Chapter 7: Can't Stop This Thing We Started
" The Sheriff had her hand mid air with her popcorn and jaw wide open while Regina had this dumbstruck expression."
And that was how the Sheriff of Storybrooke found herself in the guest bedroom, unpacking boxes of clothes into the closet. Which now known as 'Emma's room'.
…
It was a slow Wednesday morning and Emma can't help letting out a loud and long groan. She's bored and hungry. And it's only 10am. Deciding that a cup of hot chocolate won't hurt anyone, she grabbed her jacket and off to Granny's.
"Emma! How's my favorite Sheriff's doing?" was the greeting she got from Ruby, her bestfriend/Granny's grandchild.
"I'm the only Sheriff in this town Rubes."
"Well, whatever blondie. So! Tell me. How's living with mayor hot pants?" said the waitress way too loud for Emma's liking, while wiggling her brows.
"Shushh Rubes! Did you swallow a microphone or something?" was said in a shout whisper and in a more dreamy voice, she continued "and it's been good. Great, actually." And had a small smile while looking at nothing in particular, as if lost in her own memories.
"I knew it! You can't deny me again Swan. What's with that look and voice. You got a thing for Mayor hot pants!"
It was a constant thing for the past months for Ruby to break the blonde into admitting that she likes Regina. But every single time, the blonde would deny or change the subject. But Ruby isn't blind. So does everyone around them. It's clear as crystal that both women have a thing for the other but either they are too oblivious or stubborn to accept the truth, no one knows.
Ruby's cheery voice broke Emma from her day dream of a certain brunette. "No I don't. Don't be ridiculous." She said in a shaky voice while trying to look anywhere but at the waitress. "By the way, I'm here for my hot chocolate. So, will you?"
"Oh I will. Just wait a second. You're not getting away this time." Ruby said with a wicked smile and went to get the drink.
Few minutes later, she was back with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon and sat in front of Emma at her table. Since it's not a rush hour, she can spare a few minutes sitting and chat with her friend.
Emma was about to reach for her drink when Ruby pulled the cup back slightly, out of the Sheriff's reach.
"How about we make a deal Swan?" Ruby said with a toothy grin.
Emma groaned loudly, "What do you want?"
"So since today's Wednesday and it's ladies night. How about you join us ladies at the Rabbit Hole, say 9pm?"
The blonde was about to answer her when Ruby stopped her, "And bring your girlfriend. Say yes, and you will get a month free of bearclaw. Or, if you say no, you will be banned for a month of bearclaw."
"What?! You can't be serious! That's… that's… torture!"
"No it's not if you just say yes. What's so hard about saying yes to a ladies night Emma? Stop being dramatic."
"First thing first. Regina's not my girlfriend!" was said with a glare but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
"Whatever you say blondie."
"Secondly, even if I say yes, there's no way Regina would come. There's no one to look after Henry."
"Well lucky for you, that won't be a problem because you might not know, but before you came to town, when Regina needs a babysitter when she's working late, Granny would look after Henry. He's practically Granny's grandson. And Regina's like a daughter to her."
"What? They didn't seem that close."
"Oh Emma Emma Emma. My naïve little blondie. Do you think two hot headed strong women would showcase their affection in front of a town that lives on people's whereabouts?"
"Huh. Well you got you point there."
"So, what do you say, Sheriff Swan?" Ruby said while finally extending the cup of hot chocolate towards Emma, with a megawatt smile.
…
"Absolutely no." Said Regina over the phone with Emma on the other side of the line.
"Oh come on Regina. She threaten to banned me for a month of bearclaw!"
Regina massage her temple at the blonde's reasoning in asking her to join for ladies night.
"Miss Swan, I have no ti-.." her speech was interrupted by a knock on her office door.
"Wait a second. There's someone who doesn't value their life here to bother me at 5 freaking thirty. I just want to go home." She muttered to herself but was heard by Emma through the phone. "Come in"
When the door to her office opened, there stood Emma awkwardly, waving her hand at the brunette. Regina shakes her head and ended the call. But a small smile was slowly forming on her lips.
She can't help how adorable Emma look standing awkwardly in the middle of the door, waving at her while her other hand still clutches her phone, looking at Regina with fear and a shy look, surely having heard what Regina just said about not valuing her life.
"Can I come in?" asked Emma in a shy voice and at Regina's nod, she walked in and shut the door before walking further and taking a seat opposite the mayor's desk.
"So… Will you come?" Emma asked with her puppy dog eyes.
Letting out a breath, Regina can't help to feel sorry at the look that the blonde was giving her.
"I have lots of work to catch up on since I've been off for so long Emma. And you know even if I want to, there's no one to look after Henry for the night."
At that, Emma perked up. "Ruby said Granny won't mind looking after Henry since he's like a grandson to him. And as for your work, I'll help you. You can do all the signing and all mayoral stuff and I can help you organized and do the filing and everything else. Please just come with me. I need my bearclaws." Emma ended her speech while battling her lashes and even giving Regina a pout.
Regina was silent for few minutes while she look at her desktop, seeming to think very hard on something. Finally, she broke the silent, "Fine. And you will help me until all my work is done, even if it takes a few days."
At that, the sheriff gave Regina a toothy grin, "Promise!"
…
It was 8.45pm and Emma and Henry were ready and waiting for the brunette by the front door. "Come on Regina, we're going to be late. And we have to drop Henry first."
It was another few minutes when finally Regina descended the stairs.
"Finally! I thought you fell asle-.." Emma's speech was cut when she fully turned and facing Regina. Her mouth hanging open and eyes wide.
The mayor was wearing a sleeveless round collar espresso brown leather top that looked like a second skin to her because of the tightness and how it wrapped around her torso. And a hot pink, middle thigh-length skirt with one white lining along the slanted hem at the bottom. She finished the attire with a pair of nude high heels, nude lipstick and some light makeup.
Regina walked past Emma with smirk, lifting her finger to Emma's chin to shut it, "We wouldn't want a fly to get in your mouth now, would we dear?" and continue walking out the door to her car. "Come now Miss Swan, we're going to be late."
…
"You're late!" was the greeting they got from Ruby upon reaching the table where their friends are. There was Ruby, Belle, Ashley, Ariel, MM, Mel and Kathryn.
Regina took a seat next to Mel with Emma on her other side. And both women was shoved each a shot glass fill to the brim.
"Drink up, you ladies are way behind and we need you to catch up." Said Mel.
3 shots in, Emma stood and whisper to Regina, "I'm going to get something to drink. What would you like?"
Regina felt a shiver at the closeness and from the breath of the sheriff on her ear and thank to any god that's here in the club that the lighting was dim that it will be hard for anyone to notice her goosebumps. "A Sunset Boulevard would be nice. Thank you." And Emma was gone the very next second.
It was an hour later that the group found themselves in the middle of the dance floor. Ruby was dancing next to Emma and she whispered in the blonde ears so the other girls wouldn't hear them, "I think you should take this chance to woo your lady and dance with her."
"Who's my lady?"
"Oh quit playing dumb Em, Mayor hot pants of course!"
"Well, unfortunately for you, she's not my lady." and turned to look at Regina, who is dancing and laughing with Mel and Kathryn. It's not always that the Mayor would let herself be seen dancing and laughing and looking carefree.
"I guess then its okay for me to ask her to dance and maybe more." Ruby said and wink at Emma before turning and walking in the direction of the mayor.
But she was stop by Emma grabbing her arm. "Don't you dare!"
"What's the matter Emma? I thought she's not yours and last I heard, she's single." Ruby proved her friend. Knowing exactly which button to push to get the sheriff to make a move. It's killing her looking at the two women playing push and pull every time they went to the diner.
It's so obvious that it hurts her, and some of their friends who have put a bet on how long the two ladies would finally accept and do something about their feeling towards each other. And now that they stay under the same roof, Ruby felt like pulling her hair or maybe pulling Emma's hair, seeing those two denying their feeling.
"I… Just back off Rubes." Emma said and glared at her friend. Finally Ruby gave a smirk at her blonde friend and holding her hands up in a surrender gesture. "She's all yours. But don't blame me when you're taking your time denying and she finds someone else Em."
Emma look at Ruby, then at Regina, who's now dancing with a petite lady with wavy blonde hair and dimples. Seeing both laughing and dancing so close. And she looks at Ruby again. "It's been a long day and I have an early shift tomorrow. I'm going to head home. Thanks for inviting us. And Rubes, thank you." She gave a sincere smile at Ruby before making her way with purpose towards Regina.
Ruby watched from afar her blonde friend reached Regina and leaned in close to her, whispering something which makes the mayor took a step back from her dancing companion and turned fully towards Emma with a look of concern on her face and held the back of her hand on Emma's forehead. The mayor had a confuse look on her face and seconds later lifted both her hands feeling Emma's neck and forehead again.
Not long after her impromptu inspection on the Sheriff, Regina took her hand and grabbed both women purses and both left the club heading home.
Mel, Belle and Kathryn went to Ruby and Belle said, "I guess that was your doing?"
Ruby gave her friends a cheshire grin, "Only some slight shoving and pushing the right buttons on our dearest Sheriff and the rest was all hers."