CHAPTER 13

Regina was restless. Something was coming. She could feel it. And she didn't like it. So when Zelena showed up with lunch midway during the day she was more than ready to unleash.

"Peace offering?" she held up a takeout bag from Granny's.

Regina grunted noncommittally.

"Oh come on! It's not that bad!" Zelena began laying out their meal on the small coffee table in front of the sofa.

Regina rose to join her, "I know that I've made myself clear about all of your meddling. And don't think I didn't know that's precisely what you're doing.

"Like you haven't thought about how good this could be for you? For everyone?" Regina glared at her but Zelena continued. "Regina she's the key to breaking the curse. You have no idea what that will look like. But as in love as the two of you are now, I don't see that changing just because of this. I mean the pull between you two is strong. I'm surprised you've held out this long. It has been some time for you, ya know," Zelena bit into a fry. "I'm just saying."

Regina joined her and grabbed a fry of her own. She chewed on it thoughtfully as she contemplated the various outcomes that could arise. She really had no precise idea what the outcome of the curse would be. It had never even been her curse to begin with. It had just attached itself to her. "And what if it's not?"

Zelena leaned across the table and grabbed ahold of her sister's hand. "Then it's not. But you will still have us."

Regina gave her a small smile. She squeezed her sister's hand before dropping it. Then the two women returned to enjoying their meal while discussing the latest gossip.

MF

They had just put away the last remnants of their meal when the world literally began to rock beneath their feet. They looked at one another in horror before running outside to find out what had just happened.

Grumpy stood in the middle of the street where most of the town had gathered, "It's coming from the mines!" he pointed excitedly.

There was a huge mushroom cloud hanging in the sky over in the direction of the mines. Everyone was panicked. The mines had been shut down forever. They had no idea what the problem could be.

By this time, Graham and Emma had made their way over to their side. Graham put his arm around Zelena and drew her close. "I must go, my love." He turned to Emma and motioned for her to follow.

Regina quickly made her way to her car, "Come on," she ordered her sister. They followed fast on the tail of the patrol car.

When they got to the mines, Graham ushered the growing crowd away to a safe distance. There was nothing to be seen anyway but flattened lands. Then Mary Margaret came running up. "Henry! I can't find Henry!"

"What in the hell do you mean you can't find my son!? You idiot! What did you do?!" Regina was yelling at the top of her lungs at the woman who already seemed devastated.

"After recess he was gone. He never came in with the other kids. When I asked around some said they had seen him with Archie. And they saw them heading this way," Mary Margaret buried her face in her hands as her tears ran free. "I'm so sorry."

Emma had come over as soon as she heard the commotion. "It's not your fault," she tried calming the woman. She ran a comforting hand along the woman's arm.

Regina turned on her. Emma saw the anger but also the fear in her eyes. She knew it was the latter that drove the former. "It most certainly is not alright! Who allows a ten year old boy to come to an abandoned mine?! I swear when I get my hands on that cricket, I'm going to tear each of his legs off of him," Regina's hands tightened into fists. "As for you," she looked her up and down. "I'll think of something special for you."

"Regina, she's devastated. And it will be alright. Henry will be fine. I promise you," she went to her and embraced the woman. She rubbed her back as she held her close.

Regina allowed herself only a second to relax. Then she pushed her away. She turned to Graham, "We have to find my son."

"Of course we will Regina. Like Emma said, nothing will happen to Henry. We swear," Graham went around and started asking if anyone had any knowledge of the mines.

The dwarves shrugged with nothing much to contribute. It had been a long time since they'd worked there. The place had been closed for as far as they could remember. That's when everyone began to notice Pongo. He was running over to them then back in some direction. Then he'd bark and chase his tail around before repeating.

"I think Pongo might have found something," Ruby pointed out.

"Stay back here!" Graham ordered everyone. He walked over and bent down in the spot Pongo stood on. He yelled down. He gave a thumbs up when he received an answer. He ran back over to the crowd.

"It's them. Archie and Henry. They're fine. We just need to get them out of there," Graham began organizing men so that they could clear the rubble enough to

Regina watched as they painstakingly began removing rubble and rocks. Someone ran to get equipment for the larger boulders. Eventually there was space enough for one person to go through.

"I'll do it," Emma stepped up.

Graham's head snapped around before he shook his head. "It should be me," Graham said. He stepped up ready to sort through the hanging equipment they'd managed to salvage together.

"You're too big and too heavy. I can easily fit through there. And I work out. I'm stronger than I look. It should be me," Emma insisted.

"She's right," Grumpy said. "The less weight the better. This thing could go at anytime. A wrong shift in anyway and it'll be all over."

Graham reluctantly nodded.

Emma ran over to Regina quickly. She put her arms around her. "I will bring him back to you. I swear it," she whispered in her ear.

Regina nodded gratefully. The blinked back the tears she was refusing to let fall but one still managed to make their way down.

Emma smiled at her as she wiped it away with the pad of her thumb. Then she ran off to climb into the climbing gear.

They'd attached a rope and pulley system to a bucket. They secured her to a harness and then slowly began to lower her down.

Emma held the two other harnesses in her hand. When she was far enough down she yanked to let them know to stop lowering.

"Emma," Henry gushed as he ran over to her. "I knew you'd save us. You're the Savior."

Emma sighed. Although she was happier to see him than she'd thought she would be. She looked him over to make sure he was alright. Regina would never forgive her if something happened to her little boy. Despite Henry's claims otherwise that was genuine fear and panic of a parent who loved their child that she'd witnessed in the other woman. He was filthy but he appeared to be in good condition, "Sure kid. Now here, we don't have much time. Put this on."

She handed the other harness to Archie as she secured Henry in his. Then she made her way back to the bucket. She strapped Henry in and pulled on the rope so that they would begin to pull him up.

After Henry was cleared they began to pull her up even though she had planned to wait for Archie to get clear first. "Wait," she shouted. "Take him first."

Her voice echoed throughout the cave causing a shift. She was now about halfway up by now. Archie turned as he heard something from behind him. Emma looked on in fear and panic of her own now as she saw a rockslide began to start.

She quickly calculated that there was no way Archie would be able to get out alive before they finished pulling her up. She climbed out of the bucket and down to the farthest part she could get to and still keep a secure hold. "Grab on," she ordered.

Archie had been frozen in fear. He'd come to the same conclusion she had. He shook off his stupor and reached. They were still pulling Emma from above. "I can't."

"Try damn it!" Emma ordered. She wrapped her arms tight around the bottom part of the bucket. She braced them to allow for extra weight and dared her muscles not to give out, "Now!"

Archie jumped a few times and still missed. Finally as the rockslide began making its way to him he used his umbrella to grab ahold of her shoe. He watched in horror as a boulder came rushing right where he had been standing just half a second before.

They finally made it to the surface. When they saw Emma everyone clapped hollowly. When they saw Archie too a cheer began to grow throughout the crowd. Festivities began to break out.

Emma looked around for Henry. She saw Regina looking him over as he tried desperately to pull away from her. Finally he broke free. Emma didn't miss the way Regina's face fell as he came running toward her.

He wrapped her in a tight bear hug. "I knew you'd do it. Now you see. It's your destiny. You have to destroy the Evil Queen's curse," the smile he gave her could light a 1000 watt bulb.

She patted him on his back nervously never taking her eyes away from Regina. A paramedic came over to check them both out.

Henry was given oxygen as it was determined he was low. He would need to go to the hospital to get checked out further. Regina nodded as they began to put him onto a gurney and cart him away.

"What about the mine?" someone called out.

Regina stared at the offending place that had almost taken her son away from her. "I want it filled in," she spat through clenched teeth.

Henry waved the ambulance workers who were trying to get him strapped down away. He ripped off his oxygen mask and sat up, "But we need to know what's in there."

"I think you've done enough sightseeing for a lifetime. I will never allow you nor anyone else around here." She walked over to the gurney and pushed him back down before putting the mask back onto him. She looked over at Graham. "Fill it," she ordered again.

Graham nodded and began organizing the men around to help come up with a plan.

Emma ran over to her after the paramedics gave her an all clear. "I told you he'd be alright," she said as she caught up to Regina. She gave her a huge smile.

Regina nodded, "You saved my son. I won't forget that Miss - ," at Emma's cocked eyebrow she amended, "Emma."

Emma grinned. She took Regina's hand as they waited for Henry to be loaded up. Her grin spread even further as she realized this time, Regina didn't pull away.