Just a bit of Swan Queen angst I needed to let out. No established relationship, just tension.
I don't own them.
Emma released the breath she hadn't realised she was holding as the lock finally clicked. She tentatively pulled the handle and was relieved to find that the door opened noiselessly.
"Come on Henry, inside. Quick." She ushered the boy into the house and the two of them crept silently up the stairs and into his bedroom.
"Henry, this is never happening again, okay?" she said in a hushed tone as Henry climbed under the covers. "You can't keep running off, or coming to see me when you're not allowed to. Especially in the middle of the night!" Henry looked as if he would protest so she sat down on the bed and continued her... lecture. Oh god. Am I lecturing Henry? "Look, you know I love you, and I want to see you. That's why I'm here! But you can't keep sneaking out on Regina like this. She's your mother, and –"
"But Emma, you're my mom! She's just the Evil Queen!" Henry was getting worked up again, and Emma leant in even closer.
"I don't care! I don't care who she is or who she has been. You ever stop and think the reason she might be evil is love? Cos I think so. Love hurts, Henry, especially when it leaves you. And every time you run away from her, every time you abandon her for me, you're tearing her apart." She cupped Henry's cheek in her hand and took a deep breath. "Regina loves you, whether you believe it or not, and you're all she has. So I reckon you've got a bit of thinking to do about your behaviour." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Evil doesn't always have to be defeated, yknow. Sometimes it can be saved."
Henry nodded and looked her in the eye. "I'm sorry, Emma."
She knew he was telling the truth, and smiled. "Maybe I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, kid. Now go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. And I'll - I'll try to make it better. I promise," he murmured, and rubbed at his eyes. "Night, Emma."
She sighed and ruffled his hair. It was clear that Henry was upset, and she felt guilty, but she consoled herself with the fact the conversation needed to happen. It was hard enough for Regina, but his behaviour also put extra strain on the relationship between the two women which only made life more miserable for their son. Emma had faith that Henry was mature enough to make amends - unless this fairytale nonsense got in the way. She stood gently and left the room, taking care to turn the doorknob as quietly as possible. After giving Henry a final wave, she clicked the door shut.
"I should have guessed that if someone were to break into my house, it would be you, Sheriff Swan."
It took all of Emma's self control not to jump a mile in the air. Regina was standing merely inches away from her; so close that she could see the unshed tears glistening in the Mayor's eyes. Regina wasn't wearing any makeup and was dressed in black silk pyjamas. It was uncomfortably intimate and subtly threatening. Emma took a deep, shaky breath.
"Madam Mayor, I was only bringing Henry home. You know that."
"No, Miss Swan, that's not true. What any other person would have done was call. You know it wouldn't have mattered if you'd woken me. I'm his mother."
"Look, Regina, I'm sorry," she pleaded. Her heart was still racing from their proximity and the strange expression on Regina's face. It wasn't simply the anger she was expecting. There was something else in that dark, piercing gaze and it made her nervous. "I just thought this way there wouldn't be a confrontation, and I didn't want to disturb you. It was a stupid idea."
"Correct. However, I suppose I must thank you for at least bringing him home to me." Regina turned abruptly and walked down the stairs, her hand gliding over the rail as she silently stepped. Emma followed her without hesitation.
"This isn't gonna happen again. I promise." They came to a halt in the doorway. "I told Henry that –"
"That the running away has to end. Yes. I heard." Emma winced and nodded, only now realising that Regina had presumably been witness to their whole conversation.
"Right. Well, I'd better be heading back..." Emma reached towards the doorhandle but was stopped as Regina grabbed her arm. She looked at the other woman and bit her lip. Regina's face was hard to read, even with Emma's skill in the area. Mixed with the anger, there seemed to be hurt and distress, but... she seemed almost deflated. Like all the fight had gone out of her.
"You think I'm bitter, Miss Swan" she accused with a tight voice, "over love."
Emma swallowed. "No, Regina, I just... I think you're hurt." She looked down at her feet; for once, Emma Swan lacked the spine to face Regina Mills. Even as she avoided her gaze, she could still feel the Mayor's eyes burning into her. The air was thick with tension and she couldn't decide if she wanted to pull Regina into her arms or run away as fast as possible.
After what seemed like an age, Regina sniffed and let her hand drop from Emma's arm. Emma reached for the door, heart still racing, and let herself out into the night.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as she backed away from the house – but she wasn't really sure which part of the night's exchanges she was apologising for. She shook her head and trudged down the path back to her car.
"Oh, Miss Swan?" Emma whipped around to face Regina who was still standing in the shadows of her doorway, back as straight as a rod and head held high. Her voice was quiet but cut like a razor through the night. "I don't need, or welcome, your pity. You might like to envisage yourself as some kind of White Knight, but you know what? I don't need you to save me."
Emma's breath caught in her throat as the Mayor slammed her door shut.
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