I really can't thank you guys enough for all your views and comments on this! I never expected it to be so popular! And I'm sorry updates have been slow in coming, but I'm in the process of applying for a new job and I'm not at the second interview stage and things are a little up in the air! But, you guys have all made the effort to read this far, so I'm not going to stop now! Hope you continue to enjoy!
"Hey!" called Emma as she breezed in the door, dumping her bag on the floor by the door. "My chocolate spread loaf get a little crisp, did it?" she asked with a chuckle as the smell of burnt baking his her nostrils. Stepping through the living room, a frown tugged at her features. Something in the house didn't feel right. Moving towards the kitchen, her ears caught sight of Mary Margaret at the kitchen table, her head in her hands, tears pouring down her face. "M&M, what's wrong?" she asked, hurrying around to the older woman's side.
That was when she saw the pictures spread out on the table. Tears sprang to her eyes as she realised what must have happened. She didn't fight it as Mary Margaret wrapped her arms around her, holding her close.
Cora had her. Cora had waited until she knew Regina would be alone in the house and had made her move.
Feeling her anger build up, Emma untangled herself from her foster mother. "I'm going over there."
"I'll come with you," the dark haired woman immediately offered.
Emma shook her head. "No. Not that I don't appreciate it, but you know what she's like. She'll end up having you fired or something." She gave Mary Margaret one more hug. "And honestly, I don't think you'd approve of the language I intend to use when I get there," she added, trying to lighten the mood.
Mary Margaret gave the blonde's arm a final squeeze. "Go get her."
Emma had to force herself not to speed on the way over to Mifflin Street. It had been the only trip in her newly running car that she hadn't been able to enjoy. The closer she got, the angrier she got. She couldn't imagine Regina had willingly gone with her mother, meaning the woman had probably dragged her from the house. Or, considering the photos, blackmailed her.
Pulling up outside of the mansion, flew from the car, slamming the door behind her as she stormed up to the front door. Taking a breath, she managed to refrain from kicking the door in, instead pressing the bell and taking a step back. It only took a few moments before the woman she hated most in the world answered the door.
"Oh look, it's the street rat," drawled the older woman. "Let me guess, you're here to try and persuade me that you love my daughter and you belong together. Well let me tell you, you corrupting little waste of space, I don't care what you think you feel for my daughter, you will be getting nowhere hear her. So you can take your unnatural little ways and get off my porch!"
Resisting the urge to punch the woman in the face, Emma instead shouldered past her and into the house. She ignored the torrent of names and put downs that were called after her, instead focusing only on getting to her destination. Pushing open the door to Regina's room, she halted suddenly, feeling as though she couldn't breathe. Regina wasn't there.
And if she wasn't in her room, just where was Cora keeping her?
She slowly descended the stairs, her anger boiling up at the sight of Cora standing primly in the foyer, a smug smile on her face. It was more than Emma could take. In moments, she was in the woman's face, practically screaming at her. "I don't give a damn what you think of me! You can think I'm worse than the dirt on your shoe if you like, but that doesn't change the fact that I love your daughter, and she loves me. She is EVERYTHING you're not! She's beautiful and kind and gentle, and if you have hurt her, I swear, you'll regret the day you ever met me! Whatever you have done with her, I will find her!"
Cora merely continued to smirk, making a show of wiping the spittle from her face. "My little girl is soon going to be the last thing on your mind. See, I did some digging, Miss Swan. You were given up at the moment of your birth...a closed adoption." She stepped into Emma's personal space, the blonde too stubborn to retreat. "Your mother wanted nothing to do with you...until now." Her smirk became even more wicked as she continued. "You own a baby blanket, correct, Miss Swan? A knitted blanket bearing only your name. It was the one item which accompanied you to the adoption agency. The one thing you have of your mother's? I wonder if our dear Mary Margaret would still recognise it after all these years? Has she seen it yet?"
It wasn't fear that had Emma stumbling back, but shock. "No!"
Cora casually walked past Emma, lifting a file from the hallway table. "Yes dear." She held up the file. "It's all in here, all in black and white."
Emma grabbed the file, unwilling to believe what she was hearing. She tore through the pages, tears flowing as Cora's words proved true.
"I'm surprised Regina didn't tell you..."
Emma's face dropped as her blood ran cold. Regina wouldn't do that to her.
"Regina saw your file dear," said Cora. "Even asked me if Mary Margaret knew."
Emma shook her head. "No, she wouldn't! She would have told me!" Even as she said it, she couldn;t help think back to the waterfall. To that first visit so long ago. She told me she had seen my file...did she see this?