Chapter 52

Emma sat in the room and watched the Darkness consume her daughter. She watched on in horror and defeat as Nova and Tink continued to pull the evil out of her. She was powerless and Regina had left her there alone. She had some control over her magic, but not enough in order to save Coraline. She knew what it meant to be the Dark One. It was a death sentence.

She wanted to reach out and pull the damn blanket off of her, but she didn't know why. Emma was confused by her own impulses that she was afraid what she might do. She was fighting the nagging feeling in her entire body that was telling her to run…run away and forget all the pain that she was about to endure and witness. But, then she would look into Coraline's eyes and see Regina reflected back at her. She couldn't leave Regina like this. She couldn't. She needed to buck up and realize that there was nothing that she could do for her daughter except help her get through this transition with the hearts and die. Emma needed to find a way to let her go.

And, that was her main problem. She didn't want to let her go. Coraline was and always would be her daughter. She was part of her and vice versa. They were blood. And, for all the years that Emma wanted a real family, she'd finally found it in Storybrooke with Henry and Regina, and even Snow and Charming. Her own new little brother that she even referred to as Prince Neal, as to not confuse him with Henry's father and her former lover, was part of it. She had gotten everything that she wanted and then some.

Was Coraline her price to pay for that? Was she the price of her magic? Rumple had always warned them that magic came with a price. Emma couldn't help but wonder if Coraline was hers. There were too many questions and not enough answers and due to recent revelations, there definitely wasn't enough time for them to explore any other options than the ones that Coraline had come up with to deal with it all.

"Damn you," Emma whispered, but as she saw the swift turn in Coraline head, she knew that she'd been heard and by her own daughter that she was damning.

Emma got quiet. She just stared at her daughter. She didn't know what else to say. She didn't know what to do. She tried to remain calm and collected, but she knew that wasn't going to happen. She wanted to freak out. She wanted to scream. She needed to do something. She couldn't keep still and watching her daughter slowly succumb more and more to the darkness. She just couldn't do it.

"Emma?" Ruby asked as she slowly opened the door.

Emma looked at her, but she knew that Ruby must have known that Regina wasn't in there with her. She could see the worry on Ruby's face. She didn't know how to be the Saviour now. Snow peered around her and gave Emma a weak smile. No one said a thing. Emma just got up. She nodded at Tink, who returned the gesture and went out into the hall way of the cloisters.

Emma looked at her mother then. She saw the pain in her hazel eyes, but she couldn't care. She knew that it sounded crass, but she didn't. She didn't care in that moment about her little brother. She was worried about her daughter. It might make her a bad person, but she didn't understand why she had to lose her daughter in order to save her brother. Why should she be in pain for this? She silently questioned to herself.

"Emma….I…" Snow started, but Emma didn't hear her.

Emma just stared at her. Her green eyes were full of fire and something that no one could pinpoint. She was readying for a fight that wasn't going to actually happen and they all knew it. She was preparing for a showdown. She was looking for a fight. Snow knew that it was the one thing that was keeping her in Storybrooke. If she had something to fight, then she wouldn't run. It would be her stubborn pride that kept her with her family and nothing else.

Ruby watched them. She could smell the emotions rolling off of them. She was still afraid of what Regina was going to do once she told her what Coraline's plan originally was and now what she thought she should do due to their rushed timeline.

Ruby was about to say something when she saw Blue coming towards them. There was something about the look in her eyes that settled Ruby a little. She didn't know what it was, but she hoped that it was good news.

"Ruby, if you'll come from me. Regina wants to speak with you. Snow, I'll have Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather come take you to a room. Emma, I'll be back soon. Don't fret, child. We will overcome this," Blue told them.

"Don't make promises that you can't keep," Emma muttered before turning back to the room that Coraline was in.

Blue watched as both Ruby and Snow turned to say something to her, but they were too late as Emma reentered the room. She could see the pain in all their eyes, but Emma's was different. It was darker. She wondered how she was going to fare once everything was over with and she feared for Emma's sake. She wondered how much more craziness she could actually take before she ran for the town line and never looked back.

She watched as three other fairies came down the corridor. She ushered Snow off with them and promised to be by the room after she had dealt with Ruby. Once she knew that Snow was on her way, Blue grabbed Ruby by the wrist and pulled her along. She didn't want her to faze before they got to the room. But, then Blue wasn't sure that she would be able to faze once she was in the room where Regina was waiting. It would be interesting to see.

Ruby followed along and with each step her heart sank a little more. She knew that Regina was going to be mad and disappointed in her for not saying anything sooner. The thing that had her worried the most was that Regina was not with Emma. She was in this room far away from the cloisters, her lover and her daughter. She wondered what was so special about this room and why Blue was taking her there.

"She's just inside."

"I know. I can smell her. What is this place? It smells funny," Ruby told her.

"It is a special room that the fairies and I created when magic was awoken in town."

"Special room?"

"It was a new cell for Rumple," Blue stated.

"How will that affect me?" Ruby asked suddenly more cautious than curious.

"I'm not sure. It may do nothing at all. It may make you faze. To be honest, we've never had a shapeshifter in it. I don't believe that your magic is evil. Therefore, nothing should happen."

"Well…thanks, I guess for the warning," Ruby stated and ducked into the room.

She felt a weird buzzing on her skin, but nothing more. She didn't feel like she wanted to faze, but she didn't feel like she couldn't either. She walked around a little until she saw Regina in the corner. She walked over to her older sister and crouched down to her.

"Regina?" she stated nearing her.

It was then that she saw how Regina was sitting. She was all drawn up into the corner. Her arms were wrapped around her knees as they were sitting just under her chin. She looked wounded and defeated. Ruby hadn't seen her like this ever. Her heart was breaking for her.

"Gina?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked Ruby quietly.

"Coraline asked me not to. I didn't want to betray her trust. But, to be honest with you, I just find out yesterday. I still haven't had a lot of time to process what she told me," Ruby answered.

"I am not mad. I should be furious, but I'm not. I can't be."

"Why not?"

"She knew what I would do if we had found out early enough," Regina stated.

"Early enough?" Ruby questioned.

"We can't wait to do the transfer. We are going to have to do it tonight. The fairies can't keep the Darkness at bay much longer and Coraline is losing the fight, too."

"But, I need three days…"

Regina turned her head and looked up at her younger sister. Dark brown eyes and hazel eyes stared at each other. Neither of them knew what to think. They didn't know what to do. They didn't know how to help the other deal with this. They were at a loss.

"Why do you need three days, Ruby?" Regina asked her.

Ruby wanted to falter. She wanted to run away but she knew that she couldn't. She needed to be there for her sister. She needed to do this for Coraline. She was the only one that really could. She needed to make sure that everything was ready.

"Well…"

"Wolf pup, you will tell me what she had planned and you will tell me now," Regina told her as she moved her knees down and rolled up on to them.

Regina rose up on her knees to meet Ruby eye to eye. She was trying to be intimidating and get what she wanted. She knew that Ruby would tell her, but some habits die hard. It didn't matter that Ruby was her baby sister, the Evil Queen was there to protect Regina and Regina was in pain. Ruby knew it, too.

"Calm down, majesty, I'll tell you," Ruby stated as she watched Regina sit back on her heels.

Regina felt her blood run cold. She knew that she was reverting, but there was nothing that she could do about it. This room would keep her even if she didn't want to be. She realized why Blue left her in there. Regina could freak out and no one would get hurt. Maybe the Bug had a use after all, Regina thought. She reached out and grabbed Ruby hand, needing to be connected to another person at that time. She knew that news wasn't going to be good, but she needed to hear it. She needed to know.

"Coraline told me that I was the only one that could handle what needed to be done. She knew that I wouldn't be happy about doing it, but that I would do it. She knew that Snow, Charming, you and Emma would be too emotional to do it. And, Henry wasn't even a thought. She didn't want to scar her brother."

"What do you need to do?" Regina asked again.

"I am supposed to guard her body while her heart is in Neal's body. The hearts are to reside together in Neal for three days. During that time, she knows that the Darkness will take her over. I will be Red while I doing this, but before that I was to prepare her tomb."

"Her tomb?" Regina asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

"Yes, her tomb," Ruby answered.

"She will be buried in the family vault. Why would she need a tomb? What aren't you telling me, Ruby?" Regina questioned.

Ruby hung her head. She didn't want to tell Regina this part. She knew that it would break, but she also knew that Regina needed to know. Coraline wasn't going to tell them unless she was doing it to be spiteful because she had fully succumbed to the Darkness. Regina must have felt her uneasiness about the situation. She reached out and tipped up Ruby chin with her fingers. When their eyes met, Ruby sobbed. She couldn't hold it in.

"I am her aunt."

"I know that, Wolf Pup," Regina answered.

"But, I became like a mother to her," Ruby stated.

"I know. And, I am proud of the woman that she became thanks to you and Belle, Ruby. She loves you both. Now what did she ask you to do?" Regina urged.

"She wants me to bury her in the well."

"The well? The well in the woods? The magic well?"

"Yes," Ruby replied simply.

"Why the well?"

"Because I am going to seal her in it."

"Seal her in it?" Regina questioned.

Ruby just looked at her. She didn't want to say it. She couldn't say it. She hoped that Regina would understand her meaning. She shook her head as Regina just continued to glare, waiting for answer that she didn't, couldn't, wouldn't speak.

"Alive?" Regina finally stammered out the inquiry.

"Yes."

Ruby fell over. She couldn't hold herself up anymore. She felt like a small burden had been lifted, but it wasn't enough to take the heaviness off her heart.

"Red…" Regina said as warning.

Ruby looked up at her. She could see the violet floating in her eyes. She knew that Regina wasn't calling the magic, but her emotions were. There was nothing that she could say now that would calm her down. She knew that she needed to explain more, but she didn't know if Regina would actually listen to what she had to say.

"I am not happy about it, Regina."

"Then why did you agree to do it?"

"What would you do for your dying daughter?!" Ruby hissed back in question.

Regina rocked back again, having not realized that she had sat forward. She couldn't believe what she was doing. She was trying to Evil Queen her sister, Ruby, who even through everything, still stood by her and supported her, who was still supporting her through her daughter and her daughter's wishes.

"I'm sorry," Regina replied.

"Don't worry about it."

"What else do you need to tell me?"

"After three days of guard her body, you will remove Neal's heart and put it in her body. She will let the Darkness consume his heart and she will fully become the Dark One. After three days, I will dispose of her into the well and seal her inside. She hopes that the magic of the well will be enough to encapsulate her and the Dark One's powers. She doesn't want to be unleashed on the populace. She is doing this for the good of everyone, including herself."

"Why?"

"Would you want your daughter to see her own grave in the vault?" Ruby countered.

"I can see that point, but why the well?"

"She hopes that she can find some of the healing waters inside it. She is trying to restore herself in the only way she can. If you or Emma try to take on the curse…"

"We'll die," Regina said softly.

"Yes, and not to mention your magic…"

"I see."

"She thinks that this is the best outcome."

"Of course she does," Regina mused.

"She is a Charming after all."

"Don't remind me," Regina stated.

"Regina?"

"Yes, Red?"

"Do you think she'll survive in that well?" Ruby asked her.

"I don't know."

"Why do you think she is asking to be entombed in there?"

"I think she is doing it in order to find a way to overcome the curse. If she does, then she will find a way to let us know. And, then we will find a way to release her from the other side. I think she is going to use the well to go back to the Enchanted Forest. What she does while she's there is anyone's guess, Ruby. I cannot say what her intentions are. She didn't tell me anything. She told you what she needed you to do. She was giving us each just a little bit to do, but when it came to Will, Emma and I, she gave us nothing. Do you know why?" Regina asked her.

"No."

"I need to talk with her again, then," Regina stated.

"What about Snow?"

"What about her?" Regina asked, rising to stand.

"Aren't you going to talk to her first?"

"Yeah, I am. I need to get back to Emma. I don't want her to feel alone."

"I'll go back to her."

"No, you need to go prepare Coraline's tomb."

"What?! Why? I figured you would just put her in the mausoleum," Ruby stated.

"I can't imprison her in there, Red. It would actually drive her insane. No, she has made her choice and I will stand by it. I don't know why she wants to be entombed in the well, but it is her choice. Go do what she asked of you. I'll talk to her myself about it," Regina answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Wolf Pup, I am."

Ruby just nodded at her. She didn't know what else to say. She knew that she had her sister's love, understand and forgiveness. Now, she needed to find it in herself. She would go and do as Coraline has asked. She would prepare the well. She would ask Marco to help her. He might be the only one that could without asking too many questions. She was upset that she was leaving them alone, but she knew that Regina would protect them all until she could get back. And, if anything did happen, Regina would call her back immediately.

"Go, Ruby. I'll watch over everyone. It will be fine," Regina told as she neared the door.

Ruby held the door for a moment. Her heart was telling her to stay, but her brain was telling her go. She left and hoped to be back that night. She didn't want to be away from them long.

Regina watched her go. She shut the door behind her. She needed a moment to herself. She needed to break down before she went back to Emma, before she talked with Snow, and definitely before she discussed anything with Coraline again. She knew that this might be her only chance. She sat back on the floor and leaned against the door.

For once, she was thankful that Emma had her dressed in sensible clothes. Today she wasn't the mayor. Today she wasn't the Evil Queen. Today she was nothing more than Coraline's mother. Nothing else mattered.

She hugged herself around the middle. She wanted to hold the tiny life growing inside her. She wanted to protect her from everything, but most of all, she didn't want her daughter to become the same woman that was lying on a cot in another part of the Abbey. She wanted Coraline to everything that she didn't. She wanted Coraline to have everything that Emma didn't. She wanted Coraline to be happy, loved and free from the Darkness. And, she absolutely hated the fact that she had to lose her in order for her to get that. Magically it made sense, but logically it didn't. She knew that, but it didn't make it any easier for her heart and head to agree.

Emma hadn't realized that she had fallen asleep until she woke up. She barely remembered Snow coming in the room to check on her. She had been too intent on watching the destruction of her daughter right before her to care what else was going on. She looked around the room again to realize that Regina hadn't come back.

She began to wonder if Regina would come back. All sorts of thoughts were flying through her head. Would this destroy their budding relationship? Could Regina not facing losing Coraline? What was Regina thinking leaving her alone like this? Did she know that Emma was a runner? Did she understand how this was killing her inside? Why wasn't Regina doing something more? Could they do something more? She couldn't stop thinking.

She let out a sigh and stood up. She stretched her back and popped her neck. When the sound echoed through the room, she realized how alone she really was in that moment. There was no one else besides the bedridden Coraline in there with her. When had the fairies left? Was Coraline dead? She took a step towards her. As she got a little closer, she could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

Emma let out a breath. Coraline was still alive. She didn't know how and she didn't care. Her daughter was still breathing, and while she was breathing Emma could have hope. Dum Spiro Spero.

She looked down at her daughter. Her dark brown hair was starting to show signs of blond on the ends. The gentle waves were aggravated from the convulsions and the time spent in the bed. She looked peaceful as she was sleeping, but Emma knew that she was anything but at the moment. She knew what the Darkness was doing to her head and Emma wanted to cry. She wanted to touch her, but she was afraid to do so at the same time. She reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face, a move that was so unconscious and loving that she didn't realize that she was doing it until the blanket fell back some, uncovering Coraline's arms.

She drew back in shock. She couldn't believe she hadn't seen them before. Why hadn't she noticed them? Then she remembered that Coraline hadn't had her arms exposed. The blanket had been covering her when Emma woke up days ago. Why hadn't she seen that?

"Belle..." she whispered.

"What about her?" Coraline asked, opening her eyes and looking at her mother's worried green eyes.

Emma's head turned sharply. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know who she would be talking to at that time. Was it Coraline or was it the Dark One? She sat there speechless as Coraline started to sit up. Her eyes went wide as she noticed Coraline noticing the bracelets on her arms. A flash of green shown in her eyes, but Coraline didn't say anything. She just continued to pull herself up into a sitting position. She watched Emma the entire time. It was like they were feeling each other out again, unsure of what to say or do.

"Belle, what about her?" Coraline asked again and this time Emma could hear the concern in her voice.

Emma blinked. She took a calming breath. She decided that the Darkness had receded just enough to allow Coraline to shine through. She just hoped that she was right. She didn't want to give her daughter any ammunition against her. She knew from her experiences with Rumple just how twisted the Dark One could be. This time it was different and it wasn't just because Coraline was her daughter. It was because she loved her, truly loved her daughter and didn't want to give her up. She knew in that instant what Belle had gone through for years dealing with Rumple's shit. She shook her head. There was nothing else to do but hope. She was a Charming by blood and it was what they did, they hoped.

"Ma?"

Emma's head snapped up to meet her daughter's gaze. She realized that it really was Coraline that was talking to her at that point. She could hear the uncertainty and pain in her voice. One simple word and Emma's heart broke again. She wanted to hold her, coddle her, be her mother, but she knew that she couldn't. Not now, not when Coraline was the Dark One. Everything had changed between them and then again, nothing had changed. They would always be parent and child. They would always love each other, but it would be how they showed that love now that would make or break them.

"Ma?" she whispered hoping that Emma would answer her.

Coraline couldn't take the silence. It was deafening and she was already dying...slowly. She needed these connections now, before she lost everything. She hoped that Emma would just give her this time.

"Ma?" she tried again.

"Yes, Coraline," Emma finally replied.

"I'm sorry."

Emma fell herself sob. She couldn't stop it. She was too tired to care and too weak with emotion. She knew that she needed to be strong for both Coraline and Regina, but she couldn't. She needed to break. She needed to not be the Saviour for a while. She needed...

"It isn't your fault," Emma told her.

"But, it is," Coraline replied.

Emma turned away. She couldn't meet her eyes. She didn't want see anything in them. She stared at the ceiling and let out a huffing breath. She was trying to stop her crying. She was trying to center herself and be strong. She let out another hard breath. She tried counting, a throwback to her days in foster care, but it wasn't helping too much.

"How is it your fault, Coraline?"

"I allowed this to happen."

"You didn't. You came here to stop the Darkness. And, you have. The only problem is you've taken it on now. We know that your mother doesn't become the Dark One after it attacks the castle. You've saved the family. You've done what you came to do," Emma told her.

"But, I am tearing you apart now," Coraline muttered.

"You aren't doing anything, Coraline. You were still trying to protect us. We are just grieving for you."

"But, you shouldn't be," Coraline stated.

"You can't dictate how we feel, Kiddo. It doesn't work like that. Don't get me wrong, though. I am ecstatic that Regina is pregnant. I am happy that you are going to be born. I hope that I get to have a happy and long life with you. I can't wait to watch you grow up. But, that doesn't mean that I am not going to be sad that I am losing you now. I've seen the woman that you become due to life you had to live and I am proud of you. But, hopefully now, I get to witness you become a powerful and beautiful woman. I get to be there for all your firsts. So, I am happy, but at the same time I am sad. I can't help it," Emma explained as she leaned forward towards Coraline's cot, no longer caring if Coraline did anything to her, because she just needed to be nearer to her daughter.

"When did you get those?" Emma asked her.

"I am sure that it was after I awoke."

"I don't remember seeing them."

"I know, Ma. It's okay. I understand why they did it."

"Why who did it?"

"Mom and the fairies."

"Your mother did that?"

"I don't know for sure, but makes sense. She knows the most about magic here. She would know what to do in order to help me fight against the growing Darkness in me," Coraline said.

"You don't care?"

"No, I don't"

"Why not?"

"Why should I?"

"You're bound," Emma stated.

"Would you rather I be allowed to run around Storybrooke with the full powers of the Dark One? I am not sure that I am capable to be trusted with that much power. I am full of shameful and selfish thoughts. I am sure that it wouldn't be good for me. I am trying to fight the power, not abuse it. Being bound is a good thing," Coraline told her.

"But, you've got magic on your own. Isn't that enough? You aren't angry that you're bound? You can't use any of the magic. That doesn't bother you?"

"Why does it bother you?" Coraline countered.

Emma shut her mouth. She didn't understand why it did. She couldn't pinpoint why she was so angry that Coraline was bound. Maybe it was the fact that the bracelets had been made by Rumple and she didn't want anything that he made to touch her. She was becoming more and more angered by her daughter's condition.

"Ma?"

"Yeah, Kiddo?"

"Go find Mom and talk to her. I know that you are getting angry, but don't. At least not about this. There are better things for you to dwell on now. You've got a baby on the way. Go to Mom. Be with her. Love her and love the little me inside her. Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. We've made sure of that, Ma. We've done it," Coraline told her.

"Who put them on you?" Emma demanded totally dismissing her daughter's words.

Snow sat in the room with Blue. She watched as the other fairies waved their wands around the walls. She was not ready for this. She was never going to be ready for this. Time was forcing their hands again when it came to their child. Desperation was becoming a necessity of the Charming family and Snow hated it. She needed Regina, as bad as their past was, to lean on.

"Where's Regina?" Snow asked Blue.

"Thinking," Blue stated.

"She still here?"

"I put her somewhere that she could think without interruption and without any distractions."

"Why?" Snow questioned.

"Because she needed it. I've watched her over the last few days, Snow. This was eating her alive. She needed an outlet, but she won't leave the Abbey. She doesn't want to be too far away from Emma or Coraline in case they need her. I understood and I gave her somewhere to go."

"Why would you do that?"

Blue looked at the younger brunette. She saw the puzzlement in her hazel eyes. She just smiled.

"Because even the Queen needs an off day," Blue told her.

There was something about the way Blue said it that made Snow smile. She knew that Blue was right. Regina would need an outlet. They didn't want her bottling it up and becoming the full-fledged Evil Queen again. They needed her to be upset, but still have her head on her shoulders.

"Is she okay?"

"As okay as she can be," Blue stated.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Love your son and your daughter," Blue answered.

"I meant about Regina," Snow stated.

"So did I."

Blue watched her as it sank in. She wasn't asking her to do anything out of the ordinary. She was asking her to be the mother that she knew that Snow could be. She wasn't asking for some heroic measure and maybe that was why it upset her so much. Regina didn't need her or some grand overture of support and love. She needed Snow to be human and love her family.

"But, she is going to need someone to blame.. "

"She has that," Blue slated.

"Who?"

"Rumpelstiltskin," Blue answered matter-of-factually.

"What about someone to be there for her?"

"That is where Emma and Henry come in. What she needs from you is for you to support on them and your family. She isn't going to want to be coddled and cuddled. She is going to want to move on and push through her pain. Snow. She is going to need you to help them help her to do that," Blue replied.

"I want to do something for her. I feel like I owe her that, Blue. I owe her because I am the reason that she is unhappy. I always have been. If our lives had never intersected, she might have been happy. I can't stop thinking about that," Snow stated.

"You have to," Regina said.

Blue smiled at the Queen. She hadn't seen her come into the room, but she felt her presence. Snow was aghast to know that Regina heard what she said. Hazel met chocolate and a silent, emotional gaze was shared.

"Snow, you have to let go. We have to forgive each other. This situation isn't your fault."

"Isn't it?" Snow asked, tears springing to her eyes.

"Blue, would you mind?" Regina asked the fairy.

"I'll go check on Ruby and Emma. Don't take long, ladies. They both need you tonight."

Regina watched Blue leave the room. She waited until the door shut before she took a seat near Snow. She picked up one of her hands and held it. She was closer to Snow than she had been in years. It made her think of the times when she wasn't so angry with her in castle, before she'd killed Leopold. Their eyes met and held.

"Snow, I know that you are scared. I am too, but we don't have to be. We have to be strong for our family. We have to show them that we will make it through this."

"You want me to show no emotion?" Snow asked her.

"No, dear, I would never ask you to do that. My mother did that to me and we both know what happened as a result of that. No, I am just saying that we need to help everyone through this. We need to step and be the leaders of this town. Everyone is hurting, but this isn't our fault."

"Then who's is it?"

"Rumple's. This is all on Rumple. What may happen in the future hasn't happened for us yet. I know what you're thinking, but you can't blame yourself for doing something that you might not do now. For Coraline, you might have released the Darkness and I ended up becoming the newest Dark One, but for us, none of that has happened. I cannot be angry at you for something that I don't know that you'll do because we have changed so much of Coraline's future."

"How can you know that?" Snow asked.

"Because she is now the Dark One," Regina admitted.

Snow gasped. The woman that was a white as a pure white actually blanched. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish, unsure of what to say to Regina's revelation.

"But…how? When? Why didn't…. Are you sure?"

"Yes, Snow, but that isn't the point at the moment."

"Then what is?!" Snow exclaimed in question.

"She is still giving her heart to Neal. She is still upholding her promise to fix the future. The fairies have taken precautions with her heart. There are no worries for your son," Regina said.

"And, my daughter?"

"Is my concern," Regina replied quickly.

"You don't think that she is actually going to go along with this plan, do you?"

"She doesn't like it, but she isn't going to stop us from doing it. We've all talked about this. She didn't want to do it because she was going to lose her daughter. She understands that I am pregnant with Coraline, but that doesn't stop the pain of watching your child die. It never will I am afraid. But, we both know that if we don't do this, then Coraline's trip here will have been in vain. She would have come back only to become the Dark One. And, that would only complicate her upbringing. This is one point that I can actually agree with Coraline about."

"Yeah?"

"Would you want to grow up knowing when you die or when you turn into the epitome of evil?"

Snow sat there for a moment. She knew that she wouldn't want to know either future for herself and certainly wouldn't want to know them for her children. She could understand where Regina was coming from, but it wasn't making the situation any easier for any of them. Understanding and emotional responses didn't always have to agree and this was the perfect situation to express that. Regina was being sensible. She got that. But, she was worried about Emma's fragile emotional state. Would she be able to handle it?

"What about Emma?"

"What about her?"

"Is she okay?"

"You saw her reaction to the news, Snow," Regina replied.

"I did?"

"Yes," Regina said simply.

"When she came running out of the Abbey earlier?"

"Yes."

"How are you so calm?" Snow questioned.

"Years of practice, Dear. Years of practice and a very overbearing mother, I really didn't have a choice. Now, I do and I don't want the people of the town or my family, including you and Charming, to believe that I am not capable of doing what needs to be done in order to save us. It is tearing me up inside, but I cannot let that stop me."

"She's your daughter," Snow countered.

"She is and I love her with all my heart. But, she is suffering. She was suffering. If I can alleviate some of her pain by doing this, then I will without some hesitation. Can you sit there and judge me about this? You sent your daughter through a magically carved tree to a land you had idea about or even if she would survive because it was her best chance. You did what you thought you had to do, Snow. Of course, Emma and I both judge you for that, but in the end, we understand. Coraline judges us for flying into death to protect her. She blames us for her being an orphan. Her young brain couldn't contemplate the fact that we did what we did in order to protect her," Regina explained.

"And, now?"

"Being here with us, getting to know her family, all of it and the people of the town, she gets it. Like Emma, she had to see the interactions. She needed to see things for herself. Once she did, she realized that she had been going about things in the wrong way."

"That's why she came to you?"

"Came to me?" Regina asked.

"When Rumple kicked her out of Belle's house," Snow replied.

"Partially, yes, it is. I am her mother. She has never forgotten that. And just like Emma, she came to her mother when there didn't seem to be any other person to go. She could have chosen Belle or Ruby, but she didn't. She came to my house, to her mother, because the bond between parent and child, no matter how strained, is never entirely broken."

"I know," Snow said with a small sigh and a smile.

"Emma loves you. You are her mother, Snow. She would do anything for you. But, you have to understand that she thought you didn't want her. When she realized that you did, she had to come to grips with the fact that you did what you did in order to protect her. But, she wasn't wrong when she told you that you would both be cursed together if you'd kept her. For my part in that scenario, I can't say what I wouldn't have done had you kept her. I probably wouldn't have had you raise her, but then under the curse, she wouldn't have aged. So we will never know how she would have broken the curse had she been under it. Fate intervened for us all."

"And it is again?"

"I don't know, possibly. I can't say what the future holds. I can only hope that we are doing the right thing. I am losing my daughter, Snow, but then again, I am not. That in itself is hard enough to deal with. It is compounded by the realization that my lover, your daughter, our daughter's other mother is so emotional that she is refusing to see reason. I love her, Snow, but I know that I am going to be the one to make the hard decisions. I accept that. I know that it might drive a wedge between us, but I swear to you right now, right here, that I will never stop loving your daughter or my family. No matter what comes, I will always love them," Regina told her, her voice breaking with conviction.