Chapter 2
Emma didn’t plan on going to Regina’s. It just… happened.
One minute, she was pacing her apartment, her mind running in circles. The next, she was walking through Storybrooke’s quiet streets, barely aware of where she was going until she found herself standing on Regina’s doorstep.
She hesitated.
This was stupid. She had no reason to be here. It was late. Regina would take one look at her and tell her to get lost.
And yet, before she could talk herself out of it, she knocked.
A few seconds later, the door swung open, revealing a very unamused Regina Mills in a silk robe, her dark hair pulled back loosely. She arched a brow, arms crossing over her chest.
“Savior,” she said flatly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Emma opened her mouth—then closed it.
What the hell was she supposed to say?
Regina sighed, stepping aside. “Well, don’t just stand there looking pathetic. Either come in or leave.”
Emma blinked. Then, before she could think too hard about it, she stepped inside.
Regina shut the door, watching her carefully. “Alright. Do I need wine for this conversation?”
Emma let out a dry laugh, dropping onto the couch. “Whiskey might be better.”
Regina hummed, walking over to her liquor cabinet. “This must be serious, then.”
Emma sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. “I went on a date with Hook.”
Regina froze for half a second before slowly pouring two glasses. “And?”
Emma huffed out a breath. “And it was a disaster.”
Regina turned, lips twitching in amusement as she handed Emma a glass. “Shocking.”
Emma shot her a glare. “I don’t need the ‘I told you so’ speech.”
Regina sat across from her, swirling the whiskey in her glass. “Oh, but I told you so.”
Emma groaned, taking a sip of her drink.
Regina smirked. “So, what happened? Did he bore you with pirate stories? Spill wine on his ridiculous leather coat?”
Emma shook her head. “It just… wasn’t right.” She hesitated, struggling to put it into words. “You ever sit across from someone and realize you’re never going to be what they need?”
Something flickered in Regina’s expression, too quick for Emma to read. But instead of teasing, Regina’s voice was softer when she spoke. “Yes.”
Emma glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room was quiet, save for the distant hum of the fireplace.
Emma exhaled, sinking further into the couch.
“What is it, Emma? Your thoughts are so loud I can almost hear them.”
Emma exhales sharply, staring at the glass in her hands. “I just… I thought he was the one. The one I could open up to. The one I could finally let in after everything. How could I have been so wrong about him?”
Regina watches her for a moment, considering her words. She doesn’t know how to respond—not really—because she was never convinced they would work in the first place.
“Well, I—” Regina hesitates, then sighs. “I don’t know, Em. I think sometimes we want something so badly that we convince ourselves it’s right. That it’s real. Maybe you wanted it to be him because… you just wanted it to be someone. And he was simply there.”
Emma huffs a quiet laugh, though there’s no real amusement in it. “Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
Regina rolls her eyes. “No, I haven’t. Why would I care?”
“I know you probably don’t,” Emma says quickly. “But… I just thought you should know that he and I—it’s not going to work. Not now, not ever.” She isn’t entirely sure why she’s saying it.
Regina studies her, something flickering in her expression before she looks away. “Well, I suppose I should say I’m sorry, but… I did warn you.”
Emma exhales, a sound caught between a laugh and a sigh. “Yeah. You did.”
Regina doesn’t respond, but Emma doesn’t miss the small, knowing smile playing at her lips.