Sorry I took forever... it's been a hectic few weeks.. and it's only getting worse.. but, I also had to watch Frozen, because I think I'm one of the only few people on earth who haven't seen it.. cute movie, don't really get the hype but, whatever. Also, I read an interview from the writers of the show, and they said that they were going to be using the Disney version, and not the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson.. and since I'm really not familiar with either.. at least the cartoon had a cute moose thing..
Crying silently, alone in the dark, chilly hospital room, Regina could feel the last of her control slipping. She knew, better than anyone really, that if you do bad things, bad things will be done to you.
But to fall witness to the man she loved – and it was love, only an idiot would think otherwise – be reunited with his long lost wife after everything seemed perfect; and to be weakened by a silly storm and a woman who wasn't even after her; fate was entirely cruel, to have Regina Mills stand disarmed and cold, helplessly staring at her son, – the light of her life – lay frozen on a crisp hospital bed.
It was because he didn't wear a hat, Regina yelled at Snow. It was the only thing she could think of, to keep herself glued to the present. Yelling, fighting, it was all she knew. It was what made her feel better. But, as Regina stood in Dr. Whale's office, with the idiots, and their dense daughter, she refused to realize they were all feeling the same thing.
So, she demanded to be alone. It was what she was comfortable with. Alone she could cry her pity tears, brush the growing hair off of Henry's head and layer him with blankets.
She hated the Snow Queen – Elsa. She hated Rumpelstiltskin. Now his grandson's life was in jeopardy and he sat back and refused to do anything about their growing issue.
There was a soft tap at the door, but Regina ignored it. She didn't want Snow White coming in and trying to make her feel better. She rubbed under her eyes with the top of her finger, collecting the warm tears and disposing of them, curtly.
The tapping stopped, instead the door creaked open. "Regina?"
It was Robin.
"Go away," she croaked. Her voice heavy with the tears she strained to keep inside.
"Regina," he whispered again, gently and rushed to her side.
Instantly, there was a subtle relief in her tense muscles. Her bones didn't ache so much with cold and worry. For just an instant she felt whole.
Her eyes fluttered closed as Robin's arms collected her in a firm, but soft embrace. He was looking at Henry, no doubt. Probably seeing his own son in his place. Regina had. She imagined Roland and little Neal. Snow and even David. She saw everyone she cared about where Henry was.
But the images her mind conjured weren't all that far from reality. The snow was getting worse. Regina melted into Robin's hold. His jacket was laced with ice water and stubborn snowflakes. She wanted to scold him. Did he not see what happened to Henry? He couldn't be prancing around out there. It wasn't safe.
"I am sorry," he mumbled into her hair. Regina nodded, she didn't trust her voice.
His soft lips grazed the top of her ear accidentally, and Regina jolted as if he burned her. She moved away, fixing her hair and stared determinedly at Henry's unmoving body.
Her son's eyes were closed. Regina liked to think he was sleeping peacefully. His chest wasn't rising and falling bellow the blankets, but she felt for his heart a dozen times already, it was beating strong. He was chilled to the touch, his cheeks rosy with a cold that seemed to seep from the inside.
It happened so fast. Regina stifled another sob.
"We will find a way to fix him," Robin assured.
Nodding, mostly to herself, Regina agreed. "Of course we will."
And then she looked up at him. She hadn't met his eye the whole time he had been with her. It didn't matter. His profile was burned into her mind, she didn't need to see him to know his expression. It was stony and tenacious.
"How is Marian?" she whispered in the dimness.
Robin's broad shoulders shrugged. It was a restrained and confused reaction. Truly, no one knew what was going on with her. Marian seemed to be holding on by stubborn threads of her will. Regina was pleased. It had officially been forty eight hours ten minutes before she got word about Henry.
The alluring, shimmery liquid gold concoction was ready to save Marian.
Regina cleared her throat. "I can rush to my office and get the elixir, but, I just need to tell you something – " she paused, her nose scrunching up. "What? Why are you shaking your head?"
Robin smiled softly at her. "This is more important." his blue eyes flickered to Henry's still form.
Regina was holding one of his frozen hands in hers. She knew this was important. Henry was the sole reason she had to live. He kept her going. Those months when he didn't remember her and Regina had to keep her distance for his own sake, were torture.
Robin knew. He saw her at her weakest. And just when her son was back in her life, calling her a hero, loving her unconditionally and believing in her with all his might; he falls ill like so many others. It was cruel. Fate was cruel.
The queen would find a way to save her son. Just like she found a way to save Robin's wife.
"How can you say that?" she whispered, bewildered. Her dark eyes were wide, gawking at the stubborn man before her.
She genuinely wanted to know. Ever since he told her that Marian was dying, Robin seemed to do everything in his power to prolong Regina's aid. It was almost like he didn't want her to be saved.
Which was ridiculous, Regina knew. Robin was a kind, noble man. He would never intentionally risk Marian's life like this.
The outlaw's eyes were sad when he looked back up at her.
"If this was Roland," Regina involuntarily flinched, "I would not rest until he was better."
Regina stiffened, raising to her full height, and stared pointedly at Robin Hood. "Are you inferring that I am not doing my job as a mother?" her voice was icy, like his eyes.
"No," Robin gaped. It was like all the air in his body rushed out of him forcefully and he staggered before finding her shoulders with his large palms. "No, Regina. That – I would never even ponder something like that."
His words were earnest, his voice intimate.
"Why do you keep pushing this off, Robin? Marian doesn't have a lot of time."
Something dark passed over his eyes, but Regina couldn't tell what. She wanted to ask. She wanted to cup his stubbled face in her hands and beg him to confide in her. But the door opened immediately, as his mouth parted to speak.
The two broke apart. Regina still had Henry's hand firm in hers, Robin was rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. Snow looked intrigued, but only gave a watery smile as she stepped in the room.
Her kind eyes roamed over Henry, the three heavy quilts, his shaggy hair, and Regina, whether she knew or not, protectively in front of him.
Snow licked her lips while walking to the other side of Henry's bed. She placed her delicate hand over his chest and sighed in relief.
She didn't look up when she spoke to the pair, "Elsa is here."
The hospital cafeteria was cluttered with people, coats, and far too many belongings. After the impromptu meeting with Elsa the Snow Queen two nights prior, she seemed to go on a bit of a tyrant. Henry and several others all fell ill without warning. Not even a sneeze – and the Charming's found him frozen in bed.
Apart from the sick, houses could no longer maintain electricity. The storms were so bad, knocking out much of the town's power. Those flocked to the hospital and church. It was chaotic and it was only going to get worse, Regina was sure.
The three of them, Snow, Robin and Regina, stalked to the far side of the cafeteria, where there was a dark, inconspicuous door. Snow opened it, revealing Charming, Hook and Emma. They stood stiffly while a gorgeous blonde woman strolled around the room, looking at certificates and pictures of the hospital staff.
Robin blinked in surprise. Her dress matched the color of his eyes. Regina remembered he wasn't there the night they first met Elsa.
"Regina!" the woman greeted with a dazzling smile.
"Elsa," she nodded.
The Snow Queen eyed Robin suspiciously. He gave a her a polite smile and stood next to Hook.
"So, now that we're here, what is it you want to talk about?"
Elsa frowned while gracefully sitting in one of the hard backed metal chairs. "I wanted to apologize for my outburst the other night. I don't know about you, but, The Dark One really knows how to upset me."
Everyone in the room could agree, though no one did. Not even Hook, who was not very good at holding his tongue.
"I wanted to tell you my side of the story, in case he fills your heads with lies." she was still frowning, but it was the most beautiful frown anyone could dream of.
Her hair was glossier than the night at Town Hall. She looked angrier, her skin tighter and her smile a little forced. But no one could deny her beauty. It was angelic – other worldly.
"Of course," Snow said, sitting down across from Elsa.
She seemed to like that, and slowly, everyone else sat at the middle table reserved for hospital staff.
"I come from Arendelle, it's a beautiful place. Magic is rare there. I was special." Elsa puffed out her chest proudly.
"Though, it wasn't always seen that way. My parents, they were worried what the kingdom would think, so I hid away my powers for a long time. So long, that I had no control when I finally used them."
Her blue eyes grew sad. Remorse was coloring her tone, "I ended up placing my entire kingdom under a snow curse. I couldn't stop it, but then The Dark One showed up, and helped me." she smile faintly, it was wan and regretful.
"In exchange for saving Arendelle he wanted to train me, teach me different kinds of magic."
There was a sour taste rising in the back of Regina's throat. She knew this story all too well.
"But, to both our disappointment, I can only wield the water elements. There are others like me in Arendelle that I didn't know about until later. The elements are very popular in my realm. We cannot do what you can." Elsa looked at Regina with admiration.
"My sister, Ana, she was different too. The Dark One saw something in her, and decided to help her, instead." Elsa's face softened. "It was wonderful, my sister able to use magic as well? I wasn't so alone."
The excitement drained as quickly as it came. She looked down at her hands that were covered in the same black gloves.
"Ana died," she whispered gravely. "Rumpelstiltskin didn't listen, didn't care how hard he was working her. She died trying to please him." her cold voice made everyone in the room shiver.
Snow gasped, "I am so sorry, Elsa."
The Snow Queen looked at Snow White with interest. "I lost control after that, brought Arendelle into another horrible winter. People grew sick and I just couldn't stop it. These – " she pushed out her hands, the long black gloves were stark against the light brown table.
"These helped me control it all my life. But, suddenly after Ana, nothing could. Rumpelstiltskin came back, locked me away in that prison and saved Arendelle who are forever in his debt."
The bitterness was clear. This woman wanted Rumpelstiltskin to pay.
David cleared his throat. "You want to kill him, then?"
Elsa looked thoughtful. Her full, pink lips puckered, her eyes glazed over with probably a hundred memories of her dead sister.
"I want answers." she concluded.
"You said you made people sick back in your kingdom," Regina said, "Rumpelstiltskin made them better?"
Elsa shrugged. "I know I froze many people, I froze Ana once," she smiled faintly. "True love saved her. I can never forget what happened, my sister is everything to me."
Regina nodded. She could relate. Her everything was upstairs frozen solid.
"Rumpelstiltskin saved my kingdom. I remember all the snow disappearing before I was trapped in the darkness. I can only assume that everyone was saved as well."
"And the blizzard now? Can you stop this one?" Emma asked.
Pulling her long, icy blonde braid over her shoulder, Elsa started playing with the glossy strains. "I didn't meant to hurt anyone." she whispered. "But, what he did is unforgivable. I needed to make him pay."
The Snow Queen paused, "But, I am afraid that I seem to have lost control again. Not completely. The gloves are working. I just, I cannot make it go away. The sun helps. The warmth. I will give my word that I will not cause anymore storms, if you give me The Dark One."
The offer was tempting. So tempting, Hook was nodding before anyone could stop him.
"We need to discuss this, as a community. Can you give us some time?" Snow wondered, dignified and fair.
Elsa smiled sharply. "I will give you three days. If I do not have him in front of me, I cannot control what will happen."
She smiled again brightly, before raising a gloved hand, and just like the other night, disappeared in a frosty haze.
Hook smacked his good hand against the table, "Well, that settles it." he stood, stretching his long, leather-cloaked legs.
"That settled nothing," Emma glared at him. "Gold has helped us a lot, he sacrificed himself for us. We can't just hand him over to that woman. You heard her, she can't even control it!"
Regina's mouth was a grim, red line. Emma was right. Elsa didn't seem very sure of herself. But, maybe that was just a ploy to get them on her side.
"We need to talk to him. David and I will go to the shop, see if he and Belle will sit down with us and discuss things."
"What the bloody hell is there to discuss?" Hook demanded. "You heard the Queen. He killed her sister. That sounds like something he would do!"
Robin looked at Regina, who was so engrossed in her own thoughts, she didn't even realize she was shaking.
"That woman mentioned that Rumpelstiltskin healed her people." he spoke quietly.
The commotion died down. "We can't let her do away with him if he has the power to save everyone."
David nodded at Robin. "He's right."
"Now it's settled," Emma gave Hook a pointed glare, "We're going to Gold's."
The shop was dark and silent when the group arrived. Emma started to pick the lock before Regina rolled her eyes and had the door flying open a moment later. Emma tumbled into the store and glared up at Regina who smiled sweetly as she stepped through the threshold.
Odd objects cloaked in darkness made eery noises that Regina never noticed during the day. The door to the back room was shut, but there was a light bleeding through the cracks of the frame. David tilted his head towards it and moved slowly.
It was only Charming, his daughter and Regina on the little detective trip. Snow stayed at the hospital with Neal to look over Henry, Robin went back to his family and Hook stayed to keep an eye on things.
The three crept towards the back room. Regina had a fireball in her hand – just in case, and Emma kept her hand hovering over her gun.
David kicked in the door after a botched countdown, and the odd group shuffled into the warm room, startling the two occupants.
"Oh!" Belle shrieked, dropping her wine glass.
"We're closed," Gold muttered through tight lips.
He looked angry as he knelt down to help Belle with the shattered glass.
"We're not here to shop," Regina rasped.
"You need to tell us everything you know about The Snow Queen or she is probably going to kill you." Emma added, crossing her arms.
Belle dropped a piece of the already broken glass. She stared at her husband with an incredulous look. "You said you didn't know her."
Gold groaned and stood. "What did she tell you?" he asked, mock pleasantly. "That I was the big bad monster who came in and turned her kingdom against her? No, she did that all on her own."
David placed a hand in front of him in a peaceful manner. "She told us that her sister was killed learning magic from you."
Rumpelstiltskin's mouth twitched. It happened instantaneously, Regina almost thought against it. He sighed while dropping back into his chair, dinner forgotten.
"She was never taught to control her magic, which is very limited, but deadly. I helped her and saved her land. The end." there was a finality to his words. An edge that Regina grew bored of a long time ago.
She stalked over to Gold, hands poised on her hips. "You know more. You know how to stop this storm. And you never thought to help? Henry is frozen on a hospital bed like the others, and you're just going to sit here?"
Gold's eyes flashed with surprise. Then, he smiled, slowly rising to his full height.
"What Elsa doesn't know, Dearie, is that I'm not the one who saved her people."
Regina massaged her temple. She was waiting for the elevator to take her back up to Henry's hospital room. Gold stopped talking after confessing that he wasn't the one who saved Elsa's land. But, the woman was sure he was.
The doors opened with a ding, and Regina shuffled in. Before they could close, a hand shot through the slit, causing them to open again. It was Robin and Roland. Both had a surprised look on their handsome faces.
"Good evening, M'lady." Robin spoke first.
Roland wiggled from his father and wrapped his arms around Regina's neck with a sleepy sigh.
"Are you sleeping here tonight?" she whispered to the boy's father.
Robin nodded. "Marian feels better with Roland near." he shrugged. "How's Henry?"
Regina nodded with a sad smile. "The same. Emma's with him now."
Once the elevator doors opened Robin was plucking a now sleeping Roland from Regina's arms and signaling for her to walk with him. Knowing that Emma would want as much time with Henry as she did, Regina nodded and followed.
She waited until Robin tucked his son into his ailing wife's bed, and briefly paused to watch the two sleep peacefully, before shutting the door and walking towards the cluster of soft chairs near the window.
In the darkness, the snow brightened. It glistened with the soft glow of window lights, and operating streetlamps.
Regina stared out the window for a long time.
"What did Rumpelstiltskin have to say?" Robin asked.
Shrugging weakly, Regina didn't really feel like retelling the story. She licked her lips and continued to look at the snow covered town before her.
"The only information of importance was that he didn't save Elsa's home. Someone else did. He just took credit for it." completely like him, Regina added in her head.
Robin looked thoughtful. He kept his hands busy by tracing the patterns on the couch's material. "So the Snow Queen is mistaken."
Regina shrugged again. "I don't want to talk about this tonight." she closed her eyes.
"What shall we talk about, then?" he asked in that charming accent.
Regina turned to face him. She looked deeply into his eyes, his face. He looked tired but content.
"Please let me heal your wife."
Now Robin's eyes shut softly. His mouth turning down at the edges.
"Why is this such an issue for you? I can save her life. You will be able to be together. Isn't that what you want?" she asked quietly.
She had to stop her hand from reaching out to grab his.
"No." he whispered back sounding firm and demanding.
Regina gasped, her hand retracted so fast, her head started to spin. She looked at him. Really looked at Robin Hood and saw all the things she refused to. There was a yearning inside of him. A deep, unfathomable attraction that they shared. It wrapped around the pair and strengthened the other.
It was why Regina always felt better in his presence. It was why she lost herself, and only when they touched did she understand how wrong it was. It was the reason why they were soul mates. Why when Snow and Charming needed to find each other, nothing else mattered. It was the same invincible feeling.
Robin's warm hand cupped her cheek. The heat that rushed throughout her body explained how wrong it was, but also how right.
"Regina," he whispered, licking his lips. "Regina, I'm in love with you. And I don't believe it's because of fate or destiny. I love everything about you."
She refused to look up. She gave Marian her word that she wouldn't come between them. She shook her head stubbornly and ignored the way all her nerve endings tingled as he laughed.
"I will always love Marian." he explained, "But when she died, that part of me died with her. I can never be that man for her again. Not while my heart belongs to another."
She sniffed, willing herself not to cry. This was everything Regina ever wanted. Someone telling her that they loved her, that they chose her. That she was worthy of that kind of affection. No one looked at her like Robin had, not in a very long time.
He didn't see a seductive woman or an evil queen. He just saw Regina, and all the complicated darkness that followed.
Swallowing down a lump in her throat, Regina gently removed his hand.
"This isn't right. We can't do this." she squeezed his arm, his wrist, where that tattoo marred his skin, linking him to her, forever.
"In order to save Marian, you need to drink the elixir as well." she spoke through glassy eyes and a throat tight with tears.
"You need to love her, she needs to be the one." she whispered.
"Why?" Robin's blue eyes were narrow and confused. His other hand, the one Regina was not clinging to, rested on her knee, rubbing a line with his thumb.
"Because whoever drinks it will be together forever."