Chapter Ten: At Regina's Holiday Party

This time Emma was drinking a glass of the sparkling apple cider that Regina had made, and she was savoring the flavor and cursing it all at the same time because it reminded her of the mayor's hot kiss under the mistletoe.

"Why don't you just find the woman and drag her off to her bedroom already?" Emma turned around and found Ruby standing behind her. "Seriously, you keep looking for her nearly every five minutes. She's in the kitchen, by the way."

"I don't know who you're talking about. I was looking for my mom."

"You are such a liar." The long haired woman, dressed in a red fitted velour dress with black go-go boots, giggled and tipped her bottle of beer, sipping daintily as one can from a long neck bottle. She looked around and added, "You haven't seen Belle, have you?"

"I spoke to her earlier. She seemed a little sad."

"I think she's missing Gold." Ruby sighed. "The holidays must be pretty rough for her. Couples and families are together and she had to boot her husband's butt across the town line."

"Yeah…"

Red's expression went from pensive, thinking about Belle, to brazen, thinking about Emma. "You need to find Regina and tell her how you feel." When Emma looked sure to deny it, Ruby did not give her a chance to speak, "You LOVE her, Emma. Don't deny it."

Emma blew out a breath, "I'm in so much trouble here," Emma confided sullenly.

"No, you aren't. So you've got it bad for the mayor, woman. Why don't you just tell her how you feel already? Get it over with… have sex…" Ruby rounded to confront her head on. "You two have been sniffing around each other for a long time now."

"What is that? Some sexy werewolf metaphor?"

"Say what you will, but werewolves know a thing or two about mating. We are wild and sexual for sure but when we chose a life-partner, we are completely monogamous." Ruby took another sip. "So why can't you and Regina escape this party right now and get your groove on in the bug."

"Hah!" Emma's laughed. "First off, the bug is a little hard to maneuver in." The blonde's smile faded and she swirled the cider contents in her glass watching the liquid slosh in a spiral. "It's a delicate situation."

"Is it? Or are you just telling yourself that as an excuse?"

"We have Henry to think about."

"Well, kiss me if I'm wrong, but I think Henry will like it very much if you two got together." Ruby smiled devilishly and then leaned forward and said in her ear, "…and just to make sure it was clear, I have no intention of kissing you because I am right on this."

"Well I have no intention of kissing you either!" Emma said back shaking her head.

"Well, that is certainly a relief," a rich toned voice said from the side and both woman turned and found Regina frowning at them.

The two women looked at each other and Ruby excused herself with, "I think I'll help myself to another beer." As she walked away she threw Emma a meaningfully prodding look as if to say, Do this already!

Emma looked at the beautifully aloof woman in front of her, dressed in a striking Christmas red dress, black silky stockings and tall black spike "fuck-me" heels. In her hand she had a glass of her own apple cider, this one alcoholic as it was lighter in color. Emma had drunk this one before also and it only went to prove that Regina Mills could do amazing things with apples. Considering who she really was, however, that should not have been a surprise; Evil Queen, apples, dungeons, those tight leather pants and those really low cut clothes. Emma shook the thought from her head as she was becoming uncomfortably aroused.

"My, Sheriff… you certainly get around don't you…"

Emma did a double take. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, Marian, Ruby…" Regina brought her drink to her lips and muttered a little bitterly, "yoga instructors, pirates, flying monkeys…"

"Careful, Regina," Emma raised her eyebrow, "…you almost sound jealous."

The mayor held her glass to her lips and pulled it away without even taking a sip. "Why would I be jealous, Emma?"

Because you want me for yourself. You want me in your bed just as much as I want to be there. Because you can't stop thinking about that kiss and how far it could have gone if we were behind closed doors.

That was what she wanted to say to Regina, but somehow she lacked the gumption. She instead went with a weak, "You tell me…"

Regina frowned and opened her mouth but nothing came out and a few seconds later Mary Margaret joined them. "Great party, Regina. You've got to give me the recipe for your spinach and artichoke dip. There's no way in hell, I'll be able to recreate it, but it will work fine as a guideline." They all shared a laugh about that and then Regina was staring at something with a furrowed brow.

"Snow? What is the matter with your husband? He has been walking strangely and looking uncomfortable all night."

Indeed David was standing across the room talking to Leroy and fidgeting like he had a case of jock itch. Emma closed her eyes and tried to refrain from laughing at her father, who she knew was wearing her mother's underwear, as a result of a lost bet. Her mother just grinned and nodded. "I think it's the new pants, Regina. He just hasn't…" she shared a knowing look with Emma, "…broken them in yet."

Regina gave her an odd look and Emma wanted to tell Regina what was really up with her father because she knew the woman would get a good laugh out of it and Emma did enjoy the sound of Regina laughing. She just couldn't figure out how to tell the woman without telling her about her parents' bet regarding them though.

"Hmmm…" was all Regina replied with sipping her cider.

"Regina," Granny came up to the group, "We are out of plastic cups. Do you have anymore?"

"Oh yes," she looked at the two women, her gaze lingering on Emma, "Excuse me."

Emma watched the older woman walk away in disappointment and then caught her mother studying her. "Don't say it."

"Say what," her mother asked seeming to know exactly what Emma was talking about, before sipping her sparkling apple cider.

Ruby came up to them and gave Emma a look, "Did you tell her?"

"No," Emma answered at the same time her mother did. She gave her mother a look.

"It was obvious that you didn't, if I am also guessing the topic correctly."

Emma gave them both an exasperated look and thought of Regina. Regina, the mother of her son. Regina, the woman who confused her and enthralled her all at the same time. Regina, the mayor of Storybrooke. Regina, the most knowledgeable person of magic that she knew, well besides Gold who was no longer around. Regina, the woman who invaded her dreams with sexy red tinted smiles and sparkling brown eyes so full of sexual promises. Regina, the one person in town who understood her best.

"Earth to Emma…" Her mother waved a hand in front of her face, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Both her mother and Ruby were looking at her funny. "What?"

"Yup. Yup." Ruby nodded as Mary Margaret slanted her head sympathetically while rubbing her daughter's upper arm. "She's got it BAD for Regina." Ruby took a swig of her beer. "The Savior and the Evil Queen. Who would have thought?"

"Certainly not me!" Mary Margaret laughed good naturedly and raised her glass. "But whatever! To happy endings!"

"I will drink to that." Ruby raised her bottle and they waited for Emma to join.

She added her cup and could only hope that a happy ending with Regina was in her future.

[X]

Regina only half listened to the joke that Robin was telling Kathryn and Jim because she was too preoccupied with her earlier conversation with Emma. Looking back on it now, she realized that she probably had sounded jealous and maybe she was a little in fact, but did Emma know? Was she that obvious? She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so back and forth about a person before. Ever since she had met Emma Swan all those years ago, her life had been topsy turvy. One minute she wanted the woman gone from her life; the next minute she was so utterly glad she was alive and there. One minute, she hated the woman: the next minute she found her absolutely fascinating. One minute she would want to pull her in and kiss her; the next minute she would want to run and hide. It was always thus with the savior!

Peals of laughter ripped her from her mental ramblings and she smiled as everyone was tittering away at the punchline. She had suddenly wished that the house was completely empty except for her and Emma, precisely like they had been in the study the day before. They had almost kissed and that was exactly what she wanted until Robin so rudely interrupted them. She looked at him now. He was acting as if nothing had changed between them.

When he had come over yesterday to speak with her he had apologized for his behavior the night they broke up; said it was terribly wrong of him to say what he had and that he acted stupidly in a moment of upset. He assured her that he wanted to let bygones be bygones and that he understood that they had rushed into everything, making it sound like he was in perfect agreement with her. He begged her, for Roland's sake and the party, to forgive him and she had. Wasn't that what heroes did? She was still learning as she went along. She was also trying to be sympathetic. If she wanted to seek redemption and forgiveness, shouldn't she be open in giving it as well?

Only she was beginning to sense that this was possibly a hopeful ploy on his part for them to get to know each other more so that they could pick up where they left off and she feared they were going to have a repeat soon of that night outside on her lawn when she had threatened him with her magic, because for her nothing had changed. She was still NOT interested in him. Did she want her happy ending? Absolutely, but not with him, soul mate or not. She wanted to choose for herself. That was the ultimate happy ending for her.

At that moment, he took two glasses of champagne off a passing waiter's tray and handed her one, smiling at her adoringly and placing his hand on her back. She sighed inwardly. Yes, she was going to have to discuss this with him again. Old Regina would have berated him hexed him; maybe turned him into a toad. She smiled at that. Looking around though, she was trying so hard to show everyone that she had changed, and for Henry, she wanted to. She couldn't bring herself to do something to him in front of all these people, especially his son who was darting in and out of each room. She really did care for Roland. Bringing the lip of the thin glass flute to her lips she looked up at Emma studying them from across the room, while she was talking with Ashley Herman. Her frown immediately turned to disdain when Robin touched her.

Now, who is jealous, Sheriff Swan?

Jim was saying something to her now and she was nodding her head, knowing that it was a topic she didn't have to really verbalize an answer for, which allowed her to think of the blonde across the room, who trying to pay attention to "Cinderella" and throw daggers with her eyes at the man standing next to Regina. Still though she began to feel self-conscious and moved slightly forward so that Robin was no longer touching her, hoping he would take the hint. His hand wandered to her shoulder instead. She glanced to the blonde and found her and Ashley sharing high-5's with Roland. She was trying to be patient, trying to be nice. She gave her shoulder a shake but the man held on. Oh for goodness sakes! Evil Queen Regina would have ordered to have his hand cut off by now. She was just about to say something to him, or hit him, when Roland bounded over and threw his arms around her waist attracting lots of attention from her tiny group and the people around her, no doubt surprised that someone was hugging the Evil Queen. Her heart melted nonetheless.

"Oh!" She smiled down widely at him, holding her champagne glass high so it wouldn't spill from the impact.

"Mamma says I give the best hugs!"

"You do, indeed." Regina replied and Robin ruffled his son's hair before he went back to talking about forest dwellings and arrow making.

Roland crooked his finger indicating that he wanted to tell her something in secret, so after she bent down to his level he whispered in her ear, "That was from your secret 'mirer."

"Is that so?" The little boy nodded emphatically and she glanced up instinctively to Emma, who was laughing at something Ashley had said. Watching the savior laugh with her cheeks dimpling was an arousing sight that quaked through Regina's system. "Well then, can I have a hug from you too?" Roland nodded again and launched into her arms. After he hugged her he was just about to run off when he stopped, as if remembering something, and turned to his father.

"Papa, papa! I have a joke for you."

"You do? What is it Roland?" Robin bent giving little Roland all his attention.

"Knock, knock!"

Robin smiled pacifyingly at him. "Who's there?"

"Europe!"

"Europe who?"

"No! You're a POO!"

Everyone seemed to laugh except for Robin who seemed a little bewildered, he looked up to Jim and Kathryn, who both gave him that "kids will be kids" shrug, but only Regina, who was trying hard not to laugh, caught Roland twisting around toward Emma and they both shared the same double-thumbs up sign conspiratorially. Then the boy dashed off and Emma looked up and Regina gave her a raised eyebrow to which she returned an innocent shrug. At that moment, Ashley patted Emma on the arm and left her to herself. Their gazes met and held. Then Emma took a sip of her beer and nodded toward the entrance of the room. Walking slowly in that direction, the blonde turned to her with a meaningful look and sauntered out.

"Regina, wait!" Kathryn held her wrist to keep her from going anywhere.

"What?"

"Jim and I just asked if you and Robin would like to join us for dinner in the middle of the week." Regina looked at three faces awaiting her answer one looked a little smugger than it should. Thinking that there was no time like the present, she answered, "No Kathryn, I won't be able to join you. Since Robin and I are no longer dating or seeing each other that would be highly inappropriate but he may bring whoever else he chooses to have dinner with you. If you'll excuse me." She did not bother to catch reactions as she dashed out into the foyer.

[X]

"You see! There they go again."

"I do see now! Do you think there is anything between them?"

"Who are you talking about?" Mulan asked glancing around and then back to the two women she was standing with.

"The mayor and the sheriff," Aurora tittered.

"Regina and Emma? I don't understand."

"They have a total thing for each other," Ashley giggled, "Though they try to hide it."

"A thing…" Mulan turned to study the two women who were looking at each other intensely for a moment.

"Well, you just left her, Ashley. Did she say anything about Regina?"

"No, nothing in particular, though there were a few times I felt like I lost her attention. I don't think she likes Robin very much."

Ashley grabbed an appetizer off a passing tray while Aurora gave Robin the once over. "I don't really know him that well. I had never met the man until you all came back to the Enchanted Forest." Mulan opened her mouth to speak but Aurora went on, "But Emma, I do know. She and Snow had visited the Enchanted Forest before and Mulan and I traveled with them to help them find their way back."

As if Mulan could forget that time. It was a little before the two women met the savior and Princess Snow White that she had realized she was developing strong feelings for Aurora. Her feelings had only grown stronger, after Emma and Snow left, during their search for Phillip. Mulan remembered the moment they had found him because it was bittersweet. Phillip had been her friend too. She had fought alongside him during many great battles, but after she had met his betrothed, her care for the woman grew to love and she found herself trapped in a heart wrenching and impossible situation. She allowed her dark eyes to roam over Aurora's features for a moment, taking in her creamy fair skin, the full smile and her bright eyes that could somehow light a room.

"I remember," Mulan smiled weakly and to cover her discomfort at the direction of her thoughts, she took a sip of her sparkling mineral water. She actually liked the carbonation of it. They did not have drinks like this back in her world and she remembered when she had first arrived here, Emma had given her a soda to drink which she disliked because it was too sickeningly sweet. She did not drink alcohol either so she basically stuck to sparkling water, tea and some juices, oh as well as soy milk. Soy milk reminded her a little of home.

She had just guzzled down the rest of her beverage and set her empty cup on a tray when they heard a playful cry from behind them, "MULAN!" Before she could turn around, a strong weight seemed to crash into her from behind and looking down she smiled brightly at the child wrapped around her legs.

"Roland!" She picked him up and swept him into a circle and dropped him back down again, his gleeful laughter filling the room. "You have grown since I last saw you." Then she straightened herself into an expectant stance as did Roland and then they bowed to one another. Folding her hands behind her back she asked, "Do you remember your stances?"

He nodded assuredly and her lips quirked, "Snake creeps through the grass" and the little boy bent his knee and stretched the other leg out in front of him and did a low sweeping motion with his arms. "Good, very good. Now, grasp the bird's tail…" The shaggy haired Roland came up and hunched back a little and brought his hands out in front of him as gracefully as a boy nearly 5 with a robust sense of energy could. "EXCELLENT!" She smiled and gave him a challenging look, "But… I wonder… do you remember 'carry the tiger over the mountain'?" He immediately, and slowly, came forward and brought his hands up and kept them there. She ruffled his hair as a reward and he smiled ecstatically at her.

"Where'd you go, Mulan? I didn't see you in a long time."

"I was on a fishing boat for a while. That's my job out here." She was kneeling in front of him and he leaned in.

"You don't smell like fish."

She, Ashley and Aurora laughed at that. "And that is a very good thing." She smiled.

"You look different."

"Without all my armor, I am certain I do."

"Your hair too." He studied a handful of her long hair hanging down her shoulders. "I like it."

"Thank you, kind sir."

"And who is this, Mulan?" Ashley asked squatting to get a better look.

"This is Robin's son, Roland. We spent a lot of time together in the Enchanted Forest when I was one of Robin's Merry Men. Roland, this is Ashley."

"Cinderella," Aurora added with a wink and then when Ashley giggled over her shoulder at her friend, Aurora explained, "for some reason the kids here like the fairytale names."

"Cinderella? Do you still talk to mice?" Roland asked innocently gazing at her curiously.

Ashley chuckled, "Only in the most boring of moments. Mice are rather busy, wandering creatures."

"Ladies…" Mulan and Ashley stood as Robin stepped up behind his son, placing his hands on the boy's small shoulders, "…I hope my son isn't bothering anyone?"

"Not at all," Aurora smiled at little Roland, "He is absolutely charming."

"Ah…just like his dear old dad," Robin joked patting him on the head. He grinned at Mulan and perused her appearance from head to toe and back. "Mulan, look at you." They hugged. "I haven't seen you in quite a while, though I had heard that you were here. What have you been doing with yourself?"

"I keep busy, usually, and away from the center of town. I'm either on the fishing boat that I work on, the docks, or in the forest."

"I don't see you camping out in the forest anywhere."

"I have a small studio apartment just outside of town. It's cozy and comfortable."

"And you have 'sea legs', eh? Do you like being on a boat for most of the day?"

"I was not used to it at first, but the sea is so calm and peaceful."

"Yes, I can imagine." Robin looked down at Roland. "Well, I just wanted to check on you. I am just going to step outside for a moment Roland, okay. Be good and don't get into any trouble, okay?"

"Okay, Pappa."

"Good boy." Robin glanced up, excused himself and left.

"Mulan, you should come to my new house. I have a big background…"

"Backyard…" Mulan corrected smiling.

"Oh yeah, backyard. We can play like we did in the forest! Mamma is teaching me how to shoot arrows!"

Mulan nodded and remembered the talk she had heard of Marian showing up in town, after Robin and Roland thought she was dead. She did not know the actual specifics, but she knew that Emma had a hand in it all. She was just ecstatically happy that Roland had his mother back. Her thoughts turned back to nights where she would sing Roland to sleep, watching him at times when Robin was off doing something with the men; strategizing and planning the next heist. At first she felt annoyed that just because she was a woman everyone felt that she should be babysitter, but her heart had cried out for the boy who did not have a mother. She made it known that she did not want to be "nursemaid" in the camp but she did spend a lot of time with him because she actually enjoyed it. Hmmm, fight ogres and beasts or protect Roland, tell him stories that her parents had told her, and help nurture him, it was not a difficult question to answer. She had, however, decided to leave them all when Robin had suggested that maybe they become more than friends. She had still been in love with Aurora then and had politely declined. He had actually tried to kiss her, with whiskey heavy on his breath. The only thing she missed after she left was Roland.

She gazed at the beautiful redhead again who was laughing at something funny that the young boy had said. She had never shared her love of Aurora with anyone. As if on cue, Ashley's husband, Sean and Phillip walked up with their babies in their arms and their wives immediately cooed and kissed their husbands. Mulan held Roland in front of her, hands on his shoulders, like a shield. Phillip and Aurora were so in love. She looked down at Roland and he smiled adoringly up at her.

"So Mulan, you have to come over to my house and play. Then you can meet Mamma!"

"Alright Roland." She affectionately ran her hand through his dark curly mop of hair, as she often did back in the Enchanted Forest. "I'd love to meet your mother."