Regina's body froze with panic as she turned and her eyes met with Scott's for the first time in months. The fear in hers was nothing compared to the rage in his and she tried to break her arm free but as usual he was too strong.
"Where is my son?"
"My son is sleeping and you are not going to see him. You ruined your chances of ever seeing him again when you tried to hurt him." Regina spat at him as she tried to muster up as much strength as she could. "Let me go or I swear to God I will release every picture of every event and have you put away."
"It will be hard to do that if you're in a ditch somewhere." Scott said as he pulled her in closer to him. Their usual struggle began as she shoved him with her free hand but failed to make an impact. He was too big, too strong. He grabbed her other arm and pushed her against the building. The weight of his body on hers was a familiar reminder of the life she had left behind. "I don't know what made you think you could leave me. We belong together Regina. You are mine remember?"
Her eyes snapped shut at his words and she prepared herself for what was to come next. She knew the routine. She knew at this point there was no use in attempting to struggle because it only made it last longer. It only made him more aggressive. She promised herself that if he ever came back she would be ready. She would fight. Who was she kidding? She would always fall weak to him. She would always be his victim.
She felt his mouth on her neck and her body went numb. Pleasure from Scott was a distant memory and what he did to her body was anything but. He continued to hold her arms in place as he stared at her, his hot breath over her stone cold face.
"Look at me," he demanded but she refused to open her eyes. "I said, look at me."
Regina slowly opened her eyes but she refused to let him see the pain that he was causing her.
"There's my pretty girl." He smiled at her and brought his lips to meet her.
"Get off of her!" The door for the apartment building flew open and Emma rushed outside. Scott was startled but remained pressed against Regina.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Does that really matter? Get the hell off of her!" Emma walked over and tried to push him off but realized she was much too small in comparison.
"This is amusing." Scott laughed. "Look lady I don't know who you are but this is between my wife and I so why don't you just go back inside."
Before Emma could attempt to do anything else a police car pulled up at the curb and Scott looked over his shoulder and knew that his game was over. He looked into the foyer of the building to see Zelena with a sleeping Henry cradled in her arms and a cell phone pressed against her ear. Zelena smiled at him.
Scott stepped away from Regina with his hands up and head down following the officers instructions and Regina walked into Emma's waiting arms. As soon as she felt the woman's arms around her all of the fear that she had been holding in came out and tears began to flow.
"It's okay, you're safe now, and I've got you." Emma whispered as she held the shaking woman.
Regina looked up and met strong eyes with her own, "How did you know? Why were you here?"
"I came over to talk to your sister. I was worried about you and scared. I was confused. I didn't know who else to talk to." Emma began to explain. "And then when you hadn't been home yet I was going to come find you and I saw him with you and I told Zelena to call 911."
Regina's head fell back to Emma's shoulder and she sighed as safe arms cradled her weak body once again. "Thank you Emma. I don't know how I will ever repay you."
"Shh. Just breathe."
….
Regina woke to the smell of coffee and the sound of Henry laughing in the living room. She was surprised that she had gotten any sleep at all but the exhaustion of the events must have taken over. She sat up in bed feeling her body ache from what he put it through and stood up to make her way to the bathroom. She reached for a sweater from her closet and winced at the tenderness in her ribs and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror hanging on her closet door. She had hoped she would never have to see the painful reminders of Scott again.
When she walked into the living room she was met with the most beautiful sight. Zelena was sitting legs folded on the couch sipping coffee and laughing at Emma and Henry playing with trains on the floor. Regina paused in the doorway, leaning against the woodwork, before Henry noticed his mother watching.
"Mama," the toddler smiled and came running. Instinctively she knelt down to pick him up and squeezed her eyes shut at the pain that radiated through her bruised arms. There wasn't any amount of pain she would not suffer however to be rewarded with one of Henry's neck hugs and kisses on her cheek.
"Good morning sweet boy!" Regina melted into his chubby arms as she squeezed him tight. "And good morning to everyone else," she smiled down at the blonde who was looking up at her.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?" Emma asked as she stood up from the floor.
"Good I guess. How about you? That couch isn't the most comfortable thing in the world."
"Oh, it was just fine. Would you like some coffee?"
"That sounds wonderful thank you." Regina smiled and walked with Henry to the couch and sat down with the boy on her lap. "How are you sis?"
Zelena smiled over at her sister but her eyes filled with tears, "I'm good."
"Z, I'm okay…"
Zelena nodded her head, "Yeah," she took a deep breath, "I know."
"Here you are, one cup of coffee." Emma handed Regina a mug as Regina set Henry on the floor and took a sip. "I hope you don't mind but we talked to Bobby this morning and got you a few days off of work."
Regina looked over at Emma with a shocked look on her face.
"I'm sorry if that makes you upset but you really need to relax Regina." Zelena responded making sure her sister knew it was a mutual decision and not just Emma overstepping her bounds.
Regina cleared her throat. "Well, I'm flattered that you are both so concerned about me but I am fine. Really."
Emma and Zelena exchanged glances. "Regina, we didn't tell him what happened, we said a family emergency came up and that you needed time off. He said it was no problem. Please, just take the time and rest." Zelena said in a stern but loving voice.
"Okay….but really, I'm fine."
"I told you, she's stubborn." Zelena chuckled and rolled her eyes. Emma giggled and Regina shook her head before taking another drink of her coffee.
"Well, just because I'm going to be home doesn't mean I need babysitters all day. Don't you have class or something? And work?" Regina looked at the women.
"It's Saturday!" The other women said in unison as they laughed.
"Oh…well...whatever. Go find something to do you're both already annoying the shit out of me!" Regina laughed as she took another drink of her coffee.