Reset

“But you’ve left them alone,” Emma continued to panic.

“Grace is asleep and Henry is watching the second part of that awful film,” Regina said in a soothingly calm voice, “this is more important. The children are fine.”

Emma dipped her head and slowly calmed down before saying, “it’s.. irrational, like you say. I know that Henry loves me, but then there’s this little voice that says he doesn’t. I know Mary Margaret isn’t trying to replace me because I failed her as a daughter but then there’s this little voice, when I’m alone, usually at night and,” she looked at Regina, “it’s so damn convincing..”

“Those are the times you need to speak to someone,” Regina said.

“I can’t, I know myself,” Emma said, “in those moment’s there is no way I would call someone..”

“Stay at the house,” Regina announced.

“What?” Emma hesitated.

“Stay at the house, at least in the short term. Or the long term, whatever you need. It would be a safe place for you, you’ll be surrounded by family, we could all be together for a while until the worse of these fears subside. If it’s the middle of the night and you feel that little voice creeping up on you then you only need to step out of your bedroom and you’ll be able to talk to me, or watch Henry or cuddle Grace, she’s always awake in the middle of the night,” Regina rolled her eyes.

Emma laughed, “yeah, not big on sleeping is she?”

Regina shook her head, “no, unfortunately not,” she took a breath, “what do you think?”

“I.. I don’t know..” Emma wavered. The truth was it sounded like heaven, a full and happy house that she could be a part of. Near to Henry and Grace at all hours, but she didn’t want to admit that she wanted it, because that was the first step to being let down, the first step towards that terrible, crushing feeling.

“I insist,” Regina said and then smirked, “in fact, I demand it.”

Emma laughed through her tears, “oh, do you now?”

“Yes, I believe we agreed that you owe me.. probably for the rest of your life..” Regina reminded her.

“I don’t actually remember agreeing to that,” Emma grinned.

“It was implied with the whole saving your life and nearly killing myself to prevent you from paralysis,” Regina told her firmly but with a smile.

“What will people say?” Emma worried.

Regina smiled as she realised Emma had subconsciously given away that she desired the move, “who cares?”

Emma laughed, “not big on caring what people think, are you?”

“Actually I am,” Regina admitted, “but not in this case. There’s been a lot of upheaval in Henry’s life, I’m recently out of hospital and we decided for you to stay at the house for a while to make things easier on him and to help me out. Perfectly reasonable.”

“You’re not going to make me tell everyone what’s wrong with me?” Emma worried.

“And have Snow suffocate you? Absolutely not,” Regina shook her head, “no, I think this is something you need to cope with without the whole of Storybrooke knowing.”

“Just you and me?” Emma asked hopefully.

“Of course, unless you want to include anyone else?” Regina asked.

“No.. I.. I don’t want Henry to know,” she said shamefully.

“I understand, you don’t want him to feel bad,” Regina nodded, “I agree wholeheartedly with you.. does this mean I have a new house guest?”

Emma looked up and met Regina’s eyes with her head still slightly ducked and whispered, “I think I’d like that..”

Regina smiled brightly and leaned forward and placed a small, comforting kiss on Emma’s temple. It was chaste and over in an instant, “wonderful,” Regina said, “then, please, drive us home, Miss Swan.”

Chapter 51

They drove the entire way back to Mifflin Street in companionable silence and as they pulled up outside the house Regina could see that Emma was starting to panic, “what do we say to Henry?”

Regina shrugged, “that we had a discussion and you’re moving in for a while, what else is there to say?”

“Won’t he question it?”

“Maybe,” Regina said, “although he’ll probably, wisely, remain silent and be just happy about the outcome.”

Regina opened the door and stepped out of the car and then leaned in and looked at Emma, “coming in? I presume you have everything you need already packed?”

Emma nodded and got out of the car and opened up the front of the Bug and pulled out the suitcase and placed it on the ground and then picked up the holdall. Regina picked up the suitcase and frowned in confusion.

“The engine’s in the back,” Emma answered Regina’s unasked question.

“I know that,” Regina rolled her eyes, “I was wondering if this is all of it?”

Emma looked at the two bags, “yeah, why?”

“Nothing,” Regina answered and closed the lid of the Bug, “let’s go inside.”

“I’m not sentimental,” Emma told the retreating brunette.

“Oh, you are, you just don’t like to be reminded,” Regina called over her shoulder.