I'm so sorry, I had forgotten about this story! Shame on me. I'll be writing this one, along with "The Accident" (which you should read if you haven't! ;)) and I'll try to update more frequently.
Please let me know what you think of this chapter. Thanks.
They decide to walk instead of taking a cab. The night is warm and the moon is full. Regina's laughter makes Emma's head spin—or maybe it's the alcohol. But the way Regina clings to her arm and laughs to her stupid jokes is intoxicating.
"Have you talked to Hook?" Regina asks after a moment of calm.
"Yeah. He tried to ask me out. Again," Emma replies as she rolls her eyes.
"Well, dear, I thought he was your type…"
"Sure, my type is totally dark-haired former villains who wear a lot of black leather!"
Emma stops suddenly as she realizes what she's just said, but Regina just laughs again, seemingly oblivious to the double meaning of the blonde's words. She tugs on Emma's arm to force her to walk again.
"I'm supposed to meet Robin for breakfast tomorrow at eight," Regina goes on. "I don't think I'll be up in time; perhaps I should call him to let him know."
"Regina, you're not calling Robin at one in the morning."
"Oh? Is it so late already? Why, Miss Swan, are you trying to deprave me?"
Emma chuckles and bumps slightly into Regina.
"Is that all it takes to debauch you, Your Majesty?"
Regina simply shrugs, and they finally turn onto Mifflin Street. Unconsciously, Emma slows down; she's not ready for the night to end. Again, the brunette does not notice, or she chooses to remain silent. The rest of the way leading to Regina's mansion is spent in silence, both women almost leaning into each other for support as the alcohol is now in full effect.
"Well," Regina starts once she's at her door, with Emma right behind her.
"It was fun," Emma offers with a smile.
The brown eyes looking at her twinkle and Emma's stomach does somersaults. It takes every ounce of her willpower not to lean in and kiss the older woman. She is so, so close, and Emma is so, so under her spell…
"Yes, it was."
Regina's voice snaps her out of her trance and Emma takes a small step back. For a short moment, they just smile at each other and Emma wonders why this feels so much like the end of a date.
"This is nice. Us, being friends," Regina says softly.
Her words are a bit slurred, proof that the alcohol is well into her system. It's the only reason Emma takes another step back when she realizes that Regina has been inching closer surreptitiously.
"Yeah," she replies nervously.
Was Regina about to… what, kiss her? From the startled look in the brunette's eyes—as if she's just realized what she was doing—it is a very likely possibility and Emma's heart beats so fast and hard that she fears it might burst out of her chest.
"I should go," she adds after a beat.
Regina simply nods and, with one last smile, she opens the door to her mansion.
"Goodnight then, Emma. Do be careful on your way home."
"Yeah, goodnight."
Emma stands still for a long minute after Regina has closed the door behind her. Slowly, she exhales and turns to leave. Her head is spinning but she starts walking home with renewed confidence. Maybe seducing Regina will not be that hard after all.
"Mom. Mom. MOM!"
"Uh, what?!"
Emma jumps up from her bed, her eyes looking wildly around the room before they finally settle on her son. Henry is kneeling at the end of the bed, his hand full of the blanket he's just ripped from Emma's grasp.
"Henry?"
"You're late," he says reproachfully.
"What? What for?"
"Lunch! You said we were going to Granny's at noon today!"
"I did?"
"Yeah… Last week, remember?"
She tries to recall ever saying this to her son, and yes, she probably has but her memory is all fogged up this morning—or is it afternoon already?—because of all the alcohol she drank the previous night with Regina. Regina…
"How's your mom?"
"She called Robin this morning to say that she wasn't feeling well and that she couldn't meet him for breakfast," Henry answers with a shrug.
"Oh."
The boy gets back on his feet and runs to the door.
"Come on, hurry up, I'm starving!"
"Okay, okay! Give me ten minutes; I need a shower."
"I'll be waiting in the living room."
Henry disappears and Emma immediately grabs her phone to send a quick text to Regina.
Did you sleep well? Do you want to meet us for lunch?
She heads to the bathroom and quickly gets into the shower. Henry is not very patient when he's hungry and Emma realizes that her stomach is growling. A few minutes later, she dries her body with a fluffy towel and puts on some clothes before checking her phone. There is an unread message that she opens immediately.
I slept okay, thank you. You? And I can't, I couldn't go to breakfast with Robin so he's coming over in a few.
The blonde sighs but types a quick reply before she takes a few dollar bills that she keeps in the drawer of her nightstand and joins her son in the living-room.
"Alright kiddo, let's have the greasiest burgers!"
Henry tells her about what he's been doing in school over the past week and Emma listens attentively and tries her hardest not to think about the kid's other mother and what she'd like to do to her. She sighs out loud and Henry looks at her suspiciously.
"What?"
"What?"
"What what?"
"You're acting weird."
"Am I?"
"First you forget that we're going to lunch, then you look barely interested in what I'm saying—'
"I don't!" Emma replies, offended.
Henry stares at her with his best Regina glare.
"I said that Ava was expecting a baby and that Nicholas had magical rainbows coming out of his mouth every time he opened it, and you didn't react. At all. Not a blink. You just sighed."
"I did?"
"Mom, what's going on?"
"Nothing, I'm sorry kid. I'm tired."
"How much did you drink last night anyway?"
"Hmm, too much?" Emma says sheepishly.
"You made my mom drink."
"No, I didn't. She's a grown-as—adult, she makes her own decisions."
Her son smiles at her slip-up and he picks up his burger to take a bite.
"Okay then," he says with his mouth full. "Are you coming to see me at school next week?"
"Is it the play?"
"Yup, and mom's coming."
"Is she bringing Robin?" Emma tries to ask, nonchalantly.
"I don't know," Henry replies as he swallows. "Why?"
"No reason. Just wondering. We could carpool."
Emma can see it in his eyes; Henry knows something's up with her. And since he is both her son and Regina's, she's certain he'll figure it out pretty quickly. It's time to change the subject.
Once Henry's out to play with his friends, Emma collapses on her bed and sighs deeply. She has a mild headache and it makes her want to sleep some more, so she quickly gets out of her clothes and slips under the covers. Her parents may come back from wherever they went with Neal soon, and Emma knows she will not be able to get any sleep once her little brother is here.
She is about to fall asleep when her phone buzzes once, indicating she just received a text message. Emma groans and reaches blindly for the annoying device.
Her eyes are wide open as soon as she sees from whom it is from.
Regina.
I had a great time last night. Thank you. I think I might have upset Robin somehow, because he left right after we finished lunch. Are you busy? Do you want to come over?
Emma wants to scream. Does she want to come over? She wants to come over and never leave! Suddenly, any idea of taking a nap is forgotten and Emma almost falls down in her hurry to get dressed. She writes back, saying she'll be over in a few, and a minute later, the door of the apartment slams shut behind her.
OTH-FOQ