Emma stood, hovering over the desk in her office the next morning. The still warm coffee pot sat empty for the second time that morning, on the counter across from her. No amount of caffeine could release her from this feeling.
For Emma, the night prior was a sleepless, restless night full of emotional strain and anxiety.

Fighting back the stream of hot tears that rolled down her cheeks, Emma grabbed the vase that sat on her desk, angrily throwing it across the room.

"What the actual fuck?!?" Emma screamed out loud to herself, her angry voice echoing off he walls. Shards of glass clinked as they hit the floor, sending a splatter of water and flowers everywhere.

How the hell could Regina do this to her? And why??

Just then, Killian opened the front door to report for his shift. Startled, he held up his hands to block his face as he was greeted by his partner now aiming the desk phone in his direction.

"Christ, Swan!" He exclaimed, "What the hell are you doing??"

"Killian.." She breathed out, placing the phone back down, "I - I'm sorry, I wasn't aiming for you.."

Surprised, he replied "Well great I suppose.. but then who were you aiming for??"

Emma straightened her back knowing she had a ton of explaining to do.
Offering a tight smile she quickly replied, "Killian.. you are not going to believe what I've been through the last 24 hours.."

"Try me." He replied, taking a seat at his desk; his body falling back into his chair.

Glancing at him now, Emma began "Last night Regina and I tracked Cora down. We found her secretly meeting with Robin. Long story short, Cora tried to kill me, but Robin took the bullet. She managed to wound me in a shoot out but she got away. Turns out we were right about her."

"Are you alright Swan? And what of Robin?" Killian asked.

"its fine, I'm alright. I wish I could say the same for Robin. He died to save me... But Killian, that's not all.""Not all? What else happened then?" Emma paused. She drew in a deep breath before she continued "Killian, I have a son."

Eyes opened wide, and Nearly spitting out his coffee, Killian replied "Wha- what?! A son? How.. why didn't you tell me??"

"That's just it, Killian." She replied through tight lips, "Im just finding this out now myself... it's all Regina.. it's... she lied to me. She fucking lied!"

"Lied..? How do you mean?"

"Brace yourself," Emma began, "Back in my college years I was broke.. I mean, absolutely penniless. I did things I would never normally do just to get by.. so, there were a lot of ways to make some extra cash.. I figured that donating my eggs to women that needed help becoming mothers would be the safest and quickest way to make some extra cash."

"Ok... That's not so bad Swan."

"Normally? No, it's not." She continued, "Except that Regina actually researched her donar and was able to find out I did this. Killian, she used my eggs to conceive Henry!!"

"She did what, now?"

"Exactly." Emma replied, "Now maybe you can understand why I'm so.. so.."

"Upset?"

"Angry, Killian. I'm fucking angry!!"

"Mmnnn.. yes, that too."

"Goddamnit!" Emma exclaimed. "I just.. I honestly don't understand why she would do this.. what was she even thinking?!"

"Sounds like something you need to ask her," he answered, "Have you spoken to her about it?"

"No."

"Emma," Killian started, "You know you have to talk to Regina about this, yeah?"
Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, Emma begrudgingly replied, "yea, i know. But it's not going to be fun, Killian. Not at all... quite frankly, id be happy to never talk to her again."

Killian put his hands on Emma's shoulders, gently rubbing them to calm her, "It's not supposed to be fun, Em, but it still needs to happen. I may not know the woman as well as you, but I don't think this is something she would have done to try to hurt you."

Emma looked up at him, "No, i don't think so either.. but it doesn't make the situation any less fucked up, you know."

Killian nodded in agreement.

Emma flopped herself down into her chair, the screws squeaking with every movement, "I am literally feeling every single emotion there is, all at the same time.. I don't even know how I'm supposed to feel.."

"Em.." Killian began but was cut off by the sound of someone clearing their throat a few steps away from them.
Emma and Killian glanced at each other for a moment before Killian turned around to face their intruder, as Emma peered around him from where she sat in the chair, she squinted at the bright morning sun shining into the windows.

Suddenly, all the emotions Emma had been feeling quickly bubbled over as she stood to face a heavily tear-stricken Regina.

"YOU..." Emma began, stepping toward her, "how could you!"
"Emma, please.. I am so, so sorry.."
"Oh, you're sorry, Regina?" Emma spat sarcastically, "Sorry for what exactly??"
"Please, Emma let me explain.."
Emma stepped closer to Regina now as she spoke, "Are you sorry for lying to me? Sorry for hurting me? Maybe you're sorry for forcing me to be a mother! Sorry for... for.. for fucking stalking me??!"
Regina, struggling to wipe away mascara-stained tears from her face did her best to answer Emma. But every time she attempted to speak, Emma only spoke louder as she continued.

"Or, perhaps you're fucking sorry for stealing my eggs, Regina!?"
Regina quickly raised her hands to her face, as she sobbed into them heavily, "Emma.. Emma I never intended to hurt you.."
"Well you fucking did, Regina. You practically ruined my fucking life!!"

It was then that Killian interjected, placing himself tightly between the two women, softly pulling Emma back.

"Alright, that's enough, Swan." He explained. Reaching for the half empty box of tissues on the desk, he passed them to Regina who took them gratefully.
"Get off of me!" Emma argued trying to pull away from his grip.
"Look at me Swan, I need you to pull yourself together!"

Trying her best to shake it off, Emma desperately fought back the tears that were bursting at her eyes. Suddenly her whole body began to tremble. She could feel the strong wave of anger beginning to yield to an overwhelming amount of sadness. Pausing for a moment to steal a glance from Killian, she turned her attention to Regina, "I fucking hate you, Regina!" The words pouring out of her like acid. Then, Emma turned on her heel and walked into the back room of the office, slamming the door shut so hard it rattled the room.

"Detective Jones, I -" Regina addressed Killian between sobs, "I.. I don't know what to do.. I have so much to explain to Emma.. she won't listen.."

"Regina," Killian began calmly, "First, allow me to offer my condolences about Robin.. I promise you his death will not be in vein. Don't worry about Emma, I will talk to her."
"Oh god, thank you," Regina continued before the detective cut her off.
"I too agree that you both need to have a serious conversation. About this, and whatever else is buried deep between you."

Regina nodded.

"I don't know what Emma will do or decide, but I promise you I will do my best to at least convince her to listen to what you have to say. This whole thing since day one has been difficult for everyone."

"I truly, truly appreciate that, Detective. I.. i love Emma, I really do.. I'd never want to put her through this much pain.."

"Good. Just make sure you tell her that."

*****

"Ok. Yes, Thank you Marion. I appreciate your help with everything." Regina clicked out of the phone call, and leaned back against her kitchen counter. This truly proved to be the most difficult situation shed ever had to face. Regina tried her whole life to hold herself together through so many things that she'd become numb over the years. This tended to work to her advantage over time as she learned to block out pain. However, with these most recent events being so traumatizing for her, going numb was no longer an option.

Her thoughts quickly became too much to bare. Regina briskly opened the cabinet above the counter where she kept her best scotch. Without a second to lose, Regina pressed her ruby lips to the opening of the cold glass and took a swig straight from the bottle. With a large gulp, she felt her throat push down the warm liquid, burning all the way down.

Suddenly, all at once, Regina could feel her stomach churning, immediately rejecting the alcohol. Running for the sink with her hand over her mouth, she violently wretched into the stainless steel sink. As she heaved into it a couple more times, her phone lit up with a text from Marion.

Ok it's set. We have a meeting with the funeral director tomorrow evening at 6 o'clock. We will be able to finalize the arrangements for Robin... and Regina, please let me know if there's anything else I can do.

Although their past was a bit rocky and she wouldn't consider her a friend exactly, Regina was extremely thankful that Marion was helping her sort things out with Robin's funeral arrangements. There was no way in hell she could juggle it on her own. Especially not now.

Putting the phone down, Regina ran cold water into the sink, using her hands to wash it out. Then, she cupped her trembling hands under the faucet to catch some of the crisp water to wash her face and rinse her mouth.
She stood there; both hands on either side of the sink, staring down into it. Bracing herself. What a mess she was in, and the one person Regina needed and wanted the most, she managed to push away, again.

How could Emma ever forgive me..? Regina thought to herself, I've really fucked it up bad this time.

Then, breaking the still silence in the house, came a knock at the door. Shook from her thoughts, Regina straightened her back and smoothed out her clothes. Taking a moment to quickly fix her hair she paused at the mirror in the hall before making her way to the door. When she opened it, her eyes went wide with shock.

"Emma!" Regina said in a slightly higher pitch than normal, "you.. you're here... I honestly wasn't expecting to see you.."

"Yea, I should say the same." Emma mumbled under her breath, pushing passed Regina and into the house. Regina closed the door and quickly followed Emma into the den.
"Alright Regina, let's hear it." Emma demanded, turning to face her as they both stood in the middle of the room.
"Yes, of course. Um, why don't we sit?" Regina suggested.

"What's the difference, Regina?"
"I would just prefer if we sit. I Uh, I have a lot to say."
Emma blew out her breath, "Fine. Whatever."

There they sat, the two of them, at either end of the couch in Regina's living room, the warm evening sun poured between the tall curtains, into the room.

"Alright," she began nervously, "let me just begin by saying them I am truly, truly sorry that I hurt you Emma. I know how crazy this is, and I know that you may never forgive me, and I deserve that. But it doesn't change the fact that I never meant to hurt you."

Emma grunted, "Well, we can't change what's done, as much as I wish we could, that's for sure."

"It's true, I never should have kept this a secret," Regina continued, "I should have been honest from the start. I Should have contacted you, discussed it with you.. I never Should have left you, Emma. But I did. In college I knew that all I continued to do was hurt you, time and again. I knew my mother would never accept us, and I didn't want to put you through all the shit I was already going through. And I would change all of that if I could."

She paused a moment before continuing. "But please understand that I would never change the fact that I had Henry."

Emma shot a glance at her that felt like daggers. Quickly, Regina continued before Emma could speak. "Henry's birth changed my life, Emma. Every time I looked at him, I thought of you. As my marriage to Robin quickly fell apart, I found salvation in Henry, our Henry. Our son saved me from what would have been some of the darkest moments in my life."

Emma glanced at her, unsure of what to say.

"I love Henry, Emma. And I love you."

Emma softened, "Regina.. I never really imagined myself a mother. You know that."

"I do."

"I need to know," Emma continued, "how did this even happen?"

Regina thought for a minute, "honestly, it began without intention."

"How do you mean?"

"After meeting with the doctor a few times for consultations, they ask you if you prefer the child to look like you and your spouse. Of course I said yes."

"Ok..."

"Except, when he asked me what my spouse liked like, all I could do was describe you."

Emma looked on, not saying anything.

" You see, Robin never met the doctor in person so, it became easy to describe you instead. And honestly, it all just flowed out without much effort or thought. It just felt so.. natural. Soon after, the doctor pulled a few charts belonging to donors fitting your description to have me look over."

"What??!" Emma replied in shock, "Is that not illegal? It's supposed to be anonymous!"

"Oh, it is." Regina assured her, "the donor's personal information like name and address is never visible. Nor their whereabouts. But everything from family background to physical traits are seen. After looking over and narrowing my choices down, I had three donors to choose from. Yours was among the three. It took me weeks to make a choice. For some reason I was drawn to your chart the most, so I begged the doctor to reveal the name. After he refused, I offered him a handsome Check in exchange for the info, and he told me. He told me your name."

Emma did not know what to say. For once, the detective was at a loss for words. In no way did Emma believe that speaking with Regina about this would make things better, but she never imagined she would feel worse.

"Emma.. please, say something... anything.." Regina begged.

Emma only looked at her, her eyes wide and brows knitted together. A feeling of nausea began to churn in her stomach as she struggled to find her words.

Regina interjected, "Henry is a good kid Emma.. I know that when you save my boy, our boy.. when you finally meet him, you're gonna love him just as much as I do."

Regina moved closer to Emma, reaching to tuck a stray strand of hair behind the blonde's ear.

"Don't touch me, Regina."

Abruptly, Regina retracted her hand and nervously wrung her hands together, looking away.

For a moment there was only silence. As time passed, the sun began to set casting tall shadows against the wall of the fireplace. Regina coughed as Emma stared into nothingness.

"Emma.. I don't know what you expect of me.. I am so deeply in love with you, but truthfully, I don't deserve you. I know that."

"Regina-"

"Emma, if you wish to drop my case due to all of this, I will understand-"

Emma's gaze jerked up to face Regina. "The fact that Henry is my own flesh and blood only cements the fact that I want to find him. Though it is of no choice of my own, Henry is my son too. The rest we can figure out later."

"Oh god...!" Regina gasped, "Emma, thank you. Thank you so much. I miss Henry so much.. Thank you for not giving up.."

Emma motioned to stand, but crumpled down in pain suddenly, grabbing at the shoulder where she took that bullet chasing Cora down a few days before. "Emma! are you alright?" Regina asked concerned. Reaching to help her, Emma put up her hand in refusal. "I'm fine."

"Are you?" Regina asked, her eyes fixed on Emma's Shoulder. "Let me just see what's wrong, maybe I can help.." she offered, attempting again to reach for Emma. "Im fine, really.." Emma replied, pulling away. Wincing harder this time, Emma removed her jacket exposing her wounded shoulder. Regina's eyes went wide, surprised at what she saw. "What? What is it??" Emma asked, looking down at her wound. Suddenly finding herself just as surprised as Regina, Emma took in the sight of blood soaking through the bandage and sleeve of her shirt.

"Who the hell applied that dressing??!" Regina demanded in concern, "It terrible!" Emma closed her eyes, recalling that it was she who tended her own wound. "I uh, I went down to the clinic and they helped me." Emma lied. "Well, they ought to be fired!" Regina replied angrily as Emma rolled her eyes. "Im serious Emma! It could be infected!"

"Alright, alright.." Emma caved, "Just get me some peroxide and gauze. Ill fix it-"

"Absolutely not!" Regina answered, "Were going to the hospital!" When Emma tried to interject, Regina refused, "No. We are going, Ms. Swan! And that's final." Emma knew shed never win that fight. "Fine." She replied, "Ill drive." Regina turned to her in shock, "Its as if all logic has left you completely. I will drive. I am not the one with a bullet in her shoulder."

Emma offered her keys to Regina, "Alright then. Lets go."