Authors Note: I can't believe the number of reviews, follows, favs, and all the kinds words on this story! I'm shocked at how much people are enjoying it. It really makes me feel good as a writer! I hope you enjoy this Chapter!
Chapter 3: Prep and Landing
Since Queen Regina decided that taking the red eye was not an option, the only flight that Emma could get was a 6:00am flight that Thursday morning. It was cutting it close, but it should give them enough time to meet with Emma's family before the festitivities began. Emma had gotten to the airport at 4:45 am. She was barely awake and sipping on her third coffee and half wished for an IV so the caffeine could go directly into her veins. She'd stumbled out of bed that morning and dressed in sweat pants, a sweater, and a baseball cap.
They were due to board the plane in the next fifteen minutes and still no sign of the professor. Emma was beginning to get a little nervous, wondering if Regina had in fact changed her mind. Their last communication had been a text message from Regina after Emma had sent her the flight information.
Fine
Emma had considered that a shorthand version of a middle finger and confirmation that she was still going along with the plan. She hoped Regina was a woman of her word. They had shook hands on this deal, but still there was an uneasiness as she waited.
She yawned as she played Angry birds on her phone. Just as she was about to switch over to Fruit Ninja her phone rang. It was her mother.
Again another yawn escaped her. "Mom?"
"Emma, sweetie I just wanted to check to make sure you were still coming home today."
"Yes I'm still coming." She sighed. "Have I ever not come home for Enchantment weekend?"
"I know I know." Mary-Margaret hurrily said.
"Just admit you're checking to make sure I'm still bringing Regina."
"Are you?"
"Of course I am." Emma pulled the phone away from her ear to check the time. At least I hope so, where the hell is she? "You'll finally get to meet her this weekend."
"Are you two umm ok since getting back together?"
"Of course, she wouldn't be coming this weekend otherwise." Emma felt bad about how easy the lying was becoming. She wouldn't be coming all if I hadn't practically slit my risks to make it happen.
"Great, I'm getting the guest room ready as we speak. That is where she'll be staying, right?"
Emma smiled a bit. "Yes mom, they'll be no fornicating under you and Dad's roof."
"Emma I wasn't insinutating.."
"Sure you were." Emma laughed. Her mother had nothing to worry about, Regina's ironclad terms and conditions took care of that. "Look Mom, we're about to board in a little bit. I'll see you this afternoon."
"Ok, call us when you land just in case your Dad is running late to come get you girls."
"Will do, love you."
"I love you too sweetie, bye bye."
I'm truly an ass..Emma thought. The lying had snowballed. She'd simply mentioned she was seeing someone casually but then the incessant questioning had began and she'd blurted out the name Regina. Til this day, she wasn't really sure why she'd picked the most unapprochable and complicated woman on campus. Had she been on her game perhaps she would have considered Tonya as an option. But she had mentioned Tonya in the past as a good friend and didn't want to go there. But when her Dad had asked what was the name of the woman in her life, without any thought she's pictured the professor in her mind clear as day.
They announced that boarding was beginning for their flight. Emma picked up her duffle bag and swung it over her shoulder. At least with first class tickets, she didnt' have to wait in line. A man whistling beside her caught her attention. She followed what he was looking at and she definitely saw why he was staring.
Maybe Emma had drank too much coffee because it seemed like everything slowed down like a sequence in a music video. There was Regina Mills walking towards the gate. Out of no where Emma heard the guitar rift from One Republic's Everybody Loves Me playing in head. The brunette was dressed in grey leggings with high heeled ankle boots of a slightly darker shade. Her assymetrical lightly pinstiped blazer was worn over a cream colored blouse. Silver hooped earrings dangled from her ears. She looked fabulous, and Emma half expected paparazzi to be following her. Her hair bounced perfectly with each step she and she wore shades. Regina always looked great, Emma suspected it was impossible for her not too. But this was the first time she'd ever seen her in non-business attire...even if the business attire was always sexy. How the hell does she look like at 5:30 in the morning!
"Close your mouth, you look pathetic." Emma heard someone say. It took her a few seconds to realize it was an irritated woman speaking to her husband. But Emma closed her mouth as well.
Emma felt slightly special when everyone saw Regina approaching her. "You made it."
Regina parked her bag. "Against my better judgement."
"And this is how you dress for a cross country flight?"
Regina removed her shades and gave Emma a once over. "And exactly what are you dressed for dear? A track meet?"
"It's not even 6:00am."
"Time should not affect one's appearance. It would have taken mere seconds to put on some lip gloss and did you even comb your hair?"
Emma licked her lips and wondered had she even taken the time to put on chapstick. "Whatever"
"Whatever indeed." Regina moved passed her with her Louis Vuitton bag in tow. Emma suspected she had checked more luggage. There was no way Regina Mills would leave town with simply one bag.
When they got on the plane Emma rolled her eyes at the two men that practically fought over who would put Regina's bag in the overhead bin. And the professor was more than annoyed when Emma had joined the children in a preflight tour of the flight deck.
Though Emma would be eating ramen noodles for next few weeks to splurge for first class, she did appreciate the amenities, like the extra leg room. She eased into her seat after a quick trip to the restroom. "This is nice."
Regina closed her eyes then looked the blonde's way from the window seat. "Tell me you're not going to talk all the way there?" It was a little unnerving at first sitting so close to Regina. So much so, the two women barely spoke before take off. Emma would sneak sideways glasses toward Regina, who was reading on her iPad. Her exotic perfume was becoming more and more familiar. She was going to ask her the name of it until she saw the irritation in her seatmate's dark eyes.
"At least some of the way." She shrugged a bit. "We have to prep."
"No we don't"
"Sure we do."
Regina shook her head a bit. "No, I asked you to email me a copy of your lies so I could read them." Emma frowned. "They are lies Ms Swan, let's not forget that." Apparently she and Emma had been dating since February of that year.
"Sure, but you don't have to make it sound so sinister."
"Seems you would appreciate any color I give to this situation that doesn't paint you as the crazy stalker you are."
Emma looked around them. "Don't start with that stalker stuff again..."
"Would you prefer the phrase insanely persistant?"
"No, but I'll take what I can get."
"Speaking of your lies." Regina reached in her purse and pulled out an envelope. "I made some corrections."
Emma opened the envelope to reveal sheets of paper marked through with red ink. "You graded it!" This outburst invoked and irritated sigh from the guy sitting across from them. But when Regina shot him a death glare, the man quickly looked away.
"I made it better." Regina corrected.
"But these are things I've already told them."
"Then I expect you to correct them if any of these subjects come up."
"Such as?"
"I would never do a Tough Mudder contest." The mere idea that she would participate in a contest that involved getting seeped in mudd was just absurb. She was in excellent physical condition, but she didn't need to participate in some neandethal theatrics to prove it.
"But that's how we met!"
"And that insane story about how you had to give me CPR after I was electrocuted and fell in the mudd is just ridiculous."
Emma wiggled her brows. "But that was our first kiss."
"I organized a flash mob dance for your birthday?"
"Pretty cool, huh?"
"And we broke up the because I have committment issues? That's another word for cheating."
"Well I was going to say you were possessive, but I didn't want my parents to think you were a..."
"Staker?"
Emma gave a lopsided grin. "Well yeah."
"And I would never see those silly Twilight movies either!"
The flight attendant walked over. "Ladies, I'm gonna have to ask you two keep it down a bit."
"Sorry." Emma offered.
Regina leaned over a bit, placing a hand on Emma's knee. "And I'll have a coffee with two creams and four splenda."
The flight attendant frowned. "But I haven't started taking drink orders yet."
Regina arched a brow. "Exactly. Perhaps you should." She waved the woman away.
"I see your reign as The Evil Queen extends past California."
She sat back and removed her hand. "Something you best remember, Ms Swan."
"Emma."
"Excuse me?"
"You're gonna have to start calling me Emma at some point."
"I suppose."
"And I'll call you Regina. Or do you like Gina?"
"Regina." She insisted quickly. "I'm too mature for such silly nicknames."
"Its not really silly, just a shortening..."
"Regina will do Ms Sw...Emma."
A second ticked by. "I like that."
"What?"
"The sound of my name mixed with your voice."
Regina's dark eyes narrows a bit. Her compliments are so differen, yet effective. "Don't get use to it." She cleared her throat. "And what do your parents think about our age difference?"
"It's only a couple of years, no biggie. I never even mentioned it. It's not like you're thirty."
"I'm twenty nine actually." But she would be turning thirty in the summer.
"I know."
"You could have chosen someone younger." Not that Regina had a problem being slightly older, but parents always see things differently. Not that she cared what the Swans thought of her. But it would help if they didn't hate her for the four days she was to endure their company.
"But then that someone wouldn't have been you." Emma was going to have to do a better job of filtering her words around Regina. But there was so much she was trying to get sorted out in her thoughts for the upcoming weekend.
Regina tilted her head a bit and studied the other woman. "How long did your last relationship last?"
Emma looked away. "I'm not very good at relationships."
"So not long?"
"Not long at all."
The brunette wondered what story was behind the uneasines that set in just then. She'd get to the bottom of it.
"Did you stalk her too?"
Emma laughed. "No, I reserve that privilege only for you."
"So you admit to actually being a stalker?" Regina smiled, Emma could almost swear her teeth sparkled when she did.
"I admit nothing. So what about your last relationship?"
As quickly as the beautiful smile appeared, it disappeared. "That's none of your business."
"But you just asked me..."
"I'm not the one that made up a fake girlfriend. Which reminds me, is that how you're going to be introducing me as your girlfriend?"
"Would you prefer female lover?" Emma joked with a very bad English accent.
"I would prefer none of this in all honesty." Several times the professor had thought of not showing up at the airport. But Emma Swan was offering in exchange for this little performance was enough to see it through. The painting most of all had propelled her to the airport.
"I know that, and I am so in your debt for helping me out with all this."
"It's rather extreme...the lengths you're going to. Is there something more that you're not telling me? Why is it so important to have everyone believe you're not alone? Its not as if you're some fifty year old with twenty cats living in your mother's basement. You're young, fairly educated..."
"You wouldn't understand."
"So it would seem. However, figuring you out seems like an impossible task that I don't wish to bored myself with."
"When you meet everyone some of the peices will fall into place." Emma offered. "I wished I hadn't lied to them. I really do. But telling the truth doesn't seem like an option. I remember when I let it slip that Santa Claus wasn't real to my little brother. Mary-Margaret didn't talk to me for a week."
"She sounds like a nun." She's asked Emma to supply her with all the names of her family and friends. She'd since memorized them. Regina Mills did nothing half-assed.
'Not with all the sex she and my Dad have." Emma scrunched up her face. "I know kids like to think their parents are in love, but those two act like they are on a constant honeymoon."
Regina smirked just a bit. "Hope my room isn't next to theirs."
"Nope, between mine and Henry's."
"That's my father's name. Henry." It had been a little shocking that Emma's younger brother shared the same name as her father.
"I know."
"Is there anything you don't know about me? Regina folded her arms and waited for an answer.
"I'm thorough"
"Well so am I am." Another envelope was dropped into Emma's lap.
"What's this?"
"The background check I ran on you."
"You ran a background..."
"Of course I did. Do you think I would really be here otherwise. I don't just run away with girls for the weekend." Emma looked at her strangely. "At least not unless I invite them..." She added. "Whatever...you checked out well enough. But then again most serial killers do."
"Now I'm a serial killer?" Emma threw her hands in the air. "I'm harmless Regina and not a threat to anyone."
"No kidding dear, with a credit score of 608...you couldn't even get a foot in the bank to rob it."
"My credit report, really?"
"Four bags!" Emma growled as she helped pull off yet another peice of Regina's luggage and put it on the cart.
"Some people own clothes that can't be stuffed into a duffle bag." The brunette replied as she fiddled with her phone.
Surprisingly enough, the two women had gotten along decently the rest of the flight and for the connecting flight as well. Although they were asked several times to keep quiet when they argued. Regina threatened to have more than one flight attendant fired. Emma had made friends with 8 year old and played videos games with him, which constantly disturbed Regina while reading a book. The professor had to repeatedly push Emma off her shoulder when she'd fallen asleep. Yes, they had gotten along decently.
"My dad should be waiting, let's go."
The moment they stepped outside, the cold Maine air hit Regina in the face like a hard smack. She had gotten use to the less harsh winters of California. Thankfully she'd put a pair of gloves in her purse. Emma, now wearing a red leather jacket, walked over and placed a scarf around Regina's neck. "You'll need it more than me. I'll get another one when I get home." Before Regina would say thank you or anything else, Emma went running off towards a red truck parked curveside.
A man got out and hugged her, and Regina assumed it was Emma's father. They turned and walked toward her. Regina straightened her posture a bit. Its showtime...
"Regina, this is my Dad."
Regina raised a brow. Very nice looking indeed, even if it was somewhat in a prettyboy way. David Swan was of average height, with short cropped sandy brown hair. He had kind blue eyes that twinkled when he smiled. He looked much younger than she had expected.
"Nice to meet you Mr Swan."
"Please call me David." He reached out pulled her into a bear hug. "Em here has told us all about you." He pulled back and looked down at her. "Its so nice to finally meet you. I gotta say the pictures did not do you justice."
Pictures? She looked at Emma and conveyed her question before turning back to David. "Thank you, you're so kind."
"Your mom's excited about your coming home, so let's get going. Let me get your bags."
"You may need an army for those bags." Emma pointed to the cart.
David laughed. "Did you bring two more people that I don't see?"
Regina rolled here eyes. "I've traveled with less before."
David and Emma looked at each other and shared a smile. "No worries, plenty of room on the back of the truck."
Regina swiftly braced herself in front of her bags as if guarding them. "Back of the truck? These bags are not camping gear. You can not simply throw them on the back of..."
"Babe calm down." Emma interrupted as she walked over to her and put her arms around Regina's shoulder. "They will be fine. I promise." She nudged her forward and they moved towards the truck. "Relax, it will be just fine." Emma whispered in her ear. "We've got four days, you can't blow up over every little thing..."
"That luggage..."
"Will be just fine, Dad keeps this truck immaculate. It's like his third kid." Then without another word Emma gave Regina a quick kiss on the forehead and opened the passenger side door for her. "After you."
Still slightly stunned by the innocent yet unexpected kiss, Regina stopped short. "There is only a front seat?"
"It's fits three people easy." David called to them from the cab of the truck.
"Don't call me Babe" Regina muttered climbing inside. Emma had been correct, the truck was very clean and smelled of leather and what she assumed was David's after shaved, or perhaps the pine tree shaped air freshner dangling from the rearview mirror. It was a tight fit when both Swans got in as well. Emma stretched her arm across the seat behind Regina with their thighs touching slightly. They pulled off into traffic with the radio playing an old Areosmith song.
"So Regina have you ever been to Maine before?" David asked.
"Actually yes, I visited just this pass September. I went sailing, it was very beautiful."
David glanced over at his daughter. "This summer? Em, did you go as well?"
Emma shifted a bit in her seat. "Umm, no I had to work."
"Oh, because I would have been hurt that you didn't come visit being so close."
"Yeah, we totally would have come to visit ."
"Yes, of couse." Regina nodded, making note to be as vague as possible about her past activities to avoid conflicts.
The rest of the trip was filled with father and daughter talking about the weekend and all the festivities. Regina remained quiet, occassionally asking a question or simply smiling. Tonight was going to be the meet and greet at some place called Granny's Diner.
After they got out of the city, they traveled a desolate two lane highway. It seemed like forever before they passed a sign that said "Welcome to Storybrooke: Where Time Stands Still." And the sign was right. The small seaside town looked like something out of a Hallmark movie. People walked the streets and the town looked to be full of small shops, cafes, and historical buildings. It was all so quaint, Regina expected the people to burst out in a musical number like the opeing credits of a Disney movie.
"The clock tower has the wrong time." Regina pointed out.
Emma chuckled. "It's been that way as long as I can remember."
"It can't be fixed?"
"The town voted to not fix it." David added.
"That seems rather absurd. The purpose of a clock is to keep time."
"True..." David looked at his daughter. "Emma you didn't tell her the story behind the clock?"
"No. I wanted to wait until she got to see it in person." She was about to explain when David slammed on the breaks. Instinctly Emma grabbed Regina and kept her from lunging forward. When everyone in the truck looked up there was a white horse in the middle of the road. There was a rather short man tugging on the horse to move, but it wasn't moving. David put his head out of the window. "Hey Leroy, traffic coming through!"
Regina leaned forward and pushed hair out of her face. She eyed the horse's head. She blinked because she must have been imagining things because she saw what resembled a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, "Is that a..."
"Unicorn?" Emma laughed. "Welcome to Storybrooke Babe."
Author's Note:
Hope you enjoyed it! And don't worry I'm not about to go all OUAT traditional just because Regina saw a unicorn (wink wink)
Also I know I wrote this and all but my favorite part was imagining Regina walking through the airport in slow motion with Everyone Loves Me playing as background music. There is a youtube video out there with song featuring The Evil Queen.
Regina Mills (Lana Parrilla) is fabulous!
