A/N: I'm sorry I stopped updating this for a few days. I've been going through a grieving process after a passing happened around me. I'm still having a very difficult time accepting and processing everything, but I am here, trying my best to bring you more old and new stories up to date. I thank you for all your patience and love that you continue to give throughout your reviews. This chapter will have parts from the previous one, given that Emma had some important moments that I didn't want to leave out. I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading!

Chapter 48: Emma

It had been three days since I last saw Regina, and I missed her more each second that passed. I kept expecting that call where Regina would tell me that Chief Irons finally left and that I could go pick her up. I wouldn't give a damn if I was helping my mom with something, or if I was at school. I would pick Regina up in a heartbeat just to see her smiling face again. But in the meantime, here I am with August in his father's auto shop, lending him a hand like many times before.

Of course, August has made it his own personal goal to tease me on my relationship with Regina any chance he gets. Like right now, he told me he was going to get a beer from the fridge he kept near one of the tool boxes, but before he did that he moved over to his stereo to turn up the volume once the song Stacy's Mom started playing. He smirked as I glared right at him.

"What?" August keeps his grin. "Shouldn't that be like your favorite song? I mean, it fits, right?"

I shake my head and continue working on one of the cars, ignoring August's remarks. My attention turns to my ringing phone. I sit up once I see it's Regina calling. "Hey, turn it down a minute. I have to answer." I tell August, answering the call. "Gina?"

"Hello." I smile at the sound of hearing Regina smile.

"Are you alone?" I ask.

"I am. He left this morning. He'll be gone until Monday, but that's enough for us to see each other without having to worry about him. That is… If you're not busy?"

The day I was ever too busy to be with Regina, is the day I would shoot myself. My smile reaches my ears, "No. I'm never busy for you. School doesn't start until Tuesday, so that's actually perfect." I look down at my watch. "Give me a few minutes to finish up helping August here, and I'll drive up."

Spending days with Regina at the Orchard or wherever she wanted to go. I couldn't wait.

"Actually," Regina is quiet for a moment until she says, "I was kind of hoping I could come and see you for a change." My smile grows impossibly larger at the sound of a relieved sigh coming from Regina and at the thought of her here with me. "I'd love the idea of leaving this house, being somewhere else with you."

And I would love nothing more than to have Regina here, to show her where I grew up. Of course, there was that small detail that I still needed to let my mom in on my new relationship with Regina. After all, lately, she had been questioning me as to why she didn't see me with Audrey lately. Maybe now was the perfect time to come clean about everything with her. Even if I didn't know where this relationship with Regina would go, I wanted it to go all the way. And for that to happen, I needed to let my mom in on the big news of my new relationship. And it wouldn't be a bad idea to look for a place to stay with Regina, just in case my mom did not take the news well.

My mom was as liberal as the next person, but the fact that I was now dating Audrey's mom could send her for a loop. She might not take it as well as I hope, and for that I needed to be prepared. I would be. For Regina, I would face her and the entire world if I had to.

"Sidney can-"

"No," I jumped at the opportunity. "I'll go pick you up. You just get ready. Pack a bag, do whatever you need to do." I said.

I'll see you soon." I can hear Regina's smile is as big as mine at the thought of seeing each other soon.

"I can't wait." I said, feeling my heart beat with anticipation and excitement. Once the line goes dead, I tuck my phone back inside the pocket of my jeans and move on to where August is working on his Harley, wiping his greasy hands with a rag.

"Oh, no, I'll go pick you up. Oh," August puckers his lips, blowing a few kisses in my direction. His eyes are closed and his voice takes on a high pitch, miserably mocking my own. "Oh, I can't wait to see you, Regina." As he laughs, I take the rag from his hands and toss it at his face, making him laugh even harder.

"Shut up." I said, leaning my hips along my own car.

August grins. "Things are getting pretty serious with you and mommy dearest, huh?" He asks.

"Don't call her that." I glare in his direction.

"No, hey," August stands and walks over to the mini fridge. "You're my idol, Em." He pops the cap off of two beer bottles, handing one of them to me. "I seriously admire you." August moves to stand next to me while we share a sip of beer. "So…" He nudges me with his elbow. "Are you two, uh, gonna do like the song says and finally get it on?"

"Since when do you listen to Marvin Gaye?" I ask, my brow rising.

"Hey, it's an acquired taste, alright?"

I shake my head, deciding to ignore his question while taking another sip from my beer bottle.

"I mean, come on," August nudges me again. "She's coming here to see you, risking it all, including Audrey to catch you guys," his brows skyrocket. "She wants you, Em."

Regina was risking it all for me. And for a moment, I had to wonder if I was even worth her risking it all. As for the fact that Regina wanted me- well, that was for her and I to feel in the moment. Sure I thought about the possibility of Regina and I together. Why deny it? The thought had been living rent free in my brain for a good while now that sometimes at night, I found myself relieving some of that itching that needed scratching. As torture as it was sometimes, because let's face it; one's own hand compared to the real thing were two entirely different things, I would do it as many times as I had to, until Regina was ready.

"Is everything about sex with you?" I ask August.

"Of course, it is. What's not to love about sex?" August scoffs and nudges me once more. "Come on, don't tell me you haven't thought about it or pictured her naked."

I'd be lying if I said no. "Of course I've thought about it. I just don't want to rush into anything with her, August. I spent my life doing that with every girl I dated, including Audrey. Regina… She's different. And besides, I would never make her do something she wasn't ready for."

"I'm sure she appreciates that. I mean, you know, given the conditions she's lived in." Said August.

My light bulb comes on as an idea crosses my mind. "August, I need to ask you for a favor." I say, looking at August. "Well, you know I haven't told my mom that I'm seeing someone yet. But, uh, I plan to. Today. Of course, I won't think to mention that who I'm dating is Audrey's mom." All depending on how my mother takes the news, to which I have a feeling it won't be an easy thing to hear for her.

Meanwhile, August makes a noise in the back of his throat that he quenches down with a sip of beer. A noise that tells me, he agrees with me.

"But, uh… In case my mom doesn't take the news well of me seeing an older woman." I pause, "I'm going to need a place where I can crash with Regina. Just until she's here." I rush through that last part before August can get a word in.

"Em," August groans. "My place isn't fit for-"

"So clean up. You need to anyway." I said.

August rolls his eyes, already annoyed by the idea of cleaning up, "Oh, come on, Em."

"What's wrong with wanting to borrow your place for a few days?" I ask.

"Well, why can't you take her to a hotel or something?" August asks.

Is he shitting me right now? "Come on, Aug. If I take her to a hotel, Regina is for sure going to think that what I'm hoping for this weekend is to sleep with her."

"Oh, yeah, because taking her to a friend's apartment is far from that." August chuckles before finishing up his beer. He moves over to the trash can positioned in another corner of the garage, tosses his empty beer bottle and heads over to the fridge to fetch another beer for himself.

"August-"

"No, Em. That's out of the question. I love you, I'm sorry, but I can't lend you my place." He speaks louder over me. "Lending you my place would mean I'd have to stay with my father. No. I can't do that, Em. It'll drive me crazy."

"You love your father." I said.

"And that is why it's best for us to live our separate ways. That's how we keep our father/son love on land. If we were to live together, all hell would break loose."

"So bring a bible." I roll my eyes as I reply sarcastically.

August's brow furrows. "Settle down, Father Karras."

"August, please. I'd owe you." I'm on the verge of dropping to my knees and begging him if I have to.

August groans and rolls his eyes at me, "Emma…"

"I'd owe you big." I replied.

"How big?" Asked August.

"Real big."

"Like… Emma needs a new lung, but August's new black Harley comes first?" His eyes narrow.

I roll my eyes as the corner of my lip tilts into a small smirk. "Deal." I extend my hand which August doesn't think twice to shake. His grip tight.

"Just one thing." I wait, preparing myself for the worst. "You may want to buy some new sheets for my bed." My nose scrunches up in disgust. August's grin grows impossibly large. "What? It's beer stains. Nothing else, I promise."

Whether it's beer stains that have lived permanently on August's bed sheets or not I had to agree, it was best to buy some new bed sheets before Regina got anywhere near his bed. Suddenly the thought of sharing a bed with Regina tied my stomach up in knots. Of course, if Regina wasn't comfortable with the idea, there was always the couch for me. After all, this weekend would be all about what Regina wanted. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Of course, before I raced over to pick up Regina, I would have to come clean with my mom about us dating.

"Hey, kiddo." I hear David's voice come through the phone after the line rang once. It was David's day off. Something I was tremendously thankful for, because if anyone would keep the peace in the house with my mom and help her digest the news I had to deliver to her- it would be him.

"Hey, David. Listen, is mom there?" I ask him.

"Yeah, she's here. Do you want to talk to her?"

"No, uh- I mean, yes, but I'm on my way home right now." I keep my eyes focused on the road, but my hearing is a hundred percent on David. I could hear my mom in the background, moving about.

"Is everything alright?" David asks.

I breathe in sharply and exhale just as I say, "Regina is coming to Portland. Her husband's left for a business trip for a couple of days, and she wants us to be together, so…" I wait for David's reaction.

"Oh." David breathes. "Well, that's- that's wonderful, kiddo. I'm- I'm happy for you. Really."

I smile as I know he means every word to me. David was the most honest person you would be lucky enough to meet. "Thanks. I'd love for you and mom to meet her, but… Before that can happen, I plan to tell her everything about my relationship with Regina. At least that I'm dating her- for now. I was… Sort of hoping you could hang around the house while I tell her?" My question was more of a plea than a question.

"Yeah, absolutely. We'll both be here, Emma."

I smile at David's reply. "I'll see you in a bit."

David was enjoying a solo game of dominoes when I arrived home in a few minutes. Mom was on the verge of fixing lunch by this time. As my eyes met with David's once I entered, my heart began to accelerate as fast as it had ever beat before. I can pick up on my mother's whistling. She had been whistling since my return. It was like watching Snow White cook and clean or the seven dwarfs, which also happened to be one of her favorite Disney films.

As I froze there, contemplating on how to go about my news, David's foot nudged against my leg. He nods as I look over to him again. I had to tell my mom, it was only fair to me, to Regina and to her. Besides, I already had to hide my relationship from Audrey herself for difficult reasons, but I'll be damned if I kept Regina hidden from my parents as well. I wanted them to meet her. To love her as I loved her.

With that engraved in my mind, I move closer to my mom, drawing in a breath, "Hey, mom." Mom whips around to the sound of my voice, greeting me with one of her kodak smiles.

"Emma, you're finally home. Look-" Mom beckoned me further into the kitchen- excited as ever, welcoming me to peek at what we would be having for lunch today. "I'm making potato salad sandwiches. You're favorite."

That looked so good! "Can't wait." I smile, drawing in another needed breath. "Listen, mom?"

"Mhm?" Mom's eyes glanced over her shoulder my way as she continued to stir the potato salad. Her potato salad was always so creamy. I cook to an extent, unlike my mom or Regina who turn into Julia Child's when they are in the kitchen. Me telling Regina that I could cook anything she wanted, well… I know a few things, like the chocolate chip pancakes I managed to burn while in Regina's home. I know how to cook a mean grilled cheese, simply because if it was up to me I would eat that every day. But, honestly, that's as far as my culinary skills go. I'm not opposed to learning.

I look over to David, who's eyes are the both of us before I turn back to my mom. "I have to talk to you about something that's very important to me. And," I sigh. "I'm gonna need you to keep an open mind. Okay?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Mom smiles brightly at me. "Haven't I always been very liberal with you?"

She has. I huff out a small nervous laugh. "Yes, you have. And you've been very understanding, even when I came out to you." My mom was the most understanding person of all when I came out. I remember her hugging me so tight and telling me that nothing could change the love she felt for me. Still, what I had to tell her now didn't compare to that moment. My hands felt so clammy, I wiped them along my jeans.

"Well, I have always said that love is love. It knows no gender, no age, and no religion." She smiles.

If only that smile could tell me that she would take the news well of me seeing an older woman. Especially when I had told her just the other day that my relationship with Audrey had come to an end, taking her completely by surprise. But, there was only one true way to find out.

I turn to David for the last time and he nods at me, which gives me the courage I need to do this. "I'm glad to hear you say that, because…" Because I'm in love with Regina. "Here, you might want to sit down." I reach for my mom's hands and guide her over to the chair where David had his feet propped up on.

"But lunch is almost-"

"That can wait, M." Said David, his eyes trained carefully on mom. "You're going to want to hear this."

"What is it? It sounds serious, Emma." Mom's face falls like stone. "Are you sick?" She asks, eyes worried.

"No." I shake my head and chuckle out of nervousness. "No, I'm not sick."

"Are you sure-?"

"Mom. Just sit. Okay? Please." I nod to the chair and despite her shocked expression at the serious tone of my voice, mom sits down slowly, right next to David. I pace back and forth before my mom all while wiping my hands along my jeans. "Okay. This is in fact is serious." I draw in three steady breaths, counting them down before kneeling in front of mom. "Mom. Do you know how I told you I was no longer with Audrey?" She nods. "Well. The reason for that… Is because-"

"Oh, my God-" My heart stops as my mom speaks above me, her eyes are as wide as mine. "You're pregnant!" What? Her hand reaches her mouth in utter shock.

"No!" I turn to David and he rolls his eyes from where he's sitting. "Mom, no. I'm not-" I can't help but to chuckle. "I'm not pregnant." I assure her.

"Well, what is it?" Mom asks, waiting for my reply.

I draw in another breath, "The reason that I ended things with Audrey… Is because…" I look over to David before turning back to mom. "I met someone else." My mom's lips part in shock. "Her name's Regina. And we've been going out for three days."

"Oh." Mom tilts her head in a quizzical manner. It takes a moment to ask, "When did this happen, Emma?"

"During the summer. But mom, Regina is great. She's amazing, smart, and absolutely beautiful, mom." I'm unable to stop myself from smiling as I talk about Regina. "You'd love her. You'd love her if you just met her."

She remains quiet. I had gotten this far in telling her, so I encouraged myself to keep it going.

"There's more." I said.

"More?" My mom's brows hit her hairline.

I draw in my sixth breath, turn to David for more encouragement before I look back at mom. "Regina… She's… She's older."

"Older?" Mom pauses for a beat. "How… How much older?" She asks.

Moment of truth. I chew on my bottom lip. "Forty-one," I murmur, and whatever color is left on my mom's face drains out of her. David and I stand just as my mom does. She says nothing. Instead, she heads into the kitchen which we follow close behind. "Mom?" I call out after two long minutes.

Mom lifts her hand to stop me in my trail. She reaches for a glass, fills it with water, and drains it down.

"Mom?" I call out again, seeing mom hold up her hand again as she refills her glass and gulps down the water. Her blood pressure has probably gone through the roof.

Finally, after her third glass of water, mom looks me square in the eye. "Forty-one?"

And here we go. "Mom, listen-"

"Over the summer?" Mom scoffs as she turns to David. "Can you believe this?"

David remains silent, his eyes avoid my mom at all cost and look down to his dominoes. Typical David thing to do when he knew something she didn't.

"You knew." Mom says, turning back to me afterward. "So, now I'm the only one kept in the dark in this family? Whatever happened to 'I'm so happy I can trust you, mom.'" She asks, looking a little angry.

"Look how you're getting." I reply, my hands glued to my hips.

"Well, excuse me, but as your mother I have a right to be a little shocked that my daughter is now dating a forty-one year old woman."

"Mary Margaret, it's not as bad as it sounds." Said David, earning a glare from my mom.

"How can you say that to me, David? Have you also been the first to meet this woman?" Mom asks.

"He hasn't met her." I clarified after. "And if I didn't tell you sooner, it's because I know how much you really liked Audrey. But mom, if anyone knows that nothing lasts forever- that's you."

Mom waits a beat, a hand resting along her waist. "And how do you know this will?" She asks.

It was a fair enough question. After all, before Regina came into my life, I had had plenty of girlfriends, but none that I wanted to introduce to my parents. Lily had known my parents simply because my mom and Lily's mom used to be friends, and my mom did work in our school at the time. Audrey, I had brought her over, once or twice, but we would never stay more than five minutes here without rushing out to one of August's parties.

My eyes lock dead-on onto my mom's. "Because I'm in love with Regina." I say this with all the sureness in my voice.

"You're-?" Mom's brows skyrocket before she begins to pace. If she paced anymore, she would leave a trail along the floor. "Emma, just look at your life for just a minute. You've been through it faster than I can close my eyes."

"I know." I reply, knowing for a fact that her statement is more than true. But I wanted to change that. For Regina I would change that.

"Look at the girl's you've dated before Audrey came along. She's the longest one you've been with, and now this woman comes along-"

I had to stop her right there. Regina wasn't some woman. "Regina." I correct her, forcing her name on my mom.

"Fine. This woman, Regina comes along and you think you're in love? Just- how could you possibly be sure of that?" She asks.

I knew my mom would react this way. It was to be expected, but for her to question me about how I was so sure if I was in love with Regina- coming from her- that shocked me. It's as if she forgot that no matter how fast my life was going before, if there was one thing I knew was that when true love struck me, I would know it- thanks to them.

My jaw clenches in a bit of anger as I remind her of that very thing. "Because thanks to you and David, I know what true love is like. I see it everyday, I live it with you two. And what I feel for Regina, I never got to feel with Audrey or anyone else. Now, if you want to look at our age difference as an issue, you go ahead."

"It is an issue, Emma-"

"No, I don't think it is, mom." I bite back, seeing shock take over my mom's face. "You're wrong. I didn't ask for this to happen, Regina didn't ask for this to happen but it happened. We met, we felt an attraction and we gave in, like adults do. Now, I did things right. I ended things with Audrey before forwarding any type of relationship with Regina, and she was fine with it." I take a pause, along with a much needed breath. "You haven't even met her yet and already you're doubting that this is the real thing, when you always said to me that we must give everything and everyone a chance. Where is that advice now?" I ask.

My mom's lips part in utter shock and I hope, maybe some realization.

"Look," I ran a hand through my hair in a bit of frustration, trying to calm myself. I needed to be calm before seeing Regina. "I love you. That's never been in question. You're my parents, and when you met David I supported you through and through. Well, here I am, standing before you, asking you to do the same for your daughter. I'm on my way to pick Regina up. We are spending a couple of days together, and you will not get in the way of that. For your relief, I talked to August and he agreed to lend me his place so that we can stay without inconveniencing you. But if you come to your senses, and you want to meet her, you have my number."

I decided that it was best to place some distance in between my mom and I after that, give myself time to cool off before seeing Regina, and give my mom time to think things over a little better. I couldn't remember ever having to stand up to my own mother this way, especially not over some girl. But that was just it. Regina wasn't just some girl, but the woman I loved, and there was nothing or no one I wouldn't protect her from. Especially when Regina wasn't at fault at all here.

"Wha- Emma!" Is the last thing I hear my mom say before I close the door behind me to the house.