*Peaks out from behind a tree* Hi everyone! I just wanted to say thank you so much for the encouragement. I realized now that I cannot give up on this story (I like it too much anyway). Even if I wasn't happy with the finale, it's important to stay strong and continue writing. Thank everyone that has reviewed and followed this story. I know it's been a while since I've updated, so thank you for staying with me.
Please enjoy this lengthy Regina/Emma focused chapter :)
Previously
"Aye," Killian agreed. "But first we have to take care of her."
Zelena couldn't stop the smile that spread over her face as she turned to the Savior. The witch was surprised to see that Emma wasn't fighting back. Yes, there was clearly emotion in her eyes, but it wasn't what she had expected. It was strange that the Savior wasn't begging for forgiveness. She wasn't even saying anything to sway Hook at all. How odd Zelena thought.
~SQ~
Chapter 8
Hook brought the dream catcher up to Emma's immobilized body. The memories faded out of her mind and into the glowing dream catcher leaving the blonde in a confused haze. The frustration settled immediately in Emma's mind, as she couldn't remember what she didn't remember. Which memories had he taken? Why would taking Emma's memories benefit Hook?
Zelena smiled at the blinking woman in front of her. The Wicked Witch quickly fixed the magic cuff onto Emma's wrist before the squid ink's power faded. It was the finishing touch on the first step of revenge of Zelena's plan. Now, she was on her way to make arrangements before she would confront the thief and her guard-dog of a sister. As long as Hook didn't get in her way, she wouldn't interfere with his plans. It seemed like the optimal solution for plotting villains.
The two seemed perfectly content with leaving Emma, who was still unable to move. She could feel the ink wearing off, but it would be too late before both vanished from the house. After a few moments, both Zelena and Hook left leaving Emma to settle herself on the couch in her living room. She didn't know what to do. Now that Killian had discovered the truth there was no telling what he would do. His revenge would be purely about hurting Emma, which he had made perfectly clear.
Emma rested her head on the couch. Her eyes were fixed in a dream-like state at the wall. She had been so close. Now that Zelena had exposed her, Killian knew of his powers and her betrayal. She had just wanted to save him. That was what Emma Swan did: saved people from harm. She didn't know how to give things up anymore. That was why she never got close to anyone before. It was too hard to lose something no matter how small or how broken it was. Her relationship with Hook was over, but she would not give up on destroying the darkness.
~SQ~
"Emma!" Snow yelled as she barged into the house. The magical protection had somehow been broken. It was odd, but something was clearly wrong. Mary Margaret's parental instincts had kicked in and she was worried about her daughter. Snow, David, and Regina burst through the door each declaring their intended search the area.
The pixie haired woman noticed a figure lying on the couch. She squinted her eyes and sure enough it was Emma, lying motionlessly on the new furniture. The concern set in immediately. Her daughter looked sad and almost broken. The Emma she saw in front of her was not the Dark One, this Emma clearly emotionally torn and worn out. Snow had never seen her so passive.
"Emma," she whispered as if not to disturb the blonde's trance. "What happened?"
Emma sighed before sitting up. She refused to talk until both Regina and David had joined them. The blonde quickly set her father to the backyard to search for the dream catchers that held the other memories. She couldn't keep the truth from them any longer and without her own memories it would be increasingly difficult to try and stop Hook's revenge by herself. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she needed help.
"You turned Hook into a Dark One?" Regina said unable to keep the harsh judgment out of her voice. Her gaze was fixed on Emma who refused to look at her. The brunette had originally come to confront Emma about whatever it was that was going on between them, but Snow and Charming seemed to think it was more about her feud with Zelena. To Regina's annoyance, the couple had come along. Now, Emma was telling her that she had turned Hook into one of the most powerful and dangerous persons in all realms. It was getting harder and harder to wrap her head around the twisting story.
"It was the only way to save him," Emma replied coolly as she accepted a mug of hot chocolate from Snow. She couldn't bring herself to look at Regina who she could feel was starring daggers in her direction. Emma could feel the intensity of the brown eyes that desperately craved her attention.
"And you didn't think of the consequence to everyone else?" Regina's voice hitched as she searched for green eyes. It was maddening that the blonde couldn't even bring herself to look at her. Regina could feel that Emma was avoiding looking at her, which only made her more desperate for Emma's glance.
"I couldn't just let him die," Emma retorted sharply with a tone that could cut glass. "You can understand that," she said bitterly throwing a side-glance in Regina's direction.
Mary Margaret watched the exchange with curiosity. She didn't dare step in. The intense exchange was strange. Even though neither woman would explicitly say it, both cared deeply for the other. The underlying tones of this conversation were impossible to ignore It was strange to see, but hadn't it always been like this? I wonder what happened in Camelot between them? she thought to herself as she watched the two with interest.
"Well yes, but…" Regina trailed off, conceding to Emma's words. Yes, technically she had tried to save Daniel and had successfully begged Emma to save Robin. She couldn't deny that she wouldn't stop trying to save the people she cared about. Her jaw clenched in irritation with her own hypocrisy. Emma's words stung, but she couldn't argue the blonde's logic. An exasperated sigh left her lips as Regina let the reality sink in. Her eyes tore away from Emma as she forced herself to think of the impending danger. The situation was frustrating and Regina couldn't idly sit by. She had to do something. "Now we have a bigger problem."
"I know," Emma said. Her eyes were transfixed on the ground. She couldn't bear looking at either woman. The judgment she felt was suffocating. Yes, both Regina and Snow were just trying to understand and were both more concerned with the fact that Hook was now a Dark One, but it still felt like a personal attack. This was never her intention.
"I didn't think any of this would happen. I was trying to get rid of the darkness for good," she said trying to get them to understand. "You can't tell me that after all Zelena's done to you, your life wouldn't be easier if she were gone. I was doing you a favor," she emphasized while staring at the brunette who now refused to look at her.
Regina turned, mouth agape to respond, but Mary Margaret beat her to it. After watching her daughter and Regina bicker like…like two people with a long history or something that Snow couldn't place, it was time to intervene.
"Come on," Snow said, not believing for a second that killing Zelena was the solution. "This is premeditated murder. Emma there had to be another way. You should have come to us," the pixie-haired woman said quickly, looking over at Regina for confirmation.
Her words were true. Mary Margaret would have done everything in her power to help her daughter. She was confident that Regina would feel the same way. Both of them would have tried to help Emma find another solution; they both cared.
"A risk losing someone else?" Emma questioned angrily. "I thought the best way to control the darkness was to isolate myself. But when I did that…" her words were filled with pain as she spoke. She was trying to get them to understand, but they seemed to be angry with…no, disappointed with her. Emma needed them to understand that she had been struggling to be alone without them. It pained her to take their memories and to keep them in the dark, but she was trying to protect them. She couldn't lose them.
However her tone changed quickly. "…There was no one around me to give me hope or tell me I was being stupid!" she spat while looking at Regina. This hadn't totally been her fault. Yes, in a moment of weakness she had turned the pirate into a Dark One, but the events leading up to that moment had been a collective effort in trying to destroy the darkness. If there were any way to justify her behavior she would take it.
"Fine! You're being stupid," Regina said angrily meeting the blazing green eyes that she had been looking for all along. She didn't know if she was more upset at Emma for saving Hook or the fact that Emma didn't trust her enough to tell her so. "So stop it," she finished almost quietly letting the information sink in.
The tension in the room was too much to bear. Tearing her eyes away from the blonde's, Regina rose and circled around the couch. This was an entirely different problem now. There was more at stake and now that not only Emma, but also Hook were tethered to the darkness. It was nothing like Storybrooke had ever faced before. "Right now we have to clean up this mess," the brunette said as her hands gripped the top of the couch.
"No we don't," Snow affirmed. "Give us back our memories. Your dream catchers, Regina can access them can't she? We can piece together Hooks plan and stop him," she said. It seemed like a reasonable plan. If they had their memories back, they could try and help Emma. It was one thing for Emma to be telling them that she had turned Hook into a Dark One, but it was quite another thing to remember it happening.
"I'm afraid not," David said making his presence known. "The dream catchers you said were in the shed, they're gone." He had gone to the shed, but there was nothing there. There was not even a single indication that there were dream catchers there in the first place.
"What the hell is Captain Dark One up to?" Regina questioned aloud.
They needed a plan. The heroes needed to regroup and discuss. They had to figure out what Hook had in store for them.
~SQ~
"Once a pirate, always a pirate," Regina said as she ran her fingertips over the sword placed on the table.
The group had been discussing various ideas and theories about what Hook's revenge plot was. Still, they were no closer to discovering the actual truth. Gold was worried about stepping out to challenge Killian while Emma was still unconvinced his plan was so simple as to revenge. There was something that she was missing, but there were more pressing issues at the moment.
"You just have to take off the cuff," she said stretching her arm out to Gold. When he simply chuckled in her face, the reality set in. Even when surrounded by the people she had saved on numerous occasions, they still questioned her ability to do the right thing. "You don't trust me," she said trying to search for the eyes of her family that seemed to avoid hers.
"Well if the situations were reversed would you trust me?" Gold mocked, looking up at the blonde an eyebrow raised.
The conversation was cut short, when Henry walked into the room. His voice devoid of emotion as he spoke, "So its true. You're here." He was made aware of the situation, but still couldn't quite believe what he had been told. His moth—the Dark One was really here.
"Henry," Emma breathed in almost a sigh of relief. "I need you to tell them its okay to take off this cuff. It's the only way to figure it all out."
"No," he said plainly while staring down the woman in front of him.
"What?" Emma gasped as her heart sunk. Her face was still passive and hard like stone, but her tone was filled with shock.
"You lied to us about Hook, about everything. Why should we trust you now?" Henry said as he stared into his mother's eyes. He was hurt; she had been the cause of that pain and now, he didn't trust her. She had been the cause of his broken heart. She had used him for her own selfish gain or that's how he saw it at least.
"Henry I'm your mother," Emma voice trembled. It was hard enough hearing these words out of her son's mouth, but having everyone she had ever care about bear witness was far worse a fate. Snow looked to catch Regina's eye, but the brunette didn't dare look up, hearing the words was hard enough. No one dared interject his or her thoughts. This was between a mother and her child.
"Are you? Because the Mom I knew wouldn't keep things from me," he said, too angry with her to truly see how much his words stung.
Each challenge, each declaration was arrow piercing Emma's heart. She couldn't quite grasp how Henry couldn't see that she had done it to save everyone.
Regina sat in silence watching the scene unfold. She wanted to say something. She wanted to defend Emma, but she knew she couldn't. Henry was strong headed like both of his mothers and sometime it was very hard for him to see the other side of the story. He was rightfully feeling pain that Emma had inflicted no doubt, but he was having a difficult time seeing past it. What Emma had done was wrong yes, but it had given them a piece of a puzzle they otherwise would not have gotten. Regina was torn trying to protect both of them from the other. It was excruciating to sit back and watch, but that's all she could do. Regina wished dearly to say something—say anything—to better this situation, but she could only watch as her son threw harsh words at his other mother.
"I thought you were the one person who would understand," Emma said sadly, the confusion visibly furrowing in her brow. Her eyes wandered to the ground trying to search for something that was too far to grasp. She didn't understand. He was her son. Henry was the one person that always believed her and now what? She didn't have Henry and she didn't have Regina. She was truly loosing everything. Watching as her heart crumbled right before her eyes.
"I thought you were the one person I could trust," Henry retorted. His angered flared with new fuel. He couldn't hold it back. Everything he felt pain, sadness, rage, and heartbreak was now all wrapped up into his words.
"So you can forgive Regina and Gold for everything they've done, but not me," Emma said, deflated by her son's words. It was true. After everything Regina had done as the Evil Queen, Henry had found a way to forgive her. It was in her past and she had become a better person now. The brunette was now worth the love of her son.
Gold had even proven himself by helping the heroes. He was now even one of the most pure heroes of them all after pulling the sword from the stone. Who was to say that both wouldn't be seduced by the darkness once again? After everything, Henry could trust them. Knowing the risks, Henry still trusted them. Why was Emma any different?
"They've changed, they showed me they've changed," Henry said enthusiastically. Gold had been sketchy in the past, but he had shown great progress to becoming a better man. He was trying to be the man that deserved Belle's affection. More so, Regina had come such a long way to prove herself to everyone especially Henry. The good that only Emma had seen in the Mayor was now accepted and relied upon by everyone in the town.
Henry could still only plainly see in black and white. There was so much more to humans than simple terms such as 'good' and 'evil'. After all this time Emma had thought she had helped Henry to see this, but clearly she was wrong. The only other person who could understand Emma Swan's pain sat silently in her chair.
Regina bit her lip harshly. She could practically feel the words cutting through her heart similarly to how they had when Henry had said these very same words to her when he was younger. The words tore Regina in half because Emma had broken her son's heart, but the brunette had once been on the receiving end of Henry's bitter words and knew their affect. The brunette felt the wounds opening up as she sat helplessly listening to her son criticize his other mother. It felt all too familiar.
Henry was the one thing that had changed her, made her a better person. Too comprehend that you have lost the trust of the one person you didn't think him possible to lose was a harsh reality that Regina had lived through. She had suffered through his rejections. Even when she had played nice with the heroes that were still weary of her, he didn't show any indication of loving her. She fought tooth and nail for his approval. She had stopped using magic for him. Regina had given up everything for Henry's love. The Mayor would give up anything for his love, even her own happiness or her own life.
"So did I," the blonde said. She was confused, she was hurt, and she all she had been trying to do was help.
"When we first met yeah, but the minute things got tough you didn't come to anybody. You decided that you would figure on your own. We were a team," Henry said with urgency. He couldn't believe that the Dark One was so confused by his skepticism of her. She had hurt him in ways no one else had ever. This was a betrayal of trust and Henry wasn't about to forgive Emma just yet.
"Operation Cobra I remember," she said trying to lighten the mood. A soft smile played at her lips as she spoke. Operation Cobra brought back such fond memories that seemed far too distant now. It had been in another lifetime that her little boy had escaped the Evil Queen and brought her back to Storybrooke. It was her job to bring back happy endings, but now all she seemed to do was destroy her own.
"But now you just want your dark magic back so you can do it alone. And I've seen what you do with dark magic," Henry said bitterly. He couldn't take it anymore, so he bolted up the stairs leaving the heroes behind. He couldn't stand another minute in front of his birth mother. There was no point in trying to convince her what she had done lost his trust, she was evil now.
Emma moved towards the staircase about to follow the boy up the stairs. She was halted in her tracks by the voice that had, until now, remained silent.
"He needs time Emma," Regina said not daring to look up.
The brunette felt Emma's pain. Regina desperately wanted to say something more to make it better, but nothing else came out of her mouth. No one had been there for her, but she couldn't let Emma dwell on Henry's words. Regina knew these words would leave a deep scar.
The other heroes moved around uncomfortably as they agreed to try and search for a solution that would save Rumple and destroy the darkness in Hook. As everyone moved around, Regina stayed behind. Maybe not in front of everyone else, but Regina wanted to say something to the blonde.
As everyone filled out of the mansion Regina said more to Snow than anyone else, "There's something I need to do, I'll meet up with you later." Snow nodded in approval and even reached for Regina's hand. Giving a simple squeeze, the pixie-haired woman smiled before turning to leave.
"You're staying?" Emma asked, trying to keep her tone flat and unemotional. The torture she felt inside was mask perfectly by her stoic expression. Even after everyone had left, Regina was here.
"Yes, I did," Regina said not really knowing what she wanted to say or how she wanted to say it. It was difficult for her to open up, but it was even more difficult for her to try and console someone. She didn't want Emma to think that she saw her as weak, so she had to think carefully about her next words.
"I don't need your pity," Emma said, trying to stay strong. She turned her head sideways to avoid the hazel gaze. She didn't need a lecture about parenting. Still though, she was consciously aware that her and Regina were the only ones in the room. They stood a few feet apart, but there was something brewing between them like an invisible cloud. Emma was painfully aware of how stunning the regal woman looked and refused to be tempted by those beautiful lips.
"That's not why I stayed," Regina said with an accusatory tone. Why had she thought this was a good idea? Would she have listened when she was the Evil Queen? She wasn't trying to lecture Emma she was trying to get her to see their similarities. The same pain that everyone ignore when Regina was tossed aside by Henry, now made the Charmings, Belle, and Rumple all too uncomfortable for words.
"Then why did you stay?" Emma shot back. Brown met green in a blaze of fury. Both women locked in a battle of wills as they stared at one another. They both knew why Regina was there—was really there—but both wanted to see how it would play out.
"I stayed because…because I know how it feels…." Regina trailed off. Why was this so damn hard? Was it because she wanted to yell at Emma for being an idiot and breaking their sons heart? Or was it because she wanted to run over and pull the other woman into her arms?
Emma stalked closer to the brunette. Regina didn't flinch, as they now were inches away. The blonde's emerald eyes scanned over Regina petite frame and then back up to her chocolate brown eyes in a challenging manner. The Mayor wouldn't bite though. The brunette knew the blonde was trying to distract her. Regina had to be strong and hold back from her emotions, say what she needed to say, and then sprint out the door. The Dark One was far too alluring for her own good.
"You know how it feels?" Emma asked incredulously. "Please Regina, tell me more," she feigned innocence. A smirk played at her lips as she watched the older woman's lip twitch as she tried to restrain herself. To avoid any sort of emotionally driven conversation, Emma would weave her way out by angering the other woman.
Regina let out a small breath before starting. She needed to regain her composure and balance before diving into this conversation. No doubt Emma was trying to get under her skin, but Regina wouldn't be so prideful; not this time at least. Dammit Emma why do you make this so hard?
"Emma," Regina started off slowly. "What Henry said was true in every aspect, but he forgets that even the darkest of souls have feelings. As his mother, I know he can say the harshest of things that cut deeper than any dagger. I know his love and trust are hard to earn. He just needs time," the brunette said keeping her eyes on the ones in front of her.
"I know because he looked at me the same way. He hated me, but he eventually forgave me. After everything I had done he forgave me. You helped him forgive me. I understand what you must be going through right now, I really do. I'm telling that he will forgive you," she finished.
It wasn't a soft hope speech or a demonizing accusation; it was Regina's real attempt at comforting the other woman. The pair let the words sit between them for a moment before Regina reached out slowly. Her hands fell to Emma's arms and slowly pulled the other woman forward into an embrace.
Emma couldn't figure out if she was more surprised by the soft physical contact or the words that had been spoken. Regina, the woman who had tried to run her out of town and or kill her was now hugging her with delicate care. She couldn't move. Even if she wanted to she couldn't reciprocate the hug because the brunette pulled back offering her a smile.
"Regina…" Emma began, shaking her head slightly as she couldn't seem to grasp any words in the moment. What had she expected? Regina was different. Regina understood her. It was so plain, so clear, it was almost comical that they hadn't seen it before. How were we so blind?
"It's alright Emma," Regina said softly. She looks so endearing when she's at a loss of words Regina thought. "You don't have to say anything. I should probably go now anyway," she smiled. The brunette turned to leave her mansion. There were still other things she wanted to talk to Emma about, but right now she felt good. Regina had shared her thoughts and now had another mission to focus on. Even with all her feelings, Regina would push them aside for now. She would be patient, if that were what was required of her. The brunette's hand was right on the doorknob when a strong arm took her arm and spun her around.
"Thank you," Emma said looking equally embarrassed and flustered. The faintest shade of crimson spread to her cheeks as she scrambled for words. "I…" Emma faltered as she realized she was still holding onto the brunette. She quickly released her grip as if Regina was a white, hot ember that was too scalding to touch. She couldn't risk being so close to Regina when she felt so incredibly vulnerable.
The blonde took a step back before continuing. "I want you to know that when this is all over that I only did what I thought was best," Emma said searching for the brunette's reaction to her words. Please understand.
"I know Emma," Regina said as she leaned her back against the door. Physically, it was painful when Emma had stepped away from her. She craved nothing more than physical contact with the blonde. The fire that danced on her skin whenever Emma was near her was simply too much to ignore. It prickled over her skin like a shiver.
"When this is all over I hope you can find a way to forgive me," Emma almost whispered. Even after everything that had happened, could Regina forgive her? Emma was too afraid to think of the reality she would be confined to if she truly had lost everyone she loved.
"I know it's hard, but I also know it's possible," Regina said with conviction gazing into the unsure green eyes. She had lived through the rejection and pain that the blonde was now facing. If anyone could possibly understand this searing pain, it was Regina. Emma had been their savior, but even the good guys fall victim to temptation and darkness. It is only human nature to do so. Regina knew this better than anyone else. She would go to the ends of the earth to help Emma. I just want you to be happy.
"Emma I want you to know that I am always here for you as a friend," the brunette smiled, a genuine pure smile that radiated warmth.
But Emma didn't take the way Regina had meant it. All she heard over and over again was a single word: friend. As a friend Emma thought as her heart was ripped in two. It practically incinerated at the brunette's words. She might as well have given Regina her heart to crush, which would have been less painfully. Her mind was racing. After everything they had shared—after the secret they had kept—Regina was single handedly using her power to destroy Emma. She's using me Emma thought angrily. She's playing with me.
Regina's words were not sitting well with Emma. She almost toppled over as if struck by lightning. It took everything she had not to fall over from the blunt impact of Regina's words. The harsh reality sunk in. She doesn't lov—care about me Emma thought frantically. Everything Emma had done was for her. This twist in fate was now a living nightmare.
The blonde's feature visible darkened as Regina looked on with confusion. Emma's bright green eyes smoldered with fire and anger. Her fists clenched with rage as she felt the emotion take over her entire body. Her mind was a hurricane of doubt and hatred. She had given up everything for her family and now Regina was calling her a friend? Oh the irony of the word. Emma had long thought that they were friends long before and now, when she wanted more, Regina didn't reciprocate. The feelings that Emma thought they shared were now clouded with doubt.
"Get out," Emma said. The blonde could feel her magic surging under her skin trying to find a destructive way out. Regina's words were eating away at her sanity and consumed her mind completely. As a friend. "Get the fuck out!"
"Emma I don't understand…what's—"
"I said get out!" Emma screamed as a vase shattered into a million pieces behind her. She couldn't ignore the whirlwind of emotions that ran through her mind. Friend.
Brown eyes looked concerned and almost questioning. It was even worse that Regina didn't understand what she had done. A grey magical cloud began to swirl around Emma, all her emotions pouring out of her like lava. A crackled of magic buzzed all throughout the mansion as object began breaking or levitating around them. Emma's eyes glazed over with an onyx color, Regina couldn't see the lively green irises and she knew she had done something very wrong.
"I won't say it again," Emma warned as she took a step forward. She knew she could never hurt the brunette, but she needed space. She needed to be alone. The wounds were fresh and salted, which burned deep in her shattered heart.
Regina, against her better judgment, ran out of the door leaving behind her a broken shell of a woman. She had no idea what had caused Emma to lash out in anger. It had been something she had said, but she didn't know what. She raced out the door and didn't dare look behind her. She stopped when she was far enough away from the mansion and tried to control her breathing. She still had to face Zelena, but now her mind was too focused on Emma. Regina angrily wiped away tears the streamed down her face. She always managed to mess everything up. I don't deserve happiness she thought bitterly. Not when I destroy everything I touch.
Did Regina just friend zone Emma? Oh boy...the Dark One didn't take that too well. Emma and Henry relationship parallels to Regina and Henry season one relationship gave me chills. That scene was so painful. Hopefully I did it justice.
I am very excited to write a spin of the finale. I haven't read any other fan fiction regarding the finale, so that chapter will be all my design. There will probably be another chapter before I actually get to it, but stay with me. If the story sounds similar to another fic, I apologize that was not my intention. I hope this fic will be a good twist to a rather disappointing season finale.
I hope you all trust me enough to know that Swan Queen is endgame, despite what may occur leading up to then. Please review and have a wonderful Swan Queen filled day!