Disclaimer in Chapter 1
Chapter 7
Mal slams her handbag onto the sink in the bathroom. What is going on? Why does she feel like she is losing control of the situation? She has had Regina to herself for years and then her she is again the blonde-haired Swan in the way all over again. She needed to stop this before it got completely out of hand. She pulls out her phone to make some calls.
"So, Evie tell me, is Emma a good big sister?" Regina questions with a smirk towards Emma.
Emma returns the smile. Regina has noticed how more relaxed Emma is and it is because Mal is out of the room. She has been thinking back over the years of them and can't seem to figure out when things got this bad. Emma never said anything bad about Mal when they were growing up though Mal had plenty to say about Emma.
Evie turns to look at Emma with awe. Emma winks at her and Evie laughs and turns back to Regina. "Oh, she's the best big sister. She always plays with me and tells me stories about Super Gigi. And she buys me ice cream though we are not supposed to tell Mom," Evie says with her eyes looking around as if Ingrid was about to pop out of somewhere and catch the confession. Regina can't help but smile at the little girl.
"Well that sounds lovely. You know Emma used to do things like that with me when we were little girls," Regina says as her eyes search for Emma's like they always did when they were near to one another. And she finds them.
"Oh, I know Gina. Emmy has told me," Evie replies.
"She has, has she?" Regina asks as she holds Emma's gaze.
Just then the door swings open and Mal re-enters the room. Emma's gaze drops immediately. What the hell is going on? Emma gets up and moves away from them. Evie calls after her "Emmy where you going? Stay and talk to us. Tell us a Super Gigi story it always makes you feel better."
Emma waves a hand behind her and says, "I will be back." Regina turns to look at Mal who is watching Emma walk away with a smug look on her face. What the hell is going on.
FLASHBACK
Regina is released from the hospital after two days. Emma brings around her homework to her every day. She misses her terribly during school, but Emma has never worked so hard taking extra notes for Regina. She knows how Regina is about school. She was already super stressed, and they were only a few months into high school. Regina was always a bit of a nerd when it came to her school work. She never liked to get behind and was always reading ahead. Emma used to make fun of her about it and try and get her to have fun. It was a Friday and Emma were just looking forward to getting home to see Regina. She had track practice straight after school, so she is a bit later going then usual. She is packing all Regina's homework into her bag to head over and give it to her. It was her routine now to go straight to Regina's after school and do homework and spend time with her. She was just locking up her locker when someone appeared beside her.
"Hey Swan," Mal gritted out.
"Mal," Emma says as she turns to go. She has no time for her. Something about Mal never sat right with her. Ever since her and Regina had become friends two years earlier. The only thing they had in common was Regina. Mal always looked down on Emma. She always felt she was better than Emma. She would say things and try to pretend they were a joke, but Emma knew they were being masked. "Listen, how about you let me take the homework to Regina today. I want to see her and see how she is after her fall", Mal says.
"No sorry," Emma replies as she keeps walking towards the exit of the school.
"Why are you keeping me away from her? You're not her only friend you know. She's allowed see other people. Afraid she will find something better if she spends time with others," Mal snarls.
"I am not keeping you from her. I am doing what I was asked to do by Regina," Emma replies while still heading to the exit.
"Ya right Swan. You just think that you can keep her for yourself. Afraid that if she gets to know me better and spends time with me, she will see I am better than you," Mal tries to get to Emma whenever she can.
"If that's what you want to think. I am doing as I was asked by Regina and Cora as well. I have been asked to bring her homework to her every day. I am not stopping you calling over any other time," Emma says.
She reaches the front door of the school and heads towards where she had her bike left. Mal is still right behind her.
"I tried to get in, but Cora told me she was asleep, or resting or not in the mood for visitors. Its like there is something more than a fall down the stairs going on here," Mal snarls again.
"Well I don't know what you want me to say. I am just doing what I was asked to do," Emma replies.
She is now at her bike, clipping on her helmet and dying to get away from Mal and to see Regina.
"This is all crap. You are keeping her from me Swan. You are afraid that she will see me as better than you and get rid of you. And you know what?" Mal says through gritted teeth as she gets right into Emma's face.
"I am better than you. I am twice the person you are. You are just a little orphan girl from a broken home. Thrown away by her parents and left until someone took pity on you. Ingrid only took you in for the money," Mal snarls as her nostrils flare.
Emma is fuming but she won't rise to meet Mal. She knows Mal wants her to do something stupid, so she can go running and telling people. So, Emma smiles at Mal which makes Mal fume more. She climbs onto her bike and gets ready to leave.
"Why don't we let Regina be the judge of who she wants to spend her time with. As of right now I have homework to deliver," Emma smirks and pedals off.
She waits until she is further down the street well away from Mal before she lets the tears fall. She tries to rub them away as she does, she falls off the bike after hitting a stick in the road she didn't see. She falls to the ground and rips her jeans and cuts her knee as she does.
"Shit. Just perfect," she yells as she brushes herself down and picks up her bike. She walks the rest of the way to Regina's as she can't cycle with her knee the way it is. Then there is a large clap of thunder and it begins to pour rain.
"Excellent," Emma mutters. She finally makes Regina's house and throws her bike in the front garden and kicks it for good measure. She climbs the steps and as she is about to reach for the door it flies open.
"Emma my child I have been worried. Are you ok what happened?" Cora exclaims. She sees Emma's torn jeans and the blood. And she sees Emma has been crying.
"Come on let's get you cleaned up and dry. You will catch a cold staying in them clothes," Cora puts her arm around her and leads her to the kitchen. She senses the upset in Emma. She gets a towel from the downstairs bathroom and wrapped it around Emma. She goes up to Regina's room to get some clothes. When the door opens Regina looks hoping to see Emma.
"Mom is she here its really coming down out there maybe we should go look for her," Regina says with a lot of worry.
"First of all, we wouldn't be going anywhere as we are still on bed rest for two more days. Secondly, she is here. She is ok she seems to have fallen off her bike and wet and cold," Cora rambles off as she goes to Regina's closet to get some dry clothes for Emma. Regina is trying to get out of the bed.
"AH," Cora says as she turns and points her finger at her "stay exactly where you are Regina Maria. I am taking care of her. She needs a shower and her leg cleaned neither of which you can help with. Get your butt back in that bed and don't move. I will send her up when she is ready," Cora insists. Cora heads back down the stairs. Emma is shivering with the towel around her and she is crying again. Cora has never seen Emma cry, so she is quite concerned. She doesn't think this is over her hurt knee. Cora needs to get Emma into the shower.
"Emma sweetie let's get you to the bathroom you need to have a shower that will make you feel better," Cora says sweetly.
Emma stands and gives a weak smile to Cora and heads for the bathroom. Cora brings her fresh towels and the clothes she took from Regina's room.
"Take your time Emma. Come to the kitchen when you are done. I will make you tea before you go up to see Regina," Cora says. Cora closes the door and heads to make tea. She hears a creaking at the top of the stairs.
"Regina if you don't get your butt back in that bed, I will send Emma home without you seeing her at all", Cora calls out.
"Fine Mother," Regina replies in a huff and heads back to her room. Cora chuckles at her and continues making the tea. She doesn't need to know that Cora's threat to send Emma home was an empty one. Emma emerges into the kitchen. Cora smiles at her and pours out her tea. She places it onto the counter and Emma takes a seat. She wraps her hands around her cup to warm herself. "Care to discuss what happened?" Cora gently prods.
"I fell off my bike. My knee was too sore to ride again so I started walking. Then the downpour started," Emma grumbles.
"Ok," Cora says, "but I have seen you fall off the roof of my back porch and not cry so what makes you think I am going to believe that a graze on your knee is going to make you cry."
"Are you disappointed that Regina is friends with someone like me?" Emma questions. Cora is a little taken aback by the question and is wondering has she ever made Emma feel like that. She doesn't think she has ever done anything to make Emma feel like that, so it must have something to do with why Emma was crying.
Cora takes Emma's hand and with the other she lifts Emma's chin, so she will look at her. She wants her to hear every word that comes out of her mouth.
"What is there to be disappointed in? Someone who survived everything that has been thrown at them in their very young life? Someone who put a hand of friendship out to my daughter and has never let her go? Someone who is brave, kind, strong and loving all rolled into one? Why would someone be disappointed in that? You saved your mother's life Emma. You are a hero. My daughter is very lucky to have you and I am so happy she does," Cora says and there is a little twinkle of a tear in the corner of her eye.
"Now Emma why are you asking me this?" Cora asks.
"Somebody said some stuff to me today," Emma chokes out as she tries to keep the tears at bay.
"What did they say?" Cora questions
"That Regina would eventually see that she is better off without me and that I am not good enough for her. That I am some poor pathetic orphan who had no one and that eventually Regina would see that," Emma says a couple of tears finally fall. Cora wipes them away.
"Emma these things aren't true. I know my Regina she will never leave you sweetheart. Who said these things to you?" Cora asks. She really wants to know who hurt Emma. Any child who has been through what Emma has is amazing. She survived been abandoned and then save her adoptive mother.
"It doesn't matter," Emma says.
"Emma please tell me," Cora begs.
"It was Mal. She said I wouldn't let her bring Regina the homework because I was trying to keep Regina from seeing that there are better people for her out there," Emma finishes.
"Now Emma don't you be listening to that prissy little thing. Her mother is the same. They feel that they are better than all of us. You pay her no mind and you remember that all these things I have said to you I am exceptionally proud to have you anywhere near my daughter. I would pick you over Mal every time sweetheart," Cora says.
"Now I have a feeling that if you don't go upstairs to my daughter, she will probably burst her stitches and I don't want to spend the evening bringing her back to the hospital to have them repaired," she smiles widely at Emma.
Emma chuckles and gets up to go. Cora picks up the cups and brings them to the sink.
"Cora," Emma says as she reaches the door of the kitchen and turns "thank you for what you said and thank you for everything you have done for me and my mother over the last 10 years. I will be forever grateful to you and Henry. My mom needed people to support her and I am glad she found you," Emma smiles and leaves.
She climbs the stairs and as she opens the door Regina turns from the window seat to see who is entering her room.
Emma smiles and says, "Oh if Cora catches you out of bed you will be in big trouble."
Regina laughs and moves to the bed she waves Emma over. She opens her arms and Emma takes the hug gratefully.
"You ok?" Regina asks while she is still hugging Emma.
"Never better," Emma replies.
An hour later Cora goes up with Emma's back pack that she forgot downstairs so that they can start their homework and she finds both girls cuddled together asleep. She covers them with a blanket and leaves the back pack on the floor. I guess the homework can wait until tomorrow.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Emma is at the farthest point of the room from Regina she could be without going out the window. Regina is frustrated. She wants to speak to the woman who is and will always be the love of her life. She has been drawing with Evie for the last 30 minutes. Maybe Emma no longer feels the same way anymore.
"Here Gina," Evie says handing her the picture she had been drawing.
"Oh, it is beautiful. Who is this superhero?" Regina asks the little one.
"That's Super Gigi. That's you," Evie says.
"Me?" Regina questions.
"Yep," says Evie "Emma always tells me stories about you. She says you are her hero."
Regina takes a breath and looks at Emma who is again avoiding looking at her. She checks the time and knows she really does now need to leave.
"Mal," she calls. Mal practically runs to her.
"Can you get the children ready I would like a group photo before we leave?" Regina asks.
Mal practically runs knowing that if she gets this done quickly, she is out of here and more importantly away from Swan! As Mal is running around the place and trying to get things organised, she takes her eyes of Regina. Regina strolls towards Emma who has her back turned to the room. Regina stands with her back to the bench top Emma is at.
"Emma," she says which causes Emma to jump slightly as Emma thought it was Mal coming to have another go at her. Emma's eyes dart up to Regina's. She looks over her shoulder to see where Mal is. Mal is busy hurrying the kids around the place.
"I would like for us to have dinner sometime," Regina says, "I have a lot I need to say to you."
Emma clinches her eyes closed and says "Regina," in a barely audible whisper. Tears have started rolling down her cheeks.
"I can't," she says while again casting a look towards Mal to see where she is. Mal is still getting the picture ready.
"Emma please. I need to explain things. I need. I need to talk things out properly to you," Regina begs.
"Listen there is something I am missing here. This is my personal cell number. Nobody looks at it but me. Please contact me Emma. I am begging you. I have missed you more than you know," Regina pleads. As she goes to get into the picture.
Emma grabs the card off the counter and slides it into the back pocket of her jeans. Before she heads to get into the picture too. The photographer asks Emma to move to the other side of the frame as there is more room. As she is walking past Regina, Regina grabs her hand and pulls her in beside her.
"Plenty of room for her beside me," Regina beams. Emma gives her a shy smile. The one that Regina loves. Behind the photographer Mal fumes.
