Emma came home around 11:30, quietly entering the apartment just in case Regina was asleep.
The light was still on though but no one was in the living room but she could hear a humming noise coming from Regina's room.
"Hmm..."
Emma sat her purse down, silently hoping it wasn't what she thought it was.
Just as she was about to turn Regina's doorknob, Regina opened it, earbuds in her ear and humming to herself.
Her eyes were down in her sketchbook so when she stepped out the door, she crashed into an unsuspected Emma.
Thud.
Regina's sketch book flew up and sheets of paper scattered around them.
Both their eyes widened and met each other's, "I am so sorry!" Emma spat out before Regina could say anything.
"It's okay Emma, I should be more careful when I have my earphones in."
She started picking up her roommate's papers, unintentionally beginning to admire the artwork.
"You drew this?" Emma asked, handing the stack to Regina.
She nodded with a warm grin, brushing her hair behind her ear, "Every single one."
The blonde's mouth dropped slightly, "Wow! You have an amazing talent."
"Thank you. I'd love to hear you play so I can hear your talent."
Emma blushed, shaking her head, "Oh no, I'm not talented. I just practiced my ass off."
They both stood up and Regina sat her book down, "I refuse to believe that you aren't talented. Come on, play something for me, please?"
Emma wasn't used to this, having a friend who took interest in her.
She caved in, "Alright, but just a little something."
While Regina grabbed something to drink and sat down on the couch, Emma sat behind her piano and stretched her fingers out.
Regina got an idea, making her smile as she grabbed her pencil from her ponytail and opened to a blank page in her sketchbook.
With a soft sigh, Emma closed her eyes and began to play the first piece of music that came to mind, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, and as the music filled the apartment, there was another sound that accompanied it.
The sound of a pencil scrubbing against paper.
But of course it was much too low for anyone to hear.
Regina routinely challenged herself to draw something, even if it was something small, every night.
That was the only way she could keep her head clear enough to sleep through the night.
As Emma continued to play, Regina kept doodling, both were so in tuned with what they were doing that neither of them even thought to look up and glance at the other.
Oddly enough, as Emma finished playing, Regina was putting the finishing touches on her doodle.
Regina looked up at Emma, grinning brightly, "I told you that you have talent. I can only draw this good when there's beautiful music playing."
The young blonde tried her best to not blush but she couldn't hide it.
For the first time, she felt like she received a genuine compliment.
"Thank you, Regina. And I've never seen an artist as good as you. Your style is definitely unique."
The brunette nodded, "You're more than welcome. And thank you as well. We should do this again sometime."
She winked playfully at Emma, who couldn't do anything but chuckle softly in response.
"I'd like that very much."
Regina got up from the couch, a soft yawn escaping nude lips. "I better get some sleep, I have to get a painting done tomorrow."
She walked toward Emma first though, "For you…" the brunette handed her the drawing.
Emma's eyes grew wider when she saw that the drawing was of her sitting at the piano, so much detail, she couldn't help but wonder how in the hell she was able to draw all that in such little time.
But by the time Emma looked up to question her roommate, she was already in her room with the door closed.
"Wow…" she whispered to herself.