Emma stumbled back, knuckles connecting with her jaw with such force, for a moment she wondered if her jaw was dislocated. She rubbed at her face absently, the thought to strike back never entering her mind. She deserved this. Everything that could be served up and more.
"Regina, please," Emma started, cautiously taking a step closer. It was the wrong move. Regina turned to her, eyes flashing with such pain and anger that Emma flinched. A strangled sob escaped her throat, her whole being mired in the idea that she caused this. It was her fault, all of it.
"Fuck you," Regina spat, fists still clenched. Emma nervously glanced down at them, unsure if she should expect another blow.
"It was a mistake, the worst mistake I-"
"A mistake?" Regina screamed, becoming more unhinged by the second. "Forgetting to pick up your clothes is a mistake. Stepping on my toe is a mistake. Emma, what you have done is catastrophic. You made me a promise. You fucking promised me!" Regina yelled again, shoving Emma with every ounce of strength she could muster.
Emma refused to cry out from the searing pain that flooded her body as she connected with Regina's desk. Her hands immediately went to her back, but she didn't let out more than a grunt. Her pain meant nothing.
Tears streamed down her face, with no movement to wipe them away. Emma could feel the panic rise in her chest. There was no way out of this. There were no words to make it better, nothing she could say to lessen the pain.
"Get out," Regina said finally, one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead.
Emma stood stoically, knowing if she walked out that door that would probably be the end. She couldn't leave this house. As long as they were in the same room, there was still a chance. A small chance, but a chance. And at this point, Emma was clinging to anything, the smallest seed of maybe she could find.
"No. I love you so much, Regina, I can't-" Emma tried to meet Regina's eyes, to silently plead with her for retribution, hit me again, anything. She didn't know what she could do, but she knew she couldn't walk out that door.
"NO!" Regina walked right into Emma's space, their noses nearly touching. "You don't get to say that to me," she said, her body heaving. She crouched down, her hands resting on her thighs, trying to regain her breath. Emma cautiously touched her back, not having the impudence to ask her if she was all right. Regina blanched at the contact, and stood up so quickly that Emma was startled. Regina grabbed Emma by her hair, pulling so hard that it hurt, and brought Emma's lips to her own. Emma immediately clutched on to Regina's back for dear life, feverishly embracing the kiss, the taste of their lips mingling with tears and devastation. Regina openly sobbed into Emma's mouth and then pushed her away, savagely.
Regina turned to her table and picked up her almost empty glass of cider and hurled it against the wall. Emma glanced back at the destruction, afraid that if she lost eye contact with Regina for too long that she might just fade away. They were at an impasse; Emma was too afraid to speak and Regina couldn't.
The silence was finally broken by Regina, with such a calm collection, that Emma shuddered. "Get out of my house," the warning in her tone unmistakable. Emma's eyes travelled slowly down to Regina's hands, where wisps of purple had at last made their appearance. Emma closed her eyes, knowing this was the final straw. Once Regina had pulled out her magic, it was over.
Emma took a deep breath and parted her lips to say something, though she had no idea what. Telling Regina she loved her was not going to do anything but piss her off, saying she was sorry was going to send her into a rage.
A moment later the choice was made for her. Emma found herself standing on Regina's front porch, dizzy from the teleport, every light in the house suddenly off. A loud sob crawled out of her throat, and while she knew better than to poke the bear, Emma felt that any punishment Regina could possibly dole out would be better than walking away.
"Please," she choked, the 108 on the door blurred beyond recognition. She banged half-heartedly on the door, knowing it wouldn't open. "I love you. I need you. Regina, please," Emma begged, unable to stand any longer. She sunk down to her knees, her head resting against the door, tears pooling on the landing below her. "Please," she said again, without any inclination of what else she could possibly say.
