Past Lives, Present Futures

Chapter 3

Emma stared at the white plaster ceiling trying to comprehend all she had dreamed. The clock on her bedside table glowed neon green showing the numbers 4:15 AM. Aine was dead that was difficult to stomach, she didn't know why but she felt terrible when she'd dreamed about the woman's death and watched as the woman she loved and who loved her so dearly in return mourned her loss. She hadn't been able to go back to sleep after that sitting up for a long time thinking about what she had seen in the dream. First had been the strange forest, then the birthing scene which honestly she didn't even want to witness her own birthing process when she'd had Henry let alone what it would be like to witness someone else's birth. She shuddered, thinking about how heartbroken Selene had looked as Aine had died right in front of her being unable to do anything. They'd obviously been very much in love. Emma would've snorted if she actually believed in things like that but they obviously had what she'd lacked her whole life, a steady stable family and a love to see them through everything.

It almost seemed like Romeo and Juliet to her. Two star crossed lovers who were never meant to meet but fell in love anyways but didn't end with the death of them both. No instead death had waited to take one of them when they were about to start their family. Emma shivered when she thought about it. How could something so terrible happen to them? She sighed tossing and turning for a bit before getting up and creeping quietly downstairs. She narrowly avoided the two stairs that creaked before moving downstairs on relatively safe feet. She didn't have to worry about Mary Margaret hearing her down here.

A cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon just the way she liked it saw her heading back upstairs at 5:20 AM which was going to suck because she had a meeting with the mayor first thing. She needed all her wits about her when she went head to head with the beautiful by deadly creature that was named Regina Mills. She sighed swinging her feet back up wearily into her bed. At least she'd try to fall back asleep but with the strange dreams plaguing her there was no telling if she'd be able to or not.

Daniel patted the red horse fondly on his neck before lifting the brush and slowly running it along the horse's flanks speaking quietly to him as he did so. His sure hands flowed easily over the horse as he continued to move around him setting his hand on his rump to let him know he was coming behind him. "Daniel?" A beautifully low feminine voice called.

Daniel smiled stepping around the back of the horse and smiling at the beautiful girl waiting for him. "What's wrong?" He asked his expression falling when he noticed the look on Regina's pretty face.

"Nothing, I'm sorry I just had to escape. Do you mind if I stay here for a bit?" Regina asked walking over to him. She patted the horse's neck smiling softly at him. "Hey you glad to see you're doing okay. How is his leg doing?"

"It's a bit scraped up but he doesn't seem to be bothered by it." Daniel answered. "Don't worry in a few days you two will be back to riding again perfectly normal."

Regina nodded, "Yes I don't think either of us would do well without being able to ride."

"Have you talked to them?" He asked carefully as he lifted the brush for something to do with his hands.

"I think my father has an inkling of what is going on. As for my mother well," Regina trailed off worrying her lip.

"Regina you have to tell them." Daniel pointed out, shifting his foot. The straw was enough cushioning that standing long term wasn't truly a bother but it did get old after a while.

"I can't. You know what she'll do Daniel."

"Just promise me you won't keep this from them forever. I may not be much but I do love you Regina."

Regina smiled softly, "I love you too."

"What the fuck was that?" Emma muttered as she stared uncomprehendingly at her alarm clock that jingled beside her bed announcing it was time to get up. She forced her hand to reach out smashing into the black snooze button silencing the annoying thing so she could actually think.

Regina and Daniel whoever would've guessed Regina actually had a human side. The Regina she knew was a freaking sociopath. She wasn't sweet and pretty like the beautiful girl she'd seen that had obviously loved the boy…she'd been. Emma gasped that's why she'd seen things through Daniel and Aine's eyes but that made no sense. Reincarnation was something she'd heard of but never really believed in. She preferred to keep one foot firmly in reality being a bit cynical about things like religion especially organized religion. She shook her head, no there was some other explanation for all this. Her mind was just playing tricks on her. Regina was a sociopath and Aine and Selene were just figments of her overactive imagination. Maybe she should stop drinking hot cocoa before bed? That was probably what was causing these weird dreams.

A small part of her mind whispered back to her that she'd drank hot cocoa with cinnamon in it since she got out of the foster care system and she'd had no problem with strange dreams. The dreams were just her imagination. She'd ignore them and continue on with her day and speaking of the day she had a meeting with Queen Bitch herself so she'd best get up and get ready to go.

Regina manfully ignored the strange looks she got when she entered town hall. She knew she was looking a bit tired, ragged really but she refused to acknowledge this little fact. The strange dreams caused her to oversleep which caused her to be late getting Henry to school which caused this entire situation. She wasn't happy at all at the moment and those that were forced to work with her got out of her way very quickly dropping their eyes so she wouldn't call them out on something.

Sheriff Swan seemed to be the one exception since she was sitting outside of her office talking with her assistant. They both laughed at something the Sheriff said which grated on Regina's nerves immediately. Emma's laugh wasn't the bell-like sound that flowed so easily from Aine's throat. It was a bit lower, deeper not unpleasant but still not a sound she liked to hear. At the sight of her they both stopped laughing and Emma's smile faded from her face.

"Madam Mayor we were just talking."

"I can see that Sheriff. Now if you'd please come with me you can actually leave my assistant to do work instead of entertaining her with your vulgar tales."

She didn't see the eye roll and the face Emma made behind her back which got her stifled laugh from her assistant. She pushed open the door to her office and set her briefcase down by the large wooden desk and pulled out the black rolling chair. She sat down and stared at Emma as the woman came forward.

"So Sheriff you're here to give me my weekly report on my town correct?"

"That would be why you called me here for this right?" Emma asked folding her arms and resisting the urge to glare at the Mayor.

"Then tell me what I want to know so I can go about trying to make this a productive day and you can be on your way to sit and pretend to do paperwork or plot against me with my son as you always seem to do."

Emma rolled her eyes but for once didn't rise to the bait and began to talk about what she'd done all week which basically consisted of two nights taking Leroy home after he'd gotten a little too drunk at Granny's. An incident with a missing cat that was in a tree right out front of Mrs. Hall's house. Fluffy may have looked all cute and sweet sitting in that tree but when Emma reached up to try and get her down she became a panther. She still had the claw marks to prove it too. Regina had smirked when she saw the claw marks and Emma bit back a remark about how similar the two actually their meeting was finally over Emma left and went on her merry way trying not to be too angry at the cutting remarks Regina had given her about doing her job. She sighed and decided to go on patrol knowing Mary Margaret had her class of fourth graders outside doing a science experiment. Maybe she'd see if she could go help and by help she meant spend some time with her son.

"Hey kid." Emma knelt down watching as her son picked up a leaf studying it before attempting to draw it on his paper.

"Emma," He smiled at her dropping the leaf and coming towards her. "What are you doing here?"

"Well I'm supposed to be on patrol but who says I shouldn't patrol the school grounds too huh?"

He nodded, "You look tired. Have you been staying up late or something?"

"Just haven't slept too good lately that's all." The kid was so observant it was ridiculous. She'd never known a ten year old to be like this. He was like a little adult he certainly didn't act like a kid.

"Having bad dreams?"

"Something like that," Emma muttered.

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Nah, I'm okay as long as you're doing okay? How are things between you and your Mom?"

Henry frowned, "She's the evil queen Emma how do you think things are going?"

"Aw kid I mean I know she and I don't exactly see eye to eye and I agree she's a bit hard but she's still your Mom and even if I don't like her you should still give her a chance."

"She's a terrible person Emma."

"Now that you and I can agree on but she's still your Mom. Keep that in mind okay?" She ruffled his hair earning a huff. She couldn't keep the grin off her face as she walked over to speak to Mary Margaret.

"Hey Emma." The kids greeted even as they continued to work. Mary Margaret smiled her beautiful sweet smile.

"You look tired." She remarked softly. "Have you been sleeping badly?"

"Everyone is saying that to me today." Emma muttered. "No I'm sleeping fine. Just bad dreams sorry I distracted Henry for a bit."

"It's okay I understand. Are you heading back to the Sheriff's office?"

"Yeah after I do patrol for a bit then I'm heading back. See you tonight yeah?"

"Definitely," Mary and Henry both waved as she walked back to her car.

Aine grinned as she moved through the woods and into the clearing, their clearing. Selene lowered her hood as she approached her beautiful porcelain skin looking even milkier in the haze of twilight. Aine pushed her own back her long golden locks escaping happily from its confines. It had always had a mind of its own. Aine's arms went around Selene drawing her slender body against her own as they pressed their lips together in a brief but breath stealing kiss.

Selene drew back dropping onto her heels as she had to stand on tiptoes to fully reach Aine's lips without making the woman drop down too much to get to her.

"I missed you." She murmured shyly. Aine was her first true love and she was still very shy.

Aine grinned, "I missed you too so much."

"Why have you been away for so long?" Selene asked blue grey eyes meeting honey brown.

"I…had to take care of something." Aine forced a smile shaking her head as though to clear it of some thought.

"You had to take care of something?" Selene pulled away sounding doubtful suddenly. "And what did you have to take care of that you are so afraid to tell me about?"

"Selene," Aine started but paused when Selene held up her hand.

She had known about the young woman's doubts and fears. Selene was a very private individual who kept her feelings and emotions in check. She didn't let people get close choosing instead to be alone. Hence her rather shocking abilities when it came to shooting an arrow across a distance. Aine was a good shot there was no denying it but Selene could split her arrow in half without any problems from quite a distance. She was also the first person the dark haired beauty had ever chosen to let close making her suspicious but still wanting to trust that she wouldn't get hurt.

"Why won't you tell me where you've been?" Selene demanded crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's complicated. Selene, Selene wait!" Aine chased after her as Selene turned on her heel and marched away. "Selene will you please let me explain? Selene!"

"Oh so now you're willing to explain to me because I turn away from you? It's not okay Aine. I trust you why can't you trust me?" It was the first true display of Selene's temper and she was as fiery and passionate as anything Aine had ever seen. Her blue eyes flashing, her red lips parted as she glared at Aine across the short distance she was magnificent.

"I do trust you. I trust you more than anyone."

"They why won't you talk to me," Selene asked her arms still folded.

"I just don't want you to worry. It's already been taken care of."

"Then why don't you tell me what happened?"

Aine sighed looking away as she decided how to tell her love all that had happened. "Do you know a man named Ailil Ausom?" She asked carefully.

Selene's brow furrowed as she thought for a moment as she thought before she nodded, "Yes he's next in line to be High King."

"Not anymore." Aine said folding her arms.

Selene's lips parted as she cocked her head, "Aine, what did you do?"

"My people thought to make a better alliance with the high king so they presented me to him. He tried something unsavory and I fixed it. I bit off his ear in retribution."

"Aine," Selene gasped, "Who will be high king now?"

"A man named Nuada. Nuada Silverhand. He's a good man he'll make a good King. Better than Ailil would've at any rate. He wouldn't have gotten the position if not for the fact that Nuada lost his hand in battle. The hand has since been replaced by Canta with one of silver making him perfect for the position that should've been his in the first place."

"But Aine you would've been High Queen if you'd stayed with Ailil. It's not a terrible position to end up in."

"Being Queen means nothing to me Selene not without you."

Regina jerked awake staring at the ceiling the words Aine echoed so similar to the ones she'd spoken to Daniel all those years ago still fumbling around in her sleep addled brain. How could she have uttered the same words when it was a different person saying them? Or was it a different person? Suddenly puzzle pieces that seemed so jumbled started to fall into place. There was only one person in this town that knew who she truly was and that was Mr. Gold also known as Rumplestilskin.

That bastard, she thought to herself. He was likely the culprit behind these damn dreams she was having as well. She'd pay the former imp a visit later today and demand he make the damned things stop. For now though it was almost time to get Henry up for school and get everything ready.

Author's Ending Notes: I am twisting the hell out of mythology to suit my own purpose. Hope no one minds. Anyways sorry this didn't get posted sooner. I didn't get a chance to edit it last night. I keep getting tons of story alerts but not many reviews. *pouts* None the less I do appreciate it and I hope it's living up to expectations. I know Stasis set the bar high for me. I hope I am hitting my mark with this one and Destiny. So uh yeah let me know what you think/if you're confused/if you love it/hate it/whatever. I appreciate it all. Till next time! ~Bella