The way I love you

9| OutlawQueen (Part 2)

"I know…", Snow said. "The dwarves searched through all the mines and the merry men took over the forest. Both negative. Regina isn't there or well hidden.", she summed up, having a closer look at the map of Storybrooke until something caught her eye. 

"Wait.", she said, pointing to an empty spot on the card. "Isn't this farmhouse missing?", Snow asked. 

*****

-Basement of Zelena's Farmhouse-

Regina just woke up from a nap she had, something she had more and more often since the energy left her body rapidly. The view of the poisoned food and water in front of her made her sick every time she was looking at it. She wasn't even sure anymore if the plate was actually standing in front of her or if it was just a hallucination her head made up because of the lack of hydration. It was hard for her to keep her eyes open and from time to time she fell unconscious since most of her energy was already used up, especially because being pregnant. 

Slowly her hand brushed over the small curve that was clearly visible in the tight dress. It was the first time for her to do that, since she was afraid to get too attached in case of losing him. 

"I am sorry.", she whispered, barely audible, before closing her eyes again, giving up the fight of staying awake. 

"Regina??", a loud voice said, which she heard but the former Evil Queen was too tired to open up her eyes again. 

"Regina!", Snow's shocked voice said again, when she pressed her hand to her mouth out of shock. Her stepmother was laying on the bare floor, her body slightly shivering from the cold. The meal was untouched in front of her. How many times had the Mayor tried to throw it out of her cage to get rid of the temptation but every time she did so, the plate appeared untouched in front of her again. 

Emma tried to lift the spell from the cage, which wasn't that easy, but she did it eventually. David and Killian picked Regina up, carrying her outside of the basement before everyone drove off straight away to the hospital. They took the Queen in, letting her family wait to check her out. 

"Gold is going to pay for this.", Snow said in rage, totally unlike her. 

"We don't even know if it was him for sure. We don't have any evidence.", Emma said. "Choking Robin might be a hint but surely no proof of him locking Regina up."

"It was him.", a female voice said, making all of their heads swirl. "It was Rumple.", Belle said, looking down at the ground. "I didn't want to believe it but… I talked to him and he hasn't changed. Not one bit. He was lying straight into my face…but this time it's finally over.", she said. 

"What do you mean?", Snow asked, frowning when she saw that tears built up in Belle's eyes. 

"I asked Blue for help. In case he would do exactly what he did. Lying to me… again. She locked him in here.", she said, showing them the pandora's box. "He cannot escape unless someone lets him out.", she finished. 

Snow's mouth stood wide open because she felt sorrow for her friend. Yes, Rumpel wasn't the greatest after all but she knew how hard it must have been for Belle to know that she will hopefully never see her former husband again. 

"Thank you.", she said with honesty and recognition, before giving her a hug. 

"Emma…", David said, turning to his daughter. "I think we should get Robin and Roland."

"Yeah…"

*****

-Regina's hospital room-