Okay so I don't own Once Upon A Time or these characters. I just write stories. This might be a rather short chapter, depending on what you're used to. Feel free to comment, criticize, whatever you want to do. I do hope you like it.
"So she's free? She can just walk around town, free to kill anyone else?" Emma asked her mother.
Mary Margaret sighed. "I'm afraid so, Emma."
Emma's father, David sat down at the table next to his wife. He took a deep breath. "You know Mary Margaret, her self defense case was pretty solid. She might be harmless."
Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. "Harmless? You met Regina, didn't you? She's insane!"
"Why is she insane?" Emma chimed in.
The blood drained from Mary Margaret's face as she heard her daughter's question. She cleared her throat. "It's complicated, sweetie."
"I don't see how it can be complicated. The reason she's insane like you think could be completely unrelated to her killing Grandpa. Or maybe not. That's why it would be helpful if you told somebody why you think she's insane."
David watched his daughter speak and noticed how grown up she sounded. "Emma's right." He sighed, looking at his wife.
"She thinks I ruined her life." Mary Margaret said, looking at her hands.
"Did you?" Emma asked her mother.
"Yes." Mary Margaret looked up at her daughter. Emma's eyes widened as she leaned back in her chair. Mary Margaret sighed.
Emma was making a sandwich in the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. She contemplated ignoring it and just eating her sandwich when she heard another knock. She groaned and moved toward the door.
When she opened the door, she gasped. Standing at the door was an olive skinned brunette with chocolatey eyes and a wide smile. In her hand she had a tupperware container.
"Emma? Who's at the door?" Mary Margaret called from in the other room.
Emma couldn't get any words out. Her mouth hung open while she stared at the girl in front of her.
"I don't mean to sound rude, dear, but are you going to say anything or may I come in?" The girl asked.
"I know who you are." Emma said.
The girl raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who am I?"
"You're Regina Mills. You murdered my grandfather."
Regina crinkled her nose. "Murdered is quite a hateful term, isn't it?"
"It's appropriate." Emma shifted her weight to her left foot.
"Ah, but I wasn't charged with murder now, was I?" Regina said, smiling.
Emma tensed when she heard Mary Margaret coming up behind her.
"Who's there Em-" Mary Margaret froze in her spot upon seeing Regina.
"Ah, there you are Mary Margaret. I was just stopping by to see if we could talk." Regina smiled.
"Why would I talk to you?"
Regina hummed. "Maybe you owe me."
Mary Margaret stiffened. "Very well. Come inside."
"Mom," Emma started before Mary Margaret shushed her.
Regina sat the tupperware down on the table and sat down. She sat up straight and crossed her ankles. Her hands were folded in her lap. She looked up at Emma and smiled.
"I made you an apple turnover." She said kindly.
"Thanks." Emma said hesitantly. She opened the tupperware container and saw a delicious looking turnover. She stood to get a fork for herself while her mother and Regina talked.
"I'll have you know, Mary Margaret, that it was never my intention to kill your father. I was simply defending myself. I do hope you can understand that."
Mary Margaret stiffened. "What were you defending yourself from? My father was a gentle man."
Regina scoffed. "A gentle man? Is that really what you think?" Emma stood in the doorway so she couldn't be seen and eavesdropped. "Your father, the 'gentle' man that he was, tried to rape me."
Mary Margaret and Emma gasped at the same time. Regina looked up at Emma and almost looked apologetic. She looked as though she was sorry that Emma had heard that about her grandfather.
"He would never!" Mary Margaret yelled.
Regina looked as though she was ready to puke now that she had to talk about this in front of Emma. "But he did." Her voice came out quieter than usual.
Before she could stop herself, Emma put her hand on Regina's shoulder. For some reason, all she wanted to do was comfort the other girl. She saw her mother's gaze fall to Regina's shoulder where her hand was and she pulled it away.
"Regina, I can't believe you would come in to my house and lie about my father this way." Mary Margaret shook her head.
"Mom, how are you so sure she's lying?" Regina and Mary Margaret's eyes both snapped up to look at Emma.
"Emma! How could you say that?"
Emma shrugged. "I mean, no one knows for sure what happened except Regina. I choose to believe her."
Regina's eyes softened as Emma spoke. She almost wanted to hug the girl. She quickly looked away. Why would she even think that?
"Emma, darling, you don't understand."
"Don't understand?" Emma's shouted. "I understand perfectly! Regina is only a year older than I am. I understand that she was probably afraid and angry. I would've done the same thing."
Mary Margaret gasped. "Don't say that!"
"What? That I would've done the same? Well I would've!"
Mary Margaret stood up. "I will not listen to this any longer." She ran up the stairs and slammed the door to her bedroom behind her.
Regina looked up at Emma. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Defend me."
Emma shrugged. She really had no idea why she did it. "I don't know."
Regina smiled. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Would it be okay if I hugged you?" Regina mumbled, causing Emma to laugh.
"Of course."
Regina smiled widely and wrapped her arms around Emma's neck. Emma's arms were tight around her waist. For the first time in a while, Regina felt safe. In Emma's arms, it was as though nobody could hurt Regina. She could do anything as long as Emma was with her.
"What time did she leave?" Mary Margaret asked Emma the next morning.
Emma shrugged. "Around 7 I think. We sat and talked for a while."
"What could you possibly have to talk about with her?"
Emma's eyebrows furrowed at her mother's tone. "I don't know. I trust her, okay? You don't have to believe her but I do. I'll be alright."
Mary Margaret sighed. "Okay I trust you."
"Good. Because Regina's coming over later."
"What?" Mary Margaret gasped.