Held in Stasis

Chapter 23

Emma stood at the top of the tower in the South Wing watching from the high window the preparations being made. Regina was talking to two heavily armored men in the courtyard her hands moving every once in a while to signal towards something or another she wanted done. Emma couldn't keep the grin off her face. Regina was so very beautiful especially now. She was wearing a pair of leather trousers with a long black coat over the top that buttoned up and stopped right under her breasts. Black lace added a bit of femininity to the outfit but only where it stopped right above her perfect breasts. Her long hair was braided simply down her back not her usual elaborate style but something to make it easier to fight should the need arise.

Emma wondered yet again if the woman knew how to get physical with someone since she was used to using magic but she did have a sword belt at her waist and a thin black scabbard hung down her leg. The sword was thin and light Emma had observed it when Regina had put it on earlier and wondered if something that didn't have that much to it could actually do damage.

Regina had smiled at her when she'd asked the question with a serious expression on her pretty face. "We're delicate creatures Emma. It doesn't take much pressure to cut skin. And though the blade is light and may not seem like it will do much harm it more than makes up for by the speed with which I can maneuver it."

Emma had handed to the dark beauty who replaced it on her belt happily. It was true Ander had always instilled in her that strength wasn't needed so much as speed in a sword fight. Speed made all the difference in a clear cut winner. She'd observed it plenty of times herself from Ander himself and her father. They were both fast on their feet and wore light armor to make it easier for them to move. Men that wore heavy steel armor and carried large broad swords were often forced to swing the weight of the blade from their shoulder which was much slower than swinging from the elbow or using the tip of the blade to pierce where the armor was weak mostly at the joints.

She smiled as she watched Regina stalk up the stone stairs on the wall and turned knowing she should head down there to help. She smiled when Henry looked back at her.

"Hello Henry." She greeted reaching out a hand to help steady the man.

"Hello dear. I was just coming up to see where you'd gotten off to. I think Regina may need your help."

"You mean the soldiers need me to save them from Regina's wrath?" Emma asked amusement shining in her bright eyes.

"You didn't hear it from me." Emma laughed at the look on his face.

"My lips are sealed." She promised as the two glanced out the etched window with it's thick bars on it. Regina was stomping along looking rather angry about something. "Guess I better get down there huh? Or she'll kill them for their incompetence."

"Well they've grown lazy in the years since she was asleep." Henry said softly wincing when he saw a particularly murderous look cross Regina's beautiful features. "I can't say I blame her for being angry with them."

"Me either but if she kills them all then we'll be in even more trouble when my parents get here." Emma pointed out twisting to look at the older man. "Where are you going to be during all this?"

"Trying to keep order among the servants and those that are unable to fight; it's best that way. Though I can defend myself with my leg it will be harder."

Emma looked concerned, "I'm sure Regina will spare a few soldiers to keep an eye on you."

"She will but I wouldn't ask her to. I am capable of defending myself I just can't move as fast as I used to but who knows perhaps with adrenaline pumping my leg will hold me up longer?" Henry gave her a small smile. "Don't look so concerned for me Emma. You have to keep an eye on my daughter like you promised me all those months ago."

"I intend to if she'll let me stay close to her."

"She will, if only to ease her own mind about your whereabouts."

"Yeah I suppose so. Well guess I better head down there. Do you want me to help you get down?" Emma offered but the older man shook his head.

"No it's best if you go ahead and I'll get down in my own time. She needs your help."

Emma frowned but nodded, "All right but only because I think you're right and she might commit mass murder if they don't get less incompetent."

Henry smiled and watched Emma run down the stairs of the tower heading out into the courtyard as quickly as she could. He was glad to see his daughter had found someone who cared about her as much as Emma truly did. They deserved one another after everything that had happened. Happiness was something that could be so fleeting that every second of it was meant to be cherished. He thought Regina had realized that now and he was certain Emma had known all along. He saw a blonde head dart out from the main building and sprint up the wall where Regina was still stalking along. She turned at the yell of her name as Emma raced up towards her. Henry turned from the window and headed back into the bowels of the castle where everything was a scene of organized chaos. He had things to do just the same as everyone else.

"My Queen should we use the catapults?" General Preston yelled over the sounds of battle. Indeed as Regina had predicted the army was much smaller than it would've been had they not thinned them out some but it was still a lot to deal with. Regina's forces hadn't been the aggressors in the fighting. That had been King James' and his wife who had done that. She could see Snow White gliding among the battlefield fighting just as hard as her husband whose back was to hers. They were staying close together obviously not willing to let their men die for them if they weren't in the thick of things too.

"No." Regina yelled back as Emma turned to look at her with big eyes.

The General looked a bit pale as the Queen refused to use one of their best weapons. They didn't stand much of a chance without the catapults and they knew it. Regina sent a large rock flying with her magic with better aim then the catapults which were made to reign fire down on their enemies. Emma brought her sword up pushing a soldier that was trying to climb the wall down. She turned not wanting to see him fall to his death.

Regina looked at Emma who was staring back at her grimly. "It's the only way." Emma yelled back. "I can end this if you'll just let me Regina."

Regina gritted her teeth angry at having her back in a corner. "So be it."

"Father," Emma drew her short sword twisting it in her hand so it was comfortable.

"Emma you don't have to do this. Just come home with us where you belong." James tried to reason with his stubborn little girl.

The Queen's forces were still mostly locked in the castle but when Emma had issued the challenge she had come out with a handful of the queen's elite heartless guards. They would protect her the same as they would their queen. Regina watched from high up on the wall longing to be down there with her lover but knowing it wasn't a good idea. Snow would likely try to run her through the first chance she got for taking away her child and all the evil she believed Regina had done.

Emma shook her head, "You're forcing me to. Father I don't want to hurt you anymore than I know you want to hurt me."

"You're right. So let's stop all this and go home together." James lowered Excalibur a bit.

Emma shook her head, "I can't father. I love her I don't know what it's going to take to make you realize this."

"You don't love her Emma. She's done something to you. We can fix it we'll ask the Blue Fairy for help."

"There is no need to fix it. I'm happy, I love her and she loves me. Why can't you just accept that?" Emma asked her sword still held in a defensive position.

"You don't love her Emma. It's not possible." James shook his head, "She is evil to the core. Even now she's watching from her place high above this while you lay your life on the line."

"If you wouldn't threaten her she'd be right here at my back." Emma yelled getting angry. "She's not this great evil creature that is out to hurt everyone. Yes she's done bad things but she does love me and that's all that matters to me. I'll fight for her Father the same as you would mother. And I believe I'll win."

"Emma you don't have to do this." James blocked the overhead blow Emma delivered with a surprising amount of force. He didn't realize his little girl had gotten so strong.

"Fight me father!" Emma yelled driving her sword low heading towards James' gut. He deflected the blow using the momentum to deliver a non-lethal blow to Emma's shoulder which was easily blocked. Emma went down on one knee with the pressure but used it quickly to her advantage. She swept her leg out almost catching her father's shin before he jumped away the sudden let up of pressure almost causing Emma to sag.

She jumped to her feet as her father took a swing at her which she easily ducked. He wasn't trying to hurt her he was merely trying to defend himself. She realized this and yet she couldn't stop the fight. She had to prove to him that her love for Regina was as real as his love for her mother.

A fake upper blow turned lower cut swept her father's feet out from under him. He brought Excalibur up to block the blow from her sword but she turned so the hilt caught him across the jaw. Excalibur fell from his hand and Emma rolled away snatching it up and holding it against her father's throat. She shook her head trying to knock some of the snow that had hit her in the face when she'd rolled free from her hair which was beginning to fall in her eyes. She wasn't focused on that so much as the man underneath her.

"I won't kill you Father but you have to leave this place. You and Mother both; you're never to return and if I choose to visit you, you must allow me to return to my home with my wife."

"Your wife," Snow cried lifting her hand to her mouth, the sword in her hand clattered to the ground.

"Soon to be if she'll accept my proposal," Emma didn't lift the sword from her father's throat but she angled her body enough to look at Regina standing up on the wall. "Agree to my terms Father, Mother or I will run you through Father." She didn't put any pressure on Excalibur but she did make sure he could see that she was serious in her eyes.

James looked up at his wife who was shaking her head as though she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. He turned back to his only child. "Do you really love her so much that you would risk everything for her?"

"I already did." Emma said softly.

"Yes you did didn't you?" James murmured, "I am proud of you Emma even if I disagree with your decision."

"It's mine to make Father." Emma said studying her father's clear eyes. There was disappointment there along with a healthy dose of love for her as well as a bit of anger at Regina and himself for allowing this to happen.

"Are you happy Emma?" He asked so soft no one but Emma and Snow could hear.

"More than I've ever been." Emma spoke with conviction.

"Then so be it. You may stay here with Regina if that's your wish. But remember you always have a home with your mother and I and we love you dearly."

Emma lowered the sword offering her father her hand to help him stand. Her mother was watching her with wide sad eyes looking more angry then her father did at that moment. "It's my life Mother please don't tell me how to live it."

"This isn't what I wanted for you." Snow said softly.

"But it's what I want and that's all that matters. She makes me so happy Mother. I wish you could see that. I wish you both could but if you can't then there is no point in fighting like this. I will remain here and you can go back to your Kingdom. You don't have to see me again either of you if that's what you want but I do hope that's not what you both want."
"Of course not Emma. How could you even think that? Just because we don't agree with your choice of partner doesn't mean we don't want to see you. Just don't bring her." James said softly looking up to the wall where Regina's eyes were closely watching everything that was happening.

Emma laughed and nodded, "I can agree to that. Please don't hate me for this."

"Emma you're our child. We could never hate you. We love you so much." Snow said softly.

"I love you too Mother, Father." Emma lowered Excalibur the tip brushing the icy ground as both her parents embraced her.

6 Months Later:

"You may now kiss the bride." The elderly priest was smiling kindly as he watched Princess Emma tenderly draw her love turned wife towards her. Arms wound around each other kissing deeply as the crowd behind them erupted in clapping.

Emma pulled away with a laugh smiling brightly at Regina who smiled back at her. Both women held hands as they turned to face the crowd as one for that's what they were now. As the crowd slowly dispersed heading towards the Great Hall where the reception was taking place Emma looked to her wife.

"Are you all right?" She asked seeing the strange look on Regina's face.
Regina shook her head looking at her spouse with a small smile. "Yes I'm fine. Just thinking how things have a strange way of coming full circle."

"They do don't they?" Emma asked as they walked slowly towards the hall.

"Your Mother is someone I would've considered my greatest enemy and yet she gave me the best thing in my life. She gave you to me."

"Do you still hate her?" Emma asked trying not to cry at the sweet words.

"A part of me always will but the bigger part of me just wants to focus on other things…like us."

Emma nodded, "Yes I understand. We should just focus on us after all this is our wedding day."

Regina nodded and pulled away when she saw her father waiting by the open doors for them. He was smiling softly and embraced her when she approached. "You look so beautiful Regina." He murmured.

"Thank you Daddy."

"Emma," Henry's eyes were shining fondly. "Now I can truly embrace you as my daughter."

Emma was grinning widely as she embraced the elderly man and together all three of them walked out of the large ballroom.

Author's Ending Notes: So it's bittersweet that this comes to an end for me. It's been an AMAZING trip and I've thoroughly enjoyed it but all good things must end and this is one of them. I tried to wrap everything up as best as I could but if there are still some loose ends let me know and I'll try and fix it. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading this monster as much as I've enjoyed writing it and don't forget to check out my other works since I can't seem to stay away from this fandom. You guys have been awesome and I couldn't ask for better people to share this thing with. Thank you so much for everything and I hope to see you guys around be it me reviewing your stories or you reviewing mine. ~ Bella