Chapter 7

                                    

                                          
"Do you know Regina Mills?"
                          
Emma sat opposite her mother at their table. She was peeling potatoes and the peels were all over the tablecloth, much to Mary Margaret's disliking. However, Mary Margaret was happy enough that Emma was willing to help her, so she hadn't complained.
                          
It was Monday evening. Cora had stayed much longer than Mary Margaret's planning actually allowed, but it had been quite insightful. She'd learned a lot about her old classmate and it had been enjoyable to catch up with her.
                          
They'd talked all about their children, what they'd been up to the last couple of years, and their careers nowadays. She'd been wondering ever since if Emma knew anything about Regina.
                          
And she also worried about Regina. Although she hadn't met the girl yet, the way Cora talked about her, concerned her. Where Cora probably found it sweet how she praised Regina for the weight that she had lost in the past six months, it genuinely worried Mary Margaret.
                          
"You're kidding, right?" Emma questioned in dismay. She hadn't expected the name to ever leave her mother's lips and she was anything but pleased.
                          
"What are you talking about?"
                          
Emma put the small knife down and gritted her teeth as she looked at her mother. "She's the most obnoxious girl I've ever met. I can't stand her and I can't stand how every conversation I'm holding with anyone turns to her as topic. It's so frustrating," Emma said and continued peeling the potatoes, but a little more tensed now.
                          
"I ran into Cora Mills, her mother, today. We used to go to Storybrooke High together and we started talking for a bit," Mary Margaret said. "I think Regina has it tougher than she lets out. You should be a little nicer to her."
                          
Emma rolled her eyes. "I don't owe her any kindness. Just because she has it hard doesn't excuse any rudeness of hers."
                          
Mary Margaret softly sighed, in disappointment. Sometimes she wished Emma would open her mind just a bit to see past people's exterior and listen to their problems. She knew it was hard for her daughter, but she hoped that someday she would learn to.
                          
"But why does she have it hard? Did her mom buy the wrong pony for her?"
                          
"Emma.." Mary Margaret scolded and looked angry at her daughter. "You know I don't often say that people have a tough time, but I think Regina could really use some kindness. Cora doesn't seem like the most loving mother and that can have a big effect on someone."
                          
"Well, that still doesn't excuse all the awful things she does to people. She stole Ruby's boyfriend, for God's sake!" Emma knew her mother didn't care for rumours. She never believed them, unless they were confirmed by the person who the rumour was about.
                          
However, Emma was willing to throw any argument against her mother. She was tired of having everything suddenly revolve around Regina. She didn't know what was so special about the girl.
                          
Everyone kept talking about a certain appeal that Regina held, but Emma couldn't see it. She could see that Regina was stunning, but that was about it. There wasn't a bone in her body that was attracted to Regina.
                          
"I highly doubt that's true," Mary Margaret responded.
                          
"That's just because you never believe rumours, but Ruby told me she had a picture and everyone said so. Regina stole Ruby's boyfriend and never came with an explanation."
                          
Mary Margaret sighed and rubbed her temple for a moment. "Regina is a lesbian, Emma."
                          
"No, she's not," Emma quickly responded.
                          
"Yes, she is."
                          
"No, she can't be a lesbian."
                          
"Why not? Just because she doesn't feel as comfortable with her sexuality as you do? Because she's not as open about it as you? The way her mother talked about her sexuality made it obvious to me as to why she wouldn't tell other people it."