Emma Swan-Mills
"Henry! Come on, you're going to be late," I yell through the house as I finish making his sandwich for school. I lick the peanut butter off the knife and carelessly toss the utensil into the sink.
"You're going to cut your tongue one day," Regina sasses as she enters the kitchen, which inspires me to stick my tongue out at my wife.
"I'm pregnant leave me alone," I defend as I resume making Henry's lunch. Regina simply laughs at my childish ways and shakes her head.
"How are you feeling? Is it different than last time? I know the first three months are the hardest," she interrogates me with genuine smile.
"I feel a lot worse this time around. I want to throw up everywhere...all day!"
"Disgusting." Her usual pristine face morphs into a horrified expression. "Do you have to be so graphic?"
"Yes. Yes, I do if you want to understand," I smile in victory just as the doorbell rings to interfere with our lovely banter. "I'll get it, you go see what's taking your son so long. He's going to be late."
"That's because he's your son. Running late is your expertise!" She mocks as I slip away from the kitchen.
The doorbell rings again, slightly irritating my pregnant hormones. "I'm coming," I bellow through the long hall.
I jerk open the door to discover an older woman standing on our porch. She is dressed to impress in a high-end pantsuit. Her brown hair is styled to perfection and flowing elegantly around her shoulders. She is definitely much smaller than her high heels are presenting her to be. She smiles at me, but I can tell it is anything but sincere.
"Can I help you?" I ask, resting my body against the doorframe.
"I'm here to speak with Regina," she coldly replies.
"And you are...?" I drag out the question while her eyes scan my body up and down. I feel as though I'm being placed under a microscope, so she can detect all my flaws.
"You must be Emma." I furrow my eyebrows not understanding who this woman is or what she wants with my wife.
"Yes, and your name is?"
"Cora." My heart plummets. I can feel all the blood draining from my face. Regina's mother, what the hell is she doing here? "I can tell by your expression you know exactly who I am. Now I would like to speak with my daughter," she demands in a stern tone as if she has the upper hand in this situation.
"I don't think that's a good idea. She doesn't need any added stress to her life," I retort just as coldly as she is speaking to me.
"That's why I'm here, dear." Well now I know where Regina gets her dear from. "My daughter told me Regina was going through a hard time since she found out she cannot conceive a baby."
"Well Zelena should have never told you that. I will speak with her about keeping our lives out of her mouth. Especially with you!"
Rage is drumming viciously beneath my flesh as I stare this awful woman down. A warm hand slips over my shoulder, instantly relaxing the anger that threatens to escape.
"Who's at the-" Regina's words trail off once she sees the woman who betrayed her all those years ago. "Mother?" Breathlessly falls from her lips.
"Hello dear. I came to see how you are doing."
Henry wiggles his way between mine and Regina's legs and smiles up at the stranger before him.
"Is this my grandma?" He asks with such hope dancing in his sparkling green eyes.
"Henry, we have to get going. You're going to be late for school," I insist taking his hand into mine, deliberately ignoring his question. "Do you have your lunch?"
"Yes, everything is in there," Regina answers in a daze while she continues to stare at her mother in shock.
"Come on Henry," I tug his hand urging him to follow my lead. Regina shakes her head, clearing her mind from any torturous thoughts and closes the door behind us.
"We have to get going mother. You shouldn't have dropped by like this unexpected. It's highly inappropriate," Regina demands as she grabs Henry's other hand and the three of us walk toward our car together.
"I think you need to speak to me, dear. Zelena told me about your awful news."
"Now is not the time nor place," Regina commands as she slams Henry's car door, once he's inside.
"Easy," I complain, narrowing my eyes at my angry wife.
Raven locks whip back and forth as she shakes her head. I know my wife well enough to know her emotions are bubbling over and there's no calming them at this point in time. Regina opens her door and steps only one foot into the car.
"Goodbye mother." She slinks down into her seat and shuts her door.
I climb into the driver's side and examine the way my wife is fuming in the seat next to me. Her arms are folded protectively across her chest, fighting against anyone who dares to speak a single word.
"Are you okay?" I ask cautiously knowing damn well she's not.
"I don't want to talk about it right now."
"So, was that my grandma? You called her mother," Henry notes once more.
My eyes shift to his in the rear-view mirror and then over to Regina. She closes her eyes and exhales a slow shaky breath. I remain silent allowing her the time and space she may need right now. Regina turns around in her seat, so she can speak to our son properly.
"Yes, that's my mother. She wasn't very nice when I was growing up and as I grew older she said some hurtful things, that I just can't forgive her for," Regina does her best to explain, while I am silently praying Henry won't ask for further details.
"Maybe she's sorry and wants to fix it?" He offers with a smile, being the young naive little boy that he is. Regina reaches her hand out and lovingly rubs his knee.
"Maybe sweetie, but I don't know if I'm ready."
"Okay mom," he shrugs as he turns his attention to something out the window.
Regina turns back around, eyeballing me with concern. I know she's worried over many things right now, so I stretch over the console and squeeze some reassurance back into her knee.
Once we dropped Henry off together, we drove back home. Regina is supposed to have the morning off, but we still enjoy driving our son to school together. On days like today, I usually drive her back home before heading off to work.
"Now that Henry's not in the car, do you want to talk about it?" I suggest while holding her hand protectively in mine.
"There's not much to talk about. She's a cold-hearted bitch and I'm done with her games."
The tension rolling off my wife is terrifying, and I'm not really sure what I can say or do in this exact moment.
"I know you're upset. I also know that a part of you wants to talk to her...to see what she has to say."
"Yes, but why? Just to get hurt again? Just to be let down once more by the woman?"
"I understand. It's up to you and I'm here to support any decision you make on the subject."
Regina turns her head to hide away any true emotions that might be displaying across her face. She remains quiet the rest of the drive home, but her thumb continues to glide over the back of my hand to keep her distracted. I can't imagine the struggle she is going through. I don't know what I would do if I were in her position. That's her mother and I know she wants to forgive her and have her apart of her life, but I also understand she's tired of being let down by this woman, time and time again.
We pulled into our driveway to find Cora's car still sitting in front of our house.
"Why is she still here?" Regina exhales through gritted teeth.
"Why don't you just see what she wants?"
"Are you not coming with me?" She interrogates with anger lacing her tone.
"I have to go to work. I really don't want to be late and have to make up for the time later this evening. If you don't want to talk to her alone, tell her you have a class and she can come by later this evening when I'm home. We can talk to her together."
Regina nods and leans across the middle console. My wife clenches the top of my shirt and yanks my body against hers. She kisses me feverishly, throwing me off just a little bit but I don't hesitate to kiss her back with just as much fiery passion.
Her warm tongue is exploring every part of my mouth as her free fingers grip the back of my neck as if I might disappear. A low hum breaks from her throat and that's all the motivation I need to keep up with her pace. I use one hand to cup her face, deepening this aggressive kiss. Regina bites down on my bottom lip and drags the tender flesh between her teeth before she ends the kiss.
Her infamous evil grin slips across her face as she winks at me. "Love you." She opens the door and kicks it even wider with her foot.
"Why do I get the feeling that was all for show?"
"Because I want to piss my mother off as much as possible before she leaves," her voice is sweet and bubbly causing me to laugh in response.
"If you'd like I could take you, right here, right now on the hood of the car?"
My wife laughs hard at my words and leans forward for one more peck to my lips.
"Have a good day Swan, I love you," she playfully teases using my maiden name.
"I love you too, Mills!" I sass right back before she shuts the door.