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Chapter 16

Regina hadn't had a destination in mind when she left her home, she just needed to get away from those people, from her. She had heard from her mother, stories of how when she and her father had just entered the business, potential clients had looked at them like trash. There was no way a poor Italian woman from the Bronx and a Puerto Rican immigrant were worth doing business with. Her mother had attempted to explain the insult, and how it made her feel. It wasn't until that night that Regina could truly understand.

She had felt like nothing. Less than nothing.

The Queen had looked at her with only contempt. The veiled insults. She was nothing more than a plaything. She made sure that Regina knew there was no way in hell she was worth dating her daughter.

The traffic was a mess and the brunette stopped several blocks from her unknown destination. The desire to keep moving was relentless. Parking her car, she jumped out and headed toward the subway. She didn't care which line, as long as it took her away.

"Regina!" the brunette stopped at the familiar voice. Emma was standing across the street, outside a luxury sedan with a man holding open the door for her. Figures.

Regina continued on down the stairs into the subway. Emma had only been here a short time and she didn't know the area that well. Putting in her money, she took the first subway she saw.

"Regina, please!" The blonde, somehow, was right behind her. Turning she looked at the woman. It was almost like night and day. Gone were the cheap clothes, CVS makeup and payless boots. She looked impeccable. Down to the rolex on her wrist.

"Well,I guess I know who gave me these," she pulled off the ruby earrings that she'd worn that day. "Well I don't want them. I'm not some whore you can buy." She toss them at the blonde, continuing on into the next car.

"I wasn't trying to buy you! Please just listen to me."

"Leave me alone!" She pushed pass several passengers, walking as quickly as she could in her heels.

"I love you!" the blonde screamed, causing Regina to stop. What the hell?

"Love me?" she turned, letting out a pathetic laugh. "You love me? What about the woman you're supposed to marry."

"I don't love her! Why do you think I came to this country?"

"Your mother told me," Regina smirked. "What was it? Oh! 'To taste the foreign goods'. You got damn close didnt you." She struggled to keep the emotion out of her voice. She would not breakdown in front of these strangers, she wouldnt.

"No Regina. I came here to find my bride. I came to New York to find you."

"So why lie to me? Why not tell me who you really were? That you were...were," she could barely bring herself to say it. "r-r-r-royalty!"

"Because I wanted you to fall me me! Emma! Not some heir to the throne," the blonde stressed. "All my life no one has ever seen me! They have only see a princess. You fell for me! For Emma. An Emma who didn't have a penny to her name. An Emma who lived in a one bedroom shack with her best friend. An Emma who took our garbage for a living."

"I'm not sure who Emma even is."

"I am the Emma who laughed with you into the early morning hours. I am the Emma who danced with you in a restaurant with no dance floor. I am the Emma who sat with you in the blistering cold and listened to you explain you desire to be more than just a trophy wife. Who listened to you explain your father's legacy. I am the Emma who you fell for. Should it matter that I am royalty?"

Regina could feel the tears welling in her eyes. "It shouldn't but…"

"Tell me you didn't love me when you thought I was shearing sheep and mopping floors for a living. Tell me that you didn't feel anything for me, and I will leave you alone."

"It just...it wouldn't work out Emma. We are beyond different. You are heir to a country for god's sake."

"And it wouldn't have worked out when you were a businesswoman and I a janitor?"

"It's not the same."

"You want me to renounce my throne? I will do it. I will do it right now," Emma cupped her hands and turned to the passengers on the subway. "From this moment on I renounce my throne. I am no longer princess of…"

"Stop it!" Regina grabbed the blonde's hand, spinning the woman back to her. "Stop it!"

"Does this make you happy? Because I will do it. I will give up my crown."

"No!" Regina ran her hands over her face. "I can't let you do that, and I would never ask you to."

"I don't care about my title. All i care about is you." Emma looked at her in earnest, placing her hands on the shorter woman's cheeks. "Marry me Regina. I will spend the rest of my life making this up to you. I dont care what it takes. What you asks for. I will spend my every waking moment repenting for my deception."

It would have been too easy to fall into the green eyes. So simple to just let it all go. She could attempt to get to know Emma as the princess she was. To learn about her life. To marry a woman she loved and her mother actually approved of.

But she couldnt.

"I'm sorry," Regina said sliding the younger woman's hands off her cheeks. "I can't. Goodbye Emma."

[SQ]

"So this means we can come to this realm anytime!" Killian said smiling as the driver opened the car door for him. It had been a trying 12 hours once she returned to the hotel. Killian had been ecstatic to find that the the Enchanted Forest actually had connections in this realm. It was known as Cantania, and they regularly traded with the different countries of Earth, maintaining a political presence in the realm.

It was one of several secrets she was going to learn once she became a member of the council. A whole new set of laws she would have to become familiar with. Emma however couldn't care less. Coming to this realm was meaningless without Regina.

"It's going to be okay princess." the dark haired man said. "Look at it this way, we learned about a lot of cool foods while we were here. I bet they could make onion rings back at the castle." Emma waved him off as she got into the vehicle, choosing to stare out the the window as they were driven toward the airport, where there would fly to their "country" and be able to jump realms.

David watched as Emma's maintained a solemn visage when she entered the other vehicle. She had been that way since Jefferson had brought her back to the hotel. It was unlike his princess. Normally the blonde was able to light up any place graced with her presence, but it seemed as if that was over. She didn't tell him exactly what happened, but it was obvious the businesswoman rejected her.

"I only want her to be happy Snow."

"And she will be. Besides, its out of our hands. The woman obviously told her 'No'".

"After the things you said, who could blame her."

"Even if she had said yes, Emma still could not marry that woman. It is against the tradition. She is not of a magical realm, nor have we chosen her."

"It's a stupid tradition. We have maintained a presence in this realm for four generations. There is no reason Emma cannot pick her bride, even if it is from Earth. Or do you not remember my great grandfather?"

"David, its done with. I cannot change things."

"No? Excuse me for thinking you were the Queen."