Why was Cora so...Mean?

It was freezing cold and windy outside but Emma didn't notice. The back of her eyes was burning because she refused to allow the tears to fall. She kept telling herself over and over again, 'don't cry' Just don't care.

Just don't care.

If you don't care, it won't hurt as much.

But thinking that just made her care more. No one wanted her, no one ever wanted her. It's just the way things were for her. The words from Robin replayed in her mind, perhaps he was right. Maybe Regina would get tired of her too. If only Regina felt the same way she did about her.

"Emma!"

Emma nearly jumped when she noticed the black car that pulled up beside her.

"Get in the car!" The driver yelled.

"Go away!" Emma called back as she wiped the corner of her eyes hoping they weren't red.

"What did I do?"

She was questioned. That caused Emma to sigh. Regina was right. She had been nothing but nice to her their whole entire relationship. Nothing but nice, supportive and accepting. Regina was the woman that she loved, and wanted to spend every waking moment with, yet Robin's words coupled with Cora's was making her feel as if she wasn't good enough, and never would be.

"Get in the car" Was repeated. "Now" Was added in a tone that Emma knew not to disobey. Once Emma was in the car she instantly felt better. The heater began to warm her up and Regina placed Emma's forgotten Jacket around her shoulders. "You worried me. I don't want you to get sick out here. It's entirely too cold for you to be out and about" She was scolded.

"I'm sorry"

"You have nothing to be sorry for sweetie, I just want you to be safe-"

Emma interrupted. "Not for that, I meant...well, I'm sorry I ran out on you. I was supposed to be there for you, but your mom is just so mean to me, I don't know what I did to cause her to be that way" Emma stated sadly while looking down at her lap. Her hands were there and they were pink and throbbing as the blood rushed towards them. It was then that she realized how cold she had been, and still was. She snuggled the jacket tighter.

"Don't you apologize for that. My mother is a monstrosity of evil. She's never pleased. Please don't listen to anything that she ever says because it's just not true"

"It is" Emma states with such force that her voice cracks a little. She's crying now. "It's true...I'm a horrible person, I ruined your life...I'm good for no one. That's why I was always sent back. 7 foster homes and they all sent me back" She's viciously rubbing her tears away as the stupid things continue to fall. "No one wants me"

"That's not true Emma Swan" The older woman states with much determination. They are still pulled over where Emma was picked up at and Regina pulls Emma in for a hug. It's awkward and difficult but she feels as if she needs some physical contact with Emma. She's cursing her mother's name because she hates her for what she's done to Emma. Emma's hers and no one should make her feel sad. "I want you. I want you more than you can possibly imagine" She states truthfully and she hopes Emma believes her. "My mother is a horrible woman, and I've tried my hardest to keep her away from you. I've taken away her keys twice, but it seems as if I must change the locks, which I will as soon as possible, I promise" Regina swears.

Emma's not talking. She's just extremely sad, and today's events have taken a lot out of her. She's supposed to be the one comforting Regina after a life changing event. Not the other way around. And, It's making her feel horrible.

The next day...

Life goes on and Regina's back in her office. She wish she could stay at home with Emma because she knows Emma needs her. This morning when she woke and entered Emma's room to make sure she was okay (Like she does every morning, secretly) Emma's up, and states that she doesn't feel well. She's given the day off, but they both know that the illness is not physical, but emotional.

When her receptionist brings her the town's newspaper, 'the daily mirror' she's not surprised to see that she's on the front page. A stack of letters, like always accompanies it. 'Thank you for everything that you do' cards, 'Please consider this' letters, as well as spam letters, they are nothing new. What is new is the resignation letter that sticks out like a sore thumb. It's just a reminder that today is not 'just another day' her life is changing, and hopefully for the better. As long as she got Emma, she has no doubt in her mind that it will be.

Emma...

"Hello?" Emma questions into the phone. Sure she has more than two contacts in her phone now, but she's surprised to see this one show up on her caller I.D after so long.

"Em!"

"Hi Neal, I was thinking that I'd never hear from you again"

"I could say the same for you. You can call me whenever you know"

"I know" Emma would be lying if she said that she wasn't happy to hear from Neal. For a long time, he was all that she had. Sure he got her into a lot of stuff she shouldn't have been in, but at the end of the day, he was always there. Out there somewhere.

"So, I'm in town"

"In StoryBrooke?" Emma questions apprehensively.

"No, in Florida" He states mockingly. Emma rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I'm in Storybrooke. My Dad lives like 20 minutes outside Storybrooke, you know the lake that everyone goes to"

"Uhm, no" Emma shakes her head.

"Anyway, I'm here, and I want to see you. Come to Grannies"

"...like now?" Emma questions. She can't help but feel as if Neal is teasing her. He was forever the prankster.

"Yes, Like now. See you soon" And the line goes dead. There's a moment of nothing before a bright smile appears on Emma's face, her mood instantly brightened and now she's excited. Neal was like a brother to her, she'd love to see him again.

She spots him as soon as she enters the dinner. He's sitting at the bar chatting with Ruby.

"Neal!" Emma calls with a bright smile on her face.

Neal turns around and stands. "Emma!" He holds his arm out and the two meet in the middle of the dinner. Emma feels herself being lifted up into the air as he hugs her. She laughs as she remembers a time, not even 2 years ago when she was about half an inch taller than him, but now he has a good two feet on her. "I've missed you so much"

"I've missed you too. I can't believe you came to see me" She smiles.

"Of course I did. You're like the annoying little sister I've never wanted" He teases, and just like that, they fall into their old routine mindless teasing, and playful insults.

It's hours later when someone walks up to their table and interrupt them. It's Regina. Before she sat two tables over and sipped her coffee, She tried so hard to give Emma her space, it seemed as if the teen was really enjoying the company of the man she herself had never seen before. The two appeared to be old friends and giggled none stop. It wasn't until the unknown guy playfully nudged Emma that she had had enough.

"Hi Emma, whose your friend?" Regina questioned as she walked up to their table. Emma's eyes lit up as they landed on Regina.

"Oh!" Emma grabbed Neals arm. "This is Neal I was telling you about, he came to see me"

At this Regina relaxed. She remembered Emma telling her that Neal was like her brother. An unknown feeling left her, and then she felt kind of silly for worrying herself over who Emma was talking to. There was no way she'd get replaced by some random guy... It was just Neal... "It's so nice to meet you, Neal, I'm Regina the-"

Neal interrupted. "I figured as much. You're Emma's favorite topic I hope you know" He stated with a mischievous smile. Emma's cheek heated up from embarrassment and she elbowed Neal in the ribs. "Ow! Emma" An alarm beeped on Neal's phone which caused him to look down at it. "Oh, darn, I gotta run" Neal announced sadly.

"So soon, you just got here?"

The two shared a laugh. "I'll be back to visit you soon, yeah?" Neal states as he hugs Emma. "Hey, can you do me a favor"

Emma nodded and Regina listened. "Can you put in a good word for me with that waitress Ruby. She's hot"

Emma rolled her eyes. Somethings about Neal never changed.

Later that night...

"So, Marian's no longer working for me" Regina stated as a car commercial began to play on the television. Emma looked over at her.

"I was wondering where she was. I can't say I'm disappointed" Emma snuggled further onto Regina's shoulder. Tonight was movie night for both of them and the two of them was watching a scary movie. Emma was a bit freaked out, but Regina wasn't fazed at all.

"Hmhh...I was wondering-" Regina began. "...Do you want me to hire someone else to help you with your chores?"

Emma thought for a moment and frowned. "No, I can do it myself...I mean, it's not much, and I'm basically cleaning after myself...you never leave a mess, but I leave one every where"

Regina nodded in agreement. Her home was bit more 'disorganized' since Emma moved in, but It quickly became preferred. Before Emma, she could find everything and anything because everything had a place. Not one item was out of place. Now Emma's shoes were littered all over the house. In fact, Regina almost tripped over one of them this morning. Some of her clothing was often left in various bathroom's of the home at any given time. In fact, if Emma was there solely for the purpose of a housekeeper, she'd be fired for doing an inadequate job. But Emma was Emma, and Regina didn't want to lose her. She loved what they had. She loved taking care of her princess. She'd just have to pitch in more often, and that, she didn't mind doing.