Several days had past and Emma was avoiding Regina like the plague. Her swift dismissal of Emma's problems the other night really hurt. And she still didn't understand what either of the women was talking about. Emma dropped her face onto her desk and let out a groan. At the sound of fast footsteps Emma peeked one eye open.
"What did you do?" Henry grunted. At the angry look on his face, Emma lifted completely from the desk.
"Excuse me?" What did she do now?
"What did you do to my mom?" Henry was right in her face now. "She's sulking around the house, cleaning everything she can get her hands on and only answering my questions with yeses or nos. What did you do?"
"Why does it have to be something I did?" Emma groaned.
"Because, the only thing that makes mom mad anymore is you and the queen. And since no one has seen or heard from the queen in days, it must have been you." Henry's jaw was tense as he took in the guilty look from his other mother. He knew they were fighting but he didn't understand why. And he was sick of watching his mom grow depressed as Emma lost more and more weight and looked ghostlier every moment she spent with Hook. Enough was enough. "I don't know what you did Ma, but you need to fix it. If not for yourself, do it for her. And you should trying eating something." Henry turned on his heel and took off, not giving Emma a chance to respond or even comprehend what just happened. Emma fell back into her chair, her hands coming up to rub against her face.
She was frustrated. Her relationship with Regina was growing strained. She thought they had been growing closer from their trip to New York where Regina tearfully revealed her fears to Emma. Now? Now Regina barely spoke to Emma. Anytime Hook was around, which was pretty much always, Regina wore a mask of indifference while her body language showed clear discomfort. She stayed quiet most of the time, only giving input when she was needed. She stopped inviting Emma over for family dinners after the blonde turned her down for a third time because Hook complained that she wasn't spending enough time with him. Emma didn't know what changed between them since the split but she was going to find out.
As for her weight, she didn't know why everyone was on her case. So she lost a few pounds? What's wrong with that? "I eat," Emma said out loud.
"Not enough," David's booming voice echoed through the quiet office. Another groan escaped Emma's lips as she took in the "look of lecture" on her father's face.
"I eat plenty Dad," Emma argued. "Can't a girl lose a few pounds without everyone hassling her?" She sat back in her chair and rested her legs up on the desk, a migraine growing behind her eyes.
"A few pounds, sure. Emma you have lost nearly twenty pounds in the last few months. We all have reason to be worried about you. You were skinny before and now you're really starting to look unhealthy." David crossed the room and placed a calming hand on Emma's shoulder. "I know you're stressed about the queen and everything that has been happening around the town, but you need to take care of yourself. No one else can do that for you." He patted her shoulder before grabbing the file off her desk and heading towards his own desk. "Go. Get lunch for us, something extra for yourself, and take a stroll. Now."
At her father's stern voice, Emma resigned, sighing loudly. "Fine, I'll be back in an hour. I have my cell phone in case you need me." Emma grabbed her red leather jacket and headed out into the cool air. She needed to clear her head so she started off in the direction of the docks before realizing she didn't want to see Hook. She turned on her heels and sought out the park instead.
The sun was surprisingly warm and Emma could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead. There was no one in the park when she reached the playground so she climbed up and let her feet dangle from the top near the slide. She wasn't really looking at anything in particular, just allowing her mind to wander. Emma's thoughts almost always revolved around Regina these days. She thought about how much she missed the time they spent together. She thought about the pain she could see in Regina's eyes anytime she looked at Emma. Emma looked out towards the forest trying to figure out what it is she did to make Regina so mad or upset.
"Hello Princess," a husky voice sounded near Emma's ear.
"What do you want? And where the hell have you been?" Emma turned towards the Queen immediately sucking in a deep breath at their sudden close proximity. "Jesus, no one has seen or heard from you in days!"
"Were you worried about me Princess?" The Queen's lips curled up in a sly grin.
Emma scoffed, "No, I just don't like the feeling that you're up to something." She turned her face away from the Queen, a shiver running down her spine despite the warm weather. Truthfully, she was worried about the Queen. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't separate her from Regina who she worried about almost constantly. "Are you like following me or something?" Every time she was alone, the Queen showed up.
"Maybe I simply enjoy your company, Princess," the Queen husked.
"God, stop calling me that. My name is Emma, and you're Regina. Just- just stop calling me that." Emma's cheeks flushed. She didn't know why it bothered her so much. The Queen was just calling her that to piss her off. Regina actually looked surprised at Emma's outburst.
"Yes, well Emma, I may have been spying on you and overheard Henry yelling at you and your father sending you off for food. Which I see you have not gotten around to." The Queen flicked her wrist and a to-go container appeared in her lap. "Grilled cheese and extra fries. Not exactly healthy but you need to eat regardless."
"Not you too," Emma groaned. "I am fine! I eat and I don't need people acting like I'm starving myself. I'm not." Emma complained even as she started picking at the fries in the container, eating them faster than she normally would. Regina let out a chuckle as she watched Emma eat.
"You eat like a child," she said. Emma shot her a glare as she continued shoving food into her mouth, moaning at how good it all taste. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes as Emma ate, the Queen reaching over a stealing fries when she thought Emma was looking. The sun was getting hot now so Emma shrugged her jacket off leaving her arms exposed. Regina fought the urge to reach over and touch Emma, her arms so chiseled even when she was so thin.
Emma let her thoughts trail off in the silence, thinking about how easy it was to sit with the so-called Evil Queen. She didn't pressure Emma to speak if she didn't want to and her presence never felt overbearing. She still didn't know what the Queen and Regina were so angry about. She thought back to everything she had said and done in the last few months and nothing came to mind.
"Why is Regina mad at me?" Emma suddenly burst out. She kept her gaze away from the Queen's, knowing that Regina's eye speak volumes. When the Queen started talking, she released a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Regina has been very patient with you dear. She wants the best for you and she wants you to be happy. But you don't seem to want either of those things. Your words say that you're happy but you actions say you're not. Whatever is eating away at you is the same thing that's eating away at Regina. Think about it Emma," the Queen finished.
When Emma turned towards the Queen to reply, she stopped short realizing she as staring at no one. The Queen was gone, once again leaving Emma to wonder what the hell everyone was talking about. Emma sighed as she grabbed the empty container and slid off the jungle gym heading out to grab David something to eat on the way back to the station. Whatever was going on, she wasn't going to figure it out right now. Besides, she was happy, wasn't she?