Snow and Ice
The air surrounding Emma was filled with faint hints of cologne and cedar as Robin strode purposefully past her. Emma was quick to note the slight discomfort in Regina's expression before it hardened as Robin approached. Had she wished it, Regina could have easily disappeared, yet she remained stationary, her arms protectively crossed in front of her. Emma watched the ensuing interaction with intense interest, too far away to hear the ensuing conversation.
It wasn't long before Regina's steely, impersonal mask shattered, revealing the real woman beneath. Emma felt her ears grow hot at the sight. What she had repeatedly attempted to do over the last week, took Robin a matter of seconds to accomplish. To his credit, Robin seemed visibly distraught. Nevertheless, observing the visceral effect Robin's emotions had on Regina astonished Emma. Regina's face transformed to mirror his. The lines around her forehead were carved with concern.
Emma felt a firm tug on her jacket.
"Emma!" David said exasperatedly.
"What?" Emma snapped more harshly than she intended.
"I called your name a few times already," David said, following her gaze, "Did Robin tell you already?"
"Tell me what?" Emma said distractedly. She peered sideways, catching a glimpse of Regina placing a hand on Robin's shoulder. She was comforting him.
"About the ice and his wife," said Leroy, who had appeared at David's side.
"His wife slipped on ice?" Emma said, logically trying to connect the dots. "It's not cold enough for ice."
"No, his wife collapsed and the town is surrounded by ice," David replied
"One of Robin's men was walking the perimeter when it appeared," Leroy explained.
"Great, just when I thought we wouldn't have to use that damn protocol for at least a few months," Emma complained under her breath. "Well, this can't be a coincidence."
"I agree," said Regina, approaching the trio with Robin in tow. "I'm going to check on Henry and then assess Marian's condition."
David nodded. "Emma and I will go to the border."
"Hang on, are you both really going to let Regina waltz out of here?" Leroy said, throwing his arms up incredulously. "This is obviously her handiwork."
Robin stole the words Emma planned to speak right from the tip of her tongue.
"Regina would never!" Robin said fiercely, stepping threateningly over the smaller man.
Regina gently wrapped a hand around Robin's arm, pulling him back to her. Although she was more than capable of defending herself, Regina couldn't help but find Robin's protectiveness endearing.
"Come on! Doesn't anybody find this suspicious?" began Leroy contentiously, looking to Emma and David for support. "Who else has the most to gain from Marian's- "
"Your vacuity continues to astound me," Regina icily cut in, "We don't have time for this nonsense."
"Regina's right Leroy, you're jumping to conclusions," Emma said calmly, "We can't waste time arguing."
"We're going," Regina announced, interlacing her arm with Robin's. "By the way," she added as lavender wisps of cloud formed at their feet, "I'm betting this mess is a result of your precious Saviour's recent time travel adventure."
Leroy was rendered temporarily mute as the former couple evaporated from sight.
After instructing Leroy to spread the word, a task that he was well versed in and also loved to do, Emma and David raced the cruiser to the town border and the reported ice wall. The structure was enormous; it was visible miles before they reached the boundary.
The sight was magnificently surreal. Tall, solid, layers of ice loomed over Emma and David, sparkling gloriously under the beating rays of sunshine.
"What if she's right? What if I caused this?" Emma said worriedly to David.
"We can't know for sure," David replied reassuringly, "Let's not worry yet. So far, it just looks like a great hunk of ice."
"Magical ice," Emma corrected. She reached out and slid her finger along the cool condensation coating the wall.
"Emma, don't touch it!" scolded David, swatting her wrist away from the ice.
"What. Why?"
"You said it yourself – its magic," David replied.
"What's the point of us being here if we're not going to investigate?" asked Emma.
David considered her question thoughtfully.
"Look, there's an opening over there. Let's go," said Emma.
"Wait a minute. Before we potentially get sucked into this thing, can we at least see how far extends?" David said, trying to form a compromise.
Emma cast her gaze upwards and across the monolithic structure. "Dad, you can't be serious! If you're suggesting we walk the perimeter then go ahead without me."
David didn't reply. His eyebrows raised slightly before his face broke into a bright, lopsided smile.
"What? Do you have an idea?"
"No, it's nothing," he said bashfully, a blush tinting his cheeks, "It's just that you called me Dad."
Emma smiled shyly. She lifted her hands to the back of her neck and scratched lightly- a mannerism that only appeared when she was self-conscious. "Okay, I'm going in here now. Are you coming?"
David chuckled at her response. "You really are your mother's daughter."
Emma arrived at Regina's street around dusk. She stepped out of her Bug and paused to admire the dull pinks and purples colouring the horizon. Further up, a handful of stars speckled the darkening sky. After an action-packed day, Emma wished for an ordinary evening. Today she had been encased in an ice wall, promised to find the sister of the person who encased her in the wall. She had also chased an ex-member of Robin's crew around the forest and briefly out magiced a mysterious ice cream store owner. Yesterday, when her biggest dangers were paper cuts, already seemed an age away.
Emma strolled down the path lined with dark masses of well-kept hedges and fragrant roses. Regina and Robin stood outside the front door, their figures backlit by the fluorescent glow emanating from inside. The pair were talking in hushed tones, totally oblivious to Emma's nearing presence. Seeing them together reminded Emma of the night she walked into the diner with Marian. The fresh memory filled her with a sense of foreboding. An uncomfortable lump formed in her throat when Robin extended his arms and Regina stepped into them without hesitation. Regina's eyes closed for a moment as he hugged her.
The scene was both absurd and completely natural. She couldn't recall a time where Regina had hugged anyone other than Henry. With her head rested to the side against Robin's chest, Regina looked content. Emma felt extremely uneasy encroaching upon their space. She was too close not to say anything, so she cleared her throat in the way a principal might do to demand attention. If either party were startled by the abrupt noise, they did not display it. Ultimately, the sound had its desired effect and resulted in a slow decoupling.
"Good evening Emma," Robin acknowledged Emma with a nod which she reciprocated.
"I should be going now. Call me with an update?" Robin said to Regina.
"Of course," Regina replied solemnly.
"Roland," Robin called inside, leaning against the frame of the door. Within seconds, the sound of tiny footsteps resounded from inside and Robin's arms were filled with a miniature version of himself.
"Where's Mommy?" Roland asked innocently.
"Your mother is feeling unwell son. She's going to stay with Regina," Robin answered.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her," Regina said, cupping the boy's cheek fondly.
"Okay, Bye Regina." Rowan extended his small chubby hand to wave.
"Bye."
Robin exchanged a wordless goodbye with Regina and nodded in Emma's direction before he turned and headed toward the street.
Regina turned to Emma expectantly. Emma intended to inform Regina about Elsa and her quest to find Anna and the encounter with the Snow Queen. Instead, she found herself expressing the thought that had plagued her since the end of the council meeting.
"You looked through me.," Emma blurted out.
"Excuse me?" said Regina.
"At the meeting this morning. You looked straight through me, never addressed me."
"Yes and if it were an option, I would do the same now," Regina stated bluntly. "But I expect you're here to update me on the situation, although I don't see why this couldn't have been done over the phone."
Emma quashed her emotions to recount the events of the day as Regina listened in stoic silence. "So, do you know this Sundae Snow Queen?"
"Because all evil people know each other?" Regina spat.
"Mooooom, dinner's ready," Henry's sing-song voice bellowed from within the house.
"Okay Henry. Coming," Regina called back.
"Regina, I meant have you heard of her?" Emma continued, correcting herself.
"Don't look at me Saviour. I think its Gold's turn to have an estranged relative come to kill us. Did you consult him?"
"Yeah, that's how David and I located her," Emma said.
"Well, you're lucky she vanished. It's her magic keeping Marian unconscious. I'm still researching ways to revive her."
"Did Robin try…," Emma hesitated, not wanting to say the words.
"Kissing her? Yes," Regina replied curtly, an unreadable expression plastered over her face.
Emma was slow to piece together to consequences of the information Regina had divulged, but when she finally did, she was racked with gut-wrenching guilt. If Robin's kiss didn't wake his wife, then the rumours were true. Robin wasn't just the person that triggered dazed smiles and drew out Regina's genuine self. Robin was Regina's true love.
"Swan? Is that you?" Emma recognised the familiar accented voice emerging from behind her.
"I see your boyfriend is here to escort you home," Regina stated as she stepped into the foyer, ""And he has impeccable timing."
For the second night in a row, Emma was left standing on the wrong side of Regina's locked door.
Hook reached Emma's side early enough to detect her frustration and disappointment. He slung his arm around her shoulders. "At least she didn't slam it love," he said supportively.
A/N: Thank-you everyone for your wonderful comments. I really enjoy reading all the different opinions about the characters.