AN: Thanks for the reviews! I reread the first chapter somewhat too late and discovered how much better it could have been, so I'll do my best to make sure this one is better! Review about anything you want. Last chapter I think I wrote they were first- and second-year? I accidentally thought of my country's school system. I'm not an expert in the American high school system, but I'll put it like this now: Regina is a last year, and will go to college after graduation. Emma is one year younger than her.
Emma's phone beeped in her pocket, and she reached down, struggling to get it out of the tight jeans pocket. Regina always said they were impractical, but she didn't listen.
She had been laying on her bed, listening to music, trying not to sulk about Cora occupying Gina yet another weekend. It happened far too often for her liking. She unlocked the phone and read Regina's message.
Dear God, they ARE trying to set me up. Really, this time they're serious. We ARE going to a restaurant, just like I said we WOULDN'T! Mother's never done that before. We always eat at home, and she told me to put my best dress on!
Emma frowned. She didn't doubt Regina's ability to take care of herself, but she still got really worried every time they did this. In the back of her mind, there was always the tiny voice wondering when a time would come when Regina would see a young man of her mother's choosing whom she liked? When she would realise how nice it was to agree on something with her mother, and realise how she didn't want Emma anymore?
Unbeknownst to the blonde, Regina always worried that one day, Emma would tire of a girl who couldn't spend time with her, but instead meeting boys with her mother, and decide she didn't want the brunette anymore.
Hope for good food, and take a picture of yourself for me. It's OK, like you said, they can't make you do anything.
Emma knew how curt she sounded, like she didn't really care. She figured it was good practise, though. Having to see Regina at school when she was with the new Jones boy instead of her would require a lot of curt acting from the blonde.
I will. I know they can't, but I just really wish I could take you to these places instead.
Emma smiled, despite herself. So much for remaining indifferent. I'm fine. Try to have a good time, alright?
Regina ignored her request. What are you doing?
Saving the earth. Listening to music. You, in the car?
In the damn Limousine. It's a freak-show, seriously. The Joneses are more over-the-top than my mother.
Emma swallowed. She couldn't compete with money, let alone Limousines. Sounds like a nice trip.
It's not, I promise you.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Ems, come on. She doesn't mean to."
"I know, Ruby, but it doesn't help."
"She can't help it."
"And I can't help but worry."
"What do you have to worry about? Regina would never betray you in any way."
"I suppose not, but if her mother can get her to stay home every weekend, how hard can it be for her to stop us from seeing each other altogether?"
"Then you'll find a way. You have to believe, Emma, or it's never going to work. Don't you believe in yourself and Regina?"
"As a couple, or what?"
"Yes."
"I believe we have the odds against us, and that life isn't a fairytale, so it's not given that we'll be able to take it."
"What would you not be able to take? Her mom?"
"Her mother could do almost anything, Rubes, you know that."
"So, say that Cora's stopping you from seeing each other. What do you do?"
"Call, text. Try to sneak in."
"They take her phone and discover you, threatening to get you arrested if you try again."
"Letters disguised as stuff from school. Their servants likes me. And her dad does. They'd let me in."
"Cora finds out, and says that if she sees as much of a trace of you inside their home again she will personally have you under arrest before you can blink."
"I'd turn up at those lunch restaurants she keeps going to, meet Gina in the bathroom or something."
"See, Em? You're not resource-less, and neither is Regina. It's going to be fine."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That Saturday, Emma was sleeping in. She'd stayed up late, distracting herself from Regina by watching some old reruns. Her foster parents started work early on most days, around seven. The clock was only half past seven, and someone was banging on the door loudly. The sound jolted Emma awake, and she grumbled unhappily as she pulled on a large hoodie over her shorts and tank top, expecting a seller or the like. She yanked her bedroom door open, stomping through the small hallway and fumbling with the lock, before pulling the door open slightly. "What?"
She hadn't expected her favourite brunette to be standing there. "Regina?" She opened the door wider, letting go of the handle and stepping forward.
Regina's eyes were sparkling as she confidently brought her hands up to cup Emma's cheeks, leaned in and gave her a firm kiss on the lips. Emma immediately melted beneath her touch, letting her fingers tangle in Regina's hair and kissing back happily.
It was Regina who broke away, pushing Emma inside gently and closing the door after them. Emma seemed to sober up, too, and grinned, asking; "Where is this coming from?"
Gina shrugged. "I missed you. Last night was terrible and I couldn't wait, really..." a slight blush painted her cheeks.
Emma laughed and pecked her lips firmly. "I'm really happy to see you. Did you even have time to eat?"
"No," Regina admitted. "I left as soon as I woke up."
"Did you walk here?"
Emma sounded flabbergasted, and Gina looked down at her running shoes and sweatpants with a sheepish face. She lived quite far away, usually she'd take a cab when she wanted to go to Emma's place. "Yeah."
Emma smiled timidly, leaning forward to peck her lips once more. "How flattering. Have breakfast with me?"
Regina smiled widely and wrapped her arms around Emma's neck, pulling her in for another deep kiss. "I'd love to."
Emma returned the smile brightly, though reluctantly letting go of Regina's waist. Instead she grabbed her girlfriend's hand, pulling her into the kitchen. Regina followed closely, taking in the familiar apartment. She secretly loved it – the homey feeling of the small place, so differing from her own big, tasteful but soulless home. She absolutely loved how she could come here any time of the day, and Emma would welcome her no matter what. Emma was the one never-wavering thing in her life. Her mother was an uncontrollable force, and her father would do whatever Cora told him. Either way, the blonde girl in her sleeping attire I front of her was truly the most important person in her life. She wouldn't ever dare to say that – it would scare her away, for sure – but it was the truth, and she'd known it for some time. During the five and a half months they'd been together, it had only taken her three to realise how much she relied on, trusted, and actually loved Emma. Emma loved her too, she knew that much now, but she doubted she would ever mean as much to Emma as she herself did to Regina.
Emma started taking things out of the fridge – milk, chocolate milk because it was Saturday, and cereal from the cupboard. Two bowls, spoons and glasses.
Regina looked sceptically at the group of items Emma had gathered. "Cereal and chocolate-milk?"
Emma nodded with a grin on her face. "It's Saturday. Sugar Day."
"Sugar Day? I don't –"
Emma grabbed Gina's elbow, turning her around. "It is Sugar Day and you're going to enjoy it with me. Come on." She sat Gina down by the table and poured the sugar-loaded breakfast into the bowl in front of her.
Regina shrugged, ignored her mother's voice in the back of her head, and tucked in.
They spent the rest of the day together, after Regina had endured a lecture from her mother over the phone to never sneak out without permission again. Her daughter's pleading had made her scoff, but Cora agreed to let Regina stay with Emma, if only so she wouldn't have to see her for a while. She was still angry.
Both of them similarly dressed in Emma's clothes (tight jeans, tank tops and hoodies), something Gina felt oddly comfortable with, Emma took her to the playground, wanting to show her 'the more simple pleasures of life', where they spent more than an hour on the swings.
It confused and angered Emma to no end to learn that Regina had never had a swing when she was little. She hadn't been allowed to do anything that her mother considered dangerous, or as she had expressed it, "something that could hurt my little heiress". Henry had brought her to playgrounds only a few times, but only to sit on the swings, never to actually swing.
Emma took this upon herself. Pushing the other girl high, she grinned widely by the brunette's loud laughter and occasional yelps of surprise when Emma gave an extra hard push, sending Gina into the air forcefully and making her feel more free than ever before. Flying through the air with her girlfriend there to catch her brought a warm feeling to her chest, spreading rapidly, and soon she was digging her heels in the ground.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked frantically. "Did I go too fast? I'm sorry."
Regina shook her head with a small smile. She held her arms out, and Emma came to stand before her, looking quizzical. Regina pulled the blonde onto her lap and kissed her deeply.
"Thank you," she whispered gratefully, making Emma swallow nervously.
"You're welcome. You deserve to get some of the things you missed out on."
Regina pulled Emma closer, burying her face in the blonde's neck. When she spoke again, her voice was weak and she trembled slightly.
"You're the most important person in my life, Emma. You know that, right?"
Emma's breath hitched in her throat, and she turned her head to burrow her nose in Regina's dark hair. "I – I do. You know I feel the same way about you, right?"
Regina smiled weakly, and felt a tear trickle down her cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Regina felt slightly ridiculous for reacting so strongly to Emma taking her to a playground to swing, but she couldn't help it. It was the most caring thing anyone had done for her in a very long time.
AN: Review, please?
