Happy Easter! Ps. There may be a SwanQueen moment finally at the end of this chapter ;)
Chapter 4
Having stood and watched intently at her sleeping mother, Mia purses her lips wondering why. Her mother was always up before her but here she was sleeping soundly. Knowing that her sister had returned at some point last night, Zelena had left early that morning for her usual Sunday run. Slowly smiling to herself, Mia turns on her heel and walks out the room then stomps lightly down the stairs with the intention of showing her mother when she finally wakes that she could do things on her own. Entering the kitchen, the small girl goes into the bottom cupboard to retrieve a foot stool that she had seen used frequently by her mother when needing something from the top cupboard and stands carefully onto it before reaching for a bowl for some cereal. After managing to get what she needs, Mia toddles up to the fridge and lifts the heavy milk bottle to carry over to the counter. Wobbling slightly, the small girl loses her grip as the bottle is too cold and slippery for her little hands causing it to plummet to the floor. Gasping, Mia goes wide eyed.
"What are you doing kid?"
Lifting her gaze towards the blonde stood in the doorway, the small girl bites down on her pout as her eyes get teary.
"Woah woah! No! It's okay.." Rushing over, Emma takes Mia's hand and moves her out of the way of the mess. "It's just an accident Mia"
Giving a little sniffle the girl nods then watches as the blonde begins to clean up. "See all gone?"
Wiping her face, Mia let's out a small smile. "Thank you Emma.."
Smiling back, Emma strokes the girls hair. "It's okay kid" hearing a throat clear, the blonde and small girl both look towards the curious brunette stood with her arms crossed.
"What's going on in here?"
Feeling Mia slowly slip behind her leg through guilt, the blonde merely smiles. "We were making breakfast"
Frowning, Regina drops her arms from her defensive manner. "..oh?.."
"Yeah..but then I had a clumsy moment and now there's no milk..."
Tilting her head up with her own frown towards the blonde, Mia bites her lip.
"I see..."
"So..breakfast at the diner? On me?"
Waving her hand, Regina shakes her head. "That's not necessary..besides I will just give Zelena a call she can get some milk on her way back"
"Oh..okay.." Stepping away from the small girl, Emma smiles slightly then moves past the brunette, feeling a little rejected as she had offered breakfast.
Sharing a look with her daughter, Regina then follows the blonde out to find the woman folding up her blanket on the couch and reaching for her jacket. "Emma?"
"Yeah?" Looking over, Emma pulls her jacket on.
"You're not staying? For breakfast? I thought that was what-"
"No. I mean I was but I remembered I have to go meet Killian later and I'm still in last nights clothes so.."
Confused, Regina questions. "But it's Sunday?"
"Yeah..it's not work related..well it is and isn't.." The blonde explains while shoving her hands in her jean pockets.
Biting her lip, the brunette comes to a conclusion without sounding too disappointed. "So you're going on a date with him.."
"No. Not a date. Definitely not a date. Besides he's not who I'm interested in" Emma blurts out before going coy.
Looking down with a shy smile of her own, Regina nods. "Yes you may have said something similar last night.."
"Oh you remember that huh? Great"
Chuckling, the brunette lifts her head to look at the blonde. "I pretty much remember everything..I'm one of those lucky people who can drink but then have no sign of a hangover.."
"I noticed by the way you looked this morning" eyes widening at how she is just blurting everything out this morning, Emma stops talking.
Suddenly self conscious, Regina runs a hand through her hair. "I think someone's still drunk and by the way, thank you for..helping Mia this morning and covering for her"
Raising an eyebrow, the blonde bites her lip. "Covering for her?"
Nodding, the brunette smirks. "She dropped the milk..I saw it in her face when you owned up to it"
"Yeah..well she got a little upset.."
"But you dealt with it when you shouldn't have to so thank you and for last night..I feel as though a weight has been lifted"
"Anytime, I mean it" Emma replies seriously. "If it ever all gets too much? Just call me and we can go out or something..I've got your back. Both of you"
Watching as the blonde makes her way towards the front door, Regina follows then moves back as the door opens from the outside and her sister comes strolling in. Pausing, Zelena looks between the pair noticing Emma in last nights now crinkled clothes and her sister in her robe. Smirking, the redhead moves past them. "Good night was it?"
Ignoring her sisters embarrassing question, the brunette gestures at the blonde to go towards the door then steps out onto the front step, hugging her arms across her chest to keep her robe in place. "Sorry about her.."
Shrugging, Emma smiles. "It's okay..I could see how this looks.."
"Yeah well..she should know I wouldn't..think lightly on the matter since.."
Leaning forward, the blonde reminds her to reassure her. "In the past" feeling brave, Emma then kisses the brunette's cheek as the woman had done last night then stands back. "Talk to you later.."
Nodding slowly from shock, Regina gives a wave then turns back inside leaning herself against the door once closed. Sighing, the brunette then looks up to see Zelena stood opposite with a smile on her face. "Well?"
Huffing lightly, the brunette throws her hands up. "Okay so you're right! You win..I want more than.." Pausing, Regina blurts out. "I should have kissed her.."
"Yes you should sis.."
Glaring at how Zelena is finding it all humorous, the brunette pushes herself off the door then walks around the woman to see to her daughter who is sat eating toast thanks to her auntie.
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Preparing herself for work the following day, Regina looks through her mirror on her vanity to find Zelena stood in the doorway with a smile. "Okay seriously you haven't stopped smiling at me since yesterday. What is going on?"
"Nothing...yet. How comes you didn't go to the diner for lunch today?"
Slipping her heels on, the brunette tousles her hair. "Because I got a message to be in work earlier than normal..why?"
Shrugging, Zelena replies. "Just wondered.."
Frowning, Regina looks in her mirror again to apply her lipstick then turns to the door. "Mia!"
Appearing beside her auntie, Mia looks up. "Yes mommy?"
"I've got to go to work now baby, you'll be okay with Zelena and if she misbehaves, put her on the naughty step!"
Giggling, the small girl nods seriously then steps over to hug her mother. Lifting her up quick, Regina kisses her head and cheek then chuckles as she wipes the lipstick marks from her daughters face. "Love you pumpkin"
"Love you mommy" Mia smiles as she is placed back down.
"See you both later" taking her jacket, the brunette shifts past them and heads towards the stairs to go down and out the door.
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Pushing the door open to the bar, Regina scans the empty building before spotting Killian stacking glasses behind the bar. "Good afternoon Killian..is everything okay? I got your message.."
"Hello love, yes take a seat there's something I just need to discuss with you"
Gulping slightly, the brunette sits herself upon a stool then clasps her hands together. "Am I about to be fired?"
"What? God no!" Killian shakes her head then leans against the counter to look at her. "Just needed to inform you of some changes that are going to happen..you see..tonight, tonight is going to be my last shift.."
Eyes widening, Regina blinks. "You're leaving? But you run this place?"
"Not anymore..I came to a decision yesterday regarding who should take the new post, who has been here the longest and deserves it.."
Taking a guess, Regina tries not to smile. "Emma.."
"Yes. I think she's capable but obviously you needed to know of the change and I was hoping that you could help her with the transition..I spoke to her yesterday when we met up and she's..panicked" Killian cringes at the response he got. "I know she can do it but I don't think she believes in herself.."
"I'll talk to her, it's fine.."
Nodding in thanks, the soon to be former boss continues with his stacking. Sliding off the stool, Regina makes her way out back towards her office to find Emma already sat in there. "Hi boss lady"
Looking across with a conflicted gaze, the blonde pouts. Walking over, the brunette abandons her jacket on the side and kneels in front of her. "Hey you can do this.."
"I've never been in charge of anything.."
"That may be so but I've seen you give your orders and besides Killian wouldn't have passed it on to you if he didn't think you could do it. You're not alone in this okay?"
Nodding, Emma reaches over and hugs the brunette tightly. Surprised by the action, Regina hugs back and gently pats her back.
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"So you check the numbers here and whatever you're running low on place an order in here and remember to always get a bulk load to cover your back.."
Sat in the big boss's chair, Emma nods understanding as Killian shows her the ropes. "Got it."
Rubbing her shoulder, Killian smiles. "Yes you do love. Now pack up and go home" moving from behind the desk, the former boss leaves the office.
Staring at all the papers, the blonde sighs before hearing a ping sound from her phone. Raising an eyebrow at an unfamiliar number, Emma opens the message to find it voice activated.
"Okay so you're right! You win..I want more than..I should have kissed her.."
"Emma, do you need-" pausing in the doorway at hearing her own voice, Regina goes wide eyed.
Looking up to meet the woman's stare also shocked, the blonde blinks speechless.
"I..that..you wasn't suppose to.." Sighing, the brunette knows who was to blame and grips the door handle still frozen to the spot.
Clearing her throat, Emma gestures to her phone. "Is that..was that..about me?" Slightly looking hopeful, the blonde stares at the woman before her.
"erm...well.."
Noticing the sad look within the brunette's eyes, the blonde's stands and nods. "I get it..you probably didn't mean it and just said it to get Zelena off your back..so she would stop-"
"I'm scared"
Remaining quiet, Emma frowns in conflict over whether she should approach her or not.
Taking a deep breath, Regina looks at her. "I'm scared..I..did mean it. I just..like I told you I haven't..attempted to move on since..and I also have Mia to think about I..i don't want her to get hurt..I-"
"You don't want to get hurt again.." Walking slowly up to the brunette, Emma stops just before her. "I'm not going to hurt you..either you. I promise. Especially the way you got hurt in the past..I would never do that"
"I know you wouldn't..I'm sorry I'm just being..stupid"
Hesitantly taking hold of Regina's hand, the blonde shakes her head. "You could never be stupid"
Glancing down towards their hands, the brunette moulds them together and grips lightly before looking back at Emma adoringly. "Emma?..can I.."
Closing the gap herself, the blonde presses her lips gently onto Regina's in a soft kiss. Kissing back, the brunette feels the loss of Emma's hand as the blonde moves her own to take hold of the woman's face, prompting the brunette to hold onto the blonde's waist.
Strolling down the corridor all ready to leave, Killian comes to a halt beside his old office and raises an eyebrow between the small crack of the open door, seeing the pair in their embrace. Scoffing, he shakes his head and continues walking. "About bloody time.."
A/N: I know they got together quick but it's not gonna be smooth sailing!