AN: HUGE thanks to everyone who have stuck with me and this story. I honestly never thought I'd write past chapter 1, but through your support I did! Sending my love across oceans! *hugs*
P.S. epilogue is coming soon
"Happy Birthday, Dad!" Emma says on the phone.
"Yeah, we'll be over in about 10 minutes or so okay? I'll see you soon, bye." Emma continues to say on the pone until she hangs up.
"Killian are you almost ready, I told my father we'd be there soon." Emma shouts.
Killian walks by Emma completely ignoring her as he grabs the car keys and walks out the door.
The couple drives to her parents' house in complete silence, making Emma feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Emma!" Her parents exclaim as she walks into their house.
"Happy Birthday Dad!" Emma says as she gives her father a huge hug.
"Thank you, sweetheart!" David replies and then turns to face Killian, "glad you guys could come."
"Yeah, me too." Killian replies dully.
Everyone sings "Happy Birthday" as Mary Margaret brings out David's birthday cake.
With the shades closed and focus on her father Emma grabs Killian's hand but is hurt when he pulls away.
Emma eyes him carefully, seeing a look of anger across his face.
Before they finish singing, Killian storms out of the room and heads towards the door, "I can't handle this!"
"Killian!" Emma says as she tries to grab his hand once more.
"I can't do it, Emma, I can't do it. I thought I could, but I can't."
"What's happening?" David says, concern lacing his voice.
"I'm going." Killian replies.
"What? Why? Emma was is going on?" Mary Margaret asks her daughter.
"I'm not gonna leave you." Emma says as tears begin to fill her eyes.
"If you respect me at all, that's exactly what you will do."
David watches intently glancing between his daughter and his son-in-law.
"It's not you leaving that's gonna kill me." Killian continues, "It's you loving someone more".
"No, you're not walking away. Don't leave me." Emma shouts as she walks behind Killian.
"Yeah, keep saying that. Let me pretend this is my choice!"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, Emma, we both know you'd have left me in the end anyway."
"That's not true." Emma says as she continues to become more frustrated and hurt.
"Yes, it is! You know, I want you to be happy, love. More than anything else. I wanted to be the cause of happiness in you. I liked your walls and being the one to break them down. But if I'm not, then I can't stand in the way of someone who can." Killian begins to speak more softly, as he grabs and holds Emma's hands, "Do you see? Because what you're feeling now, Emma, you've never let that way about me. Which means that I've got to go."
Killian walks towards the car and leaves, leaving Emma standing in the drive way speechless.
"Emma" David says as he walks towards his daughter, "What did he mean when he said you're in love with someone else?"
"I am in love with someone else." Emma replies nonchalantly.
"Robin. That hobo? He smells like a forest!" Mary Margaret states.
"Not him."
"Who, then?"
Emma stares blankly at her parents.
"Well, what's his name?" Mary Margaret asks getting impatient.
"Who is the lucky guy?" David says cheerfully.
"Her name is Regina."
"Regina?" Mary Margaret asks confused, as shock slowly paints her face.
"Yes." Emma states as she is emotionally drained from the conflict.
"Porn."
"What?"
"Nothing." She states carefully, "So the two of you are lesbi-friends." She states carefully.
Guilt paints Emma's face as she remembers the look of pain on Regina's face when she let her go, "It doesn't matter what you call it, and it's not going to happen. Not after all this."
"Could I say something here?" David asks carefully as Emma gives him a small nod of approval, "I love your mother. I have ever since I met her. Even with our fights and problems we have always found our way back to each other. And if I had a chance to go back in time and change anything, I wouldn't because despite everything she holds half of my heart, and I swear, I love her more every day." David finishes as she glanced at his wife whose mouth is agape, "So whatever you choose to do from here we'll support you, we always will. But please, Emma, my princess follow your heart."
Emma hugs her father tightly as she whispers in his ear, "Could I borrow your car?"
"I'll drive you." He replies excitedly.
"Nothing happens without me there!" Mary Margaret yells after them, as they run out the door.
"Hurry. Hurry, please. Take a left here." Emma yells as she directs her father to Regina's shop.
"Is it straight on?" David's asks.
"Yes."
"Kind of exciting." David comments.
"Just up here."
"And where did you two meet?" Mary Margaret asks.
"At my wedding." Emma says as a big smile crosses her lips.
"But it's such a short time. How can you be sure?"
"I knew after three seconds." Emma rebuffs as hope and anticipation fill her voice.
"Like your mother and I." David states.
"As long as your happy, I'm happy too." Mary Margaret replies.
The car stops as they are in front of Regina's as Emma runs out the door and into the shop.
"Where's Regina? Is she here?"
"Would you like to try that entrance again?" Cora rebuffs as she eyes the blonde.
"Hello. Please, I'm looking for Regina."
"You're her, aren't you? You're the girl."
"Yes, I am." Emma says as dread fills her, remembering how she let the brunette go.
Never again. Emma thinks to herself
"You have a husband."
"I left him. He left me. It doesn't matter. It's over."
"So you're free and you love my daughter?" Cora asks as she inspects the woman.
Emma shakes her head 'yes'.
"Okay we need to leave now, she took a taxi about 15 minutes ago to the airport. If we hurry we might still catch her!" Cora exclaims as the two women run out of the shop together flipping the sign from open to closed on their way out.
The traffic is unbelievable. Regina left 15 minutes ago and has only pasted 10 short blocks away from her shop.
"And what would you be wearing?" The taxi drivers says as he talks on the phone, "Oh, yeah, I like that. Oh, yeah, I like that very much."
"Excuse me." Regina says.
"Yeah?"
"Excuse me."
The driver covers his phone with his hand, "Do you mind? I'm talking here."
"Are you sure this is the best way? Because the traffic's-"
"I'll meet you at home, angel. And will you be waiting downstairs or upstairs?" The driver continues to speak.
Regina leans her head against the window and lets out a long sigh.
"Emma, try a left up here. It's generally quicker." David instructs as Emma tries to maneuver through the traffic.
Emma turns as her father instructed but finds a larger amount of traffic than before.
Emma lets out a long sigh.
"Forget it I'll call her." Emma says as she takes out her phone and dials Regina's number.
"Hello?"
Emma can hear soft music playing in the background.
Say something I'm giving up on you
"Regina, it's me. Listen. We have to talk. Everything's changed."
I'll be the one if you want me too
"There's nothing to can't do it. Goodbye."
Regina hangs up before Emma gets a chance to reply.
"How did that go, then?" David says.
"It's over."
"No, it can't be." Mary Margaret says, "Emma, when you love someone, who don't just give up on them. You fight for them, fight for your relationship because when a person means that much to you. That's just something you do."
Emma sits in the car, frustrated as she rolls down her car window and yells at the cars in front of her.
Just then a cyclist petals by her car singing.
Anywhere I would've follow you, say something I'm giving up on you
"That singing." Emma listens more carefully, "I heard that singing before."
"What're you talking about?" David asks.
"Watch the car." Emma says as she gets out of the car and starts to walk beside the bumper to bumper traffic.
"Regina! Regina!"
"Oh, my God." Mary Margaret exclaims.
"Regina! Regina, where are you?" Emma says as she continues to search.
"Emma be careful, please!" Mary Margaret says as she turns red from the attention.
"Regina! Regina, please! Regina!"
Seeing that she is getting no where with the shouting, Emma gets an idea.
Emma expands her lungs and uses her chest just as Regina taught her, "Regina!"
Regina hears the shout from blocks away.
Emma? Regina thinks to herself.
Regina opens the taxi door and walks outside.
"Emma! Emma where are you?" Regina calls searching for her. When she suddenly hears Emma's voice again, "Regina! Regina!"
Emma keeps running until she finally sees Regina. They look at each other briefly before they start running towards each other as joyful tears flowing down their faces.
After a few moments of running beside the cars the couple finally reaches each other.
Emma cups Regina's face and pulls it closer so that it is a few inches from hers.
"Hey." Emma says as she looks into Regina's eyes.
"Hey." Regina is crying. No one would ever do this for her. No one has ever loved her as much as Emma does.
"We're stronger together, remember? Stronger together." Emma says as her voice cracks, her falling from her eyes.
The couple finally embraces, as memories of the wedding, the apple shop and all the rest in between fills their minds, demanding them to never let go of each other again.