Snow found her daughter outside in the backyard, "what are you doing?"
Emma turned, "just getting some fresh air. It's been so long since I've had any."
"You're not going back to the loft, are you?"
Emma stared at her mother, "did you talk to Regina?"
"No, and apparently you haven't either. Cora said that Regina is beside herself and can't stop crying."
"No, I'm not going back."
"Emma, what's going on?"
"I loved her so much and wanted to build a future with her."
"Wait, past tense?"
"I'm tired and run down."
"Think about how she feels."
"I'm going to stay until she's able to return to her house."
"Did you want to stay with us for a while?"
"No," Emma said, "I'm going back to Boston."
"What about the kids?"
"I'll still see them. I don't belong here and I hate this town. It reminds me of every awful thing Regina ever did. I'm going for a walk," Emma walked away and left Snow stunned. Snow called Cora and had David join the call.
"Regina said they were talking about getting married," Cora said.
"I have no idea what changed," Snow said.
"We can't force Emma to stay or change her mind," Cora said.
"Cora's right," David said, "did I just say that?"
"Oh very funny, shepherd," Cora responded.
"That's interim mayor shepherd to you."
"Do we tell Regina?" Snow asked.
"Let's wait and see what happens when the time comes. She doesn't need this right now," Cora answered. The three hung up and hoped for the best.
Regina had sent Emma a message asking her to drop by so they could talk about the kids. Cora went outside when Emma arrived.
"I have to admit that I didn't exactly ask you here to talk about the kids," Regina said.
"I figured."
"I know you're planning on going back to Boston."
"How?"
"I overheard my mother on the phone with your parents. She thought I was asleep."
"Well, I guess that saves me from having to tell you."
"Emma, please tell me what I did."
"I have to go." Emma stood and walked towards the door.
Regina stood on her own, "Emma, wait," she walked a few steps and fell to the floor.
Emma turned at the sound, "Regina!" She rushed to the woman and helped her up and back to the couch. "Are you alright?"
"Physically I am."
"What were you thinking?"
"You didn't leave, did you?"
Emma stared at her, "you're crazy."
"If you tell me what I did then I will let this all go." Emma stood and turned to leave, "I deserve an explanation. Ten years, five kids, and cancer. I deserve to know why you're leaving me. What did I do?"
Emma turned back around, "nothing!" she yelled. "I just can't handle this. I can't handle the thought of losing you and if we're apart then I don't have to."
"You stayed with me all those months just to leave me now?"
"I couldn't leave you and let you go through that alone. I thought you were gonna die."
"But I didn't."
"But next time you might and I can't handle that."
"Why did you bring up getting married when we were at the clinic then? Did you think that it didn't matter because you thought I'd die and that would be the end of that?"
"No! I want to marry you and be with you. Plus I wanted to give you something else to fight for."
"If you do this, I'll never forgive you. I'll never take you back. I can see by the look on your face that you were hoping to be able to come back if you wanted. Well, you can't just come and go with me as you please."
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Just leave," Regina said, "let me know if you're still planning on moving when I go home."
Emma left and Regina cried. Cora returned and held her daughter.