Chapter One

She studied the face of her mobile and those emerald eyes once again scanned the area around the docks.

Nothing as yet.

Not a sign of anyone except for the drifting seagulls and the waves lapping onto the sandy shore. The dilapidated houses. The abandoned seafood factory and the high rise moon, even as the sun was still sinking lower into the horizon.

At times, Emma wished that everything would remain peaceful like her surroundings. Like the way there was an absence of danger out in the audience of nature. Where chaos was water eating away a sandy beach. Where leaves detached themselves and drifted away freely as if exploring on their own. The corroded sides of ships from salt water. And above all, the refreshing night wind which caressed her face and hair.

Believing that it would take some time for the inevitable, Swan finally settled onto the wooden bench and she sighed. She sighed because so many things had unfolded within a span of twenty four hours. One after the other, like dominoes, her life had taken a turn for the worst; possibly. And here she was, about to face the brink of a shattering fall, where someone was going to be terribly hurt. Or worst.

Someone was going to walk away without coming back.

Unlocking her phone, she tapped on the WhatsApp icon and found herself gazing at Regina's name above the chat window a little too longer than expected. Her icon had been the same since Robin had died; a sideway capture of the brunette with dark shades on and red lipstick. She had no status because the recent update wouldn't allow it. But since last night, due to the ability of uploading a story, as one would call it, Regina's one photo had been a quote with five words:

I can't live without you

Emerald eyes stung, because as much as she hated to admit it, the blonde was struggling to maintain her composure when truthfully, those walls had been shattering since the night before. Since that one message that began with an invitation for them to talk. Because Regina never approached her like that, on a messenger to have a conversation. Never. The brunette would always confront. She would maintain eye contact. And she would get things out in the open boldly.

Not last night.

Emma held her breath as she began to read a bit of the chat again, possibly for the hundredth time.

Emma: You paused when I told you. After you saw the ring… Why?

Regina: I couldn't believe it was true.

Emma: But you know that it was going to happen eventually. It's not like we weren't dating for a while, right?

Regina: Yes.

Emma: And we started building a future together. I mean, he moved in with me. That was a start.

Regina: Yes.

Emma: I kind of started to feel like he wanted something permanent as I did.

That's why I wasn't surprised.

And when I found the ring, I was convinced that he wanted more.

Regina: Okay.

Emma: He's so reckless though. He hid it someplace where I found it so easily.

I literally still can't believe all of this happened. I'm actually engaged.

Regina: Yes you are.

Emma: You could at least sound a little more excited for me, you know.

You sound really distant all of a sudden.

I still don't get why you reacted the way you did today when I showed you the ring.

It's like you were disappointed.

Regina: I'm sorry. But I am disappointed.

Emma: Why?

Because you think I'm too good for him?

Regina: No. Because he finally won.

Emma: What?

I don't get it.

Hey, you there?

Regina? I know you're there. It says you're online.

Regina?

Talk to me. Stop ignoring my messages.

Regina: I'm tired…

Emma: Yeah we had a pretty exhausting few days. Maybe you should get some rest.

Regina: I can't sleep.

Emma: Turn off the phone. It'll come eventually

Regina: You mean the nightmares will. Of you marrying him.

Emma: What?

Regina: I can't hold it inside any longer, Emma.

I really can't anymore.

This is becoming too unhealthy for me and I need to confess or else I will mentally damage myself.

Emma: What are you talking about?

You're scaring me. What's going on? Are you okay?

Regina: No, I'm not, Emma.

I've been crying for the past three hours.

I can't sleep.

It's almost midnight and I can't stop crying.

Emma: Omg. What happened? Is this about Robin? Did he say something to you?

Regina: This isn't about Robin. This is about you.

Emma: What about me?

Did I do something or say something wrong to you today?

I know that I told you to stay back when we went to fight the evil queen.

But I only wanted to protect you.

I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.

Regina: I'm not crying because of that.

I'm crying because of your engagement.

Emma: Is it because you wanted the same with you and Robin?

Regina, I'm so sorry.

I don't see this as something like a victory for me just because I'm here.

I want the best for you too and I'll make sure that happens.

I made a promise.

Please stop crying.

This is going to work out for you, okay?

Regina: No it wouldn't.

Emma: It will!

Maybe it's not with Robin.

But there's someone else out there for you and we'll find him.

Fuck. I'll find him.

I hate to see you so sad all the time.

I'll fix this.

Regina: Okay.

Emma: I'll fix it. I swear.

We both need to be happy and I feel so stupid about this now,

I just hate myself.

There I was, showing off my ring when you're hurting inside.

And I don't think I can forgive myself for this now.

I know that you're still in love with Robin.

Regina: I'm not in love with Robin.

Emma: I know you're going to say that to get over him.

And I respect that. I totally do.

Regina: I really am not in love with Robin.

You're the one who made me bring him back when I didn't want to.

I didn't want to bring him back because after he died, I buried his memories.

Emma: But you told me that you needed to find him in that stupid dream world to find answers…

Regina: I wanted to somehow forget the way I feel now by just believing that if I heard him say the right things again, then maybe I would stop feeling this way.

But it didn't work. It will never work and nothing will make me forget this.

This isn't about him. It was never about him.

Emma: Then why are you crying?

Regina: You. Hook.

Emma: I don't get it.

I'm going to call you.

Can I call you?

I need us to talk about this so I can listen to you explain what's bothering you.

Regina: I can't talk to you right now.

I'm weak and I'm crying.

Emma: Regina.

What's going on?

Please tell me.

I want to help.

I can't stand to sit here and think of you crying.

I want to help.

Regina: You will not like the truth.

Emma: Geez. Just tell me already.

Hey.

You there? Hellooo.

Regina, answer me.

Regina?

Hello?

If you don't answer me I'm going to come over there.

I swear.

Regina: Don't

Emma: FUCK.

Thank God.

Don't do that again.

You had me so worried.

It's been half an hour.

What the hell happened?

Regina: I took some pills

Emma: WHAT?!

WWHAT PILLS?

OMG

Regina: To ease the pain of lo

Emma: WHAT DID YOU TAKE?

Im coming over thre right now.

Regina: to ease t he pain of loving you emmaa a

She remembered staring at that line for a long time whilst literally feeling her chest become stone cold. The room had become so cold. Her hands had grown cold. And she couldn't breathe. No matter how hard she tried, Emma remembered that she couldn't breathe.

Tears, hot tears slid down her cheeks as she read the rest of the chat, sinking into the bench and feeling as if her heart would explode.

Emma: Regina take deep breaths and stay where you are.

Im coming there to get you.

Please answer my call I'm trying to call you and your not picking up.

Regina: its done

Emma: What's done?!

Regina: my life

Emma: No it's not done okay?

Fuck. Listen to me, Regina.

Whatever you may think right now, it's not okay to think that youre not special to me.

I care about you so much.

Regina: no you don't

Emma: I do!

I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOU.

What pills did you take?

I'm on my way over there right now.

Keep texting me

Regina: hes better than me.

Emma: No he isn't.

Hell never be better than you.

You're my best friend Regina.

The most special person in my life.

I'm texting you and im running over there.

Regina: do you know how many times I dreamed of you

Emma: How many?

How many times?

Regina?

Regina: I feel so slepy

Emma: JFC. Regina stay with me.

Regina: You u will miss me

Emma: Of course I would miss you!

But you're not going anywhere

I'll always be here for you

Regina?

Regina oh god don't do this to me

Answer me

Regina: yes im numb cant type nymore

Bye

Emma: Regina!

Stay with me!

Regina?

And that's when she had called her. The phone had rang out. Once. Then four times. Then five. Until she was running, literally pelting down Main Street and headed for Mifflin until the blonde realized that she could have just poofed herself there instead.

So confused she had been. So utterly devastated.

Then upon reaching the looming mansion at minutes to one after midnight, the door was secured from the inside. Her heart was hammering away just as her fists were on that damn door. She was ready to break it down, to fling it from its hinges. Until the blonde decided to start using her brain and with the aid of magic, Swan finally entered the house.

She remembered how dark the interior was. How the air was colder than normal and the way she stumbled around practically yelling for her. Screaming her name. Shoving open doors and then taking the steps three at a time, just so that she would reach upstairs and be able to assess the situation without doing so from behind a screen.

Emma, legs parted, allowed her upper form to fall forward as tears anguished her. As tears shook her chest until those sobs grew painful enough. Just when she had honestly believed that they could keep that special bond between them and work to build on it, her whole world had come crashing down. Because after entering the bedroom upstairs, she had found her on the floor on her right side.

The phone display illuminated the area under the bed to an extent. Her brown eyes barely fluttered open, even when the blonde fell to her knees and she began to cry even more. The bottle of sleeping pills had rolled away about three feet and after checking the contents, Emma noted that more than half of the quantity was missing.