Emma was in the process of tossing a spearmint gum into her mouth when the party of three arrived.
Under the circumstances, it was only natural of her to cast a glare in the taller brunette's direction. What had been said, was only to remain a mystery to her until either Regina or Lucas revealed the facts. For the moment, the four women strolled outside and into the sunlight that kissed blonde hair as a pair of chocolate brown eyes studied the highlight of strands. And trying as hard as she could to peel her gaze away from Swan, Regina couldn't be successful.
"Just a lemonade for me," was the brunette's reply some time afterwards as they took up seats in The Diner just near the window.
"Okay, four slices of cake; two chocolate and two vanilla. Three lemonades and I'll be having a fucking glass of whatever is strong behind that goddamn counter."
Granny scowled at her granddaughter's words and nevertheless, began to prepare the cups of beverages. Red on the other hand, pulled herself up and over the counter in one smooth move, legs and all in that short red skirt whilst Belle considered her with a small smile.
The seating arrangements were as follows: Belle sat next to Regina whilst Swan resided on the opposite side, as Red slid in beside her. They were directly facing each other, Emma and the older brunette. And from the lingering gazes the blonde was receiving from across the table, she was beginning to suspect what kind of conversation the taller brunette and the shorter one had in that damn aisle.
"So last night was a fucking blast," Lucas voiced her excitement. She twisted the caps off the three bottles. "Shots all around."
"She had about ten random shots all night long and when she couldn't stand up, I called a cab," Belle elaborated, nibbling on her slice of chocolate cake.
"Is she a heavy drinker?" This was directed to the former speaker, by Regina.
"Hell to the fucking yes," Red said, slamming her fist onto the table and grinning from ear to ear. "But don't look at me as if I'm a villain in the bar. Dearest Emma had her days in there after Neal got pulled into the pits of hell."
"Hey," the blonde's chest heaved. She avoided all eye contact. "Don't go there. Dammit."
"He was an easy comer and a wishful thinker. That's all there is to men, you know." Red wouldn't give up. "All they want is sex, sex, sex and nothing else. He had so much ambition in him though. He accepted he was getting a kid in his life and didn't run. Thing is, most of them hate the idea of kids. They think of it as like an anchor, holding them down to one woman."
"The cake's nice, isn't it?" Emma tried conversation with Regina, trying to slice Lucas' line of babbling in half.
For a moment, the brunette chewed on her delicacy in silence. Then she made a dramatic move of appearing startled by the blonde addressing her.
"I'm sorry, but are you speaking to me?" Her voice was crisp. And the blow was delivered instantaneously. After the need to shut her out from the beginning of the day and even earlier as last night, she was somewhat still affected by that. What had she done to warrant such ill treatment? Even if Red's words were true and Emma was definitely inclined to her, then why the cold shoulder?
"Never mind," Emma suddenly appeared wounded by the question and stared at her cake.
Regina couldn't help but become affected by the effect her words had on the woman sitting opposite her.
"Yes," she said after some time, never admiring any of the other occupants of the table as much as she was deeply engrossed in the blonde. "The cake is very nice."
"Cool," Emma said softly. She took a sip of her lemonade and knew definitely that Lucas was listening in, studying every move and every eye shift between herself and the other brunette.
Regina boldly made an attempt to rest her hand upon the younger woman's left but the blonde immediately drew hers away. Both of them stared at each other and it was Emma who blinked back in disbelief whilst the brunette's smile faltered.
Lucas delivered a sharp kick to her good friend under the table and scowled at Belle. "And people wonder why kids don't believe in fairy tales anymore."
The silence that elapsed afterwards was filled with the sound of cutlery meeting plates around them. Light chatter sprinkled around the Diner and granny was fussing over her books. Then came the occasional burps of men who found it rather pleasing to sound off their appreciation for the meals seated before them.
Belle and Emma ended up speaking about libraries again.
"So how's the whole ordeal with sharing the same apartment?" Red finally slid into the conversation neatly. "Bumped into each other in your bathrobes yet? That kinda thing?" When she merely received stares, the taller brunette huffed out a sigh. "Happens to me and Belle all the time. Better yet if we bump into each other in the shower too."
"Geez," Emma had had enough, "do you have to be so bold?"
"Would do you some good to know that you're worrying for nothing," Lucas whispered into her friend's right ear, smiling a little. And proceeding to chew again, she considered Regina with a wink. "So tell me, what's Massachusetts like?"
The conversation took on a smooth flow after that, mainly focused on the older brunette's career and details on several cases. Within that space of time, Emma remained silent, as Belle noticed and it was obvious that she was affected by so much more than met the eye. Oh how the bookworm wished that she could pull the blonde aside and sit them down for a nice talk on what was swirling around in that confused mind. She yearned to do something, anything to string away the worry and chase the fears into the shadows. But what would have seemed as a kind thought probably would backfire.
Most times, Emma was the kind of woman who chose to deal with things on her own. She detested the assistance provided by anyone else, especially in matters pertaining to the heart. Belle knew this all too well, when their conversations had drifted to Neal many times before. If it was one thing the blonde didn't wish for was intrusion into her personal life. She also hated change. And certainly, her developing feelings, which were obvious, for the brunette, was pushing her down a path of worry and exhaustion.
"Chin up," she chose to say instead, her tone soothing. "Everything happens for a reason and if it's meant to be, then it will be."
Red stared at her girlfriend in awe. "You mean if gas price goes up, it's meant to happen? What fuckery is this? I'm supposed to take this shit lying on my back?"
Belle sighed and shook her head. "No, my darling. I'm not referring to gas. I'm referring to life in general."
"Well that's a funny way of sliding a bit of thought into a conversation," was the taller brunette's reply. Regardless, she continued to speak of the truck company and their faults as the evening unfolded.
Before they parted ways though, it was Belle who pulled Regina aside whilst the other two walked ahead, whispering frantically at each other. She was the kind of woman to offer affection even without hesitating. So rubbing the brunette's back softly, Belle smiled and accepted the surprising look on the older woman's face from such a bold move.
"Ruby means well," she said softly, gesturing for them to stop a little. "She's often times blunt with her words but she means well. Emma...on the other hand. She's a creature of habit. She's trapped in a cage and she hates change because it scares her. So when certain things happen, her reflex is to shut everyone out and act rebellious. She says things she doesn't mean, just to hide what she feels. But deep down inside, she's just a woman who wants you to understand and love her."
"I know that she's concealing something from me," Regina admitted, although she was becoming quite aware of the obvious. "Does this string of information lead somewhere though?"
Their eyes met.
"She's not a stranger," Belle said instead.
Emma glanced back and rolled her eyes because of Red's ramblings.
"I know that," Regina's throaty voice was huskier. Eyes lowered, she studied her flat, unusual black shoes instead.
"Something tells me that you two have come so far. And when two people have come so far in such a short span of time, it means so much more than you think. People spend years trying to get to know each other. Others, like you and Emma, all it takes is one night. You bonded that night, didn't you?"
The brunette nodded.
They bonded, alright. It took so much effort from anyone else to unearth the truth from Regina in any situation. Except Emma. With the blonde, she was definitely sure of so much trust and comfort. And revealing anything private about herself didn't come as a conflict of feelings. But rather as a definite move to make.
"I'm not going to intrude in your personal life or anything else. But I'll tell you this; life is so short. I will always remember my father mourning my mother's death for years and years. And he always claimed that they never had enough time together in love. So all my life, I've been living it with this kind of impulsive behavior where if I love someone, and I appreciate them, I let them know immediately. I don't care if they don't feel the same way about me. But what matters is how I see them and how they make me feel. It doesn't hurt to leap," Belle said softly, squeezing Regina's shoulder again, "especially when you're certain than when you leap, that one person will catch you."
Emerald eyes registered the further attempt on not Red, but Belle's part to intervene and she became consumed with anger. Friends were there to assist in any possible way, yes. Friends were supposed to understand. But at some point, they had to draw the line. A certain amount of privacy should be given, especially in a situation like this, where she was unsure of how to proceed but nevertheless, wished to do so based on her own decisions. Not to have friends intervene at every possible turn. The blonde realized that she might appear weak in the eyes of the older woman. Weak as in someone who constantly relied on her acquaintances to suggest pathways forward.
"I think you two talked enough for one afternoon," she said gruffly.
Red shook her head, threw Belle a look and both of them joined each other.
And with that, they parted ways in front of Emma's apartment building.
X
Their intrusion didn't cease at that particular point in time though.
You see, when two friends bond together to achieve a common purpose, they do so with such passion. In addition to that, the very person in question, to which they were enacting plan after plan was one that was cared for deeply. Her well-being was their main priority as always and whether Emma wished for it or not, their decision to intervene would not be swayed.
But it could get quite annoying, so annoying, that the blonde purposely withheld the date and time of Henry's art exhibition from Lucas and Belle. So that the afternoon of the event, her only companion was Regina, who became suddenly silent on all matters. In fact, the older woman hadn't said a word to her since the day before when Belle had pulled the brunette aside to whisper in confidence. No wonder Emma was irritable for that entire day, because she was desperately conjuring up all these possible trails of conversation that Lucas could have taken with Regina. And so when they left that afternoon for the school, both of them were awkward around each other.
It was Regina who made a comment on Emma's patrol uniform though, just as the yellow bug pulled up and she slipped into the small vehicle.
"It suits you. The uniform," the older woman said with brown eyes displaying a definite sparkle. She pulled the door close and fixed the black tailored jacket further around her.
"Yeah, well brown is my least favourite colour," said the blonde, sounding very exhausted.
Regina blinked and held her breath. "Good to know. That you lied to me. Before. When we were on the road." The blonde looked at her puzzled. "When you told me that my eyes are gorgeous. And my eyes are brown."
It was Emma's turn to blink as the words sank in and then she shook her head fast enough. "No. God." She slammed her fists onto the wheel, but not too hard. "Geez. Look, forget I put it that way. What I meant to say is that...I hate wearing brown. I don't like how it looks on me."
The brunette's orbs were focused ahead. She didn't reply. A small smirk played on her red painted lips.
"And I really love your eyes. I really do. Especially when we're out in the open or you're under a light and the brown just kind of turns into this...I don't know...fiery brown," Emma tried to explain, to compensate for the misunderstanding. "It's like your soul is on fire behind there. And when you're sad, the brown just turns softer and then you kind of make me want to cry too."
Their eyes met.
"Okay now I've said too much and I probably sound like a fool -"
"No," Regina's voice was huskier than she bargained for. The look in those eyes right then suggested a sudden wave of emotion that made eyelashes flutter slowly. "It's fine. When you speak to me in that manner, you have no idea how beautiful your words sound. It is almost as if you're not describing me because I simply cannot imagine that I appear that way to someone else."
Just for a moment, the two of them relived the past day with uncalled for tension and a hint of being very agitated with the other one's feelings. At some point, they had reached this understanding that something had gone wrong, sour, if you would wish to refer to it that way. But the cause of this sudden silence and awkwardness wasn't quite an easy thing to understand. On the brunette's part, she had discovered that the other woman could possibly have feelings for her. Whether the declarations by her friends were true, surely she could link that to the blonde's behavior. But why was she being given the cold shoulder if Emma fancied her?
Shouldn't she be receiving the same kindness and poetic lines that had greeted her ears as early as when they had met on the road?
On the blonde's behalf, she believed that it was only just to be slightly angry at Regina because of her choice to confide in Belle and Lucas behind her back. It wasn't a fair estimation on her part to colour the older woman in a bad light. However, her feelings and emotions were clouding her judgement and the automatic thing she did, and always did, was to simply close up to the other party involved and keep them at a distance. After all, giving someone the key to her heart wasn't going to be an easy task.
Or so she had thought.
Before meeting Regina.
Now it appeared as if she had been dangling the damn key in the brunette's direction since they shared that stub of cheap weed at the Diner.
"I don't want you to be mad at me," Regina's husky voice broke her daydreaming. Emerald eyes turned in that direction. "All I wish for is for you to return to that very kind woman on the road who spoke so sweetly to me, in the gentlest manner. The one who offered to help me without even knowing me completely. I hate this..." the brunette gestured at Emma, "...side of you that shuts me out."
The younger woman inhaled deeply, gripped the steering wheel and stared ahead.
"I want to get to know you more," Regina's voice was soft. She was still gazing at the blonde's cheek. "Will you let me?"
It took a brief four seconds for Emma to consider those gentle words.
Here was a woman who could have shown such an ill temper at the display of the blonde's cold shoulder but she had decided not to. That counted as something, something more than the younger woman wished to feel. The genuine declaration behind those simple words touched her heart and before she realized what was happening, her heart had begun to race as deep admiration for Regina was initiated again, like adding logs to a fireplace.
"Yeah," she turned the key. The engine came to life. "Why not."
Regina smiled and felt her heart do a leap from joy.
X
"Mum, this is it," Henry was tugging at Emma's right hand and luring her into the assembly hall. "This...is...it. Wait till you see what they did."
"Well since you're pretty excited, I'm going to say to myself that it's something awesome instead of something bad." The blonde allowed herself to be tugged along down the hallway.
Regina followed, admiring the two in front of her.
Oh how she had often wished so much to have a child of her own. So much. Someone to be part of her, and to treasure. To hold and to take care of. Such a precious thing, new life was. A baby would have been the happiest miracle in her life, had she been that fortunate. But with anyone else other than Robin. Although, even if they had brought a child into this world, the child would be hers too. Therefore, when they did go their separate ways, she would file as much paperwork to gather up all custody rights.
To watch Henry's eyes light up when he was with Emma was so pleasant. The way he chose to look at her as if she meant the world to him and nothing else mattered. It was something to gaze upon and admire deeply. Not only did the child favour his mother more than anything else in the world, but he also wanted the best for her. And as he led them into the assembly hall where many tables and chalkboards were set up, she wondered if gazing upon Emma and Henry in a hopeful way was too much.
So soon? She thought to herself, as he gestured at his drawings pinned to a board; not two like the other students but six of them. Could she really have been fortunate enough to meet a woman who suddenly made her see a future with another chance at having a very loving family? Was it possible to find this kind of hope and future with another woman? Could they hold strong and last long? Such things swept through her mind and she nodded occasionally as Henry said a few things to her. But the truth was, Regina was so far away, envisioning herself with Emma in every possible way, she couldn't even focus on the child's explanations.
Mary and David were there as well. The former said a brief hi and was whisked off by a group of elderly ladies who were selling baked goodies on a table in a corner. The latter stood around awkwardly next to Regina until she decided to comment on the quaint little town they resided in.
"Well it's very quiet," David explained, "that's a merit. It's also very homely. It can be very annoying sometimes, especially when you consider how everyone knows everyone. So most likely people are nosy." They both smiled at each other. "Other than that, it's not that bad."
Henry was making faces at Emma. Regina smiled.
"Are you planning to stick around permanently?" David's question was a genuine one, trying to seek out the brunette's intentions.
Regina considered the answer. Her eyes were focused on Emma. "I would like to."
"I would think, from your description on the town that it might be something very different from where you lived before..." He was fishing, but doing so with all sincerity.
The brunette didn't mind. "Yes. Massachusetts was quite a change. I lived in New York for a few years too."
"A lawyer, as Emma said?" He admired her cool countenance.
"Yes. Criminal lawyer. I also did special cases for the family court."
"So you're definitely a law-abiding citizen," he joked with a small smile.
Regina tilted her head and studied blonde hair by the chalkboard. "Yes. I am."
"Ever got a speeding ticket?" David folded his arms and bounced back on his heels. He studied her face.
"I just confirmed that I am a law-abiding citizen..." she reminded him with a smile. "Almost." The brunette shrugged. "I once pushed it too far when I was rushing to court. The cop let me off because it was a high priority case though. Thank goodness for that."
"I bet. So you deal with high profile criminals and that kind of thing?" David frowned.
Their eyes met. "I've dealt with a few. Why?" Regina frowned back.
"Hmm," he shook his head. "No bother. I'm just wondering..."
They stood there in silence for a while.
"So moving to a new town must be a little awkward," David said after some time had passed. "What made you come back to Maine with Emma?"
The brunette inhaled deeply. "Emma insisted."
He was impressed. "I see."
"I don't mind, really," Regina elaborated with the wave of a hand. "She said something to me that lingers. She told me that it is better to stay with someone I already know...Than to stay by myself. And I agree."
David highly favoured Mary's absence because, had she been present, then the intrusive questions would never have an end. "Emma never wanted a roommate," he chose to say. "She hates the idea of sharing with someone else. Well except for Red."
This bit of news was new to the brunette who turned to stare at him. "Really?"
He nodded. "So you must be really special to her." He smiled. "And she must be to you. Trusting someone she just met and she's still getting to know like that, it's not something she does. So it's something."
"I feel...safe with her," said Regina softly, noting how the blonde had turned emerald eyes to gaze at her. She couldn't hear a word.
"You should." David allowed his suspicions on his daughter's relationship with the newcomer to grow into positive thinking. "She's a very loving person. Very kind-hearted and honest. And a loyal...friend." He added the word 'friend' with some hesitation.
Their eyes met.
They stared at each other for a while because the brunette was very well versed in reading body language.
She smiled at him and he did too.
It was some time along the evening when she found herself at Emma's side in front of the table selling cakes and pastries. The blonde was eager to buy a chocolate cupcake and Regina chose a packet containing six cheese straws over any other delicacy.
Mary's eyes were focused on them all the time as she stood behind the table and tried to contribute to the other ladies' conversation. Especially when Emma encouraged the older brunette to take a nibble of her cupcake and the two of them giggled like big kids.
Pulling the brunette aside, the younger woman walked them to an open window that overlooked the school grounds. Standing just there, they remained silent, occasionally glancing at each other and holding their gazes with small smiles. For her to feel so comfortable in the blonde's presence meant so much to Regina. She could stand in the company of another woman without feeling awkward in silence and it was the first time in her life that she felt so relaxed and absorbed in someone.
"Wait a sec," Emma had given the brunette another nibble of her cupcake. "There's some frosting on your..." without thinking about it, she gently used her thumb to wipe away what was on the older woman's cheek. Just near her lips.
They gazed at each other, a gaze that turned into something very intense as the blonde allowed her finger to remain where it was. Boldly, she cupped her fingers and softly caressed the older woman's cheek. It was so glorious; the feel of smooth skin that was so warm. Knowing that she was this close to Regina and she had made a gesture that suggested so much more than friends could offer. And just then, brown eyes flicked to rest on her lips. She could feel how her heart leapt from observing that one move that gave her a lot to think about.
"Mum! Mum!" Henry appeared at their sides and both of them blinked fast, Emma removing her hand instantaneously. "It's time to pack up!"
After that, they both continued to smile shyly at each other. That was, until Lucas blocked their path on the way out of the school.
"Oh you really screwed me, didn't you?" Red folded her arms and glared down at Emma. "If Belle hadn't written the damn date and time on the calendar then I wouldn't have remembered."
"But you did." Emma sighed and tried to step around the tall brunette. Her path was blocked. "Look, I'm heading out," she explained, growing irritated.
"Any progress yet with you two?" Lucas was bold, smiling at Regina who stood on the side with Henry holding his drawings. "Or do I have to shove the two of you together in a dark room -"
"Red!" Emma hissed and gestured to Henry.
"All I'm saying is...get a move on before certain things stop working," Lucas winked at the blonde. "Get what I'm saying?" And she sauntered off.
X
"All they want to do is get involved," the blonde was agitated, throwing open the door and taking long strides inwards. "Pushing their noses into things that don't concern them. All the damn time. I've told her countless times before to stay out of my business. But no." Emma snatched up a cushion and squeezed it with such energy. "She wants to do this and do that. To talk about things behind my back."
Regina studied the younger woman's state and hesitantly stepped into the room. "They mean well," she said softly, palms pressed upon her thighs.
"What did she say to you?" Emma whirled around and stared, her fists clenched. "In the supermarket. What did she say?" She was still curious as hell and wished to know immediately.
"Nothing to upset my definition of your character, if you must know," the brunette went to stand behind the chair, setting one item between them. "She was asking about my opinion on body lotions."
"And that's it," the blonde's head swayed to show attitude. "She didn't say anything else. You expect me to believe that? What do you think I am? Stupid?"
"Emma, calm down," Regina's tone was just that, and also soothing. "Come," she gestured to the chair, "let us sit down and talk to each other."
"Why?" the blonde stared back, obviously sending a bewildered look that suggested wild paranoia. "So you can talk to me about lotions too? So you can tell me that you want to move out again?"
"Em..ma," the older woman felt her patience thicken even when in any other situation, it would have gone thin. "Please sit down."
"How dare she bring Neal in this?" the blonde was still mumbling to herself as the chair was sought out and her butt met the cushion. Her voice wasn't strained but there was a certain amount of frustration in her tone. "How can you be so calm like this?"
"Because it is a learned behavior, dear. The courtroom can become quite tense suddenly and as a lawyer, I need to remain as calm as possible because agitation excites the jury and the judge."
Emma sighed, hanging her head, and legs parted. She suddenly appeared defeated. It was almost as if Regina's comfortable countenance was catching; soothing, perhaps.
"Now," neatly folding her hands upon her lap, the brunette inhaled deeply, "shall we play twenty one questions? I'd really like for this to progress smoothly. No conflicts. Just the back and forth activity involving questions and answers. Honest...answers," she emphasized, meeting eyes with the blonde.
Yes, she could have jumped into the sink hole, knowing definitely that enough would be revealed eventually. It was because of the mood she was in; so agitated and yet so raw. She was vulnerable in times like those, so open up like a flower, with one strong look from the older woman, Emma would blurt out as much as would be regretted at a later date. But wasn't it somewhat expected at that point for some revelation to be put on the table between them? Hadn't this gone on long enough? The buildup of tension. The exchange of glances. The quick growth of trust and closeness between them?
"How about we play this tomorrow night?" Emma suggested. "I'm kind of beat from today. Working patrol and all that."
Regina shrugged, palms pressed on her thighs. "Fine," she nodded. "I really wished to speak to you. But if you are exhausted then by all means, retire to bed."
Of course that made the blonde feel entirely guilty. "I didn't mean for it to sound offensive or anything..."
"On the contrary, dear," the brunette rose up and pushed her hair back, "we had a well spent day. It was rather dramatic and..." their eyes met... "I really enjoyed that cupcake."
And with that said, both of them parted ways.
X
The next evening, suddenly, Regina was staring at her as if something had gone wrong again. Having spent the entire day at home and somehow never sitting down together, when they did meet in front of the television, it was awkward again. Huffing out a sigh, the brunette snatched the remote and felt her insides twist into tiny knots. So much for progress, she thought to herself.
"What brought this on then?" Emma frowned. "Why are you glaring at me and snatching up stuff? You don't usually snatch up stuff. You're much more...gentle."
Regina shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Possibly you avoiding me since last night again...giving me the silent treatment...again."
"I wasn't giving you the silent treatment," the blonde lied.
"Then perhaps I borrowed Harry Potter's invisibility cloak and slipped under it," Regina sent across a look of bewilderment. "Your mood swing surely has unsettled me."
"My mood swing?" Emma was confused. "You were on the phone most of the day and then your nose was practically touching my laptop screen. Doing your work. I didn't want to disturb you."
"Oh right," Regina threw up her hands and rolled brown eyes. "I'm so anti-social. I should have followed you around all day like a lost puppy because I wanted conversation."
"You wanted to talk?" The blonde stared back.
"Has it ever occurred to you that I am a person with feelings?"
"Look, I think you're taking this way too hard."
"I'm taking this hard?" The older woman stared back in disbelief. "I'm not the one avoiding you. You're avoiding me."
"I thought you were busy with work!" Emma's eyes were wide.
Regina huffed out another sigh and sat back, shaking her head. "So much for waiting on the horse to pull the carriage."
The blonde was puzzled. "What?"
"And I thought men were shallow."
"I need a beer," Emma rose up from the chair and strode to the kitchen, agitation showing on her face. A light headache was creeping into her temples. She didn't favour that at all.
"I'd like a glass of water," the brunette reared her head and stared at the kitchen. "Thank you for offering me a choice of beverage."
"Fuck." The blonde swore again and hunched her figure over the small oval shaped sink in the kitchen. Squeezing her eyes close, clenched fists dug into the tiled counter top and for some time, she remained there just like the night prior, swirling in unsettling thoughts and feelings.
