A/N: I was pretty productive in the past 24 hours, so here ya go.
Please try to ignore the logic mistake in the last chapter (if you found it), and all the other mistakes. I have no beta to look over the chapters, so every mistake you find is mine :) Thanks for reading guys, you're awesome!
Chapter 25
Slowly Emma sat down at the edge of the bed. Today, she felt a little depressed. There was no real reason, it just happened from time to time. Her thoughts jumped into the past. It had been so long since Emma had bumped into her and fell to the ground. When she held out his hand, smiled at Emma and stole her heart. A single tear silently rolled over Emma's cheek, which she quickly wiped away. She hasn't cried for a long time … the pain fades away with every past year. The external pain that is.
The pain in Emma's soul, however, will never go away. For that the love she felt was still too strong. She had seen her whole world in those chocolate brown eyes, the very same chocolate brown eyes that sleepily smiled up to her. Emma brushed his prince's hair out of his face and laid her hand on his cheek.
"Time to get up, sleepy head," Emma said gently.
"Just a little more, mommy."
A smile spread across Emma's face. How many times did she have the exact same scene with her mother, may she rest in peace. Pressing a kiss on her son's head, the blonde gently pulled the blanket off of him. "Henry, I've made pancakes. Don't you smell it?"
He raised his head, and after a few seconds the smell of fresh pancakes reached his nose. A bright though still sleepy smile spread on his face. Emma lived for that smile. It made her happy, but sometimes – like today – it felt like a stab on her heart. He had the same eyes and the same smile as her. If Regina had been a man, there would have been no doubt who the father of her child was. She knew it was impossible, she knew that maybe she was just seeing things. Maybe she just saw what she wanted to see. But there was this feeling. The feeling that told her that this beautiful, little kid was the product of love. Of true love.
Yawning, Henry sat up and rubbed his eyes. He was a sweet kid and for his almost five years way too smart for his own good. "Mommy, where is dad?" Henry asked her, tearing her out of her daydreams.
"At work," Emma answered. Or with one of his whores, the blonde thought.
After her mother's death, the shock of Regina leaving and her pregnancy, Emma really thought that Killian could change. He had been very attentive during her pregnancy, he worried about her. He helped Emma with everything, fulfilled every single unspoken wish of her. Just a few weeks after Henry's birth, however, he was the same as before. I refused to sleep with him, so he found intimacy elsewhere.
Most of Storybrooke's residents saw Emma for a weak and stupid girl for staying with Killian. And yeah, probably that was the case, though no one knew how many times she had thought of divorce during the past five years. One time she even found a job. Everything was prepared. She had been out the file the divorce when she got the call from Granny that she couldn't hire her. Emma had been devastated but she hadn't give up. For days she searched for a new job, something that was enough for a tiny apartment for Henry and her. But she didn't find anything. No one wanted to hire her. After a week of desperate search Emma found out why – Queen Cora. She had threaten to take away people's business if they gave Emma Swan a job. Which was probably Killian's doing. And just like that, Emma's dream to have an independent life with her son … it shattered.
She was trapped, had nowhere to go. Now, after five years of a loveless marriage, Emma had enough. The blonde knew that she couldn't spend the rest of her life like that. Henry was the one who kept her head over water, who helped her to get through the past years. She had to change her life for her and for her son's sake. Emma was sure she could stay with Neal and Tamara until she figured out what to do next.
Emma would wait after Killian's birthday party tomorrow night … and then she would finally do what she should have done years ago. It was time for a divorce.
The next evening couldn't come any faster. Emma was standing in front of her mirror and was about the zip her dress close when Henry stormed through the door. Emma laughed out loud. "Just in time, huh?"
"Yes, yes!" Henry said excited. "I can do it, I can do it. Crunch down, mommy." His goofy smile was on place as Emma did as he said. He reached out and pulled the zipper up. "I did it!"
"Yay, you did! You like helping mommy to get dressed?"
He nodded furiously, and started playing with his car again. In about half an hour the house would be full of guests. Killian's family would be here. Neal and Tamara, Ruby and Graham, lots of friend of Killian … even Queen Cora herself would grace the party with her presence. Her stepfather though wasn't invited. Emma hadn't spoken to him for the past years, and if she was being honest she didn't feel the urge to. Bae though, her little brother, he was doing well. Soon he would start working as an officer. Their relationship had improved after Mary Margaret's death, and Emma was grateful for that.
"Mommy, lipstick?" Henry pulled her out of her thoughts. The boy handed her the lipstick and waited until Emma put it on. "You are beautiful, mommy," he then said.
"Ow, so I'm just beautiful when I put on lipstick?" Emma said in mock hurt.
Henry gasped. "No, no, mommy! You are beautiful always! I love you, mommy."
"Thank you, handsome. I love you, too."
Henry grinned brightly, showing his little teeth. He hugged Emma tightly and then pressed a kiss on her mouth. Within a heartbeat, Emma's eyes became glassy. A lump formed in her throat. In moments like this, she really was happy. Henry was the meaning of her life, the reason she woke up every morning.
"Don't cry, mommy," Henry said, and wiped her tears away.
Emma hated herself for seriously considering an abortion. For almost killing her child. Shaking off the dark thoughts, Emma kissed Henry's chubby little fingers, and just seconds later the doorbell rang. Henry took off, leaving Emma alone in her room. The blonde took a moment to gather herself. Her thoughts though automatically wandered to Regina. There had been no sign of her. No call. No message. Nothing. The disappointment about that still sat deep, but Emma had learned to accept it. She hadn't any other choice, really. That's how life is … sometimes it sucks. Emma opened her drawer and took out a small box. Without hesitation she put on the necklace Regina had given her. The small swan with the crown on it reminded her so much of their happy times together, it hurt. The necklace was the only thing she had left of her. Sighing, Emma prepared herself for the upcoming hours.
Hours passed. Everyone was having a good time … well, except Emma but she kept her façade. Cora got on her nerves. The Queen was constantly shooting daggers in her direction, and if anyone would catch her the old woman would put on a fake smile. The woman blamed her for Regina's going and hated her since then with all her might.
"Emma, darling, you should smile a bit more," the Queen said.
The blonde just put on a fake smile herself, grabbed her glass of champagne and sipped on it. It was late, Henry was already in bed, and the party was almost over. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Glad to get an excuse to leave the room, she stood up. "I got it," she said, and left the room without putting the glass down. The blonde thought it was Killian's brother since he said he would come by later. But no, as Emma opened the door there wasn't standing Killian's brother. Shocked, the glass slipped out of the blonde's hand. It fall to the floor where it shattered into a thousand little pieces.
Emma was standing there, with mouth agape, and she couldn't believe her eyes. She had to be dreaming. It was just a dream, right? Regina was standing right in front of her. Emma's breath caught in her throat. Their eyes locked. Brown met green, and even though five years had passed, it seemed as it was yesterday that they looked in each other's eyes. Neither of them lowered their gaze.
"Hello …" Regina finally broke the silence. "You're looking good," the brunette whispered.
Emma was frozen in the spot. She was unable to move, unable to get a clear thought. "You're hair. It's longer," Emma said instead.
Regina touched her now shoulder long hair and shrugged. "Yes, it is. You changed your perfume."
The blonde pressed her lips tightly together. It felt weird that Regina noticed that. She hadn't more time to think about that thought, since her heartbeat tripled up as she heard footsteps approaching. "Who is it?" she heard Killian's voice. "Who … Regina? Regina! For God's sake, where the hell were you?" Everything inside and outside Emma was spinning. She held onto the door with one hand while she tried to recover from this unexpected shock. Killian walked past her and took his stepsister in a bear hug. "Finally you show up again, we missed you!"
"Couldn't miss your 30th birthday now, could I? You are getting old, Killian," Regina said and smiled.
She smiled. God, this smile, Emma thought. She had missed it so much. As Killian noticed the broken glass he shot Emma a quick glance. "Slipped out of my hand as I opened the door," Emma lied. Well, it wasn't really a lie, but Emma's body trembled nonetheless. Thank God Killian had a few drinks into his system and he didn't notice her nervousness.
"Clean up that mess," he said, before he led Regina into the living room.
Emma remained standing in the floor. She could hear how the others greeted Regina, happy to see her again. Laughter filled the house, and Emma couldn't bear it. She grabbed her keys, slipped into her ballerinas, and left the house on shaky legs. The blonde ran through the darkness of the night. She ran and ran until she her chest burned. Coming to a hold, she held onto a tree until she could breathe again. Emma's chest was rising and falling rapidly, her lips quivered, and then she felt the first tear running down her cheek, followed by many others. There were thousands of questions in her head, and goddamn it, she needed answers.
It took Emma a few minutes to gather herself and calm down. One last time she massaged her throbbing temples, before she opened the front door. She hadn't even got the chance to close the door properly as the Queen appeared in front of her.
"Needed some fresh air, dear?" the Queen asked, knowingly.
"Why do you care?"
"Oh, I don't."
"Then what the hell do you want from me?" Emma hissed, her hands turning to fists.
Cora's eyes wandered to Emma's hands. The old woman chuckled. "Someone's angry."
Shaking her head, Emma decided that it wasn't worth it. She walked past her through the hallway, not even looking at the direction of the living room instead walking directly to her son's bedroom. A few feet were left to reach the door as suddenly black haze appeared before Emma. The blonde gritted her teeth.
"I just wanted to make sure that you didn't misunderstood my daughter's return. That that mind and that heart of yours won't start hoping again." She the words so calmly, so cold, it made Emma sick.
"You are an awful person, Cora."
At that, the smirk on the old woman's face disappeared. In the blink of an eye, Emma felt a hand around her throat. "That is your majesty for you, dear," Cora hissed. Emma felt the woman's breath on her face, but she didn't back down. To be honest, she had no way to back down, since Cora squeezed harder. "Regina … she has a bright and powerful future ahead of her. She has a destiny to fulfil, a place … my place to take. With the power that lays in her, she is going to be the Queen of all realms. And you, Emma Swan, won't get in the way of that. You won't get in the way of Regina's and my relationship, not again."
The silence that followed stretched uncomfortably. Emma refused to even blink.
"Is that understood, Miss Swan?" Again, Emma refused to back down. Cora shook her head and chuckled. "I got to say, I'm impressed … seems like a do have to remind you that you're not alone anymore." Cora shot a quick glance over her shoulder at the closed door … behind which Emma's son was sleeping sound and safe. "Again, you won't get between Regina and I. Is that clear, my dear?"
Emma gulped. "Yes."
Cora increased the hold against her throat once more and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, your majesty," Emma said quietly.
Satisfied, the Queen let go of her and let her through. As soon as she closed the door behind her, Emma collapsed onto the floor. Sobbing, she pressed her hand against her mouth as not the wake up Henry who lay sleeping in his bed. Why? That's all Emma wanted to know. Why did Regina come back after all those years? Why did she have to turn Emma's world upside down, once again. Especially now, when it already was complicated enough, and she finally had found the courage to end this marriage. Would the horror start all over again? No, Emma thought, she couldn't … she wouldn't let that happen.
As Henry stirred, Emma stood up. Her boy threw the blanket aside and turned around. Carefully, Emma took the blanket and covered him again. She was exhausted, and somehow she had to be near her son tonight. That's why she gently lied down beside him. The blonde softly caressed her son's hair. She would to anything to make sure he was safe. Anything. Emma's eyelids suddenly felt heavy, and soon enough she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Emma knew she was alone with Henry as soon as she opened her eyes. She got up carefully, making sure Henry still was asleep. Leaving his room, the blonde took a quick shower and changed into jogging pants and a top. Her hair was still wet as she went to the kitchen and made coffee. She sat down and got lost in thoughts once again as she sipped on her coffee. Emma didn't even notice that she was playing with her necklace.
She just didn't get it. What did Regina want? Why did she come back? Why now? And the most important question, what did she want from Emma? The question were making her dizzy. She needed the answers, and she would get them sooner as she expected as suddenly there was a knock. Annoyed by the early disruption, she got up. Without looking through the peephole, Emma yanked the door open. Her mind went black instantly.
Bewildered by Regina's sudden appearance, Emma just stared blankly at her for a few seconds. Her pulse shot up in a record time. Then her instincts kicked in and she was about to close the door, but Regina reacted faster than her, pushing a feet between it.
"Get out!" Emma said with a hoarse voice.
"We need to talk," Regina whispered back.
"There is nothing to talk about!" Emma tried in vain to close the door. She didn't want to. She couldn't! How would her heart endure that? How?
"Please, Emma … please," Regina pleaded.
Something about her voice and the way Regina said her name, made Emma stop. Silence followed. Silence, broken only by our panting. Emma let go of the door and took a few steps back, making room for Regina to enter. Which she did. Carefully, the brunette let the door softly fall into the lock. When their gazes met and Emma noticed Regina's tear-filled brown eyes, the blonde took in a sharp breath. Her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. What was happening, for God's sake?
"I missed you so much," Regina broke the silence at last.
She spoke quietly, but Emma heard the longing in her words nonetheless. Regina approached her with small steps, while Emma automatically stumbled backwards until her back hit the wall. Dead end! There she was standing, with her back against the wall as she tried to control the trembling body.