Sunlight filtered through the cracks of the heavy midnight blue drapes in thin strips of gold, illuminating tiny flecks of dust particles floating in the drowsy morning air, and glided over slightly parted lips, the slope of a tall nose, finally coming to a stop at long lashes fluttering at the warmth of Apollo's touch. Eton blue eyes opened slowly, squinting against the light as a groan escaped from the figure still crumpled on the black couch.
"Ugh…I should've seen this coming. Ruby and her God-awful drinking habits…" Swinging her legs down as she sat up, Emma waited for the room to stop swinging in her blurry vision before she stood up and carefully crossed over to the kitchen, head pounding with every step, and helped herself to a huge glass of water after pressing a button on her answering machine.
You have two messages. Message one: "Emma? It's Mary Ma-ahem. It's your mother. Well, I just want to remind you of our brunch date tomorrow morning? At ten? I know you're probably out with that model friend of yours—Ruby, isn't it? —so just be safe and try not to drink too much. She's very attractive. I think she likes you, but David, um, your father, he keeps telling me to stay out of your love life, so I'm not going to tell you what to do, but well honey, you know your father and I are very open-minded people, and it'd be nice to have her over sometime-" 9:20 p.m. Message two: "Hello? Emma? It's your mother again. I never did get the hang of leaving messages; I mean, they're supposed to cut you off after you're finished, not before! It just makes me so nervous. Anyway, I'll be at your place at ten with the food, so don't stay in bed too late! Oh, if Ruby is still there, she's more than welcome to join us! I'll bring extra portions! See you tomorrow! I'm so excited!" 9:23 p.m. End of messages.
Smiling fondly at Mary Margaret's childlike elation, Emma checked the time on her answering machine and froze. 9: 37 a.m.
Running for the stairs as if her life depends on it (I suppose it does under these circumstances, she mused to herself), Emma sent out a short prayer to whoever was listening, Please let me finish my shower in time.
On that note, damn you Ruby Lucas for getting me drunk and then leaving with that brunette at the bar without telling me.
Exactly 24 minutes later, Emma sat down across from her mother at the dining table with a triumphant expression and slightly damp hair as the latter frowned at the lack of a third person.
"Emma, where is Ruby?"
"She went home last night after we hung out." More like she ditched me for sex while I was drunk. But Mary Margaret doesn't have to know that. Digging into one of the paper bags on the table, Emma found what she was looking for and happily munched on a bearclaw. Mary Margaret tried not to look too disappointed.
"I thought things were going well between you and her. You have such a good working relationship and she obviously has the hots for you-"
"Mom!" Cutting her off in order to prevent another shared observation from her mother, Emma wiped at the corner of her mouth exasperatedly. "Look, I know that you and Dav- Dad really wants me to find someone and not be single anymore, but it's not as easy as you think, you know? For you guys, it's like the universe had already planned everything and even bought the flowers and stuff, but for the rest of us…there's even the possibility that it might never happen at all." Looking down at her hands, her voice lowered to almost a whisper as longing crept in. "What you have…it's like the kind of love that only happens in fairy tales. Like Snow White and Prince Charming, you know?"
"Oh sweetie…" Mary Margaret reached over and squeezed her daughter's hand, trying to convey to her how much she wished for her something similar, if not more beautiful. Knowing Emma's background, she can only imagine how hard it is to hold on to the belief that one day, someone is going to come along and sweep her off her feet with the love she deserves.
"It's fine, mom. I'm just grateful to have you and David as my family. I really am." Finally looking up and meeting her mother's eyes, Emma hoped that her mother could see the sincerity in her eyes.
"Me too, Emma." Smiling at each other, they shared a quiet moment that was soon broken by the loud rumbling of Emma's stomach. She grinned sheepishly as she reached for another bearclaw.
"You know I love your pastries." Shaking her head, Mary Margaret smiled softly at the wonder that is Emma Swan.
"Don't slouch, Regina, it's very unbecoming. Sit up straight."
"Yes, mother." Sighing inwardly at her mother's strictness, Regina took a deep breath and complied.
Brunch with Cora Mills has never been warm and relaxed. For as long as Regina could remember, her mother has always been cold, distant and relentless toward her, even more so after her father had passed away when she was little. Cora Mills inherited a large fortune from her late husband, and since then, she has held various tea parties and evening banquets in order to get closer to the rich and powerful to make herself one of them. Eventually, she did succeed—with a little help from under-the-table deals and a whirlwind of men that came and went—but she had also sacrificed her daughter's happiness and her chance to grow up in an uncomplicated environment. As a young girl, Regina learned all about the darkest part of human nature, the greed that swallows a man up and the envy that poisons a man's soul, the deceitful and malicious ways people use to fulfill their heart's desire. Sickened by what she'd seen behind the glamorous façades of the rich and famous, Regina tried every possible way to escape her mother's control, but to no avail…until Gold entered their lives.
"Regina." Snapped out of her thoughts, Regina did her best to appear focused. It has always terrified her how deadly her mother can sound when she chose not to raise her voice when she's displeased.
"I'm sorry, mother. I'm afraid I didn't catch the question." Cora sighed audibly and repeated her question with an air of impatience.
"Are you free at seven? Gold has set you up with an artist in town who's quite the topic among Maleficent and the others." Regina managed to stop a snort at the mention of the pompous and gossipy wives of her mother's male business associates.
"Am I to assume that I have a date tonight? Or am I expected to 'secure' another business deal for you?" Failing miserably at sounding less sarcastic, Regina cringed inwardly and waited for her mother's cutting response. However, it never came.
"As a matter of fact, it's neither, yet I'm not told of the details. All Gold had said over the phone was that he'd drop you off at some art studio for the appointment with the artist."
Cora left shortly after leaving clear instructions from Gold: dress casual, act natural, and be nice. Regina would've been amused by Cora's confusion if she weren't as clueless as she was. It was apparent enough that she was not there for her 'services', which leads to the million-dollar question: what is the purpose of this meeting?
Maybe Gold wants to start recruiting men now.
Whatever the reason, she will find out tonight. In the meantime, she should start thinking about what to wear.