Declaimer in chapter 1

SOME MOMENTS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THIS CHAPTER

Chapter 14

Ingrid is beaming from her place leaning against the kitchen counter looking at Emma with Regina. If it weren't for the fact that they were now two grown women sitting at her kitchen table, she would swear she had been transported back in time to when they were teenagers. They were giggling and little looks between them. Tentative touching of hands. Ingrid was so happy to see the two of them together again. Emma had never been the same person since she had left that day five years ago. Sure, she tried to pretend to be happy, but Ingrid knew her daughter all to well to believe the pretence that she was putting on. While they were preoccupied with one another she took a sneaky picture of them and sent it off to Cora with a love heart emoji. Cora text back almost immediately with a love heart eyes emoji which made Ingrid laugh as for all the years she had known Cora she never knew her to use emojis. Evie was happily chatting and colouring with the two ladies as well. Ingrid had been so happy to adopt again and now she couldn't help thinking about what how far she had come.

FLASHBACK

It stung so much! She thought her eye was going to pop out of her head when he hit her. She fell back against the wall. He punched her again causing her to fall to the ground. He then landed a kick to her stomach that knocked the air from her completely. She was sucking in hard trying to get some air into her lungs. She tried to stand but her legs wobbled and gave way again and she landed on all fours on the ground.

"You are so pathetic," he spat at her as he landed a kick right into her head. She blacked out immediately. It wasn't until a few hours later when she awoke in the hospital. Her sister was in the chair beside her bed reading a story to four-year-old Emma. She was resting her head on her aunt's chest, but Ingrid could see tears on her cheeks through her one good eye that wasn't swollen shut. Emma saw she was awake and immediately reached out for her.
"Mama it's ok. I is here," she whispered. Her aunt Ursula moved closer to the bed, so they could touch. She too had tears in her eyes. When she had received the phone call from the hospital and got down there and saw the condition her sister was in, she thought Ingrid wouldn't pull through. A little while later one of the nurses came in and asked if Emma wanted to come and help her with an important job for her mom. Emma always wanting to help her mother left the room with the nurse. Then the police came in to take Ingrid's statement. She told them all she could remember. Ingrid then asked how she had gotten to the hospital.

"You really don't know?" Ursula asked.

"Know what?" Ingrid asked.

"It was Emma. She rang the 911 and told the responder that a bad man was hurting her mom. We thought you had told her to ring before you blacked out," Ursula says in disbelief.

Just then Emma came into the room with the nurse following her.

"Awh here is our little hero now," says one of the police officers. Emma's chest puffs out and Ingrid swears she grew two feet in that moment.

"Emma," Ingrid says, "how did you know to ring 911?"

"We did it at school. If we are in danger to ring and the police would come and help," Emma says matter of factly.

They are all amazed at the four-year-old who truly had saved her mother's life. They arrested Ingrid's husband on the spot.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"Earth to mom," Emma says waving her hand in front of Ingrid's face.

"Huh, sorry sweetheart, I was miles away," Ingrid responds.

"I said Regina and I are going to take Evie out for a while to let you rest after working all week," Emma says.

"That would be lovely," Ingrid says as she looks at Regina standing there beaming and holding Evie's hand.

"Ok, get some sleep see you later," Emma says as she leaves the kitchen.

After the women are gone out the door with Evie Ingrid does a squeal and grabs her phone to ring Cora. As soon as Cora answers Ingrid blurts out "I wonder how many grandbabies they are going to give us." Cora laughs at her best friend as Ingrid fills her in on what she knows so far about the reconciliation.

Evie is in the middle holding hands with the both. They are swinging her every few steps and she is giggling. To any onlooker they look like the perfect little family. They head to the park, so Evie can burn off some of her energy. When they get there Evie's friend Lucy is there and she squeals and begs to be allowed to go and play with her. Emma nods and Evie takes off. Regina and Emma take a seat on a bench where they can keep an eye on Evie.

"So, tell me. What has been going on in your life since you left?" Regina asks, she has been afraid to ask as she does not want to know if Emma had any serious relationships since she had left.

"Well, I headed to Boston with what little savings I had. Telling you the truth I was a mess. I didn't know what I was going to do. I tried getting some teaching jobs, but they weren't too keen to take me as I hadn't a lot of experience. I mostly worked in bars and did some waitressing. I started to travel a bit hoping to distract myself from my empty heart. I went to New York for a while then drifted across the US until I couldn't handle it anymore. I had been missing you so much. I was on a date with this great girl about a year ago. She was perfect. Someone I really thought I could stay out with. She leaned in to kiss me at the end of our date and your face flashed in front of my eyes and I ran. Got back to my apartment packed all my things and left for home. It took me a few days to drive there. I didn't know what I was going to do because I was so afraid of what Mal might do when she found me. I had got as far as here Allensville and decided I would stay here the night before heading to Storybrooke in the morning. When I got up the next morning I headed to a local diner and got talking to the woman their named Granny who you met at the homework club. After talking to each other for a bit she told me they were looking for someone to take over running it. Thinking up programs and things like that for the kids. I thought it sounded like an amazing job, so I went to speak to Archie about it. It is run by Archie's parent's money. They left it for the town, so he hired me on the spot. I was so shocked. I went to visit my mom and told her everything. She had Evie now too, so I just wanted to be closer to them. I had managed to sneak back a few times to see them. I never used to leave the house when I was there it was strictly to see my mom or then to see my mom and Evie," Emma says as her eyes glaze at the thoughts of those years she spent running away from Regina's memory. Regina takes her hand in her own and brings it to her lips. A small tear falls from brown eyes as she thinks of Emma wandering around the country alone because of Mal. Anger starts to build up in her.

"I am so sorry you had to do all that," Regina says.

"Not yours to say sorry for. To keep my mom and Evie safe I had to. I couldn't take the risk. I wasn't sure what she was capable of," Emma says. Regina is about to speak when her phone rings and who could it be, but Mal. Regina shows Emma the phone and she immediately tenses. Regina grabs Emma's hand and interlocks their fingers.

"Don't worry, I won't say anything," Regina says.

"Hello," Regina says to the phone.

"Regina hi. I couldn't reach you last night is everything ok?" Mal asks.

"Yes, Mal everything is fine," Regina says. She is being polite to her but only because she doesn't want Mal to know that Emma is there and because she wants to not spook Mal. She wants revenge for what Mal did and she will get it. Emma is nervous.

"I was just wondering if you want to get dinner this evening with me," Mal says. Mal has been worried ever since the tour in Allensville at the reappearance of the little swan. She feels Regina has pulled away a bit. She was glued to her phone a lot lately and Mal was being to think it was because she was in contact with Emma, but she had no proof. Regina was very particular about her private phone.

"No thanks Mal," Regina states.

"Oh," Mal says taken back by Regina's response. Normally if Regina wouldn't meet her, she would give a reason.

"Any reason why?" Mal questions

"I just feel there has been a lot going on with the campaign lately, so I wanted to take a few days for myself to recharge," Regina says, she is becoming irritated at even being fake nice to Mal.

"oh, you never said you were under pressure. Normally you talk to me about these things," Mal says trying to prod for information. In reality, Regina wasn't as close to Mal as Mal thought. Yes, Regina considered her a friend. Never anything more. She found Mal to be a negative person and often found herself wanting a break from Mal. She never told Mal too much as she sometimes felt Mal was a gossip.

"No Mal normally I don't talk about these things and I am not under pressure. I am just having a few days break. I would like to get back to enjoying that now and I would appreciate it if you could leave me to it. I have cancelled all my appointments for Monday also. I will be back to work Tuesday morning so until then Mal goodbye," Regina says as she hung up the phone. Emma sat there impressed and open mouthed, but she was also worried. She feared that Mal would tell Ingrid's ex where they were.

"Emma, we need to talk about what we are going to do about Mal. I know you are afraid, but I am not going to let her threaten you in this way. I have been thinking a lot about this. I want you to come to Storybrooke with me this evening. I want you to come and talk to my parents with me. Daddy is used to this kind of thing and with him being a former lawyer he can help, and Mother knows what Mal's parents are like and she can be very cunning. I don't want you to tell Ingrid because the last thing we need it for her to get scared," Regina says squeezing Emma's hand that she hadn't let go of.

"Oh, Regina I don't know about that," Emma says.

"What if Mal sends him the information now and he arrives tonight when I am not here," Emma is scrambling now. Protecting her mother and Evie is so important to her right now.

"I have a plan for that. I received a relaxing spa treatment night in a hotel in Storybrooke off my parent's trying to get me to relax. How about we give that to Ingrid and we take Evie to my parents' house," Regina says.

Emma is thinking. Everyone would be safe for now at least in doing it this way plus her mom could do with a break. She had been working long house lately to save money for Christmas which wasn't that far away.

"Ok Regina, I trust you," Emma says. Regina's heart skips a beat to know that she has Emma's trust back already.

They collect Evie off the swings and head for ice cream. When they get home Ingrid willingly agrees to take the spa treatment day offered as she loves to get pampered though it doesn't happen in this luxurious setting too often. So off they head to Storybrooke. Emma is incredibly nervous in case they bump into Mal. Regina holds Emma's hands the whole way there.

They arrive outside Regina's parents house. She pulls the car into the garage and closes it to help Emma not be so nervous about being seen. As soon as they hit the welcome to Storybrooke sign Emma had slid further down in the seat so as not to be seen.

As soon as they walk into the house Cora and Henry are waiting there for them.

"Emma Swan, it is so wonderful to see you," Cora says as she sweeps Emma into a hug.

"Emma darling. You look wonderful," Henry says as he too gives her a hug.

"Hi Evie," says Cora, "I have some cookies in the kitchen for you."

"Are they the ones you make yourself Auntie Cora," Evie says. Evie has met both Henry and Cora on many occasions as Ingrid often brought Evie to Storybrooke with her.

"Well of course my child, what else would I serve you Evie," Cora says in a mockingly offended manner.

"I also have a movie ready for you too in the living room," Cora says. Regina had told her parents that she needed to talk to them immediately when she got home.

They all move to the office. They can feel the tension radiating off Emma. Regina tells them the story of what happened and they both sit there flabbergasted. Cora knew Mal was a piece of work she just didn't realise the piece of work had been made by Lucifer himself.

"Emma, I can't believe what she has put you through," Henry states "but you know you could've come to me. I would've helped you.

Emma has tears coming down her face as she nods as Henry pulls her into a hug. Regina is crying now too.

"We need to come up with a plan to get Mal to show her true colours," Cora says.

"She needs to be behind bars," Henry adds.

"Her having that information is good. If we can prove she has it, she stole it from her father. She is also putting a witness in danger," Henry further comments.

"I got rid of the photo she gave me years ago," Emma says, "I didn't want my mother to find it."

"I have a plan," Cora says "but we will need to tell Ingrid what is going on for her safety. I want you and Regina to start going out and about in Storeybrook don't be afraid to show her that you are now back together.

Emma's mouth is on the floor as she leaps to protest.

"Let me finish please Emma," Cora says while looking at Emma with a gentle yet confident look.

"As I was saying let her know you are back together. Which you are correct?" Cora says with a smirk.

"Mother seriously! Right now?" Regina says.

"Yes dear! Right now! I am not getting any younger and I would like a grandchild," Cora quips back.

Emma blushes and Regina tells her mother to shut up and get on with the plan.

"In the meantime, Evie will stay here with us. Ingrid can stay with you in Allensville Emma. I have an old friend who runs the police department up there, so I can get him to keep an extra eye on the house for you. When Mal sends that information to Ingrid's ex and we all know she will he will come to the house. When he does, we get him arrested and he goes back to prison. They ask him where he got his information and hopefully, he will give Mal up. Just in case he doesn't we need to get you into a situation where you are alone with Mal that she might threaten you and you can record it. That way we get Ingrid's ex off the street as well as Mal," Cora concludes.

Regina looks impressed by her mother. Emma is not so sure. She doesn't want to get Ingrid in the firing line of all of this, but they need to appear as normal as possible at home in order to draw out the ex-husband. Henry agrees with Cora' s plan as it will take two criminals off the streets.

Cora goes and sits by Emma and takes her hand. Regina is the other side of her.

"Emma its high time you realise you are not in this alone. We are your family. We love you dearly. We have missed you so very much, maybe some of us more than others," she says which causes Regina to duck her head and blush "but now that we have you back, we aren't going to let you go that easily."

Regina squeezes her hand and pulls it towards her lips.

"Ok let's do it," Emma says as she looks into Cora's eyes and sees that fiery determination that Mal is going to pay for what she has done to Emma.