Chap 7

The coffee machine hums in the background as Regina makes her second cup of the day. Not only is she worrying about the current status of her relationship with Henry, she is also starting to regret the call she made for help, and what that means for her future. 'Hope is a dangerous emotion, Regina' she can hear her mother's words. 'Love is weakness'

But I love Henry with everything I am, and if this is the only way to get him back then I am going to destroy everything I have built, for him. If that doesn't prove I love him then I don't know what will.

Lost in thought she misses the doorbell ring. It wasn't until the third time it was pressed she was pulled from her thoughts. Picking up her coffee she goes to the door. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves she answers.

'Hello Regina'

'Please come in. Would you like something to drink?' She asks, moving to allow her guest entrance.

'Tea please, decaf if you have it?'

'Of course, please take a seat in the living room'

Moving to the kitchen her brain kicks into gear again, what am I doing? This will ruin me. I have to stop this now! She goes back into the living room with the tea as requested and takes a seat on the sofa, almost directly opposite her guest, a power play she had ingrained into her from such a young age. Face everyone head on, show no weakness, only strength.

'So Regina, why did you call? Is this about Henry'

'No. Well yes. You see Henry and I have been having some problems communicating recently and I was hoping you can help'

This admission coming from Regina surprised him. Leaning forward slightly he silently asks her to continue.

'We have been arguing a lot lately, it would seem he has, well, he is becoming a teenager I suppose' she starts, trying to convince herself she is doing the right thing, trying to navigate how she is to take the next step.

'He believes I have been lying to him' she offers

'And have you?'

'Only to protect him from things he isn't old enough to understand' she snaps back, becoming defensive. Leaning back and crossing her arms. Her guest understands this position and what it means for the conversation.

'Maybe he is ready and that's why he is struggling to talk to you' he offers softly.

Regina starts to feel her walls slowly come down. Knowing she has to speak as truthfully as she can, without mentioning the curse, or their home land. She takes a deep breath.

'I have been, I'm not sure how to approach the conversation, its' she pauses, struggling to find the right words.

'Difficult' he offers?

'Yes, and I fear if I do start this discussion he may not believe what I have to say, I'm afraid I've left it too long to take the right steps, and now I cannot see a way through. I cant talk to him the way Emma does'

Surprised at her own admission. She blushes.

'I think you know that in order to gain his trust, you need to fix your relationship with Emma first, once you have built bridges there, he may be more accepting of your explanation for your behaviours'

Regina scoffs, talk about expecting the impossible.

'How can I fix that mess of a relationship, we hate each other its as simple as that' crossing her arms again.

'Start small' he suggests. 'There must be things about Emma that aren't so bad. You said it yourself she is good with Henry, what else?'

Regina had never really thought of Emma as anything other than the saviour, the woman destined to take away her son, her Happy Ending.

'I, Well I' she starts.

Noticing his host was getting lost in thought he leans back allowing the Mayor time to organise her thoughts. Sipping his tea and waiting, he's not sure if she will answer, or what opinion she will arrive at but he will sit, he will wait until she is ready to talk.

Now she thinks about it, She is the only person in the world that can go toe to toe with the Mayor, she frustrates her, no, infuriates her! She is messy and scruffy and never on time, but those unruly locks of hers are quite charming, urgh really! She is quite beautiful when she is flustered, recalling the many times Regina has made her blush. Come to think of it She has always found the blonde quiet attractive. Wait. No. It cant be. Could it? Is it possible that Emma is the answer. Emma is not THE saviour, she is Reginas saviour. That thought had her sitting bolt upright in an instant.

'It can't be' she whispers to herself forgetting she has company. Remembering her guest, she clears her throat and says to her guest 'that's not a box I am ready, nor willing, to unpack right now'

Right at that moment she hears a knocking in the door. Answering it she sees the blonde that has pushed her way into her life and apparently her heart.