"So what did you do today?", Regina asked as she drove away from the school, excited to hear about Emma's first day. Emma shrugged in response," I dunno. I learned, got a bag of candy, and I guess that's it".
"That's it? There must be more.", Regina asked expectantly
"I girl named Ruby showed me around the school and helped me to my classes.", Emma added before eating a piece of candy.
" Anything else?", Regina asked with a raise of her eyebrow.
"Why do you want to know every detail of my day?", Emma demanded tired of Regina grilling her about her day. "Because if I didn't all I would get would be a 'I dunno' and I would like to know how your first day went.", Regina replied
" Well, it went like any other day at school would.", Emma said irritably, while rolling her eyes.
" Fine, don't tell me anything-", Regina sarcastically said,"- and please refrain from rolling your eyes. It is very disrespectful"
Emma sighed, " Sorry."
"It's quite alright dear. Now, what would you like for dinner?", Regina asked as she pulled into the driveway.
" I don't know. Whatever you want."
" How about spaghetti?", Regina suggested,before swiping a piece of candy from Emma' s bag. "Careful-", Emma joked,"- you're going to ruin your appetite."
" Don't worry about me dear. Just tell me what you want for dinner.", Regina smiled as they both exited the car and made their way into the house.
"Spaghetti is fine. I'll be upstairs if you need me.", Emma grinned before walking up the stairs. Emma winced as she took the first step. Regina noticed this and quickly came to her aid.
"Are you okay?", she asked worriedly
"I'm fine Regina. It's just hard to walk up stairs.", Emma said nonchalantly
"Emma! Why didn't you tell me? I could've-"
" There is nothing you can do. Even if you put my on the first floor of the house, there are always gonna be other stairs that I'll have to climb.", Emma interrupted
Regina sighed," At least let me help you up the stairs.", she pleaded
Emma thought for a minute and then nodded. Regina was trying to help and she decided to let her, even though she didn't really need it.
After Regina assisted Emma up the stairs. She came down and began dinner. As she tied on her apron and started to take out ingredients, Regina thought about Emma. She thought about the past month and how great everything was going, but despite that Regina still felt that something was wrong
It's ridiculouss, she thought ,My life is complete with Emma, but no matter how many times Regina tried to convince herself that everything was how it was supposed to be, she just couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
Xxxx
"Emma, dinner is ready!", Regina yelled as she set two plates of spaghetti on the table. A familiar thumping was soon heard as Emma came down. " Did you wash your hands?", Regina asked.
"Yep.", Emma replied automatically as she sat down
A few minutes into the meal Emma spoke," Do you know what I just realized?". Regina, with a mouthful of spaghetti, shook her head.
"You're single."
" And this is a problem how?", Regina asked after she had swallowed
" I mean, look at you! Who wouldn't wanna date you? You are a great cook, you are book smart, and you got the looks. Which begs the question, why don't you have a boyfriend?"
Regina would be lying if she said she was surprised by the question. It was bound to come up sooner or later. Regina took a sip of her water before answering.
"As flattering as that is, being mayor is not as easy as it seems. It happens to be very time-consuming work, so I have never really had the chance to date."
Emma raised an eyebrow, a trait she unknowingly picked up from Regina, and chuckled," Really? 'Cuz I think that's a load of crap."
"Emma, Language!", Regina scolded
" Sorry, it's just that you have time for A kid, but not a guy?", Emma pointed out as she ate a meatball
" Emma please. I don't want to talk about this now.", Regina sighed as she rubbed her temples
" Why not? I'm sure it can't be that hard for you to get a boyfriend."
"Just drop it.", Regina said through gritted teeth quickly losing her patience
"Have you ever been in love?"
Regina slams her hand against the table, startling the blonde." YES, I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE! And do you want to know what happened? HE DIED! Got hit by a freaking car! That is why I don't have a boyfriend!",Regina shouted before storming to her room.
Xxxx
When Emma hears the slam of Regina's door she knows she messed up big time. Emma wanted to apologize to Regina right away,but she decided it was best to let her cool down first. So after washing the dishes and finishing homework Emma finds herself in front of Regina's door. She hesitantly raises a fist.
One knock.
Two knocks.
Three knocks.
Emma turns to head back to her room when she hears a muffled noise coming from the other side of Regina's door. Emma opens the door just enough to see Regina lying on her bed silently crying. Emma opens the door a little bit wider making her presence known to the brunette.
"Regina? Are...are you OK?", Emma asks as she timidly approaches the bed
Regina quickly sits up and wipes away her tears in an attempt to erase the fact that she had been crying. " I'm fine", she answers her voice rough from crying.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to upset you I just, sometimes, don't know when to stop.", Emma apologizes
" It's alright dear. I probably shouldn't have snapped liked that."
" No, it's not your fault. I had it coming", Emma chuckles
Regina smiles, she then catches a glimpse of herself in her vanity." Look at me. I'm a mess...you shouldn't have to see like this.", Regina gets up from her bed and walks to the bathroom to wash her face.
"You still look better than most of the fosters I've had.", Emma says from behind Regina, who laughs in response
For a while they were both quite as Regina washed her face and when she finished Emma spoke. "Who...who was he?", Emma said almost inaudibly. Regina turns around and looks at Emma with sad eyes. Eyes filled with pain and hurt. Emma knew, because she was the same.
"His name was Daniel..."
As Regina told Emma the story about Daniel, she felt old memories surface. Ones she tried so hard to bury long ago. It wasn't because she didn't want to remember them, it was because she didn't want to remember the pain. Nevertheless, she continued to retell the tragedy. When Regina had finished she looked to Emma, anxious to hear what she had to say after listening to the story.
"Would you be willing to love again?", Emma asks
"I don't know...maybe.", Regina answers uncertainly
A/N: Thank you for all those who followed, favorited, and reviewed. Hope you guys like the chapter...Enjoy! :)
