Okaaaaaaaay, it's time for another one of my "maybe I'm reaching, maybe I'm onto something" posts. So strap in and hopefully enjoy the ride on the delusion rollercoaster.
Recently I've rewatched s1 ep1, and I couldn't help but notice something. Since the first meeting between Emma and Regina Emma was looking at her with curiosity and some sort of eagerness. Besides the initial:
which we all know and love, I've looked more into the rest of Emma's reactions and the one at the end when Emma brings Henry back AGAIN caught my attention, because like:
Emma's standing there, looking all happy, telling this stranger she BARELY knows how she made a wish on her birthday to not be alone, she's opening up to Gina DAY FUCKING ONE, and specifically when she says: "then Henry showed up" I feel like there's an unspoken "and brought me here, to you" in there, she wanted to say something more, like she was a step away from fully asking Regina out, which, whilst perhaps unwise, but is completely understandable because if I saw a woman that gorgeous I too would throw away any reason and shoot my shot because how could I not. I'm being dead fucking serious. Like Henry even mentioned that he doesn't have a dad, just his single mom, who, as it turns out is stunningly gorgeous and very hot, it would be a crime not to at least try.
In Emma's mind she didn't know anyone there, so there would be no other reason for her to be brought there aside from bringing Henry back to Gina, no other reason to stick around for. Henry didn't try and get her to talk to anyone in hopes she can make their memories come back, sole focus here IS Regina. Granted all she knew of her was what she gathered during their talk and what Henry told her, but she was already defending Regina against what Henry was saying about her. She sees this woman who clearly loves her son very much, and the orphan, mommy issues side of Emma is in awe at having someone love their adopted child that much, and the gay part of her really, really doesn't want to let this opportunity pass by.
Unfortunately right after what Emma said Regina does this:
Because in Regina's mind no matter how pretty, that blonde woman is an immediate threat to everything she has. Her son is her life and Emma without even trying is taking him away. She cannot lose him, she will NOT lose him, so assuming Emma will try and be in his life now, she becomes very defensive and stern, to which Emma reacts like this:
Completely taken aback because whatever she was about to say had nothing more to do with Henry, in her mind Regina was rejecting her rather harshly before she even had a chance to say what she wanted.
Then Regina goes on the whole rant about how she was there for every diaper, every sickness, she has been his mother for his entire life, and Emma has no right to him, because she gave them up when she opted for a closed adoption.
(side note, is it implied here that had Emma not opted for the closed adoption, had she reached out when she got out of prison, she might've been a part of his life for years now??? Even in small portions?? Maybe even after hearing Emma's story they'd reach a custody agreement, Emma would move to Storybrook so Henry would have two parents???? Because I do think Emma's story would move Regina, she was young, betrayed and alone once, maybe she'd understand, after Emma had shown that she hadn't made the decision lightly, but she really just wanted to give him his best chance)
Emma immediately tries to say that that's not what she was about to say at all but Regina doesn't let her, doesn't listen, and continues putting Emma down and starts making threats, which causes Emma's walls to build right back up, her expression hardens, and anything she was feeling goes right into a secure box deep inside her heart and is replaced by distrust and animosity, not only become of the harsh words and (unintentional) rejection, but also maybe what the kid was saying about Regina was worth looking into, for his safety (definitely not because this hot, mean lady has thrown her a challenge, and bruised her ego). So she stayed.
Idk if what I'm saying makes sense, it's a mess I know but the gist of it is that Emma and Regina were focusing on two different things here. Emma maybe possibly can see something good blossoming between them, no matter the very interesting circumstances she's focusing on THEM, while all Regina sees is her impending doom, the possible loss of her son. Emma was taken with Regina from the beginning
(as was Regina with her, but unfortunately Regina is Regina's worst enemy so her insecurities, fears and quite frankly hot headedness managed to sabotage everything before it even started, once again showing that no matter what outcome Regina was hoping for, had she just been NICE to Emma everything would've been so different, but apparently Emma had the power to turn Regina's brain off since day one and it brought out Regina's impulsive rather then strategic side)
I'll shut up now, sorry this is so long, but yeah, that is my hot take for today.
