Somewhere Down The Road

Chapter Thirteen

She needs to fight for Regina back. She needs to fight for her future and she'll be damned if Regina makes this decision without her. That's why she is marching up the long driveway of the Mills' property after a day to really think about what her parents and Wendy have said to her. She jabs her finger against the doorbell, which apparently morphs her blood into ice by the way she shivers. She nervously stuffs her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and rocks as she waits for someone to answer.

Please be Cora. Please be Cora.

The door flings open, revealing a disheveled Regina that didn't think to check through the peephole to see who has come to aggravate her even more.

"Henry, please," she pleads before she pivots to check who is on her doorstep. The inhale of breath is unnerving and almost sounds painful to Emma's ears. "What are you doing here?"

Emma swallows to loosen the knot of fear tightening in her throat. She opens her mouth to follow her original plan but Henry is wailing in the background. "Is he okay?"

"Physically, yes. He's just in the middle of his third temper-tantrum today," Regina grumbles in frustration and it takes everything in Emma not to smile because Regina really is adorable all grumpy.

She clears her throat. "Would some fresh air do him some good?"

"I'm not going to reward his bad behavior."

"Right. Well, I think that shoots my plan for a boat ride right in the foot," she laughs, awkwardly because Regina is just glaring at her. "You know what, I'll just come back later."

"Not necessary," Regina plainly says just before she closes the door but Emma wedges her foot in the way before she can be officially kicked out.

"Regina, please. I really think we need to talk."

"There's nothing left to discuss."

"Except for everything we haven't," she argues. "Come on, we can't leave things like this. Too much has happened and we can't keep ignoring it."

"I don't have time for this," Regina exasperates, moving to slam the door in her face again but her foot is still there. "I need to go."

Regina storms off, not giving a damn if Emma's foot is in the door or if the door even closes behind herself. And as much as Emma is dying to waltz right in that house and demand answers, she can't interrupt when Henry is having a meltdown like this. So, she softly closes the door and tells herself that tomorrow is a new day.

~~~~

Tomorrow is awful.

Emma has to work but from the deck of Swan's Shack, she sees the most adorable toddler hobbling down the road. Emma smiles to herself, leaning onto the railing, watching as he babbles to himself. Sometimes he will stop, pick up a rock and hand it off to his momma. Regina appears every bit of enthused and holds every rock tight like he might ask for his collection later.

Her heart tugs like the end of a fishing rod, violently attempting to escape this trap it has found itself in. She can't look away though, her eyes are glued, her mind reeling in memories and promises, her heart knowing that those two people are her family, her life and she can't be down there with them.

Eventually, Henry takes off toward her house, a Joker smile set into place. Maybe he thinks she will be there or maybe he's in search of the beach, a wave-runner or a 4-wheeler. Regina's big eyes leap all around, inspecting to make sure Emma isn't home. By the time Regina reaches Henry, the brunettes are standing in her backyard. Regina bends down and even though Emma can't hear a word from so far away, she knows Regina is speaking so softly to him. She takes his little hand, leading him away from the home that could be theirs and Emma thinks about vomiting off the deck.