Chapter 16: Fearful Fighting

Regina sighed as she recalled the last two weeks. Two weeks. They ended up staying for not only Spring break but for a week after that. Surprisingly, it was her idea. She was enjoying simply being with her family and not having to deal with boring paperwork. No one objected to staying another week. Henry called his teachers and asked them to email him the homework for the week and they willing obliged. The rest of their trip was filled with trips to every Disney Park, too much eating, pictures after pictures, meaningless arguments, but most importantly, it was filled with a lot of love.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Emma walked into the room.

"Jonah made it back home." Emma said, flopping down on the bed next to her. She let out a content sigh, causing Regina to chuckle.

"Well that's good. Missed the bed dear?"

Emma grunted. "Ugh yes I did! Didn't you? I mean, the bed at the resort was nice but, nothing compares to our bed, in our room, in our home."

Regina hummed in agreement. "Our bed, in our room, in our home…I love the sound of that." She said, leaning down to kiss Emma's ear.

Emma raised her head, grinning. "Me too."

Emma sighed as she finished filling out another budget sheet. How Ruby and Leroy had spent so much money in two weeks is beyond her. She leaned back spinning around in her chair for a while before letting out another sigh, this one a lot heavier than the first. I'm bored. So bored. Ultra-bored. Emma took out her phone and went to her messages. She grinned when she saw the last conversation her and Regina had.

Knight In Tight Pants: Ayo waddup

Queen of S(ass): …

Knight In Tight Pants: What you doin?

Queen of S(ass): …..in bed.

Knight In Tight Pants: without me? :(

Queen of S(ass): You're literally laying right next to me.

Knight In Tight Pants: Send Nudes.

Queen of S(ass): Look to your left.

Knight in Tight Pants: Damn. Nice. You single?

Queen of S(ass): No.

Knight In Tight Pants: Damn, need me a freak like that.

Queen of S(ass): Want to see how freaky I can really be?

Knight In Tight Pants: oh hell yeah.

Queen of S(ass): Lol jk.

Emma chuckled as she remembered the short tickle fight that occurred right after that. She turned to look at the clock. 12:37pm. Hm, I wonder if Gina's done with that meeting yet. Emma picked up the phone and dialed Regina's direct number.

"Mayor Mills speaking."

"Reginnaaaaaaaaa." Emma whined into the phone.

Regina bit back a chuckle, attempting to remain serious. "Yes, this is she. May I ask who is calling?"

Emma let out another whine. "Regina you know it's me! I'm bored!"

Regina bit her lip as a laugh threatened to come out. "Hello Bored! Hm, I didn't realize we got another dwarf in town. How may I help you, Miss Bored?"

"Babeee!" Emma whined.

Regina chuckled, deciding to put the blonde of her misery. "Well how do you suppose we rid you of your boredom?"

Emma shrugged, forgetting Regina couldn't see her action. "Wanna do some wedding planning?"

Regina blinked. "Oh you must be really bored, my dear."

"You have no idea." Emma finished with a sigh.

"Oh I have quite the idea. The meeting I just had was completely unbearable. He thought I was taking notes, but really I was making a list of things to get your mother for her birthday. Your mother, Emma!" Regina said, shaking her head at the thought of the meeting.

Emma let out a whistle. "So what I'm hearing is, we're both bored out of our minds and I know neither one of us have eaten since breakfast, so I'm going to throw a suggestion out there and you tell me how it sounds, okay?"

"Okay." Regina answered with a small grin.

"How about I go get us some food, we take an hour lunch, and then, wait for it…an hour nap."

"Ah, honestly that's the best idea I've heard all day, dear."

"Onion rings or French fries?" Emma asked.

"Oooooo, surprise me."

Emma chuckled. "I'll see you in a few babe."

"Can't wait." Regina responded with a smile.

Ten minutes later Emma walked in Regina's office with a large, brown paper bag, two root beers, and an amused smirk. Regina waited until Emma sat the food down before she tugged the blonde closer and pressed kisses on the corner of her lips.

"I'm assuming that smirk is in place for another reason other than seeing me?" She asked teasingly.

"While I am happy to see you as always, your assumption is correct. I think your secretary has a crush on me." She boasted, still wearing a smirk.

Regina frowned, looking up at the woman. "Sandra?"

Emma nodded, her smirk turning to a full on grin. "She said she admired my Sheriff work and said that she was also very happy that I was back in town." Emma bragged, wagging her eyebrows playfully.

Regina rolled her eyes. "Dear, she's probably just glad you're back because Ruby and Leroy were in charge for two weeks."

Emma smirked. "She also said I looked good in my jacket and that it was one of her favorites." Emma boasted, standing tall as she pulled on her signature leather jacket.

Regina pulled back and raised an eyebrow at the blonde. "Oh did she?"

Emma nodded smugly. "Yep."

Regina stepped back and crossed her arms, looking at the Sheriff. "Well Sheriff, it looks as though you have a choice to make. Me or her? Choose wisely." She said in mock seriousness.

Emma tilted her head to the side, looking as if she was in deep thought. "Hmm, I think I'll stick with this gorgeous woman I'm with. She's pretty amazing."

Regina suppressed a grin. "Just pretty amazing?"

Emma pulled the smaller woman into her arms. "More amazing than words can express." Emma whispers before kissing her queen.

"Hm. Good answer, Sherriff." Regina murmured.

Emma hummed. "Hi," She said, bumping her nose against Regina's playfully.

Regina grinned goofily. "Hi yourself." She said, leaning in to steal another kiss.

"Should we eat now?"

Regina pulled back with an amused smile. "I don't know, are you done with your antics?" She teased.

Emma rolled her eyes and began unpacking the bag of food. "Come on now. We both know I'll never be done with my antics."

Regina rolled her eyes and smiled as she sat down behind her desk. "Well how unfortunate for me." She said, stealing one of Emma's fries.

"You know, you always end up eating more of my fries than I do." Emma teased as she sat down.

"Well, I'm trying to keep you from eating yourself into an early grave. You're welcome."

Emma rolled her eyes playfully as she sat down and dug into her grilled cheese sandwich. They were silent for a while, both enjoying their food and each other's company.

"Regina?"

Regina looked up to see the Savior looking at her with a serious gaze. "Yes dear?"

"Are you scared?...Of marrying me? I mean, not necessarily marrying me, but of being married in general. I know your last "marriage" wasn't ideal whatsoever, and I don't want you to feel confined or trapped in any way. I know you wouldn't have proposed to me if you didn't really want to marry me, I just….are you scared?"

Regina put down her fork and frowned, shaking her head. "I…I'm not afraid of feeling trapped or confined. Not with you. You make me feel free and strong. You make me feel safe."

Emma nodded. Shifting her attention back on her sandwich, although she never actually picked it up.

"Emma?'

"Hm?"

"Why did you ask?"

Regina watched as Emma shrugged and fidgeted with a french fry. The blonde wore a neutral expression, but Regina could see right through it. "Emma…are you scared?" Regina asked, almost a whisper.

Emma shrugged again, not making eye contact. Regina got up and walked around to sit on her desk in front of Emma.

"Emma…Em, please talk to me."

Emma shrugged. "It's stupid. I just…I just wanted to make sure that you were okay." Emma said, barely meeting Regina's eyes.

Regina tilted Emma's head up so the blonde was looking at her. "And now I'm making sure you're okay. What's wrong? Was it something I did? Or said? Or-"

"No, baby no no no! I promise you're perfect. You haven't done anything wrong." Emma said, taking Regina's hand in hers and kissing it gently.

Regina smiled at the gesture and squeezed Emma's hand. "Then what's the matter?"

"We…I...You-" Emma's shoulders slumped and she let go of Regina's hand. "I'm terrified."

Regina looked at her fiancée with soft eyes. She could tell Emma had more to say so she waited.

"I'm a mess." Emma said looking up at Regina. "I can't-" Emma got up and started pacing the office. "Regina I can't sit here and pretend like I'm not an absolute mess! I screw up stuff all of the time. You deserve so much better than me, Regina, and I feel like you know that. I…Regina you deserve to be treated and loved way better than I ever could. And I'm terrified because I don't want you to send me back when you realize I'm not what you signed up for. I'm terrified that I'm gonna let you and Henry down just like I've done with everyone else in my life. I'm scared because you guys are the most important people in my life, and…I'm afraid I'm gonna let you down." Emma sighed and plopped back down in her seat looking at the woman who means everything to her. Tears were streaming down the brunettes face.

"Gina…What happens when you realize what a screw up I am?" Emma whispered.

"Then I'll thank the Heavens that I finally don't have to be the only screw up in the relationship. I'll roll my eyes and ask you what you were thinking like I do now. But more importantly, I'll forgive you because I know you're human and humans screw up. That's part of life Emma." Regina took Emma's hand and pulled her up until the blonde was standing in front of her, foreheads touching. "I would never send you back, Emma. I don't even think it's in me to do such a thing. You are mine and I am yours. In this universe and every other one. No matter what you've done or what you will do, I will always be here for you. I will never leave you. I'll always be there waiting for you to come back, and when I feel I've waited too long, I'll come looking for you. I love you, forever and always. No matter what. Do you understand that?"

Emma leaned forward capturing Regina in a kiss. She poured everything that she could in the kiss. Her fears, her love, her commitment, her trust. "I love you so much." She said looking her love deeply in the eyes. "So much. And I'm sorry for messing up lunch and getting irrationally emotional."

Regina shook her head. "Never apologize for how you feel. You didn't mess up anything and you're not irrational. You're human. And your fears are understandable, sweetheart. Believe it or not, I had the same fear. I was afraid that you would finally see that I wasn't good enough for you. I was afraid of that too."

"What changed your mind?" Emma asked.

Regina smiled. "You did. Just now. When you explained why you were scared and when I looked at you and I saw the raw fear in your eyes at just the thought of not being good enough for me. I-it….It really hit me just how much you love me. I mean, I already knew you loved me, there was never a doubt in my mind. However, when you looked me in the eyes I knew. I knew that our love for each other could conquer anything, including fear. And my fear just…vanished."

"Why didn't you tell me? That you were scared, I mean."

Regina shrugged. "I didn't want to seem…I don't know, insecure? And I know you wouldn't have minded and I trust you with everything, especially my emotions, I just didn't want to make you unhappy or anything. I don't know, I figured if I didn't say it out loud then it would disappear. Does that make sense?"

Emma nodded. "Perfect sense, sweetheart."

They stood there holding each other in content. There was an air of understanding and relief. Love and commitment. Trust and unity. Acceptance.

Emma sat down and pulled Regina down on her lap, drawing a content hum from her fiancée. Emma grabbed her grilled cheese sandwich and put it in front of Regina's mouth.

Regina looked at the sandwich and then at Emma with a raised eyebrow. "You know I have my own food right?"

"Mhmm." Emma said with a grin.

"And what makes you think I'm going to eat this instead of my meal?"

Emma grinned. "Because you always end up taking at least one bite of my grilled cheese." Emma said with a smirk.

Regina rolled her eyes and bit the grilled cheese sandwich, barely repressing a moan. "Can we just trade meals?"

Emma grimaced as she looked at the kale salad sitting on the desk. "How about you help me eat my meal, and I'll help you eat yours. That way you have something a little unhealthy and I have something disgusting, I mean healthy."

Regina grinned and bit into the sandwich again.

About twenty minutes later the two women were soundly asleep on the couch. That is before the sound of Regina's cell phone woke them up.

"Ugh, don't answer it." Emma groaned.

"I have to. It could be an emergency." Regina picked up her phone and put it on speaker phone.

"Mayor Mills speaking." Regina answered in her best mayoral tone, attempting to sound like she hadn't just woken up.

"Um, yes…Mayor Mills, this is Principal Pognas, uh at the school. I called the Sherriff's station but no one answered. I'm calling to inform you that your son Henry has gotten in a fight and we need you to come down to th-" The man stopped speaking when a puff of white smoke appeared in his office along with two women, one of whom he was just talking to. He hung up the phone slowly.

Regina turned to see Henry sitting in a chair next to another boy who she barely recognized. There were two other adults there who she assumed were the boy's parents. She bent down to examine her son. "Henry, are you okay?"

Henry nodded. "Yeah mom, I'm fine." Henry said with a small smile.

Emma pushed his hair back and raised an eyebrow. "Did you win?"

"Emma!" Regina hissed.

Henry winked at his blonde mother and met her half way for a fist bump.

Regina rolled her eyes as she stood and looked at the principal.

"So what exactly happened Mr. Pognas?"

"I'll tell you what happened, your son attacked ours!" The mother of the other boy yelled.

"Now now, Mrs. Turse. Let's not paint the picture that way. Your son is not innocent here." Mr. Pognas said. He turned to address Regina and Emma. "It seems as though Kevin here was saying some pretty hateful and disrespectful things to your son and therefore, Henry um…took action."

Emma and Regina nodded.

"I, for one, don't see the problem, Mr. Pognas. Seems pretty reasonable to me." Regina said eyeing the boy, Kevin, who was sporting some pretty bad bruises.

"You think this behavior is acceptable?! No wonder your son is acting like this!" Mr. Turse fumed.

Regina got ready to take a step forward before being pulled back by her fiancée. "No, Regina. I've got this." Emma stepped in front of Regina and fixed the man with a glare. "I'd watch what you say very carefully, Mr. Turse."

"Please, parents, I simply want to settle their punishments in a peaceful manner." Mr. Pognas said calmly.

"Punishment?!" Regina turned with wide eyes. "You must be out of your damn mind if you think you're going to punish our son for standing up for himself!"

"You think it's okay for your child to act like this?! I cannot believe this!" Mrs. Turse yelled.

"What else can you expect from the evil queen?" Kevin said, but was quickly cut off by Henry's fists flying at his face again. Emma quickly pulled Henry off of the boy and held him back.

"YOU BROKE MY NOSE!" Kevin yelled as his mother fussed over his face.

"Talk smack, get smacked, bitch." Henry growled.

"Enough!" Principal Pognas yelled. He watched as the Mayor and Sherriff both tried to calm their son down and the Turse's tended to their son's nose. "Both boys will be suspended! Henry for a week and Kevin for three days."

"A week?!"

"Three days?!"

Mr. Pognas raised his hands, gaining silence. "Mr. Turse your son was bullying and saying hateful things to Henry, and verbal bullying is something we do not tolerate at this school. Mayor Mills, Sherriff, while Henry was defending himself, he did hit a student and we do not tolerate violence here."

"Well what can you expect from a boy who's raised by those types?" Mr. Turse mumbled.

Emma turned her head quickly. "Excuse me? And what type is that?"

Mr. Turse fixed Emma with a glare. "Witches! And not just any witches, he has the EVIL QUEEN as his influence! You people ar-"

He was cut off by Emma's fist flying across his face. He fell to the ground instantly, but Emma picked him up and flung him against the wall. "Let's get something clear! You can say whatever you wanna say in the privacy of your own home. But the moment you step outside and have the balls to say something about someone's family, you open yourself up to the consequences. You stand here and say shit about me? About my wife? About my son? And you think you're gonna get away with it? Fuck no! If I catch either of you, and I do mean any of you, saying anything else about my family, you will feel my wrath! Do I make myself fucking clear?!" Emma snarled.

The family nodded their heads quickly, all with wide eyes. They had never seen the Savior so angry and…threatening. But they knew it wasn't a threat, it was a promise.

Emma turned towards the principal. "You'll see Henry in a week." She said, before turning to her family. She leaned in and kiss Regina slowly. "You guys ready to go?"

"Beyond ready." Henry said, opening the door and walking out of the office.

Regina turned towards the principal. "Well I think we've all learned a very important lesson, haven't we?"

"Wh-what lesson would that be?" Mrs. Turse sputtered.

Regina smiled her biggest mayoral smile. "Talk shit, get hit, bitch." She said, before grabbing Emma's hand and waltzing out of the office.

"So…am I in trouble?" Henry asked as he walked down the sidewalk between his mothers.

"Nah kid. We're just proud of you for standing up for yourself." Emma said, looking at her son.

"Henry…what did he say to make you so angry?" Regina inquired. She had never seen Henry look as angry as he did. She'd seen him angry before, angry at her, specifically. But this level of anger was beyond anything she thought Henry was capable of. And fighting? It had to have been bad.

"He was…I don't really wanna repeat it Mom. I don't want you two to get any more upset than you already are."

Regina rubbed his back comfortingly. "It's okay, Henry. You don't have to worry about us."

"He just…he was saying how you were still evil and he said that I could never be a real man because you two were raising me. I just…there was a lot more stuff but I can't bring myself to repeat any of it. I tried so hard to just walk away, but he just kept going and going and I just…snapped." Henry sighed. "He's such a douche."

Regina nodded. "Well, I'm really proud of you my Prince. You stood up for your mother and I and our family. And you could never be in trouble for that."

Henry smiled as he linked his arms with both of his mothers. "I love you guys."

"We love you too, Hen." Emma said, pressing a kiss on the top of his head.

"I do have to ask though, where did you learn to fight?" Regina inquired with a raised eyebrow.

Henry shrugged. "Ma taught me."

Regina's head whipped towards Emma. "When?"

"It was when we lived in New York. I taught him how to box." Emma said sheepishly.

Regina smirked. "So you're a boxer? How did I not know this?"

Emma rubbed the back of her neck. "I wouldn't call myself a boxer. I just dabble."

Henry shook his head. "No, Mom, Ma is amazing! She's really good! She's knocked out guys Jonah's size"

Regina grinned at her son's enthusiasm and Emma's embarrassed face. "Is that so?" Regina asked, winking at the blonde.

Emma ducked her head shyly.

"So, since I'm out of school now, what are we going to do? Are you guys going back to work?" Henry asked.

Regina looked over at Emma with raised eyebrows. "Well, I'm finished with all of my meetings and paperwork. Emma?"

"I'm on call all day, so I'm pretty much free until something happens that needs my attention." She shrugged.

"Awesome! So what's the plan?"

"Well, your Mom and I had planned a nap after we ate lunch. I could still go for one of those."

Henry hummed. "Oh yeah, I could go for a nap too."

"Can we build a fort?"

Emma and Henry looked at the brunette woman in shock.

"What? It was fun last time." Regina mumbled, drawing a chuckle from her family.

"Mom, are you okay?" Henry asked.

He and his brunette mother were preparing lasagna for dinner. Emma had gotten called off earlier to help with some emergency with some of the townspeople in the bar, so that left he and Regina making the blonde's favorite. He was chopping up onions as his Mom stirred the sauce.

Regina turned around, with a confused look. "Of course, Henry. Why wouldn't I be?"

Henry shrugged. "Because of what happened with Kevin and his parents."

Regina smiled at her son's worry for her. "Sweetheart, I'm fine. I'm used to being seen as evil. It's fine. I've changed and that's what's important to me."

Henry smiled. "Yeah you have changed, Mom. But maybe you've changed too much. I mean, I can't speak for anyone else, but I wouldn't have minded seeing a fireball or three thrown in that office today."

Regina threw her head back and let out a hearty laugh, Henry soon joining in.

"Well, maybe next time, dear." Regina teased, as she bumped Henry's hip with hers.

Henry hummed. "Hey, do you think Ma is okay? She was pretty angry. Like…Mom, I've never seen her like that before."

Regina nodded in agreement. "I know, sweetheart, I know. Even I got nervous for a second when she threw the poor man across the room. Your mother is a fighter in more ways than one, and she fights for things that are hers. She's a protector if I've ever seen one, and today that side of her came out at full capacity."

Henry nodded. "I just don't want her to be upset. I don't want either of you to be upset, ya know? I begged Principal Pognas not to call you guys, but that didn't really work out. I just don't ever want my problems to burden you guys."

Regina caressed her son's face, looking at him with a soft expression only reserved for him and Emma. "Henry, you could never be a burden to us. You're our child. Our light. Our little believer. Our Prince. It's our job as parents to be there for you no matter what. And not just our job, but it's our pleasure to be there for you, because we love you. Okay? No matter what trouble you may find yourself in, I want you to know that it's always okay to call us. Always. Got it?"

Henry wrapped his mother in a hug and let out a content sigh. "Got it."

Regina watched as Emma emptied the dishwasher, humming the tune of 'It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas', even though it was still April. She shook her head as she went and wrapped her arms around the blonde from behind. "You called me your wife today."

Emma turned in Regina's arms, a confused look on her face. "I did? When?"

Regina grinned. "When you were tearing Turse a new one."

Emma thought for a moment before her face changed in realization. "Oh. I'm sorry babe. I kind of lost it and just went off."

"You don't have to apologize, dear. I thought it was pretty endearing. And our son thought it was pretty sweet too."

"Really?"

Regina nodded. "He's worried about you though."

Emma frowned. "What? Why?"

"He didn't want his problems to burden us. He doesn't want us to have to feel negative things because of him."

"He could never be a burden to us. He knows that right?" Emma asked as worry lines filled her forehead.

Regina nodded. "I told him that as his parents we're going to be there for him no matter what. And that he never has to worry about being a burden to us, because it could never happen."

Emma leaned forward and placed a kiss on Regina's forehead. "Thank you. I'll still talk to him though."

"You probably should. Your anger today was very…worrying. I thought I was going to have to stop you from killing the man." Regina said softly, tucking a piece of blonde hair behind Emma's ear.

Emma sighed. "I wanted to. God I wanted to so bad, Gina. I…he started saying those things about you guys and I just couldn't handle it. But I'm sorry I lost my temper. I should I have kept my cool, but I just got so-"

"Protective. You protected us and defended us, just like our son did. And just like I told him, you never have to apologize for that." Regina reassured.

Emma sighed again. "I know. I just feel like I've set a bad example now or something. I mean, not necessarily for Henry, but like…as the Savior. I know Turse is gonna tell my parents about this, he was like one of their advisors or something, right? And then I'm gonna have to sit through a stern talking to about how a princess is supposed to behave and blah blah blah." Emma complained.

Regina shook her head. "You may be a princess by birth, Emma, but in your heart and in your actions, you're a knight. You're a protector, a fighter, a survivor, a noble, brave, courageous knight. And we couldn't be more proud of our knight, we just want to make sure you're okay emotionally."

"As long as you and Henry are okay, I'm great. Are you okay? How do you feel about everything that happened this afternoon? About what they said?"

Regina shrugged as she played with the hem of Emma's shirt. "It doesn't bother me. Remember dear, I'm used to being called evil. It was literally a part of my name for the longest, and I loved it. No matter how reformed I become, evil will always be a part of who I was. It only bothers me when it's said in front of Henry. It just reminds me of the time when he hated me and it…" Regina shakes her head, ignoring the tears that are threatening to fall. "I don't like remembering that." Regina finished in a whisper.

Regina felt a warm embrace come from behind her and she smiled at the warmth.

"I never hated you, Mom. I was just confused and scared. But I never hated you, Mama." Henry said as rested his chin on his brunette mother's shoulder.

Regina turned into Henry's embrace. "Never?"

"Never have and I never could."

"I love you two." Emma said with a wide grin as she pulled both of the shorter brunettes into a hug.

"Eh I'm pretty sure I love you guys more." Henry responded with a smirk.

"Well you two must be extremely sleep deprived, because it seems as though you've forgotten that I love the two of you more than anything." Regina corrected as she playfully jabbed her two loves in the stomach, causing them to laugh.

"Ugh is this utterly disgusting. I hope it's not going to be like this all of the time. I can't live under these nauseating conditions."

The Swan-Mills group turned to see Zelena standing in the entrance of the kitchen with baby Robyn in her arms.

"Zelena, when I gave you a key, I made sure to reiterate that it was only for emergencies." Regina said, annoyed. "And what are you doing here at-" Regina looked at the microwave clock. "10:49pm?"

"We're moving in!"

"WHAT?!" Three voices yelled simultaneously.

"Oh, do relax. It'll only be for a week…or two. Our apartment flooded because someone said she could fix the sink!" Zelena yelled in a teasing manner.

Before they could inquire who she was talking about, Ruby strode into the kitchen, wrapping her arm around Zelena's waist. "For the last time woman, your sink is janky and no one could have fixed that thing!"

"Hold up hold up hold up!" Emma said, looking at the two women. "You two live together?"

Both Ruby and Zelena nodded. "We're dating." Ruby responded, as if it was obvious.

"What the hell?"

"Since when?"

"Honestly, not even surprised."

A/N: I really hope you guys enjoyed this! COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT!