Chapter 6:
A/N: I know this chapter is shorter than usual but there is a reason for that. This chapter is important to the next one.
A/N 2: Also a huge huge thanks to rickmantic for the cover art. Its awesome and I love it. Thanks!
Two Years Ago:
Emma was exhausted as she entered her house. Work was killing her. She walked straight to the kitchen desperate for something to drink. She saw the clock on the stove marking that it as past 11:00pm, she silently cursed herself. She should really try to get home before everyone went to bed. This past few months, they were like ships in the night, barely seeing each other at all. When she opened the fridge she saw left overs of what seemed like a big dinner. She tired to remember if Regina had mentioned something about having guests over. She couldn't remember anything. She walked over to the dinning room to see if there was evidence of a dinner party or something of the like.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know we were having people over." Emma said when she saw Regina cleaning up the dinning table. "Give me a second to change and I'll be right over to help you."
"Don't." Regina said curtly.
"I want to." Emma said. "I'll be right back."
"I don't want you to be right back." Regina said rubbing the cloth harder on the table.
"I'm sorry I got home so late." Emma said. "We got stuck planning the defense of that client I told you about."
"I don't know what client you mean because we haven't had a proper conversation in more than a week." Regina said. "I called you yesterday at work to remind you to come home early today. I called again today and left a message with your secretary but I guess I'm not important enough to fit in your schedule." Emma took in Regina's appearance. She was clad and in black heels and a deep blue dressed that Emma loved on her.
"Shit." Emma said. "I'm sorry. Leave that. I'll finish up. I'll make it up to you on the weekend. I'm sorry. I- it completely slipped my mind."
"I don't want you to make it up to me." Regina said throwing the rag into Emma's face.
"Was that really necessary?" Emma asked.
"Yes. You forgot our anniversary and I want to say that I'm surprised but I'm really not." Regina said.
"Regina, I'm exhausted. Can we have this conversation in the morning?" Emma asked. "Lets just go to sleep, you can be angry at me tomorrow."
"Talk when exactly?" Regina asked. "Do I need to call your secretary and make an appointment to tell you just how furious I am at you?"
"What do you want me to say?" Emma asked. "I already apologized and said that I will make it up to you. You're overreacting."
"I'm overreacting?" Regina asked furiously. "You stood me up! I spent all day cooking for you and making sure everything was perfect for when you came home. I wanted a night with my wife where I was the center of her attention. Not work, not Henry, me. But I guess that's too much to ask of you." Regina was so mad she wasn't thinking straight anymore. "Is there someone else? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Do you even find me attractive anymore?"
"What the fuck are you even talking about?" Emma asked flabbergasted. "Of course there's no one else!"
"Then what is it, Emma?" Regina asked. "You're never here and on the rare times that you are your mind is not."
Emma knew Regina was right. She was trying to find a way to respond but her brain came up empty.
"I think you need to leave." Regina said quietly.
"Ok, I'll give you some space to calm down." Emma said with a nod. "Do you want me to sleep in the guest room?"
"No." Regina said. "I meant that you need to leave my house."
"Your house?" Emma asked.
"My house." Regina assured.
"Wow, we're going there?" Emma asked rhetorically. "You- You're a piece of work aren't you?" She said as she paced the floor to try to calm herself down. "Go fuck yourself."
"I'll have to. God knows you haven't touched me in months." Regina said with a wry laugh.
"If you didn't act like such a huge bitch every time I come home then maybe I would fuck you more often." Emma said.
"You better watch the way you're talking to me." Regina said before palm of her hand collided with Emma's cheek.
"Keep your hands off of me." Emma said as she pushed Regina away.
"Don't touch me." Regina said before she slapped Emma again.
"I swear, Regina. You are your mother's daughter." Emma said with a bitter chuckle.
"At least I have a mother." Regina said. "Where is yours exactly?"
"You're a cunt." Emma said as the started to walk back to the kitchen, when she turned around a glass smashed against the wall just above her head. "What the fuck?! Have you lost your goddamned mind? You almost killed me, you crazy bitch."
"I should have hit you in the fucking face." Regina said. "I can't even look at you right now."
"Mom?" Henry asked crying from the doorway.
"Fuck…" Emma mumbled.
"Henry, go back to bed." Regina said sternly.
"But you're yelling." Henry said. "I'm scared."
"Its alright. Your mom and I were having an argument." Emma said. "Come on, I'll put you to bed."
"You woke up my son, I hope you're happy." Regina said before Emma could get out of the room.
"Excuse me?" Emma said. "I'm not the one who threw a fucking crystal glass at your head."
"You deserved it." Regina said. "It's a shame it didn't hit you."
"Oh fuck you, Regina." Emma said. "Fuck you!"
"Mom. Stop screaming." Henry cried, as he held tight to Emma's waist.
"I'm sorry. Its over now." Emma said. "I promise. Lets go to sleep."
That night Emma slept in Henry's bed. When she woke up she was still angry at Regina but seeing Henry's face made her pause and get some perspective. She took a cold shower and took a walk around the back yard to calm down before she went upstairs to talk to her wife.
"Can we talk?" Emma asked as she entered the master bedroom.
"This can't keep happening, Emma." Regina said sitting down on the bed. "We can't keep fighting like this."
"I know." Emma said. "I'm sorry for last night. I should have remembered it was out anniversary. I just- I've been so busy lately and I know I need to set my priorities in order, I do ok? But I just need you to be patient until this case is over. Afterwards we can take a vacation. Just the two of us." Emma said as she sat down next to Regina. "I'll bet Mary Margaret will be more than happy to baby sit Henry."
"I've been patient, Emma." Regina said. "I don't know if I can do it anymore."
"What do you mean?" Emma asked confused.
"Last night things got out of hand and its not the first time that happens." Regina said. "It was fine when it was just the two of us yelling insults at each other but we have Henry to think about now. He can't grow up seeing us fight like that. Its not healthy and I don't want him to think that its ok for couples to treat each other like that."
"What do you suggest we do?" Emma asked.
"We need some time apart." Regina said. "Its obvious our marriage is not a priority for you right now. I can't keep letting you hurt me like this."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Emma asked.
"Yes." Regina said. "I want you to move out. Our relationship is not working anymore. We've been like roommate for the past few months, we never talk to each other, we never even make love anymore. I can't keep living like this, Emma. I can't."
"We're going through a rough patch, it happens to everyone." Emma said. "We just need to work through it."
"I don't have the energy to keep trying, Emma." Regina said.
"I'm sorry." Emma said. "I'll try harder, I'll work less hours. Don't give up yet, please. I love you."
"You're an exhausting person to love." Regina said. "I don't have it in me anymore."
"Y-you don't love me anymore?" Emma asked. "Is that what you're saying?"
"I'm not in love with you anymore." Regina said looking into her eyes. "How could I? You're never around. I can't be in love with the idea of a person." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I know you feel the same way but you're too scared to say it."
"But I don't, Regina." Emma said. "Not at all. I know lately things have been hard between us but I love you, you're my wife. I haven't been putting my best effort into our marriage but I will you just need to give me some time. Don't end this, please."
"I have to." Regina said. "For everyone's sake, I need to end this vicious circle of fighting and pretending to make up we've been living in for so long. Don't make this harder than it already is."
"Ok. I'll stay at Mary Margaret's tonight." Emma gave up. "Just know that this isn't what I want."
"It is. You're too scared to admit it to yourself. But deep down I know you're not in love with me, you haven't been for a while." Regina said.
Emma didn't see the point in responding. Nothing she could say would change Regina's mind. For better or for worse it was over now.
"I forgive you, you know." Emma said as she packed an over night bag.
"I'm sorry?" Regina said not knowing what Emma was referring to.
"For the comment about my mother." Emma said avoiding eye contact.
"Oh Emma." Regina said just remembering what she had said. "I- I didn't mean that. That was wrong of me to say. I should have apologized sooner. I'm so sorry."
"Its fine." Emma said after she walked to Regina to kiss her forehead. "I'm sorry for what I said too. I was angry. I'm very sorry I forgot about our anniversary. You looked lovely last night."
"I should have known that you where going to arrive home late and tired." Regina said. "I should have waited until the weekend to celebrate."
"No, no." Emma said as she held Regina. "You were right. I was wrong. I should have remembered. I fucked up ok?"
"I'm so sorry, Emma." Regina cried on Emma's shoulder. "I never wanted it to end like this."
"Its fine. You did your best." Emma said kissing Regina's cheek. "You were a great wife. I love you."
"I'm so sorry." Regina said once more.
"I know, I know." Emma said, as she held on tighter. "So am I."