CAP 16

-"Ms. Mayor? "-

Erin calls through the intercom.

- "Yes Erin, what's wrong?" –

- "Here`s Snow White asking to see you ma`am" –

Ugh.

- "Please tell her I'm busy, and that she is more than welcome to come any other time."-

I'm not in the mood to deal with her, especially after having to put up with her husband last night. We all know that we have reached a point where we learned to love each other. But they are already pushing.

-"She says it's important. That she will wait until you can see her. "-

God; even without seeing her she manage to irritate me.

- "Erin?" –

- "Yes Madam Mayor." –

- "Is she with Neal, the baby?" –

- "No Madam Mayor." –

- "Tell her to take a seat then." –

I smiled thinking that I could leave her waiting all afternoon. Or at least the remaining 40 minutes till 5.

Ugh I can`t help but wonder what Snow will want now.

Is it that something happened with Emma or Henry? No; she would have came in directly to my office. Will she need help with Neal? Neither; she would also have entered right in. Now that I think about it, I think it's the first time that she has been announced by my secretary. I look at my watch and notice that only 15 minutes have passed; but I can`t stand the not knowing anymore. I am intrigued and uncomfortable about her visit. Grrr.

- "Erin, would you please tell Snow that she can come in now "-

I need to know, even more when I see Snow enter my office with such lightness.

- "Good afternoon Regina." –

She says changing the attitude as soon as she starts talking.

After sitting without having been invited to do so.

- "What can I do for you?" –

Straight to the point. I need to know what this is all about.

- "I thought maybe you could take some time to ... ... talk? It`s being a long time."-

- "Do you want advice on motherhood?" –

I ask sarcastically. There will always be a part of me that finds delight in make her feel uncomfortable.

- "Actually I would like to talk about our relationship. I would like to change it. "-

She says looking straight to my eyes.

- "I don`t fallow? I do not see the need to alter our relationship. I don`t want to kill you anymore and you are calm. I think it's a good relationship. "-

This I did not expect.

- "Exactly, and since we are family I would like to be able to share more family time with you." –

I can hear the sincerity in her voice.

I also know that it hadn`t be easy for her to tell me these things. What the hell is happening to the Charmings? Suddenly they behave so kind to me, It`s creepy.

-"I guess you're right. After all, you are my son's grandparents. "-

I say considering her offer.

- "I want you to know that you can count on me and David too. We're here to support you, Regina, really. And you also know that it's not just because we're Henry's grandparents. We love you."-

Mmm. I know that there must have left a bad taste in her mouth when she say these words, but I also see that she`s being honest.

- "The feeling is mutual." - Yep. This is the bad taste that must have been in her mouth.

- "Either way, Snow, you must understand that I am intrigued by the fact that overnight, literally, both you and your husband have decided to consider me a part of the family." –

I say very formally.

She nods.

- "I would like to know what this change is due to." –

I ask what I really want to know. It hasn`t worked for me making excuses.

- "Have you under any curse?" –

I joke trying to make her notice that I would also like to become a member of the family.

Snow seems to think the words she wants to say but smiles equally.

- "It's just ... Look we've known each other for a long time ..." –

- "Let's not say how much." -I joke again.

- "And we have gone through many fights together." –

She says nodding again.

- "That's true, although sometimes we weren`t on the same side." –

I answer making an effort to understand her.

- "That's what I mean, Regina. You keep on bearing the guilt of the past when the whole family has already forgiven you. Don`t misunderstand me, many people in Storybrook are still afraid of you. But nobody is afraid for their life anymore. More than anything, they fear that you make them look like idiots and we know that`s one of your many talents. "-

She ends smiling and I match that smile.

- "Well that's all I wanted to tell you. I've already stolen too much of your time. "-

She tells me as she gets up.

-"Have a good day. Remember that you count on us. "-

She tells me as she`s reaching for the door. From the threshold she turns around and tells me

- "Regina; welcome to the family."-

It's worthless stay in the office. There is nothing left to do. Apparently the overtime of last week have move forwards things more than what I though. I decide that I deserve to go home to rest.

Taking advantage of this feeling that my talk with Snow had left me. The feeling that I finally belong. The feeling of acceptance and being able to enjoy it in the comfort of my home.

I also have to plan a dinner for tomorrow. I pick up my things and I leave.

I let Erin know that she can do the same.

There are a couple of good things that I discovered these days.

I finally understood that I'm not alone and that I won`t be alone anymore. I know I always had Henry; but now I also know that my sister will be by my side and that I have the acceptance of the Charmings, which brings a smile to my face that can`t be erased until I get home.

I stop the car and I have that nostalgia to enter an empty house again. But that feeling is gone the moment I remember how Zelena took care of me a couple of days ago. Remembering the talk with David last night and Snow welcoming me to her family. That smile is back on my face and it doesn`t bother me to enter my house anymore; because I know that now there is no one. But soon it will be full of people who will fill it with memories.

So I'm happy to be able to enter my quiet house.