Chapter 1: I've Never Had A Choice

"Why won't you join us tomorrow?" Emma asked as she put away the last of the dishes in Regina's kitchen. She pulled the towel off her shoulder, and wiped down around the sink. It didn't appear as if a three-course meal had been prepared and served in that kitchen. It was spotless. Of course Henry had helped with the clean-up, but he had excused himself to meet Violet and their friends at the movies. Emma continued speaking, not looking at Regina, who sat at the island behind her, sipping the last of her wine from dinner.

"I mean, you never do. It's really not that bad, and I know Neal misses seeing you."

"He does? And he's confessed this to you, between his teething, gurgling and baby burps?" Regina sat back and crossed her legs, amused.

Emma finished cleaning, neatly hung the rag on the edge of the sink, and turned to face Regina. She leaned forward on the island. "Yes, as a matter of fact, he has. I'm kind of a baby whisperer. My kid brother and I have a unique bond. We understand each other completely."

"Well, tell him that I miss him and I'll see him as soon as I can." She glanced down at her blouse, and flicked at something that may or may not have been there. "What is it with the Charming's progeny and me? I can't seem to get rid of you." She winked at Emma.

"I don't know but it seems the feelings are mutual. I'm starting to think you can't resist the Charming…" She paused, looking around her for the right word. She gave up and shrugged. "Our charm."

"The Charming charm? So eloquent, dear."

Emma laughed, walking around the island, and sitting next to Regina. "Whatever. I think it's true, and you haven't denied it."

Regina uncrossed her legs, sat a little straighter, and sipped her wine. "Maybe I'll stop by tomorrow afternoon. It's been weeks since I suffered through a mindless visit with your parents."

"Funny, but yes, they'd like that."

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, before Emma spoke again.

"You really don't like him. Do you?"

"Who?"

"You know who."

Regina sighed. She ran a finger along the edge of the wine glass as she spoke. "No, I don't. There's not much to like, and we have history."

Emma leaned forward, trying to meet Regina's eyes. "I know you have history, but you have history with everyone here. Why can't you forgive him?"

She met Emma's eyes, and tried to smile. Because he's with you, Emma. "I have my reasons. Besides, you don't need my approval to be with him. Just let it be."

Emma was not about to "let it be," and Regina knew better. "It makes things really hard, and when we do anything together – all of us – it's so awkward."

"Well I am sorry for that," Regina lied. She could care less, and liked making the pirate as uncomfortable as possible.

Emma turned in her seat, and lightly squeezed Regina's arm as she spoke. "Regina, I'm just asking you to try. For me."

She glanced down at long, thin fingers wrapped around her arm, and remembered a time not so long ago when Emma's touch had awoken her magic. She could still feel the magic between them, and when they touched, it became even more tangible. "Emma, you know I'd do just about anything for you, but this…I can't."

She loosened her grip, and let her hand fall to her lap with a sigh.

Again, they were quiet. It was Regina's turn to break the silence with a question.

"Emma, answer me this – do you really love him?"

"I do. At least, I think I do. I'm supposed to, right? I mean he's always there. He's been pursuing me, waiting. It's not like I have any other choices, or as if I ever had a choice to make."

"What are you talking about? Of course, you have a choice."

Emma slid off her stool, and began to pace around the kitchen. "No, I don't. My life has always been decided for me. Every step I made was predestined, decided by fate, or a curse, or Rumple, or my parents." She paused, looking at Regina for any sign of opposition or confirmation. Receiving neither, she continued.

"Minutes after being born, I was thrown into a tree with Pinocchio, and landed in Maine. I bounced around from foster home to foster home. I befriended Lily, Maleficent's daughter who absorbed all of my darkness as a baby thanks to my parents. I fell in love with Neal, Rumple's son, had Henry, who you adopted, who 10 years later, finds me and brings me back to Storybrooke because I'm the savior and the one who breaks the curse."

She was out of breath by the time she finished. Regina had only been able to listen and watch wide-eyed. She realized that Emma's quick synopsis had been mostly, and sadly, true.

"Honestly Regina, where in any of that do you see any choices for me?"

She sat back down with a loud thud. She was breathing heavy, clenching her fists on the cool granite.

Regina's response was barely a whisper. "I'm so sorry Emma."

Emma took a deep breath, and tried to steady herself.

"Regina, I don't want your apology. I'm not blaming you. You've been manipulated as much as I've been. But don't you see - why shouldn't I be with Hook? It makes as much sense as anything else."

"But what if there was someone else? Someone else waiting for their chance with you?" She tried to sound hopeful. She sensed an opening, a possibility for her, but needed to know more.

Emma scoffed at Regina's question. "Someone else? Someone already here? Well then, I hope they find me soon."

Emma looked as if she was about to continue speaking, but she hesitated. Regina watched as she shook her head slightly, long blonde curls shifting against her shoulders. "I should go. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to vent like that."

"It's all right, Emma. You don't have to leave. We're friends." Regina reached out and squeezed Emma's hand reassuringly.

Emma stared down at their hands and smiled weakly. "Friends? Right, of course. We're friends." She let go of Regina, and scrubbed at her face, trying to rub away the last few minutes. She eventually gave up and sighed.

"I'm still gonna go. Thanks again for dinner."

Regina watched as Emma made her way out to the foyer, slowly put her boots on, gathered her jacket and keys, and quietly opened and shut the door behind her.

Minutes went by and Regina remained in her kitchen, feeling lost. She whispered only to the dark, "But what if that someone else was me?"