And Then There Was You

IX. Inhale, Exhale

I've been in and out on writing this chapter, being OCD, as always. XD -Anyway, I do apologize if I took too long!

[Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from ABC's hit show, ONCE UPON A TIME.]

The midday sun hangs high in the sky as Emma drives home, the radio filling her car with the catchy tune of "Classic" by MKTO. Her lips curve into a smile as she sings along, her mind replaying the recent events at the Mills' residence. With each breath of the warm air, her chest feels light, a sensation of pure bliss washing over her. Emma releases a sigh of contentment, reveling in the knowledge that Regina's son approves of her and that she has finally confirmed Regina's feelings for her. This moment couldn't be any more perfect, she thinks to herself, feeling invincible. But as fate would have it, her cell phone suddenly rings, interrupting her reverie. "Damn," Emma mutters under her breath, realizing she spoke too soon. She picks up the phone and switches on the speaker, preparing to face whatever new challenge awaits her.

"Sup, Mom?" Emma replied with nonchalance, though a nagging feeling persisted in the depths of her mind, hinting at the likelihood of her mother not quite buying her story.

"Don't 'hey, what's up' me," Emma's mother, Mary Margaret, reprimanded from the other end of the line. Her voice carried a firmness laced with impatience and irritation. "Where are you right now?"

Emma narrowed her eyes, a soft hiss escaping through her tightly clenched teeth. She hoped her mother hadn't caught wind of it, nor could she envision the expression contorting her features. "I'm heading home now. Slept over at Ruby's. Didn't you see my message?" she breezily responded, careful not to arouse any suspicion regarding her overnight stay at another's abode, especially not her own professor's.

"Yes, I did, but that was this morning," Mary Margaret retorted. Her exasperated breaths could be discerned over the phone line, hinting at a simmering frustration she was striving to contain. "I've reminded you countless times to inform me when you won't be coming home. Do you have any inkling of the worry you put me through all night?" Mary Margaret scoffed, "Ugh, why do I even bother?"

Emma pictured her mother rolling her eyes on the other end of the line. "I'm sorry, it must've slipped my mind," she offered apologetically.

"Slipped your mind? I've had it with your excuses, Emma," Mary Margaret snapped. Silence hung heavy on the line, broken only by a faint static hum. Mary Margaret sighed, her tone softening. "Since you're still on the road, stop by the grocery store and pick up some milk and cereal for Neal."

"Okay, do you want or need anything else?"

No, thank you. Just make sure youre back before I head to work, and please, return the car in one piece.

What about me? Emma asks playfully, hoping to ease the tension from her mothers earlier disapproval. Mary Margaret, no stranger to rebelliousness herself, can sense her daughter's pout through the phone. She doesn't reply immediately, shaking her head with a scoff. Dont you want me to come back in one piece?

Dont push it, Emma. Right now, I need that car more than I need you.

Click. The call ends abruptly. Emma releases a drawn-out sigh. What a stellar display of maternal prowess. Despite the sharpness in Mary Margaret's tone, Emma recognized the subtle bloom of her mother's sarcasm at the most inconvenient moments, as if it were the pinnacle of timing in her eyes. Deep down, Emma understood that her mother harbored a love that transcended words left unspoken or actions left undone, opting instead to deflect with laughter whenever her mother's barbs struck their mark.

-Grocery Store (parking lot)-

Moments later, Emma pulls up at the grocery store. Finding solace under the canopy of a maple tree, its leaves transformed into a tapestry of golden hues against the drab concrete backdrop. With each step, the crunch of leaves beneath her boots fills the air. Pausing, Emma gazes skyward, shutting her eyes to savor the gentle caress of the breeze. In that moment, Regina consumes her thoughts... She inhales deeply, exhaling slowly, cherishing every memory of her encounters with the captivating queen.