Chapter Text
It comes as a shock to her when Henry told her about Emma’s new girlfriend. She knew that moment would come eventually, but she didn’t expect it so soon after their breakup.
It’s been almost 6 months since they decided to go separate ways, at least romantically. They still raise Henry together and they’re amicable. No bad blood.
Regina still thinks very highly of Emma and she appreciates her as a friend and Henry’s other mother. Her best friend Kathryn, had suggested a while ago that Regina should go ‘out there’ and meet people. Not to meet the love of her life, because Regina’s convinced that train has passed. She needed to have fun and clear her head.
But if Regina’s really honest, she doesn’t want to date anyone at the moment. She’s busy with running this town, raising Henry and…process her ‘new’ life.
She and Emma had been a couple for over ten years. She doesn’t know a life without Emma as her partner anymore. And the last thing she needs is someone else filling this spot. It doesn’t need to be filled - unless it’s….
The last two years haven't been easy. They fought a lot and sometimes Emma slept at her office. Regina knows, being a doctor at a hospital is a taxing job. But eventually Emma’s job took up so much room in their personal lives, that something broke.
Eventually Regina felt like Emma avoided her when she started working on the holidays. Christmas, New years and so on.
She doesn’t want to sound petty, but Emma finding someone new relatively quick just confirms her suspicion.
It broke her heart, when she one day confronted Emma about their problems. They fought and then decided it would be better to split up. Explaining it to Henry had been difficult, he’s just turned fifteen and basically grew up with them as a couple. And when Emma moved out, it broke the boy, even though his mother was not moving far away. Only down the street, actually.
But their little family was no more, at least not how it used to be. Now Henry travels between houses, weekends are scheduled. Separate.
She enters her bedroom - formerly their bedroom - and opens a drawer, taking out a cardboard box. Regina opens the box, releasing a little sigh when she sees the pictures and her ring. All those things were memorabilia of their relationship. There are family pictures with Henry and Emma’s brother David and his wife. She rummages through the box and finds a picture just of them. One of their friends had taken it, a snapshot of Regina leaning over to kiss Emma.
She feels her throat getting tighter and drops the photo as if it had burned her back in the box. She shoves it back into the drawer and pushes it closed.
She just needs to accept that they were done.
—
“She didn’t tell you about Fiona?” Ruby asks, confused, as she serves Regina her regular breakfast at the diner.
“No, but apparently she introduced Henry to her, because he came home yesterday and told me about her. So I guess they are pretty serious?”
Ruby raises an eyebrow, “I don’t know if they’re really serious. It’s been six months since you guys broke up, I don’t think she’s ready for something serious.”
Regina snorts and almost burns her mouth on her coffee.
“Ruby,” Regina sighs. “I believe Emma was done with us long before we called it off.”
The waitress lowers the coffee pot and leans over the counter, so she can speak quietly. “Regina, this woman once managed to hold off an entire train, so you wouldn’t leave town. You really think she’s done?”
Regina feels her heart squeezing at that reminder. It really stings.
Ruby’s right, Emma had really fought for them. Back before they were serious, Regina wanted to leave town to pursue a political career in New York City. When Emma heard about that, she raced to the train station and held up that train, so she could confess her feelings. Of course Regina never left town and a little while later, she ran for Mayor.
“Sorry for bringing that up,” Ruby says carefully and pats her friend’s hand. “I said it before and I’ll say it now: I don’t get why you don’t work out whatever the problem is and make up?”
“Ruby, she’s done with me and our relationship. And her moving on so quickly just proves that.”
“Nah, I don’t believe that.”
“The fact that she wasn’t too busy to go on a date with whatever her name is, speaks volumes, Ruby. I don’t even know the last time she took her time to go out with me.”
“Emma is just running, you know how she is.”
“Running from me…”
—
It’s really awkward, when they meet at Nolan’s apartment. Regina wants to pick up Henry and almost literally runs into Emma and whatever her name is.
She’s beautiful; tall with dark hair. Emma has a type.
The blonde is visibly uncomfortable when she introduces them, she shifts on her feet, buries her hands in her back pockets and doesn’t meet Regina’s eyes.
“Nice to meet you, Fiona.” Regina smiles. One of the many perks of being in the political field,she can fake politeness to a T.
“Henry spoke of you, last night,” she says and notices Emma’s tense look.
“Fiona is my colleague, we work at the same hospital,” She rushes to explain and finally looks Regina in the eyes.
“Oh another life saver,” Regina chuckles drily. At least now a lot of it makes sense.
“Yes,” Fiona smiles. “I’m a surgeon and it’s a pleasure to meet the mayor in person.”
Regina smiles wickedly and arches an eyebrow. “Mayor, Henry’s other mother, Emma’s ex… I go by many names.”
She sees surprise and confusion cross over Fiona’s face, as she looks at Emma, whose face is furiously red.
“Now you two love birds will excuse me,” Regina says, starting to take the rest of the stairs. “I need to pick up Henry. See you around.”
—
She doesn’t feel good about dropping that bomb on Fiona. Emma most likely hadn’t told her about their relationship. But when she saw the two coming down the stairs, jealousy and sadness took hold of her.
She looks at Henry, who sits at the kitchen counter doing his homework. It’s just so different without Emma around.
She washes her hands and starts preparing dinner. Maybe it’ll help to lift the heaviness in her chest.
“Mom,” Henry says and looks at her. “Are you and Ma gonna be okay?”
Regina stops cutting the potato and looks at her son. He misses her too.
“I know things are weird at the moment, but with time we should get used to this,” she tries to explain and walks over to him.
“I like Fiona, but it’s weird, you know? All my life you two have been my parents and now she’s moved out and is with someone else.”
“Henry,” Regna takes his hands. “Emma and I will always be your parents, no matter what. Just because we’re separated doesn’t mean that we are no longer your parents. We just need time, all of us, to adjust.”
He scans her face, biting his lower lip as he nods and looks back at his homework.
—
Regina hides away in her study, with a glass of whiskey after putting Henry to bed. He’s started talking about their situation again and Regina let him. It’s his way of coping and she’s glad that he talks about it. She looks at work papers and tries to focus on that, instead of thinking about Emma and what she’s doing right now - or rather who she’s doing.
Emma’s a physical person. What she can’t say, she’d say through actions. When they first met, they landed in bed real quick. Almost too quick for Regina. But she began understanding Emma and her way of communicating. At least at the time, because she got better the longer they dated. Regina taught her proper communication and it nourished their relationship.
But it still didn’t change the fact that Emma loved showing her feelings through sex. And Regina - being on the receiving end - didn’t complain about that.
And now Regina misses it - Emma’s touch.
She clears her throat and takes a big gulp of her drink, trying to wash away that feeling of loneliness. The feeling of something missing.
Suddenly the front door clicks and Regina’s head shoots up. She gets to her feet quickly and sees Emma pushing the study door open.
“Emma…”
“Who do you think you are??”