"No" Snow gasped shaking her head.
Emma turned to see her mother with her shaking hand held over her mouth. Tears formed in Snow's eyes as she watched Regina walk out of the diner. Snow had never in all her years seen such a look of defeat and desperation on Regina's face. Her face held the loneliness of a lifetime of heartache. Sadness overtook Snow's heart and gripped it like a vice. Snow was angry, overwhelming anger surged through her body. Baby Neal began to whimper in her arms as she stared at the door of the diner.
Emma turned to her son, "Let's go home Henry."
He stood and looked at her, his eyes blazing, "I'm going to go stay with my mom tonight. She needs me."
Emma didn't want him to go and his words "my mom" stung, but she gave him a small nod and he walked out the door.
"Mom?" Emma went to her mom.
Snow had waited twenty-eight years to hear that word come from Emma's mouth. But she couldn't even look at her daughter in that moment. "Emma, I can't talk about this right now." Snow stood with Prince Neal in her arms and swiftly left.
"Just give her some time Emma." David said to his daughter. "Things were finally good."
His words hung in the air. She had to get out of there everyone was staring at her. Emma left out the back door without another word. She felt horrible about what had happened, but she didn't know. She was just trying to save a life. There was a slight breeze in the air that carried an unfamiliar chill. She suddenly wished she had a jacket on. Hook followed behind Emma wanting to give her some space, but this was as much his fault as it was hers. He would let her get some air. He knew she needed a few minutes to process what had just happened.
Robin looked up just in time to see Regina walk out the door. "Regina." Her name was but a whisper as he felt like the air had been knocked out of him.
"What is it Robin?" Marian asked with her head on his chest as he held her tight.
"Regina." He whispered again as his hands finally fell to his sides.
"What about her?" Marian looked at him. She was confused.
Robin stared at the door until Little John finally patted his shoulder. "Let's go home Robin. We can talk about this in the morning."
As Regina walked down the stairs leaving the diner her eyes fell upon the spot where she and Robin had been kissing just moments ago. And as she turned on to the sidewalk where she had been walking and holding Roland's hand the pain washed over her. It was suffocating her. She shivered against the cool air thinking how alone she felt. She clutched at her aching heart as she tried to push the memories from her mind. She could not retrace the steps she had just taken with her true love. With a puff of purple smoke she was gone.
Henry walked out of the diner just in time to see the remnants of the purple smoke that his mother had vanished in. He began to run to her house. His heart was aching from the pain he saw in her eyes. She was wounded. He needed her to know that he was going to be there for her. He picked up the pace and was home in five minutes.
The door was locked so he rang the doorbell. He looked up at the sky as snow flakes began to fall.
Regina heard the doorbell ring and didn't want to answer it. She debated just going to bed, but then it rang again followed persistent pounding. She made her way downstairs drying her eyes on the backs of her hands. She hesitated with her hand on the knob not wanting to see anyone. The pounding came again making her jump. She jerked the door and saw her son standing there with snowflakes in his hair. She couldn't have held back her tears if she had wanted to.
Henry hugged his mom. "It's going to be ok." He whispered.
"Now that you are here I am fine Henry." She smiled at him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" They sat on the sofa together and he held her hand.
Regina looked around the room and her heart hurt. The memories of she and Robin sitting there drinking wine, talking and kissing. His hands roaming her body while she held his face in her hands. She put her hand to her lips as she remembered their last kiss. Remembering the way his lips felt on hers. She closed her eyes against the painful memory.
"Mom?" Henry was worried about her.
She turned to him and smiled. "I'm ok honey. Why don't you go take a shower and get ready for bed."
"I don't want to leave you. We can just watch some TV and hang out for a while." He suggested.
"It's late my prince. I am about ready for bed myself." She sighed.
"What am I going to do about clothes? I think I've grown since last year when I was here." He smiled.
As she placed one hand over the other and waved it, pajamas magically appeared. "Thank you mom."
She smiled and kissed his forehead and he went upstairs.
While Henry was in the shower Regina decided to go upstairs and change into her pajamas. As she opened her bedroom door she was overwhelmed by the smell of Robin. It's almost like he was standing right beside her, but he wasn't. He was with his wife. That thought hit her hard almost knocking her to her knees. She looked at her bed. Sheets and blankets still a mess from early this evening. She lay on her bed and pulled the pillow that smelled like Robin to her chest. She held it tight as the memory of their lovemaking replayed in her mind. Memories of skin on skin. His hands exploring every inch of her body. The way he kissed her and touched her. The memory was painful, but she cherished that memory with all of her heart. Her hot tears streamed down her face and into his pillow. She had never been loved like that. She had never felt so light, so alive. And when true love came together in that most intimate way, it was magic. Magic like none other. In those moments she would have never guessed how broken she would be just hours later.
Snow paced the floor in their apartment as Charming sat on the couch trying to comfort their fussy son.
"Snow, why don't you sit down. You are wearing a hole in the floor." Charming smiled at his wife.
Snow didn't appear to hear him as she continued to pace back forth and chew the finger nail on her ring finger.
"Earth to Snow?" Charming said a little louder.
"What?" She snapped.
David stood and placed Neal in his crib and walked over to his wife. "Do you want to tell me what you are thinking?" He asked placing his hands on her arms to stop her pacing.
"No." She replied trying to walk away.
"Snow White. Don't shut me out. Tell me what you're thinking." He held her to him.
"I don't know what I'm thinking. I don't really feel like talking to anyone right now." Snow answered through gritted teeth pushing away from him.
"What is wrong with you?" Charming was frustrated now. Neal was fussing and his wife was shutting him out and seething with anger.
"Wrong? What's wrong? Are you serious David?" Snow threw her arms up in the air.
"Snow I realize that Regina is upset, but..." He began but was then cut off mid sentence.
"Upset! Upset! David, upset doesn't even begin to cover it. History is repeating itself. This is my fault!" Snow yelled leaving the apartment slamming the door.
Snow made her way down to the now empty diner. Granny met her at the counter. "What can I get for you?"
"The strongest drink you have." Snow huffed out.
Granny brought her a glass of chocolate milk. "What is this?" Snow asked.
"You're a nursing mother. That's the strongest drink I have...for you" Granny added pouring herself a shot.
"Well that seems." Snow reply dripping with sarcasm.
"Your daughter sure screwed things up." Granny deadpanned.
"I know."
"What are you going to do about it?"Granny asked before downing her shot.
"Me? What I am supposed to do? I don't know how to fix this for Regina. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Snow was yelling.
"Calm down princess! You need to be there for her. Let her know she's not alone. Most people don't know this, but I have a lot of love in heart for that girl. She suffered so much for you. Its time you be there for her." Granny patted Snow's hand.
"What do you mean suffered for me? She was laways trying to kill me!" Snow snapped
"If the queen had wanted you dead, you'd be dead!" Granny spat back at her. "Tomorrow you will go to her. And try to remember that this isn't about you. You have a tendency to forget this world doesn't revolve around you."
Snow finished her drink and headed back upstairs to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a very draining day.
