You guys read my mind and will soon see why with this chapter :) P.S. You all are also awesome!
Chapter 8
As the following day came, Emma awoke in Mary Margaret's apartment, to her mother hugging her tightly, having spent the night beside her daughter, not wanting to leave her side. Hearing pots and pans being knocked about downstairs, the blonde carefully untangled herself and made her way to the kitchen seeing David attempt to make breakfast but clearly his own emotions were effecting him.
Looking towards the teen having heard footsteps, he places the pan down and walks over hugging her tightly, something Emma was slowly getting used to but now was pointless. Glancing to the door, the blonde saw her bags packed from the previous night despite her mother's protest to not do so, the blonde however just informed her that if she didn't pack, Sarah would only wait until she does.
Hearing her phone go off, the blonde smiles briefly at David prompting him to return to the breakfast he was cooking before checking.
- Hey, I'm ready - Regina x x
Biting her lip, Emma wondered how she would make it out the front door without her parents noticing. Looking towards the door again at her bags, the blonde eyed a specific one that was hidden and that she had packed separately with the essentials she would need. Sighing, Emma looked towards David again while shifting towards the bathroom. "I'm just gona take a shower.. Why don't you wake Mary Margaret so we can have breakfast together?"
David looks to his daughter seeing her hopeful look and nods. "Sure..I guess we should before you..."
Emma nods feeling awkward then steps inside the bathroom, switching the shower on and standing by the door. Hearing her father make his way upstairs, the blonde walks back out peering towards the stairs to check before shutting the bathroom door as if someone is using it. Creeping over to the front door, Emma grabs her jacket and bag then slips out, sticking a note to the door on the outside, apologising.
Racing down the steps, the blonde puts her jacket on and texts Regina.
- On my way, meet you round back - Emma xoxo
Stepping out onto main street, Emma looks around checking to see if anyone noticed her then runs down towards the mayor's house. Walking through the side gate, the blonde heads towards the back door, knocking once.
Grabbing her own jacket and bag while leaving a note on the table for when her father gets home, Regina runs out the door and straight into Emma, hugging her. Emma hugs back then looks at her seriously. "Regina listen to me, id understand if you want to stay here...this is your home"
Shaking her head, the brunette takes the blonde's hand. "My home is with you"
Emma smiles, feeling a pang of guilt inside and takes hold of the brunette's bag. "We have to go, they think I'm in the shower so we have to leave quick"
Regina smiles back and holds up some keys. "Good job I have these...to the Mercedes.."
Looking shocked, the blonde bites her lip. "Regina we can't take your dad's car!"
"He has three cars Emma. We need this.."
Emma looks around worried but then nods following Regina to the car and getting in the passenger side.
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After they both came downstairs, David finishes the breakfast while Mary Margaret sits at the island sadly, waiting.
"Can you tell Emma breakfast is ready?"
The short haired woman nods and makes her way to the bathroom door, still hearing the water running. "Emma?" Knocking firmly, she waits with a frown. "Emma?!" Knocking again a little more forceful, the woman looks towards David with concern as he sets the plates down to join her. Pushing the handle down, Mary Margaret manages to open the door with ease and steps into the bathroom seeing it empty. "Where is she?!"
David looks wide eyed and turns scanning the apartment although it is clear Emma is not there. "She's..not here..."
Mary Margaret runs to the front door in a panic and opens it spying the note before ripping it from the tape it was stuck with, reading it.
'Mary Margaret and David I am sorry that you are reading this and that I have done this but Sarah gave me no choice. As much as I want to stay with you, she will soon be here to take me away and I cannot go back to the home as I know I would not survive. Sounds dramatic I know but, the past few years have been extremely difficult for me as I have had less and less foster families willing to take me in. Not just because of my behaviour, but because I'm 'too old' for them. I used to be able to cope in the home knowing soon I would be placed into someone else's care but know I know for a fact that if I go back, I will spend the rest of my time being stranded until I turn eighteen as you guys were my
I understand as soon as you read this, you will look for me and so will the social but finding me may be difficult. I have ran away numerous times before and the majority of the times I came back of my own accord because I heard a family wanted me but not this time as I had a family that wanted me. My family, so I will not be returning. I am truly sorry if this causes you pain and I am sorry that I have let you down but I have to do what is right for me.
I love you guys and I hope I get to see you again sometime in the future... Emma x x'
Dropping back on the chair behind her, Mary Margaret begins to sob while David scans over the letter before hugging the woman. "She's gone David.."
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Once their bags were thrown to the back seat, Regina nervously started the car. She had only ever drove the car once and it was very brief while her father was showing her the ropes. Pressing her foot down, the brunette begins to drive out of the small turning and on to the Main street. Looking out the window, Emma takes a breath while taking in the surrounding area of which she called home. Turning to face Regina, the blonde can see the girl's hand shake slightly on the gearstick and quickly covers it with her own starting to have doubts of allowing the brunette to come while debating whether to tell her to pull over so she can jump out and leave by foot.
As if reading her thought, Regina glances over quickly while keeping her eyes on the road. "Don't even think about it..."
Hearing the firm tone, the blonde gulps then smiles. "I just-"
"Emma"
Sighing, the blonde goes quiet as they drive towards the folk in the road, taking a left to the path that leads out of Storybrooke.
As they near the town line, Regina's eyes widen in worry on seeing a car pulled up on the side of the road and spotting a brunette woman standing against the car in the distance. "Oh..no..Emma.."
Nudging the blonde to look, Emma mimics the brunette's gaze as they drive closer. "Put your foot down!"
Seeing the woman start to frown and stare, Regina braces herself putting her foot down to speed up. As they meet the car, the teen gets in a panic as the older brunette steps out in front of them, forcing Regina to slam the brakes down otherwise she would have killed her mother.
Emma holds her head while Regina looks guilty out the car window having stopped in time. "..Regina..she's gona, I can't I have to go! She won't stop me, she just cares about you, I'm sorry baby I do love you but I can't.." Getting into a panic, the blonde shakily unbuckles her belt and grabs her bag from behind before pressing her lips against a shocked looking Regina quickly.
"Emma no!"
Cora approaches the driver's window and glances down with a concerned frown. "Regina? What are you doing? What is going on?"
Emma looks at the pair teary then pushes her door open and climbs out before heading towards the line, picking her pace as she does, turning it into a run.
Regina looks heartbroken and rushes out of her door to go after her but is grabbed by her mother holding her back by her arms. "Emma?! Please!" Trying to fight her mother off, the brunette gets upset. "No Emma! Come back!"
Starting to sob, Regina turns to Cora. "We have to get her, please get in your car!"
Shaking her head, the older brunette holds her daughter close as she sobs more. "I can't dear..my car broke down.."
Regina quickly shoves her father's keys into her hands looking at her pleadingly. "Please, I have never asked you for anything!"
Thinking a moment, Cora takes the keys and rubs her daughter's arm. "Go wait in my car, I will be back"
The brunette nods sniffling, wanting to go with her but knows that her mother won't allow it. Sliding into her mother's car, Regina watches shakily as Cora drive off into the distance.
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Knowing Emma would not have got far, especially by foot compared to a car, Cora spots the blonde trailing up ahead and drives beside her, rolling down her window. "Emma dear?"
The blonde takes a breath with tears streaming down her face and ignores her, continuing to walk, looking straight ahead.
Sighing, the older brunette keeps her pace beside the blonde. "I don't know exactly what is going on but I know whatever it is, it must be serious if you are leaving Storybrooke and now my daughter behind...please dear let me help you?"
Gulping, Emma wipes her face still looking ahead. "You can't..no one can, they want to send me back to care and I am not going there..they treat you like hell so I need to go..I wished Regina could have been with me but I knew as soon as she saw you, I couldn't take her away from her mother..you only just found each other again and I get that, I was the same with Mary Margaret, but with you two, you have a choice, I don't..so please drive back and make sure Regina is okay.."
Cora looks sad. "I understand completely..and right now my daughter is not okay which is why I am here, she wanted me to get you, to bring you back to her"
"If you do that, I will only be taken again.."
The older brunette watches her thinking. "Okay..I'll make you a deal. If you get in the car, I won't take you back, I will help you.."
Emma stops and looks over with a raised eyebrow causing Cora to brake. "How can I trust what you say?"
Cora looks serious. "You can trust me Emma because I want to help you. You make Regina happy and I would not want to jeopardize her trust in me now by betraying you, you mean the world to her and I owe her so much..and you, after all I was the one who was with your mother when she..gave you away.."
Hearing the sincerity in her voice, Emma slowly makes her way over to the car and gets back inside the passenger seat with caution. Cora smiles and starts driving again but does not turn the car around.
"Wait..where are you taking me?"
Smiling to reassure her, Cora glances across. "Back to my old house. You can stay there until we figure it all out. No one will know you are there.."
Emma looks shocked. "I am..you're really helping me?"
"Of course dear..I can't leave you on the streets can I?"
Smiling in relief, the blonde settles back into her seat, looking to her phone to text Regina.
- I am really sorry, but promise you, I am okay. We will see each other soon, that is if you still want to even talk to me...please just be happy and enjoy your family..love you - Emma xoxo
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Trying to get herself under control, Regina wipes her tears which is useless as another set start to fall. Sniffling, she reaches for her phone reading Emma's message causing her lip to tremble. 'Mother clearly hasn't found her, otherwise she would be here'
- All I want right now, apart from you, is for you to be safe. I wish I could believe that I will see you soon but I just can't..please just..keep me updated and as much as I want to hate you right now for going, I love you more than anything and that will not change. - Regina x x x
Seeing another car come along and pull up beside her, the brunette looks out the window seeing a trio of worried looking people, Mary Margaret, David and Sarah
The short haired woman walks over seeing Regina. "Regina where is Emma?"
Shrugging, the brunette looks to Sarah briefly not wanting her to know of the real plan. "I don't know..she left..I tried to stop her..but couldn't"
Frowning, the social worker looks inside the car making Regina feel nervous and Mary Margaret glare somewhat protectively. "Where may I ask are your parents?"
Biting her lip, the brunette rubs her head. "Mother's getting help..the car..broke down..she didn't want me walking alone so told me to wait here..."
Nodding accepting the answer, Sarah sighs at the lack of Emma's whereabouts then walks off towards her car to call the office.
Regina watches her then sends a message to Cora telling her not to come back yet as they are there.
Mary Margaret watches the brunette warily then bends down to the window. "Regina honey..do you really know where Emma is.."
Shaking her head, the teen shuffles closer to keep quiet. "She ran off..mother is looking for her..Mary Margaret, I'm sorry..I..I was going with her in my father's car but then we saw my mother and that was when she ran, mother took the other car to look while I waited here.."
The short haired woman sighs sharing a look with David then reaches for Regina's hand. "I know you care for Emma a lot..it's okay..thank you for telling us"
Regina gives a teary nod, encouraging the woman to lean across the open window and hug her quickly.
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Pulling up outside quite a large house, similar to the mayoral mansion in Storybrooke, Cora exits the car, looking to Emma who follows staring at it. "Bring your bag dear.."
Reaching across the chair, the blonde takes her bag before shutting her door and walking up the steps behind Cora to the front door while the brunette woman unlocks it.
Stepping inside, Emma looks around rather nosily and gains a chuckle from Cora. "Well I was about to say, make yourself at home but it would appear you already are.."
The blonde bites her lip embarrassed and stands still. "Sorry.."
Chuckling again, the woman shakes her head. "Right, luckily for you, I did not sell this place as I kept it as back up. There are one master and three other bedrooms upstairs for your choosing, I will stock up the fridge for you, TVs are in the living room and master bedroom and dear if you need the heating on, don't fret to use it"
Blinking in shock, Emma drops her mouth open with no sound coming out. "..I..wha...I can't believe you are doing this.."
Cora places a hand on her arm smiling. "Emma, you need to learn that there are people in life that want to help and care for you. Myself included..now one question I do have for you is..do you want Regina to know you are here?"
Frowning in thought, Emma scratches her neck. "I do..but not if it gets her in any trouble.."
"She won't. Leave it to me..I will be back shortly with groceries"
Exiting the house, leaving the blonde to explore, Cora checks her phone seeing a series of messages from her daughter informing her of the blonde's parents and social worker then a message saying they had drove off to search for Emma. Quickly dialling, the older brunette calls for her car to be fixed to prevent Regina having to wait any longer as she will be driven home then calls the teen herself.
"Mother?! Where are you? Did you find Emma?"
Cora takes a breath hearing all the questions at once. "Dear calm down and listen to me, I have called for a mechanic to collect the car so you will get home safely. I will be home shortly..I cannot say anything else right now but I promise you everything is okay..you just have to trust me, I will not let you down again"
Slightly confused, Regina sighs. "Okay..sorry for the..outburst..I'll see you soon"
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Returning within the hour with shopping, Cora leaves the bags in the capable hands of Emma as she needs to go back to Storybrooke.
Emma packs everything away then heads upstairs to change into her pyjamas. Feeling tired after an eventful day, the blonde falls asleep within the luxurious duvet in the master bedroom, keeping a picture of Regina that she had found among Cora's photographs by her bedside.
A/N: wonder what Regina's reaction will be to it all? Also should Cora tell Mary Margaret?
