A/N: Just a quick note. I will be updating my Titanic SQ fic as well as A Thin Line Between Love & Hate. All in good time. That's a promise. :) Happy reading!
A now 17 year old Henry rushed down the stairs the next morning, dressed in his sharpest, shined up shoes, well creased pants, a white buttoned up dress shirt and gray suit and tie. Reaching for a strip of bacon Regina had already placed on a plate, as he rushed towards the the front door.
"Bye, mom!" he shouted.
"Not so fast, Mr. Grown up," she continued as Henry made his way back into the kitchen, "Where are you going all dressed up this early in the morning?"
"Remember, I have that job interview today at that restaurant. You said I could work part time, until I finish high school and go off to college." said Henry.
"Right." Regina nodded, remembering their deal, "Well, at least sit and have a quick breakfast. I don't want you leaving on an empty stomach." she sat down a plate with scrambled eggs and bacon on the table as Henry sat down.
"Honey, I'm home!" Emma shouted as she made her way inside from the back door that was by the kitchen, holding a basket of her laundry in hand.
"Hi, Emma!" Henry happily waved over at the blonde, as Emma leaned over, placing a quick kiss on the now blushing boy's head. Yes, Henry still had somewhat of a crush on her.
"Hey, kid. Looking sharp. Then again, it's in the genes-" she grabbed a piece of bacon from Henry's plate as she placed it in her mouth, "I'll tell you what, if your mom doesn't want me back, maybe I'll just go ahead and give you a chance." she teased, looking over at the brunette who in fact threw a warning glare her way.
Regina walked up to Emma, handing her over a plate with bacon already on it, so she wouldn't be eating off of Henry's, "Use a plate, Ms. Swan."
Emma quickly placed her basket of laundry on the floor, as she wrapped her arms around the brunette's form from behind, "Oh, you know it's you I love. Which, reminds me, you still owe me a kiss from yesterday."
Regina quickly reached for a toasted slice of bread as she placed it over her mouth, leaving Emma's thin lips turned into a frown as they light brushed up against a now dry, scratchy piece of bread.
Henry shook his head as he stood up from his chair, as a car honked outside for him, "You guys are gross. I'll see you later, I'm going to be late."
"Hey, can I have your bacon?" asked Emma.
"Knock yourself out." replied Henry as he simply waved goodbye.
"Say hi to Nicholas for me!" Regina shouted as the door was heard shutting behind him.
Emma chewed on another piece of bacon as she looked over at a teary eyed brunette, "Oh, I know that look. Our little boy's growing up so fast." she teased, walking up to the refrigerator as she reached out for the stainless steel handle.
"Ah!" Regina lifted up her index finger in warning at the blonde as she froze where she stood, like a deer caught in headlights, "Get a paper towel. I don't want any greasy fingertips marked on the refrigerator. And, wash your plate after you use it, please."
Emma walked over to tear off a piece of paper towel, holding her hands up in defense, "Did someone commit a murder or something?" she asked, walking back towards the fridge as she pulled out a carton of orange juice.
"Someone is coming over today to see the house." replied Regina.
"Oh, yeah! Well, hey, I think a little mess adds to the charm." Emma joked, smiling as she stood by the brunette who still stood by the stove, "So, when should I help you move your stuff to my small shack of a home? I live near the beach, you know, it'd be a perfect retirement plan for us both somewhere in the near future."
Regina's eyebrow raised at the blonde's joke, because if one of them wasn't ready to fully commit in this relationship they had shared, it was Emma. "You had your chance, my dear. Now, it's gone." Regina teased.
Hours later, a red convertible pulled up on the side of the road, in front of Regina's soon to be old home, as Leroy, looking sharp in a suit stepped out of it as he extended his arms out, showing off the home to a lovely couple that were stepping out of their own vehicle.
"How's this, huh? Isn't this great?" Leroy asked the smiling couple.
The phone rang, as Emma reached over for it over the counter as she answered, "Hello? Oh, hi, honey." her eyes met Regina's raising eyebrow as she placed a hand over the bottom of the phone, "Listen, I thought I told you not to call me here."
Henry chuckled as he stood near the front stance as he quickly had called home, "Yeah, right. Is my mom around?"
Emma smiled as she handed the phone over the brunette, as she hopped off the kitchen counter, "It's for you. It's Henry."
"Hello?" spoke Regina as she held her phone up to her ear.
"Mom! I got the job on the spot, they said I was the most energetic one they interviewed today." said Henry, a smile on his face.
"That's wonderful, dear." Regina glanced outside her kitchen window as she noticed that the people who were supposed to come by and see her house, were in fact already there.
"Can you and Emma stop by later to see me? Wish me luck on my first day." Henry asked.
"Of course we will. But, later, alright? We have to go now, people are already here to look at the house. But, good luck!" Regina smiled as did Henry, she didn't have to see him to know he was all smiles.
"Love you, mom." was the last thing Regina heard before she hung up the call, looking over at Emma who was looking out the window. "People are here."
Emma nodded as she bit down on a perfectly red apple, "With Leroy. This should be interesting."
"Close those doors, please." Regina motioned towards two set of doors that covered up the entrance to part of the kitchen. She glared at Emma, her eyebrows furrowed as the blonde held the apple with her teeth as she shut the doors.
Emma looked over at Regina who was still staring at her in wonder, "What?" she asked through chewing down another piece of bitten apple.
"Where does all the food go?" the brunette shook her head as the blonde simply looked down at her stomach, a smile on her face, that resembling a child's. "It's like watching a bottomless pit."
Both women remained quiet as they heard Leroy's voice, along with a set of steps that were making their way through the house.
Leroy motioned towards the living room first, "I have to show you this room first. This is my favorite. You'll love it." he extended his arms, a smile on his face matching the happy couple's, "Huh? Is this fantastic or what?"
"We love it!" said the man.
"I love this window!" said the wife, her smile growing much more as they stood before it.
"Great! It's been completely replaced." Leroy said as the husband's brows furrowed in wonder.
"Oh, why was that?"
"Oh, a drug dealer came through it with his car and crashed right in and shot up the whole place up, but uh… you didn't hear it from me?" his voice dropping by the minute.
Regina's jaw clenched in anger as she heard the whole thing.
"Deep breaths, Gina. Deep breaths." whispered Emma, placing a hand on the older woman's shoulder.
"That little dwarf. He's going to wish he was never born after I get threw with him." the brunette hissed through her teeth.
The couple laughed as the husband patted Leroy on the shoulder, obviously thinking it was just a little real estate humor.
"No, it's true. I swear to you, it's true." Leroy's voice sounded a bit upset that he wasn't believed, but shook it off as he motioned towards the curtains next, "Anyway, look. You like these curtains? Maybe she'll leave them for you, huh?"
"Ow!" Emma hissed as she felt a hard pinch coming from the brunette herself, dropping a banana that she had just picked up.
"Do you ever not get enough?" Regina whispered, "What's going on with you?"
"I'm edgy." Emma shrugged, "I tend to stress eat when I'm nervous. Leroy mentioned that drug dealer and it took me back to that time, you know."
Regina quickly moved towards a top shelf as she reached for a box of dog treats that Emma had once left behind, handing it over to the blonde, "Eat these."
Emma reached into the box, taking out a treat that was shaped like a bone as she sniffed it.
"Listen, I have to tell you these things, okay? It's the law. It's called full disclosure." Leroy told the couple as they stood before him, not feeling at all happy with the house anymore after all the horrific stories he was letting loose.
"Is there anything else you want to disclose before we go on?" asked the husband, his hands on his hips, looking up at Leroy who stood on a few steps of stairs.
Leroy scoffed, "Alright. Now that you mention it, the bathroom upstairs has been completely remodeled due to unexpected bomb damage."
Regina's chest puffed rapidly up and down as she rubbed her temple, "That's it. Emma, fill up that sink with water, I'll bring Leroy and you can help me drown him."
Emma stood before the raging brunette, taking her face gently into her hands as she cupped her face, "No, no, Regina. No, we said we would remain quiet. Just breathe in, alright?"
"Are you not hearing what he's telling them? He's going to scare them away." Regina struggled, trying to move away from the blonde's strong grasp, as Emma only held on tighter.
"Gina, no! You'll never sale the house if you go out there and make a scene. They might still want it."
"Alright, fine." Regina raised her hands in surrender as Emma un-handed her, "I won't kill him. I'm just going to ring his scrawny little neck-"
"Gina!" Emma was able to pull the woman back by her arm as she then pinned her up against the counter as her hip roughly hit it. While Emma could only think about doing one thing in that very moment… she pressed her lips hard and firmly onto the brunette's familiar plump ones, as Regina turned into a puddle of goo right where she stood. A kiss from Emma was always the one thing that never failed to calm her down when her temper wanted to get the best of her.
And, in that short moment. Everything was right with the world again as their lips moved in sync as they did when they kissed for the first time.
Of course, all that came to a sudden halt as Leroy along with the now wide-eyed couple walked into the kitchen and their eyes glued directly to the two women making out where they stood. Both women looked over at them, smiling as their bodies tore apart from each other. Emma now sporting a nice shade of ruby red lipstick as it was nicely smudged around the corner of her upper lip.
Both exchanged quick glances at each other, as Regina quickly wiped off the lipstick off of the blonde's lips, her throat elegantly clearing in the process.
"Alright. So, uh, we saw enough of the kitchen." Leroy turned around as he urged the couple to turn the other way, "Let me show you upstairs. Wait until you see it. It's beautiful. You'll love it." Leroy closed the doors as they were, but not after glancing back in at the pair with a what the fuck look written all over his face.
After the tour of the house was over and done with, Leroy stood outside as he watched the couple drive off as fast as they could. Obviously, having changed their mind on buying the house.
Regina sat by the stairs as she rubbed her temples, "Now, I'm going to kill him, Emma." she stood to her feet, her voice an octave higher, "I'm going to strangle him until there is not an inch of breath left in his microscopic body."
Emma stood in front of the brunette once again, preventing her from going outside, "No, Regina-"
"Yes. Get out of the way, Emma! Today, I am committing a murder- Leroy is trying to ruin this for me!" shouted Regina, grabbing a hold of Leroy as she slammed him back against the door as the man wanted to shrink then and there, "Leroy, what the-?"
"They weren't going to buy the house anyway!" shouted Leroy, holding his portfolio out between him and brunette. He swore he could see fire coming out of those brown eyes.
"Because you scared them away!"
"No, they couldn't afford the financing!" Leroy hid his face behind his portfolio as Regina let him go, drawing in a few deep breaths.
"I had to tell them everything. It's the law, alright? I mean, full disclosure. You're a cop, you must have heard of it-"
Regina turned back over to face Leroy as she looked down on him, her face only inches away from his as Emma just stared in awe, "That's right I am a cop! I'm the law!"
"Hold it!" Leroy placed his portfolio up once again, only this time he tried his best to look intimidating, "I'm warning you. I'm not afraid to use this." he let out a surprised scream as he saw the brunette come forward, angrier than before as she pushed him back.
"Ow!" Emma grunted as she felt the man step on her foot, pushing him back towards the brunette, "Get off me! What is it with you?"
Leroy threw his portfolio on the hardwood floor as he stood before the two women, "Alright, hold it!" he let out a heavy sigh, "Let's all calm down, okay?"
"At least he didn't tell them about that nail gun incident." Emma looked over at Regina, as Leroy paused where he stood as both women slowly walked their way towards him, boxing him in.
"Leroy." Regina hissed under her breath, her jaw tightening as the man moved away from in between them before things could get any uglier.
"Hey, you can't put all this blame on me! I wasn't the one making out in the kitchen for everyone to see, alright?" he held up his hands in defense as Emma was now the one to walk towards him, "Okay, listen! Just, hold on." his eyes looked over at the brunette, "I can fix this for you, alright? Don't even worry about a thing. Let me just make a quick call and you'll have a buyer in no time. You have my word. Can I use your phone?"
Regina nodded, more calmly this time, "Use the one in the kitchen."
"Alright, I'll be right back. They don't know Leroy Getz." his voice echoed as he made his way into the kitchen.
"You could do with a little less aggravation. Why don't you come to work with me?" Emma made her way out the front door, as Regina was quick to follow hot on her trail.
As both women made their way into Emma's yellow bug, Regina glanced over at Nicholas Zimmer, Henry's best friend for all intents and purposes as she noticed him talking to a group of kids that looked like the wrong type of crowd. Not at all like the ones him and Henry originally would hang out with. The brunette's brows furrowed as she silently looked them over.
"Gina?" Emma called out as her partner turned to look at her, "I know that look. What's up?"
Regina shook her head, "That's Henry's best friend. I've known him since he was a small boy, I would hate to think that he's mixing in with the wrong crowd."
Emma rested her forearm against her steering wheel, her eyes never leaving her partner as Regina turned to look out the window again at Nicholas. The brunette glanced down at her hand as she felt Emma's cup over hers gently, her eyes soon finding familiar green ones that she terribly missed waking up to every morning.
"Henry's a great kid. Great kids don't turn out that way by accident." her lips curved into a small smile as did Regina's, as she took in the blonde's compliment, "You've taught him well." she paused as she glanced down at their hands, which were still holding on as their fingers intertwined together, "Not to mention he has a pretty bad-ass, smoking hot mom who constantly keeps him in line if he so much as slips an inch."
It was then Regina's smile grew, looking up into the blonde's eyes as she was glancing down at their hands as well. She could see all the love Emma had for her in her eyes- she could always see it. So, why was it so hard for her to want to take the next step that was living together, damn it? She wondered that every day of every hour.
"We should get going." Emma's tone was soft and just as well filled with love, as she too could see the way the love Regina had for her ooze out of her eyes alone, and in the way she smiled at her. That smile that always made her heart stop and forget how to beat all in one go. That smile that could make her forget how to breath and her body to lock in place and cease to function.
Regina provided Emma with a head nod as the blonde started up her old but trusty car, her engine coming to life as the brunette looked out the window one last time, only to see that the boy's eyes were now staring right back into hers. Even from a few feet away, she could tell the boy was filled with sudden shame to have been seen by the mother of his best friend.
A dark grey Mercedes pulled into a construction site, as Arthur, a dark haired, dark bearded man stepped out with two of his bodyguards to greet the young man inside the vehicle.
"Hey, Tyrone, how are you?" smiled Arthur.
"Arthur, how's it going?" the younger man nodded, all smiles as he stepped out of the car.
"Let's take a walk." said Arthur as he began taking small steps ahead of him.
"Wait here for me." Tyrone instructed who looked to be his right hand man as he followed hot on Arthur's trail.
"Look around. This is my dream, and it's all coming true." Arthur waved his hand around, motioning freely towards every single house that was being made inside that very lot.
Tyrone chuckled, "You sank your money into this, out here in the middle of the fucking desert?" a laugh erupted from within his chest.
"That's right. And, do you know why it's going to be a gold mine?" Arthur talked as calmly as he walked.
"Do tell."
"Because nobody wants to live next door to people like you anymore. You're a menace to society." he motioned towards the man's clothes, which weren't exactly baggy type of clothing, no, he did dress nicely for this meeting with the all famous Arthurian Legend. He had to hand that to the man, but to be fair as nice as he tried to appear, Arthur could still smell the cheap scent of pleather that fumed off his jacket.
"Arthur, I came out here to do business, not be insulted by you." the man's tone was more serious, which only made Arthur smile. It was cute when someone tried to act tougher than they actually were around him.
"Relax, Tyrone. Just like houses, friendships need strong foundations." he waved his hand at a kid, that was clearly working under him. The same kid who had disguised himself as armored truck guard to steal money from a bank along with another, "Hey, Smitty, come here. Come here." he wrapped his arms around the stiff kid's body, "What's wrong with you, huh? Don't I pay you good? Don't I take care of you?"
"Sure you do, Arthur." replied the kid.
"Then, what's this stupid business you and Billy tried to pulling?" Arthur asked calmly.
The kid's face fell in shame, his voice low, "It's a good plan. It worked."
"It worked?" Arthur nodded, his eyes locking with the kid's, "It didn't work. You got nailed first time out. Nobody who works for me goes into business for themselves. You understand what I'm saying?" he continued as the kid nodded, he could feel his body tremble underneath his embrace which pleased him a great deal. It let him know that he was under complete control of every single person and every single thing around the kingdom he had constructed from the ground up. "See how that can jeopardize everything? Am I right, Tyrone?" he looked over his shoulder at the chuckling man.
"Yeah, whatever." Tyrone replied through dry chuckles.
Arthur nodded, looking over at the kid which he still held in his embrace, "Especially trying to shoot an armored car." he gently clapped the kid's back, "Okay, Billy caught. There's nothing I can do about that now. He'll have to face the music on his own. But you and me, we're going to start over. You know what I mean?"
The kid looked back at his boss as his walking finally came to a stop, "Whatever you say, Arthur."
"Good." Arthur shook the kid's hand as he smiled, "I'm glad you understand what I'm talking about." he clapped his back once again as one of Arthur's goons hit the kid in the back of the head with the butt of his gun. He grunted as he felt the impact of the butt of the gun as his body fell inside a puddle of pure cement. His body shook as he tried to stand, only to be held down by Arthur's men as more cement was heavily poured on him.
"Now we have a relationship we can build on." Arthur's gaze was cold as he looked down at the kid's squirming body. His eyes black whole, at least that's what Tyrone saw when the man looked right into his eyes. He could swear, he could almost see his soul with a stare as deep as his. "Employee problems. You know how it is."
"Yeah, right." Tyrone's voice was shaky. Even through his sunglasses he knew Arthur could tell he was scared.
"You invest time and energy into training somebody. They get fucking greedy and do something stupid that jeopardizes everything." his head turned as he looked over at the crumbling man.
"I couldn't agree more. It's a real bitch."
Arthur grabbed the man by his shoulder as he pulled him back, forcing him to watch without really having to, because anyone who knew Arthur crumbled at his presence alone.
"Stick around. This is the good part." said Arthur, his eyes not parting from the now cement covered ground as the body was no longer seen, "We can put our initials in there. What do you say?"
Tyrone slowly retrieved his arm as Arthur was now holding it, walking away as he mumbled under his breath, "Jesus Christ."
All that was left to be heard was the maniac liked laughter that erupted from Arthur.
