Chapter Ten: The Cricket Game
It felt quite weird to be walking through a grocery store, instead of tromping through a forest to look for her food. Though Emma and Henry wanted to make tacos for tonight's welcome back party, Ellie made sure that her sister got food that she could eat. At least here, there was a much wider variety choice than the Enchanted Forest.
"Meat's disgusting Henry," Ellie reminded her nephew as he helped her place their groceries on the belt, "It's an innocent little animal that has been stripped of its identity and reshaped to put into a packet." Emma took the taco meat out of the cart with a roll of her eyes.
"Umm…"Henry said as Ellie pushed the cart through, bagging the groceries and putting them in the cart.
"What? Taco's not a big thing in the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked with a smirk.
"Honestly, I pushed all thoughts of meat out after I heard the word chimera." Ellie replied and quickly swiped her credit card through the machine, making her sister scowl at her.
"Thanks," the cashier, whose nametag said Sarah, "And welcome back Ellie." Ellie smiled at her as Henry pushed the cart out to the bug.
"Do you have to spread your 'all meat eaters are evil' philosophy to Henry?" Emma asked her sister as the two of them loaded the groceries in the back. Ellie rolled her eyes.
"It's not a philosophy if it's true." Emma threw the crumpled up list at her sister, who snorted as she shut the trunk and got in the passenger seat.
"So Henry…"
"No thank you." Least he had manners.
-OUAT-
"Hey! Guess what? Taco shells were on sale." Henry said as he walked through the door of the apartment Mary Margaret, David, Emma, and Ellie shared. Emma and Ellie soon followed him.
"Yeah, according to Ellie, not a big item in the Enchanted Forest."
"Do you want me to explain…" the three paused, now noticing Mary Margaret and David in Mary Margaret's bed. Ellie wanted to scream in horror and run as far away as she could, unfortunately...that would mean explaining things to Henry. Which neither Swan sister was quite ready for.
"What are you guys still doing in bed? It's the middle of the afternoon." Henry remarked, making Ellie blush at her nephew's innocence.
"The trip back was tiring, and I needed rest." Mary Margaret offered.
"And I needed to...help her rest." David answered, making Ellie give an awkward cough and Emma clear her throat.
"Uh," she puts a hand on the back of Henry's back, "lets...Let's go make tacos. We have to make a lot, because there's going to be a ton of people at Granny's welcome back party tonight." Henry leaves with some of the groceries.
"We thought you were going to be back later." Mary Margaret whispered once Henry was gone.
"Yeah, well, we weren't." Ellie lamely defended.
"So maybe next time, you could put a tie on the door, or send a text, or...you know what? I'm...I'm going to go make tacos." Emma pulled Ellie with her to the kitchen.
"It's official...I'm scared for life." Ellie whispered to her sister, who could only nod in agreement. That was something neither twin wanted to see ever again.
-OUAT-
Once Ellie and her family enter Granny's diner, everyone lets out a big cheer at the sight of them. Ruby quickly rushed over to Mary Margaret and gave her a tight hug.
"I wasn't worried a bit." Ruby assured Mary Margaret with a smile once the two friends pull away.
"I can tell."
"Oh, we all missed you." Archie said and pulled the princess in for his own hug. Ellie gave the sight a smile before walking up to Granny, who was behind the counter, and presented her with a fruit salad.
"Fruit Salad. I cannot tell you the relief of making something that I didn't have to spend all day looking for." Ellie remarked as Granny took the bowl from her.
"Don't I know it. Meat loaf back home? What a bitch." Ellie smirked. at the elder woman's response but soon turned towards her father, who was calling the attention of the crowd.
"I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight. Mary Margaret and I-we have a saying...That we will always find each other. And, while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses," Granny quickly slid a glass of soda to Ellie, who gave her a thankful nod, "and join me when I say...Here's to not having to look for a while. To Mary Margaret and Ellie!" As everyone clinks glasses with smiles, Regina enters with a dish of her own, making the mood of the party immediately turn south.
"Sorry I'm late." she apologized. Leory quickly grabbed a knife.
"What's she doing here?" he asked with a snarl. Ellie rolled her eyes, set down her glass and walked over to the dwarf, taking the knife out of his hand.
"I invited her." she answered him and placed the knife aside. Mary Margaret quickly pulled her daughter aside, over with Emma and David.
"We're celebrating today because of Regina. She helped get us home. No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now." Ellie explained to the rest of her family. Honestly, Ellie couldn't see the big deal about it all. It was just a simple party, for once, there was nothing to worry about, why couldn't they let Regina come and celebrate with them?
"Didn't you think to tell us about it?" Mary Margaret hissed.
"She did," Emma defended for her sister, "but you two were a little busy this afternoon."
"Ellie, she tried to kill us-yesterday!" Mary Margaret tried to remind her daughter.
"No, she didn't. She's trying to change for Henry. He believes in her. And right now, that's enough for me. For someone to change, you have to give them a chance. I'm more than happy to give her one." Ellie answered her mother.
Later on in the evening, the party has split up into different groups. As Ellie was telling a story from their time in the Enchanted Forest to a small group of people, she sees Regina grabbing her coat and walking to the door. She apologizes and quickly follows her out.
"Archie made a cake. You don't want to stay for a piece?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Regina curtly replies. Ellie mentally sighed, apparently, you can't win for trying.
"Okay." she replied and turned to go back inside to the party.
"Thank you." She turned back around, seeing Regina looking at her, instead of having her back to her and giving off a cold vibe.
"You just said that." Ellie reminded her.
"F-For inviting me." Regina answered.
"Henry wanted it. I'm glad the two of you got to spend some time together."
"Me, too. I'd like to see him more. Maybe you and Emma would consider letting him stay over some time. I...I have his room just...Just waiting for him."
"I'm sure Emma would say...that's not best." Ellie tentatively answered. Just because she was getting a second chance, doesn't mean that Ellie fully trusted her around her nephew. Both Emma and Henry told her of the actions Regina did once Mary Margaret and Ellie were sucked into the portal. A process like this required baby steps.
"Because Emma knows so much about parenting. The only time she's spent with him is when you and Mary Margaret were sent to the Enchanted Forest!"
"Well…" she gave Regina a nod, "Thanks for coming." She quickly turned around, ready to go back inside.
"No, wait. I'm sorry," Ellie slowly turned back around, "I'm…I'm sorry for snapping at you. I shouldn't have done that...will you accept my apology?" Ellie gave her a smile and a nod.
"Of course, Archie said you're trying to change. And I can see that you are."
"Dr. Hopper said I was trying?"
"He said you came to see him. That you're trying not to use your magic, that you're trying to be a better person. You understand, I was hesitant to invite you. I asked him, and he thought it was a good idea."
"Thank you. It was. I should be going." And with that, Regina left Ellie, making her sigh. That's enough baby steps for tonight.
-OUAT-
"So what was it like? Over there?" Henry asked as the three of them sat in Granny's diner, having breakfast together.
"Well, let's see," Ellie began, cutting up her french toast into little pieces, "There were ogres, the dead rising, people trying to kill me. And what else...oh yeah, more ogres." She took a bite as Emma rolled her eyes at her sister's theatrics.
"Awesome." Henry breathed his eyes wide with joy.
"Kid, we've got to work on your sense of awesome." Ellie remarked pointing at her nephew with her fork. Emma wiped the edges of her mouth and threw the napkin on the table.
"Come on, it's time for school. I'll walk you to the school bus." Emma said, pushing herself out of the booth.
"It's okay. I can go on my own." Henry assured his mother, grabbing his backpack.
"I know that you can. That doesn't mean that you should."
"David let me."
"Well, I'm not David."
"You used to let me."
"Well, I am not me. I'm walking you because that's what mothers and aunts do," Ellie looked up at her sister, "And we're doing it."
"But...I'm eating." Ellie defended, gesturing to her food. Emma rolled her eyes and grabbed her sister by the ear, pulling her up out of her seat and out of the diner.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow." She smacks her sister's arm and Emma immediately lets go of Ellie's ear, not even bothering to apologize. Ellie muttered angrily at her sister as the three of them began the walk to Henry's bus stop. However, a distressed Pongo came running up to them.
"Hey, Pongo. It's okay. It's okay." Henry assured the frantic dog as he began to pet him.
"Where's Archie?" Ellie asked, momentarily forgetting about her burning ear and glancing around for the familiar Doctor. One was most certainly never seen without the other. The twins looked back at the diner to see Ruby bolting out.
"Ellie, Emma, something's wrong."
"How did you know?" Ellie began and was then reminded by Emma muttering 'wolf' under her breath, she flinched at the stupid question, "Never mind. The wolf thing." Emma and Ellie turned towards Henry.
"You know what? Eleven is old enough to walk to the bus stop."
"One of us will be there to pick you up." Ellie finished for her sister and gave her nephew a nod.
"Okay." Henry said and gave his aunt a quick hug before running off to the bus. Once Henry was gone, Pongo bolted, making the three women run after the dog and leading them to Archie's office, where the door was slightly ajar. All three shared a slight look before Emma slowly pushes the door open more.
"Archie?" she called and soon led the way to the office, where they found Archie lying on the floor.
"Archie?" Emma and Ellie quickly run over to him, "oh, hell."
"What? What is it?" Ruby asked but soon ran into the room, finding the twins looking for a pulse on the body. She gasped and covered her mouth.
"Damnit." Ellie muttered when she couldn't find a pulse.
"Who would do this?" Emma asked, looking over at her sister.
"I think I know."
-OUAT-
Regina sat in the interrogation room while Mary Margaret and Ellie watched as Emma and David entered and sat across from her.
"Glad to see the Sheriff's station's now a family business. Why am I here?" Regina asked, looking between daughter and father.
"You know why you're here. Because of Archie." Emma stated.
"Oh, it's now against the law to get into an argument with someone?" Ellie's ears perked up at that, Ruby had mentioned that Regina was getting snippy with Archie. Granted, that wasn't much of a surprise, but when Ruby saw Regina raising her hands that's when Ruby stepped in. Ruby probably didn't hear the argument.
"It is if you go to their office later that night and kill them." David answered. Ellie watched as Regina's expression changed from annoyance to surprise. If she didn't kill Archie, this must certainly be the first she's hearing of it.
"Archie's dead?"
"Stop it, Regina. Ruby saw you going into his office late last night."
"Then she's lying. I was home all evening," Regina spat, "After everything I've done to change, to win Henry back, why would I toss it all away now? And, if I did and was going to kill Archie, you would never know it. The fact that he's dead and you caught me shows sloppiness." Everything Regina said was true and form what Ellie remembered of the stories in Henry's book, she certainly knew how to plan things to the very last detail. Why did this one suddenly seem sloppy?
"You've been caught before?" he turned towards Emma, "Come on, Emma. Who do you think's lying-Ruby, or her? She's incapable of change, no matter how many times we've given her the chance? Why should this time be any different?" Ellie couldn't take it anymore, so she rattled on the interrogation room window. Emma and David both got up and joined Mary Margaret and Ellie outside in the hall.
"So what do we do with her now?" Mary Margaret asked her family.
"Lock her up." David immediately answered, making Emma and Ellie both shake their heads.
"We can't lock her up because she didn't do it." Emma answered, speaking for both her and her sister.
"You really believe her?"
"I was watching her when you told her Archie was dead. She didn't know." Ellie answered.
"Ellie, I know that you want to believe that Regina can change, but-" Mary Margaret began.
"I know what I saw," Ellie interrupted, "Look at her in there. The old Regina would've reduced this building to ashes. That's a woman who wants to change. She just wants everyone else to see it. I know that look. I know her. I believe her." Emma simply gave a nod, she and her sister both knew what they were talking about. It's why they were willing to forgive Regina.
"With all due respect, you two don't know her like we do." David told his daughters.
"Maybe that's the problem. I know in your kingdom, she was the Evil Queen. But here, she's Regina. And I'm still the Sheriff, and I saw she's innocent until proven guilty."
"So...uh, what do you suggest we do?"
"Let her go." the twins simultaneously answered.
"Girls,sh-" David began, sending a pleading look between the twins.
"We let her go, and then we find the truth." Emma stated.
-OUAT-
Ellie felt weird going through the things on Archie's desk. Everything was completely organized and Ellie had to constantly remind herself that she was going through his private information for the case. A case which needed to be solved quickly.
"Huh," David remarked, holding Regina's folder and standing by the filing cabinet, "Regina's file," he showed it to the rest of his family, "it's empty."
"So she did it. She killed the kindest soul in this town. A man who only cared about helping."
"I promise we'll find whoever really did this." Emma assured her mother.
"Isn't it time you admit we already have? Regina had a fight with Archie, Ruby saw her outside last night, and now, her file is empty. That's...that's a lot of evidence." David said, looking between Emma and Ellie.
"Maybe that's the point." Ellie remarked, pushing a journal aside and leaning back in Archie's chair. Emma pointed to her sister, giving a nod.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't know how it is in fairy tale land, but in the real world, it's usually hard to find evidence. But this has been way too easy. Unless, someone wants to find evidence." Emma explained, voicing the thoughts that the twins shared.
"What? So you think she was framed?" Mary Margaret asked, looking to her daughters.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time that happened in this town." Ellie remarked, standing up and leaning against the desk next to her sister. Sitting in the chair felt disrespectful.
"Who would want to frame her?" David asked. Ellie scoffed.
"That's a long list," she gestured to the four of them, "present company included."
"Yeah. But there's only one name on that list that would resort to killing to get what he wants."
-OUAT-
"Ah...nothing warms the heart more than a family reunited. You both have your mother's chin." Gold remarked as the Charming family entered his shop. A woman, Belle as Henry had told her, sat next to him behind the counter.
"We know that you killed him." Emma stated, not even wasting a second.
"And you have your father's tact."
"Someone's dead?" Belle questioned.
"Dr. Hopper," Belle looked at Ellie with confusion, "Ellie Swan." She nodded.
"Why on earth would you think I had anything to do with that?" Gold asked with confusion.
"Because all the evidence points to Regina." Emma explained.
"And she's not possibly capable of doing something so vile?" Belle questioned with a light scoff.
"It's a frame job."
"It wouldn't be the first time you used someone to try and hurt her." Mary Margaret remarked, looking to Gold.
"Nice to see your memory's still intact, dearie. But this time, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. It wasn't me."
"Why should we believe you?" David asked.
"Because I can prove it. Ask the witness." Ellie frowned.
"No one was there." she remarked, feeling a little stupid by saying it, just knowing that he was going to pull something.
"Well, that's not strictly true now, is it?"
-OUAT-
David returned with Pongo, making Ellie sigh in annoyance. How on earth was Gold planning to get anything from a dog?
"Hey, boy," Gold coos, leaning down and petting him, "Good boy. Good boy, good boy."
"I, uh...didn't know you were such a dog person." Belle remarked.
"Well...a long time ago, in another life, I got to know a sheepdog or two."
"That's some fascinating information. However, unless you speak dog, how is Pongo going to tell us anything?" Ellie remarked, gesturing to the dog.
"Through magic, of course. It won't allow us to communicate but it will allow us to...extract his memories." Gold explained, making Ellie glare at him. She had...yet to tell her sister of her...magical experiences in the Enchanted Forest. Hell, she hadn't even told Mary Margaret when they were both stuck there!
"Extract?" David questioned with a frown.
"You don't have to worry. He won't feel a thing." Gold assured him.
"Why should we trust you? Couldn't you just as easily use magic to fool us?" Emma asked.
"Because I'm not going to be the one using magic-you are." Gold answered, pointing to Emma, making both twins look at him with wide eyes.
"Me? How?" "Her?" They said at the same time. Both pointing at Emma.
"You have it within you." Was all Gold said, casting a glance back at Ellie. He somehow knew she had yet to tell her family and was diverting all the attention onto Emma.
"Emma, you don't have to do this." Ellie said, glancing back at Gold.
"If it tells us something about Archie's death, then so be it." Ellie bit her lip, her sister had her mind set on something, no damn way to change it now. Mr. Gold walks over to one of the cupboards and pulls out a dreamcatcher, he shows it to the Charming family.
"Do you know what this is?"
"A dream catcher." Ellie replied in a bit of a 'duh' tone.
"Well...it's capable of catching so much more." He walks over to Pongo and slowly runs the dream catcher up his back, which begins to glow a bright yellow.
"What is that?" Belle asked.
"Memories. Now, Miss Swan. You show us how." He held the dreamcatcher up to Emma.
"How? It's just jumble."
"Will it. WIll it, and we shall all see." Emma takes the dreamcatcher from Gold and holds it in front of her. She scrunches her eyes shut in concentration for a few moments but nothing happens. She opens her eyes again with a sigh.
"I can't."
"Yes you can Emmie." Ellie assured, giving her sister a comforting rub on her back. Emma lets out a breath and then closes her eyes more gently this time, which causes the jumble to transform into an actual image. In the dream catcher, Pongo's memories of Regina entering the office plays.
"Emma...you're doing it."
"Regina." Emma breathes, focusing a little harder. The memory gets to the part where Regina grabs Archie's neck. Mary Margaret, horrified, turns away. Ellie, having seen enough, slaps the dreamcatcher out of her sister's hands.
"You were right all along."
"I'm sorry Emma, Ellie." Ellie gave her father a nod, though Emma was fuming. She stormed out of Gold's shop, with David, Mary Margaret and Ellie immediately following her.
"Emma! Wait! Where are you going?" David called.
"To get Regina." Emma spat, still storming towards her house.
"Well, can we talk about this?" Mary Margaret offered.
"What's there to talk about? She killed Archie, now she's got to pay." Emma answered, using every bit of strength she had to keep her anger in check. Ellie quickly rushed forward, walking backwards in front of her sister.
"Emma, how do you plan on doing that? She has her powers back here." Ellie questioned her sister, still walking backwards as Emma continues to storm towards Regina's house.
"Yeah, well, you just saw that happened. So do I."
"Em…"she put out a hand, stopping both her and her sister, "You can't go blaring into Regina's house with powers you don't understand."
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" Emma hissed at her sister.
"I am on your side Em, we just need a plan." Emma sighed.
"So what do we do?" she finally asked.
"Even if the dwarves construct a cell to hold her, we need a way to contain her magic until then." David said, speaking up.
"Fairy dust. Leory said they were processing a new batch of it." Mary Margaret answered.
"Will that stop her powers?" Ellie asked.
"It has before. The problem is, she'll see us coming."
"Leave that to us." Ellie muttered, already thinking of a plan.
"Trust us-we're locking her up."
-OUAT-
Ellie gently knocked on Regina's door, knowing that Emma would very well blast the door down with her newfound power. The two of them were going to have a very serious heart to heart that Ellie wasn't looking forward too. Mary Margaret, who stood behind her and Emma with David, gave them both a pat on the back. Ellie appreciated the thought but it certainly didn't make her feel better.
"Miss Swan, "Regina said as she answered the door and looked to Emma, "I assume you're here to apologize."
"I saw you do it." Emma stated, beating her sister to the punch. Ellie sighed, she certainly did have David's tact. And in this situation, it might be the death of them.
"What?"
"I saw it. You choked the life out of Archie." Emma explained
"What are you talking about? How is that even possible?" Regina demanded, looking between the twins.
"Magic." Ellie answered.
"You-"
"We saw what happened, and it was you." Ellie interrupted. Regina scoffed.
"Gold. He helped you. You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind it?"
"We didn't trust him. That's why Emma used magic instead." Mary Margaret explained.
"You can use magic...the saviour. Of course. Well, I can only assumed he warned you two then." Ellie seemed to be the only one who caught onto Regina's add-in of herself.
"About what?" Emma asked.
"That magic always comes with a price." Regina answered.
"Unfortunately, that's a price all three of us are going to pay."
"How's that?" Henry asked the copper-haired twin.
"Henry. He believed in you. His heart's going to break. That's all our prices." Ellie explained.
"No. I will not let either of you poison Henry against me."
"I'm sorry Regina, but you already did." Ellie apologized. The Charming family turns, leaving Regina's household. Regina quickly follows them down the walkway, not finished quite yet.
"I want to see him. He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!"
"He's not!" Emma spat, turning around to face her, "He's mine! And, after this, you're not getting anywhere near him! Do it!" Ellie quickly pulled Emma to the side as Mother Superior appears from behind a tree and fires a blast of blue magic at Regina. Unfortunately, as Ellie feared, Regina used her magic to stop it from harming her.
"Do you really think that would work again?" she casually tossed the orb on the ground near David and Mary Margaret. She turns towards the twins. "You...neither of you will keep my son from me." She waved her hand, intending to throw the twins aside, but a white magical shield burst up, sending Regina flying backwards. Shocked, all look to Ellie, who stood proud and tall.
"I'm sorry Regina. But there's no way Henry'll believe you now." Regina looked around, realizing she was defeated and disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. Once she was gone, the shield flickered away, removing the protective barrier around the twins.
"Well…" Emma began to sway, "that was good...let's, let's call it a…" and her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she fell into Emma's arms.
-OUAT-
"...an in the next box Iron Man says 'So what? Why don't we…"
"Kid, comic books don't count as bedtime stories." Ellie muttered as she rubbed her eyes.
"Aunt Ellie!" Henry cried, throwing the comic book aside and his arms around Ellie's neck, making her chuckle and then wince, "Sorry! Sorry!" He quickly pulled back.
"Nah kid, you're alright. Just a little sore." she explained, pushing herself up.
"Gold said it was because you used too much magic at once," Emma explained, walking in with two mugs of what Ellie presumed was hot coco, "Henry, why don't you go help Mary Margaret and David downstairs?" He gave a nod, grabbed his comic book, and quickly disappeared downstairs. Emma took Henry's seat, setting Ellie's drink on the side table, and remained quiet.
"Aren't you gonna say something?" Ellie asked after a few uncomfortable moments, and picked up her hot coco.
"No," surprised, Ellie looked at her sister, "because I know why you didn't tell me."
"You do?"
"Yes, and I'm willing to respect that. But, I know it now and that's what matters. We can use it to stop Regina."
So Emma still didn't know why she didn't tell her.
That's alright, let her believe what she wants.