AN: So it seems that at the moment I can manage updates every other day, so I shall try to keep to that
Thank you all!

Reviews as ever are welcomed :)

Chapter 16

Regina was sat in the living room on the edge of the sofa staring at the address in front of her on the table.

"How long have you been up?" Maleficent asked from behind her

"Since just before dawn"

"No matter how many times you stare at that it's not going to change anything" Maleficent said, leaning over the back of the sofa towards her.

"I know, but I can't decide if I'm doing the right thing"

"It's been over a week since you heard from her, you're not eating, you're not sleeping, you're worried sick about her, you need to go for yourself to check she's ok, if for nothing else"

Regina just stared at the address in front of her, Maleficent was right, she had had no appetite since she had last seen the blonde, she could barely sleep with worry. She was confused about what all this meant for them but she was more concerned about how Emma was herself.

"If you're not going to go and you're just going to sit there all day staring at it then I'm going on, I can't put up with that sad expression on your face all day"

Regina turned to look at Maleficent

"Thanks dear, that makes me feel much better"

"Look, do you like this woman?"

"Yes"

"Then go see her"

"It's not that simple"

"Yes it is, are you worried about her?"

"Yes"

"Are you confused about where you two stand?"

"Yes"

"Are you going to get a solution to any of those things by sitting her staring at the address all day?"

"No"

"Then go and see her Regina, not just for you, not just for her, but for both of you. Let her explain why she has so rudely ignored you and why she acted the way she has. If nothing else you'll get closure"

"Alright, I'll go and see her" Regina said standing up and walking quickly towards the front door grabbing her keys as she went.

She got into the car typing Emma's address into the GPS and driving off before she could change her mind.

It felt as though she'd only been driving for a couple of minutes when she pulled up in front of Emma's, she turned off the ignition and rested her head against the steering wheel taking deep breaths

"Come on Regina, you can do this" Regina whispered to herself, she quickly checked her reflection in the mirror before getting out the car and walking up the path.

Regina walked up to the building finding the number of the right apartment, taking yet another deep breath Regina knocked on the door and waited.

Regina had practiced what to say when Emma opened the door the entire car journey, so when a woman with a black pixie-cut that was definitely not Emma she was thrown slightly.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked

"Oh erm, yes" Regina replied quickly composing herself, this woman must be Snow "I was looking for Emma Swan?"

"I think she may still be in bed"

Of course she was still in bed, it was barely half eight on a weekend, not everyone had been up early like her, she should have waited till later.

"Of course, I apologise. I'm Regina Mills, I help organise the support group Emma attends"

At that Snow's face changed, she suddenly looked happier and more welcoming

"Oh hello, it's lovely to meet you, please come in" Regina smiled at the woman and walked in "I'm Snow and this is my husband David" Snow gestured towards the kitchen where there was a man making a drink. David was a tall, slightly muscled man, with dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes, he smiled brightly at Regina when his wife introduced them

"And David this is Regina, she helps to run the support group Emma goes to"

"Oh, hi, is everything alright?" David asked

"Yes, everything is fine, I was just hoping to Emma" Regina was still standing near the door feeling slightly awkward, she looked to the left of where she was standing where there were stairs she assumed led to Emma's bedroom. She looked at the floor where Emma's boots lay discarded at the foot of the stairs and to Regina's unhappiness so did a beer bottle.

"Would you like a drink Regina?" Snow asked her cheerfully

"No thank you"

Silence fell amongst the three of them again until David broke it

"Snow why don't you go and see if Emma is awake?" Snow nodded quickly and hurried up the stairs.

"Look, Emma hasn't been too great recently, thankfully Snow hasn't noticed too much, but somebody has caused that"

Regina turned her attention to David

"And if that somebody is you then stop"

"Excuse me?" Regina raised her eyebrows at David

"Emma has had enough to deal with in her life and she doesn't need somebody who is going to make things worse"

"That is not my intention"

"Well I hope it isn't, because if you are going to make it worse then I suggest you walk out that door and don't come back"

Regina stared at the man, anger building inside of her, who did he think he was? He knew nothing about her. Anger filled Regina again, something she had found was happening a lot more regularly since she had last seem Emma, she was about to respond to him when she heard footsteps from the stairs.

/-/

Emma could hear someone gently calling her name, but it seemed too far away and Emma didn't have the energy to find it. But then she felt a gently nudge on her shoulder. The voice became louder, then she realised it was Snow, trying to wake her up. Emma opened one eye and saw the woman standing at the side of her bed leaning over her slightly. Emma sat up feeling the thumping in her head, Snow sat down on the edge of the bed smiling slightly, did she know Emma had been drinking the night before?

"Hey hunny, sorry to wake you but-" she stopped and her nose twitched slightly "have you been drinking? It smells like beer"

"Oh" Emma wracked her brain quickly "Ruby spilt some beer on me last night it'll be that"

"Oh, ok" thankfully she seemed to buy it "there's some here to see you"

"Oh, and they couldn't wait till I woke up? Who is it?"

"It's Regina Mills"

Emma's heart dropped Regina was here?

"Did she say what she wanted?"

"No, just that she wanted to see you"

Quickly Emma leapt from the bed trying to find suitable clothes quickly. She threw on a pair of jeans and quickly changed her top for a fresh tank top, she dashed to the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to sort it out.

"Thanks Snow" Emma said as she hurried towards the stairs quickly followed by Snow. Emma tried to control her breathing as she descended the stairs towards were Regina was, Emma took deep breaths as her heart raced. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she saw Regina and Emma found herself as she often did around Regina, breathless. Emma tried to pull herself together remembering that she was still mad at the brunette.

"What can I help you with Regina?" Emma asked as she stood in front of the other woman.

"I hadn't heard back from you, I was checking that you were ok"

"Well I'm fine, thanks for stopping by" Emma said

"I was hoping we could chat?" Emma was about to say no but then she looked properly at Regina, she looked tired and vulnerable? It was obvious that she was concerned it was clear from her face. Emma nodded and looked around for her shoes, Regina pointed over towards the bottom of the stairs, where Emma saw she had left her boots from the night before. She walked over noticing that there was an empty beer bottle, she discretely placed the bottle in her pocket as she put her boots on.

"Shall we then?" Emma said holding the door open for Regina "I'll see you later" she told Snow and David as she closed the door behind them.

"Where do you want to go?" Emma asked Regina as they reached the street

"This is your town Emma, I'll go wherever you want"

"Docks it is then" Emma started off in the other direction towards the docks closely followed by Regina.