Look How Far We've Come

Five

A/N Flashback happens later for this chapter!

4: Emma enters the mayoral mansion and is met with the sounds of gleeful giggles. It was music to her ears. She follows the sound to the sofa where Regina and Henry are looking through some old photographs. It warms Emma's heart to see her two favorite people so happy.

"Hey, Emma." Henry smiles when he notices her standing there. "Come look." Emma sees him scoot over so there's room but she pretends not to notice and sits beside Regina. The brunette tenses as if it physically hurts her to be so close to Emma.

"Kid, you were adorable." Emma comments leaning over Regina's shoulder and taking in her vanilla-apple scent. The picture in the brunette's hand is of Henry dressed as a pirate from halloween. "Very Jack Sparrow like." Emma makes a point to lean in closer to Regina. The mayor clears her throat but Emma doesn't move.

"Can I help you, Miss. Swan?" Regina manages to ask.

"Actually you can. We need to talk. Kitchen?"

Emma is already standing before Regina can answer. The older woman looks to Henry and assures him she'll be back in a moment. The queen is extremly serious as to what Emma could need to speak to her about. Honestly, Regina expected Emma to take their son and go now that the spell had worn off. However, Emma had insisted that she wouldn't ever keep Henry from his mother. So what could this be about?

"I told my parents the truth." Emma blurts out.

"What truth?" Regina asks in confusion. Emma surprised her by taking both Regina's hands in her own.

"That I love you and that I'm going to be with you." Emma gushes. "I mean, if that's what you want?"

"Of course it is, but Emma they're your parents and I-" Emma cuts Regina off with a soft kiss to her lips.

"I choose you." Emma whispers, resting her forehead against Regina's.

"You...you do?" Regina asks disbelievingly. She has tears welling up in her eyes.

"Always." Emma grins. She pulls back a bit. "How about we go grab our kid and celebrate with milkshakes from Granny's?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Regina asks sounding slightly terrified. "What will people think?"

"I don't care what they think. They better get used to seeing us together because I don't plan on letting you go." Emma answers truthfully. Regina can't argue with that. Besides, an evening out with her family sounded perfect.

* * * * * * * * * *

They walk through the streets of Storybrooke looking happier than ever before. Regina was in the middle, holding both Emma and Henry's hands. She was felt like she was walking on air--when was the last time she'd felt like this? The trio finally get to the diner and make their way into a back booth.

"Don't look now but we're about to have company." Henry whispers. Emma turns anyway to see who he was talking about. Her parents of course, why was she not surprised? "Hey gramps, Grandma."

"Hello, Henry." Snow smiles. "We're glad you're back to your old self."

"Never better." Henry grins look affectionately at his two moms.

"Emma may we speak with you for a moment?" David asks. "Alone."

"Look, anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Regina." Emma sighs. "Just say whatever it is you're thinking." Snow and David share a questioning look before they decide to just tell Emma what it is they came over here for.

"Cora is here. We don't know how and we don't know why." Snow informs. Emma feels Regina freeze beside her. She clearly remembers the day she'd made Regina tell her about her life. Regina's voice had sounded terrified just by the mention of Cora's name.

"Maybe she knows." Snow suggests glaring at Regina. The mayor shakes her head.

"I-I need to go." Regina stutters slipping out of the booth. Emma grabs her hand to stop her.

"Wait we'll come with-" Regina cuts her girlfriend off quickly.

"No!" She exclaims. "You and Henry need to stay far away from me!"

"For once, something we can agree on." Charming mutters. Emma sends him a death glare before turning back to Regina.

"Regina, I am not letting you face Cora alone." Emma says firmly.

"Yeah!" Henry agrees. "We can help you!"

"I'm afraid you two don't have a choice." With a flick of her wrist Regina is gone in a cloud of purple smoke. Emma and Henry stand there feeling like they may never see her again. They prayed she'd be alright.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It had been three days since anyone had seen or heard from the queen, David and Snow were convinced that it was proof; she was working with Cora. Henry and Emma knew better. Regina had been afraid. She must have thought that staying away was the only way to ensure the safety of the people she loved.

*Flashback*

Emma wakes up screaming. It was the same nightmare she'd had since she was nine years old. The foster father who had held a knife to her throat. The same one who pushed Emma down a flight of stairs and made her lie to the doctors. She told them she clumsy and had missed a step. The dream was always the same. He came back and set her house of fire. She couldn't find the door. When she woke up she always felt like she was lacking oxygen. Emma remembers what it felt like to be rescued from his home. She'd been so hopeful....but the nightmares still happened.

"Emma?" Regina whispers, slowly waking up. "What's wrong?" Emma sniffles.

"No-nothing." She lies. "Go b-back to sleep." Regina sighs and turns on the lamp by the bed.

"Emma, I'm not doing anything until you tell me what's wrong." Regina's voice is firm but warm. "Em, it's okay, you can tell me anything."

"It...there was..." Emma stutters trying to catch her breath. Regina pulls Emma closer and strokes her long blonde hair, knowing it'll comfort her. Emma regains her composure after a few moments. "I was in this home...."

Regina listens intently as Emma tells the horrors of her childhood. Regina felt like this was all her fault. If she hadn't cast the curse, Emma never would have ended up in the system. But she couldn't tell Emma that.What she could do, however, was never let ANYONE hurt Emma ever again.

"You're safe with me." Regina promise, planting a kiss on the blonde's head. "I'll always protect you.

Yes, it all made sense. Regina would never let Emma and Henry near Cora. She thought she was protect them.

'But,' Emma wondered. 'Who was protecting Regina?'