Hook… I Will Always Find You

Chapter Fifteen

Regina and Robin walked hand in hand among the gravestones within the cemetery once again as they searched for her father's tombstone, as well as for Daniel's too. The archer found Regina's former lover's first and they were grateful to see that the stone was tipped over indicating Daniel had moved on from the Underworld where he was peace like she hoped he had after she last saw him, barely alive in Storybrooke no thanks to Dr. Whale. Daniel had told her to love again just before she was forced to kill him to save him, but she never knew if he was truly alright and the Queen realized he was now that she had fulfilled his last wish for her by falling in love with Robin Hood.

She knelt down over his gravestone and nervously reached out her hand as she slowly traced her fingers over Daniel's name. Robin remained silent while she did so, then laid his hand down on top of her shoulder to offer her what little comfort he could when Regina quietly began to cry.

She reached up to lay her own hand over his and finally looked up at her new love as she smiled at him. However, as Regina was about to stand again with the archer's help, they were both startled when Cora suddenly appeared before them and gently whispered her daughter's name.

Regina immediately rose to her feet and pulled Robin behind her on instinct when her thoughts fell back to the night Cora had murdered Daniel, then she uttered, "Mother. I can't believe it. I wondered if you would be here. Please… tell me you just came here to see me to make sure I'm okay. You won't hurt Robin too. Not like you did to Daniel."

Cora glanced over at her daughter's new love with coldness in her eyes, but she shook her head and turned back to Regina while she responded, "No, darling. I didn't come here for a reason other than to simply talk with you. I heard you had come. I didn't want to believe it at first, especially when I heard you were here to help the others with you to find and save Hook of all people. I never thought you would risk your life for him like this."

"I'm here because Hook is my friend as much as everyone else and because he gave his life to save mine," the younger woman replied in relief as she stepped closer to her mother until Cora finally pulled Regina into her arms to embrace her. "I hoped you were okay. I was so afraid you wouldn't be at peace after how you died."

"You mean by Snow's hands?" Cora retorted curtly when she released her. "Just like Daniel."

However, Regina quickly answered, "Mother, you killed Daniel. Not because Snow told my secret, but because you couldn't allow me to run off to find my own happiness unless it was decided by you. And as for your death… yes, Snow killed you, but I've forgiven her and now we've become friends. The best of friends. All of us have and it's thanks to them I was able to find Robin. I'm happier than I've ever been and while I miss you, and Daniel, and father… I'm happy with my life as it is, mother. Can't you understand that? Can you please, just be happy for me?"

She nodded as she responded, "I can. I know you're happy, darling. But I do have unfinished business. And that would be you."

"You don't have to worry about me," her daughter replied sincerely as she smiled at Cora again under the belief that she was truly happy for her like she hoped.

"I'll always worry about you," Cora answered. "I want you to be happy."

Regina turned her head to look at Robin when he moved around her to stand at his love's side and took her hand in his own, then she looked back at the older woman again while she responded, "Then help me find Hook and get out of here."

The Queen's mother kept her eyes solely on her daughter as she harshly replied, "It's too dangerous. You need to leave… now."

"I promised my friends I would help," the dark haired woman answered in frustration.

"Your friends…" Cora stated, reaching out to run her fingers through the strands of Regina's hair. "Your family… They're what's holding you back. Sweetheart, you must do what's best for you."

Regina looked at her in confusion as she responded, "I am."

The older woman shook her head as she crossly replied, "No, you're not. And if you won't, I'll see to it that you do. It wasn't easy, but I've arranged for a boat to take you home. It departs in one hour. Take your thief, and go before it's too late."

"Mother…" the Mayor of Storybrooke uttered. "I can't."

"You must," Cora continued firmly. "I know it's hard to… to put aside all suspicion after how I raised you, but, Regina… do you remember the last thing I said to you before I died?"

Regina nodded and answered, "That I would have been enough."

Cora responded, "You would have been. It just took me too long to realize it. Don't make the same mistake. Go."

"What would happen if I stayed?" the Queen asked her worryingly.

"Sometimes a mother has to do what's best for her child, even if it's reprehensible," the older woman replied darkly.

Regina glared at her mother as she questioned, "Are you threatening me?"

Cora shook her head again while she answered, "Oh, no. No, of course not. I never. But there's something I have to show you."

All of a sudden, she raised her hand as she used her magic to poof herself, Regina and Robin, as well as an old adversary of Regina's known by the name of Blacktooth to a fiery cave where sometimes those who were the worst of the worst ended up before they moved on to the worse place by Hades' will. Regina, Robin, and Cora stood safely away from the edge, but Blacktooth was standing on a small rock ledge just above the flames, as he struggled to keep his balance while he turned around to face them with fear in his eyes.

"Mother… where are we?" Regina asked her worryingly. "What are you doing?"

"Showing you your fate if you don't return to Storybrooke," the villainess responded coldly while she raised her hand again, and straight away, flames then began to surround Blacktooth, who began to scream in anguish until she swiftly used her magic to throw Blacktooth off the edge of the cliff, still engulfed by flames as he fell, before landing in the fiery pit below.

Regina stared at her in horrendous disbelief as she stuttered, "You… you killed him."

"Killed' is, um, a relative term down here," Cora replied when she turned around to face her daughter and Robin again. "This Underworld… most can only leave it in two ways… to a better place or a worse one. But you, my sweet daughter, have another option. However, not for long. Go home, or there will be a cost. Someone will suffer."

"Who?" Regina asked darkly when Robin came up behind her and laid his hand over the small of her back.

The Queen's mother answered cruelly, "Your father."

It was then that the archer spoke up angrily saying, "You can't really be serious about threatening Regina's father… your husband, just to convince your daughter to leave here without us accomplishing what we've come here for? How could you?"

"I'm only looking out for her like you should be doing," Cora retorted crossly when she turned her head to face him and glared at him as she did so, before she looked again between them. "Don't be foolish. Hook is dead. Your friend… is dead. It's time you and Emma Swan accepts that and do as I say, or you will all regret it. Both of you. Even more so than you regret what you did to your father, Regina. You better be on that boat. Please…"

"You can't do this," Regina angrily cried, until the other woman suddenly vanished before her daughter could object again. "Mother? Mother! Come back!"