"You are everything I want to protect."
Emma Swan woke up in the middle of the night. Instinctively, she lazily reached out for Regina Mills. However, she found nothin but an empty cold space. Emma opened her eyes and checked the time. It was still three in the morning. Emma sensed that something was wrong. She got up of the bed, and checked on Henry. Henry was sleeping soundly on his bed, comfortably tucked in. However, Regina was not in his room. Then Emma heard something that sounded like gentle sobs coming out of the bathroom.
"Regina, baby?" Asked Emma as she she slowly stepped inside the bathroom.
Regina was sitting in the corner of the bathroom. As soon as she noticed Emma's presence,she turned her face away and wiped off her tears.
"Hey honey,what's wrong?" Whispered Emma as she sat besides Regina and tenderlly placed her arms around her.
Regina placed her head on Emma's shoulder and Emma started to stroke Regina's silky hair.
"I was feeling a bit down, Em" replied Regina. "The others, they are trying to find a way back to the enchanted forest, and I know that they would rather see me dead that take me with them. They will never love me, they will never forgive me. Not after everything I did."
"Regina, no one will ever take me away from you. And slowly, they will see the good in you. Slowly, they will see what I see in you, they will see what I love in you." Answered back Emma, kissing Regina on her forehead.
Regina tried to answer something but no words came out. Silent tears rolled on her cheeks.
"Henry loves you. He knows that you have changed, and that you are trying to be a better person, and a better mother. And I know that too. Remember my special ability. No one can possibly lie to me..." Emma added in a gentle tone.
"Why do you love me?" Asked Regina, as she took Emma's right hand into hers. "I don't think I deserve someone like you in my life."
"That's because you don't see yourself as I see you." Emma said, kissing Regina's hand. "When I look at you, I see someone who needs love. Someone who needs to be protected. You are everything I want to protect. When I am with you, I feel whole. That's something I never felt before. Not even with Neil. Until now, everyone has been seeing your evil side. All your life, you have been trying to hide behind someone you are not. It is time to set yourself free. Show them the good in you. Show them the real Regina who saved my mother once without even knowing who she was. When I look at you,this IS what I see. A selfless person, a loving mother, and an amazing and beautiful woman. And I love what I see."
"You make me feel whole too. I can't see me loving anyone else but you,and I cannot see myself raising Henry with anyone else but you. My sweet Em." Replied Regina, caressing Emma's hands.
Regina felt Emma's arms hold her tighter.
"I just want to make you happy. I will never let anyone close enough to hurt you again. I know you've been through a lot, but all I want is to make sure you are happy. I want to be with you everyday. I want you to be the mother of my child. I want you to be by my side everyday when I wake up. I want your face to be the first thing I see in the morning. I want your sweet voice to be the first thing I hear in the morning. And I want to raise Henry with you. You are everything I want to protect. I love you, Miss Regina Mills." Whispered Emma slowly in Regina's ear.
"Em, I love you too." Regina said, never more sincerely.
Regina and Emma returned back to bed,cuddling each other, and whispering tender words to each other.
And for a once, both knew that their happy ending could actually happen. Because as long as they had each other,and their son, they were happy. And they needed nothing more for their own happy ending.