None of the characters are my own.

Surrender Chapter 2: Attempting a Fresh Start

"Emma, regardless of whatever words come out of your mouth, you don't deserve another human being hurting you. Don't you ever say or think that again. You don't deserve me, but, if you give me a chance, I'd very much like to try and make it up to you."

Emma remained silent as she contemplated whether there was a chance she and Regina were making a bigger deal out of the situation than what it really was. The mere fact that she was referring to it as "the situation" indicated they were not. Much to her chagrin, she came to the same conclusion she arrived at moments earlier out of anger: she and Regina should take a break. Never having been one to be in lasting relationships, she was not even sure if she knew what "taking a break" meant. Emma sighed and turned to face Regina. She told her, "I don't want to break up with you. However, we can't be together—not like this." Emma hesitated for a beat before continuing, "Maybe we can call Dr. Hopper in the morning?"

Regina nodded her head in agreement and replied, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. For now," Regina patted the armrest of the sofa, "I'd feel more comfortable sleeping on this old thing for the night. I guess you could call it putting myself in the doghouse."

Emma would have actually felt more comfortable with Regina sleeping next to her in the master bedroom, but, not surprisingly, she was no mood to argue with the brunette. Emma rose to her feet and told Regina, "Okay, it's a deal. Well I have a few case notes I wanted to look over again before going to sleep," and, with that said, she walked to the den to retrieve the case file.

Regina padded her way up the wooden staircase to her room to change into her pajamas. She normally avoided wearing her flannel set to bed like the plague, but considering she would be downstairs for the night, she figured wearing her warmest pair of pajamas would be wise. As she removed her earrings, she studied her reflection in her dresser mirror. She discovered she could not handle facing herself after what she had done to Emma earlier and began to sob. Looking in the mirror, all she saw was the image of her mother. She suddenly heard Emma make her way up the steps and immediately rushed to her bathroom to remove her makeup. The last thing she wanted in that moment was for Emma to see her crying again.

Emma made her way into the bedroom and starting stripping herself of the clothes from that day. Feeling to lazy to pick out something just sleep in, she opted to sleep in the tank she was already wearing under her blazer and her underwear. After she snuggled under the sheets, she spoke loud enough so Regina could hear her from the bathroom, "You can cut the lights out whenever you're finished. I'm going to sleep now."

Regina was grateful Emma would get a good look at her face in the light. Even though she removed the evidence of her tears, the mascara, she was certain Emma could still tell if she had been crying again. The last thing she felt she deserved was Emma's comfort. She walked to cut the lights off in the bedroom and told Emma, "Goodnight," before shutting the door behind her. She grabbed a blanket and an extra pillow out of the hall closet and made her way down the stairs.

Saturday morning, Regina awoke with the sunlight that came streaming into the living room through the blinds and sheers. Regina quietly made her way up the stairs to freshen herself up in the bathroom. Fortunately, Emma sleeps like a bear and can seemingly hibernate through the loudest of noises. After she made her way back downstairs, she grabbed the phone in the kitchen to place a call. "Good morning Dr. Hopper. I was hoping I could make an appointment to see you later on this morning. Emma will be there, as well. Yes, 11:00 a.m. works. See you then." She hung up the phone and drummed her finger tips against the counter top.

Still feeling guilty about the previous night's events, she got an idea of what she could do for Emma that morning. She went out into her garden to pick fresh flowers to put in a small vase. Regina remembered a few bits of information from her royal education on the meanings and symbolism of flowers. She decided to pick a few daffodils because they symbolize new beginnings. She was putting a lot of weight on the meeting with Dr. Hopper to be a turning point for the better in their relationship. She stepped back inside the kitchen and began making Emma breakfast. She deiced to make her a bacon, red apple smoked cheese, and spinach omelette. She toasted an English muffin and spread it with apple butter. Knowing that Emma was not really one for coffee or tea, she prepared a pot of hot cocoa from scratch and sprinkled cinnamon on top of the whipped cream just the way she likes it. She neatly puts Emma's plated breakfast on the breakfast tray along with the vase of daffodils and carries the tray upstairs to her lover.

Once she was upstairs, Regina discovered Emma was sitting up in bed, looking through the case file again. When Emma saw her, her face broke into a huge grin. Regina told her, "I made breakfast for you. I hope you like it."

Emma immediately noticed the flowers and exclaimed, "Oh, wow! You picked me flowers. Everything looks lovely, and smells great. Thanks so much!"

"Well I just hope I can be the person you deserve to have. You mean the world to me."

"Hey. You mean the world to me, too. As a matter of fact, you are my world."

Regina smiled in reply to Emma's statement. "Eat up dear. We have an appointment with Dr. Hopper at eleven this morning. I am going to take my shower now."

Once Emma finished her breakfast, she took her shower then got dressed and ready to go. Emma volunteered to drive, so Regina sat in silence in the passenger side of the yellow Bug. When they arrived and Emma parked the car, she noticed that Regina did not move to get out of the car. Emma looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What if it doesn't work?"

"What if what doesn't work?"

"Meeting with Dr. Hopper, what if it doesn't work?"

Emma reached over and took Regina's left hand in her own, "We'll work through this problem. We'll get through this together."

Regina took a deep breath and squeezed Emma's hand. "Okay, let's go inside now."

Dr. Hopper greeted both women in his office. "So, what brings you two ladies into my office this morning?"