Once Upon a Time – Emma's Feelings
Regina crossed the room of her office to the door, picking up a small red envelope that was slid under the crack of the door. Flipping it back and forth, seeing nothing written on either side, she sighs.What now?she thinks to herself, hoping this is not another trick from Mr. Gold.Gold is always spinning lies into truth, straw into…Her fingers slowly grazed the edges of the letter, hesitating before opening it.
The letter was handwritten, with a coffee stain on the bottom right edge, and read:
"Madam Mayor,
To put away our differences, I suggest we do what is best for Henry. Meet me by the edge of town tonight, 10pm. Alone.
-E"
Quite obviously, the signature of "E" meant Emma Swan, but was this a trap? Regina put her fingers to her lip and pondered the implications of the letter. Supposing it was real, Emma could truly be trying to bury the hatchet for the sake of Henry, her son. Their son. Henry had become closer to Emma over the last few weeks, leaving Regina feeling powerless and tossed aside. Obviously, finding Henry's real mother was one of Regina's worst fears. But it happened. Regina adopted him knowing it was a possibility, but hoping she would be enough for Henry to not feel the need to seek his birth mother out. However, here they were. Emma Swan, who also happens to unknowingly be the daughter of Snow White, is here in Regina's town of Storybrook, and Henry spends all his time with her.
Regina's eyes glistened with angry tears as she thought about Emma's newfound relationship with Henry.How dare she,she thought. She didn't raise him from infancy, wasn't there when he cried, didn't feed him or care for him. She didn't even know him a few weeks ago!
Suddenly, the phone rings and brings her out of her thoughts. Quickly sliding over to the phone, she answers abruptly, "What?! I mean… this is Regina."
"Ah yes, madam Mayor. I assume you are well today?" The wiry voice asked, unmistakably belonging to Mr. Gold.
"Gold. Can I help you?" Regina asks, her mind backstepping toward the letter and wondering if this was all a set up after all.
"No pleasantries? Well, as you wish. I am calling to ensure our deal is still being respected."
Yes, the deal. Regina made a deal with Gold a few days ago.
"The deal is on, you will expect your compensation after I see your end fulfilled." Regina responded.
"Oh it will be fulfilled, but remember, dearie, all magic comes with a price." Gold then hung up, leaving Regina to remember the parameters of the deal. Yes, all magic comes at a price. And a price it was.
In an effort to remove Emma from Storybrook, and subsequently from Henry's life again, Regina enlisted one of her enemies to assist. Gold promised a way to erase Henry's memory of Emma once Regina gets rid of her. Somehow. But for this, Regina was giving Gold more power. She was giving him one free favor, at his request. Though it sounded small, Regina isn't stupid. Gold could use that favor to ask for anything. And that is what worried her. Her power was once again in his hands.
The letter, therefore, might be genuinely from Emma and not a ploy from Gold. Gold wants his favor, so why sabotage that by pretending to be Emma seeking peace? Regina paced her office as the golden sunlight from dusk filtered through the blinds. Meeting Emma will put her in a vulnerable position. But in the end, Regina still holds the Gold card.Maybe there's another way to go about this. Maybe last night was not a mistake. Maybe I shall see what Emma wants after all.
x
Emma's watch beeped as the hour rolled over to 10:00pm. She sighed, looking up at the darkened road where the only illumination came from one single streetlamp near the town's sign. "Welcome to Storybrook."Welcome indeed, Emma thought,I was basically welcomed with a pitchfork by the mayor herself. Emma never thought she would have a relationship with the child she gave up for adoption, but Henry sought her out. The ten-year-old ran away from home just to find her. And Emma now can see why.Regina is nuts, controlling, potentially evil. No surprise the kid ran.
Emma's eyebrows raised as she heard the steady clack-clack-clack of heels slowly grow louder, coming from the still unlit part of the street.Here we go, she thought. She really did want what was best for Henry, even if she barely knew him. He grew on her over the last few weeks, and he clearly needs stability. Two moms fighting over him is not healthy. Emma hoped Regina would be willing to lay her pride down, for his sake at least. A seemingly impossible task. Especially after what happened last night.
Emma reflected on the under-goings of the night prior, remembering how Regina and Emma shouted at each other on the steps of Regina's mansion. They had tried to have a family dinner to discuss possible next steps. Emma had even gone over to Regina's before Henry came home from afterschool. But it ended with Regina being cold and bitter, not wanting to let Emma stay in Henry's life in any capacity. This enraged Emma, for she could not believe how selfish Regina could be. Nasty words were said, right in front of their son. And the regret from those words prompted Emma to write a letter to Regina to try one last time… That, and..
Emma blushed, as she heard the footsteps of Regina grow louder. Before Henry had come home, something strange happened in the parlor while Emma was with Regina. They were discussing potential living arrangements if the pair did decide to share custody. Emma recalled…
"Of course, if I decide you can stay to spend time with Henry… your room and board would be compensated for…" Regina spoke, as she paced the parlor and averted her eyes from Emma's position on the couch.
"You would do that? Why? You've hated me since the moment I stepped in Storybrook." Emma responded, confused by Regina's sudden gesture of kindness.
Regina stopped pacing and turned to Emma, slowly stepping closer, "Because I love Henry, Miss Swan. I'm not a total bitch. How else would he be able to see you while still living in Storybrook?"
"I, well… thank you?" Emma questioned the sincerity of Regina's offer.
"You are welcome." Regina said, as she sat on the couch next to Emma. "I never thought this would happen… and though it isn't my favorite, I have to at least try to make him happy…"
Regina's face changed, and Emma for a moment saw the woman beneath the hardened mask she wore. "I know, I didn't expect for this to happen either. But I am not taking him away from you, as much as you think I am going to… I care what happens," Emma whispered.
Regina then looked into Emma's eyes, and shockingly placed her hand on-top of Emma's. "I haven't seen kindness in most humans, especially women," Regina whispered back, "so trusting them is foreign to me."
"You can trust me; I am not going to take him." Emma said with pleading eyes. She was mesmerized to see a wall Regina put up start to come down.
Regina's face got closer to Emma's, only centimeters away, as she breathed, "I don't know if I can trust myself either."
Emma's heart raced faster and she watched Regina's crimson lips creep closer to hers. And all of a sudden, she felt their warmth. For one lingering moment, Emma forgot where she was and everything Regina had done to her in the past. She opened her lips and kissed Regina back, softly.What just happened? Why do I feel butterflies all of a sudden?Emma slowly pulled away and looked at a now tearful Regina. She was about to kiss Regina again when the door burst open and Henry came bounding in, excited to see his mothers.
Emma's flashback quickly faded back into reality as Regina's silhouette became engulfed in light from the street lamp.Oh god, why am I sweating?Emma thought, as she brushed her blonde hair behind one ear. Regina looked mysteriously enticing in the moonlight. Yet, she also was the same woman to call her a piece of shit multiple times. Emma's brow furrowed confused with the mixture of feelings.
"Miss Swan," Regina spoke in a velvety voice, stopping 4 feet from Emma.
"Madam Mayor."Here we go,Emma thought once again.