Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 76 - The Skull Keys

Regina stood in her office watering some of her flowers.
"It's beautiful." said Kathryn from the door.
Regina looked around a little surprised.
"I has no idea you were so good with plants." she walked inside.
"Well, better than with people, it would seem." she walked closed to her. "What are you doing here?.......I thought after what happened yesterday, I'd be the last person you'd want to see."
"So did I." she smiled. "And then, I thought about it, and I realised I owed you an apology."
"Kathryn, you don't......." she started.
"I know you would never do anything to hurt me. I was just so angry and confused and I snapped. I'm sorry....... I've just been fighting so hard to hold onto David, I've never stopped and asked myself why."
"He's your husband. You love each other, you always have."
"No. We haven't." she opened the envelope in her hand and took our the pictures. She held one up of Mary Margaret and David holding one other. "See the way he looks at her? He's never looked at me like that. Not even before his accident."
Regina stepped closer to her. "Kathryn, relationships take work. You can't give up si easily."
"Have you ever been in love?"
"Yes......... Once."
"Then you're lucky." she walked away. "Because what I'm coming to understand is that I haven't. What they have is real. It's true." she said turning back to her and looking at the photos. "My marriage to David, it just was like an illusion. I don't know how it happened, but it was never real. I know that now........ The way David looks at Mary Margaret, that what I want for me. And I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna find it." she said stepping closer to her and smiling.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm sticking to my plan and moving to Boston. Alone. If I stay here, I'll never be happy."
"And what about David?"
"I wrote him a letter. Him and Mary Margaret. I told them they should be together."
"Ehhh...... I'm sorry? You did what?"
"I can't see him. Not now. It's just too painful." she leaned forward and put her arms around Regina. "I'm gonna miss you, Regina. You've been a good friend to me." she said as she hugged her.
Regina put her hands around her awkwardly. "You really going?" she said disapprovingly.
She smiled and broke away. "You know, it's funny. I've always had this irrational fear of leaving Storybrooke. Like something just holding me back. Is that crazy?"
She chuckled. "No. Change is always frightening. But do you know what, Kathryn?" she took her hands. "This just may be what you need."
She smiled.
"Maybe you'll find what you're looking for."

******************************

Abigail stood by the statue of her beloved Frederick, waiting nervously.
Suddenly she heard the neighing of a horse in the distance and looked up. Then from the darkness, Charming ran towards her.
She beamed when she saw him.
"Water from Lake Nostos. As requested." he said holding up the flask.
"Remarkable. But how did you manage to slay the beast?"
"Well, the fate of your true love was at stake. I knew it was a battle I couldn't afford to lose." he indicated to the statue.
She smiled and stepped closer to it, the flask in her hand. She opened the flask and held it over the statues gold helmet, allowing the magical water to pour down his armour.
Charming and Abigail watched in amazement as the gold helmet slowly turned back to sliver. Then, following the rest of his armour turned to silver and he began to shrug and move. He then slipped onto the puddle of gold beneath him.
Abigail fell down on her knees next to him and pulled off his helmet to reveal Frederick. She smiled happily and pulled him into her arms, and kissed him.
He broke away. "Abigail. What happened to me?"
"You were trapped. But now you're free." she cryed.
He kissed her again happily.
Charming smiled and looked away awkwardly.
Then they both turned to him.
"This is James." explained Abigail as they got to their feet. "He's the one who freed you."
Frederick stepped closer to him and they shook hands. "I am forever indebted to you."
"Well, pay me by walking down the aisle with someone you truly belong with." he said and glanced at Abigail.
Abigail smiled.
"And perhaps giving me a horse and supplies for a journey as well."
"Done."
"Thank you so much." said Abigail taking his hand in hers. "Where will you go?"
"To find Snow White."
"You are going after her." she smiled.
"True love isn't easy........ But it must be fought for. Because once you find it, it can never be replaced." he smiled and walked away.
"How will you know where to find her?" asked Abigail.
"Well, a bird helped me track her down once. Hopefully, it can again."
"We, then good luck."
He turned and began to walk away again.
"And, James........" said Abigail.
Charming looked around at her.
"...............please make haste. When King George discovers that the union of the Kingdoms has been ruined, he will come after you. Some people will stop at nothing to destroy the happiness of others."
He nodded and walked into the dark forest again.

******************************

Regina stood outside of Kathryn's house, the skull keys in her hands. She put one of the keys into the keyhole of the door, the lick clicked and she opened the door, sneeking inside. She walked along the hallway, searching. Suddenly a letter caught her eye on a counter that was addressed to David. She took it and smiled as she stared at the letter. Then she slipped into her black handbag and walked back to the door.

******************************

The school bell rang and the children ran from the school and to the buses and their parents that stood outside.
Henry sat on a bench outside on his new game console.
Emma walked towards him. "Wow. I love that game. Space Paranoids, right?" she said as she sat down and watched him play.
"Yeah. My mom got it for me." he said, looking up at her.
"I used to play that all the time when I was a kid."
Henry went back to him game.
"Relax, it's all in the wrist." Emma warned quickly.
He then lost the game. Emma sighed and he put the game console down.
A broad smile began to grow on her face as she stared at Henry.
"My mom's picking me up in, like, five minutes."
"All right, I'll be quick, then." she opened her bag. "I just have something I'd like to give you." she pulled out his fairytale book.
Henry grabbed the book his face gleaming with happiness.
Emma smiled at the happiness and excitement in her son's face.
"You found it! Where did you get it?"
"I found it in a gutter."
He looked at her confused.
"It must have fallen off the dump truck on the way to the junk yard and got tossed around in the rain and somehow made its way back to me."
"Wow, that's crazy." he exclaimed.
"What other expiation could there be?"
"I don't know." he looked at the cover if the book.
"Well, whatever happened, it came back to me."
"Maybe it means our luck is changing. Operation Cobra is back on."
Emma smiled.
"It's a sign. Things are gonna be better."
"I hope you're right, kid. I gotta go." she said and sat up.
Henry watched her happily walk away down the courtyard and she turned her head at him for a moment and smiled. He then opened his newly found book.