So, this chapter is a little long. But, I didn't think you guys would mind…especially when you see what's about to happen. We've waited for this moment since this story's beginning. Thank you all for hanging in there. It won't be much longer ;)
Charlie is currently seated on her brunette mother's lap, enchanted by the smiling faces staring back at her from Regina's phone. "Who's that?"
Regina is delighted by her daughter's curiosity. She happily responds, "That's Henry. He's your big brother."
"Henry is going to love you so much, baby girl," Emma adds, with matching enthusiasm.
"Why don't we go see him? Tomorrow," Regina suggests.
Emma suddenly deflates. "I thought we were going to Storybrooke tomorrow."
Clearly nothing can shake the queen's good mood, she is far too eager to have her family together. "This will be a great way to divide up the drive. We'll leave early tomorrow morning, stop and see Henry in the city, then we can drive a few more hours and spend the night somewhere half-way home." The uncertainty as to why her partner is not joining in her excitement prompts Regina to ask, "What's wrong?"
Needing some space, Emma silently rises from her seat on the couch next to Regina and walks into the studio suite kitchen.
A certain three-year-old is eager to have her brunette mother's earlier question answered. Unaware of her blonde mother's nervous breakdown, she asks, "When can I see Henry?"
"Charlie, can you sit here and watch TV for a few minutes? I need to talk to Mommy."
Charlie nods in compliance.
Regina gently lifts the little girl off her lap and onto the couch. Before following her girlfriend into the kitchen she kisses Charlie's forehead, saying, "I'll be right back sweets."
Sensing that Regina has joined her, Emma turns to meet brown eyes that can communicate more than words can possibly express. Emma answers her lover's silent plea. "I know. I'm being ridiculous."
"Why don't you want to see Henry?"
She hesitates, afraid that what she is about to divulge might be taken the wrong way. "It's been too long."
Their connection is undeniable. They know each other's hearts. Emma is not at all surprised by Regina's understanding response. "Time doesn't change the fact that you're his mother."
She lets her deepest regret surface. "I broke his heart."
"Henry loves you. Trust me on this Emma. He wants you to be a part of his life. Would you like me to call him?"
Emma silently communicates her desire with a nod. However, the dread only grows with each passing second until Henry answers his phone.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, sweetie."
"What's up?"
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Um…I only have one class in the morning. Remind me never to schedule a 9 a.m. class again."
"Do you have any plans for the rest of the afternoon?"
"Nope. It's my easy day, except for the getting up early part. Will you be in the City?"
"I think we're planning to take a drive there tomorrow." The silence on the other end alarms the boy's mother. "Henry?"
"You said we."
She can hear the bitterness in her son's voice. She attempts to counteract this by keeping her own tone even as she responds, "Me…and your mom."
"Emma's coming with you?"
She can't tell whether he is genuinely surprised or if he's being sarcastic. He didn't get that from me, she thinks. She fails to recognize her own brand of sass that apparently her son has picked up over the years.
"Yes, Henry. Your mother and I are coming to visit." Okay, now she's becoming irritated by the silence. She asks in a firmer tone, "Henry?"
"I'm still here," he responds, not eager to try his mother's patience.
Regaining her cool, she responds in understanding manner, "Honey, I know this is a lot to handle right now. But, your mother loves you. She can't wait to see you." After not receiving a response, Regina decides to try a different tactic. "Do you want to talk-?"
"Mom, I have to go," is Henry's hasty retort.
"Henry, wait!"
Emma is fully aware that the conversation did not go as planned, which prompts her to ask, "Did he just hang up on you?"
"It would appear so," the humiliated woman replies, without meeting Emma's questioning gaze.
"I told you. He hates me."
Meeting her eyes now, Regina counteracts the previous statement. "He does not hate you. He's just overwhelmed. He shuts down when he's overwhelmed." She moves into the younger woman's space, noticeably flirting when she says, "Much like a certain blonde I know."
This earns Regina a playful smile from the younger woman.
Desiring more contact with the woman who has stolen her heart, Emma flirts back, "Oh, yeah. You think you know me so well?"
"Mmm-hmm," Regina hums.
They exchange a tender kiss, managing not to let their heat get out of control.
Sobering slightly, Emma honestly admits, "I never meant to hurt Henry."
"I know."
"So, we're really going to New York?"
"Yep."
"Okay."
"It's going to be alright, Emma. You can do this."
That comment earns Regina an even deeper kiss from her grateful girlfriend. The unexpected intensity of that kiss leaves the queen gasping for breath.
"Thanks," Emma breathes.
Still incredibly light headed, the older woman manages a breathless, "Uh-hu."
Fueled by an unbelievably hot make-out session, Emma becomes enthusiastic about the upcoming New York trip. "Hey, kiddo. How would you like to meet your big brother tomorrow?"
"Henry!" the child cheers.
"I'll take that as a yes."
A recovering Regina joins the excitement. "Are you excited to see Henry?"
"Uh-hu."
Several hours later finds the family napping on the hotel's queen sized bed. Charlie is fast asleep, curled into her brunette mother's side; her blonde mother is lying next to her.
Regina is wide awake. The queen is too excited, and joyous about having her family around her, to sleep. She's also realizes that she doesn't want to miss a single snore emitted by her treasured daughter. Embracing her current state of exhilaration, she busies herself by texting her unexpected and cherished friend.
The blonde woman next to her begins to stir.
Barely opening her sleepy eyes, the young woman asks, "What are you doing?"
Regina looks at her partner and smiles before answering, "Texting your mother. I'm just going to let her know our change of plans so she doesn't worry."
Maybe it was sleep deprivation or finally feeling safe that causes the young woman to start crying.
The hardly audible sound of the woman she loves crying breaks the older woman's heart all over again. "Honey, what's wrong?"
"This is all happening so fast," she desperately admits. Regina's pleading eyes are the reason for Emma following with, "I'm sorry." She buries her face in her hands and begins to cry harder.
Regina expertly maneuvers off the bed without disturbing her sleeping princess and quietly makes her way around the other side of the bed to comfort her beloved.
She lightly places a hand on Emma's shoulder inviting the woman to turn and face her, as she gently whispers, "Come here."
Emma doesn't hesitate, she immediately welcomes Regina's pardoning embrace.
"Shhhhhhh," Regina comforts.
"I'm sorry," Emma cries into her lover's neck.
"You don't need to apologize. I've been so preoccupied with my own happiness I haven't even begun to imagine how this must be affecting you. Emma, you're not alone anymore. We don't have to go anywhere if you're not ready."
Having regained some composure, the blonde woman finds her voice. "I want to go home. I want to see my son. I'm just…" She begins to break. "I can't tell them what happened."
Resolute to keep Emma in the present, Regina begins to calm the younger woman's fears. "Listen to me Emma. You don't have to tell them anything, ever."
Not yet ready to receive Regina's loving words, Emma shuts down. "I can't."
Regina is determined to get through to her. She must get through to her. "You don't have to. No one is making you."
"What's wrong with me?"
Obviously the damage runs far deeper than Regina could have anticipated. Becoming distressed, she lets her emotions take over. "Emma, stop!" She begins to cry, which gets the younger woman's attention immediately. "Please stop being mean to my girlfriend," Regina pleads. "I love her more than life itself. Please don't hurt her anymore. She has already survived so much."
Emma is stunned; absolutely bewildered by the fervor displayed. She responds honestly, "I don't know what I did to deserve your love."
The older woman smiles warmly. "You make it impossible for me not to love you."
"I love you too."
They embrace. Regina soothes as she softly rocks the younger woman in her arms. "It's going to be alright now. I'm taking care of everything." Luckily for Emma, she doesn't even have to say anything for Regina to know that she's worried. "What is it?"
"I'll never be free." For some reason, just saying it out loud relieves the pressure.
Always the caretaker, Regina attempts to remedy the situation immediately. "It won't be that difficult to get a divorce. You shouldn't even have to go to court. He has no legal claim to Charlie. You don't need his money. And, you're letting him keep the house. You never have to see him again."
Though Emma appreciates her girlfriend's desire to make things better, she has to find a way to make her understand her need to fight back. "He'll always have power over me because I let him. I have to confront him."
Unaccustomed to panic, the queen reacts, "Emma, you can't!"
Having made this admission, Emma is filled with calmness that she hasn't felt in years. "Regina…"
The queen becomes uncharacteristically frantic. Her voice cracks, "No!"
It's amazing how these women are able to pull each other out of the emotional rubble. "Hey," Emma says, gently guiding Regina's chin upward. Glassy brown eyes finally meet blue. Filled with appreciation for Regina's display of emotion, Emma attempts to return the gift. "You are the reason I can stand up to him now. You brought back a part of me that I had forgotten years ago. You gave me back my courage. You give my heart strength, Regina."
It's a painful admission, but she says it anyway, "I can't lose you again."
"You're not going to lose me, ever."
"You went away." She cannot stop the flood of tears which overtake her every time she recalls the day that Emma left Storybrooke.
"Please believe in me, Regina."
She calmly responds, "I do…with all my heart."
"Then you'll let me do this?"
Deciding to take control the only way possible, she affirms, "I'm coming with you."
"Regina…"
Determined not to be swayed, the queen stands her ground. "No! I can't let you do this alone."
"Alright. We'll do this together." Actually, just imagining Regina by her side when she confronts Chris fills the younger woman with hope.
As she says it, Regina feels the power of the word, "Together." Springing into action, she announces, "We need to take Charlie somewhere she'll be safe."
"I know where," Emma confidently states.
The hopeful queen inquires, "Where?"
"I need to make a phone call."
Regina begins to pace as she anxiously awaits the results of the mystery phone conversation.
"Sylvia?"
Regina recognizes the jealousy creeping its way into her conscious thought. Who is this Sylvia person?
"It's Emma."
Obviously someone she is close to by the tone of her voice.
"I'm alright. I'm sorry it's been such a long time."
They haven't spoken for a while. Did they have a fight?
"I left Chris. Charlie's fine. We're safe."
She's worried about her. She cares about the well-being of my daughter.
"Would you mind keeping Charlie tonight? I have to take care of something."
Whoever she's talking to, must be a trusted friend.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. We'll be there within the hour."
Trying to smother any remaining hints of jealousy, the queen calmly asks, "Who is Sylvia?"
Preparing herself to give a long explanation, the younger woman takes a deep breath in before exhaling her answer. "After I left Storybrooke…I drove until I couldn't anymore. That's how I found myself in New Jersey. I was tired and broke. I was living out of my car. Sylvia…found me. She rescued me."
The older woman noticeably softens.
Emma smiles warmly at the brunette, before continuing, "She invited me to live with her and cared for me as if I was her own daughter. She was there for me during my pregnancy and she's the only grandparent Charlie has ever known." She takes a minute to summon the courage to make the admission, "I was so lost without you. I don't know if I could have survived if I hadn't met Sylvia."
Absolutely floored by this confession, Regina whispers, "I am so grateful that you had her." Unshed tears begin to cloud her vision.
"After Chris and I married, he didn't want me to see Sylvia anymore. He must've known that she was onto him. She would have never let him hurt me."
The Evil Queen is triggered. "He's a dead man."
"Regina, you're not murdering Chris. You're not that person anymore. I can't let you stoop to his level. You're better than that, Regina." Desperate to get through to her lover, Emma tries a different tactic. "Hey, look at me." Holding Regina's gaze, Emma speaks the three words that have the ability to turn the Evil Queen around. "I love you."
In an instant she can feel the rage subside. Grateful that Emma came to her rescue, the queen reciprocates, "I love you, Emma."
The concern doesn't leave the younger woman's face, as she asks, "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay," Regina assures.
"We should go," Emma reluctantly acknowledges.
They are just pulling into the driveway to Sylvia's house, when Emma makes an announcement.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you…Sylvia thinks you're dead," she very matter-of-factly states while unbuckling her seatbelt.
"What?!" Evidently, Regina is in shock.
Emma casually elaborates, "Yeah, I couldn't exactly explain the whole Storybrooke/border/magic thing, so I told her that you were killed in an accident."
The queen finds herself in an unfamiliar position. She is utterly at a loss for words. Unsure of how to react, she blankly responds, "Okay. Um…we'll figure something out."
"There she is," Emma says, drawing Regina's attention to the elderly woman who is already waiting by the door for their arrival.
What happens next surprises Regina, Emma seemingly reverts back to a childlike state as she runs to the waiting woman, shouting, "Sylvia!"
Regina watches as they embrace. She knows that embrace. It's one that she has exchanged with her son many times. This woman is a mother.
"Emma," the elderly woman cries, rocking the young woman in her arms.
After carefully placing Charlie on the ground, Regina watches the child follow her blonde mother's lead. "Grandma," she shouts as she runs to a waiting Sylvia.
The elderly woman immediately crouches down to Charlie's level and holds her arms open, ready to embrace the excited child. "Charlie! I missed you so much!"
After the tearful reunion, Sylvia stands to Regina and Emma's level, still clutching the little girl's hand.
"Sylvia, I'd like you to meet my…Regina," Emma says taking the older woman's hand for support.
"That's my mommy," their little girl proudly states.
A flabbergasted Sylvia inquires to make certain she heard correctly, "You're Regina?"
As surprised as Sylvia must be at meeting the woman she believed to be dead, the queen is even more astounded by this family dynamic. She wasn't expecting to meet her sort-of future mother-in-law today. She suddenly forgets English. "Um…yes? I think."
Emma and Charlie laugh at Regina's obvious awkwardness.
Her girlfriend's cuteness, prompts Emma to kiss Regina's cheek in a show of support.
"You're even more beautiful than I ever imagined," Sylvia honestly admits.
"I told you," a beaming Emma agrees.
"Thank you," Regina uncomfortably responds, earning her another giggle from her girlfriend.
"Please, come inside," Sylvia invites.
Before proceeding into the house, Emma checks-in with Regina. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm good." It was an easier response than describing the multitude of emotions overtaking her in that moment.
Lightly squeezing her girlfriend's hand, Emma encourages, "It's okay Regina. This is my home."
Upon entering the house, Charlie excitedly greets a small grey, white, and tan tabby. "Gizmo!"
The excited tabby automatically drops to the floor in front of Charlie, inviting the little girl to pet her belly.
Is this a dog or a cat? Regina wonders.
"She definitely remembers you," Sylvia remarks.
Matching her daughter's excitement, Emma eagerly asks Regina a very important question. "You wanna meet my cat?"
A look of mortification crosses the queen's face as she responds with a question of her own. "Your cat?"
Attempting to ease the blow, Emma corrects her previous statement. "Well, she's Sylvia's cat."
"Gizmo loves Emma," Sylvia adds.
Picking up the tiny tabby who immediately nuzzles her face, Emma says, "Hi, baby. Oh, I missed you too Gizmo. I'd like you to meet someone. This is Regina, she's my girlfriend."
"Hello," Regina timidly responds. How awkward can she be? It's just a cat.
Charlie decides to remedy the situation with her leadership skills. "Pet her Mommy," the child instructs.
"Yeah, pet her Mommy," Emma concurs.
Regina tentatively goes to pet the tiny tabby's head. The cat reacts by gently grasping Regina's reaching hand with her paw and licking it.
"Aw…she gave you kisses," says an enthusiastic Emma.
"She likes you," Charlie announces.
Seeing this warms Sylvia's heart. She says to Emma, "You got yourself a good one there." "She doesn't take to just anyone," Sylvia adds, referring to Gizmo.
"Oh, I know," the young woman agrees. "That's my good girl," she says, kissing the cat and placing her on the floor.
"Okay, kid. Can you stay here and play with Gizmo while your mom and I talk to Grandma?"
"Uh-hu."
Walking through the house she called home for three years fills Emma with undeniable comfort.
"Please, have a seat. Can I get you two, anything? Are you hungry?"
"No, thank you," Emma replies, politely.
"Are you sure? Something to drink?" Opening the fridge and examining its contents, Sylvia lists them off. "I have ginger ale, seltzer, iced-tea, coffee…"
On second thought… "May I have some seltzer?"
"Of course."
The natural tenderness and care this woman shows toward Emma fills Regina with endless gratitude.
The elderly woman turns her attention to the Regina. "Can I get you something to drink, Regina?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine."
After filling her own glass with seltzer, the warm woman joins Emma and Regina at the kitchen table.
Addressing Emma, she remarks, "It's so good to see you smiling"
"I'm really happy," the young woman honestly admits, smiling wildly. Upon entering the house, she had forgotten all about Chris and the misery that was her marriage.
"That makes me happy." Sylvia makes another observation. "I like this outfit."
"It's Regina's."
"Ours. It's ours," Regina gently corrects.
Turning her attention to the brunette, Sylvia states, "You have good taste."
"Thank you." She is still so awkward. Why can't she relax?
"So, how did this happen? I thought you were…"
Oh, right. That's why.
"Dead? I know."
Sensing Regina's embarrassment, Emma intervenes. "That was my way of dealing with what happened between us." Grasping Regina's hand under the table, in support, she continues, "I never believed that I would see her again. She didn't even know that I was pregnant when I left Maine. I never told her."
Gently rubbing the back of Emma's hand with her thumb, Regina explains her side of the story, "I'd been searching for Emma for four years. I'm afraid I'm not as good at tracking people as her."
"But, when she found me," Emma turns to gaze into her girlfriend's eyes before continuing, "I realized I never wanted to be separated from her again."
Hesitant to remind the young lovers of her presence, Sylvia clears her throat before speaking. "You two are lucky to have each other. Cherish this time together."
The unconditional love and acceptance this woman has just shown relaxes Regina. She responds honestly, "We will. This time apart has made me appreciate Emma so much more."
Sylvia makes an observation. "Your baby looks just like you."
Regina blushes slightly. "Thank you."
The conversation takes an unexpected turn. "Has he come after you?"
Regina's voice drops an octave and she flatly states, "He'd be in the morgue if he did." Evidently, it doesn't take much to trigger the Evil Queen when Emma's safety is concerned.
"Regina…" Emma tries to calm the older woman. She answers Sylvia's question. "He doesn't know I'm gone yet. We're going to confront him tonight, together."
Calming slightly, Regina finishes her girlfriend's thought process. "That's why we need you to watch Charlie."
"Of course." Addressing Emma again, Sylvia continues, "I'll always take care of Charlie, you know that."
"I know," Emma confirms.
What Regina says next takes Emma completely by surprise. "I want to thank you, Sylvia, for taking such good care of my family."
Entirely pleased with Regina for making such a sincere admission, Sylvia responds, "It was my pleasure. Emma and Charlie have brought so much light into my life."
"Mine too." She sees no reason to deny the passion she feels for her family.
Fighting the urge to cry again, Emma rises from her seated position, stating, "We don't have much time."
"You should go," Sylvia agrees, rising from her seat to walk the couple out.
"There's one very important thing I have to get first." Motioning for Regina to follow her, Emma whispers, "Regina." Once out of sight and around the corner, Emma pushes Regina against the wall kissing her with the familiar fire of their reunion. The lust is evident in Emma's hungry kiss as she presses herself against the older woman's body, causing her to whimper.
After what seems like several minutes, or a half hour, Regina couldn't tell, they break for air. Breathlessly, she asks, "What was that?"
Chest heaving, Emma responds, "I'm so in love with you, Regina."
"Oh." She struggles to catch her breath. "Good."
Emma brightens. With a goofy grin on her face, she chastely kisses Regina's sensitive lips before taking her hand. "Come on, I want to show you something." Emma guides the older woman down the hallway to her old bedroom. "I left it here because I never wanted Chris to get his hands on it."
"What is it?"
"It's a box of letters that I kept. I haven't been able to part with them," she says handing the box to Regina.
"Who sent them to you?"
"No one."
Brown eyes meet blue, in confusion. "I don't understand. Who wrote them?"
"I did," Emma quietly confesses. "Open it."
Upon opening the box, Regina discovers countless envelopes with her name written on the backs. "Wha-?"
"I wrote to you." Regina sits on the bed with the box tucked safely in her lap as she moves her free hand over each treasured envelope. Emma goes on to explain, "I knew they would never reach Storybrooke if I mailed them. But, I felt connected to you just by writing. I think I wrote to you every day of my pregnancy." Emma takes a seat next to Regina on the bed before continuing. "There was so much I wanted to share with you. I still do."
The older woman is so moved, she can barely speak. Her voice cracks when she asks, "May I read them?"
"They're your letters."
"I'll cherish them, Emma."
"Regina, those letters…some of them…I mean, maybe I should take some of them out."
"Why would you do that?"
"I wrote them when I hit some low points. They might…I know they'll upset you."
"It's entirely up to you. If you don't want me to read them, I won't. But, you never have to be ashamed of your feelings; especially with me."
"I trust you. I want you to have them."
"Thank you. Thank you for keeping me in your life all these years."
"You never left my heart, Regina."
"You are my heart, Emma."
Apparently the hallway incident hadn't satisfied their hunger for each other. Their lips connect automatically, only this time it is tender, careful, and sensual.
"Touch me Regina," Emma whispers.
"Emma, we can't."
"Please. I need you. I want to feel you."
"I want to feel you too, Emma. Believe me, I do. But…we have to go. We're not free yet."
This realization that Regina feels as trapped as she, hits Emma hard. Adopting a serious tone, she announces, "You're right. We should go."
"Emma?" Regina hopes that her eyes are able to communicate what words cannot.
Understanding completely, Emma offers an honest smile. "Come on. We need to say goodbye to Charlie."
Upon seeing her two mothers emerge from the hallway, Charlie exclaims, "Mommy!"
"Come here, kid," Emma says, picking up her precious child and kissing her. "Thank you, again, for watching her," she says to Sylvia. She gently puts Charlie down before embracing the woman who had become a second mother to her.
"You come back to me safe now," Sylvia responds, hugging her Emma tightly.
"I will," she manages through her tears which are now flowing freely.
Sylvia can no longer fight her own tears. "I won't be able to sleep until I know you're safe."
Walking up behind her, Regina places a hand on Emma's back for comfort. "We'll call you," she assures.
Sylvia embraces Regina next and says, "Take care of her."
"I always will," Regina promises, returning the hug.
"Charlie, you're going to stay here with Grandma until your mom and I get back," the young woman explains.
"Mommy. Mommy, don't go." Emma lifts her little girl into her arms, but the child's desperate cries are more than she can handle at the moment.
"Regina," she whispers, communicating with her eyes what she cannot voice.
Recognizing that look of despair immediately, Regina comes to Emma's rescue. "Come here, sweetheart." Charlie fluidly goes to her brunette mother and rests easy in her protective embrace. "Okay, baby. It's okay. Hey, you're going to have fun with Grandma and Gizmo. We'll be back before you know it."
"Mommy."
"I love you Charlie. We'll be back soon," Regina continues.
"I love you, Mommy."
"Bye, Sylvia." Emma hugs the elderly woman again.
"I hate that you're doing this," Sylvia admits.
"I'll be fine. I have Regina."
"That's the only reason I'm letting you out of this house."
"We'll call you," Regina reassures.
"I love you," Emma says as she blows Sylvia a kiss goodbye.
"I love you too," she returns, watching Emma disappear into the night.