The next day Regina began her usual morning routine. She woke up, took a shower, got dressed and began to make breakfast for herself. Regina was in no hurry to get to work, seeing as she was the mayor and could pick her own work days. By the time it was nine-thirty she was sipping coffee and reading the paper. Regina then paused to listen as she heard the clanking of Emma's leg going down the stairs.
"Good morning", Regina greeted as the disheveled blonde took a seat next to her.
"Ugh, Hi",Emma groggily replied, who looked like she barely got any sleep
"Would you like some breakfast?", Regina asked
"Yeah"
Regina soon made Emma some apple pancakes with orange juice and fruit, which Emma happily ate. As soon as Emma finished her breakfast she leaned back in her chair with content.
"You may be one of the best cooks I have ever met", Emma sighed
" I do my best", Regina modestly replies
"Well your best is amazing "
Regina chuckled as she dried the last plate she was washing and turned to face Emma. She wanted to ask about last night and what happened, but just couldn't bring herself to it. Regina finally mustered up enough courage and asked her.
"Emma? What happened last night?"
"What do you mean?",she asked confused
"You were screaming and kept yelling out ' I'm sorry'".
Emma fell back in her seat and covered her face with her hands," Sorry about that. It's just I have these dreams...well more nightmares than dreams, but it doesn't matter anyway.", Emma rose up from her seat and made her way to the stairs up to her room. Before Emma reached the first step Regina spoke.
"Was it about the fire? Your nightmares, I mean."
Emma froze, standing at the bottom of the stairs, without warning she turned around," Don't go poking around in my business.", she said through gritted teeth and continued up the stairs. Regina stood there shocked and decided to give Emma some space and her some time to think.
As soon as Emma reached her room she closed the door and buried her head in her pillows. Unwanted memories coming to surface.
Flashback
"Hey look! It's Emma!", one of the girls yelled. A group then surrounded Emma taunting her and mocking her about her dyslexia.
"Come on! Aren't ya gonna fight back?"
"What's two plus two?"
" She can't she's too dumb!"
They began to throw rocks, cutting and bruising Emma's arms and legs. One girl took her backpack and dumped its contents. It happened everyday, Emma was used to it, but it didn't lessen the pain she had physically and mentally.
"Hey!-", A boy yelled, maybe seventeen or eighteen with light curly brown hair and sea blue eyes, he walked up to the group and gave them a menacing stare,"- Why don't you pick on someone your own size?", the kids wasted no time in running away leaving Emma on the floor.
"Hey, you okay?", the boy asked as helped put Emma's stuff in her bag
"Yeah...thanks"
"I'm August", he grinned
"My name is Emma", she answered and couldn't help but to return the smile
Xxxx
Emma woke up in a room she didn't recognize and immediately felt that something was wrong. She surveyed the room, which had blue walls, white floors, and machines. Machines were hooked up to her beeping in an eery harmony. She soon realized she was in a hospital. It all came rushing back to fire, her leg and...August. August! She hadn't even bothered to see if he was alright. She started to sit up, hissing at the burns on her hands, but as soon as removed the blanket she froze.
"Emma glad to see your awa-", the doctor that came in stopped in mid-sentence as soon as she saw what Emma was staring at.
" Your leg was badly burned in the fire. There...was nothing we could do, but cut it off.", she explained
A tear slid down Emma's cheek, but she quickly wiped it away," I need to see August."
"Who?"
"August, he's my...brother. Please I need to know he's okay.", Emma said desperately trying to edge out of the bed
"Emma please!-",the doctor pushed her back into the bed," I'll find your brother, but please stay in bed you need to rest."
Emma didn't want to rest, but she was so tired she couldn't find the strength to fight back. So she lied back in the bed and closed her eyes not knowing she'll never see August again.
Emma was sitting on her bed with her baby blanket when she heard a soft knock on the door. " Emma? May I come in?",Regina's voice asked from behind the door.
"Sure", Emma blankly replied
"Emma let me begin by apologizing. I never meant to-"
" It's fine. I just...it's fine"
Regina walked over to Emma's bed and put her hand over Emma's.
"Look dear, I know you been through quite a lot, but so have I, so maybe next time instead of lashing out you can just talk to me.", Emma stared at Regina . In her eyes it was not much, but to Emma it was like the world was taken off her shoulders. She never really had anyone she could count on except August, but after the fire she was alone...until she met Regina. The woman who actually cared, who actually thought of Emma as her daughter, who didn't...hurt her. Emma looked into Regina's eyes searching for anything to prove that she was lying, but found none. Emma rarely smiled, but in that very moment she was grinning like a fool as she pulled Regina into a fierce hug, which Regina happily returned.
One month later
" I still don't see why I have to go.", Emma said grumpily as she climbed into the car
" You have to sooner or later and I prefer you go sooner",Regina calmly replied
After the talk they had, Emma opened up more, but had yet to call Regina 'mom', which to her dismay was to be expected. All of Emma's life had been spent going from house to house and from what Regina knows none of them had been pleasant experiences. The duo soon reached their destination, much to Emma's distaste. Regina parked the car and stepped out waiting for Emma to follow.
"I'm not going and you can't make me" Emma stubbornly said
Regina pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Emma was quite the handful at times.
"Is there anything I can say to make you come out?", Regina pleaded
Emma thought before answering," Apple turnovers-"
"Done",Regina hastily agreed
"-For a week", Emma finished
"Fine", Regina said through gritted teeth," Now will you please get out of the car?"
"With pleasure", Emma smugly replied
No sooner did Emma get out of the car was she almost run over by a girl with a red top and a backpack to match. "Sorry chica!", the girl apologized giving Emma a better view of her red highlight, this girl must love red, Emma thought," No problem". the girl smiled before disappearing into a crowd of kids filing into a building. Just then a bell rang signaling Emma that it was time to go. She waved goodbye to Regina and headed toward the cluster of kids.
"I hate school", Emma muttered
First of all I would like to apologize for taking so long to update. I went camping then family came to town and I just got busy. I make no promises, but I will do my best to update on time. Second of all I would like to thank mgma2000 for helping with this chapter and other chapters. So until next time
-Randomness99 :)
