So sorry for the wait! This chapter was like pulling teeth.

Enjoy!

Chapter 19 For the Last Time

The day Cora was expected to arrive to Storybrooke Regina was a nervous wreck. Emma could see it in her face. She hasn't been sleeping and she seemed to be more jumpier than usual. Emma was actually kind of curious to meet the woman that was responsible for forcing her into marrying Leopold.

It had been a month since Regina had spoke to Cora on the phone. Her original plan was to drive in from Boston but work held her up. The month long wait made Regina's anxiety worse which triggered her ptsd. She had nightmares nearly every night. She jumped if she were startled and had panic attacks way too often for Emma's liking.

She wished Cora would respect her daughter's wishes and stay away. Of course, the older woman never respected her daughter, let alone considered what she wanted.

Emma was making coffee, waiting for Regina to come out so she can drive her to campus. Today was Regina's first day back at work. Her ribs were healing but still so sore. Dr. Roe cleared her as long as she wasn't on her feet too long and if she cut her hours short.

"You ok?" Emma asked as Regina stumbled into the kitchen, dressed in a black skirt, white shirt and black blazer. She looked sharp and every bit of the professor she is. She was slightly limping from her painful ribs, but she was determined to go back.

"Just eager for some normalcy," Regina said as she took the thermos of coffee Emma handed her. She took a grateful sip and then started packing up her briefcase and laptop. Her hands were shaking and Emma looked at her in concern.

"Your hands are shaking," she pointed out softly and Regina stopped what she was doing and stilled her hands. She looked away. Emma came over to her from behind the counter and lifted her chin so she would meet her eyes.

"Are you nervous because your mom is coming tonight?" she asked.

"She's not exactly mom of the year," she confessed with a slight chuckle of disbelief.

"Listen, whatever happens tonight just know that you have me and you have Henry." Emma kissed her, her hands combing through dark locks of hair. Regina's hand cupped her cheek as their kiss deepened. Her anxiety melted away and a sense of calmness washed over her.

When they pulled away dark shining eyes met green worried ones.

"Ready for your first day back professor Mills?"

"More than ready," she smiled.

Henry rushed down the steps at that moment, Mary Margaret right behind him. He right away hugged both of his moms as the young school teacher helped herself to some coffee.

"I have another tutoring session after school today," she said. "Henry is more than welcome to stay but the students I'm helping are younger so the topics we're going to cover won't be much of interest to him."

"Ugh don't make me stay please," he groaned, looking up at Regina and then Emma with pleading eyes. Emma chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"No worries kid," she said. "I'll pick you up."

That afternoon when school was out, Henry was sitting on the bench in front of the school like he promised Emma he'd be. He was waiting for her to show up after she had shot him a quick text that she was about 15 minutes late. There was a little dispute she had to take care of but she was on her way.

He was flipping through his story book, still unable to believe this belonged to his adoptive mother when she was a little girl. He was reading a passage about the Evil Queen tricking the genie into killing the king, when a familiar voice sounded above him. He looked up, his breath hitching at the sight of his adoptive father. He slammed his book shut.

"Don't be scared son," Leopold said softly as he sat beside him. "I just want to talk."

"Why?" his voice shook.

"I miss you and I miss your mom."

"You're lying," he called him out. "You never cared about me and you hurt mom."

"Look, there's a lot you don't understand," he sighed. "Do you want to come with me and get some ice cream and talk."

"Emma is picking me up."

"Well I don't see her," he observed, looking around.

"Mom will get mad if I left with you."

"I'm your father. She doesn't have a right to keep you from me."

"So you want to take me from her?" he asked, looking at him with fearful eyes.

"No of course not son," Leo said. "I just want you to consider your options."

"My options?"

"You're going to have to choose son and in the end you might not even get that choice. You'll probably be going back and forth."

"I don't want to be with you at all!" he yelled, jumping to his feet. Leopold advanced on him in that moment, getting up and grabbing his arm.

"Your mom won't win this case! She will be back under my roof sooner than you think and when that happens you can either be on her side or mine!"

"Henry!" Emma's voice suddenly sounded and Henry yanked his arm away from his father's grip. "Get in the car!" He didn't think twice. He looked up to see Emma glaring at Leopold with blazing green eyes. He rushed into the police cruiser parked behind her. Her hand was on her service weapon that was fastened to her belt.

Leopold's eye caught the sheriff's badge on her belt as well. In the last month Emma had been promoted as Graham had stepped down. He was simply awaiting the trial to be sentenced as well.

"Good day Sheriff, I'm just having a little chat with my son."

"Let this be a warning Mister Mayor," she threatened, getting close to his face. "If I see you anywhere near Henry I'll make sure that's the last time you ever see him."

"Tell Regina to enjoy her time with him, because I will be filing for sole custody. She forgets she had a criminal record when we adopted him," he sneered, his cold dark eyes burning with hatred. "And once I get my son back, I'll get Regina back too."

Emma watched him leave, her fists clenched with the need to go after him and punch him in the face. She shook her head and took a breath to calm herself before turning back to the car.

"What did he say to you?" she asked Henry the moment she got behind the wheel and shut the door.

"He wants me to choose," his voice shook. "He said once mom goes back to him, I have to decide whose side I'm on."

She turned in her seat to face him, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder in comfort.

"No matter what happens neither of you are going back to him. He is never laying a hand on Regina again and there's no way in hell he's getting custody. He's just trying to scare you to get you on his side without a fight."

"I wish he would just leave us alone," he sighed. "He never cared about me before. Why is he doing this?"

"It's just to hold power over your mom," she explained. "That's all it is."

"So he can control her and hurt her again?"

Emma nodded.

"Come on, kid," she said. "How about we go to the arcade before we go pick up your mom."

The moment Regina entered the classroom, her students greeted her with hugs and words of how happy they were that she was back. They had given her flowers and trinkets and cards. She didn't realize how much they cared. After thanking them they got right into lecture. Now that midterms were over it was time to focus on finals. It felt good to be back at work. It felt like a part of herself was missing during the last month.

It wasn't until she was packing up her things after her last class did Emma walk in with a sullen looking Henry. She kissed Emma in greeting before looking at her son in concern.

"Henry, what happened?" she asked, kneeling to his level.

"I saw Dad today."

"What?"

Fear washed over her and her blood ran cold. Emma could see her shaking as she looked over her son for any injuries.

"I'm fine," he sighed.

"What did he say to you?" she asked, halting her thorough search for any sign of abuse. Even if he never touched Henry, she knew it didn't take much to set off that man's anger.

He looked up at Emma, unsure if he should say anything. He didn't want to worry her with everything that is going on. She nodded at him, encouraging to tell her. Regina had the right to know.

"He tried convincing me to go with him and when I told him no, he said I had to choose sides. He said he was going to get us back."

Regina looked up at Emma and shot her an angry glare.

"Where were you?" she asked, standing and facing the shocked woman before her.

"I was on my way," Emma defended herself, her own green eyes flashing as she realized Regina was blaming her for Leopold going up to Henry. "Are you blaming me?"

"You were late, weren't you?"

They were slipping back into their old ways. Fighting with each other just like when they first met.

"Fifteen minutes," she admitted with a sigh of guilt.

"Fifteen minutes?" Regina gasped. "Emma, he could have taken my son!"

"I was held up settling a dispute at work," Emma protested. "I couldn't just leave. I texted him and told him to wait."

"Well then you should have called me!"

"You were still in the middle of your lecture," Emma argued.

"I would have walked out if it meant I'd be there before that bastard even has a chance at getting to him!"

"Ok, you're right," Emma tried diffusing the situation. She didn't want to fight with her. With everything that was going on they needed to stick together. "I'm sorry. I should have called you or told him to wait in Mary Margaret's class."

Regina looked at her with panicked brown eyes. She noticed her hands started shaking so she took them in her hands and then pulled her into her arms. She realized the anger was coming from the fear of her husband taking Henry from her.

"I wasn't thinking, ok?" she whispered, holding her close and trying to calm her.

"Mom, I'm fine. Don't be mad at Emma," Henry looked at her with wide hazel eyes. Regina pulled away from her girlfriend and looked at him.

"I'm just scared he's going to hurt you or… or take you," her voice trembled as she thought of the worse. She looked at Emma who was staring at her with watery eyes. She felt bad and Regina suddenly felt guilty. She didn't mean to take out her anger on her. She was just scared.

"We won't let that happen," Emma said, reaching out and placing her hand softly on her cheek. She looked into worried brown eyes. "You have every right to be upset at me. You have a right to your fear, but I will make sure he doesn't ever hurt our family."

Emma blushed as she realized what just came out of her mouth. She looked away, afraid of what she'll see in the professor's eyes. She couldn't believe she was already calling them her family when they had just gotten together. She was moving too quickly.

"Our family?" Regina whispered, and she was suddenly taking the hand that was on her cheek and cradling it against her chest. Emma slowly brought her eyes back to the woman before her. The anger and fear that was swirling in those dark eyes seconds ago was now gone and now all she saw was love.

"Am I moving too fast?" she asked sheepishly, afraid Regina will push her away. Instead Regina let out a laugh and Emma never heard anything sound so beautiful coming from the brunette.

"You are, but I've been stuck for years in a non existent marriage and now here you are and all I want is to be with you no matter how fast it's going. I…" The words I love you were on the tip of her tongue but she was too afraid. She held back, afraid that those three little words might be too much for the both of them even if they were going too fast. "I'm sorry," she said instead. "I didn't mean to blame you and lose my temper."

Emma pulled her into her arms, holding her tightly. Regina buried her face into Emma's shoulder, breathing in her scent and letting it comfort her.

"Henry is ok," the sheriff whispered. "We're ok."

Emma placed a restraining order on Leopold right away. She wasn't going to risk him coming near their son again. Regina of course was hesitant. She was afraid of provoking him but knew it had to be done for the safety of Henry.

Regina was nervously pacing the loft that evening, waiting for Cora to arrive. She didn't need this right now. With everything that was going on, she wasn't mentally prepared for her mother.

"You'll wear the floor down," Emma suddenly said as she came down from the loft after tucking Henry into bed. Mary Margaret decided to stay with David tonight so that Cora had a bed to sleep on. Regina got the feeling she was just trying to avoid her mother all together. They didn't exactly have the best relationship as well.

Regina stopped and faced Emma as she came over to her. She nervously wrung her hands.

"I can't seem to relax."

"Maybe she'll be more understanding after we talk to her."

"I doubt it," Regina frowned.

"Come on sit, before you aggravate your ribs," Emma said, leading her to the couch. She coaxed Regina to sit against her, cuddling her until she felt the tension leave her body. Warm lips kissed her and Regina moaned into it, heating up their kiss. She shivered when she felt Emma's hand slide into her shirt and splaying across her stomach.

When they pulled away, Regina rested her forehead against her girlfriend's.

"You always make all my worries melt away," she whispered.

They cuddled together with small talk here and there until a knock finally sounded on the door. Regina jumped to her feet, the calmness that had washed over over was now once again replaced by anxiety.

Emma jumped up and grabbed her hands.

"Listen to me, take a breath," she tried to calm her. Her breaths were quick and her hands were shaking and if Emma didn't know any better she might just be on her way to having a panic attack.

"You're in control here. If she gets too much, she can leave."

"Ok," she nodded, taking slower breaths and stopping her shaking hands. Emma went over to the door and then looked back at her.

"Are you ready?" she whispered and at Regina's nod, she opened the door.

There was knocking again just as Emma pulled open the door. Cora stood there with a rolling suitcase in hand. She wore a pantsuit and looked every part of a professional business woman she imagined her to be.

"You must be the roommate," she stated, almost disgusted as her eyes scanned over the sheriff.

"Sheriff Swan," she introduced herself, sticking her hand out with a smug smirk on her lips. Cora just looked at her with disdain and then looked over at her daughter.

"Are you going to let me in Sheriff or what?" With an irritated sigh, Emma put her hand down and moved aside to let the older woman in.

"So is this where you're living now?" she asked as she walked up to Regina.

"Just until Leopold is sentenced," Regina explained, trying not to let her mother see how stressed out she was at her arrival. Emma shut the door and observed the two. Cora didn't even hug her daughter or offer any comfort.

"Look, it's not too late," Cora persuaded her as she stepped up to her and took her hand. "You could go back to him and apologize and maybe he'll take you back in. Drop the charges."

"I will not go back and grovel at his feet!" Regina snapped, her brown eyes flashing with anger as she tore her hands from her mother. She took off to the kitchen and Cora followed her and stood at the breakfast bar. Regina needed to keep her hands busy and so she started making some tea. Emma took a seat at the bar, offering Regina her support.

"You know he has the power to put you in prison for that night," Cora reminded her.

"I was innocent!" she suddenly snapped. "He tampered with the evidence and no one believed me! You didn't believe me and made me marry that abusive man! You sold me to him," her voice shook with threatening tears and Cora dismissively shook her head. Her eyes were cold and Emma didn't see an ounce of compassion.

"He beat her for over ten years," Emma's voice shook with fury. "And you want her to go back?"

"A wealthy life has its costs," she waved it off as if were nothing. "Besides, I raised you to be strong. I was hoping you'd take advantage of him. He was vulnerable after Eva's death and then almost losing his daughter, it was the perfect opportunity for you to show him who's in charge. Apparently you missed it."

"Well I'm not you mother," Regina snipped back as she slammed the kettle on the stove and lit the pilot. She pulled three mugs out and set them on the counter. Emma noticed she avoided Cora's gaze.

"And that's too bad," her mother sneered with disappointment. "You could have been powerful and now you're weak." Regina looked up at that moment, her eyes flashing with a new kind of fury Emma hasn't seen since she took a chainsaw to her beloved apple tree.

"Leave," she seethed, her voice dangerously low.

"Don't be ridiculous, I just got here," Cora scoffed.

"I'm not weak!" she yelled. "Get out!"

"Don't you dare speak to me that way!" Cora snapped, suddenly slapping her daughter in the face. Emma was on her feet in an instant, grabbing her by the arm and showing her the door. Regina looked up at her mother with nothing but hatred, her hand on her burning cheek.

"I don't give a fuck wether you leave town or not," Emma practically growled, grabbing her suitcase as she backed her up towards the door. "Don't ever come near her or Henry unless she wishes it!"

Cora started protesting, but Emma could care less as she opened the door. The sheriff pushed her and her luggage out into the hall and locked the door.

Emma looked back at Regina to find brown eyes shining back at her. Her hand was on the cheek that Cora had struck. She rushed over, removing the hand and observing the reddened cheek herself. Her green eyes flashed with fury.

"I'm fine, Emma," she sighed, pulling away and taking a step back. She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly looking so vulnerable. "I just need a moment."

Emma watched her go up to the loft, her heart breaking for the way she had hid her tears and the deep hurt flashing in her eyes. She remembered the words she had carelessly thrown at her back when she had first come to Storybrooke and they had been at war with each other.

"You have no soul," she growled angrily at the fiery brunette. "How the hell did you get like this?"

Although it didn't excuse Regina's erratic behavior then, she now understood why she held onto Henry so tight. Before she had come to town, Henry was all Regina had.

Violent hands crumbled the restraining order in his fist. That bitch! She had the audacity to put out a restraining order against him. He had a right to his son. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't have him in the first place. He picked up the tumbler on his desk, downed the whisky and angrily threw it across the study and towards the fireplace.

He was drinking heavily. His anger building with each sip. She would pay for this. Somehow he would get her back and she will pay for causing so much trouble. He will teach her what happens when she disobeys him. She had run away for the last time.