A/N: I feel like this is just a filler chapter but I couldn't resist a little cuteness!
Regina was pulled away from tapping on her keyboard by a soft knocking at her office door. She turned and smiled warmly at her father stood there.
"Sorry to bother you." Henry smiled back at his youngest as he stepped inside the office and shut the door behind him.
"You're never a bother, daddy. What can I do for you?" Regina turned her body and rested both of her arms on her desk as Henry sat down opposite her.
"It's the Picalla case." He let out a small sigh as Regina gave a groan.
"What's the princess not happy with this time?" The firm had recently taken on a high profile divorce case. The wife, soon to be ex-wife, had chosen them to be her lawyer. Regina had never met a more demanding and spoilt woman in her life. Cora had instantly given the case to Regina and for once, her colleagues were not jealous. Mrs. Picalla regularly threw a tantrum about something that wasn't going her way. The husband seemed willing to agree to anything that Mrs. Picalla wanted just to get the divorce over with. However this wasn't good enough for her, she just wanted more. Every time Regina thought they had come to an agreement and Mrs. Picalla was ready to sign, she'd change her mind and demand more.
"You'll never believe it but now she's saying she doesn't want a divorce."
"Of course." Regina pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "I'm not sure how much more of this case I can take."
"Well, let's not worry about it for now." Henry reached across the desk and took hold of his daughter's hand. "Until they decide if they want the divorce or not there's nothing for you to do."
"True. Let's hope they take a while."
"Indeed." Father and daughter shared a laugh. "So, I don't want to pry, Regina."
"You want to know about Emma." Regina smiled softly. Henry was never one to pry into his daughters' lives like Cora would and in return his girls would tell him a lot more than they told Cora.
"You've been so quiet about her. A father can't help but wonder who holds his little girl's heart." Henry smiled and it broke Regina's heart to know that she was lying to her father but what other choice did she currently have?
"I'm sorry, daddy."
"It's okay." Henry held up a hand. "I know what your mother is like. Will you tell me about her now?"
"Of course." Regina smiled.
"Where did you meet her?"
"She's the roommate of Zelena's waitress Ruby. We met in the diner." Technically Regina was not lying. They did meet through Ruby and they did first meet at the diner.
"I remember Ruby." Henry gave a nod as he thought about Ruby's out there fashion sense. Regina chuckled at his expression.
"Emma doesn't dress like Ruby, don't panic. She's more of the jeans and top type of woman." Her lips curved into a smile as she pictured Emma wearing her tight jeans and tops. "She's a bail bonds person. She really enjoys her job."
"Does she make you happy?" Henry asked as he studied his youngest's face. He hadn't seen Regina truly happy in a long time but he was sure he could see something shining behind her eyes.
"She does." Regina smiled back and hoped that Henry would accept her lie.
"Good, that's all that matters." Henry smiled back at his daughter. "I just want you to be happy, Regina. I can't wait to meet Emma." Henry squeezed his daughter's hand again as he stood.
"I can't wait for you to meet her too," she lied and watched as Henry made his way out of her office. "Shit," she murmured and dropped her head down to her desk. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit."
xXx
Emma sat with her chin rested on her fist as she tapped the desk with the fingers of her other hand. It was a slow day. Emma currently had no one to track down. There was however a pile of paperwork for her to fill out but she wasn't in the mood. Instead she found herself staring out of the window as people walked past. She sat up a little straighter as a brunette walked past and Emma found herself hoping that it was Regina. Her heart had begun to beat that little bit quicker as she silently wished the woman to turn around. When she did Emma felt herself deflate a little as she saw that it was not Regina. The blonde put her chin back on her fist as she continue to people watch as her thoughts drifted to Regina. She hadn't heard from the brunette since their shopping trip a couple of days beforehand and Emma had found herself lounging for a text from Regina.
"Hey, Em."
A poke to the side jolted her from her thoughts. "Ouch, Killian." Emma glared at her friend as he sat down at a desk and propped his feet up.
"You were lost in your thoughts then, Swan. Where did you go?" Killian reached into a drawer and pulled out a packet of peanuts.
"Nowhere," Emma lied and leaned back in her chair.
"Nope, you certainly went somewhere." Killian threw a peanut up into the air and opened his mouth to catch it. Once he had swallowed the nut he spoke again. "My guess is you've met someone." He pointed a finger in Emma's direction. "Did you have a night of mind blowing sex?" He grinned as Emma threw a pencil at him.
"No, there was no sex."
"Ah, but you have met someone." His grin grew and he dropped his feet to the floor to lean closer to her.
Emma hesitated. "I have not met someone."
"Oh wow." Killian stood up from his desk and walked over to Emma's and sat on the edge. "She's more than just sex to you. Usually you're bragging about whoever you've managed to bed. She's really done a number on you. Spill."
"She has not done a number on me." The blonde began to spin her chair from side to side and pursed her lips together.
"Oh, Em." Killian smiled. "You're blushing. When was the last time you blushed about a woman?"
"I am not blushing." She pushed her chair back and stood up. "I'm going to get coffee." She grabbed her jacket from a hook and shoved her arms into it. She walked out of the office to the sound of Killian's laughter.
Emma put her hands into her jacket pockets and kept her head bent low as she walked down the street. Killian was right, usually Emma would fill him in on the details of her one night stands but she hadn't mentioned one word of Regina. She had to wonder why. There was no reason not to tell Killian about Regina but she hadn't. The blonde let out a sigh and stopped in front of the coffee shop. She looked around the streets at everyone walking past and she pulled out her phone. Her thumbs hovered over the buttons for a few seconds before she began to type.
Hey, Regina, thanks again for the dress. I was just wondering if you're free some time for a coffee? I guess the more time we spend together the more comfortable we'll look at the ball. :-)
She hesitated over signing with some kisses but in the end decided to add one on the end. Before she could rethink sending the message Emma hit send and walked into the coffee shop. She felt a bundle of nerves as she waited for a reply.
"Stop being so silly, Swan, she's not your girlfriend," she murmured to herself as she waited for her coffee to be made. Emma jumped as her phone buzzed to signal the arrival of a text message. She scrambled in her pocket to read the text and found that she was holding her breath hoping it was Regina. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face when she saw Regina's name on the screen.
Hi, Emma. I'm glad you like the dress. A coffee sounds lovely. I could meet you later this afternoon? My big case is currently on a stand still so I can get other paperwork finished and then meet you around five? X
Emma instantly replied saying that five was a perfect time and accepted her coffee from the barista. She was still wearing her smile when she got back to the office.
"Alright, Swan, here's the deal," Killian started as he watched his friend sit down at her desk. "I won't ask questions for now. I'll let you live in your little happy bubble, but in a week you give me all the details."
Emma spun her chair round to face him and once again pursed her lips together in thought. The text from Regina had put her in a good mood so she accepted his deal much quicker than she normally would have. "Deal."
"It's so good to see the smile back on your face, Emma," Killian spoke softly before going back to his own work.
xXx
Emma rushed through her apartment door at four pm and began to strip off her clothes on her way to the shower. She called a quick call to Ruby who was just getting ready for her late shift at the diner.
"Uh, Em?" Ruby questioned as she stood in the doorway of the bathroom. "What's the rush?"
"I'm meeting Regina for a coffee at five." The blonde began to quickly shampoo and conditioner her hair as Ruby smirked.
"And you're showering to meet her for coffee?"
Emma paused and frowned at her friend through the steamed glass of the shower. "I needed a shower."
"And what are you going to wear?"
The blonde's actions slowed as she began to wash her body while she mentally went through her clothes in the wardrobe.
"I'll go choose you something!" Ruby grinned in delight and ran into Emma's room. Emma tried to protest but as she couldn't decide what to wear she thought letting Ruby help could make her decision faster. By the time she had gotten out of the shower and dried Ruby had picked out a grey pair of skinny jeans with a black jumper that was fitted around the waist and loose around the top.
"Thanks, Rubes." Emma smiled gratefully.
"No problem. Text me later." Ruby tapped her friend on the shoulder as she left the apartment ready for her shift.
xXx
Regina turned her computer off for the day with one last glance at the clock. It was later than she wanted it to be. She had ten minutes to get to the coffee shop to meet Emma. It would be a push but she just might make it in time. Just as she walked out of her office she ran into Cora.
"Leaving already?" Cora raised an eyebrow at her daughter.
"I'm meeting Emma for a coffee."
Cora glanced at her watch and then back at Regina.
"The Picalla case is on hold right now. She currently doesn't want a divorce so there is nothing else I can do and the rest of my paperwork is up together. There is no reason for me to stay later than I need to."
"Hmm." Cora clasped her hands together in front of her as she continued to study Regina.
"Good night, mother." Regina could still feel her mother's gaze on her back as she walked towards the elevator and got on. She knew Cora disapproved when Regina left. Cora would be at the office until late each night and expected the same from everyone else. Unfortunately, Regina was the only one who received any grief for leaving early.
By the time Regina arrived at the coffee shop she was nearly ten minutes late. She instantly spotted Emma sat at a table in the corner, her leg bouncing up and down as she looked out of the window.
"Hey." Regina smiled at the blonde as she slid into the chair. "Sorry I'm late. My mother caught me as I was leaving."
"Hey. No problem." Emma grinned back and sat up straighter. "I didn't realise this was a formal coffee." She gestured to Regina's suit and laughed.
"I came straight from the office." The brunette looked down at her suit before she shrugged out of her jacket revealing a silky purple blouse.
"It's okay. What would you like to drink?" Emma stood up from the table and gestured towards the counter.
"A latte please."
"Be right back." Emma smiled and went to order them both a coffee. Regina turned in her chair so she could watch Emma walk away. She smiled as she thought about what Emma would look like in her dress for the ball. People were sure to be jealous when she walked in with the blonde on her arm. The thought made Regina feel better about going to the ball.
"Here you go." Emma returned a few minutes later with a latte for both of them. "So, you get all your paperwork done?" She asked as she took a sip.
"I did." Regina gave a nod. "For today anyway."
"I imagine being a lawyer is a lot of paperwork."
"Too much." The brunette let out a sigh. "Let's not talk about my work though." She waved a hand. "How was your day?"
"Slow. It was just trying to catch up on paperwork. Not much excitement today." Emma gave a small shrug.
"I'm glad you suggested coffee, gave me a reason to get out of the office early." Regina smiled and wrapped both of her hands around her cup.
"Glad to be of service." Emma grinned. A silence fell over them both as they sat and looked at each other with a smile. "So," Emma spoke softly after a few minutes, "Ruby is working the late shift tonight so I was just going to grab a take away. If you don't have any dinner plans we could grab something together?" She held her breath as she waited for the brunette to answer.
"I have a frozen casserole waiting at home for me." Regina scrunched up her nose as she thought about a lonely dinner.
"Oh, okay. That's okay." Emma felt her stomach sink. She was hoping Regina would say yes.
"A take away sounds much more appealing and I wouldn't be eating alone then either." Regina smiled as she sipped at her coffee. "I'll just need to change first and then we can head out to grab a take away."
"Great." Emma found herself grinning like an idiot. To her surprise Regina smiled back just as fondly.