Regina woke up seventeen minutes before the time her alarm would go off. Usually, it was irritating, but not that morning. She woke up feeling relaxed, as if she had been dreaming of something good she now didn't remember. The space under her comforter felt warm, and the morning outside was greyish, chilly, lazy.

There was one specific thing Regina liked to do when something like that happened - the perfect timing, the easiest morning. She closed her eyes again and slid her hands through her silky camisole until she found the end of it.

Yes, she thought as her right hand went down between her legs, that would be a nice way to start the day.

Under the lace of her panties, Regina found the exact point she was looking for and her fingers moved delicately. It was a familiar gesture, easy, perfected along the years.

Not familiar, though, was the sudden scent that washed over her, together with the distinct feeling that there was a warm body on top of hers, pressing her against the bed. Regina could swear she didn't know that natural, light aloe vera scent. But then she opened her eyes automatically - strangely - expecting to find a certain someone around.

She stopped what she was doing, startled. Of course, there was no one else in the room. There was no aloe vera perfume whatsoever, although she had smelled it clearly just moments ago. Regina's heart was upbeat, and she didn't exactly know why. What had happened?

She shook her head. She was still sleepy, that was all. As her hand began to move again, her hips found their pace. It felt good, really good, getting better...

Her right hand accelerated while the left one clasped the sheets, her fingers diving deeply... into long blonde hair, guiding Emma's mouth to her neck, where a burning tongue drew endless circles on her sensible skin.

Regina gasped and moaned at the same time, her eyes shooting open to free her from the vivid image. She stared at the white ceiling, heart thundering against her ribcage while her core did its best to match the beat.

What the hell was going on with her? She didn't even usually fantasized while pleasing herself. And definitely not about someone she hadn't slept with! That was just outright inappropriate.

She was more than a little mortified to notice just how wet she was. Regina couldn't even remember the last time she had reacted so fast to something. And the point where her fingers stood - motionless now - throbbed almost painfully.

She breathed in deeply. It was still a good morning. If she just concentrated on the touch, and nothing else, all would be fine. Normal. Average.

But as soon as Mills closed her eyes, Emma was in the bed with her. This time raising her night-gown to uncover her stomach, and then her breasts, which she took in her mouth as if they were hers to have.

"Oh. Oh! Oh, god." Regina groaned, her body arching upward.

It took all that she had in her to stop, right on the verge of coming. For one moment, she thought it was too late and she would orgasm anyway. But then the shiver eased away and her body relaxed onto the bed. She moved her hand away from between her legs, where an ache threatened to overwhelm her.

What. The. Fuck.

Regina sat on the mattress, panting. No. No, she would not allow that to happen. Although her mind seemed to be terribly off, her body would certainly not overpower her judgement. Not in this life.

Hell would freeze over before she gave in to that kind of improper, sordid behavior.

And also, she urgently needed a cold shower.

It didn't help as much as she hoped, but there was nothing she could do about it; or rather, nothing she would do about it.

But the hot waves just wouldn't go away, so she angrily removed a dress from her wardrobe. Really… what had just transpired… she couldn't even start to define how absurd it was.

Regina was better than that, and feeling angry with herself was the preferable option, as the other was to acknowledge the shame that was quickly growing roots inside of her. The only solace she took was that she was strong enough to stop herself before she had to face the catastrophic consequences.

But the useless solace wasn't even good enough to make her just forget everything as she got to the office. Regina warily looked around, coming as far as making a little detour by the kitchen to avoid seeing the responsible for her current state. Facing Emma now seemed like an herculean task.

Turned out, she should have stuck with her normal route.

"Good morning."

Mills closed her eyes for a moment, cursing mentally as she turned her head to face the blonde - and the blonde alone, because there was nobody else in the kitchen, what were the odds?

Regina only nodded, the mortification resurfacing and painting her cheeks red.

Not that Emma noticed; because she was too busy looking down at her body. She would just ignore it. She could do that. She could just go to her office and get her work done.

But of course it couldn't be that easy.

"Looking good, boss," Emma blurted when Regina turned on her heels. The investigator noticed it was the first time she ever saw Regina in a dress, and it looked great on her.

Truth be told, Emma didn't mean to say the compliment out loud, but she and mornings never quite got along, so her mind still wasn't completely awake to properly regulate her big fucking mouth. After that, she was prepared for a cutting line or an irony to be thrown back at her.

But Swan definitely didn't see the jump coming when Regina stared back at her.

"Is that a pick up line, Ms. Swan?" The attorney yelped. Yelped.

Emma could almost feel her chin hit the ground. She assessed the red face of her boss as she glared at her.

"I-" Emma gulped, praying to whatever divine being above to just let the earth swallow her. "No?!"

It took a second before Regina nodded once.

"Good," The attorney said vehemently before turning on her heels again and stomping out of the kitchen, leaving a confused Emma behind.

~SQ~


A few hours later, Swan walked in the familiar station, once again realizing how much she did not miss working as a bounty hunter. Being an investigator was much more of her thing, and although she was not bad at chasing scumbags, she was definitely better off helping out in cases. Helping out great lawyers like Regina. And Mary Margaret, of course. But today, really, she wouldn't mind to spend some time away from the office, as she thought Regina was probably still fuming about her huge slip off that morning.

"Hey, Swan, what are you doing around here?"

Emma turned around to face Officer Hua in all her uniformed glory.

"Hello, officer," Swan offered her a smirk. She couldn't avoid remember the accidental phone call, of which Mulan probably didn't even know about. "I came to have a little chat with your captain."

"Why do I have the feeling you're gonna ruin his good mood?" Mulan narrowed her eyes.

"It's just a little chat. He happens to own Mary Margaret a few favors, and I'm here to collect it."

"Right. Probably something from a police investigation that the lawyer should not be aware of."

"Your words, not mine," Emma smiled at Mulan. "Wanna grab lunch later? It shouldn't take long."

"Yeah, sure. Let's go eat together as soon as you finish pissing off my boss."

Emma smiled again. "Hey, don't hate the player."

Mulan rolled her eyes, but forty minutes later they were having lunch in a nearby diner.

"So, what did you do last monday? August passed by and we tried to call you..." Emma ventured between one and another french fry.

Mulan shrugged a little too casually. "I went out with Aurora."

Swan contained a grin. "And how did that go?"

She almost regretted asking when she noticed the blush on Hua's face. But then again, since she already knew, it seemed fair to make Mulan tell her.

"Pretty good, actually," She murmured, then glanced at Emma. "Don't tell August I said that."

Emma chuckled. "Got it. For all that matters, it was... dazzling?"

"Yeah, that will do," Mulan said, chuckling too.

They ate in silence for a few seconds, before Mulan went on.

"We ended up in her place. Things escalated pretty quickly..." She said in such a low tone Emma had to make an effort to hear. "But then, when we were about to... you know. She stopped and said we shouldn't go further before she made sure we were on the same page."

"Really? You had the where-is-this-going talk before the hook up?"

"Yeah, but not quite the way you'd think. At least, it was not quite the way I thought it would be."

Emma frowned. "What you mean?"

"Aurora wanted to make sure both of us were taking things casually. Because she is not ready to commit."

"Oh. Wow. That was..." Brutal? "Honest."

"I guess. And it's a good thing, right? That she was clear about it from the beginning?"

"Yeah, that's for sure," Swan nodded.

"I know it probably means she is dating someone else too. Damn, I bet I even know who."

"And are you ok about it?"

Mulan shrugged. "I can be casual."

"You fucked her anyway, didn't you?"

Hua cracked a tiny smile that was barely even there. "Your words, not mine."

~SQ~


Even after lunch, Emma couldn't erase from her mind the startled face Regina made when she thought Emma was hitting on her. So she thought she should do something nice as a peace offering. Staying on the good side of the woman was so, so much better than the opposite.

Emma knocked on the door and waited for the familiar voice to invite her in. Regina was in her desk, as usual, piles of paper and cases surrounding her. She tilted her head a little when Swan walked in. She wasn't expecting her.

"Hey, sorry, are you too busy?"

"I'm always busy, Ms. Swan," Regina replied in a tone that was colder than Emma was starting to get used to. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, it's no big. I don't mean to disturb you... more, that is. I just came from the station and in the way I passed a newsstand, and I saw this..." Emma extended a plastic bag in Mills's direction. "I thought maybe Henry would like it?"

At the name of her son Regina's expression eased. Emma had seen it happen before. She thought it was kind of sweet, since it was such a natural reaction. Henry was Regina's soft spot. How could he not be, anyway?

"A coloring book?" Mills said, peaking inside the bag.

"Not just any coloring book," Swan protested. "A Wonder Woman coloring book!"

"Oh. I see."

"It's just that your little Batman got all his comic-girls wrong."

"Does he?"

"Yeah, I mean, kids these days don't know much about Wonder Woman. But to me, she's fucking invincible. Really, she has the Lasso of Truth. No one can lie to her. Ever!"

Regina furrowed at Swan's direction, as if saying 'Really?'.

"I just think she would make a great investigator, that's all," Swan tried to explain.

"I thought Emma Bond was your alter ego?" Regina said with the shadow of a smirk.

"Oh, no. Definitely Wonder Woman."

"You're so humble."

Emma chuckled. "Come on, isn't she your favorite? Look at her! She is like, every girl's dream!" But perhaps only every gay girl's dream. "And her clothes? It's sex in a costume. Wouldn't it look great on me?" Emma blurted.

But then Regina didn't answer her. It would be a lie to say the lawyer gave her a once over, because it didn't get near to that. But her eyes wandered a little, that they sure did. And Emma had the feeling her question was being taken seriously.

Then Regina blushed and Emma gulped. Dammit, did she just sound flirty again? Was Regina pissed? She better get out of there. Why the fuck she couldn't leave all sexual innuendos out of the conversation?

Probably because of this dress.

"Well, just tell Henry to reconsider his rank, please?" She said at last. "He thinks Catwoman is the best of them."

"Clearly a flaw in his nurture."

Emma shrugged. "You're the one saying it..."

And then she saw Regina fight off a grin and smiled, relieved. Since she had heard that laugh, the other day, Emma found herself oftenly wanting to hear it again. Still nothing. Somehow, though, it made that moment special. It was always so hard to get so much as a smile from that woman. She contained them all, though Emma could see those lips curving slightly more and more often when they spent time together.

Really, she had no clue why amusing Regina Mills meant that much to her, but it actually did. It made Emma feel special, and that was a rare - so rare - feeling for that blonde to have. She was never special. To anyone.

"I'm sure Henry will like it. Thank you, Ms. Swan," Regina nodded politely.

For a moment, those dark eyes just bored into hers, unreadable. Then Emma blinked and left the office. She imagined she could feel those chocolate eyes burning the back of her head - it distracted her so much she almost bumped into someone in the hallway.

"Sorry!" She said to the blonde woman passing by.

"No problem, dear," The woman replied. And the way she said it sounded so familiar that gave Emma the chills. "Are you the new investigator?"

"I am. Emma Swan," Swan offered her a hand. She had no clue who that woman was, so she better be polite.

"Katherine Nolan." They shook hands as Emma sank in the name. David's wife. What she would be there for?, she wondered.

"Nice to meet you."

"You too," Ms. Nolan smiled, then walked away.

Swan sighed again. Cute blonde, for sure. But she was team Mary Margaret all the way.

~SQ~


"Tell me, is liking women a must-have to work here as an investigator?" Katherine said instead of a polite greeting as she opened the door of the office without any premise.

"Pardon me?" Regina raised her head, not at all impressed by the interruption.

"That new girl. Emma Swen?" Katherine took a sit in front of her friend.

"Swan," Regina corrected automatically.

"That's the one," The woman nodded.

"Why do you say that?" The attorney asked blankly, her curiosity well hidden.

"That she likes women? Well, she just stared at my ass and whistled," Katherine said casually, flipping her hair to the side.

Regina felt her jaw dropping and something akin to indignation burning her insides.

"What?!" She snapped.

Katherine chuckled. "I'm just kidding. The combat boots and leather jacket gave her away."

"Oh," Regina murmured, feeling all sorts of silly and… relieved. "To answer your question, no, it's not a must-have and I had nothing to do with her hiring. Obviously." She added under her breath.

"Obviously?" Katherine asked, arching an eyebrow.

Regina dismissed her with a gesture similar to someone batting away an annoying fly. She was in no mood to indulge conversations that involved Emma Swan, and still very much embarrassed with herself because of her little… incident in the morning.

"Not that I don't appreciate your presence here, but can I help you with something?" The attorney asked, trying not to sound impatient. She did have a lot of work to do, but her mind had been distracted all day. Regina was not happy about it.

"In fact, you can," Katherine smiled. "All you have to do is go on a date Friday."

Regina scoffed. "Are you trying to set me up again, Kat? I hate to bring up the record, but so far it hasn't been very satisfactory."

"You don't hate to bring up the record, I actually believe you love to rub it on my face," The woman retorted with an eye roll.

"You're the one saying, let it be clear," Regina smirked. "Now if that's all-"

"Look at you all in charge and trying to treat me like one of your employees," Katherine interrupted her happily. "I promise you are going to like this one," The blonde assured.

"Fine," Regina sighed, leaning back at her chair. "Tell me the specifics."

"He is a handsome man, a politician-"

"I hate politics," The attorney interjected.

"Are you serious, now? You almost ran for the city council a few years ago!"

"The fact that I didn't should speak volumes here," Regina reasoned.

"The only thing I can infer is that you are already making up excuses without even hearing the rest of what I have to say!" Katherine said matter-of-factly.

"I am not."

She was. Truth be told, the last thought on her mind now was getting a date. Regina had enough on her plate. And yes, Katherine's previous choices for 'adequate' dates had proven to be anything but.

"You haven't dated anyone in ages!" Her friend said in an accusatory tone that immediately put Regina on the defensive side.

"Excuse me? What about Cla-"

"Claudia barely counts." Katherine flicked her wrist. "I bet you don't even remember her last name."

Regina opened her mouth to retort, but dreaded to realize that the other was right.

"I don't have to sit here and listen to your preposterous accusations, Katherine," She retorted sternly. The attack was always the best defense, and she didn't even have to go to college to learn that.

Katherine smiled victoriously.

"See? Dear, you haven't been in a serious relationship since Daniel!"

"Don't," Regina warned as her expression hardened.

"It's been seven years, Regina!" Katherine clearly had a death wish, for she continued to press the matter.

"Enough!" Her open hands lowered to make contact to the table, a loud thud echoing around the office.

She couldn't put in words how much satisfaction she felt at the mortified look on her friend's face. Daniel was a taboo. Katherine should know better. She should know the emotions she awoke at the mere reference of his name; and Regina wouldn't, under any circumstance, have that. Not right now and preferably not ever in the presence of someone else rather than her own thoughts.

"I'm sorry," Katherine looked properly ashamed of herself, and the brunette took a long breath. "But hear me out. Please?"

Regina didn't say anything, and apparently that was enough confirmation for her friend.

"I'm just looking out for your best interests. I don't like seeing you lonely," Katherine said softly.

"I'm not alone. I have Henry."

"Speaking of Henry... Did I mention Robin is a single parent too? He has the cutest two-years old boy," The woman fished her phone and shoved a photo of a smiling baby on Regina's face.

The woman had to admit, he was cute. And also, Katherine knew how to play her cards very well.

"And Robin is a truly decent man," The woman continued in a tone that could rival with Regina's court voice.

"You are not letting this go, are you?" Regina asked rhetorically.

"No." Katherine grinned at her like a Cheshire cat.

She sighed as her eyes dropped to the table. The coloring book still rested on top of her papers, and her stomach churned. Maybe… Maybe she could use the distraction; anything that had a remote shot at making her dismiss her momentary insanity maybe was worthy.

"Very well… Eight o'clock. Be a dear and inform him I do not appreciate lateness."

~SQ~


It was just one of those days. Having finally managed to break free from Katherine and her never-ending list of qualities of Regina's new suitor, Mills decided she needed a cup of coffee. Strong coffee. Good coffee.

Then she set foot out of the building and the rain started to pour, strong and merciless. Regina actually felt in a Hollywood cheeky movie as she raised her head to stare at the sky in disbelief. She couldn't see much, though, as the drops of rain blinded her. Shaking her head, she looked down at her suddenly soaked dress.

Regina clenched her jaw, the promise of good coffee seeming too far away from her miserable reality. She was halfway to go back inside when an umbrella rose to barricade her from the rain.

"Need an ark, Noah?"

The attorney turned her head to the side to find a certain blonde standing way too close to her. She blinked. Was she going crazy or Emma Swan was just everywhere today?

"Um… you are wet," Emma continued, not catching the uneasiness on the other and apparently deciding it was for the best to get even closer.

Her arm was now almost pressing against Regina's shoulder and the attorney was alarmingly aware of it.

"What?" She snapped back, reaching the quick conclusion that the gods were messing with her. She couldn't possibly have heard it right.

"Wet," Emma repeated, giving Regina a pointed once over. "Because of the rain and stuff," The investigator added, eyes back on hers.

"Oh yes, yes," The woman could just hope the realization wasn't obvious on her expression. The smirk on Emma's face wasn't too reassuring.

"Are you going somewhere? I can shelter you, ma'am," Emma announced solemnly, her back straightening.

If she wasn't so desperate to just get inside and put as much distance between her and the blonde as she could, Regina would probably think of a witty retort.

"I actually just got back from the café," The brunette said instead.

She got as an answer a skeptical gaze.

"Really? Your business card should say 'Flash' instead of 'Regina Mills', then," Emma retorted with a smile, probably sensing all the teasing was a little too much.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," She deadpanned.

"Right," Emma scoffed. "You closed the elevator in my face not two minutes ago."

Busted.

"Really, Ms. Swan, you should consider glasses," Regina answered, her expression carefully neutral.

"Come on, let's grab a cup of coffee, which is what you were going to do, right?!"

There, the arm finally made contacted with her skin. What a crappy, crappy day to leave the coat at home. But then again, Regina was smoldering when she left, that morning.

"Are you stalking me now?!" Regina asked with all the indignation she could muster as she pretended she didn't feel damn shivers running down her arm.

"You just told me!" Emma said, her eyes popping out and screaming 'are you serious?'.

Regina huffed.

"Fine," The word escaped through her teeth, the resignation starting to set on her stomach, "Just a cup."

The attorney caught herself wondering why she kept doing those small concessions to Emma. And worse, why she came as far as running to avoid said concessions. She couldn't quite put her finger on why the other could get under her skin like that; or how the investigator could easily made her forget her better judgment. It was just a cup of coffee, she had to repeat to herself, but much like when she accepted the invitation to go for a drink with Emma before, it somehow felt so much more.

The blonde wasn't her friend. The blonde was her employee, she had to remind herself, and Regina wasn't with the rest of her employees how she was starting to be with Emma. The attorney didn't allow anybody to rise to the same level as hers, treat her like a colleague rather than as the boss she truly was. She would never accept presents for her son, or share details about his life. She wouldn't feel the shudders on her skin if anybody else casually touched her.

The Starbucks was packed, and that much Regina expected, what she didn't expect though, was the thunderstorm that started to fall even harder on the other side of the shop, so she found herself sharing a ridiculously small table with Emma.

"So, do you really think Henry will like the coloring book?" The blonde asked, taking a sip from her coffee.

"I should probably discount the money of the comic books he will make me buy of Wonder Woman from your paycheck," She smiled, because her son was seriously cute when excited about something; though maybe not so much when he woke her to read for him five in the morning.

Emma chuckled, leaning in slightly.

Regina had to adjust herself to avoid any unexpected touch, but there wasn't much space for adjustment. Her feet were crossed and rested under her chair, and her elbows were glued to her body.

"I'm impressed I have a paycheck at all… I didn't think I would go through the first month on the job," Emma quipped.

"Oh, believe me, dear, I didn't either," Regina said seriously, guessing the smile would fade from Emma's lips.

It didn't happen.

"But yet here we are… Is it too soon to ask for a raise?"

Regina stared at the teasing smirk for a moment longer than she intended.

"Why should I even consider it?" She retorted, the challenging tone no stranger for both of them.

"You know… I did just save you from a natural disaster…" Emma pointed outside as a thunder reverberated loudly right on cue.

Regina scoffed.

"I was ready to go back; if anything, you got me trapped."

"Come on, on the bright side, you are all warm and ingesting good old caffeine," Emma wiggled her eyebrows as Regina rolled her eyes.

"I wouldn't say warm," She said, regretting in the next second as Emma's eyes lowered to her wet fucking off-white dress… The attorney didn't need to look to know her bra was probably very much on display, as she could feel the fabric hugging her body, soaking the skin underneath it.

Regina raised an eyebrow, expecting Emma to look back at her at any time now, but the other sure took her sweet time, even sipping her coffee as she stared at her chest. A heat started to climb up her neck, contradicting her previous sentence, and it was just ridiculous that she could feel herself blushing. The worst thing: she didn't hate the situation like she thought she would.

And that was what made her clear her throat.

"Here, take my jacket," Emma had the decency to look guilty, and immediately undressed that horrid red piece of clothing.

"There is no ne-" The protest died on her lips when the blonde extended her the jacket. It wasn't the gesture that made her accept it, though, more like the thigh that was now rubbing against hers.

"Just take it. You are shivering."

And Regina took it, because she would let Noah build a fucking second ark before she would admit it out loud that the shivers didn't originate from the cold. The aloe vera scent that instantaneously invaded her nostrils didn't help her cause.

Yes, Regina was very much screwed.

~SQ~


Regina was in bed for seventeen minutes now. It could have been seventeen years. She was not going to sleep. She couldn't. Even now, after that red jacket was long gone, she could smell Emma's scent on her skin. It was so light, a natural scent, really, like Swan didn't even try to smell like that.

It shouldn't feel so overly sexual to Regina. But it did.

And there was that ache again, swallowing her from the inside. A heat so good, seductive, that all she wanted was to be embraced by it. Also, deep inside, Regina knew it wasn't going to go away.

So she did something she couldn't remember the last time she had done - she gave in.

The moan released from her lips when she touched herself seemed to come from the pit of her soul. Jesus, it felt so good. She closed her eyes to drown herself in thick blonde hair and sweet aloe vera.

And this time, oh, this time there was no cold shower intended.

~SQ~


If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

Except for Regina, whose hands are occupied at the moment, of course. :D