I know it's been a long time, since I last updated! I hope you're not too mad. Here is a new chapter - it's shorter than usual, but I hope you still enjoy it. Feedback is greatly appreciated :)
Have fun!
Emma arrived late at her apartment that she was sharing with Mary Margaret – her mother. She shook her head slowly, as she pushed her key into the lock opening the door.
Praying for some alone time, she stepped into the room only be greeted by David and Snow.
"Emma, thank god, you are okay," Her mother squeaked, "We were worried sick."
Emma rubbed her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut. "I am fine, nothing to worry about."
David scoffed, as he got to his feet, "There is plenty to worry about, Emma. Why did you undermine me earlier? We should have taken Regina in, at least for interrogation."
Emma rolled her eyes at his words, looking at him, "As I said earlier, Regina is not the bad guy in this. If anything, she was the victim too."
"Emma, it feels like there is a big chunk missing and even if she's remotely innocent, she cursed us!" Snow interjected, her eyes pleading with her daughter.
"Cora tried to kill me!"
The room went silent and two sets of eyes stared dumfounded at the blonde.
"She tried to rip my heart out, couldn't and then opened a portal, where she threw me, August and Bae in. Regina could not do a thing, because she was bound on the ground." Emma's heart pounded in her chest, as she thought about the events.
Snow's hands covered her mouth, her eyes wide in horror. David had paled considerably, gritting his teeth.
"Why would she do that? I mean, she's always been creepy and very rude, but still?" The blonde man asked, stroking his wife's back soothingly.
Emma swallowed a lump in her throat, as she stared at her hands, "I…well…She didn't," Clearing her throat, she looked back at her parents. "She didn't like my friendship with Regina. August and Bae were casualties – they wanted to save me."
"Look, I need to check on Henry, he is in my room, right?" Emma asked, trying to get out of this tense moment.
"Yes, he might be asleep." Snow said, her sad eyes watching Emma's retreating form.
The blonde quietly opened the bedroom door, as she saw Henry sitting on her bed.
"You are still awake."
"I couldn't sleep." Henry answered, his tired eyes squinting slightly as Emma turned the lights on.
Taking off her red leather jacket, Emma took a seat next to Henry on the bed.
"Were you at my Mo…the evil –" "Henry, she is still your mother, okay? Please don't refer to her as that."
The boy bit his lower lip, as he looked at his hands, "I always suspected something and now…I feel…sad."
"I know it is a lot, Henry. But regardless of what happened, she loves you very much and there is so much more as to why she did what she…well, did." Wrapping her arm around Henry's shoulder, she pulled him closer.
"Will you protect her?" The boy asked timidly, his small hand curling around her sleeve.
"Of course, I will do whatever it takes to protect her and you." Emma whispered, kissing the top of his head as she felt his body relaxing against her side.
The next morning, Emma ran into Gold. Or more, like he stalked her until she had enough and confronted the slimy man.
"Gold, what do you want?"
"Naaah, Miss Swan, where are your manners?" He grinned at her, tapping his cane against the pavement.
"What is it with you and stalking me? I'm merely annoyed, Rumple. So please indulge me?"
The man's eyes scanned the streets, as he looked back at Emma. "My Son, Bae. Where is he?"
Emma swallowed thickly, as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't know exactly, it's been awhile since I've last seen him."
"Find him!" Gold pressed, his cane now pointing at her.
Once Gold limped away, Emma pulled her phone out typing a quick message to her friend August.
She walked the remaining way to the town hall, as she spotted a rather large group gathering at the main entrance.
So her parents really called in a meeting – with everyone.
Emma was busy scanning the crowd and room for a Regina, when she spotted her at the far end of the room.
"I'll keep your mother company over there, okay?" She asked Henry, who followed her line of sight. He nodded in agreement, his eyes wandering back to David who stood tall at the podium, the wooden gavel in his hand.
Emma joined Regina, their shoulders barely touching, but Emma could sense the brunette's tension and stress.
"Everything is going to be okay, yes? I talked to Henry, he is fine." The blonde whispered, her gaze seeking Regina's.
"What did you tell him?" She hissed, her eyes avoiding Emma's. She would give in, if she locked eyes with the blonde.
"Not much, only the basics, I didn't want to say too much without you." Emma's right hand slid closer to Regina's, her pinky touching the brunette's hand.
"Don't, Emma. You make me soft and I can't be soft right now." Regina spat, closing her eyes as she pulled her hand away.
Emma swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth, as she looked back at her parents.
"Residents of Storybrooke, we are gathering here today to decide what will be our next step. I want to take Regina into custody; of course, I know we can't proceed with this lands rules. Back in the Enchanted Forest the maximum punishment for cursing an entire realm would be immediate death." The man swallowed slowly, his eyes flying to Regina.
"But, I don't think we should do that – just yet. There are many unanswered questions and –"
"Who cares? She's an evil witch!" A man yelled. Another woman joined him, "Yes! She's a threat to every one of us! We should burn her!"
Emma had enough; she pushed herself off the wall and marched up to her parents.
"Emma what are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked in surprise, as she watched her daughter pushing David away.
"Listen up, you spoiled brats!" A loud gasp appeared, while they looked affronted at Emma.
"I get it, cursing the Enchanted Forest was a dick move! However, has she actually hurt any of you? I mean seriously…You have heating system, Netflix and chill, Snapchat – yeees, Granny I'm looking at you – health insurance. So why complain? To make this perfectly clear, anyone who tries to hurt Regina has to go through me first!"
She brushed past her parents, walking directly through the crowd towards Henry, "You coming?"
The boy jumped up, as he followed Emma through the room.
"Are you ready to go home?" Henry asked, smiling at his mother as they left the hall.
Once Henry was tucked into bed, the women made themselves comfortable in the living room.
"Thank you for standing up to me today, Emma." Regina whispered, as she took another sip of her red wine.
"No thanking needed." Emma smiled back at the brunette, as mild uncomfortable silence engulfed the room.
"Listen, I need to tell you something…" Emma started hesitantly,, taking a big gulp of her beer.
"What is it?" Regina asked uncertainly, shifting so she was facing Emma completely.
"Gold wants me to find Baelfire, while I understand this…it's…well, complicated," Running her fingers through her hair, she looked back at the brunette. "He is Henry's father…"
Regina's eyes went wide and stared in shock at Emma.
"I didn't know who he was and…Jesus, this is all so confusing." Closing her eyes, she let head fall back against the couch.
"Emma, it is okay...I understand that this whole debacle messed up some things and relationships. I have to admit, I am shaken up about so many things at the moment." Regina took the wine bottle and poured herself another glass.
"I told my parents the truth about what happened, well…half." Emma mumbled, playing with her fingers.
"What did you leave out?"
The blonde swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut, "I left out our relationship."
Hurt flashed across Regina's face and she shook her head slowly, "Emma, what are you afraid of?"
"I…I just thought with everything that's been going, it'd be too much – at the moment." Emma rasped, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Regina got on to her feet – fast. Emma watched in horror, as the brunette turned towards the door, that led to the hallway.
"Make your mind up, Emma. I won't be reduced to being a secret and I can't certainly act like your BFF."
Emma got in motion fast, "Wait, Regina, please!" Grabbing the brunette by her arm, the blonde managed to stop her.
"You know you are not some secret to me, I just…want to tell them under different and more happy circumstances." Emma explained quietly, pulling Regina flush against her body.
Regina bit her lip, as she looked into Emma's green eyes, holding her captivated.
Emma kissed her slowly, backing the brunette against the side of the door. As her fingers ran aimlessly over Regina's back, stopping at her waist.
"I missed you so much," Emma, whispered, her lips moving to the brunette's neck. Regina sighed quietly, while her fingers worked to unbutton Emma's flannel.
