Craving

Chapter 7

Slowly, things began to change for the better. Emma's body began to repair itself from the detoxing process that the lack of pills and alcohol had caused her. The migraines lessened, the stomach cramps came on fewer, and the shaking had stopped altogether.

But the physical changes weren't the only things that had gotten better. There was a new feeling, a comfortable warmth between Emma and Regina. Emma had woken in a groggy stupor, slightly weak, and Regina had been by her side with a book in hand, fresh apple slices on a plate beside her. Their dynamic had shifted.

Emma sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Did I sleep all night?"

"All night and all day, then all night again," Regina corrected her, nudging the plate of fruit closer.

Heat crept onto Emma's cheeks. "You could have woken me sooner, you know."

"I checked your pulse every now and then to make sure you were still alive."

Emma offered the woman a smile, which was returned. "Well, thank you anyway. It's so nice feeling so... new. I don't need alcohol or drugs anymore to enjoy life."

"You achieved that yourself by putting mind over matter. Now it's up to you to continue that journey," Regina said.

Emma grabbed an apple slice and munched on it. "So now what do we do from here? This magic I have... where did it come from? What exactly is it?"

Regina frowned. "I'm not quite sure. You were born outside of a magical world, correct?"

Emma nodded. "I really was raised by nuns in Boston. Was abandoned by my parents at birth. It wasn't until I arrived in Storybrooke that I noticed this... static feeling I guess?" She stared down at her hands. "It's like a tingling that vibrates my hands. Kind of how your body feels after an electric shock."

Regina thought for a moment. "We'll do a DNA test. We can figure out your heritage and possibly where your family line begins. Then from there, I can help you control your magic and perhaps we'll be able to protect this town."

"But why me?" Emma wiped a bit of apple juice from her chin. "I'm so new to all this. I wouldn't have any idea how to cast a spell or whatever. Wouldn't your sister be able to help you?"

"We're not strong enough," Regina admitted. "And the fact that the council is concerned with the leaders in other cities being unable to keep their humans together is troubling, to say the least. These vampires are the strongest I know of. But you... your magic is more powerful than anything I have ever felt."

Emma pondered the idea. If she were able to cast a spell to keep the town hidden and protected, it would make her feel truly safe here. They wouldn't be able to find her, and the friends she'd made here wouldn't turn against her. She had to try—for her own sake as well as Neal's.

"Let's do it," she said at last.

XXXX

"Hey, there's my favorite bartender! How ya feeling, Em?" Will greeted her with a hug as she entered the White Rabbit for her usual shift.

"Way better, thanks. Stomach viruses are a bitch," Emma said as she punched her time card.

Regina wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of going back to her old job with the temptations it provided, but Emma had insisted. She needed a sense of normalcy after going through detox and learning that she had magic—of which, she was going to have to use to help the town and its residents. Besides, on the clock there was a no alcohol policy in place, which helped any temptations there may be.

Will backed away from her then, though his cheerful attitude remained. "Well, I'll leave you to it. It's my brother's bachelor party tonight and I promised I'd be the designated driver."