Eep, sorry for the delay. Writer's block can seriously suck. But here's another chapter and thank you guys for all the follows and reviews!
Emma knocked on the closed door leading to the bathroom that Regina had locked herself in twenty minutes ago. It's safe to say that she didn't take the news as well as Emma did. "Regina." She called out, resting her hand on the white oak as she awaited a response. Receiving nothing, she sighed. "Regina you can't hide yourself away forever."
A light snort from the other side of the door deemed otherwise.
"Okay maybe you can but that doesn't mean you should. One way or another, you're going to have to deal with this." Emma should have expected this kind of reaction, especially from Regina who has a thing for disappearing when she doesn't want to deal with a situation.
When Regina remained silent, Emma huffed and shifted so that her back leaned against the door. On the floor directly in front of her, Emily sat with her tiny legs sprawled out, an apple picked from Regina's tree clutched in both hands and her unicorn teddy bear at her side. Being that she has two missing front teeth she had to result to gnawing at the apple using the side of her mouth, her tiny teeth not being of much aid. It's adorable and Emma couldn't help but smile.
"Would you like me to cut that up for you?"Emma watched on in amusement.
Emily quickly shook her head and took the apple out from between her teeth to stare at it with a look of pure determination. "Mm-mm. I got it." She twirled the fruit using both hands and Emma caught sight of the tiny bite marks that formed an oval like shape on one side. She didn't understand what Emily was doing until the little girl managed to take a chunk out of the apple, chewing it happily. "My teeth are too tiny to take big bites so I make tiny bites to make a bigger bite. Now that I have a bigger bite it's easier make more bites." Emily explained while still chewing.
"You're quite strategic, aren't you?" Emma moved to take a seat on the floor next to her daughter. She bent her knees and leaned her forearms on them for support.
Emily tilted her head to the side in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"It means you're very smart."
Emily beamed at the compliment. "Reggie tells me that all the time." She suddenly frowned deeply at the mention of Reagan; her demeanor saddened. "Is she going to be okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah of course." At some point in between their scuffle, Reagan must've took a pretty hard hit to the back of her head. The end result being a gash that oozed enough blood to make her faint. When Regina healed it, Reagan didn't immediately wake up but the low incoherent words she mumbled indicated that she was still with them. Before Regina fled, the two carried Reagan to place her safely in the comfort of Henry's bed where she remained asleep. Since the discovery of the injury, Emma has felt truly guilty and irresponsible for what happened when Reagan was under her care. "Reagan just got a...booboo that made her feel really tired."
"From when we fell from the sky." Emily stated nonchalantly, taking another bite of her apple.
Emma's eyebrows knitted together. Then she remembered the portal, specifically the location of the portal; the formation was coming from the sky. Of course they had to drop down. "That's how Reagan hit her head." She breathed a sigh of relief. The weight of guilt was instantly lifted off her shoulders.
"She wanted to make sure the ground didn't hurt me. Is it my fault that she has a booboo?"
"Of course not." Emma made sure to quickly dismiss the idea. "Your other mother seems to think it's my fault."
"Is that why she hid in the bathroom? She's angry with you?" The question is so innocent that Emma had to laugh. "But you would never hurt Reggie or me just like Mom wouldn't."
The sentence brought back the words she said to Regina earlier. Emma bowed her head and stared down at the ground at the thought of it, feeling shameful for even making the accusation. "Yeah...yeah I know. But I don't think that's why she's upset."
"Oh. When older Mom is upset, older you tells me that she needs space. Maybe younger Mom likes space too."
A 4 year old just gave her the best advice tonight and all Emma could do was sit there dumbfounded that she didn't realize that before.
Emily yawned and picked herself up off the ground. "I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight, Mommy." For the second time today she wrapped her arms around Emma's neck and hugged her tightly, pressing her check against the side of Emma's temple.
"Night, kid."She replied softly, a gentle smile tugging the corners of her lips. As she watched Emily walk away she couldn't help but think that this is a feeling she may never get used to, the same feeling she got when Henry warmed up to her. Being a mother. The hugs are one of the best things about being a parent, at least Emma thought so, because it's a way of saying "I love you" without being vocal. Now she's sitting here smiling like a complete idiot until the sound of the bathroom door clicked open and out came Regina who didn't even spare Emma a single glance as she paced toward the stairs.
"Regina." Emma swiftly got onto her feet, not once did she hesitate to chase after the woman. After all she never does. "Regina wait." It was like a game of follow the leader, down the stairs, through the foyer. Regina refused to slow down. It took Emma cutting her path by moving in front of her for her to finally come to a halt. "I need you to listen to me."
Regina's eyes chose to settle on anything that wasn't Emma Swan. She couldn't look at her, not after the information she received.
"If you don't want to talk about this now I won't force you, alright?" Emma decided to heed Emily's small piece of advice. "I'll give you your space but only for tonight. Tomorrow, we're going to be adults about this entire situation. Okay?"
Regina pursed her lips. She didn't care for being spoken to in such a demanding manner. "Fine." She gritted out in response, folding her arms across her chest.
Emma noticed the lack of eye contact but chose not to confront it. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the family portrait Reagan insisted she bring along. She extended the picture, flipped over, to Regina who squinted at it in confusion. "For when you're ready."
Regina tentatively grasped the photograph between her thumb and forefinger. Usually she's always armed with a response but here she is, rendered speechless; it wouldn't be the first time this happened in front of the savior.
With nothing left to be said, Emma turned on her heel to allow herself out.
"Wait. You're leaving me alone with them?" Regina didn't try to hide the shock in her voice. No more than a few minutes ago did Emma accuse her of being a complete sociopath now all of a sudden she has a change of heart? "I thought you didn't trust me."
Emma continued to walk to the door as she tried not to feel guilty at the hint of hurt laced in Regina's voice in the last question. "Yeah, well, a smart little birdie changed my mind." Once she got to the entrance, hand on the shiny knob, she stopped. Emma turned her head to the side to look at Regina from the corner of her eye. "Be easy on yourself, Regina." With all that's been going on for the past couple of days, Emma meant that. Her and Regina may not be on the best terms but that doesn't mean she can't sympathize with her, after all Regina is only human.
Regina watched Emma leave before taking a deep breathe and ghosting up the stairs. Not yet did she observe the picture, she decided on placing it in her pocket of her robe. When she reaches the top of the stairway, she spots a stuffed unicorn on the floor from the corner of her eye and walks over to pick it up for she remembers Emily holding the toy when they first arrived. As she took the first few steps toward Henry's room, she felt slightly uneasy. Seeing them again will confirm that this all so real. And the more she thought about it the harder she dug her fingernails into the plush toy.
The door creaked open, pouring light into the dark room. On Henry's bed are two figures underneath the sea colored blanket. Reagan had her back facing the doorway, Emily cuddled close to her. At the sound of the door opening, Reagan glanced over her shoulder and smiled when she saw Regina, something the woman isn't very use to.
"Sorry, did I wake you?"Regina kept her voice leveled; loud enough for Reagan to hear and low enough not to wake Emily.
Reagan shook her head, shifting to lie on her back instead of her side so she could put her full attention on her mother. "I've been awake for quite a while now."
Regina walked further into the dimly lit room, approaching the bed where the two girls lay. She held up the stuffed unicorn, giving it a small shake. "Emily's toy." A frown shaped her lips when she spotted the half eaten apple in the little girl's hands. Swiftly poofing it away with a twirl of her hand, Regina leaned over Reagan to place the soft toy in Emily's arms and smiled when the little girl instantly cuddled it.
"How's your head?" Regina asked once she straightened up.
"Better. Fainting can be pretty scary." Reagan made more space on the bed by sliding over. It was an invitation to get comfortable, a way of showing Regina that she doesn't mind the close proximity. Regina understood the silent communication and welcomed the gesture by taking a seat in the empty space. "Did Mom leave?"
"Yeah. But knowing her, she'll be back early tomorrow morning." Regina assured her.
Reagan nodded. She looked down at her fiddling fingers. "Sorry for dumping all of this on you. The last thing I want is to be a nuisance because of my screw ups."
"No. You're far from a nuisance." Regina shook her head in disbelief. "Let's not worry about any of that right now. Right now...let me just look at you. The both of you." She stated softly.
Reagan smiled widely and allowed her eyes to trace over her mother's features. The main one that stuck out like a sore thumb being Regina's short hair. "I didn't know your hair was this short. You look so political." She reached forward to gently brush away the silky waves of hair that touched Regina's face, grinning at the way it bounced back.
Regina chuckled. "I suppose my hair is much longer in the future?"
"You never let it get past your shoulders, though." Reagan continued to touch Regina's hair while the woman merely observed her, a tender smile on her face. Her eyes wondered over to Emily's sleeping form curled into a tiny ball, her breathing rhythmic and deep. Such beauty, innocence and delicateness all took the form of two young girls that resemble her and something bloomed in her chest at the thought.
"You two are so beautiful." Regina couldn't prevent herself from whispering aloud. Tentatively, she reached out and cupped Reagan's soft cheek. Unlike many others, the teenager didn't avoid the touch nor did she swat Regina's hand away. She welcomed Regina's touch by leaning into her palm with the most heartwarming smile on her face. Whatever love Reagan has for Regina, it showed in her earth colored eyes and there was no denying that this is her daughter.
"You have her eyes." Regina had to point out.
"Is that a bad thing?"
She thought for a moment before answering with a gentle, "No. Not at all." Regina tucked Reagan in, more out of habit than it being necessary. "Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow might be a busy day." She stood up and headed for the door.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Reagan." She responded before shutting the door, thinking about how natural that felt.
Regina leaned against the closed door and released a deep breath. Her hand slipped into the pocket of her robe, brushing against the picture Emma gave to her. For when you're ready.
Regina took out the picture.