Authors Note: So I'm trying to make this a weekly update and hopefully I'll be able to stick to that. This chapter was a tough one to write out, I went through a few drafts so I apologise if you think it isn't great. Feel free to write a review but please don't be too harsh. Anyway, enjoy. :)
Emma was smiling to herself as she drove to the B&B despite her run in with Cora. There was something about Regina, she couldn't put her finger on it but she just knew she wanted to see her again. She felt excited at the prospect of getting to know Henry, and if she was honest Regina as well, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder to know he had been adopted by Regina.
She got out of her trusty yellow bug and announced herself at the establishment and an older grey haired spectacled woman appeared.
"Can I help you dear?"
"Oh yes, I'd like a room please. Just for a few days, three, maybe four at most."
"Of course, I'm Mrs. Lucas but everyone calls me Granny. Just sign in here and I'll get the key for you." The woman turned around to fetch the key from the back wall.
"Emma." A mans voice drawled from behind her as he peered at her signing in, "lovely name."
She turned, "um thanks?"
"I'm Mr Gold. I own this establishment, along with a few others in town."
"Here you go Miss Swan." Granny said as she took the form and gave a key to her. "Just head to the top of the stairs, turn left and it's the second door on the right."
"Thank you." She picked up her bag and headed to the stairs, turned round and said, "Goodnight to you both."
Mr Gold inclined his head then turned to face Granny giving her a slightly reptilian smile.
Emma landed on the bed and let out a huge sigh as the days events caught up with her. What was she thinking staying here, she should have just gone home, carried on driving and left this sleepy town to its own devices whilst she figured out her own problems. But then she thought about Regina and that brought a smile to her face again. She realised she hadn't done a lot of smiling in the last few years and yet suddenly she couldn't stop. She quickly shed the uniform and put it in a pile to wash tomorrow and clad only in her boxers and a tank top she settled into the luxurious bed and wrapped the thick duvet around herself, hoping that for one night she would be able to get a decent sleep.
She was tied to a chair in a dark room, the only light coming from a small lamp which was glaring in her face. She had to squint in order to see anything. She was dressed in the tattered remains of her uniform, her combat trousers shredded and her t-shirt ripped. She could taste metallic liquid on her lip and feel blood dripping down the side of her face.
"Where are the hideouts located for your team?" A calm voice asked in the darkness.
Emma took a breath and spat the blood from her mouth, "Go to hell."
As soon as she said that she felt a crack on the side of her face as she was struck, it took a moment for her eyes to focus again.
"We can do this all day, I'm not telling you anything." She smiled into the shadows.
"We've been doing this dance for nearly four months Swan, it's about time we amped it up."
A knife was suddenly jammed into her thigh and she screamed out.
She awoke gasping for breath, her legs trapped in the duvet, a sheen of sweat over her body. She kicked off the duvet and rubbed the deep red scar on her thigh gently trying to ease away the pain, "come on Swan" she thought as she tried to calm down "it was just a dream...a really horrible vivid dream, that just happened to be true but still..." She slid her body from the bed and pulled her shorts and t-shirt from the bag. A run was what she needed, the doctors said it would help, that would clear her head ready for the day ahead.
She realised it was only just 6am as she left the B&B but thought at least there'd be no others around to disturb her as she cleared her head and got the layout of the town.
A steady rhythm was being pounded out on the street, down Main Street, left, then right, a park, another left. She kept going, not really paying attention, too busy focusing on her breathing and trying to rid her mind of the night.
"Good morning" A voice called out just behind her, causing Emma to stumble and nearly fall.
"Oh my goodness, are you alright?" The voice said, Emma turned around and seeing the tall brunette in a deep blue satin dressing gown holding a basket of apples, broke into a smile without thinking about it. She didn't realise she was outside the Mills residence. She walked over to the fence, leaning her hand on it and her other on her hip as she got her breath back.
"Good morning Regina, I'm sorry I was in my own little world."
"I can see that. How are you after yesterday?" Regina asked as she placed her basket on the ground and leant against the small fence separating them.
"I'm alright thanks, it's still a lot to process but I'm getting there. How about you? It can't be easy having me here."
"It's fine Emma really. I'm glad you're here actually, maybe a second opinion will help Henry see that his book is just that, a story book."
"As long as you're okay with it. I don't really have anywhere to go for the time being. So if it's alright with you I'd like to stay around for a bit, get to know y...Henry and you".
Regina blushed a little hearing Emma nearly slip up, "I'd like that Emma but I have to warn you," Regina leant over the fence a little and smiled, her eyes almost glittering, "my mother isn't very pleased so she may have a few stern words for you."
"Yes she had a few last night, what's a few more. Henry mentioned she was the evil queen." Emma smirked.
Regina frowned at that, "Well, she can be strict at times only because she likes things done her way but evil? I'm not so sure about that. Anyway I should get going, Henry will be up shortly. We were going to go to Granny's for breakfast...will we see you there?" She leant a little more over the fence.
Emma smiled and shuffled forward a little and being bold she had noticed a bit of a leaf in Regina's hair so gently prised it from her then looking into eyes said, "Definitely."
"Great...I mean...umm, Henry will be pleased...right well, I'm going to go." She pointed away behind them and started to turn.
"See you later Regina." The soldier smiled again and turned to continue her run back to the B&B.
Emma arrived at the diner at 8 o'clock, dressed in jeans and her trademark tank top and red jacket, her hair still damp but put in a pony tail. She spotted Henry and Regina at the back of the diner so made her way over.
"Good morning Mills family. Room for another?" She smiled as she placed a hand on the back of Regina's seat and looked down at the brunette.
"Hi Emma. Can she sit with us mom? Please?"
Regina pretended to mull it over for a moment, placing her index finger against her mouth. "Hmm, I suppose so Henry. Please, have a seat Miss Swan." Regina smirked at Emma who then sat down next to an excited Henry.
They spent the next few minutes making small talk until they ordered three lots of pancakes, a coffee and two hot chocolates.
"So Miss Swan, what are your plans now you're here?" Regina asked after dabbing her mouth with the napkin and folding it over on her plate.
Emma looked to Henry whilst fiddling with her napkin, "Well I'm not too sure to be honest. I'm not going back to the army so I don't really know what I'm going to do with myself. At some point ill have to look for a job but...I'd like to use the time I have here to get to know you Henry and you're mom, if that's alright with your mom that is? "
"I think that sounds like a great idea, don't you Henry?" Regina said encouragingly.
"What happened with the army?" Henry enquired.
Emma scrunched up the napkin and dropped it on her plate, "oh um...it's a, um...I'm sorry I shouldn't have mentioned it...long story." Her breathing had gotten quicker and her face flushed, she knew the panic was setting in. "I'm just...I need..." She pointed to the door and stood up "...fresh air" and all but bolted from the diner.
Henry and Regina both watched her go with stunned looks in their faces. "Stay here Henry, i'll go see if she's alright."
Regina walked briskly out of the diner and heard the sobs coming from the alleyway. She rushed in to find Emma crouched against the wall, head in hands and her shoulders heaving with each sob.
"Oh Emma" Regina bent down in front of her, placing her hands on Emma's knees.
Emma jumped and looked up through teary eyes, brushing the tracks with the back of her hand.
"I'm s-sorry. It's j-just too soon t-to talk about" she managed to say between sobs.
Regina placed her palm on Emma's cheek and ran her thumb side to side, "No don't apologise, you don't need to explain. You've been in a horrendous war so I can understand if you've got some trauma." Regina hesitated but didn't remove her hand as she looked directly into her eyes, "I know we have only just met but if you want...you can talk to me."
Emma smiled and placed her hand over Regina's and pulled it down into her lap as she managed to control her breathing, "Thank you Regina, that...it means a lot."
"Come on, I've got to get Henry to school and you can come too." Regina stood up and pulled Emma with her who, still fragile, stumbled into her arms. They each gave an awkward smile and reluctantly let go. Regina went back into the diner to pay and collect Henry whilst Emma waited on the sidewalk composing herself. They walked Henry to the school gates and he gave them each a hug in turn before sprinting off into the school.
"So, what are your plans for the day Miss Swan?"
"Honestly? I haven't a clue." She stood with her hands in her back pockets rocking on the heels of her feet.
"Well, why don't you come to my office and we can continue our talk?"
Emma smiles shyly, "I'd like that".
They walk together in silence to the office but just as Regina opens the door Cora strode towards her.
"Regina!"
The smile slipped from Regina's face as she turned to face her mother.
"Where on earth have you been? Our meeting was supposed to start ten minutes a go." Cora turned her face to sneer at Emma
"Of course, I apologise mother. I was just..."
"I don't want your excuses Regina. Ms. Swan, I thought you would have left town by now. Don't turn her into your next fling Regina, I won't have idle gossip in my town." Cora swept past the women into the building expecting Regina to follow.
Regina grimaced and turned to Emma, "I apologise for that. My mother can be..."
"Harsh...rude...mean...all of the above?" Emma shuffled from one foot to the other.
"Hmm, something like that?"
"So...what did she mean? Next fling?" Emma asked, running her hand through her golden tresses.
"That was my mother being evil. My ex was a woman, Mal...so almost any woman she sees me talking to, she decides to have a dig at. I am sorry, I don't want to get you involved in my arguments with my mother."
"Hey, it's okay. So what do you mean almost?" She reached out and squeezed Regina's arm, then feeling a little more confident that she may stand a chance with the gorgeous brunette, ran her hand slowly down her arm to gently take her hand.
"My mother thought Mal was great, they got on like a house on fire but she wasn't, not to me anyway. I wanted a family, she wanted and had other people. It didn't work out. You may see her round town but don't take any notice. She owns the interior design business on Main Street. Anyway, that's enough depression. I should get inside and see what my mother wants. I'm sorry we can't continue our conversation."
Emma squeezed her hand gently, "Can I see you later instead Regina?"
A small pink patch blossomed on Regina's cheeks, "I'd like that."
"Excellent, so...I'm gonna go" she pointed behind her awkwardly, "...and you're gonna go in there" she pointed to the building "...and I'll see you later."
Regina smiled at her goofiness, "Bye Emma."
They reluctantly slipped their fingers from each other's grasp and turned to go their separate ways, Regina turned back round to watch Emma turn the corner before taking a deep breath ready to face her mother...yet again.
