Emma-
"Your choice fairy dust or a gun, one is more permanent but I expect you will choose the first option but that will only buy you time"' Gold barely looks up from the counter, pen moving across the page as he calmly informs Emma of her options.
"Whichever, I suggest you make your decision quickly, it's been three days".
Emma blinked, questions whirling through her mind, two choices and one wasn't even a choice, "but it's a curse so it can be broken with true love" she states. Gold Is being deliberately obtuse and she really wants to shove that pen somewhere painful.
Gold sighs and finally puts down the pen "Yes and No, Regina's heart is indeed cursed. From what you told me, her heart is frozen, a nasty little problem, tricky with the purest of hearts,but the Evil Queens heart well, that's a whole new ball game"
"So" Emma hissed "what do we do?"
Gold shook his head, "as I said bind her magic or do yourself and everyone else a favour and..."Not going to happen" she interrupts Gold "you're Henry's grandfather and this is the best you can offer" she hisses. Gold pressed his palms flat on the glass cabinet "It is".
Emma stares at his hands, watching as the heat from them causes the glass to fog slightly. Henry will be devastated, he just got her back, properly, the real version not the caustic mayor fighting for her son, not the sleeping dragon that Emma had awoken when she first arrived but the woman who gave him up so he wouldn't be alone, there's no way he would ever forgive her if couldn't they save her.
Emma had assumed, they all had, that Regina would die unless her heart was healed, she had assumed a curse and expected that Gold will confirm true love's kiss would resolve the issue but oh of course it wasn't going to be that easy and Gold was still holding out her her. "We have to try, how do you break a curse on a frozen heart?"
"You don't, the only way to break that curse is an act of true love" he holds a finger up to her, stalling the question on her lips "only the owner of frozen heart can break it, by performing an act of true love, a kiss is not enough".
"So Regina has to cure herself with a act of true love, a selfless act?".
"Yes, good luck with that" Gold smirked.
Emma returned his smirk, "shouldn't be a problem, she stopped Pans curse giving up Henry, that was a selfless act, she was willing to die in the mines for Henry, another selfless act".
Gold 's smirk stretched into a low smile, "so you're willing to put Henry's life in danger then? So Regina can be selfless again?"
Emma's stomach drops "no of course not, I...there has to be a way without endangering Henry, we just need some time".
Mind whirling she spins away from Gold, allowing the door to slam shut behind her, pulling her jacket to her, she hurries through the familiar streets, the fog was low now, it was early evening but it was already getting dark. Pulling out her cell, she texts Killian to meet her at Granny's, then sends a version of the same message to David, she needs to think and to eat.
Swiping at David's hand as he attempts to steal a fry from her plate, she scowls at him, she hates people taking food from her plate, David shrugs an apology but steals the fry anyway, dipping it in her ketchup. Killian is at the counter ordering another round of drinks, they are waiting for Tink and Robin. Henry had gone with Archie to Regina's house to see if she was there, Robin and Tink to Regina's vault. Her mom is still at the loft, it's bath and bed time for Neal but she will be over later, Granny has offered to babysit, she really was living up to her name. ,
Her and Ruby have been great helping them out with the baby, much to David's relief, his look of horror when Leroy offered had made Emma smile for the first time that day.
Emma bites into her cheeseburger, eating definitely helps her think. There Is no way they could tell Henry the full truth without a plan in place. Firstly, they had to find Regina, secondly, dust her and third get her to perform a selfless act, Emma has an idea forming, one that involved Regina sacrificing something else she loves, her magic.
Mr Gold's better half is walking towards them, arms full of books, David is up out of his seat helping her immediately, causing Emma to smile again softly at her father and a wide smile for Belle, Gold's wife really was a godsend, "thank you Belle, we really appreciate this".
Belle smiles and waves her hand at Emma "it's nothing and despite what Rumple told you, I left him in the store looking through the rest of these, he will help".
Yeah I bet he will Emma thought, "so anything?"
Belle shakes her head softly "so far no more than what Rumple told you, a frozen heart is very rare, I can only find two mentions of it. One involves a Snow Queen, who had the ability to control others by placing frozen slivers of ice into their hearts, it is a very old tale, written mostly in elevish" "You can read elevish?" Emma asks. "Self taught" Belle confesses sheepishly, "the other, is in this book here" Belle flips the book towards Emma, pointing at a drawing on the page. Emma peers at the tiny drawing there, it looks like children dancing in a snowstorm but the children have sparks and flakes shooting from their hands, they are smiling and leaping, Belle is speaking again "it tells of children born with the power to control the elements, this picture shows children with the ability to create snow and ice. The book says it's elemental magic created by emotion, warns it can be unpredictable with grave consequences, there is a small mention here in this book" Belle lays a smaller book on top of the first "it mentions a city trapped in an eternity winter by a Queen, who unable to control her magic cursed the land until a act of true love broke the curse"
"Does it say what that act was?" Emma asked eagerly "No I am afraid not" Belle sighs picking up the book, turning it in her hands "I believe that the city may have been in our land. It could be another realm but I think not, it says here in this section" Belle is rifling through the book again, "to the north of Atlantica, a mountainous region known for its ice and sea ports, the largest of which is famed for its cursed state, perhaps someone will know of it?" Belle gestures to the diner but means the town as a whole, Emma's heart sinks, if they have to ask the whole town, they will need a hella of a lot of fairy dust.
Both woman look up as the bell tinkles again, Robin and Tink have arrived, Tink shakes her head, Regina was not in her vault. Robin sinks down heavily into the booth behind them and Tink goes to the counter, she looks at Emma and shakes her head again, she looks angry.
Henry and Archie arrive with the same dismayed looks on their faces, Henry slides into the booth next to her, Emma squeezes his shoulder and tells him not to worry, Henry gives her a watery smile, he picks up the books flicks through them.
She pats his head, and slips from the booth, she wants to talk to Tink and ask for the dust. Tink listens to the plan frown upon her face "why did Gold say we needed the dust? Surely Regina will need her magic?"
Emma pulls on Tink's elbow, leads her to the hallway she doesn't want Henry to overhear "Regina's heart is cursed, with black ice, Gold thinks it will cause her to behave irrationally" more so than usual she thinks "she may lose control of her emotions and that could be dangerous"
"For you?" Tink asks slight hint of bitterness in her voice "her heart isn't even in her body so how is that possible?"
"It's still her heart I guess" Emma shrugs "Gold said any heart cursed would turn cold and dark and as Regina's was once..." She trails off.
"Cold and dark" Emma jumps startled by Regina's sudden appearance in the hallway. "Regina" she breathes out.
Regina looks pale but determined, Emma thinks she is holding herself together by sheer force of will. "Emma, Tink" Regina nods at them "I suggest you hurry"'she is looking at Tink, her face a mask but her eyes convey her urgency, her hand is pressed against her chest. Tink nods "I'll go now" and she's gone, racing down the hallway to the back door.
"Does it hurt?" Emma wonders "Yes" Emma thinks they should sit down but Regina shakes her off, no I'll wait here.
"But Henry" Emma starts, Regina cuts her off "I will see him when I'm fully in control ".
Emma nods she can understand that, besides Robin is out there and Emma's sure that his concern is not something Regina can deal with right now.
Emma is trying her best not to argue with Regina but the woman is demanding she be locked up properly, not under house arrest as Emma suggested. "You are underestimating the power of this curse Miss Swan and my power" Regina looks dangerous in that moment, eyes flashing and sneer on her face, Emma agrees, perhaps she is underestimating the curse but she has seen the depth of Regina's love for Henry, good always wins right?
Ruby pops her head around the corner, "Snow is here" she says.
"Wait here?" Emma asks Regina nods, leans against the wall a little when she thinks Emma is out of sight.
Emma catches her mom at the counter tells her the plan. She will take Regina to the hospital, her mom nods her, points at a bag, David and I will come too, Archie will take Henry back to the loft after has finished his dinner.
Emma wonders whether or not to tell Robin but he is not in his seat, Emma catches the back of him disappearing around the corner, Mary Margaret shrugs, give them a minute she suggests quietly.
Regina - "Regina" His hand is on her back and she hasn't the energy to shrug him off. He looks tired and angry, she does not want to fight with him but she can feel her ichor rising, coloured by disappointment, he should have been mine, she thinks, it's not self pity that she feels now but resentment and she is so tired of fighting, hopes Emma will hurry, hopes this moment, just the two of them with his hand on her back will last forever.
"You look tired"? She states.
Robin snorts back a laugh "funny that" he hmms, his free hand pressed to his heart "it hurts, a dull ache, I feel angry, like never before, it's quite frightening".
"Yes it is" she whispers, he knows, he feels it too. He knew when she had removed her heart, had felt it and he feels her heart still. This is what she has given him, heartache and pain before they ever met and now doubly so.
"I'm sorry" the words are small, do not even begin to cover the horror that she is to him.
Robin removes his hand from her back, she cannot bear to look at him, he will leave now she thinks. Robin takes her hands, palms up, curls his fingers with his "it's not you're fault" he tells her "you've been so brave and strong, a true Queen, a fighter, I wish I could take this burden from you". The sob is unbided as is the slight stumble into him, not deliberate but it takes her where she wants to be, she presses into him and he wraps his arms around her, takes her weight, threads his hands through her hair.
She speaks into his chest, unwilling to move, "I don't want Henry to see, if it happens, please keep him away" she has no right to ask but she does, she's not sure if Emma fully understands but Robin does, it thunders through his blood too, cursed by the unfulfilled connection between them.
Robin nods "you have my word"
"The word of a thief" she feels the rumble in his chest as he laughs.
"Not just any thief, your majesty, your thief"
"True but not the way I had hoped" Robin sighs, a deep sigh, she raises her eyes to his, he looks so sad, the Evil Queen is pleased, wants him to suffer, Regina pushes her down, fights for control.
Robin presses his lips to her forehead "don't give up hope Regina".
She thinks back to her words to Snow, words that started this whole mess, hope isn't easy, she cannot bring herself to reply, flicks her eyes to his lips and she will take this from him, it's not hers to take but it's nothing more than what it is, so she leans forward, presses her lips to his. Robin responds immediately as she knew he would, kisses her softly, lips moving in perfect motion together, a sweet kiss, unlike the last angry needy kisses she stole from him. This kiss is not like their first nor like any other they have shared, it holds no promise of the future, only a goodbye.
Emma -
Robin nods at her as he leaves the diner, Regina is waiting where they left her and Tink arrives mere moments later before Emma can speak, what she planned to say she doesn't know and its too late now as they are walking out the back of the diner. Her mom and dad are waiting at side of the building for them, Mary Margaret carries the duffle bag, she holds it up for Regina to see, I got you some bits, hope okay, Regina smiles a thank you but says nothing.
It should be strange, Emma thinks, the three of them taking Regina to be striped of her magic and locked up. They've all been here before but this time Regina is willing and it seems fitting, if a little overly dramatic, that they all go. Regina must be thinking similar thoughts as she is smirking a little at David as he hesitates whether or not to open truck door for her but he does and she accepts silently, Mary Margaret slides in next to her.
Killian is waiting near her bug, ready he asks, Tink waves her hand showing him the pouch "come on then" he says, opening the door, pushing the seat back for Tink.
Tink is full of ideas, ideas that she talks her self out of, until she finally falls silent. "It's a dozy" Killian says to her mutterings.
Emma wants to laugh and ask him where he had heard that saying but the hospital is drawing near.
Dr Whale is waiting for them, punches a key code into the door but does not accompany them into the bowels of the hospital.
Mary Margaret spreads a crocheted quilt on the narrow bed, looks pleased with her efforts "brightens the room" she says. No one agrees, it will take more than a bedspread to bring any cheer to this room. "Are you ready?" Tink asks.
Regina nods "Yes".
Tink slowly unties the pouch, standing on her toes she pours the dust over Regina, it shimmers briefly as it touches her but fades quickly.
"Shall we stay for a bit" Mary Margaret asks brightly.
"No I would like to rest" Regina replies simply, her voice is blank, Emma thinks she looks surprised but the look is gone and Regina is turning away.
Mary Margaret is telling her that they will be back tomorrow and Henry will visit then, David is pulling her to the door. Tink is not leaving, she shimmers and Emma thinks she can see the wings on the fairy if she squirts her eyes.
"Regina" Tink says softly "I just wanted to say I think that very selfless of you and its, well admirable" Tink is gone without waiting for a reply.
Regina turns to look at her, "Emma?"
"I, well, you know, what Tink said" not her most eloquent of sentences but too late now "see you tomorrow".
Regina nods shuts the door behind her.
Emma's hand hesitates over the door lock but she turns it and walks away, up the stone stairs.
Her breath is stolen from her as she opens the door, the corridor is freezing, she puffs out in shock, watches as her breath fogs in front of her.
David is running towards, grabs her elbow, it's outside too he says. He pulls her round the corner, Emma's jaw falls open as she stares at the sight in front of her.
The strip lightening reflects the glare off the icy floor, bounces off the covered walls, reflects light back, throwing the still forms into shadows, it wrinkles, gives the impression of movement where there is none.
The sound of her breathing is loud in the silent room, "what the hell?" Her voice is even louder. Killian she thinks, he had waited in the car, her feet slip on the floor as she makes her way to the door. It takes three of them, pushing against it, to open.
The whole street is white, thick with ice and snow. Emma can see Killians's unmoving form by the car but it doesn't stop her running towards him, reaching out touching his frozen form. He is cold to touch but she can make out the pink colour of his skin beneath. He is encased in ice, he does not blink or breath. "Are they?" She cannot finish the question.
Mary Margaret is crying "Neal, Henry" she says. Emma runs faster than she has ever ever run before, feet pounding the roads, eyes flicking to the side, looking for any sign of movement but the streets are still, cars unmoving.
The front door to the loft is stuck but she can push it open enough to wriggle through. The hallway is slightly warmer and Emma feels hope rise briefly but the sight in the loft is the same as the streets and Emma's heart breaks at Henry's froze form on the couch and her baby brother lying quietly in his crib.