Chapter 12

As Regina was squeezing Emma's hand in fear, Emma started to walk forward while pushing Regina softly behind her so Robin couldn't shoot point blank at her. He would have to go through Emma first in order to get to Regina and Robin noticed this. Robin didn't seem to care. He held the gun point blank at Emma's chest and Emma knew he was about to pull the trigger. Though, before he could pull the trigger, Regina walked to the side of Emma so she was no longer standing behind her. Emma noticed Regina was saying something to Robin. Emma couldn't understand what was being said and she silently cursed her luck. She felt so helpless. As Regina's lips stopped moving, Emma noticed Robin now speaking. Yet Emma still didn't know what the hell was being said and this made her anxious. She felt so out of the loop and she didn't like this one bit.

When Robin was still saying stuff that Emma couldn't understand, Emma noticed a car pull up in the driveway but not so close to where Robin noticed. Emma didn't recognize this car and she couldn't see who the person in the car was though, as soon as this person got out of the car, she noticed it was Zelena. Emma then noticed that Henry was in that car. Henry must've forgotten something for school and now this started to scare Emma even more. She didn't want Henry involved in this.

Robin still didn't notice how Zelena and Henry were behind them. Emma then looked over to Regina and saw Regina was still talking to Robin, but this time she saw Regina's facial expressions go from fear to concern, for now it was not just their lives that were in danger, but Zelena's and Henry's too. Emma could see Regina's body language and it wasn't reassuring in any way. Regina was still holding Emma's hand and she was still squeezing it hand.

Emma then looked back over to Robin who was now saying something heatedly. She still didn't understand and then she looked at Zelena. Emma noticed Zelena had her phone in her hand and she was calling someone. Emma wondered if Robin could hear Zelena in any way and she desperately hoped he couldn't hear her. Emma now saw Zelena say something over the phone and right as that happened, Robin looked behind him and saw Zelena. Now Emma was sure he heard her and since Henry was still in the car, this wasn't good. Emma started noticing Zelena putting her phone in her pocket now and saying something. Robin raised the gun and pointed it at Zelena. Regina dropped Emma's hand and started walking in Robin's direction. Emma didn't know what was going on and she felt desperate, but a few moments later, police showed up at Regina's place.

Emma could see all the siren lights and police cars all around. The police got out of their cars and aimed their guns at Robin. Emma knew that the police were telling Robin to put down his gun. She wasn't stupid. Although, now Emma saw Robin quickly turn around to face Regina and tried shooting her while he shouted something. Right before he could fully pull the trigger, all the police officers shot Robin at point-blank and Robin fell to the ground all bloody. Emma knew he wasn't going to survive that. Robin was dead almost instantly and Regina and Emma just watched it happen with their very own eyes. The moment was too surreal. They were in shock. They stood there, wide eyed and frozen. Neither one of them said anything. Two police officers approached them to ask if they were doing ok. Emma felt in a haze. She went through this ordeal isolated, trying to imagine what was being said. She knew Regina would look out for her, she read that on her eyes as soon as they were facing Robin's gun. But deep down she wished she could have done more to protect Regina, Zelena and Henry. If only she knew what was being discussed, what Robin was demanding from Regina.

Emma never went to school that day like she was planning to do and Regina never went into work either. Instead, they stayed at Regina's place all day answering the questions the police were asking. They had to write everything down for Emma to understand because the police station's interpreter was on sick leave that day and couldn't help with the case. Emma knew that nothing would ever be the same again after that day. She feared that this experience might change Regina in some way or even traumatize her. Hell, she was traumatized about it herself and she didn't really know what to do from here on.

The police made Zelena and Henry stay home with Emma and Regina as well. They brought in a child's psychologist to evaluate Henry, just to make sure he was fine. The whole house was full of police officers and it wasn't until a few hours later that the police finally left. They had taken Robin's body and put him in a body bag not too long ago and everyone was sitting in silence and only talked whenever the police had asked questions.

After the police had all finally got everything they needed, they left the house leaving Zelena, Henry, Regina and Emma alone. Henry didn't see Robin get killed because he had ducked down in the car upon Zelena's demand. Regina was very thankful for that and Emma could see it. Zelena then took Henry up to his room to play video games with him to distract him and get his mind off of what just happened. Emma could see that Henry didn't understand most of what was going on but she was thankful that he was no longer in harm's way.

After a moment of prolonged silence, Emma turned and looked at Regina as they were sitting on the couch. She put her hand over Regina's trying to give her comfort in some way. Regina then looked at Emma still troubled by what had happened, but with pure affection in her eyes. Emma knew that Regina could tell that she was only trying to help. Regina then pulled Emma in for a hug and started crying hysterically in her arms. Emma just held her tight as she cried. Once Regina started calming down, she pulled back and looked up into Emma's eyes. Regina's eyes still red and teary from crying. Regina then pulled Emma in for a kiss and Emma kissed her back passionately. After they pulled away, Regina sighed and hugged Emma tightly once more and Emma hugged Regina back just as tightly.

Emma never went home that day or that night. She stayed with Regina that night as well as the next night. She never got her hearing aids charger to charge her hearing aids and instead, she stayed with Regina just keeping her company and comforting her, making sure she knew she was safe and loved. Zelena never went home either. She stayed with them and made sure Henry and Regina felt safe.

As the next morning came around it was now Thursday. Emma woke up to Regina's hand brushing her hair softly again. It was 5 AM again which meant Regina's alarm had gone off and woke Regina up. Regina had turned off her alarm the last two days. Today, they both had no choice but to go to school. Regina had to work and Emma had to go to classes in order for her to not fail this college year. Missing two days of school was bad enough and now Emma would have to make up for what she missed from her English class yesterday and her math and science class the day before. Although to be honest, Emma didn't care. Regina needed her more and she definitely wasn't going to just leave her after what had just happened.

As Regina got up and out of bed, she grabbed her phone from the charger and started texting away. Once she was done texting, Emma's phone buzzed with a text message. Regina had let Emma borrow an extra phone cord she had for her phone that night so her phone didn't die. Regina knew that Emma hadn't charged her phone the previous night, an omission she also made, because they both were in a hurry to get upstairs and make love to each other instead. So, after Emma grabbed her phone from the charger, she read the text.

"Thank you so much for staying another two nights with me Emma! I appreciate it. I didn't want to sleep alone after what happened the other day. Although, today I can't miss work again and you can't miss school either. You have my class today. Remember? So if I have to go, you're going to. I will drive you. You can wear one of my dresses again after we both take a shower together. How does that sound?"

After Emma read that text message, she looked up at Regina.

"There isn't any way I could ever miss your class. I need to pass your class in order to graduate with my Arts degree. Remember? Plus, it's your class, which means I don't have to entirely leave you yet and personally, I don't want to leave you. I love you, Regina."

Regina then smiled softly at Emma and grabbed Emma's phone. She put it back on the desk where Emma had originally put it by the bed. She then grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her off the bed. Regina then hugged Emma tightly for a few moments while kissing her on the lips. Emma could tell that Regina was happy again. She could tell that Regina was no longer scared for her life like she was two days prior and Emma was very thankful for this.

Emma and Regina both took a shower together and they both got dressed in the room afterwards. Emma was enjoying these morning routines and how easily she had slipped into it in just two days. Regina fixed her makeup and so did Emma. Emma then grabbed her hearing aids from the dresser and put them in her ears. Both hearing aids were dead but Emma put them on out of habit. Besides, she couldn't just leave them on Regina's dresser. Once Emma's hearing aids were in her ears, Emma looked at Regina.

"My hearing aids are still dead. Is it okay if we stop by my place like we were going to do the other day so I can grab my hearing aids charger? I can charge them with the portable charger you lend me. It's still in my purse. I put it there before walking out the door the other day. Plus, I also need my backpack for school as well." said Emma verbally.

Emma then saw Regina grab her phone from the dresser where she left it and started typing away. After a few moments, Emma's phone buzzed and Emma quickly read it.

"That is fine. Let's go downstairs and eat breakfast with Henry and Zelena. I know they're both up by now and they are probably in the kitchen eating already."

After Emma read that text, she nodded in understanding and followed Regina downstairs to the kitchen. Once again Emma didn't want to eat breakfast, but after what had happened with Robin,, she wasn't going to tell Regina this. Emma just sucked it up and ate breakfast with Regina, Henry and Zelena and after they were all done eating, Zelena left with Henry to take him to school leaving Regina and Emma alone just like yesterday.

As Regina grabbed her things, Emma followed Regina out of the kitchen and to the front door. Emma's purse was on the mini table by the door where she had put it after coming back inside to talk to the police yesterday. Emma then grabbed her purse and waited for Regina to open the door. Regina put one hand on the door knob and then paused. Emma could sense something was wrong. She could see Regina drifting somewhere else in her mind. Emma then took her left hand and cupped Regina's right side of her face and looked into Regina's eyes.

"It's going to be okay. We can get through this. Together. It'll just take time." said Emma verbally.

Regina then shook her head yes but she looked worried. Emma knew that it might take some time for Regina to finally be at an okay stage from what had happened, but she also knew that no matter what she would be there with her and for her. Regina then looked back to the door and opened it slowly and ushered Emma out the door as she followed and locked the door behind her. As they both started walking to Regina's car, Regina held Emma's hand again until they had no choice but to part so Emma could get in the passenger side of the car. Regina got in and closed her eyes for a few seconds before she took a deep breath and started the engine. She then pulled out of the driveway and they drove in silence for what felt like an eternity. Emma wouldn't have been able to hear Regina if she talked anyway so she understood the silence. Even if her hearing aids had been charged she still would have given Regina her space to keep processing yesterday's tragic event.

As she drove into Emma's apartment complex and parked, Emma asked Regina if she wanted to come in with her to get her backpack and hearing aids charger so Regina wouldn't be out here alone. Emma didn't want to leave Regina alone now and she was pretty sure that Regina didn't wanna be left alone then got her phone out of her pocket and started typing away and after a few seconds, Emma's phone buzzed with a text message.

"Yes, I would like to come with you. Thank you for asking me and for not leaving me alone as you go to retrieve your things for school."

After Emma read that text, she then looked at Regina.

"There is no way I would ever just leave you alone now. Especially after with what just happened." said Emma verbally.

Emma then looked at her phone to check the time and the screen read 7:00 AM. She then looked at Regina again.

"Your class starts in one hour. We should probably go grab my things now so we can get to the school on time. I will help you write whatever you need me to write on the board today to tell the class what we need to do like I usually do. How's that sound?" said Emma.

Regina shook her head yes and Emma knew that she agreed. As both of them got out of the car and walked up to Emma's apartment door, Emma unlocked the door and walked inside. Regina followed close behind her. Once inside, Emma shut the door and put her purse on the coat rack and walked to her bedroom. Regina still following behind her. Emma grabbed her hearing aids charger and then took both hearing aids out of her ears and put them on the charger. Emma disconnected the charger case from the wall so she could hook it up to the portable charger Regina had given her. Emma then grabbed her backpack and put it over her shoulder and started to walk back out to the living room to the front door. She took the portable charger that Regina gave her out of her purse and plugged it into the hearing aids case charger with her cord.

Now that Emma's hearing aids were charging, she put them away along with the portable charger in her backpack, before heading out the door of her apartment and locking the door with Regina behind her as they both walked back to Regina's car. Emma grabbed Regina's hand as they walked back to her car and Emma could see that taking her hand made Regina feel more at ease and safe.

As they both got into the car and Regina started driving off to the school campus, they both drove in silence again. Emma reflected on the fact that Regina had been truly honest when she said that she didn't care if people saw them together. She could have easily asked her to take her own car to school when they got to her apartment. But she didn't suggest it, she didn't mention it, and they were heading to school in Regina's car. When they got to the school campus parking lot, they parked close to the entrance and got out of the car together. Some of the students were out in the parking lot when they arrived and they saw Emma get out of Regina's car. Emma could see these student's jaw drop in disbelief and when Regina took Emma's hand as they started walking inside the school together, Emma could tell that Regina really didn't care who saw them together anymore. Emma wondered if Regina was really going to quit teaching now, since she was so public about them being together now. Emma knew that Regina didn't really wanna teach so this made Emma think.

As they got to Regina's classroom, they both walked in after Regina unlocked her classroom door with the key. Emma put her stuff at her usual seat as Regina went to her desk and sat down. Emma noticed that Regina started looking through her papers and after a few moments, she pulled a piece of paper out and put it on her desk. Then Regina took out her phone from her pocket and started typing away and after a while, Emma's phone went off. Emma was now in front of Regina's desk when her phone buzzed. Emma pulled her phone out of her pocket and read the text.

"I had already written down everyone's assignment for today on this piece of paper here on my desk. Would you please take this paper and copy what is on it onto the board?"

After Emma read that text, she then looked at Regina and nodded. Emma put her phone back in her pocket and grabbed the paper from Regina's desk and started copying what was written on it on the board. It took Emma about 30 minutes to transcribe what was written on the paper to the board but after she was finished, she put the marker down and went back over to Regina's desk. She put the paper absent-mindedly down on her desk. Emma was practically sitting on Regina's desk as she waited for Regina to tell her what to do next. As Regina was writing something down on another piece of paper, Emma started thinking about what happened two days ago with Robin. Emma wondered what Robin had said to Regina and what Regina said to him. She also wondered what Zelena had said to him. Although Emma really wanted to know what was said, she didn't want to bring Regina back into that dark place again so she didn't bother to ask.

After Regina was done writing whatever it was that she was writing, she then looked up to Emma who was sitting on her desk next to her. Regina then stood up from her desk and walked closer to Emma. There faces practically touching. Regina looked into Emma's eyes for a few moments before pulling her in for a kiss and Emma didn't object. She kissed Regina back passionately and once they broke for air, Emma could see how Regina's facial expression became more at ease and more loving. She didn't look afraid that students would find them kissing. She didn't seem to care at all, which made Emma start thinking yet again about what Regina had said, was she really going to quit teaching? Though, Emma didn't bother to ask. She figured that Regina would tell her in her own time if she decided to quit.

While Emma and Regina were looking into each other's eyes, students started piling inside the classroom little by little. Regina then pulled away from Emma and sat at her desk. Emma went to go sit at her usual seat and waited for everyone to get into the classroom for Regina to start teaching and once the class was complete, Regina began her lesson. Since Emma had written the lesson on the board, she already knew what to do so she didn't pay too much attention to the interpreter when Regina was speaking. She focused more on Regina than the interpreter. She was just staring at her and Emma knew that the interpreter noticed this, though she still kept interpreting knowing that it was still her job.

Once Regina was done teaching, everyone focused on getting their assignments done. Emma then started her assignment and once she was done, she noticed that the class was almost over. She had just 5 minutes before class ended and once it finally did, everyone in the classroom left, leaving only Regina, Emma and the interpreter. Emma told the interpreter that she was alright and that she no longer needed her to interpret anything else since class was finished. And so the interpreter went on her way out of the classroom leaving just Regina and Emma alone.

Emma then got up from her seat and put her things back into her backpack and took her assignment to Regina at her desk. Regina took Emma's assignment and put it with everyone else's assignment in a pile on her desk for her to grade later on. Although, just as Regina grabbed her phone to text Emma something, some of the school board members walked into Regina's classroom and walked up to Regina and Emma. Emma had no idea who these people were. She had never seen them before. Emma noticed them saying something to Regina and Regina looking very confused. They ushered Regina out of the classroom leaving Emma behind, which Emma thought was very weird and she didn't understand what was going on. Emma then started to follow Regina and the other people out of the classroom door and to wherever they were taking Regina they stopped Emma and told her to stop following them. Emma didn't understand what was said so Emma didn't listen and started following them again.

Again, Emma was stopped and this time the person who stopped her shook her head no. Emma now understood that she wasn't allowed to follow them, but she also didn't understand what was going on. As they all disappeared into the distance and out of sight, Emma began to panic and then suddenly her phone buzzed with a text. Emma grabbed her phone out of her pocket and looked at her phone. Regina had texted her. Emma quickly read the text still panicking as to what had just happened.

"Don't panic Emma. These people are also members of the board. They told me that I have to go with them but they didn't tell me why. I'm guessing it's because I didn't care who saw us together anymore. Please wait for me inside my classroom. I will be there shortly and we can leave. I will tell you everything that is going on after I find out myself. I will see you soon. Please don't go anywhere."

After Emma read that text, she then walked back into Regina's classroom and waited for her. She didn't know what was going on but she had a bad feeling that it was something bad, but yet Emma also had this feeling that it was also something good. Emma didn't really understand why she felt this way. Though, no matter what was going on, Emma had no choice but to wait for Regina's return.