Trigger Warning - domestic violence

Chapter 31 All the Time in the World

It's been a few weeks since the incident of Leopold confronting Henry and during that time Emma immediately placed a restraining order against him. He wasn't allowed anywhere near Regina or Henry with the exception of court approved meetings. She wasn't sure what his game was, but going after Henry while he was alone was a low move. He had tried getting Henry to choose him so that it wouldn't be much of a fight to get him back. He knew getting Henry meant getting Regina back, because she would follow Henry to the ends of the earth. He was exploiting her love for her son and Emma will damn well make sure he would never have the chance to get to Henry alone ever again.

She was up early, getting ready for the day. She was getting a pot of coffee going as Regina came down the steps of the loft, dressed in a black pantsuit and blazer. She smiled at Emma as she joined her in the kitchen, her red lipstick, her dark short hair curled at the ends made Emma stop and stare for a moment. As each day passed, it was getting harder and harder to shove her feelings down. Maybe it was time to have a talk, but Emma was afraid of ruining what they had. If Regina didn't share her feelings, then their friendship would surely end.

"Good morning dear," Regina said softly, suddenly caressing her cheek, and standing so close to her Emma could smell her perfume.

"Um… good morning," she stumbled to find a response which elicited an amused smirk from her friend. She had to know what she was doing. She couldn't deny that their friendship teetered along the edge of boundaries. The soft touches they initiated between each other were innocent but not something that two friends would constantly make.

It wasn't until Regina was suddenly kissing her cheek and then moving away to wipe the lipstick off then Emma made the decision that she couldn't keep living without knowing if they could ever be more. Friends didn't kiss each other on the cheek, did they? Regina smiled at her and then proceeded to walk past her to the coffee pot.

"Do you want to have lunch again? There's something I want to talk to you about," Emma asked, deciding to just come clean and talk to her. She cleared her throat, trying to clear her mind from the searing kiss she could still feel on her cheek. She was trying so hard to not back out no matter how terrified she was.

"Of course," Regina smiled, adding some almond milk to her coffee. "Is it something I should worry about?" She suddenly looked so worried and Emma was quick to assure her, suddenly feeling brave and giving her a playful but comforting hug by wrapping her arms around her waist from behind and kissing her cheek which made Regina chuckle at the silly affection.

"Of course not," she assured, pulling away and feeling the heat in her face. Regina tilted her head, concern suddenly flashing in her dark eyes.

"Are you ok? You seem a bit… flustered."

"It's just a bit warm in here," Emma answered quickly, pouring her own mug of coffee and hiding her reddened cheeks by taking a sip. Regina raised an eyebrow at that but didn't comment further. Instead, she sipped her coffee in between getting breakfast ready for Henry. Once he came down she was distracted with getting him ready and fed. Emma was still in the kitchen sipping her coffee and watching mother and son interact, her heart warming at how much closer they had gotten since she arrived.

Mary Margaret came in from her bedroom, pouring coffee into her own mug and looking at Emma's longing expression as she watched Regina check and sign Henry's homework portfolio at the table as they ate breakfast together. She wasn't very hungry and instead stuck with her coffee. She'd probably grab a bearclaw on the way to the station.

"When are you going to talk to her?"

She tore her gaze from Regina and looked at her roommate in shock.

"Talk to her about what?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Emma."

Emma sighed and placed her empty mug in the sink. She should have known there was no hiding her feelings from Mary Margaret. She was too insightful and probably knew about her feelings for Regina before she could even admit it to herself.

"Today, but I'm not expecting anything to change. She's been through too much. She is going through a divorce with a husband who brutalized her for years," she whispered. "She's not going to want to jump into another relationship so soon."

"Regina doesn't love easily, but when she does, she loves deeply. She more than cares for you Emma. I could see it when she looks at you. If she's not ready, she will be one day. Give her time, but you need to talk to her."

"I'm just… I don't want her to get hurt." She was afraid of getting hurt too, but she wasn't about to admit that. Mary Margaret gave her a knowing smile as if she somehow knew what she couldn't say.

A sudden urgent knock on the door had them all jumping in surprise. Regina fearfully stood, looking at the door and then at Emma as if she was expecting it to be her husband on the other side. Emma moved over to her immediately, seeing her holding her breath and suddenly freezing in fear.

"Hey, take a deep breath," she whispered, pulling her into her arms and holding her close to her chest until she felt her body relax. She felt her take slow deep breaths, and Emma was relieved to have been able to stop her from falling into a panic attack. She's been having them more and more lately.

Mary Margaret looked out the peep hole and then gasped in shock. She turned to Emma who was still holding Regina.

"Regina, it's your mother."

"What?" she snapped, pulling from Emma's arms, the fear in her eyes shifting to anger so fast Emma could only watch in shock as she flew forward and ripped the door open.

"What the hell are you doing here!" she snapped at an older woman with cold blue eyes. She had on a pantsuit, looking exactly like the business woman Emma imagined Cora to look like. Regina looked a bit like her, except for the cruelty in her smile. Cora only smirked at her daughter.

"You wouldn't answer my calls."

"Because I don't want to talk to you," Regina growled.

"Watch your tongue," Cora scolded her in a tone that had chills going down Emma's spine. Henry took a step back and hid behind her. "Now, don't be rude and invite me in."

Regina didn't move. For a tense and terrifying moment, the two Mills women stared each other down, until Regina was suddenly averting her gaze and stepping aside to let Cora in. Her eyes immediately fixated on Emma.

"You must be the deputy that encouraged my daughter to make the stupid decision to leave her marriage," she stated with disgust.

"Sheriff Swan," Emma introduced herself, putting emphasis on her new title. She stepped forward and held her hand out with a smug smirk on her lips. Cora just looked at her with disdain. "And leaving that bastard wasn't a stupid decision."

Cora held her gaze, challenging her for a long silent moment. Mary Margaret took this opportunity to usher Henry out. The moment the door closed, and it was just the three of them, Cora took a disgusted look around their loft and zeroed in on her daughter once more.

"So is this where you're living now?"

"Just until Leopold is sentenced," Regina replied, not making eye contact. Emma frowned, observing the two. Regina had been driven by anger moments ago and now she seemed to be afraid of her mother.

"Look, it's not too late," Cora persuaded her as she stepped up to her and took her hand. "You could go back to him and apologize and maybe he'll take you back in. Drop the charges."

"I will not go back and grovel at his feet!" Regina snapped, her brown eyes flashing once again as she tore her hands from her mother.

"You know, he has the power to put you in prison for that night," Cora reminded her.

"I was innocent!" Regina cried. "He tampered with the evidence and no one believed me! You didn't believe me and made me marry that abusive man! You sold me to him…" her voice shook with threatening tears and Cora dismissively shook her head. Her eyes were cold and Emma didn't see an ounce of compassion.

"He beat her for over ten years," Emma's voice shook with fury. "And you want her to go back?"

"A wealthy life has its costs," she waved it off as if it were nothing. "Besides, I raised you to be strong. I was hoping you'd take advantage of him. He was vulnerable after Eva's death and then almost losing his daughter, it was the perfect opportunity for you to show him who's in charge. Apparently you missed it."

"Well I'm not you mother," Regina snipped back.

"And that's too bad," her mother sneered with disappointment. "You could have been powerful and now you're weak." Regina looked up at that moment, her eyes flashing with a new kind of fury Emma hasn't seen since she took a chainsaw to her beloved apple tree.

"Leave," she seethed, her voice dangerously low.

"Don't be ridiculous, I just got here," Cora scoffed.

"I'm not weak!" she yelled. "Get out!"

"Don't you dare speak to me that way! You ungrateful brat! After what I've done to get you to the top and you just threw it away!" Cora shouted, getting into her face, and Emma saw nothing but fear in Regina's eyes. She shrunk back, almost as if embracing herself to be hit. It was the kind of raw fear she would see in her when she was with Leopold. Emma growled, reacting immediately. She got between them and forced Cora to back up towards the door.

"No! You don't speak to her like that. I don't give a fuck whether you leave town or not," Emma said in hushed but dangerous tone. "Don't ever come near her or Henry unless she wishes for it!"

Cora started protesting, but Emma could care less as she opened the door and practically forced her to leave. She shut the door and then turned to find Regina staring at her with shining dark eyes. She looked a bit shocked, but Emma was relieved to not see that raw fear she had in her face when Cora was shouting at her.

"Are you ok?" she asked, coming over and hugging her without a second thought. Regina held on to her tightly and buried her face into the crook of her neck.

"Thank you," she whispered, not exactly answering her question. She didn't need to. Of course she wasn't ok, but in true Mills fashion, she pulled away, blinked her tears away and swallowed her devastation. She put on an emotionless mask, not letting Emma see just how much her mother got to her.

After weeks of ignoring her mother, Regina couldn't believe Cora drove all this way just to force her to go back to her abusive husband. How could she want this for her, to live in fear and to be hurt just because she didn't take advantage over Leopold when he was weak. Did she really think she deserved this? She held in her tears and masked her devastation as Emma drove her to work. The playful mood she had been in this morning with her was now gone and they were now sitting in a tense silence until they finally arrived at campus.

"Thank you," she murmured, not looking at her. Just before she could open the door, Emma was placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Gina, hold on a sec."

She turned to see Emma looking at her with worried green eyes. The hand on her shoulder suddenly caressed her cheek, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin.

"Cora is wrong. You didn't deserve any of what happened to you. You're not weak. You know that, right?"

How could a small part of her not believe the vile words Cora had thrown at her. They've been drilled into her head since the night Cora agreed to Leopold's deal. She could remember crying in her hospital bed as Cora told her she'd be marrying him and what she expected from her; To overthrow him and take power over her husband. She could remember the cold disappointment in her mothers eyes the first time Leopold struck her in front of her. That was the moment where Cora turned a blind eye to the abuse and told her she deserved it for not being the stronger one.

She nodded and immediately felt sick for not exactly telling Emma the truth; That a small part of her believed her mother. Emma didn't seem to believe her from the heartbreaking realization that seemed to flash across her face.

"I'll see you at lunch," Regina immediately redirected Emma's focus. She didn't want to delve into this any further. Emma gave her a small smile and nodded.

She rushed into the building, putting all her energy into pushing back all her emotions from this morning and wearing the emotionless mask she had perfected over the years. She became the Ice Queen that her coworkers described her as; The Evil Queen her students labeled her as. The tough Professor Mills that turned heads and demanded discipline and respect. She was harder on her classes more than usual, and if her students had noticed they didn't comment. They were engaged in her lecture, and completed their reading and work assignments efficiently.

Lunch with Emma came quicker than she realized, and she was relieved that the day was moving quickly. After what had happened this morning, all she wanted to do was lie in bed and sleep. She wanted to shut out her mothers cruel words. A bone deep exhaustion had washed over her and it was getting more and more difficult to continue teaching.

Emma must have picked up on her sullen mood as they walked to the cafe and took their usual seat at the back booth. Regina was quiet, not wanting to bring up Cora at all. Emma kept the conversation light and safe, and she couldn't have appreciated it more.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked. Emma nearly spilled her coffee as she set it down with shaking hands. Regina frowned in concern. Why was she so nervous? Her green eyes flickered in panic, and her cheeks blushed. "Emma, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just forgot after everything that happened this morning. I just wanted to…" She paused, taking a breath and calming her nerves. Regina frowned, not understanding what was going on. She's been nervous all morning, even before Cora showed up at the loft. She reached forward, taking Emma's hand and trying to calm her nerves.

"Breathe, my dear," she soothed. "You know you can talk to me about anything."

Emma looked at her in awe, a kind of emotion flashing into those green eyes that Regina couldn't decipher. She felt Emma squeezing her fingers, and then grasping her hand tightly as if trying to anchor herself. The nervous woman before her took a deep breath and then looked at her with determination.

"I have something to confess, but before I tell you, I just want you to know that my feelings are just my feelings, and I'm not trying to make you feel pressured in any way. After everything you've been through, you have complete control. Does that make sense?"

"Feelings?" she shook her head in confusion. "Emma, what are you talking about?"

Emma's palms were getting sweaty. She pulled away and wiped them on her jeans nervously. Regina immediately missed the warmth of holding her hands.

"I…" She stumbled on her words and Regina was starting to get worried. "I… Well, over time…"

"Emma…"

"I care about you alot, more than just friends." She finally was able to admit the words she seemed to have so much trouble getting out and Regina could only sit there in shock. She couldn't believe this was actually happening. "The moment I met you I knew, even when we were fighting, but then as we became friends, and you started to trust me and open your heart to me, I've been having more and more trouble holding my feelings back. You don't have to return them. Like I said, it's in your control. We could just be friends, or I could leave if you're too uncomfortable…"

"Leave?!" she panicked. She was shocked yes, and a bit relieved that it wasn't anything too serious. What scared her more than Emma's feelings towards her was Emma leaving and not being in her and Henry's lives anymore. She stood and came around the booth to sit next to her. Emma seemed nervous as she looked into her eyes.

She wasn't oblivious. She did notice the way Emma looked at her from time to time or how a touch can make her blush. They were both a little too affectionate with each other that clearly passed the boundaries of friendship. Emma was extremely protective of her when it came to Leopold and Cora. She just started coming to terms with her own feelings towards her friend. Feelings she's been trying to ignore for a long time now. Even now, as much as she wanted to give in and start a relationship with Emma, it was too soon. She was afraid after everything she has been through.

She kissed her cheek, her other hand caressing her face as she lingered, her lips on her skin before she pulled back to see watery green eyes.

"I know you do," she whispered. "I've seen the way you look at me. I care for you too…" Emma's eyes lit up with hope. "But I need time."

Emma nodded, understanding flashing across her face before anxiety seemed to take hold of her.

"Even if you don't want to, that's fine. We could just be friends." There was deep fear in those eyes, a fear Regina recognized that had to have come from growing up in the system. Afraid of abandonment. She was afraid of losing her.

She made a quick decision to soothe those fears, so quick she really didn't even think about it. She leaned forward and kissed her lips, which stunned the blonde into silence. She pulled away to see green eyes looking at her in shock. She kissed her again, this time slowly until Emma was kissing her back. This was even better than she could ever imagine. Her scent, warm vanilla filled her senses; Her soft lips warm against hers. Her stomach fluttered with giddiness that she hasn't felt since she was a young teen in love for the first time. A part of her wanted to just give in and be with her, but she knew it was too soon. She couldn't possibly be in a relationship after being married to a brute for so long. Her divorce wasn't even finalized yet. She cared about Emma too much to be rushing into things when she had so many demons to work through. She pulled away and gently wiped the single tear that had rolled down Emma's cheek. Her green eyes were shining with so much affection, Regina felt something inside her stir.

"Just give me time," she whispered as a promise which had Emma lighting up with hope once more. The blonde took the hand on her cheek and kissed her knuckles.

"We have all the time in the world."

Regina's heart felt lighter than it did since Cora showed up at the loft. Emma's confession and the promise she had made lifted her spirits enough that she no longer felt the intense exhaustion she had started her day with. In fact she seemed to have renewed hope that things will be better despite the looming threats from her husband and her mother's toxic presence. She continued on with her afternoon classes, motivated to get through the day so she could go home and be with Emma and Henry… Her little family like Emma had just recently called them.

She thought she'd be safe at work. She expected him to confront her sooner or later, but never in her classroom in front of all her students. She was in the middle of lecture when Leopold suddenly barged in. She froze, her words dying in her throat as he fixated his cold angry gaze on her. His face was red, contorted in anger as he marched down towards her.

"Mayor Blanchard…" She found her voice, sounding as confident as she could despite how terrified she felt. "I'm in the middle of a lesson."

He didn't say a word as he approached her and backhanded her hard in the face, in front of everyone. She held her cheek, her heart beating loudly in her ears. The room was dead silent as the students stared at their professor and mayor in shock. She let out a cry of fear, breaking the silent spell as he aggressively started pushing her back against the blackboard, a hand gripping the collar of her blouse. She could hear her students yelling as he got into her face. She could smell the whiskey on his breath and by his glazed eyes, she knew he had been drinking. He would have never confronted her like this or even be violent towards her in a room full of people if he was sober. The fist that gripped her blouse was suddenly wrapping around her throat. She struggled to breathe as his meaty hand tightened his grip. She brought her hands up to try and release him, her lungs were burning and she desperately wheezed for oxygen. From the corner of her eye she could see flashes of movement… Her students were yelling and getting up from their seats.

"You're not going anywhere," he growled. "A restraining order won't keep me away. No matter where you go I'll find you and I'll find Henry."

"Get off of her!" Ruby was suddenly beside them, desperately trying to loosen his grip on her throat. Regina fought to take even the smallest breath but his grip became tighter and tighter. She started to see flashes of light, her lungs feeling as if they were going to burst. Her body started to go limp until he was the only one holding her up. He stared into her eyes as the light started to dim.

"Let go!" Ruby screamed as she and several other students tried forcing him away. She could hear someone calling for security. Someone, she couldn't recognize their faces anymore, grabbed a text book and whacked him hard on the head. He yelled out in pain and had stumbled back enough for her students to force him away.

She gasped in relief, breathing as much air into her lungs as she possibly could. She went down and Ruby was quick to break her fall and lower her gently to the floor. She was starting to pass out; her mind in a disoriented fog as security was rushing in and apprehending Leopold. Ruby was talking to her, but she couldn't understand a word that was being said. She took quick shaky breaths; her throat on fire as she struggled to keep awake. The younger woman shifted her so that they were both sitting against the wall. Ruby held her close to her side, hugging her against her chest and Regina finally understood that the young woman was trying to get her to slow her breaths.

With a shaking hand, Ruby pulled out her cell and brought it to her ear. Darkness was closing in on her, and her breaths weren't slowing. Before she had been deprived of oxygen and now it was just too much filling her lungs and making her feel like she was choking again. She started to panic. Another student approached them, kneeling to their level and softly talking to her, coaxing her to calm her breaths. The last thing she could remember was hearing Ruby say Emma's name.

Emma had gone into Grannies that afternoon for a quick cup of hot chocolate. She's been giddy since her lunch with Regina. She finally admitted her true feelings and to her relief Regina didn't turn her away. She couldn't believe she shared her feelings even if she asked for time. Time was good. Time was something Emma was willing to give as long as she could kiss those lips again. She had been shocked at first but then when Regina kissed her the second time, slow and passionate, she realized what they had for each other was real. Regina wanted to give them a chance even after everything she has been through. She was so lost in her happiness she hardly noticed Cora sitting at the bar with a cup of tea until the woman's cold voice washed over her. A chill went down her spine at the emotionless tone.

"I take it Regina is still upset?" she asked.

Emma's eyes flashed at those words and Cora held her gaze with a cold glare. Not wanting to cause a scene, she took the older woman's arm and led her outside. Cora angrily tore her arm away from her grip.

"What do you think you're doing?" she growled.

"You come here, tell her to basically go back to the man who beat her, and have the audacity to ask that?" Emma snapped. "Of course she's still upset!"

"I just want what's best for my daughter!" Cora urged her to understand. "I want her to have everything!"

"You gave her nothing," Emma told her. "You forced her to get married and become a stepmother when she was still a child. You took away her life and now that she's trying to get it back, you tell her she's weak. You tell her to go back to her abuser. What kind of mother could want that for their child?"

Cora leveled her with a glare, stepping forward into her personal space. "And what do you know about being a mother?" she sneered. "You threw Henry away."

Something inside Emma shattered. She tried not to let Cora's cruel words get to her. She gave up Henry to give him his best chance. She didn't throw him away. Still, those words stung. Before she could even respond, her phone started ringing. She pulled it out from her pocket and saw it was Ruby on the caller ID. Something was wrong. She should still be in Regina's lecture right now.

"Ruby, what's wrong?"

"I'm leaving today," Cora said as Emma answered the phone. "Tell Regina she won't be hearing from me anymore." She walked away as Ruby's shaky voice sounded in her ear.

"Emma!" Her voice was in tears and she could hear a flurry of chaotic noises in the background. Dread washed over her. "Leopold came after Regina in the middle of lecture! He was strangling her and we had to hit him over the head with a textbook to get him to release her! She's hyperventilating and she's passing out. Security arrested Leopold and called for an ambulance. Meet us at the hospital."

She nearly dropped her phone in panic. That son of bitch! She should have known something was wrong when he called in sick and didn't show up to work. Instead he was concocting up a plan to go after his wife. She saw nothing but red as she assured Ruby she was on her way before hanging up. She had already started rushing to her cruiser the moment she saw Ruby calling. She got behind the wheel, put her sirens on and rushed to the hospital. On her way, she dispatched David and sent him to arrest that asshole.

In her dash from the diner to the car, she didn't even notice Cora leaving. She didn't care. All she cared about was getting to Regina. She drove as fast as she safely could until she was pulling up into the emergency bay. She rushed inside to find Ruby and several other students in the waiting room. They all looked shocked and shaken from what they had witnessed.

"Ruby!" she called her, rushing over immediately. "Where is she?"

"We haven't had an update yet, but she passed out right after I called you. He was on her so fast… We barely even had a chance to react. He was so violent I thought he was going to strangle her to death." She was trembling so hard and her blue eyes were red from tears. She wiped her eyes, unable to stop the fresh wave of tears from streaming down her cheeks. Emma immediately pulled her into her arms.

"You were amazing," she whispered. "You helped her as much you could and got her here."

"I was terrified," she said, pulling away and looking at her friend, looking guilty as if she was blaming herself for not doing more.

"Most heroes are," Emma whispered, coaxing a small smile from her friend.

She hugged her once more and then went over to the front desk for some information. She was right away led to a room. Upon entering she was let out a gasp at the sight of Regina lying on the hospital bed. She was asleep with an oxygen mask on her face and was attached to monitors and an IV. Her cheek was bruised and her neck was red and badly bruised as well. Emma was seething, imagined him barging into her class and strangling her. She promised her she would be safe and yet she ended up in that bastard's grasp. She took her hand and gently tucked some strands of hair behind her ear.

"Regina," she whispered, her hand moving to her cheek and caressing the forming bruise. Disgust for what Leopold had done ignited deep within her along with a deep anger. He violated his restraining order and assaulted Regina. That was enough to keep him behind bars until trial, which was steadily approaching.

Regina started to stir at her touch and Emma watched with bated breath as dark brown eyes slowly opened and caught her gaze. She let out a sob underneath her oxygen mask.

"You're ok, I'm here," Emma soothed her, her own voice cracking with sobs. She hated seeing her like this, so hurt and terrified. She wished she could do more than cry at her bedside. Suddenly Regina was tugging at the hand she was holding, and with a pointed look towards her and then at the bed, Emma understood Regina's silent plea. She wanted her to lay with her.

She wiped away her tears and gently slid into bed with her, being mindful of the wires attached to her. Regina curled up against her and rested her head on her chest. Emma held her close, holding on to her as if she alone could just protect her from everything. She wished it was that simple.

Hours after Regina was discharged and finally back at home resting with Henry, Emma drove down to the station that night. She wanted to confront him, and if he was lucky, she wouldn't wrap her hands around his pathetic throat. She came into the station and nodded at her nightshift officer Mulan before moving to the holding cell where Leopold was sleeping off a hangover. Apparently he had been drinking all morning before he attacked Regina. She grabbed a chair from one of the desks and slammed it down loudly in front of his cell. He bolted up immediately, his hand holding his head in pain. She smirked as she sat before him and faced him.

"What the hell!" he snapped, groaning from his headache.

"Not so tough now, huh," she scoffed in disgust. Here he is groaning over a hangover headache while his wife was sleeping off painkillers at the loft because of him. Regina was so much stronger than this pathetic excuse for a man.

"What do you want, Swan?!"

"What do you think?" she snapped. "You attacked Regina in a class full of students!"

Leopold smirked at the reminder from his drunken deeds.

"So that little witch went crying to you again?"

"Why can't you just let her go?"

That question seemed to strike a spark of rage. He got up and rushed over to her, gripping the bars and snarling at her like an animal. He was far from the pristine and respected mayor. Now he was an unshaven man reeking of whiskey and looking disheveled. He was drowning in his addiction even more since Regina left him.

"She nearly killed my daughter! She didn't give her the mo…" He stopped, suddenly realizing what he almost said and took a step back. Emma tilted her head in confusion. What didn't Regina do? Was it the reason why he was so brutal to her? She shook her head in disgust as she sat in her chair with her arms folded.

"Whatever your reasons are for hurting her, won't be enough to help you in court. Whatever happens, you're going to be put away for a very long time." She stood, facing him through the bars. "And not only will Regina enjoy watching you get what you deserve, I'll make sure you get placed in the worst prison where wife beater scum like you get their ass kicked every single day. You're going to regret ever touching her."

She had the last word. She left him alone to stew in her threats as she walked out of the station.