Regina woke up in her bed alone after crying. The morning sun was shining through the window. She turned around to face the clock, it was ten o'clock in the morning. She heard the silence through the mansion and it alerted her that her family was gone. The brunette woman exhaled deeply and rubbed her eyes then knew what to do is take a personal time off.
The brown-haired mayor took her cellphone from the nightstand and pressed the button on her secretary's line at the town hall. She waited for a phone to answer until the secretary greeted her on the phone line. Regina decided to let her know that she took a personal time off for two weeks but asked her to send the paperwork to her mansion on the end of the day. The secretary greeted her with a goodbye.
Regina got up, took a shower and changed her clothes into a casual clothes consisted of a red sweater and blue jeans with black leather boots. She went downstairs and checked in the kitchen. No one was there. The brunette mayor was alone by herself and went to get something to eat but felt like she didn't want to eat. She looked up at the clock, it was ten-thirty in the morning.
In her thoughts, she wanted to fix everything between her wife and her family after thinking what to do overnight from last night with a lot of tears. The brown-haired woman exhaled deeply and decided to see Emma's mother at her house. She retreated out of the kitchen and grabbed her purse and keys.
After locking up the front door, she turned around to see the Mifflin Street and the people jogged out there. Some of them were running on their errands outside to chat with other people. Her neighbors were inside the house and chatted with their friends. Regina exhaled deeply and went to her Mercedes. She ignited in and drove away from her driveway to Mary Margaret's house in 3 streets after crossing from the Main Street.
She arrived at the adorable English cottage with two stories. Regina turned her car engine off and got out of the car then locked up her car. She walked to the front door and knocked then waited. The brown-haired mayor turned around to see some people who were sitting on the bench and chatting. Some shopped in few small shops. The door opened. Regina faced her wife's mother and smiled.
Mary Margaret answered the door and went surprised that it was Regina out there. She let her come in and closed the door. Regina looked around in the house and voiced with her greeting. The pixie cut woman gestured them to the kitchen. David was there, nursing himself with a coffee and scolding Neal Jr. with the breakfast meal.
The brunette woman was surprised that Neal was a little bit taller than the kitchen counter. He looked up at her with a blank look. The blonde man was pausing his drinking and saw Regina there with his wife then nodded. Mary Margaret encouraged Regina to sit down and heard her voice.
"Hello David. It's nice to see you again."
"Finally, it's about time when you came up in the earth." David said while pouring the coffee in a mug then handed it to Regina. The pixie cut woman sent him a glare and shooed her son to get ready for school. The blonde man sent his apology look at his wife and decided to take Neal out of the house.
"I'm sorry about David and his annoyed talk."
"It's ok. I just came here and to be honest with you, I don't know what to do." Regina said.
"What is it?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Last night, I went home after work. I didn't realize that my family even Emma changed."
"It's been a year. Come on with me, we have to go outside and I don't want you to mope around in my house. Come see the bakery shop."
"Bakery Shop?" The brunette mayor questioned. Mary Margaret looked up after putting her coat on her and gestured her to go outside then locked up the door. Regina went to her car and heard the pixie cut woman's voice. She turned around to see her.
"I feel like I want to walk. Leave your car here and we will be back here after seeing the bakery shop. You have a lot of things to catch up. Come on."
Regina strode back to her and took a walk with Emma's mother. The pixie cut woman exhaled deeply and greeted some people passing by them. The brunette woman didn't recognize some people and saw Leroy who was shoveling the snow on the sidewalk. Mary Margaret looked over on the street before crossing over to the sidewalk.
The brown-haired woman looked around her town and it was snowing. It was beautiful. In a short time, they arrived at the bakery shop and Regina was confused with the name. Mary Margaret dragged her inside the shop and closed the door behind her. The brunette woman explored in the shop until her caramel eyes spotted on her blonde best friend, Kathryn who was serving behind the counter.
"Kathryn?"
The blonde best friend whipped her head to hear Regina's voice and gestured them to sit down on the counter. She went back to serve the coffee to some customers and sent some waitress to do her part duty. Kathryn threw her apron back in the backroom and ran back to them. Regina was surprised that Kathryn was looking same but gained some weight on her cheeks then spoke lightly.
"You look good."
"Thank you Regina. Hello Mary Margaret, care to have a hot chocolate with cinnamon spread?"
"Yes, please." The pixie cut woman put a scarf off on her neck and answered. The blonde owner nodded and yelled at her waitress to get them the drinks. The waitress nodded and went back to the counter to make the drinks. Regina looked over her blonde best friend's shoulder and saw Ruby who was laughing with the customers then continued.
"Is that Ruby?"
Kathryn and Mary Margaret looked over at the brunette waitress then nodded at Regina. Ruby laughed and finished her duty then brought the drinks from the counter to their table. The brown-haired woman smiled at her. Ruby hid her gasp when she saw Emma's wife and placed the tray on the table.
"Hello Ruby."
"Hello Regina, how are you doing?" Ruby asked. Kathryn looked back at her brunette best friend and heard her voice. Mary Margaret was pleased with her drink and didn't hear everything between her daughter-in-law and best friend.
"I'm doing well. Thank you for asking." The brunette mayor stated with a smile. Ruby nodded and left back to do her duty. Kathryn sighed and crossed her arms on the table while looking up at her best friend with a question.
"How is your business as Storybrooke's mayor?"
"It went well. I just informed my secretary that I am taking two weeks' personal time off. So, as a usual time, the secretary would send me the paperwork when I get home."
"Good." The blonde woman said with a smile. Regina looked around in shop and asked her right away. Mary Margaret was focusing on her drink and kept saying 'ahh'. Kathryn raised her eyebrows when she was asked to explain.
"I thought you were a lawyer but now, you are serving behind the counter."
"I changed my profession. Now, I'm a full time owner of Midas' bakery shop since last year."
"What about Ruby's Granny? Where is she?"
The brunette waitress just passed along the drinks to her customers next to Regina's table and smiled at them then turned around to face them with a reply. Kathryn and Mary Margaret looked up at her. Regina went perplexed when she saw Ruby's expression changed.
"My grandmother passed away last year. Kathryn received her deed to have this diner. So, I am working under her now. So, that is it. Do you want a coffee to re-fill?"
"Yes, please." Regina said. The door opened. Emma entered with her leather case in her winter coat. Mary Margaret looked over her shoulder and smiled. The blonde woman strode toward her mother and wife. The brown-haired woman looked up at her beautiful wife and smiled at her. Emma glanced over at Ruby and hugged her then waved her hand at Kathryn.
Kathryn nodded with a greeting. Mary Margaret smiled at her daughter and voiced. The blonde woman sat down between them and opposite from Regina's seat. Ruby went back to the counter to make the latte-to go.
"Hello Kathryn, how is the business?"
"It's running perfectly and thanks for asking. Oh, Ruby is getting you a latte to go. I know you are busy as a CEO. So how is it?"
"It went fantastic yesterday. I got few offers. It's almost hammered. Oh, it reminds me that today, I have to leave Storybrooke and stay there for few days." Emma said. Regina raised her eyebrows at the statement that her wife told them. She wondered if she could stay and take care of her kids while Emma was away to do business.
"Mom, will you pick Remma up from school and take her to the art class afterward? I know that you have a lot of things on your plate since Neal was taken away to the kindergarten."
"Don't worry, honey. I have some time for my granddaughter. Oh, do you want me to take her out to the fair tomorrow since it's the Miner's Festival?"
"Well, I will let Regina take care of her since her return last night. She will know what to do then." The blonde woman looked back at her wife while she was speaking lightly. The brunette woman felt her heart clenched at a sight. Kathryn and Mary Margaret looked at her while Emma waited for her answer.
"If she doesn't want to, then it would be you, mom. –"
"No! I will do it. Let me take care of Remma. Since I got some time off from work." Regina explained. The pixie cut woman was not feeling comfortable when it happened to her beautiful daughter's family. Kathryn held her breath until Ruby handed Emma a thermal mug. Emma hesitantly nodded with a small smile.
The blonde woman stood up and caressed her mother's cheek with a kiss. She nodded at Kathryn then kissed on Ruby's cheek and left Regina with a goodbye. Emma finally left with her mug. The brunette woman stared at her wife's retreating body until the door closed behind her.
It left Regina alone to think about her wife more often. She sighed and looked up at her mother-in-law then asked her to explain everything in a year. Kathryn decided to leave them alone and went to do her duty as an owner. Ruby sent a smile at her and left to serve the customers' needs.
Mary Margaret finished her drink and looked up at her daughter-in-law. Regina looked depressed when it came to her wife's situation on away business. The pixie cut woman sighed and rubbed her hands altogether then continued.
"You want to know what happened in a year?"
"Yes, please."
"After your seventh wedding anniversary with Emma, it got drained in few weeks later. Kathryn just jumped to get her position in the bakery shop since Granny died. Emma decided to resign as Storybrooke's sheriff. It got us in a shocking moment when she announced her event. And, Ruby and Belle just got married after asking Emma to be her maid-of-honor. Now, Belle is pregnant for seven months. And, Ursula and Cruella de Vil came back and stayed here last year after Belle's announcement about their baby. What's else?"
"What about Henry and Remma?" Regina asked.
"Henry just got his girlfriend, Violet. They are together for a year now. Remma, well. I think that it is time for her to explain everything about herself from last year. I rather not to tell you this one. It's a personal thing between you and her."
"Ok, what about Emma? Her work as a CEO? I didn't know that she wanted to be that."
"It was when it began, you stayed in your office and Emma decided to halt her attendance to see you. She was fed up with her work as a sheriff and took her time to take an offer from Portland. Well, it is technically, she lives in there now as David or I to take Remma and Henry to stay over at our house for the weekends. If it's necessary as Emma gets home."
"What? Emma lives in Portland? Why didn't she tell me?" The brunette mayor said. Mary Margaret held her finger in the air and shook her head. It made her understand that it was not her thing to tell her. She went quiet and nodded at her mother-in-law's silence. The bakery shop went hectic since the customers came to take the goods and coffee.
Until, Belle came in with her pregnant belly. Regina exclaimed after seeing a beautiful pregnant woman walking toward Ruby. She was sure that Mary Margaret told her that Belle was pregnant by seven months. The brunette woman in a floral dress turned around and smiled at Mary Margaret then saw Regina there and continued.
"Hello Regina! It's been a long time to see you."
"Wow, being pregnant looks good on you."
"Thank you Regina. Oh, I'm taking my wife to the doctor's appointment today."
"I can't wait, babe." Ruby said while wiggling her eyebrows. Belle punched her and laughed. Regina couldn't shake the feeling when she watched them playing along as the wives. She wished she could do that with her Emma. Mary Margaret reached her hand and smiled at her. The brunette woman looked at her with a small smile then decided to inform her.
"I think I'm going to see my family. Thank you for everything."
"Oh, tell them I said hi. By the way, you are welcome to my house for a family dinner this Sunday. By this time, Emma will return from work."
"I will." Regina kissed on her mother-in-law's cheek and waved her hand at them then left the bakery shop. Kathryn came to them and looked at them with a reply.
"Will she mend their marriage?"
"I hope so." Mary Margaret retorted. Belle nodded while rubbing her belly. Ruby kissed her quickly and got kicked from her boss. Kathryn giggled. The day got a little better but breezed through their life. In their thoughts, they were worried about Emma and Regina's marriage as usual.
Regina walked back to Mary Margaret's place and took her time to think about her eight years of marriage. She exhaled deeply while looking at the beautiful family who were laughing in the snow yard. It got her to miss her moments with her family at home since she got to be a mayor. Until, she reached her car and got in the car then drove away to her parents' house.
The brown-haired woman steered left and it was very closer to Main Street. Her parents just moved in Storybrooke before their seventh wedding anniversary and surprised her that they were living there now. Regina was thrilled to have her family being closer to her and she wanted to spend her time with them while she was bringing her kids to meet their grandparents.
The wooden cabin was getting closer. She smiled at herself when she remembered these moments when Remma and Henry threw snowballs at her father. The brunette mayor pulled over on the driveway and got out of her car with a sigh. She closed the door and walked toward the front door then knocked.
It was the butler, he answered the door and bowed in then gestured her after closing the door. He guided her to the living room where Cora and Zelena were chatting. Regina removed her gloves out of her hands and thanked the butler. The redheaded woman looked up and went surprised that her sister came to see them.
Cora turned around to face her daughter and smiled. The brunette mayor came to kiss on her mother's cheek and greeted her sister. Zelena smiled and patted an empty spot beside her. Regina removed her coat and gently put it on the arm then sat down and continued.
"Hello mother and Zelena."
"It's been a long time since your seventh wedding anniversary. What got you here?" Cora said. Zelena reached her sister's hand and rubbed with her thumb. Regina looked at them and silently cried then voiced.
"To be honest, I don't know what to do. I'm lost."
"What's wrong?" The oldest woman asked.
"Emma and the children have changed. I haven't been home lately. What happened to me?" The brunette woman explained while her tears dripped on her cheeks. Zelena sighed and looked back at her mother. Cora exhaled deeply and retorted softly.
"It's been a year."
"What's going on? I kept hearing 'It's been a year' from everyone even you too, mother." Regina threw her hands up in the air and stated with an uneasy feeling. She shot up from the couch and paced. Zelena scratched her jawline and spoke lightly.
"We knew. Even Emma's family. Ruby, Belle and Kathryn knew too. We were watching you and Emma falling apart after the event. To be honest, I don't know what's going on with you lately. Emma kept saying 'it would be fine when you get home.' She kept a hope until it fell apart after few weeks."
"When she got resigned as a sheriff. Well, we knew too." Cora explained. Regina stuttered and shook her head then voiced her concerns.
"What's next?"
"She almost considered to put her marriage in legal dissolution before a year was up. I pledged her to stay on and hold it to her marriage toward you. Now, she just lost her hope. Even her kids who suffered." Zelena said.
"Divorce!?" The brunette mayor shrieked. Cora was startled by her daughter's voice and breathed deeply.
"Yes, a divorce but she hasn't filed yet." The redheaded woman emphasized her statement. Regina has been worrying about her marriage into the dissolution. She kept her pace more briskly then felt odd when she saw her family there in the living room. Her father was not here. It made her ask them again.
"Where is daddy?"
"He passed away last year." Cora retorted while cleaning her lint on her pantsuit. The brunette mayor shakily breathed and felt her sister's hands to guide her to sit down on the couch. Zelena rubbed her hand against her sister's back and spoke lightly.
"You missed your father's funeral. It was exactly after your wife's resignation. I know, it was too much events happening in a year since you missed it. I meant it."
"What happened to him?" Regina asked while looking up at them. The oldest woman put her hand on her jawline and crossed her legs in a perfect pose. The redheaded woman sighed and continued.
"He had a cardiac attack after getting the news from Emma."
"Now, we arranged everything for your father. It is located at Storybrooke Cemetery near the woods and town line." Cora responded. Regina blinked and swallowed a lump in her throat. She was thinking too much about her marriage, kids and her father's death. The brunette mayor needed to go somewhere in a peaceful spot. Zelena saw a glint in her sister's eyes and explained.
"You can go now."
"Ye-s. I need to go. Thank you, mother for telling me. I will be back soon as I can." Regina spoke hastily while grabbing her coat and gloves then kissed on her mother's cheek and retreated quickly. Cora opened her mouth but found it was quickly for her to open up the talk and looked back at her other daughter, Zelena who was worried.
"Will Regina find a time to save her marriage, kids and live a life that matters?" The redheaded woman asked her mother. Cora raised her eyebrows at her daughter and looked away at the window with a retort.
"I hope so. I really liked Emma than that Daniel guy."
"What?" Zelena started to chuckle and the oldest woman joined the laughter with a nod. Most of the Mills family knew that Cora disliked Daniel Stables since she met him for first time. The redheaded woman shook her head at the moment when Cora scrunched her nose while she was formally introduced to Daniel. When it was an event of the day that Regina brought him to home for Christmas from the college.
A/N: It is still not the end of the story yet...