Part II: The Countdown
"They're making a mistake." Emma observed as she and Regina watched the fairies and Rumplestiltskin "Cora-proof" the patrol car for Cora's transport the next day.
"Have you told your mother that?" Regina asked.
"Only every freakin' day. It's gotten so bad that I can't ask her to pass the salt at dinner without it turning into a shouting match over the fate of Cora."
"For what it's worth… I agree with you."
Emma raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? Of all the people in this town I would have pegged you to be co-chairman of the 'Save the Cora Foundation'."
"Who's the other co-chairman?"
"My mom."
Regina chuckled, "Of course."
It seemed the two women had finally managed to develop a comfortable relationship with each other, and it had only taken an all out war with Regina's mother to do it. Their need to protect Henry from the vicious witch had allowed for the two women to find a common ground from which to build on, and the trials they had faced together in the past months had on succeeded in strengthening their friendship. Still the relationship was by no means perfect and sometimes they would find themselves falling into the same routine of petty spats that had plagued the first several weeks of Emma's arrival. But both women were making a conscious effort to improve things between them. They liked to tell themselves if was for Henry's sake but if they were being honest they would have found that they both genuinely enjoyed each other's company.
"Perhaps, your mother is right though," Regina said, "While her compassion can seem… misplaced at times, her character judgment is rarely wrong."
"This isn't about Cora's ability to change, Regina! She isn't you! She has no reason, no desire to change or reconcile for what she's done!" Emma argued, "This is about what she's capable of! This is about the threat that she poses even from behind bars!"
"Still," Regina countered, "She's been stripped of her magic, and soon will be locked up in a cell very similar to the one that held Rumplestiltskin."
"A cell that he knew how to get out of! He only stayed because he wanted to be there!" Emma's voice was beginning to rise, "And don't tell me that you can't feel the power she's gathering. She may be without magic, but this dry spell won't last forever!"
Regina sighed and rubbed her temple wearily with her fingers, "You're right." She admitted quietly. "I prayed it wouldn't come to this, but you're right." Regina turned to leave, but Emma quickly caught her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to kill her." Regina said simply, shrugging off Emma's hand. "This town isn't safe as long as she lives."
"You can't kill her and you know it."
"For Henry I would."
"But that's not what he would want you to do," Emma pointed out, "He would be so disappointed. He thinks you've changed, Regina, and you have! But he's too young to understand that what you would be doing is for the greater good. He is still stuck in that right and wrong, good versus evil mind set. If you killed her it would devastate him. Plus she's your own mom, and even though she's evil that's kind of messed up."
"He wouldn't have to know." Regina suggested.
"Even if we could keep it from him, which I doubt because, I swear to god, this town is worse that Gossip Girl, the guilt would eat you alive."
Regina snorted, "I don't have much reason to grieve over her passing. I don't know if you recall but she did try to crush my heart last month."
"I'm not talking about feeling guilty about killing your mom! I mean you'd feel guilty about letting Henry down!" Emma cried out exasperatedly
"Then what do you suggest we do, Emma?" Regina snarled, "I'd rather forfeit my relationship with him, than forfeit his life!"
Emma didn't respond for a moment, and as Regina studied her face the realization dawned on her. She could see in Emma's eyes what the blonde was considering, what it was that she had been obsessing over ever since it had been decided that Cora would live.
"I could kill her."
Later that evening, Emma found herself sitting on a bar stool slouched over the counter at Granny's dinner. Although she had ordered her drink ages ago, she had decided to forgo the actual drinking part, and had instead opted to swirl the dark liquid around with a mini paper umbrella she had found on the counter.
"I didn't realize scotch came with those little umbrellas," A gruff voice observed, as the speaker moved to take the seat next to Emma's, "Looks like I've been cheated all this time."
"I can always tell when you want something, Rumple, because you start making lame-ass jokes." Emma replied without looking up from her stirring.
"They say a way to a girl's heart is through her funny bone."
"Actually, I'm pretty sure it's stomach. So if you expect me to listen to whatever it is you've got to say, you're going to have to cough up a few bucks for a grilled cheese."
"In the mood for a little midnight snack?" Rumplestiltskin asked, as he peeled a few bills off the impressive wad he suddenly procured.
"Actually, I never ate dinner."
Emma called Red over and slid the bills across the counter, "One grilled cheese, please, and keep the change." She added with a wink. Red shot a smile at Rumple and pocketed the bills before prancing back into the kitchen.
"Feeling generous, Miss Swan?"
Emma snorted, "Don't start, you can afford it. You've spun enough gold to outfit this whole town and make us the next 'El Dorado'."
"You know that's one of the things I love about you, Miss Swan," Rumple pointed out, "You're charming sense of humor."
"Sorry, Rumple," Emma apologized with a sweet smile, "As much as I love it when people try to kiss my ass, I generally try to save that kind of stuff for the bedroom. So, spit it out. What do you want?"
Rumple smiled and reached over to the seat beside him. Emma raised an eyebrow when she saw the thin rectangle box that he had in his hand.
"What did I just finish saying?" She warned.
Rumplestiltskin held up a finger, "Uh-uh, this isn't what you think it is." He offered the box to Emma and she hesitantly accepted it.
"What is it?"
"Just open it." Rumple said, impatience colored his tone. Emma set the box down on the counter, and cautiously lifted the lid.
"Oh it's just what I wanted!" She exclaimed, with mock enthusiasm. "How did you know I like to wear one glove, and let my other hand freeze? Not that many people would guess that about a girl."
Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes, "You're missing the point, dearie." He explained through gritted teeth.
"I don't know you did only get me one glove." Emma said with a raised eyebrow, as she held the lone glove up daintily in between her thumb and forefinger. "I know I said I didn't like ass kissing, but if you insist on doing it anyway, at least do it right."
"It's not a gift," Rumple growled, "It's a tool."
"Ha!" Emma barked, "Well, you had me going for a second there. Now what is this… tool supposed to be used for?"
"Crushing hearts."
Emma's face quickly darkened, her smile turned on its head and she carefully set the glove down on the counter. It was plain in a nature, just a simple black leather glove.
"Is everything alright, Emma?" Red asked, as she set the grilled cheese down in front of her. Emma nodded and shot her a nervous smile, "Yeah, everything's fine. Thanks, for the sandwich." Red lingered for a moment her gaze flicking quickly between Rumple and Emma.
"Okay," She said slowly, "Just holler if you need anything."
Emma and Rumple sat in silence for a few minutes as she munched away on the sandwich. Her eyes wandered about the establishment focusing on anything but the glove sitting in front of her or the man sitting beside her. Finally, once she had finished Emma turned toward Rumplestiltskin, her face appeared impassive but it was easy to see the conflict behind her eyes.
"See a lot of heart crushing in my future?" She inquired.
Rumple shrugged, "I can see one instance in particular. This old thing is good for only one use anyway."
"And whose heart exactly am I supposed to be crushing?"
"Enough games, Miss Swan," Rumple snapped, his patience was wearing dangerously thin. He leaned closer to Emma, his voice barely above a whisper, "You know just as well as I that Cora Mills cannot live to see the next sunrise."
"Then why you don't you do it?" Emma asked harshly, sliding the glove towards him.
"It's not my destiny."
Emma could not help the hollow laugh that escaped her lips, "Oh really? And it's supposed to be mine? I've done my duty, Rumplestiltskin, I broke the curse and everything, remember?"
"Yes, I remember quite well."
"Good." Emma replied brusquely, "Then leave me alone."
She turned in her seat so her back was facing Rumple. Resting her head in her arm that lay outstretched across the counter she resumed her game of stirring her drink with the umbrella.
"Did you ever wonder why you, and you alone could break the curse?" Rumplestiltskin asked breaking the silence.
Emma rolled her eyes, "It's funny I remember telling you to leave me alone, and yet…"
"Humor me for a minute, and then I'll leave."
Emma let out an exasperated sigh, lifted head off the counter, as she spin back to face Rumplestiltskin, and he motioned for her to answer the question.
"Is it because I'm the product of twue wuv?" Emma asked in a high-pitched, girlish voice.
"That's a part of it."
Emma's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Because Snow squeezed me out and stuffed me in a tree faster than all the other moms?" She guessed.
"Not, quite."
"My winning personality?"
"Because you were raised in this world."
"Uh…"
Rumplestiltskin leaned in closer to Emma, his eyes flashed with excitement. "It's true your inherent magic has played a significant role in shaping your destiny, but there are dozens of other creatures with magic more powerful than yours and they still couldn't do what you are destined to do." He explained, trying to keep his voice low and out of earshot of any prying ears.
"You're the Savior not only because you're the magical daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, you're the savior because you were born and raised in this world."
Rumplestiltskin grasped Emma's shoulder with his hand, the significance of what he was about to tell her could not have been over exaggerated, "This world is different than ours in so many ways, but the most important difference is, there is no clear line between good versus evil. Here evil hides behind the mask of benevolence and good can rise from the darkest of places."
"That was very poetic," Emma scoffed, "But how the hell does growing up in this world exactly make me a Savior?"
"Because growing up in this land has taught you the skills necessary to do whatever it takes to survive the kind of skills you need to ensure our survival." Rumplestiltskin continued, "Your parents may have lived in this town for a few decades, but they still cling to that moral superiority they learned in Fairytale Land. They would sooner die before they abandon their virtue, and that is exactly what is going to happen if Cora is allowed to live."
Rumplestiltskin paused and took a deep breath, "You're going to have to get your hands dirty so that the rest of us can live our happy endings. Cora is only the first of many trials to come, and these people need their savior."
Rumplestiltskin fell silent. Emma didn't say anything she seemed to be carefully pondering all that he had said.
"What makes you think I'm going to be able to get away with this?" She asked finally, "I'm pretty sure the minute the whole town finds out what happened I'm going to be condemned to the same fate as Cora."
Rumplestiltskin grinned, "This is were your pedigree comes in to play. No one in this town would dare raise a hand against the daughter of King James and Queen Snow. Still, your pardon is not guaranteed. I would suggest you get use to seeing things from the other side of those bars."
"And what about Henry?" Emma asked softly.
"What about him?"
"He'll hate me for this."
"But he'll be alive. With time he'll come to forgive you," Rumple paused and chuckled to himself, "If he can find it in his heart to forgive Regina, with all that she's done he can certainly forgive you. It might take time but one day he'll understand, but until then…"
"He'll have Regina."
"Yes."
Emma let out a hollow laugh, "This is just like a goddamn puzzle isn't? All these little pieces are fitting together to make one giant… puzzle…thing."
"It's quite incredible isn't?" Rumplestiltskin replied, staring off into space a note of awe coloring his tone.
"Fan-fucking-tastic." Emma agreed finally knocking back the drink she had been playing with for so long.
Rumplestiltskin turned back to Emma. Her face was set in a deep frown and her blue eyes were deep pools reflecting unfathomable emotion. She looked exhausted, as if the consequences of her future actions were already beginning to wear on her. Sensing that he had long overstayed his welcome, Rumplestiltskin slide off the barstool and limped towards the exit. As he reached the door he paused.
"Oh and Emma?"
The blonde let out a noncommittal grunt.
"Thank you."
This chapter turned out way longer than I intended it to do. Lots of dialogue. I hope it was interesting dialogue though.
I hope you enjoyed this update, and please review!
