Chapter Five
The celebrations continued and Regina looked on, supported by the tree she was leaning against. She was trying to regain some of the energy that she had used. Her eyes locked with those of Emmas, across a sea of hugging people. Regina offered a small smile before looking away.
"I cant believe you made it back" Regina could hear Henry saying to his grandparents. Regina was happy that Henry was Happy but deep inside it hurt.
Emma was overwhelmed with emotion. She knew that she should be elated that her parents were back, but somehow she couldn't shake the feeling of annoyance that her parents had completely ignored Regina. She looked over to find the mayor standing there and when their eyes locked Emma felt something pass between them.
"Im so glad you managed to get us back Emma" Snow told her as she embraced her yet again. Emma forced a smile. Now was not the moment to tell her parents what she was really thinking.
David turned to Henry. "Lets go back into town! We have so much to talk about! Lets go and get some cocoa" he said and nearly everyone nodded in agreement. Emma held back as she watched her parents leave with Ruby and her son.
"Are you not coming Emma?" Snow asked.
"I'll follow you there in a minute" Emma informed her. Snow looked beyond Emma to where Regina still stood and a frown crossed her face. Just as she was about to speak a look from Emma silenced her. It was a look that said, Don't even go there. Closing her mouth Snow turned and followed her husband, grandson and best friend out of the clearing.
Once Emma was satisfied that her parents had gone she tentatively approached the mayor.
On her approach she noticed Regina trying to stand up straighter. It was very clear that the mayor was in a weakened state.
"Regina Are you okay?" Emma asked, reaching out to help steady the brunette. Regina brushed off her help.
"What do you think Miss Swan?" She snapped. "I just inhaled a serious amount of magic to help bring my sons grandparents back, I get absolutely no thanks from them and Henry didn't even look at me". Her voice broke when she got to the part about Henry and Emma could have sworn she saw a tear appear in Regina's eye.
Regina took a deep breathe and stood up straighter than she ever had. She cleared her throat.
"I suggest you go and catch up with your parents Miss Swan." She said in the most formal tone Emma had ever heard her speak. "I doubt they would take too kindly to their daughter conversing with The Evil Queen" Regina said, her voice dripping with distaste. Her eyes, Emma noticed were majority black, her pupils so dilated Emma dared to protest. She swallowed down the words she was going to speak, and with one final look at Regina she turned on her heels and followed the footsteps her parents and Henry had taken. It pained her to see Regina like that, with her walls back up, but Emma knew that Regina wouldn't let anyone see her in a vulnerable state.
Regina watched as Emma left. Once the blonde was out of sight she let out a breathe and let her shoulders relax. She had put her walls back up she knew, but she had too. She couldn't let Emma Swan of all people see her cry, and boy had she come close to. Seeing Henry jubilant at the return of his grandparents and not pay her any attention had really gotten to her.
She thought about what Archie had said. "Help bring snow and David back. Show Henry you have changed." His words echoed in her mind and she couldn't help but think they had meant nothing. That even though she had helped bring Snow and David back, Henry still thought of her as the Evil Queen and she feared that nothing was going to change that.
Feeling sad and lonely Regina headed back home. Along the drive she saw signs that the town were starting to celebrate the return of Snow and David and she scoffed in disgust. She drove home and locked the door as soon as she entered her home. Her fingers twitched and Regina could feel the magic beneath her skin bubble. Shaking off her shoulders and flexing her fingers, Regina realised she needed a distraction. Taking off her coat and shoes she headed into the kitchen. She knew exactly what she was going to do.
Back at the loft Emma watched on as Snow and David filled Henry in on all their adventures from the Enchanted Forest. Emma didn't pay much attention, not really interested in what life was like there. Her thoughts drifted to Regina, and Emma couldn't help but wonder how she was. Emma wanted to shout at her parents for ignoring Regina when they had arrived back. After all it was because of her that they had managed too, but of course her perfect parents didn't see that.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a snippet of her parents conversation.
"And of course we're going to start working on how to get everyone back to the enchanted Forest" Snow had said. Emma's head shot up.
"What!?" She exclaimed and her parents looked at her.
"We want to get everyone back to the Enchanted Forest." Snow deadpanned. "Now that we know it exists it makes sense to get everyone back home" Snow informed her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Emma couldn't hold back any longer.
"Everyone?" She asked sarcastically. "So Regina would be coming back too would she?" Emma asked.
"Well.." David started. "when we say everyone, after what Regina did, she wouldn't be invited back No" he finished, not daring to look Emma in the eye. At this news Emma completely lost it. She shot up from her chair.
"REGINA IS HENRY'S MOTHER!" Emma screamed into the room. "SHE IS THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET BACK THROUGH THAT WELL. AND WHAT?" Emma took a breathe. "YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LEAVE HER HERE AND TAKE HER SON? I DON'T THINK SO" Emma finished her angry voice full of disbelief. "I don't Believe it! You know what. I need some air" Emma said, grabbing her jacket from the back of the chair. "I'll see you at the diner later" she called over her shoulder before leaving the apartment. She sent off a text to Henry on her way down the stairs.
"Sorry For Losing it and leaving! Spend some time with Mary Margret and David! I will see you at the diner later! Love You Kid! PS. Don't let them fill your head with fantasies and tales of how your mother is a horrible person. Remember she saved them!
She pressed send and exhaled a sigh of relief. She should of stayed and told Henry that in person but she couldn't bare to be in the same room as Snow and David any longer. She needed to know that Henry didn't forget what his mother had done. As she approached her car her phoned pinged in her pocket. She took it out and read the reply from Henry.
Its okay. They can be overwhelming! I wont forget about mom! Can you make sure she is okay and tell her I love her?
Emma smiled at the response. For a ten year old kid he was wise beyond his age. She fired back a text. Sure kid! Before starting up the engine and driving across town. She didn't know where she was going when she first left the apartment but after Henrys text she knew. She drove across town and parked up on the street outside Reginas house. She shut off the engine and made her way up the path. Taking a deep breath she raised a fist and knocked on the door, waiting.
Inside the mansion Regina was putting the finishing touches to her lasagna and peach pie when she heard the knock at the door. Smoothing out her apron she fluffed her hair and went to the door. She saw the slim silhouette through the glass window and knew that it was the sheriff. Opening the door she greeted Emma with her trademark,
"Miss Swan. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Emma turned around at Reginas question.
"Hey! Can I come in?" Emma asked. Regina observed the blonde and knew that something was bothering her. She answered by opening the door wider and stepping to the side. Emma smiled and slid past her and regina followed, closing the door behind them.
"Something smells good?" Emma asked turning to face Regina.
"Im making lasagna" Regina informed her leading her into the kitchen. Upon entering Emma noticed the pie on the side. "Its not another apple pie to kill my parents is it?" Emma asked jokingly, motioning to the pie on the counter beside the lasagna. Regina chuckled.
"Unfortunately not. Its peach!" Regina informed her. "I used up all my poisonous apples on the last one" She continued and her face dropped. She looked away from Emma and busied herself with making sure that the oven was set at the right temperature. Emma kicked herself. She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut. "Regina I'm sorry" Emma said to Reginas back. "Sorry?" Regina asked. "What for?" Emma took a breathe.
"For everything. For coming into town. For the way my parents treated you. For making the remark about the pie. I know you are trying to change and I know it's not easy for you" Emma finished, looking at the floor.
Regina was taken aback. She hadn't expected that from the blonde. "Urm thank You?" Regina responded unsure of wether that was the correct response.
"Things not going rosy at the charming abode?" Regina asked and Emmas head shot up and from the look on her face Regina already knew the answer to that question. She went to the cupboard and pulled out two glasses, placing them on the counter beside Emma. She then moved to a rack and retrieved a bottle. Unscrewing it Regina poured them both a generous helping of the red liquid.
"I think we can both use this" Regina told Emma handing her one of the glasses. Without hesitating Emma moved the glass tower lips and gulped a generous amount. "Thank you! You are right I did need that" Emma informed Regina before telling her all about what had happened after she left the forest and followed her parents.
"…..And they had the audaciousness to suggest that they would be taking Henry back to the Enchanted Forest and leaving you here.."
"THEY WHAT!" Regina interrupted and Emma jumped a little.
"Relax" Emma told Regina "I told them in very clear, certain terms that Henry would not be going anywhere and then well, I left the apartment and came here." She finished. "Oh Henry wanted me to tell you he loves you By the way!" Emma added, trying to soften the mayor and calm her back down. Regina took a couple of steadying breathes.
"They may be your parents Emma but Henry is My Son and I swear, I would die before I let anyone take him away from me" Regina told her and Emma nodded.
"I know and I promise I will not let anyone take him anywhere or make you feel like you are not his mother okay" Emma said placing a hand on Reginas.
Regina looked at their hands, connected on the side. She smiled at Emma, grateful that she seemed to have Emmas support. That was half the battle she supposed.
Emma removed her hand from Reginas.
She coughed to clear her throat. "Listen there is a party happening at Granny's later, a little welcome back party. You should come" Emma said. Regina sighed.
"I don't think that would be best Emma. Your parents wont want me there." Regina said and Emma shook her head.
"To be frank Regina I don't care what my parents would like or want. I want you there and I know Henry would love to see you" Emma was almost pleading with Regina.
"I promise you wont be alone" Emma continued. "Maybe you could bring your lasagna?" Emma asked hopefully. Regina observed her before nodding.
"I will think about it" she told Emma and a smile broke out on Emmas face.
"Thats all I ask" Emma finished before getting up.
"I suppose I should go back and face the music?" Emma said and Regina nodded.
"Thanks for letting me in and listening Regina, I really appreciate it." Emma told her as she walked towards the front door.
"I will see you at Granny's later. It starts at 7!" Emma called over her shoulder as she walked down the garden path. She knew Regina would come, even if the brunette didn't know herself.