Alright everyone here's their date. Hope you enjoy it.
The next day I was giddy and happy. I couldn't wait until seven that night. I was a nervous wreck but happy. Henry must have a tracking device on me because anytime I'm at Granny's he seems to show up somehow. "Emma!" He came over to my booth and slung his backpack in the seat. "You're a genius!" I glanced over to where Granny and Ruby where and told him to keep it down. "How did you come up with that plan? It was great!" I frowned.
"What are you…oh! That plan. I don't know. It just fell together. Thank God my English teacher made us read poetry when I was in college." Henry had a huge grin on his face.
When I went to pick Regina up that night I was nervous. Actually, nervous was the understatement of the year. I made sure I put on my best pair of jeans that made my ass look good, a button up dress shirt that matched my skin and hair, and then my favorite pair of high heeled boots. Yes, Jefferson basically picked out the outfit because he wouldn't leave me alone about it. If anything, gay guys know fashion. That's one of the many reasons I kept him around.
I drove up her driveway and tried to calm myself down. When I finally got up the nerve to open the door and get out of my bug I made sure to grab the dozen roses I bought earlier. While I walked up the stone path to the porch the butterflies in my stomach were overwhelming. I knocked on the door and waited. A moment later it opened and my mouth dropped. There she stood in a simple, dark blue dress that cut off right above her knees and a simple, thin, gold chain around her neck. The dress wasn't low cut at all but it hugged her curves very well.
"Well are you going to say something or just stand there like an idiot?" I just stood there dumbfounded, unable to say a word. "Miss. Swan!" I quickly snapped out of my dazed state. She stood there watching me with her hands on her hips. God she looked beautiful.
"What? Sorry. You look amazing. Uh…" Realizing what I had in my hands I held them out for her. "These are for y-you." Damn my voice gave everything away. Regina looked from my face to the roses and then back to me.
"Thank you." She took the flowers and turned to walk back into her lavish home. "Let me put these in a vase and we can go." I followed quickly and loved the clicking sound of her heels as she walked on the wood flooring. When we made it to the kitchen she tried reaching above her head to a crystal vase but it was out of her reach.
"Here, let me." I brushed beside her and stood on my toes. Luckily I was able to reach the expensive looking vase and bring it down carefully. I could feel Regina's eyes on me as I held it with both hands. "Shall I?" I held out my hand for the flowers and knife she had gotten from the sink. She looked at me skeptically as she handed them to me.
"I didn't know you knew how to take care of flowers. Poetry and flower treatment, you are full of surprises aren't you?" I felt a triumphant grin come across my face. "Okay now don't get cocky." I chuckled as I arranged the roses.
"That's a very nice vase Madame Mayor. Where did you get it? And here you go." I passed the vase to her carefully. I was glad to have it out of my hands knowing I was a bit clumsy. The last thing I wanted to do was break it. She took the vase and placed it in the center of the dining room table. Regina tried to act like she didn't quickly smell them as she placed them on the table but I caught her and smiled to myself. I knew she loved roses. There was a lot I knew about her that she didn't know about. It wasn't long after I came to this town that I started to fall for the dark haired woman and started to pick up on her likes and dislikes.
"An old friend gave it to me long ago. I always use it for my flowers when I get some or pick them from my garden." Regina paused a moment. I don't believe she meant to say that last part. Nostalgia will make you slip up and give information you didn't want to say sometimes. "Shall we go?"
"Of course, dinner is waiting in the oven." I went to open the front door for her and she hesitated.
"You left it in the oven? Please tell me it wasn't still cooking." I chuckled as she stepped onto the porch and locked the door.
"No it was fully cooked and the oven off. I kept the roast in there to keep it nice and warm. I'm not in the kitchen much but I do know the dos and don'ts of it." I let Regina walk ahead of me a step while we went down the pathway towards my car. Being the polite person I am, I opened the passenger door for her. Once again she hesitated before getting in. "You're not used to having someone open doors for you are you? You've hesitated both times now." Regina was quiet a moment before answering.
"You do notice a lot don't you? But yes, I'm not used to that. Graham has never done that for me." I cringed at the thought of him and I'm sure Regina noticed. "It's nice having someone do that for once." I appreciated her trying to sooth the sting of her previous comment.
"You must also get flowers a lot too. Or you pick them from your garden a lot." I didn't look over but I could tell Regina had frowned her brows and looked towards me. "You said you use that vase when you get flowers or pick them yourself. I'm shocked a woman like you doesn't get them on a daily basis." Yeah I have a bit of a rambling/truth telling issue when I'm nervous around gorgeous women. Regina's chuckle had a slight calming effect on me.
"Don't be a brown noser now Miss. Swan. Flattery is nice but don't overdo it." I could feel my cheeks flush a little. I wasn't trying to be a brown noser. I was just being nice and telling the truth.
"I'm not trying to be a brown noser. I'm simply telling the truth. Honest." Before Regina could say another word we pulled into my driveway. "Well here we are." I shut off the engine and went around to open the door for Regina. I was happy that she didn't even make a move to open the door herself. "Well at least you're expecting me to open doors for you now." She rolled her eyes as she climbed out. I could feel her eyes watching me as we walked up to my door. Unlocking it quickly I pushed it open to let Regina walk in first.
"You have a cute little place. It's very…you." The fact that she didn't downright hate my place right off made me happy. She looked around the living room as I slid out of my jacket.
"Thank you. If you'd like to go ahead and take a seat in the dining room I'll bring out the food and pour the wine." I motioned towards the dining room and I stepped ahead to pull out her chair. Once again she glanced and hesitated before sitting. Regina pushed herself in before I was able to do it. "I'll be right back." I made sure the place looked amazing. "Here we go." I placed two wine glasses on the table and opened the bottle. "I hope you like Moscato. It was the last bottle Gold had." Once I poured Regina's glass she took it by the stem and brought it to her lips taking a small sip.
"I didn't know you were a wine expert as well." I laughed. Oh how much I wanted to be that glass. I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not.
"I'm many things Madame Mayor. I know wines but I'm no expert. I'll be back with the roast in a moment." Emma don't mess this up. This is your one chance to show her that you're better than Graham and not a screw up. "Here we go." I placed the roast between us on the small table. "How much would you like?" When I started cutting into the roast Regina took in a deep breath.
"Well it smells good at least. Now I just need to know how it tastes." I froze a moment. The tone of her voice changed with that last word and it gave me chills. Keep the dirty thoughts out of your head Emma. Stop it. Be good. "That's fine. Thank you." I cut myself some and sat down.
"Tell me what you think." Regina slowly started to cut the roast and bring a bite to her mouth. When she started to chew a look of surprise washed over her face. I knew she'd like it. A triumphant smile crossed my face as I started to eat. "Like it?"
"Wipe that cocky grin off your face Swan." Her voice was light and…playful? She's never been playful around me. I didn't know she could be playful. "But yes, it is quite good. You're full of surprises." I chuckled and took a sip of wine.
"Well I'm glad you like it. It's been cooking all day. Sitting in spices and stuff." I couldn't help but talk with my hands and not use the right cooking lingo. I had no idea what I was doing when I was in the kitchen. Regina chuckled from my actions.
"Not a cooking expert I see. Stuff huh? What kind of stuff? Or do I really want to know?" There was a playful look in her eyes and a mischievous smirk on her lips. I've never seen this side of her before. I didn't know she had a side like this.
"Spices and other stuff the cook book said to use. I'm a wine person. Not a cooking person. I'll leave the cooking to you." I didn't mean to say that. Regina raised an eyebrow at my comment.
"How do you know I cook?" She didn't seem mad. More intrigued then anything.
"Henry told me and you seem like the type of mother who would want her son to have a good home-cooked meal each night." Good save Emma. Good save.
"You would be correct. I do want Henry to have a good meal." She paused and glanced around behind me. "Don't you have a roommate? Jefferson I believe his name is. Where's he hiding out?"
"He's out staying with a friend tonight. He didn't want to disturb us." Regina finished her glass and started to reach for the bottle. "Let me." I poured her some more wine until she told me to stop.
"And what exactly does he think we're doing here…alone…to disturb?" I could feel my cheeks flush slightly. She's messing with me I know it. I couldn't help but to give into though. The draw of her sexy voice was too much to fight against.
"I-I don't know. Those were his words." I knew I had a deer-in-the-headlights look on my face. I didn't expect anything to happen between us.
"Emma, calm down before you have a heart attack." I locked eyes with Regina for a second. Did I hear her correctly? She just used my first name.
"You just called me Emma." Regina swallowed the last bite of roast and dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
"Slip of the tongue Miss. Swan. This was a very nice meal." I studied her a moment. It may have been a slip of the tongue but I liked it. Neither of us realized that hours had passed by after we moved to the living room to talk some more. The Grandfather clock Jefferson had struck midnight and we both fell silent. Regina looked from the clock to me. "I didn't realize it was this late. I need to get home to Henry." I was sad; I didn't want her to go home. I just enjoyed sitting here talking with her. We didn't fight, we laughed and traded stories.
"Alright. I'll drive you." I opened and closed the door for Regina and walked her to her door when we got to her place. "Have a nice night Reg…Madame Mayor." My cheeks flushed a little. "Slip of the tongue?" Regina chuckled.
"That's fine dear. When we're not in public you may call me by my name." There was an awkward silence between us as we stood on her porch. "Well goodnight Mi…Emma." She gave a small smile and it made my heart jump.
"You too. Goodnight." I wanted to kiss her but I didn't dare. We watched each other a few moments before I had to turn around and walk to my car. I'm not sure what time I fell asleep that night. But I know that the last thing I thought about was Regina.