Chapter 6

Emma walked quietly into the loft, clicking the door softly shut behind her. Her heart sank when she saw Snow sitting at the kitchen table. She was clutching a coffee mug with one hand, the other in her mouth as she chewed on a finger. Her cheeks were streaked with tears. As Emma approached, she saw a framed picture on the table in front of her. Emma walked up and grabbed the frame. Snow had heard her approach, but hadn't moved. Finally she brought the mug to her lips. Emma looked at the photo and let out a silent chuckle. She had taken the picture candidly. She remembered because it was a single moment of quiet at Granny's, one that was few and far between lately. It was shortly after Neal was born. Things were just starting to become good between them and Regina. None of them knew Emma had taken the picture until she had framed it later. Regina was holding Neal. Snow was next to her, Charming with his hand on Snow's shoulder. They were all smiling. Regina's gaze to Snow held a warmth rarely seen from the brunette. Snow was peering back; happy, content, almost even adoringly. Even Charming looked at ease. It was a precious, iconic moment; quiet and fleeting, but a perfect moment after a lifetime of turmoil. Emma thought how wonderful it was, to see how full circle they had come. To see how these bitter enemies had not only found common ground in Henry, but had found a way to do more than coexist. They had become a family. It was only then that Emma thought about how hard her mother must be taking this.

Regina was uneasy. She was loathed to admit that her and Snow had almost become friends through this crazy Storybrooke life. But they had. And no doubt this sensitive, sentimental idiot was taking her death hard. Regina was not comfortable with seeing that first hand.

Snow sniffed. "It still doesn't seem real," she laughed. She brushed tears away as Emma sat down and placed the frame back in it's place. Snow reached out, and was pleased when Emma took it. She looked up at Emma and smiled. Regina felt a brick forming in her throat. "After everything we went through...the bitter woman she had become...all the death, the torture, the vindictiveness," Snow chuckled and Regina cringed. "After all that...who knew that we would come back to the place of tenderness we had lost so long ago." She saw Emma tilt her head in sympathy. Regina took a few slow steps forward. "Somehow, thanks to this curse, Regina found her way home again. Not just for Henry or us even. But for herself. I just wish she could have had time to enjoy it."

Emma half smiled. "Me too."

Snow shook her head and took another sip from her mug. She looked again at the picture. She didn't know Regina was also peering at it from over her shoulder. Regina felt tears welling up. She couldn't believe it but she wished she could apologize. She had already done that once, but suddenly her guilt and dismay made her want to fall on her knees and be so sorry for ever hurting this woman who was capable of so much love and forgiveness. Her guilt made her angry.

"Stop it. Stop fawning over me. I was terrible to you. I tried to kill you. Worse, I cursed you to be forever separated from your true love. How can you grieve such a person?"

Emma didn't know what compelled her, but she spoke up. "I don't think she thought she deserved your forgiveness."

Regina straightened her posture.

Snow sighed out a chuckle. "Of course not. No one was ever harder on Regina than herself. Not even her mother. I wish I could tell her that I forgive her. And that she will always be family."

Regina shook her head as a traitorous tear fell down her cheek. "You sentimental-"

"Idiot," Emma said quietly. Regina looked up in surprise.

Snow furrowed her eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Emma looked up in confusion and embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that."

Snow scoffed softly. "Because it's exactly what Regina would have said?"

Emma just looked at Snow, knowing she was exactly right. She was still channeling Regina and didn't even know it. Emma brushed it off, remembering why she was there. "Mom, has anything...strange happened since...since Regina...died?"

Snow looked at her in confusion. "Strange how? Emma? What's happening?"

"Nothing. I just-I want to make sure the Black Fairy didn't do something to...I just want to be sure this is over. Have you seen anything odd? Heard anything that doesn't belong?"

"No," Snow said assuredly. "Have you?"

Emma hesitated but decided after this display of grief, she dared not let her mother in on this. Not until she knew for sure. "No. I just...wanted to make sure, is all."

Snow nodded sadly. "I'm afraid none of this ended the way we all hoped it would."

Emma nodded and stood up, Snow following her lead. "I gotta get going. You be okay here alone?"

Snow nodded. "Yes. I'm thinking about going over to Granny's to start organizing a...something for Regina."

Emma nodded and gave her one last squeeze. "I'll be back later."

Regina continued to watch Snow. She watched her return to her seat, continuing to look at the photograph. She watched the sad look return, as well a the tears. She watched until she couldn't watch any longer, as the mysterious bind dragged her along with Emma Swan.

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David and Henry were happily surprised when Emma showed up at the river. She greeted David first with a light hug. "Hey Dad. How's he doing?"

David shrugged. "As well as can be expected. He's talking, at least. That's good. He's pretty devastated. I think we all are."

"Yeah, but he's just a kid. She was his mother. I can't imagine what he's going through." They both fell silent and turned to watch Henry, quietly and solemnly holding a fishing pole by the shore. Emma turned back to David. "How has it been out here? Quiet?"

David nodded. "Yeah, it's been just us all day."

"Nothing weird? No weird noises or anything?" She was trying not to draw his suspicion but knew that was near impossible.

As expected he was suspicious. "No. Why?"

It was Emma's turn to shrug. "No reason, I just...I'm on duty. Just making sure there's nothing afoot."

David seemed to accept that explanation and just nodded.

"I'm gonna go talk to the kid," Emma said as she playfully hit him on the shoulder and sauntered off, Regina closely behind.

"Hey Mom," Henry offered as Emma walked up. He didn't take his eyes off his line. Regina smiled next to him, trying to make him feel her presence.

"Hey, kid. How ya doing?" She squeezed his shoulder.

Henry sighed. "Crappy. I'm still not sure it really happened."

Emma swallowed down her pain for him. "I know, kid. I know. But...she'll never really leave you, you know?" Emma tried to be gentle.

"That's what they say," was all Henry had to say.

Emma looked intently at him. "You don't think so? You don't...feel like she's still here?"

Henry shrugged and finally glanced at her. "I don't know. They say that. They say you can feel loved ones with you."

"But you don't?"

Henry thought for a moment. "I haven't...until right now."

Emma sighed and moved to hug him from behind. He didn't let go of the pole but lifted one hand to lay it on Emma's arm. he leaned his head back against her shoulder. "She will always love you and be with you, Henry. Always."

"Thanks, Mom."

Their hug was interrupted by Emma's ringing cell phone. She pulled it from her pocket and didn't recognize the number. "Sheriff Swan- er Jones er...Sheriff here!" Well that was awkward.

"Emma. It's Zelena. I think you'd better get over here to the hospital."

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Emma (and Regina) rushed into the hospital where Zelena and Dr. Whale were waiting for her."What is it?"

"You were right!" Zelena cried energetically. Whatever it was that had excited her, the woman was fidgety and could not stand in one spot.

"What?" Emma asked with excitement. She looked to Dr. Whale.

"She is dead. I-I can't explain it," He sputtered, seeing Emma get even more confused.

"They wanted to know how I wanted her body prepared-cremated or buried," Zelena exclaimed excitedly. "I was-not ready to answer and asked if I could see her one last time."

Whale took over the story. "We pulled her body out of the locker at the morgue. Same place we keep all dead bodies."

Emma wished they would just get to the gist already. Regina stood and watched in just as much anticipation. "What? What? Tell me!"

Zelena took back over. "I-I reached down and touched her hand. She was warm!"

"Those are cold lockers, there is no way she should be warm," Whale explained. "Not to mention her body shouldn't be generating any heat. I did some tests...no rigor mortis has set in, and there has been no tissue deterioration."

"What does that mean?!"

Whale shook his head. "I can't explain it. Her body is dead. I can't explain any of it. At least not with modern science."

"Magic?" Emma asked hopefully.

"It must be! It's the only explanation! You have been seeing her!" Zelena uncharacteristically grabbed Emma's shoulders. "The others...have they been seeing her too?"

Emma was still trying to take all this in. She shook her head. "No, it doesn't seem so. Only me."

Zelena clapped her hands together. "Marvelous!"

Emma shook her head. "Marvelous? Why is that good?"

Zelena smiled triumphantly. "Because that means I know what's going on. AND I know how to fix it."