Again apologies for the delay! Uni work and Rugby, as always, own my life! I hope you are all still enjoying the story.
Oh, and if you're interested I have a new OUAT fic just out, called "A Debt Owed, A Life Given." Which is a bit heavier than this, but hey! On with the show... well fic!
Hope you enjoy it! And please feel more than free to leave me a review! I love to hear your thoughts on it!
When the pair walked into Granny's, Ruby practically hurdled the bar to get to them. Her eyes darted between them, "Back room; now!" Grabbing the Sheriff's wrist, who in turn reached for Regina, the werewolf dragged the two women into the back yelling, "Granny! Can you keep an eye on the bar for a minute."
The Old woman began to grumble, until she caught sight of who her granddaughter was with, "Yes, that's fine. Go."
Closing the door behind them, Ruby spun with wide eyes, "What the hell was with you guys last night?!"
Glancing to Regina, who had her mask firmly in place, Emma replied, "We were kinda hoping you could tell us."
Adjusting her apron, Red seemed uncomfortable, "Well, you were both... friendlier than normal. I mean, Regina, you even said hi to me, and asked me to show you how to do the Macarena."
For the second time that day, Emma found herself releasing a bark of laughter, but before they went completely out of control, Regina growled, "Can we focus?"
Chortling, Emma took a deep breath, "Sure." Wiping tear away, Emma asked with a shaky voice, "So, aside from Regina's dancing, what else was unusual about the night?"
At this Red looked somewhat sheepish (an impressive feat for a wolf), "Um, Regina and you seemed to be having a kinda intense conversation. Then you dragged her outside. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who noticed. I went out, just in case you know..." Green eyes were cast guiltily towards the floor.
"In case I used magic to hurt her." Regina finished wearily.
Red nodded apologetically, "Yeah... I'm sorry, it's just..."
"I am aware of my reputation Miss Lucas, it is not entirely unfounded. If you would please continue."
"Right, um... Well... You two were outside... But you weren't arguing."
Emma could already feel the blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks, "Oh?"
"Youguysweremakingoutinthestr eetthenyoumagickedyourselfaw ay."
Regina blinked hard, "I beg your pardon?"
Taking a breath, Red was afraid the shocked queen might turn her into a Chihuahua or something, "I caught you guys making out. Then you grabbed Emma's hand, and you both disappeared in that purple-smoke-teleport-thing you do."
Emma's throat was dry, as she croaked, "Do you know what caused it?"
"No, sorry, though you had been making eyes all evening. I know you guys have that smouldery angry eye sex all the time, but last night it was different."
Regina's eyebrows flew up, "We have what?"
Emma was only capable of a fish out of water impression as Red, seemingly oblivious to the danger continued, "You know, when you guys square up with each other. Take it from a wolf, I know teeth baring and warning growls when I see them. But whenever you guys do it, it looks like it's a coin toss between you want to rip each other apart or rip each other's clothes off." Her eyes widened, "Ohmygod! Emma! How the hell is Snow going to react?! She'll blow a gasket!"
Regina muttered, "She did."
"She knows!"
Emma nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, we went to her first to try and piece together what happened."
With an exasperated groan, Red face palmed, "Emma, never go to your parents first! You should have come straight here and avoided having to tell your mother that you made out with the evil queen! No offence."
Regina only quirked an eyebrow in response. Emma if Emma looked sheepish before, she looked as if she wanted the ground to swallow her up.
Red picked up on the body language immediately, "Emma? Is there something else going on here?" She paused, "Wait... Where did you guys go after you 'poofed' away?"
Straightening, Regina fixed the young woman in a lethal glare, "That is none of your concern miss Lucas."
Red's bright green eyes flew wide, "Oh. My. God! You two totally did it didn't you!" She paused, before winking at the sheriff, "Emma, you dog."
Before she was conscious of the action, Emma had placed herself slightly between Regina and Red. Neither the werewolf nor the former Evil queen missed the unconsciously protective gesture.
Raising her hands slightly, Red backed off, "Okay! Okay! None of my business I know." She shrugged, "I don't know what it was you were drinking, but it certainly fried whatever it was keeping you guys apart."
Regina paused, "Wait... What did you just say?"
"Just that you two always seem to be on some kinda leash that stops you getting too close. Like you're tied up at opposite ends of a yard, and your chains are just too short to actually let you guys at each other- be that to fight or... you know."
This gave the sheriff pause. Ruby was right. There had been times when she had felt like she and Regina were like two lionesses facing off, exchanging snarls, but never quite able to do proper damage despite how hard they tried. But the same was true with the softer side of Regina. Emma knew the woman was capable of softness and compassion, but it was a side she could never reach, she could see it from the outside, watching her with Henry; but it was a world she could never quite reach.
Regina shook her head, but there was a tremor of something strange in her tone, "I didn't mean that... I... We, I wasn't drinking; all we had was a glass of..." Her eyes widened, "How could I have been so stupid! The punch!"
Emma snapped out of her daze, "Uh, whut?"
Rolling her eyes, Regina turned to Red, "Do you have any of the punch left?"
She shook her head, "No, sorry. The bowl got knocked over and broke quite early on in the night."
"You think the punch was tampered with?"
Nodding, the ebony haired woman began to pace, "Yes. But by whom?"
Hey! Hope you guys are still enjoying it! As always I love reading your reviews! (I'm a bit addicted to them in fairness!) The next chapter should round it up!