Chapter Two: Hot Cocoa and Cinnamon
Emma finally finished collecting her belongings, finally ready to go home.
"Mrs Swan."
Emma dropped the book she was clutching on the bed and turned around.
"Dr Jones." Emma smiled. "What's the news?"
"I have good and bad news," Dr Jones continued. "The good news is that you're fit and healthy, so you can leave, we will only require a follow up every month for the next six months. Just to make sure there is no more damage."
"What's the bad?" Emma sighed.
"Your memory loss," Dr Jones grumbled. "It looks like it could be permeant, the accident caused some serious impact on that side of your brain, it's amazing how quickly you recovered from such a,"
"I, erm. So, what's the other downsides to my memory loss?" Emma interrupted, tucking her long blonde locks behind her ears and placing her hands on her hips.
"There is a possibility that you'll have many acts of Déjà vu, which is normal, and could re-trigger some memories lost, so it's advised that you go back to the life you were leading before the accident."
Emma grumbled, pursing her lips and looking away, her hands folding over her bust. "It's not that easy," She grunted. "How can I go back to a wife that I don't even know? The me before this loved her, what if I, what if I can't?" Emma's heart sank. "I'm going to break her heart…"
Dr Jones rested a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Hopefully it won't come to that, Mrs Swan. Your father is waiting for you outside, do you need help with your bags?"
"No. No, thank you." Emma raised her eyebrows and smiled, putting on her red leather jacket and chucking the rest of her things in a bag. Without any hesitation she left, going to meet her father in the parking lot.
"Hey, Emma. How are you feeling?" David asked, taking his daughter's bag from her.
"Could be worse, could be better." Emma shrugged, going to get into the car.
"Did you want to go to Regina's to pick up some stuff? Or?" David questioned, placing her bag on the back seat.
"I want to, I want to go back to yours. I need some time to think." Emma sighed.
"Okay, Princess." David smiled, getting in the car and driving off.
-FLASHBACK-
Regina paced back and forth nervously.
"Regina calm down!" Zelena yelled over the music.
"I can't! David wants to introduce me to Emma!" Regina squeezed her hands together.
"That girl from," Zelena shook her head. "The hot one?"
Regina stopped, tilting her head to shoot a glare at Zelena.
"Sorry." Zelena smirked, winking at Regina.
"I haven't had the courage to talk to her at work, she's is the type of girl that all that…"
"David, Emma!" Zelena yelled, nudging Regina.
Regina blushed, catching Emma's eye. "Hey."
Emma smiled at Regina, her teethy grin making Regina's cheeks turner a darker shade of pink.
"Emma, this is Regina Mills. She's the head of English at my school." David smiled.
Regina and Emma both reached out to shake each other's hands.
"I'm Emma Swan, I'm the basketball coach at the school." Emma smiled, gliding her finger along the palm of Regina's hand as they pulled away.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Swan." Regina smile, blushing bashfully.
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Mills." Emma leaned down, taking Regina's hand once again and planted a soft kiss just above her knuckle.
Regina's eyes widened.
"I think it's time Zelena and I got a drink," David eyed up Zelena, giving her a signal to come with him. "What's everyone having?"
"I'll have a beer." Emma nodded. "Regina?"
"Glass of red." Regina smiled.
With their orders, Zelena and David disappeared towards the bar.
"So, Miss Mills. Tell me about yourself?" Emma asked, her body in a tight cat suit, swaying along to the music.
"I'm an English teacher at the school your father runs, I have an eleven year old son, who I adopted when I was twenty one. I live next door to my sister, Zelena. I didn't have the best childhood. My mother and father were, possessive? You could say, luckily when Zelena was nineteen she moved out and I could join her. I then began to study, I got a degree, adopted Henry, who I named after my late father, he passed not long after I moved out. I then got my teaching degree and began teaching." Regina tugged at the tight corset around her waist, dressing up as the evil queen was not a good idea. But, Emma seemed to like it. Regina blushed once again as Emma's eyes met hers.
"Interesting." Emma muttered, tilting her head in attempt to get a better look at Regina.
Regina swallowed hard. "What about you? What's the story behind the elegant Cat Swan?" Regina asked.
"Well," Emma began. "As you know I'm a basketball coach at the same school, I also have been teaching a few individuals Biology as well. I have two degrees. I live in an apartment on my own in the centre of the city. I don't have any siblings. I prefer the winter season over any other. My favourite TV show is Grey's Anatomy, and I'm a big basketball fan. I support the Chicago Bulls. My parents gave me a happy healthy life. That's pretty much the basics." Emma smiled, gazing over the crowd noticing Zelena and David returning with the drinks.
"Sorry we took so long," Zelena huffed. "The queue was huge!"
David passed Regina her drink. "Here you are."
Regina mouthed, "Thank you." Before returning her attention to Emma.
"So, what were you guys talking about?" Zelena asked, sipping on her champagne.
"Just about our past." Emma nodded, taking a swig of beer.
David nodded. "Nice, I'm going to go find your mother, Emma. Have fun!" He smiled, dancing away into the crowd.
"I think I'll go find Belle." Zelena mentioned, quickly shuffling away from the group.
Emma laughed. "Well, that was most definitely a subtle way to suggest we spend some alone together."
"They couldn't have made it more obvious." Regina smirked, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows.
"Not that it's a bad thing." Emma grinned, moving over to place her spare hand on Regina's waist. "Shall we have a 'proper' dance? They are playing some slow songs that I can actually dance too."
Regina's face lit up. "Sounds like a good time."
They both placed their empties on a spare table and headed onto the dance floor, the music and atmosphere may have been loud, but all they could see was each other, the lights dancing over the crowd of party gooers, but no matter what, Emma's hands remained on Regina's waist with her eyes locked with Regina's, they were compatible.
"You're good at this, Emma." Regina smiled, her hands locked around the blondes neck.
"So are you, Miss Mills. You're a natural." Emma chuckled.
The pair danced the night away, laughing and smiling away, their giggles echoing through the crowded room.
Emma took Regina's hand and led her outside. "I've enjoyed my night with you, Regina."
"Me too." Regina smiled shyly, rubbing up her arm as she looked at Emma.
"It just flows right." Emma bit her lip, she turned to Regina, catching her gaze.
Regina gazed right back at her, lost into her hazel wonders, she licked over her lips. "It does."
Emma slowly edged forward, her eyes diverting their attention to Regina's lips, she wanted to kiss her so badly, the closer she got the more she wanted, the connection was so strong she just couldn't stop herself.
Regina's eyes followed the delicate looking pinks lips as they were gentle pushed against hers, the warm feeling of Emma's tongue rooting around in her mouth made the moment hotter. She loved it, her hands seeping around Emma's waist as Emma pushed her up against the wall, locking her fingers in the brunettes hair. Their kissing got deeper and stronger, for a first kiss it was fierce and powerful. Regina loved it, her fingers trickling over Emma's upper body, she closed her eyes, embracing the moment. Emma couldn't help but take her time to explore the woman before her, her hands intertwined in Regina's hair, she tugged at it slightly, just so she could kiss her more.
After kissing each other constantly for nearly five minutes, Emma slowly pulled her lips away, but not too far, just far enough so that she could capture them again if she wished. She nuzzled Regina's forehead, their noses resting together. Emma laughed, brushing her thumbs over Regina's cheek, before gently kissing Regina once more, but this time it was more soft and gentle. Regina smirked, her eyes locked into Emma's once again.
"Regina!" Yelled Zelena, banging on the front door.
Regina rolled over, burying her head under her duvet, ignoring Zelena.
"Regina!" Zelena continued.
Regina heard the door open, she grumbled, remaining hidden in her bed sheets.
Zelena made her way upstairs, she took a deep breath and knocked on Regina's bedroom door. "Regina, it's been a week. You haven't been to work," Zelena sighed. "Or even left the house."
Regina got up, she grabbed her black dressing gown and wrapped it over herself, before walking over to the door and slowly opening it.
"Oh Regina, look at you." Zelena cupped Regina's cheeks in her palm and kissed her forehead. "Oh darling."
Regina almost crumbled into Zelena's arms, she felt limp and lifeless. "I miss her."
Zelena held Regina tightly, stroking at the brunettes hair softly. "Oh darling." She repeated.
Regina's eyes were swollen from all the crying, she looked rough, unkempt.
She pulled away after a moment and looked up at Zelena. "What do I do?"
Zelena placed her hands on Regina's shoulders. "You get up and dress up. Go back to work and ring Emma!"
Regina looked puzzled. "Is that really a good idea?"
"I don't know. But, you can't keep being like this. Regina." Zelena smiled. "It's going to hurt, a lot. But I believe in you." Zelena rubbed Regina's forearms, before kissing her head once again. "I'm going to take Henry and my lot to school. So get dressed and go out, do whatever you want, just don't stay in."
Regina nodded and smiled briefly, watching Zelena leave.
"I think it's time you got up, Emma." Muttered Mary-Margaret as she collected Emma's dirty clothes from around her room and chucked them in the laundry basket in her arms. "It's like you're a teenager again, you haven't left your pit since you got here."
"I don't know what I usually do, Mom." Emma slurred, chucking a pillow over her face.
Mary-Margaret rolled her eyes. "Don't you think it's time you called Regina?"
"What am I going to say to her? It's not like I can just waltz my way back into her life? I don't even remember her?"
Mary-Margaret grunted. "You can at least try and stop being so stubborn!"
Emma rolled her eyes, sighing as she chucked the pillow on the floor. "I'll ring her, but no doubt she'll reject me."
"Just try, Emma." Mary-Margaret looked sternly at her daughter, before leaving her room.
Emma picked up her phone and began to call Regina. "Hey, Regina. So, how about that coffee? Sure, I can be there. See you soon."
Regina shuffled nervously on her chair as she waited for Emma. With her hair tucked behind her ears, she was wearing her tight blue dress, which was Emma's favourite and with her lips as red as blood, she felt ready.
"Hey." Smiled Emma as she came through the doors and sat down on the chair opposite Regina.
"Hey." Regina replied awkwardly. "I ordered for us."
"Okay." Emma smiled once again.
"So how have you been?" Regina asked.
"To be honest, not good, I just feel like somethings been missing. I know that I had a life before I met you, but I've just felt empty. Lost, in a way." Emma mumbled. "How about you?"
Regina smiled as their drinks were delivered.
"One hot cocoa and cinnamon and one latte?" Said the waitress.
"Latte." Regina raised her arm slightly.
"Thanks." Grinned Emma.
As the waitress left Emma turned to Regina. "I haven't had one of these in –forever-…"
"I know it's your favourite. So I thought I'd order it." Regina smiled.
"You know me well." Emma stuttered.
"I did marry you." Regina scoffed.
"Touché." Snickered Emma, raising her eyebrows.
Regina grinned, Emma's presence was making her happy, even though she couldn't quite do what she wanted, she was in fact –happy-.
"So, where were we?" Emma asked, her hands tightly wrapped around her mug.
"I was about to tell you how I was."
"Right go ahead." Emma nodded, leaning on the table.
"Well, I haven't left my house since I left you at the hospital. So, yeah. It's been great." Regina sucked in her top lip.
"I'm sorry about all this, Gina." Emma sighed, slumping down in her chair. "It's hard, I want to remember you, and all the memories we have. I just can't."
"I understand, Emma. You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad you are alive." Regina took a sip from her mug.
"How's Henry?" She asked, smiling up from her cup. "We didn't exactly have the best, meeting…"
"He misses you, but he is coping. He is hanging onto the hope that you come back home, and things go back to normal." Regina twisted her thumbs, her eyes locking with Emma's.
Emma bit her bottom lip, she didn't know what to do. She did fancy Regina, but she needed to make sure it was right before jumping back into how it used to be, she quickly lowered her eyes, breaking their lock.
"Maybe one day they will." Emma mumbled, taking another sip of her drink.
"Hopefully," Regina sighed. "I miss you."
Emma fluttered her eyelids but remained quiet. She shuffled in her seat, taking off her dark blue leather jacket, she was wearing a white tank top and jeans. "I intend on going back to work tomorrow, I need to get back into a normal routine. Get my body back to normality."
Regina nodded. "Yeah. I'll be back tomorrow too. Zelena has been nagging me to go back to work, that way I can at least try and get back to my life."
Emma smiled, she finished her drink. "Shall we go for a walk?"
"Sure." Regina replied, standing up.
Emma blinked, noticing Regina's growing stomach.
Regina caught Emma's reaction, her heart dropped. "Actually, I think it's best we don't. You're not ready for this. Call me when you are." Regina's eyes began to blur, she felt tears forming.
"Regina, wait!" Emma reached out to grab Regina's bicep.
Regina stopped, but she didn't look back to her.
"I'm sorry, okay? I just." Emma grumbled. "It's all new to me."
"No, as I said before, you shouldn't have to apologize. It's not your fault, it's mine. I'm just going to go. Goodbye, Emma." Regina tugged herself free from Emma and left, leaving Emma stood on her own in the crowded café.