"Then what?" Katherine asked, trying to contain the excitement in her voice. Regina's retelling of the previous night made her want to squeal with happiness for her friend—had they not been out in public that is.
"Then she came back with Henry's backpack, used him as a human shield and scurry out the door like a scared little animal." Regina's frustration was palpable. As much as she knew the two of them hadn't been ready for where the conversation was headed the night before she couldn't help but feel disappointment at where it might have led them.
Katherine's excitement deflated instantly. She knew that in reality she should be elated that after only a week the two had already had dinner together, but after ten years she wanted things to happen faster, for them to have a movie worthy ending right now. Hopefully, in time they would—but until then she was going to be living in a constant state of anxiety for her friend and her fragile heart.
"So what next?" Katherine prodded carefully, after a few minutes of watching Regina stab at her poor, unsuspecting eggs.
"I have no idea. I guess I continue to tutor Henry and we see what happens. I don't want to push to hard. She got this look last night, like she…like she was just as scared as I am. I think that's what made me so bold—like I knew that I had to step up or we'd never get anywhere." Regina sighed, she had been on point last night. Her flirting surprising even herself. "It's crazy to be talking like this. I mean I still don't know anything about her…all I'm holding onto is a connection I felt ten years ago. I've lost my mind haven't I?"
The pleading look in Regina's eyes made Katherine reconsider her push for her to get this all out of her system. Maybe she had underestimated the toll it might take on her friend.
"No, you haven't…not totally at least. I mean not yet anyway…." Katherine trailed off, the teasing pulling Regina out of her spiral just a little. "Let's just figure out a way you can get to know her better. I mean because you couldn't just ask her out on a plain old date. That would be so…pedestrian." Katherine laughed at the glare she received and plowed on with her dialogue.
"What if you hired her for the weekend under the pretense that you needed a date for something…and then you'll fall in love instantly?"
Regina scowled at the blonde. "That's the plot to Can't Buy Me Love. Or Pretty Woman…but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you aren't calling her a prostitute."
Katherine laughed again and proceeded with her brainstorming. "What about you tell her you're getting deported and that you need to marry someone to stay in the country?"
"The Proposal." Regina countered blandly.
"You could pretend to be a man, befriend her and then later the truth will come out but…"
"She's the Man." Regina interrupted, clearly unimpressed by Katherine's game.
"You could get her to sign up with a dating service and rope Henry into getting her on there too and email her all time…"
"You've got Mail. Now you aren't even trying." Regina said, finally laughing at the thought of her romantic life following the plot of some random movie.
"I got one! You could get magic, go to a special school together, fight off bad magic villains and then defeat the One Who Shall Not Be Named together and then fall in love and get married and have kids that you send back to the same magic school you went to!" Henry jumped in, having only heard the last little snippet of the conversation.
"That's Harry Potter, kid. And I don't think that's going to work for these two. I'm Katherine by the way." Katherine said, sliding over to make room for her partner in crime. She was excited to meet the little boy, who Regina was clearly smitten with and who she was quite sure was going to bring the two women together in the end.
"Nice to meet you Katherine." Henry stuck out his hand, which Katherine shook with glee.
"Does your mother know where you are Henry?" Regina asked as he slid in the booth across from her, hoping that she didn't have to once again return a rogue ten year old.
"Yeah, she's coming. She forgot her wallet and had to run back home. I saw you in here though and figured it was a good time to talk about Operation Beavers." He said proudly.
Katherine promptly spat her coffee all over the table, much to the amusement of Regina.
"Why don't you tell Katherine why it's called that Henry? If we are all going to be in this together she better know the backstory." Regina shook her head, still not believing these two were the ones she was trusting to get her her happy ending.
"The fall in love and live together forever and raise their babies together." He explained seriously.
Katherine nodded in agreement, the hint of smile still playing on her lips. "That makes perfect sense Henry."
"So I only have a few minutes before mom gets here. What if you have a party? Isn't that like a thing where people can meet?" Henry had been thinking about a plan all night and he figured both woman would be more comfortable with other people around.
"That is an excellent idea Henry. Such a smart little boy…" Katherine winked at him, glad to have him on her side. She looked at Regina, who looked like she was seriously considering the idea.
"It's not a bad plan, Regina." Katherine prodded with a slight shrug of her shoulder. "I could whip something together…you'd just have to get her there?"
Regina looked across the table at the two, matching hopeful looks on both their faces. She slowly nodded her head in agreement as they both let out whoops of joy. "If your mother is on her way, I'm going to get out of here now. I don't want to run into quite so soon after last night." Her face said the exact opposite of her words, but she gathered up her things any way and scooted out of the booth.
"Henry, I will see you Friday night for tutoring again. Katherine…I am sure you'll be bugging me sometime before that." Regina disappeared out of the diner, moments before Emma came in.
Emma spotted her son immediately, sitting next to a striking blonde. One who looked very familiar and one she prayed her son wasn't trying to set her up with.
"I see you made a new friend Henry." Emma said, as she strolled up to the booth.
Katherine smiled at Emma and could instantly see why Regina was in so much trouble. The girl who had looked so haunted in high school had grown into herself and quite simply, was gorgeous. All blonde curls and curves. "Hello Emma. It's good to see you again. You look well."
Emma fidgeted slightly, embarrassed at the compliment from an almost stranger. "Thanks, you taught…teach at the high school too?"
"Still there, even with out my partner in crime. I'm Katherine." She eyed the young woman, wondering if there was going to be any recognition. When she didn't get any, she took it as a good sign for Regina.
"I was just entertaining young Henry here. Regina was, but she had to go. Party emergency." Katherine nudged Henry slightly, hoping he was following.
Emma's brow furrowed in confusion. The question left unspoken.
"Oh, sorry—I forgot you haven't been living here. Regina throws a luau every year…" Katherine covered Henry's ears, just enough for show. "Lesbian Luau…" She uncovered the kid's ears and winked at Emma. "It's like the event of the year or something…you should come. It's this coming Saturday."
Emma didn't know whether to be shocked that Regina threw a Lesbian Luau every year or that she was being invited. She just nodded absently as she was processing and Katherine took that as a confirmation.
"Great! Regina's going to be excited to see you there. How about I pick you up around 7? That way you don't have to walk in alone. And don't worry—I'm straight so it's not like a date or anything. You'll be able to mingle freely." Katherine was still grinning at her like a Cheshire cat, like she knew too much and not enough at the same time. Katherine decided to get out before Emma could catch up to the conversation and back out so she unceremoniously pushed Henry out of the way and exited the booth. "This will be great. See you at 7 Saturday!"
Emma watched as Katherine whipped out of the diner and shook her head slightly. "What just happened?" she asked Henry, not sure if she was excited or terrified.
"You're going to a party mom!"
"I guess I am."
SQSQSQSQSQS
Regina heard her best friend's chime on her phone and was almost scared to look. She'd only left the diner 15 minutes ago. What could have possibly happened in that amount of time?
FYI: Lesbian Luau at your house this Sat.
WHAT?!
Emma will be there. The only catch is we have to pretend you do it every year….
The only catch? I'm going to kill you.
You won't. You need me too much to pull this off. Planning session tonight! I'll bring the wine this time.
There is not an emoji to clearly express my emotion at this time. I am reserving an epic scowl for you tonight.
What had Katherine been thinking? A luau? She didn't know whether to be excited or scared, but if Emma showed up it would all be worth it.
