Hey guys! It's me again! Totally should've known I wouldn't be able to wait until Friday to post a new chapter! So just a few heads up: There will be 2 more Acts after this one. Act 2 will probably be about 5-ish chapters. A few of you guys have asked about the lost daughter so I'm going to try to fit the characters backstory in with the present day/flashbacks. I hope you guys don't get confused. This is the first time I've done a 3 part chapter meaning: 2 flashbacks and 1 present day.
The scene opens up with Henry (Yay for adding him!) and it takes places Pre-Chapter 1 so please keep an open mind(Italics). The 2nd flash back keeps up with the Act title "Winter" (Bold) and the present day is into about a month after the girls reunited(Normal text)! Thank you all for viewing/following/Pming/favoriting/reviewing! It means the world to me you have no idea.
Act 2: Winter
Chapter 9: The Best Intentions
Henry was nervous. He didn't know what he was thinking or planning, all he knew was that he was tired of seeing his mom broken. He didn't miss the sadness in her eyes. He didn't overlook the forced smiles she put on for show. He had become acutely aware of just how unhappy his mother was. He didn't understand at first, until one day he asked her. He kept asking and asking until she finally told him where her smile had gone. Just once, he wanted to do something for her. Something that she couldn't do for herself; not with her stubbornness and pride. He had to do it, he knew he did. He just hoped he was making the right decision, and if he wasn't, he hoped his mom could forgive him.
His mom had sacrificed everything for him. She had moved so he could have the best opportunities laid out for him, the best schools, best options, best everything; just for him. He knew his mom had had a rough childhood. He knew what she had been through at the orphanage and the foster homes. He had known about losing everyone she cared about and growing up with no one. His mom withheld no secrets from him. His mom also wasn't subtle about how she felt about someone or a situation. So he knew that no matter where she went or how long she traveled, it would never replace the person she lost.
His mom had told him the whole story about her broken love story when he turned 18, finally deeming him old enough to handle it. She left out some details he was sure to keep from scarring him for life, but other than that, he got the whole story. How she and the teacher had met, how they got together, and unfortunately, how they ended. She was worried how he would react, he could tell it in her voice, but he just hugged her when she was finished. He had never known his mom went through such heart break. He wanted so badly to be there for her, and fix this. So he vowed once he was done with college, he would track down this woman and find out what has been keeping them apart.
He wasn't sure how he was going to do it. He really didn't even know where to start actually. All he did know is after everything she had been through and done: getting pregnant, raising him all on her own, always putting his needs before her own, that it was time for her happy ending. He didn't know if she'd be mad or hurt or the total opposite. He just knew he had to try because if he didn't, he would be responsible for her sadness. He obviously knew he didn't cause it per say, but if he knew about it and didn't do something about it, he knew he was just as guilty as the situation that did break her heart.
He hired a P.I. and teamed up with him, scanning over every detail to ensure they had the right girl, right place, and right people. When they were done, he just hoped everyone would be as understanding as he first was. He hoped he could persuade people to help him. Or at least, help his mom, because she deserved this so much. She deserved all the happiness in the world, and if he could give her at least one piece of that, it would all be worth it. He didn't know how she had left things back at StoryBrooke Prep, but he did know that if she was still in love with this woman, this Regina Mills, he was going to find her and put them back together. At least, that was the plan.
As he looked down at the number and phone in his hands, he took one final breath, aiming to build confidence, and started dialing.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Is this Maleficent?"
"It is. And may I ask who is speaking?"
"You don't know me, but I've heard about you from my mother."
"Oh really, how nice, who's your mother?"
"Emma. Emma Swan."
December had come just in time. It truly was the most magical time of the year. Regina knew this Christmas would mean so much more to her than the ones in the past. It was finally Christmas break from the school, and the girls had spent every moment with each other. Earlier this month, Regina had finally confronted Robin about the cheating and the pregnancy, and by the end of the night had told him to get his stuff and leave. They had now been separated for 2 weeks. She and Emma had become closer and closer during those weeks. They had been spending the night at each other's places, taking turns waking up in each other's arms. They didn't expect anything from each other, they just longed for the intimacy and kindness between them.
Regina was thinking of how much her life had changed within just 2 weeks. Such a burden had been lifted just from being away from Robin. She didn't feel the need to suppress her feelings. She no longer desired to be alone; she never wanted Emma to leave. Regina knew she was falling fast, but that was okay to her. Life is way to short to be anything but happy she had decided. She had been miserable with Robin, pretending not to know of his affair, and pretending not to love Emma in the progress. Now, Robin was out of the picture, and Regina was happier than ever.
While getting ready for the Christmas season, Regina recruited Emma to help with decorating. They began toting the ornaments, decorations, and the tree out of Regina's attic; all the while glancing at each other, making sure each other was happy. They laughed, talked, and kissed under the mistletoe; all the cheesy romantic things Emma had never planned on experiencing. Emma couldn't believe she was this happy. A month ago, she had been beaten up, kicked out, and homeless. One month later, she had her own apartment, a job, and was about to spend Christmas with the most beautiful girl on the planet. Life couldn't get any better. After they finished the Christmas tree, Emma decided she was going to hang the Christmas lights on the roof of Regina's house. Regina was still decorating the kitchen when Emma snuck out back and grabbed the lights and ladder from the tool shed.
Regina had made some chocolate chip cookies, Emma's favorite, as a thank you for coming over and helping. She reached in the over and grabbed them, with an oven mit of course, and placed them on the counter; letting them cool. "Emma?" Regina called as she walking out the kitchen and down the hallway into the living room. She peaked her head in the doorframe and continued searching. "Emma? Where are you?" Just as she asked that question she heard a loud noise coming from outside.
Regina walked outside and looked to her left, where there she found Emma, climbing a ladder, stringing lights across her rooftop.
"EMMA you're going to get hurt come down!"
"Relax Gina, I'm almost done, I'm fine!"
"You're making so much noise, someone is going to call the cops"
"Let them! I'll fight them off," Emma replied back confident as ever.
Regina sighed and mumbled the words, "I'm sure you would." While saying out loud, "Emma…I made cookies."
With that, Emma hesitated, finished what she was doing, and immediately started climbing down the ladder, wrapping her arm around Regina as she said, "I could've totally taken them."
"I know babe," Regina replied while kissing Emma on the forehead.
It had been a month since Emma had been back and the tension between her and the older brunette had not gotten any better. In fact, if it was possible, it got worse. They both wanted to be with each other, but Emma couldn't get over the hurt, and Regina didn't want to hurt her again. It all boiled down to, they both couldn't go through the same heart break again.
"What do you mean you walked away? You just yelled at her and then…just left? No hug, no kiss, no hot steamy make up sex?"
"Um, no there was no sex of the making up kind! Red she hurt me!"
"Oh come on Em, that was years ago! She was legit 10 years younger than you are right now, she made a mistake now get over it."
"Get over it? Do you know how hard it was just for me to get out of bad those first few months after she was gone?"
"Emma, I know it was hard, I was there with you the whole time until you left remember? I know it wasn't easy, I know she broke your heart. But has it crossed your mind that her heart was broken too?"
"Well she needs to take some dance lessons. Because the way she expresses herself needs a little work."
"Someone has been watching too much Gilmore girls."
"Uh, no just the right amount thank you."
Ruby laughed while shaking her head, "Look Em, this is your decision, but at the end of the day, nothing is stopping you both from being happy except yourselves. You both could be holding hands and skipping, but no you're ignoring each other and fighting."
"Holding hands and skipping? While we're what following the yellow brick road?"
"Okay smart ass! No need to be rude."
"I just think our hand holding days are over."
"Don't say that, you never know what could happen," Upon saying this, Regina walked into the teacher's lounge carrying her lunch as making her way to a table. Red gave Emma a glance as if to say, "what are you waiting on?" but the blonde just stated, "No, you really don't," and threw away her lunch and walked out of the lounge.
Regina witnessed this and just pushed her tray back away from her, running her fingers through her hair.
'Don't worry Regina, she'll come around," Red stated as she sat down next to the other brunette.
"I'm not holding my breath Ms. Lucas," Regina half smiled while sighing.
"Well don't give up, you know Emma more than anyone else, she just has walls."
"Yes I know, and I broke through them once, but now, I've made my bad and she's insisting I lay in it, I can't argue with her if I tried. She's right."
"She may be right, but that doesn't make what you did wrong either. You just wanted to protect her, what was wrong with that?"
"The fact that I didn't tell her it was to protect her, she just thought I was blowing her off, returning her like I didn't want her like she's been done several times in her life."
"But you did want her right?"
"No, I STILL want her, and this is excruciating painful not being able to have her."
"Trust me Regina, give it time," and Ruby got up from her chair and walked out of the lounge. She pulled out her cell phone, quickly dialed a number, and when they answered she said, "Hey, it's Ruby. We need to talk."
