Truth in Unkind Words
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the show Once Upon a Time and I do not profit from writing or publishing this piece of fiction.
Pairing: Regina centric.
Genre: Angst.
Rating: K+
Spoilers: "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" (1x07)
Summary: Regina learns that there is truth in unkind words sometimes.
Author's Note: A small drabble written in response to the most recent episode.
The quarrel between her, Graham, and Emma had taken place at her father's tomb one chilly Wednesday night.
While the memory of that night wasn't one that Regina called upon fondly it was one that affected her deeply and because of that she couldn't disregard it. Seeing Emma with Graham in the cemetery that night and knowing that they were bonding despite her every attempt to drive them apart had conjured up horrible feelings in the mayor, feelings that she had tried desperately to tamper out with blind hatred but had proved too strong to her to ignore. At the time she hadn't known which pain hurt more: Graham's rejection or Emma speaking the truth.
Poster child for abandonment issues, Regina had clutched everyone she deemed worthy of her time so closely to her in the hope that they wouldn't leave. However, she realized that the tight leash only made them want to run more. Graham was an eternal symbol of permanence, someone who would never leave her no matter how awful she was; no matter how much better off he would be without her and when she felt that stability slipping from her fingertips she felt herself falling apart.
Emma's admission had been another attack, one that the mayor could not shake off. Henry had gone searching for his birth mother and had brought Emma to Storybrooke hoping to save the town and Graham had realized that with her he couldn't feel anything but with Emma he actually felt something and while he may not have been certain what that something was he was certain it was better than feeling nothing. It had pained Regina that she could not refute his point and if Regina believed that she had a heart then it was that night she felt it shatter.
But then again, she had thought as hurt and rage ate away at her, if she didn't have a heart she didn't have anything to lose.
It wasn't the most comforting thought but it had been enough.