Part Fourteen: The One With the Misunderstanding
Emma was staring up at the ceiling angry at herself.
She was so stupid!
She had broken the one rule she had made for herself a long time ago.
Never fall in love again!
That was the one rule Emma had in life.
The one rule that kept her safe.
The rule that prevented her from being exactly what she was right now.
Miserable and heartbroken.
And over what?
A kiss?
Weird scents that she was probably imagining this whole time?
Touches that made her feel like she belonged, smiles that warmed her heart, and the idea of a future?
God, Emma was pathetic!
No wonder Regina kept saying no to her.
Emma turned in bed, pulling the covers over her head while the tears soaked the corner of her mouth, running softly down her neck.
She really thought she had something with Regina, she really thought they had some sort of connection.
She really thought they were falling in love.
And the worse part of this whole thing was that Emma couldn't even be angry at Regina, because they were nothing to each other.
All they ever were was a possibility.
That Emma now knew it would never happen.
Regina was with Graham.
The alarm clock on the bedside table started to beep, making Emma grunt under the covers.
She pulled away just enough to reach for her phone but then she grunted again when she saw the time.
She had to get up!
She was supposed to meet Henry at his Castle before he had to go to school.
They had made plans to meet the day before when Emma bumped into him when she was leaving City Hall and had a ridiculous smile on her face just because Regina had kept her jacket.
Henry even commented on it.
Now that smile felt like it happened to someone else.
Emma pulled the covers off her body and went to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Perhaps the warm water could make her mood better.
It didn't!
But at least she didn't have any mascara marks running down her face anymore.
In her bedroom, Emma changed into a pair of dark jeans and a matching long sleeves blouse.
She looked at her red leather jacket hanging in the closet and slid it to the side, picking a black leather one instead.
She couldn't bear to use that jacket today.
It smelled too much like Regina.
Emma finished getting dressed and walked down the stairs.
She found Mary Margaret by the door, already putting her coat on.
"Morning," Emma said emotionless.
"Hi, Emma," Mary Margaret said "Good morning"
"Where are you going so early?" Emma asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"I have to stop by the hospital before going to school," Mary Margaret said "I promised David I would bring him a book"
"A book?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Mary Margaret said quickly "I have to go. I'll see you later"
And before Emma could answer the woman, she was already gone.
Mary Margaret was an adult woman and knew damn well what she was doing.
Her life was none of Emma's business.
Emma sighed as she looked around the kitchen.
She had no energy to make anything for herself to eat.
Not that it mattered. She wasn't hungry anyway.
Emma finished drinking her coffee and left the loft, driving straight to Henry's Castle.
"You look terrible," Henry said the second Emma sat down next to him.
"Thanks, kid," Emma said moody.
"What's wrong?" Henry asked.
"Nothing," Emma sighed "I just didn't sleep very well"
"Funny," Henry laughed "Mom was just saying she slept like a baby last night"
Emma felt her jaw clench as she closed her hands into a fist, digging her short nails into her skin.
"Yeah, I bet she did," Emma said angrily.
"She was really happy this morning," Henry said thoughtfully.
And Emma just swallowed dry, trying her best to keep the tears behind her eyes.
"Henry, I don't want to talk about your mother," Emma said.
"Did you guys have a fight?" Henry asked.
"No," Emma shook her head "I just… can't deal with her right now"
"What did she do, Emma?" Henry asked.
"Nothing, kid," Emma sighed "Wha do you want?"
Henry looked at Emma for far too long than she was comfortable with before he opened the Fairy Tales books on his lap.
"We need to find a way to get your parents together," Henry said pointing at the images in the book.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Snow White and Prince Charming," Henry said "Maybe we need to arrange for them to go on a date or something"
"Henry," Emma sighed "David is married"
"He doesn't love her," Henry said "He loves Miss Blanchard"
"That doesn't change the fact that he is married," Emma said "Besides, I don't think we need to worry about that"
"What do you mean?" Henry asked.
Emma opened her mouth to answer him but then she realized that there were still things that Henry was yet far too young to know.
"Nothing," Emma shook her head "Shouldn't you be on your way to school?"
"I have a few minutes," Henry said far too quickly "I've been doing a list on who everyone is supposed to be"
"Really?"
"Yep," Henry reached inside his backpack picking up his notebook "Here,"
He opened the notebook on a certain page before giving it to Emma who started to scan her eyes all over the list.
"You think Ruby is Little Red Riding Hood?" Emma asked looking at Henry.
"Yep," Henry nodded "And Granny is, well, Granny"
"Don't you think Ruby is a little too old to be…"
"She grew up," Henry said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course she did," Emma laughed.
"You don't believe me," Henry pulled his notebook back.
"I'm sorry, kid," Emma said "I didn't mean to laugh"
"I'm sure you didn't, Emma," Henry crossed his arms.
"Come one," Emma said standing up from the castle "We need to get you to school"
They both left the castle and entered Emma's bug.
Henry chatted on the passenger seat but Emma didn't pay much attention to his words even though she murmured to him an answer every now and then.
The way Henry was talking, so incisive about what he believed made Emma think of Regina.
And her mind went right back to the same dark place where it had been the night before.
How could she ever think she could be loved?
This fantasy she had created in her head about Regina, how could she have let it go so far without realizing what they really were?
A lie.
Emma looked to her side, watching Henry talk.
Perhaps she was the one to blame for him.
"Emma?" Henry asked.
"Yeah, kid?" Emma blinked her eyes.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Henry asked.
"I'm fine," Emma smiled at Henry.
But her heart wasn't in it.
They arrived at school and when Emma parked the car, she gripped the steering wheel so hard that her knuckles turned white.
Because there they were, right in front of her.
Graham and Regina.
Talking.
And when Regina smiled at him, Emma felt her heart breaking all over again.
She would never smile at her like that.
"Emma?" Henry asked.
"You should go, kid," Emma said, without looking at Henry.
Henry opened the door and left the bug.
And the second she heard the door being closed, Emma stepped on the gas finally letting the tears fall down her face.
Regina was talking to Graham in front of the school when suddenly she heard a loud noise of a car rushing out right in front of the school.
And that irritated her to the core!
Because what kind of idiot would speed in front of a school?
Better yet, in front of the school her son was a student in it?
Oh, Regina was going to take pleasure in punishing whoever this peasant was.
Or at least at making Graham chase this person down and have them arrested for whatever crap reason.
Regina turned her head to the street to take as much information on the car she could possibly get.
But what she saw was a familiar yellow bug rushing away and a sour tart smell mixed with the wildflowers scent that had captured her heart.
So much that it was almost unrecognizable.
"Mom?" Henry asked behind her "What Are you doing here?"
"Henry," Regina smiled at the boy.
"I have to go back to the station," Graham said and walked away from them.
"You forgot your lunchbox," Regina said, bending down to be at eye level with Henry.
"What did you do to Emma?" Henry asked sourly.
"Excuse me?" Regina asked.
"What did you do to her?" Henry asked "I thought you were friends"
"Henry, I have no idea what you are talking about," Regina said hurt "I haven't seen Miss Swan since yesterday when she left town hall and she was fine"
"I remember," Henry nodded "Promise me you didn't do anything to her?"
"I promise you, Henry," Regina said "Whatever happened to her, it wasn't me"
Henry looked at Regina for a long time, measuring her words.
Then he simply reached for the lunchbox Regina was still holding.
"I believe you," Henry said.
"You do?" Regina asked.
"You usually get very angry when you are lying," Henry said cheekily.
"Excuse me?" Regina arched an eyebrow.
The school signal echoed around them, making them both turn their head in the direction of the sound.
"I have to go," Henry said already rushing away "Thanks for my lunchbox"
In her office, Regina was tapping her fingers on the desk while biting her lower lip softly.
What happened with Emma?
What was Henry talking about?
Last they talked Emma was fine.
Content even.
She was smiling, that cheeky little smile of hers that makes her eyes light up and turn a shade greener.
Regina was growing quite fond of that smile.
Not to mention, her lips.
Regina moistened her lips and then shook her head smiling to herself.
And then she looked at the stack of papers on top of her desk and sighed.
She had work to do.
Regina would make sure to ask Emma what happened when she show up uninvited in her office with lunch later.
So the hours passed.
And passed.
And passed.
Before Regina knew it was lunchtime.
And then it was past lunchtime.
Emma never showed up.
Not a call.
No butchering her tree.
Nothing!
Regina stared at the clock on the wall, wondering why Emma was so late.
Did something happen at the station?
Did Storybrooke suddenly have another crisis that she wasn't aware of?
Was Emma okay?
Regina picked up the phone, dialing the station.
"Sheriff's Office, how can I help you?"
"Graham?" Regina asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Regina?" Graham asked.
"Did something happen around Storybrooke again today?" Regina asked, slightly annoyed.
"Not that I'm aware off," Graham said "Just came back from my rounds, everything is in order"
"Oh!" Regina exclaimed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Graham laughed.
"Can you put Miss Swan on the phone please?" Regina asked.
"Emma is not working today," Graham said "It's her day off"
"Oh, okay," Regina said "Thanks"
Regina finished the call and tapped her fingers on the desk again.
If Emma had a whole day off, what the hell she was doing that was more important than coming to her office and asking Regina out on a date again?
Regina rose from the chair and walked to the window, staring out her tree.
She had hopes Emma would be standing there doing something incredibly cute and stupid.
But she knew, long before she arrived at the window, that Emma wasn't there.
There was no scent to let Regina know of her presence.
No wildflowers and summer breeze to calm her heart and comfort her soul.
Regina looked out the window, feeling her heart become havier.
She had grown used to Emma's presence somehow.
And now that she wasn't there, Regina missed her terribly.
Not to say, she was worried too.
According to Henry, Emma was really upset.
Regina turned her head, staring at the phone on top of her desk, and bit her lower lip.
Should she call Emma directly and find out what was going on with her?
Regina wasn't exactly the type who cared, but this was Emma and she was… different.
She meant something to Regina.
Long before she even realized herself.
Regina sighed and threw her hands in the air before walking to pick up the phone.
Then she dialed Emma's number not exactly surprised to know the number by heart now.
"What?" Came the angry voice on the other side of the line.
And Regina was slightly thrown back by Emma's tone.
Because now she had no idea of what to say.
"Miss Swan," Regina cleared her throat.
"What do you want, Regina?" Emma asked rudely.
Regina opened and closed her mouth a few times.
It had been quite some time since Emma last spoke with her so harshly.
And now Regina was realizing what a terrible idea it had been to call Emma.
"Are you going to say something or did you just decide to call and play another trick on me?" Emma asked.
Regina blinked her eyes a few times, trying to understand what Emma was saying.
But her mind came up blank because she had no idea what Emma was talking about.
Regina could hardly remember the last time she wanted to play any tricks on Emma, as she put it.
"Okay," Emma laughed cruelly "I'm hanging up"
But Regina couldn't let Emma do that, not until she could talk properly with the blonde woman and find out what the hell was going on.
So she just blew out the first thing that came to her mind and that connected them both.
"Henry," Regina said quickly.
"What about him?" Emma asked, "Are you calling me because I met with him this morning?"
"Well, he was late to… school," Regina said lamely.
"He wasn't late to school, I drop him off just in time," Emma said sarcastically"Not that I think you care since you barely even notice him while you were talking with your Sheriff"
"Excuse me?" Regina asked.
What the hell?
"Henry was at school in time and if you have a problem with me hanging with my kid, well, suck it up," Emma said.
"Emma, what…"
But Regina didn't have time to finish her sentence before Emma hung up the phone on her face.
And Regina could be infuriated with the way Emma acted if she wasn't completely astonished.
Especially considering it was very rare that Regina didn't know what the hell she did to piss off somebody else.
And for the life of her, Regina couldn't figure out what the hell did she do to Emma.
Regina put the phone back on the base, her mind still completely fog about her interaction with Emma.
No, she had no idea what the hell she did to make Emma this upset.
But she would give the day for Emma to cool off and then she was going to figure out what happened.
Because running away from her feelings simply wasn't an option anymore.
Emma was sitting by the counter at Granny's nursing her fourth glass of whiskey.
It was late at night already and the diner was mostly empty which was something Emma was grateful for.
She needed no witness to her misery.
Emma sipped on her whiskey again, letting the bitter taste linger on her tongue before swallowing the liquid, burning down her throat.
She needed the comfort that only alcohol could bring tonight.
Because not only she was angry with herself she was also… guilty.
She had no right to treat Regina the way she did when she called her that afternoon.
But Emma couldn't help.
She was angry at her, angry that she had chosen Graham.
Angry that she had imagined what was happening between them.
Angry that Regina didn't feel the same.
It had been so long since the last time Emma felt something, anything that was remotely real for another person.
And even when she thought about it, none of her previous feelings felt as strong as what she was feeling for Regina.
She was a fool.
Emma drank what was left of her whiskey all at once before knocking the glass heavily on the counter.
She was getting drunk.
She wasn't quite there yet, but Emma could feel by the way her head was lighter just like everything else around her.
Emma reached for her back pocket and threw some dollar bills on top of the counter.
And then she stood up from the stool and walked to the bathroom.
She had no intention to be drunk and bitter in the middle of the diner.
She just needed to take some of the edge off before going home.
Perhaps she could even stop by the supermarket and get a bottle or two before going to the loft.
And get drunk all by herself in the middle of the bed.
Emma stopped in front of the mirror, looking at her own reflection.
God, she looked awful.
Henry was right when he commented that morning.
And that was nothing compared to what Emma was feeling inside.
Emma turned on the faucet, splashing some water on her face.
The cold water was quite a relief against her skin.
It made her feel fresher somehow.
Sober, even.
When Emma looked at her reflection again, she felt like she looked more human.
At least her face could now hide how destroyed her heart truly was.
Emma moved to the wall, picking up a few paper sheets to dry her face and then she adjusted her blouse.
When she deemed she looked respectful enough, Emma left the bathroom ready to go home.
But what she wasn't ready for at all was running into Graham playing darts in the diner.
"Emma," Ruby said behind Graham smiling at her "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thanks," Emma said seriously walking past Graham and Ruby.
She was just about to reach for the doorknob when one of the darts hit the doorframe, passing way too close to her face.
"What the hell?" Emma turned angrily in Graham's direction "You could have hit me"
"I never miss," Graham said cockily, walking towards Emma "You've been avoiding me, since last night when you saw me…"
"I don't give a shit about you, Graham," Emma said bitterly "And I haven't been avoiding you, it's my fucking day off"
Emma opened the diner door harshly and stepped outside, barely acknowledging the cold wind that hit her face.
"If you don't care why are you so upset?" Graham asked behind her.
"I'm not upset," Emma shouted.
Oh, she was upset!
But she would never give him the satisfaction of admitting it.
"If you weren't upset you would be in a bar having a drink and not running away," Graham said hurrying his step to stop in front of Emma.
And she had no choice but to stop walking too.
"It's none of my business," Emma said angrily "Really"
Emma started walking again, internally begging for Graham to just give up and go inside the diner again.
She was in no mood to discuss what happened last night.
It was bad enough that she was having to deal with her own feelings.
"Can we please talk about this?" Graham asked, pulling on Emma's elbow.
"There is nothing to talk about, Graham," Emma said tiredly "I just need to go home"
"You got it all wrong, Emma," Graham said "What you saw last night, it was the end"
"What?" Emma asked, suddenly looking into Graham's eyes.
"Regina, she…" Graham smiled beautifully at Emma "She freed me last night"
"She freed you?" Emma asked confused "What the hell are you talking about?"
"She broke up with me last night," Graham said "But to be honest with you, it was over long before last night. I don't feel anything for her, Emma. I never did"
"Regina broke up with you?" Emma asked, her mouth slightly open.
"It's been a while that she has been canceling our… meetings," Graham said "I guess last night she just made it official"
"So, you and Regina are not together anymore," Emma smiled at Graham.
"No, we are not," Grama smiled back at Emma giving one step closer to her "Emma, I'm free"
"Regina didn't choose you," Emma whispered to herself.
"What?" Graham asked.
"Nothing," Emma shook her head "Graham, I have to go"
"Wait," Graham said.
He smiled at Emma, gently running one hand on her cheek.
"Emma, I want to ask you to go on a date with me," Graham said.
"Oh," Emma said awkwardly, removing Graham's hand from her face "No, thanks"
"What?" Graham asked confused.
"I'm not interested," Emma said.
"What do you mean you are not interested?" Graham asked.
"I am not interested in you," Emma said clearly.
"But…" Graham shook his head confused "You were upset because you saw me jumping off Regina's window last night"
"For… Henry…." Emma said lamely.
She couldn't just admit she was upset because she was in fact interested in Regina.
At least not yet.
"Henry?" Graham asked.
"Yeah, you know… our kid," Emma made a face "He was… in the…house"
Not even she was buying her words anymore.
"Oh!" Graham exclaimed.
"Yeah, anyway, I have to go," Emma said already giving her back to Graham "Have a nice night"
Emma started to walk as fast as her feet could carry her.
Her heart was beating fast inside her chest and she had a silly smile on her face that didn't seem to want to go away.
What she thought she saw last night was actually the opposite.
Regina wasn't choosing Graham.
She was letting him go.
Was it because of her?
Did Regina break up with Graham because of Emma?
Because she was choosing her instead?
Emma walked the streets of Storybrooke, not really paying attention to where she was going.
Her mind and heart were fighting over thoughts and feelings and for the first time since the night before, Emma felt hopeful again.
It wasn't a lie.
All that she felt when she was with Regina, the scent, the pull, the awakening, these things weren't lies.
Regina felt them too.
And deep down, Emma knew she did it.
It was just easier to ignore and deal with her broken heart when she thoughts Regina didn't care about her.
It hurt less, somehow.
Because knowing that Regina felt all that and still chose not to be with her would destroy Emma.
Emma wasn't sure she could deal with being worthless to Regina.
Not her.
Not after everything she felt for the brunette woman, not after what they had shared.
It was so little and yet it was more than what Emma have ever felt in her whole life.
It felt like she belonged.
It felt like she had finally found what she was looking for.
Regina and Henry felt like… home.
Emma stopped walking, suddenly being invaded by that scent of apple blossom and winter breeze.
When she looked to the side, she saw the white mansion before her and Emma smiled.
Her heart had carried her home.
Emma opened the gate, stepping inside the garden.
Henry's lights were already out, but Regina's were still on.
Emma looked up at Regina's window, wondering if she should knock on the door.
Or just climb up.
The conversation with Graham had sobered her up but Emma wasn't quite sure if her limbs felt the same.
To be honest, she was pretty sure her hands were slightly shaken.
But Emma wasn't sure if the alcohol were to blame for that.
While Emma stared at Regina's window, the lights suddenly were out.
Emma looked at her watch realizing that it was way past midnight.
She wanted to talk to Regina desperately, but perhaps it was best to do that with a full night of sleep and a rested head.
Regina deserved more!
And no matter how happy Emma was feeling right now, she knew she still looked dreadful.
So with a heavy heart, Emma turned away and left the mansion even though every bone in her body was begging her to come back to the scent.
And when Emma looked behind her, she could swear she saw Regina's silhouette in the window begging her to come home too.