Come Home with Me Tonight
Chapter One: Weddings and Happily (N)ever Afters
A/N: A prompt based fic-this is the prompt suggestion in a nutshell: Emma tries to get her ex-girlfriend Lily back by making her realize what she's missing out on by hiring an escort to date her. Emma and the escort end up falling in love. G!P.
Emma can't believe she's doing this right now. But yup, she sure as hell is, because this is her life as of now. One big fucking joke ever since Lily broke up with her two months ago. For reasons that were 'it's not you, it's me' but actually sounded a lot like 'it is you and not me.' And Emma was fucking depressed and lonely and she just wanted her girlfriend back.
She had called Lily up and down, promising she would be better, would change whatever it was that had pushed Lily away, but the woman had only meet Emma's promises with skepticism and then a radio silence before she entirely blocked Emma's number. So Emma had taken to messaging her, emailing her, even sending letters through the mail (and if that didn't speak volumes to her desperation,(though she liked to think of it as dedication to a cause and that cause being Lily taking her back) cuz who the fuck used snail mail anymore) until all those possible venues had been blocked too.
And now here she was yet on another scheme to get Lily back, and it all had to do with a wedding invitation. Mary, Emma's old roommate from college, was getting married to her high school sweet heart David. It was going to be the typical lavish and big romantic wedding since Mary and David both believed in true love like idiots. (Emma had believed Lily to be her one true love for life, but guess that wasn't a mutual feeling) And Lily was on the guest list, along with her new girlfriend, Aurora. Finding out that Lily had started dating someone so quickly after their five year relationship had ended was a huge blow to Emma's guts, and she had spent the whole weekend smoking weed and watching rom com movies while binge eating in bed. Oh, and she had cried. A lot.
But it's best not to remember that weekend at all.
So there was no way Emma was going to that wedding alone. She had to go to it, because it was Mary and Mary was an angel and didn't deserve Emma raining on her special day by not showing up or by being drunk on envy, sorrow and anger (and tons of free booze at the open bar) because of Lily's and Aurora's public canoodling. Thus, her 28 year old, slightly drunk, and sweat-pant wearing depressed ass self was perusing an escort site. That's right, Emma was about to drop the big bucks on an escort because there was no way in hell she was going to be able to find someone in three weeks time to bring to the wedding.
Sighing heavily, the laptop on her stomach shifted with her motions as she scrolled down the lists. She had checked out so many amazing profiles but no one really seemed to catch her fancy. Sure, they were all highly educated, expert conversationalists, great lovers, and all good looking, but she couldn't imagine being able to kiss any of them. Or in pulling it off successfully that she was interested in them. Lily's break up had ruined women for Emma. She hadn't been able to get hard thinking about sleeping with other women and so she just didn't. And that brought up another issue. Emma had an extra special friend down there in her pants that would make it difficult to explain to her escorts about. In case they slept together of course, not that they probably would.
The sad blue light of the screen reflected in her glasses, in her state of being, and was the only light in the living room, a place littered with take out containers and dirty clothes just lying around everywhere. She didn't have the energy to do much these days, including taking care of herself and her apartment.
Emma sighed out again. Maybe she should give up on this. It was a stupid idea anyways. Paying someone to show up with her to the wedding and rub it in Lily's face how happy Emma was with them in hopes it might make Lily realize what she was missing out on was pathetic. And who knew if it would ever work?
But just as Emma was about to exit the page, an image caught her eye.
It was a brunette haired woman, exactly Emma's type, and with the most intense pair of eyes Emma had ever seen. It was like they could see inside her very soul. Inadvertently they sent a shiver down Emma's spine. Her eyes flicked down to the catch phrase under the escort's picture. 'They call me the evil queen for good reason.'
A bad girl. Even more Emma's type.
Emma had been attracted to Lily because she had this sort of dark aura around her, and because she had in fact once used to be a petty thief (proof in how she easily stole Emma's heart) and still rode motorcycles well past the speed limit and wore leather jackets. Also, Lily could be a bitch and wouldn't hesitate to cuss a ho out. Which honestly, was hot. Emma liked a woman who was sure of herself and who wouldn't hesitate to protect those she cared for.
Emma was urged to click on the link below the brunette escort's picture and her whole profile popped up. Regina Mills, was her name and Emma let it silently roll of her tongue before she sat up more alertly and began to peruse her profile in detail.
Regina had a degree from Yale, in business and economics. She was currently 30 years old and her hobbies included mixed martial arts, drink making, painting, piano, horseback riding, traveling, and reading up on anything and everything. She really did have expensive tastes, like a queen, because from the drink and food preferences listed, Emma had no idea what they were. "Foie gras?" she muttered. "What the hell is that?"
Still, she felt like giving this woman a try. She picked up her phone, took a steadying inhale and dialed the number.
"Hello, you've reached Wonderland Women, an escort service of women for women, how may we service you?" a pleasant voice sounded on the other end.
"Uh," Emma croaked out very intelligently, "I'm looking to hire a woman for this event I'm going to."
"And do you know which woman you would be interested in?" the operator's voice was very businesslike yet friendly.
"Yea, I'd like Regina Mills."
"Ah, the Evil Queen."
"Yea, her," Emma said, feeling like the operator was stalling. Why was she stalling?
"You sound like a first time caller, so I'm going to quickly explain that each woman plays to a certain type of stereotype of women. Regina's more of darker type. Since this is your first time, you might want to start of with someone who is 'innocent' or openly friendly."
What the hell did darker type even mean? Was it a racial thing? Regina did look a shade Hispanic, another thing she and Lily shared in common. "What do you mean by darker type?"
"Did you read about our ranking system here?"
Emma may have skipped that. "No. I didn't."
"We scale our girls on that, and it goes from white to dark. That doesn't have anything to do with race, contrary to how it may sound. It has to deal with as I mentioned before, the stereotype or character an escort typically uses in their services and it also deals with their sexual nature. Those who are white, cater to basic, almost vanilla like sexual deeds, whereas those who are in the gray area are in a gray zone meaning they don't mind doing something new, or trying something more kinky, whereas those labeled as darker are open to almost any kink and style, though just because they are dark doesn't mean they will be open to the option of having sex with every customer."
Emma let that sink in; it was sure of a lot of information to take in.
So Regina catered to the more wild side of sex. Emma was not at all opposed to that, but she didn't need Regina for sex, she just needed her there for the wedding. To show Lily how well off she was and what Lily was missing out by not dating her.
"I'm not really looking for sex. I just need her for an event. And I'll be fine with her character type." Emma still wasn't sure what was up with that- she assumed it was the way escorts protected their real selves or something.
"Alright then. Please make sure to fill out the application link in the website and within three business days you'll have your reply."
"Awesome," Emma smiled and hung up, her heart still beating heavily in her chest. This was it. She'd done it. She'd ordered an escort. There was no going back now.
Emma was nervous as all hell. She'd been cleared by the agency and her order had gone through. She'd been in touch with Regina through the company on the information she would need for the wedding- such as the time, the place, the type of dress and names of people, etc. But now that the actual day was upon Emma, she could not stop freaking out. Her stomach was a tangled wire of nerves and each time she thought she had successfully untangled one nerve, another one tangled together and proceeded to torment her.
What if Regina decided not to show up last minute? What if everyone knew she was an escort? What if the plan didn't work?
Emma was going to sweat out her outfit at this rate and she had spent a lot of money on it. She was currently wearing a white suit, tailored to a tight fit, and with a blue tie to bring color to the piece. Her hair was done back in a ponytail and she'd curled the ends to bring some volume. She was sparse on the make up only because she was never good at it and she didn't want to fuck up her face by trying.
She paced a little bit faster in front of the wedding venue, glaring at her watch as if it held the answers to why Regina was not here yet. Inside the party celebrations were going on. Mary and David had exchanged wedding vows already. Emma had sat in on that, shed a happy tear or two (none of those tears had to do with Lily's hand being held in Aurora's, absolutely uncorrelated) and then booked it out of the church before Lily and Aurora could see she was currently alone. But the prospect of someone coming eventually was enough to keep her going.
"Waiting on someone?" someone called out to her, and Emma's heart lept in her chest, momentarily thinking it could be Regina but no, surely the woman didn't sound like an alcoholic midget.
"Hey Leroy. How many drinks are you on?" Emma greeted one of Mary's friends. They all knew the short man and his penchant for drinking himself under the table especially on special occasions on these.
"Only one, surprisingly," he said, fixing his askew tie. "I've been doing good recently." He hiccuped and Emma tilted her head, not at all convinced by his false words.
"Okay okay, so like one bottle," he corrected when he saw Emma's look. "Still better than what I used to do. But enough about me, who you waiting for?"
"Just someone special," Emma said, shrugging and not comfortable in sharing this with Leroy. He would tell Mary and then Mary would accidentally gossip about this to someone and then everyone would know- and no, wait, that was actually a good thing. The faster word got to Lily, the better.
"She's this amazing girl I met. Not too long ago actually. But it just...we just sort of clicked you know. She's funny, and smart, and really accomplished," Emma put on a smile and began fake gushing.
"Where did you two meet?"
"Oh, you know. A bar."
"I'm actually not the bar type," came a deep sultry voice from behind Emma that had her freezing up. The steady click of heels drew closer, each resounding sound sending little chills down her spine. She slowly turned around and there she was, Regina Mills in the flesh.
Her hair was shorter than the profile picture but she looked amazing in quite the same way; no, in fact she looked even better in real life.
Her hair was done in loose curls, a few draped in front of her face and framing her impeccable and royal features and the rest up in a bun. Her makeup was done to match the strapless and low cut yet tastefully classy blue dress she was wearing, long enough that it trailed on the ground. She was able to walk in it effortlessly, gliding along the floor. The blue matched the exact shade of Emma's tie and how Regina was able to pull that off without ever seeing it was a mystery.
But it wasn't her figure that rendered Emma speechless, though there was barely any question about the appeal behind her curvy hips and those breasts barely held back by cloth. It was her eyes, intense and dark and picking apart every piece of Emma in seconds and figuring out her whole life story.
Emma must have been quiet for a long time because Leroy whistled loudly. "Sure got yourself a catch there, Swan. I'll leave you two to it," he said and then ducked back into the venue, slipping past an exiting man who was going out for a smoke. When he caught sight of Regina his neck snapped back to follow her but she paid him no mind.
"Are you alright?" Regina asked, with faint amusement quirking up her lips.
That finally brought Emma back to life and she sucked in a huge breath as her face flushed red. "Fine actually. You just look even better than the photos."
"Of course I do, dear. Otherwise I wouldn't be in this profession."
And oh, there was that hint of arrogance that Emma found so damn appealing in women.
"Uh, well, yea," Emma managed out and internally winced. Why couldn't she speak right, damn it? Regina only looked ever more amused by that.
"I must say, a wedding for our first date. Quite presumptuous aren't you?" She stepped closer and Emma could smell her perfume from up here
"Presumptuous?" was Emma not supposed to take an escort to a wedding? Then why had Regina agreed? "I didn't mean to offend-"
Regina shook her head at this. "I'm only teasing. But I can see that you're not quite able to handle that yet."
This made Emma flush. "Oh, right." She felt stupid now.
"Shall we go in?" Regina indicated with her head to the venue from which terrible party music was blasting out.
"Yea, let's."
At this Regina slid an arm on the small of Emma's back, tugging her closer to her. This startled Emma's already frazzled nerves and she nearly yelped out loud. This time a chuckle escaped Regina's throat. "If you want to convince people we're a couple, than we have to act like one."
"R-right," Emma stammered, feeling dumb. "I've never hung out with an escort before. I'm not sure of the rules of conduct. The company sent me some guidelines but each person is different you know and I don't want to assume that you're comfortable with what the general comfort level that's reestablished by the company is."
Emma knew she was rambling but she tended to do that a lot when she didn't know what to say or do.
Regina blinked at her, intrigue in her eyes. She looked genuinely touched by the idea. "That's very...sweet of you," she settled on. "But do not worry. Let me take the lead. You just follow."
"Got it. No problem." Emma nodded her head swiftly and they went up the stairs to the building.
Being gallant, Emma held the door open for Regina who went in first. Everyone's eyes were drawn to her for she was not only a new face but a very pretty new face. Regina wasn't put out by this. "Sorry I'm late," she said, soaking in the attention and pulling Emma to her side. "Work." She shrugged. "Do get back to your dancing," she dismissed and pulled Emma towards a table that had the placard Emma and Regina printed out. The guests started gossiping and a small crowd had gathered around Leroy who was no doubt aggrandizing the story Emma had told him and milking it for all it was worth.
But before they could get to the table they were intercepted by Mary and David. "Oh Emma!" the brunette crowed. "So this is who your new girlfriend is. She's so lovely!" Mary grabbed Regina's hands in her own and smiled at her. "It's so lovely to see you. Emma has been keeping her lips tight around you so we barely know anything but now I can see why! She wanted to hide the splendor of you all to herself."
Ah shit, Emma was hoping to avoid these two. Mary would drain her of every detail she had about Regina and Emma didn't even have a back up plan as to how they met. She fidgeted next to Regina, lips smiling painfully.
"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you all and to be out in the open as Emma's girlfriend. And I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the ceremony. Work is very demanding and they don't really give us sick days."
"Where do you work?"
"I work for Gold-Mills Incorporated."
"I've heard of that firm. They're such a huge name. How did you come to work there?" Mary began to pull Regina over to a table. "Come, sit down. Tell us more."
"I wouldn't want to impose. This is your special day after all. Why don't you tell me more about how you meet your husband, David."
What a save! Emma could relax now. Whenever David and Mary talked about their romance, they would get lost and wrapped up in it and on correcting who was the cuter one and who did this and who did that. It would keep them busy and their attentions off of Emma and Regina which was the main point.
As the newly married couple chattered on, Regina listened attentively, nodding her head and inserting commentary here and there. Emma just sat there quietly. She had heard this story a grand total of Too Many Times and she would gladly never hear it again.
Thankfully the two women were spared when a waiter pulled up to Mary and whispered into her ear about something involving food. Mary immediately jumped up, pulling David with her. "Excuse us ladies, we have something to attend to. Please enjoy the rest of your evening. It was lovely to meet you," David, being the perfect gentleman, kissed Regina's hand and then went after Mary.
"So, that's the married couple," Emma said because she didn't know what else to.
"They're something else," Regina said without any judgment in her voice. "How do you know them?"
"I roomed with Mary in college."
"And was she always this big on...cheesy love motifs?" Regina asked, looking around the venue. Everything was done up in pinks and other pastels and the staff was wearing Disney costumes. Mary and David themselves had been dressed up as the legendary Snow White and Prince Charming.
The bridesmaids and best men were also dressed up like princes and princesses and Emma was glad she hadn't been chosen as one. She would hate wearing a pink frilly dress.
And the music was all a mix of music from Disney movies.
And Taylor Swift. Emma would never understand Mary's love of that woman's music.
"Yea, she's a huge believer in true love. But with a man like David, who wouldn't be. He's basically a prince- probably what Disney used to model their princes off of." Emma sighed and took a sip of her water, wishing it was something stronger instead. "I used to believe in love too...but..." Emma trailed off here, unable to continue.
"The ex-girlfriend," Regina nodded her head sagely and it made her earrings jingle and sparkle in the light of the candles on the table. They looked expensive; Emma wondered how much they cost. "Tell me more about her. What exactly is your plan?"
"I'm trying to get her back. I want her to see what she's missing out on."
"Why the break up in the first place. I don't mean to be forthcoming," Regina tacked on tastefully when Emma didn't respond immediately. "It's just a good frame of reference for me to have in case we cross paths with her and I need to rub it in her face that you're actually not bad in those regards, or lacking."
Emma shook her head. "I don't actually know why she dumped me. She just said it was her and not me, but I know it's me, because she's already out there, dating someone else." Emma glanced around the room and found the table with her ex lover. Lily looked stunning. She looked like memories, like comfort. Like something old and worn and trusted. Emma didn't want to date someone new. She wanted her safety back. She wanted...Lily.
Lily was laughing at something Aurora said and holding onto her, so close to her they might as well be sitting on each others laps. Emma ground her teeth. How dare Aurora touch her Lily. That should be Emma in her place.
Regina silently followed Emma's line of sight and a look of understanding flashed on her face. "Ignore them for now. Surely you wouldn't want to leave me unattended. I came all this way out to see you." A playful quality to her voice, Regina placed a hand on Emma's and relaxed it. Emma hadn't even noticed that she had been gripping the fork on the table tightly.
"Uh, right. So what do you wanna talk about?"
"I don't want to talk right now. I want us to dance. Come with me," Regina got up, held out her hand. Emma hesitated. "I'm not that good of a dancer."
"It's a slow song. We don't have to do much but sway."
"Okay." Emma took Regina's hand finding it so soft and warm. Her fingers slipped easily into Emma's and Emma found it comforting to feel the weight of someone else's hand in hers. Regina took them to an open spot on the dance floor and lifted Emma's arms into the correct positioning on the small of her back while she intertwined hers behind Emma's neck.
Emma was suddenly overcome by the intimacy of these actions. Feasibly she knew that this is what Regina was paid for- to act like they were lovers. But it came so easily to her and Emma felt like she was the one messing this all up, making it seem fake.
"Just relax," Regina whispered, as if reading Emma's thoughts. "Enjoy the music and sway with me."
Emma nodded her head, throat dry. It was dim on the dance floor, making it all the more intimate. But Emma tried to not let that bother her. She was hoping Lily would finally notice her and that they could talk. Emma hadn't heard Lily's voice in months. But she was too cowardly to seek her out herself.
One song became two, then three and Regina drew them closer, leaning her chin on Emma's shoulder. Emma could smell her perfume more intensely from here, could feel the steady heat of her, and was filled with the longing to hold on tighter to her, to lick her way up her throat and taste her scent for herself.
She blamed it on the loneliness and on how many nights she and Lily had stayed embraced like this. "We never danced, me and Lily," Emma finds herself saying and Regina pulls back, rests her forehead on Emma's as the blonde averts her eyes and babbles on. "She wasn't the dancing type and neither was I. We spent only nights touching like this, caught in the embrace of the dance of sleep."
Emma doesn't know why she's rambling like this, but something about Regina's touch has sparked the need to.
"You cared for this Lily a lot." It's an inquiry, a probe to see how far Emma will open up.
"I still do. That's why I'm fighting to get her back." Emma shifts her hands higher. Somehow they had dipped dangerously low to Regina's ass. "It was a mistake for us to break up. All I have to do is prove that to her." Emma knows she sounds like a love sick fool (newsflash, she is one) but she can't care right now. "Have you ever been in love?"
Emma thinks it's too deep of an answer and that Regina won't say anything but after several beats she does. "Just once."
"What happened?"
"They died." And there is so much bitterness in that that it chokes Emma up and she doesn't ask or say anything more.
The songs become more cheery and fast paced and they decide it's time to get off the dance floor. "Food?" Emma asks, because personally she's starving.
"What do they have?"
"I think it's a medieval style buffet, since all the princesses and princes were from the castle ages."
"Delightful," Regina says with a twist of her lips. "I've always wanted to eat like a peasant."
Emma laughed at this. "I forgot, you're a queen. Evil queen to be exact. That's what it said on your profile."
"It does. I'm surprised it didn't scare you away. You don't seem like...the type to be able to handle me," Regina said coyly and with a little flick of her tongue. Emma found her heart squeezing at that. She wanted Regina to do it again.
"They tried to warn me, but it's not like that would stop me. You happen to be my type."
"I'm glad to hear I am your type-" but whatever else was going to be said was stopped when Lily and Aurora came up in their sojourn to the buffet table.
Emma had been hoping to bump into Lily all night long but now that she had...well, everything she had wanted to say flew out her mind.
Lily had her hair straightened and falling over her bare shoulders while she wore a black number that hugged her petite frame, and heels that made her a head taller than Emma.
"Emma," Lily stopped, leaving a good three feet of space between them.
"Lily," Emma breathed out, soaking her in. She was just like Emma remembered. Beautiful, and perfect and just...fuck, Emma missed her so bad. The way she had said Emma's name made her heart melt even though it had been said cautiously, casually.
There was a long silence in between them, Lily clearly not having expected Emma to come to the wedding at all.
"Darling," Regina purred, swooping in to save the conversation, and wrapping an arm around Emma's. "Are you going to introduce us?"
"Uh, right," Emma snapped free. "Regina this is my girl- ex-girlfriend," Emma quickly amended. "And Lily, this girlfriend is Regina, I mean, this is Regina my girlfriend." Emma's cheeks were flushed and she bit her tongue. Whelp, so much for being smooth, for blowing away Lily with her sharp looks and manners. She may look good in her suit but she did not sound good.
Lily let her gaze drift over to Regina, finally noticing her for the first time. Regina held out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Lily did not shake hands, just glared at the offer.
Regina retracted her hand. "I suppose you don't feel that way." She didn't look hurt but she did jerk her chin up a bit higher, sizing Lily up while Lily sized her up.
"This is Aurora. She's my girlfriend." Lily practically growled this out.
Aurora, the blonde next to Lily waved her hand in greeting. She was wearing bell bottom jeans, a bejeweled top and her long blonde curly hair was left freely down her back. On her head was a little head band that encircled her forehead and had little beads and feathers attached to it.
She looked extremely out of place and Emma recalled hearing a tid bit about how she was some nature activist or something.
Judging by Regina's sour look she was not impressed by the blonde.
"Well, I'm glad to see you've moved on. I was worried that you'd keep trying to contact me and I'd have to get a restraining order on you," Lily said.
Emma laughed too loudly at this, uncomfortable at having that brought up. "Don't worry about that. I was only calling to try and apologize." She didn't want Regina thinking she was some sort of creep. But there was no distaste on Regina's face just something resembling anger.
"Then we should do a dinner. As an apology or peace offering of sorts," Aurora offered.
Wow, Emma fucking hated the sound of Aurora's voice. She couldn't imagine a whole dinner listening to that, or how Lily fucked Aurora and enjoyed the moans that voice could make. It was so wispy and whimsical and weak. She looked like a giant child. Her eyes were big and wide and she looked perpetually surprised.
What about that was more appealing than Emma's perpetually down turned lips? Or that one brow that was higher than the other?
"Yea, you can bring your girlfriend to the dinner. We can all get to know each other better," Lily added though she didn't look thrilled at the idea, and less so at Emma's girlfriend.
"It's fine. We don't need to do that. We actually have plans, so we won't be able to attend."
"We didn't even tell you what day," Aurora said and Emma shook her head.
"Regina works for Gold Mills Incorporated. She doesn't really get out much." Emma was floundering in this conversation and she knew it but what else could she do? She couldn't just awkwardly run away, though every cell in her body was telling her to do just that.
"Then how'd she'd meet you?" Lily asked not at all kindly.
And there it was, that damn dreaded question. Emma blanched and could feel a drop of sweat bead down her back.
"In a bar," Regina intercepted, laying a hand on the small of Emma's back. "Funnily enough of all places. I was looking to unwind one night and Emma was out there, surrounded by some girls. Our eyes meet across the room and it was attraction at first sight. I love blondes, especially sporty types and the gallant and noble sort too. It wasn't easy getting her attention from the other girls but I do love a good challenge."
That was either an impressive guess or a perceptive analysis. How did Regina know she was sporty? Did she give off gay sporty vibes? And Emma was unflappably noble so much that it had gotten her into fights protecting others honor or some shit like that when she was younger.
"And I only pretended to not be interested in you, but as soon as you walked up to me, I could think of no one else but you." Emma added, smiling softly at Regina to make it all the more convincing. Regina turned her attentions to the two in front of her.
"So, how did the two of you meet? At the local homeless shelter?" Regina quickly became sharp, though it was almost hard to tell she was being rude for her tone of voice was even but her words were weapons.
Aurora perked up at this. "I do in fact volunteer there from time to time. I feel passionate about those who have less. I aim to help them."
"Maybe you should help yourself first. I wasn't aware the theme today was 1960s peace march," Regina said, eyeing Aurora's outfit up and down.
"It isn't. It's Disney," Aurora said in that laid back voice of hers, entirely clueless. "But guests don't have to dress up like that."
"Oh, so you just wear hippie clothes by choice," Regina smiled tightly. "Can't say it's a smart choice but what do I know. I only wear Vera Wang designer dresses to weddings. Clothing that is appropriate."
Aurora's brow furrowed and she looked utterly confused as to the words coming out of Regina's mouth. But Lily fully knew what was going on.
"Well, at least my girlfriend's not a snobby uptight bitch who wouldn't know fun if it bit her in the ass," Lily jumped in, wrapping an arm protectively against Aurora.
"Glad to see your girlfriend isn't the type to dump someone out of the blue without an explanation and then go sleep around with others." Regina paused here, and pretended like she was struck by sudden realization. "Oh no, wait. That's you."
Lily was positively fuming right now and both Aurora and Emma shared concerned stares with each other. They did not like where this was going.
"You bitch! How dare you-!"
"Babe, peace and love," Aurora inserted herself between the two spitting brunette's and grabbed Lily's shoulders. Lily looked ready to pull off her earrings and go.
"She doesn't know anything about me, she doesn't get to judge me!" Lily shouted and they were starting to draw a crowd.
"I know enough about you that I don't quite care for getting to know more about you," Regina sneered. She was standing coolly, back regal while Lily was struggling in Aurora's hold, trying to get closer to Regina.
Emma decided this was as good a time to stop this as ever. She didn't want to ruin Mary's wedding. "Come, Regina. Let's go get a drink," she placed a gentle hand on Regina's wrist and Regina blinked, as if the touch was bringing her back to reality.
"Yes, of course dear," she smiled warmly at Emma. "Let's leave the two of these uncultured swines to their own devices."
"I'll show you uncultured swine!" Lily screamed out while Aurora shot them an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry. But see you at dinner plans?" the blonde asked and Emma shrugged in answer to that. When they had gotten far enough they sat down at the bar. Emma had lost her appetite thanks to that altercation. Emma sullenly raised two fingers for drinks and sighed heavily into her glass when she got it. Regina picked up her drink but didn't drink it.
"I'm sorry, if I made things worse. But I couldn't stand to see you being berated by that woman-"
"It's fine, honest. Lily does have a temper on her and I kind of pissed her off by trying to get in touch with her all those months when she clearly wanted nothing to do with me. And I found it fucking hilarious when you tore Aurora a new one. I don't very much care for her." Emma took a sip now. "She does dress like a hippie. How does Lily go from a regular dressed girl like me to someone who probably walks barefoot all over town."
"People make dumb decisions all the time. Perhaps her dumping you was her dumb decision," Regina suggested.
Emma sighed out again. Her clothes were feeling stiff on her and seeing Lily had drained her. She wanted to go home and curl up on her bed. "I think I'm gonna head out."
"You don't want to stay the rest of the night?" Regina seemed shocked by that.
"Nah. I think I did what I came here to accomplish." Yup, one ticked off Lily, check. She was supposed to make Lily like her more not less. But it hadn't worked out.
"You still have me for several more hours."
"I don't suppose you want to go home early?"
"I don't want to you to feel like you got cheated out of your money. You paid a lot, Emma." Regina laid a hot palm against Emma's hand, edging into Emma's space.
What else could she do with Regina? "You wanna go back to my place-er scratch that," Emma recalled with horror that her apartment was in a horrid state right now. "You wanna go walk around the town? See what's happening?"
"Whatever it is you want, Emma. I'm yours for the evening." That statement carries a heavy weight with it and Emma feels it roll down her back. She tosses back her drink in one go. "Okay, let's go on an adventure."
Slipping her hand into Regina's, they leave the wedding behind.