Valentine's Card

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters and make no profit.

AN: See story picture for the card or the full text from the card at the bottom.

Dedicated to my friend who requested this.

Regina closed the door to her office firmly and stomped over to her desk, something she never would have allowed herself to do in public. But she was grumpy.

Her lunch had been spent at Granny's, as it did most weekdays – either to show her constituents that she was a mayor who cared about and interacted with the community since she'd been re-elected two months ago or to have lunch with the woman she was forced to share her son with to show that the Savior and herself were cordial with each other.

She hadn't even thought of today's date until she entered the diner and saw pink and red hearts hanging on the wall, from the ceiling, really just everywhere. Even the menus were specially made for the occasion it seemed; heart-shaped and light purple, which made Regina frown at it as she sat down.

Valentine's Day.

One look around the room and its sickly cheesy and ridiculous inhabitants and the mayor decided she needed to bring her lunch with her. There was no way she could sit there and not gag at all the pathetic displays of affection and awkward flirting she was witnessing.

So yes, Regina was grumpy. Because not only was she forced to eat her lunch elsewhere, but she also knew that she would be one of the only people in town to not get a single card or gift. Well, that wasn't entirely correct she reminded herself as she tried not to pout. Henry would no doubt bring her something – and she always loved whenever he did something for her – but it wasn't the same as a romantic card or gift. There would be no secret admirers for her now that Sidney was locked away.

She silently berated herself for being as pathetic as feeling sour over something as pointless as Valentine's Day and released a huff of annoyed breath before forcing herself to start on some paperwork.

Her hand stopped in mid-air as her gaze fell on a card lying on top of the small stack of papers to her right. Curiously, she picked it up and looked it over quickly for a name before she started reading the text.

'I know we're not, like, together or anything but…'

"Miss Swan!"

Emma jerked in her chair and barely managed not to overbalance, gripping her desk just in time to force the chair back on all four legs before scrambling to get up.

"What?" she questioned, a slight note of panic in her voice as she watched Regina stalk towards her, as she wondered how she hadn't heard the woman's heels as soon as she entered the station.

"What is this?" the brunette seethed as she threw a card down on the sheriff's desk before crossing her arms expectantly.

Emma picked it up and eyed it carefully. "Uh, it looks like a card?"

Regina snapped it out of her hands angrily, clearly not finding this humorous at all. "I know it's a card. What I want to know is why it was at my desk when I got back from lunch."

"Someone put it there?"

The mayor shot her a murderous look before thrusting the card up in her face. "Is this funny to you?" she ground out, offence and adrenaline rushing through her veins as she saw the blonde try to stay serious.

"I'm not sure what you want here, Regina," Emma offered with a shrug, watching the vein on the brunette's forehead become visible as her jaw flexed in clear anger.

"I know it's from you, so I want to know; do you think it's funny?"

The sheriff's amused attitude fell away slowly as she realized that the other woman genuinely thought she was being played with and felt offended and hurt. "No, I don't think it's funny."

"Then please, do tell why you did it," Regina hissed as she let the card fall to the desk, Emma's eyes following it with her gaze as she frowned for a second.

"I was just…trying to be nice or something," she offered with a shrug.

"Well, for future references, Miss Swan, don't."

The sheriff watched her turn, clearly intent on walking away. "Not a fan of Valentine's Day then?" she asked, smirking knowingly when the brunette spun back around to face her with a look of confusion.

"Excuse me?"

Emma raised her brows pointedly as she teased, "Or maybe just not used to getting anything?"

"What do you want?" Regina demanded, pursing her lips and crossing her eyes as her brows scrunched together in a displeased frown. The sheriff languidly made her way around the desk, picking up the card, before walking closer to the other woman.

"Don't forget your card," she offered with an innocent smile, ignoring the glare shot her way before the piece of paper was unceremoniously snapped out of her hands.

"Hey, Regina?" Emma said when the mayor made to turn away, halting her in her track. Before she could chicken out she leaned forward and brushed her lips softly against a cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Regina looked at the blonde as if she'd lost her mind before releasing a huff as she turned to hurry away. As soon as the woman was out of sight, Emma released the breath she'd been holding as she leaned against the desk. Now all she had to do was wait for the mayor to process and freak out and decide what to do with what had just been revealed.

The sheriff snapped out of her thoughts as the fast click-clack of heels could be heard before Regina was storming angrily towards her. She didn't stop until she was all up in Emma's face, her eyes stormy with rage and turmoil.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded loudly, growling with impatience when she didn't get an immediate reply.

"Miss Swan-"

"Emma," the blonde interrupted insistently. "We're way, way, past formalities." Regina raised an eyebrow unimpressed.

"Sheriff," she stressed as she glared at the woman looking a little too comfortable for her liking, "what exactly is the meaning of this?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Emma countered, watching the brunette flounder and take a cautious step away from her.

"We don't- we don't do that," Regina spit aggressively, but she was looking more uncomfortable than angry.

"Well, maybe we should," the blonde offered without any hesitation, trying to send the mayor a comforting and genuine smile to tell her that she wasn't pranking her and that it was okay.

"I- Emma- I don't-"

Emma could see how hard Regina was trying to wrap her head around what was happening, but she looked so lost and confused. The sheriff decided to take pity on her and go the whole way since she'd already put her ass on the line. She slowly raised her hand, relieved when it wasn't pushed away, and gently cradled a sun-kissed cheek. Regina went still, her eyes locking automatically on shining green orbs.

Emma's heart was hammering in her ears, but she refused to back down now, so she leaned forward before she could change her mind – or before the brunette decided to hit her – until she could press her lips against the other woman's.

It was just a simple press of lips against lips, barely even constituting a real kiss, but there was no way Regina could doubt just what it meant. Or what the sheriff wanted it to mean at least.

Emma pulled away slowly, hand brushing gently at a wayward strand of dark hair, before she let it fall to her side as she tried to gauge the brunette's reaction. Regina just stared at her, apparently having lost any and all function to speak, so the blonde cleared her throat a little awkwardly.

"So…" she stated, hands self-consciously disappearing inside her jeans-pockets, as she gave the other woman a questioning look. Regina blinked once, twice, before her mind seemed to start working again and she quickly looked around to see if anyone had seen.

Emma rolled her eyes.

"I think," the mayor started when she was satisfied that no prying eyes or ears were around, "that you should come to dinner tonight. 7 o'clock?"

"Really?" Emma exclaimed, eyes lighting up in excitement as she grinned widely, causing a somewhat irked expression to appear on the brunette's face.

"Don't be late," Regina warned before she spun on her heel with a flourish, putting a little extra sway in her hips as she made her way out of the station.

I know we're not, like, together or anything

but it felt weird to just not say anything

so I got you this card.

It's not a big deal.

It doesn't really mean anything.

There isn't even a heart on it.

So basically it's a card saying hi.

Forget it.