And Then There Was You

XII. Unexpected Betrayal

Ooookayyy, so just a head's up. If anyone doesn't want to me to taint their opinion about one of their beloved characters from the show (ahem)... please REFRAIN from reading further. This is one of those situations that could happen IRL. I just so happen to put Emma smack-dab in the middle of it. :P ALSO, I have thought about this storyline thoroughly before writing it. Believe me, I even wrote pros and cons. Obviously, pros outweighed the cons... XDD

Sooo yeah... And again, I do apologize in advance for the shock or disappoint (hopefully just) some of you might experience in reading this chapter... Although, trust me it'll be worth it though!! Thanks for reading! <3

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

"Regina, honey. There you are!"

A man's voice, familiar in its own way, called out from around the corner, echoing through the cereal aisle. Honey? Emma furrowed her brow at the unexpected term of endearment. Regina's attention shifted away from Emma, drawn towards the source of the voice. Moments later, he emerged into view, and Emma's breath hitched at the sight before her.

"Dad??" Emma's voice cracked as she stared wide-eyed at the figure of David Nolan, unmistakable with his five o'clock shadow and medium blonde hair.

David stood before her, mouth agape, struggling to form coherent words. "E-Emma..." he stammered, clearly taken aback. He wiped his mouth, as if trying to clear away the confusion clouding his thoughts. "W-what are you d-doing here?" His words stumbled out, tinged with disbelief.

The trio stood frozen, locked in a moment of surreal silence, each grappling with the sudden revelation.

Dad... the word hung in the air, its weight palpable. Emma had uttered it, and Regina held her breath until it released in a steady exhale, her own shock dissipating. David, at a loss for words, waited for his daughter to speak, but Emma remained silent, fists clenched at her sides.

Heat surged within Emma, a different kind from the warmth she had felt moments ago. It threatened to overwhelm her, a volcano on the brink of eruption.

"Emma's... your daughter?" Regina's voice broke the tension, shattering the quiet with its clarity.

David cast a sidelong glance at Regina, his embarrassment evident. "Y-yes, Regina. Emma's my daughter," he confirmed, his gaze then shifting to Emma, who wore a mask of pain and disbelief.

Emma struggled to process the whirlwind of emotions crashing over her. The revelation about her father and Regina was like a punch to the gut, leaving her reeling. She didn't know which was worse – discovering her father's involvement with Regina, or Regina's involvement with her father. It was all a mess, a tangled web of betrayal and deceit.

"I don't know what's going on between you two, but how dare you!" Emma's voice cracked with frustration, tears threatening to spill over. She didn't care about the prying eyes that now watched their drama unfold. "I can't believe you would do something like this... and Honey? I thought you only called US that!" The image of her mother and younger brother flashed in her mind, adding to her pain. "I guess I was wrong!" Tears welled in Emma's eyes, blurring her vision. "You know what hurts, Dad??..." Her voice trembled with raw emotion. "I-I defended you... I defended you from all the rumors. I defended you... even from Mom... but you clearly lied!" Anguish etched across her features as tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving trails of salty bitterness in their wake. "Mom was right. She was right to give you up... How could I have been so stupid??"

Emma stormed away, her energy depleted after unleashing her emotions like a shaken soda can, leaving her feeling hollow and defeated. She didn't spare a glance back, ignoring her father's call and Regina's possible reaction to her outburst of anger and disappointment. Perhaps Regina deemed her actions insane, especially in public, but Emma no longer cared about appearances or the curious stares following her. She didn't even care about Regina's opinion anymore. That chapter of her life had closed, Regina seemingly moving on, even if it meant with her own father. The disturbing image before her departure threatened to sear into her memory, but Emma fought to preserve whatever innocence remained, refusing to let it tarnish her recollection of Regina.