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Regina was sitting on her balcony, trying to relax. It had been a long day at the end of a long week. If anyone in town saw her like this, she would be mortified. Wearing leggings and a sweater, sitting cross-legged on her balcony in a distinctly Emma way. She was leaning back, supporting herself on one hand with a cigarette in the other. A combination of the breeze, the birds, and the nicotine finally brought some peace. This week really had been a bureaucratic nightmare. It was times like these when she wondered why she had made herself mayor. She could have given herself zero responsibilities, or even denied the job after the curse broke, but here she was, trying to do better and be better.
Suddenly, the balcony door opened. Regina jumped and rushed to put out the cigarette, not even recognizing who was there. Only two people would have the audacity: Henry and Emma, and the cigarette was definitely the most damning thing she could have in front of either of them.
“You don’t have to do that, you know,” Emma said casually, “you could just share.”
Regina paused. “What?”
Emma grabbed Regina’s cigarette pack and lighter, pulled out a new one, lit it, and took a drag. Clearly, this wasn’t Emma’s first. Regina looked on in shock.
“What?” Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I just didn’t know you smoked. Figured you would disapprove.”
“Same,” Emma shrugged and offered the cigarette to Regina, who took it hesitantly. They sat in silence for a few minutes, sharing the cigarette between them.
“Don’t tell Henry,” Regina broke the silence between them. “I promised him I would quit. I’ve been trying it’s just…”
“Hard,” Emma finished.
“Yes, especially after this week. I needed to relax.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.”
The two fell into a comfortable silence again.
“I know it’s bad for you, but it’s definitely sexy,” said Emma casually. Regina stared at Emma for a moment.
“You think it’s sexy that you smoke?” Regina questioned.
“No, I think it's sexy that you smoke.” Emma shrugged.
“You think I’m sexy?”
“Obviously. You didn’t know?”
“No,” Regina whispered, falling silent.
“So, how long?” Emma asked.
“A couple of weeks into the curse. I needed something to replace the magic. You?”
Emma nodded at Regina’s confession. “A foster brother encouraged me to try one when I was 13. I hated it then. Neal got me hooked; he was a smoker. That’s the good thing about being in prison when you’re pregnant. It’s hard to get cigarettes and alcohol. I was kinda forced to quit, but…I started again when I got out.”
“We should help each other quit. For Henry.” Regina stated, resigned.
“We should,” Emma agreed. After a moment, she added, “but will we?”
“Do you want him to be a smoker?”
“No.”
“Then we have to try. He can’t see both of his moms like this. We both want better for him.”
“For Henry,” Emma declared, putting out the cigarette.
“For Henry.” Regina agreed. They both knew this wouldn’t be easy. Both of them had tried to quit before. Now they had each other to lean on and strong motivation in the form of their son.
“So, cigarettes to replace magic?” Emma asked. Regina nodded.
“What’s it like, using magic?” Emma asked as she and Regina continued sitting together on the balcony.
“Addicting,” She didn’t say anything else for a moment, but Emma waited. “Henry asked me to quit magic, and I am trying, for him, but he doesn’t understand how hard it is. This magic is the reason I am alive. It’s how I have survived for so long.”
“You don’t need it to survive anymore, though,” Emma reasoned. Regina shook her head.
“It’s very literally addicting as well, just like the cigarettes. When the magic is coursing through your body, the way it flows, it’s a high on its own. When I came to Storybrooke and no longer had my magic, I was struggling. I tried to keep going, but withdrawal is brutal, magical or mundane, and I needed something. It’s a similar feeling. The high, the release. When you have been doing magic as long as I have, it’s hard to just…stop.”
“Why do you want me to learn magic if it’s been so bad for you?” Regina shook her head at Emma’s question.
“It’s different for you. You were born with magic, made from true love . Your magic is innate; you aren’t pulling from outside like I am. It won’t feel like it does for me. You are meant for magic.”
“Regina…why does this matter so much to you? If I do magic?”
“Because maybe, if you can do magic and protect us all with magic…Maybe I won’t have to. Maybe I can make Henry proud of me again, and if I can’t, I know there will be someone to take care of him.”
“Henry is proud of you, Regina. He’s proud that you are trying.”
“Trying isn’t enough.” Regina shook her head.
“Yes, it is.” Emma insisted.