Chapter Text
“You have to go, Emma,” Regina says with a sense of urgency, as the green smoke spreads across Storybrooke.
“But… What about us?” Emma asks with tears in her eyes.
Despite their arguing, she and Regina found themselves bonding while trying to save Henry from Pan. Their hands often brush up against each other, way more than a typical friendship. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Snow and David. They catch the yearning looks and doey eyes. Although the former Evil Queen isn’t exactly who they expected their daughter to fall for, David finds it better than some irritating pirate.
Emma didn’t quite understand her feelings at first, but they became pretty clear when she was hovering over Regina, anxiously waiting for her to regain consciousness after she passed out on the street. Her heart fluttered when Regina finally woke up, gasping Emma’s name and grabbing her hand. She hadn’t felt relief like that since they rescued Henry, but now things have only gone downhill.
“Please don’t leave us,” Emma whispers, while shaking her head dreadfully.
“I have to, Emma, but you’re going to be fine, dear. I promise. You’ll still have all of your memories, ” Regina says, pulling Emma into a hug. Emma hugs her back and the brunette whispers in her ear. “Check your jacket when you cross the line. That’s my gift to you.”
Emma nods, putting all of her trust into Regina. Emma waves Henry over to say their goodbyes. It’s emotional, but Regina explains to Henry what this will mean for them. She fights back tears when she reveals she can’t see him ever again.
The green smoke becomes more visible and Regina knows they must leave at once. She gives her son one last hug before watching the two rush to the car. Emma opens her door, but hesitates before getting in. She looks back at her family and then Regina, who then gives her a teary eyed nod that breaks her heart completely.
Before she can protest again, she’s in the yellow bug, and crossing the red line they all avoided so much. She watches through the rearview mirror, as the cloud of green smoke envelops the people and place she’s loved so much for the past three years, despite all the chaos.
Neither mother or son speak a single word. Deafening silence washes over them as they both replay every decision made, focusing on the fact they will never see their family or friends again. Twenty minutes later Emma spots a safe place to fill up on gas for the long trip. She parks in a gas stall and then turns to the kid.
“You go in and get yourself some snacks. And get me a coke as well, and gold fish,” Emma says, handing him a twenty dollar bill. “I’ll pump the gas.”
Henry nods and climbs out of the car before running into the gas station. Usually, he would’ve protested that she come in too, but after seeing how devastated she was during the car ride, he figured it was best to do what he’s told.
Ten minutes later, he comes out to the parking lot with a plastic bag full of snacks and Emma’s requested items. He sees her leaning up against the yellow bug, looking closely at something in her hand. He can’t tell what it is until he approaches her, but Emma notices his sudden presence and shifts uncomfortably. She tries to put the item back in her pocket, but Henry stops her, curious to know what she had.
“What’s that, Ma?”
“It’s… a wallet,” Emma says before she offers it to him.
Emma never carried around an official purse or wallet, a habit in which Regina had commented on, several times. Given Emma’s past and knowledge about theft, she has always been cautious about keeping something so important that’s so easily accessible.
Henry takes it, noticing the swan embroidered onto the front. He opens it to reveal a photo of the three of them after the Neverland rescue.
“Where did you get this?” Henry asks, handing it back.
“It was a goodbye gift from… Regina,” Emma responds. “It’s customized for me.”
It also has some money and a little note inside for her, but she keeps that part to herself.
“It’s pretty,” He says, before tightly hugging her side. “I miss her already.”
Emma fights back tears because she knows if she starts crying now, she won’t stop until her body physically can’t anymore. She wraps her arm around him and rests her head on top of his.
Anxiety and guilt set in when she thinks about how hurt their son must be. How is she going to be able to help him cope with this alone, if she could never do it in the past? How was he supposed to rely on her emotionally, if she was just as devastated? She’s never really had a hard conversation with him, except for when she had to break the news about Archie, and even then, she felt extremely uncomfortable. Despite her faults, Regina has always been better at talking to Henry. Emma doesn’t know how she is going to do this without her.
“I know, I miss her too. But I guess, she did what she had to. I still wish there was something more we could’ve done,” Emma confesses. “This feels like we just… gave up. On her, and on us being together as a family.”
Henry nods in agreement. They stay like that for a good minute before letting go.
“Well, we have a long way to go. We should probably get going, kid.”
“Where are we going?” Henry asks while getting into the car.
“We’re going back to Boston. Regina left an address to an apartment in the wallet, so I assume she wants us to go there,” Emma sighs, pulling out of the parking lot.
“Hey, I think you should have faith,” Henry says after they’ve been driving a while. Emma looks over at him for a moment.
“I am, it’s just… this time is different.”
“You know… when I was with Pan, a part of me was nervous and scared that he would keep me there forever, as a lost boy. But the other part of me knew that you and Mom wouldn’t stop searching till you found me. She’s always been determined, so she’s not going to let some shitty-“
“Henry…” Emma groans.
“Fine! Some stupid curse. She’s not gonna let that stop her from getting her happy ending… which is us, together.”
“I guess you’re right, kid.” Emma sighs.
“I know I’m right, I’m a Mills, we’re always right,” He says with a smirk that indeed screams Mills.
“Okay kid, don’t let that go to your head,” Emma chuckles, then asks a few seconds later. “When the hell did you get so… insightful?”
“You become a bit more knowledgeable when your best friend is your therapist and his dog,” Henry says matter of factly.
Emma chuckles again, “I guess that’s true.”
There’s a brief silence and she notices Henry looking out the window. She can tell he’s reflecting on something but doesn’t know what it is. However, she has a hunch.
“We’re going to be okay, kid. We’ve got each other now.”
A year later
The door to Regina’s office swings open and someone Regina never thought she’d see again appears in the doorway.
Emma Swan.
“Regina?” Emma whispers. Tears pool up in her eyes when she sees Regina at her desk. They both freeze for a moment.
“Emma?!” Regina gasps as she rises to her feet.
The two women close the gap between them as they hurdle into each other's arms, finally, after a year of being apart.
“Emma, how did you—How did you get here? Who brought you here? What happened?” Regina asks in one breath, clearly in pure shock.
“It’s a long story,” Emma whispers, as her head rests in the crook of Regina’s neck. Her voice cracks as she continues to speak. “I’m here now, Regina. I never thought I’d see you again. I thought you guys were gone forever.”
“I know, me too. Everyday was hell. I was so miserable with no one to turn to… I wrote you a letter while I was in the Enchanted Forest,” Regina says, holding Emma tightly in her grasp.
Emma pulls away from the hug, but still within close proximity to the brunette. While her chest is still pounding, she feels somewhat lighter. After a torturous year of being away from one another, they are finally together in each other's arms.
“Really?” Emma asks.
Regina steps away and walks to her desk. Emma watches as she digs through her drawers. She raises both eyebrows when the brunette pulls out a folded up piece of paper.
Regina turns and hands the letter to the curious blonde, who unfolds it carefully. The paper is rough, but frail at the same time. She can tell the words were written on with a feather quill pen. Some ink spots are smudged from age and other parts from water marks, presumably Regina’s tears. That alone creates a tight feeling in her chest.
She begins reading.
To Emma Swan,
Leaving you and Henry was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Not just because Henry is my life. He is, and if he ever disappeared or got taken, I’d burn down the whole world in search of him. However, he is not the only person I miss dearly. Being in the Enchanted Forest, it’s made me realize some things.
1. Snow and Charming are just as annoying here than in Storybrooke.
2. I miss electricity.
3. I should’ve kissed you at the town line.
Every day that I’m here, I deeply regret not doing so. I didn’t because of the utter pain we would feel being apart. It would hinder any ability you would have at moving on with anyone else. It would feel like an anchor, pulling you down. I couldn’t do that to you. Because I love you.
It took a really long time to realize what that feeling was, and to confront the truth. The truth that you are my other piece. Even when we’re fighting and trying to destroy each other. You are my other half.
I may not be able to move on with anyone else and considering my history, I believe I deserve that fate, but you can (and should). I hope you’re able to find someone that can see through the pain and trauma, and love you for the funny, smart, and resilient person that you are.
I know we are apart, and you’ll probably never read this. But… I miss you. Every day. Please come back to me, I need you. Losing you has tormented my every thought. To the point of wishing someone would just rip my heart out.
What’s that saying Mary and Charming are always repeating? Something about always finding each other. It’s stupid, but I hope it applies to us as well.
Don’t forget me,
Regina Mills/Madam Mayor
Once Emma finishes the letter, she folds it back up. Regina looks up at her to see green eyes that are now red and puffy.
Emma doesn’t say anything. All she can do is throw herself into Regina’s embrace that she missed, oh so much. Her cheeks are coated in sorrowful tears that had been bottled up over the course of a year. She had refused to cry in front of Henry. To show him that side of her. The side that revealed how she truly felt about his other mother.
Regina holds her tightly. Emma’s face is now buried in her shoulder. Regina can feel the hot breath hit her neck as she weeps. The vibrations of Emma’s body, trembling and hyperventilating from reading the words written are intense. The excruciating, tear shedding, words of Regina wanting to give up everything.
“I would’ve never moved on Regina. I would’ve waited for you,” Emma sobs. “Please tell me you didn’t rip your own heart out because of me. Please, Regina.”
Regina was silent. She had done it, and she knows that Emma knows based on the guilt fed silence. Emma is positive that she did it, but still hopes Regina will say no instead of the heartbreaking truth.
“I couldn’t take the pain, Emma,” Regina whispers, emotionless. She had regretted trying to bury her heart, especially after her talk with Mary Margaret, which surprisingly helped.
Those words crush Emma’s heart like a ton of bricks. She can’t deal with the thought of Regina being in pain, and not being able to be there for her.
“I’m sorry, Regina. I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I wish I had been,” Emma cries. She’s pretty sure Regina’s expensive silk shirt is now ruined with tears and snot. Gross.
Emma then feels Regina pull away before there’s a light touch on her chin. Before she knows it, green eyes are locked with brown ones. She flushes with embarrassment, knowing how awful she must look right now, so she tries to look away. However, Regina’s hand pulls her teary gaze back, and another tear rolls down Emma’s very red face.
“Listen to me, Emma.” Regina says in a calm, but stern tone. “None of this is your fault. It’s mine, and I paid the price. It was a big price to pay, but I got through it. I’m still here.”
“But you shouldn’t have had to go through it alone,” Emma says, wiping under her eye.
Regina sighs and reaches out to rub Emma's cheek. Her thumb meets soft, tear soaked skin, as she caresses it gently. The soothing touch calms Emma, and she tries to take deep breaths.
“But I did. I was the one who caused mass destruction and cursed an entire population. It was only fair that I suffer… like the people I made suffer before.”
“But you’re changed. I know you are. You proved it at the town line when you let me and Henry go knowing that you…” Emma pauses, and her voice cracks as tears build up in her eyes again. “knowing that you wouldn’t be able to see us again.”
“It doesn’t erase what I did, Emma.” Regina gently shakes her head and a tear of her own drops. “But I’m here now, dear. And I promise, I will never let you go again. Ever.”
Emma bursts into more tears, as she nods. Her body pulls towards Regina’s like a magnet, and suddenly, she’s back in her arms again. For good this time. She feels a wave of comfort when she’s in Regina’s embrace. The warmth and smell of her luxurious perfume somehow makes Emma forget all of her worries.
“I wrote you a letter, too,” Emma says. “I never thought I’d be able to see you again, so it may sound a bit sad… and probably cheesy.”
Regina chuckles, “I’d love to read it.”