Today has been... I don't even know how you would describe today; horrible and confusing are the first two words that come to mind.

She wasn't ready to go alone. I knew this and yet I let it happen. I should have known better, but the way she was pleading with me this morning to let her do this, I couldn't say no. It was a huge step for her, especially since it was her who brought it up. Yes I have been trying to convince her that she should get out of the house, but I meant that we ALL should go, but despite my suggestions to take Henry or me with her she wanted to do this alone. Truthfully, why shouldn't she? She's a grown woman, and she had been perfectly capable of walking around town by herself before the accident. True she was getting more fluent now with lip reading, and had seen her parents on a couple of occasions where I managed to leave the room for a while and their conversation did not cease once, but that didn't change the nagging voice in the back of my mind that said this was a bad idea. That voice was also the reason I decided I couldn't let her go alone and decided to follow her.

I don't know why exactly I felt the need to protect her. She was, after all, the daughter of the woman who destroyed my happiness, but, she was also Henry's biological mother, and despite my hatred for Snow White, there was just something about her daughter that made me feel like protecting her. I try not to think about it too much, but here I am, lurking in the shadows and behind buildings, just in case she needs my help. I'm doing it for Henry, that's what I keep telling myself. If Emma suffers then so does my son, and that is something I will not allow.

Some imbecile dwarf was the first to go up to Emma. Honestly, how could he think he could just go up and talk to her like nothing happened? I knew I never liked those dwarfs for a reason. He just casually walked up to her and tried to start a conversation… really? Emma was still not comfortable talking in front of her parents, let alone some random dwarf off the street. I knew this was a bad idea. I could see from behind my tree that Emma was concentrating on trying to read his lips as to what he was saying, not that she would respond to him anyway except with a nod or shake of the head. Luckily, the idiot walked away before I had to make him.

She just kept walking, smiling and waving when she noticed people looking at her, but mostly just head down and walking around town. If I had known there was going to be so much walking I would have worn different shoes. Actually, no, who am I kidding, these go perfectly with my outfit, regardless I would have worn them.

Hiding by Archie's office, I watched as she paced back and forth in front of Granny's Diner. It was close to lunch time, and she hadn't eaten since breakfast, which was very unusual for her. Even from my hiding spot I could tell she was debating whether or not to go in. Finally, I saw her shoulders raise as she took a deep breath and made her way up the pathway towards the entrance, hesitating only slightly before opening the door and disappearing. I wondered whether she would eat in, risk having the other customers trying to start a conversation with her, but after five minutes she reappeared back out of the door with a bag in hand and made her way back down the path.

*Beep beep* I quickly duck behind the corner, and rummage through my bag for my phone. I should have known it was another text from Snow asking how Emma was today. I get one nearly every day. Quickly I reply with a 'she's fine' and poke my head back around the corner only to jump back and hide behind a nearby dumpster in the alleyway. Luckily for me Emma was walking with her head down and hopefully didn't catch a glimpse of me. Staying behind the dumpster I waited long enough to ensure Emma had passed. I kept thinking over and over 'why am I doing this' as the stench of the trash filled my senses.

Carefully, I snuck out from my hiding place and peered around the opposite corner to find Emma sat on a bench in the town square. I don't know how long I stood there watching her. I really should have headed to work a long time ago but I couldn't tear myself away. I had to make sure she was safe.

After finishing her lunch and what I assumed to be a very long daydream, Emma finally stood and began making her way to the bin on the other side of the square.

"Pongo!" I glance to my right and see Archie's dog Pongo making a run for it across the square followed closely by Archie.

"No!" I panic, realising Pongo's course of action. Pongo loved Emma, and it had been who know's how long since the dog saw the blonde. I quickly redirect my attention back to Emma who is still walking towards the bin, unbeknownst of the dog that is hot on her trail. I should stop him. Emma will get knocked down for sure, she'll never know he's coming until it's too late. But, if I stop him, she'll know that I was watching her. However, my lack of decisiveness resulted in it being too late for either choice and I watched, as if in slow motion, Pongo leap up and into Emma's side as she fell back and onto the ground from the impact. Emma sat startled in a heap on the floor as that stupid dog continued to pounce all over her until Archie finally caught up and pulled him away. I couldn't make out what they were saying but it was obvious from the gestures that Archie was trying to apologise and Emma was brushing it off before she quickly turned and walked away. She soon disappeared from view but the last image I saw of her was Emma wiping her eyes.

I searched for Emma but she was nowhere to be found. I assumed she would have gone home so I decided to finally make a trip to my office so I've at least done some 'work' today. After only an hour at the office I gave up on trying to get anything done as all I could think of was if Emma was ok.

When I got home the house was empty. Henry was still at school but Emma should be here. I didn't see where she had disappeared to but I assumed she would have come home, especially after what had happened. After ten minutes of frantically pacing my office floor contemplating whether I should go out and find her, I finally heard the door open and slam shut. That was definitely her, Henry knows we do not slam doors in this house. I walk out of my office, following the sound of rustling bags, and the huffs and puffs of Emma as she makes her way through the house. Walking into the dining room I find her emptying a shopping bag full of items onto the table. A couple of new white shirts and marker pens are scattered across the table. I watch curiously as she hastily grabs a shirt and marker and begins writing, ruining a perfectly good shirt in the process. I make a full circle and come into Emma's view as to not startle her. She looks up at me before quickly glancing back down and continuing her work. Her eyes are puffy from crying, and there is determination in her face to complete her project.

"Emma, what are you doing?" I ask, making my way closer to her. She doesn't answer, instead grabs the shirt and holds it in front of me to read it.

*I'M DEAF DON'T TALK TO ME*

The words are written boldly and angrily across the shirt. I look at her sympathetically, before taking the shirt from her hands.

"This isn't going to help." I say simply, gesturing to the shirt.

"You don't get it Regina. You were right, I wasn't ready to go out there on my own. It was horrible, but with this, no one will bother me." She argues back, grabbing the shirt out of my hand and throwing it back onto the table.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," I try to reason with her. Truthfully, it hadn't been that bad. She had handled herself amazingly, speaking to a couple of people and even ordering lunch for herself. It was a big step. If only Pongo hadn't happened.

"No, I'm wearing this… if I ever leave the house again.." she mumbles angrily.

"Oh for goodness sake Emma. You will leave the house again. It will be better next time, and this shirt isn't going to stop Pongo …." I stop halfway through my speech, hoping she didn't pick up that last part. I slowly brush my fingers through my hair, smiling softly at her, "I'm sure you did better than you think you did." I conclude trying to cover up my mistake.

She looks at me suspiciously, squinting her eyes, trying to read me.

"Pongo?" she asks slowly, "How did you… Oh my God! You followed me!" She yelled, sign completely forgotten. There's no point lying now, she caught me out.

"I'm sorry Emma." I genuinely apologise. Truthfully I am sorry. Sorry I got caught yes, but also just sorry. "I had to make sure you were ok. What is something happened, what if some idiot came up to you and did something, what if you got hurt?" I ranted, signing frantically, hoping that she was keeping up with my apologies and ramblings. Again, she looked at me suspiciously; it was becoming a habit of hers. I didn't like these looks.

"What did you think was going to happen, Regina? I'm the saviour, why would anyone hurt me? And if by some unfortunate accident I was hurt there are plenty of people that would help me, you didn't need to worry.." She was half signing now, and had calmed down from the initial shock that I had followed her. Now, now she just seemed confused, like she couldn't quite figure something out. I could see it in the features of her face, she was thinking, and thinking hard.

"I know, and again I'm sorry, I just couldn't let you go alone." I repeat again.

"Why?" She whispers. Emma was standing right in front of me now, so close that I was able to hear the quiet whisper of her question. I didn't answer her. How could I when I didn't know the answer myself. Why was I doing this? Why follow her, why care so much about her safety? Was it all really for Henry, because when she left this morning and I decided to follow her, the thought of how Henry felt was the furthest thing from my mind. It was all me. I just have no idea why. I, of course, couldn't tell her that, so instead, after a long pause I whispered back a quiet "Henry."

"Henry?" She whispers back, reading my lips as I whispered his name. I merely nodded once, never breaking eye contact with her, searching for what she was thinking within her eyes. "Are you sure that's the only reason?" She asks, taking another step forward. "Because you don't want him to get hurt right?" she asks and again I just nod. Her lips are centimetres away from my own. In normal circumstances I would never have allowed anyone to have gotten this close to me, I would have pushed them away long ago, but with her I couldn't. It felt like my whole body was trying to pull her closer. I knew I should have stepped back, moved my head away, come up with some sassy comment and left, but instead I stood frozen, glancing between her lips and her eyes, waiting for her to whisper something else. Finally, she smirks,

"I think you're lying," she whispered before closing the distance and capturing my lips with her own.

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