The snow dust from Elsa's grandiose exit began to settle and Kristoff was nowhere to be seen. Groceries sat in the back seat of Rumple's car as the owner watched the events unfold. He squinted through the windshield and searched for him. He watched Emma and Henry bring Regina to her feet, attempting to assist her inside Granny's while Hook looked for any signs of Elsa and Kristoff. He could subtly hear Regina insist that she's fine, but the white streak in her hair said otherwise.
"I suppose snow plows don't exist in Storybrooke?" Emma remarked sarcastically as Hook returned to her side. Regina gave Emma a scowl as Henry did his best to hoist his mother inside the diner. Emma lifted her hands and closed her eyes. Almost like watching a film in reverse, items that had fallen were instantaneously put back in place. Snow was magically pushed to the side of the streets offering a clear path to anyone who still had a functioning car to drive on it once again.
Hook commented to Emma, "You know that's great for anyone driving, that is, if anybody can get to their cars from inside their houses."
"Well, I may not be able to conjure up a fireball like Regina," Emma replied looking down at Killian's hook, "but I think I can just remove the ice entirely." Emma then focused on the windows and doors to the buildings on Main Street. She thought about how she was able to magically displace Hook's hook and place it on the coat hanger that one time at Granny's diner. And with that imagery in her mind she was able to focus on her objective. She thought about all the doors and windows up and down Main Street and in just seconds, ice that had once sealed them disappeared instantly. Some of the residents emerged from their establishments to see what was left over from all of the commotion.
Emma proudly beamed at Killian, grinning from ear to ear. Killian, who appeared uncertain over Emma's magical abilities, looked at her sternly. "So… is the ice really gone?"
"I put the ice that was trapping the doors and windows into the woods."
Hook, impressed with Emma's good thinking, nodded in approval and they both walked inside following after Henry and Regina.
Rumplestiltskin did his best to overhear what was happening without being noticed. When the group finally collected themselves inside Granny's Diner to recuperate, Rumple left his car to enter his shop. He approached the front of his shop only to discover Kristoff standing in the way. Rumple underestimated Kristoff's crafty ability to maneuver in the snow.
"I apologize, but my shop is closed until further notice," Rumple said attempting to enter his shop again. When the defiant stranger refused to move, Rumple continued, "If you haven't noticed, it is quite cold out and I would like to enter my own shop. And since it is your lucky day, I'm asking you to leave, civilly." Kristoff ignored Rumple and continued staring down the short man with his jaw clenched. "Ah! I remember you," says Rumple, pointing a finger at him out of recognition, "and yet, you still have nothing that I want."
"Yeah, well this time I do," said Kristoff, sticking his hand out to stop Gold.
"Really?" Gold scoffs, "I doubt that. And how is it that you survived this long and in Regina's curse?"
"Long story."
"And one that I have no time for," Rumple replied, eager to get inside his shop and into the warmth. But seeing that Kristoff is unmoved by his threats, Rumple indulged and asked, "What do you want?"
"I know who did this and I think you know too."
Rumple says, "Elsa. I know. And if that's all you got then you still have noth—"
"I also know that at the time, even with all of your magic, you still didn't know how to help her, but I do," said Kristoff, cutting off Mr. Gold.
"Yeah, how?" said Gold, sneering at him.
"Where is Anna?"
"No where here."
"I believe Elsa's sister, Anna, can help her."
"And what makes you so sure about that?" Gold replied skeptically.
"Because I have seen what true love can do to change even the darkest of creatures." That comment was meant as an earnest jest. Belle and Mr. Gold's dating wasn't a secret in Storybrooke. And Kristoff only knew of Mr. Gold and Belle's relationship through his time spent in Storybrooke after the curse was broken. Although Kristoff didn't know Belle personally, he would see her around town. And since it was such a small community he would often times hear rumors about her heroism through the townsfolk and it was through them that he also learned of her relationship with Mr. Gold.
Kristoff's comment was enough to give Rumple pause. "And now that Elsa is here," Kristoff continued, "if she discovers what you've done to Anna, there's no telling what she'll do to the ones you love."
"Now tell me, even after all this time, why are you still going after this girl?" asked Gold, redirecting the conversation away from him.
"Isn't it obvious? I love Anna."
"How can you even be sure about that? What if she doesn't love you in return?"
"Anna is my hope, and despite whatever feelings she has for me, I will always love her."
"I'm just saying that you've traveled across time and realms. That's a mighty huge risk trusting her like that with your feelings."
"The way I see it, if I find out she doesn't feel the same way I do, then so be it. I won't love her any less for it. However, if she does… then wouldn't you say it was all worth it?"
... ...
Henry eased his mother into one of Granny's booths. Emma offered to help Henry and Regina, but Regina snarled, "I don't need any help from you," her comment directed at Emma. "You've done enough already. Just because you don't have a fairy tale happily ever after, doesn't mean that you should go around ruining others from theirs."
Emma was beginning to tire of Regina's sass and quipped back, "What? Like you did with the curse?"
"You guys, stop it," Henry intervened, "Don't do this now. Please don't fight."
But before Emma or Regina could reply, Hook stepped inside the diner, "I've found no trace of this Queen Elsa. For the time being, it appears that we are safe."
Emma was comforted very little by Hook's news. She continued looking at Regina pondering her current state. "Regina, with all due respect, you need help. Elsa didn't hit you with any ordinary snowball; she hit you with something magical."
"Well obviously," Regina said sarcastically.
"Well, do you know of any curses that give people instant highlights? Because I don't. I would feel much better if we got a second opinion on your current state."
"Have you tried calling Gold?" asked Regina, who was clutching at her chest massaging the area of impact.
"I've tried calling Gold's shop and I've been trying to get in touch with Belle all morning. Whatever it is they're doing they seem to be a bit distracted because none of them have responded."
"Who do you think we should contact for that second opinion of yours?" Hook inquired, looking at Emma with a raised eyebrow.
"I think Mother Superior might be the next best thing." Just then, Emma's cell phone went off. "It's David." Emma looked at Granny who was standing behind the counter listening in on the conversation. "Granny, call Mother Superior and see if she can get down here. I've got to take this."
Emma walked towards the back of the diner by the bathrooms to answer the call. Hook obediently kept by Emma's side waiting for the next objective to be thrown his way. Henry stayed behind with Regina. He tried to offer his mother an encouraging smile. Regina looked up at him and asked with a disapproved tone, "Henry, why didn't you stay behind at the house like I asked you to?"
"Mom, you don't have to do everything by yourself. Not anymore. Believe it or not, you do have family."
"You're my only family," she replied sadly.
"That's not true. Technically, Snow White is your step-daughter, who… just happens to be my grandmother. Anyways, you do have family and families help each other, for the benefit of the whole. You don't have to be scared to ask for help from your family, especially ours."
"And what makes our family so special?"
"We're magical," said Henry, resulting in a small chuckle and then a smile from Regina, "and," Henry continued, "because of what we've all been through together; saving each other. A family of heroes! And of course, like all families we occasionally bicker now and again."
"I suppose we do," said Regina grinning at her son. She paused for a moment, enjoying the thought, "how did you become so smart?"
"Oh, I've had some help from family," replied Henry, grinning back at his mother.
Granny hung up the phone ending her conversation with the convent. Emma and Hook returned to Henry and Regina's table to reconvene. "That was the convent, nobody can move. They're buried deep in snow," said Granny.
"Mary-Margret and David are coming over to the diner soon. They're trying to find someone to watch over Neal. Regina, can you move?"
"Yes," said Regina, twisting her body gingerly, "but not quickly."
"Well for now, let's not exacerbate it. The last thing we want is for whatever it is you have to get any worse, especially since we don't know what it is you've got. Killian and I are going to head over to the convent and dig out some old fairies," Emma paused, surprised over the words that had come out of her mouth, "Wow… I never thought I would ever have to say that in my life." She heaved a quick sigh and looked over at Henry, "Kid, you alright staying with Regina for a while longer?"
"It would be my pleasure," he said beaming at Regina.
"Ok, good. I'll be back soon. I've got my cell. Call me if you need anything," she said. She walked over and kissed Henry on the head before leaving the diner with Killian towards the convent.
I really enjoyed writing the interaction between Regina and Henry. It truly surprised me because at first I didn't really like Regina, but with her incorporated into my story now I forced myself to dig into her character and ask myself why? Why is she like this? Why does she do this? And what I found after studying her character was that it was in her complexity that made her character feel and seem so real and human. I suppose I understand the Evil Regal fandom now, lol. And I do admit, that Elsa's character in my story seems a bit haphazard, but what do you expect from a sheltered woman with anxiety disorder, who has a personal vendetta against Rumplestiltskin and has nothing left to lose? Or, at least she thought she had nothing left to lose until Kristoff confronted her about Anna. Analogous to how Belle is to Rumple, a reflection to one's own humanity, so are Kristoff and Anna to Elsa. And that's how I pictured it. Anyways, I hope the way I portrayed Elsa's character made some sort of sense.
To Grace5231973 and Montreat11, you guys are my Review-Heroes. Thank you! And for any newbies out there who are new to reading my story, feel free to drop a word or two and let me know what you thought. I love connecting with fellow Rumbelle/Oncers.