Not alone anymore

Chapter 23

I walk into the kitchen and Zelena is watching as Regina is putting the lasagna in the oven. "Ok well that'll take about an hour so I think I'll go up to take a shower. I'll be back soon. You two play nice while I'm gone".  She smiles at us and walks away and Zelena is staring me down. It's quiet for a moment so I begin to speak. "I guess from the look on your face that Regina told you. Look Zelena I'm really".  Before I could say more she cuts me off.   "I really don't care what you have to say Miss Swan. As far as I'm concerned from now on you can go to hell".  She takes a sip of of her water and starts to leave the kitchen. "Zelena please let me explain".  She turned around quickly and threw the water in my face. "You really hurt my sister Miss Swan and I'm all done with you now. I thought we were friends but not now and never again. If you could have seen the sadness in her eyes as she told me how you wanted to postpone the wedding you would have done anything you could have to make it up to her and make this work. Maybe mother is right about you. You can't love her the way she deserves and it has nothing to do with money. You don't know how to love someone do you?  You broke her heart and I hate you for that. Damn you Emma Swan".  Then she stomped out of the kitchen. Oh god what have I done?  Zelena is right. I should have tried harder to make this wedding happen. I have to fix this.  I leave the kitchen and put my phone in my pocket and grab my car keys. When I open the door I hear Zelena say from behind me.   "Sure Emma just runaway. Leave my sister without even saying goodbye. Your a piece of work".  "I'm just going to Granny's. I'll be back in a little while".   "Just do my sister a favor and don't come back. She doesn't need you".  I just look at her and walk out the door. She wasn't kidding when she said she hated me.  I got in my car and sent Regina a text. I don't want her to think I just took off and who knows what Zelena would say to her. So I sent a text saying that I just have to check on something that I needed for work tomorrow, and that I'd be back home soon and that I love her. When I got to Granny's I sat down at the counter and Ruby walked over and said. "Hey Ems did you miss me so much that you had to come back?"   "I always miss you Rubes. Can I have a ginger ale please and do you know if Granny is busy?"   She gets my soda and says. "She just went into the office. I think she's doing some paperwork".  "Great thanks Ruby. I'll be back in a bit".  I sip on my soda as I walk into the back and see Granny sitting behind the desk. I knock on the door and looks over and gives me smile. "Emma dear what brings you back here?"  I go in and sit down. "I was hoping you had a minute to talk".   "You know I do for you Emma. What's on you mind?"   "I was wondering if you know anything about going to the back to get a loan. I don't want to go in there with no knowledge and have some idiot take advantage of me".   "I know a few things about getting a business loan but that was many years ago. I'm sure things have changed. May I ask why you need a loan?"   "Well Regina and I decided that we wanted to get married while her sister was in town for the next few weeks. Zelena even designed her wedding gown. I started thinking that maybe this was happening to quickly because I spent most of my savings on the engagement ring and when I mentioned that we should put the wedding off for a little while she was so disappointed and it killed me. Then Regina's sister ripped me a new one. Told how me how I broke her sisters heart and said a lot more about me that I really don't want to repeat. I want to marry Regina as soon as we can so that's why I need to go to the bank and get a loan so I can buy something proper to wear and help pay for everything. So are there any tips you could give me for when I go to the bank?"  "Well you have to be very careful when dealing with a bank Emma they can really get you on the interest rates. Sometimes people end up paying almost double the money back from what they borrowed. How much did you think of asking the bank for?"   "I don't even know. 2, 3 thousand maybe. Between the clothes, rings, the hall and the catering it's probably gonna be expensive".  "What if instead of you going through the bank, I gave you a loan?"   "Granny I can ask you for that you already given me so much. You've taken me in, gave me a home and family, not to mention a great job opportunity here with you".  "You didn't ask me Emma. I'm offering to help you. I can't let you get ripped off by the bank".  Before I could say any more, my phone started to ring. "Sorry Granny it's Regina I should get this". She nods and I answer the call.  "Hey babe what's up?"   "Why did you leave Emma. I told you dinner would be ready soon?"   "I just had to talk to Granny. I won't be long".  "Ok well I'm taking the lasagna out of the oven so please hurry".   We end the call and I ask.  "Granny are you sure you want to do this for me?"   "I'm very sure Emma. We can even put something in writing if you'd like and we can come up with some kind of payment schedule?"   "Ok but only if your really sure".  "I'm positive Emma. Let me work somethings out tonight, write a few things down and we can go over it tomorrow. How does that sound?"   "It sounds almost to good to be true".  "Well believe it Emma. Now get going. You told Regina you wouldn't be long".   "Right. Thank you so much Granny".  We both stand and hug each other. I thank her again and head back home after I say a goodbye to Ruby. I walk into the house and the smell of dinner fills the air. I go into the kitchen and see Regina cutting into the lasagna. "Hi babe. Looks like I made it just in time".   I walk over and kiss her cheek.  "This looks delicious babe".  "Thank you. What was so important at Granny's that you had to leave right before dinner?"  "I just had to talk with her that's all".  She just nods. "Regina can I please say something".  "What would you like to say Emma?"   "I hate to sound like I'm flipping back and forth but after seeing how disappointed you looked when I suggested we postpone the wedding, I've thought more about it and I don't think we should wait".   I take hold of her hands. "I believe we can do this and everything will work out just the way it's supposed to with you and I getting married. What do you say?"   "Would you mind if I had a little time to think about this?"   "Of course not. I love you. You let me know whenever your ready".  We kiss and I ask if she needs any help. "Just grab your plate and something to drink. Everything else is already on the table".  I nod and get myself a bottle of water. I take my plate and go into the dinning room. Zelena is already seated and doesn't look at me when I walk in. I take my seat and we all start eating.  "You both are way to quiet. Did something happen while I was in the shower earlier?"  Zelena looks at me and then says to Regina.  "What could have possibly happened?  Emma left right after you went upstairs".  Regina puts her fork down with a clank against her plate. "Zelena when I came downstairs you were crankier than usual and Emma takes off. Do you two really think that I'm to stupid to notice something would be off. Now tell me what the hell happened, and I want the truth".  She looks at both of us. After a moment of silence I decided to speak. "Zelena just told me how unhappy you were when I asked about postponing the wedding".  "And what was it that changed your mind when you came back from Granny's?"   "I just had a conversation with Granny and she explained that if we both work hard on this we can make this wedding happen".  "And that's it?"  "Yeah pretty much".  "Ok and how about you Zelena, do you have anything to say?"   "Nope Emma said it".  "So all you had to say to her was how unhappy I was?"   "Yup".  "Oh please Zelena I know you better than that and I know that you could never hold anything in. I'm guessing that you probably told Emma off and I'm sure you were completely hurtful to her. So what did you say?"   "Regina there is no need to get into something".  "Emma you are my fiancé and no one has a right to treat you with anything of than kindness and love.  So Zelena tell me what you said or you can leave".  "Fine your right I told her off and she deserved it. Your my sister and no one has a right to treat you like she did. She made you so happy by saying she wanted to get married then a little while later she completely shuts it down. I know it broke your heart. So I told her as much. I also told her that mother was right you deserved better than she could ever give you and that she was basically dead to me now".  She stands up quickly and places her hands flat on the table as she looks and yells at her sister. "What the hell gives you the right to say that to her?"  "I'm your sister Regina. She hurt you and I wanted to make sure she knows how it feels".  "Zelena I think you should go home. Your welcome to stay tonight. I suggest you call the airline and schedule a flight back to London".  She starts walking away then stops. She turns around and says. "You should also cancel the wedding gown. Emma and I will get married when we are ready. That's our business. I recommend you stay out of it from now on".  She leaves the dinning room and I can hear her walking up the stairs. I have nothing to say so I get up, grab my plate and Regina's and go into the kitchen. I put her piece and mine into a Tupperware container. They were hardly touched so I saved them. I put a piece of aluminum foil on top of lasagna baking dish to cover it up and left it on island. It was still to hot to put in the fridge. I rinsed off our plates and silverware and put them in the dishwasher. I went upstairs to check on Regina".  She was sitting on the lounge chair by the fireplace. Her head was laid back and her eyes were closed. "Is it ok if I come in babe?"   "Of course my love".  I close the door and walk over and sit on the lounge chair next to her legs.  "I'm sorry about all this Regina. This is all my fault". It's not your fault. You just suggested that we put off the wedding for a little while. Sure I was a little sad but my sister had no right to say what she did to you".  "Regina May I tell you something I should have told you earlier?"  "Oh my love I don't know if I can take anymore today".  "It's not that bad Regina I just need to be honest with you about why I told you what I did. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to afford to buy something nice to wear when we get married but I can make this work. I love you and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the whole truth".   "It's alright dear money isn't always easy to talk about, but I would have understood. I love you and I would never have judged you".   "I know. It just sucks sometimes. You still love me?"   "More than ever". She smiles and leans forward so she can kiss me. She sits back and I take a shot by asking.  "Can we talk about your sister now?"   "No Emma. There is nothing to say. I will never let anyone treat you so much disrespect like she did and in our own home. The nerve of that woman. She needs to leave here and think about what she's done or she will not be coming to our wedding".   "Regina she's your sister. You two have been so close the last few months".  "I don't care. What the hell give her the right to say those things?  It's not like we broke up or you beat the crap out of me. She was way out of line and will not tolerate it Emma and you shouldn't be so quick to except it either".  "I don't except it Regina but it not like I've never heard those words before. Sure it bothers me but what can I do about it?"   "Tell her off".  "Why Regina she was mostly right. I did hurt you and I'll probably never be able to surprise with an expensive gift or fly you somewhere for a weekend getaway".   "Emma don't you know that I don't care about all that by now. I never did. That's my mother's and my sisters thing".   "So now what?"   "We move forward and live our lives. If we want to get married soon we will but I won't let Zelena put a time table on that".   "Sounds great babe".   We kiss again and head back downstairs. We heat up our pieces of lasagna and go into the living room to watch some tv. Zelena was no where to be seen.