Note: Alright the waiting is over. Here is the next installment of the story. Hope it lives up to the rest of it. :D Love my readers and followers to bits. You guys are the best! Enjoy! And as always... reviews = love ;)
Chapter 10
Icing on the cake
Walking back into the apartment, Regina placed her coat over one of the chairs in the kitchen. Henry, following behind her, set the two ice cream cups on the table then removed his own jacket to put on the back of the chair before sitting down to eat his ice cream. "Let me just go and find a shirt you can change into." Emma commented as she shut the door and removed her own coat to place it on the rack next to the door. She then ran off into her room as Regina took the seat across from the boy and watched him eat his ice cream.
Emma flicked on the light in her room then headed over to her closet. Ugh I can't believe I did that back there. Emma chided herself again over the spilt drink. She opened her closet and began searching through her shirts to find something for the brunette to wear. "No, that's not her. No. No." She kept sliding each item down. "Maybe this one?" She grabbed for the shirt and a chill ran down her spine as a vision rushed at her. Enjoy my shirt, because that's all you're getting. Emma stumbled back and blinked a few times looking down at the shirt. "Seriously, what the hell?" She pinched the bridge of her nose, really not understanding what was going on with her lately. "I'm definitely losing my mind." She laid the shirt on the bed then stepped into the bathroom to splash water on her face, hoping to compose herself.
Meanwhile, Henry sat at the table swirling his ice cream around to mix his toppings. "You like my mom right?" He asked the woman sitting across from him before taking a huge mouthful of ice cream. Regina arched her brow at the subject matter the boy chose. "And why exactly would you think that?" She asked him in return, the corner of her mouth twitching as she held back a faint smirk. He always was a smart little boy. "Because I think you do." He looked up at her as he wiped his mouth. "I told her you did but I don't think she believed me." Regina took in what the boy said then leaned forward a little to whisper to him. "And what if I said you might be right?" The boy just beamed at her. "I knew it." He said, then leaned closer to the brunette and whispered a confession. "She totally likes you too." The brunette couldn't help but chuckle a bit at Henry's acuteness.
"You knew what?" Emma narrowed her eyes as she came walking out to the two of them in laughing whispers with one another. "And exactly what are you two giggling about?" She asked, feeling they were up to something. Henry and Regina looked at each other, giving conspiring grins before leaning back in their chairs. The boy turned to his mom with innocent brow raised. "Nothing, we were just talking about Maddie. Regina was telling me a story about her." He lied and casually went back to eating his ice cream. Regina simply sat there with her hands folded on the table, feigning her own innocence. Emma eyed both of them suspiciously before walking over to hand the other woman the shirt she found for her. "Well, this should fit. You can use my room to change if you'd like."
Knowing what she knew now, thanks to Henry, Regina thought to test the boy's theory about his mother's feelings towards her at that precise moment. Standing up, she casually moved her way into Emma's personal space while taking the shirt from her. "Thank you." She stated in an almost regal purr, slowly letting her gaze drop to the blonde's lips and lower before sliding it back up to meet Emma's eyes and gave a warm smile before moving around her to head into the other room. Emma's mouth went dry as the other woman stood so close, fearing the brunette could hear her heart hammering inside. Even after she heard the door close to her bedroom, she didn't move for fear her legs would give out. Where did that come from? She took a few deep breaths before testing her balance to move enough to sit down at the table.
"Alright kid, spill it." Emma stated as she sat there across from him. Henry looked up at her with scrunched brow. "Spill what?" He asked back, setting his empty ice cream cup on the floor for Maddie, who had been sitting there patiently. "You know what. You were not telling stories about Maddie. What were you two really talking about?" And why was Regina acting different? She wanted to add but didn't. Henry just shrugged and pet the dog while she finished up the rest of the contents of the cup. "Nothing. We were just talking." Emma narrowed her eyes once more in suspicion as she watched her son. "You're up to something." She commented as the boy picked up the ice cream cup when the dog was finished and took it to the trash. "Come on Maddie." He called out to the dog, ignoring his mother's last statement, as he headed over to the couch and grabbed the remote to watch TV. The Beauceron padded over with him and jumped up on the couch to lay down next to him, resting her head in his lap. Emma just sighed and dug into her own ice cream, realizing her son was as stubborn as she was, and gave up figuring out what they were up to for the time being.
Regina stood there in the middle of Emma's room after she had finished switching shirts. As she looked around the bedroom an object caught her sight. Walking over to the corner of the room she reached to touch the cool red leather of the jacket that was tossed over the chair there. She took a sleeve in her hand and rubbed her thumb gently over the texture, remembering back when she first set eyes on the woman who wore it.
Regina came running out of the manor. "Henry!" She ran to her son and enveloped him in a hug, sighing in relief. "Are you okay?." She moved back and held him a short distance in front of her. "Where have you been?" It was then she noticed the blonde woman standing there. "What happened?" Regina asked, looking between the two of them. Henry narrowed his eyes at her. "I found my real mom." He stated defiantly then ran off to the house, leaving the two women standing there. Regina was shocked at the tone the boy took to her, then slowly looked up to the blonde standing in front of her as the realization set in. She shook her head faintly and blinked. "You're... Henry's birth mother?" Emma stood there with an innocent look upon her face. "Hi." Not knowing what else to say to the woman.
Regina knew that day the woman would be her complete undoing; she'd ruin all that Regina had fought for. A gentle smile found it's way upon the brunette's face. Now, it is she who Regina desperately wished to get back. And it seems I just might.
She continued walking around the room, picking up things here or there to look at them. When she reached the side of the blonde's bed she found a framed photo of Henry and Emma on the night stand. Gingerly, she picked it up and looked at it, running a finger around the edge of the photo. She gently wiped a stray tear as she thought of the irony. Henry was the one who had brought Emma into their lives back then, wanting to get away from her. Now, it was he, who seemed to want to help bring the two of them together. Taking a deep breath she gathered her thoughts and set the frame back down then walked over to the mirror, looking at herself in the reflection and adjusting the shirt to her liking. Once satisfied with her appearance she went over to turn off the light before leaving the room.
As she walked out into the kitchen area she found Emma munching on the last bit of her toppings from her ice cream sundae while she watched over her son. Regina took that quiet moment to just stand and observe the blonde, taking in her features without being noticed. Emma sat there still thinking to herself what Henry and Regina could have been talking about earlier. He wouldn't have told her what he discussed with me earlier... about liking her, would he? She scrunched her brow and shook her head slightly, throwing the thought from her mind. Sighing, her thoughts then changed to those of Jace; she really needed to end it with him. She was tired of the "waiting game" that seemed to be all his. She always waited for him to "have the time" to talk, or anything for that matter, and she was done. Coming to the agreement within herself she turned to grab her phone and jumped a little when she saw the brunette standing close by.
"Regina, you startled me." Emma commented, holding her hand to her heart as she calmed herself. "How long have you been standing there?" She asked. "I just walked out actually." Regina answered, taking a couple steps over to the table. Emma took in the new attire she had given the other woman. "Well the um, shirt seems to fit." She stated, trying not to stare as she noticed the top three buttons were undone. "Yes, it seems to fit quite nicely." Regina commented, looking down at it. "It reminds me of a shirt I used to own. Though, someone borrowed it once and never returned it." Emma thought back to the flash she had in her room when she found the shirt but more seemed to come into focus this time. She was in a diner...
"Thanks for the shirt." Emma stated as she walked over to sit at the booth with Henry. "Hey is this your mother's?" The boy just smirked as he set his hot chocolate down. "She'll never notice." "Where does she think you are anyway?" She proceeded to ask. "Playing Whack-a-Mole." Emma arched her brow slightly in surprise. "And she bought that?" "She wants to believe it, so she does." He explained casually. "Oh imagine that." Emma stated, not in the least shocked that the mother shared the same trait as her son.
"Just stay out of this dear." Emma heard a voice behind her say. When she turned around she found herself in a hospital, Regina standing there across from her. "Since I clearly can't keep you away from my son, guess I'm just going to have to keep my son away from you." The brunette took Henry's hand as they went to walk by her. Regina stopped and looked down at what Emma was wearing, then looked her dead in the eyes. "Enjoy my shirt, because that's all you're getting."
Emma creased her brow as the visions played in her head, looking at Regina with curiosity. It was as if her brain was trying to make her remember something but couldn't; something seemed to be blocking it at every turn. The brunette watched Emma closely, taking in the slight change in her. "Emma?" Regina tilted her head to the side in concern. The blonde blinked a few times as the visions evaporated and immediately felt her cheeks begin to burn, realizing she had been staring. She cleared her throat. "Sorry. It was just… I zoned a moment." She fumbled out the words and groaned inwardly at how stupid of an excuse it had to have sounded like. Regina simply furrowed her brow, not quite believing the excuse herself but she didn't question it.
Hearing a sickeningly sweet high pitch voice Regina looked up over to where Henry was and went over there. "What are you watching?" She asked as she took in the scene on the TV; a girl was singing to animals. "It's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Henry answered tilting his head back to look up at her as she stood behind him. Her eyes widened slightly as a chill ran down her spine. "Haven't you ever seen it?" He drew his attention back to the movie. "It's one of my favorites." He added. Seen it? I've lived it. "I am afraid I haven't, no."
Emma got up from the table to throw her trash away then joined them, standing next to the brunette. "Really? It's a classic." Regina just gave her a sideways glance with an arched brow. "Sorry, just thought everyone has seen it at least once." Regina looked back at the screen and tried to hold in her disgust. "Yes well, I haven't. Though it seems I haven't missed much by it." Emma could feel the disdain in the woman's voice toward the movie and wondered why. "Come watch it with me." Henry requested and patted the spot next to him and Maddie. "Henry, I don't think she..." Emma started to say but was surprised when the other woman didn't raise a protest and instead went around the couch to sit, never taking her eyes off the screen. While part of her was disgusted having to deal with Snow White even in this form, part of her was intrigued to see how they portrayed the villain, her. "And who is that supposed to be?" Regina inquired as the Queen made an appearance. "Oh her? She's the Evil Queen. She wants to kill Snow White." The boy answered. "You have no idea." Regina scoffed and mumbled under her breath. "Huh?" Henry asked looking over at her. "Oh, nothing." The woman raised her brow and feigned innocence as she brushed it off and gave him a warm smile. He grinned back at her then went back to the movie.
"Well while you two watch the movie, I'm going to run next door to Erin's and see what she needs for the party tomorrow." She leaned over and kissed the top of Henry's head. She then looked to Regina. "If you don't have any plans for the evening we'd be more than welcome to have you stay for dinner." Regina stayed quiet a moment, feeling self doubt from the movie and her heart beginning to ice over to protect itself. "You don't need to go to any trouble. We already intruded on your plans earlier." She patted Maddie on side causing the dog to raise it's head and look back at her. Fear of their reaction once they learn who she really was began to rise again. "I insist." Emma stated and gave a warm smile, causing the ice and darkness within the brunette to fade as fast as it had come. Regina returned the smile with a small one of her own and gave a slight nod. "I'll be back in a few minutes then." Emma's smile widened as she pushed off the couch and headed out.
Henry and Regina both sat there for a while, neither one talking as they watched the movie. Maddie had become restless and jumped off the couch to explore the apartment. "I kind of feel sorry for the Queen." The boy finally commented softly. Regina quirked her brow in interest. "And why is that? You're not supposed to feel sorry for the villain." She stated back as a lump grew in her throat. Henry was quiet again, in thought, before shrugging his shoulders faintly. "Because no one loves her. Maybe if someone would have loved her and shown that she could be good, and told her how pretty she was then she wouldn't have gone after Snow. Maybe she wouldn't have become evil." Regina swallowed hard at the boy's words. "Do you think that would have made a difference?" She managed to get out as her eyes began to water, trying desperately to hold the emotion at bay.
Henry scrunched his face as he pondered the question then shook his head in agreement. "Yeah. I think it would have." Regina turned to look at him, smiling proudly. "You are quite an amazing boy, you know that?" He grinned back at her just as proud. "Yeah my mom tells me that all the time, even calling me her little prince sometimes." The woman felt her heart tighten at those words once again. "If you'll excuse me." She got up abruptly to look for Maddie, sending her back over to where Henry was as she made her way to the bathroom. Shutting the door she leaned against it just as a tear made a trail down her cheek. As she closed her eyes the dam broke causing more tears to cascade down. She had held them off for as long as she could. She moved to lean over the sink, placing her hands to steady herself as her tears rained down upon the porcelain.
She choked back a sob. What was wrong? Everything had been going so well. She had found out, thanks to their son, that Emma in fact had feelings for her too. It had given her new hope and a confidence boost where she felt like herself again. Then that stupid movie and that idiotic animated version of Snow ruined it. Regina looked up into the mirror and wiped her tears away. It's a cartoon for God sake. You're the fucking Queen and you fight for what you want. Regina took a deep breath as she stood up straight and fixed herself. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath, letting it out steadily as she slowly opened her eyes. Lifting her head, what she saw staring back at her was the essence of regality once more. "I will get my family back." She stated to her reflection. Running her fingers through her hair a couple times, she arched her brow then turned off the light and exited.
Emma was entering the apartment with her hands full when Regina came walking out. "Looks like I don't have to cook after all." The blonde smiled as she raised the dish she was holding a little. "Erin made lasagna." The brunette walked over to take it from her. "Here let me help." She grabbed the dish and set it over on the stove. "Do you like lasagna?" Emma asked coming to stand next to her as she removed the cover. "It's actually one of my specialties. Only, I add red pepper flakes to mine." She leaned ever so slightly toward the other woman. "Gives it a kick." She whispered, causing Emma to shiver. Regina stepped back out of the blonde's personal space and looked back down at the dish. "Shall we put this in the oven to keep it warm?" Emma's head was swirling a bit, so she closed her eyes hoping to make it stop before she answered. "Um, yeah sure." She reached down to open the oven door as Regina placed the lasagna on the rack.
"Since I no longer have to fix dinner…" Emma turned to the other woman. "Would you like to help me make my dessert for tomorrow?" The brunette arched her brow with a slight smirk as she looked at her without answering. She's doing that thing again. Emma thought as she shifted her weight back and forth on her feet, feeling nervous under the attention of the other woman. Seeing she was getting the desired effect she wanted, Regina eased off and relaxed against the counter. "It could be fun." "Right, um…" Emma dashed off to the refrigerator and opened it. She stood there staring at the contents inside, searching for anything to have the excuse to distance herself for a time while she tried to find composure along with letting chilled air cool her down.
"Did you forget where you put the butter?" Regina whispered in the blonde's ear as she walked up behind her. Emma jumped and turned around pressing herself back against the interior of the fridge. Regina placed a hand on the open door and one on the other side on the shut freezer door, pinning the blonde where she was. Emma glanced over the woman's shoulder to where her son was, finding him completely preoccupied with his video game. She whipped her gaze back to the woman in front of her when she felt her leaning closer. Emma swore the woman would suck the last air from her lungs if she got any closer. Regina gingerly reached around her and grabbed the container. "Here it is." She took the item and stood back holding the butter. "Isn't this what you were looking for?" The brunette asked handing it to her then walking away to go wash her hands in preparation to help make the dessert.
Emma just stayed there plastered to the refrigerator. Henry told her. That little… he freaking told her! I know that's what's happened. She screamed inside as she pushed off from the fridge and turned to grab the few other things she needed before closing the door. She set the items on the table then walked over to the couch. "Henry." She said sternly. The boy paused his game and looked back over his shoulder at his mom. "Yeah?" She arched her brow at him and nodded in Regina's direction. "Did you…" He leaned to look around his mom over at Regina then moved back and looked back to his mom with a grin. "I knew you were up to something." Henry grinned a little bigger then turned around and unpaused his game, going back to the battle on screen. "We will talk about this later." The blonde gave a frustrated sigh then turned to head back to the kitchen.
"Shall we?" Regina inquired, with the ingredients laid out in front of her on the counter. Emma looked at everything then nodded. "Let me just grab the last thing needed." She went and opened the cupboard and took out the box of cake mix. "Sorry not entirely handmade." She gave an innocent shrug then opened the box. Regina moved the large mixing bowl over as Emma poured the cake mix in and began adding in the other ingredients. "Could you take out the lasagna and set it on the stove then turn on the oven to preheat please?" Emma asked as she went to find the electric mixer. The brunette opened the oven and removed their dinner, setting the oven to preheat. She then took the moment to find the red pepper flakes and dashed a few over the top of the lasagna with a smirk.
Emma started up the mixer and began swirling it around in the bowl as the beaters began whipping up the ingredients to create the batter. Halfway through the process her phone started ringing. "Could you see who that is?" She called out to the brunette. "I can't stop in the middle; I don't want it to clump." Regina reached over and grabbed the phone. Seeing Jace's name, she smirked and swiped her finger across the screen to answer it, causing Emma to furrow her brow in confusion. "Hello?" Regina answered. Jace pulled his phone away from his ear to make sure he called the right number. "Uh, yeah… I was looking for Emma. I needed to talk to her." Regina made a mocking pouting face to Emma. "I'm sorry. She's busy right now." Emma arched her brow and mouthed 'who is it?' at her and all Regina did was smirk back at her, then on the flour dusted counter spelled out 'Jace' with her finger.
The blonde's eyes widened and she thrust her hand out towards the other woman. 'Give me the phone', she mouthed but Regina acted as though she didn't understand what she was saying and pointed to the bowl as it started to spin. She smiled then turned away from Emma and continued to talk to the man on the other end of the line. "What's that noise in the background?" Jace asked, still trying to figure out what the sound was. "Well as I was saying… We're busy." Emma was beginning to worry about Regina having her phone and talking to Jace. She hadn't told him she was ending it with him yet and she didn't need her telling him first. She groaned in frustration as she tried to finish up the batter so she could get her phone. Jace scrunched his brow at the sounds he was hearing. "Was that Emma? Is she alright?" A devilish smirk came upon the brunette's lips as she turned around and gazed directly into Emma's eyes. "Seems I need to pay more attention to her needs. If you'll excuse me." She moved the phone away from her ear and ended the call.
Emma's jaw dropped as she stopped the mixer and turned beet red. "Why would you say that? He is going to think we're…" She couldn't even finish the sentence. She looked over to Henry to see if he had heard any of it but he seemed to be so involved in his game she'd need a fog horn to snap him out of it. Regina moved around the counter to stand in front of Emma. "Is there a problem with that?" She dipped her finger down into the bowl and wiped it along the edge, then brought it up to her mouth and licked off the batter. "You did say it was over did you not?" She flicked her tongue out to get the drop of batter that was on her lip, never breaking eye contact with the blonde. Emma's entire being was on fire; she could have swore it was her in that oven instead of the food. This woman will be the death of me.
The timer went off on the oven and snapped Emma out of the deadlock gaze. She fumbled around with shaky hands to pour the batter into the pan and almost dropped it before finally managing to get most of it in the pan. Wiping up the mess, she popped it in the oven and set the timer. "Um...We can eat dinner while that cooks." She said with a slight quiver in her voice. Grabbing the plates she maneuvered out of the way from the brunette and set them on the table then got some glasses and wine for them, and a coke for Henry. "Come on kiddo. Dinner is ready." She called out. "Okay!" The boy turned off his game then came over as they all sat down for dinner.