A/N: Apologies for not updating yesterday, so many interruptions happened that kept me from writing out and finishing this chapter. But, here it is- finally! And I went ahead and made it a little extra longer for you all as part of my apology. :) If I am able to write out the next chapter right now and post it- I promise you I will before the night ends. If not, ya'll will just have to wait until tomorrow. Happy reading and a Happy Saturday to all!
Trigger warning: This chapter turns a tad violent for a short minute.
Emma did get that tour, plus a glass of delicious lemonade that Regina made herself. But the rest of the house was nothing compared to the one room that apparently Audrey neglected to tell her about.
"No way." Emma turned to Regina in a gawk. "You have your own library?" She asked as enthusiastically as any book lover would.
This makes Regina smile as she too had a love for books. It was her only escape from her dark reality.
"Leopold wanted to turn it into a gym, but, luckily, he decided to leave it alone once Audrey fell in love with it." She tells her, her eyes scanning some of the books that the room holds before they turn back to Emma.
"Thank God for Audrey," Said Emma, earning herself a small smile from Regina. "So, is this the part where you show me a secret door somewhere in this library?"
Regina lets out a small laugh. "Unfortunately, no. But, wouldn't that be something."
It really would. Regina wished there was some type of secret hiding place anywhere in this house. She would live there, if she could.
"You could always have one made." Emma shrugged, her fingers gently brushing along a couple of book spines while her eyes scan the titles.
"That's a good one." Regina nods toward a blue book that Emma's fingers land on. At her nod, Emma feels free to pull it out and give herself a better look at the cover.
"The Odyssey?" Emma reads the title out loud.
"It's one of my personal favorites. Have you read it?" The brunette asked.
"I can't say that I have." She looks up at Regina.
"You'd like it. Well, if you like stories about a Greek King who gets lost at sea, where he faces against sea monsters, and a witch that holds him captive, yearning to get back home to his beloved wife and son. Audrey mentioned you are quite the romantic."
"I do love books and romance, and a bit of everything in it." Emma's cheeks turn a shade of pink.
Regina smiles and suddenly a ping of guilt flashes over her as she takes in the bruise along the blonde's face.
"What's wrong?" Emma takes notice.
"I'm sorry about the whole-" Regina is interrupted.
"Don't say anymore. I already told you, this wasn't your fault. Accidents happen. Besides, it's just a bruise that will heal in no time. No big deal." The blonde shrugs.
"No," Regina scoffs softly to herself. "That's the thing, Ms. Swan. It is a big deal. To me."
There was that 'Ms. Swan' tone Regina liked using. Emma didn't mind, but she frankly preferred being called by her first name.
"Alright, I'll tell you what," she says to Regina. "I'll accept your unnecessary apology, if- and only if- you start calling me just Emma."
Regina chuckles at this, shaking her head. "You do realize you are dating my daughter, don't you?"
"Come on. What's that have to do with anything?" Once again, Emma would roll her eyes here. Playfully, of course. "Come on, you clearly don't like me calling you Mrs. White." And she can see a small cringe from the brunette as she says the name. "You are obviously trusting me enough to call you Regina, so what's wrong with you calling me Emma?"
There's a pause. Regina thinks for a moment. She does like the name Emma. It was a nice name. Why, if she could ever have another daughter- if Leopold hadn't been a bastard and kicked her in the stomach so much that her uterus had to be taken out- she would probably name her Emma. And besides, she does trust this girl. She doesn't know why, but she does.
"Well, you have a point, I suppose." The brunette shrugs.
"I know I do. Or maybe I'm just very persuasive and charming in that way." Emma earns herself another smile from the brunette.
"Alright," Regina rolls her eyes playfully. "Now, you're just being a little cocky."
"If you don't believe me, ask your daughter. She fell for my charms just by a glance across a crowded room."
Regina chuckles, "Is that really how you two met?"
"Yeah, my friend August was throwing a party in honor of his birthday. Audrey was invited by him and his girlfriend at the time." Emma shakes her head. "But I don't want to bore you with that stuff."
"You're not." The brunette assured her.
The fact of the sad matter was, Regina never experienced any wild college parties. There was a time, long ago, where she did manage to convince Leopold to allow her to go to college. A lot of good that did her. She graduated and wasn't even able to work. This was back when Audrey was still a small girl, but no longer a baby.
'Why would you want to go back to school? That's absurd.'
'I want to feel like I accomplished something on my own. I want to do something that makes me happy. For once.'
'You're a wife. A mother. Shouldn't that be enough? You already have it all, thanks to me.'
Regina hated that she could still hear her husband's cackling laugh when she pleaded him to allow her to study at least something. She could remember his words clearly once he accepted.
'Alright, you can go. But, don't even think that you are going alone. You will be watched and everything you do will come back to me.'
He loved reminding her of that every morning before going into class. And she loved that once she finished school, she didn't have to worry about anyone following her around anymore, like an extra shadow that she didn't need hanging around.
Just like getting lost in a book, Regina loved getting lost in other people's life experiences. It was quite sad, truthfully, but she envied them in a good way. And something told her that Emma Swan had quite the life to envy.
"Well," Emma welcomed herself to a seat against a chair that was near a tea table, while Regina welcomed herself to the other.
Now, normally Emma wouldn't make such a big fuss about talking about school with anyone. Not even her own mom. Especially not about these parties that she attended. Not that she was your regular party animal, either. But upon seeing the encouraged excitement in the brunette's eyes, she couldn't possibly refuse to entertain her.
"I had arrived first," she placed the book on the table as she carried on with her story. "Audrey actually arrived late that night. I was actually ready to head back to my dorm room, but August wouldn't have it."
Regina chuckles at this, "He's one of those, huh?"
"Oh, definitely. 'It's do or die time, Em!' That's what he always says to me." Emma grins.
Regina had never noticed before- not entirely anyway- until now, just what a lovely smile Emma had. Maybe it was the way the sunlight beamed right through the window, directly where she was sitting. It sure made her green eyes pop out more.
"Audrey mentioned that you chose not to work?" Emma's question takes Regina off guard a little, it makes her lose focus on her smile.
More like I was obligated to stay home. "My husband…" Forced me. Say it! "Leopold makes enough," she shrugs, mentally calling herself a coward. "I married young, met him when I was sixteen- married him, and after a few months found out I was pregnant with Audrey."
"At sixteen?" Emma's brows hit her hairline, as well they should. That reaction no longer shocked Regina when she received it from other people. But, it made her cheeks turn a shade of pink upon seeing the reaction come from Emma. She couldn't understand that.
For Emma however, that explained why Audrey's mom looked so good. She couldn't believe her eyes when she met them just yesterday. Best guess, Leopold had to be around eighty- maybe. While here was Regina at forty- if Emma's calculations were correct- who looked far too good to be beside a man like him.
She had nothing against the man. She didn't really know him in the first place to judge. But, Emma did always thrive herself for having an excellent judge of character.
Now, she would never tell Audrey this.
But, there was just something about her father that just didn't click with her.
"It wasn't by choice," Regina heard herself murmuring, and she hoped the blonde didn't hear her either.
An answer was given upon seeing Emma's head tilt quizzically.
Did she say-? Emma's thoughts are interrupted by Regina's voice as she quickly speaks up.
"We should see if Audrey is back." The brunette stands, once again leaving Emma baffled by her quick change of reaction.
"Right," Emma murmurs, and stands on her own. She honestly had forgotten about her medication, or the fact that she had a bruised eye. She was really finding herself to be enjoying Regina's company. There was definitely a mystery to her that she wanted- felt a need- to solve.
"Don't forget your book." The brunette nodded toward the book, seeing Emma reach for it.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that Regina no longer wanted to talk about her being married at sixteen, and Emma had no right to pry. She never wished to make anyone feel like they had to tell her every single detail about their lives.
"I'll return it as soon as possible. Intact, of course." Emma assured the brunette.
Regina smiled. "Take your time, dear." Once her eyes fell on the bruise that had formed around Emma's face, her smile was gone. She stopped walking to take a long hard look at it, and it didn't go unnoticed by Emma, given the sadness she could see in Regina's gaze at that moment.
"How does it look?" Emma stands perfectly still, tilting her head toward the brunette. "Does it look bad?"
Regina took a moment to have a good look at the bruise. Her hand came up gently to brush back another fallen strand of golden hair, and Emma almost shivered at the light brush of the woman's nails against her skin.
"Not at all." The brunette gives Emma a reassuring smile, resembling that one back at the Orchard.
Her eye wasn't that black, thankfully. Surprisingly, Daniel's steak had worked wonders. There was no swelling.
"I'm home!" Audrey's voice echoed through the house, the door slamming startled Regina a little that she had to immediately compose herself around Emma. "Ugh," Audrey gives off an eye roll of annoyance. "You wouldn't believe the line at that pharmacy. But," she holds up a white paper bag, rattling it playfully. "I finally got your medicine."
"Well," Regina breathed as she flashes another smile at her daughter. "I'll go see to lunch now. I'm sure after today's events, you two must be hungry."
"You don't have to do that." Emma shakes her head, not wanting to feel more of a baggage than she already did.
"Em, don't you worry about a thing." Audrey smiles, placing a quick kiss against her thin lips. "I'll go help my mom, you just rest, okay?"
"Audrey-" Emma is interrupted.
"Just for today. Please? It'll really give me some peace of mind. And I'm sure my mom feels horrible, even though this was in no way her fault," she flashes her mother an understanding smile before looking back at Emma. "Come on. It would help her ease her mind as well."
Emma looked over at Regina, who gave her a small smile in return. Say no more. How could she refuse when it was two against one? "Okay."
With that being said, Emma moved on over to take a seat back on the couch, while mother and daughter moved on over toward the kitchen. Emma figured that as long as she wouldn't be allowed to do anything for today, she would start on this book Regina had allowed her to read. Why not? It was as good a time as any to read.
The day went by, followed by the evening, and Emma had enjoyed some of the most delicious pot roast she had ever had in her life. By dinner, Emma found out that Regina could cook just about everything-
"I wouldn't say everything." Regina chuckled, shaking her head at her daughter's exaggeration.
"It's true," Audrey smiles, nodding over to Emma. "And, she can bake, too. My dad really won the lottery with you, mom."
Regina shifted a little in her seat and took a sip of her last bit of wine in silence before she glanced over at Emma. "How's your headache?"
"A little better." Emma was telling the truth. It came and went, but it was only the first day. She hoped by tomorrow, just as the doc had said, her headache would have completely vanished.
This time, upon knowing the update on Emma's headache, Regina could feel another small smile coming on. One that Emma took notice of from across the table and returned happily.
"Thank you for dinner. It certainly was delicious." Emma smiled once more, quickly standing up and reaching for her plate, an action that was immediately stopped by Audrey.
"Um, whoa!" Audrey reaches for Emma's wrist, which Regina's eyes automatically move to.
Of course, she knew her daughter was nothing like her father in the abusive sense. Of course, she knew Audrey would never mistreat even an animal. But, when you live a secluded and abused life such as Regina has for the last twenty four years of her marriage, anyone would be a little jumpy over every small gesture.
She was lucky and thankful for it everyday, that she hadn't endured extreme PTSD over the years.
Maybe because she didn't have a chance to, being forced to put on her best 'good wife' act in front of Leopold's friends and other company over time by her own husband. And if things didn't go as perfect as Leopold wanted them. There would be consequences.
Regina endured consequences for almost everything.
"What are you doing? There's no way you are cleaning up after yourself." Said Audrey, taking the empty plate away from Emma.
"Audrey, come on," Emma's gaze moves over to Regina, who then says-
"No, she's right." Regina stands up next, gathering her plate and empty glass of wine before walking over to where Emma was sitting and picking up her empty wine glass. "As much as I appreciate you wanting to help, Audrey's right. It's better to not strain yourself, at least for today."
"How is washing my own dishes straining myself enough to possibly pass out?" Asked Emma.
"It's just for today, Em." Audrey presses her lips against Emma's in a quick kiss before she smiles. "You just worry about heading upstairs and taking a nice warm shower, okay? I'll be up in a minute after I'm done helping my mom in the kitchen."
"Alright, fine." The blonde nods, not wishing to argue any longer. Especially an argument she would not win.
That earned her another kiss from Audrey, which made Emma smile as they went their separate ways.
Audrey enjoyed helping her mother in the kitchen. She decided to give Emma some time to herself, and help the brunette clean up everything that had been used in the kitchen. She didn't mind one bit.
"You've helped me enough, dear," Regina looked over her shoulder at her daughter as she wiped down the counter top. "Why don't you go on to bed now? Check up on Emma."
"And leave you with these dishes when you've always seemed to beat me at cleaning up almost the entire kitchen in just under five minutes? I swear, it's like you're made of magic." Audrey shakes her head and goes back to washing, followed by rinsing the last dirty plate.
Regina chuckles lightly at this. "If only," she murmurs.
She wished she was made of magic. She would have cast a spell on Leopold years ago. Maybe gave him a tail, or took away his voice so she wouldn't have to hear it anymore. No. That was too merciful. Making him vanish into thin air sounded much better.
But, Leopold wasn't only a man who wanted things done right. He wanted them perfect, and that demand fell upon the house being spotless, everything being its rightful place, such as the kitchen before his arrival anytime he was away from home.
Regina had had plenty of practice in being fast at this. She wasn't sure when he was arriving home tonight, but she hoped to be asleep before then.
"While we're here, and finally alone," her daughter's voice breaks her train of many thoughts. Especially after she leans up against the other side of the counter to stand closer to her mom. "Tell me."
"Tell you what?" Regina's head slightly tilted while her eyes made quick contact with Audrey's as her hands continued to give the counter top one last scrub.
"What do you think of her? I want your motherly opinion." She grins expectedly and quite excited to hear her mother's opinion.
"Well, I've only spent a few minutes with her today, but from what I can tell she's a very well brought young woman. Certainly well mannered," Regina smiles, wiping down the counter with a rug.
"She is. And she's very talented, mom. You should see some of the pictures she takes."
"I'm sure I'll have a chance to see them." Regina's eyes meet with Audrey's in that moment. "But, you know that all that truly matters to me is that she treats you right. Which, I can see that she does. And she certainly cares a great deal for you."
"You really think so?" Audrey smiles.
"I do." Regina gives a reassuring nod before reaching for her daughter's hand and giving it a firm squeeze.
And then an unnerving feeling settled in the pit of Regina's stomach. She knew Emma didn't seem like the type, but as her mother, and given her harsh life experience, she needed to ask.
"Emma…" She paused for a beat, her tone settling in in a more serious manner. "She does treat you right, doesn't she?"
"What do you mean?" Audrey's eyes look quizzical as she takes in her mother's serious question. She knew her mother's tone well.
Regina draws in a small breath before she asks, "She doesn't-" No. That's not right. Her head shakes as she composes herself before trying again. "She's would never hit you. Would she?"
For a moment, Regina almost feels like she's asked a big question that she shouldn't have. The type of question she only wished someone would ask her. She's thought about it many times. What she would say if she was ever asked that question by anyone. Or by her own daughter. She's come upon the conclusion that she would probably be too much of a coward to speak the truth.
Just by asking this question to Audrey, the look on her face would forever be engraved in Regina's heart. It was of pure shock that she would even dare ask such a question. That's when she knew.
Emma wasn't anything like her husband.
"Of course not." Audrey's response came out in small pauses. Not of hesitation, but of surprise. "Why- why would you ask such a question?"
There's a crease in between the girl's brow as she awaits for an answer from her mother.
Regina knows that while she has a moment alone with Audrey, she could tell her the truth. But would she even believe it? Especially when she has only known a different version of her father. She has never once seen him act in a violent way toward herself or her mother, even as a small child. And to crush that image for her, Regina knew that the result would be disastrous and a tough thought to chew on.
"Mom?" Her daughter's voice startles her out of her own thoughts, causing her to quickly put on a smile as her head shakes.
"I'm just being your mother, dear. I didn't mean anything by it. I simply…" She pauses for a beat. "I wanted to discard that card off the table about Emma. From what little I've come to know of her, I've taken a liking to her, and it would be a shame if the image I have of her would be washed away by a violent act toward you."
Audrey chuckles, placing a hand against her mother's arm in a gentle manner. "Well, you don't have to worry, because Emma is the most gentle soul you could meet. I promise."
Suddenly, Regina pulls her daughter into a loving motherly hug. A hug she had been needing since a very long time. And when she feels her daughter's embrace wrap around her in return, Regina almost wants to cry, but of course. holds back.
"I can't say this enough," the brunette murmurs into her daughter's shoulder before she gently cups her darling girl's face and looks upon it with a sad smile. "But, I am so happy to have you home."
Coward. She thinks to herself.
Audrey smiles warmly and equally. "I've missed you, mom. I really, really have. And, hey- we have some shopping to catch up on."
Regina chuckles, "That we do. Perhaps this weekend we can do just that, hm?"
"We better." Audrey held up a single digit in a playful warning manner, which helps Regina laugh a little before she is embraced in another hug by her daughter.
"We will." Regina grins, pressing her hands along her daughter's back. "Go rest now. I don't want you to leave Emma alone any longer, especially after today's events."
"You're right." Audrey leans in and places a kiss against her mother's cheek, feeling one planted on her own in return. "I'll see you tomorrow. Rest up."
"You, too, dear."
Just as Audrey is heading up the stairs, she stops upon hearing the main door open. She looks over her shoulder and smiles, "Hi, dad! I thought you would be home a little later."
"Well, I could leave if you're not happy to see me." Leopold's tone takes on sarcasm as he smiles at his daughter's chuckle.
"Of course, I'm happy to see you." She places a kiss against his scruffy cheek that ends in a mwah! Sound. "I always am. How was your day?"
"Not as exciting as yours, I'd like to believe." He rested one of his palms against the flight of stairs. "How was your day?"
"Fine." Audrey shrugged innocently. "Mom and I drove Emma to the Orchard."
"Did you now?" His brow raises.
"Yes. It was my idea. I wanted mom to teach Emma to ride, but unfortunately we had to cut the lesson short before she could even learn."
"Oh? Why's that?" He asks his daughter.
"Well, mom was teaching Emma how to mount the horse and she fell. Rocky knocked her out pretty good, so mom and I drove back here." Audrey explained.
Leopold's jaw tightened but he composed himself rather quickly. His hand loosened up the knot of his tie. "Is she alright?" He asked.
"Oh, she's fine. She's up in my bedroom. Doctor Whale came over and checked on her, he said she will be fine. He does want to run a scan on her tomorrow though, just as a precaution. So, I'll be taking her to get that done tomorrow."
Leopold nodded and a low hum escaped his throat. "Where's your mother?" He asked.
"She's in the kitchen." Audrey pointed toward the direction of the kitchen before smiling at her father and giving him one last kiss to call it a night. "Good night, dad. See you tomorrow."
"Good night, sweetheart." The corners of his lips tilted into a tiny smile, a smile that soon vanished once his daughter was out of sight. His eerie glare directed toward the entrance to the living room as his slow and steady footsteps headed toward that direction.
Emma's eyes move from the pages of the book toward the door of the bedroom opening as she finds herself in bed, fully engraved in this magnificent story that she found impossible to put down. A gentle smile playing on her lips as she sees Audrey coming right in.
"Hey," the blonde's voice was gentle as she spoke.
"Hey," Audrey smiled, sitting on the edge of their bed. "How are you feeling? How's your headache?"
"It's gone now, I'm happy to say." Emma closes the book, leaving her thumb in between the pages to not lose her place.
"Good." Audrey gently caressed her thumb along the bruise before she leaned in and placed the most gentle kiss right on it. "What do you say we enjoy a picnic tomorrow, just you and me?"
"A picnic?" Emma's brow raises as a smile flashes before her lips.
"Yeah! I can show you around Boston. I know you've never fully seen it." Audrey smiles. "Come on, it'll be fun and romantic and completely safe. I promise."
Emma chuckles. "A picnic and a whole day with you actually sounds amazing."
Regina gasped upon turning around and seeing Leopold enter the kitchen unexpectedly and unannounced. But his presence didn't surprise her more than the slap she felt struck her across her cheek, given to her by the back of Leopold's hand. It was so powerfully given, that her head whipped abruptly to the side and her cup of tea had shattered to the floor by her feet, along with the plate that held the cup in place.
"How many times, Regina?" She could hear his voice through the ringing in her ears due to the sudden blow. "How many times have I told you to get rid of that ridiculous place? But, you won't listen." He forces the woman's face to look up at him. "And now, you go and put the one person that means the world to Audrey in danger."
"Victor came to check on her, and he said everything would be fine-" his voice towers over her.
"I don't care what Victor says." His grip tightens around her jawline, causing her to grunt in pain. "I don't even care that this little riding lesson idea was Audrey's. You should have been more careful."
"It was nothing more than an accident. It happens to a lot of first riders, you know that." Regina hissed, trying to escape his grip which only tightens around her jaw before his other hand balls into a fist and lands a direct blow right at her stomach.
Regina is gasping for air as her knees hit the hard, cold, marbled floor. Her hands guard her stomach as she's lying on her side, right next to the puddle of spilled tea and shattered pieces of glass that were once the cup and plate.
Leopold reached for the rag that was on the counter and didn't think twice before tossing it directly at Regina's face. Not feeling any remorse of having any consideration for her lack of breath. "Clean that up before you come to bed." He said coldly.
And all Regina could see at that moment was the blurry vision of Leopold's feet disappearing from the kitchen. Once again, leaving her alone as her body remained on the ground for a short while.
Just enough to catch its strength again.
Emma continued reading through the night. Her head turned to Audrey's passed out body. She could see her chest rise and fall with each calming breath she took before she turned back to the story within the pages.
Suddenly, she turned to the feeling of Audrey stirring within the bed sheets until her body was lying on its stomach, her arms cradled around her pillow.
"Em, could you turn off the lamp, please?" She murmured in her sleep out of pure innocent instinct.
The corner to Emma's lips tilted into a tiny smile before she decided to close the book, using her own thumb as a bookmark again. Slowly, the blonde made her way out of the comfort of her side of the bed. She turned the metallic knob from within the cover of the lamp until she heard that familiar click and the bulb went off, leaving the room in total darkness before slowly heading out the door.
Given that it was the doc's orders that she not fall asleep so soon within the night, she wanted to continue reading the majestic tale that awaited her within the pages of this book. So, Emma felt free to roam about, heading down the stairs next. She headed toward the direction of the library, and welcomed herself inside. The double doors to the room always seemed to remain open so she wasn't surprised by that. But, what did surprise her and stopped her completely dead in her tracks was the dark silhouette that she found sitting against the darkness of the room, within the same chair she had been sitting against earlier.
"Hello?" She decided to call out in a gentle tone of voice, seeing the dark- and now familiar- silhouette startle itself to the sound of her sudden voice.
"What the hell are you doing lurking around at this hour of the night, Ms. Swan?" Regina snarls, taking advantage of the darkness surrounding her to wipe away her tears in one quick motion before she stands to her feet.
Emma can hear a crinkling sound of some sort, a sound that sounds like ice gathered together in a bag, but she can't be sure.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." She says gently, feeling free to take two more steps toward the startled woman, hearing the crackling once again. "I was just coming down here to read for a while, that's all. Audrey is asleep and I didn't want to disturb her by keeping the lamp on in the bedroom."
But, suddenly that didn't seem to matter anymore. Not when Emma could feel that there was something terribly wrong with Regina.
"A- are you okay?" She asks, taking another step toward the woman as she begins to hurry toward her.
"Have a good night, Ms. Swan." Regina replies, brushing past the blonde girl so close that her shoulder bumped right into hers with one hard motion, it left Emma startled where she stood.
"Hey- Regina?" Emma called out in vain. All she could see was Regina's figure growing farther and farther by the minute as she rushed out of the library, leaving her alone.
Had she been sitting here crying? Emma wasn't sure, but she knew she felt a sudden need to rush after her. She didn't though. Whatever was going on, whatever problem Regina found herself dealing with right now- clearly- she wanted to be left alone.
Emma could understand that better than anyone.