The next morning Henry had jumped up from bed as soon as he woke, dressed himself and darted downstairs to get some breakfast. Mary-Margaret and David frowned a little as they saw Henry half running down the stairs of the loft. He was normally in bed until at least late morning nowadays.
"Good morning Henry. You're up early." Mary-Margaret said as she got out the cereal and a bowl and spoon for Henry.
"Well I want to get started on a plan to help mom and I want to see her." Henry said pouring some cereal into his bowl.
Mary-Margaret nodded. She couldn't deny that she too wanted to see Regina. To see if she was okay, to see if she was coping. She could slightly imagine part of what Regina was going through. After what she had done to Regina's mother she had fought some dark thoughts but then she knew what she had felt, although awful and depressing it would be nothing compared to what Regina was feeling right at this moment in time. "As long as you know we are here to help Henry." Mary-Margaret finally said with a small smile.
"I know." Henry replied quietly. He picked up his bowl and spoon and walked over to the table and sat down, tucking into his cereal. He stopped after a couple of mouthfuls of cereal and dropped his spoon into the bowl with a slight clatter. He turned round a bit to look back at David and Mary-Margaret who were now looking over at him. "Do you think she is okay?" He asked.
Mary-Margaret glanced at one another. What did they say? No one knew if Regina was okay. "I-I'm sure your mom is okay Henry…She will have a lot going on in her mind but she will be okay. We will make sure of it." Mary-Margaret said walking over to Henry and placing her hand on his shoulder. He nodded his head and turned back round.
Regina had not slept one wink all night. She had sat up all night in the same position, resting against one of the walls, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head resting on her knees. She had spent much of the time crying, thinking and fighting against the dark feelings going through her. Her head felt like it was going to explode and she had no idea what she was going to do. She jumped as her phone beeped and Regina lifted her head up from her knees and looked down to her phone on the floor beside her. On the screen she saw Henry's name and she sighed. She picked it up and opened up the message and just stared down at it.
Mom, are you okay?
She didn't make a move to reply to the text. She had no idea how to reply to the text. She didn't have the answer to give her son. Was she okay? She had no idea. She didn't feel okay right at this moment in time she guessed. She was terrified that darkness was going to take over her once again. She could feel it inside her and it was trying to bring up all the old feelings and trying to make her remember how it felt to be powerful and in some way strong. It was showing her memories that she had tried so hard to push away, to push out of her mind and forget.
So maybe she could answer Henry's question. Maybe she did have the answer. No she wasn't alright. She was scared, no she was terrified. She felt weak but powerful at the same time. The pain in her head was striking. It was all too much. That was how she could answer Henry but she wouldn't. He is her son. She can't tell him all of that. She doesn't want him to worry about her. She doesn't want him to see her so vulnerable. She can't let him see her like that. She jumped again as her phoned beeped again and she looked down to see another text from Henry.
Mom? Please answer me. I want to know your okay.
Regina sighed and rested her head back against the wall. He was worrying about her. Of course he was. He had been there last night. He had seen what had happened. She had disappeared straight after and none of them knew if she was even alive never mind if she was okay. She looked back down at her phone and let out another sigh and made a move to reply to Henry.
Henry jumped up as soon as he heard his phone beep. He grabbed it from the table and let out a sigh of relief as he saw the message was from Regina.
I'm okay. Please don't worry.
He frowned. Did his mom really think he wouldn't worry about her? Emma was now awake and walked over to Henry, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You okay kid? Your mom answer you?" She asked as she sat down at the table.
"She answered. She said she is okay and I've not to worry." Henry replied sitting down beside Emma.
"Well at least we know she is okay now right?" Emma said.
Henry nodded his head. "Doesn't stop me worrying about her though."
"Of course it won't Henry but we will sort everything out and it will be okay." Emma replied. "We are not going to let darkness take over your mom again." And Emma meant every word she had said. She wouldn't let Regina be taken over by darkness again. Regina had fought to hard for her happy ending and she was going to get it if it was the last thing Emma done. She would make sure Regina got the happy ending she deserved. She had to!
"I want to see her. I need to see her. I will only believe she is okay once I have seen her." Henry said firmly.
Emma nodded her head. "I'm with you there kid and straight after my breakfast I am going to go and get ready and then we are going to see your mom okay." So Henry waited as patiently as he could for Emma to finish her breakfast and then go and get ready. He paced around the sofa as he waited everything running through his mind. He couldn't wait to see his mom. He wanted to make sure she really was okay. Emma came back downstairs pulling on her leather jacket. "Alright we need to go and meet Robin. He would like to see your mom too."
Henry nodded his head. "I thought he would."
Emma smiled at Henry and then she turned to Mary-Margaret and David. "You two coming too?" She asked. They both nodded their heads and they all filed out of the loft and made their way down to the forests of Storybrooke meeting Robin on the edge of the forest. As they approached they could all see, like themselves, that Robin hadn't slept much the night before and the worry was evident on his face. Emma was the first to speak as they approached Robin. "Henry heard from Regina earlier. Didn't you Henry…" Emma said nudging Henry a little who nodded his head.
"You did?" Robin asked quickly. "Is she okay?"
"I text her asking that. She replied telling me she is and not to worry about her." Henry replied.
Robin sighed. "That is easy for Regina to say." He said as he raked his fingers through his hair.
"Well we are hopefully going to see her now." Emma said. She then pulled out the dagger that had been sitting in the back pocket of her jeans.
"We are going to use the dagger?" Robin asked his eyebrows lifting slightly. "I'm not so sure she would like the fact we are able to control her."
"No she won't like it but this is the only way that we will ensure that we will definitely get to see Regina. I have a feeling that she would hide from us as long as she could if we let her. If we use the dagger she will have no choice but to see us. I don't like it but we have to make sure she is okay." Emma explained. She really didn't like the idea of using the dagger against Regina but they needed to see her.
Robin nodded his head. "Your right." He said quietly.
Emma held the dagger up trying to think what she should say. Should she say what they had said for Rumplestiltskin? Should she say 'dark one I summon thee'? Or should she said 'Regina I summon thee'? She had no idea. What sounded better? What sounded right? She sighed and then looked over at Henry who was looking up at her. Maybe she wasn't the one to be calling for Regina. Henry was the one who really needed to see her. Sure she and Mary-Margaret and David wanted to see her and she knew Robin was desperate to see Regina but Henry was the one out of all of them that truly needed his mom around him. She bit her lip and then moved her hand towards Henry handing the dagger to him. "You should call for her." Emma said quietly. She knew Henry would know what to say. He always somehow did.
Henry did not hesitate in taking the dagger. He stepped back from them and held the dagger out in front of him just staring at it for a moment. He knew exactly how he was going to call his mom and it wasn't by the usual way you would call for the dark one. "Mom…Mom I need you…" He called out, staring at the dagger as he did so. He wished with all his heart that she would appear and put all his energy into it and everyone looked around waiting to see if it had worked.
As soon as Regina had replied to Henry's text she had finally pushed herself up from the floor and placed her phone on a table in the room. She had walked over to the mirror and stared into it for a while. She looked tired and definitely not herself. Well not the person she had become now. She ran her fingers through her hair and then wiped her hands over her face.
She needed to get herself together. If she was going to fight this she needed to get herself sorted. So that is what she did. She reapplied her makeup, hiding the bags under her eyes and finding that something inside her was telling her to put extra eye liner on and giving herself a much darker look than usual. She'd had no idea that's what she had been doing while applying her makeup. Once she was finished she walked over to the books she had on a shelf in her vault and moved her finger over the spines trying to see if there was one that could help her with the new mess she was in.
She needed to start working on getting herself out of the mess she found herself in. She had no idea if there was a way out, apart from the way she knew of, the way her mother was going to become the dark one but she didn't really like the idea of someone stabbing her with the dagger and becoming the dark one themselves so she quickly ruled that one out. She grabbed a book from the shelf and walked over to a big chest and sat down on it, placing the book on her lap. Opening it she flicked through the pages not really sure what she was looking for. It was then that a strange feeling came over her and she heard a voice…but not just any voice, Henry's voice.
Mom…Mom I need you…
Regina closed her eyes and shook her head. Looking around her she couldn't see Henry anywhere but the echo of his voice was still running through her head.
Mom I need you.
She heard again and then she felt this pull. A feeling she couldn't fight against. She lost all control of herself, whatever she was doing was not because she choosing to do it, but because she had to do it. She found herself transporting towards where she felt Henry was and as she opened her eyes she found herself stood in front of Henry, Emma, Robin and then Charming's all staring back at her in slight disbelief that they were seeing her.
"Mom!" Henry gasped and stepped towards her, quickly wrapping his arms around Regina and hugging her tightly.
Regina didn't hug Henry back right away but when she looked down at him she felt the darkness slowly slip a little and the love she felt for him shine through. A lightness in her heart. She moved her arms up and around him, one hand cradling his head and she kissed the top of his head and whispered. "Henry."
"Regina are you okay?" Robin asked, worry in his voice and he stepped forwards wishing to hug her, hold her, be with her. Regina looked up at Robin and he could see in her eyes she was struggling with fighting everything she was feeling.
"I'm okay…" She said her voice wavering slightly, failing her in getting across that she was okay. She didn't want Henry to worry for her. That wasn't his job. He shouldn't have to feel worried for her.
Henry pulled away from her and looked up into her eyes. He wasn't stupid. He knew she wasn't okay but he didn't say anything. "We are going to help you mom. We will figure out how to keep you away from the darkness." Regina gave Henry a small smile and placed her hand on his cheek. Tears welling up in her eyes. "Don't give into it mom." Henry said.
"I am trying Henry." Regina replied quietly.
"Roland missed you last night…" Robin said hoping to ease the tension slightly. "He wants' to see you."
"I'm not so sure that is a good idea. Do you really want your son around the dark one?" Regina said.
"I know you wouldn't hurt him." Robin said simply.
"I wouldn't want to hurt him. It would be an accident but it could happen anyway." Regina said.
"Five minutes. That's all he will need. He just needs to see you, to hug you." Robin said, although he wasn't sure if he really was talking about Roland or himself. Regina sighed and nodded her head in consent.
"Henry why don't you go get Roland?" Emma asked knowing they needed to talk and knowing Regina would find it easier without Henry there.
"Okay." Henry said fully pulling away from Regina and looking towards Robin for directions. Robin gave him directions and he left the adults knowing they were just trying to get rid of him so they could talk more but he went any way.
As soon as Henry was far enough away Emma asked "Right Regina, are you really okay or is that answer just for Henry's benefit?"
Regina sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I might not be as okay as I am making out…" She started but trailed off.
"You didn't come to find any of us last night…" Robin said.
"I needed time…to think and well…to sort things out in my head. There is a lot going on in my head at the moment. Too much. It hurts. I can't make it stop!" Regina tried to explain. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She felt far too emotional. All her feelings getting the better of her. She swallowed back the tears, something inside her saying not to show them any weaknesses. She can't show that she is weak.
"Let us help you Regina." Mary-Margaret said stepping forward a little. "We can help…"
"You can't help me. You can't stop what is going on in my head. You can't stop all the feelings. You have no idea what is going on, what this feels like." Regina said shaking her head.
Robin knew exactly what Regina was doing. She was pushing them all away. Trying to protect them from herself. She was scared she would hurt them. She didn't want to hurt them so she would push them away. "Regina we can help you as long as you let us in."
Regina shook her head again. "No…" She whispered but she cut herself off as she saw Henry and Roland approaching them. She quickly swiped at the tears falling down her face and swallowed back her emotions.
"Gina!" Roland squealed as soon as he saw her and he pulled away from Henry and ran over to Regina jumping into her open arms. "You didn't come see me last night." Roland muffled into her shoulder as he hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry Roland." Regina replied and kissed the top of the child's head.
"Papa said you not feel well. You better now?" Roland asked pulling away slightly to look at Regina. He placed his hands on her cheeks to make sure he could look at her properly.
She gave him the best smile she could, a smile that the adults could probably see right through but Roland's young innocent mind couldn't. "I am much better now Roland."
Roland smiled back at Regina. "You come play now?" Roland asked.
Regina hesitated for a moment. She wanted to go and play with Roland and Robin and Henry too. She wanted to be spending time with them but she couldn't. She was too scared she would hurt one of them. She wasn't sure she would be able to forgive herself if one of them got hurt. "I-I can't Roland…" Regina started.
"Please Gina! Want you to come play."
Regina sighed and she crouched down and placed Roland on the ground. She kissed him on the forehead and stood up, looking around all the adults and then to Henry. She looked back down at Roland who was trying so hard to convince Regina to play with him that he was giving her his best puppy dog eyes. Something that would usually make Regina give in but today she knew she had to stay strong and stay away. "I'm sorry Roland. I can't come and play. I need to go now."
"Mom no. Where are you going?" Henry asked urgently.
"I-I'm sorry…" She said again. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and she cursed herself inside at how emotional she was just now. "I can't let you all be around me just now. I don't want any of you to get hurt because of me. It is better for you all if you stay away from me."
"Mom please you can't be alone just now. It would be better if you had us around you." Henry said.
"Henry's right Regina. Being alone won't help you." Emma said.
Regina tried not to let their voices into her head. She couldn't let them talk her out of this. She needed to be as far away from them as she could. Far away so that she couldn't hurt them. "Please don't use the dagger on me…" She said showing all her vulnerability. She then vanished in a cloud of purple smoke leaving them standing there.
It was Roland who spoke up first, confused by what was going on. "Papa Gina not like me anymore?" He asked hurt that Regina wouldn't want to play with him.
Robin sighed and he crouched down in front of Roland. "My boy Gina loves you. She just can't play just now. She is very busy."
"Okay…" Roland huffed out not happy with the answer but accepting it anyway.
Robin then stood back up, taking Roland's hand in his and holding him close. "What are we going to do? Do we leave Regina or…"
"I have no idea." Emma sighed.
"She doesn't want me around…" Henry said quietly. "Why doesn't she want me around?" He asked looking up a Emma.
"It's not that she doesn't want you around Henry." Emma said quickly.
"She is pushing you away to try and protect you Henry. She is doing it to us all." Robin added in. "She thinks it is the best thing to do."
"And is it?" Henry asked.
Emma looked at Robin, not sure how to answer Henry's question. So Robin answered. "I don't think it is but what I do think is that if we use the dagger to make your mom see us she will start to lose trust in us and it will only push her towards the darkness."
"So in order to help her we don't push her?" Henry asked trying to understand and process everything. Robin nodded his head. "How long do we leave her? Surely the longer she is alone the more she could go to the darkness?"
"I'm not sure Henry but in the mean time we are going to do everything we can to look for a way to help your mom. We won't let the darkness take her over. We will help her and…" Robin said trailing off a little as he felt his emotions taking over.
"We will get her the happy ending she deserves." Emma added in placing a hand on Henry an Robin's shoulders.
So what do we think of Regina so far as The Dark One? Do you think this is how she would be?