Regina's Rose

Mid-Day Vodka

"I don't understand, what are you doing here?" Neal questions happily while Emma seems distressed.

Neal and Emma proceed to get in a very personal argument and I feel out of place, I'm also in a lot of pain because I was just running in heels. Clearly Emma knows this man but what I'm trying to figure out is how. She seems way too angry for him to just be an old friend. They probably dated but right now that's not important. What's important is how upset Emma seems about this, she needs me here as a friend. When Emma finally clarifies who Gold is to Neal he loses it.

"You brought him to me?! Why would you do that?!" He shouts and I look at him with a raised eyebrow and stand next to Emma, daring him to shout again. He's not gonna talk to Emma like that.

"Hey! I am the only one allowed to be angry here!" Emma snaps at him and I continue to stare him down, sure I know him but I don't know who he is now. Especially since I still not sure who Baelfire is to Emma. "Did you know who I was? Where I was from? The whole time?" Emma asks and my theory that they dated seems to be proven right. "Was this some sort of sick, twisted plan? Did you even care about me at all?"

As Emma went off on Neal and he led us to a bar. I was in the background trying to find a way to either hide my identity from Neal or pull him aside to tell him who I was and come to a mutual understanding that no one needs to know about me on Neverland. I'm not proud of who I was there—or who I am in general—and my time in Neverland is not something to be shared.

Once we arrive at the bar, I go to the other end of it to give Emma and Neal some privacy.

"Three shots of Vodka." I say with an exhausted sigh. I would take off my heels but that seems absolutely disgusting and I already had to do that to get on the airplane.

"It's mid day." The bartender says in a worried and judgmental tone.

"Yeah and I can't bring alcohol on airplanes so three shots." I say and the bartender fixes me my shots. I down two back to back before I see Emma leaving the bar without me. "Fucking hell." I mumble as I down the last shot and start to walk out the bar.

"Hey! You need to pay for these!" The bartender shouts and I roll my eyes.

"Neal, cover me will you?" I say and he turns to me in annoyance.

"I don't even know you."

"Oh trust me, you and I are old friends." I say as I walk past him to the door. "When the realization hits you, keep it to yourself. I don't need another person from my past ruining my life." I swing the door open and rush to catch up with Emma.

"Swan! Swan slow down! I've already ran in these heels, so you are going to slow down and tell me who the hell that guy is!" I say and Emma abruptly stops her quick paced walk and turns around to face me. Her expression is absolutely unreadable as she marches toward me, the closer she gets, the more my nerves get the best of me. I know I struck some kind of cord but I just want to know what happened with her and Neal. Seeing her so angry and distraught made me just want to understand her situation, to comfort her.

Once she was right in front of me, it was as if her unreadable face turned to anger. I raise an eyebrow at her expression in confusion and slight annoyance.

"Why do you care!" She shouts and it catches me completely off guard, causing me to back down from my original annoyance. It's clear that I caused the hostility in the air.

"Swan, I just want to know why you're upset. You can talk to me." I say softly but Emma seems to still be angry.

"Yes because I want to open up to the person who can't even tell people you're not the bad guy." She says and I look at her in confusion. She's deflecting and wants me angry but I'm not going to give her that.

"Emma, please tell me what's going on. I just want to help."

"Oh, we know you just want to help." At her response, I feel a twang of anger in me. She wants me angry, she wants an argument. I remind myself before walking into her personal space and enveloping her in a hug.

She's surprised at first and tries to keep hold of her anger but it slowly melts away. She puts her head on my shoulder and I cradle it lovingly. Whatever this is, is hard for Emma to deal with and I want her to know I'm right here for her.

We break apart after a little time and I look into her emerald green eyes full of sadness and worry.

"I understand if you don't want to tell me." I say and I take a deep breath. "But I am here if you ever want to talk." I say and start to walk back to Gold, knowing that we're lying to him.
_______

A little ways down, Emma stops and says she has to make a call to Mary-Margaret. I give her some privacy and take out my own phone. Staring at the device as if she would call, text, anything to let me know she still cares.

She has been there for me and cared more than anyone else ever has. Hell, she stood up to the woman who is currently driving us apart for me. I want to call and talk to her and forget everything that has happened between us in two days, but I can't. Because I don't support her decisions.

And she raised me way to stubborn to just forgive and forget.

Hey guys, it's been so long since I updated this story and I'm so sorry. School is crazy busy and for the past weeks I've been weighted down by dual credit work and I haven't been getting home until late because of practices. But Christmas break is coming soon and hopefully I'll have more time to write spring semester too.

Also sorry, this chapter is so short but I thought something was better than nothing for two more weeks.