The door closed quietly, the soft click reverberating down the long hallway. I stood, the sound of my own breathing echoing in my ears; a stunned, pulsing silence all around me.

My hand lingered, my grasp tightening around the cool metal as if it was my last link to her.

I couldn't bring myself to let go.

With a pained sigh, I finally loosened my hand, watching my fingers fall away and my arm drop heavily to my side. I couldn't seem to move. I wished more than anything that I could take it all back and still be standing beside her. I ached for her with an intensity I'd never felt before, as if I'd left a piece of myself on the other side of the door.

Reluctantly pushing away, I turned toward the elevator, surprised my feet could even move from the spot. In all the time that we had been together, she'd never turned me away. Even at the worst of times, when we did nothing but try to tear each other apart, she'd never said no.

And I'd never felt this empty.

I managed to make it to my car, ignoring faces and voices as I passed. My hand fumbled with the handle of the shiny black Porsche. The action usually gave me an adrenaline rush; now I longed only for the impending comfort as it sheltered me behind its dark, tinted glass.

Leaning my head back against the leather seat, my fists clenched painfully at my side, I stared unseeingly at the sunroof above me. The darkening sky and emerging stars did not register in my mind; my focus still lingered on t he woman sixteen floors above me, her red eyes and broken expression burned forever in my vision.

A break in the numbness appeared and my fist collided with the steering wheel.

The pain shooting up my arm was a welcome reprieve from the almost suffocating weight that had settled inside my chest.

I flexed my fingers and inspected the damage, wincing at my stupidity.

Closing my eyes, I attempted to fill my lungs. I breathed in deeply, but the smell of Regina surrounded me and my chest expanded painfully. Suddenly the acute feeling of her all around me and inside my head overwhelmed me, the pain in my hand fading to a dull, throbbing ache.

It will be okay. It has to be okay.

I repeated the words in a rhythmic loop in my mind, clinging to them as if wanting it enough could bring it to fruition.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, the sound of the low buzz both startling and irritating me. I exhaled deeply, clenching my jaw and trying to halt any hope I had that it could be her. I peered at it through tired eyes, the disappointment instant although expected as an unrecognized number I'd seen several times today appeared on the caller ID.

Kneading my temples, I clenched my jaw and exhaled forcefully, attempting to quell the rapid agitation I felt at the insistent unknown caller, the situation, myself…fuck, even Regina. I couldn't deal with work right now. Hell, I couldn't deal with anyone right now. Without another thought, I silenced the call and tossed the annoyance onto the seat beside me.

Starting the car, I revved the engine, the soothing hum a momentary and welcome distraction from the empty, hollow feeling that had settled in my stomach. I pressed the clutch and shifted smoothly, forcing myself to focus on the rhythm of changing gears and gentle purring of the machine surrounding me. Driving toward the parking lot exit, I kept my eyes forward, my gaze never wavering to the familiar silver car parked on my right as I passed.

My tires squealed as I turned onto the busy street and I watched in my rear view mirror as the apartment building and the woman it held faded into the distance. I began the familiar drive to my parents' home, knowing that what awaited me there would not be pleasant. I was torn between wanting to get this over with and just wanting to go home and drink myself into a stupor, forgetting this day had ever happened.

Pulling up in front of the large house, I shut off the engine and waited.

The minutes ticked by; the sky grew darker and yet, courage still eluded me.

My father had been furious today - restrained, but furious.

My sister on the other hand… I rubbed my jaw absentmindedly again and winced, remembering her expression of complete disbelief and betrayal when she'd realized that I'd lied to her. Restraint had never been her strong point. It had most certainly eluded her today.

The one person I had yet to deal with was my mother. I looked up at the house, glowing brightly in the fading light, my eyes focusing on the window of the room where I was sure she sat waiting for me.

Knowing I was being a coward, I put my phone in my pocket and climbed out, moving slowly up the illuminated walkway. If I could handle my father, my sister, and Regina angry in one day, I could certainly handle this…I hoped.

Just as I reached the door, it opened.

My father stood waiting for me, an uncharacteristically worn expression on his face. I found myself pondering all the battles he'd had to fight on my behalf today.

"Hey Dad," I said quietly.

"Emma," he replied in greeting, opening the door wider and allowing me to pass.

"Your mother is upstairs waiting for you." I nodded in acknowledgment and made my way to the staircase. My hand ran along the smooth mahogany banister, the wood familiar and comforting under my palm. I reached the third floor and continued down the hall, pausing as I passed the infrequently used door. Unable to turn away, I turned the antique knob, compelled to see it again.

I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door softly behind me, flipping the switch and squinting as the room became bathed in artificial light.

Everything looked as it did that day, minus the sunlight streaming in through the open window, the breeze gently lifting the gauzy curtain, and the woman I loved meeting my gaze in the dressing table mirror.

I remembered how possessive I'd felt that afternoon, how I'd wanted to claim her and mark her as my own. Had I loved her even then? Had she already captured my heart with the same unbreakable hold she'd had on my body?

My fingers traced the phone in my pocket, my desire to give her what she'd asked for-time- battling with my need to stay connected to her.

I slipped the phone out and typed the words haunting my mind.

I still remember the first moment I realized I loved you.

I pressed send without hesitation. I didn't expect her to answer, and I shook my head realizing her phone would most likely be off. Regardless, the simple act of telling her everything, even in small pieces over my phone, afforded me a small bit of comfort.

I turned, placing my hand on the door, and closed my eyes as I remembered roughly pressing her eager body against it.

"You see, he wants something that's mine, and he can't have it."

I recalled how it felt to say those words out loud, how the truth buried in my growl had pulled something primal from inside of me.

"I can do anything I want, Miss. Swan," she'd replied, although I could hear the uncertainty in her voice even then . "And I am not yours."

I smiled in spite of my mood. Was that true? Or had she already belonged to me in the same way that I'd belonged to her? I walked to the table, my fingers running over the small glass bottles placed there, remembering the sound they'd made as I'd taken her against it. I'd been unrelenting, almost cruel as I'd spoken to her.

"Do you want him?" I'd asked roughly as rage began to boil inside me.

"Answer me." Her eyes had borne into mine, her chest heaving, but she didn't speak ."Do you see him?" I'd asked as my hands slid over her breasts. "Look at him." My fingers moved down her abdomen, along her skirt and to her thighs. "Does he make you feel like this?"

I'd taken her with such force, wanting to punish her for tormenting me, for filling my head with images of what I couldn't have.

Now when I thought of the things I'd done… My stomach dropped and a wave of nausea coursed through me as I remembered. Why hadn't I just told her?

Why hadn't I been honest… about everything? My fear of what I'd felt had brought out something cowardly and frightened in me, propelling me to protect any feeling I had. It was so unlike me and yet it defined our entire beginning.

Her words from tonight replayed in my mind.

"I don't want to be the next Elsa. I don't want to be the one you tell the next woman about with no other explanation than 'it just ended'."

I leaned on the table, sitting on the small stool, my eyes closed tightly against the image of her tear stained face. I'd done that… and she was right. She expected me to hide how I felt, because I had. She expected dissemblance and vague answers. How many times had she attempted to ask me? How many times had I shut her down or evaded an answer? I wouldn't make that same mistake again.

I sent another message, praying when she saw it that she'd believe me.

I know I've kept things from you. I'll tell you everything. Please give me the chance.

Taking a deep breath, I stood, steadying myself before I walked to the door.

With my hand on the knob I turned, letting my eyes travel around the room again, silently promising myself that if given the chance, I'd make it right.

Stepping into the hall, I continued toward the music room, the soft notes of a piano drifting through the closed door. I knocked softly and she called for me to enter. I stepped into the room that held so many memories for me throughout my childhood.

My mother sat with her back to me, her fingers moving gracefully over the keys, and even now I was unable to stop the small smile that pulled at the corners of my mouth.

She'd always loved to play, even forcing Ruby and me to take lessons as children. We were terrible.

We would whine and complain until she eventually relented, playing as we built forts and raced Hot Wheels beneath the piano. I still remembered the way we would watch her feet depress the pedals, the way each chord vibrated above our heads.

She paused and turned, silently motioning for me to sit beside her. I walked across the room as she resumed playing, taking a seat on the bench next to her. We sat in silence for several minutes, the notes of the perfectly tuned instrument and her melody the only sound between us. Her playing slowed, drifting into something calm and soft, and I felt her sigh beside me.

"I'm sorry," I breathed as I watched her fingers run along the keys.

"This isn't how I raised you, Emma," she murmured, her voice calm yet ringing with disappointment.

"I know."

"And this has been going on for how long?"

I placed my palms on my thighs, attempting to still the nervous fidgeting.

"Months, weeks…I'm not even sure."

"When Regina was here for dinner?" she asked in a knowing tone.

I grimaced and swallowed. "Yes."

"Hmm."

Her seemingly indifferent reaction took me by surprise, and I tilted my head to see her; my face contorted in frustration as I attempted to decipher her expression.

Her voice remained quiet and controlled. "That explains a few things, I suppose. But not everything. "

"I know," I began, running my fingers through my hair roughly. "I was such an ass to her."

"To be honest, the very first time I met Regina, I fell in love with her. She reminded me so much of you…" she said, her voice wistful and far away for a moment. "But I gave up on that thought the moment I saw the two of you together. It was obvious almost immediately that you two were toxic for each other. Despite my attempts to smooth things over, it seemed as if it only got worse. I never dreamed…" She trailed off again briefly and then sighed. "Like I said, I guess it makes sense now." She shook her head slightly, running her fingers between the black keys.

"I only know what your father has told me." She paused, her fingers stilling mid-movement. "But I want to hear it from you, Emma. Help me understand. How do you feel about her?"

"I love her, Mom. More than anything," I answered immediately. She nodded slowly as she digested my answer.

"And Regina?"

I paused, my eyes downcast, closing as a moment of doubt entered my mind for the first time.

"Yes," I answered softly.

"Yes?" She bent forward to catch my gaze.

"I mean… she did. We've both said it, but…" I trailed off, unable to articulate the fear that had been growing steadily since leaving Regina's apartment.

The room fell into silence as she turned, taking my hand in hers.

"Tell me."

I swallowed and exhaled deeply, focusing on the comfort and warmth of my mother's hand. "I…I haven't been honest about everything, about the way I treated her in the past, about Elsa…" I trailed off, seeing how each mistake trumped the one before it.

"About a lot of things." She waited for me to continue, but what more could I possibly say? I had done so many things wrong, and I had absolutely no idea how I could make it right again.

After a long moment, she drew in a slow, deep breath and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"You know, your father and I have only ever wanted happiness for you and your sister, regardless of who you might find it with. If you struggled with your feelings so much and felt so torn, Emma, I wish you had come talk to me. I wish you had come talk to any of us who know you." Her eyes fell, a pained look returning to her features.

I was reminded again of the pain that I had caused the two most important women in my life by being selfish, and my chest constricted. I began to talk, explaining every detail I could to her: the attraction I'd felt to Regina for so long, the inescapable draw she held for me, the realization in Seattle that I truly loved her, and everything between us that had only deepened since. As good as it felt to finally tell some one about this, voicing everything that I had ever censored with Regina, it still left so many things unfinished; the one person who needed to hear these things was the woman who had been hurt by them the most.

I had no idea how long we sat there talking, or how long we sat in silence afterward before she linked her arm through mine and leaned her head against my shoulder.

"She loves you, Emma. There's not a doubt in my mind about that. But you need to make this right, and I have every faith that you will." Her voice remained quiet, but was now infused with the familiar soft comfort that had always calmed me.

"I don't even know where to start, Mom. I've hurt her so many times; what if this was her breaking point?"

She shook her head, placing her palm on my cheek to meet her gaze.

"Emma, she couldn't stay away from you even when she thought she despised you. Give her some time, and then be the woman your father and I raised you to be. Be honest with her and tell her everything that she deserves to know. Let her make that decision instead of assuming how she will handle it and making it for her. And above all, respect her feelings. She loves you, and you hurt her. Own that."

I nodded slowly as she leaned over and kissed my cheek, taking my hand as we stood to go see my father.

What seemed like hours later, I stepped out into the cool night air and checked my phone, unsurprised that there were no messages. I shook it off and walked to my car. She had asked for time, and I would give it to her, but I wouldn't give up. I pressed the screen and used the illumination it provided to type out yet another message, words I had whispered to her over and over.

Je suis à toi

I am yours.

I pressed send, watching as the message disappeared and the screen darkened again. I swallowed and rubbed my hand against my chest, attempting to dispel the hollow feeling that was slowly returning. I stood in the darkness, my hand on the handle of my car door and looked out into the night. What was she doing right now?

Had she received my messages or were all my pleas and words of love still sitting untouched inside her phone? I hoped it was the latter.

The drive home was long and solitary, the radio off, my phone silent on the seat next to me. I thought back to earlier on the couch, the way she'd felt in my arms, the way I'd needed to have that moment of normalcy with her before we even spoke of anything else. I'd worked myself into a frenzy by the time she'd gotten home, pacing in front of her apartment like some kind of a stalker. I'd realized that even with all that had happened between us we meant to each other, none of her neighbors would even know who I was. I didn't have a key to her apartment, she didn't have a key to mine. Everything seemed so temporary - something I was certainly going to change if given the chance.

I'd noticed immediately that she'd changed out of her ruined dress and into something more comfortable. Her eyes were red, her expression pained and worried. The moment I saw her I couldn't stop myself. The weight I'd been feeling inside my chest disappeared, and I almost ran to her, needing to feel her in my arms.

I sighed in relief, pulling her to me and lifting her nearly off the ground as I just breathed, letting her familiar scent and nearness wash over me.

"I love you," she'd whispered and I closed my eyes, a tremor moving through me as her lips pressed against my neck.

With those three words, she brought me home and everything else fell away.

"Thank you," I'd murmured, my eyes falling to her lips. I pulled her to me and felt her shiver in my arms, so thankful she was still as affected by this as I was.

I waited, wanting to savor the moment, my eyes falling closed as I tasted her breath and felt the perceptible warmth of her lips so close to my own. What if this was the last time I felt this? Would she run when she learned of all that was discussed today? That more people actually knew, that our little secret was in reality not so secret after all. I could see that she sensed my worry as she pulled away. I needed to calm her fears in return. The others had kept quiet; surely it wouldn't be as big an issue as she anticipated. I knew my father and sister didn't agree, but it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things. We were in love. People would see that.

I'd kissed her softly and followed her through the door, moving immediately to the large couch before pulling her down to me.

For a long while, I simply held her, my fingers running along her smooth skin and tangling in her hair.

Her warm hands brushed along my chest and I found myself trying to memorize each and every moment, to burn into my brain how it felt to be with her like this. I'd placed kisses against her hair and tried to quell the worry I couldn't seem to shake.

"Why do you love me?" I'd asked, not really thinking about the words before they'd fallen from my lips. Her answer had been surprising, not merely because of how she viewed me, but more the way she saw herself. Didn't she know that she was the world to me? She held my heart in her hands, and I would never be able to give it to another.

A horn honked behind me, shaking me from my thoughts. I glanced up at the green light and accelerated, traveling the small distance that remained until I was home.

As I pulled into my space and shut off the engine, I reached for my phone again and without a second thought, typed out another message.

Je vais t'aimer toujours

I am going to love you forever.

My mind was still with her as I made my way from the elevator. Closing the door behind me, I scanned the apartment.

Even in the dark, I could tell the housekeeper had been here; the smell of wood polish and disinfectants now hung in the air instead of Regina's lingering scent.

With a frown, I tossed my keys and wallet to the counter and walked into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water and ignoring the flashing message indicator on my answering machine. I knew it wasn't her, and everything else could wait.

Crossing the room, I stopped in front of the large windows and looked out into the Chicago night. The view was no less beautiful than it was any other night, but I didn't want to look out at the familiar skyline. I didn't want to appreciate its glow and symmetry alone.

I wanted to watch Regina as she took in the lights and the angles of the city, her eyes moving over the landscape and her lips curving into a smile. I wanted to wonder if she was remembering the first time we were together. I needed to reshape that memory, to give her the context she so desperately needed. She needed to know how she had owned me from our very first touch.

I wanted to wash every memory we had with levity, with a new perspective. I wanted to laugh together at our antics, understanding better how we had tried too hard to hide the inevitable. I wanted to celebrate where we'd ended up.

Had it only been twenty-four hours since we'd laughed and teased, making pizza together in the middle of the night?

Since I'd made love to her in her bed?

I pressed my palms against my eyes as I tried to shut out the image of her underneath me, the way she'd whispered my name, and the feel of her nails digging into my dampened skin. Raking my hands through my hair, I saw my reflection in the glass.

I looked pathetic.

I finished my water in one long draw and turned, tossing the empty bottle to the couch as I passed. I crossed to my room, unbuttoning my shirt as I went, slipping it off my shoulders and dropping it to the floor. In the dim light, I could see that my bed was perfectly made; the sheets would be crisp and new.

All traces of Regina would be gone. I stood in the doorway and swayed slightly.

It was as if she'd never been here.

The pain in my chest gripped me and my lungs continued to feel empty even as I took deep, gasping breaths. I fell to my bed and clutched the pillow, my eyes shut tightly against the images that flashed behind my closed lids. So many memories, just scattered pictures that moved through my mind, some so real I could almost smell her apple shampoo.

Feel her pressed against me. Lose myself in the heat from her body.

I remembered a night just like this, here in my apartment with dinner finished and forgotten on the table. We'd kissed like teenagers on the couch. The voices of Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart on the TV faded into the background as my every thought and breath focused on the woman in my arms. Her lips were soft as they teased and pulled mine. Her hands were so enthusiastic as they'd rid me of my shirt and traveled across my skin, tracing my arms, my breasts and my stomach. Her eyes, wide with urgency and darkened with lust, raked hungrily over my body, making me feel like I was everything she'd ever need.

Our kisses had slowed as the night progressed, the movie flickering in the darkness. A new feeling, that just being together could be enough, began to settle over us. As she'd made her way down my body, she'd rested her head on my bare stomach, her hair fanning out and tickling my skin. Her fingers brushed absentmindedly along the waistband of my jeans, triggering my muscles to clench with each pass. My hands moved to her hair and my fingers ran through the soft strands as I watched the way the blue glow from the TV reflected off each one.

Soon after, her breathing evened out, her body stilled, and soft snores drifted up to me. I'd smiled as I realized she'd fallen asleep. That she was so comfortable here, in my home, in my arms, meant more to me than I could have ever thought possible.

We stayed that way as the movie ended, her contented sighs and occasional murmurs making my heart swell with a still unspoken emotion.

I'd picked her up gently and carried her to my bed, undressing her in the muted city lights that fell across the room. She'd stirred as I slipped off my jeans and climbed in next to her, sighing my name into the darkness. I'd pulled her to me, my hushed words whispered into her hair.

"Shh, baby. I'm right here."

She'd calmed instantly against me, her limbs tangling with mine, her warm breath drifting over my skin.

And we'd slept.

For the first time, I'd simply held her in my arms and fallen asleep without needing to be physical first. Unbidden images briefly entered my mind of a lifetime of nights like this. I'd quickly pushed them aside as I'd fallen asleep, content for the moment just to hold the woman I had fallen in love with.

As the memory faded bac k into my empty room, my heart pounded in my chest as panic swept over me in an ice cold wave.

I couldn't lose her.

For the first time in my life I was unafraid, ready to give myself completely and belong to another person. Did she still want me? I looked at the time. It had been hours and she hadn't responded. Was she telling me something? I needed to know.

My rational mind knew that she was just taking the space she needed, but my heart was breaking. With shaking hands, I took out my phone and sent her one final message.

Please say you still love me.

I pressed send just as exhaustion took me. The rest would have to be up to her.

Two sounds woke me from my brief escape into sleep: my phone vibrating on the pillow next to me and an insistent knock filtering in from the living room.

My eyes fluttered as I tried to fight consciousness, not wanting to break the surface back into reality. I blinked as the room came into focus and looked at the time, wondering who would be at my door this late. My heart leapt as I realized it could be Regina. As quickly as I could move, I flung myself off the bed, grabbing my shirt as I raced out of the room. My body vibrated with the anticipation of having her in my arms again.

I was unprepared for what greeted me on the other side of the door.

"Elsa?" I gasped, unable to hide the shock I felt at seeing her here.

"Emma," she breathed, dropping her phone from her ear, relief visibly washing over her. "I was becoming so worried about you."

She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around my frozen body. I blinked several times as she embraced me, stunned by the familiar way she fit against me and the way she sounded. I slowly circled my arms around her waist.

"I can't believe you're here," I said into her hair as her familiar scent washed over me, the year since we'd seen each other last seeming to disappear. I closed my eyes tightly. The day had been so stressful and I was overwhelmed by the fact that she was at my door. "What…I don't understand." I pulled back and took her face in my hands, searching her features.

She was even more beautiful than I remembered.

"I know," she answered, shaking her head slightly and wiping tears from her face.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, easily slipping into the French I'd spoken almost exclusively for six years.

She smiled brightly, her entire face lighting up. "Emma, I just had to tell you. I'm getting married!"

"You're what?" I exclaimed, unable to contain my smile in return. I took her left hand, thrilled to see the beautiful ring she wore on her finger. Bringing it to my lips, I kissed it gently. "God, I'm so happy for you, Elsa."

She leaned in and whispered, "I'm okay now, Emma. It's okay." Her simple statement eased something inside my chest, the guilt I'd been carrying around all this time lifting at her words. I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

"Thank you," I breathed, my arms tightening around her, relishing the quiet deliverance, the release I had so desperately needed.

She pulled back to meet my eyes and her smile faltered, her forehead creased with concern.

"Emma?" She searched my face, surely taking in my red eyes and exhausted appearance. "Emma, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice panicked and her expression suddenly alarmed.

Looking down briefly, I swallowed, ready to deny it as my mind began working on the hundreds of excuses for my current state. But when I looked up again, I knew there was no point in lying to her.

Elsa had been the first woman I'd loved, the only woman besides Regina I'd ever been emotionally close. I needed to be honest, starting now.

"Why don't you come on in," I said, stepping back and motioning toward my door.

She nodded and preceded me inside. I watched as she sat down on the couch, her gaze flickering around my apartment, taking it all in and surely seeing pieces of me that she remembered. I sat next to her and ran my hands through my hair, trying to decide where to begin.

"Emma, you don't have to tell me everything. I just want to make sure you're alright," she said softly, leaning forward and placing her hand on my knee.

I smiled, taking her hand in mine.

Despite everything that had occurred between us, that she would offer me her friendship meant more to me than I could ever express.

"I'm fine," I began, laughing and shaking my head. "Okay, that's a fucking lie. I'm not fine." I ran my hands roughly across my face and leaned back into the couch. "I'm an idiot, and I've let the best thing in my life get away from me because I was too big of a coward to be honest with her." I stopped suddenly, realizing how that must sound. "Oh, God. Elsa I di-"

"No," she stated, holding her hand up in protest. "Don't be sorry you've found someone, Emma. I won't lie…I spent a lot of time being angry with you, hurting and wondering why you couldn't love me enough to stay…but I've moved on. We've moved on." She smiled and reclaimed my hand. "I see now that you were right, that just loving someone isn't enough, that you must wait until you find your heart." She looked down at her ring, her joy so palpable it could hardly be contained.

"I've found he's perfect."

She beamed at me and I couldn't help but smile back. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I listened happily as she told me about how they met, how their relationship grew and how she knew he was the one she was meant to be with.

With a soft, contented sigh, she paused.

"Now that I've gone on and on," she said with a laugh. "Tell me about this woman who has so obviously stolen your heart." I told her everything: the stupid way I'd handled things, how terrified I was that she would never let me fix us, and how I knew Regina was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And like the wonderful person she was, she listened… and she was happy for me.

We continued to catch up for a while after that. Being together like this was so natural, like long lost friends reuniting.

"Wait a minute," I started, suddenly realizing I had no idea how she had gotten here. "What are you doing in Chicago? I mean, I thought you were still in Paris."

"I was. We, Ethan and I, are in Chicago overnight. He's actually in the bar downstairs making a few phone calls," she paused, looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable for a moment. I leaned forward and squeezed her hand in reassurance. She smiled in acknowledgement before continuing.

"Would you like to meet him?"

To be honest, I just wanted this night to be over. After everything that had occurred today, heading downstairs to socialize sounded like the last thing I wanted to do. But looking into her eyes and seeing the utter happiness reflected back at me, I knew I needed to meet and thank the man responsible.

"Of course," I said softly, chuckling at the squeal of delight that escaped her.

"Give me a second to clean up and we'll head down."

She nodded, standing to look around as I headed into my room. Changing my shirt quickly and checking in the mirror, I paused at the doorway, turning to glance at my phone still lying on the bed.

My eyes fell to the carpet as I waged an internal battle with myself over checking it one more time for a message from Regina.

With a deep sigh, I cleared the small distance and picked it up, pressing the screen to view the status.

No messages.

My jaw clenched and my stomach tightened, whether with hurt or anger, I wasn't sure. I knew she needed time, but how could she just ignore me? Tossing the phone to the bed with a bit more force than necessary, I turned quickly, swearing under my breath as I returned to the living room.

I managed a smile as Elsa's gaze met mine, and if she noticed the sudden change in my mood, she didn't mention it. We spoke of mutual acquaintances I'd left behind as we made our way to the elevator, and I let her contented presence calm me slightly. As the doors opened, I motioned for her to lead the way and pressed the button to take us downstairs.

"Oh," she began, bending at the waist to retrieve something from the floor next to her. "It looks like someone dropped their glasses."

I moved toward her, my eyes locked on the familiar frames she held in her hands.

"Those look almost like…" I paused as I took them from her, my expression pensive as I considered the possibility. I turned them over in my hand, running my thumb along the engraved logo I knew I'd seen countless times.

My pulse quickened and my mind raced as I continued to inspect them. There was no way these could be Regina's… could they? Wouldn't I have seen them on the way up? I thought of everything that had happened today.

Was there even a possibility that she had come to my building? Could she have decided to give me another chance?

"Emma?"

"Oh, God," I breathed, not realizing I'd moved until the cool metal of the interior wall seeped through my shirt. I reached out a hand to steady myself, my stomach rolling and all air evacuating my lungs as I watched the scene beginning to form in my head.

Regina coming to see me.

Regina seeing Elsa and I together.

Regina leaving in such a rush that she didn't realize she'd dropped her glasses.

No.

I looked up as the series of chimes echoed throughout the small space, the illuminated numbers counting down to signal we'd reached the lobby.

I had to find her.

I straightened and stepped away from the wall, every reason for my being here now forgotten. Elsa moved to stand behind me, placing her hand gently on my shoulder.

"I won't lose her," I began, speaking to no one in particular . The elevator doors opened and I moved forward, stopping as someone blocked my path. I glanced up, ready to issue a quick 'excuse me', and froze.

"Regina?"