Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter Nine
The bell over the entrance of a shop she never thought she'd be in, chimed a few days later. She walked into what felt like a centuries old pawnshop and immediately felt discomfort and, yes, fear.
Should I turn and bolt outta here? No. I gotta find out if he is planning something against Regina or me.
She shook her body to get rid of the nerves. As confidently as possible Quinn walked up to the counter and rang the little bell.
Ding!
Almost immediately the curtain that separated the shop and the storage room, Quinn guessed, opened and there stood Mr. Gold.
"Mr. Gold," Quinn said as politely as possible.
"Ms. Fabray," Gold responded without emotion.
"Quinn, please." She extended her hand to him, but he refused.
"To what do I owe this pleasure," he asked sarcastically.
Being from Lima and in GLEE, sarcasm was like a second language so she ignored the jab.
"I wanted to come here to speak to you about calling a truce," Quinn said hopeful.
Mr. Gold evilly smiled and rubbed his hands together. "A truce? Between whom?"
"Uh, you and me? You and Regina? I'm not sure why you're upset with me..."
"Oh I'm not, darling," Gold said flatly.
"Regina? Why her?"
"Because she claims that I helped her with the curse..."
"Wasn't it you who told her she had to kill the thing she loved the most?"
"It was me, but I didn't think she'd do it! The truth is she had the power all on her own," he revealed.
"Why are you upset? Shouldn't Regina be upset with you?"
"I'm not 'upset'…Angry...I'm vehemently angry that she took me down with her...tarnished my good name," Gold said as he tapped his nails against the glass case in between them.
"Oh, does Regina know this?"
"No, she doesn't...I'd advise you not to tell her."
"Gold, this is major. We don't keep secrets in our relationship."
"Like oh my god, they don't keep secrets," Gold tossed his hair from side to side as he imitated a blonde cheerleader. Suddenly he stopped to ask, "Does your mayor girlfriend know you're here?"
Quinn looked nervous so he answered his own question. "See..."
"Did they try to 'charge' Regina with her father's murder?"
"No, she was queen. She always managed to dodge 'bullets'," Gold said as he rubbed his forehead in exhaustion. "You really don't understand fairy tales."
"That may be the case, however I do understand the real world and the laws here," Quinn threatened.
Gold began to walk from behind the case. He stood a few feet away from Quinn. All of the sudden he twirled his fingers in the air and a gust of wind began to twirl around the shop. It was like someone turned on a giant fan full blast. Gold didn't seem phased by it, Quinn definitely was.
Gold merely pointed to the floor and magically a big black hole appeared between them. Quinn felt her body being dragged closer to it despite her attempts to avoid the hole.
Right before Quinn was about to fall into the abyss someone pulled Quinn's hand and yanked her away from the hole.
"Quinn, are you okay," Emma asked with immense concern.
"Yes, I am now! Thank you for rescuing me!"
Quinn fell into Emma's arms out of exhaustion. She awkwardly patted Quinn's back.
Seeing he was defeated again, Gold stopped the magic.
"What were you doing to her, Gold?" Emma demanded.
"I was simply showing the girl a magic trick," Gold lied.
"Blatant lie...he knew that I was going to the police with information."
"What's that?" Emma asked.
"He was responsible for Regina's father's death. Regina may have carried it out, but it was because of a lie perpetrated by Rumplestiltskin, uh, Gold."
"You told her she had to kill her father in order for the curse to work," Emma said not too shocked.
"So what if I did...that happened in another place," Gold defended himself.
"But it's the reason why you all are in this world," Emma stated confidently.
Emma reached for her handcuffs with one hand while the other held Gold's arm so he wouldn't escape.
She quickly cuffed him and pulled him outside to her car. Quinn was right behind them.
"Quinn, let's go back to the station, fill out paperwork and then I'll take you home and we can talk to Regina, if you'd like," Emma said friendly.
"Thank you. She's not going to be too pleased," Quinn said as she remembered Regina's cautious warning.
Within an hour, Gold was thrown in their jail cell and the paperwork had been filled out and filed.
Emma instructed the officer on duty, "Watch him like a hawk until the other officer arrives and tell him to keep him locked in there!"
On the way to Quinn's home, she nervously asked, "Should I tell her everything that Gold told me?"
"Yes, I think she needs to know. It'll be a shock, I'm sure, but in the end it'll be a huge burden off her shoulders."
Before she knew it, Quinn was home. They walked slowly to the front door. Quinn grabbed the handle, but Emma stopped her.
"I feel funny just walking in there like I belong there," Emma said as she rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, Regina opened the door and smiled when she saw Quinn. "Hi, Baby, why'd you ring the bell?"
Emma coughed which made Regina look at her.
"Oh, hello, Emma," Regina said, "Um, Henry's not home yet…"
"We need to talk to you, Regina," Quinn said solemnly.
"Did someone pass away?"
"No," Quinn said with a small smile.
"Oh, ok, come in," Regina said as she held the door open for the two blondes.
Regina leaned forward and kissed Quinn's cheek. Quinn stiffened so Regina lingered there for a few seconds and then walked away.
"Quinn, you're scaring me," Regina said with fear in her voice. "Are you dumping me?"
"Regina, God no," Quinn said and pulled her into her arms.
Regina sighed in Quinn's embrace. "Oh, good. What is it then?"
They all walked to the living room. Regina and Quinn sat on the couch while Emma sat in an armchair.
Quinn took a big sigh as she noticed Emma motion to her to begin the story.
Regina turned to look at Quinn. She lowered her head and said, "I went to see Gold…"
Regina's facial expression changed from semi calmness to overwhelming anger in a second's time.
"Did he hurt you?" Regina asked with the meanest tone of voice Quinn has ever heard from her.
"No, my love, he didn't. He tried, but he didn't," Quinn said reassuringly.
"What did he do?"
"I think he, like, turned on a giant fan and created a dark black hole in the floor. The fan kept pushing me closer and closer to the hole," Quinn said still bewildered by what he did. She had begun to tear up and take deep breathes.
Regina was getting angrier after she heard this new information, but she managed to calm Quinn down a little.
"Is that all," Regina asked.
Quinn shook her head. "No," she whispered through her tears, "The reason why he created the hole and the fan was because I threatened to go to the police, um, and to Emma with a piece of information…"
"And what information is that, dear," Regina asked.
"That he killed your father," Quinn said and looked up at Regina.
Regina locked eyes with Quinn and said, "But, Baby, I killed my father."
"But you didn't have to," Quinn said solemnly.
"What? What do you mean?"
"He told you that in order to make the curse work, you had to kill the one thing you loved the most, right?" Quinn asked. Her eyes begged for Regina to put the puzzle pieces together on her own.
"Yes, he told me that," Regina said because she wasn't following what Quinn was saying.
"What would you say if I told you that you held that power, of making the curse, all by yourself? You didn't need his 'advice'," Quinn asked.
"What? I had the power," Regina said shocked as her mind wrapped around the idea.
"Yes, my love, you had the power all along," Quinn said. She wasn't sure if she should smile or show any type of emotion.
"I didn't have to kill my father," Regina said quietly as she hung her head in shame.
Quinn scooted over to Regina and placed her arm across Regina's shoulders.
Regina fell back against Quinn and began to sob. Emma got up and walked into the kitchen because she didn't want to see Regina break down and she wanted to get her a glass of cold water. She turned on the faucet and made sure the water was cold. She filled the glass almost to the top. She stayed in there for a few minutes because she didn't want to impose on a private moment.
After those few minutes, she walked back into the room. Regina was still crying against Quinn. They were hugging each other tightly. Emma lowered the glass so Quinn saw it. When she did, she grabbed it with a mouthed, "thank you".
"Here, my love, drink some water," Quinn instructed. Regina lifted her body off of Quinn's and swallowed a big gulp of water. That's when she realized that Emma was still there.
"Oh, Swan," Regina said as she sniffled, "I'm sorry…"
"No need to apologize, honestly…" Emma said with a small smile.
"No one will know," Regina asked her shyly.
"They won't hear it from me," Emma said.
"Thank you," Regina said humbly. "Where is he?"
"Gold? In lock up!"
"He didn't get away," Regina said with an evil smile.
"No ma'am…"
"Take me to him," Regina demanded as she bolted up from Quinn's embrace and the couch.
"Right now," Quinn asked, "Do you now is the right time?"
"Yes, Baby," Regina said and looked down at her. "I need to clear up some issues with him."
"Okay," Quinn said apprehensively.
"Come with me," Regina begged, "Stand by my side?"
"Forever," Quinn said as she got up from the couch. She pulled Regina into her arms. She locked her lips onto Regina's solidly. They kissed for some time. It was like Quinn was afraid to let Regina go.
When Regina pulled back she looked into hazel eyes and said, "It's going to fine. I just need to hear him say it. I believe you, but I just…"
"I get it," Quinn said in understanding.
They left a note for Henry and then got into the police car.
On the ride to the station, Regina held Quinn's hand and massaged it with her thumb. Once they arrived, they got out of the car and held hands until they reached the sheriff's office and jail cell.
"Take five," Emma said to the officer on duty. He didn't say anything. He disappeared so quickly.
After the officer left the room, it was deadly silent. No one spoke or even dared to. Regina walked right up to the jail cell that held Gold and got in his face despite the bars.
She looked directly in his eyes and said, "If you ever, ever try to threaten her again I will come after you myself. I won't kill you because you're too good for death. But I'll make you feel like you want to die. Do you understand me?"
Gold didn't nod. He didn't smile. He was defiant of all emotion as he stared at Regina, stone faced.
"Gold, did you hear me?" Regina asked angrily. She needed him to know she wouldn't back down.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'. Now, I should do to you what I did to my father, but I won't."
Emma and Quinn watched their interaction with bated breath as they anticipated the worse.
"Open the cell," Regina called over her shoulder to Emma.
"What?" Emma asked dumbfounded as she walked up to them.
"Open the cell," Regina repeated.
Emma timidly unlocked the metal door. She slowly pulled it opened. She didn't believe what she was witnessing.
"I'm going in and then you're going to lock it behind me," Regina instructed.
"Okay," Emma said as Regina walked into the cell.
Quinn found her voice to plead, "Regina!"
"It's okay, Baby. He knows better. I just want to ask him why," Regina said as she quickly looked from Mr. Gold to Quinn and then back at Gold.
"So, Gold, why?"
"Why did I tell you that you needed to kill something when you didn't," Gold asked as he stood toe-to-toe with Regina.
"Yes," she said.
"Your father threw me in jail so many times. I wanted revenge."
"You wanted revenge? Why didn't you just kill him yourself," Regina said confused.
"This way was just sweeter, I guess," Gold replied.
As soon as Regina heard his response, her hand rapidly traveled to his neck and squeezed it tightly. She then lifted him off of the ground.
"Regina," both Emma and Quinn yelled at the same time. Regina raised her other hand in their direction. Emma knew what it meant.
"Quinn," Emma said as she noticed Quinn had moved closer to the cell.
Quinn stopped and just stared at the interaction.
Is there something I can do? Make a distraction and get Regina outta there. I'm afraid he'll retaliate against her. Quinn thought.
She visibly shook her head, no. Quinn had to trust Regina. And she did. Regina knew what she was doing. Well, she hoped so anyway.
"You know you will be punished," Regina said meanly.
"For something that I did in another land as the Dark One," Gold asked a little out of breath.
"You're the reason we all are here," Regina said as she tightened her grip.
"No, I'm not. You still are," Mr. Gold said even more out of breath.
"If I didn't kill my father he'd help me see things more clearly. Also if I knew I had the power and I didn't have to kill anyone, I'd have forgotten about the curse," Regina said, as she got emotional.
"Do...you...think...so," Gold asked through labored breath.
"Yes?" Regina thought about it.
Quinn stepped up to be in her peripheral vision. She urged, "Yes Regina you would have."
Regina looked side ways at her and meekly asked, "You truly think so?"
"Absolutely yes, my love. You're a wonderful person inside. You've always been especially back then. You have a kind soul and I'm certain you'd have figured it out."
Regina turned her attention back to Gold. She looked him straight in his eyes and said, "Your punishment is to cross the city line and never come back. We will watch you as you do so we know you're gone."
She dropped Mr. Gold down to the ground.
"I'll find a way back."
"No you won't. I'll make sure of it," Regina fiercely said and stared at him intensely.
"May I say good-bye to Belle," he asked, as he seemed to accept his punishment.
"Yes...Swan," Regina said as she turned her head slightly.
"Yes, I'll escort him to the library," she assured.
"Do not let him escape."
"No, ma'am." Emma walked up and grabbed him by his collar and pulled him away.
Once the two of them left, it just Regina and Quinn. Regina hadn't turned around so Quinn walked up to her and wrapped her arms around her waist. She didn't immediately put her hands on Quinn's.
"Baby. I told you not to go there alone," Regina said with a shaky voice.
"I know..."
"Then why?" Regina turned to face Quinn.
"I wanted to call a truce. See what his story was," Quinn explained.
"He almost killed you," Regina said through the tears that were falling down her face.
"My love, he didn't..."
"Thanks to Emma!"
"Regina, listen to me. We both are going to things that the other one will think is strange, but we'll get through it together, ok?"
"I should have ripped his heart out and stomped on it," she said.
Quinn shook her head. "Thank you for not."
"That was only because you were there supporting me. Before I do anything now, I think of you and our future. That is what your love is doing to me," Regina said lovingly.
Quinn pulled her into s hug and a big kiss.
"Do you want to go see Gold's punishment be carried out?"
"If it's alright do you mind if I go back home and spend time with Henry?"
"Not at all," Regina said and kissed Quinn. They hugged each other tightly and then walked out of the building. Quinn began to walk away when Regina yelled out, "Quinn!"
She turned around quickly.
" I love you very much," Regina yelled.
"I love you too," Quinn yelled back.
They walked away in opposite directions.
Regina and Quinn's house…
Quinn opened the front door and yelled, "Henry? You home?"
"Yeah," he said from the kitchen.
Quinn walked into the room and plopped down into a chair.
"Long day," Henry asked as he poured her a glass of iced tea.
"You could say that…"
"Wanna talk about it," Henry asked as she took a sip.
"Gold almost killed me today," Quinn said nonchalantly.
Henry froze for a split second and then looked at her. "He did what?"
"He tried to push into a black hole," Quinn explained.
Henry shot up from the chair and bolted to the door.
"Henry!" Quinn called after him.
"No, Quinn, I gotta go talk to him," Henry steamed.
Right before he pulled the door opened, Quinn said, "It's being taken care of."
Henry took a breath and looked at Quinn. "By who?"
"Your Mom and, uh, your Mom," Quinn said with a small smile.
"Oh wow. I'd say it's taken care of. What's the punishment," Henry asked as they walked back into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
"They're making him cross the city limit. But, Henry, there's a little more to it," Quinn said as she looked at him.
"What's that?"
"The reason he tried to kill me is because…" Quinn started to say and looked at her hands that were resting on the table.
"Quinn, it's okay, it's me," Henry said and smiled cheekily at her.
Quinn chuckled when she looked up. "The reason that he tried to kill me is because I was going to the police with information."
"What information?"
"Your Mom didn't have to kill her father. I don't know if you call him your grandfather," Quinn said.
Henry sat back against the chair and thought for a second. "Wow…she didn't have to kill him?"
"Yeah, apparently she had the power to do the curse despite anything," Quinn said sadly.
"How's she handling it," Henry said sincerely.
"Um, I don't know. I think you'd be a better judge since you've known her longer. She cried, though, in front of Emma," Quinn said.
"Wow, she cried? That's something, I guess. She doesn't usually show emotion around people, especially Emma. I don't know if I've ever seen her cry. I think she cried cuz of you," Henry said.
Quinn chuckled. "Geez, thanks kid…I make your Mom cry, huh?"
"Oh, no, Quinn," Henry realized what he said, "I didn't mean it that way…"
"Hey, Henry, calm down. I know what you meant. I think…"
"I meant that you've been changing her for the absolutely best. I've seen a huge difference. She loves you."
"Well, kiddo, I love your Mom, very much," Quinn said humbly.
"I know…Hey Quinn, can I do something?"
"Um, sure…shit, wait…do you have any powers?"
Henry didn't say anything. He stood up from the chair and walked over to Quinn. He wrapped his arms around her.
Quinn wrapped her arms around him the best that she could and they hugged.
Meanwhile, at the city limit…
Regina, Emma, Belle, and some of Regina's body guards where there to see Mr. Gold walk through the clear barrier that Regina set up.
"It's like he's going to walk the plank," Emma whispered to Belle as they watched Gold walk closer to it.
It was a solid, red line. There wasn't anything spectacular about it. Just a red line. The only thing that could be significant about it was what lied on the other side.
"May I say something," Mr. Gold asked.
"Um, sure," Emma said. Regina put her in charge of this because she knew that she'd be more satisfied from watching it.
"The Dark One is not going to apologize for what I did…"
"There's a shocker," one of Regina's bodyguards said.
"I accept this though," Gold said as he stepped closer to the line. When his toes were just two inches away, Regina ran up to him. She spun him around so he would like into her eyes.
"This is for Quinn and my father," Regina stated as she pushed him over the line.
They all watched as Gold disappeared from their sight and across the line.
Regina took a big sigh.
Emma walked up to her and whispered, "Are you okay?"
Regina didn't respond. She just nodded her head.
Emma walked away and gathered the people to return to their cars.
Regina just stood there for a few extra seconds.
"Madame Mayor," Emma called out, "I'll drive you home?"
Regina turned around and quickly walked to Emma's police car.
When Regina was home she ran at full speed to the house and threw the door open.
"Quinn…Henry," Regina yelled out.
Henry ran up to her and jumped into her arms. She massaged his back and kissed his head. In a few seconds, he released his Mom. Quinn appeared, out of nowhere, and ran to Regina. Regina held her arms out for her. Quinn also jumped into her arms. As soon as they made contact, Regina kissed Quinn fiercely.
"I love you," Regina said to Quinn with conviction.
"I love you too," Quinn replied.
Afterwards they had a family dinner together and Henry was there for his Mom as he asked her questions, but didn't push.
"I love you, Henry," his Mom said.
"I love you too," he said and smiled at her.
Later that night, Regina and Quinn were getting ready for bed.
"I need to hold you," Regina said passionately.
"Absolutely. Listen, Regina, I am truly sorry for putting myself in that position. I went there with the hope of extending an olive branch. I didn't know what would happen."
"I know Quinn, I appreciate your trying to help. But…I hate that he almost took you from me…" Regina said solemnly as her thoughts went to her first love.
"Are you thinking about Daniel?"
"It's hard not to. It had the same 'feel', ya know?"
"I know. I'm still here. I'll always be here for you," Quinn said with a warm smile.
They got into bed and true to her word, Regina held onto Quinn tightly.
"I love you, Quinn," Regina said as she kissed her lips.
"I love you, Regina. I always will," Quinn said and then they made love.
~ This story is an Alternate Universe story, a little. I don't know if Regina had the power to go forward with the curse without Rumplestiltskin's help. In this story, I'd like to think that Regina/the evil queen had the power inside of her and she didn't need any help.
~ If you are reading and would like to comment, please do so. I enjoy reading your thoughts no matter what they are. Thanks.