Part Twenty-Three: The One With The Siblings
Regina parked her Mercedes across the street from the pharmacy, feeling the annoyance hammering in the back of her head.
She had received a call earlier from Mr. Clark informing her that Henry was caught stealing from the store.
Her Henry!
Regina opened the door of the Mercedes and then slammed the door shut behind her.
She couldn't believe the absurdity of the man's words when he called her office to inform her that Henry was being kept inside the store until her arrival as if he had any authority over her son.
Ancient anger rippled through Regina's body when she turned off the phone call and by the time she drove all the way down to the pharmacy, that anger had turned into pure annoyance.
Lucky for him.
Regina crossed the street to the pharmacy pushing the door open all at once, entering the store as if she owned the place.
Which, she did.
And she was surprised when her eyes landed on the two children standing next to Henry close to the door.
Regina stared at the kids a minute too long, a light wave of guilt squeezing her heart.
"I'm sorry, Madam Mayor, but your son was shoplifting," Mr. Clark said.
Regina kept on staring at the children in front of her, their features scared and eyes glowing with unfallen tears.
She kept her features hard, mostly for her own benefit as she waited for that guilt feeling to dissolve into smoke.
But it never did.
If anything, the flames only grew an inch higher inside her heart.
Henry walked away from beside the siblings to her, standing next to Regina.
Regina shifted her attention to her son, looking down at him when she asked:
"Were you?"
Henry shook his head negatively and Regina smiled down at her little boy, running her hand gently down his face.
Of course, she never believed he had stolen anything.
"Well, look for yourself," Mr. Clark said, pointing at Henry's backpack on top of the counter.
Regina walked closer, inspecting everything that was on display next to Henry's backpack.
She picked up a chocolate bar and held it between her fingers.
"My son doesn't eat candy," Regina said staring at the chocolate bar.
"Well…" Henry said behind her.
"And he knows better than to steal," Regina clicked her tongue.
Regina picked up Henry's backpack from the counter and closed the zipper before looking back at the siblings in front of her.
" It was obviously those two," Regina said.
And that ripple of guilt ran through her again.
Why was she feeling that way?
Regina could hardly stand looking at the siblings without a bitter taste invading her tongue.
Regina moved to where Henry was standing giving his backpack back to him.
"We are going," Regina said simply.
She put her arm around Henry's shoulder and turned around to walk away with him, but when she was just about to reach for the door, Emma walked in.
"Hey," Emma said smiling at Regina.
"Miss Swan," Regina said, smiling back at Emma.
"Henry!" Emma said surprised looking down at him "What happened?"
"I was caught stealing," Henry said.
"What?" Emma asked looking from Henry to Regina.
"I didn't do it," Henry said outrageously.
"It was all just a misunderstanding," Regina said "But you might want to arrest the little miscreants over there" Regina tilted her head back.
Emma looked over Regina's shoulder before shifting her gaze back to Regina.
"They are just kids," Emma said softly.
"They are troublemakers," Regina said back "We have to go,"
"Okay," Emma nodded.
Regina left the store with Henry, gripping his shoulder with force and doing her best to ignore the feeling of guilt that was now turning her stomach into a knot.
"Did you call their parents?" Emma asked looking at Mr. Clark and then at the siblings.
"Uh, the number they gave me was disconnected," Mr. Clark said.
Emma shifted her gaze back to the siblings, a knowing look adorning her features.
"Did you guys give Mr. Clark a fake number?" Emma asked.
The siblings shook their heads negatively, while Mr. Clark walked back behind the counter.
"Then why is it disconnected?" Emma asked.
The absolute fear dancing in the sibling's features as they stared back at Emma made her jaw clench while her gaze never left them.
"'Cause our parents couldn't pay the bill," The girl said, a silver line shining behind her eyes.
Emma looked at the counter, only now seeing the things they were about to steal.
Hygiene products and food.
Emma gave a step closer to the counter, picking up a box of toothpaste before looking back at the siblings.
"You guys are just trying to help out, huh?" Emma said sympathetically.
"Please, please don't arrest us" The girl begged "It will just make things worse for our parents"
Emma nodded at the siblings and then walked to the counter again, paying for the things they had picked up while looking sternly at Mr. Clark.
The kids were stealing, and that was wrong.
But adults should be able to tell the difference between stealing for fun and stealing for survival when it comes to kids.
What kind of a twelve and ten-year-old would walk into a pharmacy to steal toothpaste and toilet paper unless they really needed it?
Mr. Clark handed the bags back to Emma who immediately gave them to the siblings before tilting her head in the direction of the door.
The siblings followed her out of the pharmacy and then to her car where Emma opened the backseat door for them to enter with only a slight frown on her face.
She was using the Sheriff's Department vehicle.
Emma closed the door after the siblings were safe and inside, deciding not to think too much about it, and then walked around the car, getting in herself.
"Where do you guys live?" Emma asked, turning on the engine.
"It's a bit further from here," The girl said "We can take the bus there if you are too busy"
"I'm not," Emma said, driving the car "My name is Emma, by the way. Emma Swan. What's your name?"
"I'm Ava," The girl said "And this is my brother, Nicholas"
"Nice to meet you guys," Emma smiled looking back at them through the rearview mirror "How about an address now, Ava?"
The girl gulped audibly before giving Emma an address.
She knew that area from when she was doing her mandatory rounds with Graham it was a medium to medium-high-class neighborhood and Emma immediately knew two things.
One, people who couldn't afford basic hygiene products and instant noodles couldn't possibly live in that neighborhood.
And two, they were going to find an excuse for Emma not to go with them to the front door the second she parked in front of the house.
She knew that because Emma had done the same many, many times when a friend's parent from school offered her a ride home. Most of the time, Emma was ridiculously embarrassed by the houses she was living in so she used to lie a lot when that happened, giving them an address that wasn't her own.
Later on in life, Emma decided simply not to make any more friends.
It was easier that way.
Emma drove lightly, chit-chatting with the kids on the ride there. She tried to get them to tell her what was wrong by asking tricky questions but Ava never fell for any of them.
The girl was good that way.
So good that Emma wondered how long she was doing that for.
Emma ignored the little tight feeling in her chest and continued driving and chatting with the kids.
After fifteen minutes, Emma was parking the car in front of a beautiful grey/blue house with white windows, that looked like it had just recently been freshly painted.
"Is this it?" Emma asked staring at the house.
She looked at the siblings on the back seat, Ava nodding her answer positively.
Emma pulled up the hand brake and unbuckled her seatbelt, hearing the sibling do the same behind her before reaching for the car handle to open the door.
"Please, no," Ava said "If our parents see you, they'll be so embarrassed"
Emma looked back at her, closing the car door, not willing to buy their bullshit anymore.
Well, hers.
The boy hardly said a word the whole ride.
"Did Henry tell you about my superpower?" Emma asked, looking at the girl.
"We just met him," Ava said, shaking her head.
"I have the ability to tell when anybody is lying," Emma said looking at them "Tell me the truth, money problems aside, is very thing okay at home?"
"Yeah, we're great," Ava said lightly "Can we go?"
Emma looked at Ava and then at Nicholas before nodding her consent for them to leave.
She watched them walked up the house while turning the engine on the siblings waving her goodbye.
As she said, she wasn't willing to buy their bullshit anymore.
That wasn't their house.
And Emma needed to find out why they were lying about it.
Emma drove the car around the house, parking the car in the back.
It didn't take long before she saw the siblings running off in the opposite direction and Emma sighed as she pushed the door open and discretely ran after them.
They ran inside a few backyards, jumping the wooden walls that separate the houses until they entered the last backyard and then disappeared inside the basement door of an abandoned house.
Emma stopped outside the wooden door, pushing it open but the door was locked.
Emma walked around the house, frowning at the horrible state of the home, angry about things she couldn't quite understand or could understand too well.
She had lived in places like that before.
Emma walked up the stairs to the porch, the rotten wood threatening to give in under her feet.
She reached for the doorknob, not surprised to realize that the door was open, and walked inside.
The wooden floor cracked behind her at every step Emma gave inside the house.
She wasn't sure what she was expecting to find as she looked around but furniture covered in plastic and dirt wasn't it.
The house looked abandoned, not because nobody bothered to clean it, but rather because nobody bothered to live inside.
What the hell was happening?
Emma heard steps inside the house and quickly turned in the direction of the sound.
She entered the kitchen, the room barely illuminated due to the wood pieces nailed to the windows, and saw the siblings with their backs to her, carefully looking around.
"Why did you guys lie to me?" Emma asked seriously.
The siblings turned in her direction all at once, fear dancing in their features.
"Where are your parents?" Emma asked, staring at them.
"We don't have any" Ava answered.
Regina scratched her forehead while staring at the papers on top of her desk, a small headache already lightly pounding behind her right eye.
For whatever reason, she couldn't take the siblings out of her mind.
She couldn't forget what she had done to them.
What was their punishment!
Regina sighed and dropped the pen she was holding on top of the papers, leaning her body back against the chair.
In twenty-eight years, she had never felt guilty about what she had done to those children.
They deserved it.
She gave them a great opportunity and they simply tossed it away, like it was nothing, like she was nothing.
She had nothing to feel guilty about, not when it comes to their faith.
So, why now?
Why thinking about what they were going through was making her stomach turn into a knot and her head hurt with an annoying headache?
Why suddenly was her conscious telling her that what she did wasn't right?
"I need your help,"
Regina looked up with a start, her eyes slowly focusing on the image of Emma still holding the doorknob by the door of her office.
"What's wrong?" Regina asked concerned.
Emma looked pale, her eyes slightly wide. Her features were a mix of fear and desperation and Regina absolutely hate that something could cause that effect on Emma.
Emma closed the door behind her before walking to Regina's desk and standing in front of her.
"You know the siblings from this morning?" Emma asked "Ava and Nicholas?"
"Yes," Regina nodded, her stomach clenching uncomfortably again.
"I need you to help me find their father," Emma said, looking at Regina.
"What?" Regina asked.
"Look," Emma sighed and scratched her forehead before walking around the desk.
She kneeled in front of Regina and took her hands between hers, looking deep into her eyes.
"You know I grew up in foster homes, right?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Regina nodded.
"What you may not know is that it was horrible," Emma said "Growing up in the system fucks you up in a way that you may never truly crawl out of it. I was in there for sixteen years and all I was worth was a meal ticket. That's what I was, a meal ticket"
"Emma," Regina whispered, her heart clenching inside her chest.
She leaned forward in the chair, lovingly caressing Emma's cheek, feeling the smooth warm skin against her palm.
Emma closed her eyes and leaned into her touch, bringing Regina's palm slowly to her lips and kissing it gently.
"I'm so sorry," Regina whispered.
"It's in the past," Emma shook her head, holding Regina's hand against her cheek when she opened her eyes again "But I don't want my past to be their future"
Regina looked at Emma, her guts twisting uncomfortably inside her stomach, the same way it had been the whole day.
Perhaps it was because Ava looked so much like Emma that Regina couldn't bear the idea of any harm coming to the woman in front of her.
Perhaps it was her consciousness finally getting the best of her and telling her that just this once, she should try and do the right thing.
They have never truly deserved what happened to them.
They kept their part of the deal, they brought back to the castle what Regina had asked of them.
She was the one who broke their deal, all out of spite.
Out of hate for being turned away.
Out of hate for people who dared to carry love in their hearts.
But Regina could understand their actions now.
They would do anything for the one person they loved.
Just like Regina would do anything for Emma.
Regina looked at Emma, her hopeful eyes shining with untold emotions.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips against Emma's, the blonde woman responding seconds after their lips touched.
"Tell me what you need," Regina said when she pulled away.
Emma smiled at Regina and pressed their lips together again, one last time, before getting up from the floor.
"I need to find their father," Emma said "I got their records from the school. Their mother died a few years ago but there are no records of their father, maybe he doesn't even know they exist"
"Okay…"
"Do you have any clues where we can start looking?" Emma asked.
"The hall of records," Regina said "His name wont be on their birth certificate otherwise the school would have them, but maybe there is a marriage or a divorce certificate along with the mother's records"
"Oh my God, Regina," Emma smiled at her "Oh, you are a genius. Thank you! Thank you so much"
Emma crouched in front of Regina, taking her face between her hands before smashing their lips together in a heated kiss.
Regina moaned and reached for Emma's jacket, pulling her closer, needing to feel her body pressed against hers, her warmth on her skin.
Emma broke the kiss smiling against Regina's lips pressing their lips quickly one last time before rising to her full height.
"Save that thought for later," Emma winked at Regina "I have to go now, see if I can find those records"
Emma walked in the direction of the door and Regina was distracted for a second or two too long, staring at Emma's ass inside those sinful tight jeans before she shouted:
"Emma, wait,"
Emma turned around to face Regina, her hand already touching the doorknob.
"What?" Emma asked.
"I'm coming with you," Regina said, getting up from the chair.
"Regina, you don't have to do that," Emma said.
"It will be more effective if I'm with you," Regina said, walking in Emma's direction "As you said once, my name can open many doors around town"
Emma smiled at Regina, squeezing her hand before opening the door of the office, both women leaving side by side.
Emma drove them quickly to the Hall of records, the building not too far from City Hall.
It hardly gave Regina any time to think about what she was doing, which was a good thing she supposed.
Emma parked the car in front of the building, hurrying Regina out of the car, eager to get inside.
Regina could hardly keep up with her and Emma entered the building with Regina a step or two behind.
"Excuse me, Mr." Emma said "Ku-sas-ki?"
"It's Krzyszkowski," Mr. Krzyszkowski said walking behind the counter to Emma as Regina properly entered the room "Everyone calls me K"
"Mister K," Emma said "I am Deputy Swan, I'm hoping to look at the records of Dory Zimmer, Ava Zimmer, and Nicholas Zimmer"
The man looked at Emma and then at Regina standing beside her.
He swallowed dry, the familiar fear already creeping behind his eyes.
That sight used to bring such joy to Regina.
Her heart used to hum with happiness when she saw how scared they all were of her.
Now that same sight wasn't as amusing as it used to be.
Regina shook her head, forcing the thoughts out of her head.
It was their fault.
They chose to stand with the enemy.
She had nothing to feel guilty about.
Except maybe for the siblings.
Ava and Nicholas.
Gretel and Hansel.
Regina gave half a step closer to the counter, placing her hands flatly on top of the wooden surface.
"Mr. Krzyszkowski, we need those documents with a certain urgency," Regna smiled at the man "If you could please provide us with any records you have on them we would very much appreciate"
"Yes, Madam Mayor," Mr. Krzyszkowski said "I just need you to fill up these forms," He crouched down behind the counter and then placed three sheets of paper on top of the wooden surface, aggressively stamping them "In triplicate"
"Okay," Emma said awkwardly looking at Regina.
Regina sighed and pushed one of the papers in Emma's direction while she started to fill up one of them.
Bureaucracy was supposed to trap and annoy all the other citizens except for her.
But Regina supposed the matter wasn't as urgent as to require the use of the Mayor's prerogative since they were going to get the files anyway.
Mr. Krzyszkowski gave his back to them and walked in the direction of a wooden file, opening the first drawer.
"I am so sorry," Mr. Krzyszkowski said before Regina was halfway through the first form "Those documents have been recently removed"
"By whom?" Regina asked.
"Mary Margaret Blanchard,"
Regina dropped the pen on top of the paper and closed her hand in a fist, anger already clouding her judgment at the thought of Snow White stepping into something that wasn't of her business.
Emma stormed inside the school, every step heavier than the other, her blood boiling with rage.
She had trusted Mary Margaret.
When Emma found Ava and Nicholas inside that abandoned house, she had taken them to their loft after stopping by the school and requesting their files from the school principal.
They even drove back to the loft together, all four of them.
They had served breakfast together to the siblings and then Emma walked with Mary Margaret to a corner inside the apartment and read their file to the woman.
She had insisted Emma called social service, even after Emma told her what would happen with them.
Even after Emma told her what happened to her.
And still, she insisted!
She insisted that Emma call social service, and insisted that it was the right thing to do.
But Emma had put her foot down. Emma had told Mary Margaret her plan to find their father. Emma had told her she knew who she could ask for help. Emma had told her to look after the kids while she went out to look for clues.
Mary Margaret had promised Emma she would help them.
Help her.
And now, Mary Margaret had betrayed her.
Emma called the loft the second Mr. Krzyszkowski told her and Regina that Mary Margaret had removed the files, but Ava was the one who had picked up the phone and she told Emma that Mary Margaret went out only a few minutes after Emma left.
She said she had important things to do.
Emma could have sworn she would end up breaking her phone with the way she held it inside her hands after she finished the call. She could feel the glass making cracking sounds with the way she squeezed the phone until the cold metal was digging into her skin.
It was Regina's hand on her wrist and the gentle tone of her voice that broke Emma off her furious daze.
But the fire burning behind Regina's brown eyes told Emma that she felt the same way.
So they left the Hall of Records together, and Emma drove them straight to school.
It was the only obvious place Mary Margaret could be.
Emma walked among the children, pulling and pushing one or another kid almost the same way Regina did when Emma first arrived in town.
Back then Emma thought it was so rude of her to do that.
Now, she could understand.
She could understand the urgency.
Emma turned into another hallway, closing and opening her hands in a fist when she spotted Mary Margaret's classroom.
She opened the door at once, not even bothering to knock first, and spotted the woman behind the desk, her eyes darting between Emma and Regina who was right behind her.
"It was the right thing to do," Mary Margaret said before either of the women could say anything.
"What was the right thing to do?" Emma asked, her voice cold.
"I called social services," Mary Margaret said.
"Why?" Emma asked, walking in the direction of the desk "I told you what they do to children in those places"
"They are not all like that," Mary Margaret said softly.
"And you know this by experience, dear?" Regina asked behind Emma.
"No, of course not," Mary Margaret said looking between Regina and Emma again "Look, I went to the hall of records, there was nothing about their father there. Emma, those children need a home. We can't just keep them in our loft"
"Does Storybrooke has a foster system?" Emma asked, looking hopeful at Regina.
"No," Regina shook her head before looking angrily at Mary Margaret "If she called social services she probably contacted the state"
"I did, yes," Mary Margaret nodded "Maine's group homes were filled but they have two spots in Boston, one in a girl's house and another one in a boy's"
"They are separating them?" Emma asked eyes widened at Mary Margaret.
"They assured me it was only temporary," Mary Margaret gestured with her hands.
"Why would you do that?" Emma asked, her voice slightly choked "You heard me promising them they wouldn't be separated"
"It was the right thing to do, Emma" Mary Margaret said firmly.
"That's how you justify everything isn't it?" Regina asked, her voice dripping with anger "The right thing to do"
"I don't understand," Mary Margaret said looking confused at Regina.
"You…"
"Regina, we don't have time for this," Emma interrupted Regina "We need to find a way to help them"
"I've already helped them, Emma," Mary Margareth said "They are going to be okay"
"No, they won't," Emma raised her voice, a mix of anger and ice dripping from her tongue "You have no idea what you did. You…" Emma stopped talking and shook her head, closing her eyes for a second before opening them again "I have to go. I have to fix this before it's too late"
Emma gave her back to Mary Margaret and walked away. She stopped by the door and turn around, looking directly at Regina.
"Will you help me?" Emma asked, her voice slightly shaken.
"Always," Regina smiled.
Emma smiled back at her and waited, waited until Regina gave one final glare at Mary Margaret and walked closer to her. Emma let Regina pass ahead of her and then she looked at Mary Margaret sitting behind the desk, guilty not even crossing her eyes.
Not until Emma glared at her, the same way Regina did.
And she knew, she could see that Mary Margaret saw the betrayal that burned behind her eyes.
"Mom?" Henry asked "What are you doing here?"
Regina looked down at her son and smiled most of her anger towards the woman inside the classroom dissipating as she ran her hands softly over his hair.
"Hi, honey,"
"Regina," Emma said behind her, walking closer "Hey, kid"
"What are you guys doing here?" Henry asked, looking between Regina and Emma.
"We just needed to talk with Mary Margaret," Emma sighed "But we are in a case now and we have to go"
"A case?" Henry asked "What case?"
"Henry, this is official police business," Regina said.
"What case?" Henry asked, looking at Emma and ignoring Regina.
"It's about the siblings from this morning," Emma said "I need to find their father"
Henry paused and looked up at Regina, his features softer and eyes full of hope.
"And you are helping Emma find him?" Henry asked.
"Yes, I…" Regina felt a lump form in her throat "I am"
Henry smiled at Regina before throwing his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly.
Regina was surprised just for a second before wrapping her arms around Henry and pulling him against her.
It still surprised her every time Henry show her this kind of affection and Regina felt a slight pinch in her heart, a mix of happiness and sorrow.
She should have never let things get as far as they did with Henry a few months ago.
She should have never let a single day go by without her son knowing how much she loved him.
And she should have never gotten used to so little crumbs of affection coming from her little boy that a hug in public was capable of taking her by surprise.
Regina ran her hands over Henry's hair, the soft locks running smoothly over her fingers.
He needed a haircut.
Henry looked up at Regina and smiled, his eyes shining in a way that reminded her so much of Emma.
"I knew you were good," Henry said.
And Regina wanted to cry.
Emma came closer to them and put her gently on Regina's back, pulling her attention away from Henry.
She smiled softly at Regina before running her free hand over Henry's hair as well.
Her scent of wildflowers and summer breeze invaded Regina, warming her heart and Regina felt this unbelievable sense of completeness.
Like her whole soul was here, her whole heart split between Emma and Henry.
"We have to go, kid," Emma said "Your mom and I have work to do"
"Okay," Henry nodded before letting go of Regina "I'll investigate who they are too. It might help mom to remember better"
"Remember what?" Emma laughed.
"She knows," Henry said before running away in the hallway.
And Regina just swallowed dry, because indeed.
She knew.
Emma smirked and shook her head, watching Henry run away before looking back at Regina.
"Come on," Emma said tilting her head "Let's go"
They drove to the Sheriff's station, Regina silent all the way there.
She couldn't bring herself to talk, she was afraid she might betray herself if she did.
Regina fidgeted with her fingers, a lump resting in her throat.
She had to help them.
She knew that now.
Even if it was just to spite the insufferable Snow White and her ridiculous sense of rightness.
But Regina knew that wasn't it.
Her actions weren't selfish this time.
She wanted to help them because she knew, they didn't deserve the punishment she gave them.
They had paid long enough for actions that Regina herself could understand now.
She wanted to help them because they didn't deserve their faith.
And she wanted to help them because… Because she never wanted Emma to have to break a promise.
They arrived at the Sheriff's Station, both women leaving the car and walking inside the building.
How could Regina point Emma in the right direction? How could she point Emma at Michael and his shop?
Regina walked the hallway, her mind a million thoughts rushing all at once.
Perhaps she could forge a document.
Perhaps she could forge a document and then call Emma from the Mayor's office, saying she found the missing document with a name written on it.
Perhaps she didn't even have to go as far as to forge the document, she could simply call Emma from the Mayor's office and say she found it in a day or two as to not look suspicious.
That could work.
Regina smiled as they entered the small office, the plan already formed in her head.
Tomorrow.
She would call Emma tomorrow saying she found the missing piece of the siblings' puzzle.
A sale of a house in the name of Dory Zimmer and Michael Tillman from fourteen years ago, before Ava, was even supposed to be born.
Regina could tell Emma that it might not be much but it was a lead and knowing Emma as she did, she knew she would follow it and she knew she would convince Michael of the truth.
She was very good that way.
"I don't know what to do," Emma sighed dropping heavily on the chair behind the desk "What are we going to do, Regina?"
"We have time," Regina said softly, sitting on the edge of the desk "We'll find something, Emma. I'll take a look at any documents I have at the Mayor's Office, I'll go back to the Hall of records and look at old files until we find this man"
"And what if he is not here in Storybrooke anymore?" Emma asked, her voice small.
"He is," Regina said firmly "We'll find him, Emma"
"Thank you," Emma smiled at Regina. She pushed her body slightly and slid her hand under Regina's fingers that were gripping the desk "Thank you for helping me"
Regna moved her other hand to cover Emma's hand on top of hers, smiling back at Emma.
"It's my pleasure," Regina said.
Emma's smile grew wider and she blinked at Regina before standing up in front of her.
Regina smirked and arched an eyebrow as Emma took a step closer invading her very small personal space.
"Emma," Regina warned.
"What?" Emma asked cheekily.
"We are in public," Regina said.
"There is no one here," Emma smiled sideways "And I really want to give you a kiss of thank you right now"
"I see," Regina clicked her tongue.
Emma put her hand on Regina's thigh and Regina could feel the warmth of her hand spreading all over her body, adding fuel to the fire that resided inside of her.
The fire that belonged to Emma.
Emma's body moved closer, the vibrations of her body intertwining with Regina's, begging her to make them one, to be with the one her heart belonged to.
God, she couldn't care about anything and anyone right now.
Couldn't care about who saw them together.
All she wanted was for Emma's mouth to claim her lips and take her breath away with her, to make her heart race inside her chest, to let that fire burn until there was nothing but herself and Emma tangled up in the flames.
Emma was so close that Regina could already feel her warm breath tickling her lips, she could already taste her tongue and smell the desire mixed with Emma's scent.
Just one more inch, not even that, and Regina would have the one thing she craved for, claim what was hers and…
"Madam Mayor?"
Regina registered the lack of warmth from Emma's body near her long before she registered the voice behind her.
And that made her sigh, deeply frustrated.
And then made her feel mortified at her reaction and the sound that escaped her lips. And the fact that Emma was looking at her from a safe distance completely amused only add to her humiliation.
Regina hopped from the desk, smoothing her outfit before hardening her features and turning around to face their intruder.
"Sheriff," Regina said solemnly.
"What are you doing here?" Graham asked, walking closer to them.
Completely oblivious to the bliss he just interrupted.
"I'm helping Miss Swan on a case," Regina said back.
"What case?" Graham asked confused.
"Ava and Nicholas Zimmer," Emma said "Regina is helping me find their father"
"Oh, about them," Graham said "I received a call from Boston social services earlier. They need the kids to be there tonight or they'll lose their spot"
"What?" Emma asked, giving a step closer to where Regina and Graham were standing side by side.
"Yes, it was very unexpected," Graham said "I didn't even know that you were in this case. Well, I didn't even know there was a case. Apparently, someone called to report them,"
"Mary Margaret," Regina said, spitting her name.
"You need to drive them to Boston by tonight," Graham said, pointing at Emma.
"Me?" Emma asked, "Why me?"
"Because the town can't be without a Sheriff," Graham said "Plus, you know Boston better than me. You used to live there while I have never been there"
"Graham, I can't do this," Emma said, and Regina could see fear burning in her eyes.
"Wel, you have to. It's your job," Graham said "I'm going to do my rounds now. The forms are in the printer"
Graham nodded at both women before leaving the office.
And Emma walked back to the chair, sitting down heavily and then lowering her head between her knees.
"I can't do this," Emma said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Emma…"
Regina walked to where Emma was sitting and kneeled in front of her, putting her hands over her thigh.
"Regina, I can't do this," Emma lifted her head to look at her, tears falling down her beautiful face "I lived in the system for sixteen years. I know what will happen to them because it happened to me. Things that I can't even voice, I… They won't see each other again. They'll grow up apart, they'll be complete strangers by the time they reach the age to leave the system"
"Emma, this is not gonna happen," Regina said.
"Yes, it will," Emma shouted "I should never have gone there. I should never have brought them home, if I had just left them maybe they would have had a chance. Now they are going to go through stuff worse than living alone in a small safe town and it's all my fault"
Emma buried her face inside her hands again, sorrow and anger taking over her scent.
Regina could feel it in every pore of her body.
Regina reached for Emma's hands, gently pulling them away from her face, and held them between hers.
Emma looked back at her, eyes slightly red and cheeks marred with tears.
Regina's heart clenched inside her chest.
She hated seeing Emma like that with every bit of her soul.
Regina pushed her body up, gently kissing Emma's lips.
And when Regina rose to her full height, she knew what she had to do.
"You are not driving them anywhere," Regina said.
And then she turned around, leaving Emma alone in the office every step more determined than the other to fix what she had done wrong.
Emma walked to the Sheriff Station bathroom, closing the door behind her.
She sighed heavily when she supported her body against the door hitting her head three times against the wooden surface before walking to the sink.
Emma looked at herself in the mirror and grunted at the mess she saw reflecting back at her.
Her eyes were red, her mascara had run down her face, marring her cheeks in an ugly shade of black and pink.
Emma hated crying.
She hated showing weakness.
Especially in front of people.
Except that she didn't do it in front of people, there wasn't an audience to watch her fall.
There was just Regina.
And Emma felt… she felt like she could trust.
She felt like Regina wouldn't let her fall.
It was that scent of blooming apples and winter night that enveloped her, that told Emma that it was okay to cry in front of her.
She wouldn't think less of her.
If anything, her touch had reassured Emma.
The kiss she gave Emma so freely in the middle of the station, risking anyone seeing them inside just like Graham nearly caught them earlier.
It had reassured Emma.
Feeling Regina's lips pressed against hers, made the tears stop falling.
And by the time Regina walked away from her, that scent carried only protection and determination at every step Regina gave away from her.
It made her whole body shiver.
Emma turned on the faucet and lowered her hands in the shape of a shell under the running water, gathering the water in her hands and then splashing it over her face.
She repeated the process three more times before reaching for the paper towel and drying her face in front of the mirror.
Where did Regina go?
And how could Emma help her?
She seemed so determined when she left the office that Emma had no doubt that Regina would do anything in her power and maybe even beyond that to help Emma, to help the siblings, to keep them here in Storybrooke.
To prevent Emma from breaking her promise.
But what was out there for her to do?
Would Regina go as far as doing something illegal to help Emma?
Emma smirked as she tossed the nearly dissolved paper towel in the trash.
She knew Regina was capable of bending the law to her will when she wanted to.
And if Regina had to go as far as to do that to help the kids, she was more than happy to look the other way.
Emma checked herself in the mirror again, using her thumb to clean some of the black smudges from the corner of her eyes.
Then she walked back into the office and sat down heavily behind her desk, looking up at the ceiling and closing her eyes.
"Hi, Emma"
Emma opened her eyes as fast as she had close them at the sound of the voice echoing inside the room.
"Hi, Kid," Emma smiled at Henry.
"Any luck?" Henry asked, walking closer to her.
"No," Emma sighed.
"I know who they are," Henry said sliding his backpack off his shoulder and then retrieving a book from inside and putting it on top of the desk, opening it on a certain page "Brother and sister, lost, no parents. Hansel and Gretel"
Emma smiled tiredly at Henry, looking down at the image on the book that kind of did look like the orphans she was holding inside the loft.
"And do you know anything about their dad?" Emma asked, half sarcastic, half desperate for a clue.
At this point, she would take anything.
Even the fairy tale bullshit if it helped.
"Just that he abandoned them," Henry shrugged.
"Right, sounds like a familiar story," Emma said, her own memories rippling on the surface "Whoever this guy is, he could be in Loas by now"
"No, he's here," Henry said back confident.
"Just how do you know that?" Emma asked.
"'Cause no one leaves Storybrooke. No one comes here, no one goes," Henry shrugged "It's just the way it is"
"I came here," Emma pointed at Henry.
"Because you're special," Henry said "You're the first stranger here, ever"
"Right, I forgot," Emma half laughed, half sighed.
Henry bit his lower lip and then moved in front of the desk, placing his hands over the wooden surface and then pushing his body up to sit on the edge of the desk.
"Can, you tell me about him?" Henry asked looking intensely at Emma.
"I don't know anything yet," Emma said back.
"Not their father, mine," Henry said in a small voice and Emma immediately stared back at him.
With her heart pounding inside her chest.
Emma stared at Henry, lips slightly parted and breathing out of pace.
He didn't know.
Regina didn't tell him.
Emma swallowed dry a mix of surprise and gratitude taking over her emotions.
Regina didn't betray her.
She kept her promise.
Trust was something that never came easy for Emma because she knew that eventually, they would all betray her.
The reason why she was in this mess right now was that Mary Margaret had betrayed her trust.
She shouldn't be surprised that Regina didn't.
But she was and a small part of her felt ashamed of that.
She knew Regina was different.
What they have was different.
Beyond physical.
Beyond anything Emma had ever felt before, beyond anything she could explain.
She trusted Regina.
She trusted Regina with her heart.
Emma blinked her eyes one, two, and three times, fighting back the tears that were already forming behind her eyes as a warm feeling spread through her body from the center of her heart.
She was always the one who looked after everyone.
She didn't know how to be the one who was looked after.
"Please?"
Emma focused on Henry again, that warmth replaced with bitterness and cold.
She couldn't tell him the truth.
Henry would never know the man who fathered him.
He would never know the man who had devasted her, who had filled her with so much doubt and rage that Emma was still climbing out of the pit where he had thrown her ten years ago.
The pit she was nearly on the top now, the pit where she could finally see the light because of the woman who raised Henry, her child, the kid who was sitting here in front of her looking at her eager to know his story.
Emma smiled at Henry and brushed a lock of hair away from her face when a story formed inside her mind and the lie started o dance on the tip of her tongue.
"I was pretty young," Emma said leaning back on the chair "I just got out of the foster system and the only job I could get was like, this 24-hour diner, just off the interstate. And um… your dad was training to be a fireman. He always got the worse shifts. So he'd come in and order coffee and pie, and sit at the counter and always complain that we didn't sell pumpkin pie. But he always came back the next day anyway"
"Did you get married?" Henry asked.
"Oh, no," Emma laughed "No, nothing like that. We just, we hung out a few times outside of work, and life happened. His got better and mine, got worse. I got into some trouble"
"What kind of trouble?" Henry asked.
"Just teen stuff," Emma moistened her lips "I had to leave my job and then a few months later I find out I was pregnant with you" Emma smiled at Henry who smiled back at her "And, I tried to contact him," Emma leaned forward, closer to Henry "And I found out, that he died saving a family from a burning department building"
The lie left her lips so effortlessly that for a moment, Emma was inclined to believe that too.
To believe this was her story.
To believe Neal was a hero.
But he wasn't.
He was just the worse of humans.
But Henry would never find that out.
For Henry, he would always be a hero.
Emma took Henry's hands between hers and squeezed them lightly, looking deep into Henry's eyes.
" So, you think I am the savior, Henry" Emma said "He was. Your father was a real hero"
"Do you have anything of his?" Henry asked "Something you can remember him by. Something I can see?"
"I… I don't," Emma shook her head her hand automatically reaching for the swan necklace around her neck "I'm sorry"
"It's okay," Henry nodded "I guess this is how it was supposed to be. If you two have gotten together, I wouldn't be able to bring you here to break the curse," Henry paused for a second "And mom wouldn't be my mom, and I… I can't imagine myself not being her son"
Emma smiled at Henry, fresh tears filling her eyes again.
Because in the end, Henry was right.
Because as hard and shitty as her life was, as hunted as Emma was for years with the decision of giving Henry away, in the end, it all worked out.
Because Emma couldn't imagine Regina not being Henry's mother either.
And she no longer could imagine a life where they both weren't in it.
Regina was leaning against her Mercedes staring at the man fixing a suspended car inside the car shop.
Michael Tilman
Ava and Nichola's father.
Regina sighed as she forced her feet to walk in the direction of the shop, rocks scrapping beneath her heels.
She had no idea what she was doing.
She had no idea what the implications of this action upon her curse would be.
All she knew was she had a debt to pay to those children.
A deal to keep.
And a certain blonde who needed to keep her promise.
She could hardly contain the pain in her heart when Emma's devasted face flashed behind her eyes.
Regina approached the shop, taking small steady breaths in order to control her emotions.
It was so strange, this feeling of caring.
Up until Henry, Regina couldn't care less about anyone.
And now, she could hardly hide how much she truly care about some of them.
About Emma and Henry.
And perhaps one or another here and there.
Regina cleared her throat when she stopped in front of the shop, hoping the sound would bring the man's attention to the new arrival.
He seemed annoyed at the sound, rolling his eyes while cleaning his hands dirty with oil with a cloth, until he spotted Regina.
His back went immediately stiff, and fear crossed his eyes.
Regina hated that now.
"Madam Mayor," Michael said solemnly.
Regina forced a sweet smile upon her lips, a joy she wasn't really feeling, hoping the gestures would soften both her features and the man's fear.
It worked, to a certain level.
His back was still stiffed as he looked at Regina but at least his features seemed a bit more relaxed.
"Mr. Michael Tillman," Regina greeted him lightly.
"What can I do for you, Madam Mayor?" Michael asked.
"There is something of urgency that I need to discuss with you," Regina said seriously "Is there somewhere private we can talk?"
"My office," Micheal tilted his head in the direction of the stairs on the back "What is this about?"
"It's about you," Regina said and locked eyes with him "And your children"
"My what?" The man smiled, lightly confused.
"Why don't we go up to your office," Regina said, smiling at him again.
"O-okay," Michael said suspiciously before giving his back to Regina.
In the office, Regina sat across from Michael, who was still rubbing oil and grease out of his hands with a cloth.
The stain never seemed to quite fade and Regina wondered if that was part of the curse or just the dirty cloth he was using that seemed to spread even more of the stain instead of cleaning.
"Could you please explain to me what this is about?" Michael asked, finally giving up on cleaning the stain and throwing the cloth on top of the desk.
"You have two children," Regina folded her hands on her lap "A girl and a boy"
"That's impossible," Michael shooked his head.
"And yet, they exist," Regina said seriously "And it's time for you to take responsibility over them"
"Madam Mayor, look," Michael sighed, "I think you have the wrong person"
"Have you ever been in a relationship with Dory Zimmer?" Regina asked.
"Yes," Michael nodded "And I do realize she has two children but they are not mine"
"They are yours," Regina said "And Dory is no longer here to care for them. It's your responsibility now"
"What happened to Dory?" Michael asked.
"She passed away," Regina said "Quite some time ago"
"Oh," Michael looked down, sadness crossing his features for a brief second "Look, I can barely manage this garage. I can't manage two kids"
"If you don't step up and take responsibility for these children, they are going to be shipped off to a home in Boston," Regina said, her voice filled with anger.
"Why are you so sure they are mine?" Michael asked looking confused at Regina.
"Because…" Regina paused. She looked at the man and took a deep breath before the lie she had been rehearsing the whole way there left her lips "As I was helping the Sheriff find their father I have come across a document, a letter from Dory confessing to the children who their father really was. You. Michael Tillman. I haven't shown them yet because I wanted to come here first and tell you myself"
"And where is this letter?" Michael asked.
"It's in the Mayor's office," Regina cleared her throat "I have no reason to lie. You are their father. It's time to reunite the family"
"I'm sorry, but I can't do this," Michael shook his head.
Regina looked at him surprised, lips slightly parted.
She never expected that.
She thought she would just barge in here and tell this man he had two children and he would just accept and welcome them with open arms, true love, and all that.
"Did you not hear what I said?" Regina asked "They are going to be sent away to a foster home in Boston"
"Maybe they are better off there," Michael shrugged "Maybe they'll be adopted by someone who can give them what I can't."
"You are their father!" Regina said, surprised by how angry she was feeling inside.
"Your son is adopted, right?" Michel asked, "Can you honestly tell me that wasn't the right thing to do? Adopting him?"
"Of course, it was the right thing to do," Regina said without a shadow of doubt in her voice "Henry is my son"
"Exactly," Michel said "And I don't see them as mine"
"What are you…"
"You have my permission to take them to Boston," Michael said "It's the right thing to do. It is what is best for them"
"You can't be serious," Regina shook her head.
"I appreciate you coming in here," Michael rose from the chair "But I'm no father material"
"If you will just look at them you will see the resemblance…"
"I've no interest in seeing them," Michael said walking to the door and pulling it open "You have a nice day, Madam Mayor"
Regina rose from the chair and walked to the door, stopping in front of Michael.
She looked into his eyes, realizing now that the fear she had seen there earlier had completely vanished and only absolute denial adorned the blank expression on his face.
"If you don't accept that they are your children, you are going to regret this decision," Regina said, a lump forming in her throat.
"I have lived without them for as long as I can remember," Michael said "I doubt that will change when I wake up tomorrow morning"
Regina clenched her jaw and nodded once before walking past the man, her legs trembling at every step she took.
But she made sure to keep her steps as steady as she could while she walked down the stairs and then out of the shop.
Regina opened her Mercedes door and sat down heavily on the driver's seat before slamming the door shut with force.
She was so sure she was going to fix this.
Do the right thing, just for once.
Be the fucking hero.
She was sure he was going to do exactly what she asked of him because that was the thing with the curse, wasn't it?
They were all supposed to bend to her will.
They were all supposed to simply accept everything she commanded, no questions asked.
So why didn't he?
Regina turned on the engine of the car, maneuvering the car out to the street.
She gripped the steering wheel with force, both angry and confused about what had happened.
She couldn't break her promise to Emma.
She couldn't bear to see Emma so heartbroken again.
Because seeing Emma crying had broken her heart too.
Regina's phone rang inside her purse and she stopped the car in a corner before picking it up from her purse, her heart clenching inside her chest when she saw Emma's name flashing on the screen.
"Hello?"
"Regina!" Emma said nearly desperate "Did you find anything?"
"Yes. I…" Regina swallowed dry "I found him"
"You found their father?" Emma asked.
"I did, yes," Regina nodded to herself.
"Wow, Regina," Emma said and Regina could tell the blonde woman was smiling on the other side of the line "Regina, that's amazing"
"Emma…"
"How did you find him?" Emma asked "Who is he? Give me his name and I'll go talk to him right now"
"Emma, I already did," Regina said defeated.
"Oh!" Emma exclaimed, "And what happened?"
"He… he didn't know about the kids and…"
Regina stopped talking when suddenly the two people she hated most in the world walked side by side, smiling softly at each other right in front of her eyes.
Mary Margaret and David Nolan.
Snow White and Prince Charming.
But instead of feeling a mix of absolute rage while all of her insides turned inside her stomach, the image gave Regina a hint of the conversation she had with Michael.
When she asked him to see the children.
He said no. He said he didn't want to see them.
And that was the key, wasn't it?
Mary Margaret didn't have any feelings for David when he was a John Doe either, this whole nauseating thing between them just started after he opened his eyes.
After they saw each other again.
Like something inside of them had just clicked back into place.
So maybe if Regina could make Michael see them, perhaps that same love would click inside of him too and…
"Regina?" Regina, are you there?"
Regina blinked her eyes, Emma's voice pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Emma, I have to go," Regina said "Don't do anything until I find you tonight,"
"Okay,"
Regina finished the call, turning the car back on and driving to the Mayor's office, a new plan already cooking inside her brain.
Emma was leaning against the Sheriff's Department cruise, tapping her fingers impatiently over her thighs while waiting for Regina.
Emma waited as much as she could, desperate for a way to make the minutes tick slower on the clock.
She even considered delaying the watches when Graham arrived from his rounds and informed her about her duties tonight.
But the day slipped away from her too soon and night had arrived dark and cold, without a single dot of light up in the sky.
Emma thought it was appropriate considering what she was about to do.
Considering how she was feeling inside.
Emma drove to the loft to pick up the siblings only a few minutes ago.
She could hardly stand to look at Mary Margaret.
But at least the woman had the decency of looking guilty when Ava and Nicholas started to cry when Emma informed them she had to take them to Boston.
They had poured their hearts out on the back seat.
Emma hardly resisted the urge to cry herself.
She wasn't sure how she would be able to live with herself if she had to drive them to a foster home in Boston.
Emma sighed and fished her phone from inside her jacket pocket, checking the screen.
It was thirty minutes past eight already and there was no call or text from Regina and her miraculous solution.
Because that was exactly what Emma needed out of Regina right now.
A miracle!
Emma put the phone back inside the pocket and scratched her forehead, looking down the black pavement.
She had to get them there by ten, otherwise, they risked losing their spot.
Or worse.
Emma couldn't believe she was doing this.
Taking two children to that hellhole she grew up in.
Taking them to a life where they would move around, from home to home, being bullied and used until the day they couldn't take it anymore and run away.
Until the day Ava would become a young version of herself.
And Nicholas…
Emma lifted her head when the bright lights of a headlight blinded her.
Emma used her hand to protect her eyes and when the lights were off, Emma recognize Regina's Mercedes, parking right behind the cruiser.
Emma walked in the direction of the car at the same time Regina was opening the door.
And she wasn't sure why she was so surprised to see Henry leaving the car from the other side.
"Hi, Emma," Henry said, walking around the car.
"Hey, kid," Emma smiled at him before focusing on Regina "Please tell me you have a solution"
"It's a long shot," Regina said "And I need you to trust me"
"I trust you," Emma said, without even thinking about it.
Because she didn't have to.
She trusted Regina.
She trusted Regina in a way she hadn't trusted anyone ever in her life.
"Their father's name is Michael Tillman," Regina said "He owns the tow shop in town"
"Okay," Emma nodded.
"He needs to see them, Emma," Regina said seriously "It's the only way something will click inside of him"
"What?" Emma asked confused.
"When you are driving them before you cross the town limit, pretend that your car is broken," Regina said "Make a scene in front of them saying that you are having car trouble and then call this number" Regina took Emma's hand between hers, pressing a small paper there "And tell him you need to tow your car"
"Regina, I don't understand…"
"But whatever you do," Regina kept on talking, looking deep inside Emma's eyes "Do not cross the town limit. You have to stay inside the town. You can not cross the town limit with them"
"Why not?" Emma asked.
"Because if you do, they'll forget who they are," Henry said beside Regina.
"Right," Emma let out a nervous laugh.
"Emma, this is important," Regina said seriously "Do not cross the town limit before calling Michael otherwise this won't work"
"You know, you are kinda sounding like Henry over there," Emma arched an eyebrow.
And she half expected Regina to roll her eyes and mock her.
But did not expect Regina's features to be hard and eyes widened.
"Okay," Emma said looking confused at Regina "Do not cross the town limit. Got it"
Regina's features softened slightly as she nodded at Emma.
"How do you know this will work?" Emma asked.
"I don't," Regina sighed "But I… I hope it will"
"Regina, I need something more concrete than hope," Emma said.
"It's all I have, Emma," Regina said her voice slightly choked "I'm sorry. I promised I would help you and I swear, I did, I tried my best, I went out to find him but…"
"Hey, hey, hey," Emma said, taking a step closer to Regina.
She put her hands gently on Regina's face, cleaning the solitary tear that fell from the corner of her right eye.
God, she felt like her own heart was bleeding just to see Regina crying in front of her.
"We did everything we could," Emma said gently, softly cherishing the smooth skin of Regina's cheek "This is not your fault"
Regina nodded slowly at Emma, a new tear rolling over Emma's fingers.
Emma wanted so badly to pull Regina inside her arms and kiss her softly until her tears were nothing but a distant memory of a second of sadness.
But then Emma looked to the side and saw Henry's confused expression as his eyes darted between Emma and Regina and she had no choice but to pull away.
It pained her to not touch Regina, and it was worse when the fear of rejection crossed Regina's eyes when Emma pulled away.
It lasted less than one second and Emma felt like her own soul was shattering.
"I should get going," Emma said, tilting her head in the direction of the car.
"Okay," Regina nodded "Emma, don't forget…"
"Not cross the town limit," Emma interrupted Regina "I got it"
"You have to listen to mom, Emma," Henry said beside Regina "Just for once"
Emma smirked as Regina rolled her eyes, a soft smile appearing on her face.
One that made her soul lighter, like it was mending itself again.
Regina put her arm around Henry's shoulder and pulled him closer, dropping a kiss on top of his head and Henry responded immediately by wrapping his arms around Regina's waist.
Emma could hardly contain the warm feeling that spread through her body, resting in her heart.
Because right here in front of her was everything Emma never truly dreamed to have.
Emma smiled at them both, swallowing the lump that formed in her throat and the words she couldn't vocalize before giving her back to them and entering the car.
She adjusted the rearview mirror and looked one last time at the two people that meant everything to her before turning the engine on and maneuvering the car out to the street.
Emma drove the car in silence, often glancing at the siblings in the back seat.
They were sitting close together, holding each other's hands and eyes red with tears and fear.
Emma knew that look too well.
She wore that look for half her life.
Emma entered the road that led out of Storybrooke, Regina's words echoing inside her head.
Do not cross the town limit.
Emma bit her lower lip, wondering why it was so important to not cross out of Storybrooke limits and part of her wanted to do just that because the way Regina sounded was almost like Henry and that was… disturbing.
Crazy!
But one glance at Ava and Nicholas on the back seat and Emma knew she wouldn't dare.
She would never forgive herself if she was forced to drive them to a foster home in Boston just because she wanted to prove to herself that what Regina and Henry said was just bullshit.
So when Emma could see the leaving Storybrooke sign in the distance, she started her act.
She switched between the gas and brake pedal, making the car bump on the road, and then she slowly hit the brakes until the car died on the road.
Only a few meters away from the town limit.
"You gotta be kidding me," Emma said, gripping the steering wheel.
"What happened?" Ava asked worriedly "What's wrong?"
"Engine stalled," Emma said.
She reached for her phone inside her jacket pocket and then the small piece of paper Regina had pressed against her hand and dialed the number written in it.
"Who're you calling?" Ava asked behind her.
"Help," Emma said back.
She opened the car door and went outside, asking the man who answered the phone for a tow.
And then, twenty minutes later, a truck was parking behind her car.
Emma walked closer to the truck, as the man opened the door to leave the car.
Emma looked behind her once and saw Nicholas and Ava looking out the back window eagerly.
When Emma looked back at the man, he was watching the two children too. His features were hard as he stared at them and Emma couldn't tell exactly what he was feeling.
"Those are them?" Michael asked, looking at Emma.
"Those are them," Emma nodded at him.
"And the car?" Michael asked, walking closer to Emma "It's fine?"
"It is," Emma said "Look…"
"I'm leaving," Michael said, giving his back to Emma.
"Wait," Emma said desperately "Please, just look at them. Just once?"
"Why?" Michael asked, "Why does everybody keeps insisting I look at them?"
"Everybody?" Emma asked confused.
"The Mayor," Michael said "She wanted me to see them too and I'm going to tell you the same thing I told her. I'm not a father"
"You won't know that until you see them," Emma said, her voice slightly choked "I thought I was no mother either until I saw Henry. Everything changed after I saw him for the first time"
"So what?" Michael asked, "You gave him up for adoption and now you are his mother?"
"I'm one of them yes," Emma said "Regina is his mother and nothing will ever change that but… but so am I"
"I can't take care of two kids alone," Michael said tiredly.
"You don't know what you are capable of until you try," Emma said. She looked behind her, her eyes full of tears as she looked at Ava and Nicholas watching them through the glass "They'll grow up apart and all alone," Emma turned her back and looked at Michael "At least with you, they can stay together. The three of you can help each other"
Michael sighed and shook his head, looking down at the floor.
"Just look at them," Emma begged "Please?"
Michael looked back at Emma and nodded before walking to the car, Emma right behind him.
He stopped in front of the passenger door and looked inside, and when his eyes locked with them, it clicked.
It happened exactly the way Regina described it.
Emma could almost swear she heard the sound.
"You're taking them?" Michael asked still staring at the kids "To Boston?"
"I don't have to," Emma said behind him.
"No, you don't have to," Michael said.
One hour later, Emma was in front of the mansion, leaning casually against the car while dialing Regina's number.
"Emma?"
"Hey," Emma smiled at the sound of Regina's voice.
"What happened?" Regina asked worriedly.
"It worked," Emma said "They are with him and we are going to start on the paternity documents tomorrow"
"It worked?" Regina asked and Emma could tell she was smiling on the other side of the phone.
"It did," Emma smiled back "It was just like you said, when he saw them it just…clicked. How did you know that would happen?"
"I didn't," Regina said "As I said, I had hope"
"Well, your hope paid off," Emma said "And I feel like celebrating"
"Oh?"
"How about you meet me at Grannys so I can properly thank you?" Emma asked mischievously.
"I would love to but I can't," Regina sighed "It's late and I can't… I can't leave Henry alone"
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry," Regina said "I really am, Emma"
"Do you want to see me?" Emma asked, her voice unsure.
"Of course, I want to see you," Regina said firmly on the other side "I always want to see you"
"Then open your window," Emma said, already walking to open the front gate.
"What?" Regina asked.
"Open your window, Regina"
Emma finished the call and walked to the side of the mansion, climbing up the walls to Regina's window.
It was harder than it used to be, Emma could hardly remember the last time she had done something like this, but she supposed it was just like riding a bike.
Except that it wasn't and Emma nearly fell when her hands got all sweaty while she was reaching for another nook to support her body while climbing up.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked from the window.
"I'm coming up to see you," Emma said, reaching the window sill.
"You are going to fall and break your neck," Regina said.
"I'm fine," Emma rolled her eyes even though that was a real possibility "Help me up"
Regina reached for Emma's hand and arm and held her firmly, pulling Emma inside the bedroom.
"Hi," Emma smiled, standing in front of Regina.
"Hi," Regina arched an eyebrow.
Emma looked around the room, realizing this was the first time she was inside Regina's bedroom. The bedroom was huge and neatly decorated with absolutely nothing out of place.
Emma would love to say the bedroom screamed Regina, and it did, but something was missing.
She was missing.
Emma felt her cheeks burn when she looked back at Regina, who was watching her curiously.
"Nice bedroom," Emma smiled cheekily.
"Thanks," Regina said back.
Emma looked to the side and smiled widely, trapping her tongue between her teeth.
"Big bed," Emma tilted her head in the direction of the bed.
"Why, yes," Regina smiled back at her "What are you doing here, Miss Swan?"
"Well, I wanted to say thank you for helping me out tonight," Emma gave one step closer to Regina.
"And you couldn't say that over the phone?" Regina asked, her voice cracking when Emma's lips kissed her neck.
"I could," Another kiss "But I wanted to say thank you in person"
"Well," Regina swallowed dry "You did"
"I did," Another kiss before Emma pressed her lips against Regina's ears and whisper "But not properly"
Emma bent down slightly lifting Regina from the floor.
Regina yelped in surprise but hooked her legs around Emma's waist as she carried her to the bed where she had every intention of thanking Regina over and over and over again.
I know that on the show, Ava and Nicholas are twins, but if you ask me, Ava is obviously older.