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Emma was nervous, to say the least. She had been preparing this promposal for almost a year now for her best friend.
And if anything went wrong, Emma could just say, “As friends, Regina. I meant we can go together as friends.”
Emma looked at the sign she had prepared and wondered if it was too babyish. She herself was 16… almost 17… and Regina had just turned 17 a couple days ago.
Emma frowned and placed her hands on her hips, tapping her foot as she looked at the cardboard cut out, her eyes scrutinizing every piece of it.
She planned to do something private, she didn’t want to make it this huge event and she definitely didn’t want everyone to stare at her and judge her as she did so.
So, she planned to play their song outside of Regina’s window while holding up the sign. Ruby told her she should buy flowers.
So Emma had made the hugest mistake of her life and asked Regina what her favorite flowers were.
______
“Oh my goodness, so there’s peony’s, and sweet pea’s, and oh god, orchids,” Regina exclaimed, her head tipping back in excitement.
Her head then popped up so fast, Emma wondered if she gave herself whiplash.
“I can’t believe I forgot tulips, and daffodils!” Regina exclaimed, looking scandalized as though she was talking about forgetting her homework, rather than forgetting some flowers.
_______
Mary, Emma’s mom, dropped her off outside Regina’s house and prepared the radio she held in her hand. She lifted the antenna, and set it on the ground, pressing play and turning it all the way up.
The lyrics to “Knock you down,” by Keris Hilton began playing and Emma quickly lifted the sign and the flowers that she had gotten of peony’s, sweet pea’s, orchids, tulips, and daffodils. She didn’t get roses, because Regina told her about how cheesy they were.
She had said, “They’re pretty, and I like them when i’m planting them in my own garden, but I don't like them when they’re given to me. it’s just so cheesy and expected.”
A few seconds later, Emma watched as Regina’s head poked confusedly out of her window.
“Emma? Is that you down there?” Regina asked, she quickly read the sign, her eyes widening before Emma watched as she ran away from the window.
Emma frowned for a moment, but a minute later, Regina bursted out of the front door and ran towards her.
“You did all of this? Is that why you asked me for my favorite flowers?” Regina asked, the brightest smile on her face.
Emma could only nod, her heart was pounding inside of her chest and she thought it might explode if she even opened her mouth to speak.
Even though Regina looked excited, Emma was scared. She couldn’t read Regina. Trying to read her at the moment was like trying to read something that had no words on it.
Regina looked into Emma’s green eyes after reading the sign for a second time and nodded. She nodded, and then practically jumped on Emma, crushing her in a hug.
“Yes, my goodness, yes. I'll go to prom with you!” Regina said, kissing Emma’s cheek as she pulled away from the hug.
Emma smiled brightly and decided to play it cool and hold down her excitement.
“Okay, cool. Cause prom’s tomorrow and i don’t have any date, so i was just wondering, ya know?” Emma scratched the back of her head, her cheek burning from where Regina had kissed her.
“And our song..” Regina noticed, her eyes flitting over the blonde's face. “This is so sweet, Emma. Thank you for all of this,” Regina took the flowers out of Emma’s hand and brought them to her nose, inhaling the beautiful smell of the bunch of flowers.
“Yeah, it’s no problem,” Emma chuckled awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. “Can’t wait to do the cupid shuffle,” Emma smiled and then jerked her thumb to the left, “To the left, to the left.”
Regina smiled once again, and was about to say something when the front door slammed open, and there stood her mother in all her five foot one glory…. 5 foot four with heels.
“Regina Maria Mills, get your butt back inside, now.” Her mother said, not bothering to acknowledge the blonde.
Ever since Regina and Emma had become friends when they were four, her mother has held some kind of grudge against Emma. Emma never knew why, but Regina had upsettingly told Emma that it might have something to do with the fact that Cora wanted Regina to be friends with more… upper class people.
Emma had nodded, knowing and used to the feeling of being shut out because of her class, and how she dressed, and her sexuality, among many other things.
Regina jumped from where she was standing and turned to look at her mother. “Yes, mother!” She said, holding the flowers close to her chest.
“Please take the sign. I don’t want her to see it. But don’t throw it away,” Regina added, pointing a finger at Emma as she walked away. “I want it. Save it for me?” Regina asked with a smile.
Emma nodded and gave her a thumbs up before she folded it, hoping that Cora didn’t see what was written on it before she closed the cardboard sign up.
As soon as the door was closed, the flowers were ripped out of Regina’s hands, much to her disappointment.
“Mother!” Regina exclaimed, reaching for the flowers again.
“No, Regina. You will not go to such an important event with a lowlife. Especially a girl.” Cora said, sneering at her youngest daughter.
Regina frowned, letting her chin fall to her chest. “But, mother…” She muttered, not daring to look into her mothers eyes.
“No buts, Regina you will say no, or don’t, i don’t really care. But you are not going with her. I have a more realistic date set up for you, and you are not turning your back on this. You will not embarrass this family, do you understand?” Cora said, but it wasn’t really a question. Regina knew she had no choice.
Regina looked off to the side, imagining Emma’s face when she tells her she can’t go with her. “Yes, mother,” She whispered, already regretting it.
Cora took the flowers and pressed her foot down on the trash can to open it, tossing the flowers away and slamming the top closed on the trash.
“Good. Now go upstairs and get your beauty rest, Regina. You have a long day tomorrow.”
Regina nodded and glumly walked up the stairs to her room, a tear slipping down her cheek.
The next day, Emma woke up early. It was a Saturday and she could hardly wait any longer to see Regina.
Emma had planned on just meeting Regina there, not wanting her mother to figure out that they were going together.
Emma found the suit with the maroon tie and handkerchief that she had bought to match Regina’s maroon dress.
Emma had asked Regina what the color of her dress was a couple weeks before setting up the promposal, and she had immediately gone and bought matching items… just in case she said yes.
Emma set them on her bed and then went to take a shower.
After she took her shower, she blow dried her hair, and then straightened it. Then she put on her suit and had her mom help her with the tie and with folding the handkerchief.
Emma smiled in the mirror once she was finished and did a couple turns to be funny, causing her mother to laugh and place both hands over her mouth.
“Oh, Em. You look so grown up!” Mary wiped underneath her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her chest while bouncing on her toes.
“Ugh, moooom,” Emma dragged, “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.” Emma mumbled.
“You’re just so beautiful,” Mary sniffed. “Sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just so happy for you, honey,” Mary smiled and kissed Emma’s cheek. “I’m happy for both of you. I’m proud of Regina for finally doing something against her mother, my goodness, it’s about time,” She said, clapping her hands together once.
Emma nodded and bit her lip, looking back in the mirror. She could hardly wait another hour to see Regina.
Later that night, Regina was sitting at her vanity, looking down at her hands as her mother fixed her hair. She kept her head down, not wanting to talk to her mother. Regina knew Cora was already disappointed in her for even thinking of saying yes to the blonde.
Regina turned her eyes to look off to the side at her dress. She had been so excited, and now she wasn’t. She didn’t even want to go anymore.
Regina sat miserably, wincing from how hard her mother was tugging on her hair. “Mother, please… I don’t want to disappoint Emma,” Regina said, hoping that maybe if she asked one more time her mother would give in.
Cora gave Regina’s hair a sharp tug and looked at her through the mirror. “No, Regina. I will not entertain this silly idea of yours any longer. Now stop complaining. You have a handsome date for tonight, and it will even help our status, you know. Robin's family is quite rich and well known,” Cora smiled, thinking about a marriage between the two as they got older.
Regina frowned as she stared at her mother with chocolate eyes through the mirror. “Mother, I don’t like… I don’t like men,” she whispered.
“Nonsense,” Cora chuckled. “Now stand up and go put your dress on. Robin and his mother will be here any second.
Regina sighed and nodded. She grabbed her dress off the hanger and went into the bathroom that connected to her room and put it on.
She smiled as she imagined what Emma was going to wear, but her smile fell. She was going to have to break Emma’s heart tonight. Regina placed her head in her hands.
“Oh, shoot,” She whispered, quickly lifting her head and looking at her hands. She couldn’t cry or else she’d ruin her makeup and her mother would know she was upset.
Regina sniffed the tears away and pulled at the sleeves of her dress.
“Regina! He’s here, let’s go!” Cora shouted from downstairs.
Regina stiffened and bunched up some of her dress into her hands and walked out of her room and down the staircase.
She hardly even knew Robin. She’d heard of him, and seen him in school, but she didn’t really care for the rich and snobby type. All though that’s how she’s labeled at school, she’d rather be anything but.
Regina quickly wiped the frown off her face and slipped her mask on, a fake smile appearing on her face as Robin waltzed through the front door as if he owned the place, his mother in tow.
“Oh, how beautiful is she?” Robin’s mother exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
“Eh,” Robin shrugged, looking Regina up and down. But Regina could tell her clearly thought anything other than, “Eh,” by the way his eyes were roaming.
Regina shuffled from foot to foot, her arms coming up to cross over her stomach. She felt uncomfortable under his gaze and she couldn’t think about anything other than Emma.
“Regina, don’t be rude. Introduce yourself,” Cora said, grabbing Regina’s arm and giving her a light shove towards the boy.
“Regina,” Regina said, holding out her hand.
“Robin,” The boy said, looking bored.
Regina shook his hand and then crossed her arms over her chest.
“Picture time!” Robin’s mother said, excitedly.
“Do you want me to take pictures of you and Regina after prom? So her mother doesn’t see, but you can still get some pictures in?” Mary asked as she drove to the school.
Emma nodded, “Sounds good.” Her legs were bouncing nervously and her heart was pounding furiously.
Emma shrunk into her seat as the school came into sight and she couldn’t help the smile that graced her lips.
“Alright, kiddo,” Mary said, pulling the car up to the doors.
“Have fun!” Emma nodded and kissed her mom on the cheek before jumping out of the car and walking into the room.
Emma felt her heart drop.
There Regina was, looking as stunning as ever. But she was standing next to a boy. A boy who was holding her hand.
He was holding her hand.
And he matched Regina. His suit was almost the same as hers, and Emma watched as he kissed her cheek, sliding a glass of punch into the brunette's hand.
Regina took the glass willingly and smiled up at the boy.
Emma swallowed and continued staring. That is until Regina's eyes found hers.
The brunette’s smile immediately fell and she shoved the glass back into Robin's hand before she took off towards Emma.
Emma closed her mouth as it had been wide open, wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeve and turned, furiously walking out of the room.
She shoved the gymnasium doors open and took off towards the stairs.
“Emma! Emma!” Regina shouted.
Emma could hear the sounds of heels clacking against the floor, but she didn’t pay any attention.
“Emma, please. You don’t understand!” Regina said, a sob ripping through her chest.
Regina reached out and grabbed Emma’s arm just as the blonde was about to step off the last stair.
“Emma..” Regina said, slipping her fingers into the blondes.
“Don’t touch me,” Emma ripped her hand away. “It’s fine. I get it. But you could’ve just said no, you know? You didn’t have to get my hopes up.” Emma said, her voice cracking. She sounded younger than 17 at that moment, and very, very vulnerable.
“Emma, please. I didn't want to go with him. You have to understand my situation, it was my-“
“No, Gin, it’s fine. It’s all good,” Emma said, placing both hands in the air in front of her. “Don’t worry about me,” The blonde turned and walked away again, her hands rubbing at her eyes.
“Emma!” Regina shouted, tears slipping down her cheeks as she watched her best friend walk away from her.
Regina leaned against the wall next to her and let her head fall against it. She sank to the floor and buried her head in her hands.
“Oh, god,” She whispered, her body shaking with her sobs.
“Mom, just please come get me,” Emma whispered into the phone.
“Okay, honey,” Mary finally gave in. She had been questioning her daughter for about five minutes, wondering why she was coming back so quickly, where Regina was, and if it was because they wanted to take pictures.
Emma sat on the curbside and looked down at her phone, only noticing the pair of heels standing in front of her several moments later.
Emma jumped slightly and looked up, finding no other than Cora standing in front of her.
“I’ve told you to stay away,” The brunette woman said.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it,” Emma muttered, rolling her eyes.
“And this is exactly why I tell Regina to stay away from you. I don’t want her around such delinquents!” Cora exclaimed.
Emma stood. “Listen, lady. I don’t care what you think of me. And you don’t need to worry about me anymore. You wanted me gone? Fine. I’m done.” And with that, Emma took off, walking towards the parking lot where her mother would be picking her up.
Later that day, Regina showed up at Emma’s house, knocking on the door as loudly as possible. She knew that she had no right to be here, but she couldn't let the blonde not understand what happened with the situation.
Regina knocked on the door again.
“Emma!” Regina shouted.
Regina was about to knock again when the door was opened and a tired Mary Margaret looked at her. “Regina?” Mary said, squinting at the brunette.
“Ms. Swan,” Regina said, her eyes filling with tears.
Mary was like a second mother to her and she would never want to disappoint her. She thought of Mary as more of a mother than her own, and it was extremely upsetting to her.
Regina sobbed and placed a hand over her face.
“I’m so sorry, i’m so sorry,” Regina said, sniffing and shaking her head. “Please, i need to speak to Emma,” Regina said.
Mary took in Regina's disheveled appearance, from her crumpled maroon prom dress, her messed up hair, and her tear streaked makeup.
“Regina… I really don’t think that’s a good idea tonight, sweetheart,” Mary said, folding her arms on her chest.
Regina looked up at Mary pleadingly.
“She told you?” Regina whispered, her voice cracking.
“Yes, honey. I just don’t think tonight is a good time, and maybe you two just need some space is all,” Mary shrugged.
“I don’t need space! Please, Ms. Swan, please! Please let me speak to her,” Regina begged, staring pleadingly at the brunette.
Mary Margaret shook her head and reached out to place her hand on Regina’s shoulder, lovingly.
“I’m sorry, Gin. But not tonight, sweetheart.” Mary closed the door in Regina's face, not unkindly.
Regina let out the breath she was holding and stood there, defeated.
She had escaped out of her house after her mother had dropped her off at the house. Cora had planned a dinner with Robin's mother, probably to discuss Regina's future with the boy.
And Regina took that chance and ran as fast as she could. She only lived a few blocks away from Emma, so she took off, leaving her heels at home and not bothering to change. It was still late by the time she had made it there, sometime past ten o’clock.
And now it was all for nothing. And Regina had to walk all the way back, no shoes, and not knowing if her mother had gotten home.
If her mother found out she left, Regina would be screwed.
Regina hurriedly walked home and shoved her way through the door, sweaty and disheveled.
She closed the door behind her and cried, she cried and didn’t notice her mother standing in front of her with her arms crossed until she heard a sharp scoff.
Regina's eyes widened and she immediately started to ramble off an explanation.
“No, Regina. Do not speak. Do not. I don’t have time for your excuses and I don’t have time to listen to this any further. You disobeyed me, and you know I dislike that. Go to your room.”
Regina’s mouth popped open. “Mother, please. She’s my best friend.” Regina said, walking towards Cora.
“I understand you don’t get me, just like you didn’t understand Zelena. You shut her out too when she came out to you, as well. You shouldn’t do the same to me.” Regina pleaded.
“Regina, you’re lucky I kept you in this house with me after you told me you thought you liked women. That is a disgrace. You are lucky,” Cora bit out.
“Mother, you don’t get credit for doing the bare minimum!” Regina shouted, her face turning red with anger.
“Regina Maria!” Cora exclaimed, raising her hand and slapping Regina across the face.
“Do not speak to me like that young lady!!” Cora shouted. “Go to your room! Immediately!”
Regina stood there, stunned. Her hand rested on her cheek that was beat red. Her cheek burned, and there was an angry red hand print left where her mother had slapped her.
“Now!” Cora said, angrily.
Regina jumped and all but ran upstairs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Regina slammed her door shut.
What was supposed to be the best night of her senior year, turned out to be the absolute worst.
They didn’t talk again. Even at graduation. Even when Emma turned 18. Not even when Emma left Storybrooke to go to Boston for college.
It was ten years later and Regina moved out of her mothers house and into her own house. It was on the same street as Emma’s mothers house.
Regina still hasn’t seen Emma since, because everytime she hears about Emma coming back to visit her mother, or Emma just visiting, she stays in her house the entire time.
Regina didn’t want to let Emma in on her secret.
Her secret is that she has a five year old son.
Her son that she adopted when she was twenty three. She needed something. Someone to fill the hole that Emma left behind.
It turns out she’s a very good mother. Her own mother had downright disowned her when she figured out that she would be adopting and not having her own. Regina was already on thin ice, especially when she refused to marry Robin.
After Emma left, Regina broke up with Robin, resulting in her mother kicking her out of the house. Regina didn’t really care, though. And if anything, she appreciated it. It gave her the guts to finally escape her mother and just leave.
After she adopted Henry, she told her mother she didn’t want her in her life or her sons until her mother decided to change. Until she accepted her and her sister and their sexuality, and until she accepted her son.
Regina didn’t want her son around someone like her mother. She knew parenting wasn’t genetic, so she knew she would be a fine mother, but she didn’t ever want her son to experience what she had to go through, so Regina would rather keep her son away from all of that rather than allowing that kind of toxicity to be in his life.
Regina was taking Henry for a walk in his stroller down her street when she saw an unfamiliar car parked in Mary’s driveway.
She frowned and shrugged, figuring that maybe David had gotten a new car. He was always working when they were younger, resulting in Regina not really knowing the guy besides when he’d come home late at night, so maybe he just decided to treat himself to something.
Regina shrugged and continued walking, but when she was walking past the house further, she saw a streak of blonde in the backyard of Mary’s house and she felt her throat drop into her stomach.
“Oh…” Regina whispered as soon as she saw Emma Swan.
A very grown up Emma Swan.
She was playing on the cheap swingest in Mary’s backyard with her three year old younger brother.
Regina had been introduced to him and seen the little boy quite a few times. She’s even had play dates with him and Henry, and she’s babysat him a few times for Mary so her and David could go on dates.
Regina shoved the cover on the stroller down, covering her son and she pushed on the stroller, quickly walking down the road. She had always done her best to know when Emma’s coming to town, and she must’ve just lost track of time.
Regina tried her best to hurry, but she heard , “Regina!” Come from Mary, and she knew she was royally fucked.
Regina paused in her place and she slowly turned, plastering a fake smile on her face.
“Mary…. Hi…” She said, smiling.
“Come over, honey. Come over here! Bring that lovely boy over.” Mary said, waving her hand in a come over way.
Regina blew out a breath and nodded, pushing the stroller towards the gate that led into Mary’s backyard and pushing it open.
Regina unlocked the hatch and pushed the door open. She pushed the stroller in and then closed the door behind her, locking it shut.
Regina hesitantly walked into the backyard and she pushed the stroller until it was at the corner of the house and then she bent over, lifting her five year old son out of his seat and settling him on his hip.
Henry started playing with her hair and the glasses on top of her head immediately, babbling nonsense into her ear.
“Mommy, Momma,” He said, tapping her shoulder.
Regina took the sunglasses and put them on her face, “Yes, darling,” Regina said, tucking a strand of sweaty hair behind the boys ear.
“Who is that lady, Mommy,” Henry asked, not so subtly pointing at Emma.
Regina inhaled and exhaled heavily, then turned her eyes to look at Emma.
Emma was shuffling her feet from side to side and looking at the ground where her three year old brother was playing with dirt.
“A friend,” Regina responded, lifting her sunglasses onto her head.
Emma looked up at Regina, and squinted her eyes, looking at the small brunette boy in her arms.
Henry chose that time to wriggle and squirm in Regina's arms and jump down, running over to the little boy by Emma’s feet.
“Hi, Neal,” Henry said, beginning to dig at the dirt that Neal was digging at.
Henry was always careful with the younger boy, always making sure to be nice as he knew that he was younger and needed to be more careful when it came to playing.
“Hi Henwy,” Neal said, letting out a loud giggle as Henry pretended to be a cat and bent over, pushing the dirt between his legs towards the little boy. He made sure not to get dirt in Neal’s eyes, though.
Mary smiled and clasped her hands together in front of her chest.
“Oh, I just love them so much,” Mary said, smiling down at the two boys.
“Mm,” Regina hummed, smiling down at the two boys.
Henry looked up at Emma and stuck his hand out. “Hi, I’m Henry.” Henry said, politely.
Emma smiled, although it was more like a cringe, and then shook the boy's small hand. “Emma,” She muttered, quickly taking her hand back and crossing her arms.
“Emma, honey, be nice. We need to get over the past.” Mary said, chastising Emma for her behavior.
“We?” Emma said, “It’s not like you were left hanging at one of the most important events in highschool,” Emma said, bitingly, and walked off into the house.
Regina sighed and toyed with the sleeves of her shirt, her eyes falling to the ground.
“I… I tried, Mary. I tried explaining,” Regina murmured.
“I know, sweetheart,” Mary said, placing her hand on Regina’s arm again.
Regina had told Mary exactly what happened a few years after Emma had moved away. She needed to tell someone. She’s felt guilty for the past ten years over it, and she needed to tell someone. So she told Mary.
Regina also just couldn’t stand having the woman be upset with her any longer, and she knew that she needed to get it out in the air, for herself. She couldn’t keep sitting in her self pity and self wallowing. She needed to get out and try to accept what happened and forgive herself.
“Maybe I should tell her,” Regina said, looking towards the house.
“You should, honey. She would understand. At least, I’d hope she would.” Mary mumbled, scratching the side of her head.
Regina laughed out of her nose and shook her head. “I don’t know, Mary. It’s been this long and she’s still that upset? And besides, maybe I don’t deserve to explain. Maybe this is what I get for being weak and listening to my mother. I let her control me and didn’t take control of my own life, and maybe this is just the consequences.” Regina shrugged, folding her arms.
She looked down at Henry again and sighed.
“Gin, go talk to her. Now,” Mary said, giving Regina an encouraging shove towards the back door.
Regina sighed and took off towards Emma’s room, knowing that Emma would be in hiding.
As soon as Regina opened the door, Emma’s head popped up from where it was laying on her pillow.
Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes, slamming her body back down on her bed. “Get out.” Emma said, covering her face with her arm.
“Emma..” Regina sighed, sitting on the end of the bed.
“No, Regina. Just get out. Please, get out!” Emma shouted, causing Regina to flinch.
“No, Emma! You need to listen to me. You never let me explain what happened.” Regina said, desperately.
“Fine. You’ve got five minutes,” Emma mumbled, grabbing her pillow from under her head and dropping it on top of her face.
“A child,” Regina scoffed.
“Alright, so, you remember when you proposed to me for prom, right?” Regina asked, not waiting for a nod or a yes, she continued, “Well, after that, my mother took the flowers you gave me, and threw them away. She threw them away, Emma. You don’t understand how precious those were to me at that moment. I had never had such a special moment for myself, ever since my father passed. He used to do special things for me all the time, and then, they just stopped when he passed,” Regina paused a moment, watching as the pillow slowly lifted off Emma’s head, Emma’s eyes searching Reginas face for a lie.
Regina continued.
“She threw my flowers away, and told me I would be going to prom with… with a boy date. I tried telling her that i didn’t like men.. that i was gay, and she insisted that i was just confused and that she wouldn’t have me embarrassing our family. She called you all sorts of names, Emma,” Regina whispered, recalling the events of that night.
“God, it was like it happened yesterday,” Regina whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“I tried so hard, Emma. I tried so fucking hard to make her let me go with you, and she just… blew up.
“That night, I came to your house, Emma. I tried to let your mother let me talk to you, but I knew you told her. I knew because Mary looked so disappointed in me. I never want her to look at me that way again. It broke my heart, Em. I just wanted to explain what happened, and I know I fucked up. I know I did a terrible thing, and I should’ve told you beforehand, but I just didn’t know how to, Em,” Regina explained, wiping her tears away with the backs of her hands.
“I would have loved to go with you, Emma. I hadn’t been as happy as when you asked me to go to prom with you in years. And I still haven’t. I miss you so much, Em. You have no idea how much it hurt me to go with him. He was such a self centered and entitled boy.” Regina scoffed, shaking her head.
“Regina…” Emma murmured, sitting up in bed.
“My mother wanted us to marry,” Regina said, finally looking Emma in the eyes.
“What? is he… is he henry’s-“
“No,” Regina shook her head, “Henry’s mine. I adopted him,” Regina wiped her eyes again.
“I refused to marry Robin, and my mother kicked me out. She disowned me when I adopted Henry, claiming it was a disgrace to have a daughter who wouldn’t continue on our family.” Regina chuckled bitterly and shook her head.
“I haven’t talked to her in almost five years.”
Emma lifted her knees to her chest. “I don’t know what to say,” She whispered, settling her chin on her knees.
“I’m sorry for not letting you explain. I just felt so hurt and I just didn’t want to think about any of… that. I just wanted it to be over,” Emma shrugged and blew out a breath.
“I know, Em. I’m sorry I did it in the first place. I shouldn’t have listened to her. I just… Em, she hit me,” Regina whispered, recalling the sting of the slap like it happened yesterday.
“She… she hit you?” Emma said, her head lifting off her knees.
Regina nodded.
“I came home that night after begging your mother to let me see you, and she found out I had left. She slapped me in the face for disobeying her and made me go to my room. She didn’t let me out for a week.” Regina said, looking at her lap.
“She had Kathryn bringing my homework home, and told the school i had caught a stomach bug so she could teach me a lesson about disobeying her,” Regina said, shaking her head.
“I’m so sorry, Gin,” Emma said, leaning towards Regina and placing her hand on her arm.
“I don’t want you to forgive me because you pity me, Emma. I know i don’t deserve your forgiveness. You being angry with me is all my fault and i can’t place blame on anyone else when i could’ve changed how the situation played out. I could’ve done so much more, and i didn’t. I didn’t deserve your forgiveness then, and i don’t now,” Regina shrugged, accepting her fate.
“I’m not forgiving you because i pity you, Regina. I’m forgiving you because i know how much of a jerk your mom is. And she hit you. You were just a kid, you were scared. It’s okay, Regina. I don’t know how that feels because i grew up with like… the perfect fairytale family, so i can’t judge you for accepting her abuse and allowing her to overrule you and run your life, Gin.” Emma said, scooching closer to the older woman.
Regina smiled, her eyes watering. “Can I hug you, Emma?” Regina asked, hesitantly.
Emma nodded and held her arms out, “Come here, ya big loser.”
Regina chuckled and leaned closer, falling into Emma’s arms. Her head rested on the woman’s chest and she wrapped her arms around Emma’s waist, holding her closer than ever. “I’m so sorry,” Regina whispered.
Emma shook her head and rubbed her hand up and down Regina’s back comfortingly. “It’s alright, Gin. Don’t worry about it. It’s in the past. What happened, happened. And now we need to move on,”
Regina smiled against Emma’s chest and then pulled away, rubbing away her tears and taking a breath. “I feel like the world has been lifted off my shoulders, goodness,” Regina exhaled, closing her eyes for a moment.
Emma chuckled quietly and then placed her hand on the woman’s cheek, her thumb gently rubbing up and down Regina's cheek.
Regina opened her eyes, unknowingly leaning into Emma’s hand, she stared at Emma’s face. She stilled, not knowing what to do.
“Gin?” Emma whispered, her facing inches away from the brunettes.
“Yeah?” Regina whispered back, her eyes flicking from Emma’s eyes to her lips.
“Can I kiss you?” Emma asked, causing Regina to snort, and laugh.
Emma frowned. “Shut up,” She said, childishly.
“Sorry, sorry. It’s just this is so awkward, just kiss me you big baby,” Regina said, placing both hands on both sides of Emma’s cheek, and pulling her closer until their lips met.
Emma closed her eyes, and let out a muffled noise, her free hand also moving to the other woman’s cheek.
Regina was the first to pull back, her eyes slowly fluttering open. “Em.. I love you,” Regina whispered, smiling softly while looking into glistening green eyes.
“I love you, too, Gin.” Emma smiled.
Emma laughed and tickled Regina’s neck, causing the other woman to fall back on the bed. Emma got on top of Regina and started tickling her stomach, making the woman laugh loudly and snort.
Mary listened to the two from the backyard as Emma’s window was open.
She smiled down at the two boys and knelt down, patting Henry's back.
“Is my mommy okay?” He asked, looking up at Mary.
“Oh, she’s fine, Hen,” Mary said, listening to the giggling women. “She’s just fine.”