*Flashback*
The first time Emma experience death was when she was thirteen. The foster family she was in lost an aunt or something. Emma had never met this woman, but she was forced into going to the funeral. Aunt Bea had died of a heart attack while on vacation in the Bahamas. Emma predicted that the only reason Mr. and Mrs. Cahill were going to the funeral was because the wanted a portion of Aunt Bea's fortune.
The funeral home was full of people in black. Mrs. Cahill had explained to Emma that black was the color of death. People wore when they were in mourning. Emma couldn't help but notice that Mr. Cahill wore black all the time, but she decided not to comment.
"Thirteen million dollars." Mr. Cahill whispers as they sit in the pews.
"We could buy a new house." Mrs. Cahill smiles. "Emma, what do you think? A house in Spain?"
"I-I'd come with you?" Emma asks in surprise. Mrs. Cahill puts her arm around Emma's shoulders.
"Of course you would."
When the funeral is over and the walk up to the casket, Emma grows terrified. Aunt Bea looked like she was made of plastic. The air from Emma's lungs seems very limited and she feels like she's going to pass out. She's hyperventilating. The rest of the people at the funeral stare at her. Mr. Cahill pulls her out, lecturing her for making a scene.
The Cahills didn't get the money. Whether or not it was Emma's fault didn't matter. She was relocated a week later, but she didn't care. Everytime she looked at Mrs. Cahill she saw the face of the dead Aunt Bea. It was almost a relief to leave. Sure it was a little disappointing that the Cahills wouldn't be her family, but she'd find one someday. Emma knew it deep down that one day her happy ending would arrive and it would be better than she could ever imagine.
7:
Both Snow and Regina had slipped into a depressed-like mood. Neither of them had gotten out of bed or eaten in the two day since Cora's death. Charming had been begging Emma to come see her mother. He calls her twice a day.
"I'm a little busy taking care of Regina." Emma hisses into the phone. "Or did you forget that Snow killed her mother?"
"Emma...Regina won't retaliate right?" Charming asks in terror.
"Retaliate!?" Emma exclaims. "She's hardly moved! And if she did decide she wanted revenge I can't say I'd blame her."
"Emma! This is your mother's life we are talking about here." Charming reminds her, growing angry.
"And Regina's." Emma's icy voice replies. "Speaking of which I need to go check on her." Without another word she hangs up and throws the phone down harshly onto the table.
Henry looks up from his homework. He tries to give Emma a sad smile but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. Henry had never seen Regina like this. His mother had always had such a strong facade. Seeing her broken was terrifying.
Emma makes her way upstairs and into the master bedroom. She places the cup of hot tea on the bedside table for Regina. The mayor slowly opens her red, puffy eyes, and looks up at Emma. Emma's heart hurts to see Regina so vulnerable. This was her Regina, the one who was always so strong and who was always Emma's rock. The table had turned and Emma was afraid she'd let Regina down. She had to be strong now. She had to be there for Regina.
"Hey." Emma smiles. "I brought you some tea." Regina sits up and thanks Emma. It pleases Emma when Regina drinks the tea, at least she was getting something in her system.
"I'm not gonna do it." Regina whispers.
"Do what my love?" Emma asks taking a seat on the bed close to Regina.
"Kill your mother. I'm not going to do it." Regina clarifies, once again meeting Emma's eyes. "I won't lie, I did think about it, but I'm not going to cause you the pain she caused me. I am not that person anymore." Emma sees tears well up in her girlfriend's eyes. She pulls Regina closer and rubs her back.
"I know." Emma's voice is soft and full of pride. "You've come so far. I am so sorry that this happened to you." Regina pulls back so she can look at the saviour.
"I love you, Emma." She says quietly. Emma grins.
"I love you too, Gina."
"Hey! What about me!?" The two women turn to see Henry standing in the doorway of the room. The chuckle a little.
"Come here little prince." Regina smiles, motioning for him. He doesn't need to be told twice. He hurries over and joins the embrace. "We love you, Henry."
"I love you too. I'm glad you're feeling better, Mom. Emma and I were worried." Regina leans over and kisses his forehead, silently telling him it was all alright now.
"How about we go downstairs and I'll make us some lasagna." She suggests, knowing that it's Emma and Henry's favorite. The two immediately agree, happy to have her back.
Regina is surprised when to hear the doorbell so early. It was just before 8:00, Emma and Henry were still fast asleep. Curious as to who it could be, Regina opens the door. Snow White, why was she even surprised?
"Kill me." The princess says in a pleading voice. Regina shakes her head quickly.
"No!" She exclaims. But Snow is persistent. She keeps begging for Regina to crush her heart and end this feud. Regina lets out a scream and breaks apart. This was too much for her to handle. She was trying so hard, and Snow was here throwing her darkness in her face. "Get off my porch!"
"Regina?" A worried looking Emma appears. "Mary Margaret? What's going on?"
"Tell her, Emma." Regina cries. "Tell her I don't want to kill her." Suddenly Emma realizes what's going on. She pulls Regina protectively to her.
"Why would you do this?" Emma asks her mother. "Don't you see she's hurting? She wasn't going to come after you!"
"I want this to be over." Snow answers. "I thought if I came here-"
"Just go." Emma demands. "Before you manage to screw things up again."
Once Emma's mother is gone, Emma and Regina make breakfast. They don't say anything because they simply don't need too. Regina knows Emma is there if she needs her and Emma knows Regina needs a little time. But, they're good. They're together. That's all the reassurance either of them need right now.
"Emma, eventually you'll have to talk to her." Regina says after a few minutes of quiet. "She's your mother, and as angry as you are with her, you still love her."
"I know." Emma replies softly. "Just...not yet." Regina nods and moves to plant a kiss on Emma's cheek.
"When you're ready." The queen agrees.
"And I want you to come with me." Emma adds, wrapping her arms around the brunette's waist. "I need you to come with me."
"Then I will." Regina promises.
Emma had returned to work now that Regina was better and back in balance. With Emma at the station that Saturday, it was just Regina and Henry. Henry was beyond excited because he knew his mother had something special planned for the two of them. She'd been dropping hints the past few days and he could hardly wait. It had been so long since he'd had a day to do something fun with just her.
The care ride is short and Henry finally realizes where they are going-the stable. She was going to teach him to ride.
"Awesome!" Henry exclaims.
His grandfather had attempted to teach him after the curse broke, but Henry sensed that David had been going about it all wrong. Regina, however, had riding lessons as a girl and, from what he'd read in the book, she was exceptional. Her riding skills were phenomenal-there was no one better to teacher Henry.
"This is Pellegrina." Regina says as they approach the large animal. "I think she'll do just fine for you." Henry reaches out and strokes the white horse's mane. "She likes you.."
"Henry?" A voice calls. David. "What are you doing here?" He comes fully into view.
"Mom's going to teach me how to ride." Henry grins. Suddenly, David notices the Queen's presence and his mood shifts to a much chiller one.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." David replies. Regina decides to cut in.
"Uh, Henry, why don't you grab Pellegrina some hay?"
she suggests. Henry smiles, happy to be able to feed the horse, and hurries off.
"What the Hell do are you doing?" David demands viciously.
"Teaching my son to ride properly, not that it's any of your business." Regina smirks, crossing her arms.
"I'm over you endangering my family." David hiss taking a step closer to the Mayor. "Henry is not your son, he's Emma's. She's going to realize who you really are, and end this little charade."
"Emma knows who I am." Regina replies confidently. "Nothing you or Snow say will change that."
"Do you love her?" The prince challenges.
"Of course I love her!" Regina exclaims. "I love her so much I can hardly breath!"
"Then maybe you should let her go." David suggests coldly.
"I'm not holding her against her will!" Regina snaps. "We tried to end things, but it only made us both miserable. Maybe you should try asking Emma how she feels."
David freezes. He realizes they have never once even tried to see things from Emma's perspective. They had simply pushed and pulled at her until she broke away.
"I want to protect her." David admits quietly.
"Breaking us up, will NOT protect Emma. It'll only hurt her more." Regina tells the prince. "Don't you see? She wants so badly to have a relationship with her parents."
"Please," David scoffs. "She told us if she had to make a choice it would always be you that she'd pick."
"Then stop putting her in the position!" The queen shoots back. David wasn't the only one who felt protective of Emma. As much as Regina disliked the Charmings, they were Emma's parents. She just wanted Emma to be happy.
Before the conversation can continue Henry returns. Neither Regina nor David were going to argue in front of the young boy. David had a lot of thinking to do after his talk with the Queen. He and Snow needed to start listening to their daughter and trust her to make her own choices. If they weren't careful, David realizes, they'd lose her all over again and this time they'd have no one to blame but themselves.
After a day spent well, Henry and Regina return home. They were both exhausted and agreed that ordering pizza was there only chance of survival. They pop in a movie and wait for the third member of their family to return home.
"She reminds me of you." Henry tells his mother as he turns away from the screen to look at her.
"Princess Leia?" Regina asks in amusements. Henry nods. "Why?"
"She's small, but tough." The young boy grins. "She's tougher than she looks. Leia's my favorite character, Emma's too." Regina chuckles.
"But I thought Luke Skywalker is your hero." She questions. Henry shrugs.
"I have a new hero." He announces.
"Who might that be?" Regina asks curiously. Henry grins.
"You." He tells her sincerely. His mother smiles, but can't find any words to say. "I love you, mom." He leans over and hugs her. She squeezes him totally.
"I'm home!" A voice calls. Emma enters the living room and hurries to join her family on the sofa.
"Emma! I went riding!" Henry tells her in excitement.
"He was a natural." Regina claims proudly.
"Of course he is." Emma smiles. "Just look at his teacher."
Henry returns to the movie while Emma curls herself into Regina's side. She could get used to this. The feeling of security and family was so present. This was how Emma wanted to spend every night for the rest of her life. For the first time in her life Emma could see and hold her happy ending….and it looked perfect.
A/N So I know this has been a bit anti Snow/David but I'm trying to make a bit more realistic. I feel like in season 2 they wouldn't have been for their daughter dating Regina. I promise eventually things will get better, but if it seems like too much let me know! -Kaila :)