The simple "no" wasn't exactly the answer she'd had in mind. Emma wasn't sure what she expected Regina to say, but she was surprised that all she could come up with was "no." Why'd she bother to tell her that she saw it anyway? What was the point of that? Emma kept walking, but she couldn't stop thinking about it. Maybe Regina just wanted Hook to herself. Which was fine by Emma. It was too uncomfortable to stay in the awkward silence, so she finally decided to say something.
"You can have him," Emma said.
"Excuse me?"
"You can have him. It was just a thank you, and it won't happen again."
Regina started to laugh bitterly, her head tipping back. Her eyes slammed shut, hiding her pain. Her hands were curled into fists, and she had stopped walking.
"You have to be kidding me," she said dryly.
"What?"
Emma stopped walking, too. She stared at Regina, a little shocked at her expression. Something about it felt cold, and it made her uneasy. Sarcasm she could handle, but this sudden coldness brought her back to the reality that Regina truly was the Evil Queen. Emma had forgotten that fact since they had formed a sort of alliance in their quest to save Henry. But here she was, icy and frozen with what seemed like. . . Emma didn't know. Hate? Loathing? No. Something else. . .
"What?" Emma repeated.
"Oh, I don't know. Your stupidity? Your obliviousness? Your lack of ability to be observant? I don't fucking know."
Emma stared, dumbfounded. What a bitch. Her eyes were still sparkling with surprise, not knowing how to react or what to say in response. She was used to the insults, but it was all so sudden. Something else in her eyes was betraying her confusion and. . . Well... Obliviousness.
"What is going on with you? Does it really disgust you so much that we kissed?"
"Yes," Regina hissed.
"Why?"
"Because he's a repulsive little worm and he doesn't deserve you."
"Oh, and who does?"
"No one," Regina answered with a straight face.
"You're hilarious," Emma spat. "Really funny. Look, I'm not the high-and-mighty savior-princess everyone wants me to be. I'm never going to be more than I am now. I'm never going to live up to anyone's expectations of me."
"You're more than you think you are," Regina told her. "And the pirate doesn't deserve you."
"So am I just destined to be forever alone, then?" Emma asked, not necessarily expecting an answer.
Regina didn't know what to say. What could she say? 'You're perfect, and I hate you for it'? But she couldn't bring herself to make a sound. She stared at Emma and took a deep breath in, mustering the courage for her next move.