A/N: Close to the end of this tale. One more chapter to go. I graduate from college in 6 days :D

Chapter 14: Letting Go

-Previously-

Regina conjured a fireball, throwing it towards the pitiful fairy, but it was easily deflected. She conjured a second one, anger fueling her, when she felt it. It was like every synapse in her brain froze at once. Every muscle in her body froze. She was almost sure she felt her heart snap. Henry's voice broke through her haze, his voice choked with tears, one broken word slipping past his lips, "Ma?"

"Sometimes letting go is the only way to heal."

- Unknown

Chapter 14: Letting Go

It's almost like she's floating. She can't feel the ground beneath her, but she can hear Henry. Is there a reason he's so loud?

"Ma? Ma, you need to stay awake."

She was in so much pain, her magic being torn from her. Every breath felt like a stab to her hoped she was smiling at him, "You be good for your mom, kid."

"Ma, come on."

God, she was so tired.

"You're my mom too."

"Yeah."

He shook her shoulder roughly. "You're not allowed to die, Ma."

She could laugh. Was this what dying was like? Laying on the ground, having her son trying to keep her alive? She thought she would die from eating too many bear claws. Not like this. Never like this.

Henry…

"Ma this isn't funny anymore."

If she had the energy, she would smile. Her sweet 'd be okay. He had her parents. He had Neal. He had Regina.

I'm sorry, Regina...

So tired...

"Ma?"

I love you, Henry.

Regina froze as she looked at Emma's lifeless body; it was like she was thrown back in time, watching Daniel's heart get crushed in front of her. But this...this was different.

No.

Henry was bawling, and she felt something snap.

No.

Her little prince was crying, and she couldn't fix anything.

Gods no.

Her son's other mother was…

NO!

She saw red, whirling on the Blue Fairy, shoving a hand into her chest and pulling her heart out in one fluid motion. The other woman didn't have time to look shocked because she had the organ crushed to dust beneath her fingertips moments later. And then all that anger deflated as she fell to her knees beside her...no, their son, kneeling over the blonde Sheriff.
She looked into lifeless green eyes and felt tears start to fall down her cheeks. She'd been falling for the blonde ever since the incident with the wraith...but she couldn't have lost her. Not like this.

No.

She didn't get a chance to tell her. She brushed a strand of hair from the other woman's face.
"Please," her voice came out cracked, but she couldn't bring herself to care, "Please come back to me. To us."
She leaned down and pressed her lips to Emma's. "I love you, Emma."

Rumple frowned softly, sparing a glance in Regina's direction. He felt the loss of the magic almost immediately. He knew that Miss Swan was dead. But then if that was the case, the portal should've closed. As it was, it was still open, trying to maintain its connection to this world. Interesting.

He focused back on Cora to find her watching her daughter, smirking

"Do you think she understands yet, Rumple?"

"And what might Regina need to understand, dearie?"

"Love is weakness." Cora finally looked back at him, "Do you think she understands that no one will ever love her the way I do?"

"I think you've caused enough trouble here." He stepped closer to her, conjuring a wooden heart from Regina's crypt. "I think it's time you've gone."

"I'm not going anywhere. The portal is secure."

He smirked, "The portal is flawed. Just like your plan."

The smirk fell from the Queen of Hearts' lips, "What are you talking about? That wretch is dead. Her magic is completely drained."

He opened the box and removed the beating heart, "Ah, ah, ah, dearie. Remember: True Love," he shot forward, pushing her heart back into her chest, "is magic."

Regina kept her lips to Emma's, hoping, praying that it would work. There was no other explanation to the way their magic reacted to each other. She could feel it. That small break in her magic slowly repair itself.

Please, come back to us, Emma. I love you.

A bright light shot out from where their lips touched. Warmth. Love. Safety. It felt like home.
She felt Emma's lips move against hers and couldn't help but smile softly. She pulled away slowly. Bright, green eyes shone back at her.
"I love you too, Regina."

The ripple of True Love washed over them, and he smirked softly. Cora stumbled back from him, shock written over her face. Everything she had done since removing her heart came rushing back to her; he could see it in her face. The disgust. The shame. But he could also see the darkness that lurked, waiting to act.

"You've caused too much damage, dearie," Rumple spoke softly, stepping up in front of Cora, blocking the small family from her view, "It's time you've left our sleepy, little town."
"Rumple, please..." Cora begged, "Let me see my daughter."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
"I need to make amends -"
He let out a small laugh, "I don't think so."

"I can change. I'm different. I won't…" she stepped away again, and he saw his chance. He knocked her back with a wave of magic, sending her into the portal. She grabbed at the sides of the well, holding on as hard as she could. "Rumple please."

"Sorry, dearie. But as you already know," he shot a wave of magic at the well, counterbalancing the portal's dwindling magic, "love is weakness." With one last burst of magic, Cora fell back through the portal. It closed almost immediately.

He caught sight of the Blue Fairy, eyes open, clearly dead. With a sigh, he looked over at the small family unit. Miss Swan was being smothered by both Henry and Regina, both openly crying tears of happiness. Regina looked at him, tears slipping down her face. A look passed over her face, and she turned back to Miss Swan, muttering in her ear. The Savior met his eyes then, and he nodded. She released a shuddering breath. Henry kept his head buried in his blonde mother's chest, a hand clasped in Regina's, securely between both of them. The sound of the Charmings calling out for them all reached his ears. A moment later they came into view. He waved his hand, the Blue Fairy's body disappearing. He'd dispose of the body later that night. He let out a sigh and slowly made his way over to his family.
The magic in the air buzzed slowly, finally at peace.

A/N: Next is the epilogue.

Hime