A/N: This idea has been driving me crazy and it wouldn't let me work on any of my other stuff. Basically it's a Once Upon a Time (Swan Queen to be more specific) crossover with Law and Order: SVU. I used the original characters from SVU because well, those are my faves. Besides I like to change things to suit me and the story. Anyway, in this story Emma is a part of the Special Victims Unit. Regina is a victim. AU of course. No magic.
Let's see. Warnings include:
-Very graphic
-Violence
-Rape
-Abuse
-Regina is underage for some of this fic.
-Mentions of suicide/suicidal thoughts and self-harm
-Mentions of incest.
-Depression.
Certainly not for the faint of heart. If any of these bother you or are triggers I ask that you please stop reading here.
I did a lot of research for this but honestly this is just for entertainment purposes so everything may not be 100 percent accurate. Well neither is the show at times. lol.
Cora is a piece of shit in this. Just a heads up.
This story is very short. Literally like 5 chapters. It was originally a one shot but it was too long so I separated it. I'm currently working on the ending as we speak.
Sorry for mistakes. I own nothing. Enjoy!
Sinister Secrets
Part One
Emma flicked a paper clip across the old black top desk and hit her partner square in the forehead. The man grunted when it hit him and looked up at her. He chuckled before picking it up and tossing it back at her. She dodged it and it flew over her shoulder, clattering to the floor behind her. She licked her tongue out at him and he returned the gesture. She rolled her eyes with a shake of her head and an amused smile. Pleased with himself, Detective Graham Humbert simply chuckled and sat back in his seat. Emma grinned to herself. She couldn't have asked for a better partner.
Detective Humbert had been Emma's partner for the last six months. She had just been promoted so she was fairly new to SVU. Because of this, all of her co-workers still treated her like a rookie. Well, except for Graham. He saw her for what she was. A good detective. She solved her cases quickly and did what needed to be done. But since she had not been there long enough she was not a part of the secret club of seasoned detectives. They always treated her like she didn't know what she was talking about or she didn't know what she was doing.
That factored in with the fact that Emma was the youngest detective in SVU made her seem like a joke to everyone else. Emma was tired of that. She paid her dues, worked hard and got promoted fair and square. She was just as good a detective as anyone else. They all had to start somewhere. There was a handful of detectives who treated her like a real cop though. She appreciated them.
"Hey Kids, knock it off." Detective Elliot Stabler said as he strolled passed their desks. Emma looked over at him and he smiled which was rare.
"How was your weekend, Emma?" His partner Olivia Benson asked as she passed her as well, dressed in a white blouse and black slacks.
Emma liked them enough. They were both older than she was and had been on the job longer but instead of judging her or not taking her seriously, they took her under their wing and treated her like a little sister if anything. They were a little overprotective at times and always on her case but they meant well. That is all that mattered. She appreciated that since that meant someone would always have her back. Well other than Graham.
"Pretty good." Emma said with a shrug. "Me and my kid hung out. I took him to Chuck E. Cheese. He had a blast."
Olivia chuckled. "That sounds so sweet. I want to see pictures."
Emma laughed. "You got it."
"How old is little Henry?" Elliot asked as he sat at his desk that was located right behind Emma's. Just like hers with Graham's, his was turned to face Olivia's and they were pushed together.
"Six."
The man laughed. "Aren't they cute at that age?"
"He's so adorable." Emma agreed. Her son Henry was her world. She had him at only seventeen and she had no idea how she was going to raise a kid when she could barely take care of herself but she never wanted to give him up. She couldn't imagine putting him into the system that had let her down so many times. She decided to take her chances and she's glad she did. They had an amazing life just the two of them.
"Enjoy it now. The teenage years are... meh." Elliot said only half joking. "You'll want to kill them more often than not."
Emma snorted. "Can we even say that in here?"
"Who's telling?" Fin asked as he walked passed the desk with a stack of files in his hands. Emma chuckled.
She shook her head. "Henry's always gonna be my sweet boy."
"Eh... yeah, yeah." Elliot said waving his hand dismissively. "Keep telling yourself that. I just wish I had someone to warn me."
"Hey. Traumatize, you mean." Olivia argued.
"Call it what you want." Elliot laughed. "I'm trying to help."
Emma chuckled. She started to say something else but the sound of something heavy hitting the wood of her desk cut her off. She looked up and found Munch staring down at her through his dark glasses. The tall, thin, older man had on an unamused expression. "Hey, you free? Wanna look through these files?"
Emma made a face. "Not really but -"
"Hey, look alive." Fin said from his desk. When they looked over at him, he nodded towards the entrance. Emma glanced over to see a girl walking in amongst the hustle and bustle of the other detectives and cops.
She looked to be very young. Mid to late teens. Maybe high school. Her dark chocolate hair was loose and flowing down her shoulders in silky natural curls. Her big, deep, brown eyes were wide as she looked around, observing her surroundings. She looked so small and scared standing there in a school uniform that began with a dark plum blouse with a crest on the side of the chest but Emma couldn't exactly make out what it was of. The rest of the uniform included a plum, white and black plaid skirt and a black tie. She had on black stockings that matched her black pumps. She did look young but her very grown up outfit and makeup said otherwise.
Closer examination of the kid's face said that something was wrong. The girl was in pain and Emma could see it and practically feel it. Something terrible had happened and Emma felt the pang in her gut. The feeling that she had to leap into action.
The girl's eyes scanned the room but then locked on Emma's big green ones. She watched her for a moment. Graham turned around to observe as well as Olivia and Elliot stood from their desks, preparing to ask the girl if she needed help. Fin and Munch stepped closer to see what the girl was going to do. She kept her eyes on Emma's though.
"Hello." The young woman said as she stepped closer into the office. Everyone stayed quiet as they could see that she had chosen Emma. "Um... I stopped at the front desk and they sent me back here."
Emma stood from her desk. She smoothed down her blue blouse and ran her hands down her blue denim covered thighs. She cleared her throat. "Okay. How can I help you?"
"I... Um..." The girl hesitated and looked around the office and noticed the sets of eyes watching her. She visibly swallowed and Emma could see right when the girl had lost her nerve. "Nevermind." She shook her head and began backing away. "I'm sorry for wasting your time."
She turned on her heel and quickly began heading for the door. Graham turned back to Emma, a serious look in his eyes. "She needs help. It's all over her face, Em." He said urgently in his thick accent.
Emma nodded. She knew that. She didn't plan to let her walk out that door without finding out what her story was. Young girls don't just walk into SVU for nothing. There was something wrong and Emma wanted to help. She rounded the desk and jogged after the girl. She had almost reached the exit when Emma caught up to her.
"Hey." Emma said. The girl stopped in the doorway and turned around to face her. She had a grimace on her face. She brought her hands out in front of her and started fidgeting. "Are you alright?" Emma asked gently.
The girl shook her head. Her eyes began darting around the room as if she was waiting for someone to jump on her and attack her. Emma took a step closer in a comforting gesture but she was careful not to touch her.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked dipping her head to catch the girl's worried eyes. The brown eyes darted away from hers and lowered to the floor. Emma understood that. The lack of eye contact worried her. "Hey, let me help you, huh?"
The girl looked up into her eyes again. She gazed into them, searching. Emma had an idea what she was searching for. What everyone wants. Someone to trust. After a long moment, she must have found that in Emma because she nodded. "I would..." She began. She stopped before taking a deep breath and holding Emma's eyes again. "I would like to report..." She cut herself off again, clearly struggling with what she needed to say. Emma was patient. She could tell that this girl had been traumatized in some way. She was shaking and her voice was trembling. "I want to report a... a rape."
Emma's stomach dropped. She had a feeling and she hated when she was right sometimes. She had another feeling and she hoped she was wrong so she asked, "Who? Do you have any information about the victim?"
There was another long pause before the girl nodded and her eyes dropped to the floor again. She began fidgeting again with her hands and it took everything in Emma to not reach out and cover her hands with her own. Her eyes wandered up to Emma's again and Emma watched the lone tear trail down the girl's olive cheek. "...Mine." She choked out. Emma's stomach tightened into a knot and she immediately started sympathizing with this kid.
She cleared her throat to calm her nerves so that she could her job. "Okay." She said gently. She watched the victim before her and she could see her fighting off more tears. "Come with me."
The girl nodded. Emma turned on her heel and began heading back towards her desk. She could hear the sound of the girl's designer heels hitting the floor as she followed her. Emma grabbed her notepad off of her desk along the way and gave Graham a look that he immediately understood. She led the girl through another doorway, ignoring the looks of the other detectives. She didn't have time to explain what was going on. She needed to talk to this girl while she still had the nerve. She could have shut down at any moment.
They headed down a hallway and passed a few other cops. They nodded her way and she smiled in return. She glanced over her shoulder to see the brunette girl examining her surroundings curiously. Her curiosity just showed that she had never been in any trouble.
Emma stopped at an empty examination room. She pushed the door open the rest of the way and ushered the girl inside. The young woman didn't hesitate and Emma was thankful that she trusted her. That would make the questioning much easier. She stepped inside behind her and shut the heavy metal door. The girl stood in the center of the gray room looking around as if she didn't know what to do. The sun filtering in through the open gated window was the only source of light. Emma backed up and flicked the light switch, brightening the room further.
"Please have a seat." Emma said as she headed towards the metal table. She pulled out a metal chair and sat in it. The girl followed her over to the table and Emma motioned to the seat across from her.
She sat gracefully and crossed one leg over the other and folded her hands in her lap.
"Okay." Emma said opening the notepad. She clicked the pen. "I'm going to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?"
The girl nodded. "Yes."
"Okay. What is your name?" Emma asked.
"Regina Maria Mills." The girl said softly.
"Okay Regina." Emma said with a small smile. "I'm Detective Emma Swan."
Regina nodded. "It's nice to make your acquaintance."
Emma nodded and tried to keep her eyes soft and her expression open to keep the girl comfortable. "How old are you?"
"I just turned seventeen." The girl said.
"Seventeen." Emma said jotting down the new info. "Are you in high school?"
Regina nodded. "Yes."
"Where?"
"Tribeca Preparatory Academy." Regina said.
Emma nodded and jotted that down as well. "Now you understand that since you are a minor I will have to contact your parents."
"No!" Regina cried and leapt to her feet. "No. Please don't tell my mother. She will kill me."
Emma watched the girl's calm demeanor fade to pure terror. Her eyes widened and her chest was heaving. She put a hand on her chest and began panting. She couldn't breathe and she appeared to be hyperventilating. She was going to pass out at any moment if she didn't get her breathing under control.
"Regina," Emma said standing. She stepped around the table towards the girl that was on the verge of a panic attack. "I'm sure your mother would be very worried and would want to know what happened to you."
Regina shook her head. "She already knows and she would kill me for telling." She muttered to herself but Emma heard it anyway.
"What?" Emma asked unsure of what she heard.
Regina shook head again. "This was a mistake." She said gathering her bookbag. "I'm sorry for wasting your time."
"You didn't." Emma said suddenly panicking herself. Someone hurt this girl and she was terrified of her mother finding out. Something's not right here. She needed to know more. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing." Regina said with a finality that told Emma that this girl was not going to breathe another word. "I have to go. I have an art lesson."
Emma sighed. "Regina... please."
"No." The girl snapped. "I should have never come here. It was all a misunderstanding and I overreacted."
"To what?" Emma asked. "What did you overreact to?" She pushed.
"Nothing." Regina said. She shouldered her bag and headed for the door. "Thank you for your time." She said softly before slipping out of the room.
Emma groaned and rubbed a hand over her face as the door slammed shut. Someone hurt that girl. Something horrible traumatized a seventeen year old girl. Regina was too scared to even speak anymore after hearing that her parents were going to be informed. That was a redflag. Emma's gut was screaming that something wasn't right. She wished that she could have forced her to stay but the law said that she couldn't.
Emma could relate to that. She's had things that had happened to her as a girl that she was too afraid to report and as a result the prick walked. Those are some of her biggest regrets. But Regina is still so young. Her world is so small and she couldn't think that far into the future to when she's Emma age. It was all about her life at the moment. Right then and there.
Emma just hoped that she would see Regina again but she also hoped that it wouldn't be at the morgue.
She grabbed the notepad and headed back to her desk. When she returned she found her co-workers staring at her as if they had been waiting for her.
"What?" She snapped. She was beyond frustrated.
"What happened?" Graham asked.
"That girl came flying out of here like you threatened to arrest her." Fin added. Emma rolled her eyes and plopped down behind her desk.
"She was raped." Emma said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"How old is she?" Olivia asked.
"Seventeen."
"And you let her walk out of here?!" Elliot asked in disbelief.
Emma gave him a side glance. "When I told her I had to contact her parents she retracted it. Said it was a misunderstanding. I couldn't hold her."
Olivia groaned. Clearly sharing Emma's frustration. "That's frustrating."
"You don't believe her?" Graham asked.
"Nope." Emma replied. "She was definitely raped. Or abused in someway. She's terrified of her mom. She damn near had a panic attack at the thought of her finding out what happened to her..."
"Shit." Graham hissed.
"I know and I can't prove a damn thing without her statement."
"What are you going to do?" Graham asked.
Emma shrugged. "I don't know."
"Did she give you an address?" Olivia asked. "Or phone number?"
Emma rubbed her forehead. "Just to her school."
Olivia hummed as she nodded thoughtfully. "Give her some time to come back and if she doesn't go to her school."
Emma gave her a skeptical look. "Can I do that?"
"If you have reason to believe that she's being abused." Elliot replied.
Emma nodded. "Alright." She turned around in her seat. She looked towards the exit waiting for the scared little girl to come back. She hoped she would change her mind and want her help.
Emma knew that she would worry about that girl until she heard from her again. She wished that she would have gotten to give Regina her card. She hoped Regina would reach out to her before it was too late. She knew it was a long shot and right now all she could do was wait.
Regina stepped out of the elevator into the front hall of her penthouse apartment. She was late for dinner and she knew that her mother would give her hell for it and likely would not allow her to eat. That's why she picked up dinner and ate it on the way. She began shaking as the elevator door shut behind her. She knew that she was going to pay for her irresponsibility.
She often found herself wondering why she had to deal with this constantly. Why her mother wouldn't just let her go or why she wouldn't just kill her and be done with it. She often thought that death would be a better solution than living under the thumb of Cora Mills, socialite and wicked mother.
She's considered ending it all countless times. Wrapping her car around a tree or taking too many sleeping pills. But it always came back to how her death would hurt her father. She loved her father and he loved her and would do anything for her. He was the only person who sincerely cared about her but her mother ripped him away from her after he divorced the woman. She wouldn't allow him to see Regina anymore. Regina hasn't seen him since she was twelve. She secretly video chats with him or calls him sometimes though but that's not enough. She needs him there with her to protect her.
She currently had no one to protect her. She regretted not telling the detective what was going on at home. Perhaps she could have helped her but when she mentioned informing her mother she panicked. She knew what the punishment would be and she didn't want that so she lied. She'd rather endure that torture than her mother's wrath and that's for sure.
She swallowed and began creeping across the dimly lit hallway towards the stairs holding her breath, careful not to make a peep. She managed to make it to the stairs that led to the second of the three floor apartment and put her foot up onto the first black carpet covered step before a voice sent a shiver down her spine. Her stomach dropped and she immediately began shaking violently.
"Regina!" The voice boomed. Regina slowly turned her head to find her mother standing there with a hateful glare in her eyes and a snarl on her lips. "Where the hell have you been?" She hissed.
"I'm s-sorry." Regina stammered. "My lessons..."
"Ran late?" Cora asked impatiently. Regina released the breath she had been holding. She feared that her mother wouldn't believe her or worse she wouldn't care and punish her anyway.
Regina nodded. "Yes Mother."
Cora sighed. "I need to speak with that teacher of yours."
Regina nodded. She knew that her art teacher would cover for her even though she didn't even show up that day in loo of going to the precinct where she accomplished absolutely nothing but wasting a kind detective's time.
"Anyway..." Cora said waving that off. "You have company. Go upstairs and get ready."
Regina's stomach churned. She knew what that meant. That disgusting man. She began to itch and her skin felt like it was crawling as she thought of his rough, sweaty, disgusting hands all over her, his weight on her as he laid on top of her, squashing her and immobilizing her, making it difficult for her to breathe. Not like she would want to breathe. She didn't want to smell his sweat or any of him. She felt nauseous. Cora must have seen it all over her face because she slammed a hand down on the golden banister causing Regina to jump.
"Now Regina," Cora said in a threatening tone that made Regina want to flee but she knew that her mother would only catch her and the punishment would be harsh. Cora raised a hand and Regina flinched bracing for the blow. Instead Cora began waving a finger in the girl's face right in front of her nose. "He told me about what happened last night. Did you really start crying?"
"It hurt!" Regina cried.
"That's no excuse." Cora threw back. "That is no excuse. Pain is a part of being a woman."
"I wasn't ready. He didn't give me a chance to get ready." Regina whispered. "He hurt me, Mother."
"Enough!" Cora snapped. "You should have prepared yourself for him. A real woman is ready on command."
Regina felt the pressure in her head as she felt the impending tears building up. Memories of the night before returned to her and she could feel everything. Him forcing himself inside of her. The pulling and tearing. The soreness and the ache as he moved on top of her, thrusting again and again with way too much force for someone her size. There was bruising on her waist and hips from where he grabbed her to hold her still or to get a better grip so he could go deeper. Much too deep for her. She feared that he would rupture something. She panicked that morning when she found that she could barely walk and she had been bleeding.
She was a virgin the night before. She never thought that she would lose her virginity like that. She felt like everything was taken from her in those moments and she could never get it back. That was a pain that she could never describe.
Cora grabbed Regina's arm and Regina hissed as her nails cut into her flesh. Her other hand reached up and grabbed her jaw doing the same thing but not deep enough to mark her face. Cora wanted to keep her daughter beautiful and enticing so she was careful not to mark her face but when it came to the rest of her where most people couldn't see, it was fair game. She had the marks to prove it.
Cora didn't always use physical punishments though. Her tactics ranged from intimidation to not allowing her to eat for days. Cora also enjoyed humiliating and demeaning her. Making her feel small and weak. Then again her mother could do that with a single look.
Regina was broken. She had been since she was a small child. Cora loved to control her. She did that to everyone in the household. That's why her father left and shortly after her older sister, Zelena did as well. The girl set off for college and never looked back. Regina missed her sometimes as well but then she reminded herself that she left. She left her there to endure this alone.
She was left all alone with Cora.
Well not alone since her mother started bringing her friend by. Her last chance at getting back in with the Manhattan socialites since she was ousted by their friends when her husband left her. She saw a way back in with the millionaire but he had no interested in her. The man had interest in her teenage child. Cora saw Regina as her ticket and gladly allowed the man to have her daughter.
Regina was the sacrificial lamb for her to get back into the NYC social scene. She would do anything to make sure that it happened and no one, not even her own child was going to stand in her way. Regina knew this.
"You are going to get herself ready." Cora said. "Do you understand that it only feels good to them when we are properly lubricated? Your tightness only means so much. They want lubrication. The natural kind. Pretend you are enjoying him. Moan a little bit. Don't cry."
"But Mother-" Regina said but she whimpered when her mother's nails dug deeper into her arm. Cora shook her and that's when the tears started flowing again. "Please don't make me. It hurts."
Cora growled. "Regina, you need to grow up. I blame your father for this. He was always coddling you. That is why I separated you from him. You couldn't be a woman with him treating you like a child!"
Regina began sobbing then. She knew that she was not going to get out of this. She also knew that the torture was not going to be quick. Her mother was not going to protect her but instead throw her to the wolves. "Mommy..." She sobbed desperately. "Please..."
"Shut up, Regina." Cora hissed. She then shoved her back and released her. Regina hissed as her back hit the other railing. She just stood there and they stared at each other. Regina silently pleading and her mother silently threatening her that she had better do what she's told.
"Cora."
Regina's heart stopped and she looked up to find her attacker from the night before approaching them. He smiled when his eye caught Regina's.
"Good evening, Regina." He said with a lecherous smile that made the girl nauseous. "I am really excited to see you again. I hope it's not too soon."
Regina wanted to say it was. Never seeing him again was too soon. The man was her mother's age with a daughter only a year or two younger than she was. He disgusted her. She kept her mouth shut though and simply looked away.
Cora glared at her daughter and her rudeness. She calmed her nerves and turned back to their guest and forced a smile. "She's happy to see you as well. Just shy." She began to walk around the banister to the steps. She grabbed Regina's wrist sinking her long nails into it. Regina hissed and jumped but Cora said nothing and began dragging her up the stairs. "We are going upstairs to get her into a shower. She's been out all day. We'll get her nice and clean before she gets dirty again. Finish your drink then come on up in about ten minutes." She winked at him and Regina almost gagged before she was tugged up the stairs.
The walk to her bedroom was how she would imagine a walk to an execution. The closer she came, the closer she was to her doom. To think that a few days ago her bedroom was her safe haven. Now it was dark and she could barely sleep in it.
Cora opened the door and pushed her inside. Regina stumbled in and looked around. She found that the lights were dimmed and there were scented candles on her bedside tables. At the end of her bed laid a sheer piece of white lingerie. Regina grimaced at the idea that her mother was going to dress her up for him but there was nothing she could do.
Cora shoved her towards her bathroom. "Go get cleaned up."
Regina nodded and headed for the bathroom. She did what she was told because she didn't have any fight in her that evening. She stepped inside and shut the door behind her. She stripped away her clothes and climbed into the shower.
As the warm spray began to fall washing away the day and her makeup that was quite possibly a mess from all of her crying she wondered how her life had come to this. This miserable pathetic existence she was in. How could this life where she was her mother's punching bag and a random man's sexdoll had happened? She couldn't understand how she had lost control then she remembered that she never had any as far as she mother was concerned. She shook her head and let the tears flow. Her mother would never know that way. She bowed her head and allowed herself to cry for a moment longer. That's what she needed but the tears would never stop. Not really.
There was a harsh knock on the door and Regina jumped. "Regina, come along." Cora said.
Regina shut the water off and climbed out. She quickly dried herself off and opened the door. She stepped into her bedroom with the blue towel wrapped around her still. Cora was seated on the end of the bed with the lingerie in her lap. She patted the spot beside her. Regina hesitated when she felt a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach but she obediently complied.
She plopped down on the end of the bed beside her. Cora gave her a look before handing her the lotion bottle. Regina accepted it and immediately began spreading it on her skin. It was a nice scent. Very mature. Not like her usual apple blossom or apple scented stuff. When she was finished she handed it back to her mother who accepted it and handed her the lingerie. Regina took it and immediately dropped her towel and began putting it on. Cora then instructed her to lie on the bed. Regina scooted back on her queen sized bed and rested back on the blue silk pillows. She folded her hands across her stomach and waited. Cora climbed into the bed and laid beside her.
She gave her daughter a smile and Regina furrowed her brow. Her mother never smiled at her. It was always a glare or a look of disappointment. Never a smile. She smiled back just a little and wondered if her mother did really love her after all.
"This is good for us." Cora said as she let a finger trace down her daughter's cheek in an affectionate gesture. Regina frowned. "Just relax."
Regina sighed. She knew that her mother was not going to let her out of this. Status meant too much to her. She nodded. Maybe she will tell him to be more gentle. That would be something.
Cora reached for the hem of the material and pulled it upward and folded it over Regina's stomach, exposing the girl's most private parts to her.
"Look at you." Cora praised as she looked at her daughter's well kept and groomed body. "I can see why he likes you so much." She chuckled.
"Mother?" Regina asked in a broken whisper. She hoped her mother wasn't about to do what she thought she was going to do. "What are-"
"Relax." Cora said.
"I told her to relax." Came the familiar male voice that made Regina want to vomit. "She doesn't listen."
She looked over to see the man standing there, leering. His drink in his hand. The way he was blocking her doorway reminded her of a dark shadow from hell coming to devour her.
Cora chuckled. "She's new at this. She'll get the hang of it."
"I hope so." He said. "She has a lot of potential to be a good wife."
Regina listened to them as they spoke of her as if she wasn't even there. She knew then. She understood that her life would never be her own.
"I'll get her ready for you." Cora said as her eyes met her daughter's. Regina sighed and looked up at the ceiling. She knew what was happening and the worst part was that she couldn't even stop it.
As her mother's fingers found their way between her legs she squeezed her eyes shut and in that moment she wished that her heart would just stop and all of this would be over right then and there.
She just wanted it to be over but she knew that it never would be until it was.
Emma kicked her boots off and hung her jacket up on the coat hanger by the door. She was just glad to be home. It had been a long day and it was a little after nine pm. She planned to check on Henry, kiss him good night then head to the kitchen and raid the fridge for any resemblance of food.
All she wanted to do was sleep. In the few months she had been working in SVU she had been getting less and less sleep. Not only because the job was so demanding but most of the cases and victims stuck with her. Her first case was still at the front of her mind. It hit too close to home.
Some creep was picking up runaways, raping them and killing them. He didn't discriminate. Boys, girls, any age and nationality.
He would take them to his place leaving them to think they were going to have sex with him for money, food or a place to stay but instead he would tie them down, rape them repeatedly and once he was finished with them he would stab them to death. He kept the bodies until they began to rot then he would dispose of them in a public place.
Emma was so disgusted and devastated by this case. She kept thinking that it could have been her. Not too long ago she herself was on the street alone and having to do what she had to in order to survive. She understood them and felt an overwhelming need and duty to protect the rest of the street kids. She worked day and night and she would not give up until she brought that asshole to justice. He is currently serving a life sentence. She would have preferred the death penalty but what mattered the most was that he was off the street. She could breathe easier then. But her reprieve didn't last long because the very next day she was investigating the murder of a prostitute.
She hopped right back into the action. She worked along side the other detectives to investigate this case and bring this victim justice as well.
But that first case. That's how she knew that she was born to do this. Fighting for the defenseless and speaking for voiceless was her true calling.
This case of the young brunette who showed up that day was stuck in Emma's head and she couldn't shake it. The entire drive to her little two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn she thought about her. She had a bad feeling that she couldn't get rid of. It was like she was waiting for something even worse to happen. She felt so helpless. It's like seeing something bad happening and not being able to stop it. She knows that Regina Mills is being abused. Emma recognized the signs. She's seen them in herself when she was a teen. She wanted to show Regina that she cared though. She wanted her to know that she would protect her and she was not alone.
Emma hoped that the girl would come back one day and demand justice for what had happened to her. She could only hope though. She had to wait. She knew that Regina would some day get the courage. Emma could see it in her eyes that she really needed help and she wanted someone to know what had happened to her.
In time...
She would just have to find a way to deal until then.
Emma walked through her apartment to her son's bedroom. She could hear hushed voices outside the cracked door. She smiled to herself. She heard Henry say that he wanted to stay up so he could see his mommy then she heard the babysitter say that he had to go to sleep. Henry of course refused. Emma snorted then pushed the door open. She smiled wide and all of her worries faded away when she saw her son seated there with his arms crossed over his chest and a pout on his adorable face. He was in his little Avengers pajamas and he was underneath his Captain America blanket.
"Hey Kid." Emma said entering the room.
The babysitter looked over at her. They shared a smile. Ruby Lucas was more than a babysitter to Emma and Henry though. She was family.
She was a few years younger than Emma. Emma met her back when she was still on the streets. Emma would go into the coffee shop that Ruby's grandmother owned with barely enough change and Ruby would always give her a full meal. They became very good friends fairly quickly and Ruby offered Emma a job. Emma took it and it helped her when she became pregnant to take care of herself and her unborn child. Ruby and Granny helped her every step of the way with him, even when she decided that she wanted to be a cop, they watched Henry and helped as much as they could financially. To this day they still help her out.
Emma didn't have many friends but she certainly considered Ruby and her grandmother as friends and family. Her love for them ran deep. They were the closest she's ever had to family.
"Mommy!" Henry exclaimed and climbed up on his bed. He then began jumping up and down on the mattress. Emma chuckled. It would definitely be a fight getting him to sleep.
Ruby stood from the bed and stepped aside so that Emma could take her place. Emma walked over to the side of Henry's bed and the little boy giggled.
"Catch me, Mommy!" He squealed then hopped from the bed into her arms. Emma grunted as she caught him.
"Whoa. You're heavy, buddy." Emma chuckled. Henry nodded with a huge smile.
"Am I a big boy?" He asked with a wrinkle of his nose.
"According to my back... a very big boy." Emma sighed.
Henry giggled. "One day I will have big muscles and be strong like you."
Ruby snorted. "Same."
Emma chuckled at her friend and her son. "Definitely. But remember where I told you real strength comes from?"
Henry gave her a big nod. His wide hazel eyes locked on hers. "My heart."
Emma smiled. "That's right. Smart boy."
Henry smiled back and put his little arms around his mother's shoulders. "I missed you, Mommy. I'm glad you're home." He then leaned in close and rubbed his nose against Emma's. Emma chuckled then kissed his nose.
"I missed you too." And God she did. He's all she thinks about all day.
"Did you catch any bad guys today?" Henry asked as Emma sat him back down on the bed. Emma shook her head.
"Not today, buddy."
Henry frowned. "Oh."
Emma nodded. She knew that Henry wanted all of the criminals off the streets. She had a similar feeling but she knew the reality of that ever happening was slim to none. For now it was just his hope and hers.
"I'm on my way out." Ruby said softly. "I have class in the morning but I can swing by and pick him up and drop him at Granny's."
Emma shook her head and looked over at Ruby. "I can drop him off."
Henry stays with Granny at the shop while Ruby is in class or she's studying then Ruby picks him up and brings him to Emma's for dinner and bed. Emma appreciated that so much but she felt like it was a lot for them and every time she offers to get a nanny or a full-time sitter Ruby and Granny get offended so, Emma learned to just let them do things their way.
"It's no trouble, Em." Ruby reassured her. She looked over at Henry. "See you in the morning, Big guy."
"Bye aunty Ruby." The little boy said waving at her. Ruby walked around the bed and gathered the little boy into a tight hug. Henry giggled and hugged her back. "I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too." Ruby said. Emma smiled at the interaction. Ruby and Granny are the only family that Henry knows other than her. He never knew his father. The man left as soon as he found out that she was pregnant, claiming he couldn't raise a kid. Emma never missed him. They're better off without him anyway.
Last she heard of him he was engaged to someone else and working a dead end job. She didn't care one way or another. Henry knew nothing about him and she wanted to keep it that way. He didn't need the man coming into his life and disappointing him like he done to her. Henry deserved better than that. She was fine and so was Henry. It was better with just the two of them. That was the reason Emma didn't date. She didn't have room in her life for anyone else other than the people that were already there.
Ruby kissed Henry's cheek. "I gotta go, Kiddo." She pulled away from him and waved. He waved back with a frown. "Don't be so glum, chum. We'll hang out tomorrow."
Henry smiled then and nodded. "And we can watch Aladdin?"
Ruby grinned. "You got it."
The little boy grinned back even wider. Ruby placed a hand on Emma's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Emma looked up at her and they shared a smile. "Get some sleep tonight."
Emma scoffed. "You do the same."
Ruby laughed. "What is sleep?"
"Well I'm a cop." Emma replied with a shug.
"Touchè." Ruby chuckled.
Emma laughed as well. "Let me walk you out."
Ruby nodded and headed for the door. Emma leaned over and picked up Henry. She sat him on her hip and the two of them followed the other woman out of the room and down the short hallway. They stopped at the front door.
"Goodnight." Ruby said after fastening her coat.
"Night." Emma and Henry both said.
"Get home safe." Emma added.
"And call when you get in." Henry demanded.
Ruby chuckled."Yes sir."
Emma laughed as Ruby stepped out into the hallway and headed down the small staircase. Emma shut her front door, locked it and walked over to her living room window where she peered out. She watched Ruby get into her car and pull off. She was always nervous when her friend left so late. She just hoped she'd remember to call.
"Okay." Emma said turning to her son. "Time for bed."
"Fine." Henry huffed making his mother laugh as she carried him back to the bedroom.
Emma helped him settle into his bed and pulled the blankets up to his neck, tucking him in. Emma kept thinking about Regina. She wondered if she was safe tonight. She worried if she was somewhere she could sleep or did she have to keep one eye open. She wanted to kick herself for letting this girl into her head but it was too late. She would worry until she heard from her again.
Henry looked up at her and furrowed his brow. "What's wrong, Mommy?" He asked catching on to her far off look. She looked down at him and their eyes met. She knew that there was no point in lying. Henry was very wise and intuitive for his age. He would see right through any lie she tried to tell him.
"A girl came into the precinct today." Emma explained. "She needed help but she got scared and left before I could help her."
"Are you worried about her?" He asked curiously.
"Yep." Emma nodded.
"She will be okay." Henry concluded confidently. "She will come back and you will save her because you're a hero and heroes always save people who need their help."
Emma smiled. "I hope you're right, Henry."
"I am right..." Henry argued. "You always help people."
"Well..." Emma sighed. "I will do everything I can."
"Good." Henry said. "That's how you will save her."
Emma's smile returned. "Thank you, Henry."
She loved that he was still so innocent and saw the world the way he did. He wasn't jaded like her. He didn't see the ugly parts of society and Emma wanted to keep that from him for as long as possible.
"You're welcome." He said brightly followed by a huge yawn.
"Okay sleep time." She said with a chuckle. He nodded and snuggled further into his pillows. "Wanna hear a story?" She picked up his big brown fairytale book from the nightstand that Granny and Ruby had given him as a gift. She traced her fingers over the words 'Once Upon a Time' that were written in gold letters. Henry loved fairytales. "What do you wanna hear?" She asked as she opened the book.
"Um..." He said thoughtfully. "Hansel and Gretel!" He exclaimed.
Emma laughed. "Hansel and Gretel' it is."
She began flipping through the pages of the worn book. She loved that she could do this with him. She had no one to read her bedtime stories when she was his age. Watching him fall asleep to the sound of her voice showed how soothing it was for a child. She wondered what it would have been like if someone had taken the time out to read her 'The Gingerbread Man'. Fairytales give hope. It shows Henry that even in this dark cold world there can be a hope that things will be better. Maybe in a way Emma needed to be reminded of that too. Perhaps reading those stories together was good for both of them.
She located the story and sighed. Here we go. "Okay... Hansel and Gretel." She read the title on the worn page. Henry smiled up at her and settled further into his pillows. Emma returned the smile as she began the story. At least this was one of the shorter ones. "Once upon a time..."
Thanks for reading.
If some of the svu characters seem ooc sorry. It was harder than I expected but I will try to do the SVU characters justice. Also you will find out who Regina's attacker is later. Everything will be explained in time. I promise.