Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or its characters! This is for fun purpose only.
A/N: So, I decided to start this over. I know this story was neglected for a long while, and truthfully I wasn't feeling inspired enough to write it. Now, I am participating in the NaNoWriMo challenge (google it if you don't know what I mean) and it means that this is going further! For those who are starting to read now, welcome! Loosely inspired by 'The Proposal' idea, yet more focused on the fact they are best friends already, and how their relationship will develop from now on. Attention: the first two chapters were updated. Thoughts and some Flashbacks in italics. Also, all mistakes are mine. Enjoy! Cyn x
Loving you, that isn't really something I should do
I shouldn't wanna spend my time with you
Well I should try to be strong
But baby you're the right kind of wrong
(Leann Rimes)
"Morning, buttercup!" An overly excited voice chirped through her iPhone, making brown eyes roll while trying to balance it on her right shoulder and look for her car keys inside her design leather bag.
"Miss Swan, do not cross me. I'm hardly in the mood." Emma had to snort at this. It was funny how Regina insisted on being all formal whenever she was upset, but Emma knew her well enough to see when she was just trying to put some distance between herself and the others. Ten years of friendship provided Emma a lot of insights into how Regina worked, and for that, Emma was glad.
"As if you ever are!" Chuckles were heard. "What's up?" The blonde asked, finally stopping teasing.
"Not having the best day, that is all." Regina sighed. Oh man, this is serious. Regina was not the one to complain idly. "Apparently the obnoxious man in charge of the department thinks I am not good enough for this country?" The hoarse voice explained, calmly, yet filled to the brim with anger.
"What?!" The blonde stopped what she was doing. "He fired you?" Green eyes blinked with worry and care, even if the brunette couldn't see it.
"No, he wouldn't dare." Slender fingers gently rubbed her temples, sensing an upcoming headache. "He said I am having issues with my visa status… so I have to leave the country immediately."
"What? No! They can't do that! There's got to be another way!" Emma blurted, exasperated.
"There isn't. Or else, there is, however not anything I could bring myself to do." The brunette exhaled.
"What is it?" Emma's mind was reeling. She as pacing inside her apartment, figuring who she should call first in order to help Regina out of this situation. "Tell me."
"He mentioned that…" The professor trailed off. Clearing her throat, "He said that if I have a significant other in my life, now would be a good time to, you know, formalize it."
"Say again?"
"Get married, Miss Swan."
"Okay, so, would you care to explain exactly what Mr. Gold said to you?" Emma carefully poured some tea in the mug and brought it to Regina. "Sugar?" The brunette shook her head.
"Well, firstly he scheduled a meeting. Said he had some things to run through by me, and I was thinking it was about the upcoming semester." She continued to explain while Emma sipped her own tea and occasionally nodded thoughtfully.
"Miss Milano, I am glad you could make it today." The old man, dressed in a pressed suit and a bourgeois tie signaled Regina to take a seat. "I'm afraid what we are about to discuss is ultimate priority."
"Thank you, Mr. Gold." She adjusted herself. Somehow she knew at that moment that whatever the old man had to say to her was not particularly related to her lectures schedule. "Please, I would appreciate if we could cut to the chase."
"Very well. I spoke to your immigration attorney. Your visa application has been denied."
"I beg your pardon? Why?" Regina was baffled and surprised.
"Apparently, you were not allowed out of the country while your visa application was being processed. Yet, you went to Italy."
"Well, it was hardly a choice, my mother had a heart attack! She could have been killed!" The professor seethed. God knows she didn't want to drop her classes and go visit her mother out of the blue in the middle of the semester, but how could she not?
"Unfortunately, Regina, it seems like the United States Government does not care about your family issues. I am truly sorry. You are a fine professor here at the University of Chicago, and we would hate to see you go."
"I don't understand, there must be something I can do!" Regina could not imagine her life outside the U.S. She firstly came for her degree, and after her studies, she decided to stay. Her whole adult life was here, and the dread of losing what she considered her home was already heavy on the pit of her stomach.
"We can reapply, but unfortunately, you have to leave the country for at least a year. And, you can't work for an American institution while you're there." Mr. Gold sighed. This wasn't easy for him as well, Regina was the star of the department and a lot of students only applied to the course because of her outstanding teaching skills and knowledge of the field.
"What happens now?" The professor asked, feeling defeated.
"You're being deported. And you're off your duties, effective immediately."
"No, no, no, this cannot be happening!" The brunette got up so suddenly her chair screeched back a foot.
"Look, Miss Milano, Regina, we are desperate to have you stay. I wish I could be of more help, but the only way-"
"There is a way, then. Why didn't you start with that, perhaps? I will do anything within my power to stay, and you know that!" Olive cheeks were flushed with boiling rage. "Tell me what it is!"
"Alright then, no need to yell. Simply put, if you have a significant other, I'd say it is a good time to propose. Seal the deal, Miss Milano, and you'd be out of the hook. If they are a citizen of this country, that is." He grinned, flashing what it seemed to be a golden tooth.
"All you have to do is get married, then?" Emma asked, once again.
"Yes, Emma, as if that was somewhat easy. I am sure this is an easy way out if you are with someone for a long time, but this is definitely not an option for me. You know I don't date, last time I tried it ended badly." She brought her mug to the sink and started to rinse it. They were friends for a long time now, and Regina was completely at ease at Emma's. "When is Henry back again?"
"Oh, not until late. He's at Ava's playing video game." The blonde shook her head, also getting up and bringing her mug to the sink. "But hey, don't change subjects. This is serious." The taller woman placed a hand on the brunette's arm, reassuringly. "Look at me. Are you okay?"
Brown eyes met green ones and Emma could see the pain of holding herself together. "Hey, look, I'm here. It's just me. You don't have to be always strong." That did the trick and made Regina engulf the blonde in a desperate tight hug while sobbing her sorrows on her neck. Emma firmly held the brunette close, while rubbing her hands on her back, and whispering sweet things. This was not foreign for both, and yet, a small sniff of dark locks made Emma's head spin. Oh god, not now.
Emma Swan had a crush on Regina Milano. She acutely knew that from the first time she saw the beautiful brunette, one of her older sister Abigail closest friend. She also knew that the dorky baby sister of Abigail's didn't stand a chance, and so far as she knew, Regina was very straight. So, she moved on. She was not eighteen anymore, and Regina and she were friends for ages now. Between having a kid and discovering herself gay, Emma was content with having Regina as her best friend. And she would most definitely not ruin that now, after all those years, just because her heart would flutter from time to time and the scent of Regina's cherry shampoo would do funny things to her belly. Get a grip, Swan.
Regina Millano was actually part of the family. Emma's big, loud and overly excited family. Abby had brought her home on the first Christmas after she started university, and since Regina's family – mom and stepfather – were in Italy, she didn't have anywhere else to go. Abby and Regina were roommates and immediately hit it off. Mary Swan, Emma's mother, was absolutely thrilled to have her as a guest. One more person was nothing to worry about since Emma was one of four. Abigail, Emma, Beatrice, and Ashley, were known in a small town in Maine as the Blondie sisterhood. Obviously, they didn't like it that much, but that didn't stop the other kids in school to mock them when they were little. Surprisingly – or not – the four sisters grew up to be stunningly beautiful, so by the time they were invited to the prom, there was a line in front of the Swan sisters home. And Mary, being the only brunette in the family, took Regina under her wing and never let go. It was no surprise that Regina would talk to her mom more often than she did. Not that I mind, no.
"I don't want to leave, Emma." The brunette confessed, bringing Emma back from her thoughts. "I don't want to go back to Italy. My whole life is here." You are here.
"I know, baby. And you won't have to. We will figure something out, I promise." They were now seated comfortably on the couch, Regina's head leaning on the blonde's shoulder, while pale fingers would fondly caress her dark locks. "Have you talked to Abby yet? She's a lawyer, I mean, I'm sure she will know what to do."
Regina sniffed. "No, not yet. God, I don't even know what I should do next, I literally just drove from campus to here." Raising her head, she looked into bright eyes. "I'm at lost, Em."
Emma would never get tired of the affectionate nickname. "Hey, don't worry. We will figure something out. I will call Abby. She will know what to do. And we can go from there."
Looking rather hopeless for someone who is in charge of a class of a hundred students, Regina commented "There is nothing else to do. It is just difficult for me to accept that. I am usually in charge, and not the other way around."
"So take charge." A very crazy and yet amusing idea started to take form in Emma's mind. Suddenly, it all made perfect sense. Her worried expression gave place to a grin and she then brought Regina's attention. "Babe?"
At first, Regina had hated the form of endearment. She always said that this kind of stuff was only for lovesick teenagers, but Emma had insisted. A lot. And know she was okay with it. Hell, if she were to be honest, she loved the way the blonde always made her feel special. Not that she as willing to admit that out loud. "Mm?"
"Would you marry me?"