Alright... this is the last chapter that will have hardly any Emma. We will get swan queen interaction next chapter. I keep getting a little hate on the fact that Robin is still around. but what did you expect she was just going to not grieve a marriage? She had put herself in a position where she could move on from her love of her life after he died, and the dude rejected her in the worst way. Strong women deal with their hurt feelings before moving on to the next person. She had to acknowledge that he was supposed to be it and he wasn't. That being said, in the next chapter (which I need to transcribe to this fandom and situation and translate and will take me a long time) seems to move these two women in a very SQ direction really rapidly. I will see. The situation in this fandom, calls for more finessing, so maybe it won't be the same in this fandom as the last time I wrote this story. but you should look forward to more SQ moments. That being said, Enjoy!~ S.K.
Going Public
Regina was moving easier the next morning. Okay, now you've cried. So just get in , do your job and forget that any of this has happened til you can't avoid it anymore. Regina thought to herself as she walked into the Oval on Monday morning.
"Good morning Madam President," Tink said handing her the things that she needed for her Monday meeting with the staff.
"Good morning Tink," Regina said and kept moving through the office. "What's today like?"
"After your staff meeting, you have a meeting with a campaign contributor from the Go Green Organization," Vince said as she took a seat at her desk.
Regina smiled at that, "Oh I definitely want to meet with him. I need to know more about this program."
"After that, you have a meeting with Congressman Gold from New York and the Secretary of Transportation," Tink continued.
"Then my four o'clock…" Regina said moving her past that.
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's it?" Regina asked, "Does that mean I actually get to catch up on paperwork today?"
"Absolutely," Tink stated with a smile.
"Sweet!" Regina said hoping for as little human contact as she could possibly get. "Knock on the door when it's time for the staff meeting."
"Yes ma'am," Tink said as he walked out of the door shutting it behind her.
Regina opened the first file on her stack and it was for some embargo on diamond exporting from Sierra Leone. In her attempts to completely disconnect herself from what was happening to her, she hummed as she worked. I need to find myself in the music room one of these days, she thought to herself as she flipped the page. Second's later there was a knock on the door, "Yes?"
"Time for the staff meeting ma'am," Tink said peeking into the room."The staff is gathered in the east conference room."
"Goody," Regina said sarcastically. She left the file she had been working on right on her desk and walked off to the side door of the oval leading directly to the east conference room.
"Room, Attention." The guard at the door said. She walked to her seat and sat down.
"At ease," Regina said quietly, "What have you got?"
"This," Kathryn said dropping the inquirer in front of her. Regina's stomach twisted inside her, as her outside showed no apparent reaction. She looked at it without touching it. Reached into her jacket pocket pulling out her reading glasses.
The staff was silent as the president picked up the rag and read it. Its title read, 'Deceit in the White House: I slept with the First Gentleman.' There was a picture of a tearful Zelena with a caption that read, 'Greene, 34, was caught by the president herself.'
Regina looked up at her expectant staff and waited. "Is it true Ma'am?" Kathryn asked.
"What if it were?" Regina asked leaning back in her chair.
"With all due respect ma'am, this could really hurt you in the polls," Mal said sitting forward in her chair. She placed her elbows on the table using her hands for emphasis. "This is one of the top two reasons why a woman shouldn't be president."
"Why? Because she couldn't manage to keep her man happy?" Sydney asked with a raised brow.
"I know it's sexist, I didn't make the rules. You men can't take a woman in power. Your egos are too fragile." Mal said shrugging. "Most Americans would prefer a single woman in the presidency or a former first lady," Mal explained. "For the single fact that the First Gentleman would have already held the higher position."
"Well I suppose this will just have to stay a rumor now wouldn't it?" Regina said. "It's only the inquirer… It has no credibility."
"So what's our game plan?" Kathryn asked Mal.
"I'll watch the polls for a downward trend," Mal answered. "Where is Robin by the way?"
"I, uh…" Regina hesitated, "He quit."
"What?" Kathryn asked shocked.
Sydney looked at Regina. "Madame president, This will not end with the Inquirer."
Regina sighed, "I know." She looked at everyone around the table, "Okay, here's the story. It's true. Robin cheated on me with Ms. Greene and I asked for both of their resignations. I need for this to go away somehow. I want the American people to focus on the Nation's issues and not mine."
Kathryn and Mal started. Sydney fidgeted a bit uncomfortable, "I think if you leave no room for speculation, it should make it easier." He said.
"Right, Oprah style." Mal said catching his angle, "It will hit you hard at first, but eventually people will see your strength of character and your sympathy ratings will soar."
"I'm not ready to be completely raw, putting my wounds out on display for the vultures to pick at," Regina stated.
"Ma'am, you promised America that you would be candid. But you don't have to be that candid. Maybe you might downplay the whole thing, make the public see it from your point of view?" Sydney continued.
"My point of view might be a little skewed," Regina stated dryly.
"Or, you could pull a Hillary and totally stand by Robin during the scandal," Mal stated. "Like a good little woman."
Regina grimaced. "And I look weak in exchange… Okay, how about I don't acknowledge this until it works its way into my press conferences? I'll try to... work things out at home."
"Hey, it worked for Hillary…" Mal Mumbled.
"Do you think Robin would be willing to…" Kathryn started.
"You know what?" Regina stated tossing the tabloid back on the table in frustration. "I'm done with this topic. It is not a national concern what goes on in my home. Next talking point please."
"Um… There is the Bill to give federal funds to further fuel research. "Andrea, Regina's lead research assistant said.
"Good, I'm meeting with the CEO of Go Green today," Regina said. "I want to place a large chunk of the budget for alternative fuel research." The meeting went on much like this. They avoided what they knew was coming. Their boss was fighting an uphill battle. But they were determined to stand by her every step of the way.
Two days later, the news had spread over the airwaves and to what Regina liked to call the legitimate press. She had gotten phone calls from some world leaders and contributors that pulled the support for her reelection. Her poll standing had fallen considerably to forty percent after the news broke.
Maleficent was frantic as she watched the numbers plummet but she kept her cool. Because she was convinced that once Regina spoke out about what was going on with her, the sympathy ratings would shoot through the roof. It would hopefully show her human side; she's too perfect.
Mal looked out of her office and caught a glimpse of Sydney rushing down the hall toward the press room next to the president who had an unreadable expression on her face. "Madame President, Have you prepared a statement on the residence situation," Maleficent asked catching up to them.
Regina's back stiffened and she turned to look at her PR person. She gave her a look that would have made any person cower. "Absolutely not."
"Ma'am, are you planning on wearing that face through all of the questions, because if I didn't know any better, I'd think that you were mad at me, But I know it's just the question," Mal stated walking on with her. "And you know that is the very same question they will ask you today. You need to deliver your half-truth with as much candor as you can."
"Maleficent, I'm fine," Regina stated and headed toward the pressroom.
"Ladies and Gentleman, the president of the United States." The announcer said as Regina's stomach dropped all the way down to her knees.
She walked to the podium and did the briefing on what she wanted to accomplish with the Ethanol Bill that she had initiated and updated the nation on the embargo with Sierra Leone. All was well, but then there were the questions.
"The president will now field the Press' questions," Sydney stated.
Infinite shouts of "Madame President over here," could be heard. Regina looked around and spotted someone she had never called on before and said. "Stephanie, I'll start with you today."
"Madame President, How long do you project that the alternative fuel bill will be under review by Congress?" Stephanie asked.
Regina breathed a sigh of relief smiling at the journalist she said. "It's hard to say. Though this is something that we all want, we might argue about the amount of money should go to the research. This could take a considerable amount of time, it all depends on the mood in Congress doesn't it?" Regina chuckles a little. The crowd followed suit and again the swell of voices begging to be heard arose again. "How about You Martin, What do you have for me?"
"On the Sierra Leone Issue, The embargo limits the number of Diamonds they export to us annually, how do you think their economy and ours will be affected?"
Again relief.
Regina leaned forward on the podium. "The impact to our economy would be slight The diamond industry is large, and America imports more diamonds than any other country. Our jewelers may be affected by the price that would go up. Sierra Leone would actually benefit from having the ability to open market to other parts of the world."
Regina looked at her watch, glad the questions were not personal. "The president will now field two more questions," Sydney said with a smile directed at his boss. The din in the room boosted to that of a construction site It was loud and Regina knew that the next question was going to break her.
"Jack," she said picking the least likely to harass her about her status.
"Madame President, what have you to say about the allegations that your husband has cheated on you?"
There it was… out on the table. Regina tried to swallow back tears, "That matter is extremely personal and I am not at all ready to discuss that at this time."
"Last question, Ted." Sidney interceded.
"How are you feeling Ma'am?" Ted asked Regina. The room got quiet as everyone looked at Regina expectantly.
Regina only stared at Ted for a few moments, "No comment." She stated and walked off the stage. She wasn't ready to be candid.
Emma sat in her private chambers watching the news feeds from the US. Watching the world talk about the woman she was lusting after. Sure Regina was constantly on the screen, but Right at the moment, Regina looked as though she would rather be anywhere else.
"Momma!" Emma heard from behind her. The door to the nursery opened and a lively three-year-old girl came running out of it, followed by a harried nursemaid.
Emma smiled and turned to face her. She smiled broadly and picked the child up. "Hi, munchkin."
Princess Elena was second in line for the crown. She will be first if she marries her mother does. That was what Queen Snow had decreed, having been unhappy that Emma had come out of her closet and lived a life of a playboy in front of the whole world. With one opportunistic woman or another hanging from her arm.
Truth was, Emma was a good monarch. She would be an excellent queen. But Her mother had become adamant that now that she had "Decided" she was a lesbian, there would be no continuing the royal line.
Four years ago, Emma Met Prince Baelfire of a tiny island nation off the coast of Greece. Who was also in love with the head of her security detail. He was already second in line to his throne, and there were no heirs to be had as he was never to be married. Same-sex marriages are illegal on his tiny island.
Emma made a deal with Prince Bae to bare him an heir… Thus uniting both tiny entities. So Ella was a special princess indeed.
"What you doin'?" Elena asked her mother.
"Watching a friend," Emma answered looking back to her screen.
Elena looked at the screen. "Who's dat?"
"That is the leader of the free world," Emma answered her daughter. "She is… my friend Regina."
"Pretty," Ella said.
"You think so?"
Elena nodded. "Why is she so sad?"
Emma looked back and it was that afternoon's press conference. She read captions of it. The question about her marriage printed in bold there. Emma looked back at Regina and her heart constricted. "She needs a really good hug." She answered
"Can she come over so I can give one to her?" Elena asked.
"No princess," Emma said. "She lives far away."
"Oh."
"You should call her on the phone," Elena said sliding off her mother's lap. "Mommy come play wiff me."
Emma smiled at her little girl and stood up to follow Elena to her nursery.
