Chapter 9

I am so so sorry for the delay in updating but I have been unbelievably busy for the past like month! This little update is just to let you know that I haven't forgotten about you and that I WILL be updating as soon as I can!

Emma had been living with Ingrid, Elsa and Anna for a month now. Each morning she would get up, go for a run, come home and shower (it was far more convenient than bathing everyday) before going to work with Elsa and Ingrid. Each day they would open up the diner, Ingrid would fire up the grill and the coffee machine while Emma and Elsa set the tables ready for the day ahead. Emma had become quite accustomed to the routine and found solace in her daily schedule. Yet the nightmares still plagued her. Night after night she would wake up shivering, but white hot with fear. Ingrid, Elsa and Anna would take it in turns to sit with her until she fell back to sleep and Emma would write in her diary telling Regina about how Ingrid had taken her in, about her day, and about the nightmares that wouldn't go away.

Dear Regina,

Today marks 35 days since I last saw you. I don't know how you're coping with this but I hope my parents are taking care of you. I don't like the idea of you being around Cora every day. Not after what she did to me. She's dangerous.

Last night I woke up at 4am, which is better than when I first arrived, and was waking up every hour. The nightmares are getting better. Truthfully, the abyss no longer scares me, at least not as bad as it did. No what scares me the most is the thought of never seeing you again.

Yet I know the odds are against us. I still have hope. I hope you'll be happy, one day.

Emma hugged her diary close to her chest. Sighing she placed it back on the table and pulled her blanket up to replace it, looking around what was now her room with a sad smile. The walls were still the same pale ice blue they had been when she arrived, but they somehow felt warmer than her first night. The wardrobe was now filled with her new clothes and she even had a small collection of books accumulating under her bedside table. But it wasn't home.

Back in the Enchanted Forest Regina had been training night and day with the Dark One, not wanting to waste a moment. She wanted to find Emma. The only respite she got from training were the early hours of the morning, traipsing back to the castle. By this point she could magic herself there in an instant but the walk did her good, gave her time alone. Time away from Snow and David whom she knew worried about her and time away from her father. He was putting on a brave face about having his heart crushed, but it only hurt to see him.

Pushing open the castle doors Regina headed back up the grand staircase to Emma's old room finding a plate of cold meats and bread outside the door, just like every night for the past week. Regina picked at the food half-heartedly as she thought about what Rumpelstiltskin had said earlier. Well done dearie, I do believe you'll be ready to cast the curse by the end of the week.

Regina didn't know if she should be happy or sad about this, right now she was just…numb. If she was happy about getting back to Emma she felt bad about what she would be doing to her father, but if she spent too much time with her father she feared she would refuse to cast the curse and then she, Snow and David would never see Emma again. It was safer just to be numb, that way the only one she was harming was herself.

The end of the week came far, far sooner than Regina would have liked. She was stood in the clearing with Henry, Snow, David and Rumpelstiltskin. A cauldron stood before her, with just one ingredient missing.

With tears in her eyes Regina turned to face her father, Snow and David, "I don't know if I can do this."

Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically, "Well until you have decided I'll be in my castle." And with that he vanished leaving the four of them alone with the boiling cauldron.

"Oh my darling girl. I know you don't want to do this, but you must! You must find Emma! She needs you more than you need me. You both need each other. I've lived my life, it's time for you to live yours. With Emma." Henry comforted Regina as he pulled her into his chest.

"But I don't want to lose you." Regina sobbed, her breathing becoming erratic as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I know you don't my darling, darling girl. But you aren't really losing me. I'll always be on your mind and in your heart. And it's not as though this is all for nothing. When you find Emma, when you see her again, it will all be worth it. I promise. And think of Snow and David. This is their daughter. Regina my darling you need to be strong. Not just for you, not even just for Emma, but for Snow and David too." Henry added, turning to smile softly at Snow and David, both of whom had tears in their eyes.

"You promise me that you'll look after her? That no matter what she'll be happy?" Henry pleaded.

"Of course we will! Henry we cannot thank you enough for your sacrifice!" David said.

"As long as Regina is happy that's all that matters to me." Henry turned back to face his daughter grasping her hands between his own.

A tear slipped down Regina's cheek and she kissed her father's hand. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and thrust her hand into her father's chest, grasping the beating heart in a fist and pulling it out. Regina stared at the beating red orb and moved her hand so it now hovered over the cauldron.

"I am so proud of you Regina. Don't you ever forget it. Te amo con todo mi corazón."

Those were the last words Regina heard her father say as she squeezed the life out of him.

Henry fell to the floor and Regina collapsed beside him hugging him to her chest as the cauldron released a cloud of purple smoke.

Snow knelt down beside Regina, trying to think of anything she could say as she brought a comforting arm around her shoulder.

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