Chapter 4: Deny, Deny, Deny!
Adorable. Her eyes widened at that word. 'Where did that come from? Emma, adorable? Oh God!'
The next three weeks, Regina found it harder for her not to notice Emma's adorableness. Emma's dimples, Emma's toothy grins, Emma's laughter, Emma's bright oh so bright greenish blue eyes and so many more.
And she feels irritated with herself for finding that her days feel better when Emma's around. So she tries to distant herself. Avoids having lunch or breaks together although that's what they always do almost every day. They even grew accustomed with each other.
Like the way Emma always removes the pickles from her burger. Or Regina will take a sip of her drink before eating. Or the way Emma likes to squirt ketchup on her fries. Or that Regina loathes putting her glass without a drink coaster. And even Cora had grown fond with Emma.
So of course Emma noticed Regina's withdrawal. But she had no idea the cause of it. She tries to appear unaffected by it but who's kidding, Emma knew she had fallen in like with her boss.
Her amazingly breathtaking, beautiful and absolutely hot boss. Not forgetting kind of crazy too. But that's what made her like Regina in the first place.
It was Monday when Regina asked for her. "Ms. Swan. I need to discuss our weekend trip with you, so please take a seat"
"What weekend trip? And you know you can call me Emma right? You used to call me Emma. Did I do something wrong?" she asked with a slight pout and puppy eyes.
'This is why I need to stay away. Her adorable pout and eyes. Calm yourself Regina' she thought to herself.
"Fine, Emma" she relented because she hates to make Emma sad and had noticed her behavior caused the blonde's looking dejected for the past few weeks.
"I'm sorry this is last minute but Zelena just informed me this morning that her manager finally managed to finalized her book launching. It's this coming Saturday at Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. So I need you to come with me and please booked a suite there ASAP before it got fully booked. And get us a plane ticket for this Friday and I'll be back on Tuesday. You can come back earlier if you want. The next Monday and Tuesday you can take the days off. Any question?"
"Okay, okay, okay and okay. I got it. Is that all?"
"Bring a dress too. That's all" Regina replied with a coy smile because she knows how Emma hates dresses. And heard a groan from Emma's retreating form. When she was alone again, she rubs her temple thinking 'hell to keeping distance'.
The next few days went by smoothly and on Friday morning, Emma got a text from Regina, asking her to come to her home and they will take her car to the airport together. Upon reaching, she knocked the door and heard a muffled "Come in, it's not lock."
"Regina? Where are you?
"Up here. If you don't mind, I need some help with my bags"
"Sure. By the way, you shouldn't just let me in like that. What if that wasn't….." but didn't finish her speech at Regina's room. "What was that dear?" "Oh my God, why would you need…five bags?"
"Oh don't judge. I like to have choices." She rolled her eyes at Emma. Emma just had her mouth open to retort but was cut by "Take these to my car please. I need to change" and disappeared into her walk-in closet.
Forty minutes later, they were on their way to the airport. Boarding the plane, Emma was all cheery and happy and Regina can't stop the smile that formed on her lips. And when she told Emma that she can take the window seat, Emma gave her a squeal like every other time she got something her way. And also an unexpected hug. Both women stiffened and quickly let go of the other with a shy smile and a sorry from Emma before she gave Regina one last big toothy grin.
Reaching the hotel, Regina walked to the front desk to get check-in while dragging Emma by the wrist saying it will prevent Emma from stopping at everything that past her way. "Good evening, ma'am. Welcome to Sheraton Chicago Hotel. Do you have a reservation?" "Evening. Yes. Regina Mills please."
Upon receiving their room cards "Have a good stay Mrs. Mills," he said to Regina, then turning to Emma "Mrs. Mills. Please, feel free to let me know if you require anything." Both women stood still until the man spoke again "Ma'am?"
"Oh I'm sorry. Thank you" Regina replied quickly and grabbed Emma, dragging her to the elevator. They both stood awkwardly lost in their own thoughts on what the man had just called them, until they reached the suite.
"Whoa it's so huge! Oh my god, the view! Regina! Look!" Emma was walking around the suite checking, and touching everything. When she turned and saw that Regina was taking her time removing her jacket, Emma said again "Come on, you got to see this!" Regina walked to her side with a smile of her own. But not because of the view, but because Emma is so cute and basically an oversized child. Then Emma went back to wondering around the room.
"Um Regina?"
"Yes Emma? What did you find now? A tub of Legos? And no, I won't play it with you, before you even ask me to."
"Well there's certainly no Legos here. Just a bed. One huge bed. But still, A bed." Regina went to look for Emma behind partially open door on her right. Wondering if she had heard Emma right.
"Oh." "Yea, oh" and Emma turns to Regina with her head down. "I'll take the couch" while walking out of the room.
Regina was panicking but she also didn't have the heart to let Emma sleep on the couch. "Emma, stop being a child. We can share. It's big enough for both of us." Hearing Regina's word, Emma gave her a wide smile "Really? Are you sure? I'll be okay on the couch. Really, it'll be fine"
"Stop talking Ms. Swan. Just stay on your side" she said while trying to keep her face stoic. "It's Emma." "Yes, sorry. Emma." and was rewarded with Emma's famous squeal again. Shaking her head with a smile, she went to freshen up.
Emma was watching TV when Regina came to find her. "I'm hungry. Get your jacket and we can get dinner." "Okay mom." Emma mumbled with a low voice but Regina heard her. "What did you just called me?"
Emma's eyes widen at getting caught. "I… I called you beautiful?" Regina was caught off guard with her answer so she continues "Can we take a walk around the block after dinner?" she was still in dazed and just managed to give a small nod before walking out the room.
'Phew that was close.' Emma thought to herself. 'Keep your mouth shut next time Swan or you won't be so lucky again.'
Later that night, after a dinner of cheese burger, on Emma's insistence, and a walked around town, they got back to the hotel at quarter past ten. As per usual, Regina took her time doing her nightly routine while Emma continues watching the TV.
"Don't stay up so late dear, tomorrow morning I need to run a few things with you before the event."
"Alright. ! Why do you get the right side of the bed?"
"Because."
"That's not an answer." Emma said with a pout. "Oh no, you won't get it your way this time Emma. No matter how ridiculously cute that pout of yours."
"What?" "What?"
"Did you just call me cute?" "Of course not. You need to get your hearing check dear. Now keep quiet, I need to sleep. Good night Emma."
"No don't you "Good night Emma" me. You totally said I'm cute! Admit it or…." "Or what Ms. Swan?" Regina cut her speech with a glare.
"Or I'll do… this!" Emma launched herself at Regina while tickling her. Regina tried to escape Emma's tickling fingers while laughing so hard that she got tears running down her cheeks. She accidentally elbowed Emma hard on her left brow bone that Emma went stumbling down the bed.
"Oh god Emma! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" she peeked at the blonde on the floor from the bed. Emma was groaning with her head down "Yeah. Remind me next time not to tickle you. You got one iron elbow there lady" and finally looked up at Regina.
"Emma! You got a cut on your brow. Oh my god. I'm so sorry. Get up. Let's get you clean up. Meet me in the bathroom. I'll get the first-aid kit."