Obsession

Chapter II


Author: TheAquaQueen

Dates written: March 09th, 2013 through May 03rd, 2013 | October 20th, 2013

Status: In-progress

Series: Once Upon a Time

Rating: General

Relationships: Regina Mills | Emma Swan (Swan Queen)

Warnings: Season I

Distribution: Do not archive without author's permission.

Disclaimer: The characters and premise of Once Upon a Time belong to ABC Studios, Adam Horowitz, and Edward Kitsis. Any and all other copyright material mentioned subsequently belong to their respective owner(s). This work is a non-profit effort and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's note: Reviews are appreciated.


"I think that our prestigious Mayor is jealous of our relationship." The serious tone in which the statement was murmured into her ear caused her to involuntarily spit out a mouthful of coffee. The blonde woman stopped dead in her tracks and whipped around to find her partner in crime doubled over in laughter.

"That was not funny Ruby!" Emma ground out as she wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket.

"It was hysterical!" Ruby gasped for air. "Hey, wait! I was just playing!" The young woman quickly composed herself once she noticed that the Sheriff of Storybrooke had resumed her morning walk, intent on leaving her behind. "Oh c'mon," Ruby whined and proceeded to throw her arms around her best friend's torso. The two walked this way for a full block in complete silence, Emma intent on ignoring her. It wasn't until the endless nudging from Ruby's nose began to bother her, that Emma decide to mimic the young woman's action and threw an arm around Ruby's shoulders.

"Regina? Jealous?" Emma snickered as she took another long sip of coffee. "Give me a break."

"Are you sure you and I are looking at the exact same woman?" Ruby raised an eyebrow. "She is jealous I tell you," she stressed, matter-of-factly.

"No. I am pretty sure you and I are not looking at the same woman." Emma shook her head. "Or, case in point, we are looking at the same woman, but you have a screw loose." Her last words caused Ruby to pout. "That is besides the point, what in the world would our esteemed Mayor be jealous of?"

"You. Me. The non-dating us."

"Before I even start dissecting that theory apart, you do realize that would imply our Mayor would allow herself to publically feel something for me other than some absurd, violent emotion in my presence. I'm sure that's impossible." Emma pointed out. Could it be that someone else notices it too?

"You are completely blind."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Then why don't you tell me how one would come to the very outrageous conclusion that Regina Mills is jealous of our completely platonic relationship and why?" Was their unspoken, in-denial attraction so obvious? Emma wondered.

"You can choose: blind or in denial?" asked Ruby, rolling her forehead on Emma's shoulder. "Please tell me you have seen the way she looks at you?"

"With varying degrees of tolerating disdain?" Just one of the many emotions that I have seen flit across Regina's face, although I think that that particular emotion may be one of the few anyone would be able to spot from a mile away.

"With varying degrees of raging passion?" That was new.

"Annoyance?" That was a no brainer.

"Lust?" Was that what that was?

"She punched me!"

"The way she touches you is not normal!"

"We're talking about Regina Mills here!" Emma threw her hands up in the air.

For a moment both women stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and looked around, only to find the streets devoid of other life this early in the morning. "Nothing is normal!" she hissed.

"For heaven sakes Emma!" Ruby growled and bounced in front of Emma before quickly stopping, in turn causing the woman in question to come to a screeching halt. For a full minute the Deputy inspected and studied the Sheriff's face before a sigh broke her concentration. "You are either completely blind or stupider than a sheep!" There! Ruby was sure that she found discovered Emma's tell; a nose twitch inwards, and the slightest biting and sucking of the inner corner of her mouth. Liar, liar. "You like her!" Ruby boldly declared.

"I – wait, what?" Emma viciously shook her head. "Oh, no way! How in the hell did we go from one argument where the Mayor was jealous of our platonic relationship, which you have yet to provide any evidence of, to the next, where I supposedly like her? This doesn't make any sense!"

"Yes it does! This explains why you didn't make a move when you had the chance," Ruby excitedly bounced in place. "It explains why she still continues to chase your tail!" she clapped. "You're in denial!"

"No. No way! First and foremost, I am pretty sure Regina is straight as an arrow – hello, Graham couldn't get enough of her. How can I be in denial over someone who not only happily undermines me at every turn, but who would rather see me run out of town on a stretcher?" Even though she was quite proud of herself for thinking on her feet and citing every possible excuse in the book as to why it was illogical for the Mayor to feel anything other than a violent emotion towards her, Emma knew she was in denial, at least in the grand scheme of things. Even if Ruby was right or wrong about Regina's jealously, there was no reason whatsoever to spread any sort of rumor about either of them. It was another thing in itself to even begin to face a road untraveled; the road where Regina just might feel the same simmering emotions Emma felt towards her.

Ruby watched Emma with a curious expression before slapping a hand to her face. "Oh give it up, you aren't fooling anyone, especially me." Would someone like to direct me to the nearest brick wall? "Do you honestly think that I would be standing here in the middle of the street at six a.m. on a Monday morning if there wasn't at least a smidge of truth standing between both parties?"

Emma glowered at the long haired brunette over the lid of her coffee container, before angrily stomping off. Ruby sighed and turned in the opposite direction, taking a stand by a conveniently placed lamppost, and simply waited.

No. It was an unfathomable reality. It was one thing to dream of having someone to come home to, someone to raise a family with, and someone to call hers: it was another to dream that that woman could be Regina Mills, a woman whom she couldn't simply run away from. What if Ruby was right? What if her feeling were returned? She had never had such a reality so very close that she could almost taste it. If either woman were wrong, the repercussions would be devastating to all parties involved.

"You never answered my question, Ruby, how can you be sure?" Four minutes and twenty-two seconds later Ruby heard rapid footsteps approach her, the question whispered in her ear, the tone of voice timid.

"How can I be sure of what?" Ruby decided to suddenly play coy.

Emma placed a hand on her forearm, gently gripping, giving her a pointed look. "How can you sit there and tell me that Regina is interested?"

"Have you ever though that perhaps what you perceive as one emotion is actually anther on the other side of the spectrum?" Ruby tilted her head. "If her eyes could physically devour you every time she looked at you, you would have been last week's breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

Emma sighed. "Ruby, even if you're right –"

"Which I am!"

"It's a lot."

"Do you wanna see?" Ruby slyly asked, shimmying out of Emma's grasp and placing her hands behind her back.

"What?" Emma shook her head. "See what?"

"Would you like me to prove to you that yes, our esteemed Mayor just may reciprocate the exact same feelings you are trying so hard to deny?" as Ruby spoke her voice dropped down into a lower register. "Not to mention how oh so jealous she becomes when she considers what is hers to be stepping out of line, or in this case, poached from right underneath her fingers?"

"What if she doesn't though Ruby, what if you have it all wrong?" Emma contemplated the offer, chewing her lip. Ruby gazed into her best friend's eyes as she spoke and caught a glimpse of every emotion Emma hid from the world: a deep sadness created by years of abandonment, hurt, and loneliness. Ruby knew she had to be sure for Emma's sake, otherwise she feared this plan would only succeeded in baiting the woman with what she couldn't have.

"It wouldn't hurt to try if I am right." Ruby nodded. "Look, and even if I am wrong, which I never am, by the way –" Emma chuckled as she blinked back sudden tears which threatened to give away her insecurities. "At the end of the way we have discovered that Regina has an odd touching fetish for you and only you, you and I have spent the entire day acting like a bunch of idiots, and no one is worse for the wear – okay, except maybe the local stock of Ben and Jerry's in your favorite flavor." Emma wearily chuckled. "But if I am right, can you live with yourself knowing that you did not make that first move?"

The sleepy coastal town of Storybrooke, Maine began to wake; various patrons now began to walk the streets on their way to work. Emma took a deep breath as she glanced around, unsure.

"It wouldn't hurt to try," Ruby repeated, intertwining her fingers with Emma's.

Another few moments in silence passed before Emma lifted her head. "I take it you have a plan?" she tried to steel her resolve.

"Of course!"

"And you're absolutely sure that Regina is jealous of you and I?"

"Green with envy!"


The pair cut their morning walk short; Ruby leading Emma along, until they reached Granny's Inn. As to not disturb other guests, they quietly made their way up to the top floor where the Lucas's home resided. In no time at all, Emma found herself on Ruby's bed, while the other woman set to work creating a mouthwatering sight sure enough to rile Regina's temperature any which way.

"You need to get your head out of the gutter." Ruby muttered as she knelt in front of Emma and began the tedious process of unlacing her knee high boots. Too late. Emma only chuckled as her mind sailed the rivers of the local gutter.

Ruby made quick work of her duties; smoothing out the fabric of the Sheriff's jeans, readjusting her bra to provide as much support as possible, and setting the blonde's thick mane in a set of hot rollers all in a matter of minutes. Emma could only squeak in surprise with every new change. Ruby knew she was working against the clock, for even though she would be late for her own shift, the pair would arrive in time to make a grand entrance.

Slipping into the bathroom, Ruby decided to class up her usual outfit a bit and instead tucked in her shirt, but undid one more button than usual, allowing a lacy white bra to peek through the top. She hiked up her red skirt, exposing a healthy amount of her pale thighs before slipping into her favorite pair of shiny black heels, typically reserved for a night on the town.

"Whoa, Rubes." It was the first thing Emma had said upon Ruby strutting past her, the latter smiled indulgently and sashayed her hips, knowing that Emma truly could not keep her eyes off of her. This plan is going to work perfectly – and Emma doesn't even have to act! "You're going to cause accidents looking like that."

"Good." Ruby smiled, and nodded confidently. "That is more or less the point." Sitting down at her vanity, she began to pin up her long hair into victory rolls before completely her look with a red bandana.

"Now, my lemur, come over here and sit." Ruby stood and patted the vanity chair. She was careful not to pull Emma's hair as she removed the hot rollers, and with a soft brush had created a blanket of downy curls that danced with every movement the Sheriff made. Grabbing the faux fur leather jacket from where it lay discarded; Ruby slipped it around her friends' shoulders and carefully fixed her collar and resettled her hair.

"Are you ready?" Ruby asked and grabbed her purse as Emma clipped her badge to her pants. "If we get there in the next five minutes or so, Regina should just be sitting down with Henry." Ruby took stock of the time. "We'll take my care!" Ruby once again grabbed Emma's hand and drug her behind her.

"Wait! What about the plan?"


Right on time according to Ruby's schedule, Regina and Henry entered Granny's Diner and were promptly seated by Granny herself. Once coffee and orange juice had been served, Henry occupied his time with yet another video game Regina had gifted to him, while said woman was casually scanning the morning newspaper.

"Ruby should be here soon," Granny murmured as she took their usual order after Henry had looked at her strangely. "She was a bit pre-occupied this morning," the older woman chuckled, eyeing Regina for a moment longer than necessary before moving on towards the kitchen to drop off their orders, returning to her post by the door. Granny could only shake her head knowing of her granddaughters' plan. For Ruby could not contain her excitement the evening of the Spring Festival and Granny had found herself an unwilling conspirator in the young woman's plans.

Several minutes passed in a low hum of background noises, culinary devices clashing against one another. Sipping her coffee, Regina took a deep breath, enjoying the lovely morning, and breakfast with her son. Although it was not what they had shared when he was only a toddler; Henry was slowly coming to the realization that his time had become equally divided between his birth and adoptive mother, their attitudes towards each other had become civil, and his life was well on its way to becoming a stable environment. He was unsure of when such a change occurred. Observing her son from over the edge of her newspaper, Regina could not help the small smile that crossed her lips as she watched him frantically smash the console buttons, his tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a bright red Mustang pulling into a free parking space, bass audibly felt through the building. To her surprise she saw the mother of her child step out of the passenger side, not only looking well-rested but happy. It was as if Regina could feel the surge of jealously crawling through her veins as she watched Emma make her way to the driver's side and chivalrously open the door, slapping away a heeled foot when it was presented to her.

"Is that my mom?" Henry's voice startled Regina.

"Indeed it is."

The part time waitress soon found herself within Emma's embrace, leaning over and whispering something into her ear causing Emma to chuckle and shake her head. The door was closed with a nudge of the Sheriff's foot and in due time the pair linked arms and began to make their way inside the establishment.

What?! Regina growled; and here she was a fool to believe that the woman whom she had feelings for, may reciprocate said feelings. What she did not expected was for Emma to show up arm an arm with her best friend, looking as if they had just spent a night together. Regina forced herself to look away as the front door of the Diner opened.

"Good morning, Granny!" Regina heard both women call out; the click of heels and the dull thud of boots announcing their arrival as they drew closer to her table. If the two were together in any sense of the word, there is no use in continuing to pursue her, Regina thought.

"Emma! Ruby!" Henry happily cheered as he paused his video game and sat up. Regina fought to hold her tongue and instead turned to her cup of coffee, daring to drink as much as she dared of the hot liquid.

"Good morning, Henry!" Ruby slipped her arm away from Emma to grab her order pad in passing of the counter.

"Mornin' kid." Emma ruffled his hair causing Regina to scowl into her cup. The Sheriff deliberately paid Regina no mind as she plopped down into the booth next to Henry, uninvited.

"Did you already order Henry?" Ruby asked. "Mayor?" she added as an afterthought. Henry nodded, Regina narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips.

"I'll go see what's taking the kitchen so long then. Emma, love, your usual?" Ruby giggled, spinning behind the counter.

Emma allowed her gaze to drop and trail up the waitress' form before nodding; Ruby shifted her weight between her heels making a point to keep her gaze on the Sheriff, accentuating the action with yet another giggle.

How dare she, the little tramp, Regina snarled. Jealously had long left the building and in its place anger slowly began to rise.

"Hey, Emma?" Henry asked after a moment, chugging down a large gulp of orange juice. "Have you ever been to the beach?"

Emma eyed him. "Once or twice when I was passing through the west coast, why?" Subtly she shimmied her hips down in the seat and stretched a booted leg across the space of the walkway; as close as she dared to Regina's heels but out of the way from passing traffic.

"This year's field trip is to the beach." Henry glumly said.

"I didn't know Storybrooke had an actual beach. Why so blue all of a sudden?" Emma looked between her sulking son and his mother who had conveniently engrossed herself behind her newspaper. After a few moments of silence, Emma gently nudged Regina with her foot causing her to drop one half of her paper with a raised eyebrow.

"Henry will not be attending this year's field trip unless he knows how to swim," Regina muttered. Henry loudly huffed and turned to gaze at Emma pathetically.

"Emma!" Henry wailed.

"Henry, we have talked about this." Regina's growled softly, in a desperate attempt to keep a full blown tantrum from spiraling out of control. "I will not have you step foot in an ocean if you are not able to at least keep your head above water!"

"Emma!" Henry wailed again. "Make her change her mind!" Although the boy was ten years old and under the impression that he was ready and able to defeat the Evil Queen and her curse at a moment's notice, he was still ten years old. He would seize any opportunity to undermine his mother's authority, especially in favor of his birth mother whom he saw as the 'cooler' half. "How many times am I honestly going to go swimming? It's always so gloomy here, and its' only gonna be one time!" The boy was rather dramatic. "I just wanna go to the beach; I don't want to swim in an ocean!"

The blonde woman looked between mother and son who were obviously on two different sides of the playing field; this is going to get ugly. Emma knew she had to do something fast; Henry did not put her in a good position. Over the last few months she had watched in the shadows as Henry's harsh words, outbursts, and tantrums wounded his adoptive mother and wore at her resolve. The blonde chuckled to herself; I don't think Ruby's plan included our unyielding son.

"She isn't being fair!" Henry dropped himself onto the table.

"Here you are Henry," Ruby conveniently interrupted their argument, setting down two full breakfast platters, along with a bowl of plain oatmeal, and a small fruit salad.

"Ruby, do you know how to swim?" Henry asked, poking at the contents of his plate with a fork.

"Henry, don't play with your food." Regina admonished.

"Let's see, can I swim?" Ruby chuckled. "I think I can doggy paddle, but that's about it."

"Ruby spent her time at the pool showing off other assets, dear," murmured Regina.

Emma looked up from her food mid-bite and raised an eyebrow, but Ruby stupidly smiled and shrugged, ignoring the barb. "It would be fun to learn how! I'm not particularly fond of water though," she added as an afterthought.

"No, it wouldn't." Henry hiccupped. "You're not being fair," he spat at his brunette mother.

"You wouldn't happen to be scared of the water, would you?" Emma asked with her mouth full. Henry's eyes widened and he immediately stuffed his mouth with a chuck of French toast. Regina glanced up from her own breakfast and caught Emma's eye.

"Henry," Regina sighed. "Ms. Ursa has already volunteered to take time out of her schedule to teach you."

Their son frantically shook his head, choosing to mutter something into his food.

"Henry, you know your mother is right." It was time to input her own opinion on the matter; and in the grand scheme of things, she was trying to be a mother as opposed to Regina who was a mother. "If something were to happen, if you were swept to the sea by a rogue tide, at least you would have a fighting chance."

"No! You're supposed to be on my side!" Henry whined. Emma glanced at Regina who pursed her lips as if mocking her.

"What's wrong with learning how to swim, kid?"

Henry blatantly ignored Emma's question and chose to viciously stab at his scrambled eggs and sausage links.

"Didn't you say something a while ago about the swim coach being the evil sea witch?" Ruby asked as she leaned against the booth divider, twirling a lock of blonde hair between her fingers.

"Ruby, I will not have you, as well as Ms. Swan, encouraging his beliefs in fairytales!" Regina snapped. The subject was still a sore spot for the small family. Although as the conversation continued on in the background, Regina saw red as she watched Ruby comb her fingers through the blonde's hair, massaging a small portion of her scalp.

Of course it was an accident when a Christian Louboutin heel accidentally slipped from its place, crossed at the Mayor's ankles, making its mark into Emma's shin. The Sheriff snapped forward in a wince of pain, causing her hair to slip from Ruby's fingers. Before Emma could turn on Regina, Ruby loudly continued on.

"Are you scared of learning how to swim because of the evil sea witch, or are you scared of the ocean itself?"

"What did I just say – oh!"

Two could play at this game; Regina gasped in pain when a booted foot reciprocated her action. Henry looked at the women oddly but Regina waved away his concern. Emma mouthed a firm, "Knock it off."

"I just want to go to the beach; I don't want to learn how to swim."

Silence dominated the table.

"Regina," Emma began slowly. "He doesn't like the swim coach, fairytale or not, so I don't see how she is an option." Henry now gazed at her hopefully. "But he needs to learn how to swim."

Their son began to whine but Emma placed a finger to her lips to silence him. "Nu-uh. If anything I could teach you."

Regina thought for a moment, nodding, it was an acceptable compromise, it was better her than no one at all. Absentmindedly she slipped one stocking clad foot out of its heel to rub her injured leg.

"No."

"What?"

"Henry!"

"Really, kid?"

"Henry, Emma offered to teach you." Regina leaned over and threated her fingers through her son's soft hair but he instantly pulled away. The action did not go unnoticed by either parent. "If not Ms. Ursa, and if not Ms. Swan, than who is an acceptable replacement?" Children were anything but predictable but Regina was willing to be agreeable.

"No one."

Emma chose to stick a whole sausage link in her mouth, while Regina rubbed her throbbing temples.

"Henry, c'mon buddy." Ruby folded her arms and leaned down, using Emma's head as a cushion. Emma could have sworn she caught Regina mimicking their son's violent actions, stabbing an innocent slice of cantaloupe viciously.

Emma was more or less prepared for the older woman's retaliation when Ruby wrapped an arm around her shoulders; Regina's heel shot out once more and Emma was quick to entrap the foot between her ankles. Regina pursed her lips and snarled, but Emma held steady, even as Regina slid down in her seat a few inches, her wretched skirt offering no traction whatsoever. The Sheriff narrowed her eyes and watched the Mayor's movements like a hawk. In no time at all, Regina lifted her other foot as a rebuttal, sans heel, and was surprised when Emma's fingers wrapped around her ankle. As quickly as the extremity fight had ensued, it was over; Emma the victor.

"It's settled then!" Ruby excitedly stood up. "Emma, you're going to teach Henry how to swim, and Madam Mayor, you will use your powers of persuasion to ensure the pool is free of mermaids and evil sea witches, and of course you'll need someone to babysit the puppy. Oh, and I'll bring the snacks!"

"Huh?" Both mothers asked as they found Ruby standing straight, quite proud of herself, and Henry excitedly bouncing in his seat.

"Mermaids?"

"Puppy?"

"Emma, we need to go shopping!" Ruby and Henry's energy levels seemed to have shot through the roof and the conversation seemed to explode.

"What – who are the mermaids?" asked Emma.

"The swim team," Henry replied.

"Let me guess, in your book, they are the seven daughters of Triton?" Emma shook her head, as Henry seriously nodded.

"Henry, we will not be bringing the puppy to the pool." Regina's current position was forgotten. "She is far too small."

"But Ruby needs a friend!" exclaimed Henry. "Emma, I need to use the restroom." A dose of energy and nearly two glasses of orange juice did not bode well for the child's system. Emma's grip on Regina's ankle tightened and instead Ruby moved in to easily pick the boy up and over Emma's torso.

"Mom, am I going to need floaties?"

"You're the one who is going to learn how to swim, silly; I think I'm the one who needs the floaties," Ruby quipped.

"I'm sure you are already equipped with floatation devices, Ms. Lucas. Now if you would so kindly do your job, would you see to it that a grilled cheese sandwich is prepared for my son's lunch? Henry, hurry along, you don't want to be late for school." Regina's voice dripped in sarcasm.

Ruby made a noise in the back of her throat, her fingers trailing along Emma's collarbone as she turned and made her way through the diner. Simultaneously, Emma and Regina turned when they heard Henry's voice carry back asking, "What does she mean you're equipped with flotation devices? You're supposed to know how to swim; you're the big bad wolf!" It was as if Ruby sensed eyes on her form, adding a slight swish to her step.

"Ms. Swan!" Regina barked, causing Emma to knowingly turn around. "If you would be so kind as to finish your meal and release me, then I see no reason as to why we both couldn't accompany our son to school." To emphasize her point, Regina tugged on her entrapped ankle.

"What is your problem, Regina?"

"What problem, dear?"

"Oh, no! You don't get to pull that routine with me." Emma gripped the ankle tighter. "Need I remind that you are the one who decided to –"

"It was a simple accident. Although I do not appreciate Ms. Lucas finding the abhorrent need to inappropriately display herself in such a way, nor do I care for you need to showcase your relationship in such a context in front of our son."

"Really? The context in which our relationship is displayed is none of your business." Emma snapped and shoved Regina foot away from her.

"Oh? Really? It is when it may adversely affect our son when he sees his birth mother romping around with the town whore."

"What gave you that idea?" asked Emma. "Would you rather it be you?"

The question caused Regina to splutter. "E-e-excuse me?"

"Oh you heard me; by the way you're acting Ms. Mills, one would think you're jealous." Emma leaned back and relished the moment; a cat got the bird smile hidden behind her cup of coffee. Ruby was right.

"Here you are; one grilled cheese sandwich and a to-go cup of coffee for you, Emma." Ruby placed said items on table, ignoring the tension surrounding the women. "Emma, we need to go shopping for bathing suits!" Ruby teetered on her heels despite Henry's mothers locked into a stare down.

"Do see that your girlfriend wears something appropriate if she wishes to join us," Regina growled.

"Don't tell her what to wear," Emma shot back.

Regina elegantly rose, feet slipped back into her heels. "It should also be in Ms. Lucas's best interest to keep her hands off of what doesn't belong to her." The older woman turned and made her way to see to the bill.

"Phase One complete?" asked Ruby, standing as close as she dared to Emma, should Regina decide to turn around.
"Phase One complete." Emma confirmed.

"I think this is where I get to say, I told you so!" teased Ruby.

Emma grunted. "What do we do now?"

"Shopping." Ruby clapped her hands.

"Seriously?" Emma groaned.

"Seriously, we know she wants you, now we just have to make sure she is up for the chase. Now, off you go," Ruby shoved Emma and her precious to-go cup in Regina's wake.

After a few moments Ruby felt a small hand around her arm. "Time to pay up, kid." Henry mimicked his blonde mother, groaning, as he pulled out a five dollar bill from his pocket. "I win this round."