Chapter 30

The spell was broken. Everyone sighed in relief. Meanwhile, Emma sank against the wall, unable to take her eyes off the spot on the floor where the portal had once been. Now all that sat on the circle of floor was a tattered black hat, a hat not unlike the one Jefferson had forced her to make at gunpoint not too long ago. She couldn't believe that Regina was really, truly gone.

"You did it." Her parents ensconced her in a tight hug with Henry in the middle, while Jefferson collected his hat and strode out the door, announcing that he was going to go burn it. Graham stood awkwardly off to the side, twiddling his thumbs.

"Where did she go?" Henry's voice was muffled against her leather jacket.

"I don't know, kid." Emma answered. "But she's gone."

Emma sank into the tight embraces of her family, allowing herself to finally relax. While she was slightly ticked off that they'd gone behind her back and placed Henry in danger, she was so grateful to them for at least trying to take revenge. Nobody had ever done that for her before. (And unlike Graham, they hadn't promised not to do so).

After about an eternity, they finally released her, backing up. Her parents seemed to sense that she needed some privacy, so they took Henry by the hand and announced that they were going to go help Jefferson take care of the hat.

So that just left Emma and Graham. He just stared at her, seemingly trying to come up with a way to start talking, while she just picked at her nails. It was weird how just yesterday they'd been unable to leave her bed and now they stood three feet apart, not talking. The distance between them might as well have been a chasm.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Emma said finally. She placed her hands on her hips and regarded him.

Graham was clearly at a loss for words as he grappled for something to say. "I, well, you see…"

Emma just stared at him. "I'm waiting."

"I'm sorry." He blurted. "You made me promise not to take revenge, but I couldn't just live with what Regina tried to do you."

"A promise that you broke." Emma retorted. "You know that's the thing I hate most. It was the one thing my foster parents kept doing. Promising to take me to the zoo, to stop beating, to love me like…" She looked away, close to tears. "You knew that." Her voice was a mere whisper. "And yet you still went behind my back."

"I know. And I'm so sorry, Emma."

But Emma ignored him. "Broken promises do not a relationship make. How do I know that's not what you've been doing all along? That that's what you're gonna do from now on?"

Graham crossed the room towards her in two steps. "Emma. I was just trying to protect you."

"I can't listen to this." Emma turned away from Graham. "I'm sorry."

"What are you doing?" He said. "Are you breaking up with me?"

Emma shrugged, a tear making its way down her pale cheek. "I guess."

"Emma…." He said in a broken voice. "Don't do this…"

She ignored him.

"I was just trying to save you…" His voice was desperate.

"And I told you before." She said, hardening again. "I can save myself. What I needed was an open, honest relationship with great guy, one who keeps his promises, and that's obviously not gonna be you."

Author's note: mwahahahaha you really hate me now don't ya? review for next ch! the faster you review the faster i update.