The air clearing, both women slowly sat up, amazed to be in one piece. They immediately searched for their foe, their eyes focused on where she had last stood tall, dark magic crackling from her fingers. Instead, in the stillness, there was just a crumpled gown in a heap on the floor, the last remaining indication of the melting of a real wicked witch.
The silence was broken only by Regina's choking sob.
She just cried. None of it was her even thinking, just everything that had happened—it was her body's reaction to the stress and tension and pain and exhaustion and loss. A self-purification.
Emma held her as tightly as she could, sitting on the stable floors, with none of the reservations that had held her back the night before, knowing that this is where they both were meant to begin again, wound in each other's embrace. And this time, Regina wasn't crying alone. Tears poured down the blonde's face—they had won. They were safe. She had Regina.
The final explosion had radiated across town, winds rushing as they had with True Love's kiss, the breaking of the curse. Feeling the shiver, Snow and Charming immediately dropped a protesting Henry at Granny's to rush in the direction of the magic's origin, what they soon determined was the stables, hoping beyond hope that the pulse meant good news for Emma, who they had tried calling, but couldn't reach, because she was their daughter, because of the town, and most dire, because of the impossibility of their dealing with Cora alone, or worse with Cora and Regina.
They didn't know whether to be relieved or worried by the silence when they had finally reached the pastures, though their anxiety ate at them, travelling between their tightly clasped hands. But they were Snow White and Prince Charming, and they would bravely face whatever waited inside together.
Swinging open the stable gates, their first thought was for Emma, elation at seeing her alive, but as their feet began to move towards their daughter, their minds stopped them because it registered that she was crying, holding Regina securely in her arms. Snow's heart stopped at the thought of Regina actually being dead before she noticed her former step-mother's soft breathing and her arms draped around Emma, holding just as strong.
The Charmings shared a look, David significantly less surprised than his wife. Regina and Emma were hugging. They were alive and safe. But had they been successful?
Snow and David remained unmoving in the solemn silence, both recognizing the significance of the stables to Regina. But it wasn't long before they spotted the burn marks from the blast and the gown strewn haphazardly on the floor.
And that's when Emma seemed to finally notice them standing in the open doorway. As they moved to approach her, she managed to tell them in a single look that she loved them but they had to leave.
Knowing Emma well enough to take her cue, David took Snow by the arm, preventing her from wrapping her arms around the two women together, because her heart would always ache for Regina despite it all, and lead her away from where her presence would stir up far too many emotions than the pair on the ground could handle at the moment.
Emma watched them quietly walk out the door, accepting their worried over-the-shoulder glances for the love they contained before returning her focus to the woman in her arms, whose tears had run their course for the time being, too drained to continue expending the energy required for crying.
She lifted her beautiful face up, so she could look at her, truly look at her, as she brought her palms to Regina's cheeks, gently wiping away the tear tracks that had made their mark across clear olive skin.
"Let's go home."
It had been quite sudden, but 108 Mifflin was certainly home now. Because Regina was home.
The brunette had found her voice to ask for a minute alone, and Emma had granted her request with an "of course," though she did wait right outside the stable doors, a hand over her heart, never so grateful to feel it pulsing under her skin, never so amazed by its potential.
She did take the time to call Snow, seeing the missed calls and messages and grateful that David had managed to wrest her away for the time being. She wasn't sure how great she could be in person, but she was happy to accept as much of the love and joy that they defeated Cora that she could manage over the phone.
Snow was breathless as she answered, motioning for Charming to pull over.
"Emma, honey, I'm so happy you're alright. We love you so much. When are you coming home?"
"Thanks, Mom." Despite the onslaught, Emma could feel tears welling in the corner of her eyes. It hit her that she had never expected to hear those words from her mother or reply in return. Still, she was confident she had her family—right now she needed to help make Regina confident of hers.
"I'm happy I'm alright, too," Emma confirmed with a genuine smile. "But I'm not going back to the apartment. At least not today."
"What do you mean?"
Even through the phone, Emma could tell Snow was fretting about where this was going.
"Regina's the reason I'm alive right now. She's the reason any of us are. And I need to stay with her." Sensing Snow's hesitation, she pushed ahead, determined to get Regina her hero's due.
"Do you think Henry could be gentle with her? I think he should be around tonight."
Snow's earlier enthusiasm had died out entirely as she responded carefully.
"I don't know Emma, that's a lot to ask. I'm glad Regina's okay, and I…understand why you need to stay with her tonight, but Henry has to make his own decisions about her progress. We have to be careful."
Just as suddenly as she had been overcome by her mother's care, her temper now short-circuited her system. How many times would Regina have to prove herself, her devotion to her son?
"Mary Margaret, Regina just vaporized her own mother so that we all would be safe, so I don't really care about being careful, or what you think, or what you think Henry thinks, or whatever. She needs her son's love, and she deserves it. Will you please put Henry on the phone so I can discuss this with him."
In the pause that followed, she managed to catch her breath. So maybe she had been a little harsh.
"I'm sorry, Mom," she continued, hearing Mary Margaret exhale in relief through the line, "but you know it's true. This has been a really rough couple of days, weeks…" Emma petered off. In all honesty it had always been rough. Cora just made things even more dangerous than usual.
"…It's just been hard for everyone, but really Regina. Hasn't she suffered enough? I don't expect things between you two to instantly get better, but you shouldn't let that get in the way of her relationship with Henry…" Emma sighed. She wasn't enjoying how hypocritical this whole speech was sounding considering her position not more than a few days ago. "Look, I'm just trying to make up for how badly I messed up with her. Could you help me?"
"Emma," Snow considered her words carefully. "I will always help you when you ask. But I would like to understand. Could you try to tell me what changed?"
Emma gave a tired smirk, reassured by Mary Margaret's inherent teacher-ness.
"Mary Margaret, I promise you, after everything has settled, you and I will have a giant girls' night, filled with all sorts of explanations, even if the idea of that much sharing makes me want to jump portals. I'll tell you everything that is mine to tell, okay? I know you deserve that. I'd really appreciate if we could hold off on the crying though. That I'm not so sure I could handle."
Emma smiled at the soft chuckle filtering through the receiver. Maybe things could be okay after all.
"I'll do my best, but no promises," Mary Margaret managed to joke. "Henry's with Granny, but I'll have him call you."
"Thanks. I love you."
"I love you, too, Emma."
As the call ended in Snow's search for Henry, Emma's soul settled just a little. She had a son. She had a mother and a father. She had love.
Who knew a hard-luck orphan girl could end up with an actual happy ending?
She picked up on the first ring when the line for Granny's showed on her cell phone.
"Emma?" Henry seemed concerned. Emma imagined Snow hadn't explained much at all. Still, it was nice even to hear his voice.
"Hey, kid."
"Is Mom okay? I mean…are you? Did you defeat Cora? When are you coming home?"
Once again, Henry proved himself to have a good deal of her genetic makeup. She was just glad Regina had managed to turn his curiosity into smarts. Granted, he was a little more smartass than she would have preferred, but really, that was both their faults. The key now would be his compassion. She needed her special, smart boy to get it through his stubborn head that love—for anyone—was indeed the most powerful thing of all.
"Henry…Cora isn't going to hurt anyone anymore, thanks to your mom. She saved my life more than once today. And she's gonna be okay, but right now, she's really hurting."
"She's hurt?"
Emma was sad to admit she was relieved to hear the genuine concern in his voice. She knew Henry loved Regina, but she needed him not to take that for granted. Unfortunately, she also realized that she had not immediately told him his mother was physically all right.
"Well, no, not like that, not really," she hurried to clarify. "We're both a little sore, but, kid…your mom had to go through some really horrible things today. And I think she just needs you to be around. What do you say Snow and David take you home, okay?"
"Isn't that what they're gonna do? Take me back to the apartment?"
So smart. But definitely still a kid.
"No, Henry. Home home."
She could practically feel it clicking into place for him and was not surprised when he spit out, "But Emma—"
She cut off his concerns right away. Now was not the time to worry about his objections. When they were all together, he would see. He would be fine. "I'm gonna be there, too. We'll be all together. Help your mom. As a family."
"Oh. Okay." Henry was still suspicious, but he accepted with relative ease. "She's gonna be okay?"
Emma smiled. This would work. She knew it would.
"Yeah, kid, long as we're around."