Storytime (Part 2)

“Emma! Emma!”

“Look, kid, I said that I wanted to be left alone.”

Emma turned around and looked down on her son.

“You did it! The curse is broken!” he exclaimed and hugged Emma around the waist. She ruffled his hair slightly and smiled tenderly. Emma always loved when he hugged her like this, and during each time, she noticed that he was getting taller and taller. Soon he would not be her little boy anymore.

“Henry, I have a lot to think about. Go back to your mom; she really needs you right now.” Emma said while she got down to Henry’s level and looked him in the eyes.

“But what happened? How did we get to the Enchanted Forest? Why did my mom die?”

The Savior bit the inside of her cheek nervously. She wanted her son to know everything, to get rid of the sadness in his eyes, but her mouth remained closed.

“Henry, I am not even sure what has happened yet.”

“Then how did you do it? The use of magic against Cora? How did you bring back my mom from the dead?”

“Henry! Go back to the others! I need some time alone!” Emma realized too late that she had been screaming at the person that she loved the most. Henry backed away quickly and started running.

“Henry, I am sorry!” but the boy was already out of earshot.

“Dammit!” Emma shouted while the tingling feeling in her fingertips returned. She slammed her clenched fists onto a rock and watched how it split in half. The tingling disappeared and left her drained of energy.

“Fuck, that really hurt.” she mumbled quietly to herself while she sat down on the ground.

Emma had not missed this place one bit. Last time she was in the Enchanted Forest, ogres, giants and some other creatures and people tried to kill her. Freezing cold nights and the lack of a warm and cozy bed drove her crazy. She did not belong here.

The Savior.

Emma chuckled slightly. She never wanted this. Why did she not just take Henry and drove away with him to Boston when she had the chance? But the desperate pleadings from her son stopped her from going through with the plan. Emma resumed her position as sheriff, broke the curse and gave everyone their memories back, got sucked into Fairy Tale Land through a portal and then came back, invited the Evil Queen to her and Snow’s welcome home party.

Regina.

Emma’s heart hammered painfully in her chest. She took Henry away from Regina when she thought that Regina had killed the town’s therapist. The scene when Emma had confronted her played itself over and over again in her head. How those dark brown eyes looked at her, with nothing but sadness and defeat.

You can pretend all you want, but we know who you are and who you will always be.

“Fuck!”

The tingling in her fingers started again, as the memories assaulted her. But this time, there were no bolts of energy coming out from her fingers.

Emma knew that if she did not learn how to control her powers, she maybe would end up killing someone.

But I already did, and that bitch deserved it!

Emma felt how her heart started to ache again.

The Savior caught the Evil Queen in her arms as she slumped down to the ground, with a big burn mark on her stomach. Cora stood, looking down on Regina’s dead body as Emma cried.

“She was weak and useless.” Cora said coldly as she turned to leave. Emma felt how her anger started to build up inside of her as she let go of Regina’s body and stood up. For a moment, she lost control of her emotions and let them take over completely. In her mind, she saw her parents, hugging her and telling her that they loved her. She saw Henry, smiling towards her as he threw himself in her arms. And then, a new face appeared. Emma had doubted about her feelings before, but now she knew.

Love truly is strength.

A sword started to form in her hand. It was glowing bright with white and pure magic.

Emma moved forward. Cora knew she was coming and conjured up protective shields around herself. But they were no match against the sword. It cut through Cora’s dark magic as if it was made of melted butter. The sword launched itself through Cora’s chest. The older woman gasped as Emma looked into her eyes. A range of emotions flickered over them before Cora sunk down on her knees and ended up on her side. The sword disappeared, leaving Emma exhausted and confused.

Emma sighed. She did not want to think about it anymore, but she knew that Henry had questions, and probably everyone else. About how she managed to break the curse, and how Regina helped her.

Emma breathed in heavily before she stood up and started walking towards the valley.

How can I tell them that Regina…that we…what I did to… fuck, this is too much! When two people that are right for each other meet, it can create magic. Damn, that is too cheesy!

Hey Regina, you know that your mother killed you and that a kiss brought you back to life.

Emma suddenly stopped at the realization.

True loves kiss can break any spell.

Emma watched Regina and Henry. The boy lay with his head in Regina’s lap while she caressed his hair.

The Savior smiled while she watched the Evil Queen.

No, she is not evil anymore.

Carefully, not to wake Henry up, Emma moved closer to Regina and sat down beside her. The dark haired woman sat still for a while, but eventually turned and looked into Emma’s green eyes. Emma swallowed hard when she saw the redness in the once beautiful brown eyes, which showed that Regina had been crying. Her body was slumped, and Emma’s gaze travelled down to the woman’s stomach and saw the hole in her blouse where Cora had injured her. The wound was now completely healed.

Without saying a word, Emma put an arm around Regina so that her hand rested on the older woman’s hip. Regina relaxed, leaned into the embrace and put her head right above the Saviors heart. Emma shivered slightly when Regina’s hot breath touched her skin. The blonde woman’s heart was beating like crazy, and she was sure that it would jump out of her chest at any moment. Emma kissed the top of Regina’s head and started rubbing her arm absent-mindedly.

Emma’s thoughts returned to the woman who greeted the citizens of Storybrooke. Anette, she believed her name was. They had not had a proper greeting, since the woman threatened to kill Regina. And then, she suddenly swore an allegiance to her. It became too much for the Savior. She needed time to breathe in.

Emma turned her head and saw how her parents talked to Anette, probably deciding what they were going to do next. Emma was well aware of the dangers in the Enchanted Forest. She had fought against them herself a couple of weeks ago.

Snow caught her glances and smiled. Emma knew that she was supposed to be by her parent’s side, she was the Savior after all.

Emma stopped the gentle touches on Regina’s arm, and was just about to leave, when Regina spoke up, her voice hoarse.

“Stay.”

Now, Henry looked up and smiled. The boy rubbed his eyes and yawned, while Emma reached out and ruffled his hair.

“Snow needs me by her side. We have to find a way to get out of here.”

Henry nodded and got up on his feet.

“I am sorry, kid, for yelling at you”

“No it is okay, you needed your space.”

Emma smiled brightly at him.

“I am going to find Ruby.”

“Okay, kid!” Emma said as Henry ran to the huge crowd.

Emma sighed while Regina sat up.

“Do you want to come with me?”

Regina chuckled and turned so that she was looking directly at Emma.

“To consult with three people who wants me dead? I like this plan already.”

“I will not let them hurt you.”

“You cannot promise that, my dear. I knew Anette and her knights before the curse, and I remember how determined they were to have me killed.”

Emma felt how her heart dropped.

“I will not leave you alone, not when the knights are in the area.”

Regina bit down on her lower lip while she tried to blink away the tears that started to form in the corner of her eyes. Emma found one of Regina’s hands and squeezed it gently, while she tried to ignore the electricity that erupted when their fingers intertwined.

“I will kick their asses if they lay a hand on you”

“That sounds scary enough, Miss Swan.” Regina said with a slight amusement in her voice.

Emma stood up and offered Regina her hand.

“My queen?”

There was a great tension in the air. Emma’s gaze travelled from the slightly nervous Regina to the irritated Anette. But Emma’s warning seemed to have made an effect and Anette had managed to put her sword away. At least during their strategy meeting.

It would take two days to travel to the knight’s basecamp. There, everyone would get a place to sleep, and food in their stomachs.

Emma tried to listen, but was constantly distracted by the scar on Anette’s left temple. It was brightly red, started in the corner of her eye, and looked like tree branches were reaching up towards her hairline.

“So, Emma, what do you think?”

Emma snapped out of her musings and cleared her throat.

“About what?”

She saw how Snow and Charming rolled their eyes.

“About the plan?”

“Oh… well, sounds good to me!”

“Great, then we are off!” Snow said cheerfully and stood up, with Charming following her.

Emma watched as they moved away to the former citizens of Storybrooke.

She felt Anette’s eyes on her.

“I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I tend to rush into things without thinking; it is one of my bad qualities.”

Emma could only find the truth in the blonde woman’s voice.

“You were right in one thing, I do need fighters. I just… it is so much to take in right now.”

“Take your time, I know what it means to go through big changes.” Anette said before she looked at Regina.

“How do you two know each other?” Emma asked to try to calm the thick air that started to form between the two women.

“It is complicated” Anette said between gritted teeth.

Regina looked down on her shaking hands, seemingly afraid to face the knight.

“To say that she ruined my life would be an understatement.” Anette snorted and rose from the ground.

“Do not worry, I will not try to kill her. My loyalty is towards you, Emma, and I will do as you wish.” Anette flashed a gentle smile towards the Savior.

“Thank you.” Emma said before Anette turned and made her way to her knights.

By the look of them, they seemed more like barbarians than knights. They wore worn down leather pants, vests, and tunics that had seen better days. But the thing that stood out the most was their impressive arsenal of weapons. Axes, swords, and bows hung against their bodies and it appeared that they were going to battle at any moment. But the gleaming Excalibur stood out the most.

“Impressive, is it not?”

Emma looked over at Regina, who also had her eyes on the knights.

“I have faced that sword, and woman, twice in battle. Do not let that gentle smile fool you, there is so much more behind those blue eyes of hers.”  

Emma let Regina’s words sink in, before they both went and searched for Henry.