Roni

Chapter Thirteen

"Mom?" Emma swears she can hear her daughter's voice calling out from a distance.

"Mom?" Roni questions as she slightly pulls back from Emma's face, tilting her head in confusion.

They both turn their heads at exactly the same time to inspect the voice strolling down the dimly lit street. There are two figures quickly approaching, but the couple has to wait until these unknown faces are under a lamppost to properly identify.

Emma's heart sinks when she recognizes her mother walking down the street with her daughter right beside her.

"Mom!" Emma exclaims, her eyes blowing wide in complete and utter shock.

"That's your mom?" Roni whispers, her warm breath tickling against Emma's ear, sending shivers down her spine, which she totally doesn't need right now.

Fuck! Emma screams in her mind, now realizing Regina and herself are in a very compromising position for just friends. She swallows thickly, creating an audible gulp and takes one large step back.

"Yes, that's...that's my mom and daughter...I...we can't..." she begins stuttering on her words as her mind scrambles with every horrific scenario that could possible play out right now, but Roni cuts her off.

"Ssshhh, it's alright. I understand," she smiles so kindly, only further damaging Emma's erratic heart.

This woman is so understanding and so genuinely kind and Emma hates herself for this awful situation she has put them all in. But she doesn't have time to dwell on that now. Roni takes a generous step back as well and smiles at the two woman quickly approaching.

"Emma!" Snow calls out with relief evident in her tone.

The former princess begins to pick up her pace toward Regina and Emma, with her granddaughter following her lead. Emma's frozen in her spot, she can't move, her mind is blank and she's pretty confident she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Snow pulls her daughter into one of her overbearing mom hugs. The one where she gently rocks Emma side to side and cradles the back of her head like a baby, but is kind of suffocating the poor blonde in the mix of it all. Eventually, Emma lifts her arms and returns the hug.

"Mom," Emma whines once she realizes her mother is not letting go. She glances over at Roni to see her holding back her laughter.

"It's just been so long Emma. You've been gone for over a month!" She snaps as her anger takes over the emotional reunion between them.

"I know. I know. Can I hug my daughter now?" The Savior laughs, gently pushing her mother off of her.

Snow nods and takes a step back allowing her daughter the space she needs to grab Ella and forcefully pull her into a loving hug. Emma cradles the back of her daughter's head just like her mother did to her.

Shit, I'm turning into my mother.

"I missed you so much baby girl," she whispers into those dark tresses while she plants a lingering kiss to the top of her head.

"I missed you too mom, but I'm alright. I promise," she reassures her while squeezing her arms tighter around her mother's waist.

"Hi," Snow offers a polite greeting toward Roni while skeptically scrutinizing her, trying to figure out if Regina has her memories back or not.

Roni extends her hand and smiles sweetly at Emma's mother. Snow's inquisitive eyes fall down toward the gloved hand as she tries to process the situation.

"Hi, I'm Roni. It's nice to finally meetcha. Emma has told me so much about you."

Snow tilts her head to the side like a lost puppy. A small smile start to play at her lips, but she somehow composes her confused face and finally lifts her hand to accept the gesture.