The Life I'd Hoped For (Once Upon A Time)

Chapter 28: ...With a Price

Reginas pov

"I don't know who he is!" August yelled. "Not good enough," Gold said bringing his cane down on August for what seemed like the millionth time, making a crunching sound as it made contact with his arm. Maleficant must have seen the look on my face because she pulled me aside. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked harshly. "What?" I asked. "Maybe you did go soft," she said with a smirk. I had no idea how to answer that. "What I thought," she said turning and sashaying away.

Emmas pov

"Just talked to Mother Superior," David said walking back into my hospital room. "She'll be here in 10 minutes to see what she can do." My mom, who was sitting in a chair next to my bed cradling Neal, said, "How you feeling." After a moment of hesitation I said, "Better now." My dad sat down and he and my mom exchanged a look. "What?" I asked. "Nothing," they said in unison. "You know you can't lie to me," I pointed out. Which caused them to give each other that same look. "Whatever it is you can tell me," I said as if it were obvious, which it was. "It's not important," Mary Margaret said, "At least right now." I laughed sarcastically and ran my fingers through my hair. Just then there was a knock on my hospital door. "Robin?" I said. "Have any of you seen Regina?" he said with a nervous look on his face. "No, why?" David asked standing up out of his chair. "She said she needed to go to Gold's, I haven't seen her since," he said. "When was that?" I questioned. "What time is it?" he asked.  "Two thirty," Mary Margaret piped in. "It's been 8 hours," he said. "I wouldn't worry, she's probably with Henry," Mary Margaret said.

Henrys pov

Jamie had gone home so her mom wouldn't know she snuck out in the middle of the night. I had no idea where Leia was at. It's like she disappeared into thin air, again. I was in Gold's shop still staring at the same picture of the door I had been staring at for weeks on end. Belle walked in a looked over my shoulder. "Anything?" she asked. I just shook my head. "You'll get it," she said hopefully, "I'm going to grannies, want anything?" Again I just shook my head. "I'll be back," she said leaving. 

Reginas pov

Ursula had run off somewhere, so it was Gold, August, Mal, and me at the cabin. August was still tied in the chair, cuts and bruises covered his face. I walked over and sat next to him. I pulled the picture of me and Robin out of my coat pocket and showed it to him. "Is that from the book?" he asked with a weak voice. "Yes and no. This didn't actually happen, and it just appeared. Have any clue how?" I asked keeping my voice low. "I don't know," he said shakily. "I'm going to try something, ok?" I whispered so it was barely audible. He shook his head. I concentrated and closed my eyes. Within seconds I knew it worked. I could see in his mind. The spell was simple really, we could communicate telepathically. "What do you know, don't worry they can't hear us," I spoke to his mind. "The picture of the door Henry has, that's where the author is. The sorcerer trapped him in the book," he said back.

Henrys pov

I kept looking at the page under the magnifying glass. I noticed something this time. Something I hadn't noticed before. "No way," I whispered to no one.

Emmas pov

The next ten minutes couldn't go any slower. After what felt like an eternity she walked through the now crowded hospital room. "Sorry I was- busy," she said. "Now can everyone leave," she said looking around the room. After a moment we were alone. "Now I must warn you, this won't heal you completely, you'll more than likely still be sore," she explained. "Are you ready," she asked. "Ready."

Mary Margarets pov

"David we have to tell her," I said trying to soothe Neal who was crying, again. "No we don't," he reasoned. I can't believe him. After what we did Emma needs to know the truth. "Once she's home, and weather you like it or not, I'm telling her. I'm done lying," I stated. 

Later at the loft

Emmas pov

Blue was right, I was still sore. But could walk. I tried to convince my parents I was fine but they insisted I got to the loft with them rather than back to my own appartment. I had just gotten out of the shower and was going to head to grannies when my mom said, "Can we talk?" After a moment of hesitation, I agreed. We sat on the couch and she said, "It's a long story."

Flash back

Third person pov

Snow White and her Prince Charming had just found out that their child had the potential for darkness, to be a villain. "What are we going to do?" she asked nervously pacing the bedroom of their palace. "Just because Maleficant told us it could be evil, doesn't mean it will be," he pleaded with her. "But if it's the product of true love you have no idea how powerful it'll be," she said rubbing her hand over her stomach. "I know of someone, he can help us," Charming suggested. "Rumplestiltskin?" she asked. "No, but we better leave now, it's about a days journey from here."

After the long hours of traveling the prince and princess arrived at their location. "Here?" Snow asked frowning upon the little cottage that stood before them. "Yes, he should be right in here," Charming said as he walked toward the door. Snow stood behind him like a frightened child hiding behind their parent as Charming knocked on the door. A few moments later an old man, who is also an apprentice, opened the door. "Who are you," the man asked as he eyed the two of them as they stood in the door. "We have a request," Charming said. "Well, I'll see what I can do, now, come in and out of the cold," the man said politely as he stepped aside a gestured for them to enter the cottage. "Thank you," Snow said appreciatively. 

The apprentice poured the cups full of tea and gave one to Snow and Charming before he sat down across from the young couple and sipped his own tea. "Now, why exactly did you come to my homely cottage?" he asked. "We need help, for our child," Snow said looking at her stomach. "Being the product of true love, he or she will have great powers," Charming continued. "And you're afraid he or she will be a villain?" the apprentice finished their thoughts. "We want to ensure she will have a light heart, can you help us?" Snow pleaded. "I may have just the thing, pardon me for a spell," the man said walking out of the room. "Are you sure about this?" Charming asked his wife. "We must protect our child, whatever the price," Snow said. 

A few moments later the man came back with a small bottle. "This spell will seal the child's fate as a hero," he said sitting back down. "However, once this spell has been in acted, it cannot be reversed. Are you sure about this?" he asked. "Name your price," Charming said. "There is a woman, Maleficent," both Charming and Snow tensed up at her name, but the man continued. "I need you to get something from her."

The apprentice told the prince and the princess what he needed, and they agreed to his terms. So they left the small cottage and headed to where the man told them she would be. "Ready?" Charming asked as he drew his sword. "As ready as I'll ever be," Snow said unsure of herself. Upon entering the saw Mal, with her back to them, cradling her child, making soothing sounds to calm the child. Chamring took the squid ink he was given and suddenly turned around. "What do you want?" she asked immediately recognizing the couple. "I'm sorry," Snow said. Without realizing what had happened the ink made contact with Mal's forearm, just below the blanket her child was wrapped in. "No," she cried, realizing it was no use. Charming grabbed the baby girl from her mothers arms. "Have mercy, I can't lose my child, what do you want with her?" she demanded. "I truly am sorry," Charming said as he and Snow ran out into the night.

Back at the loft

Emmas pov

"So you ruined Maleficant's life, to make sure I became exactly what you wanted me to be?" I asked infuriated. "No, Emma, you don't understand," she said. "I don't believe this," I said shaking my head. "You of all people." She tried to grab my hand but I pulled back. "We did it to protect you," she said, not like I believed her. "You did it to protect yourself," I said putting venom behind every word. "I got off the couch and went to the door. "Please talk to me, Emma I'm your mother," she said turning me so that I was facing her. "I don't care," I said opening the door and stormed out.