Heartstrings

Chapter 5: Part Of Me

One perfect eyebrow slowly went up and in a low voice, "You don't know? Tell me. You don't know why for the last two days you always look at me with this sad-caring-look?"

At Emma redder face, Regina continues in a softer voice. "What happened Emma? Are you okay?"

A dimple smile started to grow on the blonde's face. "Hey you called me Emma!"

"Yes I did. So now, please tell me? Did something happen?"

"Okay. So please don't get mad. But I just don't understand why it's so hard for you to accept that I care about you. Everything I do, you always think that I have some motives behind it. But I don't. I just really care about you, you know."

"Hmm... Why do you care? Didn't you used to hate me? What changed?"

"What are we doing? Playing 20 question game?" said Emma while giving a nervous laugh before almost shouts a, "Hey! You got like 2 minutes to your appointment. Come on. You don't want to be late do you?"

"You're not avoiding this Miss Swan. You will answer me. We'll continue this so called 20 question after dinner tonight. And I'm cooking. I've had enough of Granny's greasy food." and both women made their way inside the hospital.

...

It was five to 10pm when Regina made her way up to her room. She stopped at the first step and turned to look at Emma who was locking the front door and all the windows "Miss Swan, meet me in my room in 10minutes please." And without waiting for Emma's reply, she made her way up.

Henry who was walking from the toilet to his room heard this and waited until his brunette mother was in her room before he went to look for Emma.

"What did you do?" he asked Emma with his arms crossed. Looking much like Regina.

"Hey! Why would you think I did something?"

"Well if you didn't, mom wouldn't ask you to meet her in her room like some business meeting, would she, hmm?"

"Well I didn't do anything. Maybe she just needs my help with something. So why don't you get back to bed before she finds out that you're still awake past your bed time?" Emma said while giving Henry a wicked smile, silently threatening to tell Regina about Henry still being awake.

Henry gave her a side-eye before letting out a huff and ran up to his room.

...

It was almost half an hour later that Emma went to see Regina. She was sweating herself knowing what exactly that Regina wanted from her. Explanations on her behavior towards the brunette.

But truth is, she herself isn't sure what to tell. She knows deep inside, her view and feelings toward the mayor had changed. She started to understand what made Regina acts the way she does. Cold and distant. But after much thought given, she knew, it's a coping mechanism. Some sort of wall the brunette built in her heart. Emma might not know the reasons behind these behaviors but after what she saw, on how most people, including Henry, treated Regina, she can get a rough idea on it.

So she made a promise to herself that she will treat Regina better. Be nicer to her. And maybe someday they might even be friends. But oh how she wishes to be more that just friends.

Despite being a cold hearted bitch, Regina can be the most sweet and tender person. She's a great mother. An intelligent individual. She have the softest heart to animals from what Emma heard stories from the pet shelter owner when she went to deliver a missing dog she found in the park the other day. She's passionate when dealing with matters regarding children.

And don't get Emma started on her physical appearance. Regina got the sweetest smile that Emma has ever seen in her entire life. Although it's rare to see the smile, Emma had seen it a few times when Regina smiled at Henry. And her eyes tell stories that go beyond words. With its honey brown color. Oh and that ass. Yes. That firm perfect ass. Not that Emma was staring at it. She told herself.

So finally, she braved herself and knocked on the brunette's door. "Regina? Are you sleeping?" seeing that Regina was lying in her bed with eyes closed. "I still need to change your dressing before bed." And tentatively took a few steps into the room.

"Please close the door after yourself. You're not getting yourself out of the mess from this morning. We can talk while you change the dressing." Was said while she slowly sat up with her back on the headboard.

"So, are you ready to tell me what changed Emma?" Regina asked when Emma was seated and started un-wrapping the bandage on her foot.

"I... I guess I was just looking for you to be my friend." Emma said without lifting her head or stopping what she's doing.

"You wanted us to be friends?"

"Crazy, right? But I thought we could be, but like I said, you always think that I have some motives behind everything that I do" she paused and in barely a whisper, she continues, "and it really hurts to think that you think of me that low."

Regina was silent for the rest of the time Emma doing her dressing. And when the blonde was done and started to clear the bandages, only did she spoke.

"I would like that. For us to be friends I mean. And... and I'm sorry for making you feel that way. It's just that people always tries to hurt me in one way or another that my first instinct was to question their motives in everything."

Emma was startled that Regina would opened-up to her. Being openly vulnerable and telling her that others had hurt her in the past. She felt angry for Regina but at the same time, was honored that she was given the chance to see Regina in a new light that not everyone got to see.

Giving Regina a toothy smile, "You'd be my friend? Really?"

Regina looked at Emma. The toothy grin, hopeful puppy look that was directed at her and she can't help giving a smile back at the blonde and nodding her head.

"Yes, friends." And extending her hand for Emma to shake but was startled when the blonde jumped to her feet and hugged her.