Snow White and Prince Charming both sat in his truck waiting outside of Archie's place for Emma to show up in her yellow car. Once Emma and Regina came pulling up to the building, David ushered his wife out of the vehicle. "I'll be here once y'all come back." Snow nodded as she got out and was about to shut the door. "Snow. This will help." She nodded again as the woman slammed the door behind her.
She now met up with Emma and Regina to go inside. "Where's Hope?" Mary Margaret asked as she walked up to Emma and Regina getting out of the car.
Emma replied. "Henry's babysitting her. Mom I need to talk to you."
"Yes, sweetie?" She asked her daughter as they stood afar from Regina.
"I think Hook and I broke up. He said he wanted a break but something tells me he might of meant for good."
"Oh, Emma." She paused and then realized what might of caused it. "He found out, didn't he?" She nodded as her mother then hugged her daughter sympathetically.
All three were dreading going in to talk to Archie but forced themselves to go forward and talk with him. The three knocked on the door to find Dr. Hopper opening it. He smiled as he was surprised to find them. "I heard y'all returned. I'm so glad you are back." They fake smiled at him as they walked into the room. The three sat together with Snow in middle and Regina and Emma on the ends of the sofa. "So let's start with this. Why are y'all wanting to see me?"
Mary Margaret first spoke. "Charming thinks it will be best." She softly spoke as the other two woman only listened.
"But why are you really here?"
Mary Margaret already felt uncomfortable. "Do you not know what happened?"
He shook his head, no. "Where were you?"
"We were at Jefferson's mansion for a year." Emma shook nervously from his name. He could tell the woman felt uneasy by only mentioning the man's name.
"I see." He sighed knowing this conversation would make them all uncomfortable. "Well let's start with what are y'all feeling?"
Mary Margaret now sobbed pulling her hands to her face. The other three just stared at her until her daughter rubbed her back. "It's okay, mom." Emma calmly said.
Regina cleared her throat after Emma just ignored his first question, trying to comfort her mother. Regina answered. "I know what exactly I'm feeling: hate, anger, frustration. That man took everything from me. I'm glad he's dead because he deserves every bit of it for hurting Emma and Mary Margaret. The truth is I can't get away from my feelings. It is a struggle and I hate it. I hate how I feel. I feel lost. I feel like I'm going insane. I feel as if the Evil Queen could return again. Even though I'm separated from my evil half I still feel my emotions trying to turn me back into what I used to be." Archie nodded deep in sadness of what she spoke. "But long story short, I feel my anger bottling up inside, always trying to get out."
Emma replied next. "I feel different, Archie. For me, it's trust. I feel like I can never get my trust back. I feel like the only ones I trust is the ones who understand. Killian said I was closing people off now. I don't want that but it looks like I'm the one messing everything up. I'm the one who can't do things right. I'm the one who can't trust others and it's tearing me apart. Now because I made a stupid mistake, Killian may be through with me."
He now looked at Mary Margaret who now had tears in her eyes at the mention of Emma's last words. "I feel- I can't." She now got up and ran outside the room.
"I'll go get her." Emma got up to follow her mother outside. "Mom, wait. It's okay."
"No, Emma it's not. Look at him! He pities us! He pities the Evil Queen, Snow White, and the Savior! I don't want pity and I darn right know Regina doesn't want it. This is too much for me right now."
"Mom, we are all hurting. You need to calm down."
"I know we are hurting and everyone else knows it." She paused as her voice broke. "You know what I'm feeling, Emma? Every moment it's hard to go on even with Charming. I feel utterly hopeless being back here, knowing Charming sees me like this, knowing that I caused Killian and you to grow apart- knowing that no one can help us."
"Archie is trying and David will be there for us, mom. My relationship with Killian is my responsibility. It's my-"
"You don't understand. Every waking moment I've been here I feel terrible. I look back and feel guilt, shame, and regret. I couldn't stop him from hurting Regina or my own daughter. I was so weak."
Emma now yelled loud in frustration. "You think I don't understand? You think I feel just like my trust is broken? Everyday I think of you. I think of Regina. I think of ways I could have stopped him from hurting the both of you. I wish I could have saved you and had been your savior! You know what it's like to see your mother being tortured in front of your own eyes and not being able to do a damn thing?!"
"You did do a damn thing! You stopped him and because of that Hook and your relationship is in peril! It was my fault!"
"It was my choice, mom!"
Regina now ran to the door way. "Listen, you two! We can hear you inside. Stop this bickering. Stop blaming yourselves for something that was truly my own fault! All this was because of me! Everyone knows it! If I hadn't killed Grace none of this would have happened!"
"For the last time, Regina, you didn't kill Jefferson's daughter!" Emma screamed back.
"The Evil Queen did so I did! I should be blamed for every bit of the pain y'all went through. The pain he put you two through was horrible."
"Not as horrible as the pain he inflicted on you, Regina. You went through hell because of him!" Emma's words echoed in Regina's ears as she heard someone walking behind them. She knew it had to be Archie but her mind got the best of her. Regina pictured Jefferson there behind her, taking a gun or a knife or using bare hands ready to attack her. She panicked as she ran passed the other two woman in fear, hoping and praying the man wouldn't hurt her. Her mind flashed back to the moment of Jefferson clomping down the basement steps, causing the sound of footsteps to clog her hearing.
"What the hell are you doing?" Emma yelled back.
Regina turned back to see Archie there trying to talk to them. "Sorry, Regina."
She put her hand over her heart feeling it pacing uncontrollably fast. "No, sorry. It was my fault. I didn't mean-I mean I-" She now felt utterly embarrassed for what she just showed Archie, weakness. She breathed in deeply as she made a teary glare back at him. She sensed him looking at with empathy. "I think I'm done here." She poofed and disappeared, leaving purple smoke.
Archie sighed as he peered at the two others who returned his gaze. "I didn't mean to scary her. I just wanted to help." He spoke, unable to comprehend that he had just made her frightened.
Emma just looked at him silently as Mary Margaret replied yelling in a rough tone of voice. "Don't you understand? Of course you don't! None of you ever will! We can't be helped! It's over. That torture we endured is forever going to be with us! We are broken!" Tears now flowed down Snow's cheeks, racing down the stairs and outside.
"I just wanted to help you all." Archie repeated.
Emma gave a sad smile. "It's okay, Archie." She placed a hand over his shoulder. "I need to talk to them." She now headed toward her mother's direction. She looked back at him one last time before leaving. "Thanks for trying, Archie. I appreciate it." She softly spoke.
As Emma left, Archie stood there shocked at what he had just witnessed. He was stunned that they couldn't carry on any conversation about Jefferson without being freaked out.
"What was that, mom?!" Emma yelled back at Snow as she ignored her, rushing to the truck. "You could have stayed!"
"Like it would help? Like it would help any of us? No, Emma! It won't! Nothing can help us! You saw Regina in there. She was terrified! He made us all like that! Fragile and terrified out of our minds!"
"Mom, you don't mean that." She sobbed. "We're all strong. You are Snow White."
Mary Margaret ignored her daughter as she opened the car door collapsing into the passenger's seat. Emma opened the door dramatically, speaking with her parent. "This time I don't understand you, mom! When did you ever feel like giving up?"
"When reality hit that I can not get a peaceful minute in my head without thinking about Jefferson and that house, about how he treated me there, and how he treated you and Regina!"
"Me and Regina? Mom, he treated me like an angel compared to her! He never, not once hurt me! Y'all was who he hurt! Regina was the one that suffered!"
"And I couldn't do anything about it!" Snow screamed upset. "I was utterly helpless!"
"Well how do you think I feel? Knowing that he beat her. He tortured her. How do you think I felt when she told me he wouldn't sleep with me anymore because he was raping her?"
"And he didn't rape you?"
"No! It wasn't like that! He was gentle! We agreed and he was gentle! I had a choice. He loved me. He cared about me. He never hurt me. He wanted me to feel loved but I had a choice and I gave in."
"And you shouldn't have! You could've found another way!"
"Like what, mom? He was going to kill you! I had to do something!"
"You should have worried about yourself. Yes, it was your choice but it was a dumb one!"
"How dare you, mom! I tried! I really did! I tried to save you!"
"And you shouldn't have tried saving me!"
"So you are telling me you'd rather die? You are telling me you'd rather Regina be abused? She was treated like trash! If I didn't save y'all, no one would have! You two would have died! You know when I found Regina, she was dying? Jefferson had a knife to her throat and he cut it. If I did not heal her when I did she would be dead! Same with you! You were dying! I had to save you before you died from torture! You had cuts all over and a stab wound in your side. You two didn't deserve all this! You didn't deserve the torture! This town doesn't deserve a savior who couldn't even save her own mother from a mad man!" Now Emma and Mary Margaret's tears stained their faces as Emma looked at her father. He just sat in the driver's seat as a single tear of sadness dripped down. Emma tried calming down and softly spoke. "I said too much." She now left slamming the door and then hopped into her vehicle.
"Wait, Emma!" This time her father came out of the car heading toward her.
"No." She rose her hands up with her key in her right hand. "I'm done talking right now. I'm going home." She said as she put the keys in the ignition and headed to Regina's.
~
Day 275:
Snow White's pale skin bled from her open wounds. Regina laid in the basement, chains tight around her ankles bleeding from trying to reach her friend but couldn't. She was utterly powerless to stop the blade from cutting the woman. "I hate your bickering, Regina. You are going to be cooperate or she gets hurt. You will learn." Jefferson stated.
She screamed back in rage. "I don't take orders from you! Go to hell!"
He made an angry expression as he then took the knife, cutting some more of Snow's flesh. The cuts were deeper this time, the knife slit her hip and then continued up her side. "She'll be the one going there first and very soon. If you don't obey she's going to die!"
Oh my gosh! He is going to kill me!
Snow screamed in agony as blood streamed down her side, on her leg, and onto the concrete floor. They heard another scream. "Leave her alone! Stop it! Never hurt her again and I'll never cause anymore trouble." Regina said the last sentence in a cry.
He dropped the knive by Snow's weak body. He knelt down next to the brunette who was sitting down on the ground, weeping. "You promise?" He asked as he grasped to her chin forcibly leaning her face toward his. She calmly shook her head yes in reply. He let go of her, returning his gaze to Mary Margaret who was gagged not able to say a word. "I know you appear strong but I also know you eventually grow weak. You are a strong woman that I do admire about you. You are strong when you are the one being hurt. When it is someone else, you easily give up."
Tears of sadness filled her eyes as she looked back to see Snow drenched in her own blood. "Please help her." She told him with a soft and weak voice. She quickly grew stern at him, though. "She's going to die if you don't help her! You got what you wanted. I won't fight you anymore, just help Mary Margaret." Her voice was alarmed with complete panic every second Snow laid on the ground in front of her. The woman was clearly in so much pain from her extensive injuries. "Jefferson, she'll die!" Her voice broke as she saw Snow barely able to move from the pain.
It's no use. I'm going to die. I just hope I see my daughter one last time before I go.
"Alright." He replied back unconcerned. "See you soon." He made a sadistic smirk as she looked up at them, using her hand to wipe her tears. She responded with a slight tremble. He turned to look at her with anger in his voice. "I will break you just as the Evil Queen broke me."
Tears formed in her eyes as well as Snow's who barely remained conscious from the loss of blood. "You may try but just because I won't fight, does not mean you will! Don't give yourself the satisfaction." She said those words boldly without hesitation.
"We'll see, your majesty." He then headed to Snow's room, carrying her limp body.
Emma rushed to get a bunch of towels, rubbing alcohol, medicine, and bandages he stored. "Oh my God. Oh my-" She wept as she saw her mother's body covered in blood.
Oh, Emma. I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to see me on the edge of death. But I'm glad I get to see you one last time before I die.
"What did you do to my mom, Jefferson?" She saw her mother, with clothes soaked in her own blood and drops across the floor and carpet. As he dropped her on the carpet in Snow's room, Emma helped her mother by soaking up all the blood, and treating her wounds. "Jefferson, why? Why did you do this to my own mom?"
He cleared his throat as he slightly felt a bit of remorse for what he did. He hated that Emma was heartbroken. "It doesn't matter. What matters is she will eventually be okay. I won't hurt her anymore."
"That's a lie." Emma murmured under her high paced breath.
"No, Emma, I promise. She will live. She won't die. I won't hurt her again."
"What suddenly changed after all this time torturing her?" Emma spat.
He responded. "Regina is finally going to cooperate."
Emma laughed out of resentment. "Regina will never cooperate."
"We will see and you better hope she does."
"Don't hurt Regina. She didn't kill your daughter."
"She did and she will pay. She'll die whenever she breaks."
Emma now replied back. "Jefferson, I'm about to give birth in a matter of days. Your revenge is clouding the future of your child."
"She'll never hurt anyone again. She'll be too weak to hurt anyone else." He looked in her eyes as she stared back in his. "Our baby will be safe soon. She won't try to harm it. She will die before that baby ever comes into this world."
She only has a few days left before she's gone. God, I hope Emma doesn't lose both of us. Snow thought as she continued to listen, barely able to keep herself from passing out from weakness.
Emma shook her head. "You're wrong. You think you can just stop her. She was the Evil Queen. She'll kill you."
"Yes she would have a long time ago but that changed once magic was taken from her. She doesn't have magic nor will she ever have it. She can't kill me and because of that, I'm destroying her."
She stared into eyes as he glared back in hers. "You love the way you can hurt her, don't you? It's not even just revenge anymore. The fact that Regina is still breathing after months of being here proves to me that you dug yourself so deep you can't let her leave, not through escape or even death. You won't kill her."
He gulped in distress at her statement. "You're wrong." He then turned toward the door to walk out.
"Please, Jefferson. I beg of you! Don't hurt her! If there is any good in you, stop this!" She clung to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Just stay with us, please. You don't have to hurt her." She said. He tried pushing her off of him as she begged him not to leave. "Don't go! Please, stay with me!" She hugged him tightly. "Please."
"I'm sorry, Emma." He said as he gently pushed her from him. It pained him to leave her. It was the first time she had begged him to stay. He wanted to stay but he also wanted to go to Regina.
He actually felt a sense of guilt weighing him down, preventing himself to do what he felt he had to do. In a way, he knew it was cruel of him to hurt Emma by killing Regina but he also knew she could potentially kill their baby. After all, the last ten months had been for nothing if she didn't die in the end. He thought as he forced himself to get a grip on his emotions for what he did to her mother and now slightly toward the woman's friend. Jefferson had taken it way too far and even he knew it.