Operation Red Fox

Chapter Five: Trust

A/N: Sorry for the late upload. I am taking both high school and college classes and rehearsals recently started for our school play which I am a part of. I've also been working on some new screenwriting project ideas and need to write out everything I can before I lose interest. My fellow writers know exactly what I am talking about. Enjoy.

Chapter Five: Trust

Regina held onto Emma's arm, watching as the coffin lowered into the ground. In her free hand, she held an umbrella over their heads, blocking the thick and scattered raindrops that pattered on the soil.

Though Emma's tearful eyes were on the coffin, Regina's attention was only on her. She reached her free hand over and pushed back the blonde strand that had fallen in Emma's face. Behind her, she saw Henry staring aimlessly at the scene in front of him, looking more conflicted than sad.

Each person who stood at the service took the shovel and scooped a piece of dirt to toss into the hole Neal's coffin was in. When it was Emma's turn, Regina let go of her. Emma grabbed the shovel from her mother and handed it to Henry, who dug into the dirt and tipped it. His hands were unsteady as the dirt trailed off, and Regina's bottom lip began to quiver at her son's uncertainty and Emma's poor attempts to keep it together.

Once Henry handed the shovel to Emma, he stepped back to Regina. She held her hand out for him and relaxed when he took it. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and pulled him in closer. Regina swallowed the ball in the back of her throat as she saw Emma rip the necklace Neal gave her off her neck and threw it into the burial hole on top of the dirt. She implanted the shovel in the remaining pile.

Regina loosened her hold on Henry and walked forward to shovel her pile of dirt next, though with Emma's eyes and cheeks reddening, she went to Emma instead, glancing at Hook who stood beside her for him to go.

Emma practically fell into Regina's arms, putting more weight on the shorter woman than she should have, but Regina held her anyway. Her hands traveled around Emma's waist and pulled her in closer so their chests touched.

"It's okay," Regina whispered into Emma's ear, feeling her burry her head further in her shoulder to muffle her cries. "I know, Emma. I know." She did know. Not the exact feeling, but something even worse. Losing her first love. Daniel was to Regina as Emma was to Neal, and that was why comforting her came so naturally.

She felt Henry touch her sleeve, and she reached her hand down again to hold his. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him begin to cry. Not at his father's death, but at his mother's sadness. She always put on a strong front and up until now, he had never seen her cry.

The pile of dirt slowly scattered over the coffin, and with umbrellas in hand and tears in their eyes, those at the service made their way to Granny's, where Granny and Ruby had prepared all of Neal's favorite foods.

Emma said goodbye to Henry halfway and he went back to the mansion for his protection. Regina held her hand on the walk over to the diner. Some whispered could be heard from others not a part of their group, or those not aware of their plan, but Emma was too sad to care. Regina however, shot them glares telling them to mind her own business. This was her family.

Upon entering the diner, Emma let go of Regina's hand and strutted straight to the back, grabbing the darts from a nearby table and throwing them at the target. Some fell to the ground, but once she wiped the tears from her eyes, the final one she held hit the middle.

Regina stood a distance behind her and watched, wanting desperately for her to stop and to just talk. She knew better than anyone, that talking was hard. Anger was easy.

Regina felt a hand on her arm that pulled her to the counter, where Robin sat with a couple of his merry men. The hand belonged to a particular blonde bug she had no interest in talking to. Tink's eyes fluttered with news.