When I awaken it's because someone is lightly rubbing my arm. I slowly pull away from it; the last thing I want right now is Robin touching me.
"Robin please, I told you we will talk about it, but not right now." I know I shouldn't be mean to him for being who he is, but I cannot help it.
I open my eyes and see two sets of confused eyes looking very close to my face.
"Emma…..Henry...?" I'm still on the couch, and I still have the washcloth on my head. I don't know how long I was out.
"Who's Robin, mom?" Henry is looking at me as if I have 2 heads, then he looks to Emma, "She must have really hit her head or something."
They both look back to me again, "I kinda like this Regina since she calls me Emma instead of ." She smirks.
I still don't say anything. Am I trapped in this dream? I thought for sure I would have woken up in my bed in real time. But apparently not. Maybe I am going crazy. I don't know what is real and what isn't anymore.
This place is starting to feel more real than the other. And it's certainly a nicer place to be at the moment. Instead of arguing with Robin, and searching for Emma as the Dark One, I have two people who are showing genuine care for my wellbeing. Henry also seems to be much more loving than he did at this age in the other world.
In the living room there are TV dinner tables set up; one in front of my couch and two across from me, and the food has been placed on the long coffee table between the two couches.
They follow my gaze and Henry speaks up, "Oh we though since you fell that maybe we would bring the food to you. Well it was more Emma's idea but I helped!"
"That's very nice of you sweetheart, and look you even brought out these old tables. We haven't used them in ages. Was I out long? You two must be hungry." I try to get up, and they both get on each side of me slowly helping me to a sitting position.
I want to roll my eyes and tell them I'm fine, but I don't.
Henry then takes my plate and starts serving the food, dropping a bit on the table as he does but I pretend I don't see it. He places it in front of me, and goes to serve himself. Emma has already made up her plate and is already sitting across from me. She is still looking at me strangely but I also pretend not to notice.
"Thank you Henry, I am so proud of you for taking care of me like this." I genuinely smile at him.
"Well when you fell it really scared me; I don't think I ever saw you get hurt before. I just want to help." He bashfully smiles under my gaze and starts to poke at his food. I can tell that I've embarrassed him a bit but he just looks so sweet, when he looks up at my I wink and smile at him which earns a big grin.
We eat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. The food is still warm so I couldn't have been out too long. It's almost as if she has read my mind when Emma finally speaks up.
"We were only in the kitchen for about 10 minutes so you couldn't have been out too long." She looks at Henry, then at me before continuing, "So.. um… who's Robin."
"…." I open my mouth to reply when I realize I don't know what to say. I clear my throat. "I'm sorry, what are you…." I pretend.
"Oh come on Regina you can tell us, is it someone you are seeing, perhaps? Because Henry has never mentioned him but you seemed pretty comfortable saying his name…" I see anger flash in her eyes as well as something else.
"I've never heard of a Robin and we know practically everyone in this town. Maybe he was from out of town..." I see Henry try to subtly wink at Emma. Oh Lord this must be his obsession again with the fairy tales. I really thought he would have moved past that since Emma and I were getting along; even though he is absolutely correct in his assumption.
"Okay you two just drop it, I was asleep and people say strange things when they are not fully awake. I knew a Robin, but that is not a conversation for right now, why don't we just finish our meal." I shouldn't have said I knew a Robin, it just slipped out. Of course Henry will want to know more details later. What will I say? I need to divert the subject towards something else…
"Ms. Swan how are you liking Storybrooke? How are your accommodations? Have you decided how long you are staying?" I look up smiling and hoping they will just drop the while Robin thing.
Knowing Henry he will put two and two together and know that I was referring to Robin Hood. Then that will only confirm his suspicions. I am proud of my boy though for being so astute in his observations. But we cannot get into that right now.
"Uhh well it's a really small town which is something I'm not used to. I am so used to the hustle and bustle of a large city and all the noise. But I have to say it is nice to know your neighbors and living in a quiet little town. I think I would have liked to grow up in a place like this. And well…." She looks down then, and I can see that I must have said something wrong. She's let go of her fork now and is playing with her fingers instead. It's a nervous habit, and I can tell she is uncomfortable but I just do not know why.
"Then what's wrong Emma? You don't want to stay here? I thought you were gonna stay for me." Now Henry looks upset and I have managed to mess things up again. It's not as though I asked really challenging questions.
How can the soon-to-be Savior be so unsure of herself.
Now that I think about it, she has been exhibiting different emotions than the ones I saw when I had first met her. She came on so strong, and pushed so hard barging into our lives, well more like thrown into it, but still. It was difficult, but also exhilarating to finally have a worthy opponent. She came into town with such a confidence and a wont-back-down attitude. But this person in front of me is so different.
"Well the thing is... Henry I want to stay and be here for you.." Emma is still looking down and I just want to scream for her to just spit it out, whatever it is.
Then she looks up at me and her eyes are a bit red.
"I don't have a place to live. I have looked at the local paper and there aren't any job listings. And I cannot exactly sleep in my car much longer. I am sorry but I will have to move back to Boston very soon." As Emma finishes its close to a whisper and I can tell she is about to let a tear drop as she excuses herself from the living room. I hear her walk down the hall towards the restroom.
There is nothing but silence as Henry and I sit there; our food long forgotten. I try to wrack my brain for how this could have happened. How is it that I forgot she was sleeping in her car? I remember taking apples to her in her hotel room when I had threatened her to leave. But all that did was make her more determined to stay.
Then when Henry had run away again she had stayed and helped, and then she somehow ended up moving in with Mary Margaret.
What am I missing?
Emma comes back in the room, her face clearly more stoic than before and takes a seat.
There is still silence as Henry and I look back and forth at each other.
"I was staying at the B & B but they told me that they could no longer have me staying there. And it seems as though all the jobs in Storybrooke are filled. Kid, I really do love getting to know you, and maybe if your mom is okay with it you could maybe visit me, but I will be leaving tonight." She then grabs her plate, then Henry's and mine and walks into the kitchen.
As soon as she's out of hearing range, Henry looks to me, "We can't let her go mom, this is all wrong, and she was supposed to save everyone. Break the curse…."
"Henry…." I try to say something but I realize that is my fault. I was the one who had her removed from the B & B and then I somehow had managed to change things so that she never spoke to Mary Margaret about moving in together. It's all so confusing how things are all meshing together. It's becoming harder to remember how things were before, the first time.
I wonder how long she has been staying in her car. It all starts to make sense. The reason she was acting differently, and why it was so hard for her to tell us. She feels inadequate; she has so much pride that she must feel so very ashamed. I caused all of this. If this is all a dream why does is hurt my chest so much to think of how she must be feeling? And worse, to know that I am the cause of it.
What was going on?
I turn to Henry to let him know everything will be okay.
I will have to make it okay somehow.
As I begin to speak I suddenly feel lightheaded and everything fades into darkness.
