The constant sound of cars honking and people yelling echoed off the buildings surrounding the little bakery. The sound of the pouring rain filled the bakery owners ears. Emma sighed as another slow day was drawing to a close. Her little bakery wasn't doing as well as she had hoped, but she had it and that was all that mattered to Emma. She dusted off her last table for the day and moved to the door to flip the open sign to closed. Before she could reach the door the most beautiful women Emma had ever seen came rushing in.
"Oh, excuse me!" exclaimed the woman. "I didn't mean to rush in like that, but I just wanted to get out of this rain for a little bit and I saw that your lights were still on."
Emma noticed that the beautiful woman's mouth had stopped moving. She realized that it was her turn to speak, she opened and closed her mouth trying to formulate words. Finally after a huge awkward moment, Emma cleared her throat and said "um yeah, sure, that's fine. Would you, um, like a piece of pie or something while you wait?"
"I wouldn't want to be any trouble..."
"It's no trouble! I was going to go in a few minutes to deliver the leftovers to the homeless shelter that's around the corner, but you could have some." Emma smiled, while still slightly dazed from this woman's beauty.
"Well I wouldn't want to take any food from the homeless. But it does smell rather delicious" replied the woman.
Emma chuckled as she saw the hungry look overtake the woman's eyes as the looked over the display of pastries. "What looks the best? How about some pecan pie?" Emma noticed the slight shake of the woman's head and mumbled to herself "that's a no."
"Um, do you happen to have anything apple? I love apples." The woman asked a little shyly.
"Yeah, apple, got it. How about an apple muffin? Its my own recipe!"
"That sound perfect." The woman smiled, then she seemed to remember something. "Oh my name is Regina by the way. Regina Mills."
"Well is a pleasure to meet you Miss Mills. My name is Emma Swan and welcome to my humble bakery." Emma grinned and took a little bow. Regina smiled at Emma's silliness.
Regina looked around the small shop and took in the homey feel it had. She thought "I wish I could do something this simple and nice. But my life isn't simple, I'm a Mills and that's that."
Emma noticed the faraway look in Regina's eyes and decided to go around behind the counter and act like a bakery owner instead of a silly teenager. Emma cleared her throat trying to get Regina out of her mind and into the real world "one apple muffin for the apple loving Miss Mills." Emma smiled at Regina and thought " the lovely apple loving Miss Mills. Whoa Swan! Slow your roll, you literally just met this lady! But I guess I could appreciate the beauty while I can"
"Oh thank you Miss Swan" Regina reached out to take the muffin. But before she could reach it, Emma pulled it back and said "none of that Miss Swan business. My name is Emma." Emma smiled then gave the muffin to Regina.
Regina smiled a little, "thank you, Emma."
"Much better. I'm still too young to be called Miss Swan." Emma chuckled a little at her lame joke then continued, "so Miss Mills, what brings you around this way?"
"If I have to call you Emma then you must call me Regina, I insist."
"Alright, Regina and Emma it is." Emma smiled.
Regina blushed a little at the thought of there being and 'Regina and Emma'. "What on earth am I doing?! Blushing at a stupid thought like that? I've just met her and I'm already acting like a teenager with a crush! I mean she is nice and all, but she is just a, a friend? Maybe a friend." To hide the blush, Regina took a bit out of the muffin that was in her hand. She moaned at the taste. "Oh my god! Emma this is delicious!"
Emma blushed, but quickly covered it with a smirk. "I happen to know my way around the kitchen."
"Obviously! What on earth did you do to make this taste like heaven on earth?" Regina asked in wonder.
"Ah, a magician can't reveal her secrets." Emma smiled. Just then Emma noticed that Regina was shivering ever so slightly and frowned "Would you like some coffee to help warm you up? I forgot to ask earlier when you came in."
"That would be lovely!" Regina was very pleased with the thought of being warm. "Do you make your own coffee too?" Regina asked hoping it didn't sound as flirty as she thought it did.
Emma noticed the flirty tone, and grinned a little hoping Regina was into women. "I'm sad to disappoint, but I don't make my own coffee. But I do have a secret way of brewing it that, as I've been told, makes it explode with flavor in your mouth." "Explode with flavor? Really Swan? That's what you go with to flirt back? You're a real Casanova."
"Well anything hot will be acceptable." "You for instance would be very much acceptable. Wow Regina. This has gone far enough. Just make an excuse and leave before you blurt something out and embarrass yourself."
Emma cleared her throat, " yes, well, here you go. I hope you don't mind if I picked a special blend for you. Just so you know, I'm the best at picking people's coffee for them. I know just what they need." Emma boasted. Regina smiled politely at Emma trying not to embarrass herself and responded "of course, you are the expert I guess."
Regina took a sip of the coffee and almost moaned at the wonderful taste. "It does explode with flavor in my mouth!" Regina took a moment to appreciate the wonderful flavors of the coffee and the muffin then said "Emma you are the best Baker and coffee maker I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!"
Emma beamed at the compliments "thanks! I do try."
Regina smiled as Emma lite up at the compliments on her work. "Well, the rain has begun to let up, so I guess I should go."
Emma suddenly wished the skies would open up and pour just so Regina would stay a little longer. "Oh, I guess the rain is slowing."
Regina noticed that Emma seemed to be a little sad at the thought of her leaving and smiled. " yes it is, and I must go, but tomorrow morning I will be back to get another amazing muffin and coffee."
Emma smile came back full force and blinded Regina for a moment. "I'm looking forward to it, but house rules is that you have to try something new before you can get another muffin." Emma smirked a little.
"Oh really?" Regina lifted an eyebrow and gave Emma a smirk of her own.
Emma just smiled right back and said "yes really. But I don't worry everything I make is good."
Regina laughed harder than she had in a long while and shook her head. "Whatever you say dear." Regina smiled then started to walk towards the door. "I will see you in the morning Emma. Have a good night."
"You to Regina." Emma smiled and Regina returned the smile. Regina walked out the door and then turned and waved at Emma before walking away.
"Well I'm glad I decided to clean one last table before closing," Emma said to herself. She then moved towards the door to flip the open sign to closed, she didn't even notice the huge smile that was on her face.