Chapter 53
Regina had been pacing in the room alone. She needed to calm herself down. She knew that she needed to go speak with Emma. They needed to talk. She knew what Coraline was planning and she knew that Emma had a right to know. She was just wondering how she was going to tell her.
Blue came back in the room, slowly. She could see Regina pacing and knew that she needed to announce herself before surprised Regina. She took a tentative step forward and cleared her throat. She watched as Regina stopped pacing and turned, fully, to face her.
"Yes?"
"Snow is settled."
"That's good," Regina replied.
"We can do the transfer whenever you'd like. Right now, there is no rush, but we need to probably do it before the morning. Is there anything you need, majesty?" Blue asked her.
"Tell me again that you've looked into this," Regina commanded.
"Regina, we have consulted every book that we can. Belle even brought me things from the library and Rumple's stash. I've even looked through your extensive library and vault. There is nothing that we can do. The Dark One Curse is the worst personal curse from our world. We have exhausted every avenue."
"But, you've been pulling the darkness out of her," Regina stated.
"We have."
"Why?"
"To buy us some more time, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. We protected her heart in order to keep the darkness away from it for Neal's sake as soon as she told us what she was doing. I wanted to remove then, but she would fully succumb to the Darkness and we'd lose her completely. I knew that wasn't option. Besides, Neal wasn't ready to accept her heart then."
"What do you need to do?"
"I'll handle it, Regina. Don't worry about the boy. You take care of Emma and Coraline. That is all you need to worry about ta the moment. I'll handle everything else," Blue told her.
"What about her tomb?" Regina questioned wondering if Blue knew everything.
"Her tomb?" Blue responded.
"Yes, her tomb," Regina replied.
"Regina, we both know that she is the new Dark One. She isn't connected to the dagger. The Darkness owns her now. I am not even sure that True Love could save her. You, Emma and Will have kissed her and it has done nothing. If she is fully the Dark One, she is immortal. The only way for her to die is for her to give the curse to someone else. I doubt that you are going to allow anyone that right and you know that. So what are you talking about a tomb for?"
"She wants to be buried alive and entombed in order to encapsulate the Dark One."
"Well, this is the first I've heard of it," Blue stated.
"Is that even possible?"
"If she allows it, then yes, it could be. Once she is entombed it would be up to her to free herself. I don't know why she would want that. To be entombed like that…it would drive her crazy. I can't fathom why she would do that to herself, being the Dark One is tough enough."
"She wants time in order to deal with the evilness of the darkness. I believe she thinks that she can come to terms with the Darkness. I don't know if she can or not, Blue, but I am not sure that entombing her is the answer to protecting us from the Darkness inside her," Regina replied.
"How would you go about doing something to rid yourself of that evil darkness?" Blue asked.
"Why would you ask me that?"
"Because she is your daughter and you know how she thinks. She thinks like you. She thinks like Emma. So, how would you approach it?" Blue questioned.
Regina looked at her. She knew that Blue was right. Coraline was her daughter and she was doing what she thought that she had to do in order to protect her family, even her unborn self. She had to dig deep and she knew that she had to do it quickly. She didn't have time to be weak and unthinking. She had to think of things and remain strong not only for herself and her family, but also for the Charmings, Red and the entire town. She could not fall apart.
"Coraline is doing this to help us remain strong," Blue told her.
Regina began pacing again. Now, she was thinking. She wasn't worrying. She was trying to figure out how to make things better and how to make it as painless for all in involved. She knew that it wasn't going to be easy. She didn't want easy because if things were easy something would always go wrong and too many people would be hurt. She couldn't let that happen. She couldn't let people get hurt if she could avoid it at all costs.
She thought about what she would do about being the Dark One. It was the only way she could plan and help Coraline through her transition. She had to think about how Coraline would deal with this. She needed to think about Emma. She knew once she got everything together in her head she would come up with a plan. She didn't know whether it would be a good plan or if it would even work, but she had to try.
"You've been talking with Belle?" Regina asked out of the blue.
"Yes, I have, but I've already told you that there isn't anything more that can help us."
"But, there is, we just weren't thinking about it in the right way," Regina stated.
"What do you mean?"
"Bring me Belle, Blue. I need to talk to her alone. There is something that might help us just a little bit more than we ever thought that they could," Regina told her.
"As you wish, Majesty, but I hope that you'll clue me in on this plan of yours, soon."
Regina just smiled at the head fairy and resumed her pacing. She needed to think of way to tell Emma her plan. She knew that Emma would freak out once she knew what she wanted to do, so she was wondering if she could pull a "mea culpa" after the fact. She would talk it over with Blue and Belle when they returned. She just hoped that she was right.
An hour or so later, Regina wasn't sure of the time, Belle entered the room. She looked at Regina and immediately understood why she wanted to meet alone. They had an uneasy alliance, but they made it work, not only for themselves, but the town. They were becoming friends. Belle knew that Regina told her things that she didn't tell Ruby. There were just some things that you can't tell your sister.
"Regina, what's wrong?" Belle asked her.
"Coraline is becoming the Dark One," Regina told her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"What do you need me to do?" Belle asked her.
"I need to know if you still have the bracelets that Rumple made to dampen magical powers."
"I am not sure. I can go look. He has so much in the shop. I haven't fully cataloged it all. I want to return some of it back to their rightful owners. I am just not sure of what we have. I am sorry. I've been trying for years to itemize everything, but with all the craziness and Rumple himself, I just haven't found the time needed to do it," Belle told her.
"I understand that. I do. But, I need them. I need them now."
"I'll go look, but it would be easier if I had help. Who can we trust enough to go? I know that Snow is here with David and Neal, so I can't ask them. I don't want to take you away from Emma and Coraline. What about Ruby?" Belle questioned out loud as she thought it through.
"Ruby is guarding Coraline's body per her wishes," Regina said flatly.
"Guarding her body?"
"It is a task that Coraline has asked of her and one that Red is taking seriously. I wouldn't ask her for help. She has her own problems with Coraline to take care of in the next few days. I would say take a fairy, but they are all working on helping Coraline and Neal."
"Who do you trust, Regina? Who is town can I ask? Archie?"
"The bug? I trust him, but he wouldn't know what to be looking for, honestly," Regina started, turned sharply to look into Belle's big blue eyes, and finished. "Take Henry. He's been wanting something to do. Take him. He'll know what to look for and he'll understand the need for quickness, calmness, and secrecy in the matter."
"Are you sure you want to involve him?" Belle asked knowing how protective of him that Regina really was.
"He is her older brother. He is already involved in this by blood. He doesn't think that we trust him enough to do anything related to crises that we face in town. He is getting older. I need to let him help when he can without stressing about too much. Plus, he worked for Rumple years ago. He knows the shop. I am sure that he wants to get away from the convent for a while, too."
"Only if you're sure, Regina," Belle stated.
"Please, Belle, I don't know of anyone else."
"Alright, I'll take him with me," Belle told her taking her hands and holding them.
"Can you go buy Granny's and get some food as well? We are going to be here for the duration and I am not sure that anyone is going to want to leave to get food. It will be nice to have it here if someone does decide to eat," Regina stated.
"I can do that."
"Please, tell no one what you are doing."
"I won't. I'll be back before you know it. We'll get through this, Regina. We always do."
Regina smirked before she said, "Keep reminding me of that like Emma does and one day I might actually believe in the crazy positivity that you and the Charmings do, dear."
Belle smiled and left. Regina was alone again. She knew that Emma was going to blow up when she realized what she was doing. They had promised to never limit what their children could do and Regina was about to bind Coraline's magic. She shook her head. She had to do it in order to help her. Emma would just have to see that. They didn't have time to argue. They had to act and they had to act now.
She left the room to go check on Emma. She knew that she would be back in there shortly, though. As soon as she hit the hallways of the cloisters and the convent, she could feel her anger rising. The room kept her calm and collected and that is what they needed from her at the moment. They needed the Queen and not Regina, the mother. And, she would give them the Queen. She would find a way to save her daughter.
Sometime in the future, in the woods, location unknown
Red was pacing. She was tired of waiting. It had been years, but she still didn't have the answers she was looking for. There had been no word and there was no evidence to explain the mysterious changes in the well.
Where are you, Regina? Red kept pacing. She felt some old stirring inside her that she couldn't explain. What was it about this place that always made her on edge? She had been out for her monthly run when she noticed the broken well. Now the sun was up and Regina wasn't there.
Suddenly a plume of purple smoke appeared next to her and out of it was Regina. She regarded the well before she looked down at her sister's Wolf form. She paced a circle around the well.
"How long?" she asked.
Red fazed into Ruby. When she looked on Regina with her hazel eyes and not her yellow, she saw the cloak in Regina's hands. She took it willingly and smiled softly, weakly, at her sister.
"I found it last night," Ruby told her.
"Why were you running out here?"
"I don't know. I always do. The well has always held some sort of comfort for me."
"Did you see anyone? Smell anyone? Anything?" Regina asked her.
"Nothing or no one. Regina, should we be scared? I know that the well had magically properties but it had been covered for years. Is there a reason that we should be worried about this?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"No, but part of me is worried."
"Why?" Ruby asked her.
"Because we both know that this is the well that Rumple used to bring magic back. This is the one thing that no matter what realm we are in, it goes with us. It is the birth place for the magic in Storybrooke. Its waters are restorative. But for some reason, we covered it. So, yes part of me is worried, but I can't exactly tell you why," Regina answered.
"There is a name on the cap," Ruby stated.
"A name?"
"Yes."
"What is it about this name that bothers you so much, Wolf Pup?" Regina asked.
"The name inscribed on the inside of the broken cap is Coraline Danielle French."
Regina gasped. It couldn't be. How could one of the names that she and Emma had been debating for their young daughter be on the inside of the well cap? How did it get there?
"French?" Regina asked.
"Yes," Ruby answered.
"Isn't your daughter named Coraline Danielle?"
"She is, Regina. You know that. Belle and I asked you if you would be okay with that before her naming ceremony. We wanted to honor you for everything that you have done for us."
"I know that, Wolf Pup. I was honored that you asked. Emma and Snow were even surprised that you both came to that choice for the young princess."
"We are family and we should support each other. You are my sister, Regina. We've never honestly been at each other, even when you were after Snow. You've always taken care of all of us. Naming my daughter after Daniel and a mixture of your mother and Emma was a way to honor you both. I know that many are afraid of using Cora's name that is why we chose it. We wanted to honor your side of the family line, Regina."
"I know all this, Red, but that still doesn't explain the name inscribed on the cap stone."
"I don't either, my Queen, but I do know that it is carved in my hand," Ruby told her.
"Show me," Regina demanded.
They stepped around the circumference of the well until they were near the pile of rocks, concrete pieces and other large bits of mortar that had come from the top of well. Once they were at the pile, Regina noticed that almost the entire top of the well was gone. There was only a few feet left above ground.
Regina knelt down to the ground. She ran her hands over the stones. She could feel old magic radiating from the ruble. She turned to look up at Ruby, whose eyes were rimming in yellow. She knew in that instant that Ruby could feel it, too. They didn't know what caused it, but they would research it, because it was what they did about all things magical that they didn't know about fully.
"What do we need to do?" Ruby asked her.
"I don't know."
"I'll post sentries around to make sure that we are protected until we know what's going on. Don't worry, Regina. Well make sure that Emma and Remy are protected. I am sure that Will will want to come out here and check it herself. You know how protective of Remy, she is."
"I do."
"We'll be okay. There is no one that can hurt you. We've taken every precaution. I find it very endearing that you are so highly protective of Emma. Even poor Henry has taken up arms to defend his mother from this phantom threat you've dreamt about. She's pregnant, Regina. She's not cursed and neither are we. She'll be fine."
"I am sure that she will, Dear," Regina replied.
"Come on. Let's go back. We'll come back tomorrow with others and will do more. Let's just go back and check on Emma. Regina, we'll be fine. Let's go home for now."
Regina turned and looked at her younger sister. She knew that she was right. They should head back into to town. They could come back and do some tests. It would also give Regina time to review what they knew and look into the name. She knew Emma would need her and would be expecting them back. She would allow Red to turn loose the Wolves tonight in order to protect the family and also to seek out what came forth from the well. She knew that Ruby could smell it, but she was being quiet about it for both Regina and Emma's sake. They would talk about it later, sometime after dinner, and they would plan for the morrow.
She knelt down behind a row of brush between two trees. She didn't know how long she'd been in the well, but it was great to actually see the sky again. Her lungs were full of non-wet air. She wasn't staring at gray stone blocks covered in age, moss, and algae. She was out of confinement and couldn't believe it. She didn't know how or why she'd broken through the cap on the top of the well, but she was sure that she wasn't going to get put back.
She watched them pacing around the well and talking. She was too far away to hear what they were saying, but she noticed who was missing. She would recognize her mother and her aunt from a distance. It was the one person that she needed to see that wasn't there. She sighed.
She could see the lines around her mother's eyes and mouth. She knew that she hadn't aged. She wouldn't. She was the Dark One. But, to see that her mother had aged from the last memory of her aggravated her. She couldn't let the anger lake over anymore. She'd embraced the Darkness, but she hadn't done anything overtly Evil. She entombed herself in the well to prevent it from happening and now she had a grasp on her powers and her emotions. She had opened a portal to the Enchanted Forest through the waters, but she knew that the well would always be there.
She surprised herself on how well she had been accepted in the Enchanted Forest. Her pedigree wasn't the greatest, but all she had to do was mention being Snow's granddaughter and all was forgiven. She hated that fact. She knew that she couldn't go around there parading as Regina's daughter. They would have immediately come after her. It had taught her humility and how to control her anger better.
She turned and looked at Ruby. She didn't look like she'd aged much, but Coraline could tell that she had. She walked a little heavier, but she still had that same Wolf movement. She knew that Ruby wouldn't remember her and it hurt, but she also knew that it was for the best. The woman with her mother was the same woman that raised her. She loved them both and she needed them now.
But, she was troubled. How could she tell them who she was? Would they understand? She knew that she looked different. She no longer had blond highlights. She lost those in favor of red ones, but her dark brunette hair hadn't changed. She still had the light waves and curls. Her eyes weren't dark brown, but a light honey color and she'd been told that they turned gold and green when she did magic. She figured it was because she was channeling Ruby, but it could have been the transformation into the Dark One.
Again, being Snow's granddaughter, no one questioned her pale and strange appearance. Would her own mothers? She sighed.
She reached to her side when she saw Ruby turn and looked right at her. Her hand found the hilt of the sword there. She wasn't about to draw it, but she wanted to be prepared in case Ruby had heard her moving. She wasn't ready to meet them again. They weren't ready for her. She knew that Remy was loved and that would be enough for her. She would seek out Blue. She knew that the fairy would help her like she had before.
She stood slowly with her buck to the closest tree. She let out a quiet sigh. She had to calm herself down. She didn't want to make a scene. They didn't need to know who she was yet. There would be plenty of time for her to tell them truth. They would be a family again. She would prove herself worthy and she wasn't there to usurp Remy's position. She didn't want it. She just wanted her family and now that was all that mattered. It had always been the only thing that mattered to Coraline. Now she had the chance to prove it to them. She just had to figure out how to introduce herself without Regina fire-balling her ass.
She tilted the sword on its frog, leaving her hand on the hilt, and stepped into the forest. She knew that it would be a hike to the Fairy's Grove, but she needed to make good time. She wasn't going to use her magic because she knew that Ruby would smell it and Regina would feel it. She needed time. They needed time. The broken well was going to be enough for them to deal with.
She sighed. She hadn't destroyed the Dark One's Curse, but she had destroyed the Darkness itself, the creator of the Dark One. The light side of her, thanks to being part Charming and the product of True Love, helped her keep the darkness in herself to a minimum. It was hard, but she managed every day. It had taken years, but she had done it. She had done what no one but her own mother had done. She embraced her magic and fought her way back into the light and for her redemption. She only hoped that it would help her now.
Hours later just as the sun was setting, she came upon the Fairy Grotto. The flowers were pungent as always and it made her smile. Blue would still be in charge and everything would be okay. She just knew it. Blue was going to be her only hope...again. She couldn't believe the irony of the situation.
The first time she'd fallen through the portal to land in the Fairy Grotto at the Abbey. Blue immediately knew that she was important and helped her for six months before she entered their society. She hoped that it wouldn't take that long this time. This time she crawled back into the well, through a portal and then out the well. This would be a new rebirth for her. Now she would always be Coraline Danielle French, the Dark One.
She could only wonder what they would say when she told them her story. She wondered if they would actually believe her, or if they would make her use a dream catcher to see her memories. She would do whatever they asked of her, fairy or family, to prove herself. She figured she earned that.
She walked up to the heavy oaken door and pounded on it, afraid that if she knocked she wouldn't be heard. She waited for the door to open. She hoped that Blue would be able to give her what she wanted, but she would understand if she couldn't. Things were different now and if Ruby did everything that she asked, no one would know the real identity of Danielle Coraline French.
The door opened with a loud creak. Coraline actually moved back from the sound. She turned to see a youthful looking Nova at the door.
"Can I help you?" Nova asked hor.
"I need to speak with Blue, if I may," Coraline told her.
"What business do you have with her?"
"That is between the two of us," Coraline answered.
"Then you will be waiting for a long time. She won't see anyone without reason. Do you have something that you can her in order for her agree to an audience?" Nova asked.
"Give her this," Coraline said reaching into the pouch on her side and handing her a silver ring. "I'm sure that she'll find this worth her while. I'll be here waiting. Thank you."
Present day at the Abbey, Storybrooke, Maine
Emma was still staring at Coraline and waiting for an answer. She didn't understand why she wouldn't tell her who put the magic binding bracelet on her. Who was Coraline protecting?
"Why won't you tell me?" Emma demanded.
"Because it doesn't matter at the moment. They are actually helping me deal with the Darkness inside me. Just let it go already, Ma. It won't help if you get all mad and stay that way."
Emma just looked at her. She couldn't believe her own daughter was using words that Regina and she had used against each other against herself now. She wanted to scream. She wants to do something about it, but she can't.
"Ma, listen. I know that you are upset and you have every right to be upset. But, I think that you need to go to talk to Mom. You need to let off some energy," Coraline told her.
"Don't tell me what to do, Coraline. I am the parent here. I am not leaving your side."
"Then look at your hands."
Emma looked down. Her hands were glowing white. Her magic was showing because she was so emotional. She looked over at Coraline. Her daughter was right. She needed to burn off some energy. She needed to calm down. If she didn't, she was afraid of what she might do if she was tested beyond her limits.
Emma stood up. She was pacing. She looked over at Coraline again. She could see the pain in her eyes, but she also saw the promise of a better tomorrow. Emma wasn't one that took things lightly and she knew that Regina wasn't either.
"I'll be back in a few. I don't want you to be alone. If you need your mother or myself, you get us. Hear me. You aren't doing this on your own," Emma told her.
"I understand, Ma."
Emma tore open the door. She saw Red laying down outside the door. She looked down at Red and the Wolf looked up at her.
"Go inside. Stay with her. If she wants either one of us, come get us," Emma told her as she held the door open for her.
Red stood up, shook her body and sauntered into the cloister room. Emma shut the door behind her and then took off down the corridor. Blue found her as she was working her way back to Coraline's room. Their eyes met and held.
Blue didn't say anything. She just led Emma down the hallways. Emma didn't question her. She didn't feel the need. Blue had been taking care of them all since the battle days ago. She knew that Blue knew more than she was letting on, but at the moment, Emma couldn't find the passion to care. She was more worried about Coraline.
"She's in here. Go to her. I'll come get you if anything changes," Blue told her as she ushered Emma into the room.
Regina stopped pacing and looked up. She met Emma's viridian eyes. She could see the sadness and the pain, but she could also see the hope that Emma would never lose. It was her damn Charming genes.
"Regina…" Emma said quietly walking over to her.
Regina just held her arms out for her. Emma immediately folded herself into Regina's waiting embrace and body. Regina wrapped herself around her, holding her as close as she could, needing the comfort of the other woman as much as she needed her. Amazed to see Emma this broken, Regina resolved to be stronger for her.
"Emma, I'm here."
"Why are we letting her do this?"
"We really don't have a choice," Regina answered.
"Sure we do," Emma replied.
"You would sentence some unsuspecting person to the Dark One's curse?"
Emma pulled back. She understood why Regina was admonishing her for the thoughts, but that didn't stop her from having them. She wanted her family and that included her daughter.
"Would it be so wrong?"
"Emma!"
"What?" Emma asked pulling back.
"You know that we can't do that."
"I know," Emma stated, doing a good job and looking down like a beaten puppy.
"She needs us to be strong through this."
"Do you know who put the band on her?" Emma asked, completely changing the conversation.
"The what?" Regina questioned in response.
"The damn magic blocking bracelet!"
"I did," Regina stated. "Well, I didn't put it on her personally. I suggested that they use it."
"Why would you do that? You know how it feels to have your magic just be gone. Why?"
"Because it will help her –"
"Help her how!?" Emma screamed completely backing away from Regina.
"If you'll let me finish," Regina started raising her hands in defense, but then put the down.
She walked over to a wall and leaned against it. She needed the support of something because her body had been through too much. She needed a damned break, but this was Storybrooke, breaks weren't given out regularly. She looked over at Emma. She could see the pain on her face. They needed to be together as one in order to make in through this.
"I spoke with Coraline while you were asleep. Then I spoke with Blue and Belle. I know that it seems harmful and well, evil to do that to our daughter, but trust me, it isn't. The bracelet has a twofold effect on her. For one, it is dampening her magic, yes. It isn't stopping the magic that we gave her from ourselves, or the magics that the fairies are using on her. But, most importantly, it has stopped the Dark One's curse. It is buying me some more time."
"More time? I thought there wasn't anything that we could do. Everyone keeps telling me that. What aren't you telling me, Regina?" Emma demanded.
"She will still succumb. I cannot stop that. No one can. She will become the Dark One. The fairies are trying their best to lessen the amount of evil that consumes her. The more they pull out, the better the chance that she could overcome the curse on her own."
"You mean Will could kiss her and it would be over?"
"If it were that easy, Rumple would have turned with Belle's kiss many years ago."
"But…"
"True Love's kiss will do a great deal for her, yes, but it will not stop the Dark One's curse completely. Coraline has embraced the curse. She's welcomed it. She did the one thing that she knew would ensure that she took on all the Darkness herself."
"Damn Kiddo."
"She is a Charming, my dear," Regina stated.
Emma spun around. She knew what Regina was implying with that statement. Charmings were known for their idiotic bravery and their unwavering hope. Somewhere deep inside, Coraline must have a plan that they didn't know about. She didn't want to hurt anyone if it didn't work and that had to be the reason that she hadn't informed them what it was. She was still going forth with the plan in the hopes that it would work, but she was fully accepting that it might not. The more she pushed for something the more that Emma wondered just how crazy her daughter really was. Looking back on the past few days, she knew the answer. All she had to do was look at herself and what she'd gone through. Coraline was a product of nature and nurture. She just couldn't help herself. She would always put herself before others and especially her family.
"Is there no way that we can convince her otherwise?" Emma asked.
"Would you be convinced to try something without knowing what the outcome was?"
Emma shook her head. She didn't want to be reasonable right now. She wanted to do something idiotic and drastic. She wanted to help her daughter.
"What if I took it?" Emma asked.
"Don't you even… Are you fucking kidding me, right now, Emma? That isn't an option."
"Why not?" Emma countered.
And for the life of her, Regina didn't have a good enough answer. She couldn't think of one beside the normal clichés. Emma knew that her family loved her and needed her, but she would countered that they needed Coraline, too. Henry would be lost without her, but she would say that he still had Regina to guide him to being the gentleman that they knew he could be. Regina wanted to tell her that she could because Regina loved her. She knew that Emma would counter that Regina could break the curse with a kiss, then. It sounded reasonable, but it wasn't. Emma gave into the Darkness and tried to die.
"You would give in and die," Regina said quietly, hoping that it affect her.
"I wouldn't give in this time," Emma countered.
"Then, I wouldn't be able to save you because you wouldn't be you anymore."
Emma could see the tears in Regina's eyes. She hadn't meant to hurt her, but she needed something. She was a goddamned Charming and she was losing hope. They didn't even have Rumple to go to make some godforsaken deal with to save her. Coraline was the Dark One.
"We can't save her, can we?" Emma asked, hoping against hope that she was wrong.
"No, we really can't."
"FUCK!" Emma exclaimed and threw her hands up in the air in defeat.
Regina pushed off the wall. Emma was pacing like a caged tiger. Regina knew how she felt. If it hadn't been years of programming and conditioning, she would be doing the same thing. The energy that her body was producing because her mind wanted her to find a way to stop this, cure it, or just do something had Regina's insides coiled up like a wound spring waiting to pop.
She walked over to Emma. She didn't stop. Regina reached out and placed a hand on Emma's arm. She didn't stop. Regina gripped her tighter and she paced with her. Emma finally stopped. She turned and looked down into Regina's mahogany eyes.
"I love you."
"I love you, too, Dear."
"I know I am not really losing her, 'Gina, but it feels like we are," Emma said and sobbed.
"I know, Dear," Regina told her as she gathered her back into her arms.
The blonde dropped her head to Regina's shoulder. Regina took her weight graciously as Emma's body gave into the anguish she was feeling. She let out a heartbreaking sob and Regina held her tighter. They sank to the floor on their knees. Regina waved her hand and covered mattress appeared for them to lie on. She knew that Emma needed to rest.
"Shh, Dear, I've got you. I am not going to let you go. You're not a failure. You're beautiful. You have a wonderful family that loves you," Regina started and then grabbed Emma's hand. She placed it on her stomach. She felt the heat from Emma's hand. "You helped create the life that is growing inside me, Emma. Never forget how precious you are to me."
Emma blinked away the tears and smiled at her. Regina knew it wasn't everything that Emma needed to hear but it was a start. She knew that her old feelings would surface and they were plaguing Emma just as much as the thought of losing Coraline was.
"We made that," Emma told her, smiling a little more.
"We did."
"I love you, Regina."
"I love you, too, Emma."
"I am in love with the Evil Queen," Emma teased.
"I am in love with daughter of my worst enemy, the Saviour, Emma, daughter of Snow White and David Charming, Princess of the Winterlands and Summerlands, Crown Princess of the Enchanted Forest, mother of my son, sheriff of my town, Storybrooke, and breaker of my curse."
"Marry me."