Chapter 5

There is still some captainswan in this story. This is definitely a swanqueen endgame, but I need to get rid of Hook in a semi-realistic way. Believe me, I don't like writing it anymore than you like reading it. It will be kept to an extreme minimum. Bear with me please, it will be over soon, I promise.

Emma hustled down the street, not really knowing where to go. Who should she tell her theory to? Would anyone believe her? Archie sure didn't. And perhaps she was imagining it. No. Emma was certain. Regina was still there somehow. And it had something to do with the magic used in the Black Fairy's fireball. It came like a whisper. Zelena. Of course. She couldn't tell her parents yet, they'd think she was crazy. And she certainly didn't want to get Henry's hopes up. Zelena knew as much about magic as Regina did, so if anyone could tell her it was even possible it was Zelena.

Finally making her decision, Emma jumped into the sheriff car and slammed the door shut. She was startled when the passenger door opened and Hook slunk down next to her. She sighed, but tried not to raise his suspicion. If she could avoid telling him about her theory, that would be good. "Killian. What are you doing here?" Unknown to her, Regina scowled from the backseat.

He looked at her sheepishly. "Hi, love. Sorry to bother you at work, but I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I shouldn't speak ill of the dead."

"You shouldn't speak at all," Regina snarked.

Emma had so much she wanted to say, but she was itching to get to Zelena's. "Look, I know you didn't mean what you said, so lets just...let it go, okay?"

"Oh, I meant it," he affirmed, catching Emma's look of confusion. "Look, it's no secret there was no love lost between me and Regina. I guess...I just had a little harder a time forgiving her for her past treachery than you did."

She tried to not go there with him, but she couldn't help herself. "And why is that, huh? You had just as many things to be forgiven for as she did. Why should you be forgiven but not her?" Killian looked genuinely hurt, and Emma felt a twinge of guilt. They had danced around the fact that he used to be a villain, but hadn't talked much about it. He certainly wasn't going to bring it up and Emma was not good at difficult conversations.

"Are you seriously comparing a little piracy to the murder and villainy of the Evil Queen?"

Emma shook her head and gripped the steering wheel. "It's not a competition, God. I'm just saying...Regina worked hard for her redemption and I think she earned it."

"And what, I haven't?" He ignored Emma trying to protest. "No. That's what you think isn't it? I've done nothing to earn my redemption unlike your precious Madam Mayor who somehow turned into the Saint of Storybrooke!"

Regina was about to take a futile swing at the back of his head until Emma surprised her. She instantly raised her voice and turned violently in her seat to face the pirate. "How dare you! Regina has proven her desire to change over and over! For years now! Ever since she accidentally poisoned Henry-"

"Because she was trying to kill you," Killian interrupted.

Emma closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists, but continued. "She's tried to be better. Sure she had some slip ups, but she stayed on course. She has saved this town and me more times than I can count. If it weren't for her everyone in this town would be seriously doomed by now."

"The town full of people she cursed you mean."

Emma's shoulders dropped in frustration. She shook her head and looked at him incredulously. "You're not listening to a word I'm saying. I know Regina wasn't perfect. She made a lot of bad decisions, many of which she was manipulated into. She was flawed. But she strove to be better. For the last five years...she tried to be a hero. And that's exactly how she died. A hero."

Regina sat frozen, mouth agape. As did Hook. As he watched Emma stew and squeeze the steering wheel, her eyes averted, he felt a pit in his stomach. "And you loved her."

Silence. The statement had taken Emma off guard, but somehow she wasn't at all surprised to hear it. She dared not wonder why. Finally she answered quietly. "She was brave. Strong. Smart. I never knew how much I admire her until this moment. She was Henry's mother. Part of my family. Of course I loved her."

Regina couldn't move. She recognized those same words that she had spoken to Emma not too long ago in the station. She didn't think Emma had heard her, but apparently on some subconscious level she had. But then those words. Of course I loved her. Clear to Regina, Emma meant it in a platonic, family sort of way. But still...to hear those words come out of Emma Swan, to her husband none the less...left Regina feeling dizzy and confused. Emma really did care for her. She did think of her as family. She...loved her. The events of the last few days had certainly shown Regina that she did indeed have strong feelings of gratitude, respect and perhaps even affection toward Emma. But love? She looked to Hook to see how he was going to respond.

His eyes went to the roof of the car, shifting uncomfortably in the seat. He knew she hadn't gotten the drift of what he was implying. He certainly wasn't going to push the matter. "Tell me something, Swan." He hadn't called her that since they had gotten married. "If I really am still a villain...with so much left to redeem myself for...why did you marry me?"

Emma's body dropped further into the seat, rolling her eyes. Was his pride seriously hurt? She couldn't build Regina up because it meant he was less of a man? Did she really have to explain this to him? "Because I love you, Killian! Our relationship has nothing to do with Regina! Why is it I can't admire her and love you too? I know you're trying to be a good man, Killian, I wasn't saying otherwise."

Killian nodded and half smiled. "Right. I just have a ways to go yet. Forgive me if it's not as easy to go around saving the day when I don't have magic." Regina narrowed her eyes.

Emma reached over and put a hand behind his neck, smiling softly at him. "You don't need magic to be a hero."

Regina shook her head slightly. She saw exactly what he was doing. "He's manipulating you. I should know, my mother used to do it to me all the time. Guilt you into giving him exactly what he wants." Her words appeared to fall on deaf ears.

Emma leaned over and gave him a solid kiss on the mouth before pulling back slowly. "Can we continue this later? I have something I need to go take care of."

Killian looked slightly annoyed, but satisfied at the way the conversation had apparently swung his way. "What have you got going on? Perhaps I could tag along?"

"No, no, its no big deal. Just some, bureaucratic stuff. You'd be bored. You go ahead. I'll be home soon."

Regina raised an eyebrow.

Emma gave Hook one last kiss before he reluctantly opened the car door and got out. She sighed deeply and sat back in her seat as he walked away.

"Lying to your husband already? Tisk, tisk," Regina said as he strode away.

Emma sighed out again as she turned over the engine. "It wasn't a lie," she said to herself under her breath. "Just a slight omittion."

Regina chuckled and shook her head as they sped off towards Zelena's.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Zelena had been reluctant to let Emma in the house, saying that she had just now finally gotten Robyn to sleep. But when she saw the desperation in Emma's eyes she relented. They walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. "What's going on?"

Emma fiddled with her fingers and sighed out a chuckle. "What makes you think something's going on?"

Zelena had never been particular fond of Emma but had never really paid her much mind. Her beef had been with Regina, Emma was just an annoyance. Friendly visits for tea were far from the norm, however. "One day after my sister dies to save your life and you show up on my doorstep, reeking of desperation. I should think you'd be off celebrating having Henry all to yourself."

Emma looked intently into Zelena's eyes. "Far from it. Regina was my friend, and I would never wish for Henry to be going through what he's going through right now." Regina was leaning against the wall, watching. She tweaked a sad smile.

Zelena saw the sincerity in Emma's eyes and softened her features. "How is Henry?"

Emma shook her head sadly. "Not good. He's off fishing with David, trying to get his mind off it." Emma's eyes darted down Zelena's torso. "How are you?"

Zelena shifted uncomfortably as Regina looked on. "How do you think? I had a sister. Now I don't."

Emma squirmed. God, was this woman capable of being a normal human being?

Zelena noticed the savior's discomfort. "Why are you here? Certainly it can't be to simply check on my well being."

Emma twiddled her fingers, uncertain as to how to go about this. She looked up to see Zelena looking at her expectantly. She sighed before speaking. "The Black Fairy's fireball. The one made with my hair. What do you know about it?"

Zelena scoffed. "You mean besides the fact that it killed my sister?" Regina rolled her eyes.

Emma closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She had to play nice with Zelena no matter how difficult the redhead made it. "Yes. What do you know about how it was made? About what kind of magic she used?"

Zelena leaned back in her chair, arms dropping from the table to her lap. Her face conveyed her shock. "How should I know?! I had nothing to do with that!"

Emma sighed out and put her hands up in an effort to calm Zelena. "I know. I'm not accusing you of anything. It's just...I have questions and, well, the only person I know who knows as much about magic besides Regina is you."

"What about Rumple?" Zelena said after a beat.

Emma shrugged her shoulders. "I thought...you might be more willing to help me considering the circumstances."

Zelena bore her blue eyes into the savior across from her, and saw something not incredibly surprising. Emma was in turmoil. Zelena wasn't privy to everything that had transpired between her sister and Emma, but she had always noticed a softness between them. An inexplicable fondness that quite honestly made Zelena recoil. The thought of Regina losing her edge over a Charming was distasteful to her. But seeing Emma across from her table now, it was obvious that their connection was genuine. "What is it? What's happened?"

Emma was thankful that Zelena seemed to finally be taking her seriously. She hesitated only a moment, her hands still wringing. "I don't think Regina is dead."

This was not something Zelena expected to hear. She swallowed and tilted her head. "I'm sorry, but you saw as well as I did. There was no breath, no life in her after she absorbed that shock. She was dead instantly," Zelena rushed out as a tear threatened to form. She pushed it down.

Regina breathed in through her nose. "Listen to her, sis."

Emma nodded slowly. "I know. But if I've learned anything over the past few years, it's that with magic, anything is possible."

Zelena shifted in her chair slightly. "Emma, look, no one would be happier for that to be true than I, but I'm afraid that we-"

"I've been seeing her."

Zelena's eyes widened. "What do you mean, you've seen her?"

Emma raised her eyebrows in affirmation. "I've seen her. Only briefly, like small flashes. And I've heard her too." Zelena stood up and started pacing. "I couldn't really hear everything, but I'm sure she said 'I'm not dead, I'm right here.'. I know this sounds crazy, but I'm certain of it."

Zelena was taking in the information, searching her own knowledge to make sense of it. "When? When has this happened?"

"At my house, and then again at the station."

Zelena squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. "No, not where. When?"

Emma hummed, now feeling a bit embarrassed to reveal everything. "Um...well, when I brought Henry home, right after it happened. I thought I heard her then."

Zelena nodded in thought. "And then?"

"Again in the morning when I was having coffee."

"What were you doing while having coffee?"

Emma swallowed. "What do you mean what was I doing? I was having coffee."

Zelena scoffed and walked back to the table but did not sit down. She towered over Emma. "I mean what were you doing? What were you thinking about? Who were you talking to?" When she saw Emma squirm, Zelena rolled her eyes again. "Don't be shy now, savior, if you want answers I need to know everything."

Emma sighed and her eyes dropped to the table. She needed to suck it up. "I was...sad. Grieving. And...I was talking to her. I thought I heard her then too."

Zelena nodded. "You said you saw her. When did that happen?" She saw Emma grow red and was about to protest. "Just...tell me." Regina narrowed her eyes.

Emma sighed again, and did her best to downplay it. "I was...about to get in the shower."

Zelena let out a single chuckle. "You were naked," she deadpanned. Regina groaned and covered her eyes.

"Not naked! Just...half naked. It was only for a split second and she was gone! I thought I was just seeing things."

Zelena smiled to herself and chuckled slightly. "So what convinced you that you weren't crazy?"

"At the station. I was...worried that I wouldn't know how to help Henry through this. This time I actually felt her. Her hand on my shoulder. When I turned, I saw her there...she was...comforting me," Emma paused in reflection. She was brought back to the present when she saw Zelena gazing at her compassionately. "But it was fleeting. The moment I said her name, she disappeared."

Zelena thought for another moment before a light bulb came on. "Of course. Strong emotion. Every time a strong emotion is expressed, she is able to show herself."

Emma furrowed her eyebrows. "I wasn't having any strong emotions in the shower."

Zelena raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You weren't, maybe."

Regina's arms shot to her sides and stepped forward. "You little witch!"

When Zelena saw Emma blush furiously and fidget uncontrollably, she rolled her eyes again. She decided to change the subject. "Has anyone else had these experiences?"

Emma suddenly lightened. She hadn't even considered that. "I-I don't know."

"Well, we should probably find out, shouldn't we?" Zelena said, matter-of-factly.

Emma hesitated. "Look...how real is this possibility? I don't want to go getting anyone's hopes up, ESPECIALLY Henry if there isn't truly a strong possibility to bring her back."

Zelena sighed out and walked up to Emma. "Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is that magic is fickle. The Black Fairy was very specific with that magic. It was made to kill you, not Regina. Perhaps, I don't know, perhaps Regina did something just before the fireball hit her to protect herself. Maybe the Dark Fairy built a fail-safe into the magic in case you turned the tables on her. All I do know is that yes...it is possible. But we need to know more before we can figure out what to do about it."

Emma sighed in resignation. "Alright. But let me do it. We need to be subtle about this."

Zelena nodded and was startled a bit by her phone ringing. She still wasn't used to that blasted thing. The thought of who would possibly be calling her faded as she answered it.

Emma saw Zelena's face fall. She stood up from the table and crossed her arms across her chest. She listened.

"Uh huh. Yes. Yes, I understand. I'll be right there," Zelena said solemnly as she hung up the phone. She looked sadly at Emma. "That was the coroner. They want to know about preparations for Regina's body."

Emma sighed. "Whatever we do, we need to do it fast."