A/N: here we go! The meeting and the fallout afterwards. There's no cliffhanger either so you can all enjoy your Saturday nights without the turmoil of wondering what will happen next! Or am I placing too much importance on this fic?
Cora Mills looked scathingly at the hand extended towards her and made no move to shake it. Emma shrugged and sat down in the chair opposite, smiling politely as she did so.
"Thank you for coming to speak with me," Emma said. "I wanted—"
"My daughter clearly has a type," Cora Mills said, her upper class tone sounding disdainful as she looked the blonde up and down.
"A type?" Emma asked.
"Blonde, green eyes, tall, skinny, overconfident, a trouble maker," Cora said with a wave of her hand to gesture the prison visitation room. "You look like Danielle."
Emma balked. She had never asked Regina what her ex girlfriend had looked like and she flushed at the older woman's words.
"Erm," stuttered Emma, a little thrown.
"Come on," Cora snapped impatiently. "I haven't got all day. What did you want to speak to me about that you couldn't say over the phone?"
Emma took a deep breath. "I want you to accept your daughter for who she is," the blonde stated. "Regina is an incredible woman and caring girlfriend. She doesn't deserve to be punched in the face or disowned because she is gay. She knows you don't approve but as her mother, can't you find it in your heart to love her anyway? Her sentence is almost up and I know she would like to work at the family business again when she gets released. She talks so passionately about the horses and riding and I also know you need her expertise in order for the business to maintain its excellent reputation. I think she would come back to work alongside her family if you would only understand her sexuality and accept that part of her life. Being gay won't affect her work, and it doesn't affect what an amazing woman she is."
Emma ended her speech and looked intently at the older woman. Throughout the time Emma had been speaking, the brunette had stared impassively at her, showing no signs of emotions nor understanding. There was a long pause before Cora finally spoke.
"Miss Swan," Cora began, her voice low and dangerous. "My daughter is not gay. She is not bisexual. She has a problem. A problem that is brought out when lowlifes like you force yourselves onto her. She doesn't want you. She wants a man but in prison, those are few and far between. As soon as she is out, she will never speak to you again. You're merely a way to pass the long hours inside. Do my daughter and yourself a favour and back off now before anyone gets hurt."
"Is that a threat?" Emma asked, folding her arms and straightening her back.
"It's a promise," Cora snarled. "Stay away from my daughter. Now if there isn't anything else, I will leave this hovel. Good day Miss Swan."
With that, the older woman stood and swept quickly from the room. Emma sat for a moment longer before rising and walking slowly back into the main prison block.
"Hey," Regina smiled, looking up from a magazine as Emma entered the bunk.
"What are you doing on my bed, Miss Mills?" Emma asked teasingly, moving to sit beside her girlfriend.
"I couldn't find you after breakfast and I wanted to see you," Regina said, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on Emma's lips. "Where were you?"
"Visitation."
"You had a visitor?" Regina asked, eyebrows raised. Emma nodded but didn't speak. "Who?"
Steeling herself for the inevitable backlash, Emma closed her eyes before she spoke. "Your mother."
Silence.
"What?" came a low voice from beside her.
Emma opened her eyes and turned to look at the brunette. "Please let me explain," she said as she saw the anger on Regina's face.
"You'd better have a damn good reason," the older woman said, folding her arms.
"I phoned your mother earlier in the week and—"
"How did you get her number?" Regina asked.
"A friend," Emma answered. "And this would be a lot quicker and easier if you didn't interrupt." Regina nodded and Emma continued. "After seeing what that woman did to you last week, I wanted to speak to her. It might have been a stupid idea but I couldn't stand the thought of your only family member, aside from West, hating you for something you can't do anything about. It's not your fault you're gay. It's not even a fault. It's a natural part of who you are. And yet your mother is punishing you for it and that's so unfair. I wanted to ask her if she would reconsider accepting you, and me, regardless of our sexuality. I said if she did you might return to the family business." Regina's eyebrows rose. "I know I was probably out of line and shouldn't have gone behind your back but I couldn't stand to see you suffer any more. I care too much about you to stand aside whilst people who are supposed to love you unconditionally cause you so much pain."
Regina looked at her girlfriend, her arms still crossed. "You should have told me."
"Would you have let me go?"
"No," Regina admitted. "And for good reason. My mother is dangerous. She'll do anything to try and sabotage my relationships and showing your face has painted a target on your back. It was stupid, reckless and romantic."
Emma frowned. "Romantic?"
"Yes," Regina said, reaching for Emma's hands. "No one has ever stood up to my mother before. Not my father, not even Danielle. Everyone was scared of her so she was free to abuse me, emotionally and physically. It was a very sweet thing you did Emma but I can't agree with your decision. Firstly, we're in a relationship and going behind my back on something like this is totally unacceptable. Secondly, how do you even know I want to go back to work at the stables?"
"Do you?" Emma asked.
"Yes but that's not the point. The point is you didn't speak to me about it first. You got involved in my fucked up family and by doing so you've put yourself and your baby in the crosshairs. It was a foolish decision and I am going to have to fix it." Regina stood and moved towards the doorway.
"Where are you going?" Emma asked.
"To call my mother and try to straighten all this out," the brunette said before she headed out into the corridor.
Left alone in her room, Emma flopped down on her bed, closed her eyes and groaned. She wasn't able to wallow in her mistake for long however because moments later her bed dipped as two people sat down. Opening her eyes she looked up at Red and Snow.
"You met with Mills' mother?" Red said incredulously.
Emma nodded and sat up, her friends on either side of her.
"Are you mad?" Snow asked.
"Probably," Emma nodded.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Red asked.
"I thought it would help. I thought I could convince that bitch to accept her daughter's sexuality and stop living in the dark ages."
"Did it work?" Snow queried.
"Don't think so," Emma mumbled, rubbing her hands over her face. "Regina's gone to call her mother now. She thinks I'm in danger because I stood up to the psycho."
Red and Snow looked at each other. "Danger?" Red asked.
"Yeah but it's all talk. What could she possibly do to me that's worse than forcing me to be in prison whilst pregnant?" Emma asked.
Red and Snow looked unconvinced.
"Do you want to get lunch?" Emma asked, standing up and moving towards the door, hoping that would end the conversation. The two women nodded and followed her, taking the hint and starting a converstion about Red's Granny's latest waitress problems.
Emma poked her head around the movie room door and scanned the crowd. Spotting her bunkmate's distinctive hair, she squeezed through the inmates, ignoring the grumbles and complaints, and crouched down in front of Red and French.
"Hey guys," she said in a hushed whisper. "You seen Regina?"
"No, why?" Red asked, glancing away from the screen.
"I haven't seen her since she stormed out after our conversation this morning," Emma said, her voice a little worried.
"Well West and her three cronies are over there and none of them are covered in blood so I think she's fine," Red quipped.
"Not funny," Emma growled as she stood and headed back out of the room.
Wandering through the empty corridors, Emma peered into each room she passed and tried the inevitably locked doors. The chapel had been the first place she looked but with no joy. Running out of options, Emma headed towards the library. The room was open 24/7 but seemed empty when the blonde walked inside. Just to be sure, she ducked down and scanned the floor. A pair of boots could be seen in the far corner. Emma stood and headed towards the comfy chairs where she and Regina had listened to Imagine Dragons the week before.
"Hey," Emma said softly as she spotted the brunette.
There was no answer but Emma soon realised Regina was listening to music. Moving in front of the older woman, the blonde smiled as she saw the serene look on her girlfriend's face, her eyes closed and her lips mouthing the words to a song. Gently, she pulled one of the earbuds free. Regina jumped and sat up, relaxing as soon as she saw who it was.
"Sorry," Emma offered as she sat down opposite. "Didn't mean to startle you."
"It's ok," Regina said, pausing the music and removing the other earbud. "What's up?"
Emma frowned at the nonchalant tone. "I hadn't seen you all day. I was worried."
Regina sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm fine," she said, a little shortly.
"Are you?" Emma asked. "Because I'm not. I hate it when we fight and I hate that it's my fault we're fighting. I'm so sorry Regina. I thought I was doing the right thing and clearly I was wrong. I didn't mean to get in the middle of your family business but I couldn't stand by and watch you in pain any more."
Regina extended a hand and placed it on Emma's knee, stopping her ramble.
"It's ok, Emma," she assured. "I'm sorry I didn't come and find you after I spoke to my mother. I find her very difficult to deal with and I needed some time. What you did this morning was stupid but I understand your reasoning. Just don't do it again ok?"
Emma nodded hastily and leaned forward to kiss her girlfriend.
"Did you smooth things over with your mother?" Emma asked as she pulled back.
"Hardly," Regina scoffed. "She's adamant I'm not gay and instead under the witchy powers of a certain beautiful blonde."
Emma laughed at the choice of words and use of air quotes but then stopped suddenly, remembering something. "What did Danielle look like?" she asked.
"Why?" Regina replied, frowning.
"Sorry," Emma said, realising how blunt and insensitive she had been. "I was just thinking about it earlier."
Regina nodded slowly before slipping her hand inside her pants' pocket and pulling out a photo. The edges were curling in slightly and there were creases criss-crossing the image. Regina looked lovingly at the photo before handing it over to Emma. The blonde took it, looking down into the face of her girlfriend's former lover.
Danielle wore a wide, beautiful smile. Her head was thrown back in laughter, her long brown hair cascading down her back in gentle curls and her dark brown eyes shone with happiness. Beside her, Regina looked equally content, the corners of eyes Emma knew so well crinkling as she grinned, one arm slung around Danielle's waist. From the photo, Emma could tell Danielle was far shorter than Regina and rather curvy, her feminine form pressed close against Regina's side.
"She's beautiful," Emma whispered as she looked at the picture. "You look so happy together." Raising her head, the blonde saw tears forming in Regina's eyes. "I'm sorry," Emma said, hastily handing the photo back.
"No need to apologise," Regina said, taking the image and slipping it back into her pocket. "What did my mother say to you about Danielle?"
"You know me, or your mother, too well," Emma laughed. "She said you had a type and then proceeded to describe me. For a moment I thought she might be right and you were only with me because I reminded you of Danielle or something."
"No Emma," Regina said, moving to sit sideways on her girlfriend's lap, needed to be close to her. Emma wrapped her arms around the brunette and looked up into her face. "The only way in which you remind me of Danielle is the way you make me feel. Safe, happy … loved."
"You are," Emma whispered, leaning up to kiss Regina.
Breaking the kiss, Regina stroked Emma's cheek. "But with you, those feelings are even stronger, more intense, than I've ever felt before."
"Me too," Emma smiled shyly, reaching up to pull the plump lips back towards her own.
Their mouths met once more, tongues instantly seeking the warm heat of the other as Regina's hands moved to fist in Emma's hair. She pressed her body more firmly against Emma, moaning as the blonde's hands gripped her ass as she rocked against her.
The library door banged open. Hidden from view, Regina stayed where she was, leaning her forehead against Emma's.
"We need to find a better place to meet," she complained.
Emma laughed. "I know, right!"
Regina climbed off her girlfriend and pulled Emma to her feet.
"Come on, let's head back to my bunk and see how far we can get before Arendelle II interrupts again."
Emma grinned and moved ahead of Regina, pulling the laughing brunette eagerly along by the hand.
A/N: have an awesome Saturday peeps! See you tomorrow!