Authors notes:
This is the first thing I have ever written that contained more than 650 words. The entire fiction is complete and I will upload it all at once. I did have a beta but, as you know, mistakes can slip in. Please let me know if you spot any and I will update the chapters for future readers.
Chapter notes:
The Story starts right when Regina leaves the welcome back party in 2:10 (The cricket game). It becomes canon divergence from there although I did use some inspiration from the rest of the episodes. In my version Cora and Hook never show up from the enchanted forest so I guess that's the only part of the previous episode I left out. I just wanted to write some humor since it is the one thing I have been missing from the show. Let me know what you think.
I don't own anything of OUAT. But you already knew it.
Chapter 1:
The big announcement
The diner was as lively as it was before Regina left. Emma saw the empty bowl that once housed the Queens lasagna and wondered if anyone would return it to her, or if Granny was just going to add it to some collection she hides under the counter.
'What was I thinking?' Emma thought to herself. She thought it would be a good idea to invite Regina, and was pleasantly surprised when she actually showed up. Even though she would never admit it. As Emma contemplated silently in her regular booth, Mary-Margaret decided to block her view of the now empty dish.
The pixie haired woman was all smiles and stood with her hands clasped in front of her. She looked liked she was about to faint in adoration of the blond. Emma was still coming to terms with living in a town full of fairytale characters and the idea that Snow white was her mother was last on the list for her subconscious to accept. So instead she just gave her a half smile and succumbed to the awkward silence.
"Do you want to talk about what happened in the enchanted forest? I mean it was quite the adventure we had there huh?" the teacher said as she decided to slide into the booth across from Emma.
"It was... it was quite the experience." Emma said half heartedly, not wanting to hurt the feelings of the other woman.
"You know, since the curse is broken, perhaps I could give you some archery lessons. You are going to need it when we go back."
Emma choked on her own oxygen and felt the blood leaving her veins. "Whoa whoa there. Go back?" She finally choked out in utter surprise. "With the ogres and the chimera?" Emma saw an emotion on Mary-Margaret's face that she could only interpreted as disappointed surprise. "Just give me some time to get used to... everything first. Okay?" She decided to add as to not completely destroy the woman sitting in front of her.
The teacher quickly lightened up as if she never felt betrayed at all. Emma was surprised at how quickly she could switch her emotions and doubted for a second that they could ever be related. "Alright." Mary-Margaret said as she gave Emma the widest smile she could muster. "I am going to find Charming. We will talk more later." She said more as a question rather than a statement and Emma just gave her a simple nod in return.
'Charming.' Emma thought to herself and was quickly reminded again of her bloodline, which stirred up another round of contemplation.
But her thoughts were quickly interrupted by a clinking noise and she looked up to see Sean, or rather Prince Thomas, standing by the counter, hitting his glass with a spoon. " Can I have everyone's attention for just a moment." He said loudly to the gathering in the diner. Everyone stopped what they were doing and the music died down. All focus was on him. "A lot has happened to the people of this town. But gratefully the savior was able to release us from the Evil Queens curse, and reunite us with our loved ones." He said smiling and everyone cheered in agreement. Emma forced as much of a smile as she could, while everyone stared at her in applause. "But as I said." He continued. "A lot has happened and we, my wife and I," nodding to Ashley standing by his side, "Thought that this town deserved something more." Silence fell as they all awaited his suggestion. "We might be reunited with our loved ones, but this world is different. So Ella and I have decided to hold another wedding. To make our nuptials legal in this realm to."
Cheers along with chatter erupted in the diner. Sean was right. Their marriages weren't technically legal and they inspired some in depth conversation among the fairytale patrons. Emma, still sitting silently in her booth, overheard some 'creative' phrases including "evil bitch" and "queenie" coming from all over the room. She also overheard congratulations going around towards the "soon to be re-wed" couple and she is almost certain she heard Mary-Margaret suggesting to bake the cake. She decided that this was getting too much for her and that she had enough of dwarves and princesses for the night. She made her way to the door but was stopped by the pixie haired woman.
"Are you leaving?" the teacher asked. She almost looked like a sad puppy that was denied the last bite of pizza. Emma just smiled as much as she could.
"Yes. Just need to clear my head."
"Oh that's fine. You go, we will bring Henry home." Mary-Margaret said as Emma nodded and left the diner to take her long deserved walk in the quiet little town.
The next morning Emma was awakened by the extremely loud giggling of women coming from downstairs of the cramped apartment. She ruffled her hair, sighed and got up reluctantly, not even bothering to check her appearance. When she reached the top of the stairs she looked upon the scene unfolding in the makeshift living room. Ruby, Ashley and Mary-Margaret were surrounded by what looked like wedding magazines, scraps of fabric all arranged by color and even a large sample size of what looked like cupcakes. Ruby had stuffed two of the cupcakes in her mouth which Emma assumed was the cause of her rude awakening.
"Emma!" Mary-Margaret exclaimed as she noticed the blond standing at the top of the staircase in nothing but blue silk boxers and a tight fitting white tank top.
"Morning." Emma yawned out, looking nothing like a princess.
"Come join us. We are planning Cinderella's wedding." Ruby mumbled through the cupcakes she was still trying to consume.
"It's this weekend." Mary-Margaret added.
"Oh... em." Was all Emma could get out. 'This weekend?' she thought to herself and just stood in awkward silence before stating that she had to get to the station and go see if David was coping. She quickly ducked back into her room and got ready as fast as she could before practically running out of the apartment. The last thing she needed was to be absorbed by wedding obsessed princesses. And a wolf, she reminded herself.
Emma had decided to rather walk to the station. It was close enough and she needed the fresh air. All around her people were walking by and greeted her with smiles. She considered that walking might not have been the best idea and just waved back at them before putting her hand back in her pocket. She was distracted by yet another admirer, and didn't look where she was walking when she was suddenly knocked back in her step.
Emma took a second to compose herself and saw non-other than Regina standing in front of her. Her white blouse stained with coffee.
"Oh you are definitely related." The brunette said sarcastically.
Emma didn't know what to do. So she grabbed the napkin that Regina was holding and started wiping down the coffee soaked mayor. "I'm so sorry." she said as she tried her best to dry up the stain.
"That's enough Miss Swan!" Regina exclaimed and considered for a brief moment to ring the blonde's neck. Luckily Emma stopped and continued to apologize.
"I'm really sorry, I wasn't looking." Emma said hoping that the scorn on Regina's face would go away.
"A trait that runs in your family it seems." Regina added and Emma had to look down at the pavement. Regina couldn't help but realize just how much Emma looked like Henry in that moment. He would always have the same look when he did something wrong and she called him out on it. The thought of Henry immediately changed the demeanor of the queen. "How is Henry?" Regina asked. A look of longing replacing the previous glare she had on her face.
Emma was shocked by the sudden change in topic as she was half expecting her head to be a new road side attraction. "He... he's good." She stuttered out.
Regina couldn't help but smile briefly at the news and Emma noticed it. She remembered how Regina had left the previous night and the thought made Emma feel guilty. "You know..." Emma started and rearranged her thoughts to quickly think through the idea that was forming in her head. "If Henry wants... Maybe he could come visit you some time?" Emma finally said, thinking that was the best way to structure her idea.
Regina's eyes lit up and a sincere smile spread across her face at the prospect. "Really?" She asked.
"If he wants to." Emma added to make sure Regina understood that this was all up to him. The brunette suddenly lowered her head, questioning if Henry would want anything to do with her. Emma noticed the change in her demeanor. "I'll talk to him and let you know?" she asked hoping that the other woman would trust her to do it. She simply nodded and then brushed passed Emma not saying another word. Regina would never admit it but Emma could see tears forming in the queens eyes and forgave her for not even saying goodbye.
It was later that evening during dinner when Emma thought of bringing up the conversation she had with Regina. They were all sitting in the lounge as the apartment didn't have sufficient space for a proper dining room. Henry was done spilling out his day, much to the joy of his grandparents, and Emma thought it would be best to catch them all in a good mood. "Henry, ever miss your old room at Regina's?" Emma thought this was a generic enough conversation starter and would give her a chance to gauge the severity of the topic.
"Yeah." was all Henry managed to say. Emma realized, that much like herself, Henry wasn't one for many words when it came to sensitive topics.
"You know..." Emma started in the same way as she did when she relayed the idea to Regina. "If you ever want to, you could go visit the mansion." Everyone in the lounge looked at Emma in surprise. "If you want to." she quickly added.
"He will go no where near that woman." Mary-Margaret stated, matter-of-factly. "Unless you have forgotten, she nearly killed him."
"That wasn't meant for him, it was meant for me." Emma argued.
"Exactly. She can't be trusted." the teacher said, waving her fork pointedly at the blond.
Emma looked at Henry who went very quiet all of a sudden and she could see the sadness brewing in his demeanor.
"She's still my mom." he finally said. Emma thought back to her life in the foster homes and remembered how she yearned for a family. She would have given anything, said anything to have a home. The thought had crossed her mind if she would have called her adoptive parents mom and dad if she should have been so lucky to be adopted. This is why his words didn't shock Emma at all but Mary-Margaret was another story.
"Emma is your mom. That woman destroyed our family once before and I wont let her do that again."
"I don't think the kid visiting her would destroy our family." David said much to the surprise of both Emma and his wife. He didn't look at them, just continued to stab at the food in his plate, but he was sure that they were both staring at him.
"Who's side are you on?" Mary-Margaret asked him with a scorn waiting on her face if he should dare to look up from his plate.
But he didn't. He just continued to chew his food and then after another brief moment added, "Henry's." A playful smile crossed his face, knowing that he would pay for it later when Henry and Emma weren't there to see just how much wrath Mary-Margaret held.
"So what do you say kid?" Emma asked Henry, pretending not to notice the shocked expression still lingering on the teachers face.
"I'd like to visit her sometime." Henry said with a pleading smile.
"I'll arrange it." Emma said and then ruffled his hair.
The next day Emma was sitting at the station waiting for another call to come in about a missing cat, or one of the royals complaining about their neighbors T.V. being too loud. David had made himself right at home in the sheriff station and was throwing a paper airplane around the room. Emma didn't exactly know what his title was but it seemed no one cared and referred to them both as sheriff. As he threw his make shift boredom creation around the room once more he noticed Emma staring at him.
"What are you thinking about so deeply? Is a certain mayor occupying that head of yours?" He asked playfully and got a smile from his daughter which made him feel like he won the lottery.
"No, although safe bet. I was thinking of what exactly your title was now that we are both working here."
"To be honest, I don't know either." He sighed, grateful for the conversation and not really caring what people called him. "But speaking of the mayor, have you called her yet to let her know?"
Emma just sighed and raised an eyebrow at him and that was all he needed to know that she hadn't.
"Why not?" He couldn't understand why the call would be so hard to make. He knew that Emma had run the idea by the mayor and given that Henry agreed, this should be easy.
"What if Henry changes his mind?" Emma finally said. She didn't realize just how much she was fearing it until she actually said it. She could just imagine getting Regina excited about the prospect and then having to make another call to say it is not happening. She could see the inscription on her future tomb: 'Here lay Emma Swan... She pissed off the Evil Queen for the last time'.
"And what if he does?" David interrupted her train of thought. "At least she will know that Henry was willing to go. I think at this point she needs that." He seemed to actually understand. Emma was completely surprised by how David was acting. He wasn't treating Regina like the 'Evil Queen' and he even had the guts to go up against his wife the previous night.
David caught on to the question in Emma's mind without her even saying anything.
"When you and your mother were gone, I saw a different side to Regina. She really wants to try to be good for Henry and I believe she deserves a chance." He answered her unspoken question.
Emma wasn't sure how she felt about him saying 'mother' but she quickly realized that there was more to the story than him simply seeing Regina's softer side. "And?"
"It made me think of my brother."
"You have a brother?" Emma was genuinely surprised.
"Yes, a twin brother. He passed away though so don't expect any gifts from your uncle James." He said with a smile on his face although Emma could see that there was a certain sadness that brewed in his joke.
"Why did Regina make you think of him?" There was a silence that briefly hung in the air before he answered.
"We were separated when we were barely teething. I never knew him, but he wasn't a good person. He was vile and had a reputation that followed him. A part of me wondered, that if it was me instead of him, if I would have turned out the bad person instead."
Emma contemplated his statement. "Evil isn't born it's made. Is that what you are saying?" Emma asked as she understood where he was going with this.
He smiled but didn't look at Emma. The silence said everything that needed to be said and she was surprised by just how easy it was for the two of them to communicate. Emma sat up at her desk and gave a deep sigh. "I guess I have a call to make."
Emma had a smile on her face as she put the phone down. She had told Regina and she was sure that the mayor was doing a prim and proper version of a victory dance. They had both agreed to let Henry go to the mansion the Friday and Emma would pick him up again the Saturday before the wedding.
Later that evening Henry actually did do a victory dance, when Emma gave him the news. "You are letting me sleep over?" He said out of breath.
"Yeah why not?"
"I'll tell you why not." Mary-Margaret chimed in and the mood suddenly went sour. "She's the Evil Queen. Have you forgotten what she did to you Emma? She took you away from us." The teacher pleaded with tears forming in her eyes.
"Technically you gave me away." Emma said softly and more to herself but that didn't mean Mary-Margaret didn't hear it.
"Because of her!" She exclaimed and then left to go sulk in her room, not wanting to argue further.
"I'll talk to her." David sighed and Emma gave him a nod in agreement.
David must have given Mary-Margaret some speech because the next morning the teacher was back to her chipper self. She even made breakfast. The smell of pancakes filled the entire apartment. Emma and Henry nearly floated towards the kitchen when they woke up and felt their stomachs growl. "This seems nice." Emma said as she saw the heap of pancakes covered in syrup.
"I felt bad about how I acted last night. I hope you can understand why."
Emma could see the sincerity in the woman's eyes and gave her arm a gentle pat. "Of course I do. All I am asking is that we all give Regina a chance."
"But we did give her a chance before and she tried to kill me." Mary-Margaret said softly as if to make Emma understand that she wasn't saying it because she wanted to argue.
"But she didn't ask for that chance. People will only take a second chance if they want it. In her eyes accepting the chance you gave her meant that she was admitting, to you, that she was weak. She saw it as loosing to you and you can't fault Regina of not wanting to loose to you. I mean you know her better than that. This time is different. She is the one asking for a second chance and I believe in her." Emma gave a sigh almost as if saying that many words in one day were to much for her, but she had to try and make Mary-Margaret understand.
The teacher stood in silence for a moment, digesting the things that Emma had said. A sudden smile erupted on her face. "Okay. I might not like it, but I will let you do your thing." She said to Emma. Henry stopped mid chew and mumbled something inaudible to himself. The teacher's demeanor suddenly changed as she added, "Just leave me out of your plan. There is too much history there."
Emma nodded and took a second helping of pancakes, earning her a smile from her former room-mate.