A/N: A little late during the night (2am to be exact), but once again I didn't want to go to sleep without updating for you all, so here we go. I didn't expect this chapter to turn out the way it did, but I am happy with it and I hope all of my readers will be, too. I can't promise an update for tomorrow, but I will try my best. Happy reading! :) And as always, a huge thank you to all of you for your support.


What could Audrey possibly be doing here now? Emma thought while running a hand through her fallen strands, combing them back.

"Do you have a class together? Maybe she's here because she needs a few notes from a class." Said Regina.

Emma shakes her head. "No. Mom, why did you invite her in?" She turns to her wide-eyed mother.

"Emma Swan," Mary Margaret's brow arches in surprise. "Now, I know you two have a new relationship. Trust me. I get it. But, that is no reason to brush Audrey off." Her eyes move to Regina, who looks at her with a worrying gaze. "She needs time to process not being with Emma anymore."

She was right.

"Your mother's right, Emma." Said Regina. "You should go out there. Talk to her. You broke up with her out of the blue when Audrey thought things were fine between you two. You have to make her understand that it is officially over."

"Right," Mary Margaret nodded. "And the sooner you go and talk to her, the sooner she'll leave. Go. I'll stay in here with Regina."

Emma glanced at both women before nodding. "Alright, I'll see what she wants." She turned to give Regina one last look before leaving the room, walked to the living room and watched Audrey waiting for her just outside the double glass sliding doors.

At the sound of one of the doors sliding open, Audrey turned to see Emma join her outside in the patio and smiled. "Hi." She greeted, her voice soft.

"Hey." Emma nods.

"I'm sorry for showing up without calling. I know you probably don't want to see me, especially after the last time."

Emma avoided Audrey's gaze. Her heart ached seeing the clear pain shining in her eyes.

"I wasn't myself, I've had a little to drink and you know how bold I always get when I drink." Audrey chuckles, seeing the corner of Emma's lip tilt a little in a shy smile. "So, really I… I wanted to apologize for my behavior."

"You don't have to-" Emma shook her head.

"No, I do." Audrey nods. Her hair was picked up in a messy ponytail today. A look Emma hadn't seen in a long while on her.

"Well, you're forgiven. So, there's no need to apologize." Emma smiles a little more this time, hoping it will give Audrey some reassurance. "And listen, Audrey, I know this break up hasn't been easy. Believe it or not, I've hated myself for hurting you the way I did." Her eyes lock onto Audrey's. "I really am sorry. But…"

"The heart wants what it wants." Audrey finishes, seeing a nod come from Emma, and she chuckles. Her eyes sting with tears that beg her to come out. Even more so once she spots a smudge of red lipstick at the collar of Emma's white shirt. "She's here, isn't she? With you."

A small crease wants to form in between Emma's brow, and she says nothing, confirming Audrey's question.

Audrey looks down at her hands, her fingers playing with a loose strand of thread coming from the inside of her sleeve. "Can I meet her?"

Emma's face falls, and her heart begins to race inside of her chest.

"I'd really like to meet her."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Audrey." Emma shakes her head.

Audrey wipes away a pebbled tear from the corner of her eye with her thumb before she says, "Well, I also came in hopes to invite you to dinner. I know you've probably already eaten, but, I don't know, I just wanted… I guess I can't invite you without inviting her to come along as well."

Talk about being placed in an awkward situation.

"I have a term paper to finish. Due Monday." Emma lied.

Audrey nods and wipes away a fallen tear this time. "I guess I better get going, then." She gives Emma a sad smile and turns to place a hand on the door handle, when she hears Emma's voice.

"Audrey," the blonde calls out, feeling her own eyes sting. She waits until Audrey turns to face her again. "I really am sorry. I know that doesn't help much."

"You know, you're right. It doesn't help much, Emma. In fact it doesn't help at all." Audrey holds her head up high. "I just wish I could understand why you are keeping this other person such a secret. Unless it's a guy you're seeing and you don't know how to tell me that you've gone straight now."

Emma feels free to chuckle at that. "No. No, I… I can promise you that's not it."

Audrey turns to face the door, reaching for the handle once again. Suddenly her jaw sets as she turns to face Emma again, her entire demeanor taking Emma by surprise. "You know, I ran into Alex and Amanda yesterday, and they told me that about three weeks or so ago, they could have sworn they saw you leaving an outdoor, rooftop club with an older woman."

"Dancing?" Emma's head tilted. Of course, it was the time where Regina and even Belle had become a little intoxicated. "It must have been my mom. She was there with me and so was David."

"They told me it was a group, two other women had joined in. They didn't see their faces of course, because they were already walking out once they arrived, but… They assured me they saw you."

This angered Emma so much that her jaw set. "And what if it was? I'm at liberty to go out with friends, and that's what I was doing." She scoffs and shakes her head.

"Don't get mad, Emma." Audrey frowns.

"Don't get mad?" Emma chuckles. "Audrey-"

"They were just looking out for me. They are just as puzzled as this break up as I've been-"

"Then let them!" Emma's lips thin out. "You know, you come to my parent's house to tell me how sorry you are for trying to kiss me that night at August's party. I accept your apology, and now I find out that you are sending your friends to spy on me. Who does that, Audrey?"

Regina's lips part along with Mary Margaret, who had parted open the door just a little, enough to hear what was happening.

"I did not send them to spy on you, Emma." Audrey bites back. "But you can't blame them for being there just as you were leaving, and that they happened to see you."

"Then, tell your friends to stay out of my business." Emma places a hand on her hip. "Because it is my business where I go, and who I see from now on. I don't appreciate being spied on out of simple curiosity, and you know that. I've been a private person before you met, I was private with our relationship when I was with you, and that hasn't changed now that I'm with-" Emma bites her tongue before she says too much.

"With who?" Audrey waits, seeing Emma avoid her gaze once more. "You know what I think? I think there is no other woman. I think you just no longer wanted to be with me and you couldn't figure out how to break free of what we had."

Emma shakes her head and rakes a hand across her hair in frustration. "If that's all you wanted to say, you can leave now. I've heard enough."

"Does she know about me?"

"Audrey…" Emma sighs. "I'm not going to stand out here, in my parent's property where they could probably hear us-" and Emma wonders how much Regina heard- "and discuss my personal life with you. So, please." And just as Emma begins walking toward the sliding door-

"No, Emma." Audrey rushes toward her, placing a hand on top of Emma's that rests on the cold door handle. Her eyes focused on Emma's angry profile. "Please, I'm sorry. I am. I'm sorry for whatever it is I did wrong to make you break up with me-" her voice breaking, breaks Regina's heart as she can distantly hear it from inside the house.

"Audrey," Emma turns to face her, seeing tears escape her eyes as she grabs her by the hands. "Audrey. You did nothing wrong. I told you this. It was all me." Her eyes lock onto Audrey's.

"I just can't bring myself to understand what happened, Emma." Audrey cries. "I can't understand why it happened, or what changed. I can't bring myself to understand it. No matter how hard I try. I can't, because like it or not, I'm in love with you, and when I gave you that engagement ring the day of your birthday- I meant every bit of it."

Mary Margaret is in shock, while Regina feels a couple of tears slide down her cheeks. She can hear how much her daughter is hurting, and she hates herself for it.

"Audrey," Emma shuts her eyes to fight back tears of her own, until her hands cup the sides of Audrey's face. "Please. I know this is difficult." She hears her scoff. "I know, this isn't what we thought would happen to our relationship, but it did. And it wasn't because of something you did wrong. You did nothing wrong. I simply…" She pauses. "Unexpectedly and surprisingly… Fell in love with someone else." She hears a small sob come from Audrey. "I'm sorry. I really am, Audrey. I can see how much this is hurting you, and it kills me that it is. We didn't plan to fall in love, but we did."

"Does it?"

"Yes."

"Because I was told you looked pretty happy that night while leaving." Audrey frowns. "Tell me something. Do you even think about me at all when you're with her?" She waits, seeing the answer in Emma's eyes as she chuckles. "No. Of course you don't. Why would you? I'm not the one you love anymore after all, right?"

"Look, Audrey." Emma locks eyes with Audrey, having had enough of this guilt trip. Or jealousy or whatever this was. "I understand that it's hard. And whether you want to believe me or not, it was hard for me to break up with you out of the blue. It really was, because there was a moment where I thought I loved you, too. I do. Like I said before, I love you. Thing is, it just became a different kind of love."

"All because of her, wasn't it? That's why you fell out of love with me," Audrey sees Emma roll her eyes in annoyance this time. "If that woman- whoever she is- wouldn't have come along, if you two wouldn't have met, this wouldn't have happened. You and I would be living together in our own apartment, we'd be married-"

"No, Audrey. No." Emma shook her head. "You're wrong." She sees Audrey's frown deepen. "We wouldn't be doing any of that, even if she wasn't in the picture." Emma releases a breath. "Now, I meant what I said, sometime in the distant future, when you can actually look at this like an adult and you have time to process it, I really would like for us to continue being friends-"

"Friend," Audrey scoffs as she echoes that word that doesn't seem to fit in her vocabulary. "That's the problem, Emma. I don't want to be your friend. I want to be more."

Out of the question. Emma shakes her head, her eyes trained on Audrey's. "I'm sorry. I can't. I don't wish nor do I enjoy continuing hurting you, Audrey, but what you and I had… It's over. Even if this woman didn't exist in my life and she decided to leave me tomorrow, I could never go back to what you and I had." Her jaw clenches just as Audrey does to keep herself from crying. "Please. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll see that I was right to do what I did."

A few tears slip past Audrey's cheeks as she's rushing past the sliding door, swinging it open with a force that Emma could swear shook the house.

"Audrey." Emma calls out to her, seeing her turn on the hills of her feet.

"You know what, I take it back, I'm not sorry I tried to kiss you at August's party that night. What we had may be dead and buried to you, Emma. But I haven't begun to bury what I still feel for you. And until that happens… I'm not going to stop fighting for you." Audrey sees a frown form on Emma's lips. "If this woman loves you like she says she does, then she would show her face instead of hiding behind a closed door like a coward."

Regina's heart stops. Her hand lands over her mouth in shock, pressing hard enough to muffle a sob of her own. All while feeling Mary Margaret's hands grab onto her shoulders for support.

Emma waits, in fact they all wait until they finally hear the front door slam to take a moment and collect themselves. Breathing out heavily for a couple of minutes, until Regina makes her way out of Emma's bedroom, along with Mary Margaret in tow, while Emma shuts the back patio door after stepping back into the house. Their eyes connect from across the room, and silence surrounding them becomes a thick ball of tension.

"What the hell is going on out here?" David comes out of the shower, ruffling his wet hair with a towel. His eyes fell on everyone in the room. "Who the hell was slamming doors?"

"Uh, David, let's go into the bedroom. Emma and Regina need to have a talk." She rushes over to her clueless husband.

"Is everything alright?" David's eyes look over to Emma and Regina, who never tear their sights off of each other.

"Let's just give them a moment." Mary Margaret tries to shove him, but fails as David is bigger and stronger than she is.

"What happened?" David's brow knits quizzically as he looks down at his wife who rolls her eyes at him in response.

"Bedroom. Now." This time, it's Mary Margaret who proves to become much stronger as she manages to shove David so hard in the direction of their bedroom that his footsteps thump hard against the carpeted floor. Even the towel falls out of his hand in the process.

"Wha- hey, alright! Get my towel at least."

Mary Margaret lets out an exasperated sigh as she quickly goes back to the living room, yanks up the towel from the ground and quickly heads back into the room. And upon hearing the bedroom door close, that was when Regina finally spoke up, as Emma suspected she would.

"When were you going to tell me that Audrey tried to kiss you?" Was the first question on her mind. "My God, Emma, she is devastated."

"I know." Said Emma.

"Do you realize what we're doing here? We are hurting my daughter. I- I am hurting her!" Regina points a finger at her own chest.

"Regina-"

"I'm her mother," Regina's voice breaks as a few tears escape her eyes. "I'm supposed to protect her from any harm, at any means necessary, not be the cause of it."

"Regina, you aren't the cause-"

"Not the cause?" Regina scoffs. "How can you say that? I am the cause of her pain, Emma. I'm the other woman. I'm the one you left her for."

"Yes, I know all of that. And I'd do it again." She said truthfully, it almost shocks Regina. "I'd leave Audrey all over again, if that meant being with you." Emma sighs, running another hand through her loose strands of hair. "And if I didn't tell you about her coming onto me at that party is to avoid making you feel like you shouldn't be with me. To avoid making you feel like you are coming in between true love, because let me tell you something- you're not. You are my true love. You. And nor Audrey, or Lily, or anyone else I dated before you is ever going to change that." She pauses, taking to memory the devastating look on Regina's face. "Regina, if I didn't tell you what happened at that party was because I didn't want you to feel guilty when there's nothing to feel guilty about. Not one damn thing."

Regina felt conflicted right now. Like standing on that damn scale again, and measuring which side weighs more. On one scale, she was a mother, caring, hurting over her own daughter's pain, wondering with conflict how Emma could still be worth all of this. And on the other, she was a woman who was madly in love for the first time in her entire existence. And jealous over her own daughter. Jealous for trying to come in between the one most precious thing life decided to either gift or curse her with.

"Gina," Emma sighed as she took two quick steps toward Regina, allowing her hands to cup her face. "Look, we both knew that this was bound to become a little complicated. Right?"

It pained Regina to look into Emma's eyes right now. Seeing a conflict of her own burn within them, but also that sparkle of love she had for her, shining brighter than ever. Refusing to let go of what they had just begun to build. It hurt so much that tears weren't shy to make their presence known.

"We knew this would become tricky," Emma's voice remains soft, as if keeping it between them. "I understand how you feel, as Audrey's mother, and I know nothing is more important to you than her. I get that, and I respect and love you for it. But, do me and yourself a favor and stop looking at me like you are having second thoughts about us."

Regina didn't know what to think. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Emma. She never wanted to do that to the woman who with love and patience and kindness Regina never imagined ever experiencing, has mended her every crack little by little. Day by day. But, then there was Audrey. Her daughter, who should come first before her own happiness. Her daughter, who was obviously in a very conflicting and bad place of her own right this moment. Her daughter who, unknowingly hated her guts for coming in between her and the woman she loved.

"Please, don't tell me you are having second thoughts, Regina." Emma's eyes glossed over.

Emma would understand it if Regina was having second thoughts. Because if there was one thing she knew, it was that above it all, Regina has always been a great mom to Audrey. But it didn't mean she would feel happy about it. Their relationship couldn't end when they were just beginning to live it. Not over this.

"Emma," Regina breathed out a trembling breath, fighting through tears of her own. Her hands cupped the blonde's cheeks, pulling her in until their foreheads pressed together in place.

Emma closed her eyes, feeling a single tear roll past her cheek. Her nostrils breathed in the woman's perfume. Just in case.

"I love you." Regina's breath trembled. She didn't dare open her eyes. The sight of Emma's devastating look would be too much for her not to break. "But, I don't know what to do. I'm very conflicted right now. Hearing Audrey say all those things… She's right. I am a coward."

Emma shakes her head slowly, "No. No, you're not a coward."

"I am." Regina nods. "I am. And I am selfish. I'm selfish because I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either." Emma whispers back. She leans in to kiss Regina, but is surprised- her eyes finally open- as she feels Regina's hand lay against her chest, stopping her action and slowly parting away. "Regina…"

"I have to- I need to be alone. I have to go." Regina's eyes glossed over, a few tears escaping them as she began to walk away. Not caring that her luggage was still here.

"Go where?"

"I don't know. Belle's maybe."

"Well, I'll take you-" Emma took a step forward and retrieved back at the sight of Regina's held up hand.

"No." Regina shakes her head. "Please, just… Just leave me alone. I need to be alone."

"Regina, don't go." Emma takes a step, her voice breaking and her eyes watering over.

"I need to think. I'm sorry." Regina's bottom lip trembles before she lets out a small sob and rushes out the door.

"No, Regina-" Emma gets ready to sprint toward the door when she feels a hand land on her shoulder, and as her head turns, she sees David and Mary Margaret standing behind her.

"It's best you let her go, Emma." Said David.

"But-"

"She'll be back, sweetheart." Mary Margaret cups her daughter's cheek, her heart breaking. "Regina just needs time to get her thoughts in order. That's all. I promise you, she'll be back."


Knock, knock, knock! Three pounding knocks were heard behind a light gray door Portland's Inn.

"Alright! I'm coming. Hold your horses, will you?" Belle pulled the door open, twisting the knob. "Regina?" Her eyes grow wide at the sight of the older woman, with tears running down her cheeks, black from her mascara. Belle scans the hallway, poking her head out like a turtle out of its shell before she's focusing on Regina again. "What's wrong?"

Regina threw herself into Belle's arms in a tight hug that Belle confusingly gave back. She weeped into the girl's shoulder, practically allowing her body to shake.

"What happened?" Belle asked, getting no reply, except the sobbing sounds that erupted from Regina. "Come in. Let's talk." She told her, shutting the door in place before Regina willingly entered the room.

It took Regina a while, but eventually she let Belle in on everything that had happened. How her and Emma were having yet another moment that might've made Regina just a tiny bit bolder toward her and her decisions, and yet again- they were ruined.

Belle was shocked, despite the circumstances. More so for the hurtful words Audrey had used to address her- the other woman- without even realizing that that other woman was her own mother.

Life was a cruel joke sometimes.

Regina let Belle in on how hurt Emma looked at her as she decided to make a run for it. It was the hardest thing Regina ever had to do.

"You should have seen the look in her eyes." Regina wiped away another fallen tear. "I ran away when I shouldn't have. Emma must hate me."

"Regina," Belle glared her way. "The chances of that girl hating you are zero to none. Emma loves you, and she will understand."

"I hope so. I just didn't know what to do." Regina shook her head.

"Come on," Belle patted the brunette's hand that rested against the bed where they sat. "Cheer up. It's not like you ended things with Emma… Did you?" She glared again.

Regina shook her head. "Of course not." She hears Belle sigh in relief. "I adore Emma. I really do, Belle." She sees Belle smile in that 'I know,' type of way. "I love her like I only dreamed of ever loving someone."

"Then, what are you doing here talking to me? You should be with Emma right now, doing… Whatever it is you two do together."

Images of her moments with Emma come to Regina's mind.

"I just feel so conflicted." Regina locks eyes with Belle. "If I were anyone else, I could fight my way through this, but I'm not."

"You're not?" Belle's brow rose. "Then, who- might I ask- are you if not a stronger version of Regina?"

Who was she? That was the million dollar question. "A coward," Regina whispers, remembering Audrey's words well.

"Oh, please." Belle rolls her eyes. "You are anything but that."

Regina scoffs, "I'm going behind my daughter's back to have a romance with her ex-girlfriend, Belle. All to avoid hurting her."

"You said it: Ex-girlfriend. Emma left her before you two even became a thing."

"We kissed behind every closed door while she was still with Audrey."

"Who hasn't done that at some point?" Belle shrugged.

"I'm cheating on my husband." Regina fought back.

"A husband who deserves it. And who turns out is an abusive asshole. Really, Regina-"

"Belle." Regina glared this time, shutting Belle up. "It's still an affair. Like you said. 'Let's call it what it is.'"

Belle sighs. "Well, maybe but it's not like you have much of a choice here, Regina." She slaps her thigh in aggravation. "I mean, you've been living hell for twenty-five years, married to a man who has done nothing but damage you. Physically and psychologically. You deserve some happiness, too. So, what if it was with Audrey's girlfriend? Emma is a big enough girl to know then what she knows now. She wants you, too. And judging from what she said to you, she regrets nothing."

The corner of Regina's lip tilts into a sad smile. "That's one of the things I admire most about her. Emma is so sure about herself in everything she does. And even when the going gets rough, and the waves are high, she just swims harder through the current." She sniffs. "It's a wonder why she chose me to fall in love with."

"No. A real wonder would be if she hadn't chosen you. And she didn't just choose you. You chose each other." Said Belle with a gentle smile, her hand lightly squeezing Regina's.

"I wonder why."

"Because you fit." Bell shrugged. "Regina, let me tell you something. You may be Audrey's mother, and you've been a damn good one at that. But above and beyond that, you are a woman with blood pumping through her veins- needs of your own. You spent all of your life making sure Audrey had every bit of happiness, everything she wanted. Same as Leopold, even if he doesn't care of anyone but himself. If Audrey can't understand that Emma doesn't love her anymore, well- I'm sorry- but fuck her. Fight her for Emma."

Regina's eyes are wide. Not because of the entire fighting Audrey over Emma bit- although yes, that did seem to also surprise her. But mainly because she had never heard Belle use so many profanities before. For as long as she's known her.

"If you aren't ready to tell her the truth yet out of fear of Leopold finding out. Then, fight her in silence, but make it known." Belle grinned.

Regina frowned. "Mother and daughter aren't supposed to be fighting over someone they both love, Belle. It's ridiculous."

"Welcome to the twenty-first century." Belle shrugged. "There's always a first time for everything. Unless you are willing to give up your own happiness, just when you are starting to live it, to please your daughter yet again." She rolls her eyes. "You have to think of yourself first for once, Regina."

"And what if she still doesn't stop coming after Emma?" That scared Regina to the bone. The thought also made her insanely jealous.

"Then it's up to you if you keep it a secret, or risk it and reveal to her who you are. Let Audrey find out the truth, and be done with it. Leopold or no Leopold." Said Belle.

The thought of how Audrey would react to the news of Regina's relationship with Emma was more than frightening.

Could she dare?

Regina surely knew they would have to come clean about her relationship with Emma sooner or later.

But maybe Belle was right. She needed to conjure up some strategy, the right words to make Audrey understand the situation. However hard it might be.

"You're right. I'll have to talk to Audrey." Said Regina.

Belle squeezed at Regina's shoulder- her good shoulder- remembering her injured one.

"But, first I need to talk to Emma. Apologize."

"Say no more." Belle grinned, nodding toward the door. "Let's go. I'll give you a ride."

"You have a car?" Regina's brow lifted as Belle stood from the bed.

"Not exactly. Not yet, anyway. August let me borrow the blue Mustang he and Emma spent days fixing up. He says it's the perfect car for me, so I've been driving it around. Testing it out. You know, he really knows his way around hoods." Belle reaches for the keys of said Mustang, pulling open the door and leaving with Regina.

"So I've heard," Regina chuckles. "Just make sure he stays away from yours."

Belle's brows knit, taking her a moment to get the inside joke of Regina's words until she groans.


Belle parked beside the street that was in front of Emma's parents house, and in that moment, like magic, Belle and Regina spotted none other than Emma's bug pulling into the driveway. As Emma steps out of her car, she waits right by it, recognizing the blue Mustang anywhere.

"Thank you for listening, Belle." Said Regina.

"I'm always here if you need me." Belle smiles, watching as Regina exits the car and shuts the passenger door in place. "Hey," she calls out, waiting for the brunette to face her again before she says, "I wasn't sure about your spontaneous relationship with Emma. But, after seeing you a few times with her, especially that night that we all went dancing… I can see it now. A love like yours is only found once in a lifetime."

"I know." Regina nods.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is… Don't make me disown you of our friendship if you decide to leave her over the tantrums of a brat. No offense."

"None taken." The corner to Regina's lips tilt upward.

"Call me." As Belle drives away, Regina's eyes fall on Emma as she calmly walks up the driveway.

"Hi." Both greeted each other in unison, sharing sad smiles with one another.

"I'm so glad to see you. I wasn't sure if you were coming back." Said Emma.

Regina could still see a tad of sadness in her green eyes. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?"

Emma nods, her keys jingling in the silence as she's already fishing them out of her pocket. She's quick to rush over to the passenger side door, and holds it open for Regina, who rewards her with a smile as she hops right in.

Neither of them knew where they were going as Emma drove out of the driveway again. They just knew they would talk. And Regina would fight. After tonight, after their talk, Regina would collect her thoughts and she would fight.