Emma Swan drove down the Boston streets. The light changed from red to green and she pushed down the gas pedal and sped through the light. "Come on kid, we have to get you home." The small boy in the passenger seat didn't hear her or didn't want to look at her and continued reading his book. They drove in silence until they reached the Storybrooke, Maine. She was surprised that it was an actual town. It was tiny, just about 12 streets a library, a grocery store, it even had its own hospital.
"Just park here" Henry said and when she parked he hopped out of the car. A man with a dalmatian and umbrella walked up "Henry! Is everything all right? Who is this?" he said with a look at Emma. "I'm just giving him I ride home.
Come on Henry, we really need to get you home." She nodded at the person who according to Henry was Dr. Hopper and walked down the road with Henry close behind. "So where is your house, kid?" she asked as she crossed the street. "Just turn right here. The mayors house." Henry looked sullen and dejected. Overhead a street light buzzed and flickered casting small amounts of shadow over their faces. "Wait your moms the mayor?"
The approached a large house painted a creamy white, with soft yellow trim. Large windows decorated the front and the porch light was a beacon in the dark night. The door opened and a woman came rushing out. Her heels clacked against the wooden porch as she ran towards Henry. When she saw Emma she froze, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. "Emma." It came out as a statement more than a question. "Regina. What are you doing here?" Emma stopped short. "I live here" she said still staring at Emma. "You're his mother? You're the mayor?" "Yes," she said.
The door opened a second time and a man wearing a leather jacket with a sheriff badge and a gun holster walked out of the house. "Regina has he come home?" he asked stopping when he saw Emma. "Yes, Graham" she was hugging Henry but her eyes were trained on Emma who stood awkwardly to the side. "Who is this?" Graham asked looking at Emma. "This is Emma Swan my ex-wife. Emma this is Sheriff Graham."
Everyone except Regina and Emma took a step back in surprise. "You-you mean that you where married to my mom?" Henry wiggled out of his moms embrace.
Regina pursed her lips but that was answer enough. "I'll go" Graham said and walked out the gate. Emma watched as it swung shut behind him. "Henry, go back to your room. We'll discuss your punishment later." Henry scampered up the steps into the house. Now it was just Regina and her. They stood awkwardly in front of each other. "Would you like to come inside?" Emma nodded and together they walked back inside.
The inside of the house was just as grand as the outside. With a shining marble foyer, and large glass windows to let light in. In the living room sat two plump chairs and an even plumper couch. A fire place sat in the left side of the room but it wasn't lit. Regina walked over to a table and poured herself and Emma a glass of wine. "Why did you come here?" she sat down on one of the chairs nearest to the fireplace and handed Emma her glass of wine.
"I just came to bring back Henry" Emma sat down on the other chair and took a sip "what did you want me to do? Leave him there?" Regina didn't say anything but Emma saw her jaw clench and indication that she was annoyed. "I hope you're not planning to stay here."
"I never said I was." Regina glared at her "but it was implied" was all she said. "No it wasn't" now Emma was getting annoyed. She knew that Regina was mad at her but she didn't really have to argue with her. She never, ever said that she was planning to stay here.
All she wanted to do was go back to Boston and try to forget all about Regina and Henry. "Yes it was!" Regina said. Emma stood up (after setting her wine glass down) "It never was. I only came here because Henry showed up on my front door claiming he was my kid! I couldn't just leave him there!"
Now Regina was mad too. "Listen to me closely Ms. Swan Henry is not your son." she snarled as she stepped closer, invading Emma's personal space. Emma stepped back "No you listen to me Madame Mayor. I will do anything I damn well please because he is my son. Not legally but still flesh and blood. I'm not sure you would understand. Not having any yourself. Family." Regina took a step back as if Emma had slapped her.
Emma stalked out of the room and out into the cold night. She hugged her jacket to herself in an effort to keep warm. She walked back to her car and hopped in cursing the broken heater in her car. She drove down the street taking deep breaths to calm herself.
She parked next to a high hedge that barley showed the top of what was supposed to be a bed and breakfast. She was looking for an entrance and finally spotted one in the far corner of the hedge. She squeezed through it, sticks and leaves grabbed at her coat and hair. She approached a small brick building with small windows but a cheery and welcoming aura to it. She walked in and a bell rang a high tinkling sound.
Two voices came down the stairs obviously arguing. "Why do you have to go out every night?" said one voice sounding older possibly a mom or even a grandmother. "Why do you have to be so possessive!" said the other obviously a teen "I should have gone to Boston when I had the change!"
"Well I'm sorry that my heart attack interfered with your plans to sneak up the eastern coast." The pair stomped down the stairs. Stopping when they saw Emma. "Oh hello" said the older woman with a wrinkled kind face. "Would you like a room?" she said bustling over to the desk. "Yes please" Emma was tired and a headache was starting to form in the back of her head. "A forest or town view" she asked righting in a book on her desk. "Town please."
"Here's your key. Breakfast is at ten" she handed Emma an old fashioned skeleton key. "Thank you." Emma said and walked up to her room. It was small and cozy with flowered wallpaper. She took off her biker boots and red jacket and just fell on the bed.
For awhile she couldn't sleep. Memories ran through her head of her and Regina. She remembered when she first met her. It had been a cold winter day and Emma had stopped in a coffee shop- that she had long forgotten the name of- to get a cup of coffee. She had just ordered when an asshole came and knocked her hand spilling to coffee onto her fleece. "Fuuuckkk" she moaned as she quickly grabbed a napkin from the stack and rubbed at her fleece.
"I would dab if I were you" Emma turned to find out who the voice was. Their was a woman standing over her with a wad of napkins in her hands. "Oh thanks" she said taking a few of the napkins out of her hand. "I saw that man knock your arm. People are so rude here." Emma smiled at that as she continued dabbing at her fleece. "I'm Regina by the way" she said putting out her hand. "Emma" she said shaking Regina's hand, it was warm and smooth with a firm grip.
Regina was tall with short brunette hair. She was young, probably a little older than Emma, and her eyes were a chocolately brown, that Emma would love to melt in with a heavy ring of mascara around her eyes. Despite her young look she wore a business suit and had an aura of power around her. "Thank you for the napkins" Emma said as she sat down to drink the rest of her coffee. To her surprise and delight Regina sat down across from her.
"Do you come here often?" Regina asked taking a sip of her black coffee. "Sometimes. It's the closest one to my house so on good days I can walk" Regina looked outside as the rain poured down the side of the building. "I'm guessing this is not a good day." Emma laughed and shook her head. The pair sat and talked for awhile until Regina had to go. "Do you want me to give you a ride?" Emma said throwing away her cup and grabbing her keys of the table.
"No it's fine. I should get going any way. I live on the other side of town." Emma looked at her and then looked back at the window, were rain was still streaking down the side of the window and then back to Regina. "Seriously I'll be fine" Emma shrugged and with one last questioning look back at Regina, she walked out of the coffee shop.
As soon as Emma got back in her car she immediately regretted not insisting to give Regina a ride. She turned the car around wheeled the other way. Just by chance she happened to spot Regina walking along the sidewalk. Her head was tucked into the collar of her jacket as an effort to keep out the rain.
"Hey are you sure you don't a ride" Emma called out from the window of her car. Regina looked around like Emma had done in the coffee shop. She spotted Emma in her car and rushed over. She shook her hair, rain being shook out from every direction. Emma opened the passenger side and Regina climbed in.
Her stilettos punctuated little holes in the carpet and she looked to fancy for this car. Even though she was trying to hide it, Emma could see she was shaking. She reached into the back seat where she kept spare blankets and grabbed one. "Here. Sorry this car doesn't have a heater. Oh and don't worry they're clean." Regina gratefully took the blanket and wrapped herself in it.
Gradually her shaking began to slow and then stop. They drove along the main rode for a couple of minutes and then-on Regina's cue-turned down the corner. "Stop here." Emma parked the car in one of the available parking spot. "Thank you for the ride, Emma." Regina said getting out of the car. Emma got out to and walked around to the other side. Regina smiled at her and took a pen out of her purse.
She quickly scrawled a series of numbers on Emma's arm. "If you want to call me this is my number." She took one last look at Emma and walked back into her apartment.
Emma sighed and got under the covers pulling them up to her chin. It had been a long day and sleep was finally coming. She sighed and curled up in a ball and slowly drifted off to sleep.