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After a long and exhausting day at the station and on patrol, Emma Swan finally stepped through the front door of her home, the weight of her duty-bound obligations lifting off her shoulders the moment she crossed the threshold. The long hours, the endless paperwork, the constant pressure, all gone now, replaced by the comforting quiet of home.
She kicked off her boots, before removing her jacket and hanging it on the hook by the door. Her fingers brushed the cool surface of the side table as she set her keys down, the small clink of metal against wood filling the silence.
"Regina?" she called softly, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the house.
But there was no reply. No rustling in the kitchen, no faint sound of the television, no music, no soft murmur of Regina’s voice. Emma’s brow furrowed as she glanced around. The house felt... empty.
She pulled out her phone, unlocking it with a tired swipe. Maybe Regina had gone out, she thought. A quick errand, or a meeting she hadn’t mentioned. But when Emma checked her messages, there was nothing—no text, no missed calls. The absence of any notifications only deepened the strange quiet that hung in the air.
A knot formed in her stomach, and she exhaled a slow breath, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that had started to settle.
She set her phone aside and started down the hallway, her steps slow and deliberate as she moved toward their bedroom. But as she passed the bathroom, she noticed a soft light glowing underneath. Regina?
Emma hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. There was no sound from inside. No movement. She knocked lightly.
“Regina?”
Nothing. No answer. Just her own voice echoing in the silence.
Emma’s heart raced, a quick pulse of worry flashing through her. With a quiet breath, she twisted the doorknob and eased the door open.
Regina sat curled in the bathtub, knees drawn to her chest, chin resting atop them. The water lapped softly around her, nearly still. The sight of her, so vulnerable, so small, took Emma's breath away.
"Regina?" Emma’s voice was tentative.
Regina slowly looked up, and even through the faint steam in the air, Emma could see her eyes—shining, red-rimmed, and full of quiet devastation.
Emma didn’t say anything more. She stepped fully into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and then reached for the hem of her shirt. She began to undress, moving slowly, unhurried, the movements purposeful.
No words passed between them. And though her expression remained distant—lost, Regina didn’t look away.
Once bare, Emma stepped to the edge of the tub and whispered a soft, “Scoot.”
Regina’s brow furrowed, and for a moment, Emma thought she might not move at all. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, Regina shifted forward, making room in the small tub.
Emma stepped in, lowering herself behind Regina, the warmth of the water wrapping around her limbs, drawing her closer. She gently pulled Regina back into her body, wrapping her arms around her waist, and pressed her cheek to the damp curve of Regina’s shoulder.
“I'm here." Emma whispered like a gentle promise.
Regina’s breath hitched, and then she crumpled in Emma’s arms, silent sobs shaking her frame. Emma tightened her hold, fingers splaying across her stomach, her chest flush against Regina’s back. She pressed a kiss to the back of her neck and held her. She didn’t try to stop it. Didn’t try to fix it. She just held Regina close as she continued to cry. Her lips brushing against Regina's hair as she whispered quiet reassurances.
“I’m here, Regina. I’ve got you.”