Chapter Fifty: Stay
Emma was in front of the stove flipping the bacon on the pan. Little bits of bacon fat jumped from the pan to her arm and Emma shook her arm in the air to get rid of the pain. She moved to the side to chop the green onions while the other side of the bacon was frying. The house had a wonderful aroma of fresh coffee, butter, and smoky bacon and Emma couldn't help to breathe in all the aromas in the air. She would definitely have to crack a window open later, to get rid of all the smells, but not now.
Emma turned off the stove, as the bacon got ready. She took a plate with a paper towel and removed them from the pan with tongues, shaking it a little to get rid of the excess oil before putting it on the plate. When she finished fishing the bacon slices, Emma took the green onions and spread them on top of the eggs.
"Emma?" Elsa's surprised voice said behind her "What are you doing here?"
"Morning, Els" Emma smiled "Sit, I made my specialty"
"What's going on?" Emma asked sitting by the counter "Shouldn't you be on your way to California"
"I'm not leaving," Emma said "I changed my mind"
"Why?" Elsa asked "Don't get me wrong, I love that you are here but…I thought you were sure"
"I was," Emma said making a plate "But something happened last night. Something that opened my eyes"
"What you mean?"
"I ran into Regina," Emma said putting the plate in front of Elsa "And she accused me of running away from my problems instead of dealing with the mess I made"
"Oh!" Elsa exclaimed.
"She's right you know?" Emma said as she moved to the coffee machine "This is what I do. I run away. The second things get tough, I run away. I've been doing this my whole life"
"So, you are staying because of Regina?" Elsa asked taking the cup of coffee from Emma's hand.
"I'm staying because of me," Emma said "Storybrooke is my home. This was the first place I made roots, real roots. I want to stay, Elsa"
"And what about Regina?" Elsa asked sipping her coffee.
"I'll fight for her" Emma said seriously "I was running away instead of fighting for the woman I love, Elsa. In a way, I guess that was what she meant last night. I want to fight for her and I want to fight for her in the right way"
"And how are you going to do that?"
"By showing her that she can trust me again. That I'm here to stay, that I'm not fleeting," Emma said seriously "By showing her that I have changed"
"And if at the end of the day she still doesn't want you back?" Elsa asked.
"Then I'll have my heartbroken," Emma said "But I'll move on and wish she can find happiness again, even if it's not with me"
"Are you sure you will be okay with that?" Elsa asked "I mean, you were leaving because you couldn't handle seeing her with someone else"
"I know," Emma nodded "But I can see how wrong I was now, Els. I believe I can see things more clearly now"
"Look at you," Elsa said making a loving face "My little girl is all grown up"
"Yeah," Emma laughed "And it only took me losing the woman I love"
"Hey, don't be bitter. You two love each other, anyone with eyes can see that" Elsa said and took a mouthful of eggs "God, these are delicious. You are getting pretty good at this breakfast thing"
"Well, when it's the only thing you can cook, you better do it with perfection"
Emma laughed and fixed herself a plate with all the breakfast food she made and sat down next to Elsa to eat.
After breakfast, Emma decided to stop by the Sheriff's Station. She had the weekend off, but there were a few reports that she needed to signed and two more she still needed to fill up, and since she had the whole weekend with nothing to do, Emma thought it was better if she could just get them out of the way before her shift on Monday.
It was past ten in the morning when Emma entered the Sheriff's Station that morning. She saw David up behind his desk putting his gun in the holster before looking surprised at her.
"Emma! What are you doing here?" David asked, "I thought you were off!"
"I am," Emma said "I just came to finish a couple of reports. What's going on?"
"Just got a call from Regina's stables," David said "Apparently someone broke into her office"
"WHAT?" Emma asked eyes widened "Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she wasn't there when it happened. I'm gonna go there now to check it out" David said "Do you want to come?"
"Not going wasn't an option, so yes! I'm going with you" Emma said already leaving the office "I'll drive"
David jogged after Emma and threw her the keys when they arrived outside. Emma quickly made her way inside the cruiser and soon they were driving, not as fast as Emma would want to, in the direction of Regina's stable. Emma's brain was a tornado of thoughts on the whole way there. Was Regina really okay? God, what if she had been there when this person broke into her office? What if something serious had happened to her? What if she had been attacked? Emma shook her head and tried to will the thoughts out of her brain. She was fine. She was okay. David had said so himself. Emma hit the gas a little more strongly. Thank God she hadn't gone to California this morning.
Emma parked the Sheriff's cruiser in the familiar area for guests in the stables parking lot. She clicked the button to get rid of the seatbelt and opened the door. It had been so long since she was last there, that for a second, Emma froze thinking about all the wonderful memories she had shared with Regina in that place. Not very far from there, was the place where they had their second date. The place where they said I love you to each other for the first time.
"Emma? Are you coming?" David asked next to her.
"Yep" Emma shook her head.
David walked beside Emma while they made their way down to Regina's office. She knew the area well and quickly made her way to the administrative building. She spotted Regina, long before she arrived at the building. She was standing next to Robin chatting and curious enough, Emma didn't feel that jolt of jealousy she usually did every time she was Regina with him. She still didn't like him, not at all, but that uncontrollable feeling of wanting to get Regina away from him was gone and Emma smiled to herself. She guesses therapy was working.
Regina looked surprised at Emma when she stood next to her. Her eyes were a mix of surprise, confusion, and something else that Emma couldn't quite put her finger on. Emma took a quick look at Regina to make she really was okay and that nothing had happened to her. From what she could see, Regina was just fine and Emma felt her heart calm a little inside her chest.
"So, what happened?" David asked.
Regina moved her eyes from Emma to David before answering him.
"When I arrived this morning, my office was a complete mess," Regina said "You'll see that my papers and files are thrown everywhere along with the furniture. It looks like a tornado passed through that office"
"Was there anything missing?" Emma asked.
"Hard to tell. From what I can see no, I don't keep anything valuable in my office"
"Can we look?" David asked.
"Sure! Go ahead, the door is open"
David started to walk with Robin beside him, but Regina didn't. She stayed behind and Emma did the same. She wanted to make sure Regina really was okay, that she didn't encounter the people who broke into her office. Emma's heart was a mess of emotions, she was worried about Regina as she was seeing that she was okay. That no harm came to her. Emma didn't even want to think about what she would do if something had happened to her.
"You stayed," Regina said pulling Emma out of her thoughts.
"I did" Emma nodded looking into Regina's eyes.
"For good?" Regina asked.
"This is my home" Emma softly smiled at her.
"Good" Regina nodded "I'm glad you are here, Emma"
Regina smiled softly at Emma and started to walk towards the office. Emma watched her go for a little while, her heart already pounding inside her chest. How could Regina do that? All it was a simple smile for Emma's heart dance inside her chest and butterflies fly in her stomach. Emma shook her head and walked after Regina. Was this feeling ever going to go away? Emma didn't know if the answer was yes or no.
Emma came into the office and was completely impressed, and not in a good way. The place was a mess! Regina's description from a few minutes ago didn't do this place any justice. There were papers and books everywhere on the floor. The furniture was all thrown on the floor including Regina's wood desk. That didn't look like the sort of thing who was looking for something valuable at all.
"I can't tell if anything is missing or not just yet," Regina said, "I thought it was best to call the police before starting to put everything in order again"
"Did you check the security cameras yet?" Emma asked.
"I did," Robin said "But the images are all black"
"Were they disconnected?" Emma asked.
"No, they were painted black," Regina said.
"Painted black?" Emma asked.
"Yes, here I'll show you," Robin said walking outside. Emma followed him and they both stopped looking up the camera in front of Regina's office "See? The lens is black"
"Yeah, I can see it," Emma said "David, come out here"
"What's up, Sheriff?" David asked a few seconds later.
"Call the station. I want forensic here, taking pictures of the office and the camera" Emma said and looked at Robin "Do you know if any other cameras were adulterated?"
"We didn't check all of them because the system was down, but Big John and I found the same paint in the parking lot Camera," Robin said.
"You didn't tell me that," Regina said arms crossed.
"It happened a few minutes before the Sheriff arrived," Robin said back.
"Okay" Emma nodded and looked at David "I want forensic here and I want a vehicle with two offices watching the place"
"What are you thinking?" David asked.
"It could be nothing. It's probably just a robbery, but I want to be sure" Emma said "Most punks in town don't elaborate as much as painting the cameras"
"You don't think it's something serious, do you?" Regina asked.
"I hope not," Emma said softly "But it's better to be sure. Can you give me your surveillance company information? I need to call them and find out why you weren't informed that the cameras weren't working"
"Yes, of course," Regina said "I just need a little more time…"
"You can call the station or even text me if you want," Emma said interrupting her.
"Thanks, Emma," Regina said back.
"Are you okay?" Emma said gently putting her hand on Regina's arm.
She half expected Regina to flinch and was already preparing herself for the pain of rejection that never came.
"Yes!" Regina looked at Emma "I mean, I think I am. I thought it was just some kids messing around, but the cameras are weird, aren't they?"
"A little, yes," Emma said "But it could still be just kids. Once I have access to the security cameras, we'll find out who did this"
"I'll send you the information this afternoon," Regina said "I have a copy of everything in my office back home"
"Okay," Emma nodded, pulling her arm away "Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm okay" Regina smiled softly at her.
"Good" Emma smiled back "I need to interview your staff, are you okay with that?"
"Yes, of course," Regina said "But why?"
"I just need to ask a few questions, you know? See if anyone saw anything different, this kind of thing"
"Oh, ah...Yeah, sure" Regina said "Yes, be my guest"
"Thanks,"
Emma nodded and walked away from Regina. She found David ending a call to the station and he informed her that the team was on their way. They walked around the stables, interviewing the staff, but the answers were all the same. Nobody saw anything suspicious. Emma guessed this person acted at the late hours of the night, and the place was simply too big for the night shift guards to cover everything.
When the rest of the team arrived, Emma's job was already done. The forensic team was taking pictures of the office and cameras and Emma instructed the guards to work on shifts to protect the stables. She requested two offices to be at Regina's administrative building and two others protecting the main entrance. Somehow, she doubted the intruder was going to come back again tonight, but Emma didn't want to take any chance.
Back at the station, Regina called to give Emma all the security camera information. Emma spent hours on the phone with the service manager since Regina's login only gave her access to live-action of the cameras, but not what was recorded before. It took Emma a while, but the manager promised to send her all the data for the past month by Monday. Something about the break-in didn't feel right to Emma.
Emma called Archie later that day to let him know she wasn't going to move to California. He was surprised to hear that but happy that Emma would remain as his patient. They schedule a session for Monday night and Emma was actually excited if not eager for it. Seeing Regina talking to Robin today and don't feel the rage, the feeling of possession she often did when he was closer to her, felt really good and Emma wanted to work on herself to get rid of the bonds that held her.
She finished her reports and everything else she had gone to the Station that morning to do. There was nothing left to do on Regina's case for now, at least not until she got access to previous security tapes. Emma rose from the chair and took her jacket from the back of the chair. She walked out of the station and then drove the bug back to the loft. When she entered, Elsa was home, making lasagna for dinner. Her lasagna was so different from Regina as Regina usually used Bolognese sauce while Elsa usually used white buttery sauce only. In the past, Emma would say Regina's lasagna was the best but now she has learned to appreciate both. It wasn't a competition. They were both uniquely delicious.
Emma told Emma about the break-in in Regina's office while she was cooking. Elsa was drinking a glass of wine, but Emma opted for a glass of water. Elsa was shocked, by what happened and told Emma she was going to call Regina later to make sure she was okay and ask if she needed anything. Emma smiled at Emma and thought how lucky she was for having such a kind soul as her best friend. They ended the night eating Elsa's delicious lasagna while watching a brand-new episode of their favorite show. Emma enjoyed every bite and appreciated every laugh because this was exactly what she wanted her life to be again. Happy.