There was no mistaking that voice, Regina knew it well. She heard it in her dreams as clearly as she heard it now. She could feel it, the now familiar twinge of hope she’d come to expect after the last few years. The warmth that blossomed in her chest, cooled somewhat know by the knowledge of what had changed.
And something else. Something she couldn’t bring herself to name. Something she’d thought lost to her, had hoped lost in her darker hours because losing it the first time had destroyed her and Regina doubted she’d fair any better a second time. Feared she’d shatter far worse, fracture in ways no one would ever be able to repair.
The door to the kitchen swung shut behind her as she folded her arms across her chest, fingers gripped tight around her forearms. “You bellowed.” She said, her own voice a conscious blend of annoyance and disinterest.
An eyebrow arched as she took a step forward. “I’d asked if your mother ever taught you that it’s rude to barge into someone’s home but I already know the answer so we’ll skip it. And while we’re at it, lets skip the part where I tell you ‘No’ and the part where you repeat your demand. In fact, lets skip the bit where you say something deeply personal to try and scare or anger me into summoning the dagger because we both know I’ll only use it to send you away. And since we’ve saved all this time by skipping over a pointless conversation and you’re still here, why don’t you join me for a cup of tea?”
Regina didn’t wait for an answer, she simply unfolded her arms, turned around, and headed back into the kitchen, pausing only long enough once on the other side of the door to press a hand against her stomach before heading off to fill the kettle.
The Dark One knew Regina was quick-witted and had expected some sort of resistance. However, the mention of her mother struck a nerve and she bit out a sharp reply, “Because of you I never had a mother to teach me anything of the sort when I was young.” Swallowing down further angry remarks, Emma forced herself to calm down before she continued, “Besides, I’m an adult, I’ll go where I please. You may try to distract me with your rambling, but I will not leave without my dagger.”
The invitation of tea was unexpected and not particularly welcomed, but she had nothing better to do and it seemed as though Regina was not going to hand over her dagger willingly. Not yet, anyway. Emma had time.
Emma rolled her eyes as she remembered a time in the past where she had spoken those exact words. She had been a weaker version of herself and one the Dark One didn’t care to remember, yet still felt connected to.
Following Regina through the mansion and into the kitchen, she ran a hand over her whitened hair, smoothing a stray strand and tucking it into her bun. “Where’s my son?” she asked, expecting her choice use of ‘my’ to irritate the other woman. It was purposeful and Emma hoped to be just as infuriating as Regina was being by not returning her dagger when asked. “I would like him to spend more time with me, now that I have my own house.” Her tone made it clear she wasn’t asking for permission. Before the darkness had engulfed her, she had enjoyed spending time with Henry and Regina as somewhat of a family. She had grown to care for the adoptive mother of her son to the point she had sacrificed the light within her for the woman. Now, as the Dark One, she barely understood why she had made that sacrifice. With the darkness inside her, the knowledge she had done that confused her, though she still wouldn’t change any part of it. Even now, she couldn’t do without their constant bickering and snide remarks. Through all the misery that came with being the Dark One, Regina was one person she could count on to make her feel as though she had a shred of her old identity left; that she was still Emma. New and improved, but Emma.
“You know, Regina...perhaps if you give me the dagger which belongs to me, we could work out some kind of agreement regarding Henry, where we are both happy.”
Using her son as a bargaining chip wasn’t something she had planned on, but if Regina was going to be difficult, she would happily match her efforts.
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