Redemption?
After stopping at a rest area, the Savior and Queen enter the yellow bug in synchronization and they each shut their door simultaneously.
Before they left, Regina had been the one to make the call to the Charmings to tell them they had to watch Henry for a couple days. Emma found herself boiling over with rage at the thought of her parents. The urgency she felt for finding Lily overpowered every emotion inside of her. It didn't take her long to receive an updated address for Lily from one of her old contacts.
"Emma, you sure you don't need me to drive the rest of the way?" Regina offers.
"I'm fine, Regina," Emma says deeply, and Regina gives her a concerned glance as she stares out the windshield and takes off.
After tens of miles of driving in silence, Emma mumbles a thank you.
"What, Ms. Swan, I didn't catch that?" Regina chimes and pushes her ear out toward Emma.
Emma quickly gives her an annoyed look.
"Thank you," she reiterates, and continues, "I had no idea my own mother and father could do something like this; make me responsible for the life of another. What happened was... is horrifying and vicious. If it weren't for you, I'd still be living under that lie, not knowing the impact my family and I had on Lily and Maleficent's life. So, thank you."
Regina focuses her eyes on Emma's, and feels as though her heart is being crushed into dust. The grief and longing in which she feels for the love of her life overwhelms her.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Regina whispers.
"What? Regina, I'm thanking you, here," Emma says in a goofy tone.
"I know that, I know. But, I'm still sorry."
~
"Well," Regina says when Emma comes to a halt in front of a run-down apartment building. "This is it?"
"This is it."
The two exit the vehicle and make their way to apartment number #420.
"What do you plan on saying to her?" Regina inquires as they climb the stairs.
"Oh, you know, something like: Remember me, your old partner in crime? Well you'll never have guessed it but I'm the reason you ended up in this shit-hole."
"That's not true, Emma. I'm sure her choices in life were her own," Regina assures her.
"Yeah, well, I'm not so sure about that," Emma says glumly, "Last time we saw each other, things got really ugly. I was living with a foster family who was looking to adopt me. She showed up our house after she had been caught on camera robbing a liquor store with her boyfriend. She'd told me that he sprung it on her all of a sudden, that she didn't have a choice. I didn't believe her, and she ended up ruining my chances with that family. But now I'm second-guessing everything I thought I knew about her."
They reach the apartment and knock.
"We'll be able to make it right. Don't worry," Regina says and pats Emma's shoulder.
They give each other a hopeful glance as they hear shuffling behind the door.
Soon, Lily opens it.
"Lily!" Emma breathes out. "It's Emma. Emma Swan from Minnesota."
"Emma?" Lily asks, and then looks at Regina. "Who are you?"
"Lily, this is Regina Mills," Emma says, "She came with me because she's the reason we were able to find you."
"Find me? Find me for what?" Lily demands, blocking the entrance to her apartment.
"We want to take you back home with us. We know your mother," Emma announces. "And she misses you. I've missed you, too, Lily. I'm so sorry for everything."
Emma then wraps her arms tightly around Lily, and Regina can't help but need to look away.
For a moment, Lily is unresponsive in Emma's arms, undoubtedly processing all the news. But then she smiles, laughs and returns the hug.
"Emma!" she squeals. "I can't believe it! You're finally bringing me home. Thank you!" Then her eyes meet Regina's and she laughs again. "You, too, Regina, get in here!"
Regina looks at Emma reluctantly, but is pulled into their embrace regardless.