Chapter Text
Click, click, click.
“So tell me, how long did it take you to get over me?” Regina's low, quiet voice broke into Emma's whirling thoughts.
Knowing she couldn't lie, Emma quietly asked the one question that had been haunting her all night.
“Who said I ever got over you?”
Shaking her head slightly, Emma couldn't help but chuckle quietly to herself. Not caring if Regina mistook her laughter as anything but self deprecation. She had just admitted to herself that she had royally screwed up her life, Regina’s life, and Henry’s.
She knew that despite everything she has done, everything she had tried to do, she had never gotten over Regina. It wasn't that she hadn't tried, heaven knew she had tried. Ultimately, Emma knew how badly she had messed up.
Lowering herself to the bench with a quiet sigh, Regina seated herself next to Emma, sitting closely enough to gently bump her shoulder. Doing exactly that, Regain couldn’t help but ask the one question that had haunted her for the last year.
“Why did you run? Was it something I said? Did? Why?” sheer agony dripping off her voice, cracking over the last ‘why.’
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“Emma! Just talk to me, why are you doing this?” Regina pleaded, as Emma struggled against her inner demons.
“I can’t!” Emma gasped as she ran towards the door. Always running, always fleeing, always messing up the good in her life.
Emma knew she had a good thing with Regina, hell, it was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She just couldn’t shake the feeling that Regina was settling for her, that she would never be good enough for her. She had been kicked out of so many homes growing up that she couldn’t believe that anyone would ever truly want her. The lanky girl with straw like hair, the one who never looked kept, the girl who always threw the first punch. The girl who was always running, fleeing, and never looking back.
Running, it was the only thing she knew.
“I’m not good enough for you!” Emma quietly said as she walked out of the only home that she ever wanted to stay in. Knowing that by doing this, she had ruined her life and her engagement to the love of her life.
Emma’s words, eaten by the wind that had picked up, went unheard by Regina. Crumpling on her porch as she felt her heart break, unable to run after Emma due to the rising agony in her chest.
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Taken aback by Regina’s question, all Emma could do was stare at the beautiful woman seated next to her.
“How could you ever think that?” Emma asked quietly, the pain laced in her voice was clearly heard.
“You ran, you refused to talk to me. What else was there for me to think?” Regina’s question hit the mark.
Both women knew the importance of the words that had to follow, neither knew how it would be received, or if they would be able to fix what had all but been destroyed.
“I don’t know what I expected you to think.” Emma nervously rattled off. “I don’t know. I never wanted to hurt you, damn, that was never my intention.” The dark laugh that rolled out from Emma surprised Regina, who couldn’t help but look at the woman in confusion.
“I was so focused on what I was feeling, I couldn’t think about anyone else. I have felt so lost for so long, always unwanted. I’ve never had a home, I’ve never felt wanted or needed, until you. I didn’t know how to handle that. How could I ever be good enough for you? Why me? Why did you want me? Did you want me? Were you settling for me?” Emma couldn’t stop herself from finally rambling off her insecurities. Her fear of rejection clear on her face and in her voice.
Listening to Emma, Regina’s heart finally started to beat again. She started to feel an inkling of hope. A hope for what, she didn’t want to think on just yet. Leaning over, Regina gently grabbed Emma’s chin, forcing her to look into her eyes.
“You are good enough. You will always be good enough for me.” Regina breathed out, closing the distance, placing a gentle kiss on the blond's lips.
It wasn’t a full reconciliation, but it was a new beginning. Both women knew that they could finally move forward, find the happiness that they desperately wanted and needed.