Em tugged uncomfortably at the shirt. It was an old one, something left behind before their trip to National City, but it was tight. It was black, but it was too form-fitting and dipped too low in the front. Everything about it was wrong, but Em couldn't look away from the mirror. It was like walking back in time, too scared of their own reflection.
"Leroy's on his way to the station."
Em watched as Kara revealed what she'd been hiding, and Em smiled brightly.
"You should not have to hide who you are, even with the alleged memory loss. So I compromised and found you something that would satisfy you and Snow," she said.
Em took the new shirt, a lighter color but it was much looser and had buttons. Kara picked up the brush and combed out Em's hair, twisting it into a braid and letting it hang over their shoulder.
"You should have told Red that you were uncomfortable," Kara said. "She would have gotten you something different."
"I didn't think I would be until I put it on."
Kara inclined her head and put her hands on Em's shoulders.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I have to get my son back."
"That's not what I asked."
Em puffed out an irritated breath and said, "Of course, I'm not ready for this. I don't want to go back to that, but I don't have a choice. I'm the only one that can get in without spooking Snow, and Neal…" Em trailed off and rubbed their forehead. "No, I'm not ready, but I'm going to do it because I need to get Henry, and I want to be done with this."
"Even if it means killing your parents."
"They haven't been my parents for a long time." Em bowed their head and tightened their grip on the shirt. "I mourned them weeks ago. I knew the moment Kieran and Bella got here, that the end goal could be and probably would be death, and I accepted it. They're not going to change. Not for me, not for Henry, and definitely not for Regina. I can't keep giving out chances and wasting my forgiveness. So. Yeah."
Kara squeezed Em's shoulders and stepped back.
"Okay."
"What's the plan?" Em asked, changing the subject.
"Everyone but the four of you, me, and Rose will stay here. Killian and Tink said it wasn't their fight, Charlie wants to be the protector and guard the house, or whatever he said. Sam and Jess don't want to risk Ruby, and Red and Granny said something similar to Killian and Tink. This is a family fight. Rose and I are just the backup."
"You're more than that."
"For tonight, no, not really. But I'm coming with you as far as the complex. Rosalie left a few minutes ago to hang nearby."
"And the siblings?"
"No idea."
"Scary, isn't it?"
"I've seen worse." Kara grinned and grabbed the door. "Get changed. I'll meet you downstairs."
"Okay."
Kara closed the door and left Em alone. They stripped off the old shirt and put on the new one. When they finished, they felt a little better about themselves.
"Here we go," they muttered.
Em opened the door and found Killian waiting in the hallway.
"I hope you don't need this, but…"
He handed them his weapon, and Em nodded in thanks. They still hadn't found their holster with their badge and gun, and they operated under the assumption that Snow or Charming got rid of it. So Em felt a little more comfortable having a weapon. They tucked it into their waistband, and Killian jerked forward with a huff, wrapping his arms around them.
"Come back, mate. Alright? This family's crazy as shit, and I don't want to be left alone without you."
Em snorted and hugged him back.
"Yeah, you'd get eaten alive."
Killian grinned and moved away, and the two of them walked down the hall to the foyer. Regina was already gone with Kieran, and Rosalie was waiting at the complex. Emmett and Bella, however, were mysteriously absent. Shoving that out of their mind, Em shook hands with Charlie, Red, and Granny. Sam and Jess nodded from their spot on the couch.
"Bring him home," Charlie said. "For all of our sake."
"And end this shit," Red grumbled. "I'm tired of the drama."
"What she said," Granny added.
Em's smile was a little strained after that, feeling some pressure, and Kara tugged on their arm.
"Come on, I'll run you halfway," Kara said.
"Wait -
Em cursed as Kara grabbed them and sprinted out of the door toward the complex.
Henry cried himself to sleep, ice-covered hand curled protectively against his chest, and he was blissfully unaware of the eyes watching him from across the room. Snow toyed with a vial of clear liquid and sighed. Charming having to leave set them back a couple of hours, but the plan was still in place. All they needed was Emma, and they could leave. They could go home and live the life they were supposed to. They could rebuild the Enchanted Forest and come back for the others once they were sure there was even a home for them to return to. Of course, the townspeople would be upset at first, but they'd understand eventually.
Storybrooke wasn't their home. It was a trap, a punishment, and they would never be safe until they were away from the Evil Queen. Regina needed to pay for her crimes. How she could be forgiven of the murders and public torture was a mystery Snow would never solve.
Neal came tumbling down the steps a moment later with suitcases, and she glared at him. He smiled apologetically, both of them making sure Henry was still asleep, and when the boy merely turned over, they relaxed. Neal placed the luggage down and rubbed his hands against his jeans.
"Are you sure we don't need to get his hand checked out before we go?" he whispered.
"There are better healers in the Forest," Snow whispered back. "We can wait a few more minutes."
"Are you sure she's even coming?"
"Yes."
"How can you be so sure?"
Snow said nothing, so Neal sighed and sat on the edge of the stairs. There wasn't anything to do but wait. Snow clutched the vial in her hand and glanced at the clock. She knew before sunrise, they needed to be gone. Regina would know something was wrong by then, if she already didn't, but it would be too late. She would be stuck here, alone, and Snow would finally have her family together again. Regina would lose, and Good would have won. Snow and Neal tensed when there was a knock on the door before it opened.
Em poked their head inside. They looked around the room until they spotted Henry. Satisfied it wasn't a trick, Em came in and went straight to him. But the makeshift cast on his hand made them pause, and they frowned. Em could see his bruising and swollen fingers, and they stormed over to Snow and Neal.
"What the hell happened to my son?"
"He's my son too," Neal muttered.
Em shot him a dirty look, and Snow stood up.
"We have it under control," she said.
"Under control? His fingers are swelling, and if we don't fix it, they'll have to be rebroken to heal properly," Em seethed. "Why didn't you take him to the hospital?"
"Emma -
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't control the flinch, and Snow's eyes darkened. Em cursed inwardly and looked away, finally spotting the suitcases on the floor. So much for not giving anything away.
"I knew the potion had a fifty-fifty chance of working as it was advertised," Snow said. Em glanced at her, and Snow scowled, adding, "I guess I was wrong about which fifty would win out. No matter, I got you here. The rest we can figure out later."
Em folded their arms and asked, "What's with the suitcases, Snow?"
"All I have ever wanted was for us to be a family. But we can't be that here. This isn't our home. Regina forced us apart, but now, we have the chance to start over and move forward. Me and your father, you, Neal, and Henry -
"There is no me, Neal, and Henry. There never has been, and there never will be," Em interrupted. "But that's - you're out of your mind. That place isn't my home. I was born there, and then you threw me into a wardrobe. I don't know anything about that world, and I have no desire to. You're not taking me or Henry back there. My home is here with Regina and our family."
"We're your family!" Snow snapped.
"Screw you," Em said, exhausted. "I came here for my son, and I'm leaving with him."
Em walked back to Henry and picked him up, and Snow held up her hand to stop Neal from speaking and going after them. Em made it to the door and tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. Em tried again, and Snow shook her head.
"It won't open for you," she said. "Once you're in, you're in. And when your father gets back, we'll be leaving."
"Snow, open the fucking door."
"You'll see, Emma. This is for the best, and one day, you'll forgive me. But I will always protect my family."
Henry began to stir, and Em kissed his head.
"Em?" he muttered. "Wha's going on?"
"Hey, hey, you're okay. I got you. We're going to get out of here and get that hand looked at, okay?" Em looked over their shoulder at Snow, adding, "You do realize this is essentially kidnapping, right? You can't force us to go back to the Enchanted Forest. And I promise you, this won't end the way you think it will. You need to let us out, or someone's coming in to get us."
Snow scoffed and said, "Regina won't be coming to help you. And even if she did, she can't get close to the complex. None of them can. It's protected against all magic."
"Yeah, which is why I didn't bring her," Em deadpanned. "I'm not stupid, Snow. Neither is she. But I'm curious why you haven't called for your fairy godmother."
Snow blinked and said, "Blue told us not to contact her after she warded the complex."
"And when was that?"
"Shortly after we left the cabin."
"You haven't been to the cabin at all since you first kidnapped me?"
"For the last time, we didn't kidnap you!"
"What would you call it?"
"Saving you," Snow huffed. "And no, we knew the potion would wear off, and we'd wait for you to call. What does it matter? What happened to Blue?"
"I don't know," Em said, somewhat truthfully. "But it's strange she's not here."
Snow frowned and turned to Neal, who shrugged. Em smirked and glanced at the clock. A few minutes longer.
"You should have left me, and them, alone, Snow," Em said.
"She ruined my life."
"You ruined hers first," Em shot back.
"I was a kid!"
"So was she!" Snow faltered at the anger in Em's voice. "So was she," they repeated. "Regina was a child who had her entire life changed in a matter of minutes. She was manipulated from the moment she was born, and her happiness was taken from her in so many different ways. Once with Daniel, and again when her children were thrown into realms unknown. You were the catalyst in both of those scenarios. For once, can't you just let her live? Let her have her happy ending."
"She doesn't deserve a happy ending. Look at the lives she destroyed and the people she hurt. Regina is evil, and evil will never win."
"This isn't -
Em stopped and released a long breath.
"You know what? I'm done. I hate to admit that some deeper part of me wanted you to change, but I…I'm tired of fighting with you and for you. You're nothing to me, Snow. And Neal?" The man grimaced when Em's attention turned to him. "The only good thing that came from us was Henry, but you have long lost the right to be his parent. Maybe when he's older, he'll search for you, but right now? I'm giving you one chance to do the right thing and walk away. Make amends with your father. Because if you don't…"
Neal, who had always been stupid but not blind, saw the seriousness in Em's eyes. Then he looked at Henry, who was watching him from over Em's shoulder. His son was begging him to do the right thing, and Neal was hit with the hard reality check that he had been in the wrong for a long time.
"Oh, God," he said, his voice cracking. "I'm an idiot."
"Yeah," Em said. "You are."
"Neal -
"Don't," he said, cutting off Snow. "Just - don't."
Neal moved away from Snow toward the center of the room, and Em looked one last time at Snow.
"I spent my whole life wishing for parents who loved me," Em said. "Guess I'll have to wait until the next lifetime."
Em banged on the door three times and moved away. Snow jumped when the door cracked down the middle when a fist came through. The hand reached inside and snapped off the handle, then disappeared back into the hallway. Em shielded Henry when Rosalie kicked in the rest of the door, and the vampire brushed her hands against her shirt.
"I don't know what that weird substance was that was on the door, but I need to wash my hands," she muttered. "It smells like shit."
"Who the hell are you!" Snow shouted. "And how did you get in here?"
"Oh, I'm Em's future stepdaughter in law? Is that a thing?"
"No, but it's pretty close," Em said.
"And you prepared for a magical threat," Rosalie added. "I have no magic. Just a lot of rage for people who fuck with my family."
Snow paled and fumbled with the vial in her hand, but before she could open it, Rosalie had it and was back on the other side of the room. She put it in her pocket, and Snow began to panic.
"You - you need to get out of here! When Charming -
"Charming?" Rosalie's smile was cold, and she folded her arms. "Yeah, I wouldn't count on him," she said.
Snow looked between Rosalie and Em, her face paling, and before she could scream, Kara came into the room and knocked her out. She hefted her over her shoulder, and Em turned to Neal. There was a slight standoff before Em jerked their head to the door. Neal didn't need to be told twice as he ran out of the apartment.
"Why'd you let him go?" Kara asked.
Em nodded at Henry, who was staring at the floor, and Kara inclined her head. Rosalie squinted at Henry and took a small step back.
"Are you going to get him looked at?" she asked.
"Yes. If anyone asks, we'll be at the hospital."
"Oh, I'll come with you," Kara said. "Let me drop her off, and I'll see you there."
Em shrugged and walked out of the apartment.
"Are you going to kill grandma?" Henry asked.
Em pursed their lips and said honestly, "That's not up to me anymore."
"Is Mom?"
"Would you be upset?"
Henry took a long time to answer, and it wasn't until they reached the parking lot did he finally respond.
"No," he whispered.
Em's heart broke, and they finished the walk in silence, aware that life was going to be so different come the morning.
Kieran followed Leroy to Town Hall with her hands behind her back, sticking to the shadows, and she was vaguely aware of her mother somewhere nearby. Leroy stumbled and fell into the light pole, holding a towel to his stomach, but he recovered and kept going. Kieran knew their plan wasn't much of a plan at all, more like a divide-conqueror-conqueror type deal. Snow and Charming were a force together, but apart, they were impulsive and emotional. Em, Kara, and Rosalie were more than capable of taking care of Snow, but Charming was unpredictable. He was as much of a soldier as he was a shepherd, and he grew desperate when trying to protect his pride and his family. The only issue was Kieran had no idea where Emmett and Bella were.
Kieran was broken from her thoughts when Charming sped down the street, skidding to a stop near Leroy, and Kieran lazily flicked her wrist at his tires, piercing them with small icicles. There was a slight hiss as the air was let out, but Charming was too distracted to hear it. Leroy leaned heavily into Charming, and the former farmboy turned Prince lugged him back to the truck, only to pause when he finally noticed his tires. Charming quickly leaned Leroy against the truck before he reached in and pulled out his sword. He looked around, searching, and Kieran stepped out of the shadows. Charming turned toward her and took a defensive stance.
"Where is she?" he asked.
Kieran cocked her head in confusion, and Charming scowled.
"Don't play dumb. Where is Regina!"
"Not here," Kieran lied.
"I don't believe you."
"Whether you do or not, that is not my concern." Kieran moved her hands from behind her back. In one palm rested Leroy's heart, and Charming's stance faltered. He looked at Leroy, who was slumped against the truck, and Kieran smiled. "How about a trade? You give me your sword, and I give you your friend's heart. Seems fair, yes?"
Charming clenched his jaw, and Kieran squeezed the heart. Leroy cried out, and Charming lasted all of thirty seconds before he dropped his sword.
"Okay!" Charming shouted. In a lower voice, he added, "Okay, we have a deal."
"Good. Do you swear to keep your word?"
"Do you?" he shot back.
"Fair enough. I promise to give you your friend's heart."
Charming glared before he moved forward. Kieran matched him step for step, and once they were face-to-face, he handed her the hilt, and she placed Leroy's heart in his outstretched palm. Once he had it, Charming took a quick step back with the heart held protectively to his chest, and Kieran twirled the sword.
"Wow, this is nice. My brother is going to love this," she mused.
"You're going to pay for this," Charming warned. "You're not going to win!"
Kieran blinked at him and said, "You think this is a game? No one is playing for keeps, dear Shepherd. My family is righting the wrongs that tore us apart. This is personal, and I have no intention of giving you the chance to regroup with whomever is still left on your side. However, if this were a game…"
In one quick motion, Kieran thrust the sword forward and pierced Leroy's heart straight through Charming's hand, into his chest, and out through the back. Charming choked on his last breath, his eyes widening, and he fell to his knees the exact time that Leroy did.
"You lose," she finished.
Kieran felt a sick sense of pleasure at seeing his blood on the metal when she yanked the sword out, and Charming dropped lifeless to the concrete.
"This seems anti-climatic."
Regina emerged from the other side of the street and said, "Death is not always supposed to have fanfare and the dramatics. Sometimes, it is as simple as this."
"Yes, but after everything we went through, he gave us no challenge."
"Because we insisted on walking the higher road. When we stoop to their level, we have the upperhand in every way possible." Regina took the sword from Kieran, who pouted, and she vanished the sword somewhere else. "Without Blue's protection, Charming was vulnerable. He had no real training, no real purpose other than being Snow's husband, and his loyalty is what got him killed."
"And Snow?"
Regina glanced at Charming's body and said, "She will see the consequences of her actions, and then she will learn from them."
