quickly made her way to the front door, anger starting to boil inside when she saw who it was.

"Ms. Swan."

Emma tried her best not to roll her eyes and although she succeeded, an exasperated sigh escaped instead. She was definitely not in the mood to deal with whatever Regina was going throw her; not after such a distasteful day.

"What now," the blonde groaned, pushing past Regina and slumping onto the living room couch.

"What now," Regina hissed, not wanting to wake Henry. "You were not answering my texts or calls and you did not show up despite your promise to Henry. Now you come knocking on my door in the middle of the goddamned night and ask me 'what now'?"

Emma shut her eyes as Regina rambled on. Maybe if she faced the darkness, she would become part of it. There was a beat of silence and for a second, Emma really thought her wish had come true. But then came some shuffling of feet and Regina sighed.

"You know what, Emma? I'm not in the mood for all this, just see yourself out."

Well, fuck.

"Regina, wait."

Emma sprang up from the couch and caught the brunette's wrist, only just noticing how slender it was.

"Look, I'm sorry okay," Emma started as Regina kept her back towards the blonde, obviously still fuming. "I've had a really rough day today and I know I should have called or something but things were getting out of hand and… Ruby was sent to the hospital."

"What?" Regina spun around and Emma knew that if she had a heart, she would be surprised at the actual concern she saw in the Evil Queen's dark orbs. " Why? What happened?"

"Whale didn't tell me, and I didn't stick around long enough to know why. Granny was there, though. But I think it was nothing serious, just some fainting."

Regina did not need to know the details, not where the curse was involved.

"Where did you go?"

The question came out accusing and Emma swallowed her anger, slipping her hand from Regina's wrist.

"Gold's."

At the mention of the imp's name, Regina's defences immediately stacked and she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What were you doing there?"

"Jesus, Regina," Emma laughed, although it came out forced. "I don't remember needing to report everything I do to you."

The brunette pursed her lips and folded her arms, studying the blonde in front of her before she gave another loud sigh.

"You're right, you don't. But at least tell me when we won't be expecting you. I… I was planning to talk to you about something important."

Emma frowned as she observed the way Regina suddenly looked so unsure; almost as if she was afraid of something.

"What's so important?"

Regina moved to sit down on the couch, Emma joining her as the latter kept her unwavering gaze on the brunette. Finally, Regina forced herself to return the gaze.

"It's about Henry's book."

Emma's face betrayed nothing as she gave a small laugh. "You mean that book of old fairytales? Regina, this is-"

"Emma, stop pretending. I know you know about the curse."

Emma gave a light scoff. "Why would you say that?"

Regina kept her face stoic as she stared at the blonde woman dead in the eye. "Henry told me."

x

Regina could not bring herself to look into her son's eyes. She had did it; she had pulled the curtains and revealed the one thing she tried so hard to hide. She had said the unspeakable truth out loud, and it was to her son.

Henry's response had been immediate.

"I knew it! I knew I was right all along!" The boy jumped up and clapped his hands in a moment of excitement.

Then Henry looked toward his adopted mother and smiled, "Thank you Mom, for being honest."

"Y-you're not… angry?"

"Why should I be? You were honest, and I liked that."

Regina stared at her son in disbelief. There were so many questions running through her mind and it was insane to even try to wrap her head around what was happening this instant.

"But I am evil; I cursed all these people to this land and I hurt so many others before. I-I… Henry, I don't understand."

Another surprise came her way as she was pulled into a tight embrace, Henry's shorter arms wrapping around hers.

"Everybody makes mistakes, Mom, as long as you're willing to change right now."

Regina closed her eyes and breathed her son in, trying her best to memorise everything about this moment right now. When they pulled apart, Regina gave a sad smile and pushed Henry's fringe away from his eyes.

"Of course I want to, but it's difficult. I mean, we're living with this curse that only you and I know about."

"And Emma," Henry answered brightly. "She's the Saviour; she is the one who will do the saving. She'll break the curse and she'll save everyone, including you! And now that you two are together, it'll be totally awesome and-"

"Hold on," Regina cut in. "Emma knows about… the curse?"

"Yeah," Henry nodded. "She was the one who came up with the idea about saving you."

x

Now that she thought about it, Regina would have laughed at the bitter irony of the situation. She had thought to cast the curse on the day the princess was born, in hopes to take the child away and separate the Charmings in this new land. Alas something went wrong, and she resorted to working during the five years of hiding. When the curse was cast without a hitch the second time, Regina had stormed into the castle with full intent on taking Snow White's precious little daughter away. But she had been too late.

Now, after all these years, Fate had entwined their lived so heavily that they not only share a son but it was Emma's turn to be the one seeking her. Not for abduction, but for saving.

"Emma," Regina softly said, reaching a hand to cup the blonde's cheek. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For wanting to save me, for giving me a chance," Regina smiled, leaning over to peck Emma's lips. "And for loving me."

Emma could feel Regina's short breaths on her cheek – evidence of how the brunette was actually nervous. She smiled and brought an arm to wrap Regina in a pseudo hug.

"I just want what's best for us."

Regina smiled, her head resting against the blonde's shoulder as she traced a light trail on Emma's collarbone. "I know you're Snow White's daughter."

Emma visibly froze and Regina, feeling the sudden tension of Emma's frame, quickly looked up to reassure her. "I just found that out as well. I know there is a lot of bad blood between our histories, but I'm willing to change. For Henry."

Emma felt the gentle caress of Regina's lips as she stared enraptured at the brunette just mere inches away from her.

"And for you."

"Regina, I-"

Whatever she wanted to say fell into a forgotten abyss as that was the moment Regina chose to pounce on Emma's lips. She fell back against the couch on the impact, bringing the brunette along on top of her.

Regina kissed her sweet, slow, and sensually. It was unlike the many previous chaste or rough kisses they shared before. This was the first of any kind that actually spoke volumes. When Regina did not feel Emma responding, she nibbled lightly on the blonde's bottom lip to get her attention before pulling back.

"Are you alright," Regina whispered. They lay sprawled on the couch, Regina's lithe physique between Emma's legs as Emma kept her steadily flushed against her own self, two arms wrapped around Regina.

"Yeah," Emma replied with a smile, feeling their breaths mingle. Regina smelled of shampoo and faint perfume. It was surreal how everything from the start had led them to be here – to both of them pressed so intimately against the other and love rushing to their veins.

Except it wasn't mutual.

Regina leaned forward again, and this time Emma responded, letting her eyes slip close. She allowed their lips to move tenaciously together, for once concentrating on how soft and gentle Regina's lips against hers were. Letting her tongue swipe along Regina's bottom lip in silent question, she was immediately granted access as their tongues danced, tasting the remains of apple cider that stayed on Regina's tongue from before.

Regina moaned into the kiss, bringing her hands into Emma's blonde tresses, bringing the blonde impossibly closer as their curves connected like two missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. They parted respectively with heavy pants and a thundering heart, no doubt emotion was thriving all around them.

Regina smiled at her and at such close distance, Emma could see the faint lines at the corner of her eyes.

"I love you, Emma Swan."

Emma returned the smile and wondered if Regina could see right through her, judging by the way the brunette was looking at her with such fierce intensity. This moment was important to Regina she could tell. Once the words were said, Regina had bit her lip in nervous anticipation, and Emma could read the anxiety in dark brown orbs as clear as day.

Somewhere behind them, the clock on the wall gave a small chime, indicating that it was midnight. The air was heavy between them and around them. Emma shifted so that she could hug Regina tighter; it didn't matter that she was basically suffocating herself by doing that, since Regina was putting all of her weight on the blonde. She needed to physically feel, since emotions were not a part of her anymore.

She was an empty vessel; everything about her was hollow, including words. Emma knew everything was going to change soon. It was now or never.

"I love you too, Regina."

She brought the brunette into another searing kiss, this time kissing with as much fervor as she would if she had a heart. And that was when she felt it, a sudden burst of emotion within her empty chest. It filled her and overwhelmed her as they kissed even deeper with this new revelation Emma had made. In that moment, everything felt right and Emma could feel it reverberating within her like the deep echo of a drum: love.

But that lasted only a mere number of seconds before the burst of white light shot out from between them and separated the two like a violent force field as it shot through the whole house, before it entered the dead of the night and passed through the whole town in an invisible tidal wave.

And then everything clicked.

A/N: I hate this to be so unexpected but I am wrapping up this story at the moment. I am so, so sorry! Life just got in the way and I have things to tend to, huge sigh. No worries though, there WILL be a sequel (which directly picks up where we left off from) coming out soon! It'll be entitled 'Repercussions' so do look out for that.

Thank you all for reading, reviewing and favouriting and following this story. All of you have been so motivating and inspiring and awesome, really. Thank you once again, and 'til next time!