Hey guys! So once again this is a slightly shorter chapter but I feel it covers what I needed it to. I know a lot of you weren't happy that Sarah left and I completely understand why. Don't worry things soon cheer up. Thank you guys so much for all of your reviews! I love hearing what you think. Hope you enjoy this next chapter my lovelys.
Sarah awoke to her familiar room at her dad's apartment. The whole place was quite small with only two bedrooms and a room that was a kitchen, living room and dining room all in one. After finishing his time in jail and rehab Zac had trouble finding a job and found himself often doing odd jobs for short amounts of time so the box apartment was all he could afford. Sarah was just happy he managed to keep himself out of trouble no matter where he was living.
The city was in its usual bustle even at such an early hour with sirens, honking horns and shouting pedestrians. It seemed so different to the teen now after being in the quiet streets of Storybrooke: almost like she no longer belonged. It had been two weeks since the brunette had left her Storybrooke life behind and it was times like this when she missed it. She missed waking up to Mary Margaret singing in the kitchen, Grannys coffee, saying hi to Archie as he walked Pongo, hell she even missed her little brothers fairy-tale land, but she knew there was one thing she missed most of all; her mom. The teen hadn't spoke to the blonde since their sad goodbye. At first it was because she needed time but as more time passed she found it harder and harder to pick up the phone. Emma had tried to get in touch quite a few times but, with no reply, she now settled with just talk to the teens dad asking if her daughter was okay.
Trying to erase her Storybrooke thoughts she got out of bed quickly throwing on a pair of ripped jeans and a black hoodie having no energy to make any effort. She hadn't managed to get a proper night's sleep since she arrived back home and it was starting to take its toll. The smell of coffee greeted her as she opened her bedroom door, assuming her dad was up, she followed the rich smell into the kitchen. However, as she turned the corner she was not greeted by her father's familiar face but that of a red headed woman she had not seen before.
'Erm… hi,' the teen said in a confused tone the stranger turning to look at her with a bright smile.
'Good morning. Coffee?' Without waiting for an answer she handed the teen a cup which she took cautiously.
'Not that I'm not appreciative of my morning caffeine buzz but who are you?'
'I'm Natalie,' the woman laughed like it was obvious.
'Yeah… still not clearing anything up,' the teen saw the woman's smile fall by the fact her dad hadn't mentioned her. 'Where's my dad?' The teen asked hoping he would be able to explain this.
'In his room,' the red head answered in a quieter tone then before.
Sarah gave the woman an awkward smile before rushing off to her dad's room. Without knocking she entered to see her dad still in bed. She picked up a nearby pillow throwing it at the sleeping man.
'Argh,' he moaned opening his eyes to see his daughter in the doorway. 'What's wrong?' He grumbled.
'What's wrong? Who is the possible axe murderer in our kitchen!' The teen yelled in a whispered tone hoping the mystery woman couldn't hear her.
Her dad looked at her confused before a light bulb went off. 'Oh that's Natalie,' he explained simply closing his eyes.
'Why do people think telling me her name is going to explain anything?' Sarah said more to herself than her dad. 'Who is she?'
'She is a woman from work not an axe murderer,' Zac yawned sitting up slightly. 'Be a good daughter and get rid of her will you,' he went to lie back down but suddenly sat up, 'oh and some coffee.' With that he curled back up in bed only to be disturbed by another pillow flying at his head.
'This is not an episode of friends! I am not getting rid of a one-night stand for you! Although Rachel and Phoebe did really end up liking Joeys one-night stand,' the teen thought back to the episode before snapping back to reality. 'No! This is wrong. I am your daughter not your roommate. Now I'm going to school and when I get back I want the red head gone and 20 bucks under my door.'
'Why would I pay you for not helping me?' Her dad asked confused.
'You are going to pay me for the inconvenience,' the teen grumbled before leaving the room and heading out the front door with no further comments to the red head who was now sat at the kitchen table. 'She does make a good cup of coffee though,' the brunette said to herself as she headed down the stairs and out into the busy city.
Emma slowly ate the cereal in front of her as she heard the news announce a storm was coming. Truth be told she had stopped listening 5 minutes ago but she needed the distraction. She knew her daughter would be at school by now probably with a cup of coffee in hand sharing the latest gossip with Josh. It was so strange waking up each day to realise she wasn't there and even stranger to check in on her at night to find her bed empty. Emma had given in trying to call her knowing she wouldn't get a response and instead settled for a daily call with Zac to check the teen was still alive.
As much as she knew Zac was a good dad and loved his daughter she was still worried about them being left alone. Zac hadn't had to handle his daughter for than a couple of days at a time since she was 6 and the blonde really didn't know if he was capable of being a full time dad.
Emma was broken out of her thoughts by Mary Margaret scrambling around the apartment getting ready for school.
'I can't believe I overslept,' the teacher wined to herself as she ran into the kitchen.
'It's only seven ten. You've got plenty of time to get to school,' Emma reassured her.
'No, I have to be there at seven fifteen – science fair. I'm helping the kids with their project before school,' Mary Margaret rambled putting a hat on her head.
'I'm sure if you're 5 minutes late they'll live,' Emma mocked knowing the teacher wasn't being honest.
'We're making a volcano,' and with that the brunette left.
Emma laughed to herself glad that she had the young woman around. It was nice to have someone there, she knew she wouldn't of coped if she was completely by herself without her daughter. She looked down at her phone once more to see no new messages. How long was this going to go on?
Sensing her friend hadn't told her the truth Emma headed to Grannys knowing she had seen the brunette go in there the other morning around the same time. Emma entered through the back door standing in the shadows as she watched David and Mary Margaret share, what looked to be, an awkward encounter. As soon as the red cheeked man had left Emma made her presence known taking a seat opposite the teacher.
'This is making a volcano?' The blonde asked with a smirk.
'I was – '
'I get it,' Emma interrupted with a sympathetic smiled.
Mary Margaret sighed and looked down at the table. 'He comes here every morning at seven fifteen a.m. to get coffee,' she explained in a quiet voice.
'For him and his wife,' Emma hoped the word wife would help the young woman see sense.
'I know, I know, I know. I just like to… come here to see him,' the brunette looked like a kicked puppy and Emma wished she hadn't fallen so hard for someone she could never have.
'So you're a stalker?' Emma joked hoping to make the brunette smile.
'No, not really…Maybe a little bit,' Mary Margaret gave a half smile at the blonde's joke. 'I mean; it's not like I'm following him. I just know that he spends his mornings with Kathryn, gets coffee, then drives to the animal shelter to start work at seven thirty and then he's home around five.'
Emma looked at the teacher with wide eyes not realising how obsessed her friend was. 'Oh is that all?'
'Thursdays they pick up Chinese for dinner,' Mary Margaret quickly added before putting her head in her hands. 'I can't get him out of my head.'
'I know. Maybe the first step is not showing up here tomorrow,' Emma knew she would physically have to stop her friend from leaving the house but she was willing to do it if it helps her get over David.
'Love's the worst. I wish there was a magic cure,' the teacher moaned before sitting up straight. 'Okay, I have heard enough about me let's talk about you. How are you doing with the whole Sarah leaving thing?' Mary Margaret already knew the blonde was suffering without having her daughter around. The teacher herself missed the kid like crazy so she dreaded to think how Emma must feel.
'I'm dong okay?' Emma lied with a fake smile.
'Still heard nothing?' her friend winced.
'No,' Emma sighed. 'I know she's mad at me but the least she could do is let me know she is okay. I mean is she ever planning on coming back?' The blonde vented.
'It's only been two weeks don't lose hope yet,' Mary Margaret answered in a soft voice hoping to provide some comfort.
'I know you're right. I'm going to go to work and… eat my weight in donuts,' Emma stood up and left the brunette hoping she could get the teen off her mind.
Regina sat in her quiet office turning the card in her hand. She had found herself spending many hours staring at the number ever since Zac had given it to her. The Mayor had been so back and forth about what she wanted to do but, after hours of thinking it through, she had finally decided what she had to do. Picking up her office phone she took a deep breath before dialling the number feeling the panic rise inside of her with each ring.
'Hello?' A masculine voice answered.
'Mr Parker? It's Regina Mills. I have made up my mind.'
A few hours later Regina was driving through town hoping to spot the blonde Sheriff. The storm was starting to show it was coming as the wind grew and the rain slowly started to fall. She finally saw the Sheriffs car parked at the side of the road with Emma putting things in the trunk preparing for the inevitable storm. Regina parked her car across the street before heading over to the blonde.
'If you're looking to blame me for the storm, I think you're taking things a bit far now,' Emma greeted the brunette carrying on with what she was doing.
'I need you to look into something, Sheriff. Someone's in town – someone new,' Regina explained ignoring the blonde's sarcasm.
'Yeah, I know. I gave him directions to Granny's when he arrived,' Emma answered as she put something else in her trunk.
'You talked to him? What did he say?' Regina hoped Emma would have some useful information. Regina didn't like all these new people in Storybrooke and she was going to do whatever it took to stop it.
'He asked for directions. What's the big deal? Who is he?' Emma asked finally stopping to look at Regina.
'I don't know. I asked around, but no one seems to know anything. There's something about him. Something familiar,' Regina said more to herself than Emma.
'He must be one of the untold millions you cursed,' Emma joked.
'What?' Regina snapped.
'Oh, you know. The curse. Henry's whole thing,' Emma didn't understand why the brunette seemed so worried.
'Sheriff, I need you to find out who he is, what he wants and what he's doing here,' Regina got back to the point ignoring Emma's comment.
'You know, as hard as you try to find one in my case, there is no law against visiting Storybrooke,' Emma went back to filling her trunk losing her patience with the brunette.
'This isn't about the law Miss Swan. You're going to do this because I asked you to. And because you'll see it's the right thing to do,' Regina's voice had dropped low to get her point across.
'And why is that?' Emma asked not even phased by the woman's change of tone.
'Because he was in front of my house. Taking a particular interest in something we both care about – Henry,' Regina knew that would get Emma's attention.
'I'll look into him,' Emma was now worried about this mystery man herself.
'Good, because I need you to look after him after school tonight. I have a meeting out of town and I won't be back till late,' it was killing Regina to leave her son with the blonde but she knew she didn't have a choice.
'You want to leave him with me?' Emma asked surprised.
'Unless you don't want to spend time with him,' Regina countered not wanting to explain herself.
'Know I want to,' Emma quickly answered.
'Good,' and with that Regina walked away before Emma could ask her anymore questions.
The school day was finally over and Sarah and Josh were heading home.
'Are you sure?' Josh asked as they walked slowly down the busy street.
'We've been over this a thousand times… real hair doesn't move like that,' the brunette explained once again to the raven haired boy.
'I guess you're right. Mr Edwards should really glue that thing down more in the mornings,' Sarah nodded in agreement before going quiet. 'Are you okay?' Josh asked noticing the sudden change.
'Yeah, I'm fine,' the teen gave a fake smile.
'Yeah and I'm Cher,' the boy nudged her in the side causing a slight giggle to escape her lips.
'It's just weird being back that's all.'
'I thought you loved New York?' Josh asked confused.
'I do it's just…' the brunette trailed off.
'Emma,' the raven haired boy answered for her with a sad grin.
'Yeah,' the brunette looked down at her feet as thoughts of the blonde took over.
'It is bound to be strange. I mean you guys haven't gone a day without talking since the moment you met,' Josh knew how close the two were and how much being apart was hurting the teen. If only she wasn't so stubborn.
'Do you think I made a mistake coming back here?' Sarah asked scared of the answer.
'I think the only person who can answer that is you,' Josh stood still as they reached Sarah's building where they had to part ways.
'Oh boy, have you been watching Dr Phil again,' the brunette groaned.
'Hey! He has an insight into human behaviour that we just can't understand,' Josh defended earning a laugh from the young girl.
'I'll see you later then,' Sarah smiled.
'Not if I see you first,' Josh grinned before walking away.
Sarah climbed the steps to her apartment opening the door with her eyes closed. 'Is everybody wearing what they're supposed to be? And if the red head has killed you can she please clean it up because I don't want to be a witness.'
'Ha ha you're so funny,' Zac yelled back from the kitchen.
'Hey, I have got to have some with it,' the teen smirked walking over to join her dad. 'So you got rid of her then?'
'Oh yeah I dealt with it in a very mature responsible way,' Zac smiled to which Sarah just raised an eyebrow.
'You told her you were married didn't you?' the teen questioned knowing her dad to well
'With a baby on the way,' Zac replied with a nod.
'You are such a jerk!' Sarah gave him a look of disgust before heading over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.
It was at that moment they heard a light knock at the door gaining their attention.
'Can you get that?' Zac asked. 'I've got to go and ring my boss about a meeting we have tomorrow,' Zac quickly ran out of the room earning a suspicious look from his daughter.
She put her bottle of water on the table and headed over to the closed door. She opened it up to see a familiar pair of brown eyes staring at her. The teens face went completely white as alarm bells went off in her head. The last thing she expected was for Regina to be on her doorstep but there she was.
'Hi,' Regina finally greeted her daughter wondering if she was going to slam the door in her face. 'Can I come in?' Sarah stepped aside to let the Mayor in not being able to process what was happening.
Regina looked around the tiny apartment a frown on her face wondering how anyone could live in such a place. 'I like the place,' she lied turning to look at the teen who was leaning on the door.
'Well it's no mansion…' the teen had finally found her voice as her brain had caught up with what was happening. 'What are you doing here? Sarah asked in a cold voice.
'I came because I think it's time we finally spoke. Can we sit down,' the older brunette kept her voice calm hoping the young girl would hear her out.
'You have two minutes go,' Sarah responded harshly not moving away from the door.
Regina took a deep breath before speaking. 'I'm sorry,' those first words managed to shock her daughter. 'For everything. I wish I had a good reason for giving you up but I don't. I know you didn't have the easiest life and if I could go back in time and change that I would. All I can say is that I was in a bad place and thought that I couldn't be the mom that you deserved.' Regina saw her daughters features change as she tried to process what she was being told. 'I'm also sorry for how I've treated you since you came back into my life. I don't know how to love well… as you've probably noticed but, no matter what you think, I do love you. I always have and I always will.' Regina finished her speech never taking her eyes off the young girl. Sarah made no attempt to speak and Regina gave a sad sigh as she assumed she hadn't got through to her. 'So I guess that was all I came to say really. Just know if you ever want me… I'm always going to be there,' Regina gave the silent girl a sad smile heading for the door. 'Goodbye Daniella,' Regina whispered before leaving the apartment.
Sarah stood frozen to the spot not knowing what to do. Part of her wanted to forgive Regina and start fresh but the other part of her was still so angry. She assumed Daniella was what she was going to be called if Regina had kept her. But she didn't keep her. She let her go. The tears started to form in Sarah's eyes and she realised the only person she wanted to talk to was Emma. She took her phone out of her pocket and dialled the blondes number holding her breath as it started to ring. It wasn't long till it went to voicemail and Sarah guessed it was her turn to say an I'm sorry speech.
'Hey mom, it' me. I guess you must still be at work or out with Henry or something. I just called to… I just erm… I called to say… I'm so sorry,' at that moment all the emotions Sarah had kept bottled up over the last few weeks began to fall out of her and she couldn't stop her tears. 'I'm sorry for everything I said and I'm so sorry I left. You have never left me, not once, and I abandoned you and I am so sorry. I was just scared. Scared of everything that was changing and everything I thought I was losing. I know none of this was your fault but I just needed someone to blame so I didn't have to face my real feelings. I thought coming back to New York would make everything okay that it would make my life feel normal again somehow but nothings normal without you. I wanted to call but the longer I left it the harder it was to pick up the phone. I just hope you are able to forgive me. I love you.' With that she hung up the phone falling down on the sofa she had apparently walked to without realising it.
A few moments later she felt two strong arms wrapping around her holding her tight. Her dad slowly rocked her back and forth as she cried not saying a word. When the teen finally started to regain some control she looked up at him.
'I need to go,' she whispered.
'I know,' Zac replied with a sad smile. 'Hey we both know I'm not cut out for this full time father stuff. I'm going to get my life together I promise. A steady job, no more flings, no nothing. One day I will be someone you can count on.'
'I know,' the teen smiled her eyes red and her cheeks swollen. 'I have faith in you I always have,' she leaned back into her father's hug with a smile. 'Although if you want to be reckless for a bit longer I wouldn't say no to a car.'
She felt her dad's chest rumble as he chuckled at her words. 'You are only 14 what are you going to do with a car?'
'Hey if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem.'
'You are too much like your mother,' Zac smiled.
'I hope so,' the teen answered simply.
That night Zac drove his daughter back to Storybrooke. Zac had always been a city boy, living in New York his whole life, but for Storybrooke he could make the exception. Who knew what the future held for him and his daughter. It wasn't long till Zac stopped the truck on the quiet town street turning to look at his daughter.
'Are you ready?' He asked.
'No, but I'm going to go anyway,' his daughter answered with a slight laugh. 'Be safe,' she whispered to her dad pulling him in for a tight hug.
'You too. Be good' he gave a sweet smile as she pulled away.
'See good might be a problem. I can't promise good. I can promise okay on the odd occasion if that helps.'
'I'll take it,' Zac smiled.
'Bye daddy,' the teen smiled back before getting out the truck. As glad as she was that she was about to be reunited with her mom it was never easy to say goodbye to her dad. The man gave her one last wave before driving off leaving his daughter alone. 'I'll miss you,' she whispered into the night air as his truck drove out of sight.
Emma was upstairs in the loft after just arriving home from work. The storm had caused her to have a busy day dealing with minor casualties all over the normally quiet town, plus she had to take care of Henry while Regina was at her meeting. She was just about to head to bed when she saw her phone flashing on the counter. With slight panic, she moved quickly to the device not realising she had left it at home. Her heart leapt slightly as she realised she had a voicemail from her daughter. She quickly put the phone to her ear relief washing over her as she heard the familiar voice of the teen. All signs of relief left her as she heard her daughter sob. After listening to the message Emma quickly called her daughter giving the counter a slight kick when she didn't get a response. She was really starting to worry now.
'Would you please stop breaking everything in Mary Margaret's apartment. She can always kick us out you know?' Emma turned quickly at the voice to see her daughter in the doorway a smile on her face. Emma walked quickly forward bringing the young girl into a tight hug. 'I'm so sorry,' Sarah whispered into her mother's blonde mane.
'No, I'm sorry. I should have told you what I knew as soon as I found out I just…'
'You were trying to protect me. That's all you ever try to do,' Sarah squeezed her mom tighter as Emma kissed her head unable to wipe the smile off her face.
'What's all the commotion,' a tired Mary Margaret asked coming out of her room. Her face lit up as she realised who the blonde was hugging, running over to hug the teen as well. 'We missed you so much.'
'Okay I'm feeling the love but you two are killing me here,' Sarah choked out struggling to breath. Both women released their grip with a laugh. 'Okay who wants to hear about Mr Edwards new wig?' Sarah smiled.
'Tell us more,' Emma answered with intrigue as all three women settled at the kitchen table for a late night catch up.
Sarah came back! I couldn't keep her and Emma separate for long. I would like to say things are going to be fine with them now but sadly they may have a few more bumps in the road. Like I said though happy times are on there way. Next chapter there will also be more Regina and Sarah moments so look out for that. Hope you liked it guys!