Tell-Tale Hearts. Swan Queen/OUaT fanfiction. ch. 1-3
Chapter 1-3.
Chapter 1.
Past: An Older Land…
There is wind all around them, just as there has been for days. The castle can no longer be seen and the townspeople are far behind. A storm kicks up water and dirt and dust, and it takes all of their strength to protect their son from something in the darkness that tries to tear him apart.
The Queen and her Knight look at one another, nod in unspoken agreement, and cross their swords in front of the small boy. He is old enough to know that they all might die, but young enough to still believe in the mysterious powers of his parents.
Long after the battle, the Queen holds her Knight in one arm, while their son grasps the other. There is blood in brilliant patterns over the Knight's skin.
"Kiss her, just do it!" He shouts in the Queen's ear. It is still dark and the Queen wonders if the dead things will come back to snatch them after all.
The Queen obeys somebody else for once, and as her lips press to the Knight's, fire burns a pathway around them…
And the White Knight awakens.
Present: A Terrible Place…
Regina's car is her favorite silly toy. She relishes the feel of leather against her bare legs as she climbs into the steel contraption, wearing a pin-stripe skirt and white blouse. Beneath the blouse is a black leather bustier which she hopes to reveal later, to a special someone, perhaps during their morning meeting.
She is nearly at work when Gold calls her on her cell phone.
Cell phones. Regina still wonders what the people of this terrible world is going to do when their precious gadgets are out of order.
"What." Regina barks into the phone. She does not say his name and she certainly does not call him 'Mister'. Gold always does act as though he knows something that Regina doesn't, when it is Regina who holds the most important secrets from him.
Gold mutters in the phone. Regina veers around a sharp corner and curses, putting the phone on speaker and throwing it beside her. "I cannot hear you…" In the distance, something dark is emerging. Regina squints to see it better.
A sand storm appears to be approaching. But that cannot be…
Thankfully, there is a red light which stops Regina in her car, when Gold confirms the worst.
"What have you done?" Regina shouts at him.
On the other line, there is sudden and deafening silence.
Future: Other Roads…
There is wind in this world also. Wind and rain and something like ash which falls from the sky.
"How could you Mom?" Henry asks this stupid question often. This time, his tone is not angry, just curious. How could she? How could she not! Regina frowns at him and refuses to speak.
Emma and Mary are nearby. Why? Regina cannot quite remember how they got to this world. They are all wearing rather ugly clothing-khakis and long shirts with leather patches for armor, she supposes.
"There is nothing but us." Emma has thrown away her cell phone and sits down heavily. "There is nothing else. Where the fuck are we Regina?" But there is an odd sort of caring in Emma's voice when she asks the question and Emma just shakes her head. Is she amused by something? "Nevermind. The rest of the people will be here soon." Emma sighs and stretches her back.
Regina shrugs, not remembering what she has done exactly.
She looks around at what is, apparently, their camp site. Emma glances toward a pair of sleeping bags at Regina's feet and then meets Regina's eyes with a frown.
Regina is shocked. Are they sleeping in close confines?
And is Mary actually tolerating Regina? Surely Mary hates her now?
Mary walks confidently past Regina and looks behind her, drawing a gun which she…does *not* shoot Regina with.
Regina's mouth falls open. "Don't you…" She shakes her head. Surely they must all know by now what she has done. Killed Graham? Murdered her own father? Cursed them all and apparently destroyed the entire world? Deprived Emma of parents for many, many years?
"We have work to do Mom." Henry seems to be reading her mind. He blinks and nods at that spare thought. "The past is in the past. There are bigger problems now, and you're thinking much more clearly."
"Yes, I personally blame my daughter for that." Mary quips cheerfully from behind. She is smiling at something-or someone.
Regina realizes that David has emerged from the darkness, followed by well-armed townspeople. They all look to Emma to lead them. Regina sits down heavily on her sleeping bag and awaits instruction.
Present: Calm before the storm….
Making deals with tricksters is not always the best course of action, but it also isn't the worst. The deal with tricksters is that they are always unpredictable and predictable simultaneously. They are simple and they are complex. They are neither good nor evil, but a strange mix of both.
Regina knows at least this much, better than anybody. She walks through the town she has created from a land she had cursed long ago.
Regina swings her briefcase as she walks. Her heels are long and thin and she contemplates the effect they will have on her lover, later, when she strips down to nothing but those shoes.
Things are moving along smoothly in her world. Regina has no complaints. There are curious sorts of things which actually go quite well in this new place. Regina has not destroyed everything, she has simply frozen it. In its place.
Regina smiles sedately at the townspeople as they avoid her path. Ruby actually smiles at her, which is strange. Perhaps Regina's occasional dalliance with the waitress has put a spark in the imprisoned woman's life. Regina sleeps with Ruby from time to time to keep the younger woman distracted, occupied, and in her place. Ruby craves adventure so Regina convinces her that adventure is no further than one's own backyard (or restroom, bedroom, and occasional back alleyway).
Imprisoned or not, Regina tries to be true to the character of each person in her town. She knows their memories better than they do and does her best to honor each individual quirk. It is one of the things about Regina which makes her tolerable to all around her-she knows people and will do what she must to make them feel as though they are actually following their own path. Even if, in reality (sort of), they are following hers.
Regina arrives in her office and finds the one person-one of two, really-who is not content to let her lead.
"Ms. Swan." Regina smirks at the blonde woman. "How may I help you?"
Emma sighs and slumps before straightening up again. "It's Sheriff Swan, if you recall, and I'm here for our 9am meeting." Her hands run up and down Regina's sides. "Did you wear it? The leather…"
"Of course." Regina knows that she is being condescending, but it is mostly for show. She swallows hard and pulls her top down so that Emma can see the bustier.
The door closes and Regina finds herself slammed against it, with only Emma's hand to cushion the blow. Their lips press together but Emma's other hand has already found its way up Regina's blouse.
Regina sighs with contentment as she wraps herself around the town's conquering hero.
Chapter 2:
Storybrooke: Phase One.
It is a sunny, warm day in Storybrooke and it is six months before the world ends.
There are no signs of the storm that will soon erase this town's brief existence and usher in a second strange world, much like the first Storybrooke.
There are no signs that the town's leader will soon turn against her own family.
And there are certainly no signs that the town's Mayor is actually an ancient Witch from another age, who has made this whole place up. Her elaborate ruse fools nearly everyone, but the energy it takes for her to keep up the illusion sometimes takes its toll. Mayor Regina Mills has had enough of her Happy Ending. It is not working out. Her one great love has already destroyed their happiness.
Well, there are signs of Regina Mills' limitations. The town's newspaper, for any who had actually lived outside of Storybrooke (only one can say that they have which is also pretty weird) is absurd. Popular music is way behind the times, and the Mayor has banned satellite television and only allows local cable channels to come through their television sets. She says, often, that she is simply protecting Storybrooke from the evils of the outside world.
Emma Swan, the town's Sheriff, walks with her son Henry and they discuss a science lesson about time and space. Emma is also the Mayor's lover. Partner. Whatever. But their relationship is definitely on the rocks.
"Time just is this thing that we can't escape." Henry is explaining to his rather bemused mother. "It just happens to us and we can't change it." This is what he has learned, just the day before, from a science teacher hand-picked by his other mother.
"What about relativity?" Emma jokes. Henry stares at her as though she is a total nut job. "You know, the theory of relativity. And Uncertainty, and Quantum mechanics." She is throwing shit out there that makes even less sense to her, but she doesn't care. "All I know is this: things are sort of…" She searches for a word to explain the one course she took that time when she kind of ended up sleeping with the Professor. "Bendable." She finishes. "And you should always question authority figures, even if they're wearing lab coats."
They grimace as the Mayor drives by and glares at them.
"Your mom is a complicated person." Emma sighs. They stop at the new Thai restaurant and Emma considers their options. "Lunch? Noodles are healthy."
When they go inside, the waiter looks fearful. Emma and Henry exchange bemused looks before they are all interrupted by a whirlwind named Regina.
"I'm double parked." Regina smirks, earning a fantastic roll of the eyes from Emma. "However, I will be lunching with you both."
Emma is 25, and Regina made her Sheriff of Storybrooke only six weeks ago. She leans forward to give her partner a quick kiss and is not surprised to see a flash of anger in Regina's eyes. Regina gives Emma only her cheek which is cool against Emma's lips.
They raise their son Henry as best they can, despite the fact that Emma was only 19 when she and Regina fell in love. Falling in love at 19, with an infant and a large house and all of the comforts needed to live 'Happily Ever After', is, of course, too good to be true.
Emma has already cheated on Regina, and hates herself for it. The make-up sex was great, and Emma has no doubt that this woman is the great love of her life…
…but dammit, finding that one special person at such a young age! Emma is so restless that some days she wants to scream.
Once, Emma even spun a globe around and stuck her finger on Florida.
In fact, in only a short time, not two months after Emma's 26th birthday, Emma will leave.
And Regina will deal away this life in retaliation for its failure to deliver the Happy Ending she had been promised. She makes the decision as she eats lunch with her listless and distracted lover, and their son.
This is a fateful day. The day when Henry and his biological mother discuss Quantum mechanics, while his other mother plots a way to steal him away…
Mr. Gold, the local seller of used and seemingly useless items, sells Regina a pile of stones which she uses to enact the spell.
As always, he does not want money. Instead, he requests of Regina that they discuss Henry, over dinner some night.
"Why?" Regina is suspicious. Emma gave birth to Henry in their own home, and ever since, Gold has behaved rather creepily toward their small family. He always wants to know how the boy is doing, how Emma is handling motherhood…
"In case he is ever lost." Gold explains. He gives her that signature, creepy smile. "I should know where to find him again. For you, of course."
"Of course." Regina smiles demurely. She has already planted the seeds. She will trade this life, start over, and Henry will remain hers. But perhaps…
…perhaps Gold can help.
Regina likes to gamble. She will not leave Henry's life to chance, but she will leave the manor in which he returns to her to chance.
As for Emma, Regina is certain that this spell will erase the wandering young woman from her life. There is bitterness on her tongue when Regina thinks of Emma's dalliances. With Ruby, and with Graham, that silly boy who wanders at the edge of town hunting for his own family. Emma does not know that Regina has also been with them both herself. Emma also does not know how old Storybrooke is, and how long Regina has controlled its fate.
Regina smiles at Gold. He will not, after all, even remember his stupid request. So, she says the magic word:
"Deal."
And when the world is turned over, it is Gold who retrieves Henry for Regina. From Emma, who manages to stay away from Storybrooke for a full ten years after her and Regina's child is born.
Storybrooke Anew: The second life.
Regina sits in her office contemplating her Mayoral duties. She scribbles hastily on a post-it (really, one of the best inventions in this terrible new time) and labels a pile of papers listening her plans for monuments throughout town. The launching of statues and benches named after random townspeople, amuses and distracts Regina. She smirks to herself as she brainstorms and decides to commission a concrete statue of a loom, name it for Mr. Gold, and make up a story about Storybrooke's history in the textile industry. The private joke could only be more amusing if she had somebody to share it with.
There are, of course, other things to consider.
But David is now awake, and Regina has kept him from finding out about his connection with Mary.
And with Emma. Emma, who tries so hard to be good. No matter what the price.
Henry has all but given up his strange 'Cobra' mission, it seems. Henry is a bit of a mystery, but Regina is not worried about his relationship with his other mother. She has come and gone from so many places, there is no way she will stay…
Regina sneers into space. Her expression, if somebody were to read it, is a bizarre mix of affection, confusion and anger.
She thinks of Henry.
Henry, it seems, would rather chew on nails than speak to Regina. Things have become much worse between Regina and her son since Emma Swan arrived in town.
Regina ponders her next move with this woman. She has had her arrested and her car booted, but nothing really works to dissuade Emma from staying. And now she has moved in with Mary…
Regina's phone rings. It is Henry. He is home and he isn't leaving. Regina assures Henry that she will pick up a dinner he might be satisfied with, upon her return home. He likes hamburgers from the diner. Grotesque, but Regina will give him this at least…
It is a funny sort of day. Regina grows far too bored with work and leaves early. The sun is shining as she walks to her car. She notes that her blouse is purple today and decides to change it to red tomorrow. So deep, is Regina's boredom…
"Shit!" A woman's voice interrupts Regina's attempts at unlocking her car door. Why she even bothers to lock it is a mystery, but…
"Hey, sorry." The voice again. Regina sighs and looks at her shoes.
"Ms. Swan." Regina finally says, turning around. "Is there a reason for you to be loitering-and swearing-in front of the Mayor's office?"
Emma gives her that look-that closed mouth smile and puppy eyed look that makes Regina want to push harder. To say something meaner…
"I tripped. I was just out for a walk." Emma stammers a little. Then she gives that sheepish smile and adds, "I'll just be getting out of your way…"
Regina sneers. "Fine. Unless, of course, you want a ride to the edge of town? I can drive you to the now restored signage and have a car pick you up…"
"No such luck." Emma has the audacity to laugh. She is already past Regina's car and is walking quickly but casually away.
For some reason, Regina asks Emma a stupid question then-something that both reveals and creates a crack in the Mayor's armor.
"Your arrangement with Mary Margaret is going well, I assume?" Regina's words shock them both. Why the fuck does she care? But then…something happens…Regina feels as though somebody has poured ice water down her shirt at the mere thought of Mary…
…of Snow White.
The façade nearly flies away and Regina can feel the pounding heat and white-hot fury.
Snow.
Always Snow.
Regina wants, suddenly, to destroy this world…again.
Perhaps she'll burn the town down this time…burn Snow's house first. Poison Snow and then burn Snow within her own home. But can Snow burn? Snow is made of water. Regina's sight blurs as her thought processes bleed into utter nonsense.
Emma looks disturbed now. She stares at Regina.
A change of tactics is now obviously in order, Regina decides, willing the rage to subside. Something is clearly happening, beyond her control, and yes, yes, a change in tactics. But she will win. Whatever the cost.
"Are you ok?" Emma has noted total fatigue in Regina's features. And general sort of greyness-the Mayor's face is turning grey before Emma's eyes.
Shit.
Emma is quick on her feet, and catches the Mayor as she faints.
It is three days before the blasted fire, and Emma's ascension to the Sheriff's post. And the world will just keep on changing and changing and changing, until even Regina cannot control it's movements any longer.
Chapter 3.
Storybrooke: Parental Responsibilities.
For a woman who has solved many of the universe's mysteries, Regina finds herself confused often these days.
In many ways, Henry is the biggest mystery of all.
Regina feeds Henry, she clothes him, cleans up after him when he is sick, changes his sheets, and organizes his days. She is strict and draws boundaries, so that Henry will someday know the control Regina knows.
"Wear a scarf today Henry." She says off handedly as he tries to sneak past her office door.
"Zip your coat." Another similar occurrence. Without looking, Regina knows that there will be rain. Sometimes she thinks she can hear the thunder speaking to her.
One day, Henry slips on the sidewalk and comes home with a bump forming above his left eye. Regina sees this and without a word, she marches into the backyard, stares at the lawn for a moment, and finds a weed-almost as though it had formed at her insistence-which she chews and then slathers over Henry's wound.
"Ewwwww." Henry grimaces but allows this treatment. Really, he has no choice. This is the same woman who used to speak to other mothers about his various bathroom-related habits before she realized that some elements of mothering made her look weak and overly fearful. He used to wet the bed and it took a lot of trust, conversation, and re-learning trust between mother and son before that issue could be resolved.
Regina blinks and nods when Henry glares at her.
Their stand-off continues for a long time. Each trying to crack the mysteries of their caring, their animosity, and their ambivalence.
Regina knows that someday, Henry will be done with her. As surely as all children are done with their parents. And it isn't just because of the spell.
It is the inevitable mystery of time unraveling. Henry's cycles are among those things that Regina cannot control.
Regina watches as Henry flounces off to see his other mother-his biological mother. Regina watches them both from afar, and knows that even Emma will have to let go someday.
Regina dreams about Henry almost as often as she dreams about Emma. Henry often shows up on the edges of those dreams in which she is still the Queen. Still wearing the long hair and magically embedded crown. Sometimes, (more lately since, well, since she sort of killed him) Graham shows up also…
In one dream, Henry yells at Graham to kiss Emma, who is, oddly, asleep at the Queen's feet.
"Kiss her!" Henry yells. "Anyone! Just wake her up! Now!"
In the real world, or whatever Storybrooke is, Regina awakens to Henry's shouts and she runs to his room. He is drenched in sweat and she tries to comfort him.
"It's all your fault." Henry moans as she turns away from Regina. "Dammit Mom! Why did you have to…Why?"
"Henry, don't swear. It's ok." Regina is shocked that Henry is even calling her 'Mom' these days.
Regina is shaken by Henry's increasing nightmares. For the first time in a very very long time, Regina wants advice.
She walks home one day from work and finds herself drifting toward Mary Margaret's. She wonders if Emma is home. But in the end, Regina has to admit that it is not Emma's advice she is currently seeking…
Mary is utterly shocked when Regina sits down at the kitchen island and begins to talk about Henry. It isn't as though they haven't had parent/teacher discussions, and in Mary does recall one incident in which Regina panicked because Henry…well, anyway, it's weird. Mary is totally wierded out, especially since Regina hates her.
Still, Mary tries to help. They drink tea. They discuss a class Mary once gave, on bird houses. Regina promises to make a bird house with Henry. She is so utterly lost and this makes the most sense to her. They sit at that weathered white-washed wooden table and contemplate a whole lot of bullshit which would mean so much more if Regina hadn't created a nightmare for Mary (and Emma, and Henry, and everyone else) in the first place…
Thankfully, Emma returns to get another shirt for her evening shift, and takes Regina off of Mary's hands. Emma and Mary exchange dumbfounded looks as Regina is led upstairs to Emma's room.
"What's going on?" Emma asks, nudging Regina down onto the bed, to sit while Emma dresses. She listens while hopping around to shove one jean leg on, only to find that she can't watch Regina, listen to her rant, and actually dress herself properly. Emma sits beside Regina and tries again.
Regina, seeing that Emma is wearing only a bra and jeans, decides that talking isn't going to help.
Regina says, "Just, be nice for once."
Emma says something like, "Whaaaaa" and makes a face that says that she might throw something again, but the word turns to an "oomph!" as Regina pulls her atop the bed.
"You are the least articulate person I have ever met." Regina states plainly as she undoes Emma's jeans and yanks them down her thighs. "Here." She offers, shoving a hand into Emma's panties. "Let me get you started."
Emma stares down at Regina's almost desperate expression, not at all sure that she wants to be doing this. They should be talking about their child, not…
Well. Emma is really kind of easy when it comes to Regina. Even if it is only their second time doing this…whatever it is.
Still, she pushes Regina away so that they can both undress. Then she feels herself getting so wet, all at once, that she just freezes. Regina spreads her legs and makes herself submissive and then Emma pounces.
"Omigod, I'm such a top for you." Emma mutters, laughing as she climbs between Regina's thighs and rocks her hips back and forth. Regina's hand finds her again and Emma groans. Regina's heels are digging into Emma's hips which ease up so that Emma can cup Regina's center and push one finger inside of her. Regina feels like thick honey and dew and Emma is momentarily distracted before her eyes focus on the deep dark brown eyes of the woman she supposedly hates.
They kiss, clumsily, Regina's free hand tangling in Emma's hair.
It is fast, and Regina is louder than usual, whimpering once or twice, but when they are through, Emma gets the sense that things are calmer now.
"There. Ok?" Emma pats Regina's hip and kisses her chin. "Henry is fine. Everything is fine."
They both know that Emma might be lying, but for a moment, everything is just as Emma says.
That night, Henry finds himself acquiring a new bike which Regina buys on her way back from Mary's. She wheels it into his room and tries not to care when he sighs and shrugs over her gestures.
Storybrooke: Public Displays of Affection.
Their displays of anger are beginning to wear thin.
The townspeople are noticing that Regina Mills and Emma Swan actually seem to care about one another.
Even as Regina and Emma shout in public over the improper pruning of trees in the park, people turn away and shrug it off.
Once again, Regina finds a way to win by preying on Emma's bizarrely low self esteem. She says something about Emma failing to see things through. This final jab has so little to do with the maintenance of the town's flora and fauna, that Emma cannot even see beyond the ill logic.
Emma's response is righteous indignation followed very quickly by resignation. Defeat, inevitable, slumps her shoulders and the corners of her mouth deepen in their downward arch. "Look, Regina, I'm doing the best job that I can."
A smirk, and the reply "Don't do any of us any favors," are Emma's rewards.
Regina is close and her breath smells of mints and Emma wonders why it is that she wants so very much to kiss that mouth one moment, and to shut it the hell up the next.
Regina is a mirror with all of Emma's flaws and shortcomings reflected. Or maybe Regina is like a river. Emma finds this idea sexy somehow, and flushes as Regina walks away.
Emma's mind makes up dialogues with Regina. While she tries to sleep, Emma can hear Regina's voice, reciting a litany of her many faults. And all of the times when Emma has tried to come through for people she cared about, only to leave instead, are now memories with Regina's presence somehow superimposed.
Their daily sparring becomes a part of the town's backdrop. Like wallpaper. Emma is already so entrenched here, after such a short time.
Emma notices that Regina's behaviors become more erratic the longer they do this. It is as though Regina is forgetting her animosity toward Emma, or perhaps remembering something else between them instead.
One day, Regina is telling Emma off for trying to spend time with Henry. The next, Regina pawns the kid off on Emma, with instructions to return him by a certain hour. Another day sees Regina publicly humiliate Emma, only to defend Emma before the evening is through.
Emma tries not to be grateful for these small turnarounds, but she can't help it. Sometimes, especially when she rewards Regina's strange kindnesses with sex, Emma feels like a dog that has been kicked but continues to return to its owner's side. Emma leaves in a huff on those nights, because she doesn't want to believe that Regina owns her in any way.
"You can leave through the front door, you know." Regina says on one such night. She is in a good mood.
Laying there, satiated and warm, half clothed beneath the sheets, Regina looks at Emma through hooded eyes. They had fought that day in front of a group of youth who took up space on a sidewalk for longer than Regina found necessary. The fight was technically over a loitering bylaw and its enforcement. Emma wanted to let it go, but Regina wanted to see the youth reprimanded. But when one of the 'loiterers' in question tried to tell Emma off for refusing to arrest him, Regina lectured everyone present about the job that Emma did to protect their town, and the respect owed to her.
Which was weird. And surreal.
"Yeah, that's…ok." Emma fights a yawn and struggles with her t-shirt. "I don't want to, you know…"
"Confuse Henry." Regina says for her. "About what? The fact that his two mothers are doing what a child's parents should do?"
This floors Emma. The shirt is not even over her head and she keeps it stretched and blocking her eyes while she attempts to come to terms with what Regina has said. And was that…actual sadness in Regina's tone?
"Just go." Regina says as the silence extends. "Go." Her tone is more forceful and this time something in Emma snaps.
"No. Fuck." Emma's voice is a mere whisper, but it carries a fury alien to her. "You…I'm…" She stomps-actually stomps-her foot and yanks her shirt down. "I'm tired. I've had a long day Regina, and I want to sleep. I don't want to leave through the front door-it isn't charity to let me do that. And I won't crawl out the window either. I want to sleep…and…I'll take the guest room."
This is Emma's only attack. Threatening to stay. It freeze them both momentarily.
"You'll do no such thing." Regina hisses, but she has already flung the sheets down beside her. "Get in. And let me have some peace and quiet. And quit your…whatever sort of temper tantrum this is." Regina huffs and turns over angrily while Emma gets in beside her.
Emma is wearing nothing but her t-shirt now and considers the clothing situation. Her eyes stray to Regina's back which is tense. She knows that Regina is wearing nothing beneath her green silk top. It would be so easy to start up again…
Emma sighs and stares at the ceiling.
After sometime, with neither woman sleeping, Emma turns carefully onto her side and says, "Hey." She considers touching Regina but thinks better of it for now. "Thank you for today. That was nice."
They sleep for only a few hours and the sun is not yet risen when Emma sneaks out.
And in retaliation for being called 'nice', Regina fires Emma in front of everyone at Granny's.
Emma lets Regina save face by rehiring her an hour later.