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A/N – With appreciation to baratta jennifer my first reviewer for almost every chapter and for the prompt to help me tie this one together. Also, to a Guest reviewer who wanted to see Emma meet other teens—that along with another piece of your request is within. Also, to DARecruit, WannaBebarbie, Swanqueenfan12, and all reviewers. You all keep me going.
If anyone else wants anything, interactions, questions explored, door is wide open for teen Emma and some for when she's 6. Also adult Emma, or Regina if you want something specific there. A different Guest also asked for a rebellious MM and teen Emma interaction. There will be a small version of that in a future chapter. Enjoy!
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Emma woke the next morning as if from a drugged haze. She stared at the ceiling, brain fuzzy and tried to register three sets of thoughts before they blurred into one. The pillow under head found her face as the last half of yesterday spun like the sheets around her legs; a confused tangle of foreign familiarity. Memories she'd forgotten came knocking, lured by a fresh hole in her heart. Flashes of group homes, faces, and voices came and settled on one in particular as her breath hitched. She yanked the pillow from her face and threw it across the room.
'It's not fair.' Emma thought. This dirt, these lesions, were supposed to be scraped clean. 'Never clean, never for me.' The self loathing voice countered. Once dead, now a lingering ghost turned a zombie in a new thirteen year old ear.
Rolling out of bed, Emma made her way to the bathroom, avoiding the mirror as she passed in and out. Hearing humming down the hallway she went toward the warmth it promised and knocked on the open door. Regina peered around the closet frame with a smile, beckoning.
"Good morning, how did you sleep?"
Emma shrugged, stepping into the room as she went to sit on the edge of the bed, pulling apart the spare blanket to wrap around her shoulders.
Concerned eyes. "Dreams?" Regina paused in the doorway of the closet, dress for the day draped over arm.
"A memory."
"Would you like to talk about it?" The dress hanger made it to the back of the closet door as royal feet traveled to the bed.
A shrug, but scooting over to make room. "Different day, same story."
"Hhhmmm… What does the page say this moment?" Regina sat behind Emma and pulled the girl back to lean against her, arms snug, lips brushing the fuzz of curls from sleep.
Green eyes glassed then cleared as an old mask sipped into place. "That there's more to heal, a lot more and I thought I was done with that, mostly anyway." Looking down at the arms that held her. "There's this new hole, real or not, I don't know, but it hurts." Deep breath as her hands were taken.
"Where does the hurt start?"
"Always with him, number seven... his words." Licking lips. "Anyway, I feel like I'm starting over again, like at the start of the spell in our other life… but I have my memories, I have you, our family, so maybe it won't be so hard this time. Maybe it won't hurt so much." Anxious as self assuring failed, she turned and scooted down on the bed to hide in a lap, head resting there as hands she loved began to stroke her hair.
"Will you tell me a little more about him… number seven. You've mentioned that house and him before, but not much." The idea of referring to any of Emma's foster situations as home held great distaste.
"Um, sure… He was a real piece of work and a racist son of a you know what. But things were fine at first, he was nice even." She ran her fingers along the blanket folds. "Until I saw him ripping this poor old man a new one at a gas station. He was taking me and his son to school and this old guy tripped spilling a soda on his shoes. The most hateful names I'd ever heard, and I… stepped in, told him to knock it off, and he knocked me off instead. Back hand chipped my tooth and he called me a depraved worthless little shit. All because I called him out on his hate speech."
Rage. Regina shook inside with it. Another faceless foster phantom to join the trunk she was storing for Emma. She realized with growing concern that never once were there names in any memories shared. This whole time too, Emma had been speaking in a state of detachment, like when reading the back of a cereal box. They had worked on not doing that, to instead feel the words coming to life, yet this girl in her arms wasn't feeling anything and for as raw as the details of the moment were she couldn't, wouldn't speak yet; just listened as Emma continued, growing sicker with each phrase.
"His ring left six stitches. That's how I got this." Fingers parted hair behind a left ear revealing a fine raised scar. "And this later." Lifting a chin to show a small scar underneath. "And this on another day." Lifting a foot and pulling off a right sock to trace a curved one on the instep. "Broken glass he shoved into my foot for dropping one of his hunting trophies. Otherwise it was just words."
Regina pulled Emma back into her arms. Just words that rolled too easily from a pink mouth like a show and tell, no weight to anchor them to reality. She cradled the girl with dry eyes and a throat to match into her heart. Skin healed, but words that cut from the inside out never really go away. Her words wouldn't make those memories fade, or the scars disappear. No spell or potion ever would. Love, sometimes quiet, was the medicine of the moment. For the next few Regina held vigil for the tears of yesterday that weren't in the room.
"Gina?"
Thick. "Yes baby?"
"I didn't mean to cuss… its just what he said."
"Mmhhmm." Regina rested her cheek atop a blonde head ready to help draw out what was missing. "He has a name that needs saying." Body stiffened in her arms.
"But… I don't wanna say it." Pitch rising.
"You need to."
A shudder, stalling. "Real or what he made me call him?"
"Whichever has the most hold on you."
"I…"
"I'm right here baby. Let me help you hold this." Kissing a scar behind an ear. "And these." Under a chin and her fingers to place on a sweet curve of step.
A tear leaked. "He m-made me... call him dad." Bile rose as did heat behind eyes. "I never wanted to. Ever. Not him." Pain finally spilled down as she tucked into familiar comfort.
"My sweet girl… That choice should never have been taken from you, but you do have choices now and by giving these… numbers and people who hurt you names or taking back what you were forced to give allows you to reclaim your power. He cannot hurt you anymore."
Cracking. "Then why do I hurt so much right now?"
"Cleaning a wound does that, especially an old one like this that's infected. You have not dealt with it until now." Sensing where Emma would venture if not redirected. "Back then you were in survival mode trying to get by moment by moment. He was an adult. You were a child. None of what happened was your fault. At all. Do you understand that?"
Sniffing hard. "I do, but believing it all the way is hard."
"Belief can be like that and sometimes faith comes along to help, coupled with hope and you dear heart are overflowing with hope. Trust that the rest will come along with time."
"I'll try."
"Such a brave start, my love and I am so proud of you for taking that step."
Emma soaked in those words and used them as strength to replace the number in her mind. After a long squeeze she sat up, wiping her eyes and rolled off the bed. "I'm gonna go get my I-pod, but can I sit in here while you get ready?"
"I'd like nothing more."
Emma left and returned quickly, finally settling on the floor of the closet as Regina went in and out getting put together for the day. After listening to a few rounds of Dido she pulled out one ear bud as her stomach growled.
"Can we go to Granny's?"
"Today?"
"No tomorrow. Yes today." Smirking as she got the brow. "Pleeaaaase can we go for breakfast?" The teen was not beyond begging like her little self, not when there was food involved and one particular kind she suddenly wanted to sink her teeth into.
Regina finished zipping her dress and took her matching taupe blazer from the hanger. "We have plenty of breakfast food here and I have turkey bacon defrosting in the fridge to make."
"But it's Bear Claw day." Morose over the idea of missing out on her typical weekly treat she indulged in when in her adult form.
"A town holiday I seemed to have forgotten." One that occurred weekly in the blonde's head it seemed. The Queen moved out of the closet to her vanity, quickly selecting earrings and fastening her Apple watch. Somber feet trailed after and her heart melted at the puppy dog look, one she didn't usually fall for in the other versions of Emma, but this was new and a longing of a different kind rested there, something in her wanted to satisfy. "Tell you what. If you can be ready in the next ten minutes we will go, but you must have some kind of protein with—"
Quick as lightening pink lips turned into a smug grin. "I knew I still had the cute pout down! See you in ten downstairs!" Almost able to dodge the teasing pat that sent her out of the room.
Emma dug around her closet and realized she faced another problem; none of her clothes fit. In the commotion of yesterday they'd both forgotten that needed attention. With a sigh and the promise of Granny's overhead she dug out a pair of black leggings that she rolled up at the ankle followed by socks and her boots, which had some wiggle room, but not much. A bra wasn't needed, but she didn't want to wear her sweatshirt from the night before. Suddenly a sly smile crossed her face and she darted down the hall. Five minutes later with her hair and teeth brushed she trotted downstairs, accepting her green jacket from an offered hand.
"Is that my shirt?"
"Might be." Emma tugged at the hem of the silk plaid, more of a tunic on her current frame and one of the only things Regina owned that was even close to casual. "Nothing fit right and I like this." Fingers rubbed the softness.
Regina chided herself for not thinking sooner. She waved her hand, adding a drawer of items this size to Emma's dresser and magically adjusting what the teen had on it fit properly. "I just put some clothing in your room that should fit. Good girl by the way."
The teen accepted the kiss to her cheek and stumbled over the praise. "What was that for?" Warming over the term of endearment she loved hearing and one not overly used. After all these years together it still held the same special quality as the first time she'd heard it. These ears she currently had were not used to hearing it yet and she longed for more praise from that mouth.
"For not using your magic to conjure as I have not taught your little half that yet." Pausing when she realized it was more like thirds now. "We will try some conjuring this afternoon along some more summoning to get a feel for your abilities at this age."
Muttering about having 'homework' Emma shuffled to the Benz, cheering up that she was able to ride in the front seat. The first stop was the mausoleum and she waited in the car for the Queen to retrieve the book, which was stored safety in the trunk along with another smaller bundle Regina managed to keep easily away from green eyes that were scrolling through an I-Pod again before they were on route to Granny's.
From the moment she stepped out of the car Emma could smell the freshly baked treats and her mouth watered as they entered the diner. It was like the second day home all over again with people staring, but Emma ignored them, making a beeline for the glass pastry case and a wide eyed waitress.
"My, what big eyes you have, wolfy." Emma cheekily cocked a half smile at the red brows that shot up. "It's me Ruby, chill."
"All the better to see you not eating the Bear Claw I know you must want." The redhead teased back as she took tongs to remove the donut from the case and onto a plate, handing it past pale waiting hands to the Queen.
"Mean. Who brushed you the wrong way?" Missing the teasing tone Emma stuck out her tongue and went to grab a booth before she got an answer.
Regina gave their breakfast order to the still gaping wolf and an apologetic summary of the latest in Emma's current shrinking saga. She followed the teen a few minutes later, placing the coveted donut to the side when hands reached for it as she sat across from a pout. Apparently all three versions of Emma had that look down well.
Emma didn't bother asking if she could have the donut now, knowing whatever else was ordered for her was expected to be consumed first. Coffee for her Keeper and OJ mixed water for her arrived a few minutes later. Those simple routine things reminded of how things should be, but she wondered how she fit into that anymore. A sour scowl down at her hands, not knowing what to do with them, had the Queen reaching across the table palm up.
Open and easy.
'So why am I fighting her?' Whispers of now against the grain of the past floated in a blonde head. 'Because i don't deserve her.' Emma studied the offer on the table and slowly gave over one hand. Some relief came as the curves of them synced; a perfect fit and that only further confused her.
"What's on your mind baby?"
Shrug. "Just stuff."
"More than stuff, I think?"
"Yeah… but I don't want to talk about it right now." Pulling back from her desire to share as their food arrived.
A plate of scrambled eggs with sliced avocado and a side of cottage cheese was set in her place as a matching one with fruit was in front of the Queen. Emma inhaled her meal, but happily took her time with the sweet treat after, already feeling the sugar rush hitting her system. Green eyes looked up at the door chime and found her brother's, excited boy dragging David with him to their booth.
"Hi Emma! Ya feeling better?" Neal leaned in to hug his sister and moved to do the same to Regina in greeting.
"Hey buddy, I'm getting there. Hi David." A smile for both of them.
"Emma, Regina. This is… different?" He gestured and hooked his thumbs in his belt with brows raised in question.
Slumping in the booth and losing her smile, the blonde grunted. "Yeah, another comical piece to this whole thing. Thanks for noticing Sherlock." Sarcasm crept in and she sighed.
"Emma." Regina sipped her coffee, offering Neal the bowl of strawberries the boy's hand was hinting toward in her place while eyeing the girl patiently. Eyes then flicked up to David. "I was just about to text you that she would not be in today. How is Will coming along with his training by the way?" Smiling when Emma's hand went to join Neal's. Between the two of them her breakfast side was demolished within seconds.
They talked and shared updates about the town functions as Emma looked on, becoming more irritated that she felt out of the loop even though they both included her in the conversation. She rolled her eyes when asked to request their check from Ruby several minutes later and all but stomped back to the booth with the crinkled paper in hand. The self depreciating voice she'd heard in her head returned full force.
David's eyes widened briefly at the temper coming from his now thirteen year old daughter. He was not at all envious of the Queen having to endure what was quickly becoming obvious to him as typical teenage mood swings. "I'll let you two go. I've got to get a quick bite and get Neal to school." Excusing himself as Emma's request for a second donut was denied and an eye roll battle ensued.
Moving her focus back to the sullen blonde Regina reached a hand out across the booth, taking up the girl's hand again. "Stop with the eye rolling. You'll lose them in your head if you keep doing that." Her soft humor had the desired effect of gaining the teen's attention to her point without coming across as scolding.
"But it's hard to help when you make it ssooo darn easy." Shrugging, taking back a hand, and rolling again to make her point.
Words not heeded flipped a switch. "Enough. This attitude is not amusing. You were rude to Ruby earlier, David, and now me. Our rules for respect and how to treat others still stand. You know my expectations and different size or not those are the same as are your consequences when they are breached." Searching green for understanding, she shook her head when it flashed and hid again.
"I knnooow." Whining as shoulders sunk in the booth. "Get off my a-case."
"Clearly you do not because you are pushing me when you normally wouldn't. I am prepared to go over all the details our rules and consequences right now if you need me to, but I do not think you want to have that conversation here. Am I correct?"
Blushing, sinking further. "Yeess."
"Then take a moment to adjust your attitude." She slid out of the booth and stood. "I am going to take care of the bill and when I come back I expect that to be done. Understood?"
"Yeah…" When heels didn't move, Emma lost her pout as she thought about her actions and tried again. "Yes Ma'am." She wanted to say another affection entirely, one lingering behind lips, but was swallowed by the confusion of why it wouldn't come.
"Good girl." Warm and genuine.
That praise further eased Emma's mood and when heels returned she slid out of the booth with a small smile as a hand was again offered. She took it and followed willingly to the car.
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The rest of the day at Town Hall went too slow for Emma's liking. She spent most of the morning pouring over the magic volume, tabbing pages to discuss with the Queen later, but saw nothing promising. Lunch was sandwiches ordered from a local deli and then a lesson in magic that had the teen pleasantly surprised she could manage better than her six year old self, but not much more. She practiced as her Keeper got on a conference call. By the time five o'clock rolled around the teen was bouncing to get out of the four walls surrounding her head all day. She stowed her I-pod in her pocket and sided up sweetly to her Keeper for a side hug who was packing up for the day.
Regina knew that buttery look. "What is it you want, sweet one?"
"How do you know I want something?" Caught Emma slid away, hopping up to sit on the desk.
"You forget how well I know you." A gentle tap to a hip to move off a pile of papers she needed.
"Fine." Getting down. "I wanna get out of here for a while, like to take a walk on my own."
"That is alright with me. Do you have your phone?"
Emma leaned back in genuine shock. "Yeah, right here… But really? Just like that?"
"You are thirteen, not six. So yes, just like that." A soft smile offered for the one she was given. This would be a trial run on the girl's ability to follow directions this age and it would give her some time to look into another surprise she had for Emma to help with the adjustment home. "Keep your phone on, be careful, and dinner will be ready by 7:00. I expect you to be back to the house by then. Call me if you want a ride back."
"You got it warden. Mess hall by 7:00!"
The brow rose.
Emma scrunched her nose. "It sounded funny in my head."
"Hysterical." Cracking a smile. "Now scoot."
With a cheesy grin, Emma quickly planted a kiss to the Queen's cheek and bolted out of the office, only slowing down when she was a block away. Inhaling the frosty air woke her mind up and she enjoyed the chilly walk to the park. She loved her time with the Queen, but found herself needing some time on her own since most recent development in her aging and she was suddenly grateful that she had been so well understood. Pausing at the edge of the pond she loved so much, thoughts shifted back to yesterday afternoon, bummed that her time with Neal had been cut short due to her panic.
Sounds of laughter drifted across the murky water and a few teenagers who seemed to be close to her age were lounging on a blanket on the frozen grass. She was surprised when the boy waved to her and she surprised herself by waving back and more so when her feet moved in their direction. It took a few minutes to make it to the other side of the water.
She learned their names, kids from families her adult mind recognized in town and the desire to just pretend she was any other teenager out for a walk hit her heart with yearning. A few hours of normalcy away from the thoughts of magic, her current problem and some peer companionship couldn't hurt she rationalized. Offering an old nickname when asked, reminded her of what she used to do when she moved to a new foster home or school. A fake name or only a part of her own left no attachments and didn't allow her to form any.
"So Em, you're new in town?" A dark eyed girl with impossibly glossy hair asked with a skeptical tone. No one just moved to Storybrooke.
"Nah, I've been around, but you could say that. What are you guys doing?" Emma sat on the edge of the wool blanket, taking the offered bag of chips tossed her way.
"Blowing off some steam… you know from finals starting next week before winter break?" The same girl, Justina implied and pulled a partially smoked cigarette out of her pocket, lit it, and blew the smoke straight up, coughing. "Want one?"
Wrinkling her nose as she chewed, Emma shook her head. "No thanks." She'd tried cigarettes once as a real teenager and hated the hot ashy taste it left.
"Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing you at school. How come?" The boy who had waved stole the bag of chips back, laughing at the tug of war it ended up being, bag bursting all over the blanket.
"Oh, um… I'm kind of home schooled." Thinking that wasn't really a lie as she helped eat the scattered chips hands were diving for.
"Lucky duck. I bet you get to sleep in everyday."
Emma rolled her eyes at the brunette. "Not really… G—who I live with is big on schedules and early mornings."
Blushing, but enjoying the warmth of sharing something so simple that others could relate to. She had never had this chance before this age, to share everyday stuff about her family or life that other kids got to experience. Being shuffled from group home to group home hadn't allowed any real friendships to form at this age, the one she'd had with Lily being the closest in a foster placement she'd had such hope for only to have it ripped away. Justina definitely had the sweet edge that originally attracted Emma's attention when she had been a teen the first time around. 'Maybe I shouldn't wait to try and make some friends...' She studied the mischievous dark eyes watching her. 'I wonder if this is a second chance to go about things differently than how they'd ended with Lily.' Another torn piece inside fluttered.
Time flew as they exchanged stories and eventually a bottle found its way into Emma's hand from someone's backpack as evening crept in around them. She took an unknowing sip, gagging at the sharp taste flooding her mouth before it registered what she had in her hand and what she just did. Fingering the bottle of decent scotch no doubt swiped from some parent's liquor cabinet as the heat seeped into her gut.
She hadn't had a drink since they had returned from their journey and she knew she needed permission to have one because when left to her own devices she tended to overindulge. The last time she'd had been granted a small one was to toast Henry's marriage the night the spell was cast, a special occasion as the Queen had deemed it. While she'd experimented with alcohol when she was thirteen the first time, she also knew there was no way in hell she should be having any while she was this size, this time around.
Regina flipping a gasket would be an understatement; the whole engine would explode.
And the Queen would be in the right for a few different reasons. Admitting she'd had a problem with her drinking before the spell hadn't been easy, but they had worked to establish healthy coping skills that made the desire to drink, to run, when she got stressed nearly disappear, especially once when a certain spoon was brought out a few weeks after Emma had slipped into old habits. It had been more than a slip, actually. One that had nearly cost her life. She shuddered at the memory of that night… of opening her eyes after… of seeing the fear in the Queen's. More of a blonde hot headed self destructive roller coaster that had left them both in tears that day and again two weeks later when it was time to make it right between them.
Still they worked through it.
Emma got back on track because Regina had put her there, expecting no less than her best attempt coupled with loving understanding that this would happen on occasion. Their life continued without judgment or the bringing up of old transgressions because that's what they did and how their dynamic worked. And Emma flourished. The bubble question of whether that would be true again popped in her mind.
A buzzing from her pocket brought Emma's thoughts back and she pulled out her phone, seeing the time and a text from her Keeper reminding her she needed to be home in ten minutes. From where she was in Storybrooke that would easily take twice that. Fingers flew on the screen in response, the heavy feeling of angst sinking in. The bottle kissed her mouth again, an old habit once started hard to ignore. More than habit, she realized as heat burned going down. More of a test for the heart she loved.
"Who's that?" Justina inquired.
"My… I gotta go and I'm gonna be late as it is." Stealing one last sip, wishing the old bravado from the past would come with it, but it just made her sick. Cheeks flushed as she handed it back to Justina and stood up. "Thanks for letting me hang out."
"Hey text me your number." Justina began to gather her stuff and rattled off her phone number to the blonde.
"Want a ride?" The boy, Mark, offered.
Seeing the blonde's hesitation, Justina jumped in. "He's not a perv or anything, just my dorky older cuz."
Emma debated, not wanting to give away where she lived least there be questions, but also wanting to shave off as much time from her eventual lateness as she could. The fact that they all had been drinking, albeit mildly, didn't factor into self preservation mindset. Her brain as it was did not even go there.
"You gotta car huh?"
"For my birthday last week." He pressed the button to unlock his truck, lights flashing.
"Maybe just 'til the start of Mifflin street. I'll walk from there."
"Suit yourself, lets jet then. Justina, you coming?"
The dark beauty put out her cigarette and gathered the blanket up. "Yep, I'm not letting you and blondie ditch me."
Together they sat in the truck, Emma squished in the middle. She nervously eyed the dash clock, now starting to kick herself as she thought her actions through. 'Testing M-Gina was a stupid idea, why am…' Suddenly the truck slowed bumping her out of thoughts and began to pull off to the side of the road. "Hey! What are you doing?"
"Cops!" Mark hit his hand against the steering wheel as red and blue lights flashed along with a siren.
Emma spun around violently, catching site of the familiar cruiser and man exiting the vehicle. "Shi—oot!... Look I know him, maybe I can get us out of this." Licking her lips and trying to think of a fast excuse for whatever they had been pulled over for.
"License and registration pl—" David did a double take as he peered into the driver side window at the wide eyed blonde in the middle seat. "Em—?"
"Yeah, it's me." Interrupting and forcing a smile to cover up the rest of her name. "What'd you pull him over for?"
"Right brake light is broken, no signal back at that corner either." He narrowed his eyes at the flushed look on all their faces. "Are you alright?"
"Never better." Nudging Mark hard. "Give him your identification and registration now."
"Uh, right. It's in the glove box there." He took it from the blonde and handed it over to the deputy whose eyes never left nervous green ones.
"Does Regina know where you are?" David squinted in the twilight to read the paperwork.
"Hold up." Justina turned hard, poking Emma's arm. "Like Mills? You adopted or—."
"No, but it's complicated." Emma swallowed hard, happy bubble bursting around her. "Are we good to go David? And yes, she knows I'm on my way." She blew out an exasperated breath she didn't know she was holding—right in his face. Biting lips stole her voice not believing her mistake as a knowing look registered on the man's face.
He pocketed the paperwork, his mouth a hard line. "Alright. All of you need to step out of the truck."
'Damn it!' Emma thought and kicked the underside of the dash, earning an annoyed look from Mark, but she didn't care. She stepped out of the truck after him. The two other teens were questioned and sent to sit in the cruiser after the half empty bottle of scotch was confiscated with a few other cigarettes. Emma was left with David's disapproving look. She crossed her arms, feeling defensive. She didn't answer to him and she wasn't going to start now.
"How much did you have to drink Emma?" Concern evident in his tone.
He'd always worried about his daughter's excessive drinking, a habit that seemed to have disappeared in the last few years, though he could recall Emma sometimes drinking socially, always with the Queen present, but never to excess. Not like how he suspected that one horrible night... Shaking his head and the memory away of the terrified question he'd seen in brown eyes and... the blood in blonde hair… he'd froze… Regina hadn't…
He blinked. Green eyes, like his wife's when he asked a stupid question, tore through him. Wondering for the first time just how Regina was keeping up with the different versions of his daughter.
Bitter, Emma spat. "That's not your business."
The man ran a hand through his hair torn between wanting to respect Emma's space and keep her safe. "Right now it kind of is, as Deputy I mean."
Emma huffed, rolling her eyes. "Maybe so, but I didn't have to take your inquisition as an adult and since I still am, technically, an adult I don't have to take it now." Her lips zipped after that.
David sighed. "You're right." The surprised girl's eyes trailed the hand that moved to his pocket and he pulled out his cell phone. "Maybe there is someone else you'd rather talk to." Before Emma could protest he dialed the Mayor's number and under glaring protest from his daughter gave Regina a run down of facts that had happened.
Emma's nostrils flared, but she paled when the phone was offered for her ear. With a sigh she took it, giving David a dirty look while she did so. "Hi?"
"Are you alright?" Worry came through the ear piece.
Teeth abused a lower lip. Of course that's the first thing out of the Queen's mouth and Emma's eyes misted at the inquiry to her well being. "Yeah, but I have a feeling I'm not gonna be soon."
A long pause, then a soft voice. "We will be having words when you get home."
"Please tell me there is more than that for dinner because I'm starving." Hopeful her joke would cut the tension.
"Emma… Do you need me to come and get you or are you alright to ride along with David?" A tight voice that easily ignored deflection.
"You don't haaave to." Now wanting time before seeing what she thought would be disappointed eyes. She could handle a lot of things, but not that.
"Baby, that is not what I asked. Do you need me to?"
Emma relaxed at the consideration. Regina wanted to make sure she was comfortable being alone with David while in her current state and she surprised herself that she was. He wouldn't hurt her, he never had really, and in the few minutes of speaking with her Keeper she'd come to realize the man had simply wanted her to feel safe and had called the one person he knew that made her feel that way. Her anger left and was replaced with something she couldn't identify.
"I'm okay M—Gina, really."
A pause of wonder when the affection was exchanged. "Alright, sweet one. I'll see you soon."
Emma said good bye and hung up, handing the phone back to David. It didn't take long for two other phone calls to be made and two drop offs, each at Mark and Justina's house before the cruiser turned onto Mifflin. Eyes grew at the familiar street sign and the balloon in Emma's gut bobbed up into her throat.
"She's gonna kill me David, you'll be an accessory to murder." The first words out of her mouth in an attempt to save her skin since she'd gotten into the cruiser twenty minutes ago.
Blue eyes caught the nervous fidgeting in the backseat and sighed. "It will hard to arrest myself, so I think I'm covered, you on the other hand are lucky you were not driving and are not old enough to be in the detention cell tonight."
Eyes rolled for the hundredth time that day. "Actually I'm not so lucky. Bars between Gina and I sound really good about now." She hunched down in the back seat as they pulled up to the front of the mansion. "Seriously, I'm burnt toast! Scratch that, crumbs!"
"After the stunt you pulled, drinking at your age right now and getting to a car with someone who has been drinking, I bet. You guys probably have a lot to talk about." He was sympathetic to a point, but not with this and he was surprised he actually hoped that Regina would help Emma understand what she wouldn't hear from him. Even so, he couldn't help himself. "We've seen what that does first hand Emma... The accidents, scraping people off of the concrete—"
"Don't lecture me! I get it, okay? I screwed up again, like always!" The thick silence that followed made her sick with guilt. She knew she'd been stupid, but she didn't need it rubbed in her face.
Pulling the cruiser over, David twisted the key off then turned around in the seat. "I'm not trying to. I just… I lost you once and almost again and now that we are starting to get on good terms... I'm just worried about you. I love you Emma, you're my daughter. Just let me in a little bit so I can show you." He stepped out and shut the door, letting the cool air calm his nerves before rounding the car and opening up the back. A much more subdued version of cool blonde stepped out.
Emma blindly started down the walk, freezing when the front door opened and her Keeper waited in the doorway. She looked back over her shoulder at David and then again toward Regina, cradled between two people who had her best interests at heart. A whisper of great understanding crossed her ear and for once she decided to listen to it without question. Feet turned and her arms found the neck of the man who would have raised her in another world.
"I'm sorry." For exactly what Emma couldn't say, but the arms returning her hug said enough for both of them. She hoped one day, maybe, she could give him the title once taken, now that she had reclaimed it. Stepping back and wiping her nose she regarded him with new eyes. "Time to go face the music, I guess."
"Good luck." A small smile came to his face as he watched his daughter turn to go. "And Emma?"
"Yeah?" An ocean of smooth green glass gazed back.
"Thank you."
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A/N - Thoughts?
Next chapter will pick up right where this leaves off...
