A/N- Hi everyone this is my first fanfic for this show, I wasn't planning on writing anything but I had this idea and it just wouldn't leave me alone so here it is. I originally wrote this to be a stand alone one shot after I began to write it more ideas came popped into my head so it looks like it will be a little longer. I hope you all enjoy my take on the aftermath of Marian coming to the present
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Pain. Gut wrenching pain left her frozen to her spot with her eyes wide, seeing the very thing that is inflicting all of the hurt unable to remove herself from the situation. Fire coursed through her veins as anger and betrayal fought for dominance. Her mind was racing with a single phrase repeating rapidly in her head like a mantra and a prayer.
"This can't be happening! This can't be happening! This can't be happenig!"
However no matter how much she wished it wasn't, it was happening and her heart was breaking because because of it. Robin's long last wife had some how returned from the dead and made her way to Storybrooke just as she was starting to believe that even she could get a happy ending.
How was this possible?
Swan.
With that single thought she spun quickly causing Emma to step back in surprise.
"Reginan I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I swear I didn't know!" Emma rattled off quickly.
Regina could see the genuine remorse in her eyes but she ignored it and reached for a mask to hide her hurt the easiest one to grab being anger. Her ears were ringing but she felt her mouth move to speak not able to hear or comprehend what she had said but for the look in Emma's face it had struck a cord.
"Regina, I swear I had no idea I didn't do this to hurt you." Emma tried again, her voice filled with guilt.
Her eyes flicked to the side and she saw the man she loved embracing his wife. She couldn't take anymore and with a flash she disappeared using her magic to transport herself back to her house.
As soon as her feet touched the hard wood floor she released her pent up magic in one powerful blast shattering all of the glass on the bottom floor. Windows, vases, cabinets, and and picture frames erupted and sharp shards rained down causing pieces to cut into her skin as they raced threw the air. Regina took a deep breath and relished in the stinging pain as blood bubbled up through the numerous wounds and down her flesh. This kind of pain she could hamdle, this kind of pain she could push through and conquer but unfortunately her real hurt wouldn't accept being in second place and rose stronger in her chest. With a broken cry she crashed to her knees ignoring the new cuts that formed as she lay on the floor of broken glass and sobbed thinking of how ironic that her heart was now just as shattered.
The next morning woke up to a loud banging and a high pitched metal hum. She laid still and tried to make sense of her surrounding and the chaos streaking though her mind.
Where was she? Why was she so sore? What the hell was all that noise and why does it feel like someone carved a giant hole in her chest where her heart was?
The thought of her heart brought back all of last night's memories and pain in an instant. Her eyes prickled with tears and a whole new round of questions like how the hell did she get into her bed and who bandaged up all of her wounds?
The banging stopped momentarily and she heard the sound of muffled voices. They were to low to identify the speakers but loud enough to conclude that there was at least three people in her home.
Curiosity and annoyance fueled her to rise from her bed to confront whoever assumed that they could just waltz into her house like they owned it. A low hiss escaped trough her teeth as she stood causing her cuts to burn and stretch. Using the pain as a grounding force she walked forward out of her room and down the hall to the stairs. By now the banging had continued and each one echoed in her head causing her to close her eyes against the headache that was making itself known.
Regina paused at the top of the stairs and leaned against the wall to brace herself for a moment as she speculated over what she would find below. Had the town come to condemn her for her actions against Robin's wife?
The mental image of Robin standing in front of the couch where they had confessed their feelings for one another with his bow raised and aimed at her was enough to cause a few stray tears to fall from her eyes.
It wouldn't matter to these people that she had changed. That she had broken the curse and defeated her sister using light magic, something that a year ago she never would have believed possible. No, to them she would always be the Evil Queen. The women responsible for so much pain and suffering.
It's not as if she could really blame any of them she deserved what she was getting and so much more but that fact that they were justified didn't lessen the hurt she felt. Taking a deep breath she pushed off of the wall, stood tall, and held her head high. If she was going to have to face their accusations she would do so with all of the dignity she had left and with that she made her way down the stairs.
What she found at the bottom took her breath away and caused her knees to go weak. Her eyes teared up as she took in the scene before her. Emma Swan and her Pirate were in the process of replacing her large picture window in her kitchen, David was busy doing something with power tools, Mary Margaret and Henry were sweeping up all of the remaining glass, and Prince Neal lay sleeping in a play pen in the corner.
A flood of emotions swept over her and she flopped unceremoniously on to the stairs causing everyone to halt their movements and turn to look at her. She couldn't see all of their faces because her eyes were blurred with tears she was uselessly trying to keep from falling but she was able to see Henry slowly walk towards her the way someone would approach a wounded animal.
"Mom." he said gently as he made his way closer. "Are you okay?"
Regina opened her mouth to speak but she had no words and even if she did she knew she wouldn't have been able to speak. So instead of answering she just looked at her son. Her eyes drank in the sight of him allowing it to act like a balm to her bleeding heart.
"Regina." the sound of her name caused her to turn and look at the speaker who was none other than Emma Swan.
She watched as the blonde stepped forward coming shoulder to shoulder with Henry. Emma looked down at the boy who gave his head a slight nod. When Emma's met hers again Regina was taken aback at the emotions and pain behind them. Emma's eyes were glassy with unshed tears and Regina could feel the remorse and guilt rolling off of her.
"Reg-" Emma's voice broke but she took a quick breath and tired again, "Regina, I am so sorry. I can't even begin to tell how sorry I am. I swear that I had no idea who she was when we brought her back with me. All I was trying to do was save her life Hook told me not to. He told me to leave her be but I couldn't and I'm sorry. I swear on everything that means anything to me that I didn't mean to hurt you." Emma paused for a moment to wipe the tears that were falling from her eyes with an angry swipe of her hand.
Regina knew they were alike in that way neither liked showing any weakness to anyone. When she opened her mouth to start apologizing again Regina cut her off.
"Why?" she managed to croak.
Emma looked startled at her question.
"I- I- I couldn't let you kill her. When we went back into the past we saw you in the village. I forgot for a moment that you weren't you...or well you were you but not the you I know. I stood up and went to go to you. I knew that you would be able to help us figure out what had happened and how to get home but Killian stopped me. He reminded me that you weren't Regina you were the Evil Quenn. Then you pulled a woman from your carriage with a bag over her head and I didn't know what to do. Later in the dungeon I freed her because I couldn't let you kill her because I knew you wouldn't kill her. I mean the old you would have killed her but the you I know wouldn't have and I couldn't let you have her blood on your hands because I knew the you that was waiting in the future would have regretted what you did to her."
Regina listened to her and any anger or blame she felt towards Emma for ruining her second chance at a happy ending melted away. How could she stay mad? Emma was the Savior it was in her nature to rescue those who needed it. At first she assumed she had rescued Marian to save the girl from death but now Regina understood she saved her to rescue Regina from the guilt of killing another innocent person. Emma Swan was only trying to save a little bit of the humanity that had remained in the Evil Queen.
Regina wasn't able to say how grateful and how touched she was at the woman's confession. She wanted to tell her that she didn't blame her for this but all that she was able to say was, "I meant why are you here?"
Regina felt a pang of guilt at the look of hurt that crossed Emma's face at her question.
"Last night Emma came by to apologize and found you alone and bleeding on the floor. She called me and the two of us got you bandaged up and put into bed." Hook answered stepping up next to Emma and wrapping a supportive arm around her shoulders pulling her close.
"She called us this morning and we all came over to try and get as much cleaned up and fixed before you woke up, we thought you would be out for most of the day." David added.
"Why?" she asked again feeling rather like a broken record but she couldn't understand why these people would want to go out of their way to help her.
"We're family Regina. We may not have always gotten a long but family always stands by each other and is always there for one another when they need them." Mary Margaret answered in a soft tone.
Tears began to freely fall down her face and Henry rushed to wrap his arms around her. The flood gates opened and Regina began to sob into her sons shoulder. After what felt like a lifetime she pulled back and wiped her eyes and took in the people standing before her. Emma and Mary Margaret were wiping tears from their cheeks as the men that loved them held them close. Regina notice that David had a few wet trails leading from his eyes and even Hooks eyes were shinning.
"I thought I was going to be alone again." she whispered brokenly.
Henry squeezed her tighter against him and she felt her broken heart beat again. It was still shattered and hurting but the faith and love from the people around her would help ease the ache and pain.
"You will never be alone again Mom, not when you have all of us." Henry murmured in her ears.
She pulled back and a slight smile graced her lips, "Family?" she asked in a hopeful voice.
"Family." Everyone answered leaving no doubt that they would be there to help put her back together again because family never let anyone face the hardship of life alone. She may have lost her true love but she gained a different kind of love one that was just as strong and for right now that would be enough.
A/N 2 - As I said I will be adding more to this story hopefully I will havery the next bit ready for tomorrow please review I'd love to hear your feed back positive or negative!