A/N – Can't believe we are here already—second to last chapter.
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Regina awoke the morning of her birthday to something poking her face, or rather someone. Cracking a blurry eye she moaned sleep away as little green ones came into focus. "How are you feeling baby?" Reaching for the girl sitting close on her bed and jerking up when she finally registered the time.
"Better and guess what Mama?"
It was nearly ten. Feet found slippers and she lifted Emma up to her hip, feeling a forehead and glad it was cooler than last night. "What baby?" She never slept in this late. Emma needed breakfast, medicine, and today was—
Cupping her Keeper's face, she popped a kiss on a cheek. "Ms. Mal make's good cheesy eggs."
Slippers froze, remembering last night. Magic returning, wine, and that loaded peck on the cheek from the Dragon… She'd taken a sleeping Emma up to bed right after consuming her powers with Mal trailing on her heels to help. Blankets had been turned down and Emma tucked in. More than impulse had made her hand take Mal's and lead the way back downstairs, begging a single question along the way.
"Stay awhile?"
And Mal had. Having felt celebratory, a glass of wine led to them talking for hours, just like old times and Regina realized how much she had missed their closeness, if not more. Dragon offered, much to her relief, to keep watch on the couch as Ruby slept on the rug in front of the hearth in case Gold discovered their plan too soon.
Present moment full, Regina adjusted Emma in arms as the day ahead came back into focus. Sighing and not sure how Emma had interpreted waking up to the Dragon in the house she forced her feet to keep moving.
"She does cook well." Finally responding, knowing that as fact.
"Un-huh and I asked for my cereal and she wouldn't give me Coco-puffs cause she said they looked like rabbit pellets." Emma shrugged dramatically, confused to what those were as they descended the stairs. Wiggling to get down at the landing she darted off ahead into the kitchen, footie PJ feet nearly sliding on tile.
"Slow down Emma." Regina reminded and rounded the corner after her little one.
The smell of coffee perked her senses and she smiled softly at the pure domestic fluff before her eyes. Eggs sunny side up sizzled in a pan alongside turkey bacon, toast popped up with a ding as Mal moved fluidly about the space wearing an apron that Regina had forgotten she owned. A red one Emma had gotten her that had a custom saying: 'I'm a Queen and a bit more refined… and so is my cooking.' Emma sat at the counter finishing the last few bites on a ketchup smeared plate and coloring. There was a card propped up with a small vase of flowers and a little box in her place setting. Heart stretching when blue eyes swept over her.
Mal smiled in greeting. "Good morning." Handing over a mug of well dressed milky caffeine just the way the Queen liked it and assuring amber eyes with a nod to the little one. "She's been up for an hour, I took her temp and her fever must have broken last night, but just barely. I gave her another dose of the children's Tylenol and some of the Pedialyte I found in the fridge. She insisted on waking you to sing happy birthday, but was easily swayed with food to let you sleep in a bit longer… I hope you don't mind." Gesturing to the cooking and apron.
Regina surprised herself. "I don't actually. Thank you for getting her situated this morning and for the coffee." Sipping the brew in hand and enjoying the warm wash of pleasure that only the first sip of coffee could bring. Feeling it stronger this morning as she realized it was more than the coffee waking her body up. Clearing throat. "Where is Ruby?"
"She left a while ago after consuming nearly a pound of bacon." Mal began to dish food onto the two remaining plates, setting them on either side of Emma at the empty stools. "Said she would text you for next steps later today. How are you feeling?"
Moving to her place on the left of Emma, she took a little bite of yellow heaven, yolk slippery on crisp toast. "Like myself for the first time in a year, if I count the spelled reality." She gently ran a hand down Emma's tangle of wild bed head curls, smoothing the ends as she leaned in to smell the red roses in vase.
Mal fondly watched the way the little blonde leaned into the affection. "Well worth it to you, I'm sure."
Amber eyes bright. "Yes. It was."
"Flowers are pretty huh, Mama? I drew what I wanted to give you and Ms. Mal made them appear and you gots to open the card."
Obeying the child, Regina opened the large heart shaped red card, melting at the set of hand prints on either side. Six year old print on the left mirrored a thirteen year old one on the right joined in the middle by the words, 'We love our Mama!' Throat working as eyes glassed, she nodded quietly, pulling Emma over to sit on her lap.
"Big me gots you that." Sniffing, a finger pointed to the little white box as she tried to avoid the conjured tissue coming to wipe her runny nose. "But it's kinda from all of me."
Setting the tissue aside, Regina eased off the box top and felt her chest fill again, sure nothing more could fit inside. Resting on a nest of cotton was a single fine gold bangle with one charm attached; amethysts winked from the four points of a crown resting over the body of a golden swan. Delicate and just right; a combination of what they were to each other.
Regina slipped it on, holding up a wrist for both Dragon and child to see. "I adore it baby, thank you. I'll wear it every day."
"A swan queen. How perfect." Mal readily agreed loving the symbolism for the special dynamic shared.
They finished breakfast with the simple kind of easy conversation, between bites of food and little giggles that came from a place of quiet understanding only the years of knowing the other through the ups and downs of life could bring. Regina was on her last sip of coffee when the sudden candidness Emma possessed broke the clinking flatware.
"Mama how come Ms. Mal and you had a sleepover with Ruby?" Emma switched out crayons, never looking up from her drawing of Jasper as royal arms held her close.
The phrasing, though innocent, made the Dragon snort and Mal quickly schooled her features with the amused, but scolding look from the Queen.
"They were helping Mama get something back and it was really late when they dropped it off so they spent the night." Purposefully leaving off the other conversation they had and not for little ears this moment.
The little girl processed this, dropped her crayon and looked between the adults. "What'd you get? A present?"
Smiling and lifting Emma off her lap to stand. "In a way, yes. Do you want to see?"
Nodding eagerly Emma gasped as her Mama disappeared in a puff of purple smoke and reappeared across the room. Squealing with delight she ran to her Keeper into open arms. "You gots it back! All of you is back now Mama!"
Kissing a cheek, Regina's smile was all teeth as she cuddled the girl in her arms. She caught blue watching them over Emma's shoulder. Sky open and wide for the taking of flight if she so chose to accept the wings offered. Decision made and whole, she felt for the first time in so long, on this happy, happy day.
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Emma played with a pile of Legos on the living room floor of the mansion as Regina, Mal, Ruby, and Snow all nursed coffee in deep thought later that same day. The Princess' eyes rested on her daughter in the wake of heavy conversation. Like most children Emma was absorbed in her fantasy and ignoring the adults in favor of play. Snow respected the gift of being included in the mission about to take place to protect the little girl.
Regina set her mug on the coffee table between them as everyone mulled over the details of her plan long mused and laid in place, pieces finally ready to come together. Snow broke the drought of silence with wet words.
"Can't you just blast Gold into another realm or something Regina?" Eager to help, but confused. "Why this way?"
"Trust me Snow. If that were an option…" She couldn't say more, but it seemed like enough.
Snow's eyes studied brown. "You want me to talk to Gold in his shop… with Emma there?"
Nodding the Queen took a deep breath. "You will tell him you used the potion and how grateful you are for his support, how well it worked. Both you and Emma will be fully shielded and those shields will be laced with glamour hiding the magical scent, but it will only go undetected by him for so long. Regardless, they will protect you." Summoning the clear vial Gold had given to Snow she returned it back in the Princess' hand with a new use. "When you are close enough, throw this at him. One drop will be plenty and he will never be able to get near her again. I've also added a freezing spell that will allow you both to get out of there to Mal, while he and I have a much needed chat."
Ruby leaned forward, elbows on knees, more than ready to kick Gold where it hurt. "And my potion?"
Mal produced another vial, red liquid and gave it to the waitress. "A temporary shape shifting spell to allow you access to your wolf." Assessing the red head. "With your strength it will last about fifteen minutes."
The Skeleton Key was summoned and Regina handed that over too. "This will gain you entrance to the back of the shop like before while he is busy with Snow in the front. I've told you where he keeps it. Be careful not to cut your mouth on the blade. Bring it straight to me in the ally. We will have but a few minutes for all of this to occur before he gets wind something is not right." Eyes found the Princess. "Snow, I'm trusting you to protect your daughter from the one she actually needs protecting from. Do you understand me?"
Princess rolled lips in, nodding vigorously at the second chance of trust. "I understand the weight here Regina. You have my word."
With that promise the Queen called the child over having already spent a long hour speaking with Emma before the other visitors arrived. "It's near time baby. Do you have any questions about what Mama needs you to do?"
Blonde curls shook. "I get to throw the biggest tantrum ever and Snow will talk to Mr. Gold, but he can't hurt me and then we go with Ms. Mal." Grinning at the idea of getting to be naughty on purpose and not get in trouble.
"That's exactly right sweet one." Kissing a cheek, she summoned the child's winter wear and Stitchy.
Emma's size their advantage in this plan. Gold wouldn't believe little one had so easily gone with Snow, so the child having a meltdown after use of said potion meant to keep them apart was a needed distraction for their plan to work. He would be elated, too much to question what appeared in front of him right away in his victory. As she bundled Emma up Mal began the enchantment to shield the girl and Snow as Ruby consumed the shape shifting potion.
Ready and all willing, Regina transported them a half block away from the pawn shop in front of the diner. Kneeling down to hug Emma one more time, she whispered her love, heart hopeful, but tearing when they all went their separate ways.
"Are you ready Emma?" Snow stopped several feet from their destination, hand holding her daughter's almost too tightly.
Little green eyes narrowed and with a firm nod she gave a thumb up. "I was born ready." Closing her eyes she pulled on less than happy times, memories of her life before Regina, before she found home and a heart she fit into. Sniffles came first, then the damp heat in her eyes. The perfect match to her flushed cheeks and puckering mouth.
Emma's game face set Snow squeezed her hand, a signal they were to begin their role-play. Snow moved faster toward the shop as the child squirmed in her hand to pull away. The bell chimed wickedly over head announcing them and Snow made a great show of getting Emma in the door with a blinding stupid grin on her face.
"Well, well… I see you finally got what you wanted dearie." Gold crooned, steepled fingers under chin as his eyes consumed the ache on a small crying face. "Took you long enough." Snake eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Ignoring his shaded inquiry, Snow kept her tone elated. "It worked just as you said it would! I finally have my daughter back." The words made her sick now that she had some understanding of his role in this, but she forced a happy grin as she looked down at Emma trying to pry her hand off.
"Not supposta be here!" A little foot stomped and Emma shouted pulling back hard, nearly succeeding too well in getting away when little teeth tried to bite the hand holding hers. "I WANT MY MAMA! LET GO!"
Gold wrinkled his nose in distaste over the little temper filling the room and shifted foot to foot at the display of brass from the pint sized Savior. "I suppose you'll be wanting the other potion to keep her in this… lovely state now that you have your little girl again."
Snow nodded eagerly struggling now to keep a hold of Emma. As Gold bent behind the counter she popped the cork on the invisible vial in her hand and the second his beady eyes peered over the top of the glass she threw it at him exactly as instructed. A burst of light filled the room, throwing her back a step. Stunned, but clear headed she gathered Emma into her arms as force field radiated from the potion began to push them back and ran out of the shop and nearly into the oncoming Queen. The child reached for the brunette in passing, but was pulled away in haste down the block with Ruby's paws on their heels toward the waiting Dragon. Engulfed in blue smoke they all disappeared. Emma's worried echo of 'Mama!' ringing in Regina's ear.
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Cold mask from long ago slipped easily into place. "Hello my dear Rumple." Evil red grin. "Time for a little chat."
The Queen of the game hard won stood on the threshold of Gold's shop door thoroughly enjoying the shocked leer he pitched. Palm firm around the Dark One's dagger. Ruby had retrieved it from the hiding place Belle told her about years ago right before the botched attempt at crossing the town line had occurred and beauty suspected the Imp was becoming a danger once again. Regina toyed with blade, slowly bringing it up into the sunlight flashing on his engraved name as his yellowing eyes bulged. Hers curved at the creases, like a pair of sharp thorns from a stem of rose in the presence of his frown; pretty masked poison in wait of a finger prick.
Royalty commanded. "Dark One, lift the ward to allow me entrance." The magical barrier dissolved instantly as the freezing spell keeping him rooted began to loosen. "Hands up." Another direction he obeyed without question. Heels approached slowly, calculated as it was clear he fully registered the wrath accompanying every click. He dared sneer and before he could draw another breath dagger was resting at the base of his throat, tip firmly pressed at the hallow of his wind pipe.
"Careful dearie. Our oath is still—" Gasping as a fine thread of blood wormed down his neck. Dagger glowed as the oath broke. Cautious now, eyes searched the woman in front of him and shivered at the maternal rage swirling in the depths of dark eyes he had not seen in decades. Her Majesty owned the room and the Queen was not pleased.
"Damn our oath. The potion you meant for me is a perfect replacement you can not manipulate. You'll never get near Emma again. I am done playing games Imp. Now that I have my magic back we are on equal footing again." Pressing the tip in a hair's width as she let well kept darkness out to play. "Well, I am at least."
"So this is what it has come to." Swallowing against the metal as he struggled to his knees without use of hands, blade moved with him fluidly.
Scoffing as she began to rein in cruelty wanting to slip the leash. "Oh I am not going to kill you dear. That is far too kind for what you have put that child, me, Belle and Ruby through."
"Even the sweet Princess Snow White?" Trying once to bait her Majesty's retreat.
"Even her. I am not that woman anymore." Pulling the dagger back, she circled him. "We will get to your comeuppance soon enough. Summon Belle. Now."
As a puff of black smoke cleared a confused Belle gasped at the sight of her husband kneeling at the feet of the Queen. She rushed to him, encircling his neck. Hard eyes, blue ice glared up. "What have you done to him Regina?"
"It is not what I have done." Nodding to Belle, a brow arched. "Tell her the truth Dark One."
Words stumbled, no longer untrue, from his oil slicked mouth. Desperate at the prospect of a life without his sweet Belle to keep him grounded he replaced her memories with that of the Queen's stolen true love ones. The last two years had been a twisted lie, love not theirs to have masked free will to love another. As he finished, the spell keeping Belle from strangling him on the spot still held. Blue looked into him, forgiving falsely and in them he began to sink into the injustice of what he had done to her. Truth a bitter aftertaste.
Regina took a deep breath, struggling once more against her own darkness at the depravity kneeling before her. It would be so easy to be rid of him, but the light that had grown in her heart the last ten years kept her to the original plan. "Now remove the memories that don't belong to her."
"I can't give them back to you. Surely you know that." Slow drawl, Gold almost pleaded to let them remain. Almost. "They will dissolve into nothing the moment I lift the enchantment." He had made sure of that if it ever happened to come to this point. A knife in the gut of his best student, a reminder never to underestimate the depth he would go to have some victory with one last lesson taught even in his downfall.
Red broke the hard line and a single tear ripped down a tan cheek. "They will never be nothing. Not to me." Knuckles white on the dagger handle to keep from shaking. Bitter sweet. "Do it."
With his black heart, aching Gold waved his hand over Belle's contorted face and broke in the way those blue eyes narrowed at him in knowing disgust. "Belle please—"
"Oh my God! What… what the hell did you do to me!?" Scrambling back from the man she'd been forced to bed for two years, kiss every morning, and live a foggy lie between them under the sham of true love. Eyes blinked in startling recognition at Regina as she found her footing. "Ruby? Is she—"
"At the mansion. I'll poof you there now if you are done with him."
"I never want to see him again." Spat with great disgust and lacking sympathy she used to feel when he looked at her with those eyes begging for understanding and another chance.
"That will be arranged." Regina assured. "Gladly."
Belle's anger fell in hot torrents down her face. "I don't love you and any friendly affection I could have had for you if you hadn't forced this lie on me is gone."
Rumple crumpled to the ground as if shot by the lead words hitting his stomach. "I have nothing to live for if that's the case." Mean but broken eyes found the Queen. "She controls me and I doubt I'll be seeing the light of day anytime soon."
Tsking in chide. "That is where you are wrong Rumple and where the biggest difference between you and I lay. That choice will be entirely up to you."
"Regina, will you please send me to Ruby?" Near begging to make amends with her girlfriend from that pained night they were torn apart.
Purple smoke stole Belle away and left her with the rumpled Imp. Taking her time, she summoned a stool and sat, crossing her legs, dagger firmly in hand resting in her lap as she confirmed her original plans for him. Part of her still wanted his price in blood, but her darkness had been satiated with the dried line staining his white shirt collar and that he would never be able to get close to or harm Emma ever again.
"You might as well slit my throat your Majesty and enjoy your victory. I know you want to." Words void of emotion, though for once in longer than he could remember he felt too much.
"You brought this entirely on yourself." Sitting up straighter as the memories of their encounters the last several weeks came back. Temper fully locked behind the door in mind for now she sighed. "I will not give the dagger back. That is going somewhere you will never find it. But I will grant you your free will by not using the dagger against you again once we are done speaking."
Gold eyes snapped up, narrowing in question. "What kind of game are you getting at?"
"Unlike you I detest games and this is not one. No one deserves to have their free will taken from them, not even you." Not liking that she had done so, but game turned deadly had forced her hand. "I will give you the gift of choice you stole from others and a second chance for you to make better ones."
Regina's gaze dropped to the fine metal work of the dagger. A terrible beauty no one should bear the weight of or wield over another. Free will was like that; terrible and beautiful all on its own, an absolute supremacy. Softening temper more for his life's plight she moved to study him. A crippled man damned from birth with bad luck. He had lost his wife and child to the darkness. Given up his soul for power, addicted to the glory and rule over others. Even after all he had put them through she managed to speak with a teaspoon of sweetness for his bitter black drink.
"If the Evil Queen can find happiness so can the Dark One and we do not have to force someone's love to find it." Warming over the unique bond she shared with the Savior and one she'd never thought possible a decade ago. "Emma found me and a home in my heart, what was left of it when she came to town. I have no doubt you will find the one you are meant to love." She extracted a small bag from her coat pocket and held it up for him to see. His eyes grew at the sparkling jelly bean that wasn't in the plastic. Handing him the bag, he fingered it delicately in further quandary.
"Why would you give me this?" Mistrust evident, but flabbergasted over the very idea of the gesture. "Me of all people?"
"I've been saving this for a long time, ever since Tiny came to town when Emma and I were on less than good terms. I kept it as a reminder to have hope when things seem at their most dark." Nodding to the bean. "I have more hope than I know what to do with at times and I do not need it anymore, but you do."
The Imp sank into those words, hope was something he'd given up and didn't know the meaning of anymore. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
"Take the bean, my hope for you, and a leap of faith. Go find your piece of happiness in another realm. You will not find it here. I will not grant you a third opportunity least you ever return." Sentence of banishment given she stood with the blade still in hand. "Regardless I will not use the dagger on you again. Should you not choose to use the bean and stay we will battle this out the old fashioned way, on equal ground." Vanishing the dagger, she cupped palms ready to summon two fireballs and deflection shield tight against her skin should he make the wrong decision.
He got to his feet, summoning his cane. With a long look at the Queen he slowly moved to the counter, retrieving a box and something from the belly of it before making his way back across the shop. Tired eyes and an accepting nod was enough to soak out the fire waiting to rise in her hands. Holding up a bottle. "This is the potion that will allow Emma to shift at will. The tether making her an adult can not ever be mended, but this will give her back her free will to choose how she wishes to be. Take it." Peace offered without a deal attached.
Regina reached for the prize of the day, eyes never leaving his as she pocketed the vial. "Thank you. I will make sure Emma knows you gave it freely."
Gold dropped his head staring long at bean in palm. Finally, he tossed it across the shop. They both stepped back as a whirling vortex of spinning light and sparks grew, sucking the edges of the room into a green hole. He stepped forward and with the smallest of bows, a respect and acquisition of a game well played, he stepped into the light and was consumed in his desire for the Queen's words of hope to prove true.
In the fullness of nothing more to do save one last thing, Regina went to the door. Flipping the open sign to closed, bell rang in sweet victory. As she entered the light of the waiting day, hope rose in her mind's eye in the form of green and blue smiles waiting for her at home.
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A/N – Final chapter, Epilogue, to come next week. Please review meantime!
And last but not least, the title of the last part of their journey is going to be… 'Different Loving' - Look for it about a week after the final chapter of this one.
