Chapter Two.
Regina Mills had eyes everywhere. When the lost boys were brought to Storybrooke, she insisted that cameras were to be fitted in every shop, bar and restaurant - even street corners were covered as soon as she got home. Emma had insisted that she rested before getting back to work, but as always, regina was stubborn and refused to listen to the infuriating blonde. The two fought until the sexual tension between them became so thick, neither could fight it. Their kiss changed everything.
She wasn't a woman of regret, but with Emma Swan, Regina merely regretted not seeing the beauty in the blonde sooner. For Regina, Emma was perfect. She was the only person that ever seemed to stand up to her, she loved Henry, she loved Regina and she constantly overlooked her past.
A sudden movement on one of the screens in her office made her flinch and fear shot through her body. Having to deal with a shenanigan a week before Christmas was something she really didn't want to face. The person causing her to flinch was none other than the town's drunken pirate - Killian Jones. She watched him stumble out of an alley whilst clutching a hip flask and frightening her girlfriend and he best friend.
Instantly, Regina felt protective and wanted to appear by Emma's side and simply punch the pirate who was determined that the blonde was in love with him. Instead, she watched as Ruby defended Emma and stunned the drunk standing on the sidewalk. She beamed at the screen as Emma and Ruby continued their walk, but burst into laughter when Killian stumbled and slipped on the ice behind the two.
"Madam Mayor?" Came a timid voice from behind the door. It was Regina's receptionist, Kate. "Is everything okay?"
Regina wiped away one of the tears that had formed from laughing so much and calmed herself before turning to the girl peering behind the door. "Yes, dear. Let's just say I'm incredibly pleased that we decided to fit these cameras."
"Um, Mayor Mills, I know how much you like to watch the town, but..." She stuttered and stared at the floor before continuing. "I over heard Sheriff Swan talking to Ruby Lucas at the diner this morning where she admitted that she's going Christmas shopping today because her father is going to cover the station for her."
"So you want me to stop watching the town because Emma is going shopping?" Regina asked and raised her eyebrows in an attempt to hide her excitement.
"Well, um, yeah." Kate stuttered. "I know that is isn't my place to say, but I think you should let her surprise you, especially since its your first Christmas together."
"No, I think you're right, Kate." Regina forced a smile. She was disappointed that she couldn't get a peak at her Christmas present, but she knew that Emma would want to see the surprise on her face on Christmas morning. "Thank you, dear. Since I need something to take my eyes away from the screens, do you have anything you need me to sign?"
"Yeah, um, there's a rather large pile here if you wanted to make a start on that?" She waited for Regina's nod before retreating to her desk outside the door and quickly returned with a stack of paperwork for Regina. "I've already read through them so all you need to do is sign them."
Regina gave Kate a genuine smile and was soon left to her thoughts. And an incredibly large stack of work. As she began signing and scanning the sheets, Regina couldn't help but let her mind wander towards Emma. The blonde had slowly invaded every thought inside her mind, not that it bothered her, she just worried that she would become too attached and Emma would leave. Just the thought made Regina's stomach turn and flip in several uncontrollable directions.
'Shut up, Regina', she thought to herself, 'She's stopped running, she's not going to leave any time soon.'
Regina let out a sigh and decided to call her girlfriend, just to hear her enthusiastic voice. Maybe hearing Emma would motivate her to get everything completed to make sure she got home early to spend as long as she could with the blonde.
"Hello, Sheriff Swan speaking." Emma said as she answered the call.
"Well hello, Miss Swan."
"Oh hey, babe! I'm sorry, I overlooked the caller iD thing." Just as she expected, Emma's enthusiasm and excitement increased as soon as she knew who was calling her. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes dear, I just heard you were skipping out on your sheriff duties." Regina tried to hide her teasing with the sternness of her voice, and apparently Emma was buying it.
"Yeah, but when you find out why, you're not really going to care. Besides, David is looking after the station and I have my phone so I'm prepared." She could practically hear Emma's smile.
"I had better be impressed, Miss Swan."
"Oh, I think you will be, Madam Mayor."
"Good. So I saw you talking to Killian Jones this morning."
"Is that jealousy I hear, Gina?"
"It might be. I just don't want him troubling you. He worries me a lot, Emma."
"I know, but he's not getting anywhere between us, I promise."
Regina smiled to herself, "You had better keep that promise, sheriff. Talking about promises; would you pick up Henry from school today? I think I may be finishing a little later than I had hoped."
"Sure, just don't stay too late, okay? Since you're going to be late, can I order a pizza for when you get home?"
"No, you needn't worry, I have plans for us for dinner, okay?"
"Fine. Babe, I have to go, I just found something perfect!" Emma's excited tone was back and made Regina chuckle to herself.
"Okay, have fun. Love you."
"I love you, too."
They hung up simultaneously and Regina leaned back into her chair for a little while with a huge beaming smile across her face. Every time she heard Emma say those three little words, her heart would melt and her entire body would feel weak.
Technically, Regina had lied to Emma. She wasn't going to be home late, in fact, she was going to be home long before Henry even finished school. Instead of completing the forms she had been given, Regina placed them in her purse and prayed for snow over the weekend. She stalked out of her office and was met with a timid looking Mary Margaret.
"Regina, hey," She muttered.
"Good afternoon, Ms Blanchard." Regina said, trying to mask the irritation the woman caused her. "What can I do do you?"
"I was wondering if you, Emma and Henry would like to join us on Christmas Day at Granny's?"
"Shouldn't you be asking your daughter this question, Snow?" She rolled her eyes and let out an overdrawn sigh.
"Yes, but I knew she would say to ask you, so I thought I would cut my journey short and just ask you."
"Wise decision, but I'm still going to have to speak to Emma about it-"
"Call her!" Snow cut in before Regina could say any more. "Call her and ask her."
"Fine." Regina took her cell phone from her purse and wandered into a corner of the reception area of the building. "Hello, dear."
"Are you really missing me that much?" Emma chuckled down the phone.
"Maybe a little. But your mother is here. She wants to know if the three of us would like to spend Christmas with your extended family at Granny's."
"What did you say?"
"I said that I had to speak to you about it."
"Wow, that's a first."
"Very funny, Miss Swan."
"Do you want to go there? If you don't want to, we don't have to."
"I want whatever makes you happy, and I'm sure Henry would say the same."
"Thank you, Regina. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Regina hung up the call and spun on her heel and returned to Snow, who was grinning wider than usual.
"Emm- we would love to join you." Regina said and bit her tongue as soon as the words escaped her mouth. This was going to be painful.
"Great!" She beamed and ran out of the building.
As much as Regina disliked the woman, she had to admit that she was a good mother. She had accepted Emma when she told her that she was in love with Regina and simultaneously accepted Regina too. Since the two of them came out, both Snow and Charming had defended them through everything.
"Kate, I'm going home early." Regina announced as she glided towards the doors. "You can leave whenever you're ready, I've got all of the paperwork in my purse and I shall see you on Monday."