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swan_queen2014-05-20 05:42 pm
hughville.livejournal.com) wrote in swan_queen2014-05-20 05:42 pm
Entry tags:
The Heart Of The Matter
I wrote this for Challenge 7 at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
onceuponaland: Our Story Begins...Part 2.
I used the following prompt from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
girlie_girl_23:
Title: The Heart Of The Matter
Summary: Regina can't understand why Emma is so upset when she finds out that Regina gave her heart to Robin. Will she ever realize? And if she does, will it be too late?
The streets of Storybrooke, Maine, are deserted. All the shops are dark as Regina Mills drives her Mercedes down Main Street. Without thinking, she stops at the intersection and glances up. Wires hang down instead of the traffic light; mute evidence of the fight earlier. Gripping the steering wheel, Regina shakes her head and continues toward her home. Why did her mother, Cora, lie to her all those years? Did shame prevent Cora from revealing Regina is her second child? Then there is the letter. In her mind, she can see Rumplestiltskin’s spiky scrawl extolling the expertise of Cora’s first born. How many times in the past did she take that letter out when she needed reassurance; hundreds, thousands? She thought he wrote those words about her. All her life she thought Cora gave birth to one child: Regina. The image of Zelena, her sister and Cora’s true first born child, rises in her mind. Hatred, fury and envy contorted her features when she looked at Regina earlier at Granny’s Diner. Regina can still hear her as she spat her venom. You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. As Regina blindly gathers her things and opens the car door, another voice echoes in her head. This time it is her own voice, her own face distorted by hatred, fury and envy. My gift to you is this happy, happy day. Regina sighs and sinks down to sit on the front steps of her home. Looking around, she realizes she doesn’t remember getting home. Why would she? Her mind is occupied with the events of the day. She rubs her gloves together and dirt slithers off to land on her lap. A slight smile curves her lips. Despite everything, her mood lifts. Earlier, before her showdown with Zelena, Regina sought out the solace of the woods. Robin Hood, out on patrol, found her sitting on a fallen log. He read the letter and Regina remembers his words: Who cares what that imp thinks? Something about him makes her trust him. He helped her bury her heart so Zelena couldn’t take it. Once the fight ended, Regina decided her heart will be safe with him so she gave it to him. Rising, she turns to go inside.
“Regina?”
She recognizes Emma Swan’s voice. Ignoring the other woman, Regina unlocks the front door and steps inside. As she turns to shut the door, Emma’s hand pushes it open. Regina grips the door and looks at Emma wearily.
“It’s been a long day, Ms. Swan,” she says.
“Why does she want your heart?” Emma questions as she pushes past Regina into the foyer. Regina knows who Emma is referring to; Zelena.
Closing the door, Regina brushes past Emma and starts to walk upstairs. Emma is on her heels. “Why does she want it, Regina?” Emma asks again. “You said she’s gathering ingredients. For what? Another curse?”
“What does it matter?” Regina asks her hand on the door to her bedroom.
“She isn’t getting my heart.” She enters her bedroom and begins to put her things away. Emma stands in the doorway watching her.
“How can you be so sure of that?” Emma asks from behind her.
Regina turns and looks at her. “It’s safe. I gave it to someone who will take care of it.”
Emma’s eyebrows draw together. “Who?”
“Robin Hood.”
Emma looks at her in surprise. “You barely know him. For all you know, he could be working for Zelena.”
“I spent a year with him in The Enchanted Forest,” Regina reminds her.
“A year you don’t even remember!”
“It’s done. I trust him. Now please go home.”
“No! You gave your heart to a stranger, Regina!”
“He isn’t a stranger and I trust him. Now, please, Ms. Swan, go home.”
Emma turns away and stops just inside the door. “I thought you trusted me.”
Regina slumps down on the bed. This is not a conversation she wants to have with Emma. Regina does trust her. She turned their son, Henry, over to Emma knowing Emma would care for him. She gave them both a happy ending a year ago. Since Henry brought Emma to Storybrooke, Regina always felt a strange connection with her; even an attraction. The attraction she always reasons away because obviously Emma is a very beautiful woman by any standard. Men flock to her like moths to a bright flame. Besides, according to Tinkerbell, her true love, her soul mate is Robin Hood. Yet, there is that connection with Emma. It’s a bond Regina experienced once in her life. The bond and connection she felt with Daniel. She loved Daniel with every part of her. Regina is certain she does not love Emma Swan. Does she? She rubs her hand over her face. It’s all too confusing and she’s just too tired.
Emma looks at Regina. “I gave you mine.” She speaks the words quietly and for a moment Regina thinks she imagined them. Then Emma is gone, her soft footfalls fading as she descends the stairs. When Regina hears the front door open and close, she gets up and crosses to the window. Pulling back the curtain, she watches Emma stride down the walkway her pale hair glowing in the moonlight. When she is out of sight, Regina remains at the window. She leans her forehead against the cold glass. What could Emma possibly mean? Is she referring to Henry? Regina blows out a breath. Of course that’s what she meant.
After a restless night, Regina gets up and prepares for the day. Zelena could be anywhere doing God knows what and Regina is annoyed. Emma’s words kept echoing in her head keeping her from sleep. Now she is exhausted and cranky. Once she is dressed, she heads for Granny’s. She knows everyone will be there ready to plan the next move against Zelena. As she enters the warm diner, she sees Robin with his son, Roland. They are at the counter eating pancakes and bacon. Roland is chatting animatedly to his father who looks on with a smile. Glancing around, she sees Emma slumped in the back booth, alone. She looks as exhausted as Regina feels. Regina looks at Robin again. She can see a faint red glow emanating from a bag secured to his waist. He has her heart with him. Regina knows Zelena would have no trouble taking it from him. She looks back at Emma who looks back at her with a frown.
Regina approaches Robin. Roland looks up and gives her a syrupy grin. She reaches out to smooth his hair as she smiles at him. Turning to Robin, she leans in close to him.
“I need to talk to you,” she whispers.
He nods and slides off the stool he is sitting on. “I’ll be back momentarily,” he tells Roland. “Drink your milk.” Roland nods and picks up his milk glass with both hands.
Regina leads Robin to the back hallway. She doesn’t look at Emma as they pass her. When they are alone, Regina turns to face him. For a moment, words fail her. How can she ask for her heart after giving it to him? She looks over his shoulder at the back of Emma’s head.
“I see you’re carrying my heart with you,” she begins.
“I felt it would be safest to keep it with me at all times.”
“Zelena is very powerful and she would have no trouble taking it from you.”
“I’m not afraid of her,” he responds.
“You should be. Even my magic isn’t powerful enough to stop her and you have none.”
Robin looks at her, his eyes searching hers. “Then what do you propose?”
Regina looks away. “I think I should take my heart back. I’m sorry.”
Robin shrugs and pulls her heart from his pouch. “You know best, Your Majesty.” Placing her heart in her hand, he returns to Roland.
Drawing in a deep breath, she lifts her hand to place her heart back in her chest.
“Wait.”
She looks up and sees Emma standing at the end of the hallway. Emma walks up to her and looks into Regina’s eyes.
“I thought about it all night and I think I have a solution,” Emma tells her.
“What?”
“I can keep your heart safe from Zelena. Your mother…” Emma pauses and looks down. “Your mother tried to take my heart but she couldn’t. It must be the white magic.”
“Do you have some magic box that you haven’t told me about?”
Emma shakes her head and looks up at Regina again. “I want you to put your heart next to mine.”
Regina shakes her head. “No. It’s never been done. You have no idea what my heart might do to you.”
“I don’t care. Zelena can’t get your heart.”
“Why is this so important to you?” Regina asks.
Emma straightens her spine. “You’re important to me.”
Regina stares at Emma, speechless. Daniel and Henry are the only other people to tell her that. Suddenly she understands.
“Why?” Regina asks because she needs to hear the words.
“I love you,” Emma sighs.
“But that pirate…”
“He isn’t you.”
Regina grasps Emma’s left shoulder. “This will probably hurt and I have no idea what will happen but if you’re sure….” she lets her voice trail off.
Emma responds by thrusting Regina’s heart in to her. She groans as Regina’s hand disappears into her chest. Regina releases her heart and pulls her hand free. She grasps both Emma’s arms and holds her upright as Emma gasps for air. Suddenly Regina feels two heartbeats in her chest. After a moment the two merge into one powerful beat.
“Do you feel that?” she asks Emma.
Emma nods. “One heartbeat.”
“It’s so strong,” Regina marvels.
Emma smiles. “We always were more powerful together.”
“We are. But…I don’t know where we go from here.”
“I love you, Regina. I can live with it if you don’t love me.”
“I didn’t say that. I just…your parents…Henry….”
“My parents want me to be happy. I think…no, I know I can be happy with you,” Emma tells her with conviction.
“Love is not easy for me or with me.”
“You think it is for me?” Emma asks. “We both have walls. We’ve both been betrayed and hurt.”
Regina nods. “I know.” She reaches up and cups Emma’s cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Emma smiles. “You can’t. I have your heart.”
Regina laughs and shakes her head. “Yes, you do.” Tentatively she pulls Emma into her arms. Instead of feeling strange or wrong, holding Emma feels right. Emma wraps her arms around her and leans her head against Regina’s. Breathing deeply, Regina revels in the soft scent emanating from Emma and the strength surrounding her; surrounding them both.
“I love you, too,” Regina whispers into Emma’s hair.
“Good,” Emma responds. “Now let’s go kick your sister’s ass.”
onceuponaland: Our Story Begins...Part 2.I used the following prompt from
girlie_girl_23:Title: The Heart Of The Matter
Summary: Regina can't understand why Emma is so upset when she finds out that Regina gave her heart to Robin. Will she ever realize? And if she does, will it be too late?
The streets of Storybrooke, Maine, are deserted. All the shops are dark as Regina Mills drives her Mercedes down Main Street. Without thinking, she stops at the intersection and glances up. Wires hang down instead of the traffic light; mute evidence of the fight earlier. Gripping the steering wheel, Regina shakes her head and continues toward her home. Why did her mother, Cora, lie to her all those years? Did shame prevent Cora from revealing Regina is her second child? Then there is the letter. In her mind, she can see Rumplestiltskin’s spiky scrawl extolling the expertise of Cora’s first born. How many times in the past did she take that letter out when she needed reassurance; hundreds, thousands? She thought he wrote those words about her. All her life she thought Cora gave birth to one child: Regina. The image of Zelena, her sister and Cora’s true first born child, rises in her mind. Hatred, fury and envy contorted her features when she looked at Regina earlier at Granny’s Diner. Regina can still hear her as she spat her venom. You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. As Regina blindly gathers her things and opens the car door, another voice echoes in her head. This time it is her own voice, her own face distorted by hatred, fury and envy. My gift to you is this happy, happy day. Regina sighs and sinks down to sit on the front steps of her home. Looking around, she realizes she doesn’t remember getting home. Why would she? Her mind is occupied with the events of the day. She rubs her gloves together and dirt slithers off to land on her lap. A slight smile curves her lips. Despite everything, her mood lifts. Earlier, before her showdown with Zelena, Regina sought out the solace of the woods. Robin Hood, out on patrol, found her sitting on a fallen log. He read the letter and Regina remembers his words: Who cares what that imp thinks? Something about him makes her trust him. He helped her bury her heart so Zelena couldn’t take it. Once the fight ended, Regina decided her heart will be safe with him so she gave it to him. Rising, she turns to go inside.
“Regina?”
She recognizes Emma Swan’s voice. Ignoring the other woman, Regina unlocks the front door and steps inside. As she turns to shut the door, Emma’s hand pushes it open. Regina grips the door and looks at Emma wearily.
“It’s been a long day, Ms. Swan,” she says.
“Why does she want your heart?” Emma questions as she pushes past Regina into the foyer. Regina knows who Emma is referring to; Zelena.
Closing the door, Regina brushes past Emma and starts to walk upstairs. Emma is on her heels. “Why does she want it, Regina?” Emma asks again. “You said she’s gathering ingredients. For what? Another curse?”
“What does it matter?” Regina asks her hand on the door to her bedroom.
“She isn’t getting my heart.” She enters her bedroom and begins to put her things away. Emma stands in the doorway watching her.
“How can you be so sure of that?” Emma asks from behind her.
Regina turns and looks at her. “It’s safe. I gave it to someone who will take care of it.”
Emma’s eyebrows draw together. “Who?”
“Robin Hood.”
Emma looks at her in surprise. “You barely know him. For all you know, he could be working for Zelena.”
“I spent a year with him in The Enchanted Forest,” Regina reminds her.
“A year you don’t even remember!”
“It’s done. I trust him. Now please go home.”
“No! You gave your heart to a stranger, Regina!”
“He isn’t a stranger and I trust him. Now, please, Ms. Swan, go home.”
Emma turns away and stops just inside the door. “I thought you trusted me.”
Regina slumps down on the bed. This is not a conversation she wants to have with Emma. Regina does trust her. She turned their son, Henry, over to Emma knowing Emma would care for him. She gave them both a happy ending a year ago. Since Henry brought Emma to Storybrooke, Regina always felt a strange connection with her; even an attraction. The attraction she always reasons away because obviously Emma is a very beautiful woman by any standard. Men flock to her like moths to a bright flame. Besides, according to Tinkerbell, her true love, her soul mate is Robin Hood. Yet, there is that connection with Emma. It’s a bond Regina experienced once in her life. The bond and connection she felt with Daniel. She loved Daniel with every part of her. Regina is certain she does not love Emma Swan. Does she? She rubs her hand over her face. It’s all too confusing and she’s just too tired.
Emma looks at Regina. “I gave you mine.” She speaks the words quietly and for a moment Regina thinks she imagined them. Then Emma is gone, her soft footfalls fading as she descends the stairs. When Regina hears the front door open and close, she gets up and crosses to the window. Pulling back the curtain, she watches Emma stride down the walkway her pale hair glowing in the moonlight. When she is out of sight, Regina remains at the window. She leans her forehead against the cold glass. What could Emma possibly mean? Is she referring to Henry? Regina blows out a breath. Of course that’s what she meant.
After a restless night, Regina gets up and prepares for the day. Zelena could be anywhere doing God knows what and Regina is annoyed. Emma’s words kept echoing in her head keeping her from sleep. Now she is exhausted and cranky. Once she is dressed, she heads for Granny’s. She knows everyone will be there ready to plan the next move against Zelena. As she enters the warm diner, she sees Robin with his son, Roland. They are at the counter eating pancakes and bacon. Roland is chatting animatedly to his father who looks on with a smile. Glancing around, she sees Emma slumped in the back booth, alone. She looks as exhausted as Regina feels. Regina looks at Robin again. She can see a faint red glow emanating from a bag secured to his waist. He has her heart with him. Regina knows Zelena would have no trouble taking it from him. She looks back at Emma who looks back at her with a frown.
Regina approaches Robin. Roland looks up and gives her a syrupy grin. She reaches out to smooth his hair as she smiles at him. Turning to Robin, she leans in close to him.
“I need to talk to you,” she whispers.
He nods and slides off the stool he is sitting on. “I’ll be back momentarily,” he tells Roland. “Drink your milk.” Roland nods and picks up his milk glass with both hands.
Regina leads Robin to the back hallway. She doesn’t look at Emma as they pass her. When they are alone, Regina turns to face him. For a moment, words fail her. How can she ask for her heart after giving it to him? She looks over his shoulder at the back of Emma’s head.
“I see you’re carrying my heart with you,” she begins.
“I felt it would be safest to keep it with me at all times.”
“Zelena is very powerful and she would have no trouble taking it from you.”
“I’m not afraid of her,” he responds.
“You should be. Even my magic isn’t powerful enough to stop her and you have none.”
Robin looks at her, his eyes searching hers. “Then what do you propose?”
Regina looks away. “I think I should take my heart back. I’m sorry.”
Robin shrugs and pulls her heart from his pouch. “You know best, Your Majesty.” Placing her heart in her hand, he returns to Roland.
Drawing in a deep breath, she lifts her hand to place her heart back in her chest.
“Wait.”
She looks up and sees Emma standing at the end of the hallway. Emma walks up to her and looks into Regina’s eyes.
“I thought about it all night and I think I have a solution,” Emma tells her.
“What?”
“I can keep your heart safe from Zelena. Your mother…” Emma pauses and looks down. “Your mother tried to take my heart but she couldn’t. It must be the white magic.”
“Do you have some magic box that you haven’t told me about?”
Emma shakes her head and looks up at Regina again. “I want you to put your heart next to mine.”
Regina shakes her head. “No. It’s never been done. You have no idea what my heart might do to you.”
“I don’t care. Zelena can’t get your heart.”
“Why is this so important to you?” Regina asks.
Emma straightens her spine. “You’re important to me.”
Regina stares at Emma, speechless. Daniel and Henry are the only other people to tell her that. Suddenly she understands.
“Why?” Regina asks because she needs to hear the words.
“I love you,” Emma sighs.
“But that pirate…”
“He isn’t you.”
Regina grasps Emma’s left shoulder. “This will probably hurt and I have no idea what will happen but if you’re sure….” she lets her voice trail off.
Emma responds by thrusting Regina’s heart in to her. She groans as Regina’s hand disappears into her chest. Regina releases her heart and pulls her hand free. She grasps both Emma’s arms and holds her upright as Emma gasps for air. Suddenly Regina feels two heartbeats in her chest. After a moment the two merge into one powerful beat.
“Do you feel that?” she asks Emma.
Emma nods. “One heartbeat.”
“It’s so strong,” Regina marvels.
Emma smiles. “We always were more powerful together.”
“We are. But…I don’t know where we go from here.”
“I love you, Regina. I can live with it if you don’t love me.”
“I didn’t say that. I just…your parents…Henry….”
“My parents want me to be happy. I think…no, I know I can be happy with you,” Emma tells her with conviction.
“Love is not easy for me or with me.”
“You think it is for me?” Emma asks. “We both have walls. We’ve both been betrayed and hurt.”
Regina nods. “I know.” She reaches up and cups Emma’s cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Emma smiles. “You can’t. I have your heart.”
Regina laughs and shakes her head. “Yes, you do.” Tentatively she pulls Emma into her arms. Instead of feeling strange or wrong, holding Emma feels right. Emma wraps her arms around her and leans her head against Regina’s. Breathing deeply, Regina revels in the soft scent emanating from Emma and the strength surrounding her; surrounding them both.
“I love you, too,” Regina whispers into Emma’s hair.
“Good,” Emma responds. “Now let’s go kick your sister’s ass.”
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