hunnyfresh - Letters from War

Did you just reveal your secret ingredient so soon? Well then. I think now the only thing left to do is to actually try this turnover. Are you busy sometime next April? And I suggest you go apple picking before then to welcome my arrival.

Stay awesome, Regina.

Emma

July 20 2003

Emma,

Thank you for the postcard. It looks like a beautiful city despite the reasons behind your presence there.

This was the best postcard Storybrooke had to offer. I'll have to have a talk with someone to photograph better scenery and landmarks. It's our clock tower. It hasn't worked for as long as I can remember, but it's part of our town history.

Stay safe.

Regina

August 13 2003

The kid went to the bathroom by himself! What? That is amazing! Tell him I appreciate the drawing of him on the toilet. Purple hair, huh? I think the kid is trying to tell you something. His inner rebel is showing early.

I found this really neat keychain. I thought you might like it. Well I didn't find it, I bought it off some kids selling in the market. I think they made it themselves, so it's cute. If it didn't get confiscated on its way to you, the bead colours are their flag. I know it's not much, but that's the start of me making it up to you for all those birthday and Christmas gifts you've sent to me.

Emma

August 31 2003

Emma,

Thank you for the gift. I love it. Henry has already taken to playing with it when he steals my keys from the front table. Lately he's been taking them from the front table, and if it weren't for the jangling of him, I would never find them. His most notable hiding places, however, has been the vegetable crisper and inside his toy chest.

Henry and I will be travelling to New York for a week tomorrow. I haven't taken him out of Storybrooke, and to be honest I haven't left the town myself since I adopted him, so I'm quite anxious to leave town. I can't remember the last time I had a vacation. I packed Henry's suitcase only to find that he removed all his clothing and replaced them with his toys.

As a former resident of the big city, do you have any suggestions for sightseeing activities? The itinerary I planned for the week may be missing some highlights.

Stay safe.

Regina

October 13 2003

August got hurt. Really badly. I don't even know how that went down, it all happened so fast. We were driving, just doing a patrol, and it wasn't different from the patrols we do any other day, and then there's just this explosion and screaming and bullets flying and next thing I see is August on the ground and he's red and his leg - god it was bad before but now it's just. I don't know. Me and Neal covered for him and we got him out of there, but what if it's too late?

He got looked at. The doctors are checking over him right now, but he's been in the infirmary for the last day and I don't know what's gonna happen to him. He looked really bad. He's like the only family I have. I should have done something. I should have warned him. I should have seen it coming. He's the better leader, he's the better fighter, and what's gonna happen if he's gone?

I'm sorry I don't mean to throw all this on you. I just don't know who to talk to right now. I usually talk to August but I can't. What if something happens to him? Neal says he's gonna be okay, but what if he's not? They train you for every situation and you're supposed to know every move, but it's not the same when it actually happens. When people die in front of you and you just have to keep going like nothing happened. Like these people that you're living with for years and years aren't worth anything when they're shot or worse. You're supposed to push it down and follow orders but god it was August.

October 30 2003

Emma I am so sorry. I truly hope that he's okay and that he recovers. If there's anything I can do - perhaps I can contact his hometown or any friends or family for him. He may need extensive medical attention. Maybe there's strings I can pull or anything.

Emma, I know you are scared right now, and I know this may get to you too little too late, but you are not alone. August is your family, yes, but there are others who care about you as well. Your team, even Henry and myself. We would all care if anything were to happen to you, so please do not do anything rash in your state.

You'll be home soon, Emma. Take care of yourself, and be safe.

Regina

November 12 2003

Hey,

August lost his leg. They sent him state-side to get looked at. He's probably gonna get honourably discharged. But I got to visit him before they shipped him home. He's dealing. But he's alive. He was joking about getting a prosthetic and how he could still kick my ass with it. But he's dealing.

You know, I don't know how I could ever have dealt with this, or deal with this actually, if I didn't get to write to you. I know that puts loads of pressure on you, and like, you could back out at any time, but it's nice to talk to someone in the real world. It makes me forget, for the few minutes I get to read your letters or for the time I spend writing to you, how exhausting the day is and how mentally draining it is. It's like a don't-ask-don't-tell policy around here, and it's just nice to know that the world doesn't suck when I talk to you.

I'm doing okay. It's been about month, and it's - honestly? I get kind of freaked out every time we go on patrol. It makes me more vigilant. My senses are heightened. I can anticipate attacks a hell of a lot better, but there's this niggling feeling in the back of my head that we just narrowly avoided something. I kind of took over August's place. It's not too different it's just, I'm now responsible for the lives of these ten men and women and I have to make sure they get home and I couldn't even do that for August. But I'm okay.

I got your birthday present. I gotta say, seeing a Swisstool in the box made me laugh, but thank you so much. You got it engraved and everything. I've never gotten a personalized gift before. I've seen it for a while now, but I get how you can get the people in your town to do what you want. If you're like this to a stranger, then the town must be your second baby.

Four moths and counting.

Emma

November 22 2003

Emma,

I'm glad to hear he's alive. I imagine it will be a difficult transition, but he has you as support when you get back home. I'm sure he's looking forward to seeing you again. I understand the pressures of added responsibilities. Though nowhere near your level, becoming a mother was a terrifying experience. You're suddenly responsible for this life. It's overwhelming. But they wouldn't have chosen you if they didn't believe you could do it. I would choose you to lead, and that is saying something, Ms. Swan. I am a Mayor after all.

It's comical you think me saintly. Many others would disagree with you. I try to keep my personal life and my work life separate, and I do that rather successfully. Alas, the reason why there are few friends in my life. I'm pleased you enjoyed your gift.

Be careful and stay safe.

Regina

December 24 2003

Regina,

I know it's been well over a month since you heard from me. It's been pretty crazy. I'm okay though. A good kind of crazy though. Actually we all kind of got a gift. I don't know if you watch wrestling, but WWE came over and put on a show for us, and I got a hug from Torrie Wilson and we talked for a bit when they were visiting around the camp. This won't get to you in time, but in the event you're able to get old episodes of Raw or Smackdown, maybe you'll catch my face.