Chapter 10

When Emma closed the door the apartment behind her, she found Mary Margaret sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. She looked up when she heard her daughter come in and their eyes found each other across the distance of the room. Emma tried to look away, feeling guilt well up inside of her, but Mary Margaret wasn't letting her go that easy. She stood up and walked over to the door, leaving Emma without an escape.

"What's going on between you and Regina?" Mary Margaret wanted to know. Emma peered up through her eyelashes and watched as the other woman folded her arms across her chest in defiance. "And don't give me the 'we'll talk about this later' speech. We're going to talk about this right now."

Emma sighed. "It's… complicated."

"Complicated?" Mary Margaret echoed. "What do you mean, complicated?"

"Do we have to do this now?" Emma exclaimed. Her eyes scanned the apartment. Her son was no longer in the living room. "Where's Henry?"

"David's tucking him in," Mary Margaret answered. Her eyes narrowed. "He mentioned seeing you outside, with Regina…"

"Oh God." Emma felt the bile rise up in the back of her throat. "Exactly what did he see?"

"What should he have seen?" Mary Margaret challenged. When her daughter didn't answer she sighed. "He saw you two talking, allright? He said it looked like you guys were having some kind of discussion but he wanted to get back inside to talk to me about Ruby so he didn't stay and listen."

Emma felt herself relax. At least David hadn't seen them kiss. She couldn't think of a worse way for her parents to find out exactly what was happening between her and Regina. In fact, she barely knew herself what was happening. Like everything else in life, this wasn't simple. It seemed she had a knack for doing things the hard way, running into trouble along the way. Never a dull day in the life of Emma Swan, that's one thing she knew for sure. She chewed the inside of her cheek and picked at her fingernails. She didn't know where to start or what to say. She didn't even know if there was anything to say. What did she and Regina talk about? The fact they both felt the attraction?

Regina had admitted she was in love with her.

"Fuck," Emma muttered under her breath.

"What is going on with you, Emma?" Mary Margaret challenged. "Ever since the Curse broke, you've been acting odd. And this whole thing with Regina…"

"This whole thing with Regina is something that…" Emma's voice faded and she shook her head. Golden locks danced around her head. "Something that…. I don't know how to talk about." She had to find some way to start this conversation. She knew Mary Margaret wasn't going to let this go. Not tonight, not after Regina had come looking for her. "Do you remember what you asked me? About Regina?"

"What did I ask you about Regina?"

"If it was possible I had feelings for her?"

Mary Margaret's eyes widened in horror as she slowly began to understand what the blonde was trying to say. "Emma…."

"No," Emma cut her off. "I don't want you to talk. I want you to just listen. I need you to listen because if you start talking I'll lose whatever it is I'm trying to say and then it will just get worse. I don't even know where to start or what to think because none of this makes sense but I keep thinking about what you said and after Regina saved me…." The words just kept coming, as if someone had pushed a button somewhere. "I kissed her and…. And…"

"You kissed Regina?!"

It was David. He stood halfway down the stairs, dressed in his favourite pair of jeans, zip up jacket and a t-shirt. He stared at his daughter in a mixture of contempt and disgust. His hands grabbed hold of the railing, his knuckles turning white. The anger flashed through his eyes. "Emma, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"If I knew then I wouldn't be feeling the way I do right now," Emma countered.

"Emma, this is Regina we're talking about. This is the woman who's ripped people's hearts from their chest and squeezed just as long until they died at her feet. She isn't like us. Regina will only be happy if she can hurt other people," Mary Margaret said and attempted to take her daughter's hand but Emma pulled away. "Whatever she told you, you can't let her get to you. Its lies, Emma. All of it."

Emma slowly looked up to meet Mary Margaret's eyes. She pierced her eyes into her mother's and her features hardened. "Even the part where she told me she loved me?"

"What?"

"Regina told me she loves me," Emma said quietly. She remembered Regina's eyes when she spoke those words. It didn't matter how badly she wanted to ignore the way she felt inside, she wouldn't be able to ignore the way Regina had looked at her. She had never seen her more vulnerable and honest then in that moment. "I don't know what it means to me but I know it means something to her."

"Emma, she's lying to you! Regina never loved anyone!" David raised his voice enough for Emma to look in his direction. He had never been this angry. "The woman doesn't have a heart."

"You know that's not true, David," Mary Margaret interrupted her husband. "Have you forgotten how Regina came to be the way she is? She did love someone once. It was because that love was taken from her that she became the Evil Queen." She looked back at Emma. "But Regina can't love anyone anymore, Emma. Her heart and soul are too dark, too rotten. All Regina knows is how to lie."

"How do you know?" Emma interjected. "How do you know that she hasn't changed, the same way you've changed?"

"I know Regina," Mary Margaret said. "I know what she is!"

"You know what she was!" Emma's eyes were blazing. She swallowed hard and pulled her sweater down enough for Mary Margaret to see the chain around her neck. "Remember when you saw this? Do you remember telling me what it was, what it meant?"

"You don't think that the ring is meant for Regina, do you?!" Mary Margaret shook her head in disbelief. "Emma, that ring is destined for your true love, whomever that may be. But it can't be Regina!"

"You know what, I was wrong," Emma said darkly. "I thought that you, of all people, would understand." She turned around and started for the door but Mary Margaret was quick to catch up with her and grabbed her arm. David was right behind her. Emma tried to shake her arm free from her mother's grip but Mary Margaret's fingers only tightened around her wrist. "I shouldn't have tried to explain this to you. How could you possibly understand?"

"Where are you goin?" David demanded to know as Emma managed to reach the door and opened it. She pulled herself free from Mary Margaret's grip and bolted out of the door, tripping over her feet in the haste of trying to leave. She spun around and saw her parents in the door way. Looking at them, the people who went from being her friends to her family, was exactly the way she felt; confused. None of this made any sense. None of it.

"Away from here," Emma whispered. "I need time to think and I can't do that here."

"Emma, please," Mary Margaret pleaded. "Listen to us."

"I'm not a child!" Emma suddenly shouted. "I don't need you to tell me what I can and can't do. You lost that right when you shoved me into a wardrobe into some unknown world. Neither of you has any right to stand there and try to be a parent when I've looked after myself for the last twenty-eight years." Her harsh words caused tears to well up in Mary Margaret's eyes. "This isn't the right place for me right now."

Before either of her parents could answer, Emma had sprinted down the stairs. She fled the apartment building and ran straight across the street to her yellow bug. She left it unlocked most nights, since everyone in Storybrooke knew who the vehicle belonged to and there was nothing worth stealing anyway. She took the keys from the glove box and started the engine. It roared and the car came to live. She cast one last glance in her rear view mirror and saw her parents standing on the side of the road. She swallowed hard, changed gears and drove off.

The radio instantly started playing and her hand shot down to the button to change stations but held still in mid-air when she heard the song that was playing. Dusty Springfield's voice filtered into the car and the words found their way both into Emma's mind and her heart. "You don't have to stay forever, I will understand. Believe me, believe me, I can't help but love you…" Her fist made contact with the radio and the voice died down. She couldn't bear listening to this now.

She drove aimlessly for about fifteen minutes before her mind became clearer. Then she changed direction and with anger boiling in her veins she turned onto the road that had only direction; away from Storybrooke. The headlights of her car illuminated the road in front of her. It was dark, without streetlights, and surrounded by woodland. With every passing minute she became more agitated and the desire to leave grew stronger. It wasn't until she spotted the sign and the line drawn across the road that the crazy beating of her heart began to slow down.

Emma slammed the brakes only a couple of metres before crossing the line. The bug came to an abrupt stop and she was thrown back into her seat. She groaned and covered her face with her hands, resting against the steering wheel. Even now, no matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn't leave. She couldn't leave Storybrooke and Henry. She couldn't leave Regina.

"You, Emma Swan, are an idiot," she whispered to herself. "What were you thinking? Regina Mills? Really?! You just had to fall in love with the one person everybody in this town hates?" She ran her fingers through her hair and longingly gazed up at the road sign saying Leaving Storybrooke. She wasn't going anywhere. She couldn't. Storybrooke was home now, for whatever stupid reason. And the more she thought about it, the more she realised there was nowhere to run to. Where could she go? Back to Boston? It wasn't like life out there had been brilliant. Even Storybrooke had more to offer.

After a few more minutes of quiet contemplation, she turned the bug around and drove back into the town. She didn't pass a single car on her way and when she turned into Main Street she was surprised to still see light burning behind one of Granny Inn's windows. She pulled up and realised it was Regina's window. She sat in her car for a little while, staring up, not sure what she was hoping to see. It wasn't until the light was switched off that she got out of the car, walked across the road and into the inn.

The desk was abandoned and Emma looked around. Neither Ruby nor her Granny were anywhere to be seen so she walked straight to the stairs and started her way up. When she reached the top she hesitated for just a moment but then carried on. She walked down the corridor to the room at the end and took a deep breath before she knocked. There was no way back now.

She heard footsteps on the other side of the door. The lock was turned and the door slowly opened. Regina arched an eyebrow in surprise when she saw Emma standing outside but the initial harshness in her eyes faded when she recognised the blonde.

"Emma?" she asked softly. "What are you doing here?"

"I…" Emma began and sighed. "I didn't know where else to go."

"Do you want to come in?" Regina stepped aside.

Emma seemed hesitant. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"You came here, Emma," Regina said, her fingers drumming against the door. She was dressed in a pair of light blue silk pyjamas that somehow seemed to highlight the rich tones of her hair. The only light came from the lamp on Regina's bedside table. "You tell me."

Emma filed past Regina and stepped into the room. Regina closed the door behind them and turned around to find Emma pacing. She watched the blonde Sheriff for a couple of minutes but the longer the silence lasted, the more worried she became. She walked over to her and put her hands on Emma's arms, stopping her from walking. Their gazes locked. "What happened?"

"Mary Margaret and David…" Emma began. She didn't need to say anymore.

"They know." Regina drew her conclusions and Emma nodded. "I take it they didn't respond well?"

Emma shook her head. "That's an understatement."

"Emma, I'm sorry," Regina whispered and softly placed her lips against Emma's forehead. "I shouldn't have dragged you into this."

"You didn't drag me into anything," Emma said defensively. "I fell in love with you all on my own, remember? Probably from the moment I first laid eyes on you that night I brought Henry home." She shrugged. "Not that I thought I had any chance whatsoever, but it wasn't just because of Henry that I chose to stay in Storybrooke."

"Love and hate can come really close to one another," Regina said softly. Her fingers brushed a strand of hair out of Emma's eyes. The touch was soft and feather light but it still managed to stir all kinds of feelings in Emma's stomach. She longed for that touch to be everlasting and rubbed her cheek against Regina's hand. "I hate that I am so drawn to you, that you managed to get so deep under my skin without even having to try. I hate that I allowed you to come close enough to hurt me if you wanted to. I hate that you make me feel vulnerable." She took a shallow breath and beautiful brown eyes found Emma's blue. "But I don't hate you, Emma Swan."

"I know," Emma breathed and her lips found Regina's in a tentative, almost shy kiss. The brazen passion they'd shared earlier that night seemed to have faded, only to be replaced by the tenderness that was here right now. "I know."

"Don't leave tonight," Regina whispered as her fingers entwined with Emma's. "Stay with me."

Emma leaned in for another kiss and softly pressed her tongue against Regina's lips. The dark haired woman willingly allowed her in and the kiss grew in strength and intensity. Regina's slender fingers found the hem of Emma's shirt and crept underneath, grazing against the warm flesh of her stomach. Emma's hands found their way into Regina's hair before sliding down across her shoulders before eventually encountering the top button of her pyjama shirt. Her breath hitched when Regina's lips travelled from her mouth to the side of her neck and sucked down on her pulse. Her hands were shaking as she slowly began unbuttoning Regina's shirt and slid the fabric away from her body, revealing the secrets that lay hidden underneath.

Regina pulled Emma's shirt over her head before claiming her lips again. She spun the blonde around and pushed her towards the bed. Emma landed on her back and Regina hovered over her for a couple of seconds. A mixture of predatory lust and love flickered behind her eyes as she softly kissed her way up from the waistband of Emma's sweats to the valley between her breasts. Exploring fingers followed the outline of her bra and her hot breath tickled Emma's skin as the blonde arched her back.

"Tell me you won't leave," Regina said softly as she pressed her lips against Emma's. "Don't leave."

"I won't," Emma sighed just as Regina's fingers began to dip behind her sweats. "I won't."

~()~

Golden sunlight filtered into the room through the partially drawn curtains, caressing her face. Emma's eyes slowly fluttered open and she lazily stretched out. The bed was comfortable and warm but slowly the realisation began to dawn that this wasn't her bed. She looked around. The bed, although warm, was empty. Her clothes lay scattered around on the floor and the sheets were wrapped around her naked body. Then she remembered. Regina.

Emma sat up with a jolt and scanned the room. It was empty. Her gaze then fell on the cup of coffee standing on the small desk by the window. A piece of paper was propped up against it. She slipped out of bed, wrapping the sheet a little tighter around her body, and padded across the room. She picked up the paper and folded it open. The neat handwriting spelled out a simple message.

I hope the coffee's still warm when you wake up. There's something I need to do. I'll call you later.

Emma smiled to herself and picked up the styrofoam cup. She took a small sip and found that the coffee was still pleasantly warm. She carried the cup back to the bed and climbed back in. Regina's pyjamas lay at the end of the bed, neatly folded. Emma felt her cheeks redden as she remembered what had happened in this room the previous night. She waited for the guilt and the regret to come but it didn't happen.

Not far from the inn, Regina closed the door to Gold's pawn shop behind her. She'd managed to get here unseen, which was tricky when everybody was up and about making their way to work. She let her eyes adapt to the dimly lit surroundings and slowly walked across the shop towards the counter. Gold, who had been flicking through that morning's edition of the newspaper, looked up. Curiosity flickered in his eyes.

"Well, well, well," he said and folded the paper. "Do my eyes deceive me or is that the face of a woman who has come to live up to her end of the deal?"

"Hold your tongue," Regina commanded. The anger in his voice was enough to make Gold raise his eyebrows in surprise. "I came here to tell you that I no longer want this deal."

"What?" he whispered, a sly grin spreading across his face. "The Evil Queen doesn't want her magic back?"

"Not if getting it requires doing the one thing I can't do."

"Oh but you can. You have done it before, without even a hint of hesitation," Gold answered and leaned across the counter. Their gazes locked and they were both momentarily taken back to the time where they had stood face to face like this, separated only by magical prison bars. It was there that he told her that the sacrifice she had to make was far greater than she had dared to believe. And now the moment repeated itself. "It's so easy. You know it will solve all your problems. You can have everything."

"No." Regina's tone was sharp and dismissive. Tears glistened in her eyes. "I can't."

Gold's jaw dropped and he chuckled in amusement. The pieces began to fall into place. "Lost our strength, have we, dearie? You should have taken a page from your mother's book when you had the chance, Regina. She would never have hesitated to get all the power she wanted. Cora knew how to handle it. She wouldn't have allowed herself to fall in love."

"What do you know about love, Rumpel?" Regina hissed. "Your wife abandoned you for a pirate. Who could ever love a coward like you? Not even your son could bear the thought of having you as his father! I can't do this! I love her!"

"You should have thought about that before you came asking for my help. You wanted your magic, whatever the cost. You want Henry back. There is only one way for you to have those things. You gave me your word, dearie," Gold stated. His eyes darkened. "There's no way out of a deal. You made a promise." His eyes pierced into Regina's and he could see her torment and her pain .It excited him. The game just took a completely different course. "You're going to have to keep it."

Regina swallowed. "And if I don't?"

"Then I'll have to deal with Miss Swan as well as you," Gold answered menacingly and Regina took a few steps away from the counter. "It's up to you." He shrugged. "You're going to have to choose."

So... this is where we are... Let me hear your thoughts!