Chapter 12

Feeling the guilt set in and the fear of what she has done take over, Regina returns back to her house pondering what to do. She just needed to find Emma and luckily she still had her magic to help. Hearing a sudden knock on her door, the brunette looks over from her position in the hallway and clasps her hands together feeling her nerves kick in on who could be on the other side of the door. Walking slowly over, the mayor closes her eyes briefly and takes a breath before opening the door, revealing the short haired woman from the diner.

Giving a silent sigh, Regina looks to her. "Mary Margaret..I..I'm sorry about earlier..I had somewhere that I needed to be"

Waving her hand dismissively, the former Queen smiles. "Don't worry about it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, you seemed to go really pale back there.."

Biting her lip, the brunette nods. "Yes I am fine..but I do have a lot of work to do so if you don't mind.."

"Of course not but Regina? If you need anyone..you know just to talk to, David and I are here for you.."

Gulping, the brunette offers a small smile then shuts the door behind her. 'If only she knew..'

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Following the route that the strangely familiar blonde gave her, Emma drove her bug towards the upcoming sign that read 'Welcome to storybrooke'. Slamming the brakes down sharp, the former princess looks towards the girl next to her. "What is going on? I have driven down this road more than once in search of..someone and there was never a town here before!"

Shrugging, the smaller blonde purses her lips. "Well it is now? Regina created it..to find you. Only she doesn't know exactly where you are, which is where I come in"

Emma raises an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"I told you, not important" giving her a smile, the girl looks back towards the windscreen. "I am just helping"

Sighing, the former princess watches the girl briefly. "Do I at least get to know your name?"

"Hmmm...Claire"

Scoffing, Emma shakes her head. "You totally just made that up!"

Rubbing her temples, the blonde huffs, looking towards her. "Fine! Its Amelia..or Mia whatever I don't have a preference"

Smiling the fellow blonde nods. "Thank you..Amelia. Its nice to finally meet you so to speak, I'm-"

"Emma I know.." Amelia looks away and out the window. "Are we going or what?"

Sensing the girl doesn't want to talk, Emma turns back to the wheel and drives. "Sure.."

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Ducking down and peering through the small window, Amelia frowns. "Are you coming or not?"

Emma sat staring out her car window at the large house in front of them. Not just any house. Regina's house. "I..erm..yeah just..give me a minute" feeling slightly panicked, the blonde tightens her grip on the steering wheel. She hadn't seen Regina in a year and she was so desperate to do so but also scared. Not of her but Cora. What if the woman was still in her life? What if Regina had changed?

"You know sitting in your car is not going to get you the answers you want" shoving her hands in her pocket, the smaller blonde stands straight looking towards the house herself.

Muttering under her breath, Emma steps out of the car and turns towards the pathway. "I can do this...what is the worst that can happen? She doesn't love me anymore? I mean a year!"

Amelia watches her then rolls her eyes nudging her towards the door. "Go on!"

Taking a deep breath, Emma walks right up to the door with a knock so soft she is not sure that she even heard it, let alone Regina.

From inside the house, the mayor had placed herself in her study sat on the couch with a drink in hand. Hearing the soft tap to the door, she sighs wishing that she could just be left alone in peace. Placing her drink down, the brunette rose to her feet and headed towards the door, straightening her skirt on the way. As she opens the door, her eyes widen at the person in front of her and she can feel her breathing pick up to faster pace.

Emma practically mimics her stare but also grows teary. "..Regina.." Stepping forward quickly, the blonde goes to hug her but pauses as she sees the brunette stiffen up.

Standing off to the side, Amelia shakes her head watching and turns herself away to give them a moment.

Frowning, the former princess looks towards her Queen confused. "Regina?"

Trying her best to keep herself composed, Regina clears her throat. "I'm glad you're here..that you are safe. Now it is time to find a way home"

Emma just stares at her sadly. "Regina...what happened..to us?.."

Taking a breath, the brunette explains but it is clearly not the full truth. "I came to realize..once you were gone that..I am destined to be alone. I..deserve to be alone..Emma I'm sorry.."

Shaking her head, the blonde scoffs. "You might want to say that to the pendant hanging around your neck"

Regina glances down to the swan pendant sadly. "Emma..I'm..not the same person anymore. I have done some really terrible things.."

Emma looks right at her determined to get her answers. "Why?"

Avoiding the blonde's gaze feeling ashamed, Regina bites her lip to prevent a tremble. "I was trying to get to you and..no one would help and..I got angry...just like her.."

Looking slightly shocked, the blonde continues. "Did..did you kill anyone?"

"No..I.."

Grabbing hold of her hands quickly forcing the former Queen to look at her, Emma shakes her head. "Then you are nothing like her. I know you, we grew up together and I know the only reason you would do all that is because the reason behind it meant something to you. You're still my Regina. The girl who braids her hair and finds it weirdly cute when I give her an apple"

Looking into the blonde's eyes having an onset of tears and feeling the massive wall she built up crumble, the brunette launches herself into Emma's arms and holds onto her as tight as she possibly can. "I missed you so much"

Emma rubs her back clinging while letting a few tears fall herself. "I missed you..I felt so lost..I didn't know what to do...this place is so different"

Pulling away, Regina takes hold of the blonde's face to inspect her for any changes and to make sure she was okay while wiping away any fallen tears. "I'm sorry for what she did to you and I have no idea how I can make it right but I will try. She's gone now Emma, banished without magic, you're safe"

Rubbing her nose against the brunette's nose, the blonde gives a small smile before kissing her softly. The former Queen kisses back briefly then pauses, remembering they had company, or more so Emma did.

Looking over to the smaller blonde, Regina raises an eyebrow while taking hold of the former princess' hand possessively. "Hello..."

Shaking herself out of the daze that the kiss left her with, Emma realizes she forgot the girl standing there. "Oh..Regina this is Amelia..or Mia. She..brought me here although I'm not entirely sure why. I mean of course I know why because you're here but I have no clue what it has to do with her.."

Amelia rolls her eyes while playing with the zipper on her leather jacket. "If I just told you, you would have asked loads of questions and I needed you to get here. You can't argue with me because I know you just wanted to get to her!"

Sniggering, Regina glances over to Emma. "She's outgoing I give you that"

Mia mimics the brunette's look with a raised brow. "Some say stubborn.."

Trying to test her out, the former princess bites her lip. "Like who?"

Chuckling, the young girl shakes her head. "Nice try Emma..not happening..why don't you two just enjoy your reunion? I can be elsewhere.."

Letting go of Emma's hand, the brunette crosses her arms curiously. "Do your parents know that you're here?"

Shoving her hands into her pockets the young blonde looks down the path. "No they don't..but they're around...right now I have something else to take care of"

Sharing a confused look, the two women watch the young girl stroll down the path and off towards the town.

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Once the pair had continued on inside the house, all it took was the closing of the door before arms were wrapped around each other again as they pulled together for a kiss. Needing to rid her final fear, Regina attempted to get Emma's attention between kisses. "Emma.." Moving her hands to the blonde's arms, the brunette pushes her back slightly. "Emma?"

Looking back with worry, the former princess frowns. "Yes?"

Watching the woman for a moment, taking in her beautiful face, the former Queen looks to her scared but hopeful. "I love you"

Giving off her famous cheeky grin, the blonde takes hold of Regina's face, stroking the woman's cheek with her thumb. "I love you too, never stopped"

Losing her frown, the brunette smiles brightly and kisses her again before leading them to the couch.

Sitting together, Emma wraps her arm around her Queen's shoulders and pulls her close while kissing her head. "I know that you are still allowing that brain of yours to work overtime but don't..all that matters now is that we are together..this may not be our land that we are used to but if we cannot find a way back, we can make this our home. A new start, just me and you"

Regina holds on tightly to the blonde's waist and buries her head into the woman's neck. "sounds perfect.."

A/N: next up Emma finding her parents...only they have no idea who she is...