Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own a single thing. I wish. All mistakes are my own...
"Where is Emma? What have you done to her?! She's been gone all day! And no trace of Henry either!" To Snow's credit she has come alone, no angry mob behind her crying and shouting for Regina's death.
Taking a calming breath Regina simply raises her eyebrow. "Why would I know where your daughter is? But Henry is surely with her."
"She said she was going to look for you after we... fought..."
"How dare you show up on my doorstep after you killed my mother?" Regina's voice is strangely calm. Composed. Her stance is rigid. Nothing even remotely indicates that the brunette has been crying and bearing her heart just a minute ago. All emotions gone from her face.
"I am looking for my daughter!" Snow is almost scared by Regina's demeanor, but she tries to keep it hidden.
"Let's assume that Miss Swan is here, Snow. What makes you think I'd just release her? Having good faith in my goodness, your majesty?" The use of the title is mocking. It surprises even Regina herself though how in control she is. It would be so simple to snap with her fingers and choke Snow White until death claimed her. But the urge isn't there. The former mayor finds that curious, but chooses to ignore that for now.
"Just give me back my daughter!"
"Oh, Snow... do you have a death wish? Is your guilty conscience driving you into the arms of your enemy?" Judging by the expression the other woman is giving her Regina's assumption is rather spot on. "So typical." Regina is hesitant, not sure what to do. On the one hand she is more than eager to see Snow's face when she witnesses her mortal enemy and daughter kiss tenderly. But on the other, Emma is more important than any satisfaction she might gain from that.
"Is she here?"
Regina turns her head, locking her gaze with Emma who is hidden from view. There is a silent conversation which ends with Regina nodding and Emma walking up to the door.
"Emma! Thank Goodness, you're all right!" Snow moves in for a hug, but Emma just takes a step backwards, closer to Regina.
"Of course I am all right, Snow. What did you expect?"
"Just... she is evil, Emma! She wanted to kill you!" Snow is pressing one hand to her chest in a fruitless attempt to calm her nerves, the other is gesturing wildly towards the former queen. Being so close to Regina who watches the scene unfold so stoically calm scares her.
Emma is just mostly unimpressed with Snow's tantrum. They have had this conversation before. Oh so many times. Especially in the last few days. "She didn't kill Archie. In fact, Snow, Regina was actually trying to change. She made an effort which none of you were willing to acknowledge. And even I was stupid enough to trust Gold's little magic trick."
"It was your magic!"
"He gave us that dreamcatcher, Snow. It was his. For all I knew he could have tempered with it." Unconsciously the blonde was leaning further towards Regina, moving herself protectively between the both brunette's. But it's not Emma's intention to shield her mother, quite the opposite in fact.
"But he didn't! What Pongo saw was real!" Snow is tempted to stomp her foot onto the floor, but catches herself in time from this childish act.
"Pongo is a dog! Besides, Pongo loves Regina. He wouldn't have growled at her. I should have known, but I was blinded. By you. I am done with that, Snow."
Snow is shocked, eyes wide. "What do you mean?"
"I am so done with pretending that I don't care about Regina. Done pretending that I don't understand her. It's no excuse, but dammit, I can understand. I know why she made specific decisions. If it had been me then I surely would have cursed all your hypocritical asses to Storybrooke as well! Regina's not evil." Talking about the former mayor as if she weren't present is too strange to Emma and so she just turns around. "You're not evil. You're the victim of your life and the people who should have been there for you. Who should have loved and protected you. You're a victim like everyone else." The blonde pauses briefly, taking a breath. "Yes, you've screwed up. You are screwed up, but so am I. It could so easily have been me." Tears threaten to fall, but Emma doesn't allow it. She merely takes a step closer. "I mean it, Regina. I'm with you now."
Briefly glancing at Snow who is shocked into complete silence Regina ponders her next move. Eventually she gives into her feelings, takes a step closer sighing softly when Emma's arms wrap around her frame again. "You don't know half of the story," Regina whispers, not trusting her voice. Hiding her face against Emma's neck is the only way she can block out Snow being witness to this scene.
"I'm more than willing to listen." Bringing one hand into Regina's hair to tenderly massage her scalp Emma turns her head and kisses the top of the other woman's head.
"What is this? Regina, what have you done to my daughter?!" Snow almost shrieks the question, but before she can get an answer from the other brunette Snow feels a sharp pain on her cheek, stumbling backwards ever so slightly from the force of the slap.
"Stop it!" Emma is seething. It occurs to her that slapping her mother out of the blue might not be appropriate at all, but she has had enough. "Just shut up, Snow! Regina has been nothing but civil, would you please stop these accusations and insults? There is no need whatsoever." Emma's eyes land on Snow's already red cheek, if she looks closely the blonde can even see her fingers imprinted. She shouldn't receive satisfaction from that, but somehow she does.
"Em-Emma... I don't understand..."
Tears are visible on Snow's cheeks, but Emma can't bring herself to feel pity. "It's quite easy, Snow. I love, Regina. I'm in love with her. I actually have been for a while."
Snow's eyes grow wide, but she knows better than to open her mouth again.
"And I'm not willing to ignore my feelings anymore."
"This is not acceptable, Emma! I cannot condone this!"
It's strange to Regina that she feels guilty. Seeing Emma fight with her mother because of her makes her want to run away, to apologize. But the slap across Snow's face strangely makes her heart swell. Regina cannot remember the last time someone has tried to protect her honour. Possibly no one ever has. Her thoughts are interrupted though when she suddenly hears Emma laugh. Loudly. A frown appears on her own forehead. Snow looks like she suspects Emma insane.
"I neither need nor want your acceptance of my love, Snow. I'm nearly 30! You have no say in my life. You have lost that the day you gave me away, no matter the reason."
"But we did that to give you-"
"My best chance, yes I know. Didn't quite work out, but in the long run I'm grateful." Emma turns to look at Regina to leave no doubt as to why she is, then her attention is back on Snow. "I suggest you leave now."
Snow stares. Shocked and hurt. Angry. She swallows hard before she replies, "very well. When will you be home?"
"Henry and I will stay here for tonight." Emma wants to fully move in, get away from her doting parents. Especially now that she is furious with Snow, but she would never dare to just assume she is welcome again already in the Mills' mansion. "Now, leave. Please."
AN: I was bored during classes today so this is the result. I'm not particularly proud of Snow... I just cannot seem to like her at all at the moment, so I suppose t shows. And the slap was really rather satisfying... xD
