Seven
Regina arrived at work earlier than usual to get ahead of the day she had planned. Like the day before she was in for a lot of work. The days she'd missed had caused her quite a bit of work and there was no way that she'd be able to get it done in a normal work day.
It was 6am and she was sipping on a cup of fresh hot coffee, while sifting through her files. The most pressing was prioritized on top and the ones that were less work and would take the shortest time were placed on the bottom.
As she organized her files she booted up her computer and waited for it to fully load. While the computer was loading she stood and opened the curtains and cleaned up the mess she'd made from the night before.
Before she'd left the office last night she'd eaten dinner and her trash was sprawled out on the table in the corner of the room.
After clearing her mess, she sat back down and checked her email for important information to add to her files. As mayor she had to deal with all sorts of professionals and the amount of emails she received each day was large.
Sifting through the messages, she organized them and deleted the junk that had accumulated. Not wasting any time, she began her work and quickly became engrossed in her work.
Henry awoke and got dressed for school noting the house was really quiet. He checked his mom's room to find it empty. As he searched the house he happened across a note on the kitchen counter.
It explained her absence and that she was at work already. He was to stop by before he went to Granny's for his usual breakfast.
Henry was packed and ready for his weekend with Emma and Killian in Boston. He put his suitcase by the front door and headed out the door.
He went straight to his mom's office and walked in seeing Regina with her glasses on and buried in work.
"Hey mom." Regina looked up at him, "hey. Did you get all packed?" She slid her glasses for her face and dropped them on her desk, as she stood up to hug him.
"I did. I put my suitcase by the door. Mom will take me by the house to pick it up after school. I'm not riding the bus. She's picking me up."
Regina was a little surprised because Emma didn't run it by her, "Okay. Well what did you eat for breakfast? Please don't tell me pancakes."
Henry shrugged, "I ate a banana, but I'm headed to Granny's and I'll eat pancakes if I want." He joked with a sudden smirk on his face, "What are you gonna do about it?"
Regina chuckled at his failed attempt to be a snotty nose child, "Alright, enough of that. I'll miss you."
He noticed a slight bit of sadness touch her eyes but she pushed the emotions down as she smiled genuinely at her son. "Have fun, be careful and don't forget to call me at least once."
Henry hugged his mom tightly, "I promise." Regina took his face in her hands and kissed his nose, "Love you." He smiled, "Love you too."
Before she could let herself be sad she rubbed his shoulders and said, "Get going. You'll be late." Henry gave her a reassuring smile as he walked out of her office and left her to her job.
When he arrived at Granny's he saw Killian in a booth but no sign of Emma. He joined Killian who was eating a plate of eggs and bacon. "Morning. Where's mom?"
He replied, "Hey mate, she had a call this morning at the station. Something important. I'll walk you." Henry just nodded, "K."
They ate their breakfast quickly and Henry was dropped off at the bus stop, "Alright we'll see you after school. Excited?" Henry beamed, "Yeah I am. I'll see ya."
Killian walked down the street and headed towards the police station to meet up with Emma. As he arrived he saw David and a man arguing in the corner. Emma was standing inside with a woman speaking less confrontational.
He walked in and Emma gave him an acknowledged glance, "I'll take your statement and we will follow up." The woman rolled her eyes and said, "You are just going to let him get away with it again."
Emma countered, "We don't let him get away with it, it's just not a crime that requires being put in jail." The woman was even more frustrated and became visibly upset, "Fine, but if it happens again, I'm not coming to you."
Rolling her eyes, Emma watched the woman walk outside and around the corner. Killian walked to her with an eyebrow raised, "sounded heated. What was the big emergency?"
Emma laughed, "you know I can't tell you." He pressed, "Well isn't there an unwritten rule that says you can tell your husband anything?"
"I'm not sure I've heard that rule," she smirked as their lips met for a brief kiss. "Henry is excited for the weekend. I dropped him off and he's packed and ready to go."
Emma smiled, "I'm looking forward to it. Do I have to drop by Regina's to get his stuff?" "uh..yeah he said it was in the foyer." "Cool. Well I'm going to drop by to talk to Regina before we go."
He gave her a skeptical glance, "You sure that's such a good idea?" shrugging she replied, "yeah, I mean it's about henry so she won't get upset. Henry is our child, so communication is a must."
He raised his eyebrow, "Be nice, no arguing." Emma raised her hands, "I'll behave, promise."
Emma walked into Regina's office to see her sipping on coffee and papers sprawled everywhere. "wow looks like the printer blew up."
Regina glanced up not impressed, "What do you want? I'm busy." Emma raised her hand in an innocent gesture, "I'm not here to argue or talk about deep stuff. I just came to talk about the weekend and Henry."
Visibly relaxing and turning to look at her, Emma took that as invitation to discuss the matter. "So what's your plan?" Regina was curious.
"I'm picking up Henry after school, and then we are heading out. We are staying at the Sheraton and leaving Sunday night. We'll back pretty late."
Regina asked, "How late?" Emma looked slightly guilty, "Well he'll probably be sleeping through school, unless you prefer he misses Monday all together."
Regina squinted her eyes unamused, "Try not to be too late. Hope you have a good time." Instead of coming off sarcastic, Emma realize her words were sincere.
"Thanks. What are your plans?" Looking down at her desk she shrugged, "I'll figure out something."
Regina played it off well but Emma smiled, "So you're not going to tell me about your lunch date with Robin, tomorrow?"
Raising her eyes in shock gazed at Emma, "What?" Her mouth dropped open unsure of what else to say. "How did you hear about that?"
Emma took an apple from the basket on her desk and took a bite then leaned back in the chair, "Mary Margaret told me."
Regina was confused, "How would she know?" Emma chuckled, "Robin told her, they are friends you know."
Regina felt a range of emotions and wasn't sure exactly how to respond to that. "It's good. I mean you're just friends right?"
"Right." Confused and slightly irritated she struggled to gain her composure. "Did you not want him to tell anyone?"
Her shoulders raised and lowered slowly, "I didn't really think about it, but if everyone knows it's a bit awkward."
Emma asked, "Are you scared? You look terrified." Meeting her eyes Regina wanted to confide in her. They were friends after all, or at least had been before the drama.
"A little." Confessing her feelings and avoiding eye contact, Regina felt pressure building in her chest. "Hey, don't sweat it. Robin is just as nervous. If you tell him I told you, I'll deny it."
Regina looked up surprised, "Does he tell Mary Margaret everything?" Her eyebrows were raised and she was a little off balance by that logic.
"I don't know, but apparently he mentioned he was a little scared of you. I don't blame him." A chuckled escaped Emma's lips. "You can be intimidating to people who don't know you. Poor bastard."
Regina scoffed, "I'm not going to eat him alive, geez. I don't know what to talk to him about." Emma looked in her eyes and then saw it, the sliver of fear and doubt.
"Just promise me you won't stand him up." The thought hadn't crossed her mind but now that the idea was planted, she was considering it.
Emma focused on her, "I know it's not easy but just go with the flow and see what happens. If you feel the least bit awkward send me a text and I'll call you during your lunch. That way you can make up an excuse as to why you have to leave."
Regina grimaced, "That is just low. I'm not sure I'd have the courage to ditch him." Emma laughed, "The Regina Mills I know would have no trouble doing that. Now stop being a scary cat and woman up."
Rolling her eyes, she repeated, "Woman up?" Emma stood up and disposed of the apple core that she's chewed on during their short conversation. "Yes. Make a new friend. That's the point right? You both have something in common. Go with it."
Resting her head on the back of the chair Regina let her hair fall behind the swiveling chair and stared at the ceiling. "It's going to be a disaster."
Emma laughed, "Only if you let it. I gotta get going. I'll call you when we get to the hotel and then I'll have Henry call you on Sunday. Enjoy your weekend. I expect details of your lunch."
Regina raised her head to look at her and pursed her lips, "we'll see about that. Now get out, I have work to do."
The women exchanged sarcastic glanced before Emma left her alone to her thoughts. Regina felt her nerves spreading all over her body.
The one thing she hadn't told anyone was the attraction she seemed to be developing towards Robin. His tone of voice was comforting and the look in his eyes radiated deep in her chest.
At times the way he looked at her scared her, but she tried to ignore that feeling in his presence. Blushing a deep shade of red in front of a man she barely knew, would be embarrassing.
Feeling out of control she turned her attention back to her work. At the rate she was going she'd have to stay late to finish up.
Mary Margaret was sitting in the teacher's lounge grading papers while the students were outside at recess. Eleven o'clock was the time she had to finish up before her lessons continued.
As she graded papers Robin walked in to fill his coffee mug, "Hey." He smiled at her as she glanced up at him. "Hey. How's it going?"
Robin filled his mug and sat at the table while she worked, "It's going. I had an eventful morning with Rachel and Suzanne."
Looking up from her papers she asked, "Are they still fighting?" Robin smirked, "appears so. They'll get over it. So what are your plans this weekend?"
Marg finished grading the paper in front of her and set it aside, "David and I are painting the house tomorrow. Are you looking forward to your lunch tomorrow? Are you still nervous?"
Robin replied, "I don't know, Marg. I'm not sure it' the best idea. I know I asked her but I'm having second thoughts."
Marg smiled, "It's going to be fine. I think you're worrying for nothing. You two have more in common than you think. Plus, it's just a friend's lunch, nothing more."
Robin's face turned slightly red and he sat back sipping on his coffee, "she scares me." Marg couldn't help but laugh, "She scares a lot of people. You wanna know a secret?"
His eyes were pleading but his words sounded unsure, "Isn't that cheating?" Another chuckle came from her, "She's a softie."
He wondered, "What do you mean by that?" Marg smiled, "I've known her forever, she's really soft underneath that tough exterior."
Again he wasn't following, "Soft? What does that mean?" Marg tried to explain it a little better for him. "Regina is sensitive and she's got a huge heart. No matter what she tries to portray, she's actually quite vulnerable. Don't let that fool you."
Robin sighed, "I guess I could see that in small moments. Still, I have no idea where to start. I mean I don't want to start by talking about the heavy and depressing topics."
Marg thought and said, "Henry and Roland. That's where you should start. You're both parents and you both are raising boys. That should be enough to break the ice. Don't worry so much."
Robin took another swig of coffee and smiled fakely, "Brilliant. Should be great." The sarcasm in his tone had Marg flashing him a sympathetic smile.
He was terrified of Regina for two reasons, firstly she was tough and the looks she gave people was enough to scare anyone off. Secondly he was attracted to her, which was a feeling he wasn't quite ready for.
All he could do was hope for the best, but his mind was full of apprehension and fear. This might be the worst plan he had since arriving in Storybrooke.
