66A/N: I'm still putting my feelers out for this story. I have somewhat of a concept, but I'm trying to figure out the kinds of relationships I'm going to have between our different characters. This chapter is one that will definitely establish a few relationships- and I promise there will be a lot, a lot of action down the road. And keep in mind… slow burn slow burn slow burn SQ. ;) Thank you and please review!
"Mom."
Regina's eyes shot open as she sat straight up in bed. Her eyes flicked to a figure sitting on the bed next to her. She blinked a couple times and when her eyes finally adjusted, she saw it was her son.
"Henry?" inquired the brunette as she quickly reached her hand to her son's shoulder, "What's wrong, sweetheart?" Her eyes quickly scanned her son's face, searching for a problem to fix. He reached to his shoulder and gently took his mother's hand in his and placed it on his cheek.
"Good morning." He said with a small smile as he held Regina's hand to the side of his face.
"Good morning." Replied the brunette as she softly moved her thumb across her son's cheeks. "Are you alright?" Henry paused for a minute, a smile still gracing his lips.
"Everything's fine," a small laugh crawled up his throat at the concerned look on his mother's face, "It's just… it's just that I've missed this. Missed you." His cheeks reddened and his gaze avoided his mother's. He didn't feel physically capable of saying much more than that, but his mother saved him the pressure of continuing by pulling him close and wrapping him in her arms.
"I've missed you too, sweetheart," she kissed the top of his head, "so much." Mother and son leaned back on the bed and stretched their limbs before huddling closer. Henry rested his head on Regina's shoulder and they lay wrapped together in comfortable silence.
"I remember seeing you in the diner," mumbled Henry, "our first morning back in Storybrooke. I remember seeing you at Granny's . We were going to order food and you had dropped your coffee and…"
"I remember," murmured the brunette. It wasn't a particularly fond memory for her.
"I'm sorry." He said as he clutched tighter at his mother.
"For what, sweetheart?"
"Not remembering you."
"Henry," Regina began as she turned her son's face towards her, "it was not your fault. I erased your memories and gave you new ones. If I hadn't, you and Emma would not have known who each other were or why you were in the middle of nowhere together. It doesn't matter that you didn't remember then, what's important is that you're here now." She held him closer and they returned to silence until a few minutes passed and Henry let out a small snort.
"What?" said Regina smiling and looking down at her son.
"You gave Emma memories of how to cook." The brunette let out a small laugh.
"Well, I couldn't very well have you living off only burgers and pizza now could I?" they laughed together and hugged closer.
"Now that I think about it, you gave Emma a lot of things that remind me of you. It's so weird to think about this last year as something that actually happened. I can remember so much, but it all kind of feels like a dream, you know?" Regina simply hummed in response. She sat for a moment stroking Henry's hair deep in thought.
"Do you regret remembering all of this?" she whispered. It was a question she had been longing to ask her son ever since his memories had been restored. She was both elated and horrified that Henry remembered their life together, for there were times even she wished she could forget. Henry rose from his mother's embrace and looked down at her, his big green eyes looking directly at her.
"I regret not remembering sooner," he replied, "I know we had a hard time when Emma first came here, but that was mostly my own ignorance and stubbornness- other than that I have awesome memories of you. Sure you were tough and a little controlling, but I now see that you did it all to protect me because you love me. When I look back at everything that's happened since then, what stands out the most is you always being there for me, always willing to do anything it took for me. There's no way I'd want to forget my mom." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek and she wrapped her arms around him for one last squeeze. "I love you, mom."
"I love you, sweetheart." Replied the brunette with tears in her eyes. With a small little smile, Henry rose from the bed and stretched.
"It's almost time for me to head out. I'm meeting Robin and the gang in the woods for bow and arrow lessons," he stopped in the doorway and turned back to his mom, "archery lessons from Robin Hood… that's so cool." He smiled and shook his head as he exited the room.
Regina sat back in bed, relishing how she had been woken up. With Henry gone for the morning and the better half of the afternoon, she would have to find a way to occupy her time. It's been seven days since Zelena had been stopped and everyone in the town was using this time as a period of readjustment. Without a known way of returning to the Enchanted Forest, the townspeople would have to figure out the next move. Although many had returned to their normal "cursed" jobs, others simply sat at home biding their time until the next life-threatening crisis. Either way, the town would eventually function again, and it would require some form of leadership- but Regina felt uncomfortable stepping back into the mayoral role. She didn't know if it would be a position she should step up and reclaim or if it would be offered- either way she remained uncertain as to whether or not she actually wanted to remain the town's leader.
Then came the matter of her sister. She remained an unaddressed presence the Sherriff's jail. A figure once cloaked with immense power forced into silent submission, awaiting the fate that will be bestowed upon her by the townspeople. The former mayor hadn't visited her sister since the evening she took her powers. Regina had taken the last few days to reconnect with her son, but now that he would be occupied for most of the day- she reasoned now would be as good a time as ever to visit her sister. Sister. The brunette thought with a small, sad smile. Seeing as how they are the only descendents of the Mills family line, it would probably be fit that they get to know one another- not only that, Regina couldn't help a twinge of excitement at the prospect of having a blood related relative in town that didn't seek to, or at least couldn't, murder her.
Regina stopped by Granny's and picked up a large coffee for herself and a large cup of tea for Zelena. As she strolled up to the office door at the Sheriff's station she heard what sounded like a deep conversation coming from the room. Upon hearing her sister's voice, Regina stopped dead and hovered just outside the door.
"I knew my father never cared for me," sounded the red head's voice from inside, "he would get ridiculously drunk and smack me around like that was my only purpose in his house."
"I know what you mean," came the Sheriff's voice from the room, "I once stayed with a couple that would get blackout drunk every night and use me as their own personal punching bag. I used to resent it, but now I've embraced it."
"It made you strong."
"I don't know about 'strong,' but it made me grow up pretty fast, that's for sure."
"It made you strong, Emma." Zelena's voice sounded so firm and sincere that Regina poked her head around the door. Her stomach fell to the floor as she saw one of Zelena's arms reaching through the bars, her hand patting Emma's knee as the blonde sat with her face in her palms. She pulled her head back out of sight, her mind buzzing with what she had just seen. They were confiding in each other. They were having an emotional exchange of solidarity. She's known Emma for years and they had never really even gotten around to discussing their pasts or connecting over anything. How is it that the Savior is suddenly so willing to open up to this completely manipulative, homicidal stranger? She heard the sound of a chair scraping across the floor and then Emma's voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"As weird as this sounds, I'm happy I can talk to you, Zelena."
"Nobody can know what we've gone through, dearest. People like us, well, we're different than the rest. Just know that you aren't alone." There was a short silence, Regina held her breath as a foreign emotion slithered from her gut to her throat. She couldn't quite place the feeling… jealousy? Her thoughts were interrupted when the station phone rang and Emma talked to someone on the other line. She hung up and grabbed her keys.
"Sheriff's work is never done. Catch ya later, Zelena."
"Bon Voyage, Savior. I'll just be here." Regina heard Emma give a little snort and the strange feeling of jealousy crept into her mouth and sizzled on her tongue. Hearing Emma's footsteps draw near the door, she snapped to attention and waltzed around the corner into the room as if she had only just arrived.
"Oops, s'cuse me, Regina." Said Emma nearly bumping into the former mayor. Regina nearly nodded and moved aside so Emma could pass. Once the blonde was out the door, Regina turned to the jail cell to see her sister propped on her cot with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.
"Well if it isn't my precious little sister." Sneered the witch. Regina rolled her eyes and walked across the room and sat in the chair by the cell. "How good of you to come see me."
"Yes, well, you are family after all." Replied the brunette holding Zelena's tea out to her.
"Poison? Really, darling? There are much more exciting ways to go, I would think that someone with your homicidal expertise would find a more creative way to off me than this cliché Shakespearean ending. So tell me, darling… arsenic or chloroform?"
"Chamomile." Replied Regina dryly. Zelena's eyes flared and she smirked as she took the cup and sipped it coyly.
"So, to what do I owe this pleasure, sis?"
"Nothing in particular, I just thought I would visit."
"Oh so we could talk, bond over our pasts, and quickly become best friends?" sneered the witch. "Oh no, sis, that is something that will most definitely not be happening."
"I see you've managed to ensnare our Sheriff," sighed Regina. Zelena's eyes flicked up to lock with the brunette's, "tell me, what's your game?"
"Game?" Zelena let out a small cackle, "It's always some sort of game with you, isn't it? You see someone acting cordially and instantly believe there is an ulterior motive. No, your precious Savior and I are simply keeping each other company as we sit about in this dull office all day."
Regina's eyes searched her sister's icy gaze, she would like to believe Zelena's words, but she knows how difficult it is to break habits long cultivated by rage and vengeance. Zelena wouldn't be so quick to make a friend simply out of boredom, no, she had something else in mind- and Regina had to find out what it is. She shifted closer to the bars and looked directly at her sister, speaking her words slowly.
"We both know that's not what you're doing. If you harm one hair on Emma Swan's head, I swear I will end you. I will reach into my so-called creative homicidal database and destroy you."
Though Regina kept her face and voice in a steady pallor on the verge of threatening, the witch could sense the former mayor's anxieties, a small curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Oh I wouldn't harm our dear Sheriff, no, but I believe you might."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh this is very silly, isn't it?"
"What?" hissed Regina losing patience.
"This is adorable," Zelena clapped her hands together, "you haven't even admitted it to yourself yet, have you?"
"Enough of this, explain yourself."
"You love our dearest Savior." Zelena said with a large grin. Regina had expected hundreds of replies, but not that. She lost focus and her face completely dropped causing her sister's grin to grow even sharper. "You know it's true, don't deny it- sis." She sat back on the cot and sipped her tea. Regina remained still, her face completely stoic in contradiction to her reeling mind.
She knew Zelena was trying to play mind games and she couldn't and wouldn't let her win. But she couldn't deny the small fluttering in her stomach at the mention of love. Her relationship with Emma remained practical, they shared a son. Nothing had ever necessarily taken place between them, too much continued to happen in their little world. There had been battles to fight, people to save, and no time to consider any personal affairs.
As Zelena's words soaked in, Regina allowed herself to truly contemplate- for the briefest moment- her rather complex feelings towards the Sheriff. She had always kept them buried in order to deal with the greater good, but now that the dust was settling after a series of long, life-threatening circumstances- she could no longer deny the small glimmer of light pulsating behind the walls of her blackened heart.
"I think we've had enough sisterly bonding for today." Replied the former mayor coolly. She rose from her chair and strolled to the door.
"Come on, sis, just admit it." Came Zelena's taunting voice.
Regina stopped and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes drifted across the room and reached behind the bars to gaze upon her sister and for the first time she really looked at the woman behind the bars. Her piercing blue eyes being the first noticeable feature moved with deliberate action. Each flick and sweep moved with well thought out purpose- each focus and scan meticulously calculated.
In a southward sweep from her eyes came her sharp skeletal structure, pushing in and pulling out with deep ripples, folding across her cream-colored skin all as calculated as the movement of her eyes. Her sharp chin jutted out in a regal manner that was unsettlingly similar to Cora's, her jaw firmly set with confidence and capped with a pair of sharp, eager ears. Her hair framed her face like freshly fallen autumn leaves on the sidewalk. Where the rest of her features were sharp and deliberate, her red hair ran wild about her as though it fed from the overwhelming amount of thought and planning which radiated from within her skull. Her entire physique seemed controlled and tame, but there lingered still a disquieting aura of foreboding.
"Not today." Replied the brunette as she swept from the room leaving Zelena with a smirk victoriously splashed across her face.
…
Emma burst through the door of the loft that now acted as a home for Emma, her parents, Henry, and her new baby brother.
"Snow?" she called, "Snow?" the tiny brunette came quietly scampering down the stairs holding her index finger to her mouth and shushing.
"He's finally asleep," she whispered.
"What's the emergency?" whispered Emma in reply.
"Emergency?"
"You called the station, what's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"I'm bored and… and lonely." Whispered the brunette with a sigh.
"So there's no emergency?"
"Well, not technically."
"I'm outta here." The Sheriff turned on her heel to leave, but her mother's hand quickly reached out grabbing her bicep.
"Emma, wait. Please."
"You can't keep calling the Sheriff's station just because you're bored."
"I know. I'm sorry. Will you at least stay for tea?" the blonde tapped the toe of her boot lightly on the ground for a few beats before giving in.
"Okay. Fine. One cup, okay?" the tiny brunette gave a wild smile and scurried over to the kitchen.
Mother and daughter sat together in the kitchen in an awkward silence that seemed to permeate the room. There were so many unanswered questions bubbling between the two that neither knew where to begin.
"How's work?" Snow whispered over her mug.
"Fine, fine. Really quiet." Replied Emma.
"And how is… she?" a shadow passed over the small brunette's face as she asked the question.
"Regina?"
"No… the wicked witch."
"Former wicked witch," corrected Emma causing Snow to furrow her brow, "She's fine. Stays in her cell all day."
"We'll have to decide what to do with her."
"What do you mean, do with her? She's powerless, I figured we'd just let her cool her heels at the station and then send her back to her farmhouse." Snow's face completely dropped in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me, Emma?"
"What?" said Emma rather innocently.
"She killed Neal, enslaved Rumpelstiltskin, wiped our memories, turned our friends into flying monkeys, nearly killed Regina and you- not to mention she tried to suck the life out of my son, your little brother."
"Yeah and Regina tortured and killed thousands, killed her father, killed your father, cursed an entire kingdom, killed Graham, tried to kill me, teamed up with her mom against us, and she's still walking around."
"She's redeemed herself, Emma."
"And why can't Zelena have a second chance as well, hmm?" Emma shot back raising her voice slightly. "How can we expect her to redeem herself if we keep her locked up like some animal. You have no idea what she's been through!"
Snow looked up in horror at her daughter who was now standing on her feet, towering over her mother. She opened and closed her mouth trying to usher words to the surface, but they remained buried beneath heaps of shock. Before she could summon a reply, a faint cry sounded from upstairs.
"We'll talk about this later," she said sternly eyeing her daughter before rushing off to comfort her son. Emma watched her leave before turning on her heel and slamming the loft door as she left.
As she drove back to the Sheriff's station, she gripped her steering wheel whitening her mountain range of knuckles. She began talking to herself outloud.
"I'm so sick of her stupid, conditional forgiveness," she scoffed, "everyone treating her like she's the keeper of the second chance handouts. So self-righteous. Everyone in this goddamn town is so self-righteous. Always, always so quick to place the blame and judge purely off the what and never asking the why," she felt her gut begin to drop as magic simmered around her knuckles, "They don't give a flying fuck why you do what you do, they only care about what happens. They just want someone to hate so they can avoid pointing fingers at themselves, they don't want to do anything for themselves, they'd rather just heap all the responsibility on someone else. Someone who may not want to do all of this shit, someone who may want to not always have her life and her son's life in constant peril, someone who may just want to have a normal fucking LIFE!" Her car screeched to a halt, three different fire hydrants near her car exploded at once. She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath, "Well this is just fucking great."
Leaning on the gas pedal, Emma raced towards the Sheriff's station. Back to the one person she believed really understood her. The one person who looked at her as a human being and not the Savior. Back to Zelena.