I'm sorry that this chapter came a little later than I promised, I have a lot of stuff already prepared with this story so it's just these beginning chapters that that the longest for me to get around to. I hope you enjoy it!
Mary Margaret wasted no time in jumping from her seat and wrapping her arms around Sura, the pirate didn't quite have time to react before she was attacked by the smaller woman. David, who stood patiently behind his wife, then took his turn in brining Sura into a large hug.
Emma cracked up at the woman stood beside her who rolled her eyes at the interaction.
"How very charming," Regina muttered.
Emma nudged the brunette with her shoulder, "What? Too much happiness for you, your majesty."
"Precisely, Princess." Regina drawled.
The brunettes attention was caught by kathryn, who was waving her over from the other side of the diner; Kathryn looked bored in the company of Hood and Whale. Regina let short sigh.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm being summoned."
"Good luck," Emma replied, shifting to her right allowing the brunette to get past.
Emma knew she would regret accepting the whiskey that Hook had offered her. However, that didn't stop her.
"To Neal!" Ruby shouted, raising her glass.
"To Neal." Emma, Hook and Sura echoed, raising their glasses in sync.
The liquid burned down her throat like fire, something Emma took great pleasure in.
She scanned the diner with her eyes, the majority of the guests had now left, including Mary Margaret and David who took Neal and a very tired Henry home. Leroy and Marco sat two booths down from them, Granny was cleaning up from behind the counter and Tink and Mulan were sitting on the stools, heavy in conversation.
Emma's gaze then fell to the woman in the far corner of the room, sat quietly as the people around her talked in conversation. Emma tried to make out what she was thinking by the look on the brunettes face. She nodded along with the conversation, gave a quick smile when needed, but she wasn't there, she looked...bored.
Emma had half a mind to call the woman over but for some reason Regina seemed to keep her distance following Sura and Hook's arrival. Emma assumed this reminder of Regina's past got to the brunette more than she'd admit.
Emma's breath hitched then as her gaze was met with deep brown eyes. Her first thought was to look away but something stopped her. Curiosity maybe. Neither of them removed their gaze, it lingered for what felt like hours, but it was merely seconds, and not nearly enough.
With a brief smile the brunette broke their gaze, releasing the hold she had on the blonde and Emma wanted nothing more than to be back under the stare of those brown eyes.
Emma could feel the heat in her cheeks begin to cool as he heart rate reduced to an even pace once again, she didn't even notice the change in her body, simply frozen in her battle of stares with the brunette.
As the sound of the conversation in the booth took over the thumping of her heartbeat,g Emma found herself once again in her own control. The three around her seemed too intoxicated to notice the blondes state, thankfully.
Emma sat up higher and cleared her throat."Right, I'm gonna hit the restroom," she said as she clambered out from the booth.
She was met with muttered words before the three went back to their slurred conversation.
As Emma headed back through to the diner area she heard the ringing of the door bell. As the doorway came into full view she caught a glimpse of dark brown hair making it's outside before the door shut behind it. Regina?
Emma looked over to the table of now three on the far side of the diner. So she just left? No goodbye?
She had all intentions of going back to her friends in her booth, she did. Yet somehow Emma found herself moving briskly past the booth and outside, chasing the brown locks that escaped.
Regina wasn't far ahead, Emma made way through the front yard of the diner and onto the pavement, her target only metres ahead.
"Regina," She called after her.
The brunette turned on the spot.
"You're leaving?" Emma questioned as she caught up with the brunette.
"What was your first clue? The fact the I am out here and not in there? No wonder you're Sheriff of this town" The woman's voice was riddled with sarcasm.
That was a stupid question.
"Why isn't Hood with you?" the blonde asked and immediately regretted it. What does it matter to you Swan.
The brunette seemed surprised the Emma's question, she took a step closer and furrowed her brow. "And why would Hood be with me, Miss Swan?"
Yeah, why Emma? You've got to say it now you idiot.
Emma scratched at the back of her head, "I errr, I just thought you two were..You know..." Emma trailed off.
"Well then you would be wrong. I am not interested in Hood, no matter how much Kathryn desires it." The woman scoffed.
"Oh, right...Sorry."
Emma was surprised by the relief that washed over her, for some reason the idea of Regina and Hood never settled well with her.
Emma shifted on the spot and attempted to avert all eye contact with the woman before her. However, before the moment could reach awkward, she spoke.
"So you're going. Do you want me to walk you home?" Idiot.
The brunette cracked up at that. "I think I can look after myself, Miss Swan."
"Yeah I thought as much. Errmm, well I guess goodnight, Regina."
Emma turned away from amused eyes and headed back towards Granny's, slightly relieved, mostly embarrassed. However, she didn't get far, a voice brought her to a halt.
"Wait, Emma."
The woman's voice was quiet, Emma turned to meet Regina's dark eyes closing in on her as she took the few steps to close the distance between them once again.
"I realised I never apologised for what...for what I did to you."
"Regina that wasn't-"
"No, my actions were inexcusable. I just want you to know that I'm sorry, Emma...for all of it."
Emma took in the woman's words, hearing the sincerity in them. She smiled at the brunette, holding her gaze. "Well, then I accept your apology," Emma smirked, "your majesty."
That got her a thump in the arm.
"Your inability to take anything seriously is a trait of yours I detest most, Miss Swan."
The brunette may have been angry but it didn't last long, Emma was sure she saw the flicker of a smile reach those lips.
It was the eyes that told Emma all she needed to know, the brunette was forcing herself not to show her amusement. Emma never did struggle in reading Regina's eyes.
"Okay, that was a cheap shot." Emma finally got out after her laughter subsided, she still couldn't rid of the grin on her face though.
The brunette simply shook her head in an act of disapprovement.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance." The woman said with a devilish smirk that made Emma's insides combust almost.
Emma knew the woman was joking but christ that smirk could kill her where she stood. I'd let her.
"Goodnight...Princess." Regina turned and walked away from a frozen Emma, who was still reeling the after effects of the brunettes smile. She was soon brought back by the voice of the woman now heading away from her. Princess.
"My name is Emma," She shouted back to the advancing woman.
"Goodnight, Princess," was all Emma got in reply from the distant voice.
"Hey, where did you go speedy?" Ruby shouted from their booth as Emma made her back inside and towards the group.
"I was just talking to-"
"Regina" Hook interrupted.
"Yes actually I-"
"I saw her leave, then you came strutting past here so I..." Hook trailed off after noticing the now indignant expression the blonde was holding.
"Well aren't you observant," Emma said sarcastically. "We just had some stuff to talk about, like-"
"Henry?" Ruby cut in this time.
Emma threw her arms up in the air "Jeez can't a girl finish a sentence around here?"
The three in the booth turned away from the blonde, all disappearing into their glasses, taking another swig of the brown liquid.
With a sigh Emma slumped back down into the booth, "give me that." She grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the table and filled her glass.
"That bad huh?" Ruby asked.
"What?"
"You're talk with Regina."
"No, no it's not that," Emma took a gulp of her drink, once again reeling in the burn the liquid sent down her. "She apologised, for..you know. And she was..I don't know...warm, I guess." Emma finished the rest of her drink in one, suddenly not wanting to be having this conversation.
"Let's see how long it lasts," Hook scoffed.
"Come on, Hook," Ruby reasoned, "you're one to talk."
"Yeah, should I be careful you won't try and kill me again?" Emma's words caught Sura's attention, her eyebrows almost shot up to her hairline.
"Wait...you tried to kill her? You never said-"
"Oh he didn't tell you?" Ruby cracked up. "you're brother here isn't some saint, he left us all for dead at one point."
"Hey I came back," Hook raised his voice, slamming his hand on the table. "I just...could have timed it better, maybe."
"Killian." Sura breathed, glaring at her brother.
Emma decided to call and end to the obviously alcohol fuelled argument, "okay okay, kids. That's enough. Hook is forgiven, Regina is forgiven, put it to bed now."
Ruby and Hook bobbed their heads in agreement, Sura however still seemed disappointed.
I need another drink.
The four of them drank long into the night, a choice that Emma will in no doubt regret tomorrow. It is her first day back at work after all.
Good news is that Chapter 3 will most likely be up tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know it may have been shorter than you wanted. Please feel free to message, review, whatever. Thanks guys !