Prompt from tumblr:
"Everything's going to be okay. You're with me, now." - Anonymous. If you would like to request a prompt pm me or shoot me a message me on tumblr ( its-a-story-of-love) or twitter ( all-i-ever-knew).
Regina loses her confidant and her best friend, her father. Emma comforts her, and Regina realises that there is always someone that loves you more than you know. The first bit focuses on Henry, and then Regina but I had to set the scene. It does have a SQ happy ending.
Unbeta'd and do not own show or characters
One minute. 60 seconds. It's funny how much can change in such a short space of time. A minute can change everything. It can start or end something. For Henry Mills, his last minute was spent with those he loved most. His wife Cora was a somewhat difficult person to love, always an enigma, but despite her stubbornness and determination to succeed she loved with everything she had. She liked the finer things in life, and always strived for more but at heart she was someone who loved more than words can express. He saw her lips wobble, she knew what was coming, but was determined to be strong- knowing it would be needed. He just hoped she would let herself grieve too. Elena, his eldest, was vivacious and loud, always the life and soul of the party, she had kept him up more than once. Currently she was cackling at something on Twitter he presumed. Covfefe. When he asked her to explain, she simply replied, The President at his finest daddy. With a chuckle and laboured breath Henry replied oh god bless America. He knew Elena was terrified and the humour was a way of deflecting everything else. He turned next to his youngest and his favourite (although he would never tell the others that- Regina. Regina, though she would deny it, wore her heart on her sleeve, or rather through her eyes. You could see, almost feel everything she felt. She wasn't taking this well, her sobs were barely concealed and if he were honest he was scared for her. He knew his death would devastate her, he had been the person she had relied on for a long time; he just hoped she found someone she could trust outside their family. Someone who for just a couple of seconds could alleviate the inevitable grief.
He offered her a weak smile, which she returned. She stood up, straightening her shirt, a characteristic she had got from her mother, and made the way closer to his bed. Gently she lifted the covers of his bed.
She hated him seeing like this. Her father, who was the strongest and bravest man she had ever known. Her best friend. The person she trusted more than anyone, wasting away to nothing. She knew the time was coming and it broke her knowing he wouldn't be here much longer but she knew to prolong his suffering was not fair to anyone. She gently lifted the covers of his bed, leaning her head on her chest, careful not to knock any wires. He took his hand, squeezing it, for whose comfort she wasn't quite sure, and willed all her strength. She looked at the rest of her, their family, and her mom and Elena subtly nodded. She whispered "You can let go now daddy, your little girl is ready to do this on her own". She wasn't not at all but she knew she had to.
The frantic beeps of the machine subsided into a continuous screech. The line flat. Determined, strong, hopeful faces turning into sombre, melancholy frowns. The heavy silence of denial punctuated only by earth shattering sobs. A family mourning their loss, holding onto each other, finding strength in one another.
/
It had been two weeks. Two weeks since her father died. Regina still didn't know how she was feeling. She supposed the best way to explain it was that she felt empty. She went through the motions of each day, completing chores. Offering non-committal answers to her mother and sister. She knew they were struggling just as much as she but she wasn't ready to sort through everything now. She needed time. Time to accept that her father wasn't going to come through the door saying Hello sweetie, or dinner smells good dear. She needed to cry but couldn't People had offered condolences, wishes of sympathy, they couldn't imagine what it was like. No they fucking couldn't but here they were trying to anyway.
/
Emma had heard about Henry Mills's death from her parents. David had sat her down, MM placing a cup of cocoa down in front of her, Emma had known then it was bad news. She stared blankly at them, hugging David tighter than ever before, and then excusing herself. She needed time
She couldn't believe it. She had always liked the man; he had welcomed her into the town when she had first arrived- that lost and scared orphan. He was the first person Emma had met that she didn't doubt their intentions- he was just a genuine kind soul, and now he was gone. Death is a bastard.
She had met Regina that day; the prim and proper girl had politely smiled and shook her friend. Emma had, rather embarrassingly gone to high five. It was awkward but at eight years old they just laughed it off, and Regina had asked if Emma could come and see her horse. A friendship had been born then. It was full of up and downs, and there had been a rocky couple of years at the start of high school where they insisted they hated each other. It fooled no one and everyone sighed when the two ladies sorted their shit out and become closer at the start of last year. Emma knew she loved Regina, knew it was more than a high school crush, and had done for a while. Had asked Henry if she could take Regina to prom at the end of this year. She was hit with a sudden wave of sadness when she realised Henry wouldn't be teasing them, making them flushed red before they made their excuses to leave. None of that mattered. Not today.
She debated whether she should be here. Wondering if it was some invasion of privacy. They had just lost a family member, she should just go, leave them to their grief. She could offer her condolences at the funeral. At the same time she knew she needed to be here, to see if Regina was alright. To be here for her friend.
/
Cora wasn't expecting visitors, she supposed it was someone else offering condolences. She was right, she didn't expect it to be Emma Swan. She had disapproved of the girl at first, thought her a trouble maker and whilst Emma could certainly act before she thought sometimes, she was a loyal and brave person, who wouldn't take any crap. Three qualities which Cora admired.
"Emma, hi"
"Mrs Mills…Cora. I know the words are empty but I am sorry for your loss. Your husband was a brilliant man"
"Thank you, that he was. Was there anything else dear?" once upon a time the question would have been intimidating, now Emma knew it was just Cora.
"Is Regina around?" Oh well she was really screwing this up wasn't she. Where else would she be.
"She's in her room dear" Cora replied, a ghost of a smile on her face. Maybe Emma would get through to Regina.
/
Emma smiled and muttered thanks before making her way upstairs.
Knocking on Regina's door, she entered after she heard a muffled come in.
/
Regina heard the knock an wondered who it could be, assuming her mother or sister would just come in. Her assumptions were proved correct when she saw Emma enter. She silently cursed. Knowing that she couldn't hide her feelings, not feelings from Emma. That woman was a human lie detector.
"Emma" it was barely a whisper but in the silence of the room it seemed too loud.
"Regina" Emma replied making her way to sit next to her.
"It means nothing, its fake and utter bullshit but I am sorry. I am so sorry Regina. Your father was, is a fabulous man. He had the kindest heart of anyone I have ever met. In a world full of crooks and thieves they chose the man who exuded love. It sucks."
Regina almost laughed. Emma was never the most eloquent person but she was the only person outside of family who sounded genuine. She knew, it was in part because Emma regarded Henry as a father figure in a way – despite having a brilliant family in the Nolan's. Her father had been the first person to show Emma love. The other part was simply Emma. Emma didn't sugar coat, she didn't rehearse. She just did and in moments like this it worked.
She was meant to thank her, instead she cried. The ugly sobs that make your whole body shake.
"I can't do it Emma. I can't bury him. It's too final. I can't admit he is gone. He can't be gone. I need him. He's my fucking father. He's supposed to be interrogate my future love interests. He's supposed to be there cheering me at my graduation- me blushing and secretly proud. He was supposed to be walking down the aisle, both of us trying (and failing not to cry). Instead he's just gone. Forever.
I love him, but I hate him. He left me. Alone.
I know I have my family but it's not complete. I eat dinner each night staring at his empty place. My mom and sister talk about him, how he would have liked this. Do I remember the time I rode my bike without stabilisers for the first time. It helps them; I know that, they have to cling onto the happiness because the alternative is shit. I can't though. The happiness is too painful. I need time. I just don't know if there is ever going to be enough.
I am broken Emma. Broken beyond repair"
Emma was hugging Regina tightly now, Refusing to let her friend go. She knew that she needed someone to hold.
"Regina Marie Mills you listen to me. You are allowed to be angry. To be sad to hate the whole fucking world. Never feel bad for feeling anything, but keeping it all bottled up doesn't help. Just let it out. Punch your pillow. Go for a run. Ring me- you know I will always be there for you, and will listen to you read the phone book if it makes you feel better. You loved your dad with everything you had, it's going to hurt, but the pain will not stab you all the time, it will dull to an ache, before one day you will be able to tell those stories of riding your bike, your first riding lesson. The most important thing though is that your dad is still in the one place that matters- your heart. When you need strength look in your heart. It is capable of a strength I don't think you realise. One last thing. You are not broken. You just can't do this on your own, and that's fine. Everything is going to be okay. Not today. Maybe not tomorrow or next week but it will be okay. You're with me now"
Regina's jaw dropped. Perhaps earlier statement was a lie- Emma was capable of delivering a hell of a speech. Regina never realised how much Emma knew about her. How she always knew what to say or do. How she could deliver a hope speech without it sounding patronising. There were no words she could say, thank you wasn't enough, so instead she rested her head on Emma's shoulder and smiled.
She was still more than a little scared, but she could do this. She could face tomorrow. Daddy's little girl was ready to let go; because she realised she was never truly alone.
Thank you so much for reading and let me know what you thought. Remember you can send me a prompt too!