Disclaimer in first chapter

Chapter 10

They had just finished their final meetings and were heading back to Storybrooke. Regina was in a great mood. She had been exchanging texts with Emma for the past two days. She felt like her younger self all over again. The blonde had such an affect on her. She couldn't wait until she got to see her again and tomorrow night was going to be that. They had arranged to meet for dinner. It had kept her going all week waiting for this. Emma across a table from her and while she knows this isn't a date having Emma there just brings back all those memories.

"You seem really happy," Mal says, "anything I should know?"

"Not particularly. Just feel the last few days have gone well. People seem to want to support me and my numbers are going up," Regina spouted off. Yes, they were all great things but in reality, it was Emma who was making her so happy. She had a renewed sense of hope that they would get back together. It was the stupidest thing Regina had ever done and not a day goes by that she doesn't regret it.

FLASHBACK

It was Regina and Emma's 8th anniversary. Here they were at 25 years of age and had a stable relationship since high school. They had got through college together. Been by each other's side for every little step along the way. Through Henry's heart attack and recovery where they thought they might lose him. Through Emma's injury scare where they thought she might lose her scholarship. Sure, they had fights, but they always would resolve them, and they were never anything major. They were having a romantic dinner that evening and Regina couldn't wait until she was finished work, so she could go and get ready. Her day hadn't been great, and she needs is a hug from her amazing girlfriend. A text comes through:

MAL – Hey Regina just wondering if you fancied going for a drink when you are finished work, I could really do with one?

REGINA – Hey Mal thanks for the offer but it's our anniversary tonight and we are having dinner and the evening to ourselves. Rain check?

Regina and Mal had remained friends since high school but they had drifted a bit. Mal ended up at a smaller college just outside of Boston studying business and in truth the only reason she got in there was due to the large financial donation her father had made to the college. Meanwhile Regina studied business and politics in Boston University. Emma studied elementary education in Boston University thanks to Regina. Regina pushed her hard. She knew Emma had it in her. She won a scholarship on the back of an amazing athletic career in high school at mid distance events. Regina with regular study days at the weekends and a few early wake up calls for Emma helped her keep her GPA high enough to help as well. Not that Emma wasn't smart. She just got easily bored and distracted. Studying with Regina made things better especially when Regina added a little incentive (some PG some non-PG).

MAL – But you were with Emma all last weekend. I hardly get to see you anymore.

Regina was getting a bit frustrated with Mal lately. She was always whining about spending time with her and on more than one occasion in the last few months she had given out to Mal about how she was talking about Emma and that she was not to speak about Emma if she wasn't going to say anything nice. To be honest she was on the verge of not being her friend anymore as she was just really pulling Regina down. Cora had told Regina to surround herself with people that made her feel good and Mal was becoming one of those people that didn't.

REGINA – Mal, its our anniversary. I am not ditching my girlfriend to spend it with you. Emma is my girlfriend and today is very special for us.

Mal slammed her phone down. She didn't want to hurt Regina, but she may have to in order to make the Swan disappear. She was surprised that their relationship had lasted so long given that she had tried so many times to break them up through their time, but it never seemed to work. She slides the photos she had out of the envelope with Regina's name on it. She was just going to have to send them to Regina to make sure she knew what the Swan was up too. She placed the photos back in the envelope. She then picked up a second envelope with Emma's name on it. She took different photos out of here and looked at them. She smiled an evil smile and placed them back in the envelope. She picked up her phone and dialled the courier service. Time to make Storybrooke a Swan free zone.

Regina was done. Finished her work early she approached her boss Belle to ask her if she could finish a bit early. Regina was working in the office of Miss Belle French a high-flying entrepreneur who had her fingers in many businesses but always wanted to keep her home office where she came from in Storybrooke. Belle looked up at her and smiled. She like Regina ever since she started working here. She was diligent, and her work was always top quality. She had asked earlier in the week that if she got her work finished early could she leave as it was her anniversary. Belle had met Emma at a work luncheon a few months back and Belle had really liked Emma too. They made a wonderful couple. "Of course, Regina. You rarely ask for anything like this so off you go. Have a lovely weekend," Belle says. Thrilled Regina took off towards her apartment. Her and Emma were practically living together but today was the day she was going to ask Emma to move in. Regina had only recently moved out of her parents after returning home from college. She had saved up enough for her to have this. Her parents had argued and told her, but she insisted that it was important for her to have her own space too. They eventually agreed, and all was done. She had moved in six months ago and the blonde had been as permanent in the apartment as furniture. Regina had broached the subject slightly, but Emma had said she wanted to save more money, so she could pay her own way and not be relying on Regina who was making more money. Emma was only a junior teacher at the minute, so her salary wasn't that large. She figured the way Emma had been saving that she might say yes now. Regina jumped in her car and headed home. She had made up the lasagne the night before and placed it in the fridge. It was Emma's favourite meal. She jumped out of the car and ran into the house she turned on the oven to allow it to heat and placed the lasagne on the counter top to take the chill out of it before she baked it. While the oven was heating, she jumped into the shower. She jumped into her pyjamas before she would get dressed and ran up to place the lasagne in the oven. As she was passing her door there was a knock, so she opened it. There was a courier there and she was handed and envelope with her name on it. She asked who sent it but was told he couldn't say. Regina smiled thinking it was Emma. She was such a charming romantic and Regina loved every second of it. She placed the envelope on the counter beside the lasagne and checked to see if the oven was ready. It wasn't quite up to temperature, so she decided to open the envelope. She opened the tab and looked inside to see photos. She poured them onto the counter top. She picks up one and gasps as her other hand knocks the lasagne on the floor as she tries to grip the counter top for balance. There is a photo of Emma kissing some other brunette girl. Her heart shatters into a million pieces as a sob is torn from her throat. She falls to her knees clutching the photo not believing her eyes.

A while later Emma enters Regina's. She has been looking forward to this for weeks. She calls out for Regina as the place is so quiet. She has purple orchids for Regina something she always brings as they are Regina's favourite flower. She heads to the kitchen and finds the lasagne broken on the floor but no sign of Regina. She is beginning to panic.

"Regina, baby, where are you?" she calls but receives no answer. She goes into the lounge room and finds Regina on the couch nursing a glass of whiskey and she has been crying.

"Regina, what happened? Why are you crying? Is it your dad? Is he ok?" Emma says as she walks swiftly towards Regina.

"Don't you touch me," Regina snarls. Emma steps back. Regina has never spoken to her like that in her life. She has no idea what is going on, but Regina is looking at her with pure hurt in her eyes.

"Regina, I don't understand what is happening here," Emma reasons.

Regina throws one of the photos on the floor in front of Emma. She knows the night this photo is from. She had gone out a few weeks ago with Ruby and Graham. Regina was away at a conference thing for work. Emma had gone out but didn't drink as she wanted to collect Regina from the airport the following morning when she would be back. The picture shows Emma kissing some girl but that is not what happened. Graham had been away travelling for over a year. Ruby had been in love with him since they were young but never had the guts to say anything. They had been out for a while when Emma joined them. When Emma got to them Ruby had been looking into her drink as Graham was chatting to a girl at the bar. She begged Emma to help her get Graham. The pair were bantering back and forth with one another for a while when Graham dared Ruby to kiss some girl. Why either of them thought that this was a good idea Emma didn't know. Ruby kissed the girl in the photo and that is how it happened. This picture is not real, but Regina seems to think that it is.

"Regina that is not me baby," Emma pleads.

"Oh, I was unaware you had an identical twin running around Storybrooke," Regina snarls at her.

"Regina, I swear I love you. I would never do this to you. These pictures aren't real," Emma pleads again tears welling in her eyes.

"You expect me to believe that someone is out to get you so they made some photos of you kissing some girl," Regina exclaims.

"Regina, I swear that is not real. I can get Ruby on the phone and she can tell you," Emma says.

"Ruby! Of course, she will back you up. She's your best friend. She's never going to admit that you cheated on me," Regina fumes. She is raging inside. To think Emma would do this to her.

"I can't believe this. I thought we were going to get married and now I can't even bare to look at you. How long have you been making a fool out of me? HM? How long EMMA!" Regina yells.

"Regina, I didn't, I wouldn't we are going to get married. You are all I want in my life you have to believe me," Emma is crying now, tears running uncontrollably down her face.

"You expect me to believe this when I am looking at the photos right here in front of me. You have probably been leading me on for years. Having a good laugh at me behind my back with Ruby," Regina snarls. All her old fears of not being good enough for Emma are in full flow right now. She is believing that evil voice in her head telling her that Emma has been playing her this whole time.

"You get out of my apartment this minute. I never want to see you again. You are lying, cheating, bitch," Regina yells. She doesn't even know where that came from, she didn't even feel like it was her that said it. Felt like she was on auto pilot and it all came flushing out or something. Emma looks at her and Regina can see where Emma's heart shattered. She wanted to take her in her arms. Deep down inside she knew that Emma wouldn't do this ever in a million years, but she couldn't help herself.

Emma just walks to the door. Hand on the handle before she leaves, she says "Ti Amo Regina. I will get to the bottom of this. I am not letting you go like this." She walks out still holding the photo that Regina threw at her. She needs it to figure out what the hell is going on. She gets in her car and drives to the beach. She is distraught, but she is determined to figure out what the fuck is going on. She pulls up to the beach and shoots a text to Ruby telling her she needs to talk. She then turns the light on in her car and begins to examine the photo. She is looking at it for ages and cannot seem to get her head around it. It really does look like Emma kissing that girl. And then she spots it. In the photo you can see Ruby and Graham standing just behind gaping like Emma had done with Graham while Ruby made out with the girl. In the photo on Ruby's right arm is Emma's tattoo. This is the proof she needs to show Regina. She gets ready to take off back to Regina's to fix this stupid mess. Then her car door swings open and none other than Mal gets in.

"Listen Mal get out I don't have time for this. I need to get back to Regina," Emma says.

"Oh, I know you do but you aren't going back there. Instead Swam you are going to go home and pack your stuff and leave Storybrooke forever," Mal says with a grin of pure evil on your face.

"Oh, sure Mal no problem," Emma says sarcastically "now can you get out I need to get back to Regina."

"Oh, that's right you had your big anniversary dinner tonight hadn't you. Something spoiled your evening perhaps," Mal drawls.

Just then it clicks in Emma's head. She had seen Mal out that night with some friends of hers from work.

"You? It was you who took these photos and manipulated them," Emma accuses.

"Yes, it was. Amazing what you can learn to do when the graphics designer at work has a crush on you. However, these photos I have for you are not manipulated in anyway," she says with a devilish glint in her eye.

Emma rips the envelope opens and gasps when she sees what is inside.

"I believe that is your mother's ex husband no? The one who liked to use your mother as a punch bag. The one who swore his revenge after she testified against him in open court. The one from who ye were running from that caused you to land in Storybrooke. Well he is free. Released a few months back. Now wouldn't it be a nice family reunion if he was to find out what Ingrid's address is?" Mal says with pride.

Emma's mind is in overdrive. She doesn't know who to go to her mom or Regina. Mal is watching Emma's face with so much joy.

"Now listen here Swan this is what's going to happen. You are to leave town tonight. You are not to contact Regina just go. Disappear from her life. If you don't, I am going to arrange a little Swan family reunion for you. Do you hear me?" Mal snarls again.

Emma nods. She must keep her mom safe. That last time he nearly killed her. It was only for four-year-old Emma ringing the cops that saved her and got him arrested. They had left town as soon as Ingrid was able to. Henry Mills had been the one who got her to Storybrooke though his pro bono work with a charity for abused women. No one knew this story only the Mills family.

"How did you find this out?" Emma asks

"Well dear old Daddy is a lawyer and it turns out he defended your dad. It was the last case he worked on before we moved out here. I read you file years ago. I saw it on his desk recently and saw your dad had been released so I went on a little trip to get some photos for you. Now as much as I have enjoyed this Swan, I have much better things to do then lower my standards by being anywhere near you." Mal leaves the car. Emma sits there and then she begins to cry. She is losing the love of her life and there isn't a thing she can do. That man is pure evil and if he finds Ingrid, he will kill her.

She goes home throws some things in a bag and decides she is going travelling. Ingrid is trying to get an explanation out of her but its vague and dismissive. All she gets is her and Regina broke up and she is leaving to go travelling. Emma is like a whirlwind packing. She is about to leave when she puts her hand in the pocket of her dress coat that she had just taken off to check she left nothing in there when her fingers catch the edge of the box. She pulls out the ring box and the tears start to fall all over again. She had been planning and saving for months. She had asked Henry and Cora permission and she had been going to propose to Regina. Now it was all a mess. She opened the box and took it out to look at it. It was perfect, and she knew Regina was going to love it. She kissed the ring and placed it back in the box and placed the box into the drawer of her beside table. She picked up her car keys and left.

FLASHBACK END

Emma was smiling as she got the text from Regina confirming their dinner for tomorrow night in a small place in Allensville. Emma had asked Regina to come here as she didn't want to run the risk of bumping into Mal in Storybrooke. Tomorrow her and Regina would talk and maybe the truth would finally come to the surface.