A/N: I'm sorry on my long absence. My life took me away from this story and I admit that I had no motivation to write few chapters. I've been traveling a lot since I just bought my new car for work and pleasure. I hope you forgive for this one. Don't worry, the school starts very soon and I will use my break time to make up the chapters that had been waiting to post. Happy August!
Chapter 13: Because of You
Music by Kelly Clarkson
"Is she alright?" Henry Sr. hurriedly came in the tent and looked at his daughter who was crying on Emma's chest. The blonde vampire looked up at him with a whisper.
"She is having a nightmare. But she will be okay soon."
"What about her nightmare? I haven't been comforting her since she was a little girl. Perhaps at age of 5." The hybrid wolf informed her as he sat down on the armchair. Emma nodded as she was listening to his story about Regina.
"Daddy?" Regina whispered before waking up. He hummed as a comfort greeting. Emma smiled at the heartwarming greeting and rubbed on Regina's back with a retort.
"Your father is here. Do you want him to stay here with you while I'm going back in other side with Rumpel?"
"Yes, please. And, Em. Please don't leave me." Regina slowly looked up at the blonde vampire with a tearful face. Henry Sr. got up and went to them before nudging Emma to go back there. Emma hesitantly voiced.
"I'm still on other side. Don't worry, your father is here with you. Will be right back soon, Regina." She smiled at the brunette girl before kissing on her head and nodded at him. Regina watched the blonde vampire leaving the tent while her daddy scooped her in his embrace like a puppy. Henry Sr. smiled with a kiss on her head before replying.
"Emma will be fine. Now, you go sleep and I'm here with you."
Regina nodded before kissing his cheek and went to sleep for a dreamless one. Henry Sr. exhaled in a sigh and decided to sing one of his favorite Spanish lullabies. The brunette girl snuggled against her father's chest and hummed along.
Back in the room, Emma strode up to Ella and oversaw the training room where Rumpel and Ruby threw their commands. She sighed as Ella gathered the paperwork for the number of soldiers on her side.
"It's the total of people on our side. Hope we have that army prepared to be ready."
"I'm absolutely sure that Rumpel know what he is doing with magic." Emma replied before looking up at her with a grin.
"Well, he is." Ella rolled her eyes and the solider came upon her then retorted.
"Zelena want to see you immediately, Emma."
"Where is she now?"
The solider turned to point over at the illusionists' battle area with Neal. Emma took a glance over the soldier's shoulder and nodded at Ella. She went with him to see Zelena.
In the area where Neal was demanding his commands toward the illusionists, Zelena crossed her arms while supervising on Neal. Emma thanked the solider and came upon her before looking at the illusionists.
"What do you need me?"
"I'm just wanting to see if Regina is ok. I got a feeling." Zelena mumbled. Emma shook her head before replying.
"She will be okay. Her father is with her right now. Ella told me that your illusionists got a lower number than the werewolves. Why is that?"
"Some of them were over with Cora. I lost many of them but it's their loss." The redheaded woman sneered before shaking her head. Emma nodded and handed the card to her before looking at Zelena's eyes.
"Call them by magic. They are good ones. I trust you if you want them immediately. They will."
"Thanks, Emma. I appreciate you for having me."
"Anything for Regina." The blonde vampire voiced before nodding for her departure. Emma exhaled in a sigh as she walked around to see some of them battled against each other in the training room. She looked for Ruby but they were not there. Emma used her telepathy toward Rumpelstiltskin.
'Where is Ruby and her army?'
'They are arriving at any second soon, my loyal friend. I'm overseeing on our kind and they are exhausted. Should I send them to rest?' Rumpelstiltskin was concerned at that one but curiosity about her answer.
'Yes. Send all to the tents for a long rest. Don't want them to overuse their energy for the battle.' Emma thought while walking upon Ella on the platform. Zelena got a message from the solider and barked her demand at Neal to round up their armies to the tent for a long rest. Neal nodded before roaring for the tents. The illusionists flicked themselves to vanish.
Emma returned back to the tent for checking up on Regina. Henry Sr. was there while comforting his daughter with a haunting song. She paced herself in a small spot. Regina just opened her eyes when she saw Emma in front of her and stayed silent. Zelena came in to see Emma and had glanced over Regina and Henry Sr with a smile. The blonde vampire looked up when she paused her pacing on the floor and nodded.
"Everyone is checked out until the early morning, of course with your permission."
"That's fine. Whatever they need is a long rest like I said. Rumpelstiltskin? Snow? Others?"
"Rumpelstiltskin and Neal are staying here to oversee the army. Snow and David are out to set the perimeters to secure our places. Ruby was on the watch out and I'm going to help her out." The redheaded illusionist informed her as Emma nodded before speaking up.
"Ella?"
"She is drawing up a strategy for the battles with the captains in the kitchen." Zelena replied. Emma raised her eyebrow at the mention of Ella in the kitchen with her board members but nodded with no words. She dismissed Zelena from doing her duty with Ruby out there and turned around to face Henry Sr.
"Can you handle by staying with Regina? I'm going over there to see Ella. Will it be okay?"
"It's fine as long as it's short. I have to go back for my meeting with Neal about my strengths." Henry Sr. mentioned. Emma nodded before walking out.
The blonde vampire stayed silent when she came in to see Snow outside. The White Queen barked some orders to her army when it came to the perimeter. David was not there in her vision but Emma heard his voice far away on the other side. Snow was satisfied with her army and spoke.
"Is Regina all right?"
"Yes, Snow. She is. Her father is with her. I will be coming back soon after this. So, what's your position?"
"My army stay on alert like you said before. David is on other side to supervise the army in the tent. There were few minors but he could work it out anyway. Do you need me?"
"No. I just checked on you. Where is Ruby?"
"She is on the watch. Zelena is with her, is she?"
"Yes, she is." Emma nodded. Snow went silent. The ladies walked around in the circle to check on the army to guard the area. Emma observed on her own pace as she listened to the low voices inside the tent where Henry Sr. and Regina stayed.
"Are you mad?" The brunette girl asked her father. Henry was confused at that question but shook his head with a reply.
"Sweetie, why am I mad?"
"You should be mad at me because I have bad dreams. And, Emma was there with me but you're not." Regina whispered.
"Oh, my love. I'm not mad at you because of Emma comforting you. It's at least of worries when I know that my daughter is safe. If you feel uncomfortable, tell me or Emma. Ok?"
"Ok."
"I'm happy that Emma is there for you no matter if you have a bad dream. I trust her enough."
"Okay." Regina nodded. Henry Sr. kissed her forehead and embraced her tightly in his arms like he doesn't want to let it go.
"Do you know that I met Emma long time ago? Did you know?"
"No. She never told me. Please, tell me." Regina begged. He nodded with a sad smile.
Emma surprised herself that she never told Regina that she met her father long time ago when she turned into a vampire few days later. She didn't realize that she went apart from Snow and slowly walked back to the tent. Emma looked up at the sky which it had few stars above her head.
Back in the tent, Regina was quiet when she listened to her father's story about meeting Emma. She slowly closed her eyes and imagined herself in her father's place to meet Emma. But her ears reached the song that haunted her once again. Regina felt cold against the wind blowing her face. It was a dark place when she stood on the road. There was the first verse that Regina finally reached at the highest peak of the voice.
I will not make the same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break the way you did
Emma was standing in front of her in her black sleeveless dress in a ballgown. It looked heavy on the train behind her dress. The color was black in the entire dress but the gold color was on the lace on her arms. She looked mysterious but beautiful with the wavy hair updo and the bloody crimson rose that stuck inside the wavy bun. Her makeup was so perfect in a goth look with the rogue red lips. She sang in a regal way but it sounded like a low voice with a vibrato like an opera singer. It followed in a second verse.
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way
To never let it get that far
Regina gasped when she saw Emma staring at her with her red glowing irises. She felt chill on her body when Emma leaned forward to sing in her ear. Regina felt no touches from her but stayed frozen. The blonde vampire closed her eyes while singing the third verse away. Regina didn't look at her but her eyes gazed at her mother who was standing in the mirror like a little girl who hold her doll. Her mother looked like her when Regina was young. The brown hair was wavy and long. Her bony face was pouting away as her dress was enough wrinkling. It was Cora Mills in a little girl's frame. It led to the third verse.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side
so I don't get hurt
Cora turned away from the mirror when she heard her mother yelling in other room. Regina followed her eyes to the half-opened door. She walked to take a peek of Cora's parents arguing in a loud voice then looked back at her mother who winced in the corner. Emma strode away through the door to face the parents in next door. Regina felt bad for her mother's childhood but followed the blonde vampire who surrounded the parents in the living room. Cora's parents stayed frozen as their mouth didn't move. Regina stared at her grandmother, who looked like her mother in her oldest form and heard the fourth verse.
Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
Emma stayed still when she sang the word, 'afraid'. Regina warped herself into another dream of her mother when Cora was in her teenager years. They stood at Regina's grandparents' funeral. Cora wore her best black dress. She was alone. The priest kept preaching but the birds fled away above their head. Emma slowly circled Cora's while staring at Regina's eyes while singing the fifth verse.
I lose my way
And it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake
a smile, a laugh everyday of my life
Regina felt her heart clenching at her mother's crying on her grandparents' funeral. Emma stood beside Cora, looking in the coffins and closing her eyes. The priest sent the holy water on the coffin as he sent the prayers to God. Regina felt like she wanted to run away. But it took her away to another dream. It was her mother again and she was alone with Regina's father. It was not Henry Sr. Emma sat on the bench while watching the lovers dancing near the bonfire and sang on the sixth verse.
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side
so I don't get hurt
It sent Regina to spin her mind into a big answer. She felt suffocated that she found out that Cora was with other man while she was married to her father. Regina stared at her mother's sad face while dancing under the stars. Emma palmed her hand out to her and Regina looked up at her with her tears. The blonde vampire took her away from the dream and entered another one. It was Regina's father who was arguing with Cora back home in Storybrooke. It was their last fight before Cora left him in a shamble of a marriage. It was the seventh verse that came up in a low voice when Emma whispered in her ear while they watched the scene folded.
Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you
I am afraid
Regina wanted to reach her father but watched him falling on the floor while crying for his love toward Cora. She wanted to slap her mother for breaking his heart. In her mind, she remembered when she heard it. Regina turned away and cried on her own. Emma embraced her as she swayed themselves in a small dance. The blonde vampire sang in a soulful voice in the eighth verse.
I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
The brown-haired girl took a glimpse at her father who was slamming his bedroom door. Her heart took a turn when she walked through the door to find her father crying on the pillow. Regina slowly strode to the window and watched Cora pacing on the driveway. Her fists started to clench as her anger rose inside. Emma sat on the bed while watching Regina and tilted her head to Henry Sr. Her voice carried out on the ninth verse in a sad soulful tone. But the word, 'damn' brought a high pitch.
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing
Regina took herself back to the place where she stood before. Emma faced her again as their eyes gazed into the air. The brown-haired girl didn't see Cora everywhere and it just disappeared. It was just two of them in the dark place. Regina sought her tears to drip on the floor as her voice carried out in a soulful tone to match Emma's at a same time. It was their tenth verse.
Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side
so I don't get hurt
Emma stayed silent after the word, 'hurt'. Regina started to cry as she furiously wiped her tears on her face. She closed her eyes as she sang on the eleventh verse on her solo. The blonde vampire gave her a sad smile. Regina thumped her fists in the air as she sang like a Broadway singer on the stage.
Because of you
I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don't know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty
Regina realized that she felt empty as she sang the word, 'empty'. She looked down on the ground while listening to the blonde vampire's voice floating in her ears. Regina felt the last touch on her right shoulder and looked up on her right. It was her mother who was facing at her. It carried Regina out to sing the last verse. Emma backed away as Regina gazed in her mother's eyes. The brown-haired girl covered her mouth with her hand while sobbing loudly. Cora was fading away.
Because of you
I am afraid
Because of you
Because of you
It left Regina to kneel on the ground and sobbed away in her broken heart. She was trying to reach her mother but it failed on its own. Cora was dreading away as the song faded in her dream. Regina screamed for her mother so long.
Is it enough for Regina? Emma thought before finding Regina in her crying state on the bed. Henry Sr. was trying to do his best to comfort her. Regina looked up at the blonde vampire and opened her arms for a cuddle. Emma jumped at an opportunity and held Regina in her arms when she sat against the headboard.
A/N: I actually love this song because of Kelly Clarkson. Irony, right? Haha. So, it inspired me to write that chapter that I can tell that some of you have that experience when your parent or lover left you for no reason but you love them enough. Right? I can feel that way when Kelly and Reba sang that song on the music video and I thought it was a perfect song for Regina and her mother, Cora because they had a strained relationship between a mother and daughter. So, I hope I have you on the board to read it. Thank you.