Chapter 11: Icy Rinks and Roads

The boy and the old friend hung up and as they did, Henry began to dial a number for Miss Lucas. The first conversation went a whole lot better than expected. He thought he'd have to beg and gravel before she even considered helping him. Luckily, that wasn't the case. Hopefully the conversation with Emma's friend would be very similar.

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this Miss Lucas?"

"Miss Lucas is my mother, please call me Ruby."

"Oh, okay, hi Ruby."

"Hi stranger?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Henry. I'm-"

"Emma Swan's kid."

"Yes exactly, how did you know?"

"Dude, you sound so grown up. I know we haven't officially met, but your mother has sent lots of pictures."

"Oh, great"

"They were all cute I assure you."

"No embarrassing ones?"

"Uh…"

"Great. Awesome."

"Haha, so what's up kid? What's got you calling me?"

"Well…"

"Do you need some blackmail stories of your mom?"

"No, I-"

"What about pictures?"

"No Ruby I'm-"

"Dating advice? I've got the best."

"RUBY"

"What?"

"I need your help with something."

"Name it kid."

"I need your help getting my mom and Regina back together."

"Wh- you know about them?"

"I've known for about two years. My mom told me when I was eighteen. I just needed time to get everything in order to get them together again."

"Okay…"

"Look, I know there's a slim chance of this actually working. I know they are both stubborn and hurt and scare, but maybe between the three of us,"

"Three?"

"There may be another person helping us, if you decide to help."

"Who?"

"Maleficent"

"MAL? Are you serious?"

"You know her?"

"Our best friends dated each other, what do you think?"

"Wow, I didn't know."

"Yeah, we actually got pretty close before you know all hell broke loose."

"Was she upset?"

"We both were. Our best friends had finally found their soulmate. They truly loved each other, it was magical. It was unlike anything I've ever seen. The thing is, the situation being as it was, it was probably the best thing for them at the time."

"You really think that?"

"Emma had too much potential than to just stay here and pining for something that may not have ever happened, I'm thankful that Regina wasn't selfish and put Emma first. I know it couldn't have been easy."

"Yeah, I think she's the only one that put Mom first."

"Do you think your mom realizes that?"

"I think deep down, she knows that Regina did what she thought was best for the both of them. But, she also has feels rejection and abandonment and with her past, that's hard to let go of."

"I understand that. I think Regina will pull away just so she doesn't hurt Emma again."

"Maybe, I can't say. I've never met the woman, I doubt she knows I exist."

"I don't think she does, which we could actually use to our advantage."

"Wait, so you'll help me?"

"Hell yeah. Let's do this."

"No peeking," Emma told her as she guided her girlfriend out onto her back porch. Regina had kind of been upset lately, not vocally, but her body language and eyes looked rather sad here of late. Emma didn't know why, she wasn't sure if it was because of Robin or thinking about her daughter since the holidays were fast approaching. Emma feared she was getting tired of her. She knew they can't go out and do all the things normal couples can do. So when Regina had brought up the fact that she used to go ice skating every year with her parents, Emma knew exactly what she had to do.

"Emma, I swear if there is a clown in front of my face when I open my eyes, I will not hesitate to kill."

"The clown or me?"

"Which ever one is closer"

"Dually noted."

Emma smiled as she lifted her hand away from Regina's eyes and stepped beside her.

"Okay, open."

"Emma, what is this?"

"It's an ice rink."

"An ice rink, how does this happen?"

"Elsa brought it."

"Does she look anything like Emma Swan?"

"A little, not as sexy."

"You made me an ice rink?"

"It's just a box and you fill it up with water, not a big deal"

"It is a big deal, it's a very big deal. I can't believe you did this."

"I just…like to see you happy."

"But…why?"

"Because I love you Regina. I know we can't go out and publicly ice skate or even hold hands in public, and I feel bad. I know it's neither one of our faults really, just this jacked up town, but I wanted to make you happy."

"Emma, you make me so very happy. No limitations will ever change that."

"I don't want you to ever have regrets about us."

"Baby, regret is the furthest thing from my mind when I think of you."

Emma just smiled up at her. It was the first time Regina had called her "baby" and she couldn't shake the overflowing happiness that shot up in her as she did. Emma couldn't remember a time when she was this happy. Not fake happy or even content, just genuinely happy; like she had everything in the world right in front of her.

"Come on, try it out." Emma said as she handed Regina ice skates.

"So how did you learn how to do this?"

"One of my foster dads made one for me when I went through a figure skating phase…that is until I slipped and broke my nose."

Regina finally laced up the second skate, and stood up. Emma helped her get onto the rink, and held her hips letting her get balanced.

"I love this and you so much."

"I love you too Gina."

Emma just stood there as her girlfriend skated around in circles, thinking how lucky she was in this very moment. She hadn't had a lot of things while growing up. Obviously, being an orphan didn't have many perks. But here, right now, she felt like she had it all.

"There, all fixed," Regina said as she got more paper in the machine. She had pressed several buttons first, which Emma could only guess would be the password. She actually needed that but decided she could get it later. Emma couldn't help but notice Regina was wearing a gray dress, sophisticated, but showed off her legs, the same dress she wore the day they first met. She looked like she hadn't aged at all. Her eyes were puffier these days, Emma suspected she knew why. Under her eyes were also darker, as if she hadn't been sleeping well. She could tell that Regina had tried to cover it up with make-up, but Emma knew Regina.

"Emma?"

"Sorry, I dazed off. Thank you."

"No problem, if you need anything else, just let me know" Regina said as she turned away from Emma.

"Kay."

Regina paused for a moment, stopping in her tracks as she said, "…Emma?"

"Yes?"

Still faced away from the blonde, Regina asked, "Do you ever think we can fix this?"

"The machine? Probably not; probably need to invest in one that's not from the Stone Age."

"No, not the machine; us."

"Regina, we weren't broken. Not until you broke us."

Regina turned around, facing Emma now, "I know that, but I had-"

"No. Stop, you did have another choice Gina and you didn't do it."

"Please for one damn minute realize you weren't the only one hurt. Don't you think if I had thought of another solution I would've picked that one? Do you honestly believe I could ever intentionally hurt you?"

"But you did hurt me Regina. No matter what your damn intentions were, you did hurt me. And honestly, it didn't seem like you took other options into consideration. You called us off because you were scared."

"So a fake break up that's what you wanted. You wanted me to take Robin back, all the while pretending to not love you; to only see you when Robin is away? You wanted me to sneak you in and out of my bedroom, hide you in my closet when I hear noises and think it might be him? Hide our messages and phone calls; keep you and us locked up in a freaking diary like you're a secret, that is what you really believe would've been better?"

"I DON'T KNOW"

"I do Emma. I couldn't do that to you. You weren't a game to me sweetie. I wanted so much more for you. You deserved someone who could love only you. You didn't deserve to question your worth or value. You were…are a treasure that needs to be cherished; not tucked away and hidden."

"But when you left me, I did question my worth. I did lose value in myself. I didn't feel loved or cherished by the one person who promised me she always would."

"And I did not break that promise Emma. I do love you."

"No you don't you never did. You're just like everyone else. You want me until you find something better and then leave."

"You know damn well that's NOT what happened," Regina said as she stepped towards Emma, "Those people didn't know you. They didn't feel safe every time they looked in your eyes; they didn't fall in love with your crooked smile and cheesy jokes. They didn't see your potential, your talent, and your intelligence. They didn't get to know your mind. They didn't feel your soul. They didn't listen to your heartbeat. I knew all of these things Emma. I knew you."

"If I was so amazing and wonderful why was I so easy to leave? Why was I not worth the risk and how the hell could you push me away?"

"Because I was not worth you."

"What?"

"I was this broken shell of a woman after I lost my daughter. I couldn't feel or do anything. I was numb and half the time didn't even notice. Then you came along, and even after your shitty childhood, after you've had tons of people want you and say they love you; only to send you back. After all the broken promises, there was still joy in your eyes. You didn't let anything take that out. You had dreams and ambitions and the drive to reach them. I was in awe of you. You came into my life and started breathing for me. You brought me back to myself, and I realized then just how special you are. So maybe I was afraid, but it wasn't about people finding out, I was afraid I was going to be the reason that joy left your eyes. I was afraid I'd be the cause of all your aspirations being abandoned. I was scared you would lose yourself like I did. I couldn't bear the thought of that. So I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I was really trying to protect you. One day, I hope you can forgive me and realize that. "

Regina turned back around, and started walking away. Emma stood there for a few seconds, taking in what all the brunette had confessed. She wasn't sure if she wanted to yell at the woman again or kiss her. She had been so confused all this time. She had envisioned plenty of scenarios of what she would do if she ever came face to face with this woman again. She thought about screaming at her, punching her, telling her off, basically anything that resembled violence or anger, but now, now that she was in this moment with her and all was said and done, she just wanted to love her again.

She reached for Regina's hand, "Regina, I…" Emma hesitated as Regina turned back around an intertwined their fingers. Emma finally looked up into the most beautiful brown eyes she had ever seen, and started to lean in, but before she could do what she wanted to do for the past 20 years, a knock came at the door.