It's after the fifth drink that the idea first presents itself. Emma is feeling the effects of alcohol and that pleasant buzzing in her head has her reasoning impaired just enough to think even mentioning it as a joke is a good idea. They've both been on a high after finding the author's house; Regina was ecstatic at all the possibilities that presented and Emma … Emma was just happy to be a step closer to fulfilling her promise of getting Regina her happy ending. So after they grab a quick dinner and Henry runs off to play his new game - it's the new Dragon Age, moms, and don't you think I've earned some extra play time today - they don't really discuss it. They just move to Regina's study to continue where they left off at Granny's.
Emma thinks that she should maybe call Hook, but he's been through a lot, and could probably use some time to recuperate on his own. Plus, honestly, she could use an evening for herself after all the craziness of the past months. So now they are drinking and chatting about various unrelated small things - it's relaxed and surprisingly unguarded for two people with walls and issues of their magnitude, separately and between them - and Emma is truly enjoying herself. She is occasionally rewarded with one of Regina's very rare unguarded smiles, the ones which light up her entire face, and Emma is feeling warm and happy, and so proud of where they are, after the bumpy ride their relationship has been. She doesn't mention any of it out loud, of course, because she knows Regina. She starts talking about happiness and friendship, and suddenly she's Miss Swan - or even worse, The Savior - again. How Regina manages to make the title sound like a curse word, I will never understand. So instead, she just enjoys the newfound closeness. It's the desire to see that smile again that makes Emma mention it, and regret it almost instantaneously.
"Why do we even need the author? Who knows when and even if he can help. I know you see Robin as your happy ending, but why don't we try and find you a different one on our own, with somebody who comes with no strings attached?"
The startled look Regina gives her makes her cringe, wishing she still had any kind of filter between her brain and her mouth. "Excuse me?"
Now that it's out there there's no going back - in for a penny in for a pound as they say - so Emma bravely continues. "We can try! A wish or something… Robin can't be the only happy ending out there for you. All we have to do is look for an alternative…" And it sounds even more stupid when I say it out loud. But there is really no way out of this but to try and push forward, so she continues. "Maybe somebody from your past, or somebody completely ne—"
"Robin is not a toy you can replace when it gets lost! He is my soulmate, Miss Swan!"
And there it is. "I know I just thought… You know what, never mind." She knows it's her own fault, but she is still hurt by the hostility rolling off Regina in waves - especially the bloody "Miss Swan." It sends unexpected thoughts through her fuzzy mind. The thoughts like You didn't know him all that well anyhow. What, a few weeks? And suddenly you, the definition of not trusting anybody, were giving him your heart, literally? It just makes no sense. Except that she knows this is a fairytale world with fairytale rules and it kind of does… She is still smart enough to not actually voice any of that out loud.
The atmosphere is suddenly charged, and they barely speak for a few beats. Just as Emma thinks she's messed up - pushing them two steps back, effectively ending the evening - Regina pours them another drink and mentions Rumple as if nothing was said. The hostility is gone, and they're talking again. Emma is so relieved to be out of the doghouse, she wants to build a monument to alcohol - because if Regina was sober, she's sure she wouldn't be getting off this easy.
It's after the eight drink that Regina comes back to the topic, and Emma is drunk enough by then not to mind or fear where the discussion will go.
"I don't want another man as a happy ending, I love Robin. And besides, a man isn't necessary for a happy ending. But for the sake of discussion, hypothetically, let's say we could do it. What exactly did you have in mind?"
Regina looks at her expectantly, and Emma wishes she actually thought this through, but it's just a hypothetical anyhow, so what the hell. "Honestly? I have no idea. But think about it, there has to be something in this town that fulfills wishes. So much magic around … and we are due, Regina, we are due one fuc—" Regina raises an amused eyebrow at her and she stops mid word. "We are due one wish with no consequences, don't you think?"
Both are drunk enough by that time to actually believe, for a moment, in a possibility of magic wishes with no side effects, so Regina just nods, contemplating the idea. And suddenly, the hypothetical plan is getting discussed in between fits of laughter.
By the drink number ten their plan is both highly detailed and utterly nonsensical. They are trying to figure out if they could tailor a fantasy man to eliminate every annoying habit, every undesirable feature - The beard might look sexy, dear, but kissing somebody with it has some not so good aftereffects– I know! Boy, do I know! - and they're laughing again.
As they have their eleventh drink, Regina poofs them to Gold's shop, or, as close as her drunken sense of direction allows, and they clumsily struggle with the door, trying to break in. There is fumbling and loud cursing and "I thought you were good at this kind of thing Miss … Emma." Emma redoubles her efforts because she is good at this and many things, and for some reason she needs Regina to know it. If only she could finally hit the correct lock of the three she's seeing, they'd be in. Finally, she gets it. The door budges, and they slip inside, giggling like teenagers happy to have a make out spot away from prying eyes.
Once inside, they're not really sure what to do. They look around, but nothing stands out. They've both been in this shop enough times to know that if there is something of value in here, it will certainly not be in the front, so they move to the back room, clumsily knocking over several items on their way.
The back is not much help either. They keep picking things up, their drunken minds not recognizing any of it. Half an hour passes, and now Regina is pouting - and since when does Regina even pout? - and Emma feels like she failed her again, which will not do. She redoubles her efforts, and in the end, it's her clumsiness that delivers what they're looking for. She trips on a nonexistent floor bump - there was something there, I am telling you - and in a desperate attempt to grab onto something, anything, her hand latches on a heavy book on a shelf. The moment she pulls it, a hidden compartment clicks open.
They both stare in amazement at the new wealth that has just presented itself to them, and then they start giggling and shushing each other simultaneously, because, obviously, that's what's going to get them caught.
One item grabs their attention. "Is that what I think it is?"
Regina nods but still voices it, not certain she believes it either. "It's a fairy's wand." She sways a bit as she picks it up, running her hand over it. All Emma can think is that such a simple gesture shouldn't look so obscene. But then Regina gasps, and Emma's attention, or what little of it remains, is back on her face. "This is Blue's wand!"
"Wow, really? Are you sure?"
"I think… It looks like it. But it can't be … right? We'd know if Blue's wand was stolen, wouldn't we?"
"Maybe she'd be too embarrassed to say anything. Or she is being blackmailed! Or they are having an affair and Blue gave Gold—" that might be officially the dumbest thing she's ever said. She knows it. Regina doesn't even have to say "Idiot," her face is saying it loud and clear. Maybe that last drink wasn't such a good idea after all.
Emma clears her throat and refocuses. "Well, whether it's hers or one that looks like it, the point is, what does it do?"
"It grants wishes. "
Emma frowns. "If that's the case, why didn't Gold use it?"
They stare at the wand, as if expecting it to start talking and explain itself. When nothing happens, Regina lets out a small frustrated growl and attempts to offer an explanation herself.
"I'll assume he needed light magic, something even he can't conjure up." Her eyes suddenly shine with understanding.
Emma just stares, confused, but then, finally, her brain catches up. "We have that!"
"Yes, Emma. Yes, we do."
Regina keeps glancing between the wand and Emma, that beautiful smile back on her face, and Emma isn't really thinking about why it makes her so pleased that she is the one responsible for it - but it does, judging by the new warmth in her chest. It takes her a few moments to wrap her head around the next thing Regina says.
"Okay, now what?"
Emma lets out a frustrated sigh. "What do you mean, now what? I thought you'd know? You are the big sorcr— sour— you're the one with the magic knowledge here!"
Regina smirks, clearly enjoying her little slip-up. Then she answers, her tone matter-of-fact. "Yes, but my experience with light magic is very limited. That's more your domain."
Emma wants to argue the point, but nothing coherent forms in her head, so she simply goes with it. "Oh, hell, give it here."
She turns the wand over, considering her options, then just shrugs her shoulders. "Hold onto this end."
Regina does, her eyes fixed on her expectantly. Emma desperately needs this to work, because as much as she likes being the cause of Regina's smiles, she hates being responsible for her disappointments even more. The old Marian-related guilt resurfaces, and she is determined more than ever to make this work.
She grabs Regina's free hand, and, putting all the training and advice to good use, she focuses on the wand. "Okay, now, just imagine yourself happy."
Regina does, and Emma catches glimpses. There is Daniel, and Regina holding Henry for the first time, and the hug they all shared as a family after Neverland… Suddenly, blue smoke swirls around them, rising from both the wand and their joined hands. They both look up in fascination, amazed that it's working. Emma flashes Regina a cocky grin. Who's the magiker now, lady? And yes, I know it's not a real word but I don't care.
The swirl grows, enveloping them both. They feel a pull, and as they start to lose footing, both seem to sober up significantly. Emma finally realizes that what they are doing? Not such a good idea after all. Regina's panicked face mirrors her own, and Emma tightens her grip, trying to pull both of them out of it … somewhere, anywhere where they'll actually feel the ground again. She doesn't want to admit it, but even in her drunken stupor, she knows it's too late. The blue smoke envelops them both, and all there is left is darkness.