Remember Who You Are
Disclaimer: Blah. Blah. Not mine or yours, I think they're ABC's.
Warnings: This fanfic depicts romantic notions between two adult women. If you don't like that, well, I'm sorry for you.
Note: Thank you for letting me know you guys are still interested in reading about Emma/Regina~ That got me going again! And as always, thank you Haku2009 for proof reading!
~~~ Chapter 3~~~
Regina sat in her car a few houses down from her own. She had given Henry explicit instructions to stay at home before she left, but as she had expected, she catches Henry slipping out of the house not even 5 minutes of her driving off. She watched as he headed towards the south side of the town, towards where Mary Margaret's apartment is.
Where Emma has taken up residence.
She let out a bitter sigh. She couldn't remember the last time Henry made such an effort to spend time with her.
Emma strained the lettuce in the sink, then moved them over to the cutting board. She and Mary Margaret were at home on a Saturday in the kitchen preparing lunch. Emma cut up the lettuce for the salad while Mary Margaret finished topping off the pasta with sauce.
"Have you seen Henry lately?" Mary Margaret asked.
"No, ever since the mayor decided to become his shadow, I haven't had a chance get close." Emma answered with annoyance. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"No, not really. It's just he's been really quiet in class lately," she replied.
"Oh... " Emma felt, on some level, responsible for how the kid was behaving. "I haven't been able to get closer than 5 feet of him."
"Hm… " Mary Margaret responded thoughtfully.
They moved the dishes to the table. Neither of them spoke another word as they began eating their lunch. Mary Margaret kept giving the blonde curious glances.
Emma speared a cherry tomato and popped it into her mouth, narrowing her eyes at her roommate. "What?"
"Oh nothing." Mary Margaret shrugged, but Emma continued to look at her expectedly. "I just find it a bit strange. You are the last person I expect to be scared of the Mayor."
"I'm not scared of her," Emma answered a bit too quickly.
"So why are you letting her keep you away from Henry?" The school teacher countered.
Emma shrugged. Over the week she had been trying to figure out why she felt so reluctant to approach Regina.
"Did she threaten you?" Mary Margaret felt a protective streak coming over her, even though she knew full well that Emma, a very capable ex-bail bonds person, can take care of herself.
"No, no threats this time," Emma replied. "Yet."
"Don't let her make you feel guilty for wanting to spend time with Henry," Mary Margaret encouraged the blonde. No one has ever been brave enough to stand up to Regina like Emma had. "He's been so happy since you came back into his life," she continued. "Regina may have clothed him, fed him, put a roof over this head, but her controlling nature just stifles him. Honestly, I can see why he tries so hard to distance himself from her."
Emma frowned as she listened to the school teacher, surprised that she actually felt offended by her opinion of Regina. 'Am I the only one that can see she's not always a cold hearted overbearing bitch? Especially when it comes to Henry?'
"I kissed her," she stated simply, as if it would somehow redeem Regina's worth.
Mary Margaret paused, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I thought I heard you said you kissed her."
"You heard right," Emma grumbled. "I went over there that night, you know, after the mineshaft incident, having all the intention to give her a piece of my mind. And I ended up drinking her wine and kissing her. So now every time I see her, I have this feeling like I'm inferior to her… like..."
"Why?" Mary Margaret questioned completely confused.
"Because I made the wrong move. I'm the one that screwed up. Now it's like she's on the high ground, she gets to call the shots." answered Emma.
"No, I mean why did you kiss her?" Mary Margaret asked with a disdained look on her face.
'Yeah, why did I?' "I dunno, heat of the moment, the alcohol," Emma tried to explain.
"Wow, you must've drank a lot then," Mary Margaret commented, "cause you gotta be pretty drunk to want to kiss that woman. She's scary."
'Yeah, ONE glass of wine.' Emma refrained from correcting Mary Margaret how sober she actually was that night. Clearly she couldn't rely on her friend to offer helpful insight into why she kissed the mayor. Or why she still wants to. "I guess I just wasn't thinking right," she was trying to convince herself more than Mary Margaret.
A knock on the door interrupted any further discussion on the matter. Relieved, Emma jumped up eagerly to get the door.
"Kid?" She barely had enough time to register Henry's presence before he said a quick hello, slipped past her and into the apartment.
Emma watched him take her seat at the table. She turned back to the door, craning her head out into the hallway, half expected Regina to materialize. Seeing the hallway void of the mayor, Emma retreated back into the apartment and closed the door.
Henry was in an animated conversation with Mary Margaret. He also had taken possession of her plate of pasta and stealing pieces of chicken. "You can't give up, Miss Blanchard!" he urged.
Mary Margaret, true to form as a school teacher, gave the young boy a patient look. "Henry, he made his choice already. I'm not going to get in the middle of their marriage."
"Hey, that's mine." Emma pulled the plate away from the boy, ignoring his pout.
Mary Margaret looked at the childish antics of her roommate and the little boy and sighed. "Henry would you like some pasta? We have extras."
Henry beamed a huge smile. "Thank you, Miss Blanchard." While his teacher was in the kitchen, he turned to Emma, "We need to talk. Can we go somewhere?"
"Now? I need to eat. I'm starving." Emma protested.
Henry refused to relent. "I haven't seen you all week! We need to discuss Operation Cobra!"
Emma rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine. Grab your plate."
They ended up on the rooftop patio of the apartment building, but not before swiping Mary Margaret's last bag of chocolate chip cookies. Henry looked around curiously, having never been up here before. It had a few pots of shrubs, a flower bed that had seen better days. An old rusty barbecue sat in one corner. After he's satisfied with his investigation, he returned to Emma, who was lounging on a lawn chair, finishing up her lunch. He sat on the other chair, forgoing the pasta going straight for the cookies instead.
"Why can't we talk downstairs? Mary Margaret knows about this fairytale business, she gave you the book in the first place," Emma asked the boy.
Henry shook his head. "She's not ready to be part of the operation. She doesn't believe."
"That didn't stop you from insisting the operation on me," she reminded him.
"You're different. You are the hero, so you are crucial to the operation whether you are ready or not," he explained.
Not fully understanding his logic, Emma gave up, "Whatever, kid." She swallowed a mouth full of pasta before continuing. "So, what little lie did you feed your mother this time to sneak away?"
Henry shrugged. "I didn't have to lie. She has town council meetings every Saturday from 10 to 5. She thinks I'm at home doing my homework right now."
"Weekly town council meetings? Huh… Graham didn't tell me about that. You'd think it would be important for me as deputy to attend one of those," Emma stated thoughtfully.
"As far as I remember, only mom and the sheriff attend these meetings," Henry stated offhandedly.
Emma's brow furrowed in confusion, "Really? Why? That doesn't make any..." An inkling began to form in her mind. 'Could they be...?' The thought of Regina and Graham together made her queasy. She pushed her unfinished plate of pasta away. She peeked at the boy, who seemed unaffected by the information. "Every week?"
Henry wrinkled his nose and nodded. "Yeah. Hey, what happened last week? Marco had to come and patch up that hole in our kitchen."
"Where do they have this council meeting?" Emma didn't hear his question.
"Who? Mom and the sheriff? Maybe at the town hall? Who cares!" he grabbed Emma face with his hands. "Focus!"
Emma shook her head free. "Okay, okay!" She pretended to take a minute to think. "Nothing happened."
'That you should know about,' she added silently.
Henry regarded her skeptically, "You sure?"
"Yes," she assured. "Why? What new fairy tale revelations have I kick started?"
"Dr. Hopper suddenly wants no part of Operation Cobra. He said my 'ideas'," he air-quoted with his fingers, "are too dangerous to have."
"He's right you know," she pointed out.
"Whose side are you on?" he demanded.
'Don't destroy his imagination. Don't destroy his imagination,' Emma chanted in her head, remembering what Archie told her.
"Yours, of course. You are an integral part of the operation. What am I supposed to do if something happens to you and I have no one to interpret that book for me?" Henry seemed to accept that reason. "Kid, have you figured out exactly HOW I'm supposed to break this curse?" Emma wondered out loud.
"I'm working on it." He shrugged flippantly.
Emma's jaw tightened at his nonchalant attitude, she gave the kid a stern look. "Cause it would be helpful to know what I am supposed to do, or what I am NOT supposed to do." 'Like kissing your mom!'
"You will know what the right thing to do is. You are the hero." Henry assured his reluctant accomplice.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I was afraid you would say that."
Changing the subject, Henry jumped up excitingly, "Hey guess what? I figured out who Hansel and Gretel are in my class!"
Regina emerged from the back door of Granny's B&B distracted, as she had been the past hour, so much so that she cut short the rendezvous with Graham.
His weekly report on Emma Swan had been dismal and mundane. The new deputy had answered a few disturbance calls, gave out a handful of speeding tickets and parking violations, and the rest of the time catching up on paperwork.
But that wasn't what she was distressed about.
Much to her consternation, her mind had been preoccupied by the blonde at the worst possible moments. Every kiss with Graham made her think about how a proper kiss with Emma would be like. Every time she touched Graham's bare skin, she wondered how different it would be to run her hands over curves instead of hard muscles. Every look into Graham's eyes was returned with dull submission, so unlike the fiery blue ones she had lately been subjected to.
Irritated, she ran her hands through her hair, trying to make sense of her thoughts as she walked to her car.
'I'm not losing it. There is an explanation for this nonsense,' She convinced herself. 'After nearly 3 decades sleeping with the same man, I'm surprised at myself for not looking elsewhere sooner. Granted, no one had actually dared to broach me on the idea. So naturally, it is logical that the one person who has made it an incessant mission to invade my life would start to invade my thoughts… Right?'
It serves nothing more other than a blatant reminder that she needs to get rid Emma Swan.
By the time Regina reached her car, she had persuaded herself enough with her rationalization that she had not gone crazy.
A glance at her surrounding before getting into her car she realized she had parked across Mr. Gold's pawn shop. She made a quick decision and crossed the street to it.
The bell jingled as she pushed the shop's door open, announcing her presence. While Regina often makes it a point to personally visit various establishments around town to keep tabs on the townsfolk, she tends to avoid the pawn shop. She cautiously walked further into the shop, her eyes roaming over the strange objects Mr. Gold have collected over the years, no doubt payments from silly fools that made a deal with him.
'People don't stray far from their true nature,' she mused.
Regina had a pretty much concluded that most of the items in the shop originate from The Enchanted Forest. Something about the weird knick knacks, never fails to send a familiar, but unwelcome, feeling through her.
"Hello, Madam Mayor," a voice spoke from behind her.
Regina jumped, turning to the sudden voice she watched as Mr. Gold slithered into sight from behind a display case.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence gracing my humble shop?" the pawn dealer greeted with his signature ominous grin.
It was not a good day to try her patience. "I need you to tell me exactly who our new deputy, appointed without my approval, by the way, is."
"Ah yes, Miss Swan." He chuckled. He limped closer to the Mayor, reaching out a hand to touch a baby mobile of unicorn figurines. "Quite the charming character, isn't she?"
Regina had no time to indulge in his cryptic banter. "Tell me what you know," she requested again.
"Haven't we had this conversation already?" He snickered, amused by the Mayor's desperation. "As you are well aware, my service always comes with a price. How much are you willing to pay?"
"What do you want?" her voice clipped and sharp.
"Actually, this might turn out to be favor for you, if you choose to view it that way. I would like you to list me as Henry's legal guardian," he spoke with glee in his eyes.
Regina's hackles rose immediately at the mention of Henry. "What in the hell for?"
"Well, the future is unpredictable. If something were to happen to you, I'm sure you don't want Henry to fall into the care of Miss Swan," he answered calmly.
"Did you just threaten me?" She snarled.
"Oh no, Madam. I wouldn't dare." Mr. Gold chuckled. "You see, I'm very fond of young Henry. Such a special boy. I just want to make sure he's taken care of."
"No deal." It was not a matter up for negotiation as far as Regina was concerned. She regarded the creepy pawn dealer with cautious eyes. "Well, this proves to be a waste of my precious time."
As she turned to leave, Mr. Gold called out to her, halting her steps, "Madam Mayor, I will give you a freebie, I suppose." His grin widened when Regina turned around, gaining her attention again. "Emma Swan will be not rid of by your usual idle threats. If you really want her gone, you'd need to resort to something more... drastic," he emphasized the last word with a sinister smile.
The pawn dealer watched as Regina silently mulled over his words, pleased that she appeared to acknowledge the underlying meaning of his message. The Mayor gave him a long, considering look before turning to the door again and left the shop.
Mr. Gold watched with calculating eyes as Regina briskly cross the street and climb back into her car. As she peeled down the street and out of his sight, he mused to himself; patience is the key to catching big fish. Something that Regina had always lacked.
A few hours later Emma's yellow bug pulled to a stop in front of the Henry's home. It was still well before 5 o'clock so the Mayor shouldn't be home yet. He climbed out of the car and scrambled up the path to the house, spinning around to wave at her while trying to keep his backpack on his shoulder. Emma couldn't help but smile at his antics. She glanced down at his seat and noticed he left the new comic books they just bought together. Quickly grabbing them she got out of the car and went after him.
"Henry." She caught up to him. "You forgot these."
He gave her a sheepish grin, turned his back towards her do she can put the comics in his back pack. "Thanks."
Just as Emma was about done zipping up the bag, the front door flung open and Regina stepped out. She leaned against the door frame, crossed her arms and shot both her son and her enemy an unimpressed look.
Caught in the act and not prepared to find Regina home, both Henry and Emma froze on the spot. Neither could read the Mayor's expressionless face.
"Get inside," Regina directed the order at Henry, who gave Emma a questioning look, but complied when the blonde straightened up and gave him a small pat on his back. Henry slipped pass his mother, giving her a cautious look before disappearing into the house. "You too."
This time the command was directed at Emma. She shuffled towards the mayor, but stopped when she cleared the steps of the stoop. There were a few feet of space in between her and the Mayor, and she thought that was already close enough. "I'm good here."
Regina looked as if she was going to insist her order, but she let it slide. "I really don't appreciate you sneaking my son off."
"I didn't sneak him off. He came looking for me!" Emma argued. "As usual!"
"Then maybe you should have been more responsible and returned him home at once," Regina rebuked.
Emma scoffed, "Right, return him to an empty house while you go make your booty call." She took a stab in the dark and when Regina did not deny the accusation. "Ah ha!"
Regina refused to be fazed. "So I had sex. What's the big deal?" Giving the blonde a bored look.
"What's the big deal?" Emma had a million reasons in her head, but didn't think they were good enough reasons to vocalize since they all had to do with her having a problem with Regina sleeping with Graham. Or with anyone else for that matter. "Well... Uh... Henry could find out!"
Regina hadn't meant for Henry to know, but if he did… "Then I suppose I will have the TALK with MY son. Actually I've been looking forward to this day. It is, after all, a privilege of parenthood." She smirked.
Emma chose to ignore the jib. "Why Graham?"
Regina rolled her eyes. 'Oh spare me, now they are crushing on each other.'
"Why not him?" Hearing that made Emma conjure up images of Regina and Graham naked with each other. Thinking how he had his hands all over her makes her blood boils. Her expression must have indicated her fury because Regina asked, "Are you jealous, dear?" in a taunting tone.
'God this woman makes me so mad!' Emma became defensive. "You're crazy! I'm not jealous of Graham!"
Regina blinked, and processed the words she just heard. 'Why would she say she wasn't jealous OF Graham? Unless... Oh...'
Her annoyance turned to amusement as she watched the blonde deputy pace around the stoop. It stopped being funny, however, when Emma decided to take out her anger by kicking one of her planters knocking it over. The pot cracked on the cement and soil spilled everywhere. "You know you are doing an incredibly convincing job of showing how immature you are. And you wonder why I don't want my son associating with you?"
Emma was so pissed off at everything at the moment; she couldn't get her wits together enough to continue the conversation. So she flipped Regina the bird and stomped off.
"My point exactly~" Regina called out as Emma got back into her car. She watched as the yellow bug disappeared from sight, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Mary Margaret was on the couch reading a book when Emma returned to the apartment. The blonde slammed the door shut, without giving her roommate a glance, stomped up the stairs to her room. Mary Margaret waited until it was quiet again before putting down her book to check on Emma.
She found Emma lying face down on her bed. She lightly tapped on the door frame.
"I'm not in the mood for talking," Emma mumbled.
"I finally went out and bought beer," Mary Margaret helpfully enticed. Which was successful as Emma turned her head towards her peeking at the two bottles in her hand.
Emma grumpily sat up holding out her hand for the beer. The school teacher smiled and handed a bottle over, taking a seat on the bed. She took a sip of the beverage, and scowled at taste of it. While Emma quickly downed almost half the bottle in a few gulps.
"Had another run in with the Mayor?" Mary Margaret guessed, since the blonde left with Henry in high spirits.
Emma usually doesn't go around spreading other people's business, but she really needed to get this off her chest and Mary Margaret had been such a good friend. "Did you know Regina is sleeping with Graham?"
"Uh no... Really?" Mary Margaret then shrugged. "Well they are adults, but I guess I can see why you are upset by it."
"You can?" Emma raised an eyebrow at her roommate.
"Yes. Emma, you need to stop putting up walls. You can't keep people you like at arm's length. If you like Graham you should-"
Emma stopped Mary Margaret mid-sentence, "Whoa! I don't like Graham. Not in that sense anyway. Where did you get that crazy idea?"
"Well... You were so upset about Regina sleeping with him, so I thought it's because you had feelings for him," the school teacher explained her thought process. "But it's the other way around isn't it?"
Emma's deflated sigh confirmed her assumption. Mary Margaret regarded her friend with sympathetic eyes, absolutely understanding what it is like to have feelings for people you shouldn't be having. "Hey, I got some really good advice recently, if it feels wrong, it is."
The response she received from Emma was a miserable pout.
Wanting to help cheer up her friend and figuring staying in to consume more alcohol may not be the best solution, she took away the half-finished bottle of beer dangling from blonde's fingers and patted her affectionately on the back. "C'mon, I'm taking you out for dinner. I hear a burger calling your name at Granny's."
Emma let out a long, tired breath. Although staying right where she was with the rest of the beer was a more appealing option, unfortunately she had a morning shift scheduled tomorrow. Reluctantly, she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet by her roommate, resigning to the fact that having some greasy, artery clogging food will be the most comfort she would get for now.