Thank you for the wonderful comments. It is wonderful to read you are enjoying the story. Your thoughts on the characters and what will develop continue to make me consider the story path as it develops. Honestly, I an still stuck on chapter 11, so hoping for inspiration on the next stage. I am also trying to figure out a way to show the outfits but glad the descriptors were well received. Things with the curse start heating up…

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Chapter 7: red, white, and blue

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They didn't act quickly enough.

Zelena sashayed between them in her own gown causing them both to jump at the unexpected intrusion.

"You clean up well." Zelena commented offhandedly as she laced an arm through each of theirs before escorting them over to a more secluded and quiet spot. "Too bad the pirate's not here to see it." The witch eyed Emma knowingly.

For her part Emma paled a bit. Her eyes couldn't help but drift to Regina, who was blushing and looking at the ground guiltily.

"And don't give us that cockamamie story you fed your parents about sailing off to sea with his mates." Zelena chastised the blonde before depositing her and Regina side by side onto an ornate bench meant for two. "Not after the barbs you were throwing at each other last night."

Regina looked quizzically at her sister before turning with concern to face the blonde. "Is everything alright Emma?"

Before she could respond, Zelena jumped in.

"Oh, seemed like the usual clingy jealous nonsense he always spews." She waved off the pirate's ridiculousness as nothing important, even though she herself has raised his absence. "There is something far more important to discuss." Zelena settled down onto a chair opposite the pair.

They sat in silence for a long moment before the witch lost her patience at the duo staring at her expectantly. "Well, tell her Emma!"

Emma jumped slightly before realizing that it was in fact her that needed to share something. Swallowing, she turned to Regina and began to explain what she had been seeing in Hook's and then her mother's eyes.

Regina sat quietly through the whole explanation, tilting her head to the side occasionally as she listened intently. She didn't interrupt, but a few times her eyes narrowed as if she was suspicious of something.

"And you saw both red and blue in their eyes?" Regina clarified.

Emma nodded. "Yes. It was like the colors were alight, lit up, swirling like …magic almost."

Regina frowned. "And they drifted off?"

"Like they get lost in thought or something. It's not as bad with my mom. It was only a few seconds for her, but with Killian…" Emma paused, noticing Regina's back straightening at the mention of the pirate's name, "well it seemed to get longer and longer. And it got harder to snap him out of it. Well, at least until…"

Emma stopped herself, wondering if she was ready to reveal the details of what had happened the night before with her … ex. Nothing was official. Not yet anyway. She looked up from her clenched hands when Regina placed her own hand on top of them.

"Emma?" The tone was gentle and her head was tilted to the side in such an endearingly Regina way that Emma found herself wanting to share but not knowing where to begin.

"We … talked last night, about some things that… well that we have needed to talk about for a while. I called him on the weird sh… stuff and I, er, I told him to…," Emma felt the pressure of their eyes watching her and it felt too much. She spotted her parents over Zelena's shoulder, her mother trying to catch Hope, and she couldn't bring herself to be completely honest. She just wasn't ready.

"To what Emma?!" Zelena huffed in frustration.

Shaking her head out of her own daze, "To leav…" Emma caught Regina's eyes and saw dawning realization there, but then she spotted Snow over the Queen's shoulder, and her mother's trusting smile made her hesitate, a feeling of dread settling in her stomach at the thought of owning up to Snow.

Emma didn't see catch the concern in Regina's eyes as she watched the blonde closely.

Finally coming back to herself, Emma deflected, "er, to take the trip." Emma finally mumbled. "He agreed. Afterwards, he seemed clear again, more like his old self. And the colors weren't there anymore."

Zelena and Regina exchanged glances, confirming that they both had, in fact, caught what just happened to Emma. Sending the impending eruption from her half sister, the brunette told the redhead to back off with her gaze. The redhead rolled her eyes in frustration and glared in such a way to remind her sister that full disclosure was imperative if they were to get to the bottom of this mess. Regina chastised her silently to be patient.

"Uuuggghh!" Zelena groaned. "Emma, while I can imagine there is a time and place for a gentle process where you can reveal the details at your leisure, need I remind both of you," she shot her sister a look in response to the death glare she was receiving, "that those details could help us figure out how to fix this curse?"

Emma looked to Regina who sighed and softened her expression. "It's ok Emma. While the details," she chastised Zelena again with a look, "would be helpful; we don't," she held her hand up to stop her sister interrupting, "need them right now. I actually think we may have enough to start as it is."

"Really? So you believe me? You think something weird is going on too?" Emma's face hopeful though she fidgeted and wrung her hands together.

"Yes, Emma, of course we believe you." Regina calmly placed her hand on top of Emma's, stilling the blonde's movements. "Did… did you feel magic when you saw the colors in their eyes?"

Emma bit her lip, looking down and off to the side in thought. Had she felt magic? She closed her eyes and put herself back into the most recent moments. On the pier, she couldn't recall. The sun and the salt spray and the wind, and watching Hope, on top of her hyperactivity made it impossible to remember. But with Snow, that night at dinner, she remembered faintly the hairs on her arms rising up. And last night with Killian, she had felt something run up her arm. "I-I think so, yes, I felt something; it could have been magic."

Regina nodded and pulled her lower lip in between her teeth as she pondered the situation. "Based on what you've recalled, it sounds like magic. What kind I can only guess…"

"Is it another curse?" Emma shuddered.

"I… yes, it could be." Regina thought better of being evasive. With their history, honesty would save time. "The colors mixing though, that could very well mean it's…"

"More than one caster." Zelena added, eyebrows furrowed. "It would make sense, but that would mean it's super powerful. So why would it be fraying?"

"Fraying?" Emma asked, confused.

"Weakening. Coming undone. Breaking. You shouldn't see that. No one should. You saw two colors, blue and red," Emma nodded at the brunette, "so that means two very strong wielders of magic combined their powers to cast this, well whatever this is, and if they were both powerful, it would only fray if…"

"Something more powerful caused it to." Emma finished somberly. The three exchanged worried glances.

"You said two powerful magic users," Zelena turned to her sister, "maybe they weren't so powerful? Two novices combining their magic might not have as much staying power?"

Frowning, Regina shook her head. "With those colors of magic in question, I don't think we are up against novices."

"Blue!" Emma gasped.

"That damned fairy?!" Zelena growled. "And the red?"

"Gold!" Emma grimaced and the brunette nodded.

"Based on our pasts, I agree, it is most likely the Imp." Regina's hand went to her stomach in a gesture of self calming as she admitted her fear. "But that's what doesn't make sense. I mean, they are so strong individually, together almost nothing should break their combined magic."

"We've broken other magic though, strong magic. Your magic," Emma pointed out, looking at Regina.

Regina couldn't help the ends of her mouth turning up at the gentle nudge.

"Mine too." Zelena huffed.

"Are you really trying to start a pissing contest over whose magic got broken?" Emma snarked back, more angry at the distraction from Regina's soft smile and what it might mean than at the witch and her dramatics.

Before Zelena could provide a retort, Regina jumped in, "Yes, those curses were broken. Mine by true love's kiss. But beforehand there was no unraveling."

"I don't know. I did get through the barrier." Emma smirked.

"You were always a bane in my side." Regina rolled her eyes affectionately, no malice in her words.

"Oh, get a room!" The redhead groaned, throwing her arms up dramatically.

"Is that your favorite retort?" Emma shot back recalling the prior night's conversation.

"It is if it fits. Too bad the pirate's not here to chime in again. Wonder if he'd agree you two need a room?"

They both shot to their feets snarling at each other as though ready for a fight.

Regina stepped in between them holding up a hand at each of their chests. "This isn't helping." She looked between them. "If this is the work of Blue and Gold, then your bickering is the least of our worries."

Emma shot one last glare at Zelena before catching the reproach on Regina's features. Feeling guilty she looked away briefly before admitting, "you're right."

Turning back she saw the brunette raise an eyebrow and tilt her head in a gesture to continue.

Huffing under her breath, Emma asked herself internally, 'why do I have to be the mature one?' Before apologizing to the redhead, "Ugh, fine. I'm sorry."

Regina looked expectantly at her sister.

"What?!" The witch looked back pointedly, then flicked an imaginary fleck of dust from her garment. "I'm not sorry."

Regina rolled her eyes and turned back to Emma whose mouth hung open. Emma threw her hand toward Zelena in a gesture of 'See what I deal with!' at Regina, who tried to hide her amusement at the Saviour's face. She gently pat Emma's arm before turning when she heard a small cough behind her.

Neil stood proudly in front of them, trying to appear stoic and regal with his hands clasped behind his back, but he kept unconsciously rising up onto his toes before rolling back on his heels.

"Yes, kind sir?" Regina bowed her head toward him with a gentle smile.

Neil flushed at the praise and smiled. "Your highness, it's time for dinner."

"Thank you handsome prince," she bowed her head again and then felt a tug on her dress. Looking down she spotted Hope trying to get her attention.

"Regina! Eat!"

Regina kneeled down to address the tiny blonde. "Thank you as well my beautiful princess."

Hope frowned and shook her head in the negative.

Regina's smile faded and she tilted her head sideways trying to understand.

Hope frowned and tugged on her tunic, then looked back at Neil and gestured at him in a similar way as Emma had just gestured toward Zelena.

Regina had to struggle to stop from smiling and to hide her amusement at the similarities between her two favorite blondes. She could also see the frustration on the little one's face and didn't want to injure her feelings.

Emma's chest constricted as she watched the exchange.

Hope stood up tall and proud again. Nodded her little head and repeated, "Regina! Eat!"

Regina's eyes moved over her little face and body, then flicked back to Neal, something connecting in her mind.

Emma watched in fascination. She had no clue what Hope was trying to say herself. It made it even more special when she saw the lightbulb moment illuminate Regina's features.

Failing to fully suppress her smile, Regina ducked her head down in acknowledgment of Hope. "My apologies, kind Hope. Thank you my handsome princess."

Hope beamed a full toothy smile. She held her elbow up towards Regina.

Emma snickered behind them. "I'm not sure you're quite tall enough yet, little charmer. How 'bout if your Ma assists you?" Lifting the giggling toddler she settled her on her hip allowing Regina to link elbows with the tiny blonde. The three of them trailed Neal, walking toward the rest of their waiting family with Zelena in tow.

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