So, life moves on. Emma never returned to the house to discuss everything. Instead, she did what her mind was programmed to do after so many years of being kicked out of a home, well, at least that's what she thought had happened when Regina stormed off and told her to take the job. She thought that was Regina's way of kicking her out of the house, just like every other home she was booted from during her childhood. So, she packed what little things she had and left.
She moved to Arizona, took that amazing job opportunity, running all the cameras behind every sporting event and tried to move on with her life. She refused to completely abandon Lennox though, she couldn't do that to her favorite human, to August. So, she asked Regina if she could FaceTime with Lennox once a day, if their schedules permitted. Regina agreed. She also vowed to come back one weekend a month to visit with Lennox. Regina agreed.
Regina was surprisingly calm about everything and that irked Emma, but she refused to argue with the woman anymore. It was time to move on.
It's been four weeks. One miserable month away and Emma has arranged with work and Regina to go back to Chicago to visit with Lennox for Thanksgiving.
She parks the rented vehicle in front of Regina's bakery and kills the engine. She rests her head against the steering wheel and wills herself to calm the fuck down. Her stomach is twirling around like a heap of clothes in a washing machine. Her blood is tingling like it knows how close the brunette is once again. Her heart is hammering so hard, she's sure tomorrow her chest will feel bruised.
Her eyes flutter closed for a moment while she berates herself to stop all of this silly nonsense. Regina kicked her to the curb. She moved to Arizona and pursued her dreams. She asked Regina to co-parent like a damn divorced couple. Regina sent her a check with the money Emma gifted her for the investment. Regina...moved on...with the doctor.
Emma swallows the tangy bile rising in her throat.
She quickly exits her car, needing to stop all the wallowing and get this all over with. She needs to just adult, be a grown woman and see her ex, so she can get her goddaughter for the long weekend.
She enters the little bakery, hearing that familiar bell above her head that reminds her of their dinner date in the dark. The first night they...
"Hey," Regina's raspy voice cuts through Emma's wandering thoughts and slams her back to the now.
"Hi," she softly replies, hoping to keep her emotions in check, but none of that matters when she spots Lennox rounding the corner and dashing toward her. "Oh my god, goober, you look huge! How much did you grow?" She laughs, opening her arms and scooping Lennox into the air. She presses Lennox's forehead to her own, practically holding her upside down as she attacks her face with playful kisses, persuading the sweetest baby giggles to sing through the bakery. "Those FaceTime calls don't do you justice, kiddo!"
"I know," Regina gently says, staying firmly routed behind the counter. "She has grown."
"Even her hair is so much longer," Emma chuckles, easing Lennox back down to prop her on her hip. She dips down, trying to meet Lennox's gaze. "You say, Auntie Emma?"
"Good luck with that," Regina mumbles.
"She still won't say Regina?"
"Nope," Regina says in a bubbly tone, but Emma knows her well enough to know it's for Lennox's sake and she's actually hurting. "Do you know how it feels to be out-ranked by cup?"
"She'll get there, won't you Lennox?"
"Cup!" Lennox cheers, inspiring Emma to laugh while Regina narrows her eyes and scowls.
"Anyways, here's some stuff for the weekend," Regina says, offering a backpack and two bags full of everything Emma may need during their visit.
"Thanks," Emma shyly whispers, gliding her arms through the backpack first before she hooks the baby bags on her shoulders as well, refusing to make a comment how Regina packed like Lennox was moving. "So, umm...you really killed the expansion," she awkwardly points out as her curious eyes sweep across the bakery.
"Yes, it's just too much money and time right now. You know Lennox is now in daycare while I'm at work and...maybe in the future," she noncommittally suggests, not wanting to dwell on the subject once again.
And Emma's not entirely sure why, but she feels like Regina has been holding her breath ever since she walked through that door. The air is thick, crackling between them and she aches to go back to when she and Regina were so damn comfortable, always smiling and laughing at each other. That time in their relationship was brief, but she would give anything to stop this godawful tension. The tension between them wasn't even this bad before Lennox was born and they hated each other back then.
"I really hope you do try again," Emma sweetly says and she genuinely means it.
"Thanks," Regina whispers, curling a chunk of hair behind her ear as her eyes crawl to Lennox as a distraction. And she sees how happy Lennox is to be in Emma's arms again and Regina melts. She caves actually. "Hey, Ivy and I are hosting a Friendsgiving at the house on Saturday, since most people have family functions on Thursday. I-well, would you be interested in coming? All the neighbors will be there. They keep asking about you," she rambles, feeling slightly insecure about the entire invitation.
"Yeah," Emma immediately responds.
"Really?" Regina's curious eyes flick back to wholesome green in an instant.
"Yeah, of course. I mean, you are cooking, right?"
"Yes, of course," Regina replies, slightly dumbfounded that Emma would agree so easily.
"Good. It's been awhile since I have had a home cooked meal. Especially, for Thanksgiving. It'll be fun," she assures Regina, even though her smile doesn't reach her eyes and she appears a little queasy.
"Yes, yes it will," Regina concedes mindlessly, like she's lost in thought and not entirely present for the conversation.
"Alright, we will see you then," she says, hiking Lennox up higher and kissing her cheek. "Say bye-bye, Auntie Gina," she murmurs against a pudgy cheek.
"Bubye!" Lennox squeals, happily waving as Emma leans her across the counter, so Regina can kiss her goodbye.
Regina cups that smiling face and kisses her forehead and then the tip of her nose. "Bye baby girl, I love you."
"She loves you too," Emma concludes before she spins around, babbling nonsense to Lennox and they breeze right out the door.
And Regina swears a good chunk of her heart just left with them.
XXXX
She hears the front door, her heart skipping a beat thinking that it's Emma waltzing through like she used to, but her mind scolds that silly organ for being so foolish.
"Hi," Ivy happily greets her, extending a single rose with a dazzling smile set into place and Regina's heart clenches from the disappointment.
And she feels so damn guilty for thinking that way. She has been happy with Ivy for the past three weeks, but seeing Emma today has screwed with her heart and her mind. That infuriating woman still holds a place in her heart.
"Hello," she sweetly coos, drifting forward to meet her girlfriend for a delicate kiss. "What's with the rose?" She teasingly inquires, finally taking the flower from Ivy's hand.
"I figured you had a rough day," Ivy says, wrapping one arm around Regina's waist, while the other tenderly tucks some hair behind Regina's ear. "How did it go?"
"It was fine," she instantly waves off the subject. "We were both polite and amicable."
"Well...that's good, right? You didn't want to fight anymore in front of Lennox."
"Right. And we didn't. We even managed fake smiles for Lennox's sake."
"That's good to hear. That's what is best for Lennox."
"I know, everything was just fine."
"Did you invite her for Thanksgiving?"
"I did."
"And she accepted?"
"Yes, I believe it's been awhile since she's had a Thanksgiving. Maybe she hasn't had one at all," she mumbles mostly to herself, but Ivy nods along, understanding Emma's past.
"I think it will be good for Lennox to see you two together again," Ivy kindly offers as comfort, even if she, herself, is a little apprehensive about seeing the blonde again.
It's not her fault the woman wasn't ready for a mature relationship and a family. Emma gave up this beautiful family and Ivy has no regrets stepping up. She adores Regina and Lennox.
"I think so, too," Regina agrees, turning her attention back toward the dinner she was preparing before her girlfriend walked in.
She presses her nose into the vibrant red rose and inhales the wonderful scent before quickly finding a vase to place it in. She settles the single flower in the middle of the kitchen table while Ivy moves to open a bottle of wine.
"It's quiet without her," her girlfriend acknowledges, pouring two glasses of red wine.
"Very quiet," Regina sadly agrees, stepping next to Ivy to retrieve their plates.
"I miss her royal cuteness."
"I know. I'm always looking for a moment to myself all day and now that she's gone, I hate it," she confesses, placing two plates down on the table while Ivy gently sets down their wine.
"Oh, I bet," her girlfriend chuckles and before they can sit down at the table, she wraps Regina up and tugs her flush against her body. "However, this is the first time we are able to eat dinner without her, so this will be a nice date night for us."
"This is true," she hums, gliding her arms around Ivy's shoulders as their lips meet in the middle.
Her girlfriend doesn't waste a second, parting her lips and guiding hers open as well. She dips her tongue inside Regina's mouth, deepening the kiss and pressing more firmly against her.
"You know...we are free tonight, we can skip dinner and head straight for dessert without a little one eyeing us closely," Ivy chuckles, her hands wandering up Regina's back to hold her close.
"I believe you have a point and I could certainly use the distraction," Regina suggestively whispers, walking her girlfriend right out of the kitchen, toward the living room.
Leaving behind the dinner and all those tormenting thoughts that haunt her.
XXXX
Saturday comes all too quickly. Regina's a hot mess, Ivy knew the second she woke up without her girlfriend, unlike most mornings when they wake up in each other's arms. Regina tried, she tried so hard not to express one fraction of emotion, but her impassive and flippant attitude told a completely different story.
She's excited to see Lennox, no, that word doesn't even come close to explain how ecstatic she truly is. She missed her baby. However, she's anxious, and quite sick to her stomach thinking about spending an evening with Emma in the house once more. Especially with Ivy sitting by her side the entire time.
She's avoiding everyone, hiding out in her kitchen, pretending she needs to do a few finishing touches for the extravagant dinner, but everyone knows she can't participate in small talk. Not with Emma on the way. Luckily, nobody has mustered up the courage to approach her, except for Ivy, who has been peeking her head in and checking on her every so often, even if Regina keeps insisting she's fine.
"Can you get the door? I'm sure it's Emma and Lennox, everyone else is already here," she rushes out the request the moment she hears the doorbell.
"Of course, babe," Ivy whispers. "I got you," she vows, pressing a quick kiss to Regina's lips before she heads to the front door. She's not particularly excited to see Emma either, but she is willing to suck it all up for Regina and Lennox. "Hello, happy Thanksgiving," she kindly greets Emma who looks like she might vomit in the front bushes.
"Hey, yeah. Happy Thanksgiving," she stammers, walking right through the door.
"Hi, Lennox," Ivy coos, reaching for the baby who is beaming back at her. It's obvious Emma hesitates for a moment, Ivy's eyes quickly darting up to frightened green in a silent request to hold the baby. Emma eventually sighs and hands Lennox over. "Hi, sweetie, we missed you," she coos, pressing a kiss to Lennox's temple.
"Hi!" Lennox squeals, and Ivy beams with pride while Emma folds her arms across her chest like she's trying to keep her heart from shattering into a million pieces.
"I-uh...brought wine," Emma nervously announces, thrusting the bottle between them. "Thought we might need a lot to get through this evening."
Ivy laughs, nodding along as she accepts the bottle and Emma hates, loathes, the way this woman is holding Lennox securely on her hip, exactly how Regina would want her to.
"Yes, at least we both acknowledge that there is some tension."
Emma just fakes a smile and moseys on toward the dining room where she sees some familiar faces beaming at her while Ivy sneaks off to the kitchen, probably so she can hand Lennox off to Regina.
"Emma!" Ruby squawks, tugging her into a bone-crushing hug. "God, we have missed you girl!"
"So much," Milah purrs in that flirtatious tone, gliding her arm up Emma's bicep and squeezing. Emma doesn't even flinch anymore from this woman, completely accustomed to her open behavior.
"Emma," Killian grins, slapping a hand upon her shoulder. "Tell us about Phoenix. You gotta get me some tickets!"
"To what?"
"Anything," he laughs, raising his beer bottle and flashing that devilishly handsome grin.
"Okay, okay," she murmurs, just as Mary Margret steps forward and places a glass of white wine in her hand.
"Oh, I am so glad to see you. We missed you so much around here," the woman gushes.
"Really?" Emma incredulously investigates, not understanding everyone's enthusiasm.
Yes, she was friendly with all of them when she was around, but she never really thought they liked her for more than her looks. She sort of assumed they all pitied her and Regina and were just being nice humans. Besides Ruby, that girl has proved her loyalty, even when she ran off to Phoenix, that woman constantly called to check in on her, make sure she was okay and not drowning her sorrows in a bottle of whiskey.
She only did that the first seven days she moved.
"Of course," Belle chimes in, holding her baby close. "You were a breath of fresh air around here. We are so glad you showed up."
"I would do anything for Lennox," she mumbles, slightly distracted when she spots Ivy coming from the kitchen, without Lennox.
She tracks Regina's new girlfriend, watching as she helps herself to a glass of wine. She seems oddly comfortable and Emma wonders if the woman has moved in. Regina never mentioned, even though Emma has no right to Regina's personal life, she would assume that Regina would have mentioned because it regards Lennox. Then again, she doesn't think Regina would actually allow someone to move in after three weeks, especially with a baby in the house.
Emma's thoughts are interrupted when she notices Regina's mother exiting the kitchen with Lennox in her arms. She watches the older woman, noting how she moves just like Regina with a baby in her arms. Her heart clenches.
"Emma." She blinks away her thoughts, discovering Ivy sliding up to their group to join the conversation. "I just wanted to say, I'm really glad you could make it. I know it means a lot to Lennox and Regina, even if she's too stubborn to admit it," the woman chuckles.
Emma fakes a smile and laughs through her nose because that's all she can offer. "Yeah, well, I would do anything for them. Although, this is technically still my house, so I'm glad you could make it," she quips, forcing everyone in the group to freeze, except for Ruby who snorts somewhere behind her.
Ivy smiles even wider though, not at all intimidated. "Listen, I understand that this is a little weird."
"Nah, it's not weird."
"It's a little weird," Ruby chimes in.
"It's very weird," Mary Margret concludes while Emma pretends to ignore them. "But I suppose this is a great way to get everyone together and say goodbye."
Emma squints at Mary Margret for a brief second before her gaze wanders to Ruby for an explanation because everyone in the group seems to be nodding along to something she is clueless about. "I'm sorry, am I missing something here?"
"She didn't tell you?" Ruby softly questions and that's when every face gawking at Emma, falls.
"Tell me what?" She suspiciously interrogates, never tearing her eyes from her friend because she can feel every set of eyes on her.
"Regina's selling the house."
Emma doesn't bother responding, she thrusts her drink into Ruby's hand and storms off toward the kitchen.
"You're selling the house?" She growls as she strides right up to Regina at the oven. "When the hell where you going to tell me?"
Regina sighs, her shoulders immediately tensing as she stares aimlessly into her bowl of mashed potatoes. She briefly wonders who the hell opened their big mouth and told Emma?
"I was going to tell you tomorrow, after this dinner party," she sincerely admits, trying to keep her temper and her voice in control.
"How could you-"
"It's just too much. It's too expensive, you know this. We have had this conversation before," she calmly explains, just like she has practiced for the past week.
"But I'm still paying my half."
"I understand and I appreciate that, but now I have daycare to consider, which drains almost all the money you offer," she says, reminding herself not to react to Emma's childish temper.
"You could have come to me. We could have discussed me giving you more money. You could have asked me about selling their house," Emma demands, invading Regina's personal space.
Cold, dark eyes snap to attention, abandoning her potatoes to meet Emma's panicked eyes. "Ask you? Ask you, like you asked me when you just up and moved across the country," she dryly retorts.
"You are not selling the house," Emma firmly declares, ignoring that comment altogether.
"Yes, I am," Regina growls.
"No, they wanted her to grow up here!" Emma explodes, slamming her hands down on the countertop, but Regina doesn't even flinch.
"What they wanted was for you and I to raise her together, but you walked away from that responsibility," Regina bitterly seethes, spinning around to find something else to distract her before she wrings Emma's neck.
"Well, you sure as hell didn't waste any time finding someone to hold the damn diaper bag for you, did you?"
Regina humorlessly laughs through her nose. "Are you seriously trying to make me feel bad because you walked away?"
Emma dips down to catch Regina's hard gaze just brewing a storm of emotions. "From the beginning, you wanted this, you wanted to raise Lennox on your own. Don't think for a second I don't remember you asking that lawyer if you could take Lennox on your own, without me! But it was hard, harder than we both ever could have expected and you know you could have never done this without me. That's why two seconds after I left you went running back to the picture perfect girlfriend."
Just in the other room every guest flinches from Emma's comment. "The sound really travels in this room, huh?" Mary Margret awkwardly says in the deafening silence.
"Fuck you!" Regina screams, slamming her own fists down on the counter and leaning in dangerously close to Emma.
And there's that fire again that's been missing from both of their lives. There's that old familiar blazing heat in Regina's eyes again and Emma is still just as confused if Regina wants to slap her across the face or fuck her.
"No, fuck you," Emma growls, gripping the edge of the counter as she leans in, asserting her power.
"You know what? Ivy is nothing like you and that drives you mad. She is mature, open, sensitive, trustworthy, considerate and she doesn't run away at the first sign of commitment!"
"Yeah, I ran," Emma chokes out, hating herself for faltering under Regina's harsh criticism. "My best friend died, the only person I had in life disappeared and over night I had a house, a baby, and a...a...you. I'm sorry if-"
"If what?" Regina rages, trembling from the emotions she has kept bottled up inside for a month now.
"I was scared," Emma bellows, her eyes instantly filling with overwhelming tears that she cannot possibly keep in any longer.
"You don't think I was scared?" Regina fires right back, her nose almost colliding against Emma's.
"It was so much easier for you, Regina," she implores, lowering her voice to keep the emotions trapped inside. "You wanted this life. You wanted the house and the relationship and the baby-"
"Not like this," Regina cries out, tossing her arms in the air. "Jesus, Emma, not like this. I didn't want all of it at the expense of my best friend. Especially, not with someone who didn't love me back," she confesses, quickly wrapping her arms around her midsection to keep herself from completely crumbling.
"But I did," Emma interjects, her voice quivering as the tears swell too much and prick at her eyes. Regina's bottom lip trembles like Emma has completely just betrayed her. "I still do, Regina," she vows, a single tear finally bursting through the dam and dribbling down her cheek.
"No," Regina gasps, shaking her head as she slowly takes a step back. She turns her back to Emma, needing some space and distance between them, but mostly to hide her tears. "No, you were right, it was easy to pretend we were a family and in love when we were forced into a house together to raise a baby we both loved. We were just playing the part for Lennox's sake."
"Please don't say that," Emma implores, sniffling away her tears.
"No," Regina's voice is quivering and Emma aches all over, her body crying out to hold the woman close and take away all her pain. "We were both vulnerable and grieving and we only had each other. Nobody else could possibly understand what we went through, so we leaned on each other. Used each other as a crutch to get through the darkness while taking care of Lennox."
"Regina, please," Emma begs, stepping behind Regina like she might hold her from behind like she has done so many times before.
Except, Regina feels her presence before they even touch and she shrugs Emma off. "The grieving is over, we were never meant to be. You chose your future and now I have to move on."
"But-"
"Please, Emma, I don't want to fight with you anymore," she pleads, shrugging her shoulder when she feels the warmth of Emma's hand drawing nearer.
"Fine, I'll go back to Phoenix," Emma says, her voice broken and full of despair. "Looks like you have everything handled here without me."
Regina spins around, just in time to witness Emma wiping away her tears. And then Emma bolts out the door, and Regina swears she has never felt a pain quite like this one in her heart.
"Dammit, Emma Swan," she mutters under her breath.
Emma stops dead in her tracks when she exits the kitchen and notices every set of eyes are on her, each one more depressing and sympathetic than the next. She swallows the boulder of insecurities and finds Lennox in the crowd in Cora's arms still.
She doesn't say a word to anyone, she just makes a beeline for Lennox. She opens her arms and Cora immediately places Lennox into her embrace. Emma presses her lips to Lennox's forehead, her eyes instantly fluttering closed as the ache in her heart becomes too much.
"I love you so much," she whispers, ignoring the silence of the room, especially with the warm tears gliding down her cheeks uncontrollably.
"Mema!" Lennox exclaims, forcing more tears to stream down Emma's face.
She quickly passes Lennox back to Cora, hating the way this woman is frowning at her. And then Lennox screeches, reaching for Emma once again and when she doesn't take her back, Lennox wails. Emma wipes away her tears and charges right out the front door, ignoring Lennox's cries for her and everyone frowning at her.
Regina plasters on her broadest grin, holding the turkey up high as she enters the dining room.
"Happy Thanksgiving everyone," she cheers, setting the enormous bird down on the table. "Everyone dig in," she happily encourages, pretending that she doesn't hear Lennox screaming for Emma or that everyone is staring at her like she just murdered someone in front of them. "Come on, before it gets cold," she urges, still grinning so hard that her cheeks actually hurt, but nobody moves a muscle. "I said, eat!" She coldly commands, motivating the guests to jump into action and murmur their praise.
"Regina, darling," her mother softly whispers.
"Here, I'll take Lennox upstairs, she probably needs to be changed," she mumbles, needing to remove herself from the entire situation before she breaks down as well.