Chapter 39

Emma wiped the sweat from her brow as she heaved a pitchfork full of dirty hay into the wheelbarrow. Who knew taking care of a horse was so much work. She thought of the way Regina's face lit up when she had gotten the horse for her and she smiled. The work was definitely worth it.

"There you are. I've been looking for you," Regina's voice said from the double doors behind her.

Emma smiled, but didn't look back, "I figured I'd take care of the barn this weekend so Bobby could go and see his folks."

"Well, that was nice of you," the brunette chuckled. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"Not a clue, but I do know this nasty hay can't stay in here." Emma strained as she dumped another pile of hay into the wheelbarrow.

She watched Regina out of the corner of her eye grab the second pitchfork and begin helping. The woman looked like a natural when it came to anything horse related. It was a sexy quality Emma found. Not to mention, it was one of the few times the other woman wore jeans and t-shirts.

The two worked side by side. When the wheelbarrow was full, Emma took it outside and dumped it into a large pile.

After a few minutes of silence, Emma glanced at the brunette. "Last week, when you told me you had an appointment with Archie, did you go and see Gold?"

Regina whipped her head in Emma's direction, "What? No. I went and saw Archie as I said. Why are you asking?"

Emma watched the other woman's expression for a moment, "What about your dad?"

Regina's eyebrows narrowed, "What are talking about?"

The blonde sighed, "Today was our monthly meeting and Lily was there."

"And," the brunette asked?

"She told me that she was transferring to another school district. She said that I cried to Gold," Emma leaned her pitchfork against a stall door. "I'm not mad if you went, I wished you would have waited for me."

"Emma, I didn't go to Gold, neither did my dad. I have no idea what you're talking about," Regina said.

Emma blushed. She could see now that Regina was telling the truth. She felt like an ass. However, someone must have told Gold about Lily. But who?

"Hey guys, Aunt Kathryn wanted me to tell you dinner's done," Henry said from the doorway.

Both women turned to look at the boy. Regina glanced back at the blonde and they locked eyes. Henry.

"Henry, honey? Where did you and the Mathis boys go when you were supposed to be at the library yesterday?" Regina asked stabbing the pitchfork into the ground and crossing her arms over her chest?

Henry's eyes widened, "Umm…"

"Henry," his mother warned?

He rushed his words, "Well, you see. Lily was upsetting Emma and I didn't want her to take Emma from us."

"Take me from you? What do you mean," Emma asked tilting her head?

Henry sighed loudly, "We went and told Gold what Lily was doing. He said he wasn't going to kill her." His eyes grew large again, "Oh God, he didn't kill her, did he?"

Emma shook her head, "No, he didn't, but Henry you shouldn't have gone and seen him on your own."

"If I had asked, you both would have told me no, so if figured it was better to ask forgiveness later," he gave a sheepish smile. "But I only did it so she wouldn't run Emma off. We're finally happy and Lily was trying to ruin that."

Emma walked closer to him and knelt down, "Henry, I'm not going anywhere. Not even Lily Page or Hatter, whatever she's called now, will change that. Gold is a dangerous man and…"

"But he wouldn't hurt me," Henry interrupted.

Regina raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think that?"

"Because he wants Emma in his life. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that." Henry turned back to the blonde, "You really should talk to him."

Deep down, Emma wanted to yell at the kid. She wanted to tell him she had nothing to say to the man. She would be lying if a small piece of her didn't want to find out more about her sperm donor. She wasn't ready to admit it. Whether or not Gold had a reason to not tell her he was her father growing up or not, was irrelevant. He should have come forward when her mother died. He should have come forward when she needed someone to love her and to tell her everything would be okay. He should have come forward when she needed someone to protect her, but he didn't.

"Look, I understand if you ground me or whatever punishment you want to give me. Just know that I am not sorry for going to him. Lily is not a nice person, and she was hurting Emma. I won't ever let someone do that to a member of my family," He said, squaring his shoulders and holding his head up high.

Emma couldn't help the smile that played at her lips. She glanced up at Regina who had an expression that was a cross between pride and anger. It nearly made a laugh erupt from her throat.

"Henry, you will never know what it means to me to have a family like you, your mom, Kathryn and your Grandpa. I will fight till my last dying breath for this family and I am so moved that you will too. However, the shadiness has to stop. No more going behind each other's backs. No more lies. We are a family and if something comes up, like Lily, we talk about it as a family. We plan as a family. We no longer ride solo. Every decision we make will affect one of our family members. So we have to do this as a team," Emma studied the boy's face. "Does that make sense?"

He shook his head up and down as his eyes filled with tears, "I'm sorry Emma."

Emma pulled Henry into her arms, "It's okay. I get why you did it. Just promise me from this day forward, that we make decisions as a team."

"I promise," Henry sniffled.

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Regina walked into the break room and headed straight for the coffee maker. There was coffee made, she hoped it wasn't the same pot from this morning. She picked up the coffee pot bringing it to her face and taking a whiff. It didn't smell old, but she wasn't sure. After a minutes debate, she decided to chance it. She was in dire need of caffeine.

As she poured the dark liquid into the Styrofoam cup as a group of nurses entered. They were laughing and talking amongst themselves. What they were discussing, Regina had no idea. She was lost in her own thoughts of last night in the barn. If she had ever worried about how Emma would handle a delicate situation with Henry, she now had her answer. She was impressed.

"So is it true Dr. Locks…, I mean Dr. Mills," one of the nurses asked?

Regina turned towards them, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Is it true that sex is better with a woman," the nurse boldly asked as the other two snickered?

Regina raised an eyebrow, "I can't speak for all women."

She didn't miss the eye exchange between the women seated at the table, "Okay, what about for you?"

Her cheeks flushed and for a moment she didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to tell them that sex with women was amazing. She had only ever had sex with two people in her life. Out of those two people, Emma was in fact amazing. Regina didn't fell she was really suited to answer the question.

"Alright, alright, break it up," Millie said walking into the room. "Get your coffee and move it back to the reception desk. They're lining up out there and before long there will be a line halfway around the building."

Regina waited until the last nurses left the room to let out a small breath of air. No one here had ever asked her something so personal, and she had acted like the college girl she was when she met Robin.

"I'll talk to them about the appropriate conversation in the workplace doctor," Millie said making her way to the coffee pot.

"No, don't do that. They weren't hurting anyone," Regina sat down at the table sipping her coffee.

Millie's face was puzzled, "Are you sure? I mean you never allowed this kind of thing before."

Regina glanced up at the woman, "Before?"

Millie smiled, "Before Emma. That girl has actually tamed the evil queen." She laughed, "I hadn't noticed how much until now."

Regina's eyes widened, "The Evil Queen?"

Millie joined her at the table, "That's what the nurses used to call you."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Regina asked, thinking back to the way the other women at the clinic acted around her. She had chalked it up to her being the boss's daughter.

"Well, to be fair, I'm the one who first gave them the idea. In my defense though, you used to be a bossy anal retentive bitch," Millie sipped from her cup.

Regina could only stare at the dark-skinned pink haired woman. She must have been so blind to the old her that she didn't even know there was an old her. .

"I hope you know I'm sorry if I ever treated you badly," Regina frowned.

Millie reached over and patted her hand with a chuckle, "You don't need to apologize. Lord knows you were going through hell for quite some time. I'm over the moon that I was able to see the new and happy you. If anybody deserves it, it's you."

Regina sighed, "I don't know if I deserve Emma, but I am happy."

Minnie looked sideways at the doctor, "Doc, you deserve Everything Emma has to offer and more. And so does that boy of yours. Stop wasting time worrying about who deserves what. You should be enjoying every second of this. Some folks go their whole lives never knowing happiness like yours."

Regina nodded her head with a smile, "You're right, as always."

"Of course I'm right. Now why don't you take off early, the nurse Practitioners can handle it. Besides, I heard there was a small concert taking place at the school in like twenty minutes. If you hurry, I'm sure you can catch it," Minnie said standing up from the table and throwing her paper cup in the trash.

Regina grinned, "Thank you, Minnie, for everything."

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"I can't do this Em," Henry said grabbing Emma's hand as she started to walk off the stage.

Emma turned, kneeling down in front of him, "Yes you can. Henry, you killed it last time."

"But last time you were with me," he looked close to tears.

"Hey, I'll still be with you, just not playing. I'll be right down there in the audience. This is your time to shine. You don't need any help in that department kid," Emma gave him an encouraging smile.

He released Emma's hand. She knew he could do this. He just had to believe in himself. Today's concert consisted of a solo from Henry. After that, he would lead his bandmates in three pieces.

Emma rustled the boy's hair and backed away from him. He was completely capable of playing the piece in his sleep, but she would never abandon him. He needed all the support he could get and she planned to make she he had that.

She watched Henry walk over to the piano at the front of the stage and sit down. The other students were sitting in their chairs facing Henry. They were setting up their sheet music and some changed the reeds on their woodwinds.

As she started down the stairs leading off the stage, a voice asked, "How is he?"

Emma looked up with an instant grin, "He's a little scared, but he can do this."

Regina smiled, "Well we know he can do this, but does he?"

Emma didn't answer. She looked back to where she had left the boy. He sat staring down at the piano keys and appeared to be talking to himself. He blew out a breath and repositioned his sheet music. She wasn't sure why he even had it. Henry had played the piece a hundred times from memory. Yet, if it made him feel more secure, she wouldn't mention it.

The auditorium was filling fast. Emma was actually surprised at the number of parents. This was more of a practice performance. She wanted to show the student body what her class was capable of before the big performance at the end of the year.

She followed Regina to one of the seats near the front, "I didn't think you would be able to make it."

"I didn't either, but after a long chat with Millie, here I am," Regina said pushing the fold-up theater seat down to sit.

Emma mimicked her, "I'm glad you're here. I know Henry will be too."

Regina moved her arm over and took Emma's hand. She let it rest on the blonde's knee and stared up at the stage as if it were the most natural thing on Earth. Emma felt emotional but refused to cry at something so simple. She squeezed the other woman's hand and stared up at the dark haired boy on stage.

The lights dimmed all around them causing the stage to glow. The one spotlight over Henry cast shadows all around him. From where the two women sat, he seemed bigger, almost grown.

Unlike last time, Henry didn't hesitate. His fingers found the keys and the notes flowed smoothly from the piano. His timing was perfect and the sound magnificent. He was an extraordinary pianist, and he would go so much further than Emma did. She would make sure of it. She would never push him or bully him like his father had. Emma would support him and guide him and allow him to make his own choices. She would let him know that there was more to life than worrying about small failures. She wanted him to love who and what he became and to never be afraid or ashamed of it.

She felt a small squeeze around her hand and looked over at her girlfriend. Regina was watching her with concern as she moved her hand to wipe a tear from Emma's cheek.

"Are you okay," she whispered.

Emma sniffled, but gave a small smile, "Yeah. Just proud of him."

She felt Regina's hand tighten its grip and she squeezed back. Emma was learning a lot about life since meeting the two most amazing people she had ever met. She knew there would be many things she would need to work on in the future and that she would never be perfect. She smiled to herself. As long as she could remain perfect in their eyes, that was her inspiration for living.

Before Emma knew it, Henry was already mid-way through the third piece as the conductor. Emma had been so far away in thought she hadn't realized. She stood up, pulling Regina with her.

"Come on, I want to be there when he comes off stage," Emma whispered as she led Regina outside the auditorium around to the backstage door.

Once inside, the lights were still low and the muffled music still flowed from the stage. Regina shoved Emma up against the wall in a darkened corner. She quickly took the blonde's mouth with her own and kissed her passionately.

After what seemed like forever, she pulled back breaking the kiss. Emma's eyes had glazed over and the corner of her mouth pulled upward, "What was that for?"

Regina bit the edge of her lip and shrugged, "For being you."

Emma wanted nothing more than to strip the brunettes clothing off, but the music stopped. "We will have to continue this conversation later."

"Indeed we will," Regina's voice had dropped a couple of octaves sending a shock right to Emma's core.

The stage door opened and the kids poured in. Their voices were loud as they each tried to talk over one another.

"MISS SWAN, MISS SWAN!" several students yelled out when they spotted her standing next to Regina. "How did we do?"

"You were all awesome," Emma said, trying to bring her attention to the kids and not her throbbing sex.

"EMMA," Henry's exclaimed as he came through the door. "I did it!"

Emma grinned, "I knew you could, kid."

Henry caught sight of his mom, still somewhat hiding in the corner, "Hey mom. I didn't think you were going to be able to make it."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she said hugging him tightly.

"It was an excellent performance," Emma turned toward the voice.

To her displeasure, it was Gold. He walked up to Henry and gave him a card and a small bouquet of roses. Emma tightened her jaw.

"What are you doing here," she was aware that her words were far from warm?

"I invited him," Henry shrugged his shoulders.

Why would Henry do that? He knew how she felt about the man. She was nowhere near ready to even share the same space with him. Yet here he stood.

Without so much as a clear thought, Emma grabbed the man by the arm of his suit jacket and pulled him out into the hallway. A few students littered as they made their way back to their classes.

"What are you playing at Gold? The kid goes to you for a favor and now he owes you," Emma was struggling to keep her voice down. "What do you want and I'll pay the damned favor."

The man looked hurt, "I didn't come here for payment. No one owes me anything. Henry asked me to come and watch him play."

"And just like that, you agree," she propped her hands on her hips.

"He's a good kid Emma. So yes, just like that I agreed," Gold's voice rose slightly.

Emma glared, "You don't know him. You don't know anything about him, just like you don't know a damned thing about me."

Mr. Gold sighed, "You're right, I don't. But if you gave me half a…"

"You had your chance. Chances, to be more precise and fucking blew it." Emma forced the last part as a whisper and looked around to make sure no one was listening.

"STOP FIGHTING," Henry's voice yelled from the doorway! "I invited him."

"You had no right to do that, Henry," Emma said, feeling the urge to run, scream and cry all at the same time.

Henry walked over to Emma and stop in front of her, "I thought we were a family."

"We are," Emma gestured with her finger between Henry and herself. "'We are not," she did the same gesture but this time including Gold.

"You know, you keep telling me that for us to move forward we have to forgive and forget," Henry said.

Emma flexed her jaw, "Henry, don't do this right now."

"You keep telling me how lucky I am to have my mom, but Emma, you don't have anyone," Henry tried to explain.

"What are you talking about," she gave a humorless laugh? "I have you. I have your mom and grandpa. I have August and Kathryn."

"That's not what I mean. Emma, at least give him a shot. He's always been there, you just didn't know it," Henry attempted to explain again.

"That's where the problem lies. I grew up having no one, and you were there the whole time," Emma couldn't stop the tears. She refused to cry like she did before so she turned and hurried out of the school.

She threw her back against the cinderblock building and growled loudly. Luckily all the students were in class and no one was outside. They would have thought she was a mad woman.

The door behind her opened and she half expected to hear Gold's voice pleading with her. Instead, she saw Regina out of the corner of her eye step beside her and lean her own body into the brick.

"I'm sorry. I," Emma began but was cut short when Regina held her hand up.

"I didn't come out here to lecture you, Emma. I want you to know that Henry believes with all his might that this is the best thing for you," Regina said.

Emma turned her head to look at her girlfriend, "Why? Why is this so important to him?" Tears were running down the blonde's face.

"Because he knows you're hurting, Emma. He loves you and he wants you to be happy," Regina moved to stand in front of the blonde.

"I am happy. I'm happy with us. I don't need anyone else," Emma fought a sob as she wiped beneath both her eyes.

"Henry is a very intuitive little boy. He knows how happy you are with us, but he wants you to have it all. As do I." Regina gently grabbed Emma's dress shirt in her fists.

"I get that, but Gold is not my happy ending. You guys are," Emma leaned forward resting her forehead to Regina's.

"All you can do is try. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. Running from it won't make it go away." The brunette whispered.

Emma let the words soak in as she raised her head and let it fall back against the brick. It was funny how the man whom she had thought of as her father her entire life walked away with no problem. The man who was actually her father waited her entire life to want to be her father. Wasn't she allowed to be angry about it? Wasn't she allowed to be angry with the man who was supposed to have loved her mother?

The phone in Emma's back pocket vibrated and she sighed. She slowly pulled it out expecting it to be Henry with an apology, but it wasn't.

"Hello?"

"Miss Swan, it's detective Blaney. I was calling in hopes you had a chance to decide if you would go and talk to David Nolan or not," the man said.

Emma could see the curiosity on the brunette's face as she watched her, "I'll do it."

"You will," the man sounded surprised? "That's great news. When can we set up a time to meet?"

"I'll meet you at eight. Bring the equipment with you. If we do this, we're doing it my way," the blonde answered.

"O-oh okay. Umm, I'll have to run it by my superior first, but we'll see…"

Emma cut him off, "If he wants me to do this, then it's done my way." She didn't wait for the man to respond. She pressed the end button on the phone and slipped it back into her pocket.

The blonde wouldn't make her lover ask so she explained, "They're ready for me to go see David."

Emma found it strange that using the man's first name didn't feel weird to her anymore.

"Are you sure you're ready for this? I mean it's only been a few months since that night at the club," Regina seemed to search Emma's eyes.

Emma cupped the brunette's cheeks in her hands and kissed her lips, "I can't keep running. You said so yourself. It's time for this to end."

Concern was evident in Regina's eyes, but she didn't express it, "And what about Gold?"

"I'll talk to him," Emma sighed. "But only after I deal with David. I can't handle both at the same time."

Emma kissed Regina lightly on the forehead and pushed herself away from the wall. She was going to tell Gold that he would have to wait a little longer. It was either that or he could wait forever. The choice was entirely his. Robert Gold would do as he was told if it meant he would have a chance with Emma.

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"And what happens if something goes wrong," Regina chew her bottom lip?

"We have people in position Mrs. Locksley. They are ready to go on my order," the detective said staring at the monitors in front of him.

"It's Doctor Mills," Regina said not sure if it was loud enough for the man to hear.

The small office building across from the Nolan building seemed as though it were miles away. Her heart was pounding and her stomach was in a knot. How could she ever agree to let the blonde go along with this? This was insane, stupid, and completely unnecessary.

"We will be able to hear everything through that microphone, Miss Swan." A female officer explained to Emma as they walked out from around a curtained-off room.

Regina found it funny that the cop had no problem getting Emma's new name right Then again, it wasn't Regina who had bitten everyone's heads off for calling her the wrong name.

The brunette wrapped her arms over her chest. She watched as the detective instructed Emma on how to approach David. They told her what her code word was in case there was trouble. Regina was finding it hard to breathe without fear of tears. Here they were playing a game of roulette with the person she had waited her whole life to meet.

Emma locked eyes with her and smiled. It was an encouraging smile that made Regina feel butterflies, but it didn't make the knot loosen. She would much rather be at home with the blonde in her arms.

"She's got this," A familiar British accent said.

Regina turned to see Zelena standing beside her. She wasn't sure when the woman had arrived or how long she had been standing there. All she could do was observe Emma's interaction with the detectives.

"What if something happens to her," Regina hadn't realized she'd spoken out loud?

A gentle hand rubbed her arm, "Nothing is going to happen."

"How do you know that," the brunette's words were a little sharp?

Zelena turned the other woman to look at her, "Regina, you're going to worry yourself sick."

Regina sighed, "What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to pretend this isn't a big deal?"

"No, of course not," the redhead answered.

"Hey," Emma soothed taking Regina in her arms. "It's going to be okay, I promise."

The brunette wrapped her arms around the younger woman's neck, "Emma, I love you and I don't want to be without you."

She heard the blonde chuckle, "I'll be careful, but I have to do this. You understand that, right?"

Regina nodded her head yes. Indeed she did understand. That did not mean that she had to like it. She hated it in fact. She hated David Nolan for a lifetime of hurt to everyone he ever came into contact with. She hated him for all the lives he ruined and all the future lives that would be casualties of this war.

"Miss Swan, we're ready for you," one of the detectives called.

Emma gestured her head to signal she heard him. "I love you," she said into the brunette's dark locks.

"Prove it. Come back to me," her voice demanded and her eyes pleaded.

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Emma pulled the huge glass door open that lead inside Nolan Enterprise. She hadn't seen or heard from the man in a couple of months. The last time she spoke to him was their last meeting over ownership of the club.

Stepping into the lobby, the security guard, Emma couldn't remember his name, smiled. "Hey Miss Nolan, it's been a while since I've seen you. I bet your father's keeping you busy."

Emma managed a smile and nodded, "Yes, very."

"Go right up," the man said.

The blonde walked straight for the elevators and waved over her shoulder. Her father must have forgotten to tell his staff that she wasn't his. Business as usual for the man she had spent her life calling father.

The elevator ride was shorter than she remembered, It was either that or she was too far lost in thought. Memories of David flooded her senses. She had always remembered her father as that, her father. She thought there had been at least a few happy moments with him in her life, but now, she couldn't think of any. When she and her brothers were getting along, David would walk in and it would all stop. Then why did she remember happier times with him when her mother was alive? She guessed it was because her mother fought hard to make it seem like everything was how it was supposed to be.

The door opened and Emma stepped off the lift. The floor was quiet. There were no UPS men delivering packages. There was no one waiting in any of the uncomfortable chairs for the giant double doors to open. Most of all, there was no big busted blonde sitting behind the reception desk typing.

Emma strolled up to the double doors. She reached out to open it but hesitated. Now was not the time to lose her nerve. She swallowed and turned the handle. The door opened easily. She watched it swing back, stopping before bumping into the door stop behind it.

She let her eyes sweep the room. They landed on David's desk. His high backed chair faced the windows making it difficult to see if he was even sitting in it.

A voice caused her heart to jump, "What do you want?"

She almost didn't recognize it. It wasn't malice, cruel or demanding. It was sad.

He spoke again, this time turning the chair to face her, "Did you come to rub salt in my wounds?"

Emma couldn't contain the surprise in her eyes. The man hadn't shaved in days. Dark circles outlined his eyes. His dress shirt was wrinkled and void of a tie.

"I was under the impression David Nolan was invincible," Emma walked closer.

He snorted out a dry laugh, "You took my son from me."

"I didn't take anything from you. You did this to yourself," her voice was calm as she stopped a few feet from the desk.

He clutched the tumbler in his hand filled with amber liquid, "BULLSHIT!" He shouted into the silent room. Had she not been watching his delayed movements, he might have made her jump.

Emma sat down in the armchair across from him crossing her legs at the knee. "You know, had you given me half a chance I would have been anything you wanted."

Another snort forced its way from the man's throat, "You? Loyal? That would be the day. Besides that, you can't let go of that sick obsession of yours. You broke up Robin's marriage and took his son from him too."

Emma flexed her jaw muscles, but remained calm, "I guess that's what you would see. An abuser sympathizing with an abuser."

"What the hell are you talking about," he snapped. "I never abused any of you."

"Being an abuser is more than physical abuse. It's also verbal and emotional. And are you forgetting? You hit me a few months back," she said uncrossing her legs and sliding to the front of her chair.

David took a long drink from his tumbler before setting it back down on the desk, "It was never enough for you, was it? I used to ask your mother the same thing." His words slurred, "What do you think will become of this little family you think you have? Do you think the bitch is going to keep you around? She'll throw you to the side when she's had her fun."

Emma stood up and moved towards one of the big glass windows beside the man's desk. "It's none of your business what Regina or I do anymore. Just like it's none of my business what happens to you."

David swallowed the rest of his liquor and slammed the glass down, "Then why are you here?"

Emma stared down into the dimly lit streets below. Her mother must have looked down this very same way one time or another.

She slowly turned back to the messy man, "So, I've figured out why you've hated me all these years. I even know why there was no love lost when my mother died. What I can't figure out is why did you hate Will?"

"I didn't hate William. He was my son," David said staring into his now empty glass. "But then, your mother announced that she was pregnant with you." He let his eyes travel the length of her body as if seeing something putrid for the first time. "I knew right away you weren't mine. After William, I didn't want any more children. I had all I would ever need. So while on a business trip to LA, I got a vasectomy. I didn't tell your mother. I was away for three weeks and was well healed when I returned."

David stood up grabbing the edge of his desk to steady himself before making his way to the liquor trolley. "I stayed away, even more, when she told me her great news. You know, when you were first born and your mother sent me a photo? I thought, well, maybe the procedure I had somehow fixed itself. You had the greenest eyes I'd ever seen on an infant. They matched mine. But I went to the doctor and he ensured me I was shooting blanks. Not to mention the fact that every time I saw Robert Gold, there was this uncanny fascination he had with you. The way he always stared at you confirmed it."

"Then why didn't you confront him? You treated me like I was less than human growing up," She said sadly.

"I was not about to ruin my reputation by having a whore for a wife," David sneered.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that. You and your precious fucking reputation. She didn't do anything that you hadn't done a hundred times over," Emma gritted her teeth. "And Will, what did he do that was so wrong you had to kill him."

David's eye flicked up to meet hers, "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"I spent my entire life thinking my father hated me. It is starting to make a lot more sense now," Emma goaded. "You couldn't give my mother what she wanted so she found someone who could. Will saw you for who you truly were and refused to be your puppet. August, it took him a little longer to see," she leaned against the window ledge watching him.

"Fuck you. I didn't choose to marry your mother. That was no secret. We didn't love each other, but we had a certain amount of respect. She broke that by getting knocked up with you. And William would still be alive if it weren't for you. And you corrupted August. He would still be here with me, if not for you," David glared.

Emma chuckled and shook her head, "So this is all my fault."

"YES," he snapped.

The blonde nodded her head, "Will hated you. You know that right?"

"Because of you. This weird fascination he had with you, I'll never understand. He could have been sitting right next to me at the top of the company, but instead, he chased you around." David turned to look out the glass.

"That weird fascination, it's called love, David, something you know nothing about," Emma said about to give up on trying to get a confession.

"Love? Love won't get you to the top. Love doesn't pay the bills or put clothes on your back. It didn't pay for those hotels you liked so much or the booze or even those women you laid with." He said into the glass of the window.

Emma swallowed down the tears, "I would have given every single dime of it up to have you love me."

"How was I supposed to love someone else's mistake," his voice was low but sharp.

A tear escaped her emerald eyes, "Will did."

"WILL WAS A FOOL," the man yelled now facing her. "He was so intent on making sure you were taken care of, he let his duties to this family fall. He ignored my demands and his obligations. That's what got him killed."

"Who killed him," she asked wiping her cheek? "Did you hire someone to do it? Did one of the guys at the club do it? Who?"

"I DID IT!" He threw his tumbler hard against the giant paned window causing a large crack to spider out. The tumbler shattered into hundreds of pieces. "It was one thing having you as a Nolan failure. The media chalked it up to you being the spoiled baby girl. But to have my own flesh and blood living that way, it was a disgrace."

Emma listened to his words, but all she could feel was how much she detested everything about this man. There was not one ounce of love or morals anywhere in him.

"He did everything in his power to smear the Nolan name. He asks me to sign you over to him after your mother died," He admitted.

Emma's heart sank. She couldn't help but think that her brother would be alive right now had he signed her over. She and Will could have moved far away somewhere. They could have been happy. Her mind thought of Regina and Henry. If he had adopted her, she wouldn't have met them. Guilt washed over her for being happy with Regina. This was a lot of information to take in, but it was also in the past.

"And look at you now. Clean and sober and the nightclub is doing surprisingly well. Now if you would get rid of this whore of yours," David said.

Something snapped inside the woman. She cleared the ten feet distance between them and grabbed the man by the front of his shirt, "STOP CALLING HER THAT!"

David laughed, "Oh, did I touch a sensitive spot?"

"You're jealous," she said. "Mom hated you so much. She would rather die than to be with you."

David's eyes turned to ice and his voice hard, "She never had a choice."

Emma studied his face with confusion, "What?"

He continued talking as if she hadn't asked a question. "Sometimes it still amazes me the bitch had the nerve to come up here and demand a divorce." He chuckled again. "There was no way I was going to let her drag my name through the mud so she could go live some fairy tale life with Robert Gold. She fell faster than I thought she would."

"You son of a bitch," Emma growled throwing David into the glass behind him.

She and David turned to the sound of glass cracking. The window pane cracked even further.

David's eyes shot back to Emma's, "What now? Are you going to throw me to my death?"

Emma pulled him away from the cracked glass and shoved him back releasing his shirt, "No. Death is the easy way out. I want to see you locked up in a cage like the monster you are," Emma said walking towards the door.

The office door burst open. Seven swat team officers entered shouting, "GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!

The blonde walked passed them and out of the door. Nearly thirty years had been spent wishing and hoping the man she had called father would tell her he loved her. Tonight had been an information overload. She definitely had someone she needed to talk to soon about her discoveries.