Chapter 4.
It's late Sunday night when Regina finally makes it out the door of her parents home to head back into the city.
She treks to her car and smiles when she notices Emma's car still there in the spot next to hers. Her smile widens when she sees the sexy blonde walking up to said car while talking on her phone.
Emma is so deep in conversation she doesn't even notice Regina until she's about to open the door to her car.
Even though they had said their awkward goodbyes a little earlier Regina wants to say "goodbye" properly without her parents hovering. She's thankful that Emma is still here so she can do so.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You're still here?" Regina asks.
"Yeah, I was on the phone. Are you leaving now?"
"Yes, I have an 8 am deposition I can't miss." Regina answers making her way over to Emma after depositing her bag in the back seat of her car.
There's a moment of silence between them as they both try to find the words they need.
"Emma, I..."
"Regina today was..."
"Sorry."
"Sorry, you go I insist."
"Emma, today was amazing. I don't think I've felt this way in quite a while. Is there any way I can see you again...umm outside of work?"
Emma hesitates.
There's nothing more she wants more than to pursue a relationship with Regina but she worries that maybe this is too soon after Regina's breakup from Mal. She is sure she doesn't want to be the brunettes rebound. Then there's the nagging thought that Regina won't be able to understand her job and why she may want to keep it.
"Regina..it's just..are you sure that's what you want..this...?"
"Are you still worried about this morning? What I said? Emma, Mal broke my heart, she cheated on me and trust me when I tell you I'll never go back to her. You should know that when I'm with you I'm happy..hopeful." Regina says stepping closer to Emma.
"There are other things too..."
"Emma..." Regina says sighing as she burrows her face into Emma's chest.
"Wow this got really heavy really fast."
"Alright...look can I see you this weekend maybe? No strings if that's what you want. We'll just.." Regina asks biting her lips because how do you say to someone-come over let's casually bang but also I really like you-."
Emma smiles at Regina's loss of words. She's knows exactly what the woman is implying.
"I...uh you know what, yes I would like that very much."
"I'll see you on Saturday then? Or maybe Friday evening? We'll have an adult sleepover at my house?"
"How about we mix it up with some movies and I get to make you dinner at least once?"
"You've got a deal Swan." She says happily.
Emma nods and takes a seat at the wheel. She is about to start the car when suddenly Regina straddles her laps.
"Are you really going to leave without kissing me goodnight?" Regina asks, pouting a bit.
Emma considers where they are for a second. Even though she's sure Regina's parents can't see them from where she's parked there's no way she wants either of them finding her making out with their daughter like a horny teenager in their yard.
"Babe, your parents could see us."
"I promise to take the blame if they do catch us." Regina answers smiling as she leans down and connects her lips to Emma's.
As they kiss, memories from earlier in the day comes rushing back to Regina.
Emma was so soft and careful with her. Thinking off her needs and wants. She feels herself getting wet just remembering Emma's size and how amazing it felt the first time the blonde slipped inside of her.
Emma is in a daze. Regina's warm tongue in her mouth is something that will always make her weak. The smaller woman starts grinding down on her dick with persistence.
She needs to stop this impromptu make out session before things get more out of hand.
"Fuck...Regina, wait..hey we can't. Not here."
Regina's who is busy sucking the flesh just beneath Emma's ear lobe and contemplating marking the blonde as a parting gift finally stops.
"I'll miss you this week I just wanted to give you something to remember me by."
"Trust me you're kinda hard to forget." Emma replies trying to push Regina back a bit so she's no long running her warm core over her crotch.
Regina reaches in the back pocket of her jeans and hands Emma her phone number.
"I know one of the rules from Gold is that we don't share contact information. But since this isn't "business" related maybe you can call me?"
Emma takes the information after a beat and dials it into her phone.
Regina feels her phone vibrate in her pocket.
She smiles.
"I'll see you Friday." Regina says as she plants one last soft lingering kiss on Emma's lips before she steps out of the car.
Her legs, a bit shaky from getting herself a bit worked up while kissing Emma.
"Drive safely. I'll see you soon Regina." Emma says smiling as she reluctantly starts her car to leave.
-/-
"Milah, hey good morning. How are you?"
"Emma! Hey I'm doing great. How are you?"
"Great, uh...is he there?"
"Yes, he just stepped out of the room to send some information to a client. Just a second."
"Oh I can call him back later."
"No, it's fine here he is. Oh by the way you should come over sometime. It's been too long kid."
"I will I promise. Life has just been hectic."
"I get that, but if you ever get an evening free pencil me into your schedule. Yeah?"
"I will Milah, I promise." Emma says to the only woman that's ever treated her like she was a human as a teen.
"I'll hold you to it. Here he is."
"Emma, business or other?"
"Both..really, the car?"
"A gift."
"A really expensive gift."
"A deserved one."
"You know you owe me nothing. You're the reason I have anything to begin with. You're the reason I'm alive, if you hadn't found me that day..."Emma says softly, thinking back to that day.
"I thought we agreed not to mention that Emma. You know every time I think about the state I found you in it makes me want to go find your foster parents and give them the same treatment."
"I'm sorry, I won't mention it again."
"Really though it's nothing to talk about and if you're free I have a new client on Thursday that needs company at an event?"
"An event?"
"That's all she said."
"Okay, count me in..oh and can I ask you something? I'll understand if it's personal and you don't want to talk about it."
"Neal." Gold says before Emma even asks.
"Yes, I mean...you've never mentioned him and I don't think I've ever seen a picture."
"Well we fell out. He hated the business I got into to pay the bills after I practically got crippled in that car accident and I hated the drugs he was on."
"I'm sorry...I didn't know."
"It's okay Emma. It's my turn to ask something personal."
"Regina."
"Yes. Miss Mills. Is there more to your relationship that is beyond our business arrangement?"
"I...I don't know yet. I feel connected to her but I'm afraid she might hurt me or I might hurt her. I don't really know how to explain." Emma replies unable to lie to him.
"Just be careful Emma, beyond our arrangement I truly don't want to see you getting hurt. You have to decide if it's worth the heartache. You know what I always say-love is weakness- dearie."
Emma sighs on the other side of the line like a petulant child getting a talking to from her father.
"I'll be careful."
"If that's all I have things to tend too."
"That's it for now."
-/-
"Knock knock."
Regina looks up from the thick file on her desk to see Mal standing at her office door.
"What do you want Mal?" Regina asks annoyed.
"Just saying hello Regina. You know we can still be friends." She say nonchalantly as she walks towards Regina.
"I do not wish to be friends with the woman who cheated on me."
"Yes well I'm sorry about that. I'll admit that was horrible of me." Mal says making herself comfortable as she leans on the desk next to Regina's chair.
"Thats...nice of you." Regina replies confused as to why she's not laughing in Mal's face right now.
"So how are things with you and what's her name? Anna?" Mal asks pretending she doesn't know Emma's name.
"Em-ma. And she's fine. I spent the weekend with her at my parents house."
Mal is stunned for a second.
"You've just met her and already had her meet your parents? It took you months to introduce us." Mal says almost angry.
"What can I say Emma is special."
"Aren't you moving a little to fast with that little girl Regina? She barely looks like she knows how to satisfy a grown woman."
"First of all she's the same amount of years behind me that I am to you and trust me she knows very well how to satisfy me. Now if you came here to argue I suggest you leave. I have no interest in any conversation with you." Regina says standing up and meeting her ex eye to eye.
"You've fucked her already? What happened to your "two month rule" that I had to suffer through?" Mal asks shocked at the woman who just weeks ago she thought couldn't live without her.
"That's none of your business and as for my "two month rule" are you sure that just wasn't for you?" Regina says frustrated a bit at her exes meddling.
"Hmm you seem a little upset. You know if you had gotten a proper fucking you'd be a lot more relaxed."
"Excuse me! How dare you?!" Regina says angrily. Her vein on her forehead pulsing.
"God... there's the fire I like. You're really sexy when you get upset babe." Mal says staring Regina down.
"Please don't, I'm not interested in your games."
"Are you sure Regina? Just a few short weeks ago you were begging me not to leave you. That can't have faded yet."
"It faded the moment I found out you were cheating on me with every piece of tail you could find."
"What can I say, I've got a ravenous appetite." Mal replies unashamed stepping as close to Regina as she can without touching her.
"Leave. Now."
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Positive, go find you bottom feeder girlfriend and leave me alone." Regina says angrily.
"Oh I am free, single and available to you Regina. Gwen as it turns out is no where near your league."
"I'm not interested." Regina says sternly.
Mal sighs and relents in trying to lure Regina back in by throwing herself at the brunette beauty.
"Regina look I am serious. I want you back babe. I miss you. Please I'm asking you for another chance. I know I messed up and I hurt you but I promise I won't ever hurt you like that again." Mal says sincerely as she looks into Regina's eyes.
Stunned for a moment, Regina stumbles to find words.
"Mal..I...I'm..."
"Look just would you please think about it?"
As Regina opens her mouth to answer her intercom beeps.
"Miss Mills I'm back from dropping those files off. Do you need anything right now?"
"No Marian, that will be all. It's late why don't you go on and head home I'll see you in the morning." Regina replies. When she looks up Mal is almost out the door. She tries to give the woman an answer but it's too late. It's too late for anything really.
-/-
Regina walks through the door to her home sometime around 8 that evening. It had been a long day and topped with Mal's visit it's had been extra exhausting.
She decides she's going take a bath and have a glass of wine.
Before she does though she shoots Emma a quick message.
Though they'd exchanged numbers, this would only be the second time they'd had contact with each other over the last few days.
"Can't wait to see you tomorrow."
The simple text message she types up reads before she sends it.
Regina waits for a reply but unlike the last conversation she'd had with Emma that had been replied to immediately she wouldn't get a reply until hours later.
While she waits her mind begins to wander.
"Is Emma "working" tonight?"
A pang of jealousy bolts through her chest.
She tries to shake the feeling off.
What her relationship status is right now with Emma can be classified as casual.
Also she has to remember that Emma, if she is working there's not a lot she can do about that right now.
As she works herself up to the point where she's almost panicking in tears her phone finally pings.
"I can't wait either!" Emma's replies excited.
Regina takes a deep cleansing breath. She wants to ask Emma where she is.
If she's been with anyone tonight.
If she's...she caves and writes something else instead.
"I miss you."
"I miss you too."
"How has your day been?"
"Boring, I had to work but now I'm home. How was your day?"
Regina swallows her sob.
Emma was indeed at work.
She realizes the thought of anyone being with the blonde bothers her more than she can understand right now.
This is going to be an issue she foresees.
Emma on the other side of town waits for a reply. When it's been far to long she calls Regina.
"Hey."
"Em, hey."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I worked tonight and I thought maybe that upset you."
"It..maybe okay I wondered a bit about..." Regina pauses not really knowing how to ask.
"About..?"
"I don't know? Did you have a good time with her?" Regina asks shutting her eyes tightly and completely regretting that she sounds like a jealous girlfriend.
"No, babe I didn't. It was just some chick who wanted to make her girlfriend jealous. So I went with her to a football game at her collage. They were sucking each other's tonsils out by the time I left." Emma replies after catching Regina's tone.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry. It's just.."
"I get it, Mal and what she did. Also, I don't like sharing either."
"Emma I want this and I want to try with you but I don't know if I can handle you being with other people. I know you like your job, I just...god why is this so complicated?"
There is silence on the line for a while.
"I want this too..I've never been in a relationship so I don't really know how to go about this either. All I can tell you now is that I like the comfort my lifestyle provides. I also feel obligated to the person that has afforded me the way I live my life but then there's you. Regina you make me want to give up everything and everyone I care about and that scares me because I don't know if you truly want this relationship. I don't want to be your rebound from Mal that you'll regret in a few months."
"Oh Em, I...babe I want to try. You are not any rebound or substitute for anyone and I swear the only regret I have is not having met you sooner. Will you..maybe give us a chance? I... I won't hurt you." Regina replies softly hoping for a positive outcome.
"Let's see how this weekend goes. How about that for now?" Emma says after a pause.
"I'd like that very much."
The two continue talking for a while.
Regina tells Emma of her "Terrible Thursday's" that are filled with back to back depositions, client appointments and board meetings with her senior partners.
Emma in turn promises to give her a full body massage when they next meet.
Regina shivers at the thought of having Emma do that.
It's almost 1am when they finally say goodnight with promises they hope will be kept this weekend.
-TBC.