I Do Not Own ONCE.
You know that feeling you get when you're so nervous but you're also excited at the same time? It kind of feels like your insides are moving at warp speed but in actuality, you're standing perfectly still? Well that's what was currently happening to Emma Swan.
Emma, who has slayed dragons, fought villains and literally traversed realms; seen and unseen, was at this moment in time, absolutely scared shitless. She was about to ask Regina Mills; the former Evil Queen, turned stand in Savior, turned Emma's best friend out on a date. And no, I don't mean coffee between two best friends. I mean a real date.
But Emma, much to her surprise had a certain secret weapon so to speak: her little brother. From the moment Neal Nolan came into this world, screaming and squalling, Regina had been absolutely in love with the little boy that reminded her so much of Henry when he was that age. Neal's first word had been Mama and his second word had been Gina, much to David's disappointment. But, she was nonetheless, absolutely wrapped around his little finger. And this Emma knew and was planning on using it to her advantage because never in Neal's three years of life could she ever remember Regina telling Neal no about anything. So it would stand to reason that this would ring true today. At least she really hoped it would.
So there Emma was, a very dapper dressed Neal, standing on Regina's front porch with a tiny bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Ok Kid, you remember what to say right?" Emma fumbled with the tiny tie on his neck as Neal did his level best to get away from her.
"Sissy stop!" He all but yelled. Emma pulled her hands away quickly and sighed.
"Okay Kid, sorry." She muttered. Emma was nervous as hell. She was pretty sure she'd rather be in the hole below the library, fighting Maleficent all over again than here, asking the woman she's kind of been in love with since their impromptu trip to Neverland to save their shared son on a date. She had long ago broken up with the one handed wonder and Robin was focusing on raising his daughter with Zelena. It still confused Emma why Regina so willingly relinquished the hold she had on Robin. But really, she was glad. She hated seeing the idiot with the woman she wanted as her happy ending.
So, as Emma worried over the little boy in front of her, she wondered if this was going to work. Emma and Regina had grown so close over the last few years. She couldn't even count the number of times she had fallen asleep snuggled up on the couch with Regina on one of the many family movie nights Henry was so fond of having with this mothers. It felt like 108 Mifflin Street was her home. Not so much the house itself, but the people that resided inside it. They were her home. And Regina, as much as it scared the hell out of Emma and comforted her all the same time, had easily made room for Emma and never thought twice about it.
Finally the moment of truth was upon them. Emma gave Neal a once over and decided he was the cutest kid ever and was happy with the plan thus far. She smiled at him, positioned him in front of the door, pressed the button for the doorbell then ran like mad to hide in the bushes just off to the side of the front porch. It didn't take but a few seconds for the front door to open and Regina to step out with the biggest smile for her second favorite little boy in the world.
You see, Regina put the fear of God in every man and woman in the Enchanted Forest and in Storybrooke, but the children, the children loved her.
"Hello Neal." Regina beamed as she took in the little boys' appearance. "What are you doing here?"
Emma hadn't plan for that line of questioning of course so when Neal shoved the tiny bouquet of flowers towards Regina as far as his arms would allow him, she was sure all hope was lost. She ran a hand down her face and shook her head but heard the second most beautiful thing she had ever heard; Regina's laugh. Okay, maybe all hope wasn't lost.
"For you, Gina. But you can only has them if you say yes." Neal said as sweetly as he was.
Regina's brow furrowed slightly as she crouched down in front of the blonde toddler. He made her think of Emma too. Part of the reason she loved him so. "Say yes? Say yes to what, darling?" Regina's affinity for children was incredible.
You could almost see the wheels in Neal's head turning to remember the words correctly. He scrunched up his face and thought. "Umm…" Before Emma knew what was happening, Neal was cupping a hand around his mouth, trying his best to whisper but hadn't the first clue how to do so and instead ended up speaking at a volume loud enough to wake the dead.
"Em…I forgot what to say!" He squealed.
Yep, all hope was lost. Her brother, who she was certain would be her savior had in fact turned into her undoing. Regina was quite amused at this point and looked in the direction of the bushes and smiled. Emma, with her tail between her legs, stood and walked onto the porch.
"Smooth kid, real smooth." She muttered. She smiled sheepishly at Regina and crouched down behind Neal and whispered into his ear.
"OH! Yeah!" He giggled which just made Emma blanch and Regina smile. "Gina Mill." He said very seriously. He had seen had father rehearsing his speeches in the mirror too often. That was evident. And he also couldn't quite say Regina Mills, it just came out Gina Mill. Regina smiled none the less and nodded.
"Yes, Neal? What do you need to ask me?" Regina said very regally, playing along.
"Will you go to dinner with my Emma?" Neal then turned to look at Emma for confirmation that this was the right question. Emma smiled and nodded her head with a chuckle. "That's good." Emma whispered to him. Neal turned his attention back to Regina who was smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
Regina met Emma's gaze over Neal's shoulder but addressed Neal. "Will I go to dinner with your Emma?" She asked. He nodded fervently and was nearly levitating he was so excited.
"Well, I don't know. What if I want your Emma to be my Emma?" Regina asked as she put her hands on the little boys' waist and looked at him now. Neither Neal nor his big sister were prepared for that zinger. "Uhh…" was heard from both of the blonde's currently occupying the front porch. Regina chuckled and shook her head and kissed both of Neal's cheeks and then took the tiny bouquet from him.
"I would love to go to dinner with your Emma." She whispered. Neal's eyes lit up and he spun around and looked at his sister. "Sissy, she said yes!" He said excitedly. Emma smiled and nodded and hugged the little boy. Regina looked at Neal and smile. "I have a fresh plate of chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen with your name on them. Why don't you go get one?" she winked at him. He didn't need to be asked twice but the words, "Gina, I can't read!" could be heard as he ran through the house. Both woman laughed at this and came to a standing position.
Emma smiled nervously at Regina who just beamed like mad. "So…you want me to be your Emma?" She scuffed the toe of her boot on the concrete and looked down at her feet, hands stuffed securely in her pockets. Regina smiled and hooked a finger under Emma's chin and lifted it. She placed the softest and gentlest of kisses on pink lips and lingered only a moment. Emma thought she could have died right there and been happy. Regina was the first and last thing she had thought about for years now and the fact that she was kissing the woman of her dreams was like a dream itself.
After a few seconds, Regina pulled away and smiled at the light pink blush covering Emma's cheeks. "Does that answer your question, my Emma?" Regina whispered.
The smile Emma gave was nothing short of megawatt. She nodded a few times and looked into Regina's eyes. "Friday night? I'll pick you up around 7?"
"That sounds perfect." Regina agreed.
About 3 seconds and 2 giant cookies coming back with him later, Neal emerged from behind Regina. "Sissy, this tie is itchy. Make it stop.." Neal whined. Regina only smiled, shook her head and removed the tie from Neal's neck for him, folded it and stuck it safely in his jacket pocket before Emma could.
Emma smiled once more as Neal headed for the bug and crawled into the backseat. "I guess it's time to take the tiniest prince home." Regina smiled and nodded. "Friday at 7?" Emma confirmed once more.
Regina again nodded. "Friday at 7." She repeated. Emma smiled as she climbed into the bug and put it in reverse. Neal waved at Regina until the bug was out of sight and so was Regina. At this point, Regina was on a high. She assessed the little bouquet in her hands and went inside and immediately pulled out a small vase, clipped the ends and put them in water. She then moved to her phone, unlocked it and clicked on the contacts icon and scrolled to Emma's name. She pressed the edit button in the top right corner and put the word 'My' in front of Emma. She smiled at herself and saved the contact once more.
"My Emma." She whispered to herself. She then went upstairs. After all, she had a date Friday night and needed to plan her outfit.
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