A small invasion of privacy and a lost key
Regina backed away from Emma so fast that you may think the blonde had been on fire. Emma eyed the man she took to be Regina's husband or fiancée. He seemed like a kind man from what she could see. Looking at his girl with confused eyes, Daniel asked, "What is going on, Regina?"
Before Regina could answer, Emma said, "I'm his birth mother, we were talking and well it got emotional."
"Is this true?" Daniel asked Regina for confirmation, looking at her with worried eyes.
"Yes," she said, leaning against him instead to be held.
"Oh, sweetheart," he said in a very soft tone, kissing the top of her head. Emma couldn't help but to feel a sting of jealousy by this. If it was because he was holding her or if he was treating her in such a loving way she didn't really know. She only knew that Neal hadn't treated her that way in the longest time and she missed it. Emma sighed and said, "I should get the results if the bone marrow is right sometimes today, but I do think that we're going to head back to have something to eat and then come back, we didn't really have time earlier."
"I can call you if anything happens," Regina offered.
"No need, I… we won't be gone too long," she said and went to fetch Neal before going. As soon as they were out of hearing view, Daniel turned towards his beloved saying, "Are you sure you are okay?"
"It's just so much with him being ill and all, they coming here, I'm afraid if they get to know him he'll like them more. Oh Daniel I couldn't bear to lose him," said Regina with a very heavy sigh.
"You won't have to I'm sure," he said in a soft tone.
"I'm so tired Daniel, so very tired," she whispered.
"I know, sweetheart, how about you go home and rest and I'll stay here?" he offered.
"I can't stand the thought of leaving him," she said.
"You have to rest sometime, I'll call if there is anything," he said, and gave her the softest kiss. She nodded, too tired to argue, before she slowly walked towards he exit.
Neal and Emma hadn't gotten further than to Granny's diner before the fight was on again. He looked at her asking, "What the hell were you doing hugging that woman?"
"She's going to a hell of rough time, I was trying to comfort her," Emma snapped back.
"That is I dare say a task for her boyfriend," he said.
"God, you can be such an ass, she might lose her child if you haven't noticed," said Emma.
"Yeah I have, that's why we are here in the first place," he said.
"Could it hurt for you to have some shred of empathy," she said.
"I'm sorry for not liking my woman clinging on to others," he said.
"You know, I have enough on my mind, I don't need this shit right now," she said and got up and walked out. She needed some air, and to get as far from him as possible right now.
"She's right you know, you can try to be sympathetic," he heard a female voice say and looked right into a couple of green eyes. He swallowed hard not knowing what to say, there was something about her that left him completely speechless.
"Cat got your tongue?" she said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Ruby, I work here," said Ruby honestly, adding, "Do you want anything?"
"Coffee and toast with scrambled eggs, beans and bacon," he said.
"I'll be back with your order, it's a shame she's with you," said Red and walked away. The half-smile on her lips couldn't fail to escape him, nor that she seemed to wiggle her hips a bit extra as she walked away. Was she flirting with him or was he simply losing his mind he wondered. For the first time he was starting to think.
Emma was walking around in the streets of the little town, not knowing where she was going, until she stopped outside a big house. In fact she hadn't seen any other houses that big anywhere near. The door said 108 on the side a sign saying, "Regina, Daniel and Henry." No last name, maybe Regina and Daniel wasn't married, although Emma distinctly remembered that both wore similar golden bands on their fingers. Should she have a look or walk away? No she couldn't do that, she was too curious about the couple that for all these years had raised her son. The need of knowing more did that she just had to feel the handle, oddly enough it was open, so she walked inside. Soon finding the house to be in perfect order, nothing lying about, except for a couple of comic books on the living room couch. Most likely Henry's or maybe Daniel's also. A book was on a chair, "Romeo and Juliet," Emma read, most likely to be Regina's, she couldn't picture Daniel reading that, plus the bookmark peaking over the top of it was one with pink roses. Not male enough. So she was a reader, she had to be as there was bookshelves there as well. Meaning she was a smart woman and rich to afford this place. Then again she was they Mayor, wasn't that what she had said. Even so some of the books might be his, after all she hadn't looked a he content in the shelves, so it might be a good possibility he was a reader also, considering the collection was quite huge. Emma wondered what her man did for a living, when she saw the shelf over the fireplace, pictures of Regina and Henry and one of Regina on a horse. So she was a rider, or once had been, Emma wasn't sure. But where was she and why was the door open?
The blonde was tempted to search upstairs, but found it best not to as she was afraid to overstep any boundaries, she already had by walking inside and looking around. Quietly she slipped out the door, not noticing that she dropped something on the way.
"No, please, Leopold, don't…" a young Regina whispered, trying to back away from her husband, but instead she backed into a corner.
"Will you come here?" the middle-aged man growled, tired of battling her whenever he had needs.
"I'm tired, and my head hurts," she said, which actually for once was true, that and he fact she was still sore after the night before. She of course knew marrying him would be the lesser of two evils, her mother being the first, but still…
He tilted his head and looked at her, judging if she was telling the truth or not. His young wife seemed rather pained, and she was shivering also. Maybe it for once would be in his best interest to listen. Then again he was the man of the house, so his opinion would matter more than hers.
Regina swallowed hard, slowly walking over to him whispering, "I'm sorry, Leo, please don't be upset with me."
He nodded as she lay down on their bed, her clothes were already removed. She knew what was best so she would let herself be submissive until he had enough.
Tears streamed down her checks much later wishing she was anywhere but there, and pain was going through her body and mind cutting her life a knife.
Regina opened her eyes and sat up with a jolt, tears were running down her checks and she was shivering. Another nightmare from her past. She had gone without them for some time, but after Henry had become ill, they seemed to return for one reason or another, not to mention they had gotten even worse over the last week, after she met Emma and Neal. She wasn't quite sure as to why. God she had hated him so very much, her late husband. Well not him in general, what he did to her more, what caused her to never be able to have children of her own. Instead she had raised his daughter Mary Margaret as her own, even though truth to be told she never cared much about her. It wasn't until she again found Daniel she learned what love truly was, and later when they had Henry she learned the true meaning of being a mother.
Henry, her sick little boy, groaning she got out of bed, dragged herself out of bed and over to the closet to change her outfit. A grey pantsuit would have to do for now. The top under would this time, mostly cause she was too tired to care, become a red one, circle neck with a red apple on the front. That top was actually one of her favorites, even if it was a bit under-dressed to go with her regular style. Right now however that was one of her last concerns, Henry being her first. She bent down to look at herself in the mirror on her makeup table, adding some finishing touches to her makeup so it wouldn't seem like she had slept at all. Taking a pair of grey heels to match was the final touch. It was incredible that she could always look so great; especially considering the nightmare that had woken her up was to relive one of the worst memories of her past. That however she wouldn't let anyone see, except maybe Daniel that usually comforted her at night. She would never let her façade fall in front of anyone.
Slowly she walked downstairs, but something wasn't as it should be. There was something on the floor, near the edge of the stairs; Regina bent down to pick it up. A keychain with a swan and car key. Swan… Emma Swan. How had she even gotten there or inside, Regina felt the handle of her front door, it was open, she figured she had been too tired to lock it earlier. Sighing she put the key in her pocket and walked into the kitchen, making some sandwiches to bring with to the hospital, she even made some with sausages and peanut butter and jelly in case Henry was up for eating. Regina took some bottles of coke from the fridge and a bag of Henry's chips and a couple of candy bars, also being the favorite of her son and companion from the closet and put in her bag. With that she locked up the house and drove to the hospital.
Once she got there she could hear Emma and Neal's fighting voices, she rolled her dark eyes lightly and groaned, she had so had it with them. As she didn't see her beloved, she assumed he was inside with Henry. Her heels clacking against the linoleum floor as she approached them, saying, "This is a hospital and I have so had it with your fighting. Neal leave now or I swear to God you wish you had, if you can't cool down. Emma the same goes for you. My son is in there fighting for his life he doesn't need to hear people like you fighting over your pathetic issues outside his room. I don't care much for the reason, just stop it now."
With that, before they could respond she had gone inside his room. Henry was sitting up now, his eyes were open and he was smiling by the sight of his mother.
"Hey handsome, how are you feeling today?" Regina asked in a soft tone.
"Tired, but a bit more okay than yesterday, what's in the bag?" he asked, looking at her with curious eyes.
"Food and something salty and sweet in case you were hungry, do you think you are up for eating," she said and handed it to him.
"I can try, oh coke, you're the best, mommy," he said and opened a bottle. Daniel gave his fiancée a soft smile. Regina smiled back at him, glad to see him trying to eat a sandwich, he didn't do that very often anymore. Halfway through he asked, "Who are those outside?"
"Emma and Neal, your birth parents, I was hoping they could have bone marrow that could help you, we are waiting for the result of Emma's test," Regina explained taking a bite of a sandwich with ham and cheese, Daniel was eating one with sausage.
"So that is my real parents?" he asked, looking at her with wondering eyes.
"Yes," she said with a heavy sigh, she felt Daniel's hand stroking her lower back gently.
"Cool, maybe I can talk to them when I feel better, at least she seems okay," he said.
"She is," Regina confirmed.
"I'm feeling tired again," he suddenly said, putting the rest of the food aside, to slide back down in the bed.
"Just try to rest, mommy is not going anywhere," Regina whispered in a soft tone, stroking his hair in a gentle way.
"Good," he whispered, a smile on his lips. As he were to fell asleep Regina was to sit down on Daniel's lap, she needed to feel his love, to feel safe and protected from the chaos in her head.
Outside a doctor was approaching Emma saying that she was a donor match. She nodded and said she would tell Regina, just not right now. Seeing her on Daniel's lap, his arms wrapped around her slender body, and her head leaning against his shoulder, made something inside her turn for not being able to feel the same. It made her realize just how broken this woman was by it all. She had asked Neal to leave moments earlier; it was better not having him there. Right now she was watching over his birth son and his family, glad that she would be able to help, so that he most likely would heal and get better. Smiling at Regina and Daniel, thinking that she would have to be the most beautiful woman that ever was and that she could look upon her forever. A sigh of contentment escaped her lips, glad that Neal was gone so she could enjoy this moment alone, not caring where she had lost those bloody car keys.
Thank you for reading, feedback is always most welcome :o)
