Chapter 10

Warning for emotionally abusive Hook. This is the last time you will see me type that name. This chapter is necessary to open the door for SWANQUEEN endgame. Bye, bye, Hook.

Emma woke up suddenly. She was confused as to where she was. She heard Regina yelling her name and a furious pounding in the background. She fumbled around the unfamiliar room until finally she switched on the bedside lamp. Oh yeah. She was in Regina's guest room. "Regina? What's going on?"

Having no clear view of the street or the front walk from the guest room, Regina was as oblivious as Emma was. "Someone is at the front door." She didn't say it, but if she had to guess who, she would have been right. She followed as Emma rolled out of bed and stumbled to the door. Once downstairs, Regina didn't have time to peer through the door to see who it was. Emma swung the door open too quickly.

"What?!" Emma shouted as she swung the door open, not prepared to come face to face with Hook. "Killian!" she said in shock.

Regina narrowed her eyes. Clearly inebriated, the pirate swayed as his swollen eyes took in the same sight she herself had not too long ago. Her skin crawled as his eyes took in Emma's sleep apparel hungrily, his mouth pouting into an "ooo" shape. His hand traced her body in the air as he leered at her.

"My, my, Emma," he ticked his tongue in his mouth. "At first I was quite peeved thinking you were sleeping here, but now that I see the unexpected side effect," he licked his lips as his facial expression became suggestive, still trying to remain upright.

Emma certainly had to hold her own against perverted men before, but certainly none that she had married. Killian had seen her in various states of undress before, but never before had she felt so violated, so infringed upon than she did in that moment. She suddenly felt very vulnerable, in the most terrible of ways. She self consciously folded her arms over her chest in an attempt to block his view. "What are you doing here Killian?"

He didn't hide his annoyance at her mostly futile attempt to block his view and eyed her in disapproval. "Looking for my wife. I had a feeling I'd find you here. Still in mourning, aye?"

Regina had been on full alert the moment Emma had opened the door. She saw him move to step past Emma and into the house, and in reflex tried to block his path. "He isn't welcome here, not in this state," she yelled to Emma.

Hearing Regina protest was a welcomed excuse to stop him. Emma quickly stepped in his path, bringing their bodies nearly flush, nothing between them but her hand on his chest. "You're drunk," she said, desperately trying to remove her face from the vicinity of his, as he leaned down towards her. The smell of rum on his breath was especially nauseating tonight. She looked everywhere possible except up at him, feeling more than a little discomfort at their nearness. How she had gone from willingly sharing a newlywed bed to being so physically repulsed by the man was shocking to her. She guessed suddenly realizing you had married a stranger, a stranger who wanted you to be someone you weren't had that affect on a woman. "Go home, Killian."

Killian stopped pushing against her and lifted his arms in disbelief. "What, I can't come in? It's not like Regina will protest, she's dead," he said harshly.

Regina growled softly as her fists balled at her sides. But she said nothing. Emma had to handle this.

Emma scoffed a bit, letting her hand drop off his chest as he backed off. "No, no she isn't. That's what I was trying to tell you before. If you had listened to me, you'd be in the loop on everything that has gone on in the past day."

Hook's face pinched. "You still on that? Come off it, Emma. Are you that obsessed with the woman that you still can't let her go?"

Emma hadn't forgotten that Regina was standing there listening to this. She wished desperately that he would stop talking before he embarrassed her further. "What are you talking about, Killian? I'm not obsessed with anything. You need to leave here, now. Go sleep it off."

He grabbed her wrist and started tugging. "Yes, lets go home, Emma, come on."

Regina took a step forward, knowing she was powerless to intervene.

Emma ripped her arm back. "I'm not going anywhere with you. This is exactly what I was talking about, Killian. I'm not your possession."

He took a step forward to intimidate her. He glowered down at her. "You are my wife, Emma. Just because we had a disagreement, that hasn't changed."

Emma nodded. "Yeah. I know that. But right now I need some space, and you aren't welcome here."

Hook breathed heavily. "This is Henry's home now. What does he say?"

Emma crossed her arms again. "Henry isn't here, and no. This is still Regina's house. You aren't welcome. Not right now."

Hook laughed cruelly, turning in a wabbily circle on the front walk. "Right, because...she's not dead." Emma didn't respond. He paused and looked at her, as if thinking. "Well, tell me then. If she's not dead, where is she?"

Emma had her face down, but eyes looked up at him. "She's here."

Hook raised his arms up, looking about the front yard, turning around dramatically. He yelled out into the night drunkenly. "Regina?! Oh, where for art thou, Regina?! Come on, love! Tell me how I'm not allowed into your humble abode, or else I shall take it as an invitation!"

Regina had had enough. She took a few steps until her ghostly body stood between Emma and the pirate. "Emma, I've had quite enough of this."

Emma licked her lips, and her tense body readied itself. "I'll handle this, Regina."

Hook heard Emma's words, and became amused. He returned his attention to her and walked over. He didn't notice Emma tense further. "Oh, what, you can talk to her now?" he mocked. When she didn't respond, he continued. "So not only is Regina not dead, but she's somehow here, invisible, and yet, you can talk to her. Is that right? Is that what you're telling me?"

Emma felt small. How could someone make her feel so small? She hadn't let anyone make her feel like this since she was a kid. She mumbled her response.

"Speak up!" He yelled.

Emma jumped and recoiled. "Yes!" she yelled. Suddenly realizing what this man had reduced her to, she perked up. No one made her feel like this. No man, no villain, no husband, absolutely no one. She had no idea that this sudden strength was due to Regina's hand on her shoulder, channeling any energy she could muster into the savior's soul. Emma stood taller.

Hook saw the change, and took another step forward. He paused. "Prove it. Prove to me that your beloved Queen is still here."

Newly renewed by Regina's strength, Emma's eyes narrowed. "I don't have to prove anything to you."

Hook didn't waver. "If you can answer one question that only Regina would know, then I'll leave. I'll leave and never come back."

Emma scoffed in disbelief. "You're that certain that I'm lying about this."

He didn't miss a beat. "Oh, I know you're lying. Well, not lying, really, just delusional."

Emma shook her head. "You come from a land of magic. Why are you so certain this can't be true?" She saw his face falter a bit, biting the insides of his cheeks. She cocked her head. "You aren't sure. You just don't want it to be true. Why are you so determined that Regina stay dead?"

He looked guilty for a moment before doubling down. "One question. If you're right and she answers, then I'll leave."

Although skeptical, Regina was ready for this moron to be gone. "Fine, agree. Whatever to get this pirate off my front walk."

Emma stared into his eyes and nodded.

He grinned. He was certain he was about to reveal a secret about Regina that Emma hadn't known. Surely at finding out how the Queen had tried to corrupt her husband would put a hitch in their so-called friendship. "A long time ago, back in the Enchanted Forest, Regina called for my audience," he got the response he hoped for. Emma shifted uncomfortably. She didn't know Hook and the Queen had history. "That's right. She didn't tell you this little bit, did she? She asked me to do a job for her. What job might that have been? And what were the terms? This is known by only Regina and myself."

Emma cringed. She knew exactly what he was doing. She looked over her shoulder, waiting for a response from Regina.

Regina paused. She shot daggers at the pirate. She swallowed. Sure, this was something that Emma didn't know. But truly, it was pale in comparison to the things that Emma already knew. The pirate must think that Emma would turn her back on Regina in defense of her husband. If that were the case, then well, that was up for Emma to decide. But Regina had not too long ago forgiven herself for the things she had done as the Evil Queen in the past. If others couldn't forgive her, well then, that was out of her hands. And so she had to trust. Trust that Emma would not turn her back on Regina when she needed her the most. She took a deep breath. "I...I wanted him to kill my mother. But first...he had to kill his own father."

Emma didn't say anything for a moment. She stood in thought. Both Regina and Hook watched her go through the thought process. Regina stood breathless, frightened as to what Emma's response would be. Hook, on the other hand, grinned. He thought he had won. Finally Emma worked through some thing and looked up at Hook. Her face was of disbelief. "You...are seriously an idiot," she said matter-of-factly. Hook's face dropped in confusion. Emma scoffed. "You really think I don't see what you're doing?" She shook her head and paced the porch a bit. "I know you took the deal, at least at first," she saw Hook panic. Seems Regina really wasn't dead. "Ya. Henry told me you killed your own father." His face paled. "You surely didn't tell me that, did you husband. Just like you tried to hide from me that you killed David's father." He took a step back, eyes searching the ground beneath him. Emma took a step toward him. "But, clearly you didn't follow through on the deal, because, well, we dealt with Cora a long time after that, didn't we? After you had teamed up with the very woman you had been hired to kill. So you didn't take the deal, and yet...still killed him. So don't blame Regina for that, Killian. You did that on your own."

Hook shook his head angrily, "She killed thousands, she killed Snow's father, her own father, she ruined your life!"

Emma felt a fire brew under her skin. Regina cracked a half smile, her heart rate picking up as Emma's did as well. "That was the Evil Queen, and a long time ago. Regina NEVER denied all the things she as done in the past, unlike you! You keep hiding things! You keep lying! While she took every opportunity to change and embraced it, you skated by! You told half truths and more lies, and hid behind your love for me and pretended to change but you haven't! She's made mistakes, but she admits to them! You cover yours up! Well, you know what? No more. I'm done making excuses for you. I've given you what you wanted. Regina isn't dead. Now go home. We're through."

Hook stumbled backwards, not sure what to say. He pointed a wobbly finger at her. "You're still my wife, Emma. You know damned well no one else will put up with the things I have put up with from you. You think you can just...bring her back from the dead and live happily ever after?! That's our story!"

Emma scoffed and turned to walk to the front door. "Yeah, well, ours isn't a fairy tale. Just a single chapter in what for me is a much better story." She gave him one last look before slamming the door behind her. Regina raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. She was impressed. She watched as Hook staggered backward a few feet, defeat showing in all his features. Finally he reluctantly turned and sauntered off crookedly down the road.

Regina followed Emma quietly back up the stairs. She said nothing as Emma dropped back into the bed and pulled the covers over herself. She once again stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, unsure if she should say anything. Emma's face was expressionless. Perhaps it was the bind on their souls, but for whatever reason, Regina wanted to console the woman. She wanted to hold her and stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head. She wanted to say all the right things to soothe the woman's broken heart. She could do none of those things. But Regina's own need to be near the savior meant she had to do something. She slowly walked over to to the empty side of the bed. She gingerly sat down, and laid out perfectly straight on the mattress next to Emma. She sighed out deeply, linking her fingers across her belly.

They lay in silence for a moment. "Thank you," Emma whispered.

Regina shot her face over to look through the dark. The moonlight shone in blue eyes. "For what?" she asked sincerely.

Emma sighed out. "I know you gave me strength. I can't believe I let him make me feel like that. I was so blinded...blinded by the future I thought I was supposed to want...I lost myself somewhere."

Regina sighed. "You are strong, Emma. Don't ever forget that."

Emma scoffed. "Thanks to you."

Regina didn't know what to say, and so said nothing. A few moments passed. "For what it's worth, he's wrong, you know."

Emma scrunched her eyebrows. "About what?"

Regina only hesitated for a moment. "About you being his wife."

Emma propped up on one elbow. "What do you mean?"

Regina turned to face her. "Think about it. Who married you?"

Emma didn't move a muscle. "Archie?"

"The cricket." Regina saw Emma's eyes searching the dark for the answer. Regina shook her head. "The Enchanted Forest may be a backward place, but not even there is it legal to be married by an invertebrate with nothing but a conscience." When she saw Emma's mouth drop open in disbelief, Regina scoffed. "Did you sign a marriage certificate?"

"No," Emma said slowly.

"Well then," Regina said cheerily as she laid back down. "You're not married."

Emma sat still frozen, processing everything Regina had just said. "Huh," she said absentmindedly as she laid back down on her back, eyes still wide open.

Regina glanced at her and laughed to herself. "Feel better?"

Emma's eyebrows went up. "Actually...yes."

Regina smiled. "Good. Well, I'll let you get back to sleep."

Regina went to get up but was stopped by Emma's voice. "Regina," she said quickly, turning on her side to face where the voice was coming from. She knew Regina was on the bed. She could feel her. When she felt Regina stop, she could almost see the brunette's eyes, shining down on her as she sat at the side of the bed. She swallowed. "Stay here?"

Regina felt her heart beat faster and caught her breath. She tweaked a smile as she watched Emma looking up in pleading. Never in a million years could she say no to that look. Never again did she. "Alright," she whispered, gently laying back down on her back. She stayed as perfectly still as she could, as she felt Emma slink her body closer.

Regina couldn't feel Emma's head curl up just above her breast. She couldn't feel her breath tickling her neck. She didn't feel Emma rubbing her cold feet against Regina's shins in a desperate attempt to warm them. She didn't hear Emma mumbling into her ear as she drifted off to sleep.

But she imagined she could. She imagined she did. And she imagined what it would be like to spend every night from here on out exactly like this.