Chapter 2: The Savior Speech

Emma spent the next day reading the book Henry gave her before having the guts to follow it. It wasn't that challenging since it wasn't a big book. As usual, Henry helped her.

"Many relationships fail simply because people lack the skills of relating. These days people seem to not know how to properly apologize. Does it take a degree to do so? I don't think so, but I do think we have a generation who takes people and their feelings for granted." Henry read out loud as Emma stuffed another spoon full of cereal in her mouth.

1. Acknowledge the injury.

It's important to start by acknowledging that you have injured someone. A simple "I know that I hurt your feelings" can make a world of difference. Don't just drop "I am sorry". Do you understand what you are saying at all? Mean what you say and say what you mean.

"Maybe you should write things down." Henry said.

"I already did. Believe me, it was a disaster." Emma said, remembering the letter from yesterday.

"Try again." He insisted.

2. Acknowledge the repercussions.

You wouldn't need to apologize if your actions hadn't resulted in some nasty repercussions. The next step is to concede to those with as much objectivity as you can muster:

"I'm sorry I blew off our meeting; now the whole project is in jeopardy."

"I'm sorry I said those things about your mother. They were mean and uncalled for, and I should never have let my anger get the better of me."

That objectivity is the key; it shows that you've been able to get past your ego and any residual defensive posturing to confront your mistake with an unimpeachably honest assessment.

Whatever you do, do not make assumptions about how the other person is feeling, even if you're certain that they're accurate.

"I'm sorry I brought Marian back, now your chance at happiness is ruined?" Emma tried.

Henry shook his head.

Emma was getting nervous. Mainly because she didn't follow any of this and she always did exactly the opposite of everything. Her letter was horrible. If she didn't follow through, Regina would never forgive her.

"Whatever." Emma sighed. "We're late, kid." The blonde glanced at the clock and took one last spoon of cereal.

"Just write things, tell your real feelings. Don't give the savior speech." Henry grabbed his backpack.

"Yeah Emma, don't give the savior speech." David's voice screamed from upstairs.

"What the hell does that mean?" Emma, once again, frowned.

Henry let out a long sigh and patted his mother in the back.


"Mom?" Henry called for Regina as he stepped into the manor. He glanced around and his mother appeared nowhere in sight. Before he could question himself to all the possibilities of something terrible happening, a voice echoed from the study.

"In here." Came the rusty voice of Regina Mills.

"What are you doing?" Henry asked, his eyes scanning the room.

Regina sat in her study surrounded by books that were apparently all about magic. There were dark lines under her brown eyes and her black hair was less immaculate than usual.

"Searching." She replied, not looking up.

"For what?" Henry frowned, dropping his backpack on the marble floor.

"Answers." The brunette sighed. "Henry, do you know who wrote the book? Your book?" She pointed at Henry's fairy tale book next to her.

"No." He shrugged. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to change it."

"You can't do that, mom. No one can."

Her eyes finally went up and she glared at him. "I have to try."

Henry let out his hands apologetically as he approached his mother.

"Look, mom. I know you want him to be your true love, but you should be prepared for the possibility of that not being true." He continued, as softly as he could muster. "Just because we want something to be true, doesn't mean it is."

Regina's expression hardened and hot tears started streaming down.

"Henry, it has to be. There is no one else." Her voice was cracking.

Regina hated feeling like this. It was almost as if she was useless against her own self. Her vulnerable, weak self.

"Maybe you are looking at the wrong places." Her son said.

"Charming has Snow. Gold has Belle. Ariel has Eric. Even Killian has..Emma." She cleared her throat in the blonde's name.

Regina was so angry at Emma for reasons she didn't even understand. Taking away everything she held dear multiple times. Always trying to do right by everyone. Always apologizing. Always having the best interest at heart. It was so infuriating.

"Hook has my mom?" Henry frowned.

"That's not the point." Regina shook her head. "I'm tired of being alone, Henry." She said, relaxing as Henry's arms wrapped around her.

"You're not alone, mom. You have me." He started caressing her hair. "And you have a family now, like it or not. You have Emma. She's all guilty and looking to make it up to you."

Without realizing, a smile spread in the brunette's face.

Henry grinned. "You have to stop shutting her out."

He separated himself from her and went to grab his backpack. Searching inside, he grabbed a white envelope and handed it to Regina.

"What's this?" She asked, carefully eyeing the envelope with her name on it. It was Emma's sloppy handwriting.

"Emma's letter. I told her to write it yesterday." Henry smiled proudly. "She's working on her apologizing skills so don't expect too much." He didn't mention the face that he found it in the trash.

"Seriously?" Regina arched an eyebrow.

"Seriously." Henry nodded. "Now I'll let you read it, I'm going to take a shower."

As Henry closed the door, Regina took a deep breath. She was tired of Emma asking for forgiveness and justifying that she did the right thing. Regina knew she did the right thing. She always does.

So the brunette did the right thing, she opened the letter.


"What's up?" Henry replied as he answered the call from his birth mother.

"What's up?" She laughed, imitating him. "Where are you, kid?"

"Just left mom's. Where are you?"

"At Granny's. Come over."

"Ok." He nodded. "Oh, hey, I gave mom your letter."

Henry stopped hearing his mother breath.

"What letter?"

"The letter you wrote. You wrote it, right?" Henry stopped in his tracks.

"No, I didn't!" Emma panicked. "I mean, I did but she wasn't supposed to read that!"

"There was a letter in your office addressed to mom so I-"

"That's not the right one!"

"What do you mean?" Henry frowned.

"Henry, that letter was full of things that your mother shouldn't read. Like me throwing the truth right on her face, quoting Snow White and giving her the savior speech. Whatever that means."

"I can't believe it." Henry slapped his hand on his face.

"Forget it, she already hates me." Emma sighed. "Just come."

And the call was over.


Ten minutes later, Henry had already sat next to his mother.

"What are you going to do?" He asked after taking a sip of his hot chocolate.

"Avoid her at all costs?" Emma shrugged.

"That's not the answer." Henry rolled his eyes.

"What's not the answer?" Ruby entered the conversation, bringing Emma a hamburger.

"Tell her that ignoring someone is not the answer." Henry glanced at Ruby with pleading eyes.

"Is this about Regina?" Ruby shooed Emma aside and sat with her. "Spill."

Emma sighed. "Henry gave Regina a letter she wasn't supposed to read. With all my thoughts on it."

"How's that bad?" Ruby frowned.

"She used the savior speech." Henry whispered.

"Oh." Ruby's mouth shut.

"Maybe she didn't read it." Henry tried to comfort his mother.

Emma's hands went up. "You know what? I already apologized. I'm not going to humiliate myself, right? If she wanted to forgive me, she would've." Emma said, trying to express confidence more to herself than to others.

"Oh, please." Ruby huffed and let out her hand dismissively. "Don't pretend you don't like her."

"What?" Emma laughed. "I don't like Regina. I mean, I like Regina I just don't like...Regina?"

"That makes so much sense." Henry nodded slowly with his eyes narrowed at his mother.

"Told ya." Ruby grinned, putting her hands up in the air, waiting for Henry to high five her. He corresponded immediately.

"Guys, what are you talking about?" Emma looked at them like they just went mad.

"You and Regina are meant for each other." Ruby smiled as if she just discovered America.

Emma started to laugh. Nervously.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't want to. Just because I save her, or I believe her, or we make this weird magic together?" Oh God. "That's not what I meant. Anyway, I save everyone in this town because it's my duty to protect them. I try my best to help people and that doesn't mean I'm in love with them.'

"No one said anything about love." Henry murmured.

"Shut it, Henry!" She glared at him. "I do everything I can in this town, they expect things from me. I can't let everyone do-"

"Here it comes." Ruby said, rising from the booth. "Savior alert!"

Granny Lucas got out of the counter holding a...speaker?

"SAVIOR SPEECH. SAVIOR SPEECH." She announced to the empty diner.

"Granny?" Emma asked, dumbfolded.

Henry started to laugh. "That's hilarious."

In that moment, Emma's phone buzzed and a text showed up on the screen.

We need to talk.

- R

"Is that a date?" Ruby's voice came from behind her.

"I can't believe you." Emma rose up. "I'm going now, because I have a date, in fact. With Killian. Yeah."

She didn't.

"Really?" Ruby narrowed her eyes at the blonde. "I thought you dumped him."

"You don't know anything, Ruby Lucas." She glared at Henry. "And you, ask Ruby to give you a ride home."

Emma bolted for the door.

"She'll come around." Ruby said to Henry. "Now, tell me all about your party." She clapped her hands excitedly, sitting next to the kid.

Outside the diner, Emma's actions were speaking louder than her own confused thoughts as she texted as fast as she could.

hey, can we grab dinner?

The reply came seconds later.

sure, love. i knew you'd come around. ;)