A/N: This took awhile because I was pretty apprehensive about how to end this fic. There is also mentions of molestation which could be a TRIGGER WARNING.
XxXx
"Hey Emma, can I talk to you?" Kathryn ran to catch up with her as Emma juggled her donut and coffee as she fumbled to open her car door. Kathryn leant in far to close and give her a hand and Emma jerked away scalding her hand.
"Shit," she muttered setting her coffee on the car room and shaking her hand in pain.
"I'm so sorry," Kathryn said earnestly. "Let me see."
"What's up, Kathryn?" Emma said sharply stepping away and putting a smile on her face.
"Regina won't return my calls and it seems like you've been avoiding me," Kathryn said giving Emma one of her piercing looks.
Emma shrugged "Regina's a bitch and I've been busy. It's hard being the only thing that passes for law in this town."
"You had plenty of time for me before," Kathryn frowned.
Emma let out a short laugh, "I also had plenty of incentive."
Kathryn's eyes narrowed and she shook her head exasperated. "You're the one that set me up with Fredrick. You practically pushed us out the door together, why am I being punished?"
"Hey," Emma tried to sound soothing but couldn't stop herself from being an ass. "If you're just edgy, I'll try and find time to do you tonight."
Kathryn's face flushed with anger and her eyes narrowed. "Stop it," she ordered "stop being such a jerk, it doesn't suit you. You said when we started this that we'll still be friends."
"We are friends," Emma took a bite of her doughnut. "This is how friends act."
Kathryn's face boiled with frustration "by ignoring me and not returning my calls?"
"I told you I've been busy, as for Regina-she's just a bitch, you're better staying away from her," for the first time in the conversation Emma actually sounded serious.
"She wouldn't hurt," Kathryn said overly confident. Emma snorted.
"I don't know what to tell you," Emma shrugged lightly "I haven't done anything wrong. When I have more time I'll call you and you can gush all about your new boy toy. I'm interested in finding out if he's blonde everywhere."
"Why does it feel like I've lost both of you?" Kathryn said and it was painfully obvious that she had used up all her courage to ask that.
"You never really claimed either of us," Emma said as she brushed past Kathryn and got into her car. Her words sounded more bitter than she had meant them
XxXx
"Ms Swan," Regina smirked down at her as she placed her hand on the top of the booth.
"Madame mayor," Emma sneered back as she flicked her newspaper down. Her face brightened as she saw Henry in his uniform beside her. "Hey kid," she greeted much more warmly.
"Hey," Henry smiled back "mom said we can get pancakes this morning before school."
"That was nice of her," Emma said stiffly her eyes flicking to Regina briefly.
"I was in a good mood," Regina's smirk deepened. She patted Henry on the back nudging him towards the counter, "why don't you go order?"
"Okay," Henry turned away showing none of the trepidation that he would have had when Emma first came to Storybrooke at leaving them alone together.
Emma ignored Regina and went back to reading her newspaper. The mayor not in the least put of slipped into the booth sitting opposite her. Emma's grip on the newspaper tightened. "What?" She finally growled.
"Kathryn is going on her second date tonight," Regina said stiffly before her oily smile slipped back into place.
"That has nothing to do with us," Emma warned.
"Nothing to do with me yet. I'll allow Kathryn her little diversion so long as I'm not inconvenienced. Eventually she will come to her sense and realise what she is missing until then, I expect you to make amends for your mistake," Regina said lightly.
"Us, together, is a mistake," Emma said quietly looking around for prying ears. Everyone seemed wrapped up in their own world and Henry was safely out of hearing range. "The other night should have shown you that. We do nothing but hurt each other when we're alone."
"Fine, then I'll go after Kathryn," Regina shrugged lightly, "I'm not a self sacrificing idiot like you. I go after and keep what I want."
"Do you even care about her?" Emma snapped.
"My feelings are my own business," Regina's face and voice were like ice as she froze Emma out. "Besides you're one to talk. You pushed her away."
Emma rolled her eyes tired of having the same conversation. Henry came back with his pancakes and grinned, he slipped in beside Emma before she could tell Regina to find another table. Regina's jaw tightened at the act and she lent back in her seat. Her face took on a bitter smile that she twisted into a more comfortable mocking edge. "Now, isn't this sweet? Don't we just look like a lovely family."
Emma's eyes narrowed and she glared. Henry filled the silence by talking about his upcoming soccer tournament and his increased chances of making it on the team. When he had finished eating Regina hurried him to the car. "Come to my office this evening," Regina ordered as she grabbed Henry's backpack.
"This isn't going to end well," Emma muttered.
"Maybe not for you," Regina sneered.
XxXx
Emma stood at the front of Regina's desk squarely. She fought the urge to play with the badge on her belt, or worse, her gun. Regina finished the last of her paperwork with a smirk and lent back completely unconcerned with Emma's presence. "Why don't you take a seat?"
"I'm fine," Emma said shortly her eyes narrowing, "why the hell am I here?"
"Oh we both know why you're here," Regina's eyes trailed up and down Emma's body like a possessive hand.
"Then stop dicking around," Emma snapped. Regina gave a deep smile and moved. Emma didn't have time to react as she was slammed against the wall of Regina's office next to the window. Her hands were splayed flat against the wall as they had taken most of the impact to save her face. Regina pressed fully against her back, the mayor's heat was oppressive, blasting through Emma's cotton shirt like it wasn't there. Emma strangled a gasp as the swells of Regina's breasts pressed against her shoulder blades. She could feel Regina's hand tugging at her belt as her left snaked its way around to Emma's torso to palm Emma's breast roughly.
"You're just a little whore," Regina breathed into her ear and Emma could feel the smug smirk. She bristled at the words but Regina just squeezed her breast possessively and tugged at Emma's hard nipple. "Nothing special about you, even your issues are ordinary. Poor little orphan with an inferiority complex and abandonment issues, textbook-boring."
"Shut up!" Emma growled she tried to bring her elbow back to hit Regina in her sneering face but the mayor showed her surprising strength and slammed Emma's arm flat against the wall. She reached up and tangled their fingers together. "I don't want you ripping my wall paper," Regina let out a huff of hard mocking laughter as her other hand triumphantly got past Emma's belt. "I can feel the wetness on your curls," Regina's hand tightened its grip around Emma's fingers as she pressed Emma harder against the wall. The crushing pressure restricted Emma's breathing to short shallow pants and the hard surface teased her aching nipples with every gasp.
Regina palmed Emma's sex the bottom of her palm grinding against her pubic bone causing heat and want in Emma. She turned her face towards the wall and away from Regina, Emma hated that she wanted this. "So is this how you got so good at sex? Whoring yourself out so people wouldn't leave you? Spread your legs for me like a good little slut."
Emma could feel Regina grinding against her ass in a circular rhythm and knew that the other woman could easily kick her feet apart and force her legs open and her fingers inside. Regina could stretch Emma wide, thrusting and taking what she wanted as Emma moaned and clenched wetly around her fingers. But she didn't want that. She wanted Emma to open her legs freely, to give in and signal that she wanted Regina because that's how power worked. Any idiot with muscles could overpower and force themselves on to someone but true domination came from the other person surrendering, giving in and letting go willingly. It was in the knowing that they allowed this to happen, they weren't strong enough to resist and that deep down at the darkest of their wants, they wanted it to happen again. Emma couldn't give up that control, she couldn't sacrifice that much of herself and still be able to look in the mirror.
"You know you want this. You want me to fuck you and give you the attention you deserve. You want me to stay with you and show you just what you're worth," Regina was still rubbing her insistently and Emma could feel her clit swelling and straining for some sort of relief. She was so wet that Regina's finger would slip between her lips without meaning too which only served to tease and torture as they quickly retreated unwilling to give her what she wanted without Emma giving in. "You hate to be lonely and you hate me, but that's nothing compared to how much you hate yourself..."
Emma's clit thrummed with arousal and she couldn't take it anymore. She buried her face in the wall and pressed so hard against it that it was painful. "Now, spread your legs and beg me," Regina growled her tone filled with a victorious contempt. "Beg me to stay with you as worthless as you are."
Emma closed her eyes trying to shut everything out but, she wasn't strong enough – the story of her life. "Please..." she said in defeat as she squatted slightly and spread her legs. Regina's hand was immediately inside her, three fingers thrusting hard and fucking her, she was too wet for the stretch to be painful but Regina's hand slammed into her enough to make it painful. Emma bit her lip until it bled because pain and pleasure was the same thing at this point.
"Pathetic," Regina snorted and tongued the inside of Emma's ear before she nipped it. The heel of Regina's hand ground against Emma's clit but it wasn't enough and Emma started to rock, humping Regina's hand to get relief but only drove herself crazier. The arousal inside her was like a poisonous coil that she just wanted to get rid off but the nasty things Regina had started to whisper in her ear only stoked the fire until it built and built and Emma couldn't take it anymore and came around Regina's still invading fingers.
Emma sagged against the wall her knees like jelly. It was only Regina's body pressed tight against hers that kept her upright. Regina left her fingers inside content to let Emma's mind fully recover and pull them out then letting Emma realise what she had done. How far she had sunk.
"Get off me," Emma's voice was a low growl as she regained her senses.
Regina smirked and drew her fingers out making sure Emma could feel the sharp presence of her nails as she raked her fingers through the sheriff's curls. Emma pushed her away roughly not in the mood for her teasing or arrogance. Regina backed away with a laugh reaching inside her jacket pocket to find a cloth handkerchief. She deliberately wiped the hand still glistening with Emma's juices slowly and methodically smirking the entire time.
Emma wanted to punch her. Her face was still red and the haze of relaxation that usually came after an orgasm was lost in the humiliation that was fast becoming the only thing Emma could feel. She stepped forward the ends of her belt flopped against her thighs drawing attention to her loss of control. Regina's smirk deepened and Emma jerkily did up the belt aware that there was no dignified way to zip up her pants.
"Now if you don't mind leaving, Sheriff," Regina dropped the handkerchief into the waste basket her eyes glittering with self-satisfaction. "I have more important matters to attend too."
XxXx
Emma dropped Henry off at Regina's after playing soccer in the park. Regina had stood smugly in the doorway, her arrogance and condescension had brought the memory of that afternoon back with a vengeance. The humiliation ate at Emma. She had been so good at resisting her darker impulses but Regina's words had infected her good conscience.
Regina followed her to her car as Emma had left. Emma opened the door to her Bug using it less like a shield but more of a cage door to separate them. Regina smirked and ignored it, leaning over the door and Emma. Clearly she thought this afternoon had meant she had won something.
"I'll leave the door unlocked, do be quite when you sneak in tonight," Regina placed her hand on top of the car door near Emma's shoulder.
"I won't be by tonight," Emma glared.
"And why not? It's not as if what happened this afternoon would be enough to satisfy someone like you," Regina's eyes were narrowed and her sneer carried in her demeaning laughter.
Emma forced the door open wider, pushing Regina back. She gave her own sneer. "Stop pushing me," she warned "I'm not as naive as Kathryn, I know exactly what type of girl you are."
"Girl?" Regina bristled then forced herself to relax because she didn't want to give Emma any satisfaction. "What you know about anything, dear," Regina stressed the endearment mockingly "could fill an egg cup and have room left. You know nothing about Kathryn or myself. She might have been naive but it was her pity that moved her to keep seeing you. She wanted me. Good people stay with their own kind, not with the likes of you."
Emma let out a short sharp bark of laughter and flung the car door closed with a flourish as she squared off against the mayor. "The likes of me? You seriously think that I buy your Cosmo psychology? You know me so well because we're the same. Mostly. The reason I'm such a good slut is all those reason you said, the difference between us however, is I did it willingly. Girls like you, I ran into them all the time in the system. So tell me Regina..." Emma paused and leaned closer to Regina like she was a school girl sharing secrets, except her nasty smile wasn't nearly as innocent. "Who was it that touched you? Your daddy or your uncle?"
Regina's entire body shut down and her face drained of all emotion. Emma's smile twisted a little more. "How much of a good person can you be when you've been tainted and used like you have? So you see, I'm not the only one that was used. At least I'm not broken and I enjoyed becoming what I am, oh," Emma's smile shifted into a false friendliness "maybe you did too?"
The punch was hard enough to send Emma spinning into her car. She slump to the ground her lip bleeding. She gave a darkly amused laugh as she looked up at Regina and leant comfortably against her rear tire. She ideally rubbed the blood away with her fist pausing to lick it off her hand as she stared darkly up at Regina.
The mayor's neighbourhood was wealthy with large houses and bigger hedges for privacy. The street lights looked like the old gas lamps and gave off a warm glow in the descending night. Regina stood haloed by the closest street light and the cold fury on her face made her look otherworldly, an avenging angel almost. She was shaking with rage but Emma could see the shame there as well.
Emma grinned showing the blood on her bottom teeth. "You called Henry after your father right? Was he your one true love?"
"You're disgusting," Regina bit out.
Emma shrugged. She just wanted to hurt the mayor like the mayor had hurt her. "I'm not disgusting, just mean. Now you see why no one ever stayed with the poor little orphan, but hey, at least my daddy just abandoned me instead of bedding me."
"My father never touched me," Regina hissed her fiery eyes the only emotion on her face.
"Uncle then? Or was it a family friend? Priest? Minister?" Emma jeered.
"You have ten seconds to get out of here-"
"-or you'll what? Call the cops?" Emma laughed rolling her head back to look up at Regina.
"Or I will kill you," Regina promised coldly.
"I'm leaving," Emma got up pushing against the car, her dark humour surrounding her like a well worn coat. Her hand paused on the door handle, "but wait a moment, how do I know Henry is safe with you? It happens all the time, the abused become the abuser. Maybe I should warn him, you don't let grandpa or uncle 'bad touch' visit do you?"
Regina slammed her back against the car using the collar of Emma's jacket to strangle her. Emma didn't fight and her smile never faltered as Regina's face burst with emotion. Emma could see the previously hidden shame, the long suppressed fear and the overwhelming outrage and disgust. It almost made her forget how much she hated herself.
"A real mother would never do that to her child!" Regina's voice was a guttural sound that came from deep within her past and held such a tangle knot of hostile emotion that the light didn't go on in Emma's head, it exploded.
"It was your mother," Emma grinned with knowing delight.
"I swear if you-" whatever threat Regina was going to issue was lost in Emma's laughter.
"Do you really want to push me again?" Emma warned. "You bring out the worst in me but I'm starting to enjoy it. Kathryn is going to be happy and normal with what's his face, because you're not going to interfere with them. That leaves just me, you and our destructive tendencies but I'm going to walk away and you're going to let me go, because this is real leather and you're wrinkling it."
Regina held her there for a second and it looked like she was contemplating murder. "You know some of the things I've done because I hate myself...imagine what I'll do to you," Emma glared her humour dropping away. Regina's hands eased up their death grip before letting go completely. She stepped away the fury visibly thundering through her body causing it to shake.
"Goodnight Regina," Emma smiled and finally got in her car. She left the other woman standing there in her review mirror as she drove back into the darkness.
XxXx
Emma was aware that she was getting strange looks as she walked down the street. She had bought herself a new low cut top but that couldn't be the only reason she was getting leered and sneered at. One woman spat at her feet and pulled her husband further down the street.
"What the hell?" Emma snapped yelling after them.
"S'up DP," a teenager gave her the once over before his friend sniggered and flew off on their skateboards.
"DP?" Emma muttered to herself.
"Emma," Mary-Margret looked horrified as she came out of Granny's. She rushed to Emma's side pale as a ghost. "I am so sorry, I took down the posters that I've seen."
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked.
A wolf whistle came from across the street where a crowd had gathered beside a notice board. Kathryn shoved the offending wolf whistler with a surprising amount of force. She looked angrier than the time Emma had accidentally bitten her during sex. She tore down one of the notices and glared at the sniggering crowd that had turned to look at Emma.
"How does it feel to be on the other side of the hand cuffs," a construction worker laughed.
Kathryn glared at him and his smirking friends as she crossed the road to Emma and Mary-Margret. "Ignore them, they are just assholes," Kathryn fumed and Emma's eyebrows rose in surprise. She didn't know what shocked her more Kathryn talking to her or the cursing.
"What's going on?" Emma asked again.
Kathryn and Mary-Margret shared a worried look.
"You haven't seen them?" Mary-Margret bit her lip.
"Seen what?" Emma said growing impatient. She had just caught sight of Regina leaning against her BMW smirking into her coffee cup. A feeling of dread pulled at her.
"Emma-" Kathryn started and the complex sympathy and affection in her voice made Emma snap.
"What the hell is going on?" Emma snapped the paper out of Kathryn's hands and her felt like she was going to throw up.
"It is in the past and it has nothing to do with who you are today," Kathryn said firmly.
"Yeah," Mary-Margret piped in.
But all Emma could hear was the sneering laughter and suddenly the dirty looks she had been getting all morning made sense. It was a poster of her giving head with the name of the porn movie she had shot when she was underage and in need of cash. "Crap," she squeezed her eyes shut to fight the urge to throw up. "Henry!"
"They're all over town..." Mary-Margret said with a wince. That meant he had probably seen them. "I swear that I'll ban any kid that so much as looks at him wrong today."
"And I'm sure Fredrick will also look out for him," Kathryn said then winced as she realised bringing her boyfriend with Emma now was not the most considerate thing to do.
Emma looked up and Regina raised her coffee cup in a toast. Emma's eyes narrowed dangerously.
XxXx
"Ms Swan, Ms Mills, I've called you hear today to talk to you about Henry," the principal said from behind his desk. This was the first time Regina and Emma had been in the same room since Regina had posted the details of Emma's past. The following week had been terrible for Emma who was constantly getting prank calls at the office and harassed on the street.
"What about my son," Regina glared.
"Our son," Emma snapped.
"Due to recent revelations," the principal glared at Emma pointedly and she stiffened. "Henry has been getting into fights defending Ms Swans honour. We've suspended some of the older boys that started a fight with him but the teasing is not something we can readily stop. I think it's best for Henry if he takes some time off and is home schooled for awhile."
"Henry is being bullied and you want us to take him out?" Emma said outraged "you should better control your damn school."
"There is only so much I can do," The principal glared back at her. "I don't want to force the boy to stay here when it is obvious the other children is making him miserable. Who knows what further psychological damage would be caused."
"Further damage?" Regina asked her voice holding a clear warning.
"The affect of having your birth mothers tawdry past spattered all over town in such a graphic way will no doubt leave an impact on the boy," the principal softened his voice when he addressed Regina.
"Her behaviour should not affect Henry. She has nothing to do with him," Regina sniffed.
"Don't be an idiot, of course this affects Henry," Emma bit out "I'm his mother. What happens to me matters to him."
"You are not his mother," Regina glared.
Emma sneered "that's not even the point! The fact is that when you did this to hurt me, you hurt Henry! Do you think I care if the whole town knows that I had sex on camera for money? Bite me. It paid for my GED and I'm not ashamed. But a kid can't understand that. Did you learn nothing from releasing my prison records?"
"I will gladly explain to him how you are nothing. Maybe now he'll believe me when I tell him how worthless you really are," Regina's voice was cutting.
Emma surged to her feet but Regina remained sitting smirking up at her. The principal cleared his throat shifting Emma's anger to him.
"We should let Henry decide if he wants to stay or go," Emma said at last struggling to hold her temper.
"The decision is ultimately Ms Mills but I recommend that you increase Henry's therapy regardless," the principal said dismissively.
"This isn't over," Emma promised Regina. "I warned you about pushing me."
XxXx
At the next town meeting Emma grabbed a passing teenager before she went inside. "Hey kid, how would you like to make fifty bucks?"
"You making a sequel to your video?" the teenager asked with a leer.
Emma snorted. "Just give this to the mayor when she comes out and say these exact words, you got that?"
The teenager nodded and Emma smiled and waited outside. The town hall emptied and Kathryn walked up to her.
"Emma I'm really sorry about everything," Kathryn bit her lip.
"It's not your fault Regina is a bitch," Emma said lightly. It hurt talking to Kathryn. "Where's the boyfriend?"
"I don't know," Kathryn seemed irritated at the change in subject. "I can't help but feel that the recent hostilities is because I left you two."
"That's pretty arrogant don't you think?" Emma raised her eyebrow.
"Why are you being like this?" Kathryn's annoyance grew and she slapped Emma on the arm like she used to when Emma was being annoying.
"What do you want from me?" Emma had meant to sound angry but it just came out tired. "You didn't want to choose between Regina and me so I didn't make you. Neither of us was worth dating in public, so I got you an acceptable date. I'm getting tired of you giving me those wounded puppy dog eyes when I've done everything to make you happy."
"I'm not happy," Kathryn said sounding lost.
"Emma!" Henry said running up to her. He looked paler and sicker with the worry Regina put him through and there was a fading bruise on his face. "We're going to meet this weekend right? You've cancelled three times already."
"Sorry about that kid, needed to find some things out," Emma ran a hand through his hair trying to hide her worry. He looked terrible. Kathryn stewed with frustration beside her, unwilling to fight in front of Henry, which was more than she could say for Regina.
Emma scanned the milling crowd and found the teenager just approaching Regina. She gave him her politicians smile and took the card he handed to her. Her face went slack and pale as he finished speaking. The teenager made his escape while Regina numbly opened the card. The mother's day design flashed briefly as Regina opened it to read the special message Emma had written.
Regina's head jerked up and found Emma straight away without needing to look. Kathryn was talking to withdrawn Henry about school beside Emma as she smirked. Regina tore the card to pieces and started towards her. Her walk seemed to pick up speed as she lost control of her anger with every step that drew her nearer to Emma. Eventually Regina was all out running and the tiny bits of card fluttered like confetti as Regina tackled Emma right in the middle of the crowded street.
"If you dare tell anyone-," Regina ended up on top of Emma, her rage making her blind to the shocked crowd around her.
"-That you're a motherfucker?" Emma laughed as Regina slammed her against the sidewalk.
"Henry!"
They both looked up at the panicked cry. Regina's tackle had knocked Henry into the street and a car was coming towards him. Both Regina and Emma scrambled up but Kathryn had already yanked Henry back as the car slammed on its breaks.
"That's it!" Henry snapped as he jerked away from Kathryn. "I hate you both!" He dodged Kathryn's attempt to grab him and ran off.
"Shit," Emma muttered.
"Henry!" Regina called.
XxXx
They found him at the new playground. He was sitting on top of one of the new towers and Emma and Regina went to stand at the bottom. Looking up all they could see were the bottom of Henry's sneakers peaking over the edge as he wrapped his arms around his knees.
"Henry," Regina called up to him sounding unusually unsure of herself.
"Go away!" Henry snapped.
"Come on kid," Emma called up to him "I thought we were over the running away phase?"
"Just leave me alone," Henry muttered. He sounded like he had been crying.
"Henry, what's wrong?" Regina asked him sounding confused and frustrated.
Emma looked at her with disbelief. "Seriously? You don't think our fighting is upsetting for him?"
"You have to know that the hostility between sheriff Swan and I has nothing to do with you. We both love you," Regina glared at Emma her voice choking on that last part.
"What happened? You guys were getting along and everything was better. Why doesn't Kathryn come around anymore? Or Mary-Margret? Why is everyone leaving?" Henry sniffed.
"Your mother and I had a disagreement so we're fighting it out," Emma glared at Regina before looking back towards Henry "as for Mary-Margret, well she has David now and grown ups, we tend not to make friends that much at our age, so when we make a new friend we tend to spend a lot of time with them at the start but eventually that wears off and Mary-Margret will come back."
"I know David and her are dating, I'm ten - not stupid," Henry called down to her annoyed. His tone managed to convey how much of an idiot he thought Emma was without words.
"The same thing applies," Emma called back exasperated. "It's like my Xbox, remember how we used to play on it all the time but as time went on we didn't? David is like Mary-Margaret's Xbox, she played with him lots at the start because it's new and exciting but that will wear off."
There was silence for a moment before Henry called down "were we Kathryn's Xbox?"
Emma's jaw clicked shut as she thought about that. She sagged as she realised she had no idea how to explain their complex relationship to a ten year old, she barely understood it herself.
"No, Kathryn leaving was completely Ms Swan's fault," Regina stepped in and Emma growled whirling to face her. Regina still rumpled from their fight, sneered at her, before her face softened and she turned back to Henry. "...well, it wasn't just her fault. Ms Swan forced Kathryn to make a choice and I didn't like what she picked...I was hurt. Ms Swan and I fought over that and many other things and I'm afraid that in my desire to hurt them both, it affected you. Kathryn didn't make the decision to stay away, she wouldn't hurt you like that, but I'm afraid I made it difficult for her. I'm sorry Henry, I'll be better."
Regina turned her face away from the wary scrutiny that Emma subjecting her too. "I just want things to go back to normal," Henry sighed dejectedly as he uncurled enough for them both to see his face.
"Me too, Henry." They all turned to see Kathryn standing at the edge of the playground her hand buried in the pockets of her coat. She walked closer to them and stopping just short of Regina and Emma she called up to him, "why don't you go get in the car and warm up? The three of us should talk and sort out this fight. Things should be better after that."
Henry looked at her seriously for a long time before he nodded. He climbed down and grabbed the car keys of Regina. He paused as if he wanted to say something but thought better of it and left. That just left the three grown-ups alone in a children's park after dark.
XxXx
"What is going on with you two?" Kathryn berated them. "You've done nothing but hurt each other since I left. You both have the right to be angry – actually no, you don't. You two came after me just after my husband woke up from a coma to leave me for another woman, in the most distressing period of my life, it was you two that changed my world and made me question everything about myself. And don't you dare try and tell me it was because you both loved me, I knew all along that some of this was to do with the screwed up rivalry you have with each other. I was your chew toy."
"Don't make yourself out to be the victim," Emma went on the attack guiltily. "You agreed to a threesome, I just wanted you to pick between Regina and me. Did I want to win against Regina? Sure, that was a nice bonus, but I did care for you and you're the one that was afraid of anyone finding out your less than straight preferences."
"That's not fair," Kathryn didn't back down like Emma half expected her too. But then why should she? Regina and her had always been on their best behaviour around her, she hadn't seen the monsters they could be. "How could I choose between you when you both meant so much to me?"
"Not enough to turn down the gym teacher," Regina said bitterly.
"Fredrick was Emma's idea but I don't regret it," Kathryn said hotly, her face was starting to turn red with anger, "she made it quite clear that I, our, relationship was only a bit of fun," Kathryn tried to sneer at Emma but it was clumsy and out of place on her face, the tight swallow of hurt though, that really hit Emma, "and the night Emma made that really clear, you," Kathryn turned to Regina, "you compared me to a sex doll. 'It's about time Swan went off and found her someone of her own to use,'" Kathryn imitated Regina's imperial tone perfectly.
"I didn't mean it like that," Regina went to reach out to Kathryn but Emma glared at her and she dropped her hand with a scowl. For all their antagonism, they still had a deal and Regina wasn't allowed to go after Kathryn. "You were a great deal more to me than a sexual object."
"They why did you punish me?" Kathryn said beseechingly before obviously cursing herself for showing her hurt. "If all's we were doing was having fun, if that was all that we were to each other, then why did you – both of you, why did you leave me? Regina yelled and ruined Fredrick's and my dates at first but then ignored me, just like you did Emma. You didn't talk, or look at me, didn't take my calls. You both promised that no matter what happened that we would be friends first."
"I want you to be happy and you can't do that if I'm your friend," Emma said softly.
"Why?" Kathryn snapped exasperated.
"Because it's too hard!" Emma yelled back just as frustrated, "it's hard, watching you be happy, watching someone else give you what I can't. At least with Regina, I knew that I had a role to play in your life. I stopped her being so much of a jerk and you made me feel like – it doesn't matter. Go be happy and normal and good and all those other things that we couldn't give you."
"I wanted to go after you," Regina said quickly, not liking Emma getting all the attention. Emma was glad as it gave her a chance to recover. "In fact, I would have pursued you-"
"Like a trophy," Emma muttered.
"-regardless of the gym teacher but Emma interfered," Regina continued with a glare.
"Deal?" Kathryn asked.
"I offered her sex to not interfere," Emma glared at Regina in case she tried to spin what happened. "And she accepted."
Kathryn, instead of looking mad, closed her eyes. "Emma," she shook her head sadly with a heavy disappointment that Emma didn't understand. "You two can't go on like this. You're killing each other. I don't understand how you can both be incredible sweet and protective when it comes to Henry and I but so hateful and hurtful towards each other."
"Then come back to us, we worked as a trio," Regina said as if the answer was simple.
"What about Fredrick? Or the fact that most multiparty relationships end after two years? Henry is having a hard time at school now, what will it be like when they find out about us?" Kathryn's jaw tensed. Emma really wasn't use to her standing up to them, she didn't know whether it was sexy or annoying.
"Fredrick is a nice guy but you don't want him the way you want us," Emma said. Regina scoffed at the first part of the comment but wisely didn't say anything. "And so what if it ends in two years? We'll at least have let it run its course and who's to say we're not the ones that beat the odds?"
"I am very good at being special," Regina agreed.
Emma gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes. Being familiar with Regina's ego didn't make it any less annoying.
"And what about Henry?" Kathryn stole one of Regina's looks and raised her eyebrow at them.
Emma and Regina both looked at each other then. Neither of them would risk making Henry miserable on purpose. Regina through basic lack of human understanding and Emma through selfishness or commitment issues maybe, but they wouldn't do it knowingly.
"See? You didn't think about that," Kathryn stuffed her hands into the pockets of her cream coat. She seemed to shrink down into herself.
"We could keep it a secret," Regina suggested half heartedly.
"No," Emma immediately shot that down. She had learned her lesson.
"It's one thing to ask the town to accept a lesbian relationship," Kathryn's voice only wavered slightly on the 'L' word. "But, a threesome? With a child involved?"
"Henry is not involved!" Regina snapped disgusted. Emma swatted her arm and she calmed down. Everyone's nerves were fried. "Sorry," she muttered.
"It would have been fine if it was just us," Kathryn explained, "but with Henry, people won't be that accepting. How do we even explain it to him? You're both already fighting over what roles you have in his life, were does that leave me? What's my role in his life? Do I even want to assume that responsibility? I was barely ready to sign up for two girlfriends and now I have to consider a child?"
"I would never let those fools in town dictate how I run my life," Regina said stiffly. Her eyes were hard and defiant as she raised her chin, "if they have a problem with my relationship, then they can complain all they like it won't change a damn thing, but if you don't want Henry..." Regina shook her head, "I can't be in an open relationship with you. Secret sex, is fine but if you want to be in my life beyond that? Henry and I are a package."
"I can't leave the kid again," Emma shrugged taking a step back from Kathryn and unwittingly closer to Regina.
"I love Henry, he's an amazing little boy," they all heard the 'but' in Kathryn's tone, "but I wasn't ready to have a child with my husband and now with all this change in my life. How can I be a stable responsible influence on him when I'm still figuring out myself?"
Emma smiled sadly while Regina scowled. Emma could appreciate the struggle Kathryn was going through, after all, she had went through the same thing ten years ago. At eighteen she wasn't ready for a kid, she didn't know who or what she wanted, keeping Henry would have hurt them both. Giving him up meant he had a great life with Regina who, for all her (many) flaws, loved him and looked after him. Emma couldn't regret that. "I understand," she said softly.
"I understand that you're being selfish," Regina snapped, "I understand that you are rejecting my son. I understand that Henry is good enough to watch movies with and play with but that you don't want the responsibilities that come with him. I understand you want the fun side without the hard part."
Kathryn looked wounded but she still stood her ground, "I guess I am being selfish, but I think it's about time I get to be."
Regina looked ready to protest but Emma cut her off, "you wouldn't want to guilt her into coming back to us Regina. Nothing good would come of it. And as you said, we're all a widely misshapen package. Kathryn won't come back unless it's to both of us. I won't be anyone's dirty little secret, you can't be with anyone that can't fit into Henry's life. Kathryn doesn't want to get involve in our mess up family dynamic and assume responsibility for a kid that frankly, has enough crazy parents."
"Of all the times for you to grow morals and mend your inferiority complex, it had to be now," Regina grumbled. "Why couldn't your sense of entitlement wait a bit?"
"Oh, yes damn my new found self respect," Emma mocked.
"I think it looks good on you," Kathryn said softly.
"I do too," Emma agreed. She did feel much better.
"So this is it?" Regina said with something like loss in her voice. Not that she would ever admit to it.
"I guess so. I'm going to date for the first time in years, you and Emma are going to call a cease fire and when our wounds aren't so fresh, we're going to be friends," Kathryn didn't seem like she would be open to arguments so for once Regina and Emma just agreed.
XxXx
The summer came and time passed. Kathryn was still dating Fredrick and had enrolled in a local community college to study law. She was happy whenever Emma saw her in passing and was always starting a new hobby or interest. It became a joke among them to guess what she was up to that week. But aside from these teasing exchanges there had not been much contact between them as they gave each other space.
There was even less contact between Kathryn and Regina because Regina could hold a grudge. But Emma wasn't worried, Kathryn had been the only person in the world Regina couldn't get truly mad at, so she didn't expect it to last that long. Regina had so few friends or real human beings in her life Emma doubted she would let this relationship go to waste. Although she was prideful so it would probably have to be Kathryn that made the first move.
Emma and Regina couldn't get away from each other. As sheriff she still had to liaise with the mayor on a regular basis. Staff meetings in Regina's office had been tense as they each remembered who did what where. After both agreeing that the sheriff's office and mayor's office both held too much sex memories they agreed to meet at a coffee shop for briefings and things went better.
At home Emma still had Henry over and had to drop him off, plus Regina still went with them to the park on Sundays as Emma taught Henry soccer. That had been a nightmare at the start as months of antagonism had developed an unbreakable habit of sniping and belittling each other that didn't seem ready to stop. A tense silence had been the only peace but through time and Henry's infinite childish prodding the silence lessened as they each learned to set their insult to tease instead of kill.
By the time Henry's football tournament had come and gone with Henry's team coming second, they were almost civil. Regina held a BBQ to celebrate and was quite shocked to find she had to invite other people than herself and Henry. Henry was thrilled with his victory and invited his teammates around, which also brought their mothers or fathers, Mary-Margret and David, and even Kathryn and Fredrick. Regina had haltingly invited Emma herself when she had dropped Henry off the night before.
Regina looked awkward in her own backyard as David had gallantly offered to take over grilling. Six brats, loudly and carelessly ran around the garden playing as Henry caught up in all the fun joined in yelling in a fashion Regina had certainly never taught him. Emma had retreated to the kitchen to get more plates but really it was a strategic retreat.
"It's incredibly noisy isn't?" Kathryn said coming in from the hall. She must have been hiding in the bathroom.
"Yeah, look at Regina's face, I don't think she knows what to do with herself," Emma grinned at the clear agitation that was fight Regina's polite smile as she talked to Mary-Margret. "It's the first party she's been too where she doesn't get to poop it."
"She is not a party pooper," Kathryn rolled her eyes. They were subtly using the island as a buffer between them. "But it's nice she's learned a little patience."
"I think we all learned something," Emma said with a smile. She grabbed the plate out of the cupboard. She had done enough dishes after begrudging dinners to know where everything was. "How've you been?"
"Good, I just signed up for sky diving lessons," Kathryn's eyes gleamed with excitement, "I can't wait. Fredrick was telling me how much Henry's improved, I'm glad that he's happier now."
"The kids in school still teased him a little about my video but we sat down and explained to him what porn is and why people do it," Emma shuddered, that had not been a fun conversation, "Regina almost died as she had to give him the birds and the bees talk afterwards," Emma smirked. She had got to escape that conversation. "Since then he hasn't really reacted to some of the teasing and the bullies moved on. The parents still glare at me when I pick them up but I just ask if they want an autograph."
Kathryn laughed, "I'm glad things are working out."
There was silence as they both stared out at the packed garden. Regina had been drawn into a group discussing about changes to fence height regulations and was doing her best Politian smile. The vein bulging in her forehead was Emma's only clue to her no doubt murderous thoughts. Mary-Margret was talking to David at the grill and stopping Henry from stealing the burgers at the side. Even Fredrick looked relaxed with a drink in his hand nodding as the boys on the squad talked loudly at him about tactics.
"Oh," Kathryn said softly drawing Emma's attention back to her. "This is it."
Emma raised her eyebrow at the knowing tone.
"This is your fantasy," Kathryn said triumphantly. "You told me you didn't have one but this is it, isn't it? It's a family. It's having your loved ones altogether."
Emma shrugged, she didn't see a point in denying it now. Kathryn gave her soft smile, it was obvious she wanted to hug her but didn't want to push. "I'll take the plates out, you enjoy the view a little more."
"It's a pity we never got to your fantasy," Emma smirked.
Kathryn faltered and blushed, "who knows what the future holds?" Kathryn teased when she recovered. Her wink wasn't as saucy or sexy as Regina's but it had a playfulness that was just as attractive.
"-Are we to eat like savages?" Regina barked out glaring at Emma. She came to a stop as she notice Kathryn on her way out with the plates. "Oh, sorry," she said briskly stepping further into the kitchen to let Kathryn pass, "Ms Hendricks is complaining and that woman has a voice like a mouse on helium."
Kathryn and Emma both winced as Regina didn't bother to lower her voice. Ms Hendricks bristled from outside as Mary-Margret hid her smirk. "I'll go calm her," Kathryn smiled and closed the back door behind her.
Emma shook her head. Some things never changed. She turned to see if Regina still had her bottle of peppered mustard that Emma had brought over the night she did gammon. She wouldn't put it passed the other woman to throw it out on her.
"It's in the bottom cupboard under the sink, next to the bleach. Since it was strong enough to strip the lining from my stomach, I thought that was a fitting place for it," Regina waved at the cupboard door disdainfully.
"You don't even know what I'm looking-oh," Emma stopped as she grabbed the peppered mustard from where Regina said it was. Regina looked smugly vindicated. Emma rolled her eyes, one day the other woman was going to cause her eyes to roll back into her head and never emerge again.
"Take it home with you. It is far to foul to be in my cupboards," Regina sniffed.
"Say's the woman that eats raw meat," Emma muttered as she went to walk passed.
Regina gripped her arm stopping her. "It's called blue meat there is a difference and there's something I would like to ask you," she cast a glance at the backyard where the party's noise bleed through the door. "About my mother and I, I would appreciate it if you told no one. Especially not Kathryn, people look at you differently when they know."
The tension left Emma's muscles as she nodded. Shame, that had lurked inside her since the day she had used that to hurt Regina, finally hit her. "Listen, using something like that to hurt you, especially given what I said, I'm sorry. I promise I won't say a word to anyone, no matter how big of a bitch you're being."
"We both did things to hurt the other, some we even regret," Regina said at last and it was probably the closest they would get to a full apology. "But if you ever imply that I hurt my son like that again I will kill you."
Emma felt the cold certainty in those words and nodded. "Did you ever get therapy? Is your mother even alive?"
"My mother is dead and she was punished for her crimes," Regina said with satisfaction, "therapy was helpful to a point. The rest is living with it, it's not something that gets fixed, and avoiding triggers."
"Well, what are your triggers? So I don't, you know, set them off," Emma privately suspect that the punishment Regina's mother faced wasn't dealt out by a court, but she didn't have a problem with it. She was probably the worst sheriff in the world.
"Using it to attack me is probably the biggest," Regina said with biting sarcasm. Emma winced and Regina relaxed. "They're nothing you need to worry about, they're not everyday things, they usually arise in specific circumstance which we will not be engaging in."
"Is that why you were always in charge in sex?" Emma realised.
"Partly," Regina allowed "but you two were also inept."
She swept out of the kitchen leaving Emma gaping in offense.
XxXx
"You want me to pick up your dinner?" Emma asked with a laugh. She was driving and talking into her earpiece. Henry sat in the front seat weighing up the takeout menus. "No, we haven't decided what we're eating. It's the last Friday of the month, Henry's allowed to eat takeout. Chinese? Well, maybe we don't want Chinese. Fine. But we're eating at my place you'll have to come there," Emma rolled her eyes as she threw her Bluetooth into the backseat. "You up for Chinese, kid? The supreme commander is just off the phone, she's swinging by after work."
"Why?" Henry asked annoyed as he shuffled through the takeout menus to find the Chinese one.
"Because she doesn't want to cook for herself when she gets home and she loves to annoy us," Emma scoffed as she pulled up outside of the Red Dragon.
An hour later Regina showed up at Emma's apartment hungry and not in the mood for social niceties, her usual self in other words. She greeted Henry, acknowledged Emma with a nod and then ignored them completely as she ate.
Henry and she had already finished and were playing the Xbox. Regina had started checking the ratings of the games since she was amazed to discover that they were no longer just for children. As a result Emma's collect had quickly shrunk as Regina found fault with everything. Henry was now a master at classic Sonic though, because Mario didn't come out for the Xbox.
"How are you now in space? Two minutes ago you were on grasslands?" Regina tutted.
"It's a game," Emma snapped back, Henry was just about to overtake her so she used Tail's flying ability, "go read your book, it's on the kitchen counter."
Regina grumbled at the dismissal but went to retrieve the book she had left at Emma's a few days ago. "This is terrible the so called 'kink' is vanilla."
"What's a kink?" Henry asked without taking his eyes off the TV.
"A mistake or obstacle in someone's plans," Emma said not even phased now. Henry had to do a lot more to rattle her. "And that's not even why you should be bored of the book," Emma redirected her speech to Regina, most of her attention was still on the game. "Try how repetitive and annoying it is."
"You read it?" Regina said in surprise.
Emma shrugged, "wanted to see what the fuss was about. Mary-Margret has already bought the second and third book, 'fifty shades of refunds.'"
Regina snorted but settled down with the book anyway while they finished playing. At eight Regina got up and stretched and Emma turned off the Xbox. "Go grab your homework and stuff," Emma said as she put the console away. She was so glad she wasn't driving him home.
"You're still coming on Thursday, right?" Henry said absently as he stuffed his things back into his backpack.
"Yeah, your mom's making spaghetti," Emma's mouth was already watering at the thought.
"Cool," Henry smiled. It wasn't the exuberant over the top smile he used to give her whenever she agreed to go somewhere with him. She was around a lot now, enough for him to get bored of her. Curiously she didn't mind that as much as she thought she would.
"Say goodnight," Regina opened Emma's front door pointedly, she was ready to be on her way. Henry waved and headed down the stairs. Instead of Regina closing the door behind her, she stayed behind. Emma raised her eyebrow curiously. "This Saturday is a dance movie marathon. I suspect that it will be those new 'hip-hop' movies but I'm sure they'll also show the classics...would you like to go?"
"Sounds cool, but Henry is at a sleepover with his friends," Emma disappointed. She could probably rope Mary-Margret into going.
"I know he's at a sleepover, I arranged it," Regina said through gritted teeth as if Emma was being deliberately dense. "But would you like to go anyway?"
"Oh-Oh!" Emma's eyes widened as she realised what Regina was really asking. "You mean as in a...?"
"Yes," Regina said curtly with a short nod.
Emma blinked. And blinked again before she smiled, "sure, that sounds like fun."
"I'll pick you up on Saturday," Regina's smile was more smug than it had the right to be but Emma didn't find it nearly as annoying as she used to.
That probably meant she was in trouble.
XxXx
A/N: Okay, so when I started this story I had every intention of writing it as a porn filled threesome with a happy ever after three-way relationship. What I actually wrote was plot with a ambiguous two-way relationship. I just couldn't think of a conceivable way threesomes work, especially when it involves raising kids. Not that I'm saying it can't be done, I've just never seen it. If any of you know any good stories/fics that deal with it let me know. Anyway I hope I haven't disappointed you guys too much.