"Come on, come. . .on, get up."
A single brown eye peeked from under the covers, then quickly slid back in, refusing to rise so early.
"Go away, let me sleep."
Emma pulled at the blanket trying to rouse her son, but the blanket failed to budge. Seeing that her usual methods weren't working, she called upon her super weapon that she saved for dire situations such as this.
"Okay buddy, I see you won't have it easy. Fine with me." Having said that, the saviour jumped unto the twin bed and started tickling the poor boy with all her might. Henry threw back the covers and tried to squirm away from his mother's grasp, only to have his sides a little more exposed to his attacker's wiggling fingers. Finally tired, he gave up the fight, realizing that staying in bed will not only be impossible but also futile.
"Okay, okay. I am up, I am up," the boy declared, still having a hard time at keeping his eyes open.
"Okay champ, go wash up and get dressed. We are going out for breakfast."
"At Granny's, right?" €"Where else."
"Um, then can't we go a little later? They serve breakfast untill nine and it's," he glanced at the digital watch on the night stand, "Only SIX!" He announced incredulously. "God Ma, why do we need to go so early?" Henry asked, adamantly folding his arms over his little chest, the act accompanied by an expertly raised brow.
In that instance, her son looked so much like his other mother that Emma couldn't help but smile at the likeliness. For the last few days, Henry had acted more and more like Regina. But then she realized that he had always acted this way. She just never wanted to see the similarities. She had to give it to the brunette, she had done a fabulous job raising her son.
"Because I said so," the blonde answered. The adamant look on Henry's face told Emma that intimidating him wouldn't work.
"Come on, please, I have some work, and I need to leave early."
"Whats in it for me?" The boy asked, suddenly all businesslike.
"I'll get you an ice-cream after school."
Henry snorted at the deal Emma was offering. "Yeah, that would have worked if I was still living with. . . . . her," Henry demurred, not comfortable calling Regina his mom. "It won't work now when I'm having take out every other day. The complimentary dessert works just fine for me."
Emma grumbled good-naturedly under her breath. 'Damn smart kid.' "So what do you want?"
"The latest DC comic."
"All right then," she agreed amiably. "Now get ready, we need to leave in ten."
When she walked into the diner, Regina hadn't expected to see any sign of her son or his birth mother for at least another half and hour. She was, however, pleasantly surprised when she found a very enthusiastic Emma, and an equally grumpy Henry waiting for her at the corner table.
"Good morning Henry, miss Swan," she greeted with a smile. €Henry just grumbled through a mouthful of french toast. Emma, however, received her with much exuberance and extended an invitation to join them for breakfast which the brunette gracefully accepted.
After a while, Ruby sauntered over to their booth.
"What would you like to order?" She asked Regina.
"Just the usual, thank you," the former mayor replied and went back trying to engage Henry in a conversation.
"And you Emma, do you need anything else honey?" Ruby asked, laying a gentle hand on the blonde's shoulder. Her tone equally gentle.
"No thanks Rubs. Just pack some omelette for me, will you?"
Regina watched the two of them interact from the corner of her eye and scowled at the display which she felt was a little too friendly. 'Rubs, huh? Interesting.' she kept casting subtle glances towards the women as Ruby stayed a while longer, talking about mundane things with the Saviour.
After the waitress had left to fetch her order, Regina tried to dig a little deeper into the blonde's relation with the Ruby.
"So miss Swan," she began tentatively, but was interrupted by the rather ostentatious sigh from Emma.
"Would you please stop calling me 'miss Swan' for Christ's sake. I do have a first name you know. And it's Emma."
The former mayor had often referred to the saviour by her first name in her mind but never out loud. Her ingrained sense of proper etiquette hadn't allowed it. She hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to appease the woman.
"Alright Emma, I was just saying, miss Lucas seems to be a nice woman, doesn't she?"
Emma sat there blinking. Regina talking approvingly of Ruby was so out of the blue that the sheriff was momentarily stunned into silence. "Yeah. . . . I guess so," she slowly enunciated.
"And quite attractive, if I may say so."
Now Emma was truly
puzzled.
"Huh?"
"I mean look at her, she's tall, dark and pretty. Doesn't she fulfill all the criteria."
"I suppose." 'Where the hell are you going with this Regina?'
"You two seem quite close."
Emma smiled briefly at that statement though she still didn't know where Regina was going with that particular kind of conversation yet. "Yeah, besides Mary Margaret, she was my first friend in town."
Just then Paige and her father walked into the diner and occupied two of the counter seats.
" Hey mom, can I go over and talk to Paige?" Henry pleaded as soon as he saw his friend.
"Sure kid."
" Sure dear."
Both the mothers answered simultaneously and Regina belatedly realized the question wasn't directed at her. However, she was glad Henry hadn't pointed that out. It would have been humiliating. Henry just mumbled a thanks to no one in particular and bounded over to the seated girl.
'Well that was awkward.' Emma apparently hadn't missed the faux pass on Regina's part. At that precise moment Ruby walked over and placed Regina's coffee in front of her. Just when she was about to get back to work, Emma called out to her.
"Hey Rubs, how's it going with Michael?"
"Shhh," the brunette sneered. "Shut that trap of your's will you," she said as she cast a quick glance at the former mayor. "I swear Em, if word gets around you'd be as good as dead."
"Aw Ruby, you wouldn't do that, you love me too much. Besides Regina isn't the gossiping type, are you Regina?"
Regina would have taken offence at the suggestion if she hadn't been secretly interested in the conversation or the amusing blush that rose suffused the otherwise brazen werewolf. Ruby looked between the two seated women and noticed the absence of the usual tension between the Evil Queen and the savior. In fact they looked pleasantly amicable.
'Hmmm, I wonder if finally. . . .' "Hey, like I said, shut up. Michael is a good man and the last thing I want is for some busy body to twitter about it to granny. She can be worse than a gun slinging father when it comes to my love life and I don't want him to run away even before we get to know each other."
"Hmmm, and what do I get to 'keep my trap shut'?" Emma asked, looking all the world like Henry had looked just half an hour ago.
"How about this, you don't talk about Michael and I keep mum about Snow walking in on you while you were busy. . ."
"Yeah, thats a good enough incentive," Emma quickly conceded, not allowing Ruby to finish the sentence.
Regina watched the waitress saunter away with a wolfish grin playing on her lips. When Ruby was out of sight, the brunette turned her attention back to the flustered saviour.
"While you were busy doing what?"
Emma's thoughts turned to that one time when Mary Margaret had caught her in a very compromising situation. Snow, ofcourse had made a U-turn and left the room as soon as her brain caught on with her eyes, but even then the image had been permanently burned into her memory. She had avoided Emma like the plague for three days thereafter and had not made eye contact with the her for atleat another week. Needless to say, they hadn't talked about the incident, or rather accident, ever again. 'But apparently she had no qualms about talking to Ruby about it,' the blonde's mind supplied helpfuly.
"Emma?"
"Oh, um, yeah, I was busy. . . . reading a comic book." Emma cringed at her own reply. 'God Swan, that was lame. Sooo lame. Knowing Regina, she saw right through it.'
An eyebrow disappeared behind a dark lock. 'Hmmm. Why don't I believe you miss Swan.' Regina would have liked to continue on the current topic as she was clearly enjoying watching Emma blush and squirm but decided she had more important matters to take care of. "So miss Lucas is seeing Michael?"
"Hmmm, yes." 'There it is again. Why the hell is she so interested in Rubs. And since when is her royal highness interested in other people's love lives?' Then a thought hit her. 'What if she. . . . . ' The doubt that had been playing in her subconscience was now suddenly in the forefront of her brain. She knew that she couldn't let this kind of doubt fester. That couldn't be good for a budding relationship. No, she had to put her mind to rest. "Regina, do you like Ruby?" Emma asked emphasising on 'like'.
The brunette sat there for a moment, allowing the saviour's words to fully register.
"NO!" Regina answered incredulously. "Where did you get that preposterous idea?"
"Well then why all the sudden interest in Ruby and her love life?" Emma enquired though a tad bit sheepishly.
'Oh, Heavens! For all those times that I had wished she wasn't so obtuse, She chooses this moment to use her deductive faculties.' Regina realized she hadn't been all that subtle after all. Nevertheless she knew she had to come up with an explanation. "I am not interested in miss Lucas per say."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I am not interested in Ruby the person. I'm interested in the monster," the former mayor clarified and realized that it was quite true.
The sheriff tried hard not to take offence on her friends behalf. nevertheless a frown darkened her visage. The answer had somehow rubbed her the wrong way. "Regina, if you mean. . . ."
"Don't get me wrong dear, I mean no malice. It's just. . . "
"It's just what?"
"I sometimes wonder if it's possible to love a monster," Regina finished softly.
The gravity of the moment wasn't lost on Emma. She could count on one hand the number of times Regina had opened up to her, opened up to anyone like that. She tried to come up with something to say, but her mind turned up blank. 'Damn, I was never good with words.' Finally she reached up and gave a gentle squeeze to the other woman's hand accompanied with a reassuring smile.
Regina was still reeling from the after effects of her last statement. She hadn't realized what she was saying. She had revealed one of her deep-seated insecurities. She was on a mission damn it. The situation was still salvageable if only the Charming princess had ignored the statement. But the saviou had smiled, had smiled as if she understood. It was like Emma could see into her soul. She had let her vulnerability show to her. . . enemy. Emma was still the enemy, wasn't she? It was overwhelming and she felt the need to run. She tried to pull away her hand but the blonde held on. She had recognized the look in Regina's eyes. She had been the owner of that look numerous times herself. She knew all to well where the brunette's insecurities were stemming from.
"No, stay. For Henry," she requested. Their son's name seemed to do the trick. Emma watched the former mayor relax considerably and gently let go of the hand when she was sure the woman wasn't a flight risk.
"So your interest in Ruby is purely. . . . . platonic?" Emma asked with faked casualty.
Regina rolled her eye at that. "Yes miss. . . Emma. My intrigue quite borders on clinical. And besides, Miss Lucas is not my type."
"What is your type?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Emma just grinned boyishly at that and Regina felt that she was seeing the blonde for the first time. And even though her mind wouldn't let her think of it in a million years, her heart wouldn't listen to reason. 'My God! Has she always been this beautiful? Is this how she is with her friends and loved ones?' A voice told her yes, she has always been this beautiful and yes she is exactly like this with her friends and loved ones and she could have it too if only. . . The brunette slammed the door on that last thought. 'Mission. You are on a mission,' she reminded herself.
"What about you, Emma?" The brunette asked conversationally.
"What about me?"
"Do YOU like miss Lucas?"
Emma laugh. "No. No, Rubs and I are much too alike to be compatible. But she is the closest friend I had in a long, long time."
€ Regina smiled. 'Okay so Ruby Lucas is out of the equation. Now I just have to go through the rest of the town.' She quietly finished her coffee as Emma went on blubbering until Henry joined them once again.
"Well, Emma it's been nice seeing you both here, but now I must leave you two to your breakfast."
"It was nice seeing you too Regina," Emma replied with a smile. Henry kept quite and finished the juice that he had left unattended when he went off to see his friend.
"Well Henry, I'll see you again." Regina bend down to kiss him on the cheek. The boy visibly stiffened but didn't pull away from the kiss. Regina was saddened by her son's reaction but didn't let it show. She straightened and with one last smile went out the diner door. Emma watched the brunette walk down the road through the glass window and then turned to her son with a frown.
"Hey kid, whats with the high and mighty attitude? Why were you behaving that way with Regina?" Precise and to the point.
he kid in question sat their fidgeting with the salt and pepper shakers but did not answer.
"I asked you something," she asked in her somber, no-nonsense tone.
"I. . . I thought after all she has done to us along with Cora it would be better if I stayed away from her. And dad said it would probably be a good idea seeing that Rumpelstiltskin is my Grandfather and how she just tried to kill him."
"Goddamnit!" Emma had always made a conscious effort to avoid cursing in front of Henry and the fact that she was doing just that proved that she was absolutely livid. "Tell me Henry, do you really hold your mother in such high regards? Does that woman who fed you, taught you to talk and walk, took care of you when you were ill, heck took care of you period, when your real mother gave you away, really deserve this kind of behaviour?"
"But. . . but she's evil . We gave her a chance to change. A lot of good that did."
"Henry, she loves you. Has she ever given an inkling that she wanted to hurt you? Everything she has done after the curse was for you. Maybe her activities were a little misguided at times, but she never wanted to loose you. And now when she needs you the most, you up and abandon her."
"But dad said. . . ."
"Don't," Emma warned through gritted teeth. "He's a chicken of a man and he has no say in your life. His blood might run in your veins, but every bit of the person you are is because of Regina."
"No, she is evil. I am good because I am your son."
Emma smiled. She was getting weary of Henry's black and white perspective. "As you so helpfuly pointed out just a moment ago, you are also the grandson of The Dark One. It's because of Regina's upbringing that you are 'good'. Definitely not because of your birth, son. And if you can't see that, it's really a shame. You need to change your mentality before you loose the best thing in your life."
"Why are you defending her all of a sudden?" He questioned her arrogantly.
The saviour thought on that for a moment. Why indeed. Why now? "Maybe I am changing myself," she offered.
Henry quitened after that, seemingly in deep thought. They finished their breakfast without further conversation and then quitely left the diner.
Regina was reading 'A Mid Summer Night's Dream' in her study when she heard the doorbell ring. And by the timing of the visitor, she had a pretty good idea who it might be.
On opening the door, she was met by the grinning face of one very happy Sheriff.
"Suprise!" Emma greeted.
"I assure you, Emma, it wasn't." She glanced down and noticed the bouquet that Emma was holding. The arrangement similar to previous day's. "I see you bought me flowers. Again."
"Ooh, cocky aren't we. How do you know these aren't for someone else?" Emma teased with a smirk.
Regina in her trade mark raised eyebrow. "Aren't they? Well then Emma, I suggest you go and give it to the person you bought them for before they wilt."
The blonde's smirk faultered and them stretched into a sheepish grin.
"I walked right into that didn't I?" She handed the bouquet to Regina. "Actually, I wanted to tell you in person that I had really good time today." And before the former mayor could make any comment, she leaned over and lightly kissed the startled woman on the cheek. € " Kay, Regina see ya later. I need to get back to my midday patrol."
Regina watched the Sheriff jog away and then gently traced the kiss on her cheeks with her fingertips. Even though the kiss was as chaste as it goes, it felt strangely warm and sensual.
'
It's been too long,' she theorized. And indeed it had been more than an year since Graham died. Regina hadn't bothered with anyone else after that. She hadn't the time. She shook her head and headed inside. € Replacing the previous day's bouquet with the fresh one, the former mayor consciously checked for a note. She found it.
So tomorrow at 7?
:)
Love, E
At the other side of the street pale eyes watched the entire tableau from the shadows. A cell phone was flipped open and a call was made.
"There has been a development regarding our target. . . . ."
Author's note:
Thank for the suggestions guys. :)