I don't know if the kind of food variation they are eating in this chapter is strange for you but that's what my family is eating when we have christmas eve or a special holiday where our whole family is together:)
And why on earth do you have to change numbers in proverbs? We say cloud 7 in Germany and you english speakers change it to 9 aaaaahhhh:D
Thank you for your kind review:) I hope this and the last chapter answered some questions:)
Anyway, enjoy:*
Emma stood in front of Regina's house and breathed nervously in and out. "You can do it, Emma. It's just dinner with the family of your son.",she tried to calm herself. She knocked softly on the door and after a minute Regina opened it.
"Miss Swan. I see you found the mall.",Regina said smiling and looked Emma up and down. "Well, it was a bit tricky but yeah.",Emma answered and gave Regina the flowers she bought earlier. "Thank you.",Regina said and led Emma in the kitchen. "Henry is happy to have you here.",Regina said and Emma smiled softly.
"I'm happy too.",she just answered and Regina looked up. "Do you have any allergies?",she asked and Emma shook her head. "Good. Melanie has so there are no plums in the goose." "It's alright. I never ate goose. I won't miss them.",Emma said and Regina smiled. "If you don't like it, we still have red cabbage and dumplings.",Regina explained and Emma nodded. "Do you need any help?" "No. Everything is already set and we just have to wait for my mother and my husband."
"Well, I hope this time she won't slap me. It hurts a lot.",Emma said teasingly and Regina rolled her eyes. "Don't be so a wimp.",Regina answered and both laughed quietly. They weren't aware of the two children who watched them. "Mom cursed her too. No one laughs about Mom's jokes." "Well, apparently someone does.",Melanie defended her mother and walked into the room.
"Mom. When is dinner ready?" "It's already ready but we have to wait for your father and grandmother, Meli.",Regina told her daughter and opened the fridge. "What do you want to drink?" "Can we have Coke, please?",Melanie asked and gave her mother her cute puppy eyes. "Alright but just because it's your birthday.",Regina gave in and took a coke out of the fridge.
"Well, we should sit down.",Regina said and led them in the dining room. "Wow. That looks fantastic, Regina.",Emma said and studied the room. "Did you furnished everything?" "No, that was my mother.",Regina said sadly. "Oh, well the food smells definitely delicious." "I hope it doesn't just smell delicious."
"You didn't put plums in it, right Mom?",Melanie asked and poked the goose. "No, I didn't and don't poke the goose." "I washed my hands, Mom." "That's not appropriate.",Regina scolded her daughter. "Sorry, Mom." Regina sighed. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't snap on you." "No, you're right. I shouldn't do that. I'm old enough to behave properly at the table and that was not a proper behavior, Mom." "When did you become this smart.",Regina said and hugged her. "Don't know. I got it from you some years ago.",Melanie countered and Regina laughed softly. "Oh you're making me blush, Meli."
"It looks good on you.",Emma said smirking and Regina shook laughing her head. "You're all so unbelievable.",Regina said and Henry watched them angry. "How can you be so happy with her? She cursed everyone! She is evil!",Henry snapped and ran out of the room. Emma looked in Regina's face when Henry said that and saw the pain. The pain of a mother who just wanted to be loved.
"I… I think I forgot something.",Regina used as a lame excuse and vanished into the kitchen hastily. "Would you let your family in when the bell rings? I think your mother needs some help.",Emma said to Meli who nodded. "Please make her happy again.",Melanie said and hugged Emma before she went into the foyer.
Emma went into the kitchen and found Regina sobbing in front of a window. "Regina?",Emma asked her softly and saw how she stiffened. "What is it?",Regina asked, trying to sound cold like in the morning. "I'm sorry for what Henry said…" "I don't need your pity.",Regina snapped and turned around. "I don't wanna pity you. I want to be there for you. I know that sounds strange but I like you and I know that you don't have many friends from what I've heard from the waitress in Granny. Regina… you need someone to speak to." "No… I don't need anyone and if I wanted one than it wouldn't be you.",Regina said, hoping that Emma couldn't see through her walls.
Emma reached Regina and pulled her into a hug. "That's a lie and we both know it, Regina.",Emma said and felt how Regina relaxed in her hug and cried into her shoulder. "Every friend I made got threatened by mother and left me alone… She will do the same again and I don't think I can handle that another time.",Regina sobbed and Emma held her.
"You were there when I gave your mother a lecture? Because that's what I'll keep doing until she understands that I'm your friend and that no one can threaten me without payback.",Emma told Regina and they looked each other in the eyes. "I'm stubborn like hell and can be a great friend if I want to. And I want to be your friend. Because you need someone too." "I…really?",Regina stuttered and Emma nodded.
"Yes. I like you and I know one day won't make us best friends but we can change that. I have no one in Boston and I really would like to see the kids growing up. So I wouldn't mind moving here and you definitely need someone who stands up for you and encourage you. It's a win situation for everyone but your mother and I don't think that she has a say in this because YOU are their mother and MY friend and not she.",Emma said and Regina gave her a small smile. "Thank you.",Regina answered and hugged Emma again.
"Do I disturb something here?",Leopold said a minute later when both still hugged each other and he entered the kitchen. "No, we just talked.",Regina answered Leopold and forced herself to smile at him. "So, I guess we see us some more often, Miss Swan?",Leopold said and Emma shrugged. "I guess.",Emma answered and watched how Leopold pulled Regina against him and kissed her again possessively.
"Well, as long as you don't steal my wife everything is fine." "I'm not gay.",both woman said synchronously and shared a smile. "Good. Because I love her very much and can't stand a rival." "Oh Leo. No one could be a rival against you.",Regina lied at him and kissed him sweetly on the mouth. "That's good to hear.",he just said and left the kitchen.
"Well… that was awkward.",Emma said laughing and Regina joined in. "I'm sorry that I was so cold yesterday and this morning… I felt threatened because Melanie and Henry are the only people in my life mother can't chase away from me…",Regina apologized after their laughter. "It's okay. With that bitch of a mother I would do the same.",Emma answered and smiled at her.
"If you like I talk with Henry, Regina." "You can, if you want to. He won't change his mind.",Regina said slightly depressed and Emma squeezed her arm softly. "It'll be all better sooner or later. It's just puberty." "I hope so.",Regina said and they both went in different directions.
Emma met Melanie in the foyer. "Hey, little one. Where is your brother's bedroom?" "Upstairs the second door on the left.",Melanie answered and Emma nodded. "Thank you." "You're welcome."
Emma went upstairs and quickly found Henry's room. She knocked softly before she entered. "Henry?" "What?",He asked grumpily. "I want to talk with you." "Mom cursed you too. And you don't even believe me."
"You say I'm the savior and that I'm going to break the curse. Do you really think that your Mom could curse me then? I have to be much stronger than her to break her curse and so she can't curse me. I don't think your mom is evil. She just shows her emotions in another way." "She doesn't love me." "But why was she crying after you called her evil? Evil people don't have emotions.",Emma said and Henry sighed. "She is a good actress.",he answered.
Emma breathed deep in to not lose control. "Well If you don't return to the dining room for her than do it for your little sister because she is really sad about how her birthday went and just wants to have nice family dinner." "She wouldn't be sad if we wouldn't be in Moms range any longer." "I think she would be sadder than now.",Emma countered.
"Your little sister loves your mother deeply… don't destroy her that bond. You still can try to break the curse but don't destroy your sister's happiness while trying it." "You think I'm destroying her happiness?" "At the moment? Yes, because all Melanie wishes for is have a nice dinner with her family without the arguing between you and your mother." Henry sighed. "I don't wanna hurt her… It's just that she is so naive…" "She is 8 Henry. Every kid in this age is naive. It's because she is still a kid. Like you."
Henry stood up and went to Emma. "You have to break the curse. I just have to help you so please promise me to break it." "Okay… I'll do it but please spend time with your sister and be nice to your mother… It'll make breaking the curse easier.",Emma answered, hoping that he would swallow the bait and do as she said. "Okay… I'll try." "Okay, thank you. Now hurry up."
They went downstairs and the door bell rang. Melanie opened the door and looked at her grandmother. "Good evening, Grandmother. Please come in.",Melanie said and Cora smiled at her. "My, my, you behave great again." "I often behave good, grandmother. I just tried my new sport clothes. Mom bought me a whole new soccer outfit and the jersey of Landon Donovan.",Melanie told her excited. "It was even signed from him." "Well, your mother spent a lot of money for that.",Cora answered and saw Regina coming out of the dining room.
"Mother. I'm glad you made it.",she said sarcastically. "Well, I've could been here earlier but you made me leave because of that insufferable woman." "You know that I'm standing right next to your grandson?",Emma asked from the stairs and Cora growled quietly. "Why is she even still here?" "Leopold invited her for dinner ,mother."
"What a shame.",Cora said and shook her head. "Please, grandmother. I want her here too. If you like it or not she is the biological mother of Henry and I love Henry and know that he wants to have her here.",While speaking she looked at Henry who looked sadly on the ground. Cora sighed and closed the door.
"Regina, may I have a word with you in the study?",Cora asked her daughter and Emma studied Regina again. The fear which crept slowly in her face was reason enough for Emma to step between them. "I think we should eat. The goose won't stay warm forever.",Emma said and Cora formed her hands to fists and released them again. "Fine.",Cora spat and walked past Emma in the dining room.
"She hates you.",Regina said when her children also were in the dining room. "Well. It's her problem not mine.",Emma said and shrugged. "Thank you…",Regina said. "I wanted to ask you if you would like to have lunch with me tomorrow?",Emma asked suddenly nervously. "Ehm… Sure.. that would be nice.",Regina replied and smiled shyly.
The two finally went into the dining room. "Come Emma, sit next to me.",Henry said and petted the seat next to him. Cora and Leopold were on the heads of the table and Melanie and Henry were sitting across from each other.
The dinner went smooth at first until they started talking about school. "Regina never were really good in school. She always had two Bs on her school certificate. Melanie and Henry are a lot better. Henry a little more because he has no B but at least better.",Cora spat out and Emma sighed. "I never had an A on my certificate and I still earn enough money to live." "As a mayor you need just As to be respected." "I don't think so, Mayor Mills.",Emma answered but got silenced by a kick against her shin. She looked at Regina who shook softly her head. "I just weren't good at geographic and maths…",Regina murmured. "You weren't good in the two most important subjects.",Cora argued and Regina looked down at her plate. "You can be happy that a good man like Leopold fell in love with you." Leopold watched his wife and mother-in-law but stayed silent. "I think that Regina could have anyone if she wants to.",Emma said defending.
"Really? Because she doesn't even get a proper job because no one likes her." "Can you stop insulting your daughter just once?",Emma asked angrily and Core narrowed her eyes. "I think you should leave now, Miss Swan." "Mother… She'll stay.",Regina said and Leopold cleared his throat. "I think she should leave after dinner or apologize to your mother because Cora has a point." Emma looked at Regina and than at Leopold.
"Are you kidding me? You should defend your wife, not insulting her too!",Emma said and Melanie stood up. "Why are you all destroying my birthday? I just wanted to have a nice dinner with my family. Without anyone arguing or insulting! I hate you!",Melanie screamed and ran crying in her room. Regina instantly stood up and ran after Melanie.
She softly opened the door to Melanie's room and saw Melanie stabbing the teddy bear from Cora with a scissor. "Meli… stop it.",Regina said and entered the room. She closed the door behind her and went to Melanie. Tears streamed down Melanie's cheeks and Regina wiped them away before she took the stabbing hand in her own and took the scissor out of the strong grip. She threw it on the desk and pulled Melanie in her arms.
"I'm sorry, Meli…" "Don't be. It isn't your fault that Grandmother is a mean person.",Melanie just answered and buried her face in Regina's neck. Regina sighed and kissed Melanie's hair. "I love you, Meli." "I love you, too Mom."
They sat there for ten minutes when Melanie looked up. "I think we should go down again. Grandmother has probably murdered Emma already.",she said and smiled a little. "Yeah, I think so too.",Regina said and kissed Melanie's forehead. "Okay. Come on."
When they arrived downstairs they were shocked. Emma and Cora were sitting quietly at the dining table and listened to a story Henry told them while Leopold filled the glasses with wine again. They looked up when they heard them entering.
"Is everything okay now?",Emma asked softly and Melanie nodded. "I'm sorry that I snapped… I… I…" "It's alright, baby girl.",Leopold said and pulled her onto his lap. "Everyone loses his temper sometimes." Melanie nodded and Regina sighed. That were one of the good moments of this unwanted marriage. She sat down again and glared at her mother disapproving.
They finished dinner in peace before Cora went home and Leopold left saying that he needed to get to his job because of some work he wanted to finish before the weekend. That left Regina, Emma and the children alone. "It's bedtime, sweethearts.",Regina said and both children went to the bathroom and prepared themselves for the night.
"Well, that went smoothly.",Emma said jokingly and Regina shook her head. "Wait some days and she starts to threaten you… I'm sorry that you had to go through this…" "It's alright. Someone has to counter her.",Emma said and squeezed Regina's hand softly. "Let me help you with the dishes."
Both women stood up and brought the dishes in the kitchen. "We have to clean them first before I can put them into the dishwasher.",Regina explained and Emma nodded. They were almost finished when Melanie came back down in her pajamas. "Can you tuck me in, Mom?" "Sure. We just have to finish the dishes.",Regina answered and cleaned the last two plates. "Okay. Why don't you go upstairs and choose a book and I come in two minutes." "Alright Mom.",Melanie ran upstairs and Regina turned to Emma.
"Two decisions. We could drink something or you can leave now. I have to know if I can spend an hour with Melanie or just a few minutes." "I wouldn't mind a drink but family time goes over friends." "No, she has to sleep but it can take to 15 Minutes until I'm back." "No problem. I'll wait in the study.",Emma said and Regina nodded softly. "Okay."
15 Minutes later Regina had tucked Melanie in and checked on Henry before she went downstairs again. She entered her study and smiled at Emma. "Apple cider or something stronger?" "Apple cider. You were right. It really is delicious." "Thank you. I made it myself." They shared a smile and Regina filled two glasses before sitting down next to Emma. They clinked their glasses and sipped.
"How does it come that Melanie and Henry are in the same class?",Emma asked Regina. "Well, Melanie always was a curious kid and really smart. We sent her to school with 5 and she skipped the third class.",Regina explained and Emma was impressed. "That explains her behavior." They locked eyes and both their breathes hitched again. But this time Emma didn't pull Regina to her.
"You have beautiful eyes.",Emma said and Regina smiled shyly. "Thank you." Regina blushed. No one but her children ever made her a compliment and now Emma. She felt like she was on cloud nine and hugged Emma. Emma smiled when Regina hugged her and kept her as close as possible.
They hugged some minutes before they parted again. "I should get going. I won't wake up before 12 pm if I don't get in bed soon.",Emma said and Regina nodded. They stood up and walked to the front door. "I had a nice day if you don't count the incidents with my mother and Melanie to it.",Regina said and Emma smiled. "They'll all come around.",Emma answered and hugged Regina a last time. "I hope so. Good bye, Emma." "Good bye, Regina."
TBC…?
Preview: the lunch date, Henry/Melanie time, view inside the marriage of Leo and Regina
Mistakes are mine:)