Regina's POV
Heart racing, she attempted to control her grin. When the lights came back up and Emma retreated backstage, Graham gave her a knowing smile.
"And now, for tonight's most talked about category, here are the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series..." Regina could feel a knot forming in her stomach. Suddenly she felt sick, and all the joy from Emma's performance evaporated. When her face appeared on screen as the final nominee, she gulped. The presentor, some actor from a new sitcom, slid his finger under the envelope's seal, she felt so foolish for even attending. She had absolutely no shot, what the hell was she thinking?
"The award goes to...Regina MIlls!"
Her thoughts were lost in the thunderous sound of clapping. Unable to comprehend what she was hearing, she felt Graham pushing her up and telling her repeately that she had won. Walking to the stage, confident Regina kicked back in. Giving the camera her most sultry look, she accepted the award and turned to make her speech.
"Wow," she breathed, "I was not expecting this. I know everyone says this, but I sincerely do not have a speech prepared. I would like to thank our amazing team of writers for giving me the opportunity to play such a strong character, um.. I would also like to thank Mr Rober Gold for taking a chance on an unknown girl who was just trying to make her dreams come true. And lastly to my friends Graham and Astrid, to whom, I owe everything. Without you, I would be a mess, thank you both for believing in me."
As the music played her off, she was ushered to a side coridor backstage. When the assistant asked her to wait there until she could be lead back to her seat, she looked at her statue and chuckled to herself for being so nervous.
"I told you that there was no way you could lose," a voice whispered into her ear.
"Emma!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around the taller woman. "You were so wonderful out there!"
"Did you like the song? I've been working on it since I ran into you at Leroy's."
"You wrote it for me?"
"How could I not? You are everything I never knew I wanted. I want you, Regina, in every possible way." Leaning in closer, Emma cupped Regina's face in her palm.
"Miss Swan...you are such a romantic," she teased.
"I guess you bring it out in me." The two gazed at one another, dissolving the remaining distance slowly.
"Excuse me, Miss Swan, Miss Mills. Your escorts will lead you to your seats now," A small woman wearing a dramatic expression interupted.
"We will finish this later," Emma whispered to her, giving Regina her signiture tight-lipped smile. Regina was sure that her heart was going to giver out from all the pounding it had done today. Watching the singer being lead to the other side of the auditorium, she shook her head before following her own escort to her seat beside Graham. Looking up and seeing her approaching, she stood to hug her.
"I knew you could do it, Gina," he said softly softly as they embraced. Taking their seats they spent the remaining time laughing along with each of the respective bits. Suddenly, everything seemed humorous. She supposed it had everything to do with her nerves subsiding and her brief encounter with Emma backstage. When the closing monologue wrapped and everyone was released, she wanted to rush to Emma. Instead, she was pulled from interview to interview with several different media stations. Moving to her final stop, she saw her blonde-haired goddess doing an interview about her performance.
"That song! To say that it is absolutely amazing still seems like an understatement. From your previous work, I've noticed that you don't do 'love songs'. May I ask what changed?"
"Well, sometimes when you meet someone who flips your entire world upside down, you have to adjust your way of thinking." From her vantage point, Regina knew Emma couldn't see her. She listened eagerly to the exchange.
"Ah, so there is a new lady-love in your life. Is it serious?"
"Officially no, but I hope that will change very soon."
"Well who could say no to a performance like that? Is the lucky woman here with you tonight?"
"I'm afraid this is staying under the radar, sorry." The correspondent didn't miss a beat, expecting her deflection. Regina felt a surge of affection, and couldn't wait for tonight to be over so she could have her time alone with the object of her recent fantasies. Wrapping up her interview, she turned and made eye contact with the brunette. Cocking her head, she strutted past her with an inconspicuous wink that took her breath away.
After spending several moments talking to the same person who had previously interviewed Emma, she met back up with her friend.
"Fancy a drink?"
"No thank you, I need to keep a clear head tonight."
"Well in that case, I guess now is a good time to tell you Mary Margaret is looking for you."
"Damn it, I can't catch a break." Her friend just chuckled at her obvious displeasure before telling her he was off to meet up with their other friend. She walked through a sea of people offering her congratulations before she spotted Mary Margaret and David in the corner. As she approached them, she realized they were talking animately with Emma. Seeing her coming, David was the first to greet her.
"Regina! Congrats on the big win!" he exclaimed, offering her a cordial hug which she haphazardly returned.
"Oh Regina, we knew you were a shoo in! I'm so happy that someone from our little work family won!" She threw her arms around her neck much to Regina's dismay. So much for their fued. With Emma looking on, she knew that she would have to make a greater effort to get along with the tiny woman. "How rude of me, I don't believe I've introduced you to my adoptive sister, Emma?"
Regina's jaw dropped. She knew the two were close, but didn't realize they were practically related.
"We've met, briefly."
"Yes at our little fundraiser a few weeks ago," Emma added.
"Oh, I wasn't aware of that. In fact, I was just inviting Emma for drinks if you care to join us."
"Actually, M', I'm really tired. I was rehearsing until like three this morning. Plus I need to fly out really early in the morning."
"Come on, Emma, please? We aren't coming back to town for a few weeks."
"Sorry, really. But I hear my bed calling my name."
"What about you and Graham?" David asked.
"He may be up for it, I believe he and my assistant were debated on where to go. But I'm afraid that I'm not feeling well. I was just making rounds before heading out." She excused herself under the pretense of going to find her publicist. No sooner than she got away, she felt her handbag buzz.
Hope you aren't feeling to under the weather. I would like to finish our little chat from earlier. -E
Only if you aren't too tired, Miss Swan. Meet me at my hotel? -R
Hell yes -E
L'Ermitage. Penhouse suite. See you in 20? -R
Yes ma'am -E
She found Graham talking to Astrid. She rolled her eyes knowing what the two were going to say when she told them what she was up to. She hurridly whispered her goodbyes to them.
"Go get her, Reggie! I'll stay at G's room tonight."
"Yeah, have fun. We'll make sure you're not disturbed."
"Oh, and try to keep the hickeys to a minimum this time, yeah?" Astrid joked.
Rolling her eyes, yet again, she navigated herself to her waiting car. She quickly made it back to her hotel and rushed to her room.
Got held up by people. On my way now -E
Take your time, I'll be waiting -R
No. Can't wait to see you. In case I didn't tell you earlier, you were so incredibly beautiful tonight -E
Flattery, will get you everywhere Miss Swan -R
Deciding to change out of her gown before Emma arrived, she rummaged through her clothes before settling on a comfortable pair of linen pants and a cream coloured tunic. Pulling out the mountain of bobby pins, she ran a brush through her curls to loosen them up. Satisfied with her reflection, she padded barefoot back to the living room. Just as she was about to call the other woman, a soft knock came from the front door. Rushing to it, she came quickly opened it and dragged Emma inside. Before she could do or say anything, Emma pulled her into a passionate kiss. Feeling the blonde wrap her arms around her, she hungrily melted her lips into Emma's. Finally seperating themselves, Emma looked at her with amusement.
"Damn, if I knew singing to you would get me that, I would have done it a helluva lot sooner."
"Well, dear, in all fairness, last time I heard you sing, I slept with you."
"So you did."
"Do you want a drink or anything? I could call roomservice and order some champagne."
"I'm fine. Maybe we could talk, though."
"Yes, I think we should. Come, sit with me."
Emma's POV
This is it, she thought. Don't fuck it up, Swan. As she sat down next to Regina, she could feel her mouth getting dry and her palms start to sweat. Rubbing her hand nervously against her thighs, she cleared her throat.
"So..." she said awkwardly.
"So..." Regina smirked.
"You remember everything?"
"To my knowledge."
"Are you okay with it?"
"Okay? Are you insane? Of course I'm more than okay with it, Emma. As I seem to recall, I actively participated in our little sleepover."
"So where does that leave us?" It took all of her courage to say that one sentence. A million scenarios played through her head as she waited on Regina's reply. With a word she could destroy Emma.
"I believe that leaves us dating. That is if you are up for it, Miss Swan." Looking into Regina's eyes she knew she had to ask the question before she lost her nerve. Unfortunately, her question could ruin everything.
"What about your wife?" Instantaneously, the dark haired woman stiffened. Her eyese searched Emma's as she let out the breath she had been holding.
"I don't have a wife, at least not anymore. My divorce was finalized Wednesday. That's why Graham and I were at Ruby's bar. We were celebrating because, for the first time in a long time, I'm free to be with someone who cares for me. That's the reason I didn't stay the morning after we slept together. I knew I couldn't, in good conscience, start something with you without taking care of all my baggage."
She felt like she could fly, in her wildest dreams she could not have pictured a better outcome.
"But you barely knew me."
"Emma I knew there was something special about you from the moment I saw you on stage. Everything about you piqued my attention."
"You want to be with me?"
"If you'll have me," Regina beamed at her.
But words failed her. After thirty years of being shuffled and kicked around, she had never thought that something like this would happen to her. Instead of responding, she leaned in and brushed her lips lightly on Regina's. She pulled herself back, smiled at the brunette, and pushed her back on the couch.