"Emma maybe you should let Regina see Henry more" Mary Margaret suggests.
"Yeah right. It seems like you guys had a peaceful time when I was gone." Emma gestures at the ceramic pieces on the floor.
"No we were just talking. It- slipped." Mary Margaret defends.
"You know about my super power," Emma frowns. "Why are you covering for her?" she questions exasperated.
"It's just- I think it would be good for her. That's all." Mary Margaret replies squeezing Emma's shoulder in support as she turns to go.
"What about what's good for Henry?" Emma asks.
"I think it would be good for him too. She's all he had until just recently." Mary Margaret counters earnestly, a weak smile forming on her lips to soften the blow.
Emma flinches from the emotional retort. "If you really think it's best," Emma responds weakly.
~0~
Once Regina leaves she drives home on auto pilot. The big house mocking her with the echos of her heels on the hard wood floor. She throws herself in the shower to numb the pain collapsing onto the floor letting the water beat upon her as tears well up in her eyes. She rips her heart out to feel less pain, but she doesn't, she only feels more pain because she no longer feels the love Daniel or Henry once had for her, so she shoves it back in, reluctantly. She comes out of the shower wrapping herself in her robe and props herself up upon her bed. Sitting there just thinking. A while passes before she decides to walk over to Henry's room. The sight of it empty overwhelms her with emotions as she decides to crawl into the tiny bed and tuck herself in. She thinks about all the anger she's had and how that has held her together thus far, but with the stars zooming around Henry's room from the nightlight, all she can feel is sorrow and regret for letting her life get here, surrounded by the walls she build herself.
In the morning, Regina finds herself outside of Dr. Hopper's office. She leans herself against the wall debating whether to go in or not. As she is pressing her hand to her temple Archie comes out the door. "Oh, I'm sorry Madam Mayor. I didn't see you there." he stutters. "Were you coming in?" he points his thumb inside.
"If you insist." she responds. As he opens the door leading her in she follows sitting on the sofa. Crossing her hands upon each other she pauses "Um- I don't know where to begin, so I guess I'll just come out and say it. I'm a - I like- I - well this is a lot harder than I thought. Well you see I'm not normal." She states.
"What really is normal?" Archie muses.
"I like women," She states dryly.
"Oh I see. Well many individuals experience same sex attraction throughout their lifetime. When did you first notice you felt this way? And at what point did you discover how society views this type of behavior? And how did that make you feel?"
"That's all you've got. You really are useless," Regina replies to herself.
"What was that?" He did inquires having only heard mumbling.
"Nothing," Regina replies as she blows a memory charm over him so that he forgets this conversation ever happened.
"Madam Mayor, what are you doing here?" asks Archie startled.
"I - uh- do you think Henry will ever forgive me for lying to him and denying his reality during the curse?" Regina asks thinking of a truth faster than a lie.
"Well, Madam Mayor, Henry is a very special boy with strong belief and if you show him you're sorry and make emends to do better, there's no telling what could happen. You just have to try," Dr. Hopper explains.
"Thank you, that will be all," Regina gathers herself and leaves clearing her throat to try and rid herself of the lump now there.
"Anytime!" He calls from inside.
Regina knocks on the door to the apartment. Mary Margaret answers "Hi, sorry Regina. Henry's not here."
"Well, that's okay. I'm not here to see him," Regina smiles weakly, nervously brushing a stand of hair behind her ear. "I wanted to speak with you. Are you alone?" Regina strides inside.
"With me?" Snow questions innocently.
"Yes. I uh- wanted to talk about before." Regina muses avoiding eye contact "I think I may have been a bit-" Regina pauses searching for the word, "dramatic," she finishes.
"That's one word for it." Snow says under her breath, meet with daggers from Regina.
"And maybe you're right." Regina continues "Maybe I should talk to someone after all... Were you offering before?" Regina gestures vaguely.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather talk to Dr. Hopper?" Mary Margaret probes. "He's very good."
"I did; he's unhelpful," Regina replies bitterly, plucking at the fabric of her sleeve.
"Oh, what did he say?" Snow asks with genuine concern.
"Nothing he'll remember," Regina says quietly with a devious smirk.
"What about Sidney?" Snow suggests "He's been your mirror. I'm sure you've talked to him lots?"
"If you don't want to, just tell me no," Regina dares darkly getting up in Mary Margaret's face "Always with you hero types so polite beating around the bush. Someone should tell you nice is different than good," she muses backing away.
"Oh Regina, if you really want to talk to me, I'll listen," Snow gushes. "I owe you that much and so much more, after what I did." Mary Margaret comforts.
"So you take responsibility now?" Regina nearly states, words laced with venom.
"I was a child," she instantly defends. "My intentions were good, but it still lead to bad things happening. Because I didn't listen. Because I didn't listen. to you," Mary Margaret confesses on the verge of tears. "There were just so many things I didn't know..." Mary Margaret trails off. "You know when I saw you and Daniel. I knew it was love, true love. It was just so beautiful. I knew then that I wanted that for myself someday, not an arranged marriage." Mary Margaret muses as tears well up in Regina's eyes. "I didn't think anyone would want to stand in the way of true love." Snow brakes down into tears, repeatedly crying "I'm sorry" as Regina tirades.
"That's right, you didn't THINK!" Regina yells through her own tears threatening to spill. "I knew how people would see me, how my mother would see me. But you knew NOTHING of the world and still thought you knew better! And that arrogance had a cost," Regina fumes, protectively crossing her wrists together at her stomach.
"I know. I know. And I'm sorry," Mary Margaret pleads grabbing Regina's hands. "I destroyed your true love before, which is why I want to help you now." Regina pulls her hands away. "I know you're scared of being hurt again. But in the end it's worth it to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."
"Is it?" Regina spits bitterly. "Easy for you to say! You have your- Charming! Because from where I'm standing. All I'm left with is weakness and the haunting feeling of bitter memories. I would have rather stayed ignorant."
"You don't mean that," Mary Margaret counters. "You're saying you would trade away all your good memories with Daniel to-"
"-Yes," Regina interrupts unsure if she is lying, but needing to feel confident and in control. "I would."
"You know I will always believe that there is good in you. I've seen it. I've seen you love. You taught me about selfless love for strangers. I know that that nugget of humanity will always remain," Snow believes earnestly. She takes a deep breathe before continuing, "Once when Charming was betrothed to another I took a potion to forget him to forget my pain... It turned me into someone I wouldn't recognize. Without love, all we are left with is hatred. But if you focus on the love, even lost love, really cherish it, it can change you. Love is goodness." Mary Margaret gushes. "You always focused on the anger and vengeance, never on the love. Maybe it's time you tried something different. Because it hasn't brought you happiness. Strength maybe, but at what cost?" Snow finishes.
Regina remains silent, deep in thought taking in Snow's words, desperately wanting to curse or argue with the brunette, but not finding the strength to do so.
Snow decides to leave her alone with her thoughts and goes to fetch some water for the both of them. "Thank you," Regina says quietly when Snow hands her the glass. They sit in silence just drinking the water and occasionally staring up at one another. "What if I wanted to change?" Regina muses, interrupting the silence, gazing off into the distance.
"I support you," Mary Margaret concedes.
"Even if it's with your daughter?" Regina asks weakly.
"Even if it's with my daughter," Mary Margaret echos confidentially. Silence fills the room once again.
"Do you think- does Emma- is she-" Regina gushes much unlike herself but rather like a schoolgirl.
"-Well to be honest, I haven't known her that long you'll have to find that out for yourself." Mary Margaret replies with a smile.