A/N: It arrived at your eyes. Some of you are new to this story so welcome! This edited chapter was by Wazgood529 with magical grammatical powers. Give some praise for this beta. Here you go.
Chapter 5
During the evening, Regina was having a breakdown. Emma comforted her and released their embrace. The brunette woman wiped her tears while shaking her head. The blonde woman got up and informed the brunette woman before Geoffrey came in to tell his boss.
"You go with Geoffrey for dinner. I will be there in few minutes."
Regina looked up at her and nodded then found the butler waiting for them to get out of the bedroom. Emma looked at her butler and tilted her head. Geoffrey smiled and spoke lightly.
"It's an emergency meeting in the barn."
"Thank you, Geoffrey and please lead Regina to the kitchen. I will be there in few minutes."
"Yes, ma'am." He bowed out and turned around to walk away. The brunette woman looked at her ex-wife and gave a smile. Emma looked at her and nodded then left to her meeting in the barn in few minutes later. Regina frowned and followed the butler to the kitchen.
Geoffrey found his way to the kitchen and turned around. Regina came in the kitchen and found the beautiful Southern charms in the area. The butler cleared his throat to get her attention. The brunette woman looked at him and tilted her head.
"Mr. Mills just went back to his bedroom to take a short nap. Want me to call him for dinner time?"
"Please do so and thank you." Regina retorted. Geoffrey bowed his head before leaving the kitchen.
The brunette woman sighed and looked around in the kitchen then decided to explore through the mansion on the first floor while she waited for her son to come in the kitchen.
Regina took a liking to the mansion and had never seen the bright tones come alive. She was impressed with Emma's tastes in furniture and everything else. The brunette woman finally reached the home office where they had a meeting with Emma after they arrived.
She opened the door and walked inside to explore everything on the bookshelves. The shelves were full of Emma's adventures, businesses, gala events and books. Regina carefully took a close eyes on each picture that the blonde woman took in her trips until she reached the Egypt picture with her hands.
In the picture, Emma was smiling while she was posing behind the famous pyramids. She wore the safari clothes and her blonde locks was in the bunhead style. Her emerald eyes were shining with the green tint.
Regina smiled and put it back on the place then something caught her eyes. She reached the frame out from the shelf while putting Egypt picture back. The brunette woman gasped. It was her wedding picture with Emma.
In the wedding frame, Emma was in a white tuxedo with a red tie. Regina was in her lace gown. They were in an embraced while looking at the camera. The blonde woman held Regina's waist around her arms and rested her chin on the shoulder. The brunette woman rested her arms and hands on Emma's arms. Her head was resting on the blonde woman's cheek. They were smiling brightly. Also, the ladies were in the open field surrounding the forest.
Regina closed her eyes and remembered that day with the blonde woman for several minutes. The brunette woman opened her eyes and put the wedding picture back on the shelf then left the home office after closing the door behind her.
Henry woke up in his bed and heard Geoffrey knocking on his door. He got up and opened the door to reveal the butler. The brunette man nodded.
"It's dinner time."
"Oh right, I forgot. Sorry." Henry said. The butler nodded and walked away. The brunette man closed his door and followed him along until he reached the kitchen.
Regina finally arrived back to the kitchen from her exploring. She found her son talking to the chef and was surprised that Emma had a chef. The brunette woman remembered that the blonde woman couldn't cook at all.
The brunette man looked at his adopted mom and chatted about his favorite food that he always wanted. The chef was smiling at him and wrote everything that Henry requested for the breakfast, lunch and dinner plus the allergies.
Regina sighed and walked to the breakfast stool then sat down. She listened to her son's voice while she went into her thoughts about the wedding picture that Emma kept for seven years.
The chef looked at the brunette woman and informed her right away. Henry looked through the cabinet for the hot chocolate. Regina threw her answers at the chef about her allergies and requests.
Geoffrey came in and greeted them with a smile. The chef went to cook the dinner for the guests. The butler gestured the Mills out to the dining room and informed.
"Your dinner is coming. Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you." They said in unison. The butler nodded and went back to the kitchen for fetching their drinks. The chef finished with the cooking and delivered the hot meals on the Mills' placemats.
The butler and chef joined the dining table with their drinks and food. Regina was pleased that they joined them. Henry asked few questions toward the chef about the work for Emma and others around in Texas. Geoffrey poured the water in his drink and heard the brunette woman's questions.
"How do you offer your services to Emma?"
"I'm a butler who is working through the household while she's away. Sometimes, I can take my errands alone with her while she is in meetings. I make sure that the guests are satisfied with their stay in The Swan Household."
Regina listened while she was eating the steak. Henry was laughing at his memories when he tried to cook pancakes for the first time. The chef laughed with him and explained about the culinary school experiences.
Emma came in the dining room from her meetings and greeted everyone on the table. The chef got up to get Emma's dish then went back to place it on the placemat in the head chair. Geoffrey poured the water in the blonde woman's glass.
It went in silence for a while. Henry cleared his throat while the chef and the butler were dismissed from Emma's orders. The brunette man thanked them for a dinner meal. Regina was silent and took her time to look at Emma's figure. The brunette woman went into her thoughts as she didn't listen to her son's questions toward the blonde woman.
Emma raised her eyebrows at her son and kept eating her dish until she glanced over at the brunette woman who was not paying attention to the eye contact between them. Henry looked back and forth until he decided to ask a question.
"Why are you having a chef, butler and servers around in the mansion?"
"I can't do everything as I'm a business owner on the weekdays. On weekends, I fly to some states for interviews or charities. That's why I hired them to do the weekends while I am away."
"Oh, Are you liking your business?" The brunette man tilted his head and quipped with his curiosity. The blonde woman chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, Henry, I am still loving it so far and you should join me for a day in Swan's Ugly Ducklings tomorrow. What about it?" Emma said.
"Sounds great! Mom, she invited me to be with her for a day at Swan's Ugly Ducklings. Want to join us?" The brunette man asked his adopted mother who was not still paying attention. Regina snapped her thoughts to her son and nodded with no words. The blonde woman suspected that the brunette woman had a lot of things on her plate and decided to ask her later when they had their own time alone.
It wrapped up with Henry's questions. Emma decided to dismiss her son to gather their dishes and looked at her ex-wife who was paralyzed with her thoughts. The brunette man was excited to make a homemade hot chocolate with the chef. Regina looked around in the dining room and realized that Henry left with their dishes to the kitchen. The blonde woman smiled at her and got up then left the dining room. The brunette woman was not sure which way to go. She wanted to watch her son making the homemade hot chocolate with the chef and ask many questions about the chef. But she decided to go with her guts for following her blonde ex-wife in the home office.
Emma entered her home office and looked at her dog, Regal who was jumping on the couch then chuckled at herself. She walked around the desk and sat down. The blonde woman decided to finish the paperwork before she went away with The Mills for The Children's Foundation Gala on the weekend. Several minutes later, Regina knocked on the door and peeked to find the blonde woman working on the paperwork.
The blonde woman looked up at the door and found her brunette ex-wife there then gestured her to sit down in front of her desk. The brunette woman was relieved that Emma didn't kick her out of her office and tell Regina not interrupt her at all. Regina smiled and closed the door behind her then walked to the armchair.
The ladies said no words to each other but their thoughts brought it up with the memories that they shared together in their marriage and before they decided to propose to each other on that day. Regina scratched her head while sighing at herself. Emma held a paperwork in her left hand in the air and looked up at the brunette woman then spoke lightly.
"What can I help you with?"
"I have a question for you." The brunette woman responded with a small smile. The blonde woman nodded and flicked her free hand. Regina clasped her hands and stared at the emerald eyes then spoke lightly.
"Before our dinner time, I explored through your office. It's pretty nice. So, my question is why did you keep our wedding picture behind your one of the adventures in Egypt?"
Emma tossed her paperwork on the files and sighed then got up and walked to the bookshelves. She grabbed the wedding picture and walked back to the armchair opposite from Regina's spot. The blonde woman looked at the frame and glanced up at the brunette woman with a reply.
"To be honest, I don't know why I kept it. But, it reminded me of the good times we had in our marriage. Our relationship has been impacting me in different ways. I couldn't explain anything or why I decided to keep it on my bookshelves."
"I know that you told me yesterday that you love me. So, is it true that you kept that picture of us?"
"It's part of it. Yes, I always loved you and still do today. Do you think that I moved on or not? Tell me a truth." Emma said while putting the wedding frame on the desk and leaning back against the armchair. The brunette woman scratched her hair and nervously chuckled then continued.
"I assumed that you have been moving on since our divorce seven years ago. But you proved me wrong when I read the interview. I didn't know that you still love me or not. The truth is that I regret everything I did in the past and I'm still madly in love with you."
"What about Robin Hood?" Emma asked with curiosity. Regina shook her head while she was chuckling to herself and fidgeting her fingers. The brunette woman looked at the paperwork and explained. The blonde woman rested her palm on her chin while looking at her ex-wife.
"My relationship with Robin had been not working at all. He was on the fence about Zelena and their newborn child and Roland. After that happened, we decided to be friends. So, I was single since the third year since you left the town. That's it."
"Interesting. What about Henry?" The blonde woman quipped. Regina looked back at her ex-wife and spoke lightly. Emma was in her thoughts about the years that Regina had been working through her life since the blonde woman decided to leave the town for good.
"He has been distant since I dated Robin. I didn't know why he did that and I decided to send him to your parents for the weekends. So, I had my free time to figure it out what I needed to do with my life. I realized that I missed you and I'm madly in love with you. I just knew that I can't let you go. That's why I regretted everything and even the divorce."
Emma nodded with a small smile then got up and walked around the desk. She sat down on her leather desk chair and leaned forward to gather the paperwork. Regina was confused about her movements until she looked at her blonde ex-wife and asked.
"Since we are here with you, I wonder if you can forgive us for everything that we caused you in the past and the present?"
"Nonsense. I will consider about your forgiveness and Henry's but you both have to work for it. I think that you both need to earn my trust and forgiveness first. I'm sorry that I can't forgive you that instantly. It's not fair that you take an advantage for it. So, what's else you need to ask?" Emma said. The brunette woman frowned and nodded with her understanding. The blonde woman hesitantly nodded. Regina looked down at her hands and asked.
"Last question, how did you invest your business? Why Swan's Ugly Ducklings?"
The blonde woman merely giggled and reached her bottom drawers then dug the files until she found the thick one. Emma looked up at her brunette ex-wife and tossed the folders to her with a reply.
"You and Henry are going to research on this folder. Have fun. So, what's left?"
Regina gaped open while she received the thick folders that Emma worked for five years and looked up at her blonde ex-wife who was smirking. The brunette woman gulped and shook her head. Emma nodded and gestured her index finger at the door. Regina got up and nodded then left the home office. It left the blonde woman to sigh and close her eyes for a while.
The brunette woman held the thick files in her arms and walked toward the kitchen where Henry and the chef were laughing about their cooking memories. She came in with a smile. The brunette man looked at his adopted mom and back to the files that she was holding in her arms. Regina nodded at them and explained.
"Henry, you and I have to research on this file that Emma gave me. It's about her plans for five years with Swan's Ugly Ducklings."
"Sure, want a hot chocolate? It's delicious!"
"Yes, dear. Please bring it to me in my bedroom. I'm going now." The brunette woman informed her son and left the kitchen toward her bedroom on the second floor. She just passed the butler with a wave of hand. Geoffrey bowed his head with a polite way. The brunette woman smiled at him and strode away. Several minutes later, Henry thanked the chef and gathered their drinks then almost bumped with Geoffrey and asked.
"Where is my adopted mom's bedroom?" The butler nodded and guided him to Regina's bedroom. The brunette man thanked him and opened the door. Geoffrey closed the door behind Henry's back and left the hallway to do the errands.
The butler went downstairs and met the chef with a smile. The chef bowed out of the kitchen and retired for the bedtime. Geoffrey checked his duty to make sure the rooms are clean and spotless until he heard the doorbell on the front door. The butler walked off to the main doors and opened it. It revealed the redhead woman, Samantha who was a organizer for the events and galas. Geoffrey gestured her to come in the foyer and followed him to the home office where Emma was working on the paperwork.
In several minutes, the butler knocked the door and heard the blonde woman's voice then opened the door. Emma looked up at them and flicked her wrist for Samantha to come in. Geoffrey closed the door and walked away to the foyer. It left the blonde woman to converse with her organizer in the office. The redhead woman sat down on the armchair and spoke lightly.
"The Children's Foundation Gala is finished with the plans. So, last thing, you have to sign the paperwork for confirming that you have a permission for the staffs who are working on the gala."
"Sure, let me sign it for a minute. How is the event planning going?" Emma said.
"It's doing great. It's awesome. Everything is on time and even the food that you wanted for the children and the adults to enjoy their time in the gala than last time, Mr. Young hosted that party back in Minnesota." Samantha replied with a chuckle. The blonde woman rolled her eyes and nodded while she was speaking.
"Yes, I agree. Mr. Young is a wonderful man but the gala event went ok. I can't wait to host the event. So, it's good to hear about the planning for the food and others. What's else?" The redhead woman looked down on her writing pad and asked.
"Will the Mills be in attendance?"
"Yes, they are coming with me. Please, no photos and interviews about The Mills. It's inappropriate to name them in my reputation."
"I understand. I will inform them in the advance before you three arrive at the location. Thank you for everything." Samantha nodded with a reply. Emma smiled at her and reached the paperwork to sign her name then handed it back to the organizer. The redhead woman got up and nodded then left the office. Emma sighed and went to focus on her paperwork to sign everything for her business, Swan's Ugly Ducklings and the ideas from her marketing team. She was impressive with Jessica's ideas to suggest that they decided to use the fund from Children's Foundation Galas to auction the bid.
In Regina's bedroom, Henry was sitting on the bed while the brunette woman was leaning against the headboard. They were scattering the paperwork all over the bed and researched on the business that Emma owned for seven years. The brunette man was looking on the finances that the blonde woman made for five years in his mothers' marriage. Regina was impressive with the blonde woman's business words in the paperwork and never thought that Emma was interested in the business communication. She was disappointed with her ex-wife because Emma didn't tell her everything but she understood that it was her Christmas present.
Henry sighed and scratched his hair. The brunette woman was comparing the beginning year to the end of seventh year that Emma was working for the children. The brunette man looked up at his adopted mom and spoke lightly.
"I think that we made a big mistake. The divorce and everything else."
"I agree." Regina replied. Henry rolled his eyes and sighed. The brunette woman finished with her observation with the business and explained.
"Emma did the impressive work on the business. I didn't know that she was interested in doing the business like Swan's Ugly Ducklings. But the problem is the motto?"
"What?" The brunette man asked. Regina handed the last paper to her son and retorted. Henry reached the paper and observed while he was listening to his adopted mom. The brunette woman scratched her hair while looking at her son.
"It's the motto that Ruby and Emma were working while I was married to her. The motto is 'Love makes a family.' What is that?"
"Oh well. Remember you adopted me when I was a newborn baby? You gave me your true love. That's how 'Love makes a family'. You made me to be your family member. That's why they made this business to be friendly and caring for the adults who are investing their moneys to the foster kids for the college and work." Henry informed. Regina hesitantly nodded and realized that he was right about the motto. She remembered that she was adopting Henry when she decided to be a mother. The brunette woman smiled at him then replied with a frown.
"I wish Emma could explain everything to me. I mean, she kept a secret from us. I don't know why she was doing this thing."
"Me too. I wanted to know that too. Did she tell you about her beginning year when she started to work on this business with Ruby?"
"No. I wish I knew." Regina retorted with a shrug. Henry nodded and looked at the paperwork then asked.
"Did Grandpa and Grandma know about Emma's business while you both were married?"
"I don't think so. I am going to call them in a minute."
"Ok." The brunette man nodded with a reply. Regina smiled at him and looked through the budget plans on the seventh year. The brunette woman realized that she made a huge mistake and wanted to rewind her past to fix everything so she could keep her marriage with Emma. She knew that she cannot do that but to earn the blonde woman's trust and forgiveness. It gave her an idea and spoke lightly.
"Henry, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Henry replied. Regina pressed her lips together and explained. The brunette man listened to every word.
"Why not we plan to work on ourselves to get Emma's trust and forgiveness? Before we return to Storybrooke?"
"How long can we stay here?" Henry asked.
"As long as we are forgiven from her, I would like to try again with her on the relationship. I mean, the dates and everything else." The brunette woman gave a shy smile and quipped.
"Great idea but will she do it again with you? You know that Emma is not interested to remarry. Remember the interview that she told everything." Henry said. Regina nodded with a sigh then retorted.
"I know. But is it worth trying to get her to agree on the condition that I could get her to remarry me someday?"
"Maybe, it's your plan. But our plan is to get her to forgive and trust us again. I hope that we don't mess everything again like the last time." The brunette man explained. Regina nodded and grabbed her cellphone from her pocket then dialed Mary Margaret and David's home phone number. Henry listened to the phone conversation while he was looking at the finances.
"Hello?" Mary Margaret voiced. The brunette woman was relieved that she reached her on the right time. She gave a thumbs up at her son who understood that she received the call then spoke lightly.
"Hello this is Regina. I have a question for you and David. Is it allright with you?"
"Sure, anything." The pixie cut woman said.
"Did you and David know about Emma's business, Swan's Ugly Ducklings in Texas? I mean, before she left the town seven years ago."
"No, we didn't know that she had a business. Emma is a private person. You know that how she was. So, how was your trip with Henry?"
"It's good." The brunette woman informed the pixie cut woman and scratched her hair with a sigh.
"How is Emma?" Mary Margaret asked.
"She is a changed person. I mean, Emma look different with her clothes and everything else. We are staying at her mansion for a while. To be honest, we don't know when we can return to Storybrooke." Regina explained. Henry nodded at himself while he was paying attention to the conversation between his grandmother and adopted mom.
"I understand. Please give our regards to Emma. Thank you for calling us." The pixie cut woman replied.
"No problem, I will let you when Emma want to have a conversation with you. So good night."
"Good night. Regina and Henry." Mary Margaret informed before ending the phone conversation. Regina ended the call and tossed it on the bed. The brunette man pressed his lips and raised his brows at his brunette mother. The brunette woman looked at him and explained.
"They didn't know."
"Maybe Ruby and Granny knew about the business? Remember that day when you were arguing with Ruby?"
"Don't remind me." Regina said. The brunette man mocked his hands in surrender and looked at the paperwork once again. The brunette woman groaned and reached her phone again then dialed The Lucas' phone number.
"Hello, this is Granny's Diner. May I help you?"
"Hello Granny. Can you get Ruby on the speakerphone?" The brunette woman explained. Granny was surprised that Regina called her that quickly and yelled for her granddaughter who was flirting with one of the dwarfs. Ruby grumbled while she was walking away to her grandmother and the elder woman pressed the button on the speakerphone.
"She is here." Granny said.
"Good, I want to know that you both knew about Emma's business, Swan's Ugly Ducklings?"
"Yes." The Lucas spoke in the unison.
"Oh." Regina spoke lightly. Henry raised his eyebrows at his brunette mother and got a shaking head from her.
"What do you need?" Ruby asked.
"Henry and I researched on the business file which Emma gave us. You're right, Ruby. I'm sorry about the other day when we had a fight in the diner." The brunette woman informed. The Lucas were smiling and spoke at the same time.
"You're forgiven."
"Thank you. And good night." Regina said. They ended the phone call and the brunette woman looked at her son. Henry smiled at her and spoke lightly.
"Now, we know the truth and do you believe Emma?"
"Yes, we do and we believe her. So, what can we do to get her back in our family once again?" Regina said with a twinkle in her eyes. The brunette man grinned and nodded. The brunette woman just knew that she had to work through her plans to get her ex-wife back in her life and start over again for the second chance that she won't fuck it up like the last time. It's time for her to stand on the ground and have her plans with her son's help at this time.
A/N: Next Chapter: The Children's Foundation Gala
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