Recuérdame

Regina (POV)

The morning air in Storybrooke was laced with a sense of renewal, almost as if the day itself anticipated the gravity of the decision I was about to make. I walked toward Granny's, my steps echoing with a trembling determination, fully aware that the words I was about to share could change our lives forever.

Crossing the threshold of Granny's, the weight of my past choices pressed on my chest, making it hard to breathe. The sight of Emma sitting alone at our usual table, her expression a mix of hope and weariness, made me hesitate. Did I have the right to stir up the past, to reopen wounds that were just beginning to heal?

"Emma," I said, my voice slightly shaking, laden with a whirlwind of emotions I struggled to contain.

She looked up, her green eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that shook me to my core. "Regina," she replied, her voice firm but tinged with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show.

I sat down across from her, every movement deliberate, every gesture meaningful. The space between us was heavy with unspoken words and unexpressed feelings.

"Emma, there's something I need to tell you, something I should have said a long time ago," I began, the words catching in my throat.

She nodded, urging me to continue, though I saw a shadow of pain flicker in her eyes. "I'm listening, Regina."

I took a deep breath, searching for the strength to say what needed to be said. "When I started my relationship with Robin, I convinced myself it was the right thing, what was meant to be. But even then, something inside me knew it was wrong. That night here, at karaoke, when I saw you… when I heard you, everything I had repressed surfaced."

The mention of that night made Emma's jaw tighten, and I knew I was opening a still-fresh wound. "Regina, you broke me that night. You chose Robin, despite everything we had shared."

Emma’s words, so raw and true, hit me like a punch to the gut. "I know, and I deeply regret the pain I caused you. I have no excuses for my actions, only the fear and confusion that consumed me."

Emma interrupted me, her voice trembling, a mix of anger and pain. "And now? Now that things didn’t work out with him, you come to me? Regina, you tore me apart and then abandoned me, even after I confessed my feelings that night."

Guilt and remorse flooded me, but I knew this was the moment to face the consequences of my choices. "I’ve realized I was living a lie, trying to fit into a life that wasn’t mine. Robin… he’s not who I want. Not when every fiber of my being longs for you, Emma."

Emma studied me, evaluating the sincerity of my words, and in her eyes, I saw the storm of emotions she was holding back. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, suspended in the tension of our connection.

The confession hung in the air between us, raw and vulnerable. "What do you expect from me now, Regina? After all this time, after all the pain?"

I hesitated before continuing, feeling the weight of what I was about to say. I had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about this, thinking about Emma, but now that she was in front of me, the words caught in my throat. "Emma, I’m not good at this, you know that. But what I do know is that I’ve been a coward. I hid behind what I thought was right, what was expected of me, but the truth is… I need you. I’ve needed you for a long time. I just didn’t realize it until it was too late."

Emma looked at me, and I saw something in her eyes, something that terrified me and gave me hope in equal measure. "I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just want a chance to show you that I’m willing to change, to be what you deserve."

Emma stared at me for a long moment, and in that silence, I feared I had crossed an irrevocable line. But then, something in her expression softened. "Regina, I need time to process this. I can’t just forget the pain, but… but I’m willing to listen."

It was more than I had hoped for, and a flicker of hope ignited within me. "Thank you, Emma. That’s all I can ask for."

Suddenly, Emma stood, closing the distance between us with determined steps. Before I could react, her lips met mine in a kiss that was both a question and an affirmation, a challenge and a promise.

The kiss was the culmination of everything unspoken, every shared moment and missed opportunity. It was the answer to questions we hadn’t dared to ask, the key to a future that had once seemed impossible.

When the kiss ended, we stared at each other, the world around us slowly coming back into focus. "Does this mean…?" I began, unable to finish the question, afraid of breaking the fragile thread of hope between us.

"Let’s take it slow, Regina. Let’s see where this leads us," Emma whispered as she pulled away, and in her eyes, I saw a reflection of my own determination and hope.

As we left Granny’s, the sun bathed the streets of Storybrooke in a light that promised endless possibilities. My hand found Emma’s, and in that simple gesture, I felt an affirmation of everything we were about to embark on.

We had decided to give ourselves a second chance, not just as two people seeking solace in each other’s loneliness, but as a couple willing to explore the depths of what we could be together. It was the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with uncertainty, yes, but also with renewed hope and a love we were no longer willing to let slip away.

Returning to the mansion was a whirlwind of emotions. With every step, the decision I had made felt heavier, more real. Choosing to be with Emma, to follow my heart, had been an act of courage, but also one I knew would change everything.

Entering the mansion, the familiar and comforting presence of Henry filled me with a mix of relief and nervousness. This conversation was just as crucial as the one I had just had with Emma. Henry wasn’t just my son; he was the heart of our family, an unbreakable bond between Emma and me.

I found him in the living room, engrossed in his books and notes. When he looked up and saw me, his expression shifted to one of curiosity and concern. "Mom, is everything okay? You look… different."

I sat beside him, aware of the importance of this moment. "Henry, there’s something we need to talk about, the three of us," I said, my voice carrying an emotion I couldn’t hide.

A few minutes later, Emma joined us, her presence filling the room with a palpable energy. Henry looked between us, his sharp intuition picking up on the subtle changes in our dynamic.

"What’s going on?" he asked, his voice a mix of expectation and caution.

Emma and I exchanged a glance, finding mutual support in the silent connection we shared. I took the lead, knowing this was a moment that would define the future of our little family.

"Henry, Emma and I have talked a lot, about us, about how we feel, and what we want for the future," I began, choosing my words carefully. "And we’ve decided that… we want to be together, to give this a chance."

Surprise flashed across Henry’s face, quickly followed by a smile that lit up his eyes. "Really? Does this mean…?"

"Yes, it means we’re going to be a family, Henry. A bit of a different family, maybe, but a family nonetheless," Emma said, her voice full of warmth that touched me deeply.

Henry stood, wrapping both of us in a hug that seemed to hold all the love and acceptance in the world. "This is amazing, Mom, Ma. I always knew you two… Well, I’m just happy you found your way back to each other."

We pulled apart, and laughter and conversation filled the room as we talked about future plans and how we’d face challenges together. In that moment, I felt a peace and certainty that had been absent for so long.

Yes, there would be challenges. Yes, we would have to navigate the complexities of defining what it meant to be a family in our unique context. But looking at Henry and Emma, seeing the love and acceptance in their faces, I knew we could face anything together.

That night, in Regina’s mansion, a relationship wasn’t just cemented—it was a family that was forged. A family built not on society’s expectations or conventions, but on love, choice, and a mutual commitment to support and care for one another, through thick and thin.

As Henry recounted his day, laughing and sharing, I looked at Emma and found in her eyes a reflection of my own happiness. Yes, we had chosen this path, and no matter what the future held, we would face it together, as a family. Because in the end, that was what truly mattered.