A/n: Alright everyone I said this would be a shorter story. This is all I have written for now but should the mood strike me there may be more. Treat this as the loving end of the road and I hope you all will continue along on our next journey together much love, #onelove PP19

Regina was wasting away, Snow and Charming had not been by in a while. Regina guessed it may have been years by now. But she had no way to tell. She could have tracked the seasons out the window but she truly didn't want to know. Had they forgotten about her? Had they all passed away by now and she was the only one left in the castle?

She cursed the day she trapped herself back in this room. If Snow and Charming ever did show their stupid faces again, she would have them release her at once.

She read Emma's stories over and over again through the years. Realizing that the kiss had been coming. These stories, Emma's stories were about passion and unexpected love, between two women. She had failed to see that while she would avoid glancing at Emma she was glancing at her, and not in a disrespectful way, but in with an all encompassing love.

She started to write her own. She had gathered quite the array of art supplies as Snow had first tried to get her to channel her misery. She was becoming quite the good painter and writer, being the tortured soul that she was.

One day she was painting yet another scene, Emma, well her back with her blond hair cascading down in the morning light. Well a scene she would have loved to have been real, maybe they could have made it work at that age. Regina just couldn't let herself, she was thirty if she remembered right and there was no way that Emma would be able to hold on with that gap. Regina would get old and boring far too fast…

She stopped her thoughts when she heard a creek. She heard footsteps traveling up her forgotten stairwell, then a second pair. She noticed the person hesitated at the entrance. She held her breath waiting for the knock. Snow never knocked there was no way it was her… and Charming was too assertive and would have knocked and called for her right away. Was it too much to hope?

She wiped her hands on her pants as she stood stock still but uttered a firm "Come in."

The door clicked open and waiting a few more heart beats before it swung open.

There stood Emma red rimmed eyes, bright blond hair, a bit shorter now, but not by much.

Regina didn't know what to say, she was stunned into silence. Not a day went by that she didn't fantasize about this day.

She opened her mouth but couldn't find words, Emma's face crumbled and she ran to her sobbing, almost knocking the brunette over.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't… I couldn't wait anymore…I know I'm not what you wanted…but I… I needed you today, and you weren't there with me."

Regina held her tight.

"Dear, it's fine really…I'm sorry for what I said…" she was choking on her own sobs.

Emma almost collapsed and Regina moved her to sit on a low stool.

"Emma… you're scaring me, talk to me…"

Emma shook her head and glanced at the door. A little boy about three walked slowly over.

Regina looked between the two and her stomach dropped. He looked just like his mother.

"Oh…" Regina's hand slipped from Emma's knee. This wasn't her love story, this was something out of a nightmare. Did the father leave? Was that why Emma came running back to her? Why could she not have been Emma's real love...

She closed her eyes and with a wet fake smile looked over to Emma and the boy.

"I see…" She moved to go sit on her bed.

Emma looked like Regina had just ripped her heart out by walking away. She motioned to the boy.

"Henry it's ok come here, kid…"

Regina glanced up. "Henry…."

Emma nodded through her tears. "Yeah, you said you would name your child that... if you could have children… "

Regina blew out a breath releasing her hair form its band.

"You remember that…" looking up under water clotted eye lashes.

Emma nodded, "Of course I remember…"

Regina worried her hands in her lap, "Well congratulations Emma… someone needed to have the life I never had…."

Emma placed Henry on the stool and walked over to Regina and kneeled at her feet.

"They're gone Regina…my parents..."

Regina looked back to Emma, "No…"

Emma nodded, "I don't have anyone else Regina. I know you never wanted to see me again and I tried to wait till I was older hoping you would forgive me and want me but…I just… after today..."

Regina guided a blond head to her lap as Emma sobbed hard. Regina motioning to the boy to come join them, he scrambled up on the bed and sat right next to Regina.

He whispered, "Hey, I'm Henwy…"

Regina smiled for real this time, "Hi Henry…" Her heart clenched as she ran her hands through his mothers hair, a comfort she knew Emma loved.

Emma looked up at Regina, "Please Regina…."

Regina lifted her chin, "Dear, you have to calm down."

Emma couldn't so Regina stood and moved to the floor, her own tears slipping down, pulling Emma to her.

"I am so so sorry Emma…I'm here. I got you."

…..

Regina was glad she had a rather large bed as she was sharing it currently with a young boy and Emma. Emma's head remained tucked under Regina's chin most of the night. She felt Emma move her hand to her hip and tap.

Regina shifted so Emma knew she was awake. "Good morning…"

Emma smiled into her brunette. "The sun's not even awake yet…"

Regina laughed, "then why are you waking me up princess?"

Emma wrapped her arm around Regina's back.

"I can't sleep, can we talk?" She bit her tongue in worry.

Regina rolled her eyes, "As long as you allow me to breathe with that death grip you have on me, otherwise you are the only one who will be doing any talking."

Emma let up but only slightly, "Sorry Gina…"

Regina cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday…"

Emma laughed, "Yeah? Which one?"

Regina poked her, "well it's not like you came up to get me…"

Emma shrugged "I sent mom one year but you didn't want to see me…. so I left and … I tried to move on…"

Regina hummed. "Ah, I see. What happened? Someone break your heart?"

Emma shook her head. "No it was Neil, he loved me. I just didn't love him like I should…"

Regina's heart started pounding and Emma heard it.

"I named Henry for you…I guess I always hoped… one day he would be ours…"

Regina blinked back tears.

"Regina do you… want me to go."

Regina shook her head cupping Emma's cheek, "Please don't ever go away again…"

Emma nodded, Regina pulling her into a kiss.