I apologize for the delay in receiving this final chapter. So much has been going on in my life. I honestly wanted to make this chapter worth it and be amazing. Hopefully, I did so. Enjoy! I hope it was worth the long wait!
Happily Ever After
"Regina!" Emma shouted, flinging the doors to the library-wide open. Panting as she nearly had fallen forward. Her eyes caught and locked onto Regina's. "Henry… she—" Green smoke covered the street behind her, dark clouds rolling in covering the once sunny sky. A cackle echoed from Main Street.
"Regiiiina! Come now, dear sister. I know you are awake. Let's finish this once and for all," Zelena's voice chimed, her words ringing through everyone's mind. "Meet me at the clocktower or your precious wife will die. Oh, and the boy!" She laughed and Emma went flying back being pulled by the smoke up into the air and out of Regina's sight.
"Emma!" She cried reaching out for her, but to no avail could she reach her even with her magic. Regina's blood boiled, purple magic wrapped around her and her attire transformed into black leather pants and a dress. Her hair scrunched up tightly to the side pinned up. "If it's a war she wants then it's a war she will get." Her nostrils flared up as she sneered. Hiking up her dress she clicked her heels against the ground storming out of the library.
"Regina, wait! What can we do to help?" Snow called out running after her.
Turning her head over her shoulder she looked at Snow, "Stay back until I tell you otherwise. I'm taking down this wicked witch if it's the last thing I do." A fireball slowly ignited in the palm of her hand to light the way through the dark. "I'm coming for you Swan and then we will get Henry back." She gritted through her teeth. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she stormed to Times Square.
Emma hung in the air frozen in place up by the clock tower. Zelena chuckled from her broomstick patting Emma's cheek, "It's about to be all over, thank you for bringing my dear sister to her senses. I was growing bored with playing this make-believe town game." She clicked her tongue and her red curls bobbed with her head as she laughed, "How she did it for 28 years I will never understand."
Thoughts ran through Emma's mind, all she could muster through the freeze of the magic was a scowl. Her magic was dormant. Her eyes managed to shift around frantically looking to see if she held Henry up in the air with her but she couldn't see him.
Tsking Zelena smiled twistedly, "Oh no, no, you don't think I'd make this that simple for my darling sister, did you now? How dreadfully pathetic do you think I am? No, no, I made this a real challenge for her. Let's see who she wants to keep. You or the boy." Her eyes caught a glimpse of a fire down below her, hearing Regina's voice shouting out at her. "It's about time you showed up, here I was just seconds away from letting your wife drop to her death."
"You wouldn't," she gritted through her teeth, "Now—"
Gasping dramatically, her hand to her chest, "I wouldn't?" She snapped her fingers and within that very instant Emma began to fall, still unable to save herself, her body feeling weighted creating a quicker fall.
"Emma!" Regina shouted, waving her hand for her magic to wrap around her for safety. But the moment she had Zelena matched her rhythm and quickly brought Emma back up to her.
"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast Regina, dear." Zelena perked flying down to the ground. Her broomstick is now in her hand, "So, shall we try this again? Or would you like another demonstration? This time I'll let her be squashed. Splattering her into pieces. Then cross me again and it'll be the boy."
Her heart raced pounding against her chest. Her jaw clenched tightly while she tried to devise a plan, "And where is Henry? What did you do with him, Zelena?" Regina tossed her fireball with full force at her knowing Zelena would deflect it as she had.
"Snippy aren't we? Well, I guess this makes for a real conundrum for you doesn't it? Wife or son? Which one will you save?" Zelena cackled, waving her hand green smoke wrapped around a light post flinging it at Regina who flung it back behind her.
"Where is Henry!? I won't ask you again, Zelena." Her eyes glanced up at Emma and once again she aimed another fireball at her sister.
Another defense she threw a bench in front of the flames and flung it into a building, "Well, if I told you, who would you save? Because I would never let you have both. Wouldn't be much suffering if that was the case. And boy, how do I love watching you suffer." She flung Regina back through the glass windows of one of the stores.
Cracking her neck as she stood to her feet, Regina didn't miss a beat. Getting to her feet she hustled over with grace towards Zelena, flinging her into the clock tower. "Tell me where my son is," a fireball in her hand as she stared into it with a menacing grin hovering over Zelena, "do I need to ask again?"
A stern calm voice came out behind them, "I have him right where I want him."
Glancing over her shoulder Regina's jaw dropped, "Mother?"
"Hello dear," Cora grinned and her hand clenched before her. Her magic hold on Regina choked her. "I think it's time we talk, don't you?"
"Mot—her, why?" Regina gasped struggling to breathe.
Zelena stood to her feet brushing herself off. "I was wondering when you were going to show up, mummy-dear." Zelena laughed walking by Regina. Pausing in front of her, eyes looming up and down. "Well then, how should this go… have your true love watch you die before her?" She waved for Emma to lower down, now on the ground.
"Em—ma." Her voice cracked, losing consciousness slowly. Her hand reached out towards Emma. Magic wrapped around her unfreezing Emma from her place as Regina took her last breath.
"Mother! I wanted to be the one—" Zelena huffed watching Cora release Regina as she fell to the ground.
"Hush dear, she's merely unconscious, you may do as you wish now." She turned to look at Emma, straightening up the collar of her shirt.
"Regina!" Emma called out, collecting herself to her feet. Stumbling to reach Regina only to have Zelena fling her back into a metal trash can.
Rolling her eyes, "Oh come off it dear, you've both lost. You were never going to win." Zelena laughed, dragging Emma across the street to the other side, while she walked closer to Regina kicking her in the side a few times. "I did have her where I wanted her, you know," she glanced back at Cora. "I do appreciate it though."
Shrugging, Cora smiled at her. "Anytime dear." A cloud of smoke whisked her away. "I will meet you where we agreed. Everything has been planted accordingly."
Breathing heavily Emma threw the lid of a can at Zelena. Standing to her feet she wiped her face of the blood that was drawn from a cut on her cheek. "You don't know how my family works then. Because we never lose." A white glow shone around her hands and Emma pushed it forward towards Zelena. "Now, stand away from my wife." Her voice rose with one more shove of magic.
Her head rolled slowly from side to side with blurred vision as Regina slowly opened up her eyes. Gasping for air rolling to her side. Regina used her forearms to brace her up watching Emma pound Zelena unexpectedly into the ground. Her words faint as she reached out for Emma, "EM—ma," she tried to call out to her.
Caught up in rage Emma's focus was pummeling Zelena to the ground. Her back was sore from being thrown around but none of that mattered. Her chest was heavy and her magic grew. A ball of light in her hand she flung it at Zelena who flew around her on her broom.
Cackling her broom wavered, the bristles hit making things unbalanced. "Who knew the little Swan had so much fight in her?"
"Big talk from someone that's losing." Emma shouted, "Now where is Henry?"
A monkey flew down knocking Emma down to the ground. Zelena flying by her, "I wouldn't say I'm losing dear. This was all just to buy time for my final act. Say goodbye to your family, because you're about to cease to exist!" Swishing by her, an echoing cackle fades into the distance much like Zelena herself.
Shooting off one more light orb at Zelena, Emma runs over to Regina's side. "Regina, you're okay. Oh, thank gods."
Cupping her hand over her cheek, nearly falling over from the lack of balance, Regina smiled faintly at Emma. "That's my Swan, my beautiful wife." She gasped out.
Emma teary-eyed kissed her softly. Slowly helping her back to her feet. "We need to find her and Henry."
Her side hurt causing Regina to wince in pain. Biting her lower lip, "I know, but I don't think we can do it at the same time. They planned this. Planned on something big and I was too enraged to see it and now they have the upper hand."
"Do we know what they are going to do? What are they planning?" Emma frantically asked.
"They have your brother," David breathed angrily and heavily. His breathing hitched as he tried to catch it once he caught up to them. "We stopped by the house to check on him—"
"Slow down what?" Her eyes shifted, "Mom had the baby? When?" Emma gasped. "How much time has passed and I didn't know? My memories are all over the place and—" Tears rolled down her eyes. Anxiety, panic, everything overtaking her at once.
Regina held Emma's hands tightly, "Calm down Swan, it's only been five months. She was only a few months away when we got married. Deep breaths. Henry's birthday hasn't even happened yet." She calmly spoke soothing her wife. "I need you to breathe so we can find everyone. Go with your father, I'll go look for Henry."
Closing her eyes taking slow pacing breaths Emma fluttered her eyes open. "Shouldn't I look—"
Her hold was tighter now as they stood to their feet. "Let me do this. I have to. Just like you have to help your father. Just call me when you find them and I'll do the same. We will stop them and get back what we missed out on."
Giving her a faint smile Emma nodded and let go of Regina. "Lead the way," She wiped her tears and followed David as he called Snow to find her location. Running as fast as they could standing at the beginning of the pier.
"Oh, David!" Snow cried wrapping her arms around her husband. Looking over her shoulder to see Emma and reached for her to pull her into the embrace. "Thank goodness you both are here. I lost them when I got here but they can't be far. I saw Cora with some of Zelena's flying monkeys carrying some things and I think one of them was the baby in Cora's arms. What do they need our baby with?" She wept feeling her legs wiggle beneath her and David holding her up.
"We'll find out, let's get going before we lose them completely," Emma assured her with a smile. "We can start by checking the boathouse."
—-
Poofing from location to location, trying not to excerpt her strength too much. Regina caught her breath at last reaching near the mines. This was her last chance to find him. How was she going to explain anything to him when she did find him? Maybe this was a mistake and she should have had Emma looking instead… but at the same time, she knew in her bones and her heart this was what she had to do.
"Henry?" She called out entering the mines. Following the path those dwarfs had created since the first curse had broken. "Henry? It's Regina, are you down here?" She continued to call out, taking caution with every step she took.
Regina jumped back at the sound of some rocks sliding to the front left of her. "Who goes there?" Quickly she lit up a fireball in her hand to see a mouse staring at her from the ground. "Great… a pest." She raised a brow, "Perhaps you can show me where my son is? Or are you just vermin?" The mouse looked up squeaking and ran into a hole in the wall. Turning up her nose she snorted, "Of course as I expected."
"Hello?" A voice vibrated from the stones down the long stretch of the mine.
"Henry?" Regina shouted running towards the voice. Her heart thumped as relief had set in.
"Who is that? Mom?"
Her chest felt heavy as she continued to run. Nearly stumbling a few times. Cursing her wretched heels after getting stuck between some rocks. In plain sight, she saw Henry standing there looking around so confused. Quickly she stumbled to throw her arms around him, even if he didn't return it. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Oh Henry, I was so worried."
His arms slowly wrapped around her, taking in the embrace. "Mom, what's going on?"
Mom, Regina heard it again. She hadn't caught it originally. She was so swept up in the moment that she did not hear him. Slowly Regina tried to pull away but his grip was holding her tightly. Smoke covered what was Henry and now stood holding her tightly was Cora. "Mother? What is going on? Where is my son?" She demanded.
Laughingly Cora pulled from her daughter while stepping back a few steps. "Bravo my dear, I guess it's fair to say in the least you aren't surprised I have my memories? That I am not denying in the least that you are my other daughter?"
Shaking her head Regina scowled, "Of course it doesn't surprise me. Now tell me, where is Henry?"
Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth Cora waved her index finger out in front of her. "I'll give him to you soon. Trust me he is safe. But I can't have you and the Charmings stopping your sister's plan. Well, it's now my plan." She laughed coyly. "But she isn't aware that I'm about to change it on her." Cora shrugged with a giant smile on her face. "That's life though, isn't it?"
Taken back a bit by it Regina stared curiously at her mother, "What is now exactly your plan, mother?"
"Well dear, your sister planned to go back and have me never give her up. Have the childhood she always wanted. But I… I can't have that of course—"
"So stop her!" Regina blurted out.
"Originally that was the plan, but then I got to thinking. You two have crossed paths once as children and I should have kept her then. Your father would not have minded another child, even if she was adopted or if I explained who she was. He was always gentle-hearted." Cora explained slowly pacing from side to side as she explained. "So, I figured that was the best time to go back and change. Then I would have had two powerful daughters to marry off, one would not have been married off as successfully because always were meant to be queen. But I could have had two kingdoms regardless."
Shaking her head Regina snapped, "NO! Mother, you can't do that."
"Why not?" Cora tilted her head walking over to Regina, "She just wanted to be my daughter and have a life like you. This works out for both parties."
Tears started to roll down the sides of her cheeks, "But not for me. Once again, Mother, you are forgetting about my happiness. That is with Emma. If you do that none of this would happen. I'd never be with Emma. Henry would never exist even."
"Now dear, don't say that." Patting her daughter's cheek wiping the tears from it. "You'd still find happiness. I know you would."
"No, I wouldn't," Regina shook her head, "Emma and Henry are my happy ending, mother. They always will be. I just wish you would see that. We should just stop Zelena and we can all start over. It's never too late for second chances. You both are in my life. Watching Henry grow up. Maybe Zelena can meet someone down the road… all she wants is to be loved and accepted. Admit you were wrong and tell her how much you love her. You are the only one that can truly stop her from doing this."
Rolling her eyes, Cora stepped back again. "That family has plagued you, Regina," Snapped her fingers with a huff escaping her. Purple smoke swirled around and Henry stood just steps behind Cora. "I'm sorry dear."
"Henry!" Regina cried but her feet felt frozen in place. Her brows furrowed and her lips creased in the corners, "Mother? What are you—"
"It's really for the best dear." With those words, Cora vanished in her smoke, and the mines' began to tremble.
"Regina?" Henry cried, throwing his hands up in front of him, slowly over the top of his head to block the dust from falling completely on him. The dust from the rocks went up his nose and into his mouth.
She continued trying to struggle, "Henry I'm sorry! I'm sorry I brought you and your mother here!" her voice echoed, trembling even as the rocks from above Henry's head loosened and began to fall. "No! Henry!" She cried reaching out for him and finally, her feet were able to release from the hold and Regina lunged to shield him from the collapse. Her breathing was intense as she pushed herself up with the palms of her hands. "Henry, are you okay?"
Coughing he looked up at her with a faint smile, "Yeah, I think so…" he sat up, resting on his elbows.
A breath of relief escaped her as she smiled leaning in and kissing his forehead. "Thank heavens." She murmured.
The moment her lips pressed against his skin a pulse of magic illuminated around them. A surge that covered them outstretched the entire town. Regina's heart pounded against her chest and a tear slipped from her right eye. Pulling from Henry she wiped her tears, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Mom, I'm okay, I swear." He smiled and hugged her tightly. "I've missed you. Even if I didn't know it, my heart did." He whispered, pulling back from her. "I knew you'd come back for us. That you would save us."
Choking up she brushed her hands over his face, "Love always finds a way, right?" Her heart swelled up so relieved that he finally remembered her. That she had them both back. "Now, we need to find your other mother." Then she winced trying to stand up. Her foot caught beneath some of the rubble.
Henry quickly moved to throw the rocks that covered it. Finally, once she was released Regina struggled to get to her feet. "Mom, you're hurt! Ma can heal you. We just have to figure out where she is and you can take us to her." He helped Regina stand up, her weight resting on him. Pulling out his phone he called up Emma. "Ma? Where are you? Mom's hurt."
"Kid?" Emma sounded frazzled over the phone, "Was that what that…"
"No time to explain, where are you guys?" He urged her to ask questions later.
"Henry, it's not that big of a deal," Regina whispered to him.
He merely glanced at her with a scowl as he listened to Emma respond. "At the boathouse. It's where we think Zelena is."
"Okay, we'll be right there." He hung up the phone before she further pried, asking questions. "Boathouse." He said looking at Regina who nodded at him and smoke, taking them from where they were and appearing behind Emma and her parents.
Hanging up the phone and staring at it Emma felt the breeze of magic behind her. Lifting the hairs from the back of her neck. Turning her head she gawked at them. Quickly she pivoted on her heels turning to run towards them. Her arms flung wrapping around both of them. "I'm so glad you're both okay. What happened?"
"Cora made the mine collapse where we were and the rocks fell on mom's foot when she saved me. Heal her please," Henry begged feeling regret that he caused his mom to get hurt.
Emma looked between them and nodded silently. A glow of light swirled around her hand and quickly Regina stopped her the moment she saw a green glow coming from the cracks of the boathouse doors.
"Emma, stop. We will do that later but right now—" She pointed and Emma looked behind her.
"What is happening?" Emma's lips quivered in fear.
Snow and David looked at one another, "We don't have time for this!" Taking off they charged towards the doors swinging them open as a gust of magic pushed them back.
"I wouldn't have done that if I were you," Regina remarked as they landed beside them. "My sister and mother are attempting a powerful spell that will take them back in time. Each one wants to change something different. Naturally, they have a spell to prevent us from just waltzing in there. They aren't that careless to not protect themselves." She looked at Emma, "But we can get in."
"How? If—" She paused and smiled at her. Nodding her head she helped hold up Regina, releasing her weight from Henry. Emma's arm wrapped around Regina's waist with one hand and in the other, she held onto the light magic she wielded.
Regina had done the same, an arm around Emma's waist and in the other her purple magic. Together they neared the doors and pushed with all their strength, combining their magic to create an orb that encircled them allowing them to access into the barn. Shattering the spell that kept them out.
Proudly Snow turned to David holding him tightly. "We have nothing else to teach her." She whispered as they followed into the boathouse.
"Stop! Zelena, don't take another step." Regina roared, staring down at the redhead. "You don't have to do this. We can all start over now. Become a family."
Scoffing Zelena levitated a crate towards them, "Shut up! You don't understand anything. You got everything I always wanted and you think that we can be a family now and everything will be all rainbows?" She mocked as her voice shrilled and heightened in tone.
"It won't be perfect, but it's something. I'm sorry that she gave you up. That we never got a chance to be sisters. But this isn't going to help. She was horrible." Regina pleaded.
"You're just saying that. Just afraid that you'll cease to exist or that you will never get a chance to meet your precious Swan. Well, sorry dear, frankly I don't care. I hope you never exist or if you do you are cast to the side like nothing." Her voice cracked as her heart began to ache at the memories of her childhood. Unloved and feared all because of how strong her magic was. "I'll do everything you couldn't and succeed. Give Mother everything she would ever want. Royalties and revenge."
"You won't be happy. Any glimpse of happiness that you have she will snuff it out if it doesn't follow her plan to a-T." Regina breathed sorrowfully.
"It'll make me happy that she's happy," Zelena argued biting her tongue, it didn't matter to her. She just wanted her mother, and a family.
Waltzing behind Zelena as she argued with Regina, Cora headed over towards the infant scooping him up in her arms. The portal that was starting to grow and suck things in began to vanish. "Unfortunately dear, Regina is right. I was filled with revenge. Ruining Eva and everything and anyone she loved was my number one priority. Having a daughter become queen, or had I had a son him become king… that's all I cared about. Destroying anyone who dared mock me and my status. I wanted them ruined or even dead. Showing them I was more than a miller's daughter. I was supreme." She gloated rocking the baby in her arms. Her steps slow and ever closer towards Snow. "You were never going to be a part of those plans. For that, I had to give you up. I thought about going back to another time but… honestly now thinking about it you still would have ruined my plans. It was always destined to be Regina. I am truly sorry."
Her neck creased as she turned it to look over her shoulder staring down at her mother. Her eyes swelled up from tears, glossing her vision. "I could have convinced you."
"No, it would be impossible. I removed my heart because love was weakness." Cora admitted handing the cooing baby over to his parents. "If you want me in your life this is the time I can accept you for who you are. Begin a new now, there was never a way to persuade me."
Regina and Emma retracted their magic pulling from one another. "I promise Zelena, we can be the family you always wanted. It's never too late." Regina winced hobbling over towards her mother and sister. Taking their hands. "If it's any consultation, Emma has shown me that. She waited 28 years to find her parents, Henry waited 10. Here they are together, creating bonds and starting over. Yes, I know you missed out on a childhood with mother. But like I said you dodged a bullet." Regina let herself chuckle, "She's trying to redeem herself now. This is the best time to rebuild a life with her. Trust me."
Stumbling back Zelena realizing she was defeated. Her necklace glowed brightly and her green skin faded to normal. Taking Regina and her mother's hands she let her tears fall. Heartache all over again consuming her. "Please… I—-"
Cora pulled her daughters into a tight embrace crying with her. "There, there my dear, mothers finally here."
Regina smiled, "And you're both finally home."
—-
"Alright, are you both ready for this?" a brunette asked. "It's already a lot just to take on one but you're asking to take them both. So I just need to make sure, especially after everything they've been through. One still suffering trauma."
Emma and Regina held their hands tightly together both with bright smiles, "Yes, we're certain about this." They spoke in unison.
"I've come from the foster system, I completely understand what they've been through and I want to give them a better chance. You said it yourself, no one would take them both because it's a lot especially since she is dealing more with the trauma than he is." Emma said softly.
Hesitant, the woman responded, "I just, want to make you understand."
"We do," Regina butted in, "We knew that they were right for us the moment Lily had spoken to Emma. Lucas was in shock seeing his little sister opening up to someone who wasn't him. He said to us that he hadn't heard her speak in two years. Right then we shared the same thought. They needed us and we needed them."
Smiling Emma agreed, "If that isn't a sign, I don't know what is."
Silence sat between them at the table and finally, the woman smiled, opening up the folder and pushing it towards them once she opened it. Handing over a pen, "Then let's begin the process. Understand that we will have a couple of visits to make sure everything is going well and they are safe. Other than that, well, they are yours."
Happiness overwhelmed her. Emma couldn't keep her heart from racing as she stared at the words on the paper. Her mind was in a haze she couldn't focus. Regina chuckled as she read over the documents and signed them. Giving Emma the pen she helped guide her hand to do the same. "Come on Swan, let's make it official."
Taking a deep breath Emma steadied her hand and signed. Pushing the folder over to the woman who signed and dated. Slipping them a picture of the two children. "Well then, everything is in order." She stood up and opened the door as a boy with curly brown hair and a girl with shoulder-length brown hair stood in the archway. "Lucas and Lily," she turned towards the two women, "meet your new mothers."
Emma and Regina steadied themselves to their feet. Regina brushes off her skirt smiling from ear to ear. "I hope you two are ready for a new story just as much as we are." She reached out and the children ran over towards them.
"Welcome to our family," They both breathed.