Chapter 7
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I do not own Once Upon A Time or any of its characters.
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Since sharing their first kiss Emma and Regina had agreed to take it slowly. It was important to both women that they not rush into something before they were ready for it. They'd had several dinners some with Henry and Cora and some with just the two of them.
Cora had started to see something bloom between the two women but had so far not spoken to Regina about it. However, she was her mother and protective one at that and she couldn't simply keep quiet forever.
"You and Emma seem to be getting quite close," Cora remarked as she looked at Regina from across the dining room table. Regina had been surprised that her mother hadn't brought up the subject sooner. "Yes, we have," she confirmed.
"And it's more than plutonic?" Cora asked already knowing the answer but wanting Regina to confirm it. Regina looked up and met her mother's gaze. "Yes, it is. I have feelings for Emma and she for me," It was the first time that Regina had admitted their budding relationship to anyone. Before Cora could say anything in return Regina spoke again.
"I know what you're going to say," she guessed. "You'll say I'm the President and I shouldn't be engaging in a relationship with anyone, that my job should come first".
Cora shook her head. "No dear, I'm not going to say that at all," she said surprising Regina. "What I was going to say is that I am happy for you. I see that you've been happier these last few months than you have been in years," Cora said. "And it is because of Emma. I would never want you to put your job ahead of your happiness," she finished.
A beautiful smile bloomed on Regina's lips at her mother's words.
While Regina and her press team had chosen not to address the rumours of her and Emma the media nevertheless persisted with their stories. It was starting to worry Zelena and she knew she'd have to address it with the President. They were wrapping up a meeting and as the various people left Regina's office Zelena stayed behind.
"Is there something else?" Regina inquired as Zelena closed the door behind the last person. "Yes ma'am. I was wondering if you had a minute to talk about the Emma issue?" Zelena requested. Regina arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow at her chief of staff. "What Emma issue?" Regina had kept Zelena in the loop with regard to them spending some time together but as far as she was concerned there wasn't any issue.
"Ma'am the stories haven't died down and there have been several remarks made about you and Miss Swan by members on the hill," Zelena was no doubt referring to those Senators whose mission it was in life to oppose everything she did. "What sort of remarks Zelena," Regina sighed. She didn't have time for petty politics she had real work to do. "Senator Spencer gave an interview in which he seemed to question your morals," Zelena informed her.
Regina chuckled humourlessly. "It wouldn't be a normal day in Washington if those lot weren't questioning every single thing about me". Zelena tried again. "That's true, but it's distracting from more important issues. The press is eating up everything they're being fed by those spineless money-grubbers," Zelena said in disgust.
"I take it you already have a plan of some sort?" The last thing Regina wanted was for the press to be distracted. "I think you should announce your relationship with Miss Swan, perhaps go on a date where the press can take a few pictures," she suggested. "This way we take back control of the narrative and we move on from this story that's getting far too much attention".
Regina mulled the plan. Did she really want to make her relationship with Emma public? Did Emma? Were they even at the stage where their relationship could survive that kind of scrutiny? "I'll have to talk to Emma first," Regina finally said. She knew it was better to be in control of the situation rather than leave it to other people's speculation. Personally, she had no qualms being seen in public with Emma.
"So…" Whale started as he leaned against his desk and folded his arms across his chest. "How's the job going?" he continued looking down at Emma who was sat on the chair in front of his desk. "Yeah, it's going really well. I'm getting great content and great access," Emma nodded. "I bet," Whale smirked.
"What was that?" Emma narrowed her eyes at the editor. "Look Emma let's not play games. You know the press has caught on to whatever it is you're doing with the President," he got straight to the point. When the rumours had first started making the rounds Whale had been furious that his star journalist was letting her opinion be compromised. But the more he thought about it the more he realized that it could be a win for him and the paper. After all, no one had the kind of access to the President that Emma Swan supposedly did and that could be exploited.
Emma's mouth set in a stern line. "Whale there's absolutely nothing between myself and the president besides this job," she looked him straight in the eye. She wouldn't allow her closeness with Regina to become a talking point for morning talk show hosts or tabloids. And she certainly didn't want either of their credibility or professionalism to be questioned. "I didn't take you for one to buy into gossip," she added. She wanted, needed, to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible. Whale stared at her for a good few seconds. "Are you seriously telling me there's nothing going on between the two of you?" Whale scoffed disbelievingly.
"There's absolutely nothing more than professional respect between the two of us," Emma declared. She felt at ease with denying the rumours because she was sure the President of the United States wasn't about to announce their budding relationship to the entire world and simultaneously come out of the closet.
Later that evening Emma was, as usual, waiting for Regina to make her way to the residence from the West Wing. She'd received a text earlier that afternoon asking if she'd be up for a late dinner. She'd smiled as she read the invitation knowing that declining it was never on the table.
She browsed through the President's bookcase amused at some of the titles she spotted on the shelf. It seemed that Regina had a penchant for fantasy-themed stories. It wasn't long after that she appeared in the doorway clutching her overfilled briefcase.
Emma smiled perceptively noting the droop of the other woman's shoulders as a clear sign of her exhaustion. She walked over to Regina who had deposited the briefcase next to the couch. "Hi," she greeted with an affectionate peck on the lips. Regina smiled and leaned in for her own hello. As the two women parted from the kiss they remained close to each other. Emma's arms were wrapped loosely around Regina's waist as she caressed her cheek tenderly. Regina pressed her cheek into Emma's caress savouring her touch as she felt some of the stress begin to ebb away in the blonde's presence.
"You look tired," she noted. Regina offered a small smile as confirmation. "It would be nice if the world could stop blowing up every five seconds," she remarked. She let herself be led over to the couch and submitted as Emma guided her to sit down. She let out a breath she'd probably been holding all twenty hours that she's been awake. She'd spent most of that time between the Situation Room and her office negotiating an emergency ceasefire somewhere in the Middle East.
Emma lifted tired feet onto her lap and removed the woman's shoes. Regina groaned as she felt talented fingers and hands begin to massage her aching feet. "How was your day…or days actually?" Emma continued to rub her feet. Regina sighed heavily. "We achieved a short-term fix but there's a lot more work to be done," Regina responded. She moaned again as Emma hit a particularly sore spot with her ministrations. "I'll give you Hawaii if you never stop doing that," she murmured her eyes closing against her will.
Emma chuckled lightly. She continued her massage sure that the woman had drifted off to sleep before hearing her ask about her own day. "It was okay, pretty interesting," Emma answered. Regina opened one eye to look at Emma as a silent request to elaborate. "I had a meeting with Whale," she began. "He asked me about the rumours…about us". Regina raised an eyebrow at that.
"Don't worry though I steered him off," Emma continued. This time Regina opened both eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked. "I categorically told him that there was nothing between us". Regina frowned slightly. Of course she didn't think Emma would admit their relationship to her boss.
"Do you…is our relationship something that you don't want to reveal?" she asked the younger woman. "No way! Can you imagine the field day the press would have," Emma scoffed. Regina moved into a sitting position on the couch now fully awake. "I see," she straightened her skirt looking anywhere but at Emma.
"I mean, you wouldn't want that either," a beat. "Would you?" Regina looked over at Emma and shrugged lightly. "I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world," she thought out loud. "Of course, there would be more attention on us, on you. But I don't mind the idea of people knowing that we are together," Regina admitted.
"Uh, I really didn't think you'd want that," Emma was caught off guard. She thought for sure that if anyone were going to be hesitant about going public with their relationship it would be the President. "Yes, I see that now," Regina's voice had taken on a more formal tone. Had she misjudged Emma? Had she misjudged the other woman's feelings for her? Regina was starting to realize that perhaps Emma didn't feel as strongly for her. Of course she doesn't want to be with someone whose life is under a microscope. Regina chastised herself silently.
Emma recognized the transformation in Regina's demeanour."Regina…" she began. "It's quite all right," Regina cut her off. She stood from the couch and fixed Emma with an unreadable expression. "I'm quite tired but you stay and have something to eat," Regina said as she began to move towards the hallway which led to her bedroom. "Goodnight Miss Swan," she said as she disappeared through the door.
Emma stared after the woman, dumbfounded. "What just happened?" she said to the empty room.
