A/N: As always, thank you all to have read this story in third-person and find yourselves here once more, along for the ride. I look forward to all your reviews. And remember if you are new to this version of the story, I advice that you read the third-person story first. Thank you all once again. Happy reading! :)

Chapter 7: Emma

My eyes open to a brand new morning. A brand new sunrise, and my headache entirely gone. I stand fully dressed in front of the bathroom mirror, ready to tackle on another day. Yet I frowned because the only thing missing was my jacket. I couldn't find it anywhere and it wasn't like me to have misplaced it.

I guess I would have to leave the house without it for my doctor's appointment with Dr. Whale.

I took one last look at my eye, and I'm happy to see it was indeed feeling better. A little purple and black along the edges, but at least, compared to yesterday I could open up my eye now. Whatever the doc gave me seemed to work wonders.

I walk out of the bathroom and reach for the book that Regina allowed me to borrow off of the bedside table. As I am walking down the hallway, I stop as I pick up on my phone buzzing inside of my jean pocket. I reach for it, checking the caller ID: Mom.

Shit. I had to answer. My mom had been calling me like a mad woman since Audrey spilled the beans to her last night about my accident. Finally, she settled for a text telling her that I was fine.

But that was last night.

"Hi, mom," I breathe into the phone as I answer my mother's call.

"Thank God, you picked up!" I manage to roll my eyes a little at the panic in my mom's voice.

"Of course, I would. Why wouldn't I?" I release a small chuckle, shaking my own head.

"How are you feeling this morning, Emma? Do you still have a headache? Are you taking your medication?"

I blink as my back leans along the wall to the second floor. "Mom, slow down." I hold out my hand as if my mom was standing before me in frantic mode.

"Emma, you know I worry." She tells me in her motherly tone.

"I know, mom, but I'm alright. I'm actually feeling a lot better this morning. My headache is gone. I am still taking my medication, and I'm going to get a Ct Scan today. I promise you I'm fine." I decided to answer her questions head on.

"Can you promise me that you're okay?"

"Yes, mom- I promise you I'm fine." I roll my eyes again, happy that I'm able to do it.

"You're going to see the doctor, aren't you?" My mom asks.

"Yes, I will go see the doctor." My eyes automatically move along the second floor as I catch a sight of Regina's form, walking down the hallway toward me. "Look, mom- I have to go, okay? Audrey's waiting for me." I tell a small fib to get her off the phone.

"Alright, but call me as soon as you have the results. Please!" She practically begs.

"I will, mom." I nod, my eyes never moving away from Regina and the small smile she gives me in that moment as she's standing before me.

"I love you, Emma. And please be more careful."

"I will- I love you, too." Before my mother can say anything else, I quickly hang up, tucking my phone back into the safety of my pocket. "My mom over-worries sometimes." I give Regina a small smile of my own as I quickly explain. "Apparently Audrey called her to inform her of the little incident and now she won't stop spamming with calls and or text messages, asking constantly if I'm alright."

There's a light smile upon Regina's lips as she says to me, "As a mother- and speaking from experience- she will always worry. No matter how old a daughter becomes." There's a light smile upon Regina's lips as she says this to me. She definitely seemed composed this morning, compared to the clearly vulnerable state I had walked in on, in the darkness of the library.

I chuckle lightly, trying to balance out the good humor around us. "It comes with the motherly territory, huh?" I ask, hoping to never feel what I felt last night surrounding us ever again. Last night, Regina had been angry- sad- and I couldn't understand why. I couldn't help but wonder if it was because of something I had done. Hopefully not.

"I'm afraid so." I can hear Regina let out a light laugh, and it makes me smile.

Suddenly, just as that beautiful smile stretched before my very eyes, it disappeared as Regina drew in a breath and released a sigh. And I could see that she was fighting with herself. I could see that something was eating away at her.

"Listen, Regina-" I thought of apologizing for whatever line I had clearly crossed last night. But just as I was, I heard Regina speak along with me-

"I'm sorry-" She stops. We both do.

Was she really about to apologize? Again. I get my answer once I see Regina's frown deepen, and she shakes her head. But before she could dare to apologize, I had to let her know what I was sorry for.

"I'm really sorry if I-" I went on. My voice once again interrupted by the way Regina shook her head and raised her hand before me.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Emma." She tells me, and all I can do is give a puzzling look.

Neither do you. I shake my head this time, "No. A part of me feels like I do." For good measure, I give Regina an apologetic look, hoping that my eyes would speak more than my own words.

"Emma, please don't apologize." Said Regina, her eyes closing for a short moment. Enough for me to notice a crease of frustration form along her brow before her eyes lock into mine. "If anything… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you the way I did last night. That was… Really uncalled for. And very rude of me." Judging from the bags under her eyes, I could tell that her snapping at me last night had been rather conflicting for her. "In fact, I should be the one apologizing to you."

Was she serious? The woman clearly had gone through a rough night, battling whatever constant weight she carried around her shoulders day to day and she was apologizing to me?

Be that as it may, I didn't need nor want an apology from her.

"No. You don't." I hold out my hand before me and chuckle, keeping it lightly.

"Yes. I do." Regina retorted. She went quiet for a second before she continued, "Sadly, I am not only rude to my daughter's girlfriend, but I place her in danger as well back at the Orchard. And that was incredibly stupid of me."

Stupid? "Whoa," My brows knit in place. "Okay, hold on a second." I take a step forward. Just one. Afraid that if I moved too quickly, it might scare her off again. "First of… Stop apologizing for what happened back at the stables. If anything, it's my fault." I continue, despite the scoff that escapes Regina's lips, "You were great, okay? I was the idiot who stood up behind the horse's ass."

A sudden and light chuckle escapes Regina, and I can tell, some of the weight she carried had lifted. That made the corner of my lip raise in a small smirk. My eyes look at the small cut along her cheekbone. It wasn't bruised, but it was slightly pink around the cut. Did her husband do this to her? Is that what this is? I'm filled with a small ping of anger, but swallow it back down.

"Seriously, Regina, just… Don't apologize." Instead of focusing on my sudden anger that threatened to build inside of me, I kept my voice gentle around her, filled with the most sincere tone I could muster up. I lean in carefully, slowly again to not scare her. "Look, my eye is even doing much better already."

I'm standing in front of Regina, hoping that everything I say, or the clear evidence of my in-the-process-of-healing eye was enough to ease her mind.

I didn't want her feeling conflicted with herself all because of an accident or last night's unfortunate events. We all had bad days, and clearly Regina was going through hers last night. But to be punished for it, and let alone punish herself? I just couldn't allow that.

Life was mysterious and it could throw a curve ball your way to where you never saw it coming. And judging by the cut along her cheekbone, I was certain that that's what happened to Regina last night.

I wasn't a stranger to bruises. I endured my fair share of them while growing up. My mother endured her fair share of bruises.

Maybe it wasn't fair for me to speculate that possibly Regina's husband was responsible for that mark along her cheek, but I was never wrong when it came to recognizing them.

Suddenly, my eye wasn't my concern anymore.

Regina was.

"Are you, um…?" I motion along my own cheekbone to make Regina understand the source regarding my question.

Regina quickly cupped her hand over her cut, and smiled at me. "It's nothing." She said. But given her reaction, that was proof enough that my suspicion had been right.

Leopold was responsible for that. Did he do that last night?

Before I could even ask Regina more about it, the doorbell rang, echoing throughout the house.

"I better get that." She tells me, passing by me once more, but gently this time. No longer having any part of her bump along my shoulder.

I turn, rotating my body so that my eyes can watch her head down the stairs. She doesn't turn to look at me.

I move further down the hallway to stand before a window that looks out to the front of the house. You can see the driveway down below, followed by the yard, all the way to the main street of the neighborhood. I looked further down, leaning my head until my forehead touched the window, and saw Daniel being greeted by Regina in a hug.

"Daniel? What are you doing here?" I hear Regina's voice from the top floor as I walk along the hallway.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asks Regina, obviously noticing the cut above her cheekbone.

"It's nothing." She told him the same thing she told me.

"That son of a-" I stop mid-step as I can see the anger and worry in Daniel's eyes.

"Daniel," Regina whispered, keeping her voice down. "Please, don't. Not here." I can hear her say, and that is confirmation enough to raise my suspicions that something definitely happened last night between Regina and Leopold. And came to discover that apparently, Daniel knew about it.

"Is he here?" Daniel asks her, his question spitting out like venom.

It made me worry. It made me angry.

"No." Regina gave a quick reply. Her hand hovered over his chest as a reaction. "And I am not alone, so please," her voice was a pleading whisper.

"Em, you're up!" Audrey appears out of thin air, startling me as I turn to my left to look at her. Then I turn to Regina and Daniel who are looking at me with wide-eyes. Fuck. I avert my eyes from Daniel to lock them onto Regina's. Now Regina is going to think I was spying on her. That I was eavesdropping on their conversation.

Okay, I kind of was. But it was out of pure concern.

"Are you all ready to go?" Audrey asks me before her eyes move over to Daniel. "Daniel, hey!" She smiles brightly at him and takes a step closer toward the door to greet him more properly in a hug. "What are you doing here?"

While Audrey and Daniel greeted one another, Regina and I exchanged a look with one another. I couldn't tell if she was angry at me. She would have every right to be.

Daniel held up my jacket with a smile stretched at the corners of his lips.

"Oh, my God! Thank you so much!" Audrey quickly snatched the jacket from his hands, turning over to me with excitement in her eyes before she turned back to Daniel.

"With all the commotion back at the Orchard, it stayed behind. I figured you would want it back." Daniel smiled over to me.

"Thank you." I nod and give a small smile in gratitude.

"It's very nice of you to come all this way, Daniel." Regina smiles his way, and my eyes watch them.

"No trouble at all." After he smiles back at Regina, he smiles my way once more. "That eye of yours is looking better." He said to me.

"It's definitely feeling better." I reply.

"It's a good thing you did," Audrey eyed me teasingly. "She would have gone nuts without that jacket."

"Audrey," I mutter under my breath, and my cheeks grow hot as my eyes look over to Regina.

Audrey caught my flush of embarrassment. She knew how to press that button well, because she was right. I don't know what I would do without my jacket, "I don't know why she's so attached to that jacket." She said to Daniel.

"Audrey, stop embarrassing her." Regina shakes her head, but she's smiling- again- as she brushes back a fallen strand of her jet black hair that was determined to caress her injured cheek.

"Oh, my God, mom- what happened to your cheek?" Audrey's eyes grow wide, and reach to touch her mother's cheek, but that only makes Regina avoid the contact.

"It's nothing, dear-" Regina brushes Audrey's hand away..

"Are you sure? That looks like it hurts." Said Audrey.

"I slipped last night, and bumped my cheek, that's all. It looks worse than it feels." Said Regina as her eyes looked to mine, then. Her story was so convincing, it almost worked on me. But I knew better.

Of course it wasn't my business. But, coming from a home with domestic violence and caring for my own mom's bruises. It easily angered me. And for a beautiful and kind woman like Regina to be going through the same thing my mother did- the same thing I did-

"I really gotta get back. I actually just came to drop off the jacket." Daniel quickly jumps in, putting Audrey's questions to an end no doubt.

"Thanks again, Daniel. Great seeing you as always." Audrey gives Daniel a smile before taking my hand. Her eyes look to Regina. "I'm taking Emma to get that cat scan at Whale's, and we may cruise the city for a bit."

"That's fine. I'll get you the keys to my car-" As Regina is about to walk away, Audrey jumps in.

"No need, mom. We're taking Emma's car." She sticks her thumb out, motioning toward my yellow bug that's stationed along the driveway. "Bye, Daniel." Audrey gives Daniel's arm a gentle squeeze as we make our way out the front door.

"Bye." He smiles and waves back in our direction, before turning back to Regina.

We walked toward my car, a good few feet away from Regina and Daniel. As we stopped before the driver's side door, I turned to glance over to them, and could see Daniel's hand slowly caress its way up and down Regina's arm, while his other hand gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. My brows knitted to see Regina flinch. But then, she welcomed Daniel into a hug. A hug she obviously needed by the way her eyes closed. A hug, Daniel, of course, was more than happy to provide her with.

"Keys, please," Audrey held out her hand before me, and not to be harsh, but given that my attention was elsewhere at the moment, I neglected to hear her. "Earth to Emma!" She spoke a little louder and I blinked rapidly as my attention focused on my girlfriend. "What's going on? Are you alright?" She asked me, following my line of focus and eyeing her mom and Daniel as they now parted from their hug.

"Yeah. Fine." I give Audrey a small smile, and I feel my stomach turn to knots as I turn back to give Regina one last look.

I see Audrey's hand hover before me again. "Keys?" Once I dig inside my jeans pocket, pull out my keys and place them in Audrey's palm, she leans in to thank me with a kiss and the sweetest smile possible before mounting the driver's seat.

Now, here's a true story. I actually hated other people driving my car. Simply because it was my baby, and we had a special bond since the day she was given to me. And I swear, the car had a mind of its own. It had a lot of little quirks that needed to be worked out, but I decided not to have them fixed, simply because it gives the car character.

My friend August has even threatened to murder me on more than one occasion if I didn't take my car in for some repairs. For starters, the doors didn't always cooperate with others. It was a bit of a struggle to open the passenger door from the inside as it wedged every time it was attempted. Both doors creaked as they were pulled open, and sometimes the radio threatened to give out on me. But it hasn't yet. Not to mention, the color was a little faded and rusty looking, giving it a pale yellow kind of style. But I always quite liked it. I found it stood out from all the other yellow cars I would run into.

"Just be careful with it, please." I say to Audrey once I pull open the passenger door and climb inside. Hearing that familiar loud creak come from the door as I did.

I didn't mind being driven around every once in a while, but if given the choice. I'd like to be the one driving. Especially when visiting a new place. I liked the idea of familiarizing myself with everything it had to offer.

And truth be told. My car was as stubborn as I was. Maybe that's why we got along so well and so quickly.

Audrey rolled her eyes at me, a grin playing along her lips. "Would you relax? This car loves me." Her smile widens as she's sticking her hand out of the rolled down window as Daniel waves to her while he is driving past and away from us in his jeep.

My eyes turn to Regina, and I catch her waving in our direction before heading back into the house.

Suddenly, I decided at that moment to let my tongue get the better of me.

"Hey, Audrey," I began softly, feeling Audrey's attention turn my way. "I don't think that bump on your mom's cheek was an accident."

It wasn't my place. I know. But, if my suspicions that kept settling inside of my gut were right, someone needed to put a stop to them. Someone needed to help Regina.

"What do you mean?" I turn to look at Audrey, and see that her head has tilted in a quizzical manner. Her brows knitted.

I went quiet for a moment. And even if my gut feeling never failed me, I questioned it for a small second, then and there. What if Regina actually did fall? What if she was telling the truth? Besides, I doubted that if some type of domestic abuse was actually the cause here, Audrey would keep quiet about it. She loved her mom and she would help her. But, what if Audrey didn't know? I didn't exactly know in the beginning when things started turning bad for my own mom with my real father. But it didn't take me long to figure that out either as I went with my gut instinct.

But even if it was true and Regina was enduring some type of violence. I didn't have solid proof. Not yet.

"Nothing." I shook my head, deciding that the best thing for now was to keep quiet. "Forget I said anything." I smile in Audrey's direction to try and throw her off course.

"No, wait a minute," Of course, that doesn't work as Audrey is already shifting her body within the car seat so that our eyes align with one another. "What are you trying to say?"

Just keep quiet. It's not your business. That was my mind's advice, which didn't go with my gut's unsettling feeling as I sighed and said, "I just think it's funny that yesterday she didn't have a cut on her face, and today she does."

Nothing solid to go on, but apparently, at that moment my mouth was doing all the thinking for me.

"Well, she fell. You heard what she said." Audrey shrugged. "That's what happens when you fall and hit your face. Look at what happened to you." As much as I think her response wouldn't surprise me, it does.

Maybe there was nothing going on and I've been drawing my own conclusions. Maybe the kick to my face affected my brain. Or maybe I was right and Audrey was just being naive. My gut instantly shouted at me and it was as if some anger took over me.

"I'm not talking about a simple fall or getting kicked in the face by a damn horse, Audrey." My sudden aggravated tone surprises me just as it surprises Audrey.

"Why are you becoming so defensive?" Her brow knits to my behavior.

Audrey knew I never got along with my real father. She just never knew about all the hell he put my mom and I through. Or what I had to do to stop him.

"I'm not." I was a little agitated. I take a deep breath then to calm whatever was taking over me, and rub at my temple.

These were just simple observations. That's all.

I was simply a guest here, and as a guest, the last thing I wanted to do was speculate something that possibly wasn't even happening. After all… It wasn't my place. I had to keep reminding myself of that. I was no one to raise suspicion, let alone a possible false accusation against Audrey's father. Even if the guy did give me a bad vibe as soon as he walked into a room. And the tension that surrounded Regina when he was around was very much real. At least to me.

"I'm sorry," I murmured more calmly. My elbow rested along the edge of the door as my fingers continued to massage away at my aching temple.

"I'm sorry, too." Audrey reached for my hand, our fingers laced together as she placed a kiss along the back of my hand. And she gave me the sweetest smile. "Let's just go get this cat scan over with so we can enjoy our day together. Deal?"

A day out with Audrey did sound perfect as I had told her when she suggested we go for a tour of the city, followed by a picnic.

"Deal." I smile, deciding to put our previous conversation in the back of my mind. My keys jingled in her hand as she placed the main key inside of the ignition. And as soon as my car roared to life, she put the car in motion as we backed out of the driveway.

As we enter through the glass door of a hospital, the cold of the room hits me. I hated hospitals.

Audrey and I walk up down the hallway, until we reach the elevators. She presses the button to the third floor, all while studying the order written out by one of Victor's nurses. As soon as the doors to the elevator part, we walk out and turn to the right. There are two double glass doors and a sign engraved on by the wall reading: X-Rays, screening, Ct. Scans. We were here.

I pull one of the doors open and allow Audrey to walk in first. She marches directly toward the registration desk while I follow closely behind.

"Good morning." A nurse sitting behind the desk smiles, adjusting her glasses. "How may I help you today?"

"Emma Swan, here for a catscan. Dr. Whale's orders." Audrey unfolds the filled out order and pushes it forward toward the nurse.

"Alright," Marge- I read her name tag- looks up at me. "I'll need to see your insurance card and ID, please, hun."

I reach behind me to search for my wallet in my back pocket, pull out my insurance and ID before pushing them forward along the desk.

"Thank you." Marge smiles up at me. She types away at her computer, putting in my information, no doubt, that only takes her a couple of minutes before she's handing me back my items. "There you go, hun. Just have a seat for me over there for me," she points to the waiting area before us, "Your name will be called shortly."

How about not at all? "Thank you." I walk toward two empty chairs along a far wall and stuff my wallet back inside my back pocket before I sit. Audrey reaches over for a magazine, while my eyes quickly explore the room. Several people are waiting to be called. One is, a man that looked to be in his fifties and I wonder what could have happened to him to be here today. There's a flat screen by the wall across from where I'm sitting, but it's news coverage.

I then opened up The Odyssey, as I had brought it with me and became immediately lost in the story. I was close to being done with it. And I loved every second of it. Regina had been right, this was an excellent story. Penelope had cried so much for her husband Odysseus after he disappeared ten years at sea after fighting in the Trojan War. My mind went to Regina.

She had been crying. I thought back to the night in the library. Her silhouette always in hiding, the lost look in her eyes from what I could see from the moon light that entered the room. Why had she been crying? Suddenly my mind asked a few questions in a matter of a minute.

Maybe she missed her husband?

Maybe she feels lonely?

Maybe she wasn't happy?

All good questions that would probably never have an answer. But, I wanted to believe that it was either of those things other than the cruel reality that Regina was possibly being abused. I keep my eyes engraved in the pages of the book as I shake my head at the thought of Audrey's dad physically abusing Regina.

Leopold White certainly didn't seem like the affectionate type. Of course, I'm going by what I've seen of him. He was clearly older than her, so maybe the magic in their marriage- if there ever was any magic- ended long ago. And Audrey didn't have the faintest clue.

How could a guy like Leopold White gain such a beautiful woman like Regina? I doubt a man like Leopold would know romance if it bit him in the ass to begin with.

And the thought of Regina possibly feeling lonely drilled a hole deep within my heart. Especially when I had caught her unexpected answer as I was surprised by her marrying young.

'Not by choice.'

Did that mean she was forced to marry him, but then fell in love? Or was she never in love with him to begin with? I couldn't and didn't want to imagine the torture it must be to be with someone you never loved or wanted.

"Emma Swan?" Another nurse called my name as she stood by the parted door, keeping it open for me. Audrey and I exchanged a quick look with one another before I stood up and walked through the door.

Audrey and I had agreed to drive back to her parent's house to gather everything we would need for our picnic, after our tour of the city. I eagerly wanted to get my camera from the bedroom. My heart beat with excitement to the thought of the many pictures I would soon take.

And I was happy to be out of that hospital. The results had been sent over to Dr. Whale, who coincidentally happened to be in the hospital and he manifested along the hospital, finding Audrey and me before we left to deliver the good news that there were no signs of trauma or serious injuries to my brain.

"Sidney already has everything prepared for us in a basket. I'll go get it, and I'll go get your camera from the room." Audrey told me.

"Cool. Thanks. Oh, before I forget-" I hold out the book before Audrey. "Could you place this back for me in its rightful place, please?"

Audrey takes the book, and my eyes travel to it, hoping that Regina would notice it back in its shelf and find the post-it note I had scribbled within.

And, this time…" I snatch the keys straight out of Audrey's hand-

"Hey!" She exclaimed, reaching for them as I pulled them out of her reach.

"I get to drive us to wherever you indicate me." I grin in a playful manner.

"Oh, no you don't, Em!" Audrey fought me for my keys until she was able to snatch them back in her possession.

"Audrey!" My shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I'm sorry, but no. Besides, you've never seen Boston. I want to drive you." She smiled, but I wasn't pleased as I followed her inside of the house.

"Give me my keys, please," I pleaded, holding out my hand. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs as Audrey climbed them, taking my keys with her. "Audrey! You heard what the doc said, I am perfectly fine. That means I can drive my car." I went ignored and found myself sighing.

"I am still not taking any chances. At least for today. Besides, as your girlfriend it is my job to drive you around Boston and give you a proper tour." Audrey turns on one of the steps and flashes her best smile before continuing up the flight of stairs.

I chuckle and shake my head. My eyes suddenly moved along to Regina who was entering the room.

"I wouldn't fight her, dear. She can be very tenacious when she wants to be." Said Regina, a small grin stretching along her lips.

"Yeah. Yeah, I can see that." I shake my head once again. "Do I have you to thank for that?"

Regina's grin grows. And that gives the answer to my question. I can't help but grin along with her as I can't look away from that smile.

"Oh, hey-" My eyes move along to the book Regina is holding and I point to it. "I love that book. It's one of my personal favorites."

Regina glances down at her book before looking back up at me. There's a certain sparkle in her eye. "Do you now?" Her brow raises so perfectly. "I haven't met many people who actually enjoy this one."

"That is actually one of my mom's favorites." I tell her. "And possibly the only book she ever read in her entire life." Regina chuckles as I do. "I read it when I started college; she gave it to me as a going away present."

"I trust that your mother is at ease now that Victor cleared you from any possible trauma?" Regina asked me.

"Uh…" I chuckle once more, because of course she wasn't entirely at ease. "I'll get back to you on that. I'm afraid she's still blowing up my phone, and I have no clue as to when she will stop."

More than seeing Regina smile, I discovered that I loved the fact that Regina was an avid reader. And the fact that my stupid jokes made her laugh every single time, it brought me a sense of joy I couldn't quite explain. Suddenly the thought of her being all alone in this massive house pinched away at my heart. And from the looks of it, Regina had been crying. Again. But, of course, I quickly came to the conclusion that it could be because of the book she was currently reading. It was a sad one.

"Audrey and I are taking a tour of the city," I said softly.

"That sounds lovely." Regina smiles at me once again.

Invite her to join you and Audrey. I thought to myself, thinking it would be a great idea to include Regina in our tour of the city. Better than being here alone with her troubling thoughts.

"Come with us." Suddenly- I couldn't understand why- my palms had become so shaky and sweaty that I had to discreetly rub them against my jeans.

Regina's lips part as if she's surprised that I even bothered to invite her to come along. And it dawns on me that maybe none of Audrey's other friends ever invited her anywhere. "Oh, no." She shakes her head. "No, you two need to be alone, I'm sure."

"We can be alone any time-" I try to tell her, but Regina is quick to step in.

"I wouldn't want to be a bother, dear-" This time I interrupted Regina.

"You wouldn't be. I'm inviting you-" And this is where Regina shows her tenacious side to me as she doesn't think twice to jump right in after.

"That's very sweet of you, but- no." She smiles kindly at me and a little sad.

"Tenacious," I nod as I murmur, knowing this is an argument I would not win.

Regina smirks, as if she knows she's won. And I have to admit it to myself, that even with that mark along her cheekbone, she looked beautiful every single time she smiled.

"Hey, Em? Do you want me to get your camera?" Audrey's voice startles us both as she's shouting from the second floor.

"Sure." I reply, loud enough for Audrey to hear. My eyes never leave Regina's.

"Alright, let's go." Audrey's footsteps are also heard coming down the stairs. She smiles at her mother as she enters the room, handing me my camera while she's wearing a pair of sunglasses. She leans in to kiss her mother goodbye. "Bye, mom, we'll be back a little later."

"Bye, darling. You two have fun." Regina's eyes move over to me and she nods.

I nod back in and as I'm heading out of the front door, I stop, and turn back. My eyes are focused on Regina as I say, "So then he began to weep, holding in his arms his loyal wife, his heart's love."

Regina turns her attention to me upon hearing a verse from The Odyssey that I knew she knows well. There's a sparkle in her eyes as she looks into mine and I smile.

"You memorized it?" Regina asked me in astonishment.

I shrug, my cheeks a small shade of pink. "That verse just speaks to you, you know? Odysseus' love for his wife Penelope is quite a love that remains carved in stone throughout history. Even if he did cheat a little." I scrunch up my nose a little after that thought. And I gain another small laugh from Regina.

"Different times, Ms. Swan." Regina acknowledges me. "His love for Penelope however remained eternally the same."

"Just like his love for his son Thelemachus." I replied in a soft tone of voice.

"And his love for the city of Ithaca." We both say in unison, and my heart beats with excitement as we smile at one another. There was nothing more pleasurable for me than to share the love of a good book with someone who knows how to appreciate it. And Regina was that person.

Suddenly, the sound of my yellow bug's horn startles us both. Audrey. My eyes close for a second before I'm looking back at Regina with an apologetic look.

"Don't make her wait." Regina says in a teasing manner.

I give her one last smile and a small wave before making my way out the door.