Disclaimer: none of these characters are mine...well except my original ones of course.
A/N: Dedicated to the real-life octopussies,
love you, you crazy weirdos! XD
for Day 4 of SwanQueen week, Hollywood meets minimum wage.
I didn't get the whole thing done in time so this will be a few chapters long but the good thing is, there will be more moments to look forward to and I don't have to rush through them *woot!*
Take care,
Ang
Chapter 1
Emma Swan just moved to LA, barista by day, fangirl and aspiring writer, well, all the time mainly by night since that was the only time she had to do anything fun. She was a massive fan of the actress Regina Mills, better yet she was referred to as a stan on twitter, she had quite the following but she'd still yet to be noticed by her idol…her love…well just she was invisible to everybody but her 100+ followers and her very funny yet very raunchy group chat, Ruby was probably the worst but she had to admit she was always shocked by the things that came out of sweet shy Mary Margaret's mouth…or well, fingers? Well, I guess mouth too now that they're roommates…whatever she wrote fanfiction and all that super fun stuff but she was dying to meet her hero, her gay awakening, Regina Mills, the literal queen of everything from TV to the biggest Hollywood productions. She was also dying to write something so good Regina would agree to star in it and just, Emma Swan was literal trash.
She had a phone case with one of the quotes from her role on that fairy-tale show from a few years back, and she has a poster from all her favourite movies on her wall her and Mary Margaret actually spent almost an hour geeking out over all their stuff, Mary Margaret actually met Regina 3 times, the bitch, rich and local enough to go to her SDCC panels and get autographs and she stopped in at the coffee shop she works at once…the one Emma currently works at and to be honest she's hoping she drops in again some time and that Mary Margaret's tendency to freak out didn't scare her away from the general vicinity indefinitely.
her phone chimed and she pulled it out of her pocket, leaning against the breakfast bar in their loft, rolling her eyes at the message from her group chat, the Octopussies, it was changed last month after Ruby had a brain fart about the plural name for an octopus, Mulan, the chats founder changed the name almost instantly resulting in a group-wide laughing fit.
"Yo, did you see the new pics from the Queen's new mag shoot!? My ovaries literally just blew up everywhere!"
Emma rolled her eyes, typing out a response to Ruby AKA Little Red when messages started popping in from others in her group.
"No! What pics, bitch send them! You're such a tease!" came from Merida AKA Archer, which no matter how many times they teased her about her originality she didn't give a fuck.
"If you don't send them right now I'm spamming you with 50 shades gifs!"
Emma laughed at Mary Margaret's response, erasing what she had written previously and sending, "God, no, M&M that's just cruel!"
"Yeah, Mary, come on, don't torture yourself just cause, Rubes is a fucking tease."
"Yeah, listen to Elsa." She was smirking, and then her heart fell out her ass when Ruby sent about 5 pictures and Regina, she was…oh fuck, "Holy fuck! *dead*"
"How is she so hot!? Wtf! Dayum! The jeans…I never thought we'd ever see her in jeans!" Came Marian AKA MrsMills.
Emma saved the photo, and closed out of the chat window to tweet it,
ReginaMills Holy fuck! I stab you so hard!
She clicked post just as her eyes landed on it, on STAB, "Fuck!" and she quickly replied to the tweet.
Stab!
"No, fuck!"
FUCK NO! STAB!
STAN! I STAN YOU! NOT STAB!
"fuck, fuck, fuck! She's going to block and report me and prob give me a restraining order, and fuck my life!"
She sent about 3 gifs too and 5 memes and a slew of emojis before tweeting out of the thread.
Fuck, guys, please, just kill me
I give up on life, I'm going to go live under a bridge somewhere
She's going to think I want to kill her! GUYS!
And then about 50 gifs from SpongeBob burying himself to Regina herself jumping from a cliff from her action movie last year.
LittleRed replied to your tweet: LOL you're so talented, Swan.
ReginasWarrior replied to your tweet: Swan, girl, wtf, what have I told you about not tweeting when you're in a gay haze of Gina hotness
SHUT UP! I KNOW! FML! This isn't funny!
Archer replied to your tweet: You're right, it's fucking hilarious!
ElsieMills liked your tweet
ElsieMills replied to your tweet: I mean, maybe she'll notice you now, and you can frame the restraining order.
I'm just…I'll be in my shame corner…fml
PS: You are all assholes and I hate you!
BirdsandMills replied to your tweet: Awwee, sweetie, there's ice cream in the back of the freezer, I'll bring you home some hotcocoa after work
Emma grumbled, tossing her phone on the coffee table before she fell face first onto the couch, cursing herself for not turning off the notification sounds as her phone kept beeping away with her friends teasing…it'll only get worse later.
When Mary Margaret got home Emma was cuddling a pillow with a feather on it (that matched Regina's tattoo on her wrist) to her chest, curled up in a little ball Emma's favourite movie of the woman's playing on the TV and an empty pint of M&M ice cream on the coffee table.
"Hey, sweetie."
Emma only grunted before holding out her hand expectantly for the hot cocoa she knew her friend had for her and smirked when the warm cup was placed in her hand.
"It's not that bad, I'm sure she won't even see it, she probably gets millions of tweets every day and with the new photos released you can just double that."
Both their phones pinged and Emma looked at her with her trademark wide puppy dog eyes, "What're they saying now?"
Mary Margaret sighed, dropping onto the couch next to Emma's feet as she pulled out her phone, "They're just curious how you are, they're worried."
"Good," Emma grunts out, pouting as she goes back to watching Regina or well her character Roxie sassing back to the big bad in this movie.
Mary Margaret shook her head and took a pic of Emma sending it to the group,
"She's being our Emma, so she'll be fine…especially since my toaster hasn't been destroyed yet."
Emma gave her a side eye when her phone chimed.
"I was just telling them you were okay."
"Mmhmm, and if I check it right now?"
"Oh shush, and watch your movie, it's almost your fave part."
"Yours too!"
Mary Margaret laughed, relaxing back into the couch as Emma shifted so she could drink her hot cocoa easier, "It's everyone's favourite scene, she beats up a dude soaking wet in a river in just jean shorts and a tank top."
Emma hummed, glancing at Mary Margaret when she heard her phone chime a few more times and watched the woman reply quickly to the rapid messages coming from their chat.
Mary Margaret filled her in on a few messages, laughing at replies from the others who just got off work to find the horror show that was Emma's life currently.
"Elsie offered to hide you in her basement."
That made Emma smirk as they watched their second favourite movie now, a romcom from early in Regina's career but it always made Emma laugh and well Sandra Bullock and Regina Mills on one screen was serious goals.
Their phones had gotten quiet for a bit and then Emma's phone beeped and her brow jumped up and seconds later both Emma's and M&M's phones started going wild, and by wild she means the notification sound didn't stop for a solid minute.
"Oh my god! Em! Look at your phone!"
"Why? What's going on!?"
"Em, just fucking look!"
It wasn't common for her roommate to cuss so she picked up her phone, about 5 notifications visible from her chat everyone freaking out telling her to look at her phone so she quickly unlocked it pulling up twitter. She ignored the chat notifications and clicked on the alert bubble, and then almost died, literally, she choked on her own spit and Mary Margaret started patting her back helpfully.
"Holy shit," She breathed as she stared down at the top of her notifications
ReginaMills replied to your tweet: Are you alright, dear?
"Oh, my mother fucking god! She replied! Mary Margaret, she fucking replied! What do I do!?"
"Answer her!"
"Now!?"
"No, next week! Yes, now!"
"Oh my god! What do I say!?"
"Yes? No? I am after I just watched you flirt with Sandra Bullock and kick someone's ass in a river!? I don't know!"
Her phone chimed and they fell quiet, Emma's eyes dropping down to her phone screen,
ReginaMills liked a tweet you were mentioned in.
"Did she just…"
Mary Margaret nodded as she looked down at her phone, "She liked my tweet, Em, she liked my fucking tweet!"
"Holy shit, M&M!"
She unlocked her phone again, clicking the notification from Regina and typed out a reply then deleted it then typed out a new one then deleted that and then that continued for about five more before she finally sent.
Yes, I'm fine…after a tub of ice cream, hot cocoa courtesy of my roomie and about 5 rewatches of Panama Bay
Then she and Mary Margaret both went into their group chat as they waited for a reply from the Regina fucking Mills.
"SWAN! OMFG I'M DEAD! SHE FUCKING LIKED OUR TWEETS! SHE FUCKING REPLIED TO YOU! HOLY SHIT!"
"Classy, Elsie."
"Also….OMFG I'M GOING TO GO JUMP AROUND THE APARTMENT, M&M WILL KEEP YOU BITCHES UPDATED!"
And then that's literally what she did while Mary Margaret filmed it, sending it to the group chat who laughed amid the constant freaking out.
BirdsandMills tagged you in a tweet
Emma turned to glare at Mary Margaret as she opened the tweet, laughing at the caption.
"When your fave replies to your tweets" followed by the video of Emma jumping around their apartment, all their friends and…
"I'll kill you."
"What, I'm sure she would see it on your timeline anyways."
"I cannot believe you just tweeted Regina Mills that!"
"And you tweeted her I stab you so much, stab, fuck, stab, stan! And then about 10 random reaction gifs and emojis."
"Shut up."
ReginaMills liked a tweet you were tagged in
ReginaMills replied to your tweet: Oh dear! Why that movie of all movies!? It is not my best work, Miss Swan.
"Did she just…holy fucking shit!"
it is a masterpiece! You kicking that dude's ass in the river! HOT!
And then she followed up with a gif of that scene while laughing to herself.
ReginaMills liked your tweet
ReginaMills replied to your tweet: Is that so? Hmm, maybe I'll have to watch it back, take a less critical eye to it.
"Is she flirting!?"
"Uhhhh…" Emma looked down at her phone and blinked, about to say something more when Mary Margaret screeched.
"Are you flirting!? OMG, I'm conference calling everybody!"
"M&M!"
But it was no use the woman was already calling the group chat they had on discord too.
"EMMA!"
"SWAN!"
"Dude, what the fuck!? It's the middle of the night and honestly, I don't care!" Came Tink's accented voice through the phones speakers.
"Okay, are they flirting!?"
"YES!"
"If that ain't flirting my gay arse needs to rethink my date for next week."
"The flirting is strong with these ones!" Elsie's voice rang through the chattering of the other's agreement.
"I can't breathe, our little ugly duckling is flirting with the queen."
"Shut up, Meri!" Emma yelled before focusing back on the screen.
If you need someone to help you see how hot you are I'm more than happy to offer my services
"Now that's definitely flirting!" came Mulan's smug reply, her and Ruby snickering away.
ReginaMills liked your reply
ReginaMills started following you
ReginaMills sent you a message: "I may just have to take you up on that sometime, dear."
"Holy shit!" came everyone's response all at once followed by Mary Margaret and Anna screeching in excitement.
"She just followed me and sent me a private message guys."
"What'd she say!?" once again came their group response.
"I may just have to take you up on that sometime, dear…"
"HOLY SHIT, EM!" came their screeches once again Emma laughing through the shocked expression on her face as she replied to her.
"I look forward to it ;)"
"We need to celebrate! M&M! Put in Heroes and Villains!" Ruby ordered.
Emma lowered herself onto the barstool staring at her phone as she got the usual alert when Regina tweeted to all her fans.
Goodnight, my evilregals, I have an early day of shooting tomorrow! As always it was a pleasure speaking with you all today!
"Was she having a Q&A today?"
Mary Margaret looked at her from around the large tv, frowning in thought as Anna's soft voice came through the speaker of her roommate's phone.
"Yeah, didn't you see her tweet this morning about her answering any questions throughout today to celebrate the pickup of her new show?"
"Guys!" Emma exclaimed, pulling up her phone and scrolling through her other notifications.
RegalVictoria quoted your tweet: ReginaMills, please send our ugly duckling some love #SaveDuckling
TrinaD quoted your tweet: oh no! Duckling! What have you done!? ReginaMills she's just a clumsy duckling, she needs the love! #SaveDuckling
ReginaMilf tagged you in a tweet: ReginaMills Look at this puppy face! She's not crazy, promise #SaveDuckling
DragonsQueen tagged you in a tweet: ReginaMills Did you see UglyDucklings Tweets? #SaveDuckling
And they just went on and on and, "Why didn't you guys mention I was practically trending in the fandom!"
"Oh, duckling, we thought you noticed, I mean your follower count has skyrocketed since this morning."
"What do you…holy shit…" Emma gasped, 1118 followers, "Why?"
"We all love our ugly duckling."
"Em, come sit and watch our queen, I'll get you a beer and order pizza."
"Holy shit, I'm famous?"
"Basically, apparently making a complete fool out of yourself got the attention of one of the big accounts and they started the save duckling hashtag and well, we thought you knew and def thought M&M would mention it." Ruby's voice sounded through the phone.
"It's alright, Ems, my basement is still open if you wanna hide out," Elsa offered.
"I may have to take you up on that, Elsie."
Flirting with fans on social media, really I thought you knew better, little sis."
"You don't control what I can and can't do, Zelena," Regina sighed, clicking her phone on speaker as she made herself breakfast the next morning. "Anyways, it was harmless."
"I know, but you just got your show picked up, you can't have another scandal."
"Scandal? What scandal? You mean when I came out as Bisexual? Because that wasn't a scandal, sis, the scandal was you being seen leaving Ed Sheeran's loft at 6 am in what looked like nothing but one of his shirts."
Zelena cackled, "We all know it was all innocent, I was there writing a song with the poor boy and I spilt wine all over my top and he gave me his shirt to wear home."
"Yes, but the rumours of a secret romance were epic."
"Alright, fine. But, listen to your big sis for a second, I know you see it as harmless but who knows what the press will think with your new show starting production today and your movie coming out next month."
"Fine, I will no longer flirt publically with Miss Swan."
"I feel like that's as good as I'm going to get, huh?"
"Yes. She's cute and sweet and…normal, Zel."
"She's a fan, a stan actually, that is what she meant to tweet you, isn't it?"
Regina laughed, shaking her head at her sister, "She is, and apparently well-loved considering the outcry of my fans, I couldn't very well have ignored it, now could I?"
Zelena sighed again, "No you couldn't, that probably would turn out worse for you. Now, be good today, say hello to Mal for me."
"Of course. I'll see you this weekend, goodbye, sis."
"Love you, darling! Try not to kill Gold!"
"I make no promises."
"Fine, call me if I need to help hide his body, alright?"
"Deal," Regina smiled stabbing at her eggs as she said, "I love you too."
"Tata!" Zelena exclaimed before hanging up the phone, Regina shoving her eggs in her mouth as she looked down at the many notifications lighting up her screen, from Twitter to texts to that secret fan account she has on Tumblr.
UglyDuckling was mentioned in a tweet: Guys, she's out, ahaha fell asleep watching the Queen rip out hearts.
And under the caption was Swan, curled into the side of her couch, clutching a pillow. Regina could just make out the feather, the one that was on her wrist…cute.
Seems her roommate is known for sharing candid pictures of who is now the fandoms duckling, and she found herself later that day sitting in the hair and makeup trailer scrolling through this M&M's photos, most of Miss Swan and herself and the others were of Regina, she found a selfie of herself and this M&M girl and she can't remember meeting her but the logo of the café she works at is visible in the background and she does remember going to that place when they filmed the pilot of this show, it wasn't too far from the set.
Wait that means Swan isn't that far away…
"Morning, darling! You ready to threaten my life and torture poor Graham for the next 5 hours?"
"I wish it were Gold we were torturing."
Mal chuckled, sitting in the large chair next to Regina and flashing the makeup artist a toothy grin. "If I'm correct Gold isn't scheduled to be here today so you may be in luck."
"Mmm, I'm not known for my good luck, dear."
"I don't know, you did get to kiss Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, and well, me of course."
"How could I forget," Regina smirked, making eye contact with her hairdresser in the mirror as they smirked at her, "Oh, and my sister says hello."
"How is the wicked half-sister doing?"
Regina rolled her eyes, "I'm sure she'd be pleased you called her wicked instead of evil."
"Yes, well, I'll never forget her wicked witch costume from 3 Halloweens ago."
Regina wrinkled her nose, "Neither will I. I never needed to see that much of my sister."
Mal let out another evil cackle, "Poor sweet Belle, had no idea what she was getting into that night."
Regina snorted, "Three years strong though."
Mal gave her a soft smile, "And yet, we're back to co-stars, darling, what a drag."
"Would you start her makeup already so she can shut up?"
The makeup artist laughed, he was a cheerful man and sometimes it irked her but he understood her humour wonderfully so she's sure she'll get used to his cheery disposition. "Of course, your majesty."
"Oh hush."
Regina caught the towel thrown her way from one of the PA's looking apologetically at poor Graham that just had to do 15 takes of getting his head dunked in a bucket of water.
"Are you alright?"
"Peachy, maybe next time they'll just shoot me."
Regina smirked, "If you ask nicely I'm sure they will." She wiped off the water from her chest after getting her arms, looking over to Mal who was being "untied" from her chair. "How're you, holding up, Mal?"
"Well, better than the poor boy, these injuries are makeup he really got dunked like 20 times."
"Regina! Your phone is going crazy!" one of the PA's called out.
"Can you bring it here?"
The small girl nodded before running over, handing it down to where she was sitting cross-legged on the cement floor, "You could sit in your chair."
"We have to go again soon enough, dear, why get comfortable?"
Graham laid down not far off laughing as Mal paced around the location, shaking out her limbs, "I'm just happy we're done with the 'ice water'"
Regina let out a hum of agreement before she looked at her phone, mostly twitter notifications so she unlocked her phone to clear her screen when one of them caught her attention.
UglyDuckling tweeted a photo: Boss lady has me hard at work…
The photo was of Swan with a massive fake pout as M&M pretended to be angry in the background, she could see a little pride flag pin on Swan's apron and it made her smile.
"What's got you so chipper, Mills?"
She looked over at Graham, her smile fading even as she liked the photo of the woman before handing it back over to the PA to put with her belongings. "Just my fans."
"Okay, everyone! Time to shoot the next scene, someone get Graham wet again!"
"Gladly," Regina smirked, lifting to her feet.
"Don't you dare, Mills!"
"Oh don't be such a baby, Graham, it's just a little water, and it's not like I haven't been doing it for the last what, 3 hours?"
He groaned before straightening himself out and moving in front of the tank of water, "Well, what's one more time, then?"
"Exactly," Regina smirked, looking at Mal who was cackling wickedly from where she was being tied back into her chair and her makeup redone. "Take a deep breath," And after he took in the air she dunked his head in, him shooting upright a second later and shaking the water from his hair, soaking her all over again.
She heard the camera shutter and looked up at one of the crew members, a few of them were told to get photos for publicity so she's not surprised that they decided to capture this moment.
"I better look good in that!"
"You always look good, darling! But I better as well, I may be looking like I was beaten by this bitch but that doesn't mean we have to forget about making me look good!"
"You look great with a fake black eye and cut cheek, dear."
"Wonderful! So what scene is this?"
"After Regina's character tosses Graham's to the floor she demands you tell her the location of her son, then she kneecaps him."
"Wonderful."
"I told you they'd shoot you," she smirks at the man as they attach the blood pack.
"That you did. Now, I don't remember this in the script."
"Writers just decided on it an hour ago."
They all nodded, Regina, stretching out her limbs before standing still to let makeup make a few tweaks.
"Okay, places everybody!"
Regina reached behind herself to grip the prop gun, Graham falling back onto the floor, her moving above him as Mal cleared her throat in preparation for the screaming she was about to do.
"Quiet on set! Rolling!"
Regina looked at the marker, taking a deep breath as the man said his thing and then.
"Action!"
Graham started coughing up the water he was holding in his mouth and Mal was cussing at her and she was completely in character as she pulled the gun from her pants and pointed it at the man laying by her feet, "Tell me where my son is now!"
"Go to hell!"
"Don't be fooled by my reputation, I will shoot you if you don't tell me where you are keeping my son!"
"Get away from him, cunt! We're not telling you anything! You know what happens when you mess with Tulie!"
"Very well," She smirked, looking down at the man with empty eyes pointing the gun toward his knee before pulling the trigger. Still not used to the feeling she couldn't help her body's reaction as the pressure of the gun travelled up her arm.
"Sorry, let's go again from 'very well'?"
The director nodded and she shook out her limbs, "Ready?"
"Yes," she cleared her throat before getting back into character.
"You got this," Graham said as the man called out the take.
She did it again and on the second take it was perfect, and the stunt guy blew up the blood pack, everything perfect.
"Ahhh! What the fuck!?"
"I told you I'd shoot you. Now, where's my son!"
"You're crazy, bitch!"
Regina spins, marching toward Mal and pretending to hit her with the bud of her gun, they pause there makeup adding a new cut and blood before running off, Regina continuing once they're out of the shot, "Says the bitch that kidnapped my son."
Graham was screaming and cussing in the background and she and Mal were having a staring contest and then.
"Cut! Perfect! That's lunch, everyone!"
Graham starts laughing, flopping on his back and Regina hands off the prop gun as people start untying Mal again.
"You did great, darling, totally scared the shit out of me."
"And you've always played crazy bitch magically."
Mal grinned at her, wrapping her in a tight hug as soon as she was free. "Go, clear your head. You're shaking," Mal whispered into her ear, Regina relaxing into her for a moment before pulling away.
"I'm going to get coffee! Be back soon!" She called to the crew, grabbing her phone from her chair and walking out of the warehouse they were filming in, it just so happened to be close to that coffee shop and well, she needed coffee and something real, even if it risked a run in with fans.
She hopped into her car, slipping on her sunglasses and driving the few blocks to the coffee shop on the main street near the little location they were mostly filming in. She parked out front not long after, not caring that her hair was frizzing from the water bringing out the natural curls or the dirty state of her clothes from wardrobe, all she wanted was coffee, especially after the drive cleared her head from all the anxiety, she always hated shooting a gun.
She momentarily forgot why she even came to this coffee shop until she looked up as she approached the counter and spotted the blonde standing at the till organizing the gift cards on display.
Swan didn't even look up as she said, "One second, I'll be right with you."
Her voice was amazing, "Of course, take your time, dear."
Swan straightened up so fast she was worried she may have given herself whiplash, "R-Regina!?"
Regina smirked at the girl as her roommate/boss dropped the mug in her hand and oh, now she remembers her, "I will pay for that, again."
"You, you," The manager stuttered before rushing off to find a broom, Swan, no Emma, she could see her name tag now, was still gaping at her.
"Are you alright, dear?"
"I, yeah, yeah, great, awesome, how are you here?"
"I'm filming not far away."
Emma started nodding dumbly, "How did you know I work here?"
Regina blinked at her, "The selfie I took with your roommate a few months ago, and yours from this morning."
"So you do know it's me? You know, Duckling?"
"Of course, how could I forget a face like yours, dear?"
Emma blushed crimson and she looked at the counter which snapped her out of it, "Right, uh, what can I get you?"
"Grande vanilla latte."
"So simple."
Regina chuckled and Emma dropped the paper cup she was writing on. "I guess we can just be happy that one's not breakable as well?"
"Yeah, I just…holy shit it's you in person, I freaking love you and you're here after replying to me on twitter…by the way I'm sorry about the spamming…mine and theirs…and holy shit, you are even more…wow in person! I thought you'd be taller though…"
Regina smiled at the rambling girl, "It's alright, dear, I found it endearing…still do. Now, my coffee because I'm just on lunch and I may be the star but that doesn't mean I have to act like a diva."
"Shit, right! Sorry." Emma grabbed a cup, not even writing on it as she moved to make the drink, Regina following along the counter after placing a five dollar bill on the counter.
"How long have you been working here?"
"About two weeks, I just moved here from Boston, looking to dip my toe in the screenwriting game."
"Fascinating, I loved Boston when I was there a few years back for,"
"The Graduate, I know."
"Boy, you are a fan, what other info do you have about me in that pretty little head of yours?"
Emma blushed bright red again, looking down to focus on the drink, her blush just deepening.
"Oh, now I need to know what you're thinking, is it dirty? You've seen everything I've been in I take it?"
Emma nodded, "I feel like you're enjoying this too much."
"Probably, but I didn't play the Evil Queen for 6 years for nothing, dear."
Emma let out a sigh biting her lip as she drew a heart in the foam and sliding it towards her, "We're the same bra size, happy!?"
Regina's eyes dropped to her chest and she smirked, "Love the pin, Swan," then her eyes fell to her drink, "Charmer, I like it."
"Yeah, I kind of get how you played Victoria for that long now."
Regina pulled out her phone, taking a picture of her drink before moving the sunglasses to the top of her head as she appraised the woman some more, "Would you like a picture together before I go, dear? I have to apologize though, I'm a little dirty, I've been in a warehouse all morning."
Emma looked her over, seeing the dirt and concrete dust covering her black slacks and…is that fake blood on the shirt she's wearing under a...leather jacket, nice.
"What the hell are you filming?" Emma laughed, relaxing after the incessant teasing from Regina.
"My new TV show, Desperate Measures."
"Looks intense," Emma commented stepping from around the counter to look her over more, "Why are your pants wet?"
Regina arched a brow at her, "Can't tell you that, dear, now are we taking this picture or are you going to keep interrogating me?"
"Right, sorry."
Emma pulled her phone from her apron, moving close to Regina then blushing again.
"What now, dear?"
"It's just, I'm about to touch you and my mind is currently shrieking and I think Mary Margaret is filming this and sending it to our group chat on Snapchat and yeah, I'm about to touch the Regina Mills, I literally realized I was gay because of you and you're here flirting and here and I just."
"Ah yes, I remember that feeling. Try kissing Angelina Jolie."
Emma looked at her with these wide eyes, "Oh my god, I almost didn't survive watching that scene, how did you survive doing it?"
"I barely did, I resembled you with the bright red cheeks the first take and trust me, that's a hard feat to accomplish with my complexion and all the makeup I had on and yet, tomato," She gestured to her face with a flick of her wrists.
Emma relaxed, "Okay, I'm ready, let's do this."
"Yes, dear," Regina smirked as she wrapped her arm around Emma's waist pulling her into her and her grin widened as Emma blushed once again. "You're so easy to fluster, I think I might enjoy this."
"Asshole."
Regina looked at her shocked Emma looking scared until she saw the smirk twisting on burgundy coloured lips. "Just take the picture, Swan."
"Yes, your majesty."
Regina rolled her eyes before looking toward the phone that was now in front of their faces, selfie camera on and her eyes locked instantly with the wide smile on Emma's face.
"You going to smile or just keep looking at me like that?"
Regina turned her head to look at Emma, not noticing as the blonde took a picture, "Like what?"
"I thought you were in too big of a rush for interrogations?"
Regina rolled her eyes and turned back to face the phone, putting on her trademark smirk.
Emma took a photo before turning to look at Regina, biting her lip in thought, "you have fake blood on your face," She lowered her phone, retracting her hand from around Regina's waist and without thinking she reached up and wiped the sticky substance from her jawline.
Regina gasped, head turning to look at her as her heart galloped in her chest, their faces so close she could.
"Sorry," Emma bowed her head stepping back, "Thanks for these pictures, here's your latte," she pressed on the lid before handing it to Regina who was still staring at the space she once was. "You okay? If I overstepped…"
That seemed to break Regina out of it and she took the cup from Emma, shaking her head, "No, no, it's fine, really, I promise."
Emma nodded, "It was nice seeing you but you should probably head back, right?"
Regina nodded, "Yes, I believe I have to shoot Mal next…"
"What?"
Regina shook her head, "No, sorry ignore that, please, don't tweet anything the network will have my ass."
"Of course not. Are you okay?"
Regina blinked again, frowning before putting on her professional mask, "Yes, of course, dear, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you're shaking…"
Regina looked down at her hand holding the drink and sighed, "I just hate guns, that's all."
"Then why not tell them that?"
Regina chuckled, "They will only give up so much of their image, dear. It's fine, I'll be fine. I must be going now, Mal will worry."
"Right, have a good day, Regina, it was nice meeting you in person…message me sometime, kay?"
Regina nodded, lowering her sunglasses as she turned to walk out the café and right into her car, driving the 5 minutes back to set.
"Emma!"
"Shi…" Emma jumped spinning to look at a smiling Mary Margaret who was basically vibrating with excitement. "M&M, you scared the shit outta me!"
She shook her head at her, "Well, I wouldn't have if you weren't so busy staring at her ass!"
"Hey!"
"Just the truth, Em, you have always had it bad for her. Like, Ems, you're literally living the dream, she came to see you! Your celeb crush digs you! That does not happen!"
"It happens a few times."
"Not for people like you."
Emma frowned, "You mean lesbians? Or Orphans?" Mary Margaret looked like she was about to combust so Emma chuckled, letting her off the hook with a shake her head as she moved to go back around the counter, "It's okay, M&M I know what you meant."
"Emma…"
"Let's just get back to work, we've served one customer in like 20 mins."
Mary Margaret chuckled, shaking her head, "And broke a mug."
Emma rolled her eyes again, "So am I gonna see the video you filmed before you send it or nah?"
"It's Snapchat, Ems, I sent it, but I saved it so you can see it if you show me the selfies you got!"
"Deal, but after work cause, if Tracy knows about this we'll both be canned."
Mary Margaret grimaced, looking to the basically empty café, "Good thing she didn't come in during lunch rush."
Emma laughed, nodding as she wiped down the counter, "Sure made my day."
Mary Margaret laughed happily, moving to clean the empty tables.
"Ems! You fucking met her!? What the fuck is this romcom shit!?"
Emma laughed, "I dunno, Tink, I'm still wrapping my head around it all…and that she's filming so close to where I live and work…omg, guys! Holy shit! What if she comes in like every day!?"
"Ded" comes Marian's response seconds later, the woman located in the valley with her wife and 6-year-old son.
"Right! Holy shit! Crap! I gotta send you guys the pics! Hold up! M&M has been pouting since we got home! LOL!" Emma quickly selected the three photos, sending them right away before clicking them herself and staring at them even as the messages came flooding in.
"Em! The ways she's looking at you! WTF!" Came Tink's quick reply.
"She wants you, girl!" Elsa replied with a meme of Regina with a bunch of heart emojis on it…so nothing new in fandom life.
"Get eeeet!" Marian's simple yet encouraging response was something that was always welcome in her book.
"This is the definition of true love…" Mary Margaret, on the other hand, sent a gif of Judy from Zootopia, the woman was literally obsessed with it.
"Really, Mary Margaret!?" She called through the house hearing the woman's laugh from where she was in the kitchen making tea.
"Duckling, do not blow this, I will end you if you do."
"Awwee, thanks for the bod of confidence, Rudes, I love you too!"
"Bite me."
"No, you'd enjoy that too much."
"Yeah, doesn't mean you still shouldn't."
"Keep it in your pants, Red"
"Make me, Meri!"
"That's what I thought! Suck it Scotland!"
"At least I don't live in merica with the cheeto for president"
"Uncool"
"Touché," Elsie replied.
"LOL, she's got you there, Rubes."
"Can it, Tink, we tried!"
"Please don't remind me…"
"Great, now I have to make cocoa for Emma, you know how she gets when she remembers our approaching doom."
"You cried last week over it, M&M, don't even come at me, I know where you sleep at night!"
"Children, children, calm the frick down!" Tink cut in, Emma and Mary Margaret's laughs filling the apartment. "Now, can we focus on those pics because like, guys, this is the gayest thing I've ever seen and we all remember Ruby's 21 st birthday."
"Yeah, and the pride party M&M throws every year…"
"LOL!"
"Oh god, I just realized I'm going to have to help her set up this year! Guys, save me!"
"LOL, Duckling, you're on your own, I helped her 3 years ago and we all remember how that ended…" Ruby reminded her making Emma snicker quietly at the memory of Ruby barfing in her plant.
"My poor petunias…"
"Love you!"
"What pic should I post? Probably the last one right?..."
"Post them all! Display the gay, gurl!"
"I'm with Ruby, they're golden! Also still not over the video from M&M, you were so red, Em! What did she even say to you!?" Elsie shot back.
"Which time?"
"Touché…every time."
"Basically there was a lot of teasing and flirting and she made me tell her why I was blushing when making her coffee and then she checked me out after I told her we have the same boob size, thanks again for that info, Rubes, I can never get it out of my head and now she knows and also, guys, HER VOICE! *Dead*"
"All of that is valid blushing reasons and also, *dead*"
"Love you too, duckling!"
"We can all agree Ruby is evil…except I am the one to blame since I told her…"
"Meri! How do you even know my cup size?"
"M&M told me."
"Traitor!"
"Mary Margaret Blanchard!"
"You know how I get when I drink!"
"Snoopy and gossipy!?"
"Are you guys fighting…?" Anna slid in making them shake their heads at themselves.
"No….bickering."
"With love!"
Emma shook her head, looking up as her bedroom door opened, "Yeah, M&M?"
"Post the last one, I think she'd appreciate not having her business all over the web."
"Thanks, Mary Margaret, that for me?"
"Yeah, with cinnamon just how you like it."
"Thanks."
"No problem, Em."
Emma smiled as she turned and left, waiting until the door was pulled shut before going to her timeline and clicking the little quill and writing out her tweet.
Guess who I ran into today? ReginaMills is as amazing in real life as one would think, hope you enjoyed the coffee, your Majesty!
She added the third photo and smiled to herself as she clicked post, today was a good day.
"Isn't it illegal to keep us here this long?"
Regina looked over at Mal, sprawled on a mat on the floor as they break before their last scene of the night, "Possibly but this is TV, dear."
"What even took you so long for coffee this afternoon, you came back way happier, which I'm happy about but I'm dying for a long hot shower right about now."
"I ran into a fan at the coffee shop again, talked to her for a bit."
"A fan, huh? How lovely, bet they loved the grunge look you were sporting."
Regina laughed, arching a brow at the woman who was now propped up on her mat looking at Regina from where she sat in her chair. "She seemed to, yes."
Mal yawned, "We've been here since 5 in the morning! I just want to sleep."
"And shower."
Mal groaned, "Can you dunk me in the tank next, I'm sure that would wake me up."
Regina smirked, "And to think we stopped making each other wet years ago."
Mal let out her trademark cackle, balling up a page from her sides from one of the first scenes of the day and throwing it at the smirking woman, "You can never stop doing that, darling, have you seen you naked?"
Regina laughed, "I feel like they made a mistake casting us in a show together."
"Nonsense, have you seen our chemistry, people hear our names together and they flock to the movie, show, or event."
Regina smirked, "I forgot how much you love conventions."
"Don't act like you don't, you go to every one you're invited to and go out of your way for your fans."
Regina hummed in thought, pulling out her phone to look at the pictures posted by the crew today, before opening her camera and snapping a photo of Mal, laughing to herself as she tagged her,
Diva just wants to shower.
Mal's phone beeped and she lifted it from next to her, laughing before taking a pic of Regina,
Diva? Says the woman on her throne who refuses to make me wet.
Regina laughed shaking her head at the woman, liking the tweet and replying with a kissy emoji and water spray. "The network may kill us later."
"Serves them right for working us like dogs. They know how we get when we're overtired, they saw our bloopers from Heroes and Villains."
"You make a fair point." Regina smiled down at her phone about to put it away when she got a notification
UglyDuckling mentioned you in a tweet
She clicked it and smiled widely at the photo, liking it and responding,
Glad the photo turned out so well, dear! It was a pleasure to meet you as well! And yes, the coffee was delicious, you make a wonderful latte.
"Hey, lady, my fans are demanding a selfie, you want to show off my ugly mug?"
Regina chuckled at Mal, getting up from her chair and strutting toward her in the surprisingly comfortable combat boots they have her in today, dropping onto the floor next to Mal, "You have to sit up, dear."
"Nonsense, come cuddle with mommy."
Regina rolled her eyes, "Why did I ever date you?"
"Great sex and a nice ass? And I was the only valid option in suburbia while filming."
"We were in Canada, Mal, not the Arctic."
"Felt like it."
Regina shook her head with a chuckle, lying down next to the woman, "It was Vancouver, one of the least cold parts of the country…"
"And yet we still got snowed in."
"Baby."
"You may have grown up in Maine but I grew up here, 70 is cold for me."
"I thought we were going to take a picture together? Please the fans?"
"Right, I got distracted by your…everything."
Regina rolled her eyes again, scooting closer and tilting her head so hers was leaning against Mal's, "Just take the picture, dear."
It was Mal who rolled her eyes this time before raising her phone above them, Regina smirking and Mal pouting and then things got goofy, there was exaggerated angry faces and pretend strangling until the point they were laughing so hard they could barely breathe and the crew was looking at them worriedly…and like a bunch of weirdos.
Mal posted the one of Regina pretending to strangle her and then they stayed lying next to each other until makeup came to do touch-ups and they had to get back to their places, which also took a moment as they snickered while filming Graham snoring away by his water tank…it was his now, so many hours of him and it they decided to name it after him.
"Come on, everybody, one more scene then we can all go home for the night!"
Regina stretched all her muscles out while Mal bounced around in spot, Graham doing a few push-ups off to the side to wake himself up.
"Just go easy on me, Mills, it's supposed to be a fake slap."
"And I said I was sorry earlier."
Mal cackled, "I really hope I do more tomorrow than be tied to a damn chair and tossed around all day."
Regina turned to smirk at her, "If you want you can dive in the ocean for me tomorrow."
"Like hell."
"Then be happy to be the only one they seem to not be getting wet."
"That's what she said."
Regina and Mal turned to look at Graham with a raised brow, "That doesn't even make sense," Regina retorted with slight annoyance lacing her voice.
"Shut up, I've been up since 3:30 am."
"Poor baby, was that 20-minute nap not enough for you?" Mal taunted.
"No, and you know it."
"Places, everyone, I'm dying to go home just as much as you all."
They all turned to look at the director apologetically, "Sorry, Garry."
"Yeah, yeah, let's just get this over with and maybe I'll make it home before my wife goes to sleep."
They all nodded, Mal dropping into her chair and letting them tie her up while Regina moved to her place just off camera, Graham moving so he was being tied back up to the post next to Mal.
"Regina is on the phone with your boss, trying to negotiate a trade, you two are trying to figure out your best way to survive, understood?"
They all nodded, Regina, yawning as she was passed her prop phone.
"Take a step to your left, Regina, you're too far off frame." She took a step, putting the phone to her ear, "Okay, perfect! Quiet on set! Rolling!"
"Desperate Measures Season 1 Episode 2 scene 3 take 1." As soon as they heard the snap of the marker they were all in character, saying their lines as soon as the director called action.
UglyDuckling liked your reply
She smiled to herself when she saw the little alert and then the message box caught her eye, not many people sent her messages on here, the only person really was Emma the other day and that little 1 above it made her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she clicked it. Her smile growing to ridiculous measures as she saw the highlighted box from her chat with Emma.
"Hey, I thought you might like to have these too…like if you wanted to tweet one, I dunno but here, you look cute."
She stared at the photos, she recognized one from Emma's tweet earlier but as she scrolled to get a better look at the others and she was transfixed by how, well, smitten she looked, "Dammit, Mills, you just met the girl, this is ridiculous."
She shook her head at herself before replying, "Thank you, dear, I appreciate this, although tweeting a photo of me looking at you like the sun shines out your ass probably wouldn't be my best idea and I just made sex puns with my co-star on here."
She locked her phone and moved to go shower and get ready for bed, freezing in her tracks when she heard her phone ping, "She can't still be up," she moved quickly over to her bed to pick up the device and then almost dropped it.
"Yeah, that was gold, my friends have been losing it all evening. You should have heard Ruby and Meri, actually good thing you didn't…I wish I hadn't experienced all that."
"You're still up?" she sent, taking the phone with her into the bathroom as she stripped out of her clothes from this morning.
"You've been dealing with fangirls for nearly 12 years, Regina, how is our poor sleeping habits a surprise to you? Also, I sorta have you to blame for this, it's been hours and Ruby is still sending DragonQueen gifs to our chat…oh god, she got Mulan and Elsie involved…I'm never sleeping tonight…also just you gotta know, I totally didn't squeal like a 13 year old girl at a Bieber concert when I got your response and it definitely didn't wake my roommate and she definitely didn't message our chat about them killing me."
Regina snorted, she freaking snorted and she'd be embarrassed if others were around but well, she was currently standing naked in her bathroom with the shower running but, well one part of her just wants to keep talking to Emma and just stay covered in 6 layers of makeup and dried fake blood that never really dries…
"I'd apologize but that sounds hilarious and well, if you're a fan of all my work you've seen plenty of my bloopers and know exactly what Mal and I get up to behind the scenes…well, the R rated stuff doesn't happen anymore but the rest, still going on. Poor Graham."
"I have, hold up, Ruby just sent a gif from them, you gotta tell me what was going on here."
Regina pursed her lips in thought, was she really befriending a fan…and did she just hint at no longer being with Mal? "I have to shower, my skin can barely breathe through all this makeup and I have plaster dust and about 2 bottles of hairspray in my hair, if you're still up when I'm out we will talk some more, if not, goodnight, dear." She put her phone on the counter and stepped into the shower before Emma responded because if she did she would never shower and she'd wake up with her pillowcase stuck to her face or something crazy like that.
It was supposed to be a quick shower, really but as soon as the warm water hit her skin she was lost in it, hours in a dirty warehouse had taken a number out of her and…oh god, she has to swim after a damn boat tomorrow…why did everyone have to know she was nearly an Olympic level swimmer and pro scuba diver…right because when she first started acting at 19 she put it down as her skills and not to forget all the other things she's mastered over the years.
It's almost an hour later when she gets out and the environmentalist in her isn't happy but well, everything else in her was ecstatic.
She dried her hands and unlocked her phone, sitting on the toilet wrapped in her fuzzy grey towel and not caring as her hair dried in crazy wild curls, hair will straighten it in the morning anyway.
First thing she saw was the gif, it was her and Mal during the 5th season of the show and it showed the moment she grabbed Mal's face and pretended to lick her, and then there was another gif of her and Mal caught grinding on each other during their musical ep…she's still surprised they added that into the bloopers
"Okay, so two, explain yourself."
"Okay, uh, have fun? Dude, I'm just gonna say telling me you need to shower is cruel because well, we all know I watched that scene so yeah, thanks for that memory popping back up and…Ruby just sent a gif of you and Mal making out and now they're teasing me, this is all your fault."
"Well, to be completely honest it was about 6 am after 15+ hours of filming and we were basically delusional and well, it's not like I could actually lick her face, do you know how much makeup they put on us? And makeup would have slaughtered me…Trudy was passed out off to the side somewhere anyways and if I'm correct Sam and Jenny were barely keeping themselves standing." She sent that, smiling at the memory of the old cast and crew, she missed them some days, Mal was the only one she was really close with anymore but back then with just them in a different country, well, they were like the only family she had.
She looked back at the second gif and laughed, "And well, the second one we thought we were off camera and we're just enjoying the music and feel of everything. And I would apologize but again, it's rather quite funny, dear."
"LOL! Well, I was talking about the background, I understood the whole face licking thing but you actually explained the question even though you missed the question, everyone will be so jealous that I figured out who the H&V ghost is…the makeup artist AHAHA."
"I fully support the accidental grinding, made my life when I saw it."
"Glad it's made the fans happy, we got in so much trouble that day, everyone wanted to kill us for ruining the take."
"So, how was your shower ;)"
"You're way less shy on here, aren't you? Is that why you're so well loved?"
"I'll be honest with you, Mills, this fame of mine is very new and I'm not yet used to it, I had someone I never met message me earlier asking if I had your number which is weird cause even if I did it's not like I would share it…bitches be crazy."
Regina chuckled, wandering into her room to get her pyjamas while she replied to Emma, "I appreciate the honesty, dear, now I'm going to share something with you…someone tweeted me asking for your number too."
"LOL! You're hilarious. But, you never answered how your shower was…you always this good at evading questions?"
"I've been famous since I was barely 20, I can evade questions in my sleep…heck, according to my sister I have."
"Why was your sister asking you questions while you slept?"
Regina cackled slipping on her negligee before responding, "I never said my sister was normal."
"Touché"
"Do you have any siblings?" she tossed her phone on her bed next to her as she put cream on her arms and legs.
"No, only me" Regina looked down at her phone, rubbing the last bit of lotion into her hands and arms before grabbing her phone to reply.
"Well, you have a roommate, that's going to begin to seem like a sibling relationship in no time, I'm sure, dear…"
"LOL! I'm pretty sure M&M is gonna be more like a mom…she makes dinner, does my laundry, cleaned my room once which was weird…"
"I would imagine!"
"How did filming go today?"
Regina laughed, shifting to bury herself under her covers and lean against the headboard, her bedside lamp lighting up the room, "It went well, Mal was covered in so many prosthetics and fake blood by the end of it she looked like the walking dead and Graham was constantly complaining about being sticky but he at least got a nap in…give me a second." She said, pulling up the gallery and sending Emma the video of Graham snoring away. "Tomorrow will be less interesting, I'll be spending the day at Harbor Island swimming after a boat repeatedly for hours."
"I saw the pictures, I've been laughing for hours at that video of you dunking Graham, it's been turned into a gif too…it's pure gold."
"OMG! That video! You and Mal like to get up to no good, don't you!? AHAHAHA"
"If you want I can bring you coffee tomorrow? I do know your order after all."
Regina smiled at that, "You're offering to drive at least an hour out of your way to bring me coffee that probably won't even be warm when you arrive?" Her brows furrowing the more she thought about the kind offer.
"Hey, I got this badass thermos it keeps things at borderline non-drinkable temperatures for 5 hours, it's magical."
"Emma, that's very sweet of you, but I can't ask you to do that."
"But I want to, you're gonna be working your ass off all day, you'll be cold and wet and I got the day off and what's more of a fun way to spend it then bringing you coffee on a filming location…you also gotta realize how awesome it'll be for me, a fan, to see you in action. Also, can you really turn down free coffee and this adorable face?"
Regina shook her head at the girl, she couldn't deny that the possibility of seeing Emma tomorrow makes her heart beat excitedly in her chest, it'll probably be the best thing of her day anyway, "Very well, I'll leave your name with security if you choose to come."
"Oh, I'm coming, there's no stopping me now XD"
"Is that so, dear? Well then, by all means, come."
"Okay, see now it's dirty, why you gotta do that!? Like I can literally hear you saying it in my head and I have your smirking face staring back at me, it's really just cruel."
"It was always dirty, dear."
"I should have seen this coming, I've seen your bloopers and panels and Ruby still talks about that panel in NJ she went to where you made almost everything dirty and just…I can't believe I'm not the dirty minded one in this relationship."
"Relationship, huh?"
"Ugh! Shut up! You know what I mean! I'll just see you tomorrow, Regina…same coffee as the other day?"
"Make it a green tea, I'll be spending all day in the water I need to take every precaution not to get sick."
"Hey, at least you're not in Canada for this, would probably be 10x worse."
"Also okay, green tea it is!"
"Well, you're not wrong there…"
"Get some sleep, Regina, I'll see you tomorrow (this?) afternoon :D"
"I should, I'm actually starting to doze off I've been up for nearly 24 hours…and people think acting is easy."
"Shit, well maybe you should make a documentary, nobody would think that after seeing you work."
"Thank you?"
"Yes, I just mean that you work really hard and you put your all in every character you play and the audience can feel that which is why you have such a big following. I haven't spent most of my life watching you just cause you're hot af"
Regina smiled softly at that, her stomach twisting in that happy excited way, "Thank you, dear, that means a lot. I'll see you tomorrow hopefully."
"No problem, Regina. And you'll def be seeing me, I ain't missing this opportunity for the life of me!"
"Goodnight, Emma, you get some sleep also."
"I will. Sweet dreams!"
"You too, dear." She let out a content sigh, locking her phone and placing it on her nightstand before flicking off her lamp, sure it took her a good forty minutes to fall asleep with her mind and heart having a losing battle but when she woke up 6 and a half hours later to her blaring phone telling her it was time to get to work so she pulled herself up from under her weighted blankets and got ready for a day of swimming in near freezing water and to see the blonde that has somehow managed to worm her way into her heart with one misspelled tweet.
A/N2: Next chapter, first date and more cuteness
please read and review, it feeds my soul :P
