What's happened to Emma
Emma takes Regina home after her first night out with the girls. Everyone went home happy and even though Emma wishes she could have stayed the night she walks home. David, ruby, and mainly Regina are all worried about Emma's sudden behavior having though she had a good night. When someone puts a few pieces together what will they do.
Mention of rape.
There isn't much to go on when David watches Emma through the morning but he can tell something has happened. She's barely said two words since walking in with her morning coffee. She never just sits down and gets to work. Actually she does but she never just stays like that. The night before he knows it was girls night out and Emma tagged along. She's still working when it comes to patrol time and Emma hasn't moved David takes it upon himself to go. It's not long before he's standing in front of ruby at the diner having decided to figure out what happened.
Ruby didn't quite get why Emma looked so broken this morning but when she's not the only one to notice she begins to get worried. She's texted Regina and asked if Emma said she had something on her mind the night before having walked Regina home from her first girls night out. When she read back that nothing of great importance was on her mind when she left for her own apartment that night her curious yet worried mind started racing. Then David had come to ask her like maybe she knew and yet she didn't. Her pointed him in the only direction she could. Regina. The last to see her last night.
Regina had simply let a little anger get to her that her main new found friend had decided not to text her this morning. Instead her first text long after she woke was from ruby asking about Emma's strange behavior. She knew nothing about it but at least it explained the reason behind the missing text that was usually there when she woke. When David came knocking on her door with questions in uniform it was certain something happened last night. Distinctly one part of their conversation made it frighteningly clear.
"Yes I was with her last night. I know she went home." She couldn't have gulped any louder before stating. "Alone." David just stands there unsure what that is suppose to mean. If it's meant to mean anything. If it was a jibe at the fact they moved out with baby Neil into a bigger place or if it was one towards the towns people not that he believed anyone would hurt emma.
Without another word Regina stepped past David on the porch and closed the door poofing to just outside the sheriffs office. She wanted to see this strange behavior for herself. Stepping inside she knew the sound her heels made terrified half the town but it only always darkened Emma's eyes. But instead of that expecting strong stubborn gaze when she rounded on the sherif office she got a full glimpse of the small quiet woman that had been described to her. Emma actually buried in the papers on her desk.
"What can I do for you Madame mayor, I'm sure it's important if you decided poofing was necessary." Her jaw slacks slightly.
"How-"
"I didn't hear your car." Regina's frows her brows. emHow did she know my cars sound? Why was she being so formal? we haven't been that way since I forgave her for bringing Marian back. "So what is it so I can get focused on my work?"
"I would say you're focused enough you haven't even looked at me yet." When she refuses to look up Regina know for sure she needs to be here so what if she's late to the office or misses it all together. So long as Emma needs her she's determined to stay. Walking closer not saying anything yet when Emma slaps a hand and pen down on the desk. Regina halts.
"Just tell me and go I'll get it done. Did I not hand in a file? It's all over there. If it's not there I'll have it done before lunch." Emma gives a quick look and a hand Gesture to the pile on the other table. It's the table for the deputy to bring to her office. It's practically a mountain and more so as she said almost all of the paper work she has been behind on or redoing. Was she planning on avoiding me? Why? Regina thought as she swallows, licks her lips, and taste salt. She's not use to seeing Emma like this. It's breaking her heart she'd been trying so hard to get Emma to see how close she wants to get. It not just any friendship she wants. But Emma has been so adamant on refusing any guys gestures that she's possible just began refusing all gestures. Except her but this was total shut down something Emma and Regina had never managed with each other. Especially after last night. They both knew the other cared to much.
Emma's back to work and seems to be ignoring Regina's silence. Trying to ignore her completely but even she knows that's not possible not after trying to herself for the ordeal with bring Marian back. A small cry reaches Regina's ears and not a moment is wasted wondering where it's coming from. She is at Emma's Side right away. Her arms wrapped around her without thinks the cry seeping but not in sorrow but in pain and she's off her like she's fire. Her eyes narrow and practically peeling the layers down as best she can with her imagination. She's resisting the urge to do it physically but now pieces are falling into place and she will do what she had to to not scare Emma further into isolation.
"Emma, look at me please. It's me." Emma shakes her head and lowers her head. She wonders if that is something She'd need to change to get her to talk to her. Someone hurt her they must have said her name Regina feels it in her gut. "Miss swan, stop being ridiculous and look at me this instant." Seeing blood shot eyes look up at her Regina kneels Down holding back her gasp. "Someone hurt you last night didn't they." Emma nods quietly but whispers while a gentle rocking starts. She's half hugging herself half clinging to the arm Regina has given her.
"I'm sherif, I should have been.. Stronger." With that Emma runs from the office and she gone faster than Regina could realize what was going on with her little swan. When she tracked down Emma it wasn't a surprise after the last statement just why Emma was in the empty gym dressed and wrapped up punching and kicking wildly at the equipment. Regina sighed at the sight not sure how to quite the apparent storm inside Emma right now. Walking up behind Emma she carefully caught her next punch and readily caught her next attack that was out of shock.
"You should have someone to fight against dear, this is child's play for the real thing." With a small cloud of purple Regina was dressed just like Emma planning to work the frustration out of Emma to what it is suppose to be so she might be able to help more. "Come on give me your best."
"What? I'm not gonna fight you." Her hands drop but Regina bumps them up still seeing an anger in Emma's eyes.
"Yes you will you need to strike straighter, your spin was lacking in balance. Hold your hand like this." She egged her on with her directions. She faked a punch into the air. Pumped her feet bouncing from foot to foot. Emma looked more surprised than anything that Regina even know how to box. "Come on if I can learn self defense so can you, no put your arms up miss swan or you'll get more bruises."
Regina could now see the marks that took over her arms and stomach. More than that Regina could tell by Emma's posture her rib was bruised maybe even cracked. She wouldn't hurt her but she was gonna do this for her swan's protection. This time when Regina jabbed the air in front of Emma a spark flared and Emma's fist collided with Regina's. Regina smirked each slow or weak shot Emma gave egging her on with more stern guidelines. She watched as Emma's frustration reached a new high.
"Come on Emma don't you want to protect yourself better." With a growl Regina hadn't expected and a fist deflected followed by a surprise force of magic hit Regina pushing her back. She lost her footing and fell back. Her smirk turned to shock as Emma started shouting.
"I don't care about me, I know who I need to protect. Don't you get it, it's you, it's Henry, I don't need to worry about me. If I can't protect myself how can I protect the ones I love." Now in a heap on the floor Regina go to her. Her mouth dry but slowly it didn't matter. Though those were words she had wanted to hear all this time Regina pushes past it more concerned with the same woman so fierce moments ago she tugs into her lap.
"Who hurt you Emma? I'll find them. I'll make the regret it, and I'll tell you this for the millionth time I don't need protection." Regina's hands threading her hair. Emma shakes her head. "Who hurt you? No body hurts people I love and gets away with it." She says hoping to reach some bit of Emma. Emma gasps and rolls slowly in her lap Regina clearing the mass of hair in Emma's face. Emma searches Regina's eyes for the truth. Her eyes shine a little like a smile but she says instead.
"He surprised me I didn't get a chance to defend myself. I was still a little fuzzy."
"I know dear I should have made sure you were home safe. Who was it?"
"Promise you won't leave me to get them?" She says clinging to the arms around her.
"Yes I promise."
"Sydney." Fury was all Regina felt and all Emma saw in the eyes the teared up at the name. She almost leapt up to punish the damn fool but resisted the urge. All her anger vanished when emma winced due to a tightening hold on her side.
"Oh, Emma I'm sorry. Here can you stand?" They both do with out much problem. "I'm also sorry that pig did hurt you. Did he..was it.. Just beating or.." She couldn't finish her thoughts each time they neared finish she choked at the image it brought. Emma shook her head and tried to explain but cried out instead. "He touched you!" Regina growled so thick it sent shivers through Emma.
"He called out for you, he threw me on the ground and said it would make you disgusted with me, and that if he couldn't have you nobody could... I don't know what he meant. I never told anyone how I felt. He thought you and I already.. Together." Emma buried herself into Regina's neck before crying. "I'm so sorry I didn't I'm sorry if It disgusts you."
"Never." She responds holding Emma safely and lovingly./p
After a long day Emma heads over to the 'The Mirror' where she reads Sydney his rights and cuffs him. He only talks when he's grabbed again from the car and thrown in jail. His attitude sickens Emma but she bares it.
"Finally thought you could handle me did you, no matter. Regina will get me out she needs me. She may not admit she wants me but she will always know she needs me." His lips curl in a nasty prideful way. "She'll never want you now."
"Wrong on both accounts you slime." Regina poofs into the room. "I don't need or want you and I will always want Emma. But not just for the way you make it." Her fists clench but relax as she lays on the next bit of sting to her verbal blows." I just came from your replacement. I believe belle will be and excellent writer. Much better than you anyways. Then again anyone can do a job better than you." With that she turns to Emma and steps up to her. Her eyes asking the question while she waits for a nod. When she sees Emma nod she leans forward and kisses her softly.
It's after Regina disappears with Emma away from the crazed man they both feel calmer. It's suddenly safe again for Emma not that she was afraid for herself or now that Sydney was locked up. She was good at being sherif again. She wasn't surprised that her hazy state last night made the trauma shorter in her mind, less frightening with her past and now she was able to believe Regina liked her anyways. Because Regina was holding her. In her arms while kissing her Emma could feel the relief and the fear trading places.
David is back at Regina's door before to long that Regina wonders if he even left. He'd been sitting outside waiting for her to come back. That was after going to the sherif office and seeing no one there. He won't stop looking at either of them hoping to get answers. Emma puts on a fake smile and asks David to just wire everything to her cell. Of course as soon as he sees Sydney in a cell he calls to ask what happened but Emma firmly states she'll write up a report first thing when she gets in and hangs up. She tries to keep her voice down and hands focused gentle scraping Regina's head as the lay together on the couch. Her breathing regular because Regina is tracing figures through her shirt on her abs. When she hangs up she sighs contently and kisses Regina's head before drifting asleep after such a long day.
"Thank you." She says hoping Regina hears her. She just catches the soft 'welcome' that follows but she does and she's smiling till sleep brings dreams of a future with the woman she holds so protectively into her body.