Chapter five

"Whatcha doing?" Emma asked innocently.

Regina looked up over the book she held and just smirked at the childish woman.

"I'm researching the author."

"You can't actually think that Gold will find him," Emma laughed as she took the book out of her hands and helped her stand up.

"I'd rather not risk things being rewritten," she replied, as she brought her arms around the saviour's shoulder.

Emma smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Regina laughed.

"I think that may have been the most charming thing you've ever said."

Regina's face contorted into one of fake disgust and Emma just chuckled and lightly pecked her lips.

"I came to see if you want to come to dinner."

"You could have called," Regina replied.

"Then if you said no I would get to see you till morning. As a side note can you make it so the sheriff doesn't have to do night shifts?"

Regina rolled her eyes, and picked up the book, "I'm nearly finished, I just can't remember what this symbol means."

Emma looked at it for a moment and said "it means sacrifice."

Regina looked at the blonde in shock and she gave her a sheepish smile.

"I learnt."

"Why?" Regina chuckled.

"It seemed like it would be easier than Spanish," she replied and Regina just rolled her eyes and began to walk away. Emma followed behind her and called, "it wasn't by the way."

Emma flicked to the next page of the books she had taken from the vault. Though they had more information than the first set, they all seemed to be in agreement that death was the only means to be free of the darkness. Snapping the latest book down, she threw onto the pile that had formed next to her.

Eventually she had managed to stop staring at the photo. Once her mother had promised to be back from picking up Neal as soon as possible, she had formed a research system, despite that it hadn't helped just a few hours ago.

She knew that she wasn't dealing with this in a healthy way, but she was so sure that they would have been engaged by now.

In her dreams she the stunning dress that her bride would have worn and the simple one that her mother would have forced into. She imagined all of the photos that they could flick through with Henry's children. She had literally planned it all out, right down to the twins that they would have if Regina agreed. She had even planned to have this conversation with the other woman while snuggling in bed together. Now everything just felt out of reach, and she kept trying to tell herself

that she was being irrational. They had faced many crises together, and why should the latest be any different? Because she's not here to help, Emma thought.

Shaking her head, she grabbed another book that was written in Elfish. Small tears began to prick at the corners of her eyes when she realised that this was what she had studied for weeks to make sure that everything was perfect for Regina.

Placing the book down, she pulled a velvet box out of her pocket and inspected its contents as she had been doing anxiously for the last few weeks.

This had to be the most effort that she had ever put into magic in the two years that she knew she had it.

She had spent weeks mastering the spell that she needed, desperately trying not ruin the platinum band that she had spent a good portion of her savings on. She practiced until she had finally been able to engrave an apple and a swan onto its two sides. She had to say that she was quite proud of it, but the longer it wasn't on Regina's finger, the more she began to feel like it wasn't good enough.

Closing her eyes, she placed it on the coffee table, and gritted her teeth, get it together Swan.

"Ma?" Henry asked worriedly, as he realised that Emma hadn't even heard the door opening.

Emma looked up at her son, "hey, I was just..."

Henry just nodded before she could try and make something up, "you know she'll love the ring."

Emma smiled at it sadly and nodded in return, "she better," she laughed.

Henry came and sat next to her, grabbing the book she was looking at, he asked, "anything?"

"No...not yet."

Silence fell as Henry stared at the symbols he didn't understand, until a thought occurred to him, "what about true love's kiss?"

Emma's breath hitched and Henry sighed.

"You already tried?"

Emma nodded slightly, "from what I've read, it's not a curse, so it can't be broken. All I've found are things that won't help," she laughed bitterly.

Henry inspected her for a moment, before he decided to ask the pressing question, "why did you tell me to stay away from her?"

Emma fell back against the back of the couch, "that was more Snow, we don't know what she's thinking, so it's safer I guess...but don't worry...we'll..."

Henry held up his hand to stop her, "don't you find it quite hypocritical for you to lie?" he asked jokingly.

Emma fell silent for a few moment, before she said, "you're right, I have no idea what to do...but there's always something right?"

Henry nodded in agreement, before he frowned, "she's just so different though."

Emma's eyes widened in surprise, "you saw her?"

"I went to the station to talk to David, and I saw her. At first she seemed...I don't know..."

"Normal?" Emma supplied.

"Yeah...she was happy to see me. But then she found out that you told me not to look for her and then..."

Emma sighed, and nodded for him to continue.

Henry gulped, before he added, "she said that I'm not her real son, and then I kind of just ran away."

The blonde let out a breath, she couldn't help but think that Regina would know exactly what to say to the boy.

"She didn't mean it," she tried.

Henry just sigh and fell back beside her, "it felt like she did."

"Well...we'll just have to..."

"Ma," Henry cut her off, "I'm not here for a hope speech."

Emma smiled at his wording, while at the same time trying to hold back tears and nodded.

"Then why are you here?" she asked softly.

"I figured out of everyone you would be the one to understand and not try and say 'it'll be fine', because at the moment that isn't really helping."

"I know what you mean," Emma sighed, "but what else can we do?"

"Maybe we should stop running away from her for a start," Henry chuckled half-heartedly.

"You probably have a point, it's just..."

"You're afraid?" Emma was about to protest, but Henry continued, "I don't really want to go back until it's all over, but for that to happen I think we need to go back."

"And do what? There's nothing in the books," Emma pointed out,

"Forget the books," Henry laughed.

"Can the author say that?" Emma asked in mock surprise.

Henry just shook his head, "they're the answer to a lot, but not to everything."

Emma gave him a disbelieving look, before she sighed, "fine, what do we then? She just seems to get angrier the longer I stay."

Henry shrugged, "maybe if we stay longer she'll get less angry. Maybe she'll tell us what's going on in her head."

Emma was about to agree, only to be interrupted by the ringing of her phone.

"What's up Belle?"

Henry watched Emma nodded and agree and after a minute she hung up, with a 'thank you.'

"I think we may need to make a stop at the hospital first."

"Why?" Henry asked with a furrowed brow.

"Gold just woke up, and I think he'll be able to answer our questions."

A/N Hope you guys enjoyed XD I have work tomorrow so I'm releasing this chapter earlier.

Reviews would be much appreciated :)