prompt: in which Regina wants Emma to come out (about herself and Regina) to Storybrooke, and then they do. by anon
disclaimer: i only own them in my dreams; any mistakes are my own.

Never Let Me Go

"Don't talk to me." Regina's words are harsh, but lack a certain conviction. She cannot look at the newcomer. Instead she chooses to keep looking straight ahead. The water soothes her pained mind. The chill prominent in the air distracts her from her hurting heart. The sound of small waves meeting the dock somehow remind her that she is still alive and breathing. And her mother gone.

"Regina..."

"Are you deaf or really just that stupid? Go away or I will crush your heart. Or your mother's. Maybe both." The brunette's words are meant to cut deeply, drive the other woman away, but instead she takes another step closer.

"Regina," Emma tries again, but is interrupted another time.

"Don't. Just don't. I cannot listen to another speech that excuses Snow White actions. Just spare me, please." The brunette still cannot bring herself to look at the woman standing next to her. Who has been there through it all. "Just go." Her voice is desperate now. Fury rises once again in Regina's chest when Emma Swan actually has the audacity to sit down next to her on the bench; offering a warm cup of coffee in her outstretched hand. Only now the former queen turns her head, but not to look at the blonde but to look at the coffee. Pondering what it means. Pondering if she can swallow her pride or not. After a few seconds Regina takes it. "Thanks."

"What Mary Margaret... Snow," Emma corrects herself, "did was wrong."

Regina glances briefly at the other woman only to find her staring out into the water. "Did you know?"

"Of course not, Regina." Emma's voice is calm when she speaks, but full of determination. "Leading people on and to give them false hope only to crush it later on is the worst thing you can possibly do. No one deserves that."

The brunette believes her. Without any solid reason other than that Emma has been with her. Loved her. Some of her rage and fury clouding her brain subsides in knowing that at least Emma didn't know. That she wasn't part of that plan.

"I'm so sorry about Cora," the blonde offers, now actually looking at the brunette next to her. "I really am."

"At least Storybrooke is rid of one wicked witch."

To Emma Regina sounds entirely defeated and broken. "And another child has lost a mother. It sucks."

"So eloquent, dear." Regina pauses, a sigh escaping her lips. "But yes, it does."

Reaching out, her palm turned upwards, Emma offers her hand to Regina. Leaving the decision to take it or leave it to the brunette. I does somewhat surprise her when Regina actually does lace their fingers. The brunette's finger still hold traces of the warmth offered by the coffee cup. It almost burns Emma's frozen ones, but letting go is not not an option. Letting go of Regina Mills has never been an option. "I'm so sorry for everything. I shouldn't have trusted Gold and his magic. I should have trusted my instincts. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left you here alone."

Regina says nothing to this, just silently accepts the apology with a barely visible nod. "So... Neal?"

Emma can hear the fear in Regina's voice. It's subtle. But to her it is so evidently there like the wind cutting into both their skin. Her fingers tighten around Regina's in comfort. "He got me into jail." She says it as if this would explain everything.

"I tried to kill you. Repeatedly."

"Details." Emma trails off. Falls silent for a while. "He betrayed me," Emma starts suddenly. "You never did. I always knew what I was getting myself into with you. Even our fights. You never betrayed my trust." This is why she is here. Not with Neil and Henry trying to gain back her son's favor. She knows Henry will come around. Will forgive her. Just like he will forgive Regina.

"So where does this leave us, dear?"

The blonde looks away again, watching the ripples of water for several moments. "I am still yours, if you'll have me, Regina." Emma takes a deep breath as if to calm her nerves before looking back at Regina. She finds these brown orbs looking directly back into her own and the gaze is almost too much. Almost. But she doesn't want anyone else and if getting a second chance with Regina means she needs to endure this piercing look deep down into her soul then so be it. "I've been a fool."

"That you certainly have been." No matter Regina's words, her voice is soft. Almost gentle. "But you're here now."

"I'm not leaving. Not again."

"I believe you." It's Regina's turn to squeeze Emma's fingers in a gesture of comfort. Sometimes it is surprising she is still capable of such an act of empathy. But she supposes that that is Emma's fault. And Henry's. "Emma?"

"Yeah?" Only now Emma is aware that she has scooted closer to Regina so their bodies are touching at every possible place in their current position. They have never sat so closely. Not in public. Not when people could see. And briefly the blonde wonders when she has stopped caring at all what everyone else may think that she, the savior, Emma Swan, daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, cares for the supposedly Evil Queen. Even loves her. And she does. She does love her.

Regina has pulled their intertwined fingers into her lap. A fruitless attempt to give some warmth back into them. Her coffee is long forgotten. "I want everyone to know."

"Because you want to be with me or because you want to get back at Snow?" Emma asks as she rests her head on Regina's shoulder. She is exhausted. It has been some really long days. Weeks. And this woman gives her strength that has been previously unknown to Emma.

"Both." The answer is quick and honest. Regina is done lying. Especially to Henry. To Emma. It's all family she has left. And she isn't even sure she hasn't already lost Henry. "It's both. But I'm done hiding. What we have is screwed up, yes. But it works. It works. And when I am with you the darkness in my chest feels a little lighter." Regina turns her head to kiss the top of Emma's head affectionately. "If Snow White happens to be shocked and outraged by the fact that I love her daughter then this is just a bonus."

Emma actually cannot help but chuckle at Regina's words, cuddling further into her side as a result. "I love you, too, Regina." The blonde falls silent again. She's serious again. "Do you wanna kill her?"

"Yes."

The blonde has expected the answer and just nods in acknowledgement. "But you won't." It is not a question.

"But I won't," Regina agrees.

"Because you have changed." Emma doesn't wait for a reply. She turns her upper body towards Regina and kisses her gently. The touch of their lips warms them both more than any source of heat ever could. Lifting her free hand Emma gingerly cups Regina's cheek whilst they lock their lips again. The blonde continues to kiss the other woman until she is certain warmth has returned into both their bodies. Then, slowly, she pulls back and stands. She never lets go of the brunette's hand. Carefully tugs her upwards too until they are standing front to front. "No matter how they react, Regina, I'm with you."

"I know, dear." There is a hint of a smile on Regina's lips and it reaches her eyes.

It's the most beautiful thing Emma has seen in a very long time. She needs to kiss those lips again, quickly, but not without affection.

"Snow will flip," Regina reminds the woman in her arms again. "Not only her."

"Snow is too busy feeling bad. Maybe this will shake her out of her self-pity." Emma releases Regina's fingers, only to envelop the brunette with her arms pulling her close. "It's wrong what she did. She was wrong about you. Everyone was wrong about you. Even me. People finally need to see that. This path of vengeance needs to end. It cannot continue or Henry will never be truly safe." She pauses to place another kiss onto Regina's lips. "Someone needs to start giving in. Holding out their hand in a peace offering. And since you pride yourself with being the smartest person in town..."

"And rightfully so, " Regina cuts in with a small smile. "Appealing to my pride, how wicked of you."

"Is it working?"

"No, dear. I'm sorry to disappoint." Before Emma can protest, Regina continues with a smile, "I am doing this merely for you and Henry." And now Regina is pulled into a bear hug. She is shocked how much strength is residing in Emma's body judging by the way she clings to the older woman. She returns the embrace immediately. "So much for 'don't talk to me'." Regina only hears mumbled fragments of words, the wind carrying any meaning away when Emma replies. "Sorry, what was that, dear?"

Emma leans away slightly, but not loosening her hold on the brunette. There is a blush on her cheeks that has nothing to do with the cold. "Can I show you off now?"

The expression on Emma's face, the innocence, the hopefulness, it almost overwhelms the former queen. She never thought that words with such meaning would ever be directed at her again. "There is nothing to show off, Emma."

"I beg to differ. If anything else I am proud of you. That you managed to pull through. Didn't give in to revenge." Emma cups both of Regina's cheeks this time and pulls her in for a kiss. This one is different. It's long. Deep. Full of trust and love. A promise to always be there. The blonde only pulls away reluctantly when she hears someone else approach. When she turns to the source of the footsteps Emma gasps. "Henry." The name is barely a whisper.

"I'm sorry about Cora, mom." It's all he says. He does not seem surprised by their embrace nor by their kiss. Sometimes adults forget he has eyes and ears, too. But his voice is soft and full of regret when he speaks. No one should lose their mother like this.

Emma didn't think she could love this kid any more than she already does.

"I'm sorry about everything. I didn't want any of that to happen. I didn't want to hurt you, mom. And I do love you."

No, Emma was wrong. She loves him infinitely more now. She sees the tears in his eyes and she knows without a doubt that they are reflected in Regina's. "Come here, kid."

Henry almost runs the last distance to both his moms. He more or less smashes into their warm bodies, clinging to their jackets. For once being the little boy he actually is. "I love you. Both of you."

"We love you, too, baby." Regina isn't sure how she found her voice again. She also hasn't called Henry this in years, but he only clings tighter to them. And now facing the rest of Storybrooke seems like a piece of cake to the brunette. She almost laughs at this ridiculous phrase Emma would have surely used. But then she laughs, because for the first time in forever Regina Mills has found happiness.

A/N: Thank you for reading!