Part 3

Who and Where

Henry awoke abruptly; he took several deep breaths then leaned up on his elbows, he noticed both his mothers were still asleep. He checked the nearby watch telling him it was now morning. What happened? We need to see if we can contact anyone like maybe Mary Margret …wait isn't it Snow White now?

He jumped up in a flash thoughts of feeling ill evaporated quickly as he rushed over to his back pack. He pulled out his two way radio and turned it on. The static hummed for an instant then he said calmly. "Hey is anyone out there? Anyone at all?" He paused for a response before he tried again. "Please anyone….this is Henry."

He tried a few more times and was ready to give up, when a muffled response came through the speaker. "Henry huh… hmmm…."

His eyebrows dove down as he tried to make out the scratchy voice. "Yes," he replied.

"Where are you?"

Henry was about to tell when his mother's voice popped into his head. Honey… don't talk to strangers… But lately he never listened, but yet this time he knew he should.

"Who is this?" he asked flatly.

There was silence and Henry waited. He then wondered if they had even heard him. So he asked again.

"Who is this?'

Static filled the room.

"Boy just tell me where you are?"

Henry flung his head up, "Emma," he yelled running to where the blonde was sleeping.

Emma rubbed her eyes. "Henry you okay?"

He nodded and placed the walkie talkie in front of her. "Listen," he whispered.

"Hey son….you still there?" The two way radio squeaked.

The blonde's eyes went wide, she quickly snatched the radio. "Who is this?" She asked clearly.

More silence as Henry and Emma waited. "First you tell me who you are?" The voice asked with a tinge of malice to it.

Emma searched her brain as she tried to pinpoint who the voice was. "I asked you first."

Laughter filled the room from the mystery voice. "Ah touché," and then she could have sworn she heard clapping. "Now don't be shy. You know you want to tell me. Give it a try. Come on."

Emma cocked her eyebrow at that, the voice so reminded her of someone she just couldn't remember who.

"Plus I know the boy's name is Henry." The walkie talkie chirped in.

Henry's eyes went big, "Sorry," he shrugged.

The blonde knew who ever was on the other end didn't sound like they were a friend, but she also wanted know what was going on in the world outside of this here basement. "Okay if I tell you will you promise to tell me who you are and where you are at?"

"I never have made a promise I haven't kept."

Emma looked to Henry and he gave her a small encouraging smile. She was about to give the stranger her name, when the two way radio was ripped from her hands. "Sheriff Swan, what do you think you are doing?" The glare she got was not one she was used to from Regina. No she now had a feeling of what a servant felt like in the palace, and now knew they were in the wrong, and the all mighty Queen was about to unleash a storm of torment. Uh oh!

She swallowed and slowly stood up. "Henry and I were talking to someone on the other end. We wanted to know what was going on." The blonde said defensively.

"And what? You were going to give up our information to a someone you don't even know and who just may want to hurt us?" Regina responded with a certain amount of asperity.

Emma blinked at her in confusion. "Why would they want to hurt us?" Then it dawned on her. "You are worried more about yourself aren't you?"

"You have no idea who are talking to do you? Plus if you did break the curse, then that means everyone has their memories back and now other people that I cursed like…" She paused to take a step closer to the sheriff not wanting Henry to over hear her. "You know, like…" she whispered twitching her head to the side hoping Emma would pick up to whom she was referring.

The blonde didn't budge she only raised an eyebrow inquiringly at the mayor.

"Do I really have to spell it out for you dear?"

Then the two way radio piped in during the mayor and the sheriffs stare down. "Hellllloo," was the lone remark.

Regina glanced down at it then back to the blonde. "You know exactly who I'm talking about." She whispered sharply then pressed the button on the radio. "Now listen here…. we will not be divulging any information here unless I get a name." The mayor spat.

They heard laughter, and then the rough voice spoke louder. "No, no, no! Now stop this! We're playing a game by my rules. Such bad form Mayor Mills…..or should I say Evil Queen."

Regina gasped in surprise and flinched back. "Damn it!" She shot her eyes over to Emma and then to Henry. "This isn't good, this isn't good at all."

The sheriff frowned slightly. "Who is he?"

"Someone I cursed."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah you think." She mocked.

Regina set her jaw, and turned back to the radio. "So I see you didn't drown." She grinned and only wished he could see her. "Too bad and so sad." She countered.

"Where are you?" He snarled back.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" There were a few moments of silence then the rugged voice broke through the still air.

"I saw Rumple, and he told me a few things." He clarified. "Now tell me witch….. where are you and most importantly where is Henry?"

Now Emma looked shocked, why in the hell would he want my son? She stood tall, hands on her hips as she watched the mayor's face.

The mayor collected herself. "Now now what fun would that be if I just go and tell you."

Emma stood watching the cool edge to Regina and couldn't understand why she didn't bite this man's head off like she did everyone else that ever threatened her son. "Yes I see," The man said with a low hiss then added. "Oh and your highness….one more thing." He paused and then his voice got deeper, "If I ever do find you….Revenge will be mine!"

Regina smirked and her voice radiated authority. "If my dear….that's a big if!" She said voice chilled as she turned the two way radio off.

Emma watched Regina square off with the man and the all knowing grin she was expressing made her smile. She knew that face all too well and was glad she wasn't giving it to her, even though deep down she had to admit it did drive her crazy. She shook out of her thoughts as she inched closer to the mayor. "So do you think he knows where we are?"

Regina was momentarily quiet, and Emma could tell the wheels were turning. Finally, she fixed the blonde with a piercing look. "This is my house." She grinned darkly, "but only Henry and I know it has a basement."

Emma sighed. "So what does that mean, we stay here forever?" She quickly darted her eyes around the small room, then landed them back to the mayor's. "I don't know about you, but I would like to leave here."

The brunette hesitated, she knew that, hell she wanted that too. Just then the lights to the basement flickered on, and she saw the mirrored relieved faces from Emma and Henry. "Yay," The boy squealed but it was short lived when they heard pounding from just above them.

"Shit," Emma breathed. "Already?" She questioned, looking to the ceiling of the basement and began to listen closely.

Regina's eyes flashed furiously, as she listened as well. "They better not touch a thing." She whispered out in a heated rush.

Henry gulped and moved to Emma's side then without thinking; when Regina cautiously walked in front of him he sneaked out a hand to stop her. She glanced down at it in surprise. "Don't let him take me." He said so softly trying to hide his scared frown.

The mayor squeezed his hand in reassurance. "Henry, I will never let that happen," Her eyebrow twitched at the relieved breath Emma let out. For some reason she not only wanted to keep Henry safe but now wanted to keep his mother safe as well.

The sheriff stared at the brunette for a moment, almost as if she was attempting to believe the words she was saying. Then she dipped her head, sadness etching her face. "Regina," she whispered. "If anything happens to me…." She drew in a breath, "Please…" She was cut off by the sudden movement of the mayor and now found she was only inches from her dark brown eyes.

Regina stood staring into green eyes and in those eyes she felt stronger than she ever had before. She didn't understand it, but she knew in that moment she wanted to keep this woman safe just as much as she wanted to keep Henry safe. "Don't even say that," she said in an oddly warm voice.

"But I just," she said tightly through compressed lips. "You have to take care of Henry."

Regina felt her heart thump. "I know," was all she could muster her voice was very husky, almost as if there were tears barely held back behind the words. She took a step back she couldn't comprehend what was going on with her. So she pushed it aside, and exhaled slowly as she continued to listen to her intruders above them.

Emma slightly curved her lip. "Let's not let any of it happen." She assured her gently, and down deep she did know if something ever happened to her….Regina would destroy anyone or anything to save Henry. And yet that thought both comforted and frightened her at the same time.

The sound of glass breaking rattled the mayor. "Those bastards!" She gritted her teeth, when she heard louder smashing, and shattering sounds move all above them.

The sheriff pursed her lips glumly, "I'm sorry." She offered quietly, compassion filled her eyes for the mayor.

Regina inhaled deeply, and cautiously tip toed around the room but kept her ears keen to the noises above them. "They are up to something." She said keeping her voice low and quiet.

"Yeah they are looking for us." Emma whispered slowly.

The mayor shook her head, "No something else."

The blonde's brow creased in puzzlement. "Huh….like what?" She paused as she shuffled closer to the other woman.

The mayor looked troubled. "Not sure yet, but my instincts tell me it isn't good."

Emma couldn't help it she smiled. "And what gave that away? The sound of glass breaking or the loud booming voices?"

Regina inhaled sharply but when she saw the small smile on the blonde she knew she was teasing her. "Now, isn't the time to mess around dear."

The blonde blinked, did Regina just say that? She inclined her head forward. "So do you think we are safe down here?"

The brunette looked at her. "Yes," then listened again for a few more minutes her eyes began to darken as fear floated across them. "I meant NO!"

"What do you mean no?"

"Mom, mom," Henry said in a rush. "Can you guys smell that?"

"Shit!" Regina scrambled around the room pulling out a large backpack. She hurried through it as though trying to make sure everything was secure.

Emma's face went white. "Don't tell me they are doing what I think they are?"

Regina raised her head eyes black with anger as she stared at the blonde. "No dear….they aren't burning down my house."

The sheriff ran to the lift. "We better get up and out now!" She said looking around the small room.

Regina yelled from across the room. "Sheriff Swan you go that way and you will either be caught or fried."

Emma narrowed her eyes on the mayor, her face went even paler. "So now what do we do?"

Regina shot her a sharp look, and then grinned her all knowing grin. "Follow me dear."

*Thanks for all the follows