I don't own these characters. Disney/ABC does.
2: Speak Now
Parts started arriving for the Benz and Emma wasted no time getting to work, setting the car up in the driveway. Henry "helped," as much as an eleven-year-old with no interest in cars could help. It was nice to hang out with him, even though she wished he shared her love of cars. He handed her tools, though, and asked what the tools did. She liked that. He was curious.
"Kid, you should be in a jacket," Emma said as she stood up from being under the hood. She had to stretch.
"You're not wearing one." He motioned to her. She had on a flannel shirt, but it was unbuttoned, revealing her white tank top underneath. The only reason she still had the red flannel on was because Henry was there. She was hot, but she did not want him to think it was okay to be out in this weather without any cover at all. She wiped her brow with her sleeve.
"I'm doing the work here. I've worked up a sweat. You're passing me tools, the wrong ones most of the time." She gave him a lopsided grin.
Henry rolled his eyes, but he went inside and got a black zip-up hoodie, which was good enough. Regina would be happy to see him in a jacket when she showed up. Emma did not need to get in any more trouble considering she still was not allowed home and it had been almost two weeks. I can't believe this crap is still going on and I didn't even do anything! She put that out of her head and focused on the car.
Henry was Emma's assistant until his mom arrived and he had homework to do, which became a little routine they worked up. Regina did not even look at her the first couple of days, despite the fact that she was saving Regina's precious car. Regina acknowledged Emma with a glance and nothing more on the third day. Then, the next day, it was a little more.
Emma was cleaning up as the sunset behind her. Regina stepped outside, with tupperware in her hands and a thermos on top of it. Emma finished putting away some tools and wiped her hands as Regina stood before her. There was a knot in her chest, but hope loosened it a bit as she looked at the items Regina held.
"I made too much. I'm sure you need a break from burgers and beer," Regina said.
Emma smiled and the hope spread through her a little more, releasing tension built up over weeks. This was Regina's love language. It might take a while, as this was Regina, but they would get there. I wish I didn't have to wait this out in the damn B&B, but whatever.
"Thanks. I miss your cooking," Emma admitted as she accepted everything. "And is this cider?"
"Of course it is. There's enough here for dinner and lunch."
"Thanks, babe."
Regina's eyes erupted with fury. "Don't 'babe' me." She turned and slammed the front door as she went back inside the house.
Emma was not sure if that was her usual anger at pet names or leftover anger over this whole kissing mess. She decided not to stress it. Regina accepted her help with the car and gave her food. She would be back in the house eventually. I just hope it doesn't take the rest of the year.
-8-8-8-8-
It took almost a full week before Regina went from sending Emma on her way with dinner to inviting her to stay for dinner. "It's just so you don't eat too late. That's not healthy," Regina said with a frown.
Emma grinned and accepted, feeling the need to fix her clothes as she went to the house, like she could not be disheveled from fixing the car. She was not sure why, but it felt right to have her button-up closed and everything. Henry rushed her and hugged her as soon as she crossed the threshold of the house. Something inside of her untied itself and she felt looser, more relaxed. She was home.
"Both of you, go wash up," Regina told them.
Emma missed that, missed this. This was her family. She and Henry disappeared upstairs in silence, as if noise would banish her from the house.
She went to the ensuite bathroom in the bedroom and paused. Nothing looked different, even though she had not been there for three weeks. Her toothbrush was still there. Her other toiletries were still exactly where she left them. Even her towel was still hanging on the outside of the shower. Regina had not purged her from their room.
Once again, something inside of her let go. It was like thorn vines had been around her organs and bones. Now, they were gone. Regina had not thrown her away. This was still her home. I just have to wait for Regina to stop being pissed and it'll be fine. Slowly, but surely.
Emma washed up, resisting the urge to hop in the shower. The water pressure at Granny's was crap, especially compared to this shower and its dual showerheads. Once she was clean, Emma returned to the table and took her usual seat. Henry was right behind her and sat across from her. Regina served their plates and sat in her usual spot at the head of the table. Lamb chops, mashed potatoes, string beans, and buttered biscuits never looked so good.
They were having a family dinner, like they used to before Lily torpedoed her life yet again. Family dinners had been few and far in between for her until Regina and Henry let her in their lives.
"So, how's the car coming along?" Henry asked, grinning so hard it was a wonder he did not split his face open. He moved his food around with his fork, like he planned to prolong the meal by pretending to eat.
"And here it is I thought you were assisting," Regina said.
Henry sat up and put his chin in the air. "I am! It's just really complicated."
Emma held in a laugh. Henry was great at passing her the wrong thing she asked for, but she was glad to spend time with him. "The car will live. It's going to take a lot of work." She was confident in that. Michael probably just did not have the time to repair the car. He had other vehicles to work on while she could spare her entire evening for it.
"Imagine that," Regina said with a brief frown. Knowing her, she was planning to curse Michael out, without using a swear word, for trying to declare her car junk.
"What's wrong with it?" Henry asked.
Emma shrugged. "It's just old. Things get worn down with time no matter how much love and care you put into them." She smiled at Regina. She did not want Regina to think she had done anything to mess up the car. That was Regina's second child, or first child considering it was older than Henry.
"Yes, and then we have to work on those things," Regina said.
Emma held up a finger. "Exactly, for upkeep. So, I'm putting in the work."
Henry looked between them and then stared at Emma. Emma was not sure why he eyed her like she had done something. He leaned in and she focused on her food for a moment, showing big forkfuls into her face. His mouth dropped open.
"Wow. Really?'' Henry shook his head and turned to Regina. "Good luck, Mom, because wow."
Regina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Love, care, and work." She blew out a breath and cut some of her lamb chop to eat. "How's your English project going, Henry?"
Henry jumped right into his project talk and eating at the same time, but in a controlled manner to avoid being scolded. It was so normal. Emma forgot about what would happen at the end until Regina pressed a dish into her hands while directing her to the door. She had to leave.
But, from that moment on, she was able to stay for dinner and she was able to stay a little bit later each night. It might take some time, but Regina seemed to be on the road to forgiving her. It was about time.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina had learned how to drown out a lot of gossip and rumors about her. If she did not, it would drive her mad. What she had not learned to do was ignore her mother. So, when she got invited to tea with her mother, and probably her sister, she left Henry with Emma and took an Uber to the estate. It was still technically Storybrooke, but it was far enough and large enough to be its own thing.
"Going home?" the driver asked.
Regina frowned. "Obviously." She did not know the driver, but the driver knew her.
The driver whistled when they pulled up. "I heard tales, but never realized how loaded you are."
"One has to be connected to the money to be 'loaded.'" Regina had fallen out of favor with her mother over fifteen years ago. That was fine until her father died eleven years ago. She used an app on her phone to open the gate to the house and the car continued up the paved driveway.
The estate loomed, like an impregnable medieval castle. It used to be light, as if made of sandstone, but the exterior had been redone in dark tones right after her father died. It was cold and imposing with an iron gate around it, like the gates of Hell. It had not always been that way.
When her father was alive, sometimes the place seemed warm, like home. There was a welcoming air to it once upon a time. She doubted it would ever feel that way again.
A maid let Regina in and took her jacket. She did not need direction, knowing her mother was in her sunroom. Zelena was there. They were talking until Regina darkened the doorway. They turned to her at the same time.
"Ah, Regina, only ten minutes late," her mother said, as if this was a formal event. Of course, considering her mother's black dress and red drape, it might as well be a formal affair. Zelena was decked in her usual emerald and black. Regina had on a deep blue dress, wanting to be set apart from them when they were together.
Regina shrugged, not much to avoid it seeming like a hostile act. "Yes, well, I am still without a car and couldn't force the Uber driver to go faster." In fact, she would have tipped higher if they were later.
Her mother nodded, even though they knew it did not did not matter. "Well, don't stand on ceremony."
Regina sat in the nearest chair and felt her execution was imminent. Why else would her mother invite her out? She needed to belittle Regina for some perceived shortcoming. The trick would be for Regina to not take it personally. She had yet to manage that. But, she had learned to eat it rather than make it worse. But, sometimes, eating it meant poisoning herself.
"What type of tea do you want?" her mother asked, crossing her legs at the ankle, even though they had already been crossed. She was dressed in black and purple, a dress that made it seem like she had an event outside to get to, but it was more a flex than anything else. She had to be dressed up to dress down her daughters.
"Whatever you're having is fine." Black tea was as good as any other, especially when it was there as decoration more than anything else. The perfect porcelain tea set sat in the middle of the table. The teapot was red with gold vines creeping up it. The cups were on matching saucers with golden spoons resting at their sides. There was a platter of tea cakes and biscuits. Who is Mother trying to impress? Us? The staff?
Her mother cocked an eyebrow. "That's not your usual go-getter attitude." She motioned to a maid to pour Regina's tea. It was so decadent. Her mother reveled in this sort of thing.
Regina did not react. "I was unaware I had such an attitude." That was the attitude her mother wanted her to have.
"I think we all know how enterprising and ambitious you can be when you put your mind to it," her mother replied and then sipped her own tea.
"You give me too much credit, Mother." Regina had stopped fighting her mother over the years, opting for humbleness, backhanded compliments, and false modesty to respond to her mother demands. She did not have time for the struggle anymore. She had her own family and issues there to deal with.
Zelena scowled. "Don't play coy, Regina. Mother's paying you a compliment."
Regina glanced at her sister, but was not sure if she really wanted to engage with her. Was this a meeting where it was her against them or was Zelena trying to help? Zelena's version of help was always bizarre. But, then again, that was thanks to their mother. Cora ruined literally everything she touched.
"Where's my niece? I brought sweets for her." Regina held up her purse. There was quite a bit of candy in there for Robbie. Seeing Robbie was the only thing that would make the trip worth it and it would seem Robbie had managed to dodge the bullet that was this reunion.
"You give her too many sweets. She won't have any teeth thanks to you," Zelena replied, waving the whole matter off.
Now, this was a game Regina could play. "You say that as the person who buys Henry every new gaming console to come out. He'll ruin his eyes thanks to you." It was nice that Zelena wanted to be an aunt to Henry considering their mother had no desire to be his grandmother since he was adopted and his birth mother was in the picture again. Mother had no time for Emma.
"You're both too indulgent with your children," Mother said.
Regina and Zelena glanced away. Their mother was the last person to give advice, on anything really, but especially parenting advice. Regina had battled abuse of almost all types since birth thanks to her mother. Zelena possibly had it worse.
Zelena was the product of a one-night stand and stood in the way of their mother marrying up, so she abandoned Zelena. Just left her for dead on the side of the road. Zelena lucked out and was adopted by the couple who discovered her. Her luck held until her adoptive mother had the poor manners to die when she was a teenager and it turned out the father never wanted her. He kicked Zelena out and she had the continued bad luck of finding her birth mother. She had almost escaped as their mother dismissed her out of hand, but Regina's father welcomed Zelena into their home. Well, from that point on, Zelena was trapped. It could only get worse from there.
"How is your son, Regina?" her mother asked as if she cared.
Why was she asking about Henry? "He's fine."
"Is he ready for you running for reelection?" her mother asked.
Regina sipped her tea. It was a high-end beverage, as everything was with her mother, but it reminded Regina of tears, so that was how the tea tasted to her. "I don't see what he needs to prepare for. He's gone through this before."
"Yes, but he was, what, five?"
"Seven."
"Well, at eleven, he could be trouble at public appearances."
Regina held in a recoil. She would never! "I don't plan to have him at any. I've won elections without using him as a prop." Henry wanted to have a normal life, and she would do her best to grant that, even with his mothers as mayor and sheriff of his hometown.
Her mother scowled, like she was disgusted. "I'm not suggesting you use him as a prop and don't you think you'll need all the help you can get after this recent scandal."
Regina almost rolled her eyes, but had little desire to die at the table. "It's not my first scandal." And, with the way the universe treated her, it probably would not be her last.
"You think people will trust you to lead after you can't be trusted to keep your marriage together? Or is that why you're taking her back? Of course those optics are even worse," her mother said.
"Worse than the optics when I was split from my then girlfriend, began dating Robin Hood, only to find out he impregnated my sister?" Regina arched an eyebrow. Talk about a scandal. She could have done without that one, even though dating and losing Robin helped her understand how much she missed and loved Emma. Too bad the feeling doesn't seem to be mutual. Emma did not love or miss her enough to even apologize for her terrible judgment.
Zelena choked. "Regina!" What was shocking? It was not a secret. They just rarely mentioned it now.
"What?" Regina waved the matter off. "I'm over it. I adore Robbie and I'm married to Emma. I'm just using it as a point that there have been bigger scandals." One day, one of them probably would take her down, but she could not imagine this one being it. Her current spat with Emma was benign compared to so many other things the town talked about.
Her mother scowled. "You have a history of not keeping a mate. It looks bad."
"And taking Emma back looks equally bad to you." Of course, her mother never liked the idea of her marrying Emma in the first place. There was no money or power to be had there.
"You come off as a doormat. Who wants that to lead you?"
Regina arched an eyebrow. "So, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't."
Her mother inhaled and sat back. "You did it to yourself really. I warned you against marrying that woman and now look at where you are." Then, she drank her tea, like Regina allowed Emma to ruin the world or something.
That was not a lie. Her mother told her not to marry Emma on many different occasions for a number of reasons, the biggest being Emma's financial situation, or lack thereof. But, marrying Emma had actually boosted her image. The town thought they were cute and made them rather famous around the state. Regina was popular enough to be known if she desired to run for governor, which would not impress her mother. Her mother was old fashion. She wanted Regina to marry the governor, be the woman behind the power. More because it gave her plausible deniability the moment something wrong than anything else.
"Marrying her helped soften my image," Regina said.
"Yes, to the point you're ready to be squished," her mother replied.
"Then I suppose it's bound to happen." It would not be her first time. She bounced back, though. She liked to think of herself as a cat, a black cat. She had nine lives and all the bad luck.
"Oh, just divorce the woman, Regina!" Zelena threw her hands up.
Their mother glared at her, even though that was exactly what she was hinting at. She just did not like when Zelena raised her voice. Had she raised Zelena, she would have beat that out of Zelena in no time. Instead, Zelena lacked patience and hated whenever Regina or their mother danced around issues. Zelena would not last in politics, or tricky situations really.
"Because someone kissed her?" Regina could see why she was the only one happily married at the table. Well, it's not 'happily' at the moment. But, she could still see why she was the only one with a successful marriage. Hell, a successful relationship. One of the reasons Robyn was called "Robbie" was thanks to Zelena's feelings toward Robin. But, trying to keep Robin was one of the reasons Robyn was named after him, though he never took the time to see her.
Her mother curled her lip and narrowed her gaze on Regina. "You believe that story? When did you become so pathetic?"
It was not a matter of belief. Regina heard what happened from enough people, but she knew better than anyone how Emma felt about Lily and what Lily had done to Emma in her life. There was no way Emma would kiss Lily. She was surprised the story did not actually end with Lily spitting out teeth. Regina definitely would have punched her in the mouth and "punch first, ask questions later" was basically Emma's motto.
"You kicked her out, so obviously it means more to you than you're pretending," Zelena said.
Regina had more of her tea. They would not understand why she did what she did. Every slight against them demanded revenge. Regina had been the same way after Daniel died until she met Emma. Emma slowly helped soften her heart and she was able to rediscover who she was. Emma's presence reminded her that she was a better person than she had acted for far too long. She and Emma were better people together. Her mother would never understand. Her mother had no desire to be a better person and there was never a better person hiding inside of her.
Zelena would never get it because Zelena had never been in love. Zelena had never been married. She was not sure if Zelena had ever had a serious relationship. Hell, she was not sure if Zelena had even learned to trust people again after the things their mother put her through. So, Zelena would never understand what Regina and Emma were going through.
"My marriage is my concern," Regina said.
Her mother shook her head. "Is that the example you want to set for your son? Let him think in a relationship it's all right for one party to cheat?"
Regina almost had to literally bite her tongue to avoid snapping at her mother. Her mother had no business telling anyone how to raise children. She had no business trying to advise anyone about a marriage either. She married Regina's father for the money and had a long term affair for her entire marriage. It was an open secret around town, something Regina had been taunted about throughout her childhood.
The entire time was spent like this. Her mother needed her to understand she would not be reelected if she took Emma back. She would look weak and no one wanted weak leadership. She was so tired when she and Zelena were allowed to leave.
"Do you want a ride home?" Zelena asked, motioning to her emerald green Porsche.
"I'm fine with the rideshare." She did not want to chance being trapped in a car with her sister, in case Zelena was in the mood to parrot their mother.
Zelena frowned. "Really?"
"You won't convince me Mother's right."
Zelena scoffed. "Why would I try that?"
"You chose her side inside."
"We both know it's less painful. We also both know you're going to take Emma back."
Regina arched an eyebrow. "Do we know that?"
Zelena looked at her like she was insane for asking that question. "You wouldn't be letting her spend so much time with Henry if you didn't plan to take her back."
"She's his mother."
Zelena held up a finger. "But, if you were going to break up with her, you'd be preparing him for that separation. I remember the effort you went through with Robin."
"What effort?"
"Exactly!" Zelena pointed in her face, almost tapping the end of her nose. "You liked to claim Robin was a serious relationship, but I know he only met Henry once and it was by accident. You didn't let him around Henry the way you let Emma around him."
"She's his mother."
Zelena rolled her eyes. "No, you're his mother. We both know that. You decide who you want to spend time with your child and you're very careful with it." Zelena glanced away. "I learned more from watching you as to why that's so important than from my own life."
Regina shook her head. "'It's been selfishness on my part for a long time."
"Not recently. You're not weak for taking her back, just like I wasn't stupid for leaving Robin."
Regina chuckled a little. "Possibly the smartest move you ever made." Of course, their mother had not agreed and cut Zelena down for it more often than not, but Zelena was happier for it. It was that move that helped them begin to build a real relationship as sisters.
Zelena nodded. "The stupid thing was stealing him in the first place." She was trying to get on their mother's good side at the time. It worked for a while, mostly because Robin was wealthy. But, Zelena hated the man and could not stand him for long periods of time. She did not care about his money either, which he was lucky for. She had not requested a huge amount of child support, which she would have gotten because Regina would have represented her. Her law credentials could have used the workout.
"You didn't steal him, but we got Robbie out of it and that's good enough for me." Regina smiled. She adored her toddler niece.
Zelena grinned, a proud mama. No matter her feelings toward Robin, Zelena did her best to be a good mother to Robbie. That helped break their mother's spell over Zelena and helped the sisters become closer. Zelena wanted to be more like her adoptive mother in parenting and that was a good goal. Meanwhile, Robin seemed to think as long as he made his child support payments on time, he was a good father to his daughter.
"We should do something, a girls' day, after you sort out this trouble with Emma," Zelena said as Regina's ride pulled up.
"Emma didn't cheat, you know."
Zelena scoffed. "I have no doubt, but she did something bad. You kicked her out."
"It wasn't cheating, though." It was not why people were judging their relationship. It was worse as far as she was concerned.
"But, you're pissed over it."
Oh, yes, she was. She might die mad about it, especially since Emma did not realize what she had done. She had to figure out how to handle it. They could not live in limbo forever, but it hurt every time she thought about it, rubbed raw on her soul, and she thought it whenever someone mentioned Emma and that damned kiss. It would fester and she might just have to eat it, like her mother's insults. More poison. She probably would die mad about it from her own repression.
"Maybe we should do the girls' day soon. A dose of Robbie always cheers you up," Zelena said.
"Well, she's adorable. I don't know where she got that from." Regina grinned before hopping into the rideshare. Zelena gave her the finger as she left and she laughed.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina entered the house to the sound of laughter and shouting. Emma and Henry were in the living room, playing video games and jumping on each other to sabotage the other. A regular day for them.
"Hey, babe," Emma said.
"You're not going to fool me with that again!" Henry reached over to grab Emma's controller.
"But, your mom is really there!" Emma yanked her remote away.
Henry fell for it, giving her a glance. Regina smiled as Emma screamed and leaped up. Henry's head snapped back at the television.
"You're a cheater!" Henry yanked Emma back down.
Regina shook her head at their antics. They always had such fun together, very different from when she and Henry spent time together. How could she take that from him regardless of what happened to her and Emma? Of course, Zelena seemed to think this would be the deciding factor. Ugh, what if she's right? Regina would never hear the end of it.
"Have you played video games this whole time?" Regina asked.
"We worked on the car some and had pizza," Henry replied.
Emma arched an eyebrow. "We worked on the car?"
Henry shoved her. "I handed you tools like always! It's honest work."
Emma laughed and ruffled his hair. They grinned at each other. Regina melted at the sight. Could she take this from Henry, even if it would not be her fault? Could she stomach Emma's poisonous presence for Henry? Probably.
Regina went upstairs, needing time to think. All of this pain and suffering could be avoided if Emma would just admit she was wrong. Was it so hard? The town had led Emma to believe she walked on water and Emma brought into hook, line, and sinker, so there was no chance of her owning up to it. Regina would either have to swallow a bitter pill or hurt all of them. All or one? None of this was fair.
She showered and dressed as she asked herself several times if what happened was worth her marriage. Emma thought it was minor, not worth mentioning and that was infuriating. She was not worth an open and honest relationship. And that was what it really came down to — she was not worth it.
Emma had gotten so comfortable that she knew she could get away with anything with Regina. And it seemed true. People expected Regina just to give in because she loved Emma, because Emma was Henry's birth mother, because Emma saved her life, because Emma saved Henry's life, and the list went on. Everyone felt Regina was in debt to Emma and that should keep Regina there, but she would not be held emotionally hostage by anyone.
Regina went downstairs and found it quiet. Emma had made herself scarce. Maybe she sensed Regina's mood. Although, Emma did not hang around her after she saw her mother and sister. It was always a crapshoot of how Regina's mentality would be after. She was always just as likely to need cuddles as she might need to tear something apart. Emma tended to wait and see before guessing what to do with Regina.
"Wanna watch a show?" Henry asked.
"Your mother left?"
"Yeah. She said she had to go home."
Regina nodded. "At least she fed you before fleeing the scene. Did you have a good time together?"
Henry shrugged. "It was okay. It's still weird. When's Ma gonna move back in?"
Regina blinked. He said it like it was inevitable, like Emma had to wait her out. "Did you ask her?" It was on Emma.
"She said whenever you're ready forgive her."
Of course she did. Emma seemed to think she was totally innocent in the matter and Regina was being unreasonable. No matter how this went, Regina was the bad guy. Fine. She knew how to be the bad guy.
-8-8-8-8-
Emma stood up from Regina's car and wiped her hands off with the nearest rag. It was hot, even as the day was ending. The sun was descending, signaling dinner. She could not wait to eat. Her stomach growled. She turned to the house to see Regina step outside.
Emma smiled and wiped her brow with her forearm. There was no way in hell she was putting her shirt back on. "Hey, I'm almost done. Probably a few more days."
Regina folded her arms across her chest. "That's good. I guess you should get home to rest up."
Emma's brow furrowed. Head home? "No dinner?"
Regina's jaw twitched. "We're sending the wrong message to Henry. He's under the impression you'll be moving back in."
Emma scowled and threw her shoulders back. "So, I'm not moving back?"
"I would love to be able to see that in the future."
"But, you don't?"
"You don't seem to be in a hurry to accept responsibility for why you're not here in the first place."
"It wasn't my fault. I didn't cheat on you."
Regina let loose a god-awful scream. "It's not about that! How can you not get that?"
Emma glared at her. "Then what is it about? Why the hell don't you just tell me! This cryptic shit isn't cutting it!"
Regina wilted right in front of her eyes, like Emma blew out a candle in Regina. Emma felt like she might have to pick up a "worst spouse'' award. This was not about her cheating. But, what was it about? She searched her mind, but nothing came up. Think, idiot! This is your marriage here!
"Goodnight, Emma," Regina said, her voice soft, and she went back into the house. Somehow, it looked like she would blow away in harsh wind and that was Emma's fault.
Emma did not want to watch Regina walk away, but she could not look away. What had she done? Regina knew she did not cheat. She would never ruin her family. So, what was she supposed to do?
Emma returned home, home being her room at Granny's. She wanted a drink, but did not have any beers. Good thing her best friend lived down the hall. She knocked on Ruby's door and hoped like Hell Dorothy was not in there with Ruby.
"Emma, what's up?" Ruby asked. She was dressed in some sweatpants and a camisole, not sexy at all, so Dorothy probably was not there.
"I'm dying for a beer and unfortunately have none," Emma replied.
"Say no more." Ruby opened the door wide. "You probably shouldn't drink alone, anyway."
Emma stepped into the room and dropped onto her usual spot on the small, black couch. Ruby's room was larger than the average room in Granny's, more like a studio apartment. It was painted in warm, soothing blue tones. It was a nice change from the dull tans and greens surrounding Emma in her room.
Ruby got a beer for her and plopped down on the other end of the couch. Ruby passed her an open bottle. She tipped the neck of the bottle to Ruby, who did the same with her own drink. Ruby kicked her feet up on her coffee table and scanned the television for something to watch. They drank in silence for a while.
"So, what happened? You're usually at the dinner table at this time," Ruby said.
Emma shook her head and took a long pull from her beer. "I'm not sure. I thought I was on my way back home."
"Seemed that way. Did you do something?"
"No, but she saw her mom and sister yesterday. They probably riled her up."
Ruby shook her head. "Regina's mother is such a piece of work."
"You think she made Regina think I was cheating?" Emma asked as she took another huge drink from her beer bottle. Not that Regina thought she cheated. What the hell did I do then? Or what the hell does she think I did?
Ruby scoffed. "Cora's probably worried about Regina being reelected. Cora's always been about money and power. So, if anything, she's worried about the optics of you cheating more than convincing Regina you cheated."
Emma shook her head. "It must've been a trip growing up around this shit."
"Oh, Storybrooke was never boring, even on my end. We always had some craziness going on. There was never a shortage of rumors about Cora. For a long time, we talked about her being a witch. We were convinced she could kill you with potions. We never trick-or-treated at that house, even though Henry would have the gates open and try to wave kids in. But, again, there was always something going on here."
Emma could only imagine. She had seen some things in Storybrooke that shocked her, and she had lived all across the United States in some weird households. And as bizarre as she thought it was, everybody else in town would be like, "meh, must be Wednesday" and go about their lives. It was almost funny.
"You think this has to do with her reelection? She doesn't have to worry about that for months," Emma said.
"True, but this just piles on the list of shit people have to say about Regina and it's not looking good. People have really been going in since it looks like she's going to take you back."
Emma leaned forward. "Really?" That might explain why Regina made her leave. That was not fair. She had no control over other people, but then again that was this whole mess. Other people kept things going, other people even started it. She gulped more beer.
Ruby chuckled and drank some of her beer. "Yeah, a bunch of people think she's a pushover for letting you back in."
Emma could not believe what she was hearing. "I'm not back in! I've been living here for over a month."
Ruby waved that off. "They know Regina's feeding you. If Regina's feeding you, she's fucking you. If she's fucking you, she's forgiven you."
Emma scowled. "She's not even fucking me. Well, fucking me over, but that's no fun. Not to mention, Regina hate-fucks people. Believe me, I know."
Ruby snickered. "You would be the one to know that. But, anyway, the town has their own narrative going. You're a major player, but Regina's a mess. They can't believe she took you back without you having to crawl through broken glass. They think she's losing her edge."
Emma snorted. That was all she needed to know about how wrong rumors could be. Regina was nothing but edge. Emma drank some more and was soon empty. Ruby kept the bottles coming, though.
"Yeah, so the idea that our own Evil Queen has lost her bite does have some people worried. The thing about Regina being a hard-ass is that she's a hard-ass for the people. She's one of the few politicos who really does work for us and will do the dirty work for us. We know when she goes all Evil Queen, it's for us. What if she stops?"
"So, I broke her?" Emma blew a raspberry. "You guys don't know Regina at all."
Ruby laughed. "Oh, please! I know nothing will break that woman, but some people think this is it for her. Sounds like no historic third term for Regina."
"That can't be true. I'll punch Lily in the face if that's the case." Not that Lily was even around anymore. It was just like Lily to blow in, blow up her life, and then get the hell out of Dodge. Fuck her.
Ruby shrugged. "Would that help?"
"Help me feel better."
"Well, that's all good until you lose your job and Regina still doesn't get reelected."
Emma sucked her teeth. "And that's such bullshit. Regina's awesome at her job regardless of her personal life."
"Some people think one has to do with the other. It's given other people a wedge in. Now, they can talk about her being bisexual. They can talk about her affair with Robin."
"It wasn't even an affair. We broke up and stupid Robin was separated from his wife at the time. If anything, they should wonder why the hell his women keep ending up with women. Mulan is keeping Marian pretty damn happy."
"Emma, nobody cares about the details. It's all about what's the best story."
Emma knew that was the truth, but it hurt her heart. More beer was necessary. She needed to drown a gnawing sensation in her stomach. Her actions had the town talking about Regina and it seemed like they never had good things to say. It was like the town just extended the abuse Regina had in her home and it was terrible because she did so much good for the town. Emma remembered Regina used to tell her that the gossip did not bother her, but that could not be true. How could Regina be immune to every harsh thing said about her?
And, it's your fault. Emma shook that thought away. It was not her fault. This was all Lily. Lily had wrecked her life, her marriage, and stood in the way of Regina making history. She drank more, needing those thoughts to disappear under the waves of alcohol.
Emma was not sure how long she stayed with Ruby, but Dorothy popped up and it was time to go. She was drunk to be sure, but she only needed to make it down the hall. That did not explain how she ended up in the foyer at home.
"I live here. Why should I leave?" Emma grumbled aloud. She toed off her boots and collapsed on the couch.
"Emma?" Regina said as the living room lights came on.
Emma groaned at the light and closed her eyes for a long moment. "Yeah?"
Regina glared at her. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Emma shrugged. "Maybe sleeping on the couch." Which was where she should have been. "Why the hell did I have to leave? Why the hell couldn't I just sleep on the couch?" She slapped the cushion and a dull thud echoed through the quiet house.
"Because I don't want to see you and you're the one who's wrong."
"Wrong?" Emma shot up and almost fell over. Thankfully, she stayed on her feet, so she could keep her anger momentum. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Regina arched an eyebrow. "Didn't you?"
"This isn't even about me! This about your stupid reelection."
Regina growled. "Lower your voice before you wake up Henry."
Emma waved her hand around, as it seemed like it would help make her point. "Why? Do you need his vote?"
That took the wind out of Regina's sail and she sighed, almost shrunk before Emma's eyes. Regina pointed to the door. "Emma, just leave."
Emma made two fists and took a step closer. "Why the hell do I have to leave? I didn't do anything wrong. I left before because I thought you were just mad and you needed space, but this is about optics. I can't believe you'd give up on us over optics!"
Regina folded her arms across her chest and her chin trembled. "Is that what you think this is about?"
"What else could it be? You care about what this dumb-ass town thinks! You're just going to let them ruin us! I wasn't even going to tell you about the stupid kiss!"
Regina stared at her for a long moment, like she was waiting for something, and then she nodded. "You still have no fucking clue."
Emma blinked. Regina rarely dropped f-bombs. She squinted, studying Regina's face. There was a red flush from anger and fury in her eyes, but there was a district shimmer. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. That was Emma's kryptonite.
"You really think so little of me." Regina circled her, like a shark looking for an angle of attack. "So, you're the offended party here. You deserve the couch and I'm willing to throw away everything we've ever desired for a job I only do to rub in my mother's face? Is that the narrative we're going with?"
Even with beer fogging her brain, Emma was more than aware she had to choose her next words carefully. "I didn't do anything." I'm sure that wasn't careful. Well, that was a nice marriage we had there, idiot.
Regina shook her head and glared like she was about to let Emma have it. Emma braced herself for the full fury of her wife. But, instead of a scream, a sob escaped Regina. Wide brown eyes stared at her and Regina slapped her hand over her mouth. A tear escaped her eye and Regina bolted for the safety of upstairs. Emma stood there like the idiot she was.
"I made her cry," Emma said, as if it was so horrific, it needed to be spoken aloud. She had seen Regina cry very few times, usually recounting how unfair life had been to her.
That was worse than being kicked out. It was worse than being stabbed in the heart. It was like everything inside of her rotted and then fell out. What the fuck had she done to make Regina cry? It was not about cheating. It was not about people talking. It was not about a reelection and making history. What the fuck had she done? I didn't even want to tell her! And then, the light bulb went off.
She was not going to tell Regina. Regina, who told her everything, who trusted her with everything. She was going to lie by omission and she bragged about that, used it as a defense. She had not just stabbed Regina in the heart and turned it clockwise, but twisted it countless times after. Hell, twice just now. She put the blame on Regina, accused Regina of caring about public appearances, and insisted she was innocent. No, she was guilty. Guilty of so many crimes, too many crimes. Fuck!
She should have known. When was she ever totally right when they argued? She had taken a little thing, a kiss she had not desired, and turned it into a huge thing about how she did not trust Regina. Apparently, she was the type to go fishing with dynamite.
With her drunken audacity abandoning her and sobriety nipping at her heels, Emma climbed the stairs. Her nerves itched and burned as her lungs decided breathing was not something she should be allowed to do. She found Regina in her office, laid out on the chaise, sniffling, and drinking cider more than likely. Emma sat down next to her. Her chest was still tight, like she did not deserve air, not while Regina was crushed.
"So… I'm stupid," Emma said.
Regina's eyes stared ahead of her. "Tell me something I don't know."
Emma sighed and rubbed her palms on her knees. "Here's the thing, I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want you to get hurt. I guess I forgot I'm a fuck-up."
Regina's mouth twitched. "But, you're my fuck-up. And you always fuck-up with good intentions."
Emma rubbed her knees even more. Shit, she's trying to let you off the hook, just so you'll leave. Fix this shit, idiot. "Yeah, but the path to Hell and all that crap about good intentions. I didn't want you to get hurt or make a big deal about it."
"Yes, because how dare that bitch touch you without your permission?" Regina scowled.
"She claimed she wanted another chance. My dumb-ass didn't realize she meant another chance to fuck up my life until she kissed me. And I know if I told you, the first thing you'd worry about is if you were enough. But, you've always been more than enough. You're the best thing to happen to me after Henry. And I just didn't want to hurt you."
"Well, the silence hurt. Not recognizing your mistake hurt. Thinking I give a damn how people look at us and thinking I'm playing into that hurt."
Emma sighed and scrubbed her face with both hands. "I know. I know. Again, path to Hell."
Regina frowned and shook her head. "No, thinking I kicked you out because of public opinion rather than you did something wrong is just you not wanting to admit you were wrong. You should've spoken to me."
Emma hunched over a bit, the scolding bending her spine. "I'm sorry. I just felt like you overreacted. I didn't want to be wrong."
Regina put down her glass. "People rarely want to be wrong, but how are we to make it if you don't talk to me? How is it we can know each other's histories, but you could withhold such basic information as a woman who hates you kissed you?"
Emma rubbed her eye with the heel of her hand, trying to hold back tears. She did not get to cry. "I'm so sorry. I made this so much worse than it needed to be. And I get it. And I get you told me to get out because I thought withholding information was the way to go, like I didn't trust you. But, never doubt, I do trust you."
Regina inhaled deeply as she moved and took Emma's hand. "I overreacted a bit. I shouldn't have kicked you out. That made a private problem public. That made it much harder to resolve this."
"We can resolve this, right?" Emma squeezed her hand. She could not screw this up. She loved Regina so much and did such a stupid thing. How could she not realize that?
"That's what we're doing now. We've acknowledged our wrongs. Are we going to do better in the future?"
Emma sniffled as a tear fell as she nodded. "I hope so. I'm never going to not tell you anything ever again."
"And I won't kick you out again for something like this. This wasn't a healthy way to deal with things."
Emma smiled. "And now what?"
"We move forward."
"And your historic third term as mayor?"
Regina laughed. "That's a problem for the future. I'm not even sure I want to run again."
"Of course you do. You have to make history!" Emma nudged her with her shoulder.
Regina smiled, but did not say anything else on the matter. Emma did not press it. Like Regina said, that was for the future. For now, there was their marriage. Regina let her stay, but she had to sleep in the guest room. One step at a time.
-8-8-8-8-
Henry howled with joy when he came downstairs and found Emma eating breakfast. He rushed Emma and hugged her, almost causing her to collide with the marble counter. Emma rubbed his head and hugged him back. Regina smiled at the sight.
"What are you doing here so early? And in pajamas? You spent the night?" Henry bounced as he asked each question.
"I'm back home after taking your good advice," Emma replied as she patted his shoulders.
Henry threw his shoulders back with pride. "Told you."
Emma shook her head. "You are so your mom's son."
"Oh, because you're not insufferable on the rare occasions when you're right," Regina replied.
Emma laughed at the truth. They ate breakfast and went about their day. Regina's car still was not ready, but Emma drove her to the office after dropping off Henry at school. They sat together in the car for a moment after they pulled up to the Town Hall.
"They're going to be talking about this soon, huh?" Emma said.
Regina shrugged. "That's what they do. What they say doesn't matter. They're not in this marriage with us."
Emma blew out a breath. "You're right about that. I worry over them influencing you."
"Don't worry. I've learned to ignore them." Regina leaned over and kissed Emma on the lips. "Let them talk as long as we talk to each other."
"Yeah, no more trying to protect you from the truth. I will tell you everything because I love you and I trust you. God, I trust you so damn much and love you so damn much," Emma said.
"Good." Regina kissed her again. "You still have to fix my car, though."
Emma laughed. "I'll finish it today. Promise."
"Then I'll make your favorite dinner." That would be her formal apology for their month-plus separation. "Try to have an ordinary day." Which could mean anything on any given day in Storybrooke.
Emma smiled and her eyes sparkled. "Promise to try."
And from there, Regina went to work. Tongues were already wagging when she entered. So what? There would always be talk, but she would not let it ruin things for her. She never had. With luck, Emma would learn to deal and their marriage would survive. She was confident in their relationship. Confident in them. People would talk, but they would endure.
-8-8-8-8-
The End.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who read the story. I hope you guys enjoyed this. I hope you continue to read and enjoy my work. Back to my padded cell with me until next time. If you like my work, go check out my books available on Amazon. Please, come say hi to me on Facebook and keep up with my musings and find out more about my writing.