Warning - domestic violence
Chapter 4 No Soul
The sound of a sharp knock on the door had Emma groaning and rolling out of bed early the next morning. She didn't even think to put pants on. She yawned, running a hand through her blonde hair as she opened the door in just her tank top and red panties. Her mouth fell open in shock and she could feel herself blushing. Regina stood there with a basket of red apples and a smile on her lips. Her eyes did a subtle sweep over her and Emma nearly died from the embarrassment.
"Did you know the honeycrisp tree is the most vigorous and hearty of all apple trees? It can survive temperatures as low as forty and keep growing. It can weather any storm. I have one that I've tended to and to this day I have yet to taste anything more delicious than the fruit it offers."
She handed over an apple with a smile on her lips.
"Thanks," Emma said as she took the apple, suddenly forgetting about her near naked state and getting lost in those eyes for a moment. She was captivating and beautiful, Emma had to admit. She wondered how she could have ended up with someone like the mayor. The age difference threw her off and Regina also didn't seem to be the type to marry for money. With her teaching credentials, Emma was sure she could hold her own. After yesterday's display, Regina went from being threatening to submissive and dare she even say… fearful? Emma wasn't so sure what she saw, but all she knew was that she didn't see any type of love or affection in Regina's eyes yesterday when her husband pulled her close to him. She wondered what the story was between the two.
"I'm sure you'll enjoy them on your drive home."
"I'm not reconsidering my decision to stay."
"Henry has enough issues. He doesn't need you confusing him," she stated, the smile fading and her eyes growing frustrated.
"All due respect, Professor Mills, the fact that you have now threatened me twice in the last twelve hours makes me want to stay more."
"Since when were apples a threat?"
"I can read between the lines," she stated. "Sorry, I just want to make sure Henry is okay."
"Like I said, I have him in therapy. Only one of us knows what is best for Henry."
"Yeah, I'm starting to think you're right about that," she narrowed her eyes.
"It's time for you to go Miss Swan," Regina's voice suddenly dropped to a more threatening tone and Emma started to get defensive.
"Or what?" she asked straight out.
"Don't underestimate me, Miss Swan. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
In light of Regina's threats Emma couldn't help but do a bit of digging. She decided to pay Henry's therapist a visit. She was concerned about his mental state more than ever now that she got more of a glimpse of Regina's psychoticness. The words she had said before leaving still rang in her ear. Exactly what had she meant by, You have no idea what I'm capable of? What would she do if Emma continued to stay? She guessed she would have to find out.
She stood outside the medical offices of Dr. Archibald Hopper, the red haired man she had met the night she brought Henry into Storybrooke. She knocked on the door and could hear his dog barking. The door opened and she came face to face with the man who has been treating her son.
"Can we talk?" she asked, her eyes full of so much concern. She could see him unable to deny the plea to help her. Although, there was something else in his expression that she couldn't exactly distinguish.
"Of course, make yourself comfortable," he said, stepping aside and letting her in. The office was warm and lit by a fireplace. It was homey with a couch in the center and his desk in the corner. Pongo laid in his bed, his eyes following her as she stood by the couch.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked, needing to get this off her chest since Regina's little unannounced visit this morning. At his nod, she continued. "This fairytale obsession… What's causing it? He thinks everyones a character in his book. It's crazy."
"I hope you don't talk to him like that. The word crazy can be very damaging. These stories are his language. He has no idea how to express complex emotions so he's translating as best he can. This is how he communicates. He's using the book to help deal with his problems."
"But he got the book a month ago. He's been seeing you longer than that?"
"Yes," Archie sighed.
"It's Regina isn't it? I mean I know she loves him. I questioned her yesterday and she wasn't lying. Is it because she is too overprotective of him? Is it because he doesn't seem to have a relationship with his father?"
She had so many questions when it came to both parents. She had a feeling maybe Regina was holding on too tight to him and maybe that was the cause of Henry's mental state. She didn't doubt that Regina loved him. When she had questioned her yesterday, she could see the truth behind the hostility she had shown her. She also wanted to get some insight on his relationship with his adoptive father. Something about that man gave her a sense of uneasiness. She could see there was no relationship between him and Henry. The kid hardly talked about him during the drive back to Storybrooke. When he talked about Regina she could see in his eyes the grief he had for their crumbling relationship. She could see that he loved her despite how angry he was at the moment. When he talked about Leopold, there was nothing. Clearly there was no love lost between them.
"Well you see, Regina is a very complicated woman and over time her attempts at bringing him closer only backfired," he explained.
"Were they ever close?" she asked, her heart breaking because this wasn't the kind of life she envisioned for her kid when she gave him up all those years ago. Regina loved him, she knew that, but for some reason Henry didn't believe that. Maybe there was something else going on as well?
"They were very close, that is until he found the adoption papers. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for his father. They were never close. Although I do believe that might be the reason Regina is overprotective of him."
He walked over to the file cabinet by his desk and pulled out a thick folder. Emma was surprised when he just handed it over. She took it, her eyes full of confusion as to why he was going against patient confidentiality.
"Why don't you take this and see what I mean." His voice shook at the weight of his actions.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"He talks about you a lot. You're very important." He was evasive and something was telling her not to take the file, but her curiosity won out and she took it without a second thought.
"Thank you," she said softly, shocked that he was even doing this in the first place.
"Just see that I get it back."
Of course it was a scam! Emma suspected Regina had a hand in this. In fact she knew Regina did the moment Sheriff Graham showed up at her room in Grannies to arrest her. She did learn a lot going through whatever files she could. Apparently they had been really close until Henry had found the adoption papers. He started pulling away from Regina and then a short time after, Mary Margaret gave him the fairy tale book which was when the delusions started. Leopold didn't seem to be a big influence in his life or the father figure you'd expect him to be. She wasn't surprised given what Archie had told her before he had given her the files.
She wondered if maybe Leopold even cared for his son. Although Regina's actions of getting rid of her were downright psychotic and insane, she knows Regina loves Henry. She knew she was just scared of losing him, still her actions can not be excused. She framed her, got her arrested and when Emma took a chainsaw to the apple tree in the backyard of the mansion, she hurt Henry on purpose. They set up a meeting in her classroom, and just as Emma had called Henry's delusions crazy, Henry walked in just like Regina expected him to. Emma was furious and had accused Regina of not having a soul.
She didn't care if Regina had the law on her side when it came to custody rights. She wasn't leaving Storybrooke anytime soon or at least until she knew Henry was ok. And besides, there was something going on behind the walls of that mansion. She could see it in Regina. Something had the woman spooked.
Regina wasn't too thrilled about meeting with her again after the back and forth fighting with each other the day before. However, she reluctantly agreed after Emma brought up how she had hurt Henry. She knew she felt guilty although she wouldn't admit it. They agreed to meet in her classroom once more.
Emma made her way down the halls of the college. She had gotten there just as Regina was finishing up her last class. She took a seat in the back row, her eyes glued to the lecture and she had to admit Regina was a fantastic teacher. She smirked when she saw Ruby in the front row, furiously taking notes. In her opinion, she wondered why Regina never ran for office. She was very knowledgeable in the field.
She was so intuned with Regina's lecture she felt as if she should be taking notes too. It was then that Regina suddenly made eye contact with her and Emma felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her. They must have held contact for a minute, but to Emma it felt longer. Regina suddenly smirked at her and tore away her gaze. Emma felt as if she had been in a trance. She shook her head and waited patiently as Regina began to wrap it up.
Once the students had dispersed, leaving them alone, Emma walked up to the front of the class. Ruby gave her an eye wink as she passed her on her way out.
"That was a great lecture," she said as Regina sat down and started looking through the assignments that were collected today. Emma took a seat across from her.
"I know it was, I don't need validation from you of all people," she sneered, not making eye contact.
"Can't you just take a compliment?"
Regina rolled her eyes.
"Look, I wanted to meet because I want to call a truce. I'm not here to take Henry. I just want to make sure he's ok. We both know a world where I'm not in his life doesn't exist anymore."
Regina tore her eyes away from the assignments she was grading and fixed them on the woman before her.
"I admit I had gone too far when I involved Henry. To make up for that, he is only allowed to see you under my terms. I say when and how long. You have no say in this. Do I make myself clear?"
"That's hardly fair," Emma practically growled.
"Life isn't fair Miss Swan and just to be clear, I better not catch you with my son without my approval."
"Or what?" she snapped back. "You'll frame me and have me arrested again? Does your husband even know that you've been imprisoning me for false pretenses?"
Something in the brunette changed at the mention of her husband. For a moment she looked up at her with scared eyes and then she looked down and masked her features before looking back at her. Emma tilted her head. Something was definitely going on between the two.
"Of course he does, who do you think approved the arrests?"
"Right," Emma replied, clearly not believing her. "So when does her majesty deem it appropriate for me to see Henry?"
"I'll let you know," she dismissed her, looking straight at her with cruel eyes before looking back down at her papers.
Emma shook her head in disbelief, trying to control the overwhelming anger for her son's adoptive mother. She stood, turning her back and ready to leave, and then she turned to her once more.
"You know, when I gave him up I was told he was going to a loving family." Regina didn't even look at her as she graded the assignments. "They were wrong," Emma finished quietly. She walked away then, not even turning to see the pain inflicted in those dark brown eyes.
The moment Emma walked away, the guilt from what Regina had done the day before came crashing down on her. She had hurt Henry. She was desperate to keep him away from that woman that she had him walk into a conversation where she knew he would be hurt. She wanted him to hate Emma, and yet she failed again. Henry forgave the woman just as easily as he continued to hate her. She just couldn't win. She couldn't get Emma's angry words out of her head.
You have no soul! How in the hell did you get like this?
Perhaps, Emma was right. Maybe she didn't have a soul. Not after everything she has been through, what she has lost. Now she was losing Henry too. A single tear streamed down her cheek at that thought and she hastily wiped it away. She wouldn't dare cry here at work.
She tried to focus on her grading. She had an hour before the end of her office hours but of course nobody showed up. Ruby and a few other serious students often did, but everyone else was too afraid to sit with her for some one on one help. She wasn't oblivious to the fact that a lot of students avoided her courses. She wasn't an easy class to pass, but she was a remarkable professor and one of the best for students who are majoring in the field.
The sound of her phone ringing interrupted her thoughts and she jumped in her seat. Her heart skipped a beat and cold fear washed through her when she saw Leopold's name on the caller ID. He knew she was in her office hours and wouldn't be home for another hour. That only meant one thing. She was in trouble. Did he find out about the arrest warrants? Her hands shook, knowing if she didn't answer, it would only make things worse. She shakily brought the phone to her ear.
"I'm still in my office hours," she said, trying to steady her voice.
"Come home, now," was all he said before hanging up. She dropped the phone on her desk, trying not to panic. He found out about the warrants. She knew he did, and she had to force herself to breathe to keep from breaking down in tears. She packed up her things, hoping she was wrong and perhaps he just wanted her home for a different reason.
The moment she walked into the mansion, she was barely even able to shut the door when Leopold came storming into the foyer, her eyes catching the crumbled forms of the warrants in his fist.
She froze in fear as he advanced on her so quickly and backhanded her so hard in the face she dropped her computer and school bag, nearly stumbling to the floor herself. She gasped from the pain, her eyes watering and she could taste blood from where the force of the hit caused her to bite the inside of her cheek. He pushed her down and she fell to her knees, kicking her swiftly in the ribs. She cried out just as he kicked her again. She curled in on herself, trying to breathe.
"Stop..." she whispered and then gasped when he kicked her a final time, harder than before. He knocked the wind out of her and for a moment black spots clouded her vision. She couldn't breathe. He knelt down, pulling her up by her hair.
"What are these?" he snapped, shoving the arrest warrants for Emma in her face. She cringed from the pain and gasped for air.
"Arrest warrants," she whispered, slowly taking in air. She sat up and looked him directly in the eye. Her lips curled into a snarl. "I was merely doing what you couldn't and protecting our son from a stranger!"
She knew she was provoking him and she didn't care. No matter how hard he tried or how violent his punishments were, he could never fully control her. His eyes grew dark. His expression was cold, and she flinched back in fear as he viciously pulled her up to her feet and dragged her to the study. He threw her to the floor and locked the door.
"Imagine my shock when Sheriff Graham came to me and informed me of all the trouble you've been causing. You've arrested this woman without my approval and under false accusations. I could have you arrested again. Do you want that!"
She shook her head, looking up at him and absolutely frozen in her spot. Her eyes watched him as he took off his belt. She knew what he was going to do and her fear froze her to her spot. He's only punished her like this once after she had tried running away and a couple of more times when she had really pushed him. She could barely breathe nor stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks. She started to panic.
"Get up!" he suddenly yelled, shaking her to the core and when she didn't move he pulled her up and bent her over the couch on her knees. She started sobbing as he ripped off her shirt and bra and once she was exposed, he brought the belt down on her back. She cried out from the shock of pain.
"Shut up or the boy will hear!" he yelled, grabbing her shirt and shoving it in her mouth to muffle the screams. He lashed her harder and harder, and when her back was bruised and bleeding and she was sagging heavily into the couch, did he finally stop. She sobbed uncontrollably through the gag that was her shirt.
He put his belt back on, his eyes fixated on her shaking and crying form. She knew he took pleasure in seeing her like this. Hurt and broken and so very afraid of him. She was still on her knees, her upper half still resting on the couch. She had spit out the gag and was taking soft shaky breaths through her silent tears.
"Hopefully now you'll think twice before having a tantrum," he sneered as he went over to his desk and picked up the phone. He must have gotten Emma's number from Graham when he was told about the warrants.
She watched as he called Emma and arranged a meeting with her at his office tomorrow afternoon. Maybe now that both her husband and this woman were conspiring against her, she really was going to lose her son after all.
The next afternoon Emma was rushing down the steps of the loft just as Mary Margaret was coming in from work. After she was released from jail, apparently Regina called to remind Granny of their no felons rule. Luckily Mary Margaret had seen her trying to sleep in her car and offered her loft to rent. She had paid back the bail money as well. She slept better than she would have in her car and she was grateful to her new friend. She usually didn't make friends easily, but for some reason she trusted her. They were the same 28 years of age and were both hated by the same person. Although Mary Margaret wouldn't share why Regina hated her, Emma could tell it was a long and painful story.
"Hey, where are you off to?" her new roommate asked as she hung her coat on the rack and placed her bags on the counter before coming into the kitchen.
"I have a meeting I'm running late for. I got so caught up in my job search I lost track of time."
"With the mayor?"
"Yeah, apparently Mayor Blanchard found out about Regina having me arrested. I knew those warrants were forged by the way. He requested a meeting. Think I'll get the bail money back?"
Mary Margaret looked up at her, her face suddenly pale and Emma could see a flash of panic in her blue eyes. The air between them had shifted, and Emma wasn't sure if it was something she had said.
"Let me know if you see her?" she asked, concern clearly shining in her eyes.
"Uh, yeah sure," Emma agreed. "Do you want to meet up at Grannies for dinner later?"
She wanted to know more about Regina. There was something that Mary Margaret wasn't telling her and then there was the fact that she had the same last name as the mayor. She wondered if they were related in some way. She had so many unanswered questions and she hoped her roommate could answer them. For now though, they would have to wait. She had a meeting to get to.
"Of course," Mary Margaret nodded.
"Great, I'll text you," Emma smiled, before heading out the door.
She got into her bug and drove to town hall. Something was off with Mary Margaret. Something she said had spooked her. She didn't miss the panic in her eyes when she had talked about the arrest warrants. In fact, she always got weird and jumpy when she talked about Regina. She chalked it up to Regina's animosity towards her. Regina was pretty intense, and Emma wasn't sure the soft kind hearted Mary Margaret could handle going a few rounds with the professor like she could.
The moment she entered the Mayor's quarters, the secretary at the front desk immediately let her in. When she entered the office, she froze in her spot at who she saw.
"Henry?" He was sitting at the conference table with his homework spread out in front of him. The kid looked up at her excitedly.
"Emma!" he explained, getting up and rushing towards her. He hugged her tightly as Leopold approached them.
"Hey kid, what are you doing here?" she asked, knowing he was usually picked up by Regina to go home or back to her lecture hall.
"Mom wasn't…"
"She had some important work to get done on campus and couldn't have him distracting her," Leopold cut in, a hand falling on Henry's shoulder. He then pulled out his wallet and handed his son some money. "Take a break and get a snack from the vending machine. Don't come back in until I page my secretary. Miss Swan and I have some important things to discuss."
"Ok," he nodded, looking longingly at Emma before taking the money and leaving the room.
"Miss Swan, thank you for coming," Leopold said once Henry was gone. He led her to take a seat on the couch before moving to the minibar to make her a drink.
"No problem," she said awkwardly, still wondering why Henry was here. After arriving in Storybrooke, she noticed Regina never seemed to allow Henry to be alone with his father. Maybe she should check in with her after the meeting? Even if they might end up arguing, Emma just couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. In fact she hasn't heard from Regina since their last confrontation in her classroom yesterday.
"My wife's apple cider," he explained as he handed her the glass. She took a sip and set it down on a coaster as he took a seat across from her.
"Thank you," she nodded, once again impressed at how authentic the drink tasted. Strong but classy, just like Regina. She had a feeling they would have been great friends, if they hadn't gotten off on the wrong foot.
"Now, about yesterday, I do apologize for her behavior. Sheriff Graham had informed me she was having one of her power trip tantrums. I'll make sure the bail fee is reimbursed fully and all charges are dropped." She could hear the disdain for his wife dripping from his words and she thought how odd it was that he spoke of her in such a way. She's never had parents, but from the few good foster parents she had, they never spoke of each other with so much hatred no matter how angry they were at each other at times. Red flags immediately popped up in her head as she started thinking back to Regina's fearful eyes when she had first met him in the driveway.
"I wouldn't exactly call it a tantrum," she said, suddenly feeling the need to defend the woman that had given her so much grief since her arrival to Storybrooke. "Regina was worried about Henry when he didn't come back from school. She must have panicked when she realized his birth mother had brought him home. She's afraid of losing him. In case you haven't noticed, their relationship is crumbling."
"It doesn't excuse her going behind my back," he said, his tone hard and mind made up. "You are welcome to stay as long as you wish. Let me know if Regina gives you any more problems. She may be my wife, but despite what she thinks, she has absolutely no power in town matters."
"What about Henry?" she asked. "She won't allow me to see him unless she approves. Do you think maybe we can come to some kind of agreement? I'm not asking for visitation rights. I just don't want to disappear from his life now that he found me. I don't want to hurt him."
"Unfortunately Miss Swan, we do have the court on our side. It was a closed adoption, however I can talk to Regina and see if she is open to letting you see Henry a few times out of the week, but it is her decision as well as mine. She can take it to court and win."
"Yeah, I understand," she sighed.
"Don't be discouraged. I'm sure she'll come around if I have any say in it."
Something about those words and the way he said them made shivers go down her back. It was as if he knew for sure Regina would relent to his wishes. His eyes were soulless and his voice was controlling as he spoke of her. All she could think of as she sat there was that she really didn't want to be involved in their marital issues. She chalked it down to a normal couple having marriage problems and maybe that also contributed to Henry's delusion of fairy tales.
"Well… thank you for the apology and the reimbursement, but I better be going," she said, suddenly wanting to get out of there. Leopold stood and shook her hand.
"We're having a dinner party this friday at the mayoral mansion. You're invited to attend. I'm sure Henry would like to see you and it'll give Regina the opportunity to apologize to you herself."
Emma suppressed a groan. She really didn't want to attend a party where the hostess hated her. She didn't want to fight with Regina and she definitely didn't want to be in Leopold's presence longer than she had to. He gave her the creeps. Instead, she gave him a fake smile and nodded her acceptance, before finally heading out. If she didn't think their first encounter was strange, then this one was definitely stranger.
When she was back in her car, she texted Mary Margaret that she needed to make a quick stop before heading to the diner. She now had more questions than answers at this point. She had the sense something was very wrong with not just Henry's mental state, but his adoptive parent's relationship. She didn't want to be involved in their marital issues, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was so much more than that. The hostile way Leopold spoke of his wife, and the way Regina seemed almost fearful of him was wrong on so many levels. Maybe her roommate could answer some questions tonight. First, she needed to check on Regina. Despite all the anger she held for her, she couldn't help but worry.
She drove to campus, hoping she would find Regina at her desk, working on something that really was too important to let Henry distract her from. She parked the bug and headed to the political science building. By the time she was inside, her heart started racing and her anxiety over seeing the professor increased so she ran down the halls until arriving at her classroom. She froze, panting to catch her breath as she read the sign posted on the closed door.
"What the hell," she gasped. The sign read Dr. R Mills Political Science 101, 110, 112 canceled.
She wasn't even on campus! Why the hell did the mayor lie to her? Where was Regina?
She quickly slipped her phone from her back pocket and called her. She didn't care if Regina might be upset for disrupting her. She just needed to hear from her. She rushed back to her car, phone pressed against her ear as the call kept going to voicemail. Just as she was about to give up and drive to the mansion, Regina finally picked up.
"Miss Swan."
Her voice sounded heavy as if she had just woken up. Her voice was hoarse, lacking the usual fire and confidence.
"Regina, are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine. I was just in a meeting with your husband. Henry was there and he said you were busy at work. So I came to see you and your classes are canceled. Are you at home?"
There was a long silence and Emma started to panic.
"Regina!"
"I said I'm fine. He was mistaken. Is Henry ok?"
"He's fine Regina, but…"
The phone clicked and Emma pulled her cell from her ear to see she had hung up. She started the bug and had to resist the urge to drive to the mansion. Regina said she was fine, and even through the phone, she knew she was lying.
Mary Margaret was already seated at a booth when Emma made it to the diner. She was still slightly trembling at the strange call with Regina. She didn't sound so good, in fact as she drove here and was thinking about it, she could've sworn Regina sounded as if she were in pain. None of this made sense. The lies from the mayor, and Regina's uncharacteristic tone on the phone, led her to believe something dark was going on between the couple. Something more than just marital issues. Something along the lines of…
"Are you ok?" her roommate asked as Emma took a seat.
"No actually, something weird is going on."
"The meeting?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well yeah, the meeting itself was a bit odd. Henry was there and usually he's with Regina or Archie after school. In fact Regina never seems to leave him alone with Leopold. When I asked where she was, Leopold said she was busy at work, so I drove to campus only to find that her classes had been canceled."
"So then where is she?" Mary Margaret asked, her eyes suddenly full of concern.
"At home I think. I called her and she didn't sound so good."
"Maybe she's not feeling well?" There was something in the other woman's eyes that Emma couldn't quite decipher. She seemed to be distressed as if the news of Regina not feeling well frightened her. Emma narrowed her eyes. She knew something that she wasn't telling her.
"Maybe," Emma mumbled and remembered the second thing that was really weird. "The mayor invited me over for a dinner party."
"They invited you?" she asked, shocked, and Emma could see the genuine surprise on her face.
"Is it weird?"
"Us common people don't usually get invited to parties the mayor throws. Maybe he's just trying to piss off Regina?"
"Maybe?" Emma nodded, considering for the first time that was the exact reason he had invited her. In fact, she had a feeling he enjoyed pissing her off. "But going back to the meeting, it was a bit off. Does he always talk about her as if she is some misbehaving child?"
"They don't exactly see eye to eye on a lot of things," Mary Margaret shook her head.
"Yeah, I can tell," Emma scoffed. "Do you think that's part of why Henry is acting out? Because he sees them fighting?"
"I think he is angry and confused more than anything," Mary Margaret explained.
"Can I ask you one more question?" Emma asked. "It might not mean anything, but I just have to know." The young school teacher nodded and Emma looked curiously at her. "Are you guys related in some way?" she asked, going back to the realization that she shares a last name with the mayor.
Mary Margaret's eyes widened for a moment at the question. She let out a defeated sigh and nodded.
"He's my father," she whispered, her eyes watering and Emma could see she was desperately trying to keep her tears from falling. Emma's mouth opened in shock. She definitely wasn't expecting that.
"So then Regina is your mother?" she asked with a bit of disgust in her tone. They were nearly the same age.
"No!" Mary Margaret immediately shut that idea down. "She's my stepmother. I was 13 when she married my father. Regina was 17 at the time, but I knew her much longer than that. Our families have a history and we grew up together. We were close."
"What happened?" Emma asked, her mind reeling with all this new information. How was it that they were only 5 years apart and Leopold still married her? Also, she was still a minor at the time. Something didn't sit well and it made her feel physically ill.
Mary Margaret grimaced.
"My father has done something and I can't ever forgive him. Just like Regina can't ever forgive me for my part. I can't give you the details Emma, but just know Regina isn't the hard cold woman she wants everyone to believe she is. I knew her when she was this beautiful happy hopeful girl, and I know she's still in there somewhere. Just be patient with her. That's all I ask."
Emma regarded her words carefully. She also realized, maybe Regina wasn't the one who was soulless here. She may have jumped to conclusions much too soon. The one who was soulless, was the mayor of Storybrooke.
