A/N: I was lucky to be able to finish and update another chapter, despite the fact that I lost power for like a short minute due to Hurricane Beryl lol. A lot around me is without power however, so I can't count myself lucky just yet. Anyways, here is the next update that I hope you continue to like. To whoever is enjoying this story, thank you and prepare yourselves. Things will definitely be looking up for Emma. ;)

Happy reading!

Chapter 17: Welcome to a New Life

Two Weeks Later…

"I'm coming! Jesus," Mary Margaret murmured, pulling open her front door before it was knocked down with all the constant knocking. "David," she blinked at the sight of David standing in front of her.

"Hi," Said David.

"What are you doing here? Is it Emma? Is she in trouble?"

"No," David shook his head. "No. Emma's fine. I talked to her two days ago. She seemed busy fixing up her apartment so I didn't want to entertain her much longer."

"Oh." Mary Margaret blinked, her eyes looking around for nothing in particular, but for someone.

"Are- are you busy? Did I come at a bad time?"

"You did, actually." Mary Margaret nods. "I'm expecting someone. Shortly."

"Oh." David frowned. He shifted along his feet nervously. "I'm sorry. I just… I wanted to check on you. Make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine, David. I don't need you to check up on me."

"I know, but-"

"David." She spoke more sternly. "We had an agreement. And you being here dishonors-"

"I know!" David said more sternly, sighing to himself. "I'm sorry. Mary Margaret, I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you needed me all those years ago-" his head whips around to find Regina standing behind him. His entire face hardens instantly. "What are you doing here?"

Before Regina could speak, Mary Margaret jumped right in, "Come on in, Regina." She smiled at her, giving her a nod. "Tea's ready."

"Excuse me, Mr. Swan," Regina murmured, trying her best not to brush the man's shoulder as she squeezed through the door and Mary Margaret's figure.

Mary Margaret turned back to David's stone cold glare. "How are you still welcoming her into your home after what she did to Emma?" David whispered.

"You don't know the whole story, David. Regina is suffering, too." Mary Margaret whispered, shutting her door a little farther.

"That's bullshit," David seethes. "Do you want to know how many times I get a call from Emma around three in the morning, crying because all she keeps seeing is that girl?" He points a long finger along the door. "She lives tormented by her broken heart. That's something no father wants to see!"

"Keep your voice down!" Mary Margaret's voice tenses as she shuts her door all the way.

Regina stands behind the door, by the wall to avoid being seen. Tears are already starting automatically out of her eyes. Crying being a daily activity of her days now.

"If you really cared about Emma, you wouldn't be betraying her like this." David's jaw tensed.

Mary Margaret's eyes widened. "Betraying?" She looks to the door before taking a step closer to David, standing just a little taller. "You really want to play this game today? You're going to talk to me about betrayal?"

David blinked, fighting back tears that stung at his eyes. "I'm not here to pick up a fight with you, Mary Margaret," he withdrew a step.

"Then don't come here again, David."

"I live here."

"You know what I mean," she rolled her eyes.

David gave a single nod and walked away to his own apartment without another word. Mary Margaret's eyes lock on Regina's as soon as she shuts her front door.

"I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble," said Regina, wiping away some tears. "I can leave."

Mary Margaret waved a single hand in the air, "Don't be ridiculous. You're staying." She gave her a stern look, walking right into her kitchen and taking a seat along her breakfast table.

Regina welcomed herself to her usual seat, reaching for a tissue from a box of kleenex that was on the table to dab at her eyes.

"Well, I'd ask how you've been, but I already found my answer." Said Mary Margaret, standing right up and walking toward the two empty cups she sat aside for tea. She poured it in silence.

Regina frowned, watching as Mary Margaret sets her cup in front of her. "Thank you." She glances down at the liquid, watching the steam rise.

"Don't worry, it's not poisoned," Mary Margaret chuckled, taking a sip from her own tea to make a point.

Regina attempted for a smile that turned up weak, "I suppose these days I can never be too sure. You're the only one who seems to not hold a grudge against me. And Ruby. Not that I can blame Graham, Mr. Swan and Eugenia for hating my guts." She finally takes a sip.

"I'm not surprised that you even hate yourself, Regina." Said Mary Margaret.

"More than you think," Regina sighs, feeling more tears overpower her eyes. "Have you spoken to her?" Her voice trembles as she asks this question.

Mary Margaret gulps down a sip as she shakes her head, "Not as much as I would like." She stands, heading toward her pantry and reaching for a packet of sugar cookies before sitting back down.

"I've thought about calling her so many times." Regina shakes her head. "But I don't even think I could."

"I hate to tell you this, Regina, but you're the last person she wants to speak to right now." Mary Margaret bites down on a cookie, shoving the packet over to Regina who ignores it. "Have you tried speaking to your father about what happened?"

"No." Regina dabs at the corner of her eye again. "He just thinks that Emma and I had a huge fight and we decided to go our separate ways."

"Well, don't you think it's time for you to tell him the truth? Make him see the monster he's married to? No offense to you," the older woman lifts her hands in an apology.

Regina chuckles weakly, "Offense not taken."

"Regina," Mary Margaret reaches over to grab Regina's hand. "You know, I don't have all these gray hairs on my head just because I think they look pretty. I have them from years of a hard lived life and experience."

If Regina had any trace of some sense of humor left in her, she would have laughed. She settled in continuing to listen, appreciating the gentle squeezes along her hand.

"And do you want to know what I think of all this?" She continues as soon as Regina nods. "That you and unfortunately Emma are pawns in a much bigger game. My question is, are you going to continue allowing it to drag you through the mud when you've already made the biggest sacrifice of all?"

Regina's chin wobbles, "I don't have a choice." Her voice trembles. "Look what happened to Graham because of me. I can't have that happen to Emma, too."

"That was unfortunate," Mary Margaret nods. "And if you want my honest opinion, I don't think your mother had anything to do with that at all."

Regina's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? She told me herself that she was responsible for what happened to him."

"Maybe in a way, yes, but not entirely. And I'm not sticking up for her," she pats Regina's hand. "Far from it. But, given how much your family has been struggling financially lately, I think that there could be someone with more means behind it all."

"Does it really matter?" Regina shook her head.

"Of course it matters. You matter, Regina." She squeezes her hand.

"Mary Margaret," Regina murmurs. "Whatever the reason. Whatever happens. I would sell my soul to the devil himself if it meant Emma was safe."

"Well," her eyes pin on Regina's. "I'm afraid that's what's going to end up happening if you're not more careful."

"Without the woman I love… I don't care about anything anymore."

Paintings were placed everywhere along Regina's art studio. She needed to work or she would be going mad with worry and torment over Emma. Her hand and arm hurt, and she couldn't draw anything but what reminded her of Emma. Her hands, her eyes (constantly her eyes) the way Regina would remember them. A week ago, when she was forced to end it all, Emma's eyes had changed horrifically. They went from a shade of emerald green to pure darkness, hurt and hatred. She couldn't get that look out of her mind.

Rough scrapping filled the silence of the room between oil pastels and canvas, followed by Regina's sobs and erratic breathing, until a knock outside her door startled her hand movement so much that a bold black line flew across the picture.

"Shit!" Regina dropped to her knees, her chest heaving with build up exhaustion.

The door flew open behind her, "Regina?" Kathryn's heels clicked along the floor as she hurried across the room, her hands cupping along her best friend's arms. "Regina?"

Regina sobs came through. Her body collapsed half along the floor and half against Kathryn's embrace.

"Oh, Regina…" Kathryn's own eyes glossed over. Her arms cradled Regina's body a little closer. "What on earth happened?" She asked above Regina's own sobs. "You haven't been wanting to talk about what happened that day since it happened. And this…" her eyes move to the latest Emma drawing with the bold black line adorning it right in the middle, splitting across her beautiful face. "This isn't healthy, Regina. You can't keep doing this to yourself."

Regina sniffs, lifting her head off of Kathryn's shoulder. "I deserve it, Kathryn." She looks over to the picture along the easel, her chin wobbling. "I just wasn't strong enough."

"Okay…" Kathryn blinks, pulling Regina up with her all her might as she begins to stand. "Come on. Let's get you out of here for a while, hm? Come on. Some fresh air will do you good."

Regina refused but eventually reached for her purse and went with Kathryn to wherever it is she would be taken. She was grateful it wasn't at the beach, but at a small cafe just blocks away from their apartment building.

"Here you are," a young waitress sets down two steaming coffees along their outdoor table.

"Thank you." Kathryn smiled. Her eyes moved to Regina who took a small, careful sip. "Better?"

Regina shook her head. "No. But, I appreciate you trying." She gave a weak smile. "You're a great friend, Kathryn. Always have been." Her eyes look down at her coffee cup. "I don't deserve you."

"You don't deserve me?" Kathryn's brow lifts, seeing Regina shake her head in silence. She scoffs, "Alright, as your friend, you have to tell me what's going on." She paused, "What happened with Emma? You were so determined to leave, you were so happy, filled with dreams…"

Tears manifest and disappear as Regina quickly wipes them away.

"What happened, Regina? Talk to me. As your best friend, give me something to go on here." Kathryn reached for her best friend's hand. "Did Emma break your heart- what?"

"No. It was the opposite."

"What, did you break her heart? Did you cheat on her?"

"No!" Regina's glossy eyes glare. "I would never, ever do that." Finally, she sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Do you remember Graham? Emma's friend, who was in the hospital after supposedly being mugged?"

"The cute one? Yeah," Kathryn nods. "What about him?"

"Well, there was no mugging." Regina's frown deepened.

Kathryn's brows bunch together, "What do you mean there was no mugging?"

After biting down on her lip, contemplating if she should let Kathryn into the truth behind things, Regina finally decided to tell her everything, baring her soul to her. She told her how she couldn't understand how her own mother found out about Emma. How she was the one behind Graham's 'mugging,' and how she threatened to hurt Emma if she didn't leave her. Kathryn's own eyes glossed over by the end of the horrific story. Her jaw touched the table by the end, she felt she couldn't close it back up again.

"Now you see why I didn't leave?" Regina wipes away her tears. "Kathryn, you can't tell a soul. You have to promise me that."

"The hell I can't!" Kathryn scoffed, speaking so loud that a few heads turned to look at them.

"Kathryn-" Regina shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Regina, but she took away your happiness!" Kathryn stands up that the chair behind her scrapes along the pavement. "You can't just expect me to sit around while my best friend suffers! No way! I'm telling your father-" she marches one foot away from their table.

"Kathryn, no!" Regina quickly pulls her back. Her eyes wide. "What are you doing? See! This is why I didn't want to tell you anything! This is why I can't say anything."

"Regina," Kathryn's eyes aim for Regina's. "What your mother did… that's blackmail."

"I know."

"You can't just-" Kathryn scoffs, blinking away tears of her own.

"Kathryn," Regina held onto her shoulders. "I have to. Emma's gone, and it's for the best. No matter how much it kills me. It's been two weeks and the police still rule what happened to Graham to be nothing but a simple mugging. Do you understand? It's my mother's word against mine, and I have nothing to prove."

"But your father will believe you. Henry can do something to help-"

Regina shakes her head, "I am not about to bring my father into this. Not with his heart condition. Kathryn. Promise me you won't say anything to anyone." Before she could get an answer, her phone started ringing in her purse. She reached for it, glancing at the caller ID and seeing her mother was calling her. "It's her. It's my mother," she sighs but answers. "What?"

Kathryn watches as Regina's eyes go from angry to wide and worried in an instant.

"What?" Regina breathed. "What- how? What happened?"

Kathryn could hear Cora's voice shouting over the phone, but she couldn't make out what she was saying. She waited until Regina hung up the call to ask, "What happened?"

Regina's brown eyes teared up all over again, "My father is in the hospital."

"What?"

"Apparently… he was coming back from visiting a construction site with Robin and, I don't know, my mother said he- he was in some accident."

"Is he alright?"

Regina sobs, "No. He's going to need a blood transfusion. I think he's lost a lot of blood."

"Oh, my God," Kathryn's hand reaches her lips. "Well, let's go. I'll drive you." She reaches into her purse, dropping money along the table for their now abandoned coffees before rushing off to her blue BMW parked along the road.

When Regina arrived at the hospital, there was Cora and Zelena in conversation with the doctor. "Mother," she breathed, pushing through the crowded hallway. "What happened?"

"I don't know, exactly," Cora sighed, her eyes bloodshot. Regina would almost believe she actually cared about Henry's well being. But lately, she would doubt it all about her mother. "I called Robin, but he isn't answering his phone."

"Did you try his father?" Regina asked, turning immediately to Dr. Fleming. "Dr, is he going to be alright?"

"I'm afraid he's had a pretty bad fall. He didn't break anything, luckily, but he was impaled by a sharp metal," he heard gasps fill the hall. "Luckily, no organs were punctured, so there's that. But he will need a blood transfusion. Any of you happened to be AB negative?" He looks at everyone.

Regina looks to her mother, then to Zelena. Sadly, she shared the same blood as her mother, which was O positive. She couldn't be sure about Zelena.

"I'm O positive." Cora sniffed.

"Same as me." Regina spoke up.

"And you?" Dr. Fleming looks to Zelena.

"I- I don't know."

"I'd like you to come with me, if you don't mind."

"What for?" Zelena asked.

"I'd like a pathologist here in the hospital to draw some blood from you and check your blood type. Maybe you'll have some to donate." While Dr. Fleming explained this, Zelena had this look on her face as if the doctor had just asked her to donate a kidney.

Zelena hesitated, hoping that someone would talk her out of this, but followed the doctor along the hallway.

"Doctor," Kathryn stopped them. "I'd like to come, too." She smiles at Regina. "I've never been sure about my blood type but if I happen to match, I'd be glad to donate." As he nods, she follows, assuring Regina that everything would be alright.

"What?" Cora asked, seeing her daughter's eyes glare directly at her.

"You know what," Regina whispered, taking a step closer to her mother. "Did you have something to do with this?"

Cora's eyes grew wide, "How could you possibly think that?"

Regina chuckled, "Well, you weren't exactly shy to threaten Emma's life, how do I know you didn't cause this to finish off your warnings?"

"I won't allow you to disrespect me that way, Regina!" Cora seethed. "That girl's life was nothing compared to your father's. Henry is my husband!"

"Then it wouldn't hurt for you to act like it once in a while, mother." Regina's glare hardened.

"I do act like it." Cora's eyes gloss over until the white part goes red. "I am not ready to lose your father anymore than you are."

Regina scoffs through her nose, "Him… or his money?"

As soon as Cora took a step forward, her attention was captured by Robin and his father walking up to them along the hallway. "Oh, thank goodness you're here!" She cries.

"How's Henry?" Samuel asked, turning to Regina as well, who explained everything to him.

"My sister and Kathryn are donating blood right now. See if they could be a match." Said Regina.

"What's the blood type?" Asked Robin.

"AB negative." Said Regina.

Robin stood tall, "I'll donate." His eyes looked to his father.

"You're AB negative?" Regina asked, feeling her heart sink.

"We both are," Samuel informs. "Of course, this incident will be paid in full by us. I don't want you to worry about anything, Cora." He moves over to be at Cora's side.

"Thank you, Samuel." Cora gave a small smile. Her hand resting along the man's arm.

"Your father is going to be alright, Regina," Said Robin. Without warning he brought her into his arms, resting his chin at the top of her head. Regina allowed the hug but only for a few seconds longer after she removed herself from the man's arms.

"Regina," Samuel offered with a kind smile. "Why don't we go get you some coffee, hm? We'll bring some back for your mother as well." He extended his arm to her.

"Thank you," Regina willingly left with him. Anything to get away from Robin, which now seemed impossible.

As soon as they were both out of earshot Cora quickly turned to Robin. "You did this!" She whispered, shoving him along the chest. "Didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Cora." Robin stood tall.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Cora's eyes glared up at him as her hands shoved him again. "You! You did something to him! Why would you-?"

Robin's hands caught Cora's arms as his head hunched over to be but an inch close. His jaw tense. "What did you think I was going to do after you refused to help me further?"

Cora's eyes gloss over, "You said it was going to be a small accident. You didn't say he was going to die!"

"And he's not dead. Is he?"

"You could have killed him!" Cora spoke through clenched teeth, her voice breaking.

Robin's lip curls slowly, "That was a risk I was willing to take. I had to make sure to get him out on that job site. Accidents happen all the time. It had to look legit, otherwise we wouldn't all be here right now praying for Henry's recuperation."

Cora yanks her arms back, her eyes glaring daggers into Robin's.

"Your husband will be fine," Robin straightens the knot along his tie. "I will donate him some of my blood, and he will be indebted to me as will your daughter after I save the life of the man she loves most in this world." He gives a cynical smile. "You see? Everything goes according to plan."

Cora shakes her head. "This won't make Regina love you."

"Yet. But she will be with me, and you," he points a finger inches away from Cora's face. "My dear Cora, will make sure of that."

Keys jingle within a pale hand. The knob is twisted and a white door to a small apartment with old furniture is pushed open. A pizza box is placed along the kitchen counter. The lid is lifted and a slice is reached for.

Emma drops the slice back along the box, feeling a knot in her stomach. She rests her hands along the counter and her body hunches over before she brushes the entire box of pizza to fly across the room, shouting at the top of her lungs. Her back shakes violently as sobs manifest themselves. Her face buried on top of her arms.

Her sobs are forced to come to an abrupt halt as her cell phone rings. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand she reaches for her phone out of her pocket, and sees the name flashing across the screen before pressing the green button. "Hello?" She clears her throat to keep her voice in check.

"Emma Swan!" A friendly yet professional female voice booms on the other end of the phone. "You're a quick one to reach! I like that. This is Mallorie Page. How are you finding everything? How have you settled in? I do hope the two week mark you were given to place all of your affairs in order was sufficient?"

"It was more than sufficient, yes, ma'am. That was very generous of you." Said Emma, keeping her voice calm.

Mallorie Page. The woman who would be her boss. Emma hadn't had the pleasure of meeting her just yet. And the one who did the interview with her was actually the woman's assistant. But from what the research Emma did on the company she would be working for as their engineer, she read that it was one of the richest companies of all New York. Page Industries. They had many awards under their belt, and Mallorie Page was as power hungry as they came.

"It was nothing. Only the best for our employees. I'd like to think of them as part of a large family." She could hear the woman's smile over the phone. "To make my point. Now that you've hit that two week mark with succession, I'd like to ask you to come in personally and give me a chance to introduce myself. I'd like to look into the eyes of our newest member and engineer."

"I'm available. Just name the time." Emma nodded, ready and willing to get to work.

"Excellent! I'll have my assistant email our address. I trust everything on your resume is up to date?"

"It is."

"Perfect. I'll see you in an hour."

The line clicks and an immediate notification pops along her screen on a new email. Emma taps on the email and sees the logo of the company with a phone number and address at the bottom.

Emma chose an old pair of dress pants she still had stored away somewhere, and a white dress shirt that was missing a button, and frankly had seen better days, but you could only tell by looking too closely. She hoped that wouldn't be an issue. She decided on a ponytail, but had to use hairspray to make sure no strand would be out of place. As a taxi dropped her off, she looked up at the building which was at least forty feet tall. As she walked in, she was greeted at the door by a doorman who tipped his hat at her as she entered.

The lobby was constructed of a light brown marble from ceiling to floors. There were plants scattered along the sides, along with a waterfall along the far wall where the logo of Page Industries was boldly mounted in bright white letters. Leather chairs adorned a certain area where a few men in expensive looking suits sat as they went over a few papers. One wore half moon spectacles along the tip of his nose, engraved in the daily newspaper.

Emma's heart accelerated inside of her chest as she walked over to the front lobby desk, where a young brunette girl about her age greeted her with the prettiest smile. "Good morning! Welcome to Page Industries. How may I help you?"

Emma gulped, swallowing down her nerves. "I'm Emma Swan. I have a meeting with-"

"Ms. Swan?" Another young woman's voice echoed along the lobby. She was blonde with blue eyes and a friendly smile. She wore a long white pencil skirt with a red buttoned up, tucked into the waistline. Her hair was pulled up in a classy French twist bun. "I'm Grace. Mrs. Page's assistant." She extends her hand.

Grace. The one who interviewed her over the phone. Emma reaches out to shake the woman's hand, giving her best smile. "Hi."

"Pleasure to finally meet you." Grace beams. "Follow me, please. I'll take you to Mrs. Page. She's expecting you." Shortly after, Grace turns to the girl behind the lobby desk and says, "Mrs. Page will be busy for an hour. All calls will be forwarded to me, please."

"Of course." The other female nods.

"This way, please," Grace delivers another friendly smile, leading the way straight across the lobby toward an area of elevators. Emma watches as Grace presses the up button along the keypad and as the doors open and they step inside, she presses the button to the fortieth floor.

Emma quickly checked herself over, adjusting her shirt, making sure it was properly tucked in. She brushed her teeth twice before leaving her apartment. And now she regretted wasting that entire pizza and not getting something into her stomach before coming here. She felt like she was going to be sick.

"Nervous?" Grace notes, observing Emma carefully.

Emma's head bobbed. "A little."

Grace smiled, which calmed Emma's nerves. "I was too when I started here. But take it from me. Be yourself. Mrs. Page appreciates integrity and above all, punctuality. You're on your way, Ms. Swan."

That made Emma smile a little. Her eyes took in the room to the fortieth floor once the doors to the elevator opened. It was the same marbled color as the lobby, only here, the floors were carpeted and the office just outside the two main red oak doors matched along with them.

Grace lifted a fist, knocking twice before pushing the door open and popping her head in, "Ms. Swan is here to see you, Mrs. Page." As she steps aside, she gives Emma a slight nod and that's her cue to step inside the office.

"Ms. Emma Swan!" A blonde woman with her hair cascaded over her shoulders, and bright red lipstick greeted her. Her smile beamed just like her gray blue eyes as she walked along her desk to be up front. Her gray power suit matches well with her expensive persona and white crisp shirt. "We finally meet. At last!"

"Mrs. Page," Emma shakes the woman's hand firmly.

"Please, call me Mallorie, or Mal, whichever you prefer." She waves a manicured hand. "That is if I may call you Emma?"

"You may," Emma smiled.

"Excellent. Have a seat, please." She motioned to one of the empty chairs before her desk before sitting back along her leather chair. "Would you like anything to drink before we get started? Coffee? Water?"

"No, thank you."

"No calls, please, Grace," Mallorie smiled at Grace who nodded and closed the door. "So, Emma…" She releases the corner of a file on Emma before she delivers another smile. "Before we speak and I get to know more about you, I have to say that I did a little digging of my own and I like your ambitions. You were at the top of your class, and received many awards for your mathematical achievements."

"That's right," Emma nodded.

"You have integrity, and with integrity a woman can get very far in this world of business. I'd like you to come with me to several mines, and inspect them with me. Don't hold back. Tell me everything you think- what's right and especially what's wrong. I don't like mistakes. Mistakes create accidents and that is something we must absolutely prevent." She holds up a long manicured finger.

Emma's heart pumped, or whatever organ was left in her chest. "I'm your engineer. You show me the way, I give you solutions."

Mallorie grinned, showing off a row of perfect white teeth. She raised to her feet and shook Emma's hand, cupping it with her free hand. "Stick with me and I promise you, you will go far beyond your wildest dreams. Are you ready for that, Emma?"

Was she ready? She was more than ready. "Absolutely." Said Emma, giving her first sincere smile.

"Well, then Emma. Welcome to Page Industries, and to your new life."