Chapter 9

Ladies Dancing.

Henry clumped downstairs at a slowed sleepy pace. He walked into the kitchen to see his mom practice what appeared to be a box step. She noticed him and went back to making Sunday lunch for him which usually involved bacon that was now crisping up quite nicely in a pan on the hob.

"You just getting up?" She stated looking up at the clock now showing it to be almost one in the afternoon.

"I've been up for hours I just never came downstairs." He yawned taking the lettuce out of the fridge and running it under the faucet. They had done this for so many years that they had gotten into a routine.

"Uh huh sure." She rolled her eyes seeing through his transparent lie. "Henry...Are you okay to stay here tonight by yourself for a few hours."

"I'm 14. Where are you going?" He tore apart the lettuce plopping it into a bowl.

"To the dance at Town Hall." She said hoping to sound nonchalantly.

"I thought you weren't working on that."

"I'm not." She took a piece of lettuce from the bowl on her way to get the bread from the cabinet behind him.

"You-you're going?" His face was contorted in confusion.

"Attending, yes." She turned away from his gaze as she took the crispy bacon off the pan with skilled hands avoiding the hissing grease as she put them on a plate.

"But it's for couples." He told her not to sure if she knew.

"I know." She gave him a loving smile but she was scared.

"Okay who are you going with." He questioned making her tense up. She didn't want him to know in case things went bad but he would find out.

"Uh, Emma invited me." She turned away from him to the fridge, hiding her face in there as she got the tomatoes she sliced earlier out.

"SHE DID? OH MY GOD!" His voice filled with excitement.

"Henry no it's..." Regina tried to argue but she couldn't, she had no idea what it was how could she explain it to him. She made his sandwich in the silence that followed. Henry watched her, she seemed confused and lost like Emma.

"She has feelings for you" He almost whispered, it made his mom look up at him.

"Did she tell you that?" There was a vulnerability in her voice that made Henry's heart crack.

"No but it's obvious Mom." He took the plates of sandwiches to the small table in the kitchen. "You do too. I can tell."

"Am I obvious too?" She followed him and took her seat.

"Well you were snuggling in public at the parade." He pointed out with a smug smile as he took a big bite out of his sandwich.

"We weren't snuggling." Her voice was defensive.

"And you shared a bed together." He winced at that.

"That was just sleeping! Well we talked a bit but it was mainly sleeping." She said not wanting him to think that she and Emma were just a sexual thing even though the image of the blonde in her french maid costume and her in swimwear were at the forefront of her thoughts for the past two days.

"And you constantly stare at her." He pointed out.

"I do not stare."

'Do I stare at her all the time? I thought I was at least subtle.'

"Oh come on Mom. We could be in a huge crowd but you two would be staring at the other. It's actually...cute." He gave a shy smile as he finished up his sandwich.

"It is?" She questioned wanting his approval of a relationship with Emma and her.

"Yeah everyone thinks you two would make a cute couple." He told her.

'Everyone? What if we don't work out. What if it goes bad. They'll all hate me. Stop that. It's just a date.'

"It's just a date though. Nothing serious."

"Uh huh." He picked up his plate and took it the dishwasher. "Do you have a dress for tonight?"

"I have more than I can count. They're in my vault." She told him finishing her own sandwich. She wiped the corners of her mouth when he came back leaning on the fridge to talk to her.

"I can help you chose one if you want."

"You'd do that." She beamed at him and he returned it.

"Operation Mongoose."

"That was to find the author. I should tidy up and after you get dressed we can head out." She walked past him to start the clean up of the pans and bowls.

"It was to find your happy ending." He muttered as he ran up the stairs.

#

Emma knocked on the loft door. Snow answered it and burst into a huge smile when she saw her daughter.

"Hi!"

"Hey Mom can I ask you for your he-" Before Emma could get the rest out Snow crashed against her for a hug in the doorway of the loft. "Why are we hugging."

"Your father told me. About you and Regina!" Snow told her as she let her go. Emma moved past her and shut the door slightly irritated that her father had talked about their conversation the day before.

"I told him that in private."

"We share everything. Even a heart." Snow told her with a shrug.

"That is still weird. Anyway do you know where I can get a ballgown?" Emma sat on a stool at the kitchen island as Snow made her a cup of tea.

"Oh yes, did you know Ashley can sew. She opened a boutique in town." Snow told her happy for her friends success and excited on Emma's behalf.

"I have never seen a boutique and I go on patrol everyday." She told her mother, knowing every square inch of that town like the back of her hand. The only person who knew it better would be Regina but thats because she created it.

"Well she runs it out of her mother in law's garage but she has some beautiful dresses." Snow reasoned.

"I hope they're cheap. I just spent the last of my paycheck on Henry's gifts. Most of it went to the rental place. Long story."

"I'll pay. It'll be a Christmas gift for your mother." She placed a cup of tea in front of Emma and took a sip of her own.

"Thanks." Emma took her tea and raised it in a 'Cheers' gesture before taking a sip. It had too much milk for her liking but she drank it anyway.

"So you and Regina?" Snow said broaching the subject again, she had waited so long to talk about it with her daughter.

"Me and Regina. Is that weird for you?" She asked wondering if her mom felt weird about the whole situation.

"At first when I thought of it but after a while not really. She was quite transparent when you were missing, I have been waiting since then for this." She told her daughter almost vibrating with excitement for her.

"How so?" Emma asked curious about how Regina talks about her when she isn't there.

"She was more worried than your boyfriend." Snow scoffed to herself. Emma raised her eyebrows finding it hard to believe that she was more worried than her obsessed ex. "She even knew where your baby blanket was and that it was the most special thing to you, well after your bug."

"Killian got the blanket." Emma told, he had said so in Arthur's castle.

"Well he lied. What he did was almost get Henry killed by Zelena. Regina came to me with it having found it herself and she said something like she knew it was the thing most precious to you and that she couldn't fit the bug in the diner." Snow informed her.

Emma downed her tea feeling her heart flutter that the great act of love she thought was from him was actually from Regina. She would have been angry toward him for lying if she wasn't thinking about Regina knowing her better than anyone else.

#

At exactly seven o'clock Emma nervously paced down the path to 108 Mifflin street. She took a breath before ringing the bell.

She was mentally prepared to see Regina and held out a single rose.

"Hey." It wasn't Regina. Henry smirked seeing his mom's nervous stance.

"Hi, is your Mom there?" She pulled the rose back and hid it behind her back making her son let out a laugh.

"You look great. She's still getting ready." He stepped aside letting her in to the house. She had her hair up in an elegant ponytail with braids at the sides. She was wearing a fitted black blazer and black trousers. Below the blazer she had a crisp white shirt and a narrow tie.

She had opted for a suit at Ashley's at home shop and had her quickly alter it to fit her perfectly.

"Does she seem interested in this or dreading it?" She whispered to him as she waited on Regina.

"She's interested." He reassured her with a comforting touch. "I'll go get her. MOM!" He ran upstairs. Emma was checking her hair and make up in the mirror in the foyer when she looked up at saw Regina at the landing upstairs doing the same thing.

"Holy crap." Emma muttered as she watched the gorgeous woman apply lipstick carefully while their son whispered to her. Regina was in a a ruby red dress with long sleeves but a low cut bodice that had detailed black markings of material barely covering her cleavage. The soft dress was like a second skin until it got to her hips then it loosened. Regina's hair was slicked back of her face and was down in light waves. She had long dangling earrings and now dark red lips to match her dress. Emma had never seen anyone look as beautiful as Regina looked right now.

Regina eventually descended the staircase when she had finished. Emma looked up at her grinning broadly.

"You look amazing." She told her almost loosing her breath from seeing it up close.

"I was just about to say the same." Regina told her with matching her grin.

'She looks good in a suit.'

Emma held out the rose she had had behind her back. Regina beamed with affection taking it from her.

"Thank you Emma." It was a real date. She knew it now.

"Quick get closer!" Henry told them holding up his phone wanting a picture of their first date.

"Henry no." Emma protested.

"Just do it." He told her with a stern face. "Okay get closer. Put your arm around her Mom."

"Which one is he talking to." Emma joked easing the tension between the two who smirked at that. "I'll do it." Emma wrapped an arm around Regina's waist. The mayor leaned into her and did the same. Henry took multiple snaps of them before putting his phone down. Regina took her bag from the foyer and turned to her son.

"We are going. Okay we both have our cells so if anything goes wrong just call. No friends are to come over and don't eat too much junk food."

"No girls over." Emma added not wanting him doing something he was far too young to do.

"And no blaring music." Regina pointed at him knowing the last time he was alone for a few minutes David called her at work telling her about a noise complaint being called in.

"I know. I won't." He rolled his eyes at his parents.

"We love you." Emma told him as she opened the door for Regina.

"Yeah, love you too. Have fun." He waved them off, Emma turned back and told him.

"Be good!" He rolled his eyes again as they closed the door.

"Bye."

When they got outside Regina looked around for the bug but couldn't find it.

"Did you walk here?"

"I knew you wouldn't want to go in my car not in a ballgown." Emma informed her looking her up and down taking in the pure beauty again. "I was thinking we could poof there." Her voice was dreamy and far off.

"Poof?" The mayor asked raising an eyebrow at the word Emma had used.

"Yeah you know the purple swirl thing." Emma explained making the hand gesture she had seen Regina make a hundred times in the past few years. Regina rolled her eyes at the awful imitation of her and took Emma's hand. Purple smoke erupted below them and after a popping sound and a feeling like your stomach dropping they were outside town hall. Some of the people who had been standing near where they appeared almost screamed from being startled by the magic.

"You mean that." Regina asked smugly as Emma stumbled.

"Yes that." She kept a hold of Regina's hand as they walked towards the building.

"So was today lined up with the ball. The nine ladies dancing?"

"No actually my idea was playing Just Dance at your place but this was better." Emma admitted scoffing lightly.

They walked to the ticket stand near the entrance. Regina bought the two tickets insisting after all Emma had done for her over the last nine days.

When they got inside the auditorium that was decorated with white and blue balloons and streamers every eye turned to them.

Emma squeezed the mayor's hand lightly and continued walking.

"It's about damn time."

"I knew they were together."

"They look good together."

Snow and David walked over to them to say hello.

"Regina your dress is incredible." Snow said admiring the fine detail in it.

"And you look beautiful." David told his daughter smiling proudly at her for taking the plunge to ask Regina out.

"Thanks Snow." Regina said at the same time Emma thanked her father.

"Thank you Dad."

"We're here as friends." Regina quickly told them looking at the blonde not knowing if she wanted them to know thinking back to their chat in her office more than a week ago when Emma told her that she wasn't into women.

"They both know." Emma told her with a shy smile.

"They do?"

"Turns out they knew before I did. Oh I love this song. Come on." Emma pulled her onto the dance floor as "Sway" by Michael Buble blasted from the PA system.

She spun Regina and swayed her hips to the salsa like rhythm to the song. She rested her hand on Regina's neck who was following her lead leaning her forehead close to Emma's, her hand holding the small of blonde's back as they danced. Emma twirled away from her but Regina twirled near her and pulled her back to her body.

Emma's hand was on Regina's shoulder blade, her other out holding Regina's. There was a spark of tension as they rolled their hips to the music getting closer to each other. They kept eye contact as they moved.

'This is incredible. She is incredible.'

'Her lips look very kissable.'

Regina moved in feeling a pull more than a conscious choice and almost kissed her until the song stopped abruptly.

Emma instantly recognized the next song from hearing it every day on the radio while she worked.

Everyone in the room was up dancing. She swivled her body and did the twist and came back up dancing to the upbeat tune with Regina who was wiggling her hips along to it. A few of the younger couples were jumping up and down when it got to the chorus and they sang along.

"SHUT UP AND DANCE WITH ME!"

Even Rumple and Belle were on the floor copying the dance from Pulp Fiction.

Regina was holding Emma's wrist up as she sang along and danced close to the blonde.

They stopped moving when they heard Elvis' voice croon "I Can't Help Falling in Love". They stayed in the spot and Emma rested her head on Regina's shoulder and they swayed holding each other close.

Emma sang along in a quiet almost whisper along to the lyrics feeling the meaning behind them. "Darling so it goes, Some things are meant to be, Take my hand, take my whole life, too, For i can't help falling in love with you."

Regina almost cried at the hauntingly beautiful sound coming from Emma.

When the song ended and "Uptown Funk" came on Regina leaned in to the Sheriff's ear and whispered. "Follow me."

She took Emma by her hand and led her to a quiet corridor. When they were alone before Regina could take Emma went for it.

She held Regina's shoulders and kissed her softly. The kiss was over before it started but both of them stood inches apart with their eyes closed. Emma smiled, her eyes still closed. "I have wanted to that all ni-"

Before she could finish she felt a hand on the back of her neck pulling her back for a passionate kiss. Emma opened her eyes in shock but quickly went with slowly stepping back until Regina's back was against a wall. One hand was on the wall behind Regina's waist and the other was holding onto her hip as they kissed.

Regina gasped for air and pulled her head back staring at the blonde with hungry eyes. Emma held the left side of Regina's neck gently as she kissed down the other side of it. The action made Regina groan and arch her neck back as she cradled the back of Emma's head. She pulled her back to her eye level and kissed her again.

A noise from the end of the hall made them separate not wanting to get caught. Regina pulled Emma's hand and took her to the courtyard at the back of the town hall. They walked hand in hand grinning widely as they went to the tree that Emma had taken a chainsaw to when she first stayed in the town.

They sat on a bench on the other side of it where no one could see them from lower level of the building.

"No one can see us here." Regina informed her with dilated pupils leaning forward wanting to kiss her again.

"Are you ashamed of me your majesty?" Emma teased playfully.

"Shut up. I just want to go back to what we were doing without an audie-" Emma gripped the sides of her neck as they crashed together in another kiss.

#

They made out for over an hour before they both got too cold to stay out there any longer. When they walked back in they were stopped by Belle making her way back from the bathroom in the darkened hallway where they had kissed earlier.

"Um guys...Don't go back in there just yet." She warned them.

"Why what's wrong?" Emma asked worried that some chaos had taken place during their absence.

"You have a bit of lipstick...uh...Here." She took out a compact mirror from her purse and showed them. She pointed at her lips and they soon got what she meant. They both had lipstick smears and marks around the bottom of their faces and necks.

They made their way to the bathroom and both let a chuckle at the damage they had caused.

#

When the dance ended they walked home. They had just turned left at the end of main street when Regina stopped and held Emma's shoulder for leverage as she pulled off her high heels.

"What are you doing?"

"These weren't a wise decision for dancing." She sighed as she sank down a few inches.

"I got you." Emma smirked and scooped up the mayor in arms holding her bridal style.

"Emma! Put me down!" She squeaked clinging onto her fearing she would fall.

"I will, when we get to your door."

"People will see." Regina told her looking over her shoulder seeing a person in the distance walking their dog.

"I want them to. I am with the most beautiful woman in town!" Emma called out and both of them laughed at her ridiculousness. When they did get to her house Emma didn't let her down until they were on the porch. When she was down Emma bowed. "Madame"

"Sir." Regina bowed back with her eyebrow raised.

"Hey!"

"You love it." Regina snaked her arm around Emma's waist and pulled her close. There stomachs pressed against each other.

"Is that so?" Emma challenged.

"It is." They began kissing again with their lipstick gone haven't been wiped away in the bathroom they kissed passionately, neither wanting the night to end but wanting it to end on a high note and right now making out with Emma pressed against a column with Regina holding her face made them both feel amazing.

"Oh my god! Gross! Stop!" Henry had opened the door hearing noises outside. He hadn't expected to see his mothers kissing and the way they were made him feel queasy.

"Oh uh." Regina stepped back quickly wiping the corner of her mouth while Emma panted still gripping the column behind her.

"I thought you wanted us together." She said to him with a chuckle trying to keep it light.

"I didn't want to see you hump on the porch." He told them grimacing at the idea of that.

"Hump?" Regina questioned furrowing her brow.

"Our son said hump." Emma teased feeling too good to regret that kiss.

"Shut up." Henry rolled his eyes and went back inside.

"Sorry about that." Emma took the brunette's hand in hers.

"Never apologize when you kiss like that." Regina told her leaning in for a soft and gentle kiss goodnight. "Goodnight Emma."

"Goodnight Regina."

Emma went to kiss her again but saw a flash of purple, felt her stomach drop and heard a loud pop and saw she was in her living room much like the previous day her phone beeped.

[Had to make sure you got home safe-R]

[I'm the Sheriff I would have been fine but thank you from saving me the walk. Love E]

[I was saving myself too. If I didn't stop we would have been out there all night. Goodnight Emma. Love R.]

Emma flopped back onto the sofa with the biggest grin thinking about the incredible night she had.

#

They finally kissed! Hope you enjoyed it.