Chapter Four - 'The most natural thing in the world'
Regina finally let Violet out of her protective grasp as they reached the room Violet was going to use and Violet instantly missed the feeling of Regina's arm around her, which she thought was slightly odd and she shook it off.
"This is where you'll be staying Violet, I do hope it's okay for you?" Regina announced, turning to see Violet's eyes glistening in amazement at the room and how lovely it looked. She had a huge bed, all to herself and it must be Queen sized.
"It's amazing, thank you! Honestly, I'd of been quite happy on the sofa." Violet laughed, but Emma sensed the sensitivity of that last statement. The kindness she displayed wasn't a mask, but her cheerful nature was keeping something hidden and Emma was going to find it out.
"The bathroom is down the hall, you can have a bath and relax for a little while before dinner. It'll be ready in an hour or so, you like Lasagna right?" Regina asked.
"Yes, I do. I like it very much." Violet answered, but for some reason she couldn't remember what Lasagna was, let alone what it tasted like. She wasn't one to argue, and refusing something to eat right now wasn't wise. Emma folded her arms and left the room, Regina following her shortly after. Emma needed to talk to Regina later on, she was desperate to know why Violet hadn't been in Regina's life.
Regina darted passed Emma. "I'm going to get started on dinner okay?"
Emma nodded in response and paused for a moment to think. "I'll go and check on Henry, then I'll see how Violet's doing." Emma told herself.
After Emma had checked on Henry and had sneakily corrected a few of his math problems for him, she made her way back upstairs quietly. The bathroom door was shut, Violet must be in the bath. Emma quietly made her way across the landing and pressed her ear closely to the bathroom door, trying to hear Violet. She could hear the occasional splash of the bath water and began to hear quiet sobs. Violet was crying.
She couldn't just burst into the bathroom and Emma couldn't bring herself to knock on the door. So Emma reluctantly removed her ear from the door and returned downstairs to help Regina in the kitchen. Maybe she just needed to be alone?
Violet lay, half submerged in the bath water. Crying because her emotions had spun out of control. Everything was beginning to sink in. She had been welcomed into this warm and incredibly beautiful house, by these two beautifully kind women when only a few days ago she was homeless. She told the Doctor that she was eighteen, but it was actually her eighteenth birthday tomorrow and for the first time she wouldn't be alone. She wanted to go downstairs and tell Regina everything, the least she could do was be truthful with her but Violet was terrified that Regina wouldn't look at her the same way.
"If I tell her then she might think that I am just seeking sympathy and I'll lose all respect from her. I can't tell her, if she knows that I was homeless then she might feel that I am taking advantage of them. I can't. Oh I don't know what to do." The same thoughts were swirling around her mind. "I'll stay tonight, and then I'll go."
Violet had decided that she would leave early in the morning. She got out of the bath and continued to get herself ready to have dinner with Emma, Regina and Henry.
When she got back to her room, she saw that Regina had left a few essentials on the bed. Lay there was a hair dryer, a hair brush and some of Regina's older clothes that would hopefully be just that little bit smaller. Violet closed the door and smiled solemnly, she'd never had anyone be this kind to her before. The clothes that Regina had left for her were a tight pair of black trousers and a white blouse, she wanted to leave Violet something more casual to wear but she didn't really have many casual clothes that weren't night wear. Violet looked herself up and down in the full length mirror, turning to the side occasionally. Admiring how smart she looked, it was the oddest sight, but a very refreshing experience.
The food was laid out on the table, Henry and Emma sat at one end and Regina the other, with a space for Violet next to her. They waited in an unusual silence before Emma suggested. "I'll go and see what's keeping her."
"It's alright, I'm ready." Violet said, suddenly appearing from the hallway.
Emma found this kind of hard to process. Violet looked even more like Regina after she'd freshened up, her hair was out of her face and bounced naturally over her shoulders. She shuffled awkwardly back to her seat as she tried to discard of the thought that Violet was a close representation of what Regina looked like in her younger years. Taking into account that Emma was wildly attracted to the older woman, Emma just didn't want that floating around in her head. With all eyes on her, Violet's cheeks flushed a dark pink, displayed obviously on her pale skin. She bowed her head, making her hair fall in front of her face.
"Please, sit down Violet. You're next to Regina." Emma said, before sitting down rather quickly.
Violet lifted her head up to look over at Regina, she was in a world of her own and gazing directly at Violet. She was taking in how beautiful daughter was, how innocent looking and full spirit she seemed. Just like Regina was when she was her age.
"Why is she looking at me like that?" Violet thought to herself. She bowed her head again as she made her way over to her seat. "She did that before, at the hospital. I can't figure it out." Violet then sat down next to Regina, before looking up and smiling at everyone.
"I bet this Lasagna tastes, just as lovely as it looks." Violet said. From another's lips, it would of resembled some kind of awful attempt at winning Regina over, but from Violet it was rather charming and Emma smirked at the way Regina reacted.
"Do make an effort to eat it all the dear, you need to regain your strength. Dr Whale has informed Emma and I about your situation." Regina replied, pushing food around her plate.
Violet's stomach began to churn. Her situation? Emma took note of the worry that flashed across Violet's face but continued eating alongside Henry, watching them both at all times.
"My, what?" Violet asked, portraying naivety.
"Well after he examined you at the hospital, he was sure that you hadn't eaten for a significant amount of time. Now are you going to tell me why that is?" Regina said. Violet pushed her food around her plate, like Regina had done previously. She didn't particularly want to answer that.
"I.. I couldn't.." Violet muttered, quietly.
"You couldn't what?" Regina asked, becoming rather persistent to find out how her daughter had gotten in that state.
"Regina!" Emma warned, giving her a stern look.
Violet looked so scared, like another question about her well-being could make her sick. Regina looked up at Emma, realizing what she was doing and regretted being so full on with Violet.
"Sorry Violet, Regina mothers everybody and she doesn't know she's doing it either." Emma said casually, not making a big deal out of it in hope that Violet would calm.
"It's okay, you were just showing concern. But, I - I'm fine. It's fine." Violet said nervously, trying her best to reassure Regina with a slightly shook up smile.
They all ate in a silent room after that, with the occasional sound of someone clearing their throat and no one knowing what to say or how to start up a conversation. That's not how Regina wanted this evening to go. It was only when they were finished, that Violet broke the silence by getting up to remove everyone's dishes and Regina immediately stood up to protest.
"Oh Violet, no. You don't have to do that." She insisted. But Violet turned to look at Regina and smiled.
"But I want to, you and Emma have looked after me all day. It's the least I can do, so please sit down Regina."
As sweet as the gesture was, Emma couldn't shake off her suspicions about Violet. She had this huge veil of innocence that covered her, yet she had the same unsettling look that Regina had sometimes. Her past flickered forward and sorrow glazed her eyes, without her even realizing it. Henry offered to help Violet clear up in the kitchen, so Regina went and sat next to Emma.
"What was that about?" Emma asked, placing her hand on Regina's thigh.
"I wanted to know why she hadn't been eating?" Regina replied, looking serious.
"That was like a short interrogation, Regina you barely know each other. Don't you think she could of felt a little over-powered by you?" Emma suggested, knowing that her last comment wasn't going to go down well.
"I wasn't aware that showing care was now a crime." Regina retorted.
"Regina!" Emma moaned, on the odd occasion, she admired Regina's sarcasm. But most of the time she didn't.
"That's all it was Emma, she said it herself. I was just showing concern." Regina said plainly.
Emma squeezed Regina's thigh compassionately. "Okay, just don't let yourself get too involved with her life just yet, especially emotionally. I hate to say this but, do you actually have any proof that she is your daughter? You can't just go on the fact that she has the same colour eyes as Daniel." Emma knew that it was a high possibility, given everything and she'd never take Regina for a fool. She, herself was caught up in the moment back at the hospital. But, what evidence did they actually have? Reality had hit her and she was now having her doubts.
Regina felt discouraged, she couldn't believe that Emma had just said that. Emma was the one who ran home completely mind blown that Violet looked the spitting image of her. Why was she showing this sudden doubt? It hurt and especially because, Regina was more certain than ever. Her heart just knew. She looked across into the kitchen, Violet was cleaning up and Henry was drying the plates. The sight of Violet's heart warming smile as she began to bond with Henry made Regina begin to cry. She turned back round to Emma and without a word, she left the table.
"Regina, I'm sorry. I just don't want you to get hurt!" Emma shouted, hurrying to stop Regina in her tracks.
Violet and Henry heard Emma shout and in sync, they looked at each-other. Violet gave Henry a side smile and nudged him comfortingly, telling him not to worry. Regina stopped, she was trying her best to hide the fact that she was upset, but in her eyes it was obvious.
"Just look at her Emma." Regina said.
Emma looked down solemnly, then looked at Violet and Henry. She felt awful for suggesting it now, but even though Violet looked so much like Regina, there was still that chance that it could all just a cruel trick of fate and Emma hoped to god that it wasn't. Regina clenched her fists as Emma turned back round to face her.
"I'm not letting her go, not again." Regina stated, trying to compose herself as her bottom lip began to tremble.
Violet quietly followed Henry, who felt rather awkward whilst walking past his mothers and tried to resist asking about what had just gone on.
"Mom? I'm going to show Violet my book and then I'll go straight to bed, is that okay?" Henry asked.
Violet stood closely behind him, trying her hardest not to look at Regina because it seemed to make her heart hurt seeing this woman upset. Violet didn't know why, but it did, more than it should.
"Yes, yes that's fine. But it's past nine and you've got school tomorrow remember?" Regina insisted that they were not to be too long.
Henry nodded and began to make his way upstairs and Violet still followed him closely. But then she stopped on the second step of the stairs and turned back, frowning as she made her way over to Regina who was watching her curiously.
"Regina.. I.." Violet attempted to form some comforting words, but she didn't know what she wanted to say and so she simply did what her heart was telling her to do.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around Regina, Emma's mouth fell open and Regina's eyes widened. The few seconds it took Regina to react felt like a few minutes as Regina began to fill up with warmth, surprise. She eventually responded and held Violet close to her. The way she felt right now, she didn't need any proof that Violet was her daughter. If it had been anyone else, other than Emma or Henry then it most likely would of been awkward and it wasn't. It felt like the most natural thing in the world and Regina didn't want to let go. They both let go slowly, but Regina wanted nothing more than to pull her back.
"Thank you, I'll see you in the morning?" Regina said quietly.
Violet nodded and quickly made her way upstairs to Henry's room.