Regina and Emma spent the evening baking. It was always a way for Regina to destress and Emma was never one to turn down desserts. Especially if her mother made them. For Regina, her favorite time to bake was at night, which Emma liked because then she got a midnight snack. It was the one time when Regina broke her own rules. She not only let Emma stay up much later than normal but she also let her eat a very unhealthy amount of sugar. But it didn't happen often and these were times Emma and Regina loved to enjoy together.
"So, Cora…." Emma says sitting on the counter liking a spoon covered in brownie batter.
"What about her?" Regina asks.
"Does she have a heart? I mean like physically." Emma asks.
"Not in her." Regina says handing Emma a towel to wipe the chocolate off her face. "It's in my vault, where it can be kept safe."
"Maybe she wouldn't be so bad if she had it in." Emma thinks. Regina ponders this for a moment.
"She'd never agree." Regina answers. "But then again, we've never agreed on much."
"Worth a shot." Emma smiles. "Besides, I'm not afraid. She won't hurt me if you're here." Regina smiles. Even if Regina had her doubts, she was glad Emma had such faith in her. "Mom?"
"Hm?"
"Would you love me more if I was biologically yours? Like if I was you and Daniel's daughter?" Emma asks so calmly that Regina nearly gasps out loud.
"Emma Elizabeth Mills." The mayor says sternly but warmly. "Nothing in this world, or any world for that matter, would ever make me love you less. I love you more than anything, blood or not. You are MY daughter, I raised you and I have loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you. Sure I WISH I was your mother biologically, but that doesn't mean I'd love you more if I was." Emma nods, satisfied with this answer.
"I have another question." Emma begins. "How come you never found love again?"
"Truthfully?" Emma nods. "Well, I guess I was afraid. Once, a very long time ago, Tinkerbell told me I was destined to be with a man. She led me to this tavern...but I never went in. I chose the path of evil instead."
"What was the name of this man?" Emma questions. Regina looks at Emma and Emma can see a bit of regret in her mother's eyes.
"I don't know." Regina admits. "I never even saw his face...just his arm, well his forearm. And his tattoo of a lion."
"We have to find him!" Emma exclaims. Regina laughs at her daughter's eagerness.
"Emma honey it was decades ago and besides it's not like he's the only person in the realms with that tattoo." Regina explains gently as a timer goes off. Regina moves across the kitchen for a moment in order to remove the food from the oven and set it to cool.
"If we did find him." Emma continues after thinking for a moment. "Would you consider it." Regina sighs, knowing her daughter isn't going to give this.
"I'd CONSIDER it." Regina clarifies. Emma grins. She was determined now. Once they figured things out with her grandfather she was going to find her mom's soulmate.
Emma awakens the next morning to the sound of someone in the kitchen. She looks at the clock and wonders why her mother was awake at 6 AM on a Saturday. That was early even for Regina. Groaning Emma decides she isn't going to fall back to sleep so she slips on her robe and slippers and heads out the door. To her surprise when she passes her mother's room she hears her mom's soft snoring. Emma knows she should wake her mother and warn her, but Emma was curious and too stubborn for that. She quietly passes her mom's door and sneaks down the steps. She cautiously pops her head into the kitchen. An elderly woman was searching the cupboards. Emma wonders what she's looking for. This had to be Cora, but she looked harmless.
"Here goes nothing." Emma whispers to herself. She clears her throat and the intruder turns in surprise. Emma had obviously startled her. "Can I help you?"
"You're Emma." The women states taking in the appearance of the teenager. Emma nods. "I suppose that makes me your grandmother."
"Hello Cora." Emma says stepping farther into the room.
"You're not afraid." Again she words it as a statement and not a question.
"No. I'm not." Emma answers honestly. "Because my mother would murder you if you so much as laid a finger on me. And besides, something tells me you're here to win her over and that won't happen if you hurt me." Cora looks at Emma in shock. She sounded so much like Regina. Cora chuckles a little.
"I'm impressed." The queen of hearts says. The two turn when they hear footsteps. Regina practically flies down the stairs and pushes Emma behind her protectively. Emma has no time to protest or to even say a word.
"Stay away from my daughter." Regina snarls. Cora smiles.
"Don't worry dear I'm not here to hurt her." Cora replies. Regina doesn't move. She didn't trust her mother and she sure as hell didn't trust her around Emma. The last time Regina let her mother get close to someone she loved he ended up dead.
"Get out." Regina demands.
"Mom," Emma speaks up. "I'm okay, she was just talking to me."
"Emma, you don't have any idea what this woman is capable of." Regina tries to reason with her daughter as she turns to face her. "I know what she says, but I also know how easily she can manipulate people and I refuse to take that risk. I won't put you in danger."
"But-" Regina cuts her daughter off.
"Emma, I need you to trust me okay?" Emma nods at her mother. "Go upstairs until I come get you." Emma knows Regina was trying to protect her and even if Emma thought she didn't need to be protected she listened. Regina pulls Emma into a hug to reassure them both. Emma sighs and reluctantly makes her way to her bedroom where Regina had placed a protection spell, not that it'd help considering Cora had broken the one around the house, but t least it would stall the elder witch.
"You need to leave." Regina says again turning to once again face the woman who gave birth to her.
"Regina, please just, hear me out." Cora begs. Regina has never heard her mother sound so desperate but she isn't going to fall for it. "If you still want me gone I'll leave and never come back, but just let me talk."
"Like you 'just talked' to Daniel." Regina snaps causing the older woman to flinch. "No. I won't do it again."
"What do I have to do in order for you to just listen?" Cora demands. Regina thinks back to her conversation with Emma.
"Put your heart back in." Regina says firmly. "Do it, and I'll listen. I won't promise anything, but if you put your heart in I'll listen."
"But I-" Regina doesn't let her mother argue.
"That's my condition. Do it or we don't talk." Cora looks at her daughter, really looks at her, and is surprised to see how strong she is. It makes Cora proud and if her heart was in she was sure it'd be swelling. Cora nods.
"Okay, I'll do it. I'll put my heart in."
A/N I hope you all ship OUTLAWQUEEN because they're my babies and Robin will be in this later! -Kaila