Chapter 48
"Would you like to share what reason do I have to help you again?" Emmett asked as he stared into the deep brown eyes of his guest.
"I am tried of others making very important decisions about my life without even considering how it will effect me" Regina spoke as she saw Emmett nod at her statement. They were sitting in the living on two separate couches facing each other with the table creating a safe distance between them.
"So I was doing the same thing as your mother…." this time Regina nods her head in agreement. Realization hits Emmett like a brick as he shuts his eyes for a little bit and opens them to notice Regina looking towards him.
He could see the fear in her eyes and notice the vulnerability in her form.
"Regina I thought I was….uh…."
"I know Mr. Swan, you thought you were trying to help but at that time I felt as if you as well were also taking away my chance at deciding what should be best for me and that was the reason I didn't properly respond to your proposal" Emmett again nods in understanding why Regina silently left without even considering what he had said but now it made sense. She was deciding and really thinking it through.
"So are you here now to answer to me or is this about something else" Emmett asked.
"Well…my mother is again forcing me to do something that I don't agree with but it also seems to be the safest decision for my child for now….if I don't agree she will surely find a way to get rid of my child and trust she will get away with it" Regina was on the verge of crying again, she thought after everything that happened with the Nolan's maybe her mother will try not to repeat the same mistakes but she was wrong again like always when it came to Cora.
Emmett stood up and walked up to where Regina was sitting and got down on his one knee and held her hands in his, Regina who had her eyes closed as to not let tears come out of her eyes, quickly opened her eyes when she felt her hands being held by Emmett. She stared into the gorgeous green eyes that she couldn't help getting lost in and noticed the sad look in them. The warm touch on her hands was giving her some comfort from the entire hectic situations she was facing herself lately.
She quickly noticed what was happening as she noticed her previous boss on his knees in front of her looking at her with adoration, which confused her.
"Sir wh-what are you doing?" she asked as she tried to get her hands free from Emmett's. Emmett feeling determined lightly tightened his hold on her hands as to indicate to her that he was not going to let go.
When Regina stopped trying, Emmett let of her one hand and brought his hand up to her cheeks to wipe the tears and place his hand on her cheek lightly. Emmett smiled a smile as Regina leaned into his touch it warmed his heart and he couldn't help but think to wanting to feel this warmth all the time.
When the brown eyes opened again and looked into his green ones Emmett spoke again. "Regina….I want to protect this child as much as you do. I know my family is also not the best option for you right now but I promise you will have the freedom you seek that Leopold can not give you and won't agree to give it to. Regina this time I ask that lets raise this child together, I will treat and love this child as my own. This time you won't have to fulfill any expectations or worry about OUR child's safety"
Regina had not come here to expect this from Emmett, she had come over to beg Emmett to let her work with them again so she could get away from her mother and her selfish plans. She thought since her child also shared the Nolan's blood she would find some safety with them around her. But now this was totally unexpected and she didn't know how she felt about this. One thing was sure thought that whatever Emmett was saying was out of pure intentions.
"Are you asking me to…."
"Yes Regina I am asking you to marry me…..but I promise that I will not force you to do anything, this marriage doesn't have to be about us, instead this child, our child will have the security and the love he or she deserves" Emmett spoke again as he now placed his hand on her stomach. Regina should have moved his hand away from her stomach but all she could do was cry again but this time these were the tears of joy and she could feel the sense of safety.
"I—I don't know what to say….this is…." Regina was speechless.
"Regina… I know this is not what you want since you have faced how cruel I can be but this time I want to make things right on behalf of me and my brother. So I ask again….Will you accept my proposal to marry you?" at the mention of his brother Emmett lowered his head and faced the ground. He would accept if Regina turns him down again but he thought maybe she would give him a chance. But no matter what he will not let her or the child get in the harms way even if Regina says no.
"Thank you even though I was here to get the job back you are offering too much and I don't think this is a good idea….me becoming you wife will put your family to shame when I am pregnant with someone else's child" Regina said as she let of their hold and stood up to leave. This was getting out of hand; she wouldn't hold someone like Emmett down just for her cause.
"You don't get it do you?" Emmett said as he also stood up and turned around to face Regina whose back was now facing him. Regina had stopped before she could grab the doorknob and leave. She waited for Emmett to continue speaking. When she was about to turn around to face him again, she stopped as she felt Emmett standing behind her, he took few more steps and brought his hands around her body. He placed one hand on her stomach and the other held her wrist lightly. Regina felt her breath hitch and she leaned a little into Emmett and closed her eyes as she felt herself relaxed. Regina brought her other hand over Emmett's on the stomach and kept it there instead of moving his hand away. They both stood there for a few minutes like that enjoying the feel of their bodies together and the comfort they provided to each other. Emmett inhaled the sweet smell of lavender from being so close to Regina; he wished to just stay like this. He then opened his eyes and at the same time Regina became aware of their position and slowly turned around facing Emmett, who still had his hands on front of her hip now and the other still holding on to her wrist. He brought their joined hands up and held there as he leaned over a little to place a kiss on her fingers.
Regina was now blushing so hard that it didn't go unnoticed by Emmett who smiled at the reaction he was having on her. Before Regina could pull herself away again, Emmett brought his around her body and hugged her and held her close to his body again. Regina surprised at the action clutched to his shirt on his chest and ducked her head under his chin.
"I like you….I have for a while and I know I did not present myself the right way before but I was afraid of falling for you but now I can't ignore it and I know you may not feel the same way but you don't have to return my feelings. I don't want to marry you because of my feelings but to protect you and this child from everybody and anything and I can't think of a better way than this, Regina" Emmett spoke breaking them of their trance. Regina let of his shirt and lightly placed her hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes. Emmett waited patiently for her to respond and couldn't help but feel exposed.
Regina only smiled in return and nodded her head in acknowledgment. "Thank you Mr. Swan, I really appreciate what you are doing for me. I accept your proposal" Regina agreed as she looked down, feeling grateful for what Emmett was doing for her.
"Hey…" Emmett called out as he placed his hand under her chin and got Regina to look at him. He smiled when he saw no more tears but a small smile finally appearing on her beautiful face. "From now you should call me Emmett" Emmett told her. "I'll try my best to do so" Regina informed him. Now both were facing each other with sweet smiles on their faces, both souls hoping to stay in their paradise.
But before they could build their paradise, there were few struggles they both needed to tackle down. The first being Cora who was hell bent on getting Regina married to Leopold even more now when she became aware of her daughter accepting Emmett's proposal. These Nolan brothers were a trouble to her and her daughter's perfect future. She decided to threaten Regina of disowning her from the family fortune and thought maybe then Regina will come back to her and think rationally. But when Regina completely ignored her threat and Emmett offering to her stay with him, Cora was so furious she decided to go to Cat to have the Nolan's name tarnished in the press. But that didn't work out either since Cat decline to work for her anymore and instead Cat threatened Cora to leave them alone and if she didn't it will her whose name will on the press very soon if she didn't stop. It wasn't easy but Cora decided to leave back to Storybrooke for now but promised to be back very soon and that both Emmett and Regina will regret doing this. When David and Mary learned about the news they were not pleased either but knew nothing they would say or do would change their son's mind now. They just hoped to stand by and support them but Mary was the one who was having the hardest time accepting this when her other son was in jail because Regina and now Emmett was going to marry her as well.
"Em….don't you see that she's responsible for what you had to do to Robin. How can you accept her? This is not something you should be taking lightly and besides she doesn't belong with our family" Mary said as she still felt bitter toward Regina.
Both Emmett and Regina had come over to break the news to his parents. They were sitting side by side on the living room sofa in front of his parents. What they heard Mary say to them disheartened them both. They both noticed the cruel look Mary was wearing and hr anger was clear on her face as she looked toward Regina.
"Emmett, what your mother means is that before you were against this marriage and now you came in here wanting to marry her" David inquired as he thought about their previous conversation entailing Regina.
Regina turned to look at Emmett with surprise and slowly freed her hand from Emmett grasp that was on his lap and looked down on her lap in embarrassment. She then got up and decided to leave for now as the conversation was not going how they assumed it would, she should have known better than to expect anything good.
"Wait Regina….please sit down…" Emmett said as he held her hand and pulled her down to sit on the sofa again. He then put his hand over her cheek and smiled at her.
The scene bothered Mary even more but to David it seemed their son was finally finding some happiness with someone unexpected.
Emmett then turned toward his parents and faced them. "Mom, Dad…I know before I was against this but this time I am doing this for the both of us and the innocent life growing inside of Regina….I hope both of you will support me in this decision" Emmett spoke hoping for the best. When he noticed his father smile at him he smiled in return and went over to hug him. Regina herself smiled at the scene.
As they let go each other Emmett looked over to his mother who still hadn't said anything or moved from her spot. As he was about to step over to her side, Mary stood up and looked at him.
"So it doesn't bother you that the child growing inside of her is your brothers, you will marry a girl who had been with your brother, married him and then slept with him" Mary spoke with bitterness to her tone. At hearing the words coming out of his mothers mouth all the happiness drained out of both Emmett and Regina. Regina stood up shocked and with panic clear in her eyes. Emmett turned around to see Regina run out of the room. As he was about to leave after her, Mary spoke again.
"I will not accept her into this family, a girl who is the reason your brother is behind bars and now she has you under her spell as well. She will never be welcomed here again, do I make myself clear Emmett Swan Nolan" Mary asked as Emmett had stopped in his track and stood. "And if you leave after her now, you are not welcomed into this family anymore" Mary threatened as she held her hand up to stop David from interfering. Emmett turned around and smiled at his mother.
"I hope one day you can see that it was Robin who had wronged Regina not her. I also hope that one day you will accept her as my wife and our child. Goodbye father…. mother" he then turned around and left to see how Regina was.
"Mary….you have made a mistake, I also hope you realize that soon enough before its too late…..before we completely loose Emmett as well" David finally spoke as he felt disappointed in his wife and left her there to dwell on her thoughts and what she had just done to their family.
