Rockabye

Chapter Eleven

"Snow White," Regina barks out a laugh despite her sore throat. "Seriously?"

"Alright, did you come from the same looney bin as my foster mom, Ingrid?" Emma teases lightly and shakes her head at the ludicrous. "You do realize you guys are like the same age as me right?"

"Baby-" Neal begins but the loud shrieking of a sword being drawn instantly cuts off his next words.

"What the...why the hell do you have a sword?" Emma quizzically glances at the man that's accused to be her father. "Oh wait let me guess, you're Prince Charming?" Emma mocks as Regina snickers behind her.

"Yes, but David will do just fine for now, maybe one day, dad?" The strange man shyly suggests with a glint of hope dancing in his baby blue eyes.

"This is insane," Emma mumbles and spins back around on her tips toes to redirect her attention to Regina's bound legs.

"Emma," her alleged mother softly speaks, "I'm going to ask you to refrain from untying Regina."

Emma only scoffs in response, completely ignoring the people who clearly escaped the psych ward recently. She's endured enough heartache in her life and these wack jobs, claiming to be fairytale characters and her parents has officially pushed her to her breaking point. She's passed fed up and has marched forcefully into outraged.

"Emma please listen to us," Prince Charming wanna be sternly says as he approaches Emma's side rather quickly.

His presence only motivates Emma's shaky fingers to work faster on her loved one's ropes. Emma flinches when she feels the man's cold hand upon hers, stilling her actions. She snaps her head up to glare at the man, staring deep into his crystal blue eyes.

"Back off," Emma growls as she snatches her hand away.

"I'm sorry Emma, but we cannot allow you to free her," the man gently explains as he hovers over both women.

"And why the hell not?" Emma snaps as she pops up from the cold cement floor. She stands tall before the man, her stance powerful and challenging as she defends the one she loves. Regina quietly watches Emma defend her honor from her chair with a broad grin. She's utterly proud of this woman for never allowing anyone to dictate her life. Emma is in charge of her own life, always has and always will. "I know you guys staged all of this for me, so why can't I untie Regina? Why the hell does she still need to be here when you two assholes got what you wanted? Me!"

"It's more complicated than that," David argues as he pleads with his eyes for Emma just to trust in his words.

"No it's not. You wanted me, you got me," Emma opens her arms and gestures to herself dramatically. "There's no reason for Regina to be here any longer. So, if you would like to continue speaking with me, than I suggest you let her go." Her voice is so stern, she even surprises herself, but she keeps her cool, just as she always does.

"I'm sorry that cannot happen," David softly expresses as another man quickly approaches.

"Hello, dearie," he verbalizes in the most condescending snake like voice Emma has ever heard before. The older man is not paying any attention to her though, no, his main focus is upon Regina, with a snarl curled into his upper lip. "Welcome back," he growls as he ferociously snatches Regina's wrist, causing the brunette's eyes to triple in size.

Regina gasps and tries to fight the stranger off. Emma grips the man's bicep, but he completely ignores the blonde.

"Hey! Let her go!" Emma snaps as the man waves his hand over Regina's wrist. Both women are absolutely stunned into silence as they watch a thick, black leather bracelet cover Regina's dainty wrist. "What the hell is that?" Emma shouts as the man releases the prisoner.