In the End: 02
Author: t8kmybreathaway
Title: In the End, We'll be Each Other's Savior
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Swan/Queen
Rating: Teen-Mature
Summary: Emma and Regina have been together for a few months. Regina knows that the curse will break if she continues her relationship with Emma and if that happens she's afraid will lose both Emma and Henry. She cannot let that happen. So she gives Emma the turnover in hopes that doing so will save Henry when instead it puts him in danger. Can Regina and Emma save him before it's too late? Can Emma save Regina from the impending destruction she faces at the hands of those she has cursed?
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
A/N: Unbeta-ed so all mistakes are my own. Also please review it motivates me to write more and do so faster.
~*+*~Previously~*+*~
"Actually, he goes by Rumpelstiltskin," Regina said biting back her hatred of the wretched man. Apprehension set over Emma's features, even in the fairy tales she had read growing up she knew he was not a man to be trusted. She knew what the man was capable of here and she could only imagine what he was capable of in the other world.
~*+*~Chapter Two: Let the Truth Set You Free~*+*~
They decided that the best course of action would be to go see him. If it was possible Emma felt even more uncomfortable in his little shop of trinkets than she ever did before, not that Regina had ever really felt comfortable there either. The man looked up, a pleasant knowing smirk on his face. "My eyes must deceive me… both the Mayor and the Sherriff. And if I'm not mistaken that is the look of a believer… So tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?"
"You know why we're here, Rumpel, don't play games with us!" Regina said sharply.
"We need your help," Emma said as she strode up towards the counter with Regina right behind her.
"Indeed you do. It seems quite a tragic ailment has befallen our young friend. I told you," he turned to Regina. "That all magic comes with a price," he said mockingly.
"Henry shouldn't have to pay it," Regina said crisply. She was feeling guilty and Gold was not helping in any case by goading her even if she deserved it.
"No, you should," he stated as a matter of fact. "Alas we are where we are," he sighed.
"Can you help us?" Emma asked with a roll of her eyes. She was beginning to get annoyed with his childish behavior towards Regina.
"Of course," Gold replied. "True love, Miss Swan, is the only magic powerful enough to transcend realms and break any curse, and luckily for you I happened to have bottled some."
"You did?" Regina asked with amazement her head snapped back on her neck.
"Oh yes," he smiles knowing it will annoy the Queen that he managed to do such a thing. "From the strands of your parents' hair; I made the most powerful potion in all the realm, so powerful that when I created the dark curse I placed a single drop on the parchment," he said punctuating his words with a fake drop with his forefinger and thumb. "Just a little safety valve," he added.
Emma blinked and understood almost instantly, "That's why I'm the savior. That's why I can break the curse. You designed it that way. You designed the curse..."
"So now you get it," he snickered.
"I don't care about breaking the curse; all I care about is saving Henry," Emma said truthfully with a frantic panic in her eyes.
"Which is why it's your lucky day, I didn't use all of the potion. I saved some, for a rainy day."
"Well it's storming like a bitch, where is it?"
"Where it is, isn't the problem," he said playing with the cloth in his hand. "Getting it is what should worry you."
"Enough riddles," Regina snapped. "What do we do?"
"You do nothing, your majesty. It has to be Miss Swan," he said adding salt to the wound in just a way that made Emma want to smack him.
"It was my fault he… it should be me," she said taking responsibility for the situation.
"All due respect, your majesty," he cringed knowing his words were going to sting and taking delight in them just the same. "But it's her son. And it has to be her. She's the product of the magic. She must be the one to find it."
"Hey! Enough," Emma shouted at him and slammed her hands on the counter. "She is just as much his mother as I am; stop treating her like she isn't. She spent the last ten years raising him, not me," Emma snarled at him.
"Okay, okay," he said holding his hands up in mock defeat. "My apologies…" he smirked. "But all things aside, it needs to be her because she is the product of their true love and that true love is not just part of the curse, it's the whole reason for its existence."
"Don't trust him," Regina warned. "He's playing us, I know it."
"I don't, but what choice do we have?" Emma looked at Regina. "There is no other option here," she said lightly knowing that Regina loathed the man and Emma could completely understand why.
"That's right, dearie, what choice do you have?" he asked with a beaming smile.
"Where is this magic?" Emma asked with an eye roll and crossed her arms.
"Tell me, your majesty," he looked to Regina. "Is our friend still in the basement?" he asked.
"Why you twisted little imp; you hid it with her?" Regina stated eyes wide.
"Oh no, not with her, in her," he smirked. "I knew you couldn't resist bringing her over."
"Who is her?" Emma asked still lost in their conversation.
"Someone you should be prepared for," he replied. He dusted off the box on the counter. "Where you're going, you're going to need this," he said as he opened it.
"What is that?" Emma asked as her eyes raked along the red velvet.
"Why this, of course, is your father's sword," he replied and she looked up at him with panic stricken eyes. She couldn't possibly use this thing. She had no idea how! Sure she'd seen movies but it was a lot different than real life. Hell, she wouldn't be surprised if they used fake swords in every movie she's ever seen. "Good luck, dearie, you're going to need it," he said and laughed like the little imp he was, a little bit of his past life slipping through.
~*+*~!~*+*~!~*+*~
Seeing Gold had left Emma confused. She had absolutely no clue as to what or who they were talking about. She simply followed Regina as she led her to an abandoned building in town. She tried not to think about what she might face. She tried to only focus on Henry and that he needed her to be brave; that Regina needed her to be brave. "What is this place?"
"He was right," she sighed. "When I cast the curse I brought her with me - Maleficent - she was my… friend. If you could call it that," she frowned.
"So why don't you go down and just talk to her?"
"Oh trust me, she does not want to see me," Regina laughed sarcastically. "Her punishment, unlike everyone else's, was to remember and live in another form. Her dragon form. She's a shape shifter." Regina laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. "If I go down there, we'll never get anywhere, she'll expect every move I try, while you… well she won't be prepared for you."
"A dragon? Are fucking serious? Please, tell me you're kidding?" Emma said horrified at the prospects of fighting a beast let alone a real, fire breathing, overgrown lizard. Emma hefted the sword in her hand to the other one and sighed deeply. "We have a lot to talk about when I get back" she said.
"I know," Regina nodded. "Just make sure you come back," Regina stated and Emma nodded. "The elevator is a two way system so I'll have to stay up here," she watched Emma climb onto the contraption and she meet the blonde's eyes. She tried to convey what she was feeling without actually saying it and Emma nodded with a small smile. She knew.
~*+*~!~*+*~!~*+*~
Regina bit her nails. It was an old habit, one she was constantly chastised for in her youth. She was nervous, not only for Henry, but also for Emma. If something happened… she shook her head trying to dispel those thoughts. It was her own fault, she knew. Being evil made many enemies and certainly no friends. Rumpel wanted to break the curse, what she couldn't figure out was why. She sat in the chair and rested her elbows against the knees.
She knew almost everything about everyone in the Enchanted Forest. But Rumpel, his history didn't start until after the Ogre Wars, and all she knew was that his son had disappeared. How had he disappeared though? Before she could think any more about it the man in question walked into the store. "What are you doing here?"
"Just came to see how things were going," he smiled.
She knew something was going on but chose not to comment on it. She had other things to worry about that were more immediate concerns. "May as well have a seat, I haven't heard from her yet," she said knowing he wasn't going away.
"So you and Miss Swan," he commented as he walked up behind her. "Can't say I saw that one coming," surely she would have known better than to have her back to him.
"Yes, well, neither did I," she replied. He lifted his cane above his head and swung it down across the Queen's head. Regina only briefly saw the shadow on the wall before she felt the stinging blow. Her body fell limply to the floor and he double checked to make sure she was out before settling in to wait for Miss Swan.
~*+*~!~*+*~!~*+*~
Emma dashed behind the rock formation quickly to avoid the fire being sputtered towards her. She dropped the sword and cursed as the tail whipped around and hit the other side of the rock so she was dodging it and the fire. She reached for her gun and took a deep breath before she rolled out of cover and started firing at the beast.
The dragon roared as shots rang out and pierced its scales. A large claw swiped at Emma shredding her jacket all the way up her left arm. She screamed in pain as the talon sliced the flesh on the back of her arm. She stumbled and fell forward barely scrambling out of the way of the fire blown at her.
She scurried behind a rock and winced as she felt the heaviness in her arm. Breathing heavily she held her hand to her arm and peered around the corner. The dragon came in for another swipe at her and she just barely got out of the way to the other side of the cavern. Her entire body was covered in dirt and grime and every muscle ached.
She pushed herself to her feet and lifted the sword with her good hand. She looked around the rock formation again to check the positioning of the dragon and seconds later she ran out from cover. "Hey!" she screamed and when the beast turned on her Emma heaved the sword with all her might over her head and through the air towards the glowing spot on the beast's chest. It thrashed and roared in response before spontaneously combusting and bursting into ash leaving the golden egg sitting in the center of the pile.
Emma dropped to her knees and picked up the artifact carefully cradling it in her arms before scrambling back to her feet. She went back to the elevator and pulled on the switch to let Regina know she had done it and settled back against the grating. She was exhausted and could barely hold herself up. Suddenly, the elevator came to a screeching halt and she was thrown from her feet landing awkwardly on her ankle.
"Regina?" Emma shouted up hoping to hear an answer. When none came she began to worry so she shouted again. When Gold appeared she knew something was wrong. "Where's Regina?" she asked.
"The elevator got stuck so she went for help," he replied.
"Alright, I'll just climb up," Emma said and started to pull herself to her feet.
"Don't be silly, you're hurt, just throw me the egg and then climb up if you're still intent on doing so. Better yet, you should wait here for help. It will be much easier," Emma stared at him skeptically. "I promise your boy will be just fine. Come on now, we wouldn't want you to injure yourself any further."
Emma sighed knowing that there was no way she'd be able to climb up with the egg. Even without the hulking object it would be a hard feat to accomplish so she threw it up to him. With a smile and brief sneer he disappeared. "Thank you, Miss Swan," he snickered. "Always a pleasure!"
Emma cursed under her breath but managed to pull herself out of the elevator shaft. She collapsed when she reached the top and stared up at the ceiling breathing heavily. Blood oozed down her arm as she gathered herself up off the floor. Her eyes darted around the room searching for a phone when her eyes landed on Regina's still form. "Regina!" she scrambled over to her and cupped her face. "Regina, wake up," she said frantically. She shook her somewhat forcefully, "Regina!"
Brown eyes fluttered open, a disoriented expression painted across her face. Her eyes darted around the room. "W-what happened…"
"Gold happened," Emma grunted as a sharp shooting pain reached from her arm into her shoulder. She gasped for air as her lungs began to burn. "Ahhh…" she hissed and Regina moved to her knees so she was in front of Emma.
"You… you're hurt," Regina said gingerly picking up her arm and inspecting it. The wound was deep, and blood flowed freely from it. The panic was evident on her face. Emma felt her head beginning to swim with fogginess. "We need to get you to my house," Regina stated. "Come on," she wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist and pulled her to her feet.
"I think I… sprained my ankle," Emma said as another wince escaped her.
Regina ignored her protests and bent down to pick up her legs and carried her bridal style. Regina was a lot stronger than she looked. "Hush, it's only a few blocks to the mansion, I need to get you patched up," Regina said softly proceeding to carry her to her house.
~*+*~!~*+*~!~*+*~
Regina placed Emma carefully onto the kitchen table after she cleared it off, which was basically just raking a foot down one side of the table cloth and letting everything fall to the floor in a heap. As much as it pained Regina, and really it didn't, she cut Emma's jacket off so it was easier to get to the wound. The jacket was a sticky, dirty mess that she didn't want to deal with. She got the supplies she needed to clean and dress the wound placing them on the table by Emma's head. After that she went to her kitchen cabinet and removed the needed ingredients for the salve she was about to make as well as some aspirin to keep the fever at bay.
She filled a basin with hot water and soaked the wash cloth before she started cleaning the wound. She was hoping that with such a clean slice she wouldn't find any bits and pieces of the talon but she did. She sighed heavily and went back to her kitchen cabinets; she would need to make anti-venom as well. When she finally stopped the bleeding and the wound was clean she looked down at Emma and noticed the sweat gathering on her forehead. She got a cold compress and wrapped it in a kitchen towel before placing it over her forehead and eyes.
Regina sighed and wiped her sleeve along her face as she put ingredients into the mortar. The mixture would hopefully reduce the pain, swelling, and help it to heal faster. She may not have her powers here but she knew what to combine to heal someone, even if she mostly never used those techniques in her old life. She applied the salve generously before wrapping Emma's entire arm shoulder to wrist. It was definitely going to scar; there was nothing she could do about that.
She cleaned up her mess before examining Emma's ankle it was definitely sprained but didn't require more than a simple compress wrap. She then moved Emma to the couch in her study where she could watch over her and begin to plan their next move. She had to figure out why that wretched little imp wanted the curse broken.
~*+*~!~*+*~!~*+*~
It was several hours before Emma woke up. Her eyes drifted open slowly taking in her surroundings. She immediately recognized the study and groaned when she tried to lift her arm to wipe the sleep from her eyes. White hot searing pain shot down her arm and she gasped for air.
"You're awake," Regina breathed in relief. "Don't try to move," she pushed away from the desk and moved to sit on the floor next to Emma. She pulled her knees to her chest and laid her head on top as she gazed at the blonde. "You were badly injured. Maleficent sliced open your arm leaving behind some nasty bits. I got all of it out and you'll be just fine now that the fever has passed," she spoke softly.
"Thank you," Emma said hoarsely. Regina handed her a glass of cider. "It will help with the pain, too," she winked.
The blonde took it gratefully. "How's your head?" she asked.
Regina was shocked she even remembered. "I-I'm fine, just a bump," she shrugged. For a while both women were quiet and each gazed into the fire. "Look I - "
"I'm - " Emma also started but quickly closed her mouth knowing that Regina was ready to open up about something and she didn't want to ruin that. "Go ahead," she encouraged.
"I don't know where to start, but I'm sorry… for everything," Emma could hear the subtle crack in her voice that indicated she was crying but refrained from mentioning it in fear Regina would simply shut her out. "I guess I should start from the beginning," she said quietly.
"Okay," Emma replied letting her know that she was listening.
"I didn't have a very good childhood. I grew up in a well off family, I didn't necessarily want for anything, except for love and affection from my mother… She was a - difficult woman," Regina began.
"She hurt you?" Emma asked unable to keep the question silent.
Regina nodded. "She didn't mean to at first and she always said she was sorry, but… When I was eight she started to teach me magic, I was never any good at it," she laughed sarcastically because she had become quite adept at it. "She punished me with lashings and made me kneel on rice until my knees bled whenever she deemed I was not the perfect daughter she wanted. Eventually, I started learning healing remedies from the local healer out of pure self-preservation, had I not I'd have probably died in my youth. When my mother found out she was furious with me. That was the day I got this," she explained pointing to her lip.
"It was the first time she ever hurt me where anyone could see. It was so bad that the healer couldn't get it to heal properly. I'd always have a scar and to my mother that just was not acceptable. I received twenty lashings because I was no longer as pretty."
"You're beautiful," Emma said softly without realizing it. She blushed slightly and Regina offered her a small smile.
"When I was nineteen we had this stable boy with the deepest blue eyes I had ever seen. His name was Daniel and we were in love. One day, I met him at our tree and there was a loud scream followed by a horse carrying a young girl. I charged after it, forgetting my own safety to save her. I pulled her from the horse and carried her to safety. Turns out, her father was the King and to thank me for saving his daughter he asked me to marry him. My mother accepted for me."
Regina paused to wipe the tears from her face. "I ran off with Daniel one night, we were planning to leave and get married. The girl caught us kissing and ran off. When I caught up to her I explained to her that I did not love her father that I loved this man and I told her that true love is the greatest magic of all, it could break any curse. She promised to keep my secret so imagine my horror when my mother followed me out to the stables the next night and killed Daniel in front of me. She ripped his heart from his chest and crushed it."
Emma waited for her to continue but Regina just looked into the fire. It was then, she realized the brunette was crying and trying her best not to be vocal about it. She was still in so much pain. Emma reached out to her and took her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to keep going if you don't want to," she said.
Regina shook her head. "No, you deserve an explanation. You deserve to know who I am, who you…"
"Love?" Emma asked and Regina nodded.
"After that, I really had no choice but to marry the King. I was being fitted for my dress when I found out the girl had told my mother my secret. I was beyond furious. She betrayed me. I vowed that day I would make her life hell for what she had done to me."
"This girl, she was Snow White," Emma stated. "My mother?"
Regina nodded. "I spent years being nice and pleasant waiting for the best time to get my revenge. The first step, was killing the man who had trapped me in my own prison with nothing but my apple tree for companionship. He did not love me. I tricked the genie into helping me by convincing him I was in love with him. After all was said and done, I told him to leave and he wished to be by my side forever. He got his wish and found himself stuck in my mirror bound to do my bidding."
"Sydney?" Emma guessed from the way the man acted around Regina.
"Yes," Regina replied. "After her father's death I made no attempt to hide the hatred I felt for her. I began plotting a way to get back at her. Yes, I had taken her father away but he had imprisoned me and I did not kill him to get back at her. Everything I tried was foiled by one thing or another, or by one person or another. When I tried to kill her, the Huntsman brought me back a deer's heart and so in return I took his. He certainly made a fine Sherriff…"
"Until he figured out the curse…" Emma supplied.
Regina nodded again fiddling with her hands. Emma could see the remorse, regret, guilt, and pain as it flashed through her eyes and her facial features. "I helped King George capture Charming and he got free, no thanks to Abigail, the dreadful betrothed of his, because he saved her true love. I even had her right where I wanted her, she took the apple, she ate it, she fell into a deep slumber and still he found her after I transported him to the infinite forest and woke her. I was tired of losing so I went to Rumpel and asked for the curse. I traded it for the sleeping curse so I had to fight Maleficent to get it back, but I did and I cast it just as you were born."
"Where was your father in all of this?" Emma wondered out loud.
Regina stiffened briefly before calming. "He was by my side for most of it. Regret over not being able to keep me from my mother forcing him to stay by my side. He loved me; I do not doubt that, but to enact the dark curse I… I - I had to sacrifice what I loved most so I - I killed him…" Regina cried.
Emma was shocked into silence. Regina had killed her father, the only other person left who loved her in that life. To do so she must have been desperate to get the justice she felt she deserved. And in that moment the blonde didn't care that Regina stole her childhood from her. The blonde slide from the couch, even though it took all her strength to do so, and sat behind Regina pulling her into an embrace and holding her tightly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that," she said softly against Regina's ear.
The brunette clung to her as if her life depended on it. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," she cried.
"Shh, it's okay. It's going to be okay. We're going to figure this out. We will save our son," Emma said with conviction.
Regina nodded. "You have to know, I - I didn't mean for it to be him. And I - I didn't want to do it to you… I - I thought it was the only way. If the curse broke everyone would remember who they are, who I am and Snow and Charming… they would either take you and Henry away or kill me… or Gold would use you and Henry against me…"
"Oh, Gina…" Emma wrapped her good arm around her tighter.
"Or you wouldn't exist at all… I - I couldn't take that chance. I couldn't let anything happen to you… I thought if I could cast the sleeping curse at least then I could save Henry and no harm would come to you, but he knew… I don't know how but I found this in his room," Regina said handing the letter to Emma.
Emma,
If you're reading this, it means I've sacrificed myself in order to make you believe in the curse. I'm sorry it had to come to this, but I know my mom. If you break the curse she thinks bad things will happen. I know you'll keep her safe. I know I said she's the Evil Queen and I believe she is, but I love her, she's my mom. And maybe, just maybe we can save her too. Please, don't be mad at me.
Henry
Emma wasn't sure what to make of it. He certainly was one smart little boy. And really, how could she be mad at him? He was just trying to protect her and help his mom. Regina fell asleep in Emma's arms a few hours later and the blonde hated waking her but the floor was beginning to get uncomfortable. Regina led her up to her bedroom and ran a bath with a meager amount of bubbles.
She helped Emma get clean and then jumped in the shower herself. When she emerged, the blonde was already asleep clad in only a tank top and boy shorts laying across the entire bed. Regina smiled to herself in wonderment. Emma had taken her past extremely well for all that she had done. She thought for sure the blonde would be horrified, but she wasn't. Part of her wished she knew why, but as she got dressed and settled under the blankets and Emma pulled her close, part of her didn't feel the need to ask why. For the first time in decades, she felt like a weight had been lifted from her soul.