Author's Note: I do not own Once Upon A Time or its characters. Just a fan.
Regina sat on the bench at the town's overlook point where she could look out at the water in peace. The sound of footfalls on the path up caught her attention as the sheriff came into view.
"Do you mind if I sit?" Emma asked.
Regina shrugged and Emma took it as an Ok.
They sat there in silence though neither woman looking at each other.
"You left pretty early last night."
"I'm still not one for parties I guess. Still the outsider."
"That's not true. Why don't you tell me why you really left?"
No answer.
"You know I did what I had to do, right?"
"Yes, I know."
"Then would you at least look at me. You haven't looked me in the eyes since … since I killed your sister."
"Half-sister. A half-sister I didn't even know and who was doing her best to try to wipe me from existence."
"Yes, so why are you upset?"
"It's nothing."
"I'm not leaving until you tell me."
No response.
"I can stay up here all night if that is what it takes."
"Feel free to stay then, I am leaving."
Emma got to her feet and grabbed Regina's arm forcing her around to look at her.
"Let go of me."
"No, not until you tell me why you can't even look at me."
"It's not about you."
"Fine, it's not about me, what is it about."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"Let go."
"No."
"Damn it Emma, let go."
"Tell me."
"Tell you what? Tell you that my sister is dead. Tell you that I have no family now. And maybe it didn't matter. My mom used me, my father never protected me and my sister hate me so much she tried to keep me from being born. Those are my people. That is who I came from. Is it any wonder I became the Evil Queen. Those people down there in town tolerated me because I was useful to them. We had a common enemy in Zelena. But what now? All they have is me to despise. And me, I have no one."
"You have Henry."
Regina looked away.
"You have Henry, and you have me. And my parents. We, all of us, are a family. I mean the whole family tree it bent around and in complete chaos, but that doesn't make us less of a family."
"We aren't family."
Emma let go of her. "When you see that I am telling the truth, you know where to my find me."
Regina didn't watch her walk away. She sat back down on the bench and looked out at the water.
She buried her head in her hands. Her family wasn't the problem, she was. Even with her heart back where it belonged, she didn't know how to let it feel.