A/N: thanks for all the support guys. If you're on twitter, head over and follow swanqueenukff. I post the updates there as well as little teasers etc.
If Ruby could sense that something had happened the previous evening, she didn't say anything. Regina had answered all questions pertaining to the ball whilst Emma sat at the breakfast bar, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, picking absentmindedly at her fingernails. The tall brunette ate pancakes with the three of them before leaving to meet Dot. Once she had gone, Emma moved soundlessly into the living room and sat motionless on the couch, staring at nothing on the cream wall opposite.
"Mama, what's wrong with Emma?" Henry asked.
Regina knew he was going to pick up on something, being such an intuitive little boy. But she had hoped he wasn't going to ask in front of the blonde who turned to look at him where he sat on the floor with his slightly blushing mother.
"I'm fine, Henry," Emma said before Regina could think of anything to say.
"You look sad," Henry said, his little forehead furrowed in thought.
Emma patted the couch beside her and Henry obediently got up and climbed onto the soft cushions where Emma put her arm around him and pulled his small body against her own.
"I'm not sad, kid," she said. "But I had very long day yesterday and now I'm tired. I have lots of things to think about but they're good things, I promise."
"Then why aren't you smiling?" Henry asked.
The corners of Emma's mouth twitched but Henry didn't look satisfied.
"Do you want some ice cream?" he asked.
"No thanks."
Henry frowned even harder at that. Emma Swan never turned down ice cream. Regina, noticing her son's distress, stood up from where she had been sat on the floor and moved to Henry's other side, her arm also looped around his back.
"Henry, Emma's going to be fine. I promise," Regina said.
"Really?" he asked, a sceptical look on his young features. "She's not going to go away like my other mama did?"
Henry rarely spoke about Dani even though Regina talked about her often and at the mention of her wife, the brunette's eyes burned with tears. Well, that coupled with the fact that Henry was already considering Emma something of a parental figure.
"No," she assured him, forcing a smile. "Emma isn't going anywhere. And your other mama got sick, remember? Emma isn't sick, is she?"
Henry turned to look at Emma again, trying to judge her health with his gaze. The blonde, on her part, tried to smile.
"She only ate one pancake," he observed.
"That is un-Emma-like," Regina admitted, winking at the blonde. "But I think maybe she was just saving space for the burgers I'm going to make for dinner."
"Burgers!" Henry exclaimed, his concern about Emma immediately forgotten. "Yay! Can I have cheese and bacon on mine?"
"You may have one or the other," Regina said. "Not both."
"Can I have both?" Emma asked.
Regina and Henry turned to look at her with the exact same expression. Surprise and delight that the blonde was seemingly returning to her old, joking, greedy self. Emma couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Perhaps," Regina said with a slight smirk. "But it's conditional."
"What's the condition?" Emma asked.
Regina said nothing and instead leaned towards Emma over her son's head. Their lips met in a sweet kiss, Henry wedged between their bodies until the boy began to wriggle free, grumbling about girls being gross as he slipped from the couch and returned to the board game he had been playing with Regina earlier.
"Can Emma join our game, Henry?" Regina asked when they broke apart, her deep chocolate eyes filled with love as she stared at Emma.
"Yep," he called, already pulling out a red counter and placing it on the board in front of him. "Hurry up though. I want to eat dinner soon!"
It was only eleven in the morning and both Emma and Regina laughed as they joined the small boy on the plush carpet and began to play.
Later that day, Emma and Henry were working side by side to mix the burger seasoning when Regina's cell phone rang. She excused herself and answered without looking at the screen.
"Where did you and that skank go last night?"
"Mother," Regina said through gritted teeth as she walked quickly from the kitchen. "Now is really not the time."
"Last night wasn't the time to disappear on me either, Regina dear," Cora sneered back. "I was sat on my own at our table all evening and people were talking. What has that troublesome woman got you involved in?"
Regina counted to ten in her head before answering. Arguing with her mother was something she could really do without that particular day. Or any day, come to that.
"I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, Mother, but we had an emergency and there wasn't time to let you know. How was the rest of the evening?"
"Uneventful," Cora replied. "What emergency?"
Regina bit her lip. Her mother was going to find out about the rape allegations sooner or later, she knew. But she really didn't want to have the inevitable conversation which would follow. She decided to postpone it and not ruin her Sunday evening with Emma and Henry.
"I'm sorry, Mother, but I really need to go. Henry's helping me cook dinner and I need to get back to him."
"I'll find out what that Emma girl is involved in sooner or later you know, Regina," Cora said. Regina could practically hear her dark eyes narrowing. "Say hello to my favourite grandson for me."
If Cora Mills had a choice of grandchildren, Regina was fairly certain Henry wouldn't top the favourite list. He was too loud, too direct, and too enthusiastic about life. Regina however, thought he was perfect and despite having just spoken to her mother, she couldn't contain the smile spreading over her face when she returned to the kitchen and found Emma and Henry both covered in spices, their fingers stained orange and laughter bubbling from their lips.
Henry decided on cheese for his burger in the end but that didn't stop him from reaching over and sliding a rasher of bacon from Emma's own plate, much to the blonde's half-hearted protests. Once he was in bed that night, Regina and Emma curled up on the couch together, knowing they needed to talk but neither one of them wanting to begin the conversation.
"It's true what I said to Henry, you know," Emma murmured after a while. "About what I'm thinking being good things. I mean, fundamentally, I suppose."
"August and Killian?" Regina asked.
"Yeah."
Because it was true that despite everything that had happened the previous evening, Emma was still thinking of her day at the rehabilitation clinic. It had been great to see August again but it had also been difficult. He had clearly come far along the road to recovery but Emma knew he had further to go and he also would never stop travelling down it. Alcoholics and addicts never recover. Not really. They struggle day by day for the rest of their lives. And Emma still wasn't sure she was going to be able to be there for him, not without jeopardising her relationship with Regina and Henry too. But the fact that August was moving in the right direction was wonderful.
Thoughts of Killian were also positive. Ok, not about the man himself but the future. Emma knew she had a chance of getting justice at last. True, many rape cases went to trial and the men were acquitted. But they at least went to court. They were heard but a judge and a jury. Emma's story was going to be heard. Killian's life was going to be shattered in a way that even a rich father couldn't fix. Rape allegations never went away completely, even when your father is Brennan Jones, Vice Admiral of the United States Navy. The case itself would be difficult, no doubt, but with Regina and David in her corner, and physical evidence to back up her claims, she was feeling optimistic for the first time in a long time.
There was one other thought in Emma's head. One Regina didn't, and couldn't, know about. Her son. She tried valiantly to forget that small bundle as he was taken away from her four years previously but she had failed. She thought of him often. Every day, in fact. He was never far from her mind and each time her heart clenched painfully. She had abandoned her son. She had done exactly what her parents did to her. Killian was right, she really was worthless but that didn't mean her child was too. He did, however, deserve better. Emma hoped he had found that. The only problem was, she would never know if he did.
Regina's voice floated back to her ears and pulled Emma's mind away from her lost son.
"… and when August gets out of rehab, he should be able to testify saying he saw you and Killian together regularly," Regina was saying. "That can only strengthen our case."
"Hopefully," Emma said. "The detectives called when you and Henry were in the bathroom by the way. They're expecting the rape kit results back in the morning and once they have DNA evidence they can arrest."
"It's all going to work out," Regina said, kissing Emma's cheek. "I'm so proud of you."
You wouldn't be if you knew what I'd done, Emma thought to herself.
Regina would never understand Emma's decision. After all, plenty of women keep their babies born in prison. It was a viable option. But Emma had chosen not to. She had chosen to turn her back on her own flesh and blood rather than face up to the responsibility of being a mother. After all, what sort of a mother would she have been?
Henry appeared in the doorway.
"Mama, I had a bad dream," he whimpered.
"I've got it," Emma said at once, slipping out from beneath Regina's arm and walking over to the small boy.
"Come on, kid," she said, swinging him up and onto her hip. "Did I ever tell you the story about Marlo and the mysterious banana thief?"
Emma returned to work the next day, despite Regina insisting she would surely be entitled to some sort of leave. Not wanting to deal with having to tell Mal, however, Emma turned up at the Dragon Youth Centre on Monday ten minutes before her shift was supposed to start. She helped Ursula and Belle set up for the homework club that afternoon and then the three of them sat in the small staff room drinking coffee and waiting for the children to arrive. Emma realised, as she sipped her drink, that she had friends. She hadn't had many friends in her life and for the first time since Saturday, she felt her spirits lift somewhat. Her life was on a far better path than it had ever been before and Killian Jones was not going to derail her.
In fact, it was more likely that Emma Swan was going to derail him. When the lead detective on her case called later that evening, she informed Emma the results from her tests had come back positive for both semen and skin cells. It came as no surprise to Emma that the match in the system pointed to one man. Killian Jones.
Just before midnight, Emma's cell rang once more. With Regina's arms wrapped around her waist, Emma listened as the detective informed her of how Killian had been both arrested and charged with attempted rape and would be remanded to Rikers pending a trial hearing.
"It's happening," Emma breathed out into the dark bedroom after she ended the call. "We're really going to get him."
"Let's hope," Regina nodded, pulling herself closer to Emma beneath the covers.
The following morning Emma and Regina attended the pre-trial hearing where their lawyer greeted them. Emma did a double-take before Regina laughed and said she had forgotten to mention that David was a twin. James Nolan was smart as a whip and commanded the attention of everyone in the courtroom. As Killian stood silently beside his own representation, Emma sat and watched as the judge handed down his recommendations. Bail was granted and the two hundred thousand bond would be negligible to Brennan Jones, who strode from the court room as soon as the gavel had come crashing down, getting his son released within minutes. Emma and Regina however, were already in the town car speeding away from the building by the time Killian stepped outside, already being swarmed by reporters.
When Emma walked into the youth centre that afternoon, Ursula and Mal stopped talking at once. Emma's heart sank.
"You know?"
The two women nodded and sad smiles graced their faces.
"I'm so sorry to hear what happened, Emma," Mal offered, beckoning her newest employee over to where they were sat. "If there's anything we can do to help, please let us know."
"Thanks," Emma replied. "I'm fine though. Work keeps me distracted. But how did you find out? I thought these trials were supposed to be anonymous."
"Well Brennan Jones is pretty famous," Mal shrugged. "And his son is well known too. Although not for anything good. The reporters were bound to be interested when they found out about the court appearance."
"And it would have helped if you weren't running around with Regina Mills," Ursula piped up. "The two of you were on camera leaving the court house. Everyone knows she's not a criminal lawyer. It … well, it made sense and a few bloggers have put it together, worked out who you are, and published their theories online."
Emma sighed. She supposed she knew it would get out eventually but she had optimistically hoped it wouldn't. Now she would have to add yet another label to herself. Emma Swan: orphan, foster kid, criminal, beggar, rape victim.
"Excuse me," Emma said, pulling out her cell and quickly dialling the SVU detective.
After being assured that they were working as fast as they could to remove the sites which mentioned her by name, Emma thanked the detective for her support that morning in court and returned to the room. Once more, Mal and Ursula fell silent.
"Look, if you have questions, it's probably best you just ask them now," Emma sighed. "I'd much rather that than you bitching behind my back."
It may have been a brash thing to say to one's boss but Mal looked anything but offended. Rather, she looked impressed at Emma's determined and straightforward approach.
"We were just … I mean, is it true that you were living on the streets for two years?"
"Where did you hear that?" Emma frowned.
"One of the blogs," Mal admitted.
Emma closed her eyes and ran her hands over her face. She knew this was just the beginning. For months now, she would be questioned and harassed over what had really happened between her and Killian and the circumstances she had been in. She was tired already. And it was only the first day.
"No," Emma said at last. "I was homeless for about seven months actually. Before that, I was living it up in Florida."
"Oh a lovely place to live," Mal said, a bright smile on her face. "I've spent so many wonderful vacations down there and was even considering moving at one point."
"I think I prefer New York," Emma shrugged.
In her head, of course, she wasn't so much comparing cities as girlfriends. Regina certainly trumped Lily in every category.
"So the site said Killian was well known to some … prostitutes," Ursula said. "Is that how -,"
"We met? Yeah," Emma nodded. "When I first got to the city I did some things I'm not proud of. And Killian became a regular of mine. The allegations however are nothing to do with that time and even if they had been, he was in the wrong."
"Of course," Mal said at once. "We weren't judging you. Both myself and Ursula have done dark things when it's the only way to keep our heads above water."
"And I wasn't implying that you being a hooker meant you deserved what you got," Ursula added, making it sound somehow like that was exactly what she meant.
Emma forced a smile but she felt like crying. Was this is? Was this the end of her friendships with these two women? She really hoped not but she was also realistic. Who, after all, wanted to stick by someone accusing one of the most powerful families in the United States of America of rape? Emma doubted whether she would herself but she truly hoped Mal and Ursula found the strength to support her.
"Any other questions?" Emma asked, sensing there was something more the women wanted to know.
Mal looked uncomfortable again and at last it was Ursula who spoke out.
"Is it true?"
"Yes," Emma said simply before turning and walking back towards the entrance where the children were starting to arrive.
Regina's cell phone had been buzzing all afternoon. She had put it on silence and then turned it over so she couldn't see the illuminated display. She glanced at the clock on her computer screen and saw she had only five more minutes until she could escape and pick up Henry. Turning back to the document she was working on, her fingers began to fly quickly over the keypad again. Seconds later, however, the door flew open.
"You're girlfriend is taking Brennan Jones' son to court?"
"Mother," Regina said, hurrying over and closing the door on an intrigued looking Mary Margaret. Seemingly David had heeded Emma's request not to say anything to anyone. "What are you doing here?"
"Well since you weren't answering your phone, I decided to make my way down from my office so I can actually speak to my daughter who, by the way, has clearly gone insane," Cora snapped, sitting down uninvited and folding her arms. "What on earth is going on with you and Emma?"
Regina tried. She really did. But she couldn't help but explode when Cora's face turned into a sneer at the mention of Emma's name.
"He raped her, Mother!" she shouted. "He raped her. What the hell do you think we should do? Ignore it and move on with our lives? He deserves to be punished for what he did."
"Oh darling, you know as well as I do that Brennan will hire the best lawyer in the world to defend his one and only son. There's no way you'll get a conviction. I doubt it will even go to trial. What has Emma said to you that's made you think she stands a chance at winning?"
"Emma hasn't said anything to me," Regina hissed. "I was the one who told her to file charges. I was the one who hired James Nolan. And I will be the one standing by her side every step of the way until that monster is locked up behind bars where he belongs."
Cora chuckled. "You're deluded. The two of you. So wrapped up in your sordid little affair that you've lost all sense of perspective. Drop the case, get back on track with your work, move on from that whore, and start being the daughter I can be proud of."
Tears stung Regina's eyes but she wasn't sure which of the biting comments had caused them. Blinking them back, she forced herself to speak in a low, even voice.
"Firstly, I have absolutely no intention of dropping this case and as long as I continue to perform my duties here, you have no way to stop me. Secondly, I love Emma, Mother. I don't want to ever move on from her and I hope I never have to. I'd have thought you would be happy I've found someone again. And finally, you have never, ever been proud of me. From the moment I told you I was gay, I've been a disappointment. Thirteen years and you still can't accept who I am. This anger you're directing at me now isn't anything to do with Brennan Jones and his position in this town. It's because you think I'm going to be happy again with Emma. I'm going to stop being the broken, sad, damaged daughter you've been able to mould into a partner at your law firm and start being my own person again. Someone who is loved and appreciated and who doesn't search for their mother's approval any more. And you know what, Mother? You're right. That is who I'm becoming and now, if you don't mind, I'm late to pick up my son."
Regina grabbed her handbag from her desk and stalked out of the office, leaving her mother sitting there open-mouthed.
Neither woman mentioned their respective conversations to the other that night. They didn't think it necessary to rake over the details when all that really mattered was how their bodies were pressed hotly against one another, slow and sensual kisses accompanying their delicate caresses as they slowly drifted off to sleep.