Listening to the crooning voice of Overstreet, Emma found herself wishing that she could turn around and say come on baby, let's go home. Regina Mills would never walk through the manor doors again. Regina Mills would never do anything again. Her shriek of anger vibrated from the walls as she threw her music player at the wall. She loved the woman beyond any human comprehension, and yet...and yet, Emma wanted nothing more than to strangle her lover. Regina was loved and wanted. Didn't she know that? What could have happened that led to this...KNOCK. KNOCK. She tried ignoring the visitor at her bedroom door, but that didn't stop her father from entering the room. Relenting, Emma allowed herself to be pulled into David's embrace. Sure, she was the savior and a grown woman, but not today. She had suffered a grievous hurt to her soul, and she just wanted her father to tell her she would be okay. The funeral service was in a few hours, and Emma would have to say goodbye to the only person she loved.
The blonde excused herself to the bathroom before they left for the crypt. Splashing cold water on her face, Emma looked up at her reflection. She didn't even recognize herself at this point. Her circles had circles, and those circles had circles. Emma couldn't remember sleeping since she had found her girlfriend nearly a week ago. Maybe she did. The days kind of passed in a numb blur, if she was being honest. Nothing really mattered to her right now. Her eyes that were once bright and full of life now held a haunted depth. Perhaps she was haunted or even cursed. Neal left her behind at one point and he was dead. Now, Regina had gone and done the same. What was wrong with her that everyone just left her? Never again...she thought as she joined her family outside.
She allowed herself to be guided out to her father's truck and then to the cemetery. Regina was going to be buried in the crypt. Personally, Emma thought that the former Queen should be buried somewhere else. Cremated, maybe. It just didn't feel very dignified to leave the woman's body here. Tears pricked her eyes as she approached the open casket. Emma had opted to have the service like this. She just wanted to see the woman one last time before saying goodbye forever, you know? Feeling a hand on her right shoulder, she didn't have to look. Emma knew that it was their son, Henry. Poor kid. No one should have to bury their parent this early in life.
"Ma had a lot of demons. Some of them she never talked about..." Henry's voice was soft in her ear, and she knew that he was right. It didn't matter though. Gone was gone. Emma tuned her son out as a memory came to the surface. They say that hindsight is 20/20. Why didn't anyone notice that the woman was drowning?
That Fateful Day...
Emma was practically humming with excitement. Today was the day. Everything was going to change after today. She reached into her jacket pocket for the hundredth time. She just wanted to make sure that she still had the tiny, amethyst-colored box. The two women had been through so much, both as individuals and as a couple. After today, they would never be alone again. Entering the manor, something immediately felt wrong. The air was stiff and heavy, and it felt like a black cloud hung over the place. 'Regina?' The name echoed through the marbled halls. Silence was her only response. Her mouth felt dry as she continued to call for her girlfriend as she bounded up the staircase. She glanced first to her right and then to her left. Curious. The attic door was ajar, just enough for her to notice. Why would Regina go up there? The place was forbidden to Emma, and even Henry. They had been told that it held personal mementos now, memories from a time long gone. She didn't pay attention to the forbidden entrance and opened the door even more. Her heart was pounding in her throat as she bounded up the staircase. The first thing that she saw was the prone figure of Regina Mills. Blood was rushing in her ears as she dropped to the floor next to her girlfriend. She was desperate to do something, anything to save the woman who had saved her. However, she knew. The second she saw the little pile of ash next to her girlfriend...she knew.
Present Day...
...'and thanks to you, ma had a family, and she was loved.' Emma wanted to say that Henry was wrong. Something went wrong. Did they not show enough love? Did she feel like an outsider, even now after everything that had happened? Emma said none of that though. For the briefest second, Emma was tempted to join her love in the afterlife. She couldn't do it though. Their son needed her, and she would spend the rest of her life making sure that the legacy of Regina Mills would never die.
Emma walked beside Henry as they left the cemetery. She looked back at the crypt behind them and was shocked. Regina's spirit stood at the entrance with her finger placed over her lips, begging silence.