Chapter Text
2: To Hell and Back
Emma had taken to sleeping in her office. Sleep came easy when it was at the bottom of a bottle and Killian was not snoring next to her. It did not make things much easier. Henry was still rarely home. They both caught up at Zelena’s place, having dinner and conversing over pretty much anything except the elephant in the room. Emma was more familiar with Robyn now and somehow that made it easier to drink. She cost that baby a cool aunt.
“Emma!”
Emma shot up. “Stop yelling, Regina!” She blinked and rubbed her face with one hand. Dude, Regina’s dead. But, if that was the case, why was she still freaking hearing Regina?
Well, she did not need to hear Regina anymore. She knew she screwed up. She did not need an echo of Regina yelling at her to make that known.
“Sleeping at a desk is unhealthy, especially when you have a perfectly good bed…” That Regina might have been in her head, but then again, was that not always the case?
Emma was not sure, but she did not want to continue her descent into madness by being reprimanded over her sleeping habits. She groaned and staggered toward the bedroom. She collapsed onto her side of the bed, face down right in her pillow. It was not until she felt a hand on the small of back, pushing up her shirt, that she remembered Killian was there. That was why she slept in her office now.
“Come here, love,” he mumbled as he pawed at her.
“No, thank you,” Emma replied, shoving his hand away. Whispers in her head suggested what she should do to him for touching her without her permission. Take his other hand. Take the only limb he cares about. Take him to Hades and give him back. She shook those thoughts away.
He moved, mouth over her ear. “Come now, love. Regina’s gone.” He nipped her ear.
She snarled and shoved him away. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Was that supposed to get her in the mood? Because it got her in the mood to break a lamp over his head.
He glared at her as if she was the villain. “You’re pining for a dead woman!”
“I’m mourning, you moron!” Kill him, kill him, kill him. Of course, she could not. Not because she was a good guy or the Savior or a hero, but because he was there thanks to Regina. Fuck!
“For a month?” he hissed.
“You’re putting a time limit on my damn grief now? What the hell is wrong with you?” She wanted to punch him at the least and stab him in the chest with his own hook at the most, but she could not. Regina gave her life for him, for this. She needed to treasure this, except it was impossible. Regina was gone and he was an asshole.
“This is what you wanted, love!” He spread his arms out as he sat up in bed. Shadows played across his face in the dark and he looked almost demonic.
Emma ripped away from the bed. “Here’s the damn thing, this isn’t what I wanted!” She punched her fist into her palm. “I wanted love! Family!” Regina! “And this is pain and misery!”
“That’s life, Swan! Suffering! Remember when I wanted my suffering to end and you decided against it?” His voice was loud, as if the volume alone could hurt her. “Remember when I wanted something, but was denied? By you, who claimed to love me? You!” He pointed at her.
She winced, feeling like her ribs turned to dust. She owed him for that. “I’m sorry about that and I wanted to set it right. That’s why I came for you. I wanted to make things better.”
He glared at her in the dark and she could see it plain as day. “Nothing is ever better and that’s why Regina’s dead.”
Emma locked eyes with him. “Fuck you.” She left the room at that, making sure to slam the door. It was immature, but it was the best she could do at the moment.
Emma made it to the living room sofa before she collapsed on the cushion. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. None of this was what she wanted. This was a nightmare she could not wake up from and none of it made any sense. She was supposed to be happy, but how could she? Regina was fucking dead!
“Emma.”
“Killian, I—” She growled and sat up straight. She was about to scream at him or maybe worse considering she was at the end of her rope, but then saw a ghost. Her eyes almost fell out of her skull with how wide they opened. “Holy shit! Regina!” Regina was in the middle of her living room. Going so fucking crazy.
“Emma,” ghost-Regina said. She had on a damn business suit of all things, including one of her vests. She looked like a shadow made up to be Regina, but it was so obviously Regina, standing by the couch, looking at her with a mix of sorrow and aggravation.
“What the hell is going?” Emma backed up on the sofa, almost falling over the back of the couch. “Are you like a ghost? Have I finally cracked? My brain is completely fucking cracked!” She had been expecting this, but somehow it still sneaked up on her. A hysterical chuckle escaped her.
“Emma, calm down.” It’s said with stern annoyance, which she would expect from Regina.
“How can I calm down?” Emma threw her hands out. “You’re a damn ghost and I’m insane!” She made wild hand motions around her head. Insane was being kind about it. She saw and heard Regina everywhere while these murderous voices hissed in her mind.
Regina sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Why do I try with you, ever?” She looked at Emma, like she often did when Emma was being unreasonable, in her opinion anyway. It was like she willed Emma to calm down and it worked for the most part.
Emma stared at ghost-Regina and took in the sight. It had been too long. A dam broke inside of her. She could not hold in the flood of sobs that escaped her. Her body ached instantly, but she could not stop. Regina came closer.
“Oh, Emma. I took this form to comfort you, my love,” Regina said.
Emma blinked, sniffled, and tried her best to clean her face. None of it worked. She felt frantic, trapped in some bizarre mirror land. Her body hummed like every atom was about to fly apart in a different direction. “Definitely crazy. And hearing things. Out of my mind. Completely out of my mind.”
Regina sighed. “I didn’t mean to do this.”
Emma shook her head, unable to look at Regina, even though it was the only thing she wanted right now. All she wanted was Regina. “You didn’t do anything, except support my idiocy and fucking die because of it.”
Regina was closer now, fuller, almost as if she was actually there and tangible and not some fragment of Emma’s diseased mind. “You clearly missed something I said there, which doesn’t surprise me. You’re going through a lot. I did this because I love you. I love you.”
Emma sobbed louder. She had no idea how insanity would look on her, but somehow this made sense. Everything always hurt her, so why should her crazy be any different? Nothing ever bought her comfort, so even if ghost-Regina claimed that was what she was doing, it still hurt. Everything hurt. She rubbed her face with her hands.
“I didn’t even get my affairs in order. Can I do that before committing myself?” Emma asked.
“I showed up like this to comfort you and you react like this.” Regina motioned to her. “I should’ve known.”
Might as well indulge the insanity while it’s Regina. Regina was better than voices that wanted her to hurt Killian, even if he deserved it. She looked at Regina. “How are you going to comfort me? Aren’t you dead?”
“Well, yes.”
Emma nodded. “So, I am crazy.”
“No, you idiot, but you’re well on your way and taking me with you. I came here, hoping to calm you down, so can you just calm down?” Regina asked.
“How can I not be crazy when you’re dead, but here and also say you love me?” That sounded like true insanity.
Regina sighed, somehow appearing deflated even as a ghost, and sat down next to Emma. “I realized it a little late.”
“After you died?”
Ghost-Regina looked at her, sorrow painting her features. “Unfortunately. I also needed a little help.”
“At least a ghost didn’t say it to you, but it makes some sense of this situation.” Emma sniffled and wiped her face. “You went to Hell to get my boyfriend back because you love me…” That sounded about right for them.
“Yes, I’m in love with you. Somehow, it both shocked me and made all the sense to me when it was explained to me. I was definitely embarrassed.”
Emma sniffled. Everything fell into place with those simple words, though. Regina loved her and she loved Regina back. She was not sure when or how or why it happened, but she was in love with Regina. She would do anything for Regina, including become the Dark One. Oh. This whole thing made so much more sense now.
“That’s why it feels like a piece of me is missing. That’s it. And now you’re gone and everything we had is gone and everything we could’ve had is gone,” Emma said and she massaged the center of her chest. The barbed wire that had been around her ribs felt like it closed onto her heart. There was such agony.
Regina put a hand on her knee and it was cold, but there was pressure and somehow that made things warm. It was nice. And, suddenly, there was a little color in the gray world. Regina was not gone.
“We were a family, Regina. And without you, it’s just… blah.” Emma could not explain it and just threw her hands up in defeat. “It’s the worst. I’ve been trying, but it’s hard and heavy and hurts all the time.”
Regina nodded and offered her a sorrowful smile. “I’ve seen. I’ve been trying to be there for you as best I can, but it’s hard from here.”
“Oh, so not crazy when I hear your voice and see you in the moonlight. Good to know.” Emma nodded.
“No, not crazy. I just wanted to comfort you, be there for you as best I can while I’m not here. I want to be there for you, Emma, always.” Regina rubbed her knee again and it was the best thing ever.
Emma sniffled and glanced away, but had to look back. She did not want to blink and find Regina gone again. “I want to be there for you as well, but you’re dead and it’s my fault.”
Regina caressed her cheek and, damn it, if she did not feel real. Regina was there. Regina was not gone. More tears escaped Emma’s eyes and Regina wiped them away.
“It’s not your fault. I made the decision to help you. I wanted to be there for you, even though I didn’t know why. I wish I knew why then. So much wasted time,” Regina said.
“Yeah.” Emma sighed. Maybe that was the worst part. If she realized how she truly felt about Regina sooner, they might have been able to avoid all of this. Regina might not be dead. “Wait, how are you talking to me if you’re dead? Is your soul just lying around in the Underworld?”
“Not lying around per se and don’t do anything stupid, Emma.” Regina pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re going to do something stupid.”
Emma shrugged. “You have met me. You also call me an idiot often.” Time to figure out how to get a soul back after the King of the Underworld decided to take it. More like how to figure out how to go back on a deal. Emma did not care.
“Emma, you don’t have to put yourself at risk for me. Just, please, take care of Henry. Don’t stay somewhere you’re not happy. Oh, and cuddle Robyn often for me.” Regina glanced away. “I have to go.”
“How the hell are you even here?” Emma asked.
“It’s all part of the deal. I could do this until you were okay.” Regina patted her knee again.
“I am not okay!” She might never be okay.
Regina smiled. “You will be.” And she faded away.
Emma tackled the space Regina once occupied. “I am not okay!” She slapped the couch.
She was not okay. Henry was not okay. Zelena was not okay. And Robyn deserved to cuddle with her aunt!
Well, time to do something stupid. She glanced out of the window. Night still covered everything. Okay, she would probably have to wait a few hours to do something stupid.
-8-8-8-8-
Emma paced outside of the library until Belle came into view. Then, she trotted over to Belle, even though Belle was headed to the library. Belle smiled at her. It was easier to tell in her eyes since she had a scarf covering almost half of her face. Emma could barely feel anything now due to her excitement.
“Hello, Emma. May I help you?” Belle asked.
“I need to go to the Underworld,” Emma replied. She could feel herself vibrating with energy. She was going to get Regina back!
Belle squinted at her. “You did that already.”
“I gotta do it again. Regina’s down there and I’ve gotta go get her,” Emma said, hopping in step with Belle.
“Didn’t Hades rip Regina’s soul right out of her body? Like he personally wanted her soul in particular.”
Was that supposed to matter or make a difference? “Well, he’s had her for a month. I want her back now. He’s probably tired of her, anyway. I mean, can you imagine Regina in the Underworld when she didn’t expect to be there? I can’t imagine him enjoying that. So, how do I get to the Underworld?” Her heart pumped a mile-a-minute and she felt like her words were coming out just as fast.
Belle opened the library. “Getting there is easy, as you know. Leaving is the hard part.”
Emma scoffed. “I’m going.”
Belle glanced at her. “Yes, I imagine you are. I’m surprised you didn’t go sooner.”
“I was busy having a breakdown. I’m done breaking down now.” She clapped her gloved hands together. “I have to get her back.”
Belle eased into her chair at the front desk and began taking off her hat, scarf, and coat. “Well, again, it’s simple enough. You know where there’s an entrance to the Underworld. Take a couple of coins, so Charon will ride you across the river, avoid all the trouble, like wandering skeletons and Cerberus, and then tell Hades to give you back Regina. Gods usually like to deal, if they’re in a good mood. You’ll be fine.”
Emma leaned against the desk and glanced around. “Yeah, I guess I could do that. I was hoping you’d have more advice, though. I don’t want to go down there blind.”
Belle nodded. “Well, the Underworld is one of the least surprising places in all the realms when you’ve been there once. You’ve seen it, Emma. You know as much as I do.”
“I can’t screw this up like last time. Henry needs his mom…” Emma blew out a breath. “I need Regina.”
Belle smiled. “Realized you love her, huh?”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “You knew?”
“I think you two were the only ones who didn’t, especially once you became the Dark One for her. But, we all knew with her from that year in the Enchanted Forest. It was so obvious how much she missed you. She would randomly wonder what you were doing, if you were eating right, if you were dressed properly for the weather, and so many other cute little things.”
“Because I had Henry.” Of course, that did not explain a lot of that, but Regina probably rationalized it that way at the time. Well, stop rationalizing things like that. You love her and she loves you, so go get her.
Belle chuckled. “Well, yes, but you had Henry. Regina wouldn’t just randomly hand over the care of her son to anyone.”
“That’s true.”
“On the few occasions we could get her to cook in the Enchanted Forest, she made things she knew you liked. We didn’t know until Snow commented on them, but it never failed. After a while, we’d ask and then she stopped cooking. I don’t know if she didn’t want to share those parts of you anymore or didn’t want to acknowledge it or what, but it hurt her and we could see.”
“Well, I’m going to go get her, then.” Emma clapped her hands together again to hype herself up, not that she needed it. She had not felt this pumped up in a long time.
“So, take a weapon just in case. Maybe even take a bottle of wine or a pack of beer as a gift for the dead if they bother you.”
Emma frowned. “This makes no sense. They’re dead. Why do they want to drink? Why can they drink?”
“They’re dead, they’re bored, and it doesn’t need to make sense. Take some baubles, a sword, and save your damn woman. Watch out for monsters and such.” Belle waved her away, like all of that was a forgone conclusion.
“Monsters are easy. Regina is going to be pissed when she sees me.” Emma grinned. That would feel good.
“She’s lucky to have you.” Belle’s eyes went misty.
Emma rested a hand on the desk and looked Belle directly in the eye. “Belle, one day you’ll find someone reckless and stupid enough to go to the Underworld for you. You took a step in the right direction when you left Gold as he took back his powers. You’re a good one. You’ll find a good one.”
“Thanks for that. Go get your wife, Emma.”
Emma got moving. David gave her a sword without question. Snow had a bunch of useless junk for the dead thanks to being a teacher. She stopped at the grocery store for some more supplies, loading up an old duffle bag, and it was down into the belly of the beast.
Belle was not lying about entering the Underworld. The same way as before as she ignored the voices in her head. Coin was handed to Charon. Cards, dice, wine coolers, beers, and other things went to the bored wandering dead to get them to leave her alone. The sword was used on skeletons, who had nothing better to do than to try to eat her flesh. They were good practice for the monsters she encountered. Then, there was Cerberus, growling in her face, drool dripping from three maws.
“Who wants jerky?” She waved a pack of open beef jerky in front of the demon dog. The left and right heads growled while the middle head sniffed in interest. Emma waved the jerky over to the other heads. The other heads caught the scent. Emma dumped her pockets of beef jerky and a bag of doggy treats. Cerberus dived in and Emma moved on.
“Hades!” Emma said, sword in hand as she stood before the black throne of the God of the Dead.
Hades appeared in a column of fire, one knee over the other, on his throne. “You don’t have to yell, Emma. What do you want now? You’re like a bad rash.”
“You sound like Regina, who I want back.” Emma pointed her sword at him.
Hades arched an eyebrow. “Didn’t I just give you back someone like a month ago? Some pirate rubbish, right?” He waved his hand around, quite dismissive.
“But, you took Regina before her time.”
He leaned forward with a frown. “How would you know? I’m the God of the Dead. I know when it’s someone’s time better than most. I’m sure hanging around you long enough at least gave Regina an ulcer.”
Emma winced. “Probably. But, she’s not dying from an ulcer.”
“Emma, you do know you can’t just keep popping up here when people die, right?” Again, he waved his hand around. “That’s just the natural order of things.”
Emma was far from swayed. “But, you took her in exchange for someone else. That’s not the natural order of things.”
His forehead wrinkled. “Yes, but that was the deal you made. Everything that happened here was aboveboard, Emma. I gave you the pirate in exchange for Regina.” His face pinched, like he could not figure out why she was there.
Emma was ready to explode. “I didn’t know you were going to take her!”
He squinted as he regarded her. “Well, who did you think I was going to take?”
“Uh, me!” She pressed a hand to her chest. “You know, for the irony or whatever.”
He pursed his lips. “I don’t think that’s irony, but okay.”
“Instead, you take Regina, who was only there to support my dumb ass being a dumb-ass! She’s got a son who needs her and a sister who wants to know her and a brand new niece! She has a family!” Emma paced. “This isn’t fair!” She wanted to tear her hair out. Tear his hair out.
He tilted his head as he studied her. “You have a family, too. As I understand it, you share a son. You have a new brother and parents you’ve spent twenty-nine out of thirty years of life separated from.”
She shook her head, breath coming in pants now. “I don’t matter. They won’t miss me. My parents have been trying to ditch me since the stupid curse broke and they just replaced me. Henry has spent roughly a week with me for this whole month.” She looked him dead in the eye, needing him to understand. “I don’t matter.” Her voice was steel.
“Wow, that is depressing.” He scratched the side of his nose. “Look, Emma, I appreciate your persistence, but you don’t have anything I want to make a deal.”
“You can take me instead of Regina.”
“Okay, not to add to your abysmal sense of self-worth, but I don’t want you, Emma. I got what I wanted.”
Emma could hardly breathe and her head pounded as the voices muttered plots of murder. Kill him. You could kill him! Kill him! Emma clutched her head, dropping her sword. She panted and hit the side of her hand, needing the voice to just shut up. Instead, they insisted louder and louder, KILL HIM! Kill him and take what you want, what you’re owed. Kill him! She screamed as her head throbbed, like her skull was about to explode, and her blood burned like acid in her veins. Sweat pricked her skin and tears burned her eyes.
“You are really unwell,” Hades said as if it was not super-obvious.
“Hades, stop playing around and help poor Emma,” a young woman said as she stepped out of the shadows. She had on a summer dress with sunflowers on it, showing off pale, almost blue skin and a crown of flowers in her hair. She was barefoot and regarded Emma with warm golden eyes.
“Why is that my responsibility, Persephone? I didn’t tell her to make herself an evil elf,” he replied.
“Imp,” the young woman corrected him.
He waved the word off. “Whatever. How does that fall on me to help her? Dwarves made the damned thing.”
“Yes, but we’re short on dwarves right now and considering how much help Regina’s been, this is literally the least you could do.” Persephone motioned to Emma.
“No, the least I could do is get up and walk away before this gets more annoying.”
Persephone gave him a hard look. “I’d like to see you try it.”
Hades sighed and looked at Emma. “Wives, am I right?” He snapped his fingers and the voices were gone. “Better?”
Emma was not sure what just happened, but she felt more like herself than she had since sticking the dagger into the Darkness. She panted for a couple of seconds, trying to recollect herself. She looked around and then turned back to Hades and his… wife. “Uh, yeah, better. How did you do that?”
“Uh, I’m an Olympic god, but okay. Can you leave now?” he asked, making a sweeping motion with his hand.
“I’m not going anywhere without Regina,” Emma replied.
“I’m not—” he was cut off.
“Hades,” Persephone said with a surprising scolding expression on her cute face.
He threw his hands up as he turned to Persephone. “But, she hasn’t finished the updates yet!”
So, Emma had been surprised a lot in life, especially in recent years, but somehow that statement still surprised her. She blinked. “I’m sorry, updates? Is that code word for torture?”
“Emma, why would we have a code word for torture here?” Hades asked like she was a moron.
“So, you’re not punishing Regina for all eternity?” Emma inquired to be sure.
He held up both hands as if balancing scales. “It really depends on how you look at it and it’s not all eternity.”
“We made a deal with her,” Persephone said.
Hades wagged a finger. “You made the deal with her, Persephone.”
“I had to make a deal with her or you’d still be trying to figure out where to place her after patting yourself on the back for your deal with Emma.”
“But, I had already made a deal with Emma. You didn’t need to make a deal with Regina. She was already part of one deal and didn’t need another.”
“Yes, she was part of a deal where you snatched her away and then didn’t even know what you were going to do with her. We all needed this deal. She’s good at office work and she’s working to the best of her ability thanks to my deal. Your office is crap and do you think she would’ve put in half of the work she did if she didn’t have something to look forward to? We didn’t even know poor Hecate was in there until Regina found her. We thought she was on vacation for seven years. And she still couldn’t find the files from 805.”
“No one remembers 805, anyway. Or wants to remember 805.”
Persephone rolled her eyes and stepped over to Emma. She took Emma’s hands into hers and giggled. “Regina made a deal she would clean up Hades very outdated filing system until you came. She promised to be as fast as efficiency would allow. The only thing she wanted was a chance to help you through her death while she worked.”
“She’s expecting me?” Emma asked.
“She said and I quote, ‘this idiot is going to show up here the second she thinks I can be saved.’ I called her bluff. No way you’re that stupid, yet here you are,” Hades said.
“I’ve done this once already. Why is it so stupid?” Emma asked.
“Because when you did it the first time it worked out so well, am I right?” he smirked.
“Hades!” Persephone stomped her foot.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “Fine! But, I’m only doing this because Regina helped a lot.”
Persephone wagged her finger at him. “You’re doing this because that was the deal and we keep our word.”
Hades groaned and rubbed his face with one hand. “Emma, this is what you have to look forward to. This is being married.”
“Whatever. Just give me Regina back.”
Hades clapped his hands and at first nothing happened and then she could hear footsteps. High heels on the stone. Regina emerged, folders in hand, in a three-piece pantsuit despite being a ghost. She was with a brunette, also in a pantsuit with folders in hand, but not a ghost.
“Regina!” Emma ran over to her and tried to hug her, forgetting Regina was just a soul. Her arms went right through Regina.
“Emma, you’re earlier than I expected,” Regina said.
“What?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d have at least another month after we talked. You know, a period where you think you’re crazy and at least pretend to be okay and moving on.”
“I did that already!”
“Wow, that was you pretending to be okay?” Hades asked.
Persephone winced. “Yeah, because you’re basically an alcoholic now.”
“Have you guys been watching me?” Emma asked.
“Another condition of Regina’s labor. She wanted to see how her family was doing. Of course, she’d probably still be in denial over who that meant if someone hadn’t said anything,” Hades said.
Persephone frowned. “You weren’t there when she was going on and on about how unbothered she was for dying for Emma’s cause, even though she so clearly hated the pirate. If you listened to her tell you about their exploits and still see her not get it, it was mind blowing.” Persephone turned to the other woman. “Hecate, please, tell him.”
“It was painful. I actually wish we filmed it. We could use it as a punishment. It was like looking into the sun,” the brunette replied.
Regina glared. “I should’ve moved the crates back in your way, Hecate.”
“But, you didn’t, and you wouldn’t have learned so much amazing witchcraft from me if you did.” Hecate held her chin high.
“Okay, while this is all fun, the system isn’t done yet, so Regina can’t leave yet,” Hades said.
“Hades, we made a deal!” Persephone replied.
“Yes, but I, for one, would like to not lose Hecate for seven years in a labyrinth of crates, boxes, and I’m almost sure we had the Kraken in there for some reason. Which, reminds me, I owe Poseidon an apology. Someone make sure we return that,” Hades said.
“Less dark tunnels might help,” Hecate said.
Hades gawked at her. “We’re literally underground, Hecate. Where else are we going to store things?”
“Can we not fight in mixed company?” Persephone asked. She looked around. “Now, we had a deal. We’re standing by the deal. It’s that simple.”
“Persephone—” Hades started, but she cut him off.
Persephone held up her hand. “Watch this.” She smiled at Regina. “Could you just stick around until all of the updates are in place?”
“Regina!” Emma glared at Persephone.
Regina waved that objection off. “That’s fine. This was partially my fault. I miscalculated Emma’s impulses.”
“So, you’ll stay?” Hades asked.
“I need to finish. I can’t imagine what you’ll do in there if we don’t finish,” Regina replied.
Emma could not believe what she was hearing. “Regina!”
“Emma, we will keep our word, and this works out for you as well,” Persephone said.
“How the hell does this work out for me?” Emma threw her arms out.
“You have a month to welcome Regina home. Maybe clean her house. Wash her dusty linens. Officially break up with your boyfriend,” Hecate said.
Emma opened her mouth to argue, but could not. “All valid points. And you’ll definitely send her back?” Emma looked between them.
“Thirty days from now at noon, be at the Mills tomb. If Regina doesn’t return, I know we'll see you again,” Hades said.
Emma nodded. “Damn right.”
“But, when she comes out, I don’t want to see you back here alive, Emma. It’s not a freaking merry-go-round. One way trip.” Hades held up his index finger.
Emma looked at Regina, who nodded. “They’ve kept their word so far, Emma. They even let me try to help you cope.”
Emma sighed. That was true. And Hades had stopped the voices in her head. No one had tried to kill her since she stepped into the throne room. This was a very different trip compared to that first one.
Emma tossed her hands up. “Fine!” And so it was settled.
-8-8-8-8-
There was snow on the ground and Emma could see her breath, but that did not stop Emma. Inside the Mills’ tomb was just as cold as outside, but Emma did not care. She shoved up her coat sleeve to check her watch. Okay, it was noon. If Hades lied, she would go back down there and punch him in the face. But, she also had a coat and tea for Regina if she did show.
“Damn it!” Regina’s voice came from her coffin. “Telling me the dimensions would’ve been nice!”
“Need help?” Emma asked.
“No.” Regina appeared before her. They stared at each other for a long moment, smiling at each other.
Then Emma rushed Regina and embraced her tightly. Regina returned the hug. Emma inhaled and was surprised Regina smelled the same. It was not until Emma had helped clean Regina’s house that she realized she knew Regina’s scent. But now here it was, filling her, and she did not realize it until she heard the echo, but she was sobbing.
“Oh, Emma, there’s no need to cry now,” Regina said, rubbing Emma’s back.
Emma squeezed her. “For a month, I wasn’t sure this moment would actually happen. There were times I thought it was just a dream, like I had gone crazy. But, I didn’t hear the voices anymore, so I knew there was something to it. I’m glad I wasn’t crazy.”
“Not crazy, just reckless.”
“Hey!” Emma stepped back to look at Regina. “If I didn’t come for you, you’d be doing filing for all eternity.” Emma wrapped the coat around Regina’s shoulders.
Regina scoffed as she pulled the coat tight and then pressed herself against Emma. “I’m sure I’ll be back to that when I do die. His system was terrible. Hecate will probably be fine with it for a while, but she’ll need help eventually.”
“Was that punishment?”
“Sort of. Because Hades’ filing is so bad, he couldn’t figure out if my recent heroic actions counteracted some of my evil deeds. My first three days there was both of us just sorting through my life. The system he was using was so antiquated I don’t know how he was even assigning punishments or how he was playing the dead. It was a mess and when I started to make sense of it, Persephone approached me about updating the whole system.”
“Well, I’m glad for that since it gave you leverage to come back. Again, I’m sorry.”
Regina smiled at her and caressed her cheek with a chilly, but solid hand. “Don’t be. I wanted to support you. I want to support you. I want to love you.”
“I want to love you, too, and I do love you. I love you more than I ever knew was possible. I want do everything in my idiotic powers to make you happy.” And with Killian out of the picture, she would be able to make that happen. He decided to go back to being a pirate after she let him know she did not love him and Regina would be back. He thought she was nuts, but whatever.
Regina chuckled. “You already do, but it’ll be nice to see the effort come from a place we both now acknowledge exists.”
Emma smiled. “Let’s go home.”
Regina sighed and hugged her once more. “Yes, and while I appreciate the coat, I’d rather not walk.”
“Poof if you must."
Regina wasted no time teleporting them to her living room. Henry noticed them before the smoke even cleared. He wrapped them in a big hug that they could only return. Zelena stepped with Robyn in her arms and they all waved her in. Family group hug. There was a collective sigh of relief. Then, they sat down to a lunch of finger sandwiches, salads, cold pasta, and fruit prepared by Zelena and Henry. Of course they wanted to know what Regina had done for two months in the Underworld.
“Filing,” Regina answered, as if that was normal. She then shoved forkfuls of macaroni salad into her mouth. While in the Underworld, it was possible Regina did not eat anything. Even if she did, the dead could not taste. She seemed to be making up for lost time.
Zelena’s face scrunched up. “Was that a punishment or were you so evil you got put on staff?”
Regina paused and her brow furrowed in thought. “A little of both, maybe.”
Zelena raised a glass of iced tea to Regina. “Acceptable.”
Regina snickered and turned to Robyn, who was next to her in a highchair. “My big sister is proud of me.” She tickled under Robyn’s chin and the baby giggled.
They all laughed, practically giddy. After lunch, there were movies and talking. Regina was introduced to Robyn, who she held and inhaled immediately. She looked Zelena dead in the eye.
“I’m not giving her back,” Regina said, holding the baby close.
Zelena laughed. “She’s breastfed, so you’ll have to eventually.”
Regina shook her head and held Robyn the entire time they hung out in the living room. Regina tried to make dinner, but Zelena and Henry would not hear of it. Then they had dinner and eventually it got late. Henry went to his room. Zelena and Robyn went to a guest room. Emma and Regina were alone on the couch, snuggled together. They both had glasses of cider; and, yes, Regina had a secret stash.
“I’m exhausted and it feels great. I want to go take a hot shower, curl up in my bed, and sleep, but I fear I’ll miss you,” Regina said.
“And I don’t want to sleep. I’m scared this might be a dream,” Emma replied. The very thought made her tremble.
“Then, how about we go to bed and you hold me while I sleep and you feel me against you to know this is real.”
Regina did not have to say it twice. Emma gathered Regina in her arms, felt the pressure of her body, and smiled. Everything she ever wanted was here. Regina used her magic to move them to her bed. They were in pajamas and the room was quiet. Everything was still, but seemed to hum. Regina was here.
“I don’t know how I didn’t realize I love you. You’ve given me everything I want and need,” Emma said, pulling Regina as close as she could without them merging. Regina was warm and solid and wonderful.
Regina wrapped her arms around Emma’s stomach and rested her head on Emma’s shoulder. “We were too close. Couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not letting this tree or forest go ever again.”
Regina smiled. “Then kiss me and hold me close.”
Emma did just that. And as their lips touched, a rainbow fanned out around them and Emma did not give a damn if it was True Love or a curse broke or whatever. None of that mattered. Regina fell asleep against her, breath soft on Emma’s neck, and the world was finally right again. Regina was here.
-8-8-8-8-
The End.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who read the story. I hope you guys enjoyed this. I hope you continue to read and enjoy my work. Also, thanks to my beta, TheCrowDawg. Back to my padded cell with me until next time. Please, come say hi to me on Facebook and keep up with my musings and find out more about my writing.