A/N: You guys are awesome! So just bear with me in this chapter: I am introducing someone new but they will be gone by the next chapter (I think). My entire goal for this story is 100% Swan Queen so don't worry :)

Thanks to MagicMirrorSeesAll91 for sparking the jealous Regina in this chapter :)

As always, let me know what you think!


Chapter Nine

Music had always been Emma's way of escaping. It was only natural that she found herself belting out the words of "Dont'" by Ed Sheeran while she cleaned her apartment. It was a week after Regina had cut things off and the blonde was still bitter about it. Somehow, holding her Swifer to her mouth like a microphone and singing the harsh words made her feel a little better.

"Don't fuck with my love, that heart is so cold"

She danced and couldn't help but replay the past week's events (or lack thereof) in her head. Emma attended Regina's class as usual, homework done perfectly. They didn't speak a word to each other and they never made any eye contact. Each woman examined the other when she wasn't looking but that was the extent of their care. Emma tried her hardest to not give a shit how the professor looked or what she was up to but her mind kept memorizing Regina's outfits hugging her body and she constantly wondered what she was doing. She hoped that Regina was thinking about her just as much but she doubted it.

There's no way she cares as much as I do or as much as I thought she did. If she did, she wouldn't have left.

Of course she had contemplated not showing up to Regina's class at all but she didn't want the professor knowing just how bad she had been hurt. Emma Swan had never been a coward and she wasn't about to become one right now. Slacking off wasn't really an option either, so she braved it and went to class. Her facial expressions remained neutral so no one thought anything wsa off. After many years of being rejected by nearly everyone Emma learned perfectly how to mask her emotions. She just kept telling herself that she would be over the brunette any day now and that she was much better off without her. Too bad in the back of her mind she didn't actually believe it.

There was a pounding on her door trying to be heard over the blaring music. Emma felt a flutter as she hoped it both was and wasn't Regina.

She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when she saw that it was Jefferson.

"Oh, hey, Jefferson."

"Nice to see you too, Em," he said as he pushed his way inside. "You haven't been answering my texts or calls so I figured I'd come over to make sure you're still alive."

"Sorry, I've just been really busy lately. You know with school and work." She led the over to the couch.

"Oh yeah, between school, work, and fucking your professor I can see how you'd forget about me."

"Can we please not talk about Regina?"

Jefferson could read the sadness all over her face. "Emma, what happened?"

She looked away, afraid she would cry if she started talking about it.

"Nothing. How's everything with Avery?"

"Nonexistent. He cheated on me with one of his frat brothers. Well I guess we weren't exactly exclusive but it was basically implied that we were."

"I'm so sorry, Jefferson," Emma soothed as she patted his back.

"Whatever, fuck him. I deserve better anyways."

She offered him a sincere smile. "You definitely deserve better. I mean we both do. We are great people and deserve partners who are going to love us and want to be devoted to us."

He cocked his head and put a hand on Emma's knee.

"I'm guessing things ended with you and Regina and you're not the one who ended them."

She looked down at her lap and slowly shook her head.

"I put too much into it and fell too hard. I thought she wanted me back."

"Oh, Em."

They hugged each other and spent some time in silence until Jefferson broke it with an idea.

"Should we have a dance party or play 'Call of Duty' and kill some things?"

"Definitely kill things," she replied gratefully.

They turned on Emma's PlayStation and challenged each other. While Emma didn't usually like to play such violent games, they did give her some sort of temporary release. They continued to play and numb their minds and feelings for the next few hours.


Uptown, Regina was at a bar with Rose. She was conflicted because she wanted anything to get her mind off the blonde but she also wanted to be in her bed kissing her right now. She gave Rose the rundown on what happened and her best friend insisted that she needed to go out and get over Emma. Regina tried to convince Rose (and herself) that there wasn't anything to get over, but she failed miserably.

"If you miss her so much why don't you just go over to her place?"

The professor had been staring at her drink all night, paying no attention to anyone around her.

"I don't miss her. I never said I did."

"You didn't have to. There have been three guys and one girl try to buy you a drink tonight already and we've only been here for thirty minutes," Rose smirked knowingly.

"I simply wasn't interested in any of them."

"Yeah because you're interested in your student."

"Can we just talk about anything else, please," Regina sounded desperate.

Rose smiled, "Sure. There's a guy behind you that's been watching you since we got here. I think he's dying to talk to you,".

"I just hope that he doesn't die right beside me."

Rose feigned surprise, " Oh my god! Did the great Regina Mills just take a stab at a joke,".

Regina just rolled her eyes and smiled in return. Trying to prove a point, she spun around and set her sights on the rich looking guy who was checking her out.

"My friend told me that you've been watching me. What's your name?"

His eyes widened at the forwardness. "I'm Tom. What's your name?"

"Regina," she stuck out her hand so that he could shake it.

They exchanged a few pleasantries before Regina zoned out. This was so out of character for the regal woman. She was always polite and interested in every conversation she held, even if she wanted to get out of it. All she could picture was Emma talking passionately about anything/everything, the way she sang that silly song to her, and the way she kissed with those soft lips. She failed to realize that Tom had been trying to ask her a question for the past minute.

"Regina?"

"Oh, yes? Sorry."

"I was just asking if you'd like to go out to dinner sometime with me."

"I am sorry but I'm not really available," Regina responded. It wasn't necessarily a lie. She might have cut things off with the blonde but she knew that her heart didn't agree with her actions.

He gave her a small smile, "Well he is a very lucky man. I hope he knows that,".

She frowned, "I think I need to convince her. But thank you,"

Rose came back over to her friend when she saw the man leave.

"How'd it go?"

Regina shot her a look which screamed 'what do you think'?

"Yikes. Well let's get you another drink then," Rose put a hand on Regina's in attempt to soothe her.

They spent the rest of the evening drinking and talking about anything to get her mind off of her student.


Emma and Jefferson laid in the blonde's bed as they had done many times before.

"You know I have this friend in one of my acting classes and she was asking about you."

"Really? Who is it and what were they asking," Emma was curious.

"Her name is Annie and I was telling her about some adventures with my awesome best friend and was showing her some pictures. She asked if you were single and I told her not really and she seemed disappointed."

It took the blonde a minute to respond. "Is she cute?"

"Would I even be telling you about this if she wasn't," he teased. "I could give her your number and you could just hang out with her. Take your mind off things and I don't know, see where things go."

Emma mulled it over in her head for a moment.

"Okay, why not?"

"Really," Jefferson remarked.

"Yeah, I mean what have I got to lose? Who knows, maybe I could get a new friend out of this."

"Or more," he nudged her in the shoulder.

"Don't push it," Emma laughed.

Shortly after their conversation, Emma fell asleep to thoughts of all the future possibilities.


The next day, Emma received a text message from an unknown number. Turns out it was Annie from Jefferson's class. They texted back and forth all day, getting to know one another a bit before Annie worked up the nerve to ask Emma out. Emma agreed, making it clear that it was just to meet and get to know each other better. They decided on a small coffee shop that Emma had never been to on Friday night. The blonde was nervous but excited to have something to look forward to after all the letdown from Regina. All she had to do was make it through two of woman's classes this week.


It was almost time for Regina's 'Women In Politics' class to end on Thursday and Emma thought that she was going to escape without talking to the professor once again.

"Miss Swan, I'd like to see you after class for a minute, please."

Regina had an unreadable look on her face and Emma felt a lump form in her throat and butterflies in her stomach.

The blonde made her way up to the front of the classroom and thought that she was going to puke.

"You wanted to see me?"

Regina gave Emma a soft smile before replying.

"Yes, thank you. I just wanted to let you know that I am hosting another department event tomorrow night and thought you could benefit from attending."

"Oh, I already have plans tomorrow night. Thanks though, maybe next time."

The look of disappointment on Regina's face didn't go unnoticed.

"Well in that case, I hope you and Jefferson have a good evening."

Emma wanted to push the limits at Regina's assumption. "I'm not hanging out with Jefferson. I have a date."

The brunette gulped, "Oh? I'm sure you'll have a lovely time then. Although I would have thought school was a priority for you,".

Emma replied smugly, "Regina, do you have a problem with me going on a date,".

"Of course not. Why would that bother me?"

Her cheeks flushed and her palms were sweating.

The blonde took a step closer. "I don't know. You were the one that broke things off between us and told me to find someone else."

"Yes, I did. I'm glad to see you've taken my advice with at least one thing."

"Sure you are."

Regina quickly grabbed her belongings before excusing herself. "I really should be going. I need to prepare for my next class."

She pushed her way past Emma before she could protest.

Part of the blonde felt good for finally gaining the upper hand but the other part felt horrible and wanted to run after her and hug her. All she did though was leave the room and wondered what would happen next between the two of them.


Regina made it up to her office and slumped against the door after she was inside. She finally understood why she felt so jealous, upset, and let down. Regina Mills was falling for Emma Swan. She wasn't sure exactly when it happened but it hit her like a train all in that moment. A single tear fell down her cheek as she felt Emma drifting away from her. She let herself grieve with only that one tear before she gained her composure and masked her feeling once again.

It scared the complete shit out of her but she internally decided that she needed to take a risk. She finally came to believe that she was deserving of love and couldn't keep living her life scared of it. Especially when it was being offered by Emma Swan. Regina didn't have a clue where their relationship could take them but Emma was right: she owed it to both of them to give it a chance.

It is going to take so much work but I am going to win back Emma.