Chapter 24: Homecoming

Boston/The Hotel
The Day After
9:23am after breakfast.

28 years of helping the head chef at a diner can help you fix a large breakfast for a large group. This was the last breakfast that would be shared in Boston, and Ruby Lucas was insistent on making it.

There was a Stop & Shop not too far from the towers. Red borrowed Holly's Scion FR-5 for the quick trip to the store. And while shopping she put on her best "dazed and confused" look (she practiced from Dopey back home...who, by the way, did not get his name from his lack of intelligence...wink) so she could dreamily ask people "did you see the dragon last night?" The question had the effect that she wanted to hear...being the fact that she plunked down $100 in cash for the breakfast fixin's prevented her from being kicked out of the store. Missions accomplished.

So the assembled octet dined on made-from-scratch pancakes, smothered in Vermont Maid syrup, endless eggs, sausage links, and bacon, Ice-cold Hood Milk and Welch's Grape Juice (Mott's Apple for Regina).

There were a lot of do-you-remember-when stories being passed around, but for Holly and Maddie they were, shall we say unusual?

"Remember when Regina made the vines painted on the wall come alive, grabbed me in them and tried to seduce me...?"

"Oh, how about the time when I wolfed out and chased the DA down Main Street...?"

"Hey, remember the picnic, we ran out of matches, and Maleficent decided to...you know...help? Almost burnt the damn forest down..."

Holly thought that time she wound up half naked in the combat zone at three in the morning after a night of Jagermeisters probably would not match up...nor did she want to divulge any details with niece in tow. (Though the woman who got her in that predicament spent the next two months trying to make up for the incident...heh heh heh!)

They were trying to keep it light because after breakfast there were the goodbyes. Not to mention who'd go where.

Rules of the hat: 5 in, 5 out. No more.

Red insisted that she bring her brother Rex Graham back to Storybrooke, which meant there was an odd one out.

Regina volunteered to stay and go back with Sidney. Emma was having none of that.

Jokingly jealous, she exclaimed, "What? and have Sidney have his way with you...after Holly has HER way with you (Holly and Sidney did a fistbump)...and what about the dragon lady over there..."

Said "Dragon Lady" countered, "I think my hands will be too full to that.." And indeed, Mallie's arms had surrounded the younger Boston blonde from behind, edging boob-ward, until Holly "ahem'ed" with a nod in the direction of 12 year old Maddie.

"Ah, don't worry Hollz. I'll just go back to our apartment, setup the cameras and put it all out as a pay per view!" Maddie then gave one of those wide that every parent and aunt knows is usually followed by, God forbid, the little munchkin actually going through with it. The idea of choked "Chicken" started to seem rather appealing.

"Chicken..." That line, and the glare that came with it from Holly shut her niece down pronto, even though the "little human" was joking.

"Tell you what, Princess...you go with Sidney, and I'll meet you."

Emma was really joking herself about that jealous streak. But then they realised who they were leaving behind. And everyone took their turn in saying goodbye...

Holly's POV

The put a hat on the floor. Regina,and Snow mumbled something. As they were, The Sidney guy came over to me. He was very gracious and kissed my hand. Emma wondered...I think jokingly...when did he become so galant. Then Emma came over. And for a moment, I think I remembered something. I asked her, "Before you go, do you remember New York City? September 11?"

"We talked about this before. You were there?"

I nodded.

Suddenly, a look of recognition. She pointed at me. "you're the one who slammed me against the wall when the building..."

Maybe she saved me or I saved her. We'll never know. All I knew is that her lower lip started to quiver.

"I owe you. Twice." Then Emma grabbed my head, and kissed me on the lips.

Ruby was next. She hugged me and kissed my cheek. "Text me!" was all she said with that big incandescent smile of hers. Her brother, Graham, just looked up and gave me a weak smile..I was sure there was a hospital bed waiting for him when he got back.

Next...I am not telling anyone that Snow White and Prince Charming were about to hug and kiss me. Then, this whole thing was beyond weird. Charming said to me, as a matter of fact, that I might wind up in a straightjacket if I even mentioned the last three days. For some reason, Regina seemed to wince at that one.

Snow told us that we were welcome in Storybrooke anytime (of course, I'd have to find the place, first) and that she send me some of her cinnamon cookies, then she hugged and kissed both me and Chicken on the cheek.

Regina was last.

First, she hugged Maddie, told her to be a good girl and take care of me. Then she stood in front of me.

We said nothing. Maybe we didn't need to. Then she turned. Looked at Emma. Regina nodded. I turned. Looked at Chicken with one of those heartbreaking smiles of hers beaming at me. And Mallie smiled and nodded. I guess we both knew what was next.

We looked at each other. then we grabbed each others head and we kissed. Ferociously.

I put everything in that kiss. Every single time I've fallen in love and not have it returned. Every single heartache. Every single disappointment. Everything.

And she took it. Every hurt I ever had. Every night I cried until tears turned into blood. Everytime my soul turned to ashes. She drew if from my mouth to hers. She willing, lovingly took everything.

Every. Single Thing.

And then we separated. We smiled.

And waved.

"Take care."

"See ya."

"Have a nice trip.'

"I will."

"I think I'm contracting diabetes." Leave it to Chicken not to take Billy Joel's advice and NOT leave a tender moment alone.

Suddenly that spinning hat started to glow. A large doorway started to form around the visitors. Green smoke started to surround Emma and Sidney. The rest jumped into the portal

And in a flash, they were all gone. All except Maddie and Me. And Maleficent.

We stood in the middle of the floor, there was no hands that anyone outside of story wherever there. The phone rang, Mallie picked up. It was the hotel front desk wanted to confirm that room was being checked out. She told them the room will be empty within a couple of hours. She hung up.

Maddie looked at me...she saw the tears forming in my eyes. " Fairy tale's over, Chicken." She overheard me, walked up to me, wrapped her arms around my neck, pecked me on the lips and whispered..."not yet, dear."

Maddie spoke up as direct as she ever was, looking at both of us. "Are you in love with my aunt?"

She just stood there for a second. Maybe she was wondering what to say. I was afraid of the answer.

"I don't know, little one. I just don't know." She turned to me and I saw a small smile. "I do like her, but for the rest, I don't know...yet..."

I felt a bit of relief. At least the door was still open. "Do you have to go back...now?"

"Soon, Holly...but not right now."

"Downtown has a lovely Park...you have heard of Boston Common...?"

"Well...it's a beautiful day...would you like to show it to me?"

I smiled my agreement, while Maddie looked at me cockeyed: "I think I feel a morning filled withe the wonders of the Disney Channel coming on."

Mallie and I chuckled at how perceptive my little Chicken was.

Storybrooke/Main Street

Main street was deserted when the winds picked up and lightning flashed. The portal appeared and within moments deposited one mayor, one king and queen, one deputy, and one former sheriff. Almost immediately after, from the cloudy sky above, thick green smoke settled quickly next to quintet, and soon joined by the current sheriff and the publisher of the local paper.

Team Storybrooke had returned home, most not worse for the wear. Besides, it was not as rough of a trip as one would have been trying to jump time or realms. This was just a short jaunt to Massachusetts.

Graham collapsed when he came out. Everyone yelled for help, except for Emma who called the hospital for an ambulance. The team did not expect much of a reception, but Granny Lucas and Blue were there...both looking like they spent the night in a Cuisinart with the dial on fluffy. Granny almost lost it when she found that her grandson was not only alive but needing attention.

The ambulance came in short minutes and loaded Rex onto the meat wagon. Granny went along with Red...they'll probably have a reunion when he wakes up.

Sidney Glass stayed quiet through all this, the started to walk away, hoping he would not be noticed. No soap.

"Sidney!" The mayor called the Djinn's name, and he stopped in his tracks. "Hey, where you going?"

"Regina, I shouldn't be here. I...I helped cause all this..."

"Doesn't matter...you were the hero. And I am proud of you."

Sidney turned and sighed heavily, as Emma joined the pair. "We're all proud of you." Both the sheriff and the mayor kissed the newspaperman on each cheek. Sidney just smiled broadly and went on his way.

"HEY! Stop schmoozin' and get over here!' Every since her transition from Mary Margaret Blanchard to Snow White, she has been a lot more direct.

With a sweet "c'mon," Emma took Regina's hand and walked over to Snow and the assembled. And as she went, the former Evil Queen thought about the year past: over a year ago she helped Emma and Snow escape Wonderland and Regina's mother, only to be shunned by the entire town. A year and several adventures...and intense heart-to-hearts, James and especially Snow came to love her, Red was her best friend, even Granny Lucas and Leroy the Grump lightened up on her. In short, most of the people in Storybrooke respected her more now than before the partial breaking of the curse...if you can call it a curse.

And it wasn't that Regina changed, but, thanks to Emma, Snow, and Henry, the town's citizenry realized that Storybrooke was not a prison, but a place to start over, without the burdens of past memories, which Emma freely admitted was the thing holding her back.

All Regina Mills knew was that if it wasn't for the impertinent blonde whose hand she lovingly was holding, things would be different.

Well, the gang was all there, Snow and James, Blue and Granny. The latter pair had pained looks on their faces, usually the faces of presenters of bad news.

"Well, Mayor, how do you want the bad news...alphabetically or in order of WTF importance."

Emma shook her head and Regina rolled her eyes. Eugenia Lucas always had a flair for the over-dramatic. The decidedly more sedate Blue Fairy picked up from there.

"First, your mother maybe be in Storybrooke.."

Those word send a lightning bolt through the souls of members of the Houses of White and Mills. Though it had always been a possibility since the main portal first opened, she had not been spotted, neither had her partner in crime and possibly sex, Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook. Now that possibility became a almost certainty. "Are you certain?" Regina asked the question having recovered in the moment.

Blue continued: "A woman who looked like her was seen entering Gold's shop late last night with three men. Red could make out two. One was Hook, the other was our esteemed district attorney, Mr. Spencer."

"Ahhh, Albert Spencer, aka King George..." The Charming one said it with much fake wistfulness. Then turned his daughter and ask, "...by the way, how are those murder charges coming along, love?"

"Well, Dad, considering who the D. A. is, that's been rough..."

Regina added, "...which reminds me...I need to Kathryn later today...let her know she's the NEW D. A.."

Snow tacked on "...amazing, just out of legal correspondence , and already a District Attorney. Gosh..." There were mild chuckles, but the humor quickly died as the fairy continued.

"Well, anyway that leads to the next little thing...seems that Gold was found almost unconscious at the door of Belle French this morning. He had lost a lot of blood. He's critical. now. And then there's..." The fairy paused.

"Kidnapped last night...shadows got her."

This day was getting worse and worse. Emma didn't know, and Regina only knew through stories that they were worse than wraiths. But both Snow and, when she was younger, Granny had actual dealing with the shadow people. The shivers through their beings were visible and well earned.

"And before you ask, Mayor," Granny continued, "she still missing. Oh and there's one other thing."

"We're gone two days and there's a virtual crime wave in Storybrooke!" Emma interjected. "Ok...what ELSE is going on."

The fairy's tone became almost reverent now. "First have you heard from Maleficent?"

Snow: "Mallie? Well she not only helped with the Boston deal, she back there with a couple of people we met...Holly and her niece Maddie. They helped as well..."

Blue: "That's nice, but did Mallie ever told you about a man she identified?"

James: "No, we were busy with Gold and dragons, why."

Reul Ghorm, the blue fairy inhaled deeply, the spoke deliberately. "There was a man. He was found on a road leading to the outskirts of town. They brought him in. He's still out. Mal identified him."

Regina asked, matter-of-factly, "so...who was it?"

The fairy leaned forward towards the mayor. "Gina. It was your father."

"Daddy...:" All color drained from the body of Regina Mills. The words were gunshots and the bullets seemed to hit their mark.

"Dad..dy...?" Regina looked like she was starting to convulse...

"Da..." The last words the mayor spoke as the doors shut on her mind, and her body fell limp into the arms of her worried fiance.

TO BE CONTINUED.

Next: Two new residents to Storybrooke, a couple of revelations, and a fateful reunion.

Thank you all for the comments. Keep them coming.

Once Upon A Time is property of Disney/ABC. If it were mine, Regina would have been the honoured guest at that party.

No, I'm not happy about it.