The wrong swan

34

It's been two weeks now, neither Emma nor Regina have spoken to each other since their night of passion. Tomorrow is Emma's birthday party; she was at her house, finalizing small details ready. Her front door then knocked. She looked a little confused as she hadn't expected anyone. Emma walked out the kitchen and to her door, pulling open to see who was there. Regina was stood with a bouquet of flowers, wrapped up present and an awkward smile.

"Hey, happy birthday" Regina said happily, still just as awkward and nervous as before.

"Thank you. Do you want to come in" Emma offered, gesturing inside the house as she moved out the way.

"Oh umm..."

"Juliana isn't here, don't worry"

"Ok, thanks" Regina chuckled, knowing that's her only reason for not coming in.

"Come on, I'll make you a coffee. Steph is still napping" Emma offered, walking towards the kitchen. Regina followed in, closing the door on her way. "My birthday is tomorrow and so is my party, how come you're here today"

"I came to say that I won't be able to come tomorrow but I wanted to see you open your present" Regina nervously replied, taking a seat on one of the island stools.

"How come" Emma questioned with a curious look over her shoulder, pouring the both a coffee.

"I am behind on lots of work so it's just best I stay and get everything sorted" Regina replied softly but still with a nervous voice, hiding her stupid lie.

"That's a pretty good excuse, must have taken the whole journey to think of" Emma said with a sarcastic tone, chuckling at the poor attempt. Regina sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn't find a better excuse. "The real reason now"

"Fine... I can't spend a whole night watching you with Juliana, it will break me. I'm sorry I won't be there" Regina said in a gentle tone, showing her vulnerability in the situation.

"I understand, don't be sorry" Emma practically mumbled, not expecting that as the excuse.

"I wanted to watch you open this though" Regina said with a smile, quickly taking away her vulnerable side from view. Emma chuckled as she walked over, placing a coffee in front of the woman. She took the present as she sat beside her. "I also didn't want you to cry in front of your whole party"

"I don't cry"

"You'll cry, I promise"

Emma laughed in disbelief as she shook her head, starting to open the present. As she pulled the wrapping paper off, she noticed it was a frame. Emma flipped it over and her mouth dropped at the sight. It was a drawing of grown up Emma hugging her mother, showing there resemblance. Due to her mother dying young, this photo never actually existed. Emma's heart skipped at beat at the art work, her eyes filling with tears. Her left hand moved to cover her mouth, finally letting her tears slip out.

"Oh my god... Regina, this is... Oh my god" Emma tried to say but feeling at a loss of words due to her shock.

"I found a picture of your mum before she passed, I thought you'd like this better than a tacky present" Regina softly said, smiling as she knew the blonde liked it.

"It's... It's amazing... I..." Emma's loss for words and cracked voice stopped her from speaking. She just looked at the picture as more tears left her eyes. She stood up, placed it on the island and hugged the brunette tightly. "Thank you"

"I'm glad you like it" Regina smiled, giving the blonde a small squeeze. Emma buried her head into Regina's shoulder as she cried onto it, thinking about the death of her mother. "I told you you'd cry"

"You're an ass" Emma chuckled with a tear filled voice, not daring to leave the hug.

"Why, thank you" Regina added with a giggle, rubbing the blondes back.

Emma stayed in the hug as she lifted her head up to wipe her tears way. She never imagined this being her gift, it made her heart sore and ache at the same time. As they finally start to pull away, their hands didn't move from the others body. Emma's arms still around the brunettes neck, Regina's around the blondes waist. They both just stayed there, looking down at the others body. Both women were using all their strength not to kiss but neither were strong enough to move away from the hold.

"You're still an amazing artist" Emma whispered into the air, subconsciously taking a step closer to the brunettes body.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome"

"You didn't answer my question the other day... Why are you really with Juliana" Regina softly asked, knowing the blonde can't get away if she tried.

"Truthfully, it's the only thing that stops me from running back and being with you" Emma admits for the first time, never planning on telling anyone this.

Regina looked up into the blondes eyes, seeing the raw pain in them. She slid her hand up the blondes jackets and gripped it in one hand. Her leg then hooked round Emma's waist, using both to pull the blondes head down to her shoulder. She moved some hair out the way and leaned close to Emma's ear.

"Then come be with me" Regina whispered in a slightly seductive voice, licking her tongue on the lobe of the blondes ear. Emma just shook her head, moving to grip Regina's waist tightly. "Why not? We both love each other with every ounce of our hearts"

"No, you broke mine" Emma sternly said, moving away as she felt her body wanting to have the other woman.

"You said I could leave" Regina said in an annoyed voice, standing up to be level with the woman.

"You don't get it, Regina. We were just about to move into our house and you choose to leave. I was ok with that though because you were chasing your dream like me. What hurt me the most was our plan to be together for the last two weeks but you got an earlier flight and left two days after telling me. Then you're goodbye was a kiss on my cheek and see you soon, that's all I had to keep me going for the next 3 years. What made it worse is the day before you were due back, you messaged these exact words. Change of plans, contract has been extended a year. There wasn't a hello or sorry or anything, just that" Emma snapped, the pain turning into angry at the situation.

"Ugh, you're an idiot, Swan, and a dam good one at that. You said for me to go, you never fought me on staying. If you had, I would never have left. I went earlier because I knew you'd hurt in those two weeks, just counting down till I went. My goodbye was shit, yes, but I couldn't say goodbye to you, I loved you far too much for that. The message, we hadn't spoken much in those three years, I didn't know what to say. Most of our conversation were a few words, if that" Regina huffed, explaining each of her 'cruel' decisions.

"That's because you wouldn't message me!"

"I couldn't bring myself to! I missed you"

"You don't think I missed you!" Emma snapped, stepping closer to show her anger.

"Now it's my turn to show you the pain you caused me! Not once did you tell me you missed me while I was gone, not even a love you. When I said about my contract, you didn't fight me on it or say you want me back. The Emma I knew would have told me to come home and would have tried harder to see me, but no, you let me stay. I came home to find you kissing another woman you didn't even think to warn me about, a daughter you didn't tell me about and a huge promotion you forgot to mention. To top it all off, the woman you are dating is the embodiment of everything I'm insecure about" Regina snapped, the pain in her body letting all of it out.

Emma just stood, looking in shock at what they both admitted. It was obvious that neither were angry, just hurting. Regina looked down and processed what they said. She quickly turned on her heels and speed walked out of the house, never looking back. Emma didn't bother chasing her, she knew there was no point. They both need to think and to finally start healing.