A/N: Okay so this is much longer than the last chapter but shorter than the first, more to come after this just needs typing up. As always please review.
Chapter 3
Hours later, Emma had barely contained herself from running off and finding The Mayor, hoping she had some how that things had changed with the brunette, if they had at all. The thought of Robin Hood made her stomach drop, she finally noted then, to herself, that maybe she had after all, had some semblance of feelings towards Regina, that she may actually be somewhat jealous of Robin Hood but she immediately shook off the feeling. She cared about the other woman's wellbeing, that was all it was... right?
And what about Hook? Her mind retorted immediately, You don't have to be lonely, not with him here... She pauses again for a moment, her brow furrowing as she gazes at the pirate in question and immediately she felt sick at the thought and her mind immediately countered, he's not her...
It isn't until Marian tenses beside her, that she is brought back to the presence, away from her thoughts just as she blurts out quite dramatically,
"That's The Evil Queen!" Her body literally oozes fear at the prospect of encountering the woman again, understandably considering the last time she saw the woman she was evil and for all intents and purposes should have died at her orders had it not been for the blonde herself.
She glances up to the brunette who walks in, a warmth spreads through her stomach before she turns back to the woman they had brought to this time and places a calming hand on her shoulder,
"No, it's okay," She reassured, "She's not the same person any more, you'll see. I'll..." She pauses before an idea comes to her, "Just stay here a moment, I'll be right back."
She doesn't wait for answer, she pushes her chair out with a scraping noise on the diner's linoleum floor, every step towards Regina feels weighted, as the brunette hones in on her she can feel the beginning of a sweat starting on her palms, she takes in the minimal make up that she is unused to seeing from The Mayor and unconsciously her breath catches, her stomach flip flops and mentally she chastises herself to focus, "Regina," She somewhat whispers her name but the brunette turns to her regardless, a small smile graces itself across beautiful features and Emma has to force herself to get it together, "Um..." She clears her throat, hoping to cover her stupid girlish behaviour, "Regina... there is something you should know... I brought someone back from the past..."
"What are you...?" Regina starts only to be interrupted by the blonde.
"Never mind, later, point is... this woman, she still thinks of you as..." She hesitates then and tries to think of another word to use, she doesn't want to refer to Regina as evil, even after seeing her as The Evil Queen, there was a hurt filled reaction to most of what she did, she was broken and it had taken over thirty years for her to start getting some semblance of happiness back in her life, she didn't want to ruin that or mar it in anyway and before she can think of a different word, Regina saves her from having to say anything and supplies the word for her.
"Evil?" The brunette asks, though her words are strong there is a slight flickering in chocolate orbs and Emma wonders if that would have been something that Robin would have noticed?
"Yeah..." She offers a small smile, something that implies that she doesn't think of her that way, "If it's okay if I bring her over? I already told her it's okay, that you're not that person anymore... but it's still a little delicate and I feel, if she met you... she'll see..."
"I understand," Regina interrupted, her tone kind and reminiscent of what she had just said, a small, soft, almost delicate smile of her own that stirred the butterflies in the blonde's stomach once again.
Emma responded with a smile of her own, turning back towards Marian and gesturing her over.
"Regina, I'd like you to meet..." But before she can finish she is interrupted by Robin Hood of all people.
"Oh my... Marian?" Robin announced loudly from the booth he had just that moment claimed with his young son, he stands abruptly, almost falling over himself in his haste to get to the woman, large hands claiming her small face, "Marian!" He breathed as he choked on her name, "I... I thought you were dead... I thought I'd never see you again..." His words falter, growing quieter and it is evident his words are only for her and his shock stops him from saying any more as he embraces her, right before Roland rushes out from behind him and throwing himself in her arms.
"And I you," She whispered in response, tears glistening in dark orbs as she clings to him and her son.
"Oh no..." Emma murmured quietly as the realization of the situation slammed heavily into her chest, "No..." She turns her shocked gaze towards the brunette in front of her, Regina's own shock followed by crestfallen features, her own heart physically aching at seeing such a look gracing such beautiful features.
Regina stared at her, hurt, anger and shock flooded her gaze, the expression to which greeted her as emerald and chocolate connected, she swallowed and consciously draws in a breath, the look itself sending rivulets of guilt and pain through her as murmurs of the happy reunion beside them barely breaks through their attention.
"You... you did this?" The words were said through gritted teeth, her voice cracking with emotion and it was all she could do to fight the tears that were now threatening to fall.
"I just wanted to save her life," Emma whispered, this time her words felt pointless, her reasonings seemed mute, "It's not... I didn't..."
"You're just like your mother, never thinking of the consequences!" Regina snapped angrily.
"I... didn't know... I wouldn't do..."
"Of course you didn't!" Regina spat, not bothering to wipe the freshly fallen tears from her cheeks, not acknowledging the look of guilt that flashed across porcelain features, "Nobody in this town wants me to be happy but you were the last person I expected to be so cruel."
She doesn't wait for Emma's response, nor to see if Robin had even acknowledged her departure, her heels clicking loudly down the steps as she hurries into the darkness.
Emma finally lets her tears fall as it finally registers that the brunette has left the diner, a large hand falls on her shoulder, she glances up to see Hook and she gently removes his hand.
"I've got to go..." She whispers quietly.
"Do you really think that wise, Swan?" Hook replied, she wasn't sure what his tone was but it wasn't concerned nor worried, frustrated and annoyed maybe but none of the emotions she wanted him to have and instead she brushed him off.
"I don't care..." She snapped, "I have to try..."
He tries to stop her again but the moment his hand attempts to grab her, she steps back pointedly and glares at him and he backs up himself with a surrendering gesture.
"Alright, I'll be here if you need me."
She doesn't answer him at all this time, briefly glancing at the newly reformed family before dismissing them entirely, she takes off into the cold night air, she stops at the end of the walkway and finds the main street of Storybrooke completely deserted.
She closes her eyes, trying to concentrate until she feels the distant humming of magic, of Regina's magic, their connection and concentrates harder on the brunette and when she feels the familiar shift of air, she notes that Regina's magic, their connection, pulses strongly and vibrates through her and she opens her eyes to find the brunette, in front of her vault, the one place she didn't think anyone would follow her to.
She immediately notices that Regina pauses in her efforts at the door, the blonde takes several steps towards the mausoleum and up the stairs until she is stood behind the other woman, it is then she notices the shift in her back, she had sensed her even before she had appeared and she stiffened at the closeness.
"Go away Emma, you are the last person I want to see right now."
"Regina, please," Emma begged, "I need you to know that I didn't do this on purpose."
"Didn't you?" Regina growled as she turned to face the blonde with a red, angry face.
"No," Emma replies, it comes out almost like a whine and the blonde mentally kicks herself for how she was sounding at that second, "Regina, no matter our past... I care about you... I would never intentionally hurt you..."
"Okay, so say today was a happy coincidence that my last chance to find love again and you happen to bring back his dead wife? His first true love? Where does that leave me?" She pauses as she feels her words get caught at the back of her throat, "Where does that leave me? Alone... is where it leaves me..."
"You are not alone, Regina," Emma whispered loud enough that the other woman heard her words and that she meant them.
"Oh, please, you're off playing happy families with Hook and Henry, at least I still have him, be grateful for that because his love is the only thing right now that is stopping me from flam baying your ass."
"Hook? Really?" Emma scoffed turning her nose up at the suggestion before realizing her mistake at trying to bring levity into their conversation just as Regina snarls at her.
"You think my misery is funny, Miss Swan?" The brunette snaps angrily.
"No! Never!" The blonde hurries to correct her mistake by responding seriously, "I only ever want to make you smile," She blurts before considering her words.
"What?" Regina exhales the word, shock seeping into her look as she stares at the blonde.
"I said I only ever want to see you smile. Your hurt, your misery is that last thing I wish to see, I wish I could take it back but I was saving a life..."
"Yes, a life that impacts mine..." Regina replied heatedly, her face flaring red once again.
"I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you..." The blonde muttered again, not sure how many times she could repeat the same words no matter how much she actually meant them.
"Well, your actions did even if you did not intend them to," Regina answered, somewhat more calmly than before but her words still oozed hurt and Emma chooses that moment to inch closer, "What are you doing?" The brunette asks and her voice wavers in confusion.
"I will strive to do what it takes to make sure your happiness is the top of my priorities... to do my utmost in life from this point forward to make it in some sort of semblance of okay for you again."
"I fear, Miss Swan, you have already done more than enough interference in my life... I do not want..."
"I will... somehow make it up to you. I will make it so that it is better again," She vowed determinedly and Regina's expression falters for a moment.
"Wait a minute..." The brunette's brow furrows in thought as she stares intensely at the blonde.
"I will Regina, I swear it..." Emma continues.
"Enough with the platitudes!" The brunette snaps interrupting her thoughts but the blonde doesn't blink at the harsh words, "You're that peasant girl... the one who saved Snow... and me..." She whispered as she came to the realization in Emma's words, her determination, her expression...
Emma however didn't respond verbally, unsure of whether Regina is mad at the sudden realization or upset so she nods simply instead.
"I looked for you..." Regina said quietly without thinking then immediately shut her mouth before she turned and attempted to enter her vault but the blonde grasped her wrist gently.
"Wait! Regina... I..."
"You what, Miss Swan? Get off me!"
"Regina... I mean it..." Emma started.
"Emma, please... don't..." Regina was pleading with her now, she had never, ever seen her beg anyone and it made her falter slightly.
"Don't what Regina? Make it up to you?" Emma asked quietly.
"No... I can't..." The brunette moaned, trying to cover up her emotions but failing terribly, the vein in her forehead stood out vividly in response to her upset.
"Can't what Regina?"
"No!" The brunette replied firmly practically pushing her and releasing herself from the blonde's grasp, "Leave me alone, Emma... just looking at you hurts..." the latter is quiet, pointed before she reclaims her silence, slamming the heavy wooden door behind her, sealing it, forbidding anyone from entering.
Emma must have banged on that door calling Regina for hours afterwards, she wandered home in the early hours of the morning, exhausted, trying to decide exactly how she was going to make it up to Regina this time, something in the brunette's tone and words left her hopeful and determined.