Chapter 21: Put Two feet Forward

So Now, since Regina showed up to Emmett's welcome back party I wonder what they are going to talk about & of course Emmett will be heading back to Hawaii question is will and he & Regina be in a better place after their long conversation.

My Updates are chaotic guys I'm sorry life caught up with me everything has been non stop internship , house hunting and among other things, but don't worry, I'm going to try to update as usual Hope you all are still with me.

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Standing at the door, Emmett blinked once and then. He stood off to the side to let the brunette inside the house looking, he watched Regina make her way. Inside and listen to everyone that was there greeting her.

" It's about time, we all were wondering. When you would get here."

Regina couldn't help but, smile and hug her friends before moving. Into the kitchen, she saw that her sister and Graham were smiling, at each other and sneaking a few. Kisses here and there before they both looked up.

" How are you Regina." Graham asked while looping an arm, around Zelena he smiled also.

" I'm doing great, ready to go back to being normal. But just not too fast."

Speaking of normal she looked over, and saw that Emmett was talking. To his friends laughing and Only being himself something, that she wished she could do she sighed. Before looking over to see her son.

" Hey mama guess what?"

" Auntie Zee said's I could, spend the night and also. Emmett's going to be here-"

She looked over at, her sister and then back at Henry. She knew that couldn't say no to him plus this gave her the chance to, really focus on getting his Third birthday. Party plans together, which at the moment wasn't going too well.

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Emmett was talking, to the guys he was ready to seriously fly out to. Hawaii and focus on his surfing and shooting the movie, which was postponed because of what happened. Zelena asked him why rush he had Henry.

" So you haven't, seen Regina since the shooting. Maybe it's time you both talked."

" Maybe, but I wanna give her the space. She needs until we do-"

The party ended, and of course Emmett thanked his friends. For coming and celebrating he was very grateful. Especially to Zelena & Graham they were amazing, cleaning up was not a problem once so ever.

" I hope you had, an amazing time tonight Swan. and hope you are sticking around."

Emmett couldn't help, himself, he watched Regina laugh & talk with her friends. He was just happy that she has shown up since, he had not seen her since the incident, he was also hoping to get her alone so that they could talk.

" Thanks guys for this, really I had an amazing time. & can't wait to go back home-"

Before she could leave, Regina was almost out the door. When she looked to her left and saw that Emmett was making his way, over to her, she wasn't sure, what to do but she did stand still for those ten seconds.

" Hi Regina thankyou, for coming and I also wanted. To see how you were doing?"

Regina wasn't sure, what to think right now here was, this guy that literally puts his life on the line to protect her and those she loved, but they both knew they needed. To talk and it needed to be soon.

" You are more than, welcome and I'm doing okay. The best I can."

Emmett knew, that she was saying she was okay, but deep down he also knew that she was going to therapy at least, that's what Zelena had told him not wanting. To feel like a creep he decided to ask her something.

" I wanted to know, if you would like to go to brunch. And maybe talk at least."

Regina did see, the hesitance in his face like he wasn't sure. She too knew it was time for them to talk it had been, almost a month since everything went down, but maybe brunch was too public so she had a plan.

" how about brunch, at my house if that's okay. I would say around noon since Henry will be with my sister & Graham-"

Both agreeing to Regina's offer, Emmett walked her and others. Out the house not long after Neal and the guys, decided to drive to Em's rented spot. And spend the night over there where they also stayed up half the night talking.

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Nervous that is what, was in Emmett's vocabulary the next. Morning he really wanted this brunch to go well, even though he was, going over to Regina's he wanted, to make sure he didn't do anything to push back her recovery.

" You don't have to be, Nervous dude just be yourself. I mean isn't that who you are?"

Meanwhile, over, at the Mills residence Regina, was Just as nervous she had woken up a little late after receiving a phone, call from Zelena who said, she has seen her & Emmett talking she knew someone had seen them.

" Now all I gotta, do is figure out what to make. For brunch what would he like-"

She decided to, talk to Graham since he was his best friend. After talking to him she went and look inside her fridge she had, a few of the ingredients so she. Ended up in her kitchen and started fixing brunch.

" Zelena you do not, have to ask if Henry can stay. Another night with you."

" He's your nephew, just remember to follow my list. I have it for a reason-"

Emmett had decided, to wear something casual and made his way. Over to Regina's place he pulled into the driveway and parked. The car he didn't want to make this a date, of any sort Just brunch with a friend hopefully.

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Regina heard a car, pull into her driveway and then someone knock. On her front door she tousled her hair and fixed, her skirt before going to front door. She opened it up and saw that is was Emmett he had on straight dark jeans and a white tight shirt.

" Come in , welcome to my humble home please. Make yourself comfortable."

" I have been here, before Regina thank you for the welcome. Do you need any help?"

Following the brunette, further into her home, he saw that. She had changed a few things in her home, he guessed she needed. Change and the first is usually where you live, he kind of liked how she decorated the place.

" I'm almost finished with the salad, but everything else is ready. You can get something to drink first."

Emmett smiled, and made his way into her living room, Where he saw plates sitting out along with glasses and silverware he smiled. Before making his way over to the table, pouring both him and Regina a glass of lemonade he went to sit down.

Meanwhile Zelena and Graham, were happy to be alone somewhat besides, Having Henry spending the night he wasn't bothering, Anyone since the guys brought Both dogs, from Hawaii down so Emmett wouldn't miss them as much.

" so do you think, the brunch is going good?" I mean considering it's just them."

Graham looked over, at Zelena and smiled, he loved that she was just, As worried as he was that's what he loved about her, she put; His friends in the same category as his, that and also her personality she too was nothing like their mother.

" I wouldn't be too, worried Emmett know's what she has been. Through that's why he's hoping to be friends-"

Cuddling back into him, Zelena couldn't help but look up, at Graham and smile he truly knew what to say to her, she couldn't have asked for a better person, they continued to watch the movie they put on earlier.

Back over at Regina's, she just finished pulling out the Lasagna, and made her way into her living room where Emmett, was currently sitting he looked up with a smile. And asked her if she needed his help even though he was a little sore.

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Even though, it has been just brunch Emmett felt like, Regina didn't have to go all the way out. For him, they sat pretty much, in front of each other, with a smile on her face. She asked him if he needed some more to drink.

" thank you for this meal, Regina honestly you did not. Have to cook at all."

She knew she didn't, have to, but she wanted to because, Regina was trying to find a way. To thank him properly and this, was one way somewhat sighing she went to get up. But Emmett did first and reached for her dish.

" you do not, have to do dishes I asked you. To come over here-"

Hearing his last name, being used like they haven't known each other, he turned to look at her before making his way over into, her kitchen turning the sink on, he waited for the water to get warm before washing the dishes.

" Emmett I'm sorry, for calling you by your last name. I know it felt when we first met."

" it is fine, Regina I am not mad at all. You can do or say whatever you want.

Smiling, she asked, Emmett to join her in the living room, grabbing her glass and his he quickly followed her into, there and sat down on the opposite couch, taking his drink from her hand before doing so.

Both looking at each other, there was an awkward silence, at first, then someone cleared their throat. which happened to be Emmett, he wanted to get Regina's, attention first before saying anything that would make her uncomfortable.

" So...How are you truly, Regina I hope I'm not making you. Uncomfortable by asking am I?"

Regina looked up, from taking a sip from her glass, she looked into a matching set of Green eyes. And saw that he looked, nervous she didn't want Emmett, to feel thatway at all putting her glass down she faced his direction.

" of course not, I'm getting by day by day. And if it wasn't for Henry I might have been gone crazy."

His heart sank, Emmett felt more than sad hearing, her confession that if it wasn't for Henry she would have gone crazy, he had kept thinking while, in the hospital maybe if he had left Regina alone none of this would have happened.

" I'm sorry Regina, if I would have just left and stayed away. None of this would have happened to you I feel like all that happened to you is my fault-"

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She could not, believe what she just heard, coming from his mouth, he was apologizing for what another unstable, man did to her it wasn't, his fault and she knew Emmett needed to know that he did nothing wrong.

" Hey don't say that, none of what happened is your fault. The person I should blame is myself and then my mother mostly...Robin was an Unstable man-"

Looking up through, hooded green eyes, he looked into, Her's seeing the way she was looking at him kind of took the heaviness, off his chest because after all, honesty he was hoping that she would say those exact words.

" Of course your mother, but not you Regina like you said. He was an unstable man, but I wondered what if I had listened to your, mother & left you & Henry alone."

Emmett couldn't help, but give off a smirk to his face, he knew that Regina was a strong powerful woman which is something, that had drawn her to him, listening to her talk he knew that she still had things to work out.

" Listen Regina can I, ask you a question?" if you don't mind."

She nodded her head before looking him in the eye's.

" Okay I know, I'm probably the last person you want. Asking you more questions but I was wondering if we could be friends Just start all the way over ya know?" start from the beginning-"

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Even though, they had just finished talking, a while ago Regina couldn't help but smile at the man sitting in front of her, she wasn't sure at first, how to answer his question because " weren't they friends already?" at least she thought so.

" Can I think on it, I'm not saying no to your question. It's just if you don't mind that's all-"

Meanwhile Zelena, and Graham of course were dropping off, Henry he was somewhat excited to see his mother the 3 year old, hadn't stopped talking since they left, the house and now here they were standing at his front door.

" Mama guess't what, auntie Zee & uncle Graham took me to the Zoo. and I got's to see all the cool Animals Emmett you're Here's."

Both Zelena and Graham, followed behind Henry walking into, the door they saw her sister and of course Emmett who looked, like he was about to leave, wondering if they interrupted something.

" no you guys stay, I gotta leave anyways Physical therapy. And before you get mad Grandpa Graham yes I was told I could drive, a short distance see ya later guys & Regina thanks for listening-"

It's been a minute I know I'm slow on updates but seriously I'm still writing both stories so do not worry I haven't abandoned them thank you for continuing to follow both stories Pride and passion I am thinking about time Jumping and also next chapter for this Will be a completely healed Emmett & a certain THREE YEARS BIRTHDAY YAAAYYY !

Ya'll forgive if this chapter wasn't what you wanted, but know this of course Regina is going to say yes to his friendship proposal for now she's healing but I am thinking about time jumping also not sure when though but do know this I got two surprises coming up for Zelena and Graham!