" Emma ... "

Someone was calling her name, and just like every other night this past month, Emma has been awaken by this marvelous sound. It was almost the middle of the night, but she couldn't sleep anymore. She didn't know the owner of the voice, at least she thought she didn't, but the way this woman was saying her name, made her body more alive than it has ever been. There was so much fear in the way she pronounced her name that it made Emma wanting to reassure her, to tell her that everything would be alright soon enough, and at the same time, this voice was soothing her, there was so much love in those two syllables it was overwhelming. The Blond was addicted to that sound.

It was like this voice could be in terrible pain, and would keep being strong, she felt like this voice could love stronger than most people do, she felt like this voice might be hard to reach, but was worth it. She felt like this voice was worth everything. And she knew that having such strong feelings, just for a voice was stupid, non logical, but she couldn't control it, every night, her feelings were only growing. She finally understood, what speaking to someone really meant.

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The first night she heard this voice calling her, she got scared, and when she woke up, she checked everywhere in her apartment, being careful not to wake up her son, she looked through the window, even opened her front door to check the corridor, to see if someone needed help, if someone was actually calling her, but no one was here, everything was quiet and peaceful. And somehow, Emma was relieved, her son was safe, no one was in danger, but she couldn't stop to feel disappointed too, after hearing the voice, she really wanted to know whom voice it was, she needed to know .. She went back to her bed without any clue, she couldn't sleep though, her mind couldn't help to replay over and over what she had heard in her dream, and it made her heart ponder in her chest. Eventually, it was dawn, and the chill the voice had given her hadn't fluttered at all.

The following night, the same voice came back to hunt Emma's sleep, and this time, she wasn't jerked awake, neither she got scared, she just opened her eyes, and tried to remember if she has ever heard this voice before, it felt too real for it to have never happened before. She felt like this memory was more than just a random voice in her head, but at the same time, if it was, why couldn't she remember anything about it ? Not knowing made her upset with herself, what was happening to her? Maybe she was getting crazy, maybe it was a disease or something ... " Oh Fuck .." Was the only response Emma could give to this thoughts. She couldn't be sick, Henry needed her, and most of all, he needed a sane mum .

Henry was the most important thing for her, he was reason why they were living in the Big Apple, she wanted to live him what she never had, a home, a family he could count on whenever he needed it, she knew how important it is in someone's life, and the idea of Henry being alone was her worst nightmare, she couldn't give up on him, that's why she never told him about the voice, it would maybe seem scary, she didn't want him to see her like a psycho, so she kept that to herself for a while, trying to figure out what to do.

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Time flew by, and thanks to the over rationalisation she made during the next three weeks, she had now convinced herself that this voice was nothing more than a sweat dream, or her conscience telling her she needed to find a girlfriend, she couldn't choose. Anyway, she had managed to live with it, she was exhausted due to sleep deprivation, and her mind was now often wandering about the voice, replaying it in the back of her head, she had stopped fighting the feelings the voice was given her, and just let it sink in, she was accustomed to it by now, she was just keeping it inside, she was hoping that at some point the voice would just be silent.

This morning, she did everything as usual, she took a shower, made breakfast and woke up Henry, she didn't know then that this day would not be a usual one. Henry and her had barely finished eating breakfast that someone banged at the door. Emma stood up, quite puzzled, not expecting anyone, she looked at her son, clueless, just like her.

" Just wash your plate Kid, i'll be right back."

The Blond went to open the door, in her white tank top and a tight Jeans, she didn't expect to be face-to-face with a brunette, just a bit shorter than she was, dressed in a silk black dress, fitting her perfectly, with a white on her shoulders . When the Brunette saw Emma, her eyes lighten up, and she couldn't restrain the smile on her lips.

"Can i help you , Miss ... ?

- Mills. My Name is Regina Mills, indeed, you can help me, Emma ..."

Emma couldn't help it, she gasped, almost chocking in front of this beautiful stranger. It didn't strike her at first, but when the woman said Emma, no doubts were allowed, she was the one Emma has been hearing calling her name every night for a month now. For a few seconds, Emma was completely incapable of answering anything, she was barely breathing, and had been utterly taken of guard. She didn't even notice that the woman knew her name, which wasn't supposed to be, they were supposed to be strangers, none of that mattered to her, only the brunette's voice does. She finally got back her own voice, and tried to answer something, steadying her voice as much as possible.

"So, what can i do for you Miss Mills ? "

The brunette noticed the way she was affecting Emma, the way she was shocked to see her, she seemed really taken aback, and for once, Regina would have rather hope that Emma had just been happy to see her, or at least, that she didn't act so chocked, but she knew Emma has lost all the memories she had about the year she was in storybrooke, and she knows perfectly why, she was the one who created all of it, so she holds back her sassy comment about Emma's reaction.

She was happy to see the blond, it felt like she was relieved of a huge burden her heart has been bearing for one year, but she also knew she wasn't supposed to feel that way. Their relationship has changed in Neverland, but they never talked about it, Regina only guessed, and offered her the beautiful life she deserved, letting the hope of a second chance go. The Brunette has been waiting this moment for a whole year, her heart was beating fast since the moment she found out where Emma and Henry lived, but since the blond open the door, the storm inside her heart faded away, she was calm, and she just knew that she would be okay.

But she still had someone else to see, her son, and she wouldn't go until she had a chance to see her little prince, one year without both of them was really too long. She tried to put her mayoral mask on and answered, with her best mayoral tone:

" In fact, it would take some time to explain Miss Swan, so if you would allow me to come in, we could sit down, and talk "

Emma couldn't believe her ears, a storm was ravaging her mind, one of the most beautiful women she has ever seen, with a voice that seems talking directly to her soul, has just barged into her home, and was now asking to come in. The craziest thing of all ? Emma moved away, just enough to let Miss Mills come in, it was now clear she was incapable of resisting that voice. She had to know more, she had to understand, and this woman would give her an explanation, or at least, that's what she was hoping for.

Regina moved by Emma, who closed the door, and they went into the living room, where Henry was. He had put his plate in the sink, and was now seated in the couch, watching some cartoons on TV. This time, it was Regina who lost her words, she had miss Henry more than word could ever express, even if she knew he was happy with Emma, living without him was the most difficult thing she ever had to do. She kept her posture, but everything inside her was melting at the side of her little boy, who she noticed had grown a lot this past year. Emma who was too busy trying to think about what to say to Henry, didn't notice the way Regina was looking at him, and when Henry looked at her with their guest, she was lost, again.

« Henry, This is Miss Mills, we need to talk about something, you know …. A case ! But we can do that, after we walk you to school, right ?»

Emma turned to Regina, looking for approval. The brunette nodded, and a few minutes later, they were in the way to Henry's school.