Part seven

Regina -
Henry would not share the burden of her carelessness alone, confiding in Emma had taken all her resolve but she could not deny the feeling of relief that washed over her.
Relief, she felt relieved and that brought relief in itself, how novel to feel something other than anger, betrayal, jealously and fear coiled in the empty space where her heart should be, fear tightening in her throat every time she felt her body weaken, her vision blur and emptiness wash over her.

After the shock, the anger threatened, it shook her voice, her hands, whole body trembling with its force, Emma Swan once again destroying everything she had built, stealing her happiness, she had lost again.
She had retreated, to lick her wounds, couldn't stomach the look upon HER face, hear HER shallow apologies, anymore than she could erase the sound of HIS voice as he called for his true love. No need for second chances now and worst still it was only a matter of time before he would know, they would all know what she had done and any hope she had flickered out.

True love had brought them together, true love's lost a softly spoken truth between them, who better to understand the cost of such love than one who had also walked its tortuous path, knew pain's seductive voice, the power of its whispered promises in the dark.
He saw her, beyond titles, beyond her past, believed in second chances, in timing, took away the darkness but ultimately left her broken, bruised with her eyes wide open. There was no where to run except back into the dark so she removed her heart, placed in her vault alongside her mother's locket, Zelena's necklace, regrets and the unchangeable past, turned the key and walked away. The darkness would not win, not this time she would learn from her mistakes, her resilient heart would heal quicker and stronger with Henry by her side, she would not, could not lose him so she would bite down on her pain, put on her mask and she would endure.

She had endured, a hardened look for every whisper, a straight back for every stare, a blank eye when his eyes caught hers, a scowl and sharp retort for every apology that left Emma's lips but a bright smile for Henry, a opened door for his grandmother, a small nod for the fairy, this is not your fault it's mine and when he came to her wearing his heart so openly on his sleeve, she hid her tears from him, told him to take his second chance and wept alone.
He would not sway her, he may see her soul but she knew her heart and it needed to stay where she had put it lest it's darkness pull her down. If her heart was destined to be resilient than his was forged by persistence and every-time it was harder and harder to push him away, to be Regina and no other. She had faltered when she had not expected him, had not prepared herself for his presence and through the crack had slipped the ruthless Queen, a urge to torment him as he tortured her with his good intentions. Deliberately she tempted him, distracted him, it had been so easy to pull the seductive Queen to her and with it, him to her. Lost in her, she would break this honourable man, who should have been hers and hers alone but his kisses tasted like ash in her mouth, shame broke her she had turned away as his anger broke him, he was afraid for her and it was too much, far too much.

The pain had woken her, shaking her awake, sharp claws in her chest leaving her gasping and frightened. A nightmare she dismissed. A missed breakfast responsible for a dizzy spell. Too much coffee the reason why her hands trembled. But the fear grew when she blacked out the first time, just a second for the first, a little longer the next time and too long the third, and in the darkness, the loud thump of her missing heart mocked her.

Emma -
If it wasn't before noon, Emma would have a proper drink instead she was nursing a now cold coffee. She knew she would have to speak to Mr Gold, see if his shop full of tricks had any magical way of finding Regina's heart. Regina obviously had tried but she hadn't spoken to Gold herself, Emma had offered, she wasn't sure what had happened between the two of them but Regina seemed reluctant to go to him for help but didn't seem to suspect him either. Regina had assured them her heart could not be enchanted to control her but Emma caught a glimpse of her fear and doubt. Biting back a sigh, she would find Regina's heart, for Henry and for Regina perhaps this would mend some bridges, no matter what Regina had done in the past she had changed and was trying to remain so the best way she knew how, her reasons for removing her heart once again showing Emma had far she was willing to go to stay on track.
"Emma, could I have a moment please?" Looking up at Robin, she wondered how she could have doubted him, the man looked tired, the weight of the world on his shoulders. Despite his careworn expression she would not discuss Regina with him.
He seemed to sense her reluctance, hands spread his hands in a open gesture, "I wondered if you could pay a visit to the woods in your Sheriff's capacity, soonest would be best".
Groaning, that didn't sound good "what's the problem?" Robin looked around the room, dropping his voice lower "Difficult to say, it's rather odd, I think perhaps you should see for yourself".

Robin was waiting for her at the edge of his camp, thanked her for coming and suggested she follow him. As they walked he told her of how his men had stumbled across the anomaly last night, he himself had visited the site early this morning, he had been back twice since then found it was unchanged. He fell silent after his report, Emma found herself liking the man, the silence could have been uncomfortable but it wasn't, curiosity getting the better of her she heard herself ask "How are you getting on?, here in the woods?"
Robin chuckled "I know it is strange, grown men choosing to live in the forest but it is what we are accustomed to and old habits you know, but I think perhaps some of us will move on soon" he replied.
"You included?" She asked "Yes, I think so, this land presents many opportunities, it would be churlish to ignore them for my son for my family".
Pulling her coat tighter to her, it was getting colder the deeper they went into the woods, Robin glanced at her and gave a wry smile, "How is Roland?" Emma wondered.
"It has been difficult to adjust to the return of his mama" he began.
Emma interrupted him, she hadn't meant to pry, Robin silenced her "it is quite alright Emma, it is only natural that you should be curious, given your involvement which I thank you for. We are all adjusting, Marian, I feel most of all. My men and I came to Storybrooke through the curse, with the knowledge of this world imprinted into our minds but Marian she did not, it is overwhelming for her as is the passing of time but" he smiled too brightly "I am sure given more time, things will even out".
Robin had stopped walking, "it's just through here" he pulled back low hanging branches and pointed her forward.
Stepping into a small clearing, Emma opened her mouth in shock, never had she seen anything like this.
The clearing wasn't large, roughly the size of Granny's, surrounded by large aged trees some fallen, some in the process of doing so.
The top of one tree lay across the clearing, it's jaggered edges, where it had snapped in half, facing them, Emma could make out dark marks pitting its surface. The clearing should be dark but what light fell through the trees was reflected back by the ice that covered the forest floor.
"What the hell?" Emma exclaimed, looking up shocked.
Snow was falling but impossibly so, the snow was falling above the broken tree and only the broken tree, it spiraled down in soft flurries landing precisely on the damaged wood creating a mound which spilling over fell onto the icy ground.