Regina, do you know where we are?” Emma said standing so she was making eye contact with the brunette. “Regina?” Emma moved her gaze to follow Regina’s.
On the top of the hill a small brunette girl was picking apples, happily looking them over before placing them in her basket. Emma opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a sharp voice from behind her.
“Regina Mills!” The voice sounded oddly familiar.
The two women whipped their bodies around and were met by a younger looking Cora walking up the hill, straight to them. When the woman made it to Regina, the brunette flinched, waiting for something to happen, however Cora went right through her like mist.
Emma and Regina turned back around to follow Cora up the rest of the hill.
“Regina Mills!” Cora exclaimed again this time in an even harsher tone.
The small girl dropped her basket of apples and they began to roll down the hill slowly.
“Yes, mother?” The girl said timidly, shaking where she stood.
Emma looked over to the older Regina and noticed she too was shaking; the blonde instinctively grabbed her hand.
“Would you care to let me know why it was you were absent from afternoon tea?” Cora was standing a few feet away from the younger Regina and her hands were placed on her hips.
“I-I-I” The girl stammered.
“Well go on spit it out child!” Cora snapped.
“I wanted to pick apples from m-my tree, because I-I have not been able too.” The girl looked down sheepishly fidgeting with her hands.
Cora let out the worst cackle Emma had ever heard, cause both her and the young girl to look at Cora with confusion.
“You wanted to pick apples, oh you foolish girl.” Cora said. Suddenly her face became harsh.
The older woman flicked her wrist and there was a loud smacking noise accompanied by a shriek from the small girl.
Emma flinched and felt the woman next to her begin to shake harder. Emma glanced over and saw tears streaming down her girlfriends face. She looked over to the girl and saw blood dripping down her chin and onto her dress. Her little hands were covering her mouth and they too were blood stained.
Cora looked way too proud of herself when she said, “When you’re finished picking apples you may come inside. I expect every apple to be picked. This tree will be bare tomorrow morning, understood.”
The crying girl nodded.
“Excuse me?” Cora snapped.
“Yes Mother.” The girl squeaked out, before her mother turned on her heal and walked back down the hill and out of sight.
Suddenly Emma’s lungs were filled with smoke again, and soon they were back in the vault. The blonde looked over at Regina who was still staring off, shaking heavily, tears pooling at her collar.
“Regina?” Emma whispered “Regina come back to me, please.”
With that Regina yanked her hand away from her girlfriends. “Well now you know don’t you? I hope that answered all your questions.” And with a poof of purple Emma was alone in the vault.
Emma closed her eyes tightly and tried to imagine Regina, silver surrounded her and soon she was standing outside their master bathroom. Steam was coming through the crack at the bottom of the door, and the sound of running water, mixed with quiet sobs filled the air.
Emma carefully opened the door, and walked in. Regina sat fully clothed in the shower, knees brought up to her chest, and the hot water danced on her shaking shoulders. Emma opened the shower door and knelt down, taking the brunettes chin lifting it up. Greens eyes met watery blood shot ones, but they weren’t filled with anger, they were filled with fear.
“Regina, I never meant for that to happen. I’m sorry I pushed. You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I had NO idea what was in that vile.” Emma whispered as Regina’s eyes closed.
The brunette nodded and leaned into Emma, who reached up to turn the water off. They sat there in the bathroom until the steam had subsided and Regina began to shiver from the cold.
“Let’s get you out of theses wet clothes ok?” Emma asked slowly lifting both of them into a standing position. Regina just nodded but made no effort to help the blonde remove the clothes.
Once both women had undressed, Emma led them into their bedroom. Slowly she pulled the covers back and placed Regina into them. She pulled away only to be pulled back onto the bed by the older woman.
“Stay.” Regina said with a vulnerable tone.
Emma nodded and held onto the brunette tightly. “Always Regina, I would never leave you. I love you.” She whispered placing a kiss onto her girlfriend’s forehead.
“I know. I love you too.” Regina whispered back.
Both women held tightly to one another till their breathing evened to a rhythmic beat.
