Waking Up [SwanQueen]

Chapter Sixteen - Emma, Tuesday 12pm

Emma pushed open the door to Regina's study and was surprised when it was empty.  She called out for the brunette but heard nothing but silence in return. She plopped herself down onto the couch and flipped through the channels in search of something to keep her entertained, but her mind kept going back to the brunette and all the vivid memories that were playing on repeat of the night before.

"Oh, there you are. Where did you go?" Emma asked the moment Regina came through the front door.

"I had to go get my car from the restaurant parking lot. We took a cab home last night because someone thought it would be a good idea to order tequila shots."

"Tequila shots are always a good idea." Emma said with a nod.

"Oh yeah? Tell that to my throbbing head." Regina snapped back with a straight face as she rubbed at her temple.

"Or perhaps you're just a lightweight and can't handle your liquor?" Emma teased. "So about last night... does this mean we - "

"There is no 'we', Miss Swan. In fact, the whole night was a mistake so let's just pretend it didn't happen and never mention it again." Regina spat back before Emma could finish her sentence.

Emma felt the sting and felt like someone had slapped her. She felt like she was going to be sick. Thoughts raced through her mind thinking she finally got what she wanted - her chance at happiness - and now Regina was pretending it meant nothing. The knot in her stomach caused her to clench her hand into a fist. "Regina. Don't do this. Don't push me away."

Instead of answering, Regina walked out of the living room without even glancing back at the blonde and into her study. Emma stood and followed her, feeling like a desperate puppy dog. She went to reach for the doorknob and groaned loudly when she realized Regina locked it. The knot in her stomach traveled to her chest and she felt like she was going to cry or scream, but she knew neither of these actions would help her get what she wanted because what she wanted was locked behind the thick door in front of her.

She dragged her feet behind her in the direction of the living room, plopped herself on the couch and hugged her knees to her chest.

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When Henry pushed open the front door hours later, Emma's eyes snapped away from the TV as her son made his way into the living room and sat down beside her, dropping his backpack on the ground beside the couch.

"Hey, Mom. What are you watching?"

"Huh? Oh, just watched a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother to pass the time." She smiled but Henry could tell her mind was elsewhere.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted." Henry quizzed and furrowed his brow.

"Nothing's wrong, Henry." Emma brushed him off, trying to keep her eyes on the television. She was grateful she was the one with the lying superpower and it wasn't passed down to her son.

"Okay, if you say so. Where's Mom? When I saw her this morning before school, she couldn't stop smiling. I take it you two had a good night?"

Emma pursed her lips and shrugged. "Yeah, kid. We did. But she's in her study, she's been working all day. She hasn't come out since noon."

"Mom, I know my mom is a little closed off but I promise if she's being distant, it's just because she's afraid. Don't worry, you two will work it out."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, kid," Emma lied. "There's nothing for us to work out and she's not being distant. She's just been busy working."

"Whatever you say, Mom." Henry let out a breath and rubbed Emma's shoulder. "You're almost as stubborn as she is. But I think she has you beat. Anyway, we need to go get her soon because we are going to Granny's for dinner, remember? I already called Grandpa and they are meeting us there at 5 because Mary Margaret has to stay late at school and finish grading some papers. We should probably walk over at 4:45."

Emma nodded and said she would go freshen up. She walked into the guest room, locking the door behind her and let out a frustrated groan.

Regina didn't come out of her study until a quarter to five on the dot. "Are we ready to go?"

Emma rolled her eyes, annoyed that the woman ignored her all day and the first thing that escaped her mouth was that question. Emma nodded and didn't say a word and Henry glanced between his mothers in confusion before making his way out the door.

The three of them walked into the diner and Henry spotted David and Mary Margaret saving them the corner booth. Emma sat down beside them, still feeling a little tense in their presence but knowing she didn't want to share her side of the booth with Regina. Henry slid in first and Regina plopped down in front of Emma but refused to make eye contact.

Ruby approached their table to take their drink orders and asked Emma how she was feeling.

"Oh, I'm feeling better. No more dizzy spells or anything. I just still don't remember anything but the doctor said it could take time so I'm just trying to handle this one day at a time until it all comes back to me."

Snow and David smiled at their daughter, happy to hear she was doing well.

The group continued to engage in small talk and Henry talked about school until Ruby came to take their food orders. After they gave their orders and Regina asked for another root beer, she excused herself from the table, announcing she had to run to the bathroom.

The others nodded and Emma watched as Regina walked away toward the back of the diner. She mumbled inaudibly that she'd be right back then pushed herself up out of the booth and followed Regina into the bathroom, knowing now might be her only chance to get the brunette to talk to her.

Regina turned her head as she heard Emma close the door and lock it behind her. "Miss Swan, what on earth are you doing?"

"If this is the only way I can get you to talk to me, then so be it. But we need to talk and you can't keep ignoring me."

"I think I made myself clear earlier, Miss Swan."

"Really, Regina? Don't call me that, not after everything we've been through!"

"I just want to forget that last night ever happened, okay?" Regina said flatly, a hint of anger seeping through in her tone as her misdemeanor began to crack.

"But it did happen. And you and I can deny it all we want, but it meant something to me and I have a very good feeling it meant something to you, too!"

"It meant nothing. So like I said, let's just drop it."

"Why are you doing this, Regina? Why are you pushing me away? I don't understand!"

Regina looked at her quizzingly, uncertain if she should answer.

"Regina..." Emma begged.

"Everyone I've ever loved is gone Emma, do you know that?" Regina screamed and Emma detected the sadness in her voice immediately. She didn't say a word, she just let the brunette continue.

"And every time I allow myself to get close to someone, I end up hurt in the end. I can't risk losing you or getting hurt and you'd be better off without me!"

Emma's heart broke at the sound of Regina's cracking voice. "I promise, Regina. I will never hurt you. I'm not going anywhere. You just need to open up to me. I'm here."

Emma waited in silence for what felt like an eternity waiting for the brunette to say something. But instead, Regina's eyes went dark again as she wiped away a stray tear. Then with the flick of her wrist, she unlocked the door. Emma jumped in front to block it but with another wrist flick, Emma was magically pushed aside and on the floor as Regina pushed the door open and stormed out of the diner, the sound of her heels echoing behind her.

Emma stood up and brushed off her jeans then followed in the brunette's footsteps in an attempt to catch up. She was almost at the front door when Henry grabbed her arm.

"Mom, she will be okay. Don't chase after her now, okay? We will bring her dinner home to her and you can talk to her tonight. I promise it will be okay."

Emma couldn't figure out how to form a sentence as she fought back tears, knowing her son was right. She nodded and crumbled down into the booth beside Henry as he reached out and squeezed her hand.